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T^^>§^ 
 
 ^ ^^ O 
 
FRANCIS IJACOX. 
 
THE ESSAYS 
 
 UK 
 
 COUNSELS CIVIL AND MORAL 
 
 OF 
 
 FRANCIS BACON 
 
 LORD VERULAM, VISCOUNT ST. ALBANS 
 
 EDITED WITH INTRODUCTION AND NOTES 
 
 HV 
 
 GEORGE HEKBERT CLARKE, M.A. 
 
 LATK PROFESSOR OF KN«;MSH IN 
 MFRCKR IMVKRSITY 
 
 THE MACMILLAN COMPANY 
 
 LONDON : MACMILLAN AND CO., Ltd. 
 1915 
 
 I// lights res-erred 
 
?Fi 
 
 ib/c 
 
 ^ 
 
 G 
 
 
 
 
 
 """ COPTRIOIIT, 1905, 
 
 By the MACMILLAX COMPANY. 
 
 Set up and electrotyped. Published November, 1905. Reprinted 
 October, 1907: May, 1908; August, 1909 ; March, ,911 ; August, 1913- 
 January, 1915. 
 
Co 
 
 ©. E, C 
 
PREFACE 
 
 The present edition of Bacon's Essru/s has been 
 prepared in the hope that the young students in 
 whose hands it is placed may (piickly come to feel 
 the charm of these frank commentaries upon life 
 and its ])roblems, and to recognize, witli Emerson 
 that, despite his limitations, IJacon '' marks the intiux 
 of idealism into Kngland. Wlien* that goes is poetry, 
 health and ]»rogress.'' 
 
 The editor desires to express his sense of indebted- 
 ness, for many valuable suggestions, to the standai-d 
 editions of the E.smi/s, particularly those of Dr. 
 Wright, Dr. Abbott, Uv. Reynolds, Mr. Selby, and 
 .Mr. Anderson, and also to the faithful labours of 
 Baton's chief biographers, named iu the Bibliography. 
 
 G. H. C. 
 
 lii 
 
 H^ 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 Preface 
 
 iNTKODrCTIOX: 
 
 Life of Bacon , 
 
 Bacon as a Philosopher 
 
 Tlie Essays 
 
 Bibliography . . , . . 
 
 J • • 
 
 . Ixix 
 
 Es-iAV 
 
 s OK (\)UNSKi.s Civil and Moral: 
 
 
 
 I. 
 
 Of Truth .... 
 
 
 1 
 
 II. 
 
 Oi Death .... 
 
 
 4 
 
 III. 
 
 Of Unity in Heliuion 
 
 
 6 
 
 IV. 
 
 Of Keveiige 
 
 
 . 12 
 
 V. 
 
 Of Adversity .... 
 
 
 . 14 
 
 VI. 
 
 Of Sinudation and Dissimulation . 
 
 
 15 
 
 VII. 
 
 Of Parents and Children 
 
 
 20 
 
 VIII. 
 
 Of Marriage and Single Life . 
 
 
 . 22 
 
 IX. 
 
 Of Envy 
 
 
 24 
 
 X. 
 
 Of Love 
 
 
 , 30 
 
 XI. 
 
 Of Great Place .... 
 
 
 33 
 
 XII. 
 
 Of Boldness 
 
 
 37 
 
 XIII. 
 
 Of Goodness, ami Cioodness of Nature . 
 
 39 
 
 XIV. 
 
 Of Nobility .... 
 
 • • • 
 
 . 43 
 
 PAGE 
 
 • • • 
 
 111 
 
 ix 
 
 zliii 
 > zlviii 
 
VI 
 
 CONTENTS 
 
 
 
 PAOF, 
 
 XV. 
 
 Of Seditions and Troubles 
 
 . 45 
 
 XVI. 
 
 Of Atheism . . . . , 
 
 . 54 
 
 XVII. 
 
 Of Superstition .... 
 
 . r>7 
 
 XVIII. 
 
 Of Travel ..... 
 
 . ftti 
 
 XIX. 
 
 Of Empire . , . . 
 
 02 
 
 XX. 
 
 ( )f Counsel 
 
 . 6R 
 
 XXI. 
 
 Of Delays 
 
 74 
 
 XXII. 
 
 Of Cunning 
 
 7(i 
 
 XXIII. 
 
 Of Wisdom fur a Man's Self 
 
 81 
 
 XXIV. 
 
 Of Innovations .... 
 
 . 8;; 
 
 XXV. 
 
 Of l)i.spatcli 
 
 . 84 
 
 XXVI. 
 
 Of Seeming Wise . 
 
 87 
 
 XXVII. 
 
 Of Friendsiiip .... 
 
 89 
 
 XXVIII. 
 
 Of Expense 
 
 . 08 
 
 XXIX. 
 
 Of the True Greatness of Kingdoms 
 
 and Es- 
 
 
 tates 
 
 . 100 
 
 XXX. 
 
 Of Regiment of Health . 
 
 . 112 
 
 XXXI. 
 
 ( )f Suspicion .... 
 
 . 114 
 
 XXXII. 
 
 Of Discourse .... 
 
 , 110 
 
 XXXIII. 
 
 Of Plantations .... 
 
 . 118 
 
 XXXIV. 
 
 Of inches 
 
 . 122 
 
 XXXV. 
 
 Of rrophceies 
 
 . 127 
 
 XXXVI. 
 
 Of Ambition 
 
 . 130 
 
 XXXVII. 
 
 Of Masfjues and Triumphs 
 
 13:^. 
 
 XXXVIII. 
 
 Of Nature in Men .... 
 
 . 135 
 
 XXXIX. 
 
 Of Custom and Education 
 
 . 138 
 
 XL. 
 
 Of Fortune 
 
 , 140 
 
 XLL 
 
 Of Tsury 
 
 . 142 
 
 XLII. 
 
 Of Youth and Age ... 
 
 . 147 
 
 XLIIL 
 
 Of Beauty . . . . 
 
 . 150 
 
 XLIV. 
 
 Of Deformity .... 
 
 . 151 
 
 XLV. 
 
 Of Building 
 
 . 153 
 
COXTKXTS 
 
 Vll 
 
 
 
 I'Ai.l 
 
 XLVI. 
 
 ( )f Gardens 
 
 158 
 
 XLVII. 
 
 Of Negotiatinji 
 
 1tJ7 
 
 XLVllI. 
 
 Of Followers and Friends . . . . 
 
 1 «'»',» 
 
 XLIX. 
 
 Of Suitors 
 
 171 
 
 I.. 
 
 Of Studies 
 
 17:5 
 
 LI. 
 
 ( >f Fraction 
 
 17.-, 
 
 LII. 
 
 Of Ceremonies and Hespects 
 
 178 
 
 LI 11. 
 
 Of Praise 
 
 180 
 
 l:v. 
 
 Of Vain-iilory 
 
 182 
 
 LV. 
 
 Of Honour and Reputation . 
 
 . 184 
 
 LVI. 
 
 Of Judicature 
 
 . 187 
 
 LVII. 
 
 Of Anger 
 
 . VJ'2 
 
 LVIU. 
 
 Of Vicissitude of Tilings 
 
 . 19o 
 
 Notes 
 
 ■ J. •••«•« 
 
 . 20;i 
 
 Index 
 
 • ••••«•*' 
 
 . 30:5 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 THl^ LIFE OF l^ACGN 
 
 "It cannot ))e cloniod," wrote Bacon in 1612, "but 
 outward accidents conduce much to fortu!ic ; favour, 
 opportunit}', death of others, occasion fitting virtue. 
 But chiefly, the mould of a man's fortune is in his 
 own hands." These are wise woids, and lead us, 
 before tracing the movement of ''his own hands," 
 to consider for a moment the age, the parentage, 
 and the kinships of the future Lord Chancellor of 
 England as affecting his "favour" and his "oppor- 
 tunity." 
 
 The gentle, dreamy Spenser sings in his epic of 
 faery : — 
 
 'After long storines and tempests overblowne 
 The sun at length his joyous face doth clearer 
 So whenas fortune all her spight hath showii 
 Some blissfull homes at last must needes appeare." 
 
 So came the days of Queen Elizabeth, with their 
 astonishing progress in the intellectual, artistic, and 
 economic life; their strong quickening of the seeds of 
 freedom; their constant stimulus to the alert and 
 ambitious; their beckon to higher thought and action; 
 
jxrHourcTioN 
 
 (lays, at tlioir best, of childlike curiosity and ripe 
 caniestnoss; of theory and affairs balancing each 
 other; of quick, frank plays upon the stage of life. 
 Those were suidit days, before the student had l)ecome 
 a jaded bookman, the Puritan a reforming oppressor, 
 the romanticist a too loyal suitor of melancholy. 
 And positive Klizabeth, at her best, was their symbol 
 and exemplar, the idol and concern of every English- 
 man. 
 
 Her first Lord Keeper of the Seals, Sir Nicholas 
 iiacoii, was a man of legal learning, fine personal 
 character, and corresponding reputation, and was 
 looked uj)()n by his royal mistress with respect and 
 regard. His second wife, Anne, was a daughter of 
 Sir Anthony Cooke, tutor to King Edward VL, and 
 was possessed of umisual culture, being carefully 
 trained each night by her father until she had acquired 
 a sound scholarship in theology, literature, and the 
 languages. This strict progrannne, however, had 
 detracted little from her personal or social charms. 
 She became, though increasinglv masterful, a faithful 
 wife and devoted mother. There were born to her 
 two sons, Anthony and Francis, the latter January 
 22, 15G0 (our I06I), at York House, London. Both 
 were capable boys, l)ut the younger, despite his 
 always delicate health, soon proved himself peculiarly 
 gifted. The philosojjher in little Ijroke ins drums " to 
 look for the sound," and eagerly explored n brick 
 conduit during playtime that he might discover the 
 cause of a remarkably full echo; and the embryo 
 
iNTHOIH'Crioy 
 
 XI 
 
 courtier pleased Elizabeth with happy turns of phrase 
 and graceful flattery. It is important to recognize 
 that in both these respects Bacon was of his time as 
 of his family. Of that family his mother's sister had 
 married William (Veil, afterward Lord Hurleigh (or 
 liurghley), the powerful Lord Treasurer of England. 
 His son, Sir Robert Cecil, First Secretary of State, 
 was iiacon's first cousin. \^\ virtue of his relation- 
 ship to these high personages, and the connections 
 and oi)|)()rtunities affordeti by that relatic ^sliip, it 
 is re.'isonablc to infer, in Montagu's striking phrase, 
 that Jiacon was "cradled in politics." 
 
 At the age of thirteen Francis entered Trinity 
 College, Cambridge, with i;is brother Anthony. 
 He had gone up thither with confident as])irations 
 and yet comes to confess somewhat prot(\stingly — 
 and, jierhaps, with a certain juveniHty — - that after 
 the novelty wore av.ay he had more real occasion for 
 disliking the atmosphere and Ui, frhods of the uni- 
 versity thaii he had supposed possible. I^ven at 
 this early age he found himself quickly abl to dis- 
 tinguish between the nobility of k'arning and its 
 captiousness. He met in Cambridge, he tells us, 
 with nmch wit, l»ut littk' power. "In the universi- 
 ties, all things are found opj)()site to the advancement 
 of tlie sciences; for the readings and exercises are 
 here so managed that it ramioi easily come iiUo any 
 one's mind to think of things out of the common roail. 
 . . . For the studies of men in such places are con- 
 fined, and pinned down to the writings of certain 
 
xu 
 
 INTRODUt'TIOX 
 
 authors; from which, if any man happens to differ 
 he is presently represented as a distiir))er and inno- 
 vator. " Three years of residence were ail, apparently-, 
 that he could endure. In any case, he withdrew 
 without seekiny; a decree, and was attached by his 
 father to the service of Sir Amyas Paulett, the Ensi- 
 lish ambassador to France. So well did he con- 
 duct himself while in Paris that Sir Amyas entrusted 
 him with a private mission to Elizabeth, which he 
 executed with wisdom and fidelity. Upon the aj^point- 
 nutit of a new minister Bacon travelled in the French 
 provinces, but was called home suddenly, in 1 ">7i), b, 
 the aimouncement of his father's death. Februarv 20. 
 J^acon was now face to face with the ]iroblem of his 
 personal support and the welfare of his father's 
 survivors. Sir Nicholas had not been rich, and his 
 son felt himself unwillin<2;ly constrained to enter the 
 profession of law. Unwillin»iy, for liacon had been 
 hoping that the mi«;hty (Veils would further his 
 fortunes and induce the Queen to bestow upon him a 
 political post with a competence. The Cecils, wisely 
 enon<j;h from tiieir point of view, d(M lined to maice 
 life so easy for him, and he reluctantly forewent iiis 
 cherished i«lea of contemplative leisure and devoted 
 himself to the law. In loSO he became^ a student of 
 Gray's Inti. <.. die " Ancients "of whicli he was ah(\'idy 
 a member; a few years later he was called to the 
 bench; in loSO he became an inner barrister: and 
 at thirty was made Elizabeth's Queen's C'omis(>l 
 Learned Ivxtraordinary, without salarv. Duriii-r 
 
I\TH<)1>1( TKtN 
 
 Xlll 
 
 this period Burleiuh's lielp luul been slitjlit enough, 
 jukI was never afttn'ward heartily accorded to the too 
 soheitons ne])hew. 
 
 Opposed to Burlei<ih and the (.Veils Avas the iireat 
 power of Leicester, and, after his <leath, that of his 
 son-in-law, Robert Devereiix. Lord Lssex. The 
 eharaeters of all men are suilieiently complex and 
 self-contradictory to make precise analysis iniju^ssihle. 
 even for the ps>'choloi!;ist, and Kssex, like L^acon 
 himself, sometimes puz/les the l)ioiira{)her. He was 
 a gentleman, a scholar, a soldier, a diplomat, a gallant. 
 Before all, he was Ivssex, — the lovable, impulsive 
 autocrat of his own fortunes, and the generous 
 comrade; of Elizabeth's l)est imao;inin<is. His was a 
 spirit not made for crookinj»- the prejiiiant hinges of 
 tlie knee. He better liked to try the mettle of horse 
 and foe, to challenge when her mood allowed th.e pride 
 and will of P'.lizabeth herself, to turn her buffets into 
 rewards, to cry scorn u})on his enemies, and ardently 
 to serve his friends. And he had many of both orders, 
 himself, at least from the prudential viewj)oint, too 
 often numbered among the former. Of his friends 
 Mr. Francis Bacon was very near him. the struggling 
 young lawyer and philosopher who with his bi'other 
 Anthony had early chosen to follow Kssex's fortunes. 
 Bacon nnist have felt the charm of that line personal- 
 ity, must indeed have loved Essex as he could never 
 have loved the ( ecils, though to them he still continued 
 to apply for advancement. Xot quite unsuccessfully, 
 for though Sir Robert seems to have considered him 
 
XIV 
 
 lyTUODUVTIOX 
 
 "a speculative man indulging hi-i^self in philosophical 
 reveries, and calculated more to perplex than to 
 promote public business," yet the reversion of the 
 liegistrarship of the Star (,'hamf)er was now bestowed 
 upon him, a position assuring a good income, but to 
 which, unfortunately, Bacon did not actually attain 
 until twenty years afterward. 
 
 His condition, therefore, remained much in need of 
 improvement, and it nuist be said that his indepen- 
 dent activity as the young member of Parliament for 
 Midillesex in 1592 did not tend to modify Elizabeth's 
 opinion of his "unsuitableness" as a public servant. 
 There was in Bacon, indeed, a strain of inquir\', of 
 large tolerance for truth, of catholic reasonableness, 
 that made it hard for him to sup})ort ai any time the 
 character of a strictly limited servant and partisan 
 in social or political affairs. For more than one 
 reason, tluMi, we cannot feel mucli surprise at his failure 
 to secure the Attorney-deneral's place, when it became 
 vacant in loJ)^, notwithstanding his persistent can- 
 didacy and I'ksex's cordial, ev(m eager, support. In 
 April, 1594, his rival. Sir Edward Coke, was given the 
 place, and the disappointed suitor, after some petu- 
 lance, pn^ssed for the Solicitorship. This also he 
 failed to obtain, after eighteen months of struggle. 
 I^lizabeth seemed to resent Essex's bold pleading for 
 his friend, and Coke and the Lord Kee))er Puckering 
 strongly ()ppos(>d Bacon's claims. In a letter on the 
 result, written to l-'ulke (Jreville. Bacon manifests 
 a fecliiit' ot sharp regret, almost of shame: ''And 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 XV 
 
 what though the Muster of the Rolls, and my Lord 
 of EsstX; and yourself, and others, think my case 
 without doubt, yet in the meantime I have a hard 
 condition, to stand so that whatsoever service I do 
 to Her Majesty, it shall he thought to he but serm'tium 
 vtHcatutn, lime-twigs and fetches to place myself; and 
 so 1 shall have envy, not thanks. This is a course to 
 quench all good spirits, and to corrupt every man's 
 n.'iture. . . . For to l)e, as I told you, like a child 
 following a bird, which when he is nearest flieth away 
 and lighteth a little before, and then the hild after 
 ii again, and so in infinidnn, I am weary of it, as also 
 of wearying my good friends." 
 
 Hut one good friend was not to be wearied. Ks."\\, 
 fe(>ling keenly the blight that had come upon Bacon's 
 prospects, and his own difficult position as unsuccess- 
 ful mediator, undertook to relieve the situation in 
 some measure by the gift of a handsome estate at 
 Twickenham, worth about £1,S00, which was grate- 
 fully accepted })y his beneficiary. l*:ssex was also 
 b(>hind Bacon's addresses to l.acly Hatton, the rich 
 widow of Sir William Hatton and daughter of Sir 
 Thomas Cecil; but his warm espousal by letter of his 
 friend's cause appears to have had as little influence 
 with the perverse widow as the presence and dignity 
 of Jiacon himself, who was defeated in the lists of 
 love, as in those of politics, by none other than Coke 
 The Attorney-General soon afterward married Lady 
 Hatton. 
 
 Bacon now betook himself to his pen, and sought to 
 
 VP«P 
 
XV) 
 
 INTROlirCTloy 
 
 execute work planned for earlier fruition. In 1590 
 he completed a treatise upon the connnou law, which 
 remained unpubhshed during his lifetime; and J!) 
 the following year he put out the first edition of 
 the Essays, then numbering ten, with ** Religious 
 Meditations" and " Of the Colours of Good and Evil. " 
 During these two years appeared also the last three 
 Books of Spenser's Faerie Qiieene and Shakespeare's 
 Romeo and Juliet and The Merchant of Venice. 
 Two other slowly expanding editions of the Essai/s 
 were published before Bacon's death, until in 16i?o 
 the original ten had become fifty-eight. Other liter- 
 ary tasks beguiled this early disappointment, and \\\o 
 man of letters was kept busy also as lawyer and 
 parliamentarian. 
 
 Essex's growing popularity, after his return from 
 the capture of Cadiz in 1596, sometimes gratified and 
 soinetimes anirered the Queen, for whom her favourite 
 contimied to show a regard too self-reliant for his own 
 ultimate good. It is interesting to notice Bacon's 
 friendly iji.t assiduous remonstrances with I^s'^ex 
 in this respect, remonstrances receive 1 always gocd- 
 temperedly. but slightly and seldom heeded.' In one 
 of his Apophthegms Bacon tells us that "Aristip- 
 pus was earnest suitor to Dionysius for somewhat, 
 who would give no ear to his suit. Aristippus fell 
 at his feet, and then Dionysius graated it. One that 
 stood by said afterwards to Aristippus. 'You a 
 philosopher, and to })o so base as to tln-ow xoursdf 
 at the tyrant's feet to u'et a suit!' Aristippus 
 
 mmSSSm 
 
 wmmmmm 
 
IXTROIUXTION 
 
 XV 11 
 
 answered, 'The fault is not mine, but the fault is in 
 DionysiuS; that carries his ears in his feet. ' " This 
 little story reflects light, in its way, upon the charac- 
 ters of both Bacon and Essex, the latter of whom 
 " had a settled opinion," says Bacon, " that the Queen 
 could be brousjht to nothing but by a kind of necessity 
 and authority." Certainly, Essex easily realized his 
 unfortunate desire in 1599, when he chose and was 
 appointed to go as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland to 
 crush Tyrone's rebellion in that troublous land. 
 There is something of conflict between Bacon's 
 Apology, published early in the reign of James L, 
 and his letters written to Essex at this time. In the 
 former he asserts that "I did not only dissuade, 
 but protest against his going," because "I did as 
 plainly see his overthrow chained, as it were by 
 destiny, to that journey, as it is possible for a man 
 to ground a judgment upon future contingents. " In 
 the latter "some good spirit led his pen to presage 
 to his Lordship success." The truth would seem 
 to be that Bacon entertained for his friend both 
 hope nnd " and that after Essex's failure his fear 
 loomed n. • .argely in ' is memory than liis hope. 
 For failure cam,e, and Essex, lacking the patience 
 and skill of an organizing general in a vexatious 
 campaign, returned suddenly to the Court, at Non- 
 such, and though at first received with surprised 
 pleasure by Elizabeth, soon felt her coldness as willing 
 tongues wagged against him and his proceedings, 
 alleging j)olitical intrigue as well as miserable con- 
 
 Bimpip 
 
 wm 
 
 mm 
 
XVIU 
 
 INTRdhUcriON' 
 
 (liiot of an iin])()rtant niiliturv ontorpriso. "He was 
 treated," says C'luirrli. "as a eat treats a mouse; 
 he was worried, eoiifiiuul. dis'n'aeed, ])ul)liely repri- 
 manded, brought just within ver<j:e of the eliarge of 
 treason, but not (juite, just enou«!jh to discredit and 
 alarm liini, but to leave him still a certain amount of 
 play. He was made to s(^e that the (Queen's favour 
 was not (juite hopeless; but that nothing ])ut the most 
 absolute and umvserved humiliation eould rr-rovcr it. 
 It was })lain to any o\i^ who knew J^ssex that this 
 treatment would drive him to madness." 
 
 The eloek was soon to strike twelve for the har;ied 
 man. Incjuirv and prosecution, despite Elizabeth's 
 old attachment to him, wei'e becoming dangerously 
 like persecution, and the first or Star Chamber session, 
 from v.liich lOssex was kept away, Served only to 
 kindle the hostility of his enemies and the appre- 
 hension of his friends. Against this action Hacon 
 justly protested, and at length [H'evailed on Elizabeth 
 "that the matter should be heard at York House, 
 before an assembly of councillors, peei's, and judges, 
 and some audi(Mice of men of (|uality to be admitted. " 
 In this "Corrective" trial Bacon was assigned a legidly 
 unimportant part, which he acce])te<l with regret and 
 misgiving, and yet with the sense of obligation to the 
 (^ueen, for whom he entertained a real regard, and in 
 the hope that his own loyalty might not be without, 
 value as affecting the welfare of his friend. It is 
 certain that he made frequent intercession for Essex, 
 and sought constantly to redeem hini from the 
 
INTR01>U( Tioy 
 
 XIX 
 
 Queen's displeasure. We must not be too (juick to 
 condemn the apparent ingratitude of Bacon to 
 Essex in appearing against him. It is less reprehen- 
 sible to err on the generous side than to censure a 
 whit beyond the just and certain limit. These 
 questions are necessary: Had Bacon two loyalties 
 to observe? Which, in Elizabeth's day, would bo 
 accounted the greater? Did PIssex deserve castiga- 
 tion? Were liacon's motives pure, or mixed? If 
 mixed, is he wholly blameworthy? ])id he truly 
 desire to save his friend both from his enemies and 
 from himself? 
 
 To the last question Essex, for his part, would seem 
 willing to respond in Bacon's favour. After a mild 
 sentence had been pronounced Bacon still sought 
 full clemency from Elizabeth, and unmoved by the 
 slanders with which many were now besmirching his 
 own good name he continued ardently to sue for 
 Essex's immediate liberation from unhappiness and 
 gloom, and would' doubtless have succeeded were it 
 not for recurring causes of suspicion carefully instilled 
 into Elizabeth's mind, and therein nurtured, li'icon 
 still followed what he thought was the safest way, the 
 path of indirection, and having composed a corre- 
 spondence between his brother Anthony and Essex, 
 in a manner to please the Queen, submitted it to her. 
 
 These were only half-lights, however, like so many 
 other devices of Elizabeth's court and society. In- 
 deed, as Bacon the essayist tells us, "dissinnilntion is 
 but a faint kind of policy, or wisdom. For it askcth 
 
XX 
 
 ixTRODrcrioy 
 
 a strong wit and a strong heart to know when to tell 
 trui-h, and to do it. Tlierefore it is tlie weaker sort 
 of politicians that are the greatest dissemblers." 
 Yet the letters had their value, and so had Bacon's 
 many conversations with the Queen, who in August, 
 1()()0, set her former favourite at liberty. He retired 
 shortly to tlie country, hoping for a c(,.nplete restora- 
 tion to power, but the test he made of Elizabeth's 
 intention was not a happy one. A T)atent he possessed 
 for the monopoly of sweet wines, which had brought 
 him a large income, was now about to ex))ire, and 
 Essex sued rather too directly for its renewal. This 
 was refused and Ehzai)eth's disfavour was increased, 
 directing itself also toward Bact)n, as his representa- 
 tions on behalf of his friend became, in the Queen's 
 view, unduly urgent. Essex, deeply stirred by this 
 ])etulant denial of his claim, impulsively decided to 
 carrv out the id(vi of a demonstration, alreadv 
 conceived; and reo})ening, as is alleged, negotiations 
 with Scotland and Ireland, and intriguing with both 
 Puritan and Catholic, he marched with a few armed 
 men uj)on F.oiidon, and threw himself recklessly into 
 the hands of is fate. It is difficult to credit his 
 defence "that mere was a plot against his life; that 
 some were suborncMl to stab him in his bed; that he 
 and his friends were treacherously dealt with, and that 
 they were detorminctl on resistance," and equally 
 difficult to believe that he seriously relied on the 
 willingness of Londoners to ris(> in his behalf. Rather, 
 it would app(>ar, tired oi' contimiely and of an irksome 
 
 
ixriKtincrKtx 
 
 XXI 
 
 siibniis.^1011 that .lid not report him and his c-auK' 
 aright, ho cast <1..\vm i he ,ua,<v«' witii hauiihtv passion, 
 with sonu'thin- of that lieroic spirit that loads a 
 soldier to seek a soldier's end, to linisii his life, as ho 
 had lived it, on the high terms of pride and determi- 
 nation. If apparent failure were sure, even in that 
 lailure he saw sueeess. I^ssex. at least, was straitened 
 until his purpose was accomplished. 
 
 While the ''rebel" lay imprisoned in the Tower, 
 evidence against him rapidly accumulated, and his 
 lormal guilt was plainly established. On February 
 19, 1001, he was brought to trial ami admitted 
 his overt act of treason, but scornfullv rejected the 
 interiH-etation placed upon it by his accusers. His 
 attitude was firm antl noble, and he showed to better 
 advantage than Jiacon, who was ordered to assist 
 m the prosecution. 
 
 The course of the relationship between these two 
 men had now reached a dramatic climax. Bacon's 
 presence and participation during the trial do not 
 immediately win our api)r()val, yet there is no room for 
 doubt that he laboured faithfully to the last to save 
 his friend, and did not cease his efforts until Essex 
 had suffered the extreme penalty, February 25, 
 1601. After the fatal event and by order of l":iizabeth', 
 he set forth an official declaration of the treasons of 
 Essex ill a form so mild rliat he was sharply rebuked 
 aiul thorough revision was made by other hands. 
 
 Two years after the execution of the man she had 
 so highly honoured and so deeply humiliated, Ehza- 
 
\xn 
 
 JXTRf/DirriOX 
 
 ])otli, wlioso lioalth ami spirits had thereafter eon- 
 timiallv dec'lhiod, i)ass('(l out of England's Ufe, and 
 Bacon's, March 24, 10U3. 
 
 With l':Hzal)oth passed the Tudors and the Tudor 
 relation between hold and able sovereigns and a re- 
 s{)onsive people. The heritage of the English throne 
 now fell to James Stuart, only son of .Mary Stuart, 
 (^ueen of Scots, who was already ruling Scotland 
 as James \I. Jk'fore Elizabeth's death Cecil had 
 smoothed down eveiy possible obstacle to the acces- 
 sion of tlie heir as James I. of England, and the 
 new reign, to last for twenty-two years, began 
 quietly with the arrival of James in London, May, 
 1603. The character of this king was ill-suited to 
 grasp and govern the times. The spirit of the Renais- 
 sance was already decatlent; Puritanism, with its 
 Hebraic '.c zest for conduct as the ])rime good, was 
 n rising tide in Englau.l; and, if l)lindly, yet no less 
 surely, Hie i)opular heart was turning toward the 
 idea of civil rights as the inevitable warrant and con- 
 dition of religious liberty. ]iotli the Established 
 Church and the J)issenters, it is true, misdefined 
 " fnv conscieiice," yet conservative and bigot be- 
 came alike the lai'gely unwitting agents of progress 
 in theology and statecraft. James did not see, or, 
 if he saw, did not understand, this movement of the 
 time-spirit. Himself nurtiu'ed in a wikl land where 
 might spelled right, a lirm believer in the Stuart 
 traditions, clever and "read" without being saga- 
 
 mm 
 
INTRODrVTIOX 
 
 X X 1 11 
 
 cious, obstinate without being stronji;, onibittercd 
 by early struggles with Calvinist and deniocrat with- 
 out ever having attempted to conceive their point of 
 view, he was from the first out of sympathy with the 
 English people, suspicious of Parliament, and irri- 
 tably fickle toward his i. .mediate sup})orters. He 
 was always the Scotch inlK-ritor, unada])ted and un- 
 adaptable, a stranger in a si range land. 
 
 Paradoxical as it may ap{)ear, Francis i^acon, the 
 already determined renovator of learning and founder 
 of a new philosophy, sought engerly for t' < favour 
 of James and his court. He wrote to Lfml Southamp- 
 ton, who, condemned with Kssex, had been r(>lcased 
 but lately from the Tower, ''1 may safely be that 
 to you now, which 1 was truly before;" to the J*:arl 
 of Northumberland, ''If 1 may be of any use ^o your 
 Lordship, by my head, tongue, })en, means, or friends, 
 I humbly pray you to hold me your own;" and to 
 Cecil, "I pray you, as you find time \vi him know 
 that h. is the personage in the State which I love 
 most." Mistaken as his motive may s(>em to have 
 been, it was fn honourable one. His des'rc [i serve 
 James locally was conditioner! precisely upon his 
 desire to serve humanity universally. Tliat a human 
 being, limited, finite, matter-bound, can achieve 
 high success in pure scholarship, intellectuiil leader- 
 ship, and political office alike, Jkcon evidently 
 believed possible, and, in Iv'- case, even necessary. 
 Place and power, he felt, must })ecome the command- 
 ing platform from which his voice should carry con- 
 
 ^ww 
 
XXIV 
 
 lMlit)r>l( TIOX 
 
 viction to worldly and unworldly, fin unreslricted 
 audience. In a note t'oncernin<r himself attached 
 in Latin Ms. to his treatise on th(> " Interj)retatioi; 
 of Nature,'' and translated by his admirable if too 
 partial biographer. James S])edding, he declares that 
 he finds himself fitted for m^thing so well as for the 
 study of truth; '*as having n mind nimble and ver- 
 satile enough to catch the resemblances of things . . . 
 and at the same time stead}' enough to fix and dis- 
 tinguish their subtler differences; as being gifted by 
 nature with desire to seek, j)atience to doubt, fond- 
 ness to meditate, slowness to assert, readiness to 
 reconsider, careful ''-ss to dispose and set in order; 
 and as being a man that neither affects what is new 
 nor admires what is old, and that hates every kind 
 of imposture." Because, howe\er, of early training; 
 and because of an instinctive patriotism; "and be- 
 cause I ho{)ed that, if I rose to any place of honour 
 in the State, I should have a larger command of in- 
 dustry and ability to help me in my work; for these 
 reasons I both applied myself to acquire the arts of 
 civil life, and commended my service, so far as in 
 modesty and honesty I might, to the favour of such 
 friends as had any influence. In which also I had 
 another motive: for I felt that those things I have 
 ? '-en of — be they great or small — reach no further 
 . n he condition and culture of this mortal life; and 
 I was not without hope . . . that if I came to hoki 
 office in the State. I might get something done too 
 for the siood of m^n's souls." 
 
ixmojucTioy 
 
 XXV 
 
 
 Xo one can read these words and ilouht their sin- 
 rerity. If Jiaeon's politieal life seem to us of to-day 
 a serious waste of effort, it did not at least so appear 
 to Bacon, or even to those few intimate friends who 
 knew somethiiig of his deeper life. Rank, fortune, 
 power, property — all tliese, he thought, might 
 serve variously as jjrops, or even as ballast, to the 
 life of the nnn-in-himself; and it is not singular, 
 therefore, that, thus thinking, lie was able at last^ 
 when stripped of these accessories, still to face the 
 future with equanimity of soul. If he felt too strongly 
 that he could spare nothing, that he nmst convert 
 all things into aids, he neverthel(\ss was able to dis- 
 criminate between aid and aim. He beli. ved him- 
 self wise enough and strong enough to handle for 
 noble ends tools whose knack or trick lesser men than 
 he knew much better. For a time he almost suc- 
 ceeded, but at last ''affairs" ruined him. He "fell," 
 and yet in that very catastrophe we can see the seeds 
 ot his ultimate recognition as a statesman who strove 
 honestly to understand and elevate the life of his 
 country. He had to contend with personal enmity 
 and vague popular discontent on the one hand, and 
 with a crass absolutism on the other. When he saw 
 himself tactically outflanked and surrounded, he 
 yielded perforce, yet it is incredible that he felt his 
 surrender to be an ineffaceable disgrace, as a mere 
 opportunist must have done. 
 
 James summoned his first Parliament March 19, 
 1604, and Bacon, as a Commoner for the borough of 
 
^^^,j ixruonrcTioy 
 
 ln.wi,-l..l>o«.MK. =UK.Hiv,. s,».ak..r aiul eommittepman. 
 T ■" rli.n,..>,t atta.k-a, -Mu.;.^ oth...- unp, m,. 
 , ,,1,.. al.us..s of tlu. ICNoho,,,.,.,-, and the bunlen- 
 r.e. "f .•.munissa,-i.-s' cnurts. So aecep al, y 
 Ba,-oa pnHocl in tl„..o n.atters acceptably to 
 o 1, House an.l Kin... .l-t l>o shortly becan.e Jame. s 
 .^1. ie.! Conn-^ol U^arned in the Law, and was granted 
 ; p-nsion. Keen in debate, fertile u, resource, re- 
 : ;" nlly <-on<.iliaU,ry towar.l James, ho was at th.s 
 , „, „,„ thronRhont his pnblio career the one ont- 
 dins fif-nnv who tried to deal generously w,th 
 i. . .n,l ,KM>plo, serving both as his moral outlook 
 ^d political U'-ity «"gSoste<l, in the sp.nt of. a 
 ; , , .r-s..rvanl, tor "he had," says X.chol, "as pro- 
 n,d a .lisbelief as Cariyle had \n onr own age in 
 , ,„|l,,.,iv,. wisdo.n of individual ignorances. 
 ,.„„,.. soon learned to respect and value such a com- 
 ,t,ati.>n of skilled talent with int..gnty oi purpose, 
 .„„1 .ave him divers commissions, among them the 
 ;,,,,paration of a basis for the propo.sed union of 
 I-'iuHmikI niul Scotland. 
 
 Vn i,:' tlie meeting of the next Parliament, Bacon 
 ,,,dressed himself pretty steadily to letU-rs, WTit.ng 
 , H..,nv Saville, Provost of i'lton, on Hel,« to the 
 „..llectnal I'owers." and to Chancellor KUesmere 
 „„ the importance of making possible the produe- 
 ,i„„ of an impartial and well-proportioned History 
 „f Britain, a task he confessed to be congenial to him- 
 .olf but of which he was unable to attempt more 
 (luili the outline. Of much greater value are the 
 
iNrROhr("rn)X 
 
 XX\ il 
 
 in 
 
 Two Booki^ of th( Adntnrcmrnt of Lainilntj. juil)- 
 litiliod OctolxM-, 160.1, and dedicated to James, -- 
 a noble though tentative work, eoiitaiiiiiiu^ the 
 elaborated results of Haeon's lono- iii(|uirv iii?o tiie 
 means and effects of learnin,ii-. The I'irst liook pro- 
 poses to discuss " the exeeHency of learning- aud 
 knowledge, and the exeelleney of "the merit and true 
 glory in the augmentation and proj)agation thereof"; 
 and the Second Book 'Svhat the i)articular acts and 
 works are which have been embraced and undertaken 
 for the advancement of learning." The ground bcnng 
 cleared by the discussions of the First Book, Bacon 
 treats of the means of k'arning, as schools, books, 
 persons; and then boldly yet i)atiently att(>mi)ts 
 "to make a general and faithful perambulation of 
 learning, with an incpiiry what i)arts thereof lie 
 fresh and waste. My j)uri)()se is at this time to note 
 only omissions and deficiencies." 
 
 In November of the same y(>ar Parliament again 
 assembled, and Bacon's ambition for ])lace began 
 again to be stimulated. He a|)plied to Lord Salisbury 
 (Robert (Veil) for the Solicitorship, in March, Hitm. 
 As in l':iizabeth's reign, however, he was not ap- 
 pointed, but disappointed. Yet his star was waxing. 
 In May he married a well-to-do and comel\- damsel, 
 Alice Barnham, daughter of an aldernlan, and, 
 though he app(>ars to have been nnich more dignified 
 than rf>niantic in tliis affair, their life together was 
 doubt-. oS not less happy than that of Shakesjieare 
 and Anne Hathaway. To Spenser's domestic joy 
 
 'mrr^-\ 
 
XXVIU 
 
 JSTRitlUCTION 
 
 Hat'oii (lid Tiot. pr()l)al)ly could not, attain, hut upon 
 ('()ke\s (.'xp('ri(MU'e ho decidedly improved. Certaiuly, 
 the matrimonial estate made him both more solici- 
 tous and more successful in the ))ursuit of office. In 
 this year Coke ••ave up the Attorneyship to become 
 Chief Justice of the Conunon Pleas, one Hobart 
 became the not too able Attorney, and Bacon looked 
 for the transfer of JJoddridii . the Solicitor, and his 
 own elevation to that place. Owini; to hostile in- 
 fluences, howevei". or the uneasy feeliufi; that a man 
 of Bacon's forceful personality might not fit smoothly 
 into the machinery of the State, his a])pointment was 
 deferred until June 25. 1()()7. His income from 
 this office was about £1.000, and, all told, by 1608, 
 with the l^euistrarship of the Star Chamber, amounted 
 to over £5,000. 
 
 In the Coinmcnlnrlii^ Sohdns, a lengthy private 
 memorandum comi)osed 1)V Bacon in this latter year, 
 which reveals in the most candid manner his little 
 prudences and f«)ibles as well as the higher aims of 
 his life, he stresses his cherished plan for a reformed 
 philosophy and his ideal of national greatness. 
 Among othiM- matters he deals with the Attorney- 
 ship and Hobart 's ()ccu[)ancy. He is evidently 
 determined to succeed Hobart as early as may be, 
 and describes !iim rath<'r surprisingly in the margin 
 as a "solenm goosi'." In order to push his fortunes, 
 this frank commentator made of himself a particu- 
 larly active Solicitor, d(>s|)ite the routine duties of 
 the ofKce, and remained also a zealous member of 
 
IMRODVLTl'JX 
 
 XXIX 
 
 the Commons. \\v siip])orted Salishurv's ill-starrod 
 "Great Contraot" i)lau of relieviiiii- the Kind's liiiaii- 
 C'ial embarrassment, by means of which James was 
 virtually lo sell >mall fractions of the prerooative. 
 in addition to tluvse can^s lie found time slowly to 
 evolve parts of his (treat In-stduratiou, to write his 
 Confession of Faith, and, in U)12. I(» revise his J'Jssai/s. 
 
 In Kill) old J.ady jiacon had passed away, and the 
 followinu' y(>ar llobart fell ill, K^aviiiii' Bacon to re- 
 mind the Kin«j; of his claims and (^xi^ectations. Th(^ 
 Attorney recovered, but Salisbury, whom his cousin 
 had always found at b(\st a lukewarm patron, died 
 May 24, 1612, and with him faded the afterglow of 
 I'^li/.abeth's lon<2: reifi'n. I^acon wrote frecpiently to 
 the Kin^ sup:j2;estinir improvements upon Salislniry's 
 policies, with himself as imi)rover. and showed a 
 sjHrit of somewhat mysterious resentment atiainst 
 his late relative*. James responded in a measure, 
 but cautiously, imtil in UWA an opj^ort unity occurred 
 to transfer Coke to the Chief Justiceshij) of the Kin^i's 
 Bench, promote llobart to the Connnon IMeas, and 
 make Bacon, October 27, Attorney-CJeneral. 
 
 Parliament had not met since midsununer, 1610, and 
 on I^jacon's ur<»ent advice was now ass(>mbled, April, 
 1614. Althou^ih. as Attorney, Parliament decided 
 that l^acon was not (^li^iible to r(4ain membership, he 
 was mado a pcrsiuial «'\ception and giiveti a seat by 
 courtesy. Ih* soon showed his act-ustomed activity, 
 defending' as he nuiiht tlu^ royal prerojiative atjainsf 
 merely sullen or malevolent attacks, and yet at- 
 
XXX 
 
 IXTRODrCTIOy 
 
 tompting to load liis fellow-menibors into progressive 
 linos of policy and lo<iislation. It was a hard task, 
 for Kin^ and Parliament wore in reality two masters, 
 mutually susj)i('ious and quirk to take offence. In- 
 deed, after Bacon had concluded a careful explana- 
 tion of James's <i;ood intentions, he declared: "Thus 
 have I told you my opinion. 1 know it had b"en 
 more safe and j)oli{ic to have becMi silent; hut it is 
 more hon(\st and lovin*;; to speak. When a man 
 speaketh, he may he wounded l)y others; but as he 
 holds his peace from good things, he wounds him- 
 self." The speecli was not heard with acceptance, 
 and the King, seeing no hope of obtaining supplies, 
 dissolved this "Addled I'arliament" in June. He 
 tried, instead, to impose a tax of place upon the 
 greater noblemen and ofhce-holders, and even upon 
 the lesser fry, arousing mudi excited opposition. 
 Several persons who dannl decry the plan were 
 brought to trial and severely jnmished, among 
 them Rev. Kdmund Peacham, an okl clergyman 
 whose case has l)(H'ome celebrated in Bacon lore, 
 owing to the lesort to torture. His house having 
 b(>en s(\arched, a foolish sermon was found of extreme 
 l)itterness and audacity, and, after a long legal con- 
 troversy, he was convicted of treason, and died in 
 Taunton jail The case was considered important 
 in that P(>acham was supposed to have accomplices 
 of higher station. As for J^acon's connection with 
 the affair, it was purely official, his name not even 
 ai)pearing on the torture warrant, and his personal 
 
INTRODUVTION 
 
 XXXI 
 
 dislike of such moans l)eing nuule nmnitVst in a 
 report to James. 
 
 During; tliis time Bacon wrote an admirable and 
 sympathetic letter to (I(H)rge Villiei-s. who had suc- 
 ceeded Robert Carr, the infamous Karl of Somerset, 
 as the royal favourite. The letter wai'ns \'illiers 
 against undue interference with the judiciary: " Jiy 
 no means be you persuaded to interpose yourself . . . 
 in any cause depending, or like to be dej)ending, in 
 any court of justice, nor suffer any other great man 
 to do it where you can hinder it, and by all means 
 dissuade the King himself from it, uj)on the importu- 
 nit\' of any for themselves or their friends; if it 
 should prevail, it perverts justice; but if the judge 
 be so just, and of such courage, as he ought to be, 
 as not to be inclined tlKMvby, yet it always leaves a 
 taint of suspicion behind it; judges nuist be as chaste 
 as Ca\sar's wife, neither to be, nor to l)e suspected 
 to be unjust; antl, sir, the honour of tlie judges in 
 their judicature is the King's honour, whose person 
 they represent." So keenly did H-tcon feel the 
 sanctity of the law that he continued (O seek its hn- 
 provement through codification; but in vain, owing 
 to the opposition (>f Coke and the indifference of the 
 King. 
 
 George Villiers, the recipient of tlu ^etter referred 
 to, who afterward became Duke of Buckingham, was 
 a brilliant, astute, handsome, agreea))le, but largely 
 selfish and conscienceless man. In 1613 he entered 
 the King's household and rose ra})idl\- to the Duke- 
 
 
XXXll 
 
 iM'Hohic riity 
 
 dinn, bestowod <,n l.im two ^•oars \-Mov. Bamn had 
 shown httU' interest in SonuTset. or expectation 
 Ironi hnn. l.ut l)(>tvveeii hin.self ami \ illiers tliere 
 alreiuiy existed an easy IVi(Mulshii) thai wore well 
 as tlie years pass(>d and each proved of marked assist- 
 ance to tlie other. Bacon, for liis par!. oav(. \iiii^.,.^ 
 plonty of so.n.d advice tJiat had '^on.c fruition, and 
 Vi hers heartily pushed his fri.Mui's fortunes at court 
 Cokes evil influence was nieantinu> undero-oino- 
 steady reduction, until this uroat hut pompous 
 Justice was at lenoth removed from office, Xoveniber 
 Iblt), owing technically to a dispute between his 
 court and Chancery. 
 
 To this Jatter hav(>n Bacon was now proceedinir 
 under full sail. Kllesmere's tenure would shorth 
 f'ease, and Bacon did not hesitate to inform the 
 King of the inadequacy of Coke, II(,bart, and 
 others, to fill th(> place, and incidentaliv of his own 
 strcmg ho]v. \\v was h(>ard favourabh'. and, as an 
 earnest of the royai good-will, was advanced to the 
 Invy Council. In a letter to \ illiers acknowlc.dging 
 tlu' promise of the Chancellorship, he uses the patheti- 
 cally predictive u'ords: 'I am ^ours surer to vou 
 tlian my own lih^ Jor. as then- speak of the Tur- 
 quoise stone in a ring, I will Im-ak into twentv pieces 
 belore you bear tlK> least fall." On Afarch :^ 1617 
 lie became Lord Keeper of the Cirear Seal and as^ 
 sumed his new rank on May 7 with mairnificence. 
 In addressing tlie bar (,n that occasion, he spoke with 
 IH'^-uiiar power and wisdom concerning the judici-d 
 
 jgH 
 
JXrifODl <T10X 
 
 XXXIU 
 
 (Spirit and iiiotliod, aiul dealt plainly with pn^vailiiij:; 
 habits of ('()rruj)tioii. January. ItilS. saw hitn ad- 
 vanced to the full dignity of Lord Chancollor. Six 
 months later he Axas made a peer, aiul thereafter, tirst, 
 Baron Wrulani, and th(Mi \'iseount St. Alhans. 
 
 liacon had now reached the hei,iiht of his social 
 desire and jiolitical fortune, throuiih "favoin". oj)por- 
 tunity, death of oIIum's," and also throuuh "occasion 
 fittin.u: virtue," for he was amon^- the l)est-e(piipped 
 and best-intent ioned chancellors in {''.n.Jiland's annals. 
 Financially, he suffered loss through the rc^liiuiuish- 
 inji: of his minor lucrative oflices, and the difference 
 in his income was not made up by the receij)ts from 
 fees and ^'ifts. Of the latter there were always many, 
 not only hi Bacon's experience, but in that of the 
 high world in jieneral, from monarch to statesmen 
 and officers, including; the judiciary. Tlu> practice 
 was general becaus(> it was traditional, and only now 
 was a rational antagonism to it slowly ass(U'ting 
 itself, most notably in France. Of Bacon's hard work 
 and just judgments as Chancellor there is the most 
 ample evidence; of his fre(|uent receipt of money and 
 presents from litigants, though very rarely during 
 t^ial, arid of his complaisant though never criminal 
 susceptibility to Buckingham's iiiHuence, then- is also 
 evidence, to s]iare. 
 
 Each day, however, in tlse Couit of Chancery, a 
 day's work was done. an(i envy of the Chancellor had 
 scant foothold save for thc^ "mistake" which I^acon 
 made in opposing the marriage of Coke's ilaughter 
 
 J 
 
 pane! 
 
 ■p«p 
 
 npffp 
 
XXXI V 
 
 IXTRODVCTIOX 
 
 to Sir John Millers, a younger ; rothor of Hurkin^- 
 ham. Jiaroii th()u,i>ht he saw in this proposal a 
 schonio to restore ( oke to the Kind's favour and to 
 ooni})roinise Buckinojhain's politieal infiuoneo. Ladv 
 Hatton, the ^rji-I's mother, who had suffered violence 
 in protect in- her dau-litor from (\)ko's minions 
 appealed, not in vain, to Bacon, who removed the 
 .youn^^ woman to impartial custodv, wrote to Buck- 
 m^rhani for support, and induced the Council to 
 try Coke for riotous conduct, rnfortunatelv, the 
 ( hancf.llor had reckoned without his host, or, rather 
 his sov.Mvi-n. lately absent in Scotland, who zealouslv 
 endorsed the match and reprimanded his too offi- 
 cious serwmt. Buckinoham, too, turned sharply 
 upon Bacon, whose conduct had been, even if dis- 
 I)loas,no-. honest and faithful, and who was now con- 
 strained to seek a reconciliation. The marriage 
 took place, (\)ke came back to his seat at the council 
 table, and Buckingham «renerouslv for^rave his friend 
 r us meant even less freedom for Bacon tliereafter' 
 who showed himself indeed in Uie trials of RaleiLd/ 
 the Lord Treasurer Suffolk, and former Attornev 
 \elverton. thouo-h an equitable lawyer vet conscious 
 ot the (rown lal)ol and constraint. "I know," he 
 said, "thes(^ thiiios do iu)t pertain to me; for my 
 part IS to acjuit the Kin-'s office towards God, in 
 the maintenance of the prerogative, and to oblige 
 the hearts of the p<H,ple to him by the administra- 
 tion of justiee." In his capacity as Keeper of the 
 Seal, how(.ver, though he was made eonstantlv to 
 
 
TXTh'fiDrcriox 
 
 XXXV 
 
 f(>('l tiic Kiiiii's need of money, lie exercised inarke(l 
 coiiservatisiii in passiiij;- <iJ-aiits and IVaiichises. 
 
 This incident of the niarriaiie was tlie crisis or turn- 
 in<i-j)oint of liacon's career. Powerful. w<'ahhy, and 
 exahed; master of a fine (-state at (lorhambnry and 
 of his old hjrthi)hice, York House; ah-eady rec()<rnized 
 hv sundry thouiih-tful judges as ,i!;reatest of tlie plii- 
 losophers of lMi<2;huid, — and tiieir opinion was more 
 than justified by the appearance of the Novum 
 On/anum iiicw montlis hiter, — lie passed his sixtieth 
 birthday, January 22. 1()2(), in peaceful s|)len(l()ur. 
 Hardly more than a year later he had fallen into an 
 ai)parently all-en^ulfintj: disgrace. 
 
 To understand tliis astonishin*; reversal of liis 
 life's direction, wo must bear steadily in mind three 
 considerations: first, the certain tendency of civ- 
 ilized p(H)])les to correct seen evils, which tendency 
 is itself a test of civilization; second. Bacon's 
 peculiarly close relations with James and Bucking- 
 ham; third. Bacon's superior mentality, which en- 
 abled him to see — with heart-sinkin*;:; — the fatal 
 thoii<i;h superficial Haws in any possible ilefence, and 
 to anticipate the catastrophe into which both official 
 Mn<i;land and ])opular Hn<iland, as agents of his in- 
 (^xoral)le fate, were inevitably to pursue him. 
 
 The facts, of which but a brief recital will be 
 necessary, are as follows. Upon the lon^-deferred 
 summoninfi of Parliament in 1621, a Parliament which 
 opent^l quietly Init inherited the aninuis of its prede- 
 cessors in regard to public abuses and the attitude 
 
XXX vi 
 
 i.\ri:(iin'<rj()S 
 
 of tlie Crown toward public liol.ts. ,, woll-dirocted 
 attack upon the rapacity of certain of Huckin^hum's 
 creatures resulted in the imprisonment of Sir Francis 
 Micliell and tlie fliohf of Sir ( iil(>s Mompesson. These 
 men had blacknurlcHJ silk merchants, ^oldsmitlis. and 
 others, iorcin- H , u> pay extortionate ivvr^ for 
 patents, or to -no up Inisiness, or even sulfer arrest 
 Ihe monopoly system had luronK" so arro-ant and 
 so econonucally aiM .^thjcallv destructive that Par- 
 liament, ma.le ea-er l,y iis brief exploration of the 
 flooded current, be^an to look hiuhcr for the source 
 or .ources It was discovere.l that Christopher 
 \ilhers and. especially, Sir K(hvard \illiers. Bucking- 
 hams broth(<rs. were anion- these sources, and a 
 quickly echoed outcry arose a^^ainst corruption in 
 tlie seats of thf> mighty. Jaiiu-s and Buckingham 
 becam(> hrst uneasy, and finallv alarmed. JiuckinL- 
 ham, })ar(icularly, f,>arin,o: his own future, made haste 
 o consult not the essc.itially just-minded Bacon, but 
 \\ ilhanis, tluMi Dean of Westminster, a shrewd and able 
 man, who su--(^ste(l that the Court would do well 
 whenevcT possible, to sacrifice the lesser for the 
 greater, and that Sir Edward MIHcts. for his part 
 should flee immediately. ' 
 
 By this time the parliamentarv committees were 
 hard at work, and one of them had ventured to 
 glance at fhe i Referees - among whom the Lord 
 Chancellor was numbered - who had certified to the 
 abused patents. (V>ke. inveterate in pers.Hial enniitv, 
 and Cranheld. Master of the Wards, for whom Bacon 
 
ISTRODICTIOX 
 
 xxxvu 
 
 had oprnly shown his <HsHk(\ saw tlioir opportunity, 
 and, nttcrinfi' much sontcntious wisdom, insisted that 
 only a I'lill invcstiiration of \\\v (hnvls .-md cliaraetors 
 of the H(>fer('(^s could sal isfy t he ro\ :il honour. Bacon 
 at once rocoiiiiizcd their nieaiiiii^", and ap]>eal(Ml to 
 James: "Thos(^ th.al will strike at your Chancellor, 
 it is much to he fearcvl will sirik(^ at your Crown. I 
 wisli that as I am th(> lirst 1 \\\\\\ he the last of sac- 
 rifices." 'V\\v Wwvj^ resi)onded as he could, but in 
 March a commiue(> of n^form report(Ml two ])etitions 
 for corrupt ioji aiiainst the Court of Chancery. Almost 
 inunediately, out of what hud hitiierto seemed a 
 clear sky save for "the passinu an^er of a shadow," 
 the liohtnings be,L^•ln to dart, and Bacon found himself 
 in the han<ls of hi-^ (Miemies. Comit after count was 
 brou<2:ht at-ainst him, trivial as n(>arly all of them 
 were, until th(>y numbereil eventually twenty-eight 
 formal articles of indicttnent. The storm threw 
 Bacon back ujion himself in a^;itati(m, not of soul, 
 but certainly of mind and body, and induced an illness 
 that prevented direct reply. He addressed the House 
 of Lords, however, in wrinng;, askino- for strict justice 
 and present suspensioi: of jud^nient. and declaring 
 his resolve to defend himself. The Lords answered 
 coolly, and proceeded to examine the complaints, 
 the popular clamour ])einii- so sinister that Bacon's 
 affectionate friend. Sir Thomas Meautys, protested 
 against its blindness and ])itterness: '" I have known 
 and observed his Lordship for some xears: he hath 
 .sown a good seed of justice^; let not the abandoned 
 and envious choke it with their tares." 
 
-xxxviii 
 
 l.ymoiirrTio.v 
 
 DiinnK Ivtstrr. l';,rlinM,<.,i( st„o,l a<ijourno,l and 
 
 Haco,, prop,„,.,l l,i,„...|l luv ,l,o ,l.^no„™ on, OfTc 
 
 v,n, ,,,,v,.n,...s „r ,|„. ,„la,.k l„. had «ri„,.„ ,(„ , ' 
 
 3uek,n,.ha,n: " ^ „,„■ ,.„„,shi,, s„„ko „f pn^a ^r " 
 
 "»,„„„•„,,,,■ iH.r my „,in,l i.s in a ,.aln ■ for v 
 
 fortun,. ,s n,„ n,v f,.|i,.ify. I kn„w I hav.. j,, ^^^ 
 
 an.l a Hoan h,.,,,.,, and I l,„p,. a ,.],.„, Imns. Co f ' 
 
 or sorvanls. H,„ .|„l, hin,s,.|f, ,„■ whosoox-,.,- „' ; 
 
 l"m, as ,a,l, l„..n us,.d a.ains, „„, „„„. ,■„, f ' ,, 
 
 r:™:' f""l' '-l«-'""y in •■. tin,.. wluM, ..va,„,.sV , 
 ". .K, and amisalion is ||„. j.,,,,,,,. And ir ,his l„. 
 ^. .oaHn,n,.Hor. innnkif,l,,...o,,,,,|,,'\', : 
 Honnsl,nv H.ath. nol,„dy „„uld ,ako i, np. H,„ ' h, 
 
 or;::;^r- '■'''■''■"'''■"■'"'''"'''• '-'--^ 
 
 so rnn„l i„r oonsc'ionoo. „r smsiliilin-, for he saw 
 ho sononsnoss of his position, and tho' ono of H ^ 
 et.or rovoals tronblod thon^hr. Ho know hin, oil o 
 P a n,an n,nooon, in motivo whom it wonid I o , • 
 > p.;ovo ^nnlfy in faof : ho know , ha. ,lan, t , d 
 
 l"»aml hoirononnos: a,,,ll,o know, ,00, ,IkU wlnt 
 
 .■v<.r n„,d,t 1,0 his ri;;ln of r, ,„ition as a |J,: 
 
 andsroat finnkor, "il sh„ul,l ho" is ,00 of, , , |,^ 
 '"t.,s world l,yhoroi,oa„.„M,o." . ,, .p 
 to Janio., I-or r|,o bnbo„<.s and -jf,s whorowi,!, ( 
 am ohar,od whon ,ho book of ho:.,-,; shall , ! .,/ 
 I hope I shall no, b,. found „, |,avo ri,,. ,ronblod m ' 
 ""» <>t a corrupt hoa.t, in a dopraved habU o; ,aki ..• 
 
ISTHOIH criox 
 
 XXXIX 
 
 icwards to iMTVcil justice; howsoever I may l)e frail, 
 and partake of the '^uses of the times." Th<' |)rayer. 
 too. wliieli lie wrote at this time. !• moving- one. 
 and concludes si<iiuficantly : "When 1 1 ve ascended 
 before men. 1 have d( scended in humiliation before 
 tiiee ... so as I may truly say. my soul hath been 
 a stranger in the course of my pil»i;rimage. " 
 
 The Novum Oiyantim, mentioiu^d al)ove, had 
 api)eared in Octobei-. Iti'iO. and was intiMided as 
 an instalment, with the earlier AtlrnnccNK nt of 
 lA'arn'nuj and the later Ih Aiu/mottis Sciculionnn, 
 of Bacon's reviinv of " 'dl knowledge." his dntit 
 infttaumtion. It is the fruit of twelve years of 
 composition, and though finally publislunl in some- 
 what umnetliodical form, stiikes the keynote of th(> 
 Baconian philoso])hy. trial by exiMM'iment. the sub- 
 mission of theory to natural laws, and the achieve- 
 menl of freedom by harmonious cooperation with 
 those laws. 
 
 As the determination of I'arliament to push the 
 prosecution, and the reluctance — indeed the inabil- 
 ity — of .James and Buckingham decisi\(>ly to inter- 
 fere became more and more a])parent. Bacon urged 
 the King at least to save him from sentence, and 
 offered to resign the Seal. In vain. Nothing could 
 now prevent his formal trial, not even his withdrawal 
 of all attempt at defence. In Bacon's memorandum 
 of his last conference with James before the House 
 met again, he sa\s: "The law of nature teaches 
 me to speak in ly own defence. With respect to 
 
 i^'J 
 
 "inmiiiT^' iitr 
 
xl 
 
 JXTh'f//)/ ('r/(,\ 
 
 tins charso of hriiKTy, 1 a,,, as innu,-o„t as anv born 
 u,x.„ St. J,n„.....:„-s Day: I never had bril„. or reward 
 
 ZZo7',T\ """'•-'"."■''<■" l-".nouneing «M„enee 
 or o, lei II Imvvever. ,t is aljsoliitelv neeessarv the 
 Kms's wil shall bo obeyed. 1 an, i«aK- <o i„ak.. an 
 oblation of niy.seli to the Kins, in u hose haiul.s I an, 
 ■^ clay, to be made a ves.sel of honour or dishonour " 
 The K„,s „,d,ca,e,l l,i^ desi,-,.. him,,,. «„-oi,i.dv that 
 Haccm shouhl »„b,„i,, and s,.en,s lo have made him 
 adehmie ,„-on„.se ,.on,-e,-ni„K fnt,„-e pnr.U.i, an,| ,e- 
 mss,on. fh.. ••t,.ial" ,ook pha-e. the Honse of 
 Louis aetniK as both jnd^e and ,,ro.sec„tor. A forni-,1 
 answer was ,-e,|„i,-ed to each ,.o„n| i„ ||,e indietnieii't 
 and „ was then adj,„lge,l -hat, upon |,i.s own eo -' 
 
 tliat he shall „nderg„ l„,e a„,l ,an.soi„ of fortx- tho„- 
 sand ponn.ls; be in,p,i.soned in the Tower during the 
 luiiKs pleasure; b,. fo,,.ver ineapabi,. of anv .ruiee 
 a<.e or ,M„ployn,e,„ i„ (he Smv or Conanonwealtl,; 
 
 vei :: th'^'r "V" ""•""■'""' '""• "-- »i'l'"' "'« 
 veige or tlic ( ourt. 
 
 From the Tower. wl,ei-e. of eo,„-s,., his stav was 
 «m.d,„Kly brief, the fallen Chaneellor wrote u 
 B.cl<„,Kl,an,: "However i have aeknowle,lsed th . 
 le sentence ,.s .,„st, and for ,-efor,na,ion sake t^t 
 
 'Hied, ,,„d .■v,.,„„ally, aK.T miserable delays and 
 
INTRODUVTION 
 
 xli 
 
 conditions, ho was allowed to reenter London, York 
 House first ))assinj!; into liuekiniiham's too selfish 
 hands. A complete i)ardon Haeon never obtained. 
 He was not permit t(>d to reenter I'arliament, and was 
 ^iven scant (>ncoura<iement in James to pursue even 
 philosophy and letters, thouuh the Court ])arty, 
 and, indeed, his judj^es at lai',i!;<\ knew him to he in 
 himself an upri<rht man. the victim of his own in- 
 te<irity as of others' lack of intejirity. Sackville, 
 for e\amj)le, in conferriiii:; with him after the sentence, 
 use<l this remarkable e\jm>ssio!i concerninj; Bacon's 
 utiwilliiiiiness to «iiM' up \'ork House: "Jf you 
 part not sihhmUIv with it, you may dealer the jjood 
 which is apj)r()achin<i' n(>ar you, and disap|)ointinfz; 
 other aims . . . perliai)s anew yield matter of 
 discontent, thoufj/i ffou intuj be itahal as innocent <is 
 before. " 
 
 liut five years remained for liacon. years of unre- 
 mitting literary toil and^ philosojdiic achievement; 
 years, l)esid(\s, not of bi'oodiii<2; over th(> ))ast i)Ut of 
 unconquerable hope for the future. He knew that 
 all debts are at leuiith pai<l, or. rather, are always 
 bein,i; i)aid. As l']merson - himself a terse essayist 
 on several of Bacon's themes — so finely j)Uts it, 
 " the world is full of jud<inient days. " Cnfortunately, 
 Bacon did not so fully realize the corresponding truth, 
 that "our own orbit is all our task." That fame is 
 God's thoufi'ht of a man he felt and believed, yet 
 he allowed himsi^lf to becomes cumbered with much 
 serviuj:;. often for lower imni'Hiiat(> ends thai) he 
 
xlii 
 
 IXTROnrcTKtX 
 
 himself would have ciiosen. His anxiety for the little 
 often ohseiired or retarded his i)ursuit of the lar^e. 
 He was too frequently embarrassed with conditions 
 whieh we eould wish he had been spared, for both his 
 eharaeter's sake ajid his work's sake. Vet he was 
 always a pro^iessive ma'-. Too reserved ever to 
 make hunself winsome, like Kssex; too ^entk^ and 
 discreet to impress himself with coarse posit iven(>ss 
 on th(^ official and popular mind, like Coke; a st(\idv 
 and consci(Mitious thinker; a modest and di^nifiecl 
 ^^entleman: an equipped lawyer; a discriminating 
 upholder of the i)rero<>ative; a benevolent user of 
 men; and a consistently ea«2;er reformer of learning; 
 Bacon })resents a composite yet ajipreciable character. 
 During his last years he finished his famous Hhtory 
 of^ Henry VII., and began his Ilii^tonf of Henry 
 VIII. and his Hislory of Great Britain, neither 
 of which was comi)l(>ted. In U)23 he wrote his 
 History of Life and Death, published the De 
 Augment is Seienfiarum, an enlargement in Latin 
 of the ".Advancement." and, j)robably. the unfinished 
 Dr Atlantis. In lO^o. as before stated, the last 
 edition of the Essays aj)peare(l, and the saine y^ar 
 found him busily e?igaged in compiling voluminous 
 records and obs(M-vations. 
 
 The death of James early in the year was soon fol- 
 lowed by that of Bacon, luister Day. .April 9. 1026, 
 due to bronchitis contracted while testing the pre- 
 servative value of snow u|)on the dead body of a hen. 
 He passed away in a house l)elonging to the Karl of 
 
IXTRODrcTIOX 
 
 xliii 
 
 Arundel, at Hi^h^atc iittcmkxl ))y oiio or two faithful 
 friends. At his own request he was hvu'ied near his 
 mother in the Church of St. Miehael, at St. Albans. 
 Over his toinh is loyal Sir Thomas Meau^vs's monu- 
 ment of him. with a stately Latin ej)itaph by Sir 
 Henry Wotton. His will leaves his nisme and memory 
 " to liien's charitable speeches, to foreign nations, and 
 the next ages." 
 
 J 
 
 BACON AS A FHH.OSOPHKR 
 
 T( will be neither desirable nor necessary to present 
 mo! ■ tlum a rapid outline here ( f the Baconian phi- 
 ' .->. .-, witii an estimate of its worth and influence. 
 'Uher of inductive science " is the tith' frequently, 
 Cxv'n generally, bestowed upon liacon. This title 
 belongs to him. however, rather in reference to the 
 large and would-be successful adventure of his 
 fertile mind in a day of intellectual vagary and con- 
 fusion, than in reference to either his idea of a natural 
 l)hilos()phy or his method of estal)lishing that idea. 
 His idea, indeed, failed to take into account the com- 
 l)le.\ity and versatility of nature, and his method was 
 fatally depersonalized — if we may use the word — 
 a method in its(^lf arl)itrary and mechanical, ignoring 
 th(> value of imagination as framing hypotheses, of 
 enthusiasm as giving zest to the chase of causal rela- 
 tions, and of humihty in yielding as merely tentative 
 theories that should become unfit to account for 
 newly observed phenomena. 
 
xliv 
 
 INTRODICTIOX 
 
 Bacon's pnnu> idoa was, in a word, induction. This 
 was not even in his day oy any means a novel idea, 
 but he ^ave to it ^n-eat di^^nity and clearness. He 
 insisted upon trial by experiment, upon the faithful 
 and miuMte examination of all known facts as the 
 first step in the movement toward a compreliensive 
 and interpretative knowiedjce. He believed that this 
 kingdom of knowI(>d,o;e was opcMi to all men who would 
 walk therein steadily and with assurance; that 
 guesses were vain; that past philosoj.hies had been 
 largely barren; that facile generalizations must be 
 forsworn; and that, ascending as from the base to the 
 apex of a triangle, man must pass slowlv but certainly 
 from masses of fact, by means of comparison and 
 ehmmation, to the pure h.rm, or cause, or essence 
 which, once known, is known as fixed and changeless' 
 Ihe^ most thorough and admiring students of 
 Bacon s philosophy, howev(>r, such as Kllis, Spedding 
 IS-ichol, and others, willing though they be to attribute 
 to him and to the Frenchman Descartes the settino- in 
 motion of the modern impulse in philosophv, recognize 
 the weaknesses in the elaborate programme o? the 
 Noviuu Organum and its author's failure^ to realize 
 lis progranune. Hri(>fly stated, the weaknesses of 
 Bacon as a philosophc^r aro these: he himself had not 
 the temper of the inductive scientist. " His centuries 
 
 ot observations on useful scienee, and his experiments " 
 Eriierson supposes, "were worth nothing One 
 hint of Franklm, or Watl. or Dalton. or Daw or 
 anyone who had a talent for experiment, was worth 
 
ixrh'ffDrcTiox 
 
 xlv 
 
 all his lifetime t)f ex(iuisite trifles." He tended to 
 iijnore the 'inportance of tliorou«ili j^ersoiial equipment 
 in tiie hivestigator. and was without rejiartl. therefore, 
 for mathematies, a necessary companion in precisely 
 such undertakings as his. Again, if he lacked the 
 patience of the scientist, he lacked alst> his enthu- 
 siasm. His tone in the Novum Organ uni and the 
 l)c Atafinentia Scicntianun sometimes waxes over- 
 lofty and positive, or becomes on occasion coldly 
 directive. He ilid not bring all of himself to his great 
 task, his work often suggesting rather the well-oiled 
 processes of the professional thinker than the high 
 spirit of iMuerson's Man Thinking. Further, as 
 indicated above, he seeks to cancel all hypotheses, 
 which, howe^ .'r. must ho conceived as antecedent 
 id(^as in order to the success of any scientific enterprise. 
 He asserted that his own method was so certain as 
 to preclude all necessity for preconceptions. Yet, 
 and largely for this very reason, he himself failed to 
 make any one definite conn-ibution to the discoveries 
 of Science, allowing himself vO be outstripped by lesser 
 men than he, his contemiioraries Kepler, Harvey, 
 anil Gilbert. 
 
 Bacon's name, neverthekvss, will justly remain 
 famous as that of England's greatest philosopher, in 
 that his principles were sound«'r than he knew. 
 Though his reach exceeded his grasp, he saw pretty 
 clearly that the inductive system must be rescued from 
 loose ways antl cleansed from the errors conceived 
 in the bad comjiany of tradition. He spoke out 
 
xlvi 
 
 isrsourvriox 
 
 boldl.v ,„ favour „f „„.th,Kls of ..xan.ination wliiel, ho 
 Inmsel was too pi-oocci.piod and mu.q,iip,x,| to pursue 
 ... the tree .,p,„t with whieh he proelai, „e<l thetn "He 
 spoke the tho„Khts of patient toilers lij^e Harvey " 
 says thiirel,, "with a largeness and riehness whiih 
 
 nXr,' h" '■"'"'"''"J; 1'"' "I'"-!. tl.e,v perhaps 
 sm.led at. He disentangled and spoke the va-iie 
 Loughts o his age. whieh other tnen had not t L 
 courage and e earn ess of mind to fornudate. What 
 
 matters. He ,«„,„, an mfallihle method bv whieh 
 ...a.. sho„l,l Ik- fnlly eq„ip,x.d for a strnggl,. w 
 »=""'■'■: 1"; ...oant an irresislihle and inunedhtte eo - 
 quest, witlnn a definite and not distant time It 
 was too mneh. He hhnself saw no tnore of wlmt he 
 nuj.ntthan(^,lun,l,nsdi,lof.A„,,.riea. lintwhrti: 
 M wa., to persuade men for the fntnre that the intel- 
 hgent pat,ent, ,K.r.sev<.ring eross-e.xa.ninationof things 
 and the thonghts about theni, was the onlv. an,l w^, 
 the sueee.ssful road to know " 
 
 sha"red"!';f ,<'"'"''"•'""/"■• ''"■ ^''^"^-^ "f -"an is 
 
 nobihtyof his reason and the divineness of his ■,»- 
 prehension. Despite the ineffeeti^•eness of hi own 
 
 d inks'Tf't'l- '■'"'""'" ^°" "" *" *«'" '-' "he 
 iiiLu i.ri^iana. U here thai i^oes s Doctrv 
 .ealth, an,l progress. " And it is of eldef imporTa, i^e 
 ^ ;™ «'"'" "■'■'«'"•» tl.- K.-eat value of'l W 
 «ork n. philosophy as elaiming lor man the intellect- 
 
INTRODCCTION 
 
 xlvii 
 
 iial power requisite for the mastery ot nature's laws 
 and secrets. It is this hi^ii declaration (^f enterprise, 
 this assured promise of victory, that wins for Bacon 
 the suffrages of all succe(Hling exi)lorers in the world 
 of thought. "As a student of nature," wrote K. P. 
 Whipple in Thv Atlantic Monthly for November, 
 1868, "his fame is greater than his deserts; as a 
 student of human nature, he is hardly yet appreci- 
 ated; and it is to the greater part of the first hook 
 of the Novum Orqanum, when^ he deals in general 
 reflections on those mental habits and' dispositions 
 which interfere with pure intellectual conscientious- 
 ness, and where his beneficent s])irit and rich imagina- 
 tion lend sweetness and beauty to the homeliest 
 practical wisdom, that the reader impatiently n^turns, 
 after being wearicnl with the details of his method 
 given in the second book. His method was anti- 
 (luated in his own lifetime; Imt it is to be feared that 
 centuries hence his analysis of the idols of the h\iman 
 understanding will be as fresh and new as human 
 vanity and pride." 
 
 To conclude this brief review, let it be noticed that 
 Bacon's work spc^lls, in its own way, the name of (Jod. 
 It is not disi)assioiiate merely, but philanthropic. 
 He desired not only to instruct, but also to elevate, 
 mankind, and accordingly informs his words often 
 with something more than knowledge — 
 
 "... earthly of the mind, 
 But Wisdom heavenly of the soul." 
 
xlviii 
 
 INTRODUCTION 
 
 Let the followiiio: pjissagos attest, of whieh the first 
 is taken from The Advanconcnt of Lcarnhiq ar.d 
 the remain iiiii" two from tlie Norum Orqanvm: "For 
 the contemplation of (Jod's creatures and works 
 prodnceth (havin«r rei-ard to the works and creatures 
 themselves) knowledire; hut havin*; re<rard to (Jod. 
 no perfect knowle(l.i2:e, but wonder, which is broken' 
 knowled«re." " Therefore let all men know how much 
 difference there is l)etween the idoln of the human 
 Mind and the Ideas of the Divine. For the former 
 are nothiuG; but arbitrary abstractions; the latter 
 are the true stamps of the (Veator upon his creatures. 
 . . . And so truth and utility in this ease are tho 
 very same thin«j:s; and results themselves are to be 
 more esteemed, as bein^ pledores of truth, than as 
 supplymo- conveniences for life." "Let the human 
 race only recover the ri<jhts over Xature which by 
 God's endowment belon^r to it ; and let power be given 
 It. riijht H(vison and sound Religion will direct its 
 application." 
 
 THE ESSAYS 
 
 An essay, as the name implies, is in general an 
 adventuring, an endeavour to do something. In 
 literature this meaning h.olds good, though the be- 
 ginnings of the literary essay are to be looked for in 
 casual (experiences, in the suggestions that come to 
 thinkers m "undress" mood, in the "plav" side of 
 life. The e.ssay as a type has verv slowlv fak(Mi ..ii 
 <lignity and differentiated itself from other tvpes 
 
 ■M 
 
 ■mmm 
 
INTRODVt'TION 
 
 xlix 
 
 It has boon normally considcrccl a by-product, few 
 writers of fame havinj-- as yet restricted their prcKluc- 
 tion to tliis form. Dr. Johnson's definition of the 
 essay as "a loose sally of the mind" is admirable, 
 provided that by "loose" we understand "tenta- 
 tively reac'hini,^ out after," not "poorly organized," 
 for the essay's very artU^ssn.ss and abandon are sub- 
 ject to law. The charm of the essay, particularly of 
 the lyric order, lies in its flexibility, its prattle, so to 
 speak, and is jjone unless the piinciples of brevity, 
 clearness, and ease, or winsomeness, be continuously 
 observed. Even the apparent sacrifice of coherence 
 should, if possible, be more ai>par(mt than real. 
 
 The term has long since become an elastic one, ex- 
 tending from a competent writer's casually related 
 jottings on a chosen subject to the more formal and 
 pretentious treatise. Montaigne ap])ears to have 
 given the word its place in literature. His Kssais 
 were publish(>d at P.ordeaux in 1 o.SU, and soon became 
 familiar to Shakesi)eare and to the Bacon brothers, 
 Anthony, indeed, having been in Bordeaux about 
 that time. Montaigne used the word in its primary 
 meaning, and he and his readers stressed the sec()nd 
 syllable in pronunciation.* That such differing 
 
 ^ riiis would scom also to li:iv<- been the Elizubothan English 
 promiiiciatioii. C(«ini)an' the following tloggerel, attributed to Dr. 
 Andrews, Bishop of Wiiu-hesicr : — 
 
 " When learned Bacon wrote Essays 
 He did deserve and hath the praise; 
 But now he writes his ' Apophthegms,' 
 Surely he dozes or he dreams." 
 
1 
 
 IXTRODll'TIOX 
 
 writers as Hacoii. Lanih. IhiuTsoii, I.owoll, Pator, 
 have (Miiploycd the form loads at once to tlie state- 
 ment that tliere are st^veral orders of the essay, tli(>ir 
 nature varyin*r witli their souree. There is, first, tiie 
 portrait-essay, with its personal eameos and minia- 
 ture a})praisements, found in many of Addison's 
 ''Spectator" papers, in some of Dickens's ''Sketches 
 by Hoz," and in a few of A«rnes Ke])plier's essays of 
 our own time. This is followetl by the deliberately 
 humorous essay, as others of JJickens's, not a few of 
 Thackeray's, and pa{)ers by Holmes, Clemens, Doug- 
 las Jerrold; the "wisdom" essay, as Bacon's and 
 Emerson's; the critical essay, as Pater's or Goldwin 
 Smith's, rej)resenting the j)ersonal sally of the cul- 
 tured mind into the field of literary criticism; the 
 historical essay, as many of Macaiilay's and'car- 
 lyle's; tiie "nature" (\ssay, as represented by the 
 work of Izaak Walton and of Henry 1). Thoreau ; the 
 professional essay, constituting a iit(>rary treatn.ent 
 of legal, medical, or theological tojncs; and, last, the 
 "lyric" essay, so called because it seeks to bring 
 the reader into close, personal, intimate touch with 
 the writer himself, his moods, whims, and \agaries. 
 to express — or, rather, to suggest — the writer's 
 amotion, to "make friends," — a fashion delightfully 
 represented by Lamb, by Stevenson, and, in our day, 
 by Samuel M. Crothers. 
 
 To the third of these orders Bacon's essays 
 belong. They are, as Bacon himself ])hrases it, 
 "certain brief notes, set down ratlier significantly 
 
jyTiioJK triox 
 
 li 
 
 than curiously, miuirinjj; both l(>isuro in tho writer 
 and reader," and devoted to the direct and even pro- 
 verbial cxi)()sition of topics for the most part \v(>i^hty. 
 "Though the wonl is lale,'' he writes to tiie Trince 
 of Wales, "the thing is ancient: for Seneca's Hpis- 
 tles to Lucilius, if you mark them well, are hut essays; 
 that is, dispersed meditations though conveyed in 
 'he form of epistles. These labours of mine, I know, 
 cannot be worthy of your Highness, for what can b(^ 
 worthy of you? But my hope is. they may Ix^ as 
 grains of salt, that will rath(>r giv(^ you an a])petite 
 than offend you with satiety. And although they 
 handle those things wherein both men's lives and 
 their persons are most conversant ; yet what 1 have 
 attained I know not; but I have endeavoured to 
 make them not vulga ; but of a nature whereof a 
 man shall find much in experience and little in books; 
 so as they are neither repetitions nor fancies." Their 
 subject-matter ro!iges from the abstractions of 
 Truth and Love, through the daily businesses of 
 Travel, P^xpense, Studies, and emi)irical observa- 
 tions on Gardens and Buikling, to the half-concessive 
 di.scu.ssion of such "toys" as Mascpies and Triumphs. 
 The contents of the third edition may be loosely 
 classified as follows: I. C'onditions of Personal 
 Welfare, (a) Moral and Intellectual — Numbers 4, 
 5, 12, 14, 27, 31. 34, 50, 53-55, 57. (h) Political 
 and Prudential — Numbers (i IS. 21 23, 25, 26, 2S. 
 32, 47-49. (r) Physical and Domestic; — Numbers 
 30, 43-46. Jl. World-Problems, common to Man- 
 
 m 
 
lii 
 
 7.v'/ t,',j> ■ rii'ty 
 
 kind -- Xiin,!)ors I, 2. 1(). i.i. lo. ];, 3,s, 40^ 42^ ,5^ 
 in. Topics rrlaring (u So'u-^v is Such — Num'bf>ns 
 3. 7, S. II. ir,, 19. 20, 24. 29, :V.\, :i5 .37, :)!), 41, ol, o2, 
 56. 
 
 ^Tho first odition of iho A',,. ///.v app.'.Mrod in 
 lo97, in a thin octavo voiiinic. " ICssayes, Heii- 
 ^ious Meditations. Places of Persuasion a-i'l Dis- 
 .swasion. Scene a-id Allowed." -and inehidrd three 
 distinct works, the Medita'ion^s Stu ac in Latin, 
 tli(> Colours Of GnnH and Evil, -avA tjie A'.sw/v.s proper.' 
 then niiniberin.n wn, and tonehin^^ Studv. i )is. -onrse.' 
 Ceremonies and iJcspects, Follow.. s and Friends.' 
 Suitors. Kxnence. Ke-ii.ient of Health. Honour and' 
 Repniation, i-^ietion. and Xe<;ociatiiiir. All of the^e 
 had been partially current for souK^'vears in manu- 
 seript. The little l)ook was amMiionatelv dedicated 
 by Francis Bacon, then ihirty-six years of a^-^, to 
 h:s brother Anthony, as follows:-^' 
 
 "To Mil. AxTifoxv Bvrox, 
 "His Dear Brother. 
 
 " Lovin«^- an<l beloved brother. I do non iike some 
 that have an orchard ii cjo-hboured that iraUier 
 their fruit before it is r-ipe. to pr"vci 
 These fraunients of 'uy . otc .-ii u(>re ^ ,• 
 to labour the stay of thei,, h.id been •> 
 and subject (o interp-etalion ; lo let the 
 been to adventure the wron": tlun- nii^ht 
 untruf copies, or by some JiarnidmuM 
 miixht [)I(>asean\ that siKuddset ilu'U) forth K 
 
 teah L 
 to pri-iT 
 
 ubl. . 
 p.v 
 
 ^»eei\ 
 v\ ■' 
 
 la^ 
 
i.\ rf{f>i 
 
 <t. 
 
 li 
 
 I 
 
 upon ' ht'Hi. '1 lorofo. ' \ 1 
 
 i 
 
 \ 
 
 x'sf iscretioii 
 .1- ill lu from ui 
 
 • (ii ' hail • woakmvs 
 
 .! .'vcr lioM. . iieiv nii<2;lit 
 '•Hiriii«i and witlidrawin^ inch's 
 'if of some Mature) from tie 
 u; ; hem : s(t in these parti* 
 thi iiujuisitor. and find n 
 in tliem contrary or infe< 
 -n. • manners, hut rather, a.- 
 e. Illy 1 (Hshked now ' » f 
 uy ill he like the late new luu- 
 wi' h. tl aiirh the silver were ^rood, yet the 
 v< small. But sinee thev would not stav 
 
 puhlisli then n, « if. 
 pen. w he It Mi fui 
 of the !t lit.>r \nd 
 1k' as jii at ii til ^v ' 
 foii'-eits v<'^*'' P' 1 ' 
 won i, as ii. ■•.hti id 
 1 lur e pii; ■ t'U mvs 
 
 U\ \v\ Mil "st-ih 
 to 1 'h' tale oi 
 - appose, iiiedi 
 '!ii Mi on' ' )('(•;; i.- 
 
 •'Int 
 
 iili . eii . i;!><ter hut would need-- ♦^ravel ahroad. I 
 
 wa\ {>re{e?'' ' tl n\ to yon that are next myself; 
 
 deiih ati?i.<r iht n eh as they are, to our love, in the 
 
 dei>?h whcM'eo assure you, 1 sometimes wish your 
 
 infirmities translatetl upon myself, that her Majesty 
 
 ni i:ht have the scM'vice of so aetive and ahle a mind; 
 
 1 I mi>i}»t he with excuse confined to these con- 
 
 . mplations and studies, for which I am fittest: so 
 
 •ommend 1 you to the preservation of the J)ivine 
 
 Majesty. From my chamher at Gray's Inn, this 
 
 iOth of January, 1597. 
 
 " Your entire lovinjr brother, 
 
 "Francis Bacon." 
 
 This edition was reprinted in 1.598 by Humphrey 
 Hooper, with the Rdi(jlouH Miditations in English, 
 
 mmm 
 
liv 
 
 INTHOUirTION 
 
 but othorwiso iinclian'jcd, and ei^lit years later John 
 Jaggard j)ut out a pirated edition. 
 
 The second regular and authorized edition was 
 printed at London, in 1612, in an octavo entitled 
 "The Mssaies of Sir Francis Jl^con, Knight, the 
 Kings Solliciter (ienerail. Imprinted at London by 
 John I Vale. 1(312." and dedicated in the following 
 words to Sir John ('onstable, Bacon's brothcr-ui- 
 law : — 
 
 " To My Loving Brother, 
 "SiH John Coxstahli;, Kxt. 
 
 "My last I^Jssays 1 dedicated to my dear brother, 
 Mr. Anthony Bacon, who is with God. Looking 
 among my papers this vacation. I found others of the 
 same fiatiire: which, if I myself shall not suffer to be 
 lost, it seemeth the world will not. by the often print- 
 ing of the foi-mer. Missing my brother, I found you 
 next; in respect of bond both of near alliance, and of 
 straight iViendshij) and society, and particularly of 
 cominiiMicali.ci in studies. Wherein I must ac- 
 knowledge myself hehokling to you. For as my 
 business found rest in my contemplations, so my 
 contemplations ever found rest in your loving con- 
 ference and judgment. So wishing you all good, 1 
 remain yom- loving brother and friend, 
 
 ui,.,., ,, "FiJAXcis Bacon. 
 
 Bacon had originally intended to dedicate this edi- 
 tion to Henry. Frince of Wak's, who, however, died 
 
IXTROItrCTlOX 
 
 Iv 
 
 •1 
 
 j 
 
 before the book was piiblisliod. It contained thirty- 
 eight essays, inohuling all but one — "Honour and 
 Reputation" — of the original group, though in 
 forms much revised and amplified. " I always alter," 
 said Bacon, "wht-ti 1 add, so that nothing is finished 
 till all is finished." Thoi'gh the table gives fortv 
 titles, the last two, "Of the Public" and "Of War 
 and Peace," were virtually merged with "Of Clreat- 
 ness of Kingdoms." 
 
 Four pirated editions followed, dated one in 1012, 
 one in 1613, and two in 1624. The third regular 
 edition, a quarto, ai)p<^ared in 1625, entitled "The 
 p]ssayes or Counsels, Civill and Morall. of Francis 
 L. Verulam, Viscount St. Alban. Xewly enlarged. 
 London, Printed by John Haviland for Hanna Barret 
 and Richard Whitak(^r, and are to be sokl at the 
 Signe of the King's Head in I'aul's Churchyard." It 
 was dedicated to the Duke of Buckingham, and con- 
 tained fifty-eight essays, — the original ten, includ- 
 ing "Honour and Reputation"; the twenty-nine 
 added in 1612; and nineteen new. Of the thirty- 
 nine previously published nearly all h;id undergone 
 close revision, and much new material had been 
 added to them. "Of R(>ligion" and "Of Friend- 
 ship," two of the essays of the second edition, wen; 
 re-written in into. 
 
 That the EsmifH l)rought him more contempo- 
 rary popularity as a writer than any other of his 
 works was early nn'ognized by Bacon, "for tliat, as 
 it seems, they come home to men's business and 
 
ivi 
 
 ISTKODVCTIOy 
 
 bosoms." Jr cannot he said, howovor, that he ever 
 looked upon them as pecuHarly of his own business 
 and bosom. "As for my Essays, and some other 
 particulars of that nature," he writes to the liishop 
 of Wincliester. "I count them but as the recreations 
 of my other studies, and in that maimer purj)ose to 
 continue them; th()u<2:h I am not i<>-norant that these 
 kind of writinjis would, with less pains and assiduity, 
 perhaps yield more lustre and reputation to my 
 name than the otiiers J have in hand." Bacon" 
 idea of thcMu would seem to be that they were as the 
 diverse byways leading to the large and solid struc- 
 ture of his t'loufiht-system, represented by such 
 works as the Novum Onjanum, I)e Auamentia Scienti- 
 arum, and Advancement of Learning, and that though 
 many of his readers would doubtless be content 
 to wander in these little paths, so j)erhaps catch- 
 ing occasional and various glimpses of the central 
 building, yd that possi'oly those very glimpses 
 might lead a few at least to undertake Mie more 
 toilsome excursion into and through the building 
 itself. It is not difficult, on this hypothesis, to hc- 
 counl for Bacon's eagerness lo have the A'-sw/z/.v, 
 with his other Knglish works, translated into Latin, 
 a task in which tii,^ good friends George Herbert 
 and B(Mi Jonson. with others, participated. The 
 AW///.S appeared n!s(i in French and Italian. 
 
 Why Bacon placed such posit iv(> faith in the future 
 of the Latin tongue is a (juestion less readily an- 
 swered when we consider the power, aspiration, and 
 
IXTRODl'f'TTOy 
 
 Ivii 
 
 ppsential indopoiKlenco of the l^lizabothan temper, 
 ami the boldly successful use of lionieliest Siixon by 
 such men as Shakespeare, S|)enser. Raleigli, and 
 even Bacon himself, as occasion directed and jus- 
 tified. It cannot, '»f course, be fairly said that 
 Shakespeare and Spenser deliberately anticipated 
 (heir fame, or thought much about the ])ermanency 
 of their vernacular, despite Spenser's dedicatory 
 phrase of hope that the Faerie Queoie should live 
 with the eternity of i^li/.abeth's fame. Indeed, the 
 really great Elizabethans, with the prominent excej)- 
 tion of Bacon, show for the most part a nmch more 
 royal indifference to their future memories and in- 
 fluence than their modern successors are accustomed 
 to do. It is true that late Tudor English shows a 
 marked Latinizing tendency, owing to the revival of 
 interest in classical literature and the unquenchable 
 curiosity f the men of the Renaissance in both in- 
 tellectuaJ jn.i physical travel. The prevailing craze 
 for Euph.. sm — a vice from which Shakespeare, 
 Sidney, and Bacon themselves, though condemning 
 it, were not wholly free, especially in their earlier 
 work — was due to the belief of John Lyly, its fore- 
 most exponent, and others, that there was as yet no 
 standard of good I'jiglish style, a defect they sought 
 to remedy by the over-nice use of classical balance 
 and Italian ornament. Antithesis, alliteration, and 
 assonance are its prevailing characteristics, and ex- 
 cellent specimens, outside of Lyly's Euphues, may 
 be found in such a phrase as this, from Sidney's 
 
Iviii 
 
 INTROIU'CTION 
 
 Di'jcmc oj Pnc.^!/: "... wl»o by ihoir own di8- 
 Sracoful IK 'ss (Us«!;rn('(> tlic inost jjnuelul jmusv," or 
 in tliis from SixMiscr's F(u,iv Queene : — 
 
 " • This <;riefes ileepe wound I would to thee disclose, 
 Thereto compelled through hart-niurdriug paine ; 
 liut dread of shame my doubtfull lips doth still restraine.' 
 
 " ' Ah ! my deare dread,' said then the fearefull niayd, 
 'Can dread of ought your dreadlesse hart withhold, 
 Tliat many hath witii dnud of deatl- dismayd. 
 And dare even di-alhes most dreadi.id face behold?'" 
 
 or in Sliakospoarc's dolijrhted burlesque of it in the 
 Harulicraftsmen's jjlay concluding A Midsummer 
 Nigfif's Dream; the ostentatious lament of Laertes 
 at'Oplielia's funeral, etc. There is an interesting 
 use of it, to select hut one example, in Bacon's essay, 
 "Of Suitors": "Surely there is in some sort a right 
 in every suit; eitlier a right of e(iuity, if it be a suit 
 ,)f controversy, or a right of desert, if it be a suit of 
 p(>tition. If affection lead -a man to favour the wrong 
 side in justice, let him rather use his countenance to 
 compound the matter tlian to carry it. If affection 
 lead a man to favour the less worthy in desert, let 
 him do it without depraving or disabling the better 
 deserver. '' 
 
 The dangen)us ease with which Euphuism ran to 
 extremes brought ai)out early r<M\ctions. The fashion 
 was laughed out of court by Puttenham, Sidney, 
 and others by the end of the sixteenth century,— 
 certainly Hacon was never mastered by it, — yet 
 
INTROinCTlOX 
 
 IX 
 
 copious horrowinsi; fnun \]\o I.atin fontiiuKMl and was 
 cxtciKlcMl vith tlu' inci-casc of new intellectual needs 
 and discovei'ies. The native voeahulary was greatly 
 (expanded, and literan- style as well as diction t'(>lt 
 accordin<;ly tlie' I.atini/an<2; influence. I'nder such 
 circunistaiHU's. it is plain that I-atin had hrst-rate 
 di<!;nity in the iviiai'd of thinking- men. whatever alt'ec- 
 tion tliey nii,<:;ht show also for I'ln<2;lish. Hacon com- 
 posed much directly in Latin, and translated his 
 Knglisli work into "that universal lan.nua.u'e whicli 
 may last.'' iie said, " a^ lon<:; as hooks last." for very 
 niueh the satue reason that leads a man to pref(>r a 
 full to a half-morocco hindinii;. It was felt, indeed, hy 
 both his contemporaries and liims(>lf. thoujih nnicli 
 less stron<ily by them. !)erhai)s, than by him, that 
 I'int^lish was in jmx'ess of becominii;, and that the very 
 a,!!;e and tra<litions of Latin W(>i-e eff(>ctive jiuarantees 
 of its sta})ility as a lit(M-ary languaiiv. To his friend 
 Foby Matthews Bacon wrote shortly befon^ his death: 
 *' it is true, my labour is now most set to have those 
 works which 1 liad formerly j)ublishe(l well translated 
 into Latin, for these modern lan^iuagcs will at one 
 time or other play the bankrupt with books, and since 
 1 have lost much time with this age, I would l)e glad, 
 as Gt)d would give me leave, to recover it with pos- 
 terity." And to James he wrote coticerning tlu; 
 Advancement of Learninfj: "I have been mitie own 
 Index Expurcjatoriux, that it may be read in all places. 
 For since my end of jnitting it in Latin was to have it 
 read everywhere, it had been an absurd contradiction 
 
Ix 
 
 JNTRODVVTION 
 
 i() free it in tlie language and to pen it up in the 
 matter." 
 
 This reverence for Latin shows itself not only in 
 the foregoing expressions, but also in the very English 
 of the E.smi/s. Both the temper and dietion of the 
 more abstract among them are Latin in source. In 
 nearly all of them passages from the works of Cicero. 
 Tacilus. N'irgil, and Livy are freely quoted, and the 
 Latin cast of word or phrase is often deliberately 
 preferred to the more intelligil)le vernacular. Yet 
 Bacon's work is vigorously Lli/.abethan, for all that. 
 Jn his most " classic" moments a frankly Saxon phrase 
 or a bit of blunt humour will sometimes assert itself. 
 Bacon was no verbal fo]j; he knew what he wished 
 to say, and saiil it, if now with brief and stately elo- 
 quence, because that must have seemed to him the 
 way befitting the occasion; or if. again, witli abrupt 
 and homely directness, because that manner, too, 
 would at times lit most sincerely the matter of his 
 discourse. 
 
 It is j)()ssible, of course, to detect and discuss the 
 prime elements of Bacon's style. To insist upon a 
 precise characterization of his style is more ditlicult. 
 Indeed, as Mr. lleynokls expresses it, " the fact seems 
 to be that Bacon had at all times almost any style 
 at command, and that he varies his st} k> with the 
 occasion, l)ecoming all things in turn so as to cnsmx 
 getting a hearing, trying one experiment after another, 
 and giving proof of mastery in each. ... To speak 
 ilierefoiv of Jiacun's style is in strict terms impos- 
 
 ■mipp 
 
^-m 
 
 lyTRODVCTloN 
 
 Ixi 
 
 sible." Vot w(> may say tlia thdii^h a master of 
 stylos, the style in whieli Bacon uses those styles is 
 alwavs one and reco.iiiii/al'le. It is always, in th(^ 
 nr)blest nieaninfT of tho ^\ rd. an austere style. - 
 whether han.i^hty. hi^li and ))roud; fvisp, nervons. 
 informational and epiirranimatie; or even p;ra('i()usly 
 conversational. By this is meant not merely that 
 his utterance, like his j)ersonality, more immediately 
 wins our respect than our affection, that his disunity 
 is equal to every situation, and tliat he does not secern 
 to invite a too entlnisiastic praise; but also that 
 these very (lualities cover others less willin<iiy dis- 
 played, — honour, ruth, hope, and power. I^acon 
 seldom unlocks his heart. \oi there is a wav of aiv 
 proachiiifj; him that forestalls unlocking. 
 
 The essays at larfje are temptingly cpiotable, as 
 in "Praise is the reflection of virtue"; "Virtue is 
 like a rich stone, best plain set"; "Reading maketh 
 a full man; conference a ready man; and writing 
 an exact man." Vet their very lack of elaboration 
 makes it unsafe to quote too authoritatively from 
 them. We are not conscious of petlantry or posinj; 
 in these "brief notes," throut>h which Bacon sj)eaks 
 to us in a manner more human than that of the 
 Novmu Orqanum. We are conscious, rather and 
 always, of Bacon himself, of his essentia! su})eriority 
 to tricks and I'uts of style, of his little wtn'ldly pru- 
 dences as of his ri))er and larger wisdom; of his 
 concern for the en\pirical ego as of his interest in the 
 soul of man. In short, Bacon's variously haughty and 
 
Ixii 
 
 lyTRODVCriON 
 
 Iniman maniiors may succood oacli othor. or oven at 
 times commhi.iile; luit of liimsolf, as an able, willing, 
 and resourceful eritie of life, we can never he unmind- 
 ful. He is '* j)layin«i the game," and he intends that 
 his readers shall learn to play it, too, as they may and 
 can ; and so he seems to say to us all: '' I will tell you 
 what and how I tliink of these aftairs when in my own 
 comj)a!iy. and soiiietimcs you shall even hear how I 
 jrvl. Vou will do well, i think, to heed me, for 1 am 
 able lo be your friend, and the Academy to which 1 
 itivite vou as Platonic pujiils is not without its just 
 title."" 
 
 In such a case \\v have hardly the right to look for 
 exfremr finish and final synunetry of manner. Ba- 
 con's paniiiraphs are, indeed, less units than series, 
 his essays less tr(>atises than terse eloquences. And 
 yet it is a mistake^ to declare, with Church, tha. 
 "notiiing can be inc'v loose than the structure of the 
 essays. There is no art. no style, almost, except in a 
 f(>w. the political ones, no ord(>r: thoughts are put 
 down and left unsuj)jK)rte'l, unproved, undeveloped." 
 The student will find, instead, upon careful examina- 
 tion, that the essays are often nuclei of ordered 
 wholes. ca|)able of being taken as schemes or synopses. 
 Though the flower has not grown, the bud is full to 
 bursting, and this analogy is the more reassuring when 
 we consider the slowly e\[)anding growth of the 
 original essays. Though it is doul)tful that Bacon 
 looked upon his Ksxai/s; at any time as finished 
 ])roducts, even (»f their kind, it is not doubtful tliat 
 
 mna 
 
L\TK(JDi'CTIO\ 
 
 Ixiii 
 
 <lio law of tl»('ir <in)\\th was ratlicr that of tlio rose 
 than of tlio htiystack. 
 
 Take, for cxainplc. l-lssay I.., "Of Studies.'' one of 
 tlic ori^hial ten, aniphficd in 1()12 and a^jjain iii 1()25. 
 Its movement is suj)erl)ly brief and simj)ie. yet not 
 " k)ose. " In all throe editions it conforms itself 
 to the following considerations: (I.) The \'alue of 
 Studies; (11.) The Government of Studies. (1) in 
 general, (2) in j)artic'ular. As (>xami)k's of thouglit- 
 unitv we may select almost at random l^ssay 1., 
 "Of" Truth,"' an-l X\T.. "Of Atheism." The former 
 ma v be thus analvzed: — 
 
 >) 
 
 1 
 
 I. The l)ilHcu!t\- of "Finding" Truth, because of 
 
 1. I^axity of belief 
 
 2. Love of imtruth 
 
 (^0 Cause (b) Final danger 
 
 II. The Necessity of I'inding Truth 
 
 1. In matters divine 
 
 2. In matters human 
 
 III. Conclusion 
 
 The structure of the essay, "Of Atheism," may be 
 given as follows: — 
 
 I. The Incredibility of .\theism 
 
 1, Piiilosophically considered 
 
 2. Seripturally consulered 
 li. Practically considered 
 
 II. Testimonies against Atheism 
 
 1. Fpicurus 
 
 2. Indians of the Wes^ 
 
 PPiP 
 
Ixiv 
 
 IXTHOhVCTluN 
 
 III. Rarity of Atheism 
 I\'. Causes of Atheism 
 
 V. Ill Etieets of Atheism 
 
 1. On iiulividuals 
 
 2. On the nation 
 
 antl 
 
 VI. Per Contra : (Jood Effects of Theism 
 
 1. On individuals 
 
 2. On the nation 
 
 If the student will undertake similar analyses, he 
 will find little difficulty in convincing himself of the 
 intellectual compactness and coherence, if not (»f the 
 weighetl rhetorical unity, of most of the Esmij^. 
 
 Bacoti's repetitive habit, frequently manifest in 
 liis legal speeches and politic devices, and which 
 seems to indicate caution and conservatism in the 
 management of his mental store, appears also in his 
 literary work, plainly enough in the E.s.w//.s, both 
 in theni.-'lves and in relation to his other writings. 
 He "works" an allusion or an illustration as often 
 as he vvei! may, and thai without precise reference to 
 •its oiiginal point. His carelessness, indeed, in the 
 matter of quotation has been often censured. — his 
 attribution as first-hand, to the authors using them, 
 of maiiv second-hand passages, exactly as one might 
 impute to Bacon himself: " When Plutus is ^ent from 
 Jupiter, he limps and goes slowly; but when he is 
 sent from Pluto, he rims and is swift of foot." Wo 
 even blunders at times in tl'c ii:atter of source, givino' 
 
 mmmm 
 
lSTIi01)l(JT10S 
 
 Ixv 
 
 predit wronirly. and, like Lamb, not soldoni adapts 
 the quotod material to his own imnu'(liate ends. 
 Yet it is beside the mark to insist upon censure here. 
 After all, re«;ard for precise conformity in matters 
 (;f detail is a ('omparati\ely modern feeling. Th(> 
 Elizabethans generally — and Lamb, "the last of 
 i!:(' Elizabethans' — were not sticklers for formal 
 exactness, and would doubtless display — had they 
 the opportunity — a certain impatience at that 
 order of contemporary critic ism that takes delight 
 in hunting down examples of careless allusion and 
 anachronism. These overlookings testify rather to 
 indifference than to ignorance, and literal / lelity 
 of reference is often cheerfully foregone because it 
 does not enter into the artist's thought or theory of 
 art. 
 
 It remains to speak of the autobiographical value 
 of the Essays, which is particularh marked in 
 "Of Nature in Men," "Of Adversity,'"' "Of Friend- 
 ship," "Of Counsel," "Of Ambition," "Of Fortune," 
 etc. The three qualities of imagination, humour, and 
 worldliness — in the better meaning of the term — 
 are peculiarly interesting in this regard, although 
 the second of these is least ap})arent. In such essavs 
 as "Of Truth." "Of Goodness and Goodness of Na- 
 ture." and "Of Aiheism," Haeon's really noble im- 
 aginings take tentative shape and wing their way 
 through caution and experience to something of tluat 
 fre(Hlom of soul that expresses itself in the most 
 adventurous and catholic pa*5sages (.f the Advanw- 
 
Ixvi 
 
 INTnOhVCTION 
 
 nicnf of LcarniiKi .'iiid (he lirst hook of the Novum 
 Otyanutn. h\ the cs.says '"Of Boldness," ''Of 
 Isury," "Of Friendship,'"' "Of Cnrdons," wo have 
 pleasin*;- revelations of liacon' willingness and ability 
 to sMiile: '' P^specially it is a sport to see. when a 
 hold fellow is ont of eoMntenanee ; for that puts his 
 face into a most shrunken and wooden postur(>;" 
 "So as that opinion nnist be sent to Ttopia;" ". . . 
 and so cure the disease and kill the patient;" 
 "As for the niakiniji; of knots or fi«:;ures with divers 
 coloured earths . . . they be hut toys : you may 
 see as liood si<ihfs maiiv tim<'s in tarts." And in 
 "Of (ireat Place," "Of Kmpire," "Of the True 
 Greatness of Kin<rdoms and Estates," "Of Suitors," 
 "Of Simulation and Dissimulation," "Of Judicature,' 
 etc.. the equipped lawyer and statesman exploits 
 his inles of living- often, it is true, in Machiavellian 
 f;;shio!i, yet with an openness that attests its own 
 sincerity. I'luler the almost autocratic rule of p]liz- 
 aheth a?id .Jajnes there was much encouragement 
 for the man of tact and discretion — a condition 
 discussed at some length in the preceding Life of 
 Hacon — and we find the Esftdi/s testifying to 
 liacon's acc«i)iance of the situation and offering his 
 readers a tested pei'sonal ))rogranHne of "high be- 
 haviour," ^'et in the best moments, even when 
 handling the mo?-e equivocal among these themes, 
 Bacon shows a root idealism that claims our rever- 
 ence. 
 
 To conclude, ample testimony to Bacon's clarity of 
 
ISTROltl* /70.V 
 
 Ixvii 
 
 tliou^lil. «'(jual)l(' cntliolicily of tt'ni|)(>r ami essential 
 goodness of soul, is td't'ordcd in tiic Kssdi/s. Tlicv 
 hrcatlu' a spirit of serene if sii|)erior jiood-w ill, jiikI they 
 (lej)eiul upon a proud sense of i)o\ver. In short, they 
 are the skilled, sure utterances of a senior comrade. 
 Th(>ir often j)enetratin<i- insight, their discretion, their 
 reserve, make us aware of a master. Bacon's know- 
 ledfi'e of vhat and when t > -'.iiit never shows to 
 better advantage tlian in the ^ >./"v He recojinized, 
 indeed, as all ^rn^at writers • nist ;-eco<!:nize, that 
 lanjiuaii'e is a means only — ii: lot a conij)letf]y 
 adc(|uate means — to the expression of thougli , 
 tliat the word is hut a symbol, able to become vital- 
 ized, but not in itself vital. However little and local 
 portions of the I'Jsmi/fi may a{)p(\'ir at times to be, 
 the s|)irit of the whole is si^en, when ri«»;htly read, to 
 be larii;e and lor all. Their reminiscence, tlieir vision, 
 and their tiuth make them literatur*'. To the young 
 student, seeking hiiili leadershij) in ihe workl of ideas 
 and letters, and t(. tiie older and more discriminative 
 reader, asking oidy that each of his gukles and friends 
 shall be true to his own nspiration and interpret 
 hims(^lf while he interprets life. Bacon's Essays 
 will remain potent in charm and stimulus. 
 
i 
 
 J 
 
BIHLUKiHAlMlV 
 
 F(1R ma^;aziiu^ articles on liacon miuI liis works tb.(* 
 stiuloiit sliould <'onsull Poole's fiuh.r to PcnOdintl 
 Litcrdf'irr. Vav extended ti'eatnu'nt^ in hooks rot 
 dev()t(>d solely t(» l^acon the American Library Asso- 
 ciation's An Ituh.r to (imrrdi Litrnttinr (edited hy 
 William I. I'letcher. M.A.) will proxe nsei'nl. n ferrinir 
 to such works as i'uller'^ Wortlili x oj En(ihi!hL Lewcs's 
 Iii()(]r(i})hic(tl IIlMoni oj Philofto/t/ii/. \Vhi])j)le's Lltrra- 
 tuir oj the Atjc of I'Jh'zdluth, and hucas's MorniHi/s of 
 Recess. To these- may h*' added Sidni-y Lee's (rrent 
 Kniilis/ntu n of the Si.vhcnih (Uiitunj and John Caird'f 
 Tlie SeicNti/ie ('l)(if(iet< r oj lioeon in his (llassiow 
 I'niversity Addresses. 
 
 The followin<:; list is intended m(<rely a< a suilahle 
 workin<j; hihlio^iraphx- : — 
 
 Spedtlinji: and l']llis: Letters and Uj* oj luieon. 7\(ls. 
 
 Lon^inajis. 
 H. \V. ('liurch: 1.lj> oj Ho, an. (\\\\ii\\A\ Men of 
 
 Letters. ) .Macinillan. 
 Basil Monta-iii: Llj' mxl Works oj Htoon. 
 .iolu! .\ichol: /ioeoH : ///v Ij'ji- (uhI /'hilosiiphf/. 
 
 Lippincott. 
 
 Ixix 
 
Ixx 
 
 HI H LI 00 Ti A PHY 
 
 linc.n's Works. I,\lit(Hi i,,. |,;„j^ , 
 
 "vols, l.u.^nn.r.s. ' * Spoddm^r 
 
 .Mafiiiiilaii. ^ ' '• 
 
 - -. J';<iit<'.!KvlMni„A.AM,ot(,I).I). Lonnn,,ns 
 
 • ? I^'-' V« ^^'Ivn!,. J>.. A,.d.rs.,n. MK '!,„■. 
 — • lvlit(>(l !)v F. (; S(.j|,v \r \ \i. •, ^' 
 
 ■Macaiiiays hss,nf „„ />',,,•<»/,. 
 
 Ilnrmnnn f,f (/„ h'ss(n/s i;,()7 i (;•)<: \, .,, 
 
 TI,o ,n„sl mn,pl,.|,. list „f Hnnm-x «„,-ks is th,( 
 W. In ,1„. vol,,,,,,. ,,„l,lisl.,.,| i„l,SS4,.o|,,,: 
 
Tin: KIMSTLK DHDICATOKV 
 
 (ro Tin; TIIIKI) AM» I'INM, inMIKtV OK TIIK KSSAVS, 
 
 i'tui,isiii:i» iNDKi: Tin: slpkuvisiox ui' thk 
 
 ALTIloli, lOlT).) 
 
 To TIIK TJniiiT IIoNoi It viun mv vkuv (;<><)i» L<>iti> tiik Dikk 
 nh l}rt;KiN<;ii.\M iiis Guv* i . l-<»ui> Hn.ii Aumikal <»k 
 
 KN(iI,AM». 
 
 E.'Crlh )it Lord, 
 
 Sdluiiiuii says, "A unod naiiip is as a precitnis oiiitmt'iit;" 
 aiiil I assure .iiysclf such will your (iracv's nanif l>t' with pos- 
 it ritv. For your t'oriuiir and inrril both liavr Imiu t'inineut. 
 AimI you have plaiitcil ihiii-s that arc like to last. I do now 
 |Md>lisli my lvssa\s; wiiirh, of all my dthcr Wdiks. have been 
 most, current ; for ihat, as il seems, they come hi>mc to im'n's 
 buMiiess and bosoms. I have enlarL'-e<l them both in number 
 and wciLilii ; so tiiat they are indeed a new work. 1 Ihouuhl it 
 ihcrefoie a-rei aiiU' to my atfection and olih^ation to your (iracc, 
 to [iretix your name hi toic tiii'in, hoth in Knuiish and Latin. 
 l'"or I do conceive that Ihn Latin \ 'lume of tliem ( beitm in tl'*-* 
 univei>:d laiiiiuaire ) may last, as Ioul; a- hooks last. My Iii- 
 sldiinifi'iit I dedicated to liic Kiiii; my JIisfnr>i >>f llimii tin 
 Sii-iiilh iwlii.li I iia\f now also translated into Latin ) and my 
 [loiiioiisof Xdtund //.'.s/-/ry to the I'limi ; and these I dedicate 
 to ■, oiir (Irace ; hcinu of the best fnuis that hy the u'ood im-reasc 
 which (ioil uives to my lu'ii and lalxnirs I could yield. Ijod lead 
 \ (lur ( irace by the hand. 
 
 Y<iur (irace's most oliii_i d and faithful servant, 
 
 FK. SI". ALU AN 
 Ixxi 
 
ESSAYS Oli COUNSELS CIVIL 
 AND MOKAL 
 
 ■ 01 
 
 I. OF TRUTH 
 
 "What is truth?" said josting Pilate°; and would 
 not stay for an answer, (ortainly thore be that 
 dchght m giddii ess; arul couiil it a bonchigo to fix 
 a behef; affecting" free-will in thinking, as well as in 
 acting. And though the sects of {)liil<)s()i)h(Ts° of that 5 
 kind be gone, yet there remain certain discoursing 
 wits which are of the same vehis, though there 1)C not 
 so much blood in them as was in those of the ancients. 
 But it is not only the difhculty and labour which 
 men take in finding out of truth; nor again, thatio 
 wIkmi it is found it im|)oseth upon° men's thoughts, 
 that dotli bring lies in favour: but a natural though 
 corruj)t love° of the lie itself. One of tlu^ later scliool 
 of the Grecians^ examineth the matter, aiid is at a 
 stand to think what should be in it that men should 13 
 love lies: where neither they niak(^ for pleasure, as 
 with poets; nor for advantage, as with the merchant; 
 but for the lie's sak(\ But 1 camiot tell: this same 
 truth is a naked and ojxmi daylight, that doth not 
 
 B 1 
 
-' A-6-.V.J1-.V on rr.rssHi.s .nil. n,, ,„o/.m/. 
 
 ^i»HV iilO lll.-l.sk^ MJKl „„„„„„.,.K.>. ;„„| |,i„,„„h < 
 
 nnl, mayp.Tl,a,.s,.u„,M,, H,,.,MH-.-..r H 7 ; 
 
 .so«HhlK.sMn,lay: i.M, i, „m\,., H ,:■';,■' 
 ■"';';''•"'"■"■' "■■ ••.■.H..m..|.., ,!,,.„ si„nv, I, j" 
 
 , ~ I,.,,,, .,n ,,,...,, ,1 .,. ,1,..,, ir , . . „ I 
 
 -' nu-M poor sln-nnk,.n ,lun^>. n,ll o, n.H , ^ 
 .in<l m.lisposiiion. ,,,,.1 ..mmL..,.; "< '."i l,oi\ 
 
 >■. failed pO(V<\- 
 "' '"lauiFiatioti 
 
 ■■••^"i;l Y' i' i-*''"' "ill, ,l„.sl,a,|,m ,„,, li,. H,,, „■,■ 
 it«rif. t„a,.|„. i,' , ' ■ "'"■■'' ""'^- ''""' .i'"'«" 
 
 Si„ril I'i,-, 1 illiiiiiiiKili,,,, ,,)■ |,i, 
 
 "r I ,...„. .,r,.,.,n,..,| |i,,|„ .,,.„„ ,|,„ ,„,.,„ ,|,„ 
 
ESSAYS OR fOrySKLS CIVIL ASH }fOh'AL '6 
 
 f;i('o of m;m ; and still lie hrcatluMh ntul itispirctl) 
 jisiht into \\\v I'.'K'O ot' iiis chosen. The poet ^ tluit 
 l)(^:uitifio(l 'iio sect' that was otherwise intVM'ior to 
 the n^st. saith yet excellently well ': " it is a pleasnre 
 to stand upon the shoi'e. and to see ships tossed upon") 
 the sea: a pl(>asnii' to stand in the wind* \v of a cas!l(>. 
 ;ind to see a battle, and .he advent lU'es thereof I ulow : 
 hut no pleasure is coninirahh' to the standin«i u))on 
 ilie \:!nta,u;(^ {ground o truth" (a hill not to he com- 
 nian<led. and where 1 h(> ail is always clear and serene) l" 
 "and tt' see the errors, and wanderiniis. and mists, 
 and tempests, in the val(> l)elow:"so always, that 
 lliis prosjMTi hewjli ))ity. and not with swelliim' (»r 
 pride. Cert.'iinly. ii is liea\(Mi upon earth to ha\'e a 
 man's miid i oxc in chaiity, rest in pr<)\i lence, and in 
 tni'ii upon the p"'*'- "t" 'rutl'i. 
 
 i'o |);hs f!'o?n tlii'olooical and |)hilosophica1 truth 
 to the truth of '-ivil ousinoss, it will he acl iioWi('di;ed. 
 e\'en hy those ilial i)ractise it not, that clear and 
 rnund^ de:diii<!: is flie honotir of man's nature; and 2»' 
 that mixture of I'nlsehootl is like alloy in coin of 
 liold and siher: which ma\' make the Uiet ;! work 
 (iie better, but i; einbaseth it. l"t>r these windini; 
 and crooked cour.ses ar'> the ,i!;oinji.s of the s(rj)rnt, 
 which iioeth basely upon the belly, and r/<'i up.itr.'.' 
 the h'et. '^i'here is no \'ic(> that dot I; x' coNrr ;i 
 man with shame as to \)c fotuxl false and per!:dio"s. 
 \nd therefore Montai^iio" saith prettily when he in- 
 (piirrd ,h<' reason why the word of tlu^ lie ^•lluuld 
 b( such a disjU'race. ami such an otiitnis r-hanir: ai 
 
4 ESSAYS i)li corxSKI.S riviJ, ,\x/, MoRM, 
 
 saith \\i\ "If it 1)0 well wciiiliod, to say tliat a man 
 licfli is as inuch as to say tliat ho is bravo towards 
 (lo(l and a coward towards mon." For a lio faces 
 (rod, and shrinks from man. Sm-oly tho wickodness 
 Of falsohood. and hroadi of faith, cannot possibly 
 b(> so hiirhly oxpn'sscMJ as in that it sjiall b(> tho last 
 jwal to cal! th(> jiidi»inonts of (!od upon t h(^ ijjonora- 
 tions of m ,: it boin^ foretold that wIkmi Christ 
 Cometh "^'i hull uui (hid faith upon the eurth.'"^ 
 
 II. OF DEATH 
 
 10 Mex foar death as r-hildren fc^r to o;o in tho dirk; 
 and as that natural fear in ehildroti is increased with 
 tales, so is the other. Certainly, the contemplation of 
 death, as tho wa;r(>s of sin and j)assaf!;e to another 
 world, is hoiy and rejiiiion-;; j)ut tho fear of it, as a 
 
 i.">tribut(^ due unto natui'e. is weak. Vet in religious 
 mcvlitations th{i-e \< soniotiiues mixture of vanity 
 and of superstitir)n. \o\\ shall r(Md in some of the 
 friars' books of mortification.^ that a man should 
 think with himself wliat tho ))ain i- if he ha\-e btit his 
 
 '-'oiino-ors ( iid j)r(>ss(^l or torture(l, and thereby imaji;i»u' 
 what tho pain- of death are. when the wliok^ b<.iiv 
 corrupte(l atid dissolved; when m.iiiy times (ieath 
 passeth with loss pain than the torture of ., I:;,!)- foi 
 the tnost vital parts ar(^ not tho (juick- : ot serr-v'. 
 
 2v\nd by him that .^pake onl>' as a philo •! t.a a I 
 natu'-al man it was well said. " I'oinpa' mon, ui; :>■ 
 
t.sSAi's on rniys/n.s I nil. i.v/' mdhai. 
 
 tenvu qiuiiJi mors ip-^a 
 
 (Iroaii- and (•(Hivulsioiis^ 
 
 
 I 
 
 « 
 
 id 
 
 discoloun'il face, and iVit'iuls wcepini:-, a'.ul 
 
 blacks.'^ ami ohsiHiu'Ks, and \\\v liki', -Iimw death 
 
 terrible. 
 
 It is worthy the observing, tliat tliere is no passions 
 ill the mind of man so weak, but it mates and masters 
 the fear of deatii; and therefoie dealii is no such 
 terrible enemy, when ;i man h'lh so many attend- 
 ants about him that can win liie combat oi liim. 
 Uevenj^e triumphs over death; love sli^dits it;i<i 
 honour aspiretii to it; jirief liielh to it; fear pre- 
 occupateth*' it: nay. we read, after ()lho° the i\n- 
 peror had slain himself, pity, which is the teiuleresi 
 of affections, provoke«l many to die. out of mere com- 
 passion to their si>\(M'eiun. tmd as the truest lort oil.' 
 foll(>wers. \ay. Seneca'' adds niceness ;ind satiety: 
 "('(»iata° (piamdiu eadiMu feceris : UK-ri vdle, non 
 tantum fort is, ;iut miser, sed etiam fastidiosus potest." 
 A man would die. thouiili \\v were iieithci' valiaitt nor 
 mi>t'rabli\ only upon a wcariii(-ss to do the sam(>_'(i 
 ttiini!; so i.ft over and over, li is no less woiilix to 
 ()bsir\(% how little alteiatioti in ^ood spirits the 
 approaches of deal!; make; for they ap})ear to be 
 the same men till the last instant. Au.nustus Ca-sar" 
 died in a <'omphment : "Lixia."' conju^ii nostri-jr. 
 memor vive. et vale." Tiberius^ ifi dissimulation; 
 as Tacit US'" saith of him: •'.lam" 'rib»M-ium vires et 
 corpus, non dissimiilatio, desei-ebant .'' \espasian' 
 in a jest; sittin.U' upon tiie slonl: "I t"" puto, l)eii>- 
 ,io." (lalba- with a seulenci-: ' reri," si ex re il ;■» 
 
ESSAYS OR COrXSKLS ilVU. AS 
 
 DO 
 
 puii U 
 
 omain 
 
 lioldiiii; forth lii? 
 
 /> MOHAL 
 
 •k 
 
 N'vcrus'' in (k'spatd, 
 
 i lorrn ins nor-k. Sr^piimiiis 
 Adcsfc/ >1 (jiiij inihi icstat 
 a^iciuiimi;" and the like. 
 
 Certainly the Stoics^ Ixvstowcd too mucli cost upon 
 (loath, and hy their lircat preparations inadi it ap- 
 JM'ar more IVarfui. Hcikt saith he. "(^1;° fineni 
 vita' extroinuni inter niunera ponat natura'." It is as 
 natiu-al (o die as to he horn; and to a little intan't, 
 |)erhaps. the one i-, ... painful as the other. He ihat 
 lodies in an eanies- ,.,n-suit is Iik(> one that is wounded 
 in hot hlood, who. for the tiife. scane hvls the hurt • 
 and th(>refore a nn-nd fixe.l and Lent upon so.neulial' 
 that IS uood d,,tii avert the dolours of death. P,ut 
 aix.ve all, [..■lieve it. the sv.eetesl eaiitiele is .V//m- 
 I.m/,/,/, //,...- ul.eii a man hath obtained worthv ends 
 ■iiul cxpecialions. l),.ath hath this also, that it 
 openeth the uate to ^r,,,,,! fame, and e.\tin<ruisheth 
 envy. "Hxtinctus" amahitur idem." 
 
 IIT. OF IXITV I\ Hi:!JC;iO\ 
 
 Hett(;i()x l„>inir the chief band of iiuman societv. 
 -•Oil is a iiappy ihiiiii' when itself is W(>ll contained within 
 
 the true hand of unity. The (piarrels and division. 
 
 about re;ioi,yn ^^■olv evils unknown to the heathen. 
 
 Tiie reason was. b(>cause the relitrion of the heathen 
 
 e.-nisisted ratluM" in rites and ceremonies than in any 
 -••-constant belief. I'\,r you may inia^dne what kind (if 
 
 laith theirs was, when the chief doctors and fathers 
 
 a 
 
KSSAYS OR (fJiySELS CIVIL AXI> MOh'AI. 
 
 of their clmiT'li woro the poets. But tlie true ( Uh\ liatli 
 tills attribute, that he is a jealous (lod: and therefore 
 his worshij) and rehjjioii will endure no niJMure nor 
 part!ieJ". \V(» shall therefore spe;»k a few words eon- 
 eerninti; the unity of tli(^ Cliurch: whal are the fruits", 
 thereof, what the hounds, and what the nieans. 
 
 The fruits of unity, n(>\t unto the w<'ll-pl(.Msinji of 
 (lod. which is all in all. an' two: the one towards 
 those thai are without the Church : the other towards 
 those that ai'e within, l-'or the former: it is certainly 
 that heresies and schisms are of all others tin* <ireat- 
 est scandals; yea, more than coriMiption of maimers. 
 \'\)V as in the natural hody. a wound, ot s(tlution of 
 continuity." is wor>e tliaii a corrupt luniiour; so in 
 the spiritr.al. So that nothinii' doth so much keep i". 
 men out of the Church, and drive mc i (tiit of the 
 Church, as hreach of unity; and t luMcfote. whenso- 
 e\'er it conietli to that pass that one saiili " i'lcce" 
 in deserto;" another saith, " llcce" in penetralihus;" 
 that is, when some men s(>(»k Christ in the conv(Mi-'jn 
 tides of heretics, an<l others in an outward face of a 
 'hurch, that voice had need continually to sound in 
 iiKMi's ears. " Xolite exire." '^ no not out. The doc- 
 ;or° of the (icMitiles. tlie propri'-ty of whose vocation 
 drew hiiri to ha\''^ a s|)ecial care of those without . j.". 
 saith: "If an heathen come in. and hear you speak 
 with several tongues, will he not say that you are 
 mad?" And certainly it is little better wIumi atlieists 
 and profane j>ersons do hear of so many discordant 
 and contrary opinions in reliirion: it doth avert theni;«] 
 
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8 ESSAYS on ((fl'XSKLS CIVIL A XI) MORAL 
 
 from tho Clmrc-li, and niaketli thoni ''to sit down 
 in the chair of the scornors." ° It is but a iifrht 
 thin^ to Ik' vouchod in so serious a manner, hut 
 yet it expresseth well the (ieformit>-: then^ is a mas- 
 5ter of scoflinji:.^ that in his catalo'irue of hooks of a 
 fei.2:n(-d lihrary sets down this title of a hook, "Th(> 
 iMorris-dance° of Heretics." For indeed every sect 
 of them hath a diverse posture or crin^^e hy them- 
 selves, which cannot hut move derision in worldlin<is 
 10 and depraved politics. ° who an; apt to contemn holy 
 tliin<j:s. 
 
 As for the fruit towards those that are within, it is 
 peace; wliich containeth infinite })lessinfis: it estah- 
 lisheth faith; it kindleth chai-ity; the outward peace 
 inof the (Imrch distilleth into i)eace of conscience; 
 and it turncnh the lahours of writin*]: and reading of 
 controv(M-sies into treatises of mortification and 
 devotion. 
 
 Concerning the l)ounds of unity: the true placing 
 20 of them import eth exceedingly. There appear to he- 
 two extremes. For to certain zelants° all speech of 
 pacification is odious. "Is it peace. Jehu? What 
 hast thou lo do with jx^ice? turn thee hehind m(>.''^ 
 Peace is not the mattei. hut following and party. 
 2.-, Contrariwise, certain Laodiceans^ and lukewarm per- 
 sons think they may accotnmodate jjoints of religion 
 hy middle ways, and taking j)art of hoth. and witty 
 reconcilements: as if ihoy would make an arhitre- 
 ment hetween Cod and man. Hoth these extremes 
 30 are to be avoided; which will be done, if the Icairur 
 
LSS.lYS HU ('(jCXSKLS VI ill. ASh MuHAI. 
 
 9 
 
 .)f Ctiristians, poniunl hv our Saviour liinisrlf, were, 
 in the two cross clauses thereof, soundly and {)hiinlv 
 expounded: "He that is not with us is n^iainst us;" 
 and a,<;ain, "He tliat is not a.i^ainst us is with us;'" 
 that is, if the points fuiuhunental. and of si'l)stance, iii.". 
 reunion, w'ere truly discerned and distinguished from 
 points not merely of faith, hut of (»pinion. order, or 
 ;',()0(1 intention. This is .-t tiling may seem to manv 
 a matter trivial, and done already; hut if it were 
 done less partially, it would he ( inhraced more .iicn- id 
 crallx'. 
 
 Of this 1 may ^ive only this advice, nccordin<i- to 
 my small model. Mvn t)u^ht to take heed of rendino; 
 (lod's Church hy two kinds of controversies. The 
 (me is, when the matter of the point controverted i.n 
 is too small and li^ht, not worth the heat and strifi- 
 nhout it, kindled only hy contradiction. Tor, as it is 
 noted by (me of the Fathers, Christ's coat ind(H'd had 
 no seam, but the Church's vesture was of divers 
 colours- whereupon he .saith: "Jn veste° varietas .sit,2(i 
 scissura non sit;" they be two (hin-is, unity and 
 uniformity. The oth(>r is, when the matter of the 
 point controvert(Hl is o;r(>at, but it is driNcn to an 
 over-great subtilty and obscurity, so that it beM'ometli 
 a tiling rather ingenious than s bstantial. A man 'j: 
 that is of judgment and understanding sliall some- 
 times hear ignorant men differ, and know well within 
 himself that tho.se which .so differ mean one thing, 
 
 and yet they them.selves would never agree. An(i 
 if it come so to pass in that distance of judgment 
 
 :aj 
 
10 
 
 /..SN.nVS OH COIWSELS cniL AXD MORAL 
 
 wliicli is hctwcoii ?j);>n and innn, shall we not think 
 that (1()(1 ahovc, t!i; knows the heart, doth not dis- 
 cern that frail nion, in some oi" their contradictions, 
 intend the same tliin,t>-. and acce})teth of both? The 
 ". natit.'e of such controver.si(»s is excellently expressed 
 In- St. Paul, in the \varnin<i and j)rece})t that he giveth 
 concernin<'- the same: "J)evita° profanas vocum 
 novitates. et oppositiones falsi noniinis scientiie." 
 Men create oppositions which are not, nnd put theni 
 
 10 into ni>w terms .so fixed, as. whereas the meaning 
 ou^ht to uovern the term, the term in effect <i<)vern- 
 {>tli the meanin«i-. There be also two false peaces or 
 unities: the one. when the peace is grounded but upon 
 an implicit ignoranct*; for all colours will agree in the 
 
 15 dark: the other, wIhmi it is j)ieced up upon a direct 
 admission of contrari(»s in fundamental )X)ints. For 
 truth and falsehood in such things an> like tli(> iron ami 
 clay in the toes of Xebuchadnezzar's image°: they 
 may cleave, but they will not inc()r})()rate. 
 
 •ji) Concerning the means of j)r()curing unitv: men 
 must beware that in the procuring or muniting° of 
 religious unity, they do not dissolve and deface the 
 laws of charity and of human s()ci(>ty. There be 
 two swords arnongst Christians, the spiritual and 
 
 ii.T temporal, and both have their due office and place 
 in the maintenance of religion. Hut we may not 
 take up the third sworil, which is Mahomet's° sword, 
 or lik(> unto it : that is, to propagate religion by wars, 
 or i)y sanguinary persecutions to force cojusciences ; 
 
 ;«) (except it be in cases of ov(>rt scandal, blasphemy, or 
 
ESSAYS OR COrXSELS i IVIL AM) MORAL 
 
 11 
 
 'uitorniixturo of iiractico ap;ains 
 
 t t!i 
 
 dale 
 
 mucli 
 
 t( 
 
 (litions. to autliorizo roiispiracic^ 
 
 nourish 
 and rohollions, to ])ut tlio sword iiHo tnc )i('oi)ios 
 liands, and tho liko. tcMidinii to tho siihvcrsioii of all 
 <»-overnment, which is tho ordinance' of (iod. Tor') 
 this is but to dash tho first tabic auainst tho second; 
 and so to consider men as Christians as w(> forgot 
 that thov aro nion. Lucr(>tius th(> poet, when ho 
 behold the act of A<iain(Mnnon,^ that could (>nduro 
 the sacrificing; of his own dauiihter. exclaimed: lo 
 
 "Tantiun"' rcligio potiiit suiulnt' iiial<n-um.'' 
 
 What would he hav(> said if \\v had known of tho 
 niassacro° in Fran.co. or tho })owdor treason'^ of 
 I']n<i;lan«l ? He would hav(^ been seven times more 
 ojiicuro and atheist than he was. I'or as tlio tom-i'' 
 j)oral sword is to bo drawn with «ireat circumspection 
 in cases of roli.iiion, so it is a thin.u" monstrous to jnit 
 into lie hands of tho common pe<)pl(\ I.(>t that be 
 loft unto tho Anabaptists^ and other furies, it was 
 ^roat blasphemy wIkmi the devil said. "I will ascend Jfl 
 and bo liko tho Hi<ihest;" but it is <>reater blas- 
 phemy to p{M-sonat(^ (Iod, and brinp; him in sayin.ir, 
 " I will descend, and bo liko th(> |trince of darkness." 
 And what is it bettor to make the cnuse of ieli<iion to 
 descend to the cruel and exe(r'd>le actions of mur-iM 
 doring; princes, butchery of people, and subversion ot 
 states and ffovornmonts ? Sur(>ly this is to brin.i^ 
 down tho Holy (Ihost, instead of the likeness of a 
 dove, in the shape of a vulture or raven; and to sot, 
 
12 /AS'.SM )-.S' OH (orXSKLS < IVIL .{NJ> MORAL 
 
 out of ino bark of a Christian Church, a flag of a bari< 
 of pn-atos antl assassins. Tliei-oforo it is most neces- 
 sary that th( Ciuirch by doctrine and decree, princes 
 by tiicn- sword, and all learnings, both Chr^ tian and 
 smora as by their mercury rod. do damn and send 
 to Iiell tor (>ver those lacN° and opinions tendin- to 
 the supp(.rt of the sanuv; as hath been alreadv in 
 ^•nod part done. Surely in counsels concerniiig- 
 religion, that counsel of the apostle \vould° be pre'^ 
 lofi.MMl, - Ira^ honiiuis non imj)ler justitiam Dei." And 
 It was a notabl(^ ol)ser^•alion of a wise father," and no 
 less m-enuoush eonfess(>d. "that those which held 
 and persuaded pressure of consciences were commonly 
 intcrcfesed" therein themselves for their own ends " ' 
 
 IV. OF REVENGE 
 
 15 Revexge is a kind of wikl° justice, which the more 
 a man s natur(> runs to, the more ought law to weed 
 It out. For as f„r the first wrong, it doth but offend 
 t..e law; but th(^ revenge of that wrong putteth the 
 kiM out of ofliccv Certainly, in taking revenge a man 
 -"M^ but even with his enemy; but in passing it over 
 h(> IS superior: for it is a prince's part to pardon. 
 And Sok,m()n. I am sure, saith. "It is the glorv of a 
 man to pass by an offence." ° 
 That which is past is gone and irrevocable and wise 
 2.-m(Mi have enough -o do with tilings present and to 
 <"ui(>: iJierefore ti 'y do but trille witli themselvey 
 
•^ 
 
 KSSAYS O/; ((fl.WSKLS ilVll. AM> \l<>i:M. 
 
 \[\ 
 
 
 thai hiliour in past inattors. TIutc is iu» man docth 
 a wron^^for the wrouj^'s sake: l«iit thorol>\ to pur- 
 chase hiniseh" jn-ofit. or pleasure, or honour, or the 
 like. Therefore why should I be an^ny with a man 
 for loving- himself better than me? And if any mans 
 should du wron^- merely out of ill-nature, why. yet it 
 is but like the thorn or briar, whirh prick or scratch, 
 because they can do no ollur. 
 
 The most tolerable sort of rev(>nge is for those 
 wroniis which tluMV is no law" to remedy: but theni.l 
 let a man take heed the rexeh^e be such as 'here is 
 no law to punish; else a man's enemy is still before- 
 hand, and it is two for one.° 
 
 Some, when they take revenm-. are desirous the 
 party should know whence it cometh; this is thei."> 
 more generous. V'.v: tlie delifiht sceinelh t(t l>e not 
 so nuich in doing' th(» hurt as i;; makinu the i)arty 
 re[)ent. I^ut base and crafty cowards an- like the 
 arrow that tlieth in the ilark. 
 
 ('osmus,° Duke of Florence, had a desperate say- 20 
 ing against perfiilious or negkn'ting friends, as if those 
 wrongs were unj)ardonable: " Vou shall read," ^aith 
 he, ''that we are comnuuKle<l to forgive our eni-mies; 
 but you never read that we are commanded to for- 
 give our friends." But yet the s})irit of .Iob° w:)s in a ii5 
 better tune : '' Shall • . e," saith he. " take good at God's 
 liaiids, and not be content to take evil also?" And 
 so of friends in a j)roportion. This is rcrtain, that a 
 man that studietli n'venge keeps his own wounds 
 green, which otherwise would heal and do well, .mi 
 
14 ESSAYS OH (OrySE/.S VIVIL AM) MORAL 
 
 Public rov(Mi<ivs ;iiv for tho most |)art fortuiiato: an 
 that for tlu^ 'Icadi of ( asar. for tlic dratli of Pcrti- 
 nax,° for the (l(>afli of H(>iirv III. of Franco, and 
 many nioro. Hut in |)rivatc ivvcn.uvs it is not so. 
 r. Xa\', rather, viMdictivc persons live the hfc of witches, 
 who, as they are niiscliievous, so end they infurtu- 
 nate. 
 
 V. OF ADVERSITY 
 
 It was a hi<2;li spc^ech of Seneca. ° after tho manner 
 of the Stoics. ° that tho <i-ood t!iin<>s whicli belon«!; to 
 
 ioi)rosj)erity are to be wished, but tho <iood thin<i;s that 
 belong- to adversity^ are to bo admired. " i^ona° 
 rerum secunchuum optal)iha. advorsaruni mirabiha." 
 (Vrtainly if miracles bo the conunand over .Vature, 
 they a))p(>ar most in adversity. It is yet a lii.uhor 
 
 ir, speech of his than the other (nnich too hioji for a 
 heathen), ''It is true .iiroatnoss to have in one tho 
 frailty of a man and the secm-ity of a (Jod." " Vore 
 ma,i>-num,° hal)oi-e tVa.iiilitatem hominis. securitatom 
 Dei." This would have done better in j)oesy, where 
 
 .'0 transcendencies are moiv allowed. And tho poets, in- 
 deed, have boon busy with it; for it is i?i effect the 
 thin<>- which is fi-^urod in that strangle fiction of the 
 ancient poets which soemetli not to be without mys- 
 tery; nay, and to have some approach to tho state of 
 
 2.-) a Christian: that II(m-cu1os.° whoii he went to unbind 
 l'romoth('us° (by whom human nature is ref)resented). 
 
 sailed th(> loniith of tl 
 
 le liroat ocean m an earthen pot 
 
mm 
 
 KSSAYS OR COCXSKLS (I ML AM) MORAL 
 
 \r^ 
 
 orpitf'her; livoly doscrihinu' Christ ian roscilutioii that 
 sailcth in tlio frail bark of the !l(>sii tliroiijih the waves 
 of tlie world. 
 
 But to spoak in a nioan° : tlio xirtiic of prosperity 
 is temporance. the virtue of advcM'sity is fortitude."* 
 which in morals is tin* more JK^roical virtue. I'ros- 
 p(M'ity is the hk^ssiui;- of [\\v Old TcstanuMit . adversity 
 is tli(^ hlessin<i; of the V-w, which carrieth the •;reat(M' 
 benediction and the ( i velat ion of ( lod's favour. 
 
 Vet, even in the (/i« >sfanient. if you listen toio 
 David's har))'^ you .-^lia!! hear as many h(>arse-lik(^ 
 airs as carols; and th(> pencil of the Holy (Ihost hath 
 laboured more in describing tlu^ afflict ioJis of .Job than 
 the feliciti^'s of Solomon. Prosjierity is not without 
 many fears and distastes, and adversity is not without 15 
 comforts and hojies. We see in needle-works antl 
 embroideries it is more })leasin<i' to have a liv(>ly work 
 upon a sad and solenm ground than to have a dark 
 and melancholy work u))on a lightsome ground: 
 judge, therefore, of the pleasure^ of the heart by the 20 
 j)leasure of the eye. Certainly virtue is like precious 
 odours, most fragrant when they are incensed or 
 crushed; for prosperity doth b(\st discover° vice, but 
 adversitv doth oest discover virtue. 
 
 VI. OF SIMl LATIOX AND DISSIMULATION 
 
 DissiMUL.\Ti()\ is but a faint kind of policy or '2r 
 wisdom; for it asketh a strong wit and a strong heart 
 t(^ know wlien to tell truth and to do it. Tlierefore 
 
16 
 
 ESSAYS UJi CorXSELS CIVIL AND MORAL 
 
 it is tli(' weaker .sort of politios" that aro the grea^ 
 dissemblers. 
 
 'J ac'itus° saitii. " F.ivia sorte(l° well with the arts 
 of her husbaiHl and dissimulation of her son;" at- 
 5 triliiitinjj; arts or policy to Auirustus° and dissimu- 
 lation to Tiberius. ° And, ajiain. when Mueianus 
 eneouraireth \'espasian° to take arms against \'itellius.° 
 he saith, "We rise not against the piercinir judgment 
 of Aujiustus n(»r the extreme eautioti or closeness of 
 
 10 Tiberius." These |)ro!)erties of arts or policy, and 
 dissinuilation or closeness, are indeed habits and 
 ^acuities several, and to !• distin2:uishe(]. For if 
 a man have that penetration of jiidjiment as he can 
 discern what thinirs are to be laid o|)en and what to 
 
 15 be secreted, and what to be showed at half-lights, ° 
 and to whom and when (which, in«' 'cd, are arts of 
 state antl arts of life, as Tacitus well calleth them), to 
 him a habit of dissinuilation is a hindrance and a 
 poorness. Hut if a man camiot obtain to that judg- 
 
 20ment, then it is left to him. generally, to be close and 
 a di.ssembler. For where a man cannot choose or 
 vary in jiarticulars, there it is good to take the safest 
 and wariest way in general; like the going softly by 
 one that cannot well see. Certainly the ablest men 
 
 2o that ever w(M"e have had all an openness and frank- 
 ness of dealing, and a name of certainty and veracity; 
 but tluMi tlu-y wviv lik(^ horses, well managed-; for 
 they could tell passing well when to stop or turn. 
 And at such times, when the\v thought the ease in- 
 
 sodeed requinMl dissinuilation. if then they used it, it 
 
ESSAYS (t}{ CfirsSKI.S I IVIL AXlj MuUM. J 7 
 
 o'MW to pass tliat tlic f(>rni<>r opinuni sprrad al>ri)a(.l 
 ot' tlioir irood faith and clcanu'ss of doaiiii<i- made 
 tlu'in almost invisible. 
 
 There l)e three de«;rees of this hidin.Ji; and veilinii; 
 of a man's self. The first, eloseiiess. reservation, and 5 
 secivcv. wiien a man leaveth himscif without obser- 
 vation, or without hold to be taken what lie is. 'V\\v 
 second, dissimulation in the r)e<iaiivc', wIkmi a man 
 lets fall si.ijns and ar<>uments that he is not that h(> is. 
 And the third, simulation in the attirmative. when n w 
 man industriously^ and expressly feigns and pretends 
 to be that he is not. 
 
 {•or the first of these, soereey : it is indeed th(> 
 virtue of a confessor; and assure(lly the secret man 
 lieareth many confessions, for who will open himself i, 
 to a blab or a babbler? Hut if a man be thought 
 secret it inviteth tliscovery. as the . .ore dose air 
 sucketh in tiie more open. And as in confession the 
 revealino; is not for worldly use, but for the ease of a 
 man'.s heart, so secret men come to the knowliHii^e-jo 
 of many things in that kin(P; while men ratiier dis- 
 chai-ge their minds than impart their minds. In 
 few words, mysteries are tlue to secrecy, liesides, 
 to say truth, nakedness is uncomely as well in mind 
 its body: and it addedi no small reverence to men's •_'.-. 
 manners and actions, if they be not altogether ()i)en.° 
 As for talkei's and futile° persons, they iwr commordy 
 vain and ci-edulous withal. For he that talketii what 
 he knoweth, will also talk what he knovveth not. 
 Therefore set it down that an habit of secrt(\ isinj 
 
18 KSSAYS (Hi iOlXSKI.S CIVIL .J.V/> MORAL 
 
 both politic an.l inoJ-al. And in this part it is .liood 
 (iiat a man's lace uivc liis toiiiiuc leave to speak. ° 
 For the (li>('(.v(rv of a man's self hy the tracts" of 
 his countenance is a jjreat weakness and betrayin";-, 
 
 5l)V how much it is many times ni(»re mtirked and 
 JM'lieved than :i man's words, 
 
 J-'or the second, which is dissimulation, it followeth 
 UKun times upon secrecy by nec"ssity; so that he 
 that will be secret must be a dissembler in sonu^ 
 
 10 degree. For men are too cunning to suffer a man to 
 keej) an indifferetit carriage betwtHMi both, and to be 
 secret, without swaying th(^ balance on either side. 
 They will so beset a man with (luestions, and draw 
 !iim on, and juck it out of him. that., without an 
 
 l;iabsurd° silence, he must show an inclination one 
 wav; or if he do not, they will gather as nuich l)y 
 his sik-nie as by his speech. As for equivocation.s 
 or oracuk)Us° si)eeches, they cannot hokl out long. 
 So that no man can be .secret, except he give himself 
 
 20 a littk' scope of dissinnilation, which is, as it were, 
 l)Ut the skirts or train of secrecy. 
 
 liut for the third degree, which is simulation and 
 false !)i()fessi(»n: that I hokl more culpable and 
 less politic, except it b(>° in great and rare matters. 
 
 2r. And therefore a general cu^^tom of simulation, which 
 is this last degree, is a vice rising either of a natural 
 falseness or fi^arfiilness, or of a mind that hath some 
 tnain faults; which, because a "an nuist needs dis- 
 guise, it niaketh him i)ractis sinudatkm in other 
 
 :x) tilings, lest his hand shoukl be out of uie.° 
 
ESSAYS OH C«K\SKl.S i'lVIL AM) Moll.- 
 
 \i) 
 
 The iiTciit u( Ivan taller of siiiiulalioii aiKi dissiiim- 
 lation arc tlircc: - l-irst, t*. lay asleep ojtpDsitioii 
 aixl to surprise; for where a man's intentions are 
 j)ui)hsiie(l, it is an ahiruni to call up all that are 
 aii'ainst them. The second is, t(» i"cscrvc to a man's r» 
 -;elf a fair retnvit; for if a man en«iaji(' iiimsclf by a 
 manifest declaration, lie must ^o tln'oujiih or take 
 a fall. The third is, the better to discover the mind 
 of another; for to lum that oj)ens himself, men will 
 hardly show themselves ad.ver.c; hut will fair" 10 
 let him j^o on, and turn their freedom of speech to 
 freedom of thouiiht. And, therefore, it is a --od 
 shrewd proverb of the Spaniard, ' Teil a lie, and find 
 a truth;" as if then* were no way of discovery but by 
 simulation. There be also three disadvantages to 15 
 set it even°: — The first, that simulation and dis- 
 simulation commonly carry with them a show of 
 fearfulness, which in any business doth spoil the 
 feathers of rouiuP flying- Uj) to the mark. The 
 second, that it puzzh^th and perplexeth the conceits jo 
 of many that ])erliaj)s would otherwise co-oj)erate 
 with him, and makes a man walk almost alone to 
 his own ends. The third and greatest is, that it 
 depriveth a man of one of the most princi})al instru- 
 ments for action, which is trust and belief.° The'J.- 
 best composition and temperature" is to have open- 
 ness in fame and oj)inion, secrecy in habit, (iissimula- 
 tion in seasonable use, and a power to feign if there 
 l)e no re'iKKly. 
 
20 hHiSAiH OA' LOIWUKLS t'lVlL AM) MORAL 
 
 VII. OF PARENTS AND CHILDREN 
 
 The joys of i^arents are secret, and so are their 
 
 griefs and fears; the 
 
 :h 
 
 :'annot mte 
 mey wni not iitier the otlier. Cliihh'en sweeten 
 hibours, but th{\v make misfortunes jnore bitter; 
 5 they increase th(^ cares of hfe, but they mitigate the 
 remembrance of ileatii. Tlie perpetuity by genera- 
 tion is connnon to beasts; but memory, merit, and 
 noble works are jjropor to men ; and surely a man siiali 
 see the nol)lest works and ft)un(hitions have proceeded 
 
 10 from childless men, which have sought to express 
 the images of their minds where those of their bodies 
 have failed; so the care of posteiity is most in iliem 
 that have no posterit\'.° Th(\v that are the first 
 raisers of their houses are most indulgent towards 
 
 ir» their children, behoKliug them as the continuance, 
 not only of their kind, but of their u'ork; and so 
 both children and creatures. 
 
 The difference in affection of parents towards their 
 several children is many tinuss une(|ual, and some- 
 
 20 times unworthy, espcH'ially in the mother; as Solomon*^ 
 saith, "A wise son rejoiceth the father, but an un- 
 gracious son shames the mother." A man shall see, 
 where there is a house full of children, one or two 
 of the eldest respected and the youngest made wan- 
 
 25tons°; but in the midst some tliat are as it were for- 
 gotten), who many times, nevertheless, prove the best. 
 The illil'er;iiit> of parents in allowance towards 
 
fJSSAYS OR COrXSKLS <'IVlf. i Xl> MORAL 
 
 21 
 
 tlu'ir childron is an liannful ('iror. — inak( > tlicMn 
 haso, acquaiiits them witli shifts.'" inal<('s thcin sort'^ 
 with mean cotnpaiiy. and makes tlicm surfeit more 
 when they ''ome to j)lenty; and th.ere^'ore tlie proofs 
 is best when men k(>ep their authority towards their r. 
 ciiilih'en, hut not tlnnr |)urse. Ahni have a foohsh 
 manner (both ))ar(Mits and sclioohuasters and servants) 
 ill creatiuii; and hreedinu; an emulation between 
 brothfM's (hiring- cliildliood, whieli many timers sorteth° 
 to(iis('ord when they ai'e men. and disturbetli famihes. m 
 
 The ItaUans make little dilfenMU-e between children 
 and nepliews or near kin folks; but so they be of the 
 lump.'^ th(\v ('ar(> not thouui they pass not through 
 (h(Mr own body. And. to sav truth, in nature it is 
 mueh a like matt(M"; insomuch that we sec a nephew ir. 
 ^omelimes res(Mnl)l(>th an uncle or a kinsman more 
 than his own parent, as the blood ha))])ens. 
 
 Let parents choose betimes the vocations and 
 courses they mean th(»ir children shoiik! take, for 
 th(Mi they are most flexible; and k^t them not tooL'o 
 much n.])ply theni-elves to tlu* tlis|)ositiou of their 
 children, as thinking tii(\v will take best to that 
 which they hiwo most mind to. It is true that if 
 the affection or aptness of the children be extra- 
 ordinary, then it is good not to cross it; l)ut generally '-M 
 rhe })recep( is good. "Oj^timum'^ elige, suave et farile 
 illud faciet consuetudo. '' Younger brothers are 
 commonly fortunate,*^ but seldom or never where the 
 elder are disinherited. 
 
99 
 
 ESSAYS OB « (/{'XSKLS CIVIL AXJ> MORAL 
 
 VIII. OF MARRIAGE AND SINGLE LIFE 
 
 He that hath wife and childroii hath ^iven hos- 
 tages to fortune, ° for they are inijxHliments to great 
 enterprises, either of virtue or mischief. Certainly 
 the best works and of greatest merit for the public 
 shave proeeedetl from the unmarried or childless 
 men, which botli in affcH'tion and means have married 
 and endowed the i)ul)lic. Yet it were gn^at reason 
 that those that have children should have greatest 
 care° of future times, unto which they know they 
 10 must transmit their dearest pledges. ° 
 
 Some tiiere are who, though they lead a single 
 life, yet their thoughts do end with themselves, 
 and account future times imp(>rtinences°; nay, there 
 are some other that account wife and children but 
 15 as bills of charges; nay more, there are some foolish, 
 rich, covetous men that take a jiride in having no 
 children, l)ecau ^° they may be thought so much the 
 richer. For perhai)s they have heard some talk, 
 "Such an one is a great rich man,'' and another 
 20 except to it, "Yvii, l)ut he hath a great charge of 
 chiklren," as if it were an abatem(>nt to his riches. 
 J^ut the most ordinary cause of a single life is lil)erty, 
 especially in certain self-pleasing and hum()rous° 
 minds, which are so sensible of every restraint, as 
 2.") they will go luvir to think then* girdles and garters 
 to be bonds and shackles. 
 
 Unmarried men are best friends, best masters. 
 
ESSAYS OR COrXSELS CIVIL AXI> MOIiAL 2.S 
 
 M 
 
 best sorvants, but not uhvavs 
 
 best 
 
 >Ul)J{' 
 
 for 
 
 they are light to run away, and ahnost all fugitives 
 are of that condition. A single life doth well with 
 ( 'hurehnien, for charity will hardly water tht* ground 
 wliere it nuist first fill a pool. It is indifferent °r) 
 for judges and magistrates, for if they he facile and 
 corrupt, you shall have a servant live times worse 
 tlian a wife. For° soldiers, I find the generals 
 commonly, in their hortativ(^s,° j)ut men in mind of 
 their wives and children. And 1 think the despisin* 
 of jnarriai-e amony;st the Turks mak(>th the vuljiar 
 
 10 
 
 )kli 
 
 I) 
 
 souuer more Dase. 
 
 Certainly, wife anil children luv a kind of discipline 
 of humanity; id single men, though they he many 
 times more charitahk'. because their means are less i.") 
 exhaust, yet, on the otluM' side, they are more cruel 
 and hard-hearted (good to mak(> severe inquisitors), 
 because their tenderness is not so oft called upon, 
 (irave natures, letl by custom, and tluM"(^fore constant, 
 are conunonly loving husbands; as was saul of-'o 
 riys.ses,° " \"etulam° suam pra>tulit immortalitati." 
 Chaste women are often proud and froward,° as 
 presuming upon the merit of their chastity. It is 
 one of the l)est bonds both of chastity and obedience 
 in the wife, if she think her husband wise; which she '-'.'> 
 will never do if she find him jealous. 
 
 Wives are young men's mistresses, companions 
 id okl men's nurses; so as a man 
 
 age, 
 
 111 
 
 ay have a quarrel° to marry when he will. Hut 
 yet he was reputed one of the wise men that iiuule 
 
 M 
 
'J4 J'.'SSAYS on < Of X.SKLS VI Ml. A XI, Mi, HAL 
 
 answer to tlio (question, wlien a man should inarrv; 
 "A young man not yet, an eKlcr man not at all. ''° 
 It is often seen that bad luisbands have veiy good 
 wives; wlietlier it be that it rais<«th the price of 
 s their husband's kindness wiien it comes, -)r that the 
 wives tai<e a {)ri(le in their patience. lUit this never 
 fails, if the bad luisbands were of their own choosiriL' 
 against their friends' consent; for then they will be 
 sure to make good their own folly. 
 
 IX. OF ENVY 
 
 10 There be noiK^ of the affections which have been 
 notetl to fascinate" or bewitch, but love anil envv. 
 TI ;(>y both have vehement wislies; they frame them- 
 selves readily into imaginations and suggestions; 
 and they come (>asily into the eve, especiallv upon' 
 
 15 the presence of the objects; which are the" points 
 that con<luce to fascination, if any such thing there be. 
 We see likewise the Script ur(>^ caileth cn\y an evil eye, 
 and the astrologers call the e\ il inlluences of tlu' 
 stars evil aspects; so that stilP there seemeth to be 
 
 20 acknowledged in the act ot (>nvv an ejaculation, ° 
 or u-radiation, of the eye. Nay, some have been so 
 curious [IS to note that the times wh< the stroke 
 or percussion of an envious e\-e doth most hurt, are 
 when the jwiy envied is beheld in glory or triumph, 
 
 2.-. lor tiiat sets an edge upon envy, and, besides, at 
 such times the sj)irits of the person envied do come 
 
ESSAYS OR rorXSKLS CIVIL AXD MOh'.iL 25 
 
 forth nio.sl into the outward parts, and i:-() meet the 
 blow. 
 
 But leaving; these euriositic^s (thoufjh not unworthy 
 to ho thought, on in fit phic(^'^). we will handl<> what 
 ])(Msons .70 apt to eiP'y other.-: ; what persons are most 5 
 suhjeet to bo envied thenisclvc^s ; ;ind what is the 
 dilTerenre between ()ubli(' and prixate (>nvy. 
 
 A man that hath no virtue in himself ever envieth 
 virtue in others. Tor Fxien's minds will either feed 
 upon their own good or U])oii oth.ers' evil; and who ifl 
 wanteth the one will prey upon the other; and whoso 
 is out of hope to attain to another's virtue will seek 
 to come at even liand by depressing another's foriime. 
 
 A man that is busy and in(|uisitive is eonnnonly 
 envious. For to know much of otluM" men's matt(>rs i." 
 rannot be because all that ado may concern his own es- 
 tate; therefore it nmst needs be (hat he taketh a kind 
 of plav-pleasure in looking upon the fortunes of others. 
 \eith(T can he that mindetli but his own business 
 find much matter for envy, for en\y is a gadding •_>(, 
 jiassioii, and walketh the stre(>ts. tmd doth not keep 
 liome: " Xon (>st° curiosus. (piin i(U'm sit malevolus. " 
 
 Men of nobl(^ birth i\'V noted to be envious towi;rds 
 new men"^ when they ris{\ For the disiance is altered, 
 and it is like a deceit of the eye, that when others 2.- 
 rome on they think themselves go back. 
 
 Deformed persons, and eunuchs, and old men, 
 and bastards, ai'e envious: for he that cannot possibly 
 
 men<l 
 
 hH own cas(» 
 
 will 
 
 (id 
 
 at 1 
 
 le can to unpair 
 
 another's^; except these defects light upon a very .ai 
 
26 J'JSSAYS OR COl'XSELS CIVIL AND MORAL 
 
 brave and heroical nature, which thinketh to make 
 his natural wants i)art of his iionour°; in that it 
 slioukl be said that an eunuch or a lame man did such 
 ffreat matters; affecting the honour of a miracle: 
 r>as it was in Xarses° tiie eunuch, and Agesilaus° and 
 ''J"'aml)erlanes,° that were lame men. 
 
 The sauK^ is the case of men that rise after calamities 
 and misfortunes; for they are as men fallen out with 
 the ti.nes, and think otlier men's harms a redemption 
 10 of their own sufferings. 
 
 Tiiey that desire to excel in too many matters, out 
 of levity ° and vain-glory, are ever envious; for they 
 cannot want work, it being imp(,ssible but many 
 in some one of those tilings should surpass them. 
 isWhicli was the character of Adrian, ° the emperor, 
 that mortally envied poets and painters and artificers, 
 in works wherein he had a vein to excel. 
 
 Lastly, near kinsfolks, and fellows in office, and 
 those that have been bred together, are more apt to 
 20 envy their equals when they are raised. For it doth 
 upbraid unto them their own fortunes, and pointeth 
 at them, -ind cometh oftener into their remembrance, 
 and incu. ')° likewise more into the note of others; 
 and envy e\er redou})leth from speech and fame. 
 25 Cain's envy was (lie more vile and malignant towards 
 his brother Abel because", when his sacrifice was better 
 accepted, there was nobody to look on.° Thus much 
 for those that are apt to envy. 
 
 Concerning those thnt are more or less subject 
 :*)to envy: — First, persons of eminent virtue when 
 
A'&VS.I r.S <Ui roi XSKLS civil, AM) MoliXh 27 
 
 tlu'V arc a(lvaiic{'(| arc less (Mivicd. I'oi- their torttmc 
 sccinctli l)Ul due unto ihcin; and no man cnviotli 
 the |)avnK'nt of a debt, l)Ul r wards and hhcrality 
 rallicr A^ain, envy is ever joined witli tlie conipar- 
 in<'; :n d nitm's sell", and where there is no comparison, 5 
 no envy; anil therefore kiniis aii> not envied l»ut by 
 kiniis. Ncvertlielcss, it is to be noted tiiat unworthy 
 p(>rsons are most envied at their first comin^ii in, 
 and aiterwards overcome it bettei ; whereas contrari- 
 wis(v, persons of worth and merit are most envied lo 
 when their fortune continuetii lon^. For i)y that 
 time, thouiih their virtue be the sam(>, yet it hath not 
 the same lustre, for fresh men ^row uj) that darken it.° 
 
 I'ersons of no})ie blood are less envied in their risiny;, 
 for it seemeth but ri»ht done to tlieir l)irth; besides. 15 
 there seemeth not much added to their fortune, and 
 envy is ivr the sunl)eams. that beat hotter u{)on a bank 
 or steej) rising' jz;rou!i(l than upon a flat. And for the 
 same reason, those that are advanccnl by degrees are 
 less (Mivied than th(jse that are advanced suddenlv.'jo 
 and per saltam° 
 
 Those tliat have joined with their lionour great 
 t ravels, ° carc';, or jierils are less subject to envy, 
 lor men tliink that they earn their honours hardly, 
 and }>ity them sometimes; and i)ity ever healeth 'J.'i 
 envy. Wherefore you shall ()bs(>rve that the more 
 deep and sober sort of j)oliti(.' persons, in their great- 
 ness, are ever bemoaning themselves what a life 
 they lead, chanting a "(Quanta i)atimur°;'' not that 
 they feel it so^ but only to abate the edge of envy. :hj 
 
28 
 
 KSS.IYS Oh' ( Of xsi:/,s rniL AX It MO HAL 
 
 But this is to i)(> iit!<lorst(X)(l of husinoss that is laid 
 upon nuMi, and not siu'li as they call unto tlieni- 
 sulves. Tor nothin.c: incroasoth cjny more (lian an 
 unnecessary and anil)itious en,u'rossin(r oi business; 
 5 and nothino- doth extiniiuish envy more than for a' 
 ^reat person to pieserve all (,ther inferior ofhcrs 
 in their full riohts and pre-eminences of their plaers: 
 lor hy that means there be so many screens between 
 him ;ind (mvy, 
 10 Above all, those are most subject to envv whii-h 
 carry the ••reatness of their fortimes in an insolent 
 and proud manner, beino ,i('V(t welP l)ut while they 
 are showing how great they m\\ (Mther bv outward 
 pomp, or by trium})hin,i>- over all oppositi<m or coui- 
 ir. petition -whereas wise men will rather do sacrifice 
 to envy, in suffering themselves sometimes of purpos(> 
 to be cro- sed and overborne in things that do not much 
 concern them. Notwithstanding, so jmich is true, 
 that the carriage^ of greatness in a j)Iain and ojien' 
 20 maimer, so it b(> without arrogancy and vain-glory, 
 doth di..w less envy than if it Ix^'in a more crafty 
 and cunning fashion. For in that course a man doth 
 but di-^avow fortune,^ and seenu-th to be conscious of 
 his own want in worth, and doth but teach others to 
 25 envy him. 
 
 Lastly, to conclude this ])art. as we said in the 
 
 icginninir that the act of 
 
 o 
 
 f witc 
 
 ei:vv 
 
 had 
 
 omewhat in it 
 
 icrait, so there is no other cure of envv but the 
 
 cure of witchcraft and thai is t 
 
 :50as they call it, and to lav it 
 
 o I'emove the lot, 
 
 upon another. For which 
 
 -- " "- l—liiM ! 
 
« ll 
 
 ESSAYS OH ( OLWSELS en II. AM> MoUAL L''J 
 
 purpose liic wiser sort of <ireat jX'rsons iMHiir in ever 
 nj)ou 11h> stiijie somebody ii])oii wlioiii To (irn\('° Uio 
 (Mivv tliat woultl eoiiie U})on themselves: sometimes 
 ui)oii ministers and servants. someti»nes upon eol- 
 iea<.':ues and associati^s, and the like; and for tliat.") 
 turn ttiere arc ne\'er wantinu" soin(> persojis of violent 
 and nndertakin,i2;° natures, who. so tiiev may hav(^ 
 l)()\V{»r and l)usiiicss, will take it at any eost. 
 
 Now to speak of ])u])lie envy. There is yet some 
 i>(M)d in i)ubli(' envy, wluTeas m )»rivate there is m 
 none. For public envy is as an ostraeism, iliat 
 eclip^oth men when th{>y orow too jrreat : and there- 
 fore it is a bridle also to p;reat ones, to keep them 
 within bounds. 
 
 Tiiis erivy, beinii; in tlie Latin word invnlia, goeth in i.' 
 ihe modern lan^juaKes by the name of " (iiscontent- 
 1 inent/' of which we shall s})(»ak in handlinfr; sedition. 
 
 It is a disease in a state like to infeetion; for as 
 ir.fection si)readeth ui)on inat which is sou.nd, and 
 tainteth it, so when envy is gotten once into a'JO 
 state, it traduceth even the V)est actions thereof, and 
 turnetli them into an ill odour. And therefore there 
 is little wo!i l)y intei-miii,i:iin<i' of plai'.,-il)le° actions; 
 for that doth arjiiie l)ut ;i weakness and fear of envy, 
 which hurteth so much the more; as it is likewise 2.") 
 usual in infeciions, which, if y(Mi fear them, you call 
 them upon you. 
 
 This public envy seemeth to beat chiefly upon 
 
 prmcipi 
 
 d oih 
 
 isters, rather than upon 
 
 s or mnu 
 kinys and estates themiselves.^ But this is a sure ad 
 
30 
 
 ass AYS OR COIXSKLS CIVIL Ay 
 
 n MORAL 
 
 rule, that if tho onvy upon tlu> minister ho ^rroai 
 when the cause of it in him is small, or if the rnvv 
 be general in a manner upon all th(> ministers of an 
 estate, then the vnxy. though hidden, is trulv upon the 
 r. state itself. And so mueh of public (»nvv or dis- 
 contentment, and the difference thereof from private 
 envy, which was handled in the first place 
 
 We will add this in general, touching tlie af^Vction 
 of envy, that of all other ailections" it is the nost 
 lonuportune a.id continual; for of other affecti.)ns 
 there la occasion given }>ut now and then, and there- 
 fore It was well said, •' Invidia^ festos dies non agit. " 
 for it IS ever working upon some or other. And^it is 
 also noted that love and envy do make a man pine 
 15 which other afifections do not, because they are not 
 so continual. It is also the vilest affection and the 
 most depraved, for which cause it is the proper 
 attribute of the devil, who is called ''the envious 
 man,° that soweth tares amongst the wheat by 
 20 night;" as it always cometh to pass that envv worketii 
 subtilely and in the dark, and to the prejudice of 
 good thmgs, such as is the wheat. 
 
 X. OF LOVE 
 
 The stage is more beholding^ to love than the 
 
 hfe of man. For, as to the stage, love is ever matter 
 
 25 ()f comedies and now am' then of tragedies; but in 
 
 life it doth much mischief, sometimes like a siren, 
 
ASSAYS (Hi rnrSSKLS clVII. .\M> MdRAt. 
 
 31 
 
 Diiu'tiino; 
 
 like 
 
 turv 
 
 (»u m;iv (»l)S('r\( 
 
 that 
 
 amongst all the ^reat ami worthy jxTsons whert'of 
 the iiu'inorv rciualtioth. (Uthcr ancient or ri't-eiit, there 
 is not one ° that hath been transported to the mad 
 decree of lo\e ; whieh shows that lireat spirits and ."> 
 ureat business do keep out this weak passion.'^ You 
 \\\\\>\ except, neverth(>less, Marcus Antonius.° the 
 halt-partner ol" the JMupire of Home, and Aj)pins 
 (1a!i lius,° the d(>ceinvir and law-giver; wher(M)f the 
 toriner was indeed a voluptuous man and inordinat(\ k; 
 biU the latter was an austere and wis(> man; and 
 therefore it seems, thouuh larely. that love can find 
 ejitrance. not only into an open heart, but also hito 
 a heart well fortified, if watch be not well kept. 
 
 It is a i)oor sayinji; of Mpicurus'^: "Satis° mag;nunnr. 
 alter alteri theatrum sumus." as if man, ma(l(* for 
 the contemplation of IIea\'en and all noble objects, 
 should do nothiiiij; but kneel before a little idol° and 
 make hims(>lf sul)ject. though not of the mouth, as 
 beasts are, yet of the eye, wliich was given him for-ji 
 hiuiuM- pur|)oses. It is a strange thing to note the 
 excess of t-his j)assion, and how it braves° the nature 
 ai'.d value of things, by this, that the speaking in a 
 perpetual hyperbole is comely in nothing but in 
 love. Neither is it merely in the phrase; for where- 25 
 as it hath been well said° that the arch-flatterer, 
 ■A-ith whom all the petty flatterers have intelligence, ° 
 is a man's self, certainly the lover is more. For 
 there was never proud man thought so absurdly well 
 of himself as the lover dotli of the person loved; 30 
 
32 
 
 KSS.IYS (,h- rfj/ \s/:/,s (III,, .,.v/> MUUAI. 
 
 and thorotoiv it is well .sakl^ "thai ir is in. possible 
 to love and to he wise." Neither doth this weak- 
 ness appear to others only, and not to tlu party 
 loved: but to the loved most of all. exeept the love 
 5 be reeipro(,ne.° For it is a true rule that loxv is 
 ever rewarded eith(>r with the n'cipr(K,ue" oi- with 
 an niward and secn-t conrcuipt; bv how nuich thr 
 more men ou,i;ht to b. ware of ihis passion, which 
 loseth not only otiier things but itself. As for the 
 icother losses. t!ie poet's relation doth well [i^mre them 
 that he that prefenvd HekMur <juitted the ^dffs „f 
 Juno°and Pallas^- for whosoever esteemeth too mueh 
 ot amorous aifection (luitteth both rieiies and wisdom 
 Plus passion hath his° floods in tiie verv times of 
 15 weakness, whicli are -reat prosperity and" ijroa, i,<I- 
 versity. thou-li this latter hath been less observed- 
 both wlueh times kindle love and Uiake it more fer- 
 vent, and therefon. siiow it U^ l„> the child of foilv 
 lliey do best who, if they eann(,t but a<lmit love vet 
 2()make it keep ({uarier," and seN(>r it wholjv from their 
 serious affairs an<l a.tions of life; for if it check" 
 once with business it troubieth men's fortunes .,„d 
 maketh men that they can nowavs be tru.' t.. their 
 own ends. [ know not how, bul martial m.-n are uiven 
 25 to love; I think it is but as thev are dven to wine 
 for perils commonly ask to be pai<l in })i(N-isures. 
 
 There is in man^s nature a socret hiclinatkni and 
 motion towards love of others, which, if it be not 
 
 spent upon some one or a f(>w, doth 
 30 itself towards many, and maketl 
 
 naturally spread 
 1 men become hu- 
 
t u 
 
 ESS.nS OR (UlXSKLS < IVIL \.\/> MORAL 
 
 .>."» 
 
 mano ami ('liarital)l(\ as ii is seen somctiinc in friars. 
 Nuptial love inak(th niaiikiiul, friiMidiy love |x»i- 
 h'ctcth it, but wanton love corrupteth and enibas- 
 ctli it. 
 
 XI. OF GREAT l^.ACE 
 
 Mk\ in ^roat place aro thrico scTvants : servants.". 
 of the sovereign or state, servants of fame, and ser- 
 vants (^f business; so as th(\v have no freedom, neither 
 iti their jK'rsons, nor in tiieir actio!is, nor in their 
 times. It is a st?"an<!;e desire to seek power and to 
 lose liberty ; or to seek power over others and t' lt)S(> Kl 
 power over a man's «elf. Tlie risinji; unto plaee is 
 laborious, and by pains men eome to <ireater [»ains; 
 and it° is sometimes base, and by indignities nien eome 
 to di^iiiti(»s. Tlie standinji: is slij^pery, and the re- 
 press is either a downfall or at least an celipse. whi« ' !■" 
 is a melancholy thiuii;. "('um'^ non sis (pii fueiis. 
 non esse cur v«Mis vivenv" Nay, retire men caiuiot 
 when they would, neither will they when it were 
 reason, but are iuijiatient of privateness, even in 
 .iiie and sickness, which re(|uire the shadow; lik(^20 
 old towii.-men, thai will be still sitting at their street 
 door, thoujih thereby th(-y offer age to scorn. Cer- 
 tainly, j^reat persons had need to borrow other men's 
 opinions to think themselv(\s ha})py, for if they judge 
 in their own feeling they caimot find it ; but if they 2.1 
 think with themselves what other men think of them, 
 and that other men would fain be as tluw are, then 
 
34 
 
 USi^AlS OR roi ySKLS VIVU. ASl) MORAL 
 
 f icy aiv lia|)j)y as it wore hy report. wIkmi pcrliaps 
 (JK'y ii!i<l lh(^ coiilrary witliiii. For tlu.y are (lie 
 (irst thai tiiid their own ^riei's. though (hey be tlie 
 liist I hat iiM(l th(Mr own faults. ("(Tiainlv," men in 
 5,ii:reat fortunes are stran-ei-s^ to themselves, and 
 while they are in th(> puzzle of business th(-y hav(> 
 no time to (end their health either of !.odv or mind. 
 ;• Ilh^ mors .uravis ineubat, (lui notus iiimis onmibus! 
 i,i;'notus morifur sibi.'' 
 10 In place then is licens(> lo <lo ,iro„d aiid ,>vil. wheivot 
 the latter is a eurse; f<.r in ,.vil the best eotidition is 
 not to will, the serond not to ean.° Hut po\v(>r to do 
 ,ii-oo<l° IS the true and lawful end of aspirin-- For 
 ^•ood thouiihts. thouuh Cod ac.ept them, vet towards 
 1.5 men are li(il(> blotter than -ood dtvams, except they 
 be ])ut m act ; and that cannot be without power and 
 pace, as the vanta-e and commandiuir crromul 
 Mem and -ood works is the end of man's motion ° 
 and conscience^ of the same is the accmpli.hment of 
 20 man's rest. For if a man can be partaker of (lod's 
 tlH'at(>r, he shall likewise bv partaker of (lod's re^l 
 " VA conversus° l),>us, ut aspiceret opera, (pur ivvv- 
 runt maims siue, vidit cpiod omnia essent bona nimis "' 
 and then the Sabbath.'^ ' 
 
 2r, I'l the o'ischaru-e of tl,;, ,lace set before thee the 
 best e.\am|)les. for imitation is a ,<;-lobe° ,,f prcvpts 
 And after a lini(< s(>t before thee thine own example' 
 and exannne t hysHf strictly, whether thou di.lst not 
 I'cst at hrst. Xe,iilect not also the examples of those 
 
 ;30lhat 1 
 
 lave carried thenis( 
 
 ■I \ es 
 
 Ju iijc same plac 
 
J-:SS.]YS OR rofXSKLS I IVIL AXl> MOHM. .")."> 
 
 not to s(>t off thyself by taxiiiii; their ineiiiory. hiil to 
 direct thyself what to axt^id. K(>forin. therefore, 
 \\ithout bravery'^ or scandal of former times and i)er- 
 -;»Ms; hut yet set it down to thyself, as well to ereate 
 uood |)reeed(Mits as to follow thmi. l{educe° things.'. 
 lo the iirst institution, and observe wherein and how 
 lhe\' imve deii'enerate, but yet ask counsel of both 
 tunes: of the ancient time what is best, and of th(> 
 hilter time what is iiltesl. Seek t(» make thy cours«> 
 reuiii;!:-. ihat men may know beforehand what they l<i 
 nia\- rxpccl ; but be not too j)ositive and periMuptory, 
 and <'\i)ress thyx'lf \\v\\° when thou di,<i-ressest from 
 thv riil(\ Preserx'e th(> riuht of th.y i)!ace, but stir 
 not (jues'.iotis of jurisdiction; and ralh(>r assume thy 
 riul'.t in silence and dv javto/^ than voice it with m 
 elain.s and challenp's. Preserve likewise tlu^ rig'hts 
 of i!iferior ))laces. and tliink it more honour to direct 
 in chief than to b(> busy in all. Mml^race and invite 
 lu^lps and advices touchin.u- the execution of tiiy j^lace. 
 and do not dri\(^ awa> such as brin,i>- thee information, -jo 
 as i!ieddiers. but accept of them in ^ood l)art. 
 
 'Xnv \ices of authority \\\v ehieliy four: delays, 
 corruption, rotiudmess. and facility. ° I'or delays: 
 iiive easy access, keep limes appointed, \io throuj2;h 
 with that which is iii hand, and interlace'- not busi-LT. 
 !iess but of iKM-essity.'" l"(*r corruption: do not 
 oidy bind thine own lands, or thy serx'ants' iiands. 
 iVom takinu", but bind lh(> hands of suitors also 
 trom offering!;." i'"<>i" inteii'rity used doth the one; but 
 miefirity j)rofess(Hl, and with a manifest detestation ;«i 
 
m 
 
 KSSAYS OR ('jCySF'.ii CIVIL .LV 
 
 !> MOUAL 
 
 of bribery, .lotli tho other. And jiAoi.l no( only tl... 
 iaiiJt but tho suspicioi). Wliosocvor is found variable 
 and ohan-eth nianitVstly without mrniifest vixxxm' 
 giveth suspicion of eorruption. l^herefore aiwaxs 
 5 when thou elian-ivst thine opinion or eourse. protV.. 
 It i)lanily, and deehiro it, toovtiu^r with tiie reasons 
 that move thee to ehanov, and do not think to steal 
 It. A servant or a faxourite, if he hv inward,° and no 
 othor apparent (;aust> of est(>eni. is eonimonlv thought 
 10 '.tit a by-way to close t'orruption. For rou<«hness: 
 1 i.s a needi(>ss caus(> of discontent; severity brefvletli 
 ^-.u', but rouo-hr.oss brecnh^th hate. Kveii reproofs 
 troin atithority ou-ht to be orav(>, and not tauntin- 
 As tor tacihty, it is worse than bribery.^ For bribes 
 iscome l)ut now and then; but if importunity or idle 
 respeets lea<l a ma-i. he shall never be without \s 
 Solomon- saith: "To ivspect persons is not good- 
 tor such a man will ti-an.-ivss for a piece of bread " 
 It is most true that was anciently spoken, " A place 
 20showeth the man ;" and it showeth some to the better 
 and some to the worse. " Omnium^ consensu, capax 
 jniperii, nisi mifjerasset." snith Tacitus° of (;alba°- 
 nut ot \espasian° he saith. -Solus- imperantiuin 
 \cspasianus mutatus in melius." Though the one 
 2.'iwas nieant of sufliciency.o the other of manners 
 and affection. It is -^n assured sign of a worthy and 
 generous spirit, whom honour amen.ls.'^ For honour 
 IS, or should be, tlie plnce of virtue: an.l ns in nature 
 things nmve violently to fh,.ir phic,.. and calmly in 
 ;^» then- place; so virtue in ambition is violent, in author- 
 ity s<>ttlcd and calm. 
 
KSSAYS nli ((H'NSKLS ('IV 11. AM> MuHAL MT 
 
 AH il^iui:' t > tiTcat placf is l)v a winding stair, aixl, 
 if there be factions, it is goocl to side a man's self° 
 vJiilst he is in tlic lising. and to ijahmce himself' 
 when lie is i)hu'ed. I'se th(> memory of thy predt- 
 c-ssor fairly and tenderly; for if thou dost not, it is 5 
 ;i debt will sure be paid when thou art gone. If 
 thou have colleagues, respect them, and ratlier call 
 ilii'ia whtii tliey look not for it, than exclude them 
 when they have reason to look to be called. Ik' not 
 i,)() sc?isiblc or too remembering of thy place° in con- 10 
 \trsation and private answers to suitors; but let it 
 latiier be said, ''When he sits in place he is another 
 iitau. 
 
 XII. OF BOLDNKSS 
 
 It is a trivial granmiar-school text, but yet worthy 
 a wise man's consideration. (.Question was asked of l."» 
 l)emosthenes,° What was the chief part of an orator? 
 He answered, Action. What next •.' — Action. 
 What next again? — Action, lie said it that knew 
 ii best, and iiad by nature himself no advantage in 
 that he commended. A strange thing, that that'-'o 
 part of an orator which is but superhcial, and rather 
 the virtue of a player, shoidd be placed so high above 
 those other noble ])arts of invention, elocution, and 
 the rest; nay, almost alont-, as if it w(>re all in all. 
 Vni{ the reason is plain. There k in human nature 'JS 
 generally more of the fool than of the wise; and 
 therefore those facidties l)y which the foolish part 
 
i8 
 
 KSSAVS Oh' rorysKI.S VI VI I, ,{ 
 
 Ml M'tUM. 
 
 J'l'nHM.'sniin.Isislak.M, arc n.osl potrnr. Wnndcrr, 
 like IS tho case of UMwi 
 
 first • 
 Hold 
 cind 
 
 B 
 
 okincss/ 
 
 W 
 
 Kll 
 
 IICSS. 
 
 And 
 
 vs 111 civil 
 t second 
 
 i»usinc 
 and 
 
 W 
 
 \('\ l)( 
 
 rhird 
 
 )idncss is a child of i<inor, 
 
 baseness, tar inf(M-ior to oti 
 
 lat 
 
 IIC(> 
 
 nevertheless, it doth f, 
 foot th 
 
 ier part> 
 
 P.wt 
 
 iscmate and hind liaiid 
 
 those that are either shallow i, judo„H,,t .„ 
 weak ;n courauv. which are the .liivatest pai-t • v(.m 
 and prevailcth with wise in(>n at W(vd< tinu^ Theiv- 
 10 Ore. we sec it hath done w.^nders in popular state. ° 
 I'Ut with senates and princes l(>ss; and inoiv ex/.r 
 upon th(. first .>ntranc(. of hold pc-rsons into action 
 <iian so.m atter; for boldness is an ill keeper ,.f 
 })ronuse. 
 
 15 Surely, as there are mountebanks^ for th(> natural 
 iHKly. so are tluMV niount(>banks for the politic bodv 
 men that undertake o,,.at cuivs. and perhaps have' 
 been lucky m two or three exp,M-iinents. but wrnt the 
 ^n-ounds ot science, and fherefoiv cannot hold o,n 
 20Aay. you shall s(.e a bold tellow nianv times d(, Ma- 
 homet s miracle. Mad.omet- n.ad(. the people l)(>liev(> 
 that he would call an hill to him. and fnmi the top of 
 It offer up his pnnvrs for the observers of his law 
 ihe people assembled; Mahomet called the hill to 
 25 come to him. a-ain and a-ain; an<l when the hill 
 stood sti 1 he was never a whit abashed, but ^aid. 
 It the hill will not come to Mahomet. Mahom(«t 
 will ,^o to the hill." So iluw m.n. when ,hev have 
 promised ,<rreat matters, and failed most shame- 
 •«'tully; yet, if they have the perfection of boKlness, 
 
 ■■ 
 
f-:ss.iys OR (■or\s/-:Ls < rvn. i.\7> mohal '.V^ 
 
 (hcv will l)Ut sli,<iht it over. mihI niak(> a turn, and no 
 \\\i)vv ado. 
 Ccrtaiidy to hkmi of .uroat jud.uincnt hold pcfson.'^ 
 a sj/oi't to Ix'hold ; nay. and to the xul^i'ai" also 
 
 ;i;(' 
 
 )(»I(IIU'» 
 
 hatl 
 
 1 soin( 
 
 ■what 
 
 ol \hv ndiculons; tor it 
 
 .ihsurdity he tlH> suhjcct of lau,;il)t('r. douht you not 
 iiiil urcat holdiH^ss is seldom without sonic ahsurdity. 
 I Ispcciallx', it is a sport to s(>(' when a l)old hallow is 
 (lut of countenance, tor that puts his face into a most 
 shrunken and wooden" jM)sture. as n(>eds it must ; m 
 l'(tr ill hashfuhiess the spirits do a little ^"o and come; 
 hut with hold men. upon like occasion, they stand 
 at a stay, like a stale"^ at chess, where it is no mate.° 
 hut yv\ the ,uam(> cannot stir. But this last w(>re 
 litter for a satire than for a serious oliservation. i.~i 
 
 This is W(>11 to h(^ wei^ihed. that holdness is (n(>r 
 hlind: for it s(H>th not dangers and inconveniences. 
 Therefore it is ill in counsel. ,s2;ood in execution; so 
 that the risi'ht us(^ of hold jkm'sohs is that th(\v' never 
 
 mniand in chief, hut he seconds, and und(M" thc-jo 
 
 CO 
 
 direction of otluM's. l'\)r in 
 (laniiers; and in execution 
 thev h(^ Ncrv ureat. 
 
 it is ii'ood to s(>( 
 
 o see til 
 
 th 
 
 >XCO]lt 
 
 Xill. OF (lOODXKSS. AND (JOODXKSS OF 
 
 NATURE 
 
 r TAiv,; ii'oodiK'ss in this sens(\ the arfectin.^Ji; of° 
 the weal of men, which is that the (Jreciaub call J." 
 
40 
 
 ESSAYS OR (OrXSKLS r/17/. AXI) MORAL 
 
 philanthropin ; and th(^ word "humanity." as it is 
 used, is a little too liuhi to (\\pn\ss it. (loodnoss 1 
 call the habit, and lioodiu^ss of naturo tho inrlinati(tn. 
 This of all v'irtiios atid diiinitics of the mind is thn 
 Sfircatost. hcin^ the {'haractor of th(^ I)(Mty; aiui 
 without it man is a l)usy, mischievous, wretched 
 thini;, no better than a kind of vermin. Goodness 
 answers to tiie theolo.uical virtue charity, and admits 
 no excess but error. ° The desire of power in excess 
 
 locaused the ani!;els to fall; the desire of knowledgt; in 
 excess c used man lo fall; but in charity there is no 
 excess, neither can anuel or man come in daiijier by 
 it. The inclination to o;oo<1ness is imprinted deeply 
 in the nature of man, insomuch that if it issue not 
 
 istf/Wanls mon, it will take unto other livin,a; creatures: 
 as it is seen in the Turks, a cru(>l jx'ojile. who never- 
 theless are kind to b(>asts. and iri\e alms to dogs and 
 birds; insomuch, as Husbechins° reporteth, a Chris- 
 tian boy in Constant ino))le had like to have been 
 
 '_>(> stoned for iragoing. in a waggish ness, a long-billed 
 fowl. 
 
 J'>rors, indeed, in this virtue of goodness or charity 
 may be e<:;mmitted. The Italians have an ungra- 
 cious {iroverb, "Tanio buon die val niente": So 
 
 25 good that he is gixxl for nothiiiu'. And cnv of tlu^ 
 doctors of Italy, Nicholas .Machiav(^l,° had the con- 
 fidence to put in writing, ahiiosf in plain ^erms, 
 "that the (^hristian faith had gi\en up good men 
 in prey to those that are tyrannical and unjust;'' 
 
 .",0 which he spake because indeed there was never law, 
 
 ■w-fsa-vmnii 
 
FSSAYS o/,' rni \sf-:i.s rivn. .\sit yioini. 
 
 n 
 
 
 or sect, or opinion, tlid ^<o imicli magnify uoodncs;* 
 as the (.hristian religion doth. Therefore, to avoid 
 the seandal antl tlie (hmger both, it is good to take 
 l<!io\viedge of tlie errors of an habit so exeellent. 
 Seek the good of otlier men, but l)e not in l)on(hi.ue tor. 
 their faces or fancies; for tliat is but facility or 
 .-'.ftness, whicii taketh an honest mind prisoner. 
 Neither give thou .Ksop's coc'v° a gem, who would 
 \)v better pleased and happier if he had a bark'vcorn. 
 I'he exam})le of (lod teachetli the k>sson truly: " He iti 
 scii'.eth liis rain, and niakt>th his sun to shine, upon the 
 pisl and unjust;" '^ but he doth n(>t rain wealth, nor 
 shine honour and virtues, upon men e<iually. Com- 
 mon benefits are to be conmumicate with all. but 
 peculiar benefits with clioic(>. And beware how in ir. 
 making the° portraiture thou l)reakest X\w pattern; 
 for divinity maketh the love of ourselves the jiattern, 
 the love of our neighbours but the i)ortraiture. "Sell 
 all thou hast, anil give 1' to the poor, and follow me."° 
 l)Ut sell not all thou hast except thou come and follow 20 
 me; that is, except thou have a vocation, wherein 
 thou mayest do as much good with little means a; 
 witii great; for, otherwise, in feeding the streams 
 thou driest the fountain. 
 
 Neither is there only a habit of goodness directed 2ri 
 by right reason, but there is in sonic men, even in 
 nature, a disnositk)n towards it ; as on the other side 
 there is a natural malignity. For there be that in 
 their nature do not affect the good of others. The 
 lighter sort of malignity turneth but to a crossness, 30 
 
42 
 
 ESSAYS on ((fCXSH/.S civil. .\\l> MORAL 
 
 or trowanliK'ss. or aplticss to opjiosc, or <liflicil(Mioss,' 
 or the like; hut the dccixT sort to ciivv and iiicrc' 
 inis('hi(>l". Such ukmi in other iiicn's calaniitics aic 
 
 il 
 
 tlioh 
 
 •t' 
 
 as It were. \\\ season, and aic excron i iicioacini^' part 
 r> not so <i()0(l as the (lo<is that lickecl La/arus' sores, '^ 
 hut like flies that are still l)ii/zin<!; upon anything- thai 
 is raw: ndf^anthropl.^ that make it their pi'a('tic<' to 
 hriufi" men to the l)ou,ii;h. and yet ha\"e ne\"er a *V('o 
 for the i)urp()se in th(>ir ,!j;ar(l<Mis, as Timon^ had. 
 
 loSiU'h disj)ositions are the \ery errors oi" human nature 
 and yet they are the fittest timlxM- to make .ureat 
 politics" of: like to knee-timher, that is <rood for slii{)s 
 that are ordain<'(l to he tossed, hut not for building 
 houses that shall stand firm. 
 
 15 The parts and signs of goodness are many. If a 
 man be gracious and courteous to strangers, it shows 
 he is a citizen of the world, ° and that liis heart is no 
 island cut of^' from other lands, but a continent that 
 joins to them. If he be compassionate towards the 
 
 •JO afflictions of others, it shows that his heart is like 
 the noble tree that is wound(vl its(>lf when it giv(>s the 
 balm. If h(> easily pardons nd remits ollences, it 
 shows that his mind is plant(Ml above injuries, so 
 that he cannot b(> shot. If he lu^ thankful for small 
 
 •-'5 benefits, it shows that he \veighs men's minds, and 
 not their trash. '^ Hut. alxive all. if he have St. 
 Paul's perfectioii, that he would wish to be an anath- 
 ema from Christ for the salvation of his brethren, ° 
 it shows much of a divine nature, and a kind of coU' 
 
 ;j()formity witii Christ himself. 
 
KSSAYS on rOlXSHLS ilVIL AM) Mo HAL 
 
 \:\ 
 
 XIV. OF NOBILITY 
 
 Wk will speak of n<)l)il!ty. first as a jiortion of an 
 estate. ° then as a eondition of particular persons. A 
 
 nionan 
 
 hv where ther(> is no nohilitv at all. is ever 
 
 a pure a 
 
 ml absolute tvrannv, as that of tlu^ Turk 
 
 for nobility att(Mn}K'rs° soverei<i-nty. and draws the.') 
 eyes of the people somewhat asid(> from the line royal. 
 Hut for d(>m(K'raeies, tlu\v need it not: and th(\\' are 
 commoidy more (piiet. anil less subject to s(>dition. 
 than where there are stirj)s° of nobk's : for men's 
 
 e nj)on the business, and not upon the persons; lo 
 
 i.\V 
 
 ar 
 
 or if U])on the persons, it is for the business' sake, a? 
 fittest, and not for fla^s° and p(Mli<iree. A\ e see the 
 Switzers° last well, notwithstandinji' their dixcrsity 
 of religion, and of cantons. ° for utility is their bond, 
 and not respects. ° The I'nited Provinces of theli 
 Low Countries in their .iiovernment excel : for where 
 th(>re is an equality, the consultations are more in- 
 different, ° and the payments .and tributes more 
 cheerful. A fjreat and potent nobility 
 
 (Uleth 
 
 majesty to a monarch, but diminisheth power; and l'o 
 putteth life and spirit into the peoi)le. but press(>th° 
 their fortune. It is well when nobles are not too 
 j;reat for sovereij^nty nor for justice, and yet main- 
 tained in that heiiiht as the insolency of inferiors may 
 be broken upon them. l)efore it come on too fast uponi».'i 
 the majesty of kin,i;-s. A numerous nobility car.seth 
 
 poverty and incon 
 
 ivenienee in a state, for it is a sur- 
 
44 
 
 xssAYs OR ( f)rysi:Ls ( ivil and moral 
 
 chargo of cxpciiM' ; and. iK'sidcs, it luMiisi of necessity 
 that many of tlH> nobility fall in linie to be weak in 
 fortune, it niaketh a kind of disj)roi)ortion between 
 honour and UK'ans. 
 5 As for nobility in particular ))ers()ns, it is a rev- 
 erend thing to see an aneient castle or buildinui; not 
 in decay, or to see a fair tlnilx'r-tree sound and per- 
 fect ; how much more to behold an ancient and noble 
 family which haih stood against the wav(^s and 
 
 10 weathers of time. I"or new nobility is but the net 
 of j)ower. but ancient nobiliiy is the act of lime. 
 Those that are first raised to nobility iwo connnotily 
 more virtuous, ° but less !nnoc(Mit, than their descend- 
 ants, for there is rarely any rising but by a conmiix- 
 
 i.")tm*e° of good and evil arts; but it is reason the 
 memory of their virtues remrdn to their posterity, and 
 their fnults (iie with t*ieniselves. Nobility of birth 
 commonly abateth industry, ae.d he th:it is not indus- 
 trious envieth him that is. Besides noble persons 
 
 20 cannot go much higher; a!id he that stancleth at a 
 stay, when otiiers rise, can hardly avoid motions of 
 (^nxy° Oti the other side, nobility extinguisheth the 
 })assive envy frotn others towards them, because they 
 are in possession of honoiu'. Certainly, kings that 
 
 25 have able men of their noliility sli;dl find ease in em- 
 ploying them, and a better slide into tlnMr business; 
 for people naturally bend to them, as born in some 
 sort to command. 
 
KSSAYS on rfjr\si:/.S I IVII, AM) M'jHAL 
 
 XV 
 
 UF SKDITIOXS AM) THOIBLES 
 
 Wll 
 
 ■^HKPHKUDs of |)rM)))l(' liiul JH'cd kiitiw ilic calciuhirs*' 
 tciii|i('sts in state, wliic'ti air ('oniiiu)nly <!;n^Mt('st 
 en things <iro\v to ('C|ualily; as n:itin"al t(in})(.'sts 
 
 urcatcst al)i»ut the (yuiiKiclnt. 
 
 And as there are 
 
 ccitain hollow blasts ot' wintl, atui secret swellings ofr» 
 . -as, before a teinjiest. so are there in states: 
 
 ** lUe etiain"" ca'oos instaiv tuninltus 
 Sa'pt" iiioiiii, truu.lf. <iar el uiicila liuiif.sccre bflirt." 
 
 Libels and licentious*^ discotn'sns against the state, 
 whi'ii thev are fre(jii(>t:1 and ojh n. and in like sort 10 
 i;il-e news often rnmiing np and down to the dis- 
 ad\ antagc of \'\\i: state, and hastily enil)raced. are 
 •(iii(.ng>t the signs of troubles. X'irgil, giving the 
 peiligree of l'anie.° saith she was sisKM' to the giants: 
 
 111; 
 
 uii 
 
 Terra' paiviis, ira Miitata Dtonuii, 
 
 IS 
 
 Kxtrt'inaiii. ut pti-hibeiit. t'li-o KiicrladoqiU' sororein 
 Pr(ii:t'iuiit.'' 
 
 ts 1 
 
 f fai 
 
 nes u 
 
 ere Uie relics of > iitions past ; but 
 
 ii< 
 
 v are no less indeed I he p'reludes of seditions to 
 
 'ome 
 
 Howsoe\-ei- h(^ iiotet!) il right, thai s(Mlitious -JO 
 
 lunmlts and seditions fames differ no more but as 
 lirother and sister, masculine and feminine; esijecially 
 if it come to tliat. that tiie l)esr, actions of a slate, 
 and the mttst plausil)l(«,'-' and which ought to ;_ive 
 greatest cont(Mitmenl, are taken in ill sense and 2.1 
 tratluc(^d ; for that shows the envy great, as Tacitus'^ 
 
4(; E'SS.IYS OA' rnrXSKLS CIVIL AXH MOHaL 
 
 snlth. "('()iifl:ita° ina^na iiividia. sou bono, .s*ni malo 
 
 Kosta prcinuiit, 
 
 Xoithor (loth it follow that l)o- 
 
 oaiiso those faiuos aro a si<j;ii of troublos, that° the 
 sii{)j)rossin,n- of thoin with too iiiiich sovority should 
 1)0 a roniody of troubN^s. l-'oi- tho dos{)ising of thorn 
 many times checks thoni I)ost ; a!id tho «2;oin,iz; about to 
 stop them doth l)Ut make a wonder loiiir-livod. Also 
 that kind of oix-dieneo which Tacitus spoakoth of 
 is to be held suspected: " l']rant° in officio, sod tamen 
 ilent mandata imperantium interprotari, quan. 
 is|)utin,u, excusinii'. caxillinj!; upon nian- 
 
 Kxpii ma 
 0X0(1 ui. 
 
 1) 
 
 dates and dii'ections. is a kind >f shakinji, ot^' th 
 yoke, and assay"^ of disobediencr ; especiallv if in 
 those disputin^s they which are for tho direction 
 
 la speak fearfully and tenderly, and those that aro 
 a;nainst it audacionsly. 
 
 Also, as Maehia\cl° nototh well, when princes, 
 that ouuiit to be c()mm<»n |)arents," niak(^ thomsolves 
 as a party and lean to a sid(\ it is as a boat that is 
 
 20 overthrown by un(>\('n woi<iht on the one side; as 
 was well seen in the lime of Henry III. of France: 
 for first himself (Miterod loaiiiie^ for tho oxtirj)atioii 
 of the i'roU'stants, and j)rosontly after tho same 
 loa^U(^ was turned upon himself. For when tho au- 
 
 25thority of j)riiic -s made but an accessary to a cause, 
 and that there * 'ler bands that tie faster than the 
 band of sovoroi,<j;u.y, kin<is beji^in to bo put almost 
 out of p(tssession. 
 
 Al 
 
 so, when (Iisc( 
 
 )rds, and f|uarrels, and factions, 
 are carried ojionly ami audaciously, it is a sign tho 
 
KSSAYS OR COrXSKLS r/Vfl. AX It Mi Hi A I. 
 
 17 
 
 il 
 
 r< 
 
 ■vpronro of ° «2;()vrrnni('nt is lost. For tlic niotioiis 
 
 if the ^iroatcst piM'sons in a liovcrniiHMif on; 
 
 'lit t 
 
 o 
 
 i)(> as the motions ot the planets nndcr pnitiutii 
 itiohilc.^ af'('onlin<i to tiu^ o!'' opinion, wliicli is tliat 
 (vrrv of tlicin is carriod swiftly by tlu> hi,iili(>st motion,". 
 ;iii(l softlv in their own motion. Ap^I therefore when 
 'ii-e.'it iMies in their own parlici;';ir nifition" tn(.ve 
 violently, and, as Taeitns eNpresseth it well. " liherins.'^ 
 (|uatii nt imperantinm meminissent." it is a sii!;n the 
 orhs are out of frame. I'or n>\-erenee is that wIumv- lo 
 with princes are jiirt from (loil. who thn^ateneih the 
 (lissolvinij; thereof: "Solvam'^ eiiijiula r(>^nm." 
 
 So when any of '.he four j)illars of ,i«;<)V(>rmnenJ are 
 mainly shaken or wc^akened (which ai'e relijiion. 
 just ice. counsel, and treasure), men had need to |)ray 15 
 for fair weather. Hut let us pass from this jjarf^ 
 of j^redietions (concerning; which, nc^vertheless, more 
 lijiiit may be taken from that which foUoweth), JUid 
 ief us speak first of the materials of seditions; tluMi 
 of the motixes of tluMii; and thirdly of the remedies, jo 
 
 Concerning the mat(>rials of seditions, it is a lhin<!; 
 well to Uo considered!; for the surest way to pre\"ent 
 seditions, if tlie times do bear it,"" is to take away the 
 matter of them. For if there be fuel pre})ared, it is 
 hard to tell wluMice the spark shall come that shall -jn 
 set it on fire. The matter of seditions is of two 
 
 .iiid 
 
 s: much poverty, and nnicli discontentment. 
 It° is certain, so many overthrown estates, so many 
 votes for troubles, Lucan° noteth well the state of 
 Home before *he civil war: 
 
 ;3(i 
 
48 
 
 J'JSSAYS (HI (fj/XShLS en If. JX/i MORAL 
 
 '• Iliiic iisura' vnra\, lapidiiiiujiu' in teiiipc.n^ tn-iius, 
 lliiic I'uiH'u.ssa litks. vi mult is utile belluin.'" 
 
 This saiiK^ "itmltis mile l)olliuir' is ;m assurod 
 and infallible siucii of a state disju)scd to soditioDS and 
 ntronhlcs. And if this )).,)V('rly and hi-okcn estate in 
 the i)etter SOI 1 !)<> joined with a want and ncM'ossity 
 in the in(>an people. rh(> dan,iier is inmiinent and ureat ; 
 for the rebellions of tlie l)elly are tlu^ worst. As for 
 diseontentnients, they are in th(> {K)litie f)ody like 
 
 10 to hunionrs° in the natural, which are apt to gather a 
 preternatural h(>at. and to inflame. And let no j^rinee 
 measiu'c the danuer of theni by this.'^ wlx^ther they 
 be just or unjust, for tliat W(M-e to iniajiine peo|)le to 
 be too reasonable, who do often spurn at their own 
 
 ir»^ood; nor yet l)y this, wln^ther the ,<2;riefs whereu|)on 
 they ri.se be in faet ijreat or small, for they are th(^ 
 most danfjerous diseontentnients wh(M'e the f(>ai- is 
 greater than the feelin.u-: " I)olendi° modus, timendi 
 non itcnii. " H(>sides, in great o])pressi()ns, the same 
 
 •JO things that provoke the passions do withal mat(>° 
 the courage; but in f(\ars it is not so. Neither let 
 any prince or state be .secure concerning discontent- 
 ment.s, })e;'ause they have been often or have been 
 long, and yet no peril hath ensued; for as it is true 
 
 L'a that every vapour or fume dot^i not turn into a storm, 
 so it is nevertheless tru(> that storms, though they 
 blow over divers times, yet may fall at last ; and. 
 as the Sj)anisli ))r(n-(n'b noteth W(»ll. "The eord° 
 breaketh at liie last by the weakest pull." 
 
 30 The causes and nioti\es of seditions are iiiiiovatioii 
 
 bMM 
 
WN^*-4^i^ 
 
 ESSAYS ()l{ rnrXSKLS ( I \/ L .IXI> MoliAL 
 
 A\) 
 
 in religion, ta\«'s. allcration ul' laws and customs, 
 breaking of privileges, geiiei-al oppn^ssion. aclvance- 
 inent of unworthy peisoiis. strangers, dearths, dis- 
 banded soldiers, factions gi-uwn tlesperate; and 
 whatsoever in offending people joinetli and knittelh"' 
 them in a connnon cause. 
 
 For the lemedies. there may he some general 
 |)n>servatives, whereof we will sp-cak: as for the 
 jr,st° cure, it nuist answ(>r to the particular disease, 
 and so be l{>ft to counsel I'ather than rule. ii 
 
 The first remedy or pii'vention is to n^nove by 
 ;ill m(>ans possible that material cause of sedition 
 wIk reof we sj)ake. which is want and po\erty in the 
 estate. To which purpose servelh the opening and 
 well-balancing of trade, the clu>rishingof manuiac lures, i.i 
 (he banishing of idleness, the repressing of waste and 
 excess by sunii)tuary la\vs,° the imj)rovement and 
 husbanding of the soil, the regulatitig of j)rices of 
 things vendible, the mo(l(M-ating of taxes and tributes, 
 and the like. CuMierally it is to be foreseen that the 20 
 po[)ulation of a kingdom, especially if it be not mown 
 down by wars, do not cxcccmI the stock" of the king- 
 dom which should maintain them. Neither is the 
 l)opuIation to be reckoned only by number; for a 
 smaller number that sj)en(l more and earn less, do lTj 
 wear out an estate sooner than a greater number that 
 live lower and gather n>'>"e. Therefoi'e, the nudti- 
 plying of nobility and (,..ier degrees of (|uality, in 
 an over proportion to the common peopk', doth 
 speedily bring u state to necessity"; unil so dotliAi 
 
KSSAYS Oh' ral XSK/.S ilVIL AM) MORAL 
 
 likewise an oxci'urowii cleruy, for tliey hrlDfi- ii(:'!iiii»i; 
 to the stock; and in like manner, when more are bred 
 scholars than preferments'^ can take off. 
 
 It is likewise to he riMnemhered that, forasmuch 
 r>a.s the increase of any estate'^ nuist he upon the for- 
 ei<;iier'' (for whatsoever is somewhen^ gotten is some- 
 where lost), there" 1h> i)Ut thi'ee things wlii( h on(> 
 nation selleth unto another: the connuodity as nature 
 yielleth it. the manufacture, antl the vectiu'e° or 
 
 iocairiau;e. So that if tlic.^e three wlieels <2;o. wealth 
 will How as in a spring" tide. And it cometh many 
 times to pass that "materiam° supc^rahit oi)Us/' 
 that the wo'-k and carria^ie is more wortli than the 
 material, and enricheth a state more; us is notahly 
 
 ir)S(H'n in the Low-("ountrymen, who iiave the hest 
 mines al)ove i2;roimd° in the world. 
 
 .Vbove all thinirs good j)o!icv is to he used, that the 
 treasure and moneys in a state he not gathered into 
 few hands: for otiu^rwise a state may have a great 
 
 •JO stock, and yet starve. And money is like muck,° 
 not good except it he spreail. This i. done chieHy 
 hv sup|)ressing, or, at the least, keeping a strait^ 
 hand upon the devouring trades of usury ,° engross- 
 ing, ° great |)astnrages.° and the like. 
 
 •jr> For rcMnoNing discontentments, or at least the 
 danger of thein, there is in every state, as we know, 
 two [)ortions of suhjerts, the nohlesse° and Ww 
 commonalty. When one of tiiese is discontent, the 
 danger is not great; for common ))(H)ple are of slow 
 
 .k)i!i(»tion if they he not excited hy the greater sort; 
 
ESSAYS on COrXSKLS civil. AM) MORAL 
 
 and t'.io ,uroal(M- sort an* of small stfciiutli. cncc))! 
 the nmltinuU^ \)v \\\)\ and rcadx' to ino\<' ot" tlicin- 
 si'lves. Then is the Maii.ii'cr, wlicii the ur(>at('i- soil 
 do l)Ut wait for the ti'ouMiii^' of liu' waters aiiioii^si 
 the nic lU'i', that then they may declare lhen:sel\'es. a 
 The |H)(>ts feijun that the rest of the ,i;o(ls would iia\'e 
 hoi'iid ,Iui)iter'~- ; whieli he hearini;; of. i)y the counsel 
 of I'allas^ sent for Hriareus"^ with his hundi'e(i hands 
 to come in to his aid. An emblem, no doubt, to 
 show liow safe it is for monarchs to make sure of theio 
 oood-will of connnon ))(m>))1('. 
 
 To ^ive moderate liberty for «iriefs and iliseontent- 
 nients to evaporate, so it be without too iireat in- 
 s(^lency or bnivery,'^ is a safe way ; for he that turneth 
 the luimours })ack, and maketh the wound bleed 15 
 inwards, endanjien^th malign ulcers and pernicious 
 impost humat ions. ° 
 
 The part of Epimetheus^ mought^ well })ecome 
 l'ronietheus° in th(> case of discontentments: for 
 there is not a bettor provision against them. l']pi-2() 
 metheus, when griefs and evils flew abroad, at last 
 shut the lid, and kei">t IIopi^ in the bottom of the 
 vessel. Certainly the politic and artificial" nourish- 
 ing and entertaining of hoj)es, and carrying men 
 from ho}H\s to hopes, is one of the best antidotes *_'.'■< 
 against the })oison of discontentments. And it is a 
 certain sign of a wise government and proceed- 
 ing, when it can hold men's hearts l)y hopes, when 
 it caiuiot by satisfaction; and when it can handle 
 things in such manner, as no evil shall appear sosu 
 
52 
 
 hSS.lYS Oh' rc/xsKLS (III/. AXh MO HAL 
 
 peremptory^ hut tluit it hatli some outlet of liope; 
 which is the less hard to do, because both particular 
 persons and factions are apt enough to flatt(»r them- 
 selves, or at least to brave° that which they believe 
 5 not. 
 
 Also the foresight and ])revention that there be no 
 likely or fit head whereunto discon.tented persons 
 may resort, and under whotn they may join, is n 
 known but an excellent point of caution. 1 und(>r- 
 10 stand a lit head to be one that hath j;reatness and 
 reputation; that hath confidence witli the discon- 
 tented f)arty, and upon whom they turn their t'\'es; 
 and that is thoujj;ht discontented in his own par- 
 ticular: whicli kind of persons are either to be won 
 inand reconcil(>(l to the state, and that in a fast and true 
 manner; or to be fro!it<'d° with some other of the 
 same party that may oppose them, and so di\ide the 
 reputation. (Jenerally, the divitling antl breaking of 
 all factions and combinations that are adverse to 
 iJOthe state, and setting them at distance, or at least 
 distrust, amongst themselves, is not one of the worst 
 remedies. For it is a desperate case if those that 
 hold with the proceedings of the state be full of 
 discord and faction, and those that are against it be 
 2r> entire and united. 
 
 1 have noted that some witty and sharp speeches 
 
 which have fallen from princes have given fire to 
 
 seditions. Ctesar did himself infinite hurt in that 
 
 speech, "Sylla'^ nescivit literas, non potuit dictare;" 
 
 30 for it did utterly cut ofi" that inj\ni which men had 
 
KSSAYS on COrXSKLS ilVII. AX It MURAL 
 
 i)o 
 
 (MiiortiiiiHMl. tlia! lie would at one time or otlier ii'ivo 
 ,»\(r his dictatorship, (lall)a" undid himself by 
 that spocch. " LrL'i° a so inihtcni. non (Mui." for it put 
 tlu^ s()ldi(M's out of ho])o of tho (h)nativo.° l*roi)Us'^ 
 likcuisf by that spooch, "Si vixcio." hop. o))us crit .") 
 auiphus 'ioniauo iinjU'rio miiitihus." a spcccli of cjroat 
 dcspaii" for tlic soidicM's. And many the hk<\ Surciy, 
 princes hiad ihhhI, in tonch^r matters and tici-ciisli times, 
 tn beware what they say; es|)ecialiy in tiiesc^ short 
 sp(»eches, which fly aliroad lik(^ darts and are tliou^ht !<• 
 to b(> shot out of their secret intentions. I'or as for 
 laru;e discourses, they are flat° things, and not so much 
 ii()t(vl. 
 
 Lastly, let princes, against all events, not be with- 
 out some <;reat |)erson, one, or rather more, of mili- i.") 
 taiy valour near unto them, for the reim^ssitifi of 
 ■^editions in tluMr beginnings; for without that, 
 lh(M'(> useth° to be more trepidation, in court upon 
 the first breaking; out of troubles than were fit. And 
 I he state runneth the danger of that which Tacitus 20 
 saitli : " Atque is° habitus animorum fuit. ut pessinumi 
 facinus auderent ])auci. j)lures vellent, onuu^s patei(>n- 
 tiir. " Hut lei such military |)ersons in' assured and 
 well reputed of, rather than factious and popular°; 
 holding also good correspondence" with the oth(>r-'5 
 great nven in the state; or else the remedy is worse 
 than the disease. 
 
r)4 J-JSSA^S OH COIXSKLS LlVIL AXD MORAL 
 
 XVI. OF ATHEISM 
 
 I HAD rather hoIicNc all tlio fahlos in tlio Legend," i 
 and the Talmud. ° and the Alcoran, ° than that this 
 nnivorsal franu^ is without a mind. And therefore 
 (lod Jiever wrought miracle to convince" atheism. 
 .'■. because his ordinary works convince it. It is true 
 that a little philosophy'^ inclineth man's mind to 
 atheism, hut depUi in philoso))hy bringeth men's 
 minds about to I'eligiou; for whil(» the mind of man 
 looketh upon second causes° scatt(>red, it may sonie- 
 10 times rest in them and go no further; i)ut when it 
 beholdeth rh(> chain of them confederate and linked 
 togetluM-. it must n(>eds fly to Providence and Deity. 
 Xay, even that school which is most accused of athe- 
 ism doth most demonstrate religion : that is, the school 
 15 of Leucip}Kis.° and l)emocritus,° and Kpicurus.'' 
 For it is a thousand times more credible that four 
 mutable elenuMits. and one inunutal)le fifth essence,'^ 
 duly and etertially placed, need no (lod, than that 
 an army of infinit(> small {portions orseeds,° unplaced, ° 
 20 -should have jHYuluced this order and beauty without 
 a divine marshal. 
 
 The Scrii)ture° saith, ''The fool hath said in his 
 heart. There is no (lod." It is not said. "The fool 
 hath thought in his heart;" so as he rather saith it 
 25 by rote to himself, as that° he would have, than that 
 he can thoroughly believe it, or ])e persuaded of it. 
 For none deny there is a (lod, but those for whom it 
 
ESSAYS OR CUrXSKLS CIVII. AM) MOh'AI. iV) 
 
 iiKikclli tliat \\\VYV were no (iod. It ;i))]tc;irctli in 
 iiothiriii' more that atluMsni is rather in the hp than 
 ill the heart of man than hv this, tliat atiieists will 
 cvcf be talkin<i; of that their opinion, as if tiiev 
 fainted in it° within themselves, and would he <ilad to.". 
 he stretifithened by the consent of otheis. Nay 
 !uof<\ you shall have atheists strive to ^'et discij)les. 
 as it fareth with other sects; and. which is ni(»st of 
 all. you shall have of th(>m that will sutler for atheism, 
 and not recaiu ; wluM'eas if thev did truly think that id 
 liu're were no such thin,i>; as (iod. why should they 
 trouble themselves? l']picurus is charucd that he did 
 hut dissemble for his credit's sake, when he allirmc^d 
 there were bl(>ssed natures, but such as enjoyed 
 ilieniseh'es without having' respect to the liox'ernment l". 
 of the worhl. Wherein, they say. \\v did temj)orize. 
 thou<ili in secret he thou<2;ht there was no (Iod. But 
 certaiidy he is traduced, for his words are noble and 
 diviiK*: " Non deos° vul.ui neuare profanum; s(>(l 
 vuliii opinioties diis applicare profaiimn." I'lato' •_'(> 
 could have said no more. And althouuh he had th(^ 
 contidence to tleny the administration, he had not 
 the power to deny th'^ nature. ° The Indians of the 
 West huve names for their })articiilar '•dds, th()u<ih 
 th(\v have no name for (!od : as if \\\v heath<Mis should l'.-. 
 have had the names Jupiter, ° A])ollo,° Mars,° etc., 
 but not the word Dcus; wliich sliows thiat evcMi those 
 barbarous ])eoj)le liave the notioti, thou<!;h tliey liave 
 not the latitude and extent of it. So that against 
 atheists the very savages take j)art with the very:y» 
 
r>G 
 
 KSSAYS <Jh' r/,/XSKLS i IVII. AM 
 
 > Mnu.if, 
 
 siihtilf^t pliil(»so|)lier.s. Tlie CDiiloniplaf ivc'-' ntheLst 
 
 is rare - a l)ia<;(.ras,° a Hioii.^ a Liiciaii' perhaps. 
 
 and some olliers and yet they seem to be more 
 
 than tliey are. for that all lliat impujijn a receixed 
 
 5 religion, or suj)erstition. are, by the a(iverse j)art, 
 
 branded witii the name of atheists. Jiut tiie ^n-at 
 
 atheists, iiulecd, are ii\])oerites. which are e\cr 
 
 liandhnji holy thin«;-s, but without feeling-; so as they 
 
 must needs be cauteri/ed in the end. 
 
 li> The eanses of atheism are: divisions in religion, 
 
 if they be many, for any one main division adchth 
 
 zeal to both .-ides, but many divisions introduee 
 
 atheism. .Another is scandal of priests, "^ when it is 
 
 con»e to that which St. Bernard' saith. " Xon est'' 
 
 lojam dicere. ut populus, sic sacerdcis: quia ne- sic 
 
 populus, ut sacerdos. " A third is custom of profane 
 
 scoffing in holy matters, which doth l)y little and 
 
 little deface the reverenc(> of religion. .\nd, lastly, 
 
 learned times. si)ecially with peace and prosperitv; 
 
 2()for troubles and adversities do more bow men's 
 
 minds to religion. ° 
 
 They that (h'uy a (iod destroy man's nobility: 
 for certainly man is of kin to the beasts by his l")dv. 
 and if he be not of kin to ( Jod by his sj)irit. h(> is a 
 25 base and ign()bie creatm-e.° It destroys likewise 
 niagnanimity. and the raising of human nature. 
 Fijr take an exarn})le of a dog. and mark what a 
 generosity and courage he will put on when he finds 
 himself maintained by a man.° who to him is instead 
 ;<oof a (iod, or mclior natun(° ; which courage is mani- 
 
ESSAYS on I Of WSJ-: Ls ( nil, .ixn m<h{al 
 
 \u 
 
 =1 
 
 I 
 
 I'cstly such as that (fcaiuro. without that (-onhdcMico 
 <)[■ a better tiaturc* than his own, could nev(>r attain. 
 So man. wlien lie resieth and assufetli himsoh" upon 
 divine protection and faxouf. jiathefeth a fofce and 
 laith which human natufe in itself could not obtain.. ^ 
 Therefore as atheism is in all respects hateful, so in 
 ;his, that it depri\-eth human nature of th.e means 
 !o exalt it-ilf above human frailty. As it is in par- 
 ticular persons, so it is iti nation.s. \ever was then^ 
 -uch a state for magnanimity as Home: of this state lo 
 hear what ('icer()° saith: "(^uam \-.iiinus^ licet, 
 pat res c(mscrij)ti. nos amemus. tamen nee numcro 
 Hispanos, nee robore (iallos, nee calliditate I'a'nos, 
 iKc artibus (ira'cos n(>c denique hoc ij)so hujus ,<i;entis 
 ct terra^ domestico nativrxpie sensu Italos ipsos et 15 
 Latinos; s(>d pietate, ac reli.uione, atfpie hac una 
 sapientia, (piod deoruni inunortaliutn mimine omnia 
 re<ii ji;ubernarique persj)exiniiis, onuics gentes natioii- 
 es(pie superavimus. " 
 
 XVIL OF SrPKRSTITION 
 
 It were better to have no opinion of God at all-'o 
 than .such an opinion a^ is imworthy of him; for the 
 oiK^ is unbelief, the other is contumely. ° And cer- 
 lainly supers! it ioii is the repjroach of the Deity. 
 !Mutarch° .saith well to that purpose: "Surely," 
 saith he, " I had ratluM- a <!;reat d(>al ukmi should say 2:. 
 there was no such man at all as IMutarch, than thai 
 
"8 
 
 ESSAYS Oh' roi XSh'LS ( Il'/L LV 
 
 t' .u'/n.iij 
 
 tlioy sliould say that tiici 
 
 •(' was one I'lutarcli that 
 
 would cat his chiNh-cMi as soon as thcv were 1 
 
 r... <- 1, i I r ^ < . ^ > . ' . 
 
 as tl 
 
 fHH'is spcaK oi .>atuni." And as the 
 
 
 * 
 
 JN ^rcaicr lowanis iiod 
 5 towards men. Atheism i 
 
 ■><» (IK 
 
 icavcs a 
 
 MUUIfUMy 
 
 ■ij^« 1 1.^ i;i tiil«"I 
 
 «ii tw :^^■l^ 
 
 
 philosophy, to natural piety, to laws, to rrputation. 
 all which may he liuides to an outward moral virtue, 
 thou.i.di rcli.iiion were n(»t. Jiut superstiticn dismounts 
 all these, and erec.elh an absolute nionaiv-hy in th(> 
 10 minds of men. Therefore atheism did never {)orturl) 
 states, for it makes men wary of themselves, as 
 looking no further. And we see the tiiues inclined 
 to atlu«ism (as the time of Au,u:ustus ( a'sar°) were 
 civiP times. But superstition hath been the con- 
 15 fusion of maiiy states, and hriiiireth in a new primum 
 nwhUe" that ravishetli° all the s|>heres of government. 
 The master of superstition is the i)eople. and in all 
 superstition wise men follow fools, and arguments 
 are fitted to practise in a revc^rsed order.° It was 
 20 gravely said by some of the prelates in th(> Council (^f 
 Trent, ° where the doctrine of the schoolmen^ bore 
 great sway, '"that the schoolmen were like astrono- 
 mers, which did feign eccentrics and epicycl(>s,° and 
 such engines of orl)s.° to save the phenomena, though 
 25 they knew thcM-e were no such things ;"° and, in like 
 manner, that the schoolnu-n had framed a number of 
 subtile and intricate axi.Miis and theorems to save the 
 practice of (he Church. 
 The causes° of su|)(>rstition are: pleasing and sen- 
 ;«Jsual rites and ceremonies; excess of outward and 
 
A'.S.S'.n.S OH <'IH SSKLS ( nil. wit MoiiM. ,'' 
 plmrisnical lioliticss; oxcr-m'cnl rcNci-ciicc of tnidi 
 
 • IIS. which camioi Imt N.nd 1 he ( 'hurch : tl 
 
 ic >li-af;i- 
 
 ii'.'iiis of prelates for theii- owi, aiiihitioii and hicre; 
 ihe fa\()Uiins; loo much of iiood inteiilions. which 
 (ipeneth the <iate to coticeils and no\-ehies; the takiiiii' 
 all aim at dixiiie matters hy Ihuikhi. which camiot l.ut 
 
 hreed mixture of imagination 
 
 and. lastlv. hai"- 
 
 harou:'. times. esi)(>ciall\- joined with cahunities and 
 
 disasters. 
 
 Superstition without a veil is a deformed thinii-;i( 
 for as it' add(>th deformity to an ajx' to he so like a 
 man. so the simihtude of supei'stition to religion 
 
 inai^c^s 11 
 
 the 
 
 moi'e (l(>torm(Ml 
 
 And 
 
 as w 
 
 hoi 
 
 e>onu» 
 
 meat corru|)telh to little worms, so uood forms and 
 orders corrupt into a number of p(^tiy ohservances. i." 
 
 e IS a superstition in avoidinu- sujierslilion, 
 
 w 
 
 rom 
 
 hen men think to do best if they <i() furthest f 
 the su])erstition foi-m(>rly recei\'ed. Therefore care 
 would" })(' hatl that, as it fareth in ill j)ursin<is. the 
 ,U(>od he not taken away with the had; which com-LX* 
 monly is tlone when the people is the roformor.° 
 
 XVIIT. OF TR.WEL 
 
 Travel, in th(> yomificr sort, is a part of educa- 
 tion: in the elder, a part of experience. He that 
 trav(^lleth into a country before lu^ hath some entrance 
 into the lan^i'iaiic <ioelh to school, and not to travel.: 
 
 That 
 
 younu- men travel under some tut 
 
 or or grave 
 
 -J'- 
 
GO 
 
 KSSAYS <,n < (,l \si:i.S ( l\ll. ami muual 
 
 servant. I allow'' wcil ; so that Ik- he sue!, a on(> that 
 hath the hinunai-'c and luiiji I»c(mi iti the country 
 before, whereby he may be able to t(>ll them what 
 thin^us are worthy t<> be .seeti in the connlry where 
 .ithey ^o, whal ac(|uaintances they aiv to seek, what 
 exereises or discipline the pia'-e yieldeth. For else 
 yoim,!^ men shall ^o hooded, and look abroatl little. 
 It is a stran,t!;e tiling- that in sea xoya/iics. where 
 tiiere is nothinii to \)v seen but sk\ ;ind sea, men 
 loshould make (liaii''s"; but in hiiiil travel, wiierein so 
 mu(;h is to be observed, for the m(»t pait I liev omit 
 it; as if chance were fitter to be rcuistricd tiiau 
 observation. Let diaries therefore be brou^^ht in use. 
 The thiny;s to be seen and obserxcd are: tiie 
 16 courts of pi-inces, specially when the\' <:i\e audience 
 to ambassadors; the courts of justice, while thev Mt 
 and hear causes; and so of consistories'^ ecclesiastic* 
 the churches and monasteries, with the monuments 
 whi''ii are therein extant; the wails and f<»rtifications 
 i!(>of cities and towns, and so the hav<'ns and harbours; 
 auti(|uitiesand ruins; libraries, colle<;-es, disputations," 
 and lectures, where any are; shippuin and navies; 
 hou.ses and gardens of state and (jleasurc near i^reat 
 cities; armouries, arsenals, ma.iiazines, eN:chan<!,(>s. 
 li.-j burses,^ warehouses; exercise^ of li()rs(Mnaii>!!;n. 
 fencing, training of soldiers, and the like; comedies. 
 such wiureunto tlie better .sort of peisons do i-esort : 
 treasuries of jewels and robes, cabinets and rarities: 
 and, to conclude, whatsoever is memorable in the 
 :i.) places where they go: after all which the tutors or 
 
 ■itj.^-a. its'!',. 
 
 gjLJ. ' >%J 
 
ESSAYS on fi,i-\sf-:/.s f niL ix/, mi,um. 
 
 fil 
 
 -(•r\;i!it-; ouu'ii' to iiuikc (liliii;(>iit 
 
 Hh 
 
 .r\' 
 
 A> for 
 
 111 
 
 iii|)lis. niasinu'.s. tVasts. wcildiiiirs. fuiuM-nls. capitnl 
 
 '\<'cnt ion-, atnl siicli sli 
 
 < )\V: 
 
 iiu'ii \\v(h\ not to i: 
 
 IMl 
 
 t ii) iiiinti of tluMu; vet arc fluv not to 1 
 
 )(' il('<il(M't('(l 
 
 If \oii will lia\(' a soiniii; man to put his tra\<'l 
 !!ilo a hl'Jc room, an^l in short tii ■ to <;ath('r nmrh. 
 
 lis vol! must (h): hr<t , as \va 
 
 s sai< 
 
 I. I 
 
 ic must have 
 
 -omc enlraiicr into the hmiiuauo hrforc i<> uocMh. 
 i iicn he must have such a siTvant or tutor as knowffh 
 
 ihc 
 
 country, as was likewise sai'h l<ct hi 
 
 m carrv in 
 
 with him also s()m<> card ' or l)ot>k (lcscril)inp; rho coun- 
 rv wher he travellclh. which wih he a «j:oo(1 kcv to 
 
 HUjuny 
 
 Let I 
 
 inn Keep also a diarv 
 
 Lot I 
 
 inn 
 
 not stay lon<2: ni otu^ citv or town : mon^ or l<^ss as tl 
 
 le 
 
 \ phicc dcs(M'voth. hut not lon<;. Xav. when ho stavoth i; 
 
 oiK^ city or town, lot him chanti'o liis lodfrinir fr 
 
 rom 
 
 1 IS a 
 
 one 011(1 and jKU't of tho town to anothor. whici 
 U'cat adaniaut° of ao(|uaintanco. Lot him s((ju<>stfT 
 
 >lf fi 
 
 m<i 
 
 tiimsoii troni tno cotnpany of his countr\ nion. a 
 dict^ in such places whore there is ji'ood oompanvio 
 of the nation wh(>ro he trM\-ellct h. Let him. uj)on 
 !iis removes from one plac(» to anoth(>r. jtrocuro 
 :<'c<)iiim(Midation to some |)orsoii of (|ualit\ r(sidiii,ii 
 in tlie {)lacc whither he removeih. that he niav use 
 his favour in those thin.us he <l"siroth t 
 'i'hus lie may abridii-e his traxcl wifli mucji Drofit.'^ 
 
 o sec or Ivnow. -i:, 
 
 As for the aeqiiaintanee whioii is to be .soufjht 
 r-avel. that which is mot of all profital 
 
 m 
 
 '|ii;nntance with the soorotario 
 
 i)f aml)a.s?5adors; for so in travellin"; m < 
 
 i);e IS ao- 
 and rnplovod men 
 
 ■{ ('(■ 
 
 \v\ J) 
 
02 
 
 ASSAYS (Hi CorsSKLS f'lVTL AND MORAL 
 
 li(' sluill suck th(> <>\j)('rion('('° of iiimiiv. Let liini also 
 soo and visit ouiincnt jmtsoiis in all kinds which aro 
 of o;roat name ahroad. that Ih> may he ahlo to toll 
 how the lifo'' .'iirivc'th with the famo. For quarrels, 
 "•thcv arc with care and discretion to ho av(»id(>(l. 
 They are commonly for misiresses. healths, place, and 
 words. Atid let a man beware how he kee|)eth com- 
 pany with choleric and (|uarr(>lsoni(> pcfsons, foj 
 they will en<i:;,(.(. him itiio their own (|uarr(>ls. When 
 lea travellei reliu-neih home, let him not leave the 
 countries where he hath travelled alloiict her behind 
 
 him. but maintain 
 
 I correspondence l)y letters with 
 
 those of his ac<|uaintanc(> which are of 
 And let his tr;ivel ;ippear rather in his d 
 
 inosi woi'th. 
 iscourse than 
 i.^ni his apparel or yesturo; .Mnd in his discourse let 
 him i)e rather ad vised° in his answers th-m ff)rwards 
 to tell stories. ° And let it appear that he doth not 
 chan,u-e his country manners for those of forei«»:n 
 I)arts. but only prick in° some flowers of that he luUh 
 •J() learned abroad, hito the customs of his own coimtry. 
 
 XIX. OF K^[^IRE 
 
 Fr is a miserable state of mind to have few thin^^s 
 to desire, and many thin<is to fear; and vet that 
 conunonly is the case of kinus. who. bein^r ^t the 
 hiiihest. want mutter of desire.° which makes their 
 2.-. nnnds more lan.<>-uishiii.o-: and have many represen- 
 tations of perils and shadows, which makes their 
 
i';.svs'.n'.s' nu coixskls civil A.\n mokal 
 
 (VA 
 
 iniiids the less clc^ar. Ami this is (Oic n^tsoii also of 
 that eft'ect which the Scri))tur('^ spcakcth of, "that 
 
 For inuhitud** of 
 
 the kiiiii's heart is iiiscnital)l(' 
 
 il( 
 
 il hick 
 
 )t 
 
 predominant desire 
 
 jealousies, and lacK oi some 
 that should marshal and put in order all the rest.n 
 maketh any man's heart hard to find or sound. 
 Hence it comes, likewise, that princes many times 
 make themselves desires, and s(>t their hearts U|)()n 
 toys°: sometimes ui)on a huildin.u-, sometimes upon 
 erectinii' of an order, ° sonu^times upon the advaticin*!; l<l 
 of a person, sometimes ui)on obtaininiLi" excellency in 
 some art or f(>at of thi> hand. - as Xero° for playinji; 
 on the harj). l)omilian° for certainty of the hand with 
 the arrow, ('onnnodus° for playin.u at fence. Cara- 
 (•alla° for drivinu' chariots, and the like. This in 
 seemeth incredible unto tho c that know not the 
 principle, that the mind of man is more cheered and 
 refreshed by prolitin^' in small tliinjis. than by stand- 
 ing at a stay in threat. \N'e see also that kinus that 
 have been fortunate conipierors in their first years, •_'() 
 it bein.ii; not |)ossible for them to uo forward infinitely, 
 but that they nuist have some check or arrest in 
 their fortunes, turn in tlieir latter years to be super- 
 stitious and melancholy; as did Alexander the 
 (lreat,° Diocletian, ° and in our nuMuory Charles \.°m 
 and others; for he that is us(><l to ,si;o fcuward, and 
 (indeth a stop, falleth out of his own favoin-, and is 
 not the thinii lu- was.- 
 
 To speak now of the true temper^ of emj)ire, it is 
 a thing rai'e and hard to keep; for both temjxM" and.'Ml 
 
 It 
 
64 
 
 KSSAVS 0/£ (OCASKLS rjrJL AXJj MOh'AL 
 
 ipor° cDiKsist of contraries. Bm it 
 
 is one th 
 
 to niin-le rontrarios. another to intereiinn-e tl 
 llio answer of Aj)ollonius° to \esj 
 excellent instrnction. Wspasian as...,. ..,., 
 5 was \ero*« overthrow?" He answered '' X 
 
 ing 
 
 touch and tune the 1 
 
 sometimes he used lo wind the 
 times to let them d 
 
 lem. 
 
 )asian° is full of 
 
 cspasian askerl him, "What 
 
 ero could 
 
 1 government 
 
 some- 
 
 larjj well: hut ii 
 
 own too low, 
 
 pins too iliirh 
 
 \nd certain 
 
 10 tl 
 
 ange^ of power 
 
 1 IS, that nothmu- il(^stroyeth authoiitv so much as 
 the unecpial and untimelv interchani 
 pressed too far, and relaxed too nmch! 
 '"'lis is true, that the wisdom of all these latter 
 
 i'"s. is rather fine deliveries ° 
 
 Tl 
 
 tunes, in princes' atJa 
 
 and shifti 
 15 are near, than soli.l and grounded 
 
 tl 
 
 np of dan<r<'rs and mischi(>fs when the 
 
 courses to keep 
 
 doof. H 
 
 KMn alooL nut tins .s hut, to try masteries with 
 o une And h>t n,en beware how thev neglect 
 
 and sutler niatter of tnu.hle to he prepared, for no 
 mancanh>rb,d the spark, nor tell whence it mav 
 
 ^ocome. li-diihculties in princes' business are mant 
 
 a^id great; but the gn-atest diflieultv is often in 
 
 he...vnnnnd. Fo.it is connnon with princes, 
 
 scuth lac.tus.° to will contradiHories. "Sunt nle- 
 
 rum,ue; regtun voluntates vehen.entes, et inter e 
 
 ^-ntrarue. l-r it is the solecisn." of power to tl i, k 
 
 to connnand the <.nd. and yet not t., endure the mean ° 
 
 Kings have to d.-ai with their neighbours, their 
 
 ^M es, then' cinldren, their prelates or clergv their 
 
 no^;s, the, second noble or g<M.tle.net.. thth' „,er- 
 
 M 
 
 f'lnnts, their connnons. and tl 
 
 icir men o 
 
 f ^\• 
 
 ir 
 
 and 
 
ESSAYS OR ( f)('XSFLS riVIL A XI) MORAL 
 
 65 
 
 h'om all those arise clangors, if care and circumspec- 
 tion be not used. 
 
 First for their neitrhhonrs, there can no general rule 
 he .ijiven (the occasions are so variable), save one, 
 which ever holdeth: wliich is, that ))rinces do keep5 
 due sentinel that none of tlieir ncMjjhbours do overthrow 
 so. by increase of terrilorv, by embracing of trade, 
 by gpproaclies.° or the like, as they become more able 
 to annoy them than thev were. And this is generallv 
 
 tl 
 
 le woi 
 
 k of stanilina; councils, to foresee and to ifl 
 
 hinder it. During that triumvirate of kings. King 
 Henry \'1II. of l']ngla '. Francis I.. King of Francj, 
 and Charles V.. F • ;, there was sucli a watch 
 kept that none of th ^e coukl win a palm of ground, 
 
 l)ut the other two ,\(/(ild straightways balance it, 15 
 either by confederation, or if need were by a war, and 
 wouhl not in any wise take u|) peace at interest. ° 
 And the like was done by that league, which, Guic- 
 ciar(line° saith. was the security of Italy, made 
 between Ferdinandct, King of Naples. Forenzius20 
 Med ices, ° and Ludovicus Sforza. potentates, the one 
 of I'lorejice. the other of Milan. XeitluT is the 
 opinion of some of th(> schoolm(Mi° to Ik received, that 
 a war cannot justly be made but u|)on a precedent® 
 injury or provocation: for there is no question but a25 
 just fear of an iimninent dange?'. though there be no 
 blow given, is a lawful cause of a war. 
 
 For their wiv«\«^, tiiere are cruel examples of them. 
 Fiviji"^ i. infanied° for the poisoning of lier husband; 
 Koxolana, Solyman's wife,° was thedotruction of that 3fl 
 
66 /;.svs.n.s or coiwskls cir//. .\xn M'jral 
 
 renowned prince, Sultan .Mu.stapha." and otherwise 
 troubled liis house and sueeession; Ivlward II. of 
 England his queen'' had the prineipal hand in the 
 deposino; and murder Mf h(>i husband. This kind 
 
 5 of danger is then to he fscired el 
 
 have plots for the raisin<; of their 
 or else that they he advoutresses.° 
 For their children, the traiiedies lil 
 
 lieliv, wIuMi the wive 
 
 own children: 
 
 kewise of dangers 
 from them have been many; and generalh'. the en- 
 lOtcring of fathers into suspici(m of their children hath 
 been ever unfortunate. The destruction of M... 
 tapha, that we named before, was so fatal to Soh 
 
 US- 
 
 man's line, as tl 
 
 le succession of the Turks, fi 
 
 om 
 ue. 
 
 ^\■as 
 
 Solyman until this day, i.s suspected to be unti 
 
 15 and of strange blood; for that Selymus II 
 
 thought to be supposititious. The destruction of 
 Crispus,° a young j)rince of rare towardness, by 
 Constantimis the (Jreat,^ his father, was in like 
 manner fatal to his house; for both Constantinus 
 20 and Coiistans, his sons, died violent deaths; and 
 Constantius, his other son, did little better! who 
 died ind(>ed of sickness, but after that Julianus° had 
 taken arms against \nm. The destruction of Deme- 
 trius,^ son to Philip II. of Macedon, turned upon 
 •■»the father, who (HcmI of repentance. And many 
 like examples thejv are; but f<'w or none where the 
 
 fathers had good by such distrust, (>.\ce})t it w 
 
 wImtc fjie SO! 
 
 ere 
 
 en- up lit open arms against them 
 
 as was Selvmus I.^ against Haja/;et,° and the th 
 3()sons- of Hcm-v 11., King of Kngiand. 
 
 n^e 
 
J<:SSAYS OR COUXSKLS CIVIL AND MORAL 
 
 67 
 
 For their prolates, whou tl'.\v ;ir(> ])rou(l and jircat, 
 Ihoro is also daiigor from tluMii, as it was in the 
 times of Aiisehniis° and Tlionias IV('ket.° Arch- 
 l)ishops of (\anterhurv, who with their erosi(M's° did 
 ahnost try it° with the k.in<;'s sword; and yet tlieyfi 
 had to deal with stout and haughty kinjis, William 
 Hufiis, Henry I., and Henry 11. The dansjer is not 
 Irom that state.° l)ut where it hath a dependence of 
 foreign aiitli()rity°; or whc^re the Churchmen come in, 
 and are elected, not l)y the collation of the king or lo 
 j)articular patrons, hut by the people. 
 
 For tlieir nobles, to keep them at a distance it is 
 not amiss; but to depress° them may make a king 
 more absolute, but less safe, anc' h'ss able to p(>rform 
 anything that he desires. I have noted it in my i.' 
 "History of King Henry VH. of Kngland," who 
 depressed his nobility; whereupon it came to i)ass 
 that his times were full of diflicultu^s and troubles, 
 for the nobility, though they coiuimied loyd unto 
 him, yet did they not co-op(Tate with him in hisiio 
 JMisiness. So that in effect he was fain° to do all 
 things himself. 
 
 For their second nobles, there is not much dang(M' 
 from them, being a IkxIv dispersed. They may some- 
 times discourse high, but that doth little hurt ; --'."i 
 besules they are a counterpoise to the higher nobility, 
 that they° grow not too potent; and lastly, being 
 the most inmiediate in authority with the conmion 
 people, they do bcNt temper popular conmiotions. 
 
 For their merchants, they are cvna porta°; and ifau 
 
 I ^-:; 
 
(j« 
 
 IJSS.iVS O/i COIXSELS (I VII, jy/, MoraL 
 
 they flourish not, a kinml 
 
 l)ut will h, 
 and 
 
 oni may have <r<)0{l limbs. 
 
 iv(> empty vcms, and nourish little. Taxes 
 unp()sts° upon i hem do seldrmi c;ood to the kind's 
 rovenue. lor that that he wins in the hundred he 
 sloeseth m the shire ^; the particular rates beini.- 
 iriereas,>,i, hut the total hulk (,f trudin- rather de- 
 creased. 
 
 For their eonunons, there is little danger from 
 th(>m. except it be wh,>re th(^v have ^reat and potent 
 10 H^aiis; or where you meddle with tlie point of re- 
 ligion, or iheir customs, or means of life. 
 
 For their m(Mi of war, it is a dan<>erous state where 
 they live and nwnain in a bodv. and are used to dona- 
 tives; wher(>of we see examples in the janizaries ° 
 15 am pr(>torian bai.ds^ of !{ome; but trainings of men 
 and arnunii- tluMu in several places and under several 
 command,>rs. and without donatives, are thin-s of 
 detence and no dauiicr. 
 
 I'riiH-es ar(> Iik(. to heav(Milv bodies, which cause 
 
 20jro.)d „revil times, and which have much V(Mieration 
 
 f>nt no rest. All pren.pts concerning kin-s are in 
 
 otect compr(>hended in those two r.Muembrances: 
 
 Memento ,|uod es homo,"^ and " .M(.mento quod es 
 
 l>c'us or •• M,-e Dei'- - the one bridleth their power, 
 
 2oand the other tlunr will. 
 
 XX. (W rouxsEL 
 
 Tfu: greatest (rust^ beiwef.,, man and man Is the 
 trust ol u-,vnio- counsel. 1-or in other confidences, 
 
ESSAYiS OR C'OCySELS CIVIL AM) MO HAL 
 
 (;y 
 
 men coimnit the parts «»t' life; their laiuls, their 
 aoods, their eliildreii. their i-redit, some particular 
 attair; but to sueii as they make their eoimsellors, 
 they commit the whole: by how much the more 
 they are obli<^ecl to all faith anti integrity. The wisest 5 
 princes need not think it any diminution to their 
 jrreatness, or dero«i;ation to their suliiciency, to rely 
 upon counsel, (lod himself is not witlunit, but hath 
 made it one of the jjreat names of his blessed Son, 
 " the Counsellor. " Solomon" hath jmmounced that lo 
 "in counsel is stability." Thin«i;s will have their 
 hrst or second agitation^; if they be not tossed upon 
 the arguments of counsel, they will be tossetl upon 
 the waves of fortune, and be full (jf inct)nstancy, doing 
 and undoing, like the reeling of a drunken man. I'l 
 Solomon's st)n° found the force of counsel, as his 
 father saw the necessity of it. For the beloved 
 kingdom of God was first rent and broken by ill 
 counsel; upon which counsel there are set for imr 
 instruction the two marks wherebv bad counsel isiiu 
 for ever best discerned: that it was young*^ c»)\msel 
 for the persons; and violent counsel for the matter.^ 
 The ancient times do set forth in ligure both the 
 incorporation and inseparable conjunction of counsel 
 with knigs, and the wise and politic use of counsel lm 
 by kings; the one, in that they say .Ju[)iter° did 
 marry Metis, ° which signifieth counsel, whereby they 
 intend that sovereignty is married to counsel; the 
 other in that which foUoweth. which was thus: they 
 say, after Jupiter was married to Metis, she conceived y<j 
 
70 
 
 ESSAYS OK rorXSELS CIVIL A^ 
 liin and was with child, but Jupit 
 
 ♦ ,. ..+ ..,. *;il .1... 1 ^ A e .1 1 
 
 jf jiun.iij 
 
 cr sunercd iior 
 not to .stay till she brou^dit forth, but ate her ujj; 
 whereby he became nimself with eliild, and was 
 delivered of Pallas° armed, out of his head. Which 
 5 monstrous fable containeth a secret of emph-e, how 
 kings are to make use of their council of state. That, 
 first, they ought to refer matters unto them, which is 
 the first begetting or impregnation; but wlien they 
 are elaborate, moulded and shaped in the womb of 
 10 their council, and grow rii)e and ready to be brought 
 forth, that then they suffer not tlu>ir council to go 
 through with the resolution and direction, as if'lr 
 depended on them; but take the matter back intc, 
 their own hands, and make it a})pear to the workl 
 
 ir. that the decrees and final directions (which, because 
 the>' come forth with ()rudence and power, are 
 r(>.seml)Ied° to Pallas armed), proceeded from them- 
 selves, and not only from their authority, but, the 
 more to add reputation to themselves, "from their 
 
 •-'ohead and device. 
 
 Lot us now speak of the inconveniences of counsel, 
 and of the remedies. Th(> inconveniences that have 
 l)een noted in calling and using counsel are three: 
 first, the revealing of affairs, wherelw thev I)ecome 
 
 2:»less secret; seccjndly, the weakening of the authority 
 of ))rinces, as if thoy were less of themselves; thirdly-, 
 the danger of b(>ing unfaithfully counselled, and 
 mor- for the good of them that counsel than of him 
 that IS counselled. For which inconveniences the 
 
 wdoctrme of Italy, and practice of France, in some 
 
ESSAYS OR rorxSELS flVIL AND MOIiAL 
 
 kinjis' timos, hath intnMhiccd (•al)iiirt coimciL^," 
 a remedy worse than the (liseas(\° 
 
 As t 
 
 o secrecy. [H-iiices are not hound to comnin- 
 
 n 
 
 icate all matters witii all 
 
 c<)niisellors. hut niav 
 
 extract and select. ° Neither is it 
 
 uecessa''v that n 
 
 he that consulteth what he sliould do. shouhl declare 
 what he will do. Hut let princes Ix'ware that the 
 unsecretin^ of their at^'airs cotm^s not from them- 
 selv{\s. And as for cabinet 
 
 councils, it mav 
 
 he tl 
 
 leu' 
 
 motto: " Plenus° rimarum sum;" one futih'" person, n; 
 that maketh it his ftlory to tell, will do more hiu't 
 than many that know it their duty to conceal. It 
 is true, there be some affairs which require extreme 
 secrecy, which will hardly ro beyoTid onv or two 
 persons besides the kin<i: neither are thos(> counsi^ls i:. 
 improsperous; for. besides tlu» secnn-y. they com- 
 juonly go on constantly in one spirit of direction, 
 without distraction. But then it nmst be a prudent 
 king, such as is able to grind with a hand-mill°; 
 and those inward counsellors had need also Ik' wise-Jd 
 men, and especially true and trusty to the king's 
 ends; as it was with King Henry \'II. of hlngland, 
 who in his greatest business imparted himself to none, 
 except it were to Mo.-ton° and Fox.° 
 
 For weakening of authority, the fable showeth '-'.i 
 the remedy. Nay, the majesty of kings is rather 
 exalted than diminished, when they ar(> in the chair 
 of counsel; neither wa^ there ever prince bereaved 
 of his dependencies" by his counsel, except where 
 there hath been cither an over-greatness in one coun-3« 
 
 i^: 
 
 m 
 
72 
 
 ESSAYS (Hi (orySK/.S CIVIL AXJ) MORAL 
 
 sollor, or an oAer-striot ('()nil)iiiatioii 
 
 111 (livors: 
 
 wiiich arc tiiiii.us sooti found and iiolpon.° 
 
 For tlu' last iiicoiivcniciicc. lliat men will counsel 
 with an vyv to t!!('ins<'Ivos. certainly " \oa inveniet° 
 5fid(Mn super f(>rranr' is meant of tiie nature of times, 
 and not of all particular p(M-sons. There he that are 
 in nature faithful and sincere, and plain and direct, 
 not crafty and itnolved; let princes above all draw- 
 to themselves such natures. B{\sides, counsellors 
 
 10 are not conunonly so united l)ut that one counsellor 
 keepeth sentinel over another; so that if any do 
 counsel out of faction or private ends, it commonly 
 comes to the kim-'s ear. Hut the best remedy is, 
 if [H-inces know tluMr counsellors, as well as their 
 
 16 counsellors know them: 
 
 '• I'riucipis' est virtus maxima no.s.sc .suos." 
 
 And on the other side, counsellors should not be too 
 speculative^ into their soverei<«;n's person. The true 
 composition of a counsellor is rather to be skilful in 
 
 20 their° master's business than in his nature"; for then 
 he is lik(> to advise him, and not to 'ivinl his humour. 
 It IS of sin,<iular use to jmiices if they take the opinions 
 ot their couns >1 both separately and to.i^ether; for 
 privat(» opinioti is moiv free, but oj)inion before others 
 
 25 IS more reverend. In private, men are more bold 
 in their own tuimours, and in consort, men are more 
 obnoxious'^ to others' humours; therefore it is good 
 to take both : and of the inferior sort, rather in pri- 
 vate, to preserve freedom; of the greater, rather ir, 
 
ESSAYS Oh' COrXSKLS fill/, aX/> Mnh'lL 
 
 7*> 
 
 consort, to preserve resjx-ct. It is in vain for princes 
 lo take counsel conci'rnin«i inaUers. it they take no 
 counsel likewise concernin.i>- persons; tor all matters 
 arc as dead iina<;es. and the lite of the execution of 
 affairs restetli in the ^^ood choice of persons.^ Xeither r. 
 is it enou«;h to consult concernin.u persons sreundum 
 iini(ra° as in a:, idea or niatheinatical description, 
 what the kijid and character of the [jerson should br; 
 for the <i;reatest errors are coniiiiitted. ami the most' 
 .iudo;nient is shown, in the choice of individuals. It im 
 was truly said, ' Uptimi^ consiliarii mortui;"' books 
 will speak plain when couns(>llors blanch. ^^ Tlierefore 
 it is good to be eonver.sant in them, speciallv the books 
 of such as themselves have been actors upon the stage. 
 
 The councils at this day, in mosi phtc. - are but 15 
 familiar meetings, when^ matters are rather talked 
 on than debated; and they run too swift to the order 
 or act of council. It were better tliat, in causes 
 <»f weight, the matter were propounded one day and 
 iiot spoken to till the next day; "in nocte consilium."°2«) 
 So was it done in the commission of miion between 
 iMigland and Scotland, which was a gi-ave and orderly 
 assembly." 1 connnend set days for i)etiti()ns, for 
 I'oth it gives the suitors more cerlaintv for their 
 attendance, and it frees the meetings for matters ofv, 
 estate, that they may hoc micre.^ In choice of com- 
 luiltees, for ripening business for the council, it is 
 better to choose indifferent" persons, than to make 
 an mdifferency by putting in those that are strong on 
 both sides. 1 commend also standing" commissions, ao 
 
74 
 
 Kss.iYs (ti: (nrxsK/.s ( ivii. as 
 
 ./o. 
 
 lis lor trade, for trcn^iirc. for war, for ^uiis. foi > .me 
 jiroviiiccs'-^; for where there be (li\ers i)artieular 
 councils, and l>ut one council of estaie (a.'< it i.-; n 
 Spain), they ai'c. in effect, no more than .•^tandin^ 
 .^. coimnissions. sa\'e that they hav<' <ireater authority. 
 Let such as are to inform councils out oi their pailicu- 
 lar professions (as lawvers, seamen. mintmen,° aim 
 the like). I>e first heard lu'fore committees, and then. 
 as occasion s(>r\'es, Ix^fore the council. And let 
 
 10 them not conu^ in multitudes or in a trihunitious 
 manner; for tliat is to clamour councils, not to infort , 
 them. A l()n<i- table and . sipiare table, or seats 
 about the walls, seem tliin/^s of form, but are thin^ts 
 of substance: for at a Ion*! table a few at the upp<'r 
 
 I.') end, in effect, swa^' all the business; but in the oilier 
 form there is more use of the coimseii' ;s' opinions 
 that sit lower. A kin*;;, when he presid( s in council, 
 let him beware how he opens liis own inclination too 
 much in that which he propoundetli : for else coun- 
 
 'josellors will but take the wind of him. and instead of 
 giving free counsel, sing him a sonjj; of placebo.^ 
 
 XXI. OF DKLAVS 
 
 FoRTUXK is like the market, where many times, if 
 
 you can stay a little, the j)rice will lail. And again. 
 
 it is sometimes like Sibylla's'-^ offer, which at first 
 
 2"»offereth the commodity at full, then coi;sumevh part 
 
 and part, and still° holdeth up the ])rice. For "o- ca- 
 
 ■B 
 
J-SSAYS (tR ror. KLS < !V1 AXh \f(,> 
 
 sioti Tis it is in the common tr ^ mi'i .(.i 
 noddle, after she Jiatli pi'-sci it i r l in 
 
 aiK 
 
 liold takoii 
 
 or 
 
 t'li; 
 
 the bottle first to \>o n . ivc 
 
 1 •' 
 
 tl 
 
 \V 1 It 
 
 l<ll< 
 
 'llv 
 
 w 
 
 iiicli is hai I to l:i- 
 
 'Ihrn 
 
 -n? 
 
 lo jjrcater 
 iiid onsets 
 
 s isdoiii than wril to l lic tiu ix'jiinni j 
 
 if tliinss. Danuors an n<. Atn^ liu' if rliev once 
 
 -eeni litiiit, and ntore <la!;L"er- :i\<' (' 
 ■'ireed tlieni. N.i\', it v( :• lu'tir 
 Ufis half-wav, tl 'imli ilu'\ coini 
 
 ed men than 
 
 I't '>nie dan- 
 
 iiiii ar, than m 
 
 to keep to* l*>n^ • n-; rh n >n th-i ippro; lies: for 
 if a man w eh to< itHiu it is xlds I • will fall aslee)). 
 
 On the oth • sid* » !•' -ec* ed with too lonii s 
 
 had- 
 
 ows (as son.e ha • 'een hen the moon was low and 
 
 shone on h"i'" eii' iin. 
 
 nek) uid so to shoot off 
 
 hefore the inu : or ! - :ea<*h 
 
 •e t() come on, 
 
 l)V 
 
 over-early 1 ''kliii*; to .a. Is theii anotluM- extreme. 
 The ripeness r tmrineness of the occa 
 
 sion. as we sau 
 
 I, 
 
 must ever Ik well v iihed; and generally it is j^ood 
 t« eoinmit he i inin<is of all <i;reat actions to 20 
 ArLi'is° \ it. is h aired eves, and the ends to Bria- 
 
 W) il 
 
 idred hanih 
 
 first to watch and 
 
 thet to 
 
 or the helmet of IMiito,° which 
 
 m; 
 
 man "o invisible, is secrecv in 
 
 th 
 
 i ant 
 
 .](i 
 
 on 
 
 set 
 
 rity in the execution. For when-'" 
 •ome to the execution, there is no 
 rupai.ible to celerity; like th" motion of a 
 the air, which flieth so .swift as it otitruns 
 
76 
 
 ii'A'^Ml^' UH roUXSKLS ( IVIL AX/t ^ 
 
 MORAL 
 
 XXir. OF CrXNLVG 
 
 Wk tak 
 
 o rnniiiiiL'- for a sinister or 
 ^'orfainly tlifrc is urcat (lift 
 
 And 
 
 nin:.-: niaii and a wise i 
 
 h\x{ 
 
 frookcd wisdom, 
 oronco hctvvoon a cun- 
 nan. not only in point of honostv 
 
 ncardi 
 tliat 
 oth( 
 
 " point of ability. Thcro lio that 
 ■ yet cannot play well; so tin 
 
 and 
 
 aro 
 
 ood 
 
 an park tho 
 ro are some 
 
 ■rwise weak iiici 
 
 iM r-anvassos and factions, that 
 
 aro 
 
 stand persons and another tl 
 
 uji, It IS one thine: to under- 
 
 ten 
 
 f 
 
 oi many are perfect i 
 
 Hn^ to understand mat- 
 
 n men's humours that 
 
 10 are not -reatly capable ,)f th(> real part of 1 
 \\ Inch IS the constitution of one that hati 
 
 )usiness: 
 
 1 studied me 
 
 moro ll,,„ |,„„k,. ■■^'^■I, ,„..„ are fiftor for |,n,ot 
 
 n 
 
 flian for counsel, and tl 
 .'dley; turn them to new 
 
 l"'aim; so as (lie old rul(> to ki 
 
 ley are ^ood but in tl 
 "'<'"-HHi they have lost their 
 
 tice 
 
 10 1 r own 
 
 man, 
 
 doth scarce hold tor tl 
 
 low a fool frofii a wise 
 
 •MiU(>° ambos nndos ad i-notus. et viMH 
 
 lem. 
 
 And I 
 
 )i.- 
 
 20 
 
 "ut^^ men a.e like haberdashers of 
 o set forth th(>ir shop. 
 1'^ a point of cunnin.i? to wait 
 
 lecause these cuii 
 
 not aiiii.ss t 
 
 It 
 whom 
 
 ^mall 
 
 wares, it is 
 
 vou 
 
 upon him with 
 speak with your eye, as the Jesuits^ j.ive 
 nnrc..ept; tor there be many wise men thatluive 
 ' 'TfoT ""'^ ^'-^^-^Parotit countenances Vet 
 
 -'.>cne sometimes, as th.e Je.uits also do use 
 
 Another is. that wIhm, you have anvthino- to ob- 
 ^-" -^ ]>'•--.. despatch, you en.ertahi and amu., 
 
ESSAYS Oh' ((flxsKLS rH/L IA7/ .V//AM/, 
 
 1 SOllU' OtluT 
 
 flie parly with whom yoii ileal witl 
 (li-sc'oLirse, tliat lie be not too irmch awake to iiial., 
 ohjections. I knew a ('otiiiciijor and secretary^ that 
 iit-ver eanie to Queen Klizaheth of l':;.'rland with hillH 
 to sign, but lie would alwavs (iisi put 1 
 
 discourse of estate, that si 
 I he bill? 
 
 put her into some 
 le mougiit the less miFid 
 
 The lik 
 
 e surprise may be made bv moviriii ihii 
 
 liTS 
 
 \\ 
 
 hen the party is in haste, and cannot stav t 
 
 o con- 
 
 sider atlvisedly of that is moved. 
 
 If a man would cross^ a business that h(> doubt; 
 some other wouhl handsomely and elfectuall 
 let him pretend to wish it well, and 
 
 1(1 
 
 V move. 
 
 move it himself 
 
 ill such sort as may foil it. 
 
 The breaking off in the midst of that 
 about to say, as if he took himself up. breeds a 
 •leater aj)petite in him with whom v 
 
 one was 15 
 
 know 
 
 on confer, t 
 
 o 
 
 more 
 
 And because it works better wl 
 
 clh to be gotten from vou I 
 
 len anvthinii seem- 
 
 offer it of yourself, you may lay a bait f 
 
 by showing another visage and count 
 
 are wont, to the end to giv(; 
 
 ask what the matter is of the d 
 
 liid, *' Ami I had not before thai lime I 
 
 the kiiiii.*' 
 
 )y (juestion than if you iii 
 
 or a (luestion 
 
 enance than you 
 
 occasion for the party to 
 
 iang«': as Xeliemiah" 
 
 H'cii sad beft)re'Jo 
 
 In things that are lender and unpleasing it is good 
 
 (o break the ice I 
 
 weight, and to reser\<' tl 
 
 >y some whose words are of le 
 
 'SS 
 
 ut more weightv voice t 
 
 come in as by chaiur. so that he may be asked tl 
 
 o 
 
 le .'«! 
 
ASSAYS OH ( (jCXSKLS CIVIL AND MORAL 
 
 question upon tlic othor's speech; as Narcissus" did, 
 in relating to Claudius tlie marriage of Messalina and 
 Silius. 
 
 In things that a man would not be seen in h 
 If, it 
 
 un- 
 nselt, It is a point of cunning to borrow the name of 
 the world; as to say, "The world says," or, "There 
 is a speech abroad." 
 
 I knew one tiiat. when he wrote a letter, he would 
 put that which was most material in the postscript. 
 10 as if it had ])von a bye-matter. 
 
 1 knew another that, when he came to have speech, 
 
 he would pass over th..t that he intended most, and 
 
 go forth and come back again, and speak of it as of a 
 
 thing that he had almost forgot. 
 
 15 Some procure themselves to be surprised at such 
 
 times as it is like the party that they work upon will 
 
 suddenly come ui)()n them; and to be found with a 
 
 letter in their hand, (.r doing sonunvhat which thev 
 
 are not accustomed, to the end they may be apposed^ 
 
 'J) of those things which of themselves they are desirous 
 
 to utter. 
 
 It is a point of cunning to let fall those words in a 
 man's own jiame, which he woukl have another man 
 learn and use, and thereupon take advantage. 1 
 L'oknew two° tha.t were competitors for the secretary's 
 place in (^ncen I'^lizalu-th's time, and yet kept good 
 quarter^ between themselves, and woukl confer one 
 
 witl 
 
 1 another u))on the business; and the one of 
 
 them said that to be a secretary in the declination of 
 mil monarchy was a ticklish thing, and that he did not 
 
IJSSAYS OB (JOrXSKLS CIVIL A.\I> MO HAL 71) 
 
 affect it; the other sirai<;ht f'au«>jlit up thoso words 
 and discoursed with divers of his friends that h<" hrd 
 no reason to desire to he secretary in the dcchtiation 
 of a monardiy. The first man took hold of it. and 
 found means it was told the (^loen, who, hearin^^ of n 
 a dechnation of a monarchy, took it so ill as she 
 would never after hoar of tiic other's suit. 
 
 There is a cumiin^^ which we in I<:nt?land call "Th(^ 
 turning of the cat° in the ])an;" which is,' when 
 that whi i a man saith to another, he lavs it as if in 
 another had said it to liim. And to say truth it is not 
 easy, when such a matter passed between two, to 
 make it appear from which of them it first moved 
 and began. 
 
 It IS a way that some men have (o glance and dart ir, 
 at others, by justifying themselves bv negativ(»s- 
 as to .say, "This I do not/' - i -gellinus^ did toward.s 
 Burrhus°: 'SSe non° diversa -n s, sed i.icolumitatem 
 imperatoris simi)liciter s})ectaiv\" 
 
 Some have in readiness .so many tales and stories 20 
 as there is nothing they would insinuate but they can 
 wrap it into a tale; whieh serveth both to keej) them- 
 selves more in guard,° and to make others carry it 
 with more pleasure. 
 
 It is a good point in cunning for a man to .shape -'5 
 the answer he would have in his own words and 
 propositions, for it makes the otlier partv .stick the 
 less. 
 
 It is strange liow long souk^ men will lie in wait to 
 spuuk somewhat they desire to say; and how farao 
 
80 FSSAYS (Jli COrxSKLS (I ML AND MORAL 
 
 about rhcy will fotch.^ and how iiijuiy other matter!* 
 they will beat over, to eome near it. It is a thing of 
 ^reat patience, but yet of much use. 
 
 A sudden, bold, and unexpected question doth 
 5 many times surprise a niMii, and lay him open.° 
 Like to him that, havino; ehan<>;ed his name, and 
 walkin.u- in i^aul's.^ another suddenly came behind 
 him and called him hy iiis true name, whereat straight- 
 wnys he looked back. 
 10 iiut lluse smnll wares^ and petty jioints of cun- 
 ning are infinite, and if were a good deed to make a 
 list of them; for that nothing doth more hurt in a 
 state than that cunning men pnss for wise. 
 
 Hut certainly some there are that know the resorts° 
 
 15 and falls of business, that cannot sink into the main° 
 
 of it; like a house that hath convenient stairs and 
 
 entries, but never a fair room. Therefore you shall 
 
 see them find oi: pretty looses° in the conclusion, 
 
 but are no wavs al)le to examine or debate matters. 
 
 20 And \et commonly they take advantage of their 
 
 inability, and would be thought wits of direction. 
 
 Some build rather uj)on the abusing of others, and, 
 
 as wf> now say, |)utting tricks upon them, than upon 
 
 soundness of their own proceedings. ]\\\{ Solomon° 
 
 25saith, "Prud(>ns" a.lvertit ad gressiia sues: stultus 
 
 divcrtit ad doles." 
 
 m:^j 
 
ii:V6'J>6' OH (jmytiKLS civil JXO M(jliAL 81 
 
 XXIII. OF WISDOM I OR A MAX'S SI- 
 
 LF 
 
 A.v aiit is a wit 
 
 .<lije\vd° thing in an Drcluird 
 
 ISO Croat uiv tor itself, but it is a 
 
 tainiy men that are -iTcat lovers ..f il 
 
 or y;ar(h>ii. Ami 
 
 eer- 
 
 pul)li 
 
 Divid 
 
 leniselves \\a.st( 
 
 e Willi reason between sclf-lovi 
 
 tli(> 
 
 • ind soeiety. and }„■ so true to thyself as thou be'm.t „ 
 lalse to otiiers. especially to thy kin- an.i country. 
 It IS a poc*r centr.' of a man's actions, hiniMlf. It is 
 ri-ht earth." For that only stands fast upon his own 
 centre; whereas all things tliat have alfinitv with 
 (lie heavens move upon the centre (.f another," which 10 
 tliey benefit. 
 
 The referring of all to a man's self is more toler- 
 able in a sovereign prijice, b(>cause themselves are 
 not only themselves, but their good and evil is at 
 tlic peril of the public fortune. Hut it is a d(>sperate ii 
 evil m a servant to a prince, or a citi/.en in a republic. 
 I or whatsoever aff.-irs ])ass such a man's hands, he 
 <rooketh° them to his (»wn (>nds, which must needs 
 be often eccentric" to the eiuis of his master or state. 
 Therefore let princes or statics cIk.osc such servants l**) 
 •ts liave not this mark, except they mean their ser- 
 \ice should })e made but tli(> accessarv. 
 
 That which maketh the effect 
 
 that all proportion is li)st. It ..,.„ 
 
 enough for the servant's good to be preferred' befor 
 
 more pernicious is 
 Were disprojjoriiun 
 
 the master's; but yet it i 
 
 a little good of the servant shall 
 
 I greater (>\treme, whe 
 
 •e LTi 
 n 
 
 carry things against. 
 
82 
 
 ESSAYS nji caCXSKLS CIVIL AM^ MORAL 
 
 a ^Tcat ^()0(l of the master's. Aiicl yvi that is the 
 case (if l)a(l ofhcors. treasurers. amlKissadors. generals, 
 ami otluM- false ;iii(l ('orruj)! s(>rvaiits; which set a 
 l)ias° upon th(Mr howl, of their own jH'tty ends and 
 '.envies, to the oxcithrow of their niastej-'s great and 
 important affairs. And for the most part, the good 
 sueh servants receive is aftei- the model of their own 
 fortune, hut the hurt they sell for that good is after 
 the mod(^l of tluMr m;ister's fortune. And certainly 
 
 II) it is the nature of extreme self-lovers, as they will set 
 an house on fire, and it W(M"e hut to roast their eggs°; 
 and yet the-e men many times hold credit with their 
 masters, because their study is hut to j)lease them, 
 and profit themselv(\<: and for either respect thev 
 
 1". will abandon the good of their affairs. 
 
 Wisdom fora man's self is. in many branches tliereof. 
 a dej)rave(l thing. It is the wisdom of rats, that will 
 be sure to leave a house somewhat before it fall. It 
 is the wisdom of the fox. that thrusts out the badger 
 
 2(»wh(» digged and made room for him. It is the wis- 
 dom of crocodiles, that shed tears when they would 
 devour. Hut that which is specially to be noted is, 
 that those which, as ('icero° says of l'omi)ey,° are 
 "sui amanl(>s'^ sine rivali." are juanx times unfor- 
 
 L'a tuiiate. And whereas they have all their time 
 sacrificed to themselves, they become in the end them- 
 selves sacrifiei's to the inconstancy of fortune, wliose 
 wings they thought by their self-wisdom to have 
 pinione<l. 
 
ESSAYS OR cor \S ELS CIVIL AXJi MORA I. 
 
 S3 
 
 XXIV. OF IXNOVATIOVS 
 
 As the births° of liv 
 
 in^' crcafu'vs at first are ill- 
 
 4iapen, so are all innovations, which arc the i)irths 
 
 of time. Yet. notwithstandini;. 
 
 as those that first 
 
 brinjj: honour into their family are eomnionlv more 
 worthy than most that siureed. so the lirst prece-r. 
 (lent, if it he jiood, is sel(h)m attained by imitaticm. 
 lor ill, to man's nature as it stands pervi'rted.'-' hath 
 a natural motion strongest in eontinuance; but 
 iiood, as a foreed motion, strongest at first. Surely 
 every medicine is an innovati(m, and he that will lo 
 not apply new remedies nnist (wpcrt new evils. For 
 time is the greatest innovator: and if time of eourse° 
 alter things to the worse, and wisdom and counsel 
 shall not alter them to the bell(M. wha. siiall be the 
 
 '■"^^•. ir. 
 
 It is true that what is settled by custom, though 
 it be not good, yet at least it is fit. ° And those 
 things which have long gone together an-, as it were, 
 confederate within themselves: when^as new things * 
 [)iece not so well, but though they help by their utri--jo 
 ity, yet they trouble by their inconformity. Hesid(>.s. 
 they are like strang(>rs, mor(> admin-d and less fa- 
 voured. Ail this is true if time stood still, which 
 contrariwise rnoveth so round that a froward reten- 
 tion of eustom is as turbulent a thing as an imiova-2.i 
 (ion; and they that reverence too much old times are 
 but a scorn to th{> new. 
 
84 K::SAys uu < ovnskls civil and yjonAL 
 
 It were ^ood, tluToforo, thnt men in their inno- 
 vations woukl follow the example of time itself, 
 which indeed innovateth greatly, but quietly, and 
 by decrees scarce to be jx'r(;ei\ed. For otherwise. 
 5 whatsoever is new is uulooked for, and ever it mends 
 some and pairs" others; and he that is holpen° takes 
 it for a fortun(s and thanks the time; ajul he that is 
 hurt, for a wron<i;, and imputeth it to the author. 
 It is gt)od also not to try experiments in states, 
 
 10 except the necessity be urgent, or the utility evident; 
 and well to beware that it be the reformation that 
 draweth on the change, and not the desire of chaniie 
 that pretendeth° the reformation. And lastly, that 
 the novelty, thouidi it be n.»t rejected, yet be held 
 
 i.-.for a suspect"; and, as the Scrij)ture" saith, "that 
 we make a stand upon the ancient way, and then look 
 about us and discover what is the straight and right 
 way, and so to walk in it." 
 
 XXV. OF DISPATCH 
 
 ■ 
 
 Affected" disj)atch is one of the most danger- 
 20OUS things to business that can be. It is like that 
 which the physicians call predigestion, or hasty di- 
 gestion, which is sure to fill the body full of crudities 
 and secret seeds, of ihseases. Therefor o' measure not 
 dispttch by the times of sitting, but by the advance- 
 2r)inent of the business. And as in races" it is not the 
 large stride, or high lift, that makes the s.eed, so in 
 
 ■•e^fjiffi-f :^A-Urmt;^ 
 
 i 
 
ESSAYS OH rorXSKLS VIVTL AX/) MORAL 8/) 
 
 husHicss. the keepino- Hose to iho matlor. and not 
 fnlvin«r of it too much at once, proruroth dispatch. 
 Il is tlu^ care of sonio only to conic off spco(iilv for 
 I ho tiine^; or to contrive f^nmo false periods^ of 
 business, because^ they may seem men of dispatch. r> 
 Hut it is one thin<j: to abbreviate by contracting, 
 ruiother by cutting off; and Inisiness'so handled at 
 Mnera. -ittings or meetings goeth cr-mmonlv back- 
 ward and forward in an unsteady maimer, f knew a 
 wise man° that had ii for a byword, when he saw in 
 men hasten to a conchision, "Stjiy a little, that we 
 may make an end the sooner." 
 
 On the other side, true dispatch is a rich thing 
 F'or time is the measure of !)usiness. as money is of 
 wares; and business is bought at a dear hand °' where 15 
 there is si . :i dispatch. The Sj)artans and Span- 
 iards have Ixen noted to be of small dispatch: "Mi 
 venga la muerte de Spagna." let my death come from 
 Sj)ain°; for then it will be sure to be long in coming. 
 
 Give good hearing to those that give the first in- 20 
 lor-iiation in business, and rather direct them in the 
 i)eginning than interrupt them in the continuance 
 of their speeches; for he that is put out of his own 
 order will go forward and backward, and l)e more 
 tedious, while he waiis upon his memorv, than he 25 
 could have been if he h.-A gone on in his own course. 
 Hut sometimes it is seen tiiat the moderator^ is more 
 troublesome than the actor.^ 
 
 Iterations an^ commonly loss of time; but there 
 IS no such gain of time as (o iterate often the state 30 
 
 <• « 
 
 1 
 
86 
 
 ASSAYS OR COUNSKLS CIVIL AND MORAL 
 
 of the (luestion, for it ohasoth away many a frivo- 
 lous spoecii as it Is coming- forth. I.ons and curious" 
 speeclios arc as fit for dispatch as a roho or mantle 
 with a Ions train is for race. Prefaces, and passages, ° 
 5 and e.\cusations,° and oth(T sj)eeches of reference to 
 the person, are great wastes of time; and though 
 they seem to proceed of modesty, tliey are bravery. ° 
 Vet beware of being too matei-ial° wiien there is any 
 impediment or ol)struction in men's wills; for pre- 
 10 occupation of mind ever recjuireth })reface of speech, 
 like a fomentation to make the unguent° enter. 
 
 Above all things, order, and distribution, and 
 singling out of parts, is the life of dispatch, so as 
 the distribution be not too subtle; for he that doth 
 15 not divide will never enter well into business, and he 
 that divideth too much will never come out of it 
 clearly. To choose time is to save time, and an 
 unseasonable motion is but beating the air. There 
 be three parts of business • i he i)re|)aration, the debate 
 20or examination, and the perfection. Whereof, if you 
 look for dispatch, let the t liddle only be the work 
 of many, and th(> first and last the work of few. 
 The proceeding upon somewhat conceived in writing 
 doth for the most })ari facilitate dispatch ; for though 
 2.-) it should be wholly rejected, yet that negative is 
 more pregnant of direction" than an indefinite, as 
 ashes are more generative than dust. 
 
ESSAYS on (orxsKLs cnjL ax/> moum. 8< 
 
 XXVI. OF SEEM I NT, WISE 
 
 It hath been an opinion th;\t tlio Fronoh are 
 wiser than tiiev seem, and the Sj)aniar(l< seem wiser 
 tlian tliey are. But howsoever it be l<elween nations, 
 certainly it is so between man and man. For as 
 liie Apostle*^ saith of j»;()dhness, " havin«i- a sliow of, 
 •iodhness, but denvin"; the power thereof 
 
 s( I cer- 
 
 lainly there are in point of wis(U)m and sufficiency 
 tiiat do notliin^- or little very solenmly, " mauiio" 
 conatu nugas. " It is a ridiculous thing, and fit 
 for a satire to })ersons of judgment, to see wimt 10 
 shifts these formalists^ have, and what prosi)ectives° 
 to make superficies to seem bodv that hath depth and 
 bulk. 
 
 Some are so close and reserveil as they will not 
 siiow their wares but by a dark light, and seem 15 
 always to keep back somewhat : and when they know- 
 within themselves thev siteak of that thev do not 
 well know, woukl nevertheless seem to oth(»rs to kiiOA- 
 of that which they may not well sj)eak. Some help 
 themselves with counteiiance aiul gesture, and are 20 
 wise by signs, as Cicero^ saith of Piso,° that when 
 lie answered him he fetched owv of his brows 
 !) to his forehead ;md beitt the oilier down to 
 his chin: "Respondes,° altero ad frontem sublato, 
 altero ad mentum depresso supercilio, crudelitatem l'.i 
 tibi non placere. " Some think to bear it^ by 
 speaking a great word and beiig peremptory. 
 
88 
 
 Kss.ns OH Loi ysEi.s r/i/L an/ 
 
 > MOh'Ah 
 
 and go <)!i and tnl«' l.y adriiil tai;<c thai wdidi thov 
 
 cannol make g(H)d.^' Sonu-. w liaf-oover is bcvond 
 
 their reach, will seem t.. despise <.r make liglit '.)f it, 
 
 as impertinent or curious; a;id so woukl have their 
 
 .".ignorance seem judgment. Some are never without 
 
 a dilterence, and comnionly. 1)\' anms'Mi: mm \vit!i a 
 
 suhtihy. blanch^ the maUer; of \\h...n A. (JelHu.s" 
 
 saith. " llominem^ dehrum. .jui wrlx.rum minutiis 
 
 reruin IVangit pondc^a." Of which kind also Phito^ 
 
 10 in his "Piotagoras"^ bringeth in IVodicus^ in scorn. 
 
 and maketh iiini make a speech tliat consisteth of 
 
 distinctions from the beginning lo the end. 
 
 (Jenerally sucli men in all deii,;eraiions find ease 
 to be°of the negative side, and affect a credit to ol)j(ct 
 1.-. and foretell dilficulties. For when prop.ositions are 
 denied, there is an end of them; but if rhey be allowed, 
 it refjuireth a new work: wluch false point of wi.sdoni 
 is the bane of business. 
 
 To conclude, there is no decaving merchant, or 
 2<)mward° beggar, hath so many tricks to uphold the 
 civdit of their^ wealth, as these ej.upiy persons have 
 to maintahi the credit of their siilliciencv. Seeming 
 wise men may make shift to get opinion."^ but let no 
 man choose them for employment: for . "rtainly you 
 25 were better take for business a iium somewhat 
 absurd than over-fonnal. 
 
ESSAYS OH (OfWSKLS rlVlL AM) MORAL 89 
 
 XXVII. OF FRIEXD8HIP 
 
 It had 1>(m>ii hnnl for liini'' that spake it to have 
 put more tnitli and untruth tofictlicr in iVw words 
 than in that sjx'och. '' W ' Dso^vor is dcli^iit I m 
 soiitutlo is (M'luM- a wild hvu<X or a Ood." i m :.; 
 is most true that a natural and sccict hatred ir i r. 
 av('rsation° 'owards socie y in any man iiath 8( ^ < - 
 what of tlu- sava^-e hoast ; Init it is most uninu- 
 that it siiould liavc any character at all of th.(^ divine 
 nature, excef)t it proceed, not out of a pleasure in 
 -solitude, but out of a love and desire to se(|uester° ic 
 a man's seif for a hijiher conversation: such as is 
 found to have Ix-en falsely an 1 feiuneiily in some 
 of the heaMien, as M))inu>nides " "he Candian, \uma° 
 tiie Roman, l']mpedocl(>s° tlu^ ^icilitui. and Apollo- 
 i;ius° of Tyana ; and truly and ieall\ in dive?-s of their> 
 ancient hermits and holy fathers of th(> C'lnu'ch. 
 But little do men })(>rceive what soiitud*' is. and 
 how far it extendeth; for a crowd i> u(»t co?;ipany, 
 ;uid face< ai'e hut a .trallery of ]»i( ture,-, ' and ti-lk 
 hut a tink'.n^ cyml)al.° where there is no love. 20 
 The Lathi adafj;e meeteth with it a little, "Magna 
 <*ivitas,° magna solitudo;" because in a great town 
 iriends are scatler<-d, so that there is not that fel- 
 li^vship. for the most part, which is in less neighbour- 
 hoods. I^ut we ma> go further, and afTirm most 25 
 truly that it is a mere° and miserable solitude to 
 want true friends, without wliich the world is but 
 
 » >t • rVj 1 
 
 ■<Ufc.Hli^-^. 4, J. ' J-tW , 
 
 rr^B 
 
90 ESSAYS OH COrXSELS r/VIL AN It MORAL 
 
 a \vil(l('ni(>ss. And (^vcn in this sciiso also of solitude. 
 \vli()S()('V(>r in the frame of his nature and aft"eetion« 
 is unfit for friendship. h(> takc^th it of the beast, 
 and not from humanity. 
 ■» A principal fruit of fiiendship is 1h(» ea.se and 
 diseh.'M-jie of the fulne.ss and s\v(>llin^s of the heart, 
 which passions of all kinds do cause and induce. 
 We kF.ow diseases of stoj)piji,t»;s and sulToeations 
 are the most danji'erous in the body, and it is not 
 
 lomiich otherwise in the mind; you may take sarza° 
 to open the liver, steel to open the sj)leen. flour of 
 sulphur for the lunjjjs. castoreum for the brain, but 
 no recei|)f opiMieth the heart but a true frier(d,° to 
 whom you may impart <>;riefs, joys, fears, hopes, 
 
 1.') suspicions, counsels, and wliatsoevrM" lieth upon the 
 hc^art to oppress it, in a kind of civil shrift or con- 
 fession. 
 
 It is a stran^^(> thin*!; to ol).serve how \\\)r\\ a rate 
 jrreat kinijs and monarchs do set upon this fruit of 
 
 •JO friendship whereof we speak; so ^reat as they p^ir- 
 chase it manv times at the hazard of their own 
 
 safetv and uj'eatii 
 
 ■or })rmces. \\\ rej^an 
 
 1 of 
 
 the distance of their fortune from that of their sub- 
 jects and servanis. camiot ,ii;".ther this fruit except, 
 
 •-*'» to make th<Miis(>l\('s capable thereof, they raise some 
 persons to be, as it we'-e. companions and almost 
 equals to themselves, which many times sortetl; to° 
 inconvetiiem ('. The moderr lanjiuajies «>;ive unto 
 sudi persons the n.-iinc of favourites or privado(^s.° 
 
 ;<ia- if it wer(> mailer of ^race or conv(M-.sation ; but the 
 
ESSAYS (Hi (•(nSSF.I.S civil AXn M(HiM. 
 
 \)\ 
 
 Koniaii iminc Mttaiiicth the true use and cause thereof, 
 naming them " particijH's curaniin."" tor it is that 
 which tieth the kiutt. And we see phiinly that thi> 
 hath heeii done, not l»y weak aiitl j)assi(»nale princes 
 nlv. I)iit !)>■ tlie wis«'st and most pohtic that ev«'r 
 ■iuned: wlio have oiti'iitimes joined to tljems(^l\-es 
 
 o 
 
 !'( 
 
 -onie ot" tlieir servants, whom l)oth tiiemselves have 
 (•:illed friends, and allowed others likewise to call 
 ihem in the same manner, usinji- the word which is 
 
 received between private men 
 
 Id 
 
 L. SvUa. 
 
 w 
 
 lien he commanded ]{ome. raised 
 
 l'ompe\',° .after surnamed the Creat, to that heijiht 
 that I'ompey vaunted himself for Sylla's overmatch. 
 Tor when lie had carried the consulship for a friend 
 of his ajiainst the pursuit of Sylla. and that Sylla i.'i 
 did a little resent thereat, and heiian to speak iifeat, 
 I'oinpey turned uj)on him aiiain. and in effe-t bade 
 him be (piiet. "for that more men adored the sun 
 risin.ii than the sun settinji." With Julius ('a'sar."^ 
 Dccinms Ignitus'' had obtained that interest, as he.'o 
 set him down in his testament for heir in remainder 
 after his nephew. And this was the man that had 
 power with him to draw him forth to his death. 
 I'or when ( a'sar would have discharged the <eiiate. 
 ill rejiard of some ill presa,ii"es. and especially a dream •_•.-, 
 of Calptirnia." this man lifted him gently by the 
 arm out of his chair, tellin,i;" liim he hoped h.' would 
 not dismiss the senate till his wife had dreamt a lu-tter 
 dream. And if seeineth his favour was so <rreat as 
 Antoniu.s.'^ in a letter which is recitetl verbatim in .")»» 
 
92 
 
 /;6v;.ij.N iti: (oiwsels <i\ii. asii MnuAt, 
 
 Olio of ( 'i((.f 
 
 o's iniilippic.v t-alictli liim " vcnc/ 
 
 witdi, ;is ii" he iiad oiiciiaiitcd ( 
 
 ic-a. 
 
 mi.s(>(l A,uri|)f)a.'' ilioiifrh of 
 
 iP^.'u-. Aiiffiist 
 
 iis^ 
 
 inouii hirth, to that 
 
 tioi<rh( as. wiipii he <-()i,sult('(i with .Mti'cenas° af-oul 
 -.the inama.irc of his .laii.'ditcr Julia. Ma 
 
 the lihortv to ( 
 
 iiM-cnas look 
 
 ell iiiiii. "Tjat he nuiM cit 
 
 his (l.iu<rhi(T t(. A-iriitj^i or talc 
 
 IICI- IIUIITN- 
 
 I'CO awav h 
 
 was tio thin I \v;.y. ho had mado liiii 
 
 is hf 
 
 Til 
 
 XTIIIS 
 
 ( 
 
 I SO liTcat, 
 
 v there 
 Witii 
 
 ar 
 
 loheiiihl 
 
 as 
 
 ll 
 
 aims" had ascended to that 
 
 ley Hvo Were termed atid reckoned 
 
 l)air of f)-ieiids. Tilurius in a lett 
 
 II 
 
 or to him saith 
 
 I'o \n-i,^ amiciiia nostra iioii occuhaxi 
 
 an 
 
 d th 
 
 whole -nate dedicated an altar t.» friendship, as to a 
 .srod.less. ni rosoect of the -nMl dearnoss cjf iriond^hir, 
 
 i.-,!,etueen them two. The like or more was between 
 N'pi minis Sevoius^ ami PJautiamis.^ For ho forced 
 his oldest son to marry the daiiuhtor of IMautiamis 
 and would ofien mainlain Plautiamis in (hunj; affronts 
 to his son; and did write also in a lot lor to I he sonat<' 
 
 L'ohy those words: " | lov,. the man so well as I wish ho 
 may over-live nie. " \ow. if tlu^so princes ha.l boon 
 as a Trajan, == or a Marcus Aurolius.-^ a man miirjit have 
 ^'^"»'-'" l''-" '!'i^ i'a<i in-ocoodod of an abundant 
 A-oodn(-^ Ml n.-.(ure; but boin^r xno^^ so wise, of such 
 
 25stron-th and srveniy o\ n.in<l, and so .'xiremo lovers 
 ''] themselves, as .all thcM wore, il proveih most 
 plainly thai they foun.i their own fv>li(ifv, thou^di 
 as ^n-oat as ever hapi)oned i., mortal men." but as u 
 half-pie.'o. exc<>pt they moi|o|,i have a friend to make 
 :«iMt entire. And yet, which is more, they were princes 
 
 EH 
 
ESSAYS Oh (Ol \ShLS r/yil. .(.V/> MOHAI. 0'? 
 
 () 
 
 wliidi IkhI wives, sons, ncphows : and \v\ all ! iu\«>o 
 could not suj^ply tho conifori of IriiMidship. 
 
 It is not to be foriiottfMi what CotniiuMis^ ol)sorvetli 
 f his first niaslcr, I )ukc Charh s the Hardy°; namely, 
 that ho wouIjI conirnnnicatr liis sccrots with none, and 5 
 least of all those s(>('r(»ts wliicli 1n)ul)led him most. 
 \Vhereup<Mi \\v *i:oeth on, and saith tiiat towards iiis 
 latter tiin(> "that closeness did inipaii", and a little 
 rish his iinderstandinij. "" Surelv Cotnineiis mon«;ht 
 
 pe 
 
 have made the same judgment also, if it had ])leased i<i 
 liim. of liis second master, Louis \I., whose closeness 
 was indeed his tormentor. The parable of Pythag- 
 
 oras 
 
 is dark but tru(> 
 
 Cor ne eiiito," eat not 
 
 the heart. Certainly, if a man would give it a hard 
 phrase, those thai want frion<ls to open themselve.s is 
 unto are cannibals of llu'ir own hearts. J-iut one 
 riling is most admirable" (wherewith I will conclude 
 this first-fruit of fricMidshi})), which is. tiiat this 
 
 ro 
 
 mmunicating of a man's self to iiis friend \\i)Y\ 
 
 1N..S 
 
 iwo contrary effects: for it redenibleth joys, and 2i) 
 cuttetii griefs in lialves. For there is no man that 
 imparteth his joys to his friend, but he joy(>lh the 
 more; and no man that im))aneth his griets to liiri 
 friend, but he griexctli the l<^s>. So tiiat it is. in 
 
 1. of Hke virtue _'."! 
 as I lie alchemists used to attribute to their stone for 
 man's Ixnly, that it worketh all contrar\ elfects, but 
 still to the good and benefit of nature. But yet, 
 without praying \n aid'^ of alchemists, there is a 
 uiatiifest imaue of tlii> in the ordinarv course of nature, w 
 
 truth, of o])eration upon a man s mine 
 
 m 
 
94 J'JSSAYS OH fof XSKLS < IVlf. AS 
 
 l> MOR.tL 
 
 For ill Ixulics. uiiion str(Mi«illi(Mi('(li ;uul clicrislictli 
 any natural action, and, on tlic otlicr side, wcaivonotli 
 and dulicfli anv viol(>rit ini|)r(\ssion : and won so i.s 
 
 it of 
 Tl 
 
 mind.* 
 
 ic second fruit of fricndsliip is licaltliful and 
 
 sovcr('i<i;n for flic undcrs(;indini.' 
 
 til 
 
 fair d; 
 
 as I he first is for 
 ccMions. l-'or friciidshii) makctli indc(>d m 
 i\ in flic affect i(tns from storm and tempest; 
 
 aft 
 
 l)Ut it niaUeth dayli<iiit in liic nuder.^tandin^- out '.I' 
 10 darkness and <'onfusi<Mi of lli(.imlits. Xeidicr is 
 tiiis to I.C understood only of faithful counsel, which 
 a man rec(>iveth from his fri.-nd ; l.iit before von (•(.inr 
 to that, certain it is. that whosoever hath 'his nmid 
 irauuht with many thou'iiiis. his wits and under- 
 ir.standiji»: do clarify and break up in the cornmunicatiii- 
 and disc(.ursin,u- with another: he tosseth his thoughts 
 more easily, he marshallelh them more orderly, he 
 seeth how I hex look when they are turned into words; 
 finally, he wa\<-th wi,ser than himself, und that more 
 20 by an hour's di>eourse than by a day's meditation. 
 Ij was well said by Tliemistocles° to f!„> Kin^- of 
 I'ersia, -That sjx-ech was like cloth of Arras. ° opened 
 a"(l ))ut abroad, ' whereby the imaiicrv doth a|)pear 
 111 h^ure; whereas in ihoii-hts they' lie but as in 
 -'.".packs." Xeiiher h this s(>cond Iniit of friendship 
 1" openin- th(. nnd<'rstandin-. restrained onlv u\ 
 such iriend< as are abl(> t,, j-ive a man counsel: 'they 
 ""l';''l are best, but even without that, a man learnet'h 
 ol hmisell, an.l bruiiicih liis own thoughts to li^ht . and 
 :*)wlietteth his wits as against a stone, whidi itself 
 
ASSAYS an COIXSKLS ClVll. ASI> MOILM. 
 
 cuts not. Ill a word, a man were hcttcr iclatc liim- 
 .■^■•It" to a stauia° or {)i('turo, than to sntTer his tliou^hts 
 
 thcr, 
 
 Id pass in snio 
 
 A<1(1 now. lo make this second friiit of fri(Mi(lsliip 
 (•(•niplctc. tliat otlicr point wliicli licth nioic open, 5 
 ;in<l failcth witliin vuliiar observation: wliicii is 
 laitht'nl counsel from a friend. Herachtus"^ sailh 
 
 well 
 best. 
 
 rei'i 
 
 111 one of his enijimas, "Dry' hiilit is ev<'r the 
 " And certain it is. tiiat tlie huht that a man 
 iv(>th by counsel from another is drier and jHirerlo 
 
 ihaii that which conieth from his own undeiMandiiiii 
 
 aiH 
 
 III 
 
 I jud 
 
 iinienl 
 
 w 
 
 hicii is ever infused and drenched 
 
 his affections and customs. So as there is as much 
 ,'ifti'reiic(> belwecMi the (ounscl that a frieii i uiveth. 
 and that a man ^i\(>th himself, as there is betw(>en i.-^ 
 the counsel of a friend and of i\ flattei'er. I'or there 
 i< no such liatterer as is a man's self; and th(>r(> is 
 IH» such remedy auainst flattery of a mans sell as 
 the liberty of a friend. Counsel is of two sorts: 
 the one conc(>rnini: niamu rs, '^l e other concern i i i,u -i) 
 business. For the first, ibe |.est ))reservative to 
 keep the mind in health is the '"aithful admonition of 
 a friend. 1'he caliin,i»; of a man's self to a strict aci'ount 
 is a nu'dicine soPiotime too piercin<i; and coi-rosive. 
 KeadiiiiJ' liood books of morality is a little flat"^ and ri 
 (lead. ()bservin«i; )ur faults hi others is sometinic^s 
 unproper for .)ur case, liul the best recei|)t (best, 
 1 sa>-, to work, and best lo take) is the admonition 
 of a fi'iend. It is a strauj»;e thiny; to beholil what 
 ::foss errors and e\tr( nie absurdities many, espe-;iO 
 
ix; KSSAYs ni: inrxsr.i.s civij, .iv/> vo/ma 
 
 cially of the <iiv;tf<'r .sort, do coinniii I'or w;i!i( of a 
 friend to tell iiu>m of thnii; to the -roat chui.a-,. 
 botii of their fninc atul foriuiK'. For. .-is St. .Iainc< 
 saith. they a.v as men -that lo.,k so.,u'time.i ir.t.. 
 ..a Mia.-,-, ami f.rescutly for-ici their own shape aii<i 
 tavour." .Vs for i)iisiness. u man niav tiii.ik if he 
 Will that two eyrs s(r no in()r(> than one; or thai 
 a jraniosfor scefh always luori- than a lo..kcr-,.n : 
 "I- that a man in an«'er is as wi.s,. as he that halt: 
 10 -aid over ih." four-and-PA(.nt v letters; ,,r that •. 
 innsket may l.o sho' r,!r as U(>1I upon thr arm as ufx..'. 
 a rest; and such other fond ' an<l liiuh unapnations 
 to t'nnk hniLsclf all in all. P,ut wl,.-u all i- do„o.- 
 tiie helpofpH,,i .-onnsr.! is ifiat wiiich settct'i !)usin».sv 
 I.-istraijrht. .And if any man thmi< that he uill take 
 <'ouns,>l. hut it shall !.(• l>v pirc-s; askin- eouns, I 
 m one l.-ism.-.s ot one man. and in another business 
 "^ ■•"">lii.-r irian- ;- is well (that i. to sav, belter 
 !"'Hiaps than .f he aske.l ,„,ne at al!). hut he rum.eth 
 •-''•fwo danuers. One. ihat he <hall i.ot i.e fait hfitih.- 
 eoun<ell..:i: r..r ii ,. a lare i hmi;;, ex.-rpi i, i„. |,.,„„ .^ 
 p^-rt(vt arnl ,-.en-e luend. to l.ave r unsel uiv(.„, but 
 siu-h as Mnill i- bnvM.d and cnxtkci n, snruc eed- 
 '^"'^•^' J'*' ''fJ' (';'• -'ix.'h i!. Ti:. oiher ,},.,, ;„. 
 as^shall hav. .Mm;>.-| ^. .„. nurtf,;i a:. nr,.afe. thou-i> 
 With -ond meam.-. ; ! ,, ,m ,,;,,.,;, oi .lis.-hi,!' and 
 imrtlv of :vm.,l; V. a- i y(. , w«*ilo eall a phvsi- 
 eian that is tliou^iln iiood i,,r th»- pj^- -f the disease 
 yo'i eoniplaiii of, but is imae.p.^.nted ^ \\u ^.wn-iKKf- • 
 ;«)and therefore may ])ut you in way for a pi< s.-m cure 
 
ESSAWS OH iOC.XSh'LS (JIVIL AXU MnRAL 97 
 
 out •)V(-riiir')\v('tli your lu-alili i?i .some other kind, 
 ,iti(l s.) cure t!i«' disease and kill the patieiit.° But 
 [[ t'ri(Mid that is wlioliy a('(|i:aiiit(Ml with a luau's 
 esiatt will l>e\vare by furt liei'iiii! ;iiiv pi"cs(Mit l)Usines-< 
 I'ow iic daslieth upon othei' iiicouNciiicncc. And. 
 tin restore, rest not nj)on scattfred < .(Um-cIn^ ; i hev 
 will rather distraet and mislead than settle and 
 
 )eaeo 
 
 dii'ect . 
 
 At'ter tlu'sc two noble unit- oi' iVieud- .,p ({ 
 i" th<' al'lect io/;^. aiid sujuioi-f i,f t h(> jud;:nient) ifl 
 !. >iloweth the la.^t t'rnit. whicji is like tln^ pomegranate, 
 mil of inan\ k( rfiej-: J mean ai ;, ai.d i)earin,ii" a part 
 ,;i all aeli'.nis and occ-isioe - jiei-e, iIk best wav 
 !o icpreseiit lo iil'e the t;ia!iiiol(i use «'t' friendship, 
 is t»» •■ ast .itid >ee h'.w Uiaii' (iii; _>■ th.''-(> ;i|-(. whieii i.'i 
 a man eatmo! d<, hiiii.-eif; junl then ii v !:i .ippeai" that 
 ii was a >parmu -peech of the ancle-. j^ \ ■, say. "That 
 a friend i- another mieself;* \'.<\ iha' a friend is 
 far more than him-elf. Men h:i\( iheir ;ime.° and 
 (i;e ma!!\ ii)ues in ''e-sre ot son , 'mti'.-^ v\ incn the\'i(} 
 pniicip»;dl\' lalu' to i.ia't. ti* be-towim of a child, 
 the hnishinj ^^\ a wttriN, or tin iil.f . if ,! man ha\'e a 
 M'ue ti'iend. he may n ■-: almosi .-ecnti i-iat : Ik^ care 
 (.f those thin^- will eonti. ue afier 'pm. So that a 
 eiiin hatti, as it v\<'i'e, two \]\i-< m hi- desires. A man •_>;■) 
 hath a bod\ . and 'hal l-oiiy is ctnihned to a })lace; 
 ImU where friendship is. all oilii (>s of life ;ir< , as it wore. 
 urati'ed \i> him and his deputy, lor h(^ xwnx exercise 
 iliem b\ his friend. How man\ ihinus are there 
 vhich a man c;tmieit. \>'ith an\ face or coa^ Ijne.ss, :;<. 
 
98 KSSAYS OR ( <)( SSKLti CIVIL AMt MORAL 
 
 sny or do himself ! A man can scarce all(>,i,^e° liis own 
 
 n)erits with modesty, much less extol them: a man 
 
 cannot r »metimes I. rook to supplicate oi- i)e<i-; and a 
 
 nutnher of the Hke. But all these rhin^^s are ^racefu' 
 
 5 in a friend's mouth, which iuv l)lushin<i; in a man's 
 
 own. So a,i!;aiii. a man's person hath many i)roper° 
 
 relations which he cannot put off. A man cannot 
 
 speak to his sou, i)ut as a fa'.:, /; to his wife hut as a 
 
 husband; to his enemy hut .\[.h\ terms°; whereas a 
 
 10 friend ma\ speak as the case re(juires, and not as it 
 
 Korteth with the person. Hut to enumerate these 
 
 thin<is were endless. 1 have ,i;iven the rule where a 
 
 man camiot Htly play his own part°: if he have not 
 
 a fricntl, he may quit the stage. 
 
 XXVni. OF EXPENSE 
 
 15 Riches are for spending', and spendin«2:° for honour 
 and good actions. Therefore cxtraordinarv expense 
 must j)e limited by tlic worth of the occasion; for 
 voluntary undoing° may be as well for a man's country 
 as for the kingdom of heaven. But ordinarv expense 
 
 -'<)(.ught to bo limit(>d by a man's estate, andgoverned 
 with such regard as it be within his compass, and not 
 subj. ct to d(>ceit and abu.se of servants.^ an<l ordered 
 to the best sh(Av, that the bills mav be less than the 
 •'Stimaiion abnvid. ( Vrtainly. if a man will keep 
 
 •j.-but ot excii IuhmI. hi- ordin.ary expenses ought to be 
 i'Hf lo the half of his receipts; and if he'think to 
 
J-:SSAYS OR CorXS.F.LS CIVIL AX It MORAL 
 
 90 
 
 \\;i\ licli, l)Ul {() the lliir.l piirt. It is no hascnoss for 
 I Ik' frf(vil(>st to (l(>s( t'nd and l)ok into tlicirown estate. 
 Some forl-"ar il not upon ne^lijz;enee alone, but 
 .loiil)tin,u;'^ to hrin^ tlietnselves into inelanelioly, in 
 r<'S|)eet they 
 
 Oiall find it broken. Hut wounds r. 
 cannot l)e cured witliout searcliiui;. He tliat eaiuiot 
 look into his own estate at all had need both choose 
 well tluKse whom he e)nploy(>th, and ch*»nji;e them 
 ot'tcii; for new are more timorous aiai less subtle. 
 He that can look into his estate but seldom, it be- m 
 hoveth him to turn, all to certainties. ° A man had 
 
 nec( 
 
 I. if 
 
 plentiful in some kind of exjxMise 
 
 to be as savinti a.iiain in some other: as if he be plenti- 
 ful i' diet, to b(> sa\in,ir in a|»parel; if he be plentiful 
 in I he hall," to be savin'.;; in the stable; ami the like, i: 
 I'or he iliai is ))lentiful in expcMises of all kinds will 
 hardly l)e preserxcd froni decay. In clearing of a 
 man's estate, he ma\- as \\cl!° hiu't himself in bein^ 
 too sudden, as in leftiuii; it run on too Ion*!;; for hasty 
 
 ellinii' is conuno 
 
 nlv 
 
 disadvantajceable as interest. •_»(> 
 
 Besides, he tluit clears at once will relapse, for finding 
 
 himselt out of straits i»e will revei 
 
 t !(• 1 
 
 us customs 
 
 but he that cleareth by defirees induceth a habit of 
 fru^ali'v, and «iaineTh as well upon his mind as upon 
 his "Si;,,{'. fertaiidy. w ho hath a state to repair may 
 
 not despise small tluiiiis; and commonly it is less 
 /■-hi^noi- .ible t(> abr lu'e petty chariies than to stooj) 
 
 A man oujiht warily to befjin 
 bc'iun, will contiiiu(>; l)ut in 
 
 t(. 
 
 I' 
 •iiari:' 
 
 (\ '.:el I i;ilis. 
 
 wni. 
 
 I, 
 
 w!U'( 
 
 \i,i that iciurn .lot. he mav be more mauiiificeni . ;'.«; 
 
 itil^^i^'iaA.fii 
 
loo 
 
 J-JSSAYS on r(j( \SKLS rniL AMI MORAL 
 
 XXIX. OF THE TRUE GREATNESS OF 
 KINGDOMS AND ESTATICS 
 
 The spoocli of Tliomistoclos,^ the Atl 
 was hauj^^hty and arrogant in tak 
 
 le 
 
 himself, had I 
 
 man 
 ing so miK 
 
 wliifh 
 h t 
 
 o 
 
 )( 
 
 'cn a snivc and wise ohsorvation and 
 censurr',° applied at iai^e to others. Desired at a 
 5 least to toueh a lute, lie said he rmld not fiddle 
 l)iit yet lie eouKl mak( 
 
 Tliesc words, holpen^ a little witi 
 
 I small town a iz\ 
 
 ■e:i! eitv 
 
 1 a nieta})lior.'^ mav 
 
 express two differini? ahilitio^ in those that deal 
 
 )usiness of estate. For if a t 
 
 HI 
 
 n 
 
 10 couiisellors and stat(^snion \ I 
 
 i{> survey be taken of 
 
 lere may bo found, t houKh 
 rarely, those wluch r-aii make a small state ^r,-oat and 
 yet cannot hd.ll..; as. on the other side, there will be 
 
 die verv eunninjrlv. 
 
 found a ^reat manv that can hd 
 
 !)ut 
 
 yet are so far from IxMujr able to mal 
 
 r.state ^reat. as their o:iit^ lidh th<. oth 
 
 nake a small 
 
 1)1 
 
 ni^ a gr-at and fiourishins estate t 
 And ecrtainlv th»-(> 
 
 lor wav 
 
 to 
 
 o ruin and decav. 
 generate arts and shifts, 
 uherebv manx counsellors and ffovornors oaiu both 
 tavour with luoir masters and estimation wiUi the 
 
 •-'ovul^rar, des-r/e no better name than fiddling: beinir 
 t u!ius rather pleasin^r for the time, and graceful to 
 themscues only, than ten<Iin^ to the weal and ad- 
 vancement of the state which thev serve. There 
 are, also, no doubi. counsellors and ^rovernors which 
 
 'r, may be held sufficient, iiiyotiis pnrca^ able to mana^e° 
 ahan-s. and to keep them fr(mi precipices and manifest 
 
 - 
 
KSSAYS OH ((USSKLS (IMI. .\M> MOHM. 101 
 
 iii!H«n\(*iiH'iU'e!s: w 
 
 hid 
 
 I. lU'Vt'I 
 
 tl!cl 
 
 t'SJ 
 
 Mif fjir iwiux 
 
 ihc ability to raise aiul auii>lify an estate in |H)\vor. 
 means, ami fortune. But l>e th(> woiknien what they 
 
 ti 
 
 lav be, let us ^peak of t!ie \v< 
 
 )ik: tiuit IS. the true 
 
 mcainess of kiu^th)Uis ami e,~ttites. ami the uieai 
 llieivof; an arjrujuent^ lit lor jireat and mighty 
 itiinees to have in their hand, to the end that neither 
 asurin.t!; their forces they lose tlieniseKcs 
 terprises; nor. on the other side. l»y undor- 
 
 \i^:* 
 
 i)V over-mt 
 
 • n vain <'nl 
 
 valuinir them, they deseend to fearful and pusillani- m 
 .nous (\)Unsels. 
 
 The ^ii-eatness of an estate in l)ulk uud territory 
 -loth fall under" measure; and the <>reati.ess (.f 
 tinanees and revenue tloth fall under compulation. 
 The population may ajjpear by musters; and lliei:> 
 number and j^reatness of cities and towns by cirtls" 
 and mai)s. P>ut yet there is not anythinn' amongst 
 civil alfairs more subjj'ct to error, than the ri,-;ht 
 valuation and true judgment concerning the [)<;\ver 
 :md fo'-ces of an estate. The kingdom of heaven i!t» 
 •s compared, not to any great ktniiel or nut. but to 
 a grain of mustard-scctP; wiiich is one of the k-ast 
 grains, but hath in il a pn«perty and spirit hastily 
 to get up and spread. So are there states great in 
 territory, and yet not apt !'• enlarge or command;--':, 
 ami some that have but a small dimension oi stem, 
 and yet apt to be the foundations of great monarchies. 
 Walled towns, stored arsenals and armouries, gocKlly 
 races of horse, chariots of war, ek phants, orilnaiue, 
 artillery, antl the like: all this is b'tt a sheep in aau 
 
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 A'.S'.S'.n.S <,U CO/XShLS ( IVIL AM> M(,Ii.\I. 
 
 lion's skill, oxcopt tli(> l)ivo(l and disposition of the 
 people he stout° and ^va^lik(^ \av. muiiher \xMi 
 \u armies, importeili not inuelMvheiv the people is of 
 weak courao-e; for. as Vii-iP saith. it never trouhk^s 
 oa woli hoxv many tlie sheep he. The armv (,f the 
 lersians, in the plains of Arh,>la,° was such a vast 
 sea of i)(H)ple as it did somewhat astonish tlu^ com- 
 manders m Alexand(>r-sO army; who eame to him 
 therefore, and wished him t(» set ujx.n them hv pioht • 
 lohiit he answered, he woiikl not pilfer the vietor>- • 
 and the defeat was easy. Whe,, Tioranc^s.- tJie 
 Armenian, hem- encamped iipo„ a hill with four 
 hundred thoiisan<l men. discovered the armv of th<. 
 iiomans. hem- not ahov(. h.urtcen thousand." march- 
 iMnfr towards him. he mad(> himself merrv with i, 
 and said, "Yonder men are too manv for an am- 
 hassa^re. and too few for a fi-ht. " ]^„t hefo.v the sun 
 sot he lound them enouoh to -ive him th,' chase with 
 inhnite slauo-hter. Many are tli(. (examples of the 
 20Kreat odds hetween numher and coura-e- s,, that a 
 »ian may truly make a judunient. that the principal 
 P()int oi ^rreatness in any state is to hav(> a rac^.f 
 mihtary men. \eith(>r is nionev the sinews of wu- 
 as It IS trivially °sai„, where the sirunvs of men's arms' 
 iv. in base and effeminate people, atv lailinii-; for Solon ^ 
 said well to C'nesus.- wIumi in ostentation he showed 
 nm his gokl: ''Sir, if any other com,> that hath 
 he ter iron than you. h(. will he master of all this 
 MoM. rheretore let any prince or state think 
 .^•soherly ol Ins forces, except his militia of natives 
 
ESSAYS Oil' rorXS'A'A.S (717/. .1A7> Ml Hi. \ I. I<»:> 
 
 !)(> of <ioo(l and valiant soldiers. And lot princes. 
 oil the other side, that hav«^ snl)j(M'ts of martial 
 disposition, know their own str(Mi<i;I., unless thev° 
 ■ (• otherwise wantinii unto tiienis(»lv(>s. As for 
 1' d'cenarv forces, which is the h(>l'> in this case","' 
 ;:ll (>\aniples show that whatso<>ver estate or ))rince 
 doth rest u|)on them, he ma.\" spread his feathers 
 ior a lime, hut he will inew'^ them soon after. 
 
 The hlessinji of Jiidah and Issachar'^ will nev(T 
 meet, that the sanu* j>(>o})l(> or nati(»n should he both m 
 the lion's whelp and the ass het W(mmi hurdens . neither 
 will it he, tliat a people overlaid with taxes >hould 
 vwv heconie valiant and martial. It is true that 
 !;i\(>s le\ied hy consent of the estate do ahate men's 
 courage less; as it hath l>e<Mi seen notahlx' ui the e\- to 
 cises° of the Low Countries, and, in some decree, in 
 the subsidies^ of i'Ji<iiand. l''or you must notiMhat 
 we speak now of the heart, and not of the purse. 
 So that, althouiih the same tribute and tax, laid by 
 consent or by imposin<i;. be all one to the purse. y(>t it li) 
 works diversely upon the coura«ie. So that you may 
 conclud(> that no people overcharged with tiibute 
 is lit for empire. 
 
 i.et states that aim at greatness tak(> heed how their 
 nobility and gentlemen' di multij-ly too fast: for _'."i 
 ihat maketh the coimnon subject grow to be a i)easant 
 and b;ise swain, driven ( ut of heart, and in effect hut 
 tiie gentleman's labourer. l"]veii as you may see in 
 co|)|)ice'^ woods, if you leav(> your stad(lles° too thick 
 \i)U shall never have clean underwood, but shrubs :w 
 
104 
 
 ESSAYS OR ('OljySKLS ClVlh AM) MORAL 
 
 and busht's. S(> in count rios. if the gontlenion bo 
 too many tlie )mmons will bo baso; ami von will 
 l)ring it to that, that not tlu^ hnndml jk)!!^"^" will b(> 
 fit for an holniet; (>spooialiy as to tho infantry, 
 5 which is the norvo of an army: and so thoro will bo 
 great population, and little strength. This which 1 
 speak of hath bee?i nowhere better seen than by 
 comj)aring- of England and France: whereof England, 
 though far less in territory and population, hat li 
 
 10 been, nevertheless, an overmatch; m regard"" the 
 middle people of England make good soldicTs, which 
 the peasants of France do not. And herein the device 
 of King Henry VII. (whereof I haAe sj^oken largel}- 
 m the history of his life) was profound and admirable; 
 
 15 m making farms, and houses of ausbandry, of a stand- 
 ard: that is, maintained with such a ])roportion of 
 land unto them, as may breed a subject to live in 
 convenient plenty, and no servile condition; and to 
 keep tho plough in the hands of the owners, and not 
 20 mere hirelings. And thus indeed you shall attain 
 to \ n-gil's character, which he gives to ancient Italy: 
 
 "Terra" potrns .-irmis, at(]ue ubere glebr." 
 
 Neither is that state (which, for anvthing 1 know, is 
 almost peculiar to England, and hardlv to be found 
 -'..anywhere else, except it be. perhaps, in Poland) to 
 be passofl ov(>r: I mean the state of free servants and 
 attendants upon noblonion and gentlemen; which are 
 now^ays inferior unto the yeomaiir\- for arms. And 
 liierefore, out of all questi. .,, tho splendour and 
 
EUSAYS OH I orSSF.LS CIVIL A XI) M<tRAl 105 
 
 ^KW 
 
 magnificence, and i;reat retinues, and iiosj)itaiity of 
 noblemen and gentlemen, received into custom, doth 
 much conduce unto martial greatness; wliereas, con- 
 trariwise, the close and reserved living of noblemen 
 and gentlemen causeth a penury of military forc(>s. 3 
 
 By all means it is to be procured that the trunk 
 of Nebuchadnezzar's tree° of monarchy be gn^at 
 tiiough to bear the branches and the boughs; tliat is, 
 iliat the natural subjects of the crown or state b(\Mr 
 a sutlicient proportion to tlie stranger subjects lliaf lo 
 I hey govern. Therefore all states that are liberal 
 of naturalization towards strangers are fit for (Mnpire. 
 For to think that an handful of p("oi)le can, with the 
 greatest courage and policy in tiie world, (>mbracc 
 too largo extent of dominion, - it may hold for a 15 
 time, but it will fail suddenly. The Spartjms were a 
 nice° people in point of naturalization: whereby, 
 while they kept their compass-, they stcKul firm; but 
 A\ <'n they did s])read, and their boughs weiv ))rcomen° 
 too great for their stem, they became a windfall upon I'O 
 the sudden. Ni^v^-r any state was, in this jxtiut, so 
 open to receive strangers into their body as W(M-e the 
 Romans; therefore it sorted° with them accordingly, 
 for they grew to the greatest monarchy. Their 
 maimer was to grant naturalization, whi(h they called 83 
 "jus civitatis,''° and to grant it in the highest degree: 
 that is, not only "jus conmiercii,° jus connubii, jiis 
 liereditatis," but also "jus suffragii,"" and "jus 
 hononun";° and this not to singular° persons alone, 
 but likewise to whole families, yea, to cities, and ai) 
 
100 ESSAYS Oh' ('o(xs::ls chil Axn mohai. 
 
 soiuct lilies to luuions. Add to this tlicir (Mi.-toni 
 of ))lant;itioi! (»f colonics. " wlicrcbv the Koinaii plant 
 was rer.ov(>d into the soil of otluM- nations; and 
 piittin.ij both constitutions" toucther, you will sa\- 
 nthat it was not the Romans that spread upon the 
 world, but it was the world that spread upon the 
 Honiaiis; and that was {\\o sure way of iireatness. 
 1 have marvelled sometimes at Spain, iiow they 
 fiasp and contain so larjic dominions, with so hnv 
 10 natural Spaniards; hut sur(\ the whole compass of 
 Spain is a very ^reat body of a tree. ° far above Home 
 and Sparta at the first. And, l)esid(>s, thoujrh th(>y 
 have not had that usa.uc to naturaliz(> liberally, yet 
 they have that which is next to it : that is. to employ, 
 ir. almost indifferently, all nations in their militia of or- 
 dinary soldiers, \i\\ and sometimes in their hiiihest 
 commands. Xay. it seemeth at this instant lliev are 
 sensible of this want of natives; as bv the JVau- 
 matical Sanction. ° now published. ap|)eai-eth. 
 •-H> It is certain that sedentary and within-door arts, 
 and delicate manut;:,'t ures thai re(|uire rather the 
 hn^er than the arm. have in their na.rure a contrarietx 
 lo a military disposition. And ^-enerally all warlike 
 people are a little idle, and Iov(> danu'er better than 
 LT. travail; neither must tli(>y Uv loo much broken ef it. 
 if they shall be preserved in xi^our. Then'fore it was 
 Kreat advanta<ie° in the ancient states of Sparta. 
 Athen.«, Rome, and otliers, that tliey iiad the use of 
 slaves, which commonly did rid'' tlio.se manufactures; 
 .•«>l)ut that is ab .lished, in greatest part, by the Christian 
 
J-:SSAYS OR COIXSKLS < IVII. AND MuRM 107 
 
 iP«i 
 
 i:i\v. That which coiiioth iH'arcst lo it, is to leave 
 those arts chiefly to stfantiers (which for that purpose 
 •ire the more easily to be receive(l), ami to contain 
 ihe jH-incipal bulk of the vulvar tiatives within 
 those three kinds: tillers of tlie <iroun<l. iVee ser-.") 
 vants, and handicraftsmen of stroniv and manl>- arts, 
 as smiths, masons, carpenters, etc.; not reckoning 
 professed soldiers. 
 
 Hut above all, for emj)ire and ureatness. it im- 
 porteth most thai a nation do profess arms as their to 
 l)riucipal honour, snidy, and occupation. For the 
 ihin<is which we f(<. merly have spokcMi of are but 
 habilitations° towards arms, and wiiat is habilitation 
 without intention and act? Romulus. ° after his 
 death, as they report or fei<>ii. sent a present" to their* 
 Romans, that :ib..ve all they shouUl intend° arms; 
 and then they should prove the jxreatest empire of 
 the world. The fabric of the state of Sparta was 
 wholly, though not wisely, framed and composed 
 to that scoi)e° and end. The Tersians and Mace--'0 
 donians had it for a flash. ° The Cauls, (iermans, 
 (loths, Saxons. Xormans. and others, had it for a 
 time. The Turks have it at this day. thouji' i in ^reat 
 (feclination.° Of Christian JMuope, they that have 
 It are in effect only the Spaniards. But it is sf) i)lain'J.-. 
 that every ma» jM'oliteth in that he most intendeth, 
 that it needeth not to be stood ui)on.° It is enough 
 to point at it, that no nation which doth not directly 
 profess arms may look to have jrreatness fall into 
 their° mouths. And on the other side, it is a most^fl 
 
los 
 
 KSSAYS on rocxsKLS ( n//. AXJf MORAL 
 
 rertaiii oracle ol" linie^ that those stat(\s tliat ronfiniir 
 lon«!: in that profossion. as fh(> Romans and Turks 
 priticipahy have done, do wonders; and those that 
 have professed arms hut forana^e have, notwithstand- 
 r)in<r, ronunonly attained that fjreatness in that a<re. 
 whieh maintained tiiem lon^^ after, when tiieir jm;- 
 fession ;uid exercise of arms hath orowr. to decay. 
 
 Incident to this point is for a stale to have tJiose 
 laws or customs which may reach forth unto tliem 
 10 just occasions, as may he f)retf>nded,=' of war; for 
 there is tiiat justice imprinted in the nature of men 
 that they (MUer not upon wars, whereof .so many 
 calamities (h> ensue, hut upon sotne. at th(> least, 
 specions. "rrounds and (piarrels.^ The Turk hath at 
 l.-.hand. for cause of war. \\\o propa^jation of jiis law 
 or sect, — a (juarrel that he may always command. 
 The Romans. thou£ih tluy esteemed the extendin.ii 
 the limits of their emj)ire to he iireat honour to their 
 ^^enerals when it was done, yet they never rested 
 '-'ouj)on that alone to heiiii, ,., yvar. Tirst. therefore. 
 let n.Mtions that pretend to .greatness have this, ihat 
 thev 1,(> s(M,sihIo of wrongs, either upon borderers, 
 merchants, or politic ministers; and that liiey si- 
 not too lono- upon a provocation. Secondly, iei 
 2.- them be prest° and ready to uive aids and succours 
 to their confederates. ° as it ever was with t he Romans ; 
 insomuch as. if the confederate had lea.irnf^s defensive 
 with (livers other states, and upon invasicm offered 
 did imj)lore their aids severally, vel the Romans 
 ;^) woukl ever be the fort-most, and leave it to none other 
 

 to havo the lionoiii-. As for tho wars which were 
 imeicntly maclr on thr bohaH" of a kind of party, or 
 tacit conformity of estate.^ I do not see how tliey 
 iiiay he well justilio(l: as wlu n tiic Romans made a 
 war for tlie lil)( rty of (Ira'cia: or wiien the J.nce-5 
 (la-monians and Athenians made wars to set up or 
 pull down democr'\cies and olijiarchies; or when 
 wars were made hv loreiirners. imder the pretence 
 of justice or pr* - to deliver the subjects of 
 
 others from tyr. .d oj)pression; and thr like, ui 
 
 Let it suffice that nt <siate exjH'ct (o be ^reat, that is 
 not awake upon any just occasion of arminij:. 
 
 Xo bodv can be iiealthfui without exercise, neither 
 natural body nor j)olitic°; and certairdy, toakin«z;dom 
 or estate, a just and honourable war is the true ir. 
 exercise. A civil war. indeed, is like the heat of a 
 fever; but a foreign war is like the heat of exercise, 
 and ser\eth to keep the body in health; for in a 
 -lothful [)eace l)oth c()ura,ii;es will etfeminate° and 
 manners corrupt. Hut howsoever it be for happiness, -3) 
 without all (piestion for <rreatness, it maketh to be 
 >tiiP for the most part in arms: and the strength of 
 a Ncteran arm\ (thouuh it be a char<2;eable° l)usines.s) 
 always on f(*ot, is that which commonly Jiiveth the 
 lavv,° or at least the reputation amongst all neij^'hbour i.*,-) 
 staters; as may well l)e seen in Spain, which hath had 
 i!i one part or otlier a Vetera*' army almost ':'ontinually 
 now by the space of six-score years. 
 
 To be master of the sea is an abridfi;ment of a 
 uionarch}-.'' (Mcero,'' writing to Anicus"" of I'onipey" ;«i 
 
110 
 
 h-SSAYS (,li ( Of XShLS CIVIL AND MORAL 
 
 Ills })iv|);ii-afi()ii n^^•liMst (a'sar.° saith: "('()nsiliuni° 
 Ponipcii plane Tlicniistoclouiii ost ; jMitat eiiii i, qui 
 inari potitur. cum jvriuii potiri. " And without 
 doubt i^)nlp(•y had tired out ( a'sar, if upon vain 
 5 confidonce lie liad not left that way. We see the 
 ^n-eat elTects of battles by sea: tlie battle of Aetiuni^ 
 decided the empire of the world: the battle of Le- 
 panto^ arres.ed the ureatness of the Turk. Then- 
 be many examples where sea fights have been final 
 10 to the wat ^- but this is when prinees or states have 
 set up thrir rest° upon the battles. I^ut thus much 
 is certain, that he that "onunands the sea is at great 
 liberty, and may take a;, much and as little of the war 
 as he will^; whereas those that be strongest by land 
 1") are many tinu-s, nevertheless, in great straits. Surelv, 
 .'It this day. with us of Kuroi)e, the vantage of strength 
 at sea (which is one of the pri» ipal dowries of this 
 kingdom of Creat Hritain) is great: both because 
 most of the kingdoms of Kurope are not merely° 
 •-'() inland, but girt with the sea most part of their com- 
 pass; and because the wealth of both Indies seems, 
 in gr(>at part, but an accessary to the command of the 
 
 seas. 
 
 The wiirs of latter ages seem to be made in the dark 
 LTiin respect of the glory and honour which reflected 
 upon men from the wars in ancient time. There be 
 now tor martial encourageiuf^it some degrees and 
 orders of chividry, which, nevertheless, are conferred 
 promiscuously upon soldiers and no soldiers; and 
 30 some remembrance perhaps upon the scutcheon; and 
 
KssjYs OR (orys]:Ls rim. wn moral 111 
 
 im 
 
 some liospitals for inaimod soldicM's; nii<l siuli-Iikc 
 tliin*;s. But in ancioiit times the trophies creeled 
 upon the phwo of the victory; tiic ftiiierai laudalives 
 and inonunuMUs for those that died in the wars; 
 I he crowns aid ^arhuids p(>rsonal°; the style° of.", 
 cinpei.r, which the .ureat kin^s of the world after 
 liorrowed; the triumphs^ of tiie liciierals upon their 
 return; the ^reat donati\('s ami laru'esses ii|)oti the 
 (lisliandi!ii: of the armies. wvw thmus ahle to 
 iiifiame all men's coura.ires. lint, ahove all. that of m 
 ih(> triumph amonfjst th(» Romans was not i)a,iiea!its 
 or iiauderv,'^ hut one i,f the wisest and noblest 'nsti- 
 tutions that ever was. For it coiitained three thin<;s: 
 honour to the f»eneral. riches to the treasury out of 
 the spoils, and donatives to tiie army. But that i.'. 
 honour, perhaps, were not fit for monarchies, except 
 it be in the f.erson of the mona ."h himself, (»r his 
 sons; a;> it came to ])ass in th(> times of tlie lioman 
 emperors, who did imi)ropriate° the actual triumphs 
 to themselves and their sons, for such wars as they did •_>(» 
 aehieve in person; and left only, for wars achiev(Ml 
 by subjects, some triumphal «»{U"ments and ensi^nis'^ 
 to the general. 
 
 To conclude: no man ean by earo-takinp;, as the 
 Scripture" saith, add a eubit to his stature in this-_>.^, 
 little niodel° of a man's body; but in thejireat frame 
 of kinp;doms and commonwealths, it is i?) the power 
 of princes or estates to add am|)litude and greatness 
 to their kingdoms ; for by introducing such ordinances, 
 constitutions, and eustoms as we have mrv ^ouehed,;<»} 
 
112 KSSAYS Oh' ((/CXSKLS i HJL AM> MORAL 
 
 they may sow ;j:?-(':itnoss to their posterity and sur- 
 cession. But these 1 hiiifjs ar<> eommouiy not observed, 
 but left to take their chance. 
 
 \X\. OF I{K(;iMKXT OF HKAT.TH 
 
 Thehk is a wisdom in this beyonci the rnles of 
 ."•physic; a man's own observation, what he finds 
 uood of and what lie finds hurt of, is tiie best physic 
 to preserv(^ heahh. I^ut it is a safer conchision to 
 say, "This aiiivetli not well with me, therefore I wili 
 ?u)t continue it," than this. " I find no offence of this. 
 
 10 tJierefore 1 may use it." For strenstii of nature in 
 youth passetli over many excesses wjncli are owinp; a 
 man till his a^e. Discern of the coming on of years, 
 and think not to do the same things stilP; for aue 
 will not he defied.' Beware of sudden chan.i^e in 
 
 I.-. any great point of diet, and if necessity enforce it. 
 fit tlie rest to it; for it is a secret, botli in nature and 
 state, tnat it is safer to ciiange many tilings than 
 one.° Fxamine thy customs of diet, sleep, exercise, 
 apjiand. and tli(> like, and try in anything thou shalt 
 
 •-'<) judge liurtfui to discontinue it by little and little: 
 but so, as if thou dost find any inconvenience by the 
 change, thou come back to it again: for it is hard to 
 distinguish tliat which is generally held good and 
 whoj.'sonie, from that which is good particularly, ° 
 
 2.-. and fit for thine own bod;. To be free-minded and 
 cheerfull}' disposed at hours of meat ^nd of sleep and 
 
KHSAYS OH (OlSSKLS llVli. A Sit M'UAI. WW 
 
 1)1 exercise, is one of the ix'st |)re''e|)ts <•*" ,oti«»; lastin«i. 
 As for the passion-^ arid studies of the mind, avoid 
 viivy," anxious fears, an^er frettiiiii in\v;ii-ds, subtile 
 and knotty inquisitions, joys and accierations in 
 excess, sadness not eoinniunieateil. Knterlain 5 
 hopes; mirth rather than joy, variety of deh/^lits 
 rather than surf(>ii of them; \von<U'r and athnirallon. 
 ;iiid therefore novehies; studies that fill the mind 
 with splendid and illustrious ol>jeets. as histoii's. 
 I'ahles, and eontemplations of nature. If you i\ ;•' 
 [;hysie in health altouether. it will he too stranjic fo; 
 v(»ur l)ody when \ on shall need i(. If yt»u •; ake it 
 till) familiar, it will w )rk . ■ extraordinary effect 
 ,\ hen sickness comet h. I commend rather some diet- 
 lor certain seasons, than frequent u^e of physic, m 
 e\cept it be grown into a custom; foi" those vliets 
 liter the body mor(> and trouble it less. J)es|)ise no 
 new accident ° in your body, but ask opinion of it. 
 hi sickness resj)ect° health ptinci})ally, and in health 
 action°; for tho.se that put^ their bodies to endui'uo 
 in health may, in most sicknesses which iwv not very 
 siiar-,). be cured only with diet and temleriiig.^ Cel- 
 sus" could never have spoken it as a physician had he 
 not been a wise man withal, when he «iivelh it for one 
 of the great precepts of health and lasting that a man !.•.-> 
 do vary and interchange contraries; but with an in- 
 clination to the more benign extrem(». Use fastmg 
 and full eating, but rather full eating; watching aua 
 -leep, but rather sleep; sitting and exercise, but 
 rather exercise; and the like. So shall nature be;iu 
 
 *»; 
 
114 KssAYs Oh' <orxsi:LS civil and moral 
 
 c'hcrisliod, and yet taii,u;lil nui8tories.° I'liysicians 
 arc .some of them so pleasing^ and conformable to 
 the humour of the patient, as they press not the true 
 ciuv of the disease: and some other are so re«iuhir in 
 
 r. proceed in.tij accordin*;- to art"" for the disease, as tliey 
 resi)ect not sulficiently tiie condition of the {)atient. 
 Take on(> of a niid<lle temper, or if it may not be 
 foimd in one man. combine two of either sort; and 
 forjret not to call as \v(^ll the best accjuainted with 
 
 10 your body as the best rejnited of for his faculty. 
 
 XXXI. OF SUSPICION 
 
 Suspicions amongst thoughts are like bats amongst 
 birds. — they ever Hy by twilight. (Vrtainly they 
 are to be repressed, or. at the least, well guarded^; 
 f'.f they cloud the mind, they lose friends, and they 
 
 irn'lieck° with business, whereby business cannot go 
 on currently'' and constantly; they dispose kings to 
 tyranny, husbands to jealousy, wise men to irresolu- 
 tion and melancholy. They are defects not in the 
 h(>art,° but in the brain, for they take place in the 
 
 •JO stoutest ° natures; as in the example of Henry VIl. 
 of Kngland. — there w;is not a more suspicious man 
 nor a mon^ stout. And in such a com])osition° they 
 do small hurt, for commonly they are not admitteil 
 but witii examination, whether (hey be likely or no; 
 
 25 but in fearful natures th(\v gain ground too fast. 
 There is nothing makes a man suspect much, more 
 
]':SSA YS ()Ji CO 
 
 cySKLS CI ML AM> MOliAL IIT) 
 
 iliau 
 
 (M 
 
 vHoW 
 
 little: and. tlicrcforc. men should ivni- 
 Iv suspicion by procurinji to know more tiiid not 
 
 to !• 
 
 to keop tiu'ir suspicions m si 
 
 no 
 
 tlicr 
 
 W 
 
 Kit WOU 
 
 Id 
 
 men 
 
 l!'ivo°? 1)<» tlicv think tlmsc they eini)loy and 
 
 ileal with are sam 
 have tlieir own imu 
 
 ts? Do they not think they will 
 Is. and he truer to tluMiiselves than 
 
 to tliein? Therefore there is no better way to mod- 
 erate susjncions tiian to account upon such susj)-- 
 cions as true, and yet to bridle them as false; for so 
 far a man ou^ht to make use of suspicions, as to pro- 
 
 10 
 
 vide as if that shoukl l)e true that he suspects, yet it 
 may do him no hurt. 
 
 Suspicions that the • lind of itself gathers are but 
 buzzes°; but su>i)icions that are artilicially nour- 
 ished, and put into men's heads by the tales and whis- ir. 
 perings of others, hav(> stin«is. Certainly, the best 
 m(>an to clear the way in this same wood of suspicions, 
 is frankly to communicate them with the party that 
 lie° suspects; for thereby he shall i)e sure to know 
 more v)f the truth of them than he did b(>fore. and -Jo 
 withal shall make that party more (•ircumsi)ect not 
 to give further cause of sus|)icion. Hut this \vould° 
 not be done to men of base natures; for they, if they 
 find themselves once susj)ected, will never be true. 
 The Italian says, "Sosp(>tto° licencia fede," as if-r. 
 suspicion did give a passport to faith ; but it ought 
 rather to kindle it to discharge itself. 
 
IIG J-.'SSAYS on corXSKLS CIVIL AN J/ MO HAL 
 
 XXXII. OF DISCOURSE 
 
 SoMK in th(>ir discourse dosin^ rather commendii- 
 
 ts, tlian 
 
 tion of wit, in boins able to hold all 
 
 arjiun 
 
 lonts 
 
 of jud<i;mont in disrcrtiin^- what is tni(>; as if it wore 
 a praise to know what niijijht be said,° and not what 
 'isliouid be thon,i!:ht. Some have certain eonirnon- 
 plares aiul th(>nies° wherein they are ^ood, and want 
 variety; whieh kind of poverty is for the most j)ar( 
 tedious, and. when it is once jxTceived, ridiculous. 
 The honourablest part of talk is to j»:ive the occa- 
 
 lOsion, and again to moderate. ° and pass to somewhat 
 else: for then a man leads the dance. ° It is good in 
 discoiu'se and speech of conversation to vary and 
 intermingle" speech of the j)resent occasion with 
 arguments, tales with reasons, asking of questions 
 
 1.-. with telling of ()j)inions, and jest with (\arnest ; for ii 
 is a dull thing to tire, and, as we say now, to jade° 
 anything too far. As for jest, there bo cM'tain things 
 which ought to be privileged" from it ; namely, reli- 
 gion, matters of state, great jxTsons, any man'> 
 
 L'ojircsent business of importance, and any case that 
 deserveth ])ity.° ^'et there be some that think tfieir 
 wits have been asle(>p. except they dart out some- 
 what that is piquant and to the quick. That is a 
 vein which W(»uld° b(^ bridled: 
 
 97, 
 
 '• I'arrc.'^' piUT, stimulis. et fortius utere loris." 
 
 And generally men ought to hnd the difference 
 between saltness^ and l)itterness. Certainly, he that 
 
ESSAYS OK rOl'XSKLS ( IVIL AM> MfjRAL 117 
 
 h;itli a sajirical voin, as lie makctli otliors afrai<i of 
 W\< wit. so he had need 1)(> afraid of others' jncmorv. 
 
 Ho tliat (^lU'stioncth much shall learn inuoh and 
 (M!it(Mit° much; hut especially if he apj)ly his ques- 
 iioiis t(^ the skill° of the persons wliom he asketh.r. 
 I'or he shall jiive them occasion to please^ themselves 
 in speaking, and himself shall continually gather 
 ki!ovvledo:e. But let his (piestions Jiot he trouble- 
 some, for that is fit for a pos(M'.*^ And let him be 
 sure to leave other men their turns to speak. Nay.Kt 
 if there be any that would reign, and take up all the 
 time, let him find means to take them off and bring 
 others on: as musicians use to do with those that 
 (iaiice too ng galliards.^ 
 
 If you dissemble° sometimes your knowledge of i.^ 
 ihat you are thought to know, you shall be thought 
 another time to know that you know not. 
 
 Sju'ech oi° a num's self ought to be seldom, and well 
 rliosen. 1 knew one was wo!it to say in scorn, '* Me 
 must needs be a wise man, he speaks so much of him- jo 
 s(^lf." And there is but one cas(> wherein a man may 
 commend himself with good grace, and that is in 
 conHnending virtue in another, especially if it be such 
 a virtue whereunto himself [)reiendeth. 
 
 Sp{>ech of touch° towards others should be spar- _>.'■. 
 ingly used ; for discourse ought to be as a field, without 
 coming hom<' to any man. 1 knew two noblemen of 
 the west part of luigland, whereof the one was given 
 to scoti', but kept ever royal cheer in his house; the 
 other would ask of those that had been at the other's ;j(1 
 
118 ESSAYS OR COUNSELS CIVIL A XL MORAL 
 
 table, "Toll truly, was \hovv nover a flout or (lr\ 
 hlo\v° given?'' To which the guest would answer, 
 sueh and such a thing passed. The lord would say 
 " 1 thought he would mar a g<*od tlinner." 
 5 Diseretio!! oi" sjkhm'Ii is more th' :i eloquence, and 
 to speak agreeal)ly° to him with whom we deal is 
 more than to sju^ak in good words or in good order. 
 A good continuc'd s|)eecli,° without a good speech of 
 interlocution, shows slownc^ss; and a good reply, or 
 
 losecond speech, without'a good settled speech, show- 
 eth shallownes.s and weakness. As we see in beasts, 
 that those that are weakest in the course are yet 
 nimblest in the turn, as it is betwixt the greyhound 
 and th(^ hare. To use too many circumstances® ere 
 
 15 one come to the matter, is wearisome; to use none at 
 all, is blunt. 
 
 XXXIII. OF PLANTATIONS 
 
 Pl.\xtati().\s° are amongst ancient, primitive, and 
 heroical works. When tlu^ world was young it begat 
 more children, but now it is old it begets fewer; for 
 
 2() I may justly account new plantations to be the chil- 
 dren of former kingdoms. 
 
 I like a i)lantation in a ptu'e s I, — that is, where 
 people are no! (lisplantcd to the end to plant in others; 
 for else it is rather an extirpation than a plantation. 
 
 '-'r» Planting of countries is like jilanting of woods, for 
 you must make account to lose almost twenty years' 
 
^» 
 
 ESSAYS OH COL'XSKLS CIVIL A\I> MnRM. UU 
 
 profit, and (>\|U'('! your roconiiK'iisc 'ii the ciid; for 
 the i)rineipal thiiiji' that liatii 1)(>(Mi tlio tli'structi'Mi of 
 iMost plantations hatli Ixhmi the l)as(' and hasty (h'aw- 
 liio- of pr()fit° in tlio first years. It is truo, spocdy 
 piolit is not to Ix' nc.ulcctcd. as far as may stand witli j 
 ihc ^'ood of the plantation, hut no further. 
 
 it is a shameful and unblessed ihin,i^ to take the 
 scum of jieople, and wieked condenmed men, to l)e 
 the i)eople with whom you i)lant; and not only so, 
 hut it spoik'th the plantation: for they will ever lo 
 live like ro^iues, and not fall to work, hut l)e lazy, 
 and do misehief, and s|)end vietuals, and he (juickly 
 weary, and then certify" over to their country to the 
 (Uscredit of the i)lantation. The peoi)le wherewnh 
 vou plant ou«;ht to he ••ardeners, ploughmen, lahour- 15 
 CIS. smiths, car|)enters, joinei-s, ii-^hermen, fowh>rs, 
 with some few apothecaries, suriieons, cooks, and 
 
 hakers. 
 
 In a country of i)lantation, first look ahout what 
 kind of victual the country yields of itself^ to hand :•_'() 
 as chestnuts, walnuts, })in(>-apples, olive><, dates, 
 phuus, cherries, wild honey, and tiu^ like; atul make 
 use of them. Then considtM- what victual or cM'ulent ' 
 thinjis there are, which j^row speedily and wiihin the 
 year: as parsnii)s, carrots, iurnii)s, onions, radish, lm 
 artichokes of Jerusalem, maize, ° and the like. For 
 wheat, l)arley, and oats, tliey ask too much labour; 
 hut with pease and beans ^o'l may he^in, both be- 
 cause they ask less labour, and because they serve 
 lor meat as well as for bread. And of rice likewise i-^i 
 
120 KSSWS on ( OIXSHLS CIVIL AX It MnliAh 
 
 comcth a jxretit increase, and it is a kind of meat. 
 Above all. there ought to be broniiht store of bisruit. 
 oatmeal, Hour, meal, and the like, in the beginnini'. 
 till bread may be had. for beasts or birds, take 
 sehietly such as are least subject to diseases and mul 
 ti})ly fastest : as swine, goats, cocks, hens, turkeys, 
 geese, house-doves, and the like. 
 
 The victual in jilant lit ions ought to be expended 
 almost as in a besiegetl town, — that is, with cei'taiii" 
 
 :"> allowance. And let the main part of the ground 
 employed to gardens or corn be to a common stock, 
 and to be laid in and stored up, and then deli\- 
 ered out in proportion; besides come spots of ground 
 that any particular [)erson will manure® for his own 
 
 l.5private.° 
 
 Consiiler likewise what commodities the soil where 
 the plantation is doth naturally yield, that they mav 
 some way helj) to defray the charge of the i)lantation . 
 so it l)e not, as was said, to the untimely prejudifc 
 
 2(»of the main business, as it hath fared with tobacco 
 in Virginia. ° Wood connnonly aboundeth })ut too 
 m ''. and therefore timber is fit to be one.° It 
 thei't »e iron ore, and streams whereupon to >et tiic 
 mills, iron is a brave° commodity where wood abound- 
 
 25eth. Making of bay-salt, if the climate b(» proper 
 for it, would° be put in exfvrience. Orowing silk"^ 
 likewise, if any be, is a lik(>ly connnodity. Fitch 
 and tar, where store of firs and pines are, will not <"ail. 
 So drugs and sweet woods, where they are. cannot 
 
 30 but yield great profit ;■ soap-ashes, likewise, and other 
 
KSSAYS OR an'ySELS CIVIL Ay It MORAL IL'I 
 
 thinjis that !n:iy l)0 thought of. But nioiP not too 
 much under «i;roun(l, for tlio liopo of mines is very 
 nii('(>rtMin. and usoth to nuke tlie planters lazy in 
 other tiiin,u:s. 
 
 For jrovernnient, let it he in tiie hands of one, 5 
 ;issist(Hl with some counsel; atid let thorn have com- 
 mission to e.\(Tcise martial laws, with some limita- 
 tion. And above all, let uvm make that jn'otit of 
 lieino; in the wilderness, as they have (iod always and 
 his service before their eyes. Let not the govern- 10 
 ment of the i)lantation (lei)end upon too many (oun- 
 scllors and undertakers° in the country +hat planteth, 
 l.ut upon a temperate mmiber ; and let those be 
 rather nobleme!i and sf'ntlemen than merchants; 
 for they look ever to the jiresent .nain. i"» 
 
 Let there be freed'Miis from custom° till the planta- 
 tion he of str(>nsth; and not only freed')m from cus- 
 tom, but freedom to carry their commodities where 
 they may make their best of them,° except there ))e 
 >om(> s{)ecial cause of caution. '-'" 
 
 Cram not in peopk^ by s(M\dini2; too fast company 
 .(ftcr company, but rather h(virk(Mi how they waste," 
 -nd sella sup]ili(>s projx»rtional>ly ; but so as the 
 number may liv(^ well in the plantation, and not by 
 -urcharge° be in penury. -•"' 
 
 It hath been a great endangering to the health of 
 some plantations that they have built along the sea 
 :uid rivers, in marish° and unwholesome grounds. 
 rii(>r(^fore. though you begin there to avoid carriage 
 and other like discommodities,, yet build still° rather ;«) 
 
121' ASSAYS OK (orXSKLS CIVIL AM) MORAL 
 
 upwards from tlio st roams than along. It concerneth 
 likowise the hoaltii of tho })lantati()n that they have 
 good store of salt with them, that they may use it in 
 their victuals when it shall be necessary. 
 "> If you plant where savages are, do not only enter- 
 tain them with trifles and gingles,° Init use them 
 justly and graciously, with sufHcient guard, never- 
 theless; and do not win their favour by helj)ing them 
 to invade their enemies, but for their defence it is not 
 
 10 amiss. ° And send oft of them 'ncr to the country 
 that |)lants, that they may see a better condition 
 than their own, and commend it when they return. 
 
 When the plantation grows to strength, then it is 
 time to plant with women as well as with men, that 
 
 15 the plantation may spread into generations, and not 
 be ever pieced from without. It is the sinfullest 
 thmg in the world to forsake or destitute" a planta- 
 tion once in forwardness; for, besides the dishonour, 
 it is the guiltiness of blood of many eommiserable° 
 
 20i:Tsons. 
 
 XXXIV. OF RICHES 
 
 I CANNOT call riches better than the baggage of 
 virtue. The Roman word is better, "impedimenta,"" 
 for as the baggage is to an arm>' so is I'iches to virtue. 
 It cannot be spared, nor left behind, but it hindereth 
 23 the march; yea, and the care of it sometimes loseth 
 or dinturlxMh the victory. 
 
 Of great riches there is no real use, except it be iu 
 
ASSAYS OK cnrXShLS CIVIL AM) MOh'AL iL'.'i 
 
 :^M 
 
 tlic (iistributioii; tlic rest is Imt coiu'cit." So saith 
 Solomon, ° " Wlicn^ iinicli is, ihcrc arc many to coii- 
 suiiie it; atul what hath tlic owner l)ut tlu.' si<iiit ol it 
 with his eyes?" Tlio personal fruition in any man 
 cannot roaeli to fool j^roat riohos^; tlion* is a custody.' 
 of them, or a power of dole atid donati\e of them, or 
 a fame of them, but no solid use to the owuer. Do 
 you not sec what feigned "^ jH'ices are set U])on little 
 stones and rarities? And what works of ostentation 
 are undcrtakcii, because'^ there miglit seem to be K 
 some use of great riches? Jiut then, you will say, 
 they may be of use to buy men out of dangers or 
 troubles. As Solomon" saith, " Uiches are as a strong- 
 hokl in the imagination of the rich man." But this 
 is excelk'!iily exj)ressed, that it is in imagination, 15 
 and not always in fact. Tor certainly great riches 
 have sold more men than they have bought out. 
 
 Seek not proud riches, ° but such as thou mayest 
 get justly, use S()l)erl , distribute cheerfully, and 
 l(\ive contentedly, ^'et ha\'(^ no abstract nor fri-20 
 arly contempt of them; but distinguish, as Cicero° 
 saith well of Rabirius Posthumas,° "in studio*^ rei 
 amplificandip apparebat, non avaritiie prtedam, sed 
 instriunentum bonitati (pueri." Hearken also to 
 Solomon, ° and beware of hasty gathering of riches :2."i 
 "(^ui festinat° ad divitas, non erit insons." The 
 })()cts feign that when PIutus,° wOiich is riches, is 
 sent from Jupiter,° he limps, and goes slowly, but 
 when he is sent from Pluto, ° he runs, and is swift of 
 foot; meaning, that riches gotten by good means 30 
 
124 HSSAYS on '(,1 SSKI.S IH'IL JXli MOli.XL 
 
 and just lal)()ur pace slowly, but when they conic by 
 the tleath of others, ns by the eourse of inheritance, 
 testaments, and the like, they eonie tuinblin<5 upon a 
 man. But it ni()U<!;ht be applied likewise to Pluto, 
 staking him for the devil. For when riches come 
 from tlie devil, as by fraud, and oppression, and 
 unjust means, they come upt)n speed. '^ 
 
 The ways to emich are many, and most of them 
 foul. Parsimony is oee of the best, and yet is not 
 
 10 innocent, for it withholdeth men from woiks of liber- 
 ality and charity. The imjM'ovenient of the ground 
 is the most naturni obtaining of riches, for it is our 
 great mother's l)lessing, the earth's; but it is slow. 
 And yet, where men of gn^at wealth do stoop to hiis- 
 
 isbandry, it multiplieth riches exceedingly. 1 knew 
 a nobleman in Kngland tliat had the greatest audits 
 of any man° in my titne: a great grazier, a great 
 sheep-master, a great timber-man, a gi'eat collier, 
 a great corn-master, a great lead-man, and so of iron, 
 
 20 and a number of the like points of husbandry; so as 
 the earth seemed a sea to him, in respect of the per- 
 petual importation. It was truly observed by one, 
 that himself came very hardly to a little riches, and 
 very easily to great riches, l^'or when a man's stock" 
 
 25 is come to that, that he can expect the prime of mar- 
 kets, and overcome" those bargains which, for their 
 greatness, are few men's money, and be partner in 
 the industries of younger men, he cannot but increase 
 mainly. ° 
 
 30 The gains (»f onlinarv trades and vocations are 
 
KSSAYS OR rorXSKLS i'lVIL .l.V/< MORAL 12.") 
 
 holiest, and furtliorod hv two thiii,iz;.s cliiofly, by dili- 
 gence, and by a jrood iiaiiio for jjood and fair doalin;<i. 
 lint the ^ains (tf bar;:;ains are of a more doul)tful 
 nature, when men sliall wait Uj)on otliers' necessity; 
 i)n)ke° l)y servants and instruments to (h'aw thems 
 oii; put off others cuiminirly tliat would be b(»tter 
 (•hapmen°; and the like practices, whicli are crafty 
 ;nid nau'!;ht.° As for the clioppinj; of bargains, — 
 when a man buys, not to hold, but to s(»ll over again, 
 
 that commonly orindeth double*, both upon the ic 
 seller and upon the })uyer.° Sharings do p;reatly en- 
 rich, if the hands be well chosen that are trusted. 
 rsury° is the certainest means of gain, though one of 
 ihe worse, as that whereby a man doth eat his bread 
 '• in sudore° vultus alieni," and beside.', doth plough in 
 upon Sundays. But yet, certain though it \\v, it 
 hath flaws; for that the scriveners and brokers^ do 
 \alue° unsound men. to serve their own turn. 
 
 The fortune in being the first in an invention, ° or 
 in a privilege, doth cause* sometime*-' a wonderful 20 
 overgrowth in riches, as it was with the first sugar- 
 man in the Canaries. ° Therefore, if a man can play 
 the true logician. ° to have as well judgment as inven- 
 tion, he may do great matters. es])ecially if the times 
 he fit. He that resteth u]ion gains certain, shall 2ri 
 hardly grow to great riches: and he that puts all 
 upon adventures, doth oft(Mitimes l)reak. and come 
 to poverty: it is good therefore to guanP adventures 
 with certainties thai may uphold losses. Monopolies, 
 
 ud 
 
 cue 
 
 mpt 
 
 lOI 
 
 i" of wares for resale, where the\- areM 
 
 .^?f^-ff,j'- 
 
12(5 KSSAYS on COCXSKLS dVIL AX ft MORAL 
 
 not restrained, are ^reat means to enricli: esperially 
 if the party have intelli;:;ence wliat thin<;s are like to 
 come into re(|iiest. and to store himself l)eff)rehan(l. 
 Kiches <!;otten hv service, though it Ix^ of the best rise. 
 5yet when they are<i;ot>en hy flattery, fecMJin,!? humours. 
 an<l other servile conditions, they may he placed 
 amoniist the worst. As for fishini!; for testaments 
 and executorships (as Tacitus° saith of Seneca. 
 "Testanienta° et orhos tan(|ua!n indaj^ine capi"). it 
 
 10 is yel worse; by how much men submit themselves 
 to meaner persons than in service. 
 
 Believe not much tluMii that ^ovni to despise riches, 
 for they d(\spise them that despair of them; and none 
 worse° when they come to them. He not peimy-wis(>: 
 
 1.-) riches have win«;s.° and sometimes thev Hy away of 
 themselves, sometimes they must be set flying to 
 bring in more. 
 
 Men leave their rich(>s either to tlieir kindred, or 
 to the |)ublic; and moderate portions j)rosj)er Ix^st in 
 
 'Joboth. A great estate l(>ft to an heir is as a lure to all 
 the birds of pu-y round about to seize on Iiim, if he 
 be not the l)ett(>r° stablished m years and judgmeiU. 
 Likewise glorious° gifts and foundations are lik(> sac- 
 rifices without salt; and but the painted sepulchres 
 
 25 of alms, which soon will jnitrefy and corrupt inwardly. 
 Therefore measure not thine advancements In- quan- 
 tity, but frame them by measure." And defer not 
 charities till death°; for certainly, if a man weigh it 
 rightly, he that doth so, is rather Uberal of another 
 
 .•:ii itKUi's than of his own. 
 
 •WIW 
 
KSSAYS OK rOlXSFl.S <IVII. .\M> MOHM. V27 
 
 XXXV. Ol IMIOIMIIXIKS 
 
 1 MKAX not to spoak of diviiio |)roi)lu'('i('S, noi 
 
 of 
 
 prop 
 
 ^ r natural pnnlictions.^ Init only 
 
 hofk's that have been of certain memory and 
 
 licatlien oracles, nor o 
 
 iioni 
 Saul, 
 
 iiie." 
 
 10 
 
 IB 
 
 hidden causes. Saith the I'ythonissa" to 
 "To-morrow thou and thy son shall bo with:. 
 lIomer° hath these verses: 
 
 " At ilouius-' .KiH'iL' t'Uiu'tis (ioniinat)itnr <>ris, 
 Et nati luUoiuin, v\ tiui nascfutur at> illis :" 
 
 a prophecy, as it s(>ems. of the Roman Kmpire. 
 Seneca,° the tra«,^edi; n. hath these v(>rses: 
 
 »• \ eiiicnt aiinis'^ 
 
 Secula si'vi"*. (luilms occanus 
 
 ViiK'ula voruiu laxet, ft iiiiro-ns 
 
 Tatt-at ifllus, Tipliysciiu' iiovos 
 
 Detftrat orl)fs ; lu'i- sit terris 
 
 I'ltiuia 'riuile : " 
 
 , proi)hocv of the discovery of America. The 
 ilaushter of Folvcrates^ dreamed that Jui)itpr° 
 bathed hor father, and Ai)()llo° anointed Inm: and 
 it came to pass tliat he was crucified in an ope.rj. 
 place where the sun matle liis body nm with sweat, 
 and the rain washed it. Philii) of Macedon dreamed 
 lie sealed up his wife's belly, whcnvby he did expouiul 
 it that his wife should be barren; but Aristander° 
 the soothsaver told him his wife was with child, -3 
 Ix'catise men do not use to seal vessels that are empty. 
 \ ph'intasm° that appeared to M. Brutus,° in his 
 
 "i-SK.v; 
 
ll'S Kss.iYs (ii: cnrxsKi.s civil axu MniiM. 
 
 tent, sjiid lo liim. " I'hilippis'^ iloruiu inc vidcl)!-. "' 
 Til)orhis° snid lo (Jalh;!/^ '• Tu (luociu,'." (;.m1});i. 
 do^ustnbis inipcriiini. "' In W-spasian's' finio thoiv 
 wont a proph(-cy in the Kast. that rl)()S(« that sIionM 
 Scomo forth of Jndoa should roiirn over tfio world: 
 which. thon<ih it may ho was nioant of our Saviour, 
 yot Taoitus° expounds it of Vospasian. Doniitian'^ 
 droamod, tlio ni<iht h(>foro he was slain, that a ^oldon 
 luvid was o-rowin^- r.ut of the nap(> of liis nock; and 
 
 10 indeed the succession that followed him for many 
 years made golden times. Menry \'I.° of l-jio-lanil 
 «aid of Henry VII., when he was a lad, and gave hin 
 water. -This is the lad that shall enjov tiie crown 
 for which wo strive." When I was' in France, 1 
 
 15 heard from one Dr. IVna that the (iu(on-moth(>r. 
 wh(j was given to curious ai'ts, caused the king her 
 husband's nativity to he calculated under a false 
 name, and the astrologer gave a judgm(>nt that he 
 should 1)0 killed in a duel : at which the (jueen laughed. 
 
 -'<» thinking her hushand to bo al>ovo chaUengos and tluols • 
 but he was slain° upon a course at tilt, the splinters 
 of the staff of Montgomery going in at his beaver/' 
 The trivial" {)roj>lK>cy which I heard when 1 was a 
 child, and (^i(>on Kli^abelh was in the ilower of her 
 ■-'■> Ncars, was : 
 
 "When Ilcmpe is s[)oniie, 
 Kimland's clone ; '" 
 
 whereby it was gen(>rally conceived that, after the 
 
 princes had reigned which had the principal letters 
 
 3uof that word lumpe (which were Henrv, lulward, 
 
 wwiaMl 
 
ESSAYS on (ill XSKI.S VIVIL AXD MORAL 129 
 
 Marv. I'hilii). and l-ilizalx'th). I'.iiulaiul sl.ould como 
 
 ,lii('li, thanks ho to (Icnl. is vcri- 
 
 lo I 
 
 iticr confusion: w 
 
 !ic<l onlv in th(» chantic oi" tlu> nanic, for that tho kinji's 
 )\v no more of Knuland, 'out of Britain, 
 also another i)roi)h(M'v boforo tho yoar of 5 
 
 -tvlo^ IS n( 
 
 horo was 
 
 cU 
 
 tihtv-oisiht . which i <lo not W(>I1 undorstand 
 
 was \n 
 
 '•'riiLTi- shall W >vvn \\\M\\ ;i day. 
 lU'tWfcn the Hiuiiili ami the May," 
 Tiie t)laf'k tiei't of N'orway 
 WIkmi that is cihir' aiul -oiif. 
 Kiij;lainl, htiihl lumsi's of lliiu' ami .stone, 
 For after wai's shall yoii have iioiu' "' 
 
 'norallv concoivod to ho nu^ant of tho Spanial 
 
 10 
 
 fi(>ot that caiiio in oi,iilitv-oi,ii;ht ; for tliat tho King 
 
 of Sjiain's surnaiiio. 
 
 as tho\ say, is Norway. The if 
 
 predict i(»n of I^o^ioniojitaniis, 
 
 '•Octogfsinms' octavus mirabili.s annus," 
 
 thou'clit hkowiso acconinlishod in tho sending 
 
 was 
 
 )f that groat Hoot, hoing tlio groatost in strongth, 
 though not in nnnihor. of all that ovor swam upon 
 iho soa. As for Cloon's"^ droaui, 1 think it was a 
 K'.-; : il was that ho was dovourod of a long dragon; 
 
 20 
 
 aiK 
 
 1 it was oxpotnidod of a niakor of sausages 
 ihk 
 
 irouh[o( 
 
 that 
 him ( xcoodingly. Thoro aro numhors of tho 
 iko kind. (>s])ocially if you includo dn^ams and 25 
 !>!vdi('l!ons of -strology. Hut I liavo sot down 
 thoso fow otily. of certain credit, for example. 
 
 My judgment is that thoy ouglit all to ho do.spised, 
 and ouu:hl to soi \o hut foi- winter talk hy the fire- 
 
loO ESSAYS on (01 XSKLS CIVIL AND MORAL 
 
 si(l(\ Thoutrh \vh(Mi I say despised, I moan it as for 
 l)olief; for otlionvisi^ tlic s{)r(>adiM<>- or j)ul)lisliing of 
 them is in no sort^ to be despised, for they have done 
 much mischief, and I see many severe hiws made to 
 ■) suppress them. Tfiat that iiatli <>iven them ^race." 
 and some credit, consisteth in three tilings. First, 
 that men mariv when th(\v hit.° and never mark 
 when they miss, as they do generally also of (h'eams. 
 The secojid is, that pr')hahle conjectures, or obscure 
 10 iracUtions, many times turn themselves into prophe- 
 cies; while the natnre of man. which cov(Heth (Uvina- 
 tion. thinks it no peril to for(>teIl that which indeed 
 they do but collect; as that of Seneca's verse. For 
 so much was then subject to demonstration, that 
 15 the «;i()l)(^ of the earth had <j:reat |)arts beyond the 
 Atlantic, which mou^ht be })robably conceived not 
 to be all sea; and addin<!; thereto the tradition in 
 Plato's° Tinueus and his Atlanticns.° it mou«i;ht 
 encourai^e one to turn it to a prediction. The third 
 20 and last, which is the <ireat one, is that almost all of 
 them, beins infinite in number, have been impostures, 
 and by idle and crafty brains merely contrived and 
 feigned after the e\eut past. 
 
 XXXVI. OF A.ArBITION 
 
 Amritiox is like choler^; which is an humour° that 
 
 -'.-. maketh man active, earnest, full of alacrity, and 
 
 stirring, if it l)e not stoi)ped. But if it be stopped, 
 
 ■ai 
 
j-:ssAYs OR corysKLS civil asd moral \'M 
 
 :in(l cutniot havo his way, it hooomotli adust, ° and 
 tlKMvby inalif!:n and venomous. So ambitious mon, 
 it tlu\v tirid tlu> way opon for thoir risin«i. and stilP 
 i.(.f forward, thoy aro rather i)usy tiian (hm.ucrous; 
 hut if thoy l)o chocked in tlieir desires tiiey become : 
 s(M-retly discontent, and look upon men and matters 
 with an evil oye.*^ and an^ best ))l(>ased wlien thinjis 
 o-o backward ; whicii is the worst ])roperty in a s(>rvant 
 of a prince or state. Therefore it is (jood for j)rinc(\s, 
 if they use ambitious men, to handle it so as they l)eiti 
 still prof;r(\ssivo and not rotro,!2;rade ; which. bocaus(^ 
 it cannot bo without inconvonienc(\ it is ^ood not to 
 use such natur(\s ut all. For if they rise not with their 
 service they will take order to° make their service 
 fall with tiiom, ^'' 
 
 \\\\\ since wo havo said it wore ^ood not to use 
 men of ambitious natures, o\co|)t it be Uj)on necessity, 
 it is fit we sj)eak in what cas(\s they are of n(>cessity. 
 (iood commanders in the wars must be taken, hv they 
 never so ambitious; for the use of th(>ir service dis-ii. 
 pensoth witli° the rest ; and to tak(> a soldi(>r without 
 ;tml)ition° is to pull off his sjnu-s.^ There is also <j;reat 
 use of aml)itious men in beiui:; scr(>ens to prmcos in 
 matters of dan.ii;or and e!ivy ; for no mati will take 
 that part excoi)t ho be like a seoled° dove, that mounts -j.' 
 and mounts, because he cannot see about him. There 
 is use also of ambitioiis men in })uilinji down thof::reat- 
 noss of any subject that overtops; as Tiberius" used 
 M;icro° in th(> pullin.u' down of Sejanus.° 
 
 Since, therefore, they must bo used in such cases, ;{(; 
 
 m 
 
i:yj JCSSAY^ Oh' ( OLWii/'JLS tnjL AND MORAL 
 
 thoro n>si(>th° to spoak liow tlioy arc to he hridlec 
 
 that thoy may be loss dan^oious. There is less danger 
 
 ot them if they he of ii.(.an hirth, than if they be noble • 
 
 and ]f they be rather harsh of nature, than graeioii.> 
 
 5 and j)opnlar; and if they be rather new raised, than 
 
 grown eunning and fortified in their ureal ness. It i> 
 
 eountcd by some a weakn(>ss in princes to hav( 
 
 favourites^: but it is. of all others. th(> best remedy 
 
 against ambitious great ones. I'or \\\\vu tlie way (il 
 
 10 pleasuring and displeasuring lieth by the favourite. 
 
 it U impossible^ any other should be over-great. 
 
 Another means lo curb them is to balanee them by 
 
 others as proud as they. Hut then there must be 
 
 some middle eounsellors to keep things steadv; 
 
 ir.for without that ballast tlie ship will rolftoo much.' 
 At the least a j^rince juay animate and inure "^ some 
 meaner persons to Imv as it wer<\ scourges to ambitious 
 men. As for the having of tliem obn()\ious° to ruin, if 
 they be of fearful natures it may do well; but if 
 
 LfMhey be stout and daring, it ina>- j)recipitate their 
 designs and pro\e dangerous.'^ .\s for the pulling 
 of them down, if the affairs nHpiin" it. and tha"!^ 
 it i:iay not be done with safety sutldenly, tlie only 
 way is I lie interchange continually of favours anil 
 
 '-'.-.disgraces; whereby thf>y may not know what to 
 ox])ect. and l)e as it were in a wood. 
 
 Of ambitions, it is less harmful the ambition to 
 prevail in gjvat things, than that other to ai)pear 
 in everything; for that In-eeds confusion, and mar,-^ 
 
 ;^<» business. But yet it is less daiigvr to hav(> an am- 
 
KSSAYS on ((Jl/XSKJ.S ( IVlh ASh MOIiAL llV.i 
 
 I lit ions man stirriiifi in biishuss, ili;i:i liroat in dojuMi- 
 iiances.- Uo tliat s(^ok('th to he cmiiuMit anionjist 
 able ni(Mi hat h a ^Tcat task; hut that i< ('V(>r <:o()<l fof 
 {\\c public. But hr that plots to in' the onl> ti,i!;nro 
 atnoiiiist ciphci's. is the decay of ai! whole ajic. •"' 
 
 Honour hath three thiniis in it : the vanta<ie 
 ui'ouiul to cio .uood'^ ; the approach to kiiiirs and 
 t)!incii)al persons; and the raisin^' (»i" a man's own 
 lortimes. lit' that hath the b(>st of these intentions 
 when he asj)ir(Mh, is an hone^^t man; and that jH'ince n 
 that can discern of these intentions in another that 
 aspireth. is a wise j)rince. (ienerally, let princes and 
 states choose such ministers as are more sensible 
 of'^ duty than of risinji; and such as love business 
 rather upon conscience than upon bravery"; and let i.i 
 them discern a busy° nature from a willing mind. 
 
 XXXVTL OF MASC^rKS AND TRirMPH!^ 
 
 TiiEsi: thin<2;s iire 1 ')ys° to come amon^^st such 
 :-erious observations. ' .t yet,° . ; ce princes will 
 have such things, it is better they should be graced 
 uith elegancy than daubecl with cost.° I'u 
 
 Dancing to song isa thing of great state and i)leasure. 
 1 unilerstand it that the song be in (juire^ placetl 
 aloft. "^ and acconu)anied with some bioken music^; 
 a.'id th(^ ditty° htl(>d to the <1( \ ice. Acting in song, 
 especially in dialogues, hath an extreme good grace:.': 
 I sav acting, not dancing^ (ff)r that is a mean and 
 
1^4 J'JSSAYS OH i'OVXSKLS CIVIL AND MORAL 
 
 vulfjar thiii.i^O; ;ni(l tlio voires of tlio dialogue woiild^ 
 1)0 stronjj^ and manly (a bass and a tenor, no treble); 
 and the ditty liijih and tra«i;ieal, not nice or dainty. ° 
 Several quires placed one over apiinst another, and 
 .") taking the voiee by eatehes,° ant hem-wise, ° give 
 great pleasure. Turning danees into figure° is a 
 ehildish curiosity. And generally let it be noted that 
 those things which 1 here set clov.-j are such as d.. 
 naturally take the sense, and not resj)ect i)etty won- 
 
 inderments. It is true the alterations of scenes, so it 
 be (juietly and without noise, are things of great 
 K/oauty and pleasure; for they feed and relieve the 
 (\ve before it be full of the same object. Let the 
 scenes abound with light, specially coloured and 
 
 ir. varied; and let the masquers, or any other that are 
 to come down from the scene, "^ have some motions'^ 
 upon tlie scene itself before their coming down; 
 for it draws the eye strangely, and makes it with 
 great j)leasure to desire to s(h'° that it cannot perfectly 
 
 •31 discern. Let the songs be loud and cheerful, and 
 not chirpings or pulings.° Let the nnisic likewise 
 be sharj) and loud, and well placed. The colours 
 that show l)(>st by candle-lig'it are white, carnation, 
 and a kind of sea-water green; and oes,° or spangs." 
 
 L'5 as they are of no great cost, so they are of most glory. 
 As for rich embroidery, it is lost and not discerned. 
 Jwct the suits of the masquers be graceful and such as 
 become the person when the vizars are off; not 
 after examples of known attires — Turks, soldiers, 
 
 ;'^» marin(>rs, and the like. Let anti-masques° not be 
 
j-:ssAYS on cftrxsKi.s < ivii. axd mohal l.'»r> 
 
 long ; they have hcvii foinnionly of fools, satyrs. 
 l)al)oons, wild mon, anticnies.° boasts. s|)rit('s, witches, 
 Ktliiopos, ])i<j:iiiios, tiir(jUots,° nynii)lis, rustics, ('iii)i(ls. 
 statnas° moving, and tlio like. As for angels, it is not 
 comical enough to put diem in anti-mastpies; and any- ". 
 tiling that is hideous, as devils, giants, is on the other 
 side as unfit. Hut, chiefly, let the music of llu>ni he 
 recreative, and with some strange changes. Some 
 sweet odours suddenly cf)ming forth., without any 
 drops falling, are in such a company as there is steatn m 
 and heat, things of great pleasure and refreshment. 
 Double masfiues. one of men, another of ladies, addeth 
 state and variety. But all is nothing except th(> room 
 l)e kept clear and neat. 
 
 For justs, ° and tourneys," and barriers.'' the glories i:. 
 of them are chiefly in the chariots v>hei-ein the chal- 
 hnigers make their entry; especially if they be drawn 
 with strange l)easts, as lions. })ears. camels, and the 
 like; or in th. > devices of their (Mitrance; or in the 
 bravery° of their liveries; or in the goodly furniture Jd 
 
 of their horses and armour, 
 to vs. 
 
 But enoutih of these 
 
 XXXVIIl. OF NATURE IN MEN 
 
 Nature° is often hidden, sometimes overronio, 
 s(>ldom extinguished. Force makeih nature more 
 violent in the return; doctrine antl discourse maketh .'." 
 nature less importvme°; but custom only doth alter 
 and subdue nature. 
 
I'M ASSAYS on tnrxsKLs rivn, axj> mohal 
 
 He thai scckoth victory ovim' his nature let him 
 not 80t Iiiiiisolf too ijroat nor too small tasks; for the 
 first will mako him (Icjcctcd by often failinfjs; and 
 I lie second will make liim a small proceeder, though 
 r. hv often prevailiii^is. And at the first let him practise 
 with helps, as swimmers do with bladders or Mishes; 
 but aftei- a lime let him practise with disadvantages, 
 as dancers do with thick shoes. For it breeds ^I't'at 
 I)erf(>ct!on. if the practice^ be harder than the use. 
 
 1' Where nature is miirhtw and therefore the victory 
 hard, the d(^<ir,M>s had need be. fii'st to stay and arrest 
 natm-e in time, -like to him that would say over 
 the foui'-and-twenty letters when he was anory; 
 then to <i() less in (juantiry, -— as if one should, in 
 
 1.-' forbearino- wine, come from drinking; healths to a 
 draujj^ht at a meal; and. lastly, to discontinue al- 
 tojiether. Hut if a man have the fortitude and resolu- 
 tion to enfranchise himself at once, that is the best: 
 
 L'(> 
 
 "()ptiiiiiis ilh' aniiiii vindcx. liLMh^ntia pectus 
 Viuciila (lui ruiiit. (lc.l(>liiit(iuc sciiiel." 
 
 Neither is the anci(>nt r le amiss, to bend nature as a 
 w-nd to a contrary extieme. wh-reby to set it rifjht ; 
 understanding it, where the contrary extreme is no 
 
 \i{'e. 
 
 'r. Let not a man force a habit upon himself with a 
 perpetual con!iinianc(\ but with some intermission. 
 Im)1' both ih<« p;iu.s(^ reinforce! h the jiew onset; and 
 li a man that is not jxM'fect be ever in practice he 
 shall as well ])iactise his error> as his abilities, and 
 
 ■■■■ 
 
KSSAYS Oli (OIWSKLS VI VI I. .\XH MOHAL IM 
 
 imliico OIK' lial)it of l)olli; mid \\\vvv is no means 
 to luilp this but l)y seasonahlo iiiirrmissioiis. 
 
 But let not a man trust liis \ ictorv over his nature 
 too far; for nature will lav" huricd a ureat time, and 
 
 vet revive upon the occasion or temptation. 
 
 Like 
 
 as r. 
 
 i; was with /Esop's^ damsel, turned from a cat to a 
 woman, who sat very demurely al J.ie hoard's end° 
 liil a mouse ran before her. Therefore let a man 
 cither avoid the occasion altofiether, or jmt himself 
 i.ften to it,° that he may 1h little moved with it. n 
 
 A man's nature is Ix'st j)erceived in privatene.ss, 
 tor there is no affectation; in passion, I'or that putteth 
 n man out of his precepts; and in a new case or experi- 
 ment, for there custom leaveth him. 
 
 They are happy men whose natures sort, with"^ i; 
 their vocations; otherwise thev mav sav, "Multimi° 
 
 iiicola 
 
 fuit 
 
 annna mea 
 
 V 
 
 when tlu>v converse in' 
 
 those thincjs they do not affect. ° In studies, what- 
 xM'ver a man connnandeth upon himself, let him 
 ,-et hoip-s for it; but whatsoever is a<i;reeable to hisi'd 
 tiature, let him take no care for anv set times; for 
 
 us 
 
 thoughts will fly to ir of themselves, so as the 
 >paces° of other business or studies will suflice. 
 
 A man's nature runs either to herbs or weeds; 
 therefore let him seasonably water the one, and destroy 
 the other. 
 
l.'iH KSSAYS Oh' COCXShLS VIVIL AX It MORAL 
 
 XXXTX. OF CUSTOM AND EDUCATION 
 
 Mkn's thoughts are mucli aerordintj; to thoir iii- 
 cliiiation^; tlicir discourse and speeches aecordiim 
 to their l('ariiiii<i; and infused opinions^; but their 
 deeds are after as° they liave been accustomed. And 
 r> therefore, as MachiaveP well noteth, th()n,i!;h in an 
 (>vil-favoured° instance, there is no trustin«i; to the 
 force of nature, nor to the bravc-iv° of words, excej)t 
 it be c()rroborate° by custom. His instance is, that 
 for the achievinfi; of a desperate consj)iracy a man 
 
 !(► should not rest ui)on the fierceness of any man's 
 nature, or his resolute undertakin«is. but take such 
 an one as hath had his hands formerly in blood. 
 I^ut Machiavel knew not of a friar Clement, ° nor a 
 Ravaillac,° nor a .Iaure^uy,° nor a Baltazar (lerard°: 
 
 1.". yet his rule holdeth still, tl;a<^ n.Mure, nor the en<!;a^'e- 
 ment of words, are not so forcible as custom. Only 
 superstition is now so W(»ll advanc(>d that men of the 
 first blo()(P are as firm as butchers by occu|)ation; 
 and votary'^ resolution is made e(iuipollent° to custom, 
 
 20 even in matter of blood. In other thinus the predomi- 
 nancy of custom is everywhere visible; in.somuch as 
 a man would wonder to hear men profess, protest. 
 enp:ag:(\ .ii'ive iii'cat words, and tluMi do just as the\ 
 have done before; as if they were dead images, and 
 
 '_',■) engines moved only by the wheels of custom. 
 
 We see also the reign or tyranny of custom, what 
 it is. The Indians, I mean th(> .<ect^ of their wise 
 
ESSAYS OR <nV':SKLS civil. AXn MORAL l.'i*.) 
 
 axon, lay tlieins(>lv('s (iui(>tly u|)<)»i a stack of wood, 
 and so sacriHco tluMiisclvcs ])y tiic. Nay. llic wivos 
 strive to be l)urne(l witli the (*orj)ses of their lms})aiuls. 
 riie huls of Sparta, of aiiricnt time, were wont to he 
 ^'ourged upon tlie ahar of Diana without so muelir. 
 as (iueehinf;.° 1 remember in the oeiiiimin^ of 
 ()iieen nli/abeth's time of iMi.uland. an Irisii reb(>l. 
 condemned, put up a i)etition to the deputy tliat he 
 iniiiht be handed in a with, and not in an haher, 
 because it had been so used with former rebels, m 
 'rh(>re be monks \\\ Russia, for penance, that will 
 >it a wliole ni<j:ht in a vessel of water, till they be 
 (Mmas2;e(P with hard ice. 
 
 Many examples may be put of th(> force of custom, 
 both upon mind and l)ody. Therefore, since custom 1.". 
 i- the principal ma^-istrate of man's life, let men by 
 all means endenivour to obtain ,u:ood customs. Cer- 
 tainly custom is most perfect when it bei-inneth in 
 voun^ years; this we call education, which is, in 
 ert'ect. but an early custom. So W(> see, in lan,iiuaji:es'3) 
 the toniiue is more ))liant to all exim^ssions and sounds, 
 the joints ar(> more sui)p! to all feats of activity and 
 motions, in youth than afterwards. For it is true 
 that late learners caimot so W(>11 take the j)ly°; 
 except it be in some minds that have not suffered 25 
 themselves to fix, but have kept themselves open and 
 jtrepannl to receive continr.al aJuenrlment, which is 
 (>xceedinp; rare. 
 
 I^ut if the forc(^ of custom simple and separat(\ 
 be ^reat, the force of custom cf)pulate and conjoined :'.u 
 
140 
 
 KSSAYS (,/,' (nrysKl.s < nil. am, MoR \L 
 
 and collo-^iato, is far ^neater. Vnv (hrrc oxamplc 
 teaolioth, coinpaiiy coinforKMli/^ oniiilMfion (|uic'keii- 
 otli, «i;l()ry raiscMli; .so as in sucji piacos the force oi 
 f'ustoni is in liis (>\ait;itioii. Certainly the <ireat 
 r. niultiplicatifni of virtucvs upon human nature rest<'th 
 upoi^ societies well ordained and disciphned ; for 
 coninionvveaiths and «(ood j^-overrunents do nourish 
 virtue ffrown, hut do not much mend the seeds. \\\\\ 
 the misery is, that the most elfectual means are now 
 10 applied to the cnds° least to be desired. 
 
 XL. OF joRTrxi: 
 
 It cannot he denied hut outward accidents con- 
 duce much to fortune: favour, opportunity, death of 
 others, occasion (ittin<.- virtue. But chieHy the mould 
 of a man's fortune is in his own hands. - I'aher^ 
 
 i.-.(iuisque forluna' sua\ " saith tlie |)oct.'' And the 
 most fre(|uent of external causes is. that the folly 
 ot one man is the fortune of another; for no man 
 prospers so suddenly as hy others' <M'rors. " S(>rix^ns'' 
 nisi serpcntem c()mederil non lit draco." 
 
 ■3) Overt and apparent °. virtues i)rin« forth praise, 
 hut there he secret and hidden virtues that hrin<^ 
 forth fo r;-; certain dehveries^ of a man's ^eff 
 which ha .o name. The Spanish name, desem- 
 hoUura° partly expres.seth them: when there he 
 
 L'.-iUot stonds'' nor restiveness i?i a m.-in's nature, hut 
 that the wheels of his mind kce]) way with the u heels 
 
 mmm 
 
KSSAYS on ritl SSKI.S rinL A Mi Mi>i:M. 141 
 
 Ml" Ills I'ortuiH'. I'or so I/ivv.'^ atUT lie had (losiTiluMJ 
 ( ati» Major' in those words. "In illo viro.'^' taiitiim 
 rr.ltiir eorf)oris el aiiiini luil. ut (jUoeini()iie loco iiatus 
 (-set i'ortuiiaiii sibi tai-turus \ideretur. " falleth upon 
 ihat. that lie had rrrsulilr iwjrniuni^ Therefore, if a 5 
 man look sharply and attentively, he shall see fortune ; 
 Mil- it.ou<;li sh(- I)'' blind yet she is not invisible, 
 riif way of fortune is like the milken \va> in the sky, 
 vvhicli is a nieetinii' or knot of a number of small stars, 
 iKtt seen asunder, but uivin*; linht to.i!:ether. So are M 
 I here a number of litth' and sean-e (lisccM'iied virtues, 
 or rather faculties and customs, that make men 
 fortunate. The Italians note some of them, sucii as 
 a man would little think. When they speak of one 
 (hat camiot do amiss, they will throw it into his i."i 
 other conditions, that he hath " poco di matto.°" 
 And. certainly, there be not two more forlunate 
 pi'operties tha'i to ha\'e a little of the fool, and not 
 too much of the honest. Tiierefore extreme lovers 
 of ilieir country or mast(*rs were never fortunate, ■-»«» 
 iMilher can they be; for wIumi a man j)laceth his 
 thoughts without himself, he ^oeth not his own way. 
 An hasty fortune maketh an enterpriser anil re- 
 mover° (the French hath it better, intrcpirnant, or 
 rvinuanl); but th(^ exercised'^ fi>rtune maketh thei'.") 
 able man. Fortune is to be iioiioured and respected, 
 and it be but for her daughters, C'oniidence and 
 Kepiitation. F'or those two felicity breedeth; the 
 first within a man's self, the latter in others towards 
 him. :w 
 
141! KSSAYS OR rorXSKLS CIVIL AXIt MORAL 
 
 All wise men, to (Iccliiic the vnxy'^ of their own 
 virtues, use to ascrihe them to Providence and For- 
 tune; for so they tnay the better assume them, 
 and besides it is ,ii,reat ness in a man to be tiie earc 
 .".of tlu^ hijiiier powcM's. So (a'sar° said to the |)ilot 
 in the temi)(\>^t, "Ca'sarem i)ortas,'^et foi'tunam ejus." 
 So Sylla'^ choM' the name of jvlix'^ and not of niai)nus<° : 
 and it hath been noted that those that ascribe openly 
 too much to their own wisdom and jiolicy. end 
 
 loinfortunate. It is written that Timotheus," the 
 Athenian, after he had. in the account he ^ave to 
 the state of his .liovernnuMit , often interlaced this 
 sjx'ech. "And in this fortune had no part." never 
 pr()S|)ered in anythin<i- he undertook afterwards. 
 
 15 Certainly then' be Avhose fortunes are like Homer's'^ 
 ver.ses, that have a slide and easiness more than the 
 verses of other j)oets; as lMutarch° saith of Timole- 
 on's" fortune, in resj)ect of that of Ajiesihuis^ or 
 Fpaniinondas.° And that this should be, no doubt 
 
 L'oit is much in a man's self.*^ 
 
 XLi. OF rsruY 
 
 Maxy have made witty invectiv(\s ai?:ainst usury."-' 
 They say that it is pity the devil shoukl have God's 
 part, which is t he titiie"^ ; that the usurer is the greatest 
 Sal)bath-breaker. because his plough^ goeth every 
 2") Sunday; that the usurer is the drone that Virgil" 
 sj)eaketl) of: 
 
 " lyiiavuin ' fucos pecus a priesepibus iuveut ; '' 
 
 MM 
 
J^SSAYS OR COiXSKLS i IVIL AM) MORAL U.S 
 
 ;hat tlie usuhm- l)ivak('tli tlic first law that was made 
 for niaiikind after lli(> fall, which was " In sndore" 
 Miltus tui eomedes j)anein tuuiii," nol "In siidon^^ 
 \iiltus alieni;" that usiinM-s should have ()ran<;e- 
 ta\viiy° bonnets, because they do judai/e^: that it is 5 
 auainst natun* for money to beiict money; and the 
 like. I say this only, that usury is a " concessum ' 
 |)ro))ter duritiem cordis;" for since there nuist be 
 horn )win*i and lend in<i, and men are so hard of heai'l 
 as they will not KmkI freely, usiu'y nuist be permitted. li> 
 Some othtM's have matle susi)icious° and cuimin^ 
 |)ro]")ositions of banks, (lis<'o\-erv of men's estates, ° 
 and other inventions. Hut few have spoken of usury 
 usefully. It is o'ood io .set b(»foreusfheincommodities° 
 iind commodities of usury, that the ^idod may l)ei.5 
 either w(Mohed out or culled out; and warily to pro- 
 vide that, while we make forth to that which is better, 
 we meet not with that which is wors(>. 
 
 The discoiumodities of usury are: Fii-st, that 
 it makes fewer merchants. For were it not for this 20 
 lazy trade of usury, money would not lie still, but 
 woukl in jjreat j)art be employed uj)on merchandising!;, 
 which is the nna porta° of wealth in a state. The 
 second, that it makes ])oor merchants. For as a 
 farmer cannot husband his fjround .so well if he sit°2.") 
 at a great rent, so the merchant camiot drive his 
 trade so well if he sit at great usury. Th(> third 
 is incident to thv other two; and that is th.e decay 
 of customs° of kings or states, which ebb or flow with 
 merchandising. The fourth, that it bringetli thciio 
 
 jii 
 
144 ESSAYS OK < orxSKLS aviL A XI) MORAL 
 
 trea.siiro of a rcalin or state into a few l^aiuls. For 
 the iisuror boing- at crrtaintic's, and others at iincer- 
 taintie\-^, at the oinl of the <i;aino most of tlic iiionov 
 will be in the box; and ever a state flourisheth when 
 sweahh is more equally sjM-ead. The fifth, that it 
 beats down the prioo of land; for the (^ iiployment 
 of money is chiefly either merehandi-in^ or pui- 
 ehasing;,° and usury waylays both. The sixth, 
 that it doth dull and damp all industries. im])rove- 
 
 loments, and new inventions, wherein money would 
 
 be stirriuft-, if it were not for tliis slu^.^ The last, 
 
 that it is the eanker and ruin of many men's estates; 
 
 which in process of time breeds a public poverty. 
 
 On the other si(1e. the connnodities of usury are: — 
 
 15 First, that howsoever usury in some respect hin- 
 dereth merchandisin«^, yet in some ;)tii(>r it advanceth 
 it; for it is certain that the <?reatest part of trade 
 is driven by youni? merchants, upon borrowina; at 
 interest ; so as if the usurcM' either call in or keep back 
 
 2()his money, tjiere will ensue presently a ,e;reat stand° 
 of trade. The second is, that W( . e it not for this easy 
 borrowing; upon interest, men's necessities would 
 draw upon them a most sudden undoing;, in that they 
 would be forced to sell their means, be it lands or 
 
 25 goods, far under foot°; .'.'.nd so, whereas usury doth 
 but p;naw° upon them, bad markets would swallow 
 them quite up. As for mortjiauinir or f.mwning. 
 it will little mend the matter; for either !nen will 
 not take pawns without use,° or if they do, they will 
 
 iwlook precisely fur the forfeiture. 1 remember a 
 
KSSAYS on roiXSHI.S (71//. .IA7> MolLiL Wt 
 
 rnul Hionevcd man in \\\v coutitrv that would say, 
 "Tiu' devil take this usury, it kcH'ps us from i'or- 
 iritures of mort^aiios and iionds." The third and 
 List is, that it is a \auity to coiiccivt' that thefe 
 vnild be ofiliiuifv borrowing without profit; and 
 ii is impossiljje to conecMxc the number of inconven- 
 Kiices that will ensue, if borrowinii- be eram|«>d. 
 Thcfefon^ to sjK>ak of the aljoiishinii- (if usury is idle; 
 
 I j 
 
 :ill states have ever had it in onv kind or rate, or 
 (iliier. So as that opinion must be sent to I'topia."'' i 
 
 Ml" 
 
 I) 
 
 To s{X'ak now of the reformation and re^lement° 
 usury, how the (.liseommoditii's of it may be best 
 ;i\t)iiled and the eonmiotlities retained: it appears 
 t)y the balanee of connnodities and (.liseonunodities 
 It! usury, two thinji's are to be ri'conciled. The one, lo 
 that the tooth of usury° be grinded that it bite not 
 too ttmch: the other, that there be left o[)en a means 
 i<) invite moneyed meii to lend to the merehanls, 
 tor the eontinuinp; and quickening' of trade. This 
 cannot l)e done except you introduce two s(>\'eralL'o 
 sorts of usury, a less and a M'fcater. loi- if you reduce 
 usury to one low rate, it will ease the common borrower, 
 lint the merchant will be to seek for^ money. And 
 It is to be noted that the trade of merchandise, being 
 the most lucrative, may bear usury at a good rate; 2") 
 other contracts not ^\,. 
 
 To serve both intentions, the way would be briefix' 
 thus: that there be two rates of usury, the one free 
 and general for all; the other under license only to 
 certain persons, and in certain places of nierchan-;«i 
 
J4(> KSSAYS on col SSKI.S CIVIL AM) MORAL 
 
 (iisiiii;. I'irst. tluM-cforc, let usury in ^^cncral l)c 
 reduced to li\<' in lite iiundred : lUid let that rate l)e 
 proclaimed to he free and current: and let tlie stale 
 shut itseh" out to lake° any penahy for the same. 
 
 .-.This will i)reser\(> borrowinu' from any jieneral stop 
 oi- dryness; this will ease infinite borrowers in the 
 coimtry ; this will in .uood i)aiM raise the price of land, 
 because land |)urchased at sixte(>n years' j)urchase 
 will yield six in the hundred, and somewhat more, 
 
 10 whereas this rate of inverest yields but five; tliis, 
 l)y like reason, will encourage and ediie° industrious 
 and ))rofitable ImprovenuMits, becau.se many will 
 rather venture in that kind than take five in the 
 hundred, (^specially havin,!'- l)een us(mI to jj:reater profit. 
 
 1.-, Secondly, h^t there be certain persons licensed to lend 
 to known merchants upon usury at a higher rate, 
 and let it be with the cautions followinji". Let the 
 rat«> be, e\(Mi with the nuMvhant himself, somewhat 
 more easy than that he usimI formerly to pay; for 
 
 L'oby that means all borrowers shall have soine ease by 
 this reformation, be he nuM-ciiant or whosoever. Let 
 it be no bank, or conunon stock, but every man b-- 
 master of his own money. Not that I altojjether 
 mislike banks, but they will hanlly be brooked in 
 
 •j.%re<!:ar(l of c(M-tain suspicions. Let the state be 
 answered" some small matter for the license, and the 
 rest left to the lendcM-; tor if the abatement be but 
 small, it will no whit discouraji;e th(> lender. For 
 he. for e\ampl(\ that took before ten or nine in the 
 
 :m) hundred, will sooner descend to eight iu the huudivil 
 
KSSAYS OH corXSELS CIVIL .\\l> MoRM- 117 
 
 ilijiii iiivc over his trade <•!' ii>urv. and ^<> t'r<'iii ccrtai!! 
 ^aiiis to ,uains of lia/ard. Let these Hceii>ed UmhUts 
 !„• in iiuiulu'r iiidelinite. l>iil I'estraiiuMl to certain 
 in('i{)al ('iti(>s and towns of nierchandisin.ii ; tor then 
 
 r 
 
 ihey will !»<• hardly al.le i.« <'o!>ur^' otluM- metis 
 hK-iievs in the conntr)-; so as the license of nine will 
 
 t Slick away the cun-eiit rate ol hve. lor no man 
 will send his moneys fai' off. nor put them into un- 
 kii(»wn hands. 
 
 If it be objected that this doth in a sort authorize in 
 usury, which b(>fore was in soiiH- places but ju'riuissixc; 
 ihe answer is. that it is better to miti.uate usury by 
 declaration" than to suffer it to ra,uv by connivance. 
 
 XLIl. OF YOrTH AND ACE 
 
 A M.\N° that is youiiij; in yi^ars may be old in 
 hours, if he have lost no time. Hut that happen- ir- 
 cth rarely, (ienerally youth is like the lirst co.ui- 
 lations. not .-^o wise as the second. I'or ther(^ is .. 
 vouth in thoujihts as well as in a.ii'es. And yet the 
 invention of yomiii men is more lively than that ot 
 old; and ima«2;inations streai.i into their minds2<) 
 better, and, as it were, more divinely. 
 
 Natures that have much heat, and jiicat and violent 
 ilesires and pert urb.at ions, a.re not i-ipe for action 
 till they have pa.ssed the meridian of tiieii- years; 
 as it waswiMi .Julius ('a^sar° and Septimiits Severus.°'r. 
 of the latter of whom it is said, " .Iuventutem° egit 
 
 . 
 
 L^.t^ jLk..M ..i^l 
 
148 ESSAYS nli fOrSSKLS civil. AM) MO HAL 
 
 im 
 
 erroribus, into furorihus. j)lenani. " And ycT lie wa 
 the al)lost otiij)eror. ahnost. of all the list, 
 reposed natures may do wi'll in youth, as it is seeti m 
 Au<iustus Ca'sar.° Cosnius° Duke of l-'lorence, Gnstcii 
 5de l''ois,° and others. 
 
 On the other side, heat and vivaeity in ajie is an 
 excellent roniposiiion° for business, Y()un<:; men aic 
 htier to invent than to jud«i;e, fitter for exeeutioi: 
 than for counsel, and fitter foi- new pnijccts than fiu 
 
 10 settled Inisiness. For tiie e\{x'i'ietice of ajie, in things 
 that fall within the eoni{>ass of it, directeth them, but 
 in new things abuseth them.'^ 
 
 The errors of young- men are the ruin of business; 
 but the errors of a<jjed men amount but to this. 
 
 inthat mor(> mij^ht have becMi (lon(\ or sooner. Youiiu 
 men, in the conduct and manage'' of acttions, (nnbracc 
 more than they can hold; stir more than they can 
 quiet; fly to the Ln\v, without consideration of the 
 means and degrees; j)ursue some few j)rinciples. 
 
 20 which they have chanced upon, absurdly; care not 
 to° innovate, which draws unknown inconveniences; 
 use extreme remedies at first°; and, that which doub- 
 leth all errors, v.-ill not acknowledge or retract th(Mn; 
 like an unready" horse, that will neither stop nor turn. 
 
 J") Men of age object too nuich, consult too long, 
 
 adventure too little, repent too soon, and seldom 
 
 drive Inisiness home to the full period, ° but contenr 
 
 themselves with a mediocrity of success. 
 
 Certainly it is good to compoimd employments 
 
 30 of both° : for that will be good for the ])resent, becaus« 
 
 _. 
 
1:SSAYS OU t'OrXSKLS civil. AXI> MOh'AL 149 
 
 (lie \irtii('s (>r cither iiirc iiiny ('(iiTcct the defects of 
 lidth: and <i()0(l for siicccssioii/ tliat youiiii uicii inav 
 Im' I(\'ii'n(M's. while men in a,u"c ai'e actors; ;iii<l. histly. 
 oiiod for extern'' accid(Mi1s, because authority follow- 
 (ih old men, an<l favour and |)oi)ularity, youth. ."> 
 
 liut. for the moral part. |)erha|)s, youtli will havo 
 I lie i)r(^-eniin(Mic(\ as a^e hath for the politic. A 
 certain Hal)i)in Mtpon the text. " "S'our yonnii' nion° 
 ■;hall see visions, and your old men shall dream 
 ih"eanis," intVrrcth that younii; men arc admitted Ki 
 iitnucr to (lod^ than old. IxM'ause vision is a clearer 
 revelation than a dreatn. And certainly the more a 
 man drinketh of the world, the more it intoxicateth ; 
 and a<re doth profit ratlu^r in the ])owers of nnder- 
 >randin^, than in the virtues of the will and affections, i.-) 
 
 Tliere be some have an ov(>r-earIy ripeness in 
 I heir vears, which fadeth betimes. These are. first, 
 ■>uch as have brittle wits, the (Hi;»j:e whereof is soon 
 lurned ; sucli as was Hermoj2;enes,° th(> rhetorician, 
 whose books are exceeding subtile, who afterwards 'jo 
 waxed stupid. A second sort is of those that have 
 <<m\e natural dispositions which have better grace 
 in youth than in age: such as is a fluent and luxuriant 
 -neech. which becomes youth well, but not age. 
 So Tully" sahh of Hortensius.° "Idem manebat,° jri 
 iieque idem decebat." The tliird is of such as take 
 too high a strain at tiie iirst, and are magnanimous 
 more than tract of years can uphold; as was Scipio 
 \fricanus.° of whom Livy° saith in etfect. " Ultima^ 
 ))rimis cedebant. " i^(i 
 
 m^ 
 
150 J-JSSAYii Oli roi XSHLS CIVIL AND MORAL 
 
 XLIIl. OF BEAUTY 
 
 Virtue® is like a rich stono. host plain set; and 
 surely virtne is Ixvst in a body that is eoniely, though 
 not of (lelieate f(>atures, and that hath rather dignity 
 of ])res(^n('e than beauty of as})eet. Neither is it 
 5alni()st° seen that very beautiful persons are otherwise 
 of n;reat virtue; as if Nature were rather busy not 
 to err. than in labou.r to produce excelleney. And 
 therefore they j)rove aeeoniplished, but not of great 
 spirit, ° and study rathor IxOiaviour than virtue. But 
 
 10 this holds not always: for Augustus (a>sar,° Titus 
 Vespasianus,° Philip le Bel of Franee.° Kdward IV. 
 of England, ° Aleibiades of Athens, ° Isinael ihe Sophy° 
 of Persia, were all high and great sj)irits, and yet the 
 most beautiful men of their times. In beauty, that 
 
 15 of favoiu-° is more than that of eolour°; and that of 
 dee(nit and graeious motion, more than that of favour. 
 That is the best i)art of beauty which a picture cannot 
 express, — no, nor the first sight of the life. There 
 is no excellent beauty that hath not some strange- 
 
 2()ness in the })roportion. A man cannot tell whether 
 Ai:)elles° or Albert l)urer° were the more° trifler; 
 whereof the one would° make a personage by geo- 
 metrical proportions; the other, by taking the best 
 parts out of divers faces to make one excellent. 
 
 L'.iSuch personages, I think, would please nobody but 
 the painter that made them. Not but I think a 
 painter may make a better face than ever was; but 
 
 mgmummmm 
 
KSSAYS on rorXSKLS CIVIL AM* MOUAL 
 
 IT)! 
 
 i„. must *1<) it l)y a kind of tVlicity, as a musician tliat 
 itiakcth an cxct'lk'nt air in music, and not by ruk'. 
 A man shall sec fa<'cs that,° if you examine them i)art 
 l.y part, you shall find never a j^ood. and yet alto^icther 
 ,lo well/ If it be tru(> that the princij-al part° of" 
 l„>auty is in decunt motion, certainly it is no marvel 
 thoujrh i)ers()ns in years seem many times" more 
 ainiaT'le: " Pul('liroruni° autunnuis pulch(>r;" for 
 no youth can be conu^ly but by i)ardon,° and eon- 
 sidering the youth as to make uj) the comeliness, m 
 Beauty is as sununer fruits, which ire easy to corrupt 
 and cannot last; and, for the most part, it makt>s a 
 dissolute vouth, and an age a little out of countenance; 
 hut yet certainly, again, if it liglit \vell,° it maketh 
 virtues shine and vices blush. i^ 
 
 XLIV. OF DEFORMITY 
 
 Deformp:d persons are commonly oven with nature; 
 for as nature hath done ill by them, so tlo they by 
 nature, being for the most ])art, as the Scrijiture 
 saith, "void of natural affection;" and so they have 
 their revenge oi nature. (\>rtainly there is a consent '-'() 
 l)(>t\veen the body and the mind, and where nature 
 erreth in the one she ventureth in the other: " Ubi 
 peccat^ in uno, peiiclitatur in altero." But beoau8e° 
 there is in man an election touching the frame of his 
 mind, and a necessity in the frame of his body, theiM 
 stars of natural hiclination are sometinu^s obscured 
 
ir»2 KSSAYS OR i(jr\SK/,S rHi/, a\I> Mnn\L 
 
 by the sun of liisclpline and virtue. Tlicn't'on' it 
 good to considor of doforniity. not as a sign.° whicii 
 
 ihlc; but as a cause which seldom failctli 
 
 more deceivaDi 
 of the effect. 
 5 Whosoever hath anylhing (i .1 in his person thtit 
 doth imhice cont(Mnpt, iiatii also a perpetual spur^ 
 in himself to rescue and deliver hini >if from scorn. 
 Therefore all detormed persons are extfetne bold; 
 first, as in tlu'ir own defence, as b^'ing e\j)osed l<. 
 
 10 scorn; but in process of time, by a general iiabit. 
 Also it stirreth in them industry, and ("Specially of 
 this kind, to watch and observe the weakness of othei's. 
 that they may have somewhat to repay. Again, in 
 their superiors it quencheth jealousy towards them, as 
 
 15 jjersons that they think they may at pleasure despise; 
 and it layeth their com|)etitors and emulators asleep, 
 as never believing they should be in i)os>ibility of 
 advancement, till they se(^ them in possession. So 
 that, upon the matter, ° in a great wit" deformity 
 
 20 is an advantage to rising. 
 
 Kings in ancient tin)es, and at this present in some 
 countries, were wont to put great trust in eunuchs: 
 because they that are envious towards all, are more 
 obnoxious" and officious" towards one. l:iut yet their 
 
 25 trust towards them hath rather been as to good spials° 
 and good whisperers than good magistrates and 
 officers. And rruich like is the reason" of deformed 
 persons. Still" the ground is, they will, if th(>v be 
 of spirit, seek to free themselves from scorn; which 
 
 liomust be either by virtue or malice. And, therefore, 
 
KSSAYS on (Ol XSKiS ilVIL AMi MORAL 1 
 
 r.\ 
 
 ,.( it dot ])o ni;irv(>ll(Hl if soinctinips they provc 
 ,.\n'll('iit persons, as was Airosilaus.^ Zixui^w" tli(' son 
 ni Solynian.° .Ksop.° Casca^' PrcsLliMit of IVni; aiul 
 S()i-i-ates° iiuiv go likewise amongst them, with others. 
 
 XLV. OF BUILDING 
 
 ITorsF.s are huilt to live in. and not to look on°;5 
 thcrefon^ let use \)v preferred hefon^ uniformity. ° 
 ,.\ccpt wh(M-e l)oth mav he had. Leave the goodly 
 f.ihries of houses for beauty only,° to the enchanted 
 p.ilaces of the poets, who l)uil<l them with sm;dl 
 ,'.;>st. He that builds a lair house upon an ill seat.^'iti 
 .•ommitteth himself to prison. Neither do I reckon 
 it an ill s(vd only where the air is unwholesome. 
 hiif likewise where the air is unequal; as you shall 
 see many fine seats, set upon a knap° of ground, 
 . iivironeil witli higher !ii!!s round about it; whereby i.-, 
 ;he heat of the su!i is ]»enl in. and the wind gath- 
 (>reth as in troughs, so as you shall have, and that 
 Hiddenly, as great diversity of heat .and cold as if you 
 dwelt in several places. Neither is it ill air only 
 that maketh a!i ill seat, but ill ways,° ill markets, -ji) 
 ;ind. if you will consult with Momus,° ill neighbours. 
 I sneak not of many mon>: want of water; want of 
 wood, shade, and shelter; want of fruit fulness, and 
 trixture of fi:rounds of several natures; want of 
 prospect; want of levc^l grounds; want of places at 25 
 -onie near distance for sports of hunting, hawking, 
 
J.")4 A'.s'.s.j r.s on ( nrxsh'Ls rnir AXf> mohal 
 
 and racos; too near the sea. too remote; haviim 
 (not) X\w conunodity" of riaviiiahle rivers, or tlir 
 discommodity of their overflowing; too far oft 
 from •Treat cities, wliicli may hinder business; or 
 r. too near them, which iurcheth° ail provisions, and 
 maketh everythin.i!; dear: where a man hath a ^re;ii 
 hvin<i; laid together, atid where he is scanted; — ;il! 
 which, as it is impossible'. j)erhaps. to find to<>;ethcr. 
 so it is <io.»(l to know them, and think of them, tliat 
 l<»a man may take as many as he cati; aiui if he iiaw 
 sev(M-al dwelHn<;s, that he sort° them so, that what 
 he wanteth in tiie one he may find in tlio other, 
 Liicidiiis^ answered Pomp(\v° well, who. when ho saw 
 his stately ^alleric^s, and rooms so larfjco and lip;ht- 
 
 ir.some,° in on(> of his houses, said, "Surely an oxcel- 
 lont place for summer, hut iiow do you in winter?" 
 Lucullus answered, ''Why, do you not think me as 
 wise as some fowl are, that ever change their abode 
 towards the winter?" 
 
 20 To j)ass from the seat to the house itself, we will 
 do as Cicero° doth in the orator's art, who writes 
 books " I)e Oratore," and a book he entitles "Ora- 
 tor;" whereof the former delivers the j)recepts of 
 the art, and the latter the perfection. We will 
 
 L'a therefore describe a princely palace. makin^Lr a brief 
 model thereof. \'\\y it is stran<ie to see, ;i;>--- \\\ 
 Europe, such hu<i:e buildiiifrs as the Vatican" and 
 Kscurial° and some others be. and \v\ scarce a \cvx 
 fair room in them. 
 
 ;}o First, therefore, 1 say, you cannot have a perfect 
 
t:ss.i]s on (inssi'.i.s < ivii. wn M«»mi. \^ 
 
 .,:il;icc. cxccit? \nii li;i\c t\V(» sr ••<'!';il ' sides: ;i side 
 !,,i- the ItaiHi'.K't / ;is is -pokcii d iti llic hook (' 
 llr-'cr" : and a sid.- tor ihc iioii^rlioid, iln' one I. •■ 
 I, ar-:.s and triiiin|»li-; and the ((llicr for Iwdlinu. I 
 iiiidcrsland l)otli these .>ides to l)e not (.nly returns."'."- 
 l,!i! parts ol' the front: and to l)e uniloi'ni without, 
 iliouiih severally partitionet within: and to l«e on 
 !..»tl! sides of a ureat and stately towri-. in the midst 
 ,,! the front, that as it were joineth them to,«:-elhei 
 1,11 either hand. 1 would ha\c (»n the side of 1 h(> ban- u 
 (|Uet. in. front, one only uoodly room ahove stairs, 
 of ^oine forty foot hi,<ih : and under it a room for a 
 dressin.u" or preparing jtlace. at times of ti'iumphs. 
 ( )u the other <ide. whieh is the hou-ehold sid(>, I 
 wisii it divided at the hrst into a hall an«l a <hapel. i"- 
 with a ])artition between, both of .uood state and biii- 
 iie>s: and those not to iio all the leii.iith. but to hiive 
 •I' the farther end a winter and a sununer parlour. 
 !,uth fair. And rtudei' these nioms a fail" an«l iari!;e 
 <cllar sunk under ,iir(.und: an<l likewise some pi-ivy .'h 
 kitchens, with butteries and pantries. :md the like. 
 A- tor the tower. I would have it two stories of eiuh- 
 (cn foot hi.iih apiece, above the two win^s: aiid a 
 L,oo(ll\- leads^ upon the lop. railed, with siafua- 
 iMterposeiP; and tiie same towci' to be di\ided intoj'. 
 n.oiiis. as shall be thosiuht fit. Tlie stairs likewise 
 to the upper rooms, let them be upon a fair open 
 !ie\\( 1,° and finely railed in with iniai!< -^ of wood east 
 into a brass colour; and a v< y fair lan{lin^-i)laee 
 at the top. But this to bo. if . ou (i . not i)oint auy m 
 
15(3 ESSAYS (f/{ CO! XSELS VIVIL AND MORAL 
 
 of tlie lower rooms for u dining-place of servants; 
 for otlierwise you yhall° have the servants' dinner 
 after your own, for the steam of it will come up as 
 ill a tunnel. And so much for the front. Only I 
 r. understand tiie height of the first stairs to be sixteen 
 foot, which is the heinht of the lower room. 
 
 Jk\vond thih front is there to be a fair court, but 
 three sides of it of a far lower building than the 
 front. And in all the four corners of that court, 
 10 fair staircases cast into° turrets on the outside, ° and 
 not within the row of buildings themselves; but 
 those towers are not to l^e of the height of the front, 
 but ratiier projjortionable to the lower building. 
 Let the court not be paved, for that striketh up a 
 15 great heat in suimner, and much cold in winter: 
 but only some side alleys,° with a cross,° and the 
 quarters to graze, ° being kept siiorn, but not too near 
 shorn. The row of retiirn on the banquet side, let 
 it be all stately galleries; in which galleries let there 
 20 be three, or five, fine cupolas in the length of it, 
 placed at equal distance, and fine coloured windows 
 of several works. On the household side, chambers 
 of presence^ and ordinary entertainments, with some 
 bed-chambers; ami let all three sides be a double 
 25 house, ° without through lights on the sides, that 
 you may have rooms from the sun. both for fore- 
 noon and afternoon. Cast° it also that you may 
 have rooms both for summer and winter; shady for 
 summer, and warm for winter. You shall have 
 30 sometimes lair iiuuses so full of glass, that one can- 
 
KSSAYS Oh' < nrxst:Ls civil Axn moral \^>7 
 
 not toll where to hpcomo" to ho (MU of tho sun or coM. 
 j'or ombowod windows^ I hold tlioni of uood uso (in 
 cirios. indeod, uprio;ht do liottor, m rospoct of tho 
 uniformity towards tho stroot), for thoy ho protty 
 rotirins places for f(Mif(M-onoo; and besides, they 5 
 kecj) both the wind and sun off, for thai which would 
 strike almost through the room doth scarce pass tho 
 winthnv. But let them be ))ut few, four in the court, 
 on th(^ sides only. 
 
 Beyond this court let there be an inward court, in 
 of the same square and hei<iht, which is to be en- 
 vironed with the .i^arden on all sides: and in the 
 inside cloistered on all sides upon decent and beau- 
 tiful arches, as high as the first story. On the under 
 storv, towards the garden, let it be turned to a grotto, ir. 
 or place of shade or estivation, and only have open- 
 ing and windows towards the garden; and be level 
 upon the floor, no whit sunk under ground, to avoid 
 all dampishness. And let there be a fountain, or 
 some fair work of statuas, in the midst of this court,-!) 
 and to lie pavod° as the other court was. These 
 buildings to be for privy lodgings on both sides, and 
 the end for privy galleries; whereof you nmst fore- 
 ,>iHN° that one of them be for an iniirmary, if the 
 prince or any special person should be sick, withj.i 
 chambers, bed-chamber, antecamera° and recamera° 
 joining to it. This upon the .second story. Upon 
 ihe ground-story. ° a fair gallery, open, upon pillars; 
 ;uid upon the third story.° likewise, an open gallery 
 upon pillars, to take the prosv)ect and freshness of the;i«i 
 
 JJ 
 
J 58 ASSAYS on (jorxsKLs civil axd moral 
 
 i:;ar(Ien. At both roriiors of the further side, hy way 
 of return, let there l)e two deHrate or rich eabinets. 
 daintily paved, riehly lian«i;ed. glazed with rrystal- 
 line glass, and a )'ieh euj)ola in the midst; and all 
 5 other elegaiu'V th-it may be thouglu upon. In the 
 upper gallery, too, I wish that tiiere may l)e, if the 
 place will yield it, some fountains running in div(M"s 
 places from the wall, with some fine avoifhuices.'^ 
 And thus much for the mod(>l of the palace, save 
 
 10 that you must have, before you come to the front, 
 thnw^ courts: a green court j)lain, with a wall about 
 it; a second court of the same,° but more garnished, 
 with little turrets, or rather embellishments, up(»n 
 the wall; and a third court, to make a square with 
 
 15 the front, but not to be built, ° nor yet enclosed with 
 a naked wall, but enclosed with terraces, leaded aloft, 
 and fairly garnished, on the three sides; and clois- 
 tered on the mside with pillars, and not Vvith arches 
 below. As tor offices, let them stand at distance, 
 
 20 with some low galleries to j)ass from them to the 
 palace itself. 
 
 XLVl. OF (;ardkns 
 
 God Almighty first jilanted a garden"; and, in- 
 deed, it is the purest° of human pleasur(>s. Jt is 
 the greatest refreshment to the spirits of man. with- 
 snout which buildings and palaces ar<^ but gross handy- 
 works; and a man shall ever se(» that when ages 
 grow to civility" and elegancy, men come to build 
 
ESSAYS on cnrxsKLs run. .i.v/> moral 
 
 159 
 
 stately sooner thai) to pmleu linely. as il" .liardcning 
 ,\(-iv tlie gr{?at('r iKM-foction. 1 do hold it. in the royal 
 ..rderhi^ of j^ardens, there ou<2;ht to be gardens for 
 ;ill the nionths in the year; in whieh. severally, 
 ihin.iis of beauty may he then in season. For Decern- r. 
 lu-r and January, and the latter part of X(.v(>Tnl)er. 
 y.u must take sueh thiiigs as are j-reen all winder: 
 h,,llv. ivy. bays, juniper, ey press-trees, yew. })inea}>i)le 
 lives. ° fir-trees, rosemary, lavender. j)eri\vinkle (the 
 white, tlu^ jnirple, and the blue), jiermander. (la^s. k 
 orange-trees, lemon-trees, and myrtles (if tney be 
 .t()ved°), and sw .;^ marjoram, warm set.^ There 
 f,,lloweth for .. latter part of January and 
 1 cbruary. the erion-tr(>e. wliieh then blossoms; 
 
 crocus vermis, i.a the yellow and the firey ; prim- ir. 
 roses. anemoiKN. the early tulip, hyacinthus orien- 
 talis. chamairis. fritellaria. For March, there come 
 violets, specially the sin^l(> blue, which are the 
 earliest ; the yellow daffodil, the daisy, the almond- 
 tree ill blossom, the peach-tree in blossom, the cor--.'(t 
 nclian-tree in blossom, sweet-briar. In April follow 
 tli(> double white violet, the walKlower. the stock 
 liillillower, the cow.slij). flower-de-luces and lilies of 
 all natures, rosemary-flowers, the tulip, the double 
 peony, the pale daifodil. the French honeysuckle, -r. 
 the cherry-tree in blossom, the damaseene and })lum- 
 trees in blossom, the whitethorn in leaf, the lilae- 
 ire(>. \\\ May and June come pinks of all sorts, 
 si.cially the blush pink; roses of all kinds except 
 the musk, which comes later; honeysuckles, straw- :'-i 
 
101) ESSAYS on ((trXSKLS CIVIL AX It MORAL 
 
 berries;, bugloss. colinnbiiie, the French nuirigoki, 
 flos Africa nils;, clierrv-tree in fruit. ribes,° figs in 
 fruit, rasps, \ine-f lowers, la vernier in flowers, tli. 
 sweet satyrian,° -vvitii the white flower, herba nius- 
 Scaria, liliuni con\ allium, the apple-tree hi blossom. 
 In July coine gilliflowers of all varieties, musk-roses, 
 the hnie-tree in blossom, early pears and plums in 
 fruit, ginniti'igs, quadhns. In August come phuns 
 of ail sorts in fruit, pears, apricocks, barberries, fil- 
 
 10 herds, musk-melons, monkshoods of all colours. In 
 September come grapes, appies, poppies of all colours, 
 peaches, ineiocotones,° nectarines, cornelians, war- 
 dens, (luinces. In October, and the beginning ol 
 November, come services, medlars, bullaces, roses 
 
 15 cut or removed to come late, hollyoaks, and such 
 like. These particulars are for the climate of Lon- 
 don; but my meaning is perceived, that you may 
 have vcr pirpdnum" as the place affords. 
 
 And Ix'cause the breath of flowers is far sweeter 
 
 20 in the air (where it conies and goes like the warbling 
 of music) than in the haiul, therefore nolhing is more 
 fit for that delight than to know what be the flowers 
 and plants that do best perfume the air. Roses, 
 damask and red, are fast° flowers of their smells, so 
 
 iiothat you may walk by a whole row of them, and find 
 nothing of their sweetness; yea, though it be in a 
 morning's dew. Bays likewise yield no smell as they 
 grow; rosemary little, nor sweet marjoram. That 
 whi., h, above all otluTs, yields the sweetest smell in 
 
 ;H)the air is tlie violet, specially the white double violet, 
 
ESSAYS OR COrXSKLS CIVIL JXI> MORAL UM 
 
 Which comes twice a ye:r, about the middle of Ajiril, 
 ami about Bartliolome\v-tide.° Next to tlud is the 
 nm.sk-rose°; tlien tlie strawberry leaves dyiu*--, with 
 a most excellent cordial smell; then the flower of the 
 ^.j„(»^^ — it is a little dust, like the dust of a bent,°-) 
 which throws ui:K)n the cluster in the first comin.si: forth; 
 then sweet-briar; then wallflowers, which are very 
 ,]( lightful to be set mider a park^ur or lower cham])er 
 window; then pinks and siHi^^'^^^'^''"^' specially the 
 matted pink and clove ^illifiowcM-; then the flowers i(i 
 of the lime-tree; then the honeysuckles, so they be 
 somewhat afar off. Of bean-flowers I sjjcak not, 
 b(>cause they are field flowers. Hut thos(> v.hich per- 
 fume the air most delishtf'dly, not i»assed l)y as the 
 rest, but beunj? trodden ui)on and crushed, are three: i.i 
 that is, burnet, wild thyme, and watermints; there- 
 fore you are to set whole alleys° of them, to have 
 the pleasure when you walk or tn^id. 
 
 For° gardens (speakinp: of tlK)se which are indeed 
 prince-like, as we have done of I)uildin»i \ the con- 211 
 t(>nts oujiht not well to Ik^ und(M- thirty acres of 
 irround, and to be divided into tln-ee i)arts: a green 
 ill the entrance, a heath or descit, in tlu^ goinjr forth, 
 and the maui garden in the midst. l)esides alleys on 
 both sides. And I like well that four acres of ground •r. 
 be assigned to the green, six to the heath, four and 
 four to either side, and twelve to the main garden. 
 The green hath two pleasures: the one, because noth- 
 ing is more pleasant to the ey(^ than groon grass kept 
 finely shorn; the otluM'. because it will give you a ;«i. 
 
 M 
 
 M 
 
UVJ j':ssAys or ((jixskls civil an it moral 
 
 tair alloy in tlio niidst, by wliicii you may <:;() in front 
 upon a stately hcd^e, which is to (micIoso the <>;ar(lpn. 
 Hut bocauso tho alloy will bo lon^. and, in ^roat h(>at 
 of the year or day, you oufiht not to buy tho shade 
 ".in tho garden by »»;oin«i; in th(^ sun through the «z;reon. 
 therefore you are, of either side tho ^\Tin\, to j)lant 
 a eovert° alley upon carpenter's woik, at)out twelve 
 foot in hoi;i>:ht. by which you may ^u in shade into the 
 garden. As for tho making- of knots° or fi^in-os with 
 
 10 divers coloured earths, that they may lie under the 
 windows of the house on that side which tin* pu-deii 
 stands, they be but toys°: you may see as ^ood sights 
 many times in tarts. Tho pu'don is best to bo s(]uar(\ 
 encompassed on all tho four sides with a stately 
 
 15 arched he(l,<re°; tho arches to bo upon pillars of car- 
 penter's work of some ten foot hijrh, and six foot 
 broad, and tho spaces between of tho same dimen- 
 sion with tho breadth of the arch. Over tho arches 
 lot there bo an entiro° hed«ie of some four foot hi<>h. 
 
 liofratnod also ui)on carpenter's work; and ujKm the 
 upj)or hed<>o, over every arch, a little turret with a 
 belly, enou<i;h to receive a ca<i:e of birds; and over 
 every s})aco between the arches some other littl(> 
 figu.ro, with broad plates of round coloured glass, gilt 
 
 LMfor the sun to play ui)on. liut this hedge I intend 
 to be raised U[)on a bank, not stooj) l)ut gently slope, ° 
 of some six foot. h-A ;ill with flowers. Also, I untlor- 
 stand that this scpiaro of tho garden should not be 
 tho whole breadth of tlio ground, but to leave on 
 
 :«) either side gn)und enough for diversity of side alleys, 
 
ESSAYS on ((XWSELS CIVIL AXl> MORAL 
 
 1G3 
 
 „„to whic-li tho two covert all(>ys o tlu- ^roon nin> 
 Miv(>r vou. Hut tlioro must bo no alleys with IuhI^os 
 ,, ,.ithor 011(1 of this firoat ouolosuro: not at the 
 'l.ithor oiul. for lottinj^° your prospect upon this fair _ 
 ,,,.loo from the f^reon; nor at the further eiu . or. 
 l,,ttm,ir your prospc-et from the hodf^o. throuj^h the 
 
 ircho.-, upon the heath. . , • ., f 
 
 ' For the ordering of the p-cmul withm the ^reat 
 lH.,hi,^ I l(>ave it to variety of devi.v; aavismij. never- 
 ,h,.lrss. that whatsoever form you east it into, hrst in 
 ;, ,,, „ot to(» husv° or full of work. Wherein I, for my 
 ,,,,, ao not like ima-es out out in juniper or other 
 I:,.len stulT,-they he for ehiklren. l.ttle low 
 h;',!..vs ror.nd like welts,° with some piTtty pyramids 
 1 like w(41; and in some places, fair colunms uponio 
 f,,unes of carpenter's work. 1 would also have the 
 ,lK>vs siiacious and fair. You may have closer 
 '..llevs upon the side grounds, but none m the mam 
 ;,,,den. I wish also, in the very middle a fair mount, 
 ;ith three ascents and alleys, enou,udi h.r four to >0 
 ,,,1U abreast; which I would have to i- IKM-fc^e 
 ,Hcl(>s° without anv ))iilwarks or emlx.ssnu nts, and 
 ,lH. whole mount to be thirty foot hi^di; and some 
 ,,„, banqueting houscN with some chimneys iH>atly^^_ 
 cast, and without too much jilass.- , . , "' 
 
 l.'or fountains, they are a pvat beauty and refresh- 
 ment; but pools mar all, and make the jrardon un- 
 .vholJsomo, and full of Hies and fro.s. fountains 
 i inirnd to be of two natures: the one that sprn^k- 
 l.th or spouteth water; tlie other a fair receipt ol .- 
 
 m^ 
 
104 E^SSAYS OH COCXSKLS CIVIL AXI) MORAL 
 
 water of some thirty or forty foot .square, but witli- 
 out fish, or shme, or mud. For the first, the orna- 
 ments of ima-es -iit. or of marble, which are in us(., 
 (io well; but the main matter is so to etmvey the 
 5 water as it never stay either in the bowls or in the 
 cistern, tliat the water be never bv rest diseoloured 
 green or ivd, or the like, or gather anv mo.>sine.s 
 or putrefaKi,)!!. I^esides that, it is to be eleans.«,l 
 every day by the hand. Also some steps up to if, an.i 
 losome hue pavement al)out it. doth well. As for th(> 
 otlKM- kind of fountain, which we may call a bathing 
 pool. It may admit much curiositv and beautv, where'^ 
 witli we will not trouble ourselves : as that the'bottom 
 be hnely j>aved. and with images; the sides likewise- 
 15 and withal embellished with coloured glass, and siuli 
 things of lustre; encompassed also with fine rails of 
 low statuas. Jiut the main point is the same which 
 we mentioned m the former kind of fountain: which 
 IS, thac. the water be in jxTpetual motion, fed bv a 
 ii(> water higher than the pool, and delivered into it' by 
 fair spouts, and then discharged awav undergrounJi 
 by some equality of bores° that it stav little. An<l 
 for fine devices of arching water without spillin^r, and 
 making it i-isc in several forms (of featluTs, drinkin<r 
 -•..glasses, canopies, and the like), thev be prettv things 
 to look on. but nothing to health and sweetness. 
 
 For the heath, wliich was the third part of our 
 plot, I wish it to be framed, as much as may be to 
 n natural wildness. Trees. I would have none in it 
 ■■^•but some thickets made onlv of sweet-briar and 
 
 ^SmSSSS^SM 
 
ESSAYS Uli rorXSKLS ilVll. .1A7> MnUM. 
 
 10;' 
 
 houeveuckle. iiud some wild viiu' amctiost ; an.l the 
 .round set with violets, ^.trawherrios. an-l ])niiiroses 
 f„r those are sweet aiui prosper in the sluule; an(i 
 these to be in the heatli here ami there, iH.t ni any 
 ..nier I like also little lieaps in the nature of niole-5 
 h,lW such as are in wild lu^aths. to be se^ s.nne ^vlth 
 wild thvnie.° some with pinks, some with ,ii(M-n.ander, 
 ilnt '-ives a j?ood Hower to th.e eye, sonic with peri- 
 svinkle, some with violets, some with strawbornes. 
 <onie with eowslii)s, some with daisies, some with W 
 ,,hI roses, some with lilium eonvalhum, some with 
 sweet Williams red. some with bear's foot, and the 
 like low flowers, beinu; withal sweet and si<:htly I art 
 c,f which heaps to be with standards of httl.^ bushes 
 „ricked° upon their top, and part without. Ihel., 
 standards to be roses, juniper, holly. barlxTries (but 
 here and there, because of the snu'll of their blossom), 
 re<l currants, -ooseberries. rosemary, bays, sweet- 
 l>nar, and such like; but these stundards to be kept 
 
 LHI 
 
 with cutting that they grow not out ot e.Mirse 
 
 For the side -roun<ls. you an- to till them with 
 varietv of allevs private, to give a full shade, sonu- 
 i,f them, wheresoever the sun be. \ ou are to frame 
 some of them likewise for shelter, that when the wind 
 blows sharp vou may walk as in a gallery. Aiul those i. 
 ■illeys must be likewise hedged at both ends to keep 
 out' the wind, and these closer alleys must be evt>v 
 tiiielv gravelled, and no grass, because of going wet. 
 In many of these allevs, likewise, ycni are to set b uit 
 trees of' all sorts, as well upon the walls as in ranges. 'M 
 
IGG 
 
 KSS.iYS i,Ii (orXSKLS ilViL AM, Moh'Al. 
 
 And tins woul.r l>(. -onorally ol.scrvod. (hat tlH> ho, 
 (Uts whoHMn you plant y(,ur fruit tivrs I„. fair an.l 
 ar^^o. and low. an,i not st(v,,; and s,>t with fin. 
 Owors, but thin and sparingly, h-st th(>v (h.-oiv,- 
 •' i'otroes. Atthocndofhoththcsi.lr^rnnHidsIwouM 
 have a mount of sonic protty hcM^ht ; l.avino- th.. wall 
 
 fieldr "''''^ '^'"''^'^ ^''-''' ^^* ^^'^>J^ abroad into tl„. 
 
 For tho main li-arden, I d(. m>t donv but then- 
 .0 ould be s<,me hur allc-ys, ranged on both sidc-s with 
 tnnt trees and son.e pretty tufts of fruit (re(>s a-i.j 
 arbours with seats set in soni(> d(vent order; but t h('... 
 to be by no means set too tliiek. i,ut to leave th. 
 main oarden so as it be not close, but the air open and 
 ^.ro(^ lM>rasiorshacle.Iwouldhaveyoures'to,; 
 
 he alleys ot the side .rounds, there to walk, if vou 
 
 bo disposed, in the heat of the v.^ar or dav; bui t.. 
 
 make aee(,unt that tlu> main oanlen is for tlu^ moiv 
 
 temperate parts of the year, and in the hvM of sum- 
 
 -x.mer for the morning- and tlu> evenino-. or ou.vasi 
 
 (lays. 
 
 For aviari(>s, I like them not. exe(>pt tlun- b(> of 
 
 hat lai^eness .is th(>y may Ik. turte,|. and have livin- 
 
 plants and bushes set in them, that the birds niav 
 
 •-' have more scope and natural nestlino-, and that no 
 
 toulness appear m the floor of the ax-iary 
 
 pa tly by precept, partly by drawino-, „ot a mode!, 
 bnt sonie ^^enera! Imes^^ of it; and in this 1 have 
 .«)spared for no cost. Hut it is nothino- f,..- u,va 
 
 ■B^BBB 
 
KSSAYS OK ror.V.SAAN </l7/. .I.V/> M<>li.\I. Uu 
 
 ))rin('{'S. ihat for tlic most pjirt takinir advice with 
 workmen, \vitli no less cost set their tliin.us together; 
 ,111(1 sometimes add statuas and sucli things for state 
 •iiid magnificence, but nothing to the true pleasure 
 of a garden. 8 
 
 XLVII. OF NKflOTIATIXO 
 
 Ir is generally belter (o deal by specM-li than by 
 letter, and hy tli(> mediation'^ of a third than by a 
 man's self, betters ar<> good wIumi a nian would 
 draw an atiswer by letter back again: or when it may 
 vrrvr for a man's juslilication afterwards to produce id 
 his own Iett<'r; or where it may be i.n.ger^ to be in- 
 tcrrupte<l or heard by |)ieces. To deal in ))erson is 
 liood when a man's face° breedeth regard, as com- 
 iii-mly with inft>riors; or in tend(M-° cases. wluM-e a 
 man's eye upon the countenanc* of h'ln with whom \^^ 
 \\v speak(>th \-v<\\ give him a direction how far to go; 
 and g(>nerally where a man will reserve to himself 
 liberty. (Mther to disavow" or to expound. ° 
 
 111 choice of instriunents it is b(>tter to choose men 
 (.f a plainer sort," that are like to do that that is com--j(i 
 mitted to them, and to reixH't back again faithfully 
 th(> suc(i-ss,° than those that are cumiing to contrive 
 out of other men's l)usin(^ss somewhat to grace them- 
 selves, and will help° the tnatter in report for satis- 
 faction sake. I'se als(> such persons as affecf^ the-j."! 
 business wherein they are emi)loyed, for that (luicken- 
 
 M 
 
 i 
 
J(i.S ASSAYS on ro' XSKLS (J,/ l.\i> M(HLiI. 
 
 etii niucli; niid such ;is arc fit for the ni;itr( :■: ns hold 
 inofi tor <'\p()stul;ifi()ii, fair-spokcti n\o\\ for jx '^iiasic!!, 
 r-raftv iiicii for iiK^iirx nnd obscrx ation. frow ard and 
 al^surd" iiKMi for l)usin('ss that doth not well hear on! '' 
 r. iisch". I s<' also such as hav(> hoc?) hicky and prevailed 
 hcfo!-(' in ihitiii> wherein you iiave (MUployed th"ni: 
 for thai l)reeds conlideiiee, and they will s!;i c tn 
 maintain their j)rcscription.'^ 
 
 It is hitler to soiuid ;i person with whom on* 
 
 lodeals. afar orf, than to fall upon the point ;it first: 
 except you mean to surjirise I im by some dioj- 
 question. It i- bettt; dealiuii; with men in aftpetit< 
 than with those that are where they would be. If 
 a man deal with another upon conditions, the start° 
 
 ir. or first i)erfo» niance is all ; which a inan caimot reason- 
 ably domar.d. except eitluT tiie nature of the thing be 
 such which must go before : or else a man can persuad 
 the other party that he shall still need him in some 
 other thing; or else that h(^ be c(»(mted the honest 
 
 •JO man. 
 
 All practice° is to discover to work. Meii 
 
 discover^ themselves in trust, iii passion, at 
 
 il' 
 
 awares; and of necessity-, when they would h<- 
 oomewhat done, and cannot find n apt preiex . 
 
 L'.jlf you would work any man,'^ you leus; either ki v 
 his nature and fashions, and so lead liim; or 
 ends, and so persuade him; or Ids weakness 
 disadvantages, and so awe him: or \h(.<i^ that have 
 interest in him, and so govern him. In deeding with 
 
 80 cunning persons,, we must ever consider t aeir ends 
 
 ■BHHbiMaiiiilllH 
 
/•S.S.I )-.s <>H <u ss / i.s '-ii n. \.\ 
 
 h;«j 
 
 . iiitcriirrt'" tlwir -|)e«'(*lios. :ui'! 
 I lie to llioni. and 'h.t H i t 
 ill all iieiiotiahons <( u. ' ilfy 
 look to ^(>w ai!'' r< '• a oi '•«■ 
 basine^ , uik; sc -iiK'U iL b,. degr 
 
 a; 
 l<';i fi)|- 
 
 ii,!i may not 
 ui mubt piej)are 
 
 XLVIII. OF H>LI. \V':i 
 
 \\ii FHIKXDS 
 
 ("nSTJ.Y 
 
 illowors .lie 
 
 tt. 
 
 R" h ti; k'sl while 
 he 111 kcth his \^ ii»»;s 
 
 rlial'i 
 
 j)oi' ; 
 
 ie 
 
 llOi 
 
 .. iri:^ uiak n, i- tr; ' loi.^ 
 -liorif I r*'-k«H to l> '-ost! iiot ihcin alone w iiich 
 the "-e It iich are wearisome and im- 
 ^^' ■'• -!iii> Oidiisary followers oniih! to in 
 cliai ' ! ,iie'^ 11' » ht-r CO ilio:-; tlum eounteiKi.u'e. 
 i(coii nen<hiti"i and i)ioi •' from wron,us. J"ac- 
 lioas 'llowei> in worse oe lik(>d, which follow 
 not uj 'n atV' tion \n him with whom they ran<ie 
 theinscives hii ipondiscontentment conceived ajiain-^t ir. 
 aerenpon commonly eiisueth thai ill 
 ■ .liat we may many times see between 
 t^es. Likewise glorioiis° followers, who 
 *'lves as trumpets of the commendation 
 y follow, are full of inconvenience; foriM 
 business throujih want of secrecy, and 
 ! honour° from a man, and make him 
 Pirn iu envy. There is a kind of follow er?> like- 
 e which are dan«ierous, beinjj: indeed espi;ds,° 
 aich iiKpiire the secrets of the hr)use, and bear tales 2a 
 A them to others. Yet such men many timea are in 
 
 >(■' 
 
 If 
 
 1 '" 
 
 il< 
 
 in 
 
 . 
 
 
 1C> 
 
 'if. 
 
 d 
 
 
 ;■- 
 
 nia 
 
 Ih 
 
 
 
 I if 
 
 ■V 
 
 I 
 ex 
 
 
170 ESSAYS (Hi (OrXSKLS LI VI I, AXl> MOHM, 
 
 Sreut favour, for tlicy arc ollicious,^ and comnionlv 
 ('X(*lian<!:(' tail's. The foll()\viii<i- by certain estates' 
 of men answerable to that wiiicli a great person liiiu- 
 self f)rofessetli (as of soldic^rs to iiim that hath been 
 ^employed in the wars, and the hke) hath ever been a 
 thinji civil, ° and well taken I'xcn in monarchies, so it 
 be without too much j)omp° or j)()pul;irity. But the 
 most honourable kind of following- is, to be followed as 
 one that apprehendeth to° advance virtue and desert 
 loin all sorts of persons. And yet wh(>re there is no 
 euMuent odds in sufficiency, it is better to take witli 
 the more passai)le° than with the more able. And 
 besides, to sj)eak truth, in base times active men ari> 
 of more use than virtuous. ° Jt is true that in govern- 
 
 ir. mcnt it is good to use men of on^ rank eijually: for 
 to countenance some extraordinarily is to make them 
 insolent, and the rest discontent, because they mav 
 claim a due. Hut contrariwise, in favour. ° to use 
 men with nmcli difference and election is good: for 
 
 •2(1 it m: keth the persons preferred more thankful, and 
 the rest more officious; because all is of favour. It 
 is good discretion not to make too much of any man 
 at tlie first, because one camiot hold out°that propor- 
 tion. To be governed, as we call it, by one^ is not 
 
 'jr. safe, for it shows softness, and gives a freedom to 
 scandal and disreputation''; for those that would 
 not censiu-e or speak ill of a man immediately, will 
 talk more boldly of thos(> that are so gr(>at with 
 th(>m,° and thereby wound their'^ honour. Yet to 
 
 ;i()be distracted with many is worse, for it makes men 
 
 liHfBilUaiiiMBlMi 
 
KSSAYS OR COrSSKLS ( IVIL .I.V/> MOIi.lL 171 
 
 ,,, 1)0 of the last iiiipivssion aiul full (»f cluinjio. To 
 take advice of some few friends is evcM- honourable, 
 •for lookers-on many times see mor(> than .nanu'sters. 
 and the vale best iliseoveretl the hilk" There is 
 little friend8hip° in the workl, and l(>ast of all l)et\veen r. 
 ('(juals, whieh was wont to be majinilied. That that 
 is. is between superior and inferior, whose fortunes 
 may comprehend^ the one the other. 
 
 XLIX. OF SITTORS 
 
 Many ill matters and projects are mulertaken. and 
 private suits do putrefy the public i-ood. Many ki 
 ^M)()d matters are undertaken with bad nunds: 1 
 mean not onlv corrupt minds, but crafty minds, that 
 intend not 'performance. Some embrace^ suit.s, 
 which never mean to deal effectually in them; l)ut 
 if they see there may be lite in the matt(>r l)y some i.i 
 other mean, ° they will be content to win a thank or 
 take a second reward, or at least to make use in the 
 mean time of the suitor's hojM's. Some take hokl of 
 suits only for an occasion to cr(»ss some other; or 
 to make an information whereof they coukl not -jo 
 otherwise have apt pretext, without care what become^ 
 of the suit when that turn is served; or, <r(>ne. ally^- 
 to make other men's business a kind of entertainment" 
 to brins in their own. Nay, some undertake suits 
 with a ftill puri)ose to let them fall, to the end to'il 
 •gratify the adverse party or competitor. 
 
172 ESSAYS Oli COUNSELS CIVIL AND MORAL 
 
 Surely tliero is in some sort a riii,ht in every suit. 
 either a riirht of equity, if it he a suit of eoutroversy ; 
 or a ri^ht of desert, if it l)e a suit of petition. If 
 affection lend a man to favour the \vron<j: side in jus- 
 
 5 tice, let him rather use his countenanee° to compound 
 the matter than to carry it. If alTection lead a man 
 to favour the less worthy in desert, let him do it 
 witiiout d(^pravin<i;° or disal)lin^° the better deserver. 
 Jn suits which a man doth not well understand, it is 
 
 loo-ood to refer them to soni(^ fri(Mid of trust and judg- 
 ment, thnt may report whether he may deal in them 
 with honour; but let him choose well his referen- 
 daries, ° for else he may be led by tlie nose. 
 
 Suitors are sf) distasted"^ with delays" and abuses, 
 
 ir> that ])lain dealinii in (lenyin<!;° to deal in suits at first 
 and report injz; the success" barely, and in challenp;in<i;° 
 no more thanks than one hath deserved, is ^ro.\n 
 not only honourable, but also gracious." In suits of 
 favour the first coming^ ought to take little place; 
 
 •20 so far forth consideration may be had of his trust,'' 
 that if intelligence of the matter could not otherwise 
 have been had but by him. advantage* be not taken 
 of tju> note," but the party left to his other means, 
 and in some sort recomi)eiised for his discovery." To 
 
 25 be ignorant of the value of a suit'' is sim|)licity, as 
 well as to be ignorant of the right thereof is want of 
 conscience 
 
 Secrecy in suits is a great mean of o))taining; for 
 voicing" them to be in forwarilness" may discour- 
 
 ;ioage some kind of suitors, but doth (quicken and 
 
KSSAYS on t'Or.V.SA'A^' r/17/. AM' MnliAL 173 
 
 awake otlit'i'.s. But tiinu«.ii° of tlu' suit is the principal. 
 riiiiiu^-. I say, not only in ivspoct of the pei'son that 
 >luml(i grant it, but in res}>ect of tliose wliieh are 
 like to cross it. l^t a man, in the clioice of his mean," 
 ratlier choose tlie littest mean than the gn^atest r. 
 mean; and rather them that tleal in cenain° things 
 than those that are general." 
 
 Th(^ rej)aration of a denial is sometimes equal 
 to the first grant, if a man show hitnself neither 
 tic '(ted lior discontented. "lniquum° petas, ut w 
 is a ii'ood rule where a man hath 
 
 a'Cjuum 
 
 fer 
 
 AS 
 
 V 
 
 trength of favour; hut otherwise a man were better 
 !ise° in his suit, for he that would have ventured at 
 tirst to have lost the suitor, will not, in the conclu- 
 sion, lose both the suitor and his own former favour.^ 15 
 
 Nothing is thought so easy a retjuest to a great 
 person as his letter''; 'kI yet if it be not in a good 
 cause, it is so mucli - '. of his re[)Utation. There 
 are no worse instrun .is than these general con- 
 trivers° of suits: for they are l)Ut a kind of poison and 20 
 infection to public })roceedings. 
 
 L. OF STIDIES 
 
 Studies serve for delight. ° for ornament, and for 
 nbility.° Their chief use for delight is in privateness 
 ajid retiring''; for ornnment is in discourse; and for 
 ability is in the judgment and disposition of business, ii 
 For expert ° men c:in ex(>cute, and perhaps juilge 
 
174 ESSAYS Oh' COCXSJ'JLS ilVlh AX/t MORAL 
 
 of j)arti('ulars. one by one; hut the ^'•(Mioral counsels. 
 
 and the })lot.s° and marshalling of ai'fairs, eonie best 
 
 from those that are learned. To spend too much 
 
 time in studies is sloth, to use them too much for 
 
 a ornament is affectation, :o make judgment only bv 
 
 their i'ul(>s is the humour^ of a scholar. They perfect 
 
 nature, and are ])erfected by experience. For 
 
 natural abilities are like natural plants, that need 
 
 })roynin<2;° by study; and studies themselvt do gi\(> 
 
 10 forth directions too nuich at large, ° except they be 
 
 l)()uniled in by experience. Crafty men contenui 
 
 studies. simj)le men admire them, and wise men use 
 
 them; for they teach not their own use, but that is 
 
 a wisdom withouf^ them and above them, won bv 
 
 i."> observation. 
 
 Read not to contradict and confute, nor to believe 
 and tak(^ for granted, nor to find talk and discourse, 
 but to \\v\z\\ and consider.^ Some l)ooks are to 
 be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to 
 L'dbe chewed and digested: that is, some books ar(> 
 to be r(>ad only in parts; others to be read, but not 
 curiously"; and some few to be read wholly, and 
 with diligence and attention. Some books also may be 
 reatl by deputy, and extracts made of tliem by others; 
 :;.'>i)ut that would be oidy in the less important argu- 
 ments and the meaner sort of books; else distilled 
 books are like conunon distilled waters, flashy° 
 things. IJeading makeih a full man, conference" a 
 n^ady man, and writing an exact man. And there- 
 v*\U)\-v if a man write little, he had need have a great 
 
j':ssAYs OR corssKi.s mil. am) moum. 175 
 
 nioinory; if lio confer lit tic lie had lUH'd haven ])res(Mit° 
 wit; and if he read littl(>. he had need have niucli 
 ciiiminji; to seem to know that he doth not. 
 
 Histories make men wise. |)0(>ts witty, ° the mathe- 
 inatics subtile, natural i)hiloso]>hy deep, moral .urave.r) 
 loiiic and rhetoric ahle to contend. ".\l)(iu)t studia" 
 in mores." Nay, there is no stoniP or imjx'diment 
 ill the wit° hut may Im^ wrought out by fit studies, 
 like as diseases of the body may have apjH-opriate 
 rxcrcises. liowlinjr is ,<2;ood for the stone an<l reins. l(i 
 ^hootins for the lun.^s and breast, .uvntle walkin«!; for 
 l!i(> stomach, ridin<i; for the head, and the like. So 
 if a man's wit be wanderinu', let hiu) study the matlu<- 
 iiiutics; for in demonstrations, if his wit be called 
 ;i\vay never so little, h.e must be.iiin a.iiain. Jf his wit ir. 
 1)(> not apt to distinjiui.sh or find dif1"erenf'(>s. let him 
 study the schoolmen," for they are vnminl i<(rti>irfi° 
 If he be not apt to beat over° matters, and to call uj) 
 .nie thint; to l^'ove and illustrate^ anoth(>r. let him 
 ^nidy the law., ers' cases. So every defect of the mind -'<• 
 may liave a special receipt. 
 
 LI. OF FACTION 
 
 Many have an opinion not wise, that for a prince 
 to irovern his estate, ° or for a ^reat person to ji;()V(Tn 
 his proceedings, according; to the resp(>ct" of tactions 
 
 is a ])rincipal part of i)olicy; v.hereas. "ontrariwisc. ■ 
 the cliiefest wisdom is, either in orderin^^ those things 
 
17(» IJSSAYS OR ( OlXSh'LS CIVIL AXI) MORAL 
 
 whioh arc *i(>n(M'aI.'^ and wherein men of several fai- 
 tionsdo iieveiMlieless ai^ree; or in dealin.L!; with eorre- 
 sj>on(len('e° to particular persons, one by one. But 1 
 say not that the considcn'ation of factions is to l>f 
 f) nenleeled. Mean nien.° in their risin<i, nnist adhen^'^: 
 hut ^?"eat men. I hat have slicniith in themselves, 
 wen* better to maintain thcmsi^lvtvs indifferent and 
 neutral. \o\ e\<Mi in Ix'uimi'Ms, to adhere so niod(>''- 
 ately, as he l)e a man of the one faction which' is 
 
 inmost passable'^ with the ofiier, conmonly ^ivc^th be.-i 
 way. The lower and weaker faction is the firmer 
 in conjunction; and it is often seen thai a few th;'! 
 are stiff° do tin* m\t a greater mnnber that are more 
 moderate. 
 
 1.5 When one of the factions is extinguished, the ii - 
 maining subdivideth : as the faction between i.ucnl- 
 lus° and the rest of liie noliii s ni the Senate (which 
 they called OptimatcH^) held out awhile against tiic 
 faction of P»)mpey''^ and Ca'sar"; but when the 
 
 20 Senate's authority was ])ulled down. Caesar and 
 Pompcy soon after brake. The faction or party 
 of Antonius and Octavianus Cu'sar,° against Brutus" 
 and ("as.-ius." held out likewise for a time; but wl;en 
 Brutus and ( a.ssius were overthrown, ihen soon after 
 
 2.". .\ntonius and Octavianus brake and subdivided. 
 These examples are of wars, but the same holdcth 
 in private factions. And therefore those that an- 
 seconds^ in factions, do many times, when the faction 
 subdivideth. prove iirincipals; but many times also 
 
 "«)they pro\-e ciphers and cashiered; for many a man's 
 
ASSAYS OR COi'XSKLS clllL A.\/> Moi:\L 177 
 
 r<t!viiilth is in ()pi)ositioii, and when thai failetli he 
 liiowetli out of use. 
 
 ll is c'onunonly seen that men onee laced, take 
 iu \vith° the contrary faction to that by which they 
 ,'utcr: thinkini-- ))ehke° that they ha\<- the hrst sure,.". 
 ;iiid now are ready for a new purchase."' Tlie traitor 
 1,1 faction li,iilitly° ^oeth away with it: for when 
 .natters have stuck k)n.n in balancing, tlie winnin.i; of 
 M)nie otie man castetii'^ tlieni, r.nd lie ^vttelh all the 
 ihanks. The even carria:,^e" Im nvcrn two factions lo 
 nioceedeth not always of moderation. !nit of a trueness 
 to a man's self,° with end to make use of i)()th. ( Vr- 
 laiiilv hi Italy they hokl it a littU- sus}H'ct° in popes, 
 when they have often in their mouth " I'adre com- 
 mune,'"' and take it to be a sif^n of one that meanetliir. 
 in refer all to the greatness of hi^ own house. 
 
 Kiiif^s" had need ))eware how they si<le them- 
 selves, and make themselves a- of a faction or party; 
 for k'a^ues within the state art' ever pernicious to 
 monarchies: for they raise an obr!,<iation paramount 'jo 
 to obligation of sovereignty, and make the king 
 "taiHiuam umis° e.\ nobis," as was to be s(,vn in tlie 
 l(ajiue° of France. When factions are carried too 
 iiiiih and too violently, it is a sijA'u of weakness hi 
 princes, and nmch to the prejudice l>olh of their-.-* 
 authority and business. The motions of factkms 
 u!!(ler ki!!s;s ouj»:ht to be like the motions (as the 
 astronomers si)eak) of the inferior orbs; which may 
 have their proper motions, but yet still are quietly 
 carried by the higher motion of primam mobile^ 36 
 
 I 
 
178 ASSAYS oil r(,l XSKI.S CIVIL AXD MORAi. 
 
 l.ll. OF CKRIvMOXIKS AND RKSPPXTS 
 
 Hi: tlint is only real had ncod liavo oxcccdin^ great 
 parts of virtue, as the stone had iieinl to be rieh that 
 is set witliout foil." P>ut if a man mark it well, it is 
 in praise and eommendatioji of men. as it is in gettin^s 
 .". ai;.| gains. For the proverb is true, that "light gains 
 make h(>a\_\ i)urses;" for Ho-ht gains come thick, 
 whereas great come but now and then. So it is true, 
 that small matters win great comtnendation, because 
 th( y are conlinually in use and in note; whei-eas the 
 10 occasion of any great \irtue comet h but on festivals. 
 Therefore it doth much add to a man's reputation, 
 and is. as ()ueen Isabella^ said." like perpetual let- 
 ters commendtitory." to have good forms. 
 
 To attain them, it almost sml.ceth not to des})ise 
 
 i.'ithem: for so shall a man observe them in others; 
 
 and let him tru^t him>elf with the rest. For if he 
 
 labour loo much \i\ express them, he shall lose their 
 
 grace, which is to be natural and unaffected. Some 
 
 men's behaviour is like a verse, wherein every syl- 
 
 'Jftlable is measuicd. How can a man com|)relu>n(l 
 
 ureat matters that breaketh his mitid too much to 
 
 small observations? Xot to use c(>remoiiies at all. 
 
 is to teach ofluM's not to use them again, ^ and so 
 
 diminisiieth icspect to himself; especially they be 
 
 '.'.■inot to be omitted to strangers and formai° natures: 
 
 but the dwelling uj)()n them, aii'' exalting them 
 
 abov(> the moon, is not only tvdiou.s, but doth dimin- 
 
 ■aSm 
 
 MHfP 
 
 iMililfa 
 
KSSAYS OH cOCySKLS ( IVll. AM> Moly.M. 17'.» 
 
 ,,!, ilu' f:.ithaiul civ.lit of li'mllKil spoiiks. Aii.l ccr- 
 ,.,inly lluMvis :i kiinl of .•oi.\vyin,i^° of effectual nii.l 
 nnprintiiiii-^ passa-rcs ainoi.^^st complinuMils, winch is 
 (.1 siimular use, if a man can liit upon it. 
 
 Xmonjrst a man's lu'crs. a man sliall W sure ol r, 
 fnmiliaritv; and tlu'ivfoiv it is .liood a little to keep 
 A'A\i\° Amon.ust a mat\'s inferiors one shall be sure 
 of reverence; anil therefore it is ^n.od a little to he 
 (••nuiliar. He tliat is too much in anythi»i,i:. so that 
 h,. "iveth another occasi..n of satiety, niaketh himsclt lo 
 ,.hcap. To api^lv one's self to^ others is -ood ; so it 
 1„. with demonstration that a man doth it uixrn 
 ivuard. and not upon facility." It is a .nood precept, 
 ..viierallv. in secondini.'"^^ another, yet to add somewhat 
 Zi o) 'sown: as. if vou will .urant his oi/mion. let it i.-. 
 iH'Uii some distinction; if you will follow his motion, 
 let it be with condition; if y<'»i allow his counsel, 
 let it he with alleuinii; further reason. 
 
 Men had need heware how they be too perfect m 
 .•ompliments; for be thev n(«ver so sulii<-ient other--'., 
 wise their enviers will be sure >o flive them that 
 attri'bute,° to the disadvanta-e of their -ivater 
 virtues. It is loss also in busin(>ss to i.e too lull <•! 
 re^l)ects° or to b<' ioo curious^ in observin-i times 
 and opportun.ries. Solomon° saith, " He that con- '-V. 
 sidereth the wind shall not sow; and he that look- 
 Hh to the clouds shall not reap." A w!s«> man will 
 make more oi)iH)rtimities than ho finds. Men s beha- 
 viour should be lik(^ their appan^l: not too strait 
 or point device,'^ but free for exercise or mot ion. ao 
 
160 hSSAYS OH (Orysi-ILS ( n/L axu mohal 
 
 LIII. OF PRAISE 
 
 Praise is tlie reflection of virtue: but it is as 
 the glass or body whicli giveth the reflection. It' 
 it be from the eonirnou [)eo|)le° it is eoninionh 
 false and naiighl, ami rather followeth vain person- 
 • than virtuous: fur the (v/nnnon j)eo])l(' understatid 
 not many exccilenf virtues. 'J"he lowest virtues 
 draw j>raise from them; the middle virtu«'s work 
 in them astonishment or ailmiration; but of thr 
 highest virtues they have no sense or perceiving af 
 
 H>all: but shows and spaUs cirfutihus simihs^ serve 
 best with them. Certainly fame is like a river that 
 beareth up things light and swollen, and drowns tliing< 
 weighty and solid. BiU if persons of (piality" aul 
 judgment concur, liien it is, as the Scri|>ture^^ saith. 
 
 ia"X()men° bonum i istai" ungueiui fragrantis." It 
 lilleth all round atx.iit and will uol ea>ily away: 
 for the odours of ointments are m.^re diU'able than 
 those of flowers. 
 
 There be so m.Miy false points of praise, that a 
 
 ^»man may jusi , Ik, Id it u suspect. ° Som,' praises 
 proceed merely ..f flattery: and if hc° be an ordinary 
 flatterer he will have certain common attributes'' 
 which may serve ever\ man; if he l>e a curming fiai- 
 terer he will follow the arch-flatterer, which is a man's 
 
 2r.self, and when'in a man thinketh best of himself 
 tiierein the flatterer will uphold him inost; but if 
 he be an imjjudenl Hutterer, look wherein a man is 
 
h:ss.iYs OK t(>r\s/-:i.s rniL am> m^wai. ISl 
 
 o , _ 
 
 ,,„,-.rinMs lo hiiusolf tlitit lio Is iiiosi dclVctivc. Mtid is 
 ,,,.,.t out of coimlciKUKv'' ill liiiiHcll". lh;it will tlic 
 i!:,M.'ivr cntillr liim to porfoivo.^ xpnta confer ivnt in." 
 NMiiip pniiscs com.- of .ijood \v:sl«..>s and respects, which 
 ;. :, lorni <hic in civility to kiiit:^ mikI liivat i)orsons.r, 
 LrnhniJo />m /■/■/)« 7V.'' wlu'ti. In- iclliiiii men wh:it 
 ,|u.y arc. thcv r(>|)ivs('nt to them what 1 hey should l»<'. 
 Sntiie men are |)raised maliciously to their hurt, 
 ,i„.n'l)y to stir envy and jealousy toward^ them: 
 l,<.i,H,nn'^ UiNiis iuimicornm Iniidautium : insomuch m 
 ::. it was a ])roverl)' amoniist the CrcH-ians that 
 • hi' that was praised to his hurt should have a ))ush'^ 
 ,,.,. upon his nose;" as we say that a blister will rise 
 ,,.,011 one's tonmie that tells a lie. Certainly, moder- 
 :it," praise, used with oi)portunitv. and not vultrar. " 1 
 i< that which doth th«^ ffood. Solomon° saith. "He 
 that praiseth his friend aloud, rising oarl.v. it shall 
 he to him no better than a curse." Too nuich 
 ninunifyin*,^ of man or matter doth irritate" eon- 
 trndiction. and procmc (Mivy and scorn. -'•' 
 
 To praise a man's st-lf. cannot he decent .'^ except 
 it he in rare cases: but to i)raise a inan's office or 
 profession, he may do it with ^ood orace. and with 
 •" kind of magnanimity. ° The cardinals of Rome^ 
 
 hich are theolo^nies" and friais .and schoolmen. °-_'.-. 
 
 tive a phrase of notabU contiMupt an<l scorn towards 
 rivil business: h.r tiiey call all temporal bu.sines^ 
 of wars, embassajies. judicature, and other einpl'»y- 
 nients. Mnrreriv° which is " under-.slierift'rios." as it 
 ihev were but matters for under-sheriffs and catch- .k 
 
 w 
 
 ha 
 
IHL' k'SS.lYS nu rofXSh'LS cil'IL ASH MORAL 
 
 poles": tlu>u.iih iiKiny times those iiiKler-siieriJTries 
 do more <;()0(l tliau tlieir lii^h speciihitions. St. 
 I*aul.° when he boasts of himself, he doth oft intor- 
 hiee, " I speak like a fool;" but speaking of his call- 
 sing lie saith, " Magnilieabo° apostolatiim meiim." 
 
 \A\. OF VAIN CJLOKY 
 
 It was pn^ttily'' devised of .Ksop°: "'Tho fly ?iat 
 upon the axle-tree of the chariot-wheel, and said. 
 'What a dust do I raise!'" So are there some vain 
 persons that, whatso(>ver j.:;oeth alone. "^ or movetli 
 
 UMipon greater m(\uis,° if they have never so littlo 
 hand in it, they think it is they that carry it. Thov 
 that are glorious" must needs b(^ factious; for all 
 bravery" stands upon comparisojis. They must 
 Jieeds be viol<>nt to make good their own viuuits. 
 
 1.'. Neither can tlu\v be secret, and. then>fore, not etfecT- 
 uaP; l)Ut, according to the l''reiich j)roverl), " Beau- 
 coup de bruit, j)eu de fruit": Much bruit, ° little 
 fruit. Vet, certainly, there is use of this quality in 
 civiP affairs: where there is an opinion and fanic 
 
 iMto be created, either of virtue or greatness, these 
 men are good trumpeters. Again, as Titus Livius° 
 noteth in the c.-ise of Antiochus° and the /Ktolians,° 
 tluTe are sometimes great effects of cross lies°; as 
 if a man" that negotiates ))etween two princes, to 
 
 '.'.".draw th(Mn to join in a war against the tiiird, doth 
 extol the forces of eitlier of them al)()ve measure, the 
 
oO 
 
 FSSAYS OH corS 
 
 SKLS CIVIL I.V/' MOliM' ^^'^ 
 
 •iM' 
 
 1<) 
 
 tlir otluT. Aiul somctim 
 
 iH.'Ui aiul niaii r:us( 
 
 ill lli^ 
 
 s lie lliat (l«>als 
 own credit willi 
 
 li. l)y i>ivton(liii^ pval 
 
 111 <•! 
 
 tluT. And in thoso, an< 
 tliat soiiU'W 
 
 cr iii(('f('st° tlian lu> luitli 
 1 the like kiiuls, it oltcu 
 
 Imt is produced of notliinu: :• 
 
 aiv suHicicnt to i -eed opinion, and , '-iion 
 
 '• :'! 
 
 >( > 
 
 l,,ll- out 
 
 lor ii<"^ 
 
 l.iiii'j.- on siil)stancc. 
 
 1,1 nnlitarv coniniaiidors° and soldiers vai : 
 ■„ .,11 essential point; ior as iron sliarpeiis n 
 l,v ol„rv° <»ne conraiie sliarpcM.etii anotiier. In ca- -^ l" 
 .;-• "reat enterprise ui)()n eiiarii-e and adventure, a 
 ,..'„nposition^ of ^lori.ms natures doth put lite into 
 i,H.;nc<s- and those thai are of s,.hd an< sol.er 
 ,,„n,vs have nu.re <.f the l.aUast than ot the sail 
 1„ ,„,.e of loarnin^ the llijil t will )h' ^1'»nv. witaoutin 
 .une leathers of ostentation. " C^ui de^ conten;- 
 n,,,da gloria lihn.s scril.unt. nonien suuni mscri- 
 !,uut" Socrates,- Aristotle," CaLn,-' were men iuil 
 ,.f ostentation. Certainly, vain-huy helpeth to per- 
 .„„,,,, .nau's memory : an.l virtue was never so 20 
 !„.h.,l,lin-° t.. human nature as it recriv<>d uis due at 
 ,h,. second hand. Neither had the fame ol ( icero 
 SM.eca,° IMinius Secun.lus.° borne her a.u'e so well. 
 ,1 it had not been joined with some vanity m them- ^ 
 drives - like unto varnish, that makes seelmgs net l,. 
 
 (HI 
 
 Iv shine, but last 
 
 But 
 
 mean 
 
 all this while, when 1 si)eak of vai 
 
 n-iilory, 1 
 
 not of that proper 
 
 tv that Tacitus° doth at- 
 
 tribute to Mucianu^ 
 
 Omnium,- (pue dixerat, fecerat 
 
 Ml 
 
 .le, arte quadam ostentator 
 
 for that proceeds ;•,( 
 
184 
 
 ESSAYS OH rtjfXSh/.S r/y//, jx/> MOHAL 
 
 ( 1- 
 
 iiot of vanity, hut of natural magnanimity and 
 crerion. and in some persons is not only conic 
 but <ira('ious. For excusations, cessions.'^ modest v 
 itself well <ioverned, are hut arts of ostentation. 
 .".And anion^rst those arts there is uone hetter than 
 ttiat whieh IMinius Seeundus sj)eakelh of: whieh iv, 
 to he lih(>ral of praise and eonmiendation to otJK i> 
 m that wlierein a man's self hath any perfection. 
 For, sailh Vhny, very wittily.'' "in Vommendii,- 
 
 i(» another, you do yourself ri^ht : for he that you ('0111- 
 men.l is either superior to you in that y<.u .■ommeml, 
 or mferior. If he he inferior, if he h,- to be com- 
 mended, you much more. If he he superior, if he \>v 
 not to be commended, you mucii less." 
 
 15 Glorious'^ men are the scorn of wise men; the ad- 
 miration of h)ols: the idols of parasites; and the 
 slaves of their own vaunts. 
 
 LV. OF HONOFR AXD RFPFTATION 
 
 Tfik wimiinu; of honour is but t!ie revealing.; of a 
 man's virtue and worth without disadvantage'' For 
 
 2«^some in tluir actions do woo and affecf-^ honour and 
 reputation; which sort (.f men are connnonlv nuich 
 talk(Ml of. inn inwardly little admired. And some. 
 c(»ntrariwise. darken then- virtue in the show of it. 
 so as they be undervalued in opinion. 
 
 '2r> If a man perform that whicli hath not been at- 
 tempted before; or attempted and given over; or 
 
 WM 
 
ESSAYS OK rOLXSELS t'lVlL AM> MORAL 
 
 185 
 
 ii;Uh ))('on lu 
 
 hiovc 
 
 (1, Imt not wiih s(» p)0(l circum- 
 
 ^ranco: 
 
 >i ICC tins a int: 
 
 \m- shall purchase nioro 
 
 iionour than by 
 
 ittcr of greater (lilficulty of virt 
 
 no 
 
 wiicrcni 
 
 he is but a follower. If n man so lem]M>r 
 
 as in some oiu 
 
 ^ of them he doth eon-rj 
 
 Ills acnOMS, :^^s in rxnin wm Ol tin in 
 
 ,,Mt everv faction or combination of peoi»l(\ 'bf^ 
 „u,.ic will l)e the fuller. A man is an ill husband" 
 ,,) bis honour that entereth into any action, the lail- 
 ,.,- wherein may disfirace him more than the carry- 
 \u.- .>f it throujih can hoi>oiu- him. Honour that is lo 
 .ramed and broken upon another hath the (luickest 
 rcllcction. like diamonds cut with facets. And, 
 ,l;,M-efore, let a man contend to excel any com])eti- 
 i,,!s of his in honour, in oiitshootin.u them if \\v can. 
 i„ tlu>ir own bow. Discreet followers and servants in 
 i„.|p much to re|)Utation: "Omnis fama° a domesti- 
 ,i< cmai.at." Knvy, which is the canker of lumour, 
 ,. b(>st extinfiuished by declaring'' a "«i^»>"« •'^•'•^ •" |''^ 
 cM(ls rather to s(>ek merit than fame; and by attrib- 
 Mtitm a man's successes rather to divine providence 20 
 •indlviicitv. than to his own virtue or |)olicy. 
 The true marshallinu-^ of the .ie.Lnees of sovcM'oign 
 
 In the lirst place are condi- 
 
 impc 
 
 Ik iiour are these: 
 
 Inns impvrwruw. founders of states and common- 
 wealths; such as were Romulus,'^ (\vrus,° (\esar,"'2,5 
 (Mi.Muan.° Ismael.^ In the second place are /cf/zs-- 
 
 cal'.ed second 
 
 liifor> 
 
 lawirivcrs. w 
 
 inch are also 
 
 Ini 
 
 uulers. or pcrpenn' priunfta 
 
 because thev govern 
 
 i.v their oniinances a iter tiuy are i;o 
 
 i\r. Such W(M-e 
 
 Lvcur^iu.-, 
 
 Solon 
 
 u>;iniaM, 
 
 I'ladiiar,' Alphonsus;« 
 
1H(; KSSAVS (Hi corxSKLS (in/. AM) MORAL 
 
 of Castil(\° tlu' Wise, that ina(l(> the Side Partuhs.^ 
 In the third phicc arc /,7><7y//o/v.s\° or sdlrafnra^,^ such 
 as {'oni|)()un(l° iho lonji miseries of civil wars, or dc- 
 Hver their countries from .-ervitude of strangers or 
 5 tyrants; as Aujiustus CavsMr," \(>spasianus,° Aurili- 
 anus.'^ Theodoricus," Kin*;- Ilem-y th(^ Seventh^ of 
 I']nj;laiid. Kiiii;- ileiu'v the l"ourth° (»f France. In 
 tlie fourth j)iace ai"e pro/xn/alorcs,' or propuundtorix^ 
 inijKrii, such as in honoural)ie wars enlarge tiieir 
 10 territories, or make noi)le delence against inxadeis. 
 And in tiu^ last phice are jHiins jHifnd,'' which rei<rii 
 justly and mai\e the times uood wherein they h\f. 
 Hoth which last kinds lUH^d no examples, they are in 
 such numlxT. 
 1." l){>»2;rees of honour in sul)ject> are: — First, /x/r- 
 ticijx'!^ {:ir'truni° those u|)on whom princess do dis- 
 charge (he jireate.-i wei<i;ht of their affairs; their 
 ri<i;ht hands, as W(> call tliefn. The next are duax 
 belli, iifeat leaders, such as are |)rinces' liouten- 
 '.MKints. and do them notable services in the wars. Th(> 
 third ai'e (/niliosi, fa\'oui'ites°; such as c^xceed not 
 this scant liiiu".^ to he sol;i<*e to the sovereif:;n and 
 harmless to i he people. And the fourth, ncf/otiis 
 />f//T.s'°,- <[\c\\ as have jjireat places under princes, and 
 'j.">ex(>cut(^ their plac<'s with suilicieticy. There is an 
 honoui'. likewise, which may he ranked amongst the 
 ,i;reat(st. which liappene;h rarely" that is of such 
 as sacrilic(> themsel^•e^ to d(>ath oi" dan^i'r for the 
 <;(»od of their country; as wa.-^ M. Kegulus'^ and the 
 .<() two i)ecii.° 
 
 ba 
 
ESSAYS Oli rOLWSELS VIVIL ASH MURAL 
 
 I8i 
 
 LVI. OF JUDlCATrilE 
 
 .kixjKs ou^lit to roinomluT that their office is 
 m^ diccrc and not jni^ dare: to intcrim't law, and not 
 \n make law or ^ivc law. Klso will it hv like the 
 ;„ii!i()rity clainiod by llu' Church of Home, whi;'h. 
 imdcr pretext of exposition of Scripture, doth not:. 
 stick" to add and alter; ami to pronounce" that which 
 ilirv do not Hiul; and l)V show° of anticiuity to in- 
 tn.duc novelty. .ludiies ()U«iht to he more learned 
 I hail wittv, m;t(' reverend than plaiisii)Ie.° and more 
 a.lvised'" than confident. Above all things, intesirity ic 
 ;~ their portion asid proper virtue. "Cursed," saith 
 the law,° "is he that removeth the landmark." The 
 iiii>layer of a merestone'' is to blame; but it is the 
 unjust jud<ie that is th(> capital" remover of land- 
 MKirks. when he deUneth amiss of lands and property, i." 
 One foul .s(>iit<'nce doth more hurt than many foul 
 (AMiuplcs; for these do but corrupt the stream, the 
 (.ih"r corruptcth the fountain. So saith Solomon."' 
 
 • Ions turba.tus, et vena corrupta. est Justus cadens 
 id cau-a sua coram adversario." 
 
 The ollice of judges may have referenee unto the 
 parties that sue: unto (lie advocates that {)lead : 
 iniio the clerks and ministers of justice^ luulerneath 
 them: and to the sovereign or state above them. 
 
 First. :"')r the causes or parties tiiat sue. "There-.':. 
 he." saith the Scripture," "that turn judgment into 
 
 ii 
 
 wormwood. 
 
 anc 
 
 I surelv there be also that turn it 
 
ISS KSSAYS on ( o! XSKl.S flllL AX It MO UAL 
 
 into vincuar; lof iiijustico iiiakctli it bitter, and de- 
 lays make it sour. Tde principal duty of a ']\\(\iiv !> 
 to su|)pr('ss ton-c and fraud, whereof forec^ irs the 
 more pernicious when it is open, and fraud when it j- 
 
 5 close and disi!;uis(Hi. Add thereto contentious suits, 
 which ou^dit to l)e sjK'wed out as the surfeit of courl.s. 
 A jiidiie ouffht to prepare his way to a just sentence, 
 as ( lod useth'^ to prcpart' his way. by raisinjj; vallexs 
 atid takiiii!; down liiiis: so when there af)peareth on 
 
 loeither side an hi,i:;h hand, violent jH'osecution, cun- 
 ning; ad\at)taji'es taken, combination. [)ower. j^reat" 
 counsel, then is tlie \irtue of a jud^c seen, to make 
 inequality e(jual; iliat lie may plant his judfirnent 
 as upon an even uroimd. '"(^ui- fortiter emunmt, 
 
 i.'t elicit saniruinem ;'" and where the wine-press is hard 
 \vrou,i!;ht. it \ ields a harsh wine that tastes of the 
 «i;rape-ston(\ .Imlii'es nuist beware of hard construc- 
 tions and straiiHvl inferences, for there is no worse 
 torture than the tortun; of laws. Specially in ease 
 
 2<>of laws })en;il. they ouiiht to have <'are that that which 
 was meant lor terror be not turned into rigour, and 
 that they brinu not upon the people that showcT 
 wluM'eof i he Sciiptiu'e*^ sjK'aketh. *' l'lu(*t° su})er eos 
 laqiieos;" for penal laws |)ressed [in- a shower of 
 
 i.',"! snares upon t le jwople. Therefore let penal laws, 
 if they have been sleepers of lonjj:.° or if they be 
 »rrown imlit for i he present tim(\ be by wise judges 
 conhned in th(^ cxcM-ution: ".Iudicis° oilicium est 
 ut res. It a tempo.'a rermn." etc. In causes of life 
 
 ;«»and ileath, judges ought, as far as the law perniitteth, 
 
ESSAYS (Hi CorySKLS civil. AX ft MOh'A/. ISO 
 
 If !! 
 
 istur to rcinonihcr iikm'cv 
 
 i\ud to <':i<t a severe 
 
 I'M- 1 
 
 ij)()M the o.\aiii|)l(\ but a merciful oye Ujum tho 
 
 iirt'--(Ul. 
 
 X-ronc 
 
 lly, for tho advocates atid coiuisel th-\\ 
 i. patience and <!;ravity of liearinn is an essen-r. 
 part of justice ; and an ovei'-speakin^- jnd«i(' is 
 , wt^ll-tuned cymbal."'^ It is no urace to a judjii^ 
 ■>; to lind° that whicli lie miiiiit l\a>(> heard in (hie 
 
 |i|i-:!» 
 
 ! ;!ii(' 
 
 from the l)ar; or to sliow (|ui('kness of conceit* 
 
 ill 
 
 •uttini!; off evu 
 
 dene 
 
 e or ('ouns( 
 
 1 t 
 
 oo siiort ; or to H' 
 
 I !v\enl° information l>v (piestions. thou«:h pertinent. 
 Tiic puts (»f a jud^c in iiearinji' ar(» four: to direct 
 ■\idence; to moth'rate lengtli, rej)etit!on, or iin- 
 
 IIC ( 
 
 |)C1 
 
 tiii(Micy° of specH'h; to recaiiilulate, s< 
 
 ^lect, 
 
 an( 
 
 rolla 
 
 t'\(' 
 
 te the material points of that \vliich hath been m 
 ■^aid; and to ^ive the rule or sentfMice. Whatso- 
 is above these is too nuich. and proc(^edeth 
 ciduM' of ^lory" aiid \villin«rness° to speak, or of 
 impatience to hear.*^ or of shortness of memory, or of 
 want of a staid and equal attention. It is a stran«2;e'3 
 iiiir to .S(H' that the boldness of advocates should 
 
 .»(» 
 
 i II 
 
 i.»ii. m wnose 
 tresumi)tuou 
 
 I'i'evail with judo'es; whereas they should imitate 
 hose .<eat they sit. wiio " npn^sseth" the 
 and jiiv(>th ijrace to the modest." 
 Km it is more .stran,i!:e that .iudi>(^s should have noted 
 iavonrites," which camiot but cause multiplication of 
 Ices and sus))ie-ion of bye\va\s. There is due from 
 the jud^e to the advocate som(^ conunendalion and 
 
 Liracnm, w 
 
 her 
 
 e causes a 
 
 re well handled and fair 
 
 [^leaded, cs|x^ciully towards the side which obtaineth;^! 
 
1<)() J-JSSAYS Oh' COfXSHLS C/VIL .I.V/> MnR.il. 
 
 iu)f°; for that upholds in tlio rliciit the icputaiidii 
 of his counsel, and heals down in hini tli(> conceit 
 of his cause. There is likewise due to the puhlu 
 a civil° rej)rehension of ad\'ocates. where tlK!, 
 "'a|)j)eareth ciiiuiin<ij counsel, ^ross neglect, siiuht iii- 
 forniation. indiscn^ef pressing-, or an oxer-hold d, . 
 fence. And l(>t not thecoinisel at the har cho)) wit ii 
 the jud^-e. nor wind himself into the handhnu of th. 
 cause anew, after the juduc hath declared his >( n 
 
 l(>fenc(>: hut. on the other side. |ci not the juduc iii'i* 
 the cause halfway, nor <ii\-e oc- asio!i !<» the j)ait\ •>• 
 say his coiuisel or pr'oofs were iiot heard. 
 
 Thirdly, for that that concrrns clerk- mi'l iniri- 
 ters.° 'Idle place of justice is an hallowed phn , . 
 
 t.'iand. ther(>fore. not otd\- the hench. hut t!,f l'oiit|>ac( 
 and precincts and pur|)rise'^ tliere<»f. niuht to Ik 
 pres^rxcd wiih.oiu scandal and corrtipiion. I <ir 
 certainlv "grapes."' as the Scri|)t iu-(>" siiih. "will i,.it 
 he li-athi'red of thorns or thistles."' neither can justice 
 
 ■-•nvi.-ld \\vv tVuit with sweetness auioimst the hriars and 
 i>ratnl)les ot' .atchin^ and polliuii'^ clerks and iiiiiir-- 
 ier> rit • aiii'ddance ol' courts is siihjcct 'o foii' 
 had aistrhiiie' -: I'"irst. <'c-'ain p<'r<oiis that atv 
 -owci- of -^uii' \iic'h make <■ "ouri swell atni i hr 
 
 j."i i-oiiiil ry p!,H'. j he -•■cond sort is... ihosc that en.uaur 
 courts m uarr* i-^ oi juri-dicti#m. an<l air not triil'. 
 oniici cin'nt ,'' hut /x- •'.>•//' ''/r '. ji; pulilin: a cour' 
 up'^ heyond nei* h(»unds for 'h« !i- own scrap- and a<l 
 vantage. The third sort is of tli<i-e 'hat :ua\- he 
 
 ;!»ai'count d the left hands of courtis: fH'r>ons that atv 
 
Itlnii 
 
 •ci! 
 
 lllllr 
 
 1 1 MM 
 
 iii- 
 
 •itii 
 
 ■ Ihr 
 
 s( n- 
 
 1 1/ •! k* 
 
 II' i ' 
 
 \\i\ — 
 
 l;i(v. 
 
 * 1 1 * i 
 
 
 Iml 
 <t ice 
 
 .'llitl 
 
 iiii-- 
 
 full!' 
 
 ;itv 
 
 Mi' 
 
 nil'. 
 
 O'l!' 
 
 :i.i- 
 
 ■ l.c 
 
 aif 
 
 P,ll oMnn.l.lr :nHl ^inM<T tn.-ks M.M ^lults. Nvhr,vl.y 
 1,.., ,,,,v,M-t thr plain nn.l .Invt nmr.rs .. ••unv s. 
 
 :.;„l ilnnu justi<v n.lo nl,li.,u." lines an.l hil.vnntl.s. 
 v,,,! tl... tourth is tlH' ix.llor an.l ('xactyr (.1 Ircs;^ 
 
 ;;,,,,, ,,.un- tlH--.n..Mm rrscMnl.l:mr.ot tu-omn^ 
 
 , •,^,.,l^^^otl,'•l>^^h.^^lu•^•unt^^^•lul..•■l. shcrp tiu'. 
 p.r.l.trn.TinwralluT. hr issM,vto!o.. pari ot h.s 
 
 ,,.,,,, On Ihr otluT si.l.'. an ancu-nl • ;Tk. sk.ltul 
 •_,,,,.apnts. Nvarv ill l.n-.-r.linL:. an<l nn.h-rsuu.dm- 
 ;;'„.,),„n..ssnf,h..n.ur,.i>an .Mvllrnt hn^rr ot lu 
 .loth manv tnnrs |...int the Nvay to Ihc 
 
 :i ' 
 
 •ourt. aiHl 
 
 ,,ln(< hiir.si'lt'. 
 
 l-,,„-n.lv lor that uhi.-h inav .-on-Trn thr sovc- 
 ,;.,„„..i.Ma... .lM.l^l.-.M.h, ■Unx.allto.wni.er 
 ,i;..onclu^.oMot r,H>H..n,antw..Uvirl.l<-. ^alu. i- 
 ,.„uU supivina l.'s:- n.M to knou (hat laws rx- 
 :.,.,„ Mh. h.- in oM.T to that .1.1. a,v Imt tlnn,. 
 
 .,' nou/au.l orarLs no, urll n.,.iv<i. 1 hnvton. it 
 ,;',„ happv thin.: in a staf whrn lun^s and siafs 
 
 ,..,H,,,/,';,;.uh withju.l^r.. anaa^.m. wh.n_ju.lii.>^. 
 
 i ) Mtlcll ••Oil' 
 
 ,„1, wilh' ih.' kiim- ana slatr: the one 
 ,,^,„ ,,„,,. i, jnattoroflaNv u.tnv.nirnt in Imsinoss 
 ,,,'.,.,i<. tlu- otlH'i- when ihoiv IS some con.^uUMat ion 
 ,„• .ta!- nn. rvrni.M.t in matter of lav. lor many 
 
 uaiiinent nuiy l)e nnunri. 
 
 IIIK 
 
 •s ine Ilillli^-^ «i<" 
 
 sce^l 
 
 ;i!H 
 
 in • 
 
 1 ///////^ wh"n the rea-< 
 av ireiich to po'i 
 t <inlv the p: 
 
 ti and toiiMMiuenc*' 
 
 th(M-('ot 
 
 il <!t e<Iate. 
 
 ■r< (»1 .,)\i 
 
 1 call tnatt(M- of estate 
 reifintv. l)Ut whatsoever 
 
 iicrodiu'eth any .uiva 
 aent. or coiiceiiicUi 
 
 t •ijtera.lion, oi' aaii'.M rou- preee- 
 iiiunilcsllv any great i.ortiun.-«) 
 
^m 
 
 U>L' hss.trs i>i: imwsri.s run, ash »/o/.m/. 
 
 '•f f)('(. ))!('. And let no intii wc-iklv conceive thm 
 
 just 'aws ;mi<I true policy li.-uc any antipatlix . Ur 1lic\ 
 
 arc like the spiii?^ aiid sinews. ih;it om- nioxcs wnii 
 
 the ofh">". i.e! jiidues also reineinixM- that Solomon • 
 
 .".throne was siipported i.y lions on both sides: 1. i 
 
 them l»e lions, hut yet lions under the throne, beiiiii 
 
 circumspcci ihai they ; net' check or oppose ah\ 
 
 points of so\(M-ei,>int\ . ;.t not iudu;es also he -,, 
 
 i^nioranl of iheir owfi riizht, as to think there is noi 
 
 lolel't l<» them, as a prin-apal part of their ollice, a wi-c 
 
 use and af)plication oi laws. For thev may remem- 
 
 her what the A}>ostie'^ saith of a .uicaler law than 
 
 liieirs: ' .Vos scimus" quia lex bona est, modo quis eu 
 
 utalur legitime." 
 
 KVII. OF AXCKR 
 
 ir. To seek to e\tin<i:uish an<<er ut tiM'ly is l)ut a bravery^ 
 of the Stoics. ' \\c have Ix^tter oracles: " He auiirv, 
 but sin not ; let not the sun <;o dowti upon your anger." 
 Anii;(>r must (h- iiniited aiid confined, botli in racv 
 and \v. lime. \Vc will tu-st sp<'ak how the natiu-al 
 
 -•"inclination and habii to be angry may be at temf)ored 
 and cahncd; s( condly, how the particular motions of 
 angor !tia> be repres.^t'd, or. at least, refrained from 
 (loiug liiischief; ihinllw how (o raise anger, or ap- 
 pease aiigJM'. in another. 
 
 -'■'' For the first, th.-re is no other way but to medi- 
 tate and rumiruito well upon the effects of ;int!er. how 
 
Hss.ws OR rnr\si:i.s miL .t\i> mokal VX\ 
 
 \ 
 
 ,1 tn.uhlcs \\VM\'< life. Ami the hcst time to do this. 
 i. K. look hack upon nn,u;"r wlun the lit is thoroudily 
 ,,\<T. S(MH'ca° saith well, that - Aii.ir<-r is like niin.' 
 uhirh l.ivaks its(>h" ui)on that it talis." The Sciip- 
 iiiiv cxhortctii tis "to poss(>ss oiir souls in |)ati<Mic('." r. 
 WlK.socvrr is out of i)ati('iif(' is out of jjossossion ot 
 \u< soul. Men must not ttirn lice-. 
 
 ■ ■ — Aiiinias((iU' in villi ktc jutnuiit." 
 
 \, ovr is ccrlainix a kind of l);i^.nrss. as ii ni)p(\u-s 
 v,.|| j.| ti .■ \v<'akn(>ss of tJK.sc suhjocts in whom it ic 
 !,"iLiii-: chiKlivn, \Vi)m(Mi. old folks, sick folks. Only 
 rii must beware that I hey earn tlieir ant-cr rather 
 -.ill scorn than with fe;ir. so tlicv ma\- s(>cm rather 
 ,,, !,(' ;,Ih.v(> the injury tiiaii helow it: which is a^ 
 • ea'-ilv done if a man will ui\c law to himsc^li ir. 
 
 1 1 i 1 1 1 '.i 
 
 !!. it 
 
 Tor the second point, the causes ainl uiotives of 
 Mi'ier are chicMiy ihi'ee. fii'st. to he too sensible 
 ,r jmrl.for m* man is a.".,iiry that tVels !iot himself 
 !i,,n ; ;ind therefore teiuler and delicate persons'Jo 
 Miisi needs he oft anury. they have so many thitms 
 !,. !rouhl(> th<>m which, more rohu-^l nat'.ncs have 
 lit.r ^(M!<(» of. The next is, the appreheii.-lon and 
 !• Mi<n".iclioii ' of the injury offered to he. in the cir- 
 .■•iMi- .mces ♦lierc .f. full of contempt. lM>r contemi-t lt. 
 :^ I hat wh'cn jinttcMli an edu'e upon anirer as much 
 ,,. i;i(»rc Jhait Ik" hm-t its<>lf; and. therefore, when 
 !i,,' 1 ;ue n.jiiMii ns in ]Mckini: out circumstaiic<'s ol 
 (oet.-i.iisf ,^ t'U'V do kintlle their anirer mu<'h. l-a- dy, 
 
 stZvi! 
 
194 Kss.trs o/f carxsHLs civil and MituM 
 
 opinion of tlio louch° of ;i inan's n^putatioii dott, 
 iniiltij)iy and siiarpcn aii^cr; wlicrciii the rcmody is 
 that ;i man siiould have, as ('(»nsal\<)° was wont n. 
 say, "tolani° honoris crassionMn." Hut in ail rcfraiii- 
 nin^s of an<r('r it is the l)cst rcMucdy to witi time, aii.i 
 to make a man's self Ix'jicvc' tliat the opportiiiiii\ 
 of his r('V(>n^o is not yot coinf. 'Mit that \\v foresees 
 a time for it; and so t<» still hin elf in th(> meanliinc 
 an(i voserv(> if. 
 l<» To contain'' an<i'er from misejuef, tliouoji it take 
 hold of a man. then^ hv two things whereof you niusi 
 have special caution. The one. of (>.\treme lulier- 
 ness of words, especially if they he aculcat(>-' ami 
 proper, ° for cunt/iunid tN(il((h'<t(i° are nothin<i; so 
 
 inmueh: and afjain, that in an^^er a man reveal lu. 
 secrets tor that makes him not fit for society. The 
 otluT, tliat you do no! p(>remptoriiy break off in anv 
 husi?n\>s in a hi of anjrcr; hut howsoever you show 
 bitterness, do not act anylhin*!; that is not rev(*cal)l(\ 
 
 '3) !'or raisinji; nd app(>asi.i<!; an^^er in another, it is 
 done chietiy hy choosin<]j of times when m<Mi are 
 frowai'dest and W(.;st disposed, to incense them. 
 Aijaiii l)^' gatheri?!"-:. as was touched before, ail 
 that you can hnd out to aggravate the contempt. 
 
 'JSAnd the two remcMlies are by the contraries: the 
 former, to take good times, when first to relate to 
 a man an angiy business, for the first impression is 
 much; and the other is to sever, ° as much as mav 
 l)e, the construction of th.e injury from the ))oint 
 
 lioof cojit<'mpt. iuijHitifig it to misunderstanding, fear, 
 j)assion, or what you will. 
 
j:ssays (Hi (OrSSKLS < IVIL I.V/' MnIi.\L 
 
 1 '.>.') 
 
 LVllI. OF VICISSITI'DK OK TIIIXCS 
 
 <,,i..m..n" snitlK "Thcro is no iu>nv tliinii upon 
 
 ,,, „-th;' so tlKil. MS rialo° luul an itiiaiiinatiou that 
 
 ,11 kn.Avl('Mlir(> ^vas hut roincmlM-an.-o. so S<.lon.oM .-.v- 
 !,,h hi- sont(Mico.° "that all iiowlty is hut ohhviou 
 \\ h.Mvhv vou niav s(v that th(M-iv(M- of Lrth(.° runuHh :. 
 
 nc'll iiliovc jiroun<l as hclow. TIumv .s an ahstnisc 
 
 thin 
 
 .;,ol(.ovr tlmt saith: "If it wciv not tor two 
 h,t aiv constaiu (tho ono is that the li.vd .-tars rvrr 
 Miiul at lik(> (listaiur ono ffom atiothcr. an.l lu^vcr 
 ,,;,„o noai-n- t..ji(>tluM- nor ,iio furth.-r asunder; the i.i 
 other that tiie diurnal motion^ perju'tually k(>ei)Oth 
 tinuo' no individual would last on(> monietit." ("er- 
 t,in it is that the matter^ is in a perpt'tual lux, 
 ,"„d never at a stay.- The -tvat windn,j:-sluvts 
 ,l,,r Imrv all thin-- in ohhviou aiv two. delu-es i.. 
 ,n: earth(iuak..s. As for eonlla-rations an. ^reat 
 .ln,uo-hts, tliev (h) not ni.'rely° dispeople and destroy. 
 Phaeton's ear'^ ^^(Mlt but a day. And the three 
 vr.iis' drou-ht in the time of ITeis" was hut i)ar- 
 ■.,.Mlar.° and left ].eople alive. As for the ^x^a ^i 
 l.urtmi^s bv li^htt.in-s. 'Ahich are often m the W ."st 
 In.iies, thev are but narrow, i^.t in the other two 
 d.>-truetions. bv dehi-o and eartluiuak.^. it i- iurther 
 to be noted that the retunant of peoi)le winch hap to 
 h.> reserved are eomtnotdv i^M.rant and mount anions j.. 
 
 ,,„pl,., that ean j-ive no aeeou.:t of th<' tune past: 
 ... that the oblivion^ is all 'uu>, as if none had l>een 
 
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196 ESSAYS OR COCXSELS CIVIL AND MORAL 
 
 lofi. If y()ii ('()nsi(l(>r well of (ho people of tlio \Xv<\ 
 
 Indies, it is very probahio tiiat tlioy are a newer or 
 
 a younjrer people than (i;e people of the old world; 
 
 and it is nineli more likely that the destruetion that 
 
 flhath heretofore been there was not by earthqiiak«'s 
 
 (as the Kuyptian priest° told Solon° coneernin^ tli<- 
 
 island of Atlantis.^ that it was swallowed bv an 
 
 earthquakiO. but rather that it was desolated by a 
 
 particular delu.u-e. For eartlupiakes are seldom in 
 
 10 those parts; but, on the other side, they have sueli 
 
 pourinti; rivers, as the rivcTs of Asia anil Afrie and 
 
 Europe are but brooks to them. Their Andes lik(nvis.'. 
 
 or mountains, are far hi,!>:lier than those with us; 
 
 whereby it seems th;d the remnants of ^venerations of 
 
 15 men \\\^yo in such a particular delu.uc saved. As 
 
 for the observation that Madiiavel'" iiath. that the 
 
 jealousy of s(H'ts doth much e\tin,i>uish the memory of 
 
 thin<2:s. —traducing- (ireij;ory the (Ireat,'^ that hedid 
 
 what in him lay to extin.tiuish all heathen antifpiities. 
 
 LH) — I do not (ind that- those zeals do any sreat effects 
 
 nor last lonu;; as it a|);)ear(^(l in the succession of 
 
 Sabinian,° who did revive th(^ formcM' antitpiitios. 
 
 The v:cissitud(>s or nuitations in the superior 
 slobe° are no fit mat.er for this present ar<rument. 
 25 It may b(\ Plato's oreat year,° if the worKl should last 
 so lon^. would ha\(' some (effect, not in renewing the 
 state of like'" individuals (for that is the fume° of 
 those that conceiv(^ the celestial bodies have more 
 accurate^ infhuMices upon these thin.L^^ below than 
 ;m) indeed they have), but in ^n-oss. Comets, out of 
 
KSSAYS OH ro/'.V.S/-./-N '/I//. 1-V/' MoUM. 
 
 id: 
 
 .uostion, have like-wise |>ow(«r m,. i olfect over tlu- 
 ■TOSS ami mass o( thi.i-s; t.ui ih.'v arc ralh.-r -a/ed 
 upon, and waitod upon in thrir journey, than wisely 
 .hserved in tiieir eftVcts, specially in then- respe.-tive 
 .fVcts- that is. what kind of eoinet ior i.iafiintude, ■. 
 ...ilour, version^ of the beams, plaeinu i.i the re-ion 
 ,1 heaven, or lastin,ii. pro.luceth v. hat kmd ol eltects 
 There is a tov^ whifh 1 have heard, and I wouUl 
 uoi have it iiiven over.'^ but w:'.ited upon a httle 
 They say it is observed in the l.ow Countries, I in 
 know not in what part, that every tive-and-tlmty 
 vears the same kind and suit° of years and weathers 
 ronies about a-aiu: as jj;reat frosts, -reat wet, j^reat 
 droufrhts, warm winters, sumn»ers with httle heat, 
 and the like. - and they eall it the prune, it is a i.T 
 thin^ I do the rather mention. beeaus«>. eompuimg 
 baekwards. 1 have found some concurrenee. 
 
 But to leave these points of nature, and to eome 
 t,» men The -reatest vicissitude of thii^gs amon^^st 
 nirn is the vicissitude of sects and rehjiu.ns; tor-.M 
 those orbs'^ rule in men's minds most. '1 he true 
 
 ■■ the rest are 
 
 relit;ion is "built" upon the r(»ck 
 
 I upon the waves of time. To speak, theretorc 
 
 tossed up( 
 
 of the causes of new s( 
 
 'cts. and to uive sonu- cttunsf 
 
 concernu\ 
 
 t£ them, as far as the wen 
 
 kness (»f human:'/. 
 
 judi^ment can ,sj;ive stay to so 
 
 ij;r(-at revolution; 
 
 When the relisiion formerly receivi-d is n-n 
 
 t b}- 
 
 discords, and when the holiness of the professors 
 of reliiriou is decaved an<l full of scandal, and withal 
 the tunes be stupid, igtu)rant, and barban 
 
 >us, vou;w 
 
11)8 ESSAYS OR roVXSKLS CIVIL A XI) MORAL 
 
 may doubt ° tlio sj)ri i>in<j up of a now sect, if then aLsd 
 there siiould arise any extravagant and strange 
 spirit to make himself autlior thereof. All whieli 
 poir^s held when Mahomet° published his law, 
 r» If a new sect have not two j)ropertie.s, fear it not. 
 for it will not spread. The one is the supplantin<.' 
 or the o])posing of authority^ established ; for nothing 
 is more popular than that. The other is the giving 
 license to i)leasure.-? and a voluptuous life. For as for 
 
 10 speculative heresies, such as were in ancient times 
 the Arians,° and now the Arminians,° though they 
 work mightily u{)on men's wits.° yet they do not pro- 
 duce any great alterations in states; except it be by 
 the help of civil occasions. Ther^ l)e three manner 
 
 ]"» of plantations of ncnv sects : by the power of signs and 
 miracles; by the elociuence and wisdom of speech 
 and persuasion ; and by the sword. For martyrdoms, 
 1 reckon then) amongst miracles, because they seem 
 to exceed the strength of human nature; and I may 
 
 •J) do the like of superlative and admirable holiness of 
 life. Surely there is no better way Xo stop the rising 
 of new s(>cts and schisms than to reform abuses: 
 to com))ound° the smaller differences; to proceed 
 mildly, and not with sanguinary persecutions; and 
 
 •J5 rather to take off the principal authors by winning 
 and advancing them, than to enrage them by violence 
 and bitterness. 
 
 The changes and vicissitudes in wars are many, 
 but chiefly in three things: in tlie seats or stages of 
 
 ;iOthe war, in the weapons, and in the manner of the 
 
ESSAYS OR rorXSKLS CIVIL AX/> ^KHiM 
 
 1<)0 
 
 coiuhict. Wars in anc'uMit time srcmod more to movo 
 from east to west; for the Persians. Assyrians. Arahi- 
 ans. Tartars, whieh were the inva(l(>rs. were all eastern 
 'l)(>ople. It is true the (iaiils w(M-e western; Init wo 
 rend Vnit of two ineursions of theirs, -the one ton 
 (;allo-(lnucia.° the other to Home. Hnt lOast atul 
 West have no certain points of heaven; and no more 
 have the wars, either from the Mast or W(>st, any 
 c.Ttahitv of observation. But North and Sontli 
 are fixed; and it hath seldom or never l)(>en seen that lo 
 the far southern people have invaded the northern, 
 hut contrariwise. Whereby it is manifest that the 
 northern tract of the world is in natun^ lh(> nuMv 
 martial rej^ion: l)e it in respect of the stars of that 
 hemisphere: or of the great continents that are upon \: 
 the North, whereas the south jiart, for auf2;ht that is 
 known, is almost all sea; or (which is most ap!)arent) 
 of tl e cold of the northern parts, which is that which, 
 without aid of discipline, doth make the bodies hard 
 est and the couraji(>s warmest. 
 
 Upon the breaking! and shivering of a great state 
 and empire vou may be s\uv to have wars. For 
 great emi)ires. while thry stand, do enervate and 
 destroy the forces of the natives which they have 
 sulKlued, resting upon their own ])rotectmg forces ; •j.t 
 and then when they fail also, all goes to ruin, and 
 they become a prey. So was it in th(> decay of the 
 Roman empir ' ' ' "' 
 
 20 
 
 maigne' 
 
 after Charles the (ireat.° every l»ird uiking 
 
 a feather; and were 
 
 not unlike to befall to Spain, li 
 
 •1 
 
 ;w 
 
fJW 
 
 200 /';.....ir.s oA* rof^sKLs <ivil asd moral 
 
 it should break. Tlio ,<iroat accessions and unions 
 of kini2;d()nis do likcnviso stn* uj) wars. For when a 
 state srows to an over-power, it is hke a f..eat flood 
 that will he ^^wyq to overflow; as it hath been seen in 
 n tiie states of Home, Turkey, Spain, and otluM's. Look 
 when the world hath fewest barbarous peoples, but 
 such as commonly will not marry or generate except 
 they know means to live (as it is almost everywhere 
 at this day, except Tarta?\v); there is no dan«;er of 
 
 10 inundations of people; but when there be jrreat shoals 
 of peopk', which <^ct on° to pojMilate, without fore- 
 seein,G: means of life and sustentation,° it is of necessity 
 that once in an a^e or two they discharge a i)ortion of 
 their people upon other nations, — which the ancient 
 
 irinorHiern peoj)le were wont to do by lot, casting lots 
 what part shoukl stay at home and what should seek 
 their fortunes. When a warlike state jirows soft and 
 effeminate, they may I tv sure of a war. For commonly 
 such states are •irovrn rich in the time of their degen- 
 
 'ioeratinti;; and so the j)rey inviteth, and their decay 
 in valour encoura^eth a w;u*. 
 
 As for the weapons, it hardly falleth imder rule 
 and o})servation; yet we see even they have returns 
 and \icissitudes. For certain^ it is that ordnanc(> 
 
 25 was known in the city of the Oxidrakes in India, and 
 was that which the Macedonians callerl thunder 
 and li<ihtnin2: a-ul maiiic. And it is well known 
 that tlu- use of i -dnance hath been in China above 
 two thousand years. Tlie conditions of weajions and 
 
 30 their improvement are: First, the fetching^ afar off, 
 
?:ssAys I Hi ror.v.sT-.v.N ( ivii. .i\i> moum. 'JH 
 
 tor tliat outruns the (laiiiici. a.- n is seen in onliuuice 
 niid niuslvots. Secondly, the slrcuLMh of tlic pt-ivus- 
 vioii, \vliiM-('i!i iikcnvisc ordnance do exceed all arie- 
 t;itioi!^° and ancient inventions. The third is the 
 (•nninuKlious use of them. as. that ihev may serve :> 
 111 all weathers, that the carria.uc may be lij^ht and 
 maiiaueahle. and the like. 
 
 lor the conduct of th<' way: at the first men 
 iv-ted. extremely Uj)on numlu-r; they did put the 
 wars lik(>\vise ui)on main force and valoui". pointin^"^ m 
 ,l;,vs for pitched liekls, md so tryinii it out upon 
 ;m even match; and they were more i<j;norant in 
 !;in,L^i 11,12; and arrayinji; their battles." After, they 
 urcw to rest upon number rather competent than 
 \ast; they .irrew t'> :vlvan(a*i;es of place. cun!iin<!; ir. 
 diversions, and the like; .and they jrrew more skil- 
 ful in the orderin.s:; of their battk^s. 
 
 In the youth of a state, arms do flourish; in the 
 middle ajjje of a state, k'arninfi-; and then both of 
 idem tof^ether for a time; in the dc'clininii; a^^e of'J'J 
 :i state, mechanical arts and merchandise. Ltarn- 
 injr hath his infancy, when it is but be<j;innln^^ and 
 ;i!mosi childish; then his youth, when it is luxuri- 
 ;i!it and juveniks then his str<'n<ith of years, when 
 It is solid and redr.-ed°; and lastly, his old a^^e, 'J.i 
 when it waxeth drv and exhaust. ° Hut it i.s not 
 iiood to look too lonjr upon these turninii; wheels" 
 of vicissitude, lest we become giddy. As for the 
 
 iiliHo 
 
 loiiv' 
 
 o 
 
 f them, that is but a circle of tales, and 
 
 \m 
 
 therefore not fit for this writing 
 
 'M 
 
wm 
 
NOTES 
 
 *i 
 
 L OF TRUTH 
 
 (1(525) 
 
 1:1. Pilate. See.Tohr >> . " 
 
 1:4, affecting. Aimii .rins. Compare Latin a/(Pr<o. 
 
 1 : -). sects of philosophei. Tue Grecian schools of Sceptics. 
 1:11. imposeth upon. L'nderslaml as object 'burden' or 
 
 •voke.' . , 
 
 " 1 : 13. a natural though corrupt love. Compare Browning s 
 The Bing an' the Book, Book X, " The Pope "' : — 
 
 '< Man must tell his mate 
 
 Of you, rae and himself, knowins he lies, 
 Knowing his fellow knows the same, — will think 
 ' He lies, it is tl;e niethod of a man ! ' 
 And yet will speak for answer * It is truth ' 
 To him who shall rejoin ' Again a lie! ' " 
 
 14. 
 13. 
 
 One of the later schools of the Grecians. Lucian. 
 One of the Fathers. Augustine, in his ( 'ou/essiotis. 
 
 8:14. vinum daemouum. ' The wine of devils.' 
 
 3 : -2. The poet. Lucretius. 
 
 3 : 3. The sect. The Epicureans. See note on page 0, line 4. 
 
 3 : 4. excellently well. Compare the same reference in The. 
 A.lmnremnit of Lpaniinrj, end of Book 1: "which the poet 
 Lucretius deserilvth elegantly." 
 
 3:20. round. Thorough; plain. Compare Malvolio in 
 Shakespeare's rtveJfth \i(lkt. Act II. So. 3: — 
 
 " Sir Tohy, I must ho round with you ; " 
 203 
 
204 
 
 NOTES 
 
 [Pages .']- 
 
 and I'olonius in Hamlet, Act III, Sc. 4: 
 
 " I'l-.iy you, ]»e roiind with him." 
 
 3:28. Montaigne. A Freiicli writer. 1 :,:{.]_ 1592. 
 
 4:9. "He shall not find faith upon the earth." — Luke 
 xviii. 8. 
 
 II. OF DEATH 
 
 (1<)12. Enlarged , l()L'."i) 
 
 4 : 18. mortification. Methods of disciplining the body, evtn 
 of ill-treating ii, for religious ends. 
 
 4 : 20. " Pompa," etc. " T' trappings of death frighten us 
 more tlian death itself."' — Skni-.va. 
 
 6:3. blacks. Mourning garments. 
 
 5:12. pre-occupateth. Anticipates, — cumniits suicide. 
 Otho. The IJoman emperor. Salvius Otho, who slew hinwelf 
 after his defeat by Vitellius, Ills successor ..d. 09. 
 
 5 : 10. Seneca. Roman philosoplier unuer Nero. A Stoic. 
 
 6:17. '-Cogita," etc. 'Consider how long you have been 
 doing the same things ; the longing fordeatli is natural not only 
 to the brave, or the miserable, but also to the sensitive.' 
 
 6:24. Augustus Caesar. Roman empen.r, i5.( . :n-A.j>. 14, 
 
 6:25. '^Livia," etc. 'Farewell, Livia, and remember our 
 married life.' 
 
 5:20. Tiberius. Successor to Augustus, a. d. 14-37. 
 
 6:27. Tacitus. Roman hi.storian, born a.d. 54. "Jam,"' 
 etc. ' Tiberius was now losing strength and vitality, but not 
 dissimulation.' 
 
 5:28. Vespasian. Roman emperor, a, i>. 09-79. 
 
 6 : 29. " Ut puto." etc. - 1 think I am becoming a god.' 
 
 5:80. Galba. li<nuan emperor, ^.n. 68-09, slain in the 
 capital by rebellious sol. liens. " Feri," etc. ' Strike, if this be 
 for the good of Rome 1 ' 
 
■v..J s 0-b] 
 
 XOTES 
 
 2(>r> 
 
 6:2. Septimius Severus. Koiuaii eiiu>eror, \.v. 19;5-211. 
 .. Adeste," tic. ■ Mf quick, if au<,'lit. ivinaiiis for uie U> acvoiii- 
 
 6: ». Stoics. One of tli«' f<'ur principal Greek tohools ot 
 nhilosopliy • the Acadeiiiiciaiis (I'lato) ; the l»eripatetics (Ari.s- 
 •,tU); the KpicurciUi.s (Kpiourus) ; aii«l the Stoies (Zeiio). 
 The Stoios taught indifference to all emis other than virtue. 
 
 6:ti. -'qui," etc. 'Who regards tlie end of life as one of 
 nature's blessin.^s.' 
 
 6: 1'). Nunc dimittis. Luke ii. 21> : ".Lord, now lettest thou 
 tl.y servant depart In peace/' A Ciuirrh of Kuirland canticle. 
 
 6 : IS. •' Extinctus,'" etc. ' Let him die, and you'll love h'ni 
 Lo- morrow.'' 
 
 III. OF UNITY IN RELIGION 
 
 (Uil'J. Greatly enlarged, Ki'-'o) 
 This essay doubtless grew out of Bacon', strong dislike of 
 theological controversy, as expressed in The Advancement of 
 Unrniiw. It was originally written in ldl-.i, and greatly en- 
 l;a-vd in 1025. The air was full of discord during these years, 
 ihe'ruritans being at one extreme and the High Church party 
 
 :u tlie other. 
 
 7 : 14. solution of continuity. Interruption of bodily har- 
 mony. 
 7 : 18. "Ecce." etc. 'Behold, he is in the desert.' 
 7 : 19. "Ecce,'" etc. ' Behold, l.e is in the secret closjt.' 
 7 : 2.}. •' Nolite exire.' ' Go not out.' See context. 
 7:24. doctor. Teacher. St. Paul. 
 8 : 2. " chair of the scorners." See Tsalm i. L 
 8 : r>. a master of scofang. Rabelais, a French humorist, 
 
 8:7. monis-dance. An old English festival dance. The 
 
L'OC. 
 
 yOTKS 
 
 [I'A«iKHb-U 
 
 naiiio is i^robably corniiUeil fr >in }fi>n'srn, or Miiorish, tin* 
 (laiu'c liavinir lu-t'ii ltr(iui,'lit into KiiuUiiid from Spain. 
 
 8: l»t. politics, roliticians. 
 
 8: '2 1, zelants. /lalois. 
 
 8 :-'.'!. "turn thee behind me " Sco 2 Kinirs ix. 17-10. 
 
 8:2">. Laodiceans. Lukt-warni persons. Sfi' Kev, iii. IJ-lTi. 
 
 9: -'•». •• In veste." etc • Let there b^ variety, but no divi- 
 sion, in the traniient.* 
 
 10:7. "Devita," etc. ' Avoidinir tiie profane novelties of 
 vvord.s, and oppo.sitions of knowh'due falsely so termed.' Stf 
 1 Tini. vi. 'JO. 
 
 10: 18. Nebuchadnezzar's image. See Dan. ii. :;i-;].}. 
 
 10:21. muniting. Stren-riheuiii,. fortifying. 
 
 10:27. Mahomet's. .Malinmet, spelled also Moiiamnied, was 
 born at Meeca. Arabia, a.o. r)71. He founded the Moliamnie- 
 dan religion. 
 
 11:0. Agamemnon. Kin-r of Myeena' and Argos. Upon 
 Helen's elopement with I'aris, Againennton led the (ireeks 
 against Troy. At this time lie killed a stag sacred to Diana, 
 and pacified the goddess only by sacrificing his daughter 
 Iphigenia. 
 
 11 : 1 1. " Tantum," etc. ' To such dreadful evils could reli- 
 gion constrain ! ' 
 
 11: l->. massacre. Slaughter of the Trotestants in France, on 
 St, Barthoh)mew's Day, 1572. powder treason. The Gunpow- 
 der Plot. Xovenilier o. lOO."). devised by Hobert Cate.sby, Guv 
 Fawkes, and tviiers, to blow up tlie House of Parliament in 
 London, as a Roman Catholic protest against the extortions of 
 James I. 
 
 11:10. Anabaptists. A religions t . that became very active 
 after the opening of the Heformation. Their fanatical career 
 provok. (1 severe persecution, until, after defeats in Saxony and 
 Franconia, they seized Miinster and held it for a time, being 
 
I'a..i> lli-llj 
 
 y(trKS 
 
 L'Oi 
 
 .vriitually driven tliciicf witli heavy losses. Their general 
 jiriiiriplts were punT thiin their (•(HiiliU't. 
 
 I2:ti. facts. Deeils. ('nnipare Latin /«<<•/(«. 
 
 12:'.'. would. Should. 
 
 12:10. "Ira," etc. 'The wratli of man woiketh not. the 
 jusliee of (Jo*!.' See .las. i. "JO. 
 
 12:11. a wise father. One of the priests of the early 
 {'linn-h. 
 
 12:14. interessed. Inten.sted. 
 
 ill 
 
 IV. OF KKVKNdK 
 
 (it;r.) 
 
 12: lo. wild. Natural; uncultivated. 
 
 12 ■_*;'.. '-It is the glory." •le. See I'rov. xix. 11. 
 
 13:10. no law. A reterenee to or.;\>iuns t'i>r (luellinir, a 
 pr.ietioe prevalent in liaeon'.s day. and to wiiieh he was 
 strontrly opposed. 
 
 13: i:;. it is two for one. That is. the law's punishment is 
 added to the ori<:iiial wronir suffen'd. and one's enemy is "still 
 li.'t'uivhand." or. ;is the i>hrase now runs. _ uhcad. 
 
 13:20. Cosmus. A descendani ot' tiie lesser hninch of the 
 -nat Medici family, who became Duke of Florence in 15:'.?. 
 
 13 :•_''). Job. See .Job ii. 10. 
 
 14::',. Pertinax. Uoman emperor, nuirdered by .soldiers, 
 \.i.. 111.".. Racon means that Aupistus Ca-sar, Septimius 
 S.v.riis. and Henry IV., of France, who avenged the deatiis 
 (it the persons mentioned, were i)rosperous. 
 
 V. OF ADVFKSITY 
 
 This essay was written after IJacon's fall. 
 14 : H. Seneca. See note on page 5, line 16. 
 
 i 
 
 ■i 
 
208 
 
 yOTKS 
 
 [1'a..k» 11-ir, 
 
 14 : '.'. Stoics. See iioto on page H, line 4. 
 14: 11. adversity. Compare Shakespeare's As You Like It, 
 Aci II, S(. i : - - 
 
 " Sweet .'ire the uses of a<lversity ; 
 Whicli, like the toad, ii<;l,v ;ni(l vpiionions, 
 W.'iirs yet a precious jewel in his hea<l." 
 
 "Bona," ete. See context. 
 
 14: IS. '• Vere."' etr. See context. 
 
 14 : 2o. Hercules. A faiiie(i hero of mythology, who achieved 
 the "Twelve Labours of Ilercuie.s,'* and, after hi.s death, became 
 a j:od. 
 
 14 : 2(>. Prometheus. Another liero, son of lapetns an<l 
 ("lyniene. who scaled the heavens and brouuht back the tire 
 withdrawn from earth by Zens (Jupiter). For this he was 
 condemned to be chained to a rock, with his liver eternally 
 exposed to a vulture's hunger. He was released by Hercules. 
 The myth has often been celebrated in poetry. 
 
 15 : 4. a mean. A more moderate fashion. 
 
 15:11. David's harp. The Psalms. 
 
 15 : 2o. discover. Uncover; reveal. 
 
 VI. OF SIMULATION AND DISSIMULATION 
 
 (1(12.5) 
 
 This essay appeared at the close of Bacon's life. It indicat(>s 
 at once his worldly — sometimes Machiavellian — wisdom, and 
 his recognition of character as, afier all, the thing of musL 
 worth. 
 
 16:1. politics. See note on page 8, line 10. 
 
 16:-^. Tacitus. See note on page ">, line 27. sorted. Har 
 nioni/.ed with. 
 
 16 : ■"• Augustus. See note on page o. line 24. 
 
 16 : <). Tiberius. See note on page 6, line 26. 
 
Vm.v.^ 10-lii] 
 
 ytJTKS 
 
 209 
 
 16:7. Vespasian. Spe note on pag" 5, line 28. Vitellius. 
 See iiott" on \y,\iH^ 5, line I'J. 
 
 16:l-">. half lights. Couipaiv the Latiu tr: slatiou: *As it 
 wcif. in twilight.' 
 
 16:27. managed. Trained. 
 
 17:11. industriously. I'lirposely. 
 
 17 :•_'!. in that kind. TIuls ; in that way. 
 
 17 : -i'i. open. Bacon .speaks from experience. 
 17:27. futile. Loquacious ; literally, leaky. 
 
 18 ; ■-'. leave to speak. That is, that his countenance and his 
 \v>;,ls n.mi'e. Conipan- H nu^ rso n : "What you are speaks .so 
 \o\u\ 1 cannot hear what you .say." 
 
 18::]. tracts. Traits. 
 
 18:10. absurd. I'nrea.sonable. .Xpiilied, as Mr. Aldls 
 \Viii,'ht tells us, to the answer ,<,'iveii by a deaf man (snr- 
 ii'is), which does not touch the (juestion ; hence absurdus, 
 ilraf to reason. 
 
 18 : 18. oraculous. Oracular ; haviiiLr a double meaning. 
 18:21. except it be. Note the iiiHuence of Machiavelli's 
 
 \i(\vs. He was a great writer of the Italian Renaissance, a 
 iint;ible student of politics and statecraft. 
 
 18::!0. u'-e. I'si'. I'trivrd from the French hetir (Latin, 
 'iHijiirinm), destiny, experience, fortune. 
 
 19:10. fair. 'Just,' simply. 
 
 19:1(5. set it even. Hacon's balancing habit constantly 
 asserts itself, a habit temj)eramental with him. but conlirmed 
 by his long experience as lawyer and statesman. C'ouiparo 
 till' Aiitithcta in the De Anymmtis. 
 
 19:11>. round. Direct; thorough. A reference to archery. 
 See note on page Ji, line 20. 
 
 19 : 25. trust and belief. The man in Bacon will out. 
 
 19:2r.. composition and temperature. Temperament. Lit- 
 iniU} , combiuaiiou and bleuding. 
 
I ! 
 
 210 
 
 NOTES 
 
 [PAUE8 20-l>2 
 
 VII. OF PARENTS AND CHILDREN 
 
 (Itn'J. Enlarged, H»25) 
 20:2. nor. The aouble negative is common in Elizabethan 
 English. Compare Shakespeare's Hamlet, Act I, Sc. 2 : — 
 •« It is not, nor it cannot come to good." 
 
 20 : 13. posterity. So that tlie childless are most concerned' 
 for the welfare and opinion of posterity. 
 
 20:20. Solomon. See Trov. x. 1. 
 
 20 : 2r). wantons. ' Pets ' ; spoiled favourites. 
 
 21:2. shifts. Makeshifts; disingenuous schemes, sort. 
 
 Consort. 
 21 : 4. proof. Result, 
 21 : S). sorteth. Turns out. 
 
 21 • 13. lump. Paniily-at-large. 
 
 21:26. -Optimum," etc. 'Choose the best, custom will 
 make it agreeable and easy.' 
 
 21 • 28 fortunat- . In that they must depend on their own 
 efforts for advancement and recognition. Bacon himself is a 
 case in point. 
 
 VIII. OF MARRIAGE AND SINGLE LIFE 
 
 (1012. Enlarged, l()2r)) 
 
 Bacon's view of matrimony is not romantic. He examines 
 dispassionately its advantages and disadvantages. The student 
 will remember that lu- failed in his own suit for the hand ..f 
 Lady Hatton, and married Alice Barnham some ten years later. 
 See the Introduction, pages xv and xxvii. 
 
 22 : 2. hostages to fortune. Pledges that he will run as few 
 risks as possible. 
 
1>A..ES 22-23] 
 
 NOTES 
 
 211 
 
 will 
 
 22 : i>. greatest care. Contrast the pn-oeding essay, page 20, 
 liiii's S-18. Can you reconcile these statements V 
 22 10. dearest pledges. Compare Milton's Lijvidas, line 
 
 ^^' ■ ~~ " Ah! who hath reft, quoth he, my dearest pledge? " 
 
 22:13. impertinences. Irrelevant to their own personal 
 progranuues. 
 22:17. because. In order that. 
 
 22-2:5. humorous. Originally applied to any one of the 
 four principal 'humours' or moistures of the body. -blood, 
 phle-m, choler, melancholy ; later restricted to apply only to 
 the mood of mirth. Used by Bacon as by Jonson (compare 
 Fvern Man in His TTumonr) to mean w..imsical, tastidious. 
 (N.mpare this use as , sisting in Washington Irving's Sketch- 
 linok ■ " were I to mention the other makeshifts of this worthy 
 .,ld humourist," and "grown into keeping with the antiquated 
 .nansion, and the humours of its lord." - The Christmas 
 
 Dinner. 
 23 : 5. indifferent. Neutral. 
 23 : 8. For. As for ; concerning. Compare Hamlet, Act 1, 
 
 Sc 2 1—' 
 
 ' , . . For your intent 
 
 In going hack 1.) school in Wittenberg 
 It is int)st retrograde to our desire." 
 Act I. Sc. 3 : — 
 
 " For Hamlet and the trifling of Ids favour, 
 Hold it a fashion, and a toy in blood." 
 
 Heartening or directing speeches; ex- 
 
 «a;... VXJ..W-. The "wear>-, wayworn wanderer" of 
 ll.>mer's Odyssey who declined Calypso's offer of immortality, 
 in order that he might return to his wife IVnelope. " Vetu- 
 1am " etc. ' He preferred his oUl wife to imnu»rtality.' 
 
 23:9. hortatives. 
 
 hortations. 
 28:21. Ulysses. 
 
 1 
 
'2V> 
 
 JiOTEH 
 
 [Pages •j:i~2(', 
 
 23:22. proud and froward. Cunpare Clif\steitoii's Jiohrrt. 
 Browniiuj, Chapter 111 : '• He hail, what is perhaps the subtlest 
 and worst spirit of efrotisni, not tliat spirit merely which thinks 
 that nothing should stand in the way of its ill-te'mpir, but that 
 spirit which thinks that nothing should stand in the way of L 
 amiability." 
 
 23:2!t. quarrel. (Jround ; occasion. 
 
 24:2. "not at all." Thales of Miletus, a Greek philo«„. 
 pher, is credited with this evasive saying. 
 
 IX. OF ENVY 
 
 (1625) 
 
 34:11. fascinate. In his AJvancetnent of Learning and 
 Natnral History Bacon calls attention to the influence vf 
 spirit upon spirit tiirough the medium of the eye. The sinister 
 idea of witclicraft was still adhered to. 
 
 24:17. Scripture. See Matt. vi. 22, 23; Luke xii. 34- 
 Deut. xxviii. 54-")(». ' 
 
 24 : 19. still. Always, as freijuently in Shakespeare. 
 24:20. ejaculation. -Castin!- out.' 
 
 25 : 4. fit place. See, as above. Ue Adeanremciit of Learn- 
 infj. Hook II. and the Xatuml History. 
 
 25:22. "Non est," etc. 'Whoever is of a prvii;.; disposi- 
 t ion is false-hearted.' 
 
 25 : 24. new men. A Roman phrase for the first members 
 of families elevated to 'place.' 
 
 25 :.•}(». impair another's. Compare liichnra III, Act I, 
 Sc. ], the Duke of (iloucester's soliloquy. 
 
 86 : 2. his nonour. Compare the earlier part of Thackeray's 
 famous novel, I/enrij Esmond. 
 
 26 :o. Narses. A great Roman general under Justinian. 
 
 -«#■ 
 
l*.\r.KS 1>(J_30] 
 
 ^'OTES 
 
 21o 
 
 Agesilaus. King of Spuria, noted for his milit 
 iKiirth century m.c. 
 
 26:(). Tamberlanes. Horn 1, 
 lior. Conipare Marlowe's Tnmhnrl 
 
 26:12. levity. Liditi 
 
 ary i)ro\vess. 
 
 >•'•') A.i>., a noted .Moiiirol war- 
 
 '///' the (ircat. 
 bah 
 
 i^iirhtness ; want of balauee. 
 26:15. Adrian. Or, Hadrian. Kecanie emperor of Rome 
 
 A.I). 117. He is reputed to have banished Apollodorus the 
 
 architect on account of the latter's unfavourable criticism of 
 
 one of his architectural designs. 
 26:2;]. incurreth. I^ntcrctli ; literally, -runs into.' 
 26 : 27. to look on. And therefore there was no possible 
 
 reference to another's good or biid opinion. 
 
 27 : 18. darken it. Compare our colloquial ' put it in the 
 
 shade.' 
 
 27 : 21. per saltum. ' At a bound.' 
 
 27 : 23. travels. Travails ; toils. 
 
 27 : 29. ' ' Quanta patimur.' ' ' How much we suffer I ♦ 
 
 28.12. well. Happy ; satisfied. 
 
 28 : 23. disavow fortune. Virtually confess his unfitnes.s. 
 
 28 : 21). lot. The spell. ' Sorcerer ' is derived from the 
 Latin sors, French .sort. Compare the Biblical narratives of 
 the casting out of evil spirits. 
 
 29 : 2. derive. Turn aside. 
 
 29:7. undertaking. Over-ready; rash. 
 
 29:2.3. plausible. Literally, as here, 'deserving applause.' 
 
 29 : 30. kings and estate : themselves. Compare the history 
 of Bacon as Lord Chancellor. 
 
 30 : !>. of all other affections. Idiomatic. ' Of all the affec- 
 tions.' 
 
 30 : 12. " Invidia," etc. ' Envy takes no holidays.* 
 
 30 : 10. envious man. See Matt. xiii. 25. 
 
 
r/'i :( 
 
 214 
 
 IfOTES 
 
 [Pacjes 30-31 
 
 X. OF LOVE 
 
 (1612. Much enli»rged, lfi25) 
 
 Notice Bacon's characteristically cool, sagacious, prudential 
 Tiew of this subject, — one, if any, that would afford him op- 
 portunity for 'poetizing' a little. He becomes much more 
 eloquent on " power to do good " in the succeeding essay. 
 
 30 : 23. beholding. A seventeenth-century form of ' be- 
 liolden.'' 
 
 31 : 4. not one. \n elastic statement, though rendered fairly 
 safe by the use of ' mad.' 
 
 31 : 0. weak passion. Compare Bacon's " Love is a nuisance, 
 and an impediment to important action." Says Miss Agnes 
 Kepplier, in her Marrhuje in Firtbn) : -'That pleasant old 
 romancer, Maistro Kusticiano di Pisa, tells us that a courtier 
 once asked Charlemagne whether he held King Meliadus or his 
 st»n Tristan to be the better man. To this question the Em- 
 peror made wise reply : ' King Meliadus was the better man, 
 and I will tell you why. As far as 1 can see, everything that 
 Tristan did was done for love. . . . Now tliis same thing can 
 never be said of King Meliadus. For what deeds he did, he did 
 them, not by dint of love, but by dint of his strong right arm. 
 Purely out of his own goodness he did good, and not by con- 
 straint of ' ve.' " 
 
 31 : 7. »i. IS Antonius. Or, Mark Antony, triumvir with 
 Octavian anil Lepidus. Slew Iiimself n.c 30. See Shake- 
 speare's Julius C(vsar and Antontj and Cleopatra. 
 
 31 : 0. Appius Claudius, the decemvir. One of the Roman 
 Council of Ten. He was unlawfully enamoured of Virginia. 
 See Macaulay's Lays of Ancient Borne, 
 
 31:15. Epicurus. See note on page 6, line 4. "Satis," etc. 
 * Each of us is to his fellow a theatre large enough.' 
 
 ri' 
 
I'vciKs 31-34] 
 
 NOTES 
 
 21 r. 
 
 31 : 18. a little idol. The eye, which induces worsliip of 
 wliat it sees. Compare line 20 below. 
 
 31 : 22. braves. Despises any suggestion of the relative im- 
 portance of thinjjs. 
 
 31 : 2(J. well said. By I'lutarch. 
 
 31 : 27. have intelligence. That is, ' are related to.' 
 
 32 : 1. well said. By Publilius Syrus of Antioch, first cen- 
 uiy B.C. 
 
 32 : 5. reciproque. Adjective. Mutual. 
 
 32 : 0. reciproque. Noun. Corresponding affection. 
 
 32:11. Helena. Helen of Troy, given to Paris, a Trojan 
 shepherd, by Venus, in return for his famous judgment award- 
 inir her the golden apple as the fairest of goddesses. Venus 
 was the goddess of love and beauty. 
 
 32:12. Juno. Consort of .lupiter, and hence queen of the 
 gods. Pallas. Or, Minerva, the goddess of wisdom. 
 
 32:14. his. 'Its' was rarely used in Bacon's day, 
 
 32 : 20. keep quarter. Remain within due bounds. 
 
 32:21. check. Interfere. 
 
 XI. OF GREAT PLACE 
 
 (ir.l-J. Enlarged, 1625) 
 
 When this essay appeared in 1(312, Bacon had become Solic- 
 itor. It was revised and enlarged in 1(52"). The student will 
 note the vein of personal experience throughout. 
 
 33: 13. it. The antecedent is ' rising unto place.' 
 
 33:10. "Cum," etc. 'When you are no longer what you 
 have been, then there is no further reason for desiring to live.' 
 
 34 : o. strangers. Comparatively unacquainted with their 
 own more personal aiSairs. 
 
 34:8. "Illi," etc. 'Death weighs on him heavily who dies 
 known of all men, but to himself a stranger.' 
 
21C 
 
 ^^(^TEii 
 
 [Paoks ;i4-;',»i 
 
 34:12. can. Be able. 
 
 34:1.S. power to do good. Among Bacon's noblest senti- 
 ments. 
 
 34 : 18. motion. Activity. 
 
 34 : 19. conscience. Consciousness. 
 
 34:22. "Et conversus," etc. 'And God ttirned to behold 
 all the works which his hands had fashioned, and .saw that thty 
 were all very good.' 
 
 34 : 24. Sabbath. The time of rest after the accomplishment 
 of good. 
 
 84:2(3. a globe. A collection. 
 
 35:3. bravery. Ostentation ; boastfulness. 
 
 36:5. Reduce. Literally, as here, 'carry back.' 
 
 35 : 12. express thyself well. Explain your course clearly. 
 
 35 : 1 5. de facto. ' As a matter of course.' 
 
 35:23. facility. Fickleness. 
 
 35:25. interlace. Intermix; allow to become entangled. 
 
 35 : 26. necessity. Compare tliis sentence with Bacon's wise 
 statemeni of liis policy as Lord Chancellor. 
 
 35 : 2!). offering. Kocall the carelessness of Bacon's servants, 
 and the gift-giving custom of his time. 
 
 36 : 8. inward. Intimate ; close to his master. 
 
 36: 14 worse than bribery. Compare 77*/- Advanremeiif. <>/ 
 Learning, Book II: "A corrupt judge offendeth not so lightly 
 {_i.fi. yields not so quickly] as a facile." 
 
 36:17. Solomon. See Prov. xxviii. 21. 
 
 36:21. "Omnium," etc. ' Everybody would have judged 
 him fit for empire, even though he had never been emperor.' 
 
 36:22. Tacitus. See note on page 5, line 27. Galba. See 
 note on page 5, line 30. 
 
 36:23. Vespasian. See note on jmge 5, line 28. "Solus," 
 etc. ' Vespasian was the only emperor who [becoming such] 
 changed for tne better.' 
 
l'A..Es :0(J-;3O] 
 
 NOTES 
 
 217 
 
 36 : 25. sufficiency. Masterfulness in statecraft. 
 36 : -'7. honour amends. Whom prosptrity improves. 
 37 : 2. to side a man's self. To take sides with one party or 
 other. 
 37 : •^. balance himself. Bu neutral ; witliout partisanship. 
 37 : 10. place. Othce. See line 11 below. 
 
 XII. OF BOLDNESS 
 
 (KLT.) 
 
 37 : 16. Demosthenes. Greatest of Athenian orators, 384- 
 :!22 B.C. 
 
 38 : 3. Boldness. Bacon more than once touches on his ow'n 
 litisonal deticiency in boldness, a characteristically English 
 t lulowment. Compare Shakespeare's Julius CcKsaVt -^ct II, 
 
 " Cowards die many times before tlicir deaths." 
 
 Compare also Spenser's Faerie Queciie, Book III, Canto XI: — 
 
 ** And, as she lookt abcut, sh did behold 
 How over that »a,n\e ilore was likewise writ, 
 Be hohle, be holde, and every where, /?'■ bold ; 
 That inufh slio miiz'd, yet could not construe it 
 By any ri<llinj; skill, or <'ommnne wit. 
 At last she si»yd(; at that rowmes upper end 
 Another yron dore, ou which was writ. 
 Be not too buhl." 
 
 38 : 10. popular states. Democracies. 
 38 : 16. mountebanks. Quacks ; charlatans. 
 38 : 21. Mahomet. Sec note on page 10, line 27. 
 39 : H>. into a most shrunken and wooden posture. Compare 
 Wa.sliiuglon living's 'The Aiujlcf ■ ''The mantelpiece was dec*'- 
 
218 
 
 NOTES 
 
 [Pages 39-42 
 
 rated with seashells. over which huiij; a quadrant, flanked by 
 twi) woodcuts of most bitter-looking naval commanders." 
 
 39 : 18. a stale at chess. A stalemate ; that is, when the 
 game so develops that one player cannot move without expos- 
 \\vr his king to check, mate. Chei-kmate, the term used to 
 indicate that the game is linished, one player's king being in 
 check and unable to extricate himself. 
 
 XIII. OF GOODNESS, AND GOODNESS OF NATURK 
 
 (1(512. Enlarged, 1G25) 
 
 39 : 24. affecting of. Aiming at ; seeking. 
 
 40: 0. excess but error. See line 22 below. 
 
 40: 18. Busbechius. A Flemish diplomat, 1522-1592. 
 
 40: 2(5, Machiavel. See note on page 18, line 24. 
 
 41 : 8. .ffisop's cock. ^Esop (^Esopus) was a Phrygian (?) 
 philosopher, who gave currency to the so-called vEsopic Fables, 
 most of which existed in some form or another long before his 
 time. Compare " Cast not your pearls before swine." — Matt. 
 vii, 6, 
 
 41 : 12. just and unjust. See Matt, v. 45. 
 
 41:17. divinity. Theology. "Thou shall love thy neigh- 
 bour as thyself." — Matt. xxii. 39. 
 
 41 : 10, follow me. See Mark x. 21. 
 
 42:1. difficileness. Obstinacy. 
 
 42 : 2. mere. Sheer ; complete. Compare bhakespeare's 
 Hamht, Act I, Sc. 2: — 
 
 "Fie on't! ah fie ! 'tis an unweeded garden 
 That grows to seed ; things rank and gross in nature 
 Possess it merely." 
 
 42 ; 4. loading part. Making heavier one's misfortunes. 
 42 :u. Lazarus' sores. See Luke xvi. 21. 
 
 •^mmmm 
 
l'v.;i> 42-43] 
 
 NOTES 
 
 211) 
 
 42:7. misanthropi. Haters of men. Contra.'^t page 40, lino 
 1. • iiliiliintliropiii.'' 
 
 42:'.*. Timon. Tinion of Athens owned a .small plot i)f 
 uiouiul, on which iiivw a fiti tree. Heinj; about to euL down tlii^ 
 tive in order to build, he invited any persons who wished to 
 liaiiti themselves to make u.se of the tree before, in Shakespeare's 
 plirase, it had '• felt the axe." 
 
 42 : 12. politics, roliticians. 
 
 42:17. citizen of the world. As was liacon, at his best. 
 liiiversality is a prime test and trait of •^reatnes.s. 
 
 42:2t). trash. Money. Originally, 'bits of broken sticks 
 found under trees,' then 'refuse,' then a term applied to innney 
 in a spirit of indifference. Compare Shakespeare's Othello, 
 Act III, Sc. 3: — 
 
 " Who steals my purse steals trash; 'tis something, nothing." 
 
 42 : 28. salvation of his brethren. See Rom. ix. 3. 
 
 XIV. OF NOBILITY 
 (1012. Revised and enlarged, 1625) 
 
 43:2. estate. State. 
 
 43 : 5. attempers. Modifies. 
 
 43:9. stirps. Stocks; families. 
 
 43 : 12. flags. The insignia of a noble family. 
 
 43 : i:5. Switzers. Swiss. 
 
 43 : 14. cantons. Or, counties, of which Switzerland has 
 many. 
 
 43 : 15. respects. Regard for station. Compare " For there 
 is no respect of persons with God." — Bom, ii. 11. 
 
 13:1S. indifferent. Impartial. 
 
 43:21. presseth. Depresseth. Compare Essay XXIX, page 
 103, lines 24-28. 
 
220 
 
 NOTt:s 
 
 [Pages 44-4(i 
 
 44:1.3. virtuous. From the Latin virtus, manly worth- 
 hence, as luic, m;ist.rfnl, strong, able. 
 
 44 : 1.-). a commixture. A frank ncognition of the worldly 
 methods of i.la.-e-hunters. though not, as some think, a per- 
 sonal endorsement of sueh ' little wisdom ' as etliical. 
 
 -A . 22. motions of envy. Compare Essay IX, page 2u, line 
 lio neq. 
 
 XV. OF SKDITIOXS AND TROUBLES 
 
 (1<;2.". Much fiilargod from the Ms. of l(;o7-U;i2) 
 45:1. calendars. A statement of the moon's pijases. etc 
 for each month : liere, therefore, si-ns or predictions 
 
 45:1. equinoctia. The equinox. Fron. a7/««.,. equal, and 
 no^, ni,,ht The tinH> of the sun's entrance upon the equinoc- 
 tial line, when the .lays an.l nights are of equal length the world 
 over 'I he vernal equinox occurs about March 21 ; the autumnal 
 about S<'ptember 23. 
 
 45 : 7. '' Ille etiam," etc. ' He also [the .sun] ,>fte>» warns us 
 of the conung ..f obs..ure troubles and of gathering treason and 
 looming wars.' From Vergil's fhorgirs, I. 
 
 45:0. licentious. Loose; gro.ss. 
 
 45 : 11. Fame. Hunif ir. 
 
 45: lo. "Iliam Terra 
 
 11 
 
 etc. 'She W..S the last child of 
 
 Kurth. as the story goes, sister to Enceludus and Cceus, borne 
 by her nu.ther enraged at the anger of the gods.' From Ver- 
 gil syEiieid, IV. 
 
 45 : 21. plausible. See note on page 20. line 23. 
 
 45 : 20. Tacitus. See note on page 5, line 27 
 
 46 : 1. •> Conflata " etc. • When envy is excited, all actions, 
 whether good or bad. offend.' 
 
 46 : 3. that. Redundant ; used probably for clearness 
 
 46 : 0. - Erant,"' etc. ' They kept their posts, yet rather aa 
 
I'AUES 4H-4H] 
 
 SOTKS 
 
 221 
 
 ;f they preferred to criticise the orders of their ofi&cers than to 
 Mbey thotii.' 
 
 16 ; 13. af^say. Kssny ; attempt. 
 
 16 : 17. Machiavel. See note on pa;;e 18, line 24. 
 
 46 : 18. common parents, (iuardian.s u£ the interests of all 
 he people. 
 
 46 : 22. league. The Holy LeagiK', organized in 1575, led by 
 the hou.se of (iui.se. having a.s its ultimate object the succes-sion 
 of Catholics only to the throne of France. In 1588 Henry 111. 
 was expelled from Paris. 
 
 47 : 1. of. For. 
 
 47 : 4. primum mobile. The ruler corre.spond.s to the • primum 
 mobile ' in the old astronomy. This was the tenth spher*', enelo-s- 
 iiig the solar system. It completed its revolutions in twenty- 
 four hours, its motion affecting that oi" the iinier spheres. The 
 phrase means • hrst moved.' 
 
 47 : 7. their own particular motion. The manner of their 
 individual activity. 
 
 47:8. "liberius." etc. 'Too freely to suggest respect ^'- 
 government.' 
 
 47 : 12. -'Solvam," etc. ' I will loose the girdles of kings.* 
 See Isa. xlv. 1. 
 
 47 : 10. part. Discussion. 
 
 47 : 28. bear it. Allow it. 
 
 47 : 28. It. Nair.i'ly, the proposition that follows. 
 
 47 : 21). Lucan. Or, M. Annseus Lucanus, a native of Spain, 
 who went as a youth to Rome during the reign of Nero. Hh at 
 length offended the emperor by his superiority as a poet, and 
 was condemned to death. 
 
 48:1. ''Hinc usura," etc. 'Hence came devouring usury 
 and greedy interest at the day of reckoning, hence shaken 
 credit, and war a benefit to many.' From Lucan's Pharsalin 
 The original has * amdum ' for ' rapidum.'' 
 
 «'a;rSjffT'^«HJ*s-jte..'ft v« rf T 
 
 
-s, 
 
 
 NOTES 
 
 [1'a<;es 48-51 
 
 48 : 10. humours. See note on page 22, line 23. 
 48: 12. this. Tliat is, what follows. 
 
 48:18. "Dolendi," etc. ' There is a limit to pain, but noi 
 to fear.' — From l'liiiy\s Lc/tf'rs, VIII. 
 48 : 20. mate. See note on page ;J!), line 13. 
 
 48 : 28. •• The cord." etc. Compare '• It's the last straw that 
 breaks the cumers back." 
 
 49 : {). just. Api)ropriate ; adecjuate. 
 
 49:17. sumptuary laws. Laws regulating expenditures. 
 Latin, ftumptiiarins, from .s»mo, sumcre, sumptuvi. 
 
 49 : 22. stock. Trodiice. 
 
 49 : 30. necessity. Want ; poverty. 
 
 50 : .;. preferments. Salaried places of service, 
 60 : f). estate. State, as before. 
 
 50: <;. foreigner. Only a half-trut'.i. the reverse proposition 
 being also true. Kxchanges between nations, as between per- 
 sons, may benefit both. 
 
 50:0. vecture. Lntin r^hn, vexf, vfctum, to curry. 
 
 50 : 12. '-materiam," etc. See conte.xt. 
 
 50: Ifi. mines above ground. A bold fignre, signifying rich 
 resources other than mineral, —as manufacturing, carryin'^ 
 etc. ^ "' 
 
 50 : 20. muck. .Manure. Tompare the " man with the muck- 
 rake" in Bunyan's Pihjriias ProrjreHs. 
 
 50:22. strait. Strict; controlling. 
 
 50:24. engrossing. Huying in gross ; monopolising, great 
 pastu-ages. Large tracts of la. appropriated for the suste- 
 nance of sheep, as the wool trade grew. 
 
 50:27. noblesse. Aristocracy. 
 
 51 : 7. Jupiter. The ruler of the i^ods, corresponding to the 
 
 (Jrer-k Zeus. 
 
 51 : 8. Pallas. See note on page 32, line 12. Briareus. Or, 
 vEgeon, a famous giant, having a hundred hands and fifty heads' 
 
!'A(iES ")l-0.'{j 
 
 XOTHS 
 
 
 51 : 14. bravery. Audacity ; bravado. 
 51:17. imposthumations. Ab.scesses. Compare Shake- 
 spt-are's Hamht, Act IV, Sc. 4: — 
 
 "This is tlx' iiiiposthunu' of iiiiuh wealth and peace, 
 That inward breaks, and shows no cause without 
 Why the man dies." 
 
 51 : IH. Epimetheus. Afterthought, mought. Might. 
 
 51 : 11). Prometheus. Forethought ; and see note on page 14, 
 line 2(5. 
 
 51 : ■-'3. artificial. Skilful. 
 
 52: 1. peremptory. Inevitable. 
 
 52 : 4. brave. Assume as their ' platform.* 
 52:1*!. fronted. Confronted. 
 
 52:29. "Sylla." etc. -Sylla ilid not know his letters, and 
 could not dictate.' A pun on the last word. 
 
 53 : 1. Galba. Set- note on paue r>, line 80. 
 
 53::'. -'Legi," etc. 'That he levied his soldiers, and did 
 not buy them.'' 
 
 53 : 4. donative. Granting of gift.s. Probus. Roman em- 
 peror, '27<)-'Jl-i2 a.i>. 
 
 53 : 5. '• Si vixero," etc. ' If I live, the Roman Empire shall 
 have no further occasion for .soldiers.' 
 
 53 : 12. flat. Dull ; tiresome. 
 
 53:18. useth. Is accustomed. 
 
 53:21. ''Atque is," etc. 'Such \va.s the state of feeling 
 that a few dared undertake evil, more desired it, all condoneo 
 it.' 
 
 53 : 24. popular. Solicitous of public favour. 
 
 53 : 25. correspondence. Balance ; equilibrium. 
 
■■^m 
 
 224 
 
 N^or^s 
 
 [Page o4 
 
 XVI. OF ATHEISM 
 (1612. Much enlarged, IGL'5) 
 
 Bacon's religion, though sincere, is given .somewhat formal 
 expression in language. In his great work. The Advancement 
 of Learning, he hesitates to attempt a 'pliilusophy ' of religion, 
 but seeks ratlier to make of it a ' department ' of life. Accord- 
 ingly, Bacon's personal goodness is greater than his remarks 
 concerning religious topics. Yet the present essay contains 
 several vital and noble sentiments. 
 
 5" : 1. Legend. The (iohfen Legend, containing stories of 
 tho saints, etc., written by Jacobus de Voragine, Archbishop 
 of Genoa, born about 1230. 
 
 54 : "J. Talmud. Civil and canonical laws of the Jews. Al- 
 coran. Or, Al Koran. The Mohammedan 'Bible,' dictated to 
 Mohammed by Gabriel, as the legend runs. 
 
 54 : 4. convince. Refute. 
 
 54 : 0. a little philosophy. Compare Pope's Essay on Criti- 
 cism, Part II : — 
 
 " A little learning is a dangerons thing; 
 Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring." 
 
 64:0. second causes. Efficient causes. "For example," 
 says Abbott, "the lightning parting the air is the efficient or 
 sect^id cause of the tliundcr. of which God is the lii-st cause,'' 
 
 64 : 15. Leucippus. Founder of the atomic theory. Deraoc- 
 ritus. Exponent of the same theory, born n.c. 4(30. Epicurus. 
 See note on i^age 0, line 4. 
 
 64 : 17. fifth essence. The quintessence regarded by Aris- 
 totle as composing the heavenly bodies. 
 
 54 : l',». portions or seeds. Or, atoms, unplaced. Not given 
 their due or appropriate t»rder. 
 
 54 : 22. Scripture. See Psalm xiv. 1. 
 
Pages 54-o0] 
 
 NOTFS 
 
 22o 
 
 54 • 25. that. The theorj'. 
 
 55 : 5. fainted in it. Bei ame doubtful of it. 
 
 55:10. "Non deos," etc. 'Profiinity does not consist in 
 denying,' the gods of the people ; but in applying popular con- 
 ci'ptious to the gods.' 
 
 55 : 20. Plato, n.c. 427-o-t7. The renowned i)liilosopher of 
 Athens, fairly to be regarded as the greatest iigure in the his- 
 tory of philosophy. 
 
 55 : 23. nature. Existence. 
 
 55:20. Jupiter. See note on page 51, line 7. Apollo. Or, 
 I'luebus, son of Jupiter and Latona. Patron of tlie tint' arts, 
 and master of nuisic, poetry, and eloquence. Mars. Or, Ares, 
 son of Jupittr and Juno. God of war and lover of Venus. 
 
 56:1. contemplative. Reaching his conclusions by pure 
 thought. 
 
 56 : 2. Diagoras. A fifth century (b.c.) philosopher. Bion. 
 A witty connnentator on men and ideas, who lived in the lliird 
 century n.c. Lucian. See note on page 1, line U. 
 
 56 : 13. scandal of priests. Ecclesiastical immorality, against 
 which great evil the wise and good have cried out through the 
 centuries. Compare Chaucer's Proloanf to thi- CnutcrJiury 
 Tales, Milton's LycUhi!^. Kuskni's Sesame awJ Lilits, Hrown- 
 iug's The Eu){i and t1u> Book. Compare also the fretiuent 
 Serii)tural rebukes of priestly selfishness and hypocrisy. 
 
 56:14. St. Bernard. Abbot of Clairvaux. a noblo priest, 
 horn A.I). 1001. " Non est," etc. ' One cannot now say, " The 
 priests are as bad as the people," f<n- now the people are better 
 than the priests.' 
 
 56:21. to religion. Compare George Herbert's Tlie Pulley 
 and A. II. Clough's There is no 'rod. 
 
 56:2--). base and ignoble creature. Compare Browning's 
 A Death in the Desert: — 
 
 fi 
 
226 
 
 NOTES 
 
 [Page 5(1 
 
 " But if, jippealiiifif tlicucc, lie cower, avouch 
 He is mere niau, and iii liuuiility 
 Neither may know (uxl imr mistake liiniself; 
 I point to the immediate eon.sequence 
 And say, by sucli eonfessioi: strai^^ht he falls 
 Into man's i)laee. a thinu nor (4od nor beast, 
 Made to know that he can know and nt>t more: 
 lA)w<'r tliau God who knows all and can all, 
 Higher than beasts which know and can sr. far 
 As each beast's limit, perfect to an end, 
 Nor conscious that they know, nor craving more; 
 AVhile man knows partly but conceives beside, 
 Creep.-i ever on from fancies to the fact. 
 And in this strivinj;, this converting air 
 Into a solid he may grasp and use. 
 Finds j»rogress. man's distinctive mark alone. 
 Not (iod's. and not the l)easts': (4od is. they are, 
 Man partly is and wholly hopes to be." 
 
 66 : 20. maintained by a man. Compare Tennyson's In 
 Memoriam. Lyric (13 : — 
 
 " Yet i)ity for a horse o'er-driven. 
 
 And love in which my hound has part, 
 Can hang no weight upon my heart 
 In its assumpti(»ns up to heaven ; 
 
 "And I am so much more than these 
 As thou, perchance, art more than I, 
 And yet I spare them sympathy. 
 And I would set their pains at ease. 
 
 "So mayst thou watch me where I weep, 
 As, unto vaster moti-uis bound. 
 The circuits of thine orbit round 
 A higher height, a deeper deep." 
 
 Cnniparp also Manri(^e Maet(Tliiick's Our Friend the Dop : " lie 
 occiipiesjn thi.s world [the brute creation] a preeminent posi- 
 
rA«;E» 
 
 ^OTKS 
 
 007 
 
 I inn, enviable among all. He is the only living being that has 
 tniind and recogn'.*'s an indubitable, tangible, unexceptionable 
 and definite god. He knows to what to devote the best part of 
 iiiniself. lie knows to whom above him to give himself. He 
 has not to seek for a perfect, superior, and inliiute power in the 
 darkness, anutl successive lies, liypotlieses, ai\d dreams. That 
 pi.wer is there, before liini, and lie moves in its light.'" 
 
 56 : ;;0. melior natura. lietter nature. See page o7, line 2. 
 
 57:11. Cicero. Marcus 'lullius Cictro, greatest of Honian 
 orators, n.c. l()<l-4:'.. " Quam volumus," etc. 'Esteem our- 
 selves n.-ver so highly, Conscript Fathers, yet we cannot com- 
 pare wit'.i the Spaniards in numbers, the Gauls in bodily 
 >trenuth. the Carthaginians in cunning, the (ireeks in art, nor 
 yet with our own Italians and Latins in the homely and native 
 sentiment ])eculiar to this land and people; but we liave sur- 
 passed all other peoples and nations in piety and religion, and 
 in our attestation of the one great principle, that all things are 
 subject to the government of the Immortal Gods.' 
 
 XVIT. OF SrrEHSTITION 
 (1<)12. Revised and enlarged, 1(525) 
 
 57 : 22. contumely. Mockery. 
 
 57:21. Plutarch. A celcbrat ek biographer, born in 
 
 RoM)tia, at Cha^ronea. About A.n. -. ". 120. 
 
 58::>. Saturn. Or, Kronos. a god who, according to the 
 (h-eck tradition, devoured his children. 
 
 58 : lo. Augustus CsEsar. See note on page 5, line 24. 
 
 58 : 14. civil. Teaceful. 
 
 88 : !••. primum mobile. See note on page 47, line 4. 
 ravisheth. Sweeps around with. 
 
 88 : l'.>. in a reversed order. Other than in the natural 
 manner 
 
:-i 
 
 228 
 
 NOTES 
 
 [Pagks 68-oy 
 
 68:21. Council of Trent. A famous general council of the 
 Roman Catholic Church, assembled at Trent by Pope I'aul III. 
 in 1545, and not concluding its work, owing to delays and sus- 
 pensions, until 15r);}, It di.scussed and settled many matters of 
 doctrine and reform, as deciding the attitude of the Church 
 toward the principles of Luther and the Heformation. school- 
 men. A name applied to the philosophers of the Middle Ages, 
 whose attempt, in their 'Scholasticism,' was to buttress the 
 principles and practices of the Church with the authority of 
 Aristotle. 
 
 58 : 23. eccentrics and epicycles. " According to the Ptole- 
 maic sy.stem,'* says Abbott, "the planets were .supposed to 
 move in ^») circles whose centres themselves luoved in (2) 
 circles. The former circles were called ' on-circles,' or epi- 
 cycles ; the latter, having their centre at a little distance from 
 the earth, were called eccentric (' from-centre ')." 
 
 58 : 24. engines of orbs. (3rbits invented to accord with the 
 described phenomena. 
 
 58 : 25, no such things. Compare Milton's Parndisp Lust, 
 Book VIII, itself based on the Ptolemaic astronomy, for artistic 
 reasons : — 
 
 "How they will wield 
 The mighty frame ; how build, unbuild, contrive 
 To save appearances : how gird the sphere 
 Willi centric and eccentric scribble;! o'er, 
 Cycle and epicycle, orb in orb." 
 
 58 : 20. causes. High Churchmen and Puritans are both 
 indicated here. 
 
 59 : K). in avoiding superstition. Another of Bacon'r unfor- 
 gettable proverbs, testifying to the balance of his mind and the 
 justness of his temper. 
 
 59 : 11). would. Ought to. 
 
 . .<*-iiiffit 
 
 ■iSit,-'tlBti"i''i ...*^^'v^- '. 'VKr 
 
yOTES 
 
 'JL9 
 
 I'AOES 09-02] 
 
 59:21. reformer. These last remarks were -^^^'^ "^'^ 
 ,ud show Bacon's disUke of the Puiitau pvogra.ume. Cou.p..,re 
 the Introduction. 
 
 XVITI. OF TRAVEL 
 (1625) 
 
 Compare with this essay En.erson's remarks on travel in his 
 J^euiLa Culture, beginning 'I an. not nu.ch an advo- 
 Ite for^ravellin.." Each writer gravely, En.erson the more 
 directly, strikes a balance. 
 
 6J:i. allow. Endorse ; approve. , , , , 
 
 60 • 10. diaries. Verhaps a reference to the log-book. 
 
 60-17. consistones. Meetings; councils. .,, ^„ 
 
 60 ; 21. disputations. For.nal debates, or pole.nic theses. 
 60 : 25. burses, lioursis ; exchanges. 
 
 61 :11. card. Chart. 
 
 61:1H. adamant. Magnet ; lodcstone. 
 
 «;f«: ^ ^ proOt. one . re„,-,n„ea o. t.. wo.my 
 „Wom of Polouius as lu. bi.ls l.aertes farewell. - //...«/.'■ 
 
 ''"4'' r suck the experience. Oather information concerning 
 „r; ^ountrl; by virtue of contact .i,h those who have 
 
 travelled therein. , , i ^,i 
 
 62-4. the life. The person in tlesh and blood. 
 ' fis'lij advised. Discreet ; thoughtful. 
 
 S;u. UUstories. A connnon failins of travellers !■> all 
 
 times. 
 62 : ly. prick in. Plant,. 
 
230 
 
 yOTKS 
 
 [Paoks &2-{ji 
 
 XIX. OF EMPIRE 
 
 (1612. Revised and eiihuxed, 1H25) 
 
 62 : 24. matter of desire. Subjects of further ambition. 
 63 : 2. Scripture. vSee Prov. xxv. 3. 
 63:9. toys. Trme.s. 
 63 : 10. order. Society or i.isiitution. 
 
 63:12. Nero. Emperor of Rome, a. n. 64-()8. Originally a 
 quiet and studious youth, he became the most di.ssolut*^ and 
 cruel of tyrants. He Killed his mother, Ai^a-ippina ; divorce.l 
 Ins wife, Octavia; is reputed to have burned Rome in k.v. 04. 
 that he might be zo iu.spired to celebrate musically the destruc- 
 tion of Troy ; cruelly murdered many Christians and political 
 and private enemies; and finally slew himself a.i>. 08. 
 
 63:1:5. Domitian. Emperor of Home, a. d. 81-96. He was 
 a second Nero. Assassinated a.i». 90. 
 
 63:14. Commodus. Emperor of Rome, a.i>. 180-192, a 
 sensual and vicious man. 
 
 63 : lo. Caracalla. Joint emperor of Rome with (ieta, his 
 brother, whom he nmrdered. Gibbon describes him as " the 
 common enemy of mankind." A.ssassinated a.[>. 217. 
 
 63 : 2.'). Alexander the Great. Son of Philip of .Macedonia, 
 he became a world-con(|ueror, and died at Babylon, n.c. .'i28. 
 Diocletian. Emperor of Rome, a.d. 284-;}05. He lived .several 
 years after his abdication of the ; irone with his colleague. 
 Maximian. He was an able soldier and a fair statesman. 
 Charles V. Abdicated in 15.50, and entered upon a life of 
 asceticism. He even had his own obsequies perfornied before 
 him a month prior to his death. 
 
 63 : 28. is not the thing he was. Compare Essay XI, page m. 
 line 10. 
 
 63 : 29. temper. Blending of qualities, or of ' contraries.' 
 
 64 : 1. distemper. Refusal of the ' contraries ' to mix. 
 
l'A(.Ks 04-0(5] 
 
 NOTES 
 
 231 
 
 64 : 3. Apollonius. A first-century miracle-worker. Ves- 
 pasian. See note on page ">, line 28. 
 
 64 : 10. interchange. Referring to the two phrases that 
 f..llow. 
 
 64 : in. deliveries. Modes of escape. 
 
 64 : 'j;5. Tacitus. See note on page 6, line 27. 
 
 64 : 24. " Sunt plerumque." etc. 'The desires of kings are 
 i'( iierallv violent and arbitrary.' 
 
 64 : 25. solecism. Weaknes.s ; defect. 
 
 64 : 20. mean. Means. 
 
 65 :H. approaches. Means of inva.sion. 
 
 65 : 17. peace at interest. The interest, that is, of future 
 disadvantage. 
 
 65:10. Guiccardine. Italian historian, 1488-1540, 
 
 65 : 21 . Lorenzius Medices. Or, Lorenzo de' Medici, the great 
 lialian publicist and patron of art. 
 
 65 : 23. schoolmen. See note on page 58, line 21. 
 
 65 : 24. precedent. Preceding. Note the Machiavellian in- 
 fluence here. 
 
 65 : 20. Livia. Wife of Augustus, emperor of Rome. Com- 
 pare Essay II, page 5, line 25 ; Essay VI, page 10, line 3. 
 infamed. Disgraced ; made infamous. 
 
 65:30. Roxolana. Solyman's wife. Solyman reigned as 
 Sultan of Turkey, 1 520-1. ")20. 
 
 66 : 1. Mustapha. Roxolana's stepson, slain by her that the 
 succession might be seciired to her own .son. 
 
 66:3. his queen. The possessive sign 's was early con- 
 founded with ' his.' 
 
 66:7. advoutresses. Adulteresses. 
 
 66: 17. Crispus. Executed in a.o. 320. 
 
 66 : 18. Constantinus the Great. Succeeded Diocletian as 
 sole emperor of Rome, a.i>. 323-;i37. He respected Christian- 
 ity, and made Constantinople his capital. 
 
 ill 
 
! ■ !' 
 
 
 NOTES 
 
 {\\\i.v.AiWh-is; 
 
 68 : 22. Julianus. Cousin of Constaiitine, and the last of 
 Constantint's lint- to occupy tlie throne. 
 
 66 : 24. Demetrius. ExecutctJ in n.c. 170 on a faLso accusation. 
 
 66: 2!). Selymus I. Called Solynian tlie Mayniticcnt. Baja- 
 zet. A rebellious son of Selynui.s, who was executed by his 
 father. 
 
 66 : 30. three sons. Henry, Geoffrey, and Richard, warrin-,' 
 kinsmen. 
 
 67 : ;3. Anselmus. Anselm, a noted French scholar, who bt - 
 came Archbishop of Canterbury during the reign of William II. 
 Thomas Becket. Made Archbishop by Henry II., he (juar- 
 relled frequently with the king, and was murdered in the cathe- 
 dral by four knights, who interpreted one of Henry ".s passionate 
 speeches as Becket's death-warrant. 
 
 67 : 4. crosiers. Official staffs of the archbishops. 
 
 67 : 5. try it. Contend. 
 
 67 : 8. that state. The clerical order. 
 
 67 : !). foreign authority. The papacy. 
 
 67:1;). depress. Keep . wn. 
 
 67:21. fain. Constrained, though reluctantly. 
 
 67; 
 
 67: 
 Ellis. 
 
 zt. 
 
 they. Referring to the ' higher nobility.' 
 oO. vena porta. The gate vein. '• The metaphor." says 
 "is historically curious; for no one would have used it 
 since the discovery of the circulation of the blood and of the 
 lacteals. Rut in BaconVs time it was supposed that the chyle 
 was taken up by the veins which converge to the rena porta. 
 The latter immediately divides into branches, and ultimately 
 into four ramifications, which are distributed throughout the 
 substance of the liver, so that it has l)een compareil to t'le 
 trunk of a tree giving off roots at one extremity and branches 
 at the other. Bacon's meaning, ilierefore, is that commerce 
 concentrates the resources of a country in order to their redis- 
 tribution." 
 
rAUKsOH-nitj 
 
 yoiKS 
 
 23.i 
 
 68 : '^. imposts. I.t'iral levyings. 
 
 68:0. in the shire. Wliat is gained in part is lost in the 
 wliole. •• Ilundretr' ivfi'is to an old I'orni uf division in the 
 cduuties ; " leeseth *' moans losctli. 
 
 68:14. janizaries. Curniptt'd from a Turkish phrase for 
 •iifW troops,' a corps established in 1.".20. and eonntused 
 lai;;ely of Christian captives. 
 
 68: lo. Pretoria^ bands. Instituted by Augustus and given 
 ilouble pay. 
 
 68:10. several. Distinct; separate. 
 
 68:23. '-Memento quod es homo." 'Remember that you 
 lire a man.' 
 
 68:24. "Memento quod es Deus." 'Remember that you 
 are a god.' '• vice Dei." ' (iod's vicegerent.' 
 
 XX. OF COUNSEL 
 
 (1(512. Enlarged, ItJ'Jr. ) 
 
 The results of Bacon's long experience as a member of the 
 court and a servant of state are reduced to these thoughtfully 
 organized and balanced suggestions. If they seem too snutotli 
 and even in tone, let it be reniemt.ered that Bacon was a chess- 
 player who moved slowly and warily, but none the le.ss with 
 zest, hope, and sincerity. 
 
 68 : 20. greatest trust. Compare Ten.yson's The Coming <>f 
 Arthur: — 
 
 " And Arthur said. ' Man's word is God \\\ man ; 
 Let oliance what will. 1 trust thee to the death.' " 
 
 69: 10. Solomon. Set- Prov. xx. 18. 
 
 69:12. agitation. Note the i)aronomasia. A(jitare \n I'^.iin 
 means 'to toss' (see "tossed" following) and 'to discuss' 
 (see subject of essay). 
 
 A 
 »■ 
 
 J'' 
 
234 
 
 yoTj-js 
 
 [l'v.iKsC5>-7.j 
 
 69: 1<i. Solomon's son. Helmboaiu. See 1 Kiiius xii. 
 
 69: "Jl. young. Uehobniim hee<U'(l young counsellors. 
 
 69:22. matter. Meaniui; ; policy. 
 
 69: 2() Jupiter. Sec; note on pMi^e f)!, line 7. 
 
 69:27. Metis. Daughter of Occanus and 'I'ethys, and tir.st 
 wife of Jupiter. 
 
 70:4. Pallas. See note on page .".2, line 12. 
 
 70: 17. resembled. I.ikened. 
 
 71:1. cabinet councils. Secret coiuicils, not the modern 
 'cabinet.' An early nianu.script copy of tlic h'smys pre.served 
 in the British Museum reads, after the word "disease" : "which 
 hath turned Metis the wife to Metis tiie mistress, that is, 
 councils of state to which princes are married, to councils of 
 gracious persons recommended chiefly b. Hattery and affection." 
 Buckingham, no doubt, is meant. 
 
 71 : 2. disease. See Es.say XV, page 5:!, lines 2«{, 27. 
 
 71:5. extract and select. The tir.■^l verb refers to "mat- 
 ters," the second to ''counsellors." 
 
 7i:lO. "Plenus," etc., 'I am lull of cracks.' futile. Sec 
 note on page 17, line 27. 
 
 71 : 11). grind with a hand-mill. Serve himself. 
 
 71:24. Morton. John Morton, liishoi) of Kly, afterward 
 Archbishop of Canterbury. Fox. IJichard Fox, liishop of 
 Winchester, Both were friends and counsellors of Henry Vil. 
 
 71 : 29. dependencies. Dependents. 
 
 72 : 2, holpen. Archaic fcn-m of past participle ' helped.' 
 
 72:1. "Non inveniet." etc. 'He shall not find faith on 
 the earth.' The '' ' words of Ks.say I. 
 
 72:10. "Print -;. etc. 'It is a ruler's greatest virtue !c 
 inow his subjects. 
 
 72:18. speculative. Prying ; inquiring. 
 
 72:20. their. Modern syntax would require 'his,' which 
 would, however, make the pronouns of the .sentence more am- 
 
l'A<iE8 72-74] 
 
 yoTES 
 
 L»;i:» 
 
 l,is:iious than they are. lli'W would you reconstruct the 8eu- 
 i.iice? nature. Personality. 
 
 72:27. obnoxious. Exposed ; inthienced by. 
 
 73:5. the good choice of persons. A recosnition of ' the 
 man behind the matter.' Bar ,: looks upon -matiers' as 
 !ii;ule for men, not civr r<'rsn, 
 
 73 : 7. secundum genera. ' Hy clas.ses.' 
 
 73:11. ''Optimi." et'O. • The best oo'iiscllors are the dead.' 
 
 73:12. blanch. Shrink; show timidity. iNuiipare Shaken 
 speare's Hamkt, Act II, Se. 2 : — 
 
 •' I'll tem him to the quick : if he but bleneh, 
 I know my course." 
 
 73:20. "in nocte consilium.'" 'There's counsel in [the 
 lapse of] a night.' 
 
 73:2.J. a grave and orderly assembly. Bacon was pn sent 
 as a prominent adviser. See Introduction, page xxvi. 
 
 73: 2(5. hoc agere. ' Attend to business.' 
 
 73 : 28. indifferent. Neutral. 
 
 73 : oO. standing. Permanent. 
 
 74 : 2. some provinces. Certain subjects. 
 
 74 : 7. mintmen. Skilled coin workers. 
 
 74:10. tnbunitious. Forward. The tribunes represented 
 the Roman plebeians as against the patricians. 
 
 74:20. take the wind of him. Catch his meaning; accord 
 with his ideas. 
 
 74: 21. placebo. ' I will please.' 
 
 XXL OF DELAYS 
 
 Bacon's experience as a suitor in both love and politics made 
 him acquainted with the virtue of patience, and wise to note 
 the time of preparation and the moment of action. 
 
 Jj 
 
236 
 
 NOTES 
 
 [Pages 74-7' 
 
 74:24. Sibylla's offer. An old woman offered Tarquinin> 
 Priscus the books of the Sibyl, but he, not understandinii their 
 importance, refused to buy them. Thereupon she burned sev- 
 eral and increased the price of the remaining books. This 
 proce.ss was repeated until Tarciuinius was advise<l by an augur 
 to close the bargain. 
 
 74:L'<!. still. Always. 
 
 75: -J I. Argus. '" -i'eatorides. was set by Juno to watch 
 lo. whom Jui.itei naa .nade an heifer. lie had an hundred 
 eyes, which wiur ;u. closed in sleep by the lyre-playing ol 
 Hermes, or Mercury, who tlien slew him. 
 
 75 : •!•!. Briareus. Sec note on page ol, line 8. 
 
 75:2:], Pluto. Son of Saturn and Ops, and king of the infer- 
 nal regions. His h( Imet made the wearer invisible. Compare 
 Homer's Iliad, \' . 145. 
 
 XXII. OF CUNNING 
 
 (1»)12. (4reatly enlarged. 1H25) 
 
 76:5. pack the cards. Arrange them unfairly; that is. 
 obtain the initial advantage by means of their cunning. 
 
 76:12. practice. Intrigue. C(mipare our -sharp practice.' 
 
 76: 1<). '-Mitte." etc. 'Send them both naked [without 
 familiar aids] among strangers, and you will see.' 
 
 76:21. Jesuits. .V celebrated religious order under the aus- 
 pices of the Roman Catholic Church, founded by Ignatius of 
 Loyola in 15.".4. It has had large influeuce in determining both 
 ecclesiastical and political affairs. 
 
 76:24. would. Should; ought to. 
 
 77:0. secretary. Cecil or Walsingham. Compare Apoph- 
 thegm 84. 
 
 77:11. cross Preveiit ; interfere with, doubts. Fears. 
 
 77:24. Nehemiah. See Neh. ii. 1. 
 
^(iE< :^-^o] 
 
 X(>TKS 
 
 ZVi 
 
 78 : !. Narcissus, e'to. Narcissus was secrotary to the Human 
 iiipivor ("laiulius. wln-se wite Mossaliiia married Silius, a 
 
 iltlt". Narcissus inforuiecl the euiperor of this fact indirectly, 
 
 irouiih two women, whose story brought about the exaniina- 
 1 ;.iu of Silius. 
 
 78:l'.». apposed. (.Questioned. Compare, as an excellent 
 ; lustration of this. Kdmund in Shakespeare's Kiixj Lear, Act 
 I. Sc. 2. 
 
 78: -2"). two. Supposed to be Sir Robert Cecil and Sir 
 i honiaa Bodley. 
 
 78 : 2Ck kept good quarter. Maintained friendly relations. 
 
 79:0. cat. Cate. or cak(>. 
 
 79:17. Tigellinus. Nero's depraved favourite. 
 
 79 : 18. Burrhus. A thoughtful counsellor of Nero, executed 
 by him a.i.. (i:;. " Se non."' etc. 'He had no conflicting de- 
 sires, but looked sindy to the safety of the emperor.' 
 
 79 : 2.1. in guard. As not responsible for direct assertions. 
 80:1. how far about they will fetch. How remotely and 
 
 indirectly they will 'come to the point.' 
 
 80 : o. lay him open. Kxpi^st- his secret thousht or attitude. 
 80 : 7 Paul's. St. Paul's Church, a common haunt or meet- 
 
 iiiLT-place of citizens. Ciiaucer tells us of the Wife of Bath in 
 liis Vi-ohxjHf (i> the CnnUrhnry ToIps that 
 
 " Honsbondes at chirchc dore she hadde tyve," 
 ;uid lie praises the Poor Parson because he did not. like many 
 wthersin orders, run 
 
 "... to Loudoun, unto Seinte Ponies, 
 To seken liyin a chauuterie for souUs, 
 Or with a bretlu'rhed to beeu withholde." 
 
 80 : 10. wares. Tricks ; h ..s. Bacon is not sponsor for 
 such habits, though familiar with them. He sees their reb.i- 
 tive weakness an<l unimportance. See page 70, line 18. 
 
 h 
 * 
 
 I 
 
'n^ 
 
 238 
 
 yo7ES 
 
 [Pages 80-h: 
 
 80:14. resorts. Sources. 
 
 80 : If), main. The chief part. 
 
 80 : IH. looses. Ways out. 
 
 80 : 24. Solomon. See Prov. xiv. 15. 
 
 80 : 2o. " Prudens." eti-. '• The simple belie veth every word : 
 but the prudent man looketh well to his going." {Revised 
 I'ersioH.) 
 
 «4 
 
 XXIII. OF WISDOM FOR A MAN'S SELF 
 
 (1«)1'J. Enlarged, hV>n) 
 
 81:2. shrewd. Mischievous; troublesome. 
 81 : 8. right earth. Precisely like the earth, around which. 
 ) bought Bacon, the heavenly bodies revolve. 
 81 : 18. crooketh. Bends. 
 
 81 : V.K eccentric. Opposed, 
 
 82 : 4. bias. A cliarge of lead inserted in the bowl, which 
 dcllects it from a straight course. Compare iShakespeare's 
 Ilamh't, Act II, Sc. 1 : — 
 
 ' And tluis do we of wisdom and of reach, 
 With windlasses and with as.suys of bias, 
 By indirections find directions out." 
 
 82 : 11. to roast their eggs. Compare Lamb's essay, A Dis- 
 scrtafinn on Unast Piij. 
 
 82 : •-';5. Cicero. See note on page 57, line 11. Pompey. Or, 
 Cneius Pompeius, who became triumvir with C;esar and C"ras- 
 sus. A breach followed, and Pompey was defeated by Caesar 
 at the battle of Pharsalia. He escaped to Egypt, where he was 
 assassinated b.c. 48. 
 
 82:24. '-sui amantes," etc. 'Self-lovers without a rival.' 
 Compare Browning's Pippa rasses, first interlude: "The airs 
 of that fellow, that Giovacchinu 1 He was in violent love with 
 
 m 
 
I'u.ES 83-85] 
 
 XOTKS 
 
 2.'>9 
 
 himself, and had a fair prospect of thriving in his suit, so 
 uinnolested was it, — when suddenly a woman falls in love with 
 bim, too ; and out of pure jealousy lie takes himself off to Tri- 
 este, immortal poem and all." 
 
 XXIV. OF INNOVATIONS 
 
 83: 1. births, offspring. 
 
 83 : 7. perverted. The old theolo^zy held that there is In man 
 ;i • radical twist ' toward evil. 
 83 : 12. of course. Naturally ; in due course. 
 
 83 : 17. fit. Appropriate to the conditions, 
 
 84: (5. pairs. Impairs, holpen. Archaic form of 'helped.' 
 Compare Essay XXIX, page 105, line 1{». 
 
 84 : 13. pretendeth. Uses as its programme, without lefer- 
 ence to ultimate motive. 
 
 84:15. suspect. A thing under .suspicion. Scripture. See 
 
 ,ler. vi. 16. 
 
 XXV. OF DISPATCH 
 
 (1012. Slightly enlarged, W2Ji) 
 
 84 : 19. Affected. Unduly desired. 
 
 84 : 25. races. See Eccl. ix. 11. 
 
 85:4. for the time. Consulering the (shortness of the) 
 lime, false periods, etc. Apparently completed transactions ; 
 in reality uncompleted. 
 
 85 : 5. because. In order that. 
 
 85 : 10. a wise man. Sir Amyas Paulett, whom Bacon as a 
 young man accompanied to France. 
 
 85 : 15. hand. Price. 
 
 86 : 19. Spain. Long the characteristic reputation of that 
 
240 
 
 A'OTKS 
 
 IVm.esHo-H^ 
 
 country, whose diplomacy has been ami is noted for its habit of 
 polite procrastination. 
 85 : 27. moderator. Master ; examiner. 
 
 85 : '2S. actor. The person speaking or examined. 
 86:2. curious. Involved ; elaborate. 
 
 86 : 4. passages. Transitions. 
 86 : T). excusations. Apologies. 
 86 : 7. bravery. < )stentatioc 
 
 86 : 8. material. Direct ; scorning preparation of the hear- 
 ers' minds. 
 
 86:11. unguent Ointmem 
 
 86 : 20. pregnant of direction Suggestive of other method.s 
 or adjustments than the ulan rejected 
 
 XXV . OF SEEMING WISE 
 
 (1612 Last sentence added, 1625) 
 
 87 : 5. Apostle. St. Paul. See 2 Tim. iii. •"). 
 
 87 : 8. " magno," etc. ' Trifles with a great effort.' 
 
 87:11. formalists. Petty-minded persons. •', seeming wise." 
 prospectives. (llasses, similar to our stereoscope, which induced 
 visional dimension when flat surfaces were examined througli 
 them. 
 
 87:21. Cicero. See note on page 57, line 11. Piso. A 
 Roman consul. 
 
 87:24. "Respondes," etc. 'You reply, with one eyebrow 
 raised to your forehead and the other lowered to your chin, 
 that you do not like cruelty.' 
 
 87 : 2(). bear it Carry it through. 
 
 88:2. make good Prove, or confirm. Compare our mod- 
 ern colloquialism. 
 
 88.7 blanch. Gloss over; avoid. See note on page 73, 
 dne 12. Gellius. Aulus Gellius was a Roman grammarian who 
 
l'^GV>8H-Sl)] 
 
 iVO'/A'.S 
 
 241 
 
 lived (luring the period of the Antonines. Uis Xo.7f>s AUir<>' 
 is a notable work of criticism and travel. Mr. Wrigl.t states 
 that Bacon is in error in attributing this passage to Gellius. and 
 that he quotes troni memory the substance of one of Quintil- 
 ian's remarks concerning Seneca. 
 
 88:8. "Hominem,-' etc. 'A silly fellow, who disturbs the 
 serious concerns of business with verbal quibbles.' 
 
 88 : 1). Piato. See note on page Go, line 20. 
 
 88:10. Protagoras. Prodicus. Two Atluiiian Sophists. 
 ( »,„■ of the Platonic dialogues is given the name of i'rotagoras. 
 
 88: 14. to be. In being. 
 
 88 : 20. inward. Disguised ; the ' uiwardness ' of his condi- 
 tion being hid by pretence of prosperity. 
 
 88 : 21. their. False syntax in modern English. 
 
 88:23. opinion, reputation. 
 
 XXVII. OF FRIENDSHIP 
 
 (1()25. The brief essay of l<n2 is hardly a iiuelons) 
 This essay has especial reference to the long and gracious 
 friendship between Bacon and Toby Matthews. The edition of 
 1012 contains a very short treatment of the topic ; that of l<.2o 
 redeems his promise to Matthews: "For the Essay of Friend- 
 ship, while I took your speech of it for a cursory request, 1 took 
 „iy promise for a compliment. But, since you call for it, I 
 
 shall perform it." 
 
 The student will do well to consider also in relation to this 
 .ssay Bacon's connection with Essex and with Bucku.gham. 
 Emerson's essay on the same subject should be read for many 
 interesting iwints of similarity and divergence. 
 
 89: 1. him. Aristotle, m his. PoUtics. 
 
 89:t». aversation. aversion. 
 
 89; 10. sequester, withdraw. 
 
 HI 
 
 til 
 
 fii 
 
 Hi 
 
241 
 
 NOTES 
 
 [Paoes 89-91 
 
 89:l:{. Epimenides. A Cretan poet, fabled to have fallen 
 rslt't'U ill a cave wliih^ a youth, and to have reniaincil asletp 
 for tifty-seven years. Numa. Niuna I'onipilius, successor tu 
 Honuilus as king of Rome, u.c. 71(i-()7;]. He is said to have 
 founded tiie Honian reliiiious institutions, receiving instruction 
 from the nyinjih Ki;eria in the grove of Aricia. 
 
 89: 14. Empedocles. A Sicilian philosopher reputed to have 
 thn \vn liiniself into the crater of Mount vEtna in order to create 
 the impression that he was a god. See Mctthew Arnold's 
 Uni/it'tfiiiics an Etinr. 
 
 89: l'>. Apollonius. See note on page 04, line 3. 
 
 89 : 19. a gallery of pictures. Compare Tennyson's /,( 
 Memoriam, Lyric; 70 ; Stephen Phillips' Favex at a Fire. 
 
 89: 
 89: 
 tudc' 
 89: 
 90: 
 90: 
 
 •20. 
 
 tinkling cymbal. See 1 Cor. xiii. 1. 
 
 'Magna civitas," etc. 'A great city is a great soli- 
 
 2(>. mere. Conii)lete ; utter. 
 10. sarza. Sarsaparilla. 
 
 l'». a true friend. Compare from Emerson's essay on 
 Frhiuhhip : ■•The end of frienuship is a commerce the most 
 .strict and homely that can be joined ; more strict than any of 
 which we have experience. It is for aid and comfort through 
 all the relations and passages of life and death. It is lit for 
 serene days, and graceful gifts, ami country rambles, but also 
 for rough roads and hard fare, shipwreck, poverty and perse- 
 cution.'' 
 
 90 : 27. sorteth to. Tends to ; results in. 
 
 90 : 29. privadoes. Bosom friends. 
 
 91:2. ''participes curarum." 'Partners in cares.' The 
 Roman emperor Tiberius so named his chief advi.ser, j^.lius 
 Sejanus. 
 
 91 : 11. Sylla. L. Cornelius Sulla, a Roman of high military 
 genius, who successfully led an army against Marius in RomB, 
 
I'vGEs 01-03] 
 
 Norj':s 
 
 I also ..li'foatt'd the r..ntic kii.ir Mit 
 
 •J4;'. 
 
 hridati'S. Ho be.aiiu' 
 
 ;i;it 
 
 aictator an< 
 
 il consul, and dk-d n.r. TS. 
 
 91 : 1-'. Pompey 
 
 ■itH' no 
 
 itc on l>^^u' S2, lint' "j:'.. 
 
 91 
 
 10. Julius Caesar, a iir.at. s.-Mirr a 
 
 nd slalt'sman. Ih'st 
 
 91 
 92 
 92 
 92 
 
 ' 44 by conspirators led by C Cassias Lon.n.us and Ma nns 
 
 unius 1 rntus Decimus Brutus. On. of .he conspirator.s 
 
 r^ cLar, to vvhom his viethn had be^tu-athed the control 
 
 ■:rc"alpine (laul. He was ptU to death by At.tony s orders, tn 
 
 Aciuileia b.c 4:1. 
 91 : 2(*>. Calpurnia. The wife of Tasar. 
 
 ; no. Antonius. See note on pa-e :n, line 7. 
 • •> Augustus. See note on pa-e :.. hne 24. 
 ■ ;>■ Agiippa. M. Vipsanins Agrippa. adviser of Aucrnstus 
 ; Macenas. C. Cilnius Ma-cenas, another adviser, and 
 
 natron of art and literature. 
 
 92-0 Tiberius Casar, Sejanus. See note on page 01, lim.-. 
 
 92 ; 12. hLc pro," etc. ' Uecatise of our friendsh.p I have 
 „ot concealed these tlioughts.' 
 
 92 • K'. Septimius Severus. See note on page .., hue -. 
 Plautianus. Pra^orian prefect, representing ^^^^^'^^^^^^ 
 
 92-22. Trajan. Emperor of Rome. v.... 0«-ll<. Marcus 
 Aurelius. Emperor .... KH-ISO. Two ^-^^f^^ , .^^^. 
 
 93-.:). Comineus. rhiUpiH- J^' Com.nes, the Hench histo 
 
 '^/^ci^LtheHariy. Charles the Hold. IMtUe of Bttr- 
 
 atttlos Zu^.. .00. He sup^rted the theory of metem- 
 
 1 ;. r tV,P triiiKnu"vation of s'juls mto vai.vmg uomts. 
 psychosis, or the tiansnii---ii-i . „ . .^, ryr s,. i ._ 
 
 Compare Shakespeare's Mnrhant oj lemce^ Act I\ , he. l . 
 
 "Thou almost inak'st n.e waver in my ^aith, 
 To hold opinion with Pythaiforas, 
 
244 
 
 NOTES 
 
 [Pages 93-W 
 
 That souls of aDinials infuse tbemselves 
 Into the trunks of men." 
 
 and TireJfth Night, Act IV, Sc. 2 : — 
 
 " Clown. What is the opinion of Pythagoras concerning wild 
 fowl? 
 
 " Ma/roUo. That tlie soul of ()ur grandam inijxht happily inhahit 
 a bird. 
 
 " Clown. Wliat thiiikest thon of his opinion ? 
 
 " Mdlvoll'K I think nobly of the soul, and no way approve his 
 opinion." 
 
 93:17. admirable. Wonderful. 
 
 93 : "20. praying in aid. Seeking tlie assistance. 
 
 94:21. Themistocles. An At' <^nian statesman and leader, 
 lie lived in the sixth and fifth centuries r.c. 
 
 94 : 22. cloth of Arras. Tapestry (made chiefly in the town 
 of Arras, hence the name, 'arras'). 
 
 94 : 23. put abroad. Unfolded ; spread out. 
 
 95: 2. statua. Statue. So elsewhere in Bacon, and once in 
 Shakespeare. 
 
 95 : 7. Heraclitus. A Greek philosopher, born at Ephesus 
 about 535 n.c, died about 475 b.c. 
 
 95 : 8. Dry. Clear ; uncoloured by the senses or feelings. 
 95 : 25. flat. Tame ; dull ; insipid. Compare Shakespeare's 
 Hamlet, Act I, Sc. 2 : — 
 
 "How weary, stale, flat, and unprofitable 
 Seem to n>e all the uses of this world ! " 
 
 96 : 3. St. James. In his epistle, L 23, 24. 
 
 96:12. fond. Foolish. 
 
 96 : 13. when all is done. Nevertheless ; after all. 
 
 96 : 23. bowed and crooked to some ends. Compare from 
 
 Emerson's essay on Friendship : "Let me be alone to the end 
 of the world, lather than that my friend should overstep, by a 
 
l'v(.Krt<.t7-".>«] 
 
 yOTKS 
 
 24;") 
 
 ,,.,l „, , look, his veal synpathy. 1 am equally balked b 
 ;^Uusn. and by co.npUance. Let him m. cease an ms an 
 , b; hin^self. Th. only joy I have in us be.n, mme .s ^ ^ 
 ... I i,„t(. where 1 lot>kcd toi a n»am\ 
 
 ,, : a ce, ,.!■ at lea»t a .uauly rc.istauce, to l.u.l a ,„us , .. 
 !:,„'o.sio„. B.tt.T be a „f.tlc h, the mU of your ff.crt tLan 
 
 ' ' sr''-'"' kill the patient. Itacon's Imti.our is tl,<. move .•IteM- 
 
 f ....,T vYV imi'i' 114. lines -4— (>. 
 •'Tf:;. sttte'ea 'ouiel. Suggestions f to„> various sources. 
 
 97 : U. to life. To (tiie) life. 
 
 at ■ ir» cast. Count. 
 
 97 : 8' anther himself. Atis.o.le used su.^h an express.on 
 ,.,„paL^ain F.„K.son on F,-,>„«,>: -A '"e-a ti-;^"^^^ 
 i. a sort of paradox in nature. I who aloue am. I who see 
 
 o hinTin nature wh.,se existence I can affirm w,th e<,nal ev - 
 :; c ■ o u t;:, bCoW „ow «. semWance of my ;-;_"g -" 
 its hei..ht, variety, and curiosi.y. reiterated m a foreign form 
 ':d,'.rt a friend may well be reckoned the „>a»terp,ece of 
 
 ""97' W their time. Their last day ; their appointed mon«nt 
 ,.f dealh. 'cipare Thomas Hardy's '^- f ^.f;^*'';; '•,,;• 
 
 .-She sttddeuly •^'-tltXrfr:: allldrof ::,a\er 
 niooc it hpr fairness, tnat ineie v><in ^^i. ci .,11 
 
 ■"'if rTmn cat. scarce allege. Bacon himself. thougU 
 ,.unctiHo«s,y"™rteons. was not. it must he -^-ed^Jf "''»* 
 lackward in valuating and even recommendmg hunselt. 
 
l'm; 
 
 yOTKS 
 
 [l*.\<ii:s •.tH-'.i'.t 
 
 98 : ti. proper rfpuliur. 
 
 98 : '.». terms. < 't dinnity and lioiiour. 
 
 98 : 1.;. his own part, ("oinpare Jlxmlit, Act V, Sc. 2: — 
 
 " Hiiratio, I am iit>a( 
 Th«)U livrst : ri'ixirt iiic and my cause arij^ht 
 To the unsatislicd," 
 
 XXVIII. OF EXPENSE 
 (l.V.tT. Kiilaryed, Itil'i and 1(525) 
 
 98:1-"). spending, ruilirsiaiid ' is.' 
 
 98: IS. voluntary undoing. Ac't'i-tid poverty. Comparo 
 Matt. xi.v. 21. 
 
 98:22. abuse of servants. Tho Lord Clmncfllor Bacon's 
 servants were not ino-lcls in this regard, nor were they as strictly 
 controlled as their master's be.st interests required. His mother 
 cliided him in tliis respect. 
 
 99:4. doubting. Dreadiiiij; feariuEr- 
 
 99: 11. certainties. Definitely lixed receipts and expenses. 
 
 99:1;"). hall. I'eihaps the house as distinguished from the 
 stable ; perhaps tiie ' servants' hall.'' 
 
 99 : 18. may as well. Not • indifferently,' but ' as surely.' 
 
 99 : 22. his customs. Those that had previously occasioned 
 the "Straits." 
 
 XXIX. OF THE TRUE GREATNESS OF KLVGDOMS 
 
 AND ESTATES 
 
 (1(>12. Re-east and ureal ly eidarged, 1(!2')) 
 
 This essay is of especial importance as reflecting Bacon's 
 ideas of direction and expediency in politics. Machiavelli's- 
 intluenc'i is often apparent. Bacon largely identifies "true 
 
I'vGKH iiM>-io;JJ 
 
 MtTKS 
 
 247 
 
 101 
 102 
 102 
 
 ^ivatiu-s*s'" with pt'i-sisteiit. iiu'vitablc, an<l widcnin- ' imperial- 
 i-iii.' keyed to the siiirit of rcsi'oiisibiliiy. 
 
 100 : 1. Themistocles. See note on imin.' 'M. line 21. 
 
 100:1. censure. .ludirint-nt ; opinion. 
 
 100:7. holpen. See note on page 81, liiu' «•. metaphor. A 
 , Mirying over ; a re-applying. 
 
 100:10. gift. Nolt> the humour. 
 
 100 : -i.j. negotiis pares. ' Able to manage alfairs.' manage. 
 A riiler's word, --loiitrol. 
 
 101 : (3. argument. Subject. 
 
 101 : l;'.. doth fall under. U subject to. 
 
 101 : 10. cards. Charts. 
 •_*2. mustard-seed. See Matt. xiii. 31. 
 
 ;2. stout. Hold. 
 
 ...-.4. Virgil. I'. Veriiilius Maro, «.<■. 70-l'.>. was a gr^at 
 Latin poet, author of the hyin,,iH's. the li>i<;.li,-s. the (fenrairs, 
 and the yEuehl He was aided and highly reganhnl by Miecenas 
 (see note on page 02. line 4) and the Kniperor Augustu.s. The 
 passage citod is from the Seventh Kclogue. 
 
 102:(). Arbela. The battle was fought h.c !?:'.(). 
 
 102 : 8. Alexander's. See note on page 03, line 25. 
 102:11. Tigranes. King of Armenia, reigning n.c. '.tO-^t;. 
 
 He made ar. alliance with Mithridates. king of Por.tus. He was 
 defeated by the Romans under LucuUus at Tigranocer' a, n.c. 08, 
 and again by Pompey in n.c. 00. 
 
 102:24. trivially. Tritely. 
 
 102:25. Solon A groat lawgiver of Athens. Lived u.r. 
 038-551>. He was made archon and prime legislator. 
 
 102:20. CrCBSUS. King of Lydia, su.eeeding ids f:il1ur 
 Alyattes in n.e. 500. He conciuered many peoples and becanie 
 enormously rich. He was finally overthrown by t'yrus of 
 Persia n.c. 540. 
 
 103 : 3. they. The antecedent is ' subjects, ' 
 
L'4» 
 
 AO'/T'.'.V 
 
 l^l'Auts lu;i-luG 
 
 103 : 8. mew. Afoult. 
 103 . ;». Judah and Issachar. See Gen. xlix. 
 103: lO. excises. A nlVreiice tit tin- war taxes levied in the 
 Netlifrlaiiils to stipiM.rl hostilities witli !Si)ain. 
 
 103 : 17. subsidies. Amounts appropriated by Parliament. 
 103:2",. nobility and gentlemen. See Kssay XIX, page 07, 
 
 lilies 12-'J!>. 
 
 103:2!). coppice. Or, cop.se. A wood foritied of trees of 
 slight growth cut from time to time for fuel, staddles. Young 
 trees left standing alter tlie uuderwoitd has been cleared away. 
 
 104:.;. hundred poll, llundrediii head. 
 
 104 : 10. in regard. Hecau.se. 
 
 104:22. "Terra," etc. 'A land mighty in battle and in 
 fruit fulness of .soil.' 
 
 105 
 
 105 
 
 105 
 
 105 
 
 105; 
 
 105: 
 
 17 
 lit 
 23 
 
 2(! 
 
 I. 
 
 Nebuchadnezzar's tree. See Dan. iv. 10. 
 nice. Fastidious ; exclusive. 
 becomen. So ' holpen ' and ' gotten ' in Bacon. 
 sorted. Resulted ; turned out. 
 "jus civitatis." ' The right of citizenship.' 
 " jus commercii," etc. ' The rights of commerce, of 
 marriage, of inheritance.' 
 105 : 28. "jus suffragii." ' The right of the franchise.' 
 105:2!». "jus honorum." 'The right of public office.' 
 Singular. Single. 
 
 106:2. colonies. Homan military posts, which sometimes 
 
 became the nuclei for little states. They were seldom succes.s- 
 
 ful, in the modern idea of colonizing, lacking adaptability. 
 
 106: i. both constitutions. Naturalization and colonization. 
 
 106:11. great body of a tree. Compare the reference to 
 
 Nebuchailnezzar's tree, page 10.3, line 7. 
 
 106:10. Pragmatical Sanction. Philip IV. of Spain pub- 
 lished a decree, ov Pr(«n,iiitlr<i, l(;22, giving encouragement to 
 persons who should marry, and esjjecial privileges to the fathers 
 
l-v(;i:s KXUIKO] 
 
 MjIKS 
 
 240 
 
 nt six cliiUln-ii. Otln-r countries, in lucd of i -imlation. liav 
 iM,l similar laws. One i> slill (Au-u>t. U)<».-.) i-iu-rativf in tho 
 I'loviiuf of '^iu'Ihh', t'anada. 
 
 106- '27. advantage. Wlun iMmsidored from tlir economic 
 ;,ua military points of view. 'Ihi' ilisadvanlages are not here 
 jirrtiiient to Bacon's ari;ument. 
 
 106 : -'•'. rid. Settle tlie .iiiestion of. 
 
 107 : 4. vulgar natives. < >r. as we say, • common people.' 
 107 : l;I. habilitations. Trainiiiiis. 
 
 107:14. Romulus. Tlie traditional founder of Kome. He 
 was a son of Mars and twin brotlier of Kemus. 
 
 107:1'). present. An advised policy; compare our legal 
 Mlirase, 'Ty tiiesc presents."' 
 
 107: 1<>. intend. Profess. 
 
 107:'iO. scope. ( )biec't ; purpose. 
 
 107: -21. flash. Moment; a little while. 
 
 107: 24. declination. Decline. 
 
 107 : 27. stood upon. Discussed further ; elaborated. 
 107::iO. their. The use of the plural pronoun after the 
 
 siiiL^nilar noun, its antecedent, is common in Bacon and in 
 Elizabethan Knglish. 
 108 : 1 . oracle of time. Teachins: of history. 
 
 108 : 10. pretended. Kmployed as iustifyini: causes of war. 
 108 : 14. quarrels. Occasions ; causes. Compare Rssay VIII, 
 
 past' 2:^, line 20. 
 
 108 : 2.'). prest. Trompt ; ready. 
 
 108 : 2<). confederates. Allies. 
 
 109 : :^.. tacit conformity of estate. A spirit of political sym- 
 pathy ; or a rappriK-htiot'i.f !> twe« u states, as hetvvc^n uidnnd- 
 uals.' There is a .suggestion al.so of one country's willingness 
 ;o extend the influence of its own ideals and tnethods of 
 -government whenever opportunity should - em r;pe. 
 "^ 109 : I !. natural body or politic. Individual or .state 
 
250 
 
 NOTES 
 
 [Packs 109-110 
 
 109 : 19. effeminate. Grow soft or womanlike. 
 
 109 : 22. maketh to be still. Is profitable to be always. 
 
 109 : 23. chargeable. Kxpensive. 
 
 109 : 2"). the law. The dfciding power ; right to arbitrate ; 
 paraniouiitcy. 
 
 109 : oO. abridgment of a monarchy. A kingdom in little. 
 Cicero. See note on page 07. line 11. Atticus. 1'. I'omponius 
 Alliens was a virtuous Roman knight, to whom Cicero addressed 
 many letters. Pompey. See note on page 82, line 23. 
 
 110 : 1. Caesar. See note on page 01, line 10. '• Consilium," 
 etc. ' T>onipey 's plan is (juitc Tliemisioclean, for he thinks that 
 whoever commands the .sea commands the entire situation.' 
 
 110 : (). Actium. Here Antony was defeated by Octavianus 
 (Augustus), ij.c. 31. 
 
 110 : 8. Lepanto. Turkey's navy was shattered in this battle, 
 1571, by the combined papal, Spanish, and Venetian strengths. 
 
 110 : 10. final to the war. The deciding contests. Compare 
 Japan's recent victory over Russia. 
 
 110 : 1 1. set up their rest. Staking all on one ' hand.' 
 
 110 : 14. as he will. In his WiUinm Pitt, Earl of Chatham. 
 Mr. Frederic Harrison tells us that in 17(51 Great Britain had 
 " absolute dominion of the seas to an extent hardly ever equalled 
 before or since. . . . England was perfectly secure at home, 
 whilst she held the commerce of the seas and all transoceanic 
 settlements within her grasp. Xo other nation posses.sed even 
 the nucleus of marine ix.wer. and all were debarred from reach- 
 ing such colonies as they retained.'' AjuI again : •' Had George 
 II. lived a few years longer, had Pitt maintained his health, his 
 ntluence with the King. Parliament, and the nation, it was quite 
 probable that every )>ossessi(m of France, Spain, or Holland, 
 outside of Eurrpe, would have passed t(j tlie British Crown, and 
 tliat these countries would have been forced to make peace on 
 terms of extreme humiliation." 
 
 SB 
 
I'xdKS 110-112] 
 
 XOTES 
 
 251 
 
 no : 10. merely. Entirely. 
 
 Ill : '). personal, (liven to single individuals for acts of 
 unusual heroism, style. Appellation ; title. 
 
 Ill : 7. triumphs. Processions through Rome to the Temple 
 ,,t' .hipiter, in honour of successful generals. 
 
 111:12. gaudery. Boastful display. 
 
 Ill : 10. impropriate. Appropriate. 
 
 111:22. ensigns. Decorations. 
 
 Ill : 2.'). Scripture. See Matt. vi. 27. 
 
 Ill : 2(5. model. A miniature of "the great frame of king- 
 doms and commonwealths." 
 
 Ml 
 
 XXX. OF REGIMENT OF HEALTH 
 (ir)97. A paragraph added, 1612. Enlarged, 11)25) 
 
 "Uegiment" is here used in the sense of ' regimen,' — con- 
 trol, systematic management. Compare Fletcher's Two Noble 
 Knmnen, Act IV, Sc. :5 : "This may bring her to eat, to 
 sl( "^p, and reduce what'.s now out of square with her into their 
 former law and regiment." 
 
 112 : 13. still. Always. 
 
 112: 14. age will not be defied. Compare O. W. Holmes's 
 Th,' Aatoi-mt of the Breakfast Table : " What is the use of 
 fi-hting a-ainst the seasons, or the tides, or the movements of 
 the planetary bodies, or this ebb in the wave of life that flows 
 through us ? We are old fellows from the moment the fire be- 
 gins to go out. Let us always behave like gentlemen when we 
 are introduced to new acquaintances. . . . We have settled when 
 old age becins. Like all Nature's processes, it is gentle and 
 uradnal in its approaches, strewed with illusions, and all its 
 Httle griefs are soothed by natural sedatives. But the iron 
 liand is not less irresistible because it wears the velvet glove." 
 
•^fr 
 
 '>,"/> 
 
 ^Om 
 
 NOTES 
 
 [Paces 112-114 
 
 112:18. than one. The moaning is, that if a change is 
 decided upon it should be a change affecting several interests at 
 once rather than one only. 
 
 112 : 24. particularly. In your own case. 
 
 113 : 8. envy, etc. This dispassionate advice is another testi- 
 mony to Bac.in's eiiuable temperament. 
 
 113: IS. accident. Symptom. Hacon's own bodily consti- 
 tution was not stronn, and he watched himself perhaps ovi-r- 
 closely in tlie particuhii-s named. 
 
 113: 1!>. respect. Consider. 
 
 113 : 20. action. Kxenise. put. Kequire ; C(.nstrain. 
 
 113:22. tendering. Caicful attention ; nursing. 
 
 113 : 2;;. Celsus. .Aldus Cornelius Cel.sus. a phvsician in the 
 tune of Tiberius:, who wrote exhaustively of oratory, farming, 
 jurisprudence, mech-cine, military art. and philosophy. The 
 eight books on medicine are alone extant. 
 
 114 : 1. masteries. Control of the piiysical functions. 
 
 114 : 2. pleasing. Willing to please ; indulgent. 
 
 114 : 6. according to art, etc. Compare Essay XXVII, page 
 90. line 27, page S>7, line 2. Compare also Chaucer's doctor iu 
 the ProbnntP to fi,^. Citittrltury Tales: 
 
 ••TIk- eaiise y-knowe, and of his harm the rote, 
 Anon he yaf the .seke man liis bote." 
 
 XXXI. OF srspicioN 
 
 (l(i2.'5) 
 114 : 13. guarded. Controlled. 
 114:1.5. check. Interfere. 
 114 : 1(). currently, i.ike a current ; smoothly. 
 114 : 19. heart. Courage. 
 114:20. stoutest. Bravest. 
 ^ 14 ; 22. composition. Temperament. 
 
I'VCES 115-11()] 
 
 yoTES 
 
 253 
 
 115 : 4. What would men have ? otc A sipnifioant recogni- 
 linii by the pnulenliiil Bacon, at the oml of his career, of the 
 1, ss pleasinj-- rralities of liunian cliaracter. The touch of bitter- 
 ness is not, h(nvcver, representative. 
 
 115:14. buzzes. Passing nmrniurs. 
 
 115 : v.). he. The antecedent is to be understood. 
 
 116 : 22. would. Shoulci. 
 
 115 : 25. '• Sospetto licentia fede." ' Suspicion gives license 
 io faith,' that is, releases men from the obligation to be sincere 
 and honourable. 
 
 , 
 
 XXXIT. OF DISC(^URSE 
 
 (in^n. Enlarge ■. 1(512; again, ItVJ.')) 
 
 116:4. what might be -.•' Compare Addison's paper (No. 
 122) in The JSpectator : " - -. "nd Sir Roger heard them both, 
 upon a round trot ; and t. .ti having paused some time, tol.l 
 them, with the air of a man who would not give his judgment 
 rashly, that much mvjht he said on both sides.'''' 
 
 116 : 0. commonplaces and themes. Stock subjects of dis- 
 course. 
 
 116:10. moderate. Control. 
 
 116: 11. leads the dance. Gracefully guides the conversation. 
 
 116:13. intermingle, etc. Relieve the di.scussion of local 
 topics with more important intellectual matters. 
 
 116 :1H. jade. Overwork. 
 
 116:18. privileged. Kxempted by common consent. 
 
 116 : 21. any case that deserveth pity. Bacon's contempo- 
 raiies were less sensitive in this respect than men of to-day. 
 I'he race has grown — though sh^wly — in symi)athy and its 
 expressions. Wo do not find misfortune funny as often as did 
 tile Klizab3thans. 
 
 116:24. would. Ought to. 
 
 il' 
 
ii 
 
 254 
 
 NOTES 
 
 [IVVUKS ll<i-I]s 
 
 116:2"). "Parce," etc. 'Spare the whip, boy, an.l pull 
 harder at the reins.' From Ovid's Metamorphoses, II, 127. 
 
 116:27. saltness. \Vit. 
 
 117 : 4. content. Give pleasure. 
 
 117:r). skill. The peculiar knowledge or specialty. Rawlev 
 says of Bacon that '• he would haw a man on and allow him to 
 speak upon sucli a subject, as wherein he was peculiarly skilful 
 and would delight to speak."' 
 
 117:9. poser. Formal examiner ; question-putter. 
 
 117 : 14. galliards. A French dance of vigorous measure, for 
 two persons. Compare Shakespeare's TiMfth Xight, Act I, 
 Sc. 3 : — 
 
 " Sir Tobif. What is thy excellence in a galliard, knight ? 
 .Sir Andreir. Faith, I can cut a caper." 
 
 117: 15. dissemble, etc. ' If you sometimes pretend not to 
 know what you really do knf)w, this practice will turn out to 
 your advantage, for your ignorance in other instances will 
 appear to be similar modesty.' A rather frank expression of 
 worldly wisdom. 
 
 117 : 18. of. C(mcerning. 
 
 117 : 25. touch. Personal import. 
 
 118 : 2. dry blow. A jest based on a personality. 
 
 118 : 0. agreeably. Suitably ; acceptably. 
 
 118:8. A good continued speech, etc. The meaning is, 
 ' Ability to speak at length, if unsupported by good conver- 
 sational ability, has the advantage of rapidity, like the grey- 
 hound, but the disadvantage of slowness " in the turn " ; while 
 (iuickues<« of rejoinder in conversation, unaccompanied by 
 power to elaborate an idea, though showing the nimbleness of 
 the running hare, exhibits also the hare's weakness.' 
 
 118 : 14. circumstances. Considerations. 
 
l'v(iES 118-122] 
 
 ^^o'^Es 
 
 255 
 
 XXXIII. OF PLANTATIONS 
 
 (1(125) 
 
 118:17. Plantations. Colonies. 
 
 119 • 4 profit. Bacon's imperialism is of a patriotic, not a 
 .ninnierciiU, type. He anticipates here precisely the lowness 
 and weakness of that 'Tory' point of view which lost tor 
 (Joorgian England her American colonies. 
 
 119 :i:'.. certify. Write accounts. Compare the early his- 
 tory of the Virginia colony. 
 
 119 : 20. of itself. That is, indigenously. 
 23. esculent. Eatable. 
 
 ; 20. maize. The English term for corn. 
 
 :9. certain. Definite; fixed. 
 
 : 14. manure. Cultivate. 
 
 : 15. his own private. Himself. 
 
 120 : 21. Virginia 
 120 
 
 119: 
 
 119; 
 
 120 
 
 120 
 
 120 
 
 120 
 120 
 121 
 121 
 121 
 
 Settled at Jamestown, 1608. 
 22. one. That is, of the commodities mentioned above. 
 24. brave. Fine ; excellent. 
 
 20. would. Should. Growing silk. Vegetable silk. 
 1. moil. Toil ; work. Compare ' turmoil.' 
 12. undertakers. Contractors. 
 
 1(5. freedoms from custom. Exemptions from the pay- 
 iniut of duties on exports ur imports. 
 121:19. make their best of them. Sell them to most advan- 
 
 *''l21:22. how they waste. How they dwindle in population. 
 
 121 : 25. surcharge. Overplus of population. 
 
 121:28. marish. Marshy. 
 
 121 : 30. still. Always. 
 
 122:0. gingles. Jingles; rattles. 
 
 122 • 10. it is not amiss, l^hat is, to offer and provide assist- 
 ance against their enemies when friendly savages are attacked. 
 
 Ml 
 
 juJ 
 
2oG 
 
 XOTKS 
 
 [I'auks 1U2-U'4 
 
 122:17. destitute. Abandon. 
 
 122 :U>. commiserable. rnf-Ttmijito ; miserable. 
 
 XXXIV. OF lUCHES 
 
 (1012. Much enlarged, 1625) 
 
 122 : 22. " impedimenta. " • Baggage. ' 
 123 ; 1. conceit. Fancy ; illusion. 
 123:2. Solomon. See Eccl. v, 11. 
 
 123 : o. to feel great riches. Aitw sufficient wealth has been 
 secured to satisfy every perscnial desire, additional income will 
 not be 'felt' as affecting one's individual good. 
 123:8. feigned. Fanciful. 
 123 : 10. because. In order that. 
 123 : i:{. Solomon. See Frov. xviii. 11, 
 123 : 18. proud riches. Wealth for wealth's sake. 
 123 : 21. Cicero. See note on page 57. line 11. 
 123:22. Rabirius Posthumas. Defended by Cicero when 
 accused by the Tribune Labienns of complicity in the kilUiur 
 of Saturninus. "in studio," etc. 'In the endeavour to in! 
 crease his estate it was manifest that he sought not the spoil 
 of avarice, but a means of beneficence.' 
 123 : 25. Solomon. See Prov. xxviii. 20. 
 123 : 20. - Qui festinat," etc. ' He that maketh haste to be 
 rich shall not be unpunished.' 
 123 ; 27. Plutus. The god of riches, son of Jason and Ceres. 
 123 : 28. Jupiter. See note on page 51, line 7. 
 123 : 29. Pluto. Sec note on page 75, line 23. 
 124:7. upon speed. Compare Webster's The Duchess of 
 Malfi, Act III, Sc. 2 : — "^ 
 
 "... Pluto, the nod of riches, 
 When lie's sent by .fupiter to auy man, 
 
I'AGES 124-12.-)] 
 
 NOTES 
 
 257 
 
 Hf 'fi^en liiiipiii.n, to signify that wt'iiltii 
 
 Thivt i'om«'s on ( lod's name comi'S slowly : Imt when he's sent^^ 
 
 On the devil's errand, he rides post and comes in by scuttles." 
 
 124 : 17. greatest audits of any man. In our day false syn- 
 tax. Why ? Cx'mi the correct form. 
 
 124 : 24. stock, etc. As a man's resources increase, so do his 
 opportunities of gain. Compare Geor-e Eliot's MidOleuvtrch. 
 liook I, Chapter XII : "Ay, ay ; money's a good egg; and^if 
 you've got money to leave behind yovi, lay it in a warm nest." 
 
 124:2(5. c\rercome. Secure ; connnand. 
 
 124 : 21). mainly. Greatly. 
 
 125 : •"). broke. Deal ; negotiate. 
 125 : 7. chapmen. Buyers, 
 
 125 : 8. naught. Naughty ; bad. 
 
 125 : 11. upon the seller and upon the buyer. The original 
 seller and the final buyer, the ' middleman ' profiting by both. 
 
 125:13. Usury. See Kssay XLI. 
 
 125 :!•'». "in sudore," etc. 'In tlie sweat of another's 
 brow.' 
 
 125 : 17. scriveners and brokers. Financial agents. 
 
 125 : 18. value. Uecoiamend as good risks. 
 
 125 : !".>. invention. Discovery. 
 
 125 : 22. Canaries. The sugar trade in the Canaries took its 
 
 rise in li")07. 
 
 125 : 23. the true logician. In Book II of Tho Afhunicrmcnt 
 of Learning, Bacon as.serts that -The arts intellectual are four 
 iu number; dividi^d according to the ends whereunto they are 
 referred : for man's labour is to invent that which Is sought or 
 propounded: or to iudge that which is invented: or to retain 
 that which is jtxdged : or to deliver over that which is retained." 
 
 125 : 28. guard, etc. Protect one's self in speculative enter- 
 prises by investing enough in a conservative, legitimate way to 
 offset any possible loss. 
 s 
 
 ^i| 
 
 li 
 
I 
 
 258 
 
 NOTES 
 
 [Pages 125-127 
 
 126 :.m coemption. Buying up. 
 
 126:8. Tacitus. See note on page o, line 27. Seneca. See 
 note on page .5, line ]«. ^ 
 
 126:9. "Testamenta," etc. 'lie landed wills and warl- 
 ships as though taken with nets.' See the .!«/,(//.. xil 4» 
 126:14. none worse. Than these affected .scomers of wealth 
 126 : lo. riches have wings. Compare Prov. xxiii. 5. Note 
 the humorous turn that follows. 
 
 J^^'':\ ,*^* ^*"*'' '^'- ^^'^"°''' '" ^'" ^"d judgment on 
 account of his wealth. 
 
 126 : 23. glorious. Ostentatious ; vainglorious. 
 126 : 20. advancements. Gifts. 
 
 Ja« '' !I' f'n"? *^®" ^^ "**'"'^- ^^^^"^^ ^''^"^ equitably. 
 
 126 : 28. till death. Note Mr. Andrew Carnegie as an inter- 
 esting contemporary example of the rich man who makes bene- 
 faction a business of life rather than of death. He has given 
 away (up to August, 1905) about $ 115,000 000 
 
 XXXV. OF PROPHECIES 
 
 (1625) 
 127 : 2. natural predictions. Those made in accordance with 
 a knowledge of the laws of nature. Compare the moon's phases, 
 eclipses, etc. ^ iitwcn, 
 
 PvM ^ '' ^' ?y*J°°^«^*- ^^Po"«' giver of oracles, was called the 
 1 ythian. Pythomssa, accordingly, refers to a prophetess. See 
 the narrative in 1 Sam. xxviii. 7-25. 
 
 127 : (J. Homer. Greatest of Greek poets., supposed to have 
 been born in Smyrna and to have died on the island of los. 
 Itrodotus gives n.c. 850 as representing the time in which he 
 l-ved, but later and earlier dates are given. The Iliad and 
 Odiissey, attributed to him, may have become welded into a 
 composite after passing through many transitional stages, in 
 
I'AGES 127-128] 
 
 NOTES 
 
 259 
 
 which case the authorship would be multiform. Whether 
 Homer actually existed or not, it seems probable that some one 
 ■ reat poet is responsible for the core (.f the Iliad. The lines 
 "luoted are from Vergil's ^Uneid, III, 97, transcribed from the 
 Hind, XX, 807, :]08. 
 
 127:7. " At domus," etc. 'But now the house of /.neas 
 sliiiU reign over every shore, and his children's children, and 
 wliosoever shall succeed them.* 
 
 127 : 10. Seneca. See note on page 5, line 16. The passage 
 is (juoted from the Medea, II, 374-378. 
 
 127: 11. "Venient annis." etc. 'In far-distant years shall 
 oome the ages when ocean shall loose the bands of the world, 
 and the vast globe shall be discovered, and Tiphys shall show 
 new worlds ; nor shall Thule be the end of the earth.' Tiphys 
 was a mythological pilot. 
 
 127 : 18. Polycrates. Tyrant of Samos, n.o. 536-522. He 
 was a patron of the arts, and is said by Herodotus to have had 
 the most persistent good fortune, exposing him to the envy of 
 the gods. Jupiter. See note on page 51, Ihie 7. 
 Apollo. See note on page 55, line 26. 
 Aristander. A famous soothsayer under Alexander 
 
 127 : 10. 
 127 : 24. 
 
 the (ireat. 
 
 127 : 27, 
 IV, Sc. 3. 
 
 128:1. 
 
 I'hilippi.' 
 
 phantasm. See Shakespeare's Julius Cxsar, Act 
 Brutus. See note on page 91, line 20. 
 "Philippis," etc. 'Thou shalt see me again at 
 Brutus and Cas ins were defeated by Antony and 
 Octavius at Philippi, and Brutus destroyed himself. 
 
 128 : 2. Tiberius. See note on page 5, line 26. Galba. See 
 „ote on page 6, line 30. " Tu quoque," etc. 'Thou also, 
 Galba, shalt taste of empire.' Tacitus' Annals, VI, 20. 
 128: 3. Vespasian's. See note on page 5. line 28. 
 128 : 7. Tacitus. See note on page 5, line 27. Domitian 
 Si e note on page 63, line 13. 
 
 Ml 
 
 f il 
 
 Mi 
 
-^^ ^'OTKS [Paoes 128-130 
 
 A ?fv' ^1:' ^*"'^ ^^' '"^'^^ ^^^I'ak^-^I'eare's Jl.nnj VI., I'urt III. 
 
 128:21. slain. Henry II. ..f France lost his life through 
 an accKlent at a tournament in ir>ol). 
 
 128: 22. beaver. Ti.e l..w,.r portion of the armoured head- 
 
 " TliHr arn,e.l staves ii, ..hjn-e, tiieir beavers down, 
 lli.-w eyes ..f (i,v sparklin- throu-h si-hts of .steel." 
 
 128:2;{. trivial. Common. 
 
 129:4. style. Title. 
 
 129 :H. the Baugh and the May. Mr. Wright says : "Mr 
 Daniel has sugge.sted to n.e that the ' Baugh ' is probably the 
 Bass ^rook ; and ti.e • May ' the Isle of May, in the Fnth of 
 
 129:16. Regiomontanus. Johannes Miiller. The name 
 means 'Hoyal mount.' and corre.pond.s, therefore, to Konigs- 
 
 ml in'u!^ ""^' ^''"''' """"'' ""'"^ ^'^'"- ''^'' P^^^^'^^'^" '^^ 
 l>e mti-vJll.nts'''*''"'""''' '^" ' ^'^^ -^^hty-eighth year .shall 
 
 ti.f f!,-,f' ■ ^^^*'"''' ^"^^''" """^ ^" Athenian popular leader of 
 
 11 t''^"'' "■'■ "' ^''''^''' '''' '^I'''^"^"^ successfully at 
 I Ics, 42o, but wa.s defeated and slain by Brasidas at A.ttphip- 
 
 elsewh"l" ' ''' Aristophanes in Tke Kniyhts and 
 
 130:3. sort. Way. 
 
 180:5. grace. Favourable consideratioji 
 130:7. when they hit. Compare The Advancement of 
 
 talse apiuaranres that are impo..ed upon us bv the gei-ral 
 nature of the nu.ul. beholding thettt itt an example of two ! 
 
I'AWE I.'JOJ 
 
 SOT US 
 
 L'Ol 
 
 as first in that instance wliioli is tlu> root of all su}>tistiti<>ii. 
 namely, tliat tu the natnir ()f tlie nun.l .-f all nun it is conso- 
 nant for the atVinnative or active to etf.ct, move ili;.n the nega- 
 tive or privative. So that a few times hittin.n, ur presence, 
 countervails t)fl-tiines failin-:, or absence : as was well answered 
 by Diagoras to hirv that show.d liini. in Neptune's tenipK', the 
 ..'i-eat number ot i^ictures of such as hail escaped shipwrerk. 
 an.l had paid th.-ir vows to Neptune, sayini,', ' Advise now, yoii 
 tliat think it folly to invocate Neptune in ten.pest.' • Yta. but." 
 saith Diagoras, • where are they iniintttl tliat are drowned ■" " 
 
 130: IH. Platos. See note on page 05. line -JO. Atlanticus. 
 77/e Critias of I'lato. 
 
 XXXVI. OF AMIUIION 
 (l»il2. Kular;red. l*i'J") 
 Of Bacon's own ambition all his life is a testimony. The 
 student will note his frankly and often expressed desire for 
 advancement, and will feel also the nobility of his motive as 
 expressed in the unpublished Latin preiace to his treatise on 
 The hiterpreWt.nt i,f X.iture: "For n-.yself. my heart is not 
 set upon any of those things which depend upon ixternal acci- 
 dents. I am not hunting for fame : 1 have no desire to found 
 a sect, after the fashion of heresiarchs ; and to look for any 
 l)rivate gain from such an undertaking as this, I count both 
 ridiculous and base. Enough for me the consciousness of well- 
 deserving, and those real and effectual results with which For- 
 tune itself cannc^t interfere." Further, from Essay XI "Of 
 Great Place," page 34, lines 12 and 18: -But power to do 
 good is the true and lawful end of aspiring." Of all of Bacon's 
 methods of rising it is not perhaps possible or necessary to 
 approve, but it is of prime importance that w- recognize the 
 3ore of his purpose as sound. 
 
202 
 
 yOTES 
 
 LR. 
 
 '';o-r;j 
 
 130:24. choler. humour S(v note on ].fitve 2-J. liiu' i'.{ 
 
 131:1. adust. I<irtauu-d,-auchnicaluonlofuncienr edi- 
 cine. 
 
 131:;{. still. Always; i.iogrcssivcly. 
 
 131 : 7. an evil eye. (\)nii,a.v Matt, xx 15. See aJHu ,„.t. 
 on Ks,s,.y I.\. i)ai:<-'4. li„i. 17. 
 
 131 : II. take order to. Dcvi.s.' j.lan.s to. 
 
 131 : 21. dispenseth with. Pardons ; condones 
 
 131:-'. a soldier without ambition. Compare Shakespear.V 
 Antony and r/,op,(fr,i. Act III. Sc. 1 :_ 
 
 " and ainl>iti()ii 
 The soUiH'v-s virtue, rat'.,- n.akes .•l.uiceof loss, 
 iliaii ^'ani which darkens him." 
 
 spurs. Compare Shakespeare's Marh,th, Act I, Sc. 7 : — 
 
 "I liave no spur 
 To i>rick the sides of my intern : but only 
 Vault ini; ambition, wiiich o'er-lcaps itself, 
 And falls on ilie other." 
 
 Compare also Milton's L>jri,i„H, line 70:! : _ 
 
 " Fame is the .spur that the clear spirit doth raise." 
 
 131:26 seeled. Having its eyelids draw,i tu„ er by means 
 of a hne thread. 
 
 131 : i>8. Tiberius. See note on page o. line 26. 
 
 131 ; 2-.). Macro. Succe.ssor of Sejanu.'. as comn.ander of the 
 prietor.an guards. Sejanus. Favourite of the emperor Fiberius 
 who was .sente..ce.l to death by the Senate at the emperor'., in^ 
 stance, s.i>. i^A, for conspiracy against the imperial power 
 
 132: 1. resteth. Remains. 
 
 132:8. favourites. Compare Hacon's regard for Buckin-. 
 ham, lus famous letter of advice to RMckingham om the d ties 
 and opportunitc s of a favourite, and the closeness of their zela- 
 
 ^ 
 
I'.v. i:s r;_' i:r.] 
 
 yo'i Es 
 
 m 
 
 tlon. It was indeetl "inipossilih '.h;»' xuv''''' ' • 
 
 132:10. inure. Habitc f; ai.-.-n-! m. 
 132 : 1>*. obnoxiOi..^ L (bit'. 
 
 132 :•_'!. prove danj^erou.^. V' -il' _ f< rciice to Es.s»'x. 
 Sec the Ih.rodmnion, i ._^*'s xiii km. I'oi iiai^ also liiu-s iM-'Jii. 
 
 133:-'. depfndances K. tmu : foll-'w „'. 
 133: 7. to do good. * "ti!-' Essay ^ !>a.uv -54, liiu's IJ, l". 
 133:14. sensible of * 'on. ut'' ^^ t'si-onsive to. 
 
 133:l'>. bravery. IJoastfulness 
 
 133 lt>. bup IiiMuisiiivi' ; u ir. * uiparo Shake- 
 'ipearfV H'tmh \ HI. 1: - 
 
 ••Thoi' 1(1 -I to bo 'busy > sdiuc <lanser." 
 
 \XXVII. <^ MASgr < A 1) THirMl'IIS 
 
 The Hi lue was v* ry imjmlar <: rmti: the rei.niis of Elizabeth 
 and Jam. and P. on shared this interest so heartily that ho 
 himself (U-vised nv nanaged several such spectacles. The rec- 
 ognised 1.' rp< M le masque was to celeV)rate some important 
 occa .1. »M' ■' 'I with tlM" lives of royalty or nobility, the 
 acto f 'St part, being themselves royal or noble. The 
 ,,as., t'V. however, a glorified allegory than a signiti- 
 I'.en Jonson and .lobn Kletcber were its early 
 n's Comns is the last notable example in English 
 
 ant aii 
 
 la-'iters. 
 
 li "rature. 
 
 ' 17. 
 
 ^s. Trirtes. 
 
 : 18. But yet, etc. Bacon tbe philosopher to Bacon the 
 
 t. 
 
 .33 : 20. daubed with cost. Made overspectacular and un- 
 asonably expensive. 
 
264 
 
 ivo '/•/;*' 
 
 [I'AOrEs ia3-i;J5 
 
 133 : 2o. aloft. In a raised gallery at the end of the hall or 
 clianibj r. broken music. Music produced by instrunient.s 
 rt'late'd in otht-r ways than according to the idea of a 'consort.' 
 or .set of four. 
 
 133 : 24. ditty. Song. Device. Spectacle. 
 133: 20. not dancing. That is, not dancing 'in song' ; not 
 accompanying (ni(-.\^ .s^//with singing or music. 
 
 134 : 1 . would. Should. 
 134 : ;}. dainty. Pretty. 
 
 134:5. by catches. One after another, at stated intervals, 
 anthem-wise. After the manner of the anthem, or antiphon, — 
 alternate voices. 
 
 134 : (5. Turning dances into figure. Making them conform 
 to dilticult and varying geometrical devices. The protest is le.ss 
 against the tigureil dance, it would .seem, than against inart'Stic 
 exce.sses thereiji. Compare page 183, lines 10 and 20. 
 
 134 : 1(1. the scene. The raised i)latf(n-m supporting the 
 masquers in tableaux, motions. Dumb show. 
 
 134 : 10. to desire to see, etc. To exercise the imagina- 
 tion. 
 
 134:21. chirpings or pulings. A reference to the extreme 
 youthful ness of some of the boys permitted to appear in such 
 spectacles. 
 
 134 : 24. oes. Plural of ' o ' ; meaning here brightly coloured 
 'rounds.' spangs. Spangles. 
 
 134 : 30. anti-masques. Referring to a burlesque prologue 
 setting ol=f the real masque as a foil. 
 
 135 : 2. antiques. Antics ; ridiculous clownish figures. 
 135:;!. turquets. Possibly. • little Turks.' statuas. Statues. 
 135 : li). justs and tourneys. Joust?, were combats between 
 
 two individual champions ; rournantents, combats between sev- 
 eral on each side, barriers. Obstacles or boundaries in the 
 centre of the li.sts so placed that the encounter could proceed 
 
l'A<iE8 loo 1:37 J 
 
 XOTES 
 
 2nr. 
 
 witlunit bringing; the horses together. The name was also 
 applied to the encounter itself. 
 135:20. bravery. Display. 
 
 M 
 
 XXXVITI. OF NATURE IN MEN 
 
 (1(!12. Eiilarjrt'd ami revised. 1(>'25) 
 
 135:2:5. Nature. Human nature. 
 
 135 : 2(5. importune. Importunate. 
 
 136 : i». if the practice, etc. If one reciuires more of himself 
 by way of preparation than the actual occa-sion will require. 
 
 136: 10. "Optimus ille.'" etc. 'He is the be.-^t guardian of 
 the mind who wrenches at once the gnawing chains from his 
 breast, and grieves no longer.' From Ovid's licmeilin Amorii^, 
 
 line 29S. 
 
 137 : 4. lay. Lie. So occasionally in Elizabethan English. 
 137:<». iEsop's. See note un page 41, line 8. 
 
 137:7. board's end. Table's end. 
 
 137 : 10. put himself often to it. Frequently and manfully 
 face the temptation. 
 
 137 : 15. sort with. Are adapted to ; harmonize with. 
 
 137:10. "Multum," etc. 'My soul hath h)ng been a so- 
 journer.' See I'salms cxx. (!, frecpiently quoted by Bacon. 
 Note the autobiographical value of the passage. 
 
 137 : 17. converse in. Have to do with. 
 
 137 : 18. affect. Like ; prefer. Compare Shakespeare's The 
 Taminy of the Hhreic, Act I, Sc. 1 : — 
 
 "No profit grciws where is no pleasure ta'en; 
 In brief, sir, study what you most affect." 
 
 187 : 23. spaces. Intervals. 
 
 HI 
 
 HI 
 
260 
 
 NOTEH 
 
 [PAGts 138-13!, 
 
 
 XXXIX. OF CUSTOM AND EDUCATION 
 
 (1()12. Enlarged, 1()25) 
 
 138 : 2. inclination. Individual temper or disposition. 
 138 : 3. infused opinions. Those received from sources otlier 
 than their own 'inclinations.' 
 138 : 4. after as. According tis. 
 138 : 5, Machiavel. See note on page 18, line 24. 
 138: (5. evil-favoured. Of ugly countenance. Machiavel's 
 remark has reference to the choice of knaves, and is therefore 
 sinister. See below. 
 138 : 7. bravery. B( astfulness. 
 138 : 8. corroborate. Strengthe.ied. 
 
 138:13. friar Clement. Jacques Clement, 156r>-1589. He 
 was a French monk who a.ssassinated Henry III. of France, 
 August 1, 1589. He himself was immediately killed, and be- 
 came one of the 'martyrs' of the church (1678-1010). 
 
 138:14. Ravaillac. Francois Ravaillac assassinated Henry 
 IV of France May 14, 1010. J^ureguy. He attempted to kill 
 nilliam the Silent, Prince of Orange, 1582. Baltazar Gerard 
 Assa.ssinated William the Silent in 1584. All four of these 
 miscreants were contemporaries of Bacon. 
 138: 18. first blood. First exjierience in murder. 
 138: 19. votary. Determined by a vow. equipollent. Pos- 
 se.ssing equal power ; equivalent. 
 
 138 : 27. the sect, etc. The Gymnosophists, an ancient sect 
 of Hnidus who devoted themselves to contemplation, and lived 
 an ascetic hermit life. 
 139:0. queching. Flinching. 
 139:13. engaged. Enclosed ; bound. 
 189:24. take the ply. Incline in the desired direction 
 Compare l»ope\s Momt Etimtis, Epistle I, lines 149, 150 : — 
 
I'AGES 140-141] 
 
 XOTES 
 
 267 
 
 •' 'Tis eduoatiou f<»rnis the common mind: 
 Just as th(« twij: is bent tlie tree's inclined." 
 
 140 : 2. comforteth. Strengthens. 
 
 140:4. exaltation. Zenith. Ti»e term 'exaltation' in a^- 
 irolo.iry signitied that the planet concerned was exercisin- its 
 most powerful influence. 
 
 140: 10. ends. Hacon disli'^.l to observe the growing tem- 
 poral power of the Roman Catholic Church. 
 
 XL. OF FORTUNE 
 
 (1(512. Slightly enlarged, 1()25) 
 140 : 14. " Faber," etc. ' Every man the builder of his own 
 
 fortune.' 
 
 140 : If), the poet. Bacon attributed the origin of the phrase 
 
 to I'lautus. 
 
 140: lb. "Serpens," etc. 'In order to become a dragon a 
 serpent must devour a serpent ' 
 
 140 : 20. apparent. Consi . > s. 
 
 140 : 22. deliveries. Ways ■ ' ^eventing unfortunate lapses ; 
 or, means of rescuing one's self irom weak or false positions. 
 
 140 : 24. desemboltura. Abbott explains this term as " (I ) A 
 turning of .>ne\s .self inside out ; (2) .shamelessness ; (:]) facility 
 
 of speaking." 
 
 140:25. stonds. Stands; hindrances. 
 
 141:1. Livy. Titus I.ivius, i!.< . -V.t-A.i.. 17; born at Tata- 
 vium. He was a great Roman historian. 
 
 141 : 2. Cato Major. In his De Sotectute or Co to Mojo,: 
 Cicero wrote in praise of old age in the person of Cato the 
 censor. ''In illo viro." etc, 'In this great man there was 
 such vigour of body and of mind, that wheresoever he ha<l 
 been born, it s-emed certain that he would have made his for- 
 tune.' 
 
 
268 
 
 NOTES 
 
 [rAGEs 141-142 
 
 141 : o. versatile ingenium. ♦ A versatile nature ♦ 
 
 141 : 10. " poco di matto." ' A little of the fooi.' 
 
 141 : 24. remover. Unstable man. 
 
 J!o '' f^-/^,®'^"««^- ^Experienced ; th.^roughly known. 
 
 142 : 1. decline the envy. Discourage the restless criticism 
 
 iia : o. taesar. See note on page !)1, line i') 
 
 f<aiune.'' " ^*'^''" ^''"^'" '''' ' ''"" '^''y ^^^*' ^^^ !''« 
 
 142:7. Sylla. See note on page 01, line 11. felix. •^ortu 
 iiate.' magnus. 'Great.' 
 
 nr'',r\^^iT''r- , ^'" ^'''""'" '"'''"' ''''' ^^^'d -bout 
 n.r. ...4. North s Iranslatmn of I'lutarch's Llv.s tells us that 
 
 I.mo heus spoke as follows: '^ My Lonls of Athens, FortuZ 
 
 hnth hrnl no riH in all thh x,hu-h I have lohl n.to you. Here' 
 
 upon the gods, it sh.>uld seen.e, were so angry with this foolish 
 
 amb.t.on of Tin.otheus that ho never afterwards did any wor 1^ 
 
 ung ; but all went utterly against the haire with him ; untif^ 
 
 e length he eame to be so hated of the people that in the nd 
 
 did not only pn,K.tly abide their words that said he was a 
 -PPV man and singularly beloved of Fortune, but also increa^ 
 
 did ' '■^. "';'"7 ^"'^ '^'-'^'•"" -« at a special grace of the go! 
 I.d attnbute the honour of his doings unto Fortune, e^ltr 
 
 ^ ^a.n glory ,>r tor that he had in fancy that the gods did prol 
 
 ner hiin in all his doin^rs " ^ ^'"^ 
 
 142 : 16. Homer's. See note on page 127, line 6 
 
 142 : 17. Plutarch. See note on patre r>7, line 24 
 
 142 : 18. Timoleon's. Timoleon was a famous Greek general 
 
 M2 ■■ -■". it is much in a man's self. l)..,,e,KlH cl,ic/lj. on tho 
 
I'aok 142] 
 
 XOTKS 
 
 2oy 
 
 individual. Compare above : " But chiefly the mould of a man's 
 tortune is in his <.wn hands. '' This is the cardinal proposition 
 of the essay. 
 
 XLI. OF USURY 
 
 (ir,2n) 
 
 Tlie question of lending money at interest was a vexed one in 
 Bacon's day, owing to the rapacity of the lenders and the hi-h 
 rates exacted. Indeed, it had long been an open question 
 whether any rate whiitever was ethical, llumuii sympathy has 
 been generally on the side of the debtor, and there are niany 
 passages of literature, Biblical and post-Biblical, that present 
 :uul condemn the character of the professional usurer as a 
 preyer upon his neighbour's distns.ses. The lesfrietions and 
 mcihods that govern commercial loanings and borrowings to- 
 day are comparatively modern, and although Bacon appreciated 
 ilie industrial necessity of ' usury', he is here working his way 
 but slowly toward a sound economic basis therefor. 
 142:21. usury. Lending money at interest. 
 142 : 2;}. tithe. Or tenth part, set apart by the Mosaic code 
 as each man's re^s.mable offering to God. Ten per cent, was 
 the legal rate of interest under Henry VIII and Elizabeth. 
 During Victoria's reign the law ceased to take cognizance of 
 rates." In the United States the legal rate varies from five per 
 cent., in Illinois, Louisiana, and Michigan, to ten per cent, in 
 Idaho and Montana, but a number of states allow any rate 
 specifically agreed upon by contract. 
 
 142:24. his plough, etc. Compare Essay XXXIV, page 
 
 126, lines 13-10. 
 
 142 : 25. Virgil. See note on page 102, line 4. 
 
 142: 27. " Ignavum." etc. ' They drive the drones, an idle 
 crowd, from the hives.' tiotryiof, IV, 1, 108. 
 
270 
 
 AOTES 
 
 [Pages 143-145 
 
 143: 2. "In sudore," etc. ' Tti the sweat of thy brow shalt 
 thou cat thy bread.' 
 143 : ;J. " In sudore,"' etc. ' In the sweat of anotlier's brow.' 
 143 :r,. orange-tawny. 1'hp Jew.s ^vere reciuired by law to 
 wear "yeHow bonnets.' judaize. Imitate the usuriuu.s hab- 
 its of the Jews. 
 
 143:7. -concessum.' etc. 'A thing granted because of 
 the hardness of men's hearts.' 
 
 143:11. suspicious, .luestionable. The early banks were 
 not fortunate or iiupular. 
 
 143:12. discovery of men's estates. The examination of 
 men's incomes and soinves of levenue in order to ascertain 
 their relations as lenders or borrowers, and to control those 
 relations. 
 
 143:14. incommodities. inconveniences. 
 
 143:28. vena porta. (Jatevein. See note on page fi?, line 30 
 
 143 : 2o. sit. He settled. 
 
 143:29. customs. Heveiiues through taxation. 
 
 144:8. purchasing. Acquiring landed estates. Compare 
 Chaucer's Prohnftu- to the Caiitevlmri/ Tahs. line :i20: — 
 
 "His pureliijsyng niyghte nat been infect." 
 
 144:11. slug. Hindrance. 
 
 144:20. stand. Cessation. 
 
 144:25. foot. Just .standard. 
 
 144: 2n. gnaw. Compare Bacon's letter to Conway 1028 
 concerning usury: '•. . , how to grind the teeth of it, and 
 yet to make it grind to his Majesty's mill in good sort, without 
 discontent and perturbation." 
 
 144 : 2!>. take pawns without use. Ueceive security without 
 also re(]uiring interest. 
 
 146 : 10. Utopia. The title of a book written by Sir Thomas 
 M<.re and published in 1516. The word 'Utopia' means 
 
1'a(;ks 145-148] 
 
 NOTES 
 
 271 
 
 • Nowhere,' and is applied to an iniaj;inary island upon which 
 ideal social conditions obtain. 
 
 145:11. reglement. Hegulation. 
 
 146:10. tooth of usury. Compare note above oh page 144, 
 line "20. 
 
 145 : 23. will be to seek for. Will be distressed for lack of. 
 
 146 : I. shut itself out to take. Hestrain itself from taking. 
 
 146:11. edge. Make attractive. 
 
 146:2(>. answered. Paid. 
 
 147:5. colour. Make appear as their own ; borrow to lend 
 
 again. 
 147 : 13. declaration. Open recognitioiv conditioning strict 
 
 control. 
 
 XLIl. OF YOUTH AND AGE 
 
 (ICl'J. Eidarged, l(i'-V>) 
 
 147:14. A man. etc. Compare Bacon himself. 
 
 147:2-'). Julius Caesar. See note on page 01, line 10. Sep- 
 timius Severus. See note on page <>. line 2. 
 
 147:26. '• Juventutem." etc. 'He passed a youth full of 
 errors, nay of wild excesses.' 
 
 148:1. And yet, etc. Compare Tennyscm's /» Mnnoriaui, 
 
 Lyric 53: — 
 
 " How nmny a fiithcr have I seen, 
 A sober man. among bis boys, 
 Whose youth was lull of foolish noise, 
 Who wears his manhood liale and green ; 
 
 *• And dare we to this fancy Kive, 
 
 That had the wild oat not been sown, 
 The soil, left barren, searee bail ,i;idvvn 
 The grain by which a man may live ? 
 
 **0r, if we held the doctrine soiuid 
 For life outliving heats of yuth. 
 
 1^ 
 

 272 
 
 NOTES 
 
 [I'.voKS 148-14U 
 
 Y<'t who would preach it as ji truth 
 To thiise that eddy round and round?" 
 
 148:4. Augustus Caesar. See note on page 5, line 24. Cos- 
 mus. S<n' note on pane 1:», line 20. 
 
 148:'>. Gaston de Fois. (Jaston de Foix, due de Nemours 
 (14^0-1512). a son of Marie d'Orlt^ans, sister of Louis XTT. 
 He was slain at Kavenna during a victorious campaign against 
 the Spaniards and Italians. 
 
 148:7. composition. Mixture, as of ' age ' and * heat and 
 vivacity.' 
 
 148 : 12. abuseth them. Fails to grasp and govern " new 
 things" adeciuately, as contrasted with young men, who are 
 " fitter for new in-ojects." 
 
 148 :1<). manage. Management. 
 
 148 : 21. care not to. Inconsiderately ; do not hesitate to. 
 
 148 : 22. at first, rnscasonably ; they do not fit the strength 
 of the remedy to the progress of the disease. 
 
 148:24. unready. Intractable. 
 
 148 : 28. period. Conclusion ; end. 
 
 149:1. both. Old and young. 
 
 149 : 3. succession. The future. 
 
 149:5. extern. External. 
 
 149 : 0. Rabbin. Kabbi ; master. Wright names Abrabanel 
 in his commentary upon Joel. " Your young men," etc. See 
 Joel ii. 28. 
 
 149:12. nearer to God. Compare Henry Vaughan's The 
 
 Be treat : — 
 
 " Happy those early days, when I 
 
 Shiued iu my Aiigel-iu fancy 1 " 
 
 Taomas Hood's I Bememher : — 
 
 " But now 'tis little joy 
 To know I'm farther off from hea m 
 Than when I was a boy." 
 
Vxi.t 149J 
 
 NOTES 
 
 27" 
 
 Byrou^A Youth and Aye : — 
 
 " Oh, iHtuld 1 feel as I have felt, or be what I have been I " 
 
 and Wordsworth's Ode on Intimations of ImmoftitUty : — 
 
 " Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting ; 
 The Soul that rises with us, our life's Star, 
 Hath had elsewhere its setting 
 
 And conietli from afar ; 
 Not in entire forjjet fulness, 
 And not in utter nakedness, 
 But trailinj; cloii.ds of glory »lo we come 
 
 From God, who is our home; 
 Heaven lies al)out us in our infaiicy ! 
 Shades of the prison-house liegin to close 
 
 I 'pen the growing H*»y, 
 But he beholds the light, and wlience it flowi, 
 
 He sees it in his joy ; 
 " Youth, who daily fartiier from the east 
 Must travel, still is Nature's priest, 
 And by the vision splendid 
 Is on his way attended ; 
 At length the Man perceives it die away, 
 And fade into the light of common day." 
 
 149 : 20. Hermogenes. Ho lived in the second half of the 
 second century, a famous Greek rhetorician, son of Calippus of 
 I'arsus. 
 
 149:26. Tally. Cicero. See note on page 57, line 11. 
 Hortensius Quintus Hort:nsius (b.c. 114—")t») was an eminent 
 Roman orator, a conten\porary of Cicero. ''Idem manebat,^' 
 etc. 'He remained the same, though so to remain was un- 
 becoming.* 
 
 149 : 30. Scipio Africanus. Publius Cornelius Scipio Afri- 
 canus Major (h.c. 2:54-18.3) was a great Koman general, whose 
 defeat of Hannibal at Zama, in 202, made him the dominaut 
 
274 
 
 NOl.ES 
 
 [Paok laM 
 
 ligiire ill Kon.o. lie bfonme a popular hero and was createil 
 ct'iisor and ctmsul. Losiiii? favour, on account of the niachiiiu- 
 tionsof his iMU'iiiits. hi' retired proudly anil silently to Litornuni, 
 where he died. Livy. See note on page 141, line 1. "Ul- 
 tima," etc. ' His end did not harmonize with his beginning.' 
 
 '^ 
 
 XLIII. OF BEAUTY 
 (1612. Slightly enlarged, 1625) 
 
 Bacon uses the word ' Beauty' in a very limited sei'se, refer- 
 ring to personal comeliness. There is hardly a huit of that 
 idea which sees in beauty the agent and expression of truth. 
 Contrast Emerson's nuich ampler treatment. 
 
 150 : 1. Virtue. Compare George Herbert's fine lines on 
 Virtue, as attesting its sincerity and simplicity. Compare, also, 
 from Emerson's Essay, Beaut if: " Beauty rests on necessities. 
 The line of beauty is the result of perfect economy." 
 
 160 : T). almost, (ieneially. 
 
 150 : t>. great spirit. llu,ii ideals of life and conduct. 
 
 150 : 10. Augustus Caesar. See note on page o, line 24. 
 
 150:11. Titus Vespasianus. See note oi; page .'>, line 28. 
 Philip le Bel of France. I'hilip IV. (1268-1314), as son of 
 Philip 111., became kin- of France in 1285. On account of his 
 personal beauty he v, as surnamed ' The Fair.' 
 
 150 : 12. Edward IV. of England. Became king in 1461 and 
 died in 148:]. lie, like Thilip, was at once handsome and brave. 
 Alcibiades of Athens. A great Athenian general and political 
 leader (H.r. 450-404). who was noted for his bearity and power. 
 Ismael the Sophy, lie became master of Persia in 1478. 
 
 150 : 15. favour. Feature, colour. Complexion. 
 
 160:21. Apelles. A mistake for Zeuxis, a Greek painter 
 who lived at the close of the tifth century b.c. He applied the 
 
I'ages l.".0-15l] 
 
 NOTES 
 
 27') 
 
 •composite' priiu-iple to one of liis >n..st famous puintingS 
 selecting live virgins. Applies was another (in-tk painter of 
 the time of IMiilip and Alexandt'r. Albert Durer. A (Jernian 
 painter and engraver, 1171-15JS. more. (Jreater. 
 
 150:2ti. would. IMaiinetl to ; dt's'.red to. 
 
 161 ::5. that. Vndcrstand ' such' p'«'i^«'<1'"" 
 
 151:5. the principal part. Compar.- from Emerson on 
 Beauty : '* For tliere are many beautit's ; as, of general nature, 
 of the human face and form, of manners, of brain or method, 
 moral beauty, or beauty of the soul." 
 
 151 : 7. many times. Fretpiently. 
 
 161 : 8. " Pulchrorum," etc. " Beautiful is the autumn of the 
 
 beautiful.' 
 
 161 : 0. but by pardon. Unless his youth be overlooked. 
 151 : 14. light well. Alight upon one worthy of it. 
 
 XLTV. OF DEFORMITY 
 (lfll2. Last sentence slightly eliaiiged, 1(525) 
 
 It is sometimes said tliat in this essay Bacon has drawn the 
 portrait of his cousin, Uobeit Cecil, Earl of Salisbury. The 
 only evidence of this, however, is found in :i letter written by 
 Chamberlain Sir Dudl.-y CarUton, Diot-mber 17, l<U->, shortly 
 after the appearance of the second edition of the Es,-<aiis : " Sir 
 Francis Bacon hath set out new ' Essays,' where, in a chapter on 
 Deformity, the world takes notice that he points out his little 
 cousin to the life." 
 
 151 : 2w "Ubi peccat." etc. See preceding context. But 
 because, etc. The nu'aning is : Because a man's attitude ami 
 character are determined by his own will, even though he has 
 no control of his bodily appearance the effrct arising from 
 the conjunction of planets at his birth may be overcome by 
 
270 
 
 NOTES 
 
 [I'A.iKs l.VJ-15;^. 
 
 the strength of his personal goodness. Compare Shakespeare's 
 Ttcelfth Xi(jht, Act III, sc. 4 : — 
 
 " lu Nature there \i no bleiiiisli hut the uiiiid ; 
 None can be call'd deforiuM but the unkind." 
 
 152 ; 2. sign. Uf evil character. 
 
 158:0. a perpetual spur, etc. Compare ln)m Emenson's 
 es*<ay on Beauty: '-If a man can raise a smull city to be a 
 j,'reat kingdom, can make bread cheap, can irrigat*: dt.-serts, can 
 join ocean.s by canals, can subdue steam can organize victory, 
 can lead the opinions of mankind, can eidarge knowledge, 'tis 
 no matter whether his nose is parallel to his spine, as it ought 
 to be, or whether lie has a nose at all ; whether his legs are 
 straight, or whether his legs are amputated ; his deformities 
 will come to be reckoned ornamental and advantageous on the 
 whole.*' 
 
 152:19. upon the matter. On the whole; taking all into 
 account, wit. Mimi, 
 
 152:24. obnoxious. Servile, officious. Dutiful. 
 
 152 :2o. spials. Spies. Compare Es.say XL VII I, page 160, 
 line 24. Compare, also, Shakespeare's Jlamlet, Act III, Sc. 1 : — 
 
 " Sweet Gertrude, leave us too ; 
 For we have closely .sent for Hamlet hither, 
 That he, as twere by accident, may here 
 AtTront Oi>lielia. 
 
 Her lather and myself, lawful espials, 
 Will so bestow ourselves that, seeing un.«>een, 
 We may of their encounter frankly judge," etc 
 
 162:27. reason. Condition ; rule of life. Still. Always. 
 
 158 : 2. Agesilaus. See note on page 26, line 6. Zanger. 
 He died with grief, a.d. 1558, at the execution of his brother 
 by his father. 
 
 168:3. Solyman. See note on page 66, line 30. JEsop. 
 
r.voE i>j] 
 
 SOTES 
 
 2" 
 
 t 4 
 
 See note on page 41, line 8. Gasca. Pedro de la Gas.a 
 ,1485-1')H7) wan a Spanish lawyer. Ilf was sent to Peru m 
 i:,4r) as President of tlu; Audience, to erush the rebellion of 
 (lunzalo Pi/arvo. He sneceeded, and U'ft Pern quietly in \r>W. 
 153:4. Socrates. One of 'lif nin.st famous of the (Ireek 
 philosophers. He was born air^ut b.c. 470 and died ..i»." 
 
 XLV. OF BUILDING 
 
 (l»i26) 
 
 In this and the succeeding essay Hacon rect^rds some of the 
 results of his owu plans and ohservations, gained as master of 
 the tine estate at Twickenham, given him by Essex, at Gorhain- 
 bnry, and at York House. 
 
 153 : 5. not to look on. That is their use as dwellings nmst 
 tirst be considered, and afterwar.l iheir appearance and decora- 
 tion. Bacon by no means de.spised the latter, as this essay ana 
 the following extract indicate : - There \\ >s never the like num- 
 ber of fair and stately houses as have been built and set up 
 from the ground, since her majesty's Ye\^nr- Obsorotinus on 
 
 163 :«. uniformity. Symmetry and corre^ponaence were 
 over-formal in Klizabethan iuchitecture. 
 
 153:8. houses for beauty only. Built only to be 'looked on 
 
 153 : 10. ill seat. Unfavourable site. 
 
 153 : 14. knap. Knob ; knoll ; little hill. 
 
 153 : 20. ill ways. Bad roads. 
 
 153-21 Momus. A god of the Creeks representing the 
 spirit of censure and fault-finding. .*:sop tells us that Momus 
 derided Athene because she had neglected, in buildmg a house, 
 to provide it with wheels, that it might easily be removed from 
 unpleasant neighbours. 
 
278 
 
 A'fJTKS 
 
 [Packs 154-1,').") 
 
 164:2. commodity. Advantage. The Latin translation has 
 'nulla annmixUtns.'' The sense therefore is, that a 'seat' is 
 •ill ' in so far as it is removed from a naviiiable river ; or, that 
 if it he too close to one it may suffer from the overflowing of 
 the river. 
 
 154 : ."). lurcheth. Swallows ; consumes. 
 
 154:11. sort. 1 'Ian ; arrange. 
 
 154 : i;{. Lucullus. Lucius Lurinius Lucullus. Born about 
 ».«-. 1 HI. he ilicl about .-)7. lie became consul in 74, and there- 
 after defeated .Mithri.lates and Tigranes. He built palatial 
 vdlas at Tii.seuluin and near Neapolis. Pompey. See note on 
 page 82. line 2.!. 
 
 154 ;!o. lightsome. Light. 
 
 154 : 2L Cicero. See note on page 57, line IL 
 
 154 : 27. Vatican. Palae.' of thf pope in K(mie. It contains, 
 so ditfering accounts have it, from 4,422 to 11,000 rooms, halls, 
 etc., and covers an area of 1.151 by 707 feet. It contains also 
 many famous and valuable jiaintings. 
 
 154 :2S. Escurial. Or, Lscorial. A noted building standing 
 tv.-enty-seven miles northwest of Madrid, Spain. It contains a 
 monastery, church, palace, and the mau.soleum of the Spanish 
 .sovereigns, besides a fine library and paintings. It was begmi 
 hy riiilip IL, I-.O:}. and was completed in 1584. Its area is 780 
 by 020 feec. 
 
 156:1. several. Sejiarate. 
 
 155; 2. banquet. Diiiing-hali. 
 
 156 : .'5. Hester. St'e Esther i. 5. 
 
 155:4. triumphs. Sli^ws ; entertainments. See Essav 
 
 155 : 5. returns. Turnings ,)f the house toward the back • 
 hence, sides of the court. 
 155 : 24. a goodly leads. .\ leadel roof, 
 
 166 : 25. statuds interposed, statues placed at regular inter- 
 vals. 
 
!'\(iKS liJ"(-l-')7 j 
 
 XifTKS 
 
 L>79 
 
 155 : 28. newel. " A i)illar of stone or wood, where the steps 
 i. rmiiiati! in «i wimliiig staircase." The column to which the 
 si,ii;il niovenient cont'orm.s. 
 
 155::3(t. point. Appoint. 
 
 156: 'J. shall. Or, as we would .say, ' will.' The student 
 slinuld carefully note the distinctive uses of these two a\ixiliary 
 \, rbs. They may be found .statetl in almost any iiood grammar 
 or rhetoric. An old mnemonic .statemeiU is given below : — 
 
 "In the tirst person simply 'shal!' foretells, 
 I In ' will ' a threat or else a promise dwells; 
 
 'Siiall ' ill th.' second an 1 the tliird doth threat, 
 ' Will ' simply then foretells the future feat." 
 
 156 : 1<». cast into. Contained witnin. on the outside. The 
 l.lir;i>e modiliis ' turret:,.' 
 
 156 : 1<5. side alleys. Paved walks bounding the court. 
 .TOSS. Similar walks bisecting each other, in the .shape of a 
 I TOSS, from each side of a court. 
 
 156:17. the quarters to graze. The four .sections of the 
 cmn thus left to be turfed. 
 
 156 : Jo. chambers of presence. Audience-chambers. 
 156:-''). a double house. Having interior courts. ^See the 
 
 vmcce.ling jdira.se, and see also page 157, line 10. 
 156:"J7. cast. Arrange. 
 157:1. become. Tome. Intensive. A rare use. 
 
 157 : -J. embowed windows, liow- windows. 
 i.57 :21. paved. The paths arouiul and across it only, the 
 
 lemanider being turfed. 
 
 157:24. forfsee. IMan ; provide. 
 
 157 : 2(). antecamera. Ante-clramber. recamera. Rear- 
 or retiring-chamber. 
 
 157 : 2s. upon the ground-story. This refers to the end of 
 
 the inner court. 
 
■i'lr 
 
 280 
 
 NdTKH 
 
 [I'a(;ks l.')7-l(lu 
 
 167 : 29. the third story. « C)n all three sides ' is aiUh'cl in 
 the liatin translation. 
 
 158:8. avoidances. Outlets ; means of escape for the water. 
 168 : 12. same. Same size, as in the Latin. 
 169 : 16. built Surrounded by buildings. 
 
 XLVI. OF GARDENS 
 
 (iG-r.) 
 
 168:22. a garden. The Garden of Eden. See Genesis ii. 
 8-iii. '.'4. 
 
 158 : 2.]. the purest. Compare T. E. Brown's Hues on the 
 beauty and ' godliness » of gardens: 
 
 •' A garden is a lovesume thiuif, God woti 
 Rose plot, 
 Friufjed ikhiI, 
 Fernt'd rrot, 
 Tl'e veriest seljoo] 
 Of pea<e; ami yet the fool 
 Coiitciids that God is not — 
 Not {UhW ill fjardeiis! when tlie eve Is cool? 
 Nay. — but 1 liave a si«;^ii ; 
 Tis very Hure (i«Ml walks in niiii.-." 
 
 — My (t'liiti/i. 
 168 : 27. civility. Civilization. 
 
 159:'.». pine apple trees. Pines. 
 
 169:12. stoved. Kept warm, warm set. !St) phut-d as to 
 derive most benetit from llie sun. 
 160 : 2. ribes. Ked ciinants. 
 160 : 4. satyrian. ( "rchis. 
 160:12. melocotones. A i.eaelt-lilie fruit. 
 180 : 18. ver perpetuum. • Eternal spring.' 
 160: 24. fast. Ueteiitive. 
 
 m 
 
i»A(iES 101-165] 
 
 yOTKS 
 
 281 
 
 161:2. Bartholomew-tide. August 24, the annivei-sary of 
 the massacre of the Huguenots in Paris, 1572. 
 
 161 :o. musk-rose. Let the student examine the beautiful 
 Hower passages in Spenser's lAorii' Qini'iic (Hook Hi. Canto 
 Vl. Stanza 4.")) and Milton's Lyrula.s, noting 1m)\v many tlowers 
 praised by these poets are also mentioned by Haeon. 
 
 161 : ">. bent. A coarse jjliable grass. 
 
 161:17. alleys. Tatlisj walks. From the French a??f'r. 
 
 161 : 1!>. For. As for. 
 162:7. covert. Slultered. 
 162:0. knots. Flower-beds. 
 
 162 : 12. toys. Tritles. Note the humour In the following 
 suggestion. 
 
 162 : lo. hedge. A boundinix ^'ence of shrubs or bushes. 
 162:10. entire. Continuou.s. 
 162 : :tii. slope. Sloping. 
 
 163:4. letting. Hindering. Compare Shakespeare \s //am- 
 IH, Act I, vSc. 4 : — 
 
 " rnhand inc, jicntlemenl 
 By heaven, I'll niak»! a gliost of him that lets me." 
 
 163:11. busy. Involved ; intricate. Sop the next phrase. 
 
 163 : 14. welts. Borders. 
 
 163:22. peifect circles. The 'alleys* are to be tliree. one 
 at tlu' top of each tliuht uf stejis. Kach alley is to wind around 
 the hill, and to be wide enough to accommodate four persons 
 walking abreiWt. 
 
 163 : 24. chimneys. Fireplaces. 
 
 163 : :'<). receipt, h't'ct piade. 
 
 164 : 22 equality of bores. Pipes corresponding In capacity 
 to tlu' feedinu;-i)ipes. 
 
 165 : 7. wild thyme. Note, among many tlower pa»M.ii > in 
 
■' I 
 
 i H. 
 
 
 NOTES 
 
 [Pages lOo-US; 
 
 3 U- 
 
 Shakt'spcaro, a similar tliough shorter catalogue, in A Mid- 
 surnvxr \i(/h(,\'< Drifnit. Act II, Sc. 1: — 
 
 "I know a liaiik wlifreini tlie wild thyme blows, 
 Wh«'rf o.\-li|»s iMiii til'' iioddiiij; violet j^rows; 
 Quite ovriMMiiopied witli lush woodl)iiie, 
 With sweet iim.sk-roses and with eglantine." 
 
 165 ill. pricked, rianted. 
 
 165 : liO. out of course. Shaiielessly ; carelessly. 
 
 165:28. going wet. Walking? in the wet. This is to be 
 avoided by the i;raveHinLi i>f the alley .s. 
 
 166 : 1. would. < >UL,dit to. 
 
 166:4. deceive. I)elf;iu(l ; deprive of their due nourishment. 
 166: 15. rest. liely ; depend. 
 
 166 :J7. platform. I'lan. 
 
 166:2!>. some general lines, 'i'he outlines. 
 
 XLVil. (»F NKGOTIATING 
 
 (b'>!t7. Kidarired, bll'J and l(>'2r>) 
 
 167:7. mediation. Compare Ks.say X.W'II, page 97, line 
 25 to pa.ire <ts. jiu,. 11. 
 
 167:11. danger. A probability. 
 
 187:i;i. a man's face. Comi)are Kssay VI, page 18, lines 
 
 167: 14. tender Delicate. 
 
 167: i>^. disavow Negatively, to clear up inisappreheii- 
 sioMs. e.xpound 1 'siiivdy, to jmsh home his argument. 
 
 167: I'M. plainer sort. Compare Kssay XLIV, page 152, 
 liM.s -Jl-^T. 
 
 167 : 2-2. success Hesiilt. 
 
 167 : -4. will help \N'iil i;loss over any unitleasant news, in 
 order to ingratiate tliemselvcH with their employer. 
 
 A 
 
I'ACiKS UJ7-l(>t>J 
 
 yoTKS 
 
 283 
 
 167:*2r». affect. Like. 
 
 168:4. absurd. Dull. See note on page 18, line 15. bear 
 out. Justify. 
 
 168 : 8. prescription. P^inst elaim. 
 
 168:12. men in appetite. ^Un who seek to acquire c to 
 li«' iulvanced. 
 
 168 : U. start. 'V\\M is. which of two men entering into an 
 aiirciini'nt is to perfnnii his part tirst ? The words " .\ man"' 
 and "he " ri-ft-r to the one party to the agreement as opposed 
 to the other. 
 
 168: -21. practice. Diplomatic dealing with men; negc^tia 
 tion. used in a somewhat .sinister sense. Compare Sliake- 
 speare's Jlamlet, Act I\', Sc. 7 : — 
 
 '* You may choose 
 A sword uiibated. and in a pass of practice 
 Kequite him for your latlier." 
 
 168:22. discover. I'licover ; reveal. 
 
 168 : 2r>. work any man. Com])are our colloquial expression. 
 .\ nnin ' worked ' is controlled or directed unconsciously to him- 
 self. 
 
 169:1. to interpret. In interpreting. 
 
 XLVIII. OK FOI.LOWKRS AND FRIKNDS 
 
 (ir.»t7. Kularged, l»il2 and l«)2r') 
 
 This e.ssay is not without autohiographical value. Ihnon 
 was never a hard master, and then- is dctcumentary evidem-e in 
 records and letters for the statement that his servants often 
 took advantage of his liherality. 
 
 169: 7. his train, 'i'lie metaphor refers to the peacock. 
 
 169:10. importune. Inn)ortunate. 
 
 169: 11. challenge. Look for; expect. 
 
't- r 
 
 'JHi 
 
 ytfTHS 
 
 [r.u.hs ioy-171 
 
 f 
 
 169:17. ill intelligence. -Misuiiderstaiulii-gs. 
 
 169:18. gloriOds. N'ainglorious ; boastful. 
 
 169:22. export honour, etc. iKtiaet fn.m his reputation 
 ami txpusc liiiu to tiiv\ . 
 
 169:24. espials. S])\vit. Seo uoto on j)am' 1;"(2, line 2."). 
 
 170: 1. officious, itf. Faiihtul in their rei;iilar la-sks, and a.s 
 free in report in-: to Mieir nni.stt'r as ,,/ iiim. 
 
 170:2. estates. IJank.s ; dc^ree.s. 
 
 170 : (1. civil. Keliuinu; desirable. 
 
 170:7. too much pomp. Compare Kssav .\I\', patre (.7. 
 line.s 12-1."). 
 
 170:'.». apprehenileth to. liiderstand.-. hu.v i,.. 
 170:12. passable. ioU-rable ; (•oninictipjace ; as being the 
 iM'>ic Worldly in the iiiMlTcnsive sense. 
 170: I!, virtuous. Able. 
 
 170: l.**. in favour In niaUers ..f per.soiuil i^nice and pref- 
 erence. 
 
 170 : 2;;. hold out, .!«•. .M;iintain the txali.Ml si;uHt;u-d placed 
 iipiiii liini. 
 
 170:21 one. ("(.inpare Es.say X.W'Il, pa-(! !>1, lines 11, 
 
 f'f SI I/. 
 
 170 : L'f. disreputation. Disrepute. 
 
 170: J'.' them, their, i'he antece.lcnt is 'a man.' Note 
 
 he \:fk )| aure'-nicui . 
 
 171:'. little friendship. Cotnparc ! ssay XX V'H. 
 
 171 : b. comprehend liiclutie. 
 
 XIJX. OF sriTo^? 
 
 (I.V.17. Kidaii;, -. V>iJ *nd Ui'ir,) 
 
 171 : l.'l. embrace suits. Ind. (take u» support the .faitor 
 and t" :tdvancc his interests. 
 
I'xdKS 171-173] 
 
 yifTES 
 
 285 
 
 171 : li». some other mean. Somf per^^on or inrtiu-iice iiinio 
 
 171:-*:'.. entertainment, liitroiliutioii. 
 
 172 : •">. countenance Favour. 
 
 172 : M. depraving. Arciisinu' falsely. Disabling. Drciying. 
 
 172: i:>. referendaries. l{(trr('t>s. 
 
 172:14. distasted. Di.siiiistt-d is iln' s;iui»' wonl. delays. 
 Compare liacMH".- 'suits' for ntlici'. and hi.-- !»:i''' tit; words to 
 Kiilkf (Jrcvill" : '• Fur to b.', ;is 1 t..M ynii. !ik.' cSiild t'oliow- 
 iiij;al)ird, wliii'h wh.'ii he is n.an'.^t t!;-ih away :iutl li<;litflli a 
 little before, and then the chilti al'iir i; a-ain, and so iv iuj'n.i- 
 t II III. I an\ wearv of it." 
 
 172:15. denying. Decliuinir. Note the ,'.\c's.>ive allitera- 
 tion in thif; .senti'tiee, showing the Influence of eui>huisni upon 
 evm Bacon's s(MuewhaT haughty and iliuMiilied style. 
 
 172:1«». success. Uesult, chailenging Ueqniring; ex- 
 pert inu. 
 
 172: \^. gracious. l'niiseworih\ ; d^ .>^ervi<ig of thanks. 
 
 172:1'.*. the first coming, ei. . A .-uilors nreeedence in 
 jioint of tinif ought, not to prf<1.0'vui <■ "iif iu his fi'voiT. 
 
 172;-'i>. his trust. I'hat. is. ihe early .>iiilor's. 
 
 172:-'".. note. ln:>>rnuUioii. 
 
 172: -'1 discovery. l)i.sclo.>ure. The -.n. annig is. that a just 
 man who feels .■onii>eiled to r.'fu.^e anothei'.-. petition will not 
 lak' advantaLM- ..f any infornialioi; given hiui l)y the petitioner. 
 In the lattevVs hurt, but will ><■ act as to be w(<rthy of trust, either 
 liy retaininu a discreet sil 'nif ur by enour.iging tiie petitioner 
 Li' u>" other tneans. 
 
 172 ; "Jo. of a suit, iii I'e till' iibjeii nf a ...nit. 
 
 172 : -'••. voicing. Annoum ing. forwardness. An advanced 
 staire. 
 
 173 : 1. timing. I'ns>ing at tlie oppurtuno nioiuout. 
 173:1. mean, lnttiincdiaiy ; lepresentativc. 
 
286 
 
 NOTES 
 
 [Pages 173-175 
 
 173:0. certain. Fixed ; dofinit.'. general. Over-versatile. 
 
 173-10. " Iniquum," etc. ' Ask for more than is eiiuitable, 
 that you may Jlft efiuity.' 
 
 173 : lo. rise. Incri-ase his demands. 
 
 173 : 15. favour Tliat is, tlie vahio to Iiimself of the suitor's 
 unodwill for the •■ fornicr favour."' 
 
 173:17. letter, ('ommendation ; testimonial. 
 
 173:20. general contriver. Cummon undiscriminatinj; 
 schemers. 
 
 L. OF STUDIES 
 
 (ISW. EiilarRed, l«;r_' and I(i25) 
 
 Among the most admirable .>f the r.s'.s-,///.s in point of balancefl 
 rlirasing and concisely powerful expression. 
 178:22. delight. IVrsonal .satisfaction. 
 173:2.-:. ability. Making able. 
 
 173 : 24. privateness and retiring. Solitude and retreat. 
 173 :2«). expert. Kxpenenccil. 
 
 174:2. plots. There is no .sinister m<aning. Plans, simply. 
 174 : '>. humour. See note on page 22, line 23. 
 174:0. proyning. Pruning. 
 174:10. at large. Generally ; vaguely. 
 174:11. without. Outside : beyond. 
 
 174 : I H. to weigh and consider. Bacon'.-, own constant habit. 
 174:22. curiously. With too great care. 
 
 174:27. flashy. Insipid. Compare Milton's Zyr/V?a.x, lines 
 12.'{, 124 : — 
 
 " And wheji they list, their lean and fla.shy songs 
 (W;tto (ui th.ir Mi jincl pip-'s of wretched stniw." 
 
 174:28. conference. Conversation. 
 175: 1. present. ()\\\< ': ; alert. 
 175:4. witty. Ingenious. 
 
Pages 176-177] 
 
 NOTES 
 
 281 
 
 176: «. »' Abeunt 8^udia," oto. ' Studies translate themselves 
 into character.' From Ovid s U,n>id>'.^, XV, 83. 
 
 175:7. stond. Stand ; hiiulniiue. 
 
 176 : 8. wit. Mind. . 
 
 176: 17. schoolmen See note on page r,8, line 'Jl. cyminl 
 sectores. ' Splitters of cummin-seeds ' (very small seeds). 
 
 176 : 18. beat over. Work quickly «)ver the held of. 
 
 LI. OF FACTION 
 (15gr. A few Hues added, 1012; much expanded. 1026) 
 
 176 : 23. estate. Kealm. 
 
 175 : lJ. respect. Interests ; policy. 
 176:1. general, rublic ; nonpartisan. 
 
 176 -.5. correspondence. Consideration ; adaptedness. 
 
 176 0. Mean, of lov rank, adhere. Slick to a 'faction. 
 176 : t\ which. The antecedent is ' man.' 
 
 176:l*i. passable. Tolerable. 
 
 176 : 13. stiff. Uncompronnsins. 
 
 176: IT. LucuUus. See note on page 154, line 13. 
 
 176: IH. optimates -Aristocrats.' 
 
 176 : lit. Pompey. S. e note on page 82, line 2:'.. Casar. 
 Sec note ■>n page 01, line lU. . 
 
 176 : 22. Antonius. See note on page 31 . line 7. Octavianus 
 Caesar. Augustus. See note on pa-e 5, line 24. Brutus. S-e 
 r.o* m page 01, line 19. . 
 
 176 • •>3 ' Oa^ ius. Longinus Caius Cassius was a conspirator 
 against Julius Caesar, n.c-. 44. He was defeated by Antony at 
 I'.iilii .>i in 42, .<nd s .?w himself. 
 176: -8. seconds Inferiors. 
 .77:4. '<?k& m '^ith. Compare our colloquial *take up 
 
 wi-U.' 
 17'; . i- Delike. Probably. 
 
 am^ 
 
1>88 
 
 
 XOTKS 
 
 [l*A(.i:s 177-17'.» 
 
 177.(1. purchase. Acquisition ; gain. 
 
 177 : 7. lightly, etc-. Easily takes the palm ; wins ailvantuKe 
 177:'.'. casteth. Dtcid.'.s. *" ' 
 
 177 : 1(». even carriage. NVuuaiify ; or, to u.se tl,e .•olioquial 
 Anieriiau tciui, ' inuuwiunpery.' 
 177 . 1 J. trueness to a man's self. Self-coucern ; self-interest. 
 177: lu. suspect. Su.spicious. 
 
 177 • ir,. -Padre commune.'" -Tlu- con.moii tatlier.' 
 177: l.s. Kings. Compart' K*.ay X \ pa-rc -l.}, li„e« 17, .< 
 
 177 : L'.:. " tanquam unus,"' cic. ' As one of us.' 
 
 177: 24. league, .^^ic uutc un page 40, line 22. 
 
 177 : M. prim urn mobile. Stc note on i)age 47, line 4. 
 
 LH. OF CKRKMONTE.S AND RESPECTS 
 
 ' l.".!i7. >>lji{|,tly .Milarsed. 1(512 : fiirtlier, KL'S) 
 
 178:;:. *oil. Appropriatf oninnirntati<m. i>vealin<r bv its 
 own h.ssrr v:.lu.. tl,.' lu^utv ,,; th<' ol-ji-r. o.i.amented more 'fully 
 than belort-. Cuuii-are Shakespeare's I/,naht. Aot V, Sc. 2 : — 
 " I'll be \i.ur (oil, Uertes: in uiiiic ignorance 
 Y..iir skill ..ill. lik.- a star i' the darkest niglit, 
 St irk tii-ry <.!l indeed. ' 
 
 178 : 1_'. vueen Isabella She was born in 14o1, at .Madrigal, 
 
 "•"I '''»-'i ! -M. She was the dau.duer uf John II. of Castile, and 
 
 H-ca.ne (,aeen in 1474, suece- ding, with l\.rdina..d, her brother 
 
 ilonry IV. She marri.-d Ferdin:.nd ..f Aragon in 14«W, and was 
 
 the p:ifn)ues,s n{ Christ-.pjier Columbus, 14W2. 
 
 178 : 2;{. again, 'i reium ; fur their i)art. 
 178:2.-.. formal. Precise; punctilious. 
 
 179 :_' conveying. Implying, l.y means of tone. 
 179 .;. imprinting. Couvineing. 
 
 ■HH 
 
l'A<iKS 179-lH)] 
 
 yoTKS 
 
 289 
 
 179 : 7. keep state. Ueniciiiht r <»iu''s dicnity. 
 179: 11. apply one's self to. Takf an inUirst in. 
 179:1."{. facility. A 1'h» ea.-^y ln>liU'ne.<^s. 
 179.14. stconding. Ai^neinii with ; sui>iH>rtin«. 
 179 : 22. attribute. Insincerity in conipliuient. 
 179:24. respects. Tolitt fnnns of reirard. curious. Careful. 
 179:2'>. Solomon. See Kcil. xi. 4. 
 
 179:30. point device. I'n'ci.so; exact. Colnpare Shake- 
 speare's Hamlet, Acl I, Sc. 2: — 
 
 '• .\ tiiruif like your father, 
 Armed at point, c.xaitly. ( aiKi-iu-, 
 .\pp«ars Iteforc tlifin." 
 
 and Tirplfth Si'jht, Act II, Sc. 5 :— ■• 1 will be point-devise the 
 very man." 
 
 LIII. OK I'KAISE 
 
 (If.li. Knlar^i.'d. l(i-J.l) 
 
 180:3. the common people, r.acnn was not a democrat in 
 M.c < xtrenie .sense. He had not a lii.uli opinion of the intelligence 
 or wisdom of the mas.ses. •• 1 do not love the word piojtley 
 
 180 : 10. speci.s virtutibus similes. ' Appearances resein- 
 bliiic; virtues." 
 
 180: 13. quality. Distinction. 
 
 180:14. Scripture. See Keel. vii. 1. 
 
 180:1">. ••Nomen,'* etc. -A ,uood niiu'.e like unto a sweet 
 ointment.' 
 
 180 : -*o. suspect. Tiling to be suspected. 
 
 180:21. he. The ilatterer. Bacon frequently allows these 
 hinti. 
 
 180 : 22. common attributes. Pleasing phrases which may tit 
 any one. 
 
 u 
 
MICROCOPY RESOIUTION TBT CHART 
 
 (ANSI and ISO TEST CHART No. 2) 
 
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 110 
 
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 3.2 -^ 
 2.0 
 
 I 
 
 1.8 
 
 1.6 
 
 ^ APPLIED IIVMI3E li 
 
 ^^ 1653 East Main Street 
 
 r.S Rochester, New York 14609 USA 
 
 S (^^6) *82 - 0300 - Phone 
 
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 nc 
 
290 
 
 NOTES 
 
 [Pa«;es 181-182 
 
 181 : 2. out of countenance- Ashamed of ; troubled con- 
 cerning. 
 
 181 : :}. perforce. Insistently ; emphatically, spreta con- 
 scientia. ' Despite your own con.science.' 
 
 181 : (». laudando praecipere. ' To teach by praising. ' 
 
 181 : 10. pessimum, etc. ' Those \v!io praise are the worst 
 kind of enemies.' See Tacitus' Agrieola. 4;>. 
 
 181:11. a 'proverb. Compare Theocrktus' hlyUs, IX, 24: 
 '* I shall not raise a blister on your nose, by calling you 
 beautirul." 
 
 181 : 12. push. IMmple. 
 
 181:15. vulgar. Common ; undiscriminating. 
 
 181 : 10. Solomon. See Trov. xxvii. 14. 
 
 181:19. irritate. Quicken ; provoke. 
 
 181:21. decent. Compare Essay XXVII, page 97, line 29, 
 to page 98, line 4. 
 
 181 : 24. magnanimity. Since he raises the office above him- 
 self, the officer. 
 
 181 : 25. theologues. Theologians, schoolmen. See note 
 on page 58, line 21. 
 
 181 : 29. sbirrerie. Italian shirm, bailiff. 
 
 182:1. catch-poles. Hailiffs. 
 
 182:3. St. Paul. See 2 Cor. xi. 10, 2.3; xii. 11 ; Rom. i. 
 13. 
 
 182 : 5. " Magnificabo," etc. ' I will magnify my office.' 
 
 LIV. OF VAIN-GLORY 
 
 (1612. Enlarged, 1(125) 
 
 182:0. prettily. Ntatly. iEsop. See note (m page 41, 
 line 8. 
 
 J82: 9. alone. Proceeds without their jn-rsonal furtherance. 
 
Pages 182-183] 
 
 NOTES 
 
 291 
 
 182 : 10. upon greater meaus. By agents more important 
 
 than themselves. 
 
 Vainglorious ; boastful. 
 
 Boasting ; braggadocliit). 
 
 Effective. Compare Essay XLVIIT, page 
 
 See page 183, 
 
 182 : 12. glorious. 
 
 182 : 13. bravery. 
 
 182 : H). effectual, 
 ion, lines 18-23, 
 
 182 : 17. bruit. Sound ; noise. 
 
 182: l'.>. civil. Ilci'e. as opposed to military, 
 line 8. 
 
 182 : 21. Titus Livius. See note on page 141, line ^ 
 
 182 : 22. Antiochus, Antiochus III. (;».«. 238-187), king of 
 Syria, surnamed " the (Jreat," lie formed a compact with the 
 iEtolians against the Romans, and entered (ireece in n,c. 1«.>2, 
 He was defeated at Thermopyhe, and, after retreating to Asia, 
 was again overcome at Magnesia, and was forced to cede to 
 I?ome all his tenitory in Europe and Asia Minor, ^tolians. 
 A confederacy of several tribes of Central Greece. It persisted 
 from about h.c 323 to 1('»7. 
 
 182 : 23. cross lies. Lies told to each of two or more persons 
 of the other or others. 
 
 ' 182:24. a man. Thoas did so in negotiating the alliance 
 between the .Etolian League and Antiochus. 
 
 183 : 3. interest. Influence. 
 
 183 : 8. military commanders, etc. Compare Essay XXXVI, 
 page 131, lines l'.)-22. 
 
 183:10. glory. Boasting. 
 
 183 : 12. composition. Combination, glorious. See note 
 above on page 182, line 12. 
 
 183 : 10. "Qui de,'" etc. 'Those who write books belittling 
 the pursuit of fame [nt-vertheless] in.scribc their names upo)\ 
 them ' See Cicero's T((seithni<v Dispu'atiinKs. I, I'l. 
 
 183 ; 18. Socrites, Si'c note on i>age 103, line 4. Aristotle. 
 A great (Jreek philosopher, n.c. 3S4-322, pupil of Plato and 
 
292 
 
 NOTES 
 
 [Pages 18;3-185 
 
 founder of the Peripatetic school. His influence upon science 
 and philosopliy has been extraordinary. Galen. A Greek 
 physician and pliilosopher, botn about a.d. 130. 
 
 183:21. beholding. Beholden ; indebted. " Virtue " is the 
 antecedent of botii "it" and "his."' The meanincf is, that 
 human natury is not on the alert to praise virtue, and may well 
 be assisted or stimulated by the sugp:estions of virtue itself. 
 183 : 22. Cicero. See note on pajjje .")7, line 11. 
 183 : 2;}. Seneca. Sei- note on pajie 5, line 16. Plinius 
 Secundus. Piiny the Younger, Cains I'linius Cajcilius Secun- 
 dus, A.D. 02-113. A Roman author and publicist. His Epistles 
 remain extant. They contain several instances of personal 
 vanity, from which neither Cicero nor Seneca was wholly free. 
 183:25. seelings. Ceilings; originally, any 'sealed' or 
 covered surface in the boundaries of a room. 
 
 183 : 28. Tacitus. See note on page 5, line 27. 
 
 183:29. " Omnium," etc. 'In all that he did or said he 
 had the art of showing him.self to the best advantage.' From 
 Tacitus' Histories, II, 80. 
 
 184 : 3. cessions. C icessions. 
 184 : 0. wittily. Aptly ; cleverly. 
 
 184 : 16. glorious. See note above on page 182, line 12. 
 
 LV. OF HONOUR AND REPUTATION 
 
 (1597. Omitted, 1G12, though appearing in the Ms. Enlarged, l(J'_'r>) 
 
 184:19. without disadvantage. That is, not as sought, 
 neither as obscured. 
 
 184:20. affect. Aim at. 
 
 185 : 4. temper. Mix. 
 
 185 : .-). some one, etc. Note the ambiguity of the sentence. 
 The meaning is, that one action or set of actions may please 
 
I 'ages IbO-lbOJ 
 
 xori:s 
 
 
 one groui), other actions another fironp. Hy thus ' teniperin-' 
 his actions a man may eventually ••content every faction ur 
 combination of people.'" 
 
 185 : 7. husband. Economist. 
 
 185 : 11. broken upon another. This anticipates the succeed- 
 ing simile, "like diamonds cut with faciis." Honour made 
 sharp and brilliant at the expensi' of one's rival or competitor. 
 
 186:10. "Omnis fama,"' etc. 'All fame proceeds from 
 servants.' 
 
 185 : 1!^. declaring. Makins:!; clear or plain. 
 
 185 : 2-2. the true marshalling. The ordered arran-iement. 
 
 186:2'). Romulus. The traditional founder of Uome. Cyrus. 
 Cyrus the (ireat. founder of the I'ersiaa Empire. Died li.c. o2'.>. 
 Csesar. See note on page 01. line li>. 
 
 185:20. Ottoman. Ottoman I., horn a.i>. 1250. foui\der of 
 the prcseixt Turkish dynasty. Ismael. Se»" note on page loO, 
 
 line 12. 
 
 185 : 30. Lycurgus. Lived probably in the ninth century 
 B.C. He is the traditional lawgiver of Sparta. Solon. See 
 note on page 102, line 25. Justinian. Flavins Anicius Justini- 
 anus. Byzantine emperor, 527-505. He caused the compila- 
 tion of the Justinian Code, a body of Konu\n law. Eadgar. 
 .)44_()75. He became king of England in 058. ruling the wh..le 
 people, though Dunstan, primate of (Canterbury, exercised the 
 real power. Green tells us that Cimt. who becanu' king in 
 1014, "fell back on ' Eadgar's Law,' on the old constitution of 
 the realm, for his ride of gcvernment." 
 
 18fi:l. Alphonsus of Castile. Alfonso, or Alphotiso, X.. 
 1221-1284, surnamed "the Wise." His fame depends chiefly 
 upon his authorship of the code h's Sirtr I'.'fidas, the fouiida- 
 tion of Spanish jurisprudence. Siete Partidas. Liuiully, The 
 Seven Tarts, a digest of the laws ..f Sj-ain. See preceding note. 
 186:2. liberatores. Liberators, salvatores. Soviours. 
 
294 
 
 XOTSS 
 
 [Page I8fl 
 
 
 186 : 3. compound. Settle ; put an end to. 
 186 : 5. Augustus Caesar. See note on page o, line 24. Ves- 
 pasianus. See note on page o, line 28. 
 
 186:0. Aurelianus. Roman emperor, A.r». 270-275. He 
 pacilicd several rebellious tribes. Theodoricus. A famous king 
 of the Kast Goths. He invaded Italy in 4»8, and thrice de- 
 feated Odoacer, its oppressor. He then became joint ruler of 
 Italy with Odoacer, whom he slew in 493, continuing to govern 
 Italy with wisdom. Henry the Seventh. Put an end to the 
 Wars of the Ro.ses. 
 
 186 : 7. Henry the Fourth. He ended the struggle between 
 Papists and Protestants in France, signing the /Cdict of Nantes, 
 1508. See note on page 14, line .'5. 
 
 186:8. propagatores. 'Extenders.' propugnatores imperii 
 * Defenders of empire.' 
 186 : 11. patres patriae. ' Fathers of their country. » 
 186:10. participes curarum. ' Partnei:, in cares.' See Essay 
 XXVII, page 90, line 28, to page 91, line 3. 
 
 186 : 21. favourites. Used invidiously, as opposed to partici- 
 pes curarum. 
 186 : 22. scantling. Bound ; limit. 
 186 : 24. neffotiis pares. ' Men capable in affairs.' 
 186 : 29. Regulus. Marcus Atilius Hcgulus, a Roman gen- 
 eral, was captured by the Carthaginians during the first Punic 
 w.tr, and wa.s sent to Rome to offer terms of peace to his coun- 
 trymen. He advised the Sen.ite, however, to reject these terms, 
 and, on his return to Carthage, was executed, about b.c. 250. 
 
 186 : 30. Decii. Publius Decius bravely challenged death in 
 battle H.c. 340. His son, of the same name, imitated his ex- 
 ample B.C. 295. 
 
I'AGKS 187-188] 
 
 NOTES 
 
 295 
 
 LVI. OF JUDICATl'RE 
 (IGl'J. n«'viso<l and eiilarj^t'd, Ki'ia) 
 
 The student will recall Bacon's career as Lord Ciiancellor ; 
 the spirit of equity and loyalty with which lie addressed him- 
 self to his task ; his desire to servo the kin.sj; without compromis- 
 ing the interests of justice ; his close relations with Huckin.ciham ; 
 and, finally, the circumstances which led to his fall. See the 
 Introduction. 
 
 187 : 6. stick. Hesitate, pronounce. To proclaim authori- 
 tatively. 
 
 187 : 7. show. Pretext. 
 
 187 : 9. plausible. Provoking uiuieserved applause ; popular. 
 
 187 : 10. advised. Careful ; deliberate. 
 
 187:12. the law. See Deut. xxvii. 17. 
 
 187 : 13. mere-stone. Boundary stone. 
 
 187:14. capital. Chief. 
 
 187 : 18. Solomon. See Frov. xxv. 20. 
 
 187 : 11). " Fons,*' etc. " As a troubled fountain, and a cor- 
 rupted spring, so is a righteous man that giveth way before the 
 wicked." {Remsed Version.) 
 
 187 : 2(i. Scripture. See Amos v. 7. 
 
 188 : H, useth. Is accustomed. C(unpare Isa. 1. 4. 
 188:11. great. That is, much greater than the other side 
 
 possesses. 
 
 188: 12. to make. 'In making.' 
 
 188:14. "Qui fortiter," etc. See Prov. xxx. 38: "The 
 wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood." (Jiensed Ver- 
 sion.) *' He that violently bhnveth his nose, bringeth out 
 blood." {Vnlgate.) 
 
 188:23. Scripture. See Psalms xi. 0. " Pluet,"' etc. 'He 
 shall rain snares upon them [the wicked].' 
 
296 
 
 NOTES 
 
 [Pages 188-190 
 
 188 : 2(». Of long. From times long past. 
 
 188 : 'J8. " Judicis," etc. ' It is a judge's duty [to consider] 
 not only faits, but liicumstances.' 
 
 189:1. to remember mercy. Comitare Psalms ci. 1 ; Micah 
 vi. 8 ; Spenser's Fiorii' Qiicetip, Book V, Canto 10, Stanzas 1 
 and 2 ; Hhakespeans's Merchant of Venice, Act IV", Sc. 1 : — 
 
 "The qualify of mercy is not strained," etc. 
 
 189:7. " well-tuned cymbal." Conipai •' cl. 5, 
 
 189:8. first to find. To anticipate by h... .utterance. 
 
 189 : 9. conceit. Wit ; perception. 
 
 189 : 11. prevent. In the original meaning of ' anticipate.' 
 189 : 14. impertinency. Irrelevancy. 
 
 189 : 18. glory. \'aiu-glory ; vanity, willingness. Eager- 
 ness. 
 189 : 19. to hear. In hearing. 
 
 189 . 2o. 'represseth," etc. See James iv, 6; 1 Peter v. 5. 
 189 : 20. favourites. Referring to legal advocates. 
 
 190 : 1. obtaineth not. Does not win. 
 190 : 2. conceit. Good opinion. All three pronouns refer to 
 
 2. conceit, 
 the client. 
 190 : 4. civil. Temperate ; used almost in the modem sense. 
 7. chop with. Take issue with ; pass words. 
 
 190 
 190 
 190 
 190: 
 
 14. ministers. Attendants. 
 lo. foot-pace. Dais. 
 
 10. purprise. Enclosure. The meaning is, that all 
 "the place of justice" should be guarded against irreverence 
 or contamination. 
 190 : 18. Scripture. See Matt. vii. 16. 
 190:21. catching and polling. Avaricious and thievish. 
 See note on page 182. line 1. Compare also page 191, line 4. 
 
 190:27. amici curiae. 'Friends of the court.' parasiti 
 curiae. ' Parasites of the court.' 
 
I'a<;es 11)0-19:;] 
 
 XOTES 
 
 'J\)'i 
 
 190 : "JS. puf&ng a court up. I'robably a reference to Cokt', 
 Bacon's gifat rival, who more than once pressed the question 
 of jurisdiction. 
 
 191 : 4. poller. Stripper. The word ' poll ' meant orii^inally 
 ' to shear the hair from the head or poll.' See page IIM), line lil. 
 
 191 : <->. understanding. Versed. 
 
 191 : lo. twelve tables. A short dij^est '^f Roman law. ».»-. 
 451-450. "Salus,"etc. 'The welfare of the people is the 
 first law.' Found, however, in Cicero's iJc /.eiii'u.s. Ill, .'5, b. 
 
 192: 12. the Apostle. St. I'aul. See 1 Tim. i. H. 
 
 192:13. ''Nos scimus,"" etc. 'We know that the law is 
 good, if a mail use it lawfully.' {litvixtd V^eraiou.) 
 
 I « 
 
 I 
 
 LVII. OF ANGEH 
 
 (1025) 
 
 Bacon was not much given to ani;er — he schooled himself too 
 prudently for that — but he seems to have had full experience of 
 it in others, as Elizibeth, James, Buckingham, Coke. He 
 refers here to personal anger only, excited by personal wrongs. 
 The last paragraph expresses the worldly wisdom of a man who 
 had had occasion for testing his own precepts. The student 
 should read the letter of complaint sent by Bacon to Cecil, 
 April 20, 1601, concerning "the abuse I received of Mr. Attor- 
 ney-General, publicly in the Exchequer, the first day of term." 
 
 192: 15. bravery Vain whim or effort. 
 
 192 : 10. Stoics. See note on page 0, line 4. oracles. See 
 Eph. iv. 26. 
 
 192 : 1 8. race. Course. 
 
 192:20. attempered. Controlled. 
 
 193 : 3. Seneca. See note on page 5, line 16. In the De Ira, 
 I, 1. ruin Literally, a falling. 
 
298 
 
 IfoTES 
 
 [Paues 19:]-H»:. 
 
 193:5. Scripture. See Luke xxi. 10. 
 
 ^93: H. " Animasque," vtv. ' And spind their lives in [giv- 
 ing] ji wound.' iMoiu N'ergil's (fconjirn, IV, 2;}8. 
 
 193:24. construction. Intcrpntatidn. 
 
 193:20. circumstances of contempt, fompaie Malvolit.'.s 
 juiger agaiii.sJ, Maria in Siial<e.sp('an.'s Titclfth Xujht, Act II, 
 So. ;{: «' Mi.stres.s Mary, if yen prized my lady's favour at any- 
 thing more than eontempt, you would not give nutans for this 
 uncivil rule ; .she sliall know of it. by thi.s hand." 
 
 194:1. the touch. I'he tainting. 
 
 194:;'.. Consalvo. (Jon/alo, Hernandez de Cordova, 145:}- 
 1515. He brought about the capture of Granada, and drove 
 the French from Xai)lfs. 
 
 194 : 1. '• telam,'" etc. * Honour of a stronger web.* 
 
 194: HI. contain. Keep. 
 
 194: i;5. aculeate. Po'nted ; provoking. 
 
 194:14. proper. Stingingly tit. communia maledicta. 
 ' Connnon insults.' 
 
 194:28. sever. Keep him from imputing the injury to i^e 
 motive of contempt. 
 
 LVIII. OF VICISSITUDE OF THINGS 
 
 (loiin) 
 
 195: 1. Solomon. See Feci, i. 0. 
 
 195:2. Plato. See note on page 55. line 20. Plato held 
 Jiat the mind retains ideas carried over from a previous exist- 
 ence. 
 
 195 : 4. sentence. Opinion. 
 
 195:5. Lethe. A rivt-r t)f Hades, the waters of wiiich pro- 
 chicfd in the person drinking them insensibility to the past. 
 195: 11. motion. The movement of the lieavens around the 
 
I'AGKH 105-11)0] 
 
 XOTKS 
 
 200 
 
 earth. Bacon was not a CoiK-rniciMi, as the Kssays fiv(iuently 
 
 ti'stifv. 
 
 195:1:?. the matter. Matter, simply, a perpetual flux. 
 Compare the phih.snphy of Ilerarlitus (.>.ee note on pa-e •.••., 
 line 7), who hehl that all thinijs are in a eonslaut tlux ot be- 
 coming and passin- away, that lire is the worl.l--roun.l, an.l 
 that all these ehantres tend to the establishment of a vast har- 
 mony. Compare also the modern atomic theory of the physi- 
 cist. 
 195: U. stay. «tand.~,iill. 
 195:17. merely. I'tterly; completely. 
 195: IH. Phaeton's car. rhaeton, .,.• Vh .. thon. nv 's a ~ 
 Oi Helios — the sun g..d-and I'rote. and was -iveii p. luussi . 
 by his father to drive the chariot of the Sun for one day I ^f 
 result was about to prove disastrous for heaven and earth, w' 
 Jupiter hurled a ihunderbolt at l'hae;on and destroycil hun. 
 195: 19. Elias. See 1 Kind's xvii. IH. 
 195:20. particular. Partial. 
 
 195:27. Oblivion, etc. The result is, that oblivion of th. 
 past is ju.st as complete as if there had been no surviv.u-s. 
 
 196:0. the Egyptian priest. A reference to the story lu 
 Plato's Tima'us. Solon. See note on pa-e 102. line 25. 
 
 196:7. Atlantis. A mythical island referred to by I'lato an<l 
 others, suppo.sed to have been situated off the coast of north 
 west Africa, and to have disappeared in a cataclysm. 
 196: 10. Machiavel. See note on pair*' IH. hiio 24. 
 196:18. Gregory the Great. Hon- 540, became pope oOO. 
 died 604. He is said, on .loixbtful authority, to have attacked 
 and souiiht to destroy the monuments of antiquity. 
 196:22. Sabinian. Gresory's successor, (504. 
 196:24. superior globe. Starry heavens. 
 196 : 25. Plato's great year. The period mentioned by Plato 
 in the Tumvns as accomplished when all the stars and planets, 
 
300 
 
 NOTES 
 
 ['•ages 19t;-lJ>« 
 
 having completed their orbits, return to tlieir original starting', 
 points. '^ 
 
 196:27. lilce. The same as those whose lives in the last 
 Great Year individually correspond with those of their suc- 
 cessors, fume, liifounded opinion ; whim. Compare Bn.wu- 
 injj's An Epistle Contaiubiy the Strange Medical Experience of 
 Karshiah, the Arab Physician, lines 1()2-1U(5 :-— 
 
 •• • Such oases are (liurnal,' thou wilt cry. 
 Not so this fijjnient ! — not, that siu-li a fume, 
 Instead of siviiij; way to time mil health, 
 Should eat itself into the life of lilV, 
 As safTroii tingeth tiesh, blood, bones and all ! " 
 
 196 : 20. accurate. Nice ; exact. 
 197 : 0. version. Direction. 
 197:8. toy. Trifle. 
 
 197:9. given over. Despised; ignored, waited upon. 
 Considered. 
 197:12. suit. Succession. 
 
 197 : 21. orbs. Motives. A metaphor from Bacon's astron- 
 omy. 
 
 197:22. «'built,"etc See Matt. xvi. 18. 
 198:1. doubt. Fear. Note several uses of the word in 
 Hamlet's ' love-letter ' to Ophelia : — 
 
 "Doubt thou the sturs are fire, 
 Doubt that the sun doth move; 
 Doubt truth to l>e a liar, 
 But never doubt I love." 
 
 See note on page 10, line 27. 
 
 Civil government. Compare line 12 
 
 198:4. Mahomet. 
 198 : 7. authority. 
 
 below. 
 
 198 : 11. Arians. .\rins was excommunicated as a heretic at 
 Alexandria in 321, and his wnws were condemned by the Couii- 
 
l'A«!t« lOb-201] 
 
 A'O / r:s 
 
 :m 
 
 cil of Xicii'a in T/Jr). He hdtl that the Sou's natuvp is n<>t iden- 
 tical with tlif F llu-v's, Imt ivseiiiblis il ami is subordinaif l<» 
 it. Arminians. Ainiiuius — Dr Jacob Ilarnit'iisen, ir)«>(>-ir)O0 — 
 was a famous Dutcli tlifoloi;ian. His ft.llowvrs divw up five 
 articlrs of " Kciuoiistraucf," stating their points of lepartuie 
 from tlio Calviiiistic doctrines. Notably, tlu'y insisted upon 
 the freedom of tii" will a.s opp(>^L'd to predestination. 
 
 198:12. wi^s. minds. 
 
 198 : 2;». CO ound. Settle. 
 
 19t.''. Gal GraBcia. (ialatia was invaded b.c. 278. Rome 
 was iiivadc.; by the tJauls about n.c. :>'.>(). 
 
 199 :"V Almaigne. (Jermany. Charles the Great. Or, 
 ''harlc-n.r^ne, 742 (?)-814, king of the Franks and emperor of 
 the Ronuins. He greatly extended his dominions through cou- 
 (piest. 
 
 200 : 11. go on. Continue. 
 
 9.(Ki:\2. sustentation. Sustenance ; support. 
 200 : 24. certain, etc. But there is no authority for this as- 
 sertion, and Bacon is probably relying upon a fable of his day. 
 200 : oO. fetching, etc. Having a long range ; carrying far. 
 201:4. arietations. Attacks with batteriug-rams. Compare 
 
 the I/.au arics. 
 
 Appointing. 
 Forces ; troops. 
 
 (Jiven order; appropriately restricted. 
 Kxhausted. 
 201 : 27. turning wheels, etc. It is interesting to notice that 
 Spenser's Foerh- Quefue concludes with a fragment — Of Muta- 
 5<7<7Je — dealing with the same theme as this last full essay of 
 Baco.i's. 
 201 : 2i' philology. Traditional accounta. 
 
 201 : 10. pointing. 
 
 201 : 1:5. battles. 
 
 201 : 25. reduced. 
 
 201:26. exhaust. 
 
INDEX TO NOTES 
 
 Abbott, E. A., quoted, 224, 228, advoutresses, 231. 
 
 2()7. 
 Aheunt atudia, etc., 287. 
 abiljiy, 286. 
 abridgment of a monarchy, 
 
 2rjO. 
 absurd, 2(MK 
 abuseth them, 272. 
 Academicians, 205. 
 accident, 252. 
 according to art, 252. 
 accurate, 300. 
 action , 252. 
 Actiura, 250. 
 actor, 240. 
 aculeate, 298. 
 adamant, 229. 
 
 Addison, Joseph, quoted, 253. 
 AOeste, etc., 205. 
 adliere, 287. 
 admirable, 244. 
 a double house, 279. 
 Adrian, 213. 
 adust, 202. 
 Advancement of Learnhiff, The, 
 
 cited, 212 ; quoted, 203, 210, 
 
 2.')7, 2(50. 
 advancements, 258. 
 advantage, 249. 
 Adversity, Of, 207. 
 ttdvised, 229. 
 
 .Esop. 218. 
 .Kiolians, 291. 
 alTcct. 2()5. 
 Affected, 239. 
 affecting, 203. 
 affecting of, 218. 
 after as. 266. 
 again, 288. 
 .\gamemnon, 206. 
 Agesilaus, 213. 
 agitation, 2M. 
 agreeably, 254. 
 Agrippa, 243. 
 Agrippiiia, 230. 
 Alcibiades of Athens, 274. 
 Alcoran, 224. 
 Alexander the Great, 230. 
 a little idol, 215. 
 alleys, 281. 
 allow, 22«». 
 Almaigne, 301. 
 almost, 274. 
 aloft, 2t>4. 
 alone, 2*)0. 
 
 Alphonsus of Castile, 293i 
 Alyattes, 247. 
 Anihition, Of, 201. 
 Amici curix, 2*.K). 
 Anabaptists, 206. 
 Anger, Of, 297. 
 
 303 
 
304 
 
 IM)KX TO NOTES 
 
 Animasqiie, etc., 2().H. 
 
 another liimself, li4."». 
 
 Ansel inus, 'I'-Vl. 
 
 jiiitecainera, -7!». 
 
 aiitheni-wise, _'fi4. 
 
 anti-masques, L'()4. 
 
 Antiochus III., 291. 
 
 antiques, 2(>4. 
 
 Antouius, Marcus, 214. 
 
 any case tliat deserveth pity, 253. 
 
 Apelles, 274. 
 
 Apollo, 225. 
 
 Apollonius, 2.S1. 
 
 apparent, 2<)7. 
 
 Appius Claudius, 214. 
 
 apposed, 2157. 
 
 approhendeth to, 284. 
 
 approaches, 231. 
 
 Arhela, 247. 
 
 Ares, 225. 
 
 argument, 247. 
 
 Argus, 236. 
 
 Arians, 300. 
 
 arietations, 301. 
 
 Aristander, 259. 
 
 Aristophani-s cited, 260. 
 
 Aristotle, 205, 224, 291. 
 
 Arius, o(X). 
 
 Armiiiians. 1301 . 
 
 Arncld, Matthew, cited, 242. 
 
 artificial, 223. 
 
 as he will, 250. 
 
 assay, 221. 
 
 At doinus, etc., 269. 
 
 at tirst, 272. 
 
 Ada ism, Of, 224. 
 
 Atlanticus, 261. 
 
 Atlantis, 299. 
 
 at large, 286. 
 
 Atque is, etc., 223. 
 
 attempered, 2it7. 
 attempers, 219. 
 Atticus, 250. 
 attribute, 289. 
 Augustine, 203. 
 Aureliauus, 294. 
 authority, 300. 
 aversation, 241. 
 avoidances, 280. 
 a wise father, 207. 
 
 Bacon, his experience and char- 
 acter ;ts revealed in the E-ssaj/s, 
 205, 207, 2()8, 20il, 210, 213, 214, 
 215, 21(5, 217, 219, 220, 224. 22S, 
 229, 231, 233, 2.3.5, J37, 241, 245, 
 246, 252, 253, 254, 25.5, 261, 2t>2. 
 263, 265, 267, 269, 271, 274, 275, 
 277, 28;5, 285, 28<;, 289, 295, 297, 
 300 ; his style and syntax. 203, 
 209, 210, 211, 214, 215, 220, 221, 
 222, 225, 2:;i, 232, 233, 2;U, 239, 
 241, 245, 24(i, 247, 248, 249, 252, 
 25;*,, 2.54, 2.->5, 25<i, 257, 258, 2(>4, 
 2(r), 266, 271, 272, 275, 279, 281, 
 283, 284. 285, 2H6, 287, 289, 291, 
 292, 293, 296. 
 
 Bajazct, 232. 
 
 balance himself, 217. 
 
 bancpiet, 278. 
 
 Barnham, Alice, 210. 
 
 barriers, 2<54. 
 
 Bartholomew-tide, 281. 
 
 bear it, 221. 
 
 bear out, 283. 
 
 beat over. 287. 
 
 Beauty, Of, 274. 
 
 beaver, 2(>0. 
 
 because, 211. 
 
 Becket, Thomas, 232. 
 
INDEX TO NOTES 
 
 305 
 
 become. 279. 
 
 behuldiug, 214. 
 
 belike, 287. 
 
 bent, 281. 
 
 Bernard, St., 220. 
 
 bias, 238. 
 
 BioD, 225. 
 
 births, 239. 
 
 blacks, 204. 
 
 blanch, 2;i5. 
 
 Bod ley. Sir Thomas, 237. 
 
 lioUJness, Of, 217. 
 
 lioiia reruni, etc., 208. 
 
 both coustitutions, 248. 
 
 Brasidas, 260. 
 
 brave (verb), 223; (adjective), 
 
 bravery, 21G. 
 
 Briareiis, 222. 
 
 bribery, 216. 
 
 broke, 257. 
 
 broken music, 2<>4. 
 
 Brown, T. E., quoted, 280. 
 
 Browning, Robert, cited, 'l'ir>; 
 
 quoted, 203, 22r»-22(>, 2;W, ',M). 
 bruit, 291. 
 
 Brutus, Decinuis, 243. 
 Brutus, M. .Junius, 243. 
 Buckinjjham, 297. 
 UidhJinr/. Of, 277. 
 Bunyan, John, (•ite<l, 222. 
 Burrhus, 2.">7. 
 Iturses, 229. 
 Busbechius. 218. 
 busy, 2'.).S, 281. 
 but ' / pardon, 275. 
 buzzes, 253. 
 by catches. 2(54. 
 Byron, (^leorge Gordon, quoted. 
 
 273. 
 
 cabinet councils, 2'M. 
 
 C/R'sar, Augustus, 204. 
 
 Cresar, .lulius, 243. 
 
 Ciesareoi portas, etc., 21 
 
 calendars, 220. 
 
 (Jalpurnia, 243. 
 
 can, 21(5. 
 
 Canaries, 257. 
 
 (■aiitons, 219. 
 
 capital, 21>5. 
 
 <"aracalla, 2.'?0. 
 
 card. 229. 
 
 Curieton, Sir Dudley, 275. 
 
 Carnegie. Andrew, 268. 
 
 Cassius. 287. 
 
 east , 24.".. 
 
 ciisteth, 288. 
 
 cat, 237. 
 
 i-atchinfj and polling, 296. 
 
 catch-poles, 290. 
 
 Cato Major, 2H7. 
 
 Cecil, Sir Robert, 237, 276. 
 
 Celsus, 252. 
 
 censure, 247. 
 
 Circhionit'.'i and Jiespecta, Of, 
 
 288. 
 certain, 255. 
 certify, 255. 
 ccNsions, 2^>2. 
 challenge. 28.3. 
 chambers of presence, 279. 
 cluipnien, 257. 
 chargeable, 250. 
 Charlemagne, 301. 
 CInirles V, 230. 
 Charles the Great, 301. 
 Charles the Hardy, 243. 
 Chaucer, Geo*^ -y. «»ted, 225; 
 
 (iuoted.237, :;.">2, 270. 
 check, 215. 
 
306 
 
 INDEX TO XOTES 
 
 ^i .1 
 
 fhess, 218. 
 
 Chesterton, G. K., quoted, 212. 
 
 chiinneys, 'JSl. 
 
 chii'piii^s or pultuns, 2(14. 
 
 clu>i» with, '-'".HI. 
 
 ("ict-ro, M. Tullhis, '."'T. 
 
 ciremnstanct's, 2'A. 
 
 citizen t>f the world, 219. 
 
 civil, 2'_'7, 284, 2%. 
 
 civility, 28(). 
 
 Cleon, 2(K). 
 
 doth of Arras. 244. 
 
 Ciim.i-h, X. H., cited, 225. 
 
 coemption, 2r»8. 
 
 t'offlta, etc., 2()4. 
 
 Coke, Sir Edward, 2;»7. 
 
 ctdoiiies, 248. 
 
 colour (verb), 271; (lumu), 274. 
 
 coiuforteth, 2(57- 
 
 CoMiiueiis, 243. 
 
 con)niiserable, 2.')6. 
 
 coniniodity, 278. 
 
 Coniniodns, 2:50. 
 
 coniiiioi) attributes, 289. 
 
 conuuon parents, 221. 
 
 common people, 28!>. 
 
 commonplaces and themes, 25;?. 
 
 i'OhiiiiUiiia mulpilk'tn, 2'.lS. 
 
 composition, 2r»2, 272. 
 
 composition and temperature, 
 
 2()«>. 
 compound, 214. 
 comprehend, 284. 
 conceit, 2r>(;, 29(). 
 coucaxsum, etc., 270. 
 confeder.ate.s, 249. 
 conference, 28(5. 
 Contf(tta, etc., 220. 
 Consalvo, 298. 
 conscience, 210. 
 
 (^(ntsiUnin, etc., 2r»0. 
 
 consistories, 229, 
 
 Constantinus the Great, 231 
 
 construction, 298. 
 
 contain, 21>8. 
 
 contemplative, 225. 
 
 content, 2'A. 
 
 contumely, 227. 
 
 converse in. 2<!5. 
 
 conveyiufj, 288. 
 
 coppice. 248. 
 
 correspondence, 223, 287- 
 
 c«»rroborate, 2(»0. 
 
 Cosmus, 297. 
 
 Council of Trent, 228. 
 
 Counsel, Of, 2;«. 
 
 countenance, 285. 
 
 covert, 281. 
 
 Crispus, 2;U. 
 
 Croesus, 247. 
 
 crooketh, 2:?8. 
 
 cro.siers, 232. 
 
 cross, 2',Mi. 
 
 cross lies, 291. 
 
 Cuin non sis, etc., 21S. 
 
 Cu>iHb\(f, Of, 2.%. 
 
 curious, 240, 289. 
 
 currently, 2r)2. 
 
 Custom and Koucution, Of, 2iV, 
 
 custcuis, 270. 
 
 cyini li sectoi'p.s, 287. 
 
 Cyrus, 247, 293. 
 
 dainty, 2&4. 
 danger, 282. 
 darken it, 21.^ 
 daubed with cost, 26?. 
 David's harp, "0),. 
 dearest pledges, 211. 
 Death, Of, 204. 
 
INItKX T't NOTES 
 
 3o; 
 
 />«• AuymentiK St'ientiunit 
 
 cited, :iOi». 
 deceive, 282. 
 Decii, 21H. 
 declaration, '.'Tl. 
 declaring, 2i).! 
 declination, 14'*. 
 decline the e. v , , 268. 
 D'forniitjf, Oj, _'75. 
 delays, 28r>. 
 Delays, Gf, 235. 
 delight, 2m. 
 deliveries, 231, 2<)7. 
 Demetrius, 232. 
 Denioeritus, 224. 
 DeuiostliHiies, 21 j 
 denying, 28."). 
 dependenees, 263. 
 depraving, 285. 
 tlepress, 232. 
 derive, 213. 
 (lesetnboKiirx, 267. 
 desire to see, 264. 
 destitute, 256. 
 device, 264. 
 Devita, etc., 206. 
 Diagoras, 225. 
 diaries, 229. 
 diet, 229. 
 dirticileness, 218. 
 Diocletian, 230. 
 disabling, 285. 
 disavow, 282. 
 disavow fortune, 213. 
 Discourse, Of, 253. 
 disi'over, 208. 
 
 discovery of men's estates, 270. 
 Dispatch. Of. 239. 
 dispenseth with, 262. 
 disputatious, 229. 
 
 disreputation, 284. 
 distasted. 285. 
 distcnper, 230. 
 ditty, 2t;4. 
 divinity. 218. 
 doctor, 205. 
 Dolemfi, etc., 222. 
 Domitiau, 230. 
 donative, 223. 
 doubt, ;?oo. 
 Dry, .!44. 
 dry blow, 254. 
 dutlling. 207. 
 Durer, Albert, 275. 
 
 Eadgar, 293. 
 
 Ecce ill (lescrto, 205. 
 
 Eccc in penetralihus, 205. 
 
 • "ntrics and enicycles, 228. 
 •, 271. 
 i:. .ward IV., 274. 
 effectual, 291. 
 effeminate, 2.50. 
 Egyptian priest, 29tK 
 ejaculation. 212. 
 Eliot, (Tcorge, quote<l, 2,57. 
 Elizabeth, 297. 
 Ellis, R. L.. (pioted, 2.32. 
 embowed windows, 279. 
 embrace suits, 284. 
 Emerson, R. W.,(pioted, 209, 229, 
 
 242, 244, 245, 274, 275, 276. 
 Empedocles. 242. 
 Empire, Of, 230. 
 engaged, '2iHi. 
 engines of orbs, 228 
 engrossing, 222. 
 ensigns, 251. 
 entertainment, 286 
 entire, 281. 
 
308 
 
 IX HEX TO XOTES 
 
 f: 
 
 Envy, Of, 212. 
 Epamiiiondas, 2t)8. 
 Epicurus, 'Mo. 
 Epitneuides, 24*2. 
 Epimetheiis, 223. 
 equality of bores, 281. 
 equinoctiu, 221). 
 equipollent 2(i(). 
 Era tit in officio, etc., 220. 
 esculent, 2.'i5. 
 Escurial, 278. 
 estate, 219, 284. 
 Et coiiversus, etc., 216. 
 even carriage, 288. 
 evil eye, 262. 
 evil-favoured, 266. 
 exaltation, 267. 
 excises, 248. 
 excusations, 240. 
 exercise, 2(58. 
 exhaust, 301. 
 Expense, Of, 246. 
 expert, 286. 
 export honour, 284. 
 expound, 282. 
 express thyself well, 216. 
 extern, 272. 
 Extinctus, etc., 205. 
 
 Faber, etc., 267. 
 facility, 21(5, 289. 
 Faction, Of, 287. 
 facts, 207. 
 fain, 232. 
 fainted in it, 225. 
 fair, 209. 
 
 false periods, 239. 
 Fame , 220. 
 fast, 280. 
 favour, 274, 286. 
 
 favourites, 262, 296. 
 
 Fawkes, Guy, 206. 
 
 feigned, 256. 
 
 Feri, etc., 204. 
 
 fetch, 237. 
 
 fetching, im. 
 
 lifth essence, 224. 
 
 tinal to tlie war, 250. 
 
 first blood, 2G6. 
 
 lit, 2.39. 
 
 tlags, 219. 
 
 tlash, 249. 
 
 flashy, 28(5. 
 
 flat, 223. 
 
 Fletcher, John, quoted, 251. 
 
 foil, 288. 
 
 Fois, Gaston de, 272. 
 
 Followers and Friends, Of, 283 
 
 fond, 244. 
 
 Fonsf, etc., 295. 
 
 foot, 270. 
 
 foot-pace, 296. 
 
 foresee, 279. 
 
 formal, 288. 
 
 formalists, 240. 
 
 Fortune, Of, 267. 
 
 forwardness, 285. 
 
 Fox, Richard, 234. 
 
 frame them by measure, 258. 
 
 freedoms from custom, 266. 
 
 friar Clement, 2(5(5. 
 
 Friendship, Of, 241. 
 
 fronted, 223. 
 
 fuma, 300. 
 
 futile, 209. 
 
 Galba, 204. 
 
 Galen, 292. 
 
 gallery of pictures, 242. 
 
 galliards, 254. 
 
IXDKX TO XOTES 
 
 309 
 
 Gallo-Giwfia, 301. 
 Gardens, Of, 280. 
 Uasca, 277. 
 naudery, 2.'>1. 
 (lellius, 240. 
 j;.'iieral, 28«», 287. 
 ueneral contrivers, 286. 
 (4erard, Baltazar, 2(10. 
 (Til)l>.>n, Ed\\aril, quoted, 230. 
 jliiij,'les, 255. 
 jriven over, 300. 
 globe, 21(5. 
 jt;lorious, 258. 
 gnaw, 270. 
 going wet, 282. 
 (ioiizalo, 2«)8. 
 
 Goodness, and Goodness of Na- 
 ture, Gf; 248. 
 grace, 2(50. 
 , racious, 28r>. 
 greate.st care, 211. 
 great pasnuages, 222. 
 Great Place, Of, 215. 
 great spirit, 274. 
 Green, J. R., quoted, 293. 
 Gregory the Great, 299. 
 grind with a hand-mill, 234. 
 Growing silk, 255. 
 guard, 257. 
 guarded, 252. 
 Guiocardine, 231. 
 Gunpowder Plot, 206. 
 Gyuinosophists, 266. 
 
 habilitatioDs, 249. 
 Hadrian, 213. 
 Haec pro, etc., 243. 
 half-lights, 209. 
 hall, 246. 
 hand, 23a 
 
 Hardy, Tluunas, ([noted, 245. 
 
 Harnu-hMii, .Famh, 301. 
 
 Harrison. Fre<leric, quoted, 260. 
 
 Hatton, I^dy, 210. 
 
 have intelligence, 215. 
 
 heat, 252. 
 
 hedge, 281. 
 
 Helen oi Troy, 215^ 
 
 Henry II.. 2(50. 
 
 Henry IV., 21M. 
 
 Henry VII., 294. 
 
 Heraclitus, 244. 
 
 Herbert, (if orge, cited, 226, 274. 
 
 Ileronles. 208. 
 
 Hennogenes, 273. 
 
 /////(• usura, etc., 221. 
 
 his trust, 28."». 
 
 hoc af/ere. 23.'). 
 
 Holmes, O. W., quoted, 261. 
 
 holpen, 239. 
 
 Holy League, 221. 
 
 Homer, 258 ; cited, 211. 
 
 Huminem delinnn, etc., 241. 
 
 honour amends, 217. 
 
 Honovr and Reputation, Ofy 
 
 '2;*2. 
 Hood, Thomas, quoted, 272. 
 hortatives, 211. 
 Hortensius, 273. 
 hostages to fortune, 210. 
 humorous, 211. 
 hundred, 2;^5. 
 hundred poll, 248. 
 husband, 293. 
 
 Mem manebat, etc., 273. 
 Igna^mni, etc., 269. 
 lUam Terra, etc., 220. 
 lUe etiani, i-w.,'22Hi. 
 Illi mors, etc., 215. 
 
310 
 
 INDEX ro NOTES 
 
 I 
 
 ill intelligence, 284. 
 
 ill seat, 277. 
 
 ill ways, 277. 
 
 impedimenta, 256. 
 
 irapertiuenoes, 211. 
 
 importune, 20.'}. 
 
 iniposeth upon, 203. 
 
 imposthumations, 223. 
 
 imposts. 233. 
 
 imprinting, 288. 
 
 impropriate, 2.')1. 
 
 inclination, 2&i. 
 
 incommodities, 270. 
 
 ineurretli, 213. 
 
 indifferent, 211. 
 
 industriously, 209. 
 
 in favour, 284. 
 
 inflamed, 231. 
 
 infused opinions, 266. 
 
 in guard, 2.37. 
 
 In illo viro, etc., 2(57. 
 
 Iniquum, etc., 280. 
 
 in nocte consilium, 235. 
 
 Innovations, Of, 239. 
 
 m studio, etc., 25^y. 
 
 in sudore, etc., 257, 270. 
 
 intend, 249. 
 
 interessed, 207. 
 
 interest, 291. 
 
 interlace, 216. 
 
 Interpretation of Nature quoted, 
 
 261. 
 in the shire, 233. 
 inure, 263. 
 invention, 257. 
 In vcstv, etc., 206. 
 Invidia, etc., 213. 
 inward. 216, 241. 
 Ira ho7nini.s, etc., 207. 
 irritate, 290. 
 
 Irving, Wasliinsiton, quoted, 211, 
 
 217. 
 Ismael the Sophy, 274. 
 it is much in a man's self, 268. 
 it is not amiss, 255. 
 
 jade. 253. 
 Jam, etc., 204. 
 James I.. 2i»7. 
 Jamestown, 255. 
 janizarie.s, 233. 
 Jiiureguy, 266. 
 Jesuits, 2.T». 
 Jonson, Ben, cited, 211. 
 judaize, 270. 
 Judicature, Of, 295. 
 Judicis, etc., 290. 
 Julianus, 232. 
 Juno, 215. 
 Jupiter, 222. 
 ju)i civitatis, 248. 
 jus commercii, 248. 
 J7ts honor u)n, 248. 
 jus suffragii, 248. 
 just, 222. 
 Justinian, 293. 
 justs and tourneys, 264. 
 Juveiitutem, etc., 271. 
 
 keep quarter, 215. 
 
 keep state. 289. 
 
 kept good quarter, 237. 
 
 kill the patient, 245. 
 
 knap, 277. 
 
 knots, 281. 
 
 Koran, 224. 
 
 Lamb, Charles, cited, 238. 
 Laodiceans, 206. 
 laudando prascipere, 290. 
 
INDEX TO NOTES 
 
 311 
 
 lay, 285. 
 
 lay him open, 237. 
 
 leads the dance, 253. 
 
 leeseth, 2^. 
 
 Legend, 224. 
 
 Legi, etc., 223. 
 
 r^panto, 250. 
 
 Lethe, 298. 
 
 letter, 28(5. 
 
 letting, 28L 
 
 Leucippus, 224. 
 
 levity, 213. 
 
 liberatores, 293. 
 
 liberius quam, etc., 221. 
 
 licentious, 220. 
 
 lightsome, 278. 
 
 light well, 275. 
 
 Li tern um, 274. 
 
 little philosophy, 224. 
 
 Livia, 231. 
 
 Livia, etc., 204. 
 
 Livy, 267. 
 
 loading part, 218. 
 
 looses, 238. 
 
 Lorenzius Medices, 231. 
 
 lot, 213. 
 
 Love, Of, 214. 
 
 Lucan, 221. 
 
 Lucian, 203. 
 
 Lucretius, 203. 
 
 Lucullus, 278. 
 
 lump, 210. 
 
 lurcheth, 278. 
 
 Lycurgos, 298. 
 
 Machlavelli, 209. 
 MactOf 262, 
 Maecenas, 243. 
 
 Maeterlinck, Maurice, quoted, 
 226. 
 
 Magna chitas, etc., 242. 
 
 magnanimity, 290. 
 
 Magnijicabo, etc., 290. 
 
 mogno cnmttu, etc., 240. 
 
 Mahomet, 206. 
 
 main, 2.'{8. 
 
 maize, 2.5.j. 
 
 make good, 240. 
 
 maketh to he still, 250. 
 
 manage (verb), 24V ; (noun), 272. 
 
 manure, 255. 
 
 Marcus Aurelius, 243. 
 
 marish, 255. 
 
 Marlowe, Christopher, cited, 213. 
 
 Marriage and Zingle Life, Of, 
 
 210. 
 Mars, 225, 249. 
 masque, 263. 
 
 Masques and Triumph»t Of, 263. 
 masteries, 252. 
 mate, 218. 
 material, 240. 
 materiani, etc., 222. 
 matter, 2^54. 
 matter of desire, 230. 
 Matthews, Toby, 241. 
 mean (adj.), 287; (nounX 208, 
 
 231, 285. 
 mediation, 282. 
 melior natura, 227. 
 melocotones, 280. 
 Memento quod es Deus, 233. 
 Memento quod es homo, 233. 
 men in appetite, 283. 
 mere, 218. 
 mere-stone, 290. 
 Messalina, 237. 
 metaphor, 247. 
 Metis, 234. 
 mew, 248>. 
 
312 
 
 INDEX TO NOTES 
 
 
 Milton, John, cited, 22.'), 
 quoted, 211, 22S, 2Ji2, 2Wi. 
 Minerva, 215. 
 mines above ground, 222. 
 ministers, 21t<». 
 mintnten, 2.'\5. 
 mimnthropi, 211). 
 Mithridates, 243, 247. 
 Mitte, etc., 236. 
 model, 251. 
 moderate, 2.'»3. 
 moderator, 240. 
 moil, 255. 
 Momus, 277. 
 Montaigne, 204. 
 more, 275. 
 
 More, Sir Thomas, 270. 
 morris-dance, 205. 
 mortification, 201. 
 Morton, John, 2^. 
 motion, 21(5, 2.CA, 298. 
 motions of envy, 220. 
 mountebanks, 217. i 
 muck, 222. 
 
 Miiller, Johannes, 260. 
 Multum, etc., 266. 
 muuiting, 206. 
 musk-rose, 281. 
 Mustapha, 231. 
 
 Narcissus, 237. 
 Narses, 212. 
 
 natural body or politic, 249. 
 Natural History cited, 212. 
 natural predictions, 258. 
 nature, 225, 23r,. 265. 
 Nature in Men, Of, 26S. 
 naught, 257. 
 necessity , 222. 
 Negotiating, Of. 282. 
 
 2«1; 
 
 wf/ofiis pares, 247, 294. 
 
 N.'ro, '2m. 
 
 newe!, 27!». 
 
 new men, 212. 
 
 nice, 248. 
 
 NnhUitij, Of, 219. 
 
 noblesse, 222. 
 
 Nolite exire, 2().'i. 
 
 Nouien, etc.. 2«9. 
 
 Non deos, etc.. 225. 
 
 Non est curiosus, etc., 212. 
 
 Non est jam rlicere, etc., 225. 
 
 none worse, 258. 
 
 Non inreniet, etc., 234. 
 
 Nts sciinus, etc., 297. 
 
 note, 285. 
 
 not one, 214. 
 
 Numa, 242. 
 
 Nunc diniittis, 205. 
 
 obnoxious, 2:35, 276. 
 Observations on a Libel quoted, 
 
 277. 
 Octavia, 230. 
 Octogesinius. etc., 260. 
 oes, 264. 
 of course. 239. 
 officious, 276, 284. 
 of itself, 2.")5. 
 Omnisfama, etc., 293. 
 Omnium consensu, "tc, 216. 
 Omnium qua dixeral, etc., 292. 
 open, 209. 
 opinion, 241. 
 nptimates, 287. 
 Optimi consiliarii, etc , 23S. 
 Optimum elige, etc., 210. 
 Optimus ille, etc., 265. 
 oracle of time, 249. 
 oraculous, 209. 
 
iNDEX TO NOTES 
 
 813 
 
 orange-tawny, 270. 
 
 orbs, 300. 
 
 order, 230. 
 
 Ottoman, 293. 
 
 out of countenance, 290. 
 
 out of cour- ., 282. 
 
 overcome, 257. 
 
 pack the cards, 236. 
 
 Padre commune, 288. 
 
 pairs, 239. 
 
 Pallas, 215. 
 
 papacy, 232. 
 
 parasiti curisB, 296, 
 
 Parce, etc., 254 
 
 Parents and Children-, Of, 210. 
 
 part, 221. 
 
 participes curarum, 242. 
 
 particular, 299. 
 
 particularly, 252. 
 
 particular motion, 221. 
 
 passable, 284. 
 
 passages, 240. 
 
 patres patriSB, 294. 
 
 Paul (St.), 205, 240, 290, 297. 
 
 Paulett, Sir Amyas, 239. 
 
 Paul's, 237. 
 
 paved, 279. 
 
 peace at interr^ ' 231. 
 
 peremptory, 2- , 
 
 perfect circles, 281, 
 
 perforce, 290. 
 
 period, 272. 
 
 Peripatetics, 206. 
 
 perpetual flux, 299. 
 
 per saltwn, 213. 
 
 personal, 251. 
 
 Pertinax, 207. 
 
 perverted, 239. 
 
 pessimum, etc., 290. 
 
 Phaeton's car, 299. 
 
 pliant asii), 2.'r). 
 
 Philip IV., 24S. 
 
 Philip h- Bel. 274. 
 
 PhilipiHS, etc., 259. 
 
 Phillips, Stephen, cited, 2ft?. 
 
 philology, ;<01, 
 
 Phtuhus, 22.'). 
 
 Pilate, 203. 
 
 pine-apple trees, 28C-, 
 
 Piso, 240. 
 
 place, 217. 
 
 placebo, 235. 
 
 Plantations, 25S. 
 
 Plantattons, Of, 2BA. 
 
 platfdrin, 282. 
 
 Plato, 205, 22-). 
 
 Plato's great year, 298. 
 
 plausible, 213. 
 
 Plautianus, 243. 
 
 Plant us, 267. 
 
 pleasing, 252. 
 
 Plenus, etc., 234. 
 
 Plinius Secundus, 298. 
 
 plots, 28(i. 
 
 Plnet, etc., 205. 
 
 Plutarch, 215, 227 ; qaoted, 288. 
 
 Piuto, 23ti. 
 
 Plutus, 256. 
 
 poco di matto, 268. 
 
 point, 279. 
 
 point device, 289. 
 
 politics, 206. 
 
 poller, 297. 
 
 Polycrates, 259. 
 
 Fompa, etc., 204. 
 
 Pompey, 238, 247. 
 
 Pope, Alexander, qaoted, 224 
 
 266-267. 
 popular, 223. 
 
314 
 
 INDEX T(j NOTES 
 
 popular states, 217. 
 portions or seeds, 224. 
 poser, 2'A. 
 
 powder treason, 206. 
 practice, 'I'M, 283. 
 Prajfniatii'al Sanction, 248. 
 Pruifo; Of, 289. 
 praying in aid, 244. 
 precedent, 2M. 
 preferments, 222. 
 pregnant of direction, 240. 
 pre-occupatetli, 204. 
 prescription, 283. 
 present (adj.), 286 ; (noun), 
 presseth, 219. 
 prest, 249. 
 pretended, 249. 
 pretendeth, 239. 
 pretorian bands, 238. 
 prettily, 290. 
 prevent, 2i>6. 
 pricked, 282. 
 prick in, 229. 
 primum tnobile, 22i. 
 Principis, etc., 234. 
 privadoes, 242. 
 privateness and retiring, 286 
 privileged, 253. 
 Probus, 223. 
 Prodicns, 241. 
 protit, 255. 
 Prometheus, 208. 
 pronounce, 295. 
 proof, 210. 
 i>ropcigatoret, 294. 
 proper, 240, 298. 
 Prophecies, Of, 258. 
 propugnatores imperii, 9QL 
 prospectives, 240. 
 Protagoras, 241. 
 
 proud and froward, 212. 
 proud riches, 2.'i<). 
 prove dangprou.s, 2()3. 
 proyning, 'im. 
 PrutlniH, etc., 238. 
 Publilius Syrus, 215. 
 puthng a court up, 297. 
 Pukhrnrum, etc., 27ff. 
 punhasing, 270. 
 purprise, 296. 
 push, 2<I0. 
 put, 2rt2. 
 put abroad, 244. 
 249. put himself often to it, 265. 
 Pythagoras, 24.3. 
 Pythouissa, 258. 
 
 quality, 289. 
 
 Quari vulunnis, etc., '227. 
 
 Quanta patimur, etc., 218. 
 
 quarrel, 212. 
 
 quarters to graze, 279. 
 
 Quebec, 249. 
 
 quechiug, 206. 
 
 Queen Isabella, 288. 
 
 Qui de contemnevda, etc., 291, 
 
 Qui/esthiat, etc., 256. 
 
 quijinem, etc., 205. 
 
 Quifortiter, etc., 295. 
 
 Ratbin, 272. 
 
 Rabelais, 205. 
 
 Rabirius Postbamas, 286. 
 
 race, 297. 
 
 rate of interest, 269. 
 
 Ravaillac, 266. 
 
 ravisboth, 227. 
 
 Rawley, William, quoted, 254. 
 
 reason, 276. 
 
 recamera, 279. 
 
IMtKX TO AO/XS 
 
 iiio 
 
 rewipt, 28!. 
 rt*oiprn(iu«», 215. 
 Kt'duo', 'Jlt>. 
 
 referemlarioK, 'J.sr». 
 Rrf/iment of lleulth, Of, 251. 
 UejiioinoMtamis, 2(JU. 
 rt'jilt'intMit. 271. 
 
 Keh()l)o:iin, 2:54. 
 
 remover, 2t).^ 
 
 R<>inna. 24'. •. 
 
 Kepi)lier, Aijnes, quoted, 211. 
 
 resembled, 2.")4. 
 
 rt'sorts, 2;W. 
 
 respect (verb), 2.52 ; (n<mii) 2S7. 
 
 respeets, 21i», 2S«). 
 
 Rt'SjX) tales, etc., 240. 
 
 rest, 282. 
 
 resteth, 262. 
 
 returns, 278. 
 
 Recerifje, Of, 207. 
 
 reversed order, 227. 
 
 'ibes, 280. 
 
 Riclies, Of, 256. 
 
 rid, 249. 
 
 rifjbt earth, ' J8. 
 
 rise, 286. 
 
 Romulus, 249. 
 
 round, 203. 
 
 Koxolana, 231. 
 
 ruin, 297. 
 
 Kuskia. John, cited, 22S. 
 
 Sabbath, 216. 
 Sabinian, 299. 
 saltness, 254. 
 Salus, etc., 297. 
 talva tores, 293. 
 6arza, 242. 
 
 Sufis ii>it,),r. j-ti"., 214. 
 .Saturn, 227. 
 satyrian. 2S0. 
 »hirri ri>\ 2*.iO. 
 scandal of priests, 225. 
 scant linu, .l^M. 
 8«'atU'reil fdunsfls, 245. 
 seen.'. 2t'*i. 
 8<*lioolnien, 22S. 
 S< ipio .M'-leanns, 273. 
 scope, 240. 
 
 Scii|ttiiral references, 204, 20.", 
 •Jim;, jot, 21<>, '_'1J, 'Ji;'., 'JM. 21s. 
 21".i, 221. 224. j;<0. 2;v''. 2:V4, 2:!«i. 
 2;W, •-':•.!•, 240. 'J4J. 'J44. 24ti. 247, 
 24S, -j.'l. •_'.■.»■.. --'.".S, 2r.2, 2(M, 272, 
 27S. -jso, -JlKt, 2<.r., 2'X,, 2it7, 2«W, 
 2if,», :!00. 
 
 .scriveners and brokers, 257. 
 
 second causes, 224. 
 
 secondinj;, 281). 
 
 seconds. 2.S7. 
 
 sects of ' '!.;!- '-hers, 2C3. 
 
 se''i(ii<h ■■: ij- lie, •■ , '-■"''. 
 
 S'nitin. ■> ,.)!■' i> (/*//>/;«, O/, 220. 
 
 seeled, ": "i 
 
 seelinj; . '-■' 
 
 S'l'iiihii '■ 
 
 Sejanus, _ 
 
 Selymus I. 
 
 Seneca, 204. 
 
 Se )ion, etc. 
 
 sensible of, 2(i3. 
 
 sentence, 298. 
 
 Septimnis Severus, 208. 
 
 seiiuester, 241. 
 
 S'Tuenx, etc., 267. 
 
 servants, liacon's, 216, 246,283. 
 
 set it even, 2<»0. 
 
 sat up their rest, 250. 
 
 •.'■'.2. 
 
 237. 
 
316 
 
 INDEX TO NOTES 
 
 s ever, 208. 
 
 several, 23.S. 
 
 Shakespeare, William, cited, 214, 
 22<>, 237, 244, 2o!», 2«i0 ; quoted, 
 20;{, 204, 208, 210, 211. 212, 217, 
 218, 219, 22;{, 2;W, 238, 243, 244, 
 24<;, 254, 260, 2<J2, 26.S, 265, 276, 
 281, 282, 283, 288, 289, 296, 298, 
 300. 
 
 shifts, 210. 
 
 show, 295. 
 
 shrewd, 238. 
 
 Sibylla's offer, 236. 
 
 si'ts alleys, 279. 
 
 Siete Paitidas, 293. 
 
 Silius, 237. 
 
 Simulation and Dimmulation, 
 Of, 208. 
 
 singular, 248. 
 
 sit, 270. 
 
 Si vixero,. etc,, 223. 
 
 skill, 254. 
 
 slope, 281. 
 
 slug, 270. 
 
 Socrates, 277. 
 
 solecism, 231. 
 
 Solomon, 210, 216, 233, 234, 238, 
 
 •2-)ii, 289, 2<)0, 295, 298. 
 Solon, 247. 
 
 Holus imperantinm, etc., 216. 
 solution of continuity, 205. 
 Solvani, etc., 221. 
 Solyman, 231. 
 some other mean, 285. 
 some provinces, 235. 
 sorted, 208, 248. 
 Sospetto, etc., 253. 
 spaces, 265. 
 Spain, 239. 
 spaugs, 264. 
 
 species, etc., 289. 
 speculative, 234. 
 Spenser, Edmund, cited, 281, 29<j, 
 
 301 ; quoted, 217. 
 spials, 27(). 
 
 upreta conncientia, 290. 
 staddles, 248. 
 stale at chess, 218. 
 stand, 270. 
 standing, 235. 
 statua, 244. 
 stay, 299. 
 
 St. Bartholomew s Day, 206. 
 
 stick, 295. 
 
 stiff, 287. 
 
 still, 212. 
 
 stirps, 219. 
 
 stock, 222, 267. 
 
 Stoics, 205. 
 
 stond, 287. 
 
 stood upon, 249t 
 
 stout, 247. 
 
 stoved, 280. 
 
 strait, 222. 
 
 strangers, 216. 
 
 Studies, Of, 286. 
 
 style, 251. 
 
 subsidies, 248. 
 
 success, 282. 
 
 succession, 272. 
 
 suck the experience, 229. 
 
 sufficiency, 217. 
 
 sui amantes, etc., 238. 
 
 suit, 300. 
 
 Suitors, Of, 284. 
 
 sumptuary laws, 222. 
 
 Sunt plenimque, etc., 231. 
 
 superior globe, 299. 
 
 Superstition, Of, 227. 
 
 surcharge, 255. 
 
 m^m 
 
INDEX TO NOTES 
 
 317 
 
 suspect (adj.), 288 ; (noun), 239. 
 
 Suspicion, Of, 262. 
 
 suspicious, 270. 
 
 sustentation, 301. 
 
 Switzers, 219. 
 
 Sylla, 242. 
 
 Sylla, etc., 223. 
 
 tacit conformity of estate, 240. 
 
 Tacitus, 204. 
 
 take in with, 287. 
 
 take order to, 2()2. 
 
 take pawns without use, 270. 
 
 take the ply, 2«W». 
 
 take the wind of him, 235. 
 
 Talmud, 224. 
 
 Tamberlanes, 213. 
 
 tauquam uymn, etc., 288. 
 
 Tantwn relUjio, etc., 206. 
 telam, etc., 298. 
 
 te uper (verb), 2i)2 ; (noun), 230. 
 tender, 282. 
 tendering, 252. 
 
 Tenuvson, Alfred, cited, 242 ; 
 quoted, 226, 233, 271. 
 
 terms, 24*5. 
 
 Terra potens, etc., 248. 
 
 Testamenta, etc., 258. 
 
 ITiackeray, W. M., cited, 212. 
 
 Thales cited, 212. 
 
 the first coming, 285. 
 
 their time, 245. 
 
 the law, 250. 
 
 Themistocles, 244. 
 
 Theocritus quoted, 290. 
 
 Theodoricus, 294. 
 
 theologues, 290. 
 
 Thoas, 291. 
 
 Tiberius, 204, 242. 
 
 Tigellinus, 237. 
 
 Tijjranes, 247. 
 
 timinfi, 285. 
 
 Timoleou, 2»?8. 
 
 Timon of Athens, 219. 
 
 Timotheus, 2<)8. 
 
 tithe, 2(i'.>. 
 
 to feel f^reat riches, 288. 
 
 to life, 245. 
 
 to side a man's self, 217. 
 
 touch, -'.-.4, 298. 
 
 toys, 'i'M. 
 
 tracts, 2<V.>. 
 
 Trajan, 243. 
 
 trash, 219. 
 
 Travel, Of, i29. 
 travels, 213. 
 
 tribunitious, 235. 
 
 triumplis, 251,278. 
 
 trivial, 2(»0. 
 
 True Greatness of Kingdoms and 
 Estates, Of the, '2H\. 
 
 true marshalling, 293. 
 
 trueness to a man's self, 288. 
 
 Truth, Of, 203. 
 
 try it, 232. 
 
 Tully, 273. 
 
 Ta quoque, etc., 259. 
 
 Turning dances into figure, 264. 
 
 turquets, 264. 
 
 twelve tables, 297. 
 
 two for one, 207. 
 
 Ubi peccat, etc., 275. 
 Ultima primis, etc., 274. 
 Ulysses, 211. 
 understanding, 297. 
 undertakers, 255. 
 undertaking, 213. 
 unguent, 240. 
 Unity in Religion, Of, 205. 
 
318 
 
 INDEX TG NOTES 
 
 unplaced, 224. 
 
 unrefidy, 272. 
 
 upon fjreater means. 201, 
 
 upon the gromui-story, 279. 
 
 upon tlie matter, 27(>. 
 
 lire, 2(M>. 
 
 uscth, 223. 
 
 ii.siiry, 2()!>. 
 
 r^ury. Of, 269. 
 
 Utopia, 270. 
 
 Utputo, etc., 20*. 
 
 Vain-Glory, Of, 200. 
 
 value, 257. 
 
 Vatican, 278, 
 
 Vaughan, Henry, quoted, 272. 
 
 vecture, 222. 
 
 vena porta, 232. 
 
 Venient annis, etc., 259. 
 
 Vere tnar/num, etc., 208. 
 Vergil, 247. 
 ver perpetuum, 280. 
 versatile iiif/enium, 268. 
 version, 300. 
 Vespasian, 204. 
 
 Vetulam, etc., 211. 
 
 vice Dei, 233. 
 
 Vicissitude of Things, Of, 298. 
 
 vituim dsemonum, 203. 
 
 Virginia, 255. 
 
 virtuous, 220. 
 
 voicing, 285. 
 
 voluntary undoing, 246. 
 votary. '_'()<;. 
 vulgar, 2it(). 
 
 waited upon, ;J00. 
 
 wantons, 210. 
 
 wares, 2'M. 
 
 warm set, 280. 
 
 waste, 255. 
 
 weak passion, 214. 
 
 Websier, John, quoted, 256. 
 
 welts, 281. 
 
 when all is done, 244. 
 
 wild, 207. 
 
 William the Silent, 266. 
 
 willingness, 21H). 
 
 Wisdomfora3fan'8 Self, Of, 238. 
 wit, 276. 
 witchcraft, 212. 
 without, 28(i. 
 
 without disadvantage, 2S12. 
 Wordsworth, William, quoted 
 
 273. 
 work any man, 283. 
 Wright, W. Aldis, cited, 209, 241 
 272 ; quoted, 260. 
 
 Youth and Age, Of, 271. 
 
 Zanger, 276. 
 zelants, 206. 
 Zeno, 205. 
 Zeuxis, 274. 
 
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