Of Suitors

MANY ill matters and projects are under-

taken; and private suits do putrefy the pub-

lic 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 effectu-

ally in them; but if they see there may be life in

the matter, by some other mean, they will be con-

tent 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 occa-

sion to cross some other; or to make an informa-

tion, 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 chal-

lenging 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, advan-

tage 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 other-

wise, 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.