freedom of good counsel is obstructed when the Prince is angry and does manifest that he hears more willingly what pleaseth than what is profitable The safety of that Prince says the Historian is desperate to whom what is profitable is harsh and who hears nothing with patience but what is smoothing VVhen it was debated in the Roman Senate whether the Corn brought from Sicily should be given gratis or sold for a small price to the Common-people Coriolanus stood up and told That they ought not to have any thing by way of Gift that thereby they should be the more petulant and lascivious that it was better to hold them low with want and penury whereby they would of necessity be more modest and more ready to go about their duty that thereby they should employ themselves * Dionys Halicar l. 7. Liv. l. 2. Plin de Viris illust with manuring their Lands and not with raising and somenting seditions and that idleness and luxury which proceeds from abundance would make the Laws contemned A noble and Aristocratical opinion but not at all popular Therefore the Tribunes who heard the same in the Senate did relate it to the people by whom incontinently a day is appointed to Coriolanus But he did easily free himself of his accusation though the people were very much incensed against him They acknowledged that Coriolanus had done nothing but his duty VVhere is there any liberty of speaking if not in deliberations and giving of counsel King Lysimachus did show great favour to Philippides the Athenian because he did speak freely and sincerely and did lead a good and honest life free from adulation Hieron * Plin. used to say That there was no man troublesome to him who spoke freely Severus did not only shew himself courteous and affable to all men but he desired them also to speak freely what they thought and would argue with them without disdain * Aelius Lamprid in Alex. or bitterness Messala Valerius being enquired by Tiberius †Tacit. lib. 1. annal whether he did give his opinion by his command or not did answer that it was of his own accord and that he would never use an other Opinion than his own in things belonging to the Common-wealth And I would advise a Prince not to trust those who use to praise †Tacit lib. 2. annal what is either good or bad in him But here a Councellor ought to shun two extremes The one lest he confound his freedom of speech with boldness and immodesty which comes to pass when any obstinate in their own opinion under colour of freedom doth reflect on others which ought rather to be called petulancy than ingenious and innocent freedom For that which is innocent has only regard to the publick good says Tacitus The other is lest under pretext of well-doing he fall into plain flattery We shall find an Example of such adulation in Plutarch Hear O Tiberius * De descrip amicorum adulator Caesar for what we do all tacitly reprehend you though no man dare do it publickly you destroy your body with continual cares for the Republick Behold the flattery of some base parasite to a Bloody Tyrant SECT I. Of his Attention and Diligence It is also requisite for a Councellor to give an attentive ear to what-ever is spoken in Council and by what arguments they confirm their Opinion lest he erre in his answers which Lycurgus desiring to show of what moment this was commanded there should be no pictures in Councel-rooms lest the thoughts of Councellors should be diverted but that they might be wholly taken up with what they had in hand Out of Council let him be diligent in meditating reading arguing and considering the end of every thing every circumstance and the various contingencies in humane actions which is a practical knowledge and very profitable in the administration of Affairs * Plut. in moral It is most requisite in our Councellor to use this exact diligence in consultations that he may conjecture by observ'd experiments what is the evil consequence of every bad deliberation and what are the causes of obstructions which may be found out by a diligent foresight And seeing many inconveniences do arise from his ignorance of that Common-wealth wherein he serves and whereof he has the care it is requisite that he know the least thing belonging thereto but especially such as pertain to the commnnd in which he is Let him consider the nature of his own and Neighbouring People Some things are to be regarded in an old and firmly settled Common-wealth which is not so much expos'd to Envy and Sedition and other things are more properly to be regarded in a new ill-grounded one He should also know the nature of the Prince and Court thereby to understand perfectly the dispositions of other Ministers and Councellors what the Command of the Prince is what Provinces Cities Towns and Forts are under his Subjection the Scituation of Places c. What is controverted in the Principality with whom and for what causes wherein the People are most delighted by what they are fustain'd how they are affected toward their Prince what the customes and subsidies of the people are what are imported and exported what his Treasury is whether his Subjects are oppressed with Taxes or other Burthens whether they are rich or poor what number of Souldiers can be raised in particular Provinces what Leagues Affinities and Confederacies his Prince has with other Nations what can be expected thereby And finally let him confer all his study care thoughts and diligence in every thing which neglected might prove detrimental to the Republick Who knew the Nature of the Vulgar says Tacitus * Lib. 2. hist and the Inclinations of the Senate were esteemed knowing and wise Men. It 's the part also of a vigilant and diligent Councellor to catch hold of any suddain occasion Wherefore we see great men have come to that greatness by prudently laying hold of good occasions The Popes of Rome used to implore the aid of the Constantinopolitan Emperors upon any eminent danger from a Forreign Enemy for whose negligence Charles the great was called by Pope Leo the * Paulus Emtlius lib. 2. third and he by knowing prudently to lay hold on the occasion and taking the patronage of the Roman Church upon him did purchase the Empire to himself and his posterity Upon the like accompt the French at the instigation of the Pope of Rome did become Masters of the Kingdom of Naples and Sicily Alphonsus King of Arragon being call'd to the Kingdom of Naples by Queen Johanne and he not neglecting so good an occasion did obtain that Kingdom with the great applause of the Neopolitanes and consent of the Pope There could be more examples produc'd but let these suffice to excite the diligence of a Councellor to lay hold on occasions where great prudence is needful But it may be inquir'd in this place
and so not having their Judgment clear they are deceived and brought to inconveniences Which Guiceiardin did observe in Peter de Medices seeking Council and Advice from the Venetians who endeavoured therein to serve their own ends Also the Council of Ludovick Sforce may be observed whereby he moved the French King to undertake that Neopolitane expedition against the Arragons Great Judgment therefore is needful not only in choosing Councellors whether they are so qualified as we have spoken of formerly whether they have born any publick charge and whether they have shown Diligence and Fidelity in the administration thereof whether they are the heads of any faction left under pretence of Justice they revenge private Quarrels with publick Arms but also in following Councils It 's the greatest prudence in humane life says Aristotle to make good use of advice The words of Mutianus to Vespasian are to be observed †Tacitus lib. 2. Whosoever enters into deliberations of great and weighty Affairs ought to examine whether what is begun be profitable to the Common-wealth honourable or feisible He also who Councels must be considered whether he adds his own danger to his advice or to whom the chief praise redounds Let him therefore who is to consult consider diligently whether what is consulted concerns the Councellor directly for all Councels in a mans own cause are to be suspected or whether it be honest or lawful for if it deviate from honesty it is bad whether it doth principally regard the publick good or private profit let him hear patiently what is spoken by contrary parties and disagreeing opinions and observe with what Reasons and Arguments they are confirmed If the business seem difficult let him deliberate better or defer it to another time There is no greater Enemy to Consultations says Livius than too much hast Too late and unprofitable repentance doth follow such Councels Therefore the Author of the Utopian Common-wealth says That nothing is disputed there †Sir Tho. More lib. 2. de Magistra the same day it 's propounded in the Council but defer'd till the next Council-day lest any should babble out what comes first in his Mouth but that he may 〈◊〉 leisure excogitate with what Arguments he may defend his Opinion lest through a perverse and preposterous shame he should rather destroy the publick safety than the fame of his own abilities by his precipitated rather than considerate Opinion This precept or advice seems to be taken from the Emperour Severus who after the business propos'd did give time to his Councellors to deliberate with themselves touching all Particulars and Circumstances lest they should have been forc'd to speak of great Affairs without mature deliberation which has also been the destruction of many who despising slow yet secure Councels did embrace contrary ones †Tac. lib. 2. annal Laurentius Medices Duke of Florence did vary when he consulted his Friends whose Fidelity or Constancy he suspected Whom he resolv'd to admit into his consultation he did consult them not together but severally so when he found many opinions to agree in one he thought that the best It is requisite also for a Prince to know every thing done relating to the State in his Dominions left he be deceived by bad Councellors But he must take heed in the mean while that he give not too much credit to malicious detracters and tale-bearers For mere lyes and calumnies are often buz'd in the Princes ears thereby from whence do proceed the danger yea destruction of the innocent It 's observ'd by wise-men that such persons are never faithful Says Tacitus †lib. 4. an they are a sort of People found out for Publick Destruction A Prince should suffer his Councellors to give their opinion freely so as in the mean while they be joyn'd amongst themselves by mutual concord Factions amongst States-men are ever fatal The pertinacy of private hatred says Tacitus †lib. 1. hest doth often draw on Publick Destruction And in another place †lib. 5 annal The hatred of the Consuls tends to the Destruction of the Common-wealth Those great Men have many followers to whom they easily joyn themselves by whose help they exercise their hatred to the undoing of many and sometimes of their Prince and Country to boot I add also that Princes should choose Councellors not through recommendations and friendship but such as he knows well-qualified and able for such employment And finally a Prince ought not to discard or turn off without great cause the good and faithful Councellors of his predecessors from whom he might learn much very profitable to good government Louis the eleventh King of France advised his Sonne Charles not to innovate any thing in the Government of the Kingdom and to retain his Ancient Favorites and Servants For he had found by experience that his banishing from the Court Men of approved vertue was the only cause that he had fall'n into so many and so great dangers and of the War and manifold Conspiracies which did soon after break forth CHAP. V. Of Affairs deliberated in Councils VVE have already spoken of the Persons in a Council it follows that we speak something of Affairs and Debates deliberated therein Such only are to be agitated in this great Consistory which belong to the greatest Affairs of the Common-wealth and to the State it self As those of Religion and of the Laws and Magistrates Peace and War of Publick Fidelity of keeping the Publick Peace of entring into Leagues and defending the same of the Controversies of the Grandees of the Negligence of Magistrates and Officers of State of the Secrets of Embassies and the like †Bod. lib. 3. c. 1. For the Council of Princes ought to be busied with grand Affairs and not with trivial Matters or the small Controversies of private Persons Whoso assembles a Council of great and learned men for matters of small moment may be compared to Apion who having call'd Homer from the dead did only inquire who were his Parents But if you desire to know where other business should be handled such as belong to the Revenues and Treasury of the Prince to the punishment of delinquents and the like I answer there ought to be more Councils appointed dissering in Offices Business and Ministers The Spaniard has seven separated by so many Courts within the Kings Palace that he may easily go to any as Affairs call him The first is that of the Exchequer which has the care of the publick Treasure and of the Revenues of the Empire of the Tributes and Customes of the Subjects of what is imported and exported of the Lands of the Crown of the spoils of Enemies of Merchandise c. The second is the Court Military which is employ'd about the fortification of Towns the Custodie of bordering places the provision for Camps and Armies and the like The third is for the Provision of Victual and has a care that so much abound
the affections of the weaker Sex Olympia Fulvia of Ferrara a most ingenious Woman in those latter times lived and dyed in Germany whose Orations and learned Works are yet extant After the same manner many Virago's indued with masculine courage have affected and obtained the honour of warlike fortitude The Roman Virgin Clelia being one of the Pledges given to King Porsenna in the night-time escaped her Guards took Horse and by her speedy passing the River not only free'd her City of a dangerous siege but of all fear Thirdly we read that many War-like Hero's and Eminent Gown-men who at home and abroad have deserved well of their Country have fallen from the height of Honour into great Calamities Therfore we may exclaim with Lucan in his First Book of the Civil War 'twixt Caesar and Pompey Invida fatorum series summisque negatum Stare diu nimioque graves sub pondere lapsus Fates envious course continuance doth deny To mighty Men who greatest falls do try What is more famous than the exile of Scipio * Valer. Max. lib. 5. cap. 3. and Themistocles Franciscus Bussonus General of the Venetian Army a Man Valiant and active against Philip Duke of Millain after his taking of Verona and Brixia was accus'd of perfidious delay brought to Venice in the course of his Actions and there * Petrus Just l. 7. hist Venetae beheaded Conradine the Nephew of the Emperour Frederick Barbarossa for the loss of a Battel at the instigation of the Pope and the Arch-Duke of Austria had his Head struck off in the Market-place of the City of Naples Socrates the wisest of Greece by the testimony of the Oracle dyed a * Val. Max. lib. 7. cap. 2. violent death Cicero the Fountain of Roman Eloquence was first banish'd * Plut. in vita Ciceron and then beheaded William Hugonet Chancellour to Charles Duke of Burgundy after the death of his Prince at Nancy was beheaded by the People of Gaunt That famous Lawyer Alpianus was banished by Heliogabolus Bellisarius and Narses two famous and glorious Captains after they had obtain'd great and honourable Victories were thrust from their commands and reduc'd to misery by the Emperour Justinian Gonsalvo having obtain'd the name of great Captain by the consent of all Christendom after he had confirmed the Kingdom of Naples to his Master †Jovius in his life by his singular Vertue and Constancy was required to give up his Accounts and thereby brought in disgrace I shall forbear to produce examples of latter Favourites as also of those who have suffered for the glory of God and good of their Country because I do not intend here a Martyrology If we would but look into the Courts of Princes even of latter times what a Multitude of evils and misfortunes would offer themselves and how many examples of the Courts inconstancy could we instance Subsect 1. Shewing the causes of their so sad fate I judge the causes thereof to be either those in great favour with Kings and Princes do put too much confidence therein or oppress'd with envy which is the inseparable Concomitant of Vertue and Felicity they fall into disgrace or Fortune according to her custome at length deserts Men loaded with riches and honours or their Spirits fail them being oppressed with the weight of affairs Injustice and desire of private gain have also been the ruine of many Hence you may see Men blinded with avarice and ambition run beyond the limits of their duty and many according to Polybius more fit to innovate than manage affairs To which may be added the change of the Prince his inclination which appears after Favorites have acquired great riches and dignities For according to Martial Immodicis brevis est aetas rara senectus Next the divulging of the Prince's secrets And finally the anger and suspicion of Princes for such give themselves up to their own humours and whilst they endeavour to confirm their authority they erre sometimes in the excess of punishing These are the ordinary causes of the ruine of many brave Men. There are also other Theological reasons First the godly Man is not innocent before God it 's needful for all Men to be subject to afflictions that therein their divine vertues may be exercised Before I was afflicted I went astray says the Psalmist and trouble gives understanding says Esaias Secondly that it may appear that all things are not ruled by human Counsels because it 's written I will destroy the wisdom of the wise The more therefore with the Apostle to Timothy is the safety of Princes to be recommended to God that they may do what is good and just in his eyes lest afterwards Vices turn into Manners where at length according to Seneca there is no redress Let their Ministers who are intrusted with Offices either military or civil endeavour to follow the Dictates of Virtue hoping felicity in their actions from God to whom they must give an account Whereby it will come to pass that they shall have comfort in whatsoever calamity and shall not suffer any thing but what will be conducing to the good of their Souls But lest we involve our selves in this Labyrinth beyond our intention let us refer the whole matter to the secret yet just judgment of God CHAP. III. Shewing that Arms and Learning go hand in hand together IT follows therefore that Letters and Arms should not only accord but be inseparably conjoyn'd besides the Reasons above-mentioned because Martial Prowess doth furnish matter to Learning Hence was Hercules call'd Musagetes and was ador'd in a Temple dedicated to himself and the Muses as on the contrary Learned men do Eternize the Memory of virtuous actions that they may be also Immortal to Posterity Suetonius Tranquillus writ a Book of such as were famous in the Roman Commonwealth either for their war-like actions or civil policy Saint Jerom following his Example writ a Book of Holy Men famous in the Church of God And in latter times Paulus Jovius did honour with splendid Elogies men famous either for their Martial Prowess or their refined and learned Wits The dangerous Contentions for Honour ought to be shunn'd and the same given to Virtue whose proper reward it is and that without any envy whereby whole Common-wealths have perished and of which History furnisheth us with many famous Examples Who contend for Honour in a Commonwealth says Plato are like Mariners striving in a Tempest who should be Pilot which cannot be without the evident danger of all It 's the part therefore of wise men to hate Emulations and the greedy desire of Vain-glory and to follow Honour but not ambitiously to covet the same Ambition was prohibited of old at †Cicero de Orato Rome by the severest Laws If all the induements of Body and Mind and all External Dignities were considered we would find that they were not sufficient to the tranquility of Humane Life we should augment therefore the care of Piety and lessen the solicitude of perishing things and especially that specious trouble which we see most strictly joyn'd with acquired Power It is written Do all to the Glory of God this is the end which all Christians should propose to themselves the rest do not only perish with us but in the midst of our course they withdraw themselves and vanish The Government of men is obnoxious to divers Changes therefore it stands in need of men fitted for all times as divers Remedies are to be used according to the nature of mens Diseases Sometimes Arms sometimes Learning is required and neither can subsist without the other It is absolutely necessary that Justice be attended with Arms and it is certain that God is the Fountain of Justice and that the highest and lowest Vocations are governed by him Therefore we should pray for Concord Humility and Mutual Love The Conclusion NOw at the close Ingenuous Youth should be admonished that as the Civil Perfection of Man consists in Military and Doctoral Dignities and as in this Politique Government divers Offices are required they would study those two Noble Arts without pride or mutual contempt And let those who are to be Souldiers consider that the Defenders of their Country shall have Glory on Earth and Felicity in Heaven But where there is a necessity of War let it be undertaken that nothing seem to be required but Peace whereby according to †Hist. Roman lib. 2. Velleius the Laws and Justice flourish For a certain Honourable Peace is far better than an uncertain event of War All the events of Warare uncertain says Cicero Moreover although what we know is far less than what we are ignorant of for according to the Apostle in this life we know but in part Young men ought to learn what is necessary to the just Government of the Commonwealth whereunto Earthly Riches and Honours should not invite them so much as that Celestial Remuneration of which the Followers of true Vertue are certain Finally let them contain themselves within the limits of their Vocation neither let them allured with the desire of Superiority which is always joyn'd with present danger attempt any thing beyond their ability O happy England if young Men of noble Birth and opulent fortunes would not lose their youthful years in riot voluptuous pleasures and all sorts of sensuality but would instruct and adorn their minds with vertuous Sciences By so doing they should not only learn to live well themselves but also to rule others aright they should the better acquire political knowledge and instructed with vertuous Precepts of Philosophy should contain themselves within the limits of their duty be more fit for the Government of the Common-wealth either in Peace or War and extend and augment the splendour of their Birth by their laudable actions Those are the Pillars and Supporters of solid Honour and Glory by those Wings we mount to Heaven and by those watchings and pains we acquire eternal Fame and Glory FINIS ERRATA PAge 10. line 30. for Councellors read Councellor P. 13. l. 4. after be r. so p. 16. l. 18. for Treasures r. in the Treasury l. 27. r. that after Liberality p. 77. l. 24. dele to be p. 92. l. 21. for Mercuris r. Mercurio