HORAE VACIVAE, OR, ESSAYS. SOME occasional Considerations  
BY JOHN HALL.  
— Vitiis nemo caret, optimus ille  
Qui minimis urgetur—  
LONDON, Printed by E.G. for J. Rothwell, at the Sun and fountain in Paul's churchyard, 1646.   


olim Majora Aetatis Suae 19 1646  
W. Martial sculpsit.    

TO The Reverend Mr. John Arrowsmith Master of St. John's college in Cambridge.  
BUt that (Worthy Sir) you know as well how to pardon as judge, I might justly suspect your entertainment of these pieces. Faint breathings of a mind burdened with other Literary employments, neither brought forth with Care, nor ripened with Age, yet such as if they be not now blasted may be the first Fruits of a larger Harvest; Let them Sir, Receive the honour and shelter of your Name, since borne under your Government, and cherished by your candour; That if they chance to survive their Father, they may testify he was Sir  
Your most humble Servant, J. HALL.   

To the Reader.  
WHen thou shalt peruse these essays, and compare them with the author's years, i suppose thou wilt wonder to see one whose Pulse beats short of nineteen, take such long Strides in matters of this nature; and be ready to suspect, whether he walks upon his own Legs, or be stilted up by what he hath borrowed from others; the truth is, he might be indebted to many, and yet few discover it, in regard of his acquaintance with the French, Spanish and Italian: but yet I dare assure thee what this Gentleman presents thee with, is as free from any such engagement as his father's lands are from mortgage. For the language, 'tis continued everywhere so like itself that any may perceive he hath nowhere stretched his own meaning to make way for another's fancy: and for the matter, know this, they who are well acquainted in the closest shops where wares of this kind lie, say that he is a true man and hath not robbed any Author; the whole web (such as it is) is his own, if thou will believe him (who alone and only) saw it woven; 'tis but a little one; it is in thy power to make it bigger; for He hath more of it upon the loom, and only stays to know of thee whether he shall go forward in the work. Most of these Subjects were not of his own chusiing, but (after discovery of his Genius this way imposed upon him as tasks, though he was pleased then to call, and after make them, Recreations; His Recreations they were; and if thou please to make them thine, it may encourage Him to begin, complete, and publish, what he hath either designed, begun, or perfected. Be entreated to accept of these, and He is resolved (being already provided) to acknowledge thy candour by some POEMS. As I hope thou wilt find Him not altogether left-Handed in prose, so I dare promise thee he will be far more dextrous in Verse.  
John Pawson. John's in Camb. June 12. 1646.   

To my dear friend Mr. I. Hall on his essays.  
Wit's, that matured by time  
have courted praise,  
Shall see their works  
outdone in these essays;  
And blush to know thy early  
years display  
A dawning clearer than their  
brightest day.  
Tho. Stanley.   

To his worthy friend the Author, on his essays.  
THy youth these Lessons  
learned hath, and more  
Than were set out to any  
of three score.  
Thus thou out-strippest Life,  
and dost beguile  
The fatal Sisters of a  
longer file;  
And like the youthful Planet  
of the light,  
Art ever climbing and yet still  
at height.  
W. Hammond.   

To the deserving Author upon his essays.  
'tIs common to commend;  
but to deserve  
Is for some few, that  
march in a reserve  
With Thee. Thy essays  
rich in native worth,  
Need not our Trimming  
praise to set them forth;  
But while judicious men  
the Readers be,  
Are monuments of judgement,  
Wit, and Thee.  
Ja. Shirley.   

To the Author.  
I Nor intend with some  
ambitious verse  
To court applause; nor yet  
thy praise rehearse;  
I hence no fame affect;  
thou none dost want  
That we can give, whose  
larger worth our scant  
And narrow thoughts scarce  
comprehend; thy praise  
Thine own works best relate;  
thy first essays  
Shame others master-  
Pieces; Thy Nineteen  
Makes five and forty blush,  
that scarce hath scene  
What thou hast read, digested,  
and canst teach;  
What we in other singly  
Praise, thy reach  
Together grasps; thou  
studies canst direct;  
Make choice of friends,  
opinions false detect;  
Thou've read both men and  
Books, thou hast a key  
To each man's breast which  
is thy Library.  
In short, no single knowledge  
can confine  
Thy larger soul; but as  
the Sun doth shine  
On the whole globe of earth,  
and banish night  
From its usurped dominion,  
Yielding light  
To eyes without it useless;  
Thou like him  
Shin'st everywhere, enlightnest  
every dim  
And heavy eye; dark matters  
clearst, turnst night  
To brightest day. I know of  
whom I write;  
Light wits by every breath  
of vulgar praise,  
As empty Ships when the  
Wind kindly plays,  
With their large sails do  
Proudly ride, as past  
All thought, all fear of  
wrack; till some cross blast  
Oreturne and sink them;  
but thy nobler soul  
Whose balast's judgement,  
is beyond control  
Of popular censure; thou  
thine own worth,  
Parts, skill, haste better  
Weighed, & sent them forth  
Of doors to seek a Censor,  
who at home  
Hast one severe as he so  
by old Rome  
Sirnamd; Go on then  
happy youth; and be  
Thy fruits as great as we  
can hope to see.  
A. Holden Col. St. Ioh. Soc.   

To my worthy Friend the Author, concerning his essays.  
ARe these the bloomings  
of thy greener Age?  
Sure, they some monstrous  
Summer-fruits presage.  
Nature doth seem to antedate  
thy years,  
And ere thy Seed-time's  
past, Harvest appears.  
Well hast thou writ Essays;  
And well he may  
Whom nature hath set forth  
as Her Essay.  
If for thy morning's drawght  
Thou drankest thus deep,  
Poor Helicon will grudge  
Thee long to keep.  
And if each mole Thou dost  
thus heartily feed,  
Nine Muses must go  
Supperless to bed.  
Yet take Thy fill: long  
mayst Thou live, and be  
Their Patron; They Retainers  
unto Thee.  
T. Goodwin. Fellow of John's Col. Camb.   

{non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} 
* Essay 3.31.  {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman}.   

HORAE VACIVAE, OR essays.  

Of Opinions. I.  
WE Consider Opinions here as well errors sent abroad under the visards of Truth, yet by some Wart or Moale distingwishable, as Truths themselves walking under the notions of Paradoxes.  
Some broach them to serve the glory of their own Names, and this is ambitious; some to poison and infect others, and this is diabolical; others to occasion further search & satisfaction, and this is discreet. To stick to one's own after sufficient conviction; argues self-love to reject another's at the first blush, peevishness; to follow antiquity hood-winked, is but Jmplicite Ignorance; utterly to reject it, and wholly lean on Novelty, a heady lightness.  
Those Opinions are not like to get much footing which meet not with the disposition of true and place to entertain them, as that of Vigilius of the Antipodes; but on the contrary, they easily spread, as that Project of the holy war, meeting with a stout and superstitious Age; they take best root when they are sowed by degrees, for that insensibly qualifies men's humours, and adapts them for moulding; as Columbus design of a discovery after he had been staved off by several Christian Princes, yet by his own confidence (which questionless was strengthened by a higher power) He gained the assistance of the King and Queen of Castille.  
Where they are to meet with a people groping in gross ignorance, The weakest and those that suit best with such conceptions, do with the greatest facility possess themselves; for eyes coming out of darkness are unable to endure light, whereas they can with small or no pain suffer twilight; but those of more rectified Reasons, can sustain bright and glistering discoveries to beat in upon them.  
Disputing of an evinced certainty teacheth again to doubt of it; cashering of a probability, not throughly sifted, may cut off means of further knowing, since though errror be blind, she sometimes bringeth forth seeing Daughters. The alchemists have benefited the World more by their occasional experiments, than ever they will do with their Gold; and the prodigious tenants of some of the old Philosophers, have given hints for some more accurate discussions, truth having this advantage over her enemy that she makes her turn many times her weapons upon her own self.  
He takes the best course to keep his judgement from biasing, that narrowly heeds upon what principles both parties build, whether both stand fast to their own grounds (as sometimes in Philosophy utraque Pars est vera) and whether ground is surer to build upon.  
So long as no man can challenge an unerrancy, nay, the greatest minds have been Soiled with the foulest stains: to captivate one's reason to a private brain, is to betray it to another's error; but the 
* {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman}.  Retention of assent to settle it in the best surety, and rejecting what is disallowed without protervity, is the safest means of sure and solid knowledge.  
Multiplication of Opinions in Religion, argues that men's minds are unsettled, and the taper of Devotion burns but dimly; they generally usher in uproars in the State, seldom end in verbal contestation; nay One Sect subdivided, pursues her own differences with the most rancour; as is seen amongst the Jews, Turks and Persians, some swarms of friars &c. whether it be that they think errors that approach nearest the Truth to be most pernicious, or that they can the worse tolerate them where they lest expected to find them.  
Some tenants are more easily maintained then opposed, some better to confute then assert; some that are detestable, carry in them shows of applause; othersome seem more ugly than they are really; it is a poor flattery of a man's self to propose his adversaries arguments with their edge blunted; nor can it proceed from any thing else then a Spirit of malice, to set them out in more horrid visages than they truly carry. The multitude is susceptible of any opinions, being ever unconstant, suspicious, credulous, violently hurried away with them for the time, which is never long; ever greedy of liberty, though neither knowing to obtain nor possess it; easy to be wrought on in matter of Religion, and that rather out of a reverential confidence of their Priests, than reliance of their own Judgements, either adoring or detesting their governors, and consequently sometime struck out of a tumult by the presence of one, whose age and virtues have placed him beyond their envy: Sometimes boiling into a commotion at the appearance of another, whose Pride, Oppression or greatness hath caused their malice, idolising their own darlings for the present, and suddenly crushing them; Implacable where they have the upper hand, merely Asinine where they know an overruling power, suspecting the designs of great ones, and ever taking their practices to be darker than they appear. Wise men are timorous in the disfranchising of their judgement before they suffer their considerations to be regulated with reason, and matured by time; once settled, it is one of the greatest tasks to remove them; doubts cause them to suspend their Assents; satisfaction of doubts confirms them, and renders them inflexible, that many times they will write a Confirmation of their Theses with their own Blood.  
Since we all see here but per transennam, or as men in mists, one may see somewhat further than another: yet none can take a full and clear Prospect: it is but Charity to pardon that in another (Errorr) from which no man can exempt himself.   

Of Time. II.  
THe most precious thing we can enjoy is time; yet neither is it, nor do we enjoy it; we cannot reinforce a passed minute, nor rely upon a future moment; all we have is that Punctum fluens, Now: which is no part at all of it. Thus are we like flowers nursed by the wind, and if we escape a violent hand in our bloom, we after wither and droop into the bosom of our mother Earth: So that he seemed to carry Reason along with him, who called Nature stepmother, in that she gives us so small a portion of Time, that we commonly rot before we ripen; But he considered not that brave Actions are the best Chronologies, and that we only live so long as we live under the Colours of virtue; in other actions we are no more than Irrationals; nay, they were far more happy than we (many of them) to climb to so many Centuries of years, whereas the greater part of us can hardly reach half one. 'Tis a comfort Thetis gives her brave son in Homer, that though he should be (
{non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} ) short lived, yet he should continue himself in the Admiration of Posterity: Many snatched out of the world in their youth, though they might have been more beneficial, yet are beneficial by their example, of drawing out the short thread of life, by interweaving it with choice Actions, and making it though small, yet well wrought. Thus indeed we wrest the sith out of the hand of Time, and pull the wings from his heels; But idleness is too delicate to do either, and it only content to anticipate death, by suffering herself to be racked with Passions, and entombed in Pleasures; Thus our Silken Gallants are so sick of Time, that they embrace any means to shake it off; but high souls like the Heavens they come from, move continually, and are uncapable of rest, until they rest there; They look at the gliding of every Sand in the hourglass of their life, and are so insensible of labours and withal so unwearied, that as in natural motions, they move with greatest force in the latter end. God sends us not unto the theatre of this World to be 
* {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman}.  mute persons, but actors; and though he grants many Exits, yet it is but that we may re-enter with the greater Activity; and it is an arcanum of his Empire to conceal from us the date of our days, that we may the better number them, and keep us perpetually awake, because we know not how soon he may come upon us; for he will come like a thief in the night.  
Thrift in the expense of our time is an excellent virtue, wisdom to manage it to our best improvement, the Base whereon the Superstructures of all other wisdom lies; 'tis an honest injury to Nature, to steal from her some hours of repose; unsufferable to the soul to let the Golden hours of the morning pass without advantage, seeing she is then more capable of Culture, and seems to be renewed as well as the day; It were an excellent posture to paint Caesar in, as he swum with a book in the one hand, and a Sword in the other, since he made his Tent an Academy, and was at leisure to read the physiognomy of the Heavens in Military Tumults. This shows he knew how to prize time, and hated idleness as much as a Superior, and indeed to speak to Christians, we ought to look how we spend our hours here, knowing they are but the praeludium of that which shall be no time but Eternity.   

Of Felicity. III.  
IT was an unsuccesful stratagem of satan to tempt his Lord and Maker with the kingdoms of the earth, and the glories thereof; yet how hath he ever gained by it? most being contented to look upon it through his optic instruments, and then indeed it seems only glorious; but who consider it as it is in itself, see, that it is the basest Element, spurned (as it were) out from among the Rest, as though Nature disdeigned it a room, but what it crowded for; besides compared with the Heavens, 'tis puncti instar, or as the Arabians say, minimum de minimo, and can produce nothing without the Influence of them; and those circles by which her measures do so magnificently cantonize her, are only Imaginary, and but borrowed from the Sphere.  
Now the soul by the almost unanimous consent of the Heathen, being a Divine substance, and only mewed up in this cloister of flesh, cannot but entertain so strong desires of liberty, that although courted by all the blandishments the World can offer Aestuat Infoelix angusto limit mundi.  
So that those who walked in the midnight of Nature, both wished and sought for a day of happiness, but they like men in the dark did only wander, or like Pilgrims in the wilderness still engage on new errors; yet what sweet did this disquisition cost? all confessing, most searching, none finding.  
We have it brought brought home to our own doors, nay, are wooed to accept it; and yet how many are content to cheat themselves of it for a Toy? These are like Noah's Crow sent out an espial of the weather, which being entertained with carrion was content to live in Exile. But those happy souls that clasp hold of it, are like the Dove that could find no resting place, till she returned to the ark; these though they enjoy the greatest felicity can be enjoyed on Earth, an Earnest of Heaven, yet are they unsatisfied till they enjoy Heaven itself; They can set a true estimation of those sublunary things, that others are contented so to overbuy, more Sottish than the Barbarous Indians to exchange Gold for glass: more greedy than Atalanta, lose themselves to stoop for a golden Apple; or to take it a Note higher, more wicked than Judas to sell their Master for a thing of nothing, and yet like Plato's people in the Cave wander they in their pleasing darkness, offended if you show them light, nor marvel if Oules cannot endure the sun, when it is the best discoverer of a true Eaglet.  
They both go on contrary principles and are led by contrary guides, these by Fancy, the other by judgement, the one by a purblind Reason, the other by a quick faith; the one builds on the Sand, the other on the Rock; the one is the Golden Image whose feet is of clay, the other the Tree whose root was in Earth, and branches in Heaven. There is more in that Elysium of the Poets than a mere flourish; truly if the original of it were exactly traced, it would be found in Egypt, and yet the Egyptians not the first Authors, and from them devolved among other knowledge into the schools, which gave the best fuel to the choicest inventions, neither is there any great cause to wonder at the corruption of it, since being not fordable by human reason, human Reason brought it down to that lowness it could wade over it, and fitted it to her own capacity, since she was not wide enough to Receive it as it was in itself.  
I have not that I remember observed of any Nation though near so barbarous, but it had some glimmering Notion or other of another Life; for that whimsy of Pythagoras of the transmigration of souls, it hath been hissed out long since as Heterodox.  
So that if these may to Reason evinee a second Life, we can turn our eyes no way but we have examples of the shortness of this; It were madness to set our hearts on what we cannot long enjoy, although there were somewhat here worth our liking.   

Of Preaching. iv.  
PReaching is the crystal aquaeduct that conveys the water of Life to us, the Pillar of fire in the Night, the Manna in the wilderness; but that it falls most plentifully on the Sabbath; they gather the best that are all ear, and grow the bes● by it that are all Heart; This is God's solemn embassy to the soul. and we must hear him, although as to Baalam, he speak to us by the mouth of an ass, and yet he must either boar our ears, or we cannot hear what the Spirit speaketh unto the Churches, for his messages are high and mysterious, such as can find no entrance in at the ear of a man of flesh, who is too fast asleep to take any alarm at the Silver Trumpet of the gospel; Nay often when God is desirous he should shake off such a spiritual lethargy, calls upon him; he like young Samuel mistakes the voice, and returns again unto his slumbers; but such is God's passionate love to mankind, that he irresistibly forces himself in; And such his is infinite wisdom that he always selects the fittest means; as Hearts of Adamant he softens with goat's milk, Hearts of Iron with fire; some like Paul he brings in with light from Heaven, others like Timothy he lets understand the Scriptures from their Childhoods; to some souls he comes as he did to Elisha, first in an earthquake of guilt of sin, then in a whirlwind of sorrow for sin; then in a fire, a tyrall of righteousness: then in a still voice, a calm and composed Conscience; others he builds up as was Solomon's Temple without the noise of a hammer; nay such an Admirable method hath he to insinuate himself, that though he come in a conqueror, he suffers the soul to be victorious, and though he force her, leaves her a pure virgin, and both compels her to be willing and makes her willing to be compelled. 'tis an admirable thing to see two mere Carnalists at a Sermon, the one bring away himself discomposed, and the other hardened; such a wonderful Nature hath the word, that it freezes as well as thaws, and it is as well a sea-ring Iron, as a two-edged sword; The Law speaks wounds, the gospel oil; the one Threats, and the other Blandishments; the one of the wilderness, the other of the land of Canaan. The one begins with our fall, the other with our restitution; The one shows us we lean on the bulrush of our own merits, the other how we may find acceptation through Christ our Lord; The one was delivered with fire and lightning; the other with a choir of Angels and a star, the vehemency of the one, and the delicacy of the other, are the best rhetoric to win a Soul; the one enforces Arguments, the other confirms them; yet what poor Orators doth God (to convince reason itself of his Glory) oft make use off, that they may not speak in excellency of man's wisdom, but demonstrations of the Spirit? but abstract them into a voice, and what differs the meanest Minister, from the greatest Rabbi, human learning being a good handmaid and an ill companion to divinity, who though she carry away the Jewels and earrings of the Egyptians, she desires to use them and not wanton with them. Embossed Language tickles the ears, nervous twitches the Heart: the one is better for an Oration, the other for a Sermon, in which there would be ethical Truth as well as logical.   

Of Fame. V.  
DEsire of Fame is an epidemical passion, that possesseth low as well as high minds, but is only predominant in the latter, the other it may force up a little from their own centre, but can hardly advance them to any great designments; from this root sprung all the virtues of the Heathens; this very wind blew the pens of the Poets, and first made them cast ink so clearly, and taught Princes to feed them, seeing it was a cheaper way to outbrave Oblivion, then by emptying their Treasures on heaps of stones; and it hath proved the surer way too, since many of them have through age forgot the Names of their Founders, others have quite shrunk away; othersome with their ghastly ruins can only present us sad considerations of what they have been; whereas we have Ajax fighting as stoutly this day in Homer, as when he made the Trojans turn their backs of the Navy; and the wildfire of Lust burning as hot in Helen's cheeks, as when it set Troy on fire: the clouds of the Times intercepted the sight of other Paths, nay hardly suffered them to tread these aright; they would adopt one person to a great performance, and in the same act by stumbling either at time or place, basterdize him; so that it would be a Thirteenth Labour of Hercules to make us believe any of his twelve. But more refined Ages threw of their disguises and visards of fables, and chused rather to appear unmasked in Histories. But yet how often did they paint, how often did Historians like flattering Limners draw too favourably, or shadow o'er a wrinkle; and slily forge in some secret grace; How oft anger so joged their hands that they could only dash and blot, so that vice many times coged virtue out of the Chariot, and rode in her stead in Triumph, and she is as well content to steal her honour as her upper garments; yet envy hath done as much hurt as Malice, in cankering virtues by looking on them, and those not the meanest, but the most fair and goodly; wings become this harpy very well, since she still mounts aloft and disdains to stoop to inferior preys; questionless, Pens made of her quills are ever blunt in the end; Libels are her spawns, but as other Monsters short lived if they be not honoured with an encounter, for so they will continue more long and but die honourably; it argues a great Spirit to fight with them by flying, as did Augustus and other great Personages, who left examples that there may good use be made of them, in that they may give occasion to cashier some lurking vice, which fled, one's own observation, and had not been hinted by the two much modesty of friends. A good name is better than precious ointment, nay rather to be chosen then great Riches, said he that had as great a share of Riches and Glory as any man living; 'Tis an unexpressible comfort to any; to have their Actions smell sweet in the nostrils of good men; as that natural perfume about Alexander's body, argued an excellent Crasis; so doth the sweet relish of ones carriage a good composure in the soul; Tacitus saith, contemptu famae contemni virtutes; and Tully, Negligere quid de se quisque sentiat, non solum arrogantis sed etiam dissoluti; yea these people that care not for being well spoken of, are a feared of being ill; as was apparent in Tiberius, who so long as he could shadow his manners ad pompam & ornatum continued at Rome, although he refused honour so stiffly, that it was interpreted Modestia degeneris animi; but, when Age begun to perfect his corruptions, he retired to Capri, that he might with the better vacancy, and secrecy attend his lusts.  
Writing of Lives is very profitable both to the memory of the party, and to Posterity; they do better lance into secret humours, and present men in their Nightgowns, when they are truly themselves. A general may be more perfectly discovered on his Pallet, than when he appears in the head of an Army; They leave us withal good Copies, that beginners in the World may write by; men of most raised thoughts have not disdained patterns; as Germanicus took Affricanus: Julius Caesar, Alexander: Mahomet the great, both: others, others. A diligent comparing of those that resembled one another in their manners or fortunes, were more worth than the pains. Plutarch (to whom Rome stands indebted for the virtues of her Trajan) hath done somewhat, yet some very steady judgements have found his Matches are unequal, and hardly jump, so that they may truly be called parallels, for they will never meet.  
The description of one's own Life might be thought ambitious, were it not it hath been done by some persons, either already sated with glory, or not regarding it, as among the Ancients, Josephus, Nazianzen, &c. moderns; Thuanus, Fr. Junius, &c. for fidelity, they going out of the World, can have no great desire to juggle, and they have the most Liberty in relation, for Truth they are best able to be acomptants of their own Actions; for authority, they can best command attentions; since their past life, hath been but the Exordium to what they speak, and every word is raised from a mass of experience, so that it were to be wished, that Modesty did not withdraw many men from this task, and that there were not so great a paucity of those that have laboured in the other.  
As there is an Exorbitant desire of Fame, so is there a too nice refusal of it; nay sometime it is more ambitious than the Acceptance, as in that of Cato, he had rather men should ask why his statua was not there, then why it was; or perhaps it may be with intent to draw on more, as in Caesar's refusing the crown, Non Rex sum sed Caesar: but it is seldom, or never cordial and real, there being an innate desire in every man, to transmise himself unto posterity: For as Hannibal gallantly frets it out in Silius, " Heu quantum distant à morte silentia vitae.  
There may be gleaned out of Histories (but it will require a whole task) several ways and begins used for Glory; they are most observable in those mushrooms that rise ex minimis initiis, because, having their fortunes to mould out themselves, they are forced to look more narrowly into exquisite means: as first to possess themselves of the People; who are most soon won, and most hardly held; for it is ever, that they rather desire to make men great, than they can endure them when they are great, and are better to erect then conserve a favourite; and this is done by insinuating into them of most authority among them, they being like the Bells in the Grove of Jupiter, touch one and they all sound; this was commonly practised in Rome, in any Tumult to possess themselves first of the Tribunes; or by Liberality, which was Caesar's course, That we may say he made himself by undoing himself, or else by putting on a disguise of Religion; and what else was Scipio's staying in the Capitol? withal a good stock of parts is required to begin on, but these are causeways of ambition as well as fame.  
Inserting a Name into a History, is somewhat more flat, commending it to after Ages by writings, comes far nearer the Life; the Image of a man is conveyed both ways, the first as in a draught of Colours, Dimensions but no Motions; for Histories for the most part pick but at the Rind of business, and few are writ with such exactness, that we can perfectly see the concurrence of Instruments, carriage of counsels and Influence of Superiors. The other as in a crystal, there is a perfect Repercussion of a man's visage, and he is hardly a judicious Reader that cannot in any work (except it be absolutely dramatic) g●esse at the Genius and Inclination of an Author. Hasty glory frequently extinguisheth in snuff, for it ariseth from Expectation, for the most part; which if not secunded by a double performance, turns to undervaluing; And men's judgements have more time to grow dispassionate and disintangled, so that there would be required a singular cunning in poising a man's self, and staying too hasty Augmentations, for they give but occasion of more narrow inquiry, and raise up more store of enemies.  
Fame upon no deserts may be a silent invitation to deserving; but where there is opposite vices, 'tis merely sarcastical, and ironical, nor aught to be entertained without a Sting and Blush.   

Of Studies. VI.  
MAny have Chalked us out Methods for study, out of which it were more easy to draw one good one, then to find one among them. Some give slight directions for the attaining of Sciences, as though they were merely to Relieve the memory, and withdraw some fading Notions: or else as if they supposed us to have either so short Lives, or small Industries, that we could only cast some small glances on Learning. Others are so Elaborate that the Lives of the old patriarchs would be too short to take those voyages they direct. Some parcel out Studies into Time, very unfitly, since some wits can digest before others can Chew, and some hot stomachs turn all to good Nourishment, whereas others are so weak, that they cannot away with any thing that is not a Chylus before they Receive it; besides some engage upon Literature towards Maturity, when their judgement is stayed, and fastened; others are brought into it in their Childhood, while their parts do but fluctuate, and there cannot but be a great disproportion betwixt these two; for assiduity best manures the one, whereas the other would only be sprinkled with some dew; for overmuch watering doth but loosen them in the Root, and so destroys them. Some wits are of a finer temper, and would have learning instilled into them by way of Recreation; others it must either be forced and hammered into, or else they will never Receive Impressions to any purpose.  
The Prescription of various Methods hath arisen from this; some by the pureness of their naturals have reached to good perfection in learning more compendiously, and suppose others may do the like, others having gone about, think at their jornyes end they can prescribe nearer paths; Others having stumbled on some Method, and finding it successful in two or three more pregnant wits, endeavour to obtrude the use of it upon the World; but indeed some general directions can only be given, men's means and ends being so various, some abounding in leisure, others in means; some happening on an Excellent Tutor, others being forced to hew out all themselves; some desiring to know much, others to know well, so that we may truly say in this case, a Lesbian Rule were the most certain.  
Studying at set hours is much advised and practised, but cannot but be a slavery to a free wit, who when she is stinted begins to dislike Her enforcement to horary tasks, which carry in them a show of Labour, but would quilt her employments so with Recreations that she might seem to play in her severest business; Neither can we so long as we carry these four Elements about us, attend at all times with the same alacrity, so that it is injustice to fetter a man's spirit to any fixed Labours, but ever to seize on an advantage of her cheerfulness, and to make use of it; but finding a Reluctancy to be weighed down; for such idleness is not only harmless, but profitable, like the taking of the Plumets of a clock to make it go in the better Order; neither will a great spirit be content to Rest long, but reinforce herself with disdain to be buckled with so base a companion which devances her from her own sphere.  
A Man may have many fine devices to cheat himself into a new Industry, whether by thinking of the excellency of that he goes about, or placing his admiration upon the Eminency of some person exqeisite in it, or hearing it commended by others, or commending it himself, thrusting himself into such company, where he knows it is respected, and he shall have occasion to make use of as much of it as he knows; teaching it to some others. There are a many other neat Incentives, and such as might well deserve a catalogue; But in some cases a Man had need know which way to disentangle himself, as if he find his Fancy too Luxuriant, to restrain it with matters of judgement: if he find himself inclinable to a study neither so profitable, nor advantageous, dexterously to convey himself into another, and wean himself from the former; as to dishearten himself by looking at some pieces which are above his Reach, for than it will abate the edge of his desires, when he sees his hopes seconded with no fruits; or looking upon some Author, who hath but feebly handled such a Subject, or Reading some bitter invectives against it, or foolish controversies of it, these will set a man's thoughts straight, as in rectifying a Bough, we weigh it down the contrary way.  
One had need take the height of his own parts, and see whether they lie adaequately to all Sciences, or strongly bend to any-particular one, and to follow his own inclination with the most wariness; for they do but injure a man's parts that drive besides their own bed, which is many times the cause that they run in so poor and muddy Channels.  
No man ought to grasp more than he can well fathom, for so he shall have his labour answered by but small profit; The Italian says Che Abbracchia troppo stringhe puoco, and that very truly.  
There is a ororium vinculum (as they call it) amongst the Sciences, and indeed none can tell a perfect tale but refers somewhat to the relation of her Sister; so that he that would not make a polygamy of them all, but is content with one, had need admit the rest as Attendants.  
The tongues are the fittest to be soonest learned, for they most depend upon the memory, which is strongest in children; who remember that best which they learn first; their tongues are more flexible to personate any pronunciation, which cannot so easily be essaid by one of riper age; withal, their judgements are not at any settledness, so that they cannot without prejudice follow more serious studies: Now continued meditation, doth strengthen and confirm old judgements, and doth only put young ones on the Rack; so that these praecocia ingenia, as they shoot out before the Spring, so they commonly wither before Winter.  
Tongues are our Interpreters in the World of knowledge; and what advantage hath he in a Nation, that understands the language by him that speaks with another's mouth, and hears by another's tongue? 'tis well known what gross errors in some of the Fathers this hath produced.  
The choice pearl in Divinity, lies in the Hebrew; the best of moral knowledge amongst the greeks, political amongst the Romans, Rich Gems of the Mathmatiques amongst the rubbish of the Arabians; and who can perfectly understand these, unless he converse with them in their own dialects? The effeminate French, the luscious Italian, the grave Spanish (three 
{non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman}.  daughters of the Roman) add both lustre and furtherance to other knowledge. Unless an inclination be very discoverable, it cannot be perceived till after Twelve; and from that time fancy begins to sprout & wantonise for some years, till it have arrived at the just height.  
Judgement is long ere it be settled, experience being the best nurse of it; and we see seldom Learning and wisdom concur, because the former is got sub umbra, but business doth winnow observations, and the better acquaint us with breathing volumes of men, it teacheth us both better to read them, and to apply what we have read.  
Memory is the Treasure of the mind, but trust her with overmuch, and she will at the best fall short in her accounts; a man should only commit choice things to her, which should sooner concoct into good judgement; meaner notions take up as much room as the more precious, and consequently insensibly weaken her. For they give a reason why blind men remember so strongly, because they are not taken off with so many external Objects: There are many Auxiliaries; as for the natural memory meditation, ruminations at night, discourse, diaeticall and medicinal helps, &c.  
For artificial memory, one wittily compares it to the tricks of a Pike, though ostentation be one great fruit of it, yet in these two things, I have ever thought it useful; first, it is a fit depositum of knowledge till it can be disposed into notes and natural memory, which questionless is a mighty help; another is the continuing and placing of ideas, which doth greatly quicken and vegetate the Invention.  
For notes, whether it be Analysing of an Author, or clositing up observables in several Cells, they would be but very short, (otherwise they will draw away too much time and labour) or be dispatched only by references; some would have common places renewed at a certain time, which whether advantageous or no, as long use can best discover; so it may be easily granted, that unless they be ranked in good order, they will prove more hurtful than they could have been subsidiary to the memory.  
Health ought to be nicely respected by a Student; for the labours of the mind are as far beyond them of the body, as the diseases of the one are above the other; and how can a Spirit actuate when she is caged in a lump of fainting flesh? unseasonable times of study are very obnoxious, as after meals, when Nature is wholly retired to concoction; or at night times, when she begins to droop for want of rest; hence so many rheums, defluxions, Catarrhs, &c. that I have heard it spoken of one of the greatest Ambulatory pieces of learning at this day, That he would redeem (if possible) his health with the loss of half his Learning. 
C S.   
For sleep, seven hours comes the nearest a fit proportion in general, of any number can be assigned: but phlegmatic Complexions may require more, and Sanguine may be content with less; yet ought it to be piacular for one of indifferent industry, to sleep after four in the morn, as to be up after nine at night; turning day to night, and night to day, and observing meal times with them of the other Hemisphere, is being most proper to the Luxury and wantonness of Courtiers.  
Some studies would be hugged as employments, others only dandled as sports; the one ought not to trespass on the other; for to be employed in needless things is half to be idle.   

Of Company VII.  
MAn is a Creature made by nature for commerce; some he sorts with in a general manner, and these we call acquaintance: others in a more particular, and these friends; accordingly we will shape our discourse; for the first, some you shall meet with, whom vices have so disguized, that they retain only the shape of men; of these you must by all means prohibit yourself; and if your occasions push you upon them, do it with all fear; remembering that vice is diffusive, and gains more easily upon our depraved natures then Virtue: besides the truth spoke it; Touch not pitch lest you be defiled; Let the civility of your carriage make such silent invectives against those that cherish vices, as that they may be discouraged to attempt your friendship, neither will they when they see contrary virtues; a Carbuncle shines though covered with many clothes, Virtue will send forth a lustre through a many of imperfections; but Vice is bleer-eyed and cannot endure to look upon them, but desires to recede; as Antony's Genius did from that of Augustus.  
Such as are of a different Religion, may be kept company for traffic, hope of conversion, &c. But if beyond these limitations, you may be lyme-twiged with their errors and lose the Truth for a friend, which is a hard exchange.  
The society of Ladies and Gentlewomen, is like the shade of a Tile-tree, very pleasant, though, the tree be unfruitful, and the leaves tasted poison.  
Other companies are hardly so dangerous, yet since men's humours are so various as their faces, there is required a suppleness in behaviour (for men of morose natures, do but in a manner stifle the vital parts of human society) and this was excellent in Alcibiades, who could conform to the constitutions of all those several people his variety of fortune made him converse with; as also a quick sagacity in discovering complexions whether sound or unhealthful, or disagreeing with your own; if they hit not right, to withdraw so unperceived, that if you gain not a friend, you may not get a enemy; for if he be not worthy to be the one, he may be able to be the other; but if you find endowments, from whence you may suck experience, be as winning as you can, and endeavour to draw most from thence where you find the parley most furnished, and there commonly will he be most free; yet do it in such a manner as he may not discover you; pose him, but dispatch it by such facetious turns in discourse, that he may hardly suppose you to be serious; for so he might begin to have an eye on you, and be more reserved; when a man is in earnest, he stands upon his guard; in mirth he lies open unfenced: This is an honest and beneficial subtlety, and by this means you may sometime jest yourself into that in an hour, that you could not have laboured out in a month; if you meet with more reserved natures, you will commonly find them also vainglorious; Let these know you value their endowments as highly as they do themselves, and they can wish no more; yet not parasitically, but as if it proceeded from judgement and serious observation, and it will very seldom prove unsuccessful.  
But, in case it do, arrows tipped with silver will pierce the best Armour of proof, and for the most part covetousness intrudes into the Attendance of learning, and many times need will make you find acceptance.  
In general have an eye on profit in what company soever you come; sometime you may glean high notions from mean persons, and find matter of speculation from the mouth of a Zany, for a good and strong stomach will convert course viands into good nourishment; keep your secrets fast locked up, and be not inquisitive after another's, but what is committed to you keep as a sacred depositum; The wisest of men among many other excellent ones says Boccha chinsa occhi aperto [a shut mouth and open eye] and as Nature hath set a double guard on the tongue, do not you enlarge her; for you hardly have another member so potent to your mischief. Trample not on the imperfections of any, but modestly dissemble them, and be sure they be never the Subjects of your scurrility, for they will wound deeper than the party himself; mention any man's virtues at large and freely, his vices not at all or very sparingly; or if, to himself with all candour and modesty; you will find this as subtle a trap for Fame as any you can devise; be ever jealous over them you deal with, and commit to them no more than you care if they disclose; if otherwise, you put a weapon into their hands in case they prove your enemies.  
Make account such as you converse with shall you be accounted; for it is easy to sound a man's conditions by his company, and company by his conditions; thus knew Augustus his two daughters constitutions: The one sorting in the theatre with Senators, the other with Gallants; Man is of an Apish nature, and content to take up his manners many times on trust, yea, and at the worse hand; customs insensibly Naturalize themselves, and we draw them from those we live with; It is best to call and select the choicest whersoever we meet them. Change of Society, as it makes the carriage pliant and various, so it prevents sucking too much of any one's humour. They which use much old People, grow rigid, and harsh; youth light and active; bringing up Princes in cells hath made them more fit for to hold a cross then a sceptre; breeding the Persian Kings among so many Women made them fitter for a Nursery then for a Throne.   

Of Friends. VIII.  
Friend's are a man's self in Fractions; he that admits every one into the Number of them, prostitutes his soul to all comers; he who none, denies her one of the best comforts she can here enjoy. Friendship of great men hath much honour, and small Security; of meaner men, less credit, but more sweetness. That of equals is ever best soldered, since their thoughts running parallel, are not like to Clash; he who chuseeth in haste, shall have leisure enough to repent; he who at leisure and with direction, time enough to enjoy the fruits of his wisdom. he who discovers all his secrets, lays open his own nakedness; he who none, may well faint under his burden.  
He who climbs up into the favour of Princes, steps a Ladder whose Rungs break as he passeth up, that whensoever he must return, he must necessarily fall. The most doggish Princes of all have had some choice privadoes, and these generally men of comely features and low births, whether it be they may the more absolutely command creatures of their own immediate Creation, or that they may the more easily reduce them in Materiam primam; These seldom stand as constellations, but are only Comets, which blaze as long as their piceous substance remains, and then vanish.  
Great Men are like Summer suns; we delight to eat the fruits of their bringing forth, but care not for lying under them, without the Jnterposition of a shade; yet in Winter when they are Low, and feeble, we are content to admire the beauty of their rays; they nourish those of meaner quality, most part only to set the trains they lay, on fire, and when they fall, do but like great oaks break their own branches and Neighbouring underwoods; equality best glewes minds since there is neither occasion of Envy nor Contempt; it better Ballasts humours, whereas if any one grow predominant, it causeth the dissolution of so sweet a frame. The Fable of the lion and Fox, (Saith Julian the Apostate teacheth meaner Friendships are not altogether unuseful; no more they are; but yet he that is Superior aught so to behave himself, that the Inferior may keep himself level, by seeing the other still remember the distance between them, in such a manner as he may rather observe it then his Friend show it. Popularity sinks greatness down too low; the Medium between this and too much stateliness is very hard to hit upon. Antonius the Philosopher, would give any man his hand he met; Constance would sit without either hem or spit; but where is there an example of any that equally avoided these two Rocks? of the two, the latter comes nearer Majesty; 'Tis excellently observed by Livy of Camillus his soldiers, eandem virtutem oderant, & mirabantur.  
But for private friendship, had it not only allowance, but also praise, the Holy Spirit would not so oft have been flosculent, when he touched here; nay, Christ have loved one Disciple. It is the greatest pleasure because it Receives Augmentation from Continuance: and the surest Treasure, because it need fear no violent hand but Death.  
Communication of Secrets is one of the best fruits of it; yet would they not be forced into one another's bosom, but drop of themselves; paps too straightly pressed, give only ulcerous matter in stead of milk.  
Admonition is another main advantage; but it would be done rather with tears than Gall; and if possible, out of past discourses and private Maxims; and what is this but to grind a Diamond with his own dust?  
He was too cautelous that bid sic ama tanquam osurus. These two can never see one another perfectly, where distrust and jealousy put a mist between; The Graces were painted naked; And the wisest Men will be content to lay aside themselves to an Intimate friend; th'other half was very Christian, odi tanquam amaturus; yet he that bid have no Gall, allowed a sting for defence; And he who advised us not to let the Sun set on our Anger, did not advise to trust a deceiving enemy the next morning.  
Friendship would creep to an height, and not Rush to it, for so it will soon Run itself out of breath. Entertain no sinister and by-ends, for these will be but so many Moths, and cankerworms that will eat out the heart and marrow of it, and turn it to a more biter enmity; As to love is an eminency of man beyond beasts, so to love constantly argues a fixed high spirit, and such a one as scorns to stoop to change; it best agrees with the Levity of children to be both friends and enemies in the beating of a Pulse; wise men are the most cautelous in the Reception of an Intimate; Mecaenas' chariness to Horace, was exemplary,  
Nono revocas me denique mense; but when they once join league, it is indissoluble. History affords us many pompous examples of strict amities, but it may be justly feared that some have in them too much of the Fable; for souls may indeed mingle, but doubtless can never grow one. lubric is the estate of favourites, few do not stand sometime in umbrage or set in a Cloud, if not in a storm. 'Tis as rare for one to stand in an eminent degree of favour two Kings reigns as a son to inherit the good affection of a Prince to his Father. Kings of composed tempers, best preserve their darlings, when they have arrived to just growths; they of hotter spirits change them with as little passion as they do their Robes. That favourite is the likest to continue that suffers the rays of favour not to fall perpendicularly, but Obliquely upon him.   

Of Dissimulation. ix..  
DIssimulation quickens Policy, and mortifyes Divinity; in the former the Tongue is the sole actor, in the latter the heart is also an agent; The first may sometimes be connived at, the latter always detested: we shall according to our cursory and imperfect manner (for he that expects exactness and method in an ESSAY, wrongs both the Author and his own expectation) look upon a part and jointly.  
Sleights in civil carriages are now become so frequent, that they are almost necessary, both sides in their performance rather supposing they act in the dark to others, then that it is so; which may be one reason, why there is now a days so little gained by Treaties; It was the observation of an excellent man, that in Modern counsels, there is rather a shuffling of approaching dangers, then preventing them from afar; if so, it argues men are not very cunning in laying trains, and there is a decay in present policy; As he plays not well at draughts, that only can avoid snapping when it comes to a pinch, so doth it not argue any excellent wisdom in them that suffer dangers to meet them at their own doors; we have many times wondered at the greatness and prudence of the Roman State; and no doubt before the luxation of the commonweal, the latter was more eminent; but especially in preventing of growing evils, notwithstanding hardly discoverable by the most Eaglesighted: yet did that State more than any other at above board, whether merely out of generosity or ambition, is not much material; 'Tis great art in dissimulation to dissemble the art of dissimulation; greater to perform that Magnale in Serspective, to appropinquate things remote, and Remove things approximate; thus applied it may prove advantageous; but if it once leap over those bounds prefixed to it by Religion and Honesty, (as they say) step beyond the altar, what a man gains by it in his affairs, he loses in the serenity of his conscience; for we understand not at all Macchiavilian Machinations, wrought by perjury and Inhumanity, but an honest and columbine kind of cunning, which shakes at perjury as that which infringes the Majesty of the deity, nor can allow of equivocations which rather strengthen then elude oaths.  
In some cases natural desire of one's own conservation, will force him to dissemble, as the retaining of secrets among Potentates, which unless strictly observed, brings assured ruin upon the discoverer; A lamentable example hereof is there in Guicciardin of the Bishop of Setta, who too precipitantly revealing a brief to the King of France, was not by Caesar Borgia suffered many days to survive.  
personal dissimulation, (that I mean by which one individual doth either meliorate, or conserve himself) is either in concealing defects, or purposes; For the former, that governor deserves to have his Robe cut in pieces, that though he be crookbackt, will not have it so made, that he may appear straight. Men may out of a brave security suffer their vices to be eyed or spoken of, confidently assured that their better merits do far outstrip them; but no doubt this path is too open, since one small blemish doth sometimes stain many excellent virtues, and though so small that it cannot stand in competition with other eminencies, yet doth it by degrees weaken a man's repute; this granted, it will Porismatically follow, that Magistrates ought what they may possibly to cover those slips that attend humanity, as well for example, as their own Repute; 'tis (they say) dangerous to act any naughtiness before children.  Maxima debetur puero Reverentia si quid Turpe paras. 
'tis so with the people; those vices which they wish in great men and also hate, they most times follow; for obnubilating a man's designs, he that lays his ultimate end open, teaches but another to prevent him; subordinate aims, as they are ever among States, so are they among private men; besides when 'tis known what a man goes about, 'tis commonly forestalled by attending expectancies; there is best means of preventing this, where there is one secondary end worth the repute and visage of a primary, on which while a man looks asquint, he may with the better security fix his eye on the other.  
The Spaniard says, Amores, dolores, y dineros no pueden estar secretas; (Love, joy, Money, cannot be kept secret) such sovereignty hath love over the affections, that it is the highest difficulty to dissemble it accurately, nay after all, it will be laid open by some Erotique symptoms, but they fall not under this consideration; for grief, 'tis every whit as arduous; a while it may be suppressed, but if vehement, it breaks out with the greater force; nay though it may cozen the public, yet will it write itself in Characters of pallor, in the visage; and for money, the alterations of men's dispositions with their estates; doth sufficiently argue; methinks the moderation of Pomponius Atticus was herein excellent, in that he in so many changes of estate kept the same constancy in his expenses, that they were the same in the ebb as high tide of his fortunes.  
'tis hard to keep these two equally balanced, especially those that devance. The intempestive lavishness of our Richard the first in his return from Palestine, was the means of his discovery, and wretched captivity. Vice makes especial use of disguises.  Nemo repente fuitturpissimus. 
Should she at the first view discover herself, she would prove so ugly, that she would be hissed of the stage of the World, and we should not know that virtue had an opposite; but we have stayed longer on this than we at first determined.  
For dissimulation of Religion, it cannot be to him who trieth the heart and reins, who seeth the most inward recess of our souls, and knoweth our thoughts before we think them; men we may indeed deceive, either in the appearance of our manners, or opinions; some to avoid the name of supercilious, cast themselves to a lighter garb than beseems them; 'tis a kind of pity these should have any thing commendable, since goodness is so valuable even in the sight of her enemies, that very Hypocrites would claim kindred to her though mere aliens; another sort strive to set out themselves with the fairest gloss; these before discovery may be imitable, but prove after odious; good sentences in their in their mouths, are like pearls set in Iron, debast by being there; and carry but contradictions in their own bowels; now of the two surely these are the better, in that they give some countenance to, and in a manner bear up the train of virtue; whereas the other kick her, while she reposes, from form their own bosoms.  
There is much spitting against those that declaim against vices whereunto they sometimes slip. If this proceed from a sincere detestation, and when by the shooting at others, to make it dart more deeply at one's own bosom, if there appear some amends, with endeavours and hopes of further progress, it deserves somewhat more than mere toleration.  
For tenants of Religion a negative dissimulation (that is the fittest name I can give that) which soberly conceals them, where there is not a place fit to endure their venting, and no probability of dispersing them; it will surely be approved by any moderate judgement. But a positive confession (though not cordial) is merely damnable; so dear ought truth to be to us that we ought to post-habit our lives to the smallest principle of it; yet some time winding up to high may make it fall asunder; as he is a madman that will suffer preposterous zeal to carry him to an unseasonable profession; so is he a weak man that when he is called will not avouch it.  
Though God doth not ordain and strengthen every man to martyrdom, yet ought every man to propose to himself to be a Martyr.  
Illusory deceits may not be done though to a good end; for this is evil that good may come of it; methinks, an aright conscience may tremble even at a jesting lie; 
Mendacium jocosum.  he bid not make a show of any thing that is unlawful to do, that bid shun not only evil but the appearance.   

Of Recreations. X.  
THe most artificial running descant continued too long, will at length wax tedious even to the vulgar; 'tis so with Pleasures, the most various and exquisite after some continuance grow nauseous to them that most greedily desired them; They being altogether like civet, smell at the lump unsavoury and fulsome, by drams sweet and pleasant; we should use them as physic with praescription, or (being on our Journey) as Travelers bait only at Them, and like Dogs at Nilus' touch and be gone for fear of Crocodiles, remembering they are but Gourds, and carry a worm in the root. So used, they sweetly Checquer our employments and steal from us all thoughts of irksomeness, and may be in their use as commodable as labour it self; for the mind having stood long centinel upon serious Thoughts, becomes at length sluggish, like a Bow continued bent; if she be not slackened with some pleasant Relaxation. Painters take a good course with their eyes, draw them off the Table to let them recreate and recollect themselves a while on some delightsome green; otherwise they would grow dim and weak; the like would be done with the spirits, which still engaged on hard employments, grow listless and flag, and can only flutter not fly; hence Bookewormes, whose heads being the tombs of so many brave Writers, might well be supposed animate libraries, while they converse with the dead, become in a manner dead themselves, and like dreaming Dogs they retain only some confused notions, which by Heterogeneous mixtures beget armies of chimaeras that like Cadmus' soldiers fall a-quarrelling among themselves; and truly how should they not be opplete with gross humours, when they want evacuation? well might they be compared to unpolished Statues, at the first graving rough-hewn, and formelesse, which levigated by the file may become pieces of perfection. This casts an aspersion upon learning that it enervates men for high employments, when indeed it is the best Thread to be directed by in such labyrinths; the best compass to sail by in such Aegaeum's; what else was the meaning of Plato's Philosophante Rege, Regnante Philosopho; disjoined, the one may do he knows not what: the other know what to do, but unpowerfull to act, united make up a personage fit to move in the highest Sphee●; but recreations carry in their tails some cautions; else they recede from themselves and are precipitated into crimes; let them not be such as come within the cognizance, of the Law and drag danger along; harmless, not amphitheatre sports, not jests empoisoned with bitterness, and needle-pointed, that will draw blood as well out of, as into the cheeks; Seasonable, otherwise they will make vast Ruptures in time, and become employments: frugal, otherwise you may die by a laughing disease; moderate, for that were to add drunkenness to thirst; generous, such as may reinforce a vivacity in the Spirits, instill some repast of profit into the mind; civil, that they may not commit a rape upon the soul; easy, for if puzzling, they become burdens, and this would cause me to dislike chess, because those abstractions of the senses bestowed on a game of it, might be far more usefully employed: I might add selection of company by itself. This caution would also be laid down, you be not bewitched with any pleasure; for so it will engross you wholly, and hardly suffer you to disengage. Thus may you touch without harm, handle the Serpent Pleasure, and bereave her of her sting; but I verily believe History can show us as few examples of this kind as of any moral virtue; Of those I have met with these two most deserve an asterisk, the two Africani, Major, and Minor; the Grandfather, and Nephew who though he were an Aemilian was engrafted on the stock of the Carnelians; The first by that memorable speech of his Nunquam minus solus quam cum solus, nunquam minus otiosus quam cum otiosus, shows he knew to to set a value on his minutes; and a Law on his thoughts, and one thus parsimonious cannot but be very rich in masculine virtues: Th'other by that elegy of Vellejus Paterculus, Nemo elegantius negotiorum intervallo otia dispunxit, tells he was adopted to the manners of the Scipio's, as well as Name, and that he was an excellent man as well as a captain; And trod up the stairs of virtue to the Capitol of honour, so that his laurel might well grow out of the ruins of two so great and famous Cities as Carthage and Numantia. Since I am thus far I care not much to speak my conceptions of some of these sports most common in use.  
Hunting is very magnificent, and a sport for Princes (and it may be noted that more of them have bestowed themselves on this then any other, nay some of them even to excess, as our two Williams, Pope Leo, &c.) It inures the body to travel, being as Oppian calls it a 
* {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman}.  counterfeit of War, & by it doth Xenophon discover the genius of his Cyrus. The fable might seem to have from hence his original, Adonis a delicate youth, Venus own darling slain by a boar; 'twas anciently practised on the most fierce Savages, as well by the Kings of Persia (who took singular delight therein) as in the Spectiles and sports at Rome; but now it is reduced almost only to timorous creatures, for whom nature hath provided no other defence but flight, yet as it is, there is nothing less in it then idleness.  
Hawking, which is but aerial hunting, cannot challenge the antiquity of the former; it is not for mean persons, yet a generous exercise, as well for variety of depraedators as preys. Fishing is a melancholy exercise, yet is there more stirring with the fly then bait; there might be many pretty inventions of baits, every river commonly entertaining one more peculiar Fish, which would require a particular bait.  
Tennis is a violent sport, there is much activity required in it; 'tis somewhat strange that this age bringeth forth so many fine wits; none hath honoured it in the like manner as Vida hath done chess, Thuanus Hawking, and Natales Comes Hunting.  
shuttlecock requires a nimble arm, with a quick and waking eye; 'twere fit for Students, and not so vehement as that waving of a stoolè so commended by Lessius.  
Wrestling seems to grow out of use; 'tis of ancient standing, as may be seen in Homer and Virgil; Prizes there were for it in the Olympics, neither was it unpractised by the Roman soldiery; verily it conduces both ad robur & sanitatem, and will admit of the advantage of slight, and might more commend itself by more frequent practice.  
Bowling exerciseth proportionably all the parts, and that mildly; he is like to be most exquisite in it, that can make his hand obey the judgement of his eye.  
Shooting with the Arrow of a private exercise, may be very advantageous to the public; many Nations have hardly known any other weapons, or at least not been skilled in them, as the Paleares, the Parthians whose arrows sheilded them against the Roman greatness; yea the nerves of this Nation have sometimes been in her bowstrings; What raised the Turk to such a height, but his excellent Archers? 'tis an injury they are jusled out by Guns so wholly; whether upon good grounds hath been hotly disputed; we consider them only as an exercise, and so they are every deal as pleasant as healthful.  
The traverses at chess are exceeding laborious, yet they may be recompensed with the pleasure of so many furious encounters, plots, and justlings which come nearest the broils of waspish men.  
'tis not proper here to speak of the lawfulness of sortelegious Games; Dice have been used by many great men as Claudius the Emperor, who writ a book of it, Domitian, Theodoric King of the Goths too liberally; yet cannot that justify private practice. The Inconstancy of Irish, fitly represents the changeableness of human occurrences, since it ever stands so fickle, that one malignant throw can quite ruin a never so well built Game; Art hath here a great sway, by reason if one cannot well stand the first assault, he may safely retire back to an after game.  
Tick-Tack sets a man's intentions on their guard; errors in this and war can be but once amended.  
For cards, the philology of them is not for an ESSAY; a man's fancy would be summed up in cribbage; gleek requires a vigilant memory; Maw a pregnant agility; Pichet a various invention; Primero a dexterous kind of rashness, &c. sed manum de Tabula, I make an employment of a Recreation.   

Of war. XI.  
War is the Phlebotomy of the Body politic, which sometimes in taking away superfluous humours brings it into a consumption; 'Tis God's scourge of a people, whether he whip them by themselves or a foreign enemy.  
Civil wars are ever most cruel, Parties being most incensed, and fighting either out of despair or revenge, there is in them the best room to exercise private malice. The conqueror, though pride and petulancy are inseparable companions of victory) more insulting and scarce putting up the Sword when there is not an enemy for to draw it against, as being most insecure; these that have assisted, if displeased, being as powerful to his hurt, (in that backed with followers and alliances) and with difficulty retained, when they see not their expectation in the reformation of a State, (as domestic jars have ever such pretences, not meanings) and hopes of rewards fully satisfied, nay, over-estimating their merits, they are apt to fall off at the least indignity; as was evident in Richard Earl of Warwick, who distasting Edward the fourths marriage, because himself had been employed in France about another match, revolted, unkinged him, though he was the prime instrument to set him in the Throne; and suffered his malice never to period till he had made his life a sacrifice to it; neither is any war so long spun out, although they have breathing intervals: oppressed factions when they seem utterly extinct, gleaning themselves into a head (being assisted what with pity of their present lowness, what with envy that attends the prevailing party) growing to overtop the other, and perhaps they themselves after breaking into two; as Augustus and Antonius, when they had destroyed the murderers of Caesar, fell out between themselves; neither could any mediation so solder them but it ended with one of their ruins. War of neighbouring States, whether begun out of jealousy (as there is both reason and precedent for preventive wars) harbouring one another's fugitives, or any other politic cause, are after two or three fields easily suspended with short truces; especially if the one party have not gained of the other, but if there be some inequality, matters are hushed a while in a necessitated peace.  
Those who have little or nothing of their own, gain by discords, the loss falling on their side who are most full and best able; to prosecute a victory too far on a broken enemy, is to teach him to be desperate, and make him obtain what he could not have hoped for, a bettering of his condition; a notable example of this, was Charles Duke of Burgundy, who by pressing too hard upon the broken Swysses, lost first a field to them, and after his life.  
Those States whom providence designs for burdens of the World, and devourers of confining Countries, (such as that old Roman State and the modern Ottomons) though they may be resisted with much courage, resolution and pertinacy, yet at the last do overweigh, as did the Romans over us here in England, and them in Spain; for overpelling with renewed forces and succours, they leave the Conquered no other solace in their ruins, than the glory of the continuance of their resistance. That money is the sinews, nay the vital spirits of war, is acknowledged by all, it being impossible to preserve discipline in an unpaide Army; but when the soldier grows full, he grows withal wanton; learns to discontinue military hardness; is ready to forsake his colours; so that Gold which many times makes a soldier, again mars him. A general is the heart, as well as the head of an Army; and hath need of a working brain, as a strong arm; secret should he be in his designs, Saturnine in consulting, and mercurial in acting, coming on his enemy like the hammer on an anvil, touch it before we see it strike, not like the discharging of a Cannon, to send forth a flame before the eruption of the bullet; severe to punish even prosperous disorders, and successful disobediences, as but mere connivances of fortune; strict in exacting the duties of the soldiery, as Creatures better commanded with fear then love; industrious, and rather leading in labours than dangers, (the person of a general being different from that of a soldier) valuing his country's glory above his own, and his own above his life, neither stealing honour nor forcing it, not refusing a triumph because of a sharer, nor fainting under the weight of business, when there are no other shoulders but his own; carrying always a fixed spirit, which will neither shrink under the suddenness nor weight of any danger, gratefully acknowlegding him that conducts him through all difficulties, and wishing rather to perish then to attribute any thing whatsoever to himself. The modern Militia differs much from the ancient, there being in it more room for stratagems then personal valour; yet are not pitched battles so bloody as before, whether it be that smoke gives better assistance to flight, or that they do not close as before, or that order is not so entirely preserved, and Battalias are sooner broken; this is certain that conflicts are not protracted to that length as before, but Victory doth sooner cast the balance.  
Of all Nations whose remembrance time hath preserved to us, those two States of Greece and Rome did most excel in the art of War, whether the Tactick or the Stratagematick part; both which may be said to be in a manner lost, yet do they somewhat reflourish in the practice of the Low-Countries, which may be assigned as one serecondary cause of their long resistance of the Spaniard.   

Of Religion. XII.  
IF men could have been without Religion, Superstition had never been moulded into so many monstrous shapes; could casuality have performed it, 'tis strange if among such variety none had hit; could succession of time have refined any into a good one, it had been done in so long continuance; but succeeding Ages, rended them still more feculent: could nature have lent any light; The most elevate Heathens had seen somewhat, but it was all they could do to get a sight of the dim principles of Reason; but without God who was the Author of Religion, it was impossible, the widest soul being too narrow to Receive him, unless he were pleased to shoot in a few beams of himself at some crevices, and were pleased to teach what he was (though Man could never perfectly learn) and how he would be worshipped, though Man could never do him complete homage.  
To prove Religion by reason, is like those tricks, which before performance seem impossible, after, contemptible; one of them was that of Columbus, 
8 Lips. Praelante Critic.  in setting an egg upright: when our hearts are once possessed of the truth of it, it seems nothing, but a sublimated and refined Reason; but did Reason ever persuade it to any heart, or Antidote it, against apostasy? we must profess our ignorance of any; Those pretty natural Discourses and Arguments, with many both old and new Luminaries of Learning found out, show, that they could rather fight with their enemies, then o'ercome them.  
For the Ancients that encountered with heathenism at push of Pikes, they could better lay open, the vanity of the other, then assert the truth of their own; The best service they did was to unteach the people their Idolatry, that they might be the better capable of true devotion, and bring them from a by-path; but they could only set their faces towards (and point at) the true.  
For the Moderns, they have had to do either with Jews, Turks, or Barbarians; The first (were they not so obstinate) are the best to deal with, by reason they grant us one side of our two edged Sword; The main is in applying the prophecies, and manifestation of the Messiah, in which GOD himself must either interpose, or they will never see him whom they have pierced; that being now chaff which the wind drives to and fro from the face of the Earth, they may not be burnt in unquenchable fire.  
For the second, the ground where it thrives must be ploughed with Cymiters, sowed with carcases, and watered with blood, so that it is not likely that verbal instruments will be able to eradicate this pestilent darnel.  
For the last, they are of so many climes, and praepossessions, that little can be said in general; only this, that the savageness of the Spaniards in America showed that they are sooner flattered then threatened into better notions, and the Innocency of those that have not much mingled with others, seems to promise some Faciliation; But whether the sedulity of the Jesuits in those parts hath been a means of preparing or obstructing them to Protestantism, is only known to him whose incomprehensible wisdom it was to reserve their discovery to these last Times.  
'tis handsomely observed, that the main of other Religions never gained by Christianity, since she carried before her the light of the World; they, fuliginous Torches of error: since her God came like a shepherd, theirs like Roarers: she required the more difficult part of worship, internal; the other only corporeal; that no wonder if the Roman Senate did not admit Christ into the Pantheon— but they were more aware than they thought of: since His Presence might have caused the rest to fall, his crying formerly struck them dumb. Were it not there is a great hand and eye, and a conscience, that can sting and whisper, Religion would do a great deal of hurt in Policy, because she pinions Men, whereas Atheists have their arms lose, and need never be opposed with that empty name of Equity, which ought much to regulate him who remembers that he stands accountable: whereas 'tis easy for him to be an excellent politician that can brawn his Conscience, that it be not peirceable by any pricks: or so o'er-master it, that it cannot cry when it is pricked, and so still it that it cannot continue when it shall cry.  
For Atheists, (as he spoke of the sceptics) 'tis better to tell what they think not, than what they think; They are milder opposers than the blind superstitious, as thinking Religion an enemy only worth the jeering; 'tis questioned, whether there be any such really or no; divines say 'tis extra, non intra; aliis, non sibi; miserable are they (if any) whose hearts tell them the contrary.  
The Ascension of causes to one supreme, for Reason; and the Energy of nature, for sense, best confutes them; the one calls home their wandering senses, the other composes them.  
False Religions gain most by violence, the true by opposition; gaudy best please the simple, decent the wise; loose ones best please natural Men; strict ones, goodmen.   

Of Rewards. XII.  
GReat Persons stand for Imitation, lesser for Observation: Man is led by nothing better than Example; and Examples of Great ones, are most effectual; they have both a great influence on manners; and Men suppose there easiliest to find a Reward, where there is a conformity of carriage. Rewards ever beget proportionable endeavours; passing by deserts doth but extinguish them; feed a lamp with competent oil, it will yield a sufficient light; deny it nourishment and it dies; every one is not sufficiently satisfied with the applause of his own Conscience in doing well, but would look for some external advantage. What more honourable then to die for ones Country? yet I dare say the Decii themselves had thoughts of glory. What moral man did ever so extenuate wealth, and spoke so goodly sentences in commendation of poverty as Seneca? yet his Admirer Lipsius can make Report, what an estate he scrapped together under his scholar Nero: so powerful are encouragements over the endeavours of Men. Munificency conduceth much to the glory and greatness of Princes but should hold proportion with their Treasuries, and the parties whom it falls upon; heaping too much upon one, (perhaps of meaner merits) while another that hath performed more singular services is passed by, is a way to banish virtue out of the world, and introduce envy and factions into the Court.  
There is no better means to discover the abilities of a Prince, then by his Ministers of State; it both shows whether he know how to pick them out, and whether he know how to make use of them, when he hath chosen them. jews the eleventh of France was excellent in this, and would spare for no Reward (though he were covetous below the decorum of a King) to one whom he thought would prove a convenient instrument for his purpose.  
Some wisest Monarchs have sedulously noted the deserts of their servants; no doubt a wise course, and such a one as may keep their hands steady in dispencing of their bounty.  
Those who have many attendants, must not think to feed them by pecuniary largesses, which will be soon out of mind, and make the other still gaping after renewed liberty; but should be rather free of their countenance then purse, which as it cannot be inexhaustible; so if immoderately drained must be supplied by some unlawful means. In a word, Rewards ought not to exceed t●e merits of him they are conferred on, nor the ability of him that confers them.   

Of Fables. XIII.  
AS Parrhasius limned a veil with such happiness, that his corrival would have drawn it aside to see what it covered; such are the Fables of Poets; we suppose they shadow somewhat, but find Nothing. To shape every one of them to a moral were all one as to force every Picture to an Emblem-and with Pictures they hold a great Analogy; Some are rough drawn and show best at distance, some are smooth and admit a nearer survey; Some Tougher Inventions best please at a careless perusal; Others more finely wrought after a curious enquiry, best comply with the Fancy; small pieces best commend themselves through a Magnifying glass; greater, in a shadow; short Fables become Amplifications, longer would be somewhat wound up; antic work pleaseth with its absurdity, historical by its Jmitation; some stories delight more by their further receding from, some by their nearer approaching to the truth; So Picture is nothing but poesy in Colours, and poesy only Picture in black and white; both of them, screw and wind up the imagination, and give most life to Passions and Receive the best Ornament from them; but it is height of Art in both; which, who so hath attained, can withal command another's Eye, or Countenance. Landskapps and fine Descriptions do dilate and enlarge the Eye, but the dexterous Characterizing of a thought in the face attracts and fixes it.  
Where many Relations are to be knit up in one series, it shows excellent cunning to join them without a seam. Ovid's Metamorphoses speak him extreme happy in this, in that he hath so quaintly knit so many various relations, that they are indeed but one entire body, whereas Ariosto will interruptly shake hands with the Reader, at half a Tales end and wrest his Attention to a new business.  
That Fabling is no lying, may easily be granted, since Divines will acknowledge it is but truth apparelled like a fiction; things by this means do more slily drop into the minds of Men, especially the vulgar, who will be best led by things that come nearest the Sense; This made Morality assume the shapes of rational beasts, speaking woods, Articulate Birds; this I conceive hath made the egyptians, wanting the use of Letters, fly to hieroglyphics; or to speak out, what hath caused so many Anthropopathies, and Allegories in the holy Scripture?  
As they are useful this way, so are they dangerous if they be profane, and indiscreetly tampering with deities; 'tis a blemish of the Prince of Poets in assigning so unfitting parts to his deathless and bloodless (that is all he can make of them) Men, making Counterscuffles in Olympus, bringing his Jove one time rambling, another time cheated with a sleepy drink, other while bound; Juno jealous, Venus wounded, and such kind of Ribaldry, that young wits may easily draw in atheism, or polytheism like poison in a perfume; And why may not dealing in such Wares make Poetasters so chill in their Religion, nay render them so profane? why may not their Poverty and Contempt be a just Reward of Heaven, that though singing clear their Chests, it can never fill their bellies, or warm their Backs; Canta larana (Says the Spaniard) y no tein peil nilana.  
The frog still sings,  
yet never gains  
A Fleece nor hair  
for all her pains.  
But this is digressive; That foolery (to name it best) of Homer procured his banishment out of Plato's commonwealth, though Plato by his practice showed the high estimation he had of Poetry; yet though Homer be most guilty, few there are of the other Poets that can stand clear; but it is observable these Inventions are most quick, fine, and full of life, wherein there do not intervene any other persons but mortal.  
Nor would Stories be lascivious, no drug so powerful to provoke Lust, they being speculative filth, and contemplative wantonness, which wound the soul deeper, because they do surprise her unguarded; how unclean have the Heathens been in that they shamed Heaven itself, with such pollution, In Caelo est meretrix, in Caelo est turpis adu●●●;  
And honoured such high Crimes with no worse Monuments than asterisms? how ill have many Moderns, as well as Ancients deserved in making Poetry their bawd and Limners to make their Tables the Interpreters, nay the Promoters of lewdness? One example may be Chaerea in Terence, beholding Jove turning himself into a bribe, to gain Danae. Egomet quoque id spectare caepi, & quia con similem luserat jam olim ille ludum— Ego Homuncio hoc non facerem?  
There hath been a great deal of Rich Fancy lost in frothy Love-Stories, and fantastical chimaeras, which had it been bestowed on some rare ideas, might have been altogether as profitable and delightsome as they are now hurtful; what rare commonwealths have been moulded, by Sir Thomas Moor, Campanella, &c. What a stupendious fabric of a College for Nature, hath great Saint Albans reared; how hath Barclay laid open the distempers of a surfeiting State Xenephon the virtues of an excellent Captain?  
'tis a delicate Invention, that of Master Howell, wherein he turns Europe into a Grove, and among the Thickets Satyrizes an exact History; 'tis wholly new; nor can Antiquity show the like; and might be much promoted, if some refined wits would perform the like on other pieces of Nature, since Beasts, or Birds might as well act such parts as Trees.  
We will take a short view of Poetry, since it hath such Relation to Fables, that it may be a Question whether Poetry beget Fables, or Fables Poetry; it is a sweet kind of madness, which yet argues an Harmonious soul, doctrivae tanquam Somnium, (Says that Prodigy of Literature) Res dulcis & varia, & volens in se aliquid habere Divini quod etiam Somnia vendicant; 'tis too high for a Recreation, and too slight for an employment; where it meets with a proneness of Nature, very bewitching, and not easily avoided, but it will make inroads into serious and great employments, as in King, James, Pius the second who was a Poer laureate, Vrban the Eight, the Cardinals Bembo and Peron, and Sir Philip Sidney, his companion the Lord Brooke, The Earl of Striveling and others; this excellency it hath, that it both makes and forms its own matter, and is as boundless as the imagination of Man.  
Epic strains lift the soul into high conceptions of virtue, and Glory; lyric lull it asleep with pleasure; Elegaick melt it with Sorrow and pity; satiric stir up hate against Vice, and sometimes teach it, which makes their writings of an Ambiguous Nature; Lubin protests there is more Morality in one satire of Juvenal, then in the ten books of Aristotle to Nichomachus; Scaliger cries out of him as not fit for Christian ears.  
Every one that can make words dance in Numbers (there may be a Poem too in Prose) is not a Poet, but only These that raise themselves to such a pitch that they are inaccessible by future imitation; and in this sense he spoke truly that said, Every Age hath scarce produced a Poet.  
FINIS.    

Imprimatur Charles Herle.   

The Judicious Reader may be pleased to pass the literal slips, they being easily corrigible.