Men Studied Philofophy and Eloquence; amongst us the Scholar is but a Scholar, the Lawyer does bur Plead, and the Soldier only Fights. In fhort, if a Man excel in any one thing, he either defpifes the reft, or is unfit for it.

"All Men love Flattery, tho' fometimes they may hate and defpife the Flatterer.

"Learning improves the Honeft Man and the "Knave alike; the Reading of Tacitus and Matchi"iavel, has made as many found Politicians, as StateJugglers.

te

*A Roman Conful had the thanks of the Senate (tho' he was beaten) that he did not defpair; and a French General was made a Marshal of France, after he had loft Namur; but with us, if any thing goes Crofs, we are prefently for changing the Ministry.

The wifeft Politicians may fometimes be drawn into wrong Measures by being over cunning; but then their mistakes are fo many Leffons of inftruction.

"Tis impoffible to Frame Oaths, but what fome People will readily Swallow; to gratify "their Ambition: Addreffes, Affociations, Abjurations, and the like, pafs with them for infig"nificant Promifes, which they keep for their "Interest, and will break for their Conveni

ence.

"Formerly our Nobles fignaliz'd their entrance upon the Stage of the World, with Fighting Two or Three Battels, or at least a Duel: Now a Days, our Young Patricians gene( rally make themselves firft talk'd of, either by "Debauching an Actress, or by losing Eight or Ten "Thousand Pounds at New-Market.

* Nothing

Nothing fhews more the weakness of a Government, than a loose Administration of the Exchequer; for it argues either a Prince's negligence, or that he is unfettled in his Throne, and oblig'd to make Creatures with exorbitant Gifts.

The Times palt, read ufeful Lectures to the Time prefent: He that would fee what shall be, let him confider what has been.

A wife Prince ought to obferve popular Sects, and to Nip 'em in the Bud; but being once full aged, it is Prudence not to oppofe 'em with to strong a Hand, left in fuppreffing one, there arife two. A foft Current is foon ftopt; but a rapid Stream refifted, breaks into many, or over-flows E all

* The first and chiefest Part of a good Patriot is to over-look personal wrongs.

* Popular Love, and Popular Hate, have many times prov'd equally Dangerous and Fatal.

'Tis a hard matter to determine whether thofe who preach'd Pajfive Obedience, did King James more Harm, than thofe who fpake against his Prerogative. We may rail against the King of France as much as we pleafe; but to give him his due, he ever rewarded Virtue and Merit, and punish'd Vice better than fome of his Neigh

"The unequal difpenfation of Rewards and "Punishments, will foon or late prove Fatal to a ce Prince.

Knaves have generally the greatest share of managing, if not making Laws; as Fools have of bringing up New Fashions, and forming Customs.

*

Kings that have been Fortunate Conquerors in their first Years; it being not possible for them to go forward infinitely, but that they must have fome Cheek, in their fucceffés, turn generally Superftitious and Melancholy in their latter Years.

The fureft way of Governing, both in a private Family and a Kingdom, is for a Husband and a Prince, fometimes to yeild fomething of their Frerogative.

A Neighbouring Monarch has oftentimes taken wrong Measures, upon account of our inteftine lars; not confidering that those who are Factious among themselves, and Jealous of one another, are more strongly prepared to encounter with a Common Enemy.

""Tis an easier matter for a Prince to maintain a Conqueft made by the Sword, than one gain'd "by Cunning and Stratagem.

*Liberty in a Prince, is no Virtue, when maintain'd at the Subject's unwilling Colt; and it is lefs Reproach, by Parfimony to deferve Popular Love, than by Profufenefs to deferve Private Thanks.

* It is the excellent Property of a good and Wife Prince, to ufe War as he does Phyfick, carefully, unwillingly, and feasonably.

Let a Prince, that would beware of Plots, be rather Jealous of fuch whom his Favours have advanc'd, than of those whom his Difpleasure has difcontented. Thefe want the Means the others have to execute their defires; and Ambition to Rule, is more vehement than Malice to Kevenge.

It is very dangerous to try experiments in a State, unless in cafes of extreme neceffity;

and

and 'tis better to connive for a while at any Inconveniencies, than fuddenly to run upon a Refor mation.

* It is a necessary. Wisdom for a Prince to grow in ftrength, as he encreases in Dominions: for Conquefts, not having power anfwerable to their greatnefs, invite New Conquerors to the ruin of the Old.

* A Kingdom is a great Building, whose two main Supporters are the Lams and the Church; and it is the part of a Wife Mafter, to keep those Pillars in their first Posture irremoveable. If either fail, it is Prudence rather to repair, than remove it; left he should endanger the ruin of the whole Fabrick.

* When the Humours of the People are stir'd by Discontents, 'tis Policy in a Prince to give them moderate Liberty, to vent their Spleen. He that turns the Humour back, makes the Wound Bleed inwardly, and fills the Body with Malignity.

* It is almost impoffible for any Prince, or Magistrate, utterly to avoid the evil Report of Men; for if he be Good, he incurrs the offence of wicked People; if he be Evil, Good Men will exclaim against him. This danger therefore Wife and Virtuous Princes have little regarded, be caufe Hate may be gain'd, as well by Good as Evil doing.

*No Prince ever loft the love of his Subjects by Punishing the Wicked, if at the fame time he Rewarded the Good and well deferving; for no Man can think him Cruel, that for Love to Vertue ufes feverity, which will appear when he is boun-tiful to the Virtuous.

* Next to Senfuality and Sloth, or the fufpicion of Simplicity, Comardife, or any fnch Vice, nothing renders a Prince more contemptible to his People, than his being mutable, irrefolute, lightand inconfiderate in beftowing Honours and Offices of State.

*Tho' Franknefs and Plain-dealing be most worthy Praife, chiefly in private Perfons; yet becaufe all Men do not Act upon fuch Principles, it behoves Wife Men, and Princes above others, to Diffemble upon fome Occafions; For as in all Actions, a Prince ought to be flow and advis'd; fo in confent and believing, Hafte and Facility is most dangerous.

As I wifh a Prince should not over-flightly befieve all Men; neither would I have him, for small caufes, diftruft every Man.

*Diffimulation, is only tolerable in Princes and Magiftrates; and is chiefly to be us'd with Strangers and Enemies; for good and neceffary

ends.

* A Peace can not be lasting, except the Conditions of it be Reasonable and Honourable to both Parties; for no People can live contented under fuch a Law as forces them to loath the State wherein they are.

* All States ought to defire Peace; yet so as to be always prepar'd for War.

The Time does not always ferve to put an Enterprize in Execution : Yet whoever ex pects every opportunity, fhall either attempt nothing at all, or if he do, the fame, for the moft part, turns to his own disadvantage. Wife Politician forces Occafions, not waits for them.

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