Patience gains this chiefest good, that in all Fortunes, he hath something to entertain and comfort himself withal.

CI

Peace

KI

ING James was pictured going easily down a Pair of Stairs, and upon every Step there was written, Peace, Peace, Peace. The wisest way for men in these times is to say nothing.

2. When a Country-wench cannot get her Butter to come, she says, the Witch is in her Churn. We have been churning for Peace a great while, and 'twill not come; sure the

Witch is in it.

3. Though we had Peace, yet 'twill be a great while ere things be settled. Though the Wind lie, yet after a Storm the Sea will work a great while.

CII

Penance

PENANCE is only the Punishment inflicted,

not Penitence, which is the right word: a Man comes not to do Penance, because he repents him of his Sin, but because he is compelled to it; he curses him, and could kill him that sends him thither. The old Canons wisely enjoined three years' Penance, sometimes more, because in that time a Man got a habit of Virtue, and so committed that sin no more, for which he did Penance.

People

T

CIII

People

HERE is not anything in the World more abused than this Sentence, Salus populi suprema Lex esto; for we apply it, as if we ought to forsake the known Law, when it may be most for the advantage of the People, when it means no such thing. For first, 'tis not Salus populi suprema Lex est, but esto; it being one of the Laws of the Twelve Tables; and after divers Laws made, some for Punishment, some for Reward, then follows this, Salus populi suprema Lex esto: That is, in all the Laws you make, have a special Eye to the Good of the People; and then what does this concern the way they now go?

2. Objection. He that makes one, is greater than he that is made; the People make the King, ergo, &c.

Answer. This does not hold; for if I have 1000l. per Annum, and give it you, and leave myself ne'er a Penny, I made you; but when you have my Land, you are greater than I. The Parish make the Constable, and when the Constable is made, he governs the Parish. The Answer to all these Doubts is, Have you agreed so? if you have, then it must remain till you have altered it.

PLEAS

EASURE is nothing else but the intermission of Pain, the enjoying of something

I am in great trouble for till I have it.

2. 'Tis a wrong way to proportion other Men's Pleasures to ourselves; 'tis like a Child's using a little Bird, "O poor Bird, thou shalt sleep with me; so lays it in his Bosom, and

stifles it with his hot Breath: the Bird had rather be in the cold Air. And yet too 'tis the most pleasing Flattery, to like what other men like.

3. 'Tis most undoubtedly true, that all Men are equally given to their pleasure; only thus, one man's pleasure lies one way, and another's another. Pleasures are all alike simply considered in themselves: he that hunts, or he that governs the Commonwealth, they both please themselves alike, only we commend that, whereby we ourselves receive some benefit; as if a man place his delight in things that tend to the common good. He that takes pleasure to hear Sermons, enjoys himself as much as he that hears Plays; and could he that loves Plays endeavour to love Sermons, possibly he might bring himself to it as well as to any other Pleasure. At first it may seem harsh and tedious, but afterwards 'twould be pleasing and delightful. So it falls out in that which is the great Pleasure of some Men, Tobacco; at first they could not abide it, and now they cannot be without it.

4. Whilst you are upon Earth, enjoy the good Pleasure Things that are here (to that end were they given), and be not melancholy, and wish yourself in Heaven. If a King should give you the keeping of a Castle, with all things belonging to it, Orchards, Gardens, &c., and bid you use them; withal promise you after twenty years to remove you to the Court, and to make you a Privy Councillor; if you should neglect your Castle, and refuse to eat of those fruits, and sit down, and whine, and wish that I was a Privy Councillor, do you think the King would be pleased with you?

5. Pleasures of Meat, Drink, Clothes, &c., are forbidden those that know not how to use them; just as Nurses cry pah! when they see a Knife in a Child's Hand; they will never say any thing to a Man.

CV

Philosophy

WHEN Men comfort themselves with Philo

sophy, 'tis not because they have got

two or three Sentences, but because they have digested those Sentences and made them their own: so upon the matter, Philosophy is nothing but Discretion.

CVI

Poetry

OVID was not only a fine Poet, but, as a

man may speak, a great Canon Lawyer,
in his Fasti, where we have more of

as appears

Poetry the Festivals of the old Romans than any where else: 'tis pity the rest are lost.

2. There is no reason Plays should be in Verse, either in Blank or Rhyme; only the Poet has to say for himself, that he makes something like that which somebody made before him. The old Poets had no other reason but this, their Verse was sung to Music; otherwise it had been a senseless thing to have fettered up themselves.

3. I never converted but two, the one was Mr Crashaw, from writing against Plays, by telling him a way how to understand that Place of putting on Woman's Apparel, which has nothing to do in the business, [as neither has it, that the Fathers speak against Plays in their Time, with reason enough, for they had real Idolatries mixed with their Plays, having three Altars perpetually upon the Stage]. The other was a Doctor of Divinity, from preaching against Painting; which simply in itself is no more hurtful than putting on my Clothes, or doing anything to make myself like other folks, that I may not be odious nor offensive to the Company. Indeed if I do it with an ill Intention, it alters the Case; so, if I put on my Gloves with an intention to do a mischief, I am a Villain.

4. 'Tis a fine thing for Children to learn to make Verse; but when they come to be Men, they must speak like other Men, or else they will be laughed at. 'Tis ridiculous to speak, or write, or preach in Verse. As 'tis good to learn to dance, a man may learn his Leg, learn to go