onely where she may be well vsed it seemes the late professors of secrecie which were not yet so secrete but to confesse that if their neerest attyre were priuie to their determinations they would burne it receiued this Item frō Metellus by which I will shew you the example of a double exposition Montagnia likes not the protesting this nor I to say so for I would not haue vttred so much but for the thing it is a safe and an honest principle for I will not conclude their concealing things proceeds from the faultines but since ill hath gotten that power to cōuert things well meant into their own vilde natures it is best to keepe them from it the integritie of the worlde is past it is too late now to professe opennesse be it neuer so honest for so neete may many of our actions come to dangerous intents as they are best when onely in our brests for In du bium trahitur relligiosa fides Secrecie is of two kindes of our friends and of our owne that of our friends religion commaunds vs to keepe that of our owne discreation for the first did he not opē me by the power of friendship I would not willingly neither giue it nor receiue it for he that meanes honestly I thinke deserues as much thankes for being content to heare as the other confidence in telling for we are bound once more then we were by his disclosing and perhaps drawne that we cannot eschew the dooing a fault for if his secret be pernitious I must betray him or my selfe sinne then he must go and so I forfet a friend and breake a principle of friendship I would heere vpon such a desire demaund if he sought it for counsels sake if so I would heare him if otherwise deny him hearing for howsoeuer he meaneth if he relieth vpon mine aduise he shall meane as I would haue him Many States vsed to punish the laying open of secrets with the losse of their babling instruments which was a very iust lawe and a sure for no example preuailes with a borne tatler but the losse of his pick-lock I wonder that the Barbarians generally doe not with those slaues they imploye neere them depriue them of their tongues as they doe of their stones for feare of the abusing of their wiues and concubines me thinks they should be as iealous of their secrets as they are of their lusts The Turkes they haue certaine Mutes to performe their executions which since they are in for worse matter may be put in amongst the rest for veniall But to speake as I thinke I hould the people subiect to this flux of words very dangerous for by such Scilla found where the possession of Athens might easilest be attempted by Flauius that had this disease The citie of Rome had the plague of a tyrant continued I neuer knew tatling a safegarde but the geese that preserued the Capitoll which the Romaines rewarded with great care popular states being neuer ingratefull to geese these are all to be shunned for their couuersations are more vnsafe then the fellowship of the most malicious wordes being more pernicious then blowes for no Fencer can warde them Of our owne secrets the discouerie bewrayes a great feeblenesse and impotencie it resembleth a clowde that by the sunne is possessed of hotte exhalations but is so weake as not to keepe them desire drawes vp thoughts of assistance but when the desirer hath them ouer-burthened with their strength they burst out and dissolue him thus all his attempts ouerwaying the minde are brought to nothing which weakenesse of mans were ill were not man so ill as to haue ill affected thoughts but hauing such it is well for thus most conspiracies against Princes are preuented for an honest man it is a great blessing for a dishonest the contrary an excellent punishment So must I conclude of secrecie which if you will call craft or pollicie I must answere you with these two verses Tutus vhique manes f◠calliditate valebis Non est simplicit as dign◠sauore magis Essay 34. Of Humaine Contenment BEhold the godds of the world the soule of action the motion of the inhabitants of the earth the point the conclusion where vnto all thoughts are reflected this is the maister of al trades Arts sciences and professions for this the husbandman findes a sweetenesse in labour the Artizan in following his trade the Artist in the inquisition of knowledge souldiers in pursuing danger polititians in the working of the minde in plotting and fetching in strange conclusions to vphold practises this is the garland that makes enery one loue victory this is the reconciling obiect of the discenting constitution courses of mē for they al agree that contentment is the place where they desire to end their iourneyes But that the worlde should haue still the right vse and not be desolated with mans neglect of inquiring vttering her secrets this contentment is fashioned like our loues what I call fayre another thinkes ill fauored another out of deformities pickes beauties thus contentment which according to the minds of men is drawne out of a numberlesse number of courses which mistery of natures doth make all agree That contentment is to be sought and to disseuer them in the manner of their search ioyned with the other of making all formes louely in some eyes vphouldes the world for by this last the world is peopled by the first her people made industrious and the great volume of the world in no corner left vnnoted but stirres and flourisherh as the chiefe and master peece of Nature Thus do we propound a cause and reason of our life and make euery day beget vs occasion eyther of following or learning to follow our quest when we do not go forward our selues we behould others which like a mappe layes out the course of our trauaile but when according to the excellencie or grosenesse of our choise the determined contentmēt approcheth we flie from not the inioying but the opinion we had another contentment is set vp that obteined another so doth our humaine liues runne after contentment but neuer ouertake her we cannot for contentment is diuine our bodyes earthly our mindes we feele ouertakes her for the propounded contentment pleaseth her she imbraceth it and is already in possession but when it comes so short dooth it fall of her expectation as shee erects another a plaine argument of her diuinitie and a true signe that reall contentment is not of this world nor to be grasped within our earthly armes Essay 35. Of Trappes for Fame I Had not neede to teache the world new opinions for I holde all I know more by tradition then reason I haue a braine like a French force that dooth it best first my incountring an argument is most vigorous at the prime opposition I after fall and waxe lazie and in truth shallowe I doe nothing well but speake much worse then I write and perhaps worse in something
that is mine too I haue not beene ashamed to aduenture mine eares with a ballad-singer and they haue come home loaden to my liking doubly satisfied with profit with recreatioÌ„ The profit to see earthlings satisfied with such course stuffe to heare vice rebuked and to see the power of Vertue that pierceth the head of such a base Historian and vile Auditory The recreation to see how thoroughly the standers by are affected what strange gestures come from them what strained stuffe from their Poet what shift they make to stand to heare what extremities he is driuen to for Rime how they aduenture their purses he his wits how well both their paines are recompenced they with a silthy noise hee with a base reward There is not any thing retained in my memory from the fiâ—st that profits me not sometimes I renew my nurses stories and being now strong and able to disgest them I finde theÌ„ not without nourishment My after life though I lament the bestowing it because I shuld haue put things more precious in first yet it is not without profit I was bound then to Arthur of Brittaine and things of that price for my knowledge was not able to trafficke with any thing more rich Stowes Cronicle was the highest yet I haue found good vse of them they haue added to my experieÌ„ce My exercises recreatioÌ„â— or rather as I theÌ„ vsed them occupations I finde worth somewhat I would not loose my knowledge of Hawkes and running Horses for any thing they are not without vse I meete often with people that vnderstand no other language then they make me sociable and not vnpleasing to the company If out of these dregs there bee good iuice to bee got what is there out of more noble obseruations truly an incredible knowledge he that can make vse of them may leaue reading and profit no lesse by these If out of these blotters of paper many things may be extracted not vnworthy of note what may we expect from Homer Virgil and such Poets If in Arthur of Britaine Huon of Burdeaux and such supposed chiualrie a man may better himselfe shall hee not become excellent with conuersing with Tacitus Plutarch Salust and fellowes of that ranke Here stay thy selfe and read with attention Mee thinks Plutarches liues shuld make euery man good that reades them he may take his choise of such a number of courses and fit his nature with his temperature Some onely the seruants of Vertue others vsing her for their own sakes some swayed with their fortunes others immoueable Cicero showeth thee how to speake well and to take a care of thy selfe Scipis onely lookes to the flourishing of his Countrey Themistocles burning with Ambition sleepes not vntill he hath gotten a life answerable to his nature Alcibiades an excellent patterne of wisedome to him that will temporize Alexanander prophesies of himselfe with weeping at his fathers Conquests a testimony that Vertue wil shew it self before it hath power to performe any thing It is older then the bodie is readie long before it Pyrrhus representeth to vs the vncertaintie of the worlde not holding any of his Conquests sure It may be an aduise to some spirits to make them prefer a poore certainty before these wauering fortunes to which purpose one saith Beatior fuit Fabritius animo quam Pirrhus regno It is true the inward Riches are onely our owne but to dedicate a life onely to their vse is to enioy an inuisible commodity to burie wealth Demetrius was a Commixture of vertues and vices and me thinkes his end declares his vices onely to bee naturally his for his chaunge of fortune made him giue ouer Vertue hee was content to forget her on the condition not to remember his fortunes he betrayed Vertue and died a drunken dicer Salust is excellent in his description of men If thou likest a seuere honest grauitie looke vpon Cato this fellow sure was naturally good but somewhat too well contented to bee thought so If I were not a Christian I should like well of his death especially of the manner of it It is nothing to die but that night to studie earnestly I do infinitely allow since I may not admire him I will pittie his death and withal the feeling the points of the two swords that was not sutable I am afraid he was afraid of paine I am sory for this the rest was very good his other calmenesse shall make me pardon this motion From Cateline may bee taken many obseruations but they are like the man daungerous then but this All qualities without the direction of vertue profit not but ouerthrowe their possessours From Tacitus concise stile there are many Iâ—wels to be gotten he begins 〈◊〉 the common Iudgement that followes a cruell luxurious gouernment All that I can say of Nero is I blame him not for being afraide of Death it was not hee it was the remembraâ—ce of an iâ—l life and riches the betrayers of men to cowardise Galba teacheth Princes there is daunger in trusting seruants too farre he witnesseth the indiscretioÌ„ of the people wishing for Nero againe because he was yong and handsome and faire wheras Galba was riueld and old their eares are their Iudges I haue bene content to taste Histories and their obseruations that I might tell them that yet know it not that there is yet something else to be noted besides the Series of the History As out of these so from our liuing RelatioÌ„s from men and from their actions of all which I â—â—cretion will make as much vse as an obseruing stomacke doth of meates agreeing or disagreeing with his disgestion Essay 16. Of Opinion IT befalleth me now to speake of the straungest thing of the world yet it is nothing and for al that scareth the most mightie It is a monster halfe Truthe and halfe Falshood It receiues all formes sometimes taking resemblances most pleasing other times most terrible It cleaues most to great Fortunes and yet liueth vpon the breath of the vulgar It is desired and shunned serued and scorned Sometimes it maketh her seruants Industrious sometimes treacherous It is often a cause of things looking like good faire more often of wickednesse and sinne In a word it seemes to doo much and doth nothing And all her followers looking like spirit and Resolution are the very essence of basenesse and cowardise they are worse then blind meÌ„ that haue a dog for their guide for they dare doo nothing of themselues vnlesse they first aske counsaile of Opinion She is much made loue too by base Ambition by Thirsters after promotion Some attempt to win her with little ruffes short haire and a graue habit decent lookes fewe words and sobrietie These would faine haue her say they are graue wise sober temperate men worthy of promotion meete to bee part of the tacklings of a Common-wealth There is an other sort court her with fine speeches would bee thought wise and learned but these neuer vtter their
cures Questionlesse from the liues of men there are great matters to bee fetched It is a liuing Booke by which Princes great men may with least difficulty gather instructions for the managing their liues but it is to be done carefully in matters particular for those performed long since vâ—altered can hardly fit our time where not onely states but euen the verie constitution of men and their reaches are changed I haue beene content thus farre to talke stoically a profession I confesse contrary to my nature who aâ—â— easilie bent and wrested It is a profession reiected by the world and reason for some part of their doctrine strayeth from Christiantie but where it may be tolerated a nature able to maintaine the ciuill warres of his own resistance and that findes a possibilitie of being at last victorious shall do well to perseuer for there can be no life safe which if not wholye the enemie of hope and feare yet that borrowes not some rules from their precepted Talis est sapiens animus qualis mundi status super Lunam semper illiâ— serenus est Who would not buy this hapines with thinking of euery thing truely as it is no other way dooth he obtaine it for be doth but buy thinges as they are worth part with them as he bought them vertue being his marke other things passe like betteâ— but the maine is vertue which both in the seeking and obtaining strengthens her pursuer with such honest and vnderstanding thoughtes as from nothing here can he receiue either a gaine or losse Here then must be the foundatioÌ„ of a states-man who must learne this lesson if hee meane to doe well for being a great Gamster in the world alwayes in those either gaines or losses should he thinke them so and be either throwne downe or lifted vp vppon the successe his life would be distracted and be able to do nothing for his country for laughing or chasing But when truth and vertue haue rooted theÌ„selues in him when his discerning shall bee come to that perfection that he seeth the map of nature to the life as it is when his discourse shall bee come to that strength that it seeth the inward graces of the minde are so full and compleat that they can take no addition from the world and that againe they are so solid and firme as by no time nor occasion they can be diminished for Vertus non potest Maior aut minor fieri then let him in Gods name yeeld his country his strength his time for then neither victories can puffe him vp nor ouerthrowes deiect him he lendes himselfe and other not pitty but assistaunce and weepes not for his owne losses felt no more then for Hecubaes seene in a picture hee hath met with an excellent workeman and his squared falling howsoeuer cast right and fumely Thus is vertue whome though I neuer sawe so fastned to any man as lending not a little partialitie to trueth I might call him a vertuous man yet we haue diuers that haue done wel and though we had not yet in our imaginations where things liue in their greatest purity and florishing we can see nothing but maÌ„ that is capable of vertue for we pay all other things doing any thing extraordinarily with the name of instinct a word giuen vs to I thinke by the name of instinct for it is like a wrastlers sauing a fall with a foiling for we taking vpon vs to be wrastlers with the misteries of nature saue ourselues with the name of instinct a degree of Ignorance more guilty then plaine ignorance for here it is impudent and saues it selfe with a worde not reason I haue yet spoken of vertue in grose it is now time to speake of her particuler workinges how shee mannageth the seuerall occasions that doe befall her and first to the meanes of rising It is not now the world where the sauing a Romaine Citizen shall be rewarded with a crowne of honour and still beare a token of his desert about him and by the helpe of tâ—at imprint his action more deepely in the memories of mâ—n nor is there such an equalnesse in states that all mens actions are seene with a like iudgement It were pittie it were so now for Pride would ruine all in a moment the humour of preferring our country before any thing else is spent the world affordes not a Curtius we hold most of their vices but what supressed their vices and kept them in awe we haue not Shame honour and a noblenesse in all their customes wherewith the Grecian Romaine coÌ„monwealthes wrought their greatest wonders are now like a morning mist ouercome by the rayes of wit Our time is the noone time of the world theirs breake of day or the gray morning as wee call it You shall hardly finde a father now a daies that will care rather how his sonne is dead theÌ„ dead that prizeth his valour dearer then his life yet in times past mothers had that hardines that they hated more that hee should bee wounded in the backe then dead It is not so now noâ— I thinke it not necessary for the spirite of these times ioyned with their deserts would beget to good a particular opinion which would distemper gouernment whose flourishing staÌ„des vpon the motion of the inferior orbes in their right place obedience not examination being their destined functions It stands now with the iustice of a state to draw the reward of vertue from his country it being not so pertinent that the desert of one be honoured as the examination what the subiect is vpon whom this is laid for may this reward increase his estimation beyond the power of suppressing whatsoeuer he doth that he may do much is dangerous his nature his power his birth are circumstances to be wayed with no lesse care then the not suffering his valour or wisedome to goe away empty fisted This hath made me wonder at the impudent follie of such as I haue often heard to extoll their owne desertes as to call their country ingratefull alas no the power of one man is to feeble euer to make his country his debtour they are traitors to their country that dare protest this and mindes too mercenarie to be of worth Rather we are obliged to our countrey that vnder the Ensigne of her authority we may exercise our vertue for only in her behoofe or quarrell it is lawfull for vs to spend our time and aduenture our liues for in another state hee is an hierling and his indeuours belong to couetousnesse or vaineglory Two Germane princes the one of them a seruant of the Romaine state the other their enemy meeting vpon an enterueiw of the Romaine parts being demaunded by the other how hee lost his eye answered in the quarrell of the Romaines being asked how recompenced he told of Garlandes of victory and other liberties 〈◊〉 him the other laughed at the basenesse of his brother that solde his bloud for such trifles Had