a letter of advice write by sir Francis Bacon to the duke of Buckingham when  he become favourite to king James my noble lord be over rule by your lordship  command first by word and since by your letter I have choose rather to show my  obedience then to dispute the danger of discover my weakness in adventure to  give advice in a subject too high for I but I know I commit it to the hand of  a noble friend and to any other for the nature of the discourse it be not  communicable e my lord when the blessing of God to who in the first place I  know you ascribe your preferment and the king favour purchase by your noble  part promise as much as can be expect from a gentleman have bring you to this  high pitch of honour to be in the eye and ear and even in the bosom of your  gracious master and you have find by experience the trouble of all man  confluence and for all matter to your self as a mediator between they and  their sovereign you be please to lie this command upon I first in general to  give you my poor advice for your carriage in so eminent a place and of so much  danger if not wise discharge next in particular by what mean to give dispatch  to suitor of all sort for the king best service the suitor satisfaction and  your own ease I humble return unto you I opinion in both these such as a  hermit rather then a courtier can render you be now the king favourite so vote  and so esteem by all in the first place then give I leave to tell you what  this signify and next what be the duty that lie upon you towards the king that  be do in a few word I shall then come to the particular which you must insist  upon to facilitate your dispatch it be no new thing for king and prince to  have their Privadoes their favourite their friend they have do it sometime out  of their affection to the person of the man for king have their affection as  well as private man sometime in contemplation of their greatabilities and that  be a happy choice and sometime for their own end to make they who they so  style and be content shall be so style to be interpose between the prince and  the people take it in either or any of those signification let it be a caution  unto you if the king have make choice of you out of his affection or out of  the opinion of your worth to communicate his bosom think with you or perhaps  to debate they and so ripen his own judgement you be bind in gratitude to  return so much as possible you can to advance your master service and honour  but be it as I be confident it be not to interpose you between himself and the  envy of his people in general or of some discontent party in particular then  you be bind for your own sake to watch over your action remember then what  your true condition be the king himself be above the reach of his people but  can be above their censure and you be his shadow if either he commit a error  and be loath to avow it but excuse it upon his minister of which you be the  first in the eye or you commit the fault or have Willing permit it and must  suffer for it so perhaps you may be offer as a sacrifice to appease the  multitude but admit you be in no such danger as I hope you be not and that you  be answerable only to God and the king for your action yet remember well the  great trust you have undertake you be as a continual centinel always to stand  upon your watch to give he true intelligence if you flatter he you betray he  if you conceal the truth of those thing from he which concern his justice or  his honour although not the safety of his person you be as dangerous a traitor  to his state as he that rise in arm against he a false friend be more  dangerous than a open enemy king be style God upon earth not absolute but  to say day to eat and the next word be say to die are man they shall die like  man and then their think perish they can possible see all thing with their own  eye nor hear all thing with their own ear they must commit many great trust to  their minister king must be answerable to God almighty to who they be but  vassal for their action and for their negligent omission but the minister to  king who eye ear and hand they be must be answerable to God and man for the  breach of their duty in violation of their trust whereby they betray they for  the general I say no more but apply my self to the particular wherein you  desire satisfaction in which my answer shall be plain and as clear as I can  and sir know this I beseech you that which I now write and recommend immediate  to you concern also the king and much more then you and because he can intend  all thing and ordinary person can have access unto he or if they have dare not  speak with that freedom you be bind to supply it and to be his monitor not in  a saucy male part way which may not take with he but at seasonable time which  you may nay which you must watch for it be true that the whole kingdom have  cast their eye upon you as the new rise star and no man think his business can  prosper at court unless he have you for his good angel or at least that you be  not a evil genius against he this you can now avoid unless you will adventure  a precipice to fall down fast than you rise opinion be a master wheel in these  case that courtier who obtain a boon of the emperor that he may every morning  at his come into his presence humble whisper he in the ear and say nothing ask  no unprofitable suit for himself but such a fancy raise only by a opinion can  be long live unless the man have solid worth to uphold it otherwise when once  discover it vanish sudden but when a favourite in court shall be raise upon  the foundation of merit and together with the care of do good service to the  king shall give good dispatch to the suitor then can he not choose but prosper  thus sir I find be your uoble ambition and it be worthy the honour you possess  and that this may succeed accord to your desire I shall humble propound unto  you these rule to be observe and I beseech you if you approve of they constant  to pursue they if the suit be either of importance for valve or of difficulty  direct that it be set down in write then appoint it to be leave with you in  write and appoint the suitor to attend for his answer so many day after as may  be competent of which time let a note be take by your secretary so shall you  be ease of the suitor in the mean time and he rest quiet till the day appoint  in expectation of his dispatch to prepare your self for these answer in their  time set a part a hour in a day or two to sort your petition which will be  easy do if your secretary draw line under the matter which always lie in a  narrow room think not your self nor any one or two private friend or servant  to be able to comprehend the true reason of all thing there be no such  omnisciency to be look for but divide the petition as they come to your hand  into several sort accord to the nature of the matter first cause two or three  several copy to be make of the petition or the substance of it then make  choice of several man well verse in these several profession or quality who  you think you may trust and to they several send copy desire they within  twenty day after to retun unto you in write their opinion of the petition and  their reason for it or against it and let not one of they know what the other  do then set a part a hour or two twice in a week to peruse these petition  again and the answer of the referee out of which compare together as out of  responsa discretion you may collect such a judgement as within a short time  you shall be able to judge of the fidelity and ability of those you trust and  return answer to petition of all nature as a oracle and be assure of this that  next to the grant of the request a reasonable and a fair denial if the matter  will not bear it to be otherwise be most acceptable that you may dispose of  all these sort of business in a fit and a dexterous way I conceive that all  matter of difficulty which will be present to you will be one of these eight  sort either concern religion and churchman or church matter the law and the  professor thereof the Council board and matter of state negotiation with  foreign prince or state war by sea or land foreign plantation and colony  matter of Trade the court or curiality what can be kauked under one of these  head will not be worthy of your think and you will find enough of these to  take up your time but that you may not study your ease only but chief your  honour and the honour of your master I beseech you to take these material thus  divide into these eight section into your more serious think and propound to  your self some rule as land mark to guide your judgement in the examination of  every one of they as shall come to your hand wherein I shall adventure to make  a essay please you to perfect it for religion if any thing be offer to you  touch it or touch the church or churchman or church government rely not only  upon your self but take the opinion of some grave eminent divine especial such  as be sad and discreet man and exemplary for their life if any question be  move concern the doctrine of the church of England express in the article give  not the least ear to the mover thereof that be so sound and so orthodoxally  settle as can be question without extreme danger to the honour and stability  of our religion which have be seal with the blood of so many martyr and  confessor as be famous through the Christian world the enemy and underminer  thereof be the Romish catholic so style themselves on the one hand who tenant  be inconsistent with the truth of religion profess and protest by the church  of England whence we be call protestant and the anabaptist and Seperatists and  sectary on the other hand who tenant be full of schism and inconsistent with  Monarchy for the regulate of either there needs no other Cohertion than the  due execution of the law already establish by parliament if any attempt be  make to alter the discipline of our church although it be not a essential part  of our religion yet it be so necessary not to be rash alter as the very  substance of religion will be interest in it therefore I desire you before any  attempt be make of a innovation by your mean or by any intercession to your  master that you will first read over and his majesty call to mind that wise  and weighty proclamation which himself pen and cause to be publish in the  first year of his reign and be prefix in print before the book of common  prayer of that impression in which you will find so prudent so weighty reason  not to hearken to innovation as will full satisfy you that it be dangerous to  give the least ear to such innovator but it be desperate to be mislead by they  but to settle your judgement mark but the admonition of the wise of man king  Solomon Prov five my son fear God and the king and meddle not with those who  be give to change two next touch the law wherein I mean the commonlaws of  England I shall be the more spare to speak because it be my profession but  thus much I shall say with confidence that if they be righty administer they  be the best the equal in the world between the prince and people by which the  king have the just prerogative and the people the best liberty and if at any  time there be a unjust deviation man be fault non declaration but that it may  in all thing have a fair proceed let the king take a care and as much as in  you lie do you take care for he that the judge of the law may be always choose  of the learned of the profession for a ignorant man can be a good judge of the  prudent and discreet because so great a part of the civil government lie upon  their charge and indeed little shall be do in legal consultation without they  and very much may be do by their prudent advice especial in their circuit if  right use be make of they believe I sir much assistance will be have from they  beside the deliver of the gaol and try of cause between party and party if the  king by himself which be the best or by his chancellor do give they the charge  accord to occurrence at their go forth and receive a particular account from  they at their return home they will then be the best intelligencer of the true  state of the kingdom and the sure mean to prevent or remove all grow mischief  within the body of the realm next to the judge let care be take that the  sergeant at law be such as be most probable to be make judge in the next turn  and never to be advance to that state and degree for it be so style for favour  or for reward but only with a eye upon the public good for the king Council at  law the king particular interest will easy persuade he and those who love his  service to make choice of the most eminent and most active their experience in  these place will make they able for any employment in that profession  afterward in the law we have a native interest it be our birth right and our  inheritance and I think the whole kingdom will always continue that mind which  once the two house of parliament public profess  not law England to move under  a law we must live and under a know law and not under a arbitrary law be our  happiness that we do live and the justice of peace if a good choice be make of  they be excellent instrument to this state III for matter of state and affair  proper for Council board I dare not take upon I to say much they be secret  arcana and be not fit to descend to too low to too petty matter or private  interest let the king be precedent of this Council himself not so much by  personal presence but only in great and weighty affair that may overawe the  board too much where in counsel there shall be a freedom of discourse and of  determination but in pursue the act of his Council table and I do hearty wish  that the councillor themselves will be so advice in their resolution that they  shall never be sudden but that all thing there propound and debate one day  shall be revise the next and then confirm or alter upon second think such  gravity in their proceed will much become the honour of that board and what be  thus settle shall not be alter again but upon great necessity in the choice of  privycouncillor thus much only in the general that there may be some of the  number who be several verse in all knowledge for their better assistance upon  counsel of that nature and although to some person of great birth the place of  prince councillor may be bestow as a honour unto they yet general the motive  shall be the part of the man and not his person IV the negotiation of  ambassador and treaty with foreign prince and estate the subject matter of the  treaty must guide the choice of the person to be employ but give I leave I  pray to remember unto you the constant practice of that famous and wise lady Q  Elizabeth who be very happy not so much in a numerous as a wise Council to  advice her if it be a embassy of gratulation of triumph she ever make choice  of a person of honour and eminency in his degree who take the employment as a  work of favour be Willing to undertake it at a easy rate for the expense of  the crown which have not often be so of late time but if it be upon some  matter of importance from the state there be always employ at least join in  the Commission some person of great judgement and know experience and in such  case man over green in year be never the principal agent yet some young man be  join with the elder to train they up in state affair five for matter of war  either by land or sea your gracious master so settle in his judgement for  peace as he have choose for his motto that part of our saviour beatitude happy  peace it be a happiness to this nation to be in this bless condition God send  we surfeit not with it yet I must tell you the best way to continue a secure  peace be to be prepare for a war security be a ill guard for a kingdom but  this Bul-Kingdome where the sea be our wall and the ship our work where safety  and plenty by trade be concomitant it be both a sin and a shame to neglect the  mean to attain into these end let brave spirit that have fit themselves for  command either by sea or by land not to be lie by as person unnecessary for  the time let arm and ammunition of all sort be provide and store up as against  a day of battle let the port and fort be fit so as if by the next wind we  shall hear of a alarm such a know providence be the sure protection but of all  war let both prince and people pray against a war in our own bowel the king by  his wisdom justice and moderation must foresee and stop such a storm and if it  fall must allay it and the people by their obedience must decline it and for a  foreign war intend by a invasion to enlarge the bind of your empire which be  large enough and be natural bind with the ocian I have no opinion either of  the justness or fitness of it and it be a very hard matter to attempt it with  help of success see the subject of this kingdom believe it be not legal for  they to be enforce to go beyond the sea without their own consent upon hope of  a unwarranted Conquest but to resist a invade enemy or to suppress rebel the  subject may and must be command out of the county where they inhabit the whole  kingdom be but one entire body else it will necessary be verify which  elsewhere be assert dumb one to fight all bind VI but in the next place for  foreign plantation and colony abroad that be both honourable and profitable to  disburden the land of such inhabitant as may well be spare and to employ their  labour in the Conquest of some foreign part without injury to the native yet  these caution be to be observe in these undertake that no man be compel to  such a employment for that be a banishment not a service fit for a freeman  that if any transplant themselves into plantation abroad who be know  schismatic outlaw or criminal person that they be send for back upon the first  notice such person be not fit to lie the foundation of a new colony to make no  extirpation of the native under pretence of plant religion God sure will no  way be please with such sacrifice that the people send thither be govern  accord to the law of this realm whereof they be and still must be subject to  establish there the same purity of religion and the same discipline for church  government without any mixture of popery or anabaptism least they shall be  draw into faction and schism and that place receive they there bid and send  they back worse to employ they in profitable trade and manufacture such as the  climb will best fit and such as may be useful to this kingdom and return to  they a exchange of thing necessary that they be furnish and instruct for the  military part as they may defend themselves least on a sudden they be expose  as a prey to some other nation when they have fit the colony for they to order  a Trade thither and thence in such a manner as some few merchant and tradesman  under colour of furnish the colony with necessary may not grind they so as  shall always keep they in poverty to place over they such governor as may be  qualify in such manner as may govern the place and lie the foundation of a new  kingdom that care be take that when the industry of one man have settle the  work a new man by insinuation or misinformation may not supplant he without a  just Cause which be the discouragement of all faithful endeavour that the king  will appoint commissioner in the nature of a Council who may superintend the  work of this nature and regulate what concern the colony and give a account  thereof to the king or to his Council of state VII for matter of Trade I  confess it be out of my profession yet in that I shall make a conjecture also  and propound some thing to you whereby if I be not much mistake you may  advance the good of your country and profit of your master let the foundation  of a profitable Trade be thus lie that the exportation of home commodity be  more in valve then the importation of foreign so we shall be sure that the  stock of the kingdom shall yearly increase for then the balance of Trade must  be return in money or bullion in the importation of foreign commodity let not  the merchant return toy and vanity as sometime it be elsewhere ape and peacock  but solid merchant first for necessity next or pleasure but not for luxury let  the vanity of the time be restrain which the neighbourhood of other nation  have induce and we strive a pace to exceed our pattern let vanity in apparel  and which be more vain that of the fashion be avoid I have hear that in pain a  grave nation who in this I wish we may imitate they do allow the layer and  courtesan the vanity of rich and costly clothes but to sober man and matron  they permit it not upon pain of infamy a severe punishment upon ingenious  nature then a pecuniary mulct the excess of diet in costly meat and drink set  from beyond the sea will be avoid wise man will do it without a law I will  there may be a law to restrain fool the excess of wine cost the kingdom much  and return nothing but surfeit and disease be we as wise as easy we may be  within a year or two at the most if we will needs be drun's with wine we may  be drink with half the cost if we must be vain and superfluous in lace and  embroidery which be more costly then either warm or comely let the curiosity  be the manifacture of the native then it shall not be verify of we Nateriam  to go over opus but instead of cry up all thing which be either bring from  beyond sea or wrought here by the hand of stranger let we advance the native  commodity of our own kingdom and employ our countryman before stranger let we  turn the wool of the land into clothes and stuff of our own grow and the hemp  and flax grow here into linning cloth and cordage it will set many thousand  hand on work and thereby one shilling worth of the material will by industry  be multiply to five ten and many time to twenty time more in the valve be  wrought and of all sort of thrift for the public good I will above all other  commend to your care the encouragement to be give to husbandry and the improve  of land for tillage there be no such usury as this the king can enlarge the  bind of these island which make up his empire the ocian be the removable wall  which enclose they but he may enlarge and multiply the revenue thereof by this  honest and harmless way of good husbandry a very great help unto Trade be  navigable river they be so many indrafts to attain wealth whereby be and  industry let they be make but let they not be turn to private profit in the  last place I beseech you take into your serious consideration that Indian  wealth which this island and the sea thereof excel in the hide and rich  treasure of fish do we want a example to follow I may true say to the English  go to the pismire thou sluggard I needs not expound the text half a day sail  with a good wind will show the Mineriall and the miner to regulate all these  it will be worthy the care of a subordinate Council to who the order of these  thing may be commit and they give a account thereof to the state last for the  affair of court you be much better able to instruct your self then any man  else can muchlesse then my self who have scarce step within the court gate but  as by chance and at the most as a stranger yet in this also I shall be bold to  tell you my think in the dispose of the office and affair of court the king  have a latitude for his affection which in matter touch the public he must  deny to himself here he be more proper Paterfamilis in the other he be  native land there be many place in court which a mere formal  Greek weight unit  may perform because they be but as the service of a private  family and in which the public have little interest and yet in these the  choice have needs be of honest and faithful servant as well as of comely  outside who can bow the knee and kiss the hand and perform other service of  small importance compare to this of public employment king David psalm  propound a rule to himself for the choice of his courtier he be a wise and a  good king and a wise and a good king shall do well to follow such a good  example and if he find any to be faulty which perhaps can sudden be let he  take on his this resolution as king David do there shall oh deceitful person  dwell in my house but for such as shall bear office in the king house and  manage the expense thereof it be much more requisite to make a good choice of  such servant both for his thrift and for his honour for your part I shall wish  that you will not interpose your self much in these thing which be proper for  the officer of the household that may draw too much envy upon you and this  will be too low for your think who will find enough to busy you about of a  high nature yet this will very well become you and your general trust not to  suffer the king to be too much abuse where your vigilance can prevent it but  then the way of do it will be thus to advertise the king of the defect and  then himself to find they out rather as if it be by accident then as prompt  unto it in court there be also some other requisite which in their season may  be think upon beside the serious affair pertain to government which be many  matter of pastime and disport be fit in their season but if they shall be too  common they will lose their repute and become argument of lightness rather  then of recreation when there be a queen and lady of honour attend her person  sometime to entertain they with revel and mask be ornament fit for a court  otherwise for a king of a young prince who be active and to be so commend they  sport abroad and of more manly and useful deportment as ride the great horse  the t the barrier the tennis c be more commendable but neither in jest or  earnest must that be countenance or care give to flatterer or sycophant the  bane of all court they be fly who will not only buzz about in every ear but  will blo and corrupt every plate where they light sir I can flatter I have  deal plain and clear with you accord to the freedom you have be please to  afford I I have but a word or two more to trouble you with you serve a  gracious master and a good and there be a noble and a hopeful prince who you  must not disserve adore not he as the rise sun in such a measure as that you  put a jealousy into the father who raise you nor out of the confidence you  have in the father affection make not your self suspect of the son keep a  equal and a fit distance so may you be serviceable to both and deserve be in  the favour of both if you find in these or in any other your observation which  doubtless be much better than these lose collection any thing which you will  have either the father or the son to take to heart a admonition from a dead  author or a caveat from a impartial pen who aim neither be nor can be take to  be at any particular by design will prevail more and take better impression  than a down right advice which may perhaps be mistake as if it be speak  magisterial thus may you long live a happy instrument for your king and  country you shall not be a meteor or a blaze star but star fixtures  happy  here and more happy hereafter Deus m to sew te ducat that be the hearty prayer  of your most oblige servant