for the Common weale that this reuerence and obedience which we so diligently recommaund should be kept then to vanquishe their enimies in battell Scipio Nasica and Caius Marius Scipio Nasion and Caius Marius commended for obeying vnto vocations Agesilaus being towarde the Prouinces allotted vnto them and reuoked for like cause were the better estéemed because that they incontinently quited their Prouinces and streight returned to Rome where they voluntarily deposed thēselues of their estates And Agesilaus king of Lacedaemon was neuer so muche honoured for any acte he did as because that he abandoned his great and prosperous conquestes in Asia assoone as he had receiued a little billet sent him out of his owne countrie by the whiche he was aduised to returne home Leauing by that meanes with Asia a faire and worthie example of obedience Haniball disobeyeth his dismission due to them that haue power to reuoke far other then Hanibals was who beginning to haue euill successe in Italie neuer ment for al that vnlesse of mere force to obey his citizens which reuoked him to defend them frō the wars they had on hand in their own countrie Alexander the great And Alexander the great being for the self cause called backe into his own kingdom of Macedon refused not only to return but also scorned when he heard of the great battel his Lieuetenant had had against Agis Agis Darius King of Persia The authoritie of reuocation nothing inferiour to that of vocation A man may lawfully disobey the reuocation made by them that haue no authoritie Henrie the fourth Duke Rodulphe saying that it séemed vnto him hearing those newes while he defeated king Darius in those partes that they tolde him of a battell of Rattes and Mice In doing whereof without al doubt they were bothe worthie of blame For the authoritie of Reuocation made by them as I haue saide that haue lawfull power and commission to doe it is nothing inferiour to the same of vocation I say especially by them that haue lawfull power to doe it for if they were other then should there be iust cause not to obey the same As Henrie the fourth Emperour of Almaine of the name béeing duly chosen by the Electours of the Empire and yet for al that reuoked or dismissed by Pope Hildebrand who sent the Imperiall crowne wherein these verses were ingrauen vnto Rodulphe Christ Iesus whome Scriptures the rocke doe call To Saint Peter the crowne gaue before all And I who in earth his place represent To thee Duke Rodulphe the same now present Meaning to say that the Empire was by our Lorde and Sauiour Iesus Christe conferred vnto the Pope The reuocation made by parte and no sufficient number of them that haue authoritie to doe the same is insufficient Example of Coriolanus and that by Popes it ought to be giuen to Princes of whiche enterprise for all that full euill befell him and Rodulph because hée accepted the same as the historie thereof beareth more at large So should it be also if the reuocation were made by some and no sufficient number or parte of them that had authoritie to call as it happened vnto Coriolanus hauing béene chosen Capiteine generall of the Volsques by consent of all reuoked by Tullius alone hauing as then in déede greater authoritie then any other For I will gladly dismisse my self of my charge said he and remitte the same into the hands of the Lords of the Volsques if they all commaunde me as I haue by commaundement of them all and not otherwise accepted the same If a man were called to some authoritie charge The time of charge being expired the same ought to be giuen vp Of them whiche vsurped their vocations Sylla In Caesar M. Antonie Lepide and August Timolion lefte his charge or Publique dignitie for a certeine time limitted or else by occasion of some souden accident onely the time once expired or the occasion ceassing he should be more then blame worthie who that notwithstanding would continue and perseuere in the same as for example Sylla Iulius Caesar Marke Antonie Lepide and August the whiche contrarie to the institution and Publique ordinaunce of their offices ordeined onely for a time did forceably and by violence vsurpe and deteine the same and so continued in their souereigne authoritie or to say better in their tyrannie Wherefore Timolion among other deserued great prayse because that he of his owne frée will assoone as he had wrecked and defeated them that would haue vsurped the gouernement and made an end of that whiche was committed to his charge quited the state and charge of Capteine generall of Siracuse Pelopidas and Epaminondas kept their offices by force And contrarily Pelopidas and Epimanondas were iustly accused and blamed because they kepte their office and gouernement of Boetia longer then they ought although it was but foure monethes onely If he also that is entered into any vocation Infirmitie of bodie or witte is a sufficient cause for a man to giue ouer his vocation cannot any longer satisfie the Common weale wherein he hath béene receiued by reason of his infirmitie of bodie imbecillitie of witte féeblenesse of age or else through some other impediment what so euer it be happened vnto him it shall be best for him to departe or forbeare and dismisse himselfe because that Publique vocations be ordeined vnto men to be vsed to the publique seruice and not to be inioyed in respect of any interest or particular profite As among other Appius Clodius a notable personage who partely because of his age Example of Appius Clodius partely because he had lost his sight surceassed gaue ouer his charge and neither went any more to the Senate or yet intermedled himselfe with any Publique affaires And we haue in our dayes séene the Emperour Charles The Emperour Charles the fifte 5. vpon the like consideration of age and imbecillitie or vnabilitie longer to susteine accustomed trauels retire himselfe wholy from affaires and Publique administration Honest retraite and consolation for age And in verie déede a man féebled with age and whome crooked yeares compell to withdrawe himselfe from the maniment of affaires aswell of warre as of peace is not onely excusable but muche to be commended when he retireth himself vnto some honest consolation to passe the rest of his dayes quietly and especially when he hath the meane to retire him selfe to the moste happie and moste honest contentation of learning full of rest and tranquillitie of mind in the delectation thereof conioyned with honest contemplation happily to ende his vertuous actions all reported or referred to the onely butte of vertue proposed to euerie good seruitour of the Publique and profitable member of humane societie And verily it is a séemelie and honest thing for age to repose and refreshe him selfe after a number of toyles and troubles in the studie of Philosophie in reuiuing of the parte contemplatiue and
place a King sole Example of the most perfect estate taken vpon the realme of Fraunce Aristocracie and souereigne Lorde aboue all other and in the whiche by reason of the weaknesse of counsell gouernement and wisdome that consisteth in one man alone there is a forme of a Senate instituted that is to say a good and notable companie and assemblie of excellent personages to mainteine the lawe whiche onely ought to commaunde and iustice in their force The whiche doeth ratifie and approue the lawes statutes ordinaunces pardons giftes alienations graunts and other thinges of like importance in the Publique and in the whiche the people is mainteined in moderate libertie to be hearde at the prouision of offices yea and in possibilitie by vertue to be participant of the chéefest and souereigne handling of the Publique and in so doeing to ascende to the greatest honours and dignities The perfect estate is mixed aswell Politique as Ecclesiasticall For in such a Politique estate we finde the thrée Ciuil formes of gouernment to be kept and equally reteined I say equally reteined according to the Geometricall proportion and not the Arithmeticall that is to say according to the dignitie and preeminence of eche Ciuil estate the one aboue the other as it ought and as we sée to be in the composition of mans bodie Because that in the firste place we find a Monarchie Of the Monarchall estate in the institution of a King alone to honour obey and reuerence aboue all other Neither more nor lesse Artabanus Themistoles saide the Persian Artabanus to Themistocles then the image of the liuing GOD ruleth and gouerneth this worlde Aristocracie Then finde we that this Monarchie holdeth of the Aristocracie in that the same is ayded and tempered by the forme of a Senate we haue spoken of the cause of the long continuance of kingdomes Theopompe as Theopompe King of Macedone saide and we haue before declared And the authoritie of the which Senate Plato A conterpeise is called by Plato a counterpeise to the Royall power and authoritie profitable and salutiferous to the vniuersall bodie of the Common weale And beside all this we finde also that this Publique estate doth participate of the Republique in that that moderated libertie is reserued to the people whereof is ingendred an obeisant amitie of men whiche neither be bonde slaues ne yet excluded from honours and dignities no not from those whiche be the greatest Then to come to our pointe we saye that euen as that hath bene esteemed the best manner of gouerning of a Common weale The Realme of Fraunce compounded of three politique estates whiche is made by this Politique estate partely compounded of the thrée as the realme of Fraunce is whiche in déede is better then any other That euen so the best maner and forme to call vnto vocations is the same whiche is participant and composed of the thrée wayes we haue before spoken of howbeit according to the excellencie and prerogatiue of eche estate vnto the whiche we haue accommodated his forme and manner of calling vnto vocations in the same The best way to call to vocations And in so doeing that the best manner of calling vnto vocations shall be the same whiche shall be made firste at the instance and request of the people vnto whome the prerogatiue holding of the right of a Republique shall be reserued to haue power to demaunde and propose some such as they shall thinke to be the honestest men most worthy of Publique Politique or Ecclesiasticall offices and charges ech one in his owne Countrie Citie or Prouince Then shall the right of election be referred to the iudiciall seate Chapter or other Publique order Ecclesiasticall or Politique established aboue the other And to the king the souereigne authoritie to approue and authorize one of them that shall be thus first duly chosen and then presented vnto him And this fashion and maner of calling vnto vocations which be Ecclesiasticall is the moste auncient and expresly spoken of by the ordinances of the Church made in the time of Boniface 3. of that name As also for the Ciuil estate it is written many dayes agoe that the Romane Emperour followed the manner and forme the Christians obserued at the choosing of their Clergie as we will streight declare speaking of their office and dutie whiche haue authoritie to call vnto vocations So that we can giue no better aduise then to reduce thinges to their originall and first beginning And to procéede further we say that not onely in the feate of vocations and the respecte of the manner of calling therevnto that consideration is best whiche hath regarde to the thrée Politique estates intermingled as we haue saide but that also euerie good wise and politique man in euerie acte or counsell whiche toucheth the Common commoditie The ciuil man ought alwayes to haue respect to the three politike estates together ought still to haue this consideration laide before his eyes and doe as the good Physician who to conserue the bodie in health doeth not onely looke vnto certeine members or some one parte of the fame although it be the greater but vniuersally to the whole bodie For so vndoubtedly ought euery good counseller of the Publique to conserue equally the bodie of the Cōmon weale in his perfection A meane power well conserued in euerie estate preserueth the vniuersall bodie of a Realme Because it is a point fully resolued in the Politique gouernment that there is no one thing that so much conserueth and mainteineth the same as the mediecritie of authoritie conserued in his meane by iust counterpeise of ech of the Ciuil estates together As contrarily there is nothing that so soone causeth the ruine thereof as excessiue authoritie enterprised beyonde measure The power of authoritie is not restrained within his limites but by force by one or other of those Politique estates and gouernmentes of the Publique Because that greatnesse and authoritie doe not willingly conteine themselues within their measure or limites vnlesse it be by force and constraint whiche once taken away it cannot otherwise be but all must come to a disorder and abandon For proofe hereof leauing a parte sundrie Realmes Examples of ciuil estates perished by excesse of authoritie as that of Assyria Persia and other and also diuerse Common weales and Gréeke Aristocracies perished by this excesse of authoritie in vnequall gouernement enterprised by one of the Ciuil estates before rehearsed Let vs onely goe goe to the citie of Rome and we shall finde The royaltie of Rome that the royall dignitie tooke end by no other thing then by the arrogant authoritie the Kings vsurped despising the Senate and popular libertie The Romane republike And sithence the people being gouerned by Consuls and a Senate we shall finde also that the whole Ciuil estate was sundrie times in great peril somtimes bycause the Senate tooke too much on them
ought in this world more excellent then to haue with me as many Zophyres as there be graines in this Apple On the other side also he that is well aduised ought not take vpon him sundrie offices and charges at once For as there be in mans bodie sundrie members hauing diuerse offices so by reason ought the politique bodie of man A good comparison to haue difference of members degrées and offices in diuerse persons otherwise if the whole bodie were the eye where should the hearing be And as it is an vnséemely thing in mans body to sée one member do and vndertake the office of an other so it is a very daungerous and an vndecent thing to sée one person take vppon him many and diuerse charges offices Of two ecclesiasticall vocations at once And that not onely in Politique but also by great reason in Ecclesiasticall vocations For it is moste certeine that by all auncient constitutions of the Church no man may or ought to intende two as being a thing streightly defended and which at the first beginning was inuiolably obserued and in no case admitted sauing that within a while after it was permitted in case of necessitie and euident vtilitie to the Church if it so happened that any bishop died and vntill such time as some other were prouided in his place that an other Bishop might visite and procure the benefice of the Bishops sea vacant but without taking either the title or fruites thereof or yet being absent from his owne Bishopprick about that visitation and procuration which is commonly cally a Commaund aboue sixe monethes A thing vndoubtedly founded vpon a good consideration as many other likewise instituted to good purposes but sithens drawen to an euil The right of a commaunde drawen to an euill consequence and pernicions consequence and breache as euery man maye sée without néeding longer to trouble or stay our selues aboute the same As also beside that in succession of time another gappe hath béene opened in case of eminent or excellente learning or greatnesse of house or familie whiche is no lesse pernicious Although I meane not to deface Eminent learning and greatnesse of bloud maketh not a man capable of two charges or diminish that which apperteineth to the excellencie and greatnesse of Nobilitie knowing right well that in consideration thereof many lesse worthie haue ben preferred before the most worthie It being most resonable that the vertue of those whiche profite also after they be deade be also recognised and honoured in their successes And euen as dimme and darke places be lightened by reuerberation of the Sunne so ought likewise the lighte and bright beames of predecessours to make their followers and aftercommers to shine But this fauorable consideration may not extend to the taking away of the insufficiencie and impediment of that mans imbecillitie who is well knowen to be vnable to discharge the dutie and exercise of two Publique charges Briares were Giantes with a hundred handes Gerion A notable example of pope Clement the fourth as it is said vnlesse so were that yet at this present there were some Briares to be founde whiche as the fable telleth had an hundred hands or else a Gerion who as men feine had two or thrée bodies as many sufficiencies And it is not without gret cause that Pope Clement the fourth of that name is gretly renowmed extolled for that being aduertised that one of his nephewes had thrée Prebendaries streight compelled him to renounce two of them and kéep but one what soeuer his friendes coulde alledge to diuerte him declaring them to be but small benefices and without charge of soules And that considering he was his nigh kinseman he ought not onely to dispense with the thrée Prebendaries but also prouide him of better and greater benefices Wherevnto for answere I woulde to GOD saide hee that all Prelates and Popes woulde imitate A vertuous saying and followe the steppes of our Lorde Iesus Christe and not their Parentes Cousins and Nephewes for he is not worthie to be successor vnto the Apostles who is néerer or maketh more accompt of his owne then he doeth of the poore of the sonne of God his Church Let euery man therefore take héede how he intrude himselfe into two Publique Politique or Eccesiasticall vocations let them also that haue power to call men thereto sée that they be diligent in preuenting the same We would treat yet further of the Ecclesiasticall vocation ioyned with the Politique to wit if one person might exercise them both were it not that by that which we haue before discoursed it appeareth sufficiently that they ought not in any case to be ioyned together in one person but to be ruled and administred by seuerall persons As it was wisely declared by Fabius Maximus Examples of Fabius Maximus Aemilius Regulus who then being about the election of Consuls at Rome he did what he could to hinder the choosing of Aemilius Regulus a Quirinall Prieste because saide he we may not withdrawe him from his sacrifices and chéefly from the diligent care he ought to haue of Gods seruice Agréeing in that point with Aristotle who reiecteth Aristotle sundereth two vocations and sundereth the one administration frō the other saying that they ought to be altogether distinct and seuered And vndoubtedly with great difficultie may both at once be executed and discharged by one person King Philip de vellois his ordinance without greate preiudice of the one of them and most commonly of both at once Therefore was it ordeined in King Philip de Vellois his time that no Priest or Ecclesiasticall person should be deputed to assiste at the parleament where the affairs of state were then treated determined of And the cause of that ordinaunce is thus penned Because the Kinge maketh conscience to disturbe and diuerte Prelates busied about their spirituall gouernement and will haue such in his parleament as may amply and continually without departing attende vppon the same These be the termes of the statute the whiche vntill this present that the parleament is restrained and sith king Iohn his dayes in the particular affaires of iustice hath bene diligently obserued ¶ The second Booke of Politique discourses treating of the manner howe a man should behaue and gouerne himselfe in the offices he is called vnto CHAPTER I. Diuision of the vocation in generall or common to all men the particular vocation concerning euerie man seuerally and first of the generall NOwe after that we haue defined vocation and the meane to enter duly into the same it behoueth to knowe how euerie man ought to behaue himselfe and what diligence is to be vsed in the exercise of that which belongeth to his vocation That there be two sorts of vocations Two sortes of vocations the one is generall perteineth equally indifferently vnto all men the other particular which belongeth distinctly seuerally vnto euerie man the one
the whole world What should I say Would not the Lawyer thinke ye agreeably accept the title of a Lord And thus of other No one almoste liuing not infected witnesse experience with this pestiferous canker of fonde selfe loue impatient ambition or yrkesome discontentment of his estate but for the moste parte all corrupted with the delight of daungerous change and innouation And what should be the cause of this disorder Forsooth in my opinion either the ignoring of vocation I meane that men doe not knowe or consider themselues to be but particular members of an vniuersall bodie and that they in that respect be by the incomprehensible ordinaunce of God called appointed eche one in his degree to some assured particular estate honest maner of liuing by his secrete prouidence and not by happe or fortune as Philosophers of olde time helde opinion allotted vnto him to keepe him selfe sufficiently occupied without needing to seeke any other if he list as he ought constantly to perseuere and applie the same in this life in all vertue to the common releefe as is before saide of the vniuersall Politique bodie and societie of all men in generall Or if they knewe this because the natures and manners of men be so depraued and corrupted as that they neither force to obserue this vocation or feare to violate the same but fare as if euerie one were ordeined to liue as a GOD vnto him selfe without respecte of the Publique not caring so their turnes be serued what become of the rest Wherfore considering how necessarie the remembraunce of this vocation is and wishing therewithall the impression thereof in all mens heartes as that whiche is not onely the originall and cheefe parte of humane societie but also the guide sure directer of all actions and affaires be they Publique or Priuate Politique or Domesticall I haue taken vpon me to translate out of the French into our vulgare tongue a Booke intituled Politique discourses treating of vocation and the diuersitie thereof in sundrie kindes By the which as we be assured of the interiour or secrete vocation or manner of liuing each one is called vnto as is before said so we be also taught how and whiche way eache one ought orderly and duely to enter into exteriour or apparent Publike vocatiōs or trades of liuing and haue also laide before our eyes aswell the dueties of them that haue power authoritie to cal men to Publique vocations as of them also whiche seeke or sue to be called therevnto and likewise how eache one ought to behaue himselfe and constantly proceed in that he is called vnto with diuers other points worthie of knowing touching that subiect as I can learne not yet treated of by any other haue made bold to cause the same to be published vnder your Honors protection hoping though I haue in this my translation as a young beginner rather imitated mine Author verbatim in his right sense and meaning then sought by polished style to beautifie the same that yet for all that you will accompte no whit the lesse thereof but accept it in good parte as presented for a testimonie of a hartie desire to gratifie your Honor with any other agreeable seruice whensoeuer it shall please you to commaunde Thus committing your Honour to the tuition of Almightie God I take my leaue praying him to preserue continue your Honour in health long life and all honour Your Honours duetifully at commaund Aegremont Ratcliffe ¶ To the most mightie and most Christian King of Fraunce Charles the ninth of that name SIth it is so that eache thing naturally coueteth and desireth that which is good and that there is nothing that may so muche auaile to the conseruation of humane life and societie as that whiche is necessarie and profitable for him it is most certeine Syr that among all thinges created good and beneficiall for the auaile of this life there be none that be to be compared with the commoditie and profite that commeth from man For what is it that hath mainteined caused Common weales Realmes Alexander Iu. Caesar and Empires to flourishe but men Alexander Iulius Caesar and other excellent and greate personages by what other meane haue they done so great and renowmed thinges So that it is moste cleare without need of greater testimonie in so apparent a thing that there is no one thing after God so commodious and profitable for the weale of life and humane societie as man himselfe euen as contrarily it is a thing no lesse certeine and euident that there is no euil be the same neuer so great and detestable which chaunceth not vnto men by them selues by their own default Wherfore he that tooke vpon him to search out the causes of mans death and destruction after he had gathered together an infinite as sicknesses pestilences flouds Dicearchus Cicero lib. 2. of his Offices and other concluded in the end that there haue a farre greater number without comparison bene destroyed and putte to deathe by mans meane as by warres seditions murders poysonings and otherlike then by any other mischiefe or mishap Which hath moued the auncient to say in cōmon prouerb Men like wolues towarde men that men were like vnto wolues toward men And contrarily that man was God to man meaning thereby that euen as there is nothing more beneficiall to man then man him selfe so there is nothing more contrarie and damageable to man then himselfe But to what end will you say Syr tendeth this discourse It is that therby I will inferre that among all politike things and which may apperteine to the gouernment administration of the Publike there is nothing so recōmendable as to vnderstand what belongeth to vocation that is to say which is the way maner to liue whervnto euery one is duly called what is the duetie and office of them that haue authoritie to cal men For without doubt the first part of a Cōmon weale wel instituted consisteth in wel choosing picking out ordeining of men apt and meete for the Publike choice eche one according to the manner of liuing he is called vnto Neither more nor lesse then as we see in the gouernment of a shippe the first and most requisite part to be that the Pilotes Patrons and Gouernors be wel chosen and ordeined in the same And euen as the good husbandman reaping most commoditie of his tilth and labour is he not that hath most land but that can best choose and discerne the propertie and nature of ech plotte of his grounde So the best gouernour and administratour of the Publike is he not that hath a greate extent and most subiectes but that can best handle men in well choosing them apt meete ech one for his office This beeing most certeine that some say that The prince and lorde ought to husband his landes lordships and reuenues by men but that he must husbande men by himselfe And if so be that
in that point that apperteineth to the vocation of men nor yet giuen any certeine lawe or rule méete to ordeine and appoint a conuenient number of persons in charges and offices occupations conditions and manners of liuing according to the necessitie of eache Towne Citie or Assemblie of men great or small to the common reliefe and seruice of all men The cause why auncient Philosophers haue not treated of vocation And that because as it séemeth most probable that they knew the same to be néedlesse because that in that be halfe as euerie man may sée daily experience giueth vs sufficiently to vnderstande that in the vniuersall Publike estate there is no one thing beter ruled and guided for the ease and commoditie of men then the vocation of euerie one distincte and different accordingly as the necessity and common want requireth And that this is true marke any Towne or place of assemblie you list great or smal and you shal not faile there to finde a sufficient number of artificers men of occupation officers or of other manner and condition of life for the interteinement common seruice of the people there assembled But if you aske after the lawes ordinaunces or other reasons of this policie doubtlesse you shall finde the same to be done without care labour diligence of man or other politique foresight The singular prouidence of God in the feate of vocation Wherein we haue greate cause to maruel at the singular prouidence of God who euen as he hath by admirable Arte framed man with sundrie members seruing one another eache one in his office hath in likewise so preserued and conduced the assemblie and societie of men as that the same is by a secrete vocation of eache one to his office and manner of liuing mainteined and conserued by common succour and mutuall ayde a thing no lesse excellent and admirable then smally considered of and lesse estéemed of all men That the knowledge of the feate of vocation is more necessarie then the knowledge of the course of the Heauens And sith that men haue ben so diligent in séeking and discouering the order of the Heauens the course of the Sunne and Moone the mouings of the starres and all other celestiall dispositions béeing by the knowlege thereof allured to the high speculation of God what should be the cause why they haue béene lesse diligent in séeking of this politique order passing it vnder silence although the same be no lesse excellent and miraculously mainteined by meane of this vocation which concerneth men ech one in his calling Especially seing that the knowlege of the heauens course therof although it be much estéemed is a great deale further off from vs more difficult and lesse néedfull whereas this is at hand familiar with vs bringing with it a meruellous commoditie for the enterteinment of the conuinction of men The Prince of Philosophers Plato and after him Aristotle and other The opinion of Plato Aristotle and other touching vocation treating of the administration and gouernment of a Common weale knowing our infirmitie and indigence to be such as that it hath néede of common aide and succour say that the same indigence or necessitie hath caused the assemblie of men and the building of townes and cities but they reach not vnto the point of knowing and celebrating of the effect from aboue miraculous in the feate of the vocation or calling of all men wherof we meane to speake But confusedly attributing all to Nature say that we be borne thus vnlike one another and be naturally inclined to sundrie manners of liuing The Astronomers opinion As the iudiciall Astronomers would haue the cause attributed to the planets and celestiall bodies The opinion of Phisicians according to the difference of their positions and aspectes and the Physicians according to the mixtion of humours and difference of temperatures euery one in his profession Cicero his opinion assuring him selfe to haue found the cause And Cicero going about to teach and instruct man in his office and dutie speaking of the deliberation euery man hath in choosing of his manner of liuing saith in the end that the same dependeth on the force of mans spirite his naturall inclination and chaunce of fortune No one of them all knowing ought that concerneth vocation So that the auncient with one consent haue in the ende called mens seuerall manner and fashion of liuing by this word represented in Latine Sors Vocation in old time called Fortune or Hazard signifying of it selfe as much as Hazard or Fortune sithence by them appropriated to the state and condition of man as subiect to the gouernment and vncerteine guiding of Fortune to whome they referre the ruling and issue of all thinges But we knowing all things to be ruled by the only diuine prouidence Why vocatiō is so called reducing all therevnto call the manner of liuing we be nowe in Vocation as holding for a thing most certeine that it is by the ordinaunce and prouidence of God Difference of giftes that we be therevnto called not by Fortune Acknowledging that there is difference of giftes administrations operations diuided to each one according to his good pleasure one only spirit working all in vs all Wherein we wishe that they which desire that an other beginning and néerer then God who is the first generall cause of all God is the generall beginning the most certein of humane actions and the furthest distant should be sought out should first well consider the little certeintie that hath bene in al that whiche hath bene disputed by men in time past and then we suppose that they will not mislike if in the prolixitie and confusion of the causes by them alledged we not following the direct way required in such a matter haue at the first entrie stayed our selues at a most certeine and true cause and from the which be the same neuer so farre off more assurance and direction shall be had then following the pathe other haue shewed This worde Fortune takē by some for God the most of all which for all that to wit they that haue committed all to Fortune shall be founde all to be of one side hauing by this worde Fortune meant God in things they vnderstoode not the causes and reason of It is then vocation we meane to treat of most requisite profitable and necessarie to be knowen For there is no one place and part of humane life be it in publique or priuate affaires be it in the politique or domesticall estate be it that a man determine or deliberate alone by him selfe or for an other man where this vocation ought not to marche formost as a rule of life a guide and assured direction in all actions and thoughtes But our intention is not to stay at the particular institution of each one in his maner of liuing for beside that that the same is a thing amply ynough treated of by
eightéene yeares of his life from al charge and publique administration It is a robbeie of the common weale to frustrate the same of the seruice due by all men it being for all that most certeine and assured that it is no lesse iniurie to a Common weale to frustrate and disappoint the same of the common seruice due by nature according vnto the gifte grace and abilitie that euerie man hath receiued to be employed to the Publique commoditie and profite of all men then to robbe and spoyle other men of their goods So that we say It is a wicked parte to refuse the gouernement of a common weale that euen as it is not lawfull for a man to intrude himselfe into any vocation before he be therevnto duly called so to refuse the same or else to take away such occasiōs as might cause him to be called therevnto is a wicked cowardlie lewde and peruerse thing The girde Saturninus gaue vnto Marius Wherefore Saturninus spake vnto Marius like a vertuous man calling him Traitor because he refused the Consulshippe in time of trouble and necessitie saying The reproche the Athenians gaue to Aratus that to refuse such a charge in time of perill and néede was nothing else but to betray the Common weale As the Athenians did in likewise reproche Aratus refusing to be their Capteine generall in the most distresse of their troubles that he did as the Mariner who abandoned and forsooke the helme of his shippe euen when the tempest was most vehement and outragious As also may be saide of euery Publique charge vnlesse there be a verie iust cause and consideration which dissuadeth him that he is called For it is not saide that it is alwayes necessarie for a man to accept the vocation he is called vnto because he may sometimes haue iust and reasonable occasion to refuse the same As the secret and assured testimonie Iust causes why to refuse publique charges The time of his owne vnabilitie or infirmitie be it of the bodie witte or age causing insufficiencie or else some other occasion grounded on the time which peraduenture wold not suffer him that should receiue the office to exercise the same with such diligence and libertie as he ought to doe Example of Cato Whiche was the cause why Cato whome we haue so oft remembred béeing carefull of the Cōmon weale dissuaded his son to intermingle or intangle himselfe with the gouernement of the Republique in time of tyrannie Because saide he that to doe as it shoulde behooue the dignite of Cato his sonne the qualitie of the time and affaires would not permitte Pompeius Atticus would neuer sue for any publique charge and the cause why and to doe otherwise was neither decent nor honest As it is likewise written of Pompeius Atticus that he woulde neuer aske or sue for any charge or office because the manners of his time could not permitte him to enter therevnto with the sinceritie required by the lawes An honest man in a corrupt time resembleth vnseasonable fruite And to speake truely an honest and sounde man in a corrupted time is verie like vnto fruites comming out of season For euen as men sée them gladly and praise them with admiration without vsing them So the auncient innocencie béeing once growen out of vre and after long distance of time comming to shew it selfe againe amiddest the corrupte liues and depraued manners of men purchaseth assuredly great glorie renowme But otherwise the same is not founde sortable to be sette aboute any woorke méete to be employed in affaires because that the grauitie and perfection of vertue is disproportioned to the corruption of the time The knoweledge of a more sufficient man is a reasonable cause of refuse Further if he that is called to any vocation known in his conscience any one sufficienter or méeter for the aduauncement of the Common seruice then himselfe he ought to be déemed to haue iust cause of refusalls as it shall more amply be declared hereafter when we shall speake of the constancie that is to be reteined in vocations There be many circumstances to be well considered of by him that is chosen to beare any office before he refuse the same Which for al that come al to one point which is that his refusall ought to be more founded vpon the consideration of the common profite then vpon his owne particular wherein vndoubtedly a man may easily erre And if we wil narrowly examine the foolish and vndiscréete ambitious and extreme auarice of our time we shal finde that the example of late hapned in the person of Mounsier de Moruillier Mounsier de Moruillier bishop of Orleans is both monstruous miraculous and also worthy of memorie Bicause that after that he had bene called to be of the kings priuie counsell as one who had handled the affaires of Fraunce both abroade and at home in great reputation knowne of all men to be of no lesse experience then learning good life and conuersation being chosen to be Chancellour of France which is the souereigne dignitie yea if a man might so cal it the Solstice of the honour of iustice he would not accept the same Wherein truly his great wisedome and integritie may not suffer him to be taxed as hauing more respect to his owne particular then to the publique or else that any one should say that by so doing he loued him selfe better then the publique or yet reproch him of pusillanimitie for he hath giuen sufficient proofs of his magnanimitie always accompanied with zeale and labour employed for the Common weale So that I can not impute the cause of the same his refusal but to one of these two points or else peraduenture to them both at once that is to the time which I dare boldly affirme to be such as the like whereof hath not bene many yeres sithence or else to the charge of his Ecclesiasticall vocation estéeming him selfe vnable to beare two so great burdens at once But such considerations worthie in déede of a most honest man fall not commonly into euery mans braine Neyther do I meane to reproue the modestie and reuerence The humble and modest refusall of publique charges is not to be reprehended Moses Saule Examples Numa Pompilius procéeding of the humble acknowledging of him selfe whereby offices haue oftentimes bene and may with some honest excuse be refused As Moses called of God to retire his people out of Egypt aunswered Lord who am I And Saule séeing him selfe chosen king of Israel moued with a commendable shamefastnesse hid him selfe and retired out of the companie of them that had chosen him And Numa Pompilius king of Rome who beganne his answere with an honest refuse and so in likewise infinite other But for al that without approuing or allowing of their saying Of them that say that we ought to accept any publique charge vncompelled Plato Conclusion vpon thē whiche desire or refuse publique
and excellencie of the one and the other The ecclesiasticall calling preferred before the politique and by the selfe reasons that we haue placed the contemplatiue in the first ranke we wil adiudge the same also to the Ecclesiasticall vocation For though we respect the Ecclesiasticall as an actiue vndoubtedly there is no action so excellent as that which instructeth and informeth the interior which is the principall part of man where hence all the good or euill of the exterior procéedeth Or else if we account therof as participant of the contemplatiue as it behooueth of necessitie that al actiue vocations be so as we haue before said in the case it is also most certein that there is no vocation wherevnto contemplation is more proper necessary ne yet which is more composed of the same also therfore to the which the first place degrée of all other actiues doth better apperteine There resteth then only the last comparison of politique vocations Comparison of the Politique vocation exercised by armes with the same without armes The vocation exercised by armes is royall and excellent which consist in offices estates exercised some by armes and other some without armes the one for warre and the other for peace Of the which also to speake our opinion summarily beginning first with the vocation exercised by armes without al doubt the vertue militarie hath alwayes bene estéemed more excellent and royall then any other as that whereby men haue purchased more reputation and glorie more ample dominion and obeyfance then by any other else As it may easily be proued by the example and good testimonie of the mightiest Empires Realmes Monarchies and Common weales inlarged growen to their high renoume glorie onely by exploytes of armes wherevnto all lawes ordinances Magistrates and affaires of state and iustice submit them selues all artes and sciences also yea all things at the only brute of warres armes retire them selues be whist and kéepe silence To be short by armes peace is purchased and mainteined where from as from a spring all wealth all blisse and felicitie do procéede So that it is not without cause if the warlike calling hath in all ages bene estéemed worthie meriting great honour praise Howbeit this Politique vocation without armes hath alwayes bene the same The politike vocation exercised without armes thought better then the other and good cause why that hath ben iudged the chéefe as the most profitable and necessarie and by the which greater things haue ben atchieued then by that which hath bene exercised by armes For proofe whereof we néede but to come to the néerest and most particular comparison of certein of the greatest and most excellent personages Politique and Militarie that haue ben and thereby we shal more perfectly vnderstand whether of the two vocations is preferred and more renoumed then the other Among other it is writen of two notable personages in the Athenien Common weale which were very famous the one professing armes Comparison betweene Themistocles and Solon and the other Politique gouernment to wit Themistocles and Solon the first renoumed aboue all other Atheniens for exploits and feates of armes the other for good lawes ordinances other institution of the Common weal the one vndoubtedly extolled and approued to be very valiant The Isle Salamine Xerxes Areopagites by the famous so much spoken of victory he got in the Isle of Salamine against the great king Xerxes and the other no lesse renoumed by the establishing of the Senate of Areopagites so beneficiall to the Publique and the one of the which did once stoutly succour the Atheniens by force of armes but the other by good lawes and wise and well established counsell hath not onely in his life time but also many dayes sithence profited them Themistocles Themistocles can not shewe wherein he hath ayded Solon and Solon may proue he ayded Themistocles with a good and wise counsell and a Senate he instituted in his Common weale Comparison betwene Pausanias Lysander and Lycurgus by the aduice whereof the warre was enterprised and conducted As much may be said of Pausanias and Lysander also greatly renoumed and by whose warlike vertue the Lacaedemonian Empire was greatly inlarged the which for all that may not in any case be compared or approche any thing néere vnto the lawes discipline and institution of the Republique made by Lycurgus And if they will alledge for them selues their force valiantnesse good and wise conduction it will be tolde them that they had nothing but that which Lycurgus had left and put into their handes And not to be tedious as much may we say of euery other Common weale well and wisely instituted Comparison betweene Marcus Scaurus and Caius Marius Comparison betweene Quintus Catulus Pompeius It is therefore that Cicero speaking to this purpose doth no lesse in his time prayse the eloquence and learning of Marcus Scaurus then the armes and forces of Caius Marius nor yet Quintus Catulus his Politique skill and experience lesse then Pompeius the great his prowesse and valiaunt actes saying that armes serued to small purpose abroad without good counsell at home Yea he cōmeth thus farre foorth that he produceth the daungerous coniuration of Catiline suppressed and extinguished by him selfe being Consul Catiline his coniuration suppressed without armes without armes or other meane and ayde but only good counsell and diligence Wherfore he was afterward had in such reputation with Pompeie hauing wonne so many and so great victories that he said vnto him openly that the glory of his victories had serued him to small purpose if Rome wherein he might haue triumphed had not bene conserued by the wisedome of Cicero And sith we must néedes come to our particular examples of this realme Comparison betweene the Court of Parleament and the glorie of Armes the court of Parleament hath it in any respect giuen place to the glory of armes the reputation therof hauing ben such through out all Europe and Christendome that the greatest Lordes Earles Dukes and Princes thereof haue voluntarily come to submit themselues their controuersies and armes vnto the iustice of the same yea to auoyde prolixitie Popes and Emperours Frederick the seconde as we haue read of Frederick the second of that name being fallen at debate and deadly contention with Pope Innocent the fourth Innocent the fourth bicause he had depriued him of his Empire in the Counsell of Lyons Suche reuerence hath ben borne to this sacred and honourable iustice neyther more nor lesse then in times past vnto the Oracle of God yea such as that of late in the yeare of our saluation 402. 402 certeine Spanish Knightes brought thither a treatie made and passed betwéene the Kinges of Castile and Portugal A treaty made betweene the Kings of Castile and Portugal broght to the Court of Parleamēt concerning the state of their realmes to cause the
doeth him good whiche he easily forgetteth contrarily prompt to that which by apperance séemeth to doe good to another man without consideration of the euill he séeth not And we sée wel inough when a shooe sitteth well vppon an other mans foote but we féele not where it pincheth him Wherehence this light and mutable inconstancie procéedeth in the minde of man whereby he forsaketh his owne vocation straight to runne to an other whereas if he regarded as he ought to doe the commoditie is giuen him in this manner of liuing he is in and considered well of other mens euils he should liue in greater contentation and constancie exempt from ingratitude and affliction We sée by experience the newfanglednesse Man is soone annoyed with his own trade of life and varietie of man to be such in the mamment of his vocation that almoste assoone as he is placed in any state or fashion of liuing he is by by yrked therw t disliking of the same streight desireth an other as by example we sée him that is married think him happie that is not contrarily him that is frée praise his life that is wedded euen as they whiche leade a priuate life couet nothing more then to haue some Publique charge they that be in the same Horace praise nothing more then to be priuate Horace saying in his Epistles to this purpose Being fast in wedlockes bandes y linckte the single life we then best thinke The widow deems them best some say whoÌ„ loues links kepe fast chaind alway Binde fast then with bonde durable how shall we this Protee mutable So displeasant as Terence saith are we of ourselues discontented with our present estate stil aspiring to that which passeth our capacitie The Romane people yrked with the Monarchal estate Terence Example of the Romanes gouernment of one alone would néeds be coÌ„manded by many first by Consuls then by Tribunes in diuers mutations changes as the Israelits before them annoied to be gouerned by many asked a king where they found worse then before thus hath it always ben shal be of the inconstancie instabilitie of man most manifest apparent in the exercise of his vocatioÌ„ The famous wise Philosophers espying this varietie The opinion of diuerse which haue searched out the cause of this inconstancie inconstancie of man prompt inclined to all disorder yet for all that séeing in naturall things so permanent measured an order be it in the mouing of heauen of starres planets be it in the so well according discorde of the Elements so equall counterpoise of the earth flowing reflowing of flouds riuers be it in al other creatures great smal all keping their naturall order haue béene maruelously and not without cause amased whence it shold come that such disorder confusion should be in mankind the most excellent noble of all other creatures And in the end haue imputed al the fault cause therof partly to the matter wherof men be compounded as fraile caduke partly to mans will so light variable of it selfe ascending higher be come to euerie ones fatall destinie saying the there is a certeine connexion coniunction of the first cause with the second naturall of the will of man so constreined that it is not possible to be able to auoid them And in the end there were a sort maner of people The Manicheis opinion whiche were named Manicheis ingendred of a depraued corrupt Philosophie which passing further dreamed imagined that there were two Gods the one good the other euil to whom they imputed the cause of all this confusion disorder But we must confesse that al this fault coÌ„meth no whence else but of the corruption The corruption of man causeth his newefanglednesse and deprauation of mans wil iudgment a point not sufficiently known by the ancient Philosophers from the which there procéedeth a blind confidence presumptioÌ„ of himself which is the spring of al errour Euerie man coueting to be a God to himselfe that is to say to vndertake wheÌ„ so him listeth the gouernment administratioÌ„ of men CoÌ„mon weales wtout attending vntil they be otherwise called So sore be they infected peruerted by this malign false persuasion You shal be as gods Witnes Caesar Sylla Pompeie M. Antonie Gene. 2. Example of Sylla Pompeius Caesar and others Brutus Cassius Cinna infinite other which led by this arrogancie leauing their vocations haue procured raised infinite seditions disorders As also Brutus Cassius Cinna their companions conspirers murtherers of Iulius Caesar the which blinded by their own particular arrogant counsel in sted of restoring the Ro. Republike as they were not ashamed to promise stirred vp parcialities nuÌ„berles troubles In recompense wherof they receiued in the end most miserable death A good lesson for rebelles no one of them remaining within thrée yeres after vnslain by the sword either by others or by their own hands which is the ordinarie fruite of their rashnes which passing out of limits The rewarde of them whiche aduaunce themselues vncalled is to be reiected of God bounds of their owne vocation ouer vnaduisedly and audaciously take vpon theÌ„ the which perteineth to God onely whose will pleasure is that euerie one should kéep contein him selfe within that whervnto he is called without straying elsewhere CHAPTER II. Of the three chiefe aduersaries and enimies to mans coÌ„tancie in the exercise of his vocation first of ambition of glorie and honour mixed with emulation and of the opinion of them that thinke ambition and gealousie necessarie among Citizens THere be thrée principall plagues enimies Three capitall enimies to the constancie of man Example of Câ—imon Pericles other Nicias Alcibiades Aristides Themistocles and aduersaries to al constancie procéeding from one selfe spring to wit ambition enuie and impatience as may daily be séene by experience and from the which they that haue ben greatest and the moste renowmed among men haue not béene able to warrant themselues As he may easily sée that will take some paines to consider aswell of Cimon and Pericles of Nicias and Alcibiades their behauiours in the administration of their publique as also of the same of Aristides surnamed The iust who was so transported with the ambition of glorie and honour intermedled with emulation enuie hauing Themistocles for his concurrent and competitor that he feared not franckely publiquely to propound vnto the Atheniens that vnlesse bothe himselfe and Themistocles were by them chased away and cast into the Barather which was a déepe dongeon wherinto malefactors and suche as were condemned to death were cast headlong it were not possible that the affaires of their common weale should euer prosper or yet that their citie should be but in greater perill and daunger As Dion in like manner
of armes the whiche he had atchieued to his great honour hauing thereby atteined the accomplishement of perfect felicitie without béeing able for all that to prefixe or set an end of the course of his prosperitie Saying also the like of Cicero Cicero that he shoulde haue growen aged more happily if after he had suppressed Catiline his coniuration he had retired him selfe to his house without further giuing himselfe to the Publique And thus of many other For suche an opinion is rather founded vpon a particular respect then vpon the publike according to the which we meane still that the intent of all persons entring into or going out of vocations Marcus Cato his saying should alwayes be ruled And therefore Marcus Cato hauing continually this onely ende before his eyes said Dionysius of Siracuse that eueÌ„ as Dionysius the tyrant of Siracuse was told aduised that he could not be better buried then in tyrannie that euen so he also could not better nor with more honour growe aged then in still intermedling himselfe euen to the verie ende in affaires of the Common weale CHAPTER VIII ¶ Of diuerse cases in the whiche it is permitted yea necessarie for a man to leaue his vocation and of the authoritie of Reuocation equall with the same of vocation and incidently of the honest rest of age and of the wisedome and discretion men ought to vse towarde the Prince commaunding euill thinges with many other purposes BVT although that it hath bene and is our principall drifte and intent to prouoke and exhort men constantly to folowe applie that which belongeth to their calling without leauing or abandoning the same in any wise yet for all that there may sometime such occasion be presented the it is permitted yea requisite expedient for a man to leaue the same whereof it behoueth vs also to speake in this place As first of all when a man is duely and in such manner as we haue before debated called from one vocation to another Whether being called from one vocation to an other we may lawfully refuse the same For in this case euery man is bounde streight to followe the voyce of God who calleth him by their meanes to whome he hath giuen that power vnlesse he haue some verie iust cause in himself to disturne or disuade him therefroÌ„ as some secrete testimonie of his vnabilitie and weakenesse be it of bodie or wit or else some other insufficiencie consideration whiche may be in sundrie manners according to the time and occasion presented Prouided alwayes that the consideration be as we haue still saide rather founded vppon zeale towarde the Common weale then vpon the loue of his owne particular That whiche we say Whether being called from a higher to a lower place we may make any iust refuse that being called from one vocation to an other we must streight obey leauing our former receiueth no greate difficultie being called from a meaner to a greater vocation but béeing called from a greater to a lesser the question woulde séeme more doubtfull and difficulte to wit whether there ought to be the like obedience in streight leauing the first to receiue the last and lesser or baser For vndoubtedly there be but fewe whiche raised in highe degrée of honour would willingly come lower yet for all that reteining the end we haue alwayes proposed which is the consideration of the Common profite without any particular respecte there should séeme to be no difference whether we be called from a meane vocation to a higher or from a higher to a lower why there ought not to be equal obedience aswell in the one kinde as in the other As we read in the Romane histories of many and among other of Quintus Fabius a great personage Example of Quintus Fabius that hauing béene Consul of Rome in souereigne authoritie he refused not for all that his Consulship being ended although he came from being the chiefe There is moâ—â— trust to be giuen to him that coÌ„meth from a higher state to a lower then to the contrarie and principall conductour to goe to the warres vnder other Consuls And verily there is farre greater trust without comparison in a man comming from a greate to a lesse then vnto him who from a base is aduaunced to a higher and the conduction of affaires should also be farre surer when the principall gouernour shall haue about him a number of excellent and vertuous personages alreadie experimented whiche by their wisedome and good counsell might supplie the vnexperte rawnesse of him that shold be aduanced from a base to a higher He meaneth France howbeit as we liue in this Realme offices being perpetual I cannot say but there should be iust reason to refuse the lesse office and charge comming from the exercise of a greater Reuocation is a sufficient cause for a man to forsake his charge It is also lawfull yea expedient to leaue his vocation if there happen any reuocation be it for any criminall cause forfaiture infamie or other iust occasion happened so that the reuocation be made by him that hath authoritie For as it is reasonable that he should be constituted in office whiche is thought worthie so is there nothing more reasonable then that he should be depriued that is declared vnworthie Example of Tarquinius king of the Romanes as King Tarquine for his iniustice and violent authoritie when he was not onely reuoked but also the royall dignitie wholy abolished and disanulled by the people whiche had called his predecessours to that preeminence and authoritie although the same were the moste auncient of all other and by the which Rome it selfe had béene founded And Adulphe Emperour of Alomaine orderly chosen to the Imperiall dignitie Of the Emperour Adulphe was for his insufficiencie afterward reuoked by the selfe Electours and depriued of the souereigne power such is the authoritie of ReuocatioÌ„ So that it was not without verie iust cause that Aristides Of Aristides so muche renowmed in Gréece being reuoked and dismissed of all charge publique administration by the banishment of Ostracisme or popular authoritie was driuen out of the Atheniens campe against the Lacedaemonians whither he was come to render himselfe with intention to haue fought on his citizens side because that it was during the time of his exile and whiles his reuocation yet lasted and also without being otherwise called thither then of himselfe Flaminius chosen Consul Flaminius blamed for disobeying his reuocation and dispatched to make warrs against the Milanois being reuoked by reason of sinister presages happened was iustly blamed and reproued because that he being then readie to giue the shocke notwithstanding his reuocation gaue battell although that he defeated ouerthrew his enimies and returned to Rome laden with riche spoyles so seuere obseruers were the Romanes of this vocation what felicitie or prosperitie so euer might haue insued thinking it to be more expedient