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
which are so free at the first that they bee soone poore and thredbare of vnderstanding before the bruit of their rare pregnancie be well dispersed and those young men were so well instructed from their infancie that they did contend how to bee thought most noble vertuous and fit for places of reputation in their countrey by suppressing many lusts motions commotions and vnperfect passions of the mind with a moderate domination of reason and constancie They were full of modestie full of dutie and full of such religion as then was professed amongst the prophane Gentiles obseruing in all words and deeds a temperat moderation without any deturpation or deformitie And these qualities in those young Romans worthily made them eligible and fit for such great dignities and offices The Lord high Treasurer of England his office is in the Exchequer erected by king William the first for safe custodie of his crown lands and of those records which may concerne them To which Queene Marie ioyned the Surueyors generall the court of Augmentations and reuenewes of the Crowne with the first fruits and tenths of Benefices being erected by that king of good memorie Henrie the eight This office is called Scaccarium of a certaine large square table which according to Geruas of Tilburie cited by M. William Camden hath a chequered cloth brought and spread vpon it in the tearme of Easter as a place or table of iust proportion account or iudgement in all causes respecting the royall treasure or reuenewes where all ciuile causes betwixt the prince and his tenants are indifferently decided Iudges in this court are the Lord high Treasurer of England the Chancelour of the Exchequer the Lord chiefe Baron of that court with other foure Barons assistants the Remembrancer Engrosser Controller Clearkes of the Pleas and of the Pipe-office Auditors with their clearkes Apposer Chamberlaine Clerke of the Streights Marshall Clearke of the Summons deputie Chamberlaines Secondaries to the Remembrancer to the Treasurer and to the Pipe-office Also in the office of receit M. Vice Treasurer Clerkes of the Tally and of the Parchments with diuerse other inferiour officers All which are ordained for the conseruation and amplification of those foresaid reuenewes and of diuers other pecuniarie duties ordinarie and extraordinarie by which the ciuile state of all principalities is necessarily sustained for it is manifest that without the competent force of mony no Commonwealth can hold together absolute in her members And to that purpose was it first deuised when people and nations were necessarily constrained to require supplies and succours out of remote countries by commutation of cōmodities through exportation and importation of them from and to forraine places howbeit the principall exchange is for gold and siluer coyned in little round plates and besantes of greater and lesse value being authorised by the edicts of those princes and Commonweales where they bee stamped and passe currant amongst the people Foure kinds of mettall haue auntiently beene coyned amongst the Romanes one of lead which when it first was deuised exceedeth all records of true memorie as Iust. Lipsius writeth another of brasse or copper which the Romanes therefore called Pecunia quod esset nota pecudis signata of which coynes diuerse vnder the Romanes here in Brittaine as well of copper as yron likewise were stamped according to M. William Camden in his booke of Brittaine antiquities Siluer amongst the Romanes was first coyned Anno ab vrbe cond 484. F. Pictore Qu. Oculeio Coss. The coyne of gold 62 yeares after the siluer C. Claudio Nerone Marco Liuio Salinatore Coss. The beginning and end of coyning was for commerce as by pieces of some value for exchange of other commodities to people of other nations by whose diuers and seuerall stamp◅s the countries with whom they traffiqued were knowne And hence is it that those coynes of mettall are infinite which dependeth vpon two reasons also the first is vpon couetousnesse of people which would abundantly bee serued with things which their minds couet for some needfull vses the second vpon pleasures for which many men seeke for great heapes of money but the want of things desired amongst men is infinite and the choice of pleasures endlesse all which are attained by money The desire of treasure therefore can neuer bee fulfilled according to the saying of Cicero Expetuntur diuitiae cum ad vitae vsus necessarios tum ad perfruendas voluptates Dilectant enim magnifici apparatus vitaeque cultus cum elegantia copia quibus rebus effectum est vt infinita pecuniae cupiditas esset A Treasurers prudent care and whole studie therefore leuelleth at all such honourable meanes and iust occasions as may serue to bring in diuers summes and how to maintaine a continuall haruest of getting to sustaine those infinite burthens of necessarie disbursement how to leuie for the Common-wealth with good discretion and nothing without vrgent cause Vnto which contribution that it may be more liberall and cheerefull is required that the people be generally well affected both towards the prince and vnto that common necessitie which importuneth the same for the better effecting whereof some plausible and effectuall declaration published vnto them by their Soueraigne readily prepareth their hearts moouing in them a more benificent kind of alacritie and therefore it is in such cases most behoofefull Vt omnes intelligant si salui esse velint necessitati esse parendum For beeing persuaded that the generall safetie dependeth thereupon you shall find the couetous readiest to contribute Moreouer it addeth very much vnto the loue of people towards their princes and to their good opinion of his grace and meekenesse vnto them correspondently when he by suit seeketh that which his regall authoritie might exact The respects are great and those necessities important which should vrge a prince to violence in those cases yet a good Soueraigne can neuer haue cause of compulsion For when the king which hath authoritie to constraine vseth a facilitie to persuade it importeth some vehement necessitie Can any priuate Commonweale mount without tributarie wings Or could the firmament of peace be cleere if all clouds had not first beene dispersed with the thunder of warre Are armes exercised without wages Are ships prouided of men victuals and of artillerie without mony How shall officers which be continually busied in ceaselesse seruice for the common securitie haue reliefe without salaries May vertuous or needie persons bee rewarded or succoured without some generall supplies Few be those princes of Christendome so neere as I can iudge whose owne priuat reuenewes are able to supply the publicke charge onely so that the more puissant any prince is in dominion and territorie so much more the common charge doth aggrauate his necessities For this office therefore all honest and needfull meanes of getting are to bee carefully studied and prouided towards the true maintenance whereof it highly benefiteth to forbeare all superfluous damnable and
penurie succeede being a most pestilent feauer or consumption rather to the king and Common-wealth A curious eye with vigilant regard must bee bent vpon the Collectors Receiuers Auditors and other inferior ministers belonging to this office least in exactions or by fraudulent deuises they satisfie there priuate auarice with a kind of extortion or crueltie For auarice is an inordinate lust of hauing whose appetite is infinite whose acquisition immoderate whose possession vnlawfull whereby the prince vndoubtedly may bee brought into daunger It is like that Hydra which Poets talke of that though the stroke of Iustice execute vpon it continually yet will it miraculously reuiue againe it forceth not either the lightening thunder or thunderbolts of the law prouided against it Salust describeth it a beast rauenous cruell and intollerable where it haunteth huge Cities Fields Churches and Houses are laid wast Heauen and Earth prophanely mingled Armies and strong wals cannot restraine the violence thereof It spoileth all mortall people of good Report Modestie Children Nation Parents c. So doth this brightnesse of gold bleare mens outward sences so fuming in their heads and fastened in their hearts that they feare not any mischiefe which can accompanie Lucre. Such wicked vniust and rauenous officers eating the people as bread are to be squeezed like sponges full of water Great caution therefore must be vsed against the violence of officers in such extortion least the prince after some few yeares patience of the people vpon new grieuances become odious which king Henry the eight in the second yeare of his raigne did most politickely prouide in his proceedings against Sir Richard Emson and M. Dudley late inward and of counsell in such cases vnto his sage father king Henry the seuenth By good example of whose punishment others might vpon the like inconueniences suffer For if the people find not redresse vpon their complaints then will they rise as at that time it was feared in open hostilitie which if the blood of those extorting officers can expiate without some humane slaughter sacrificed to tenne hundred scpulchers then is it happie but such generall hurts haue commonly no compensation without a generall confusion The peoples payments ought so to be disposed therefore that all men according to their faculties by due discretion of good and honest sworne officers in euery shire or prouince may take such reasonable dayes and times of payment limited as they may without any grudging or disease contribute heartely Moreouer that such as are in speciall affaires of their prince and for the Commonwealth employed hauing by such occasions largely spent of their owne priuate for the common good as euery good man will in such cases bee for examples sake for the good encouragement of others precisely exempted from all kind of burthens and impositions Also such as haue formerly done much grace and honour to their countries and princes if they be not at that time so high in blood that they may well away with phlebotomie should bee graciously spared according to the French order for all courtiers and seruants attendant vpon the kings person in his house are by the ciuile lawes of Fraunce excepted in time of peace from all collections tallages gabels exactions customes and impositions whatsoeuer which others are tied vnto likewise in the times of warre from any burthen of receiuing quartering and billetting of souldiors Obseruation concerning these collectors and ministers before named dependeth vpon the chusing and displacing of Officers either iust or corrupt First the choice of such ministers is made out of men honest stayed and well approoued for such a purpose bad Officers which did extort or vnlawfully compasse being with losse of their places and possessions punished Dispensation of these tributes and subsidies must bee to the generall and not any particular vse for no man will sticke at a little charges employed to publicke behoofe if it once appeare that the prince doe not consume his treasure in vnnecessarie cost and riot but keepe a moderation with decencie which albeit the vulgar do not generally marke for they respect onely the princes proper faculties and reuenewes which ought to be by the treasurers concealed so much as may bee yet certaine captious and dangerous heads full of quarrels and aduantages such as are of fierie spirits coueting innouation which commonly lead the blind and abused vulgar into dangerous actions will narrowly sift and make a breach into the common peace vnder the pretext of taxes and impositions as hath beene found in certaine commotions in the dayes of king Richard the second and king Henry the sixt with other princes vpon the like occasions Such gettings therfore as proceed from the subiects beneuolence must bee sparingly spent and husbanded and so should the Treasurers beare themselues in that Office as stewards of other mens goods and not of their owne That most prudent and worthy Lord Treasurer William Cecill goodly well approued ouer all causes and in all businesse either publike or priuate during the late and most deare mirrour of good gouernment Queene Elizabeth of most renowmed and euerliuing memorie did leaue behind him a liuely patterne and precedent of his singular care and excellent wisedome to the great encrease of that stocke committed then to his charge as may serue euerlastingly to them which yet are or euer may be credited with that office to get and maintaine eternall reputation The generall good opinion and report of him after his death in the mouths of all good men may stirre vp his successours in that place truely to resemble his vertues and integritie The treasure therefore may not bee wilfully wasted or exhausted for satisfaction of any prince in his priuate prodigalitie Vera enim simplex via est magnitudinem animi in addendo non demendo reipublica ostendere For persons of lauish humours and exorbitate affections thinke not that there is any true fruition of treasure without profusion Diue deepe therefore into the bottomelesse danger thereof by manifold and most manifest example and obseruation as in Archigallo king of the Brittaines who was deposed by the people for his extortion after hee had raigned fiue yeares and then vpon his reformation restored And amongst diuers vnaduised princes consider that it was not the least cause of decay to Edward of Carnaruan king of England when hee by such meanes lost the loue of his commons by listening vnto flatterers and wilfully robbed himselfe of the fealtie of his nobles which opened his sepulchre for other matters more securely Men of such profuse qualitie which extort much as if they could not keepe any thing but that which is taken with a violent extortion are in themselues miserably poore From hence likewise brauncheth another speciall rule of moderation that no leuies surmount the princes occasions for if it tend not to the subiects great benefit being very necessarily dispensed it dishonoureth any Soueraigne to straine them in so small a matter And such
if they set their hearts vpon righteousnesse and call vpon the name of the most highest For vnto this precious gift of temperance their nature is most neare because their braines are lesse prouoked by the distemperature of their inferior irascible and concupiscentiall parts The complection therfore most eligible is sanguine aubourne haire of a meane stature vertuously instructed healthfull and long liued And these vnlesse some other defect or violence against nature peruert the same are for the most part endowed with much wisedome and wit of which excellent kind we read in the bookes of the Kings that king Dauid was as faire and ruddie with a comely countenance body well shaped of a meane stature Howbeit we find that he many times through those concupiscenciall motions was excited to sinne yet had God so blessed him that he did not loose that habite of vertue which was put vpon him with that blessing when choise was first made of him to be the seruant of God and vicegerent to rule his chosen people In election of counsellors according to Pliny it was obserued that no man vnder thirtie yeeres of age should be permitted to consult in principall causes of the Commonwealth nor men very aged as after the terme of sixtie yeeres according to Vâ—…rro Which Seneca likewise confirmeth limiting the seruice of soldiers to fiftie yeeres and of Senators to sixtie Per legem annariam For according to that Law the Romanes well knew when they might in respect of their yeeres sue to be Tribunes Quaestors Dictators Consuls or in other offices as it was limited appearing by this of the Poet Ovid. Finit aque certis Legibus est atas vnde petatur honos That age by which men may sue for honors or promotions is confined within certaine Lawes For if in respect of their experience by many yeeres old men be regarded it must be respected that by course of nature they be timerous suspicious incredulous couetous and so much more froward and fearefull as they bee more wasted in yeeres impatient of labour and paine obliuious by which defect diuers occasions are neglected talkatiue obstinate in opinion their vnderstanding dull their heate which is the spurre of action wasted Yong men are likewise void of experience much subiect to vicious affections and pleasures of nature to passions and perturbations of minde so distracted with heat of youth heedlesse temeritie and surcuidrie that they cannot obserue any temper in grauitie neither will the people cleaue vnto their counsells And as that excellent Morallist Seneca writte Iuuenile vitium est regere non posse impetum It is a vice naturally graffed in youth not sufficiently to bridle appetite Men therefore of middle age are to be chosen whose humours are plausible and temperate whose inward affections are delayed with some experience and discretion which can dispose remember and execute matters with a proportionable strength courage and grauitie whose memorie will richly serue them for things past whose vnderstanding to iudge of things present according to truth and whose imagination participating of them both can presage or prouide things to come such men are importuned with thronging multitudes for counsell and are to be chosen as I set downe before by the prince himselfe vpon good experience had of their sufficiencies Yong men admitted to that place are fitly called abortiue counsellors and certaine of theÌ„ like summer fruits of the first season soone ripe fit for the administration of weightie matters but naturally decay quickly some long before they be come to be sound in iudgment but hauing attained perfection in knowledge are the men indeed fitt for aucthoritie most excellent aboue others their wisdome continuing long with them yeelding a faire and commendable light euen to the last spiracle of their naturall life so long as the least droppe of oyle is remaining in their earthly lampes As that most reuerende Father in Christ Iohn Whytgift late Archbishop of Canterbury and the right sage and euer-worthy Lord Treasurer William Cecill declared long after the terme of sixtie yeeres euen to the last period of their breath Such yong towardly plants as are like by the gifts of nature and pleasantnesse of their wit to proue fit in time for such seruice must first be diligenly taught in Schooles and Vniuersities after good knowledge in arts commended with honest and faithfull Tutors attending them into forreine countries there to note and learne good fashions of people with their Languages and such things as I spoke of before in peregrination and then towardes the three or foure and twentieth yere of their age when firmer strength may beare it exercised and practised some-deale in the warres which is a great glory to noble yong spirits and groundeth them in the loue of vertue when armes are exercised with a perfect heroicall resolution and to good purposes as Cicero writeth Prima est adolescenti commendatio ad gloriam si qua ex bellicis rebus compaâ—…ari potest The best honour of a yong man proceedeth from his perfection in armes And according to Plato Liberum hominem maxinè decet armoruÌ„ disciplina equitatio c. Martiall discipline and horseman-ship most honoureth a Gentleman By these meanes hauing well broken the inordinate heate of youth with some manly moderation and experience they may be chosen if the Prince thinke it fit into counsell imployed in publike affares of policie till sixtie yeeres be past and then let them take leaue of their Prince returning to their quiet for the better purifying and rectifying of their consciences seeking after their soules health studying how to die a blessed death and hauing their honors and reuenues enlarged by the Princes great bene ficence towards them The Soueraigne which is the fountaine of these counsels needeth not any rules concerning his apport or carriage in administration of graue and weightie businesses of his kingdomes and state for so much as it should bee presupposed that all the wise consultations and actions of his immediate ministers issue from him as being the fountaine or Loadstarre of their direction in whom all glorie which is attained by the mature deliberations and seruices of them that attend his counsels remaineth And therefore I craue pardon herein if vnhapily some shall imagine me so foolishly presumptuous as to prescribe rules of policie for any princes not hauing sufficient in my selfe to serue those priuate purposes that are required in a single man of meane condition for well I know QuaÌ„ difficile atque asperuÌ„ sit consiliuÌ„ regi aut imperatori dare postremo cuiquam mort alium cuius opes in excelso sunt quippe cum illiâ—… consultoruÌ„ copia sunt I know that it is difficult and harsh to minister counsell vnto a King or Emperor or to any mortall man whose riches are huge and honorable because such persons are plentifully furnished with choise of counsellors Onely this in briefe the respects importing his princely care
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