Of Suspicion

Suspicions amongst Thoughts, are like Bats amongst Birds, they ever fly by Twight. Certainly, they are to be repressed, or, at the least, well guarded: For they cloud the Minde; they leese Frends; and they checke with Businesse, whereby Businesse cannot goe on, currantly, and constantly. They dispose Kings to Tyranny, Husbands to Jealousie, Wise Men to Irresolution and Melancholy. They are Defects, not in the Heart, but in the Braine; For they take Place in the Stourest Natures: As in the Example of Henry the Seventh of England: There was not a more Suspicious Man, nor a more Stout: And in such a Composition, they doe small Hurt. For commonly they are not admitted, but with Examination, whether they be likely or no? But in fearefull Natures, they gaine Ground too fast. There is Nothing makes a Man Suspect much, more then to Know little: And therefore Men should remedy Suspicion, by procuring to know more, and not to keep their Suspicions in Smother. What would Men have? Doe they thinke, those they employ and deale with, are Saints? Doe they not thinke, they will have their owne Ends, and be truer to Themselves, then to them? Therefore, there is no better Way to moderate Suspicions, then to account upon such Suspicions as true, and yet to bridle them, as false. For so farre, a Man ought to make use of Suspicions; as to provide, as if that should be true, that he Suspects, yet it may doe him no Hurt. Suspicions, that the Minde, of it selfe, gathers, are but Buzzes; But Suspicions, that are artificially nourished, and put into Mens Heads, by the Tales, and Whisprings of others, have Stings. Certainly, the best Meane, to cleare the Way, in this same Wood of Suspitions, is franckly to communicate them, with the Partie, that he Suspects: For thereby, he shall be sure, to know more of the Truth of them, then he did before; And withall, shall make that Party, more circumspect, not to give further Cause of Suspicion. But this would not be done to Men of base Natures: For they, if they finde themselves once suspected, will never be true. The Italian saies: Sospetto licentia fede: As if Suspicion did give a Pasport to Faith: But it ought rather to kindle it, to discharge it selfe.