Fama.

Negotia.

Amor Pa

triæ.

Ingenia.

Applaw

sus.

*Opinio.

Impos

tura.

A Fame that is wounded to the world, would bee better cured by anothers Apologie, then its owne: For few can apply medicines well themselves. Besides, the man that is once hated, both his good, and his evill deeds oppresse him: Hee is not easily emergent.

In great Affaires it is a worke of difficulty to please all. And oft times wee lose the occasion of carrying a busines well, and thoroughly, by our too much haste. For Passions are spirituall Rebels, and raise sedition against the understanding.

There is a Necessity all men should love their countrey: He that professeth the contrary, may be delighted with his words, but his heart is there.

Natures that are hardned to evill, you shall sooner breake, then make straight; they are like poles that are crooked, and dry: there is no attempting them.

Wee praise the things wee heare, with much more willingnesse, then those wee see: because wee envy the present, and reverence the past; thinking ourselves instructed by the one, and over-laid by the other.

Opinion is a light, vaine, crude, and imperfect thing, settled in the Imagination; but never arriving at the understanding, there to obtaine the tincture of Reason. Wee labour with it more then Truth. There is much more holds us, then presseth us. An ill fact is one thing, an ill fortune is another: Yet both often times sway us alike, by the error of our thinking.

Many men beleeve not themselves, what they would perswade others; and lesse doe the things, which they would impose on others: but least of all,

know what they themselves most confidently boast. Only they set the signe of the Crosse over their outer doores, and sacrifice to their gut, and their groyne in their inner Closets. (87)

What a deale of cold busines doth a man mis-spend Iactura. the better part of life in! in scattering complements, vitæ. tendring visits, gathering and venting newes, following Feasts and Playes, making a little winter-love in a darke corner.

Puritanus Hypocrita est Hæreticus, quem opinio Hypopropria perspicaciæ, quâ sibi videtur, cum paucis in crita. Ecclesia dogmatibus, errores quosdam animadvertisse, de statu mentis deturbavit: unde sacro furore percitus, phreneticè pugnat contra Magistratus, sic ratus, obedientiam præstare Deo.

Learning needs rest: Soveraignty gives it. Mutua Sovereignty needs counsell: Learning affords it. auxilia. There is such a Consociation of offices, betweene the Prince, and whom his favour breeds, that they may helpe to sustaine his power, as hee their knowledge. It is the greatest part of his Liberality, his Favour And from whom doth he heare discipline more willingly, or the Arts discours'd more gladly, then from those, whom his owne bounty, and benefits have made able and faithfull?

univer

In being able to counsell others, a Man must be Cognit furnish'd with an universall store in himselfe, to the knowledge of all Nature: That is the matter, and seed-plot; There are the seats of all Argument, and Invention. But especially, you must be cunning in the nature of Man: There is the variety of things,

which are as the Elements, and Letters, which his art and wisdome must ranke, and order to the present occasion. For wee see not all letters in single words; nor all places in particular discourses. That cause seldome happens, wherein a man will use all Arguments. The two chiefe things that give a man reputation liarii in counsell, are the opinion of his Honesty; and the adjunct. Probitas. opinion of his Wisdome: The authority of those two sapientia. will perswade, when the same Counsels utter'd by other persons lesse qualified, are of no efficacy, or working.

Consi

Vita recta.

tia.

tas. Sollici

udo.

Wisedome without Honesty is meere craft, and coosinage. And therefore the reputation of Honesty must first be gotten; which cannot be, but by living well. A good life is a maine Argument.

Next a good life, to beget love in the persons wee counsell, by dissembling our knowledge of ability in Obsequen- our selves, and avoyding all suspition of arrogance, Humani- ascribing all to their instruction, as an Ambassadour to his Master, or a Subject to his Soveraigne; seasoning all with humanity and sweetnesse, onely expressing care and sollicitude. And not to counsell rashly, or on the suddaine, but with advice and meditation: (Dat nox consilium.) For many foolish things fall from wise men, if they speake in haste, or be extemporall. It therefore behooves the giver of counsell to be circumspect; especially to beware of those, with whom hee is not throughly acquainted, lest any spice of rashnesse, folly, or selfe-love appeare, which will be mark'd by new persons, and men of experience in affaires.

And to the Prince, or his Superiour, to behave Modestia. himselfe modestly, and with respect. Yet free from Parrhesia. Flattery, or Empire. Not with insolence, or precept; but as the Prince were already furnished with the parts hee should have, especially in affaires of State. For in other things they will more easily suffer themselves to be taught, or reprehended: They will not willingly contend. But heare (with Alexander) the answer the Musician gave him, Absit & Rex, ut tu meliùs hæc scias, quàmego. (88)

in vita

Alex.

A man should so deliver himselfe to the nature of Plutarc. the subject, whereof hee speakes, that his hearer may take knowledge of his discipline with some delight: Perspicand so apparell faire, and good matter, that the uitas. studious of elegancy be not defrauded; redeeme Arts Elegantia. from their rough, and braky seates, where they lay hid, and over-growne with thornes, to a pure, open, and flowry light: where they may take the eye, and be taken by the hand.

I cannot thinke Nature is so spent, and decay'd, Natura that she can bring forth nothing worth her former non effœta. yeares. She is alwayes the same, like her selfe: And when she collects her strength, is abler still. Men are decay'd, and studies: Shee is not.

creden

I know Nothing can conduce more to letters, then Non to examine the writings of the Ancients, and not to nimiùm rest in their sole Authority, or take all upon trust dum antifrom them; provided the plagues of Iudging, and quitati. Pronouncing against them, be away; such as are envy, bitternesse, precipitation, impudence, and scurrile scoffing. For to all the observations of the Ancients,

B

Dissentire licet:

Sed cum ratione.

Non mihi cedendum,

Sed veritati. Scientiæ liberales.

use,

wee have our owne experience: which, if wee will and apply, wee have better meanes to pronounce. It is true they open'd the gates, and made the way that went before us; but as Guides, not Commanders: Non Domini nostri, sed Duces fuêre. Truth lyes open to all; it is no mans severall. Patet omnibus veritas ; nondum est occupata. Multum ex illâ, etiam futuris relicta est.

If in some things I dissent from others, whose Wit, Industry, Diligence, and Iudgement I looke up at, and admire: let me not therefore heare presently of Ingratitude, and Rashnesse. For I thanke those, that have taught me, and will ever: but yet dare not thinke the scope of their labour, and enquiry, was to envy their posterity, what they also could adde, and find out.

If I erre, pardon me: Nulla ars simul & inventa est, & absoluta. I doe not desire to be equall to those that went before; but to have my reason examin'd with theirs, and so much faith to be given them, or me, as those shall evict. I am neither Author, or Fautor of any sect. I will have no man addict himselfe to mee; but if I have any thing right, defend it as Truth's, not mine (save as it conduceth to a common good.) It profits not me to have any man fence, or fight for me, to flourish, or take a side. Stand for Truth, and 'tis enough.

Arts that respect the mind, were ever reputed nobler, then those that serve the body: though wee lesse can bee without them. As Tillage, Spinning, Weaving, Building, &c. without which, wee could