MEN of slowe capacitie , are more apte to serue , then to rule , their conceite is so tough , that neither the rules of learning , nor precepts of wisedome ▪ nor habite of vertue can make any impression . Tardis mentibus virtus non committitur , sayeth Cicero . They haue a dulnes enemie to wisedom , a slownes hurtfull to the moments of occasion , a certaine vnderstanding alwaye f●aught with suspition , the lesse they perceiue , the more they conceiue , ( for the selfe-guiltines of their owne defectes makes them willing to appeare curious ) rather following chance , then doing any thing vpon free election : they faile in that greatnes of minde , that noblenes in their ends , that reason to resolue , that spirite to execute , that feeling of disgraces , which a man ought to haue .

Some in the choice of Ministers , elect men of this disposition , contemptu magis , quam gratia , who stand so farre good , as a simple voidnes of euill serueth them for a ground of fidelitie : but I cannot see how to allow this opinion , since wee ought to preferre those which are good , and know why they are good , when againe these simple wittes are easily both altered and deceyued .

A Witte too pregnant and sharpe is not good : It is like a rasor whose edge the keener it is , the sooner it is rebated , or like soft wood which is readie to receiue the impression of the Limner , but for warping is vnable to keepe , and therefore not fitte for any worthie portraiture .. Men of this disposition are of a more quicke then sound conceite , hauing store of thoughtes rather stirred the disgested , in all their actions vnstayed and fickle , one while embracing an opinion , as seeming the best , then againe looking more nearelie , and not able to aunswere the doubtes , which are readie to enter an open inuention , fall to a straing kind of vncertaintie : the more thinking , the more not knowing what to thinke , verie irresolue where there is some probabilitie to breede on both sides coniecturall likelihoodes : For a working and craftie witte drawes commonlie with it a doubtfull and wauering iudgement : Such was noted in Tiberius stirring vp trifling regards to containe him in suspence , rather increasing new doubts , then giuing any grounde to settle an opinion , being the true cause , why his speech was commonlie obscurelie doubtfull , subiect to a double interpretation , dissolued in it selfe , and not knit to any constant end . Such was Clement the seuenth , who hauing a pregnant witte , and a deepe knowledge in all the affaires of the worlde , yet comming to pointes of execution , was verie vnfortunatelie irresolute , readie to reduce the reasons into discourse , which first moued him to any deseigne .

In Negotiations they deeme that of other mens proceeding , which in their owne case they would do , and in this securitie are oftentimes so ouerreached by their aduersarie , that they cannot returne without greate disaduantage and losse : Commonlie they follow rather subtle then wise counsailes , which for the most part doe not speed : they are pri●ae specie laeta , thinges of apparance , and no substance , rather great and magnificent , then easie and secure , they are Tractu dura , and by how much the subtletie is the greater , by so much it is necessarie , that the handling be verie precise , or else they wil sort to no end , being like the clocke which most artificiously composed , is soonest disordered , and put out of frame , they are Euentu tristia , most odious to the world , & so disfauoured of God , that they are alway waited on with most vnprosperous ends The same of crafte is alway hatefull , and procureth enemies , and these cunning companions are of opinion that they can dispose the whole world at their pleasure , and I thinke this imperfection hath some similitude with that arrogancie of the Stoikes , which maketh men busie-headed and turbulent , desirous to be set a worke .

Againe , quicke wits are readie in speech , but affected , high-flying Poets , but seldome Graue Orators , commonlie betaking themselues to an humorous kinde of iesting , to play vpon any thing , and stirre the spleene , rather finding causes why a thing should be amisse , then willing to amende .

And therefore wit doth in some respect resemble the Sunne , which so long as his beames wander abroad according to their naturall libertie , doth gently warme the earth , but when they are by a violent vnion assembled in the holow of a burning Glasse , consumeth that which ought to be refreshed : so Witte the lampe of mans little world , indewed with a sensible volubilitie , gouerneth our actions according to our desire : but being armed with vehement & working spirits becommeth the traitor of our blessednes , and therefore griefe is saide to bee the touchstone of the finest wit .

To close vp this discourse , I approue a quiet discourse of reason : It is ordinarilie in a sanguine complexion , which is so tempered with a measure of melancholie , that the sodaine motions and enforcements of the blood be allayed . These men are of a statelie presence , sound bodie , long life , readie to inuent , firme of memorie , copious to dilate , silent in tongue , secret of heart , determinate in aduise , regular in proceeding , wise in seeing the best , iust in performing it , temperant in abstaining from the contrarie . They are actu otiosi● simillimi they dispatch their buisines with such moderation .

Such a wit will euen in the execution perceiue , and vpon present occasion determine , and take counsell , as fencers do in the listes , whom the countenance of the aduersarie , the bending of his bodie , the mouing of his handes doth admonish , how to proportion the distance , how to offend where is lest warde , how to defend where is strongest assault .

THe exercise ought to bee such , which may occupie euerie parte of the bodie , as the play at the ball , neuer sufficiently commended by Gallen : or hunting , by which men are accustomed to contraries , to heates , to coldes , to watchinges ▪ to fastings , to water ▪ to beere , to wine .

To commende hunting I neede not , onelie I will say , that it maketh men laborious , labor begetteth good customes , good customes are the rootes of good lawes , lawes founded vppon such groundes , the producers of militarie prowes , and that where these three concurre in any degree of excellency , they cannot but make a strong & puissant common weale . But aboue all other recreations it confirmeth the bodie in abilitie both of doing and suffering , & acquainteth the mind by degrees with daunger : so that I may say as Cicero did of Fenc●ng : that it is , Fortissima aduersus mortem , & dolorem disciplina : For in that , it resembleth perill , it maketh vs familiar with perill , ( custom diminishing the terror of those thinges , which by nature are indeed fearefull , ) and so by little and little resolueth vs against any dauntings , which the imminency of daunger might draw with it . So Mar●us before hee would bring out his souldiers to fight with the Cimbres , set them vppon the trenches to acquaint themselues with the terrible aspect , and immane bodies of those Sauages : and by this counsel● brought to passe , that now they began to contemne those which at the first sight they amasedly feared .

His artibus futuri duces imbuebantur , sayeth Plinie : for by these sportes images of battailes were deliuered to the memorie , which afterwarde abler iudgement might dispence : wherupon the ancient Worthies , and Heroes which ranged the whole world to their obeysance , are reported to haue beene bred in the woodes , and employed in continual huntinges : by which they did not onely strengthen their body , resolue their mindes , but also being ridden in all Groundes became good discouerers ( a qualitie very mainelie required in a conductor ) : for a man hauing perfectly beaten one place , may sooner attaine to know the scituation of another , because all regions do somewhat resemble one another in proportion , and so by comparing one known , a man may compendiously enforme himselfe of m●nie vnknown .

EXperience is the guide of the vnderstanding , the rule of will , the ouerruler of opinion , the soule , and most intier parte of wisedome , without which euen the most absolute Schollers cannot attaine to any degree of perfection in ciuil actions . There is more certaintie in the principles of practise , then in the most necessary demonstrations or clearest discourses of reason : and these men that are intendants and practised in the occurrents of Courtes , are fitter for anie actiue emploiment , and can with better easinesse dispatch anie businesses : Quoniam enim habe●t ●culum ab ipsa experientia , vident ipsum principium . These are as it were trusty Oracles , on whose iudgement a man may safely reappose his whole fortunes : they are vppon earth instar praesciorum numinum , whose aduise a man ought to take , before he engage himselfe in any action .

For the meane , by which wisedome in ableth vs to foresee the successe , and accordingly after due consideration rule the present is coniecture , which by comparing thinges passed , presupposeth out of the same causes , the same effects : Now in this obscure and incertaine deliberation vpon the future , a man experienced is like him , who hauing tried a daungerous passage in his own person , & noted the by turnings which might diuert him into an error , can in the darkest night with a secure & forwarde alacritie , go the same way , and ouercomming all the difficulties , ariue at the appointed place , wheras another though furnished with the soundest directions ) yet neuer hauing proued it , quaketh at euery shadow ) and hauing his spirites shut vp in amazement , plainelie hazardeth his person .

The rules to perfect experience are , to frequent the courtes of iustice , as Free schooles of ciuill learning , to endeuour to vnderstand all occuriences , to confer concerning the newes of the world with men expert , reall , of a deepe insight , such as are not carried away with apparances , but can spie daye light at a little hole , and make iudgement out of matters themselues , and discerne betweene truth and truth likenes , and know when ouert deseignes are the foyles of more eminent intentions .

HIstorie is the mixture of profite and delight , the seasoning of more serious studies , the reporter of cases adiudged by euent , the interlude of our haps , the image of our present fortune , the compendiary director of our affaires , by which valor is quickned , iudgement ripened , and resolution entertained . Here are the reasons , why some estates liue quietlie , others turmoiled in continuall disturbances , some flourish by the delights of peace , others by continuing warre , some spend lauishlie without profite , others sparinglie with honor . Here wee may see ruines wi●hout fe●●e , daungerous warres without perill , the customes of all nations without expence .

By this obseruation of noting causes and effectes , counselles and successes , likenes betweene nature and nature , action and action , fortune and fortune is obtayned that wisedome , which teacheth vs to deliberate with ripenes of iudgement , to perseuere in thinges deliberated , to execute with readines , to temporise with inconueniences , to abide aduersitie , to moderate prosperitie , to know the Scriptures , but in such sort , that neyther superstition make vs vainely feareful , nor neglect cause vs to be contemptuously presuming . And by opening to vs the plottes , which gaue life to all the actions , it teacheth more then twentie men liuing successiuelie can learn by practise , as the Generall by seeing the counselles which gouerne the euent must necessarilie profite more then the Souldier , who not able to search into the causes , perceiueth onely the naked euents .

But as Histories are diuerse , so their operation in benefiting the perusers are diuers . In some as it were in Cleanthes table , vertue is set out in her best ornamentes , as in the describing of famous battelles , where specious wars , the ruine of nations , the scituation of Countries , the vncertaine trauerses of fortune , the death of braue Commaunders , haue a certain kind of Maiesty linked with delight , and the mind by conuersing in them is not onelie delighted , but also lifted vp with a spirite of better resolution , and raysed to thinke of imitating : These fil a man with better courage , but faile in inabling him for the manage of ciuill actions .

Another kind there is like labyrinths , relating cunning and deceitfull friendshippes , how rage is suppressed with silence , treason disguised in innocence , how the wealthy haue beene proscribed for their riches , and the worthy vndermined for their vertue . These prouoke vs to eschew their viletie and lacke of vertue , and to be rather viceles then greatly vertuous : and although they bee distasted by those who measure Historie by delight , yet they are of most vse in instructing the minde to the like accidentes . And sithens men prostituting their wittes to all hopefull endes of gaine , are ready to aduenture themselues in the like actions , they are the most necessarie thinges , that can be warned vs , to the intent that in the like practises , me may seeke meanes of preuention and frustrate all the attempts of such subtlely euill companions .

In this ranke I preferre Tacitus as the best that any man can dwel vpon : Hee sheweth the miseries of a torne and declining state , where it was a capitall crime to bee vertuous , and nothing so vnsafe as to be securely innocent , where great mens gestures were particularly interpreted , their actions aggrauated , and construed to proceed from an aspiring intent : and the prince too suspitiously iealous touching points of concurrancie , suppressed men of great deserte , as competitors with them in that chiefest grounde , the loue of the people : When Princes rather delighted in the vices of their Subiectes , eyther because euerie man is pleased with his owne disposition in another , or because by a secret of long vse , they thought those would most patientlie endure seruitude , whose contemptible manners and viletie , might excuse their base subiection . Hee sheweth how enformers men of desperate ambition , sharpe-sighted in spying faultes , and cunning in amplifying occasions of dislike , forsware all honesty , redeeming the securitie of their own persons with the losse of good name , and liuing on the vices of men , as scarrabeckes on vicerous sores : How vaine men were preferred to be treasurers , that they might fall with their proper vanities and want of gouernment , being vsed like spunges , which after they had beene wet with the spoiles and extortions , were crushed and condemned that their long gathered wealth might returne to the Princes coffers .

Here some inferre , that the knowledge of euill doth induce and draw men to effect , that the imitation of an euill doth alway excell the pr●sident in height of mischiefe , but the following of vertue doth scarse aequalize the example in any degree of goodnes , that the conuersing in Tacitus doth deterre men from doing worthilie , where are Canii , Senecae , Sorani , Aruntii , men of admirable vertues in so corrupt a gouernment , ouerliuing their prosperitie , and dying , like Traytors in the same age , when Se●aanus an impudent informer straungelie compounded of the two contrarieties of pride and flatterie , in shew modest , & therefore more dangerouslie aspiring , sweigheth the fortunes of men at his pleasure , and by lucky passing through mischieuous deuises , is growne Ferox sceleris , & emboldned in his trecheries ▪

But yet these men ought to remember that those mischiefes are but mischiefes to a baser minde . Quemcunque sortem videris , miserum neges : that although they were oppressed , yet they remained still superiors , gouernors of necessity , rather directing then obeying the vexations . And I will not denie but such corrupte mindes may also suckle venome out of the most wholesome flowers , and armed with some dangerous Positions out of the treasure of bookes , may like poyson mingled with the best wine more forciblie hurt by trayning on their mischieuous purposes more cunningly : But yet mee thinkes , men haue great incitements to hold themselues vp in vertue , by seeing euill men so contemptuouslie set forth , quaking with the inner vpbraidings of conscience , not entertaining sleepe , but disquieted with a continually tormenting executioner : Wee may learne also to prayse God for our gratious Soueraigne , vnder whose peacefull raigne , wee are secured from all those miseries , and enioy all those benefites whose worth wee shall know , when wee suffer priuation of them , vnder whom our subiection is to the law , our seruice obseruation , our obedience a care not to offend .

In Tacitus are three notes , which are required in a perfect Historie , first , truth insincerely relating without hauing any thing Haustum ex va●o : secondly , explanation in discouering not only the sequels of things but also the causes & reasons : thirdly iudgement indistinguishing things by approuing the best , and disallowing the contrarie , but yet hee performeth this with such an art , hiding art , as if hee were al●ud agens , by enterlacing the seri●s of the tale , with some iudiciall , but strangelie briefe sentences .

In making vse of this Historie knowledge , we must not ascertaine to our selues the sequell of any thing to fall out iust according to the like case in the Historie , but determine of it , as a thing apte to chance otherwise : for an example only enformes a likelyhoode , and if we gouerne our counselles by it , there must be a concurrance of the same reasons , not onelie in generall , but also in particularities .

In making iudgement of Historie , and consideratelie applying it to our present interestes , wee must speciallie regard the dispositions of the agentes , and diligentlie remarke how they are affected in minde , which is the least deceyuing ground of forming opinion : for without this pondering , and knowledge of the qualities of those nations , which we meet with in reading , a man is vnable to make any due comparison betweene the present particular , and the former example . But to leaue these disputations , and the causes of variety in Customes to the schooles , as a matter some will not graunt , & fewer vnderstand , I will onely giue some instances of the proper qualities of some Countries , which most familiarly occurre in reading . The auncient Romaines were men of an inuincible spirit , not dismayed with what frowning disasters soeuer fortune could suppresse their courage , and hauing a minde superior to all aduersitie , resembled Antaeus in the Poet , who so often as hee was thrown to the ground receiued fresh strength , but being lifted vppe , was soone tamed by his aduersary : so they in their declining state , promising better of their hopes , armed vp their valour , and were fil●ed with a greater brauerie of mind , but comming to the height of fel●citie , and flowing with the spoiles of the whole worlde , ouerswayed with thir owne grandeure , beganne to quaile in the last act , and after a safe escape from the maine sea of forrain incumbrances , to suffer shipwracke in the hauen : then ouer many good fortunes bred in them a proude reckleshnes , then through the disuse of armes all thinges fell into the relapse and priuate dissentions were kindled to ruine themselues , then the citie which was wont to giue law to the whole world , began to be facunda inimicitiis , fruitfull in prouoking partialities , desirous of ciuil tumults , craftie in espying and aggrauating secret dislikes , ready to catch at any occasion of innouation . Their valor made them quiet , and quiet wealthy : but according to the reuolution of al things with a swift & violent return their wealth effiminated their valour with idlenes , idlenes occasioned disorder , disorder made ruine . And as the iron begetteth rust which consumeth it , and ripe fruites produce worms which eate it , so their greatnes nourished such vices as by little and little brought them to confusion , insomuch that a great time their state was maintained more by reputation of thinges done , then any other present foundation .

The French are too aduenturous in the imminency & nea●enes of perill , ouerwaging the difficulties of terror with a too furious resolution , in assault more then men , in maintaining the medley lesse then women , very irregular in their actions , grounding them vppon fallible hopes and vaine expectations , light , inconstant , insolent in prosperitie , destined rather to conquere , then keep : as contrarilie the Venetians haue recouered by the arts of peace and composition that , which they haue forgon by war .

THere is a barbarous opinion of the contrarietie of armes and learning , and the impossibility of their meeting in any person : which vnreasonable Paradoxe well sitteth those who know nothing but the fury of strength , and not the vertue of courage . For without this , fortitude is intiteled to those actions which holde rather of vice , and the more it seekes to hurt , the lesse it is able to hurt , and is eyther a rashnes which after the first brunt dieth in it selfe , Et vt quaedam animalia , amisso acul●o torpit , and cannot hurt , like some beastes which shoote the sting , and partake no more with the poyson , or a false vigor proceeding from dispaire , when men weary of the worldes eyes shall thrust themselues into manifest perill without any sufficient ground of reason : or a fiercenes , when choller & the effects of anger are made the motiues of valor , or a confidence , when a man after the often aspect of daunger , & by the lucky passing of diuers sightes is become hazardous , and enterprising in such sort , as the vice of drinking ▪ In pralia trudit ●●ermen . Without lerning Hercules is furious , Dares insolent , Achilles ouercome with vain delightes , vnable to commaund his owne decent appetites , and ready to haue ingloriously separated himselfe from reuealing his vertue , if wise Vlisses had not by a timely policie drawne him to retire into himselfe , and consider the fraile foundations of those weakenesses , which did so infeeble his resolution .

But although learning bee of great consequence in perfection of a martiall man , yet experience is the chiefest point , neyther can a man be absolute by reading other mens exploites . The true Schoole of warre , is the fielde , and not the Chamber ▪ the teacher is vse , and the best course for attaining is to bee present in the important deliberations , to obserue and ponder vpon the executions , to consider the euents , and the counsels which gouerned them , from which obseruation ariseth that wisedome , which inableth vs to make choice of our aduantages , to aduance opportunities , to cut off by celeritie all discourse of counsell from the enemie , to make his inuentions sorte to his proper ruine , to ouercome by quicknes the difficultie of those thinges which could not be suppressed by expecting , to accommodate prouisoes to all chaunces , to alter our determinations according to the suddennes and varietie of occurrences , neither to feare nor despise the enemy , but to remember , Vt semper pendeat hamus , to be readie to catch at that period of time , occasion , which by a fortunate meeting of circumstances doth ease vs in the compassing our proiectes .

Great men ought to frequent the warre , proposing to themselues these three reasons which moued Tiberius to addresse Drusus into Illyricum : The first was , suescere militiae , to inure and experience him in warfare : for it is not sufficient to haue military science in our minde , but by often meditations to make it familiar to our hands and feet . He is the best souldier that is most experimented , neither can I more fitly compare these booke knightes then to a Musitian , who insisting onely vpon the Theoricke , is not able to expresse anie thing .