of his Apostles of their Disciples and of those fathers which succeeded them in the Primitiue Church being through Greece and old Italie then dispersed the very light of sweete Gospell hath beene by these means reserued vnto vs in those two languages and therefore haue these tongues so needfull for the interpretation of the Scriptures the enucliation of verities and confutation of heresies still kept afoot the studies of them through the grace of God amongst vs to this day The Hebrew tongue not so much in generall desire of schollers seruing specially for the legall Scriptures and Prophets I will pretermit as also the Chaldaean Syrian and Arabicke peculiar to deepe Diuines and Doctors of the Church Thalmudistes Alcumistes and Caballistes surreaching the common apprehension and vse of Counsellors and States-men Heereupon a question may bee proiected vnto mee Why then these Greeke and Latine languages might not serue instar omnium to fulfill all meanings purposes by good and faithfull vnderstanding amongst princes and nations in their treaties consultations leagues pactions sessions conuentions accords assemblies or other priuate parlyes of like nature being tongues so generally well knowne and studied in so many Realmes My solution is replicatiuely that they cannot passe currant amongst all forraine princes and much remote Monarchies for if that amplitude of the former Grecian and Romane dominions occasioned a kind of vniforme vse or peculiaritie of those tongues as being the true mother languages in all the Realmes Prouinces and Seignories subiected to them it doth then illatiuely follow by the like necessitie that if our Christian Princes neere vs should send in very weightie causes men of perfection in those two languages to the great Turke or Persian it would bee very difficult and troublesome for so much as their Monarchies extend much further than all Christendome doth beside Wherefore I iudge by the same reason that the language amongst them is for the most part either Persian or Turkish and not knowne to any Christians except to some few Christian merchants or slaues which haue commerced with them For since the beginning of those Mahemetane Monarchies of Turkes and Persians our Christians haue alwayes held that people execrable and perfidious so that their vulgar speech by those Christians which inhabit the very skirts of Turkey vnder Rodolph the Emperour is little or not at all practised in these dayes Besides what a shame it were concerning certaine honourable affaires and policies of the State in any Realmes and Common-weales to chuse some merchant or negotiator which should discharge the Office of a most noble embassadour and to deale in causes of highest consequence onely because he can speake and vnderstand the Persian or Turkish tongues Neither will that excellent Greeke tongue which former writers haue vsed and which is at this day so much practised amongst the Schollers in Christendome serue therefore in those Pagan parts in regard that all or the greatest part of Greece is now subiect to the Turke and in such respect sooner vnderstood because that excellent refined Greeke euen as in old Italie the Latine is wholly corrupt and altered through the long and ruinous discontinuance of those two famous Monarchies I conclude therefore that it is not onely needfull for such as are Counsellors to mightie Kings and Princes to be well skilled in the best languages of Christendome but much behoofefull in respect of the Turkes and Persians also which thing though it may seeme amongst our countrey nobles rare and difficult yet is tanto preclarius viro verè nobili dignius For the time may come in any Christian Empire that some necessities or other shall require and importune the knowledge of those tongues One speciall point remaineth wherein I would for our owne nations glorie wish that all our countreymen would be very studious and according to their faculties forward and ayding that is to labour how they may copiously deuise and adde words deriued from the Latines from the French and Dutch languages fitly fashioned vnto the true Dialect and Ideome of our vulgar For considering that the Latine French Italian Spanish and Germane tongues grew famous copious and ample by the commerce and entercourse of marchants and by the repaire of embassadors and other strangers mutually passing and repassing too and from forraine countries amongst vs after that their monarchies and dominions were amplified enriched and magnified what doubt is then left to vs why this our English tongue which in it selfe is so sweet and copious wherein wee can so succinctly knit vp much matter but that by continuance of this Monarchie diuinely and happily strengthened by our sacred Soueraigne and his royall issue the same may bee desired taught and sought for from all places amongst our friends neighbours and confederates in Christendome hereafter which may repaire and entercommune to and with vs The weakenesse of our former estate and the youngnesse of our language established in the last deducted Normane Colonies from the Conquest and before did not admit hitherto that perfection which might haue in times past encouraged either the French or other potent Nations greatly to respect our tongue vnlesse some of those marchants which in regard of the present necessitie put vpon them by the entercourse and exchange of their wares were forceably driuen vnto it This contempt and viletie therfore hath hetherto letted many singular wits of excellent hope and learning wherewithall by the naturall temperature of that climat vnder which we liue our nation is diuinely endowed to write bookes in English and the neglect thereof I feare hath hurt vs in the glorie of that sweet Latine tongue also for it was not vnknowne to the learned of this nation how little their language was and would be respected in other countries But soone in successe of time from the later yeeres of king Edward the third after whose victories had in Fraunce the peace and foyson of this land gaue some first light to ourlanguage notwithstanding that euen then our law pleadings according vnto Glanuylle and Bracton were first writâ—…en in French diuerse did write some Bookes Pamphlets Rymes Romances and Stories in barbarous English some of which were translated out of other tongues Howbeit eyther for their owne priuate vse and practise or for the meere benefite of our countreymen onely to little pleasure and lesse profite of after times which being then as a garden wherein were some good hearbes and simples of our owne and from other parts and countries brought and confusedly planted hath yeerely since then from time to time beene bettered encreased and reduced into squares knots and curious compartements diapred with pleasant flowers and brought into comely fashion The best of these which first began to reduce the confused garden of our language into some proportion were the two laureate knights of their times Gower and his Scholler Chaucer in the times of King Richard the second and King Henry the fourth One Lydgate a Monke of Edmoâ—…burie succeeded them
penurie succeede being a most pestilent feauer or consumption rather to the king and Common-wealth A curious eye with vigilant regard must bee bent vpon the Collectors Receiuers Auditors and other inferior ministers belonging to this office least in exactions or by fraudulent deuises they satisfie there priuate auarice with a kind of extortion or crueltie For auarice is an inordinate lust of hauing whose appetite is infinite whose acquisition immoderate whose possession vnlawfull whereby the prince vndoubtedly may bee brought into daunger It is like that Hydra which Poets talke of that though the stroke of Iustice execute vpon it continually yet will it miraculously reuiue againe it forceth not either the lightening thunder or thunderbolts of the law prouided against it Salust describeth it a beast rauenous cruell and intollerable where it haunteth huge Cities Fields Churches and Houses are laid wast Heauen and Earth prophanely mingled Armies and strong wals cannot restraine the violence thereof It spoileth all mortall people of good Report Modestie Children Nation Parents c. So doth this brightnesse of gold bleare mens outward sences so fuming in their heads and fastened in their hearts that they feare not any mischiefe which can accompanie Lucre. Such wicked vniust and rauenous officers eating the people as bread are to be squeezed like sponges full of water Great caution therefore must be vsed against the violence of officers in such extortion least the prince after some few yeares patience of the people vpon new grieuances become odious which king Henry the eight in the second yeare of his raigne did most politickely prouide in his proceedings against Sir Richard Emson and M. Dudley late inward and of counsell in such cases vnto his sage father king Henry the seuenth By good example of whose punishment others might vpon the like inconueniences suffer For if the people find not redresse vpon their complaints then will they rise as at that time it was feared in open hostilitie which if the blood of those extorting officers can expiate without some humane slaughter sacrificed to tenne hundred scpulchers then is it happie but such generall hurts haue commonly no compensation without a generall confusion The peoples payments ought so to be disposed therefore that all men according to their faculties by due discretion of good and honest sworne officers in euery shire or prouince may take such reasonable dayes and times of payment limited as they may without any grudging or disease contribute heartely Moreouer that such as are in speciall affaires of their prince and for the Commonwealth employed hauing by such occasions largely spent of their owne priuate for the common good as euery good man will in such cases bee for examples sake for the good encouragement of others precisely exempted from all kind of burthens and impositions Also such as haue formerly done much grace and honour to their countries and princes if they be not at that time so high in blood that they may well away with phlebotomie should bee graciously spared according to the French order for all courtiers and seruants attendant vpon the kings person in his house are by the ciuile lawes of Fraunce excepted in time of peace from all collections tallages gabels exactions customes and impositions whatsoeuer which others are tied vnto likewise in the times of warre from any burthen of receiuing quartering and billetting of souldiors Obseruation concerning these collectors and ministers before named dependeth vpon the chusing and displacing of Officers either iust or corrupt First the choice of such ministers is made out of men honest stayed and well approoued for such a purpose bad Officers which did extort or vnlawfully compasse being with losse of their places and possessions punished Dispensation of these tributes and subsidies must bee to the generall and not any particular vse for no man will sticke at a little charges employed to publicke behoofe if it once appeare that the prince doe not consume his treasure in vnnecessarie cost and riot but keepe a moderation with decencie which albeit the vulgar do not generally marke for they respect onely the princes proper faculties and reuenewes which ought to be by the treasurers concealed so much as may bee yet certaine captious and dangerous heads full of quarrels and aduantages such as are of fierie spirits coueting innouation which commonly lead the blind and abused vulgar into dangerous actions will narrowly sift and make a breach into the common peace vnder the pretext of taxes and impositions as hath beene found in certaine commotions in the dayes of king Richard the second and king Henry the sixt with other princes vpon the like occasions Such gettings therfore as proceed from the subiects beneuolence must bee sparingly spent and husbanded and so should the Treasurers beare themselues in that Office as stewards of other mens goods and not of their owne That most prudent and worthy Lord Treasurer William Cecill goodly well approued ouer all causes and in all businesse either publike or priuate during the late and most deare mirrour of good gouernment Queene Elizabeth of most renowmed and euerliuing memorie did leaue behind him a liuely patterne and precedent of his singular care and excellent wisedome to the great encrease of that stocke committed then to his charge as may serue euerlastingly to them which yet are or euer may be credited with that office to get and maintaine eternall reputation The generall good opinion and report of him after his death in the mouths of all good men may stirre vp his successours in that place truely to resemble his vertues and integritie The treasure therefore may not bee wilfully wasted or exhausted for satisfaction of any prince in his priuate prodigalitie Vera enim simplex via est magnitudinem animi in addendo non demendo reipublica ostendere For persons of lauish humours and exorbitate affections thinke not that there is any true fruition of treasure without profusion Diue deepe therefore into the bottomelesse danger thereof by manifold and most manifest example and obseruation as in Archigallo king of the Brittaines who was deposed by the people for his extortion after hee had raigned fiue yeares and then vpon his reformation restored And amongst diuers vnaduised princes consider that it was not the least cause of decay to Edward of Carnaruan king of England when hee by such meanes lost the loue of his commons by listening vnto flatterers and wilfully robbed himselfe of the fealtie of his nobles which opened his sepulchre for other matters more securely Men of such profuse qualitie which extort much as if they could not keepe any thing but that which is taken with a violent extortion are in themselues miserably poore From hence likewise brauncheth another speciall rule of moderation that no leuies surmount the princes occasions for if it tend not to the subiects great benefit being very necessarily dispensed it dishonoureth any Soueraigne to straine them in so small a matter And such
by peculiar demonstration call his own councell from which by the edict of Philip le beau no persons of that Realme can appeale because the king himselfe which acknowledgeth no superiour in his dominions vnder God is the chiefe thereof conuerseth in all publicke affaires of the Common-wealth respecting the king and gouernment which is aduised and directed thereby Albeit the king be iudge of this Counsell and of the Parliament yet is hee subiect to the lawes thereof Nam Parliamentis secundum deum rex solus Imperat qui absens aquè in Parliamenti ac in priuati Consilij decretis loquitur For as a God the king himselfe only ruleth in the Parliaments who though hee bee not present in the Sessions yet hath his voyce royall assenting or dissenting both in the Parliaments and priuate Counsels of state Albeit the Parliamentall iurisdiction surpasseth this Counsell Neither is it permitted that any President Marshall or other principall magistrate shall during the time of his authoritie retaine his place or giue a voice in that Office but is sequestred or suspended from entermedling in those secret consultations vpon very reasonable and needefull respects because certaine expostulations may be concerning some negligent indirect or corrupt dealings in their places otherwise In this Counsell king Charles the eight instituted that the Lord Chauncelor should bee present who being directed by the true rule of Iustice should take the rites and suffrages of those other Counsellors by iust number in any serious causes King Philip le Longe ordained of this Counsell twentie Noblemen whereof six were of the blood two Marischals the Archbishop of Rhoane the Bishop of S. Malo with the Chauncellor of Fraunce and nine others These had the determining of all great causes ordering as in their wisedomes was thought fit the families of the King of his Queene and of his children also to take account each moneth of the Treasurers and to reforme any thing which needed helpe in that Office In which as in our Counsell chamber of England there is a register or Diarie booke kept of all speciall causes there handled and debated which deserue monument And this Counsell is therefore fitly called the Common-wealths heart wherein the knowledge and vnderstanding is placed beeing properly tearmed Dux Imperator vitae mortalium The Captaine and Commaunder of mortall mens liues For those are the chiefe Morall faculties of the mind vnto which euen as the bodie by obedience is bound so semblably should the people dutifully subiect themselues to this Aristocraticall Senate And therfore that extreame straine of prudence is in extremities permitted to this Counsell onely because they can make best vse of it finding in their prudent foresight when and vpon what occasions for the Commonwealth to put the same in execution as Salust in one of his Orations Patres consilio valere debent populo superuacanea est calliditas The Fathers and Senatours should exceed and preuaile in their Counsell Calliditie becommeth not the Commonaltie Them therfore that serue in such Office it behoueth to be very well skilled in princely cunning being with diligence employed in affaires of state and politicke matters narrowly respecting gouernment This Counsell especially conuerseth in ciuile causes as in punishing of Rulers Deputies Iustices of peace Generals of armies Coronels priuat Captaines inferior Counsellors of the prince ciuile or martiall concerning their iust dealing or iniquitie in execution of their Offices In whose doome it resteth whether they shall bee discharged or retained in their places which persons are to be thought seruiceable which not This Counsell likewise prouideth that there be no falshood in paying of wages and prouision for victuall vsed by the treasurers prouant masters in campe or garrison It hath in like sort a regard limited vnto the treasurers and officers of the prince his great receit to whom the collection and conseruation thereof remaineth but the dispensation and imployment only resteth in the command of this Counsell which likewise hath in trust the consideration of all weightie treaties of peace betwixt their people and other nations of leagues amities commerce entercourse of militarie complots confederacies and actions and of dispatching away well instructed embassadours with any complementarie tearmes of beneuolence towards forren princes or states really or verbally to be professed or coloured to deliberate and resolue by what meanes in how short time and whether in priuate or publikely such businesse should bee managed with some other intricacies of more importance of which here I may not take any notice neither if I could can it bee thought fit that I should open them being only reserued as mysteries peculiar to this which the prince calleth his owne Counsell Those secrets of a State which commonly fore beyond the vulgar apprehension beeing certaine rules or as it were cabals of glorious gouernment and successe both in peace and warre apprehensible to few secret Counsellors in some Commonweales which either languish or wax vnfortunate are locked vp in foure generall rules First in the congregation of wise magistrates including the prinat Counsell These vpon importune causes in matters of highest consequence that cannot otherwise bee remedied but by meanes most necessarie to bee concealed knit vp the prudence of their resolutions in sinuous knots and serpentine wreathes of mysticall and intricate meanes and instruments fetching in their curious machinations and denises with bait hooke and line for any graue purpose beyond ordinarie reason The second is in the maiestie of State which includeth euery prince his priuate power with the strength of his wisedome and fortitude in allies monies confederates inuasions and euasions in all glorious hazards and aduentures In seeking certainely to learne out those mysteries the vulgar are commonly deceiued for it is so shadowed as not all princes are well acquainted with their owne force and how faire their armes may by meanes sufficiently stretch onely some few very prudent and industrious Counsellors of grauest and most iudicious obseruation are throughly well acquainted withall The third consisteth in iudgements wherein vpon the decision and appendance of some weightie matters respecting the common quiet and securitie by certaine mysticall circumstances in handling strange Oracles not apprehensible by vulgar sence are oftentimes closed as by suffering a mischiefe rather than an inconuenience and by breaking off a leg or arme to saue the best ioynt from perishing The fourth concludeth in the warie leuying of warre in the skilfull exercising leading and encouraging of souldiors vpon seruices vnto them vnknowne and tending to the most renowne protection and augmentation of their countrey which entirely dependeth vpon stratagemes of warre deuised and executed by the Commaunder his noble and industrious sagacitie and secrecie and in them many times are the weales and safeties of puissant kings and kingdomes wholly contained In choice of this most honourable Senate it is very needfull that the prince shew great prudence and discretion as in that sufficiencie which must
fortitude were scandalized and subuerted by women Howbeit I doe not here intend from all sorts of women and in anie weightie causes of consequence to make a question of foeminine insufficiencie because in other greater causes of right and gouernment according to the auntient lawes priuiledges and customes of diuers Realmes and Countries there is great reason why they should retaine their immunities as Plutarch writeth was sometimes in Fraunce Cum Celtarum mulieres Consilijs publicis interfuissent in quibus de pace bello tract abatur At what time the French women were alwaies present at their publique Counsels in all matters ciuill and militarie For hee saith in the said Treatise how such articles of confederacie were betwixt the Gaules and Hanniball that the Carthaginian Magistrates should order all wrongs done vnto them by the Celtes and that the Celtique women answerably such wrongs as was done vnto the Gaules by the Carthaginians Which auncient custome being odious to diuers princes of that Realme in posteritie might peraduenture haue giuen cause vnto king Pharomonde of his law But sure it is that many women haue worthely gouerned heretofore in diuers places And diuerse very learned and politicke women such as Aspasia whom Pericles loued and with whom Socrates did often consult Howbeit if Counsels of the state in these our dayes should be referred vnto them I thinke neither the time nor date of their continence and experience would permit the same againe in Fraunce But that I may conclude vpon this point of secrecie for by that peculiaritie Counsellors ought to be chosen and cherished It is written in Diodorus Siculus how the Egyptians did ordaine That hee which opened the secrets of that Commonwealth to his trust committed should haue his tongue rooted out Those sixtie learned Areopagites of Athens did carefully prouide against this crime also Moreouer it is instituted by the ciuile lawes that they which diuulge secret Counsels of the publicke state shall bee burnt at a stake or hanged vpon a gibbet It is required in persons of so worthy place and nobilitie that to this faithfulnesse they superadde fortitude and honest constancie towards the defence and maintenance of iustice and truth both in giuing receiuing and in concealing of Counsell as is warned by the example of Sardanapalus the thirtieth and last Monarch of the Assyrians who through his sensualitie pusillanimitie lacke of grace and of true fortitude was within his huge citie Niniuie besieged by Arbaces captaine of the Medians through whose power and in feare of the Oracle which was fulfilled in suddaine falling downe of a large peece of the cities wals that made passage for the Medians and strooke him with such a present terror he thus feebly consulted and resolued with himselfe vpon a flaming pyre destined to that end together with his concubines eunuchs and treasure to cast himselfe leauing all the spoyles and reliques with that Monarchie to the Medians In the Prince therfore principally fortitude is required and next in his secret Counsellors whose vertues should animate him There is one most excellent note of true fortitude remaining vnto such honourable Counsellors by the example of Scauola viuely manifesting a valiant heart fortified with a iust and vnstained conscience hee when Sylla with multitudes of men in armes had entred the Senate implacably thirsting after the destruction of Marius whom hee would haue had by the Senatours then present denounced a common enemie to the state onely Scaeuola refused to giue voice against him euen when Sylla with most truculencie threatened him to the contrarie saying Albeit thou darest mee with these heapes of souldiors with which thou distressest this honourable presence although thou breath forth death against me yet will not I condiscend in loue of my blood which is both aged and little to denounce Marius our enemy through whose valour and honestie my conscience attesteth how the citie Rome and all Italie was preserued In such cases therefore Counsellors truly valiant feare onely the wrath of God threatening iniquitie least as S. Augustine writeth Through feare or affection in concealing the veritie they seeme more to respect the creature than the creator Vnto this faith and fortitude there are opposites to which diuers in their deliberations and resolutions are vehemently subiect viz. feare being a certaine pensiue heauinesse for some mischiefe future or remote and affection which is a partiall respect of certaine persons beyond the lists of reason Such people therefore are not deemed wise and prudent which feare more than is fit considering that indissoluble accord which is betwixt Prudence and Fortitude according to that wise Prouerbe of king Salomon A wise man is valiant and a learned man strong Notwithstanding the weake opinions of diuers which haue argued in my hearing That wise men cannot be valorous for so much as they summe vp with the counters of reason in the audit of prudence all chaunces and perils which may come in by circumstances and deriuations of matters According to that of Salust concerning Iugurth Quod difficilimum imprimis est praelio strenuus erat bonus consilio quorum alterum ex prouidentia timorem alterum ex audacia temeritatem plerunquè afferre solent And that which was most difficult his stoutnesse in warre and his soothfastnesse in Counsell exceeded the last of which commonly by reason of that prouidence which forecasteth perils doth inflict feare the first through exceeding boldnesse breedeth temeritie A rare position as if there had scarcely beene any meane betwixt cowardise and temeritie Actions both glorious and profitable may not be let slip through feare of vncertaine perils yet if we stand betwixt two dangers let vs with firme valour aduenture vpon that which may best emblazon our honour bearing with it true tokens of our true heroicall vertues and spirits We know by good experience that a timerous Counsellor is by desperation being a fearefull and horrible deiection or consternation of a mind base and abiect conuerted into rash courses euen as rash men are by their temeritie Furthermore it is common in the nature of things chiefely to feare dangers most imminent being more appalled at present perils than is requisite but valuing mischiefes future and remote more carelesly than they should because hopes by times or chaunces may promise some redresse for them But this is both sure and notable Vbi bonum publicum usui est id dubitare aggredi socordiae atque ignauiae est It is the part of a slothfull coward when a man shall feare to attempt any thing which may benefit the Commonwealth A prudent Senatour therefore equally respecteth head and foot for after long consultation and leisure had in expence of time he cannot without great shame and difficultie recall matters which haue beene curiously sifted before as it was spoken of Bomilchar Quâ—… cupidus incepta patrandi timore socij anxius omisso veteri Consilio nouum quaerere noluit Who
and wise considerations without eloquence because cogitation conuerseth in it selfe and eloquence is beneficiall towards all which heare it for when a man enamelleth a wise speech with copiousnesse the people will confirme their opinions and counsels in his sapience if therewithall hee season the same as it were with a pleasant modestie infused into constant grauitie There be foure kinds of eloquent speaking and writing according to Macrobius Copiosum in quo Cicero breue in quo Salustius siccum quod Frontoni pingue floridum quod Plinio secundo c. The copious wherein Cicero the briefe in which Salust the drie through which Fronto the full and fruitfull for which Plinius the second were famoused Any of which beeing ingenuously practised without affectation or sophistrie carrie with them great force of reconciliation Much eloquence is found in those letters which king Philip of Macedon did write to his sonne Alexander and in those Epistles which Antipater and Antigonus did write vnto Captaines persuading them by benigne and fauorable tearmes to mooue the peoples hearts and to cherish or toll on the souldiors to seruice with the Metaphysicall oyle and balme of their eloquence and persuasion but to deliuer those attributes of Oratorie with a kind of feruencie zeale and affection in all causes of weight and passion is of great auaile and force which Cicreo specially noteth Oratio quae in multitudinem cum contentione habetur soepe vniuersam excitat gloriam Those Orations or speeches which in audience of the people are deliuered with a vehement and stirring spirit commonly mooue or procure a generall glorie beeing intended here vnto the speakers proceeding from the auditorie Obseruing alwayes that Philosophicall decencie which prohibiteth him Tanquam luculentum suem cum quouis volutari non enim procacitate linguae vitae sordes eluuntur Like a durtie sow which walloweth in any puddle for the dishonest touches of a mans conuersation are not washed out with sawcie taunts or speeches Such like was that luxurious kind of procacitie for which Salust and Cicero were both grieuously taxed in their verball eskairmouches together misbeleeuing the prudent tongues of grauitie And therefore Tacitus specially well describeth that excesse of eloquence thus Eloquentia luxuriosa alumna licentiae comes sedicionum effraenati populi incitamentum siue obsequio siue seruitute contumax tomeraria arrogans quaeque in bene constitutis ciuitatibus non oritur c. Luxurious eloquence is the nurce of licence the companion of seditions the spurre which pricketh forth vnruly people not acknowledging either seruice or dutie it is stubborne rash arrogant and neuer bred or nourished in any well ordered cities These obseruations are required in a perfect Counsellor and yet wholly depending vpon his excellent wit which I last before touched seruing as a precious elixar of life and mettall for many strange purposes And by these notes and qualities of Oratorie if any viue ember or spiracle of ingenuous facilitie remaine in men it shall appeare conspicuously The well speaking of many languages may bee mustered amongst the rest for one speciall and most needfull qualitie in speciall the tongues of those kingdomes and prouinces which are either subiects contributaries or confederates to the prince and also the languages of his enemies as appeareth in the learnedest of our princes his Counsell at this day For amongst them the Greeke Latine Italian Spanish French Danish Polish and Dutch tongues are well spoken and vnderstood This is a comfortable benefit when forraine people either with vs at home or abroad are heartely glad to vnderstand and to be vnderstood by those with whom they haue businesse opening their own meanings better and more perspicuously by their owne mouth than with helpe of an interpretor Mutuall counsels likewise may by this knowledge be more safely debated than by meanes of a third person interpreting what more beneficiall commendation than to heare vnderstand and deliberate vpon peaceable and hostile legations If they bee friends it better confirmeth their amitie when Counsellors consult or debate with them in their owne language persuading themselues commonly that it proceedeth from loue and good obseruation Admit they be sometimes deceiued in that opinion yet such a kind of frustration is auaileable And suppose them enemies which so conferre with you by that occasion their beneuolence is so much the sooner attained It must be noted also that few men interprete perfectly many more satisfying their owne humors than the precise meaning of the parties adding or substracting somewhat alwayes What if vnder pretext of interpretation a referendarie be foisted in vpon whose secrecie the whole weale and honour of a king with all his Soueraignetie dependeth Admit the matters so require that no delayes without danger will serue to dispatch present answer to the Prince is it not then a double shame and offence to make enquirie for such an interpretor as will deale faithfully What if no fit man can bee found out of hand Or if hee bee found admit the one partie credite not his interpretation All these are most dangerous difficulties and therefore the knowledge of tongues is of speciall force in a secret Counsellour and also that he know the fashions and conditions of those people whose language he speaketh but for the prince chiefely necessarie that his Counsellors can speake write and interprete in those tongues before him rather than repose affiance in strangers Which trust is commonly fallacious and then vndoubtedly pernicious The cause why the Latine and Greeke languages are so commonly studied and embraced in most parts of the world is in regard of their many most learned bookes and monuments of former time The reason of their so many volumes and written workes is deriued from their auncient and ample Monarchies endowed formerly with so many precious spirits which both for ciuile and militarie knowledge so much surpassed and exceeded Their leagues tributes lawes ciuile customes their many battailes victories and triumphs as those of Alexander Caesar and of others infinite beeing speciall attributes of their gouernment gaue infinite matter to noble wits in those Empires continually to write such excellent dignities and exploits as their natiue countrey men had borne away with much honour and renowne both in peace and warre The Princes Consuls Dictators and Emperors yeelding royall encouragement and most munificent salaries to those Writers for their owne glories sake which by such their art and industrie were ennobled did make infinite the numbers of bookes and Authors in all liberall faculties The multitudes of those bookes through the greatnesse of these Monarchies were farre and neere dispersed The learning of those volumes after the dissolution of these Empires hath beene euermore and againe thirsted and hunted after by the best and all well disposed Commonweales and Princes which since that time were alwayes enlightened by them yeelding a continuall patterne of perfect humane knowledge to posteritie And in these later ages since the time of our Sauiour Christ
Proheme of his Hystories doth affirme Will teach vs what ought to be the principall scope of our desires and detestations This which summoneth all creatures of all countries and fashions as to a generall muster imitating his diuine prouidence which in heauenly iustice and bountie bestoweth vpon euerie man according to demerit all vertuous actions are eternized by the penne of Hystorie so farre doth it surpasse the sage counsels and golden sentences of our forefathers and former Philosophers as times continuance comprehendeth more examples than one mans age This is it which maketh young mens iudgements of parill ripenesse with old age grounding aged persons in the depth of wisedome to whome long experience hath alreadie ministered a dayly triall of causes It maketh priuate men fit for Empire and Emperours earnest in vertue for victories heartening souldiours to giue a courageous charge vpon perils for honour of their countries terrifying malefactors propagating Soueraignetie by good example deuising lawes inuenting arts preferring vertuous actions enfranchised from mortalitie declaring it selfe a memorable and perfect marble-register of misdeedes and generally beneuolent This is it which aged time onely nourisheth when it eateth vp all things besides this is the patterne of eloquence the true mirrour of Philosophie the garden of knowledge and hence is it that Aristotle in his Politickes writeth how the skill of actions and Histories of deedes done most import a Counsellor to learne because things future are like their parent which came before them vpon which all euents of actions commonly depend Hee therefore which in noble Hystorie shall contemplate and meditate vpon the life of a good Prince or Counsellor may find somewhat alwayes worth his own obseruation and practise according to that saying of Seneca Aliquis vir bonus elegendus est nobis ac semper ante oculos habendus vt sic viuamus tanquam illo spectanti omnia faciamus tanquam illo videnti We must propose some one good man for our patterne and alwayes looke vpon him with the eyes of our mind that wee may so liue as if hee were looking vpon vs and so deale as if all our actions were performed in his sight Let a souldiour liue fortie yeares in seruice great and of continuall commaund as great Alexander and Caius Caesar escape in many conflicts as Anniball and Cato receiue so many wounds as Scipio and Scaeua triumph in so many victories subuert so many cities deuise so many stratagemes consult vpon so many leagues and truces enterparley with so many princes spending the full glasse of his time during those yeeres in magnificent actions and noble consultations onely like Cirus Themistocles Epaminondas Cimon Fabius Pelopidas and infinite others auncient and late yet shall one moneths reading in Liuie Plutarch Diodorus Thucydides Polybius Xenophon Dion and some few more which haue eternally recorded all the memorable actions and vertues of them all open more vnto him without bloudshead if hee will studiously conferre and reasonably remember than euer the seruice of many more yeeres with the slaughters of Myriads of souldiors could expresse The knowledge of all persons the meaning of all matters the depth of all secrets is locked vp in Hystorie In it wee find that inestimable treasure of the Lawes by which Commonweales were first ordered and instituted in the sentences of sage and prudent men confirming societies in peace and magnifying them by vertues like Physicke which is an hystoricall commemoration or rapsodie of experiments made by Physitions of old by whose Aphorismes and Precepts our Physitions direct their iudgements and medicines it is a methodicall Schoole-master of humane life examplifying the fashions and natures of people a certaine experience of their actions a sound and prudent Counsellor in difficult affaires The cruelties and exceeding lust of Domitian and of Nero which may be read in Tacitus hath power to terrifie princes from those vices which are recorded of them when also they peruse the lamentable stories of Caligula that Fax fex hominum That fire-brand and filth of men When they reuolue the monstrous obscoenities of Heliogabalus who was amongst the people a Cannon by word scorne and obloquie when they shall looke into the leaues of Maximus his life than whom no man was a more cruell slaughter man of his countrey finding what horrible epethites denominations and attributes were worthely throwne or as it were spit into the blacke legend of his bloudie gouernment being called in diuers places Busyris Phalar is Typhon what better precedent can remaine in detestation of vice Contrariwise the blessed and peaceable reigne of Octauian the goodnesse and gracious condition of Traian of Pertinax of Titus and some others are vehement prouocations to confirme and encourage Princes in iustice and honestie For euen as women which curiously fashion and attire their heads and bodies by their glasse which representeth vnto them all vndecent and comely guizes will presently shew themselues abroad amongst the people finding their bodies by that myrrour pleasingly garnished so Princes by the like resemblance find in the glasse of hystories that which giueth spurs to their vertues and policie The case is lamentable and I haue many times with heauinesse thought it how few be the Chronologiers and Historians of our age how doubtfull and vnfaithfull much of their matter how fearefully and vainly seduced by misprizion and affection Sure I am that infinite actions remaine worthie the penne of hystories nay that which men write of their own princes and nation tendeth lesse to truth than vnto vaine-glorie but that which is written by men of forraine princes people such as Mercury Gallobelgicus falsely proclaimed in his Annales of the world is both vncertaine fallacious and strongly sauouring of malice blind zeale and partiall motions of the mind Whereas if men would faithfully search out by the true records and memorials of realmes and Commonweales the vertuous and vicious actions of princes and people how would it instigate and deterre the well and ill affected rulers and commons of the world to take hold and detestation of goodnes euill In reading of them therefore we must carefully quote the map of actions with the times places the causes executions and euents of things wherein some did prosper and others perish with the reasons why those were gracious and these vnwelcome If any glorious matter happened whether it came by chaunce or felicitie by vertue or good counsell what impediments in contrarie did cause it miscarry A Counsellor should also consider by this knowledge what alterations haue formerly beene as in the realmes of England Scotland Fraunce Ireland Spaine Denmarke Italy with other Nations what Families possessed the Crownes of them and by what titles and meanes how long what the causes of those mutations were how many of euery familie did reigne which of the princes was most religious valiant wise and fortunate which not how many battailes euery prince fought against whom at what time where and vpon what occasion what warres
I haue spoken more at large elswhere Vnto prudence therefore as companions are assigned Intelligence which is as I said a perfect vnderstanding of matters Science a iust apprehension of causes Art a true demonstration or ensignemnt of things and Sapience a sure and certaine indagation of diuine knowledge Aristotle attributeth to prudence three parts the first 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is a kind of power or facultie to giue good counsell in time of neede then 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 respecting a mature deliberation and perfection in doing of businesse thirdly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or intelligence which is a prouidence cunning or expert iudgement to put that in execution which hath beene by right counsell preconsulted and determined It is likewise the part of a prudent person to know much in generall and in particulars to keepe in readiestore and memorie things long before done and past if they bee notable to see darts arrowes and all seâ—…ious accidents of good hope and danger long before they come by which gift they may preuent and auoid the worst turning that which is good to the best successe and weighing the condition of things as they stand in present state within the scales of reason and discretion likewise to be well aduised in all considerations and consultations to be circumspect iudicious and of a good conuersation as well in respect of others as for his owne sake to ponder well the circumstances and attributes of men and matters for by the mutations of such things wee find it often succeede how that will bee ratified and made lawfull on the morrow which was the day before prohibited and punished The difference likewise of persons of their qualities by the respects had vnto their faults and punishment as for example in malicious killing vpon reuenge in comparison of them that doe it in defence of their owne persons by the law of nature and for necessities sake in making sacriledge the worst kind of theft and in generall when by due discretion the state and condition of people and causes either high great humble or small are examined and respected for by this course is the rule of decencie kept Moreouer prudence disperseth her force and vertues into three parts first into the condition monasticall if I may so tearme it which appertaineth all particular persons in their peculiar estates seuerally the second into the state Oeconomicall which respecteth the administration of each priuate familie which Xenophon tearmeth the art of dispensation The third and last being the best and right excellent part wherin prudence sheweth most force is the state politicall alwayes employed in ciuile causes generally working for the Common-wealth beeing a true kind of science to which those of this counsell must bee first bound apprentises before their adoption into this societie Hee therefore that would bee a good master in his owne familie must first by good demeanure and conuersation amongst his neighbors hold himselfe vp that he may purchase a generall good opinion witnesse and commendation of his integritie being by those excellent deserts made fit for the gouernment of a familie Which when he knoweth by that circumspection accustomed in his owne particular carriage how to gouerne then shall hee likewise haue his faculties by good helpe of morall obseruations and practise of vertues surely kniâ—… and enhabled to giue counsell and administer in this principall Office vnder the King or Commonwealth for if hee cannot moderate himselfe how shall he rule in Oeconomie Neither can any man not being exceedingly perfect in them both with other excellent suppliments and vertuous helpes such as you shall hereafter reade in this booke of Offices deserue the place of a Counsellor Howbeit for as much as these two last concerning the administration of priuate families beeing called a Domesticall and this other noble part semblably tearmed a Ciuile gouernement are specially directed and guided by Prudence I will therefore in briefe declare what the learnedest Philosophers haue noted concerning them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is the forme of house-gouernment respecteth the good order of euery mans familie correspondent in profite and honestie to the places degrees and habilities of the maisters whether they bee princes noblemen citizens or priuat persons consisting of men which includeth the maister wife children and seruants and of possessions comprehending house and domesticall substance They which might haue first beene worthely reputed Oeconomicall maisters were Adam Enoch Noah with diuers euen to the time of Ioseph the patriarch who did gouerne the kingdome of Egypt establishing it with new lawes Amongst these Melchisedech named a king and Abraham who though in forraine countries he were a stranger yet ioyned with kings gouerning his familie by politicall and Oeconomicall Empire and maintaining warres in defence of his people The maister of the house-hold therefore ought first to know and put his whole power in practise towards the preseruation of his wife and children in vnion and societie which both Reason and Law doth naturally moderate beeing by sacred writ of the Testaments ordained and vnder that commaundement established by the diuine sanctions of Christianitie that they should be legitimate begotten in wedlocke and not the children of many fathers according to the licencious rule of Plato secondly that the father vnto them and to his seruants shew beneuolence and be tractable His familie must be disposed in decent order food cloth maintenance with house conuenient and answerable to the retinue must be prouided according to the nature of that place where he liueth Wherin he must prudently consider whether the ayre which fostereth the places enuironing his house be cold hot or temperat whether scituate vpon the continent or sea coast neere a riuer or poole high low fennish moist fertile barren neere the barbarous and aduerse borderer or remote or to what winds it is most opposed with such like for according to these obseruations houses are edified and fortified streets enlargened or straightened Vnto which publicke workes for the edification amplification or restauration of houses villages or cities a Counsellors prudence is needfully required Let them take heed of exceeding sumptuousnesse and ouergorgeous magnificence in building aboue the proportion of their lands and reuenewes enuironning and answering the same for it were better that large demesnes required mansion houses than that glorious mannors should want meanes to support and furnish out their magnificence Concerning familiar maintenance which is either domesticall respecting tyllage pasturage parkes for game warrens of hares and conies hawking fishing vineyards orchards hop-yards gardens and such like or artificiall conuersing in arts handy-crafts trades and mysteries in part liberall as painture typographie masonrie with the like and partly not it must bee decent honest needfull and allowable for the worthinesse of a good house-holder is mentall and not corporall Qui enim domum aut villam extruit eamque signis aulaeis alijsque operibus exornat omnia potius quam semet
the lawes customes of their realms which they may coÌ„mute antiquate and abrogate as they list vnlesse such as haue voluntarily restrained themselues in some particulars to the consent and suffragation of their Peeres and Commons for so much as kings are the ministers and deputies vnder God to and from whom they must yeeld account and receiue punishment according to their administration to them committed if they doe abuse the same or violate their oathes And all kings for the most part in causes concerning themselues will annihilate lawes or remit and mitigate them as our dread Soueraigne Lord hath done in pardoning traytors and nefarious enemies of the State being conuicted Which counsell he likewise hath giuen vnto that gracious young Prince his sonne of so great expectation and wonder as the world hath not seene his peere in towardnesse But iust Princes will not commonly commute annihilate or qualifie those lawes by which their people may be preiudiced for such Lawes and Statutes as concerne them are enacted by their owne consents not by royall prerogatiue onely The second good State dependeth vpon that gouernment which is referred to a competent number of the wiser noblemen as if any Prince being weake of himselfe should diuolue the whole administration of his State vnto the lords and fellowes of his counsell and this is called Aristocracie Which kind of state we reade in holy Scripture to haue continued vnder Iudges from Moyses vnto the dayes of Eli vnder whome the arke of Gods couenant was lost and the politicall glorie lamentably defaced But as it followeth my iudgement yeeldeth to the learneder opinions of others That there is not any state so laudable and diuine in earthly gouernment as vnder one according to that saying of Nestor in Homer Non multos regnare bonum rex vnicus esto Vnius imperium cui Iupiter aurea magnus Sceptra dedit iussitque suis dare iur a tuendis It is not good that many kings should rule at once ouer one people let there bee one king and one kingdome vnto whome the God of might hath deliuered the golden scepter commaunding him to make lawes for the preseruation and tuition of his people The third good estate of gouernment resteth in the discreet gubernation of the Commons which is named a Democracie such as gouerned Athens in times past and the like amongst the Cantons of Swizzerland at this day Those other three remaining and framed out of the excesse or outrage of these other three good states predefined consist in tyrannie by which the prince according to lust and beyond the limits of reason law or honestie cherisheth vicious persons and by them strengtheneth his owne arme against all good people which liue oppressed and tortured vnder his gouernment The life of such tyrants is a continuall perillous and inward warre because they cannot repute themselues safe either in front in reare or on the flankes they miserably torture themselues with euerlasting danger feare And those are commonly called Tyranni qui vi armis imperium arripiunt Which with force and in armes bereaue others of their Realms and Crownes Such was Cirus Agathocles and others infinite which maintained their spoyles and rapine by rauening and spoyling These are they which despise iustice lawes and equitie these which forsake the Commonwealth to multiâ—…lie their owne priuate estates these which vexe and oppresse their people with grieuous and insupportable tributes and exactions as vassales and slaues base and abject those of these conditions may not bee called kings but tyrants and nefarious oppressors for euen as rauenous wolues greedily rush vpon the flocke so doe they to dilaniate and deuour the people of God The court of a good king containeth the least part of his riches and his Commonwealth aboundeth and ioyeth in all wealth and worldly felicitie The tyrant hoordeth vp the peoples treasure or employeth it to his priuate vse impouerishing and excoriating the poore subiects A good king hath a good Angell ayding him in the administration of his estate a Tyrant is incensed and directed by a most malicious and wicked diuell A good king punisheth the wicked and preferreth the vertuous a Tyrant cutteth off the liues of good men and prolongeth the dayes of the wicked A good king thinketh himselfe most powerfull in riches when his people doth abound in wealth A tyrant then reputeth himselfe most rich when he hath robbed the Commonwealth of all their goods a good king by the Philosophers is called a shepheard a tyrant is tearmed a wolfe finally the good and true king esteemeth much more the life and weale of his people than his owne life The Tyrant doth not only thirst after the riches and treasure but euen after the bloud and liues of his subiects also The second euill part of gouernment is called Oligarchie which is when the Commonwealth or Vniuersalitie bee forceably yoaked vnder the violent lusts and empire of a few Nobles as at Rome in the gouernment of the Duumuirate and Triumuirate and in Anarchie when the people confusedly by libidinous instinct and auaritious desire make hauocke of all vnder their gouernment vsing all kinds of dishonest pleasures and purchase as a commendable and most needfull recreation and profite For the deuill which is author of confusion and disorder raigneth in their spirits Yea ruinous and most desolate is that Nation like to prooue whose lawes are made out of their owne lusts and perturbed appetites Multitudo namque malis artibus imbuta deinde in artes vitasque varias dispalata nullo modo inter se congruens parùm idonea videtur ad capessendam rempublicam For a multitude which is first disordered and euill affected and then dispersed into diuers professions and fashions of liuing discordant within themselues are not meete to take any charge or tuition of the Commonwealth For the vulgar are neither wise nor discreet but rash and violent in all their commotions and passions especially when they haue the reynes in their owne hands The violence of which misgouernment caused Demosthenes a most learned and euer-renowned citizen of Athens through the peruerse and vniust sentence of the barbarous Athenians being banished after the losse of his countrey liberties to crie forth in the bitternesse of his spirit O Pallas Pallas quae tribus infestissimis belluis delectaris noctua dracone populo O Pallas Pallas which takest pleasure in three most pernicious beasts in an Owle in a Dragon and in the people Which kind of gouernment is not vnproperly compared to the weltring and vnconstant billowes of the sea The Romane policie when their kings were abolished was by the Senate managed a long time After which the people retaining a Democraticall state being attempered with the moderation and authorities royall and with the Patricians as appeared in the Consular estate and in the Senators did carrie with them the fasces and preheminence vntill the reignes of Iulius and Augustus Caesars So that out of the Soueraigne
mens minds and to make his proper vse of them if he can apprehend the plaine causes which moue most honour and admiration in their hearts towards any Magistrates if hee can wisely discerne the Spring-tide of Iustice Prudence Fortitude and Temperance when they passe their bounders then is he worthily deemed iudicious In the consideration and practise of which the whole force of prudence consisteth Peregrination of countries is another cheefe ornament in a Counsellor in speciall the realmes and prouinces of his prince his friends his enemies and neighbours In such trauailes behooueth his care prudence diligence and consideration not to passe like those gaping and wauering fooles in fayres and markers which onely come to busie their eyes without benefite But his vse of trauell must be to know how such countries are gouerned in peace and warre what reuenewes ordinarie out of his owne lands and extraordinarie by contribution of the people belong to the prince how the realme is munited and how the people addicted by such obseruation hee becommeth prudent worthie to be consulted and in honourable respect vpon his returne Albeit Honorius and Theodosius Emperours supposed that men ought not to diue into the secrets of a forraine state yet he which vpon the dispatch of any legation returneth into his owne countrey shall be deemed prudent if he can obserue open when occasion is offered such secrets as by being shewed may profit his owne countrey Amongst other things if he bee commended by the prince to performe any great embasie the speciall subiect of his heart vnder God must be the renowne of his prince and the chiefe organe directorie by which hee must square out his businesse and worke should bee moderation For if it happen that in arrogant speeches hee gallop out of the listes of modestie then doth hee violate and abuse the maiestie and peace both of his prince and of the people But rather if any thing in charge be by the king through heate or some angry passion somewhat more sharpe or bitterly deliuered that when he pronounceth his Soueraignes message the embassadour rather mollifie than exasperate any matters of litigious consequence in his speech and if other things of fauour or honour bee by him to be signified on behalfe of his prince vnto friends his care ought to deuise how he may make the same more gracious and magnificent by his owne wit and inuention for it sometimes happeneth that princes by means of some embassadours their intemperance and temeritie be vehemently moued vnto wrath and by the prudence of others are drawne into the true borders of friendship and amitie The things commonly notable in trauelling of forraine countries are the lawes religion and fashions of the Nation where hee soiourneth the scituation castles and cities of the countries the fashions of the princes robes and attire the qualities pedigrees families power treasure and buildings of the Counsellors and Noblemen By conference vpon such obseruation he shall learne the good and euill of his owne countrey how to ciuilize the people if their manners be corrupt how to declare himselfe hospitable towards strangers for vnder them haue diuers charitably disposed worldlings such as Tobias and Lot receiued Angels into their houses how to grope mens minds or meanings whether they bee friends or enemies and according to the state of his businesse he shall accommodate himselfe to the time and vnto the state of his prince hauing good note of all occasions oportunities encombrances and difficulties of places and seasons No man shall haue power by cunning relation of salse-hood to make him swallow a gudgine neither to build vpon any mans opinion It is further required that hee know how many myles that countrey where he hath conuersed is in length how many in breadth with what munitions and artillerie the townes are fenced in what place of the countrey an armie may find safest entrance what faire and open Harbours Ports Creekes Hauens and Promontories there are how many deepe riuers water the countries what the principall vertues and vices of the people bee what their chiefest pleasure wherein their Nobles differ from ours in England what oddes betwixt their edifices and ours whether of the princes is in power most absolute how the people in those Nations oppose their Soueraignes what difference in the formes of their seruice and ours how they muster trayne and discipline souldiors whether in marching or quartering of armies they spoyle the countreyman what order is prouided that the souldior shall not annoy the peasant So that in his relation he may discreetly compare all those countries where hee hath trauailed with his owne distinguishing of all properties with sound iudgement For if distinction be wanting farewell election and if that depart prudence is also banished the lacke wherof bringeth in confusion which haleth on many millions of miseries A sound knowledge and apprehension of the princes strength whom hee serueth with the power of his confederats neighbours and enemies is likewise adioyned This shall teach him how great their seuerall reuenewes are eyther ordinarie or extraordinarie from whence by what meanes and when they be gathered what forces his prince can leuie and how long maintaine them how well disciplined what gallant or caitiue captaines amongst them that are enemies which of them are confederat against the king whose parties they professe and vpon what plot of malecontment reuenge faction ambition or corruption how strong or weake those secret partisanes are with what commodities they be furnished and wherein wanting for this is the ready rule which measureth any princes power Hee should likewise of himselfe seeme able and worthie when warres require the aduenture of his state and life to bear commaund ouer many souldiors and at all assayes so well appointed as hee may be found aequè fortis ac prudens both wise and valiant executing the laws of arms as those Romane Emperours of whom it is written That in castris they did agere iure summo domique ex aequo bono That in the warres they did vse martiall law and at home in peace administer equitie When a Counsellor can with sound knowledge like a good Physition heale the diseases of his countrey prouiding how to preuent them before they can take hold thereof he magnifieth his wisedome vehemently he should therefore heare euery man willingly fauour all indifferently yet so that most respect be fastened to the iust cause A stranger in his good dealing and right ought to bee preferred before a neighbour wherefore if hee were a Iew borne or barbarous Heathen if he were a Turke or of what odious off-spring soeuer let his cause not his qualitie be respected and in equitie let him hold the priuiledge of nation cognation countrey citie bloud and familie with a neighbour for so much as may concerne his cause In this qualitie the Counsellor is importunately warned to take great heede that hee with his parts doe not corroborate any faction or vnder the pretext
thing that may be done or spoken is one speciall type of a Counsellors prudence Which some compare to the Mulberrie that flourishing last of all trees yeeldeth ripe fruit before others for after sound consultation matters are with expedition acted Neither may counsell be profered before the king require it like a vaine physition which will intrude himselfe before hee bee sent for vnlesse some speciall causes to himselfe onely knowne and in matters of great weight he find it most necessarie for there be three fashions of counselling by Reason by good Authoritie by faithfull example which three concurring are of most validitie If a Counsellor therefore yeeld not vnto the votes and suffrages of any thing propounded by whatsoeuer persons first let him arme himselfe in good proofe tempered with the steele of reason to maintaine the contrarie parts more conueniently and for so much as it standeth him in hand to confute their opinions and that very few with due moderation can haue patience to bee conuinced let him vse all temperance and mildnesse of speech that may bee without contention for it sufficeth a worthie Counsellor let others thinke at their pleasure to satisfie his priuate conscience If memorie likewise doe not by nature richly supplie to the Counsellors reading for so much as it is fitly called the Register of eloquence and mother of the Muses it will be much behoofefull that a Counsellor studie to reforme himselfe by that art industriously which by maps characters or Hyeroglyphickes may be best placed Knowledge in the studies of Morall and Naturall Philosophie being first well grounded with Logicall rules that he may probably discourse dispute wisely when any question vpon good occasion requireth is needefull also The Philosophie which Plato defineth in one of his Epistles is constancie faithfulnesse and sinceritie Which tripartite kind is by the Morallists called the art of Sapience for it teacheth vs the knowledge of God it reclaymeth vs to fortitude and modestie which illuminating our minds consumeth those mystie vapours of ignorance and dulnesse that oppresse our reason so that we may clearely behold things aboue vs about vs and beneath vs it rooteth out vice harrowing the mind and making it fit to receiue the seede of all good knowledge without which mans nature is wounded and miserable They which studie these arts are properly called Prudentes For Philosophie is by interpretation the studie of knowledge being the perfection of all humane skill and altogether necessarily to bee studied and sought for by princes and great magistrates For as Cicero writeth Philosophia est fructuosa nulla pars eius inculta atque deserta Philosophie is fruitfull no part of which is vnmanured or desert The most profitable part whereof consisteth in mentall Offices and Morals Onely by the Physickes we learne the nature of things the Nature which natureth and the Nature natured the diuers qualities of them both from whence those bodies are which wee call elements lightenings thunder fierie impressions rainebow tempests earth-quakes inundations of waters from what naturall causes they proceede Also to bee skilfull in the Mathematickes For he that neglecteth the Mathematicall arts cannot bee a perfect Philosopher as Caelius thinketh for they bee certaine degrees or elements by which higher matters are attayned Hence was it that Plato did call it Acumen cogitationis The quicke apprehension of mans thought because it heaueth vp the mind and sharpeneth that edge of intelligence towards the apprehension of diuine causes and therefore Fr. Patricius supposeth that this quadripartite art of the Mathematickes including Arithmeticke Geometrie Musicke and Astrologie best befitteth a ciuile magistrate of the two first Iacobus Faber writeth thus Inter eas artes qua Mathemata Graecivocant dua Arithmetica Geometria praecipuum sibi vendicant Locum quòd ad caeteras assequendaâ—… viam sternant Amongst those arts which the Greekes call Mathematickes Arithmeticke and Geometrie be principall for so much as they make easie passage vnto the rest For he which is ignorant in Arithmeticke can neuer proouea skilfull Musician neither can any man which hath not attained the knowledge in Geometrie prooue perfect in that inspectiue of Astronomie for vpon these two first parts those other couple depend The reason also that Plato giueth wherefore he would haue princes skilfull in the Mathematickes is Quod sint quasi comites Administrae viri politici Being the companions and agents of a politicall person First therefore concerning Arithmeticke which helpeth him to make vp his accounts of receit and disbursement when the bils and audite of the Treasurer and Exchequer are referred to his counters of which art I shall haue some occasion in my fourth booke to speake somewhat and in this knowledge Pythagoras was said to haue farre surmounted all the Philosophers of the world according to that which Ouid the Poet writeth concerning him Mente deos adij quae natura negauit Visibus humanis oculis ea pectoris hausit Being in effect thus much By force of his mentall faculties hee did attaine a diuine knowledge and with the eyes of his vnderstanding did perfectly comprehend that which was by nature concealed from mortall eyes Geometrie likewise conuerseth in the magnitude and proportion of things wherein the famous Mathematician Archiâ—…edes was so skilfull and by the helpe of those Geometricall engines which hee did deuise a long time restrained Marcellus the Romane Captaine from victorie when hee besieged that citie And hence is this saying of Salomon How God did dispose of all his creatures according to number measure and weight Musicke according to the course whereof the Pythagoreans did imagine that the world was composed and the Mythologicall poets that deuised nine Muses because of the musicall consent of the eight coelestiall spheres and of that one great continent called Harmonie which includeth the vermes of those other eight is very profitable and pleasant Howbeit in my weake iudgement it may be better spared in a Counsellor than her other three sisters seruing more for ornament than gouernment albeit we find that it keepeth a proportion by notes to delight the mind Astrologie being the fourth and noblest Mathematicall sister is bipartite according to Isidorus in part naturall when it is limited by courses of the Sunne and Moone or according to those certaine and infallible motions of the starres and times or superstitious Quam mathematici sequuntur qui in illis angurantur quique etiam duo decem coeli signa per singula animi vel corporis membra disponunt sidereoque cursu natiuitates hominum mores pradicare conantur c. In which the Mathematicians take delight for from them they deriue their Auguries disposing or placing through all the members of humane bodies the twelue signes of heauen and endeuouring to make knowne the natiuities and conditions of people by course of the starres Both Diuines and Philosophers consent that this inferiour world is according to the discretion and
disposition of God gouerned by the heauens so that these inferior bodies are ruled and moued by power of the superior And hence is that saying of Aristotle Necessario mundum hunc inferiorem superioribus motibus esse contiguum vt omnis eius virtus inde gubernetur It must of necessitie be that this inferiour world neighboureth the superiour powers and motions to the end the force and vertue thereof might bee gouerned and disposed from aboue To confirme this also S. Augustine holdeth opinion Corpora haec grossiora regi atque moueri per corpora subtiliora That these our grosler bodies bee ruled and mooued by force of those bodies which are more subtile This art as well for the rule of Nauigation which proceedeth from knowledge of the celestiall bodies as for those other secrets issuing out of the mysticall indicials of the Mathematicians is more precious to them that haue it than any worldly felicitie for so much as they commonly which are possessed thereof contemne all transitorie pleasures and glorie Wherefore that noble Poet Virgil concerning that nature of the Planets writeth thus Foelix qui potuit rerum cognoscere causas Atque metus omnes inexorabile fatum Subiecit pedibus Being this in effect Happie is he that comprehendeth the causes of things and doth by diuine power subiect all feare and inexorable fate Also Iuuenall the Satyrist concerning the beneuolence of the ascendent towards certaine persons at certaine times vnder his subiection writeth Plus etenim fati valet hora benigni Quâ—… site Veneris commendet epistola Marti For the good houre of a beneuolent fate auayleth more with all persons than the commendatorie letters of Venus could euer haue preuayled with Mars Howbeit those that will certainely iudge of ensuing chaunces though they be most studious and learned in this mysticall part of Astrologie which is called the superstitious or Metaphysicall aâ—… bee many times deceiued in their owne curiositie according to the saying of Thomas Aquine Licet corpora coelestia habeant inclinationem non tamen imponunt necessitatem licet home inclinetur secundum dispositionem corporis ad aliquod vitium tamen per rationem arbitrij potest aliud facere Albeit the coelestiall bodies haue a kind of inclination to somewhat yet they doe not impose a necessitie thereunto and albeit persons encline according to their corporeall disposition to some vice yet may they by the rule of their owne will decline from it which to me seemeth a Theologicall paradox Hence was it that Socrates excused the Philosopher which according to Physiognomie condemned him of incontinence Notwithstanding sometimes they will vpon their coniecturals diuine very neere and oftentimes truly for the confirmation whereof I will cite one notable thing which I did reade in Cassanans the Burgundian To whome beeing at supper with the Confallionere di guisticia in Milan vpon occasion in discourse it was for a meere truth by diuerse affirmed That a famous Astrologer in that citie had presaged to Giouanni Galliaceo maria Viscomi the fifth Duke of that State how he should be mortally wounded by some vassale about him wherupon to the Duke demaunding of his owne fate his answere was My death must be publicke by the fall of a peece of timber But the Duke willing to preiudice or antiuert the fate by some other suddaine death denounced against the Mathematician gaue peremptorie sentence That hee should loose his head because he had entermeddled with the calculation of his natiuitie And as he was conducted to the place of execution from the port of a Tower vnder which he passed called Le Dome suddenly the top thereof fell downe and he with a piece of timber had his braines crusht out a multitude with the Confallioniere and other executioners in the companie were by that ruine slaine also Likewise the Duke himselfe that same yeare vpon Saint Stephens day in the great Church of San Stephano in Milan was by one of his slaues bloudily and cruelly butchered in the presence of many Noblemen and others And now to conclude with the Morall force of Philosophie which as Plato did esteeme was the chiefest blessing in any Commonwealth When Philosophers were Kings and Kings Philosophers For it reacheth the difference betwixt vertues and vices what are the extreames of good and euill how to rule priuat families what authorities and offices belong to fathers husbands and maisters the difference betwixt instruments hauing life and liuelesse the maintenance of priuate persons the vertues and discipline of magistrates the best formes of gouernment the true meanes and knowledge to sustaine cities being in danger of subuersion and how with excellent lawes to rectifie them Hence is it that Cicero doth in admiration and great loue thereof proclaime in his questions Tusculane O Philosophie the rule of life the touch-stone of vertue antidote of vice But hereof haue I spoken more at large in the morals of these offices before Wherfore he which is fostered with that diuine Manna sheweth himself the same in all parts of his life contemning worldly treasures abiding faithfull appearing valiant in the Guard and loyall maintenance of truth and armed with constancâ—… defieth feare and these are the verie fruits of Phylosophy such a man is not altered by time deiected by necessitie infected with insolence nor wearied with the bad dealings of reprobate persons such a counsellor doth liue well and vnderstandeth well which is a sure signe of sapience he consulteth well which is a principall point of prudence and gladly would haue all well which is a true token of iustice adde herevnto his owne doing which is a manifest marke of perseuerance Such persons wholly relie vpon their owne vertues yeelding honour to such as are in grace with the prince yet not committing any priuate secrets to their knowledge and iudgements In all things they shew themselues circumspect moderate diligent and discreet There remaineth one speciall Caueat after all these obseruations for counsellors which through their worthinesse and vertues haue attained a singular loue affiance of their Prince to be credited and vsed in all the most serious important causes of the Commonwealth which is that neither the great grace of their princes nor the multitudes of honors and superiorities heaped vpon them neither any vaine gaping vpon the popular aire after which men growne insolent vpon their greatnesse commonly breathe driue them into practises ambitious which are through want of due pietie towards God and to their Soneraigne without any season of iustice or honestie commenced Considering therefore first what this pestilent and infernall fire is because in many Commonwealths that hath oftentimes been the greatest enemie which theirowne countries wombe and breasts hath bred and fostered I will in some principles discouer the detestable nature members and fruites of monstrous and ambitious persons as they be liuely declared at large by diuers which haue seene humane sacrifices and sepulchres ouerflowing with ciuill blood
by specious enucleation of all intricate or equiuocall points and cases to be cl◅red explained to the end that all other Iudges or Iustices which exceeded in administration of them might at the first sight with commendable perspicuitie deliuer the faithfull substance of all as occasion was offered for the peoples good hauing digested them into nine Volumes of the Lawes wherin the whole essence of all by those reuerend Law-fathers was most methodically couched For as the difference of all creatures by nature proceedeth from vnitie resembling many flowers sprouting from one roote euen so doe sundrie needfull and most beneuolent Lawes receiue life and nature from the precious wisedom of God the blessed and all-healing fountaine of whose knowledge he with ineffable grace and diuine beneficence openeth to them all that are studious of righteousnesse and in tender loue with respect vnto man being the choise operation of his handes doth retaine him by the due feare and loue of iustice and saluation in eternall tranquilitie The generall benefit calmely and plentifully redounding from those Bookes iudgements reports and Law-cases by the enucleation of those learned law-men as is before expressed includeth the second point Forsomuch as concerneth humane Lawes which are ordained by nature and published by the prince which by them gouerneth the Common-wealth to relieue and rectifie the same they must be iust and possible needfull and profitable plaine prescribed not to priuate but to publike vse and benefit consenting with time and place according to the nature and custome of the Countrey which should be moderated by them such as are our statute-lawes of England Vpon these thus ordained and prouided against faultes a knowledge shewing the difference of crimes and vices dependeth As whether the nature of thē consist in impietie by violation of the first table of Gods lawes through foolish prophanation or derrogation of or from his omnipotent power and maiestie or if it be flagitious and repugnant to the second importing impietie towards parents and magistrates the defamation or contumelies of neighbours the concupiscence and losse of liuelihoods and liues wherevpon parricides and horrible slaughters are bred Towards which legall office or ministerie three speciall things generally would be required in a Iudge the first of which is in his head to retaine a firme and venerable grauitie confirmed in his countenance with some serious kinde of awfull maiestie through his continuall meditation vpon the iust iudgements of God with the charge vpon him imposed which by the diuine gift of heauenly iustice must be fostered in his heart that all proceedings drawne from thence may be seasoned with the grauitie of his cogitations which in excellent discretion will point out to him the time person and place when to whom and where hee should shew iustice naked or inuested with mercie So that by the iustice of of his heart which ministreth wisedome and grauitie to his head and by the seuere and precise prudence of his head which inblazoned in a stedfast countenance a stout maiestie withall and by the comely grace of his countenance which admirably shadoweth all in a decent austeritie there may be due reuerence and feare drawne to the person of a Iudge on euery side about him infusing horror to the malicious and wicked with loue and reuerence to good and iust persons hauing his tong so sanctified and seared with zealous praier and with a liuely cole taken from the blessed Altar by the sacred Cherubine that it may become th' oracle of Gods iustice and the iust herauld of a sincere heart For if grauitie should not appeare in all his iudgements then shall he be suspected of a partiall foolish lentitude which opinion when it is once vulgarly conceiued will preiudice him either in his reputation or in administration of the Lawes This reputation or authoritie likewise is by the first three properties delineated to life the restraint whereof will disaduantage him in his honour which by such demeanor will be blemished with some misprizion or suspect of corruption There is likewise in euery wise Iudge expedient a mature experience in sutes and variances by defect whereof his ignorance deepely woundeth or rather maimeth him Lastly the mindes constancie corroborateth him in the perfection of all declaring that in the whole course of all his iudgements iustice alone without priuate affection preuaileth Neither is it meete but most vnfit that any man should sit on throne of iudgement or giue sentence when his owne cause is heard or discussed least affection vsurpe vpon and defile the tongue of magistracie least the reuerend custome of iudgement be violated least that maiestie whereof I spoke which is meete for the sage tribunall and court of equitie be diminished least a mischieuous example corrupting the people be drawne on with it and finally least a contempt of the Lawes and equitie do succced it Now somewhat concerning that abilitie which strengthneth Iudges and iuridicall magistrates in the administration of publike causes It is therefore principally to be considered that they which sit vpon this honourable throne of iudgement and take place to giue place vnto the due distribution of right and are firmely planted for the sure supplantation of those contageous vices which being but a little licenced would disperse and spread through all parts of the Common-weales most beautifull bodie defiling it with a foule and virulent leprosie stand deeply bound in a double recognisance of soule and bodie to be studious and industrious in the science and iudiciall practise of that wholesome physicke which must be frequently ministred to the diseased members of that State In which their iudgements being credited may be by the Prince allowed and iustified also for if they doe not yeeld euen law and execution of right to all subiects rich and poore without hauing regard to any person and without letting to doe right for any letters or commandement which may come to them from the prince or king or from any other by any other cause then are they by our Lawes thus censured worthily Their bodies lands and goods to rest at the kings pleasure who shall otherwise giue iudgement or sentence of and against them The King himself also which is head and iudge of the Lawes sheweth great goodnesse equitie through the world in shewing his royall assent and contentment that these iudges substituted vnder him shall giue sentence according to the Cannon and true meaning of iustice euen against himselfe directly if he through negligence be driuen vniustly to maintaine any sute with a priuate person which will not beare euen in the ballance of equitie in which that kingly sentence is verified that therein differt a rege Tyrannus for nothing more then this doth to life expresse a true kings glorie The kings of our nation to confirme this perfect honor of a iust prince in one act of Parliament ordained in the second yeere of king Edward the third are limited That although they commaund by their great
should not admit when times are dangerous a small fault to escape vnpunished but prouide so that it may be with moderation and clemencie chastised punishing nefarious and hainous crimes with due serueritie for examples And so much concerning mercie by discreet mitigation of punishment In other places where seueritie should take force as occasion shall offer It is not permitted that a Iudge should command and prohibite what he list himselfe without legall warrant albeit it might rest in his arbitrament yet whereas all articles cannot be seuerally comprised in the Lawes and forsomuch as many circumstances breed doubts in such cases men are referred to the conscience and religion of the Iudge neerly to determine by course of iustice according to sinceritie further scope then this is not permitted vnto any being by that benefit freed from perill of punishment though he giue sentence against the Law for the case not being throughly discussed yeeldeth him some colour for excuse excepting alwayes in litigious cases that it resteth not in his power to giue away the goods proper of any man beyond the limits of reason and equitie That kinde of iustecying which is said to bee common amongst the Turkes is in my iudgement very tollerable and soone ended for the Iudge closing his eyes giueth eare pondereth pronounceth and dispatcheth the most part of causes very commendably freeing and releasing the sutors from expence of time and monie both which inconueniences happen vpon the processe of our Lawes in Christendome For it had beene oftentimes better that he which hath iustice to guard his good cause should in commencement thereof haue let his sute fall then after a long and litigious dependance buy the iudgement of it with more chardge then the maine was worth being onely referred to the credite of iust victorie for his meede Moreouer by such dilatory meanes it often happeneth that white is died into blacke either through deceit corruption or ignorance of the Iudge and elsewhere by the rigor and false interpretation of the Lawes Howbeit to noble minded men which are able to forbeare if the sute proceede from misprision or some misconstruction and not from any litigious humour of the aduersarie I deeme it a principall tipe of their honours and much auaylable as Cicero saith Paulum nonnunquam de suo iure decedere In administration of ciuill causes also there is one most commendable part requisite in a iudge that he withdraw his hands from the rewards of priuate or poore persons which would gladly giue somewhat for fauour in their iust and honest causes For iudges of that nature are blinded with auarice whose fashion is to make a gaine of all causes both honest and dishonest hence was it that iudges lege Clodia were prohibited to take any rewards of persons in suite In speciall all such rewards and gratifications as are giuen either to further a good or a bad cause sauing the fees lawfully limited to the iudges and pleaders in regard of their salaries and paines are dissalowable and if any be tollerable then onely such as are taken by them of great princes which reward their paines in aduancement of iustice onely For such as sell iustice and truth are abhominable and so bethose also which take gifts of any man to further a faultie for in that false participation if he further him then doth he manifest violence to iustice and if not then doth he deceiue the briber of his money both which are abiect and contemptible these may well be called mercenarie iudges and corrupt hirelings Now somewhat so short as I can concerning the knowledge and studies required in iudges iudiciall magistrates The due reuerence and feare of Gods omnipotent vertue which illuminateth his vnderstanding perfecteth his wisdome amplifieth his maiestie refresheth his spirits corroborateth all his iudgements must aboue all things before and after iudgement and continually with a zealous and effectuall prayer from a soule blessedly breathing after spirituall consolation be principally retained And therefore it is written by Moyses that iudges should be men of courage fearing God dealing truely loathing auarice And for this cause the Prophet Dauid calleth them Gods saying that all the children of the most high doe right and iustice vnto the fatherlesse poore and needie His ordinarie studies therfore for pleasure and ornament are best approued in the sweete concord of morall Philosophie which will enable and confirme him in his profession and conuersation this teacheth him how iustice is a vertue yeelding euery man what is his owne and willing all men to discharge their dueties Cicero calleth her the Queene and mistresse of all the other vertues because she taketh perfection from the rest being as it were a concordance or harmonie of all the parts when appetite subiecteth it selfe to reason It is also an affection of the mind iustecying all men beneuolently and cherishing humaine societie this is also called equitie which in euen ballance pondreth euery mans right answerable to desert and dignitie Aristotle termeth it an affection of mind enabling men to doe iustly which kinaleth in them a zeale or feruent desire of equitie It is according to M. Bodine a kind of Geometrie which being disanulled drowneth the concorde and societies of cities it teacheth the difference betwixt honesties and their contraries it pointeth out the extreames of good and euill it directeth how to rule priuate families it sheweth what authorities and offices are proper to fathers husbands and masters it declareth the maintenance of a priuate state it instructeth persons in the vertues and discipline of a magistrate it describeth the forme of a Commonwealth it prescribeth the true meanes and knowledge to susteine cities which are in danger of subuersion it deuiseth excellent lawes and statutes to rectifie them conclusiuely the surest and firmest foundations of Empire are good lawes moderating and measuring out all liberall sciences and good arts Which good lawes as Freigius calleth them are the mistresses of vertue commanding people in their liuing to demeane themselues honestly and profitably with a restraint or prohibition of things bad and the contrary Iustice according to some learned moralists is knowen by these attributes or qualities first she will not challenge any thing which is not her owne then she doth neglect her owne priuate lucre in respect if she may thereby further the common equitie There be sixe kindes of Iustice according to some very learned philosophers and they should seeme to be very certaine one iustice is legall being a kind of voluntarie affection to doe and desire iust things and by this legall iustice are men wholie bentand inclined for the benefit of their contrey The second a morall iustice which I prementioned out of th' imperiall institutions being a constant and perpetuall will yeelding each man his owne The third a kind of exchanging or commutuall iustice keeping a precise and religious equalitie of things amongst men The fourth is a iustice distributiue by which
the fault and therefore is the Prouerbe Cupido irapessimi sunt consultores Lust and wrath are the worst counsellors and specially wrath is to be vehemently suppressed in a Iudge least he staine his hands in innocent blood which is a thing so odious in the sight of God and man as nothing can be more abhominable Hence was that saying of the noble morall Tragoedian Iudex futurus sanguine humano abstine If thou wilt be a Iudge abstaine from humane blood Lenitie then appeareth in a Iudge when by pardoning of wicked persons he suffereth a mischiefe to fall vpon good men and therefore this lentitude is so great a sinne as immanitie neither should any Iudge in the case of his countrey giue any sentence vpon father countrey-men or brethren contratie to iustice least a dangerous example and scandall be taken Lyes calumnies fraud hypocrisie dissimulation and arrogancie stand at defiance with veritie what enemies these be vnto the soule of man and vnto publike gouernement I referre to mens priuate consciences For calumnie praiseth vice rebuketh vertue hypocrisie doth foolishly maliciously and fraudulently dispraise those in their absence whom in presence she commendeth and in like case the rest There is one most pemicious disease ingendred of these humors which being very rise in some princes courts I may not forget The condition is in killing imprisoning and vndoing certaine persons and some of good desert which in the politicke Courtier of Duro di pascolo seemeth commonly to be bent against noble Gentlemen of greatest respect honest innocent and vnconuicted these being brought vnto the pits brinck are many times charged and surcharged with treasonable or nefarious accusations wherein they perish as Petro de Vineis Aluaro de Luna Giacobo Corde Christophoro Colombo Philip de Comynes with other very wise and honourable Counsellors euen of our fathers times and of our memories which did in such cases miscary neither is it safe or behoofefull that I particularize This is a kinde of iniustice and close malice necessarily to be sisted being wholy composed of diabolicall wilynesse Wherefore they cannot be very noble that foster in their rancorous hearts such maliciousnesse and if there rest in any heroycall spirits the least spiracle which should seeme to taste of that contagious humour it is emulation onely for we finde in Cicero that Nobiles sivirtute valent magis aemuli quam inuidi bonorum sunt Noblemen which are possessed of vertue doe rather emulate then maligne good men And albeit this vice of emulation resteth amongst Nobles Paladynes which is most glorious being applied to vertuous and honourable purposes as in contending to become most iust valiant temperate learned actiue or excellent in any such manly qualities then the rest yet to maligne others for their perfections and better properties should seeme most vnnaturall base and brutish and therefore elegantly Cicero citing the same out of Crisippus resembleth them to such as runne together in one race for a wager in these wordes Qui stadium currit eniti contendere debet quà m maximè possit vt vincat supplant are cum quocum certat aut cubito deppellere nullo modo debet Sic in vita sibi quemque petere quod pertineat ad vsum non iniqum est deripere ius non est Hee that runneth a race ought to worke and contend with all possible meanes to winne the wager hee may not in any case supplant him with whom he contendeth or strike him backe with his elbow Semblaby that is not vnfit which a man necessarily craueth for the sustinance or support of his life but forceably to take away from men that which is theirs is meere iniquitie There is a Lesson which Cicero vehemently mooueth and vrgeth and in this case fit to be considered vpon by learned and graue Iudges not to summon or appeale any man in causes criminall if he finde in his heart the parties innocencie so slandered or indited because it cannot bee done without great charge and torture of conscience For what can be found more rigorous and vnmanly then to peruert that eloquence which God with nature hath giuen for the comfort and conseruation of men vnto the shame and ruine of honest persons Which charitable equabilitie hath bin obserued in some worthy Law-fathers of this land and amongst others manie times in one principall minister of his Maiesties pleadings of whom vnnamed I may speake a truth without adulation that it hath seemed doubtfull to wise-men whether he were in Proborum defensitationibus quam in sceleratorum accusationibuâ—… magis acer more vehement in his Apologies for good and honest men in their good causes or earnest in his inuectiues or informations against nefarious and wicked persons For such ought to be the care of iust Iudges as Cicero writeth Vt iuris iudiciorum aequitate suum quisque teneat That through the equitie of iustice and iudgement euery man may retaine his right I speake this as a necessarie caueat or monition against calumnies and enuy which hath bene the deuouring caterpiller of so many vertuous and gallant princes and Commonwealthes men that haue thereby perished because that restlesse hagge malice commonly doth more mischiefe then fortune and therfore if men which are set vpon the stage of honour and reputation can finde out a soueraigne preseruatiue against her venime then doe they shew great wisedome possessing this world in quiet For sure it is that Viuos interdum fortuna saepe inuidia fatigat Fortune some times toyleth liuing creatures but enuy vexeth them often Gratitude being another branch of iustice is vngraciously wounded with vnthankefulnesse nothing vanisheth sooner then the remembrance of benefites receiued for if you multiply them they shall be retributed and retribled to you with infinite malefices considering that he which neither hath heart nor facultie to requite commonly forgetteth or vnderualueth your munificence disdayning in himselfe the very remembrance of that necessitie which being either with your mercie mitigated or delayed in case of iustice or by your charitie supplied in compassion of his pouerty should haue enioyned him to thankefull requitall for such a benefit which people commonly so soone forget as taste This haue I found by good experience both in particular and by some priuate respects of my selfe and others most neere vnto me not doubting but that it is a vulgar proofe wherein this worlds aged malignitie through diuelish continuance hath increased it from a wily serpent to a subtile malicious and murthering old dragon like that which is spoken of in the Reuelation of the blessed Euangelist Iohn being now set free from fetters towards the last times and amongst wise men so detestable and odious that by their often repetion it became a prouerbe generally deliuered if you call me vnthankefull call me what you will for nothing can be more disgracefull or infamous And as it is vsed to men of that vnthankfull nature an vnthankefull dogge for as it is
committed by great persons of note apply notable and exemplary punishments that meaner folke in beholding their executions may be discouraged from the like attempts Which rule hath beene narrowly kept by that right noble reuerende and politicke Iudge Sir Iohn Popham by whose iustice and seuere integritie thunder-blasting desperate offences many grieuous and contagious malefactors haue been oftentimes repressed If therefore a mans life insist vpon it let him not feare to giue sentence according to conscionable euidence and equitie whereas he shall finde it euident and fit that by so iudging iustice is not scandalized Moreouer it must not appeare to be done either in priuate as by corrupt bribes violently to diuert the current of iustice out of his true channel or any malice or enuie to parties which is a kinde of disease of the minde which greuously repineth at the good successe or qualities of others And many men wil sooner pardon the slaughter of their parents then the losse of their liuings vniustly Seueritie therefore in necessarie punishments addeth a maiestie to the magistrate for otherwise it happeneth oftentimes that the Prince may rebuke his foolish lentitude in such termes as were obiected by Quintus Fab. Maximus in the Romane Senate against Scipio whose souldiors through his exceeding licence and lenitie reuolted from him that he should haue corrupted the state of ciuil gouernment as Scipio did the Romane militarie discipline vpon which reprehension Scipio reformed himselfe with great reputation whereas in regard of his former mildnesse the first examples of his seueritie were not imputed to his owne nature It is not meant here by the example of Draco who did write all his lawes in blood for the Athenians to punish euery small offence with death but such as are either traiterous and sedicious paricides homicides or others of like condition according to the qualities of their offences There is a kinde of grace and and mercie declared in executing or interpreting the very Letter of the Law precisely which I referre in the religion thereof vnto the Iudges conscience as by a common and familiar example Zaluchus hauing made a Law to the Locrensians that any persons of that common-wealth if they were taken in adulterie should loose both their eyes was forced to giue sentence against his owne sonne which stood in that case appealed before him notwithstanding that earnest intercession made by the people for his pardon yet in satisfaction of the Law he caused one of his owne and another of his sonnes eyes to be done out In what ought a Iudge to declare more constant veritie then in iuridicall sentences in what more zeale then in execution of the Lawes in what place more maiestie then on the venerable throne of iustice I will confirme this with a familiar example of common record in our English Chronicles Henrie of Monm◅uth sonne to king Henrie the fourth who did afterwards succeede his father rushed vnto the Kings Bench the Lord chiefe Iustice of England sitting in iudgement vpon life and death of one of that princes seruants then in case of felonie brought vnto the bar before him and with his sword drawen made offer to rescue the prisoner without further triall the people astonished at such vnusuall behauiour were afraid The iudge himselfe or rather Gods spirit directing wisely weighing his owne condition and looking into trueth and authoritie banisheth all suddaine feare and stoutly with a reuerend maiestie rebuketh the prince in this sort Come hether furious yongman wound this old carcase with thy sword wherewith thou menacest me strike strike I say rather will I die then endure such example This place which thou doest violate is thy fathers tribunall the iudge whō thou threatnest representeth thy father the law which thou contemnest adiudgeth thee guiltie for it and without any respect that thou art sonne to the king on behalfe of thy father and being assisted and supported with the Commonweales authoritie I doe commit thee to prison At which reuerend and constant iudgement of the magistrate the prince abashed presently let fall his sword and willingly submitted himselfe to prison The king vpon this tragaecomedie reported burst with teares into these speeches happie am I in so iust sincere a iudge in so good and obedient a sonne Which gallant prince succeeding his sather in the gouernement so much esteemed of that iudge as when he departed England with his forces towards France for that conquest which he there purchased he committed the tuition and gouernement of his whole realme during that his absence to him the historie is true though common and yet not so vulgar as notable Sedition and malice being two pestilent and contagious diseases in a Commonwealth should be seuerely punished in the beginnings without remission yet with such discretion handled as it might seeme rather to proceede from a mind very loath and grieuing to punish but that constraint and the common cause enforceth it Howbeit somewhat must alwayes be done for examples sake considering the sentence Panarum fructus omnium maximus pertinet ad exemplum The most fruit and profit which issueth from punishments groweth vpon example There is great daunger in ministring a more vehement medecine then either the nature or strength of the disease or diseased doth require Applie not any corrosiues but vpon extremities and causes otherwise remedilesse He which hatcheth vengeance in his heart may not punish hastely but expect a fit occasion for his owne satisfaction which will vndoubtedly fall without any combustion note or imputation of reuenge Those iudges therefore I deeme wel worthie commendation which seldome vsing seueritie can attaine and keepe the name of terrible magistrates for by much exercise of bloodie iustice as I said before more harme then good ensueth to the prince for not onely the persons fauourers of the parties punished but the peoples hearts in generall will storme at it and admit you can remoue some of the first which stirre in it yet in a case of crueltie the peoples indignation may fitly be compared to wild-fire which being once kindled will encrease and burne more vehemently If therefore a Iudge extend seueritie let it be manifested especially when matters of blood and violation of humane charitie requireth it when violence vpon impious passion or perturbation of the minde to satisfie priuate malice is exercised vpon persons which no man being moderated by the Law of nature will commit as Cicero writeth hominem naturae obedientem homini nocere non posse That not any man which is obedient to nature will hurt another man Neither can any thing expresse the prudence of a magistrate more to life then the iust conseruation and maintenance of a mans life nothing decipher his crueltie more then slaughter and effusion of blood How odious is the very name of homicide by whose violence man which is the goodliest artifice of nature is dissolued Nothing therefore should in a ciuill societie be more seuerely sifted nothing feele
more extreame punishment then murtherers A iust Iudge therefore sitting in iudgement vpon homicides should in his right hand hold a Iasper stone to stanch the blood of innocents in the left a sword to strike bloody murtherers and slaughterers so that the sword be not more forcible then the stone least his wrath conquer clemencie when he reuengeth blood Next vnto murther is that vlcerous and vnsatiable wolfe vsurie which like a cancor consumeth the flesh and bones of Prince and people It is the extreamest stincking plague of any common-wealth And hence was it that Marcus Cato said How murther and vsurie were correlatiue Which leprous botch for I cannot giue it a terme bad enough the Romans punished more seuerely then felonie And Salust likewise aduising Caesar in one of his Orations saith Tollendus foenerator vt suas quisque res curemus Vsurers must be banished that euery man may the better follow his priuate businesse Intimating those lets and obstacles which happen to the common-wealth where diuers principall persons are consumed and eaten vp with vsurie Saying moreouer that all things would haue good successe in the common-wealth Sipecuniae quae maxima omnium pernicies est vsum atque dedecus dempserit If he would so practise that the vse and disgrace of selling and lending of money which he termeth the greatest of all harmes may be taken away There yet remaineth one principall respect and consideration for Magistrates and Iudges which specially concerneth the common-wealth to take such carefull heed and circumspection as may be that all men and persons yong and old of all trades and professions in all townes and cities doe follow with diligence and commendable industrie their seuerall functions and vocations which is the readiest meane both to magnifie and amplifie the common-wealth And therefore Francis Patricius in his booke De institutione reipub writeth that they should Otij magis quam negotij rationem exigere To take more precise account of idle fellowes then of labourers which those naked Gymnosophists that liued in India did with all industrie for they were of opinion that nothing could be more odious in any societies states or Cities then sloath and idlenesse For the Gymnosophists did alwayes before meat examine their youth how they had imployed that part of the day and onely permitted such to receiue meate whose exercises they did approue thrusting such out of doores as had been found idle or loyterers that they might seeke their food by labour where they could gaine it Hence was that law amongst the Egyptians which Diodorus mentioneth that all the people were enioyned to make strict accompt vnto the presedents of euery prouince how they bestowed their times what arts they did professe each mans particular name and profession being entred into a booke so that if any was found to giue vp a false accompt of his labours or was knowen to haue loytered out his time he receiued punishment of death and this was one of Dracoes bloodie lawes for honest exercise and studies are a meane to reduce exorbitate prodigall affections to frugalitie for sloathfull and idle persons as Valerius writeth Mag is oneri quà m honori sunt reipub Impose more burthen then afford ornament to the Commonwealth And therefore idle fellowes anciently amongst the Athenians were violently trayled into the market place to receiue punishment as grieuous offenders The like inquisition was amongst the sage iuridicall Areopagites which is in effect expressed by blessed Paul in one of his Epistles that he which will not worke shall not eate These Areopagites whose offices were not vnlike to the Romane Censors tooke such care that idle fellowes should giue strict accompt of their time and profession imployed and exercised And this accompt of idlenesse was so great amongst our forefathers of former ages past that they did not esteeme of any thing more shamefull then idlenesse For this cause therefore the Philosopher Cleanthes caried water to get him bread and this was it which made Plantus that noble Comaedian to bake bread Furthermore Solâ—…n enacted it that the sonne was exempted from duetie towards his father if he by the fathers meanes had not attained instruction in some science The fruits or tokens rather of this idle leprosie which drowneth or rather as it were insensateth the members of any Commonwealth are luculently described by Salust in these wordes Dormire prias quam somni cupido est non famem non sitim neque frigus opperiri sed ea omnia luxu anticapere haec iunâ—…tutem vbi familiares opes defecerant adfacinora incendebant To sleepe before a mans eyes were heauy not to tarry till he were hungry thirstie or cold but to preuent all luxuriously These disordered fashions when their owne priuate wealth was wasted incensed and prouoked youngmen to take in hand wicked courses If this be not too common a vice in our Commonwealth then were we most fortunate And hence it is that in detestation thereof Salust in one other place saith Vbi socordiae te ignauiaeque tradider is nequidquam deos implores irati infestique sunt It is in vaine that sloathfull and idle persons inuoke the gods for they will bee wrathfull and punish them Wherefore all such vagrant and idle persons as our statutes haue most prudently pointed out are fittest for the gallies or banishment Nulla namque re alia improbi ab iniurio sa facinoro saque vit a magis prohibentur quà m prescriptionis meiâ—… quaeliberos ad egestatem perducaâ—… nam malè meritus publico exemplo ad terrorem malefactorum pâ—…pertate laborare cogitur For wicked persons are not by any meanes so soone restrained from iniurious and sinfull courses as by the terror of banishment which bringeth their children to beggerie â—…ot by publike example all such as deserue euill to terrifie malefactors are driuen through extreame pouertie to labour Hence was it that the noble Tragaedian writ venit ad pigros canasenectus Neither is it fit that any idle fellowes should liue vpon the common-wealths labours vnlesse their labors be imployed for the commonwealth which euen the course of nature in little Bees teacheth vs which will not suffer any Drone or idle Bee that bringeth in no honie either to eat out of their labours or to liue within their wax I will not insist vpon more obseruations concerning the knowledge and practise of Iudges desiring them that read this not to impute my paines to arrogancie in dealing with studies beyond my weake element neither to any other wants which are manifold in it considering that I haue with cheerfulnesse done my best for the yong Readers benefit The noble Iudges and Lawyers which haue left vnto vs the knowledge of our Common-lawes hauing taken great paines for the comfort and benefit of this Common-wealth as is manifest by their written Bookes and reports of the Law be Master Glanvile Littleton Fitzherbert Brooke Dyer Plowdon and that right
their assured succours but the speciall assurance is grounded in the generals person who may by prudent direction so fashion out his estate that he preuent his enemies of all wayes and meanes tending to his preiudice whose principall happinesse is to force them into such a difficult strait as without his clemencie no reliefe may seeme to remaine vnto them Hee should also concerning auxiliaries and power of confâ—…derates repose surest trust in succours of them that reciprocally stand in most need of his helpe or of him that either in respect of priuate profite or detriment is interessed in depth of the cause not building in any case vppon those whom hee hath benefitted least hee remedilesly exclaime against ingratitude by the example of Demetrius Poliorcetes who hauing been a great friend and faithfull anchor of the Athenians yet being vnfortunately vanquished by his enemies Athens that vngratefull citie would neither receiue nor protect him comming thither for refuge where he was the shield-herne before whereat Demetrius was more vexed then for the losse of his whole estate And likewise Pompey being vanquished by Caesar fled to Ptolemie king of Egypt whom he some yeeres before had restored and planted in his kingdome but for such his goodnesse towardes him Ptolemie tooke away his life Which if ingratitude may doe Princes and Generals should not thinke but that in truces leagues confederacies and pactions which are but temporary conuentions or accords without any sufficient hostages sureties cautions or pledges deliuered if daunger and losse of the whole armie depend thereupon little hope will remaine of keeping league or friendship with most Princes or opposite Commanders in warre But if it were admitted that any Prince should partake with the forces of some more puisant than himselfe as his friend assistant let him assuredly perswade himselfe that it is either because he findeth by reasons good and more then probable that his helpe can restore him or else because he likewise hateth those parties against which he ioyneth in armes so much as cannot be with any meanes pacefied And hence it is that vpon due deliberation after the example of the Romanes first had the Generall with huge force and in short timâ—… should doe his designe For they comming with multitudes of men to the field presently decided the cause with their swords To the conquered they granted conditions of peace and lawes or deducted colonies of souldiers for tuition of their purchase so that in short time they finished their warres and without any great expence of treasure For the Romanes would not trifle or waste away the time of their businesse in idle or vnnecessarie parliance and yet so truely noble that they more respecting the name of conquest then the couetous nature of conditions offered would immediately when the field was wonne out of their natiue heroycall customes and inclinations graunt vnto the vanquished all fauourable libertie declaâ—…ing more then matchable magnificence in that according to that saying in Salust against Catiline Vict is nihil praeter iniuriae licentiam eripiebant Romani The Romanes tooke nothing from them whom they subdued but a licence or power to doe them harme If any spoyles were gotten them they brought into the publike treasurie for maintaining of the souldiers and casing of the peoples tributes so that the Romanes were inriched and bettered by their warres Neither was it permitted that any Consull albeit he had in sundry noble battels and victories amplyfied the Empire should passe in pompe and triumph thorough the Citie vnlesse he brought with him into the common treasurie infinite spoyles of gold and siluer also How souldiors ought to be resolued in battell and to demeane themselues by direction of their captaines is spoken of sufficiently before onely this must be narrowly respected which is most forcible to the stirring vp or cooling of their maruall courages in fight or vpon the point of charge that sodaine speeches and reports bee dispersed with warinesse and ready circumspection through the battels as Quinctius the Consull vsed in his battels against the Volscians For he finding his souldiers incline in the vaward cryed vnto them amayne Why turne you faces in the front my good souldiers considering that they which fight in the reare haue got the victorie Remember my good fellowes your honour which is layd vp as you know in the bosomes of your enemies from whence you must eagerly winne it with your weapons This sodaine speech of his did adde such courage to them that with a valiant resolution vniting and knitting vp all their forces together they became Lords of the field In the Citie Perugia there was a faction betwixt the families of the Oddi and Baglioni in opposition mortally diuided but the Oadi being more weake were banished by that State howbeit in the night-time by meanes of certaine their friends within the towne they got enterance priuily purposing with their forces to possesse the market place and to that ende had one to goe before them with a great mallet of yron to breake the locks of those chaynes which barricadoed the streetes in euery place to the great hinderance of their horses as they should passe they therfore hauing marched vnto the last chaine and being readie to possesse the place where they purposed to make a parado fitting themselues for that exploit in hande the souldiers pressed so farre and fast vpon him that should haue broken the chayne that he was forced to call for more roome and to bid them giue backe they therefore bing in a troupe confused and close together receiued the word by the sound of Eccho from the first to the last And those which stood in the reare not knowing the meaning thereof did turne faces and so were occasion of their generall subuersion In such sort Iugurth seeing the state of his battels desperate vpon the comming in of Bocchus strooke terror into the hearts of his enemies by speaking in the Latin tongue which Language he had learned at Numantia that the field was his that to resist his forces was in vaine that a little before he had slaine Marius with his owne hands and therewithall pretending that it was brought from the slaughter of Marius shewed his sword yet smoking and dyed with blood Moreouer this ought specially to be noted in fight that he which can patiently susteine the first charge and yeeld with calme temper to the rage of his enemies though they betwise in number so many may spend all their forces by warie lingring and catching of occasions wilily watched for He should also which commandeth them giue good respect in his fighting to the aduantages of ground winde and sunne and with fresh handfulls for his better seconding and reliefe march gallantly forward Neither can it be spoken what incouragement it addeth to the souldier faint and wearied with blood and conflict when hee seeth new succours freshly charging and participating of their trauels with martiall alacritie Neither is it a small terror to
their owne liues are not possessed of that hardnesse of true mettall which should oppresse such brutish turpitude and disgrace Horace the Poet excellently counselleth in this case Rebus angustis animosus atque Fortis appare sapientèr idem Contrahes vento nimium secundo Turgida vela Let courage and true strength appeare in troubles if in thy shippes sterne a stiffe gale blow prosperously skanten thy sailes Herein prudence is fitly ioyned with courage restrayning men from inconsiderate attempts least like beasts they seeme to build more vpon a violent affection of minde by profuse aduenture of their bodies then accordeth with reason There is a fortitude in men as Aristotle defineth depending vpon fortune when people become fearelesse through want of a due fore-sight and precaution of perils which sort of persons are ignorantly valiant some there are which armed in the strength and goodnesse of their cause and conscience doe shew good valour certaine which heartened in a kinde of fortitude by their skill and vse in ready practise of weapons others imboldened vnto valorous exploits in hope of victorie by their naturall strength and artificiall agilitie many that in regard of their often aduentures and escapes are hardened but very valour is seen in scornefull contempt of ineuitable death and in the cheerefull embracements of hazards and dangerous aduentures without any feare in all honorable causes surely grounded and preconsulted Stoutnesse and magnanimitie which vndertaketh and endureth all difficulties with patience and perseuetance being the substance and essence thereof is incorporate to fortitude Stoutnesse is a stedfast confidence of minde armed with assured trust and hope in great and honourable actions Audaciousnes contrarieth it without consideration iudgement and respect of honestie violently and rashly precipitating it selfe into perils whereas stoutnesse attempted with reason warie respect great boldnesse and moderation of the minde being inseperately fastned vnto vertue nobly worketh in the turbulent seas of danger Pusillanimitie which is a base deiection or rather desperation of the mind opposeth it yet commonly pursuing temeritie by the example of Philip late King of Spaine which amongst other his vnaduised attempts wherein the salt of warie premeditation was forgotten luculently to Gods vnspeakable glorie did appeare in his militarie businesse vndertaken against this nation as I touched before immaturely leuying armes not being soundly resolued how that action of such difficult and weightie consequence should bee managed or finished wholy leaning vpon the fickle wheele of fortune immesurably mounting in the pompe of his victories had in other places before and onely through want of knowledge how to guide the gorgeous bridles of his prosperous tryumphes but when the certaine successe of his shattered fleet which inwardly daunced before threatning the Brittaine seaes and shores in foolish confidence of vndoubted conquest had like a musket shaft peireed through his credulous eares to his trembling heart and late ambitious liuer where it was deeply fixed then as a weake and sraile woman impatiently throwing from him all royall and princely thoughts and courage passionatly did he teare off his owne beard beating his forehead and breast impatiently torturing himselfe with teares and lamentations in publike and priuat vpon which his disperation waxing fearelesse of any tokens or care in himselfe to conserue his owne Realms which had so fouldly mist in seeking to master ours made such apparance of his basenesse and viletie playing the lowly part of a weake and feeble woman which he prouided for our diuine Soueraigne Lady that wise men did very iudiciously consider vpon it by certaine circumstances how Queene Elizabeth might in the terror of that ouerthrow which thundred in Spaine amongst the Castillian courages haue easily with a small power subiected that nation thereupon Magnanimitie being the greatnesse of a mind inuincible and mightie the noble strength and stedfastnesse in execution of great and waightie matters doth support and corroborate stoutnesse Know therefore that heart to be noblest and most honourable in quest of all vertues which is open simple without hypocrisie graue modest repressing pride meerely great forgetfull of iniuries done to it selfe gentle aiming at eternitie contemning terrestrial benefits readier to giue then to receiue more studious of iust praise then profit For this kind of nobilitie contemneth that greatnesse which the profane vulgar admireth so much conuersing in the restraint of all perturbations in victorious resistance of all ambition auarice and fleshly desires that it may with more constancie resist other calamities This is seene in both prosperous and aduerse chaunces when a man is not altered through either but endureth constant and the same in all Haughtinesse aspiring from a stubborne and fastidious spirit and heart swolne vp with the poyson of pride which violently rauisheth humane reason and base abiection being the vilenesse and filth of mind are daungerous outlawes trangressing beyond the borders of magnanimitie From the first marcheth braggerie foolish boasting and ostentation which issueth from folâ—…e blinded in louing conceit and admiration of some worthinesse which they misconceiue in themselues being a most ridiculous vice to be represented in enterlude by the person of Thraso wholie repugnant to goodnesse and modestie hatefull in the thoughts of all honest men and acceptable to parasites onely Tke second being a foule abiection and beastly downefall of mind eschewing labour and neglecting matters of most moment in feare of some griefe and care which accompaineth it is altogether sopped and steeped in sluggishnesse such brutish people faint and languish in the quest of honourable and important affaires as Sardanapalus and Heliog abalus did Vnto these alreadie mentioned adde a desire of good fame opposite to which is ambition and neglect of honest report of impudencie but a moderate desire of honour which is placed betwixt ambition and the contempt of dignitie meerely proceeding from a mind that aspireth to the reward of her vertues is in my iudgement laudable and ambicious if I dare make a maxim positiuely of that which Aristotle holdeth ambiguously for a paradox But to conclude with this vertue magnanimitic Philosophers thinke it to be the rule how to desire and seeke for honour by due desert moderating and directing humane appetite in the acquisition of great and mightie matters her sisters accompaning are humilitie patience magnificence and mansuetude which is a calme spirit interset betwixt wrath and indulgence the meanes to restraine wrath and hatred are not to be couetous of vengeance seldome though sometimes vpon iust cause to be angry to wrong and vexe no man for enuie dependeth vpon wrath Securitie and licence of sinne followeth excessiue indulgence and I am perswaded that no man which is truely valiant can truely be said enuious though most of them are emulous Patience which is a vertue fencing and preparing a souldiers mind against all wounds inflicted in fight teacheth a Generall and all sorts of souldiers how to strengthen exercise and encourage themselues in all commendable hardnesse difficulties as noble
Geometrie The first intreateth of discreet numbers and quantities very behoofull for a Captaine and so requisite as no merchants or treasurers of Princes can in their places haue more vse of supputation then this required in a martiall Leader It is that art which Pithagoras more then all other Philosophers wondered at so much placing it in the minde of the mightiest God when he fitted himselfe first to the structure of those miraculous and incomprehensible workes in the creation of heauen and earth he did verily beleeue and confirmed men in that his opinion how all creatures were made of numbers shewing many strange things by mysticall and hidden arts which consisted vpon th' accrescence and decrescence of numbers Our fathers thought that onely man all other creatures excepted was capable of number for that he was wisest of all This art consisteth in conference of paritie with imparitie in euen and odde the numbers either equall or vnequall together or equall by separation also superfluous deminished and perfect And so much least I be too tedious seruing for the most present and perfect instruction of battels by addition substraction and diminution of souldiors for seuerall formes how many drawne out of thus many rank◅s in fyle of a square battell of 2000. will by proportion fashion a crescent how many superadded to that battell again wil make a Cilinder euery battell answering to the most aduantage against his enemies battels as they shal be skilfully formed and instructed vpon the sodaine for all aduantages But hereof I spake somewhat in my second Booke referring my selfe with the rest to Livy Caesar Thucydides Polibius Plutarch Euclides Vegetius Frontinus with such others as learnedly can explaine and discourse of these with sound iudgement and better experience more at large Geometrie likewise ordereth and proportioneth formes bodyes and their dimensions by discreet lines out of lines the superficies or outward faces and from thē these bodies which are called cubes This art by measuring of heauen and earth leaueth nothing vnsearched which humane reason can apprehend in that facultie to this art are referred all linearie demonstrations the coherence or knitting together of elements whether trianguler quadranguler multanguler or aspiring in piramidicall fashion Hence was it that the Egyptians did reuerence as diuine idols the formes of Cubes and Circles in their superstitious ceremonies performed to those profane gods Osiris and Isis. Moreouer Plato caused this inscription to be set vpon the gate of that Academie where he professed that No man ignorant of Geometrie should enter therein And in all the best and ancientest Schooles of the Greekes and Romanes the nobler sort of youth and children after their first milke weare studiously taught in the science of Arithmeticke and Geometrie by which the learned fathers of former ages did illustrate and giue light to all most difficult obscurities and hidden reasons of causes for by considering how this art doth from a point or centre being indivisible extend and draw foorth lines circumferent bowing iacent perpendiculer oblique and equall in angles narrow large trilaterall quadrilaterall multilaterall and in them equilaterall right angles blunt angles sharpe angles and such as extend more on one side then from another with Rhombus Rhomboydes Piramides Spheres and other strange formes in diuers analogies They did finde how needfully this art served in fit proportion of harmonie for vniting fashioning and ordering of all sorts of battels squares squadrons wings cornets and such like as in rearing deuising working measuring digging and fashioning bulwarkes engines vnderminings trenches ditches likewise for the raysing leuelling and squaring of rampiers rauelings casa◅ates and other necessarie plats and defences against enemies with all sort of Instruments and engines appertaining warre which are infinite being so behoofull for the knowledge of a Generall as without it I doubt whether warre may bee called an art for it equalleth such members as are like in proportion harmonious consent with members vnlike making a concord out of discordes But least I search too faire into the concealed treasure of hidden Phylosophy wherein I might either vnhappily showe some token of arrogancie or rather of hierogliphicall mysteries and other rare apprehensions of sage Phylosophers exceeding the precincts of my weake reason capacitie wronging some sciences of which I cannot skill here will I set vp my rest vnder pardon onely this which many wise and will experienced souldiors and others of sound wisedome approue it should be required in a Generall to be so studious in these professions that by much practise and paines he may deuise new formes of embattailing fighting eskairmouching strange kindes of curious retiring and vnexpected meanes of distressing his enemies by noble stratagems newely stamped neuer heard of before And albeit according to Clitarchus audaciousnesse is an excesse beyond the measure of humane strength and reason yet he which prudently respecteth his owne ende will vpon honorable grounds voluntarily pursue perils as I said before If therefore the Generall would haue his souldiors ambitious of honour and victorie he must worke out their resolution and with vertuous example in himselfe apparant encourage their actions For if he will industriously consider and declare his true force which is in most high reputation fixed he shall finde it very possible for him to infuse power sufficient to his soldiers for performance of any reasonable action in their charge working first confidence in them which onely proceedeth from good militarie discipline let him therfore with great grace and wisedome endeuour to make his name and honor reuerende and precious throughout his whole armies which he shall purchase as I say before by mingling of charitie with discipline as in taking care that he surbate not his footemen with long and grieuous hard marches forsomuch as warriors of best iudgement and experience haue alwayes esteemed them more seruiceable then the horse which hath beene found aswell amongst the battels of the Greekes and Romanes as in ours of these later times in Christendome for vpon vrgent causes it may bee that by fast troupes and marches or with long fight and escairmouches they may become wearie whereupon it will be most conuenient to relieue them with the horses of those Caualliers that ride the whiles they for their more ease in contrary refresh themselues with marching on foote in their places interchangeably as the Romanes Ad lacum regi◅lum did in their warres against the Latines and by that means attayned victorie for the footmen are apt and readie for any straitor sinuous place into which their horses cannot haue passage they can also stretch forth and straiten their ranckes which vpon a necessitie they can breake againe reducing themselues into forme and order forth with as place and space shall serue them whereas horsemen being once broken remaine long confused And as there is a difference in comparison of men valiant and well disciplined with weake and faint hearted souldiers so likewise fareth◅ amongst horses some full of stomach
and robe of iustice reuenge priuate wrongs Euen as dissentions amongst captaines further the stratagems of their enemies so doe the disunions of Counsellors helpe them against whom their Counsels are bent The principall and most soueraigne medicine by diuers vsed and most preuayling against the pestilence of dissention and enuie by good experiment and knowledge hath beene humanitie and affabilitie Iustice and goodnesse is no little estimation in a Counsellor when his sayings soothly consound with integritie vertue and veritie here and there in mouth and heart all one in word and deede plaine reprehending faults in others with all mildnesse and benignitie His actions are throughly seasoned with beneuolence and courtesie hee will not withhold his good counsell from any man a patrone towards good persons seuere against malefactors in all places zealous of vertue enemie to calumnies detesting lyes and vanitie no dissembler no double-tongued person no referendarie for neuer was any delator of mens conditions and manners faithfull but abiect and base minded Moreouer a iust man will not rebuke one beeing absent for his faults if hee may haue him present that which neyther his eyes nor hands haue seene nor handled he will not auouch or verefie He cannot away with flatterers or tale-bearers for hee thinketh with Tacitus That Adulation is an euer-liuing euill and with Curtius who writeth that people of such nature deuour and wast the princes treasure much more then enemies and therefore it is written in the life of Constantine the sonne of Constantius that he called those flatterers and enuches of the court which wast the Commonwealth and yet are alwayes murmuring mothes and water rats like those dogges of which the blessed prophet saith That they run grudging and grinning about the citie for meate vntill they bee satisfied whose gluttonous appetite is bottomlesse insatiable Nero who was brought vp in temperance and sobrietie through flatterers became cruell through them Caesar lifted his arme against his owne countrey from them aspired the tyrannies of Rhoboham But it is needlesse to produce forraine example being well furnished with domesticall testimonies for wee read and know that the second Edward of Carnaruan and Richard the Blacke princes sonne one and the other were deposed and confounded by the fruit of that viletie which they sucked from flatterers A sage and honourable Councell therefore will fence his eares against the subtilties of them least Sinon enter with the Troiane horse and there vnrip his packe of parasites which wildly seising vpon his hart will tyrannously vsurpe vpon his soule also This is a whoorish danger which first allureth then bindeth and being once tied it is almost impossible for the captiued to get loose They therefore that respect their owne quiet with the princes honour wil esteeme more of one Clitius than of six hundred Aristippi for they present vnto such noble magistrats in precious vessels that potion which intoxicatcth their imaginations vnderstandings and memories bringing in with it the Commonwealths bane and ouerthrow euen as in a most sententious Tragedie was written by Seneca Venenum in auro bibitur expertus loquor I speake by good experience that vile poyson is drunke out of fine gold Such Counsellours therefore as are possessed of iustice and goodnesse will auoyd these monsters especially liuing in peace with all men contented with their owne they bee not any couetous money-mongers they liue iustly and temperately with a desire to pay their debts eschewing suites and contentions they by labours vertues and abilitie seeke to rayse their fortunes which if they shall vpon so good tearmes endeuour then are they meerely magnanimious iust and generous but if they doe not seeke for the reward of this vertue then is it a sure signe that they want the maine and therfore to be reputed vniust abiect and timorous Liberalitie likewise is a very gracious ornament seemely befitting a Counsellor this since I did handle in the first Booke of these Offices entreating of Treasurers I will speake lesse in this place onely this it is a principall baite to take people because aboue all things they loue to sport themselues in those siluer waues or vnder the golden grauell delighting in the sweetenesse of it It is a meere follie to lauish in hope of gayne vnlesse a great abilitie will beare it Occasions of getting will not alwayes continue Oppose with moderation therefore against want which is accompanied with the losse of time and reputation for certaine it is that more credite commeth by one ducket present in purse than by tenne alreadie spent This is not spoken that a man should be so beastly minded as to scrape or restraine liberalitie when estimation and honour offer themselues by reasonable expences but onely to vse a bridle in vaine and vnnecessarie disbursements Howbeit aboue all things auoyd auaricious Ostrocisme which feedeth bad Counsellors till they bee so fat as porkes readie to bee serued to their maisters table as Aeneas Siluius fitly compareth Charitie with bountie such as Polybius prescribed to Scipio magnifieth a Counsellor to make so good vse of his going abroad at all times that he benefite some before his returne home for euen as couetousnesse is the roote of all euill so beneficence and charitie bee the well-springs of all goodnesse Angelicall and humane eloquence the gift of prophecying the secret and vnreuealeable knowledge of all mysteries a faith retaining power to mooue mountaines are all of no force if they be not illumined with charitie hee which giueth all his possessions to the poore which sacrificeth his body to the fire or sword meriteth not without charitie Hee which is espoused to that beautifull nymph is patient bountifull without mallice ostentation pride disdaine selfe-loue wrath euill thought for shee reioyceth and is inwardly rauished with confolation in truth faith hope patience and perseuerance shee when prophecies tongues and knowledge shall cease and bee consummated can neuer be consumed but liueth immortally of those three sweete sisters of grace and heauenly benediction charitie being the last after faith hope is the chiefest sayth that diuine Organe of eloquence blessed Paule couetousnesse and malice are her open and professed enemies Let a wise man therefore resist them for they beeing vanquished in him that held out in force against her leaue a beautifull port triumphant for charitie to come in with her gracious trayne of blessed vertues to take possession of her ennobled heart It is written of Marcus Crassus that hee was magnified in fiue things in his great Nobilitie in his maruellous Eloquence in his excellent sound knowledge had of the Lawes that he was Archbishop and the richest of all the Romans after Sylla But all these vertues and bounties of fortune were stained with the corruption of auarice and with the want of charitie such Counsellors little regard their charge so they may gorge vp their owne coffers Woe to the shepheards of isrdel which onely feede themselues dispersing their