things that may be thought of. But moil° not too much under ground, for the hope of mines is very uncertain, and useth to make the planters lazy in other things.

For government, let it be in the hands of one, 5 assisted with some counsel; and let them have commission to exercise martial laws, with some limitation. And above all, let men make that profit of being in the wilderness, as they have God always and his service before their eyes. Let not the govern-10 ment of the plantation depend upon too many counsellors and undertakers in the country that planteth, but upon a temperate number; and let those be rather noblemen and gentlemen than merchants; for they look ever to the present gain.

Let there be freedoms from custom° till the plantation be of strength; and not only freedom from custom, but freedom to carry their commodities where they may make their best of them, except there be some special cause of caution.

Cram not in people by sending too fast company after company, but rather hearken how they waste,° and send supplies proportionably; but so as the number may live well in the plantation, and not by surcharge be in penury.

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It hath been a great endangering to the health of some plantations that they have built along the sea and rivers, in marish and unwholesome grounds. Therefore, though you begin there to avoid carriage and other like discommodities, yet build still rather 30

upwards from the streams than along. It concerneth likewise the health of the plantation that they have good store of salt with them, that they may use it in their victuals when it shall be necessary.

5 If you plant where savages are, do not only entertain them with trifles and gingles, but use them justly and graciously, with sufficient guard, nevertheless; and do not win their favour by helping them to invade their enemies, but for their defence it is not 10 amiss. And send oft of them over to the country that plants, that they may see a better condition than their own, and commend it when they return.

When the plantation grows to strength, then it is time to plant with women as well as with men, that 15 the plantation may spread into generations, and not be ever pieced from without. It is the sinfullest

thing in the world to forsake or destitute a plantation once in forwardness; for, besides the dishonour, it is the guiltiness of blood of many commiserable° 20 persons.

XXXIV. OF RICHES

I CANNOT call riches better than the baggage of virtue. The Roman word is better, "impedimenta,°" for as the baggage is to an army so is riches to virtue. It cannot be spared, nor left behind, but it hindereth 25 the march; yea, and the care of it sometimes loseth or disturbeth the victory.

Of great riches there is no real use, except it be in

the distribution; the rest is but conceit. So saith Solomon, “Where much is, there are many to consume it; and what hath the owner but the sight of it with his eyes?" The personal fruition in any man cannot reach to feel great riches; there is a custody of them, or a power of dole and donative of them, or a fame of them, but no solid use to the owner. Do you not see what feigned prices are set upon little stones and rarities? And what works of ostentation are undertaken, because there might seem to be 10 some use of great riches ? But then, you will say, they may be of use to buy men out of dangers or troubles. As Solomon saith, "Riches are as a stronghold in the imagination of the rich man." But this is excellently expressed, that it is in imagination, 15 and not always in fact. For certainly great riches have sold more men than they have bought out. Seek not proud riches, but such as thou mayest get justly, use soberly, distribute cheerfully, and leave contentedly. Yet have no abstract nor fri-20 arly contempt of them; but distinguish, as Cicero° saith well of Rabirius Posthumas," "in studio rei amplificandæ apparebat, non avaritiæ prædam, sed instrumentum bonitati quæri." Hearken also to Solomon, and beware of hasty gathering of riches: 25 "Qui festinat ad divitas, non erit insons." The poets feign that when Plutus, which is riches, is sent from Jupiter, he limps, and goes slowly, but when he is sent from Pluto,° he runs, and is swift of foot; meaning, that riches gotten by good means 30

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and just labour pace slowly, but when they come by the death of others, as by the course of inheritance, testaments, and the like, they come tumbling upon a man. But it mought be applied likewise to Pluto, 5 taking him for the devil. For when riches come from the devil, as by fraud, and oppression, and unjust means, they come upon speed.°

The ways to enrich are many, and most of them foul. Parsimony is one of the best, and yet is not 10 innocent, for it withholdeth men from works of liberality and charity. The improvement of the ground is the most natural obtaining of riches, for it is our great mother's blessing, the earth's; but it is slow. And yet, where men of great wealth do stoop to hus15 bandry, it multiplieth riches exceedingly. I knew a nobleman in England that had the greatest audits of any man in my time: a great grazier, a great sheep-master, a great timber-man, a great collier, a great corn-master, a great lead-man, and so of iron, 20 and a number of the like points of husbandry; so as the earth seemed a sea to him, in respect of the perpetual importation. It was truly observed by one, that himself came very hardly to a little riches, and very easily to great riches. For when a man's stock 25 is come to that, that he can expect the prime of markets, and overcome those bargains which, for their greatness, are few men's money, and be partner in the industries of younger men, he cannot but increase mainly.

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The gains of ordinary trades and vocations are

honest, and furthered by two things chiefly, by diligence, and by a good name for good and fair dealing. But the gains of bargains are of a more doubtful nature, when men shall wait upon others' necessity; broke by servants and instruments to draw thems on; put off others cunningly that would be better chapmen; and the like practices, which are crafty and naught. As for the chopping of bargains, when a man buys, not to hold, but to sell over again,

that commonly grindeth double, both upon the 10 seller and upon the buyer. Sharings do greatly enrich, if the hands be well chosen that are trusted. Usury is the certainest means of gain, though one of the worst, as that whereby a man doth eat his bread "in sudore vultus alieni," and besides, doth plough 15 upon Sundays. But yet, certain though it be, it hath flaws; for that the scriveners and brokers do value unsound men, to serve their own turn.

The fortune in being the first in an invention, or in a privilege, doth cause sometimes a wonderful 20 overgrowth in riches, as it was with the first sugarman in the Canaries.° Therefore, if a man can play the true logician,° to have as well judgment as invention, he may do great matters, especially if the times be fit. He that resteth upon gains certain, shall 25 hardly grow to great riches; and he that puts all upon adventures, doth oftentimes break, and come to poverty: it is good therefore to guard° adventures with certainties that may uphold losses. Monopolies, and coemption of wares for resale, where they are 30