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mand a base, petty, or inferior servant to the clerk of the crown or the clerk of the petty bag, it will be said that our warrant emanavit improvide, when we shall direct our warrants to these base officers when we may move the great seal of England by it, even as soon as either petty bag or petty officer.

Extract from Dewe's Journal, 43 Eliz. 18 Nov. 1601, page 642.-Mr. Bacon, one of the committees in the bill touching process and pleadings in the court of Exchequer, maketh report of the travel and meeting of the committees, and brought in a new bill drawn to the same purpose; upon the referring whereof he spake as followeth (out of the private journal): Mr. Speaker, This bill hath been deliberately and judiciously considered of by the committees, before whom Mr. Osborn came, who I assure this house did so discreetly demean himself, and so submissively referred the state of this whole office to the committees, and so well answered in his defence, that they would not ransack the heaps, or sound the bottom of former offences, but only have taken away something that was superfluous and needless to the subject. Touching the committees they have reformed part; yet they have not so nearly eyed every particular as if they would pare to the quick an office of her majesty's gift and patronage. This bill is both public and private: public, because it is to do unto the subject; and private, because it does no injustice to the particular officer. The committees herein have not taxed the officer by way of imputation, but removed a task by removing way of imposition. I will not tell you what we have taken away, either in quo titulos, in Exchequer language, or according to the poet, who saith, Mitte id quod scio, dic quod rogo; I will omit that which you have known, and tell you that you know not and are to know, and that in familiar terms. And so he told the substance of the bill. We found that her majesty, whose eyes are the candles of our good days, had made him an officer by patent; in which that he might have right, her majesty's learned counsel were there in centinel to see that her majesty's right might not be suppressed. If my memory hath failed me in the delivering of the truth of the proceeding, and the committee's determination, I desire those that were present to help and assist me. Here is the bill. So he called aloud to the serjeant of the house, and delivered him the bill to deliver to the Speaker, which said bill was read primâ vice.

Extract from the Journal of the House of Commons, 43 Eliz. 20 Nov. 1601, page 644.-Mr. Francis Bacon said, The gentleman that spake last coasted so for and against the bill, that for my own part, not well hearing him, I do not perfectly understand him.. I confess, the bill as it is, is in few words, yet ponderous and weighty. For the prerogative royal of the prince, for my own part, I ever allowed of it, and it is such as shall never be discussed. The Queen, as she is our sovereign, hath both an enlarging and distraining power. For by her prerogative she may at first set at liberty things restrained by statute law or otherwise; and secondly, by her prerogative she may restrain things which be at liberty. For the first, she may grant non obstante, contrary to the penal laws, which truly, according to my own conscience (and so struck himself on the breast), are as hateful to the subjects as monopolies. For the second, if any man out of his own wit, industry, or endeavour finds out any thing beneficial for the commonwealth, or bring in any new invention, which every subject of this kingdom may use; yet, in regard of his pains and travels therein, her majesty is pleased to grant him a privilege to use the same only by himself or his deputies for a certain time. This is one kind of monopoly. Sometime, there is a glut of things when they be in excessive quantity, as perhaps of corn, and her majesty gives license of transportation to one man: this is another kind of monopoly. Sometime there is a scarcity or small quantity, and the like is granted also. These and divers of this nature have been in trial both at the Common Pleas upon actions of trespass, where if the judges do find the privilege good and beneficial to the commonwealth, they then will allow it; otherwise, disallow it. And also I know that her majesty herself hath given commandment to her Attorney General to bring divers of them, since the last parliament, to trial in the Exchequer, since which time at least fifteen or sixteen, to my knowledge, have been repealed; some by her majesty's express

commandment upon complaint made unto her by petition, and some by que warranto, in the Exchequer. But, Mr. Speaker (said he, pointing to the bill), this is no stranger to this place, but a stranger in this vestment; the use hath been ever to humble ourselves unto her majesty, and by petition desire to have our grievances remedied, especially when the remedy toucheth her so nigh in point of prerogative. All cannot be done at once; neither was it possible since last parliament to repeal all. If her majesty make a patent (or as we term it, a monopoly) unto any of her servants, that must go, and we cry out of it; but if she grant it to a number of burgesses or a corporation, that must stand, and that forsooth is no monopoly. I say, and I say again, that we ought not to Ideal, to judge, or meddle with her majesty's prerogative. I wish every man therefore to be careful in this business; and humbly pray this house to testify with me that I have discharged my duty in respect of my place, in speaking on her majesty's behalf, and protest I have delivered my conscience in saying that which I have said.

Extract from the Journal of the House of Commons, 43 Eliz. 9 Dec. 1601, page 674.--Mr. Bacon said, The old commendation of Italy by the poet was, Potens viris atque ubere gleba, and it stands not with the policy of the state that the wealth of the kingdom should be engrossed into a few graziers' hands. And if you put in so many provisos as be desired, you will make it useless. The husbandman is a strong man, the good footman, which is the chief observation of good warriors, &c. So he concluded the statute not to be repealed.

From the Journal of the House of Commons, 43 Eliz. 4 Dec. 1601, page 669. -Mr. Bacon said, I am, Mr. Speaker, to tender unto this house the fruit of the committee's labour, which tends to the comfort of the realm, I mean the merchant, which if it quail or fail into a consumption, the state cannot choose but shortly be sick of that disease. It is inclining already. A certainty of gain is that which this law provides for, and by policy of assurance the safety of goods assured unto merchants. This is the loadstone that draws him on to adventure, and to stretch even the very punctilio of his credit. The committees have drawn a new bill, far differing from the old: the first limited power to the Chancery, this to certain commissioners of Oyer and Terminer; the first, that it should only be there, this that only upon appeal from the commissioners it should be there finally arbitrated. But lest it may be thought for vexation, the party appellant must lay it in deposito, &c. and if tried against him, to pay double costs and damages. We thought this course fittest for two reasons; first, because a suit in Chancery is too long a course, and the merchant cannot endure delays; secondly, because our courts have not the knowledge of their terms, neither can I tell what to say upon their causes, which be secret in their science, proceeding out of their experience. I refer the bill both old and new to your considerations, wishing good success therefore in both for the comfort of the merchants and performance of our duties. The act is entitled, An Act touching Policies of Assurances used among Merchants.

3T. Life, p. xlviii.

See Bacon's Essay on Friendship. The following, from Bacon's Apology respecting Essex, is a specimen of Elizabeth's sensibility upon this subject: "And another time I remember she told me for news, that my lord had written unto her some very dutiful letters, and that she had been moved by them, and when she took it to be the abundance of the heart, she found it to be but a preparative to a suit for the renewing of his farm of sweet wines; whereunto I replied, O Madam, how doth your Majesty construe these things, as if these two could not stand well together, which indeed nature hath planted in all creatures. For there are but two sympathies, the one towards perfection, the other towards preservation. That to perfection, as the iron contendeth to the loadstone; that to preservation, as the vine will creep towards a stake or prop that stands by it, not for any love to the stake, but to uphold itself. And therefore, madam, you must distinguish my lord's desire to do you service, is as to

his perfection, that which he thinks himself to be born for: whereas his desire to obtain this thing of you, is but a sustentation."

The following anecdote mentioned by Bacon, in his observations upon Alexander, seems to be another manifestation of this species of sensibility :-) -For matter of policy, weigh that significant distinction, so much in all ages embraced, that he made between his two friends, Hephæstion and Craterus, when he said, "That the one loved Alexander, and the other loved the king:" describing the principal difference of princes' best servants, that some in affection love their person, and others in duty love their crown.

3 V. Life, p. lv.

The following is the title from a copy published in 1603: An Apology of the Earl of Essex against those which Jealously and Maliciously tax him to be the Hinderer of the Peace and Quiet of his Country. Penned by himself in anno 1598. Imprinted at London by Rich. Bradocke, 1603.

The Tract thus opens : "He that either thinketh he hath or wisheth to have an excellent face, no sooner is told of any spot or uncomeliness in his countenance than he hyes to shew himself to a glass, that the glass may shew again his true likeness unto him; the same curiosity moves me, that desires to have a fair minde, to shew the true face and state of my mind to my true friend; that he like a true glass without injury or flattery may tell me whether nature or accident have set so foul a blemish in it as my accusers pretend.

"I am charged that either in affection or opinion or both, I prefer war before peace, and so consequently that all my counsels, actions, and endeavours, doe tend to keep the state of England in continual wars, especially at this time when some say peace may be had and I only impugn it. But both my heart disclaims from so barbarous an affection, and my judgment from so absurd an opinion. The reputation of a most faithful subject and zealous patriot (which with hazard of my life, and decay of my estate, I have sought to purchase) must not suffer this ugly and odious aspersion, that my actions have caused, maintained, or increased the wars, or had ever any such scope or intent.

"First, for my affection in nature it was indifferent to books and to arms, and was more inflamed with the love of knowledge than with the love of fame; witness my contemplative retiredness in Wales, and my bookishness from my very childhood. And now if time, reason, or experience, have taught me to wish that to myself which is best for myself, what should I not wish rather than martial employment, in which I have impaired my state, lost my dear and only brother, the half arch of my house, buried many of my dearest and nearest friends, and subjected myself to the rage of seas, violence, general plagues, famine, and all kinds of wants, discontentment of undisciplined and unruly multitudes, and acceptation of all events. And as my affection neither in truth is, nor, if I regard myself, in reason ought to be set on these courses of the wars: so in judgment I have ever thought wars the disease and sickness; and peace, the true, natural, and healthful temper, of all states.'

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3 W. Life, p. lviii.

The motive for this proceeding is thus stated in the opening of the case against him. Few days after my lord was removed to further liberty in his own house, her majesty hoping that these bruits and malicious imputations would of themselves wax old and vanish: but finding it otherwise in proof, upon taste taken by some intermission of time, and especially beholding the humour of the time in a letter presumed to be written to her majesty herself by a lady, to whom, though nearest in blood to my lord, it appertained little to intermeddle in matters of this nature, otherwise than in course of humility to have solicited her grace and mercy; in which letter, in a certain violent and mineral spirit of bitterness, remonstrance and representation is made to her majesty, as if my lord suffered under passion and faction, and not under justice mixed with mercy; which letter, though written to her sacred majesty, and therefore unfit to pass in

vulgar hands, yet was first divulged by copies every where, that being, as it seemeth, the newest and finest form of libelling, and since committed to the press her majesty in her wisdom seeing manifestly these rumours thus nourished had got too great a head to be repressed without some hearing of the cause, and calling my lord to answer."

3 X. Life, p. lviii.

"And yet

The following is from the Lord's Charge in opening the cause. on the other side, being still informed touching my lord himself of his continuance of penitence and submission, did in conclusion resolve to use justice, but with the edge and point taken off and rebated; for whereas nothing leaveth that teint upon honour, which in a person of my lord's condition is hardliest repaired, in question of justice, as to be called to the ordinary and open place of offenders and criminals, her majesty had ordered that the hearing should be intra domesticos parietes, and not luce forensi. And whereas again in the Star-chamber there be certain formalities not fit in regard of example to be dispensed with, which would strike deeper both into my lord's fortune and reputation; as the fine which is incident to a sentence there given, and the imprisonment of the Tower, which in case of contempts that touch the point of estate doth likewise follow; her majesty turning this course had directed that the matters should receive, before a great honorable and selected council, a full and deliberate, and yet in respect a private, mild, and gracious hearing."

3 Y. Life, p. lix.

Bacon's account of the whole proceeding is as follows: "And then did some principal counsellers send for us of the learned counsel, and notify her majesty's pleasure unto us, save that it was said to me openly by one of them, that her majesty was not yet resolved whether she would have me forborn in the business or no. And hereupon might arise that other sinister and untrue speech that I heard is raised of me, how I was a suitor to be used against my Lord of Essex at that time: for it is very true, that I that knew well what had passed between the Queen and me, and what occasion I had given her both of distaste and distrust, incrossing her disposition, by standing steadfastly for my Lord of Essex, and suspecting it also to be a stratagem arising from some particular emulation, I writ to her two or three words of compliment, signifying to her majesty, that if she would be pleased to spare me in my Lord of Essex's cause, out of the consideration she took of my obligation towards him, I should reckon it for one of her greatest favours: but otherwise desiring her majesty to think that I knew the degrees of duties, and that not particular obligation whatsoever to any subject could supplant or weaken that entiredness of duty that I did owe and bear to her and her service; and this was the goodly suit I made, being a respect no man that had his wits could have omitted: but nevertheless I had a further reach in it; for I judged that day's work would be a full period of any bitterness or harshness between the Queen and my lord, and therefore if I declared myself fully according to her mind at that time, which could not do my lord any manner of prejudice, I should keep my credit with her ever after, whereby to do my lord service."-Bacon's Apology, vol. vi. 256.

3 Z. Life, p. lx.

The following is the whole of that passage. "There is formed in every thing a double nature of good, the one as every thing is a total or substantive in itself, the other as it is a part or member of a greater body; whereof the latter is in degree the greater and the worthier, because it tendeth to the conservation of a more general form: therefore we see the iron in particular sympathy moveth to the loadstone, but yet if it exceed a certain quantity, it forsaketh the affection to the loadstone, and like a good patriot moveth to the earth, which is the region and country of massy bodies; so may we go forward and see that water and

massy bodies move to the centre of the earth, but rather than to suffer a divulsion in the continuance of nature they will move upwards from the centre of the earth, forsaking their duty to the earth in regard of their duty to the world. This double nature of good and the comparative thereof is much more engraven upon man, if he degenerate not, unto whom the conservation of duty to the public ought to be much more precious than the conservation of life and being; according to that memorable speech of Pompeius Magnus, when being in commission of purveyance for a famine at Rome, and being dissuaded with great vehemency and instance by his friends about him, that he should not hazard himself to sea in an extremity of weather, he said only to them, Necesse est ut eam, non ut vivam."

4 A. Life, p. lxii.

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As a patron he considered preferment a sacred trust for the encouragement of merit. Power to do good is, he says, the true and lawful end of aspiring, for good thoughts though God accept them, are little better than good dreams except they be put in act. "Detur digniori" was therefore his favourite maxim. Qui beneficium digno dat, omnes obligat." And in this spirit, upon sending to Buckingham his patent for creating him a viscount, he says, "I recommend unto you principally, that which I think was never done since I was born; and that which because it was not done, hath bred almost a wilderness and solitude in the King's service; which is that you countenance and encourage and advance able men in all kinds, degrees, and professions. For in the time of the Cecils, the father and the son, able men were by design and of purpose suppressed: and though of late, choice goeth better, both in church and commonwealth, yet money and serving, and cunning canvasses, and importunity prevaileth too much. And in places of moment, rather make able and honest men yours, than advance those that are otherwise because they are yours."

And within a few weeks after he was appointed Lord Keeper, he thus wrote to a Clergyman of Trinity College.

"After my hearty commendations, I, having heard of you as a man well deserving and of able gifts to become profitable in the church; and there being fallen within my gift the Rectory of Frome St. Quintin, with the Chapel of Evershot in Dorsetshire, which seems to be a thing of good value, 187. in the King's books and in a good county, I have thought good to make offer of it to you; the rather for that you are of Trinity College, whereof myself was some time. And my purpose is to make choice of men rather by care and inquiry, than by their own suits and commendatory letters. So I bid you farewell. From your loving Friend, FR. BACON, C. S.

From Dorset House, 23rd April, 1617.

To Mr. Massey, Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge.

4 B. Life, p. lxii.

In his advancement of learning he has thus explained the custom of the ancients in hearing the opposite reasonings of the same powerful mind, which has occasionally existed and did exist, in the time of Elizabeth, in our Courts of Justice in England.

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Strange as, from our habits, this may be considered, there is nothing new in the suggestion. When Alexander was feasting one night where Calisthenes was at the table, it was moved by some after supper, for entertainment sake, that Calisthenes, who was an eloquent man, might speak of some theme or purpose, at his own choice which Calisthenes did; choosing the praise of the Macedonian nation for his discourse, and performing the same with so good manner as the hearers were much ravished: whereupon Alexander, nothing pleased, said, "It was easy to be eloquent upon so good a subject." "But," saith he, "turn your style, and let us hear what you can say against us:" which Calisthenes presently undertook, and did with that sting and life, that Alexander in

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