8 Of the Advancement of Learning. L i b. L 



like reafon, it cannot but be a matter of doubtful confequence, if States 

 be managed by Emperique Statel^men. On the contrary, it is almoft 

 without inftance, that ever any Government was difaftrous, that was in 

 the hand of Learned Governours. For howfoever it hath been ordina- 

 ry with Politick men to extenuate, and difable Learned men by the 

 name of Pedants, yet Hiftory, which is the miftreft of Truth, makes it 

 appear in many particulars, that the Government of Princes in minori- 

 ty, hath far excelled the Government of Princes of mature age, even 

 for that reafon which Politicks feek to traduce, which is, that by that 

 occafion the State hath been in the hands of Pedants. Who knows not 

 that for the firft five years fo much magnified during the minority of 

 Nero, the Burden of the State was in the hands of Seneca a Pedant > 

 So likewi(eG(?r^/^«»ir the younger owes the ten years applauded govern- 

 ment to Mifithcus a Pedant. And with the like happinefs Alexander Se- 

 Tjerus govern d the State in his minority, in which fpace women rul'd all, 

 but by the advice and counfel of Preceptors and Teachers. Nay, let a^ 

 man look into the Government of the B/pop of Rome, as by name, intp 

 the Government of Pius ^in&us or Sextus ^inUus in our times, who 

 were both at their entrance efteemed but as Pedantical Friars 5 and he 

 ftiall find, that fuch Popes do greaPer things, and procede upon truer 

 Principles, than thofe which have afcended to the Papacy from an e- 

 ducation and breeding, in affairs of ertate and Courts of Princes. For 

 though men bred in learning are, perchance, notfo quick and nimble in 

 apprehending occafions, and accommodating for the pre(ent to points 

 of convenience, which the Italians call Ra^gioni di Stato^ the very name 

 P'aton. wheieo^ Piuf ^intus could not hear with patience, but was wont to 

 (ay. That they were the inventions of wicked tnen, and repttgnant to Reli- 

 gion and the moral Vertues ; yet in this there is made ample recompence, 

 that they are perfect and ready, inthefafeand plain way of Religion, 

 Juftice, Honefty, and the Moral Vertues 5 which way, they that coa- 

 ftantly keep and purfue, (hall no more need tho(e other RemedieSjthan 

 a found body needs Phyfick, And bcfides, the fpace of one mans life 

 can not furnilh prefidents enough to direft the event of but one mans 

 life. For as it hapnethfometiraes that the great Grand-child, Nephew 

 or Pro-nephew, refembleth the Grand-father, or great Grand-father 

 more than the Father j fo many times it comes to pals, that the occur- 

 rences of prefent times may (brt better with ancient examples, than with 

 fhofcof later or immediate times. Laftly, the wit of one man can no 

 more countervail the latitude of Learning, than one mans means can hold 

 way with a common pur(e. 



IV. And were it granted that thoCefeducemcnts and indifpofttions im- 

 puted to Learning, by Politicks, were of any force and validity, yet it 

 muft be remembred withal, that le^^r^/wg miniftreth in every of themj 

 greater ftrength of medicine or remedy, than it offereth caufe of indif- 

 pofition or infirmity: For if that Learning by a fecret influence and ope- 

 ration makes the mind irrefolute andperplext, yet certainly by plain pre- 

 cept it teacheth how to unwinde the thoughts, how far to deliberate, 

 when to refolve , yea, it (hews how to protraft, and carry things in fuf^ 

 penfe without Prejudice till they refolve. 



§ Be it likewife granted that Learning ma^fs the minds of men more 

 peremptory and itrflexihle, yet withal it teacheth what things are in their 



nature 



