of vice to giue a liuely spirit to the desire of vertue to maintaine a due proportion in all Offices and to win the constant loue of a Commonwealth with excellent prudence and desert yet without these either in the prince in him that counselleth or in them both no Commonwealth can flourish for the natures of mens wits are threefold that which is principall and sacred can out of his owne iudgement without assistance aduise and execute soundly with all commendable facilitie the second dealeth wisely by direction the third can doe neither the first excellent in it selfe the second laudable by the first the last vnprofitable in all If therefore the prince haue this principall gift then is hee the Sunne to those starres of his Counsell which giue a reasonable light from his influence being a sweet perfection of goodnesse in any Commonwealth And if his Counsellours haue that diuine spirit of Sapience in themselues by Gods ordinance for the weale of his people where the prince hath this second facultie to be directed or perswaded by them yet is that notwithstanding a strong sufficient and good state But if both the Prince and his Counsell hold the substance of all good wisedome in themselues wisely to consult and direct being willing also to be counselled and directed in wisedome without doubt that dominion will flourish and amplifie Contrarily what a wretched and ruinous estate which faileth both in the prince and in his counsell As when God had purposed to destroy the state of Israel he threatened to that nation how children should beare their scepter and feeble persons direct their publicke counsels Which kind of feeblenesse is attributed not vnaptly to foolish and ambicious counsellors whom Salust in one Oration to Caius Iulius Caesar resembleth vnto the superfluous ballase of a ship which as things vnprofitable minimique precij vpon the suddaine violence of any tempest the masters and Officers being puzzled and in distresse hoise first ouer board Neither can it serue that the prince haue all which may be required in himselfe onely but that they which must ayde him in administration of his estate bee furnished with competent knowledge also for as it sufficeth not to keepe the bodie in health by withdrawing all euill humors and infirmities from the head vnlesse the heart with other principall and inward members of the bodie bee semblably with due correspondence attempered in their seuerall functions so doth it not accord that the king being absolute in his parts onely the state also should be safe if his Senatours doe not by some dutifull diligence and proportion of vertues answerable knit all up in perfection For what is hee that can consult and dispatch many serious causes at once and absolutely without helpe Suppose him more found in wisdome and knowledge than Salomon or stronger by three degrees than Hercules yet doth experience in nature teach vs that a necessarie necessitie requireth this election of approoued good Counsellors without which ayde no prince can support the burthen of a kingdome neither can his owne outward sences properly performe those inward Offices which are required towards the ruling of a multitude Besides according with Tacitus No man is so naturally prompt or hath that dexteritie to deale in his owne cause which he shall find in himselfe solliciting for another And in another place Grauissimi principis labores queis orbem terrae capessit egent adminicutis The most serious labours of a prince by which hee winneth the whole earth stand in need of helpes For they to whom much businesse and many people are committed haue much need of counsell Euery good Prince which did formerly gouerne was attended with as many Counsellors as he was with eyes eares and hands Caius Caesar with Quintus Paedius and Cornelius Balbus Augustus with Mecoenas and Agrippa Adrianus with Celsus Saluius and Neratius Marcus Antoninus with Scaeuola Mutianus and Volatianus Seuerus with Papinianus And to be short our late Princes of most fortunate and blessed memorie Queene Elizabeth and your Maiestie with Sir Nicholas Bacon Sir Walter Mildemay Sir Iohn Cheeke Sir Francis Walsingham William Lord Burghley Robert Earle of Leycester Robert Cecyll Earle of Salisburie Sir The. Egerton Lord Elesmere and Chancellor Sir Tho. Sackuylle Earle of Dorset now Lord Treasurer with diuerse others And hence is it that Cicero noteth Not with swiftnesse and bodily strength great matters are ordered but with counsell and authoritie Likewise Salust With much reading and hearing I find that all Nations haue beene prosperous so long as iust counsell preuailed with them but being once with partialitie feare and pleasure corrupted presently their wealth wasted their Empire vanished and slaâ—…erie tyrannized vpon them And as Dionysius Halicarnassaeus writeth the cause why Rome so long flourished was That the gouernours of the Empire were directed by Counsels of the Senate not following their owne opinions for by the assembly of wise Counsellors the princes wisedome is encreased As Capitolinus writeth Bonus fit si bonis amicis vtatur That Prince which maketh vse of good friends is made a good Prince By their Counsels likewise saith Otho the Emperour in Tacitus is the goodnesse and wisedome of princes opened also Salust calleth Prosperitatem regis famam Consiliarij The kings prosperitie to depend vpon the Counsellors fame and so by good inuersion the fame of a Counsellour to depend vpon the kings prosperitie But it is needlesse to stand so much vpon the necessitie thereof being so well knowne to the weakest iudgement A Counsell therefore according to Bodin is a lawfull congregation or assembly of choise persons which aduise the king in times of peace and warre how to gouerne the Commonwealth and as Furio Ceriolano defineth them Counsellors are apt persons chosen for fit businesse in whom there is required good sufficiencie towards the administration of all matters debated in Counsels Demosthenes therefore calleth consultation The chapiter and constancie the base of all vertues I will particularly speake in my third booke of Offices somwhat concerning the Councels of England and hauing in these Offices occasion generally to touch the secret councels of a state also I will breifely write what I haue in part gathered concerning the strict and priuat councell of France omitting the councell at large which is called the Grand Counsell consisting vpon the L. Chauncellour to whom with the maisters of the Requests for their more ease and expedition in publicke businesse with which theyformerly were much entangled king Charles the eight added seuenteene councelours spirituall and temporall After whom his successor Lewes the 12 superadded one prelate and two more counsellours fulfilling the number of 20 besides two secretaries whereof one did serue in place of an actuarie it being further ordayned that these should keepe six moneths continually together in councell betwixt seuen and ten in the forenoone and after dinner betwixt three and fiue houres This Senate therfore which the French king doth
talebearers bold in discharging his conscience graue in speech not superstitious neither dissembling in heart toward prince or priuatperson his honesty wil not suffer him to deceiue his wisdom wil not brooke to be deceiued his valor maketh him triumph ouer many calamities tribulatioÌ„s his honor worketh towards him reuerence in the eyes hearts of all the people By such Counsellors therefore euery prince and euery state is strengthened and supported both at home and abroad for his owne subiects will willingly serue him and forrainers stand in awe of his vertues so shall the prince bee generally magnified What strong enemie was there to this our publicke state that in the later dayes of the late deare Soueraigne of our happinesse Queene Elizabeth feared not the valour and fortunes of Robert then Earle of Essex vntill such time as through his owne credulous imprudence hee wilfully wounded himselfe with his owne intollerable appetite Of whom I will onely say that which I might worthely cite out of Cicero then written to the good fame of Caius Marius Nemo vnquà m multitudini fuit carior No subiect euer was more deare to the multitude and which was lamentable to them that depended vpon his greatnesse not Fortunes deareling but her babie nay rather Fortunes bable whose fairest spectacle is like a momentanie bubble as appeared by those great hopes reports and opinions which the people had of him but Non minus periculum ex magna fama quam ex mala But the daunger of a great same is altogether as great as that which proceedeth from a bad report What open or close enemie was he that liued in any forraine part of Europe which was not amated with that diuine care and wisedome with that industrious circumspection and foresight of those two most worthie Senatours of her secret Counsels the Lord William Burghley Lord Treasurer and Sir Francis Walsingham sometimes principall Secretarie to that good Queene which sitting quiet in their studies wrought so many wonders in Spaine Fraunce and Italie for the confirmation and fortification of this Realme against the tyrannous enemies of the Gospell and of that our euer renowned Empresse of England The first died very rich in a most healthfull state of soule and in honour of his countrey which was for many yeares sustained comforted and protected by his prudence the second both in true pietie iustice and glorie respecting God and the Commonwealth honorable and truly rich which was in mentall perfections and in the loue of this Common-wealth which he so much loued onely Much therefore behooueth it Counsellors that in all their actions counsels and consultations they become prudent and valiant taking vp a place in the middest betwixt the zealous and true worship of God vpon the right hand with his vigilant and tender care of the Commonwealth vpon the left respecting them both with feare and feruent affection and aboue all courtly pestilence to take antidotes and preseruatiues against the contagious breath of flatterers which hath corrupted and ruined more princes and noble gentlemen in time of peace than the sword hath many times done in bitter battell Such were they that trecherously myned into the noble nature of that renowmed Earle whom I lately mentioned being men enraged with a lust of innouation and of a present satisfaction of their all variable and licencious appetites This muâ—…ne disperseth it selfe through the Courts of many Princes infecting and eating vp whole families like pestilence the deuouring Angell of Gods iustice sparing none Sycophants of this distemperature naturally like mosse or yuie spread vpon great Oakes and strong walles neuer excercised in vertuous cogitations and studies but fraught with slaunderous rumours falshood and forgerie the professed enemies to vertue and veritie so they may laugh feed sleepe and enioy corporall pleasures they force not what aged fathers widowes or orphans waile starue watch and endure endlesse vexation and calamitie I mention this vice often inculcating the perill and poison of it many times because it is so much practised in this Nation then which nothing can be more base more odious or more degenerate from Nobilitie There is one vertuous condition which must inseparably be fastned placed or rooted rather in a Counsellor and it is a pure will godly zeale and ioyfull promptnesse to giue sound and wholesome counsell of which I spake somewhat before as when things be by mature deliberation consulted before they be peremptorily resolued vpon and all the causes with euen hand first weighed in the ballance of iustice A Senator therefore which retaineth so reuerende and honourable office must respect the ground of his authoritie which doth best and most to life anatomize a magistrate Sodaine and doubtfull counsels do digest more happily with them that are sildome vexed with troubles and difficulties or with ambitious persons which onely respecting their priuate glory feare least time of deliberation will grow scant vnto them then with such Commonwealths as being placed vpon the maine toppe of all power and authoritie can leisurely tarry for a fit time and occasion In anxious or doubtfull matters therefore they choose such a course as most behooueth and least endangereth yet hath it been commonly seene in giuing of counsell that the vulgar attribute all to the Counsellors prudence and foresight if fortune fauour the euent but if otherwise then is he condemned in the contrary And hence is it that the meede of good Counsellors is often ascribed to fortune and fortunes serenitie attributed to good counsell If the businesse in hand be very weightie the counsellors which handle it must be very warie and such things as cannot admit a recorrection or reconsideration must be with good discretion deliberated There is likewise one excellent part in wise and compleate Counsellors required which is to giue good eare and attention to the sayings of all men vttered vnto him and in speciall to those of that societie which though inferior or superior in their places speake before them Herein a Counsellor must muster his wittes together and remember those arguments wherwithall they confirme and corroborate their seuerall opinions that when his tourne inuiteth him to speach he may not misse a mite in recapitulation of any materiall pointes Hence was it that Pericles convening with Sophocles his fellow Pretor concerning State-businesse vpon Sophocles his commendation of the beautie of a very faire Boy passing by earnestly replied It is not only fit to withhold your hands but to withdraw your eyes from such vaine obiects in these serious cases For these respects Lycurgus inhibited all manner of pictures from the chamber of consultation least the Senatours eyes being withdrawne from serious cogitations and obseruations might by looking vpon them forget somewhat to the preiudice of the present seruice Deliberation also being a diligent and prudent meditation of things future doubtfull and contingent remayning in our power by which choice is made of the best meanes to good and happie successe in any
after the state of his prince and countrey which if the captaines doe neglect ought to be with due seueritie punished in them We read that Moyses who was a carefull warrior against the Egyptians did send out sâ—…outs centrenels and escurriers and that Iosua that diuine and triumphant captaine purposing the destruction of Ierico sent espials which were lodged in Rhahabs house When Saul had pitched in Hachilah before Ieshimon Dauid sent espials out of the wildernesse which brought tidings of his approach There is a kind of souldiers which are chiefe men of the nobler sort vsed amongst the Frenchmen which in that Realme are by common and ancient custome in time of speciall seruice to maintaine themselues and seruants in those warres three moneths the Frenchmen call them Banne and Retrobanne Which as Procopius saith Romani bannum signum dixerunt bandoferum ducis belli signum ferentem the Romanes did call this word bannum that which we call ensigne and Bandoferus him which beareth the captaines ensigne from thence should seeme that anciently the name of ensignes were called banners wherein certaine emblemes and armorie of the noble leaders and captaines were knowen and distinguished from others also when any publike edict was diuulged or proclaimed it was called Bannire in bannum soluere which signifieth as much as to set it to the view and knowledge of the whole hoast Likewise the creation of knights according to their deserts after the warres being many and of diuers orders I will not insist vpon because they be so well known The creation of knights bannerets which is vnder the princes standard being displayed is the most honorable knighthood in the field for they be called equiâ—…es redubitati twise knighted for their martiall prowesse such as in honor of warre and for their noble atchieuments by militarie worthinesse attaine knighthoods of collers such as the Cheualliers sans â—…proch deuised by Lewis the eleuenth at Ambois 1469. of the first Institution being thirtie sixe Nobles of the Realme and since more according to the Kings pleasure and such Noble men his friendes of other nations as for their valour in seruing him in his warres are invested to that honor at this day Likewise the order of Saint George instituted by King Edward the third the ceremonies whereof being so well knowne and celebrated at Windsor I let passe with that Order of the golden Fleece which Philip Duke of Burgundie instituted at Dijoun in France which King Philip of Spaine and the Emperor Randolph by right of the Emperor Charles the fift whose mother was heire of that Dutchie at this day retaine as their order of honorable Knighthood and all these noble Orders with diuers of like fashion first deuised as a reward and mâ—…d of their militarie vertues and in that respect the Romanes did bestow vpon their worthiest captaines and militarie commanders horse and furniture with rich caparisons bracelets chaines girdles and crownes of pure gold lanâ—…es with other warlike habilimenâ—… and armorie such as Cicinius Dentatus receiued of theÌ„ for his fortitude shewed in their waâ—…es which were golden spurres and a sword with the kings personall embrace as our 〈◊〉 of honour are created at this day The most famous and best renowned souldiers that in our times haue bene noted were Ambrose Dudley the old Earle of Warwike Thomas Ratcliffe Earle of Sussex the three brethren of that honourable race of Ricot the two noble and vnfortunate Earles of Essex both deceased the father and sonne the Lord Willoughbie late Gouernour of Barwicke Sir Roger Williams Sir Philip Sydney who singeth in heauen crowned both with martiall and ciuill girlands Sir Thomas Morgan but there haue bene so manie and yet are of gallant heroicall spirits aliue amongst vs that it were infinite to reckon and would rather bring one into suspition of that fault for which I detest to conuerse in the houses of great princes then any wayâ—…s answere to the worthinesse of them whom I commemorate And heere least I might vnhappilie seeme too curious or tedious will I knit vp my labours satisfying my selfe with a little taste of some principles in euery counsell forasmuch as if I should write all that ought in these discourses to be set downe it would be both infinite in regard of the matter and needelesse if your Grace respect the learneder writings of others not crauing more then beneuolence for my voluntarie liberalitie which is the best treasure that a double pouertie proceeding from my single fortunes in ward and exterior affordeth From the profane multitude full of error and confusion whose opinions distand from veritie so farre as England according to 〈◊〉 tables is diuided from the Indies I will appeale by protestation that they which leane vpon vaine hope and idle counsels which threaten and disdaine sea-stormes slouthfully wallowing in their warme beddes at land and which in tempestuous times are immeasurably blasted with ignominious feare and pusillanimitie may not bee taken for equall iudges of my studies How meane my matter is how naked my sentences how little my trauels how bare my knowledge I must acknowledge that I know neither is it written in arrogancie and it is well spoken that nothing can be spoken which hath not beene first spoken and I will pray that my studies being published may not be forespoken with iâ—…enomed tongues swolne too great for their mouthes but to them that are iust and truely noble I will simply submit them such as they bee with all modesty heartily loathing as I still professe without and within all ostentation and hypocrisie All Glorie be to the blessed seede of all in all immortall perfection of incomprehensible goodnesse euerlastingly raigning in that vnconceiueable power of saluation by miraculous faith inanimate in the true charitable roote of the ineffable Trinitie mistically reueiled in omnipotent vnitie FINIS Imprinted at London by Adam Islip 1606. Barth Cassan. in 〈◊〉 terâ—… partis catal gâ—…or mundi Bart. Cassan. 78. consid 12. partis catal glor mundi Il. Prencipe cap. 18 commâ—… se debbe osseruar la fede Office of Treasurers Lib. 52. Cap. 16. de Mag. Romanorum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Barth Cass cons. 13. 7. partis cat gloriae mundi Geo. Bened. in Repet cap. Rayn in verb. Bonus de curtili Lib. 4. 7. Cap. 16. de Mag. vet Pop. Ro. Vinâ—…ent Lupan Annal. lib. 3. Arist. in Polit. Cap. 1. de re Peâ—… Plin. lib. 18. cap. 3. Plin. lib. 1. Lib. 2. Oss. Cic. 2. Oâ—… Cic. 2. Off. In vita Iuliani Salust bell Iugurth lib. George Clifford Cic. Off. 1. Barth Cassan. 32 Consid. 6. partis Catol glor muÌ„di Oratio Philippi in Senat. ex Salust Edw. 2. Cor. Tac. lib. 13. Annalium Ioh. Tilius lib â—…m de rebugall Nicolo Maâ—… il preu cap. 16. De liberalita miseria c. Ad Caes de Rep. ordinanda Lib. 3. ad Heren Lib. 2. de innent Plato lib. 20. Charmides siue de temp