vulgar The first and chiefe place in all ciuile gouernment vnder princes and Commonweales according to Dion Cassius Francis Patricius Barthol Cassanaeus Hyppolito Furio Ceriolano with others which haue by their bookes opened the formes of counsels concerning the state of any kingdome remaineth to the Treasurers which by the Romanes were called Quaestores à quaerendo because they did seeke how to magnifie corroborate and amplifie the Commonwealth by lawfull and honourable meanes for the speciall weale of those states and princes vnder whom they did administer and also did faithfully conserue those riches to their trust committed Hence is it that Dion tearmeth Quaesturam primum gradumin Senatâ—… howbeit Iustus Lipsius not wholly suffragating to that opinion sayth Quòd inter magistratus fuere quaestores ordine primi dignitate vltimi Which office being auntiently deriued from the Greekes was first erected amongst the Romanes in the first bud of that Empire after it was growne to some height when the societies of those people louingly knit and assembled had in the citie by their policies valour and industrie gathered and got a great masse of treasure together wherein euery free citisen had equall share at what time they did first institute two generall Quaestores or Treasurers which were famous amongst them for their Iustice valour moderation and prudence that had the tuition thereof keeping their office in Aede Saturni This institution of Treasurers Tacitus would haue amongst the Romans when the Consular estate was first established Anno 23. after their kings were abolished some thinke they were first ordained Anno Vrb. conditae 269 But it is not so doubtfull as needlesse precisely to stand vpon that point onely this the place of Treasurers being first amongst the ciuile magistrates as at this day in Fraunce where Les generalx des finances les presedents des accomptes haue a prioritie not onely before both the Counsels strict and at large but also before the foure Primiers Presidents in that realme as our Lord high Treasurer of England hath also whose place with vs is highest next vnto the Lord Chancelour in ciuile reputation giueth me some cause to digest the same into my first booke of Offices being as I may tearme it notvnfitly that liuer wherein the blood which possesseth the mouing life of euery commonwealth is contained For euen as moneyes are fitly called the sinews of war so may we likewise properly tearme them the blood of peace and therefore that state or kingdome whose treasure is exhausted though it be most ample populous and puissant in other things may be called bloodlesse and languishing according to the saying of that learned Lawman Nobilitas sine diuitijs pené mortua est tanquam corpus exangue Riches therefore may bee properly tearmed the blood of peace that entering the veines or conduits of the liuer which may semblably be likened to the Treasurers office and reflowing thence benignely disperseth it selfe into the members of the whole bodie resembling analogically the Commonwealth for the generall sustentation and nurriture thereof It is the bone of that strong arme by which the kingdome is in time of peace strengthened against all hostile attempts It is the marrow by which that bone is seasoned soupled and confirmed or rather that arme which is strongly nourished enabled and knit with those sinewes veines blood bones and pith wherein remaineth a proportionable strength guiding the sacred sword of iustice in hand The charge of Treasurers consisteth in the receiuing keeping and disbursing of the prince his money consisting in the reuenewes of his Empire amplified by the tributes of his subiects supplied by the subsides fines and forfeitures of cities societies and malefactors relieued with the tallages and customes of marchants and aduenturers magnified in the prizes and presents ordinarily resulting from forraine princes and people either friends or enemies and as Titus Liuius writeth Munera Quaestoris sunt pecuniae publicae acceptio expensio signorum militarium ex auro vel argentoin aerario asserâ—…atio praedae venditio subhastatio legatorum exceptio deductio hospitij assignatio All which were most honourable attributes peculiarly permitted to the Treasurers and as Lipsius noteth it such was that auncient honour of those Quaestores that amongst the Romanes of old it was permitted vnto them to make lawes and decrees to subscribe vnto suites motions and petitions being both keepers and presedents of the Lawes and of Iustice which power is with vs and in France deuolued vnto the Lords Chancellors howbeit in that realme principally where the Lord Chancellor is highest in the kings counsels of whom in all causes appertaining the weale of that state the king taketh aduice as of some oracle so that when any rescripts edicts or decrees contrarie to law bee by the king either vpon misinformation or negligence graunted the Chancellour hath ex officio power to cancell or annullate them whereupon was first deuised the name Cancellarius which office in Venice hath the most secret particulars of that state in managing and yet is not so powerfull in his authoritie Likewise the French Generalx des finances vpon the like considerations and respects may cut off or curtall at their pleasures the kings gifts and bounties issuing out of his Treasuries Lands or Reuenewes if in their wisedomes it seeme expedient and therfore as I should thinke they might by the like reason also be called Cancellarij because they Tanquam Tutores limit the kings mind intra rationis moderationis caucellos This counsell of Treasurers conuerseth in the exportation of such commodities as euery Common-weale out of her friendship or abundance exchangeth or ministreth hauing equall respect vnto the induction or reinuection of such other marchandize as their people need and couet most Likewise in all treasures vnder ground as in mines and minerals of gold and siluer copper tinne lead and yron the richest commonly belonging to the prince of that soyle where such treasures are opened and others either bygraunt or otherwise according to legall tenure of Frank Charter or of other immunities royall in tenure of such subiects as accordingly make payment to the custome or imposition of the prince or countrey Wherefore it behooueth that such as be chosen into that place and authoritie bee men not of learning and temperance onely but of good yeares and much experience also howbeit the Romanes did make choice of their Quaestores at twentie fiue yeares according to Tacitus Which greene age could not amongst vs haue had that maturitie of iudgement and foresight in these times that is required in a worthie Treasurer although amongst those Romanes in that golden age of nature we may by circumstances find that young noble men were in all the parts of their life generally temperate and frugall with a certaine specious apparance of liberalitie yet did not in theÌ„ appeare that precocitie which is in many of our young heads of this age
I haue spoken more at large elswhere Vnto prudence therefore as companions are assigned Intelligence which is as I said a perfect vnderstanding of matters Science a iust apprehension of causes Art a true demonstration or ensignemnt of things and Sapience a sure and certaine indagation of diuine knowledge Aristotle attributeth to prudence three parts the first 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is a kind of power or facultie to giue good counsell in time of neede then 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 respecting a mature deliberation and perfection in doing of businesse thirdly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or intelligence which is a prouidence cunning or expert iudgement to put that in execution which hath beene by right counsell preconsulted and determined It is likewise the part of a prudent person to know much in generall and in particulars to keepe in readiestore and memorie things long before done and past if they bee notable to see darts arrowes and all seâ—…ious accidents of good hope and danger long before they come by which gift they may preuent and auoid the worst turning that which is good to the best successe and weighing the condition of things as they stand in present state within the scales of reason and discretion likewise to be well aduised in all considerations and consultations to be circumspect iudicious and of a good conuersation as well in respect of others as for his owne sake to ponder well the circumstances and attributes of men and matters for by the mutations of such things wee find it often succeede how that will bee ratified and made lawfull on the morrow which was the day before prohibited and punished The difference likewise of persons of their qualities by the respects had vnto their faults and punishment as for example in malicious killing vpon reuenge in comparison of them that doe it in defence of their owne persons by the law of nature and for necessities sake in making sacriledge the worst kind of theft and in generall when by due discretion the state and condition of people and causes either high great humble or small are examined and respected for by this course is the rule of decencie kept Moreouer prudence disperseth her force and vertues into three parts first into the condition monasticall if I may so tearme it which appertaineth all particular persons in their peculiar estates seuerally the second into the state Oeconomicall which respecteth the administration of each priuate familie which Xenophon tearmeth the art of dispensation The third and last being the best and right excellent part wherin prudence sheweth most force is the state politicall alwayes employed in ciuile causes generally working for the Common-wealth beeing a true kind of science to which those of this counsell must bee first bound apprentises before their adoption into this societie Hee therefore that would bee a good master in his owne familie must first by good demeanure and conuersation amongst his neighbors hold himselfe vp that he may purchase a generall good opinion witnesse and commendation of his integritie being by those excellent deserts made fit for the gouernment of a familie Which when he knoweth by that circumspection accustomed in his owne particular carriage how to gouerne then shall hee likewise haue his faculties by good helpe of morall obseruations and practise of vertues surely kniâ—… and enhabled to giue counsell and administer in this principall Office vnder the King or Commonwealth for if hee cannot moderate himselfe how shall he rule in Oeconomie Neither can any man not being exceedingly perfect in them both with other excellent suppliments and vertuous helpes such as you shall hereafter reade in this booke of Offices deserue the place of a Counsellor Howbeit for as much as these two last concerning the administration of priuate families beeing called a Domesticall and this other noble part semblably tearmed a Ciuile gouernement are specially directed and guided by Prudence I will therefore in briefe declare what the learnedest Philosophers haue noted concerning them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is the forme of house-gouernment respecteth the good order of euery mans familie correspondent in profite and honestie to the places degrees and habilities of the maisters whether they bee princes noblemen citizens or priuat persons consisting of men which includeth the maister wife children and seruants and of possessions comprehending house and domesticall substance They which might haue first beene worthely reputed Oeconomicall maisters were Adam Enoch Noah with diuers euen to the time of Ioseph the patriarch who did gouerne the kingdome of Egypt establishing it with new lawes Amongst these Melchisedech named a king and Abraham who though in forraine countries he were a stranger yet ioyned with kings gouerning his familie by politicall and Oeconomicall Empire and maintaining warres in defence of his people The maister of the house-hold therefore ought first to know and put his whole power in practise towards the preseruation of his wife and children in vnion and societie which both Reason and Law doth naturally moderate beeing by sacred writ of the Testaments ordained and vnder that commaundement established by the diuine sanctions of Christianitie that they should be legitimate begotten in wedlocke and not the children of many fathers according to the licencious rule of Plato secondly that the father vnto them and to his seruants shew beneuolence and be tractable His familie must be disposed in decent order food cloth maintenance with house conuenient and answerable to the retinue must be prouided according to the nature of that place where he liueth Wherin he must prudently consider whether the ayre which fostereth the places enuironing his house be cold hot or temperat whether scituate vpon the continent or sea coast neere a riuer or poole high low fennish moist fertile barren neere the barbarous and aduerse borderer or remote or to what winds it is most opposed with such like for according to these obseruations houses are edified and fortified streets enlargened or straightened Vnto which publicke workes for the edification amplification or restauration of houses villages or cities a Counsellors prudence is needfully required Let them take heed of exceeding sumptuousnesse and ouergorgeous magnificence in building aboue the proportion of their lands and reuenewes enuironning and answering the same for it were better that large demesnes required mansion houses than that glorious mannors should want meanes to support and furnish out their magnificence Concerning familiar maintenance which is either domesticall respecting tyllage pasturage parkes for game warrens of hares and conies hawking fishing vineyards orchards hop-yards gardens and such like or artificiall conuersing in arts handy-crafts trades and mysteries in part liberall as painture typographie masonrie with the like and partly not it must bee decent honest needfull and allowable for the worthinesse of a good house-holder is mentall and not corporall Qui enim domum aut villam extruit eamque signis aulaeis alijsque operibus exornat omnia potius quam semet
as all Philosophers hold it the most naturall and best course of nourishing infants that she teach vnto them frugalitie reseruing and encreasing her husbands stocke with her owne huswiferie In briefe as Freigius in his Oeconomicks noteth that she be modest stout iust and silent In like sort that children should bee brought vp in the true knowledge feare and worship of God in obedience loue and honour to their parents in patience of their fathers seueritie that they bee silent without procacitie when he speaketh that they be dutifull vnto their schoolemasters and vnto those that teach vnto them the gouernment of themselues that they be studious of those arts and professions to which their parents haue applied them that they be taught to loath pestilent idlenesse and voluptuositie beeing the perdition and confusion of all youth from the highest to the basest that they be reuerend towards magistrates and vnto their betters that they bee true in word and deede that they lend dutifull and willing eares vnto the words and instructions of men learned honest and wise that they bee modest For in all his Dialogues wee find that Plato with most vehemence and principally doth adhort parents to be carefull in education of their children verely beleeuing Non posse genus humanum absque gubernataribus vel honestè viuere vel foeliciter gubernari That the children of men can neither liue honestly together nor be gouerned happily without Masters and Rulers Lastly the duties required in seruants are subiection fidelitie promptnesse attention assiduitie with obedience vnto their maisters frugalitie moderation in diet and apparrell truth in matters concredited vnto their truth patience and facilitie howbeit I will as before referre my selfe in this true moralitie vnto the spirit of God speaking in those Oeconomicall precepts and commaundements which were deliuered by the blessed Apostles Peter and Paule in their Epistles and by our Sauiour Christ himselfe in diuerse places and parables of his holy Gospell diuinely shewing and teaching the duties of fathers wiues children husbands seruants and of all other magistrates in their places by the lore of decencie All which Offices of wiues seruants and children haue reference vnto a superiour by which they bee secluded from hauing absolute power ouer themselues Such is that diuine force of order and true disposition in all thinges which are created of God Whether it be lawfull for Christians to retaine slaues to whom the Gospell hath graunted libertie such as in diuerse parts of Christendome vnder the Popes Supremacie be tollerated and vsed being in part naturall and partly legall slaues as you shall find in the imperiall institutions Sub tit de seruis I referre my selfe to the learneder opinions of Diuines Cannonists and ciuile Doctors which can make a perfect decision of that doubt but sure am I that amongst the true professors of Christs Gospell seruitude is disallowed and abrogated by the generall libertie which was graunted by Christ Iesus to them that beleeue Concerning seruants by nature I referre my selfe to Aristotle As euery familie composed is of seuerall persons so doth each Common-wealth or citie consist of many families This assembly being thus associated in the tutelage combination or communion of one Empire and Law out of his owne proper force can maintaine protect and gouerne the state of his affaires by policie being the third part of prudence which as Plutarch defineth in his booke of three Commonweales is that state and order that euery citie should obserue in the rule and gouernment of things We find in holy Scripture how God himselfe ordained this politicall doctrine and order by his immediat seruant and interpreter Moyses proposing an example to posteritie from whence many most behoofefull precedents towards the administration of Kingdoms Estates and Seignories may be taken by this is the Prince himselfe directed as by some diuine caball according to his capacitie and to that grace which God hath poured into the hearts of his secret counsell how to gouerne all the people of this earth For euen as to the Pylot his course and compasse by which he capeth and wendeth euen as health to the Physition and victorie to the captaine so to the Prince and Magistrate the blessed and peaceable life of his people and citizens is proposed that they may grow plentifull in riches powerfull in armes ample in glorie constant and honest in vertue Likewise wee find those policies most excellent which king Dauid the figure of our Sauiour Christ vsed for hee did amplifie the realme of Israel both by peace and warre adorning it with lawes iudgements treasure armes and power encouraged and aduaunced the studies of learning instituted the Leuites Doctors Musitians and other professors of good arts This ciuile prudence doth as it were prescribe vnto citizens their actions conuersing in the maintenance of ciuile societies by the vniformitie of religion vniuersalitie of iustice and vnanimitie in vertuous contemplation and practise whereby they liue together in pietie towards God in honestie one towards another in prudence and tranquilitie respecting their owne priuat and particular estates Aristotle maketh this difference betwixt the Commonwealth and a priuat familie That Iustice by the distribution of equall measure to poore and rich is most specious in euery Commonwealth whereas in Oeconomie the maister of each familie doth at his owne discretion gouerne and dispose matters as in the person of a prince ouer his children seruants and slaues According to the generall opinion of all good writers there are sixe formes of policie whereof the three good are first placed and the three bad drawne out of the excesse of those best The first of the good doth consist of the prince his absolute authoritie ouer the people in yea and nay which men call a Monarchy But of this more at large in other places ensuing Bodin writeth that there are two sorts of Empire or Soueraignetie Vnum summum alterum legitimum illud legibus ac magistratuum imperio solutum hoc legibus obligatum summum autem magistratus est proprium legitimum Maiestatis The first is highest freed from the strayne of lawes and from any subiection vnto magistracie the second legitimate and obliged vnto the lawes but the highest rule is proper to magistrates and the legitimate peculiar vnto Maiestie Wee must consider also that the king is not onely a parent and author of the lawes but a most studious and diligent conseruator and steward of iustice For in the Common-wealth a Prince is placed as vpon a stage whose words and actions the people vnder and about him obserue him if they find iust and of good demeanure as I touched in the beginning of this booke they will imitate if insolent and wicked then will they behaue themselues accordingly Quales enim sunt in Repub. principes tales reliqui solent fieri ciues For such as bee the Princes such are the people in euery Common-wealth sayth Plato Howbeit kings in respect of their Empire are superiour to
nations by generall suffrages and ioyfull vnanimitie Such was the election of Deioces amongst the Medians of Samothes amongst our auncient Brittaines and amongst the Gaules of Minos in Crete of Numa Pompilius the successour of Romulus who being absent was chosen king of the Romanes vehemently persuaded and vrged to take vpon him that Soueraignetie which hee most peremptorily refused a long time for a true king is the viue patterne and Idaea of all vertues reuerenced amongst his people subiects and vassales as a god vpon earth whose regall authoritie being receiued from the most great and ineffable prouidence grace and secret charter of God vnder the blessed seale of his omnipotencie ought by him in all humilitie to be continually ascribed and reacknowledged to his incomprehensible deitie For God of himselfe being most wise most iust and most good would haue a most wise a most iust and a most good vice-gerent to rule his people in all righteousnes and equitie Yea the barbarous rabble did so wonder and adore their first kings in those former ages that they did faine and comment how they were not dead but translated into heauen amongst their prophane gods Many write that the three speciall vertues of a king are Sapience Iustice and Concord which without doubt are three of the foure triumphant wheeles of his renowned and euerlasting glorie but certaine it is that hee which is verely valiant magnanimious and industrious and he that with assiduitie vigilancie iustice and equitie doth well gouerne his people committed to his faith and sapience after the manner of good shepheards which carefully guide and attend their flockes doth doubtlessely discharge his function by iust meanes well and faithfully Finally these three properties are they which sanctifie him amongst his subiects and through the whole world Clemencie which is the iewell of princes Mercy the Sun-shine of kings and Lenitie being as it were the milke of maiestie The third one people including the Commonwealth which also should acknowledge one only God and one king considering the corporeall resemblance which is betwixt him and God both of them soueraigning ouer our soules and bodies in ecclesiasticall and ciuile lawes for so much as wee be naturally borne vnder that obedience as those other two former by their proper power beare domination ouer the nations of this earth God hauing his vertue of himselfe infinite omnipotent and limitlesse the king holding his authoritie by the deputation grace and sufferance of the most high God as his immediate steward to direct and to see them instructed in his holy Scriptures and commaundements as also with his owne ciuile and politicke sanctions to gouerne them that they might liue in loue peace and vnion together as one flocke obedient and answering vnto the voyce of their spirituall and temporall pastors without wandering or straying from their obedience like lost sheepe which growing wild acknowledge not any shepheard This third estate is diuided into the nobler sort including as well ministers and magistrats immediat and mediate vnder God and the king as the commons and folke out of which are framed all inferior politicke corporations trades and mysteries as I partly touched in these Morals before From those three the sanctified reasonable and absolute bodies of all Commonweales are deriued their soules being drawne from the perfect and authenticall religion deliuered and approued in sacred Scriptures which hold mens hearts in loue feare worship and obedience vnto God to their princes and towards all sorts of people This soule ought as I haue partly declared in the Morals of my third booke like iustice equally to peize it selfe without wauing either to the right or to the left hand further than is warranted by the written word vttered from Gods holy spirit by the mouths of all our Patriarchs the Prophets and Apostles This is the mightiest and most excellent charge which rideth vpon the wings of euery good kings soule presenting him sanctified and without blemish before the precious throne of God The king gouerning and preseruing in peace and good order those nations and people which are by Gods blessed ordinance laid vnder his scepter is properly called the head of this bodie beeing the noblest member thereof and placed in the toppe containing that rich treasure of all the sences exterior and interior as of imagination vnderstanding memorie and common sence whereas all other members beeing subiect and obedient thereunto be partakers of touch onely It likewise giueth liuely faculties to the whole bodie as the Spring head doth to those other riuers which are naturally deriued from it And therefore euery body without a head wanteth his life and sence whereas though it want both legges and armes it may liue and haue his being though lame and miserable In like sort all waters not abounding from a Spring are fennes pooles and marishes mortified and without motion whereas if diuerse armes and riuers braunching from the head were taken away yet would a liuely facultie remayne alwayes in the Spring And therefore the best Philosophers and Physitions as Aristotle and Auicenne accord herein that all sence and motion beginneth in the braine which being temperate maketh a good memory which is gotten by quietnesse by which the memorie groweth rich with knowledge In such similitude and order all the perfect sences and motions of the Commonwealth begin in the prince who being temperate in himselfe shall attaine that rich wise memorie which is by the Morallists and sage Poets called very properly the mother of their nine Muses and thereby like king Salomon become perfect in all sapience and prudence This match is made by tranquilitie for so much as the zealous care and studie to purchase peace maketh euery king blessed and reuerend and in the presence and sight of God and of his people Out of which the glorious renowne honour and good memorie of euery vertuous prince groweth famous in the knowledge of all posteritie for euer euen as for their golden gouernment king Salomon and Octauius Augustus were whose glorie shall endure with this worlds memorie O what a comfort then may rest with the royall spirits and diuine sences of your mightinesse when all these blessings shall be plentifully poured down from God vpon your gracious head with that oyle of gladnesse and vpon the bodie of your kingdomes with that Angelicall Mánna of spirituall goodnesse which was proclaimed at the birth of Christ Iesus in the blessed dayes of Octauian when all the corners of the earth were in a long and deepe silence as after a strong suddaine tempest which excellent foode of peace your blessed Maiestie hath in your sapience from God preserued with grace and amitie to distribute amongst all the nations and princes of Christendome And 〈◊〉 these youâ—… Maiesties heauenly studies and contemplations for the weale and happinesse both of your owne and of other Christian pâ—…es your brethren and their people are infinite and alwayes waking so are we with a sacred and euer burning zeale strongly bound
or priute seales to delay any cause in iudiciall dependance proceeding by course of law yet shall the iudges proceede with mature expedition according to iustice notwistanding any precept from them directed For what can be said more to the disgracing and disrobing of any king then that which Freigius in the latter end of his politicall questions citeth out of a certaine oration of Scattaius against tyrannie Tu iusticiam imperabis interim tamen iniuriam alijs facies tu officium commendabis ab officij religione deflectes As if he should say Why wouldest thou be king to command men to deale iustly giuing in proper person example of wrong done to others How canst thou commend men for doing of their dueties and offices when thou thy selfe transgressest thy functions and dueties Thus if princes or iudges should preuaricat but a little thē their laws which ought to be the iudges of euery iust prince will restraine and reforme them And if those lawes be dissonant to the spirit of charitie trueth and equitie thē the diuine power sapience of God which are the very iudges of all laws princes iudges on earth wil correct punish them with their ministers Let therefore no partiall respect of power neither priuate affection nor vnexcusable ignorance of those laws which any iudge stewardeth blemish his iudgments For if he be partiall let him consider with himselfe that it proceedeth from affection or corruption which both are incorporate that it cannot be hidden from many men amongst infinite which behold and heare him from so conspicuous a place where all mens eyes are fixed vpon his maiestie and therefore according to Salust aequos bonosque fauere debet vt eius benefacta reipub procedant he must fauour men which are iust and good that he may declare himselfe beneficent towards the Commonwealth And if he be led by affection let him consider how fallacious a passion it is oftentimes opposite to reason euen in the men of honestest natures and constitutions shewing a kind of charitie for the most part where it falsefieth the vertue pulling downe of a mountaine to raise a molehill and to satisfie his affected commonly to deiect and make ruinous such aduersaries which percase euen in a worse case descrue much more affection Lastly but specially let him haue a speciall care to be skilfull in those lawes which he deliuereth and administreth for otherwise his honor is onerous and insupportable For if he shall with all graue and profound prudence consider how chargeable and iust accompt will be required at his hands that hauing much committed to his trust his accompts will arise to great summes not of monies and pounds but of men and people the noblest worke of diuine nature the creature in whom so soone as he was created the creator himselfe exceedingly reioyced and tooke so great pleasure that when through his owne preuarication he was taken captiue to sinne hell and death he ransomed him in the tender and vnspeakeable loue of his holy spirit in the most precious blood of his deare sonne Christ Iesus the righteous sacrifice of his vnrighteousnesse If therefore he counterpoise in equall scales of diuine reason the sacred allegeance in which he liueth spiritually bound vnto God the faithfull obedience wherein he standeth bodily subiected to his prince the zealous duetie which doth by nature inuite him to studie the weale of his countrey pondering these with his naked conscience hee will not only refuse those honors and dignities to sit in iudgement vpon Gods beloued people vnworthily or vnskilfully but rather will choose a death accompanied with the languishing sting of infinite tortures Albeit as Salust thinketh Plerosque non ijsdem artibus imperiū petere postquā adepti sunt gerere primo industrios supplices modicos esse dehinc per ignauiam superbiam at atem agere That many princes differ in their acquisition and gouernement of a kingdome because vpon the first they shew themselues industrious suppliant and temperate afterward in sloth idlenesse and pride passe their liues Euery king iudge and ruler of the people therefore ought to ponder with himselfe how great a part of the Commonweales hope dependeth vpon him which he should with his vertues and innocencie protect whereas all other meanes are forcelesse Yea verely the iudge representeth in himselfe the person of that Commonwealth where he ministreth wherefore he should sustaine the state and honor thereof by conseruation and administration of iustice bearing in carefull remembrance the trust of those things which are reposed in him A iudge is as it were an eye fixed in the kings scepter a priest of diuine iustice and equitie a moderator of the lawes the life of righteousnesse whose voyce is the pronouncer and preseruer of life and death a publike interpreter of the lawes vnto whom as to a common sanctuarie all persons oppressed with dammages iniuries repaire and refuge themselues to be relieued in equity And euen as iust iudgement is fitly defined to be the ballance of equitie the voyce of lawes and consummation of all strife and variance so is the iudge properly called th'interpreter of those lawes the steward of equitie and oracle of the Commonwealth They therefore that are fit and worthy to sit vpon the throne of equitie ought sincerely to be good men seuere incorrupt obdurate against flatterers impatient of smooth tales and secret detraction vnmercifull to them that are remedilesse inexorable in waightie causes of iudgement and such as will not transgresse the precincts of iustice in any case for according to the discretion of Aulus Gellius they must distribute to the king and begger equall measure without inclination or passion towards any mans estate or person as it was most diuinely shadowed in that misticall order of the Areopagites being a counsell in Athens consisting of sixtie citizens which successiuely through all offices and degrees of honor at length attained place vpon the seate of iustice to deale in affaires of state and in tempestuous times to prouide that the Cōmonwealth should endure no preiudice These in the darkest season of the night would decide causes in iudgement at such time as they might heare and not see the parties appealed Hence it is that Cicero saith Vir bonus ponit personā amici cum induit iudicis A good man layeth apart the person of a friend when he taketh upon him the place of a iudge And therefore iudges as saith that most reuerend Emperour Iustinianus must sacrifice pure and vncorrupt hands to God to the kind and to the law least that curse fall vpon them which our Sauiour Christ denounced against the Pharises Woe be to you interpreters of the L◅we for you haue taken away the key of knowledge you did not enter in your selues and them that would haue entred you forbad Amongst other politicke Lawes in Deutronomie deliuered from Gods mouth to the sacred prince his seruant Moses it was commanded
rule of a kingdome being reuiued in the Consuls out of the gouernment Aristocraticall represented by the Senators and out of the Democracie manifested in the Plebeian Tribunes a firme and absolute Commonwealth was fashioned Those Monarchies which are esteemed most perfect and excellent at this day being established by the Senate or Counsell of most prudent persons aduaunced for their true nobilitie to that place with a kind of consent and approbation of the commons doe moderate and nobly restraine the princes force within the limits of his owne lawes made and published for the benefit of his people generally by which meanes their wealth peace may be multiplied conserued especially when the crowne is not bestowed vpon any through suffragation as by briberie faction or affection but by royall right of heritage to princes next in succession by blood as it is in this renowmed monarchie of Brittaine vnder your maiesties imperiall Scepter at this day for euery good Commonwealth is vnder iust gouerment with excellent counsell conserued and amplified neither can it but of force must otherwise be ruined and perish For as much therefore as euery Commonwealth consisteth of a multitude which should liue in vnitie together vnder one God one king and one law I will speake somewhat of the incorporation and harmonious vnion of people and nations one within another So much the rather because the present state of our monarchie thus confirmed and happily lincked in vnion requireth it in this semblably with all requisite humiliation as in all other things yeelding and submitting my iudgement to the correction of wisedome The first and best forme of gouernment and empire is where one king moderateth and ruleth all nations vnder his dominion vnited according to the true spirit of vertue which domination is properly tearmed by the sages of wisedome a monocracie for it representeth the perfect ordination of nature by which euerie multitude and deformitie submitteth it selfe to some one thing which gouerneth the same euen as all things mooueable are reduced vnto the first moouer or centre from which all Lines Elements and Dimensions are deriued For proofe hereof Herodian in his historie writeth that Darius vpon a consultation how the Persian state might be best established as a paranymph by the liuely force of a most eloquent oration defended the forme of a monarchie which the Persian senate did also with one voice applaud declaring and proclaming him their king thereupon The like part did Mecanas defend against Agrippa before Octauius Caesar and preuailed both their copious and effectuall orations are yet extant in Dion Cassius To confirme this both by diuine authorities and humane nature the blessed Apostle saith that there is one head one spirit one lord And it is written in the prophet Ezechias My seruant Dauid shall be their king and onely shepheard oner them all Also wee find in the gouernement of nature amongst bees one chiefe one guide amongst cranes one emperour or king amongst nations vnited in obedience to the righteous scepter of one and one iudge or president ouer euery prouince When Rome was first builded it would not endure the gouernement of two brethren equall in empire And in sacred monuments we find that Iacob and Esau disagreed in the very wombe of Rebecca Vnum etenim arbustum non alit duos Erithacos One bush will not admit two ruddockes at once vpon it Neither can the Empire or kingdome of any brooke two Phoenixes to liue at once Nature also instructeth and teacheth vs how one ocean imboketh many riuers which as contributaries subiects suppliants and weake ones haue recourse and admittance into the strong bosome of the vaste seas In a Monarchie therefore and in the whole course of euery good policie these three speciall are most certaine and faithfully to bee receiued The first is one God without fellowship in power and vertue whose sacred iealousie will not admit of any copartener or competitor according to whose precepts and instructions deliuered as it is written in those holy bookes to his faithfull seruants Moyses and Aaron and after to the blessed Patriarkes then to the diuine Prophets and lastly by the blessed mouth of Christ Iesus his sonne our Sauiour vnto the sanctified Apostles without addition or diminution our true Religion Catholicke being the vertuous baulme of our mortified soules and bodies wounded with the darts of sinne and death and extracted out of the most precious and inestimable substance of our saluation is immoueably grounded The second one king who semblably without any competitor or associate coequall in his authoritie doth represent in himselfe the very person of royall iustice according to that excellent verse of the Poet Nulla fides regni socijs Omnisque potestas Impatiens consortiâ—… erit There is not any trust to be reposed betwixt fellowes in Empire for each power is impatient of a competitor The paâ—…ts of a true prince as Plata defineth is Ex lege more regere To rule by law and custome Hâ—… being thus placed in the throne of royaltie sheweth Goâ—… high fauour and deare loue to that people whom hee graciously gouerneth by those wise and godly rulers which vnder him sit on the throne of Iustice wherein likewise the king sheweth his owne excellent prudence that can by good discretion make choice of such excellent magistrates Hence was it that Queene Saba did magnifie king Salomon aboue all the kings on earth in these words Blessed be the Lord thy God which loued thee to set thee on the throne of Israel becausâ—…hee loued Israel for euer and made thee kingâ—… to doe righteousnesse and equitie c. In the King therfore is comprehended the power and vigour of those humane laws which proceeded from his diuine Sapience answering to the natures of his people and consenting with the timeâ—… necessitie which he stands obliged to protect with the maiestie of his state antiquating such ordinances as haue beene formerly thought behoofefull and not presently seruing in such needfull request as before for in the Prince and in his Lawes hauing entire reference and respect to the true worship and lawes of God which is the principall all Kingdomes Nations and People are preserued gouerned and maintained in glorie wealth and tranquilitie And hence is it that the Prophet Dauid sayth Giue thy Iudgements to the King O God and thy â—…teousnesse vnto the Kings sonne that in Righteousnesse hee may iudge thy people and the poore in Equitieâ—… The mountaines and hils shall bring peace to thy people by Iustice. For which speciall and singular glits and vertues of Righteousnesse Concord and Iustice Kings and Princes were first ordayned whose institution was diuine and heauâ—…nly and by the most bountifull and gracious ordinance of God appointed for the weale of his people Also they that were so chosen in regard of their prudence humanitie temperance and other excellent faculties wherein they surpassed all others were therefore called to the gouernment of people and
thy God reioyce in thee c. This is that blessing which hath beene so long prediuined and promised so that our auncestors in many fore-passed ages haue heartely longed to see the same but could not Let vs therefore which haue gotten this iewell highly rate and esteeme it and as we wish for the continuance of that peace which dependeth thereupon so let vs embrace and defend the same least the prouerbe bee verefied amongst vs with our calamitie That Enuie succeedeth our first glorie that we make not foes of our fellowes and fellowes of our foes Accord we therefore with ioyfull endeauours in vnanimitie because peace and friendship cannot possibly reigne together in people of diuerse and variable minds Let vs esteeme our selues all alike in libertiâ—… without ambicious crowding or thronging in for prioritie ascribing all earthly power and preheminence to the Soueraign of our nation and liuing togeher as men commorant in one familie Qui eodem igne fumo vtuntur c. Let vs like those auncient noble Romanes dilate and propagate our honours by sociable amitie rather than to repine at any iust and profitable equalitie to the pernicious confusion and ruine of our estates in generall Thus shall wee stirie vp our discontâ—…nted spirits if in vs any such wildâ—…e of ambition reigne to maintaine to protect and to glorifie those liberties which we possesse and by these meanes shall no forraine enemies dare to complain or repine against any thing in vs but of our greatnesse and amplitude By these meanes shall good fashions bee followed ciuill and martiall exercises embraced and practised concord and firme amitie shall be confirmed and encreased inuiolably both amongst our selues our old friends and new confederates This if we shall presently ponder and put in practise with the true vigour of our vertues then shall we not haue cause to curse our owne imaginations and foresights like foolish pilotes which when a tempest is apparant and alreadie begun lamentably threaten and as it were aftertell of the calamitie setting men to worke when all humane hopes are past or like to the imprudent gouernours of cities which when the first sedicious sparkes are kindled and breake forth to the ruine of their states which otherwise might haue beene antiuerted by their precaution spend the remnant of their time of succour in wayling and weeping But if my zeale carie mee too farre to make a question of that which many peraduenture wise do think needlesse and impertinent I craue pardon assuring my selfe that the diuell beeing confusion himselfe will bee very busie to make a disorder amongst the people of God that he might supplant the root of our true Christian glory Since therfore the blessed time of our vnion is accomplished and perfected we shall not need to doubt but that this our bride and bridegroome shal flourish like a garden inclosed and abound in precious vertue like a spring and fountain of happinesse which is sealed vp Neither is it to bee doubted or imagined which some friuolous opinions haue cast out that it cannot long and easily brooke your Maiesties absence as if according to the vulgar prouerb the chiefe person of maiestie being out of sight should be banished out of her loyall mind also for as I said they might know how the diuine spirit doth not call kings by the name of gods in vaine for so much as this royall vbiquitie disperseth their soueraigne power lawes and authoritie through all the parts of this world For we know that Fraunce which is much larger had not many ages past diuers great and free principalities contained within her bounders which by match and vnion as this of ours is and through the disobedience of some ambicious princes are now firme and annexed as parts and members of that crowne such as were Normandie little Brittaine Aquitaine Orleance and others and likewise in the kingdome of Spaine where at one time Aragon Castile Granada Corduba Gallicia Andelosia being all of theÌ„ little kingdomes were seuerally gouerned and Portugall also lately knit vnto king Philips Crowne All which principalities and prouinces are gouerned in peace by Presidents and Counsels established in them There seemeth then no reason to the contrary why Scotland should not containe it selfe and continue loyall shadowed vnder the royall curtaine of your gracious authoritie by that sapience which in your diuine policie is and shall be dispersed amongst them For they cannot be such impious barbarous and vnthankfull creatures as to forget their faith and allegeance vnto him that from his cradle was and is so dearely affied in them and which hath since the first spiracle of his reason expressed such mildnes and gouerned amongst them with such moderation benignitie Moreouer the nobles and gentlemen of that nation are in this age by the maruellous beneficence of God and Nature morethan euer ingenuous liberall honourable and for the most part vertuously affected desirous to learne knowledge good fashion which oftentimes I did obserue in the conditions of theÌ„ for the most part insomuch as it is a wonder that a region which was sometimes held and reported to bee rude and barbarous could affoord so many ciuile and gallant spirits which last good and honorable inclination is generally seene in the most of them being a speciall braunch of temperance drawne from modestie noted by the Philosophers and touched in the Morals of my first booke Shall any man then amongst the people of your Maiesties Nations bee so stubborne as to withstand this diuine ordinance or so proud amongst the seditious that dare appeale from this so charitable and peaceable decree For besides that royall Maiestie shall discountenance him the very Cannon of those ciuile lawes which are approued established throughout all Christendome vniuersally shall vtterly condemne them by that prerogatiue which is granted to your Highnesse in these words Rex Angliae est monarcha in suo regno à cuius sententia non appellatur quia praefectus multorum pralatorum est sui regni Much more priuiledge then is included in your Highnesse in whom is iustly planted the soueraigne right and inheritance of both these kingdomes now made one Nation Since therefore this head including your regall grace being prudently busied in continuall contemplation premeditation conference of things past present and to come which are noted to be the very faculties of prudence doth with a zealous and pastorall care tender vnto the heart being the iewell-house of vnderstanding and sapience the weale of this politicall body which it by mature deliberation disgesteth for the chiefe good thereof euen as the liuer with bloud the vocall organes and arme of iustice by pronounciation and distribution of the lawes and euery part in his particular function is ayding towards the preseruation hereof in health and tranquilitie so should this head with all these mentall faculties and that body with all his members conioyntly labour aboue all things to preserue the soule pure and blemishlesse
mens minds and to make his proper vse of them if he can apprehend the plaine causes which moue most honour and admiration in their hearts towards any Magistrates if hee can wisely discerne the Spring-tide of Iustice Prudence Fortitude and Temperance when they passe their bounders then is he worthily deemed iudicious In the consideration and practise of which the whole force of prudence consisteth Peregrination of countries is another cheefe ornament in a Counsellor in speciall the realmes and prouinces of his prince his friends his enemies and neighbours In such trauailes behooueth his care prudence diligence and consideration not to passe like those gaping and wauering fooles in fayres and markers which onely come to busie their eyes without benefite But his vse of trauell must be to know how such countries are gouerned in peace and warre what reuenewes ordinarie out of his owne lands and extraordinarie by contribution of the people belong to the prince how the realme is munited and how the people addicted by such obseruation hee becommeth prudent worthie to be consulted and in honourable respect vpon his returne Albeit Honorius and Theodosius Emperours supposed that men ought not to diue into the secrets of a forraine state yet he which vpon the dispatch of any legation returneth into his owne countrey shall be deemed prudent if he can obserue open when occasion is offered such secrets as by being shewed may profit his owne countrey Amongst other things if he bee commended by the prince to performe any great embasie the speciall subiect of his heart vnder God must be the renowne of his prince and the chiefe organe directorie by which hee must square out his businesse and worke should bee moderation For if it happen that in arrogant speeches hee gallop out of the listes of modestie then doth hee violate and abuse the maiestie and peace both of his prince and of the people But rather if any thing in charge be by the king through heate or some angry passion somewhat more sharpe or bitterly deliuered that when he pronounceth his Soueraignes message the embassadour rather mollifie than exasperate any matters of litigious consequence in his speech and if other things of fauour or honour bee by him to be signified on behalfe of his prince vnto friends his care ought to deuise how he may make the same more gracious and magnificent by his owne wit and inuention for it sometimes happeneth that princes by means of some embassadours their intemperance and temeritie be vehemently moued vnto wrath and by the prudence of others are drawne into the true borders of friendship and amitie The things commonly notable in trauelling of forraine countries are the lawes religion and fashions of the Nation where hee soiourneth the scituation castles and cities of the countries the fashions of the princes robes and attire the qualities pedigrees families power treasure and buildings of the Counsellors and Noblemen By conference vpon such obseruation he shall learne the good and euill of his owne countrey how to ciuilize the people if their manners be corrupt how to declare himselfe hospitable towards strangers for vnder them haue diuers charitably disposed worldlings such as Tobias and Lot receiued Angels into their houses how to grope mens minds or meanings whether they bee friends or enemies and according to the state of his businesse he shall accommodate himselfe to the time and vnto the state of his prince hauing good note of all occasions oportunities encombrances and difficulties of places and seasons No man shall haue power by cunning relation of salse-hood to make him swallow a gudgine neither to build vpon any mans opinion It is further required that hee know how many myles that countrey where he hath conuersed is in length how many in breadth with what munitions and artillerie the townes are fenced in what place of the countrey an armie may find safest entrance what faire and open Harbours Ports Creekes Hauens and Promontories there are how many deepe riuers water the countries what the principall vertues and vices of the people bee what their chiefest pleasure wherein their Nobles differ from ours in England what oddes betwixt their edifices and ours whether of the princes is in power most absolute how the people in those Nations oppose their Soueraignes what difference in the formes of their seruice and ours how they muster trayne and discipline souldiors whether in marching or quartering of armies they spoyle the countreyman what order is prouided that the souldior shall not annoy the peasant So that in his relation he may discreetly compare all those countries where hee hath trauailed with his owne distinguishing of all properties with sound iudgement For if distinction be wanting farewell election and if that depart prudence is also banished the lacke wherof bringeth in confusion which haleth on many millions of miseries A sound knowledge and apprehension of the princes strength whom hee serueth with the power of his confederats neighbours and enemies is likewise adioyned This shall teach him how great their seuerall reuenewes are eyther ordinarie or extraordinarie from whence by what meanes and when they be gathered what forces his prince can leuie and how long maintaine them how well disciplined what gallant or caitiue captaines amongst them that are enemies which of them are confederat against the king whose parties they professe and vpon what plot of malecontment reuenge faction ambition or corruption how strong or weake those secret partisanes are with what commodities they be furnished and wherein wanting for this is the ready rule which measureth any princes power Hee should likewise of himselfe seeme able and worthie when warres require the aduenture of his state and life to bear commaund ouer many souldiors and at all assayes so well appointed as hee may be found aequè fortis ac prudens both wise and valiant executing the laws of arms as those Romane Emperours of whom it is written That in castris they did agere iure summo domique ex aequo bono That in the warres they did vse martiall law and at home in peace administer equitie When a Counsellor can with sound knowledge like a good Physition heale the diseases of his countrey prouiding how to preuent them before they can take hold thereof he magnifieth his wisedome vehemently he should therefore heare euery man willingly fauour all indifferently yet so that most respect be fastened to the iust cause A stranger in his good dealing and right ought to bee preferred before a neighbour wherefore if hee were a Iew borne or barbarous Heathen if he were a Turke or of what odious off-spring soeuer let his cause not his qualitie be respected and in equitie let him hold the priuiledge of nation cognation countrey citie bloud and familie with a neighbour for so much as may concerne his cause In this qualitie the Counsellor is importunately warned to take great heede that hee with his parts doe not corroborate any faction or vnder the pretext
Cicero was in his owne house vnder the colour of salutation and instantly to stabbe him before he could suspect them Cethegus being appointed captaine of that guard which should haue attended without the doores of his house I could giue more late familiar examples as he which readeth and conferreth these may very well be brought to remember euen in the same nature and of the like fashion but I say with Cicero Externa libentiùs hac in re quam domestica recordor In these cases I more willingly record forraine then domesticall examples For the conference of causes and heads of the like plots and conspiracies with their euents and issues will rub vpon their remembrance After this the curioust marshalling ordering and disposing of their euill disposed and disordered complices as places streetes and quarters appointed to be spoyled or guarded by this captaine that rebel for their pillage and to be mantled and defaced with so many terrible traitours in armes some to surprise such strong peeres and noble persons some to guarde places possessed and taken others to spoile and make waste of all good things round about them Their nefarious captaines impiously darting those vertues and graces giuen vnto them by God and headed with the venomous forkes of ambition and malice vpon the naked breastes of their natiue contries whose minds incessantly troubled breath fourth in pestilent sighes in horrible execrations in blasphemous oathes and in vaineglorious menaces a sudden death against all good men For their hearts being enraged and as it were drunken with strange and violent wrath and feritie eate and hauocke vp the peace of their contrimen with incredible immanitie they thirst extremely for ciuill blood greedily gaping for a generall spoyle menacing sword and fire without any mercy to the bodies and families of their owne fathers and contrimen The principall conspirator and archtraitor being like Sathan totally composed of craft and confusion and so by nature able to conciliate aucupate the friendships good willes of men and being guilesully gotten to deale with them as trecherously seemeth very munificent and prodigal of gifts and treasure howbeit most rauenous in auarice of other mens possessions present in counsell and hatefull in all temeritie These are they which open the prisons letting loose the wolues beares and foxes of the Commonwealth out of their chaines which furiously reioyce and exult as on the deuils feast day to ransacke honest mens houses and to keepe a bloody triumph in the defaced streetes Before them their captaine as vpon a tragicall stage made of murther and of dead bodies a man resolute and steeled in thoughts and actions of spight and smoaking slaughter of his owne contrimen calleth and commandeth some of his Canniballes to feede vpon the flesh and to drinke the blood of such noble persons and of others in the place of high magistracie some he commandeth vnto the spoyle and sacke of houses many to set fire and to lay waste such ports bastilles and noble fortresses fenced against them matrons and wiues being torne from their husbands embracements become wofull subiects of their insatiate lustes widowes left naked of all wealth and comfort both of them lamentably subiected to their bloody weapons young maidens and daughters wrung from their parents bosomes rauished polluted and violated with villanous abhomination their most precious iewels openly carried in their sight away from them which lie bound and pitteously wounded without hope of any recouerie round about houses burning and carcases some mortally wounded diuerse breathlesse and all wallowing in blood others lying in the high-wayes and ditches mantled ouer and staunched full with humane bodies finally no noyse but of murthers woundes teares clashing of weapons breaking vp of doores grones and outcries with the mortall lamentations of fathers men old wiues women and children Behold here the bloody scene of sedition which euen nature abhorreth to behold and reason shuddereth to consider can any thing be more flagitious vpon earth then to bestow that life which our owne contrey breathed into our bodies by the sufferance of God vnto the ruine and calamitie thereof vtterly repugnant to the will of God or can any thing bee thought of more abhominable then to deuise the torture seruitude of them whom the same lawes and fashions of life haue included within the same limits liberties and houses with vs Certaine it is therefore which Cicero noteth out of Dicaearchus the Peripatetike Homines hominum impetu plures deleri id est bellis seditionibus c. quam reliqua calamitate More men by the violence of men which is by warre seditions and rebellious treasons are wasted then with any other calamitie And hence is that prouerbe Homo homini lupus homo homini Deus A man is a wolfe amongst men and a god vnto men For in a noble and good action against forreine oppressors of our friends or of our liberties it is a dutifull piety that contrimen combine in armes howbeit to rise vp in rage one against another is more then brutish therfore Cicero concludeth thus homines hominibus plurimuÌ„ prosunt obsunt Men are very beneficiall and offensiue vnto men If into any such impious horrible practises or coniurations either by faction feare or affectioÌ„ any noble counsellor should be drawen let him assure himselfe that the second punishment besides that fearefull danger of the first is most intollerable I had almost said inexpiable Euery right noble and vertuous counsellor therefore will labour as Cicero writeth to deliberate in such cases whether they should wittingly become honest in auoyding that which they know to be reasonable or whether they should wilfully become wicked in the toppe of traytorie For they be deemed impious and abhominable which make a question thereof In ipsa namque dubitatione facinus inest etiamsi ad id non peruenerins For in the combate or doubt within a man whether he should commit treason or not there is a foule sinne although the plot thereof take not effect And herein is the very thought of conceiued treason though it be not put in practise made hainous and damnable A right noble and truely wise counsellor therefore Non modo facere sed ne cogitare quidem quicquid audebit quod non audeat praedicare Not onely dare not put in execution but also dare not harbour a thought of such things as staÌ„d not with his safetie to speak openly For if he were possessed with that ring which Plato mentioneth by which Gyges going invisible became king of Lydia hauing power to do what he list yet wold his wisdom honestie restraine him from all violence And therefore Cicâ—…ro vseth this sentence Honesta bonis viris non occultapetuntur Good men delight in open honestie not in hidden practises But I deeme how no truely-noble nature can be so farre debauched or corrupted vnlesse by flatterers and malicious minyons to whom for the most part great spirits are most addicted But
vnderstanding within those noble vertues which haue circled the other Herein being so manifest a trueth which euery reasonable subiect knoweth and acknowledgeth I cannot incurre the note of Adulation so that it may be verified in this which was spoken vnto Caius Caesar Prius defessi fuerint homines laudando facta tua quaÌ„ tu laude digna facienda c. Men shall first grow wearie with speaking of your glorious and prayseworthie deeds before you desist from doing such things as most highly deserue commendation Thus hath your Maiestie giuen vnto vs a golden and a blessed kingdome not onely by adding vnto your inheritance of England the crowne of Scotland but by bringing in with you as your inseperable coÌ„panions peace prudence magnificence iustice clemencie with diuers other princely vertues amongst vs for our imitation which by the true meede of honor propagate all dominion and soueraigntie confirming that golden sentence of Seneca Habere regnum casus est virtus dare The possession of a crowne is the gift of fortune the gift of a crowne is the meede of vertue So that in after times the like may be recorded of your grace which the Romaines left engrauen in perpetuall honor of their Emperour Heluius who being constrained by the Senate and people to take vpon him the empire was therefore called Pertinax Pertinace imperanti securiviximus nemine timuimus patri pio senatus patri omniuÌ„ bonoruÌ„ c. During the Empire of Pertinax we liued in securitie fearelesse of any mortall man this therefore we consecrate to the godly father of the senate to the father of all good men What then remaineth further after all these blessings in your maiestie lent vnto vs but that in our zealous prayers we with a cheerefull vnanimitie beseech almightie God that all those your highnesse actions and consultations which are and shall be may stand with his good pleasure and end in all prosperitie The best meanes of acquisition and preseruation of soueraignetie being declared as my fashion is I deeme it needefull to shew by what courses it is suddenly subuerted In opposition therefore to the peoples loue standeth their hatred and feare of their prince his feueritie Malus etenim custoâ—… diuturnit atis metus quem etenim metuunt oderunt quem quisque odâ—… perijsse expetir For feare is no good treasurer of a mans life because men hate such persons as retaine them in feare and it is expedient that he should perish whom euery man hateth Saith Ennius in Cicero It is therefore impossible for him to raigne long amongst those people whom he doth oppresse with violence and tyrannie consenting with the sage Morallist Violenta nemo imperia continuit diù Moderata durant Quoquè fortuna altius euexit ac leuauit humanas opes Hoc se magis supprimere foelicem decet Variosque casus cernere metuentem deos Nimium fauentes No king can rule long time with violence But princes temperate raigne many yeeres For wise men which by fortune are aduanc'd Their power and passions so much more will curbe And they that feare bad fruits of too good fortunes Can perfectly discerne the choise of chance He likewise is not rightly called a king that feareth any subiect as Seneca writeth in Thyeste Rex est qui metuit nihil He is a true king which doth not stand in feare of any thing and in another place to this point thus Quos cogit metus Laudare eosdem reddit inimicos metus Such people as in feare constrain'd loue kings By the same feare are made their enemies Nay true kings as I said before whose true firmament is onely iustice are knowen by two speciall things by which they retaine their kingdomes in peace and happinesse that is by their zealous worshippe of God and their voluntarie subiection of themselues vnto the lawes by which they gouerne the nations on earth Hence was it that Caelius did write of a graue a iust and a learned prince which answered a certaine hypocriticall and dangerous flatterer who did affirme that all the meanes and proceedings of princes concerning their estates generally were iust and honest on this fashion Omnia per Iouem non sunt honesta iusta sed barbaris tantum Nobis vero ea honesta quae honesta iusta quae iusta illud possumus quod de iure possumus I call Iupiter to witnesse that all things are not honest and iust but amongst barbarous kings and saluages But of vs those things which are verely honest are esteemed honest and all such things iust which are iust indeed and that is in our power to doe which we may lawfully doe Moreouer this is a most reasonable position and established in the ciuill lawes Neminem dici posse se posse aliquid quod honestè non potest salua dignitate It cannot be sayd of any man that he may doe anything which impugneth his reputation or honestie Tyrannes likewise are knowen in two speciall things by which according to the obseruation of some curious heades they be noted to preserue a tyrannie But in my iudgement the members of those two meanes are the likeliest to demolish any state whatsoeuer the first kind barbarous and the second craftie Vpon the first expendeth the cutting off and extinguishing of the mightie ones the abolishing of conuiuiall meetings and good fellowship in entercourse amongst neighbours the subuersion of Churches hospitals schooles accademies bestowing the lands with which they formerly were endowed vpon greedy flatterers enemies of honestie the taking away of fayres markets and other meanes wherby contrimen become strange one towards another the admittance of strangers into the publike corporations ciuill societies and other popular assemblies that they might snarle and entangle people in their words actions by which their priuiledges possessions may come to be seazed profisco The dispersing through all places of the Commonwealth priuie whisperers informers for the secret groping and mining into the peopels hearts and to supplant the states of priuat gentlemen and persons of good qualitie the sowing of factions sedicious slaunders and discentions amongst noblemen rich men and the commoners by whose ruine his coffers may bee loaden the driuing of poore folkes into mere miserie feare and pusillanimitie the leuying and vndertaking of vniust war abroad that he may make all sure at home The diffidence and not crediting of friends the cherishing preferring and benefiting of wiues whoores parasites seruants fidlers rascals cookes panders daudes players taylors and Buffons Vpon the second meanes consisteth a counterfeit and hypocriticall care or pretence to cherish the Commonwealth th'exaction of tributes vnder the pretext of necessarie warres and of oeconomicall occasions to counterfeit a reuerende graee and plausible maiestie both in person and countenance to wound no man with open iniurie but priuily to bite him to the bone to retaine but one wife in open sight admirably to dissemble sobrietie vigilancie the
change the watch-word at his pleasure Hee declareth his opinion to the Leiutenant vpon any enterprise what number of horse and foot are competent therefore that they may be by the Coronels chosen out for the execution of any designe the the Lord Leiutenant giuing direction who shall haue the generall charge of such seruice All intelligence brought by the scurriers or pyoners taken in espiall or neere the campe are first brought vnto the Lord high Marischall and by him made knowen vnto the Lord Leiutenant and that the Lord Marischall may be the readier found out one of his pages beareth before him a coroneâ—… of his armes or deuise It resteth in his iudgement to determine of all prisoners taken which are forfeited forthwith vnto him if they that surprise them do not presently present them to his Lordship which likewise are punished at his discretion the third part of all booties got is his by right of that office He likewise prouideth that the slaughters of beasts and other easements of the souldiers be not made to the annoyance of the Campe seeing that euery souldier pay for his victuals that he taketh looking that all such prisoners as are committed to the Marischalsie be well vsed punishing quarrellous or mutinous persons theeuish souldiers treasons according to the lawes of armes in that case prouided which are by direction from him faire written in articles and fixed vpon the Marischalsies gate or on some other more conspicuous place in the campe or quarter so that they may be generally published From him proceed all proclamations by voyce of Herauld with a trumpet in the Lord Leiutenants name He seeth the watches as captaines rounders centrenels to stay their due times vntill their drums or triumpets discharge their watches he looketh that quietnesse and silence be kept in the campe vpon setting of the great watch after the warning peece be discharged through him are all honourable and dishonorable actions and exploits of persons to their immortall shame or good fame recorded in perpetuall historie for example he likewise accompaned with the Coronels Generall of horse and foote with the master of the Ordinance and Sergeant maior vieweth the ground where most aduantage in their discreet iudgements may be found for placing or abiding with their troupes on horse and foot and for the most auaileable planting of their Artillerie with such cunning lures as may bring forward the enemies being neere to that place of aduantage In time of battell he serueth on foot with the Sergeant maior when the campe shall moue his trumpet giueth the summons by notice thereof all other trumpets soone after sound a flourish at the L. Leiutenants lodging to the discharge He likewise towards the assieging of any cities or forts appointeth what strength of men and munition what numbers of horse foot are required for he taketh first a perfect view of the place and then prescribeth a forme how to plant the campe with most aduantage against it setting downe where the trenches must be made hauing acquainted first the Lord Leiutenant therewith He directeth the campe-master in his forme and order of encamping and what number of campes should bee made in euery quarter instructing likewise the trench-master in the maner breadth and depth of his trenches for the most safetie towards battery by night or otherwise considering what flancks or buttresses may conueniently be taken away and if they be flanked where they may soonest and safest approach what course best serueth in case they cannot get entrance by plaine meanes to distresse their flanckes by minings or counterminings if the ground will serue if not so then by scaladoes or stratagems of strange excellent deuise with other meanes which haue been or may be done with most commendation and securitie for such a purpose Beatus Rhenanus thinketh that Mariscallus is called of Marca an old word signifying a horse Budaeus calleth them Marischals quasi maiores Iudges sitting on horse-back The office of Marischals according to Vincentius Lupanus is castris locum eligere ac milites in officio continere in quos vitae necis potestatem habent To choose a place for lodging of the Armie to keepe the souldiers in order and office ouer whose liues and deaths they haue power The knowledge and persecution of militarie crymes likewise the doome of punishment of out-lawes and of such souldiors as without honest and lawfull leaue depart the Campe and are not present at musters and times limited vnto them also the defaults of scoutes escurriers espials traytors fugitiues watch breakers such as forsake the spoyle sacke hauocke with all actions personall of souldiors in priuate quarrels are censured by the Marischal in our warres as in France by the Constable who hath caryed before him a sword with a point fashioned like a Lillie The office of the Coronell generall on foote disposeth his Armies by direction from the Lord Leiutenant into competent battels according to the grosse number he directeth the Captaines in their charge what and how many long or short weapons in euery Band or Companie they should haue in what forme order the armies must march which the sergeant maior by direction from him seeth performed From him is a scroll sent to the gouernours of euery battell containing their seuerall charges hee certifieth the remouals of Campes vnto them for the more readinesse of souldiers by the sound of drums or trumpets all armies being distributed into Regiments of Battels are with their Coronels vnder his command Vpon any seruice he ioyneth in directions with the L. Marischall in choise of the ground and his place of seruice is in the middest of the battell with the L. Generall Ouer all our English battels there are Gouernors appointed which are at command vnder the Coronell generall or his Leiutenant These Gouernours appoint euery captaine to send his Harbenger vnto the Campe-master to take notice of the place and order of their quartering or if in Campe of their Tentpitching declaring where how the souldiers should make Cabbines foreseeing withall that they doe not hastily nor confusedly come into their quarters but take their places orderly and ciuilly being directed by their Harbingers His Leiutenant looketh to the Captaines of the watch the Rounders and the Centrenels to fit themselues to their dueties by direction from the Lord Marischall If any foot-spiall be taken by them him they bring to the L. Marischall to the Coronell Generall or to the L. Leiutenant himself The Leiutenant Coronell vpon seruice taketh place in the vaward with the Sergeant maior His speciall care which bindeth him in the same termes with the L. Leiutenant generall is to see that his souldiers vnder his charge proue not effeminate impatient of paines and perill that they shew not more valour in words then weapons that they spoyle not their owne fellowes in Armes that they leaue not themselues open for a praie to the enemie without discipline order gouernment