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approve of the Time, Place, and Persons. An Anatomist, or a Physitian
may speak, or write his judgement of unclean things; because it is not
to please, but profit: but for another man to write his extravagant,
and pleasant fancies of the same, is as if a man, from being tumbled
into the dirt, should come and present himselfe before good company.
And 'tis the want of Discretion that makes the difference.
Again, in profest remissnesse of mind, and familiar company,
a man may play with the sounds, and aequivocal significations of words;
and that many times with encounters of extraordinary Fancy:
but in a Sermon, or in publique, or before persons unknown,
or whom we ought to reverence, there is no Gingling of words that
will not be accounted folly: and the difference is onely in the
want of Discretion. So that where Wit is wanting, it is not Fancy
that is wanting, but Discretion. Judgement therefore without
Fancy is Wit, but Fancy without Judgement not.

Prudence
When the thoughts of a man, that has a designe in hand, running over
a multitude of things, observes how they conduce to that designe;
or what designe they may conduce into; if his observations be such
as are not easie, or usuall, This wit of his is called PRUDENCE;
and dependeth on much Experience, and Memory of the like things,
and their consequences heretofore. In which there is not so much
difference of Men, as there is in their Fancies and Judgements;
Because the Experience of men equall in age, is not much unequall,
as to the quantity; but lyes in different occasions; every one having
his private designes. To govern well a family, and a kingdome,
are not different degrees of Prudence; but different sorts of businesse;
no more then to draw a picture in little, or as great, or greater
then the life, are different degrees of Art. A plain husband-man
is more Prudent in affaires of his own house, then a Privy Counseller
in the affaires of another man.

Craft
To Prudence, if you adde the use of unjust, or dishonest means,
such as usually are prompted to men by Feare, or Want; you have
that Crooked Wisdome, which is called CRAFT; which is a signe
of Pusillanimity. For Magnanimity is contempt of unjust,
or dishonest helps. And that which the Latines Call Versutia,
(translated into English, Shifting,) and is a putting off of
a present danger or incommodity, by engaging into a greater,
as when a man robbs one to pay another, is but a shorter sighted Craft,
called Versutia, from Versura, which signifies taking mony at usurie,
for the present payment of interest.

Acquired Wit
As for Acquired Wit, (I mean acquired by method and instruction,)
there is none but Reason; which is grounded on the right use of Speech;
and produceth the Sciences. But of Reason and Science, I have
already spoken in the fifth and sixth Chapters.

The causes of this difference of Witts, are in the Passions:
and the difference of Passions, proceedeth partly from the different
Constitution of the body, and partly from different Education.

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