performe and left his Office of Legate à latere which he executed a yeare and a halfe to the great prejudice of the Church of England and the sea of Rome at last he put off his accustomed habit and in a womans apparell hee determined to crosse the Seas but at Dover his dalliance with a wench being discovered by a Marriner he was hill at beaten and afterwards drag'd through the streets to prison from whence as soon as he was fully delivered he most ignominiously and basely stole into Normandy his end was the more miserable by how much his fortunes were the greater Afterwards there * 28 Fuit quidam Comes Warwicensis qui à Rege E. 4. â—summam potestatem erectus oral 28 was an Earle of Warwick in the same Kingdome that was raised to such a height both of power and Estate by King Edward the fourth that he was not afraid to lay violent hands upon the Queenes Father and with many of his children and nearest friends to put him to death he placed such Officers about the King as he thought would do him best service and in the end took him Prisoner But not longe after the King escaping into Burgondy being assisted by Charles the then Duke he returned home overcame the Earle and made him fly for succour into France the Earle thence returning being assisted with divers Attendants put the King to the worst and made him fly into Holland for succour A second time the King returning being assisted by the aforesaid Duke set upon him overcame him and slew him with his Brother and many others In the Raign of King Henrâ— the eighth there was one named * 29 Tho. Wolsâ—us sub H. 8. 29 Thomas Wolsey that was very great with the King a man meanly descended but so proud and haughty that he became an eyesore not only to the Peeres and Nobility but even the King himselfe By the Kings speciall grace and favour he was promoted to the highest dignities to be Arch-Bishoh of York Bishop of Winchester to be a Cardinall to be sent Ambassadour and indeed next to the King to beare the greatest sway in the Kingdom but amongst other acts of his this was not the least that brought him in disgrace when King Henry began to distast Queene Catherine and to dote upon Anne of Boloyne this man undertook to procure a dispensation from the Pope which taking not so well as the King and he thought it would have done by degrees he fell out of the Kings favour and being apprehended by Thomas Duke of Norfolk was banished the Court and confined to his Bishoprick of Winchester which hee taking to heart with very griefe dyed The Kingdome of France will afford us many Examples in this kinde and amongst those it is reported of the Earle of S. Paul that having been advanced by Lewis the eleventh to bee Constable of France and to many other honours and preferments out of which he raised a very great revenue that in the end he somuch forgate himselfe that he studyed how to make the King stand in awe of him and for that purpose * 30 Mediocriter se gessit inter tres principes 30 he ever carried himselfe indifferently between the King his Master the King of England and the Duke of Burgondy one while standing for the one another while for the other ever desiring to keepe them at variance that so the one or the other might still stand in need of him And so it happened that the King his Master desiring to speak with him hee would not come unto him but with a power able to withstand him if occasion were offered he met him upon a Bridg where he talked with him as sawsily as if he had been his equall and familiar supposing that to be the way to preserve and increase the power he had obtained but he was deceived for all men seeing his malepertnesse and insolency were offended at him and studyed how to pull him down And it so happened that coming to the Duke of Burgondy upon safe conduct the Duke apprehended him and sent him to the King his Master with all such Letters as he had formerly written to him against the King Vpon which being araigned as also upon such Letters as he had written unto the King of England was thereupon condemned his estate confiscated and he put to death In the same Kingdome under Philip the faire one Taggerrandus Marrianus attained to so much power that nothing was done in the Kingdome without his approbation * 31 Peculatus accusatus suspendio affectus est 31 yet this man for robbing the Kings Treasures was accused condemned and hang'd * 32 Petrus Landaicus apud ducem Britaniae potens 32 Peter Landais likewise with the Duke of Brittaine attained to the like favour yet by the violence of the multitude he was taken from the Duke and judicially condemned and hanged as Paulus Aemilius in his History of France relates the story To passe over into Spaine in the Kingdom of Castile there was * 33 Alvarus de Lunâ 33 Alvarus de Luna borne in Arragon of a Noble house but a Bastard borne out of Wedlocke that grew to such a heighth of power with King John that no man in the Kingdome was so powerfull as he he tooke armes against John King of Navarre and used all meanes to oppresse Henry Knight of the order of Saint James but it so fell out that the Queen opposing him by the assistance of the second King of Navarre and Henry Knight of the order they surprized the King and compelled Alvarus to live upon his owne possessions and happy had hee beene if hee could have so contented himselfe but hee that once tasted of the sweetnesse of Soveraignty can hardly finde contentment in a private life hee begins then a second time to bethink himselfe how hee might attaine to his former height from which hee was throwne downe hee sets the King at liberty installs him in the Kingdome sits at the sterne keeps under his Enemies and incenses the King against them but this prosperity continued not and brought him to an untimely death for when as by the Kings speciall Commandement one of the Nobility delivered a message unto him which was not pleasing he caused the Messenger to be throwne out of the window for the which the King did afterwards ever more hate him then he did formerly love him for caused him to be apprehended and being judicially condemned to be put to death Vnto the former I will adde the Example of a Germane out of the seventh book of the Annals of Aventinus With Rudolfe Palsgrave of Rheyne and Duke of Bavaria there was Ortho Crondorser in the greatest grace and favour he came of meane Parentage and comming to Court by his double diligence in readily observing and gravely executing whatsoever was committed to his charge within a very short time became very gracious in the eyes of the Prince by
see some Notes and Observations of mine in the end which have Relation unto it whereby the Authours meaning as well in point of History as Morality may be better understood Acatius Evenkellius his Advertisement to such as are in grace and favour with their Princes WHen of late wee met together and had some conference of the present affaires of the State but specially of the fall of Philodoxos you did seeme to wonder that I should be so confident that his end should bee no other then it fell out to be and although I did confirme the same unto you as well by Reason as by Authority taken out of the Histories both of antient and moderne times yet you were still of opinion that Philodoxos was so deeply scrued in his Princes favour that misfortune could not shake him and did desire me to shew you some Presidents of such as had tasted of the like grace and favour as hee did and that came to the like end as he did and withall what the causes were why I should bee so confident that Ruine and Destruction must needes be the end of him of which your request or command rather being ever mindfull I will first shew unto you out of the Treasuries of times both ancient and moderne some Examples of such as have been highly honoured by their Princes how they â—egan how they went on and how they ended In the next place as you desired I will shew you the causes of so suddaine a change and alteration and lastly play the part of a Physitian prescribe remedyes both to Prince and People that both the one and the other as farr forth as lieth in the power of man to doe may avoyd those dangers CHAP. I. Of Examples That I may begin with the Examples of the sacred Histories * 1 Ioab Davidis regis in utraque fortuna individuus diu comes 1 Ioab who was for a long time King Davids bosome friend in both fortunes the Captaine of his Guard and one well seene aswell in Militarie discipline as in Civill government and not ignorant of the fashion of the Court by which meanes hee grew gratious in the eyes of King and people who to give the King contentment put Vriah to death having neither law nor reason for his warant and to the end he might endear himselfe more and more unto him cunningly * 2 Rabbathae Ammoniorum urbis captionem regi suo reservavit 2 he ascribed the taking of Rabbath a Citie of the Ammonites unto him by reason of which his service hee grew so infinitly proud that not considering how odious such kinde of persons are in the sight of God and men hee was so bold * 3 Absalonem contra expressum Regis mandatum confodit 3 contrary to the expresse command of the King to lay violent hands upon Absalom the Kings son in hostilitie hee was with his Father and by consequence by the lawes of armes worthy of death yet hee had no Warrant to doe what hee did and for that the King tooke his death very heavily hee was so presumptuous as malepertly to upbraid him and to stir up the people to revolt and quit their allegiance nay it so fell out that not long before by a most barbarous trechery * 4 Abnerem ducem Israelitarum Amasam ducem Iudaeorum per summam perfidiam occiderat 4 hee slew Abner a Captaine of the Israelites and Amasa a Captaine of the Iewes that stood in competition with him and were upon the point to bee admitted into his place by the King to conclude which is worthy of observation hee seditiously * 5 Adoniam juvat 5 assisted Adonijah the Kings son to usurp his fathers territories in his life time for the which * 6 Iussu Regis interemptus 6 by the Kings Command hee was put to death by King Solomon his son before the altar Haman the son of Amadathus of the tribe of Agge Ahasuerus raised and set above all the Peares of his Kingdome and commanded that all his servants should honour and reverence him which gratious favour of his hee abused to satisfie his intolerable pride and cruelty when as * 7 TotoÌ„ gentem Iudaeorum propter odium unius Mardochaei 7 for the hatred he bare to Mordochee he obtained licence of the King that he might sacrifice the whole Nation of the Iewes but fortune turning of her wheele as God would have it he by the Kings command was hanged on the same tree which hee had prepared for Mordochee To come unto the Romane Histories which will shew unto us which is strange that the most flourishing times of the Empire will afford us most Examples in this kinde I will begin with Aelius Seianus a notable patterne of humane frailty hee was come of a Noble house and by his policie so wond himselfe into the favor of * 8 Illum tam superbum tam saevum tam violentum impeâ—atorem 8 Tiberius Caesar that proud licentious cruell inconstant ambitions Emperour that though he were reserved and close unto all others yet to him he was open and free hee had a body indefatigable a bold spirit close in any thing that concerned himselfe but a deep searcher in other mens secrets openly modest and shamefast but within full of flatterie pride and ambition and to accomplish his ambitious designes hee did very often use briberie and entertainments in excesse but more often Industry and vigilancy by his Industry and cunniâ—g hee insinuated himselfe into the affections of the pretorian company * 9 Cohortibus praetoriis praefectus 9 for hee being Cheife â—ommander of them hee summoned them very often to come together and by coming amongst them and * 10 Irrepere caepit in militaâ—es animos adeundo appellando 10 calling them by their names he won their hearts and the hearts of the Centurions and Tribunes neither did he forbeare to come among the Senators and to gratifie some with honors others with authoritie for Tiberius did so much honor him that hee made him not only privie to his Councells * 11 Per theatra effigies ejus inter Principes legionum coli statuit and actions but upon all occasions graced him in the presence of the Elders and the people 11 hee suffered his statues to be adored in the Courts and theater among the statues of the Princes Sejanus weighed all things diligently and duely considered of things before they happened and therefore that hee might not lose the power which hee had with the multitude and such as dayly did resorte unto him hee never absented himselfe long from his owne howse but came home to entertaine them where he received them curteously ever shewing his readines to procure pardon for such as were delinquents and that hee might the better bring to passe his designes * 12 Vitam procul Româ â—maenis locis ducere persuasit 12 he prevailed with Tiberius to
est 23 Plautianus was apprehended and being convicted by the Command of Anthony in the presence of Severus was put to death Vnto these Roman examples I will add one of the Graecians with Philip of Macedon the last King of that name There was a young man called Apelles that was so powerfull that hee might more properly bee called a King then a Favorite for that every City in Greece more observed and feared him then they did the King the King therefore by the advice of Aratus taking it to heart that this man looked after nothing more then the Empire * 24 Authoritatem omnem momento ademit 24 on a suddaine cast him off whereupon hee was thrown into Prison and shortly after put to death Polybius writing this History takes occasion to shew how happy and unhappy they that live in Princes Courts may be in a very moment of time he compares them unto suffrages which are accustomed to be given in Common-councells for as in Counsells saith hee it is in the power of the Senators to give Brasse or Silver so in the Courts of Princes it is in the power of the Prince to give honor or dishonor to make their servants either happy or miserable Hiero King of Syracuse in Sicilie when he dyed left his Kingdome to Hieronymo his Nephew and for that he was a child hee appoynted fifteene to see him vertuously educated amongst whom was Andronorus his sonne in law but the King was scant laid in his grave but Andronorus ambitious of Command eased the rest of that office of trust which was committed unto them affirming that Hieronymo was old and able enough himselfe to governe the Kingdome but by waving of the office which to him with others was joyntly committed hee got all the power into his own hand Hieronymo being young and vitiously addicted fell into all manner of evill courses and suddainly came to an untimely end Vpon whose death Andronorus possessed himselfe of the Tower and a great part of the City and fortified it with Garrisons for he he thought it more safe to run with the current and to yeild himselfe into the hands of the Senate though his Wife the daughter of King Hiero mad after Soveraignty often put him in minde to the end to encourage him to proceede in the course hee was in of what Dionysius was used to say that a man needed not to saddle a horse to leave a Kingdome hee might doe it well enough on foot intimating that it is an easie thing when a man will to part with a fortune but not easie to attaine unto it yet I say he thought it more safe for the present to submit o the Senate who made him one of their pretors but * 25 Nulla quies inâ—st animo dominandi Iibidine capto 5 his thoughts bein once possessed with a desire of Soveraignty he could not finde contentment in any thing else * 29 Vxore illum praesertim instigante 26 his wife principally animating him thereunto t lling him that now is the time if ever to stirr in it whilst the waters are troubled whilst the Souldiers are ready to accept of better pay then the Kings and whilst Hannibals Captaines are there ready to further his designe Which perswasion so prevailed with him that a second time hee took it into consideration how he might attaine to the Kingdome which being discovered he together with Themistius to whom hee had disclosed the whole matter was in the Senate house put to death Wee will passe from hence to the Historyes of other Countreyes and Ages Richard the first King of England reposed so much trust in William Bishop of Ely as that hee made him Chancellour of England Keeper of his great seale and Lieuetenant of the Tower of London at the same time hee prevailed with the Pope to make him Legat à Latere of England France and Jreland and when hee was to passe the Seas to wage Warr with the Saracens he left the Government of the Kingdome wholly to him and gave this charge to his Subjects that as they loved him and his Kingdome and as they desired to live in peace and prosperity and to enjoy their Possessions in safety that they would shew themselves obedient to his trusty and well-beloved Chancellour in all things that he should direct them that did concern him as if that hee were personally present so this man is now the greatest man in all the Western parts being in the Kings absence the Metropolitan of all England * 27 Dignitates quas pretio com paraverat immodetatè exercuit 27 hee executed the Diginities which hee purchased at deare rates with excessive cruelty and oppression and all respect of honesty set apart bent his thoughts only how he might fill the baggs again which hee had emptied to attain unto them he turned Vsurer and executed the office of Legat à latere which cost him a thousand pound with such cruelty that he became a burthen and eyesore to all the clergy of England he seldome rid with a lesse number then fifteene hundred of the Clergy to attend him and a band of Souldiers as if he had been a King as my Author saith and not a Bishop he was attended by the Sons of the Nobility whom he married to his kindred and happy did he think himselfe that could be gracious in his eyes there was no Land to be sold which he bought not no Church or Dignity void which he did not either bestow upon his friends or himselfe the keeping of all Castles and Townes by one meanes or other he engrossed and prevail'd so by his power that hee did what he would and no man durst once open his mouth to contradict him in any thing But it so happened that Iohn Earle of Mortaigne the Kings Brother calling the Peeres together to consult of the affaires of the State sent for this man likewise assuring him that he should safely come and goe but he suspecting them instead of coming unto them betooke himselfe for refuge to the Tower of London whereupon it was agreed by the Lords that he by whom the Church of God and People had received so much detriment should no longer govern in the Kingdom This Chancellour and his Adherents had so deceived the Kingdom of the Treasury that there was scarce any man that wore a girdle that had any silver in it any woman a chaine any Noble man a ring or any Iew had mony and indeed scarce any thing of worth was left in the Kingdome The Kings Treasury was emptied and nothing but the keyes and empty vessells found there The State of the Kingdome standing thus it was decreed that he should take an oath to relinquish all the power he had not to beare any sway any longer in the Government of the Common-wealth and to yeild up all the Castles that were committed to his charge especially the Tower of London These things hee put in pledges to
little and little he attained to Honour and in the end became to be the Kings Vicegerent being the greatest officer in Court This man now relying upon grace and favour which he was in with Rudolphus began to grow insolent to talke wantonly of Rudolphus and his Mother and to sow dissention between them which drew the hatred of them both upon him and caused them to make him an Example for by Rudolphus he was taken and cast into Irons and by his Mother his eyes were pulled out and his tongue that had talked so freely of her was cut out of his head The next Example is of Hungary * 34 Ludovicus primus porentissimus Rex Hungariae 34 Lewis the first of that name being the most powerfull King of Hungary left behinde him one onely daughter named Maria whom by his last Will and Testament with the consent of his Counsell he bequeatheth unto Sigismond Marquesse of Brandenburgh the sonne of the Emperour Charles the fourth being but of tender yeares yet so that untill she came to full age she should not marry him but afterwards should admit him her Companion in Soveraignty and Conjugall society but in the meane time she should be sole Commander and crowned with the title of King in this time lived her Mother Elizabeth the Wife of King Lewis who during her minority had a hand over her with both whom there was one Nicholas Gara whom Lewis had formerly advanced to be a Count Palatine that was nobly descended and exceeding rich on whom both the Mother the Daughter so much relied that what hee said was a Law they would doe nothing without him hee now attaining to such Grace and Favour did many ill offices advised the young Queen not to suffer her Peers to grow too great for thereby shee should diminish her own soveraignty and give them encouragement to attempt new designes but so to handle them that they might have no power to hurt her To take from such as were growen popular and potent all offices of command and authority and to bestow them on such as were men of known Integrity To conclude hee was a man gotten into so great favour with the Queen that what he spoke was a Law and what he advised onely was put in execution at which the Peers were highly offended and did conceive unplacable wrath not onely against Gara but against the Queen and laid their heads together how they might take from him all government in the Common-wealth for that much troubled them that she should so much dote upon that one man that to give him contentment shee should neglect and oppresse all the rest of the Nobility whereupon they sent for * 35 Carolus parvus 35. Carolus Parvus out of Apuleia and in the presence both of the Mother and the Daughter set the Crowne upon his head and proclaimed him King But they being greedy of Revenge and thirsting to be restored againe to the Kingdome by the councell of Gara they procured on Plasius Forgace de Chyines to kill Charles in the conclave and so by his meanes they attained their former government and this they did for the most part by the consent of the people for after that Charles was once crowned the people fell from him and repented themselves of what they had done but see what followes the troubled waters being well setled and they going for their recreation to see some of the lower parts of the Kingdome attended on by Gara and some others of the Court Ilion the governour of Croatia a friend and favorour of Carolus parvus who had beene formerly slaine by Gara's procurement desirous to revenge his untimely death boldly set upon them and whilst many run away Gara stood stoutly to it and defended both himselfe and the Ladies but in the end neare unto their Charriot was hee vanquished and slaine Pippo or Pippus alias Philippus Florentinus as Aenaeas Sylvius saith of the family of the Strozzi having behaved himselfe oftentimes very bravely in the Warres attained to such grace and favour with Sigismond the Emperour of Hungary that all men accounted him the second many men the first in the Kingdome insomuch that Sigismond said that if Pippo will it were an easie matter for him to send him with a staffe in his hand out of the Kingdome Bonfinus writes That he prevailed twenty times against the Turkes but afterwards being made Generall in the Venetian Warre and having bravely there carried himselfe for a long time was in the end by the Venetians corrupted with Gold to quit the Country and to returne into Hungary which being discovered to Sigismond hee caused Gold to be melted and to be powred downe his throat and so he came to his death Ericus King of Sweden being ill advised committed many cruell and enormous offences he contracted Matrimony with Catherine his Concubine and crowned her equally wth great solemnity a principall furtherer of his wicked enterprises was Georgius Peirus his Secretary whom he had exceedingly enrich'd with the confiscate goods of the Nobility at which his proceedings John and Charles his two Brothers being much offended and assisted with many of the Peers of the Nobility raised Armes against him besieged him and would not be satisfied untill they had George delivered unto them the King to pacifie them yielded unto their demand who after they had cruelly tormented him divided him into foure parts and so hee sustained condigne punishment for his many offences I might produce many Examples more and as Iustus Lipsius saith I should never make an end if I shoud reckon up all Examples in this kinde which every Age doth afford for this one Age afford us many Examples of note as Wolfgange Rinuphius who was advanced by Rodolfe Caesar M. Euzlius by Frederick Duke of Wittinburgh in France Charles Duke of Guyse Biron and of late yeares Marquesse D' Anchre CHAP. II. Of Causes IN the next place shall be shewed the Causes wherefore the prosperity of these men is but momentary and why ruine is for the most part the end of them The causes wherefore they continue not in prosperity that I may briefly summe them up are one or both of these Either because they doe obtaine their greatnesse by wicked practises and divises or that having duly attained unto it they doe dishonorably carry themselves in the execution of such offices as are committed to their charge The Counsels of men and the courses of their lives are different and have different successe according to the counsell of him that adviseth and perswadeth if hee adviseth good things to a good end the successe is good if contrarywise it is bad so in the world there are divers callings according to the diversitie of degrees sexes and professions and every calling different from another some of us are men some women some are fathers others children some Lords and free men other servants and Ministers some rule and governe others serve and obey some are separate for
which were exceeding great hee ever laboured to keep the King in Warr that so he might be beholding to him to assist him when occasion offered it selfe for he together with his associats did rather aime at their private good then the good of their Countrey But these and the like devises as they are most ridiculous in themselves so they are to none more pernicious then to the Projectors as is manifested in the History of the Constable before mentioned most exactly written by Philip Commines Nicholas Picunnes Generall of the Army of Philip Duke of Millane after that he had brought the Earle of Francisfort and the Army of his confederates into such a straight that he was assured of the victory he broke forth into such a height of insolency that forgetting himselfe and the charge that was committed unto him he calls to minde how long he had served the Duke in the Warrs and that during all that time he had not gotten so much land in his service as would cover his body when he was dead and therefore he began to expostulate what reward should be given for all his services and because it lay in his powet to deliver into the Dukes hands the whole Conntrey of Lumbardy and all those Enemies that did oppresse him he required of the Duke as a reward for his service the City of Placentia the which unlesse hee would grant hee plainly told him he would return home and leave the field this mans insolency so much offended the Duke that rather then he should have his will he was content to leave an assured victory so suffered himselfe to be carried away with the insolency of this man whom no danger or feare of Enemies could ever move a jot wherefore hee concluded Peace with the Earle and commanded Pricinius with his Army to quit the Country accusing fortune as a step-dame whereas there was no fault in her but in Pricinius insolency Tacitus reports of Lentulus Getulicus being made Generall over the Army of the upper part of Germany and being suspected and accused by reason of the inward familiarity between him and Sejanus was so bold as to send Letters unto Caesar shewing that the familiarity between him and Sejanus was not occasioned of his own head but by the advice of Tiberius and therefore it was nor strange but that he as well as Tiberius might be deceived neither could that be imputed unto him as an errour of wilfulnesse for that he ever carried an honest heart to him and resolved ever so to do though he had been often tempted to quit his allegiance and could endure no more to heare that Sejanus should succeed in the Empire then he could endure to heare of his damnation But in conclusion Tiberius and Getulicus made a League as it were that Tiberius should enjoy his Dominions and Getulicus his Province Tacitus affirmes that the bold menacing Epistles which Getulicus writ unto Tiberius did him no hurt at all for Tiberius wisely considering in what case hee stood how he was growen old and not beloved of his Subjects and that he had not power of himselfe suffered him alone of all Sejanus his adherents to live in peace and enjoy his favour But without doubt this did much trouble Tiberius that was of a cholerick disposition and a high spirit and if hee had lived long he would have called him to an account but hee considered that Getulicus lived farr from him and what hee writ proceeded from the bottome of a good conscience and out of an honest heart There is another thing that doth commonly happen to such as are grown proud with prosperity that the same cruelty which they have without controule executed upon their equals and inferiours in the end they execute upon their Soveraign Experience hereof we have in England in Richard Nevill Earle of Warwick who being highly advanced by the King after that he had compassed the death of the Queenes Father her children and many others that were neare and deare unto the King at last was not afraid to rise in Rebellion against the King wherefore * 54 Ne quempiam suorum nimia potestate afficeret 54 Moecaenas wisely counselled Augustus that he should not suffer any of his Subjects to grow too great least thereby they should grow so powerfull as to dare to attempt any thing against him There are others that carry themselves more moderately and warily that relinquish the service of their Prince that raignes and follow and adore the rising Sunne apply themselves to him that is to succeede in the Empire as Macro did but these kinde of people never continue long in favour for by their behaviour to the former Prince they are deservedly had in suspition by the later and undergoe the punishment in his time which they deserved in his praedecessours peradventure they which saucily upbraid their Prince as Clytus did Alexander with what they have deserved are not so much to be condemned as the former that abandon their service yet it is most distastefull to a Prince to be told of any such thing for that they are more pleased in hearing what rewards they have conferred then in hearing what any man hath deserved The deserts of a Subject are so long acceptable to the Prince as it is in the Princes power when hee will to come out of his debt but when he thinkes he hath deserved so much that hee cannot well requite him then doth hee requite him with perpetuall hatred for this very cause did Adrianus Caesar remove Tatianus and his fellow from their jurisdiction and government to whom he was indebted as much as his Empire came to as Spartianus saith but it was imputed to their popularity and if there were no other cause to make a man hatefull in the eyes of his Prince this alone were sufficient for there is no Prince of so poore a spirit or slender capacity that will indure such malepert fellowes for it is naturally ingrafted into Princes not to suffer an equall or a competitor And there is good cause why such men should be ever had in suspition and be neglected by them for that they are easily corrupted and drawn into Rebellion and it is wonderfull to see how that they who have attained to the greatest favour with their Princes are ever buzzing into their eares that they should not suffer their Subjects to grow too great and how in the mean time they so dote upon them that they doe not perceive that they alone are the men of whom they admonish the Prince to have an eye but in the end the Prince by one meanes or other being made sensible of the burthen hee beareth and being weary of them casts them down and if there were no other motive to induce them therunto the too much liberty those men do assume to themselves of doing what they wil and the fear they stād in by reason of them were sufficient to occasion their removall this was the cause why
Nero removed Seneca of whom for a long time he stood in awe hee was used to say he knew not where to hide himselfe from Seneca no not within his skin unlesse hee did dispatch him out of the way Councellours were not wanting that did suggest unto him that hee being past a Childe growne to mans estate hee should cast off his Master having Senators at hand that could better advise him so Tiberius the Emperour for a long time for the love that the Souldiers and People bare unto Germanicus reverenced him insomuch that during all the time that hee was advised by him he carried himselfe very moderately in the Empire yet in the end for the same cause hee hated him and secretly caused him to bee put to death For the same cause likewise Nero caused Octavia his beloved Wife who ever carried her selfe modestly and obediently towards him to bee removed So * 55 Galfridus Iustitiarius Angliae sub Iohanne 55 Jeffrey a Justiciary of Enâ—land that flourished in the dayes of King Iohn being one that was well experienced in the Law and by reason of his riches his allies and his honours was become the most powerfull man in the Kingdome was in the end more feared then beloved of the King insomuch that when the King heard of his death he brake out and swore by the feet of God that then and not before was he King and Lord of England Wherefore Alvarus Castro perswaded Sebastian King of Lusitania who died in Africa that hee was in some sort oppressed by his Subjects Martianus Gousalesius and his adherents and that they were the very King and he bore but the shape and shew of a King insomuch that when his Secretary brought unto him a Charter of small consequence to bee signed by him by the perswasion of Alvarus and his associates he affirmed that he could do it safely without any scruple for that hee made no doubt of his Soveraignty untill he came to Lizborne For the same cause likewise that is because hee challenged a kinde of Soveraignty over his fellows was Duke Albinus hated of Charles the Emperour but more of Philip although hee observed them both and did them faithfull service from his childe-hood to his old age for the space of sixty yeares wherefore it befalls these en as Titus Livius reports of the Romane Empire that arising out of the dust it grew to such a greatnesse that in the end it became a burthen to it selfe for as our bodies when they grow and swell too much as we have seen a man in Luxenburgh are burthens to themselves unhealthfull and subject to diseases So it happens with them that out-strip their fellowes in magnificence their greatnesse is oftentimes the cause of their ruine and destruction as they which climb on high whilst they cast their eyes alwaies upward never downwards are brought at length to such a streight that they cannot looke downe without being giddy nor stand where they are in safety nor come downe without danger So it fares with them that sâ—rmount the ordinary pitch of their fellowes being in as great danger as hee that holds a Woolfe by the eares and as John Hannois a Captaine of the Gauntois was who being circumvented in a certaine Temple by the Souldiers of the Earle of Flanders when they set fire on the Temple hee betooke himselfe to the Steeple for refuge and when the fire came neare him hee was put to his choice whether he would dye upon the speare or be burnt in the fire and he chose whereby wee may perceive how dangerously they which are on high do stand to dye by the speare wherefore it is reported that Maecenas should say unto Octavius Caesar of Agrippa whom hee had preferred to the highest degree of honour that thou must make him thy son in Law or put him to death greatnesse is attained with no lesse danger then Vsurpers doe attaine a Kingdome which to doe is unjust to relinquish dangerous wherefore Julius Caesar was used to say that they which have once attained to greatnesse can never after endure to lead a private life which saying of his wee shall finde to bee most true if wee looke into the lives of the best men in whom their â—reatnesse hath occasioned their ruine and destruction wee may read of many that have been for a time without exception for life and conversation and by their good services have purchased their Princes favour yet in the end have been questioned for their lives upon a small occasion and feined suspition Example hereof we have in Seneca neither is it strange it should be so for they that stand on high are not only troubled with the vertigo in their heads but with infirmities in their leggs as they cannot stand without feare so they cannot come down without danger so that Tacitus affirmes * 55 Fatum potentiae est quod rarò sit sempiterna 56 That is destinated unto greatnesse not to be of long continuance and he produceth Maecenas for an example where likewise he speaketh of Salustius Crispus so long as Maecenas saith he was but the second in the Empire so long he lived securely and happily but when hee came to be the chiefe man even hee into whose bosome the Emperour did empty all his secrets then he began to decline and to loose the favour which hee had formerly gained so that what Tacitus affirmes of greatnesse is most true if it be not founded upon a sure foundation Fortune is alwaies fickle and every thing that mortall men enjoy upon earth uncertain as it is in the Comaedian and so much the more uncertain by how the greater a man is the greatest honours are attended with the greatest cares and feares neither is there any state more uncertain then the estate of great men wherefore they have need when they have attained their wished desires to pray to God to preserve them in the state which they have long desired and prayed for A chiefe cause hereof is for that the favour of Princes is subject to alteration which Tacitus glanceth upon in the examples of Maecenas and Salustius before alledged where he shews a twofold cause thereof the one of destiny of which we have spoken before the other their own greatnesse and fulnesse when the Prince hath given them so much that hee can give no more and they receive so much that they can crave no more then doth he ease them of the burthen as Amiratus hath at large dscovered but the true cause thereof is for that Princes are men and subject to the infirmities of men and the minde of man is of a fiery nature and changeable upon every light occasion for as the imagination of man will in a short time well conceive a thousand severall things passe over a thousand severall places so the minde of man will in a moment be of a thousand severall opinions therefore it is truly said that the minde of man delighteth in novelties Wherefore
one and not many of them to be found I doe not see wherefore I should swarve from the rule I have set downe Tacitus likewise makes mention of Memmius Regulus that was of so great renown and authority that setting aside the Emperour no man was greater insomuch that Nero being told lying very sick by certain flatterres that waited upon him that now the Empyre was at an end answered that there was one Memmius alive that would have a care that it should not fal to the ground this man afterwards betook himseâ—fe to a private life hee was not of any great estate nor of an ancient house as the same author reports this example of Regulus will give good contentment to them that leave all authority and in time betake themselves to live private lives this man was not so great for honors and estate as many of them whom we have formerly remembred but his credit with his Prince and his fame raised by his vertuous actions was as great as the greatest in our time wee may remember Granvillanus Vesontinus who for the space of twenty yeares together held the chiefe place of authority under Charles the fift and was onely privy to his secrets and died in great grace and favour with him the Emperour much bewayling his death as Sleidan reports and which added somewhat to his happinesse Anthony his Son Bishop of Artois succeeded him in his place whom his father in his absence did usually depute to manage the affaires of the Commonwealth here this is remarkable in this Prince that hee ever used one man alone that was more powerfull then the rest to manage the affaires of the Empire yet so that hee ever had an eye to the government himselfe and to the man of the condition of this Prince and how a Prince ought to behave himselfe that things may fall out successefully I have already spoken These Examples although they be few do teach us that it is not impossible for him that hath a great place in the Commonwealth under his Prince to live happily in it to his dying day which how it may come to passe and how such men ought to carry themselves I will set downe some few documents and precepts and the scope of them shall bee to advertise them that are on high to avoid those rocks that many of those whom we have formerly remembred have fallen upon how it may be done it will not be lost labour to search diligently into the first thing therefore as wee have formerly noted is that thou bee sure of a calling and not thrust thy selfe into any place by bribery or any indirect meanes before thou be called for the fabrick cannot stand when the foundation fails if the beginning be evill the end must needs be so wherefore whosoever thou art that hast attained to any place by any indirect meanes it is thy best course to relinquish the same and to betake thy selfe to thy former accustomed course of life for that it is impossible that thou shouldst enjoy it quietly when thou commest to it by such meanes every misfortune that befals thee will pierce thee to the very heart and trouble thee because that thou injuriously didst intrude thy selfe into a place that appertained not unto thee for if our proper vocations duly attained admister unto us many cares and troubles much more those that are unduly gotten Tacitus reports of Brutidius Niger that executed the office of an Edile under Tiberius Caesar * 76 Brutidius Nigerareibus honeâ—is copâ—osus that he was well seen in many good Arts and that if he had continued his course was like to have come to the greatest places in the Commonwealth but striving on a suddaine to out-strip his equals and superiours nay the the very limits of his owne hopes hee overthrew himselfe The same Tacitus further adds that there have been divers hopefull men in the Common-wealth who despising that which with little patience might have beene had with security have hastened to that which being gotten before due time hath bred their ruine and destruction Hieronimus Messanius seeing Alexander ab Alexandro as he writes of himselfe living in a mean estate and condition of life blamed him therefore and told him though he had taken a great deale of paines yet he had not learn'd to be wise and related unto him a story of a certain man that * 77 Alegat exempluÌ„ cujusdam qui nullis artibus honestis praevalere potuit 77 used all the lawfull meanes that hee could think of to attain to a Bishoprick and could not prevaile insomuch that hee bethought himselfe of another course he went and bought two or three tunns of the best wine hee could get for his money and sent them to the Bishop and not long after hee had what hee desired hee spake of others likewise that were the most contemptible men in the Commonwealth such as made it their trade to prey upon the people who having injuriously gotten into their hands the Estates of many put the same into the Treasury and by this meanes became powerfull and mighty hee told him of many others that were of the most vile condition that by their wicked and abominable devises raised themsevles out of the dust to great honours but these examples of his prevailed not with Alexander hee said hee had rather live in a low degree with the freedom of a good conscience then by dishonest courses blemish his good name and reputation Machiavell endeavours to prove that * 78 Plures fraude quaÌ„ virtute ad honores ascendunt 78 more men raise themselves to Honours and Estates by fraud then by worth and merit but that opinion of his both Scipio Amiratus and others have at large confuted by explaning the Presidents which hee hath alledged for the confirmation of his opinion and shewed how hee hath no colour for his conceit Endeavour therefore whosoever thou art to raise thy selfe by good meanes otherwise thou shalt finde and so the examples which I have before alleaged will manifest unto thee that though thou mayst flourish for a time yet in the end thou shalt come to ruine and destruction for it is not possible which is the greatest misery that can befall them for such men as raise themselves by undue meanes in future times to bee honest for having once transgressed the bounds of justice and honesty they are of necessity constrained if they will continue their places to be dishonest still and to preserve themselves by the same meanes by the which they have been raised which in the end cannot bee but fatall unto them the favour of thy Prince will doe thee no good if it bee not obtained by good meanes for there is nothing more uncertaine of its own nature especially when there is no ground for it for then thou hast God thy enemy in whose hands are the hearts of Princes whatsoever therefore thou doest have God ever in thy minde so shall all things
that thou takest in hand succeede well unto thee and contrarywise if thou doest not After thou hast done this in the next place pray unto God for grace wisedome and understanding that thou mayst be able to undergoe the office committed to thy charge a right and in this let King Solomon be a pattern unto thee who although hee had a most sanctified man to his Father and a wise man to his Tutor from whom hee might learn touching the Government of his Kingdome as much as the wit of man could instruct him yet hee prayed to God in this manner O Lord God thou hast placed me in the Throne of my Father King David that am a feeble person too weake for the understanding of thy judgements and Laws give mee wisedome that I may bee able to governe thy people in judgement and righteousnesse After thou hast prayed in this manner for such things as are needfull for thee * 79 Exequere munus tuum summe cum cura 79 then goe on cheerefully in thy calling and execute the same with all diligence and integrity meddle with that which belongs to thy selfe only and put not thy sickle in another mans harvest so that no man may justly taxe thee that thou hast omitted any thing which thou oughtest to have done or that another man could have performed the same with more care and diligence which that thou mayst do thou must have a care that thou doest not abuse the power and authority committed unto thee to doe any man wrong for any private grudge or malice conceived neither for hatred nor affection to do any thing that belongs not to thy calling observe ever that rule that our Saviour hath given give unto every one that which is due unto him unto Caesar that which is Caesars and unto God that which is Gods and that of the Apostle it is better to obey God then man honour thy Prince ever and obey him but so that thou must know that above him there is a God whom thou must more honour and obey have a care ever which many doe neglect to say or do any thing to please him which is repugnant to the will of God for though it be a difficult and dangerous thing to oppose a Prince in any thing and so to draw his anger and displeasure upon thy head yet know it for a certainty that if thou shalt feare him more then God by avoiding the smoak thou fallest into the fire cursed is hee that with hope of impunity commits an offence and though such a man may escape for a time yet in the end God will punish him with ruine and destruction for although God bee long suffering and gentle yet when his wrath is once incensed nothing will appease him and be sure of this that God whom thou hast served and obeyed will so assist thee that though thou mayst for a time incurr the displeasure of thy Prince yet in the end thy innocency shall be made known to thy prayse and glory so that the Prince shall not only thank thee when hee shall know thy integrity but shall commend and applaud thee and this was Josephs case whom when his Master had made him Steward of his house and committed all things to his power and authority being sollicited by his Mistris to lye with her he would not consent saying how can I commit this great offence and not sinne against God who though hee was for a time by his Mistris calumniations wrought out of favour with his Master and cast into Prison yer in the end by Gods assistance he was delivered and where before he had but the Command of a private Family hee was advanced to bee the second man in the Kingdom and heard the saying of our Saviour sounding in his eares goe to good servant thou hast been faithfull in a little I have made thee ruler over much enter into thy Masters joy So when the King of Egypt commanded Sephora and Phua the two midwives of the Hebrews to kill all the male children of the Hebrews as soone as they were borne they fearing God did not obey his Command but kept them alive for which God blessed them and built them houses So when Saul commanded his servants to kill the Priests with whom David sojourned his servants would not therein execute his Command Ioab was not so well-minded for he presently upon the Command of King David betrayed Vriah to death and though hee disswaded the King a little to number the people yet when he importuned him thereunto hee listned to his sollicitation and obeyed him but it had been better for him that he had hazarded his displeasure for the present and so have escaped and turned aside the wrath of God and miseries which ensued Therefore let him as much as in him lies carry himselfe uprightly towards all men not somuch to avoid the calumnies of the envious and the backbiter or the displeasure of the Prince as to keep himselfe in grace and favour with God for it is the greatest happinesse to do no wrong to any Let him think with himselfe that * 80 Cogitor multa sibi non licere quae hominibus in angulo jacentibus licent 80 it is not lawfull for him to doe many things which men of mean degree living out of the rode in some corner of the Earth may doe without exception that a great fortune is a great burthen that all his actions are exposed to the view of the world that his thoughts are scarse secret to himselfe because that all mens eyes are fixed and fastned upon him it is not lawfull for him to intend his profit his studies his pleasures nor to addict himselfe wholly to any thing because hee is not his owne but his Princes servant therefore let him eschew Pride Coveteousnesse Cruelty and the like wherewith they that live in high places are usually tainted let him cast his eyes behinde him and see what he was not what he is and at no time behave himselfe violently or insolently towards any man here the Councell of Amuratus is religious that * 81 Non ob propriam virtutem 81 thou shouldst ever thinke that thou art raised to that degree of honour not for any worth or merit of thine owne but by the divine providence of God who hath been pleased to worke upon the affection of the Prince to favour and affect thee above other men this if thou dost duly consider it must necessarily follow that thou wilt ever carry thy selfe respectively to thy Prince and be lowly in thine owne eyes giving the glory to God alone thou wilt be gentle mercifull and liberall and spend and end thy dayes quietly in the peace of a good conscience and that thou maist doe here what Sophocles saith in Ajax Lorar let these Examples move thee that thou dost not grow proud or speake irreverently of the name of God if he hath endowed thee with better endowments or a better fortune then
Agrippa Seneca Maecenas Byrrhus whom we have before remembred did hee will doe his uttermost endeavour to perswade the Prince above and before all things in the world to look after that which tends to his own honour and the good of the Common-Wealth for as it is no way profitable to the stomack if at one meale it shall be so glutted that it be ready to burst or in a few daies so much meate be thrown into it as will serve for six months so it is no way profitable to a Prince at once to take all mens estates to himselfe and to care more that hee may have much then well to have gotten it and to enjoy it long therefore if thou wouldst well consider of it thou shalt finde that there are none that do more endammage the Prince then they that do advise him to intend his own private good and indeed if thou wouldst search into it thou shalt see that those men doe not look so much after his private good as the good of themselves and therefore by all manner of meanes they seek his favour but they that seek not somuch their owne good as the good of the Commonwealth have ever a care that as well the people as the Prince without whom he is but a single man may flourish and prosper for the head cannot be perfect if the other members of the body be impotent and not able to performe their proper office Of this Seneca in his Tragedy entituled Octavia takes notice saying * 87 Pulchrum est eminere intervâ—ros illustres 87 It is a famous worthy thing Amidst renowned Lords alone to ring And wisely to care your Country for to save And well your selfe to captive folke behave From cruell brutish slaughter to abstaine And void of mood to wreake your angry paine And to the world a quiet calm to give That all your age the people in peace may live This is a worthy praise without all crime This is the path to Heaven whereby we clime This then is the scope of all that a Princes servant ought so indifferently to carry himselfe between him and his people that as he honours and loves the Prince so he should the people yet not for their sakes but for his therefore let him alwayes be carefull that he may not justly be taxed as Seneca was that he drew the hearts of the Citizens fron the Prince to himselfe for as it * 88 Civilia in genia filiorum regnantibus displicent 88 is distastfull to Princes to see their sonnes have popular wits so it is to see their servants and this he shall bee sure to doe and keep himselfe from all suspition if he follow the Example of Agrippa and so honour his Prince that he may be sure that he studies nothing more then his safety and honour and above all things let him have a special care that he do not provoke him in word or deed for * 89 Pertinax memoria est verborum acerborum 89 bitter words take a deep impression in the mindes of great persons and the deeds which ensue thereupon strike more deep into them and though they doe not for the present either take notice of them or at least revenge them yet when any small occasion is given they are called to remembrance and when they little dream of it they are severely punished for them Joab slew Absalon contrary to the command of the King his father and afterwards seeing him condole his death sharply with menaces upbraided him which the King took very ill and although hee did not at that time inflict any punishment upon him yet upon his death-bed he commanded his sonne to punish him and without doubt for that cause though he did not then expresse it The same doth Alexander the great confesse in the case of Philotas this man saith hee when I writ unto him out of love and familiarity to acquaint him what fortune had befallen me by the oracle of Jupiter Hammon he was so bold as to answer my Letter that he was glad to heare that the gods had accepted me to be one of their company but yet I must have compassion of them that live under me the gods doe not as men doe they give and take nothing from any man these are markes of a minde long ago estranged from me and of a man that envies to see my prosperity which griefe my Souldiers so long as they could for the love they bore unto Philotas prevailed with me to conceal The very same thing doth Chalchas testifie in Homer now saith he doth Jupiter give reines unto his power and now doth hee persecute with eagernesse the man of low degree and though for a time he concealed his wrath and made a faire shew yet afterwards it returned into his bosome againe and would not be satisfied untill it had revenged it selfe Therefore I say he must have a speciall care that hee doe not provoke his Prince with any harsh language especially that hee doe not carry himselfe so that his Prince shall stand in feare of him which wee have before observed to be a great fault in the Earle of St. Paullont of Commines and in Joab that threatned the King that unlesse hee would observe him the people would renounce their Allegiance unto him therefore Philip Commines saith that if that he had a friend he would advise him to carry himselfe so that his Master might love him not feare him for that he never knew man of whom his Master stood in feare that sped not ill in the end Examples whereof wee have very many This presumtion oftentimes proceedeth of the good service he hath done for he thinks his experience so great that hee cannot bee spared and his deserts such that his Master ought to bear all things at his hands but Princes on the contrary side both say and think that hee is bound to doe him service and desire nothing more then to be rid of such malepert fellows and he alledgeth a saying of the King his Master that good servicâ—s sometimes undoe a man and are recompenced with great ingratitude not alwayes by the Masters forgetfulnesse but sometimes by the servants owne fault who presuming upon their good service behave themselves arrogantly either towards their Masters or their fellowes and further touching those that come to court this was his opinion that he is more hapier that receiveth a benefit of the Prince he serveth without any great desert wherby he standeth bound to his Prince then he that hath done so great service that his Prince seemeth indebted to him adding that hee for his part loved those better that were bound to him then they to whom hee was bound Againe let not the servant of a Prince opprobriously be bragging and boasting of his owne merits nor in other affaires be troublesome to him but let him containe himselfe within the bounds of modesty and assume rather too little then too much unto himselfe Quintus Curtius
affirmes that it * 90 Commemoratio meritoruÌ„ suorum in ministro gravis est principi 90 was fatall unto Clitus and Philotas that Alexander heard that they boasted what they had done in his service and therefore did suspect them both of dishonesty and disloyalty to him Againe * 91 Ne praemiorum petitione sit gravis 91 let not a servant be ever craving and begging of his soveraign for of such kinde of people a Prince desires to be freed especially if they be proud with all or malepertly upbraid him for what they have done for him Againe * 92 Injurias principis hilari valtu ferat 92 if thy Prince shall offer thee any hard measure as thou conceivest undergo it with all alacrity and by no meanes muâ—mur and repine at it for as Seneca well observeth they will doe it againe if they conceive they have done it before for men of great fortunes have this property that they will hardly be reconciled and whom they once distaste they will ever hate The answer of him is well known who being demanded how he did continue til his old age so gracious in Court wheÌ„ many others were cast off answered by passing by and taking no notice of injuries offered him so Prexaspes whom wee have before remembred being asked by Cambises King of Persia that shot his Sonne to the heart with an arrow whether any man had a more stedfast hand then hee answered Apollo himself did not shoote more stedfastly so Harpagus when the King of Persia feasted him being asked how hee liked his entertainment answered that the Table of Princes is the mirour of mirth so when Christophorus sent Morus a special Ambassadour after the death of Sebastian King of Portugall to congratulate with him that was to succeed in the Kingdom John Silvius that was Leiger Ambassadour there before seeing himselfe neglected and hearing divers rumours raised of him hee interpreted all to the best and took it as a speciall favour because he saw there was no remedy Wherefore whosoever thou art if thou desirest to bee powerfull thou must patiently endure whatsoever befals thee Againe if thy Prince hath been beneficiall unto thee as it must needs be if thou hast served long in any high place make it knowne unto to all the world and to himselfe when occasion is offered so did Seneca speake of Nero that hee had been exceeding gracious unto him in conferring upon him much Treasure so that hee oftentimes took it into his consideration why he that descended not of any noble Familie should be ranked among the Peeres of the City Againe let him be carefull that hee never assume the honor of any achievements to himself especially if they be of any great consequence for so the most prudent of all Nations have ever done Ioab a Generall of King Davids Army when he besieged Rabba a City of the Ammonites and was upon point to have it delivered unto him he sent unto the King that hee would be pleased to come in Person thither least the honour thereof might be attributed unto him so did Craterus a chiefe Commander under Alexander when he besieged Artacena after all Articles were agreed upon betweene them he staid only the Kings comming as iâ— was fit that hee might have the honour of it In the acting of this part Agrippa was most expert for although hee atchieved many great and famous enterprises and obtained many glorious victories unto Augustus yet never did hee assume the glory of them to himself and whatsoever he bestowed upon him hee imployed it not to his owne private profit but for the good of Augustus and the Common-Wealth when hee had overcome the Cantabrians he did not somuch as write to the Senate of it or triumphed according to the Decree of Augustus hee brought the water which is called Virginalis at his own charge into the City and named it Augusta which Augustus took very kindely from him againe when he returned home out of France where he bravely quitted himselfe having subdued his enemies hee forbare to ride in Triumph because not long before his Master had been in a fight at Sea by Sextus Pompey and hee thought it would not become him to ride in Triumph his Master having had such ill successe for it is reported of him that hee was used to say that very many Princes will not endure that any man should bee accounted more excellent then themselves and therefore they doe usually goe themselves in person upon designes wherein there is small difficulty and danger but upon desperate attempts they ever put others and if at any time they are compelled to commiâ— the charge of any enterprise to others wherein there is little danger yet they will not endure that they shouid have the Honour of the businesse for as they do not desire to â—eare of their ill successe so they will not have the honour of the day to be ascribed â—o â—hem Antipater was well experienced in this and herefore when hee obtained a famous victory against tâ—e Spartans and their confederates knowing the fame thereof would but draw envy upon him being greater then did belong to a Generall and withall well knowing that though Alexander had a desire to have his enemies vanquisht yet hee would not have Antipater to bee the man to have the honor of it for that he supposed it would bee derogotary to his honour therefore I say Antipater well knowing the minde of Alexander would not presume to hazard the glory of the day upon his own judgement but advised with the Graecians what was best to be done for he thought it more safe to himself for a stranger to have the honour of it then a Citizen because the Citizens would envy his greatnesse and study how to levell it with the dust the selfe same doth Cornelius Tacitus commend in Agricola that hee never gloried in any thing that hee did but as a servant hee ever ascribed the honour to the chief Captaine and Commander by which his humble and modest carriage he lived without envy but not without fame and reputation It is reported that after that hee had obtained a famous victory against the Britaines and thereby raised an immortall fame to himself that Domitian began to be jealous and afraid of him that hee being but a private man his glory and fame should be greater then the Emperours whereupon Agricola having delivered up his charge returned home unto Rome and that hee might avoyd the concourse of the people and his friends that would have met him came secretly to the Emperours Palace in the night as he was commanded where he was received with a short complement and not so much as a word used to any of his followers and now being at home among peaceable men unto whom the name of a Souldier was distastfull hee so tempered his military vertues with others * 93 Otium penites auxit 93 that as before he advanced Warre so now hee
King Ios l. 7. de ant Iud. c. 7. 2 Sam. c. 12.29 * 3. Absalonem contra expressum regis mandatum confodit Ioab contrary to the Kings expresse command slew Absolon Ios lib. 7 de ant Iud. 2 Sam. c. 18.14 * 4. Ioab Abnerem ducem Israelitarum et Amasam ducem Iudaeorum occiderat Ioab slew Abner a Captaine of the Israelites and Amasa a Captaine of the Iewes Abner was the Generall of Sauls Army as Ioab was of Davids and was beloved of the people who for that he was reproved by Isbosheth for the keeping of Rispa Sauls Concubine revolted from him to King David and used his best endeavour to settle the Crowne upon him but Ioab fearing that if hee should come in favour with the King his greatnesse would be eclipsed buzzed into the Kings eares that what he did was in Policy and that when hee had his end hee would revolt unto King Saul and seeing hee could not divert the affections of the King from him most treacherously under colour of parle ran his sword through him and slew him Ios lib. 7. de ant Iud. c. 11. Amasa was a Generall whom Ioab slew for no other cause but because the King had given the same power unto him as he had done unto Ioab Ios lib. 7. de ant Iud. c. 10. * 5. Ioab Adoniam patre vivente regnum invadentem aperte juvat Ioab treacherously assisted Adonijah against the King Adonijah was the sonne of King David by his Wife Agge for David had six sonnes before the birth of Solomon by six severall women Ammon by Achymas Daniel by Abigal Absolon by Machima Adonijah by Agge and Gerthesa and Gala by others the chiefe men that did adhere unto Adonijah were Ioab and Abiathar the high Priest the chiefe men that did oppose him were Zadock the Priest Nathan the Prophet and Benaiah the Captaine of the Guard Ios lib. 7. de ant Iud. c. 11. * 6. Ioab jussu Davidis a Solomone ad ipsam aram interemptus est Ioab by the Kings command by Solomon was put to death before the Altar Among other things King David gave this in charge unto Solomon at his death remember the iniquity of Ioab who through aemulation slew two good Generals Abner the sonne of Ner and Amasa the sonne of Iethram Ios l. 7. c. 11. * 7. Haman totam gentem Iudaeorum propter unius Mardochaei odium excindere parabat Haman for the hatred which he bore unto Mardochee would have sacrificed the whole Nation of the Iews In the dayes of Cyrus by the Graecians called Artaxerxes the whole Nation of the Iewes were in danger to bee extirpated for Haman being in favour with the King obtained a decree that all the Iewes together with their Wives on such a day should be put to death and for no other reason but because Mardechee the Queens Uncle would not adore him as the Persians did yet many other things were buzzed into the Kings eares against the Iewes as that they were a rebellious people of corrupt manners and enemies to all goodnesse of which decree Mardochee being given to understand betook himselfe to fasting and prayer and it pleased God so to work upon the affection of the King the Queene mediating for the Jewes that the punishment intended to Mardochee was inflicted upon Haman Jos lib. 11. de Ant. Iud. * 8. Tiberium illum tam superbum tam vinolentum tam crudelem Imperatorem That proud licentious and cruell Emperour It it is reported by a Tac. l. 6. Annal. Tacitus that the saying of Passienus the Orator went currant of Tiberius neque meliorem unquam servum neque deteriorem unquam dominum fuisse that there was never a better servant nor a worse master then Tiberius egregiè vixit privatus insons whilst hee was a private man yea and in the beginning of his raign he carried himselfe b Sue in Tib. c. 27. Dion Cas lib. 57 Tac. Annal lib. 1. very moderately vetat Templa sibi erigi erigique sibi statuam multa praeclara gessit de veste serica non utenda de vasis aureis non adhibendis nisi in sacris hee prohibited Temples to be dedicated ro him and his Statues to be erected hee regulated the excesse of superfluous apparell and commanded that vessels of gold should not bee used but onely in the Temples mox ubi regna petivit totas vitiis laxavit habenas but when hee got the reines of the Empire into his hands c Tac. lib. 6. Annal. there was no vice that hee was free from cruell hee was in a most barbarous manner omnis sexus omnis aetas illustres ignobiles dispersi aggregati d Ille nec aetati tenerae nec parcit anili every sex age and degree men and woemen old and young bond and free noble and ignoble tasted of his cruelty and given to Wine he was in excesse insomuch that instead of e Suet. in Tiber. Tiberius he was called Biberius and of Nero Mero certare peculis hilarescere vino erat illi quotidianum it was a familiar thing with him to spend two or three daies together in Polyphagia polypotia in gluttony and drunknesse Cum Pomponio Flocco L. Pisone noctem biduumque epulando potandoque consumpsit jucundissimos omnium horarum amicos hos esse affirmans with Floccus and Pyso hee spent two whole dayes and a night in drinking affirming they were the best companions that ever hee met withall Historians report that his nurse was a great drinker of Wine and that she ordinarily whilst hee was in his tender yeares fed him with sops dipt in wine whence it came to passe that when hee came to full growth hee delighted in nothing more then debosching and gurmondizing the Italian saith that it is a rule infallible che de latte che poppianio nella infantia dependata tutta la salute della vita nostra that of the milk that wee suck in whilst wee are in our cradles depends our health and welfare all our life time if that be unwholesome our bodies will be crasie and subject to diseases and the reason is because quod nova testa capit inveterata sapit the vessell will ever rellish of the liquour with which it is first seasoned Titus the sonne of the good Emperour Vespasian had all his life time a weak and crasy body and no other reason is given che per haver poppato nella infantia latte di balla mal sana but because in his tender yeares he was nurst by a woman that was not sound The cruelty of Caligula is not imputed to Germanicus that begot him or to his Mother that brought him forth but to the nurse that gave him suck of whom Dion sayes that she had haire on her brests as thick as men have on their beards So likewise the inhumanity of Pyrrhus is imputed to a Tigre of whom Homer sayes that he was borne in Greece bred up in Arcadia and nurst
Socrate e la lingua di Homero the splendor of Greece who had the beauty of Helena the honesty of Tirma the pen of Aristippus the spirit of Socrates and the tongue of Homer Policrata the daughter of Pythagoras was so wise and learned that it is said of her che piu váleanole parole che ella diera parlando con la rocca e il fuso che la filosofia che suo padre leg geva nella Academia that the words which fell from her when she was at her spindle and distaffe were more witty and pithy then the Lectures which her father read in the schooles Nicostrata the Wife of King Evander was so well versed in Poetry that it was said had shee lived in the dayes of Homer il nome di Homero sarerbe gia devantato oscuro Homer would have been but an obscure man Astemia and Assiotta the two schollers of Plato were in such renowne in their generations that Plato did more glory in the ready apprehension of the one and the strong memory of the other then hee did in all the Schollers that ever hee read unto In the conspiracy against Nero in which both men and women were engaged when the men by tortures discovered their brethren friends and kindred Epichaira with all the tortures that could bee devised could not bee drawn to discover one so Leona for the like constancy was honoured by the Athenians in honour of whom the portraiture of a Lionesse without a tongue was set up in brasse before the Capitol in Athens The women of Lacedemon deserve perpetuall memory who when their children had quit the field and cowardly run away their Mothers met them and in derision askt them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whether they thought it possible for them to receive them into their wombs againe and hide them from their Enemies 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It is a most injust thing and it will ever redound to your dishonour to lose that Country 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which your forefathers enjoyed many generarions and left unto you as your just Inheritance and so they returned and got the glory of the day The Persian Ladies are not to bee forgotten who never triumphed more then when their Children died fighting and were never more dejected then when they heard of their cowardise and running away Vnto these I might add the three Daughters of Laelius especially Sabina the twenty Ladies that are so often remembred in our Histories wherof ten were of Greece the other Romane Ladies who were all Crowned with Lawrell and had statues of brasse with their names inscribed upon them erected in perpetuall memory of them Admit them quoth Philogynes that women have their imperfections shall they therefore bee debarred of all rule and aurhority for the same reason I may except against all men for that the most noble spirits of the world have not been free from imperfections Wee read of Plato who for his incomparable understanding was sirnamed the Divine that hee was so besotted with the love of his Archenasse that hee made many verses in the praise of her of Aristotle who shined amoagst learned men as the Sunne amongst the Starres that he was so enamored with a common lost woman named Herpyllide whom hee kept 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 untill his death as Atheneus hath it in the 13 Book of his Dipnon-sophists that he consumed in the sight of all men and became a stranger to his study of Pericles that hee was so besotttd with his Aspasia that his friends were ashamed of him the like is reported of Demosthenes and Isocrates which gave just occasion to Lais a lost woman to say hearing some highly commending them for their wisedome and learning I know not well what their wisedome and learning is but this I know well that am but a woman and never read in the schools at Athens that they come often to my School where of learned men they become foolish lovers the like is reported of many Noble Princes of Demetrius King of the Athenians it is said that he was so taken with a lost woman named Lamye that he lived but in her and abandoned his Wife Exoine for her sake that he gave unto her eleven talents of Silver which the Athenians gave unto him to pay his Souldiers and so much honoured her at her death that hee caused her to be buried before his window to the end hee might not forget her Of Pyrrhus King of the Epirâ—tes that hee was so much taken with another lost woman that he carried her along with him to the warres in Italy of great Manileus that hee spent more Money in the courting of Flora then in the conquest of his Enemies Hereby you may know Misogynes that aswell men as women are subject to imperfections so as if you will exempt women from bearing of rule because of their imperfections I may except against men as I have said for the same reason wherefore when you speak of women remember your Mother Misogynes and speak more moderately lest the dogs eat you as they did Euripides for the same crime Philandrogynes hearing this hot dispute between Philogynes and Misogynes endeavours to moderate the businesse saying though I do not attribute so much unto women as Philogynes doth yet I may not derogate so much from them as Mysogynes doth but as they are species comprehended under one Genus as hath been said so I thinke it very fit that according to the Lawes of Lycurgus they should beare equall authority though in a different manner that is that the man should rule abroad and the woman at home and to pacifie the Ladies whose thoughts could hardly be confined within so narrow a roome hee shewed how Lucretia that was so famous amongst the Romanes was not so much commended for her Noble Parentage Beauty chastity or any thing else as for this that upon the returne of her Husband from the Wars when other Ladies were from home feasting and dallying her Husband found her in her house spinning How it was the constant custome of the Romane Ladies to be either in the Temples praying or in their houses sowing as it was of the Romane Lords to be either in the fields fighting or in their studies readingâ— and how that a good housewife will finde all the delights in her house which may be found abroad if she have a desire to make any visit at her doore she may visit the poore the lame and the blind if shee have a desire to shew her selfe in her bravery whose approbation can give a better lustre to her attire then her Husbands if to sport and play shee hath her Children to dally with if to command she hath Servants who are bound to obey her So the assembly broke up the Ladies went home well satisfied and Philogynes and Misogynes were reconciled It is said that Gabalo set up this assembly which the Graecians called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to this end to keep the Ladies
ended the controversy and as the losse of the other battell was the revolting of the Marquesse Mountacute from the King to his brother so the losse of this was the revolt of the Duke of Clarence the Earle to the King his brother Some say that after the battell was ended Richard then Duke of Gloucester slew King Henry the sixth in the field with his own hands but that is a mistaking for Richard Duke of Gloucester did not kill Henry the sixth after the battell at Barnet but he killed Edward the fifth his eldest sonne after the battell at Tewxbury with his own hands for without doubt Henry the sixth was murdered in the Tower of London whose death was much lamented for hee was a good man though not so good a King fuit vir miti simplici ingenio qui pacem bello honestum utili anteponebat quo nemo probiùs nemo castiùs nemo sanctiùs vixit non inhiabat opes nec sitiebat honores ast animae tantûm saluti studebat he was a plaine dealing man one that preferred peacâ— before warre and honesty before profit that was honest chaste and religious beyond comparison that was neither coveteous or ambitious but addicted himself wholly to the study of Divinity as the Historians that write of those times say but in another manner do they speak of his Wife they say that shee was bello metuenda virago as Ovid speakes of Pallas foemina virilium operum plena gloria appetens that she had a manly courage and was thirsty after soveraignty that she was the cause of all her husbands troubles that shee was taken at the battell at Teuxbury that shee was ransomed by her Father and dyed in her own Country beyond the Seas vid. Commin lib. 3. Polid. lib. 23. * 29. Wolsaeus apud Henricum octavum Tho. Wolsey very gracious with the King Thomas Wolsey was the sonne of a meane man in Ipswich in the County of Suffolke ubi magnificae structurae fundamentae postea locavit he was bred up in Magdalen Colledge in Oxon and was a Schoole-Master after of the Schoole there who having the Tutelage of three of the Marquesse Dorsets Sonnes the Marquesse gratified him with the Benefice of Lymminghton which was his first preferment afterwards hee made in to (k) The posterity of Sir Richard Namphant remaines to this day in Worcestershire The family quarters 5. Coates The First Sables a Cheveron Ermine between three dexter-wings argent The Second argent 3. Foxes passant a zure The Third Checkie or and Sables a chiefe argent Gutty The Fourth argent a Lyon Rampant Gules between a bordure Sables Besanty The Fifth parted per Pale Argent and Gules by the name of Fleet. Sir Richard Nanphant then Treasurer of Callis a man in great account with King Henry the seventh and became his Chaplaine who finding his abilities being grown in yeares committed a great part of the burthen of his office to his care and at last for the good service that he did him preferred him to be one of the Kings Chaplaines not long after by meanes of the Lord Lovell and Doctor Fox then Bishop of Winchester who were the most potent men with the King hee was sent Ambassadour into Flanders to Maximilian the Emperour in which Ambassage he behaved himself so discreetly that the King at his returne rewarded him with the Deanery of Lincoln and afterwards made him his Almoner which were as I conceive all the preferments that he had in the dayes of King Henry the Seventh but soone after in the dayes of King Henry the Eighth hee became to bee one of the Privy Councell and to be so gracious with him that he sent him twice into Flanders upon Embassages to Charles the Fift and once into France to Francis the First After hee made him Bishop of Turney Bishop of Lincolne Arch-Bishop of Yorke Abbot of Saint Albones Chancellour of England and the receiver of the profits of the Bishoprick of Bathe and Wels Worcester and Hereford and as if all these preferments had not been sufficient to support the magnificence of a Priest hee being legate a latere by expresse Authority from the Pope got into his hands opes praedia quadraginta monasteriorum ut eorum emolumenta in collegiis extruendis impenderet of which the King took advantage for seeing the Crowes were gone corvorum nidos penitus distruendos esse curavit ne iterum ad cohabitandum convolent hee took care to have their nests thrown downe that they might never come thither againe to take up their residence and so pull'd downe the monasteries which might have stood a great deale ' longer had not the Pope and Cardinall opened that gap and shewed the King the way by which mean which Polydore termes singulare nefas hee obtained so great a revennue that they which were most intimate with him and best knew his estate report quod annui proventus plures fuerant quam fi omnes hujus regni Episcoporum atque etiam Decanorum possessiones hodiernae in unum aliquem conferrentur that his yearly commings in did amount unto more then the revennues of all the Bishopricks and Deaneries in England but how did hee imploy this great revennue hee was no miser or hoorder nec erat tam studiosus in rebus comparandis quam liberalis in clargiendis neither was hee so carefull to get as willing to disburse for having got this immense estate into his hands immediately his thoughts run how to dispose of it and first the Muses came into his minde the advancement of Learning and therefore his first designe was to build two famous Colledges one in Ipswick the other in Oxford the one being the place where hee was borne the other where hee was bred he aid the foundation but I know not why he was prevented so that he could not finish them the one continues the other is demolisht That in Oxford he Christned with his owne name and nam'd it the Cardinals Colledge but that name continued not long but it received another name and was called Regium Collegium Kings Colledge yet that name continued not long for the King not willing to assume the honour to himselfe to be the founder of a Colledge which was founded by another entituled it Aedes Christi Christ Church which name it still retaines This the Cardinall intended to have made a Colledge beyond comparison for had he had his liberty to have gone on and finished the other parts of it proportionable to the Kitching which rather resembles Vnde fuit quod quidam satyriceÌ„ scripsit quod animus erat in patinis popinam â—â—erfecit Collegium incoepit dinastae habitationem quam obsonatorum apothecam there is no Colledge in Christendome that would have been comparable to it for magnificence but one thing unhappily fell out upon the Tower in the great Quadrangle where the Ensignes both of the King and Cardinall were engraven in stone the Cardinals had the precedencie as
too high a pitch but had confined himselfe within a meane if one man might have deserved so mâ—ch as he had hee might have deserved it for that I cannot finde that ever hee reflected his thoughts upon himselfe to rayse any house of his name but ever sent forth his Treasure in handfulls that came in in spoonesulls and what he had the King knew the Kingdome knew because he exposed it daily to view hee that diligently reades this story will find that the King from the beginning used the Cardinall but as a sponge vid. Godw. de Epis Angl. G. Cavend in vita Wolsaei Polyd. lib. 27. m. H. S. Thu. lib. 1. * 30 Inter tres Principes Hee carried himselfe indifferently between the King his Master the King of England and the Duke of Burgondy Never did the Kingdome of France produce a more turbulent spirit then this Constable hee was the only Incendiary between the King his Master the King of England and the Duke of Burgondy and his ambition ever was rather to bee feared then loved for which hee grew a Odimus accipitrem qui semper vivit in armis contemptible and his death often threatned before it happened Commines writing of the tumultuous broyles that hapned between these Princes shews that there were two principall motives that occasioned the Constable and the Duke of Guyen to kindle the fire one was their own safety for they did conceive if there were a peace concluded that either the one or the other would fall fowle upon them the other was to compell the Duke of Burgondy by a War if they could not otherwise prevaile to marry his daughter being his daughter and heire to the Duke of Guyen and these designes were manifested to the Duke of Burgondy upon the delivering up of St. Quintins and Amiens to the King for the Duke beeng much troubled for the losse of these townes in a friendly manner writ unto the Constable not to presse a Warr being that there was no defiance offered unto whom the Constable perceiving that hee stood in feare of him which was the thing hee aymed at returned a peremptory answer to this effect that there was but one way for him to help himselfe which was to bestow his daughter upon the Duke of Guyen which if hee would doe not onely the said Duke but divers other Lords would declare themselves for him against the King and hee would redeliver St. Quintins and Amiens unto him and assist him with all his power otherwise hee would pursue the War which answere the Duke having received resolved to undergoe any misery rather then to have his daughter taken from him in that way and thereupon forthwith acquainted the King with those and the like letters which he had sent to the King of England who immediately revived the agreement made at Bonvines concerning the death of the Constable Of the letters which the Constable sent to the Duke of Burgondy and the King of England see Commines lib. 4. c. how the agreement at Bonvines was afterwards ratified and hee delivered by the Duke of Burgondy comming to him upon safe conduct see Commin lib. 4. See more of the Constable in the generall History of France in Lewis the 11. * 31. Peculasus accusatus suspendio affectus Enguerrande for robbing the Kings Treasure was accused and hanged Enguerrande was Earle of Longuevill and Superintendent of the Treasure under Philip the fourth called the fair and did him good service but Charles the Kings brother conceiving inplacable hatred against him in the beginning of the raign of Lewis Hutin accused him for robbing the Kings Treasure and gave this in evidence against him rerum vires nervusque pecunia est te interrogo Enguerranâ— cujusnam pecunia arcaque recondita clausaque cupiditati tuae fuerit non interrogo quam amplum patrimonium relictam tibi a Parentibus fuit tu te creasti tu te genuisti ingredere fiscum Regis inopiam invenies ingredere aedes istius gurgitis gazam Persicam invenies an virtute parta quae virtus in tali monstro potest esse and upon this evidence prevailed to have him hanged upon a gallowes set up at Mountfalcon See Paul Aemil. lib. 8. * 32. Petrus Laudoicus apud ducem Britaniae Peter Landais was in the like favour with the Duke of Britaine Peter Landais was the sonne of a very meane man of Vitry in Britanny and came to the Court very poore whom the Duke at the first imployed to carry his amorous Letters to his Ladies after made him the Master of his Wardresse then his Treasurer and in the end his power was so great that he did in a manner what he would hee was the man that caused the Duke to suffer Chauvin his Chancellour to dye miserably in prison of hunger and cold which so incensed the Nobility that they resolved to ease the Duke of him whereupon John of Chalon Prince of Orange and son to one of the Dukes Sisters and John of Rieux Marshall of Britanny and one of the greatest men in Court together with the Nobility resolved to surprise him in the Castle of Naâ—â—s or wheresoever they could finde him though in the Dukes presence which they performed And so Peter was arraigned condemned and hanged priusquam causam sciret dux as Paulus Aemilius hath it Vid Paul Aemil. l. 10. c. 8. supplem ad lib. 6. Com. Observations There is no man so vile and contemptible in the world but is good to some body this Peter that was thus hanged did one of the greatest curtesies to King Hen. the 7th that ever was done to him When King Edw. the Fourth sent unto Francis Duke of Brittany Doctor Stillington with others-laden with Gold to request him to deliver unto them the Earle of Richmond being his Prisoner upon pretence to unite the two houses by an alliance the Duke conceiving that hee intended to marry Elizabeth his Eldest Daughter unto him without any scruple took their Gold and delivered him but being informed afterwards by Peter his favourite that it was but a pretence and that hee meant to cut off his head sent him post after them who finding them at Saint Mallo staying for a winde took a course to have the Earle conveyed into the Sanctuary there yet possessed the Doctor and his fellowes that hee had no hand in it but that hee escaped of himselfe and when they prest to have him redelivered hee told them it could not be without his Masters consent and that they should very speedily know his minde therein So Peter sent to the Duke and the Duke sent a peremptory answer that hee had once delivered him and being that through their negligence they had suffred him to take Sanctuary hee would not take him out but would keep him there or in his own Palace for them so Peter cosened them of their mony and adventure as he had cosened his Master all his life time and sent them home without either
* 33 Alvarus de luna jussu Regis Alvarus de luna was by the Kings Command put to death Aeneas Sylvius in the forty seventh book of his History of Europe speaking of the manner of the death of Alvarus saith non ignavus occubuit non lachrymans aut ejulans sed alacri vultu quasi ad epulas invitatus numeratis suis in Regem â—egnumque meritis cervicem gladio praebuit he dyed not a childe weeping and wailing but relating the good service he had done for his King and Country chearefully submitted to the sentence of the Law * 34. Ludovicus potentissimus Rex Lewis the powerfull King of Hungary It is worthy our labour to enquire wherein his power did consist was it in the extent of his dominions no for they were no other then were left him was it in the multitude of his people or in the abundance of his Treasures no for many of his predecessours did equalize him and exceed him in them e Caetera vi aut fraude pertumpas hâ—â—c arx inaccessa hoc inexpugnabile munimentum Cicer. but it was in the true and hearty affections of his people for never Prince did more affect his Subjects nor ever a people more affect a Prince as was manifested by the inconceivable sorrow that was expressed for him both in the time of his sicknesse at his death and after his death Bonsinius writing his History saith that when the people heard of his sicknesse ita vulgo trepidari caeptum est ut suae quisque vitae timere videretur every one began to feare and tremble as if they had been in danger of death publick prayers were made for his recovery and the people in every town and Village went to Church to beg of God not to take him from them moerent juvenesque senesque and when they heard of his death omnia luctus Omnia solliciti plena timoris erant Quocunque aspicies gemitus luctusque sonabant Formaque non taciti funeris instar erat There was nothing heard but lamentations and mourning the mothers with their children came out of every place to bewaile his death with pitifull cries and lamentations as if they had lost the dearest friend in the world some cried they had lost the most indulgent father others the most sweete Prince some the best master others the best Governour there was no praelate or Peere to bee seen with dry eyes universa Hungaria veste pulla triennio luctum regionatim celebrabat nusquam risus sonus jocus chorea aut aliquod festivitatis genus spectatum est by a publick decree it was commanded that for the space of three yeares every one should mourne and all sports should bee laid aside so as in the Prince and People were those old Verses verified Totum est unus homo Regnum Rex caput est Populus caetera membra gerit * 35. Carolum parvum ex Apuleia accersunt They sent for Carolus parvus out of Apuleia The man that was imployed in the businesse was a Bishop named Zagabriensis who upon his arrivall into Apuleia saluted the King with an eloquent Oration to this effect c. The sacred memory of your most Noble Progenitors never to bee forgotten who have ever governed our Kingdom with the greatest Wisdom hath invited us to come uâ—to you hoping that in thâ—se our extremities you will not forsake us we are not ignorant most Noble Prince that you are the next Heire to the Crowne and that the government of the Kingdom of right belongs unto you wherefore I am sent unto you by the most powerfull Peeres of the Kingdom to intreate you to take into your consideration our distressed estate and not to preferr an usurpt new authority before the ancient right of the Crowne of Hungary how just our cause is I shall briefly declare unto you After the death of our Noble King who deserved well not only of us but of all the Christian World for his sake we elected his only daughter Maria to be our King and commanded that shee should bee stiled by no other name then by the name of King and caused her to be Crowned with such an applause that there was not more sorrow conceived at the death of her Father then there was joy at her Coronation But it so happened that the Queen-Mother assuming to her selfe the Government of the State during the Minority of the young Queen took into her Counsell one Count Gara and what hee adviseth onely is put in execution the Counsell of the rest of the Nobility being wholly neglected so that neither our Queene Maria nor the Queen-Mother but the Count only governes the Kingdome hee advanceth whom hee will and deposeth whom hee will at which the Peers People are so much offended that setting aside law justice and honesty many robberies are committed many Townes burnt many mens cattell driven away civill discord ariseth between the Peers and many other enormous outrages have been and are committed among the people for reformation whereof I am now sent to your Excellency to intreate you with as much expedition as you can to come into Hungary and to take into your Possession the Kingdom not delivered unto you by us but of right belonging unto you as your ancient Inheritance which you cannot refuse to doe without incurring the most ignominious blurs of sloth and pusillanimity after the delivery of this speech which Bonsinius hath most exactly written in Latine Zagabriensis delivered unto the King the Letters of divers of the Nobility of the Kingdome of Hungary whereby hee assured him of their fidelity towards him the King having read them heartily thanked the Lords and Zagabriensis for their good will towards him and because it was a businesse of the greatest consequence he took three daies respite to returne an answere and in the meane time commanded that Zagabriensis should bee honorably entertained but before the three daies were expired he acquainted his Queene with the effect of the Ambassage who thereupon fell into a great passion and with teares cried out O quam malis hue auspiciis infausti ad nos legatiad-venêre O quam depravato cuncta judicio mi Carole pensitasti nescis heu nescis quam gravis fuerit Vngaria malorum omnium officina how unhappily are these Ambassadours come unto us O my Charles how art thou mistaken in entertaining their Ambassage thou doest noâ— know alas thou doest not know how Hungary hath been the storehouse of all manner of wickednesse how there is nothing but fraud and dissimulation to be found there how they never speak what they think and change their mindes ten times in an houre wherefore my sweet husband O my sweet husband beleeve not their faire promises if you desire the safety of you and yours let the remembrance of King Lewis your noble friend that deserved so well of you and your father never depart out of your memory call to minde I pray you how not long before his death he
sent with you into Italy a Troope of Horse and how you enjoy by his meanes the Kingdome of Apuleia you have enough if you can content your selfe in Italy here is your Kingdome here is your Wife here are your Children here in your Hungary fight for this and defend this O do not do not goe about to violate the will of your Noble friend who bequeathed Hungary to his Daughter Maria and her to Sigismond the son of Charles the Emperour and Apuleia unto you assure your selve that if you do offer the least wrong to this innocent whom her Father hath designed to sit in the Throne God will take the quarrell into his hands and bee revenged of you for that he never suffers any wrong done to the innocent especially to those of the weaker sex such as are Widdowes and Orphanes to go unpunished and so upon her knees did beseech him per Deos per Caelites per Liberos per cunctaque humana divina ne expeditionem hanc infaustam suscipiat for Gods sake for his childrens sake and as he desired to inherite heaven and to enjoy his Possession quietly on earth not to take so great a burthen upon him but notwithstanding all these persuasions and intreaties the hope of a Kingdom prevailed with him so that at the end of the three daies the King sent for Zagabriensis and signified unto him that he was resolved to pursue the designe and if the businesse succeeded prosperously hee would not bee unmindefull of them that had been so mindefull of him whereupon Apuleia is fortified with strong Garrisons preparation is made for the voyage the King passeth the Seas landeth in Hungary and is received with the greatest applause that may bee every one promising his uttermost endeavour to settle the Crown upon him Elizabeth the Queene-Mother and Maria the young Queen being given to understand of all passages that fell out Sigismond being at that time in Hungary to learne the language of the Country the marriage oâ— a suddain between him and Maria was solemnized which being accomplisht Sigismond betook himselfe to Bohemia leaving Maria in Hungary whereof when Carolus was given to understand he was somewhat danted knowing how potent an enemy hee had drawn upon him shortly after the Queen-Mother and the young Queene sent a speciall messenger unto Carolus to know the cause of his comming into Hungary and to signifie unto him that if hee came as a friend hee should have the best entertainment that Hungary could afford him Carolus dissembling his intentions sent them word that the cause of his comming was to settle things in a right course in Hungary hee understood it was in a combustion and that for the love he bare to the deceased father of the young Queene he thought himself bound in duty to use his best endeavours to reconcile such as were at variance and rectifie the things which were out of order which answer of his being made known to the Queen-mother and the young Queene and being given to understand that he was comming towards Buda in a chariot richly adorned they met him and with this complement saluted him nemo satis charitatem tuam Carole admirabitur gratissimumque auimum dignis laudibus persequetur qui nostri gratia c. Sir we cannot sufficiently expresse our thankfulnesse unto you who have for our sakes and the memory you have of our deceased husband left your Kingdome your Wife and Children and past the seas and mountaines to visit us in these our extremities you shew your selfe now to bee a branch of that Royall stock of our deceased husband in that you are not unmindefull of those good offices which hee when time was did for you and your father and although it lies not in our power to requite those your great favours being poore women yet assure your selfe that God will requite you for them abundantly and wee shall ever think our selves much bound unto you Charles still protests se magnanimi piique Ludovici beneficia nunquam obliteraturum that he will never forget those noble favours of King Lewis but notwithstanding his protestations hee takes upon him the Title of Protectour of the young Queen and under colour of that takes possession of the Kings House and not long after the Title of King and in the presence both of the Queen-Mother and the young Queen is Crowned the poore Ladyes being now dispossest of all kinde of dignitie and living after a sort private lives have no body to discover their discontents unto but only to the count Palatine who taking into his consideration their miserable Estate bethinks himselfe of a course how to settle them in their former estates and for that purpose agrees with one Blasius Forgath to kill Carolus promising him a great reward and withall to be a perpetuall friend unto him and for the better effecting thereof hee desires the Queen-Mother to send unto the King to doe her so much honour as to come unto her on such a day and pretend that shee had received letters from young Sigismond and that shee would acquaint him with the contents of them the Queen pursues the direction of the Palatine the King at the day comes accordingjy and sitting between the Queen-Mother and the young Queen Forgath espying his opportunity with his sword cleft his head downe to his eyes of which wound hee immediately dyed Forgath for the present escaped but not long after both hee and the Palatine were butchered in the same manner for Carolus being dead and all things well setled in Hungary the Queen Mother the young Queen Gara and Forgath together with divers others going upon pleasure to see the lower parts of the Country John the Governour of Croatia being one that wished well unto Carolus upon a Saint Iames's day provided a Troop of Horse to entertain them who violently assaulted them slew Forgath and Gara turned the Charriot over and over ravished many of the Ladies surprised the young Queen and brutishly dragg'd the Queen Mother by the haire to the Governour who upon her knees desired to have her life saved and the life of the young princesse and to impute the miscarriage of things to the weaknesse of their Sexe who are not able like men to mannage businesses of so high a nature but in vaine for that night the governor caused the Queen-Mother to be drowned and imprisoned the young Queen where shee remained for a time yet at last he set her at liberty and sent her unto Buda with a Troop of Horse where shee was with much joy received But did this bloudy minded Governour escape unpunisht't no for immediatly after the Coronation of Sigismond which was in the fourth yeare after the death of King Lewis his Queen Maria did earnestly importune him to take revenge of that bloudy parricide qui sacro cruore manus foedurat who thereupon raised an Army pretending to go against the Turke into Bulgaria but being in a readinesse hee went against the Governor
of Croatia and within short time took him Prisoner caused his hands to bee bound to hot irons and his flesh with burning pincers to bee pull'd from his body and what remained to be divided into four parts and to be hanged upon the Gates of the City the rest that were accessaries to the Queens death hee caused to be beheaded Observations upon the usurpation of Carolus Whatsoever is gotten by usurpation is never of any long continuance Henry the Fourth King of England and King Henry the fift may peradventure for a time enjoy the Scepter but de male quaesiitis non gaudet tertius haeres the Grandchilde Henry the sixt shall never enjoy it quietly Richard the third may peradventure for a time flourish and prosper but God in the end will release a poore Prisoner out of Brittany to take revenge of the bloud of his Nephews King Hen. the 7th was 15 yeares a Prisoner with the Duke of Brittany Com. lib. 6. Carolus of Apuleia may for a moment insult over the weaker Sexe and usurpe upon Maria but in the end 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 right will prevaile Leo minimarum avium pabulum fiet and the Crowes shall prognosticate his destiny ferunt enim as saith Bonfinius quod paulo post Coronationem Caroli innumera multitudo Corvorum regiatecta circumvolabant tuâ—matim fenestras impetabant veluti strangulati crocitabant nulla vi repellipotuissent Bonf. lib. 3. dec 1. CHAP. II. * 36. Quisque peculiari munere devinctus est Every one is called to one calling or other SAint Gregory condemneth the vaine conceit and presumption of those Astrologers that attribute so much unto the Planets that say if a man be borne under Iupiter he is destinated unto riches and honour if under Mercury unto Wisedome and Knowledge that give the reason wherefore seldome is the rich man wise or the wise man rich for that these Planets are seldome in conjunction Jupiter being the slowest of the Planets and not being able in a lesse space then twelve yeares to compasse the Earth and Mercury being the swiftest of them every yeare going about it so as they seldome meet or if they doe they stay not long together this foolish conceit every Christian ought to reject for that wee are taught that there is nothing done in the World without the divine providence of the Omnipotent the World is a Stage and every one that commeth into it hath his part to act assigned him from Heaven to one the part of a King to another of a Subject to one of a Priest to another of a Prophet to one this to another that David Cyrus Paul Ieremy had their severall parts David had his dixit Dominus Prophetae surge unge hunc hic est ille the Lord said unto Samuel rise up annoint him for this is the man Cyrus had his propter servum Iacobum Isralitum electum meum propterea me vocasti de nomine tuo cognominavi te quamvis ignores me Saint Paul had his Paulus apostolus non ab hominibus neque per hominem sed per Iesum Christum ac Deum patrem qui suscitavit eum â—â— mortuis and the Prophet Ieremy had his cum nondum formavissem te in utero matris agnovi te cum non prodiisses e vulva sanctificavi te Prophetam ipsis gentibus constitui te There is no man so meane and contemptible but hath his part assigned him and though in the first or second scene hee may personate some fisher-man shepheard or heardsman yet oftentimes in these poore men doth God shew his power and omnipotency Daâ—id was for many yeares 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a poore shepheard forlorne and neglected and not esteemed as one of the sonnes of lesse for when the Prophet came unto Bethlem and invited lesse with his Sonnes to a Banquâ—t David was not amongst them Sala and Nathaniel Rael and Asam were there but as for David he was in the fields with his flocks and when as the Prophet would have annointed one of them because they were faire and of comely countenances the spirit of God sharply reproved him saying God judgeth not as men do by the outward lineaments of the body but by the inward perfections of the mind and that the man that hee look't after was not there the Prophet then enquiring what other Sonnes hee had David was then made know unto him and of him he said hic est ille and thereupon Vngitur Iessaides qui regia sceptra gubernat David was annointed * 37. Contemptus inter fratres Ioseph was hated of his Brethren Hee was hated even unto death for had not Ruben stickled for him and shewed them how abominable a thing it was to murther a Brother an innocent Brother of tender yeares whose yeares required their tuition and for no other cause but because of the blessings which God had bestowed upon him of which they might be partakers by reason of their neernesse in bloud unto him they had killed him * 38. Venditus in servitutem Ioseph was sold into bondage The Merchants that bought him were cer aine Merchants of Arabia that carried Spices from the Country of Galedena into Aegypt who sold him againe to Potiphar the Steward of King Pharoh his house in whose service he behaved himselfe so well that his Mistresse fell in love with him and because he would not yield to her amorous encounters shee accused him to her Husband that hee attempted to sollicite her Chastity and to defile his bed * 39. Conjectus in Carcerem Ioseph was cast into prison Vpon the false accusation of his Mistresse hee was cast into prison where hee remained for the space of two yeares but in the end God delivers him and verifies the vision which hee saw in his dreame that his Brothers sheafes of Corne worshipt his and that the Sunne Moone and Eleven Starres humbled themselves before him Exod. 37. * 40. Per aequa iniqua gratiam Principis quâ—runt They seek by fraud bribery and all other unlawfull meanes to attaine their ends Nemo unquam imperium flagitio quaesitum bonis artibus exercuit saith Tacitus with whom agrees Josephus in his seventh Book of the antiquity of the Iewes saying that he that hath attained to any honours and preferments by undue meanes will not stick to use meanes more pernicious to continue the same So did Ioab as wee have said before to support his magnificence murder Abner and Amasa so did Sejanus to support his greatnesse make love unto Livia the Wife of Drusus and procured her to bee accessary to her husbands death as Tacitus hath it in the fourth Book of his Annalls So did Tigellinus by his wicked practises wherein onely he did excell oblige Nero unto him Tacitus lib. 14. So did Perennis advise Commodus to take his pleasure in the Countrey Dion Cas lib. 72. * 41 Ministri facinorum ut exprobrantes aspiciuntur Princes ever behold the instruments of villany with threatning
ancients is aptly termed a game of inconstancy wherein there is nothing but shufling and cutting the Card that now is on the top anon is in the bottome anon discarded Tib who whilome rul'd as Commanders the next dealing if trump withdraw his Colours are of no better esteem then a common Card vix horae momentum nonnunquam inter est inter solium solitudinem saith Seneca heur malheur se suivent tour a tour good lucke and bad follow each other turne by turne O dii boni saith the Orator quid est in hominis vita diu O good God what is there of any continuance in the World 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 such as are most powerfull with their Princes are aptly compared to counters which now stand for a â—ound anon for a Cipher every mortall thing is fading fleeting and transitory n De Ludovico iidicitur quod dicere solebat naturaÌ„ hominis novitate delectari ideoque crebro mutasse cubicularios Com. lib. 9. The mindes of men are desirous of changes and alterations and those whom we now most affect anon after wee most neglect Besides the many examples which our author hath set forth see one memorable one in the generall History of the Turkes in the raigne of Solyman the magnificent of Abrahem the Visier Basse President of the Councell * 57. Hugo de Burgo proto-justitiarius Angliae Hugh de Burge chiefe Iustice of England Invidia virtutis comes besides the testimony which our Authour hath given of Hugh de Burgh Matthew Paris goes further and saith that hee was miles strenuus fidelis Constable of Dover Castle which hee stoutly defended against Lewis of France and the Barons of England in the behalfe of the King who when Lewis sent unto him after the Kings death Mat. Par. in Ioh. An. 1213. to have him deliver up the Castle with large promises that he would make him one of his Councell and confer upon him many honours returned this answer though the King bee dead yet he hath left behinde him filios filias qui ei debent succedere and that to the uttermost of his power hee would in their behalfe defend and keep it Mat. Par. in H. 3. initio ne illud turpiter reddendo notam proditionis incurreret yet notwithstanding by the instigation of Peter Bishop of Winchester the King did not onely withdraw his affections from him and deprive him of his Offices but prosecuted him with all severity * 58. Plebe vix manibus temperante The people hardly forbearing to lay hands upon him Demosthenes being banisht Athens lifting up his hands towards the City made a bitter invective against it saying 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 O Minerva that hast the government of the City committed unto thee why dost thou harbor within thee three most insufferable beasts the Nightbird the Dragon and the Common-people hee rankes the multitude in Athens with the most unlucky creatures and not without cause 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for the common sort of people in Athens are a most ingratefull and barborous kinde of people persecuting them most that have most deserved of them nullum fretum nullus Euripus tantas tam varias habet agitationes fluctuum the Sea doth not so often ebbe and flow as the unstable multitude change their mindes if one sheep transgresse the bounds of the pasture all the rest will follow after and for no other reason but because hee went before When Earle Vlrick Ciliensis was banisht by Ladislaus the peoples hatred was such unto him that had not the Marquesse of Brandenburgh brought him to the Gates of Vienna the people would have stoned him yet when the King the next yeare received him into favour againe Aeneas Sil. Hist Europ c. 22. eadem plebs as Aeneas Sylvius observes quae paulo ante lâ—tum lapides in fugientem jactare tentavit sternere viam floribus qua redeunti transitus fuit non dubitavit the very same people that threw dirt in his face the yeare before strowed flowers in his way the yeare after When the Nobility of Hungary deposed Maria and set up Carolus Parvus the common people cried susus colus sunt arma mulierum imperium mulieri non aliter quam clitella bovi convenit down with her down with her for that it is against the Law of nature that men should bee subject unto women Spindles and Distaffes doe better become women then Scepters yet not long after as soone as ever hee was Crowned Bons dec 3. lib. 1. â—eruÌ„ Hungar they fell off from him quem iniquè as saith Bonfinius imprudenterque multitudo affectavit mutatis subinde animis oderit whom not long before they so much affected without any reason within a short time after they hated and neglected cum fortuna statque caditque fides populi * 59 Inquilini sui putant juris esse Natives thinke it their Birth right to be governed by men of their owne Nation Some have been of opinion that there is no better way to advance the good of a City then to open the gates to let in strangers into it for that therby the City is empeopled which is the glory of a City but these men neither tooke into their consideration either that of Eunius Moribus antiquis res stat Romana virisque that thereby the foundation of the City the ancient Lawes and Customes are endangered for that strangers desire to be governed by their own Lawes or the seditious and tumultuous Insurrections which thereby usually are occasioned for that Natives will not endure that strangers should carry away the fat and sweetnesse of their Countrey or the Lawes of Lycurgus who by his Lawes advenas in urbe residentes abegit ne alieujus noxae doctores forent others have gone further and have thought it a speciall meanes to advance the good of a City to suffer strangers to execute places of authority there because thereby correspondency is kept with Forraigne Nations but King James utterly opposeth it and therefore amongst many other things which hee giveth in charge to Prince Henry in his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hee giveth him this Caveat cavendum est ut ne peregrino homini publicum mupus committas and Lipsius shewes the inconveniences thereby saith hee the Prince draws much hatred upon himselfe for when the Natives of a Countrey where many able men are to be found doe perceive the Prince to preferre strangers before others they doe alien their affections from them and oftentimes betake themselves to the service of Forraine Princes Again the Commonwealth cannot bee well governed for that it is impossible that strangers should know the manners and conditions of the people or the state of the Common-Wealth in any degree like unto Natives or if they did yet generally they fayle in fidelity and true affection nam qui potest in alienam remp benè agere in qua illud semper