1620.] PUBLICATION OF THE NOVUM ORGANUM. 119 from the same whence the Common Law came ? And the occasion was quite appropriate. But the practical inference which the outside politicians drew from it is worth recording, by way of caution. We shall see presently how very wide of the mark they were in this instance at least, and may learn to be the more wary in accepting the news of the day for the history of the time. But I must first touch upon a very different subject. By a strange chance, this dawn of hope for the kingdom of England coincided with the announcement of a new hope for all the world, which Bacon had still more at heart-the hope of the coming of "the Kingdom of Man." For it so happened that the first public announcement of the new philosophy which was to teach man the true use of his understanding and lead him by a certain path to the knowledge of all things which it is lawful for man to know, was reserved for the same auspicious season. A handsomely printed volume containing a prospectus of the INSTAURATIO MAGNA, followed by a series of aphorisms de Interpretatione Nature et Regno Hominis, together with a set of directions for the formation of a natural and experimental history,-all that ever was done of the NOVUM ORGANUM-was ready for distribution on the 12th of this October. It is true that the hope proved deceitful in both cases: for the kingdom of England was destined to relapse into a worse condition than before; and the certain path to the knowledge of all things is still unmade and has led to nothing; but the future was hidden and did not trouble him, while the hope, which was present with him, filled his mind with confident anticipations of good to all mankind,-remote perhaps, but certain and immense. TO THE KING'S MOST EXCELLENT MAtie 1 It may please your most excellent Majesty, It being one thing to speak or write, specially to a King, in public, another in private, although I have dedicated a work, or rather a portion of a work, which at last I have overcome, to your Majesty by a public epistle, where I speak to you in the hearing of others; yet I thought fit also humbly to seek access for the same, not so much to your person as to your judgment, by these private lines. The work, in what colours soever it may be set forth, is no 1 Gibson Papers, vol. viii. f. 129. Copy or draught written to dictation, but corrected by Bacon. The letter itself is in the Advocate's Library, A. I. 35, no. 11, and there is a copy of it in Harl. MS. 6896. more but a new logic, teaching to invent and judge by induction, (as finding syllogism incompetent for sciences of nature,) and thereby to make philosophy and sciences both more true and more active. This, tending to enlarge the bounds of Reason and to endow man's estate with new value, was no improper oblation to your Majesty, who, of men, is the greatest master of reason, and author of beneficence. There be two of your council, and one other bishop of this land, that know I have been about some such work near thirty years; so as I made no haste. And the reason why I have published it now, specially being unperfect, is, to speak plainly, because I number my days, and would have it saved. There is another reason of my so doing, which is to try whether I can get help in one intended part of this work, namely the compiling of a natural and experimental history, which must be the main foundation of a true and active philosophy. This work is but a new body of clay, whereinto your Majesty by your countenance and protection, may breathe life. And, to tell your Majesty truly what I think, I account your favour may be to this work as much as an hundred years' time: for I am persuaded the work will gain upon men's minds in ages, but your gracing it may make it take hold more swiftly; which I would be glad of, it being a work meant not for praise or glory, but for practice, and the good of men. One thing, I confess, I am ambitious of, with hope, which is, that after these beginnings, and the wheel once set on going, men shall suck more truth out of Christian pens, than hitherto they have done out of heathen. I say with hope; because I hear my former book of the Advancement of Learning is well tasted in the universities here, and the English colleges abroad: and this is the same argument sunk deeper. And so I ever humbly rest in prayers, and all other duties, Your Majesty's most bounden York-house, this 12th of October, 1620. and devoted servant, FR. VERULAM, Canc. The next letters relate to ordinary matters. 1620.] BUSINESSES RECOMMENDED FROM THE PRINCE. TO THE LORD CHANCELLOR.1 My honourable Lord, 121 There is a business in your Lordship's hands, with which Sir Robert Lloyd did acquaint your Lordship; whereof the Prince hath demanded of me what account is given, And because I cannot inform his Highness of any proceeding therein, I desire your Lordship to use all expedition that may be in making your answer to me, that I may give his Highness some satisfaction, who is very desirous thereof. And so I rest Your Lordship's faithful friend and servant, Royston, 14th of October, 1620. TO THE LORD CHANCELLOR.2 My honourable Lord, G. BUCKINGHAM. I desire your Lordship to continue your favour to Sir Thomas Gerrard, in the business concerning him, wherein I signified his Majesty's pleasure to your Lordship. And one favour more I am to entreat of your Lordship in his behalf, that you will be pleased to speak to one of the assistants of the Chancellor of the Duchy, in whose court he hath a cause depending, as he will more fully inform your Lordship himself, to see that he may have a fair proceeding, according to justice; for which I will ever rest Your Lordship's faithful friend and servant, Royston, 15th of October, 1620. G. BUCKINGHAM. TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM.3 My very good Lord, Your Lordship desiring to understand what cometh of the business after which the Prince hearkeneth, I was in doubt which of the two businesses you meant; that of the Duchy, or that of the Prerogative-Court for wills; for both are recommended from the Prince. But be it one, or be it the other, no time had been lost in either; for Mr. Secretary Naunton and I have entered into both. For the Duchy, we have already stayed all proceedings to the King's disservice for those manors which are not already passed under seal. For that which is 1 Harl. MSS. 7000, f. 22. Original. Docketed by Meautys, "14 Oct. 1620. My Lo. Marqs Buckingham to y' Lp. touching the Registerer of Wills." On the 29th of October Sir Robert Lloyd had a grant for life of "the office of engrossing wills and inventories." S. P. Dom. Calendar, p. 187. See further correspondence concerning this patent October 16, November 15, December 12, 17. 2 Ibid. 3 Gibson Papers, vol. viii. f. 131. Copy, hastily written. passed, we have heard the Attorney with none or little satisfaction hitherto. The Chancellor is not yet come, though sent for. For the other, we have heard Sir John Bennett and given him leave to acquaint my Lord of Canterbury; and have required the Solicitor to come well prepared for the King. So that in neither we can certify yet; and to trouble your Lordship while business is but in passage, were time lost. I ever rest Your Lordship's most obliged friend and faithful servant, 16 October, 1620. The same day came the King's acknowledgment of the Novum Organum; written, according to Dr. Rawley, with his own hand.' My Lord, I have received your letter and your book, than the which you could not have sent a more acceptable present unto me. How thankful I am for it cannot better be expressed by me, than by a firm resolution I have taken; first, to read it thorough with care and attention, though I should steal some hours from my sleep: having otherwise as little spare time to read it as you had to write it. And then to use the liberty of a true friend, in not sparing to ask you the question in any point whereof I shall stand in doubt: (nam ejus est explicare, cujus est condere :) as, on the other part, I will willingly give a due commendation to such places as in my opinion shall deserve it. In the meantime, I can with comfort assure you, that you could not have made choice of a subject more befitting your place, and your universal and methodick knowledge; and in the general, I have already observed, that you jump with me, in keeping the mid way between the two extremes; as also in some particulars I have found that you agree fully with my opinion. And so praying God to give your work as good success as your heart can wish and your labours deserve, I bid you heartily farewell. Octob. 16, 1620. JAMES R. Bacon's answer will be found a little further on, but a business of more immediate importance was in hand and had precedence. 3. The account which I have already given of the King's views and 1 Rawley's 'Resuscitatio.' p. 83. 1620.] REASONS FOR CALLING PARLIAMENT. 123 proceedings with regard to Bohemia and the Palatinate has been deduced directly from the correspondence, as collected by Mr. Gardiner in his history, and in the papers which he has edited for the Camden Society. We shall now have an opportunity of comparing it with an account by Bacon; who, well knowing how deep an interest the constituencies had begun to take in the business of the kingdom, especially where religion was concerned, proposed to introduce into the Proclamation for calling the Parliament a short statement of the political situation and the reasons for calling it. The King preferred to reserve all such matter for the opening of the session, according to the usual practice; and not to enter into any explanations in the meantime with the people at large. But Bacon's draught has luckily been preserved, and presents his own view of the case in a purer form than we should have had it in if it had been modified to suit the King's. As a piece of advice it had its full value without being adopted; and its main purpose was served as soon as it was read. TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM,1 My very good Lord, I send his Majesty a form of a proclamation for the Parliament, which I thought fit to offer first to his Majesty's perusal, before I acquainted the Council. For that part which concerneth the foreign business, his Majesty will graciously consider how easy it is for me to mistake or not to attain; which his Majesty in his wisdom will pardon, correct, and direct. For that part touching the elections, I have communicated it with my colleagues, Sir Edward Coke, the two Chief Justices, and Serjeant Crewe, who approve it well; and we are all of opinion, that it is not good to have it more peremptory, more particular, nor more sharp. We are thinking of some commonwealth laws, amongst which I would have one special for the maintenance of the navy, as well to give occasion to publish (to his Majesty's honour) what hath been already done; as, to speak plainly, to do your Lord 1 Stephens's first collection, p. 256. From the original, |