it, fit the rest to it. To be free minded and chearefully disposed at houres of meate, and of sleepe, and of exercise, is the best precept of long lasting If you fly physicke in health altogether, it will bee too strange to your body when you shall need it. If you make it too familiar it wil work no extraordinary effect when sicknes commeth. Despise no new accident in the body but aske opinion of it. In sick nesse respect health principally, and in health action. For those that put their bodyes to endure in health, may in most sicknesses which are not very sharpe, be cured onely with diet and tendring. Physitians are some of them so pleasing and comfortable to the humours 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, compound two of both sortes, and forget not to call as well the best acquainted with your body, as the best reputed of for his faculty. OF HONOUR AND REPUTATION. The winning of honor is but the reuealing of a man's vertue and worth without disadvantage, for some in their actions doe affect honour and reputation, which sorte of men are commonly much talked of, but inwardly litle admired: and some darken their vertue in the shew of it, so as they be vnder-valued in opinion. If a man performe that which hath not been attempted before, or attempted and giuen ouer, or hath been atchiued, but not with so good circumstance, hee shall purchase more honor, then by effecting a matter of greater difficulty or vertue, wherein he is but a follower. If a man so temper his actions as in some one of them he do content euery faction or combination of people, the Mvsicke will be the fuller. A man is an ill husband of his honor that entreth into any action the failing wherin may disgrace him more, then the carrying of it through can honor him. Discreet followers help much to reputation. Envy which is the canker of honor is best extinguished by declaring a mans selfe in his endes, rather to seeke merite then fame, and by attributing a mans successes rather to deuine prouidence and felicity, then to his vertue or policy. The true Marshaling of the degrees of Soueraigne Honour are these. In the first place are "Conditores," founders of states. In the second place are "Legislatores," Law-giuers, which are also called second founders, or "Perpetui principes," because they gouern by their ordinances after they are gone. In the third place are Liberatores, such as compounde the long miseries of ciuil wars, or deliver their countries from servitude of strangers or tyrants. In the fourth place are "propagatores," or propugnatores imperii," such as in honorable wars inlarge their territories, or make Noble defence against inuaders. And in the last place are "Patres patriæ," which raigne justly, and make the times good wherein they liue. Degrees of honour in subiectes are first "Participes curarum," those upon whóm princes do discharge the greatest weight of their affaires, their Right hands (as we call them). The next are "Duces belli," great leaders, such as are Princes Lieutenantes, and do them notable services in the warres. The third are "Gratiosi," fauorites, such as exceed not this scantling to be solace to the Soveraigne, and harmles to the people. And the fourth "Negotys pares," such as have great place vnder Princes, and execute their places with sufficiency. OF FACTION. Many have a newe wisedome indeed, a fond opinion: That for a prince to gouerne his estate, or for a great person to govern his proceedings according to the respects of Factions, is the principall part of policy. Whereas contrariwise, the chiefest wisedom is eyther in ordering these things which are generall, and wherin men of several factions do neuertheles agree, or in dealing with correspondence to particular persons one by one. But I say not that the consideration of Factions is to be neglected. Meane men must adheare, but great men that haue strength in themselues were better to maintaine themselues indifferent and neutral, yet euen in beginners to adheare so moderately, as hee be a man of the one faction, which is passablest with the other, commonly giveth best way. The lower and weaker faction is the firmer in conjunction. When one of the factions is extinguished, the remaining subdiuideth, which is good for a second. It is commonly seene, that men once placed, take in with the contrary faction to that by which they enter. The traitor in factions lightly goeth away with it, for when matters have stuck long in ballancing, the winning of some one man casteth them, and he getteth al the thanks. OF NEGOCIATING. It is generally better to deale by speech then by letter, and by the mediation of a third then by a mans selfe. Letters are good when a man would draw an aunswere by Letter backe againe, or when it may serue for a mans iustification afterwards to produce his owne Letter. To deale in person is good when a mans face breedes regard, as commonly with inferiors. In choyce of instrumentes it is better to chuse men of a playner sorte that are like to doe that that is committed to them, and to report backe againe faithfully the successe, then those that are cunning to contriue out of other men's busines somewhat to grace themselues, and will help the matter in reporte for satisfactions sake. It is better to sounde a person with whom one deales a far off, then to fall vpon the point at first, except you mean to surprise him by some short question. It is better dealing with men in appetite then with those which are where they would be. If a man deale with another vpon conditions, the start or first performance is al, which a man cannot reasonably demaund, except either the nature of the thing be such which must go before, or else a man can perswade the other party that he shal stil need him in some other thing, or els that he be counted the honester man. All practise is to discouer or to worke: men discouer themselues in trust, in passion, at vnwares, and of necessity, when they would haue somewhat done, and cannot finde an apt pretext. If you would work any man, you must eyther know his nature and fashions, and so lead him; or his endes, and so win him; or his weaknesse or disaduantages, and so awe him, or those that haue interest in him, and so gouerne him. In dealing with cunning persons wee must euer consider their ends to interpret their speeches, and it is good to say little to them, and that which they least looke for. SPURIOUS APOPHTHEGMES. 1. His Majesty James the First, King of Great Britain, having made unto his Parliament an excellent and large declaration, concluded thus, "I have now given you a clear mirror of my mind; use "it therefore like a mirror; and take heed how you let it fall, or how you soil it with your breath." 2. His Majesty said to his Parliament at another time, finding there were some causeless jealousies sown amongst them; "That "the King and his people, (whereof the Parliament is the representa"tive body,) were as husband and wife; and therefore, that of all "other things, jealousy was between them most pernicious” 3. His Majesty, when he thought his Council might note in him some variety in businesses, though indeed he remained constant, would say, "That the sun many times shineth watery; but it is not "the sun which causeth it, but some cloud rising betwixt us and the sun; and when that is scattered the sun is as it was, and comes to "his former brightness." 4. His Majesty, in his answer to the book of the Cardinal of Evereux (who had in a grave argument of divinity sprinkled many witty ornaments of poesy and humanity), saith; "That these flowers "were like blue and vellow, and red flowers in the corn, which "make a pleasant shew to those that look on, but they hurt "the corn." 5. Sir Edward Cook, being vehement against the two Provincial Counsels of Wales and the North, said to the King; "There was "nothing there but a kind of confusion and hotch potch of justice; one while they were a Star Chamber, another while a King's Bench, "another a common place, another a commission of Oyer and Ter"miner." His Majesty answered, "Why, Sir Edward Cook, they "be like houses in progress, where I have not, nor can have, such "distinct rooms of state as I have here at Whitehall or at Hampton "Court." 6. The Commissioners of the Treasure moved the King for the relief of his estate, to disafforest some forests of his, explaining themselves of such forests as lay out of the way, not near any of the King's houses, nor in the course of his progress, whereof he should never have use nor pleasure. "Why," saith the King, " do you think that Solomon had use and pleasure of all his three hun"dred concubines." 7. His Majesty, when the Committees of both Houses of Parliament presented unto him the instrument of Union of England and Scotland, was merry with them; and amongst other pleasant speeches shewed unto them the Laird of Lawreston, a Scotchman, who was the tallest and greatest man that was to be seen, and said, "Well, now we are all one, yet none of you will say but here is one "Scotchman greater than any Englishman;" which was an ambiguous speech; but it was thought he meant it of himself." 8. His Majesty would say to the Lords of his Council when they sat upon any great matter, and came from council in to him, "Well, you have set, but what have you hatcht!" " 9. Queen Elizabeth was importuned much by my Lord of Essex to supply divers great offices that had been long void, the Queen answered nothing to the matter, but rose up on the sudden, and said, "I am sure my office will not be long void." And yet at that time there was much speech of troubles and divisions about the Crown to be after her decease: but they all vanished, and King James came in in a profound peace. 10. King Henry the Fourth of France was so punctual of his word after it was once passed, that they called him the King of the Faith. 11. The said King Henry the Fourth was moved by his Parliament to a war against the Protestants: he answered, "Yes, I mean "it; I will make every one of you Captains; you shall have com"panies assigned you." The Parliament observing whereunto his speech tended, gave over, and deserted his motion. 12. A great officer at Court, when my Lord of Essex was first in trouble, and that he and those that dealt for him would talk much of my Lord's friends and of his enemies, answered to one of them, "I will tell you, I know but one friend and one enemy my Lord hath; and that one friend is the Queen, and that one "enemy is himself." "the 13. The Lord Keeper, Sir Nicholas Bacon, was asked his opinion by my Lord of Leicester, concerning two persons whom the Queen seemed to think well of : By my troth, my Lord," said he, "one is a grave Counsellor, the other is a proper young man; and "so he will be as long as he lives." 14. My Lord of Leicester, favourite to Queen Elizabeth, was making a large chace about Cornbury Park, meaning to enclose it with posts and rails, and one day was casting up his charge what it would come to; Mr. Goldingham, a free-spoken man, stood by, and said to my Lord; "Methinks your Lordship goeth not the cheapest way to work." "Why, Goldingham?" said my Lord. "Marry, my Lord," said Goldingham, "Count you but upon the posts, for the country will find you railing." " 15. The Earl of Northampton, then Lord Privy Seal, was asked by King James openly at the table, where commonly he entertained the King with discourse, the King asked him upon the sudden, "My "Lord, have you not a desire to see Rome?" My Lord Privy Seal answered, "Yes indeed Sir." The King said, "And why? My Lord answered, "Because, if it please your Majesty, it was the seat " of the greatest monarchy, and the seminary of the bravest men of "the world, whilst it was heathen: and then, secondly, because "afterwards it was the see of so many holy bishops in the primitive "church, most of them martyrs" The King would not give it 21. A rough hewn seaman being brought before a wise Just-ass for some misdemeanour, was by him sent away to prison; and being somewhat refractory after he heard his doom, insomuch as he would not stir a foot from the place he stood, saying, "It were better to over, but said, "And for nothing else?" My Lord answered, "Yes, if it please your Majesty, for two things more: the one to see him, who they say hath so great a power to forgive other men their "sins, to confess his own sins upon his knees before a chaplain "or priest: and the other to hear Antichrist say his creed." 16. Sir Nicholas Bacon being appointed a Judge for the Northern Circuit, and having brought his trials that came before him to such a pass, as the passing of sentence on malefactors, he was by one of the malefactors mightily importuned for to save his life, which when nothing that he had said did avail, he at length desired his mercy on the account of kindred. Pr'ythee, said my Lord Judge, how came that in? Why, if it please you, my Lord, your name is Bacon and mine is Hog, and in all ages hog and bacon have been so near kindred that they are not to be separated. "Ay, but," replied Judge Bacon, you and I cannot be kindred except you be hanged; for hog is not bacon until it be well hanged." 17. Two scholars and a countryman travelling upon the road, one night lodged all in one inn and supped together, where the scholars thought to have put a trick upon the countryman, which was thus: the scholars appointed for supper two pigeons and a fat capon, which being ready was brought up, and they having sat down, the one scholar took up one pigeon, the other scholar took the other pigeon, thinking thereby that the countryman should have sat still until that they were ready for the carving of the capon, which he perceiving, took the capon and laid it on his trencher, and thus said, "Daintily contrived, every one a bird." 18. A man and his wife in bed together, she towards morning pretended herself to be ill at ease, desiring to lie on her husband's side; so the good man to please her caine over her, making some short stay in his passage over, where she had not long lain, but desired to lie in her old place again; quoth he, how can it be effected? she answered, come over me again; "I had rather," said he, a mile and a half about." go 19. A thief being arraigned at the bar for stealing a mare, in his pleading urged many things in his own behalf, and at last nothing availing, he told the Bench the mare rather stole him than he the mare, which in brief he thus related: that passing over several grounds about his lawful occasions, he was pursued close by a fierce mastiff dog, and so was forced to save himself by leaping over a hedge, which being of an agile body he effected, and in leaping, a mare standing on the other side of the hedge, leaped upon her back, who running furiously away with him, he could not by any means stop her until he came to the next town, in which town the owner of the mare lived, and there was he taken and here arraigned. 20. A notorious rogue being brought to the bar, and knowing his case to be desperate, instead of pleading, he took to himself the liberty of jesting, and thus said, "I charge you in the King's name, to seize and take away that man (meaning the Judge) in "the red gown, for I go in danger of my life because of him." |