This is the way to Beggar’s-bush.

It is spoken of such who use dissolute and improvident courses, which tend to poverty; Beggar’s-bush being a well-known tree, on the left-hand of the London-road from Huntingdon to Caxton. This punning adage is said to be of royal origin, made and applied by King James I. to Sir Francis Bacon, he aving over generously rewarded a poor man for a trifling present.