The Philosophical Works of Francis Bacon

tell me truly, What say you of your cousin that is gone? Mr. Bacon answered, Sir, since your Majesty doth charge me, I'll e'en deal plainly with you, and give you such a character of him, as if I were to write his story. I do think he was no fit counsellor to make your affairs better; but yet he was fit to have kept them from growing worse. The King said, On my so'l, man, in the first thou speakest like a true man, and in the latter like a kinsman.

10. King James, as he was a prince of great judgment, so he was a prince of a marvellous pleasant humour; and there now come into my mind two instances of it.

As he was going through Lusen by Greenwich, he asked what town it was? They said Lusen. He asked a good while after, What town is this we are now in? They said, still 'twas Lusen. On my so'l, said the King, I will be King of Lusen 5.

II. In some other of his progresses, he asked how far it was to a town whose name I have forgotten. They said, Six miles. Half an hour after, he asked again One said, Six miles and a half. The King alighted out of his coach, and crept under the shoulder of his led horse. And when some asked his Majesty what he meant; I must stalk (said he), for yonder town is shy and flies me 6.

12. Count Gondomar sent a compliment to my Lord St. Albans, wishing him a good Easter. My Lord thanked the messenger, and said, He could not at present requite the Count better than in returning him the like; That he wished his Lordship a good Passover 7.

13. My Lord Chancellor Elsmere, when he had read a petition which he disliked, would say, What! you would have my hand to this now? And the party answering, Yes; he would say further; Well, so you shall. Nay, you shall have both my hands to it. And so would, with both his hands, tear it in pieces 8.

14. I knew a wise man, that had it for a by-word, when he saw men hasten to a conclusion, Stay a little, that we may make an end the sooner.

15. Sir Francis Bacon was wont to say of an angry man who suppressed his passion, That he thought worse than he spake; and of an angry man that would chide, That he spoke worse than he thought.

16. He was wont also to say, That power in an ill man was like the power of a black witch; she could do hurt, but no good with it. And he would add, That the magicians could turn water into blood, but could not turn the blood again to water.

17. When Mr. Attorney Cook, in the Exchequer, gave high words to Sir Francis Bacon, and stood much upon his higher place; Sir Francis said to him, Mr. Attorney, the less you speak of your own greatness, the more I shall think of it: and the more, the less 10.

18. Sir Francis Bacon coming into the Earl of Arundel's garden, where there

5 King James was going through Lusen by Greenwich. He asked what town it was. They said Lusen. He asked about half an hour after. 'Twas Lusen still. Said the king, I will be king of Lusen.-Lamb. MS. p. 84.

6 He asked how far to a town. They said six miles. Half an hour after he asked again. One said six miles and an half. He lighted from his coach and crept under his horse's shoulder. Some asked him what his M. meant. He said he must stalk, for yonder town fled from him. -Lamb. MS. p. 84.

7 Lamb. MS. p. 72. Gondomar, I presume, was about to return to Spain. I cannot believe that his message was meant for an insult, as has been supposed; though I can well believe that the popular hatred of Spain and everything Spanish was apt enough to put that construction upon it. But there are no traces of any unkindness between Gondomar and Bacon. These compliments may have been exchanged at Easter-tide in 1622. Easter-day fell on the 21st of April that year, and a new Spanish ambassador arrived a week after.-See Court and Times of James I., ii. 309.

8 The party would say an it like your Lp. He would answer, you shall have both my hands to it, and so would rend it.-Lamb. MS. p. 60.

9 If one suppresseth his anger he thinks worse than he says; but when he chides, then he says worse than he thinks.-Lamb. MS. p. 24.

10 When Mr Attorney Cooke gave in the Exchequer high words to Mr Bacon, he replied, Mr. Attorney, etc.-Lamb. MS. p. 7.

Master of the Rolls; let him answer it. Soon after came the Master of the Rolls, Cordal, who died indeed a small time after Sir Nicholas Bacon; and he was likewise stayed upon it; and looking into the order, he found, that upon the reading of a certificate of Dr. Gibson, it was ordered, that his report should be decreed. And so he put it upon Dr. Gibson, and there it stuck.

65. Sir Nicholas Bacon, when a certain nimble-witted counsellor at the bar who was forward to speak, did interrupt him often, said unto him; There is a great difference betwixt you and me : a pain to me to speak, and a pain to you to hold your peace.

66. The same Sir Nicholas Bacon, upon bills exhibited to discover where lands lay,-upon proof that they had a certain quantity of land, but could not set it forth, was wont to say; And if you cannot find your land in the country, how will you have me find it in the Chancery?

67. Mr. Houland, in conference with a young student, arguing a case, happened to say; I would ask you but this question. The student presently interrupted him, to give him an answer. Whereunto Mr. Houland gravely_said; Nay, though I ask you a question, yet I did not mean you should answer me; I mean to answer myself.

91. Archbishop Grindall was wont to say; That the physicians here in England were not good at the cure of particular diseases; but had only the power of the Church,

to bind and loose.

123. Titus Quinctius was in the counsel of the Achaians, what time they deliberated, whether in the war then to follow between the Romans and King Antiochus, they should confederate themselves with the Romans, or with King Antiochus? In that counsel the Etolians, who incited the Achaians against the Romans, to disable their forces, gave great words, as if the late victory the Romans had obtained against Philip king of Macedon, had been chiefly by the strength and forces of the Etolians themselves: And on the other side the embassador of Antiochus did extol the forces of his master; sounding what an innumerable company he brought in his army; and gave the nations strange names; As Elymæans, Caducians, and others. After both their harangues, Titus Quinctius, when he rose up, said; It was an easy matter to perceive what it was that had joined Antiochus and the Ætolians together; that it appeared to be by reciprocal lying of each, touching the other's forces.

124. Plato was amorous of a young gentleman, whose name was Stella, that studied astronomy, and went oft in the clear nights to look upon the stars. Whereupon Plato wished himself heaven, that he mought look upon Stella with a thousand

eyes.

153. Themistocles, after he was banished, and had wrought himself into great favour afterwards, so that he was honoured and sumptuously served; seeing his present glory, said unto one of his friends, If I had not been undone, I had been undone.

214. A certain countryman being at an Assizes, and seeing the prisoners holding up their hands at the bar, related to some of his acquaintance; That the judges were good fortune-tellers; for if they did but look upon a man's hand, they could tell whether he should live or die.

216. A seaman coming before the judges of the Admiralty for admittance into an office of a ship bound for the Indies, was by one of the judges much slighted, as an insufficient person for that office he sought to obtain ; the judge telling him; That he believed he could not say the points of his compass. The seaman answered; That he could say them, under favour, better than he could say his Pater-noster. The judge replied; That he would wager twenty shillings with him upon that. The seaman taking him up, it came to trial: and the seaman began, and said all the points of his compass very exactly: the judge likewise said his Pater-noster and when he had finished it, he required the wager according to agreement; because the seaman was to say his compass better than he his Paternoster, which he had not performed. Nay, I pray, Sir, hold (quoth the seaman), the wager is not finished: for I have but half done: and so he immediately said his compass backward very exactly; which the judge failing of in his Pater-noster, the seaman carried away the prize.

239. A certain friend of Sir Thomas Moore's, taking great pains about a book, which he intended to publish, (being well conceited of his own wit, which no man else thought worthy of commendation), brought it to Sir Thomas Moore to peruse it, and pass his judgment upon it; which he did : and finding nothing therein worthy the press, he said to him with a grave countenance; That if it were in verse, it would be more worthy. Upon which words, he went immediately and turned it into verse, and then brought it to Sir Thomas again; who looking thereon, said soberly; Yes, marry, now it is somewhat, for now it is rhyme; whereas before it was neither rhyme nor reason.

247. A gentleman that was punctual of his word, and loved the same in others, when he heard that two persons had agreed upon a meeting about serious affairs, at a certain time and place; and that the one party failed in the performance, or neglected his hour; would usually say of him, He is a young man then 17.

249. His lordship when he had finished this collection of Apophthegms, concluded thus: Come, now all is well: they say, he is not a wise man that will lose his friend for his wit; but he is less a wise man that will lose his friend for another man's wit 18.

17 "He broke his promise," said Sir Ralph, "he is a young man then, under twenty years old; and no exception to be taken."-Lamb. MS.

18" When Sir John Finch and myself had gone over my lord's apophthegms, he said, 'Now it is well you know it is a common saying that he is an unwise man who will lose his friend for his jest: but he is a more unwise man who will lose his friend for another man's jest.'"-Lamb. MS. p. 10.

APOPHTHEGMS

PUBLISHED BY DR. TENISON IN THE BACONIANA 1.

I. PLUTARCH said well, It is otherwise in a commonwealth of men than of bees. The hive of a city or kingdom is in best condition when there is least of noise or buz in it.

2. The same Plutarch said of men of weak abilities set in great place, That they were like little statues set on great bases, made to appear the less by their ad

vancement.

3. He said again, Good fame is like fire. When you have kindled it, you may easily preserve it; but if once you extinguish it, you will not easily kindle it again; at least, not make it burn as bright as it did.

4. The answer of Apollonius to Vespasian is full of excellent instruction: Vespasian asked him, What was Nero's overthrow? He answered, Nero could touch and tune the harp well; but in government sometimes he used to wind the pins too high, sometimes to let them down too low. And certain it is, that nothing destroyeth authority so much as the unequal and untimely interchange of power pressed too far, and relaxed too much.

5. Queen Elizabeth seeing Sir Edward in her garden, looked out at her window, and asked him in Italian, IVhat does a man think of when he thinks of nothing? Sir Edward (who had not had the effect of some of the Queen's grants so soon as he had hoped and desired) paused a little, and then made answer, Madam, he thinks of a woman's promise. The Queen shrunk in her head; but was heard to say, Well, Sir Edward, I must not confute you. Anger makes dull men witty, but it keeps them poor 2.

6. When any great officer, ecclesiastical or civil, was to be made, the Queen would inquire after the piety, integrity, learning of the man. And when she was satisfied in these qualifications, she would consider of his personage. And upon such an occasion she pleased once to say to me, Bacon, how can the magistrate maintain his authority when the man is despised 3 ?

7. In eighty-eight, when the Queen went from Temple-bar along Fleet-street, the lawyers were ranked on one side, and the companies of the city on the other; said Master Bacon to a lawyer that stood next him, Do but observe the courtiers; if they bow first to the citizens, they are in debt; if first to us, they are in law 4.

8. King James was wont to be very earnest with the country gentlemen to go from London to their country houses. And sometimes he would say thus to them; Gentlemen, at London you are like ships in a sea, which shew like nothing; but in your country villages you are like ships in a river, which look like great things. 9. Soon after the death of a great officer, who was judged no advancer of the King's matters, the King said to his solicitor Bacon, who was his kinsman; Now

1 See Preface, pp. 860, 861.

2 Queen Elizabeth saw Sir Edward Dier in her garden, she looking out at window, and asked him in Italian, What does a man think of when he thinks of nothing? Sir Edward Dier, after a little pause, said in Italian, Madam, of a woman's promise. The Queen shrunk in her head and shut the window.-Lamb. MS. p. 21.

3 My Lo. St. Albans hath often told me that Queen Elizabeth when she was to make a bishop or a great officer, besides his learning, piety, and integrity, she would have some respect to the person of the man.-Lamb. MS. p. 34.

4 Lamb. MS. p. 35.

10. King James, as he was a prince of great judgment, so he was a prince of a marvellous pleasant humour; and there now come into my mind two instances of it.

14. I knew a wise man, that had it for a by-word, when he saw men hasten to a conclusion, Stay a little, that we may make an end the sooner.

15. Sir Francis Bacon was wont to say of an angry man who suppressed his passion, That he thought worse than he spake; and of an angry man that would chide, That he spoke worse than he thought 9.

18. Sir Francis Bacon coming into the Earl of Arundel's garden, where there

8 The party would say an it like your Lp. He would answer, you shall have both my hands to it, and so would rend it.-Lamb. MS. p. 60.

9 If one suppresseth his anger he thinks worse than he says; but when he chides, then he says worse than he thinks.-Lamb. MS. p. 24.

10 When Mr Attorney Cooke gave in the Exchequer high words to Mr Bacon, he replied, Mr. Attorney, etc.-Lamb. MS. p. 7.

« Previous Continue »

Books