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may receive one that ought;" is a good rule, where a man hath strength of favour: but otherwise a man were better rise in his Suit; for he that would have ventured at first to have lost the Suitor, will not in the conclusion lose both the Suitor and his own former favour. Nothing is thought so easy a request to a great person as his letter; and yet, if it be not in a good cause, it is so much out of his reputation. There are no worse instruments than these general contrivers of Suits, for they are but a kind of poison and infection to public proceedings.

Of Studies.

STUDIES serve for delight, for ornament, and for ability. Their chief use for delight, is in prîvateness and retiring; for ornament, is in discourse; and for ability, is in the judgment and disposition of business. For expert men can execute, and perhaps judge of particulars one by one; but the general counsels, and the plots, and marshalling of affairs, come best from those that are learned. To spend too much time in Studies, is sloth; to use them too much for ornament, is affectation; to make judgment wholly by their rules, is the humour of a scholar. They perfect Nature, and are perfected. by experience; for natural abilities are like natural

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plants, that need pruning by Study; and Studies themselves do give forth directions too much at large, except they be bounded in by experience. Crafty men contemn Studies, simple men admire them, and wise men use them: for they teach not their own use, but that is a wisdom without them, and above them, won by observation. Read not to contradict and confute, nor to believe and take for granted, nor to find talk and discourse, but to weigh and consider. Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested; that is, some books are to be read only in parts; others to be read, but not curiously; and some few to be read wholly, and with diligence and attention. Some books also may be read by deputy, and extracts made of them by others: but that would be only in the less important arguments, and the meaner sort of books; else, distilled books are like common distilled waters, flashy things. Reading maketh a full man; conference a ready man; and writing an exact man. And therefore, if a man write little, he had need have a great memory; if he confer little, he had need have a present wit; and if he read little, he had need have much cunning to seem to know that he doth not. Histories make men wise, poets witty, the mathematics subtile, natural philosophy deep, moral grave, logic and rhetoric able to con

tend.

"Our Studies pass into our manners, i. e. our manners show what our Studies have been." Nay, there is no stand or impediment in the wit, but may be wrought out by fit Studies: like as diseases of the body may have appropriate exercises. Bowling is good for the stone and reins; shooting, for the lungs and breast; gentle walking, for the stomach; riding, for the head; and the like. So if a man's wit be wandering, let him study the mathematics; for in demonstrations, if his wit be called away never so little, he must begin again: if his wit be not apt to distinguish or find differences, let him study the school-men; for they are " Cutters of cammin, i. e. splitters of hairs, or over-nice distinguishers." If he be not apt to beat overmatters, and to call up one thing to approve and illustrate another, let him study the lawyer's cases; so every defect of the mind may have a special receipt.

Of Faction.

MANY have an opinion, not wise, that for a prince to govern his estate, or for a great person to govern his proceedings, according to the respect of Factions, is a principal part of policy; whereas, contrariwise, the chiefest wisdom is, either in ordering those things which are general, and wherein

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men of several Factions do nevertheless agree; or in dealing with correspondence to particular persons one by one. But I say not, that the consideration of Factions is to be neglected. Mean men in their rising must adhere; but great men, that have strength in themselves, were better to maintain themselves indifferent and neutral; yet even in beginners to adhere so moderately, as he be a man of the one Faction, which is most passable with the other, commonly giveth best way. The lower and weaker Faction is the firmer in conjunction and it is often seen, that a few that are stiff, do tire out a great number that are more moderate. When one of the Factions is extinguished, the remaining subdivideth: as the Faction between Lucullus and the rest of the nobles of the senate (which they call Optimates) held out a while against the Factions of Pompey and Cæsar; but when the senate's authority was pulled down, Cæsar and Pompey soon after brake. The Faction or party of Antonius, and Octavianus Cæsar, against Brutus and Cassius, held out likewise for a time; but when Brutus and Cassius were overthrown, then soon after Antonius and Octavianus brake and subdivided. These examples are of wars, but the same holdeth in private Factions: and therefore those that are seconds in Factions, do many times, when the Faction subdivideth, prove princi

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pals; but many times also they prove cyphers and are cashiered. For many a man's strength is in opposition, and when that faileth, he groweth out of use. It is commonly seen, that men once placed, take in with the contrary Faction to that by which they enter, thinking belike that they have their first sure, and now are ready for a new purchase. The traitor in Faction lightly goeth away with it; for when matters have stuck long in balancing, the winning of some one man casteth them, and he getteth all the thanks. The even carriage between two Factions proceedeth not always of moderation, but of a trueness to a man's self, with end to make use of both. Certainly in Italy they hold it a little suspect in Popes, when they have often in their mouth padre commune, and take it to be a sign of one that meaneth to refer all to the greatness of his own house. Kings had need beware how they side themselves, and make themselves as of a Faction or party; for leagues within the state are ever pernicious to monarchies; for they raise an obligation, paramount to the obligation of sovereignty, and make the king as if he were one of us;" as was to be seen in the League of France. When Factions are carried too high, and too violently, it is a sign of weakness in princes, and much to the prejudice both of their authority and busiThe motions of Factions under kings ought

ness.

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