SYr , the two Edictes that your maiestie hath caused to be published since youre newe comming to the Crowne , ( which GOD make prosperous vnto you ) doe make great shewe , that your sayde Maiestie is desirous to see a good peace in France . And truly , al good people do greatly praise God , for the good wil & fatherly affection , that he hath put into your heart towards your sayde subiects , and desire that the same may there take so deepe and liuely roote , as it may vtter it selfe more and more in deede and effect . But ( according to your sayd Maiesties complaint in the last of those Edictes ) many are so full of mistrust , as they can hardly beleue such affection of peace . to be yet throughly imprinted in your heart , the rather for that they see your Maiestie to make warre against them , to whom you say you intende to giue peace : in so muche that , seeing on the one side a pretence of your will tending to peace , and on the other side , an execution of warre , they knowe not what to determine thereof . Some say , they must rest them selues rather on the deede , than on the word , paper or ynke . Other some thinke that the worde and promise of a King , is ground sufficient to reste vppon , excusing youre Maiesties making of warre , with the same excuse that is contayned in your last Edict , that is to say , that your Maiestie assembled not those forces , but hauing found them readie furnished at your comming to the crown , thought it more requisite to imploy them , than to suffer them to be idle , specially seeing that the entertaining of them was so chargeable , & they must needs be payd whether they serue or no. Some say moreouer , that what so euer your Maiestie hath doone touching the execution of war , was but to sharpen mens apetites vnto peace , which held your townes in their hands , & were in armes against you . bycause feare is a ready meane to make the weaker craue peace of the stronger . Othersome say further , that a noble prince oughte to behaue him selfe mildely towardes suche as humble them selues vnder his obeysance , and to tame and represse suche as make resistance against him : and that therefore your Maiestie hathe iust cause to make warre against those your subiects , whiche will not yeeld you their obedience , to whome neuerthelesse ye would giue peace , if they woulde put off armor & desire it of you with humblenesse . But ( to speake the trueth ) all these reasons can not make the greater number , to hazard them selues by beleeuing the contrary ( say they ) to that which they haue seene and yet doe see with their eyes . And especially those that be in armes , who thinke yee meane to make of them a matter seruiceable to your glory and triumph . ( as did the ancient Emperours those barbarous nations whom they subdued . ) And they ground their beleefe vpon your first Edict , by the whyche your said Maiestie seemeth to take for great victorie and matter of triumph , the lamentable aduentures happened in the warres passed , in the late king your brothers tyme , against those that named them selues youre subiectes , and were in deede Frenchmen borne . Again they graunt that a prince ought to represse and tame suche as will not obey him , and that God and nature doe teache vs to obey our princes , and soueraigne Lordes : but they also say , that God and nature doe likewise teach vs to preserue our liues , and that to the obedience due to princes ought to be ioyned the assurance of the subiectes lyues , which should not be taken away , but by order of lawe : and that if they were assured of that point vppon any other pledges than paper and ynke , there were nothing in the world that they woulde more willingly do , than the yelding vnto you theyr whole obedience and seruice : and that therefore they are not to bee accompted as traytors and rebels though they submit not themselues without assurance of their liues , bycause the former time serueth them for a sufficient example and lesson to learne by the harmes of their kinsfolke & friendes , neyther to be light of beleefe , nor to hazard their liues but vpon good warrant . They furder discourse hereof in many other sortes , your Maiestie may well consider , that to such as liue in feare of their liues , all things are holden suspect . For some , bycause them selues are desirous of peace , are easily perswaded that your maiestie desireth the same : and othersome for the doubt they stand in of their liues , are loth to beleeue any thing : and all generally hang in the ballance betweene hope and dread , and knowe not what to trust vnto , nor whiche way to turne them .

Now sir , seeing the world in this maner is tossed , I haue aduentured to take vppon me the humble presentment of this little declaration vnto your maiestie , thereby to giue you knowledge of three points of great importance , whiche I intende to verifie by examples notable and worthy of memorie . One is , that neuer Prince founde it good to make warre againste his subiectes , nor to deale rigorously and cruelly with them . Another is , that a good peace would not onely make your realme of France to florishe , and your poore subiects to prosper , which are now at the last cast : but also make you the greatest king that euer was in France , yea without exception of Charlemaine , Clowis , or any other . And the third point is , that a good peace is not so impossible to bee made as many iudge it to be . But before I enter into the discourse of these three points , I wil here recite one historie much to the purpose of my former saying that the poore pretended rebels are in such wise tossed betweene hope and dread , as they know not where they are . And God graunt your maiesty a willing desire , to folow the example of this historie which I shall declare .

The Romanes had in ●imes past muche war with the Latines which were their neybors , & ( as it were ) subiect to them by reason of their neere neighborhod . But the Romanes ( hauing ouercome them in many victories ) would needes constrayne them , to the yeelding of a good part of their goodes and possessions , by way of an amendes making , for that the Latins had broken the treatie of theyr assotiation , & were becom rebels against them . The pore Latines being sore troubled & vexed , knew not which way to wind them , for it greeued them extreamely to indure so great a losse , ioyned with suche shame and dishonour , & on the other side they sawe no meane left them whereby to maintaine the warres any longer . Herevpon , one Furius Camillus , a braue and valiant Captaine , and then Consull of Rome , declared to the senate that hee knew a very good & an assured meanes , how to make , that the Latins shoulde neuer after that rise vp in armes against the Romaines , but euer liue in peace and fidelitie togyther with them . Then demaunded they of hym what that meanes was . Euen this sayde he , that nowe when they are vanquished and so troubled as they knowe not what to doe , we receyue them for Citizens of Rome as our selues , to enioy the like profites , commodities and priuileges as we do : for they looke not for so great a benefite at our handes , but prepare them selues , both to doe and receyue all hostility . And herein is offered vnto vs a very faire occasion to increase oure glory , whiche wee oughte not to let slippe , bycause there is not a surer nor a longer lasting gouernement , than that which is plausible vnto the gouerned . But we must make hast , to the intente that nowe while they looke for warre , and prepare for it , we may preuent them with so great a benefyte . When Camillus had so put foorth his mind and opinion , the voices ranne , whereof the greater number stayed vppon his sayings , and his aduice was followed , for the receyuing of the Latins to be Citizens of Rome , to the enioying of the like rightes and priuileges as the Citizens did . And from that tyme forwarde they were alwayes so firmely vnited to the Romanes , as there was neuer any warre or deuision betweene them . Now then if your Maiestie would voutchsafe to imitate thys noble and honorable manner of taking perpetuall peace with the poore pretended Rebels ( which are your subiects ) your goodnes , gentlenesse , and liberalitie shewed towards them which deserue it not , would very gretly increase your glory . And so much the greater would the benefyte be , bycause they looke not for it , but are vtterly perswaded that youre maiestie wil either haue no peace at al , or else such a peace as shal only tend to your owne aduantage . And therefore they be fully bent rather to endure all extremitie , than to trust any more to those fruitelesse peaces ( whiche they cal Paix fourrees , & wherwith ( say they ) they haue alwayes heretofore bin entrapped .

I wil herevppon recite one other historie muche to the purpose . In the time that the Romanes were at war with the Samnites , i. Liuius b. 9. deca. 1. ( a war like people ) it happened that Porthumius and Veturius consuls and captaynes of the Romane armie , were by occasion of euill conduct , enclosed in a streight of disaduantage . And for lacke of a better remedy , they entred into an entreaty of peace with the Samnites , which so in that straight held their enclosed . The Captain generall of the Samnites was a braue yong gentleman named Pontius , whose father called Herennius , had of long time gouerned the state of the Samnites . The aduice of this good old man was asked for the making of peace : he answeared that they must set goe the Romans whom they held already couped vp as Captiues , without any harme or violence . This aduice was not very well liked of by Potius his sonne , which eftlones asked him whether he knew no better way than that ; for the bringing of the peace to passe . To whom the good olde man answeared , that if they misliked of that his firste opinion , his nexte aduice was , that they should kill all the Romanes which they held then enclosed , without suffering of any one of them to escape . For ( said he ) there is betweene both no meane , that may auaile to the winning of a good peace , the same must of necessitie be gotten either by the vertue of some benefite bestowed vpon the enemie , or else by the so weakening of them ( through the putting of the whole armie to the sword ) as in a long time after they shall not be able to recouer again their force . Neither the one nor the other of this good mans opinions were followed , but in the ende a dissimuled peace was made , whiche was not only shamefull to the Romanes , but also by them incontinently broken to the vtter ruine & decay of the Samnites , whiche vnderstood in the ende , that the counsell of the good old Herennius had bin the best to haue bin folowed . Hereof sir I mean to conclude , that for asmuch as the Hugonots cannot al be enclosed in one strayte , & that if they could , to kil them al ( being your subiects & not your enemies ) it were a thing neither reasonable nor conuenient : ye could not do better , than to agree to suche a peace , as might to each parte be both profitable and agreeable , which would cause it to be of continuance . In this respect the great warrior Hanniball demanded peace of the valiant & happy Scipio after this maner . It is I Hannibal that do demaund the peace , which I would not demaunde if it might not be profitable , and hauing obteyned such a one I wil willingly keepe it , for the very same profit for the which I required it : ●ionisius ●alic . lib. 3. for to bee shorte , a good peace ought not to be made in hast , but rather to be digested with meere deliberation , loking to none other end , than the profite of the common weale . And for this cause was it by Tullus Hostilius king of the Romanes saide , that the mutual entercourse of commodities , was the true band of peace .

But comming now to intreat of those three points whiche before I proponed , as subiect to this declaration . Touching the first , whiche is , that a prince ought not to take in hand the making of wars against his subiects : I set down for a true consequence that a people do neuer die . The perticulars or seueral parts of the same do die in deede , but they leaue alwayes behind such as do succeede them not only in their inheritances , but also in their quarels & passions : so as seldome or neuer dieth ther any so very a caytife & vnfortunate wretche that leaueth not another ( yea two or three , eyther children , brethren , parents or friends ) which wil be sorie for his death , & seeke reuengement of it if it wer violently procured . Wherfore , who soeuer hath to do with a people , by killing of the perticulars profiteth little , bicause they leaue alwais to succede them such as are ( as it were ) maried to their quarels . The same is at thys day to be sene by the Gospellers ( so do I tearm them in stead of Hugonots , and catholikes in stead of Papists , as did the Lord of Valence in his declaration made to the Polonians : for within these .xv yeres , what by the warres , what by iustice , and what by murthers , there hath bene done to death more than 200000. and yet for all that , there are still so great a number of them , as it may seeme there hath not any one dyed . There is very apparant reason why it should be so : namely for that a people dyeth not , bicause the perticulars haue alwayes other perticulars to succede them , not onely in their inheritances , but also in theyr maners , instructions , and other conditions . But contrarywise , the great Princes dye , as the late king your brother is deade , and many of his best seruitors are deade , your selfe also are mortall , and your best seruitors be mortall , wherthrough it is commonly seene , that great mens great deuices vanish away in the smoake , bycause that for the moste parte their successours are not of the same humor and will , but vse their gouernment farre otherwise , the one vndoing what by the other was done . In so much as it is sene that ordinarily they pull downe , whome their predecessours had set vp . Whereof among others , master Enguerran of Marigny may be a witnesse , which hauing bin in great credite and authoritie , in the time of king Philip the faire : was by his brother and successor king Lewes Hutin so abased , as he therethrough became a poore man , without any cause apparant , other than for the enuie & hate borne to the greatnesse that he had gotten . Also the wise Courtiers ( which will not their liues , honors , and goods , to depend vpon the life of one onely man ) are accustomed not onely to please him that presently raigneth , but also him that is like to succede him . For as Pompei said vnto Scilla , there be moe that doe worship the sunne rising , than the sunne setting .

Alexander the great did in his time many wonderful & incredible things . Plutarch in Alexandro . For with an armie of .30000 . Macedons , he ouercam Darius the great monarch of al the east leuant in three battels . In the first wherof Darius had 300000. men , which was twentie against one In the .2 . he had .600000 . which was .20 . against one . And in the third , he had a Mission , which was thirtie against one . He subdued al the Empire of Darius , as the Persians , the Medes , the Parthians , the Armenians , the Babylonians , with Egypt , Palestine , and Syria , and generally all the lande habitable of Europe and Asi , from Macedonie eastwarde vnto India . But all those faire conquestes vanished like smoke , and in the ende came to nothing , for he him selfe died yong , and left not successors of like noblenesse and valiancie as he was . Whervpon Titus Liuius putteth forth this question . Liuius lib. 9. deca. 1. If Alexander the great had taken in hande the warres of his time against the Romanes , whether he should as easily haue ouercome them as he did Darius ? he answereth no. For though ( saith he ) Alexander was a valiant king , and a stout & braue warriour : yet was he but one : & in hauing to do with Darius , he had to do but with one head . Where , had he had to do with the Romanes , he must haue fought with a number of braue Captaines one after another . As Valerius Coruinus , Martius Rutilius , Caius Sulpicius , Manlius Torquatus , Publius Philo , Papirius Cursor , Fabius Maximus , Lucius Volumnius , the two Decians , Marcus Curius , and many other , which would from hand to hande haue receyued him , so as he shoulde haue knowne that they vnderstoode the mysteries of the warres . And as concerning Councell , Alexander whiche was a yong Prince , could haue no better than they , that were guided by the heades of a whole Senate . The conclusion ( saith Titus Liuius ) is , That the Macedons had but one Alexander , but the Romanes had many captaines which woulde haue matched him , of whome euerie one should haue liued , and dyed without perill or danger to the state publike : Whereas by the death of Alexander , the state of his Monarch was rent and torne in peeces .

The experience of this discourse of Titus Liuius , Ti. Liuius lib. 2. deca. 1. was well seene in the warres that Hanniball had against the Romanes . For he was a wise and valiaunt Captaine , and knewe as well howe to guide his armie as when to fight . Neyther was he ignorant of the stratagemes or policies of warre . And in deede he ouerthrew many of the Romane Captaines , as Flamminius , Paulus Emilius , Terencius Varro , Marcellus , and many other . But in the ende he was repulsed by Claudius Nero , Fabius Maximus , and other , and last of all so vtterly ouerthrowne by the great Scipio the Affricane , as he founde well that it was no small thing , to haue to doe with a people , which do dayly breede newe Captaines and men of warre . And that wel the perticulars of a people may be vanquished and ouerthrowne , but the whole people neuer . According to this saying of the philosophers : A generall kinde is immortall , by reason of the succession of perticulars ( which succeede one another ) though euerie perticular in it selfe be mortall . And this reason aduiseth a Prince , not onely to forbeare to striue with his people : but also to shunne the euill will of them , for feare of after clappes . The Emperour Caius Caligula , Su●… in Calig . cap. 30. 3● . 49. 56. Dion ibid. in his time put to death many of his subiects , euen of the chiefest , most commonly for his owne pleasure without lawfull cause , and namely those which founde any faulte with his doings and gouernment , thinking by that meanes to haue made away all that hated him , & imagining ( though fondly ) that with crueltie he might auoyd hatred , wherewith crueltie is ordinarily and worthyly accompanied . But the moe he caused to dye , the more his haters encreased , and by the kylling of one , he gat the hatred of tenne , in so much that perceyuing him selfe to be hated of all his people , hee wished that all the people of Rome had had but one hed , wherby he ment , that if he had could , he wold haue dispatched them al at one stroke . But at the last experience taught him , that a people hath many heades ( which dayly multiply ) where hee had but one , by the taking wherof from him , he was miserably slayne . For although by being Emperour of the worlde , he was of great power : yet was the power of the people founde to be greater than his .

This was well declared in a Comedie to the great Emperour Maximine , Capitolinus in Maximino . great I say of stature , ( for he was in length eyght foote , and in bignesse therevnto accordant , but in vertue verie small . This Emperour was of personage so strong , as with one blowe of his fist hee strake out the teeth of an horse , with one spurne of his foote he burst in sunder a horses legge , and with both his handes he pluckt a horseshoe in sunder . With that natural force , he had also the force of the Romane Empire at commaundement , so as he thought him selfe to be inuincible and immortall . And therefore as one carelesse of the peoples displeasure , he put to death many gentlemen and other persons of credite , partly for his pleasure , and partly for the enuie that he bare vnto their vertues . Therefore as he was one day in the Theatre beholding the playing of a Commedie , one of the players with a good countenance , sayde aloude as foloweth . Whom one alone could neuer hurt , a number may confound , The huge and mightie Elyphant , is so borne downe to ground : The princely Lion , though he be vnfeareful , strong and stout , Is notwithstanding ouerthrowne , and killed by a rout . The cruell Tygre so is left starke deade vpon the ground , For al his fell and furious moode , that passeth for no wound . And thou that standest in no feare of any one alone , At leastwise feare the common rage of many knit in one .

Maximine perceyued not that this player had cast these verses as it were a stone into his garden . Or if he did perceiue , yet did he dissemble it , but within a while after , hee found what so was sayde in iest , toward him to turne to good earnest . For after he had exercised many cruelties , and therein done to death moe than .4000 . Gentlemen without order of iustice , he was of all his subiectes so mislyked , as ( leading an armie against the towne of Aquilee ) the whole countrey conspired to keepe him from victuals , ( notwithstanding any commaundement by him put foorth to the contrarie ) by reason whereof the souldiers ( being pinched with famine ) conceyued a hatred against him , and began to grudge at him , and so at the last murthered him . The auncient Romanes woulde alwayes seeme inuincible against strangers , but neuer against their owne people . The chiefe of whom were esteemed amongst them as the heade , and the meane sort as the members . And if at any time the commons were falne into any mutenie , the heads incontinent went about to appease them by gentlenesse , often thinking good , rather to yeelde them what so euer they demaunded , than to assay to daunt them by any force of armes . Ti. Liuius lib. 2. deca. 1. On a time the people , rose by reason of the great rygoure that the bankers and vsurers ( to whome they ought money ) vsed against them . By and by the Consuls assembled their Senate , to be aduised howe that tumult of the people might be appeased . After the matter had bene propounded , and some speaches passed of it , Appius Claudius ( a seuere man ) was of opinion that the bandes of the bankers and vsurers ought and were to be payd , and that such a libertie was not to be set open , as the suffering of the people to breake their contractes wherevnto they were bounde , but that they ought rather by force to be compelled to performe them . And that if they wold punish some of the ringleaders and most seditious persons , that had of that mutenie bin the first mouers , al the residue would shrinke and be so discouraged , that hardly shoulde there any be founde , that would at any time after that , become a captaine to the commons , or any motioner of sedition . On the contrary part , the Consull Seruilius was of opinion that the sedition was to be appeased by gentle meanes , saying , that it is much easier to bowe a people than to breake them , and that for the conseruation of the common weale , the gentle meanes is much surer than the rigorous , bycause if that rigour take not good successe , the people become madde , and vtter vnsubduable . By the decree of the Senate the adulce of Seruilius was folowed , that they should rather cardesure , than to commit to hazard the estate of the publike weale , and for a time the exaction of the handes , ( wherevpon the bankers and other had lent money vpon interest to the people ) were suspended . Ti. Liuius lib. eodem . Within a while after , certaine of the chiefest in Rome , caused one of the Tribunes of the people ( whiche was ( as it were ) the maintayner of the liberties of the third estate ) to be slayne as secretly as coulde be , bycause that vnder the colour of his office , hee had gone about to moue the people to sedition . The people were sore grieued at the death of their Tribune : but they sayd nothing to it , bycause they knewe not to whose charge to lay it nor whom to blame for it . The noble men ( which had caused that blowe to be giuen ) were verie well a payde , that the people durst not open their lippes at it , thinking them selues to haue vsed a verie good mean of preuenting the sedition , and that other Tribunes therby , would take example of it hereafter : They thought surely , that by their causing of the chiefe mouer of the sedition to be slayne , they had taken away the cause of sedition . But in verie deede , they had not the principall efficient cause , that is to say , the r●…cour , miscontentment , and indignation of the people , but they had rather increased it by such vnlawfull execution . What beca●e thereof ? It happened anon after , that there were certain souldiers to be leuyed in Rome for a peece of seruice that the Romanes had in hands , and euerie man thought that the ●eath of the Tri●…r had then bin falne asleepe , and for euer forgotten . The Consuls commaunded one Vale●o ( a man of the third estate , that had before●…ene captaine of cr●t●we footmen ) to put this compauit in a readinesse : ●e answered ●…atly that he would not . Thervpon Emilius and Virginius then Cō●…s , 〈◊〉 certaine S●ri●…s to ar●stohi●… , and 〈…〉 towarde . But he es●…ping the 〈◊〉 of the Sar●…ant● , cast him self into althroug● of the people , and crying out for 〈◊〉 sayde , Maisters let vs stande to our 〈…〉 loo●ing to be any were holpen 〈◊〉 Tribunes , who dare not say any thing , bicause they be put to death for doing of their duties . Vpon those wordis of his , notwithstonding that the Consols did what they would to appease that sedition , so●… of them 〈◊〉 vpon the ●r●ants , who being wil ●…ffeted , and ha●ing their m●ces 〈…〉 , did with much adde 〈◊〉 the Pa●…are where the Senatours were assembled . Then began they to fall to consultation , howe that vprore might be remedied . Many speaking rigorously , sayd , that such boldnesse and rashnesse of the people was to be repressed with force & seueritie . But the auncient and wiser Senators , which were of opinion that it was not meete for the head to subdue the members by violence ( but rather by curtesie & gentlenesse ) preuayled in that counsell . For they knewe wel that they had already done too much , in causing the Tribune to be slaine without order of iustice , ( although he had deserued it ) & in offring that extremitie so rashly to Valero , and that in such common misorders , the my●dest remedies are the surest and holesurnest . I will reaccount one example more of this gentle maner of proceding , which for the appeasing of tumults and ciuil seditions , the ancient Romanes liked to vse , bicause it is a point both worthy the marking , & appertinent to our purpose . It fell out one day in Rome that amongst the people there was so great a mutenie , as the commons woulde needs separat them selues from the nobilitie , taking occasion therinto , through the grieuous burthens of their impostes , subsidies , & other like exactions . And it went so far , as the poorest and meanest of the people , did separate them selues from the rich and noble , and forsooke their houses to dwell elswhere , howbeit without quarelling among themselues . When this matter came in question , by what meanes the sayd mutenie might best be stayed , and the people framed and brought to the yelding of their obedience towardes their superiours and magistrates : amongst the Senatours ran two opinions , one contrarie to the other . The one was of Appius Claudius , a man very seuere and rygorous against the common people : whose opinion was , that there was no yelding to the common people , whose nature is such ( sayde he ) if it were not brideled , would waxe stubborne & proud , & the graunting of any thing vnto them vnder colour of this sedition , would be a maintenance & furderance of other rashnesse and boldnesse , and an occasion to make them doe the like another time : and therefore they were to be subdued by rygour and force . This opinion of Appius at the first sight was alowed and followed of the yong Senators , whose bloude was as hote & fierce , as their discretions were cold and vnstayed . The other opinion was of Menenius Agrippa , a very good man , curteous , of good reputation , and of a right noble house , ( but poore & a despiser of riches ) which sayde , that the publike affaires were as the body of a man , from the which the good Chirurgion doth not by & by cut off the member that hath an vleer o● impostume , but rather deuiseth , how he may with good and wise remedies heale it , adding also , that experience alwayes sheweth the nature of a people , to become tractable by good and gentle dealing , and the moste modest and myldest , to become fierce with ende and rygorous handling , no more nor lesse than a wilde beast , being entised and flattered becommeth to●… : and the tame being beaten & euil intreated , becommeth wilde . And that they ought by bearing with the people , & bearing of their plaints and griefes to win their hearts , and by gentle and fauourable means to bring them backe againe to their obedience . This opinion of Menenius was folowed by those auncient wise Senatours , that were well practised in the gouernment of the common affaires , to whome also soone after agreed the yonger sort , somwhat ashamed to haue holden contrarie opinion to their auncients in yeeres and iudgement . And they excused them selues of it by the mouth of one of them named Spurius Nautius , who desired the auncient to holde their youth excused , which is not lightly accompanied with stayed iudgement , assuring them that their folowing of the opinion of Appius , proceded rather of a boyling and vnaduised affection , & not of purpose to stand vpon termes with them , promising from thenceforth to flee the falling into any such fault , and to be conformable to the iudgement of the elders , as men of more wisedome and greater experience . The yong Senators were much praysed , as wel for the reuoking of their opinion , as for their so curteous excusing of them selues , and so Appius remayned alone in his rigorous iudgements And charge was giuen by the Senate to Menenius to make known their good will to the people , which he did in such curteous manner , and with so sweete words , that he not only won their hearts , but also abated their furie and fiercenesse of courage . My maisters ( saith he ) the Senate hath neyther done you harme , nor meane to doe you any . They are as it were the belly , and you the members of the body : and shoulde the members complayne them , that what they labour for is all for the belly ? Is it not the belly that nourisheth , mayntaineth , and keepeth the members , being ( as it were ) the storehouse or Garner of all the whole body ? When the belly taketh and receyueth sustenaunce and nourishment , doth it keepe it altogether to it selfe ? dothe it not rather disperse it through the whole bodie , euen to the fingers of the handes , and to the toes of the feete , which are furthest off from it ? Do we not see that the nourishment which it gathereth , serueth not for it selfe alone , but for the whole body ? And euen in like sorte doth the Senate employ those things which they demaunde and gather of you . The Tributes and Subsidies that they leuie and receyue , are they not to be employed for the seruice of the whole bodie of the common wealth ? Cease then my maisters to complayne you of your superiours and Magistrates , which do nothing but for you and for your conseruations . Whereof doe you complaine you , and the cause of your complaint shal be taken away ( for a malady cannot better bee cured than by the taking away of the cause . ) All things shal be yeelded you that shall bee founde profitable and necessary to the whole body of the common weale , which bande of common profit shall be one mean of assurance to conserue the one with the other : and the publique othe whiche shall be sworne vnto you , shall also bee another good gauge . By this oration and declaration of this good man Menenius , were the people appeased , their harts wonne , and them selues reconciled and brought againe vnder the obedience of their superiours and magistrates , and aboue all , he was greatly commended for hys sweete manner of speaking , but especially in that hee compared the Senate rather to the belly than to the head , to shew that they were rather fathers and nourishers than any hautie rulers ouer the people . It is then a thyng very certaine , that the manner of appeasing the people by gentlenes and profit , ( and not by making them warre ) is the true mean to bring and hold them vnder obedience as it is also for the appeasing of troubles and seditions . Nero that was Emperour of the Romaynes , Suetonius in Nerone ca. 38. 40. 42. 47 48. 49. Dion eodem . would needes make warre against his subiectes , not by preparing an army against them , but by causing an infinite number of them to be slayne and murthred one after another , only for his pleasure sake . For the whiche also he set on fire the four corners of Rome , to the end to haue burned the whole towne , whereof in deede he burned a good part . And when he had done , he made pretence that he did it to haue buylded it newe agayn , for the doing wherof , he laid so great tributes and subsedies vpon al the prouinces of the Empire , that hee sucked them drie with his fines . These cruelties and oppressions , so wonne him the euil will of all his subiectes , as they one after another reuolted from his obeysance . And him selfe in the end being abandoned of euery one , ( yea euen of those of his owne guard ) fled and hid him in a little lodge in the fields where he was discouered , and fearing to be taken aliue , killed himself . Galba succeeded him in the Empire . Suetonius & Dion in Nero. Cor. Tacitus Annalium libr. 13. 14. But seing I am entred into the making of some discourse concerning the Emperour Nero , I will make a little digression which shall not be impertinent nor out of my purpose . This Emperour being the last of the house of Caesars , was as vicious , wicked , and cruell , as the first ( whiche was Iulius Caesar ) was vertuous , good , and gentle . The recompting of the legend of his wicked lyfe , woulde require too long a time : but it shall suffice me to tell how he dealt with his best seruants , and what he gayned by suche dealing . He had then many noble and good seruitours , whiche as long as he trusted them , were to him very louing and faithfull , but when they once sawe hym to become mistrustfull of their doings , their fidelities began to wauer & diminishe , for fearing least he should execute like crueltie vpon them , as he had done vpon many others that had deserued it . Among other he had seuen al right graue and excellente personages that were his most especiall seruantes , and by him employde in the greatest charges of his empire . That is to saye Seneca , whiche in his youth had bin his tutor and gouernour , and was ( as it were ) the superintendent of all the affayres of the Empire . Ruffus whiche was his Constable and great master of his houshold . Subrius Flauius whiche was captayne generall of his guardes . Sulpicius after one of his darlings and one of the principal Captaynes of the same guard . Corbulo whyche was his liefetenant in the east parts , and captayne generall ouer the Romaine army , against the Parthes , who was a valiant warriour and did noble acts againste Teridates Vologesus , and other kings in the East , wherethrough he gat greate honour and reputation throughout the worlde . Vindex whiche was likewise his Liefetenant generall and gouernour in the gouernmente of Gaul , a great and mightie prouince , conteyning all that whiche is nowe the realme of France with base Alemaigne on this side the Rhine , the low cuntrey of Flanders , Brabant and Henalt , euen vnto the sea : Switzerlande , Sauoye , Piedinont and Lombardy euen to Reniui where there is a little floud called in olde time Rubicon , that separateth Gaule Cisalpine from Italy . Also Sergius Galba was his Lieftenaunt generall and gouernour in Spaine , Portingale and Granade , whiche likewise was a very great gouernment that comprehendeth at this daye seuen or eyght realmes . And this Galba was a wise and valiant captaine , but greatly striken in yeares , for hee was .lxxiij. yeeres olde when Nero died . These seuen great Lordes were good and louing seruants to Nero , til such time as he becam so wicked , & so far past al goodnes , as he was no longer to be borne withal . His corruption came chiefly by the means of Agrippine his mother , which would needs gouerne & manage al the affayres of the Empire ( so ambitious shee was and desirous to commaund . ) But this was the mischiefe , that Seneca suffered himselfe to be wonne by hir . For she was a faire wel fauoured princes , & with hir entred he into so great familiaritie , as he enioyed hir secretly . They two then ( to the end that al things shoulde passe through their handes ) perswaded Nero ( whiche was a yong prince ) to take his pleasures & sports , and to leaue vnto them the charge and paine of the publique affayres , thinking that the furie of his youth woulde weare away in fond delights and pastimes , and that wisedome would increase with his age , and that in the meane time they shoulde better gouerne than hee . Of the same opinion was Burrus a singular person , and next vnto Seneca in the waightie causes of gouernment . And surely about the space of fiue yeeres , they gouerned the Empire reasonably well . Howbeit ; bycause Agrippine tooke vpon hir to rule all alone after hir owne appetite , these two persons Seneca and Burrus , toke order out of hand , that the Emperour shuld withdrawe some parte of the gouernmente from hir , and not suffer hir to deale any more with it . But as wisemen as they were , yet were they greatly deceyued , in that they thought the Emperour Nero should in age become wise by passing his youth in follies : for it happened cleane contrary , and he became a most wicked and cruell tyrant . And truely it is not to be beleeued , that Seneca whyche was so sage & so greate a Philosopher , was ignoraunt that of a dissolute life in youthe , Nero could not gather ought else than an euill inclination in age , and that his continuance in riot and voluptuousnesse ( ioyned with a princes libertie ) could not otherwise do , than drawe him to a maruelous corruption . But to say the truth , Seneca was puft vp with ambition and desire of soueraintie , notwithstanding that in his wordes , & writings , he detested it most of all men , for hee was a great hypocrite and deepe dissimuler , speaking one thing and doing another . Hee preached against couetousnesse and couetous men , whilst he himselfe flattered the olde rich people that had no children , to get thereby their heritages . And he had banks goyng in diuers countries where his seruants made gaine of his money through interest , so as his reuenue came to fyue or syxe Millions of sextercies , which is in value eyght hundred thousand poundes of rent . He preached against pomps and delights , and in the meane while had the fairest houses , and best builded that might be , not farre inferiour to the proud palaces and royall houses of Nero the Emperour , and therevnto the most fayre delicious gardins that were possible to be seene , togither with so sumptuous moueables that he had .50 . tables of Cedar with their trestles and frames of yuorie , and so muche syluer vessell and tapistry as furnished euery house that he had throughly . He inueyed agaynst whoredome , when he enterteyned the Empresse and delighted in the company of Bardasses . He cried out and stormed agaynste flattery , and ther was not a finer nor craftier courtier in that qualitie than he , for he could make the court to euery body , ( yea euen to the Pages and varlets of the chamber ) from whome any commoditie was to be drawen . And lastly he exclaymed against ambition , and in the meane while woulde needes gouerne all himselfe , & suffer nothing to passe but through his hands . Moreouer , to heare him speake , was nothing else but hony , but eloquence , but holynesse , but wisedome and knowledge . And to be short , if he were now liuing , he woulde deserue to bee the greatest Cardinall of all Fraunce . But now to come again to our matter . Seneca hauing let lose the reynes to the Emperour Nero , and suffering him so farre foorth till he had done a thousande mischiefes and cruelties agaynste one and other , great and small ( as his fansie led him ) began to doubt least the like might happen vnto himselfe . Also Burrus , Ruffus , Sulpitius and Flauius , and diuers other great Lordes that folowed the court by reason of their estates and offices , entred into the like feare and mistrust , especially after they had seene him do to death his mother Agrippine vppon displeasure only , that she woulde still take vpon hir the dealing with the matters of the Empire . They then to auoyde hys crueltie , made a conspiracie to kill him , but the enterprise was discouered in such sorte , as contrariwise , he caused all them to be killed . Neuerthelesse before they were executed , he woulde needes talke with Sulpicius one of the Captaynes of his guarde , and with Flauius the generall of the same . Of Sulpicius he demaunded wherefore hee had broken hys othe in conspiring agaynste him . For that ( answered he ) there was no other meane to heale thee of thy naughtinesse . He lykewise did aske of Flauius , wherfore he had conspired against him : I haue ( sayd he ) loued , and hated thee about any man in the world : Loued thee , so long as there remained any hope that thou wouldest become a good Prince : and hated thee , when I sawe there was no more hope of thee but that thou wouldest growe euery daye worse and worse : For so long as thou deseruedst to bee beloued , thou hadst not a more faythfull and louing seruant than I : but when I sawe thee once to become a manqueller , a murtherer , a player of enterludes , a fencer , and a touneburner , I could not but hate thee extremely . Those braue answers of those two captiues or captayne prisoners , made Nero more afrayd than any other thing , as one maruelously astonied to heare that they durst speake vnto him so boldly . In the ende , after he had put them to death , and all other that were but neuer so little suspected of that conspiracie , hee made great sacrifices of thankesgiuing vnto Iupiter his deliuerer , as one that thoughte hymselfe nowe to haue gotten the vpperhand of all his enimies , and in place of amendment , he gaue him selfe to doe worse than before , assuring hym selfe to raigne then fortie yeeres and more through the prophecyings of his Magiciens and deuines which had willed him to take heede to the yeare of his age 73. and he had then skarsely accomplished 29. But as he continued his naughtie disordered course , beholde Vindex became a reuolter from his obeysance , togither with all the prouinces and countries vnder his gouernemente , whereof though the losse were not small , yet was not Nero therwith much troubled . But when he vnderstoode that the olde Captayne Galba hys gouernour of Spayne was reuolted , he was greatly astonied , fearing least that which the magiciens had sayde vnto him , touching the age of .73 . was to bee vnderstanded , not of hys owne yeeres , but of Galbas , whiche was then of the same age . Corbulo which was then with a great armie in the East , was greatly prouoked to do as Vindex and Galba had done . But he as one that would neuer thereto consent , continued alwayes so faithfull & trustie to Nero , as he gate therfore euill will , & was blamed of al men , which said he was a maintainer of tyrannie . Yet for all this , Nero fearing least he should doe as his other felowes did , sent for him by louing letters to come & speake with him . Corbulo making no doubt of the matter , tooke the iourney in hand : but before he was come to the place where Nero was , he was at Cenchre betrayed & taken by the assailaunts whiche Nero before had sente thither to kil him , who seing how the world went , & weying his fault in the not doing as other did , drewe out his dagger , & therwith strake himself to the hart with vttering these for his last wordes I am worthy . Nowe sir by this short digression it may be gathered , that the best meane to make a Prince to be well and faythfully serued of his seruauntes and officers , is to be a good and faythfull Prince towards them , withoute mistrusting of them , and to vse clemencie and gentlenes ( and not rigour & crueltie ) in his gouernment . For a good master maketh a good seruant . And yee haue not so good a seruaunt , but hee will bee discouraged when he seeth his maister to mistrust him , or his seruice not to please hys master , specially when the case concerneth the seruice of a prince , who hath power of lyfe & death , ouer his subiects and seruants . For let the seruant of a prince receyue a sowre countenance of his maiestie , and by and by he entreth into the feare of the losse of his life , or at the least of his goodes and estimation . But before I passe out of this matter of Nero , I wil on the contrary part set downe an example of the gentle and curteous Prince Alexander Seuerus ( of whome your maiestie hath heretofore borne the name . ) And that is , to shewe that those two Emperous haue both of them fayled the losse of theyr lyues by following of two extremities . For Nero hauing a will to gouerne all vpon hys owne head , was cast headlong into the mislikyng and hatred of his people , to the losse of his life . And Alexander by suffering him selfe to bee ruled by the fantasies of other men , wonne the euill will of his nobilitie and men of war , which vnhappily slew him . And of a trueth , a man muste alwayes keepe an euen hande , and eschewe extremities in all things , and specially in matters of state and gouernment . For as Horace sayth . Horace lib. 1. Sermo . Satira . 2. Oft whilst the foole doth one fault flie , He falles into the contrarie .

Nero ( as I saide ) had good and wise seruants about him to his officers . But when he had suffered them to beare authoritie awhile , hee fell into misliking of them , and therevpon would not be ruled any more by them . Lampridius in Alexandro . Herodianus lib. 6. Contrariwise Alexander woulde doe nothing at all , but by the councel of wise men , of whom he had a great number about him and therin surely he did well . Neuerthelesse the writers of histories find fault with him in this , that he gaue too muche authoritie to his mother Mámea , which otherwise had bin a good woman , but that shee was not only greedy in gathering of goods from the poore people , but also a couetous niggarde towards such as serued the Emperour hir sonne beside the which she was very ambitious , aspiring altogether to the gouernement of the affayres , euer sorie to see hir sonne so curteous & gentle in his gouernemente : for where hee was surnamed Seuerus , hee tooke that aswell of his predecessor Septimius Seuerus , as of his seuere obseruing of warlike discipline : but otherwise he was the most affablest and gentlest prince in the world . Neuerthelesse , by his yeelding so much authoritie to his mother Mámea , he so gate the euill will of hys gentlemen and men of warre , as by way of a conspiracie they slew them both togyther . Truely it was a spectacle very piteous , to see this gentle yong Prince ( when the conspiratours entred the chamber to kill him ) runne and cast him selfe betweene the armes of his mother , lamentably crying , Ah mother mother , you are heereof the cause . So were they wretchedly flayne , the one in the others armes , to the greate damage of the Empire , for the losse of so good and gentle a prince , who in al other things gouerned him selfe aswell as might be possible , through the good and wise aduises of such excellent personages , as were of his priuie counsell : Amongst whome the chiefe was doctor Vlpian , a man singularly learned in the ciuil law , and very well practised in matters of the state , and issued of the house and stocke of Alexander , whome hee serued as his chanceler .

This man was not an old doterd of a strange nation , ignorant of the lawes , manners , and customes of the countrie , drawen out of Vulcans shop to deale with sealing : he was one made of another manner of metall . But in summe ( as I sayd ) the fault of this good Emperour Alexander in giuing his mother too much authoritie , cost both him and hir theyr liues . And truely that fault of his was not small . For Alexander ought to haue considered what hee had learned of Heliogabalus his cosin and predecessor , Lampri . in Heliogaba . Dion in pseudo Antonino . which Heliogabalus gouerning by his mother Semiamira ( without whose aduise nothing passed touching the common wealth ) was incontinentlye despised of all the worlde , and after he had raigned not passing three yeeres , was by certaine rebels slayne very yong , and had his body togither with his sayde mothers , drawen through the fylth of the riuer Tiber. And therevpon it was decreed by the Senate , that neuer woman should enter into the counsel . Froyssart lib. 1. cap. 4 15. 24. The gentle King Edward of England the thirde of that name , gouerned himselfe farre otherwise . He was sonne to Edward the seconde a cruell king , that was depriued of his kingdome by his subiects , and to the Lady Isabell daughter of Philip the fayre , king of France . This Lady Isabell Queene of England , was the cause that hir sonne was crowned King , by the estat●… of the Realme , and therefore thought he should doe nothing but by hir councell , as in very deede he dyd not for a tyme , but gaue to hir the chiefe authoritie touching the gouernement of his realme . But it happened that this good Queene mother to reuenge hir selfe of certayne of the nobilitie at hir pleasure , caused hir sonne to committe certaine cruelties , for the whyche hee was misliked and muche blamed of his subiectes . Whiche when thys gentle King Edwarde perceiued , iudging it best rather to loose the fauour of his mother than of his people , he neyther woulde fall into like perill as did Nero and Alexander Seuerus , nor yet put his mother to death as Nero did : but made hir to be bestowed in a strong , howebeit a very faire and pleasant castell , of large circuite , wherein there were many goodly courtes , gardens , and walkes , inclosed with walles : and appoynted hir a good companie of Ladies and gentlewomen , with men of worship and honour , to serue hir after hir state . And bycause she was of the house of France , and Queene mother of Englande , he assigned hir a sufficient reuenue for the maintenance of hir estate . And to honour hir as his mother , hee went to visite hir twice or thrice a yeere . But neyther woulde he euer suffer hir to passe out of the precinct of the castell , nor to meddle any more with the gouernment of the realme . And he was muche esteemed , as well of strangers as of his subiects , for his valiant and manly heart , in that he would not submit himselfe vnder the rule of a woman . But let vs returne againe to our former matter , touching such Princes as haue vndone them selues by making warre against their subiectes . Titus li. 17. Sueton in Vitel. 10. cap. 10. The Emperour Vitellius ouerthrewe and made a great slaughter of the Romanes , in his battell had against Otho : his souldiers seeing so many deade bodyes in the fielde , were therefore verie sorowfull , but especially for that there was of them few or none that founde not amongst those deade bodies some of their parents & friends ( for they were all Romanes ) whose death ministred to them muche cause of griefe , vpon the which occasion they generally detested those ciuill warres had betweene Vitellius and Otho .

Vitellius one day walking through the field wher the dead bodies of that ouerthrow lay , and seeing some stop their noses , did as it were in mockage thereof , and as one glad of the slaughter , vtter this detestable saying : the body of a slaine enimie hath a good sent , but the body of a slain citizen hath yet a better But not long after , that tyrant which found so muche sweetnesse in the sauour of his slaine citizens , was him selfe slaine as shamefully as he possibly might be . For being taken and bound by suche as conspired against him : he was brought into the market place with a halter about his necke , all naked from the waste vpward , his apparell all to torne , and his handes fastned behinde him , his chin also being vnderset with a bodkin , to make him hold vp his head . With which furniture hee was in derision harryed through the streetes , not without dirt and filth flung in his face , till he came to the common gibet , where he was slaine and cut in peeces , & lastly cast into Tyber . That was the rewarde that he reaped of his pleasure taken in the smel of the dead bodies of his citizens . Trebellius Pollio in Gallieno & in Ingenio tyranno . The Emperour Gallien made war against the inhabitants of Bizance his subiectes . Bizance was then a goodly florishing citie , which was after named Constantinople by Constantine the great . This Gallien hauing gotten the possession of this goodly citie , the townsmen wherof had yelded themselues to his deuotion , caused to be slain & murthred , ( contrary to his word ) al the inhabitantes of the same ( yong and olde ) without mercie , none other escaping , than such as he coulde not come by . And he vsed like crueltie against many other good towns wherin his maner was to leaue no male vnkilled , so bestly a bludsucker he was . Also this other good qualitie he had , that Sardanapalus was neuer plunged more deepely in disordinate lecherie and voluptuousnesse than he . These two faire properties of crueltie and lecherie , caused the most part of the prouinces of the Empire to reuolt from his gouernment . In so much , that in dyuers countries there rose vp against him eyght and twentie captaines , whereof one got one prouince , another got another , so as a great part of the nations subiecte to the Empire of Rome , did cut them selues quite off from their obedience to the Empire , which coulde neuer after that recouer againe his dominions , but being extremely hated , was slayne by a captaine of Sclauonie . And when one came to him and sayd , syr , Fraunce is reuolted against you . Well well ( sayd he ) shal we leaue our good chetre for those pyde coates ? ( for the Frenchmen then ware their garments embrodered with coloures . ) And when another sayde vnto him , that Egypt was reuolted from his obeysance : Wel wel ( quoth he ) cannot we forbeare the surplices of Egypt . The like wordes vsed he of other Prouinces , when tydings was brought him of their reuolting . Wherevpon by the way I note , howe welnere ordinarily it happeneth , that when one Prouince or towne reuolteth , the reuoltes of other doe easily folowe , bycause naturally men desire change , and are neuer contented with their present state , but hope still vpon better , when it turneth commonly into worse . The example of which manner of reuoltment , is well to be seene in this Historie of Gallien , for after Fraunce was reuolted , the other Prouinces ensued one after another . It was also to be seene in that I sayde before of Nero , from whome as firste Fraunce and then Spaine reuolted , so the other Prouinces folowed . Ti. Liuius lib. 3. dec. 3. When Hanniball had wonne the iourney of Cannas against the Romanes , a great part of their subiectes one after another forsooke them , and willingly yeelded them selues to Hanniball . Ti. Liuius lib. 7. de. 1. The like may be learned of the warres which the Romanes had againste their confederates , Appianus de bello Social . which reuolted one after another , yea and banded them selues together against them . De bello Gal. lib. 7. cap. 19. Caesar doth also write , that after he had brought vnder his obeysance the townes of Fraunce : they of Autun , which were the first that drew him into Fraunce , were also the firste that withdrewe them selues from him , and made the most part of the other townes to doe the like , in such sort , as he founde more painefull his gouerning therin at the last , than he did his conquering of them at the first . Wherevpon hee saide , that the french men are naturally enclyned to reuolting , when the way is once opened to them . I could alledge an infinit number of other examples to this purpose , but the matter is cleare inough of it selfe , & requireth no large discourse , and therefore I wil now returne to my purpose . Frois . lib. 2. cap. 95. 96. 97. 98. Lewes the last Earle of Flaunders ( for after him the Earldome fell into the house of Burgoign , and from thence into the house of Austrich , wher it now tarieth , ) made great and grieuous warres against his subiectes of Gaunt , bycause they were not to him so obedient as he woulde them ( as people that in deede were alwayes too stubborne against their Prince . ) He hauing then continued a long and sharpe siege , by cutting off their victuals , brought amongst them a maruellous famine , wherethrough they were driuen into an vtter dispaire . The poore people desired the Dutches of Brabant , the Bishop of Liege , and certaine other of the nobilitie , to entreate for some good peace , with the said Earle their Lorde . The which the sayde Lords tooke great paynes to do , but the Earle would in no wise agree to any other ende , than that all the inhabitantes of Gaunt , should in a certain place come before him barefoote and bare headed , with halters about their neckes , demaunding pardon for their rebellion , and their pardonings neuerthelesse to stande vpon his pleasure . When the poore Gauntois vnderstoode no better remedy to be hoped for than that , they desperatly determined ( rather than so ) to hazard them selues to dy with their swords in their hands . Whervpon out of the town there issued about 5000. Gauntois ( compelled therto by famin , as the wolfe is to the wood ) which sped them towards Bridges , where the Earle their lord then lay with his power . And when they came somewhat neare the sayde towne of Bridges , their captaines , and certain Fryers that were with them , beganne to encourage them , & tolde them that their case was like to the children of Israell , which had humbled them selues as much as might be vnto Pharao , and yet he had neuer the more pitie vpon them . And that euen as God had drowned Pharao in the depth of the sea for his rygour reached out to the Israelites : so woulde he punishe Lewes their Lorde for his crueltie extended to the Gauntois . Whilest the Fryers were thus preaching to the poore hungerstarued people , beholde , the armie of the Earle ( which were fourtie thousande men in good aray , ) came raunging towardes the sayde fiue thousande famished Gauntois , who ( on the one side being past all hope of any fauor at their Lordes hande , and on the other side , readie to be swalowed vp by famine ) determined verily to vanquishe or to dye , and therevpon fought so valyantly and desperately , as they ouerthrewe the Earles armie , sacked his houses , and tooke his towne of Brudges , and gate vnder their gouernment all his townes of Flaunders , Audenarde only excepted . The Earle saued him selfe within Brudges , after the ouerthrowe of his armie . And when Brudges was taken , he hid himself in the house of a poore woman , which bestowed him in a garret vnder a little couch , vpon the which hir yong children were layde to sleepe . The next morning he founde the meanes to steale out of the towne secretly , disguised in a Costerdmongers apparell , wherwith he gat into Lisle , where he taryed in safetie . But after that time neuer lyued peaceably in his countrey , for whereas before he had but only the Gauntois agaynst him , ( whiche hee might easily by gentle meanes , haue brought vnder his obeysante : ) he was after that banded agaynst by all the whole countrey .

Roboam Kyng of Israell , 3. Re. cap. . 12. a Prince euill aduised ( althoughe he were the sonne of Salomon a wise father . ) Woulde needes put vpon his people greater tributes and subsidies , than euer his sayde father dyd . The people opening to him their griefes , by way of complayntes , shewed them selues vnable to sustayne so great charges . Wherevpon Roboam brought the matter to his counsell , to the ende they myght determine what best therein was to be done . The olde and sage Counsellours were of opinion , that his best was to graunt to his subiectes their demaunde , in not augmenting of their impostes , wherethrough he might at his newe comming to the Crowne , winne the hearts of his people , to the rendring of their obedience and franke good wil to hys seruice . The counsellours whiche were yong ( as well in iudgement as in yeeres , and suche as at this day there are too many of , ) were of the contrary opinion , saying , that it was not mete for a kyng to graunt the people their willes , by doing whereof ( sayde they ) he shoulde receyue lawe of them to whome he ought to gyue lawe , and subiecte him selfe to them that ought to be subiecte to him : but rather , that he ought to make them knowe hym for their Prince and soueraigne Lorde , whose office was to commaunde , and theirs absolutely to obey .

Roboam folowing this opinion , woulde needs lay great taxes and impositions on his people , by reason whereof the most part of them ( that is to say ) tenne partes of twelue , rebelled against him , and raysed for their Kyng one Ieroboam . Wherevpon the sayd Roboam prepared an armie of 80000. men , for the repressing of those rebelles , wherein he lost both his labour and time , for Ieroboam continued King in peace . And from that time forth , that kingdome remained deuided in two : Philip de Cōmnies lib. 1. cap. 3. King Lewes the eleuenth ( as fine & subtil a prince as euer was in Fraunce ) at his comming to the crowne gouerned him selfe very yll , in displacing and hindering of many good and ancient seruitours , that had don great seruice to Charles the seuenth his father , in the recouering of his realme , the most part whereof , the Englishmen long time enioyed . Wherewith the nobles being discontented , raysed against their sayde king a ciuill warre , which they called the common welth . To them many townes and commonalties also adioyned them selues , by reason of the great impostes that the king put vpon them . But the wise king ( knowing his faulte ) sought all the meanes possible for the appeasing of that warre , therein folowing the aduice and councell of his good friend Fraunces Sforze the Duke of Millaine , which councelled him for the obtaining of peace , to deny nothing of their demaundes . And in deede by graunting their requests , he appeased those ciuil warres , and was al his life after serued of those noblemen & gentlemen , that were against him in the same , towards whom he neuer reserued so much as any desire of reuengement . It may be sayd , that what the king did herein , was done vpon policie . But howe so euer it was done , the Frenchmen till these dayes were neuer so Italionated , as to beare malice long in their heartes . And this wise king woulde neuer hazarde his common wealth , by giuing of battell vnto his people , saying , that he would not commit his estate ( which was so good and so great , as the king of a royall Realme ) to the perill of so vncertaine a thing as a battell . And after the peace made , hee frankely confessed , that hee sawe him selfe in great perill of loosing his kingdome , and had determined in his mynd , to haue saued him selfe at Millaine , or else amongst the Switzers , if Paris had not helde with him , but bene wonne and possessed by his aduersaries . Froissart lib. Edwarde the seconde of that name King of Englande , for the pleasure of Hugh Spencer his chiefe mynion , made warre against his subiectes , and put to death many of his Princes and nobles without anye order of iustice , in so muche as Queene Isabell his wife , with his sonne and hirs ( to shunne his furie and crueltie ) were fayne to flee into Fraunce , who after returned agayne into Englande with hyr sayde sonne , and a small force , which she had gotten by the meanes of a meane Gentleman called syr Iohn of Henawd , brother to the Earle of Henawd . And being aryued in Englande , founde all the people readie at hir commaundement , as those that had taken a great displeasure agaynst the King , by reason of his crueltie : So as she besieged hir sayde husbande , tooke him prysoner , and bestowed him in the Tower of London . Then caused she all the estates of the realme to be assembled , by whome Kyng Edward the seconde ( for his crueltie committed agaynst his nobilitie ) was founde and pronounced vnworthy to be Kyng any longer , and so was depriued of his dignitie . And whyle he was yet aliue , and prysoner in the sayde Tower of London , the sayde estates crowned his sonne Edwarde the thyrde their Kyng , of whome I haue spoken afore , and shewed that he did the like to his mother . Dionis . Hal. 4. & . 5. Tarquine the proud a King of the Romanes , was by his people driuen out of Rome , as well for his gouerning ouer proudly , as for suffering his sonne to violate a woman of honour named Lucrecia , and being thence banished , he sent his embassadours thither for the procuring of his peace , and restablishement of his estate : many gaue their consents to restore him , and had he proceeded in gentle and tractable maner , there had bene great likelyhoode of the recouerie of his kingdome . But being vnable to maister his own pride , he gathered together as many as he coulde get to take his part , and with Porsena kyng of the Hetrurians ( whome he raysed vp to ayde him ) made warre againste the Romanes . This war procured him such hatred of the Romanes which hadde bene his subiectes , as they would neuer after returne vnder his obeysance : in so much as both he and all his posteritie were depriued from off the kingdome , and the estate of that Monarchie changed into a publike state . And from that time forth the name of King was deadly hated and abhorred among the Romanes . And no maruell though the name of King were so sore hated of the Romanes for one mans faulte , that euen when the same state returned againe to a Monarchie vnder Iulius Caesar , neither he nor his successours wold be called kings , but Emperours . For it hath happened so to dyuers other names . The name of Tyrant , which at this day soundeth so yll , and is of euerie man hated , was amongst our Elders an honourable name , & signified none other thing but lord , insomuch that Virgil whose onely drift in his Aeneiad●s , Virgil Eneid● lib. 7. was to aduaunce the godlynesse & vertue of his Aeneas , calleth him Tyrant . Likewise the name of Iudas ( which signifieth a Confessour , ) was in times past reputed honourable , and yet by reason of one mans faulte , it is nowe taken for a traytour . And before the Emperour Neroes time , this name Neron ( which in the olde Sabin tong signifieth noble ) was esteemed as a glorious name , especially after the days of Claudius Nero , which ouercame Asdrubal Hannibals brother , & his 50000. men : but for the offences of one only man , the same is now taken for a tyrant . So much may the wickednesse of one man do , to the vtter defacing of a faire & honorable name for euer . God graunt that the vices of some of vs frenchmen , do not bespot the name of Frenchman , which hath heretofore bin esteemed and honored throughout al the world : which thing I am sore afeard of , if we mend not the soner : for alreadie in Germanie , they cal al frenchmen indifferently Schelmes . Continuing our examples , I will recite you one which is the more to be noted , for that it was done by the way of iustice .

After the death of the great Herode king of Iudea , Samaria , Galile , and Idumea , As Iosephus De bello Iud. lib. 18. cap. 1. 2. 3. there arose a strife and contention betweene Archelaus and Herodes Antipas his sonnes . Archelaus would needs make wars against his subiectes , vpon a verie slyght occasion , in suche wise , as for the giuing of one blowe , he caused three thousand persons to be slaine by his horsemen , whome he made to trauerse and runne through the whole assembly of his people . Wherevpon his brother Antipas sped him strayght vnto Rome , where before Augustus Caesar he accused Archelaus , for at that time welneere all the Kings of the world were subiect to the Romane Empire . The Iewes also sente from Iudea to Rome , fiftie Ambassadours , to accuse hym before Augustus , and to shewe how vnworthy he was to raigne , that had vpon his people committed suche crueltie : and that also there was no better curtesie to be loked for at his handes , that woulde so soone after the death of his father ( and immediatly vpon hys entrie ) commit actes so cruell and vnnaturall . In consideration wherof they besought Augustus to gyue them rather Antipas for their King . Augustus Caesar tooke knowlege of this matter , neuerthelesse , for that hee bare some fauour and friendship to Archelaus : be confirmed his succession in Iudea , Samaria , & Idumea , and assigned Galile to Antipas . But therewith hee exhorted Archelaus to the gouerning of him selfe thencefoorth more mildly and gently towards his subiects . Archelaus returning into his countrey with so good speede at Augustus hande , behaued him selfe there , more cruelly than before . Wherevpon hee was agayne accused at Rome , and there condemned by the Senate , to whome Augustus had referred the examination of the matter , in somuche that all his goodes were confiscate to the Emperour by sentence of the Senate , and hee him selfe was banished to Vienna in Dauphine , there to ende hys dayes , as he miserably did . After this iudgement , Iudea , Samaria and Idumea , were ruled by suche gouernours as the Emperour did establishe , as by Coponius and Annius Rufus in the raigne of Augustus Caesar , and by Valerius Gratus , and Pontius Pilate ( that cruell man , whiche iudged our Sauiour to death ) during the dayes of Tiberius . The conclusion is , that Archelaus for his warring and ouerrigorous dealing with hys subiectes , miserably ended his dayes , and was the causer of the alteration of the state of hys countrie . Vpon this matter of alteration of states , I say by the way , that it hath often fallen out , and still dothe , that when Monarchies haue bin excessiuely corrupted with vice , they haue bin changed into common weales : and likewise when the common weales haue once bin corrupted , they also haue bin changed into Monarchies and kingdomes . The example heereof was seene in the nation of the Iewes , at whose beginning euen from the tyme of Moyses and Iosua , that people was gouerned in the fourme of a Monarchie ( for those two were as chiefe gouernours one after another . ) Afterwarde in the time of the Iudges was the same state chaunged to the fourme of a common weale , for the people were gouerned by a chosen number of auncients ( except in time of warre when God alwayes raysed vp to them a Captayne ( which they called their iudge . ) But againe in the dayes of Samuell it altered from a common wealth to a Monarchie , at whiche time Saul was chosen King . After that , in the time of the Machabees , it was changed from a Monarchie to a popular state , howbeit , that to say the truth , it was a confused state , whiche had no manner of forme of good gouernement , and yet afterwarde it returned to the manner of a Monarchie in the raign of Herode the great , and was lastly put into the forme of a prouince vnder the Romane Empire . Likewise the estate of the Romanes was gouerned as a Monarchie from the raigne of Romulus till the time of Tarquine the proud , whose pride and euill gouernemente was the cause that the same state was changed into the forme of a common wealth . In that state the Romanes continued vnto the dayes of Iulius Caesar , at which time it was so corrupted with riot , auarice , & ambition ( whereof the ciuil warres betweene Scilla and Marius , and betweene Caesar and Pompei may be a witnesse , ) that it could not but alter and come agayne to a Monarchie . Since the which time that great Romane Monarchie hathe bene piteously wasted by the euill gouernmentes of many Emperours . And of the wast of the same , haue bin erected many common wealthes and great kingdomes , as Fraunce , Spayne , Englande , and other greater and smaller Monarchies . To bee shorte , these chaunges haue bene seene in the state of the Romane Empire , in lesse than .1500 yeare . Cesar de bello gall . lib. 1 cap. 13. France before the time of Iulius Caesar stood in the state of small common wealthes , which gouerned themselues apart the one by the other , by confederations that they had together to reuenge them vpon strangers , as the Cantons do at this day . But ambition made them bandie , and make warre eache agaynste other , to proue whiche shoulde be the greatest . Of whome , when they of Autun had gotten the vpper hand as the stronger , those of Sequanois their neighbours , feeling them selues the weaker , called the Almaines to their succors against them of Autun . The Almaines comming downe vnder the conduct of Arionistus , serued them and occupied a good part of the countrie Sequanois for their wages . They of Autun on the other syde demanded succor of the Romanes : wherevppon Caesar came into France , and vnder the colour to succour them of Autun , and to chace Arionistus from the countrie that he occupied : he wonne to himselfe the whole countrie of France . So as it may truely be sayd , that that change of the Frenche state happened through the diuision that then was in France , without the which deuision , Caesar had neuer vanquished them ( what Caesar soeuer he had bin . ) And truely we see by the histories , that alwayes till then , the Frenchmen had well canuassed the Romanes , yea and taken and burned Rome . In somuch that ( as sayth Salust ) Salust de bello Iugurthino the Romanes so feared them , that alwayes when they hearde the Frenche ( to be in armes , yong , and old , priestes , and lay-men , none excepted or excused amongst them ) were commaunded to arme them . Yea , they would openly confesse , that against all other nations they warred for the gaining of honor and glory , but ageinst the French men , for the preseruation of their liues . But Caesar finding them in deuision , added oyle to the flame of their furie , partly by whiche policie , and partly by his valiancie he set vppon them , and ouercame them , changed their state from sundry common wealthes , to one only Monarchie . Plutarch in Caesare . Yea , thus muche more hee did , that as with the Romane power , he vanquished the Frenchmen , so with the French mens money , he obteyned the Romane Empire ( another very good policie ) for with the money that he gate in Fraunce , he corrupted the chiefe of Rome , through the fauour of whome , he was chosen Dictatour perpetual , which is as much to say as Monarch of the Romanes . So was the Realme of France by Caesar vnited to the Romane Empire , from the whiche they often after soughte to cutte them selues off , as in the ende they did . In the tyme of the Emperour Tiberius , Cor. Tacitus Annal. one Iulius Sacrouir of Autun made parte of Fraunce to reuolt , raysing certayne small assemblies secretely in the Townes , and exhorting the people , no longer to suffer neyther the continuaunce of the tributes ( wherewith the Emperour oppressed them ) nor the pride and crueltie wherewith the Magistrates ( sente thyther from Rome ) ouerburdened them . Also they reuolted vnder the Emperour Nero , as well for his greate crueltie , as for his ouercharging them wyth greate paymentes of money ( by mee before spoken of . ) Lykewise vnder the Emperour Gallien for hys greate riot and whoredome , Trel . Pollio in Gallienno . as before I haue touched . For the Frenchmen ( sayeth Pollio ) were in those dayes of suche disposition , as they coulde not abide a vicious Prince . And agayne , after they reuolted from the Emperoures , Probus , Dioclesian , and others , tyll they hadde quite cut off them selues agayne from the Empyre , and politiquely broughte their countrie into a self settled Monarchie , the which the Lord long mayntayne .

Who soeuer woulde take vppon him the discouering of the infinite number of examples , whiche touche the alterations that haue happened in publique estates , from Monarchies into common weales , and from common weales into Monarchies ( when corruption hadde once caughte them ) shoulde neuer make an ende : but to mee it suffiseth to haue touched these fewe , to the ende that youre Maiestie by youre wisedome myghte prouide , that the corruptions , whiche are nowe crept into France , and are dayly like to creepe further , bring not with them a change to the state ( which God forbid . ) For truely there is nothing that more foresheweth the alteration of an estate , than when corruption is seene to spread ouer farre into it . I knowe well that men can not be without faultes , neyther can Monarchies , nor common wealthes , bee so gouerned , as there may not in the gouernement be found matter of reproofe , but when al things in the fame are to be seene turned the vpside downe , when vice is made vertue , and vertue made vice , when good men are hated , and euill men aduanced : in summe , when corruption hath recouered the highest degree that it may reache to : then may it well bee sayd , ( according as men do see continually ) that an exchange of state approcheth . Wherwithall is to be noted , that by the ordinarie course of worldly things , no one state can endure for euer . And syr , seeing that your kingdome hath endured this twelue hundreth yeeres and more , you ought so muche the rather to feare , least in the state thereof , some alteration shoulde happen . And if in Iulius Caesars time the strangers drawen into Fraunce coulde fynde the way to winne the same : it is not to bee doubted but if it may lye in their power they will nowe doe the lyke . The Frenchmen , when they sawe the euill dealing of Caesar , repented their calling him into Fraunce , but then it was too late . Let vs therefore in tyme bee warned by the harmes of our auncestours , so to prouide for our safeties , as we be not ouertaken as were the Troyans whiche became wise , but not til after such time as they were vtterly ouerthrowen .