Venit Heſperus, ite capellae:
was ſpoken to Lovers in the perſons of Goats.
[56]
]
10.
Why are New Officers leaſt oppreſſing?
Muſt the old Proverbe, that Old dogs bite ſorest, be true in all kinde of dogs? Me thinkes the freſh memory they have of the mony they parted with for the place, ſhould haſten them for the re-imburſing: And perchance they doe but ſeeme eaſier to their ſuiters; who (as all other Patients) doe account all change of paine, eaſie. But if it bee ſo, it is either becauſe the ſodain ſenſe & contentment of the honor of the place, retards and remits the rage of their profits, and ſo having ſtayed their ſtomackes, they can forbeare the ſecond courſe a while: Or having overcome the ſteepest part of the hill, and clambered above Competitions and Oppoſitions they dare loyter, and take breath: Perchance being come from places, where they taſted no gaine, a little ſeems much to them at firſt, for it is long before [57] ]a Christian conſcience overtakes, or straies into an Officers heart. It may be that out of the generall diſeaſe of all men not to love the memory of a predeceſſor, they ſeeke to diſgrace them by ſuch eaſineſſe, and make good firſt impreſſions, that ſo having drawen much water to their Mill, they may afterward grind at eaſe: For if from the rules of good Horſe-manſhip, they thought it wholeſome to jet out in a moderate pace, they ſhould alſo take up towards their journeys end, not mend their pace continually, and gallop to their Innes-doore, the grave; except perchance their conſcience at that time ſo touch them, that they thinke it an injury and damage both to him that muſt ſell, and to him that muſt buy the Office after their death, and a kind of dilapidation if they by continuing honeſt ſhould diſcredit the place, and bring it to a lower-rent, or under-value.