The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

THE ARGUMENTS IN LAW
OF
SIR FRANCIS BACON, KNIGHT,
TIlE KING'S SOLICITOR-GENERAL,
IN CERTAIN GREAT AND DIFFICULT CASES.
TO MY LOVING FRIENDS AND FELLOWS,
THE
READERS, ANCIENTS, UTTER-BARRISTERS, AND STUDENTS OF GRAY'S IN N.
I Do not hold the law of England in so mean an account, but that which other laws are held
worthy of should be due likewise to our laws, as no less worthy for our state. Therefore, when I found
that, not only in the ancient times, but now at this day, in France, Italy, and other nations, the speeches,
and as they term them, pleadings, which have been made in judicial cases where the cases were mighty
and famlous, have been set down by those that made them, and published; so that not only Cicero,
a Demosthenes, or an EAschines hath set forth his orations, as well in the judicial as deliberative,
but a Marion and a Pavier have done the like by their pleadings; I know no reason why the same
should not be brought in use by the professors of our law, for their arguments in principal cases.
And this I think the more necessary, because the compendious form of reporting resolutions, with
the substance of the reasons lately used by Sir Edward Coke, Lord Chief Justice of the King's
Bench, doth not delineate or trace out to the young practisers of law a method and form of argument
for them to imitate. It is true, I could have wished some abler person had begun; but it is a kind
of order sometimes to begin with the meanest. Nevertheless, thus much I may say with modesty,
that these arguments which I have set forth, most of them are upon subjects not vulgar; and therewithal, in regard of the commixture which the course of my life hath made of law with other studies,
they may have the more variety, and perhaps the more depth of reason: for the reasons of municipal
laws, severed from the grounds of nature, manners, and policy, are like wall flowers, which, though
they grow high upon the crests of states, yet they have no deep root: besides, in all public services
I ever valued my reputation more than my pains; and, therefore, in weighty causes I always used
extraordinary diligence; in all which respects I persuade myself the reading of them will not be unprofitable. This work I knew not to whom to dedicate rather than to the Society of GRaY's INN, the
place whence my father was called to the highest place of justice, and where myself have lived and
had my procedure so far as, by his majesty's rare, if not singular grace, to be of both his councils;
and therefore few men so bound to their societies by obligation, both ancestral and personal, as I am
to yours, which I would gladly acknowledge, not only in having your name joined with mine own
in a book, but in any other good office and effect which the active part of my life and place may
enable me unto toward the society, or any of you in particular. And so I bid you right heartily
farewell.
Your assured loving Friend and Fellow,
FRANCIS BACON,
267