to preferve respect. It is in vain for Princes to take Counsel, concerning Matters, if they take no Counfel likewife concerning Perfons: for all Matters are as dead Images; and the life of the execution of Affairs refteth in the good choice of Perfons. Neither is it enough to confult concerning Perfons, fecundum genera, as in an Idea or Mathematical Defcription, what the kind and character of the Perfon (hould be; for the greatest errors are committed, and the most judgment is fhewn in the choice of Individuals. It was truly faid, Optimi Confiliarii mortui ; Books will fpeak plain when Counsellors blanch. Therefore it is good to be converfant in them, especially the Books of fuch as themselves have been Actors upon the Stage.

The Councils at this day in moft places are but familiar meetings, where Matters are rather talked on than debated. And they run too fwift to the Order or Act of Counfel. It were better, that in Causes of weight, the Matter were propounded one day, and not fpoken till the next day, In nocte Confilium. So was it done in the Commiffion of Union between England and Scotland, which was a Grave and Orderly Affembly. I commend fet days for Petitions: for it gives both the Suitors more certainty for their Attendance, and it frees the meetings for Matters of Eftate, that they may Hoc agere. In choice of Committes for ripening Business for the Council, it is better to chufe indifferent Perfons, than to ake an Indifferency, by putting in those that

are

are ftrong on both fides. I commend also ftanding Commiffions; as for Trade, for Treasure, for War, for Suits, for fome Provinces: For where there be divers particular Councils, and but one Council of State, (as it is in Spain) they are in effect no more than ftanding Commiffions; fave that they have greater Authority. Let fuch as are to inform Councils out of their particular Profeffions (as Lawyers, Sea-men, Mint-men, and the like) be first heard before Committees,and then, as occafion serves, before the Council. And let them not come in multitudes, or in a Tribunitious manner; for that is to clamor Councils, not to inform them. A long Table, and a square Table, or Seats about the Walls, feem things of Form, but are things of Substance; for at a long Table, a few at the upper end in effect sway all the business; but in the other Form, there is more use of the Counsellors Opinions that fit lower. A King, when he prefides in Council, let him beware how he opens his own inclination too much in that which he propoundeth; for elfe Counsellors will but take the wind of him, and instead of giving Free Counfel, fing him a Song of Placebo.

Of

FOR

XXI.

Of Delays.

TUNE is like the Market, where many times if you can ftay little, the Price will fall. And again, it is fometimes like Sibylla's Offer, which at firft offereth the Commodity at full, then confumeth part and part, and ftill holdeth up the Price. For Occafion (as it is in the Common Verfe) turneth a bald Noddie, after he hath prefented her Locks in Front, and no bold taken; or at least turneth the Handle of the Bottle first to be received, and after the Belly, which is hard to clafp. There is furely no greater Wisdom, than well to time the Beginnings and Onfets of Things. Dangers are no more light, if they once feem light; and more Dangers have deceived Men, than forced them. Nay, it were better to meet fome Dangers half way, though they come nothing near, than to keep too long a watch upon their Approaches, for if a Man watch too long, it is odds he will fall afleep. On the other fide, to be deceived with two long Shadows (as fome have been, when the Moon was low, and fhon on their Enemies back,) and fo to fhoot off before the time; or to teach Dangers to come on, by over-early Buckling towards them, is another extream. The Ripeness or Unripeness of the Occalion,

(as

(as we faid) muft ever be well weighed; and generally it is good to commit the beginnings of all great Actions to Argus with his hundred eyes, and the ends to Briareus with his hundred hands; firft to Watch, and then to speed. For the Helmet of Pluto, which maketh the Politick Man go invifible, is Secrecy in the Counsel, and Celerity in the Execution. For when things are once come to the Execution, there is no Secrecy comparable to Celerity; like the motion of a Bullet in the Air, which flyeth so swift, as it out-runs the Eye.

XXII.

Of Cunning.

WE take Cunning for a Sinifter or Crooked

Wifdom. And certainly there is great difference between a Cunning Man and a Wife Man, not only in point of Honesty, but in point of Ability. There be that can pack the Cards, and yet cannot play well: fo there are fome that are good in Canvaffes and Factions, that are otherwise Weak Men. Again, it is one thing to understand Perfons, and another thing to underftand Matters; for many are perfect in Mens Humours, that are not greatly capable of the real part of Business, which is the Conftitution of one that hath ftudied Men more than Books. Such Men are fitter for Practice than for Counfel: and

they

and they are good but in their own Alley, turn them to new men, and they have loft their Aim: fo as the old Rule to know a Fool from a Wife man; Mitte ambos nudes ad ignotos, & videbis, doth fcarce hold for them. And because these Cunning Men are like Haberdashers of fmall Wares, it is not amifs to fet forth their shop.

It is a point of Cunning to wait upon him, with whom you fpeak, with your eye, as the Jefuits give it in precept: For there may be many Wife Men that have fecret Hearts and transpa rent Countenances. Yet this would be done with a demure Abafing of your Eye fometimes, as the Jefuits alfo do use.

Another is, that when you have any thing to obtain of prefent difpatch, you entertain and amuse the party with whom you deal, with some other Difcourfe, that he be not too much awake to make Objections. I knew a Counsellor and Secretary, that never came to Queen Elizabeth of England with Bills to fign, but he would always firft put her into fome Difcourfe of Eftate, that fhe might the lefs mind the Bills.

2

The like furprize may be made by moving things, when the party is in hafte, and cannot ftay to confider advisedly of that is moved.

If a Man would crofs a Business, that he doubts fome other would handfomely and effectually move, let him pretend to with it well, and move it himself in luch fort as may foyl it.

The