The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

376 ADVICE TO SIR GEORGE VILLIERS.
is as free from the malice or envy of his sub- soon find the throng of suitors attend you; for no
jects, as, I think, I may truly say, ever any king man, almost, who hath to do with the king, will
was, who hath sat upon his throne before him. think himself safe, unless you be his good angel,
But. am confident his majesty hath cast his eyes and guide him; or at least that you be not a "6 maupon you, as finding you to be such as you should lus genius" against him: so that, in respect of the
be, or hoping to make you to be such as he would king your master, you must be very wary that
have you to be; for this I may say, without flat- you give him true information; and if the matter
tery, your outside promiseth as much as can be concern him in his government, that you do not
expected from a gentleman; but be it in the one flatter him: if you do, you are as great a traitor
respect or other, it belongeth to you to take care of to him in the court of heaven, as he that draws
yourself, and to know well what the name of fa- his sword against him: and in respect of' the
vourite signifies. If you be chosen upon the for- suitors which shall attend you, there is nothing
mer respects, you have reason to take care of your will bring you more honour and more ease, than
actions and deportment, out of your gratitude for to do them what right in justice you may, and
the king's sake; but if out of the latter, you ought with as much speed as you may: for, believe it,
to take the greater care for your own sake. sir, next to the obtaining of the suit, a speedy and
You are as a new-risen star, and the eyes of all gentle denial, when the case will not bear it, is
men are upon you; let not your own negligence the most acceptable to suitors: they will gain by..
make you fall like a meteor. their despatch; whereas else they shall spend
[Remember well the great trust you have un- their time and money in attending, and you will
dertaken; you are as a continual sentinel, always gain, in the ease you will find in being rid of
to stand upon your watch to give him true intel- their importunity. But if they obtain what they
ligence. If you flatter him, you betray him; if reasonably desired, they will be doubly bound to
you conceal the truth of those things from him you for your favour; ",Bis dat qui cito dat," it
which concern his justice or his honour, although multiplies the courtesy, to do it with good words
not the safety of his person, you are as danger- and speedily.
ous a traitor to his state, as he that riseth in arms That you may be able to do this with the best
against him. A false friend is more dangerous advantage, my humble advice is this; when suitthan an open enemy: kings are styled gods upon ors come unto you, set apart a certain hour in a
earth, not absolute, but i Dixi, Dii estis;" and day to give them audience: if the business be
the next words are, "' sed moriemini sicut homi- light and easy, it may by word only be delivered,
nes;" they shall die like men, and then all their and in a word be answered; but if it be either of
thoughts perish. They cannot possibly see all weight or of difficulty, direct the suitor to commit
things with their owneyes, norhear all things with it to writing, if it be not so already, and then
their own ears; they mustcommit many great trusts direct him to attend for his answer at a set time
to their ministers. Kings mustbe answerable to to be appointed, which would constantly be
God Almighty, to whom they are but vassals, for observed, unless some matter of great moment
their actions, and for their negligent omissions: do interrupt it. When you have received the
but the ministers to kings, whose eyes, ears, and petitions, and it will please the petitioners well,
hands they are, must be answerable to God and to have access unto you to deliver them into your
man for the breach of their duties, in violation of own hand, let your secretary first read them, and
their trusts, whereby they betray them. Opinion draw lines under the material parts thereof; for
is a master wheel in these cases: thatcourtierwho the matter, for the most part, lies in a narrow
obtained a boon of the emperor, that he might every room. The petitions being thus prepared, do
morning at his coming into his presence humbly you constantly set apart an hour in a day to
whisper him in the ear and say nothing, asked no peruse those petitions; and after you have ranked
unprofitable suit for himself: but such a fancy them into several files, according to the subject
raised only by opinion cannot be long-lived, unless matter, make choice of two or three friends,
the man have solid worth to uphold it; otherwise, whose judgments and fidelities you believe you
when once discovered it vanisheth suddenly. But may trust in a business of that nature; and rewhen a favourite in court shall be raised upon the commend it to one or more of them, to inform you
foundation of merits, and together with the care of of their opinions, and of their reasons for or
doing good service to the king, shall give good de- against the granting of it. And if the matter be
spatches to the suitors, then can he not choose of great weight indeed, then it would not be
hut prosper.] amiss to send several copies of the same petition to'[he contemplation then of your present condi- several of your friends, the one not knowing what
tion must necessarily prepare you for action: the other doth, and desire them to return their.
what time can be well spared from your atten- answers to you by a certain time, to be prefixed,
(lance on your master, will be taken up by suit- in writing; so shall you receive an impartial
ors, whom you cannot avoid nor decline without answer, and by comparing the one with the other,
reproach. For if you do not already, you will as out of, responsa prudentium," you shall both