’Tis a Necessary Caution in All Preferments that they be Plac’d upon Fit
Men; for the Right Motives; and for the Right Ends. The Advancing of a
Fantastical Fool, or _Lapwing_, Reflects upon the Raiser of him; for ’tis
an Ill sign, the very Liking of an Ill Man, and Implies, at least a Tacit
Approbation of the Officers Defects. The Preferring of People indeed
to Honourable Charges and Commissions, without either Brains, Bloud,
Fortune, or Merit, may be so far Reputed a Great Work, as the making of
Something out of Nothing, seems to be next door to a Creation: But the
Character at last will not Excuse the Person so Dignify’d, from Open
Envy and Secret Contempt, Where it falls out that the True Reason of the
Choice, is either Fancy without Judgment, or Credulity without Enquiry,
Information, or Tryal; the Latter is the more Harmless Mistake of the
Two; for there’s somewhat of Generous in the Confidence, Notwithstanding
the Error of the Facility: And as He that Trusts, to This Degree, does
deserve not to be Deceived; so He that Betrays such a Trust, on the Other
Hand, is not Worthy to Live. An Ill Reason, in fine, for an Ill Choice,
is Worse then No Reason at all; for to proceed upon a Wrong Reason, is
to Build upon a False Foundation. _Will and Pleasure_ is the Only Plea
This Case will bear; for the Authority of the _Eagle her self_, we see,
was not sufficient to Vindicate a _Worthless Minion_ from _Reproche_ and
_Scorn_.