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<h2> Of Gardens </h2>
<p>GOD Almighty first planted a garden. And indeed it is the purest of human
pleasures. It is the greatest refreshment to the spirits of man; without
which, buildings and palaces are but gross handiworks; and a man shall
ever see, that when ages grow to civility and elegancy, men come to build
stately sooner than to garden finely; as if gardening were the greater
perfection. I do hold it, in the royal ordering of gardens, there ought to
be gardens, for all the months in the year; in which severally things of
beauty may be then in season. For December, and January, and the latter
part of November, you must take such things as are green all winter:
holly; ivy; bays; juniper; cypress-trees; yew; pine-apple-trees;
fir-trees; rosemary; lavender; periwinkle, the white, the purple, and the
blue; germander; flags; orangetrees; lemon-trees; and myrtles, if they be
stoved; and sweet marjoram, warm set. There followeth, for the latter part
of January and February, the mezereon-tree, which then blossoms; crocus
vernus, both the yellow and the grey; primroses, anemones; the early
tulippa; hyacinthus orientalis; chamairis; fritellaria. For March, there
come violets, specially the single blue, which are the earliest; the
yellow daffodil; the daisy; the almond-tree in blossom; the peach-tree in
blossom; the cornelian-tree in blossom; sweet-briar. In April follow the
double white violet; the wallflower; the stock-gilliflower; the cowslip;
flowerdelices, and lilies of all natures; rosemary-flowers; the tulippa;
the double peony; the pale daffodil; the French honeysuckle; the
cherry-tree in blossom; the damson and plum-trees in blossom; the white
thorn in leaf; the lilac-tree. In May and June come pinks of all sorts,
specially the blushpink; roses of all kinds, except the musk, which comes
later; honeysuckles; strawberries; bugloss; columbine; the French
marigold, flos Africanus; cherry-tree in fruit; ribes; figs in fruit;
rasps; vineflowers; lavender in flowers; the sweet satyrian, with the
white flower; herba muscaria; lilium convallium; the apple-tree in
blossom. In July come gilliflowers of all varieties; musk-roses; the
lime-tree in blossom; early pears and plums in fruit; jennetings, codlins.
In August come plums of all sorts in fruit; pears; apricocks; berberries;
filberds; musk-melons; monks-hoods, of all colors. In September come
grapes; apples; poppies of all colors; peaches; melocotones; nectarines;
cornelians; wardens; quinces. In October and the beginning of November
come services; medlars; bullaces; roses cut or removed to come late;
hollyhocks; and such like. These particulars are for the climate of
London; but my meaning is perceived, that you may have ver perpetuum, as
the place affords.</p>
<p>And because the breath of flowers is far sweeter in the air (where it
comes and goes like the warbling of music) than in the hand, therefore
nothing is more fit for that delight, than to know what be the flowers and
plants that do best perfume the air. Roses, damask and red, are fast
flowers of their smells; so that you may walk by a whole row of them, and
find nothing of their sweetness; yea though it be in a morning's dew. Bays
likewise yield no smell as they grow. Rosemary little; nor sweet marjoram.
That which above all others yields the sweetest smell in the air is the
violet, specially the white double violet, which comes twice a year; about
the middle of April, and about Bartholomew-tide. Next to that is the
musk-rose. Then the strawberry-leaves dying, which yield a most excellent
cordial smell. Then the flower of vines; it is a little dust, like the
dust of a bent, which grows upon the cluster in the first coming forth.
Then sweet-briar. Then wall-flowers, which are very delightful to be set
under a parlor or lower chamber window. Then pinks and gilliflowers,
especially the matted pink and clove gilliflower. Then the flowers of the
lime-tree. Then the honeysuckles, so they be somewhat afar off. Of
beanflowers I speak not, because they are field flowers. But those which
perfume the air most delightfully, not passed by as the rest, but being
trodden upon and crushed, are three; that is, burnet, wildthyme, and
watermints. Therefore you are to set whole alleys of them, to have the
pleasure when you walk or tread.</p>
<p>For gardens (speaking of those which are indeed princelike, as we have
done of buildings), the contents ought not well to be under thirty acres
of ground; and to be divided into three parts; a green in the entrance; a
heath or desert in the going forth; and the main garden in the midst;
besides alleys on both sides. And I like well that four acres of ground be
assigned to the green; six to the heath; four and four to either side; and
twelve to the main garden. The green hath two pleasures: the one, because
nothing is more pleasant to the eye than green grass kept finely shorn;
the other, because it will give you a fair alley in the midst, by which
you may go in front upon a stately hedge, which is to enclose the garden.
But because the alley will be long, and, in great heat of the year or day,
you ought not to buy the shade in the garden, by going in the sun through
the green, therefore you are, of either side the green, to plant a covert
alley upon carpenter's work, about twelve foot in height, by which you may
go in shade into the garden. As for the making of knots or figures, with
divers colored earths, that they may lie under the windows of the house on
that side which the garden stands, they be but toys; you may see as good
sights, many times, in tarts. The garden is best to be square, encompassed
on all the four sides with a stately arched hedge. The arches to be upon
pillars of carpenter's work, of some ten foot high, and six foot broad;
and the spaces between of the same dimension with the breadth of the arch.
Over the arches let there be an entire hedge of some four foot high,
framed also upon carpenter's work; and upon the upper hedge, over every
arch, a little turret, with a belly, enough to receive a cage of birds:
and over every space between the arches some other little figure, with
broad plates of round colored glass gilt, for the sun to play upon. But
this hedge I intend to be raised upon a bank, not steep, but gently slope,
of some six foot, set all with flowers. Also I understand, that this
square of the garden, should not be the whole breadth of the ground, but
to leave on either side, ground enough for diversity of side alleys; unto
which the two covert alleys of the green, may deliver you. But there must
be no alleys with hedges, at either end of this great enclosure; not at
the hither end, for letting your prospect upon this fair hedge from the
green; nor at the further end, for letting your prospect from the hedge,
through the arches upon the heath.</p>
<p>For the ordering of the ground, within the great hedge, I leave it to
variety of device; advising nevertheless, that whatsoever form you cast it
into, first, it be not too busy, or full of work. Wherein I, for my part,
do not like images cut out in juniper or other garden stuff; they be for
children. Little low hedges, round, like welts, with some pretty pyramids,
I like well; and in some places, fair columns upon frames of carpenter's
work. I would also have the alleys, spacious and fair. You may have closer
alleys, upon the side grounds, but none in the main garden. I wish also,
in the very middle, a fair mount, with three ascents, and alleys, enough
for four to walk abreast; which I would have to be perfect circles,
without any bulwarks or embossments; and the whole mount to be thirty foot
high; and some fine banqueting-house, with some chimneys neatly cast, and
without too much glass.</p>
<p>For fountains, they are a great beauty and refreshment; but pools mar all,
and make the garden unwholesome, and full of flies and frogs. Fountains I
intend to be of two natures: the one that sprinkleth or spouteth water;
the other a fair receipt of water, of some thirty or forty foot square,
but without fish, or slime, or mud. For the first, the ornaments of images
gilt, or of marble, which are in use, do well: but the main matter is so
to convey the water, as it never stay, either in the bowls or in the
cistern; that the water be never by rest discolored, green or red or the
like; or gather any mossiness or putrefaction. Besides that, it is to be
cleansed every day by the hand. Also some steps up to it, and some fine
pavement about it, doth well. As for the other kind of fountain, which we
may call a bathing pool, it may admit much curiosity and beauty; wherewith
we will not trouble ourselves: as, that the bottom be finely paved, and
with images; the sides likewise; and withal embellished with colored
glass, and such things of lustre; encompassed also with fine rails of low
statuas. But the main point is the same which we mentioned in the former
kind of fountain; which is, that the water be in perpetual motion, fed by
a water higher than the pool, and delivered into it by fair spouts, and
then discharged away under ground, by some equality of bores, that it stay
little. And for fine devices, of arching water without spilling, and
making it rise in several forms (of feathers, drinking glasses, canopies,
and the like), they be pretty things to look on, but nothing to health and
sweetness.</p>
<p>For the heath, which was the third part of our plot, I wish it to be
framed, as much as may be, to a natural wildness. Trees I would have none
in it, but some thickets made only of sweet-briar and honeysuckle, and
some wild vine amongst; and the ground set with violets, strawberries, and
primroses. For these are sweet, and prosper in the shade. And these to be
in the heath, here and there, not in any order. I like also little heaps,
in the nature of mole-hills (such as are in wild heaths), to be set, some
with wild thyme; some with pinks; some with germander, that gives a good
flower to the eye; some with periwinkle; some with violets; some with
strawberries; some with cowslips; some with daisies; some with red roses;
some with lilium convallium; some with sweet-williams red; some with
bear's-foot: and the like low flowers, being withal sweet and sightly.
Part of which heaps, are to be with standards of little bushes pricked
upon their top, and part without. The standards to be roses; juniper;
holly; berberries (but here and there, because of the smell of their
blossoms); red currants; gooseberries; rosemary; bays; sweetbriar; and
such like. But these standards to be kept with cutting, that they grow not
out of course.</p>
<p>For the side grounds, you are to fill them with variety of alleys,
private, to give a full shade, some of them, wheresoever the sun be. You
are to frame some of them, likewise, for shelter, that when the wind blows
sharp you may walk as in a gallery. And those alleys must be likewise
hedged at both ends, to keep out the wind; and these closer alleys must be
ever finely gravelled, and no grass, because of going wet. In many of
these alleys, likewise, you are to set fruit-trees of all sorts; as well
upon the walls, as in ranges. And this would be generally observed, that
the borders wherein you plant your fruit-trees, be fair and large, and
low, and not steep; and set with fine flowers, but thin and sparingly,
lest they deceive the trees. At the end of both the side grounds, I would
have a mount of some pretty height, leaving the wall of the enclosure
breast high, to look abroad into the fields.</p>
<p>For the main garden, I do not deny, but there should be some fair alleys
ranged on both sides, with fruit-trees; and some pretty tufts of
fruittrees, and arbors with seats, set in some decent order; but these to
be by no means set too thick; but to leave the main garden so as it be not
close, but the air open and free. For as for shade, I would have you rest
upon the alleys of the side grounds, there to walk, if you be disposed, in
the heat of the year or day; but to make account, that the main garden is
for the more temperate parts of the year; and in the heat of summer, for
the morning and the evening, or overcast days.</p>
<p>For aviaries, I like them not, except they be of that largeness as they
may be turfed, and have living plants and bushes set in them; that the
birds may have more scope, and natural nesting, and that no foulness
appear in the floor of the aviary. So I have made a platform of a princely
garden, partly by precept, partly by drawing, not a model, but some
general lines of it; and in this I have spared for no cost. But it is
nothing for great princes, that for the most part taking advice with
workmen, with no less cost set their things together; and sometimes add
statuas and such things for state and magnificence, but nothing to the
true pleasure of a garden.</p>
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<h2> Of Negotiating </h2>
<p>IT IS generally better to deal by speech than by letter; and by the
mediation of a third than by a man's self. Letters are good, when a man
would draw an answer by letter back again; or when it may serve for a
man's justification afterwards to produce his own letter; or where it may
be danger to be interrupted, or heard by pieces. To deal in person is
good, when a man's face breedeth regard, as commonly with inferiors; or in
tender cases, where a man's eye, upon the countenance of him with whom he
speaketh, may give him a direction how far to go; and generally, where a
man will reserve to himself liberty, either to disavow or to expound. In
choice of instruments, it is better to choose men of a plainer sort, that
are like to do that, that is committed to them, and to report back again
faithfully the success, than those that are cunning, to contrive, out of
other men's business, somewhat to grace themselves, and will help the
matter in report for satisfaction's sake. Use also such persons as affect
the business, wherein they are employed; for that quickeneth much; and
such, as are fit for the matter; as bold men for expostulation,
fair-spoken men for persuasion, crafty men for inquiry and observation,
froward, and absurd men, for business that doth not well bear out itself.
Use also such as have been lucky, and prevailed before, in things wherein
you have employed them; for that breeds confidence, and they will strive
to maintain their prescription. It is better to sound a person, with whom
one deals afar off, than to fall upon the point at first; except you mean
to surprise him by some short question. It is better dealing with men in
appetite, than with those that are where they would be. If a man deal with
another upon conditions, the start or first performance is all; which a
man cannot reasonably demand, except either the nature of the thing be
such, which must go before; or else a man can persuade the other party,
that he shall still need him in some other thing; or else that he be
counted the honester man. All practice is to discover, or to work. Men
discover themselves in trust, in passion, at unawares, and of necessity,
when they would have somewhat done, and cannot find an apt pretext. If you
would work any man, you must either know his nature and fashions, and so
lead him; or his ends, and so persuade him; or his weakness and
disadvantages, and so awe him; or those that have interest in him, and so
govern him. In dealing with cunning persons, we must ever consider their
ends, to interpret their speeches; and it is good to say little to them,
and that which they least look for. In all negotiations of difficulty, a
man may not look to sow and reap at once; but must prepare business, and
so ripen it by degrees.</p>
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<h2> Of Followers And Friends </h2>
<p>COSTLY followers are not to be liked; lest while a man maketh his train
longer, he make his wings shorter. I reckon to be costly, not them alone
which charge the purse, but which are wearisome, and importune in suits.
Ordinary followers ought to challenge no higher conditions, than
countenance, recommendation, and protection from wrongs. Factious
followers are worse to be liked, which follow not upon affection to him,
with whom they range themselves, but upon discontentment conceived against
some other; whereupon commonly ensueth that ill intelligence, that we many
times see between great personages. Likewise glorious followers, who make
themselves as trumpets of the commendation of those they follow, are full
of inconvenience; for they taint business through want of secrecy; and
they export honor from a man, and make him a return in envy. There is a
kind of followers likewise, which are dangerous, being indeed espials;
which inquire the secrets of the house, and bear tales of them, to others.
Yet such men, many times, are in great favor; for they are officious, and
commonly exchange tales. The following by certain estates of men,
answerable to that, which a great person himself professeth (as of
soldiers, to him that hath been employed in the wars, and the like), hath
ever been a thing civil, and well taken, even in monarchies; so it be
without too much pomp or popularity. But the most honorable kind of
following, is to be followed as one, that apprehendeth to advance virtue,
and desert, in all sorts of persons. And yet, where there is no eminent
odds in sufficiency, it is better to take with the more passable, than
with the more able. And besides, to speak truth, in base times, active men
are of more use than virtuous. It is true that in government, it is good
to use men of one rank equally: for to countenance some extraordinarily,
is to make them insolent, and the rest discontent; because they may claim
a due. But contrariwise, in favor, to use men with much difference and
election is good; for it maketh the persons preferred more thankful, and
the rest more officious: because all is of favor. It is good discretion,
not to make too much of any man at the first; because one cannot hold out
that proportion. To be governed (as we call it) by one is not safe; for it
shows softness, and gives a freedom, to scandal and disreputation; for
those, that would not censure or speak ill of a man immediately, will talk
more boldly of those that are so great with them, and thereby wound their
honor. Yet to be distracted with many is worse; for it makes men to be of
the last impression, and full of change. To take advice of some few
friends, is ever honorable; for lookers-on many times see more than
gamesters; and the vale best discovereth the hill. There is little
friendship in the world, and least of all between equals, which was wont
to be magnified. That that is, is between superior and inferior, whose
fortunes may comprehend the one the other.</p>
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<h2> Of Suitors </h2>
<p>MANY ill matters and projects are undertaken; and private suits do putrefy
the public good. Many good matters, are undertaken with bad minds; I mean
not only corrupt minds, but crafty minds, that intend not performance.
Some embrace suits, which never mean to deal effectually in them; but if
they see there may be life in the matter, by some other mean, they will be
content to win a thank, or take a second reward, or at least to make use,
in the meantime, of the suitor's hopes. Some take hold of suits, only for
an occasion to cross some other; or to make an information, whereof they
could not otherwise have apt pretext; without care what become of the
suit, when that turn is served; or, generally, to make other men's
business a kind of entertainment, to bring in their own. Nay, some
undertake suits, with a full purpose to let them fall; to the end to
gratify the adverse party, or competitor. Surely there is in some sort a
right in every suit; either a right of equity, if it be a suit of
controversy; or a right of desert, if it be a suit of petition. If
affection lead a man to favor the wrong side in justice, let him rather
use his countenance to compound the matter, than to carry it. If affection
lead a man to favor the less worthy in desert, let him do it, without
depraving or disabling the better deserver. In suits which a man doth not
well understand, it is good to refer them to some friend of trust and
judgment, that may report, whether he may deal in them with honor: but let
him choose well his referendaries, for else he may be led by the nose.
Suitors are so distasted with delays and abuses, that plain dealing, in
denying to deal in suits at first, and reporting the success barely, and
in challenging no more thanks than one hath deserved, is grown not only
honorable, but also gracious. In suits of favor, the first coming ought to
take little place: so far forth, consideration may be had of his trust,
that if intelligence of the 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 simplicity; 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 show himself neither dejected nor discontented.
Iniquum petas ut aequum feras is a good rule, where a man hath strength of
favor: 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 favor. 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 instruments, than these general contrivers of suits; for they are
but a kind of poison, and infection, to public proceedings.</p>
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<h2> Of Studies </h2>
<p>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 too much time in
studies is sloth; to use them too much for ornament, is affectation; to
make judgment wholly by their rules, is the humor of a scholar. They
perfect nature, and are perfected by experience: for natural abilities are
like natural plants, that need proyning, by study; and studies themselves,
do give forth directions too much at large, except they be bounded in by
experience. Crafty men contemn studies, simple men admire them, and wise
men use them; for they teach not their own use; but that is a wisdom
without them, and above them, won by observation. Read not to contradict
and confute; nor to believe and take for granted; nor to find talk and
discourse; but to weigh and consider. Some books are to be tasted, others
to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested; that is, some
books are to be read only in parts; others to be read, but not curiously;
and some few to be read wholly, and with diligence and attention. Some
books also may be read by deputy, and extracts made of them by others; but
that would be only in the less important arguments, and the meaner sort of
books, else distilled books are like common distilled waters, flashy
things. Reading maketh a full man; conference a ready man; and writing an
exact man. And therefore, if a man write little, he had need have a great
memory; if he confer little, he had need have a present wit: and if he
read little, he had need have much cunning, to seem to know, that he doth
not. Histories make men wise; poets witty; the mathematics subtile;
natural philosophy deep; moral grave; logic and rhetoric able to contend.
Abeunt studia in mores. Nay, there is no stond or impediment in the wit,
but may be wrought out by fit studies; like as diseases of the body, may
have appropriate exercises. Bowling is good for the stone and reins;
shooting for the lungs and breast; gentle walking for the stomach; riding
for the head; and the like. So if a man's wit be wandering, let him study
the mathematics; for in demonstrations, if his wit be called away never so
little, he must begin again. If his wit be not apt to distinguish or find
differences, let him study the Schoolmen; for they are cymini sectores. If
he be not apt to beat over matters, and to call up one thing to prove and
illustrate another, let him study 197 the lawyers' cases. So every defect
of the mind, may have a special receipt.</p>
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