Cold maketh the pilage of beasts more thick | other countries, all being within three months or thereabouts. and long, as foxes of Muscovy, sables, &c. colds. Cold maketh the pilage of most beasts incline Qu. It is said, that compositions of honey, as to grayness or whiteness, as foxes, bears, and | mead, do ripen, and are most pleasant in the great so the plumage of fowls; and maketh also the crests of cocks and their feet white, as is re- The frosts with us are casual, and not tied to ported. any months, so as they are not merely caused by Extreme cold will make nails leap out of the the recess of the sun, but mixed with some inferior walls, and out of locks, and the like. causes. In the inland of the northern countries, Extreme cold maketh leather to be stiff like as in Russia, the weather for the three or four horn. months of November, December, January, FebIn frosty weather the stars appear clearest and ruary, is constant, viz. clear and perpetual frost, without snows or rains. most sparkling. In the change from frost to open weather; or from open weather to frosts, commonly great mists. In extreme colds any thing never so little which arresteth the air maketh it to congeal; as we see in cobwebs in windows, which is one of the least and weakest threads that is, and yet drops gather about it like chains of pearl. So in frosts, the inside of glass windows gathereth a dew; Qu. if not more without. There is nothing in our region, which, by approach of a matter hot, will not take heat by transition or excitation. There is nothing hot here with us but is in a kind of consumption, if it carry heat in itself; for all fired things are ready to consume; chafed things are ready to fire; and the heat of men's bodies needeth aliment to restore. The transition of heat is without any imparting of substance, and yet remaineth after the body Qu. Whether the sweating of marble and stones heated is withdrawn; for it is not like smells, be in frost, or towards rain. Oil in time of frost gathereth to a substance, as of tallow; and it is said to sparkle some time, so as it giveth a light in the dark. The countries which lie covered with snow have a hastier maturation of all grain than in for they leave some airs or parts; not like light, for that abideth not when the first body is removed; not unlike to the motion of the loadstone, which is lent without adhesion of substance, for if the iron be filed where it was rubbed, yet it will draw or turn. A LETTER AND DISCOURSE TO SIR HENRY SAVILL, TOUCHING HELPS FOR THE INTELLECTUAL POWERS. SIR, place to practise it, and judgment and leisure to look deeper into it, than I have done. Herein you must call to mind "Apiorov pèv vdwp. Though the argument be not of great height and dignity, nevertheless it is of great and universal use; and yet I do not see why, to consider it rightly, that should not be a learning of height, which teach COMING back from your invitation at Eton, where I had refreshed myself with company which I loved, I fell into a consideration of that part of policy whereof philosophy speaketh too much and laws too little; and that Is of education of youth. Whereupon fixing my mind a while, I found straightways, and noted even in the dis-eth to raise the highest and worthiest part of the courses of philosophers which are so large in this argument, a strange silence concerning one principal part of that subject. For as touching the framing and seasoning of youth to moral virtue, (as tolerance of labours, continency from plea- | to God's divine protection. sures, obedience, honour, and the like,) they han mind. But howsoever that be, if the world take any light and use by this writing, I will the gratulation be to the good friendship and acquaintance between us two. And so I commend you THE INTELLECTUAL POWERS. I DID ever hold it for an insolent and unlucky saying, "faber quisque fortunæ suæ," except it be uttered only as an hortative or spur to correct sloth. For otherwise if it be believed as it soundeth; and that a man entereth into an high imagination that he can compass and fathom all accidents; and ascribeth all successes to his drifts and reaches, and the contrary to his errors and sleep dle it; but touching the improvement and helping A DISCOURSE TOUCHING HELPS FOR of the intellectual powers, as of conceit, memory, and judgment, they say nothing. Whether it were that they thought it to be a matter wherein nature only prevailed; or that they intended it as referred to the several and proper arts which teach the use of reason and speech. But for the former of these two reasons, howsoever it pleaseth them to distinguish of habits and powers, the experience is manifest enough that the motions and faculties of the wit and memory may be not only governed and guided but also confirmed and en-ings. It is commonly seen that the evening forlarged by custom and exercise duly applied. As if a man exercise shooting, he shall not only shoot nearer the mark but also draw a stronger bow. And as for the latter of comprehending these precepts within the arts of logic and rhetoric, if it be rightly considered, their office is distinct altogether from this point. For it is no part of the doctrine of the use or handling of an instrument to teach how to whet or grind the instrument to give it a sharp edge, or how to quench it or otherwise whereby to give it a stronger temper. Wherefore finding this part of knowledge not broken, I have but "tanquam aliud agens" entered into it, and salute you with it, dedicating it after the ancient manner, first as to a dear friend: and then as to an apt person; for as much as you have both 104 tune of that man is not so prosperous as of him that without slackening of his industry attributeth much to felicity and providence above him. But if the sentence were turned to this, "faber quisque ingenii sui," it were somewhat more true and much more profitable; because it would teach men to bend themselves to reform those imperfections in themselves, which now they seek but to cover; and to attain those virtues and good parts, which now they seek but to have only in show and demonstration. Yet notwithstanding every man attempteth to be of the first trade of carpenters, and few bind themselves to the second: whereas nevertheless, the rising in fortune seldom amendeth the mind; but on the other side, the removing of the stondes and impediments of the mind, doth often clear the passage and current to a man's fortune. But certain it is, whether it be believed or no, that as the most excellent of metals, gold, is of all other the most pliant, and most enduring to be wrought: so of all living and breathing substances, the perfectest man is the most susceptible of help, improvement, impression, and alteration; and not only in his body, but in his mind and spirit; and there again not only in his appetite and affection, but in his powers of wit and reason. made a funambulo, will prove more excellent in his feats; but the less apt will be gregarius funambulo also. And there is small question, but that these abilities would have been more common, and others of like sort not attempted would likewise have been brought upon the stage, but for two reasons; the one because of men's diffidence in prejudging them as impossibilities; for it holdeth in those things which the poet saith, “ 'possunt quia posse videntur;" for no man shall know For as to the body of man, we find many and how much may be done, except he believe much strange experiences, how nature is overwrought may be done. The other reason is, because they by custom, even in actions that seem of most diffi- be but practices, base and inglorious, and of no culty and least possible. As first in voluntary great use, and therefore sequestered from reward motion, which though it be termed voluntary, yet of value; and on the other side, painful; so as the highest degrees of it are not voluntary; for it the recompense balanceth not with the travel and is in my power and will to run; but to run faster suffering. And as to the will of man, it is that than according to my lightness or disposition of which is most maniable and obedient; as that body, is not in my power nor will. We see the which admitteth most medicines to cure and alter industry and practice of tumblers and funambulos it. The most sovereign of all is religion, which what effects of great wonder it bringeth the body is able to change and transform it in the deepest of man unto. So for suffering of pain and dolour, and most inward inclinations and motions: and which is thought so contrary to the nature of man, next to that is opinion and apprehension; whether there is much example of penances in strict orders it be infused by tradition and institution, or of superstition, what they do endure such as may wrought in by disputation and persuasion: and the well verify the report of the Spartan boys, which third is example, which transformeth the will of were wont to be scourged upon the altar so bitter- man into the similitude of that which is most obly as sometimes they died of it, and yet were never servant and familiar towards it; and the fourth is, heard to complain. And to pass to those faculties when one affection is healed and corrected by which are reckoned more involuntary, as long fast- another; as when cowardice is remedied by shame ing and abstinence, and the contrary extreme, vora- and dishonour, or sluggishness and backwardness city. The leaving and forbearing the use of drink by indignation and emulation; and so of the like; for altogether, the enduring vehement cold and and lastly, when all these means, or any of them, the like; there have not wanted, neither do want have new framed or formed human will, then doth divers examples of strange victories over the body custom and habit corroborate and confirm all the in every of these. Nay, in respiration, the proof rest; therefore it is no marvel, though this faculty hath been of some, who, by continual use of diving of the mind (of will and election) which inclineth and working under the water, have brought them- affection and appetite, being but the inceptions and selves to be able to hold their breath an incredible rudiments of will, may be so well governed and time; and others that have been able, without managed, because it admitteth access to so divers suffocation, to endure the stifling breath of an remedies to be applied to it and to work upon it, oven or furnace, so heated as, though it did not the effects whereof are so many and so known as scald nor burn, yet it was many degrees too hot require no enumeration; but generally they do for any man not made to it to breathe or take in. issue as medicines do, into two kinds of cures, And some impostors and counterfeits, likewise, whereof the one is a just or true cure, and the other have been able to wreath and cast their bodies is called palliation; for either the labour and inteninto strange forms and motions: yea, and others tion is to reform the affections really and truly, reto bring themselves into trances and astonish-straining them if they be too violent, and raising ments. All All which examples do demonstrate how variously, and how to high points and degrees, the body of man may be (as it were) moulded and wrought. And if any man conceive that it is some secret propriety of nature that hath been in these persons which have attained to those points, and that it is not open for every man to do the like, though he had been put to it; for which cause such things come but very rarely to pass; it is true, no doubt, but some persons are apter than others; but so as the more aptness causeth perfection, but the less aptness doth not disable; so that, for example, the more apt child, that is taken to be VOL. I.-14 them if they be too soft and weak, or else it is to cover them; or if occasion be, to pretend them and represent them: of the former sort whereof the ex amples are plentiful in the schools of philosophers, and in all other institutions of moral virtue; and of the other sort, the examples are more plentiful in the courts of princes, and in all politic traffic, where it is ordinary to find not only profound dissimulations and suffocating the affections, that no note or mark appear of them outwardly, but also lively simulations and affectations, carrying the tokens of passions which are not, as "risus jussus," and "lachrymæ coactæ," and the like OF HELPS OF THE INTELLECTUAL POWERS. THE intellectual powers have fewer means to work upon them than the will or body of man; but the one that prevaileth, that is exercise, worketh more forcibly in them than in the rest. The ancient habit of the philosophers; "Si quis quærat, in utramque partem, de omni scibili.” The exercise of scholars making verses extempore; "Stans pede in uno." The exercise of lawyers in memory narrative. The exercise of sophists, and "Jo. ad oppositum," with manifest effect. Artificial memory greatly holpen by exercise. The exercise of buffoons, to draw all things to conceits ridiculous. The means that help the understanding and faculties thereof are : (Not example, as in the will, by conversation; and here the conceit of imitation already digested, with the confutation, "Obiter, si videbitur," of Tully's opinion, advising a man to take some one to imitate. Similitude of faces analysed.) 3. Of the advantages of exercise; as to dance with heavy shoes, to march with heavy armour and carriage; and the contrary advantage (in natures very dull and unapt) of working alacrity by framing an exercise with some delight or affection; "Veluti pueris dant crustula blandi Doctores, elementa velint ut discere prima." 4. Of the cautions of exercise; as to beware, lest by evil doing (as all beginners do weakly) a man grow not and be inveterate in an ill habit; and so take not the advantage of custom in perfection, but in confirming ill. Slubbering on the lute. 5. The marshalling, and sequel of sciences and practices: logic and rhetoric should be used to be read after poesy, history, and philosophy. First, exercise to do things well and clean: after, prompt Arts, Logic, Rhetoric: The ancients, Aristotle, Plato, Theætetus, Gorgias, litigiosus vel sophista, Protagoras, Aristotle, schola sua. Topics, Elen-ly and readily. The exercises in the universities and schools ches, Rhetorics, Organon, Cicero, Hermogenes. The Neoterics, Ramus, Agricola. Nil sacri; Lul- are of memory and invention; either to speak by lius, his Typocosmia, studying Cooper's Diction-heart that which is set down verbatim, or to speak ary; Mattheus' Collection of proper words for extempore; whereas, there is little use in action Metaphors; Agrippa de vanitate, &c. Qu. If not here of imitation. Collections preparative. Aristotle's similitude of a shoemaker's shop full of shoes of all sorts; Demosthenes Exordia concionum. Tully's precept, of Theses of all sorts, preparative. The relying upon exercise, with the difference of using and tempering the instrument; and the similitude of prescribing against the laws of nature and of estate. FIVE POINTS. 1. THAT exercises are to be framed to the life; that is to say, to work ability in that kind whereof a man in the course of action shall have most use. 2. The indirect and oblique exercises which do, of either of both but most things which we utter are neither verbally premeditate, nor merely extemporal; therefore exercise would be framed to take a little breathing and to consider of heads; and then to fit and form the speech extempore; this would be done in two manners, both with writing and tables, and without: for in most actions it is permitted and passable to use the note; whereunto if a man be not accustomed it will put him out. There is no use of a narrative memory in academies, viz. with circumstances of times, persons, and places, and with names; and it is one art to discourse, and another to relate and describe; and herein use and action is most conversant. Also to sum up and contract is a thing in action of very general use. JULIUS CESAR did write a collection of apophthegms, as appears in an epistle of Cicero; I need say no more for the worth of a writing of that nature. It is pity his book is lost: for I imagine they were collected with judgment and choice; whereas that of Plutarch and Stobæus, and much more the modern ones, draw much of the dregs. Certainly they are of excellent use. They are “mucrones verborum," pointed speeches. Cicero prettily calleth them "salinas," salt pits, that you may extract salt out of, and sprinkle it where you will. They serve to be interlaced in continued speech. They serve to be recited upon occasion of themselves. They serve, if you take out the kernel of them and make them your own. I have, for my recreation, in my sickness, fanned the old, not omitting any, because they are vulgar, for many vulgar ones are excellent good; nor for the meanness of the person, but because they are dull and flat; and adding many new, that otherwise would have died. ་ to accountants hereafter. But the lo. treasurer said, Why, I pray you, if you had lost your purse by the way, would you look forwards, or would you look back? The queen hath lost her purse." 1. WHEN Queen Elizabeth had advanced | to accountants that were already, but extend only Raleigh, she was one day playing on the virginals, and my Lo. of Oxford and another nobleman stood by. It fell out so, that the ledge before the jacks was taken away, so as the jacks were seen: my Lo. of Oxford and the other nobleman smiled, and a little whispered. The queen marked it, and would needs know what the matter was? My Lo. of Oxford answered: "That they smiled to see that when jacks went up, heads went down." 2. Henry the Fourth of France his queen was great with child; Count Soissons, that had his expectation upon the crown, when it was twice | or thrice thought that the queen was with child before, said to some of his friends, "That it was but with a pillow." This had someways come to the king's ear; who kept it till when the queen waxed great: called the Count of Soissons to him, and said, laying his hand upon the queen's belly; “Come, cousin, it is no pillow!"—"Yes, sir," answered the Count of Soissons, "it is a pillow for all France to sleep upon." 4. Queen Elizabeth, the morrow of her coronation, went to the chapel; and in the great chamber, Sir John Rainsford, set on by wiser men, (a knight that had the liberty of a buffoon,) besought the queen aloud; "That now this good time, when prisoners were delivered, four prisoners, amongst the rest, mought likewise have their liberty who were like enough to be kept still in hold." The queen asked; "Who they were?" And he said; " Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, who had long been imprisoned in the Latin tongue; and now he desired they mought go "" The abroad among the people in English.' queen answered, with a grave countenance; "It were good (Rainsford) they were spoken with themselves, to know of them whether they would be set at liberty?" 3. There was a conference in parliament be- 5. The lo. keeper, Sir Nicholas Bacon, was tween the Upper House and the Lower, about a asked his opinion by Queen Elizabeth of one of bill of accountants, which came down from the these monopoly licences? And he answered Lords to the Commons; which bill prayed, That" Will you have me speak truth, madam ? the lands of accountants, whereof they were Licentia omnes deteriores sumus;' seized when they entered upon their office, mought be liable to their arrears to the queen; but the Commons desired that the bill mought not look back the worse for a licence. We are all 6. Pace, the bitter fool, was not suffered to come at the queen, because of his bitter humour 107 |