The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

MISCELLANEOUS.
MR. BACON'S DISCOURSE
IN THE
PRAISE OF HIS SOVEREIGN.
No praise of magnanimity, nor of love, nor of wars, left her to make her own peace; one that
knowledge, can intercept her praise, that planteth could never be by any solicitation moved to renew
and nourisheth magnanimity by her example, love the treaties; and one that since hath proceeded
by her person, and knowledge by the peace and from doubtful terms of amity to the highest acts
serenity of her times. And if these rich pieces be of hostility. Yet, notwithstanding the opposition
so fair unset, what are they set, and set in all per- so great, the support so weak, the season so imfection l Magnanimity no doubt consisteth in proper; yet, I say, because it was a religion
contempt of peril, in contempt of profit, and in wherein she was nourished and brought up; a
meriting of the times wherein one liveth. For religion that freed her subjects from pretence of
contempt of peril, see a lady that cometh to a foreign powers, and indeed the true religion; she
crown after the experience of some adverse fortune brought to pass this great work with success
which for the most part extenuateth the mind, worthy so noble a resolution. See a queen that,
and maketh it apprehensive of fears. No sooner when a deep and secret conspiracy was plotted
she taketh the sceptre into her sacred hands, but against her sacred person, practised by subtile inshe putteth on a resolution to make the greatest, struments, embraced by violent and desperate
the most important, the most dangerous that can humours, strengthened and bound by vows and
be in a state, the alteration of religion. This she sacraments, and the same was revealed unto her,
doth, not after a sovereignty established and con- (and yet the nature of the affairs required further
tinued by sundry years, when custom might have ripening before the apprehension of any of the
bred in her people a more absolute obedience; parties,) was content to put herself into the guard
when trial of her servants might have made her of the divine providence, and her own prudence,
more assured whom to employ: when the reputa- to have some of the conspirators in her eyes, to
tion of her policy and virtue might have made her suffer them to approach to her person, to take a
government redoubted: but at the very entrance petition of the hand that was conjured for her
of her reign, when she was green in authority, death; and that with such majesty of countenance,
her servants scant known unto her, the adverse such mildness and serenity of gesture, such art and
part not weakened, her own part not confirmed. impression of words, as had been sufficient to
Neither doth she reduce or reunite her realm to have repressed and bound the hand of a conspirator,
the religion of the states about her, that the evil if he had not been discovered. Lastly, see a queen,
inclination of the subject might be countervailed that when her realm was to have been invaded by
by the good correspondence in foreign parts: but, an army, the preparation whereof was like the
contrariwise, she introduceth a religion extermi- travel of an elephant, the provisions were infinite,
nated and persecuted both at home and abroad. Her the setting forth whereof was the terror and wonproceeding herein is not by degrees and by stealth, der of Europe; it was not seen that her cheer, her
but absolute and at once. Was she encouraged fashion, her ordinary manner was any thing alterthereto by the strength she found in leagues and ed: not a cloud of that storm did appear in that
alliances with great and potent confederates. countenance wherein peace doth ever shine; but
No, but she found her realm in wars with her with excellent assurance, and advised security,
nearest and mightiest neighbours. She stood she inspired her council, animated her nobility,
single and alone, and in league only with one, redoubled the courage of her people, still having
that after the people of her nation had made his this noble apprehension, not only that she would
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