The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

EXPOSTULATION TO LORD COKE. 487
and general audit-day. We desire you to amend wealth's behalf; hoping it proceedeth not from a
this, and let your poor tenants in Norfolk find disposition to oppose greatness, as your enemies
some comfort; where nothing of your estate is say, but to do justice, and deliver truth indifferspent towards their relief, but all brought up ently without respect of persons; and in this we
thither, to the impoverishing of your country. pray for your prosperity, and are sorry that your
In your last, which might have been your best, good actions should not always succeed happily.
piece of service to the state, affectioned to follow But in the carriage of this you were faulty; fbr
that old rule, which giveth justice leaden heels you took it in hand in an evil time, both in respect
and iron hands, you used too many delays, till the of the present business which was interrupted,
delinquents' hands were loosed, and yours bound: and in regard of his present sickness whom it
in that work you seemed another Fabius, where concerned, whereby you disunited your strength,
the humour of Marcellus would have done better; and made a gap for the enemies to pass out at,
what need you have sought more evidences than and to return and assault you.
enough? while you pretended the finding out of But now, since the case so standeth, we desire
more, missing your aim, you discredited what you to give way to power, and so to fight that you
you had found. This best judgments think; be not utterly broken, but reserved entirely to
though you never used such speeches as are serve the commonwealth again, and to do what
fathered upon you, yet you might well have done good you can, since you cannot do all the good.
it, and but rightly; for this crime was second to you would; and since you are fallen upon this
none, but the powder-plot: that would have blown rock, cast out the goods to save the bottom; stop
up all at one blow, a merciful cruelty; this would the leaks and make towards land; learn of the
have done the same by degrees, a lingering but a steward to make friends of the unrighteous mamsure way; one might by one be called out, till mon. Those Spaniards in Mexico who were
all opposers had been removed. chased of the Indians, tell us what to do with our
Besides, that other plotwas scandalous to Rome, goods in our extremity; they being to pass over
making Popery odious in the sight of the whole a river in their flight, as many as cast away their
world; this hath been scandalous to the truth of gold swam over safe; but some more covetous,
the whole gospel; and since the first nullity to keeping their gold, were either drowned with it,
this instant, when justice hath her hands bound, or overtaken and slain by the savages: you have
the devil could not have invented a more mis- received, now learn to give. The beaver learns
chievous practice to our state and church than this us this lesson, who being hunted for his stones,
hath been, is, and is like to be. God avert the evil. bites them off: you cannot but have much of
But herein you committed another fault: that your estate, pardon my plainness, ill got; think
as you were too open in your proceedings, and so how much of that you never spake for, how much
taught them thereby to defend themselves; so you by speaking unjustly or in unjust causes. Acgave them time to undermine justice, and to work count it then a blessing of God, if thus it may be
upon all advantages, both of affections, and honour, laid out for your good, and not left for your heir,
and opportunity, and breach of friendship; which to hasten the wasting of much of the rest, perthey have so well followed, sparing neither pains haps of all; for so we see God oftentimes pronor costs, that it almost seemeth a higher offence ceeds in judgment with many hasty gatherers:
in you to have done so much indeed, than that you have enough to spare, being well laid, to turn
you have done no more: you stop the confessions the tide, and fetch all things again. But if you
and accusations of some, who, perhaps, had they escape, I suppose it worthy of an "' If," since you
been suffered, would have spoken enough to have know the old use, that none called in question
removed some stumbling blocks out of your way; must go away uncensured; yet consider that accuand that you did not this in the favour of any one, sations make wounds, and leave scars; and though
but of I know not what present unadvised hu- you see the toil behind your back, yourself free,
mours, supposing enough behind to discover all; and the covert before, yet remember there are
which fell not out so. Howsoever, as the apostle stands; trust not a reconciled enemy; but think
saith in another case, you c" went not rightly to the peace is but to secure you for farther advanthe truth;" and, therefore, though you were to be tage, or expect a second and a third encounter;
commended for what you did, yet you were to be the main battle, the wings are yet unbroken, they
reprehended for many circumstances in the doing; may charge you at an instant, or death before
and doubtless God hath an eye in this cross to them; walk therefore circumspectly, and if at
your negligence, and the briers are left to be pricks length, by means of our endeavours and yours,
in your sides and thorns in your eyes. But that you recover the favour that you have lost; give
which we commend you for, are those excellent God the glory in action, not in words only; and
parts in nature, and knowledge in the law, which remember us with sense of your past misfortune,
you are endowed withal; but these are only good whose estate hath, and may hereafter lie in the
in their good use. Wherefore we thank you power of your breath.
heartily for standing stoutly in the common- There is a great mercy in despatch; delays:ne