Vse of Tyme , bookes , and reading .

AMong all things precious , nothing is more precious , nor any thing so much ours , as Tyme .

2 Euery houre is to be embraced in our armes ; for he , that hath his hand in to-day , shall the lesse care for tomorrow .

3 The first signe of a well composed minde , is to settle with it selfe , or to stay at home . Secum morari . Sen:

4 The turning ouer of diuers volumes together , breedes confusion ; it tastes somewhat of a wandering and vnstable disposition . Nusquam est , qui vbique est .

5 Who runnes thus on Pilgrimage , meetes with many Innes , and fewe friends ; he sees much , and learnes little .

6 Nothing more offenciue to health , then variety of remedies ; A Plant often transplanted , seldome prospers ; and a multitude of bookes , distract the minde .

7 Read choyce , and approued Authors ; and when you growe wearie , leaue , and retyre to the same againe .

8 Though we cannot read all we haue , yet ( which is better ) let vs haue all wee read .

9 In much reading , somthing will offer it selfe to your obseruation , vse , or seruice ; Let not that slippe indigested , or till meditation haue made it your owne .

10 Somtimes , it is not amis , with Seneca to visit the tents of strangers , yet not as a fugitiue , but as an intelligencer .

11 The vse of bookes is to be lymitted , as the vse of meates , according to the quality of the vser ; for in all things , what is too little for one may ouerlaye another ; Theref●re , the best is , not to desire aboundance , but enough , this is alwayes profitable , yet sometimes hurtfull . Omne nimium , vertitur in vitium

Choyse of a Friend .

WHen you esteeme any to be your friend , whome you dare not trust as your selfe ; you may thinke you are therein deceaued , as not discerning betwixt an acquaintance and a friend , or not well vnderstanding the nature , and power of friendship .

2 A man full of imployment , and acquaintance , can haue no greater miserie , then to repute those for his friends , to whome he is no friend himselfe .

3 Before friendshippe consider , after friendship trust .

4 I say consider long before you admit any to be your friend , but once being admitted , entertaine him in your bosome , lodge him in your heart , and talke with him , as with your selfe .

5 Some there are , who to euery one they meet , will vtter what they should onely impart to their friends , and tell all they feele itching in their owne eares ; others againe are so scrupulous , that the honest conscience of their dearest friend , is not worthy of their secret ; and if it were possible , they would conceale it from themselues . Neither of these , is to be liked ; for it is an equall fault , to trust all , and to trust none . Vtrumque vitium est , et omnibus credere , & nulli .

6 Consult freely with your friend of all things , but first of your selfe .

7 True friends will stand fast in aduersitie ; they will loue , and frequent those moste that of Fortune are most forsaken . Amicus certus , in re incerta cernitur .

Wit and Memorie .

I Had rather haue a good , then an excellent wit , for that will not stoop to vildnesse , and this is flexible to any thing .

2 Great faults haue seldome issued , but from great wits .

3 A great Memorie , is a large stoarehouse , full of blacke smoaky imaginations , and yrkesome toyles .

4 In the remembrance of many things , few yeeld contentment ; many vexation ; and oft times , the very delights thereof are troublesome .

5 Of all other , the remembrance of an ill name , is most heauy and sadde , euen in the middest of all honor ; so tender , delicate , and incurable aboue whatsoeuer els , is Fame .

6 Great molestation , is the inseperable Companion of great memorie ; for some matters remembred sting the Conscience : some wound it ; other terrifie , and vtterly confound it .

7 But why doe so many boast of their Memorie , and yet forget both the Tyme , and themselues .

8 All erre in this ; that they desire to learne things worthie to be forgotten , and forget what is fit to be learn'd .

9 Will you knowe the best memorie ? then obserue this ; remember your sin , that you may be sorry : remember your Death , that you may forbeare : remember Gods iustice , that you may feare : remember his mercy , that you may not dispaire . Quid memoriam jactas ? vnde haec obliuio diei vnius ? vnde tui ipsius ?

Vertue .

THe nature of vertue , is to attend , not so much what she hath done , as what shee is yet to doe ; not so much what she enioyeth , as what she wanteth ; from whence it is that shee gloryes not in what shee hath , but is sollicitous about that she hath not .

2. Me thinks , if ( it were lawfull ) I could say , Vertue is couetous , or much like to Auarice ; For shee continually thirsteth , burneth , longeth : the more shee seekes , and findes , the poorer shee seemes , hauing no meane in her desires ; and worthely : For indeed , the heape of true honour , and merrit , can neuer be too great .

3. Vertue is no Braggard , no admirer of her selfe , but an humble follower of others ; And when shee aspires and sits highest , then she reckons her selfe least .

4. Vertue knowes this to be the time of warfare , not of triumph ; Therefore shee is euer watching , euer in action . Virtus p●●it et in actione , la●●ss●●● proficis .

Opinion .

WHo thinkes hee is arriued to the point , or height of perfection , is first deceiued in this ; That hee beleeued himselfe to be , where he is not ; next he forsakes the right way by going wrong ; and by anticipating what hee hath not , wittingly preuents , what he might haue had .

2. There is no such Aduersary , or hinderance to the pursuite of vertue , as the opinion of perfection ; For who will labour for that which hee thinkes fit hath already ?

3. If I haue any thing in me that is good , I knowe from whome it comes , and I am glad ; If I want any thing , I knowe of whome to aske , and of him will I hope for it .

4. Opinion alters no matter , no lawes , no effect .

5. Vaine hopers , and louers , are like wishers and woulders , all selfe-deceiuers , and neuer to be trusted .

6. What if my Neighbours magnifie my name ? May not each of them deceiue another , and all deceiue me ?

7. The Cittyes , or Townes acclamations , should neuer make me thinke the better of my selfe ; For in my inward soule , there is a more certaine , and incorrupt witnesse of me ; my Conscience ; Shee will tell me true , and I will trust her .

8. Opinion is but a certaine name , to an vncertaine matter .

9. Hee that is good in his owne opinion ; is starke naught in very deede ; For good men are with none so much displeased , as with themselues .

10. But I seeme not good to my selfe alone , but to others also : Yet what if I be naught and those other Fooles ?

11. It is ill to deceiue others , but worse to deceiue your selfe .

12. Why , but all men speake well of me ; Oh ioyfull newes ; But shall I be so vnreasonable , as to beleeue all men ? Opiniorem non mutat .

Vulgar Example .

THere is no knowne way so ready , and headlong to errour , as by the example and steps of the vulgar .

2 To please the vulgar , is to displease God .

3 Who layes vp his hopes , or settles his praises in the Common people , is like him , that sets withered plants , in barren plots .

4 Whatsoeuer the vulgar thinkes , is vncertaine : Whatsoeuer it speakes is false , Whatsoeuer it blames , is good , Whatsoeuer it allowes is naught : Whatsoeuer it praises , is infamous , Whatsoeuer it doth , is foolish . Qui vulgi latratus ferre didicit , nullos horrebit Canes .

Lybertie .

NOt he that is borne , is free , but he that is buryed ; for ouer the first , Fortune hath great power , ouer the latter none at all .

2 We must not thinke our selues free because we are without Lord or Master : for wee cannot bee ignorant , at what yeares Hecuba , and Cresus began to serue .

3 Let no man swell with his freedome , and liberty ; for not onely free men , but Kings haue beene brought to thraldome .

4 Vnworthy restraynt , is better then vnworthy liberty .

5 No restraint so strict , no poyson so noysome , as the Cage of our owne Carcasse ; in which yet we loue to liue , as fearefull , and loath to be rid out .

6 Others write bookes in prison , and you vtter bootlesse sighes , and teares ; others gett knowledge , and will you forget patience ?

7 Many for the loue of God , or hatred of the world , or some other good end , haue chosen to liue in Caues , and holes : and if I cannot be of that minde but that I would faine be free , I must expect , till Man or Death , ( who keepes an other Key ) worke my deliuery .

8 Most Prisons haue but one way in , and many wayes out : mercy deliuers some , Iustice others , Innocency others ; some get out by wit , some by money ; some by the honest Keepers negligence , some by fauour of the night ; ( an Earth-quake may happen , to shake downe the walls ) and others whom nothing els can help , Death will deliuer .

9 Prisons haue sent fome forth to their greater glory , others to excellent Fortunes , many to heauen , and all to their graues : to conclude , they receiue none , whom they render not againe . Quibusdem , omnis vita supplicium visa est .

Praise of Natiue Soyle .

LIttle auailes it any man to be borne in a famous soyle , vnles he harbour vertue , and hate vice in himselfe .

2 The chiefe praise of any Country , is the vertue of the men .

3 Cataline had not beene so infamous , but that his Country was so famous .

4 The eminency of a great , and famous Citty , holds many obscure , and of small account , whom the obscurity , of a bare-country-Village , would haue made eminent , and of much repute .

5 Your Country will be sure to challenge its owne praise , and participate with yours , for whatsoeuer you doe nobly , or well , is in manner , your countryes praise first , and yours after .

6 Plato thank'd , and praisd Nature ; first for making him a reasonable creature , and not a meere Animall ; a man , and not a woman ; a Grecian , not a Barbarian ; an Athenian , not a Theban ; and lastly , for being borne in Socrates time , of whome he might receaue the further benefit of instruction and learning . Nihil aeque Ciuitates amplificat , vt Ciuium virtus , ac gloria .

Noble decent , praise , glory .

THe merits of noble and worthy Parents , are markes to degenerate Children , nothing more detecting the posterities vice , then the Parents vertue .

2 The vertue of one , may , and doth often help , and profit another , but if you raise not glory , and praise for your selfe , neuer expect them from an other .

3 The father may loue his sonne , and leaue him his land , but neuer make him laudable : hence it is , that oft times an infinite ecclips of the fathers light , is suffred in the sonne .

4 The shining glory of Ancestors , is good in this , that the posterity cannot liue hidden , though it would .

5 Glory is not gotten by noble birth , but by noble life ; yea , ( which is admirable ) often by Death . Nobilis non nascitur , sed fit .

Imitation .

THe Imitation of great persons , is neither safe , nor necessarie for all men : euery feathered Foule cannot soar after the Eagle : some Imitators , will doe cleaue contrary ; others , another thing ; others , the same thing an other way ; and few will Imitate to the full , as their example did lead them .

2 I know not how it falls out , that the vertues of our owne lyne , are lesse imitable to our selues , then to others ; vnlesse it be , that vertue will not seeme hereditary : I speake faintly , but the thing it selfe speakes freely ; The excellent sonne , of an excellent Father is rarely seene .

Raro excellentis viri , filius excellens fuit .

Comportment .

WHatsoeuer you doe , so doe it as if your enemies stood by .

2 That comportment is much better , that makes your Enemies admire you , then inuites your friends to excuse you ; and cleerer is that Fame , against which none can obiect truly , nor dares falsly , then that , which is once touch't , and then purged . Talis post exitum fama est , qualis ante exitum vita .

Dyce-play .

DYce-play : oh vnsatiable , and huge deuourer ; sad , and sudden waster of Patrymonyes ; mindes fury , and perturbation ; Fames obscurity , spurre of sinne , and path of desperation .

2 No prosperous end of Dyce-play , but all naught , all miserable ; for both the looser is afflicted , and the winner entrapped .

3 What if you haue played , and woon ? may you not play againe and loose ?

4 What you haue woon , a thousand are watching to get from you , and that you haue lost , none will restore to you .

5 How many strange things haue wee seene done by very valiant , and worthy men at play , for a little money , which at other times , and places , the same men , would not haue done , for any earthly treasure ? But there , is the kingdome where all vice raignes ; especially Auarice , and Anger .

6 Lusi , vici , gaudio ; I haue played , I haue woon , and now I reioyce : Oh impure play , oh damnable gaine : oh vaine ioy .

7 Let this suffice ; that all gladnes in our owne hurt , is madnesse ; all ioye in the same , meere folly . Omne de suo malo gaudium , stultum est .

Stage-playes and Players .

PLayers moue me to laugh ; but what doe you moue them to ? How often hath the Player laught in his sleeue at his best spectator , for laughing at him ? how often musing at the madnesse of his admyrers , hath he feyned that , whereby , he hath falsely pleased them , and truly pleased himselfe ?

2 He that entertaines Players , hath whereat to laugh , and as hartily to be laugh'd at , yea , and whereby , to be eaten vp . Qui te rideant , & rodant .

3 It is a consequent ; that who findes taste in what 's ill , is euer ignorant in that 's good ; nor in truth , can they be acquainted with noble actions , that are taken with vile , and base pleasures .

4 Who delights to see Playes , delights to see that , which can neither be honestly shewen , nor honestly seene , and hard it is to say , whether the Actor , or spectator be more infamous ; the Stage , or the Stewes , the one being drawne with beggery , the other with vanity .

5 Many , whom Nature had framed gentle , and milde , Playes haue made fierce , and cruell : mans minde prone to vice , should rather be bridled , then vrged ; for though it be left to it selfe , it hardly stayes , but being driuen , it runnes headlong , after the olde Age , They must needs goe , whom the Deuill driues .

6 Many mischiefes are conuayed by the eates , but many more by the eyes ; for at the eyes , as at two open windowes , Death breaks in with violence , to the soule ; The memory takes no impression so powerfully , as by the eyes ; or eares often , and lightly let in , and let out againe ; but what wee see , ( vnlesse we see vnwillingly ) sticketh fast : whether then doe you goe ? or what fury hales you on to Playes ? where you may be pleased for an houre , and displeased for euer ; where you shall see that once , which a thousand times , you will wish , you had neuer seen .

7 The Fame , and reputation of women , haue been left , and lost at publique spectacles , and Playes ; many haue returnd bold , and wanton from them ; many , and many againe doubtfull , and wauering : But chaster , and soberer then they went , none , Acies Histrionum , est sicut Muscarum , quae vnctum comitantur , siccumque destituant .

Wisdome , Fortune , Folly .

WIsdome , and Fortune , rarely agree well together .

2 Fortune tells you , you are wise because you are wealthy ; and makes you bold to say so : oh but heare , & beleeue Reason ; if it were so indeed , you would neuer say so .

3 Things would goe well , if there were as many wise men , as professors of wisedome .

4 The first degree of a foole , is to thinke himselfe wise ; the next , to say so .

5 Not to wish for that we cannot haue , but well to vse what we haue , is true wisdome : the first is common , the latter rare . Sapientia , bonorum rector est , malorum victor . Facere docet philosophia , non dicere .

Vicinitie , and Enmitie .

IT is commonly seene , that where is neerest vicinity of houses , there is farthest distance of hearts : Nere neighbours , are seeldom free from iarres , and quarrells .

2 Many , will impute their owne faultes to their neighbour ; so easily they can see , so exactly discusse , and seuerly censure their Neighbours defects ; but ( alas ) their owne , they iudge , examine , and behold with the eies of fauour & pittie .

3. The more Enemies , the more cause to be aware , and better knowne ; for how many worthies , had slept out their liues in obscurity , had they not beene awaked by Enmitie ? Bias bids so loue our friends , as they may become our foes , which councell , though allowed by many , I like not ; for it is the true bane of friendship . Therefore , in my hatred , I had rather thinke of loue , then in my loue thinke of hatred ; I will not loue so , as I may hate ; but if I hate , it shall be so , as I may loue againe . Nulla Necessitudo est , qua non odijs esse possit infecta ; sola Amicitia sincera , mali huius ignare est : nec magis odiosus Amicus , quam Amor etiam odiosus .

Pietie to Parents .

THe fathers hardnesse , hath often prou'd the sonnes happinesse ; his tendernesse , the others destruction .

2. If you endure a hard father now , remember the hard sonne , he hath suffred of you before .

3 There is no cause of a hard sonnes complaint , against his hard father ; for hard mettalls are sooner mollified by their like ; and many times , tender-handed Chirurgians leaue the Fouler scarres :

4 Fatherly frownes are lawfully excused by zeale , by Care , by feare , by age .

5 Of our Parents , wee must euer make honorable mention , or none at all .

6. I must neuer iudge of my father , but rather be iudged by him , as the secondary Author of my being : and if he be not capable of true praise , I will reuerence him with comly silence .

7. There is no power on earth more iust , then that of the father ouer the sonne ; nor any seruice more honest , and due , then that of the sonne to the father .

8 If my father be yet liuing , I will serue , and attend him with duty , and dilligence ; for an olde Father , is a dying Comfort .

9 My father being old , I had not need to be ydle : therefore , I will be busie in gathering the last fruits of him , as of a falling tree : I will alwaies be as neere him as I can , I will be desirous to see him ; as one ready to take his leaue of me , and more desirous to heare him : his last words will I lay vp in the Closet of my heart : They will helpe to defend me , in the desert of this world , for when I would haue his councell , I shall seeke him , and not finde him at home .

10 If my father be impotent , and decrepit , I will tender vnto him the last offices of pyety , and seruice ; for if I omit them now , they will vpbraid me hereafter .

11 The Fathers loue is great , the Mothers vehement : both such , and so great as scarce any Childes can be equall . Nihil tam suum cuique est , quam filius Pat●i , nihil cuique in digntus eripitur .