The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

386 ADVICE TO SIR GEORGE VILLIERS.
perhaps, of the richest; howsoever, the mines out tism, lest they should be drawn into factions and
of the fruits of the earth, and seas and waters schisms, and that place receive them there bad,
adjoining, may be found in abundance. and send them back worse.
11. In a short time they may build vessels and 6. To employ them in profitable trades and
ships also, for traffic with the parts near adjoin- manufactures, such as the clime will best fit, and
ing, and with England also, from whence they such as may be useful to this kingdom, and return
may be fuYnished with such things as they may to them an exchange of things necessary.
want, and, in exchange or barter, send from thence 7. That they be furnished and instructed for
other things, with which quickly, either by nature the military part, as they may defend themselves;
or art, they may abound. lest, on a sudden, they be exposed as a prey to
12. But these things would by all means be some other nation, when they have fitted the coloprevented; that no known bankrupt, for shelter; ny for them.
nor known murderer or other wicked person, to 8. To order a trade thither, and thence, in such
avoid the law; nor known heretic or schismatic, a manner as some few merchants and tradesmen,
be suffered to go into those countries; or, if they under colour of furnishing the colony with nedo creep in there, not to be harboured or continued: cessaries, may not grind them, so as shall always
else, the place would receive them naught, and keep them in poverty.
return theom into England, upon all occasions, 9. To place over them such governors as may
worse. be qualified in such manner as may govern thre
13. That no merchant, under colour of driving place, and lay the foundation of a new kingdom.
a trade thither or from thence, be suffered to work 10. That care be taken, that when the industry
upon their necessities. of one man hath settled the work, a new man, by
14. And that to regulate all these inconve- insinuation or misinformation, may not supplant
niences, which will insensibly grow upon them, him without just cause, which is the discouragethat the king be pleased to erect a subordinate ment of all faithful endeavours.
council in England, whose care and charge shall 11. That the king will appoint commissioners
be, to advise, and put in execution, all things in the nature of a council, who may superintend
which shall be found fit for the good of those new the works of this nature, and regulate what conplantations; who, upon all occasions, shall give cerns the colonies, and give an account thereof to
an account of their proceedings to the king, or to the king, or to his council of state.
the council-board, and from them receive such Again, For matter of trade, I confess it is out
directions as may best agree with the government of my profession; yet in that I shall make a conof that place. jecture also, and propound some things to you,
15. That the king's reasonable profit be not whereby, if I am not much mistaken, you may
neglected, partly upon reservation of moderate advance the good of your country and profit of
rents and services; and partly upon customs; your master.
and partly upon importation and exportation of 1. Let the foundation of a profitable trade be
merchandise; which for a convenient time after thus laid, that the exportation of home commodithe plantation begin, would be very easy, to en- ties be more in value than the importation of focourage the work: but, after it is well settled, reign; so we shall be sure that the stocks of the
may be raised to a considerable proportion, wor- kingdom shall yearly increase, for then the balance
thy the acceptation. of trade must be returned in money or bullion.
[Yet these cautions are to be observed in these 2. In the importation of foreign commodities,
undertakings. let not the merchant return toys and vanities, as
1. That no man be compelled to such an em- sometimes it was elsewhere apes and peacocks,
ployment; for that were a banishment, and not a but solid merchandise, first for necessity, next for
service fit for a free man. pleasure, but not for luxury.
2. That if any transplant themselves into plan- 3. Let the vanity of the times be restrained,
tations abroad, who are known schismatics, out- which the neighbourhood of other nations have
laws, or criminal persons, that they be sent for induced; and we strive apace to exceed our patback upon the first notice; such persons are not tern; let vanity in apparel, and, which is more
fit to lay the foundation of a new colony. vain, that of the fashion, be avoided. I have
3. To make no extirpation of the natives under heard, that in Spain, a grave nation, whom in this
pretence of planting religion: God surely will no I wish we might imitate, they do allow the playway be pleased with such sacrifices. ers and courtesans the vanity of rich and costly
4. That the people sent thither be governed clothes; but to sober men and matrons they permit
according to the laws of this realm, whereof they it not upon pain of infamy; a severer punishment
are, and still must be subjects. upon ingenuous natures than a pecuniary mulct.
5. To establish there the same purity of reli- 4. The excess of diet in costly meats and drinks
gion, and the same discipline for church govern- fetched from beyond the seas would be avoided;!nent, without any mixture of popery or anahap- wise men will do it without a law, I would there