occasion. Before, (in Verse 18.) He had said: that the dayes of the Sonne of man should be as the dayes of LOT, in two respects. In respect of the sodeinesse of the destruction that should come and in respect of the securitie of the people, on whom it should come. For, the Sodomites laughed at it; and Lot's Wife (it should seeme) but slightly regarded it. Being then in Lot's storie, verie fitly, and by good consequence, out of that storie, He leaveth as a Memento, before He leaveth it.

There are in Lot's storie, two very notable monuments of GOD'S judgement. The Lake of Sodome, and Lor's Wive's Piller. The one, the punishment of resolute sinne; the other of faint virtue. For, the Sodomites are an example of impenitent wilfull sinners: and Lot's wife of imperseverant and relapsing righteous persons.

Looking back might proceed of divers causes ; So might this of hers, but that CHRIST'S application directs us. The verse before saith, Somewhat in the house, something left behind affected her: Of which He giveth us warning. She grew weary of trouble, and of shifting so oft: From Vr to Haran; thence, to Canaan; thence, to Egypt; thence to Canaan againe ; then to Sodom; and now to Zoar; and that, in her old daies, when she would fainest have been at rest. Therefore, in this wearisome conceit of new trouble now to beginn; and withall remembring the convenient seat, she had in Sodome, she even desired to die by her flesh-potts, and to be buried in the grave of lust: wished them at Zoar, that would, and her selfe at Sodom againe : desiring rather to end her life with ease in that Stately city, then to remove, and be safe perhapps, and perhapps not, in the desolate mountaines. And this was the sinne of restinesse of soul, which affected her eyes and knees, and was the cause of all the former. When men wery of a good course, which long they have holden, for a little ease or wealth, or (I wote not what) other secular respect, fall away in the end: so losing the praise and fruict of their former perseverance, and relapsing into the danger and destruction, from which they had so neer escaped.

Behold, these were the sinnes of Lot's wife; A wavering of mind: Slow stepps: the convulsion of her neck all these caused her wearinesse and feare of new trouble, shee preferring SODOM'S ease before ZOAR'S safety. Remember Lot's wife.

SIR FRANCIS BACON,

VISCOUNT ST. ALBANS-1561-1626.

OF THE TRUE GREATNESSE OF KINGDOMES

AND ESTATES.

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 an 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 peres,) Able to mannage Affaires, and to keepe them from Precipices, and manifest in Inconueniences; which neuerthelesse, are farre from the Abilitie, to raise and Amplifie an Estate, in Power, Meanes, and Fortune. But be the workemen what they may be, let vs speake of the Work; 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.

The Greatnesse of an Estate in Bulke and Territorie, doth fall vnder Measure; And the Greatnesse of Finances and Reuenuew 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. 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.

So are

Walled Townes, Stored Arcenalls and Armouries, Goodly Races of Horse, Chariots of Warre, Elephants, Ordnances, Artillery, and the like: All this is but a Sheep in a Lion's 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 Armies ; 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 400000. Men, discouered the Armies of the Romans, being not aboue 140000. 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 Principle Point of Greatness 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 Cræsus (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 his Gold. Therefore 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 Help 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.

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.

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 the 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 Hermet 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 herein, 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.

-Terra potens Armis atque vbere Gleba.

Neither is that State (which for any thing I know, is almost peculiar to England, and hardly to be found any where else, except it be perhaps in Poland) to be passed ouer; I meane the State of Free Seruants and Attendants vpon Noblemen and Gentlemen; which are no waies inferiour, vnto the Yeomanry, for Armes. And therefore, out of all Question, the Splendour, and Magnificence, and great Retinues, and Hospitality of Noblemen, and Gentlemen, receiue into Custome, doth much conduce, vnto Martiall Greatnesse. Whereas, contrariwise, the Close and Reserued living, of Noblemen, and Gentlemen, causeth Penury of Military Forces.

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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. Therefore 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. Therfore it sorted with them accordingly; For they grew to the greatest Monarchy. Their manner was, to grant Naturalization, (which they called Ius Ciuitates) and to grant it in the highest Degree; That is, Not onely Ius Commercij, lus Connubij, Ius Hariditatis; But also, Ius Suffragij, and Ius Honorum. And this, not to Singular Persons alone, but likewise to whole Families; yea to Cities, and sometimes to Nations. Adde to this, their Custome of Plantation of Colonies; whereby the Roman Plant, was remoued into the Soile, of other Nations. And putting both Constitutions together, you will say, that it was not the Romans that spread vpon the World; But it was the World that spred vpon the Romans: