ADVICE TO SIR GEORGE VILLIERS. 405 



you do not flatter him : if you do, you are as great 

 a traitor to him in the court of heaven, as he that 

 draws his sword against him : and in respect of the 

 suitors which shall attend you, there is nothing will 

 bring you more hononr and more ease, than to do 

 them what right in justice you may, and with as 

 much speed as you may : for believe it, Sir, next to 

 the obtaining of the suit, a speedy and gentle de 

 nial, when the case will not bear it, is the most 

 acceptable to suitors : they will gain by their dis 

 patch ; whereas else they shall spend their time and 

 money in attending, and you will gain, in the ease 

 you will find in being rid of their importunity. But 

 if they obtain what they reasonably desired, they will 

 be doubly bound to you for your favour ; &quot; Bis dat 

 qui cito dat,&quot; it multiplies the courtesy, to do it with 

 good words and speedily. 



That you may be able to do this with the best 

 advantage, my humble advice is this ; when suitors 

 come unto you, set apart a certain hour in a 

 day to give them audience : if the business be light 

 and easy, it may by word only be delivered, and in 

 a word be answered ; but if it be either of weight 

 or of difficulty, direct the suitor to commit it to 

 writing, if it be not so already, and then direct him 

 to attend for his answer at a set time to be ap 

 pointed, which would constantly be observed, unless 

 some matter of great moment do interrupt it. When 

 you have received the petitions, and it will please 

 the petitioners well, to have access unto you to de 

 liver them into your own hand, let your secretary 



