of greatness, in any state, is to have a race of mili- | hands of the owners, and not mere hirelings; and tary men. Neither is money the sinews of war, thus indeed you shall attain to Virgil's character, (as it is trivially said,) where the sinews of men's which he gives to ancient Italy: arms in base and effeminate people are failing; for Solon said well to Croesus, (when in ostentation he showed him his gold,) "Sir, if any other come that hath better iron than you, he will be master of all this gold." Therefore, let any prince, or state, think soberly of his forces, except his militia of natives be of good and valiant soldiers; and let princes, on the other side, that have subjects of martial disposition, know their own strength, unless they be otherwise wanting unto themselves. As for mercenary forces, (which is the help in this case,) all examples show that, whatsoever estate, or prince, doth rest upon them, he may spread his feathers for a time, but he will mew them soon after.

"Terra potens armis atque ubere gleba." Neither is that state (which, for any thing I know, is almost peculiar to England, and hardly to be found anywhere else, except it be, perhaps, in Poland) to be passed over; I mean the state of free servants and attendants upon noblemen and gentlemen, which are noways inferior under the yeomanry for arms; and, therefore, out of all question, the splendour and magnificence, and great retinues, and hospitality of noblemen and gentlemen received into custom, do much conduce unto martial greatness; whereas, contrariwise, the close and reserved living of noblemen and gentlemen causeth a penury of military forces.

By all means it is to be procured, that the trunk of Nebuchadnezzar's tree of monarchy be great enough to bear the branches and the boughs; that is, that the natural subjects of the crown, or state, bear a sufficient proportion to the stranger subjects

The blessing of Judah and Issachar will never meet; that the same people, or nation, should be both the lion's whelp and the ass between burdens; neither will it be, that a people overlaid with taxes should ever become valiant and mar-that they govern; therefore all states that are tial. It is true, that taxes, levied by consent of the estate, do abate men's courage less; as it hath been seen notably in the exercises of the Low Countries; and, in some degree, in the subsidies of England; for, you must note, that we speak now of the heart, and not of the purse; so that, although the same tribute and tax laid by consent or by imposing, be all one to the purse, yet it works diversely upon the courage. So that you may conclude, that no people overcharged with tribute is fit for empire.

liberal of naturalization towards strangers are fit for empire; for to think that an handful of people can, with the greatest courage and policy in the world, embrace too large extent of dominion, it may hold for a time, but it will fail suddenly. The Spartans were a nice people in point of naturalization; whereby, while they kept their compass, they stood firm; but when they did spread, and their boughs were become too great for their stem, they became a windfall upon the sudden. Never any state was, in this point, so open to receive strangers into their body as were the Romans; therefore it sorted with them accordingly, for they grew to the greatest monarchy. Their manner was to grant naturalization, (which they called "jus civitatis,") and to grant it in the highest degree, that is, not only "jus commercii, jus con

Let states, that aim at greatness, take heed how their nobility and gentlemen do multiply too fast; for that maketh the common subject grow to be a peasant and base swain, driven out of heart, and, in effect but the gentleman's labourer. Even as you may see in coppice woods; if you leave your staddles too thick, you shall never have clean un-nubii, jus hæreditatis;" but also, "jus suffragii," derwood, but shrubs and bushes. So in countries, if the gentlemen be too many, the commons will be base; and you will bring it too that, that not the hundredth poll will be fit for an helmet; especially as to the infantry, which is the nerve of an army; and so there will be great population and little strength. This which I speak of hath been nowhere better seen than by comparing of England and France; whereof England, though far less in territory and population, hath been (nevertheless) an overmatch; in regard the middle people of England make good soldiers, which the peasants of France do not: and herein the device of King Henry the Seventh (whereof I have spoken largely in the history of his life) was profound and admirable; in making farms and houses of husbandry of a standard; that is, maintained with such a proportion of land unto them as may breed a subject to live in convenient plenty, and no servile condition; and to keep the plough in the

and "jus honorum ;" and this not to singular persons alone, but likewise to whole families; yea, to cities, and sometimes to nations. Add to this, their custom of plantation of colonies, whereby the Roman plant was removed into the soil of other nations, and, putting both constitutions together, you will say, that it was not the Romans that spread upon the world, but it was the world that spread upon the Romans; and that was the sure way of greatness. I have marvelled sometimes at Spain, how they clasp and contain so large dominions with so few natural Spaniards; but sure the whole compass of Spain is a very great body of a tree, far above Rome and Sparta at the first; and, besides, though they have not had that usage to naturalize liberally, yet they have that which is next to it; that is, to employ, almost indifferently, all nations in their militia of ordinary soldiers; yea, and sometimes in their highest commands; nay, it seemeth, at this in

D

stant, they are sensible of this want of natives; | hath at hand, for cause of war, the propagation

as by pragmatical sanction, now published, appeareth.

of his law or sect, a quarrel that he may always command. The Romans, though they esteemed It is certain, that sedentary and within-door the extending the limits of their empire to be arts, and delicate manufactures (that require great honour to their generals when it was done, rather the finger than the arm) have in their na- yet they never rested upon that alone to begin a ture a contrariety to a military disposition; and war: first, therefore, let nations that pretend to generally all warlike people are a little idle, and greatness have this, that they be sensible of love danger better than travail; neither must they wrongs, either upon borderers, merchants, or pobe too much broken of it, if they shall be pre-litic ministers; and that they sit not too long upon served in vigour: therefore it was great advan-a provocation: secondly, let them be pressed and tage in the ancient states of Sparta, Athens, ready to give aids and succours to their confedeRome, and others, that they had the use of slaves, rates; as it ever was with the Romans; insowhich commonly did rid those manufactures; but much, as if the confederates had leagues defenthat is abolished, in greatest part, by the Chris- sive with divers other states, and, upon invasion tian law. That which cometh nearest to it is, to offered, did implore their aids severally, yet the leave those arts chiefly to strangers, (which, for Romans would ever be the foremost, and leave it that purpose, are the more easily to be received,) to none other to have the honour. As for the and to contain the principal bulk of the vulgar | wars, which were anciently made on the behalf natives within those three kinds, tillers of the ground, free servants, and handicraftsmen of strong and manly arts; as smiths, masons, carpenters, &c. not reckoning professed soldiers.

of a kind of party, or tacit conformity of estate, I do not see how they may be well justified: as when the Romans made a war for the liberty of Græcia; or, when the Lacedæmonians and Athenians made war to set up or pull down democracies and oligarchies: or when wars were made by foreigners, under the pretence of justice or protection, to deliver the subjects of others from tyranny and oppression, and the like. Let it suffice, that no estate expect to be great, that is not awake, upon any just occasion of arming.

But, above all, for empire and greatness, it importeth most, that a nation do profess arms as their principal honour, study, and occupation; for the things which we formerly have spoken of are but habilitations towards arms; and what is habilitation without intention and act? Romulus, after his death (as they report or feign) sent a present to the Romans, that above all they should intend arms, and then they should prove the greatest empire of the world. The fabric of the state of Sparta was wholly (though not wisely) framed and composed to that scope and end; the Persians and Macedonians had it for a flash; the Gauls, Germans, Goths, Saxons, Normans, and others, had it for a time: the Turks have it at this day, though in great declination. Of Christian Europe, they that have it are, in effect, only the Spaniards: but it is so plain, that every man profiteth in that he most intendeth, that it needeth not to be stood upon: it is enough to point at it; that no nation which doth not directly profess arms, may look to have greatness fall into their mouths; and, on the other side, it is a most certain oracle of time, that those states that continue long in that profession (as the Romans and Turks principally have done) do wonders; and those that have professed arms but for an age have, not-pey's preparation against Cæsar, saith, “Consiwithstanding, commonly attained that greatness in that age which maintained them long after, when their profession and exercise of arms hath grown to decay.

Incident to this point, is for a state to have those laws or customs which may reach forth unto them Just occasions (as may be pretended) of war; for there is that justice imprinted in the nature of men, that they enter not upon wars (whereof so many calamities do ensue,) but upon some, at the least specious, grounds and quarrels. The Turk

No body can be healthful without exercise, neither natural body nor politic; and, certainly, to a kingdom, or estate, a just and honourable war is the true exercise. A civil war, indeed, is like the heat of a fever; but a foreign war is like the heat of exercise, and serveth to keep the body in health; for, in a slothful peace, both courages will effeminate, and manners corrupt; but howsoever it be for happiness, without all question for greatness, it maketh to be still for the most part in arms; and the strength of a veteran army (though it be a chargeable business) always on foot, is that which commonly giveth the law; or, at least, the reputation amongst all neighbour states, as may well be seen in Spain, which hath had, in one part or other, a veteran army almost continually, now by the space of sixscore years. To be master of the sea is an abridgment of a monarchy. Cicero, writing to Atticus of Pom

lium Pompeii plane Themistocleum est; putat enim, qui mari potitur, eum rerum potiri ;" and, without doubt, Pompey had tired out Cæsar, if upon vain confidence he had not left that way. We see the great effects of battles by sea: the battle of Actium decided the empire of the world; the battle of Lepanto arrested the greatness of the Turk. There be many examples, where sea fights have been final to the war: but this is when princes, or states, have set up their rest upon the battles; but thus much is certain, that he that

commands the sea is at liberty, and may take as much and as little of the war as he will; whereas those that be strongest by land are many times, nevertheless, in great straits. Surely, at this day, with us of Europe, the vantage of strength at sea (which is one of the principal dowries of this kingdom of Great Britain) is great; both because most of the kingdoms of Europe are not merely inland, but girt with the sea most part of their compass; and because the wealth of both Indies seems, in great part, but an accessary to the command of the seas.

The wars of later ages seem to be made in the dark, in respect to the glory and honour which reflected upon men from the wars in ancient time. There be now, for martial encouragement, some degrees and orders of chivalry, which nevertheless are conferred promiscuously upon soldiers and no soldiers, and some remembrance perhaps upon the escutcheon, and some hospitals for maimed soldiers, and such like things; but in ancient times, the trophies erceted upon the place of the victory; the funeral laudatives and monuments for those that died in the wars; the crowns and garlands personal; the style of emperor, which the great king of the world after borrowed; the triumphs of the generals upon their return; the great donatives and largesses upon the disbanding of the armies, where things able to inflame all men's courages; but above all, that of the triumph amongst the Romans was not pageants, or gaudery, but one of the wisest and noblest institutions that ever was; for it contained three things, honour to the general, riches to the treasury out of the spoils, and donatives to the army: but that honour, perhaps, were not fit for monarchies, except it be in the person of the monarch himself, or his sons; as it came to pass in the times of the Roman emperors, who did impropriate the actual triumphs to themselves and their sons, for such wars as they did achieve in person, and left only for wars achieved by subjects, some triumphal garments and ensigns to the general.

one.

clusion to say, "This agreeth not well with me, therefore I will not continue it;" than this, "I find no offence of this, therefore I may use it:" for strength of nature in youth passeth over many excesses which are owing a man till his age. Discern of the coming on of years, and think not to do the same things still; for age will not be defied. Beware of sudden change in any great point of diet, and, if necessity enforce it, fit the rest to it; for it is a secret both in nature and state, that it is safer to change many things than Examine thy customs of diet, sleep, exercise, apparel, and the like; and try, in any thing thou shalt judge hurtful, to discontinue it by little and little; but so, as if thou dost find any inconvenience by the change, thou come back to it again: for it is hard to distinguish that which is generally held good and wholesome, from that which is good particularly, and fit for thine own body. To be free-minded and cheerfully disposed at hours of meat and of sleep, and of exercise, is one of the best precepts of long lasting. As for the passions and studies of the mind, avoid envy, anxious fears, anger, fretting inwards, subtle and knotty inquisitions, joys and exhilarations in excess, sadness not communicated. Entertain hopes, mirth rather than joy, variety of delights, rather than surfeit of them; wonder and admiration, and therefore novelties; studies that fill the mind with splendid and illustrious objects, as histories, fables, and contemplations of nature. If you fly physic in health altogether, it will be too strange for your body when you shall need it; if you make it too familiar, it will work no extraordinary effect when sickness cometh. I commend rather some diet for certain seasons, than frequent use of physic, except it be grown into a custom; for those diets alter the body more, and trouble it less. Despise no new accident in your body, but ask opinion of it. In sickness, respect health principally; and in health, action: for those that put their bodies to endure in health, may, in most sicknesses which are not very sharp, be cured only with diet and tendering. Celsus could never have spoken it as a physician, had he not been a wise man withal, when he giveth it for one of the great precepts of health and lasting, that a man do vary and interchange contraries, but with an inclination to the more benign extreme: use fasting and full eating, but rather full eating; watching and sleep, but rather sleep; sitting and exercise, but rather exercise, and the like: so shall nature be cherished, and yet taught masteries. Physicians are some of them so pleasing and conformable to the humour of the patient, as they press not the true cure of the disease: and XXX. OF REGIMEN OF HEALTH. some other are so regular in proceeding according THERE is a wisdom in this beyond the rules of to art for the disease, as they respect not suffiphysic: a man's own observation, what he finds ciently the condition of the patient. Take one of good of, and what he finds hurt of, is the best a middle temper; or, if it may not be found in one physic to preserve health; but it is a safer con-man, combine two of either sort; and forget not

To conclude: no man can by care taking (as the Scripture saith) "add a cubit to his stature," in this little model of a man's body; but in the great fame of kingdoms and commonwealths, it is in the power of princes, or estates, to add amplitude and greatness to their kingdoms; for by introducing such ordinances, constitutions, and customs, as we have now touched, they may sow greatness to their posterity and succession: but these things are commonly not observed, but left to take their chance.

to call as well the best acquainted with your perceived, ridicule body, as the best reputed of for his faculty.

XXXI. OF SUSPICION.

SUSPICIONS among thoughts are like bats among birds, they ever fly by twilight: certainly they are to be repressed, or at the least well guarded; for they cloud the mind, they lose friends, and they check with business, whereby business cannot go on currently and constantly: they dispose kings to tyranny, husbands to jealousy, wise men to irresolution and melancholy: they are defects, not in the heart, but in the brain; for they take place in the stoutest natures, as in the example of Henry the Seventh of England; there was not a more suspicious man nor a more stout: and in such a composition they do small hurt; for commonly they are not admitted, but with examination, whether they be likely or no? but in fearful natures they gain ground too fast. There is nothing makes a man suspect much, more than to know little; and, therefore, men should remedy suspicion by procuring to know more, and not to keep their suspicions in smother. What would men have? do they think those they employ and deal with are saints? do they not think they will have their own ends, and be truer to themselves than to them? therefore there is no better way to moderate suspicions, than to account upon such suspicions as true, and yet to bridle them as false: for so far a man ought to make use of suspicions, as to provide, as if that should be true that he suspects, yet it may do him no hurt. Suspicions that the mind of itself gathers are but buzzes; but suspicions that are artificially nourished, and put into men's heads by the tales and whisperings of others, have stings. Certainly, the best mean, to clear the way in this same wood of suspicions, is frankly to communicate them with the party that he suspects; for thereby he shall be sure to know more of the truth of them than he did before; and withal shall make that party more circumspect, not to give further cause of suspicion; but this would not be done to men of base natures; for they, if they find themselves once suspected, will never be true. The Italian says, Sospetto licentia fede;" as if suspicion did give a passport to faith; but it ought rather to kindle it to discharge itself.

66

XXXII. OF DISCOURSE.

SOME in their discourse desire rather commendation of wit, in being able to hold all arguments, than of judgment, in discerning what is true; as if it were a praise to know what might be said, and not what should be thought. Some have certain common-places and themes, wherein they are good. and want variety; which kind of poverty is for the most part tedious, and, when it is once

The honourablest part of

talk is to give the occasion; and again to mode-
rate and pass to somewhat else, for then a man
leads the dance. It is good in discourse, and
speech of conversation, to vary and intermingle.
speech of the present occasion with arguments,
tales with reasons, asking of questions with telling
of opinions, and jest with earnest: for it is a dull
thing to tire, and as we say now, to jade any thing
too far. As for jest, there be certain things which
ought to be privileged from it; namely, religion,
matters of state, great persons, any man's present
business of importance, any case that deserveth
pity; yet there be some that think their wits have
been asleep, except they dart out somewhat that
is piquant, and to the quick; that is a vein which
would be bridled;

"Parce, puer, stimulés, et fortius utere loris."
And, generally, men ought to find the difference
between saltness and bitterness. Certainly, he
that hath a satirical vein, as he maketh others
afraid of his wit, so he had need be afraid of
others' memory. He that questioneth much,
shall learn much, and content much; but espe-
cially if he apply his questions to the skill of the
persons whom he asketh; for he shall give them
occasion to please themselves in speaking, and
himself shall continually gather knowledge; but
let his questions not be troublesome, for that is
fit for a poser; and let him be sure to leave other
men their turns to speak: nay, if there be any
that would reign and take up all the time, let him
find means to take them off, and to bring others
on, as musicians use to do with those that dance
too long galliards. If you dissemble sometimes
your knowledge of that you are thought to know,
you shall be thought, another time, to know that
you know not. Speech of a man's self ought to
be seldom, and well chosen. I knew one was
want to say in scorn, "He must needs be a wise
man, he speaks so much of himself:" and there
is but one case wherein a man may commend
himself with good grace, and that is in commend-
ing virtue in another, especially if it be such a
virtue whereunto himself pretendeth. Speech of
touch towards others should be sparingly used;
for discourse ought to be as a field, without
coming home to any man. I knew two noble-
men, of the west part of England, whereof the
one was given to scoff, but kept ever royal cheer
in his house; the other would ask of those that
had been at the other's table, "Tell truly, was
there never a flout or dry blow given?" To
which the guest would answer, "Such and such
a thing passed." The lord would say, "I thought
he would mar a good dinner." Discretion of
speech is more than eloquence; and to speak
agreeable to him with whom we deal, is more
than to speak in good words, or in good order.
A good continued speech, without a good speech
of interlocution, shows slowness; and a good

reply, or second speech, w out a good settled
speech, showeth shallowness and weakness. As
we see in beasts, that those that are weakest in the
course, are yet nimblest in the turn: as it is betwixt
the greyhound and the hare. To use too many
circumstances, ere one come to the matter, is weari-
some; to use none at all, is blunt.

XXXIII. OF PLANTATIONS.

41

and to be laid in, and stored up, and then delivered out in proportion; besides some spots of ground that any particular person will manure for his own private use. dities the soil where the plantation is doth natuConsider, likewise, what commorally yield, that they may some way help to defray the charge of the plantation; so it be not, as was said, to the untimely prejudice of the main business, as it hath fared with tobacco in Virginia. PLANTATIONS are amongst ancient, primitive, therefore timber is fit to be one. Wood commonly aboundeth but too much and and heroical works. When the world was young, ore, and streams whereupon to set the mills, iron If there be iron it begat more children; but now it is old, it begets is a brave commodity where wood aboundeth. fewer; for I may justly account new plantations Making of bay-salt, if the climate be proper for it, to be the children of former kingdoms. I like a would be put in experience: growing silk likeplantation in a pure soil; that is, where people wise, if any be, is a likely commodity: pitch and are not displanted to the end to plant in others; fortar, where store of firs and pines are, will not fail; else it is rather an extirpation than a plantation. so drugs and sweet woods, where they are, canPlanting of countries is like planting of woods; not but yield great profit; soap-ashes likewise, for you must make account to lose almost twenty and other things that may be thought of; but moi! years profit, and expect your recompense in the not too much under ground, for the hope of mines end: for the principal thing that hath been the de- is very uncertain and useth to make the planters struction of most plantations, hath been the base | lazy in other things. For government, let it be in and hasty drawing of profit in the first years. It the hands of one, assisted with some counsel; and is true, speedy profit is not to be neglected, as far let them have commission to exercise martial laws, as may stand with the good of the plantation, but with some limitation; and, above all, let men no further. It is a shameful and unblessed thing | make that profit of being in the wilderness, as they to take the scum of people and wicked condemned have God always, and his service before their eyes; men, to be the people with whom you plant; and let not the government of the plantation depend not only so, but it spoileth the plantation; for they upon too many counsellors and undertakers in the will ever live like rogues, and not fall to work, country that planteth, but upon a temperate numbut be lazy, and do mischief, and spend victuals, ber; and let those be rather noblemen and gentleand be quickly weary, and then certify over to men, than merchants; for they look ever to the their country to the discredit of the plantation. present gain: let there be freedoms from custom, The people wherewith you plant ought to be gar- till the plantation be of strength; and not only deners, ploughmen, labourers, smiths, carpenters, freedom from custom, but freedom to carry their joiners, fishermen, fowlers, with some few apothe- commodities where they may make their best of caries, surgeons, cooks, and bakers. In a country them, except there be some special cause of cauof plantation, first look about what kind of victual tion. Cram not in people, by sending too fast, comthe country yields of itself to hand; as chestnuts, pany after company; but rather hearken how walnuts, pineapples, olives, dates, plums, cherries, they waste, and send supplies proportionably; wild honey, and the like, and make use of them. but so as the number may live well in the plantaThen consider what victual, or esculent things tion, and not by surcharge be in penury. It hath there are which grow speedily and within the year:been a great endangering to the health of some as parsnips, carrots, turnips, onions, radish, arti-plantations, that they have built along the sea and chokes of Jerusalem, maize, and the like: for rivers in marish and unwholesome grounds: therewheat, barley, and oats, they ask too much labour; fore, though you begin there, to avoid carriage and but with pease and beans you may begin, both be- other like discommodities, yet build still rather cause they ask less labour, and because they serve upwards from the stream, than along. It concernfor meat as well as for bread; and of rice likewise eth likewise the health of the plantation that they cometh a great increase, and it is a kind of meat. have good store of salt with them, that they may Above all, there ought to be brought store biscuit, use it in their victuals when it shall be necessary. oatmeal, flour, meal, and the like, in the begin-If you plant where savages are, do not only enterning, till bread may be had. For beasts, or birds, take chiefly such as are least subject to diseases, and multiply fastest ; as swine, goats, cocks, hens, turkeys, geese, house-doves, and the like. The victual in plantations ought to be expended almost as in a besieged town; that is, with certain allowance: and let the main part of the ground employed to gardens or corn, be to a common stock; VOL. I-f

tain them with trifles and gingles, but use them justly and graciously, with sufficient guard never theless; and do not win their favour by helping them to invade their enemies, but for their defence it is not amiss: and send oft of them over to the coun try that plants, that they may see a better condition than their own, and commend it when they return. When the plantation grows to strength, then