personatus is any dignity or preferment in the church.

2. There never was a merry world since the fairies left dancing, and the parson left conjuring. The opinion of the latter kept thieves in awe, and did as much good in a country as a justice of peace.

PATIENCE.

PATIENCE is the chiefest fruit of study. A man that strives to make himself a different thing from other men by much reading, gains this chiefest good, that in all fortunes he hath something to entertain and comfort himself withal.

PEACE.

1. KING James was pictured going easily down a pair of stairs, and upon every step there was written, peace, peace, peace. The wisest way for men in these times is to say nothing.

2. When a country wench cannot get her butter to come, she says, The witch is in her churn. We have been churning for peace a great while, and it will not come; sure the witch is in it.

3. Though we had peace, yet it will be a great while ere things be settled: though the wind lie, yet after a storm the sea will work a great while.

PENANCE.

PENANCE is only the punishment inflicted, not penitence, which is the right word; a man comes not to do penance, because he repents him of his sin, but because he is compelled to it; he curses him, and could kill him that sends him thither. The old canons wisely enjoined three years penance, sometimes more; because in that time a man got a habit of virtue, and so committed that sin no more, for which he did penance.

PEOPLE.

1. THERE is not any thing in the world more abused than this sentence, Salus populi suprema lex esto; for we apply it, as if we ought to forsake the known law, when it may be most for the advantage of the people, when it means no such thing. For first, it is not Salus populi suprema lex est, but esto, it being one of the laws of the twelve tables; and after divers laws made, some for punishment, some

for reward, then follows this, Salus populi suprema lex esto: that is, in all the laws you make, have a special eye to the good of the people; and then what does this concern the way they now go?

2. Objection. He that makes one, is greater than he that is made; the people make the king, ergo, &c. Answ. This does not hold; for if I have one thousand pounds per annum, and give it you, and leave myself never a penny, I made you; but when you have my land, you are greater than I. The parish makes the constable, and when the constable is made, he governs the parish. The answer to all these doubts is, Have you agreed so? If you have, then it must remain till you have altered it.

PLEASURE.

1. PLEASURE is nothing else but the intermission of pain, the enjoying of something I am in great trouble for till I have it.

2. It is a wrong way to proportion other men's pleasures to ourselves; it is like a child's using a little bird, O poor bird, thou shalt sleep with me; so lays it in his bosom, and stifles it with his hot breath: the bird had rather be in the cold air. And yet, too, it is the

most pleasing flattery, to like what other men like.

3. It is most undoubtedly true, that all men are equally given to their pleasure, only thus, one man's pleasure lies one way, and another's another. Pleasures are all alike, simply considered in themselves: he that hunts, or he that governs the commonwealth, they both please themselves alike, only we commend that, whereby we ourselves receive some benefit. As if a man place his delight in things that tend to the common good, he that takes pleasure to hear sermons, enjoys himself as much as he that hears plays; and could he that loves plays endeavour to love sermons, possibly he might bring himself to it as well as to any other pleasure. At first it may seem harsh and tedious, but afterwards it would be pleasing and delightful. So it falls out in that, which is the great pleasure of some men, tobacco; at first they could not abide it, and now they cannot be without it.

4. Whilst you are upon earth, enjoy the good things that are here (to that end were they given) and be not melancholy, and wish yourself in heaven. If a king should give you the keeping of a castle, with all things belonging to it, orchards, gardens, &c. and

bid you use them; withal promise you that after twenty years to remove you to the court, and to make you a privy counsellor. If you should neglect your castle, and refuse to eat of those fruits, and sit down, and whine, and wish you were a privy counsellor, do you think the king would be pleased with you?

5. Pleasures of meat, drink, clothes, &c. are forbidden those that know not how to use them, just as nurses cry pah! when they see a knife in a child's hand-they will never say any thing to a man.

PHILOSOPHY.

WHEN men comfort themselves with philosophy, it is not because they have got two or three sentences, but because they have digested those sentences, and made them their own: so upon the matter, philosophy is nothing but discretion.

POETRY.

1. OVID was not only a fine poet, but, as a man may speak, a great canon lawyer, as appears in his fasti, where we have more of the festivals of the old Romans than any where else: it is pity the rest are lost.