NOTES F F H H. 



he says, part of policy to observe a discreet mediocrity in the declaring, or not 

 declaring a man s self: for although depth of secrecy, and making way, &quot; qualis 

 est via navis in mari,&quot; be sometimes both prosperous and admirable ; yet many 

 times &quot; Dissimulatio errores parit, qui dissimulatorem ipsum illaqueant;&quot; and 

 therefore, we see the greatest politicians have in a natural and free manner pro 

 fessed their desires, rather than been reserved and disguised in them. 



See the Advancement of Learning, under the head of the Art of Advancement 

 in Life, and under that part of it which relates to the arts of declaring and 

 of revealing a man s self (pages 278 and 285, vol. ii. of this edition), and see 

 in the treatise De Augmentis, when the same subject is considered, under his 

 comment on &quot; a fool utters all his mind, but a wise man reserves somewhat 

 for hereafter.&quot; See also his Essay on Simulation and Dissimulation, vol. i. p. 17. 

 See his conclusion of the first book of the Advancement of Learning, page 88 

 of vol. ii. of this edition. See his essay on Goodness of Nature, vol. i. p. 40. 

 &quot; Neither give thou ^Esop s cock a gem, who would be better pleased and 

 happier if he had a barleycorn.&quot; 



H H. Life, p. xxx. 



To the Right Honourable, &c. the Lord Keeper, &c. 



My very good Lord, Because I understand your lordship remaineth at court 

 till this day, and that my lord of Essex writeth to me, that his lordship cometh 

 to London, I thought good to remember your lordship, and to request you, as I 

 touched in my last, that if my Lord Treasurer be absent, your lordship would 

 forbear to fall into my business with her majesty, lest it might receive some foil 

 before the time when it should be resolutely dealt in. And so commending 

 myself to your good favour, I most humbly take my leave. Your Lordship s, 

 in all humble duty and service, FR. BACON. 

 From Gray s Inn, this 8th of April, 1594. 



To the Right Honourable his very good Lord, the Lord Keeper of the Great 



Seal, &c. 



My very good Lord, I was wished to be here ready in expectation of some 

 good effect ; and therefore I commend my fortune to your lordship s kind and 

 honourable furtherance. My affection inclineth me to be much [your] lord 

 ship s, and my course and way, in all reason and policy for myself, leadeth me 

 to the same dependence : hereunto if there shall be joined your lordship s obli 

 gation in dealing strongly for me as you have begun, no man can be more 

 yours. A timorous man is every body s, and a covetous man is his own. But 

 if your lordship consider my nature, my course, my friends, my opinion with 

 her majesty, if this eclipse of her favour were past, I hope you will think I am 

 no unlikely piece of wood to shape you a true servant of. My present thankful 

 ness shall be as much as I have said. I humbly take my leave. Your Lord 

 ship s true humble servant, Fa. BACON. 



From Greenwich, this 5th of April, 1594. 



To the Right Honourable the Lord Keeper, &c. 



It may please your good Lordship, I understand of some business like 

 enough to detain the queen to-morrow, which maketh me earnestly to pray your 

 good lordship, as one that I have found to take my fortune to heart, to take some 

 time to remember her majesty of a solicitor this present day. Our Tower em 

 ployment stayeth, and hath done these three days, because one of the principal 

 offenders being brought to confess, and the other persisting in denial, her 

 majesty, in her wisdom, thought best some time were given to him that is obsti 

 nate, to bethink himself; which indeed is singular good in such cases. Thus 

 desiring your lordship s pardon, in haste I commend my fortune and duty to 

 your favour. Your Lordship s most humbly to receive your commandments, 

 From Gray s Inn, FR. BACON. 



this 13th of August, 1594. 



