Part 30

=To mankinde there happeneth in the bodie manie deformities, which arising not by the defect of |Nature|, so much as by ill vsage of those, who haue had charge ouer them, cannot be amended, but being produced by |Nature|, doe portend some one or other notable inconuenience: To beautifie such a shape with vertuous and honoured actions, is vndoubtedlie praise worthie, but to accord vnto faire lineaments, portraied with requisite and daintie fauour, a mind corrupt, base, wretched and vile, that of all others is the most greatest and noted deformitie.=

=|Diogenes| being of one passing by, rebuked of his preposterous shape, and hard kinde of fauour, aunswered, |I with my vertues doe ornifie my shape, but thou with thy lewdnesse disgracest thy fauour.|=

=Touching the iudgement of nature by the outward face, many things might be alledged that diuerslie haue beene decerned, the matter wherof néeding small proofe, more then our owne common experience, I surcease to debate vpon, seeing my meaning is, but out of sundrie apparances to drawe forth the greatest likelihoode, and thence to repose a foundation consonant to yᵉ module or compasse of this my present intendment. Onely let this be laid down for a certaine, that the finest ware receiueth the fairest figure, and purest mettall the brightest colour, the damaske Rose carieth the swéetest fauour, and the most pliable part of |vertue|, is by greatest obseruance planted in the most proportionate feature.=

=This being then sufficiently spoken of the person, let vs now go to the |Conuersation|. This |Conuersation| séemeth vnto me in three points, or speciall notes to be considered: that is, in the |Qualitie, Disposition| and |order of companie|. Touching his |Qualitie|, it is requisite, that first and aboue all other, he be a man sequestred from all kind of pride, arrogancie or vaine conceiuing of himselfe, for that the infection of these, are steppes vnto all maner of disorder, contempt, malice, and presumption whatsoeuer: that he be not litigious in argument, as one vainlie giuen to contend: that hee bee no ordinarie scoffer, or friuolous deluder of other mens speeches, gestures, reasons, or conditions: that he be no quareler, lewd speaker, priuy carper, slanderer, or sinister backbiter of other mens actions, or laudable indeuours: but contrarie hereunto, that he be in spéech gentle, in gesture friendlie, in lookes familiar, in talke courteous, in argument not obstinate, but giuing place to better opinions, that gladlie of euerie one he do suppose the best, be readie to excuse infirmities, and to salue imperfections, that in ieasting hee become not another |Democritus|, or in carping a |Zoilus|, that his tongue, eie, and thoughts, be indifferentlie framed to iudge trulie and impartiallie of euerie one: that of all thinges hee abhorre priuate quarels, and open contentions, and as the rocks of |Scylla|, doe eschue of anie one absente sinisterlie to speake, or otherwise to enforme against them, for that in these qualities and conditions properlie, each one carieth a decernment of that which néerest appertaineth to a Gentleman.=

=Now touching his |disposition|, it is exacted at his hands, that hee bee not a man gluttonous, or that he bee not ouer much subiect to drinking, for drunkennes ouercommeth the mind, dulleth the memorie, enfeebleth the wits, maketh a man forgetfull of himself, the reputation he beareth, and the company wherein he sitteth. |Wine| saith _Ouid_, is the discouerer of secrets, & maketh a man often commit, yᵉ which afterwardes turneth to his great preiudice: in wine the regard of a mans selfe, and likewise all others vanisheth, the respect of his credite also and place wherein he serueth: a man giuen much to wine, hath no maisterie ouer himselfe, and is not to be trusted with matters that be important: a man talkatiue and one giuen to wine are both likened togither in disposition, for in the one the strength of the liquor inforceth to speake what he ought not, and in the other the volubility of the tongue, giueth vtterance many times to what it should not: |Speech|, saith the wise man, is a thing naturally giuen to euery man, but he that ordreth his words by discretion, seeth the way to wisdome.=

=This vertue of ordring and kéeping the tongue, is vnto our |Secretorie| not the least of manie other points wherewith he ought especiallie to be charged, in him that is disposed to speake much, it cannot but ensue that his often babbling must néedes at one time or other, giue proofe that hee hath in himselfe as little |secrecie| as |silence|. To preuent this inconuenience, wise men haue obserued in nature a most notable and singular prouidence, who to the intent that men by her verie instigation, might be commended to |silence|, hath giuen vs two eares to heare, and an attentiue conceyte, whereby generallie to debate and consider of all things, and but one mouth to speake, giuing vs in testimonie thereby, that we ought to heare much, to know much, to vnderstand much, and to speake but a little. Besides, that the tongue whereby deliuerance is made, she hath first closed in with our téeth, and them couered againe with our lippes, forewarning still thereby, that nothing ought thence to be discouered in hast, not without especiall regard and district obseruance. For in this case also discréete |Nature|, after we haue once receyued into our eares the sound of anie thing, she thence preferreth it immediatelie vnto the minde, and thence to the heart to be censured or considered vpon: and last of all vnto the tongue, to whose lot, as last of these it befalleth to bee partaker of it, so ought it from thence carefullie, and not without especiall cause to be deliuered.=

=The |diuine Philosopher| foreséeing in man, the manifolde discommodities oftentimes ensuing by loosenes of the tongue, where all others were teachers to speake wel, he only taught his scholers to vse silence, iudging therby, that the vertue of the toung consisted not soly in speking, but how or by what occasion to vse yᵉ same, and vnderstanding first how to restraine the thing, that of it selfe was plyable ynough to bee vsed without measure, they might easilier find mean afterward to speake oftentimes to good purpose, and not to accustome themselues as they did before, to prattle without order or anie good or reasonable parte belonging to discretion.=

=For this cause |Silence|, as the first gard of all affaires, beeing either secrete or important, is (vnto men seriouslie occupied or imployed in the same) directly to be commended. Which maner of |Silence|, as it fullie instructeth in causes serious and of waight, to speake nothing more than néedeth, so conueieth it also into the residue of our behauiours, a modest and choice kind of gouernment, in all actions whatsoeuer, either of question or argument, to bee with discretion pursued.=

=How much it importeth vnto our |Secretorie|, to haue notice of the true and perfect vse hereof, who aboue al others ought rightlie to know and discerne, how, where, when, what, and to whom hee ought to speak, and when, and wherein, to be likewise silent: it may by the reasons aforesaid be sufficientlie collected. For ought his speech in troth to be so ordinarie as other mens, who for the moste part limit themselues neither to time, place, occasion, or company, the which in our |Secretorie| is, and ought to be farre otherwise. And as touching the affaires, secrets or counsels committed to his charge: It is in him principallie to aduert and consider that he is but the closet, wherof another hath both the key, vse and commandement, that he ought therein to be as a thicke plated doore, where through, without extraordinarie violence no man may enter, but by the locke which is the tongue, and that to be of such efficacie, as whereof no counterfeit key shoulde bee able to make a breach, without the selfe same instrument that by the director thereof is alwayes to be caried. By reason whereof, he is of méere trust and fidelitie in him reposed, to become warie of his wayes, and to take the course néedfull, whereby the least occasion of breach thereof may preciselie be auoided.=

=Ouer and besides all this, it shall further appertaine to the disposition of this our |Secretorie|, that in shewing himselfe affable to all, he doe not either by reason of his birth, qualitie or estimate that he hath of his L. or maister, goe about to abuse or wrest the simplicitie of any one to a bad end or purpose, but rather enforce himselfe gladlie to vnderstande the sutes of the meanest, and to giue them aide and furtherance to his vttermost: herein shall hee not a little aduance the honor of his L. or maister in preferring the iust and lawfull petitions or complaints of the poore, & in helping them to yᵉ spéedie dispatch of that, wherwith by reason of their simplicitie, they oftentimes are greatlie incumbred. It behooueth also so much as in him is, that he auoid all kind of intemperancie, eyther of choler or too much furie, that hee dispose not himselfe to vile or vnbeseeming tearmes of basenes or surquedrie, that hee with the two extreames of couetousnes or prodigality be not touched, that naturallie he do incline to good, and hate the badnes of any, that he abhorre flatterie as a Toad, and giue himselfe of anie particular action, either to be vtterlie silent, or els to speake trulie.=

=Lastlie now, touching the third point of these thrée, consisting in order, |appertaining to companie:| Néedfull it is that our |Secretorie| haue in speciall remembrance the auncient saying, that common experience giueth to all men for approoued, which is, that |Such as a man of himselfe is, such alwayes are they with whome he conuerseth.=

=If therefore of his owne mind and disposition a man endeuoureth to bee good, and so to liue and be accounted of, him then beseemeth chieflie to haue respect to the companie hee holdeth. For which occasion, the Philosopher aduiseth, that men being good, doe choose to haue familiaritie with men that are best, to the intent that by the societie of them, their |Vertue| may haue encrease, and themselues learne to become better. The corruption of young men, by nothing so much accrueth, as by the slender respect they haue of those with whome they do accompanie, for that it resteth assuredlie out of doubt, that the euill example and encouragement of one vile and ill disposed person, hurteth more a great deale oftentymes in one dayes companie kéeping, then seuen yeares endeuour afterwards, maie release by anie good instruction. Herein also the rather resteth vnto our |Secretorie|, a most principall regard thereof to be had, forsomuch as not the conuersation alone, wherein he is choiselie to be affected, dependeth therupon, but the matter also of his ouerthrow and discredit, for who séeth not in often apparance, that men simply conceited, and of their owne proper instinct verie well giuen, are more discredited and condemned many times, by occasion of the company wherinto they haue aduentured, then of anie apparant euill that in their owne persons rested publiquelie to be decerned.=

=Hereunto accordeth the proofe of all common societie, wherein men onely of those that know them are iudged as they be, but in generall reckoning, are euer censured according to the goodnesse or badnesse of those, with whom they liue familiarlie. It followeth therefore, that |Who so will no euill doe, must doe nought that longs thereto|, for in good men it is not alwayes inough of themselues wittinglie not to haue committed anie euill, but hee that desireth to be good indeed, ought not so much as to become an occasion or slander of euill. If men would but throughlie enter into the weight of their estates, and trulie consider with themselues what of dutie appertaineth to verie reputation indéede, they would not then think it ynough to be in this credite, or that place, or thus countenanced, or that waie enriched, arming themselues onelie thereby with vainglorious titles, but therewith would also deepelie imprint, that them likewise behooued by certaine especiall insight had into their owne wayes, so to order and direct themselues, as therby deseruedlie they might beare the selfe same account whole and vnblemished, which in opinion they haue caried, the which cannot anie wayes bee, without in all their outward and inward actions, they doe beare an especialleie to the matter of their owne credite. And what one thing is there in the world (to him that by true degrées of |vertue| endeuoureth to be aduaunced) more charie then the account and estimate had of his name and fame? What one good more excéeding, nay what life can be more precious? Much therefore ought the regarde hereof be in choice vnto our |Secretorie|, as that which as an action most singular I haue iudged fit to be exposed in this place vnto him.=

=Hitherto haue we endeuoured in person and behauiour to find a man méet and conuenient to the purpose hereof, wherein my intent hath béene not to omit anie thing which to that place and calling might anie wayes be adiudged necessarie. Now the circumstance of these procéedings leadeth vs next to consider of our |Secretories| abilitie.=

=In this consideration, it falleth out, that for asmuch as his |Office| and |place|, calleth him altogither, or for the most part to the handling of deepe and weightie affaires, wherin his capacitie shall sundrie wayes be exercised, and his wits throughlie tryed, it behooueth he therefore be furnished with |Skill| and |knowledge =accordinglie, whereby the better to be adapted, vnto the ordinarie vsage and employment thereof. To this end it befitteth that he bee well studied, especiallie in the |Latine| tongue. It is likewise conuenient that herewithall he haue a ripe and quicke conceit, aptlie to receiue, what on a sudden shall be to him deliuered, and that he retaine with himselfe a sound and good memorie, for the conseruation of those things that vnto his charge shall daylie bee committed. He ought for his owne furniture and instruction to bee a man not altogither vnexperienced, to be well languaged, to bee sufficientlie read in |Histories| and |antiquities| of times passed, to haue notice both by reading and conference, of the situations, customs, maners & conditions of men, cities, countries, & common weals, to haue familiaritie with strangers, and men of diuers nations, whereby the better to bee ascertained of their humours, behauiours, and dispositions: and wiselie to worke vnto himselfe a peculiar insight into their estates, counsels and iurisdictions, béeing there withall warie that this association with such kind of people, worke not vnto himselfe, or the affaires wherewith he shall bee credited anie matter of preiudice.=

=Now is it a matter often séene, and in common vse almost to be found, that a great many of men otherwise discréete, learned, experienced, and for their seueral callings questionlesse of very good deliuerie, and euery way to be deemed sufficient, some also that in the |Greeke| and |Latine| tongues are verie well studied, and are also with the vse of forraine languages laudablie indued, that notwithstanding haue not in themselues the facultie and vse of well writing, nor can orderly, & vpon a sudden lay down without much adoe, and that many times also in very preposterous maner when it is done, what to anie extraordinarie purpose seemeth to bee thought meete and conuenient. Some againe in whome there is lesse |Skill|, greater |Ignorance| of learned knowledge, and farre meaner application euerie waie, wherewith to bee enabled with sufficiency, haue neuerthelesse a |Conceipt| so rife, and are in |wit| so prompt and capable of any thing laide before them, as by and by there wanteth not (though in truth when they haue done, they cannot learnedly answere for it) neither |inuention| nor |imitation|, wherewith in very commendable sort to performe what them seemeth good, on a sodaine to deliuer in writing.=

=What shoulde be the cause hereof, I cannot else déeme, but onlie a méere instinct of Nature, who seuerallie poureth her giftes in their creation vnto euerie one, whereunto others (exempted from that proportion) doe seldome by anie |Art| or |Studie| reach vnto, yet is |Exercise| no doubt in those that haue any fauour of learning, hereunto a great furtherance: But he that in this place must bee applyed, how learned so euer he bee, must a little giue place vnto his Schooles, and frame his penne and order of practise to pursue that forme of writing, which plainest meaning and aptest speech, hath in common deliuerie, the indeuour whereof howe difficult the same will bee to one beeing rife in discourse, my selfe haue had some priuate testimonie, notwithstanding Vse and continuall Practise I knowe, is that which in time ouermaistreth all things.=

=To the beautifying then of this part of our |Secretorie|, it is néedfull that he be somewhat therein ayded and furthered by |Nature|, to the intent his inuention to euery seueral occasion, may be the more easie and proper, and that without any often blurring or enterlining which commonlie happeneth to those, in whom long studie seemeth so hardly to hew out their labours, as if by a manner or kinde of inforcement, the same from a hard rock were violently to be drawne forth and caried, which |Bluntnesse|, as I maie tearme it, of |Conceite|, is not in this part of seruice in anie wise to be admitted. Neither am I for all this ignorant, how manifoldlie it often befalleth vnto diuerse the readiest wittes, that at some one time more then at another, they haue lesse abilitie, and much harder is their deliuerie a great deale, in matters exquisite to be performed, then vsuallie otherwise is by ordinarie triall vnto them accustomed: the occasions whereof may be diuers, whereby the sences are manie wayes dulled, as by too much replexion of meates and drinkes excessiuelie taken, by too great studie and often musing, driuing therby into a melancholie passion, by motions too intemperat, happening vnto the mind: and finally, vpon sundrie other instincts and occasions, which I cease to remember, all which being offensiue as they are, vnto the necessarie regarde of this our |Secretories| attendance, it standeth him greatly vpon by all possible meanes to represse them, to the end that his wittes being as néere as by endeuour can be compassed, alwaies in one self state and readinesse, he maie not in times suddenlie requiring effectual and present dispatch, appeare any waies disfurnished, of that which at his handes, is and must of necessitie in this place bee required.=

=It is not then learning alone (as you see) that is able to make a man meet to this kind of practice and study, but naturallie to be besides indued both with |wit, vnderstanding|, and |memory| whereby to lead and conueie those necessarie euents, that in this place are dailie to be frequented, and therewith to haue likewise care and regard, with modest and discreet maners and behauiours to preserue and keepe the same forces, whereby he may be the more readilie prouided (as I said before) for all times and purposes. Neuerthelesse, how much needful it is to that place more then ordinarilie to bee learned, yea with the greatest abilitie and perfection (if it were possible) to bee also euerie waie adorned, I haue alreadie sufficientlie laid downe before hande, and still do propose the waight thereof, as a respect amongst others to be most especiallie imbraced.=

=In this maner haue we by sundrie degrees endeuoured to lead along our |Secretory| vnto his appointed |Place| and |Office|, wherein we haue first discoursed largelie of the function hee beareth, respectiuelie touching his seruice: next to frame him both in |Person, Birth, Education, Qualitie, Disposition, Conuersation|, and |Abilitie|, a man meete for that purpose. It now resteth, that as the finall determination of this labour we deliuer vnto him his office. Of this then the parte especiall and intendment most principall, consisteth, (as by experience is found) in the vse and exercise of the |Pen|, the |Wit| and |Inuention| togethers. The abilitie so exactlie before required, and discoursed vpon, is herein nowe to be put in practise. To the execution of this office, it is requisite the |Secretory|, be for the perfection of his hand, in the varietie and neat deliuerie of his letters in writing, singularlie to be commended, that he haue with himselfe also therein a verie readie vse, quicke, and speedie conueyance for dispatch, that warilie he giue heede to obserue the order, methode and forme to him from his Lord or master deliuered: forasmuch as in discharge hereof he is vtterlie to relinquish anie affectation to his own doings, or leaning herein to anie priuate iudgement or fantasie. His pen in this action is not his owne, but anothers, and for this cause the matter to him committed are to depend vpon the humor of his commander, and not vpon his own or any others directions.=

=Hereof is he excéedingly to becom studious, and a zealous imitator in all thinges, to the intent that knowing the effects of his Lord, with what ends and purposes they are caried, & vnto what forme and maner of writing he is speciallie addicted, he may the more easilie and with better contentment discharge that part of his seruice, wherein by continuall occurrents he shall haue occasion daily to be imploied.=

=He is in performance of this charge, to bee a man watchfull, diligent, carefull, industrious, not giuen to ease, to auoid all occasions of slouth, to the end, (as I said before) by continuall exercise of his wits, to retain his spirits apt, & his memory fresh. For |Idlenes| of it selfe is the proper nourishment of manie other euils, the hinderer of each good purpose, and the deformed monster of al humaine exercises. Whilest |Idlenesse| attacheth the bodie, it giueth scope to ill thoughts, occasioneth distemper, maketh vnweldie to labour, breedeth wearisomnes of vertuous exercises, entiseth to vanities, corrupteth with pleasures, and feedeth a man with trifles. If therefore there shall bee anie time vacant of affaires vnto our |Secretory|, (as all seasons are not alike wherein still to be occupied) the same shall he deuise, either in pleasant recreation to bee spent or in some other honest exercise or studie, wherein whatsoeuer is not improper vnto a gentleman, shall be to him in speciall choise and as an action fittest of all others to be receiued.=

=His office is likewise to entertaine all maner of suters vnto his Lord, to conceiue and vnderstand of their seuerall occasions, and how much or how little, they or anie of them do import, to answer the dispatch of the greatest with as much facilitie as he may, and those of lesse moment with discretion to remooue, and put backe, to the ende the walkes and passages of his Lorde be not with the vaine and friuolous demeanors of fond people too often encumbred.=