OF SUITORS 123 



matter could not otherwise have been had but by him, 

 advantage be not taken of the note, but the party left to 

 his other means ; and in some sort recompensed for his 

 discovery. To be ignorant of the value of a suit is sim- 

 plicity; as well as to be ignorant of the right thereof is 

 want of conscience. Secrecy in suits is a great mean of 

 obtaining; for voicing them to be in forwardness may 

 discourage some kind of suitors, but doth quicken and 

 awake others. But timing of the suit is the principal. 

 Timing, I say, not only in respect of the person that 

 should grant it, but in respect of those which are like to 

 cross it. Let a man, in the choice of his mean, rather 

 choose the fittest mean than the greatest mean ; and rather 

 them that deal in certain things, than those that are 

 general. The reparation of a denial is sometimes equal to 

 the first grant ; if a man shew himself neither dejected nor 

 discontented. Iniquum petas ut aequum feras is a good rule, 

 where a man hath strength of favour : but otherwise a 

 man were better rise in his suit ; for he that would have 

 ventured at first to have lost the suitor, will not in the 

 conclusion lose both the suitor and his own former favour. 

 Nothing is thought so easy a request to a great person, as 

 his letter; and yet, if it be not in a good cause, it is so 

 much out of his reputation. There are no worse instru- 

 ments than these general contrivers of suits ; for they are 

 but a kind of poison and infection to public proceedings. 



L 



OF STUDIES 



STUDIES serve for delight, for ornament, and for ability. 

 Their chief use for delight, is in privateness and retiring ; 

 for ornament, is in discourse ; and for ability, is in the 

 judgment and disposition of business. For expert men 

 can execute, and perhaps judge of particulars, one by one ; 

 but the general counsels, and the plots and marshalling of 

 affairs, come best from those that are learned. To spend 



