MR BACON'S C ESSAYS * {jOTH JAN

few to be read -whoih and with dihgence and attention
«7 Reading maieth a full man, conference a ready man, and
writing an exact man And therefore if a man \\nte little, he
had need have a great memoir , if iie confer little, he had need
have a present ^vit , and if he read little, he had need have much
cunning, to seem to know that he doth not ^ Histories male
men w^se, Poets witty- the Mathematics subtle, natural
Philosophy deep Moral grave, Logic and Rhetoric able to
contend *

January NE^V PIAYS
This month the Admiral's men have played two new plays,
being Alexander and Lodovick and Woman bard to please
znd February A DANGEROUS PERSON TAKEN
There is lately apprehended one William Tomson, a very
lewd and dangerous person, that is charged to have a purpose to
bum her Majesty's ships or do some notable -villainy This man
is to be ezammed concerning his devilish intents, and earnestly
dealt with to declare by whom he hath been moved thereunto ,
wherein if by fair means and persuasions he be not moved to
reveal the truth, then to be put to the manacles or the torture
of the rack as in like cases is used
$tl February A QUARREL AT COURT
The Earl of Northumberland hath had a quarrel with the
Earl of Southampton that was like to have proceeded to a
combat, insomuch that my Lord of Southampton sent a
gentleman with his rapier Whereupon my Lord of Northum-
berland asled whether he brought a challenge; if so, he
accepted it beforehand The gentleman answered that he did
not, only he brought his rapier My Lord of Northumberland
answered that he had not a novice in hand , he knew well when
he was before or behind in points of honour, and therefore had
nothing to say further unless he were challenged But the
affair came to nought, for by order of the Queen they were
summoned to Court on bond of their allegiance and called before
the Lords of the Council, who assured him, on their honours,
that my Lord of Southampton had not spoken the words
complained of, which afterward he affirmed himself My Lord
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