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 perspicacia, 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 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.

Consiliarii

Vita recta.

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 tas. to his Master, or a Subject to his Soveraigne; sea

tia.

Sollici

udo.

soning 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.

nimiùm creden

dum anti

I know Nothing can conduce more to letters, then Non to examine the writings of the Ancients, and not to rest in their sole Authority, or take all upon trust from 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

Dissen

wee have our owne experience: which, if wee will use, 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, tire licet: 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.

Sed cum ratione.

Non mihi cedendum,

Sed veritati.

Scientiæ liberales.

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

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 pray: Prosperity never.

Afflictio pia Magistra. Deploratis facilis

Many might goe to heaven with halfe the labour they 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 The Divell 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

descensus Averni.

take all.

Aegidius cursu superat.