points shew you you must count till you come to Twelve and then reckon the three that remain to the right corner at the lover end of the Figure and so come to the Question which was this Whether a Person shall have many Friends which is the seventh Question so that reckoning the three that remain you proceed till you come to Nine which signifies the ninth Number and the third Answer which is this You shall have many Friends Again for the same Question Suppose you touch at the Figure 3 and count upwards as you see the pricks go till you come to the corner there remain five with you are to reckon from the Question accounting always the Question it self to be one and that will bring you to 11 which is the Number of the Answers then five the number remaining as before directs you to the same Figure in that Number where you finde this Answer You shall have true Friends Note also that if you chuse any of the Questions towards the end you must after you have counted all to the bottom begin at the beginning again For Example Suppose you chuse the 49 Question Who shall overcome in a Duel and you touch at 4 in the Figure you must count as you see the pricks and there remain seven then you turn to the Question before where you reckon from 49 and because you can reckon but four of the seven to the bottom you begin again at one so that you finde three the number in the Answers and seven in that Number as before where you have this Answer They will have no advantage one of another And so of the rest The TABLE Of QUESTIONS To be Propos'd 1 What success shall a Person have in his Love 2 Whether the party you imagine really loves you 3 Whether love once separated shall ever be reunited 4 By what means an affection may prove successful 5 Whether love will continue or no 6 Whether love shall be obtain'd 7 Whether a Person shall have many Friends 8 From what Persons one may expect kindness and friendship 9 Whether he be your real Friend that you think is so 10 Wether you shall Court several Persons 11 Whether you shall be in favour with Grandees 12 Whether you shall be married or enter into Religious orders and so turne Monk or Friar 13 Whether the Marriage in hand will be concluded 14 Of what temper will the Husband prove 15 Of what humor will the Wife be 16 What fortune shall a Person have by marriage 17 Whether the married couple will have Children 18 Whether want of Children be the Mans fault or the Womans fault 19 Whether or no a Woman be with Child 20 Of what shee is with Child 21 Whether shee be a Maid or no 22 Whether a Person win or lose 23 Whether you will overthrow your Adversary at Law 24 At what game a Man will win or lose 25 Whether a Man shall gain or lose by merchandising 26 Whether one shall recover a debt 27 Whether the theft shall be discovered 28 Whether a Person shall get an Estate 29 Whether the Secret committed to a Person hath been reveal'd 30 Whether one shall have a faithful Servant 31 Whether news are true or false 32 Whether the dream portends good or evil 33 Of what reputation a Person is 34 What the Person that is absent thinks of 35 What Vices a Person is subject to 36 What Virtue he excels in 37 What day will be lucky or unlucky 38 What Element will be advantagious or prejudicial to you 39 What course of life a Person shall lead 40 Whether the Child shall be short or long liv'd 41 Whether a Man be the true Father of a Child 42 Whether a sick Person shall recover or not 43 Whether a Man shall be in Office or Place 44 Whether a Person will be prosperous or successless 45 Whether the change of ones condition will prove for good 46 Whether you shall obtain the thing desir'd 47 Whether the year will be barren or fruitful 48 Whether there shall be Peace or Warre 49 Who shall overcome in a Duel 50 Whether two Enemies will be reconcil'd 51 Whether a Voyage or journey will prove prosperous 52 Of what distemper a Person will die The Several Answers to the Questions propos'd Numb 1. 1 His love will continue till death 2 Of the small Pox. 3 You will have a pleasant voyage or journey 4 That will prove but a counterfeit reconciliation 5 He that hath a good cause shall overcome 6 There are strong endeavors on foot to be break the Peace 7 The year will produce great store of Oyl 8 Some envious person will cross your desire 9 This alteration will better your condition 10 He will have an unhappy end 11 He will be in office in his younger years 12 Bleeding purging will be the death of him Numb 2. 1 Thou art intirely belov'd 2 His love will not continue long 3 Of some dangerous wound 4 Thou wilt make a troublesome journey or voyage 5 Their reconciliation will prove their ruine 6 He that is injur'd shall be worsted 7 They endeavor extremely to promote a War 8 This year Oyl will be scarce 9 Flatter your Confident and you obtain your desire 10 This change will impair your condition 11 He shall prosper in well-doing 12 He will be in Office but it will be in his declining age Numb 3. 1 They will be more firmly re-united then ever 2 They have no affection at all for you 3 He will prove constant in his Love 4 Of the Stone 5 Thy journey or voyage will prove dangerous 6 Those that endeavor a reconciliation manage it not handsomly 7 They will have no advantage one of another 8 'T will prove a bloody War 9 This year will not prove very fruitful 10 All things cross your desires 11 This alteration will set you at rest 12 He will become miserable by ill-donig Numb 4. 1 You will accomplish your designe by dissimulation 2 They will never be re-uinted 3 They love thee for thy beauty 4 He will be inconstant in his love 5 Of the Retention of seed 6 Thou wilt run some risque in thy journey or voyage 7 Every one will seek his own advantage in this Reconciliation 8 They will be both slightly wounded 9 Those that negotiate the business betray both parties 10 This year will not be very barren 11 All things favour your wishes 12 This change will be your destruction Numb 5. 1 That affection will be of long continuance 2 By a fervent and well-grounded passion 3 Their reconcilation will prove cordial 4 They love you for their own ends 5 His love is free and discreet 6 Of too great an amorous passion 7 Thou wilt meet with Theeves 8 They will never be Friends unless some great man interpose 9 They will both run the hazard of their lives 10 This Peace will prove advantageous to us 11 This year will afford good pastures 12
The advice of some Relation obstructs the obtaining of your desire Numb 6. 1 Thou shalt accomplish thy designe 2 This affection will soon decay 3 By excessive Liberality 4 Their Reconciliation will not be real 5 Thou art intirely belov'd 6 His love is feigned and indiscreet 7 Of a Pleurisie 8 Thou wilt have fair weather in thy journey or voyage 9 Some secret love will hinder their reconciliation 10 The flaxen will disarm the brown-hair'd Man 11 This Peace will be disadvantageous to us 12 This year will afford few or no good pastures Numb 7. 1 Thou wilt have a good Friend 2 Thou wilt never accomplish thy designe 3 A yeer will be the outmost date of his love 4 Through hopes of a Match 5 Their love will be more fervent then formerly 6 Jealousy will destroy their affection 7 Of the Plague 8 You will have bad weather in your journey or voyage 9 They will be reconcil'd in the Passion-week 10 The brown will wound the flaxen-hair'd Man 11 War will be better for us then Peace 12 This year will prove fruitful Numb 8. 1 You may expect much from your Father 2 You will have no true Friends 3 You will gain his friendship but not his love 4 It will be much if their love continue six months 5 By a sheeps eye Letters and Caresses 6 Their Reconciliation will not last long 7 There is more Courtship then Love 8 Jealousy will preserve their affection 9 Of an Apoplexie 10 Hasten your voyage or journey lest you repent it 11 A common Enemy will reconcile them 12 The Challenger will wound the person challenged Numb 9. 1 He is your real Friend 2 You can expect nothing from your Father 3 You will have many Friends 4 You will neither gain his friendship nor love 5 The love of the Lover will be permament 6 By giving cause of jealousy 7 They will agree well for some time 8 He loves more then you do 9 Too much caressing destroys his affection 10 Of old Age. 11 Delay your journey or voyage for a time 12 They will never be such real Friends as formerly Numb 10. 1 One sweet-heart will put a period to his desires 2 He is no real Friend 3 You may expect much from your Mother 4 You will never want Friends 5 You will obtain the last favour 6 The Shee-Paramour will continue her affection 7 By a sweet violence 8 They will seemingly agree together with an tention to deceive one another 9 They love you only for your means 10 His love is maintain'd by caressing 11 He will die by some accident 12 The waters will prove contrary to you in your voyage Numb 11. 1 You will obtain his favour 2 Multiplicity of Friends will take up his thoughts 3 His friendship is firm and constant 4 You can expect nothing from your Mother 5 You will have true Friends 6 You will never gain the last favour 7 The love will end in the party loving 8 By respect and esteem 9 If they meet privately they will agree 10 Their love extends to many more besides 11 A new affection will destroy the old one 12 He will die a naturall death Numb 12. 1 He will be married without dispute 2 You will never gain his love 3 Every new Moon a new love 4 His friendship is not to be rely'd upon 5 You may expect much from your Children 6 You will have pretended Friends 7 You will never enjoy her without great difficulty 8 The female Friend will continue her love 9 By a counterfeit coldness 10 If they discourse together 't will be worse for them 11 They begin to be weary of your love 12 The gaining that persons love requires much circumspection Numb 13. 1 That marriage will be solemniz'd 2 He will never be married 3 You will gain her favour by frequent services 4. So many Looks so many Loves 5 He loves you for his Interest 6 You can expect nothing from your Children 7 You will have Friends that will assist you 8 You will gain her affection without much trouble 9 His love is at an end and yet he colours it handsomly 10 By great confidence 11 A third person must reconcile them 12 Too much passion will destroy your love Numb 14. 1 Your Husband will prove a very honest man 2 This will never be a Match 3 This Person will be a Nun. 4 You will win them by flattery 5 Three Friends and one love 6 He loves without any self-ends 7 You will be assisted by the friendship and means of your Friends 8 Your Friends will be over-burthensome to you 9 You lose your time for you will never gain her 10 Their love continues and yet they seem nor to love 11 By slandring of him upon anothers account 12 They will all lose their labor that endeavor a reconciliation Numb 15. 1 This Wife will be very chaste 2 Thy Husband will prove a debauch'd person 3 The marriage is delay'd 4 This person will not be a Nun. 5 You will never have them do what you can 6 Two affections during his whole life 7 He loves thee better then any other Friend 8 You will finde neither friendship nor assistance from your relations 9 You will gain Friends that will acknowledge your love 10 You will be caress'd but not really lov'd 11 Your love in the end will prove injurious to you 12 By the apprehension of an alteration Numb 16. 1 This will prove a very fortunate Match 2 Your Wife will prove dishonest 3 Your Husband will love you intirely 4 Your marriage is cross'd by a second person 5 He will be speedily married 6 You will be out of favour 7 He can love but for a day 8 He preferres other Friends before you 9 You will find more friendship at the hands of strangers then of your Nearest relations 10 Your Friends will prove ingrateful to you 11 Your care will be sufficiently rewarded 12 Your love will end without contention oâ— hatred Numb 17. 1 They will have Children 2 Your marriage will prove unfortunate 3 Your Wife will be a good Housewife 4 Your Husband will not love you at all 5 The Irresolution of parents will spoil the Match 6 It will be long ere he marries 7 Build not your hope upon the favour of great Men. 8 Two Loves at once 9 He hath been formerly a closer Friend to you then he is at present 10 You will find friendship from those you have oblig'd 11 You will have Friends that will never forsake you 12 Your hopes are vain for you will never enjoy her Numb 18. 1 The Husband is Impotent 2 They will have no Children 3 Your Husband will be made a Cuckold 4 Your Wife will be an ill housewife 5 Your Husband will prove a debauch'd Gamester 6 A great Estate will break off the Match 7 This Woman will be a religious Nun. 8 You spend your time in vain for you will never gain her favour 9 Many Loves at
once 10 He is more your Friend now then ever 11 One only Friend will be very helpful to you 12 Your Friends will desert you when you have most need of them Numb 19. 1 This Woman is certainly with Child 2 This Woman is barren 3 They will have none but Boys 4 This woman will be a Cuck-quean 5 Your Wife will have a good report 6 Your Husband will do his business effectually 7 Want of Estate destroys this Match 8 This Person will not phancie a Religious life 9 You will be in favour when you have given over your suit 10 Too many Friends will do you an injury 11 He loves you and confides in you 12 It will be your fortune to have many Friends Numb 20. 1 Shee is with Child of a Boy 2 This Woman is not with Child 3 They will never have Children because hâ— is too active and shee too slow 4 They will have none but Girls 5 They will agree extraordinary well togetherâ— 6 Your Wife will have a very ill report 7 Your Husband will always have a Mistris 8 The inequality of your conditions will breaâ— off the Match 9 This Person will make some tryal both of married and religious life 10 Rely upon the favour of Grandees 11 He will hardly be in love as long as he lives 12 He loves thee but confides not in thee Numb 21. 1 Shee is a Mayd and free from scandal 2 Shee is with Child of a Girl 3 Shee is with Child will be safely delivered 4 Shee is too forward and He too remiss 5 Their Children will live 6 They will always be wrangling 7 Your Wife will dote upon you 8 Your Husband will debauch all your Mayd-servants 9 Some vice he is suppos'd to be guilty of retards the Match 10 It will be done to your Relations but not to your own satisfaction 11 The favors you receive from him will make you envy'd by others 12 Shee will hardly get a true friend as long as shee lives Numb 22. 1 You will prove a Gainer in all your undertakings 2 Shee is no Mayd 3 Shee will be brought to bed of a brave Girl 4 Shee is with Child and will hardly be delivered without going in danger of her life 5 The heat of his reins makes him unfruitful 6 Their Children will not be long-liv'd 7 The Husband will have a Mistris and the Wife a Gallant 8 Your Wife will eat you out of house home 9 Your Husband will dote upon you 10 This Match will be made up by a faithful friend in whom you confide 11 This person will enter into Religious orders out of spite 12 You will never be really in favour but only in appearance Numb 23. 1 You will overthrow your Adversary at Law 2 You will be a Loser in all things 3 Shee was a Mayd till twelve years of age 4 Shee hath had two Children 5 This Woman hath not been long with Child 6 The heat of the womb makes her barren 7 The first Child shee hath will be a Boy 8 They will live happily together 9 Your Wife will be very true to your bed 10 Your Husband will beat you 11 This Match will be made up by the mediation of some person or other 12 This Person will marry to please his phancie Numb 24 1 You will lose at Dice 2 You will be overthrown at Law 3 Your gains will enrich you 4 Shee and her Shee-companion have both lost their Mayden-heads 5 Shee will miscarry of a Son 6 This Woman is farther gone with Child then you imagine 7 This Man doth not manage his business briskly 8 The first Child shee hath will be a Girl 9 They will live very uncomfortably together 10 Your Wife will be whorish 11 Your Husband will endeavour as much as in him lies to please you 12 The Match will be made up between both parties without the assistance of a third person Numb 25. 1 Trade as a Mercer and you will be a great Gainer 2 You will win at Dice 3 You will gain both by principal and interest 4 Thy Losses will begger thee 5 Shee hath deflowr'd her self 6 Shee will miscarry of a Daughter 7 Shee counterfets her self with Child but is not really so 8 This Woman is without life or soul 9 All the Children begot in marriage will prove the Husbands 10 They will grow rich 11 Thy Wife will have Gallants 12 Thy Husband will always contradict thee Numb 26. 1 Thou wilt be pay'd all thy debts 2 Thou wilt prove a loser if thou dealest in silks 3 Thou wilt win at Whisk 4 Thou wilt gain by the principal but not by the interest 5 Thou wilt have great losses by War 6 Shee is a Mayd but no Virgin 7 Shee is with Child of a Son begot by her Gallant 8 This Woman is with Child and will miscarry 9 This Man was weakned before he was married 10 All the Children begot in marriage will not be the Husbands 11 They will spend all they have 12 Thy Wife will prove a little whorish yet she 'll manage her business with discretion Numb 27. 1 The Theft will de discover'd 2 The Debitor will never pay thee 3 Thou wilt prosper by trading to Sea 4 Playing at Whisk will undo thee 5 You will be overthrown but have your charges borne 6 You will receive great losses at Sea 7 Shee lost her Mayden-head 8 Shee is with Child of a Daughter begot by her Gallant 9 This Woman is big with nothing but a mole or imperfect birth 10 This Woman when a Mayd made use of physick 11 They will have but one Child that will live 12 They will be forc'd to part Numb 28. 1 You will inherit a plentiful Estate 2 It will be long ere the theft be discover'd 3 You will lose all the profit that should accrew to you by that debt 4 Trading by Sea will be disadvantageous for you 5 You will win at Tick-tack 6 You will be overthrown and forc'd to pay Costs 7 You will gain by Horse-flesh 8 I question her being a Mayd and have reason for 't 9 Shee is with Child of a Son that will prove vitious 10 This Woman will be brought to bed of a Tympany 11 The Husband is of too cold a constitution 12 They will have many Children living Numb 29. 1 This Person hath dislos'd your secret 2 You will never enjoy any Inheritance 3 The Theft will never be discovered 4 You will never gain any thing but by Law 5 You will gain by trading in Corn and Wine 6 You will lose at Tick-tack 7 You will be dismist the Court of your suit your charges born 8 You will lose by Horse-flesh 9 Shee hath mischief in her heart 10 Shee is with Child of a Daughter that will prove excellent companie 11 This Woman will soon be with Child 12 This Woman is of too hot a temper Numb 30. 1 You will have true and faithfull Servants 2 This Person will never reveal
their War hath little dependance upon the beginning of it There are no Men in the World that have a more gentile behaviour a more manly deportment a fixed look motions and gestures agreable to the whole body this comliness is an ornament to the virtue of their Grandees and shrouds the imperfections of the meaner sort Let them attire themselves or salute after what manner they please nothing in nature seems better or more gracefully perform'd The Neighbouring Nations ridiculously deceive themselves in their endeavours to Ape them in their Mode by the same variety of garments and positure not knowing that there are some Men who by reason of their complaisant and good carriage are pleasing in all things theâ— undertake and that others upon whom Natuâ—â— hath not bestowed the variety of those habits render themselves unpleasant and ridiculous by endeavouring to imitate them for Virtues Vices and all other secret motions of the mind may be easily represented but because our sense are hid in such deep cells it is a piece of difficulty to discover whether we are mov'd by reaâ— affections or we only suit our selves to the times In like manner it is an easy matter to counterfeit Humility Hatred Love and Piety but those things that are acted no more by the agitation of the mind then the outward use and ability of the body it is impossible for you ever perfectly to imitate them it being contrary to Nature How gentile and active is the grace of the body in her motions a pleasant facility in discourse an Harangue that proceeds not from the heart but only sallies out at the Lips How all these things being most excellent qualifications in the French conversation you cannot without much difficulty do as they do unless your Genius naturally inclines you to it Finally the World can never return France what shee deserves for her Hospitality for shee seems to set open a Temple of Humanity for all strangers to shelter them in their misfortunes shee respects not the Country but the spirit of the Man nor do they suffer themselves to be transported with the vulgar error of other Provinces they do not punish strangers for the accidental fortune of their education they being also mov'd by the impulsâ— of a candid and simple love to vertue they admire them without envy and afford them means 〈◊〉 enrich themselves especially men of excellent â—arts from what quarter of the world soever they â—ome And also by way of retaliation for so great â—ivility she hath that commendation which the whole Universe bestows upon her as also the fortune and renown of those she hath advantagiously receiv'd as Members of her Body Nor is there a necessity here that Forrainers should unlearn the customes of their Native Country or constrain themselves to imitate the French provided they be not proud savage nor barbarous nay shewing some stranger carriage in your conversation they become so curious that they begin to devote themselves to it stamping a greater esteem upon what is Forrain then that which is Native nay sometimes commending some miscarriage in life or body provided it be of forraign extract for it is often seen that the discourse of a stranger through the mistake of his language hath merited favor and acquir'd the opinion of great knowledge because it is unintelligible The populace really reverence those that are fortunes favourites not through fear custome or instruction on the other hand those that are placed in the highest Sphere of Grandeur are in the same manner honoured by their inferiours in favour or race but they cannot endure pride and arrogancy if you seem to Lord it over them they blush at obedience That affability that attracts men by the artifice of the Aspect the sweetness of looks and familiar discourse wins the Grandees more affectionate Servants then the greatness of their power wealth and the blood it self is more vile in their esteem then honor the ambition of the Nobility in particular frequently redounds to their own or their Countreys injury being not to be perswaded by penury to embrace merchandizing or any other profitable vocation They will imitate the Grandeur of their Ancestors by an irregular ambition and think it a dishonour to the Nobleness of their blood to descend to a popular way of living So that the empty name of Nobility and an opinionative appearance of living splendidly without business makes them patiently beare the greatest anxieties of body and mind which are coextensive with their life and this great courage though it flatters it self and seems to be a degree remov'd from any thing that is disgraceful doth often through necessity suffer it self to be transported to sordid actions either by the ill-management of domestique affairs oâ— doing some publick violence or letting themselves loose to act publick crimes only to repulse their poverty Merchandize is of less esteem then it deserves considering the great advantage that accrews thereby Other Nations are not of this temper Nay in England they are not of this opinion that Nobility is hereby dishonour'd but in France not only the antient families contemn it but the Merchants themselves when they are inricht as if asham'd of themselves prefer their issue to a more noble employment and a more elevated degree of honor then that of their Parents Now the greatness of the French courage is not more evidently apparent in any thing then when they labor under-hand for an Office wherâ— the poor though never so virtuous have for a dug time been repuls'd they glory in the impoverishment of their families becoming indebted and impairing their Estates provided they raise themselves above their equals either by a disadvantagious honor or a present gain surreptitiously obtain'd that may re-establish their decay'd family and without doubt this unlimited desire of honor unless it destroys it self will in the end tend to the dishonour of Courts Tribunals and Seneschalships of men of low condition and mean and abject spirits For many persons sooner gain vast heaps of wealth by vile and mechanick Arts then those that are remarkable for the antiquity of their race and that inherit the Estate of their Parents according to the quality of their Ancestors So in the private pursuit after honor they that are the meanest both in extract and spirit oftner carry it then those that are of a more antient house who do not consume their wealth in the purchasing of dignity with that obstinacy as those that are upstarts do who being rich hasten to procure that Nobility for their Heirs which others have by inheritance Now as the most generous wine when new is most frothy so the Infantry and Young men of this Nation being solely addicted to civility and when they are more mature to prudence is ordinarily accompanied with an indiscreet boyling and over-bearing impetuousness in this age they affect a vain licentiousness sometimes of Raillery sometimes of scoffing at those they are unacquainted with and in all things would appear
them that have the repute of Masters in these faculties this rule admits of an Exception for there are some Divines that are very able Physicians and Lawyers that are not ignorant in Divinity Nay Physicians that understand both these sciences in such cases those of one profession may be excellent in the profession of another but this is very rare because that he that labors in the pursuit of divers sciences cannot easily excel in any This is the reason that those that are illiterate if discreet will propose no question above the reach of their capacity or if they do it is in such a way as if they intended to learn rather then argue But how shall a Man behave himself if he fall into the Companie of such Disputants that are neither capable of making any intricate proposition nor of returning any grounded or solid answer Indisputably 't is a vexations thing to associate with such Idiots yet the best way I know to deal with them is to detect their Notorious ignorance by some palpable absurdity Of persons that are inclinable to Contradiction SOme mens discourse is continually stufft with contradiction and opposition and they have a mind to shew themselves able to controle and surpass all others they think they are victorious if they can but out-noise their companions such society cannot be agreeable to their associates they are like a burthen upon the shoulders of those which whom they converse for as every one applauds his own opinion and would have it approv'd so all men disrelish those that contradict them and judge that to be erroneous which they deliver as an absolute truth These contradictions are rooted and lodged in an exceeding vainglorious mind I think there can be no better way to reforme this sort of people then to interrupt their discourse and leave them to the enjoyment of their own conceits without any farther trouble They oftentimes meet with as good head-piâ—â—â—s as their own and as ready to contradict them as they to question It were well for those of this temper to endeavour to shake off this kind of ill humor as well for their own credit as that by addicting themselves so frequently to contradictions they may undertake the defence of many fooleries and absurdities and so consequently being too pertinacious and destitute of reason withall they shipwrack their reputation It is certain that among the Nobility and lofty wits there may happen to be variety of opinions and so the judgement of one must run against the stream of the others therefore in such Cases he that is opponent ought to produce his reason in such termes as if he were more desirous of Learning then Triumphing and Insulting over his Companion which he may do with ease if he be not contumelious in words or too vehement or violent in actions Of special Matters THe manner of discourse contributes much to the discovery of the passions or inclinations of other persons but the matter is more effectual for the affection a man hath to any thing if vehement will discover it self The ordinary sort of men according to their usual custome talk of mean frivolous things the vitious of one kind of vice or other the wise of grave and profound subjects and if they descend to inferior matters they passe over them cursorily or touch some one â—oint so subtilely that ex unguibus you may discover them as a Lion by his paw Some men talk much of themselves and level at nothing but their own praise and by degrees steal gently into their own commendation or if you applaud them immediately they are pufft up with an imaginary delight which they take in themselves but by the way it is probable you may aske me What if a man commends me or any of my qualifications how shall I deport my self if I own his commendations I shall be accounted conceited and proud if I disown them it looks as if I did undervalue the person and accuse him of flattery In a Case of this nature which may often fall out it were well to be furnished with a ready retort as Alphonsus King of Arragon did reply to an Orator that recited a long Oration in his praise The King saith If what you say be truth I thank God for it if not I pray God give me the grace to deserve it Or a discreet Person may say I deserve not this applause but your affection puts this gloss upon my actions the better to set them off or else you out of your good disposition and love to me only take more notice of the little good I do then the great evil I am guilty of again the affection you bear me constrains you to make the best interpretation of all my actions By this means you evade a vain complacencie in your affaires that ministers occasion of offence to the censorions nor must you be so rude as to deny what your Friend out of civility affirms to be really true Of concealing or revealing Secrets AS there are some Persons so close that they will never discover any thing of business so on the contrary there are others so foolish that they will disclose their thoughts to any one especially those that concern themselves The former are crafty and subtile at first because friendship requires some communication of secrets especially if he be a singular friend and this offence may very well be tolerated in this dangerous age where profit is diligently sought after and friendship despis'd or at least men affect one another more out of interest then for the love of virtue Wherefore he that is wise will confide in no man unless it be in matters publiquely to be known or that he be a choice friend of whose friendship you have had long experience but if he be vitious if there can be any friendship between vitious persons assure your self that if you acquaint him with halfe your mind you have even publiquely discovered the whole for such persons usually if they be young Men or Women or of no great credit are litigious and very indiscreet in their expressions Besides their friendship having no other Basis but their own Interest as pleasure or profit if either of these faile then be confident that they will reveal all they know of you because such imprudent persons as these imagine that the friendship being once broken they are no longer oblig'd to keep your secrets or save your credit and so in the turning of a hand all is discover'd Therefore I take it for a general rule that a Man is bound to reserve his secrets of greatest importance within his own breast or not to disclose them to any but him that he knows to be a faithful prudent and virtuous friend There is another sort of Men who very well deserve the name of Deceivers as well as friends for in appearance they pretend friendship but in effect 't is nothing but flattery and dissimulation they come to you very seriously and tell you some