Courtiers since that Insita mortalibus natura saith Tacitus it is naturall vnto euery man recentem aliorum foelicitatem aegris oculis introspicere modúmque fortunae à nullis magis exigere quà m quos in aequo videre to behold other mens fresh happines with enuious eies and to wish an indifferent or meane fortune to none so much as to those whom they haue knowen their equals Wherefore Seneca aduising himselfe though all too late how much enuy encreased vpon him after the death of Burrhus Tacitus reporting that his enuious persecutors Varijs cum criminantibus adorti sunt tanquam ingentes priuatum modum euectas opes adhuc augeret quodque studia ciuium in severteret hortorum quoque amoenitate villarum magnificentia quasi Principem supergrediretur vpbraided him with sundry calumniations as that hee continually heaped vp wealth in excesse beyond the compasse of a priuate man that he wonne the hearts of the people and that for pleasant gardens and magnificent stately buildings hee almost exceeded the Prince colours onely for shadow and couerture of enuie purposed to make a resignation of all his fortunes and wealth or the greater part vnto Nero againe but this imagination hauing no successe Instituta prioris potentiae commutat prohibet coetus salutantium vitat comitantes rarus per vrbem quasi valetudine infensa aut sapientiae studijs domi attineretur Hee changed the course of his first greatnesse forbidding the multitudes which came to perform complements of curtesie discharged his followers shewed himselfe seldome in the citie as though he kept home either fearing his health or busie at his booke and studies Besides all this it serueth much to the purpose to make a shew that this fauour and grace is rather voluntarily graunted than ambitiously procured vsing the same as hath bene said not onely without offence to others but rather to the benefit of others and keeping the decorum of his degree and place not with a proud disdainefulnesse but with a sweet and graue modesty some thing inclining to popularity Finally because Enuy swaieth amongst equals or persons at least that so thinke themselues if any man shall endeuour himselfe so much to exceed in vertue or otherwise by long and honourable seruice should take occasion to pretend equality without all question enuy would either cease or rather to speake better would neuer begin But when these obseruations shall not free or sufficiently defend the Courtier from this contagion whose companion for the most part is malitious detraction if shee once shew her selfe so apparently that offences doe grow we must then vse the same arte against the Enuious as against the maleuolent and wicked slanderer deuising if it be possible to remooue him from the Court or wholly out of seruice and to performe the same with the more ease he shall doe well to remember that which a little before hath beene said that is howbeit the Courtier be not by himselfe to performe any badde offices hee may passe them notwithstanding by meanes of his adherents in case necessity binde him to maintaine his place and therefore not onely for this purpose but for many other causes it is necessary that he be well furnished of good store of friends confidents of all sorts that is to the end to be enformed of all that is done or said in the Court and that for diuers reasons As first to vnderstand what opinion is held of him amongst the other Courtiers and which of his actions are either praised or reprooued making vse of such aduice by the way of correction Next to distinguish of faithfull from fained friends because euerie man shewes himselfe louing and kinde to him whom they know fauoured of the Prince though it may be really indeed they are the contrary a thing by meanes of these confidents easily discouered since they are conuersant he vnderstand and obserue all that passeth in the Court chiefly entertaining some who shall carry small apparence of being inward with him for that vnto such as not esteemed of any great credit or partialists to the fauoured Courtier they will easily vnmaske and reueale the very inwards of their harts or else themselues being dextrous cunning in this kind as men of good vnderstāding can by an inckling easily coniecture the rest And lastly to know what is done yea or thought by these malitious enuiers euen in their priuate liuing because none liueth without sinne it will be easie to finde matter to reproue their bolde malitious slanders with the knowledge of their owne actions and being willing to hurt them that shall goe about to offend or wrong him hee may easilie by these meanes effect and bring it to passe CHAP. XXXVI What the Courtier is to doe who shall finde himselfe slenderly respected of his Prince or Lord. THus much in my opinion may be said for the Courtiers good aduertisement if any other imagin he can more aptly and with better method and in conclusion with more commendations handle this arte he should do great wrong to ciuill societie and to the duty which euery man oweth to labour what in him is for the common benefit to defraud the world from participating of his so good thoughts and abilities In the meane time if any man happely guided by the rules precepts here set downe lanching foorth into the dangerous maine current of the Court shall rather suffer shipwracke than safely furdle vp his sailes in the desired hauen Me thinks without sinistrously iudging of this doctrine learned by him he should call to mind that among arts there are some which are called Coniecturall and the reason is because albeit their teaching or instructing part proposeth a certeine knowen end or scope from the which there may demonstratiuely bee deduced certeine conclusions the which wil make the context of the doctrine both apparent and necessary so farre forth as the nature of things to be acted will giue leaue or suffer wherein the wisest are of opinion that it is not possible to frame perfect demonstrations Notwithstanding the actiue part doth neuer of necessitie performe the purposed end although it perform all the actions so much as can be desired proportionall and correspondent to the same For so we see an excellent famous Captain who in euery part hath performed the dutie of his proper charge yet his hope of victorie may faile him and not sort as hee desired So likewise without errour of arte the most expert Mariner many times loseth himselfe and the ship hee sailes in Nor lesse vnluckie some times the Physitian ministreth his drugges to the sicke patient without hope of helpe Nor many times can the aptest and most artificiall Rhetoritian remoue a setled minde from a purposed resolution To leaue to speake of many such like arts the which not by necessitie but contingently and as it were by fortune or chance obteine their desired ends the Courtiers arte being amongst them the precepts thereof may
time of peace and those which in his house perform his necessary businesse If all then as it is most plaine are bound to serue him all their ends shall be the seruice of the Prince and so if he be a Courtier whose end is the Princes seruice all those aboue named and particularly such which are in actuall seruice should be Courtiers but it seemeth not only a new terme but withall contrarie to common sense and the true signification of the name of a Courtier to comprehend therein the Souldiers the Iudges and other Magistrates wherfore we can not say they are all Courtiers which serue but only some of them amongst whom wee can not denie those to be held for such which priuately serue him So as it is fit to consider in the Prince two persons one publike which makes him to be a Prince the other priuate by the which we suppose him to be the head of a familie as by the other as a Prince hee is head of a Kingdome or Common-wealth Those then who serue him as a Prince that is in the actions belonging to the publike benefit were neuer called by the name of Courtiers but those only who serue him priuatly and are comprehended in his familie or Court. From this principle wee draw that which at the first we sought for that is what things this seruice conteineth for that from it are wholly excluded all ciuill ends and publike actions on the other part are receiued all those which the domestical businesse or that of the family requireth in such sort that as the Magistrate in another place shall be by vs termed the Princes instrument as a publike person so is the Courtier his instrument as the head and father of a familie so that all works belonging to the charge of housholdrie are embraced and conteined in his end as a Courtier and therefore when we say his end to be the seruice of the Prince it is vnderstood as wee haue sayd of all that which exceeds not the limits of houshold affaires Let vs now come to declare what is vnderstood by proper interest It can not be doubted that this terme interest doth not conteine all kinde of humane good though to this large scope of signification it seemeth the common vse thereof hath extended it but we ought with reason to aduert the exclusion of that good which cannot be obtained from another because in vain should the Courtier serue the Prince to that end to obteine from him that thing which neither he nor any other could impart vnto him as for example are the vertues which in vaine are expected from any other than from our owne well ordered and proper nature so that this good excluded it seemeth and in this likewise the vulgar opinion doth agree that for two things principally hee doth take vpon him and vndergo this seruitude for profit and for honour Some serue for profit not esteeming of honour as the mercenaries others for honour only as the noble either by birth or greatnesse of minde and spirit others both for the one and the other Well let it be so that euery man serueth for these two either ioyntly or seuerally Profit particularly includeth in it riches the which are in abundance of necessaries for our life as money lands cattell moueables furniture for houses and such like But by honour is not vnderstood at all that which followeth the actions or vertuous qualities since that this good as alreadie hath beene sayd dependeth on our proper election and facultie and may without others helpe be obteined for I thinke none of opinion that freely to vse prudence fortitude iustice or magnanimitie it is necessary to enter into the Court of Princes but there rather to obteine degrees of power and dignitie which commonly are called honours or be it that worthily by meanes of vertuous actions they are attributed as honor giuen in reward of vertue or because as they say Honour is the opinion held of anothers vertue by meanes whereof they obtaine in the world an opinion of merit or because he that possesseth it is honoured So that the honours which are the Courtiers end are degrees dignities power wealth the reputation which spring from them and not the whole compasse of honour For since the actions of vertue may as wel be vsed out of the Court as hath beene declared the honours answerable thereunto may also without being a Courtier be in like maner obteined CHAP. III. Of the choice of the Prince to be serued OVt of these thing may easilie be drawen a rule which the Courtier is to obserue in the election of the Prince to whom he is to dedicate his seruice the which requireth great consideration for the inconueniences which otherwise may follow because if in this an error be committed it is cleerely impossible euer to obteine the end for which he serues wherby vaine is the labor he shall afterwards vndertake in seruice false his hope of reward vnprofitable his repentance and the amendment very dangerous for that vnto the easie change of Masters followeth a conceit of lightnesse a difficulty not happely to be new placed by reason of the impediments opposed either by the authoritie and power of the abandoned Prince or by the foresaid opinion of instabilitie or hard to be contented or of arrogancie according as the cause of the change may be variably reported or beleeued the which happening by reason of the Princes discharge or casting off can not bee for the most part without a great staine or blot vnto the Courtier Wherefore it is very necessary to be carefull that this election should bee wisely made and it shal be such when the Prince which is chosen may giue cause vnto the Courtier of that end which principally he pretendeth aboue all others But to make a perfect iudgement heerein wee must consider the qualitie of the intended end and the ability and proportion which the Prince beareth to the same The Courtiers end hath alredie beene said to be his propt commoditie that is his profit and honour And because there is no limitation in desired ends which are as they say infinite whereupon the Merchant coueteth an infinite gaine and the Captaine a most singular victorie so no lesse doth the Courtier desire a profit without end and honour in the highest degree that may be obteined The Princes abilitie consisteth in power and will they had wont to ioyne thereunto knowledge but in this affaire it hath so little part that without error it may be let passe Wee must then examine his ability and his willingnes diligently beholding what proportion they holde with the forsaid ends and if we know them to haue proportion vpon an effectiue cause most assuredly it shall bee good to make choice of such a Prince and to speake more plainly I say that if propounding any profit there shall be any Prince that both can and will impart the same vnto the Courtier he is the most worthie whom hee
assistance or presence the one is the knowledge of the nature humour of the Prince the other is occasions which often fall out to haue discourse or talke with him The knowledge of the nature customes affections humour of the Prince is most necessary for imitation and accommodating your selfe vnto him The occasion of discourse or talke with him is of no lesse infinite consideration and profit whereof it being so that we shall speake heereafter we will in the meane time saie something of the meanes how to know the humor of the Prince and of fitting your selfe thereunto and after we will treat of reasoning and discourse with him CHAP. XII Meanes how to know the nature and affection of the Prince IF it be necessarie euerie artizan haue knowledge of the matter wherein he is to shew the essence and forme of his arte and occupation as the Tailor of cloth of iron the Smith and the Mason of marble If the Physitian can not put in practise his facultie without a precedent knowledge of the body curable and to be short of euerie agent presuppose the knowledge of the subiect wherein they are to worke we may also say it is great reason that the Courtier being by his labour and industrie to induce and gently wrest into the Princes minde a loue and liking of him should by so much as is possible haue a full and perfect knowledge of him to the end that by this foreknowledge he may order rule and moderate al his actions since it is out of question that there is not one maner of proceeding with all men for we may by some way obteine the fauour of one which would procure the hatred of another wherefore if the nature of euery one lay open and were manifest so that easily it might bee learned and perceiued it were an idle thing to giue precepts to obserue it or to obteine the knowledge therof But because than it there is nothing more close or secret to him that hath not prying eies alwaies open aswell of body as minde it shall not bee superfluous briefly to discourse of this matter We say then that diuers are the meanes wherby the natures of men are knowen amongst the which the art of Physiognomy doth helpe very much by meanes wherof some haue been able to penetrate and search into the inmost and most concealed affects of the minde of other men And howbeit the arte seeme full of fallacies yet when many signes concurre together signifying one and the same affect then wisemen will not that it bee vaine to giue credit as setled vpon naturall grounds Galen on their side is of opinion and hath largely discoursed thereupon that Animi mores sequantur temperaturam corporis And vnto him the whole Colledge of the best Physitions do consent that the temperature and composition of the body being knowen it is most easie to gesse what are the affects manners and naturall inclinations of the minde The Rhetoritians amongst whom Aristotle as chief Prince teach this excellent rule to consider the age and condition as whether old or yong or of a middle time whether noble or ignoble rich or poore whether potent or of meane fortune and such like vnto which conditions he doth attribute their particular affects and manners so that knowing in which of them any man is found presently are his affections knowen we may besides ioine vnto these the education and profession apt also to qualifie and giue a habit to their subiects Likewise in the books by me set foorth of Eloquence it is declared that from the phrase of speech and metaphors that are vsed the nature of him that formeth them may be perceiued and this also to haue beene the opinion of antient sages whereof as I suppose in that worke I haue giuen sufficient reason But because these such like waies are too much grounded vpon Generals to the Courtier by reason of the place he holdeth there is a more secure passage offered we say that the true meanes to attaine to the knowledge of the Princes nature and custome is by his actions and yet not all but those of choice because these discouer the inclination as by the effect the cause is knowen and although dissimulation at first sight putting on a colourable habit and occasion of the action either different or contrary to the naturall propension and inclinement it is yet notwithstanding impossible to conceale or hide the same from a circumspect and wise Courtier for that if watchfully he shall obserue actions it will easily appeare whether he worke naturally and by a contracted habit or else dissemblingly because nature being euer the same and habits being gotten by custome the actions must needes be vniforme and alike within themselues But dissimulation wherewith nature is not inuested but ouer-shadowed cannot be of that force but that some beame or raie of the true and naturall inclination at one time or other will pierce and passe the same and this is so true that as yet there hath neuer beene seene nor is it possible euer to see so excellent a dissembler who hath not beene discouered and vnmasked by him who familiarly shall deale with him and carefully consider his actions by due comparing them together Because the arte of dissembling groweth of a forced and contrary habit vnto nature it cannot be but many times of his proper force withdrawing it self from vnder so heauy a yoake it will worke actions quite contrary to those of dissimulation True it is that the cunning dissembler is cautelous and wary and therefore doth not disrobe himselfe of his habit but either by violence or confidence by Violence I meane forced by some mighty hand to say or worke the truth a thing which cannot fall out betweene the Prince and the Courtier But there is an other kinde of violence very profitable and to be considered that is an excesse of the affections stirred vp or moued the cause is reason being sometimes troubled induceth forgetfulnesse of that caution openeth the secrets of the heart and discouereth that which dissimulation kept most secret besides the promptnes or difficulty it selfe of falling into these excesses laieth open what is the true naturall habit because from hence it groweth that he is more or lesse prone or apt to perturbations vpon such like motions But the consideration of Confidence is of most speciall importance the which particularly consisteth in places and persons and in the persons is considered the beneuolence wherewith they are made firme or the opinion of their incapacity to vnderstand and penetrate as also to make manifest that which they know in the places for that the chiefest end of dissimulation being to maske or shadow naturall instinct when the places giue assurance promising secrecie by their remotenesse from the knowledge of men they do easily entice the dissembler to giue the raines liberty to the force of nature and by the same reason to discouer himselfe to muddy persons of little
Courtiers ouerthrow and chiefly by the occasion which is offred to the enuious to misinterpret actions in so perillous a matter and by suggestions still to giue greater cause of doubt Besides this howbeit I presuppose the Courtier of honorable carriage and friend to right and therefore well resolued in himselfe if wee must abstaine from other mens wiues or women it is much more required towards those who are naturally conioined to the Prince in bloud yet for all this experience maketh it too plaine that euen the most austerely minded most firme and strongly setled in their purposes haue oftentimes giuen place to the enticements of alluring occasions and surely he who knowes not how much the practises of a beautious Dame may entender and mollifie the hardened minde of a man not yet surcharged with maturitie giues signe of little knowledge in the worldes affaires chiefly adding to natural inclination a little spurre of ambitious vanitie seeing also that a man may easily bee enticed by the occasion that fortune giues so neerely to intrinsecate himselfe with persons so farre aboue the reach of his condition to strengthen and vnite the hopes which happely by such like meanes they may conceaue as we see in Seianus who by the entrie and opportunitie which the familiaritie of Drusus wife gaue him grew so confident to plot the death of the innocent husband how to obteine her to his wife and to be successor in in the Empire of Rome things which most easely though most wickedly fall in imagination but most speciall where the woman may be the instrument whose honour once obtained all things else are easily entreated for Tacitus saith wel Foemina amissa pudicitia alia non abnuerit But on the other side albeit men should haue their mindes well fortified with continencie so that in themselues as of their proper motion there were no feare though they as armed with such weapons may lawfully presume some thing of their valor the occasions which by the women themselues are offered and the necessity which many times they do impose are specially to be considered the examples are infinite but that of Siluius in Tacitus who was so farre beyond all bonds compeld by the vnbridled head-strong lust of Messalina that in the end he was enforced to take her to wife almost vnder the nose of her husband Claudius the Emperor may serue as manifest enough in my conceit for a sufficient document and warning vnto others But if through age there shall be such a ripenesse so that there be no cause of feare in that behalfe their fauour then in reason is much to be esteemed considering how profitable vnto infinite the protection and authoritie of Liuia was with Augustus and Tiberius both Now as concerning the menkinde if they be of yong yeers and subiect to the errors which the heat of youth and vnexperiency of manie things doth bring with it it is not amisse to abstaine from conuersing with them or at least not ouermuch for if they performe any thing iudiciously and praise worthie it is attributed to the good disposition of their nature and euery one a common accident to those of high degree and Fortunes fauourites applaud and giue the praise alone to them but if they chance to slip awrie or erre in any thing stepping aside as yoong men are accustomed presently the blame is laid either on the badde example or corrupt counsell of such as were most neere to them in conuersation and familiaritie and this is the damage and the danger both The profit on the other side is of no great consequence because through want of yeers they neither haue knowledge and lesse authoritie to doe any fauour or rather they dare not especially in matters of any moment naturally a kinde of bashfulnesse ouer-ruling youth with a reuerence vnto their elders and to their betters that in their presence scarsely they will moue their lips or finde their tongue and this wee see in practise amongst yoong nephewes and yoonger brethren but chiefly with the children themselues and most of all if the Prince their father be by nature seuere and sterne Wherefore it followeth that the grace of the male kindred of riper yeeres is truely profitable because these by their loue which is presupposed ioyned with their age know how by their authoritie can be beneficiall and fruitfull in their fauour to the Courtier howbeit enuy no lesse attending on their fauor than it awaiteth the Princes grace it shal be necessary to consider how this may either be eschewed or els what armes the Courtier must put on to confront the same that it proue not an impediment to his desseignes But this heereafter in his fit place shall bee largelie handled CHAP. XXVI Of the helpe which may be drawen from the Princes friends THe like profit and vse may bee hoped for and expected from the Princes friends as from his kindred the reasons seruing almost both alike though these in some things may be thought to be preferred in others yet they come behind for touching affection it is most cleere that those in fauour and beloued of the kindred especially neerest in blud are more respected then the fauourits of a friend because they incline more and desire the good rather of those then these Wherefore to haue familiarity to bee vsed kindely and held in trust and confidence with the kindred doth much more easily lay open the entrance to the Princes fauor But on the other side the friends come neerer in equalitie than the kindred doe especially than those of vnderage whereof it followeth that they speake more confidently and with lesse securitie are their requests and fauours denied the which is often done without anie great difficulty vnto the kindred Wherefore the friends in these performances are to bee preferred as daring more and lesse vsed to denials or repulse Whereupon their aid chiefely consists in intercession to obtaine some fauour or to preferre into seruice But in this particular you must obserue and beware that these friends bee not the Princes equals or in any thing but principally in quality of state Concurrents or Competitors because in this case such protection would cause the Courtier to bee suspected and mistrusted of his Prince the example is at hand that no man who by the mediation of a Cardinall is receiued into the seruice of any other of them and continueth the dependancie protection of his preferrer shall euer bee in perfect confidence with his Lord. The reason heereof is grounded on the conformity or equality of their interests in the Papacy which make them liue more heedily and full of ielousie so that the seruice of any man dependant vpon an other cannot satisfie them nor but breed great suspition the like may be vnderstood of other Princes with whom the fauour done for their sake who are either their concurrents or like in estate will neuer bee profitable to the Courtier Wherefore these friends must be of a
degree inferiour that is subiects or seruitors but not domesticall or assigned of his family because these haue authority by his friendship and depending on him as on their superiour are his confidents cleere of suspition CHAP. XXVII Of the helpe that may be drawen from the Princes seruants THe testimonie that a beloued seruant may make for of such an one we speake of the conueniency and aptnesse the Courtier hath in seruice may bee of speciall helpe for his induction and thus much is common to him with the friends kindred of the Prince But a fauored seruant hath yet one commodity more which is that there being many things as it is presupposed belonging to the Prince committed to his charge he may in some of them substitute the Courtier or vse his helpe in them whō he purposeth to aduance and so by little and little lift him vp and set him forwards in the degrees of the Court and by insinuation bring him into fauour so that by the relation of his ability in seruice and by making him partaker in his owne office and charge I say the seruant in grace may greatly aide the new Courtier But to know how to compasse deserue and obtaine the helpe and protection of these fauourits there is vse of a most exact prouidence and great discretion because their desire to continue still in the first rancke breedeth in them a kind of ielousie and suspition that for the most part they had rather doe contrary offices fearing lest others should supplant and degrade them from their first honours whereupon it commeth seldome to passe that like succours are offered by any but such as are well assured to be firmely established in their Princes fauour howbeit euen these who well considers it cannot so quietly repose themselues but there will still remaine a lurking corner for timidity Wherefore they haue great reason to goe well aduised discreetly to worke in the preferment of any one and our warinesse and skil must be no lesse how to auoid and ward this doubt by assuring them that in their fauouring vs they need not feare any preiudice to themselues the which may be thus first by all meanes possible to couer and keepe close the quicknesse and viuacity of the minde and spirit for a wise man principally hath regard and feareth that as being apt to take occasions and by himselfe although but weakely helpt may set vp a scaling ladder with his qualities to greater matters Next to make profession of eternal gratitude and dependancy on them by effects full of obsequious shewes openlie to testifie as much Then not to shew so much courage as to dare aduenture further then they shall lead you by the hand or set your course by their prescription vntill the time your fauour gotten with the Prince be such as may assure you of your proper force the which I wish you ponder well before you come vnto the proofe thereof because if any man before his time shall goe about to separate or withdraw himselfe from vnder safe protection and like a bird not flush shall take his flight his downefall and his ruine will easily follow for the other perceiuing that he hath fostred a Corriual happily by the authority which he yet reteineth with the Prince may frustrate all the hopes you haue of further aduancement in that seruice wherefore it is necessary that this progresse be gnomon-shadow like inuisible in his motion and that the growth may then be seene when it is fully growen and of himselfe he may defend and vndershore the same and so endeuour not to make his first experience but as it were vpon occasion by ioint commission with an other man which oftentimes make offer of themselues to those which wisely watch their times knowing how easie a thing it is to fall into disgrace with Princes whom you shall neuer so sincerely serue but either by themselues or by the malice of some other you shall incurre displeasure or dislike in minde which easily may be recouered by him who knowes to take the benefit of opportunities CHAP. XXVIII How to keepe in fauour once obtained HItherto in my opinion we haue sufficiently declared vnto the Courtier the way and meanes how to compasse and obtaine the Princes fauour whereof at length supposing hee hath gotten full possession it resteth now to giue instructions how he may preserue and keepe it since he shall gaine no lesse commodity and be asmuch commended for the well preseruing it then hee was by the happy procuring thereof the obtaining many times depending vpon accident and chance but the maintenance of it vpon iudgement and discretion the which is so rarely found amongst men that infinite is the number of those who hauing liued sometime in grace as fauorites and Priuados to their Prince in the end come tumbling topsie turuy downe from so high a type of honour whereof Seianus doth sufficiently giue testimony who for long time not minion but master ouer Tiberius at last closed vp the period of his seruice with a most vnhappy end Crispus Salustius a deereling also to Tiberius Aetate prouecta speciem magis in amicitia principis quam vim tenuit idque Moecenati acciderat Growen in yeeres held rather a shew then any substance in the Princes fauour the like hapned to Mecenas who of all others was most deere to Augustus whereof Tacitus rendring a reason fato inquit potentiae raro sempiternae saith it is by fate decreeed that great fauors are seldom of long continuance and heereof giues the cause An satias capit aut illos cum omnia tribuerunt aut hos cum nihil reliquum est quod cupiant whether both as it were at a non-plus either the Princes hauing giuen all they can or the Courtiers when there is nothing left that they may beg Now heerein were manie things to be considered of as first if handling things which are within our choice we should referre the cause thereof to fate or granting that if it were conuenient to assigne a reason as if from fate cause were giuen and chiefly an electiue cause depending vpon mans arbitrement But because these should be too far from the matter now in hand it shall suffice to say That the reasons by him set downe seeme to be of no truth or to be the least part of those which might be brought that is causes of the least part of those effects which commonly happen in this particular as shall be declared because first in my opinion none would suffer himselfe to be perswaded that Princes vse to banish from their fauour a fauoured seruant because of the abundance of benefites bestowed on him knowing as the Moralists doe teach vs that the benefactour loueth him most to whom hee hath beene most bountifull not recompensed by equalitie of loue so that it is not only false that there should grow a hatred in the giuer because of his great benefits bestowed but the contrary is most true