1620.] NATURAL AND EXPERIMENTAL HISTORY. 129 TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM, 1 My very good Lord, I send now only to give his Majesty thanks for the singular comfort which I received by his Majesty's letter of his own band touching my book. And I must also give your Lordship of my best thanks, for your letter so kindly and affectionately written. I did even now receive your Lordship's letter touching the proclamation, and do approve his Majesty's judgment and foresight above mine own. Neither would I have thought of inserting matter of state for the vulgar, but that now-a-days there is no vulgar, but all statesmen. But, as his Majesty doth excellently consider, the time of it is not yet proper. I ever Bacon's answer to the King's letter in acknowledgment of the Novum Organum followed the next day; from which it will be seen that the dedication and presentation was not merely a compliment; he had reason to hope that the King might prove in one department a valuable fellow-labourer. Of the place which the collection of natural history held in his plan for the regeneration of philosophy I have spoken at large in my preface to the Parasceve ad historiam naturalem et experimentalem (Philosophical Works, vol. i. PP. 369390), and endeavoured to show that (however subordinate its place may be in a true estimate) in his own estimate it stood first in importance, as that part which (even without any of the rest) would be of much use, but without which all the rest would be of no use. "Itaque huc res redit, ut organum nostrum, etiamsi fuerit absolutum, absque historiá naturali non multum, historia naturalis absque organo non parum, instaurationem scientiarum sit provectura." Now there can be no doubt that if the King had taken a fancy to that part of the business, his assistance in "setting men to work have been of inestimable value. 1 Gibson Papers, vol. viii. f. 132. Docketed in Bacon's hand, "L. St. mation for Parliament." VOL. VII. upon it would Copy by Meautys. Corrected by Bacon. K TO THE KING. 1 May it please your Majesty, I cannot express how much comfort I received by your last letter of your own royal hand. I see your Majesty is a star, that hath benevolent aspect and gracious influence upon all things that tend to a general good. Daphni, quid antiquos signorum suspicis ortus? Astrum, quo segetes gauderent frugibus, et quo This work which is for the bettering of men's bread and wine, which are the characters of temporal blessings and sacraments of eternal, I hope by God's holy providence will be ripened by Cæsar's star. Your Majesty shall not only do to myself a singular favour, but to the business a material help, if you will be graciously pleased to open yourself to me in those things, wherein you may be unsatisfied. For though this work, as by position and principle, doth disclaim to be tried by any thing but by experience, and the resultats of experience in a true way; yet the sharpness and profoundness of your Majesty's judgment ought to be an exception to this general rule; aud your questions, observations, and admonishments, may do infinite good. This comfortable beginning makes me hope further, that your Majesty will be aiding to me, in setting men on work for the collecting of a natural and experimental history; which is basis totius negotii; a thing which I assure myself will be from time to time an excellent recreation unto you; I say, to that admirable spirit of yours, that delighteth in light and I hope well that even in your times many noble inventions may be discovered for man's use. For who can tell, now this Mine of Truth is once opened, how the veins go, and what lieth higher and what lieth lower? But let me trouble your Majesty no further at this time. God ever preserve and prosper your Majesty. 1 Gibson Papers, vol. viii. f. 130. Copy, with corrections by Meautys. Docketed, 20 Octob. 1620. Y. Lp. to his M., of thanks for his gracious acceptance of your book." 1620.1 CONTRIBUTION FOR THE PALATINATE. 131 The next letter accompanied three copies of the Novum Organum which had been sent to Sir Henry Wotton; now on an embassy in Germany, one who affected the acquaintance of men of learning and science, and would help to make the book known. To SIR HENRY WOTTON. 1 My very good Cousin, The letter which I received from your Lordship upon your going to sea, was more than a compensation for any former omission; and I shall ever be very glad to entertain a correspondence with you in both kinds which you write of. For the latter, I am now ready for you, having sent you some ore of that mine. I thank you for your favours to Mr. Meautys, and I pray continue the same. So wishing you out of your honourable exile, and placed in a better orb, I rest Your Lordship's affectionate kinsman, York-house, 20 Oct., 1620. 5. and assured friend, FR. VERULAM, Canc. The voluntary contribution for the defence of the Palatinate had been taken up with alacrity by the nobility about the Court and in London, but the returns from the country were so slow in coming in as to suggest a doubt whether the nation was as eager in the cause as it had been supposed to be. When three weeks had passed without any considerable return, letters were sent round from the Council to all Peers, Bishops, Deans, etc., to explain what had been done, and why, and what was wanted, and what expected. It appears from the Calendar of State Papers that 109 of these circulars were despatched on the 25th of October; and since the slowness of the country in coming forward has been attributed to the darkness in which the people were kept as to the policy of the government, it may be well to show how the case was represented to them at this time. 1 Stephens's first collection. p. 253. Not stated whence. Reliquiæ p. 374. CIRCULAR FROM THE COUNCIL TO THE NOBILITY.1 After our very hearty commendations to your Lordship. You may formerly have heard how the Palatinate, being the ancient heritage of the Count Palatine, his Majesty's son-inlaw, and to descend to his Majesty's grand-children, is now invaded by a foreign enemy, many principal towns surprised, a great part of the country in the possession of strangers, and the inhabitants forced to take an oath against their natural Prince; whereupon his Majesty, out of considerations of nature, honour, and state, hath declared himself in the course of an auxiliary war for the defence and recovery of the same. The occasion being so weighty and pressing hath moved his Majesty, by the general advice of us of his Council, to think of some course for the provision of treasure, of that nature as may serve as well to the maintenance and preserving of the present succors already sent, as the reinforcing them with new companies as the occasion of the wars shall require. And for that the swiftness of the occasion would not permit a supply by other means for the present so readily as was needful, we have all concurred to begin with ourselves in offering a voluntary gift unto his Majesty for the advancement of the present occasion; assuring ourselves that your Lordship being a Peer of the kingdom will cheerfully and readily follow the example of us begun. And if there were much alacrity and readiness found in the nobility and others to contribute at the motion of his Majesty's son's ambassador, at what time the Palatinate was not invaded, neither had his Majesty declared himself, you will much more and in a better proportion do it, now these two so weighty motives do concur. And so, nothing doubting of your Lordship's readiness herein, we bid you heartily farewell. From Whitehall, the 25th of October, 1620. T. EDMONDES. Your Lordship's very loving friends ROBERT NAUNTON, GEO. CALvert. 1 S. P. Dom. vol. 117, no. 30. 1620.] CASE OF SIR H. YELVERTON. 133 The invitation to contribute was addressed only to the wealthy classes; and it is plain that after this they must all have known perfectly well that the policy of the government was to defend the Palatinate, that the danger was near, and the need of money to meet it urgent. If the wealthy classes of the country, so appealed to, contributed little, the inference must surely be that their zeal was not much to be depended upon. The leaders of the war-party were zealous enough, and not too scrupulous; but the followers do not seem to have been overpowering either in numbers or devotion. For the time, however, which must necessarily pass before Parliament could meet-the announcement of which did not wait for the result of the circular-the money subscribed (amounting altogether to about half a subsidy) was no inconsiderable help: and if the progress of the contribution showed that the constituencies were not so eager in the cause as the politicians, it served for a warning not to rely too confidently upon the disposition of the House which they were to return. 6 We have seen that the Attorney-General was suspended from his office in June, for inserting unwonted clauses in the charter of the City of London; and that, though he offered to confess the error and make submission in writing, a public proceeding was considered necessary, and therefore he was to be called to his answer in the Star Chamber. The hearing was fixed for the 27th of October, and on the 24th Bacon set down the following note of what he intended to say-a copy of which was found among his papers. NOTES UPON MR. ATTORNEY'S CAUSE.1 Sorry for the person, being a gentleman that I lived with in Gray's Inn; served with him when I was attorney; joined with since in many services, and one that ever gave me more attributes in public than I deserved; and besides a man of very good parts; which with me is friendship at first sight; much more joined with so antient acquaintance. But, as a Judge, I hold the offence very great, and that without pressing measure; upon which I will only make a few observations, and so leave it. 1 Gibson Papers, vol. viii. f. 133. "Star-Chamber, October 24, 1620. Copy by Meautys. No fly-leaf. Indorsed |