Horae vacivae, or, Essays. Some occasionall considerations. By John Hall.

Horae vacivae, or, Essays. Some occasionall considerations. By John Hall.

Table of contents

Title page

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TO The Reverend Mr. John Arrowsmith Master of St. Iohns Colledge in Cambridge.

To the Reader.

To my deare friend Mr. I. Hall on his Essayes.

To his worthy friend the Author, on his Essayes.

To the deserving Author upon his Essayes.

To the Author.

To my worthy Friend the Author, concerning his Essayes.

§

HORAE VACIVAE, OR ESSAYES.

Of Opinions. I.

Of Time. II.

Of Felicity. III.

Of Preaching. IIII.

Of Fame. V.

Of Studies. VI.

Of Company VII.

Of Friends. VIII.

Of Dissimulation. IX.

Of Recreations. X.

Of Warre. XI.

Of Religion. XII.

Of Rewards. XII.

Of Fables. XIII.

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HORAE VACIVAE, OR, ESSAYS. SOME OCCASIONALL Considerations

BY JOHN HALL.

—Vitiis nemo caret, optimus ille

Qui minimis urgetur—

LONDON, Printed by E.G. for J. Rothwell, at the Sun and Fountaine in Pauls Church-yard, 1646.

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olim Majora Aetatis Suae 19. 1646

W. Marshall sculpsit.

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[...]

TO The Reverend Mr. John Arrowsmith Master of St. Iohns Colledge in Cambridge.

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BUt that (Worthy Sir) you know as well how to pardon [Page] as judge, I might justly suspect your entertainment of these peices. Faint breathings of a minde burthened with other Literary employments, neither brought forth with Care, nor ripened with Age, yet such as if they bee not now blasted may be the first Fruits of a larger [Page] Harvest; Let them Sir, Receive the honour and shelter of your Name, since borne under your Government, and cherisht by your Candor; That if they chance to survive their Father, they may testify hee was Sir

Your most humble Servant, J. HALL.

To the Reader.

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WHen thou shalt peruse these ESSAYES, and compare them with the Authors years, J suppose thou wilt wonder to see one whose Pulse beates short of nineteene, take such long Strides in [Page] matters of this nature; and be ready to suspect, whether he walkes upon his owne Legs, or be stilted up by what hee 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 [Page] presents thee with, is as free from any such ingagement as his Fathers lands are from morgage. For the language, tis continued everywhere so like it selfe that any may perceive he hath nowhere stretch'd his own meaning to make way for anothers fancy: and for the matter, know this, they who are well acquainted in the closest [Page] shops where wares of this Kinde 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 loome, and only stayes to know of thee [Page] whether he shall goe forward in the worke. Most of these Subjects were not of his own chusiing, but (after discovery of his Genius this way imposed upon him as taskes, though he was pleas'd then to call, and after make them, Recreations; His Recreations they were; and if thou please to make them thine, it may incourage Him to [Page] begin, compleate, and publish, what he hath either designed, begunne, or perfected. Be intreated to accept of these, and He is resolved (being already provided) to acknowledge thy Candor by some POEMS. As I hope thou wilt finde Him not altogether left-Handed in prose, so I dare promise thee Hee will [Page] be farre more dextrous in Verse.

John Pawson.

Johns in Camb. Iune 12. 1646.

To my deare friend Mr. I. Hall on his Essayes.

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WIts, that matur'd by time

have courted praise,

Shall see their WORKES

outdone in these ESSAYES;

And blush to know thy early

years display

A dawning clearer then their

brightest day.

Tho. Stanley.

To his worthy friend the Author, on his Essayes.

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THy youth these Lessons

learned hath, and more

Then were set out to any

of three score.

Thus thou out-strippest Life,

and dost beguile

The fatall Sisters of a

longer file;

And like the youthfull Planet

of the light,

Art ever climbing and yet still

at hight.

W. Hammond.

To the deserving Author upon his Essayes.

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TIs common to commend;

but to deserve

Is for some few, that

march in a reserve

With Thee. Thy Essayes

rich in native worth,

Need not our Trimming

praise to set them forth;

But while judicious men

the Readers be,

Are monuments of judgment,

Wit, and Thee.

Ja. Shirley.

To the Author.

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I Nor intend with some

ambitious verse

To court applause; nor yet

thy prayse rehearse;

J hence no fame affect;

thou none dost want

That wee can give, whose

larger worth our scant

And narrow thoughts scarce

comprehend; thy prayse

Thine own works best relate;

thy first Essayes

[Page]Shame others master-

peeces; Thy Nineteen

Makes five and forty blush,

that scarce hath scene

What thou hast read, digested,

and canst teach;

What wee in other singly

prayse, thy reach

Together graspes; thou

studies canst direct;

Make choyce of friends,

opinions false detect;

Thou'st read both men and

Bookes, thou hast a key

To each mans breast which

is thy Library.

In short, no single knowledge

can confine

Thy larger Soule; but as

the Sun doth shine

[Page]On the whole globe of earth,

and banish night

From its usurpt dominion,

yeilding light

To eyes without it uselesse;

Thou like him

Shinst everywhere, enlightnest

every dim

And heavy eye; darke matters

clearst, turnst night

To brightest day. J know of

whom I write;

Light wits by every breath

of vulgar prayse,

As empty Ships when the

winde kindly playes,

With their large sayls doe

proudely ride, as past

All thought, all feare of

wrack; till some crosse blast

[Page]Oreturne and sink them;

but thy nobler soule

Whose balast's judgement,

is beyond controule

Of popular censure; thou

thine own worth,

Parts, skill, hast better

weigh'd, & sent them forth

Of doores 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 Essayes.

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ARe these the bloomings

of thy greener Age?

Sure, they some monstrous

Summer-fruits presage.

Nature doth seeme to Antidate

thy years,

And ere thy Seed-time's

past, Harvest appeares.

Well hast thou writ Essays;

And well Hee may

Whom nature hath set forth

as Her Essay.

[Page]If for thy mornings drawght

Thou drank'st thus deep,

Poor Helicon will grudge

Thee long to keepe.

And if each moale Thou dost

thus heart'ly feede,

Nine Muses must goe

supperlesse to bed.

Yet take Thy fill: long

may'st Thou live, and be

Their Patron; They Retainers

unto Thee.

T. Goodwin. Fellow of Johns Col. Camb.

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[...] Essay 3.31. [...].

HORAE VACIVAE, OR ESSAYES.

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Of Opinions. I.

WE Consider Opinions here as well Errours sent abroad under the vizards [Page] 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 owne Names, and this is ambitious; some to poyson and infect others, and this is diabolicall; others to occasion further search & satisfaction, and this is discreete. To stick to ones owne after sufficient conviction; argues selfe-love to reject anothers at the first [Page] blush, peevishnesse; to follow antiquity hoodwink'd, is but Jmplicite Ignorance; utterly to reject it, and wholy leane on Novelty, a heady lightnesse.

Those Opinions are not like to get much footing which meete not with the disposition of true and place to entertaine them, as that of Vigilius of the Antipodes; but on the contrary, they easily spread, as that Project of the holy Warre, meeting with a stout and superstitious Age; [Page] they take best roote when they are sowed by degrees, for that insensibly qualifyes mens Humors, and adapts them for molding; as Columbus designe of a discovery after hee had beene stav'd off by severall Christian Princes, yet by his owne confidence (which questionlesse was strengthned by a higher power) He gained the assistance of the King and Queene of Castile.

Where they are to meete with a people groaping in grosse ignorance, [Page] The weakest and those that sute best with such conceptions, doe with the greatest facility possesse themselves; for eyes comming out of darknesse are unable to endure light, whereas they can with small or no paine suffer twilight; but those of more rectified Reasons, can sustaine bright and glistring discoveries to beat in upon them.

Disputing of an evinc'd certainty teacheth againe to doubt of it; cashering of a probability, [Page] not throughly sifted, may cut off meanes of further knowing, since though errror bee blinde, shee sometimes bringeth forth seeing Daughters. The Alchymists have benefited the World more by their occasionall experiments, then ever they will do with their Gold; and the prodigious Tenents of some of the old Philosophers, have given hints for some more accurate discussions, truth having this advantage over her enemy that [Page] shee makes her turne many times her weapons upon her own self.

Hee takes the best course to keepe his judgement from biasing, that narrowly heeds upon what principles both parties build, whether both stand fast to their owne 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 mindes have beene [Page] [...] [Page] [...] [Page] soyled with the foulest staines: to captivate ones reason to a private braine, is to betray it to anothers error; but the [...]. Retention of assent to settle it in the best surety, and rejecting what is disallowed without protervity, is the safest meanes of sure and solid knowledge.

Multiplication of Opinions in Religion, argues that mens minds are unsettled, and the Tapour of Devotion burnes but dimly; they generally usher in uproares [Page] in the State, seldome end in verball contestation; nay One Sect subdivided, pursues her owne differences with the most rancour; as is seen amongst the Jewes, Turks and Persians, some swarmes of Friers &c. whether it be that they thinke errours that approach nearest the Truth to be most pernicious, or that they can the worse tolerate them where they least expected to finde them.

Some Tenents are more easily maintained [Page] then opposed, some better to confute then assert; some that are detestable, carry in them shewes of applause; othersome seeme more ugly then they are really; it is a poore flattery of a mans selfe 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 then they truly carry. The multitude is susceptible of any opinions, being ever unconstant, [Page] suspitious, credulous, violently hurried away with them for the time, which is never long; ever greedy of liberty, though neither knowing to obtaine nor possesse it; easie to be wrought on in matter of Religion, and that rather out of a reverentiall confidence of their Priests, then reliance of their owne Judgements, either adoring or detesting their Governours, and consequently sometime struck out of a tumult by the presence of [Page] one, whose age and virtues have plac'd him beyond their envy: Sometimes boyling into a commotion at the appearance of another, whose Pride, Oppression or Greatnesse hath caus'd their malice, Idolizing their owne darlings for the present, and suddenly crushing them; Implacable where they have the upper hand, meerely Asinine where they know an over-ruling power, suspecting the designes of great ones, and ever taking their practises [Page] to be darker then they appeare. Wise men are timerous in the disfranchising of their judgement before they suffer their considerations to be regulated with reason, and matur'd by time; once setled, it is one of the greatest taskes to remove them; doubts cause them to suspend their Assents; satisfaction of doubts Confirmes them, and renders them inflexible, that many times they will write a Confirmation of their Theses with their owne Blood.

[Page]Since we all see here but per transennam, or as men in mists, one may see somewhat further then another: yet none can take a ful and cleare Prospect: it is but Charity to pardon that in another (Errorr) from which no man can exempt himselfe.

Of Time. II.

THe most pretious thing we can enjoy is time; yet neither is it, nor doe we enjoy it; [Page] we cannot reinforce a pass'd minute, nor relie 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 nurst by the wind, and if we escape a violent hand in our bloome, we after wither and droope into the Bosome of our mother Earth: So that he seem'd to carry Reason along with him, who called Nature Step-mother, in that she gives us so small a portion of Time, that we commonly [Page] rot before we ripen; But he considered not that brave Actions are the best Chronologies, and that we onely live so long as we live under the Colours of vertue; in other actions we are no more then Irrationals; nay, they were farre more happy then we (many of them) to climbe to so many Centuries of yeeres, whereas the greater part of us can hardly reach halfe one. 'Tis a comfort Thetis gives her brave Sonne in Homer, that though [Page] he should be ( [...]) short liv'd, yet he should continue himselfe in the Admiration of Posterity: Many snacht out of the world in their youth, though they might have been more beneficiall, yet are beneficiall by their example, of drawing out the short threed of life, by interweaving it with choice Actions, and making it though small, yet well wrought. Thus indeed we wrest the Sythe out of the hand of Time, and pull the wings from his heels; [Page] But idlenesse is too delicate to doe either, and it only content to anticipate death, by suffering her selfe to be Rackt with Passions, and entomb'd in Pleasures; Thus our Silken Gallants are so sicke of Time, that they embrace any meanes to shake it off; but high Soules like the Heavens they come from, move continually, and are uncapable of rest, untill they rest there; They looke at the gliding of every Sand in the Houreglasse of their [Page] life, and are so insensible of labours and withall so unwearied, that as in Naturall motions, they move with greatest force in the latter end. God sends us not unto the Theater of this World to be [...]. mute persons, but actors; and though hee grants many Exits, yet it is but that wee may re-enter with the greater Activity; and it is an arcanum of his Empire to conceale from us the date of our dayes, that wee may the better number them, and [Page] keepe us perpetually awake, because we know not how soone he may come upon us; for Hee will come like a Theife in the night.

Thrift in the Expence of our time is an excellent virtue, wisedome to manage it to our best improvement, the Base whereon the Superstructures of all other wisdome lyes; 'tis an honest injury to Nature, to steale from her some houres of repose; unsufferable to the soule to let the Golden houres of the [Page] morning passe without advantage, seeing shee is then more capable of Culture, and seemes to bee renewed as well as the day; It were an excellent posture to paint Caesar in, as hee swome with a Booke in the one hand, and a Sword in the other, since hee made his Tent an Academy, and was at leisure to read the Phystognomy of the Heavens in Military Tumults. This shewes hee knew how to prize time, and hated Idlenesse as much as a Superior, [Page] and indeed to speake to Christians, we ought to looke how wee spend our houres here, knowing they are but the praeludium of that which shall be no time but Eternity.

Of Felicity. III.

IT was an unsuccesfull stratagem of satan to tempt his Lord and Maker with the Kingdomes of the earth, and the glories thereof; [Page] yet how hath hee ever gained by it? most being contented to look upon it through his Optick instruments, and then indeed it seemes onely glorious; but who consider it as it is in it selfe, see, that it is the basest Element, spurned (as it were) out from among the Rest, as though Nature disdeigned it a Roome, but what it crouded for; besides compared with the Heavens, tis puncti instar, or as the Arabians say, minimum de minimo, and can [Page] produce nothing without the Influence of them; and those circles by which her measures doe so magnificently cantonize her, are onely Imaginary, and but borrowed from the Sphere.

Now the Soule by the almost unanimous consent of the Heathen, being a Divine substance, and onely mued up in this cloyster of flesh, cannot but entertaine so strong desires of liberty, that although courted by all the blandishments [Page] the World can offer ‘Aestuat Infoelix angusto limite mundi.’

So that those who walked in the midnight of Nature, both wisht and sought for a day of happinesse, but they like men in the darke did onely wander, or like Pilgrims in the Wildernesse still ingage on new errors; yet what sweet did this disquisition cost? all confessing, most searching, none finding.

We have it brought [Page] brought home to our own doores, nay, are woed to accept it; and yet how many are content to cheat themselves of it for a Toy? These are like Noahs Crow sent out an Espiall of the weather, which being entertained with carrion was content to live in Exile. But those happy soules that claspe hold of it, are like the Dove that could finde no resting place, till shee returned to the Arke; these though they enjoy the greatest felicity can bee enjoyed [Page] on Earth, an Earnest of Heaven, yet are they unsatisfyed till they enjoy Heaven it selfe; They can set a true estimation of those sublunarie things, that others are contented so to overbuy, more Sottish then the Barbarous Indians to exchange Gold for Glasse: more greedy then Atalanta, loose themselves to stoope for a golden Apple; or to take it a Note higher, more wicked then Iudas to sell their Master for a thing of nothing, and [Page] yet like Plato's people in the Cave wander they in their pleasing darknesse, offended if you shew them light, nor marvaile if Oules cannot endure the Sunne, when it is the best discoverer of a true Eaglet.

They both goe 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 [Page] the Rock; the one is the Golden Image whose feete is of clay, the other the Tree whose Roote was in Earth, and branches in Heaven. There is more in that Elizium of the Poets then a meere flowrish; truely if the Originall of it were exactly traced, it would bee found in Aegypt, and yet the Aegyptians not the first Authors, and from them devolved among other knowledge into the Schooles, which gave the best fuell to the choycest [Page] inventions, neither is there any great cause to wonder at the corruption of it, since being not fordable by Humane reason, humane Reason brought it downe to that lownesse it could wade over it, and fitted it to her owne capacity, since shee was not wide enough to Receive it as it was in it selfe.

I have not that I remember observed of any Nation though neer so barbarous, but it had some glimmering Notion or other of another [Page] Life; for that whimsey of Pythagoras of the transmigration of Soules, it hath beene hissed out long since as Heterodox.

So that if these may to Reason evinee a second Life, wee can turne our eyes no way but we have examples of the shortnesse of this; It were madnesse to set our hearts on what we cannot long enjoy, although there were somewhat here worth our liking.

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Of Preaching. IIII.

PReaching is the Christall aquaeduct that conveighs the water of Life to us, the Pillar of fire in the Night, the Manna in the Wildernesse; but that it fals most plentifully on the Sabboth; they gather the best that are all eare, and grow the bes [...] by it that are all Heart; This is Gods solemne Ambassie to the Soule. [Page] and we must heare him, although as to Baalam, he speake to us by the mouth of an Asse, and yet he must either boare our eares, or we cannot heare what the Spirit speaketh unto the Churches, for his messages are high and mysterious, such as can finde no entrance in at the eare of a man of flesh, who is too fast asleepe to take any Alarme at the Silver Trumpet of the Gospell; Nay often when God is desirous he should shake off such a Spirituall [Page] lethargy, calls upon him; hee like young Samuel mistakes the voice, and returnes againe unto his slumbers; but such is Gods passionate love to mankinde, that he irresistibly forces himselfe in; And such his is infinite wisdome that he alwaies selects the fittest meanes; as Hearts of Adamant he softens with Goats milk, Hearts of Iron with fire; some like Paul he brings in with light from Heaven, others like Timothy he lets understand [Page] the Scriptures from their Childhoods; to some Soules he comes as he did to Elisha, first in an earthquake of guilt of Sinne, then in a whirlewinde of sorrow for sinne; then in a fire, a tyrall of righteousnesse: then in a still voyce, a calme and composed Conscience; others he builds up as was Solomons Temple without the noise of a hammer; nay such an Admirable method hath he to insinuate himselfe, that though he come in a Conquerer, [Page] he suffers the Soule 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 meere Carnalists at a Sermon, the one bring away himselfe discompos'd, and the other hardned; such a wonderfull Nature hath the word, that it freezes as well as thawes, and it is as well a sea-ring Iron, as a two-edged sword; The [Page] Law speakes wounds, the Gospell oyle; the one Threats, and the other Blandishments; the one of the wildernesse, the other of the land of Canaan. The one begins with our fall, the other with our restitution; The one shewes us we leane on the bulrush of our owne merits, the other how we may finde acceptation through Christ our Lord; The one was delivered with fire and lightening; the other with a Quire of Angels and a Starre, [Page] the vehemency of the one, and the delicacy of the other, are the best rhetorike to win a Soul; the one inforces Arguments, the other confirmes them; yet what poore Orators doth God (to convince reason it selfe of his Glory) oft make use off, that they may not speake in excellency of mans wisdome, but demonstrations of the Spirit? but abstract them into a voyce, and what differs the meanest Minister, from the greatest Rabbi, humane [Page] learning being a good Hand-maide and an ill companion to divinity, who though she carry away the Jewels and Earerings of the Aegyptians, she desires to use them and not wanton with them. Embossed Language tickles the eares, nervous twitches the Heart: the one is better for an Oration, the other for a Sermon, in which there would be Ethicall Truth as well as Logicall.

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Of Fame. V.

DEsire of Fame is an Epidemicall passion, that possesseth low as well as high mindes, but is only predominant in the latter, the other it may force up a little from their owne center, but can hardly advance them to any great designements; from this Roote sprung all the virtues of the Heathens; [Page] this very winde blew the pens of the Poets, and first made them cast inke so clearely, and taught Princes to feed them, seeing it was a cheaper way to outbrave Oblivion, then by emptying their Treasures on heapes 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 shrunke away; othersome with their gastly Ruines can onely present us sad considerations [Page] of what they have been; wheras we have Ajax fighting as stoutly this day in Homer, as when he made the Trojans turne their backs of the Navy; and the wildfire of Lust burning as hot in Helens cheekes, 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 [Page] 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 refin'd Ages threw of their disguises and vizards of fables, and chus'd rather to appeare unmask'd in Histories. But yet how often did they paint, how often did Historians like flattering Limners draw too favourably, or shadow ore a wrinkle; and stily forge in some secret [Page] grace; How oft anger so jog'd their hands that they could onely dash and blot, so that vice many times Cog'd virtue out of the Chariot, and rode in her stead in Triumph, and she is as well content to steale 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 faire and goodly; wings become this Harpye very well, since [Page] she still mounts aloft and disdaines to stoope to inferiour Preyes; Questionlesse, Pens made of her quils are ever blunt in the end; Libels are her spawns, but as other Monsters short liv'd 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 [Page] be made of them, in that they may give occasion to casheire some lurking vice, which fled, ones owne observation, and had not been hinted by the two much modesty of friends. A good name is better then precious oyntment, 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 [Page] men; as that Naturall perfume about Alexanders body, argued an excellent Crasis; so doth the sweet rellish of ones carriage a good composure in the Soule; 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 feard of being ill; as was apparent in Tiberius, who so long as he could shadow [Page] his manners ad pompam & ornatum continued at Rome, although hee refused honour so stifly, that it was interpreted Modestia degeneris animi; but, when Age begun to perfect his corruptions, hee retired to Capreae, that hee 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 doe better Launce into secret humours, and present men [Page] in their Nightgowns, when they are truely themselves. A Generall may be more perfectly discovered on his Pallet, then when hee appeares in the head of an Army; They leave us withall good Copies, that beginners in the World may write by; men of most raysed thoughts have not disdained patterns; as Germanicus took Affricanus: Iulius Caesar, Alexander: Mahomet the great, both: others, others. A diligent comparing of those that [Page] resembled one another in their manners or fortunes, were more worth then the Paines. 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 unequall, and hardly jump, so that they may truly bee called Paralells, for they will never meete.

The description of ones owne Life might bee thought ambitious, were it not it hath [Page] beene done by some persons, either already sated with glory, or not regarding it, as among the Ancients, Iosephus, 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 beene but [Page] the Exordium to what they speake, and every word is raised from a masse of experience, so that it were to bee wished, that Modesty did not withdraw many men from this Taske, 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 Refusall of it; nay sometime it is more ambitious then the Acceptance, as in that of Cato, hee had rather [Page] men should aske why his statua was not there, then why it was; or perhaps it may be with intent to draw on more, as in Caesars refusing the Crowne, Non Rex sum sed Caesar: but it is seldome, or never Cordiall and reall, there being an innate desire in every man, to transmise himselfe unto posterity: For as Hanniball gallantly frets it out in Silius, ‘[Page]"Heu quantum distant à morte silentia vitae.’

There may be gleaned out of Histories (but it will require a whole taske) severall wayes and Ginnes used for Glory; they are most observable in those Mushrums that rise ex minimis initiis, because, having their fortunes to mold out themselves, they are forced to looke more narrowly into exquisite meanes: as first to possesse themselves of [Page] the People; who are most soone wonne, and most hardly held; for it is ever, that they rather desire to make men great, then they can endure them when they are great, and are better to erect then conserve a Favorite; and this is done by insinuating into them of most authority among them, they being like the Bells in the Grove of Iupiter, touch one and they all sound; this was commonly practised in Rome, in any Tumult to possesse [Page] themselves first of the Tribunes; or by Liberality, which was Caesars course, That wee may say hee made himselfe by undoing himselfe, or else by puting on a disguise of Religion; and what else was Scipio's staying in the Capitoll? withall a good stock of parts is required to begin on, but these are Cause-wayes of ambition as well as fame.

Inserting a Name into a History, is somewhat more flat, commending [Page] it to after Ages by writings, comes farre nearer the Life; the Image of a man is conveyed both wayes, the first as in a draught of Colours, Dimensions but no Motions; for Histories for the most part pick but at the Rind of businesse, and few are writ with such exactnesse, that wee can perfectly see the concurrence of Instruments, carriage of counsells and Influence of Superiors. The other as in a Christall, there is a [Page] perfect Repercussion of a Mans visage, and he is hardly a judicious Reader that cannot in any worke (except it be absolutely Dramatick) g [...]esse at the Genius and Inclination of an Author. Hasty glory frequently extinguisheth in Snuffe, for it ariseth from Expectation, for the most part; which if not secunded by a double performance, turns to undervaluing; And mens judgements have more time to grow dispassionate and disintangled, [Page] so that there would bee required a singular cunning in poysing a Mans selfe, 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 sarcasticall, and Ironicall, nor ought to bee entertained without a Sting and Blush.

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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 finde one among them. Some give sleight directions for the attaining of Sciences, as though they were meerly to Relieve the memory, and withdraw some fading Notions: or else as if they supposed us to [Page] have either so short Lives, or small Industries, that wee could onely cast some small glances on Learning. Others are so Elaborate that the Lives of the old Patriarkes would be too short to take those voyages they direct. Some parcell out Studies into Time, very unfitly, since some wits can digest before others can Chew, and some hot Stomacks turne all to good Nourishment, whereas others are so weake, that they cannot away [Page] with any thing that is not a Chylus before they Receive it; besides some ingage upon Literature towards Maturity, when their judgement is stayd, and fastned; others are brought into it in their Childhood, while their parts doe but fluctuate, and there cannot but be a great disproportion betwixt these two; for assiduity best manures the one, whereas the other would onely be sprinkled with some dew; for overmuch [Page] 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 purenesse of their Naturalls have reached to good perfection in [Page] learning more compendiously, and suppose others may doe the like, others having gone about, thinke at their jornyes end they can prescribe nearer paths; Others having stumbled on some Method, and finding it succesfull in two or three more pregnant wits, indeavour to obtrude the use of it upon the World; but indeede some Generall directions can onely be given, Mens meanes and ends being so various, some abounding in leisure, [Page] others in meanes; 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 certaine.

Studying at set houres is much advised and practised, but cannot but bee a slavery to a free wit, who when shee is stinted begins to dislike Her enforcement to horary taskes, which carry in them a [Page] shew of Labour, but would quilt her imployments so with Recreations that shee might seeme to play in her severest businesse; Neither can wee so long as we carry these foure Elements about us, attend at all times with the same alacrity, so that it is injustice to fetter a mans spirit to any fixed Labours, but ever to seize on an advantage of her cheerefullnesse, and to make use of it; but finding a Reluctancy to be weighed [Page] downe; for such idlenesse is not onely harmelesse, but profitable, like the taking of the Plumets of a clocke to make it goe in the better Order; neither will a great spirit bee content to Rest long, but reinforce her selfe with disdaine to bee buckled with so base a companion which devances her from her owne Sphear.

A Man may have many fine devices to cheat himselfe into a new Industry, whether by thinking of the exellency [Page] of that hee goes about, or placing his admiration upon the Eminency of some person exqeisite in it, or hearing it commended by others, or commending it himselfe, thrusting himselfe into such company, where he knowes it is respected, and hee shall have occasion to make use of as much of it as he knowes; teaching it to some others. There are a many other neat Incentives, and such as might well deserve a catalogue; But in [Page] some cases a Man had neede know which way to disintangle himselfe, as if hee finde his Fancy too Luxuriant, to restraine it with matters of judgement: if hee finde himselfe inclinable to a study neither so profitable, nor advantagious, dexterously to conveigh himselfe into another, and weane himselfe from the former; as to dishearten himself by looking at some peeces which are above his Reach, for then it will abate the edge of his [Page] desires, when hee 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 Mans thoughts straight, as in rectifying a Bough, we weigh it downe the contrary way.

One had neede take the hight of his owne parts, and see whether they lie adaequately to all Sciences, or strongly [Page] bend to any-particular one, and to follow his owne inclination with the most warinesse; for they doe but injure a mans parts that drive besides their owne bedd, which is many times the cause that they runne in so poore and muddy Channels.

No man ought to graspe more then he can well fathome, for so he shall have his labour answered by but small profit; The Jtalian sayes Che Abbracchia troppo stringhe puoco, [Page] 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 referres somewhat to the relation of her Sister; so that he that would not make a Polygamie 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 [Page] remember that best which they learne first; their tongues are more flexible to personate any pronunciation, which cannot so easily be essaid by one of riper age; withall, their judgements are not at any setlednesse, so that they cannot without prejudice follow more serious studies: Now continued meditation, doth strengthen and confirme old judgements, and doth onely put young ones on the Rack; so that these praecocia ingenia, as [Page] they shoote 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 speakes with anothers mouth, and heares by anothers tongue? Tis well knowne what grosse errours in some of the Fathers this hath produced.

The choice pearle in Divinity, lies in the [Page] Hebrew; the best of morall knowledge amongst the Greekes, Politicall amongst the Romans, Rich Gems of the Mathmatiques amongst the rubbish of the Arabians; and who can perfectly understand these, unlesse he converse with them in their owne dialects? The effeminate French, the luscious Italian, the grave Spanish (three [...]. daughters of the Roman) adde both lustre and furtherance to other knowledge. Unlesse an inclination be [Page] very discoverable, it cannot be perceived till after Twelve; and from that time fancy begins to sprout & wantonize for some yeares, till it have arrived at the just height.

Judgement is long ere it be setled, experience being the best nurse of it; and we see seldome Learning and Wisdome concurre, because the former is got sub umbra, but businesse doth winnow observations, and the better acquaint us with breathing volumes of [Page] men, it teacheth us both better to read them, and to apply what we have read.

Memory is the Treasure of the minde, but trust her with overmuch, and she will at the best fall short in her accompts; a man should onely commit choice things to her, which should sooner concoct into good judgement; meaner notions take up as much roome as the more precious, and consequently insensibly weaken her. For they give a reason why [Page] blind men remember so strongly, because they are not taken off with so many externall Objects: There are many Auxiliaries; as for the naturall memory meditation, ruminations at night, discourse, diaeticall and medicinall helps, &c.

For Artificiall 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 usefull; first, it is a fit depositum of [Page] knowledge till it can be disposed into notes and naturall memory, which questionlesse is a mighty helpe; another is the continuing and placing of Idaeas, which doth greatly quicken and vegetate the Invention.

For notes, whether it be Analysing of an Author, or clositing up observables in severall Cells, they would be but very short, (otherwise they will draw away too much time and labour) or be dispatched onely by references; [Page] some would have common places renewed at a certaine time, which whether advantageous or no, as long use can best discover; so it may be easily granted, that unlesse they be ranked in good order, they will prove more hurtfull then they could have been subsidiary to the memory.

Health ought to be nicely respected by a Student; for the labours of the minde are as farre beyond them of the body, as the [Page] 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 meales, when Nature is wholy retired to concoction; or at night times, when she begins to droope for want of rest; hence so many Rhewmes, defluxions, Catarrhs, &c. that I have heard it spoken of one of the greatest Ambulatory Peices of learning at this day, That he would redeeme [Page](if possible) his health with the losse of halfe his Learning. C S.

For sleepe, seven houres comes the neerest a fit proportion in generall, of any number can be assigned: but Phlegmatique Complexions may require more, and Sanguine may be content with lesse; yet ought it to be piacular for one of indifferent industry, to sleepe after foure in the morne, as to be up after nine at night; turning day to night, and night to day, and [Page] observing meale times with them of the other Hemisphere, is being most proper to the Luxury and wantonnesse of Courtiers.

Some studies would be hug'd as imployments, others onely dandled as sports; the one ought not to trespasse on the other; for to be Imployed in needelesse things is halfe to be idle.

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Of Company VII.

MAn is a Creature made by nature for commerce; some he sorts with in a generall 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 meete with, whom vices have so disguized, that they [Page] retaine onely the shape of men; of these you must by all meanes prohibite your selfe; and if your occasions push you upon them, doe it with all feare; remembring that vice is diffusive, and gaines more easily upon our depraved natures then Virtue: besides the truth spoke it; Touch not pitch least 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 [Page] your friendship, neither will they when they see contrary virtues; a Carbuncle shines though covered with many cloathes, Virtue will send forth a lustre through a many of imperfections; but Vice is bleer-ey'd and cannot endure to looke upon them, but desires to recede; as Antonies Genius did from that of Augustus.

Such as are of a different Religion, may be kept company for Traffique, hope of conversion, &c. But if beyond [Page] these limitations, you may be Lyme-twig'd with their errours and loose 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 unfruitfull, and the leaves tasted poyson.

Other companies are hardly so dangerous, yet since mens humours are so various as their faces, there is required a supplenesse in [Page] behaviour (for men of morose natures, doe but in a manner stifle the vitall parts of humane society) and this was excellent in Alcibiades, who could conforme to the constitutions of all those severall people his variety of fortune made him converse with; as also a quicke sagacity in discovering complexions whether sound or unhealthfull, or disagreeing with your owne; if they hit not right, to withdraw so unperceived, [Page] that if you gaine 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 finde endowments, from whence you may suck experience, be as winning as you can, and endeavour to draw most from thence where you finde the parley most furnished, and there commonly will he be most free; yet doe it in such a manner as he may not discover you; pose him, but dispatch [Page] it by such facetious turnes 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 reserv'd; when a man is in earnest, he stands upon his guard; in mirth he lies open unfenc't: This is an honest and beneficiall subtilty, and by this meanes you may sometime jest your selfe into that in an houre, that you could not have labour'd out in a moneth; if you meeet with more [Page] reserved natures, you will commonly finde them also vaine-glorious; 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 seldome prove unsuccessefull.

But, in case it doe, Arrowes tipt with silver will pierce the best Armour of proofe, and for the most part covetousnesse intrudes into [Page] the Attendance of learning, and many times need will make you finde acceptance.

In generall have an eye on profit in what company soever you come; sometime you may glean high notions from meane persons, and finde matter of speculation from the mouth of a Zany, for a good and strong stomack will convert course viands into good nourishment; keepe your secrets fast lock't up, and be not inquisitive after anothers, but [Page] what is committed to you keepe as a sacred depositum; The wisest of men among many other excellent ones sayes Boccha chinsa occhi aperto [a shut mouth and open eye] and as Nature hath set a double guard on the tongue, doe not you enlarge her; for you hardly have another member so potent to your mischiefe. Trample not on the imperfections of any, but modestly dissemble them, and be sure they be never the Subjects [Page] of your scurrility, for they will wound deeper then the party himselfe; mention any mans virtues at large and freely, his vices not at all or very sparingly; or if, to himselfe with all candor and modesty; you will finde this as subtile a trap for Fame as any you can devise; be ever jealous over them you deale with, and commit to them no more then you care if they disclose; if otherwise, you put a weapon into their hands in case [Page] they prove your enemies.

Make accompt such as you converse with shall you bee accompted; for it is easy to sound a Mans conditions by his company, and company by his conditions; thus knew Augustus his two daughters constitutions: The one sorting in the Theater 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 [Page] the worse hand; Customes insensibly Naturalize themselves, and wee draw them from those wee live with; It is best to call and select the choycest whersoever wee mete them. Change of Society, as it makes the carriage pliant and various, so it prevents sucking too much of any ones humour. They which use much old People, grow rigid, and harsh; youth light and active; bringing up Princes in cels hath made them more fit for to hold a crosse [Page] then a Scepter; breeding the Persian Kings among so many Women made them fitter for a Nursery then for a Throne.

Of Friends. VIII.

FRiends are a Mans selfe in Fractions; hee that admits every one into the Number of them, prostitutes his Soule to all comers; hee who none, denies her one of the best [Page] comforts shee can here enjoy. Friendship of great men hath much honour, and small Security; of meaner men, lesse credit, but more sweetnesse. That of equalls is ever best soldered, since their thoughts running parallell, are not like to Clash; hee who chuseeth in haste, shall have leasure enough to repent; Hee who at leasure and with direction, time enough to enjoy the fruits of his Wisdome. Hee who discovers all his secrets, [Page] layes open his owne Nakednesse; Hee who none, may well faint under his Burthen.

Hee who climbes up into the favour of Princes, steps a Ladder whose Rungs breake as hee passeth up, that whensoever hee must returne, hee must necessarily fall. The most doggish Princes of all have had some choyce Privados, and these generally men of comely features and low births, whether it be they may the more [Page] absolutely cōmand creatures of their owne immediate Creation, or that they may the more easily reduce them in Materiam primam; These seldome stand as constellations, but are onely Comets, which blaze as long as their piceous substance remaines, and then vanish.

Great Men are like Summer suns; we delight to eate the fruits of their bringing forth, but care not for lying under them, without the Jnterposition of a [Page] shade; yet in Winter when they are Low, and feeble, wee are content to admire the beauty of their Rayes; they nourish those of meaner quality, most part onely to set the Trayns they lay, on fire, and when they fall, doe but like great Oakes breake their own branches and Neighbouring underwoods; Aequality best glewes minds since there is neither occasion of Envy nor Contempt; it better Ballasts humours, whereas if any one grow praedominant, [Page] it causeth the dissolution of so sweet a frame. The Fable of the Lyon and Fox, (sayth Iulian the Apostate teacheth meaner Friendships are not altogether unusefull; no more they are; but yet hee that is Superior ought so to behave himselfe, that the Inferior may keep himselfe levell, by seeing the other still remember the distance betweene them, in such a manner as hee may rather observe it then his Friend shew it. Popularity sinkes [Page] greatnesse downe too low; the Medium betweene this and too much statelinesse is very hard to hit upon. Antonius the Philosopher, would give any man his hand hee met; Constance would sit without either hem or spit; but where is there an example of any that equally avoyded these two Rocks? of the two, the latter comes neerer Majesty; 'Tis excellently observed by Livie of Camillus his Souldiers, eandem virtutem oderant,[Page]& mirabantur.

But for private friendship, had it not onely allowance, but also praise, the Holy Spirit would not so oft have beene flosculent, when Hee 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 neede feare no violent hand but Death.

Communication of Secrets is one of the best fruits of it; yet [Page] would they not bee forced into one anothers bosome, but drop of themselves; paps too straitly pressed, give onely ulcerous matter in stead of Milke.

Admonition is another maine advantage; but it would be done rather with Teares then Gall; and if possible, out of past discourses and private Maxims; and what is this but to grind a Diamond with his own dust?

Hee was too cautelous that bid sic ama [Page]tanquam osurus. These two can never see one another perfectly, where Distruct and Iealousy put a mist betweene; The Graces were painted naked; And the wisest Men will be content to lay aside themselves to an Intimate friend; th'other halfe was very Christian, odi tanquam amaturus; yet hee that bid have no Gall, allowed a sting for defence; And hee who advised us not to let the Sun set on our Anger, did not advise to [Page] trust a deceiving enemy the next morning.

Friendship would creepe to an hight, and not Rush to it, for so it will soone Run it selfe out of breath. Entertaine no sinister and by-ends, for these will bee but so many Moths, and Canker-Wormes that will eat out the heart and marrow of it, and turne it to a more biter enmity; As to love is an eminency of man beyond beasts, so to love constantly argues a fixt [Page]high spirit, and such a one as scornes to stoope to change; it best agrees with the Levity of children to bee both friends and enemies in the beating of a Pulse; wise men are the most cautelous in the Reception of an Intimate; Mecaenas's Charinesse to Horace, was exemplary,

Nono revocas me denique mense; but when they once joyne league, it is indissoluble. History affords us many pompous examples of strict amities, but [Page] it may be justly feard that some have in them too much of the Fable; for soules may indeed mingle, but doubtlesse can never grow one. Lubrick is the estate of Favorites, few doe not stand sometime in umbrage or set in a Cloud, if not in a storme. 'Tis as rare for one to stand in an eminent degree of favour two Kings Reignes as a son to inherit the good affection of a Prince to his Father. Kings of composed tempers, best preserve their darlings, [Page] 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 rayes of favour not to fall perpendicularly, but Obliquely upon him.

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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 bee connived at, the latter alwayes detested: wee shall according to our cursory and imperfect manner (for hee that expects exactnesse and method in an ESSAY, [Page] wrongs both the Author and his owne expectation) look upon a part and joyntly.

Sleights in civill carriages are now become so frequent, that they are almost necessary, both sides in their performance rather supposing they act in the darke to others, then that it is so; which may bee one reason, why there is now a dayes so little gained by Treaties; It was the observation of an excellent man, that [Page] in Modern councells, there is rather a shuffling of approaching dangers, then preventing them from afarre; if so, it argues men are not very cunning in laying traines, and there is a decay in present policy; As hee playes not well at draughts, that onely can avoyd snapping when it comes to a pinch, so doth it not argue any excellent wisdome in them that suffer dangers to meet them at their owne doores; Wee have [Page] many times wondred at the greatnesse and prudence of the Roman State; and no doubt before the luxation of the Common-Weale, the latter was more eminent; but especially in preventing of growing Evills, notwithstanding hardly discoverable by the most Eaglesighted: yet did that State more then any other at above board, whether meerly out of generosity or ambition, is not much materiall; 'Tis great art in dissimulation [Page] to dissemble the art of dissimulation; greater to performe that Magnale in Serspective, to appropinquate things remote, and Remove things approximate; thus apply'd it may prove advantageous; but if it once leap over those bounds prefixt to it by Religion and Honesty, (as they say) steppe beyond the altar, what a man gaines by it in his affaires, hee looses in the serenity of his conscience; for wee understand not at all Macchiavilian Machinations, [Page] wrought by perjury and Inhumanity, but an honest and columbine kinde 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 naturall desire of ones own conservation, will force him to dissemble, as the retaining of secrets among Potentates, which unlesse strictly observed, brings assured ruine upon the discoverer; [Page] A lamentable example hereof is there in Guicciardin of the Bishop of Setta, who too precipitantly revealing a Breife to the King of France, was not by Caesar Borgia suffered many dayes to survive.

Personall dissimulation, (that I meane by which one individuall doth either meliorate, or conserve himselfe) is either in concealing defects, or purposes; For the former, that Governour deserves to have his Robe cut in [Page] peeces, that though he be crookbackt, will not have it so made, that he may appeare straight. Men may out of a brave security suffer their vices to be eyed or spoken of, confidently assured that their better merits doe farre outstrip them; but no doubt this path is too open, since one small blemish doth sometimes staine many excellent vertues, and though so small that it cannot stand in competition with other eminencies, yet doth [Page] it by degrees weaken a mans 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 owne Repute; 'tis (they say) dangerous to act any naughtinesse before children.

Maxima debetur puero Reverentia si quid Turpe paras.

Tis so with the people; those vices which [Page] they wish in great men and also hate, they most times follow; for obnubilating a mans designes, he that laies his ultimate end open, teaches but another to prevent him; subordinate aimes, as they are ever among States, so are they among private men; besides when tis known what a man goes about, tis cōmonly forestalled by attending expectancies; there is best meanes of preventing this, where there is one secondary end worth [Page] the repute and visage of a primary, on which while a man lookes asquint, he may with the better security fix his eye on the other.

The Spaniard sayes, Amores, dolores, y dineros no pueden estar secretas; (Love, Ioy, Money, cannot be kept secret) such soveraignty 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 symptomes, but they fall not under this consideration; [Page] for griefe, tis every whit as arduous; a while it may be supprest, but if vehement, it breakes out with the greater force; nay though it may cozen the Publique, yet will it write it selfe in Characters of pallor, in the visage; and for money, the alterations of mens dispositions with their estates; doth sufficiently argue; methinks the moderation of Pomponius Atticus was herein excellent, in that he in so many changes [Page] of estate kept the same constancy in his expences, that they were the same in the ebb as high tide of his fortunes.

Tis hard to keepe these two equally ballanc't, especially those that devance. The intempestive lavishnesse of our Richard the first in his returne from Palestine, was the meanes of his discovery, and wretched captivity. Vice makes especiall use of disguizes.

Nemo repente fuitturpissimus.

[Page]Should she at the first view discover her selfe, she would prove so ugly, that she would be hiss'd of the stage of the World, and we should not know that vertue had an opposite; but we have staid longer on this then we at first determined.

For dissimulation of Religion, it cannot be to him who trieth the heart and reines, who seeth the most inward recesse of our Soules, and knoweth our thoughts before we thinke them; men we [Page] may indeed deceive, either in the appearance of our manners, or opinions; some to avoid the name of supercilious, cast themselves to a lighter garbe then beseemes them; tis a kind of pitty these should have any thing commendable, since goodnesse is so valuable even in the sight of her enemies, that very Hypocrites would claime kindred to her though meere aliens; another sort strive to set out themselves with the fairest glosse; [Page] these before discovery may be imitable, but prove after odious; good sentences in their in their mouthes, are like pearls set in Iron, debast by being there; and carry but contradictions in their owne bowels; now of the two surely these are the better, in that they give some countenance to, and in a manner beare up the traine of vertue; whereas the other kicke her, while she reposes, from form their owne bosomes.

[Page]There is much spitting against those that declaime against vices whereunto they sometimes slip. If this proceede from a sincere detestation, and when by the shooting at others, to make it dart more deepely at ones owne bosome, if there appeare some amends, with endeavours and hopes of further progresse, it deserves somewhat more then meer toleration.

For Tenents of Religion a negative dissimulation (that is the fittest [Page] name I can give that) which soberly conceales them, where there is not a place fit to indure their venting, and no probability of dispersing them; it will surely be approved by any moderate judgement. But a positive confession (though not cordiall) is meerely damnable; so deare ought truth to be to us that we ought to post-habite our lives to the smallest principle of it; yet some time winding up to high may make it fall [Page] asunder; as he is a mad-man that will suffer preposterous zeal to carry him to an unseasonable profession; so is he a weake man that when he is called will not avouch it.

Though God doth not ordaine and strengthen every man to Martyrdome, yet ought every man to propose to himselfe to be a Martyr.

Illusory deceits may not bee done though to a good end; for this is evill that good may [Page] come of it; me thinks, an aright conscience may tremble even at a jesting lye;Mendacium jocosum. he bid not make a shew of any thing that is unlawfull to doe, that bid shun not onely evill but the appearance.

Of Recreations. X.

THe most artificiall running descant continued too long, will at length wax tedious even to the vulgar; [Page] 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 unsavory and fulsome, by drams sweet and pleasant; we should use them as Physick with praescription, or (being on our Journey) as Travelers baite onely at Them, and like Dogs at Nilus touch and be gone for feare of Crocodiles, remembring they are but [Page] Gourds, and carry a Worme in the Roote. So used, they sweetly Checquer our imployments and steale from us all thoughts of Irksomenesse, and may be in their use as commodable as labour it selfe; for the minde having stood long centinell upon serious Thoughts, becomes at length sluggish, like a Bow continued bent; if shee bee not slackned with some pleasant Relaxation. Painters take a good course with their eyes, draw [Page] them off the Table to let them recreate and recollect themselves a while on some delightsome Greene; otherwise they would grow dim and weake; the like would bee done with the spirits, which still ingaged on hard imployments, grow listlesse and flag, and can onely flutter not fly; hence Bookewormes, whose heads being the Tombes of so many brave Writers, might well be supposed animate libraries, while they converse [Page] with the dead, become in a manner dead themselves, and like dreaming Dogs they retaine onely some confus'd notions, which by Heterogeneous mixtures beget armies of Chimera's that like Cadmus souldiers fall a quarrelling among themselves; and truly how should they not bee opplete with grosse humours, when they want evacuation? well might they be compared to unpolisht Statues, at the first graving rough-hewn, and formelesse, which levigated [Page] by the file may become peeces of perfection. This casts an aspersion upon learning that it enervates men for high imployments, when indeed it is the best Thread to bee directed by in such labyrinths; the best compasse to sayle by in such Aegaeum's; what else was the meaning of Plato's Philosophante Rege, Regnante Philosopho; disjoyned, the one may doe hee knowes not what: the other know what to doe, but unpowerfull [Page] to act, united make up a personage fit to move in the highest Sphee [...]; but recreations carry in their tayls some cautions; else they recede from themselves and are precipitated into crimes; let them not bee such as come within the cognizance, of the Law and drag danger along; harmelesse, not Amphitheater sports, not jests empoysoned with bitternesse, and needle-pointed, that will draw blood aswell out of, as into the cheeks; Seasonable, [Page] otherwise they will make vast Ruptures in time, and become imployments: frugall, otherwise you may die by a laughing disease; moderate, for that were to adde drunkennesse to thirst; generous, such as may reinforce a vivacity in the Spirits, instill some repast of profit into the minde; civill, that they may not commit a rape upon the Soule; easy, for if puzling, they become burthens, and this would cause mee to dislike Chesse, [Page] because those abstractions of the senses bestowed on a game of it, might bee farre more usefully imployed: I might add selection of company by it selfe. This caution would also bee layd downe, you bee not bewitched with any pleasure; for so it wil ingrosse you wholy, and hardly suffer you to disingage. Thus may you touch without harme, handle the Serpent Pleasure, and bereave her of her sting; but I verely [Page] believe History can shew us as few examples of this kinde as of any morall virtue; Of those I have met with these two most deserve an Asteriske, the two Africani, Major, and Minor; the Grandfather, and Nephew who though hee were an Aemilian was ingrafted on the stocke of the Carnelians; The first by that memorable speeeh of his Nunquam minus solus quam cum solus, nunquam minus otiosus quam cum otiosus, Shewes he knew to [Page] to set a value on his minutes; and a Law on his thoughts, and one thus parsimonious cannot but bee very rich in masculine virtues: Th'other by that Elogy of Vellejus Paterculus, Nemo elegantius negotiorum intervallo otia dispunxit, tells hee was adopted to the manners of the Scipio's, as well as Name, and that hee was an excellent man as well as a Captaine; And trode up the stairs of vertue to the Capitol of honour, so that his lawrell [Page] might well grow out of the ruines of two so great and famous Cities as Carthage and Numantia. Since I am thus farre I care not much to speake 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 excesse, as our two Williams, Pope Leo, &c.) [Page] It inures the body to travell, being as Oppian calls it a [...]. counterfeit of War, & by it doth Xenophon discover the genius of his Cyrus. The fable might seeme to have from hence his Originall, Adonis a delicate youth, Venus owne darling slaine by a Boare; 'twas anciently practised on the most fierce Savages, as well by the Kings of Persia (who tooke singular delight therein) as in the Spectiles and sports at Rome; but now it is reduced almost only [Page] to timerous creatures, for whom nature hath provided no other defence but flight, yet as it is, there is nothing lesse in it then Idlenesse.

Hawking, which is but Aeriall 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 baite; there might be many pretty inventions [Page] of baits, every river commonly entertaining one more peculiar Fish, wch 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 Chesse, Thuanus Hawking, and Natales Comes Hunting.

Shittle-cock requires a nimble arme, with a quick and waking eye; [Page] 'twere fit for Students, and not so vehement as that waving of a stoolè so commended by Lessius.

Wrastling seemes to grow out of use; tis of ancient standing, as may be seene in Homer and Virgill; Prizes there were for it in the Olympicks, neither was it unpractised by the Roman Souldiery; verily it conduces both ad robur & sanitatem, and will admit of the advantage of sleight, and might more commend it selfe by more [Page] frequent practise.

Bowling exerciseth proportionably all the parts, and that mildely; 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 publique; many Nations have hardly knowne any other weapons, or at least not bin skil'd in them, as the Paleares, the Parthians whose arrowes [Page] sheilded them against the Roman greatnesse; 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 onely as an exercise, and so they are every deale as plesant as healthfull.

The traverses at Chesse are exceeding [Page] laborious, yet they may be recompenced with the pleasure of so many furious encounters, plots, and justlings which come nearest the broyles of waspish men.

Tis not proper here to speake of the Lawfulnesse of sortelegious Games; Dice have beene used by many great men as Claudius the Emperour, who writ a Booke of it, Domitian, Theodorick King of the Goths too liberally; yet cannot that justifie private [Page] practise. The Inconstancy of Irish, fitly represents the changeablenesse of humane occurrences, since it ever stands so fickle, that one malignant throw can quite ruine a never so well built Game; Art hath here a great sway, by reason if one cannot well stand the first assault, hee may safely retire backe to an after game.

Tick-Tack sets a mans intentions on their guard; errors in this and war can be but once amended.

[Page]For Cardes, the philologie of them is not for an ESSAY; a mans fancy would be sum'd up in cribbidge; Gleeke requires a vigilant memory; Maw a pregnant agility; Pichet a various invention; Primero a dexterous kinde of rashnesse, &c. sed manum de Tabula, I make an imployment of a Recreation.

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Of Warre. XI.

WArre is the Phlebotomy of the Body Politique, which sometimes in taking away superfluous humours brings it into a consumption; 'Tis Gods scourge of a people, whether he whip them by themselves or a forraigne enimy.

Civill warres are ever most cruell, Parties [Page] being most incens'd, and fighting either out of despaire or revenge, there is in them the best roome to exercise private malice. The conquerour, 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 powerfull to his hurt, (in that back't with followers and alliances) [Page] and with difficulty retaind, when they see not their expectation in the reformation of a State, (as domestique jarres 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 Earle of Warwick, who distasting Edward the fourths marriage, because himselfe had bin employed in France about another match, [Page] revolted, unking'd 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 warre so long spun out, although they have breathing intervals: oppressed factions when they seeme utterly extinct, gleaning themselves into a head (being assisted what with pitty of their present lownesse, what with envy that attends the prevailing [Page] party) growing to overtop the other, and perhaps they themselves after breaking into two; as Augustus and Antonius, when they had destroyed the murtherers of Caesar, fell out between themselves; neither could any mediation so soder them but it ended with one of their ruines. Warre of neighbouring States, whether begun out of jealousie (as there is both reason and precedent for preventive warres) harbouring one anothers [Page] fugitives, or any other politick 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 bee some inequality, matters are husht a while in a necessitated peace.

Those who have little or nothing of their owne, gaine by discords, the losse falling on their side who are most full and best able; to prosecute a victory too farre on a broken [Page] enemy, is to teach him to be desperate, and make him obtaine what hee could not have hop't 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 designes for burthens of the World, and devourers of confining Countries, (such as that old Roman State and the modern Ottomons) [Page] though they may be resisted with much courage, resolution and pertinacy, yet at the last doe overweigh, as did the Romans over us here in England, and them in Spaine; for overpelling with renewed forces and succours, they leave the Conquered no other solace in their ruines, then the glory of the continuance of their resistance. That money is the sinnewes, nay the vitall spirits of warre, is acknowledged by all, it being [Page] impossible to preserve discipline in an unpaide Army; but when the Souldier growes full, he growes withall wanton; learnes to discontinue military hardnesse; is ready to forsake his colours; so that Gold which many times makes a Souldier, againe marrs him. A Generall is the heart, as well as the head of an Army; and hath need of a working braine, as a strong arme; secret should he be in his designes, Saturnine in consulting, and Mercuriall [Page] in acting, comming on his enemy like the hammer on an anvill, touch it before wee 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 succesfull disobediences, as but meere connivances of fortune; strict in exacting the duties of the Souldiery, as Creatures better commanded with feare then love; industrious, and rather leading in [Page] labours then dangers, (the person of a Generall being different from that of a Souldier) valuing his Countries glory above his own, and his owne above his life, neither stealing honour nor forceing it, not refusing a triumph because of a sharer, nor fainting under the weight of businesse, when there are no other shoulders but his own; carrying alwayes a fixt spirit, which will neither shrinke under the suddennesse nor weight of [Page] any danger, gratefully acknowlegding him that conducts him through all difficulties, and wishing rather to perish then to attribute any thing whatsoever to himselfe. The modern Militia differs much from the ancient, there being in it more roome for stratagems then personall valour; yet are not pitcht battailes so bloody as before, whether it be that smoke gives better assistance to flight, or that they doe not close as before, or that [Page] order is not so entirely preserv'd, and Battalias are sooner broken; this is certaine that conflicts are not protracted to that length as before, but Victory doth sooner cast the Ballance.

Of all Nations whose remembrance time hath preserved to us, those two States of Greece and Rome did most excell in the art of War, whether the Tactick or the Stratagematick part; both which may be sayd to be in a manner lost, yet [Page] 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.

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Of Religion. XII.

IF men could have been without Religion, Superstition had never bin molded 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 beene done in so long continuance; but succeeding Ages, rended [Page] them still more faeculent: could nature have lent any light; The most elevate Heathens had seene somewhat, but it was all they could doe to get a sight of the dim principles of Reason; but without God who was the Author of Religion, it was impossible, the widest soule being too narrow to Receive him, unlesse hee were pleased to shoot in a few beames of himselfe at some crevices, and were pleased to teach what hee was [Page] (though Man could never perfectly learne) and how hee would bee worshipt, though Man could never doe him compleate homage.

To prove Religion by reason, is like those tricks, which before performance seeme impossible, after, contemptible; one of them was that of Columbus, 8 Lips. Praelante Critic. in setting an Egge upright: when our hearts are once possest of the truth of it, it seemes nothing, but a sublimated and refin'd [Page] Reason; but did Reason ever perswade it to any heart, or Antidote it, against Apostacy? Wee must professe our ignorance of any; Those prety naturall Discourses and Arguments, with many both old and new Luminaries of Learning found out, shew, that they could rather fight with their enemies, then ore-come them.

For the Ancients that encountered with heathenisme at push of Pikes, they could better lay open, the vanity [Page] of the other, then assert the truth of their owne; The best service they did was to unteach the people their Idolatry, that they might bee the better capable of true devotion, and bring them from a by-path; but they could onely set their faces towards (and point at) the true.

For the Moderns, they have had to doe either with Jewes, Turkes, or Barbarians; The first (were they not so obstinate) [Page] are the best to deale with, by reason they grant us one side of our two edged Sword; The maine is in applying the Prophesies, and manifestation of the Messiah, in which GOD himself must either interpose, or they will never see him whom they have peirced; that being now Chaffe which the winde 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 [Page] thrives must be Plowd with Cymiters, Sowd with Carcasses, and watered with Bloud, so that it is not likely that verball instruments will be able to eradicate this pestilent darnell.

For the last, they are of so many climes, and praepossessions, that little can bee said in generall; onely this, that the savagenes of the Spaniards in America shewed that they are sooner flattered then threatned into better notions, and the Innocency [Page] of those that have not much mingled with others, seemes to promise some Faciliation; But whether the sedulity of the Jesuits in those parts hath beene a meanes of preparing or obstructing them to Protestantisme, is onely known to him whose incomprehensible wisdome it was to reserve their discovery to these last Times.

Tis handsomely observed, that the maine of other Religions never gained by Christianity, [Page] since she carried before her the light of the World; they, fuliginous Torches of error: since her God came like a Shepheard, theirs like Roarers: she required the more difficult part of worship, internall; the other onely corporeall; that no wonder if the Roman Senate did not admit Christ into the Pantheon— but they were more aware then they thought of: since His Presence might have caused the rest to fall, his crying formerly struck them [Page] dumb. Were it not there is a great hand and eye, and a conscience, that can sting and whisper, Religion would doe a great deale of hurt in Policy, because she pinions Men, whereas Atheists have their armes loose, and neede never be opposed with that empty name of Equity, which ought much to regulate him who remembers that hee stands accomptable: whereas tis easy for him to bee an excellent Polititian that [Page] can brawne his Conscience, that it bee not peirceable by any pricks: or so ore-master it, that it cannot cry when it is prickt, and so still it that it cannot continue when it shall cry.

For Atheists, (as hee spoke of the Scepticks) tis better to tell what they thinke not, then what they thinke; They are milder opposers then the blinde superstitious, as thinking Religion an enemy only worth the jeering; Tis questioned, [Page] 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 supreame, for Reason; and the Energy of nature, for sence, best confutes them; the one calls home their wandering senses, the other composes them.

False Religions gain most by violence, the true by opposition; gawdy best please the simple, [Page] decent the wise; loose ones best please Naturall Men; strict ones, goodmen.

Of Rewards. XII.

GReat Persons stand for Imitation, lesser for Observation: Man is led by nothing better then Example; and Examples of Great ones, are most effectuall; they have both a great influence on manners; and Men suppose there easiliest to finde a Reward, [Page] where there is a conformity of carriage. Rewards ever beget proportionable endeavours; passing by deserts doth but extinguish them; feede a Lampe with competent Oyle, it will yeeld a sufficient light; deny it nourishment and it dyes; every one is not sufficiently satisfyed with the applause of his owne Conscience in doing well, but would looke for some externall advantage. What more honorable then to dye for ones Country? [Page] yet I dare say the Decii themselves had thoughts of glory. What morall man did ever so extenuate wealth, and spoke so goodly sentences in commendatiō of poverty as Seneca? yet his Admirer Lipsius can make Report, what an estate he scrapt together under his Scholer Nero: so powerfull are incouragements over the endeavours of Men. Munificency conduceth much to the glory and greatnesse of Princes but should hold proportion [Page] 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 vertue out of the VVorld, and introduce envy and factions into the Court.

There is no better meanes to discover the abilities of a Prince, then by his Ministers of State; it both shewes whether he know how [Page] to pick them out, and whether he know how to make use of them, when hee hath chosen them. Lewes the eleventh of France was excellent in this, and would spare for no Reward (though hee were coveteous below the decorum of a King) to one whom hee thought would prove a convenient instrument for his purpose.

Some wisest Monarchs have sedulously noted the deserts of their servants; no [Page] doubt a wise course, and such a one as may keepe their hands steady in dispencing of their bounty.

Those who have many attendants, must not thinke to feede them by pecuniary largesses, which will be soone out of minde, 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 immoderatly drain'd must be supplyed by some [Page] unlawfull meanes. In a word, Rewards ought not to exceede t [...]e merits of him they are confer'd on, nor the ability of him that confers them.

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Of Fables. XIII.

AS Parrhasius limnd a Veile with such happinesse, that his Corrivall would have drawne it aside to see what it covered; such are the Fables of Poets; wee suppose they shadow somewhat, but finde Nothing. To shape every one of them to a Morall were all one [Page] as to force every Picture to an Emblem-and with Pictures they hold a great Analogy; Some are rough drawne and shew best at distance, some are smooth and admit a nearer survay; Some Tougher Inventions best please at a carelesse perusall; Others more finely wrought after a curious enquiry, best comply with the Fancy; small peeces best commend themselves through a Magnifying Glasse; greater, in a Shaddow; short Fables [Page] become Amplifications, longer would be somewhat wound up; Antick worke pleaseth with its absurdity, Historicall 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 Poesie in Colours, and Poesie onely Picture in black and white; both of them, skrue and winde up the imagination, and give most life to Passions and [Page] Receive the best Ornament from them; but it is hight of Art in both; which, who so hath attained, can withall command anothers Eye, or Countenance. Landskapps and fine Descriptions doe dilate and enlarge the Eye, but the dexterous Characterizing of a thought in the face attracts and fixes it.

Where many Relations are to bee knit up in one series, it shewes excellent cunning to joyne them [Page] without a Seame. Ovids Metamorphoses speake him extreame happy in this, in that hee 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 halfe a Tales end and wrest his Attention to a new businesse.

That Fabling is no lying, may easily bee granted, since Divines will acknowledge it is but truth apparelled [Page] like a fiction; things by this meanes doe more slily drop into the minds of Men, especially the vulgar, who will bee best led by things that come nearest the Sense; This made Morality assume the shapes of Rationall beasts, speaking woods, Articulate Birds; this I conceive hath made the Aeygptians, wanting the use of Letters, flie to Hieroglyphicks; or to speake out, what hath caused so many Anthropopathies, and Allegories [Page] in the holy Scripture?

As they are usefull this way, so are they dangerous if they bee prophane, and indiscreetly tampering with Dieties; 'tis a blemish of the Prince of Poets in assigning so unfitting parts to his deathlesse and bloodlesse (that is all hee can make of them) Men, making Counterscuffles in Olympus, bringing his Iove one time rambling, another time cheated with a sleepy drinke, other while [Page] bound; Juno jealous, Venus wounded, and such kinde of Ribaldry, that young wits may easily draw in Atheisme, or Polytheisme like Poyson 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 bee a just Reward of Heaven, that though singing cleare their Chests, it can never fill their bellies, or warme their Backs; [Page] Canta larana (sayes the Spaniard) y no tein peil nilana.

The Frogge still sings,

yet never gaines

A Fleece nor haire

for all her pains.

But this is digressive; That foolery (to name it best) of Homer procured his banishment out of Plato's Common-Wealth, though Plato by his practice shewed the high estimation hee had of Poetry; yet though Homer bee most guilty, [Page] few there are of the other Poets that can stand cleere; but it is observable these Inventions are most quick, fine, and full of life, wherein there doe not intervene any other persons but mortall.

Nor would Stories bee lascivious, no drug so powerfull to provoke Lust, they being speculative filth, and contemplative wantonnesse, which wound the soule deeper, because they doe surprise her unguarded; [Page] how uncleane have the Heathens beene in that they shamed Heaven it selfe, with such pollution, ‘In Caelo est meretrix, in Caelo est turpis adu [...];’

And honoured such high Crimes with no worse Monuments then Asterismes? how ill have many Moderns, as well as Ancients deserved in making Poetry their Baude and Limners to make their Tables the Interpreters, [Page] nay the Promoters of lewdenesse? One example may bee Chaerea in Terence, beholding Jove turning himselfe into a bribe, to gaine Danae. Egomet quoque id spectare caepi, & quia con similem luserat jam olim ille ludum—Ego Homuncio hoc non facerem?

There hath beene a great deale of Rich Fancy lost in frothy Love-Stories, and fantasticall Chimera's, which had it beene bestowed on some [Page] rare Idaeas, might have beene altogether as profitable and delightsome as they are now hurtfull; what rare Common-wealths have beene molded, by Sir Thomas Moore, Campanella, &c. What a stupendious Fabrick of a College for Nature, hath great Saint Albanes reard; how hath Barclay layd open the distempers of a surfeting State Xenephon the Vertues of an excellent Captain?

Tis a delicate Invention, that of Master [Page] Howell, wherein hee turnes Europe into a Grove, and among the Thickets Satyrizes an exact History; tis wholy new; nor can Antiquity shew the like; and might be much promoted, if some refin'd wits would performe the like on other Peeces 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 [Page] may bee a Question whether Poetry beget Fables, or Fables Poetry; it is a sweete kinde of madnesse, which yet argues an Harmonious soule, Doctriuae tanquam Somnium, (sayes 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 sleight for an imployment; where it meetes with a pronesse of Nature, very bewitching, [Page] and not easily avoyded, but it will make Inrodes into serious and great employments, as in King, Iames, Pius the second who was a Poer Laureat, Ʋrban the Eight, the Cardinals Bembo and Peron, and Sir Philip Sydney, his companion the Lord Brooke, The Earle of Striveling and others; this excellency it hath, that it both makes and formes its owne matter, and is as boundlesse as the imagination of Man.

[Page]Epick Straines lift the Soule into high conceptions of vertue, and Glory; Lyrick lull it asleepe with pleasure; Elegaick melt it with Sorrow and pity; Satyrick 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 Satyre of Iuvenal, then in the ten Bookes of Aristotle to Nichomachus; Scaliger cryes out of him as not fit for Christian ears.

[Page]Every one that can make words dance in Numbers (there may be a Poem too in Prose) is not a Poet, but onely These that raise themselves to such a pitch that they are inaccessible by future imitation; and in this sense hee spake truly that sayd, Every Age hath scarce produc'd a Poet.

FINIS.

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Imprimatur Charles Herle.

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

Information about this book

Title statement

Horae vacivae, or, Essays. Some occasionall considerations. By John Hall.

Hall, John, 1627-1656.

Edition statement

1646

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2009-03 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A86786

ID [STC]

Wing H349

ID [STC]

Thomason E1191_1

ID [STC]

ESTC R208318

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

99867279

ID [PROQUEST]

99867279

ID [VID]

119584

Availability

This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal. The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission.

Series

Early English books online.

Notes

(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A86786)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 119584)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Thomason Tracts ; 167:E1191[1])

Source

— Horae vacivae, or, Essays. Some occasionall considerations. By John Hall., Hall, John, 1627-1656..

Extent

[24], 201, [3] p.

Printed by E.G. for J. Rothwell, at the Sun and Fountaine in Pauls Church-yard,. London :: 1646.. (Recto of first leaf blank; verso has engraved portrait.) (Annotation on Thomason copy: "Nou: 9".) (Reproduction of the original in the British Library.)

Creation

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