The Essays of Francis Bacon/XLIX Of Suitors

by Francis Bacon

XLIX. Of Suitors.

Many ill matters and projects are undertaken; and private suits do putrefy the public good. Many good matters are undertaken with bad minds; I mean not only corrupt minds, but crafty minds, that intend not performance. Some embrace suits, which never mean to deal effectually in them; but if they see there may be life in the matter by some other mean,^[1] they will be content to win a thank,^[2] or take a second^[3] reward, or at least to make use in the mean time of the suitor's hopes. Some take hold of suits only for an occasion to cross some other; or to make an information^[4] whereof they could not otherwise have apt pretext; without care what become of the suit when that turn is served; or, generally, to make other men's business a kind of entertainment^[5] to bring in their own. Nay some undertake suits, with a full purpose to let them fall; to the end to gratify the adverse party or competitor. Surely there is in some sort a right in every suit; either a right in equity, if it be a suit of controversy; or a right of desert, if it be a suit of petition. If affection lead a man to favour the less worthy in desert, let him do it without depraving^[6] or disabling the better deserver. In suits which a man doth not well understand, it is good to refer^[7] them to some friend of trust and judgment, that may report whether he may deal in them with honour: but let him choose well his referendaries,^[8] for else he may be led by the nose. Suitors are so distasted^[9] with delays and abuses,^[10] that plain dealing in denying to deal in suits at first, and reporting the success barely, and in challenging no more thanks than one hath deserved, is grown not only honourable but also gracious. In suits of favour, the first coming ought to take little place:^[11] so far forth^[12] consideration may be had of his trust, that if intelligence of the matter could not otherwise have been had but by him, advantage be not taken of the note,^[13] but the party left to his other means; and in some sort recompensed for his discovery. To be ignorant of the value of a suit is simplicity; as well as to be ignorant of the right thereof is want of conscience. Secrecy in suits is a great mean of obtaining; for voicing^[14] them to be in forwardness may discourage some kind of suitors, but doth quicken and awake others. But timing of the suit is the principal. Timing, I say, not only in respect of the person that should grant it, but in respect of those which are like to cross it. Let a man, in the choice of his mean,^[15] rather choose the fittest mean than the greatest mean; and rather them that deal in certain things, than those that are general. The reparation of a denial is sometimes equal to the first grant; if a man shew himself neither dejected nor discontented. Iniquum petas ut æquum feras,^[16] is a good rule, where a man hath strength of favour: but otherwise a man were better rise in his suit; for he that would have ventured at first to have lost the suitor, will not in the conclusion lose^[17] both the suitor and his own former favour. Nothing is thought so easy a request to a great person, as his letter; and yet, if it be not in a good cause, it is so much out of his reputation. There are no worse instruments than these general contrivers of suits; for they are but a kind of poison and infection to public proceedings.

1. Mean. Means.
2. Thank. Expression of gratitude. Now plural. "For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? For sinners also love those that love them." Luke vi. 32.
3. Second. Secondary; inferior.
4. To make an information. To inform one's self.
5. Entertainment. A preliminary occupation; spending (of time). "Sir Nathaniel, as concerning some entertainment of time, some show in the posterior of this day, to be render'd by our assistance, at the King's command, and this most gallant, illustrate, and learned gentleman, before the Princess,—I say none so fit to present as the Nine Worthies." Shakspere. Love's Labour's Lost. v. 1.
6. Deprave. To defame; decry; disparage. So, Italian "depravare, to backbite." Florio.

   "Unjustly thou deprav'st it with the name
   Of servitude to serve whom God ordains,
   Or Nature."
   

   Milton. Paradise Lost. VI. 174–176.

7. Refer. To apply or appeal to.
8. Referendary. One to whose decision anything is referred; a referee.
9. Distaste. To be displeased, or offended.
10. Abuse. Deception; imposture; delusion.

    "What should this mean? Are all the rest come back?
    Or is it some abuse, and no such thing?"
    

    Shakspere. Hamlet. iv. 4.

11. To take place. To take effect; to avail.
12. So far forth. To the specified extent and no more.
13. Note. Notice; information; knowledge.

    "Sir, I do know you;
    And dare, upon the warrant of my note,
    Commend a dear thing to you."
    

    Shakspere. King Lear. iii. 1.

14. Voice. To announce; proclaim; report.
15. Mean. Agent; instrument. Rare in the singular.

    'Follow me, soldiers: we'll devise a mean
    To reconcile you all unto the King."
    

    Shakspere. II. King Henry VI. iv. 8.

16. Ask what is unreasonable, that you may get what is equitable. "Nec omnino fine ratione est, quod vulgo dicitur, Iniquum petendum, ut aequum feras." M. Fabii Quintiliani de Institutione Oratoria Liber IV. v. 16.
17. Lose. To ruin; to destroy.

    "What to ourselves in passion we propose,
    The passion ending, doth the purpose lose."
    

    Shakspere. Hamlet. iii. 2.