Essayes. By Sir William Corne-Waleys the younger, Knight

Of Essayes, & Bookes (Book 46)

I Hould neither Plutarches, nor none of these auncient short manner of writings, nor Montaignes, nor such of this latter time to be rightly termed Essayes, for though they be short, yet they are strong, and able to endure the sharpest triall: but mine are Essayes, who am but newly bound Prentice to the inquisition of knowledge, and vse these papers as a Painters boy a board, that is trying to bring his hand and his fancie acquainted. It is a manner of writing well befitting vndigested mo∣tiōs, or a head not knowing his strēgth like a circumspect runner trying for a∣starte, or prouidence that tastes before she buyes: for it is easier to thinke wel then to do well, and no triall to haue handsome dapper conceites runne in∣uisibly in a braine, but to put them out, and then looke vppon them: If they

proue nothing but wordes, yet they breake not promise with the world, for they say but an Essay, like a Scriuenour trying his Pen before he ingrosseth his worke, nor to speake plainely, are they more to blame then many other that promise more, for the most that I haue yet touched, haue millions of wordes to the bringing forth one reason, and when a reason is gotten, there is such borrowing it one of another, that in a multitude of Bookes, still that conceit, or some issued out of that appeares so be laboured, and worne, as in the ende it is good for nothing but for a Pro∣uerbe. When I thinke of the abilities of man, I promise myselfe much out of my reading, but it prooues not so, Time goeth, and I turne leaues▪ yet still finde my selfe in the state of igno∣rance, wherefore I haue thought bet∣ter of honesty, then of knowledge, what I may knowe I will conuerte to that vse, and what I write, I meane so,

for I will choose rather to be an honest man then a good Logitian. There was neuer art yet that layd so fast hold on me, that she might iustly call mee her seruant. I neuer knew them but su∣perficially, nor indeed will not though I might, for they swallow their subiect, and make him as Ouid saied of him selfe.

Quicquid c••nabar dicere versus erat.

I would earne none of these so deare∣ly, as to tye vp the minde to thinke onely of one thing, her best power by this meanes is taken from her, for so her circuit is limited to a distaunce, which shoulde walke vniuersallye. Moreouer there growes pride, and a selfe opinion out of this, which de∣uoures wisedome.

Marke but a Grammarian, whose occupation well examined is but a sin∣gle-soled trade, for his subiect is but wordes, and yet his construction is

of great matters resting in himselfe. Socrates was the wisest man of his time, and his ground for that, was his turning all his acquired knowledge into morality: of whome one said, hee fetched Philosophy from heauen, & placed her in Citties. Plato laughes at those commonwealthes men, that intend onely the inlarging, and inrich∣ing of their countreyes, and in the meane time they suffer the inioyers of their labours to be vicious, and disho∣nest: euen so of these thirsters after knowledge, for hath he all that men possibly may haue, and then inclose it in the chest of a dishonest brest, it but corruptes him, and makes the poyson of his viciousnes more for∣cible.

Non mihires, sed mi rebus submittere conor.

I liue not to illustrate the excel∣lency of any art, but to vse artes as Bridles, to reare vppe the head-strong

wilfulnesse of my naturall cor∣ruption. Thus I see all things, and take example as well by a vicious pro∣digall fellowe, as by one vpon the gal∣lowes, and desire his part no more that is able, and doth nourish excesse, then I do the others, and if I would beleeue Plato, he holdes this state the better, for the one is now surfetting, the other taking Phisicke. I haue heard of the effects of great reading, ioyned to an vnderstanding able to digest, and car∣rie it, of high acting spirits, whose am∣bitions haue beene fed by Fortune and power: these make a great noise in the eares of men, and like a swaggerer seeme to drowne more humble spi∣rites: but equally examined, the giftes of morallity are more excellent, and vertuous. When Alexander thirstinge threwe the water offered him vpon the ground, and would not adde to the thirst of his companions with his owne priuate affections, he did much

more noblye then in winning all his victories: for those rightly determi∣ned take away maruaile, and admirati∣on, for they were for his owne sake: but here, compassion, regard of others, and temperance, pleade for an eternall applause; this was moralitie, and the inwarde discourse of an honest minde, this was no bloodshed, nor blowes, but the preseruation of his friends: here blood spotted not his name, but puritie so imbellished it, that no eye louing vertue can see this peece with∣out due praising it. Non of these sear∣chers into the driftes of na••••e can I thinke so well, as of a minde obseruing his affections, moderating or spurring his will, as it flyeth, or straiteth from the right way of vertue. Thus do I thinke of Seneca, and Aristotle, the first's moralitie its easily to bee vnderstood, and easily digested to the nourishment of vertue; the others more high, and to the readers more questionable, whe∣ther

it will make him curious, or ho∣nest.

Xenophon though his Cyrus bee so good, as plainely showeth it a life, ra∣ther imagined, then acted, yet hee so plainely discouereth the waye of ver∣tue, as the easiest vnderstanding ••••n∣not goe astraye, nor the worste abuse him with interpretation I holde these much more safe, then those workes which stande vpon Allegories, for euery head hath not fire enough to distill them, nor euery vnderstanding patience enough to finde out the good meaning: and many are so ill, as when they haue found out an interpretation meete to nourishe their sensualitie, they staye there, and are the worse for their reading.

Thus offend, most Poets, who land∣ing their writings with fictions, feede the ignorant and vicious with as much poison as preseruatiue. This one of them confesseth speaking to his Muse.

—e tis pardo••a S'intessofregi a'l ver, s'adorno in parte, D'a••••i diletticbe de tuoile caerte. And he addes this reason.

Sai la corre il mondo, oue piu versi Disue dolcezze il lusinghier Pernaso, Et chil vero condito in molli versi, I pin schiui allectando ha persuaso.

Though rightly hee toucheth the tendernesse of humaine conceites, which willinglye admit nothing that represents not pleasure, and flatters not sensualitie, yet should it be farre from the grauitie of a writer, ••o runne with the streames of vnbrideled affections. He should ranke with the Constitu∣tours of common-wealths: Lawe-makers, and wise Authors, ought to intend both one thing, they no waye differ, but that onely these last com∣pell not, but intreate their Country∣men to bee vertuous. But should a Lawe-maker insteade of punishing

malefactors widen his lawes, & make them soft vppon the complaines of men, no state coulde stand for the cause of commonwealthes mankinde would destroy themselues, and this world by lawes made beautifull, by being without would become a spec∣tacle of ruine, and desolation. Though in this kinde, Poetrie hath most offen∣ded, yet intending well, it 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to be reiected. It is a short, and swe••••e ••ur'd eloquence, it stirreth vp noble desires, and good intentions, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 according to Plato, it performeth it off••••, which is Diuinos hymnos canene, 〈…〉〈…〉 magnarium{que} gesta 〈…〉〈…〉 re∣censert. Thus it is not basely imployed, nor were it reason, for it is a diuine is∣sue of vnderstandings, and dresseth the subiects of her peniful of witty delight & is the wings of the some with which she seemes to flie to the heighest part of imaginatiō. Among Poets S••neta••s Tragedies fit wel the hands of a states∣man,

for vpon that supposed stage are brought many actions, and fitting the stage of life, as when he saith.

Arsprima regni est posse to inuidium pa••••. History woulde haue carried you through many regions, into many battailes and many changes, and you shold haue little more for your ••aines▪ as in the life of Sylla, and many others of all times. A truelie disposed minde must meditate of this euen at his ente∣ring into this life, so shall it be no strā∣ger to him, nor drowne this well per∣so••nied actions with ••••rds, and excla∣mations. In another place he draweth the excellency of vertue, and that her strength passeth all strengthes. Vertutis est 〈…〉〈…〉

For so doth vertue prepares her sub∣iect, that nothing but herselfe oft en•••• of them with loue, and affection, all other things beeing by her caught to bee transitory, and mortall, euen pa•••• of himselfe, knowing which hee neither

feares, nor longs for the time of hi•• dis∣solution. So is Virgils Aeneiads a booke meete for a Prince, and his neerest in∣struments: for it being agreed by the most iudiciall censures, that in matters of state many things fall out both be∣yond expectation and naturall reason, which wee therefore call the Actes of Fortune: he saith,

—Superanda omnis Fortuna ferendo est.

For Pacience keepeth the reputati∣on vnspotted; though outward forces be destroyed, this makes the minde in∣uincible, which not onely giues gr••ces and preseruation ro the best par•••••• of man, but inforceth more commiserati∣on from the victour, then basenesse, in∣••reatie, and supplications, which AE∣••••bus the vtter ruine of the Macedo•• glory explained, when P••rseus the last of their kings beeing vanquished, prostrated himself•• at his feete, from which sight he turned his eyes, and cal∣led

him the robber of his glory, for his power, and name, made his victorie glorious, which the vilenesse of his person brought backe to contempt, as if he had ouercome a boye, or a wo∣man, the poorenesse of whose strength makes teares and supplications readier then resistance. At what time England remained vnpolished and vnmanured by the sweetenesse of letters, there was sound one Car••cta••us, whose name Tacitus celebrates with as great prai∣ses, as if a Romaine, and a conquerour, which last I name as the spurre of com∣mendations, for more faintely doe all men, as well as Historyographers mention the vanquished their Con∣queror: for many ac••ions are brought forth by the haste of occasion, to whome a long discourse is not Mid∣wife, yet done, the worlde maketh some one access••rie of many plottes, which hee neuer thought of, and an∣other guilty of imputations, because

ouercome. But Caractatus betrayed, and brought in triumph to Rome, was neither deiected with thinking of his captiuity, nor amazed at the Romans splendour, but then taught Claudius how it became him to vse his fortune, and in spight of fortune with the ••ag∣nanimity of his own minde made the action of those times confesse, that C••∣sar dum suum decus extollit addidit glo∣riam victo. How slowly and vnwilling∣ly praises are bestowed vpon the van∣quished, Tacitus Relates speaking of a king of Sueuia, Digressus C••stellis Var∣nius funditur praelio, quan qu•••• rebus ad∣uersis laudatus, quod et pugnam 〈◊〉〈◊〉 capescit, et corpore aduerse vielnera exci∣pit. Hee fought valiantly, and receiued wounds, but was not valiant because fortune gaue him not the victory. In another Virgill teacheth that no noble mindes are fearefull,

Degeneres Animos Timor arguit —

Who ought better to thinke of this

then a statesman, the heigth of whose actions brings him to handle thinges to an vnprepared minde daungerous, & fearefull, to eschew which he bindes him in a strong band, he fortels his ho∣nour, which is the most precious iewel of greatnesse, without which he be∣comes as vnprofitable as a Bee with∣out a sting, for whatsoeuer he is, be he neuer so great, or good, yet, magis fa∣ma, quam vi starent res suae, the reputati∣on of a statesman, the credit of a mar∣chant, and the modesty of a woman, preuailing more, then their powers, riches, or beauty. In another place,

Mens immota manet. Lachrimae volun∣tur inanes.

How feeble the succours of the body are, euery vnderstāding obseruing those creatures that either haue no soule, or hauing, vse it not, may easily know: for the grosenes of the bodies nature pre∣uailing but by strength, when that is vanquished Lachrimae voluntur Inanes:

but a minde made strong by vse, & ex∣ercise Immota manet; it lookes not vpon fortune with a deiected spirite, but not puffed vp with the vaine alluremēts of the body, is then plotting how to reco∣uer, not how to desire pardō: he lookes vpon his prefent state, not with teares, but vpon it, because vpon that ground-worke he must build the course of his freedome as he saith afterward.

Tunecede malis, sed contra audentior ito Quamtuà te Fortuna sinet —

Howsoeuer that Scithian fellow estee∣med musicke basely by preferring the neighing of horses before it, yet no question both musick, and letters, & e∣specially verses, which participate both with musick & letters, is a braue raiser of the spirits: & I thinke armes disable not themselues with taking assistance frō Poesie, for doubtles it makes valour beautifull, & well becomming, for ta∣king away part of his fiearcenesse, and adding insteed therof reason, makes it

true fortitude. Of Poets for this purpose some learned, talke much of Homer, but though they are learned, yet I dare not speake of him, because as neere as I can, I wil not build vpō others. Of those whom I vnderstād, Lucan, & Tasso, the one of which is auncient, & the other as worthy if seasoned by so much time, but I will not chide the world for that, for the reuerencing of age, & times past moderately is a good fault of a good nature. But this life of armes which cus∣tom hath taught to put on a gallāt iol∣lines in his outward behauiour, therby to show danger & distresse, cannot in their course mourne, or be feareful, gi∣uing leaue to the minde in these out∣ward semblances to play the braggart, & lay opē what she thinks of her owne resolution, which fashion of a souldier bindes him to entertaine all fortunes alike. For the high words & big lookes that vse hath made tolerable in this life, would adde deformity to his yeelding teares or cōplaints, but especially here.

—Crescit on aduersis Virtu••—

There's the alteration which the frownes of fortune should breede in him, beeing rather an Alarum for the summoning of his spirites, then a terrour driuing them awaye, which power, Nature hath giuen to the Ele∣ments by instinct, but a more excellent power hath she giuen to man, namely reason, with which if hee dooth not more then those more meanly indow∣ed, it is his fault, not Natures, for in rea∣son and discourse, the abilities of man, there is more then an Antipaerist aticall vertue.

—sua quis{que} pericula nescit Attonitus maiore metu—

So feare ought euery way to be re∣mote from the life of a Souldier, for neither is it handsome, nor safe, so stu∣pifying his vnderstanding, that neither the danger, his honour, his countrie, or his life is in, are either defended or re∣garded. But this banished makes not

valour but furie, for Iustice must bee matched with daring, or else it is not Fortitude; the cause must reconcile the effect to vpright truth, or else;

Heu quantum ••aenae miseris, mens cons∣cia donat?

Were guiltinesse remooued from punishment, yet to wrest the vnder∣standing against Iustice, is full of ter∣rour, the conscience being an insepe∣rable companion, which neither cor∣ruption nor feare can make silent. In no course is it more behoouefull then in the life of a souldiour, for armes tak∣eth vpon it to correct the disorder of peace; It is the Phisitian of a state, the Iusticer of a state, the Diuine of a state, for his inforcement is the Phi∣sicke, the execution, the counsaile ad∣ministred to those obstinacies vntrac∣table, but by computation. Tasso doth also yeelde many plentifull rules lea∣ding to the preseruation of life, and after that of honour.

E paer lieto morir, poscia che'lerudo, Totila è vinto, o saluo il caroscudo.

Cowards feele not death, but the me∣ditation of death, for that concluder of mortalitie is no more cruel to the cow∣ard, then to the valiant, the difference rests onely in their opinions, as it is in many other things of this world. What by some imaginations are called iew∣els, are by others determined trifles: as these outward things, so the choosers of these the affections, are according to their possessor: for a cowards feare, is in a wise man prouidence; lauish ioy, solid contentment: appetite made choise, wishes intentes, making hope fruition. Thus certaine doth wisdomes resolution performe his iourney with∣out halting, tiring, or straying. E par lieto morir. No doubt but to a minde that can inwardly relate a well-runne course, it cannot but be ioy to be taken vp, for with glory he ends, and remai∣ning longer he could not end better,

therefore longer life could haue beene but superfluous, perhaps dangerous: for many yeares well followed haue do∣ted before their ends, and so corrupted their worke fairely begun. E saluo il ca∣roscudo. In this shield I holde the pre∣seruation of honour, care of his coun∣trie, an honest life, for detraction can∣not be kept out without such a triple-leaued shield: but this shield imbra∣ced, enuie it selfe cannot wound, but death appeares like a gratefull maister releasing his seruant from trauell.

E tempo è ben che qualche nobil opra, De la nostra virtude homai si scopra.

So lazie, and fluggish are our natu∣rall inclinations, that I wish these ver∣ses the perpetuall obiect of my eyes, & if I should wish all men the same me∣dicine being sick of the same disease, I should do them no harme. Who thinks of the infinite capacity of mā, of his ad∣mirable inuentiō, of his immortalizing

the whole volume of abstract, & most formes: of the fertilenesse of his braine, where things are continually in con∣ceiuing, and bringing forth new, and they new, I cannot thinke of any thing which hee hath done that might not be excelled, considering his abilities, his workes are meane and slight, and their perfections so imperfect, as they are not worthy to bee called the chil∣dren of his loynes.

E tempo ben —

It is time, so soone as our breathing hath set a scotch vpon Time: what can I speake of this time, but as of the light giuen vs to liue by, which who spendeth idlely, or (as ill) luxuriouslic, is worthy to go to bed darkling, which is, to die without being able to produce any matter worthy of his life, which vacuitie of vertue at that time will breede more terrour to him, then dark∣nesse to children. It is time to do that we came for; for those imployed to be

vigilant, to the flourishing of their country: to those priuate to be an ex∣ample to others, and safety▪ to them∣selues, in taking the direct way of right

—che qualche nobil opra.

I am not so precise to call no Actions noble, that carty not with them a ru∣mour, or a glittering: to my meaning nobility and honesty meane all one, & thus may a painfull Artisan be noble, if he follow his vocation painefully and constantly, he is honest, and so noble, being a Iimmer of a state, though no maine Organ, and his beeing in right temper, so farre as his strength goeth, a preseruatiue to the whole. To knowe this he ought to temper the hotnes of ambition, for it is not the greatnes, but the goodnesse of an action that makes it worthy, which who so knoweth, and yet prosecuteth the violēce of that hu∣mor, ought to be cut off, for nothing is more fatall to a state then innouation, neither is there any thing so fast draw∣ing

to innouatiō as ambitions, it being innouations minority, like a pumple the childes age of a sore.

De la nostra virtude homai si scopra.

Here is the whole power of man taught the right vse, which we haue a cōmon speach no lesse illustrates whē we call the quality of things their ver∣tue, by which we inforce the strength of each thing to worke by the line of vertue: to this center should all the di∣ametricall parts of man tend, for they are but like the rayes of the sun, which borrow their beauty from the sun: for without vertue all the abilities of man are in darknesse, performing all things doubtfully, and perniciously: si scopra.

I do not thinke there can be concea∣led vertues, for though I hate ostenta∣tion, yet vertue ayming at nothing but the transforming her selfe into good∣nesse, and the excellencie of goodnesse resting in her communicating power, vertue is not come to her perfection,

vntil come to the perfectiō of goodnes

Duce sei tu, non simplice Guerriero, Publico fora, e non priuato il lullo.

Here doth he showe the office of a ge∣nerall, whose iudgement, not bodye, ought to bee imployed: Nature hath taught this to euery man, for shee hath made his armes to giue blowes, & de∣fend, his head to teach his armes, and to be sure we should not vse it out of the right kinde, shee hath giuen it neither nimblenesse, nor strength, but directiō to teach the other parts that vse. More neede not be said of this, for common experience makes it euery mans. I will speake now of no more Poets, though there be more of vse: onely thus much of the auncient Satyrists, I holde them not meete for euery mans reading, for they chide vice, & show it both togither, besides their darknes, & personall mea∣nings, take vp more time, thē knowne, they are worth: of other books though I haue already commended Plato, yet

speaking of bookes, I must againe mentiō him for his commentors sake, who doth excellently illustrate him, which he performes with as little de∣laye, and as fewe idle speeches, as the vnderstanding receiues knowledge from the sight of things which deli∣uer themselues truely and simply vnto her. I knowe not whither I should speake of Philosophicall bookes more, since if the reader be not a Phisitian, or an Herbarist, they breed in him curiosi∣tie rather then vse••, for I account these words of Plato, Peritia efficit vt vita no∣stra per Artem incedat, imperitia vero vt per fortunam temere circumuagetur, to tend rather to the knowledges pertinēt to an intended life, then to her vniuer∣sall body: for should a Iudge talke of the obseruations of an vrine, when he is about matters of life and death, who would not determine his skil vnneces∣sarie and ridiculous, since his Arte cures the minde, Phisick the body? nā medici

curant corpora, Paenae Animam. What Bookes, or art medles, with a doctrine remote from the vse of life is a busie i∣dlenesse, & a couer of an vnprofitable minde, like fidlers vndertaking the vse of an Instrument to keepe them from a more laborious trade. Lesse Astrono∣my then will make a Calender, will serue my turne: onely so much is suf∣ficient in a gentleman as seeing the re∣uolutions of the heauens, hee may see them without disinaidnesse, and vse his knowledge to the comfort of his igno∣raunt charge: As Dion going against Dyonisius the tirant, an Eclipse hapned, which astonished the multitude, but he conuerted it to the Eclipse of their enemies heigth, which fortified, and perswaded the feare, and blindnesse of his souldiours: the Eclipse (I thinke) would haue fallen out, though Dion had bin at home quietly in his cham∣ber, and I doubt not but this friend of Plato thought so to, but yet the mindes

not able to iudge of truethes, must be held with the exposition of these caele∣stiall apparences, and be perswaded that the heaueus worke thus, onely to incourage, and harten them on. For that coupler, and combiner of wordes Grammer, to be much longer then it is in the armes of our nurse, is naught. I acount it a pittifull sight to see a fel∣low at sixty yeare olde, learning to speake: to know the names of things without the things is vnprofitable, as a power to repeate the alphabet by a fellow altogether illiterate. I like well to speake, rather then to make signes, and to be carefull of ioyning the nom∣minatiue case to the verbe, as my ser∣uants or friends may vnderstand what I would, but to be Prentice to Tonus and Sonus for a life time, is a need∣lesse as to make new clothes when one lies a dying, for words are but clothes, matters substance. Rethorickes Cooke∣ry, is the vomit of a pedant, which to

make saleable he imitated the Dyer, whose fat working ill, hee makes a mendes by giuing those ill cullours new names: so this venting his infinity of words with calling it eloquence, and fortifying eloquence with methodicall diuisions. Rhetorica suadet, non docet: Is she could perswade what were wor∣thy to be taught, and bring that wor∣thy with her, it were better: but the slipery glibnes of the tonge giueth such a facility, to speake, as commonly it runnes without reason, & so is as fruite∣les as a messenger without an arrand. I might say of those remaining, that they hold more conclusiōs then are needfull for euery man, but I wil go no farther thē this tast. Againe of books, morality hath very ill luck now a daies, for ma∣ny haue medled with her with ill suc∣ces: I wil name thēfor they are vnhapy enough to be destinated to wast Paper. Those of cōmōwealthes, came as much short but it is no maruaile, for cōmonly they are scholers that neuer knew more

of gouernement, then it pleased Aris∣totles Politickes, or some such, rich one∣lie in the names of Oeconomicus, De∣spoticus, and Politicus, & then to define the three seuerall gouernementes, but they were to blame, for the Theoricke, & Practick of no arte nor subiect differ so much, as that of commonwealthes, and state businesse. Seneca of morality is the best, Petrarch de remediis vtrius∣que fortunae dooth well, but he was a sharper Poet, then a Philosopher, there being a more excellent quicknesse in his Sonets then Dialogues. There is now left Historie, which resembles, counsailours that aduise nothing but what they themselues haue done, which study is not without daunger, for it is so boūd to truth, that it must re∣late falshood, & continue rather in re∣latiō then in aduise: of these, the truest reflecting glasses are those that present particular mens liues. Amōg those I haue seene none are worthy but Plutarch,

& Diogenes Laertius, which two being diligentlie reade, and rightly vsed, can∣not but recompēce the readers paines, for the temperance of these Philoso∣phers mingled with the valour of Plu∣tarkes Captaines cānot choose but make an exact man. Tacitus alreadie hath re∣ceiued his sentence frō me, but I must againe say, he is more wise, then safe, but that is not his fault: for the Pain∣ter is not to be blamed though his pic∣ture be ill fauored if his paterne were so, nor Tacitus thought ill, because Ti∣berius was a tirant, Claudius a foole, Nero vicious. But neuer was there so wise an author so ill handeled by com∣mentors, for where as I am sure hee meant still wisely, some of them haue so powdred him with morality, that they conuert his iuice into as little variety, or good vse, as Beware by me good people; or if more gently, like Aesops talking creatures, that haue moralls tyed to their tailes. The rest

haue left him as they found him, with∣out making him confesse any thing; so that all of them haue done no more, thē to try who loues gold so well as to pul it out of the durt, for he that fetches his sentences out of their pages, aduen∣tures a bemiring. Comines is a good Historiographer, he knew much of the practick part of state learning, but I hold Guieciardine a better scholler, & more sentencious, as when he saith, Intuttele attioni humaine, et nella guerra massona∣mente bisogna spesso accōmodare il consig∣lio alla necessita. For the marshaling ad∣uise more cānot be said, for it teacheth an aduiser to take his marke so sure as he cannot misse: for respectes appea∣ring waighty in the time of the health of a state, must not be redeemed in her sicknesse, for preseruation is to bee preferred before comelinesse. There are many bookes by me omitted pre∣cious enough, if Time will giue vs leaue to digest these: for I am of

Senecaes minde concerning this va∣riety of Bookes, who compares an vnsetled reader, to a trauailer, that hath many Hostes, and few friendes. There are more, but mine is but an Essay, not a Catalogue. I thinke well of these Bookes named, and the better because they teach me how to mannage my∣selfe: where any of them grow sub∣tile, or intend heigh matters, I giue my memory leaue to loose them. There are none that I scratche with my pen that doe not fatherly counsaile me to the way of vertue. I like much better to doe well, then to talke well, choosing to be beloued rather then ad∣mired, aspiring to no more height then the comfort of a good conscience, and doing good to some, harme to none. If my Essayes speake thus, they speake as I would haue them, for I thinke not of making morality full of im∣brodery, cutworkes, but to clothe her in trueth, and plainenesse: nor if they straye doe I seeke to amende them

for I professe not method, neither will I chaine my selfe to the head of my chapter. If there be any yet so ignorant as may profit by them, I am content: if vnderstandings of a heigher reache dispise them, not discontent, for I mo∣derate thinges pleasing vpon that con∣dition, not to be touchd with things displeasing, who accoūtes them darke and obscure let them not blame mee, for perhaps they goe about to reade them in darkensse without a light, and then the fault is not mine, but the dim∣nesse of their owne vnderstanding: If there be any such, let them snuffe their light, & looke where the fault of their failing restes.