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litude of prescribing against the laws of nature and of estate.

FIVE POINTS.

1. That exercises are to be framed to the life; that is to say, to work ability in that kind, whereof a man in the course of action shall have most use.

2. The indirect and oblique exercises which do, " per partes" and " per consequentiam," inable these faculties, which perhaps direct exercise at first, would but distort: and these have chiefly place where the faculty is weak, not " per se" but " per accidens;" as if want of memory grow through lightness of wit and want of stayed attention, then the mathematics or the law helpeth; because they are things wherein if the mind once roam it cannot recover.

3. Of the advantages of exercise; as to dance with heavy shoes, to march with heavy armour and carriage; and the contrary advantage (in natures very dull and unapt), of working alacrity by framing an exercise with some delight or affection;

" Veluti pueris dant crustula blandi
"Doctores, elementa velint ut discere prima."

4. Of the cautions of exercise; as to beware, lest by evil doing (as all beginners do weakly), a man grow not and be inveterate in an ill habit ; and so take not the advantage of custom in perfection, but in confirming ill. Slubbering on the lute.

5. The marshalling, and sequel of sciences and practises: logick and rhetorick should be used to be read after poesy, history, and philosophy. First,

exercise to do things well and clean; after, promptly and readily.

The exercises in the universities and schools are of memory and invention; either to speak by heart that which is set down verbatim, or to speak extempore; whereas, there is little use in action of either of both: but most things which we utter are neither verbally premeditate, nor merely extemporal; therefore exercise would be framed to take a little breathing and to consider of heads; and then to fit and form the speech extempore: this would be done in two manners, both with writing and tables, and without: for in most actions it is permitted and passable to use the note; whereunto if a man be not accustomed it will put him out.

There is no use of a narrative memory in academies, viz. with circumstances of times, persons, and places, and with names; and it is one art to discourse, and another to relate and describe; and herein use and action is most conversant.

Also to sum up and contract is a thing in action of very general use.

ΑΡΟΡΗΤHEGMES

NEW AND OLD.

A.D.

1625.

APOTHEGMES NEW AND OLD.

JULIUS CÆSAR did write a collection of apophthegmes, as appears in an epistle of Cicero; I need say no more for the worth of a writing of that nature. It is pity his book is lost: for I imagine they were collected with judgement and choice; whereas that of Plutarch and Stobœus, and much more the modern ones, draw much of the dregs. Certainly they are of excellent use. They are " mucrones verborum," pointed speeches. Cicero prettily calleth them "salinas," salt pits, that you may extract salt out of, and sprinkle it where you will. They serve to be interlaced in continued speech. They serve to be recited upon occasion of themselves. They serve if you take out the kernel of them, and make them your own. I have, for my recreation, in my sickness, fanned the old, not omitting any, because they are vulgar, for many vulgar ones are excellent good; nor for the meanness of the person, but because they are dull and flat; and adding many new, that otherwise would have died.

1. WHEN Queen Elizabeth had advanced Raleigh, she was one day playing on the virginals, and my Lo. of Oxford and another nobleman stood by. It fell out so, that the ledge before the jacks was taken away, so as the jacks were seen: my Lo. of Oxford and the other nobleman smiled, and a little whispered. The Queen marked it, and would needs know what the matter was? My Lo. of Oxford answered : " That they smiled to see that when jacks went up, "heads went down."

2. Henry the Fourth of France his queen was great with child; count Soissons, that had his expectation upon the crown, when it was twice or thrice thought that the queen was with child before, said to some of his friends, "That it was but with a "pillow." This had someways come to the king's ear; who kept it till when the queen waxed great: called the count of Soissons to him, and said, laying his hand upon the queen's belly; "Come, cousin, " it is no pillow?"-" Yes, sir," answered the count of Soissons, "It is a pillow for all France to " sleep upon."

3. There was a conference in parliament between the upper house and the lower, about a bill of accountants, which came down from the lords to the commons; which bill prayed, That the lands of accountants, whereof they were seized when they

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