BURLEIGH, William Cecil, Lord (1520-1598), Lord Treasurer of Queen Elizabeth

Kindness
Win hearts, and you have all men's hands and purses.

Religion
Never trust anybody not of sound religion, for he that is false to God can never be true to man.

Servants
Be not served with kinsmen, or friends, or men entreated to stay; for they expect much, and do little; nor with such as are amorous, for their heads are intoxicated; and keep rather too few, than one too many.

Suretyship
Beware of suretyship for thy best friend. He that payeth another man's debt seeketh his own decay. But if thou canst not otherwise choose, rather lend thy money thyself upon good bonds, although thou borrow it; so shalt thou secure thyself, and pleasure thy friend.

Trust
Trust not any man with thy life, credit, or estate. For it is mere folly for a man to enthrall himself to his friend, as though, occasion being offered, he might not become an enemy.