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
unto the waters so it is with them for it is most true Who so doth headlong daily into dangers run Will hardly in the end those dangers shun He that hath dealings in the world findes that the wheele of fortune is ever turning and that she never dotes so upon any man as to satisfie his expectation and to give contentment to him in every thing and I deny not but that these men may during the raign of one King continue in their greatnesse yet regularly * 60 Plerumque isti atque omnes ferè à successore evertuntur 60 both they and all their adherents are ruinated by his successour as the Examples before alleaged doe sufficiently manifest unto unto us These therefore and the like causes sometimes raigning all together in one person sometimes but some of them nay sometimes but one of them are the meanes to strip them out of their magnificence and to bring them upon their knees CHAP. III. Of Remedies SEeing then that all these things are grievous both to Prince and People and oftentimes the cause of the ruine of the one or the other or both in the next place wee must thinke of some antidote how we may prevent the disease before it commeth rather then of a cure when it hath once seised upon us for this purpose I will set down some few rules not that I will prescribe unto Princes a platforme of government farre bee it from me to thinke of any such thing being a thing beyond my capacity and not within the compasse of my profession but rather to refresh their memories and the memories of their subjects with such things as have come to my understanding and the understanding of others of my coate and profession and to set before their eyes some lively patterns and examples that so they pursue those things that are profitable both to themselves and the Commonwealth and avoid those things which are hurtfull both in the beginning and the ending Princes therfore in my opinion cannot think of a better meanes to avoyd the aforesaid inconveniences then not to suffer any one of their Subiects to grow too great and to burthen him with too much power and authority of this Moecaenas amongst many other things admonished Augustus Casar least such a man by reason of his power might attempt any thing against him of this opinion was John Bodyn who out of his own experience found it to be true that there is nothing more dangerous to a Prince then to suffer any one to come so neare him as to be able at one step to step into the Royall seat and so far to excell others in authority that they must depend upon him and this hee found to bee somuch the more dangerous when any one is permitted to rule without an associate and to enrich himselfe with the Treasure of the Common-wealth wherefore Adrianus Caesar would never acknowledge any of his freed men in publick nor suffer himselfe to be led by them hee was used to say that all his predecessours were too blame for listening so much unto them and if any one had vaunted of the power hee had in former times it was a sufficient matter to condemne him wherefore Princes ought to have in perpeâ—uall remembrance the procedings of some of the Majors of the Court of France who rising by little and little at length grew so great that they attempted to depose their Kings and to sit in their Thrones at first they had no power but a ministeriall office in the Kings house but under Locharius the second they began to usurpe the title of the Goveroment of the Kingdome under which title whilst they did assume to themselves the defence of the rights of the Kingdome and drew all power and authority into their hands the authority of the King began to decline and fall away for the Kings whether by the subtilty of the Majors or their own fatall idlenesse it is hard to say left the care of the Kingdome and government thereof unto them and gave themselves wholly to their pleasures and delights only once a yeare in the Calends of May they shewed themselves unto the people in the meanetime the Majors took upon them the Government of the Kingdome summoned Parliaments gave audience and answers to Ambassadours made Leagues with forraign Princes promulged edicts and decrees and did all things as fully that did belong to the Kingly power as if they had beene Kings indeed whence it came to passe as the minde of man is insatiable that they began by degrees to make their way into the Kings Throne to set them at defiance and to drive them like Captives and Children into corners and if the King had attempted to suppresse them they with all their might and power had not been able to have done it for they got the the whole power of the Kingdome into their hands and by the long connivency of the King they did seeme to challenge the Government of right and to allow unto the Kings but the bare name and title of Kings Pippin the father of Charles the great after that hee had attained to the Honour to be Major in King Childericks Court first began to traduce the King to buzze into the eares of the people his sloth and simplicity to extoll himselfe unto the cloudes and by all wayes and meanes to winn the hearts of the people having laid this foundation hee knew there was no better way to effect his designe * 61 Nihil ad persuadendum hominum mentes efficacius religione sciebat 61 then to use Religion as a cloake wherefore hee sent unto Rome unto Pope Zachery in the name of the people to know whether of the two were more fit to raign either he that took upon him the whole burthen of the Kingdome or hee that cared for nothing gave himselfe wholly to idlenesse and had no more understanding then a Beast who presently delivered his opinion for Pippin and absolved the people from their allegiance to Childerick hopeing that Pippin would assist him against the Lumbards Childerick thereupon from a King became a Mounk and Pippin was crowned King of France Let all Princes take into their consideration as well for their own safety as the safetie of their Posterity this example of King Childerick that the same mischiefe may not fall upon them and theirs as did upon Childerick and his posterity wherefore if a Prince shall at any time see any of his Subjects grow too mighty and popular let him alwayes have an eye upon him and clip his wings in time and if that will not do yet if any just occasion be offered let him rid hiâ— out of the way for a Prince must know that it is with these men as it is with all other things they come not to full maturity on a suddaine but by degrees by little and little and no notice for the most part is taken of them untill they come to their full growth
from idlenesse the seminary of all wickednesse * 27. Dignitates immoderatè exercuit Hee exercised the dignities which hee purchased with excessive usury It is a principle amongst hucksters and such as have dealings in the World that they that buy deare must sell deare It holds in spirituall preferments hee that emptieth his bags in buying of dignities will fill them againe in selling of Benefices and poling of under Officers it was so in the dayes of Richard the First when William Longshampe Bishop of Ely lived and long before him in the dayes of William Rufus when the munke of Malmsbury exclaimed proh dolor Ecclesiae nummis venduntur aere and it will ever bee so Aristotle seems to uphold the trade Consentaneum est saith hee ut ij qui emunt magistratus quaestui habere assuescant remp cum â—d eos largitionibus ascenderunt it is good reason that hee that buyes authority should make some profit of his authority but let us take heed how wee follow Aristotles consentaneum lest wee partake of the Bishop of Ely his supplicium Of the excessive pride and oppression and of the fall of the Bishop of Ely vid. Mat. Paris Anno 1190. in R. 7. Polid l. 14. * 28 Quidam comes Warwicensis ab Ed. 4 An Earle of Warwick raised to such a heighth of power by King Edw. the 4. This is the great Earle of Warwick that set up and pul'd down Kings Richard Nevill the son of Richard Nevill Lord Chancellour and Earle of Salisbury he was Lord high Chamberlain Constable of Dover Castle Lord Warden of the Cinqueâ—orts and Admirall and indeed had the whole power of the Kingdome in his hands I may well say the whole power for he had not only the command of the Ports and Navy but hee had the command of the hearts of the people insomuch that they that knew him say quocunque ille inclinaret populus aut saltem major pars populi inclinabat which way soever hee went as a torrent hee drew the people along with him and to give him his due fuit verè nobilis quasi prae aliis notabilis nam ab ineunte aetate as Historians report of him non solum veris virtutibus mirabilis sed etiam artâ— quadam in ostentatione earum virtutum compositus hee was truly noble for from his childhood hee had not only rare and admirable gifts of nature but hee had art and eloquence to expresse them by meanes whereof hee grew gracious in the sight of the people amongst other his vertues he had two most eminent Magnanimity and Liberality which will win the heart of an enemy his Liberality he dayly shewed in his hospitality his Magnanimity and valour as at divers other times so especially at the first battell at St. Albons Anno. 1455. ubi ille primus omnium regios milites praelio lacessit as my Authour saith where hee himselfe made the first assault against the Kings Army and after a doubtfull warlike dispute which continued for the space of three or foure houres prevailed and slew Henry Lord Piercy the second Earle of Northumberland the Lord Clifford and the Duke of Sommerset Edmond Beauford that Duke of Somerset qui tot annos pro patria strenâ—è pugnasset adversus Francos that adventured himselfe many yeares against the French in the behalfe of his Country miserabile sanè spectaculum quod à suis civibus occideretur as that Authour saith a sad spectacle that he that so often adventured himself for his country should be killed by his country men but in abattell when all parties are in the higth of fury there is no distinction the Earle buried him nobly which was as much honour as hee could doe to one that fought against him the Earle married Anne the Sister and Heire of Henry Duke of Warwick King of the Isle of Wight and the favorite of King Henry the sixt who dyed at Hanly where hee was borne being now the Inheritance of the (g) Sir Iohn Russel of Strencham was Mr. of the Horse to Rich. the Second and many descâ—nts before him was there one Tho. Russel of Strencham the Family quarters many Coates but the paternall Coat as I take it is argent a Cheurom between three Crosses Crosses Sables Russels of Strensham I cannot say the most eminent house of that name but this I say that I cannot finde others peradventure may any family of that name more ancient I will not except the most eminent in whose right hee was Earle of Warwick and had a massy estate by her hee had issue two daughters Isabell and Ann whom hee married into the Royall blood Isabell to George Duke of Clarence the brother of King Edward the fourth the eldest sonne of King Henry the sixt who was slaine after the battell at Tewxbury and afterwards to Richard e This honour is aptly compared to Sejanus his horse Tho. of Woodst Duke of Gloucest was strangled at Callis An. 1397. Tho. L. Spencer Earle of Gloucest was beeheaded at Bristoll An. 1400. Humfrey Duke of Gloucest was strangled in the Abby of St Edinbury An. 1446. Richard Duke of Glou. was slaine at Bosw an 1485. Duke of Gloucester who was slaine at Bosworth this man notwithstanding hee had been thus advanced fell off from the King and the cause of his revolt was for that he being sent into France to treat of a marriage for the King the King in the meane while married with the Lady Grey which the Earle taking to heart conceiving it to be a great wrong unto him to bee so deluded confederated with George Duke of Clarence his sonne in law to set King Henry the sixt at liberty being then in the Tower of London but it is conceived that this was but a pretence and that their intention was to settle the Crown upon the Duke for it is not probable or credible that the Duke would ever agree to settle the Crown out of his owne house upon the house of Lancaster and hereupon there was a bloody battell fought at Danes-moore not farr from Banbury and was called Edgcote field where the Kings Army was defeated and not long after the King taken prisoner at Wolney a village neare to Northampton and conveyed to Warwick Castle and from thence to Middlenam Castle in Yorkshire out of which hee escaped gathered new forces and at Stamford in Lincolneshire encountred and overcame the Earle and made him fly for succour into France but not long after the Earle returned and having assistance from the King of France put the King to the worst made him forsake the Kingdom and fly for reliefe to the Duke of Burgondy which Commines imputes to the Kings credulity in relying too much upon the Marquesse Mountacute who when hee had most need of him revolted to his brother but not long after the King returned and upon an Easter day after a bloody fight at Barnet the King prevailed and slew both the brothers the Earle and the Marquesse which
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
obtained can continue long It is a received opinion that they that attain to any command by unjust meanes by the same meanes and the like they support their magnificence for none ever that rose unduely governed well which is well manifested in Sejanus and in some other whom we have before remembred whence it commeth to passe that by how much the longer they have continued in their leud and wicked courses of life adding transgression unto transgression by so much the more they become more hatefull both to God and man and at last undergoe deserved punishment These men never take into their consideration the true end of which I have before spoken that is The glory of God and the good of the Common-wealth but bend their thoughts onely how they may satisfie their pride covetousnesse crueltie and their carnall desires whose condition Seneca hath set forth in his Tragedy entituled Hercules Oetaeus Few hearts love Kings not few their Kingly might The glorious shew of Courtly countenance Bewitcheth many where one sets his delight How next the King he may himselfe advance That through high streets he may as lord of rule With lofty lookes ride mounted on his Mule Another would his greedy hunger stanch With gubs of gold and though hee it possesse Rich Araby serves not to fill his pining paunch And a little after Another fondling fancy thus doth guide To fawn on Kings and still in Court to bide As one disdaining now to be like Will An ingrain'd clown the plow to follow still And though the dying swain daily keep at home A thousand drudges that his land doe till Yet wants his will and wisheth wealth therefore Only to waste on other men the more Another clawes and flattereth still the King That he his neighbour may to ruine bring It is ambition which makes a man a stranger to himself that will not endure a Superiour or an equall that will be Caesar or none that possesseth us with this foolish conceit to think it a disparagement to goe in the common road and to bee an honest man that makes a man thinke himself 〈◊〉 body whilst he sees another greater then hee and so dazeleth our eyes that if another go before us we will not beleeve it but rather that hee stands in our way nay it is an humour that hath this property that wheresoever it hath once taken up her lodging it will never suffer a man to rest untill he hath attained to the end of his desires which he shall never do for as Seneca saith * 44 Non patitur quem quam in mensura acquiescere 44 This is that inconvenience which attends an ambitious humour that it never suffers a man to rest satisfied though he hath attained to the end of his former wishes and desires That makes him beleeve hee can do that which is impossible for him to do because he is powerfull Wherefore these kind of men are aptly compared to such as are sick of the dropsie the more they drink the more they desire as is manifested in Sejanus who being raised out of the dust to the highest degree of honour could not there content himselfe but studied how to make himselfe equall to Caesar nay how to displace him and sit in his Throne If these kinde of men would at any time cast their eyes downwards and behold from whence they came it could not but give them much contentment and cause them to add some bounds to their unsatiable desires but they seldome do so their eyes and thoughts are ever mounted aloft for the minde of man is so unsatiable that it will not be perswaded but that it can doe any thing be it never so difficult or dangerous if so be he had good successe in his former undertakings Wherfore Eteocles in Euripides affirmes that if nature had given to man wings he would have ascended above the heavens for so saith he of himselfe if I had had ability I would have tried the paths of the Sun and have descended into the Center of the Earth that I might have ruled as the Gods doe there We have heard of Alvarus de Luna before he tasted of both fortunes who though he were once brought upon his knees hee ascended on high again and then resolved rather to loose his life then to change his fortune therefore it happened unto him as it doth to certaine little creatures who having once tasted of blood will sooner break their bellies then quench their Thirst Of the fall of Sejanus and such as he was Iuvenal in his 10. Satyre elegantly saith That greatnes makes many a man subject to the stormes of envie and malice casts them downe headlong into perdition causeth their Statues to be demolished bringeth them to untimely deaths to the Gallows and to have their limbs broken upon the wheel Sejanus that not long agoe carried a great port with him and had his head adorned with Bayes and Cammomile within a short time after had his head taken from his shoulders to be made a pitcher to drinke in a bason to wash in and a platter or pan to fry meat in Pride is either the mother or daughter of Ambition and the off-spring of immoderate prosperity with the which Courtiers are infected especially they they that are most eminent in Court and have attained to the greatest honours An example hereof we have in Pallas a freed man of Nero who was used to say That he did never expresse himselfe at home to his servants * 45 Dominutu vel manu servis suis loquebatur 45 but either by nod or hand That hee sometimes made use of his pen but never of his tongue Wee have spoken of the pride of Sejanus already of whom Marc. Terentius a Romane Knight was used to say That hee was accustomed to tell his freed men and door keepers that to nod was a badge of a Magnifico * 46 Fastus hic hodie maximo in usu est 46 This kind of pride is come in fashion in our dayes and is used by men of mean ranke and condition Seneca excellently describeth it saying That it is the property of a superstitious proud man to stand much upon the going into his house he hath an opinion that he doth highly honour thee if hee suffer thee to goe into it before him and it is observable that they which stand so much upon terms of honour in this kinde are of this condition That they will be singular looke big and never salute any man speak walk or eat with any man their pride is to become like the man in Seneca to make the pole Antartick kisse their toe and Cynthia to do homage to their Tayle they talke of Kingdomes and their Fathers possessions which being once attained they forget God and all goodnesse the same Seneca in his Tragedy entituled Hercules Furens saith that God at every turne meets with the proud man Which saying as Philip Commines observes Lewis the eleventh had
Prince and them Such Councellours had Rehoboam King of the Jews who when hls Subjects complained unto him of heavy burthens laid upon them by his Father by the advise of his Councell answered them that his little finger should lie more heavy upon them then all his Fathers body my Father chastned you with whips but I will chasten you with Scorpions such a kinde of fellow was Nicholas Gara a Count Palatine of the Kingdome of Hungarie who being exceeding powerfull with Queene Mary the daughter of Lewis the first gave his Counsell that she should not suffer her Peers to become too powerfull as wee hear'd before but how his Counsell took effect I have before remembred and what befell to the Councellours of Rehoboam every one can tell Sleidan reports that William Poyets the French Kings Chancellour was by the Kings speciall command taken out of his bed and cast into Prison with the generall applause of the people for that during the foure yeares that hee held his office he had offended all sorts of people Such is generally the end of these sort of people for when the Prince is once fully informed of their conditions to satisfie the people they punish them to their ruine and destruction Examples hereof wee have in Cleander Peter Lindais George Peiras and others concerning whom Philip Comines demands this queston and gives this answer who dares saith hee enquire into the actions of these Grandees who dare call them in question who dare bee the Iudge to execute judgement upon them if they offend the answer is the inquisition will bee the lamentation and cries of the people whom they have mercilesly opprest and trampled upon in every kind the teares of the Widowes and Orphans whose Husbands and Fathers they have put to death and generally all they whom they have persecuted either in their Bodies or Estates these will bring in an inquisition against them and deliver them over to receive their doom of him who is the onely true judge that will not peradvanture expect any other evidence but will punish them in this life so much hath Philip Comines * 50 Lex talionis 50 the Law of Talio is justly inflicted upon them It is good justice that they who have despised and contumeliously behaved themselves to wards others should be despised and contumeliously handled by others that they who proudly insulted over others should be reproachfully spoken of by others that they who by rapine and fraud have gotten the Estates of others should suddainly have their Estates by others taken from them that they that shewed no mercy should expect no mercy that they that commanded others to bee dragg'd to execution should bee dragg'd themselves that they that caused others that stood for the Church to be put to death should in the Church bee put to death themselves that they that endeavoured to deprive the Subject of his rights and priviledges should not onely lose the benefit of them but the benefit of the Law of Nations that they that caused others to bee put to death against the Law should before they bee heard or accused be put to death themselves that they which caused the rigour of the Law to be inflicted upon others should have the same measure measured unto them as is reported of * 51 Perillus. 51 Perillus who was the first that felt the punishment of the torment that hee himselfe invented These punishments doe not onely belong unto them that attaine unto their greatnesse by undue meanes but likewise unto them who being deservedly preferred do in the due execution of their places misbehave themselves for * 52 Non sufficet bene coepisse 52 it is not sufficient to begin well but wee must prosecute our good beginnings with sutable proceedings which is a very hard thing for him to do who hath attained to a great fortune for * 53 Fortuna est coena eos efficet caecos quoâ—om plexa est 53 fortune being blind her selfe makes them blinde likewise for the most part whom shee doteth upon and favoureth for while we are lulled asleep in her lap we grow carelesse and give occasion to such as love us not to circumvent us so as when there is no other cause yet too too great prosperity willl finde in it selfe sufficient cause to bring us to our graves with shame and ignorance Therefore it is no wonder if such as have power to doe what they will standing in feare of none become proud and insolent and have their imperfections made knowne unto the world for being on high they can do nothing but notice is taken of it whereas if they lived in a mean rank their faults would passe unregarded our nature is such there is no good thing in the world but it abuseth but most of all the prosperity and good fortunes wee injoy And why because our wils being prone to all wickednesse our prosperity adds spurs unto it and doth not onely move but continually administer occasion unto us to satisfie our unbridled lusts and affections Such as have attained to the greatest favour with their Princes by reason of their daily familiarity with them have in the end become most odious and contemptible in their height Sejanus Tiberius onely minion for the time for that he stiled himselfe Emperour and Tiberius governour of a poore Island Tiberius hated and detested the servant that hath beene delicately brought up from a Childe will challenge to himselfe the priviledge of a sonne at last saith Solomon For presuming upon the favour of their Princes they make them the subject of laughter neglect their commands vilifie them and mocke them assuming the honour of what is done to themselves attributing nothing to the power of the Prince So Joab slew Absalom the sonne of King David with his owne hand of his owne accord without the Kings approbation And though it was told him when hee was about to doe the deed that it was the Kings will to have his life saved and that he would call him to an account for it yet hee went on grieving the perplext King with most unbeseeming and unmannerly tearms but such things as these Princes forget not but keep them in a Register Tacitus reports how that Pallas through his pride exceeding the bounds of a free man drew hatred upon himselfe and how that Narcissus for that hee slew Messalina the Wife of Claudius without his consent put Claudius into a kinde of a phrensie and made him in passion say that Narcissus durst never attempt those things upon his Wife though she had deserved it unlesse that hee had first despised her Husband Such another was the Earle of St. Paul that was Constable of France of whom I have spoken before who upon all occasions relying on the favour of the Duke of Burgondy and the King of England would rise in rebellion against his Prince and that his power and greatnesse might still continue together with his stipends from the King
the French Knig Lewis the eleventh after he changed his bed-chamber men and others that waited upon him was used to answer all such as taxed him for it that nature delighted in novelties many other causes may be added as the naturall inclination and disposition of man and accidents which do often fall out which doe alter and change the minde of the Prince as Spartianus affirmes that Adrianus the Emperour had an open eare to heare any thing that could be told him of them unto whom he professed the greatest love wherefore all those that he most affected and advanced to the highest degree of Honour in the end he esteemed no better then enemies so Henry the third King of England esteemed of * 57 Hugo de Burgo pro to justiâ—iarius Angliae sub H. 3. 57 Hugo de Burgo cheife Justice of England being one that deserved well both of King and Common-wealth who for the love that he bore unto him and to the safty of the Realme did incurr the displeasure of all the Nobility of the Kingdom for by instigation of Peter Bishop of Winchester he did not only withdraw his affections from him but deprived him of his office and persecuted him with all extremitie But most memorable are the examples of the Earle Vlrick Cilensis and Vlrick Eizingerus in the Country of Austria when Ladislaus sonne of Alburt King of Hungary and Bohemia and Arch-Duke of Austria took upon him the Government of the Kingdome during his minority both the King and Kingdome were in the power of the Earle who being an eyesore to many especially to Vlricus Eizingerus a man most powerfull with the King he privily acquainted him how odiour the Earle was among many of the inhabitants of Austria and unlesse hee did take some course with him hee did verily perswade himselfe they would rise in rebellion for that hee injuriously took from them their mony pillaged the Common-wealth filled his own emptied the Kings Treasury and I may Boldly say his power was so great that he ruled as King and did what he would only he left the bare title of King unto the King There is nothing that makes us more degenerate from our selves and transgresse the lawes of God and men then ambition it was not enough for him to enjoy the second place of the Kingdom but he must covet after the first neither is it a marvell that he that of late would not endure an equall should not now admit of a Superiour wherefote Vlricus perswaded the King speedily to banish him the Court who departed thence with four Knights only left his place to Eizingerus * 58 Cum quatuor tantum militibus insultante plebe vix manibus temperante ex urbe proficiscitur 58 the people rejoycing thereat and hardly forbearing to lay violent hands upon him But this Eizingerus not long after being complayned of to the King by Pancratius Plankenstanius the King before the yeare came about sent for the Earle and honourably received him and restored him to his former dignity Eizingerus left the Court with much grace and favour wisely yeilded unto the times and betooke himselfe to live upon his own Possessions and it is said that the Earle did much applaud him for so doing for that hee had learned by his own example that the minds of Monarks are carried hither and thither in a moment which Gerardus de Roo taking into consideration commended the saying of him who compared the Minions of Princes unto counters with which wee cast account which being removed from place to place stand sometimes for much sometimes for little and sometimes for nothing A cause likewise wherefore Princes doe withdraw their affections from their Minions is to give their Subjects satisfaction whom they have grieved and oppressed examples whereof we have before alledged unto which we may add the example of Duke Borgio Valentino whom Nicholas Machivell hath remembred who after that hee had reduced Flaminia to his obedience hee made Remerus Orcus a cruell man and a great undertaker governour thereof who so carried the matter that in a short time hee had every man at his beck yet not without a great deale of cruelty which drew the hatred of all men upon him insomuch that the Duke to winn their hearts againe was faine to acquaint them that if any exorbitances were committed in Flaminia by Orcus it was done of his own accord without his consent or approbation and so he took that occasion early in the morning to have his body divided into two parts and girding a sword by his side with a wooden scabberd exposed him to the view of the multitude in the market place which when the people saw they went home every one well satisfied Envy is ever an attendant of such a man and not undeservedly for whosoever is advanced by meer favour without any desert of his owne or approbation of the people to have rule and authority over others of more worth the people will hate and despise for the favour of a Prince is like unto a faire Virgin whom many affect and will not indure that she should looke more favourably walke or talke more frequently with any then with themselves so that between men of this condition there is seldome or never any true friendship or familiarity for upon every light occasion they study how to bring one another in disgrace Tully well saith there is no faith or friendship observed when a Kingdome is at stake for whatsoever is of that nature that many may contend for yet but one can injoy The contention is great but faith and honesty little hee that dotes upon one seems to neglect all others And hee is a very bold Prince as Christopher Besoldus observes that for the love of one will draw the hatred of the multitude upon him Examples hereof we have before alledged in Nicolas Gara Count Palatine of Hungary and in others and during the raigne of the French King Henry the second in Amiralius Comestabilius and the Chancellour who having attained to the chiefest degrees of honour envied each others prosperity How incertaine the condition of mortall men is upon Earth Sleidan hath sufficiently shewed by his owne example And who is ignorant of the civill Warres which have been in France both in the dayes of our progenitors and in our owne memories for this cause onely that the government of the Kingdome hath been committed unto such unto whom it did not belong This Hanniball the great Captaine of the Carthaginians found to be true by wofull experience for he being forced to leave his Country betook himselfe to Antiochus King of Asia who so well behaved himselfe during the time that he was with him that within a very short time hee became very gracious in his eyes therefore when the King made warre against the Romanes hee would have made him commander of his fleet had not Thoas Aâ—tolus disswaded him to the coÌ„trary saying it was too much honor unto him