seasoned that ability of wit with soâ—eyne arts and manners The Nations though valiant beware can very well 〈◊〉 peace They are not suddainly mooued to 〈◊〉 but being once raised they 〈◊〉 like men and are not easily â—ppeased The people are excellent at working in 〈◊〉 or iron and drawing it into curious sculptures For the Inuenâ—tion of Printing and Gunpowder the world is indebted to the Germane wits a benefit altogether doubtfull whither 〈◊〉 to the 〈◊〉 or behooâ—e of mankind Their mindes are full of 〈◊〉 nor â—â—ying nor carâ—ing at the vertues deedeâ— or 〈◊〉 of other men especially thâ—se thâ—â— are absent but extolling them with sincere and many times immoderate pruises But nothing is more magnificent in that Nation then that the Christian Empire and Eagle is seated there as if Germany had vanquished Rome and the lost of the Prounces that bowed to the Romane yoake it now the onely country where the name and reliques of the Romane fortune doe rest themselues The Sacred Maiesty of soe great a name is eclipsed by noe a mulation of other Princes and Kings though farre greater in power then he yet willingly giue place to the Imperiall Maiesty That highest dignity was heretofore supported by a power answerable which by little and little as were in a fatall old age did lessen and consume away For by domesticke warrs and the immoderate power of Princes of the Empire and besides the dignity being electiue not haereditary the vigour of the Empire falling to ground hath onely retained a venerable name more by the piety of others then her own strength Among other causes of the decay of this power this you shall finde to bee the greatest the Princes being of great wealth and encreased by the bounty of former Emperours haue at last changed those Prouinces which were first deputed vnto them into absolute Principalities to haue some priuiledge about the Emperour who oweth his estate not to right of inheritance but their suffrages they haue made their own dignities inheritances to their posterity By this meanes the mindes of those Nations and People which are naturally enclined to honour their Princes and heretofore onely in loyalty to the Emperour came by degrees to honour those Princes as his deputies and afterwards as their owne absolute Lords which was a nearer way either to profit or danger See the power of those Princes begun and strengthned did exhaust the strength of the whole Empire and first of all as much as remayned in France then Italy it selfe the fountaine of the Empire afterwards the strongest parts of Germany taken as it were out of their owne body did fall away and were diuided by the variety and number of Princes into other loyalties But in France and Brittaine which are most true Kingdomes it was ordered farre otherwise and those Princes whose power was too great and worthy of suspition by the prouidence of God and industry of the Kings were suppâ—essed and rooted out For what roome were left for the Maiesty and State of Kings if Normandy Brittaine Aquitaine Burgundy Auuergne Pâ—cteirs Prouence and Champaine were possessed by Dukes or Earles as once in the gouernment of petty Kings who safe in their owne strength would obey the King vpon curtesie and onely not contemne him as inferiour to themselues But what miseries in the Kingdome of Brittaine haue beene caused by the great and too formidable power of Dukes and Count Palatines endued with regall priuiledges and mighty in faction and attendance what bloody rebellions haue they oft raised against their Kings there is noe more certaine safety of the Kingdome at this day then that the power of those great men and their Families are vtterly suppressed and the nerues of the Kingdome guided by one onely The Emperours therefore should then haue preuented this renting of the Empire when first the Princes began to grow too great But now the disease too farre growne and all affaires too long setled so that the Empire especially consisteth of those Princes to extort the power out of their hands were not onely an vnseasonable but a vaine enterprise soe many vpholders of those dignities would ioyne in confedency against him for their common security especially seeing at this day their Principalities doe as lawfully belong to them as the Empire doth to him their titles accrewing both from the consent of them that first gaue that power into their hands and also by time and long possession whereby all titles of Soueraignty which for the most part are weake or wrongfull at the first are made lawfull But the last and mortall disease of the expiring Empire was this that many or most of the cities imitating these Princes gathered themselues into Commonwealths making themselues Lawes and ordaining Magistrates and to make it knowne that they had renounced their first loyalty in this sliding from the Empire they challenged the name of Free States entering into leagues among themselues to maintaine each other against the Soueraignty of the Emperour Soe that country which in one State vnder one Gouernour had beene able to contest with all Europe puissant in men and strong cities and worthy to receiue the translated dignity of the Romane Empire can now finde noe Prouince nor scarce any city that shee can deliuer to her Emperour in free power and Soueraignty For the Commonwealths and Principalities will suffer noe Imperiall garrisons within them nor can that Prince that beares soe great and glorious a title finde any place among soe many cities where hee may hâ—â—e his subiects leaue to dwell By this sweet and pâ—blike errour they haue diserâ—ed the Maiesty of their owne country The seauen Electors by the custome of the country are to choose no man Câ—sâ—â— but a great man possessed of a Kingdome or other great wealth and Territoryes of his owne already Vertue and Nobility alone can neuer carry those voices For where should the seate of the Emperour bee vnlesse be had one already without the Empire where should that Court bee kept which were answerable to the title of soe great Maiesty they would hardly suffer him to dwell any where among them whom they loue to honour in his absence But if the fate of that valiant Nation would permit that the whole Prouince might be absolutely subiect to their Elected Casâ—â— then they might easily finde among themselâ—â— some that were fit for that great and puissant honour and bee forced to seeke after nothing in their Elections but vertue onely The Emperour then hath some power but limited and straightned ouer all the country In ciuill contentions they doe often appeale to him But capitall crimes the Princes and Free States doe iudge in there owne territories The Emperour has power to call diots to proclaime warrs and determine controuersies betweene the Princes themselues When warrs doe threaten Germany hee commands men and money from the Prouinces if that may bee termed by command which cannot bee obtained without their free consent The Free Princes
friendships sâ—riously considering whether they haue deserued so to be beloued or whether that Nation so skilfull in taking of aduantages doe pretend friendship the better to perpetuate some inâ—ended mischiefe There is a Magistrate among them of great note whom they call the Palatine he of himselfe hath not power to decree any thing but may resist the King when hee determines to enact any publicke matter which is altogether voyd if the Palatine gaue his voyce against it To him the most of them giue great honour as to the supporter of their liberty and our opposed against the Regall power no otherwise then of oâ—d the Roman Tribanes were ordained as curbers of the Consuls iurisdiction From hence might you see â—hat the great and swelling spirits of that Nation would 〈◊〉 brooke a hard and vnlimited power ouer them vnlesse they be forced as it appeares in those Hungarian Prouinces which the Turke now possesses to an awe of their soueraigne Lords by so sterne a discipline as doth for euer reaue them of any hope of liberty The Illyrians and Dalmaâ—ians whom we call the Istrians and Slaurians are seated vpon the shores of the Adriaticke 〈◊〉 Towards the Land they border vpon Pannonia That Region is vnpleasant on the backe of the great Mountaines vpon whose ridges cold Winter coth perpetually tyrannize But that part of the Country which is seated in the valleys is of a milder temper and well stored with Villages and Castles They are Nations that liue vnder the command of others and hauing beene long accustomed to diuers Lords doe for the most part follow their manners and dispositions Part of it is subiect to the dominion of the Austrian Princes much of it that lyes by the sea-shore the Venecians are masters of and the rest is vnder the Empire of the Turkes from heâ—ce it comes that their habits and manners are partly Germans partly Italian and partly barbarous according to the seuerall Genius's of their soueraigne Lords The Region is almost not visited by any saue onely that in their hauens at some times they doe harbour ships which are sailing from Venice into the East and returne from thence againe into the Adriaticke The other places doe not at all inuite strangers Those souldiers which are leuyed from thence are renowned for valour and great audacity especially in the Turkâ—◠〈◊〉 and few but they are ascribed at Constantinople into his guard of Ianizaries At the North-side of Hungary is Poland which stretcheth from thence to the great Ocean and bordereth vpon Russia A country which though wonderfull spacious yet no where almost hath any mountaines in it and from plainenessâ— of it is â—o named for plainâ—esse in the Scythian tongue is called Pole Their fields lye out in great Champion-plaines which in the Winter are coueâ—ed with deepe Snow but when the Snow is gone are very fruitfull in Corne not onely for the vse of the inhabitants but their graine transported by sea to many countries lying along the Baltike seas doth supply the dearths and baâ—â—en season of other Nations Their Winters are raging and strongly congeale both their grounds and riuers because the violence of Northern winds wanting the repeâ—cussion of any Mountaines hath as at sea a free passage in the open ayre besides their neerenesse to the Northerne Pole where the force of the Sunne is very feeble especially in Winter-tune But Nature for their assistance hath afforded them great and spacious Woods which doe not onely furnish them with â—yring to expell the cold but within their couerts â—oe nourish beasts whose skins for cloathing afford them furres of greatest price and esteemation This double assistance haue the Polanders against the tyranny of their winter But their woods do yeeld them another benefit in which theâ—e are at many places a wonderfull number of swarms of Bees They are wilde Bees hiued or kept by the care of no man vpon plaâ—e Okes or trunkes of other trees they haâ—g by clusters there do they build their houses of waxe and fill them within with most deliciouâ— hony From this alone is the countrey exceedingly and with great ease enriched Their waxe is merchandise to other countreys and of the honey they themselues doo make a kinde of drinke which they esteeme very delicious Some prouinces of Poland are too full of riuers and â—â—rishes in so much as that in Sommer-time they are scarce accessible but in winter when the waters are frozen they haue Sâ—eds in which they passe with speed vpon the ice With those therefore they traueâ—l the country that is their 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 with forreine merchants who come to buy theâ—r waxe their furres and whatsoeuer else is of price and 〈◊〉 in so cold a country They want stones for the most part to build them houses their walls are of timber and their houses 〈◊〉 couered with thatch except only their chiefe Cities and palaces of Noblemen which are adorned as curiously as that countrey can possibly afford But the Poles vnder a rough clime liue hard liues noâ— are the dispositions of the people composed to the elegancy of our age and from thence also are they of more cruell natures Their Innes to receiue stangers are farre different from the manner of our Countreys they are brought into a roome altogether vnfurnished and commonly where the wall is digged thorow to affoord light and stand open to the violence of winde and winter There are no beds for the guâ—â—ts to lye vpon nor tables for them to eat on but the walls are full of tackes where the guests in order may hang those burdens which they haue brought with them and the ground is strowed with straw which is entended for bedâ— in those Innes Therefore whosoeuer doe trauell thorow that countrey do accordingly prouide themselues as if they remooued their dwellings with them their meat and other prouision together with their beds they carry in Waines with them that beeing entertained in those naked Innes they may with their owne prouision defend themselues against cold and hunger They are a Nation borne to crâ—elty and 〈◊〉 which they call liberty insomuch as they can scarce yet bee brought to abrogate a â—aw of vnspeakable barbarisme which for many ages hath continued among them By that Law it wae appointed that whosoeuer had killed a man should bee absolued from all feare of iustice 〈…〉 did throw vpon the carcasse of the dead man a certaine summe of money which in that Law is mentioned Nor would they so basely haue prized the blood of man if out of the cruell fiercenes of their barbarous Genius they had not iudged the murder of man a slight offence They doe abhorre the very name not onely of slauery but of obedience to a iust and lawfull Scepter Their King by force of armes is compelâ—â—d to obserue their Country-lawes The Nobility haue bestowed vpon themselues most mischieuous prerogatiâ—es by which they may safely abuse and hurt each other because the King hath not power enough
that 〈◊〉 as they are conversant in that no tokens of prudence and industry are wanting in them but in other things they are so foolish and â—â—surd that they scarce seeme of a 〈◊〉 mind others have one particular blemish in 〈…〉 that being wondrous discreet 〈◊〉 in their whole life they seeme to deare 〈◊〉 in one paâ—tor one study Nay you must not judge by the sweetnesse and elegance of their society and conversation it selfe of their wit and wisedome For oftentimes in daily conversation men of a narrow minde are lesse offensive than those whom the greatnesse of a cheerfull nature hath made more carelesse whilest they being diâ—â—ident doe fearâ—uâ—ly set a watch upon themselves or perpetually study as being not capable of greater matters how to frame themselves to a fashionable behaviour but the other of a mâ—re capacious nature doe either neglect such vuâ—gar things or else carelesly admit some vices as attendants upon their vertues But it is not enough to find out this diversity of human mindes as nature onely hath stamped it There is another thing beside that may eyther perfect or change a disposition namely their estate of life either that wretched condition or high dignity to which every man eyther by chance or his owne vertue arriveth How may that were borne to a right and milde disposition have by the fault of too much felicity corrupted their natures How many high and vigorous mindes which if fortune had suffered had growne to be examples of all vertue oppâ—essed by lasting poverty and câ—uelty of fortune have 〈…〉 forgotten their owne worth and degenerated into affections quite contrary Athenion in his behaviour a publike example of honesty as long as in the Vniversity with thinne dyet and meane cloathing hee declaimed for Vertue having once gotten the Soveraigne power did straight together with his poore cloathes put off his Philosophy Abdolominus having long beene used with his own hands to gâ—t a living by dressing the Garden when hee was elected to the Kingdome of Sidonia wished that he might beare his royall fortune with the same modesty and moderation that hee had borne his poverty Now therefore let us consider also those affections which by the condition of Fortune or manner of life are added to men and oftentimes doe kill those manners which the simplicity of Nature oppressed by no calamities or inticed by no temptations had bred in them The thirteenth Chapter That there is a difference betweene the Dispositions of tyrants and lawfull Princes and againe betweene those Kings who come to their Crownes by right of Inheritance and by Election Of the dispositions of Noblemen gracious with Kings THose people who subject themselves to no Scepter though they abhorre the name of servitude yet doe not enjoy true liberty For they must needs elect Magistrates to whom they give iurisdiction over themselves and the publike power which they glory to be in the whole Nations is adored in a few men so that in those Countries where you would think all did reigne the greatest part are Servants a secret law of things dispensing so the frame and order of the world that by the nerves of one head according to the rule of the Deity many members should bee governed This spirit of Government which loves to reside in a few doth more plainely shew it selfe in the Aristocracy but most of all in a Monarchy where all the power is in one But that height of power to which GOD by a secret instinct has subjected Men was not ordained for their sakes which possesse the dignity but those that are subject to it Therefore when Kings have abused their dignity according as their pleasures and ambition swayed them or the peoples ignorance hath not understood their owne coÌ„modity the name of Kings hath oftentimes grown hatefull and Monarchy with much blood and slaughter hath been banished out of many Countries and againe restored All those Common-wealths that flourished heretofore had Kings at the first But they being expelled by those that understood not true liberty eyther the blind popular governement succeeded them or else the rule of the Nobility that is many Kings in stead of one And as a member which by violence is put out of joynt cannot be put into joynt but by violence againe so those Provinces which by this meanes had cast off the best forme of government could not againe untill they had cruelly payed for that errour bee restored reduced to their first right estate For in those CoÌ„mon-wealths some cittizens swelling with ambition had eyther by armes made their names great or by the peoples error engrossed too great and too little offices or else had seized into their owne hands the strength of the Common-wealth and called themselves Kings But they growing fierce as it must needs bee in a new and hated State did so pollute their reignes which they by treason had gotten that the people for their sakes thought worse of Kings than ever they had done and the name Tyrant which was once an honour to all Monarchs became a word of hatred and publike infamie But hee that will consider those affections which Kings by the greatnesse of their dignity doe nourish in them must not esteeme alike the state of all Kings Those different wayes that bring them to their height doe cause different mindes in them and those that reigne in a new-setled Monarchy doe carry themselves in another manner than those who safely and by the peoples wishes reigne over a Nation long accustomed to that governement And different also are the minds of a King crowned by Election as in Hungary Denmarke and the Roman Empire and such a King as reigneth by inheritance and possesseth that state which his Father and Grandsires held before him New kingdoms not well established by time nor the constancy of the people doe fill their Princes with continuall suspicions They flatter the meanest subjects and feare the Nobility especially whilest they thinke themselves are feared and daily consider with themselves that their estate not yet setled may by the motion of fortune as easily be overthrowne as it was raised Nor are tyrants onely that came unjustly to their crownes disquieted with these thoughts but those also who are lawfully chosen over such Nations as have not beene accustomed to the name and authority of a King But this feare is greater in Tyrants For if they have subjected a Common-wealth they feare the Nobility as men that will vindicate their lost liberty and loath to serve him who lately was their equall Or if they have invaded a Monarchy and expelled the true heyres with a continuall care and vexation they suspect and feare the peoples hearts as inclining to their ancient Lords Therefore they dare not trust their friends because being privy to their counsels they know also the means which way their Kingdomes may be undermined and expect fidelity from no man since themselves have violated it But in open show and with a garbe
put on of set purpose they seeke occasions of doing curtesies and ambitiously affect the fame of integrity and loue to their Countrey They are exceedingly liberall to the poore great punishers of those vices of which themselves gave example and lastly eyther Authors or restorers of the best Lawes and publike buildings for ornament of the Citty to decline by those meanes the present envy and infamy of posterity In this manner a Tyrant is eyther bad by the fault of his condition not his disposition or else is good by necessity His minde is wonderfully austere his countenance wilde his thoughts ready uppon all occasions especially those occasions which he feares true pleasure he doth not know but is led with a hope of it and with vaine pompe sweetning his inward cruell cares he doth as it were cousen his owne minde But a lawfull King eyther by election or inheritance confident in the right of his royalty doth not so descend to base feares or wicked preventions although perchance hee fall upon turbulent times mad Subjects and whatsoever else a Tyrant feareth But those Princes which owe their fortune to election whose royalty continues not in their family being as it were private men in one respect namely as they consider their posterity doe seldome with their whole care and endeavour so much procure the publike good as those Princes which receiving the Kingdome from their Ancestours strive to adorne it for their owne Posterity Therefore those cares which are due to the publicke they bestow upon their domesticke affaires in a piety which may be excused if they can fitly divide their thoughts and looke both wayes so to remember their family that they forget not their publike charge But if by chance they hope or desire top referre any of their owne bloud to the succession then by rewards and curtesie the peoples suffâ—ages must be bought Force must be omitted and Majestâ— it selfe layed aside So by aâ— hidden and troublesome care his minde is a Servant even to those men by whom in publike hee is served and adored In such cares oftentimes for their private family is the industry of those men taken up who for their Heroicall vertues did before seeme worthy to weare a Crowne Many times they decline to the worse part corrupting their manners exercising with revenge their ancient hatreds and aemulations when not forgetting who were before at dissention with them or who were crosse in voyces to their election their new power not yet able to governe and containe it selfe doth swell onely with desire of revenge But if they be troubled with none of these mischiefs yet for the most part they are ambitious to doe strange and wonderfull things and by theÌ„ to renowne themselves and their times to Posterity These high desireâ— may aswell be inconvenient as profitable to the Common-wealth For as in Apples and Berries too early and forced ripenesse is onely pleasant because of the novelty of it but the Trees themselves by such forced manuring and unseasonable heats after this fruit is brought forth doe presently decay so in publike affaires especially the greatest acertaine order is to be observed and those who pervert or praecipitate those affaires doe seeme as it were to kill the Commonwealth Yet notwithstanding elected Kings almost in all ages burning with desire of a lasting fame have eyther raised Warres abroad or sought to innovate something in their owne Realmes to gaine a name by their owne boldnesse and the danger of their men and perchance valuing it at that rate Few of them with Stephanus Baâ—torâ—us the King of Poland doe measure their actions not by their owne profit but the welfare of their couÌ„try There is a saying of his extant worthy to expresse the bravery of his disposition I will make the world quoth he understand how much a King chosen for vertue by the consent of a Nation is better than he whom right of succession thrusts upon the shoulders of unwilling people But those Kings to whom most truly this name of Majesty belongs who leave to their children that perpetuated honor which they received froÌ„ their ancestors now owing nothing to the peoples voyces from whom aâ— came at the first may seeme born to reigne with another Geâ—tâ— But to search out this disposition of theirs that oweth it selfe only to God may perchance be too sacrilegious a wisedome Nor is it lawfull for us to pry into those affections which the power of heaveÌ„ hath inspired into theÌ„ for governing oâ— the world for alteration of states managing the fates of Mankinde Some that are cuâ—ious may perchance enquire whether it were better for Kings to begin their reignes in their childhoood so accustomed to that greatnesse as a thing borne with them than to grow up under the reigne of their Fathers or kinsmen and afterward receive their great inheritance whether a quiet and obedient people doe soften and spoyle a Princes disposition while his power has a free swindge or rather that love of the Subjects doe not endeare the Prince his affections to them as the master of a family to dutifull Servants Lastly if a lawfull Prince by the peoples ill affection toward him be forced to fight for his owne right whether after the victory he will reign cruelly showing an hatred and contempt of them or rather strive to appease them by a mutual respect as remembring the past dangers to bee such as may returne more heavily upon him Arguments and examples are not wanting on both sides which in the changes of humane affaires although proceeding from the same causes have not alwayes found the same events But it is in vaine to search into these decrees of heaven let the Kingly height not bee touched with curious cogitations but pryed into onely with adoration as the secret mysteries of religion were for it is piety to wish for good Princes but to condemne bad ones is unlawfull And seeing moreover that they doe not so much governe themselves as give way to the fates leading who by their affections doe ordaine the declinations and growth of States all art and wisedome that lookes into their Genius and conjectures of it is oft deceived The first step from this great height is the condition of Noblemen Eyther thoser whom Kings chuse for Counsellours to share with them the cares of the Common-wealth or those who by a great and entire ty of love are endeared to their Kings Through both these as through the mouths of rivers which discharge themselves into a great Sea are the desires and hopes of the people caâ—ried But they as being advanced for different respects have different wayes and dispositions Those therefore who by their flower of age or high birth or sweetnesse of behaviour are highly endeared in Princes Favours have for the most part mindes bent to please which although deny'd to their owne affections they square according to the disposition of their Lord. This is indeed a wonderfull kind of servitude and full
according to their dignity and fortunes For this high Majesty above the vulgars pitch is sometimes necessary in those men by whose hands Kings doe manage their greatest affaires especially seing the difficulty of accesse conference begets a reverence toward them whereby the minds of common people are bridled for the people commonly doe eyther feare or contemne But that asperity of a strict countenance whether it bee disdaine or a true valuation of their power may well bee forgiven in them who for a reward of all their weighty cares have this especially as a token of honour and respect Besides being worne as tt were with continuall trouble and businesse they cannot alwayes put on the same countenances or looke with a cleare and unchanged visage But if that power and ability to helpe or deceive doe fall upon impious minds who intent wholly upon their owne profit neglect the publike safety then although in their wickednesse they counterfeit vertue never so subtilly as if neglecting their own domesticke affaires they were carefull onely for their Prince and Countrey they turne notwithstanding all their businesses that way which tends to the preservation and increase of their owne dignity If they can helpe themselves while the Kings estate is troubled while with all diligence they seeme to cleare it they doe but involve it into moe difficulties and throw it into darke perplexities But if in a quiet kingdome they can more securely reigne then of necessity they hate all comâ—motions and will rather suffer the peace of their times to continue though growing in the seedes of all evill and perchance to the ruine of posterity Lastly the same desires which possesse elected Kings doe commonly feed these Statesmen both of them holding a suddaine transitory power which is not at all to descend upon their posterity Who therefore can chuse but admire those men which in so great a place can keepe integrity and remember true vertue when it lyes in their power to offend with so much ease and so much advantage Some such in every age to the releife of Mankinde have come upon the stage men severe to themselves of a white innocent honour ambitious of nothing but the publike good But the goodnesse of these men many times cannot keepe them safe from envy For by the very slipperinesse of their dignity upon which few are strong enough to stand and the vices of their fellowes their vertue oftentimes is wronged and detracting tongues will never leave those eminent places in which they may find matter of railing sometimes justly but never without suspition But glorious is the fruit of such a dignity that beeing safe and out of theyr â—each they see the envy of other men against them and those men forced to give them respect whom they know maliciously bent hiding their aemulation and striving to expresse love For such envy joyned with admiration and stirred up onely against felicity doth yeild I know not in what sense a kinde of ambitious pleasure to those men against whom it rises as putting them in mind of their owne greatnesse and the basenesse of other men But they have another and farre more excellent prerogative in governing the Commonwealth that can lend a helping hand to brave and vertuous men whom poverty or some other calamity doth keepe downe and be ready as it were to ayde distressed nature Which thing as it becommeth theÌ„ to performe so can they not leave it undone without suffering of punishment in themselves for it as secretly chidden by the indignation of good men and upbraided by the image of vertue daily complaining within them For seeing they did deserve to be advanced for this very reason because they either are or seeme to be men of the ancient and prudent industry Why should not they acknowledge men of that excellent quality and dearely love those that are of kindred with their owne dispositions Nor are they ignorant which they be or where they may be found For as all other living creatures unlesse they be starke blinde can see and know those that are of their owne kinde so these men being of so cleare a sight of so eminent and full a judgement cannot chuse but finde out without mistaking men that are of kindred to their owne excellencies And let them not say that they are oppressed with the multitude of such natures and that neither themselves nor the Common-wealth are sufficient to provide for all of them it were well with Mankind if there were so great a plenty of excellent soules that when all publike affaires were committed to them some would bee still left bestowed by God upon the world as it were for no action or employment But Mankind is not happy in such a plenty and it was rare in all ages and among all Nations to find a deepe and pure wit fit to be employed in any kind of civility one adorned with learning and borne with a cleare and valiant modesty to dare all things but nothing too much When great men invite such dispositions to partake with them in the publike felicity they doe first honour themselves as of kindred to that Genius and secondly adde strength to the common-wealth which is never better governed than by wise meÌ„ As the fame of all eminent arts is stained by the multitude of artificers the unskilfulnesse of theÌ„ most of theÌ„ being unable to doe what they promise seeking for their commendation onely the vaine name of such an art so the fame of wisedome and science hath beene oft stained by unworthy men who have studyed nothing lesse than the Muses or true Prudence But it concernes great men to keepe downe that counterfeit and adulterate vertue and advance true industry vindicated from the praejudice of unskilfull men to such rewards as of justice are due to it The fourteenth Chapter Of the studies and desires of Courtiers Of the different natures and affections of rich and poore men BEsides these two sorts of great men befriended by Fortune there are in Kings Courts a great multitude of men of all births noble and upstart of all estates and ages who there seeke after wealth fame and favour And these houses of Princes though to the outward show they appeare as places composed to all jollity and pleasure sometimes filled with revels sometimes for a change of recreation sweating with hunting games full of honours glittering in pompous and gorgeous attire and rich banquettings where every man seemes to live in a garbe of magnificence and jollity above his condition Yet to him that lookes more narrowly into the nature of it they will appeare in manner of Faires or Markets where men doe exercise a most laborious kinde of traffique How many arts how many troubles belong to a Court life scarce they themselves can tell you who have that way suffer'd along time for their ambition Nor does any man in this Sea deserve the haven but he that understands that a coÌ„tinuall care and labor belongs to
will fill them all with the sense and contemplation of their owne miseries euen soe in children when that happens which they feare the worst all their ability of fearing and grieuing is spent vpon it A man which by chance had escaped the hands of theeues who threatned to hange him being asked with what minde he expected death with the same quoth hee that when I was a boy I expected whipping Moreouer the bitternesse of perpetuall feare in childrens mindes consumeth that moisture which nature intendeth to make abundant for the spreading of their limmes and growth of their bodies For the stomacke we see doth then want his naturall vigour when the heate and spirits are called from thence to aide the diâ—â—ressed braine nor is the blood strongly diffused vpon promise of ioy being too much consumed with the interruptions of sadnesse Therefore such dispositions in the bondage of seuere custody the abilities of their mindes either frighted or wasted will stand at soe vnhappie a stay that those who were wise aboue their Childhood do afterwards want the ordinary wisedome required at Mans estate To Colts and young Cattell we freely allow an vncurbed wantonnesse least their first strength which is then growing should bee hindered by a fearefull apprehension of future bondage and are wee soe blinded in minde that what wee behold in other creatures we eyther neglect or will not vnderstand in our owne children Neither yet is this age of Infancy to bee let loose to an in finite liberty let them with moderation bee kept in awe taught to reuerence their parents highly and bee euer ignorant how much liberty is permitted to them For if the nature of a child be too malapert and full of fiercenesse these pracepts of lenity belong not to him that swelling which the vice of nature has engendred in him and which often the parents too much gentlenesse hath ripened and brought to a perfect vlcer may bee easily lanced and taken away whilest yet it is greene and of easie growth After this manner their delighted childhood shal be freely left both to their own and their parents pleasure after they haue fulfilled the folly of their harmlesse concupiscence age it selfe will by little and little change their desires and the rootes of vertue will spring vp in them which they will loue not soe much by heat of nature as iudgment Then they will bring to their first youth and twilight of wisdome a minde free altogether quiet which by the vertue of their education is ille â—sily embrace the beauty of that light But as euery meane is directly opposed to two extreame vices more contrary to each other then to the middle vertue â—oe those that would call the raw mindes of children to too hasty a ripenesse of studies may well bee accusâ—â—s ignorant of the strength which naâ—ure hath bestowed vpon that age For besides that some children haue rath ripe wits as Papyrius Childhood was iudged worthy of the Romane Senate There is also a naturall dowry and wealth bestowed vpon those yeares a strength of capacious and easy memory which is euer greatest in the time of their childhood and with an obstinate felicity able to retaine what euer it hath then learned but as age encreaseth the memory by little and little decayeth like to a Dew of soueraigne Medicine to the body of man which in the hot countries falls vpon the leaues of Holâ—ey vnlesse it be gathered at the breake of day it will afterwards vanish at the sun 〈◊〉 Therefore with many and often discourses with much reading of profitable Hiâ—â—otry let their mindes bee filled that children vnwittingly may receiue such good things as will afterwards grow vp in them whither they will or noe The variety also of Languages which is gotten by vs with much expence of time will be easily taught our growing children by often discoursing and conuersing with them so that these things of little labour and noe iudgement will easily be attained vnto by that age which is neither strong for labour nor ripe for iudgement But if wee shall suffer this easie and most memory to grow emptily dry those very things must be afterwards learned with long and wearisome labour which in our infancy had bin better and with lesse wearisomnes stored vp for what is more miserable then to bee enforced to spend that time of mans estate which nature hath or damed a time of wisedome though too to short for soe many Artes and Sciences in such things as our empty childhood if well nurtured had stored vp safely in the closets of our memories But in the childhood there are often presages of future vertues or vices nature beginning to build a foundation fit for their following abilities Cyrus that first founded the Persian Monarchy was then beleeued to bee a shepheards child when there appeared in him that great spirit which afterward put a yoake vpon the neckes of the whole Eaâ—t when he was a Boy hee played among Boyes of his owne age and being chosen King by the chance of play hee truly exercised the regall power ouer his play fellowes those that were stubborne with a high and confident if not too proud a Maiesty hee seuerely punished The fathers of those children whom Cyrus had beaten complained of it to King Astyages the King commanded Cyrus to bee brought to him who was nothing daunted nor expressed any childish or low feare at sight of the Throne and royall Diadem hee sayd hee was chosen King among the Boyes and had done nothing but the office of a King Astyages suspecting from this some greater matters then the present fortunes of the Boy perswaded enquired more narrowly of his birth and parentage and at last found him to be his owne grandchilde his daughters sonne That Cato who was afterwards called Vticensis from the City of Vtica where he killed himselfe was in his infancy more then a child When he Laâ—me Emballadours were come to Rome as suitors for the endenization of their country they went to the house of Liuius Drâ—â—us Catoes vncle who brought him vp There the Embassadoâ—rs asking the child in iest if he would entreat his vncle for them hee answered not a word but looked vpon them with a fierce countenance The Embassadours wondering at the stubbornesse of soe young a boy began to fiatter and afterward to threaten him but could not extort a word from him at last lifting him out of the window in a high chamber they made him beleeue they would throw him downe but hee scorning to feare at all knit his browrs and looked more fiercely on them then he did before apâ—esage or beginning as it were of that awfall seuerity which his whole life did afterward expresse But they are often 〈◊〉 who by the behaâ—â— of children will iudge too 〈◊〉 of their future disposition For it must be some great 〈…〉 which must be brought as an 〈◊〉 argument to iudge of the inclination of the future and flexible yeares There is
of subtill art hiding sometimes a base and abject minde sometimes a free and bold diâ—position Sometimes to follow pleasure to sport or jest well is as usefull to them as the greatest labour Nay even to exercise a kinde of state over their Princes and almost reigne but not too long and wantonly doth more kindle the Princes affections to them who desire as well to be beloved as to love For Lords that are advanced to that slippery height of favour if they know their Prince to be of a soft nature not brooking enough a continuall use of the same pleasures must sparingly bestow their pleasing lookes or jests or whatsoever in them is delightfull to him dispensing them in so prudent a manner that affection stirred up often and by intermissions may neither breed a loathing nor by neglect and oblivion be blotted out But if the Prince be easie and apt to change often his affections and Favorites but wheresoever he apply him elfe his love as it is short so is it blind and vehement The Favorites remeÌ„bring that they are now in a high tide but shall shortly returne to their owne Sea doe make most greedy use of their felicity For they are not afraid by importune suites to weary this affection of the Prince which unlesse it bee timely taken and made use of like wines which last not it decayes and perishes of it selfe But â—arre different wayes are to be taken with those Princes who lose not themselves in a torrent of affection but to that sweetnesse of nature which makes them love doe joyne reason also For this affection being true indeed and perpetuall if they deserve it as it can never do all things so has alwayes power to doe something Nor must you rob altogether that tree but gather with choyse the fruit of it which will grow againe for you There fore the Favourites of such Princes doe wholly â—apply themselves to them and never forgetting their Majesty doe alwayes in their love give due observance modestly use their freedome of speaking or advising and ofter consider that they are Princes than that themselves are Favorites Those Favorites as it is their first care to hold up themselves in that height of grace so alwayes make it their second endeavour to raise Estates to get Offices and governments that if they doe remove from that height of favour yet they may still retaine some happy monument of their former power and a stay to their after-life But those who forgetting themselves and too much trusting to their fortune in prodigall ryot doe consume all the wealth and revenew of that rich favour are worthy of a poore old age and then in vaine to repent themselves of their unseasonable and ill acting so high a part Those Favorites also must use one caution which if they neglect it doth sometimes ruine them not to preferre themselves before their Prince in any thing in which he eyther desires to excell or thinks hedoth If he love the fame of policy eloquence valour of the art of warre or hunting let him yeeld that knowes himselfe to excell at it for feare the Prince should be fired with an emulation that may not onely extinguish the favour but draw on a cruell and heavy displeasure For many times the Princes mind with an ambition not small but more than the thing deserves is desirous of fame in such matters and takes it heavily to lose the prize There is no certainer way for those Lords to gaine their Princes affections than to seeme admirers of them but it must be done with art and so as may gaine beleife for all do not lie open to the same flatterâ—es Every Prince who eyther is coÌ„scious of vertue in himselfe or swelled with vaine credulity either may be or loves to bee deceiued by those arts so many men striving to please and praise theÌ„ do quite overcome their modesty and make them beleive great matters of themselves Another great art of gaining their favor is to seem to love them some Venus as it were insinuating an officious grace and requiâ—ing from theÌ„ a requitall of affection That man iâ— yet alive and enjoyes the height of his fortune who by such a happy accident encreased the love and favour which his master began to beare him The King by chance with a fal from his horse bruising his side fell into a Fever this Lord with a sad astonished countenance watched all night without sleepe by his masters side Whether it were art or piety he so far wrought upon the K. affectioÌ„ that none was afterward in greater grace with him Nor can we say that the disposing of so great a felicity which fome few onely can enjoy having so many rivals in compassing that happy favour is onely in the hands of Fortune For as Fortune alone doth bring some men into Kings favours so many of them for want of art and wisdome doe fall againe from that height so that it may be sayd to be in Fortunes power sometimes to raise men to it but of prudence to keepe them in it But it is therefore a more fearefull thing to fall from that happinesse because having beene once admitted into the Sacrament of so high a friendship they can hardly fall from it but they fall into hatred or at least a kinde of loathing for love doth not so often use to dye of it selfe aâ— to be killed by a contrary affection But those Noblemen by whose hands Princes doe manage the greatest affaires of their Kingdomes to whom they trust their secret counsels and the ordering of forreine and domesticke affaires doe commonly temper the strength of their dignity after another way as namely so to draw all the deepest and greatest cares of the realme into their owne hands and so to appropriate them to themselves that they stand not in so much need of their Country as their Country does of their Service And this they attaine by a perpetuall diligence in those affaires and removing as farre they can not onely others but even the King himselfe from the knowledge of them For they may safely manage all things when the Prince is plunged either in ignorance of his owne businesse or credulitie toward them But these men being ignorant of their owne fame doe as seldome almost heare the truth as Kings themselves For although they be infamous for extortion or pride or any other wickednesse and so generally spoken of by the common voice yet themselves many times know nothing of it untill being overwhelmed with the weight of them they begin at the same time to feele the hatred and punishment too Their countenances for the most part are composed of gravity accesse to them is not easie therefore discourses are short shewing much busines and a kinde of Majesty Among these there are some few whose lookes are neyther confused with businesse nor swelled with pride These are worthy of high praise indeed nor are the other to be condemned who fashion their manners