L.

Of Studies.

STUDIES ferve for Delight, for Orna

ment, and for Ability. Their chief ufe for Delight is in Privatenefs and Retiring; for Ornament is in Difcourfe; and for Ability, is in the Judgment and Difpofition of Bufinefs. For expert men can execute, and perhaps judg of particulars one by one; but the general Counsels, and the Plots, and Marshalling of Affairs, come best from thofe that are Learned. To spend too much time in Studies is floth; to use them too much for Ornament is affectation; to make Judgment wholly by their Rules is the humour of a Scholar. They perfect Nature,and are perfected by experience; for Natural Abilities are like Natural Plants, that need Proyning by Study, and Studies themselves do give forth Directions too much at large, except they be bounded in by experience. Crafty men contemn Studies, Simple men admire them, and Wife men use them: For they teach not their own use, but that is a Wifdom without them, and above them, won by Obfervation. Read not to Contradict and Confute, nor to believe and take for granted, nor to find Talk and Discourse, but to weigh and confider. Some Books are to be tafted, others to be fwallowed, and fome few to

be chewed and digefted; that is, fome Books are to be read only in parts; others to be read, but not curiously; and some few to be read wholly, and with diligence and attention. Some Books alfo may be read by Deputy, and Extracts made of them by others: But that would be only in the lefs important Arguments, and the meaner fort of Books, elfe diftilled Books are like common diftilled Waters, flashy things. Reading maketh a full man; Conference a ready man; and Writing an exact man. And therefore, if a man Write little, he had need have a great memory; if he Confer little, he had need have a prefent wit, and if he Read little, he had need have much cunning to seem to know that he doth not. Hiftories make men Wife, Poets Witty, the Mathematicks Subtil, Natural Philofophy Deep, Moral Grave, Logick and Rhetorick able to Contend. Abeunt Studia in Mores; Nay, there is no Stand or Impediment in the Wit, but may be wrought cut by fit Studies: Like as Difcafes of the Body may have appropriate Exercises. Bowling is good for the Stone and Reins, Shooting for the Lungs and Breft, Gentle Walking for the Stomack, Riding for the Head, and the like. So if a mans Wit be wandring, let him Study the Mathematicks; for in Demonftrations, if his Wit be called away never fo little, he must begin again: If his Wit be not apt to diftinguish or find differences, let him Study the School-men; for they are Cumini fectores. If he be not apt to beat over matters, and to call up one thing to prove

and

and illuftrate another, let him Study the Lawyers Cafes; fo every Defect of the mind may have a Special Receipt.

LI.

Of Faction.

MANY have an Opinion not Wife; that

for a Prince to govern his Eftate, or for a great Perfon to govern his Proceedings, according to the refpect of Factions, is a principal part of Policy; whereas contrariwife, the chiefeft Wisdom is, either in ordering those things which are General, and wherein men of feveral Factions do nevertheless agree; or in dealing with correspondence to particular perfons one by one. But I fay not, that the confideration of Factions is to be neglected. Mean men in their rifing muft adhere, but great men that have strength in themselves, were better to maintain themselves indifferent and Neutral: Yet even in beginners to adhere fo moderately, as he be a man of the one Faction, which is most paffable with the other, commonly giveth beft way. The lower and weaker Faction is the firmer in Conjunction : and it is often seen, that a few that are stiff, do tire out a great number that are more moderate. When one of the Factions is extinguished, the remaining fubdivideth: As the Faction between Lucullus, and the reft of the Nobles of the SeN 4

nate

nate (which they called Optimates) held out a while against the Faction of Pompey and Cæfar; but when the Senates Authority was pulled pown, Cafar and Pompey foon after brake. The Faction or Party of Antonius, and Octavianus Cafar, against Brutus and Caffius, held out likewife for a time: But when Brutus and Caffius were overthrown, then foon after Antonius and Octavianus brake and fubdivided. These examples are of Wars, but the fame holdeth in private Factions: And therefore thofe that are Seconds in Factions, do many times, when the Faction fubdivideth, prove Principals; but many times also they prove Cyphers and cashier'd. For many a mans ftrength is in oppofition, and when that faileth, he groweth out of use. It is commonly feen, that men once placed, take in with the contrary Faction to that, by which they enter, thinking belike that they have their firft fure, and now are ready for a new Purchase. The Traitor in Faction lightly goeth away with it; for when matters have ftuck long in Ballancing, the winning of fome one man cafteth them, and he getteth all the thanks. The even carriage between two Factions, proceedeth not always of moderation, but of a truenefs to a mans self, with end to make ufe of both. Certainly in Italy, they hold it a little fufpect in Popes, when they have often in their mouth padre commune, and take it to be a Sign of one that meaneth to refer all to the greatnefs of his own House. Kings had need beware, how they fide themselves, and

make

make themselves as of a Faction or Party; for Leagues within the State are ever pernicious to Monarchies; for they raise an Obligation, Paramount to Obligation of Soveraignty, and make the King, Tanquam unus ex nobis; as was to be feen in the League of France. When Factions are carried too high, and too violently, it is a fign of weakness in Princes, and much to the prejudice both of their Authority and Bufinefs. The motions of Factions under Kings, ought to be like the motions (as the Aftronomers speak) of the Inferior Orbs, which may have their proper motions, but yet ftill are quietly carried by the higher motion of Primum Mobile.

H

LII.

Of Ceremonies and Respects.

E that is only real, had need have exceeding great parts of Vertue; as the Stonehad need to be rich, that is fet without foil. But if a man mark it well, it is in praise and commendation of men, as it is in gettings and gains: For the Proverb is true, That light gains makes beavy purses; for light gains come thick, whereas great come but now and then. So it is true, that small matters win great Commendation, because they are continually in ufe, and in note; whereas the occafion of any great vertue cometh but. on Festivals. Therefore it doth much add to a

mans