Of Riches

I CANNOT call riches better than the baggage

of virtue.  The Roman word is better, impedi-

menta.  For as the baggage is to an army, so is riches

to virtue.  It cannot be spared, nor left behind, but

it hindereth the march; yea, and the care of it,

sometimes loseth or disturbeth the victory.  Of

great riches there is no real use, except it be in the

distribution; the rest is but conceit.  So saith Solo-

mon, Where much is, there are many to consume

it; and what hath the owner, but the sight of it

with his eyes? The personal fruition in any man,

cannot reach to feel great riches: there is a custody

of them; or a power of dole, and donative of them;

or a fame of them; but no solid use to the owner.

Do you not see what feigned prices, are set upon

little stones and rarities? and what works of osten-

tation are undertaken, because there might seem

to be some use of great riches? But then you will

say, they may be of use, to buy men out of dangers

or troubles.  As Solomon saith, Riches are as a

strong hold, in the imagination of the rich man.

But this is excellently expressed, that it is in imagi-

nation, and not always in fact.  For certainly great

riches, have sold more men, than they have bought

out.  Seek not proud riches, but such as thou mayest

get justly, use soberly, distribute cheerfully, and

leave contentedly.  Yet have no abstract nor friarly

contempt of them.  But distinguish, as Cicero saith

well of Rabirius Posthumus, In studio rei ampli-

ficandae apparebat, non avaritiae praedam, sed

instrumentum bonitati quaeri.  Harken also to

Solomon, and beware of hasty gathering of riches;

Qui festinat ad divitias, non erit insons.  The poets

feign, that when Plutus (which is Riches) is sent

from Jupiter, he limps and goes slowly; but when

he is sent from Pluto, he runs, and is swift of foot.

Meaning that riches gotten by good means, and

just labor, pace slowly; but when they come by

the death of others (as by the course of inheritance,

testaments, and the like), they come tumbling

upon a man.  But it mought be applied likewise to

Pluto, taking him for the devil.  For when riches

come from the devil (as by fraud and oppression,

and unjust means), they come upon speed.  The

ways to enrich are many, and most of them foul.

Parsimony is one of the best, and yet is not inno-

cent; for it withholdeth men from works of liberal-

ity and charity.  The improvement of the ground,

is the most natural obtaining of riches; for it is our

great mother's blessing, the earth's; but it is slow.

And yet where men of great wealth do stoop to

husbandry, it multiplieth riches exceedingly.  I

knew a nobleman in England, that had the great-

est audits of any man in my time; a great grazier,

a great sheep-master, a great timber man, a great

collier, a great corn-master, a great lead-man, and

so of iron, and a number of the like points of hus-

bandry.  So as the earth seemed a sea to him, in

respect of the perpetual importation.  It was truly

observed by one, that himself came very hardly,

to a little riches, and very easily, to great riches.

For when a man's stock is come to that, that he can

expect the prime of markets, and overcome those

bargains, which for their greatness are few men's

money, and be partner in the industries of younger

men, he cannot but increase mainly.  The gains of

ordinary trades and vocations are honest; and

furthered by two things chiefly: by diligence, and

by a good name, for good and fair dealing.  But the

gains of bargains, are of a more doubtful nature;

when men shall wait upon others' necessity, broke

by servants and instruments to draw them on, put

off others cunningly, that would be better chap-

men, and the like practices, which are crafty and

naught.  As for the chopping of bargains, when a

man buys not to hold but to sell over again, that

commonly grindeth double, both upon the seller,

and upon the buyer.  Sharings do greatly enrich,

if the hands be well chosen, that are trusted.  Usury

is the certainest means of gain, though one of the

worst; as that whereby a man doth eat his bread,

in sudore vultus alieni; and besides, doth plough

upon Sundays.  But yet certain though it be, it hath

flaws; for that the scriveners and brokers do value

unsound men, to serve their own turn.  The fortune

in being the first, in an invention or in a privilege,

doth cause sometimes a wonderful overgrowth in

riches; as it was with the first sugar man, in the

Canaries.  Therefore if a man can play the true

logician, to have as well judgment, as invention,

he may do great matters; especially if the times be

fit.  He that resteth upon gains certain, shall hardly

grow to great riches; and he that puts all upon

adventures, doth oftentimes break and come to

poverty: it is good, therefore, to guard adventures

with certainties, that may uphold losses.  Monopo-

lies, and coemption of wares for re-sale, where

they are not restrained, are great means to enrich;

especially if the party have intelligence, what

things are like to come into request, and so store

himself beforehand.  Riches gotten by service,

though it be of the best rise, yet when they are

gotten by flattery, feeding humors, and other serv-

ile conditions, they may be placed amongst the

worst.  As for fishing for testaments and executor-

ships (as Tacitus saith of Seneca, testamenta et

orbos tamquam indagine capi), it is yet worse; by

how much men submit themselves to meaner per-

sons, than in service.  Believe not much, them that

seem to despise riches; for they despise them, that

despair of them; and none worse, when they come

to them.  Be not penny-wise; riches have wings,

and sometimes they fly away of themselves, some-

times they must be set flying, to bring in more.

Men leave their riches, either to their kindred, or

to the public; and moderate portions, prosper best

in both.  A great state left to an heir, is as a lure to

all the birds of prey round about, to seize on him, if

he be not the better stablished in years and judg-

ment.  Likewise glorious gifts and foundations, are

like sacrifices without salt; and but the painted

sepulchres of alms, which soon will putrefy, and

corrupt inwardly.  Therefore measure not thine

advancements, by quantity, but frame them by

measure: and defer not charities till death; for,

certainly, if a man weigh it rightly, he that doth

so, is rather liberal of another man's, than of his

own.