BACON IN RETIREMENT (1629). Having in the work of my 'Inftauratio' had in contemplation the general good of men in their very being, and the dowries of Nature; and in my work of Laws' the general good of men likewife in fociety, and the dowries of government; I thought in duty I owed fomewhat unto my country, which I ever loved; infomuch as although my place hath been far above my defert, yet my thoughts and cares concerning the good thereof were beyond and over and above my place : fo now, being (as I am) no more able to do my country fervice, it remained unto me to do it honour; which I have endeavoured to do in my work of the 'Reign of King Henry the Seventh.' As for my 'Effays,' and fome other particulars of that nature, I count them but as the recreations of my other ftudies, and in that fort purpofe to continue them; though I am not ignorant that these kind of writings would with less pains and embracement (per haps) yield more luftre and reputation to my name than those other which I have in hand. But I account the ufe that a man should seek of the publishing of his own writings before his death, to be but an untimely anticipation of that which is fitter to follow a man, and not go along with him. (Ep. ded. of Holy Wars to Bp. Andrewes.) BORROWERS. The Parliament being diffolved, the King [Henry VII.] fent forthwith money to redeem the Marquis of Dorset and Sir John Bourchier, whom he had left as his pledges at Paris for money which he had borrowed when he made his expedition for England; and thereupon he took a fit occafion to fend the Lord Treasurer and Mr. Bray (whom he used as counsellor) to the Lord Mayor of London, requiring of the city a queft of 6,000 marks. But after many parleys he could obtain but two thousand pounds; which, nevertheless, the King took in good part, as men use to do that practise to borrow money when they have no need. (Life of Henry VII.) SEBASTIAN CABOT AND Somewhat before this time . . . there fell out a memorable accident. There was one Sebastian Gabato [= Cabot], a Venetian, dwelling in Bristol, a man seen and expert in cofmography and navigation. This man, feeing the fuccefs, and emulating, perhaps, the enterprife, of Chriftopherus Columbus in that fortunate discovery towards the South-Weft which had been by him made fome fix years before [1492], concerted with himself that lands might likewise be difcovered towards the North-Weft. And furely it may be he had more firm and pregnant conjectures of it than Columbus had of his at the firft. For the two great islands of the Old and New World, being in the shape and making of them broad towards the North, and pointed towards the South, it is likely that the discovery first began where the lands did nearest meet. And there had been before that time a difcovery of fome lands, which they took to be islands, and were indeed the continent of America, towards the NorthWest. And it may be, that some relation of this nature coming afterwards to the knowledge of Columbus, and by him fuppreffed (defirous rather to make his enterprise the child of his fcience and fortune than the follower of a former discovery), did give him better affurance that all was not fea from the coaft of Europe and Africa unto Afia, than either Seneca's prophecy, or Plato's antiquities, or the nature of the tides and landwinds and the like, which were the conjectures that were given out whereupon he should have acted: though I am not ignorant that it was likewife laid unto the cafual and wind-beaten discovery a little before of a Spanish pilot who died in the house of Columbus. But this Gabato, bearing the King [Henry VII.] in hand that he would find out an island endued with rich commodities, procured him to man and victual a fhip at Bristol for the discovery of that ifland: with whom ventured alfo three fmall fhips of London merchants, fraught with fome grofs and flight wares, fit for commerce with barbarous people. He failed, as he affirmed at his return (and made a card thereof), very far weftwards, with a quarter of the north, on the north fide of Terra de Labrador, until he came to the latitude of 67 degrees and a half, finding the feas ftill open. It is certain, also, that the King's fortune had a taster of that great empire of the Weft Indies. Neither was it a refufal on the King's part, but a delay of accident, that put by fo great an acqueft. For Chriftopherus Columbus, refufed by the King of Portugal (who would not embrace at once both Eaft and Weft), employed his brother, Bartholomeus Columbus, unto King Henry to negotiate for his discovery. And it fo fortuned that he was taken by pirates at fea; by which accidental impediment he was long ere he came to the King-fo long, that before he had obtained a capitulation with the King for his brother, the enterprise by him was achieved [= undertaken ?], and fo the Weft Indies by Providence were then referved for the crown of Caftilia. Yet |