able to annoy them then they were And this is generally the work of Standing Counsels to foresee and to hinder it During that Triumuirate of Kings King Henry the 8. of England Francis the 1. King of France and Charles the 5. Emperour there was such a watch kept that none of the Three could win a Palme of Ground but the other two would straightwaies ballance it either by Confederation or if need were by a Warre And would not in any wise take vp Peace at Interest And the like was done by that League which Guicciardine saith was the Security of Italy made betwene Ferdinando King of Naples Lorenzius Medices and Ludouicus Sforza Potentates the one of Florence the other of Millaine Neither is the Opinion of some of the Schoole-Men to be receiued That a warre cannot iustly be made but vpon a precedent Iniury or Prouocation For there is no Question but a iust Feare of an Imminent danger though there be no Blow giuen is a lawfull Cause of a Warre For their Wiues There are Cruell Examples of them Liuia is infamed for the poysoning of her husband Roxolana Solymans Wife was the destruction of that renowned Prince Sultan Mustapha And otherwise troubled his House and Succession Edward the Second of England his Queen had the principall hand in the Deposing and Murther of her Husband This kinde of danger is then to be feared chiefly when the Wiues haue Plots for the Raising of their owne Children Or else that they be Aduoutresses For their Children The Tragedies likewise of dangers from them haue been many And generally the Entring of Fathers into Suspicion of their Children hath been euer vnfortunate The destruction of Mustapha that we named before was so fatall to Solymans Line as the Succession of the Turks from Solyman vntill this day is suspected to be vntrue and of strange Bloud For that Selymus the Second was thought to be Supposititious The destruction of Crispus a young Prince of rare Towardnesse by Constantinus the Great his Father was in like manner fatall to his House For both Constantinus and Constance his Sonnes died violent deaths And Constantius his other Sonne did little better who died indeed of Sicknesse but after that Iulianus had taken Armes against him The destruction of Demetrius Sonne to Philip the Second of Macedon turned vpon the Father who died of Repentance And many like Examples there are But few or none where the Fathers had good by such distrust Except it were where the Sonnes were vp in open Armes against them As was Selymus the first against Baiazet And the three Sonnes of Henry the Second King of England For their Prelates when they are proud and great there is also danger from them As it was in the times of Anselmus and Thomas Becket Archbishops of Canterbury who with their Crosiars did almost try it with the Kings Sword And yet they had to deale with Stout and Haughty Kings William Rufus Henry the first and Henry the second The danger is not from that State but where it hath a dependance of forraine Authority Or where the Churchmen come in and are elected not by the Collation of the King or particular Patrons but by the People For their Nobles To keepe them at a distance it is not amisse But to depresse them may make a King more Absolute but lesse Safe And lesse able to performe any thing that he desires I haue noted it in my History of King Henry the Seuenth of England who depressed his Nobility Whereupon it came to passe that his Times were full of Difficulties Troubles For the Nobility though they continued loyall vnto him yet did they not co-operate with him in his Businesse So that in effect he was faine to doe all things himselfe For their Second Nobles There is not much danger from them being a Body dispersed They may sometimes discourse high but that doth little Hurt Besides they are a Counterpoize to the Higher Nobility that they grow not too Potent And lastly being the most immediate in Authority with the Common People they doe best temper Popular Commotions For their Merchants They are Vena porta And if they flourish not a Kingdome may haue good Limmes but will haue empty Veines and nourish little Taxes and Imposts vpon them doe seldome good to the Kings Reuenew For that that he winnes in the Hundred he leeseth in the Shire The particular Rates being increased but the totall Bulke of Trading rather decreased For their Commons There is little danger from them except it be where they haue Great and Potent Heads Or where you meddle with the Point of Religion Or their Customes or Meanes of Life For their Men of warre It is a dangerous State where they liue and remaine in a Body and are vsed to Donatiues whereof we see Examples in the Ianizaries and Pretorian Bands of Rome But Traynings of Men and Arming them in seuerall places and vnder seuerall Commanders and without Donatiues are Things of Defence and no Danger Princes are like to Heauenly Bodies which cause good or euill times And which haue much Veneration but no Rest All precepts concerning Kings are in effect comprehended in those two Remembrances Memento quod es Homo And Memento quod es Deus or Vice Dei The one bridleth their Power and the other their Will Of Counsell XX. THe greatest Trust betweene Man and Man is the Trust of Giuing Counsell For in other Confidences Men commit the parts of life Their Lands their Goods their Child their Credit some particular Affaire But to such as they make their Counsellours they commit the whole By how much the more they are obliged to all Faith and integrity The wisest Princes need not thinke it any diminution to their Greatnesse or derogation to their Sufficiency to rely vpon Counsell God himselfe is not without But hath made it one of the great Names of his blessed Sonne The Counsellour Salomon hath pronounced that In Counsell is Stability Things will haue their first or second Agitation If they be not tossed vpon the Arguments of Counsell they will be tossed vpon the Waues of Fortune And be full of Inconstancy doing and vndoing like the Reeling of a drunken man Salomons Sonne found the Force of Counsell as his Father saw the Necessity of it For the Beloued Kingdome of God was first rent and broken by ill Counsell Vpon which Counsell there are set for our Instruction the two Markes whereby Bad Counsell is for euer best discerned That it was young Counsell for the Persons And Violent Counsell for the Matter The Ancient Times doe set forth in Figure both the Incorporation and inseparable Coniunction of Counsel with Kings And the wise and Politique vse of Counsell by Kings The one in that they say Iupiter did marry Metis which signifieth Counsell Whereby they intend that Soueraignty is married to Counsell The other in that which followeth which was thus They say after Iupiter was married to Metis she conceiued by him
and Valiant Soldiers And let Princes on the other side that haue Subiects of Martiall disposition know their owne Strength vnlesse they be otherwise wanting vnto Themselues As for Mercenary Forces which is the Helpe in this Case all Examples shew That whatsoeuer Estate or Prince doth rest vpon them Hee may spread his Feathers for a time but he will â—eâ— them soone after The Blessing of Iudah and Issachar will neuer meet That the same People or Nation should be both The Lions whelpe and the Asse betweene Burthens Neither will it be that a People ouer-laid with Taxes should euer become Valiant and Martiall It is true that Taxes leuied by Consent of the Estate doe abate Mens Courage lesse As it hath beene seene notably in the Excises of the Low Countries And in some degree in the Subsidies of England For you must note that we speake now of the Heart and not of the Purse So that although the same Tribute and Tax laid by Consent or by Imposing be all one to the Purse yet it workes diuersly vpon the Courage So that you may conclude That no People ouer charged with Tribute is fit for Empire Let States that aime at Greatnesse take heed how their Nobility and Gentlemen doe multiply too fast For that maketh the Common Subiect grow to be a Peasant and Base Swaine driuen out of Heart and in effect but the Gentlemans Labourer Euen as you may see in Coppice Woods If you leaue your staddles too thick you shall neuer haue cleane Vnderwood but Shrubs and Busbes So in Countries if the Gentlemen be too many the Commons will be base And you will bring it to that that not the hundred poll will be fit for an Helmet Especially as to the Infantery which is the Nerue of an Army And so there will be Great Population and Little Strength This which I speake of hath been no where better seen then by comparing of England and France whereof England though farre lesse in Territory and Population hath been neuerthelesse an Ouermatch In regard the Middle People of England make good Souldiers which the Peasants of France doe not And herein the deuice of King Henry the Seuenth whereof I haue spoken largely in the History of his Life was Profound and Admirable In making Farmes and houses of Husbandry of a Standard That is maintained with such a Proportion of Land vnto them as may breed a Subiect to liue in Conuenient Plenty and no Seruile Condition And to keepe the Plough in the Hands of the Owners and not meere Hirelings And thus indeed you shall attaine to Virgils Character which he giues to Ancient Italy Terra potens Armis atque vbere Glebae Neither is that State which for any thing I know is almost peculiar to England and bardly to be found any where else except it be perhaps in Poland to be passed ouer I meane the State of Free Seruants and Attendants vpon Noblemen and Gentlemen which are no waies inferiour vnto the Yeomanry for Armes And therefore out of all Question the Splendour and Magnificence and great Retinues and Hospitality of Noblemen and Gentlemen receiued into Custome doth much conduce vnto Martiall Greatnesse Whereas contrariwise the Close and Reserued liuing of Noblemen and Gentlemen causeth a Penury of Military Forces By all meanes it is to be procured that the Trunck of Nebuchadnezzars Tree of Monarchy be great enough to beare the Branches and the Boughes That is That the Naturall Subiects of the Crowne or State beare a sufficient Proportion to the Stranger Subiects that they gouerne Therfore all States that are liberall of Naturalization towards Strangers are fit for Empire For to thinke that an Handfull of People can with the greatest Courage and Policy in the World embrace too large Extent of Dominion it may hold for a time but it will faile suddainly The Spartans were a nice People in Point of Naturalization whereby while they kept their Compasse they stood firme But when they did spread and their Boughs were becommen too great for their Stem they became a Windfall vpon the suddaine Neuer any State was in this Point so open to receiue Strangers into their Body as were the Romans Therefore it sorted with them accordingly For they grew to the greatest Monarchy Their manner was to grant Naturalization which they called Ius Ciuitatis and to grant it in the highest Degree That is Not onely Ius Commercij Ius Connubij Ius Haereditatis But also Ius Suffragij and Ius Honorum And this not to Singular Persons alone but likewise to whole Families yea to Cities and sometimes to Nations Adde to this their Custome of Plantation of Colonies whereby the Roman Plant was remoued into the Soile of other Nations And putting both Constitutions together you will say that it was not the Romans that spred vpon the World But it was the World that spred vpon the Romans And that was the sure Way of Greatnesse I haue marueiled sometimes at Spaine how they claspe and containe so large Dominions with so few Naturall Spaniards But sure the whole Compasse of Spaine is a very Great Body of a Tree Farre aboue Rome and Sparta at the first And besides though they haue not had that vsage to Naturalize liberally yet they haue that which is next to it That is To employ almost indifferently all Nations in their Militia of ordinary Soldiers yea and sometimes in their Highest Commands Nay it seemeth at this instant they are sensible of this want of Natiues as by the Pragmaticall Sanction now published appeareth It is certaine that Sedentary and Within-doore Arts and delicate Manufactures that require rather the Finger then the Arme haue in their Nature a Contrariety to a Military disposition And generally all Warlike People are a little idle And loue Danger better then Trauaile Neither must they be too much broken of it if they shall be preserued in vigour Therefore it was great Aduantage in the Ancient States of Sparta Athens Rome and others that they had the vse of Slaues which commonly did rid those Manufactures But that is abolished in greatest part by the Christian Law That which commeth nearest to it is to leaue those Arts chiefly to Strangers which for that purpose are the more easily to be receiued and to containe the principall Bulke of the vulgar Natiues within those three kinds Tillers of the Ground Free Seruants Handy-Crafts-Men of Strong Manly Arts as Smiths Masons Carpenters Not reckoning Professed Souldiers But aboue all for Empire and Greatnesse it importeth most That a Nation doe professe Armes as their principall Honour Study and Occupation For the Things which we formerly haue spoken of are but Habilitations towards Armes And what is Habilitation without Intention and Act Romulus after his death as they report or faigne sent a Present to the Romans That aboue all they should intend Armes And then they should proue the greatest Empire of the World The Fabrick of the State of Sparta was wholly though
Worse when they come to them Be not Penny-wise Riches haue Wings and sometimes they Fly away of themselues sometimes they must be set Flying to bring in more Men leaue their Riches either to their Kindred Or to the Publique And moderate Portions prosper best in both A great State left to an Heire is as a Lure to all the Birds of Prey round about to seize on him if he be not the better stablished in Yeares and Iudgement Likewise Glorious Gifts and Foundations are like Sacrifices without Salt And but the Painted Sepulchres of Almes which soone will putrifie and corrupt inwardly Therefore Measure not thine Aduancements by Quantity but Frame them by Measure And Deferre not Charities till Death For certainly if a Man weigh it rightly he that doth so is rather Liberall of an Other Mans then of his Owne Of Prophecies XXXV I Meane not to speake of Diuine Prophecies Nor of Heathen Oracles Nor of Naturall Predictions But only of Prophecies that haue beene of certaine Memory and from Hidden Causes Saith the Pythonissa to Saul To Morrow thou and thy sonne shall be with me Homer hath these Verses At Domus Aeneae cūctis dominabitur Oris Et Nati Natorum qui nascentur ab illis A Prophecie as it seemes of the Roman Empire Seneca the Tragedian hath these Verses Venient Annis Seculaseris quibus Oceanus Vincula Rerum laxet ingens Pateat Tellus Typhisque nouos Detegat Orbes nec sit Terris Vltima Thule A Prophecie of the Discouery of America The Daughter of Polycrates dreamed that Iupiter bathed her Father and Apollo annointed him And it came to passe that he was crucified in an Open Place where the Sunne made his Bodie runne with Sweat and the Raine washed it Philip of Macedon dreamed He sealed vp his Wiues Belly Whereby he did expound it that his Wife should be barren But Aristander the Soothsayer told him his Wife was with Childe because Men doe not vse to Seale Vessells that are emptie A Phantasme that appeared to M. Brutus in his Tent said to him Philippis iterùm me videbis Tiberius said to Galba Tu quoque Galba degustabis Imperium In Vespasians Time there went a Prophecie in the East That those that should come forth of Iudea should reigne ouer the World which though it may be was meant of our Sauiour yet Tacitus expounds it of Vespasian Domitian dreamed the Night before he was slaine that a Golden Head was growing out of the Nape of his Necke And indeed the Succession that followed him for many yeares made Golden Times Henry the Sixt of England said of Henry the Seuenth when he was a Lad and gaue him Water This is the Lad that shall enioy the Crowne for which we striue When I was in France I heard from one Dr. Pena that the Q. Mother who was giuen to Curious Arts caused the King her Husbands Natiuitie to be Calculated vnder a false Name And the Astrologer gaue a Iudgement that he should be killed in a Duell At which the Queene laughed thinking her Husband to be aboue Challenges and Duels but he was slaine vpon a Course at Tilt the Splinters of the Staffe of Mongomery going in at his Beuer. The triuiall Prophecie which I heard when I was a Childe and Queene Elizabeth was in the Flower of her Yeares was When Hempe is sponne England's done Whereby it was generally conceiued that after the Princes had Reigned which had the Principiall Letters of that Word Hempe which were Henry Edward Mary Philip and Elizabeth England should come to vtter Confusion Which thankes be to God is verified only in the Change of the Name For that the Kings Stile is now no more of England but of Britaine There was also another Prophecie before the yeare of 88. which I doe not well vnderstand There shall be seene vpon a day Betweene the Baugh and the May The Blacke Fleet of Norway When that that is come and gone England build Houses of Lime and Stone For after Warres shall you haue None It was generally conceiued to be meant of the Spanish Fleet that came in 88. For that the King of Spaines Surname as they say is Norway The Prediction of Regiomontanus Octogessimus octauus mirabilis Annus Was thought likewise accomplished in the Sending of that great Fleet being the greatest in Strength though not in Number of all that euer swamme vpon the Sea As for Cleons Dreame I thinke it was a Iest It was that he was deuoured of a long Dragon And it was expounded of a Maker of Sausages that troubled him exceedingly There are Numbers of the like kinde Especially if you include Dreames and Predictions of Astrologie But I haue set downe these few onely of certaine Credit for Example My Iudgement is that they ought all to be Despised And ought to serue but for Winter Talke by the Fire side Though when I say Despised I meane it as for Beleefe For otherwise the Spreading or Publishing of them is in no sort to be Despised For they haue done much Mischiefe And I see many seuere Lawes made to suppresse them That that hath giuen them Grace and some Credit consisteth in three Things First that Men marke when they hit and neuer marke when they misse As they doe generally also of Dreames The second is that Probable Coniectures or obscure Traditions many times turne themselues into Prophecies While the Nature of Man which coueteth Diuination thinkes it no Perill to foretell that which indeed they doe but collect As that of Seneca's Verse For so much was then subiect to Demonstration that the Globe of the Earth had great Parts beyond the Atlanticke which mought be Probably conceiued not to be all Sea And adding thereto the Tradition in Plato's Timeus and his Atlanticus it mought encourage One to turne it to a Prediction The third and Last which is the Great one is that almost all of them being infinite in Number haue beene Impostures and by idle and craftie Braines meerely contriued and faigned after the Euent Past Of Ambition XXXVI AMbition is like Choler Which is an Humour that maketh Men Actiue Earnest Full of Alacritie and Stirring if it be not stopped But if it be stopped and cannot haue his Way it becommeth Adust and thereby Maligne and Venomous So Ambitious Men if they finde the way Open for their Rising and still get forward they are rather Busie then Dangerous But if they be check't in their desires they become secretly discontent and looke vpon Men and matters with an Euill Eye And are best pleased when Things goe backward Which is the worst Propertie in a Seruant of a Prince or State Therefore it is good for Princes if they vse Ambitious Men to handle it so as they be still Progressiue and not Retrograde Which because it cannot be without Inconuenience it is good not to vse such Natures at all For if they rise not with their Seruice they will take Order to make their Seruice fall with them
and was with Childe but Iupiter suffered her not to stay till she brought forth but eat her vp Wherby he became himselfe with Child and was deliuered of Pallas Armed out of his Head Which monstrous Fable containeth a Secret of Empire How Kings are to make vse of their Councell of State That first they ought to referre matters vnto them which is the first Begetting or Impregnation But when they are elaborate moulded and shaped in the Wombe of their Councell and grow ripe and ready to be brought forth That then they suffer not their Councell to goe through with the Resolution and direction as if it depended on them But take the matter backe into their owne Hands and make it appeare to the world that the Decrees and finall Directions which because they come forth with Prudence and Power are resembled to Pallas Armed proceeded from themselues And not onely from their Authority but the more to adde Reputation to Themselues from their Head and Deuice Let vs now speake of the Inconueniences of Counsell and of the Remedies The Inconueniences that haue been noted in calling and vsing Counsell are three First the Reuealing of Affaires whereby they become lesse Secret Secondly the Weakning of the Authority of Princes as if they were lesse of Themselues Thirdly the Danger of being vnfaithfully counselled and more for the good of them that counsell then of him that is counselled For which Inconueniences the Doctrine of Italy and Practise of France in some Kings times hath introduced Cabinet Counsels A Remedy worse then the Disease As to Secrecy Princes are not bound to communicate all Matters with all Counsellors but may extract and select Neither is it necessary that he that consulteth what he should doe should declare what he will doe But let Princes betware that the vnsecreting of their Affaires comes not from Themselues And as for Cabinet Counsels it may be their Motto Plenus rimarum sum One futile person that maketh it his glory to tell will doe more hurt then many that know it their duty to conceale It is true there be some Affaires which require extreme Secrecy which will hardly go beyond one or two persons besides the King Neither are those Counsels vnprosperous For besides the Secrecy they commonly goe on constantly in one Spirit of Direction without distraction But then it must be a Prudent King such as is able to Grinde with a Hand-Mill And those Inward Counsellours had need also be Wife Men and especially true and trusty to the Kings Ends As it was with King Henry the Seuenth of England who in his greatest Businesse imparted himselfe to none except it were to Morton and Fox For Weakening of Authority The Fable sheweth the Remedy Nay the Maiesty of Kings is rather exalted then diminished when they are in the Chaire of Counsell Neither was there euer Prince bereaued of his Dependances by his Counsell Except where there hath beene either an Ouergreatnesse in one Counsellour Or an Ouerstrict Combination in Diuers which are Things soone found and holpen For the last Inconuenience that Men will Counsell with an Eye to themselues Certainly Non inueniet Fidem super terram is meant of the Nature of Times and not of all particular Persons There be that are in Nature Faithfull and Sincere and Plaine and Direct Not Crafty and Inuolued Let Princes aboue all draw to themselues such Natures Besides Counsellours are not Commonly so vnited but that one Counsellour keepeth Centinell ouer Another So that if any do Counsell out of Faction or priuate Ends it commonly comes to the Kings Eare. But the best Remedy is if Princes know their Counsellours as well as their Counsellours know Them Principis efl Virtus maxima nosse suos And on the other side Counsellours should not be too Speculatiue into their Soueraignes Person The true Composition of a Counsellour is rather to be skilfull in their Masters Businesse then in his Nature For then he is like to Aduise him and not to Feede his Humour It is of singular vse to Princes if they take the Opinions of their Counsell both Seperately and Together For Priuate Opinion is more free but Opinion before others is more Reuerend In priuate Men are more bold in their owne Humours And in Consort Men are more obnoxious to others Humours Therefore it is good to take both And of the inferiour Sort rather in priuate to preserue Freedome Of the greater rather in Consort to preserue Respect It is in vaine for Princes to take Counsel concerning Matters if they take no Counsell likewise concerning Persons For all Matters are as dead Images And the Life of the Execution of Affaires resteth in the good Choice of Persons Neither is it enough to consult concerning Persons Secundum genera as in an Idea or Mathematicall Description what the Kinde and Character of the Person should be For the greatest Errours are committed and the most Iudgement is shewne in the choice of Indiuiduals It was truly said Optimi Consiliarij mortui Books will speake plaine when Counsellors Blanch. Therefore it is good to be conuersant in them Specially the Bookes of such as Themselues haue been Actors vpon the Stage The Counsels at this Day in most Places are but Familiar Meetings where Matters are rather talked on then debated And they run too swift to the Order or Act of Counsell It were better that in Causes of weight the Matter were propounded one day and not spoken to till the next day In Nocte Consilium So was it done in the Commission of Vnion between England and Scotland which was a Graue and Orderly Assembly I commend set Daies for Petitions For both it giues the Suitors more certainty for their Attendance And it frees the Meerings for Matters of Estate that they may Hoc agere In choice of Committees for ripening Businesse for the Counsell it is better to choose Indifferent persons then to make an Indifferency by putting in those that are strong on both sides I commend also standing Commissions As for Trade for Treasure for Warre for Suits for some Prouinces For where there be diuers particular Counsels and but one Counsell of Estate as it is in Spaine they are in effect no more then Standing Commissions Saue that they haue greater Authority Let such as are to informe Counsels out of their particular Professions as Lawyers Sea-men Mint-men and the like be first heard before Committees And then as Occasion serues before the Counsell And let them not come in Multitudes or in a Tribunitious Manner For that is to clamour Counsels not to enforme them A long Table and a square Table or Seats about the Walls seeme Things of Forme but are Things of Substance For at a long Table a few at the vpper end in effect sway all the Businesse But in the other Forme there is more vse of the Counsellours Opinions that sit lower A King when he presides in Counsell let him beware how he Opens his owne Inclination too
THE ESSAYES OR COVNSELS CIVILL AND MORALL OF FRANCIS LO VERVLAM VISCOVNT St. ALBAN Newly written LONDON Printed by IOHN HAVILAND for HANNA BARRET 1625. TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE MY VERY GOOD Lo. THE DVKE of Buckingham his Grace Lo. High Admirall of England EXCELLENT LO SALOMON saies A good Name is as a precious oyntment And I assure my selfe such wil your Graces Name bee with Posteritie For your Fortune and Merit both haue beene Eminent And you haue planted Things that are like to last I doe now publish my Essayes which of all my other workes haue beene most Currant For that as it seemes they come home to Mens Businesse and Bosomes I haue enlarged them both in Number and Weight So that they are indeed a New Worke. I thought it therefore agreeable to my Affection and Obligation to your Grace to prefix your Name before them both in English and in Latine For I doe conceiue that the Latine Volume of them being in the Vniuersall Language may last as long as Bookes last My Jnstauration I dedicated to the King My Historie of HENRY the Seuenth which I haue now also translated into Latine and my Portions of Naturall History to the Prince And these I dedicate to your Grace Being of the best Fruits that by the good Encrease which God giues to my Pen and Labours I could yeeld God leade your Grace by the Hand Your Graces most Obliged and faithfull Seruant FR. St. ALBAN The Table 1 OF Truth Page 1 2 Of Death 6 3 Of Vnitie in Religion 10 4 Of Reuenge 19 5 Of Aduersitie 22 6 Of Simulation and Dissimulation 25 7 Of Parents and Children 32 8 Of Marriage and Single Life 36 9 Of Enuie 40 10 Of Loue. 50 11 Of Great Place 54 12 Of Boldnesse 62 13 Of Goodnesse and Goodnesse of Nature 66 14 Of Nobilitie 72 15 Of Seditions and Troubles 76 16 Of Atheisme 90 17 Of Superstition 96 18 Of Trauaile 100 19 Of Empire 105 20 Of Counsell 115 21 Of Delaies 125 22 Of Cunning. 127 23 Of Wisdome for a Mans Selfe 135 24 Of Innouations 139 25 Of Dispatch 142 26 Of Seeming Wise 146 27 Of Frendship 149 28 Of Expence 164 29 Of the true Greatnesse of Kingdomes and Estates 167 30 Of Regiment of Health 187 31 Of Suspicion 191 32 Of Discourse 194 33 Of Plantations 198 34 Of Riches 205 35 Of Prophecies 212 36 Of Ambition 218 37 Of Maskes and Triumphs 223 38 Of Nature in Men. 227 39 Of Custome and Education 231 40 Of Fortune 235 41 Of Vsury 239 42 Of Youth and Age. 247 43 Of Beautie 251 44 Of Deformitie 254 45 Of Building 257 46 Of Gardens 266 47 Of Negotiating 280 48 Of Followers and Frends 284 49 Of Sutours 288 50 Of Studies 292 51 Of Faction 296 52 Of Ceremonies and Respects 300 53 Of Praise 304 54 Of Vain-Glory 308 55 Of Honour and Reputation 312 56 Of Iudicature 316 57 Of Anger 325 58 Of Vicissitude of Things 329 Of Truth I. WHAT is Truth said jesting Pilate And would not stay for an Answer Certainly there be that delight in Giddinesse And count it a Bondage to fix a Beleefe Affecting Free-will in Thinking as well as in Acting And though the Sects of Philosophers of that Kinde be gone yet there remaine certaine discoursing Wits which are of the same veines though there be not so much Bloud in them as was in those of the Ancients But it is not onely the Difficultie and Labour which Men take in finding out of Truth Nor againe that when it is found it imposeth vpon mens Thoughts that doth bring Lies in fauour But a naturall though corrupt Loue of the Lie it selfe One of the later Schoole of the Grecians examineth the matter and is at a stand to thinke what should be in it that men should loue Lies Where neither they make for Pleasure as with Poets Nor for Aduantage as with the Merchant but for the Lies sake But I cannot tell This same Truth is a Naked and Open day light that doth not shew the Masques and Mummeries and Triumphs of the world halfe so Stately and daintily as Candle-lights Truth may perhaps come to the price of a Pearle that sheweth best by day But it will not rise to the price of a Diamond or Carbuncle that sheweth best in varied lights A mixture of a Lie doth euer adde Pleasure Doth any man doubt that if there were taken out of Mens Mindes Vaine Opinions Flattering Hopes False valuations Imaginations as one would and the like but it would leaue the Mindes of a Number of Men poore shrunken Things full of Melancholy and Indisposition and vnpleasing to themselues One of the Fathers in great Seuerity called Poesie Vinum Daemonum because it filleth the Imagination and yet it is but with the shadow of a Lie But it is not the Lie that passeth through the Minde but the Lie that sinketh in and setleth in it that doth the hurt such as we spake of before But howsoeuer these things are thus in mens depraued Iudgements and Affections yet Truth which onely doth iudge it selfe teacheth that the Inquirie of Truth which is the Loue-making or Wooing of it The knowledge of Truth which is the Presence of it and the Beleefe of Truth which is the Enioying of it is the Soueraigne Good of humane Nature The first Creature of God in the workes of the Dayes was the Light of the Sense The last was the Light of Reason And his Sabbath Worke euer since is the Illumination of his Spirit First he breathed Light vpon the Face of the Matter or Chaos Then he breathed Light into the Face of Man and still he breatheth and inspireth Light into the Face of his Chosen The Poet that beautified the Sect that was otherwise inferiour to the rest saith yet excellently well It is a pleasure to stand vpon the shore and to see ships tost vpon the Sea A pleasure to stand in the window of a Castle and to see a Battaile and the Aduentures thereof below But no pleasure is comparable to the standing vpon the vantage ground of Truth A hill not to be commanded and where the Ayre is alwaies cleare and serene And to see the Errours and Wandrings and Mists and Tempests in the vale below So alwaies that this prospect be with Pitty and not with Swelling or Pride Certainly it is Heauen vpon Earth to haue a Mans Minde Moue in Charitie Rest in Prouidence and Turne vpon the Poles of Truth To passe from Theologicall and Philosophicall Truth to the Truth of ciuill Businesse It will be acknowledged euen by those that practize it not that cleare and Round dealing is the Honour of Mans Nature And that Mixture of Falshood is like Allay in Coyne of Gold and Siluer which may make the Metall worke the better but it embaseth it For these winding and crooked courses are the Goings of the Serpent which goeth basely vpon the belly and not vpon the Feet There is no Vice that
this beyond the Rules of Physicke A Man 's owne Obseruation what he findes Good of and what he findes Hurt of is the best Physicke to preserue Health But it is a safer Conclusion to say This agreeth not well with me therefore I will not continue it Then this I finde no offence of this therefore I may vse it For Strength of Nature in youth passeth ouer many Excesses which are owing a Man till his Age. Discerne of the comming on of Yeares and thinke not to doe the same Things still For Age will not be Defied Beware of sudden Change in any great point of Diet and if necessity inforce it fit the rest to it For it is a Secret both in Nature and State That it is safer to change Many Things then one Examine thy Customes of Diet Sleepe Exercise Apparell and the like And trie in any Thing thou shalt iudge hurtfull to discontinue it by little and little But so as if thou doest finde any Inconuenience by the Change thou come backe to it againe For it is hard to distinguish that which is generally held good and wholesome from that which is good particularly and fit for thine owne Body To be free minded and cheerefully disposed at Houres of Meat and of Sleep and of Exercise is one of the best Precepts of Long lasting As for the Passions and Studies of the Minde Auoid Enuie Anxious Feares Anger fretting inwards Subtill and knottie Inquisitions Ioves and Exhilarations in Excesse Sadnesse not Communicated Entertaine Hopes Mirth rather then Ioy Varietie of Delights rather then Surfet of them Wonder and Admiration and therefore Nouelties Studies that fill the Minde with Splendide and Illustrious Obiects as Histories Fables and Contemplations of Nature If you flie Physicke in Health altogether it will be too strange for your Body when you shall need it If you make it too familiar it will worke no Extraordinary Effect when Sicknesse commeth I commend rather some Diet for certaine Seasons then frequent Vse of Physicke Except it be growen into a Custome For those Diets alter the Body more and trouble it lesse Despise no new Accident in your Body but aske Opinion of it In Sicknesse respect Health principally And in Health Action For those that put their Bodies to endure in Health may in most Sicknesses which are not very sharpe be cured onely with Diet and Tendering Celsus could neuer haue spoken it as a Physician had he not been a Wise Man withall when he giueth it for one of the great precepts of Health and Lasting That a Man doe vary and enterchange Contraries But with an Inclination to the more benigne Extreme Vse Fasting and full Eating but rather full Eating Watching and Sleep but rather Sleep Sitting and Exercise but rather Exercise and the like So shall Nature be cherished and yet taught Masteries Physicians are some of them so pleasing and conformable to the Humor of the Patient as they presse not the true Cure of the Disease And some other are so Regular in proceeding according to Art for the Disease as they respect not sufficiently the Condition of the Patient Take one of a Middle Temper Or if it may not be found in one Man combine two of either sort And forget not to call aswell the best acquainted with your Body as the best reputed of for his Faculty Of Suspicion XXXI SVspicions amongst Thoughts are like Bats amongst Birds they euer fly by Twight Certainly they are to be repressed or at the least well guarded For they cloud the Minde they leese Frends and they checke with Businesse whereby Businesse cannot goe on currantly and constantly They dispose Kings to Tyranny Husbands to Iealousie Wise Men to Irresolution and Melancholy They are Defects not in the Heart but in the Braine For they take Place in the Stourest Natures As in the Example of Henry the Seuenth of England There was not a more Suspicious Man nor a more Stout And in such a Composition they doe small Hurt For commonly they are not admitted but with Examination whether they be likely or no But in fearefull Natures they gaine Ground too fast There is Nothing makes a Man Suspect much more then to Know little And therefore Men should remedy Suspicion by procuring to know more and not to keep their Suspicions in Smother What would Men haue Doe they thinke those they employ and deale with are Saints Doe they not thinke they will haue their owne Ends and be truer to Themselues then to them Therefore there is no better Way to moderate Suspicions then to account vpon such Suspicions as true and yet to bridle them as false For so farre a Man ought to make vse of Suspicions as to prouide as if that should be true that he Suspects yet it may doe him no Hurt Suspicions that the Minde of it selfe gathers are but Buzzes But Suspicions that are artificially nourished and put into Mens Heads by the Tales and Whisprings of others haue Stings Certainly the best Meane to cleare the Way in this same Wood of Suspitions is franckly to communicate them with the Partie that he Suspects For thereby he shall be sure to know more of the Truth of them then he did before And withall shall make that Party more circumspect not to giue further Cause of Suspicion But this would not be done to Men of base Natures For they if they finde themselues once suspected will neuer be true The Italian saies Sospetto licentia fede As if Suspicion did giue a Pasport to Faith But it ought rather to kindle it to discharge it selfe Of Discourse XXXII SOme in their Discourse desire rather Commendation of Wit in being able to hold all Arguments then of Iudgment in discerning what is True As if it were a Praise to know what might be Said and not what should be Thought Some haue certaine Common Places and Theames wherein they are good and want Variety Which kinde of Pouerty is for the most part Tedious and when it is once perceiued Ridiculous The Honourablest Part of Talke is to giue the Occasion And againe to Moderate and passe to somewhat else For then a Man leads the Daunce It is good in Discourse and Speech of Conuersation to vary and entermingle Speech of the present Occasion with Arguments Tales with Reasons Asking of Questions with telling of Opinions and Iest with Earnest For it is a dull Thing to Tire and as we say now to Iade any Thing too farre As for Iest there be certaine Things which ought to be priuiledged from it Namely Religion Matters of State Great Persons Any Mans present Businesse of Importance And any Case that deserueth Pitty Yet there be some that thinke their Wits haue been asleepe Except they dart out somewhat that is Piquant and to the Quicke That is a Vaine which would be brideled Parce Puer stimulis fortiùs vtere Loris And generally Men ought to finde the difference between Saltnesse and Bitternesse Certainly he that hath a Satyricall