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Essays (1625) |
Sir Francis Bacon |
| 1 | THe Speech of Themistocles the Athenian, which was Haughtie and Arrogant, in taking so much to Himselfe, had been a Graue and Wise Obseruation and Censure, applied at large to others. Desired at a Feast to touch a Lute, he said; He could not fiddle, but yet he could make a small Towne, a great Citty. These Words ( holpen a little with a Metaphore ) may expresse two differing Abilities, in those that deale in Businesse of Estate. For if a true Suruey be taken, of Counsellours and Statesmen, there may be found ( though rarely ) those, which can make a Small State Great, and yet cannot Fiddle: As on the other side, there will be found a great many, that can fiddle very cunningly, but yet are so farre from being able, to make a Small State Great, as their Gift lieth the other way; To bring a Great and Flourishing Estate to Ruine and Decay. And certainly, those Degenerate Arts and Shifts, whereby many Counsellours and Gouernours, gaine both Fauour with their Masters, and Estimation with the Vulgar, deserue no better Name then Fidling; Being Things, rather pleasing for the time, and gracefull to themselues onely, then tending to the Weale and Aduancement of the State, which they serue. There are also (no doubt) Counsellours and Gouernours, which may be held sufficient, (Negotijs pares,) Able to mannage Affaires, and to keepe them from Precipices, and manifest Inconueniences; which neuerthelesse, are farre from the Abilitie, to raise and Amplifie an Estate, in Power, Meanes, and Fortune. But be the worke-men what they may be, let vs speake of the Worke; That is; The true Greatnesse of Kingdomes and Estates; and the Meanes thereof. An Argument, fit for Great and Mightie Princes, to haue in their hand; To the end, that neither by Ouer-measuring their Forces, they leese themselues in vaine Enterprises; Nor on the other side, by vnderualuing them, they descend to Fearefull and Pusillanimous Counsells. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | The Greatnesse of an Estate in Bulke and Territorie, doth fall vnder Measure; And the Greatnesse of Finances and Reuenew doth fall vnder Computation. The Population may appeare by Musters: And the Number and Greatnesse of Cities and Townes, by Cards and Maps. But yet there is not any Thing amongst Ciuill Affaires, more subiect to Errour, then the right valuation, and true Iudgement, concerning the Power and Forces of an Estate. The Kingdome of Heauen is compared, not to any great Kernell or Nut, but to a Graine of Mustard-seed; which is one of the least Graines, but hath in it a Propertie and Spirit, hastily to get vp and spread. So are there States, great in Territorie, and yet not apt to Enlarge, or Command; And some, that haue but a small Dimension of Stemme, and yet apt to be the Foundations of Great Monarchies. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 |
Walled Townes, Stored Arcenalls and
Armouries, Goodly Races of Horse, Chariots of Warre, Elephants, Ordnance, Artillery, and the like: All this is but a Sheep
in a Lions Skin, except the Breed and disposition of the People, be stout and warlike. Nay Number (it selfe) in Armies,
importeth not much, where the People is
of weake Courage: For (as Virgil saith)
It neuer troubles a Wolfe, how many the
sheepe be. The Armie of the Persians, in
the Plaines of Arbela, was such a vast Sea
of People, as it did somewhat astonish
the Commanders in Alexanders Armie;
Who came to him therefore, and wisht
him, to set vpon them by Night; But hee
answered, He would not pilfer the Victory.
And the Defeat was Easie. When Tigranes
the Armenian, being incamped vpon a
Hill, with 400 000. Men, discouered the
Armie of the Romans, being not aboue
14000. Marching towards him, he made
himselfe Merry with it, and said; Yonder
Men, are too Many for an Ambassage, and too
Few for a Fight. But before the Sunne sett,
he found them enough, to giue him the
Chace, with infinite Slaughter. Many are
the Examples, of the great oddes between
Number and Courage: So that a Man
may truly make a Iudgement; That the
Principal Point of Greatnesse in any State,
is to haue a Race of Military Men. Neither is Money the Sinewes of Warre, ( as
it is triuially said) where the Sinewes of
Mens Armes, in Base and Effeminate People, are failing. For Solon said well to Croesus (when in Ostentation he shewed him
his Gold) Sir, if any Other come, that hath
better Iron then you, he will be Master of all
this Gold. Therfore let any Prince or State,
thinke soberly of his Forces, except his
Militia of Natiues, be of good and Valiant Soldiers. And let Princes, on the other side, that haue Subiects of Martiall
disposition, know their owne Strength;
vnlesse they be otherwise wanting vnto
Themselues. As for Mercenary Forces,
( which is the Helpe in this Case) all Examples shew; That whatsoeuer Estate or
Prince doth rest vpon them; Hee may
spread his Feathers for a time, but he will
mew them soone after.
| 4 |
The Blessing of Iudah and Issachar will
neuer meet; That the same People or Nation, should be both The Lions whelpe, and
the Asse betweene Burthens: Neither will it
be, that a People ouer-laid with Taxes,
should euer become Valiant, and Martiall. It is true, that Taxes leuied by Consent of the Estate, doe abate Mens Courage lesse; As it hath beene seene notably,
in the Excises of the Low Countries; And
in some degree, in the Subsidies of England.
For you must note, that we speake now,
of the Heart, and not of the Purse. So
that, although the same Tribute and Tax,
laid by Consent, or by Imposing, be all
one to the Purse, yet it workes diuersly
vpon the Courage. So that you may
conclude; That no People, ouer charged
with Tribute, is fit for Empire.
| 5 |
Let States that aime at Greatnesse, take
heed how their Nobility and Gentlemen,
doe multiply too fast. For that maketh the
Common Subiect, grow to be a Peasant,
and Base Swaine, driuen out of Heart, and
in effect but the Gentlemans Labourer. Euen as you may see in Coppice Woods;
If you leaue your staddles too thick, you shall
neuer haue cleane Vnderwood, but Shrubs and
Bushes. So in Countries, if the Gentlemen
be too many, the Commons will be base;
And you will bring it to that, that not the
hundred poll, will be fit for an Helmet:
Especially as to the Infantery, which is
the Nerue of an Army: And so there will
be Great Population, and Little Strength.
This, which I speake of, hath been no
where better seen, then by comparing of
England and France; whereof England,
though farre lesse in Territory and Population, hath been (neuerthelesse) an Ouermatch; In regard, the Middle People
of England, make good Souldiers, which
the Peasants of France doe not. And here
in, the deuice of King Henry the Seuenth,
( whereof I haue spoken largely in the History of his Life was Profound, and Admirable; In making Farmes, and houses
of Husbandry, of a Standard; That is,
maintained with such a Proportion of
Land vnto them, as may breed a Subiect,
to liue in Conuenient Plenty, and no Seruile Condition; And to keepe the Plough
in the Hands of the Owners, and not
meere Hirelings. And thus indeed, you
shall attaine to Virgils Character, which
he giues to Ancient Italy. | 6 |
By all meanes, it is to be procured, that
the Trunck of Nebuchadnezzars Tree of
Monarchy, be great enough, to beare the
Branches, and the Boughes; That is, That
the Naturall Subiects of the Crowne or
State, beare a sufficient Proportion, to the
Stranger Subiects, that they gouerne. Therfore all States, that are liberall of Naturalization towards Strangers, are fit for Empire. For to thinke, that an Handfull of
People, can, with the greatest Courage,
and Policy in the World, embrace too
large Extent of Dominion, it may hold
for a time, but it will faile suddainly. The
Spartans were a nice People, in Point of
Naturalization; whereby, while they kept
their Compasse, they stood firme; But
when they did spread, and their Boughs
were becommen too great, for their
Stem, they became a Windfall vpon the
suddaine. Neuer any State was, in this
Point, so open to receiue Strangers, into
their Body, as were the Romans. Therefore it sorted with them accordingly; For
they grew to the greatest Monarchy. Their
manner was, to grant Naturalization,
( which they called | 7 |
It is certaine, that Sedentary, and Within-doore Arts, and delicate Manufactures
( that require rather the Finger, then the
Arme ) haue, in their Nature, a Contrariety, to a Military disposition. And generally, all Warlike People, are a little idle;
And loue Danger better then Trauaile:
Neither must they be too much broken
of it, if they shall be preserued in vigour.
Therefore, it was great Aduantage, in the
Ancient States of Sparta, Athens, Rome,
and others, that they had the vse of Slaues,
which commonly did rid those
Manufactures. But that is abolished, in greatest
part, by the Christian Law. That which
commeth nearest to it, is, to leaue those
Arts chiefly to Strangers, (which for that
purpose are the more easily to be receiued) and to containe, the principall Bulke
of the vulgar Natiues, within those three
kinds; Tillers of the Ground; Free Seruants;
& Handy-Crafts-Men, of Strong, & Manly
Arts, as Smiths, Masons, Carpenters, &c;
Not reckoning Professed Souldiers.
| 8 |
But aboue all, for Empire and Greatnesse, it importeth most; That a Nation
doe professe Armes, as their principall
Honour, Study, and Occupation. For
the Things, which we formerly haue
spoken of, are but Habilitations towards
Armes: And what is Habilitation without
Intention and Act? Romulus, after his
death (as they report, or faigne) sent a Present to the Romans; That, aboue all, they
should intend Armes; And then, they
should proue the greatest Empire of the
World. The Fabrick of the State of Sparta, was wholly (though not wisely)
framed, and composed, to that Scope and
End. The Persians, and Macedonians, had
it for a flash. The Galls, Germans, Goths,
Saxons, Normans, and others, had it for a
Time. The Turks haue it, at this day,
though in great Declination. Of Christian Europe, they that haue it, are, in effect,
onely the Spaniards. But it is so plaine,
That euery Man profiteth in that hee most
intendeth, that it needeth not to be stood
vpon. It is enough to point at it; That no
Nation, which doth not directly professe
Armes, may looke to haue Greatnesse fall
into their Mouths. And, on the other
side, it is a most Certaine Oracle of Time;
That those States, that continue long in
that Profession (as the Romans and Turks
principally haue done) do wonders. And
those, that haue professed Armes but for
an Age, haue notwithstanding, commonly, attained that Greatnesse in that Age,
which maintained them long after, when
their Profession and Exercise of Armes
hath growen to decay.
| 9 |
Incident to this Point is; For a State, to
haue those Lawes or Customes, which
may reach forth vnto them, iust Occasions ( as may be pretended ) of Warre. For
there is that Iustice imprinted, in the Nature of Men, that they enter not vpon
Wars ( whereof so many Calamities doe
ensue) but vpon some, at the least Specious, Grounds and Quarells. The Turke,
hath at hand, for Cause of Warre, the Propagation of his Law or Sect; A Quarell
that he may alwaies Command. The Romans, though they esteemed, the Extending the Limits of their Empire, to be
great Honour to their Generalls, when it
was done, yet they neuer rested vpon that
alone, to begin a Warre. First therefore,
let Nations, that pretend to Greatnesse,
haue this; That they be sensible of Wrongs,
either vpon Borderers, Merchants, or Politique Ministers; And that they sit not
too long vpon a Prouocation. Secondly, let them be prest, and ready, to giue
Aids and Succours, to their Confederates: As it euer was with the Romans:
In so much, as if the Confederate, had
Leagues Defensiue with diuers other
States, and vpon Inuasion offered, did
implore their Aides seuerally, yet the
Romans would euer bee the formost,
and leaue it to none Other to haue the
Honour. As for the Warres, which
were anciently made, on the behalfe, of
a kinde of Partie, or tacite Conformitie of Estate, I doe not see how they may
be well iustified: As when the Romans
made a Warre for the Libertie of Grecia: Or when the Lacedemonians, and
Athenians, made Warres, to set vp or
pull downe Democracies, and Oligarchies: Or when Warres were made by
Forrainers, vnder the pretence of Iustice, or Protection, to deliuer the Subiects of others, from Tyrannie, and Oppression; And the like. Let it suffice,
That no Estate expect to be Great, that
is not awake, vpon any iust Occasion of
Arming.
| 10 |
No Body can be healthfull without
Exercise, neither Naturall Body, nor Politique: And certainly, to a Kingdome or
Estate, a Iust and Honourable Warre, is
the true Exercise. A Ciuill Warre, indeed,
is like the Heat of a Feauer; But a Forraine
Warre, is like the Heat of Exercise, and
serueth to keepe the Body in Health: For
in a Slothfull Peace, both Courages will
effeminate, and Manners Corrupt . But
howsoeuer it be for Happinesse, without all Question, for Greatnesse, it maketh, to bee still, for the most Part, in
Armes: And the Strength of a Veteran Armie, (though it be a chargeable
Businesse) alwaies on Foot, is that,
which commonly giueth the Law; Or at
least the Reputation amongst all Neighbour States; As may well bee seene in
Spaine; which hath had, in one Part or
other, a Veteran Armie, almost continually, now by the Space of Six-score
yeeres.
| 11 |
To be Master of the Sea, is an Abridgement of a Monarchy. Cicero writing to
Atticus, of Pompey his Preparation against
Cæsar, saith; | 12 |
The Warres of Latter Ages, seeme to
be made in the Darke, in Respect of the
Glory and Honour, which reflected vpon Men, from the Warres in Ancient Time.
There be now, for Martiall Encouragement, some Degrees and Orders of Chiualry; which neuerthelesse, are conferred
promiscuously, vpon Soldiers, & no Soldiers; And some Remembrance perhaps
vpon the Scutchion; And some Hospitals
for Maimed Soldiers; And such like
Things. But in Ancient Times; The Trophies erected vpon the Place of the Victory; The Funerall Laudatiues and Monuments for those that died in the Wars; The
Crowns and Garlands Personal; The Stile
of Emperor, which the Great Kings of the
World after borrowed; The Triumphes
of the Generalls vpon their Returne; The
great Donatiues and Largesses vpon the
Disbanding of the Armies; were Things
able to enflame all Mens Courages. But
aboue all, That of the Triumph, amongst
the Romans, was not Pageants or Gauderie, but one of the Wisest and Noblest Institutions, that euer was. For it contained three Things; Honour to the Generall; Riches to the Treasury out of the
Spoiles; And Donatiues to the Army. But
that Honour, perhaps, were not fit for
Monarchies; Except it be in the Person of
the Monarch himselfe, or his Sonnes; As
it came to passe, the Times of the Roman Emperours, who did impropriate the
Actuall Triumphs to Themselues, and
their Sonnes, for such Wars, as they did
atchieue in Person: And left onely, for
Wars atchieued by Subiects, some Triumphall Garments, and Ensignes, to the
Generall.
| 13 |
To conclude; No Man can, by Care
taking (as the Scripture saith) adde a Cubite
to his Stature; in this little Modell of a
Mans Body: But in the Great Frame of
Kingdomes, & Common Wealths , it is in the
power of Princes, or Estates, to adde Amplitude and Greatnesse to their Kingdomes.
For by introducing such Ordinances,
Constitutions, and Customes, as we haue
now touched, they may sow Greatnesse, to
their Posteritie, and Succession. But these
Things are commonly not Obserued,
but left to take their Chance.
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