Of Expense

RICHES are for spending, and spending for

honor and good actions.  Therefore extra-

ordinary expense must be limited by the worth of

the occasion; for voluntary undoing, may be as

well for a man's country, as for the kingdom of

heaven.  But ordinary expense, ought to be limited

by a man's estate; and governed with such regard,

as it be within his compass; and not subject to de-

ceit and abuse of servants; and ordered to the best

show, that the bills may be less than the estima-

tion abroad.  Certainly, if a man will keep but of

even hand, his ordinary expenses ought to be but

to the half of his receipts; and if he think to wax

rich, but to the third part.  It is no baseness, for the

greatest to descend and look into their own estate.

Some forbear it, not upon negligence alone, but

doubting to bring themselves into melancholy, in

respect they shall find it broken.  But wounds can-

not be cured without searching.  He that cannot

look into his own estate at all, had need both choose

well those whom he employeth, and change them

often; for new are more timorous and less subtle.

He that can look into his estate but seldom, it be-

hooveth him to turn all to certainties.  A man had

need, if he be plentiful in some kind of expense, to

be as saving again in some other.  As if he be plenti-

ful in diet, to be saving in apparel; if he be plenti-

ful in the hall, to be saving in the stable; and the

like.  For he that is plentiful in expenses of all kinds,

will hardly be preserved from decay.  In clearing

of a man's estate, he may as well hurt himself in

being too sudden, as in letting it run on too long.

For hasty selling, is commonly as disadvantage-

able as interest.  Besides, he that clears at once will

relapse; for finding himself out of straits, he will

revert to his custom: but he that cleareth by de-

grees, induceth a habit of frugality, and gaineth

as well upon his mind, as upon his estate.  Cer-

tainly, who hath a state to repair, may not despise

small things; and commonly it is less dishonor-

able, to abridge petty charges, than to stoop to

petty gettings.  A man ought warily to begin

charges which once begun will continue; but in

matters that return not, he may be more magnificent.