Sir Francis Bacon, to Sir George Villiers, upon the sending his Pattent for Viscount Vil∣liers to be Signed.
SIR,
I Have sent you now your Patent, of Creation of Lord Bletchly of Bletchly, and of Viscount Villiers. Beltchly is your own, and I liked the sound of the name better then Whaddon; but the name will be hid, for you will be called Viscount Villiers. I have put them in a Patent; after the manner of the Patent for Earls, where Baronies are joyned; but the chief reason was, because I would avoid double prefaces, which had not been fit; nevertheless the Ceremony of Robing, and otherwise, must be double.
And now, because I am in the Countrey, I will send you some of my Countrey fruits, which with me are good Meditations, which, when I am in the City, are choked with business.
After that the King shall have watered your new Dignities, with the Page 71 bounty of the Lands which he intends you, and that some other things concerning your Means, which are now likewise in intention, shall be setled upon you; I do not see, but you may think your private Fortunes established; and therefore it is now time, that you should refer your Actions to the good of your Sovereign, and your Countrey. It is the life of an Oxe or Beast, alwayes to eat, and never exercise; but men are born (and specially Christian men) not to cramb in their Fortunes, but to exercise their Vertues; and yet the other hath been the unwor∣thy, and (thanks be to God) sometimes the unlucky humour of great Persons in our times: Neither will your future Fortune be the further off, for, assure your self, that Fortune is of a Womans nature, and will sooner follow by sleighting, than by too much wooing. And in this dedication of your self to the Publick, I recommend unto you principal∣ly, that which, I think, was never done since I was born; and which, because it is not done, hath bred almost a Wilderness and Solitude in the Kings Service; which is, That you countenance and encourage, and ad∣vance 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 turn-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. As for cunning and corrupt men, you must (I know) sometimes use them, but keep them at a distance; and let it appear rather, that you make use of them, than that they lead you. Above all, depend wholly (next unto God) upon the King, and be ruled (as hitherto you have been) by His Instructions, for that is best for your self. For the Kings care and thoughts for you, are according to the thoughts of a great King; whereas your thoughts con∣cerning your self, are, and ought to be, according to the thoughts of a modest man. But let me not weary you, the sum is, That you think Goodness the best part of Greatness; and that you remember whence your rising comes, and make return accordingly. God keep you.
