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man who fells an acre of land fells an ounce "of creditt, for gentility is nothing else but "antient riches. So that if the foundation fhall 6c at any time finke, the building must need fol"lowe. So much for the First Precept.

"2. Bring thy children up in learning and "obedience, yet without outward aufterity. "Praise them openly, reprehend them fecretly. "Give them good countenance and convenient "maintenance according to thy ability, other"wife thy life will feem their bondage, and what "portion thou fhalt leave them at thy death, "they will thank death for it, and not thee; " and I am perfuaded that the foolish cockering "of fome parents, and the over stern carriage "of others, causeth more men and women to "take ill courses than their own vicious inclina❝tions. Marry thy daughters in time, left they

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marry themselves. And fuffer not thy fonnes "to pass the Alps, for they fhall learne nothing "there but pride, blafphemy, and atheism; and "if by travel they gett a few broken languages, "that fhall profit them nothing more than to "have one meat ferved in divers difhes. Nei"ther, by my consent, shalt thou train them up "in warres, for he that sets up his reft to live by that profeffion, can hardly be an honest

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man or a good Christian: besides, it is a

VOL. I.

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"fcience

"fcience no longer in requeft than use, for "fouldiers in peace are like chimneys in fum

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3. Live not in the countrey without corn "and cattle about thee, for he that putteth his "hand to the purse for every expence of house"hold, is like him that keepeth water in a fieve; "and, what provifion thou fhalt want, learn to σε buy it at the best hand, for there is one penny "faved in four betwixt buying in thy need, and "when the marketts and feafons ferve fitteft for "it. Be not ferved with kinfmen, or friends, or "men entreated to ftay, for they expect much, "and doe little; nor with fuch as are amorous, "for their heads are intoxicated; and keep "rather two too few, than one too many. Feed "them well, and pay them with the most; and "then thou mayst boldly require fervice at their "hands.

(6 4. Let thy kindred and allies be welcome "to thy house and table. Grace them with (6 thy countenance, and farther them in all "honeft actions, for by this means thou shalt so "double the band of nature, as thou fhalt find "them fo many advocates to plead an apology "for thee behind thy back; but shake off those "glow-wormes, I mean parafites and fycophants,

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"who will feed and fawn upon thee in the fummer of profperitie; but, in an adverse "ftorme, they will fhelter thee no more than an "arbour in winter.

ἐσ 5. Beware of furetyfhip for thy best friends. "He that payeth another man's debts, feeketh "his own decay; but if thou canst not otherwise

chufe, rather lend thy money thyself upon "good bonds, although thou borrow it, fo fhalt "thou fecure thyfelf, and pleasure thy friend. "Neither borrow money of a neighbour nor a "friend, but of a ftranger; where, paying for "it, thou fhalt hear no more of it; otherwife "thou fhalt eclipfe thy credit, lose thy freedom, "and yet pay as dear as to another. But in "borrowing of money, be precious of thy word, "for he that hath care of keeping days of pay"ment, is lord of another man's purse.

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6. Undertake no fuit against a poor man, "without receiving much wrong; for, befides (that) thou makeft him thy compeer, it is a "bafe conqueft to triumph where there is small "refiftance. Neither attempt law against any "man, before thou be fully refolved that thou "haft right on thy fide, and then fpare not for "either money or pains; for a caufe or two fo "followed and obtained, will free thee from fuits a great part of thy life.

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7. Be fure to keep fome great man thy "friend, but trouble him not for trifles. Com"pliment him often with many, yet fmall gifts, "and of little charge; and if thou haft cause to "bestow any great gratuity, let it be something "which may be daily in fight, otherwise, in this "ambitious age, thou fhalt remain like a hop "without a pole, live in obfcurity, and be made "a foot-ball for every infulting companion to "fpurn at.

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"8. Towards thy fuperiors be humble, yet generous; with thine equals, familiar, yet re"fpective. Towards thine inferiours fhew much "humanity, and fome familiarity, as to bow the (6 body, ftretch forth the hand, and to uncover "the head, with fuch like popular compliments. "The first prepares thy way to advancement; "the fecond makes thee knowne for a man well "bred; the third gains a good report, which, "once got, is easily kept, for right humanitie "takes fuch deep root in the minds of the mul

titude, as they are eafilier gained by unprofit"able curtefies than by churlish benefits. Yet "I advise thee not to affect or neglect popularitie "too much. Seeke not to be Effex. Shunne "to be Rawleigh.

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9. Truft not any man with thy life, credit, "or eftate, for it is mere folly for a man to en

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thrall himself to his friend, as though, occafion "being offered, he should not dare to become "thine enemie.

66 10. Be not fcurrilous in conversation, nor "fatyricall in thy jefts. The one will make "thee unwelcome to all company, the other "pull on quarrels, and get thee hatred of "thy best friends; for fufpitious jefts (when

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any of them favour of truth) leave a bitterness "in the mindes of thofe which are touched. "And albeit I have already pointed at this in"clufively, yet I think it neceffary to leave it to "thee as a speciall caution, because I have feene

many fo prone to quip and gird, as they "would rather leefe their friend then their jeft; "and if perchance their boiling braine yield a "quaint fcoffe, they will travell to be delivered "of it as a woman with child. Thefe nimble fancies are but the froth of wit."

SIR NICHOLAS BACON,

LORD KEEPER OF THE GREAT SEAL.

"I HAVE Come to the Lord Keeper," fays Puttenham," and found him fitting in his gal"lery alone, with the Works of Quintilian be"fore

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