Bacon is Shake-Speare
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The pagination of the MS. is modern, and was inserted for reference purposes when the Promus was bound up in one volume together with certain other miscellaneous manuscripts which are numbered from 1 to 82, and from 133 onwards.
A facsimile of a portion of a leaf of the Promus MS., folio 85, is given on pages 190-91, in order to illustrate Bacon's handwriting, and also to shew his method of marking the entries. It will be perceived that some entries have lines //// drawn across the writing, while upon others marks similar to the capital letters T, F, and A are placed at the end of the lines. But as the Promus is here printed page for page as in the manuscript, I am not raising the question of the signification of these marks, excepting only to say they indicate that Bacon made considerable use of these memoranda.
"Promus" means larder or storehouse, and these "Fourmes, Formularies and Elegancyes" appear to have been intended as a storehouse of words and phrases to be employed in the production of subsequent literary works.
Mrs. Pott was the first to print the "Promus," which, with translations and references, she published in 1883. In her great work, which really may be described as monumental, Mrs. Pott points out, by means of some thousands of quotations, how great a use appears to have been made of the "Promus" notes, both in the acknowledged works of Bacon and in the plays which are known as Shakespeare's.
Mrs. Pott's reading of the manuscript was extremely good, considering the great difficulty experienced in deciphering the writing. But I thought it advisable when preparing a reprint to secure the services of the late Mr. F. B. Bickley, of the British Museum, to carefully revise the whole of Bacon's "Promus." This task he completed and I received twenty-four proofs, which I caused to be bound with a title page in 1898. There were no other copies, the whole of the type having unfortunately been broken up. The proof has again been carefully collated with the original manuscript and corrected by Mr. F. A. Herbert, of the British Museum, and I have now reprinted it here, as I am satisfied that the more Bacon's Promus – the Storehouse – is examined, the more it will be recognised how large a portion of the material collected therein has been made use of in the Immortal Plays, and I therefore now issue the Promus with the present essay as an additional proof of the identity of Bacon and Shakespeare.
EDWIN DURNING-LAWRENCE
[Illustration: Plate XLII. Facsimile of portion of Folio 85 of the
Original MS of Bacon's "Promus." see page 199]
[Illustration: Plate XLIII. Portrait of Francis Bacon, from a Painting by Van Somers. Formerly in the Collection of the Duke of Fife]
Promus of Formularies.
Folio 83, frontIngenuous honesty and yet with opposition and
strength.
Corni contra croci good means against badd, homes
to crosses.
In circuitu ambulant impij; honest by antiperistasis.
Siluj a bonis et dolor meus renouatus est.
Credidj propter quod locutus sum.
Memoria justi cum laudibus at impiorum nomen
putrescet
Justitiamque omnes cupida de mente fugarunt.
Non recipit stultus verba prudential nisi ea dixeris
quaee uersantur in corde ejus
Veritatem erne et noli vendere
Qui festinat ditari non erat insons
Nolite dare sanctum canibus.
Qui potest capere capiat
Quoniam Moses ad duritiam cordis uestri permisit
uobis
Obedire oportet deo magis quam hominibus.
Et vniuscujusque opus quale sit probabit ignis
Non enim possumus aliquid aduersus ueritatem sed
pro ueritate.
Folio 83, front – continuedFor which of y'e good woorkes doe yow stone me
Quorundam hominum peccata praecedunt ad judicium
quorundam sequuntur
Bonum certamen certauj
Sat patriae priamoque datum.
Ilicet obruimur numero.
Atque animis illabere nostris
Hoc praetexit nomine culpam.
Procul o procul este prophani
Magnanimj heroes nati melioribus annis
Folio 83, backIlle mihi ante alios fortunatusque laborum
Egregiusque animi qui ne quid tale videret
Procubuit moriens et humum semel ore momordit
Fors et uirtus miscentur in vnum.
Non ego natura nec sum tam callidus vsu.
aeuo rarissima nostro simplicitas
Viderit vtilitas ego cepta fideliter edam.
Prosperum et foelix scelus, virtus vocatur
Tibi res antiquas laudis et artis
Inuidiam placare paras uirtute relicta.
Iliacos intra muros peccatur et extra
Homo sum humanj a me nil alienum puto.
The grace of God is woorth a fayre
Black will take no other hue
Vnum augurium optimum tueri patria.
Exigua res est ipsa justitia
Dat veniam coruis uexat censura columbas.
Homo hominj deus
Semper virgines furiae; Cowrting a furye
Di danarj di senno et di fede
Ce ne manco che tu credj
Chi semina spine non vada discalzo
Mas vale a quien Dios ayuda que a quien mucho
madruga.
Quien nesciamente pecca nesciamente ua al infierno
Quien ruyn es en su uilla
Ruyn es en Seuilla
De los leales se hinchen los huespitales
Folio 84, frontWe may doe much yll or we doe much woorse
Vultu laeditur saepe pietas.
Difficilia quae pulchra
Conscientia mille testes.
Summum Jus summa injuria
Nequiequam patrias tentasti lubricus artes.
Et monitj meliora sequamur
Nusquam tuta fides
Discite Justitiam moniti et non temnere diuos
Quisque suos patimur manes.
Extinctus amabitur idem.
Optimus ille animi vindex laedentium pectus
Vincula qui rupit dedoluitque semel.
Virtue like a rych geme best plaine sett
Quibus bonitas a genere penitus insita est
ij iam non mali esse nolunt sed nesciunt
Oeconomicae rationes publicas peruertunt.
Divitiae Impedimenta virtutis; The bagage of
vertue
Habet et mors aram.
Nemo virtuti invidiam reconciliauerit praeter
mort …
Turpe proco ancillam sollicitare Est autem
virtutis ancilia laus.
Si suum cuique tribuendum est certe et venia
humanitati
Qui dissimulat liber non est
Leue efficit jugum fortunae jugum amicitiae
Omnis medecina Innouatio
Folio 84, front – continuedAuribus mederi difficillimum.
Suspitio fragilem fidem soluit fortem incendit
Pauca tamen suberunt priscae vestigia fraudis
Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori
Mors et fugacem persequitur virum.
Danda est hellebori multo pars maxima avar [is]
Folio 84, backMinerall wytts strong poyson and they be not
corrected
aquexar.
Ametallado fayned inameled.
Totum est majus sua parte against factions and
priuate profite
Galens compositions not paracelsus separations
Full musike of easy ayres withowt strange concordes
and discordes
In medio non sistit uirtus
Totem est quod superest
A stone withowt foyle
A whery man that lookes one way and pulls another
Ostracisme
Mors in Olla poysonings
Fumos uendere.
[Sidenote up the left margin oriented at ninety degrees to the text:
FOURMES COMERSATE]
Folio 85, frontDec. 5, 1594.
Promus
// Suauissima vita indies meliorem fierj
The grace of God is woorth a faire
Mors in olla F
// No wise speech thowgh easy and voluble.
Notwithstanding his dialogues (of one that giueth
life to his speach by way of quaestion). T
He can tell a tale well (of those cowrtly giftes of
speach w'ch. are better in describing then in
consydering) F
A goode Comediante T (of one that hath good
grace in his speach)
To commend Judgments.
// To comend sense of law
// Cunyng in the humors of persons but not in the
condicons of actions
Stay a littell that we make an end the sooner. A
// A fooles bolt is soone shott
His lippes hang in his light. A. T
// Best we lay a straw hear
A myll post thwitten to a pudding pricke T
// One swallo maketh no sumer
L'Astrologia e vera ma l'astrologuo non sj truoua
// Hercules pillers non vltra. T
// He had rather haue his will then his wyshe. T
Well to forgett
Make much of yourselfe
Folio 85, front – continuedWyshing yow all &c and myself occasion to doe
yow servyce
// I shalbe gladd to vnderstand your newes but none
// rather then some ouerture whearin I may doe
// yow service
// Ceremonyes and green rushes are for strangers T
How doe yow? They haue a better question in cheap side w'lak ye
// Poore and trew. Not poore therefore not trew T
Folio 85, backTuque Inuidiosa vestustas. T
Licentia sumus omnes deteriores. T
Qui dat nivem sicut lanam T
Lilia agri non laborant neque nent T
Mors omnia solvit T
// A quavering tong.
like a cuntry man that curseth the almanach. T
Ecce duo gladij his. T
Arnajore ad minorem. T
In circuitu ambulant impij T
Exijt sermo inter fratres quod discipulus iste non
moritur T
Omne majus continet in se mjnus T
Sine vlla controuersia quod minus est majore
benedic … T
She is light she may be taken in play T
He may goe by water for he is sure to be well
landed T
// Small matters need sollicitacion great are remem-
bred of themselues
The matter goeth so slowly forward that I haue
almost forgott it my self so as I maruaile not
if my frendes forgett
Not like a crabb though like a snaile
Honest men hardly chaung their name. T
The matter thowgh it be new (if that be new wch)
hath been practized in like case thowgh not in
this particular
I leaue the reasons to the parties relacions and the
consyderacion of them to your wysdome
Folio 86, frontI shall be content my howrs intended for service
leaue me in liberty
// It is in vayne to forbear to renew that greef by
// speach w'ch the want of so great a comfort must
// needes renew.
// As I did not seeke to wynne your thankes so your
// courteous acceptacion deserueth myne
// The vale best discouuereth the hill T.
// Sometymes a stander by seeth more than a plaier T.
The shortest foly is the best. T.
// I desire no secrett newes but the truth of comen
newes. T.
// Yf the bone be not trew17 sett it will neuer be well
till it be broken. T.
// Cheries and newes fall price soonest. T.
You vse the lawyers fourme of pleading T.
// The difference is not between yow and me but
between your proffite and my trust
// All is not in years some what is in howres well
spent. T.
// Offer him a booke T
// Why hath not God sent yow my mynd or me your
// means.
// I thinke it my dowble good happ both for the
obteynyng and for the mean.
// Shutt the doore for I mean to speak treason T.
I wysh one as fytt as I am vnfitt
I doe not onely dwell farre from neighbors but near
yll neighbors. T
Folio 86, front – continued.
// As please the paynter T.
Receperunt mercedem suam. T.
Secundum tidem vestram fiet vobis
Ministerium meum honorificabo
Folio 86, backBeati mortuj qui moriuntur in domino
Detractor portat Diabolum in lingua T
frangimur heu fatis inquit ferimurque procella
Nunc ipsa vocat res
Dij meliora pijs erroremque hostibus illum
Aliquisque malo fuit vsus in illo
Vsque acleo latet vtilitas
Et tamen arbitrium que, rit res ista duorum.
Vt esse phebi dulcius lumen solet
Jam jam cadentis
Velle suum cuique est nee voto viuitur vno
Who so knew what would be dear
Nead be a marchant but a year.
Blacke will take no other hew
He can yll pipe that wantes his vpper lip
Nota res mala optima
Balbus balbum rectius intelligit
L' agua va al mar
A tyme to gett and a tyme to loose
Nee dijs nee viribus equis
Vnum pro multis dabitur caput
Mitte hanc de pectore curam
Neptunus ventis impleuit vela secundis
A brayne cutt with facettes T
T Yow drawe for colors but it prooueth contrarie
T Qui in paruis non distinguit in magnis labitur.
Every thing is subtile till it be conceyued
Folio 87, frontThat y't. is forced is not forcible
More ingenious then naturall
Quod longe jactum est leviter ferit
Doe yow know it? Hoc solum scio quod nihil scio
I know it? so say many
Now yow say somewhat.s. euen when yow will; now
yow begynne to conceyue I begynne to say.
What doe yow conclude vpon that? etiam tentas
All is one.s. Contrariorum eadam est ratio.
Repeat your reason.s. Bis ac ter pulchra.
Hear me owt.s. you were neuer in.
Yow iudg before yow vnderstand.s. I iudg as I vnderstand.
You goe from the matter.s. But it was to folow yow.
Come to the poynt.s. why I shall not find yow thear
Yow doe not vnderstand y'e poynt.s. for if I did.
Let me make an end of my tale.s. That which I
will say will make an end of it
Yow take more then is graunted.s.
you graunt lesse then is prooued
Yow speak colorably.s. yow may not say truly.
That is not so by your fauour.s. But by my reason
it is so
Folio 87, backIt is so I will warrant yow.s. yow may warrant me
but I thinke I shall not vowche yow
Awnswere directly.s. yow mean as you may direct
me
Awnswere me shortly.s. yea that yow may coment
vpon it.
The cases will come together.s. It wilbe to fight
then.
Audistis quia dictum est antiquis
Secundum hominem dico
Et quin18 non novit talia?
Hoc praetexit nomine culpa
Et fuit in toto notissima fabula celo
Quod quidam facit
Nee nihil neque omnia sunt quae dicit
Facete nunc demum nata ista est oratio
Qui mal intend pis respond
Tum decujt cum sceptra dabas
En haec promissa fides est?
Proteges eos in tabernaculo tuo a contradictione
linuarum.
[Greek: prin to thronein katathronein epistasai]
Sicut audiuimus sic vidimus
Credidj propter quod locutus sum.
Quj erudit derisorem sibj injuriam facit
Super mjrarj ceperunt philosopharj
Folio 88, frontPrudens celat scientiam stultus proclamat stultitiam
Querit derisor sapientiam nee invenit eam.
Non recipit stultus verba prudentie nisi ea dixeris
quae sunt in corde ejus
Lucerna Dej spiraculum hominis
Veritatem eme et noli vendere
Melior claudus in via quam cursor extra viam.
The glory of God is to conceale a thing and the
glory of man is to fynd owt a thing.
Melior est finis orationis quam principium.
Injtium verborum ejus stultitia et novissimum oris
illius pura insania
Verba sapientium sicut aculej et vebut clavj in
altum defixj.
Quj potest capere capiat
Vos adoratis quod nescitis
Vos nihil scitis
Quod est veritas.
Quod scripsj scripsj
Nolj dicere rex Judeorum sed dicens se regem
Judeorum
Virj fratres liceat audacter dicere apud vos
Quod uult seminator his verborum dicere
Folio 88, backMulte te litere ad Insaniam redigunt.
Sapientiam loquiraur inter perfectos
Et Justificata est sapientia a filijs suis.
Scientia inflat charitas edificat
Eadem vobis scribere mihi non pigrum vobis autem
necessarium
Hoc autem dico vt nemo vos decipiat in sublimi-
tate sermonum.
Omnia probate quod bonum este tenete
Fidelis sermo
Semper discentes et nunquam ad scientiam veritatis
pervenientes
Proprius ipsorum propheta
Testimonium hoc verum est
Tantam nubem testium.
Sit omnis homo velox ad audiendum tardus ad
loquendum.
Error novissimus pejor priore.
Quecunque ignorant blasphemant
Non credimus quia non legimus
Facile est vt quis Augustinum vincat viderit vtrum
veritate an clamore.
Bellum omnium pater
De nouueau tout est beau
De saison tout est bon
Dj danarj di senno et di fede
Ce ne manca che tu credj
Di mentira y saqueras verdad
Folio 89, frontMagna Civitas magna solitude
light gaines make heuy purses
He may be in my paternoster indeed
But sure he shall neuer be in my Creed
Tanti causas sciat ilia furosis
What will yow?
For the rest
It is possible
Not the lesse for that
Allwaies provyded
Yf yow stay thear
for a tyme
will yow see
what shalbe the end.
Incident
Yow take it right
All this while
Whear stay we? prima facie.
That agayne. more or less.
I find that straunge It is bycause
Not vnlike quasi vero
Yf that be so Best of all
What els
Nothing lesse
Yt cometh to that
Hear yow faile
To meet with that
Bear with that
And how now
Folio 89, front – continuedOf grace
as if
let it not displease yow
Yow putt me in mynd
I object, I demaund I distinguish etc.
A matter not in question
few woordes need
much may be said,
yow haue
well offred.
The mean the tyme
All will not serue
Yow haue forgott nothing.
Causa patet
Tamen quaere.
Well remembred
I arreste yow thear
I cannot thinke that
Discourse better
I was thinking of that
I come to that
That is iust nothing
Peraduenture Interrogatory.
Se then how (for much lesse)
NOTE. – This folio is written in three columns. The first two are printed on page 209, and this page forms the third column. The first line, "Of grace," is written opposite the sixth line on page 209, "What will yow?"
Folio 89, backNon est apud aram Consultandem.
Eumenes litter
Sorti pater equus vtrique
Est quoddam [sic] prodire tenus si non datur vltra.
Quem si non tenuit magnis tamen excidit ausis
Conamur tenues grandia
Tentantem majora fere praesentibus equum.
Da facilem cursum atque audacibus annue ceptis
Neptunus ventis implevit vela secundis
Crescent illae crescetis Amores
Et quae nunc ratio est impetus ante fuit
Aspice venturo laetentur vt omnia seclo
In Academijs discunt credere
Vos adoratis quod nescitis
To gyue Awthors thear due as yow gyue Tyme his
dew w'ch is to discouuer troth.
Vos graeci semper pueri
Non canimus surdis respondent omnia syluae
populus volt decipi
Scientiam loquimur inter perfectos
Et Justificata est sapientia a filijs suis
Pretiosa in oculis domini mors sanctorum ejus
Felix qui potuit rerum cognoscere causas.
Magistratus virum iudicat.
Da sapienti occasionem et addetur ej sapienta
Vite me redde priorj
I had rather know then be knowne
Folio 90, frontOrpheus in syluis inter Delphinas Arion
Inopem me copia fecit.
An instrument in tunyng
A yowth sett will neuer be higher.
like as children doe w'th their babies when they haue
plaied enowgh wth them they take sport to
undoe them.
Faber quisque fortune suae
Hinc errores multiplices quod de partibus vitae
singuli deliberant de summa nemo.
Vtilitas magnos hominesque deosque efficit auxilijs
quoque fauente suis.
Qui in agone contendit a multis abstinet
Quidque cupit sperat suaque illum oracula fallunt
Serpens nisi serpentem comederit non fit Draco
The Athenians holyday.
Optimi consiliarij mortuj
Cum tot populis stipatus eat
In tot populis vix vna fides
Odere Reges dicta quae dici iubent
Nolite confidere in principibus
Et multis vtile bellum.
Pulchrorum Autumnus pulcher
Vsque adeone times quern tu facis ipse timendum.
Dux femina facti
Res est ingeniosa dare
A long wynter maketh a full ear.
Declinat cursus aurumque uolubile tollit
Romaniscult.
Vnum augurium optimum tueri patriam
Bene omnia fecit
Folio 90, backEt quo quenque modo fugiatque feratque laborem edocet.
Non vlla laborum o virgo nova mi facies inopinave surgit;
Omnia praecepi atque animo mecum ante peregi.
Cultus major censu
Tale of y'e frogg that swelled.
Viderit vtilitas
Qui eget verseter in turba
While the legg warmeth the boote harmeth
Augustus rapide ad locum leniter in loco
My father was chudd for not being a baron.
Prowd when I may doe any man good.
I contemn few men but most thinges.
A vn matto vno & mezo
Tantene animis celestibus ire
Tela honoris tenerior
Alter rixatur de lana sepe caprina
Propugnat nugis armatus scilicet vt non
Sit mihi prima fides.
Nam cur ego amicum offendam in nugis
A skulter
We haue not drunke all of one water.
Ilicet obruimur numer[o].
Numbring not weighing
let them haue long mornynges that haue not good
afternoones
Cowrt howres
Constancy to remayne in the same state
Folio 90, back – continued.
The art of forgetting.
Rather men then maskers.
Variam dans otium mentem
Spire lynes.
Folio 91, frontVeruntamen vane conturbatur omnis homo
Be the day never so long at last it ringeth to
even-song.
Vita salillum.
Non possumus aliquid contra veritatem sed pro veritate.
Sapie[n]tia quoque perseueravit mecum
Magnorum fluuiorum navigabiles fontes.
Dos est vxoria lites
Haud numine nostro
Atque animis illabere nostris
Animos nil magne laudi egentes
Magnanimj heroes nati mehioribus annis
AEuo rarissima nostro Simplicitas
Qui silet est firmus
Si nunquam fallit imago
And I would haue thowght
Sed fugit interea fugit irreparabile temp[us]
Totum est quod superest
In a good beleef
Possunt quia posse videntur
Justitiamque omnes cupida de mente fugaru[nt]
Lucrificulus
Qui bene nugatur ad mensam sepe vocatur
faciunt et tedi[urn finitum?]19
Malum bene conditum ne moveas
Be it better be it woorse
Goe yow after him that beareth the purse
Tranquillo quilibet gubernator
Nullus emptor difficilis bonum emit opsonium
Chi semina spine non vada discalzo
Folio 91, backQuoniam Moses ad duritiem cordis permi [sit] vobis
Non nossem peccatum nisi per legem.
Discite Justitiam monit;
Vbj testamentum ibi necesse est mors intercedat
testatoris
Scimus quia lex bona est si quis ea vtatur legitime
Ve vobis Jurisperitj
Nee me verbosas leges ediscere nee me Ingrato
voces prostituisse foro.
fixit leges pretio atque refixit
Nec ferrea Jura Insanumque forum et populi
tabularia vidit
Miscueruntque novercae non innoxia verba
Jurisconsultj domus oraculum Civitatis
now as ambiguows as oracles.
Hic clamosi rabiosa forj
Jurgia vendens improbus
Iras et verba locat
In veste varietas sit scissura non sit
Plenitude potestatis est plenitudo tempestatis
Iliacos intra muros peccatur et extra
Prosperum et felix scelus virtus vocatur
Da mihi fallere da iustum sanctumque viderj.
Nil nisi turpe iuuat cure est sua cuique voluptas
Hec quoque ab alterius grata dolore venit
Casus ne deusne
fabuleque manes
Folio 92, frontIlle Bioneis sermonibus et sale nigro
Existimamus diuitem omnia scire recte
Querunt cum qua gente cadant
Totus mu[n]dus in malingo positus
O major tandem parcas insane minori
Reall
forma dat esse
Nee fandj fictor Vlisses
Non tu plus cernis sed plus temerarius audes
Nec tibj plus cordis sed minus oris inest.
Invidiam placare paras virtute relicta
[Greek: ho polla klepsas oliga douk ekpheuxetai]
Botrus oppositus Botro citius maturescit.
Old treacle new losanges.
Soft fire makes sweet malt.
Good to be mery and wise.
Seeldome cometh the better.
He must needes swymme that is held vp by the chynne.
He that will sell lawne before he can fold it.
Shall repent him before he haue sold it.
No man loueth his fetters thowgh they be of gold.
The nearer the church the furder from God.