Reliquiae Wottonianae, or, A collection of lives, letters, poems with characters of sundry personages : and other incomparable pieces of language and art : also additional letters to several persons, not before printed / by the curious pencil of the ever memorable Sir Henry Wottan ...

Commendations proceeding from Subtilty, captive the Object; from Simplicity, the Author.

THere is a skil to purchase, and pay debts only with fair words, drawing on good offices, and requiti•…•… them with Commendations; the felicity whereof hath made Flattery the most familiar Rhetorick, a leaving the old method of Perswasion, by insinuating the worth of him who desires to receive; and with more ease raising a self conceit in the man who is apt to swallow such light Bribery, and not often indisposed to digest unthankefulness so curi∣ously seasoned. But it is no great inconvenience that kind∣ness

should be bestowed gratis, or upon cheap conditions; the loss is, when men of plain meaning adventure on the exchange and use of this coyn, who, forward to profess their belief, ingage the credit of their wisdome on the be∣haviour of such, whose actions are not within their power, and become bound in Suretiship, without the help of a Scri∣vener: which inconsiderate affection makes many earnest Speakers in defence of injuries done to others, and silent Patients of wrongs unexpectedly befalling themselves; de∣sire to make good their error, pressing their tongues to so unjust service; or care to dissemble it, debarring them from the general liberty of poor complaint.