The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

270 A SPEECH ABOUT UNDERTAKERS.
Thirdly, I will give you my poor advice, what I selves betrayed by those that are their deputies
means there are to put an end to this question of and attorneys here, it is true we may bind them
undertaking; not falling, for the present, upon a and conclude them, but it will be with such
precise opinion, but breaking it, how many ways murmur and insatisfaction as I would be loath to
there be by which you may get out of it, and see.
leaving the choice of them to a debate at the These things might be dissembled, and so
committee. things left to bleed inwards; but that is not the
And, lastly, I will advise you how things are way to cure them. And, therefore, I have
to be handled at the committee, to avoid distrac- searched the sore, in hope that you will endeavour
tion and loss of time. the medicine.
For the first of these, I can say to you but as But this to do more thoroughly, I must prothe Scripture saith, " Si invicem mordetis, ab ceed to my second part, to tell you clearly and
invicem consumemini;" if ye fret and gall one distinctly, what is to be set on the right hand, and
another's reputation, the end will be, that every what on the left, in this business.
man shall go hence, like coin cried down, of less First, if any man hath done good offices to
price than he came hither. If some shall be advise the king to call a parliament, and to inthought to fawn upon the king's business openly, crease the good affection and confidence of his
and others to cross it secretly, some shall be majesty towards his people; I say, that such a
thought practisers that would pluck the cards, person doth rather merit well, than commit any
and others shall be thought Papists that would error. Nay, further, if any man hath, out of his
shuffle the cards; what a misery is this, that we own good mind, given an opinion touching the
should come together to fool one another, instead minds of the parliament in general; how it is
of procuring the public good. probable they are like to be found, and that they
And this ends not in particulars, but will make will have a due feeling of the king's wants, and
the whole House contemptible: for now I hear will not deal dryly or illiberally with him; this
men say, that this question of undertaking is the man, that doth but think of other men's minds,
predominant matter of this House. So that we as he finds his own, is not to be blamed. Nay,
are now, according to the parable of Jotham, in further, if any man hath coupled this with good
the case of the trees of the forest, that when wishes and propositions, that the king do comfort
question was, Whether the vine should reign the hearts of his people, and testify his own love
over them. that might not be: and whether the to them, by filing off the harshness of his preroolive should reign over them l that might not be: gative, retaining the substance and strength; and
but we have accepted the bramble to reign over to that purpose, like the good householder in the
us. For, it seems, that the good vine of the Scripture, that brought forth old store and new,
king's graces, that is not so much in esteem; and hath revolved the petitions and propositions of
the good oil, whereby we should salve and relieve the last parliament, and added new; I say, this
the wants of the estate and crown, that is laid man hath sown good seed; and he that shall
aside too: and this bramble of contention and draw him into envy for it, sows tares. Thus
emulation; this Abimelech, which, as was truly much of the right hand. But, on the other side,
said by an understanding gentleman, is a bastard, if any shall mediately or immediately infuse
for every fame that wants a head, is 4"filius into his majesty, or to others, that the parliament
populi," this must reign and rule amongst us. is, as Cato said of the Romans, "6 like sheep, that
Thein for the king, nothing can be more oppo- a man were better drive a flock of them than one
site, ", ex diametro," to his ends and hopes, than of them:" and, however, they may be wise men
this: -for you have heard him profess like a king, severally, yet, in this assembly, they are guided
and like a gracious king, that he doth not so much by some few, which, if they be made and assured,
respect his present supply, as this demonstration the rest will easily follow: this is a plain robbery
that the people's hearts are more knit to him than of the king of honour, and his subjects of thanks,
before. Now, then, if the issue shall be this, that and it is to make the parliament vile and servile
whatsoever shall be done for him shall be thought in the eyes of their sovereign; and I count it no
to be done but by a number of persons that shall better than a supplanting of the king and kingbe laboured and packed; this will rather be a dom. Again, if a man shall make this impressign of diffidence and alienation, than of a natural sion, that it shall be enough for the king to send
benevolence and affection in his people at home; us some things of show, that may serve for
and rather matter of disreputation, than of honour colours, and let some eloquent tales be told of
abroad. So that, to speak plainly to you, the them, and that will serve 1" ad faciendum popuking were better call for a new pair of cards, than lum;" any such person will find that this HIouse
play upon these if they be packed. can well skill of false lights, and that it is no
And then, for the people, it is my manner ever wooing tokens, but the true love already planted
to look as well beyond a parliament, as upon a in the breast of the subjects, that will make them
parliament; and if they abroad shall think them- do for the king. And this is my opinion touching