The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

ADVICE TO SIR GEORGE VILLIERS. 385
and set many able-bodied subjects on work; it chants which move first in the work, than to be
were great pity they should not be industriously designed unto them from the king; for it must
followed. proceed from the option of the people, else it
17. But of all minerals, there is none like to sounds like an exile; so the colonies must be
that of fishing, upon the coasts of thesekingdoms, raised by the leave of the king, and not by his
and the seas belonging to them: our neighbours, command.
within half a day's sail of us, with a good wind, 3. After the place is made choice of, the first
can show us the use and value thereof; and, step must be, to make choice of a fit governor;
doubtless, there is sea-room enough for both who, although he have not the name, yet he must
nations, without offending one another; and it have the power of viceroy; and if the person who
would exceedingly support the navy. principally moved in the work be not fit for that
18. This realm is much enriched, of late years, trust, yet he must not be excluded from command;
by the trade of merchandise which the English but then his defect in the governing part must be
drive in foreign parts; and, if it be wisely ma- supplied by such assistants as shall be joined
naged, it must of necessity very much increase with him, or as he shall very well approve of.
the wealth thereof: care being taken, that the ex- 4. As at their setting out they must have their
portation exceed in value the importation; for commission or letters patents from the king, that
then the balance of trade must of necessity be so they may acknowledge their dependency upon
returned in coin or bullion. the Crown of England, and under his protection;
19. This would easily be effected, if the mer- so they must receive some general instructions,
chants were persuaded or compelled to make their how to dispose of themselves when they come
returns in solid commodities, and not too much there, which must be in nature of laws unto them.
thereof in vanity, tending to excess. 5. But the general law, by which they must be
20. But especially care must be taken, that guided and governed, must be the common law of
monopolies, which are the cankers of all trading, England; and to that end, it will be fit that some
be not admitted under specious colours of public man reasonably studied in the law, and otherwise
good. qualified for such a purpose, be persuaded, if not
21. To put all these into a regulation, if a con- thereunto inclined of himself, which were the best,
stant commission to men of honesty and under- to go thither as chancellor amongst them, at first;
standing were granted, and well pursued, to give and when the plantation were more settled, then
order for the managing of these things, both at to have courts of justice there as in England.
home and abroad, to the best advantage; and that 6. At the first planting, or as soon after as they
this commission were subordinate to the council can, they must make themselves defensible both
board; it is conceived it would produce notable against the natives and against strangers; and to
effects. that purpose they must have the assistance of
some able military man, and convenient arms and
VII. The next thing is that of colonies and ammunition for their defence.
foreign plantations, which are very necessary, as 7. For the discipline of the church in those
outlets, to a populous nation, and may be profit- parts, it will be necessary, that it agree with that
able also if they be managed in a discreet way. which is settled in England, else it will make a
1. First, in the choice of the place, which re- schism and a rent in Christ's coat, which must be
quireth many circumstances; as, the situation, seamless; and, to that purpose, it will be fit that,
near the sea, for the commodiousness of an inter- by the king's supreme power in causes ecclesiascourse with England; the temper of the air and tical, within all his dominions, they be subordiclimate, as may best agree with the bodies of the nate under some bishop and bishopric of this
English, rather inclining to cold than heat; that realm.
it be stored with woods, mines, and fruits, which 8. For the better defence against a common
are naturally in the place; that the soil be such enemy, I think it would be best, that foreign planas will probably be fruitful for corn, and other tations should be placed in one continent, and near
conveniences, and for breeding of cattle; that it together; whereas, if they be too remote, the one
hath rivers, both for passage between place and from the other, they will be disunited, and so the
place, and for fishing also, if it may be; that the weaker.
natives be not so many, but that there may be 9. They must provide themselves of houses
elbow-room enough for them, and for the adven- such as for the present they can, and, at more
tives also: all which are likely to be found in the leisure, such as may be better; and they first must
West Indies. plant for corn and cattle, &c., for food and neces2. It should be also such as is not already sary sustenance; and after, they may enlarge
planted by the subjects of any Christian prince themselves for those things which may be foX
or state, nor over-nearly neighbouring to their profit and pleasure, and to traffic withal also.
plantation. And it would be more convenient, to 10. Woods for shipping, in the first place, may
be chosen by some of those gentlemen or mer- doubtless be there had, and minerals there found,
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