I thank you for. No man may better conceive the joys of a good wife than yourself, with whom I dare not compare. But I thank God I have not taken a thorn out of my foot to put it into my side. For as my state is somewhat amended, so I have no other circumstance of complaint. But herein we will dilate when we meet; which meeting will be much more joyful if my Lady bear a part to mend the music: to whom I pray let me in all kindness be commended. And so I rest Yours assured, FR. BACON. This 4th of Aug. 1606. Sir Thomas, I suppose, had borrowed money of Mr. Bettenham upon bond, and delivered to him as part of the security his privy seal, that is, his claim upon the Exchequer for money lent to the King. If" the conduit ran," that is, if repayment of such loans was obtainable, the executors would apply it towards the liquidation of the debt. Bacon afterwards erected a memorial to his friend; a seat under the elms, where they had been used to walk and talk together. "There was still standing in 1774" (says Pearce in his 'History of the Inns of Court') an octagonal seat covered with a roof, within the circle of trees on the west side of Gray's Inn Gardens, with the following inscription: 66 Franciscus Bacon, Regis Solicitor generalis, Executor testamenti Jeremiæ Bettenham, nuper Lectoris hujus hospitii, viri innocentis, abstinentis, et contemplativi, The inscription is given in Seward's "Anecdotes of Distinguished Persons," vol. iv. p. 332, but not in the lapidary form, and I am not aware that the original shape has been preserved. It is a pity that somebody did not think of taking a sketch of the octagonal seat before it was removed. Bacon's temperate estimate of the result of his recent "experiment solitary" touching matrimony, I take rather as evidence that his wisdom likewise remained with him," than that the experiment had been unsuccessful, so far. 5. I am not aware of any other writing of his that seems to belong to the summer vacation of 1606 (in which much time would probably be spent in preparations for the debates on the Union that were to be the special business of the coming Session, and his leisure would be sufficiently occupied with his Experientia Literata and Interpretatio Naturæ, a work which he had announced as in progress), unless it be a letter to Dr. Playfere about the translation into Latin of the Advancement of Learning. The letter has no date; nor is the date of much consequence: but it was certainly written some while " after November 1605, when the book was published, and certainly not after July 1608; and August or September 1606 being as likely a date as any, I will place it here. : 66 Dr. Playfere was Margaret Professor of Divinity at Cambridge, and a distinguished preacher and latinist and if it be remembered that in those days all scholars could read Latin, and few except Englishmen could read English, the letter (which was preserved by Bacon himself in his Register-book, and first printed in the Resuscitatio) may be left to speak for itself without further introduction. A LETTER OF REQUEST TO DR. PLAYFER, TO TRANSLATE THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING INTO LATIN.1 Mr. Doctor Playfer, A great desire will take a small occasion to hope and put in trial that which is desired. It pleased you a good while since to express unto me the good liking which you conceived of my book of the Advancement of Learning; and that more significantly (as it seemed to me) than out of courtesy or civil respect. Myself, as I then took contentment in your approbation thereof, so I should esteem and acknowledge not only my contentment increased, but my labours advanced, if I might obtain your help in that nature which I desire. Wherein, before I set down in plain terms my request unto you, I will open myself what it was which I chiefly sought and propounded to myself in that work; that you may perceive that which I now desire to be pursuant thereupon. If I do not err, (for any judgment that a man maketh of his own doings, had need be spoken with a Si nunquam fallit imago,) I have this opinion, that if I had sought my own commendation, it had been a much fitter course for me to have done as gardeners use to do, by taking their seeds 1 Add. MSS. 5503, f. 29, b. and slips, and rearing them first into plants, and so uttering them in pots, when they are in flower, and in their best state. But for as much as my end was merit of the state of learning to my power, and not glory; and because my purpose was rather to excite other men's wits than to magnify my own; I was desirous to prevent the incertainness of my own life and times, by uttering rather seeds than plants: nay and furder (as the proverb is) by sowing with the basket, than with the hand. Wherefore, since I have only taken upon me to ring a bell to call other wits together, (which is the meanest office,) it cannot but be consonant to my desire, to have that bell heard as far as can be. And since that they are but sparks, which can work but upon matter prepared, I have the more reason to wish that those sparks may fly abroad, that they may the better find and light upon those minds and spirits which are apt to be kindled. And therefore the privateness of the language considered wherein it is written, excluding so many readers, (as, on the other side, the obscurity of the argument in many parts of it excludeth many others), I must account it a second birth of that work, if it might be translated into Latin, without manifest loss of the sense and matter. For this purpose I could not represent to myself any man into whose hands I do more earnestly desire that work should fall than yourself; for by that I have heard and read, I know no man a greater master in commanding words to serve matter. Nevertheless, I am not ignorant of the worth of your labours, whether such as your place and profession imposeth on you, or such as your own virtue may, upon your voluntary election, take in hand. But I can lay before you no other persuasions than either the work itself may affect you with, or the honour of his Majesty, to whom it is dedicated, or your particular inclination to myself; who, as I never took so much comfort in any labours of my own, so I shall never acknowledge myself more obliged in any thing to the labour of another, than in that which shall assist this. Which your labour if I can by my place, profession, means, friends, travel, word, deed, requite unto you, I shall esteem myself so straitly bound thereunto, as I shall be ever be most ready both to take and seek occasions of thankfulSo leaving it nevertheless salva amicitia (as reason is) to your own good liking, I remain. ness. 1 by om. in MS. Dr. Playfere appears to have undertaken the task with alacrity. But nothing came of it; whether because his way of doing it did not suit Bacon's taste, or because of his own failing health, is uncertain. Tenison, who had means of knowing through Dr. Rawley, gives the following account of the matter. "The Doctor was willing to serve so excellent a person and so worthy a design; and within a while sent him a specimen of a Latin translation. But men generally come short of themselves when they strive to outdo themselves. They put a force upon their natural genius, and in straining of it crack and disable it. And so it seems it happened to that worthy and elegant man. Upon this great occasion he would be over-accurate; and he sent a specimen of such superfine Latinity, that the Lord Bacon did not encourage him to labour further in that work, in the penning of which he desired not so much neat and polite, as clear, masculine, and apt expression." On the other hand there is a memorandum in the Commentarius Solutus, dated 25 July, 1608-" Proceeding with the translation of my book of Advancement of Learning: hearkening to some other, if Playfere should fail "2—which proves that at that time Dr. Playfere was still engaged upon the translation, though Bacon had begun to doubt whether he would get it done. And as he died only half a year after, at the age of 473—and I gather from Fuller's short notice of him among the worthies of Kent, that during the last year or two he was not the man he had been1-it seems probable that the apprehension of failure was suggested by the state of his health or faculties, and the failure caused by his death. There is also a short note belonging to this autumn, which must come in here to make the collection complete; though I have no conjecture to offer as to the occasion of it. Sir, TO HIS ASSURED FRIEND SIR MICH. HICKES.5 I pray try the conclusion I spoke to you of, out of hand. For it is a mind I shall not continue in, if it pass this very tide. So I rest 1 Baconiana, p. 25. Yours, FR. BACON. 2 See the next Volume, p. 64. 3 See his epitaph in Cooper's' Athenæ Cantabrigienses.' He died on the 2nd of February, 1608-9. 4 "It added to his distemper, that when his re-election to his place (after his last two years' end) was put into the Regent-house, a great Doctor said, Detur digniori." Lansd. MSS. 89, f. 203. Original: own hand. Docketed "No. 1606. Sr Fra. Bacon." 6. Parliament met again, according to appointment, on the 18th of November; and the Commons, having heard the King's speech and received a written answer to their petition of Grievances-an answer quite in accordance with the King's previous promise, and in which if there was anything, unconstitutional, all the recognised constitutional authorities (Coke included) were as much implicated as the King1-addressed themselves at once to the business of the Union. The "Instrument of Union" (agreed upon by the Commissioners in December 1604) having been laid before the House and read on the 21st; and a Committee, of which Bacon was a member, having been appointed on the 24th to hear and report what the Lords had to propound; the question on receiving the report was, how to proceed. Upon which question Bacon made a speech; of which there remains, in the hand I think of Sir Robert Cotton, the following sufficiently intelligible note. [SPEECH OF] SIR FRANCIS BACON, Nov. 25, 1606.2 Lest silence now in any particular should be noted, as it hath been already in general, I will in this cause give some brief though pertinent advice. That this should not be spoken of in the mass (as it hath been called before) I think we all hold necessary. For so perchance Plebs amittet quod vult, the people shall want what they desire, and have put upon them what they would not: which was well provided for in Rome lege Cecilia, in ordaining that Rogationes should be simplices: and it was a grave custom even in that Senate that any member might say Postulo quod dividatur relatio. A second reason of partition is expedition: for if we speak in general, it will be temptation to lead men to ingratiate themseves, sometimes for favour, often for fame, both vices; and to speak as orators only, and not as lawmakers. A third reason, because it is good for caution, to escape traducing; for being an adversary to a part one may be taxed so of the whole. 1 A memorial of such resolutions as his M. hath taken with the advice of his Privy Council, assisted with the two Chief Justices, the Lord Chief Baron, and his Majesty's Counsel at Law, upon examination of those grievances which were presented to his M. by the Lower House of Parliament, at the last session; wherein there hath not only been a just consideration how all those grants from whence these grievances are supposed to arise are warranted by the laws of the realm, but a due examination of all such inconveniences as do or may fall out in the execution of the same."—C. J. p. 316. 2 Harl. MSS. 6842, fo. 5; 6850, f. 55. 3 debet in MS. |