Bays one hundred pounds. I give to my ancient servant, Woder, threescore and ten pounds. I give to my ancient servant, Guilman, threescore pounds. I give to my ancient servant, Faldo, forty pounds. I give to London, my coachman, forty pounds. I give to Harsnep, my groom, forty pounds. I give to Abraham, my footman, forty pounds. I give to Smith, my bailiff, and his wife, forty pounds. I give to my ancient servant, Bowes, thirty pounds. I give to my servant, Atkins, thirty pounds. I give to old Thomas Gotherum, who was bred with me from a child, thirty pounds. I give to my servant, Plomer, twenty pounds. I give to Daty, my cook, twenty pounds. I give to Henry Brown twenty pounds. I give to Richard Smith twenty pounds. I give to William Sayers ten pounds. I give to John Large twenty pounds. I give to old goodwife Smith ten pounds. I give to Peter Radford's wife five pounds. I give to every mean servant that attends me, and is not already named, five pounds. Legacies to my friends: I give unto the right | Wagstaffe, one hundred pounds. I give to Morrice honourable my worthy friend the marquis Fiatt, late | Davis one hundred pounds. I give to old John lord ambassador of France, my books of orizons or psalms curiously rhymed; I give unto the right honourable my noble friend Edward earl of Dorset, my ring, with the crushed diamond, which the king that now is gave me when he was prince; I give unto my right honourable friend the lord Cavendish, my casting-bottle of gold; I give to my brother Constable all my books, and one hundred pounds to be presented to him in gold; I give to my sister Constable some jewels to be bought for her, of the value of fifty pounds; I give to Nall, her daughter, some jewels, to be bought for her, of the value of forty pounds; I give to my lady Cooke some jewels, to be bought for her, of the value of fifty pounds; and to her daughter, Ann Cooke, to buy her a jewel, forty pounds; and to her son, Charles, some little jewel, to the value of thirty pounds. I will also, that my executors sell my chambers in Gray's-Inn, which, now the lease is full, I conceive may yield some three hundred pounds; one hundred pounds for the ground story, and two hundred pounds for the third and fourth stories; which money, or whatsoever it be, I desire my executors to bestow for some little present relief, upon twenty-five poor scholars in both universities, fifteen in Cambridge, and ten in Oxford. I give to Mr. Thomas Meautys some jewel to be bought for him, of the value of fifty pounds, and my foot-cloth horse. I give to my ancient good friend, Sir Tobie Matthew, some ring, to be bought for him, of the value of thirty pounds. I give to my very good friend, Sir Christopher Darcy, some ring, to be bought for him, of the value of thirty pounds. I give to Mr. Henry Percy one hundred pounds. I give to Mr. Henry Goodricke forty pounds. I give to my godson, Francis Lowe, son of Humphrey Lowe, one hundred and fifty pounds. I give to my godson, Francis Hatcher, son of Mr. William Hatcher, one hundred pounds. I give to my godson, Francis Fleetwood, son of Henry Fleetwood, Esq. fifty pounds. I give to my godson, Philips, son of auditor Philips, twenty pounds. I give to every of my executors a piece of plate of thirty pounds value. The general devise and bequest of all my lands and goods to the performance of my will. Whereas by former assurance made to Sir John Constable, knight, my brother-in-law, and to Sir Thomas Crew and Sir Thomas Hedley, knights and serjeants at law, and some other persons now deceased, all my lands and tenements in Hertfordshire were by me conveyed in trust: and whereas of late my fine, and the whole benefit thereof, was by his Majesty's letters patents conveyed to Mr. Justice Hutton, Mr. Justice Chamberlain, Sir Francis Barneham, and Sir Thomas Crewe, knight, persons by me named in trust; I do devise by this my will, and declare that the trust by me reposed, as well touching the said lands as upon the said letters patents, is, that all and every the said persons so trusted, shall perform all acts and assurances that by my executors, or the survivor or survivors of them, shall be thought fit and required, for the payment and satisfaction of my debts, and legacies, and performance of my will, having a charitable care that the poorest either of my creditors or legataries be first satisfied. I do farther give and devise all my goods, chattels, and debts due to me whatsoever, as well my pension of twelve hundred pounds per annum from the king, for certain years yet to come; as all my plate, jewels, household-stuff, goods and chattels whatsoever, except such as by this my last will I have especially bequeathed, to my executors, for the better and more ready payment of my debts, and performance of my will. Legacies to my servants now, or late servants: I give to my servant, Robert Halpeny, four hundred pounds, and the one half of my provisions of hay, firewood, and timber, which shall remain at the time of my decease. I give to my servant, Stephen Paise, three hundred and fifty pounds, and my bed with the appurtenances, bed-linen, and apparel-linen, as shirts, pillow-biers, sheets, caps, handkerchiefs, &c. I give to my servant, Wood, three hundred and thirty pounds, with all my apparel, as doublets, hose; And because I conceive there will be upon the and to his wife, ten pounds. I give to my late moneys raised by sale of my lands, leases, goods servant, Francis Edney, two hundred pounds, and my and chattels, a good round surplusage, over and rich gown. I give to my ancient servant, Trough- above that which may serve to satisfy my debts and ton, one hundred pounds. I give to my chaplain, legacies, and perform my will, I do devise and deDr. Rawleigh, one hundred pounds. I give to my clare, that my executors shall employ the said surancient servant, Welles, one hundred pounds. I give plusage in manner and form following: that is to to my ancient servant, Fletcher, one hundred pounds; say, that they purchase therewith so much land of and to his brother ten pounds; and if my servant inheritance, as may erect and endow two lectures in Fletcher be dead, then the whole to his brother. I either of the universities; one of which lectures give to my wife's late waiting-gentlewoman, Mrs. | shall be of natural philosophy, and the sciences in | general thereunto belonging; hoping that the stipends or salaries of the lectures may amount to two hundred pounds a year for either of them; and for the ordering of the said lectures, and the election of the lecturers from time to time, I leave it to the care of my executors, to be established by the advice of the lords bishops of Lincoln and Coventry and Litchfield. Nevertheless, thus much do I direct, that none shall be lecturer if he be English, except he be master of arts of seven years standing, and that he be not professed in divinity, law, or physic, as long as he remains lecturer; and that it be without difference whether [he] be a stranger or English: and I wish my executors to consider of the precedent of Sir Henry Savil's lectures, for their better instruction. I constitute and appoint for my executors of this my last will and testament, my approved good friend the right honourable Sir Humphrey Maye, chancellor of his Majesty's duchy of Lancaster, Mr. Justice Hutton, Sir Thomas Crewe, Sir Francis Barneham, Sir John Constable, and Sir Euball Thelwall; and I name and entreat to be one of my supervisors, my most noble, constant, and true friend, the duke of Buckingham, unto whom I do most humbly make this my last request, that he will reach forth his hand of grace to assist the just performance of this my will; and likewise that he will be graciously pleased for my sake to protect and help such of my good servants, as my executors shall at any time recommend to his Grace's favour: and also I do desire his Grace, in all humbleness, to commend the memory of my long-continued and faithful service unto my most gracious sovereign, who ever, when he was prince, was my patron, as I shall, who have now, I praise God, one foot in heaven, pray for him while I have breath. And because of his Grace's great business, I presume also to name for another of my supervisors, my good friend and near ally the master of the rolls. And I do most earnestly entreat both my executors and supervisors, that although I know well it is matter of trouble and travail unto them, yet considering what I have been, that they would vouchsafe to do this last office to my memory and good name, and to the discharge of mine honour and conscience; that all men may be duly paid their own, that my good mind by their good care may effect that good work. Whatsoever I have given, granted, confirmed, or appointed to my wife, in the former part of this my will, I do now, for just and great causes, utterly revoke and make void, and leave her to her right only. I desire my executors to have special care to discharge a debt by bond, now made in my sickness to Mr. Thomas Meautys, he discharging me fully towards Sir Robert Dowglass, and to procure Sir Robert Dowglass his patent to be delivered to him. FR. ST. ALBAN. Published the nineteenth day of December, 1625, in the presence of $ W. RAWLEY, RO. HALPENY, STEPHEN PAISE, WILL. ATKINS, THOMAS KENT, EDWARD LEGGE. DECIMO tertio die mensis Julii anno Domini millessimo sexcentesimo vicesimo septimo emanavit commissio domino Roberto Rich militi, supremæ curiæ cancellariæ magistror' uni, et Thomæ Meautys armigero, creditoribus honorandi viri domini Francisci Bacon militis, domini Verulam, vice-comitis Sancti Albani, defunct', habentibus etc. ad administrand' bona jura et credita dicti defuncti Francisci Bacon defunct', juxta tenorem et effectum ipsius testamenti suprascript', ea quod dominus Thomas Crewe miles et dominus Johannes Constable miles, executores in hujusmodi testamento nominat' alias vigore mandator' sive occasionum a curia prærogat' Cantuar' emanat' ad id legitime et peremptorie citati, onus executionis testament' suprascript' in se suscipere recusarunt et denegarunt, saltem plus juste distulerunt; eoque quod dominus Humphridus Maye miles, cancellarius ducatus Lancastriæ, dominus Ricardus Hutton miles, unus justitiariorum domini nostri regis de banco coram, dominus Euball Thelwall miles, supreme curiæ cancellariæ magistrorum unus, et dominus Franciscus Barnham miles, executores etiam in testamento suprascript' nominat', ex certis causis eos et amicos suos in ea parte juste moven' oneri executionis testament' suprascript' expresse renuntiarunt, prout ex actis curiæ prædict' plenius liquet et apparet; de bene et fideliter administrando eadem ad sancta Dei evangelia in debita juris forma jurat'. LINTHWAITE FARRANT Registrar' deputat' assumpt'. FRANCISCI DE VERULAMIO, SUMMI ANGLIÆ CANCELLARII, INSTAURATIO MAGN A. NOBILISSIMI AUCTORIS VITA. FRANCISCUS BACONUS, seculi et gentis suæ decus, præ aliis contemporaneis suis, mirifice profecisse deornator, et ornamentum literarum, natus est in palatio Eboracensi, infra plateam dictam Le Strand, juxta Londinum, xxII° Januarii, anno salutis humanæ MDLX. Patrem habuit illustrem illum Elizabethæ reginæ consiliarium, regni ejus (dum ipse vixit) columen alterum, dominum Nicolaum Baconum, equitem auratum, magni sigilli Angliæ custodem, heroëm perspectæ prudentiæ, judicii, moderationis, et integritatis; matrem, Annam Cocam, Antonii Coci, equitis itidem aurati (qui eruditioni Edwardi sexti Angliæ regis præfuit) e filiabus unam; fœminam lectissimam, tam pietate et virtute, quam do trina, præpollentem; necnon Græcæ et Romanæ linguæ peritia non mediocriter, pro sexu muliebri, imbutam. His ortus parentibus, in qualem prolem evasurus esset, etiam tum facile conjicere licuit; cui nulla, vel a natura, vel ab educatione adjumenta defuere. | prehensus est. Dum adhuc in academia studiis incubuit, tantum non sexdecim annos ætatis nato (prout dominationi suæ mihi seorsum impertire placuit) philosophia Aristotelica primum insipida visa fuit; non propter vilipendium auctoris, quem summis semper laudibus evehere in more habuit, sed propter inefficacitatem vitæ ; ejusmodi nimirum cum esset hæc philosophia (sicut dominationi suæ sæpius inculcare visum est) quæ ad disputationes et contentiones solummodo nata, ad productionem autem operum pro vitæ humanæ commodis sterilis omnino fuerit. In qua mente ad extremum usque spiritum perstitit. Annos pueritiæ teneriores non sine eximiis præcellentiæ speciminibus transegit; qua ætate, ea indole et ingenii acumine præditus fuit, ut spem magnam injecerint profundæ illius et universalis apprehensionis, qua postea inclaruerit, et in notitiam procerum complurium, aliorumque, tam dignitate quam officiis eminentium virorum, induxerint; ante omnes autem reginæ ipsius, cui (ut a fide dignis accepi) cum eo colloqui, et quæstionibus difficilioribus tentare, sæpiuscule volupe fuit: ille autem tanta gravitate et judicii maturitate, supra ætatem, se expedire valebat, ut regina eum dominum custodem sigilli minorem appellare solita sit. Interroganti, Quot annos natus esset? ingeniose, etiam puer adhuc, respondit, "Se regimine ejus felici duobus annis juniorem fuisse." Ætate academicæ literaturæ pro more idonea, vel potius paulo maturius, in album collegii Sanctæ et individuæ Trinitatis Cantabrigiæ, patris jussu, relatus est, sub tutela reverendissimi viri, domini Joannis Whitgifti, sacræ theologiæ doctoris, eo tempore collegii illius præfecti, postea autem percelebris archie- | piscopi Cantuariensis, præsulis magnitudinis primæ, sanctitate, doctrina, patientia, et humilitate fulgentissimi; sub quo in artibus et studiis liberalibus, A quo Postquam artium liberalium encyclopædiam emensus fuerat, operæ pretium patri visum est eum ad artes politicas effingere atque formare: cujus rei gratia, in Galliam in comitatu Amicii Powletti, equestris dignitatis viri, ad regem Galliæ eo tempore legati ordinarii designati, mittendum curavit. non ita multo post idoneus habitus est qui in Angliam ad nuncium aliquem reginæ perferendum remitteretur. Quo quidem negotio perfunctus, non sine gratiis a regina redditis, in Galliam secundo remeavit; eo consilio, ut non nisi post annos aliquot exactos Angliam denuo inviseret. Dum in Galliis peregrinatus est, pater ejus, dominus custos magni sigilli, diem suum obiit; relicta (sicut a quibusdam ejus rei gnaris accepi) satis ampla nummorum vi, ad id congesta, ut latifundia aliqua in usum hujusce filii sui natu minimi coëmeret et compararet; qui solus sine patrimonio post obitum patris remansit: et quamvis in bonis paternis, in affectu tamen paterno, non infimum locum tenuit. Verum cum ejusmodi terrarum coëmptio, superstite adhuc patre, designata tantum et non perimpleta fuerit, non plus ei cessit, quam pro rata pecuniæ inter quinque fratres distribuendæ. Quod in causa fuit, ut fortuna aliquantulum dura, ætate juniore usus sit. Neque enim præclarum illud et peramænum prædium Gorhamburiense, nisi multis postea annis, adeptus est; per mortem scilicet carissimi fratris sui germani, Antonii Baconi, magni nominis viri, et in aulis principum externorum versatissimi, celsitudine quidem sed artibus et æmulationi cujusdam e proceribus ea tempestate apud reginam potentis, qui eum omnibus modis deprimere et coërcere sedulo curavit, ne, si ad fastigium aliquod attoleretur, propria per eum gloria obfuscaretur. Quamvis autem tempore dominæ suæ Elizabethæ reginæ retardationem diutinam passus sit, post regiminis tamen mutationem, et ingressum domini sui novi Jacobi regis, incitato gradu perrexit: a quo fiduciæ, honoris, et proventuum muniis eximie cohonestatus est. Ipse vidi literas quasdam, propria manu ad Jacobum regem conscriptas, quibus "talem illum fuisse erga se dominum agnoscit, qui repetitis subinde favoribus novies cumulasset; ter honoribus, sexies autem officiis." Officia, quæ intelligit (ut puto) hæc erant, consilium doctum extraordinarium regiæ majestati suæ, (quo loco antea inservivit majestati reginæ,) regis solicitator generalis, atturnatus regis generalis sive procurator primarius, cooptatus in sanctius regis concilium dum adhuc atturnati locum gessit, dominus custos magni sigilli Angliæ, ultimo dominus cancellarius Angliæ. Quæ quidem munera posteriora duo licet auctoritate et potestate eadem sint, diplomatibus tamen, fastigio, et favore principis differunt. A cujus magistratu successorum nullus domini cancellarii Angliæ titulo in hunc usque diem decoratus est. Honores erant, primo, eques auratus; dein, baro Verulamius; postremo, vice-comes Sancti Albani: præter alia dona magnifica et manus benignitates, quibus eum dotare majestati suæ visum fuit, tam ex proventibus magni sigilli, quam ex officio alienationis. ingenii paris, sed in artium liberalium scientia fratri | malevolo aut infenso in eum reginæ ipsius animo, concedentis; inter quos magna necessitudo intervenerat siquidem qui, præter eandem paternam originem, unius matris nexu arctius conjungerentur. Reverso e Galliis, de genere vitæ statuendum fuit. Itaque juris Angliæ municipalis studio et professioni se addixit. In qua sparta ornanda eximios brevi progressus fecit, licet (ut ipsius verbis utar) peritiam illam, tanquam accessoriam, sive subsidiariam, non tanquam principalem, amplexus sit. Varios tractatus circa hoc argumentum a principio emisit. In quibus, quamvis ab aliquibus professionis illius coryphæis mole et casuum numero forte superetur; pondere tamen, et fundamentorum ac mysteriorum juris scientia, nemini cessit. Nondum tyrocinium in lege egressus, a regina in concilium suum doctum extraordinarium adscitus est; gratiam (uti accepi) vix cuiquam antea indultam. Sedem sibi delegit, studiis suis et officio advocati commodam, inter honorabilem societatem hospitii Greiensis: in cujus societatis numerum sese adscripsit; ubi elegans illud ædificium sive structuram erexit, quæ hodie baronis Baconi nomine innotescit; quam per vices maximam partem vitæ (paucis solummodo annis exemptis) usque in diem mortis incoluit. In qua societate ea demum suavitate, comitate, et animi generositate usus est, ut magnum exinde amorem et reverentiam ab hospitii illius senioribus et alumnis sibi conciliaverit. Quamvis autem legis consultorum professioni pro vitæ et convictus sui exigentia astrictus esset, animo | tamen et affectu in artes politicas et officia status magis propendebat; quibus sane, si majestati tunc augustæ placuisset, cum primis habilis fuit. Ætate adhuc integra, in numerum eorum, qui rebus nobilis illius sed infelicis herois, comitis Essexiæ, studebant, se adscripsit; cui, tanquam intimus et fidissimus consultor, omnibus viribus inservivit, et in id incubuit, ut tuta tantum et honorifica monita animo ejus in-hami, armigeri, et aldermanni Londinensis: cum stillaret: donec ad extremum comes ille, temerariorum quorundam et furiosorum hominum consiliis aures præbens, in exitium se præcipitaverit. Natalibus atque ingenuis animi sui dotibus hoc debuit, ut facilior ei et liberior ante reliquos professionis ejusdem aditus pateret ad aulam principis, adeoque in conspectum reginæ ipsius; quæ sermones cum eo seorsum et summa cum facilitate miscere (quoties commodum erat) non aspernata est, non solum circa professionis ejus res et materias juridicas, sed etiam circa ardua negotia status regni; cujus responsis de tempore in tempus libentissime acquievit. Veruntamen quamvis benignitate vultus sui eum abunde refocillaverit, nunquam tamen refocillavit benignitate manus; utpote quæ ad nullum publicum munus, sive honoris sive emolumenti, eundem promoverit; dempta una reversione sicca officii registrarii in camera stellata, annui ut putabatur valoris mille et sexcentarum librarum, in cujus possessionem non ante annos viginti aut circiter devenit: de quo officio dominatio sua Elizabethæ tempore festive dixit," Illud sibi esse instar fundi alieni ædibus suis adjacentis, qui prospectum meliorare, horreum autem ejus replere non possit." Verum, regnante Jacobo, illo tandem officio potitus est, et per deputatum administravit. Hoc autem tribui possit nullo modo Circa annos magis propitios de matrimonio contrahendo consilium cepit. Itaque in uxorem duxit Aliciam, filiam, et hæredum unam Benedicti Barn qua dotem satis amplam et lautam, tam in terris, quam in pecuniis numeratis, recepit. Liberos ex ea suscepit nullos: qui quamvis adjumento sint ad nomen nostrum post obitum perpetuandum; illi tamen alia propagine ad nomen suum perpetuandum beari contigit, propagine scilicet cerebri sui, in qua semper felix et mirabilis fuit; instar Jovis, cum Pallada enixus sit. Neque vero liberorum defectus ullo pacto amorem ejus erga nuptam imminuit, quam summa semper dilectione conjugali et amoris indiciis prosecutus est; supellectili lauta, monilibus variis, et fundis insuper donavit: addita etiam trabea honoraria maritali, quam viginti plus minus annos post obitum ejus gestavit. Totidem enim annis honoratissimo marito superstes fuit. Quinquennium extremum vitæ suæ, a negotiis civilibus et vita activa retractus, studiis et contemplationibus insumpsit. Quæ res sane visa est ei maxime cordi fuisse; ac si in umbra potius, quam in luce, commori optasset. Cujus etiam non obscura indicia in operibus ejus perlegendis reperire licet. Quo temporis spatio, librorum suorum, tam Anglicano quam Romano sermone conscriptorum, maximam partem exaravit. Quos jam juxta temporis seriem, quo conscripti erant (quam præsens observavi) enumerare satagam. Ii sic se habuerunt. 6 Historia regni Henrici septimi regis Angliæ,' sermone patrio. Abecedarium naturæ,' scriptum metaphysicum; quod, nescio quo malo fato, periit. Historia ventorum.' 'Historia vitæ et mortis.' 'Historia densi et rari,' jam primum typis mandata. Historia gravis et levis,' quæ itidem periit. Hi libri stylo Romano elucubrati. Dein fragmenta quædam Anglicana, quæ fuerunt, Dissertatio de bello cum Hispanis gerendo.' 'Dialogus de bello sacro.''Fabula Nova Atlantidis.''Præfatio digesto de legibus Angliæ' præfigenda. Initium Historiæ regni Henrici octavi regis Angliæ.' Intervenerat opus' De augmentis scientiarum ;' in quo e lingua vernacula, proprio marte, in Latinam transferendo honoratissimus auctor plurimum desudavit, et multis subinde ac variis additionibus locupletavit. Postea, Consilia civilia et moralia' (antea Delibationes' dictæ) tunc autem et numero et pondere aucta, idiomate Anglicano. Psalmorum Davidis nonnulli, in rhythmos Anglicanos compositi.' Iterum, versio quorundam e scriptis suis de patrio in sermonem Romanum: quæ fuerunt, Historia regni Henrici septimi regis Angliæ.' 'Consilia civilia et moralia,' exinde dicti, Sermones fideles, sive interiora rerum.' 'Dialogus de bello sacro:' et Fabula Nova Atlantidis;' in gratiam exterorum, apud quos expeti inaudiverat. Liber De sapientia veterum' recognitus. Inquisitio de magnete.' Topica inquisitionis de luce et lumine.' Ultimum locum tenuit Sylva sylvarum, sive historia naturalis,' opus Anglicum. Atque hi fructus fuerunt, qui in umbra annorum quinque memoratorum maturuerunt. Libros ante quinquennium illud elaboratos non hic recito. Quin et propositum illi fuit (mandante serenissimo nuper rege Carolo) Historiam Henrici octavi Angliæ regis' contexuisse: sed opus illud ultra designationem solam non processit, Deo ulteriorem vitam celeberrimo auctori minime largiente. Extat tamen specimen quoddam historiæ illius, quam paucæ unius diei horulæ matutinæ olim parturierunt, inter opera ejus historica Anglice edita; per quod ex ungue leonem dignoscere possis. 6 mortalium novissimis his temporibus radio quodam scientiæ humanæ illuminare dignatus sit, illum procul dubio illuminasse: quanquam enim sedulo libros evolverat, ex libris tamen solis scientiam suam deprompsisse haudquaquam concedere licet, sed ex principiis et notionibus quibusdam, intra se accensis; quas nihilominus non temere, sed caute admodum, et lente, propalavit. Opus illud Novi Organi' (cui ipse inter opera sua primas tribuit) neutiquam sane cogitatio umbratilis, aut cerebri proprii commentum fuit; sed veluti fixa et radicata notio, multorum annorum et laboris improbi proles. Ipse reperi, in archivis dominationis suæ, autographa plus minus duodecim Organi novi,' de anno in annum elaborati, et ad incudem revocati; et singulis annis, ulteriore lima subinde politi et castigati; donec in illud tandem corpus adoleverat, quo in lucem editum fuit: sicut multa ex animalibus fœtus lambere consuescunt, usque quo ad membrorum firmitudinem eos perducant. In libris suis componendis, verborum vigorem et perspicuitatem præcipue sectabatur; non elegantiam, aut concinnitatem sermonis: et inter scribendum, aut dictandum, sæpe interrogavit, num sensus ejus clare admodum et perspicue redditus esset? Quippe qui sciret æquum esse ut verba famularentur rebus, non res verbis Et si in stylum forsitan politiorem incidisset (siquidem apud nostrates eloquii Anglicani artifex habitus est) id evenit, quia evitare arduum ei erat. Neque vero verborum minutiis, et allusionibus capiebatur; sed eas semper ex composito, et de industria, effugit; probe sciens ejusmodi futilitates nihil aliud esse, quam deviationes et aberrationes a scopo proposito, et gravitati et dignitati styli non modicum officere et detrahere. Legendo usque ad satietatem aut tædium non immorabatur. Quamvis enim multum legerit, idque summo cum judicio, et rejectione omnis scoriæ, quæ in scriptoribus plurimis sese offert; commodam tamen animi relaxationem studiis suis intermiscuit: veluti, deambulationem lenem, vectionem in rheda, equitationem, non citam sed lentam, globorum lusum; et alia id genus exercitia. Neque vero jacturam temporis ullam fecit: quamprimum enim domum redierit, confestim et absque ulla mora lectioni aut meditationi renovandæ incubuit: sicque nullum momentum, aut temporis segmentum, perire et intercidere passus est. Virtutes et animi dotes non minus, quam curriculum vitæ, in heroë isto commemorando locum sibi vendicant. Facultates illæ, quas in aliis non infimi ingenii hominibus dissociatas fere et solitarias reperies, in illo conjunctæ, et quasi connubio copulatæ eminebant. Eæ fuerunt ingenii acumen, memoria fida, judicium penetrans, et elocutio profluens. Ac de Mensam ejus refectionem aurium diceres, æque prioribus illis tribus libri ejus abunde testantur; de ac ventris non absimilem noctibus illis Atticis, quibus (ut de Julio Cæsare Hirtius) "quam bene atque aut conviviis deipnosophistarum; in quibus mente et emendate, cæteri judicent; nos etiam, quam facile intellectu refici licebat, non minus quam corpore. atque celeriter, eas præscripserit, scimus." Sed de Novi etiam nonnullos sublimioris ingenii viros, qui quarta (puta elocutione) illud effari libet, quod ipse ad pugillares se recepisse professi sint, quoties a audivi insignem illum Gualtherum Raleghum, virum mensa ejus surrexerint. Convivantium neminem, equestri dignitate et singularibus virtutibus ornatum aut alias colloquentium, pudore suffundere gloriæ (cujus judicio non immerito fidendum est) semel sibi duxit, sicut nonnulli gestiunt; sed facultates disserentem nimirum, "Comitem Sarisburiensem eorum qualescunque fovere et provehere paratus oratorem bonum fuisse, scriptorem malum; e contra, erat. Quin et sermonis licentiam sibi soli arripere comitem Northamptoniensem scriptorem bonum fu- in more non erat; sed et aliis simul considentibus isse, oratorem malum; sed dominum Franciscum libertatem et vicissitudinem loquendi permittere: Baconum in utroque, tam dicendo, quam scribendo, hoc etiam addendo, quod in arte unumquemque præcelluisse." propria lubentissime audiret; et ad ejusmodi disserNon raro mentem subiit cogitatio, Deum, si ullum tationem pellicere et provocare consueverit. Ipse |