Selected quad for the lemma: prince_n
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A15753
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The first part of the disquisition of truth, concerning political affaires Handled in two seuerall sections. The first whereof (by way of certaine questions probleme-wise propounded and answered) consisteth of foureteene chapters. Written by Henry Wright.
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Wright, Henry, fl. 1616.
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1616
(1616)
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STC 26024; ESTC S120336
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43,490
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100
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thereby l Fran. Guicch Aul. Pol. distinctly know the condition and state of all Countries the power and strength of their Princes and Gouernors the wisedome and skilfulnesse of their Senators in managing the affaires of State and the originals and continuance of their families with many other particulars necessary to bee knowne to a Prince or State who either hath or may haue dealing with other Nations Or may this rather be the chiefe vse end of Intelligence that a Prince or wise Statesman may thereby better m Polib lib. 1. Pacuvius Guich discouer the secret fraudes and cunning practises of his faire tongued and smooth-faced friends but indeed his craftie and subtile aduersaries as likewise the machinations drifts and intents of his open enemies whereby he may better be enabled to explicate and winde himselfe out of dangers or frustrate their intentions by crossing and counter-mining of them SECT I. CHAP. XII Of peace and the conditions thereof Of the State and affaires of Princes Of Embassages Embassadours and who are fittest to vndertake such charge what Arguments are most perswasiue and of the great vse of Eloqence in a States-man or Embassadour 1 It may bee demanded why wise-men haue alwaies thought peace to be expedient for both parties as well for the victor as those who haue beene conquered MIGHT it bee for this reason for that they supposed it a Senec. Here. Fur. impossible for the world to continue if it should bee vexed with continuall wars Or might this rather be the reason for that they truely iudged that the b Idem Ibidem conquered must of necessity accept of what peace and conditions soeuer the Victor shall grant them And that they thought it likewise to bee a c Liu. lib. 30. comely and gracefull thing to the conquerour to affoord them peace vpon reasonable termes that all men might take notice that hee knew how to begin and ingage himselfe in a iust warre and was able likewise to make an end thereof Or might not this be the onely reason but for that they thought it d Tacit. Annal. lib. 12. profitable likewise and safe for the Conquerour to lay downe his Armes considering that if hee should still prosecute the warres hee should reape nothing but wearisomenesse by continuing and protracting of them and if hee should make too much hast and as it were inforce an end of them hee might runne himselfe into many and e Henr. Ransov de re Bellica needlesse dangers euen to the hazard of his owne estate which otherwise hee might easily haue auoyded For Fortune will sometimes play the Iade and the euent of warres is vncertaine 2 It may further bee demanded how a safe and firme peace may bee distinguished and knowne from that which is vnsure and not to be trusted vnto MAy this be knowne if the peace bee f Liu. lib. 25. honest as putting an end to the warres by giuing and accepting of tollerable conditions Or may it this may be knowne likewise if it bee g Tacit. 4. Hist. simple plaine and without false colours or glosses ambuiguity of words or equiuocations and not subiect to what constructions the peace-breaker may wrest or draw them 3 It may further bee demanded why that Prince who came to his Kingdome by some of the Nobility or Senate shall more hardly keepe it then another who obtained the Crowne by the suffrages and assistance of the people IS it because that h Mach. Prin. cap. 9. those of the Nobility thinke themselues to be little inferiour or rather equall with the Prince whereupon hee cannot sway the Scepter as him listeth but must bee glad in the most things to be ruled by them Or may this rather bee the reason for that it will bee thought the Prince will i So fared it with the Duke of Buckingham in the time of Richard the 3. with Charles the 8. and Lewis the 12. Kings of France in the losse of Millane c. as reporteth Mach. Prin. Cap. 9. neuer be able sufficiently to satisfie those Nobles without the hurt and wronging of others which when hee cannot those very men by whose aide and assistance hee got the Crowne will bee the first who will pull him downe againe Or may this be the reason for that k Idem Ibidem if the Commons should make head against the Prince hee could neuer bee secured of his safety or retayning of his Kingdome because they would oppresse him with multitude the Nobility being but a handfull to them 4 It may further be demanded wherefore it so much importeth a Prince to manage his Martiall affaires in his owne person if hee euer looke to grow famous by his conquests IS it because it 1 Quint. Curt. Mach. Prin. So Alexander the Great Ferdinand King of Spaine and Hen. the 5. King of Eng. became famous so much encreaseth and augmenteth his estimation and credit with forraigne Princes abroad and breedeth and begetteth him loue and authority among his owne people at home Or may this be the reason for that by this meanes all m Mach. disput lib. 1. cap. 30. wrangling occasions and heart-burnings are cut off whereby a Prince sometimes proueth vngratefull to men euen of the best deserts For when Princes present and behaue themselues brauely in the field all the honour and glory thereof as it pertaineth so it redoundeth vnto them whereas otherwise if they were absent and committed the managing of those affaires to their Generals they straight waies imagine that if their forces should preuaile the glory of the day should rest with the Generall who led the Army and that themselues can neuer challenge any part of the victory gotten vnlesse they extinguish the merites of the Generall or himselfe and by that meanes proue vniust and vngratefull to their seruants 5 It may further be demanded how a Courtier may come to bee much imployed in his Princes affaires MAy he effect this if he n Guicch should waite diligently and bee alwaies in the eye of the Prince Or may hee compasse this the rather if once imployed hee manage that affaire well For by this meanes hee shall both gaine himselfe reputation and bee thought fit and able to deale in any businesse and be sure almost neuer to be out of action by reason of the dependencies which other businesses haue vpon those wherein hee formerly hath beene employed 6 Considering that by well or ill managing and handling of the affaires of Princes in negotiating for them with forreigne Princes either great good or great hurt may accrew to the Prince and State it may be demanded what manner of men a Prince might chiefly imploy for Embassadours to forreigne Princes SHall hee vse such as are o Comineus skilfull to picke and gleane something out of other mens employments and appropriate it to themselues if there bee hope that their credit and estimation may grow greater by it Or shall not a Prince
may giue wholesome counsell MAy they effect this if they be Å¿ Plin. Panet men fearing God making his plaine euen lawes the strict and straight rule of their consulations For seeing it is t Tholoz lib. â—4 God alone which sustaineth and vpholdeth Common-wealths it were very fit that he should be made the chiefe head and director of the counsels thereof Or may they do it the better if standing for the u Tacitâ—â— Hist. libertie of themselues and the Common-wealth they do stoutly and couragiously not faintly and fearefully pronounce and deliuer their mindes and opinions least they might rather be thought to runne with the Fortune of the Prince then with him or the good of the Common-wealth Or may they also effect this if they shew themselues x Tacit. 3. Hist modest and of a quiet disposition Or may they likewise effect it the better if they can y Quint. Curt. lib. 4. keepe their owne counsels For it is very certaine that no great matter can be looked for at his hands who will vent what hee should hold in Or finally may this better be performed if choyce be made of such Councellors which haue z Tholoz lib. 24. de repub no particular interest in those things which are to be consulted vpon For no man in his owne cause can speake thinke or iudge vprightly because euery man therin will be partiall 6 Considering that middle courses for the most part proue vnfortunate it may be demanded why notwithstanding the running of a middle course being propounded by some one or other in publike deliberations it is most what embraced followed and put in execution COmmeth it to passe through the ill a Fran. Guich disposition and worse affection of some addicted to faction and opposition who perceiuing that their owne conceits cannot passe currant had rather giue way to and allow of that which is worse not extreame least hee should seeme to oppose but different in a lesse distance that thereby they may seeme to haue in part assented Or is it not for this reason alone but for that likewise the other aduisers b Idem least they should displease some prime-man who hath propounded a middle course of proceedings will likewise run along with him and approue of his deuise Or rather is this the reason why such middle courses are by some no sooner propounded then approued because for the most part prouident and wary especially auncient and aged Statists do approue of that course which they imagine to bee least violent and dangerous and incline to the meane as being the sweeter and more passable without noyse or Nuissance 7 Seeing that the close minds wils and ends of Councellours be strange diuers and for sinister respects priuately kept to themselues for oftentimes vpon pounding of matters to bee consulted vpon c This was the practise of Torlton Archbishop of Canterbury against Edward the second by whose aduice his son was sent into France who ioyning with his mother Mortimer became the head and Captaine of the Rebels against his owne father one thing is spoken another thought and meant whereby the mindes and opinions onely of others may be discouered it may here be demanded how a Prince may iudge whether his Councellours aduise him well or no SHall hee know this by the d Mach. in Prin. disposition of the Councellor For he that more respecteth himselfe then his Prince in the carriage of any matter regards his owne priuate more then the good of the Common-wealth as long as hee beareth this minde he can neuer proue a faithfull Councellour nor one whom the Prince or State may trust or rely vpon Or shall hee vnderstand this by the e Tholoz lib. 24. frequent vse experience he hath had of his Councellours in the like businesses falling out ill or well Or shall he rather come to the knowledge hereof by making an f Idem ibidem exact search and disposition how matters are carried and disposed of within his owne territories Or shall he rather come to this knowledge by the frequent reading of Histories or by the apprehending or comprehending of these two Principles What is Profitable What is Honest Which two indeed are the bounds and grounds of truth and of that worthy wisedome and iudgement which ought to be in a Senator SECT I. CHAP. VI. Of Example the vse and abuse thereof in a Common-wealth 1 It may bee demanded why subiects for the most part a Claudian frame conforme themselues to the fashion of their Princes IS it for that both the b Plin. Paneg. eyes of the minde and the body for the most part looke vpwards and stand as it were at gaze at greatnesse and eminencie tending and bending the whole man to dance as they pipe Or is it because c Tacit. 3. Annal Examples vrge and enforce more then Lawes can do seeing it is the nature of man rather to be led of his owne accord then to be coÌ„pelled Or is it rather for that d Quintilian decl 4. Example in Princes is a kind of secret law For it fareth and falleth out thus for the most part with their acts that what they doe they euen seeme to command it â— Againe it may be demanded why in reforming of a Common-wealth the producing of examples of the most famous and illustrious men for vertue in the same do very much auaile IS it because that such men being compelled by no Lawes yet of their owne accord and free-will acting exercising and exhibiting singular and rare examples of vertue do excite and stirre vp such as bee good to follow them and those which are bad they doe either make them a shamed or discourage them from going on in their lewdnesse Or is it rather for this that when by long processe of time there hath bene no examplary punishment inflicted vpon offenders men grow regardlesse of Lawes and the number of delinquents so increase that the Magistrate is afraid to punish them Then one Manlius Torquatus to punish his owne sonne or a Quintus Fabius to bee accused and condemned for ioyning battell with the enemy without the Dictators leaue and such examples do much bridle and represse other mens insolencies 3 It may further bee demanded why hee that iudgeth by examples is commonly deceiued IS it for that c Franciso Guicch all the selfe-same reasons and circumstances in the like actions do seldome or neuer concurre and meete againe Or is it because the f Idem like actions are not alwaies gouerned with the like wisedome and discretion Or may this bee the reason rather because g Idem Fortune at all times playeth not her part alike but now and then faileth her fauorites SECT I. CHAP. VII Of Wits Manners and Dispositions of diuers Cities Countries and Nations as well free as seruile 1 It may bee demanded what kind of wits may bee termed the best wits MAy such bee