XXIII. 14-] THE SECOND BOOK. 229 



found fault there was not a window to look into them ; 

 that is, to procure good informations of particulars 

 touching persons, their natures, their desires and ends, 

 their customs and fashions, their helps and advantages, 

 and whereby they chiefly stand: so again their weak 

 nesses and disadvantages, and where they lie most 

 open and obnoxious; their friends, factions, depend 

 ences; and again their opposites, enviers, competitors, 

 their moods and times, Sola viri molles adilus et tempora 

 nor as; their principles, rules, and observations, and the 

 like : and this not only of persons, but of actions ; what 

 are on foot from time to time, and how they are con 

 ducted, favoured, opposed, and how they import, and the 

 like. For the knowledge of present actions is not only 

 material in itself, but without it also the knowledge of 

 persons is very erroneous: for men change with the 

 actions ; and whiles they are in pursuit they are one, and 

 when they return to their nature they are another. These 

 informations of particulars, touching persons and actions, 

 are as the minor propositions in every active syllogism ; 

 for no excellency of observations (which are as the major 

 propositions) can suffice to ground a conclusion, if there 

 be error and mistaking in the minors. 



15. That this knowledge is possible, Salomon is our 

 surety, who saith, Consilium in corde viri ianquam aqua 

 profunda; sed vir prudens exhauriet illud. And although 

 the knowledge itself falleth not under precept, because it 

 is of individuals, yet the instructions for the obtaining of 



it may. 



1 6. We will begin therefore with this precept, accord 

 ing to the ancient opinion, that the sinews of wisdom 

 are slowness of belief and distrust; that more trust be 

 given to countenances and deeds than to words ; and in 



