Life of the Duke 175 



in conscience, honour and duty he ought to do; and 

 all successors of such worthy persons ought to be 

 more satisfied in the worth and merit of their pre- 

 decessours, then in their title and riches. 



IV 



I have heard that some noble gentleman (who was 

 servant to His Highness then Prince of Wales, our 

 now gracious soveraign, when My Lord was gover- 

 nour) should relate, that whensoever My Lord by his 

 prudent inspection and foresight did foretell what 

 would come to pass hereafter; it seemed so im- 

 probable to him, that both himself and some others 

 believed My Lord spoke extravagantly: but some 

 few years after, his predictions proved true, and the 

 event did confirm what his prudence had observed. 



I have heard, that in our late civil warres there 

 were many petty skirmishes, and fortifications of 

 weak and inconsiderable houses, where some small 

 parties would be shooting and pottering at each other; 

 an action more proper for bandites or thieves, then 

 stout and valiant soldiers ; for I have heard My Lord 

 say, that such small parties divide the body of an 

 army, and by that means weaken it; whereas the 

 business might be much easier decided in one or two 

 battels, with less ruine both to the country and army: 

 for I have heard My Lord say, that as it is dangerous 

 to divide a limb from the body; so it is also dangerous 

 to divide armies or navies in time of warr; and there 

 are often more men lost in such petty skirmishes, 

 then in set-battels, by reason those happen almost 

 every day, nay every hour in several places. 



