They dispose Kings to Tyranny, Husbands to Jealoufy, Wife Men to Irrefolution and Melancholy. They are Defects, not in the Heart, but in the Brain; for they take Place in the Stoutest Natures: As in the Example of Henry the Seventh of England: There was not a more Sufpicious Man, nor a more Stout: And in such 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 faft. There is nothing makes a Man Suspect much, more than to Know little : And therefore Men fhould remedy Sufpicion, by procuring to know more, and not to keep their Sufpicions in Smother. What would Men have? Do they think, those they employ 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, than to account upon fuch Sufpicions as true, and yet to bridle them, as false. For so far, a Man ought to make use of Suspicions, as to provide, as if that should be true, that he Sufpects, yet it may do him no Hurt. Sufpicions, that the Mind, of itself, gathers, are but Buzzes; but Sufpicions, that are artificially nourished, and put into Men's Heads, by the Tales, and Whisperings of others, have Stings. Certainly, the best Mean, to clear the Way, in this fame Wood of Sufpicions, is frankly to communicate them, with the Party, that he Sufpects: For thereby, he shall be fure, to know more of the Truth of them, than

he did before; and withal, fhall make that Party more circumfpect, not to give further Caufe 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 Italian fays; Sofpetto licentia fede: As if Sufpicion did give a Paffport to Faith: But it ought rather to kindle it, to discharge itself.

XXXII. Of Difcourfe.

OME in their Discourse, defire rather Commendation of Wit, in being able to hold all Arguments, than of Judgement, in difcerning what is True: As if it were a Praife, to know what might be Said, and not what should be Thought. Some haye 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; and again to moderate and pass to fomewhat else; for then a Man leads the Dance. It is good, in Difcourfe, and Speech of Conversation, to vary, and intermingle Speech, of the prefent Occafion with Arguments; Tales with Reasons; afking 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 privileged from it; namely Religion, Matters of State, Great Perfons, any Man's present Business of Importance, and any Cafe that deferveth Pity. Yet there be fome, that think their Wits have been afleep, except they dart out fomewhat that is piquant and to the quick: That is a vein, which would be bridled;

Parce Puer ftimulis, et fortiùs utere Loris.

And generally, Men ought to find the difference between Saltness and Bitterness. Certainly, he that hath a fatirical 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 Questions, to the Skill of the Persons, whom he asketh: For he shall give them occafion, to please themselves in speaking, and himself shall continually gather Knowledge. But let his Questions not be troublesome; for that is fit for a Pofer. And let him be fure, to leave other Men their Turns to speak. 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 Musicians use to do, with those that dance too long Galliards. If you diffemble fometimes your knowledge, of that you are thought to know, you shall be thought another time, to know that you know not. Speech of a Man's Self ought to be feldom, and well chofen. I knew One, was wont to say, in scorn; He must needs be a Wife

Man, he fpeaks fo much of Himself: And there is but one Cafe, wherein a Man may commend himfelf, with good Grace; and that is in commending Virtue in another; especially, if it be such a Virtue, whereunto himself pretendeth. Speech of Touch towards others, fhould be sparingly used : For Difcourfe 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 fcoff, but kept ever royal Cheer in his House: The other, would ask of those, that had been at the other's Table; Tell truly, was there never a Flout or dry Blow given? to which the Guest would anfwer; Such and fuch a Thing passed: The Lord would fay; I thought he would mar a good Dinner. Difcretion of Speech, is more than Eloquence; and to speak agreeably to him, with whom we deal, is more than to speak in good Words, or in good Order. A good continued Speech, without a good Speech of Interlocution, fhews Slowness: And a good Reply, or fecond Speech, without a good fettled Speech, fheweth Shallowness and Weakness. As we fee in Beafts, that thofe that are weakeft in the Courfe, are yet nimbleft in the Turn: As it is betwixt the Greyhound, and the Hare. To use too many Circumftances, ere one come to the Matter, is wearifome; to use none at all, is blunt.

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 justly account new Plantations to be the Children of former Kingdoms. I like a Plantation in a pure Soil; that is, where People are not difplanted, to the end, to plant in 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 almost Twenty Years' Profit, and expect your Recompenfe, 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 first Years. It is true, Speedy Profit is not to be neglected, as far as may stand, with the Good of the Plantation, but no farther. It is a fhameful and unbleffed Thing, to take the Scum of People, and wicked condemned Men, to be the People with whom you Plant: And not only fo, but it spoileth the Plantation, For they will ever live like Rogues, and not fall to work, but be lazy, and do Mischief, and spend Victuals, and be quickly weary, and then certify over to their Country, to the Dif credit of the Plantation. The People wherewith you Plant, ought to be Gardeners, Ploughmen, Labourers, Smiths, Carpenters, Joiners, Fisher