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from the line royal: but for democracies they need it not; and they are commonly more quiet and less subject to sedition than where there are stirps of nobles; for men's eyes are upon the business, and not upon the persons; or if upon the persons, it is for the business sake, as fittest, and not for flags and pedigree. We see the Switzers last well, notwithstanding their diversity of religion and of cantons; for utility is their bond, and not respects. The united provinces of the Low Countries in their government excel; for where there is an equality the consultations are more indifferent, and the payments and tributes more cheerful. A great and potent nobility addeth majesty to a monarch, but diminisheth power, and putteth life and spirit into the people, but presseth their fortune. It is well when nobles are not too great for sovereignty nor for justice; and yet maintained in that height, as the insolency of inferiors may be broken upon them before it come on too fast upon the majesty of kings. A numerous nobility causeth poverty and inconvenience in a state, for it is a surcharge of expense; and besides, it being of necessity that many of the nobility fall in time to be weak in fortune, it maketh a kind of disproportion between honour and

means.

As for nobility in particular persons, it is a reverend thing to see an ancient castle or building not in decay, or to see a fair timber-tree sound and perfect; how much more to behold an ancient noble family, which hath stood against the waves and weathers of time! for new nobility is but the act of power, but ancient nobility is the act of time. Those that are first raised to nobility are commonly more virtuous, but less innocent, than their descendants; for there is rarely any rising but by a commixture of good and evil arts; but it is reason the memory of their virtues remain to their posterity, and their faults die with themselves. Nobility of birth

a "Consideration of," or "predilection for, particular persons." The Low Countries had then recently emancipated themselves from the galling yoke of Spain. They were called the Seven United Pro

vinces of the Netherlands.

This passage may at first sight appear somewhat contradictory; but he means to say that those who are first ennobled will commonly be found to be more conspicuous for the prominence of their qualities, both good and bad.

❝ Consistent with reason and justice.

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soever he noteth it right, that seditious tumults and seditious fames differ no more but as brother and sister, masculino and feminine; especially if it come to that, that the best actions of a state, and the most plausible, and which ought to give greatest contentment, are taken in ill sense, and traduced for that shows the envy great, as Tacitus saith, "Conflatâ magna invidiâ, seu bene, seu male, gesta premunt.' Neither doth it follow, that because these fames are a sign of troubles, that the suppressing of them with too much severity should be a remedy of troubles; for the despising of them many times checks them best, and the going about to stop them doth but make a wonder long-lived. Also that kind of obedience, which Tacitus speaketh of, is to be held suspected: "Erant in officio, sed tamen qui mallent imperantium mandata interpretari, quam exsequi;”e disputing, excusing, cavilling upon mandates and directions, is a kind of shaking off the yoke, and assay of disobedience; especially if in those disputings they which are for the direction speak fearfully and tenderly, and those that are against it audaciously.

Also, as Machiavel noteth well, when princes, that ought to be common parents, make themselves as a party, and lean to a side; it is, as a boat that is overthrown by uneven weight on the one side; as was well seen in the time of Henry the Third of France; for first himself entered leaguef for the extirpation of the Protestants, and presently after the same league was turned upon himself: for when the authority of princes is made but an accessary to a

"Great public odium once excited, his deeds, whether good or whether bad, cause his downfall." Bacon has here quoted incorrectly, probably from memory. The words of Tacitus are (Hist. B. i. C. 7)— "Inviso semel principe, seu bene, seu male, facta premunt,' "The ruler once detested, his actions, whether good or whether bad, cause his downfall.”

"They attended to their duties, but still, as preferring rather to discuss the commands of their rulers, than to obey them."

f He alludes to the bad policy of Henry the Third of France, who espoused the part of "the League" which was formed by the duke of Guise and other Catholics for the extirpation of the Protestant faith. When too late, he discovered his error, and, finding his own authority entirely superseded, he caused the Duke of Guise and the Cardiual De Lorraine, his brother, to be assassinated.

cony and that there be other bands that tie faster than the band of sovereignty, kings begin to be put almost out

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Also, when discords, and quarrels, and factions, are cartil opouly and audaciously, it is a sign the reverence of government is lost, for the motions of the greatest persons nagovorumont ought to be as the motions of the planets primum mobile," according to the old opinion, which is that every of them is carried swiftly by the highest motion, and softly in their own motion; and therefore, when great oues in their own particular motion move violently, and as tacitus expresseth it well, "liberius quam ut imporantium meminissent, it is a sign the orbs are out for reverence is that wherewith princes are girt Home Kid, who chronicnech the dissolving thereof; "Solvam kingula vega***

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