The words of the wise are not regarded,1 therefore they are compelled to hearken to the words of a foolish ruler. The crying of a captain prevaileth among fools, and a foolish prince heareth a foolish Counsellors words, because he speaketh that which pleaseth him. This I say, that thou must consider, as is said in the proverbs: The fool will not hear, unless thou speak that he phā sieth in his heart, because affections rule all in the fools hart, therefore he regardeth not what thou sayest, unless thou say that he desireth. For they which thus are led with their own affections & wisdom, will hear nothing else. Therefore thou shalt not prevail; thou shalt not be heard: where minds are not quieted, that is to say, blinded with affections. So now a days,2 it is in vain to write against the Sectaries and heretics, for thou shalt do no good. Which thing Paul affirmeth also: A man that is an heretic, after once or twice warning avoid. &c. And it falleth not thus out in matters of religion only, but also in civil affairs. Thus it fareth in worldly affairs: if thou give good counsel, thou ⟨image 161⟩shalt not prevail, nor be heard, but with Neutrals, whose minds are settled, and will take part with none. But settled minds at quiet can truly judge that the crying of a Captain is but foolish. We must abide therefore till the affections be appeased, for then shall he hear. Even as troubled-water is not clear, but if thou wilt see the bottom, thou must tarry till the water be settled: so all men that have conceived any persuasion in their mind, will not be dissuaded again, unless that conceit of theirs, wherewith they be as it were bewitched, be put away. This Solomon in an other place expresseth in this wise: It is better to meet a Bear, or a Lyon robbed of her whelps, then a man trusting in his own foolishness.
THe wordes of the wise are not regarded,1 therefore they are compelled to harken to the wordes of a foolishe ruler. The crying of a captayne preuayleth among fooles, and a foolishe prince heareth a foolishe Counsellers words, because he speaketh that which pleaseth him. Thys I say, that thou must consider, as is sayd in the prouerbes: The foole wyll not heare, vnles thou speake that he phā sieth in his harte, because affections rule all in the fooles hart, therefore he regardeth not what thou sayest, vnles thou say that he desireth. For they which thus are led with their owne affections & wysdome, will heare nothing els. Therefore thou shalt not preuaile; thou shalt not be heard: where myndes are not quyeted, that is to say, blinded with affections. So now a dayes,2 it is in vayne to write agaynst the Sectaries and heretikes, for thou shalt doe no good. Which thing Paule affirmeth also: A man that is an heretike, after once or twise warnyng auoyde. &c. And it falleth not thus out in matters of religion onely, but also in ciuile affayres. Thus it fareth in worldly affayres: if thou geue good counsell, thou ⟨image 161⟩shalt not preuayle, nor be heard, but with Neutrals, whose myndes are setled, and will take parte wyth none. But setled myndes at quyet can truely iudge that ye crying of a Captayne is but foolishe. We must abyde therfore till the affections be appeased, for then shall he heare. Euen as troubled-water is not cleare, but if thou wilt sée the bottome, thou must tarry till the water be setteled: so all men that haue conceaued any perswasion in their mynde, will not be disswaded agayne, vnles that conceit of theirs, wherwith they be as it were bewitched, be put away. This Salomon in an other place expresseth in thys wyse: It is better to meete a Beare, or a Lyon robbed of her whelpes, then a man trusting in his owne foolyshenes.
- 1Wise mens counsels despised.Wyse mens counselles despysed.
- 2Counsell taketh no place but in minds wholsomly settled.Counsell taketh no place but in myndes wholsomly settled.
