An
Essay
of
a
King
written
by
Sir
Francis
Bacon
.
A
King
is
a
mortall
God
on
Earth
,
unto
whom
the
living
God
hath
lent
his
own
name
as
a
great
honour
:
But
withall
told
him
hee
should
die
like
a
man
,
lest
he
should
be
proud
and
flatter
himself
,
that
God
hath
with
his
name
imparted
unto
him
his
nature
also
.
2
Of
all
kinds
of
men
,
God
is
least
beholding
unto
them
,
for
he
doth
most
for
them
,
and
they
do
ordinarily
least
for
him
.
3
A
King
that
would
not
feele
his
Crown
too
heavy
for
him
,
must
weare
it
every
day
,
but
if
he
think
it
too
light
,
he
knoweth
not
of
what
mettall
it
is
made
of
.
4
He
must
make
Religion
the
Rule
of
government
,
and
not
the
Scale
;
for
he
that
casteth
in
Religion
onely
to
make
the
scales
even
,
his
own
weight
is
contained
in
these
Characters
Tekel
uphrasin
,
he
is
found
too
light
,
his
Kingdom
shall
be
taken
from
him
.
5
And
that
King
that
holds
not
Religion
the
best
reason
of
state
,
is
void
of
all
piety
and
justice
,
the
Supporters
of
a
King
.
6
He
must
be
able
to
give
Counsell
himself
,
but
not
to
relye
thereupon
:
for
though
happy
events
justifie
their
Councels
,
yet
it
is
better
that
the
evill
event
of
good
advice
be
rather
imputed
to
a
Subject
then
a
Sovereigne
.
7
He
is
the
Fountain
of
Honour
,
which
should
not
run
with
a
wast
pipe
,
lest
the
Courtiers
●ell
the
waters
,
and
then
(
as
Papists
say
of
their
holy
Wels
)
to
lose
the
vertue
.
8
He
is
the
life
of
the
Law
,
not
onely
as
he
is
lex
loquens
himself
,
but
because
he
animateth
the
dead
letter
,
making
it
active
towards
all
his
Subjects
praemio
&
poena
.
9
A
wise
King
must
doe
lesse
in
altering
his
Laws
,
then
he
may
;
for
new
government
is
ever
dangerous
,
it
being
true
in
the
body
politique
,
as
in
the
corporall
,
that
omnis
subita
mutatio
est
periculosa
,
and
though
it
be
for
the
better
,
yet
it
is
not
without
a
fearfull
apprehension
;
For
he
that
changeth
the
fundamentall
Laws
of
a
Kingdome
,
thinketh
that
there
is
no
good
title
to
a
Crown
but
by
conquest
.
10
A
King
that
setteth
to
sale
Seats
of
Justice
,
oppresseth
the
People
,
for
he
teacheth
his
Judges
to
fell
Justice
,
and
praecio
parata
,
praecio
vincitur
Justicia
.
Bounty
and
Magnificence
are
vertues
,
verae
Regiae
,
but
a
prodigall
King
is
neerer
a
Tyrant
,
then
a
parcimonious
:
for
store
at
home
draweth
his
contemplations
abroad
,
but
want
supplyeth
it self
of
what
is
next
,
and
many
times
the
next
way
,
and
herein
he
must
be
wise
and
know
,
wh●t
he
may
justly
doe
.
12
That
King
which
is
not
feared
,
is
not
loved
,
and
he
that
is
well
seen
in
his
craft
,
must
as
well
study
to
be
feared
as
loved
,
yet
not
loved
for
feare
,
but
feared
for
love
.
13
Therefore
as
hee
must
alwayes
resemble
him
whose
great
name
he
beareth
,
and
that
in
manifesting
the
sweet
influence
of
his
mercy
over
the
severe
stroke
of
his
Justice
sometimes
,
so
in
this
not
to
suffer
a
man
of
death
to
live
,
for
besides
that
the
Land
doth
mou●n
,
the
restraint
of
Justice
towards
sin
doth
more
retard
the
affection
of
love
,
then
the
extent
of
mercy
doth
enflame
it
,
and
sure
where
love
is
bestowed
,
feare
is
quite
lost
.
14
His
greatest
Enemies
are
his
Flatterers
,
for
though
they
ever
speak
on
his
side
,
yet
their
words
still
make
against
them
.
15
The
love
which
a
King
oweth
to
the
weal-publike
,
should
not
be
restrained
to
any
one
particular
,
yet
that
his
more
speciall
favour
do
reflect
upon
some
worthy
ones
,
is
somwhat
necessary
,
because
there
are
so
few
of
that
capacity
.
Hee
must
have
a
speciall
care
of
five
things
,
if
hee
would
not
have
his
Crown
to
be
put
upon
him
.
First
,
that
simulata
sanctitas
,
be
not
in
the
Church
,
for
that
is
duplex
iniquitas
.
Secondly
,
that
inutilis
aequitas
,
sit
not
in
the
Chancecery
,
for
that
is
inepta
misericordia
.
Thirdly
,
that
utilis
iniquitas
,
keep
not
the
Exchequer
,
for
it
is
crudele
latrocinium
.
Fourthly
,
that
fidelis
temeritas
be
not
his
Generall
,
for
that
will
bring
but
seram
poenitentiam
.
Fiftly
,
that
infidelis
prudentia
,
be
not
his
Secretary
,
for
that
he
is
Anguis
sub
viridi
herba
.
To
conclude
,
as
he
is
of
the
greatest
power
,
so
hee
is
subject
to
the
greatest
cares
,
made
the
servant
of
his
people
,
or
else
he
were
without
a
calling
at
all
.
He
then
that
honoureth
him
not
,
is
next
an
Atheist
wanting
the
feare
of
God
in
his
heart
.
An
explanation
what
manner
of
persons
those
should
be
,
that
are
to
execute
the
power
or
Ordinance
of
the
Kings
Prerogative
,
written
by
the
said
Sir
Francis
Bacon
late
Lord
Chancellour
,
and
Lord
St.
Albans
.
THat
absolute
Prerogative
according
to
the
Kings
pleasure
revealed
by
his
Lawes
,
may
be
exercised
and
executed
by
any
Subject
,
to
whom
power
may
be
given
by
the
King
,
in
any
place
of
Judgement
or
Commission
,
which
the
King
by
his
Law
hath
ordained
,
in
which
the
Judge
subordinate
cannot
wrong
the
people
,
the
Law
laying
downe
a
measure
by
which
every
Judge
should
governe
or
execute
;
Against
which
Law
if
any
Judge
proceed
,
he
is
by
the
Law
questionable
and
punishable
for
his
transgression
.
In
this
nature
are
all
the
Judges
and
Commissioners
of
the
Land
no
otherwise
then
in
their
Courts
,
in
which
the
King
in
person
is
supposed
to
sit
who
cannot
worke
that
trespasse
,
Felony
or
treason
which
the
Law
hath
not
made
so
to
be
,
neither
can
punish
the
guilty
by
other
punishment
then
the
Law
hath
appointed
.
This
Prerogative
or
power
as
it
is
over
all
the
Subjects
so
being
knowne
by
the
Subjects
,
they
are
without
excuse
if
they
offend
;
and
suffer
no
wrong
,
if
they
be
punished
.
And
by
this
prerogative
the
King
governeth
all
sorts
of
people
according
unto
knowne
will
.
The
absolute
prerogative
which
is
in
Kings
according
to
their
private
will
and
judgement
cannot
be
executed
by
any
Subject
,
neither
is
it
possible
to
give
such
power
by
Commission
,
or
fit
to
subject
the
people
to
the
same
.
For
the
King
in
that
he
is
the
substitute
of
God
immediatly
the
Father
of
his
people
,
and
head
of
the
Common
wealth
by
participation
with
God
and
his
subjects
,
Discretion
,
Iudgement
,
and
feeling
love
towards
those
over
whom
he
raigneth
only
proper
to
himselfe
,
or
to
his
places
and
person
,
who
seeing
he
cannot
in
any
others
diffuse
his
wisedome
,
power
,
or
gifts
,
which
God
in
respect
of
his
place
and
charge
hath
enabled
him
withall
,
can
neither
subordinate
any
other
Iudge
to
governe
by
that
knowledge
,
which
the
King
can
no
otherwise
then
by
his
knowne
will
participate
unto
him
.
And
if
any
subordinate
Iudge
shall
obtaine
Commission
according
,
of
such
Iudge
to
govern
the
people
,
that
Iudge
is
bound
to
think
that
to
be
his
sound
discretion
,
in
which
the
law
in
which
the
Kings
known
will
sheweth
unto
him
to
be
that
Iustice
which
hee
ought
to
administer
:
otherwise
he
might
seeme
to
esteeme
himselfe
above
the
Kings
law
,
who
will
not
governe
by
him
,
or
to
have
a
power
derived
from
other
then
from
the
King
,
which
in
the
Kingdome
will
administer
Iustice
contrarie
to
the
justice
of
the
Land
.
Neither
can
such
a
Judge
or
Commissioner
under
the
name
of
his
high
Authoritie
shrowde
his
owne
high
affection
,
seeing
the
Conscience
and
discretion
of
every
man
is
particular
and
private
to
himselfe
;
As
the
discretion
of
the
Judge
cannot
be
properly
or
possibly
the
discretion
of
the
King
,
or
conscience
of
the
King
;
And
if
not
his
discretion
,
neither
the
Judgement
that
is
ruled
by
another
m●ns
only
.
Therefore
it
may
seeme
they
rather
desire
to
bee
Kings
then
to
rule
the
people
under
the
King
,
which
will
not
administer
Justice
by
law
,
but
by
their
owne
wills
.
This
Administration
in
a
subject
is
derogative
to
the
Kings
Prerogative
,
for
he
administreth
Justice
out
of
a
private
direction
,
being
not
capable
of
a
generall
direction
,
how
to
use
the
Kings
pleasure
in
Causes
of
particular
respect
,
which
if
another
then
the
King
himselfe
can
doe
,
how
can
it
be
so
,
that
any
man
should
desire
that
which
is
unfit
and
impossible
,
but
that
it
must
p●oceed
out
of
some
exorbitant
affection
,
the
rather
seeing
such
places
to
be
full
of
trouble
,
and
being
altogether
unnecessary
,
no
man
will
seeke
to
thrust
himselfe
into
it
,
but
for
hope
of
gaine
.
Then
is
not
any
prerogative
oppugned
but
maintained
,
though
it
be
desired
that
every
subordinate
Magistrate
may
not
be
made
supreame
,
whereby
he
may
seale
up
the
hearts
of
the
people
,
take
from
the
King
the
respect
due
unto
him
only
,
or
to
judge
the
people
otherwise
then
the
King
doth
himselfe
.
And
although
the
Prince
be
not
bound
to
render
any
accompt
to
the
Law
,
which
in
person
administreth
it selfe
.
Yet
every
subordinate
Judge
must
render
an
accompt
to
the
King
by
his
lawes
how
hee
hath
administred
Justice
in
his
place
where
he
is
set
.
But
if
he
hath
power
to
rule
by
private
direction
,
for
which
there
is
no
law
,
how
can
he
be
questioned
by
a
law
,
if
in
his
private
censure
he
offendeth
.
Therefore
it
seemeth
that
in
giving
such
authority
the
King
ordaineth
not
subordinate
Magistrates
,
but
absolute
Kings
;
And
what
doth
the
King
leave
to
himselfe
,
who
giveth
so
much
to
others
as
he
hath
himself
?
neither
is
there
a
greater
bond
to
tie
the
subject
to
his
Prince
in
particular
then
when
he
shal
have
recourse
unto
him
in
his
person
or
in
his
power
for
releif
of
the
wrongs
which
from
private
men
be
offered
,
or
for
reformation
of
the
oppressions
which
any
subordinate
Magistrate
shall
impose
upon
the
people
:
there
can
be
no
offence
in
the
Judge
,
who
hath
power
to
execute
according
to
his
discretion
,
when
the
discretion
of
any
Judge
shall
be
thought
fit
to
be
unlimited
;
And
therefore
there
can
be
therein
no
reformation
,
whereby
the
King
in
this
useth
no
prerogative
to
gaine
his
Subjects
right
.
Then
the
subject
is
bound
to
suffer
helplesse
wrong
,
and
the
discontent
of
the
people
is
cast
upon
the
King
,
the
lawes
being
neglected
,
which
with
their
equitie
in
all
other
Causes
and
Judgements
,
saving
this
,
interpose
themselves
and
yeeld
remedy
.
And
to
conclude
,
Therefore
whosoever
desireth
Government
,
must
seeke
such
as
he
is
capable
of
,
not
such
as
seemeth
to
himselfe
most
easie
to
execute
;
For
it
appeareth
that
it
is
easie
to
him
that
knoweth
not
law
nor
justice
to
rule
as
he
listeth
,
his
will
never
wanting
a
power
to
it selfe
:
but
it
is
safe
and
blamelesse
both
for
the
Judge
and
People
,
and
honour
to
the
King
,
that
Judges
bee
appointed
who
know
the
Law
,
and
that
they
bee
limited
to
governe
according
to
the
Law
.
FINIS
.