Resuscitatio , Or , Bringing into PUBLICK LIGHT SEVERALL PIECES , OF THE WORKS , Civil , Historical , Philosophical , & Theological , HITHERTO SLEEPING ; Of the Right Honourable FRANCIS BACON Baron of Verulam , Viscount Saint Alban .

According to the best Corrected COPPIES . Together , With his Lordships LIFE .

By WILLIAM RAWLEY , Doctor in Divinity , His Lordships First , and Last , CHAPLEINE .

Afterwards , CHAPLEINE , to His late MAIESTY .

LONDON , Printed by Sarah Griffin , for William Lee , and are to be sold at his Shop in Fleetstreet , at the sign of the Turks-head , neer the Mitre Tavern , 1657.

FRANCIS BACON , the Glory , of his Age , and Nation ; The Adorner , and Ornament , of Learning ; Was born , in York House , or York Place , in the Strand ; On the 22th Day of January ; In the Year of our Lord , 1560. His Father , was that Famous Counseller , to Queen Elizabeth ; The Second Propp , of the Kingdome , in his Time ; Sir Nicholas Bacon , Knight , Lord Keeper , of the Great Seal , of England ; A Lord , of Known Prudence , Sufficiency , Moderation , and Integrity . His Mother , was Ann Cook , one of the Daughters , of Sir Anthony Cook ; unto whom , the Erudition , of King Edward , the Sixth , had been committed : A choyce Lady , and Eminent , for Piety , Vertue , and Learning ; Being exquisitely Skilled , for a Woman , in the Greek , and Latin , Tongues . These being the Parents , you may easily imagine , what the Issue , was like to be ; Having had , whatsoever , Nature , or Breeding , could put into Him .

His first , and childish , years , were not without some Mark of Eminency ; At which Time , he was endued , with that Pregnancy , and Towardness , of Wit ; As they were Pre●ages , of that Deep , and Universall , Apprehension , which was manifest in him , afterward : And caused him , to be taken notice of , by several Persons , of Worth , and Place ; And , especially , by the Queen ; who , ( as I have been informed , ) delighted much , then , to confer with him ; And to prove him with Questions : unto whom , he delivered Himself , with that Gravity , and Maturity , above his years ; That her Majesty , would often term Him ; The young Lord Keeper .

At the ordinary years , of Ripeness , for the university ; or rather , something earlier ; He was sent , by his Father , to Trinity Colledge , in Cambridge ; To be educated , and bred , under the Tuition , of Doctor John White-Gift , then Master of the Colledge ; Afterwards , the Renowned Arch-Bishop , of Canterbury ; A Prelate , of the First Magnitude , for Sanctity , Learning , Patience , and Humility : Vnder whom , He was observed , to have been more , then an Ordinary Proficient , in the severall Arts , and Sciences . Whilst he was commorant , in the University , about 16. years of Age , ( As his Lordship hath been pleased , to impart unto my Self ; ) he first fell , into the Dislike , of the Philosophy , of Aristotle : Not for the Worthlesnesse , of the Authour , to whom he would ever ascribe , all High Attributes ; But for the Unfruitfulnesse , of the way ; Being a Philosophy , ( as his Lordship used to say , ) onely strong , for Disputations , and Contentions ; But Barren , of the Production , of Works , for the Benefit , of the Life , of Man . In which Mind , he continued , to his Dying Day .

After he had passed , the Circle , of the Liberall Arts ; His Father , thought fit , to frame , and mould him , for the Arts , of State : And , for that end , sent him over into France , with Sir Amyas Paulet , then Employed Ambassadour Lieger , into France : By whom , he was , after a while , held fit to be entrusted , with some Message , or Advertisement , to the Queen : which having performed , with great Approbation , he returned back , into France again ; With Intention , to continue , for some years , there . In his absence , in France , his Father , the Lord Keeper , died ; Having collected , ( as I have heard , of Knowing Persons , ) a considerable summe of Money , which he had separated , with Intention , to have made a competent Purchase of Land , for the Lively-hood , of this his youngest Son ; ( who was onely unprovided for ; And though , he was the youngest in years , yet he was not the lowest , in his Fathers Affection ; ) But the said Purchase , being unaccomplished , at his Fathers Death , there came no greater share to him , than his single Part , and Portion , of the Money , dividable amongst 5. Brethren : By which meanes , he lived , in some streits , and Necessities , in his younger years . For as for that pleasant Scite , and Mannour , of Gorhambury , he came not to it , till many years after , by the Death , of his Dearest Brother , Mr. Anthony Bacon ; A Gentleman , equall to him , in Heigth of Wit ; Though inferiour to him , in the Endowments , of Learning , and Knowledge : Vnto whom he was , most nearly , conjoyned in Affection ; They two , being the sole Male Issue , of a second Venter .

Being returned from Travaile , he applyed himself , to the study , of the Common Law ; which he took upon him , to be his Profession . In which , he obtained to great Excellency ; Though he made that , ( as himself said , ) but as an Accessary , and not as his Principall study . He wrote , severall Tractates , upon that Subject . Wherein , though some great Maisters , of the Law , did out-go him , in Bulk , and Particularities of Cases ; yet , in the Science , of the Grounds● and Mysteries , of the Law , he was exceeded by none . In this way , he was , after a while , sworn , of the Queens Counsell Learned , Extraordinary ; A Grace , ( if I err not , ) scarce known before . He seated himself , for the Commodity , of his studies , and Practise ; amongst the Honourable Society , of Greyes Inn ; Of which House , he was a Member ; where he Erected , that Elegant Pile , or Structure , commonly known , by the Name , of the Lord Bacons Lodgings : which he inhabited , by Turns , the most part , of his Life , ( some few years onely excepted , ) unto his Dying Day . In which House , he carried himself , with such Sweetnesse , Comity , and Generosity ; That he was much revered , and loved , by the Readers , and Gentlemen , of the House .

Notwithstanding , that he professed the Law , for his Livelyhood , and Subsistence ; Yet his Heart , and Affection , was more carried , after the Affaires , and Places , of Estate ; For which , if the Majesty Royall then , had been pleased , he was most fit . In his younger years , he studied , the Service , and Fortunes , ( as they call them , ) of that Noble , but unfortunate Earl , the Earl of Es●ex ; unto whom , he was , in a sort , a Private , and free , Counseller ; And gave him safe , and Honourable Advice ; Till , in the end , the Earl inclined too much , to the violent , and precipitate Counsell , of others , his Adherents , and Followers ; which was his Fate , and Ruine .

His Birth , and other Capacities , qualified him , above others of his Profession , to have Ordinary Accesses at Court ; And to come freque●tly , into the Queens Eye ; who would often grace him , with private , and free , Communication ; Not onely about Matters of his Profession , or Businesse in Law ; But also , about the Arduous Affairs , of Estate ; From whom she received , from time to time , great Satisfaction . Neverthelesse , though she cheered him much , with the Bounty , of her Countenance ; yet she never cheered him , with the Bounty , of her Hand : Having never conferred upon him , any Ordinary Place , or Means , of Honour , or Profit , Save onely , one dry Reversion , of the Registers Office , in the Star-Chamber ; worth about 1600 l. per Annum ; For which he waited , in Expectation , either fully , or near , 20. years : Of which his Lordship would say , in Queen Elizabeths Time ; That it was , like another Mans Ground , buttalling upon his House ; which might mend his Prospect , but it did not fill his Barn . ( Neverthelesse , in the time , of King James , it fell unto him . Which might be imputed ; Not so much , to her Majesties Aversenesse , or Disaffection , towards him ; As to the Arts , and Policy , of a Great Statesman , ●hen ; who laboured , by all Industrious , and secret , Means , to suppresse , and keep him down ; Lest , if he had rise● , he might have obscured his Glory .

But though , he stood long at a stay , in the Dayes , of his Mistresse , Queen Elizabeth ; Yet , after the change , and Comming in , of his New Master , King James , he made a great Progresse ; By whom , he was much comforted , in Places , of Trust , Honour , and Revenue . I have seen , a Letter , of his Lordships , to King James , wherein he makes Acknowledgement ; That He was that Master to him , that had raysed , and advanced him , nine times ; Thrice in Dignity , and Sixe times , in Office . His Offices ( as I conceive , ) were ; Counsell Learned Extraordinary , to his Majesty , as he had been , to Queen Elizabeth ; Kings Solliciter Generall ; His Majesties Atturney Generall ; Counseller of Estate , being yet but Atturney ; Lord Keeper of the Great Seal of England ; Lastly , Lord Chanceller : Which two last Places , though they be the same , in Au●hority , and Power ; yet they differ in Patent , Heigth , and Favour of the Prince : Since whose time , none of his Successours , did ever bear the Title , of Lord Chanceller . His Dignities were , first Knight ; Then Baron of Verulam ; Lastly , Viscount Saint Alban : Besides other good Gifts , and Bounties , of the Hand , which his Majesty gave him ; Both out of the Broad Seal ; And out of the Alienation Office .

Towards his Rising years , not before , he entred into a married Estate ; And took to Wife , Alice , one of the Daughters , and Co-Heires , of Benedict Barnham , Esquire , and Alderman of London ; with whom He received , a sufficiently ample , and liberall Portion , in Marriage . Children he had none : which though they be the Means , to perpetuate our Names , after our Deaths ; yet he had other Issues , to perpetuate his Name ; The Issues , of his Brain ; In which he was ever happy , and admired ; As Jupiter was , in the production of Pallas . Neither did the want of Children , detract from his good usage , of his Consort , during the Intermarriage : whom he prosecuted , with much Conjugall Love , and Respect ; with many Rich Gifts , and En●owments ; Besides a Roab of Honour , which he invested her withall ; which she wore , untill her Dying Day ; Being twenty years , and more , after his Death .

The last five years of his Life , being with-drawn from Civill Affaires , and from an Active Life , he employed wholy , in Contemplation , and Studies . A Thing , whereof his Lordsh●p would often speak , during his Active Life ; As if he affected , to dye in the Shadow , and not in the Light ; which also , may be found , in severall Passages , of his Works . In which time , he composed , the greatest Part , of his Books , and Writings ; Both in English , and Latin : Which I will enumerate , ( as near as I can , ) in the just Order , wherein they were written . The History , of the Reign , of King Henry , the Seventh : Abecedarium Naturae ; or A Metaphysicall Piece ; which is lost : Historia Ventorum : Historia vitae & Mortis : Historia Densi , & Rari , not yet Printed : Historia Gravis , & Levis , which is also lost : A Discourse , of a War , with Spain : A Dialogue , touching an Holy War : The Fable , of the New Atlantis : A Preface , to a Digest , of the Lawes of England : The Beginning , of the History , of the Reign , of King Henry , the Eighth : De Augmentis Scientiarum ; Or the Advanccment of Learning , put into Latin , with severall Enrichments , and Enlargements : Counsells Civill , and Morall ; Or his Book of Essayes , likewise , Enriched , and enlarged : The Conversion , of certain Psalms , into English Verse . The Translation into Latin ; of the History , of King Henry the Seventh ; of the Counsells , Civill , and Morall ; of the Dialogue , of the Holy War ; of the Fable , of the New Atlantis ; For the Benefit , of other Nations . His Revising , of his Book , De Sapientià Veterum . Inquisitio de Magnete ; Topica Inquisitionis , de Luce , & Lumine ; Both these , not yet Printed . Lastly , Sylva Sylvarum , or the Naturall History . These were the ●ruits , and Productions , of his last five years . His Lordship also designed , upon the Motion , and Invitation , of his late Majesty ; To have written the Reign , of King Henry , the Eighth ; But that Work Perished , in the Designation● meerly ; God not lending him Life , to proceed further upon it , then onely , in one Mornings Work : Whereof there is Extant , An , Ex Ungue Leonem , already Printed , in his Lordships Miscellany Works .

There is a Commemoration due ; As well , to his Abilities , and Vertues , as to the Course , of his Life . Those Abilities , which , commonly , goe single , in other Men , though of prime , and Observable , Parts , were all conjoyned , and met , in Him . Those are , Sharpnes● of Wit , Memory , Judgement , and Elocution . For the Former Three , his Books doe abundantly speak them ; which , with what Sufficiency he wrote , let the World judge ; But with what Celerity he wrote them , I can best testifie . But for the Fourth , his Elocution ; I will onely set down , what I heard , Sir Walter Rauleigh , once speak of him , by way of Comparison ; ( whose Iudgement may well be trusted ; ) That the Earl of Salisbury , was an excellent Speaker , but no good Pen-man ; That the Earl of Northampton , ( the Lord Henry Howard , ) was an excellent Pen-man , but no good Speaker ; But that , Sir Francis Bacon , was Eminent in Both.

I have been enduced to think ; That if there were , a Beame of Knowledge , derived from God , upon any Man , in these Modern Times , it was upon Him . For though he was a great Reader of Books ; yet he had not his Knowledge from Books ; But from some Grounds , and Notions , from within Himself . Which , notwithstanding , he vented , with great Caution , and Circumspection . His Book , of Instauratio Magna , ( which , in his own Account , was the chiefest , of his works , ) was no Slight Imagination , or Fancy , of his Brain ; But a Setled , and Concocted , Notion ; The Production , of many years , Labour , and Travell . I my Self , have seen , at the least , Twelve Coppies , of the Instauration ; Revised , year by year , one after another ; And every year altred , and amended , in the Frame thereof ; Till , at last , it came to that Modell , in which it was committed to the Presse : As many Living Creatures , do lick their young ones , till they bring them , to their strength of Limms .

In the Compos●ng , of his Books , he did rather drive , at a Masculine , and clear , Expression , than at any Finenes , or Affectation , of Phrases : And would often ask , if the Meaning were expressed , plainly enough : As being one , that a●counted words , to be but subservient , or Ministeriall , to Matter ; And not the Principall . And if his Stile were Polite , it was because he could do no otherwise . Neither was he given , to any Light Conceits ; Or Descanting upon Words ; But did ever , purposely , and industriously , avoyd them , For he held such Things , to be but Digressions , or Diversions , from the Scope intended ; And to derogate , from the Weight , and Dignity , of the Stile .

He was no Plodder upon Books ; Though he read much ; And that , with great Iudgement , and Rejection of Impertinences , incident to many Authours : For he would ever interlace , a Moderate Relaxation , of His Minde , with his Studies ; As Walking ; Or Taking the Aire abroad in his Coach ; or some other befit●ing Recreation : And yet , he would loose no Time , In as much , as upon his First , and Immediate Return , he would fall to Reading again : And so suffer , no Moment of Time , to Slip from him , without some present Improvement .

His Meales , ●ere Refections , of the Eare , as well as of the Stomack : Like the Noctes Atticae ; or Convivia Deipno-Sophistarum ; Wherein , a Man might be refreshed , in his Minde , and understanding , no lesse , then in his Body . And I have known some , of no mean Parts , that have professed , to make use , of their Note-Books , when they have risen , from his Table . In which Conversations , and otherwise , he was no Dashing Man ; As some Men are ; But ever , a Countenancer , and Fosterer , of another Mans Parts . Neither was he one , that would appropriate the Speech , wholy to Himself ; or delight to out-vie others ; But leave a Liberty , to the Co-Assessours , to take their Turns . Wherein he would draw a Man on , and allure him , to speak upon such a Subject , as wherein he was peculiarly Skilfull , and would delight to speak . And , for Himself , he contemned no Mans Observations ; But would light his Torch , at every Mans Candle .

His Opinions , and Assertions , were , for the most part , Binding ; And not contradicted , by any : Rather like Oracles , then Discourses . Which may be imputed , either to the well weighing of his Sentence , by the Skales , of Truth , and Reason ; Or else , to the Reverence , and Estimation , wherein he was , commonly , had , that no Man would contest with him● So that , there was no Argumentation , or Pro and Con , ( as they term it , ) at his Table : Or if their chanced , to be any , it was Carried , with much Submission , and Moderation .

I have often observed ; And so have other Men , of great Account ; That if he had occasion , to repeat , another Mans Words , after him ; he had an use , and Faculty , to dresse them , in better Vestments , and Apparell , then they had before : So that , the Authour , should finde his own Speech much amended ; And yet the Substance , of it , still retained . As if , it had been Naturall to him , to use good Forms ; As Ovid spake , of his Faculty , of Versifying ; Et quod tentabam Scribere , Versus erat .

When his Office , called him , as he was of the Kings Counsell Learned , to charge any Offenders , either in Criminals , or Capitals ; He was never of an Insulting , or Domineering Nature , over them ; But alwayes tender Hearted , and carrying himself decently towards the Parties ; ( Though it was his Duty , to charge them home : ) But yet , as one , that looked upon the Example , with the Eye of Severity ; But upon the Person , with the Eye , of Pitty , and Compassion . And in Civill Businesse , as he was Counseller of Estate , he had the best way of Advising ; Not engaging his Master , in any Precipitate , or grievous , Courses ; But in Moderate , and Fair , Proceedings : The King , whom he served , giving him this Testimony ; That he ever dealt , in Businesse , Suavibus Modis ; Which , was the way , that was most according to his own Heart .

Neither was He , in his time , lesse Gracious with the Subject , then with his Soveraign : He was ever Acceptable , to the House , of Commons , when He was a Member thereof . Being the Kings Atturney , & chosen to a place , in Parliament ; He was allowed , and dispensed with , to sit in the House ; which was not permitted , to other Atturneys .

And as he was , a good Servant , to his Master ; Being never , in 19. years Service , ( as himself averred , ) rebuked by the King , for any Thing , relating to his Majesty ; So he was , a good Master , to his Servants ; And rewarded , their long Attendance , with good Places , freely , when they fell into his Power . Which was the Cause , that so many young Gentlemen , of Bloud , and Quality ; Sought to list themselves , in his Retinew . And if he were abused , by any of them , in their Places ; It was onely the Errour , of the Goodnesse , of his Nature ; But the Badges of their Indiscretions , and Intemperances .

This Lord was Religious : For though the World be apt , to suspect , and prejudge , Great Wits , and Politicks , to have somewhat , of the Atheist ; Yet he was conversant with God : As appeareth , by severall Passages , throughout the whole Current , of his Writings . Otherwise , he should have crossed , his own Principles ; which were ; That a little Philosophy , maketh Men apt , to forget God ; As attributing too much , to Second Causes ; But Depth of Philosophy , bringeth a Man back , to God again . Now , I am sure , there is no Man , that will deny him , or account otherwise of him , but to have been , a deep Philosopher . And not onely so ; But he was able , to render a Reason , of the Hope , which was in him ; Which that Writing of his , of the Confession , of the Faith , doth abundantly testifie . He repaired frequently , when his Health would permit him , to the Service , of the Church ; To hear Sermons ; To the Administration , of the Sacrament , of the Blessed Body , and Bloud , of Christ ; And died , in the true Faith , established in the Church , of England .