MEMB. 7. Against Repulse, Abuses, Injuries, Contempts, Disgraces, Contumelies, Slanders, Scoffes, &c.

I May not yet conclude, think to appease passions, or quiet the minde till such time as I have likewise removed some other of their more eminent and ordinary causes, which produce so grievous tortures and discontents: to divert all I cannot hope; to point alone at some few of the chiefest, is that which I aime at.

Repulse and disgrace are two main causes of discontent, but to an understanding man not so hardly to be taken. Cæsar himself hath been denied, and when two stand equall in fortune, birth, and all other qualities alike, one of necessitie must lose. Why shouldst thou take it so grievously? It hath been a familiar thing for thee thy self to deny others. If every man might have what he would, we should all be deified, Emperours, Kings, Princes: if whatsoever vain hope suggests, unsatiable appetite affects, our preposterous judgement thinks fit were granted, we should have another Chaos in an instant, a meer confusion.

It is some satisfaction to him that is repelled, that dignities, honours, offices, are not alwayes given by desert or worth, but for love, affinitie, friendship, affection, great mens letters, or as commonly they are bought and sold. Honours in court are bestowed not according to mens vertues and good conditions (as an old courtier observes) but as every man hath means, or more potent friends, so he is preferred.

With us in France (for so their own countrey man relates) most part the matter is carried by favour and grace; he that can get a great man to be his mediatour, runns away with all the preferment. Indignissimus plerumque præfertur, Vatinius Catoni, illaudatus laudatissimo;

— servi dominantur; aselli Ornantur phaleris, dephalerantur equi.

An illiterate fool sits in a mans seat, and the common people hold him learned, grave and wise: One professeth (Cardan well notes) for a thousand Crowns, but he deserves not ten, when as he that deserves a thousand cannot get ten. Solarium non dat multis salem. As good horses draw in carts, as Coaches.

And oftentimes, which Machiavel seconds, Principes non sunt qui ob insignem virtutem principatu digni sunt, he that is most worthy wants imployment; he that hath skill to be a pilot wants a ship; and he that could govern a Commonwealth, a world it self, a King in conceit, wants means to exercise his worth, hath not a poor office to manage.

And yet all this while he is a better man that is fit to reign, etsi careat regno, though he want a kingdome, then he that hath one, and knows not how to rule it: a Lion serves not alwayes his keeper, but oftentimes the keeper the Lion, and as Polydore Virgil hath it, multi reges ut pupilli ob inscitiam non regunt sed reguntur. Hieron of Syracuse was a brave King, but wanted a Kingdom; Perseus of Macedon had nothing of a King but the bare name and title, for he could not govern it: so great places are often ill bestowed, worthy persons unrespected.

Many times too the servants have more means then the masters whom they serve, which Epictetus counts an eye-sore and inconvenient. But who can help it?

It is an ordinary thing in these dayes to see a base impudent asse, illiterate, unworthy, unsufficient, to be preferred before his betters, because he can put himself forward, because he looks big, can bussle in the world, hath a fair outside, can temporize, collogue, insinuate, or hath good store of friends and mony, whereas a more discreet, modest, and better deserving man shall lie hid or have a repulse.

’Twas so of old, and ever will be, and which Tiresias advised Ulysses in the Poet,

—— Accipe quâ ratione queas ditescere, &c.

is still in use; lie, flatter and dissemble: If not, as he concludes, — Ergo pauper eris, then go like a begger as thou art. Erasmus, Melancthon, Lipsius, Budæus, Cardan, liv’d and died poor. Gesner was a silly old man, baculo innixus, amongst all those huffing Cardinals, swelling Bishops that flourished in his time, and rode on foot-clothes.

It is not honesty, learning, worth, wisdom, that prefers men. The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, but as the wise man said, Chance, and sometimes a ridiculous chance. Casus plerumque ridiculus multos elevavit.

’Tis fortunes doings, as they say, which made Brutus now dying exclaim, O misera virtus, ergo nihil quam verba eras, atqui ego te tanquam rem exercebam, sed tu serviebas fortunæ. Beleeve it hereafter O my friends! Vertue serves fortune.

Yet be not discouraged (O my well deserving spirits) with this which I have said, it may be otherwise, though seldom I confesse, yet sometimes it is. But to your farther content, Ile tell you a tale. In Moronia pia, or Moronia felix, I know not whether, nor how long since, nor in what Cathedrall Church, a fat Prebend fell void. The carcasse scarce cold, many suitors were up in an instant. The first had rich friends, a good purse, and he was resolved to out-bid any man before he would lose it, every man supposed he should carry it.

The second was my Lord Bishops Chaplain (in whose gift it was) and he thought it his due to have it. The third was nobly born, and he meant to get it by his great parents, patrons, and allies. The fourth stood upon his worth, he had newly found out strange mysteries in Chymistry, and other rare inventions which he would detect to the publike good.

The fifth was a painfull preacher, and he was commended by the whole parish where he dwelt, he had all their hands to his Certificate. The sixth was the prebendaries son lately deceased, his father died in debt (for it, as they say) left a wife and many poor children. The seventh stood upon fair promises, which to him and his noble friends had been formerly made for the next place in his Lordships gift.