The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

54 ESSAYS CIVIL AND MORAL.
taint business through want of secrecy; and they an occasion to cross some other, or to make an
export honour from a man, and make him a return information, whereof they could not otherwise
in envy. There is a kind of followers, likewise, have apt pretext, without care what become of
which are dangerous, being indeed espials: which the suit when that turn is served; or, generally,
inquire the secrets of the house, and bear tales of to make other men's business a kind of entertainthem to others; yet such men, many times, are in ment to bring in their own: nay, some undertake
great favour; for they are officious, and commonly suits with a full purpose to let them fall; to the
exchange tales. The following by certain estates end to gratify the adverse party, or competitor.
of men, answerable to that which a great person Surely there is in some sort a right in every suit;
himself professeth, (as of soldiers to him that hath either a right of equity if it be a suit of controbeen employed in the wars, and the like,) hath versy, or a right of desert if it be a suit of petition.
ever been a thing civil, and well taken even in If affection lead a man to favour the wrong side
monarchies, so it be without too mtuch pomp or in justice, let him rather use his countenance to
popularity: but the most honourable kind of fol- compound the matter than to carry it. If affection
lowing, is to be followed as one that apprehendeth lead a man to favour the less worthy in desert, let
to advance virtue and desert in all sorts of persons; him do it without depraving or disabling the betand yet, where there is no eminent odds in suffi- ter deserver. In suits which a man doth not well
ciency, it is better to take with the more passable, understand, it is good to refer them to some friend
than with the more able; and besides to speak of trust and judgment, that may report whether
truth in base times, active men are of more use he may deal in them with honour: but let him
than virtuous. It is true, that in government, it choose well his referendaries, for else he may be
is good to use men of one rank equally: for to led by the nose. Suitors are so distasted with
countenance some extraordinarily, is to make them delays and abuses, that plain dealing in denying
insolent, and the rest discontent; because they to deal in suits at first, and reporting the success
may claim a due: but contrariwise in favour, to barely, and in challenging no more thanks than
use men with much difference and election is one hath deserved, is grown not only honourable
good; for it maketh the persons preferred more but also gracious. In suits of favour, the first
thankful, and the rest more officious: because all coming ought to take little place; so far forth
is of favour. It is good discretion not to make too consideration may be had of his trust, that if inmuch of any man at the first; because one cannot telligence of the matter could not otherwise have
hold out that proportion. To be governed (as we been had but by him, advantage be not taken of
call it) by one, is not safe; for it shows softness, the note, but the party left to his other means;
and gives a freedom to scandal and disreputation; and in some sort recompensed for his discovery.
for those that would not censure or speak ill of a To be ignorant of the value of a suit, is simplicity;
man immediately, will talk more boldly of those as well as to be ignorant of the right thereof, is
that are so great with them, and thereby wound want of conscience. Secrecy in suits is a great
their honour; yet to be distracted with many, is mean of obtaining; for voicing them to be in forworse; for it makes men to be of the last impres- wardness may discourage some kind of suitors;
sion, and full of change. To take advice of some but doth quicken and awake others: but timing
few friends is ever honourable; for lookers-on of the suit is the principal; timing I say, not only
many times see more than gamesters; and the in respect of the person that should grant it, but
vale best discovereth the hill. There is little inrespect of those which are like to cross it. Let
friendship in the world, and least of all between a man, in the choice of his mean, rather choose the
equals, which was wont to be magnified. That fittest mean, than the greatest mean; and rather
that is, is between superior and inferior, whose them that deal in certain things, than those that
fortunes may comprehend the one the other. are general. The reparation of a denial is somLtimes equal to the first grant, if a man show himXLIX. OF SUITORS. self neither dejected nor discontented. "(Iniquuln
petas, ut Tquum feras," is a good rule, where a
MANY ill matters and projects are undertaken; nian hath strength of favour: but otherwise a man
and private suits do putrefy the public good. were better rise in his suit; for he that would
Many good matters are undertaken with bad have ventured at first to have lost the suitor, will
minds; I mean not only corrupt minds, but not, in the conclusion, lose both the suitor and his
crafty minds; that intend not performance. own former favour. Nothing is thought so easy
Some embrace suits which never mean to deal a request to a great person, as his letter; and yet,
effectually in them; but if they see there may be if it be not in a good cause, it is so much out of
life in the matter, by some other mean, they will his reputation. There are no worse instruments
be content to win a thank or take a second reward, than these general contrivers of suits; for they
or, at least, to make use in the mean time of the are but a kind of poison and infection to public.mutor's hopes. Some take hold of suits only for proceedings.