despise them, for so shal a man observe them in others, and let him trust himselfe with the rest: for if he care to expresse them hee shall leese their grace, which is to be naturall and vnaffected. Some mens behauiour is like a verse wherein euery sillable is measured. How can a man comprehend great matters that breaketh his minde too much to small obseruations? ¶ Not to vse Ceremonies at all, is to teach others not to vse them againe, and so diminish his respect; especially they be not to bee omitted to straungers and strange natures.

Among a mans Peires a man shall be sure of familiaritie, and therefore it is a good title1 to keepe state; amongst a mans inferiours one shall be sure of reuerence, and therefore it is good a little to be familiar.

Hee that is too much in any thing, so that he give another occasion of satietie, maketh himselfe cheape.

To applie ones selfe to others is good, so it be with demonstration that a man doth it upon regard, and not vpon facilitie. It is a good precept generally in seconding another: yet to adde somewhat of ones owne; as if you will graunt his opinion, let it be with some distinction, if you wil follow his motion, let it be with condition; if you allow his counsell, let it be with alleadging further reason.

OF FOLLOWERS AND FRIENDS.

COSTLY followers are not to be liked, least while a man maketh his traine longer, hee make his wings shorter, I reckon to be costly not them alone which charge the purse, but which are wearysome and impor1 So in the original: a mistake for "it is good a little."

tune in sutes. Ordinary following ought to challenge no higher conditions then countenance, recommendation and protection from wrong.

¶ Factious followers are worse to be liked, which follow not vpon affection to him with whome they raunge themselues, but vpon discontentment conceiued against some other, wherevpon commonly insueth that ill intelligence that wee many times see between great personages. The following by certaine States answereable to that which a great person himselfe professeth, as of Souldiers to him that hath beene imployed in the warres, and the like hath euer beene a thing ciuile, and well taken euen in Monarchies, so it bee without too much pompe or popularitie. ¶ But the most honorable kind of following is to bee followed, as one that apprehendeth to aduance vertue and desert in all sortes of persons, and yet where there is no eminent oddes in sufficiencie, it is better to take with the more passable, then with the more able. In gouernment it is good to vse men of one rancke equally, for, to countenance some extraordinarily, is to make them insolente, and the rest discontent, because they may claime a due. But in fauours to vse men with much difference and election is good, for it maketh the persons preferred more thankefull, and the rest more officious, because all is of fauour. ¶ It is good not to make too much of any man at first, because one cannot holde out that proportion. To be gouerned by one is not good, and to be distracted with many is worse; but to take aduise of friends is ever honorable: For lookers on many times see more then gamesters, And the vale best discouereth the hill. There is little friendship in the worlde, and least of all betweene equals; which was

wont to bee magnified. That that is, is betweene superiour and inferiour, whose fortunes may comprehend the one the other.

OF SUTES.

MANIE ill matters are vndertaken, and many good matters with ill mindes. Some embrace Sutes which neuer meane to deale effectually in them. But if they see there may be life in the matter by some other meane, they will be content to winne a thanke or take a second reward. Some take holde of Sutes onely for an occasion to crosse some other, or to make an information wherof they could not otherwise have an apt precept,1 without care what become of the Sute, when that turne is serued. Nay some vndertake Sutes with a full purpose to let them fall, to the ende to gratifie the adverse partie or competitor. Surely there is in sorte a right in euerie Sute, either a right of equitie, if it be a Sute of controuersie; or a right of desert, if it bee a Sute of petition. If affection leade a man to

fauor the wrong side in iustice, let him rather vse his countenance to compound the matter then to carrie it. If affection lead a man to fauour the lesse worthy in desert, let him doe it, without deprauing or disabling the better deseruer. In Sutes a man doth not wel vnderstand, it is good to referre them to some friend of trust and iudgement, that may reporte whether he may deale in them with honor. Suters are so distasted with delaies and abuses, that plaine dealing in denying to deale in Sutes at first, and reporting the successe 1 So in the original: a mistake, no doubt, for pretext.

barely, and in challendging no more thankes then one hath deserued, is growen not only honourable but also gracious. In Sutes of fauor the first comming ought to take little place, so far forth consideration may bee had of his trust, that if intelligence of the matter coulde not otherwise haue beene had but by him, aduantage be not taken of the note. To be ignorant of the value of a Sute is simplicitie, as wel as to be ignorant of the right thereof is want of conscience.

Secrecie in Sutes is a great meane of obtaining, for voicing them to bee in forwardnes may discourage some kinde of suters, but doth quicken and awake others. But tyming of the Sutes is the principall, tyming I saye not onely in respect of the person that shoulde graunt it, but in respect of those which are like to crosse it. Nothing is thought so easie a request to a great person as his letter, and yet if it bee not in a good cause, it is so much out of his reputation.

OF EXPENCE.

RICHES are for spending, and spending for honour and good actions. Therefore extraordinarie Expence must bee limited by the worth of the ocasion; for voluntarie vndoing may bee as well for a mans countrie as for the kingdome of heauen. But ordinarie expence ought to bee limited by a mans estate, and gouerned with such regard, as it be within his compasse, and not subiect to deceite and abuse of seruants, and ordered to the best shew, that the Bils maye be lesse then the estimation abroad. It is no basenes for the greatest to descend and looke into their owne estate. Some for

beare it not vpon negligence alone, but doubting to bring themselues into Melancholy in respect they shall finde it broken. But woundes cannot bee cured without searching. He that cannot looke into his owne estate, had neede both choose well those whom he imployeth, yea and change them after. For new are more timerous and lesse subtle. In clearing of a mans estate hee may as well hurt himselfe in being too suddaine, as in letting it runne on too long, for hastie selling is commonly as disaduantageable as interest.

He that hath a state to repaire may not despise small things; and commonly it is lesse dishonourable to abridge pettie charges then to stoupe to pettie gettings. A man ought warily to begin charges, which once begunne must continue. But in matters that returne not, he may be more magnificent.

OF REGIMENT OF HEALTH.

THERE is a wisdome in this beyond the rules of Phisicke. A mans owne obseruation what hee finds good of, and what he findes hurt of, is the best Physicke to preserve health. But it is a safer conclusion to say, This agreeth well with me, therefore I will continue it, then this I finde no offence, of this therefore I may vse it. For strength of nature in youth passeth ouer many excesses, which are owing a man till his age. Discerne of the comming on of yeares, and thinke not to doe the same things still. Beware of any suddain change in any great point of diet, and if

1 So in the original: a mistake for often.

2 So in the original: it should be not well, and not continue.