Dissen

tire licet: Inquiring

Sed cum ratione.

Non mihi
cedendum,

centrical

Sed

veritati.

Scientiæ

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 liberales. nobler, then those that serve the body: though wee lesse can bee without them. As Tillage, Spinning, Weaving, Building, &c. without which, wee could

scarce sustaine life a day. But these were the workes of every hand; the other of the braine only, and those the most generous, and exalted wits, and spirits that cannot rest, or acquiesce. The mind of man is still fed with labour: Opere pascitur.

sunt.

There is a more secret Cause: and the power of Non vulgi liberall studies lyes more hid, then that it can bee wrought out by profane wits. It is not every mans way to hit. They are men (I confesse) that set the Caract, and Value upon things, as they love them; but Science is not every mans Mistresse. It is as great a spite to be praised in the wrong place, and by a wrong person, as can be done to a noble nature.

Ambitio.

If divers men seeke Fame, or Honour, by divers Honesta wayes; so both bee (89) honest, neither is to be blam'd: But they that seeke Immortality, are not onely worthy of leave, but of praise.

Hee hath a delicate Wife, a faire fortune, and Maritus family to goe to be welcome; yet hee had rather be improbus. drunke with mine Host, and the Fidlers of such a

Towne, then goe home.

Affliction teacheth a wicked person sometime to Afflictio Re

pray: Prosperity never.

pia

Magistra.

atis facilis
Averni.

descensus

Many might goe to heaven with halfe the labour Deplorthey goe to hell, if they would venture their industry the right way: But the Divell take all (quoth he) that was choak'd i' the Mill-dam, with his foure last words in his mouth.

A Criple in the way out-travels a Foot-man, or a Post out of the way.

Bags of

money to a prodigall person, are the same

The Divell

take all.

Aegidius cursu superat.

Not

Prodigo
nummi
nauci.

Munda et

sordida.

Debitum

deplora

tum.

Latro ses-
qui peda-

lis.

* with a

great
belly.
Com. de

that Cherry-stones are with some boyes, and so throwne away.

A woman, the more curious she is about her face, is commonly the more carelesse about her house. Of this Spilt water, there is little to bee gathered up: it is a desperate debt.

The Theife* that had a longing at the Gallowes to commit one Robbery more, before hee was hang'd.

And like the German-Lord, when hee went out of New-gate into the Cart, tooke order to have his Armes set up in his last Herborough: Said he was schorten- taken, and committed upon suspition of Treason: no witnesse appearing against him: But the Judges intertain'd him most civilly, discours'd with him, offer'd him the court'sie of the racke; but he confessed, &c.

hien

Calumniæ
fructus

I am beholden to Calumny, that shee hath so endeavor'd, and taken paines to bely mee. It shall make mee set a surer Guard on my selfe, and keepe a better watch upon my Actions.

A tedious person is one a man would leape a steeple from: gallop down any steepe Hill to avoid him; forsake his meat, sleepe, nature it selfe, with all her benefits to shun him. A meere Impertinent: one that touch'd neither heaven nor earth in his discourse. Hee open'd an entry into a faire roome; but shut it againe presently. I spake to him of Garlicke, hee answered Asparagus: consulted him of marriage, hee tels mee of hanging; as if they went by one, and the same Destiny.

What a sight it is, to see Writers committed

um.

together by the eares, for Ceremonies, Syllables, Bellum
Points, Colons, Comma's, Hyphens, and the like? scribenti-
fighting, as for their fires, and their Altars; and
angry that none are frighted at their noyses, and
loud brayings under their asses skins?

tia inter

There is hope of getting a fortune without Differendigging in these quarries. Sed meliore (in omne) ingenio, animog, quàm fortunâ, sum usus.

Pinque solum lassat : sed juvat ipse labor.

Wits made out their severall expeditions then, for Doctos et the discovery of Truth, to find out great and profit- Sciolos. able Knowledges, had their severall instruments for the disquisition of Arts. Now there are certaine Scioli, or smatterers, that are busie in the skirts, and out-sides of Learning, (90) and have scarce any thing of solide literature to commend them. They may have some edging, or trimming of a Scholler, a welt, or so: but it is no more.

Imposture is a specious thing; yet never worse, Impostorthen when it faines to be best, and to none discover'd um fucus. sooner, then the simplest. For Truth and Goodnesse

are plaine, and open; but Imposture is ever asham'd of the light.

A Puppet-play must be shadow'd, and seene in the Icunculadarke: For draw the Curtaine, Et sordet gesticulatio. motio.

rum

There is a great difference in the understanding of Principes, some Princes, as in the quality of their Ministers et Adminabout them. Some would dresse their Masters in istri. gold, pearle, and all true Jewels of Majesty: Others furnish them with feathers, bels, and ribbands; and

Scitum Hispanicum.

Non nova

res livor.

Nit gratius

protervo lib.

are therefore esteemed the fitter servants. But they are ever good men, that must make good the times: if the men be naught, the times will be such. Finis expectandus est in unoquoq, hominum; animali, ad mutationem promptissimo.

It is a quick saying with the Spaniards: Artes inter hæredes non dividi. Yet these have inherited their fathers lying, and they brag of it. Hee is an narrow-minded man, that affects a Triumph in any glorious study: but to triumph in a lye, and a lye themselves have forg'd, is frontlesse. Folly often goes beyond her bounds; but Impudence knowes none.

Envy is no new thing, nor was it borne onely in our times. The Ages past have brought it forth, and the comming Ages will. So long as there are men fit for it, quorum odium virtute relictâ placet, it will never be wanting. It is a barbarous envy, to take from those mens vertues, which because thou canst not arrive at, thou impotently despaires to imitate. Is it a crime in me that I know that, which others had not yet knowne, but from me? or that I am the Author of many things, which never would have come in thy thought, but that I taught them? It is a new, but a foolish way you have found out, that whom you cannot equall, or come neere in doing, you would destroy, or ruine with evill speaking: As if had bound both your wits, and natures prentises to slander, and then came forth the best Artificers, when you could forme the foulest calumnies.

you

Indeed, nothing is of more credit, or request now, then a petulant paper, or scoffing verses; and it is but