The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

APOPHTHE GMS
NEW AND OLD.
A.D. 1625.
JULIUS CAiSAR did write a collection of apophthegms, as appears in an epistle of Cicero; I need
say no more for the worth of a writing of that nature. It is pity his book is lost: for I imagine they
were collected with judgment and choice; whereas that of Plutarch and Stobaeus, and much more
the modern ones, draw much of the dregs. Certainly they are of excellent use. They are " mucrones verborum," pointed speeches. Cicero prettily calleth them 4" salinas," salt pits, that you may
extract salt out of, and sprinkle it where you will. They serve to be interlaced in continued speech.
They serve to be recited upon occasion of themselves. They serve, if you take out the kernel of
them and make them your own. I have, for my recreation, in my sickness, fanntd the old, not omitting any, because they are vulgar, for many vulgar ones are excellent good; nor for the meanness of
the person, but because they are dull and flat; and adding many new, that otherwise would have died.
1. WHEN Queen Elizabeth had advanced to accountants that were already, but extend only
Raleigh, she was one day playing on the virgi- to accountants hereafter. But the lo. treasurer said,
nals, and my Lo. of Oxford and another nobleman ", Why, I pray you, if you had lost your purse by
stood by. It fell out so, that the ledge.before the the way, would you look forwards, or would you
jacks was taken away, so as the jacks were seen: look back! The queen hath lost her purse."
my Lo. of Oxford and the other nobleman smiled, 4. Queen Elizabeth, the morrow of her coronaand a little whispered. The queen marked it, and tion, went to the chapel; and in the great chamwould needs know what the matter was l My ber, Sir John Rainsford, set on by wiser men, (a
Lo. of Oxford answered: ", That they smiled to knight that had the liberty of a buffoon,) besought
see that when jacks went up, heads went down." the queen aloud;," That now this good time,
2. Henry the Fourth of France his queen was when prisoners were delivered, four prisoners,
great with child; Count Soissons, that had his amongst the rest, mought likewise have their
expectation upon the crown, when it was twice liberty who were like enough to be kept still in
or thrice thought that the queen was with child hold." The queen asked; ",Who they were!"
before, said to some of his friends, "6 That it was And he said; ", Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John,
but with a pillow." This had someways come who had long been imprisoned in the Latin
to the king's ear; who kept it till when the queen tongue; and now he desired they mought go
waxed great: called the Count of Soissons to him, abroad among the people in English." The
and said, laying his hand upon the queen's belly; queen answered, with a grave countenance; "It
", Come, cousin, it is no pillow!" — Yes, sir," were good (Rainsford) they were spoken with
answered the Count of Soissons, " it is a pillow themselves, to know of them whether they would
for all France to sleep upon." be set at liberty l"
3. There was a conference in parliament be- 5. The lo. keeper, Sir Nicholas Bacon, was
tween the Upper House and the Lower, about a asked his opinion by Queen Elizabeth of one of
bill of accountants, which came down from the these monopoly licences l And he answered
Lords to the Commons; which bill prayed, That,Will you have me speak truth, madam l
the lands of accountants, whereof they were Licentia omnes deteriores sumus;"' We are all
seized when they entered upon their office, mought the worse for a licence.
be liable to their arrears to the queen; but the Com- 6. Pace, the bitter fool, was not suffered to
mnons desired that the bill mought not look back come at the queen, because of his bitter humoul
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