XXXI.

Of Sufpicion.

SPICIONS amongst thoughts are like Bats amongst Birds, they ever fly by twilight. Certainly they are to be repreffed, or at least well guarded; for they cloud the Mind, they leefe Friends, and they check with Bufinefs, whereby Business cannot go on currant and conftantly. They difpofe Kings to Tyranny, Hufbands to Jealoufie, Wife Men to Irrefolution and Melancholy. They are defects, not in the Heart, but in the Brain; for they take place in the ftouteft Natures: As in the example of Henry the Seventh of England, there was not a more Sufpicious Man, nor a more Stout: And in fuch a compofition they do fmall hurt. For commonly they are not admitted, but with examination whether they be likely or no; but in fearful Natures they gain ground too fast. There is nothing makes a Man fufpect much, more than to know little; and therefore Men fhould remedy Sufpicion, by procuring to know more, and not to keep their Sufpicions in fmother. What would Men have? Do they think thofe they imploy and deal with are Saints? Do they not think they will have their own ends, and be truer to themselves than to them? therefore there is no better way to moderate Sufpicions, I 4 than

than to account upon fuch Sufpicions as true, and yet to bridle them as falfe. For fo far a Man ought to make ufe of Sufpicions, as to provide, as if that fhould be true that he suspects, yet it may do him no hurt. Sufpicions that the mind of it felf gathers are but Buzzes, but SuSpicions that are artificially nourished, and put into Mens heads by the tales and whispering of others, have Stings. Certainly the best means to clear the way in this fame Wood of Sufpicioms, is frankly to communicate them with the Party that he fufpects; for thereby he shall be fure to know more of the truth of them than he did before; and withall, fhall make that Party more circumfpect, not to give further cause of Sufpicion. But this would not be done to Men of bafe Natures: For they, if they find themselves once fufpected, will never be true. The Italians fay, Sofpetto licentia fede; as if Sufpicion did give a Pafport to Faith: But it ought rather to kindle it, to discharge it felf.

SOME

XXXII.

Of Difcourfe.

ME in their Difcourfe defire rather commendation of Wit, in being able to hold all Arguments, than of Judgment in difcerning what is true: As if it were a praise to know what might be faid, and not what should be

thought,

thought. Some have certain Common Places, and Themes, wherein they are good, and want variety; which kind of Poverty is for the most part tedious, and when it is once perceived, ridiculous. The honourableft part of Talk, is to give the Occafion, again, to moderate and pass to fomewhat elfe; for then a Man leads the Dance. It is good in Difcourfe and Speech of Converfation, to vary and intermingle Speech of the prefent occafion with Arguments, Tales with Reasons, asking of Queftions with telling of Opinions, and Jeft with Earneft: For it is a dull thing to Tire, and as we fay now, to Jade any thing too far. As for Jeft, there be certain things which ought to be priviledged from it; namely,Religion, Matters of State,Great Perfons, any Mans prefent Bufinefs of importance, and any Cafe that deferveth pity. Yet there be fome that think their Wits have been asleep, except they dart out fomewhat that is piquant, and to the quick: That is a vein which would be bridled.

Parce, Puer, ftimulis, & fortius utere loris,

And generally men ought to find the difference between Saltnefs and Bitterness. Certainly he that hath a Satyrical Vein, as he maketh others afraid of his Wit, fo he had need be afraid of others Memory. He that queftioneth much, shall learn much, and content much, but especially if he apply his Queftions to the skill of the Perfons whom he asketh: For he fhall give them oc

cafion to please themselves in fpeaking, and himfelf fhall continually gather knowledg. But let his Questions not be troublefome; for that is fit for a Pofer: And let him be fure to leave other Men their turns to fpeak. Nay, if there be any that would reign,and take up all the time,let him find means to take them off, and to bring others on, as Muficians ufe to do with thofe that dance too long Galliards. If you diffemble sometimes your knowledg of that you are thought to know, you fhall be thought another time to know that you know not. Speech of a Mans felf ought to be feldom,and well chofen. I knew one was wont to fay in scorn, He must needs be a Wife Man, be Speaks fo much of himself: And there is but one cafe, wherein a Man may commend himself with good Grace, and that is,in commending Vertue in another, especially if it be fuch a Vertue whereunto himself pretendeth. Speech of touch towards others fhould be fparingly used: For Dif course ought to be as a Field, without coming home to any Man. I knew two Noblemen of the Weft part of England, whereof the one was given to Scoff, but kept ever Royal Cheer in his House: The other would ask of thofe that had been at the others Table, Tell truly, was there never a Flout or dry Blow given: To which the Gueft would answer, Such and fuch a thing paffed: The Lord would fay, I thought he would mar a good Dinner. Difcretion of Speech is more than Eloquences and to speak agreeably to him with whom we deal, is more than to fpeak in good

words,

words, or in good order. A good continued Speech, without a good Speech of Interlocution, fhews flowness; and a good Reply, or fecond Speech without a good fetled Speech, fheweth Shallownefs and Weaknefs; as we fee in Beafts, that those that are weakest in the Courfe, are yet nimbleft in the Turn; as it is betwixt the Greyhound and the Hare. To ufe too many Circumftances e're one come to the Matter, is wearifome; to ufe none at all, is blunt.

P

XXXIII.

Of Plantations.

LANTATIONS are amongst Ancient, Primitive, and Heroical Works. When the World was young, it begat more Children; but now it is old, it begets fewer: for I may juftly account new Plantations to be the Children of former Kingdoms. I like a Plantation in a pure Soyl, that is, where People are not Difplanted, to the end, to Plant others; for elfe it is rather an Extirpation, than a Plantation. Planting of Countries is like Planting of Woods; for you 'must make account to lofe almoft Twenty years Profit, and expect your Recompence in the end. For the principal thing that hath been the deftruction of moft Plantations, hath been the base and hafty drawing of profit in the firft years. It is true, Speedy Profit is not to be neglected, as far