Gymnasiarchon, or, The schoole of potentates wherein is shewn, the mutability of worldly honour / written in Latine by Acatius Evenkellius ; Englished, with some illustrations and observations, by T. N. ...

〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , OR , THE SCHOOLE OF POTENTATES .

Wherein is shewn , The MUTABILITY of Worldly Honour .

Written in Latine by Acatius Evenkellius , Englished , with some Illustrations and Observations , by T. N. Philonomon .

Occupandi t●mporis gratia in usum tuum , non in praeconium aliquid simplici stylo scribe .

Sence . lib. 1. de tranquil . animi , cap. 1. 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , Psal. 39.6 .

LONDON , Printed by Richard Bishop . 1648.

To the Reader .

IT is reported of Theucydides , that hee did not write much , nor soared high : but that hee stole away the palme from them that wrot a great deale more . What is said of him , I may truly say of our Authour , that hee hath written but a little Book , but more usefully then they that have written great Volumes . It is a tenet among the Moralists , that in the government of Commonwealths Examples prevaile more with the multitude then either Lawes or Precepts : for that more credit is given to the eye , then to the eare ; * * Promptius intuitu sequimui quam mente receptum . Ista per Idaeas , ill● per acta probat . What they see , they beleive assuredly , but not what they heare ; for that the tongue is a dissembler , and same a lyar . Wherefore in examples , and presidents doth our Authour deale ; he hath set before our eyes , many lively patterns borrowed out of the most classicall Authors of such as have tasted of both Fortunes , that for a time have bin most renowned of their soveraignes ; yet before they dyed became contemptible , and dyed miserable ; the causes of their risings and their ruines , together with a great deale of divine and wholsome Counsell to such as attend the Courts of Princes , how to behave themselves that they do not fall into the like miseries . Wherefore I have thought it no needlesse or fruitlesse labour to dismantle our Authour of his Pilgrims habit , and to invest him in the Robes of an Englishman ; rudely perhaps ; what then ? shall wee therefore neglect the man because his Taylor hath neglected him ? No ; have wee not often tasted of pure liquor * * Multo ●ies v●num Samio va● sculo , multoties venenum è N●ronis Cape line ingurgitavimus . Saepenumerò sub sordido palliolo latet prudentia , saepenumerò anguis in herba ; unde poeta : saepe tegit nucleum squallida testa bonum . in an earthen Temple pot , and seen a faire habit under a frize Jerkin ; entertayne him then though hee come to you like a Clowne , in a rude and rustick habit , he will acquaint you with occurrences that happened before your Fathers were borne ; in England , France , Spaine , Germany , Austria , Swethland , and in other parts of the Christian world : entertaine him with his Companions , Cornelius Tacitus , Philip Commines , Matthew Paris , Theucydides , and the rest , whose ayd hee hath implored in the building of this his Fabrick . I dare commend them to you with that Encomium , which Lipsius gives of Tacitus . Yet not upon mine own knowledg so much as upon the knowledge of them who have known them longer and better then I have done : who have given these Testimonials of them : of Tacitus , quod nemo illo veriùs narrat , nemo breviùs ; nihil est in moribus quod non tangit , in affectibus quod non revelat ; mirabilis scripter qui serio hoc ipsum agit , quod non agit ; nec enim historia est sed hortus & seminarium praeceptorum : nam ut ii qui vestes acu pingunt ingeniosè gemmas inserunt sine noxa formarum , sic ille passim sententias serie narrationis nihil omissâ aut laesâ . No man writ more truely , no man more sententiously then Tacitus ; there is not any thing in morality that hee hath not glanced upon , in our affection that hee hath not discovered , and which is strange , where hee seemes to bee most carelesse , hee is most serious , so that his History is rather a store-house of Rules and Precepts , then a History , for that never Artizan did more artificially insert gems and precious stones in a garment with his needle , then he hath done witty and pithy sentences into his History , without offering the least wrong or violence unto them . Of Philip Commines , quod pater Historiae nostro aevo , & ita laudabiliter scripsit ut nihil vereor componere eum cum quovis antiquorum ; Hoc autem laudem ejus auget quod tanta praestitit litterarum omnino rudis , solo usu rerum peritus & naturali quadam judicii bonitate indutus , that he is the Father of the Historians of our age , and which doth adde much to his prayse , that hee writ so well having no more learning then hee had . Of Theucydides , quod nec multas nec magnas res scripsit , sed palmam praeripuit omnibus qui & multas & magnas : elocutione gravis , sententiis brevis , judiciis sanus , ad actiones vitamque dirigendam orationibus & excursibus paenè divinus : quem quo saepius legas plus auferas , & nunquam tamen dimittet te sine siti : that he writ not much , nor soared high , but he got the palme from them that writ much , and of great matters : that hee was in his speech grave , in his sentences short , in his judgement sound , and a Divine in directing of men how to live ; whom the more often you read , the more you will desire to read , and still apprehend something which you did not before . Of Matthew Paris , quod artes liberales accuratè calluit ; Poeta elegans , Orator facundus , Dialecticus acutus , Philosophus subtilis , Mathematicus non contemnendus , Historicus percelebris , Theologus solidus , & quod omnium caput est , integritate & vitae innocentia , purus , simplex , candidus , that hee was a generall Scholler , a fine Poet , an eloquent Orator , an acute Logician , a witty Philosopher , well seene in the Mathematicks , a famous Historian , a sound Divine , and which is better then all , an honest man . These are the men I acknowledge , who first acquainted mee with the Authour ; for when I first saw him , and beheld these men familiar with him , having been formerly acquainted with them , I did conceive that the Companions of them must in some sort bee qualified like unto them ; and I was not deceived ; for if my judgement fayle mee not , hee is both usefull and delightfull , Et prodesse potest , & delectare libellus . and a fit Companion for a Prince , and such as serve him in any high place . Entertaine him then , yee to whom the Authour hath sent him , and the rather because hee is a stranger , and never appeared in the habit of an Englishman till now . Entertaine him I say againe and againe , and with no lesse respect then Alexander did Homer , Scipio Panaetius and Polybius , Augustus Areus & Athenodorus ; and if you finde my report of him to be true , ascribe the prayse as it is due to the Authour , and afford mee your loveing favour , who have made him known unto you . Vale.

Your Servant THO. NASH .

WHere you finde in the Authour this mark * in the margin with a figure , you shall see some Notes and Observations of mine , in the end , which have Relation unto it ; whereby the Authours meaning as well in point of History , as Morality , may be better understood .

Acatius Evenkellius his Advertisement , to such as are in grace and favour with their Princes .

WHen of late wee met together , and had some conference of the present affaires of the State , but specially of the fall of Philodoxos : you did seeme to wonder that I should be so confident that his end should bee no other then it fell out to be ; and although I did confirme the same unto you , as well by Reason as by Authority , taken out of the Histories both of antient and moderne times , yet you were still of opinion that Philodoxos was so deeply scrued in his Princes favour , that misfortune could not shake him ; and did desire me to shew you some Presidents of such as had tasted of the like grace and favour as hee did , and that came to the like end as he did , and withall what the causes were why I should bee so confident that Ruine and Destruction must needes be the end of him : of which your request or command rather , being ever mindfull , I will first shew unto you out of the Treasuries of times both ancient and moderne , some Examples of such as have been highly honoured by their Princes , how they ●egan , how they went on , and how they ended . In the next place as you desired , I will shew you the causes of so suddaine a change and alteration ; and lastly play the part of a Physitian , prescribe remedyes , both to Prince and People , that both the one and the other , as farr forth as lieth in the power of man to doe , may avoyd those dangers .

CHAP. I. Of Examples .

That I may begin with the Examples of the sacred Histories ; * * 1 Ioab Davidis regis in utraque fortuna individuus diu comes . 1 Ioab who was for a long time King Davids bosome friend in both fortunes , the Captaine of his Guard , and one well seene aswell in Militarie discipline as in Civill government , and not ignorant of the fashion of the Court , by which meanes , hee grew gratious in the eyes of King and people ; who to give the King contentment put Vriah to death ; having neither law nor reason for his warant ; and to the end he might endear himselfe more and more unto him , cunningly * * 2 Rabbathae Ammoniorum urbis captionem regi suo reservavit . 2 he ascribed the taking of Rabbath a Citie of the Ammonites unto him , by reason of which his service hee grew so infinitly proud that not considering how odious such kinde of persons are in the sight of God and men , hee was so bold * * 3 Absalonem contra expressum Regis mandatum confodit . 3 contrary to the expresse command of the King , to lay violent hands upon Absalom the Kings son ; in hostilitie hee was with his Father , and by consequence , by the lawes of armes , worthy of death : yet hee had no Warrant to doe what hee did ; and for that the King tooke his death very heavily , hee was so presumptuous as malepertly to upbraid him , and to stir up the people to revolt and quit their allegiance ; nay it so fell out that not long before by a most barbarous trechery * * 4 Abnerem ducem Israelitarum & Amasam ducem Iudaeorum per summam perfidiam occiderat . 4 hee slew Abner a Captaine of the Israelites , and Amasa , a Captaine of the Iewes , that stood in competition with him , and were upon the point to bee admitted into his place by the King : to conclude , which is worthy of observation , hee seditiously * * 5 Adoniam juvat . 5 assisted Adonijah , the Kings son , to usurp his fathers territories , in his life time ; for the which * * 6 Iussu Regis interemptus . 6 by the Kings Command hee was put to death by King Solomon his son before the altar , Haman the son of Amadathus , of the tribe of Agge , Ahasuerus raised and set above all the Peares of his Kingdome , and commanded that all his servants should honour and reverence him ; which gratious favour of his hee abused to satisfie his intolerable pride , and cruelty , when as * * 7 Totō gentem Iudaeorum propter odium unius Mardochaei . 7 for the hatred he bare to , Mordochee , he obtained licence of the King , that he might sacrifice the whole Nation of the Iewes ; but fortune turning of her wheele , as God would have it , he by the Kings command was hanged on the same tree which hee had prepared for Mordochee . To come unto the Romane Histories , which will shew unto us ( which is strange ) that the most flourishing times of the Empire will afford us most Examples in this kinde . I will begin with Aelius Seianus , a notable patterne of humane frailty , hee was come of a Noble house and by his policie so wond himselfe into the favor of * * 8 Illum tam superbum tam saevum , tam violentum impe●atorem 8 Tiberius Caesar , that proud licentious cruell , inconstant ambitions Emperour , that though he were reserved and close unto all others , yet to him he was open and free , hee had a body indefatigable ; a bold spirit , close in any thing that concerned himselfe , but a deep searcher in other mens secrets , openly modest and shamefast , but within full of flatterie , pride and ambition ; and to accomplish his ambitious designes hee did very often use briberie and entertainments in excesse , but more often Industry and vigilancy ; by his Industry and cunni●g hee insinuated himselfe into the affections of the pretorian company , * * 9 Cohortibus praetoriis praefectus . 9 for hee being Cheife ●ommander of them hee summoned them very often to come together , and by coming amongst them and * * 10 Irrepere caepit , in milita●es animos adeundo , appellando 10 calling them by their names he won their hearts , and the hearts of the Centurions and Tribunes ; neither did he forbeare to come among the Senators , and to gratifie some with honors , others with authoritie ; for Tiberius did so much honor him that hee made him not only privie to his Councells , * * 11 Per theatra effigies ejus inter Principes legionum coli statuit . and actions , but upon all occasions graced him in the presence of the Elders , and the people , 11 hee suffered his statues to be adored in the Courts and theater , among the statues of the Princes . Sejanus weighed all things diligently and duely considered of things before they happened , and therefore that hee might not lose the power which hee had with the multitude , and such as dayly did resorte unto him , hee never absented himselfe long from his owne howse , but came home to entertaine them , where he received them curteously , ever shewing his readines to procure pardon for such as were delinquents ; and that hee might the better bring to passe his designes * * 12 Vitam procul Româ ●maenis locis ducere persuasit . 12 he prevailed with Tiberius to leave Rome and to live farre remote in the country ; for he thought Tiberius being grown in yeares , and retired into the contry that he might with lesse opposition passe through those places which he held ; he provided likewise that none might have accesse to Tiberius , but by him , and that he might have the scanning of all such letters as came to the Emperor by the hands of the souldiers ; but why Tiberius should so much favour this man , no reason can be given , unlesse it were for that hee once freed him from a danger that was like to befall him when others forsooke him ; for it happened upon a time 13 when Tiberius was feasted in a howse called Spelunca , * * 13 Convivium celebratur in villa quae vocatur Spelunca . the stones that lay at the mouth of the Cave , fell downe and slew divers therein , which bred an astonishment in all , and caused them that celebrated the feast , to runne out to save themselves , whilst Sejanus staid with Tiberius , hung upon his neck , and with all his might and power kept the stones that were ready to fall upon him from him , as the Souldiers that came to assist him and saw him hanging , related the matter ; after this Sejanus grew greater and greater , and had the eare of Tiberius ready to anything that he would say , though it tended to the ruine of the common-wealth , in somuch that hee grew into that height of pride and impudency that * * 14 Nuptias petebat à Liviâ . 14 he presumed to become a suitor to Li●ia the neice of Tiberius , first wife to Caius Caesar , the son of Augustus , then to Drusus the son of Tiberius , whom hee had secretly poysoned ; at last hee tooke upon him the state of an Emperor , and esteemed of Tiberius no otherwise then the Governor of a poore Iland called by the name of Capreas , so that all mens eyes and affections were fixed upon Seianus , and happie did hee thinke himselfe , that could bee the first to bee admitted unto him , unhappy to be the last ; who as hee observed every thing very diligently , so especially the words and very lookes of the peeres of Tiberius : by which meanes hee grew so gratious with the Senators end the common people , that in every thing they gave the same honor unto him , as they did unto Tiberius ; their statues in brasse were set up alike , their names in all writings subscribed alike , and the Chariots which carried them unto the Theaters adorned with gold alike ; nay more , it was decreed that when they came unto Rome , the Consuls whom they chose every fifth yeare , should meete the one in as great state and solemnity as they did the other ; and should offer the like Sacrifices to the statues of the one as to the other : so that nothing being now wanting to Sejanus , or rather the Emperour , ( fo so indeed he was , having got all power into his hands , and wanted nothing but the bare title of the Emperour , to make him so ; ) Tiberius began to bethink himselfe of the danger he was in ; but because Sejanus had so glued to himselfe the affections of the Pretorian Souldiers , the Senators and such as were neare Tiberius , either with rewards or with promises of rewards , that nothing could be said or done in Court , whereof Sejanus had not presently notice : and nothing done abroad that tended to the dishonour of Tiberius that came unto his eares ; Tiberius wisely by degrees , first secretly underhand , afterwards more openly tooke a course to ruine Sejanus , and to frustrate all his designes . Behold here a notable example of humane frailty , and a singular patterne for such as are in grace and favour with their Princes , to put them in minde the higher they are , the more reverently and submissively to carry themselves ; this man that was in the morning attended upon like an Emperour , in the evening was thrown into prison like a beggar ; whom not long before the people adorned with Crownes of gold , not long after they bound with fetters of iron ; whom as their Lord they honoured , they beate as their slave : whom they adored and sacrificed unto as unto a God , they reviled and dragd unto death most ignominiously like a rogue ; the same day that the Senate did him all the honour that they could , the people would have carbonaded him , and have pulled him in peices : this man that had so much that he could not desire more , either of God or Man to make him happy whilst hee lived , before hee dyed had so little that he had not wherewithall to gratifie the hang-man ; a notable pattern I say of humane frailty ; yet more of this kinde will I shew unto you ; In the pulling down of Sejanus , Tiberius used the assistance of Nevius Sertorius Macro , whom not long before hee secretly made Commander of the Praetorian Company : and the Senate conceived so well of him , that by a decree they conferred all Sejanus his honours upon him ; but hee being terrified by an example that was so fresh in memory , refused to accept them ; yet not long after it so happened that hee became exceeding powerfull , and applyed himselfe wholy to Caius Caligula , and studyed how to make him Emperour after Tiberius , insomuch that when Tiberius understood it , * * 15 Occidentem fugientem , orientalem persequentem solem illum exprobravit . 15 hee upbraided him for abandoning the setting , and adoring the rising Sunne ; but Caligula in the end requited him for his good will , putting him together with his wife to death with Claudius Coesar : the most powerfull men were his freed men , and amongst them Narcissus and Pallas , whom he used to severall purposes ; the one as his Secretary to write his Letters , the other as his Orator to make his speeches , whose services hee requited by a decree of the Senate , not only with infinite treasure , but with places of Authority and Command : insomuch that upon a time inquiring what the reason was that his Treasury was so empty : answer was made , that it would be full enough if that the money that was taken forth of it by Narcissus and Pallas , were put into it ; with these men and their wives Claudius was so enamoured that he became rather their Servant then their Soveraigne : at their disposall were all Honours , Armies , Pardons , and Punishments , insomuch that Sextus Aurelius was used to call * * 16 Narcissum dominum domini appellat . 16 Narcissus the master of his master ; for as Iuvenal saith , unto Narcissus Claudius denied nothing , nay spared not to kill his wife , being commanded by him so to do ; so that Dion affirmes hee was the most powerfull Man of that age , and of the age past , having a command over Princes , and Cityes , and Possessions amounting to more then foure thousand Sesters . This man notwithstanding as soone as Claudius was dead , Agrippina the wife of Claudius , and Neros Mother put to death ; so that though these kinde of men may peradventure during the lives of the Princes by whom they have beene raised , live in grace , yet seldome doe they escape the hands of their successors . As touching Pallas , of whom we have before spoken , who perswaded and procured Claudius incestuously to marry Agrippina , his brothers daughter , and afterwards to be his Concubine , though hee contracted with the Senate that for any offence past hee should not be questioned ; yet Nero observing how proudly hee caried himselfe , exceeding the limits of a free man , grew in hatred with him , so that after that he had removed him from all places of Authority which Claudius had conferred upon him , having had indeed the Key of the Empire in his power , he was by Nero put to death ; the excessive pride of this man is remarkable in this one passage : he being accused by Nero upon a time for words spoken , when hee heard the Libertines named that should be his accusers , answered , that at home hee never spoke word , but did all by signes and tokens ; if the matter were short , hee exprest himselfe either by his nod or by his hand ; if long , by writing . In the next place , Tigellinus descended of meane Parentage , vitious in his youth , vitious in his age , who having by his dishonest courses , wherein hee grew so notorious , that be surpassed all the men of his time , crept into Neros favour , and attained divers offices of Command and Authority , executed the same with all kinde of cruelty , rapine , and villany , having corrupted Nero with all kinde of vices , being most inward with him ; for when he was angry none except himselfe and Pappea durst speake unto him , at length was so bold as to make some attempt upon Nero himselfe , yea to forsake him and betray him . But when Vitellius came to the Crown , the people petitioned him that he might be called to an accompt for it , and so being condemned in the midst of his jollities whilst he was revelling with his Whores , his jawes being first cut off with a rasor , he * * 17 Infamem vitam infami exitu faedavit . 17 ended his ignominious life with as ignominious a death . So Vitellius being promoted to the Empire , within four months after that he overcame Otho , * * 18 Asiaticum in favorem cepit 18 hee took into his favour one Asiaticus a freed man of his , no way inferiour in all kinde of villany * * 19 Policletos & Patrob ios vetera odiorum nomina aequabat . 19 to the Policleti and Patrobii the old detestable names amongst the Romans ; but immediatly after the death of Vitellius , under Vespasian he received condigne punishment for abusing the power conferred upon him ; Commodus the Emperour had many of these men whom he raised and pulled down againe , who after the time that he fell into the hands of the Southsayers and Conjurers , never shewed himselfe in publick , * * 20 Ne quicquam sibi annuntiari est passus nisi quod Perrenius ante tractasset . 20 neither would endure to heare or be told of anything if it had not first been made known unto Perrenius . This man therefore knowing the Emperours minde , found out the way how to make himselfe powerfull ; hee perswaded * * 21 Persuasit Cōmodo ut lipse deliciis vacaret , & ut curae illi demandarentur . 21 the Emperour to follow his delights , and leave the cares of the Commonwealth to him : which motion of his the Emperour readily entertained ; so Perrenius is the only man that swayes the Empire , puts to death whom he will , robbs and spoyls whom hee will , and all that he may make a prey out of every thing , and enrich himselfe ; but why did this man thus tyrannyse ? did he thinke that though he had power for a time , that it would continue for ever ? no ; for as soone as he was made cheife Commander of the Horse in the Brittish warr , his villanyes being everywhere divulged , he was called by no other name then by the name of the Enemy of the Armyes , and was delivered over by the Souldiers to be pulled in pieces ; Herodian writes that because hee did conspire with his sonne to kill Commodus and usurpe the Empire , they were both put to death . If either of these were true , it serves well enough for our purpose . To succeed Perrenius Commodus chose Cleander from amongst them that waited upon him in his bed chamber , being a man of meane Parentage ; this man so much abused the favour of Commodus , that * * 22 Omnes praefecturas pro libitu vendit & distribuit . 22 hee sold all offices of Command and Authority , disposed of them and tooke them away againe , at his will and pleasure , sent for such home as were in exile , and preferred them to places of dignities , disannuld the decrees of the Courts of Iustice , and made havock and sale of every thing , yea so bewitcht the Emperour that hee procured Burrhus the Emperours brother in law , his owne Sisters husband with many others that stood out in his defence , to bee put to death , for no other cause as hee could surmise , but for suspition that hee desired to be Emperour ; and this displeasure Cleander took against him , because that Birrhus observing his unruly courses , freely reprehended him for them , and made the Emperour acquainted with his actions ; but these enormious offences escaped not unpunished , for in the end hee smarted for them ; Arrius Montanus being by his plots and conspiracies put to death , for crimes laid to his charge which he never did ; It drew the Emperours wrath upon him , and occasioned deadly hatred in the people , insomuch that they made an insurrection ; for pacification whereof ( as Herodian and Dion observe , ) the Emperour was compell'd to send his Souldiers amongst them ; but untill they saw the head of Cleander they would not be pacified ; wherefore the Emperour caus'd his head to be cut off , and to be set upon a pole , which when they saw , there was an end of the businesse , all parties were agreed . To succeed him were called Iulianus and Regillus , but they continued not long in his favour .

Severus the Emperour raised Plautianus Afer from a very meane estate , to bee very potent and mighty by confiscated goods , which hee conferred upon him , yet kept from him all places of Command and Authority , whose gracious favour he so much abused to the exercise of his cruelty , that hee became more tyrannicall then any of the Princes of former times ; for when Severus preferred in Mariage Plautianus his Daughter to his Sonne Anthony against the will of Anthony , for which hee distasted both his Wife and Father , and threatned to kill them both , and so to aspire to the Empire , Plautianus considering then what danger he was in , and on the other side being spurred on with a desire of Soveraignty , knowing well the age and weaknesse of the Emperour , and his own power , bethinks himselfe how hee might kill the Father and the Sonne , and so attaine the Empire , and avoyd the danger hee was like to fall into , if Anthonyes designe should take effect ; the executioner being sent to do the deed when Plautianus should give the word ; the Treachery being discovered , * * 23 Convictus jussu Antonii occisus est . 23 Plautianus was apprehended , and being convicted by the Command of Anthony in the presence of Severus was put to death . Vnto these Roman examples , I will add one of the Graecians , with Philip of Macedon , the last King of that name . There was a young man called Apelles that was so powerfull that hee might more properly bee called a King then a Favorite ; for that every City in Greece more observed and feared him then they did the King ; the King therefore by the advice of Aratus , taking it to heart that this man looked after nothing more then the Empire , * * 24 Authoritatem omnem momento ademit . 24 on a suddaine cast him off ; whereupon hee was thrown into Prison , and shortly after put to death . Polybius writing this History , takes occasion to shew how happy and unhappy they that live in Princes Courts , may be in a very moment of time ; he compares them unto suffrages , which are accustomed to be given in Common-councells ; for as in Counsells saith hee , it is in the power of the Senators to give Brasse or Silver , so in the Courts of Princes , it is in the power of the Prince to give honor or dishonor , to make their servants either happy or miserable . Hiero King of Syracuse in Sicilie , when he dyed left his Kingdome to Hieronymo , his Nephew ; and for that he was a child , hee appoynted fifteene to see him vertuously educated , amongst whom was Andronorus his sonne in law ; but the King was scant laid in his grave , but Andronorus ambitious of Command , eased the rest of that office of trust which was committed unto them , affirming that Hieronymo was old and able enough himselfe to governe the Kingdome ; but by waving of the office which to him with others was joyntly committed , hee got all the power into his own hand , Hieronymo being young and vitiously addicted , fell into all manner of evill courses , and suddainly came to an untimely end . Vpon whose death Andronorus possessed himselfe of the Tower , and a great part of the City , and fortified it with Garrisons , for he he thought it more safe to run with the current , and to yeild himselfe into the hands of the Senate , though his Wife the daughter of King Hiero mad after Soveraignty , often put him in minde , to the end to encourage him to proceede in the course hee was in , of what Dionysius was used to say , that a man needed not to saddle a horse to leave a Kingdome , hee might doe it well enough on foot , intimating that it is an easie thing when a man will to part with a fortune , but not easie to attaine unto it ; yet I say he thought it more safe for the present to submit o the Senate , who made him one of their pretors ; but * * 25 Nulla quies in●st animo dominandi Iibidine capto . 5 his thoughts bein once possessed with a desire of Soveraignty , he could not finde contentment in any thing else , * * 29 Vxore illum praesertim instigante . 26 his wife principally animating him thereunto , t lling him that now is the time ( if ever ) to stirr in it , whilst the waters are troubled , whilst the Souldiers are ready to accept of better pay then the Kings : and whilst Hannibals Captaines are there ready to further his designe . Which perswasion so prevailed with him that a second time hee took it into consideration , how he might attaine to the Kingdome , which being discovered , he together with Themistius to whom hee had disclosed the whole matter , was in the Senate house put to death .

Wee will passe from hence to the Historyes of other Countreyes and Ages . Richard the first King of England , reposed so much trust in William Bishop of Ely , as that hee made him Chancellour of England , Keeper of his great seale , and Lieuetenant of the Tower of London : at the same time hee prevailed with the Pope to make him Legat à Latere of England , France , and Jreland : and when hee was to passe the Seas to wage Warr with the Saracens , he left the Government of the Kingdome wholly to him , and gave this charge to his Subjects , that as they loved him and his Kingdome , and as they desired to live in peace and prosperity , and to enjoy their Possessions in safety , that they would shew themselves obedient to his trusty and well-beloved Chancellour in all things that he should direct them that did concern him , as if that hee were personally present ; so this man is now the greatest man in all the Western parts , being in the Kings absence the Metropolitan of all England ; * * 27 Dignitates quas pretio com paraverat immodetatè exercuit . 27 hee executed the Diginities which hee purchased at deare rates , with excessive cruelty , and oppression : and all respect of honesty set apart , bent his thoughts only how he might fill the baggs again which hee had emptied ; to attain unto them he turned Vsurer , and executed the office of Legat à latere , which cost him a thousand pound , with such cruelty , that he became a burthen and eyesore to all the clergy of England : he seldome rid with a lesse number then fifteene hundred of the Clergy to attend him , and a band of Souldiers , as if he had been a King , as my Author saith , and not a Bishop ; he was attended by the Sons of the Nobility , whom he married to his kindred , and happy did he think himselfe that could be gracious in his eyes , ; there was no Land to be sold which he bought not , no Church or Dignity void which he did not either bestow upon his friends or himselfe ; the keeping of all Castles and Townes by one meanes or other he engrossed , and prevail'd so by his power that hee did what he would , and no man durst once open his mouth to contradict him in any thing . But it so happened that Iohn Earle of Mortaigne , the Kings Brother , calling the Peeres together to consult of the affaires of the State , sent for this man likewise , assuring him that he should safely come and goe : but he suspecting them , instead of coming unto them betooke himselfe for refuge to the Tower of London ; whereupon it was agreed by the Lords , that he by whom the Church of God and People had received so much detriment , should no longer govern in the Kingdom . This Chancellour and his Adherents had so deceived the Kingdom of the Treasury , that there was scarce any man that wore a girdle that had any silver in it , any woman a chaine , any Noble man a ring , or any Iew had mony , and indeed scarce any thing of worth was left in the Kingdome ; The Kings Treasury was emptied and nothing but the keyes and empty vessells found there ; The State of the Kingdome standing thus , it was decreed that he should take an oath to relinquish all the power he had , not to beare any sway any longer in the Government of the Common-wealth , and to yeild up all the Castles that were committed to his charge , especially the Tower of London ; These things hee put in pledges to performe , and left his Office of Legate à latere , which he executed a yeare and a halfe to the great prejudice of the Church of England , and the sea of Rome ; at last he put off his accustomed habit , and in a womans apparell hee determined to crosse the Seas : but at Dover his dalliance with a wench being discovered by a Marriner , he was hill at , beaten , and afterwards drag'd through the streets to prison : from whence as soon as he was fully delivered , he most ignominiously , and basely stole into Normandy ; his end was the more miserable , by how much his fortunes were the greater . Afterwards there * * 28 Fuit quidam Comes Warwicensis qui à Rege E. 4. ●summam potestatem erectus oral . 28 was an Earle of Warwick in the same Kingdome , that was raised to such a height both of power and Estate by King Edward the fourth , that he was not afraid to lay violent hands upon the Queenes Father , and with many of his children and nearest friends , to put him to death ; he placed such Officers about the King as he thought would do him best service , and in the end took him Prisoner . But not longe after the King escaping into Burgondy , being assisted by Charles the then Duke , he returned home , overcame the Earle , and made him fly for succour into France ; the Earle thence returning being assisted with divers Attendants , put the King to the worst , and made him fly into Holland for succour . A second time the King returning being assisted by the aforesaid Duke , set upon him , overcame him and slew him with his Brother and many others .

In the Raign of King Henr● the eighth , there was one named * * 29 Tho. Wols●us sub H. 8. 29 Thomas Wolsey that was very great with the King , a man meanly descended , but so proud and haughty , that he became an eyesore not only to the Peeres and Nobility , but even the King himselfe . By the Kings speciall grace and favour he was promoted to the highest dignities , to be Arch-Bishoh of York , Bishop of Winchester , to be a Cardinall , to be sent Ambassadour , and indeed next to the King , to beare the greatest sway in the Kingdom : but amongst other acts of his , this was not the least that brought him in disgrace , when King Henry began to distast Queene Catherine , and to dote upon Anne of Boloyne , this man undertook to procure a dispensation from the Pope , which taking not so well as the King and he thought it would have done , by degrees he fell out of the Kings favour , and being apprehended by Thomas Duke of Norfolk , was banished the Court , and confined to his Bishoprick of Winchester , which hee taking to heart with very griefe dyed .

The Kingdome of France will afford us many Examples in this kinde ; and amongst those , it is reported of the Earle of S. Paul , that having been advanced by Lewis the eleventh to bee Constable of France , and to many other honours , and preferments , out of which he raised a very great revenue , that in the end he somuch forgate himselfe , that he studyed how to make the King stand in awe of him : and for that purpose * * 30 Mediocriter se gessit inter tres principes . 30 he ever carried himselfe indifferently between the King his Master , the King of England , and the Duke of Burgondy , one while standing for the one , another while for the other , ever desiring to keepe them at variance , that so the one or the other might still stand in need of him . And so it happened that the King his Master desiring to speak with him , hee would not come unto him , but with a power able to withstand him if occasion were offered : he met him upon a Bridg where he talked with him as sawsily as if he had been his equall , and familiar , supposing that to be the way to preserve and increase the power he had obtained ; but he was deceived ; for all men seeing his malepertnesse and insolency , were offended at him , and studyed how to pull him down . And it so happened that coming to the Duke of Burgondy , upon safe conduct , the Duke apprehended him , and sent him to the King his Master with all such Letters as he had formerly written to him against the King . Vpon which being araigned , as also upon such Letters as he had written unto the King of England , was thereupon condemned , his estate confiscated , and he put to death .

In the same Kingdome under Philip the faire , one Taggerrandus Marrianus attained to so much power , that nothing was done in the Kingdome without his approbation ; * * 31 Peculatus accusatus suspendio affectus est . 31 yet this man for robbing the Kings Treasures was accused , condemned and hang'd . * * 32 Petrus Landaicus apud ducem Britaniae potens . 32 Peter Landais likewise with the Duke of Brittaine attained to the like favour ; yet by the violence of the multitude he was taken from the Duke , and judicially condemned and hanged , as Paulus Aemilius in his History of France relates the story .

To passe over into Spaine ; in the Kingdom of Castile , there was * * 33 Alvarus de Lunâ . 33 Alvarus de Luna , borne in Arragon , of a Noble house , but a Bastard borne out of Wedlocke , that grew to such a heighth of power with King John , that no man in the Kingdome was so powerfull as he ; he tooke armes against John King of Navarre , and used all meanes to oppresse Henry Knight of the order of Saint James ; but it so fell out that the Queen opposing him , by the assistance of the second King of Navarre , and Henry Knight of the order , they surprized the King , and compelled Alvarus to live upon his owne possessions ; and happy had hee beene if hee could have so contented himselfe ; but hee that once tasted of the sweetnesse of Soveraignty , can hardly finde contentment in a private life ; hee begins then a second time to bethink himselfe how hee might attaine to his former height , from which hee was throwne downe : hee sets the King at liberty , installs him in the Kingdome , sits at the sterne , keeps under his Enemies , and incenses the King against them ; but this prosperity continued not , and brought him to an untimely death ; for , when as by the Kings speciall Commandement , one of the Nobility delivered a message unto him which was not pleasing , he caused the Messenger to be throwne out of the window , for the which the King did afterwards ever more hate him then he did formerly love him ; for caused him to be apprehended , and being judicially condemned , to be put to death .

Vnto the former I will adde the Example of a Germane out of the seventh book of the Annals of Aventinus . With Rudolfe , Palsgrave of Rheyne , and Duke of Bavaria , there was Ortho Crondorser in the greatest grace and favour ; he came of meane Parentage , and comming to Court , by his double diligence in readily observing , and gravely executing whatsoever was committed to his charge , within a very short time became very gracious in the eyes of the Prince ; by little and little he attained to Honour , and in the end became to be the Kings Vicegerent , being the greatest officer in Court . This man now relying upon grace and favour which he was in with Rudolphus , began to grow insolent , to talke wantonly of Rudolphus , and his Mother , and to sow dissention between them , which drew the hatred of them both upon him , and caused them to make him an Example ; for by Rudolphus he was taken and cast into Irons , and by his Mother his eyes were pulled out , and his tongue that had talked so freely of her , was cut out of his head .

The next Example is of Hungary , * * 34 Ludovicus primus porentissimus Rex Hungariae . 34 Lewis , the first of that name , being the most powerfull King of Hungary left behinde him one onely daughter named Maria , whom by his last Will and Testament , with the consent of his Counsell , he bequeatheth unto Sigismond Marquesse of Brandenburgh , the sonne of the Emperour Charles the fourth , being but of tender yeares ; yet so that untill she came to full age she should not marry him , but afterwards should admit him her Companion in Soveraignty and Conjugall society : but in the meane time she should be sole Commander , and crowned with the title of King ; in this time lived her Mother Elizabeth , the Wife of King Lewis , who during her minority had a hand over her ; with both whom there was one Nicholas Gara , whom Lewis had formerly advanced to be a Count Palatine , that was nobly descended , and exceeding rich , on whom both the Mother & the Daughter so much relied , that what hee said was a Law , they would doe nothing without him ; hee now attaining to such Grace and Favour , did many ill offices , advised the young Queen not to suffer her Peers to grow too great , for thereby shee should diminish her own soveraignty , and give them encouragement to attempt new designes ; but so to handle them , that they might have no power to hurt her : To take from such as were growen popular and potent all offices of command and authority , and to bestow them on such as were men of known Integrity . To conclude , hee was a man gotten into so great favour with the Queen , that what he spoke was a Law , and what he advised onely was put in execution ; at which the Peers were highly offended , and did conceive unplacable wrath , not onely against Gara , but against the Queen , and laid their heads together how they might take from him all government in the Common-wealth ; for that much troubled them that she should so much dote upon that one man , that to give him contentment shee should neglect and oppresse all the rest of the Nobility ; whereupon they sent for * * 35 Carolus parvus . 35. Carolus Parvus out of Apuleia , and in the presence both of the Mother and the Daughter , set the Crowne upon his head , and proclaimed him King . But they being greedy of Revenge , and thirsting to be restored againe to the Kingdome , by the councell of Gara , they procured on Plasius Forgace de Chyines to kill Charles in the conclave ; and so by his meanes they attained their former government ; and this they did for the most part by the consent of the people : for after that Charles was once crowned , the people fell from him , and repented themselves of what they had done ; but see what followes , the troubled waters being well setled and they going for their recreation to see some of the lower parts of the Kingdome , attended on by Gara and some others of the Court : Ilion the governour of Croatia , a friend and favorour of Carolus parvus , who had beene formerly slaine by Gara's procurement , desirous to revenge his untimely death boldly set upon them , and whilst many run away , Gara stood stoutly to it , and defended both himselfe and the Ladies ; but in the end neare unto their Charriot was hee vanquished and slaine . Pippo or Pippus , alias Philippus Florentinus as Aenaeas Sylvius saith , of the family of the Strozzi , having behaved himselfe oftentimes very bravely in the Warres , attained to such grace and favour with Sigismond the Emperour of Hungary , that all men accounted him the second , many men the first in the Kingdome ; insomuch that Sigismond said , that if Pippo will , it were an easie matter for him to send him with a staffe in his hand out of the Kingdome . Bonfinus writes That he prevailed twenty times against the Turkes : but afterwards being made Generall in the Venetian Warre , and having bravely there carried himselfe for a long time , was in the end by the Venetians corrupted with Gold to quit the Country , and to returne into Hungary ; which being discovered to Sigismond , hee caused Gold to be melted , and to be powred downe his throat , and so he came to his death .

Ericus King of Sweden being ill advised , committed many cruell and enormous offences ; he contracted Matrimony with Catherine his Concubine , and crowned her equally wth great solemnity ; a principall furtherer of his wicked enterprises was Georgius Peirus his Secretary , whom he had exceedingly enrich'd with the confiscate goods of the Nobility , at which his proceedings John and Charles his two Brothers being much offended , and assisted with many of the Peers of the Nobility , raised Armes against him : besieged him , and would not be satisfied untill they had George delivered unto them : the King to pacifie them yielded unto their demand ; who after they had cruelly tormented him , divided him into foure parts , and so hee sustained condigne punishment for his many offences . I might produce many Examples more ; and as Iustus Lipsius saith , I should never make an end , if I shoud reckon up all Examples in this kinde which every Age doth afford ; for this one Age afford us many Examples of note , as Wolfgange Rinuphius who was advanced by Rodolfe Caesar , M. Euzlius by Frederick Duke of Wittinburgh in France , Charles Duke of Guyse , Biron , and of late yeares Marquesse D' Anchre .

CHAP. II. Of Causes .

IN the next place shall be shewed the Causes wherefore the prosperity of these men is but momentary ; and why ruine is for the most part the end of them . The causes wherefore they continue not in prosperity , that I may briefly summe them up , are one or both of these . Either because they doe obtaine their greatnesse by wicked practises and divises , or that having duly attained unto it , they doe dishonorably carry themselves in the execution of such offices as are committed to their charge .

The Counsels of men , and the courses of their lives are different , and have different successe , according to the counsell of him that adviseth and perswadeth : if hee adviseth good things to a good end , the successe is good ; if contrarywise , it is bad ; so in the world there are divers callings , according to the diversitie of degrees , sexes and professions , and every calling different from another ; some of us are men , some women ; some are fathers , others children ; some Lords and free men , other servants and Ministers ; some rule and governe , others serve and obey ; some are separate for the service of God , others for secular imployment . To conclude : * * 36 Quisque peculiari munere devinctus est . 36 Every one is called to one calling or other , and we may not believe that this commeth to passe by chance , or by the will of man , but by the divine providence of God , who hath appointed to every one both noble and ignoble , rich and poore , a certaine calling before they were borne . David , Cyrus , Jeremy , Saint Paul the Apostle , were all of them called by God in his appointed time to a peculiar office ; some to beare the office of a King , others of a Priest , others to other offices . So God in the beginning by the eternall decree of his divine providence made every one of us ; first man , then woman ; Then gave him a charge to look to this or that Countrey ; no man is free or called to be idle , for we may not think that God so neglecteth any one as that he should not put to a helping hand , and act his part upon the stage of the world , for the publike good ; there is no man I say , no not the most contemptible man in the world , on whom he hath not imposed some charge or other , which although for a time it may seem but mean , yet God oftentimes in the dust shews his power , and omnipotency . David for many yeeres was a poor shepheard , and lived in Exile , yet at length became a king of kings . * * 37 Contemptus à fratribus . 37 Ioseph was hated of his brethren , * * 38 Venditus in servitutem . 38 sold into bondage , * * 39 Conjectus in carcerem . 39 cast into Irons , at length made chief governour in Egypt . Seeing then that there is nothing more certain then that every one is called by God in his appointed time , we ought to attend his good will and pleasure , and not to run before we are called of him . Therefore in what condition or state of life we are , we ought to live to the glory of God and the good of our neighbours , which if wee neglect we labour in vaine , to our owne destruction ; this is therefore the first cause why those that thrust themselves into businesses out of their calling , and take upon them things beyond their strength , incurre the hatred both of God and men ; for those men never dream of God or goodnesse , but * * 40 Per aequa & iniqua gratiam principis acquirere . 40 seek by fraud and bribery , calumnies and all other wicked practises to attain to their ends .

First , how to procure their Princes favour , then how to attain the chiefest place about him , by ruinating such as stand in their way . So did Tigellinus , as Tacitus observs , by his lewd practises , in which only he did excell , serue himselfe into the favour of Nero , and obtained from him rewards due to the best deserving ; So did Macro win the favour of Caius Cesar by relinquishing of Tiberius , yea while he lived , a●d by standing for him to succeed in the Empire , as the same Author reports ; so did Perenius to make himself more powerfull , seduce Commodus to all manner of licentiousnes ; so did William Bishop of Ely by his bribery obtaine the chiefest places of note both in the Church and common weale ; so did Seianus of whom wee have spoken of before ; amongst many other of his wicked practises , that he might remove Densus his competitor , made love unto his wife , lay with her , and what with promise of marriage , and in putting her in hope to be his consort in the Empire , caused her to have a principall hand in her husbands death . So did Pallas by his adultery win the love of Agrippina the wife of Claudius Cesar and mother of Nero , and all to keep his former greatness ; It is a thing most odious and abominable in Courtiers , that they should not think of any other meanes to purchase their Princes favour , then by commending unto them the beauty and comely feature of mens wives and Sisters , thereby to set their affections on fire , and binde him unto them ; it is an odious and abominable thing likewise , yet a common thing in this age , and in all times hath been , for such as follow the courts of Princes , to obtain or retain their Princes favour , to put in execution any wicked act , if so be that he command them : So did Ioab readily put in execution the command of King David , and slew Vriah ; so did Cardinall Woolsey allow of the divorce of King Henry the eight , and Queen Katherine , and all that he might revenge the wrong that he supposed was offered him by the Emperour . When Nero took distast against his sometimes beloved Octavia , his Courtiers presently , especially those of the nobility , fearing their wives , they commended Actes unto him , and in this businesse Annaeus Serenus a great acquaintance of Senacae's had a great hand , he made love unto her , covered and took upon himself the extravagancies of the yong Prince , and such gifts as the Prince had bestowed upon her secretly , he avouched to be his openly . But men that deal in businesses of this kinde , are for the most part false and perfidious ; for when they have once transgressed the bonds of modesty , their affections are inflamed and they are never satisfied : Annaeus Seneca in other things most wise , was in this kind faulty , when he with Byrrhus in an oration perswaded Nero to put his mother to death , for that they supposed that if shee lived , hee could not ; and although afterwards he made an Oration to extenuate his offence ; yet that did rather aggravate the same , then any way extenuate it . The reward and deserved wages of these kinde of men is for the most part sin and destruction , as Tacitus observes of Tiberius : For as Princes would not have themselves to be circumvented by others , so when they have their designes once effected , they hate and punish the executioners , having Instruments ever ready to execute their commands ; * * 41 Graviorum facinorum ministri ut exprobrātes aspiciuntur . 41 for Princes ever behold the instruments of villany with threatning lookes ; so Alexander the great beheld Parmenio whom he imployed in the death of Attalus , for the which * * 42 Exprobrat Hermolaus Alexandrum . 42 Hermolaus was not afraid to upbraid him as Curtius observes , saying , thou usest miserable men to be thy instruments to take away the lives of men , and anon after thou usest others to take away the lives of those instruments . * * 43 Sytacles & Cleander experti sunt . 43 This Sitacles and Cleander found by experience to be true , whom Alexander had made the instruments to kill Parmenio , whose hainous offences no death could satisfie , as the same Curtius affirmes , adding moreover that many of Alexanders friends reioycing to see that his anger was fallen upon the instruments of his wrath , took not so much distast against those instruments , for all the enormous offences that ever they committed , as they did for that they had slaine Parmenio , and with all adding this , that no power unduely obtained can continue long .

It is a received opinion that they that attain to any command by unjust meanes , by the same meanes and the like , they support their magnificence ; for none ever that rose unduely governed well , which is well manifested in Sejanus and in some other , whom we have before remembred ; whence it commeth to passe that by how much the longer they have continued in their leud and wicked courses of life , adding transgression unto transgression , by so much the more they become more hatefull both to God and man , and at last undergoe deserved punishment .

These men never take into their consideration the true end of which I have before spoken , that is , The glory of God , and the good of the Common-wealth , but bend their thoughts onely how they may satisfie their pride , covetousnesse , crueltie , and their carnall desires , whose condition Seneca hath set forth in his Tragedy , entituled , Hercules Oetaeus , Few hearts love Kings , not few their Kingly might . The glorious shew of Courtly countenance Bewitcheth many , where one sets his delight , How next the King he may himselfe advance , That through high streets he may as lord of rule , With lofty lookes ride mounted on his Mule . Another would his greedy hunger stanch With gubs of gold , and though hee it possesse , Rich Araby serves not to fill his pining paunch . And a little after , Another fondling fancy thus doth guide , To fawn on Kings , and still in Court to bide : As one disdaining now to be like Will , An ingrain'd clown , the plow to follow still . And though the dying swain daily keep at home A thousand drudges that his land doe till , Yet wants his will , and wisheth wealth therefore , Only to waste on other men the more . Another clawes and flattereth still the King , That he his neighbour may to ruine bring .

It is ambition which makes a man a stranger to himself , that will not endure a Superiour or an equall , that will be Caesar or none , that possesseth us with this foolish conceit , to think it a disparagement to goe in the common road , and to bee an honest man , that makes a man thinke himself 〈◊〉 body , whilst he sees another greater then hee , and so dazeleth our eyes that if another go before us , we will not beleeve it , but rather that hee stands in our way , nay it is an humour that hath this property ; that wheresoever it hath once taken up her lodging , it will never suffer a man to rest , untill he hath attained to the end of his desires , which he shall never do , ( for as Seneca saith ) * * 44 Non patitur quem quam in mensura acquiescere . 44 This is that inconvenience which attends an ambitious humour that it never suffers a man to rest satisfied though he hath attained to the end of his former wishes and desires ; That makes him beleeve hee can do that which is impossible for him to do , because he is powerfull . Wherefore these kind of men are aptly compared to such as are sick of the dropsie , the more they drink , the more they desire , as is manifested in Sejanus who being raised out of the dust to the highest degree of honour , could not there content himselfe , but studied how to make himselfe equall to Caesar ; nay , how to displace him and sit in his Throne . If these kinde of men would at any time cast their eyes downwards and behold from whence they came , it could not but give them much contentment , and cause them to add some bounds to their unsatiable desires ; but they seldome do so , their eyes and thoughts are ever mounted aloft , for the minde of man is so unsatiable , that it will not be perswaded but that it can doe any thing , be it never so difficult , or dangerous , if so be he had good successe in his former undertakings . Wherfore Eteocles in Euripides affirmes , that if nature had given to man wings , he would have ascended above the heavens ; for so saith he of himselfe , if I had had ability , I would have tried the paths of the Sun , and have descended into the Center of the Earth , that I might have ruled as the Gods doe there .

We have heard of Alvarus de Luna , before he tasted of both fortunes , who though he were once brought upon his knees , hee ascended on high again , and then resolved rather to loose his life , then to change his fortune ; therefore it happened unto him as it doth to certaine little creatures , who having once tasted of blood , will sooner break their bellies then quench their Thirst . Of the fall of Sejanus and such as he was , Iuvenal in his 10. Satyre elegantly saith , That greatnes makes many a man subject to the stormes of envie and malice , casts them downe headlong into perdition , causeth their Statues to be demolished , bringeth them to untimely deaths , to the Gallows , and to have their limbs broken upon the wheel .

Sejanus that not long agoe carried a great port with him , and had his head adorned with Bayes and Cammomile , within a short time after had his head taken from his shoulders to be made a pitcher to drinke in , a bason to wash in , and a platter or pan to fry meat in .

Pride is either the mother or daughter of Ambition , and the off-spring of immoderate prosperity , with the which Courtiers are infected , especially they they that are most eminent in Court , and have attained to the greatest honours : An example hereof we have in Pallas a freed man of Nero , who was used to say , That he did never expresse himselfe at home to his servants , * * 45 Dominutu vel manu servis suis loquebatur . 45 but either by nod or hand , That hee sometimes made use of his pen , but never of his tongue . Wee have spoken of the pride of Sejanus already , of whom Marc. Terentius a Romane Knight was used to say , That hee was accustomed to tell his freed men and door keepers , that to nod was a badge of a Magnifico : * * 46 Fastus hic hodie maximo in usu est . 46 This kind of pride is come in fashion in our dayes , and is used by men of mean ranke and condition . Seneca excellently describeth it , saying , That it is the property of a superstitious proud man to stand much upon the going into his house , he hath an opinion that he doth highly honour thee , if hee suffer thee to goe into it before him ; and it is observable that they which stand so much upon terms of honour in this kinde , are of this condition , That they will be singular , looke big , and never salute any man , speak , walk , or eat with any man ; their pride is to become like the man in Seneca , to make the pole Antartick kisse their toe , and Cynthia to do homage to their Tayle ; they talke of Kingdomes and their Fathers possessions , which being once attained , they forget God , and all goodnesse ; the same Seneca in his Tragedy entituled Hercules Furens saith , that God at every turne meets with the proud man .

Which saying as Philip Commines observes , Lewis the eleventh had often in his mouth , where pride goes before , there shame followeth at the heeles : God resisteth the proud , and pride goeth before a fall ; it is remarkable in the proud man , that he ever hates one of his own condition , and omits no opportunity to do him mischiefe ; wherefore as at all times they are neglected and despised by such as have any predominant power over them , so then especially when they stand in competition for any honours and preferments ; for as they are insociable and care not for the love of any , unlesse it be to bring to passe their own designes ; so on the other side no man cares for them ; so that in times of adversity , the times of triall of true friendship , they finde the fruits of their folly and arrogancy ; men of this condition being put in places of command , ever abuse the power committed unto them to satisfie their greedy coveteousnesse , as we have seen in Sejanus , Narcissus , Pallas , the Bishop of Ely , and some others , that they may pill and pole , and doe what they will , have ever opportunity ; their friends being powerful , no request is denied them ; all men rescue them , all men observe and obey them ; their followers and attendants , are luxury , pride , pompe and prodigality , which ever add spurrs to their greedy desires ; for they must be maintained , and a little will not do it . But if these were not , the minde of man is insatiable ; for coveteousnesse is of such a nature , that it will never rest content , full nor fasting , and therefore is justly said to be the root of all evill , the thing that subverts honesty & all square dealing between man and man ; that occasions pride , cruelty , neglect of Religion , and the sale and shipwrack of a good conscience , and as Salust affirmes * * 47 Avaritia bellua immanis , intoleranda . 47 it is a Beast insufferable in a well govern'd Common-wealth , it depopulates Countreys , Villages , private Families , takes away the good name and reputation of a man , makes Religion a stalking horse to effect what it desireth , and is of that power and efficacy that no Power , or Bulwarke , or Army , is able to withstand it ; it prevails with the Virgin to submit her thoughts to unchast desires ; it prevails with the Father to withdraw his affections from his Childe , and with the Childe to make him neglect his duty to his Father ; it is a fault , and a great one in a meane man , but it is more dangerous in him that is powerfull and mighty ; wherefore Cicero saith , that their is no vice more hatefull in Princes , and such as governe the Common-Wealth , then Coveteousnesse ; for to make sale of the Common-Wealth is not onely dishonourable , but wicked and unjust . Hence it is that these kinde of men are odious in the eyes both of Prince and People ; who although they may tyrannise and oppresse the people , and by reason of their greatnesse no man dares once open his lips against them : yet God that ever takes the quarrell of the poore into his hands , and punisheth wrong doers , will discover their devises and bring them unto shame and dishonour : Their riches shall be made snares to intrap them , and like sponges chrusht together shall they send forth the water which they have so greedily suckt up . Another Vice which generally attendeth greatnesse , is Cruelty , which they use to keep Inferiours in awe , that they should not dare to do any thing that tends to the diminishing of their greatnesse ; their hatred is like Hamans , making of a Mountaine a Molehill ; small offences to be capitall , and punishing them with utter ruine and destruction ; for these men having guilty Consciences , never dream of virtue or honesty , but seek by punishments to keep men in awe : Yea , * * 48 Dicta in se ulciscuntur . 48 they punish words against themselves in a high degree ; a Prince by forgiving of hasty words purchaseth to himselfe Fame and Renowne ; but they , unlesse they take revenge of their Enemies , have a conceit that the people conceive they are not in that grace and favour with their Princes as formerly they were ; for example in this kinde wee may produce Joab , who by treachery slew Abner and Amasa , whose lives King David spared ; but what befell to Haman and Joab , no man is ignorant . Another ill quality that raignes for the most part in great men , is , that they respecting more their owne private then the publique good , lay heavy burthens upon the shoulders of the Subjects , and if they finde the Princes disposition so to doe , they are ever putting him in minde of it ; if not , they will advise him to it ; if the Prince require one penny of the Subjects , they cry two ; if he doe but threaten , they cry hang him ; it is good they cry for a Prince to be terrible , inexorable , cruell ; and for men of meane rank to be milde , liberall , and familiar ; it is a tenet amongst them that is better to rule by feare , then by love ; that it is lawfull for a Prince to doe what hee will ; that every mans Estate is in his power ; nay , with Polinices in Seneca they cry , The Prince that fears disdainfull hate unwilling seems to raigne , The God that swayes the golden globe , together hath these twaine Conjoyn'd and coupled , hate and rule ; and him doe I suppose To be a Noble King indeed , that can supplant his foes , And Subjects cancred hate suppresse .

They enveigh against Parliaments , and use all means to bring the Prince out of love with them , and study how to hinder them , ever buzzing in his eares , that what is done there , is done for private ends , without any respect to the Common good . If the Prince make any wise and discreet Judges , they must presently become their creatures , doe what they will have them , and keep nothing secret which they will have made known ; * * 59 Divisiones & factiones serunt . 49 they sow dissention , and maintain a Faction ever amongst the people , supposing that there is no better meanes to keep them in obedience then this , for that one Faction will be ever ready to assist the King to suppresse the other , and be an occasion to bring some grist to their Mill ; so that while they are busied about their private injuries , they conceive publique wrongs which concerne the Common good will never be remembred , and so they themselves by this meanes escape unpunished : by their good will they will never suffer private quarrels to be taken up , or publique grievances to be fully redressed , that so occasion may bee ministred of dayly attendances at the Court , but especially upon them , whereby they may shew their power of suppressing the one , and supporting the other , as they take affection ; for which reason they will not suffer the Prince to grant a pardon , but in speciall cases , to any Delinquent , but upon condition . In all businesses between the King and his People , where their Councell is required , they speak ambiguously and subtilly , for they feare nothing more then that the people should suppose that they doe not stand indifferent between the Prince and them . Such Councellours had Rehoboam King of the Jews , who when hls Subjects complained unto him of heavy burthens laid upon them by his Father , by the advise of his Councell , answered them , that his little finger should lie more heavy upon them then all his Fathers body ; my Father chastned you with whips , but I will chasten you with Scorpions : such a kinde of fellow was Nicholas Gara , a Count Palatine of the Kingdome of Hungarie , who being exceeding powerfull with Queene Mary the daughter of Lewis the first , gave his Counsell that she should not suffer her Peers to become too powerfull , as wee hear'd before ; but how his Counsell took effect , I have before remembred , and what befell to the Councellours of Rehoboam , every one can tell : Sleidan reports that William Poyets the French Kings Chancellour was by the Kings speciall command taken out of his bed and cast into Prison , with the generall applause of the people ; for that during the foure yeares that hee held his office he had offended all sorts of people . Such is generally the end of these sort of people ; for when the Prince is once fully informed of their conditions , to satisfie the people , they punish them to their ruine and destruction . Examples hereof wee have in Cleander , Peter Lindais , George Peiras , and others , concerning whom Philip Comines demands this queston , and gives this answer ; who dares , saith hee , enquire into the actions of these Grandees ? who dare call them in question ? who dare bee the Iudge to execute judgement upon them if they offend ? the answer is , the inquisition will bee the lamentation and cries of the people , whom they have mercilesly opprest and trampled upon in every kind ; the teares of the Widowes and Orphans , whose Husbands and Fathers they have put to death , and generally all they whom they have persecuted either in their Bodies or Estates ; these will bring in an inquisition against them , and deliver them over to receive their doom of him who is the onely true judge , that will not peradvanture expect any other evidence , but will punish them in this life : so much hath Philip Comines , * * 50 Lex talionis . 50 the Law of Talio is justly inflicted upon them ; It is good justice , that they who have despised and contumeliously behaved themselves to wards others , should be despised , and contumeliously handled by others ; that they who proudly insulted over others , should be reproachfully spoken of by others ; that they who by rapine and fraud have gotten the Estates of others , should suddainly have their Estates by others taken from them ; that they that shewed no mercy , should expect no mercy ; that they that commanded others to bee dragg'd to execution , should bee dragg'd themselves ; that they that caused others that stood for the Church to be put to death , should in the Church bee put to death themselves ; that they that endeavoured to deprive the Subject of his rights and priviledges , should not onely lose the benefit of them , but the benefit of the Law of Nations ; that they that caused others to bee put to death against the Law , should before they bee heard or accused , be put to death themselves ; that they which caused the rigour of the Law to be inflicted upon others , should have the same measure measured unto them , as is reported of * * 51 Perillus. 51 Perillus , who was the first that felt the punishment of the torment that hee himselfe invented . These punishments doe not onely belong unto them that attaine unto their greatnesse by undue meanes , but likewise unto them who being deservedly preferred , do in the due execution of their places misbehave themselves ; for * * 52 Non sufficet bene coepisse . 52 it is not sufficient to begin well , but wee must prosecute our good beginnings with sutable proceedings , which is a very hard thing for him to do , who hath attained to a great fortune ; for * * 53 Fortuna est coena & eos efficet caecos quo●om plexa est . 53 fortune being blind her selfe , makes them blinde likewise for the most part whom shee doteth upon and favoureth ; for while we are lulled asleep in her lap , we grow carelesse , and give occasion to such as love us not , to circumvent us ; so as when there is no other cause , yet too too great prosperity willl finde in it selfe sufficient cause to bring us to our graves with shame and ignorance . Therefore it is no wonder if such as have power to doe what they will , standing in feare of none , become proud and insolent , and have their imperfections made knowne unto the world ; for being on high they can do nothing but notice is taken of it , whereas if they lived in a mean rank , their faults would passe unregarded ; our nature is such ; there is no good thing in the world but it abuseth , but most of all the prosperity and good fortunes wee injoy : And why ? because our wils being prone to all wickednesse , our prosperity adds spurs unto it , and doth not onely move , but continually administer occasion unto us to satisfie our unbridled lusts and affections .

Such as have attained to the greatest favour with their Princes , by reason of their daily familiarity with them , have in the end become most odious and contemptible in their height . Sejanus , Tiberius onely minion for the time , for that he stiled himselfe Emperour , and Tiberius governour of a poore Island , Tiberius hated and detested ; the servant that hath beene delicately brought up from a Childe will challenge to himselfe the priviledge of a sonne at last , saith Solomon . For presuming upon the favour of their Princes , they make them the subject of laughter , neglect their commands , vilifie them , and mocke them , assuming the honour of what is done to themselves , attributing nothing to the power of the Prince . So Joab slew Absalom the sonne of King David , with his owne hand of his owne accord , without the Kings approbation : And though it was told him when hee was about to doe the deed , that it was the Kings will to have his life saved , and that he would call him to an account for it , yet hee went on grieving the perplext King with most unbeseeming and unmannerly tearms ; but such things as these Princes forget not , but keep them in a Register .

Tacitus reports how that Pallas through his pride exceeding the bounds of a free man , drew hatred upon himselfe , and how that Narcissus for that hee slew Messalina , the Wife of Claudius without his consent , put Claudius into a kinde of a phrensie , and made him in passion say , that Narcissus durst never attempt those things upon his Wife , though she had deserved it , unlesse that hee had first despised her Husband . Such another was the Earle of St. Paul that was Constable of France , of whom I have spoken before , who upon all occasions relying on the favour of the Duke of Burgondy , and the King of England , would rise in rebellion against his Prince : and that his power and greatnesse might still continue together with his stipends from the King which were exceeding great , hee ever laboured to keep the King in Warr , that so he might be beholding to him to assist him when occasion offered it selfe ; for he together with his associats did rather aime at their private good then the good of their Countrey . But these and the like devises , as they are most ridiculous in themselves , so they are to none more pernicious then to the Projectors , as is manifested in the History of the Constable before mentioned , most exactly written by Philip Commines , Nicholas Picunnes Generall of the Army of Philip Duke of Millane , after that he had brought the Earle of Francisfort , and the Army of his confederates into such a straight , that he was assured of the victory , he broke forth into such a height of insolency , that forgetting himselfe and the charge that was committed unto him , he calls to minde how long he had served the Duke in the Warrs , and that during all that time he had not gotten so much land in his service as would cover his body when he was dead ; and therefore he began to expostulate what reward should be given for all his services ; and because it lay in his powet to deliver into the Dukes hands the whole Conntrey of Lumbardy , and all those Enemies that did oppresse him , he required of the Duke as a reward for his service the City of Placentia : the which unlesse hee would grant , hee plainly told him he would return home and leave the field ; this mans insolency so much offended the Duke , that rather then he should have his will , he was content to leave an assured victory ; so suffered himselfe to be carried away with the insolency of this man , whom no danger or feare of Enemies could ever move a jot : wherefore hee concluded Peace with the Earle , and commanded Pricinius with his Army to quit the Country , accusing fortune as a step-dame , whereas there was no fault in her , but in Pricinius insolency .

Tacitus reports of Lentulus Getulicus , being made Generall over the Army of the upper part of Germany , and being suspected and accused by reason of the inward familiarity between him and Sejanus , was so bold as to send Letters unto Caesar , shewing that the familiarity between him and Sejanus , was not occasioned of his own head , but by the advice of Tiberius ; and therefore it was nor strange , but that he as well as Tiberius might be deceived ; neither could that be imputed unto him as an errour of wilfulnesse , for that he ever carried an honest heart to him , and resolved ever so to do , though he had been often tempted to quit his allegiance , and could endure no more to heare that Sejanus should succeed in the Empire , then he could endure to heare of his damnation . But in conclusion , Tiberius and Getulicus made a League as it were that Tiberius should enjoy his Dominions , and Getulicus his Province . Tacitus affirmes that the bold menacing Epistles which Getulicus writ unto Tiberius did him no hurt at all ; for Tiberius , wisely considering in what case hee stood , how he was growen old , and not beloved of his Subjects , and that he had not power of himselfe , suffered him alone of all Sejanus his adherents to live in peace and enjoy his favour . But without doubt this did much trouble Tiberius , that was of a cholerick disposition and a high spirit , and if hee had lived long , he would have called him to an account ; but hee considered that Getulicus lived farr from him , and what hee writ proceeded from the bottome of a good conscience , and out of an honest heart . There is another thing that doth commonly happen to such as are grown proud with prosperity , that the same cruelty which they have without controule executed upon their equals and inferiours , in the end they execute upon their Soveraign . Experience hereof we have in England in Richard Nevill Earle of Warwick , who being highly advanced by the King after that he had compassed the death of the Queenes Father , her children and many others that were neare and deare unto the King , at last was not afraid to rise in Rebellion against the King ; wherefore * * 54 Ne quempiam suorum nimia potestate afficeret . 54 Moecaenas wisely counselled Augustus that he should not suffer any of his Subjects to grow too great , least thereby they should grow so powerfull as to dare to attempt any thing against him . There are others that carry themselves more moderately , and warily , that relinquish the service of their Prince that raignes , and follow and adore the rising Sunne , apply themselves to him that is to succeede in the Empire , as Macro did ; but these kinde of people never continue long in favour ; for by their behaviour to the former Prince , they are deservedly had in suspition by the later , and undergoe the punishment in his time which they deserved in his praedecessours ; peradventure they which saucily upbraid their Prince as Clytus did Alexander with what they have deserved , are not so much to be condemned , as the former that abandon their service ; yet it is most distastefull to a Prince to be told of any such thing ; for that they are more pleased in hearing what rewards they have conferred , then in hearing what any man hath deserved .

The deserts of a Subject are so long acceptable to the Prince , as it is in the Princes power when hee will to come out of his debt ; but when he thinkes he hath deserved so much that hee cannot well requite him , then doth hee requite him with perpetuall hatred ; for this very cause did Adrianus Caesar remove Tatianus and his fellow from their jurisdiction and government , to whom he was indebted as much as his Empire came to , as Spartianus saith ; but it was imputed to their popularity ; and if there were no other cause to make a man hatefull in the eyes of his Prince , this alone were sufficient ; for there is no Prince of so poore a spirit , or slender capacity , that will indure such malepert fellowes ; for it is naturally ingrafted into Princes , not to suffer an equall or a competitor . And there is good cause why such men should be ever had in suspition , and be neglected by them ; for that they are easily corrupted , and drawn into Rebellion ; and it is wonderfull to see how that they who have attained to the greatest favour with their Princes , are ever buzzing into their eares , that they should not suffer their Subjects to grow too great , and how in the mean time they so dote upon them , that they doe not perceive that they alone are the men , of whom they admonish the Prince to have an eye ; but in the end the Prince by one meanes or other being made sensible of the burthen hee beareth , and being weary of them , casts them down ; and if there were no other motive to induce them therunto , the too much liberty those men do assume to themselves , of doing what they wil , and the fear they stand in by reason of them , were sufficient to occasion their removall ; & this was the cause why Nero removed Seneca , of whom for a long time he stood in awe ; hee was used to say , he knew not where to hide himselfe from Seneca , no not within his skin , unlesse hee did dispatch him out of the way . Councellours were not wanting that did suggest unto him , that hee being past a Childe , growne to mans estate , hee should cast off his Master , having Senators at hand that could better advise him ; so Tiberius the Emperour for a long time , for the love that the Souldiers and People bare unto Germanicus , reverenced him , insomuch that during all the time that hee was advised by him , he carried himselfe very moderately in the Empire : yet in the end for the same cause hee hated him , and secretly caused him to bee put to death . For the same cause likewise Nero caused Octavia his beloved Wife who ever carried her selfe modestly and obediently towards him , to bee removed . So * * 55 Galfridus Iustitiarius Angliae sub Iohanne . 55 Jeffrey a Justiciary of En●land , that flourished in the dayes of King Iohn , being one that was well experienced in the Law , and by reason of his riches , his allies and his honours ▪ was become the most powerfull man in the Kingdome , was in the end more feared then beloved of the King , insomuch that when the King heard of his death he brake out , and swore by the feet of God , that then and not before was he King and Lord of England . Wherefore Alvarus Castro perswaded Sebastian King of Lusitania , who died in Africa , that hee was in some sort oppressed by his Subjects , Martianus Gousalesius and his adherents , and that they were the very King , and he bore but the shape and shew of a King ; insomuch , that when his Secretary brought unto him a Charter of small consequence to bee signed by him : by the perswasion of Alvarus and his associates he affirmed that he could do it safely without any scruple ; for that hee made no doubt of his Soveraignty untill he came to Lizborne . For the same cause likewise , that is , because hee challenged a kinde of Soveraignty over his fellows , was Duke Albinus hated of Charles the Emperour , but more of Philip , although hee observed them both , and did them faithfull service from his childe-hood to his old age , for the space of sixty yeares : wherefore it befalls these en as Titus Livius reports of the Romane Empire , that arising out of the dust it grew to such a greatnesse , that in the end it became a burthen to it selfe ; for as our bodies when they grow and swell too much , as we have seen a man in Luxenburgh , are burthens to themselves , unhealthfull , and subject to diseases : So it happens with them that out-strip their fellowes in magnificence , their greatnesse is oftentimes the cause of their ruine and destruction ; as they which climb on high , whilst they cast their eyes alwaies upward , never downwards , are brought at length to such a streight , that they cannot looke downe without being giddy , nor stand where they are in safety , nor come downe without danger ; So it fares with them that s●rmount the ordinary pitch of their fellowes , being in as great danger as hee that holds a Woolfe by the eares , and as John Hannois , a Captaine of the Gauntois was , who being circumvented in a certaine Temple by the Souldiers of the Earle of Flanders , when they set fire on the Temple , hee betooke himselfe to the Steeple for refuge ; and when the fire came neare him hee was put to his choice , whether he would dye upon the speare , or be burnt in the fire ; and he chose ( whereby wee may perceive how dangerously they which are on high do stand ) to dye by the speare ; wherefore it is reported , that Maecenas should say unto Octavius Caesar of Agrippa , whom hee had preferred to the highest degree of honour , that thou must make him thy son in Law , or put him to death : greatnesse is attained with no lesse danger then Vsurpers doe attaine a Kingdome , which to doe is unjust , to relinquish dangerous ; wherefore Julius Caesar was used to say , that they which have once attained to greatnesse , can never after endure to lead a private life ; which saying of his wee shall finde to bee most true , if wee looke into the lives of the best men , in whom their ●reatnesse hath occasioned their ruine and destruction ; wee may read of many that have been for a time without exception for life and conversation , and by their good services have purchased their Princes favour ; yet in the end have been questioned for their lives upon a small occasion , and feined suspition . Example hereof we have in Seneca ; neither is it strange it should be so ; for they that stand on high are not only troubled with the vertigo in their heads , but with infirmities in their leggs ; as they cannot stand without feare , so they cannot come down without danger ; so that Tacitus affirmes , * * 55 Fatum potentiae est quod rarò sit sempiterna . 56 That is destinated unto greatnesse not to be of long continuance , and he produceth Maecenas for an example , where likewise he speaketh of Salustius Crispus , so long as Maecenas saith he was but the second in the Empire , so long he lived securely and happily ; but when hee came to be the chiefe man , even hee into whose bosome the Emperour did empty all his secrets , then he began to decline and to loose the favour which hee had formerly gained ; so that what Tacitus affirmes of greatnesse , is most true , if it be not founded upon a sure foundation .

Fortune is alwaies fickle , and every thing that mortall men enjoy upon earth uncertain , as it is in the Comaedian , and so much the more uncertain by how the greater a man is ; the greatest honours are attended with the greatest cares and feares ; neither is there any state more uncertain then the estate of great men ; wherefore they have need when they have attained their wished desires , to pray to God to preserve them in the state which they have long desired and prayed for .

A chiefe cause hereof is for that the favour of Princes is subject to alteration , which Tacitus glanceth upon in the examples of Maecenas , and Salustius before alledged , where he shews a twofold cause thereof : the one of destiny of which we have spoken before , the other their own greatnesse and fulnesse , when the Prince hath given them so much , that hee can give no more ; and they receive so much that they can crave no more ; then doth he ease them of the burthen ( as Amiratus hath at large dscovered ) but the true cause thereof is for that Princes are men , and subject to the infirmities of men : and the minde of man is of a fiery nature and changeable upon every light occasion ; for as the imagination of man will in a short time well conceive a thousand severall things , passe over a thousand severall places ; so the minde of man will in a moment be of a thousand severall opinions ; therefore it is truly said that the minde of man delighteth in novelties . Wherefore the French Knig Lewis the eleventh , after he changed his bed-chamber , men and others , that waited upon him , was used to answer all such as taxed him for it , that nature delighted in novelties ; many other causes may be added as the naturall inclination and disposition of man , and accidents which do often fall out , which doe alter and change the minde of the Prince : as Spartianus affirmes , that Adrianus the Emperour had an open eare to heare any thing that could be told him of them unto whom he professed the greatest love ; wherefore all those that he most affected and advanced to the highest degree of Honour , in the end he esteemed no better then enemies ; so Henry the third King of England , esteemed of * * 57 Hugo de Burgo pro to justi●iarius Angliae sub H. 3. 57 Hugo de Burgo cheife Justice of England , being one that deserved well both of King and Common-wealth , who for the love that he bore unto him , and to the safty of the Realme , did incurr the displeasure of all the Nobility of the Kingdom ; for by instigation of Peter Bishop of Winchester he did not only withdraw his affections from him , but deprived him of his office , and persecuted him with all extremitie .

But most memorable are the examples of the Earle Vlrick Cilensis and Vlrick Eizingerus in the Country of Austria , when Ladislaus sonne of Alburt King of Hungary and Bohemia , and Arch-Duke of Austria , took upon him the Government of the Kingdome ; during his minority , both the King and Kingdome were in the power of the Earle ; who being an eyesore to many , especially to Vlricus Eizingerus a man most powerfull with the King , he privily acquainted him how odiour the Earle was among many of the inhabitants of Austria , and unlesse hee did take some course with him , hee did verily perswade himselfe they would rise in rebellion : for that hee injuriously took from them their mony , pillaged the Common-wealth , filled his own , emptied the Kings Treasury ; and I may Boldly say his power was so great , that he ruled as King , and did what he would ; only he left the bare title of King unto the King . There is nothing that makes us more degenerate from our selves , and transgresse the lawes of God and men then ambition ; it was not enough for him to enjoy the second place of the Kingdom , but he must covet after the first ; neither is it a marvell that he that of late would not endure an equall , should not now admit of a Superiour ; wherefote Vlricus perswaded the King speedily to banish him the Court , who departed thence with four Knights only , & left his place to Eizingerus , * * 58 Cum quatuor tantum militibus insultante plebe & vix manibus temperante ex urbe proficiscitur . 58 the people rejoycing thereat , and hardly forbearing to lay violent hands upon him ; But this Eizingerus not long after being complayned of to the King by Pancratius Plankenstanius , the King before the yeare came about , sent for the Earle and honourably received him , and restored him to his former dignity . Eizingerus left the Court with much grace and favour , wisely yeilded unto the times , and betooke himselfe to live upon his own Possessions ; and it is said that the Earle did much applaud him for so doing : for that hee had learned by his own example , that the minds of Monarks are carried hither and thither in a moment , which Gerardus de Roo taking into consideration , commended the saying of him who compared the Minions of Princes unto counters with which wee cast account , which being removed from place to place , stand sometimes for much , sometimes for little , and sometimes for nothing . A cause likewise wherefore Princes doe withdraw their affections from their Minions , is , to give their Subjects satisfaction whom they have grieved and oppressed ; examples whereof we have before alledged , unto which we may add the example of Duke Borgio Valentino , whom Nicholas Machivell hath remembred , who after that hee had reduced Flaminia to his obedience , hee made Remerus Orcus a cruell man and a great undertaker governour thereof , who so carried the matter , that in a short time hee had every man at his beck : yet not without a great deale of cruelty , which drew the hatred of all men upon him , insomuch that the Duke to winn their hearts againe , was faine to acquaint them that if any exorbitances were committed in Flaminia by Orcus , it was done of his own accord without his consent or approbation ; and so he took that occasion early in the morning to have his body divided into two parts , and girding a sword by his side , with a wooden scabberd , exposed him to the view of the multitude in the market place ; which when the people saw , they went home every one well satisfied . Envy is ever an attendant of such a man ; and not undeservedly ; for whosoever is advanced by meer favour , without any desert of his owne , or approbation of the people , to have rule and authority over others of more worth , the people will hate and despise ; for the favour of a Prince is like unto a faire Virgin , whom many affect , and will not indure that she should looke more favourably , walke or talke more frequently with any then with themselves ; so that between men of this condition there is seldome or never any true friendship or familiarity ; for upon every light occasion they study how to bring one another in disgrace . Tully well saith , there is no faith or friendship observed , when a Kingdome is at stake ; for whatsoever is of that nature , that many may contend for , yet but one can injoy . The contention is great , but faith and honesty little ; hee that dotes upon one , seems to neglect all others . And hee is a very bold Prince ( as Christopher Besoldus observes ) that for the love of one will draw the hatred of the multitude upon him . Examples hereof we have before alledged in Nicolas Gara Count Palatine of Hungary , and in others : and during the raigne of the French King Henry the second in Amiralius Comestabilius , and the Chancellour , who having attained to the chiefest degrees of honour , envied each others prosperity . How incertaine the condition of mortall men is upon Earth , Sleidan hath sufficiently shewed by his owne example . And who is ignorant of the civill Warres which have been in France , both in the dayes of our progenitors , and in our owne memories , for this cause onely , that the government of the Kingdome hath been committed unto such , unto whom it did not belong ? This Hanniball the great Captaine of the Carthaginians found to be true by wofull experience ; for he being forced to leave his Country , betook himselfe to Antiochus , King of Asia ; who so well behaved himselfe during the time that he was with him , that within a very short time hee became very gracious in his eyes ; therefore when the King made warre against the Romanes , hee would have made him commander of his fleet , had not Thoas A●tolus disswaded him to the contrary , saying , it was too much honor unto him to make him Generall of the Royall Fleet : that there ought to bee but one King , one chiefe Commander , and one Emperour ; for admit it should so fallout that Hannibal should lose the honour of the day , the dammage would redound unto the King ; but if things should succeed prosperously the honour thereof would redound unto Hannibal , and not unto Antiochus ; and that if fortune should so favour Hannibal to overcome the Romanes , what hope could Antiochus have to expect that this man would be true to him , that was false to his Country ? That it was safe for Antiochus to use him as a Councellour , but not as a Commander in the Warre ? By these perswasions , for that they were grounded upon good reason , did Aetolus alienate the minde of Antiochus from Hannibal , and occasioned him to lessen , if not to take away all power and authority out of his hands . This befals often-times where the Gentry and Nobility be had in estimation , especially to such that from the dunghill are raised to an extraordinary greatnesse , and want kindred and allies to support them ; for it is incident to humane nature to looke upon men raised out of the dust with sqiunt eyes , and to expect that they of all men , who not long before were their equals and companions , should not insult and domineer over them : therefore did Caius Sinlius of an ancient and noble Family , bitterly enveigh against Seneca , and resolved rather to undergo any punishment then to submit himselfe to his late purchased Gentry . These kinde of men stand upon slippery ground , and every man is ready to throw them downe , and if they once fall , they seldome or never rise againe . Of the like condition are they that being borne in another Kings dominion , aliens and strangers , attaine to honour and authority in a Country where they are meer strangers ; for no men are more hated then these men , * * 59 Inqui●●ni sui putant juris esse , ut sui generis hominibus gubernacula rerum committantur . 59 Every man thinking it to bee a part of his Birth-right to be governed by men of his owne Nation , and not by strangers : for this very cause have the subjects of all Nations at one time or other rebelled against their Soveraignes . When Albert , the first of that name , Duke of Austria , placed neerest about him Eberhardus Henricus , and Vdalricus , the brethren of Waser Hermanus , Handenburgins with others , and advanced them to the highest degrees of honour , the native Inhabitants tooke it ill , that they who had quit their owne Countries , because they had not where withall to give them livelihood , should come into the flourishing Country of Austria , and there enrich themselves by marriages , whilst they being natives were neglected , and were not permitted to open their mouths for the common good ; so that they petitioned the Prince , that hee would be pleased to remove the Swedes from having any hand in the managing of the affaires of the Common-Wealth ; for that they had those amongst themselves , that better understood the state of the Common-Wealth , and could better mannage the affaires thereof . Unto which , when the Prince would not listen , nor remove from him the aforenamed person , the rich & powerfull men of Austria , especially the men of Vienna , joyning their forces with their neighbours , raised armes , thinking to remove them by force , which although it tooke not that effect as they supposed it would have done , yet hence we learne how hatefull a thing it is to the natives of a Country to have strangers rule over them ; and as all strangers are odious , and stand upon slippery ground ; so especially they that quit their owne and fly for refuge into an other Country , and there as often it happeneth , do attaine to any command and authority . This Thoas Aetolus aforenamed objected against Hannibal , who being an exiled Carthaginian , became so powerfull with Antiochus King of Asia , that what with his wit , and what with his power , within a short time hee was able to alter the Government ; and therefore Polybius commended Xantippus a Lacedaemonian for this that hee having brought the Common-Wealth of Carthage into a good order , hee left it and returned home into his own Country . Famous and worthy atchievements are ever attended with envy and malice , and it is the condition of the natives of a Country by their friends and allies to vilifie the acts of strangers , and to study how to bring them into disgrace and danger .

To conclude , this one thing , that is to say , to take too great a burthen upon themselves , and presume with their owne wit and judgement to mannage and rule whole principalities , doth very much hurt these kinde of people ; for if that one man though qualified with rare and admirable gifts of art and nature , cannot so uprightly carry himselfe in the mannageing of a businesse of small consequence , but that hee shall deserve reprehension of the multitude , and incurre the displeasure of his Prince that laid that burthen upon him : how is it possible that one man should mannage as hee ought , the state of a Kingdome , which will trouble the heads of many men laid together ? This Tiberius Caesar found to bee true , who after that the Senate had setled him in the Empire , considering the greatnesse thereof , and his owne weaknesse , ingenuously acknowledged , that the minde of Augustus onely was capable of such a burthen ; as for himselfe being called to bear but a part of it , he found by experience how difficult and dangerous the burthen of a Kingdome was , and how much subject it was to change and alter . Therefore in a Citie where many able and deserving men are , speciall care is to be had , that one man beare not the sway alone ; for that many heads together will with more ease and safety mannage the state and affaires thereof , which as it is most true , so I desire that they especially take notice thereof , who dare of themselves undertake to beare so great a burthen ; for it cannot bee , but that these men which take so much upon them , must neglect to do many things which they ought to doe , and so deserve a just reprehension ; it is a common saying , that no man can serve two masters : Whence Plato in his eighth Booke of Laws , affirmes , that it is a most difficult thing for a man , be hee of ever so good a wit and capacity , to excell in two severall arts ; so that Diodorus Siculus saith , with the Indians , it is not permitted for any man to apply himselfe to two severall studies . Assuredly these men , though never so wise , vigilant , and industrious , being ever in the Sea , troubles and turmoiles of the world , in the end must of necessity fall upon a Rocke , and though they forecast all things warily , and turne over every stone , provide salves for every sore , and have ever instruments at hand to execute their commands ; yet in the end they must come downe , and fall full low , as mariners , be they ever so skillfull , if they continue on the Seas , when their tacklings faile , must of necessity yield unto the waters ; so it is with them ; for it is most true , Who so doth headlong daily into dangers run , Will hardly in the end those dangers shun .

He that hath dealings in the world , findes that the wheele of fortune is ever turning , and that she never dotes so upon any man as to satisfie his expectation , and to give contentment to him in every thing ; and I deny not , but that these men may , during the raign of one King , continue in their greatnesse ; yet regularly * * 60 Plerumque isti atque omnes ferè à successore evertuntur . 60 both they and all their adherents are ruinated by his successour , as the Examples before alleaged doe sufficiently manifest unto unto us ; These therefore and the like causes sometimes raigning all together in one person , sometimes but some of them , nay , sometimes but one of them , are the meanes to strip them out of their magnificence , and to bring them upon their knees .

CHAP. III. Of Remedies .

SEeing then that all these things are grievous both to Prince and People , and oftentimes the cause of the ruine of the one or the other , or both ; in the next place wee must thinke of some antidote how we may prevent the disease before it commeth , rather then of a cure when it hath once seised upon us ; for this purpose I will set down some few rules , not that I will prescribe unto Princes a platforme of government : farre bee it from me to thinke of any such thing , being a thing beyond my capacity , and not within the compasse of my profession , but rather to refresh their memories , and the memories of their subjects with such things as have come to my understanding , and the understanding of others of my coate and profession , and to set before their eyes some lively patterns and examples , that so they pursue those things that are profitable both to themselves and the Commonwealth , and avoid those things which are hurtfull both in the beginning and the ending . Princes therfore in my opinion cannot think of a better meanes to avoyd the aforesaid inconveniences , then not to suffer any one of their Subiects to grow too great , and to burthen him with too much power and authority ; of this Moecaenas amongst many other things admonished Augustus Casar , least such a man by reason of his power might attempt any thing against him ; of this opinion was John Bodyn , who out of his own experience found it to be true that there is nothing more dangerous to a Prince , then to suffer any one to come so neare him as to be able at one step to step into the Royall seat , and so far to excell others in authority that they must depend upon him ; and this hee found to bee somuch the more dangerous when any one is permitted to rule without an associate , and to enrich himselfe with the Treasure of the Common-wealth ; wherefore Adrianus Caesar would never acknowledge any of his freed men in publick , nor suffer himselfe to be led by them ; hee was used to say that all his predecessours were too blame for listening so much unto them : and if any one had vaunted of the power hee had in former times , it was a sufficient matter to condemne him ; wherefore Princes ought to have in perpe●uall remembrance the procedings of some of the Majors of the Court of France , who rising by little and little , at length grew so great , that they attempted to depose their Kings , and to sit in their Thrones ; at first they had no power but a ministeriall office in the Kings house ; but under Locharius the second they began to usurpe the title of the Goveroment of the Kingdome ; under which title whilst they did assume to themselves the defence of the rights of the Kingdome , and drew all power and authority into their hands , the authority of the King began to decline and fall away , for the Kings ( whether by the subtilty of the Majors , or their own fatall idlenesse it is hard to say ) left the care of the Kingdome and government thereof unto them , and gave themselves wholly to their pleasures and delights ; only once a yeare in the Calends of May they shewed themselves unto the people ; in the meanetime the Majors took upon them the Government of the Kingdome , summoned Parliaments , gave audience and answers to Ambassadours , made Leagues with forraign Princes , promulged edicts and decrees , and did all things as fully that did belong to the Kingly power as if they had beene Kings indeed ; whence it came to passe , as the minde of man is insatiable , that they began by degrees to make their way into the Kings Throne , to set them at defiance , and to drive them like Captives and Children into corners ; and if the King had attempted to suppresse them , they with all their might and power had not been able to have done it ; for they got the the whole power of the Kingdome into their hands ; and by the long connivency of the King , they did seeme to challenge the Government of right , and to allow unto the Kings but the bare name and title of Kings .

Pippin the father of Charles the great , after that hee had attained to the Honour to be Major in King Childericks Court : first began to traduce the King , to buzze into the eares of the people his sloth and simplicity , to extoll himselfe unto the cloudes , and by all wayes and meanes to winn the hearts of the people ; having laid this foundation , hee knew there was no better way to effect his designe , * * 61 Nihil ad persuadendum hominum mentes efficacius religione sciebat . 61 then to use Religion as a cloake ; wherefore hee sent unto Rome unto Pope Zachery in the name of the people to know whether of the two were more fit to raign , either he that took upon him the whole burthen of the Kingdome , or hee that cared for nothing , gave himselfe wholly to idlenesse , and had no more understanding then a Beast ; who presently delivered his opinion for Pippin , and absolved the people from their allegiance to Childerick , hopeing that Pippin would assist him against the Lumbards ; Childerick thereupon from a King became a Mounk , and Pippin was crowned King of France .

Let all Princes take into their consideration , as well for their own safety as the safetie of their Posterity , this example of King Childerick , that the same mischiefe may not fall upon them and theirs , as did upon Childerick and his posterity ; wherefore if a Prince shall at any time see any of his Subjects grow too mighty and popular , let him alwayes have an eye upon him , and clip his wings in time ; and if that will not do , yet if any just occasion be offered , let him rid hi● out of the way ; for a Prince must know that it is with these men , as it is with all other things , they come not to full maturity on a suddaine , but by degrees , by little and little , and no notice for the most part is taken of them untill they come to their full growth ; wherefore hee must bee watchfull and use the remedy which I have before prescribed , and such others as I shall now acquaint him withall . For this purpose the Counsell which Moecenas gave unto Augustus Caesar , is not to bee neglected touching his Officers , that hee might without danger to himselfe , or prejudice to the Common-wealth , suffer such as had no power to hurt him , to hold their places in perpetuity : but not such as had Command of Armyes or Provinces ; for when they shall consider that within a short time they may bee private men , they will be more carefull how they offer any wrong to any man ; of whose opinion was Seneca , who affirmes that there is nothing so profitable to the Common-wealth as * * 62 Nihil tam utile Reipub . quam brevem esse potestatem quae magna est . 62 that great offices should ever be at the disposall of the Prince ; wherefore Mumercus Aemylius being a dictator in the Romane Common-wealth , for that hee saw the Censors to continue in their places for the space of five yeares , and not without prejudice to the whole Commonwealth , called a Councell together to advise , touching the liberty of the people , where he affirmes that nothing was so prejudiciall to the Common-wealth as to permit Governours that had great power committed unto them , to hold their places without any limitation of time ; that other officers hold their places but for a yeare , the Censors for five yeares , during the greatest part of which time they gave themseluer wholly to licentiousnesse : wherfore hee thought it fit that the office of Dictator should not continue for a longer time then a yeare and six Moneths ; and so by a generall consent there was a Law made to that purpose ; and that hee himselfe might bee an example unto them , hee spake after this manner ; that ye may know , ye Noble Romans , how distastfull a thing it is unto me , to see Magistrates continue long in their offices , I quit my selfe of my Dictatorship .

With Aemylius and the others before named , accords Nicholas Machiavell in opinion , who positively affirmes , that it is a most dangerous thing to suffer any one to have a perpetuity in any great place , for that hee hath thereby opportunity to effect his designes , and this was the cause why the * * 63 Decemviri 63 decemviri in Rome did abuse their authority , when being * * 64 Dictatores 64 Dictators they did not ; because they had time enough to worke their designes ; therefore hee saith , if wee looke diligently into the form of government of the Romane Common-Wealth , wee shall see , that the chiefe cause of the ruine of that famous Common Wealth , was by reason of the contention that arose among the common people , concerning division of grounds , and prorogation of magistracie ; for although that few or none took notice that the prorogation of magistracy was the cause of seditiō in that Common-Wealth ; yet it is most manifest , that they that continued any long time in magistracy , attained to so much power , that it became fatall to the Common-wealth ; it was this alone that administred to Marius , to Sylla , to Caesar , to turne topsie turvy the state of the Common-Wealth . Wherefore we learne this of Caesar , who after that he had ended the Warres in Affrica , made a law , that no praetor should hold his office above a yeare , or Consul above two years , having learn'd ad unguem , a lesson which Dion hath in his three and fourtieth book ; and this hee did by his own example ; for that hee having had a Command in France for the space of many yeares together , he found in himself an ambition to continue that commanding power still ; for the attaining of which swelling honor * * 65 Atheniensibus inventus est Ostracismus . 65 among the Athenians the punishment of Ostracisme , and among the Syracusans , the punishment of Petalisme was devised ; which Aristotle and Diodorus Siculus condemne as a remedy too violent and pernicious ; * * 66 Syracusanis Petalismns . for it is one thing to make a Law to keep a Subject within a meane , that he get no further then the Prince will have him , and another thing to banish him his Countrey for no reason but only for that hee excells in vertue and riches ; therefore both in Prince and People the golden meane is ever requisite . Hence a Prince may learn by the e●amples of the Majors in France , that if at any time he shall be so farr enamoured with any one man , as that hee shall commit all power into his hands , yet by * * 67 Periculosum est ut authoritas in filios descendat . 67 no meanes to let that power descend and be hereditary to his Posterity ; for there is no such inducement to make a man forget himselfe , and to raise his thoughts beyond the ordinary pitch , as the hope of propagating of honours by his owne witt and industry unto Posterity ; therefore let a Prince ever use the assistance of many in managing of his affaires , and not commit all things to one , nor listen to that only which one man can tell him : for if any one of a Kings Subjects shall be so great that all the rest shall stand in awe of him , hee indeed as Philip Commines observes , is very King and Lord ; therefore * * 68 Necessarium est ut Princeps plures oculos , & plures manus sibi faciat . 68 Aristotle admonisheth Princes to use many eyes and many hands in the governing of their affaires , which they then do when they use many Councellours ; for therefore are Princes said to have long hands ; not that their hands are longer then other mens , but because they have many servants , by whose help and assistance they can see and heare and manage the affairs in the most remote places of their Dominions ; for many eyes see more then one ; and most often that which one man understands not , another will , and many hands will with more celerity and dexterity dispatch a businesse ; wherefore Mecenas againe told Augustus , that it was the best course to use the helpe of many in the mannageing of the affaires of the Common-Wealth , that so the profit might redound unto many , and many gaine experience thereby , and be enabled to doe him service ; by which meanes hee should not onely gaine the good will of his Subjects , but he should ever have able men at hand to doe him service in every kinde . The selfe same counsell doth James King of great Brittaine give unto his sonne , that he should not rely wholly upon the counsell of any one man in every thing ; for such a man in the end will not only be a burthen to his Lord and Master , but be subject to the envy and displeasure of all men else , as is before shewed : againe it is impossible for one man to be able to undergo all businesses , as Scipio Amiratus hath at large discovered , and before him Aristotle , who affirmes , * * 69 Possimum est unum plures magistratus obire . 69 that it is most inconvenient to suffer any one man to undergo divers offices , for that many men will sooner , and better , execute the same ; especially where the Country abounds with able and sufficient men ; wherefore bitterly doth Waremund of Erenburgh deride certaine Princes of Germany ; as many of the Nobility saith he , doe use one and the same horse , sometimes for the Cart , sometimes for the Saddle , sometimes for the Warre , even as they did in ancient time , the Delphian sword for divers purposes , sometimes to sacrifice to the Gods , and sometimes to punish malefactors ; so doe the Princes make choice of the selfe-same counsels , to assist them in all kinde of businesses ; sometimes to plead causes , sometimes to sit as judges , sometimes to treat of armes , sometimes to make lawes , sometimes to play the part of Orators , nay , sometimes of the Phisitian , Mathematician , and Artificer ; whence it commeth to passe that they have neither good Souldiers nor good Councellors . It comes into my minde , that not long agoe I was told a strange story , that a certaine Prince writ that a Doctor of the law might be sent unto him , whom he would use as his Councellour , and withall declared himselfe how hee would have him qualified , that hee should have a head able to carry his cups well ; but for mine owne part I had rather have a sober man to be my Counsellour ; and if my judgement faile me not , I thinke there is no such plague unto Princes , as to have about them these nimble undertakers , that dare adventure upon any imployment , especially if they bee , as usually they are , boasters of themselves . For these Polypragmons , for the most part , are never setled in any course , but are alwayes desirous to try conclusions , and as the winde and tide doe serve , so doe they desist their former courses , and leave their masters . Yet Livy writes , that Marcus Cato senior was so rarely qualified , that in what place soever he had been in he would have raised a fortune out of it ; in that he knew what appertained to the duty of a private man , and the office of a publique magistrate ; and that he was experienced aswell in the affaires of the City , as the Country : and whereas some raised themselves to honour by the law , some by warre-like discipline , hee was excellent in all , and whatsoever he undertooke hee performed with that dexterity that a man would have thought that he had beene borne to doe that onely which he undertooke ; but such kinde of wits are very rare , and there is a great deale of difference between him and such as seem to bee like unto him ; therefore doth the same Livy write of Scipio Africanus , that hee was a man of great account among the Romanes , and memorable for many things ; but yet that hee was better experienced in military discipline then in civill government ; and this may serve as a motive to a Prince , never to trust any man alone , but to joyne others in commission with him , that may oversee him and observe his actions ; so will he be more cautelous and wary to do any thing that shall be prejudiciall to the Common-Wealth , when hee shall see others to be judges of his actions , and to be ready at hand to reprehend him if he doe amisse ; wherefore Mecaenas againe advised Augustus , that he would appoint two ever to guard his person , that if the one should go about to ensnare him , he might pray in aid of the other ; so Tiberius Caesar sent Germanicus into the Easterne Countries with a large commission , to compose the differences there ; but yet hee joyned Piso with him , that had a great wit and spirit to curb him , and keep him a little under . As that mariner cannot be said to be wise , that trusts only to one anchor ; so that Prince that relies onely upon one man ; for what can be the issue of it ? admit this man should dye , or should fall off from him , a thousand accidents may happen to occasion him to detest the course he is in , and then the Prince should be left alone unarmed , as it were , unlesse he had imployed others in businesses of the like nature , and thereby enabled them to doe him service ; therefore it is most fit that Princes should use the same order in trayning up of Councellors , that huntsmen do in their hounds ; for as they enter their young whelpes with their old dogs , so * * 70 Hoc idem oportet principem observare circa consiliarios quod observant venatores in v●narionibus . 70 Princes should ever with gray head Senators joyne discreet young gentlemen to observe the manners and customes of those aged Fathers ; but the most sure and soveraign remedy of all other is , for a Prince ever to keep the reines of the government of the Kingdome in his owne power . Yet I do not speake to this end , that I would have a Prince doe every thing by himselfe ; for that doth Tacitus reprove in Claudius Caesar , saying , that the Prince that takes upon him the offices of judicature and magistracy hath daily occasion administred him to prey upon his people ; wherefore Tiberius blamed the Senate for casting all the care of the Empire upon him alone ; which place of Tacitus , Scipio Amiratus persues very farre , saying , that to lay all the burthen upon the head alone is to make a confusion , and to deprive the rest of the members of the body of their proper office ; in this kinde Bonfinus reports , that Matthias the first of that name , and one of the wisest Kings of Hungary , was faulty , who was used to say , that he was able to mannage the affaires of his Kingdome of himselfe , and to confute his Counsellours when they would perswade him to any thing ; and further , that he often heard him say at Vienna before his death , that in the government of his Kingdome he never used another mans advice ; and that from the beginning of his raign , he could not indure to heare the advice and direction of a councellour for a yeare about ; but what became of it ? flatterers swarmed in his court , and he run into many dangrrous and des●erate errours . Quintus Curtius in his fourth book writes , that Alexander the great would seldome listen to the Counsell of his friends , when hee was in greatest danger ; and that Xerxes was more wilfull then hee , who intending to make Warre in Greece , having called the Princes together , spake in this manner unto them ; I have called you that I may not seem to doe any thing of my owne head ; but yet remember that it is your duty rather to obey then to perswade . I say , I doe not allow of this , for a Prince wholly to rely upon the strength of his owne wit , and to mannage every thing of himselfe ; but with Justus Lipsius I would have him to impart the cares of his Kingdome unto others , to observe the golden mean , not to sit idle , and lay the burthen wholly upon others ; but as the Governour of a Ship allots to every Mariner a proper office , whilst he sets at the sterne and over-sees them ; and as a Generall in the Warre doth not alwayes fight , or take upon him the whole burthen of the War , but commands and enjoynes every one what he shall do : So I would have a Prince sit at the sterne , cast his eyes every way , that he may see and know what every Servant and Counsellour of his doth , or at least , that they may believe that he seeth them , and knoweth what they do ; the which , that Prince whosoever he bee that shall perform , though it cannot be that a Prince should see every thing , heare every thing , and be present everywhere ; yet the very conceit that he doth see and heare them , and is present with them , will make them to be more vigilant and carefull ; and as the Son dispels the clouds , so will this conceit dispell many ill thoughts out of their mindes , and hinder them to put in execution many ill counsells ; therefore as the best and wariest Husbands are not alwayes present with their Servants and workmen , but are about other affaires in the world , yet sometimes step in upon them on a suddaine , as the master of the Family in the Gospell did ; so a Prince ought to doe , when his servants think him safe enough , farre remote , recreating himselfe in his pleasures and delights , then to step in upon them , and see how they behave themselves . But when I speake of servants ; I do not speake of servants that serve him in a low place , for they have others which will over-see them , and if they doe not as they should , will punish them ; but such as are neer unto him , and serve him in high places , who as they have the higher power , so they have the greater liberty to wrong and oppresse the people , whom none dare controull but hee himself ; especially if they bee more gracious then othes in his eyes ; wherefore upon them the Prince ought to have a speciall eye ; otherwise all those inconveniences which I have before remembred may easily ensue . Of these men , as Popiscus reports , Dioclesian the Emperour was used to say , that they meet foure or five of them together , and consult how to deceive the Emperour , and determine what shall passe , or not passe ; the Emperour they say keeps home close , understands not the truth in any businesse , or what occurrences happen , unlesse that they do impart them unto him ; hee makes such Judges as are not fit to be made , and removes such as ought to be retained ; what should I say , but as the same Dioclesian said , the best , the most noble , and most cautelous Emperour is bought and sold by them ; wherefore the Counsell of Philip Commines is not to be neglected , that * * 71 Princeps praeter cōsiliarios alios debet audire . 71 a Prince ought oftentimes to converse with others besides his Councellors . Neither are those Princes to be condemned that sometimes in a disguised habit come among the multitude ; for there they shall understand many things as well touching themselves as their Officers , which otherwise they should never have heard .

Alexander Severus the Emperour when he made any Governour of Provinces or chiefe Officers , did usually send the names of them unto the multitude , to this end that if they could justly accuse them of any crime , they should not forbeare to doe it ; but if they did wrongfully accuse them , that then they should expect no other punishment then that which was capitall ; for hee conceived that it was as fit for Emperours by this meanes to examine the integrity of the Governours of Provinces , in whose power the lives and estates of many consisted , as it was for Christians and Iews in ancient times , to try the integrity of them that were to take upon them the Order of Priesthood ; since then there is * * 72 Nihil dif . ficilius est , quàm bene imperare . 72 nothing more hard as Dioclesian was used to say , then to govern well ; Princes ought ever to be mindfull of the great charge that is committed unto them , and not to think that God hath set them on high to doe nothing else but to follow their pleasures and delights : but they must know as hee hath set them in degree above others , so their care must bee greater then others , and that one day they must give an account of their Stewardship , and of the people committed to their charge ; it is their vigilancy that keeps subjects in safety ; their labour and travell that affords them ease and rest and delight ; they like starrs in the firmament must ever be moving , yet not so much for their own good as the good of others , as Homer hath it in the second book of his Iliads . Wherefore their thoughts ought sometimes to descend to men of the lowest ranke : for there is no man so meane in a Kingdom but in some kinde may bee able to doe him service ; and in this shall they follow the example of their Creator , who hath numbred the very haires of their heads ; let them ever beare in minde the saying of Vespasian the Emperour , that a Prince should dye standing .

Henry the Sonne of Frederick the Emperour was so intensive upon the affaires of the Empire , that hee scant allowed himselfe time to eate his meat ; and when hee was desired to look to himselfe and have a care of his health , he said that a private man had liberty to eat when hee would , but a Prince that weighed the heavy burthen that lay upon him , had not so .

When the Emperour Rodolph saw certaine young men that loved him , to bee sequestred from him , in some indignation , said , for Gods sake suffer them to come unto me , for I am not therefore called to the Empire that I should bee kept close in a coffin . In this thing those two Noble Emperours Ferdinando and Maxmilian , did not much swerve from him ; for every day at a certaine houre they gave audience to the poore , and willingly accepted such country presents as they were able to bring unto them . Of Ferdinando it is further reported that hee should say , when hee saw one driving an old Woman from him , drive not away the poore from us , for if wee will not heare them , God will not heare us ; the same custome doe the Princes of Austria observe , at this day . I was present when a poore Woman accused one of the Barrons to his face before the Emperour at the top of the staires as hee came from Church , I saw the Emperour heare her complaints willingly , and heard him seriously enjoyne him to make her amends ; such Princes as these are worthy to be had in perpetuall remembrance : but they that give themselves wholly to delights , and leave all to their servants , they must endure oftentimes to heare that of themselves which Claudius Caesar heard of himselfe , that they are servants to their servants , because that hee was wholly led by his Wives and freed men , and did onely as they would have him ; and therefore did not carry himself like a Prince , but like a servant : for at their pleasure were all Honours , Armies , Pardons , Punishments , conferred and inflicted ; and indeed the things were almost incredible wherewith the Emperour suffered himselfe to be deluded by them , and how they gloried that by their subtility they had circumvented him ; so we read that the Emperour * * 73 Galba trium solummodò arbitrio res gerere solebat . 73 Galba was ruled by those onely whom the Courtiers commonly called his three Paedagogues : which occasioned Plinny the second to say , that many Princes being the Commanders of Citizens , suffer themselves to be vassals of their freed men ; by their Councells they are guided , by them they heare and speak , by them , nay rather from them , Praetorships , Praelacies , and Consulships are sought . In another manner doth the same Plinny speak of Trajan , thou givest respect to thy freed-men , but still thou makest them know themselves to bee freed men , thou thinkest thou doest abundantly favour them , if thou thinkest them to bee honest men , thou knowest it adds a great lustre to thy greatnesse not to suffer them to be too great . Wherefore Isaacius an Emperour of the Greeks , may justly be condemned , who received into his favour a man named Theodor Castamonita , who led him hudwinkt as a poore servant , or rather as a slave , hither and thither at his pleasure ; for Isaacius put in execution whatsoever hee commanded , who dying , the said Isaacius as if hee had been born rather to serve then to command , received into his favour a young boy that newly came from Schoole , and preferred him to a very high place , who not only led the Emperour as the little Fish called Propompes doth the Whale whither hee would , but whole Legions of Souldiers besides ; but it is no wrong unto such Princes so to bee wronged and dishonoured , because they are accessary to the wrong , and consent dispenseth with and takes away an errour ; but the wrong indeed is as before hath been shewed , that it opens a gapp to let in the dishonesty of such as are mischevous into the Court , and administers an occasion to corrupt the manners of such as are good , by meanes whereof the Common-Wealth is miserably afflicted , justice is trampled upon , and both present and future ages sustaine losse by it , the Prince beares the blame of all , for whatsoever is done in the Common-wealth be it good or evill , it is laid upon him ; and he is regularly thought to be of that condition as they are , * * 74 Facta ministroru● sive bona sive ma●a magistro imputantur . whom he doth imploy in the managing of his affaires , as Maecenas long ago told Octavius Caesar : but this shall suffice touching the Prince . Now will wee speak of his followers , and enquire by what meanes they that have attained to any greatnesse , by the meer favour of their Princes , or by any other meanes , may preserve themselves in that state and condition ; for as I have said in the beginning , so I say still , and think it to be most true , that it is a most difficult thing for him that hath attained to any great state and magnificence , to preserve himselfe in that state all his life time . Some examples we finde hereof in our histories , but very few ; for we finde that Joseph was preferred by Pharoh , to the highest degree of honour in the Kingdome , that he had the raigns of the government thereof in his owne power , that Pharoh reserved to himselfe onely the bare name and title of King , that hee continued in this heighth for the space of eighty yeares without any crushes or crosses , even untill death , being an hundred and ten y●ares of Age when he died ; another example we have of M. Agrippa , who of all those that raised themselves by the Civill Wars , Seneca thought to be most happy , and without doubt ( as Dion Cass : obs rves ) * * 75 Omnium sua●●●ratis optimus . 75 hee was one of the best men that lived in his time , hee made use of Augustus his favour for the sole good of the Emperour and the Common-Wealth , and looke how much hee did excell all others in vertue and goodnesse , so much did hee debase himselfe in respect of Augustus ; he made use of his wisdome and fortitude , his honours and preferments to no other end then to do him service , and to deserve well of the Common-Wealth ; whence it came to passe , that he was never offensive to Augustus , or the people , but established the government in such a manner , that hee could not wish to have it better , and so bound the people unto him by good turnes that he did for them , that he became the most popular man of his time ; insomuch , that when he beautified Rome with many goodly ornaments , which was thought would have drawn the ill will of the people upon him , he did not only keep their loves still , but hee obtained great honour from Augustus ; for at such time as hee would have placed in the Temple of the gods which hee built himselfe , the statue of Augustus , to preserve him in perpetuall memory , and would have written an inscription thereon to his name ; Augustus would not suffer him to doe it , but caused him to put up the statue of the precedent Emperour in the Temple , and his own , and Augustus in the entrance unto it , which he did not doe to any other end , but to manifest his fervent love and affection to him , and the Common-Wealth , which Augustus so accepted and highly honoured him for it ; for in his absence he made him chiefe governour of the City of Rome , and that he might still heap honour upon him , being divorst from his wife , he gave him his Daughter in Law in marriage , unto which he was induced partly for that Maecenas was used to speak thus unto him upon good deliberation : Now thou hast made Agrippa so great , that thou must either make him thy sonne in law or hee cannot live . These and many other kinde favours he conferred upon him , which hee enjoyed all his life time , without any manner of change or alteration ; for after that he had conferred the office of Tribune upon him from five years to five years , hee sent him into Pannonia with a larger Commission then ever any man had in Italy , and as soone as hee heard of his death , which happened immediately upon his returne into Campania ; he came to see his dead corps , and after a funerall oration made in praise and honour of him , hee caused it to bee brought into the City , and to be buried in his owne Sepulchre ; and wheras at his death hee bequeathed unto the people a Bath and Garden , where they mig●t freely wash and recreate themselves , which he christned himself with a name , Augustus did not only confirme his gift , but gave to every man in particular a doale , as if Agrippa himselfe had so desired it ; and it was no way prejudiciall unto him throughout the whole course of his life , that he descended not of a noble Family , but was made Noble ; this is another Example of one that continued in prosperity to his lives end , contrary to the examples which I have before remembred ; but because it is a rare one , and not many of them to be found , I doe not see wherefore I should swarve from the rule I have set downe . Tacitus likewise makes mention of Memmius Regulus that was of so great renown , and authority , that setting aside the Emperour no man was greater , insomuch that Nero being told , lying very sick , by certain flatterres that waited upon him , that now the Empyre was at an end , answered that there was one Memmius alive that would have a care , that it should not fal to the ground ; this man afterwards betook himse●fe to a private life , hee was not of any great estate , nor of an ancient house , as the same author reports ; this example of Regulus will give good contentment to them that leave all authority , and in time betake themselves to live private lives ; this man was not so great for honors and estate , as many of them whom we have formerly remembred , but his credit with his Prince , and his fame , raised by his vertuous actions , was as great as the greatest in our time , wee may remember Granvillanus Vesontinus , who for the space of twenty yeares together held the chiefe place of authority under Charles the fift , and was onely privy to his secrets , and died in great grace and favour with him ; the Emperour much bewayling his death , as Sleidan reports , and which added somewhat to his happinesse , Anthony his Son Bishop of Artois succeeded him in his place , whom his father in his absence did usually depute to manage the affaires of the Commonwealth : here this is remarkable in this Prince , that hee ever used one man alone , that was more powerfull then the rest , to manage the affaires of the Empire ; yet so , that hee ever had an eye to the government himselfe , and to the man : of the condition of this Prince , and how a Prince ought to behave himselfe , that things may fall out successefully , I have already spoken . These Examples although they be few do teach us , that it is not impossible for him that hath a great place in the Commonwealth under his Prince , to live happily in it to his dying day , which how it may come to passe , and how such men ought to carry themselves ; I will set downe some few documents and precepts , and the scope of them shall bee to advertise them that are on high to avoid those rocks , that many of those whom we have formerly remembred have fallen upon ; & how it may be done , it will not be lost labour to search diligently into ; the first thing therefore as wee have formerly noted is , that thou bee sure of a calling , and not thrust thy selfe into any place by bribery , or any indirect meanes , before thou be called , for the fabrick cannot stand , when the foundation fails ; if the beginning be evill , the end must needs be so ; wherefore whosoever thou art that hast attained to any place by any indirect meanes , it is thy best course to relinquish the same , and to betake thy selfe to thy former accustomed course of life , for that it is impossible that thou shouldst enjoy it quietly , when thou commest to it by such meanes ; every misfortune that befals thee will pierce thee to the very heart , and trouble thee , because that thou injuriously didst intrude thy selfe into a place that appertained not unto thee ; for if our proper vocations duly attained admister unto us many cares and troubles , much more those that are unduly gotten . Tacitus reports of Brutidius Niger that executed the office of an Edile under Tiberius Caesar , * * 76 Brutidius Nigerareibus hone●is cop●osus . that he was well seen in many good Arts , and that if he had continued his course , was like to have come to the greatest places in the Commonwealth , but striving on a suddaine to out-strip his equals , and superiours , nay , the the very limits of his owne hopes , hee overthrew himselfe . The same Tacitus further adds , that there have been divers hopefull men in the Common-wealth , who despising that which with little patience might have beene had with security , have hastened to that which being gotten before due time hath bred their ruine and destruction . Hieronimus Messanius seeing Alexander ab Alexandro , as he writes of himselfe living in a mean estate and condition of life , blamed him therefore and told him , though he had taken a great deale of paines , yet he had not learn'd to be wise , and related unto him a story of a certain man that * * 77 Alegat exemplum cujusdam qui nullis artibus honestis praevalere potuit . 77 used all the lawfull meanes that hee could think of to attain to a Bishoprick , and could not prevaile ; insomuch that hee bethought himselfe of another course ; he went and bought two or three tunns of the best wine hee could get for his money , and sent them to the Bishop ; and not long after hee had what hee desired ; hee spake of others likewise that were the most contemptible men in the Commonwealth , such as made it their trade to prey upon the people , who having injuriously gotten into their hands the Estates of many , put the same into the Treasury , and by this meanes became powerfull and mighty ; hee told him of many others that were of the most vile condition , that by their wicked and abominable devises raised themsevles out of the dust to great honours ; but these examples of his prevailed not with Alexander , hee said hee had rather live in a low degree with the freedom of a good conscience , then by dishonest courses blemish his good name and reputation ; Machiavell endeavours to prove that * * 78 Plures fraude quam virtute ad honores ascendunt . 78 more men raise themselves to Honours and Estates by fraud then by worth and merit ; but that opinion of his , both Scipio Amiratus and others have at large confuted by explaning the Presidents which hee hath alledged for the confirmation of his opinion , and shewed how hee hath no colour for his conceit . Endeavour therefore whosoever thou art to raise thy selfe by good meanes , otherwise thou shalt finde ; ( and so the examples which I have before alleaged will manifest unto thee , ) that though thou mayst flourish for a time , yet in the end thou shalt come to ruine and destruction ; for it is not possible , ( which is the greatest misery that can befall them ) for such men as raise themselves by undue meanes , in future times to bee honest ; for having once transgressed the bounds of justice and honesty , they are of necessity constrained if they will continue their places to be dishonest still , and to preserve themselves by the same meanes by the which they have been raised , which in the end cannot bee but fatall unto them ; the favour of thy Prince will doe thee no good if it bee not obtained by good meanes , for there is nothing more uncertaine of its own nature , especially when there is no ground for it , for then thou hast God thy enemy , in whose hands are the hearts of Princes ; whatsoever therefore thou doest , have God ever in thy minde , so shall all things that thou takest in hand succeede well unto thee ; and contrarywise if thou doest not . After thou hast done this , in the next place , pray unto God for grace , wisedome , and understanding , that thou mayst be able to undergoe the office committed to thy charge a right ; and in this let King Solomon be a pattern unto thee , who although hee had a most sanctified man to his Father , and a wise man to his Tutor , from whom hee might learn , touching the Government of his Kingdome as much as the wit of man could instruct him : yet hee prayed to God in this manner , O Lord God thou hast placed me in the Throne of my Father King David , that am a feeble person too weake for the understanding of thy judgements and Laws : give mee wisedome that I may bee able to governe thy people in judgement and righteousnesse . After thou hast prayed in this manner for such things as are needfull for thee , * * 79 Exequere munus tuum summe cum cura . 79 then goe on cheerefully in thy calling , and execute the same with all diligence and integrity ; meddle with that which belongs to thy selfe only , and put not thy sickle in another mans harvest ; so that no man may justly taxe thee that thou hast omitted any thing which thou oughtest to have done , or that another man could have performed the same with more care and diligence : which that thou mayst do , thou must have a care that thou doest not abuse the power and authority committed unto thee to doe any man wrong , for any private grudge or malice conceived ; neither for hatred nor affection to do any thing that belongs not to thy calling : observe ever that rule that our Saviour hath given , give unto every one that which is due unto him , unto Caesar that which is Caesars , and unto God that which is Gods , and that of the Apostle , it is better to obey God then man : honour thy Prince ever and obey him , but so that thou must know that above him there is a God , whom thou must more honour and obey : have a care ever ( which many doe neglect ) to say or do any thing to please him , which is repugnant to the will of God , for though it be a difficult and dangerous thing to oppose a Prince in any thing , and so to draw his anger and displeasure upon thy head , yet know it for a certainty , that if thou shalt feare him more then God , by avoiding the smoak thou fallest into the fire ; cursed is hee that with hope of impunity commits an offence , and though such a man may escape for a time , yet in the end God will punish him with ruine and destruction ; for although God bee long suffering and gentle , yet when his wrath is once incensed , nothing will appease him ; and be sure of this , that God whom thou hast served and obeyed , will so assist thee that though thou mayst for a time incurr the displeasure of thy Prince , yet in the end thy innocency shall be made known to thy prayse and glory , so that the Prince shall not only thank thee when hee shall know thy integrity , but shall commend and applaud thee ; and this was Josephs case , whom when his Master had made him Steward of his house , and committed all things to his power and authority , being sollicited by his Mistris to lye with her , he would not consent , saying , how can I commit this great offence and not sinne against God ? who though hee was for a time by his Mistris calumniations wrought out of favour with his Master and cast into Prison ; yet in the end by Gods assistance he was delivered , and where before he had but the Command of a private Family , hee was advanced to bee the second man in the Kingdom , and heard the saying of our Saviour sounding in his eares , goe to good servant , thou hast been faithfull in a little , I have made thee ruler over much , enter into thy Masters joy . So when the King of Egypt commanded Sephora and Phua , the two midwives of the Hebrews to kill all the male children of the Hebrews as soone as they were borne , they fearing God , did not obey his Command , but kept them alive ; for which God blessed them and built them houses . So when Saul commanded his servants to kill the Priests with whom David sojourned , his servants would not therein execute his Command ; Ioab was not so well-minded , for he presently upon the Command of King David , betrayed Vriah to death , and though hee disswaded the King a little to number the people , yet when he importuned him thereunto , hee listned to his sollicitation and obeyed him : but it had been better for him that he had hazarded his displeasure for the present , and so have escaped and turned aside the wrath of God and miseries which ensued . Therefore let him as much as in him lies carry himselfe uprightly towards all men , not somuch to avoid the calumnies of the envious , and the backbiter , or the displeasure of the Prince , as to keep himselfe in grace and favour with God ; for it is the greatest happinesse to do no wrong to any . Let him think with himselfe , that * * 80 Cogitor multa sibi non licere quae hominibus in angulo jacentibus licent . 80 it is not lawfull for him to doe many things , which men of mean degree living out of the rode in some corner of the Earth , may doe without exception ; that a great fortune is a great burthen , that all his actions are exposed to the view of the world ; that his thoughts are scarse secret to himselfe , because that all mens eyes are fixed and fastned upon him ; it is not lawfull for him to intend his profit , his studies , his pleasures , nor to addict himselfe wholly to any thing , because hee is not his owne , but his Princes servant ; therefore let him eschew Pride , Coveteousnesse , Cruelty , and the like , wherewith they that live in high places are usually tainted ; let him cast his eyes behinde him , and see what he was , not what he is , and at no time behave himselfe violently , or insolently towards any man ; here the Councell of Amuratus is religious , that * * 81 Non ob propriam virtutem . 81 thou shouldst ever thinke that thou art raised to that degree of honour , not for any worth or merit of thine owne , but by the divine providence of God , who hath been pleased to worke upon the affection of the Prince to favour , and affect thee above other men ; this if thou dost duly consider , it must necessarily follow , that thou wilt ever carry thy selfe respectively to thy Prince , and be lowly in thine owne eyes , giving the glory to God alone : thou wilt be gentle , mercifull , and liberall , and spend and end thy dayes quietly in the peace of a good conscience ; and that thou maist doe here what Sophocles saith in Ajax Lorar , let these Examples move thee , that thou dost not grow proud , or speake irreverently of the name of God , if he hath endowed thee with better endowments , or a better fortune then others ; for that when the sunne is at the highest it declines againe , and reduceth all humane things to that they formerly were , but the love of God cōtinues to the end to those that are good , and his hatred to the wicked . He that is thus resolved will have a care never to advise his Prince to proceed in any dishonourable action , but to doe that which tends to his honour , and the good of the Commonwealth . I deny not but that many an honest man is put to a great strait oftentimes , in businesses of this nature ; for it is a difficult thing , for a man to go so equally between honesty and justice that are strict and severe , and the licentious pleasures of the Court , that hee doe not runne himselfe aground either on the one side or the other . The Examples of Burrhus and Seneca , the two worthy Counsellours of Nero , doe manifest the same ; they were governours during his minoritie , and well agreeing , bare equall stroke in divers faculties ; Burrhus ruled in military discipline , and in reforming abuses ; Seneca in precepts of eloquence and instructing him to carry himselfe courteously towards all men , helping one the other in their charge , that they might with more ease bridle the youths slippery age with honest and lawfull pleasures , when they saw him falling into exorbitant courses ; his Mother was an eye-sore unto him , being a woman of a high spirit , and ambitious of government , of whom when Iturius and Calvisius had reported , that he had made choice of Rubellius Plautus , a man by the Mothers side as neerly allied unto Augustus , as Nero was to her husband , and so to turn topsie-turvie the state of the Commonwealth , Nero understanding therof , being full fraught with wine grew fearefull , and desirous to dispatch her out of the way , delaid no time , untill * * 82 Burrhus necem ejus promittebar . 82 Burrhus had promised him to do the deed ; but notwithstanding hee did not performe it , but alledged for himselfe , that shee had no accusers ; but one that lived in the house of her enemies , imputed what was done to ignorance and rashnesse , and so deferred the doing thereof untill night , ( which was spent in rioting , ) was past , and the day was come ; by this time the feare of Nero was well asswaged ; and when the morning came , Agrippina was heard first of Burrhus , then of Nero himselfe , what she could say for her selfe , and shee did not onely purge her selfe from the crimes laid to her charge , but had her accusers punished , and satisfaction for them that stuck unto her in the cause ; and hitherto Burrhus carried himselfe noblly ; but Nero still plotting her death , found out an invention for the purpose , took a course that there might be a gally made loose by art in the bottom , that should let her fal into the Sea , when she suspected least ; but whilst Nero expected Messengers , that his plot had taken effect , newes came that shee had escaped the danger ; at which Nero being amazed , fearing that shee would revenge her selfe out of hand of him , advised with Burrhus and Seneca , what course was best for him to take , being not certaine whether they had any notice of his former designe ; they stood mute for a time , and said nothing , fearing their Counsell should not take effect ; but in the end they agreed , that if Agrippina lived , Nero could not ; then Seneca , the forwarder hitherto of the two , cast his eyes upon Burrhus , as if that he should have asked , whether that the Souldiers should be commanded to execute the murther : but he answered , that the Guard being bound to all Caesars house , and so mindefull of Germanicus , would not undertake so cruell an enterprise against his progeny ; and that it was better to use Anicetus in it , who had undertaken to do it ; Anicetus without any delay committed that bloudy fact , slew Agrippina the Mother of Nero ; and here I doe not think it strange , that the actors of this Tragedy were beloved of Nero : but that they did well , or deserved praise for it , no man shall ever perswade me . To omit to speake any thing of the bloudy fact , Nero being now freed from his Mother , he addicted himselfe wholly to all licentious courses , and unlawfull sports , and delights . Burrhus and Seneca willingly connived at some of his imperfections , fearing that if they should oppose him , hee would run into more desperate courses ; for they hoped when he had been glutted with his delights , hee would have became a new man ; but it fell out otherwise ; for having once transgrest the bounds of modesty , he grew worse and worse , so that sometimes in the publique view of the world , in the Vatican he would play the part of a Coachman , drive a Chariot , sometimes of a Stage-player , and sometimes of a Harper , in the presence of his familiars , among whom was Burrhus , who beheld him with a heavy heart , though he durst not as Tacitus saith , but applaud him ; at length he came to that hight of impiety , that * * 83 Templ● per Asiam & Achaiam dispoliat . 83 he set fire on the City , and spoiled the Temples , not onely there , but throughout all Achaia , and Asia ; therefore Seneca , that hee might avoid the displeasure of the multitude , and not be thought to be accessary to the said misdemeanour , petitioned him , which he should have done long before , and so have avoided his hatred , * * 84 Longinqui ruris secessum orat . 84 that he would give him leave to spend his dayes far remote in the Country ; which request being denied , hee betooke himselfe to a Chamber , and as a sick man never went out of it . I must acknowledge they live in a miserable condition , that take upon them the government of such beasts , whom all the world can hardly paralell for brutishnesse ; therefore very often as wee have heard , his vices prevailed over their vertues , their understanding and consciences , and in the end overthrew them . Vnto the former Examples , it will not be impertinent to add the Example of Prexaspes , that so thou maist see how deerly they that are the Counsellours of Princes do sometimes pay for giving them good Counsell : Seneca who hath written most excellently of that , hath this story , Prexaspes being gracious with Cambises , King of Persia , seeing him much addicted to Wine , did advise him to drink more moderately , for that Ebriety was an odious thing in a Prince , that should be the patterne of sobriety to his people : unto whom he answered , that thou maist know Prexaspes , that I never forget my selfe , I will make it appeare , that though I drink hard , mine eyes and hands are able to doe their proper office ; whereupon hee drank more liberally in larger boules then he did at other times : and being full fraught with Wine , hee commanded Prexaspes sonne to go beyond the threshould of the doore , and to stand there , holding his left hand over his head ; Cambises then bent his bow and struck his arrow into his heart , which was the mark he shot at ; and having ript up his body , shewed Prexaspes his arrowes head , sticking in his sons heart , and looking backe upon him , asked him whether his hand was not steady enough , who answered , that Apollo himselfe could not have shot more steadily . This might seem to deterre the servant of a Prince from giving him good Counsell . But this did nothing at all daunt Craesus , that was an eye witnesse thereof ; for not long after he being one that loved Prexaspes , was so bold , as to tell Cambises of this and other his cruelties , insomuch that hee thought to dispatch him out of the way , as hee did the other with his arrow : and when hee saved himselfe by flight , he commanded his servants to kill him ; whereupon they apprehended him , and kept him close prisoner , to this end , that if the King would free him , he might , if not , they would execute his command ; but Cambises afterwards repenting himselfe of what hee intended , was glad to heare that Craesus was safe and sound , and commanded the ministers that apprehended him to be put to death ; the innocencie of this man kept him alive , but I must confesse not without a great deale of danger ; but all Princes are not of Cambises or Neros minde ; nay , very few , which is a great blessing of God , throughout the whole world ; for I am of opinion that most of the Princes will listen to any advice that tends to their honour , and wellfare of their people , and if not reward them that shall so advise them , yet not punish them , or at least not punish them to their utter ruine and destruction . * * 85 Ars Ministri est non importunè non intēpestivè , non acerbè principi contradicere . 85 It is the wisedome of a servant , at no time to oppose and contradict his Prince importunately , unseasonably , sharply , superfluously , without respect of time , and place , but to take his opportunity , and with all reverence , and respect , when they shall see him wandring , to bring him in the way againe , having no other aime or end in it , but onely the good of the Prince , and the welfare of the Common-Wealth ; for as Erasmus saith in his Book of the Praise of folly , that truth hath ever in it self a certain naturall inbred force to delight the hearer , if there be nothing in it that may offend ; therfore when fooles speak the truth they are heard with delight , which if wise men should doe , would be capitall unto them ; and the reason is because that fooles speake without the least suspition of love or hatred , but so doe not wise men that know and understand the businesse they speake of . Therefore as far forth ss he is able let a Servant approach the presence of his Prince with all dutifull respect , and in a due time : and then let him make no doubt but truth will prevayle , if it savour not of spleene or bitternesse ; an example hereof we have of Augustus , with whom Maecenas was in speciall grace and favour , and not so much for any thing else as for this , that when hee was transported with choler and fury beyond himselfe , Maecenas would undertake him and bring him to himselfe againe ; as for example , when upon a time Augustus sate as judge himself in person , and was minded to have condemned divers to death , Maecenas seeing what hee was going about , and being not able to come unto him , hee writ these words in a Table , arise from thence executioner , and threw it unto him as if it had contained some other matter : which as soone as he read , he arose and condemned no man ; and this passage of Maecenas did not offend Augustus , but hee was * * 86 Gaudebat se talem amicum habuisse . 86 glad that hee had a friend that would put him in minde of that which was not fit for him to doe , which in his choler without observing a decorum he was about to do ; and it was remarkable of Maecenas , that though hee did oppose Augustus in his beloved sins , yet hee was ever beloved of him , and commended by the multitude ; and let that Prince that doth not follow the Example of this Emperour , know assuredly that hee doth expose himselfe to imminent danger ; for those Princes whosoever they are that carry themselves so that their Councellours shall not dare to tell them the truth , or any thing that is distastfull unto them , let them assure themselves that no good can come thereon ; nay it is better for them to bee without such Councellours then to have them ; for when a Prince shall understand the truth of things , hee will peradventure more seriously consider of them , and be more wary how to proceed therein ; but when no man shall dare to crosse him , then what comes first into his minde is approved of and consented unto as a thing done so well that no man could doe better , no not hee himselfe .

This did much hurt Sebastian King of Lusitania , that dyed in Affrica , of whom Hieronymus Connestagius thus writes , In the mean time saith he , King Sebastian called his Captaines and Peeres together to advise concerning the removing of their tents , and when hee demanded of them what they conceived concerning the matter , many were afraid to speak their minds freely ; for although they thought it most convenient to sayle to Laraceen , yet because they saw the King was of another other minde , they thought it safer for them against their consciences to flatter him in his opinion , and so by councelling him ill to keepe his love , then by advising him well to purchase his displeasure .

Of Marcus Agrippa that was both powerfull with Augustus , and beloved of the people , we have heard of before , and of Byrrhus whom we have likewise remembred , Tacitus affirmes that he is beloved still in the City for his vertues , which I would to God the Courtiers of our time would seek for ; but many of them have a certain foolish conceit , let them pardon me if I give them a true Epithite , that then they doe the offices of faithfull servants , if they can prevaile with their Prince to oppose their Subjects and people in every thing , if they can oppresse them , afflict them , vexe them , diminish their priviledges , and so bring all their estates if it were possible by one project into the Princes Treasury , forgetting that by this meanes they make the Prince but a private man , no better then a Merchant or Usurer in pilling and polling the People committed to their charge , for whose good God hath put all power and authority into his hands ; but who receives good by this ? the Prince is noe way enriched , or made more powerfull by it ; for there is no such fortresse to a Prince as the love of his Subjects : but this is done that they may divide the spoyle among themselves : and that those good men which staud for the Common-Wealth being brought to disgrace , they alone may beare the sw●y ; let him therefore whom wee instruct have ever before his eyes , as the end of all his actions , the common good and safety of the people , being the end and scope of all Lawes and Government , the which if he shall doe , as Agrippa , Seneca , Maecenas , Byrrhus , whom we have before remembred did , hee will doe his uttermost endeavour to perswade the Prince above and before all things in the world to look after that which tends to his own honour , and the good of the Common-Wealth ; for as it is no way profitable to the stomack , if at one meale it shall be so glutted , that it be ready to burst , or in a few daies so much meate be thrown into it as will serve for six months : so it is no way profitable to a Prince at once to take all mens estates to himselfe and to care more that hee may have much then well to have gotten it , and to enjoy it long ; therefore if thou wouldst well consider of it thou shalt finde that there are none that do more endammage the Prince , then they that do advise him to intend his own private good : and indeed if thou wouldst search into it , thou shalt see that those men doe not look so much after his private good as the good of themselves ; and therefore by all manner of meanes they seek his favour ; but they that seek not somuch their owne good , as the good of the Commonwealth , have ever a care that as well the people as the Prince , without whom he is but a single man , may flourish and prosper ; for the head cannot be perfect , if the other members of the body be impotent , and not able to performe their proper office . Of this Seneca in his Tragedy entituled Octavia takes notice , saying ,

* * 87 Pulchrum est eminere interv●ros illustres . 87 It is a famous worthy thing , Amidst renowned Lords alone to ring ; And wisely to care your Country for to save , And well your selfe to captive folke behave . From cruell brutish slaughter to abstaine , And void of mood to wreake your angry paine ; And to the world a quiet calm to give , That all your age the people in peace may live : This is a worthy praise without all crime , This is the path to Heaven whereby we clime .

This then is the scope of all , that a Princes servant ought so indifferently to carry himselfe between him and his people , that as he honours and loves the Prince , so he should the people , yet not for their sakes , but for his ; therefore let him alwayes be carefull , that he may not justly be taxed , as Seneca was , that he drew the hearts of the Citizens from the Prince to himselfe ; for as it * * 88 Civilia in genia filiorum regnantibus displicent . 88 is distastfull to Princes to see their sonnes have popular wits ; so it is to see their servants ; and this he shall bee sure to doe , and keep himselfe from all suspition , if he follow the Example of Agrippa , and so honour his Prince , that he may be sure that he studies nothing more then his safety and honour ; and above all things , let him have a special care , that he do not provoke him in word or deed ; for * * 89 Pertinax memoria est verborum acerborum . 89 bitter words take a deep impression in the mindes of great persons , and the deeds which ensue thereupon , strike more deep into them : and though they doe not for the present either take notice of them , or at least revenge them ; yet when any small occasion is given , they are called to remembrance ; and when they little dream of it , they are severely punished for them . Joab slew Absalon , contrary to the command of the King his father ; and afterwards seeing him condole his death , sharply with menaces upbraided him , which the King took very ill , and although hee did not at that time inflict any punishment upon him ; yet upon his death-bed he commanded his sonne to punish him , and without doubt , for that cause , though he did not then expresse it . The same doth Alexander the great confesse in the case of Philotas ; this man , saith hee , when I writ unto him out of love , and familiarity , to acquaint him what fortune had befallen me by the oracle of Jupiter Hammon ; he was so bold as to answer my Letter , that he was glad to heare that the gods had accepted me to be one of their company ; but yet I must have compassion of them that live under me ; the gods doe not as men doe ; they give , and take nothing from any man : these are markes of a minde long ago estranged from me , and of a man that envies to see my prosperity ; which griefe , my Souldiers so long as they could for the love they bore unto Philotas , prevailed with me to conceal . The very same thing doth Chalchas testifie in Homer ; now saith he , doth Jupiter give reines unto his power , and now doth hee persecute with eagernesse the man of low degree ; and though for a time he concealed his wrath , and made a faire shew , yet afterwards it returned into his bosome againe , and would not be satisfied , untill it had revenged it selfe . Therefore I say , he must have a speciall care , that hee doe not provoke his Prince with any harsh language ; especially that hee doe not carry himselfe so , that his Prince shall stand in feare of him : which wee have before observed to be a great fault in the Earle of St. Paullont of Commines , and in Joab that threatned the King , that unlesse hee would observe him , the people would renounce their Allegiance unto him ; therefore Philip Commines saith , that if that he had a friend , he would advise him to carry himselfe so , that his Master might love him , not feare him ; for that he never knew man , of whom his Master stood in feare , that sped not ill in the end : Examples whereof wee have very many . This presumtion oftentimes proceedeth of the good service he hath done ; for he thinks his experience so great , that hee cannot bee spared , and his deserts such , that his Master ought to bear all things at his hands ; but Princes on the contrary side both say and think , that hee is bound to doe him service , and desire nothing more then to be rid of such malepert fellows ; and he alledgeth a saying of the King his Master , that good servic●s sometimes undoe a man , and are recompenced with great ingratitude , not alwayes by the Masters forgetfulnesse , but sometimes by the servants owne fault , who presuming upon their good service behave themselves arrogantly , either towards their Masters , or their fellowes ; and further touching those that come to court , this was his opinion , that he is more hapier , that receiveth a benefit of the Prince ; he serveth without any great desert , wherby he standeth bound to his Prince , then he that hath done so great service , that his Prince seemeth indebted to him : adding that hee for his part loved those better that were bound to him , then they to whom hee was bound .

Againe let not the servant of a Prince opprobriously be bragging , and boasting of his owne merits , nor in other affaires be troublesome to him , but let him containe himselfe within the bounds of modesty , and assume rather too little , then too much , unto himselfe . Quintus Curtius affirmes , that it * * 90 Commemoratio meritorū suorum in ministro gravis est principi . 90 was fatall unto Clitus and Philotas , that Alexander heard that they boasted what they had done in his service , and therefore did suspect them both of dishonesty and disloyalty to him .

Againe , * * 91 Ne praemiorum petitione sit gravis . 91 let not a servant be ever craving and begging of his soveraign ; for of such kinde of people a Prince desires to be freed , especially if they be proud with all , or malepertly upbraid him for what they have done for him .

Againe , * * 92 Injurias principis hilari valtu ferat . 92 if thy Prince shall offer thee any hard measure , as thou conceivest , undergo it with all alacrity , and by no meanes mu●mur and repine at it ; for as Seneca well observeth , they will doe it againe , if they conceive they have done it before ; for men of great fortunes have this property , that they will hardly be reconciled ; and whom they once distaste they will ever hate . The answer of him is well known , who being demanded how he did continue til his old age so gracious in Court , when many others were cast off , answered , by passing by and taking no notice of injuries offered him ; so Prexaspes whom wee have before remembred , being asked by Cambises King of Persia , that shot his Sonne to the heart with an arrow , whether any man had a more stedfast hand then hee , answered , Apollo himself did not shoote more stedfastly ; so Harpagus when the King of Persia feasted him , being asked how hee liked his entertainment , answered that the Table of Princes is the mirour of mirth ; so when Christophorus sent Morus a special Ambassadour after the death of Sebastian King of Portugall , to congratulate with him that was to succeed in the Kingdom , John Silvius that was Leiger Ambassadour there before , seeing himselfe neglected , and hearing divers rumours raised of him , hee interpreted all to the best , and took it as a speciall favour , because he saw there was no remedy . Wherefore whosoever thou art , if thou desirest to bee powerfull thou must patiently endure whatsoever befals thee .

Againe , if thy Prince hath been beneficiall unto thee , as it must needs be if thou hast served long in any high place , make it knowne unto to all the world , and to himselfe when occasion is offered ; so did Seneca speake of Nero , that hee had been exceeding gracious unto him in conferring upon him much Treasure ; so that hee oftentimes took it into his consideration why he that descended not of any noble Familie , should be ranked among the Peeres of the City .

Againe let him be carefull that hee never assume the honor of any achievements to himself , especially if they be of any great consequence ; for so the most prudent of all Nations have ever done ; Ioab a Generall of King Davids Army , when he besieged Rabba a City of the Ammonites , and was upon point to have it delivered unto him , he sent unto the King that hee would be pleased to come in Person thither , least the honour thereof might be attributed unto him ; so did Craterus a chiefe Commander under Alexander when he besieged Artacena , after all Articles were agreed upon betweene them ; he staid only the Kings comming , ( as i● was fit ) that hee might have the honour of it . In the acting of this part , Agrippa was most expert ; for although hee atchieved many great and famous enterprises , and obtained many glorious victories unto Augustus , yet never did hee assume the glory of them to himself ; and whatsoever he bestowed upon him , hee imployed it not to his owne private profit , but for the good of Augustus and the Common-Wealth ; when hee had overcome the Cantabrians , he did not somuch as write to the Senate of it , or triumphed according to the Decree of Augustus ; hee brought the water which is called Virginalis at his own charge into the City , and named it Augusta , which Augustus took very kindely from him againe , when he returned home out of France , where he bravely quitted himselfe having subdued his enemies ; hee forbare to ride in Triumph , because not long before his Master had been in a fight at Sea by Sextus Pompey , and hee thought it would not become him to ride in Triumph , his Master having had such ill successe ; for it is reported of him that hee was used to say that very many Princes will not endure that any man should bee accounted more excellent then themselves ; and therefore they doe usually goe themselves in person upon designes wherein there is small difficulty and danger : but upon desperate attempts they ever put others : and if at any time they are compelled to commi● the charge of any enterprise to others , wherein there is little danger , yet they will not endure that they shouid have the Honour of the businesse : for as they do not desire to ●eare of their ill successe , so they will not have the honour of the day to be ascribed ●o ●hem . Antipater was well experienced in this , and herefore when hee obtained a famous victory against t●e Spartans and their confederates , knowing the fame thereof would but draw envy upon him , being greater then did belong to a Generall , and withall well knowing that though Alexander had a desire to have his enemies vanquisht , yet hee would not have Antipater to bee the man to have the honor of it ; for that he supposed it would bee derogotary to his honour ; therefore I say Antipater well knowing the minde of Alexander , would not presume to hazard the glory of the day upon his own judgement , but advised with the Graecians what was best to be done ; for he thought it more safe to himself for a stranger to have the honour of it , then a Citizen , because the Citizens would envy his greatnesse , and study how to levell it with the dust ; the selfe same doth Cornelius Tacitus commend in Agricola , that hee never gloried in any thing that hee did , but as a servant hee ever ascribed the honour to the chief Captaine and Commander : by which his humble and modest carriage he lived without envy , but not without fame and reputation . It is reported that after that hee had obtained a famous victory against the Britaines , and thereby raised an immortall fame to himself , that Domitian began to be jealous and afraid of him , that hee being but a private man , his glory and fame should be greater then the Emperours ; whereupon Agricola having delivered up his charge , returned home unto Rome ; and that hee might avoyd the concourse of the people and his friends that would have met him , came secretly to the Emperours Palace in the night , as he was commanded , where he was received with a short complement , and not so much as a word used to any of his followers ; and now being at home among peaceable men , unto whom the name of a Souldier was distastfull , hee so tempered his military vertues with others * * 93 Otium penites auxit . 93 that as before he advanced Warre , so now hee studied to encrease and advance Peace , and Tranquility ; hee was in his apparell comly , in his speech milde , and gentle , going , ever accompanied with one or two of his friends ; so that hee that had seene Agricola , would not have judged him to have beene a man that had affected fame or popularity .

Againe , let not a * * 94 Ne ●a●iliarem se nimispraebea● . 94 Princes servant make himselfe too familiar with him , by abusing his favour and love unto him ; for this hath undone many a man , w●o by reason of their familiarity have forgotten their duties , and have carried themselves towards them as if they were equals and companions : an Example hereof we have in Vestinus Cosse a Romane , that was slaine by Nero. The displeasure that hee first took against him , did arise out of his over-bold , and malepert behaviour towards him ; for hee being privy to Nero's imperfections , did oftentimes scurrilously put jests upon him ; which when soever they savour of truth , leave a sting behinde them ; wherefore Nero fearing the fury of his f iend , took a suddaine course with him . So Dagobert the sonne of Clothar , the second King of France , whipt Sadragsilius , and caused his beard to be shaved , having been sometimes his tutor , though afterwards preferred to be governour of Aquitane , under the King , because hee carried himselfe towards him as if hee had been his fellow and companion ; for amongst many other passages of his , sitting once near unto him at a solemn banquet , hee was so sawcie as to snatch the cup out of Dagoberts hand , and to drink up all the drink , as if they had been fellowes and equals ; wherefore though Clothar at first took it ill from his sonne , that hee did deale so with Sadragsilius , whom hee had preferred to be governour , under him , of a Country ; yet in the end hee forgave him , and punisht Sadragsilius for his malepertnes and sawcy carriage of himselfe towards him .

The people of Arragon being destitute of a King , they by the Popes authority , sent for one Ranimirus , a Bastard-sonne of Sancius , out of a Monastery , and put the Crowne upon his head ; who intending Warre against the Moores , after the Nobility had fitted him with a horse for that purpose , and had put a buckler in his right hand , and a spear in his left , they reaching unto him the reines of his bridle , hee desired them that they would put that into his mouth , for that his hands were full already ; the Barons observing his simplicity , in that , and other things , smiled , and derided him , whereupon setting aside his former monasticall simplicity , sent for eleven of the chiefest of them to Osea . and caused their heads to bee cut ●ff , telling them of a Spanish proverbe , that the Woolfe would not endure jests .

So that as I have said , and produced Philotas for an Example , who relying upon the favour of Alexander spoke too freely unto him : let him never with offensive words or deeds provoke his Prince , let him with all circumspection reflect his thoughts upon himselfe , so shall hee never runne into this errour ; we read that Anna Montemorant was very gracious with the French King , Henry the s●cond , and admitted to bee his bed-fellow ; but who can say if the King had lived long , that hee would have continued his former favour unto her ?

Againe , let him bee carefull , that hee doe not as Sejanus , and Perennius did , and as many doe at this day , take * * 95 Ne princepem a rebus gerendis avertat 95 upon him to direct the Prince , and to divert him from his intended designe , but rather to doe what he doth , especially in businesses of consequence by the Princes speciall command and authority ; for by this meanes if the businesse succeed not according to expectation , or if hee be questioned for it , hee may easily answer it , and give satisfaction both to the Prince and People . * * 96 Cautè omnia agat . 96 let him be ever cautelous and wary , and think that every place he comes into is beset with traps of Treachery , hatred and calumny for him ; this doth Cicero elegantly prescribe in an Oration , which hee hath made in the behalfe of Flaccus , wherein hee shews the unhappinesse of such as are powerfull and mighty : O the miserable estate ( saith he ) of them to whom the governments of Provinces are committed , who if they be diligent they be hated , if they be negligent reproached , if liberall un●ewarded , if they speake it is misinterpreted , if they heare it is dangerous , upon whom all smile , when many think full ill , being ever exposed to publick and private displeasure ; at their first comming they are saluted , whilst they stay they are observed , but when ehey depart they are neglected ; therefore as much as lies in his power , let him take heed of envy , the most generall scourge to such as are in high places , which as hee may by divers meanes prevent , so especially , if he lay this foundation of which we have spoken before , that all his actions shall tend to the good of his King and Country , and not to his own private profit , or to satisfie his lusts and affections , * * 97 Sit modestus , humilis . 93 whosoever proposeth this end to himselfe , will alwayes be of an humble lowly and temperate Spirit , and so stop all the passages of envy hatred and calumnies which otherwise would have accesse unto him .

Againe , the higher hee is let him ever the more lowly and reverently esteeme of himselfe , and consider that the greatest fortunes have the least freedome , and by how much the larger his Commission is , by so much his moderation should bee the more in the execution of it ; let him feare the turning of the wheele : for fortune never prefers a man but shee threatneth to bring him down again .

Whom dawne of day hath seene to sit on high , Him in the dust bath seene the evening sky . Let none rejoyce too much that good hath got , Let none despaire too much that hath it not . For Clotho keepes both fortunes in her power , And them full often changeth in one houre .

* * 98 Immo●icos honores fugiat . 98 Let him never desire to climb too high , but avoid those honours which make him equall with his Soveraigne , for that high places are subject to thunder and lightning , and if Elpenor fall it is fatall unto him , when he that is below may fall and rise againe without any detriment : this did Macro doe , whom we have before remembred , and this did Clodius Albinius , who when Commodus Caesar for his good service would have conferred upon him the Title of Caesar , and have given him a power to grant Pensions , and invested him in a Princely robe , refused his courtesies , saying , that Commodus sought to overthrow him . And as great honours , * * 99 Immodicas opes declinet . 99 so great Possessions in my opinion are not to bee desired ; I am not ignorant that in the judgement of many this that I say will seeme to be a paradox , because they conceive the more they enjoy , the more fortunate they think themselves to bee ; they seldome consider that great estates are attended with great hatred and envy , nay they are of Plautus minde , I had rather mine enemies envy me then I them ; for to bee envied is a badge of prosperity , to envy of adversity ; the poore are envious , they that are envied have the world at will : but whatsoever they say , this Counsell is not to be neglected , unlesse they will minister unto themselves an occasion of ruine and destruction , as the former examples doe sufficiently teach us . I will not here produce any thing , either out of the writings of the Philosophers or Theologians , which have written very judiciously in contempt and derision of riches ; neither will I shew that the great fortunes of many men are provocations unto them to carry themselves proudly towards their inferiours , and insolently towards all men : and so by abusing of them never attaine their hopes and desires ; for it is a very difficult thing for a man to bridle his affections , when he hath such Instruments to spurre him on , so that he that accused P. Anteius unto Nero , told him the cause of his licentious course of life was his riches , which had undone many a man ; for he that hath gotten the Estates of many rich men into his hands , will easily be perswaded that he is a Prince ; therefore I will put them in minde of that which Seneca heard from his enemies , that upon many of them that followed the Courts of Princes , their riches have drawn envy , upon many ruine and destruction ; what a massy Estate did Seneca raise under Nero by his wit and learning within the space of foure yeares ? with what eagernesse did hee search after Wils and Orphanes at Rome ? how did he drayne Italy , and the Provinces adjoyning with his excessive usury ? how did he endeavour to winn the love of the Citizens , and in his Gardens , and houses , to exceed , as if he had been a Prince ? The same thing , that is for that he did not add bounds to his riches , but out of a Stoicall pride , which makes such as are active turbulent , occasioned Plautus his death . The selfe-same thing overthrew Valerius Asiaticus under Claudius , of whom Sosibius , that brought up Germannicus , under a pretence of friendship gave the Emperour a Caveat , affirming that estates too great in subjects are prejudiciall to Princes . Dion observes , that he refused to accept the consulship a second time to the end , that he might enjoy his riches , and free himselfe from envy , and danger ; but that did him no good ; his riches in the end occasioned his ruine : many other Examples hath Dion to that purpose ; and Scipio Amiratus evidently demonstrates , that great fortunes , and estates , are as dangerous to great men , as extreame poverty is troublesome to poor men : on the contrary side , as Tacitus observes , in extremity of sicknesse , Nero thought Memmius Regulus newly raised to be a Gentleman addicted to Peace , and Tranquility , worthy of the Empire ; his course of life was out of the compasse of danger ; it nothing availed Valerius Asiaticus , as wee have a little before remembred , nor Seneca to doe as they did to avoid danger ; nay , Seneca had done more warily , and wisely , if so be he had observed his owne precepts , stopt the passage of his immoderate desires , and forborne to have made that cold and poor excuse that it was no good manners to refuse the curtesies of a Prince . A meane therefore as well in this , as in every thing else , is to be preferred , and the holy Prayer of King Solomon to be had in perpetuall remembrance . Two things have I required of thee , saith he , before I die , deny mee not them , remove from me vanity , and lies , give me neither poverty , nor riches ; feed mee with food convenient for me , lest I be full , and deny thee , and say , who is the Lord ; or lest I become poore , and steale , and take thy Name in vaine . So that the same our Seneca affirmes our Patrimonies ought to bee contracted into narrow roomes , that so wee may not be subject , and exposed to the spoiles and sports of fortune ; those bodies that are low , and little , and may be contracted into narrow roomes , are not so subject to the dangers of the Enemy , as those that are high and mighty ; hee is the happiest man that is not in poverty , yet is a neighbour unto it . Againe , the same Seneca saith , that in this Sea of the World , there is such a vicissitude , and alteration of estates , that it cannot be but that hee that is full fraught , must bee assaulted with many stormes , and tempests ; therefore his Counsell is not to be neglected ; let them reduce their estates into a narrow roome , that the weapons of envy and malice may doe them no harme ; hee that loves the golden meane , lives neither in a sordide Cottage , or golden Palace .

Againe , let such a man have a speciall care , * * 100 Ne publica praedia sibi acquirat , 100 that hee doe not at any time make a prey of the Commrnwealth , which is a thing too too common with many that are in grace and favour with their Princes ; for goods gotten by such meanes do like a moth , or canker usually consume goods well gotten , and give occasion both to Prince , and people to envy their estates ; for although great estates , if well gotten , ought not to be hurtful , and prejudiciall to a man ; yet a very little occasion will perswade a Prince , that such estates joyned with authority , may prove dangerous unto him ; for generally we doe not prye into mens actions , and observe what they doe , but what they are able to doe ; but truly when I perswade a man to observe a meane in the getting of an estate , that hath opportunity to exceed a meane , I speake to a man that hath no eares ; wherefore though hee relish not what I say , yet let him observe in the getting of his estate , the rule which Seneca prescribed the Philosopher ; if he have a desire to have abundance , let him satisfie his desires , yet let him not raise himselfe by wronging , or ruinating of any , in questioning them for their lives to gaine their estates , or by any sordide or base projects , and then no doubt they will continue with them and their Posterity ; and none will envy them but malignant spirits .

Againe the Councell that wee have given to the Prince , the same do we give to his servants , that hee would not take upon himselfe the sole Government of the Common-Wealth , which many doe seek with all eagernesse , being of Gneius Pompeius minde that would not end●re an equall , or that any man should beare any rule but himselfe ; but let the man we speake of , if hee love his owne safety , desire that one may bee joyned in Commission with him , though the Prince desire to repose the whole trust in him alone ; and if the Prince doe so much favour him that hee will have him to bee the chief man still in power and authority , which cannot bee without exceeding great danger unto him , yet let one or other bee privy to all his actions with whom hee may consult and bee assisted : so shall he with more ease and safety undergoe businesses , and if things succeed prosperously , he shall have the honour of them : if not , he hath ever a witnesse to cleare him , upon whom if occasion bee , hee may lay part of the blame ; and this all wise men ever did , and doe at this day ; so did Diomedes whom Homer hath remembred , who being commanded in the night to take a survey of his enemies , desired that one might goe along with him , because that two heads would be able to see and understand more then one , and with more boldnesse and alacrity proceede : for one man may think of a thing that is profitable , and his heart may faint , and feare occasion him not to proceed therein ; but when two are joyned , their Courage and Councells are more resolute and constant : whose request being granted , hee chose Vlysses for his Companion , saying with him hee did not feare to goe through a band of armed men , through fire and water , and to adventure upon any designe were it never so dangerous ; so Byrrhus and Seneca were Neros governours during his minority , in equall authority , well agreeing , and bare equall stroke in divers faculties ; but when Byrrhus dyed , Nero gave himself to licentiousnesse , and Senecas authority began to decline , because he wanted his friend to advise withall ; but the examples of Publius Furius , and Lucius Crassus two Noble Romanes which are remembred by Valerius Maximus , are most pertinent to this purpose : the one of them being chosen to goe Ambassadour into Spaine , being an imployment which hee much desired , compelled Q. Metellus , and Q. Pompeius two consulary men , and his deadly profest enemies , to accompany him ; the other from a Consull attaining to be a governour in Gallia , Caius Carbo whose Father he had condemned came thither to pry into his actions , who was so far from removing him , that he assigned him the office of a Tribune , and for no other cau●e , but that hee might assist him with his Counsell and Advice . These are famous examples , but they rellish not with them that desire to have all Dominion in their own power , howsoever they are insallible signes of innocency , and without perill and danger .

Againe I would advise the servant of a Prince to stand firme and constant unto him in his allegiance to the end , and not for future hopes to adore the rising Sunne , and to decline the service of his present Soveraign : for as such a man deserves punishment of his Prince , so the memory of him is hatefull to his successour , and upon the first occasion that is given hee is ruinated ; so it sell out with Joab , who after that he had followed King David for a long time , and performed all the duties of a faithfull servant unto him , at length in his old age hee neglected him , and followed Adonijah that was to succeed him in the Kingdome ; so Macro forsook Tiberius while hee lived , and applied himselfe to Caius Caesar , which Tiberius perceiving , in some indignation told him how hee looked after the rising , and neglected the declining Emperour ; so Tigellinus that was most neare and deare unto Nero at the first , at last fell of , and became a Traytor unto him : but all of them received the deserved wages of perfidious temporisers by the succeeding Princes , and were put to death as wee have before heard .

Above all things I would have the servant of a Prince take into consideration the uncertainty of all humane things : but more especially the instability and slippery estate of such as have attained to any great fortune , and in time seek to prevent imminent dangers , or at least how they may undergoe them without vexation if they befall them ; which how they may bring to passe many have read excellent lessons unto us , but especially Seneca : they saith he , whom Fortune hath set in slippery places , shall bee more secure , * * 101 Super●iā fugiat . 101 if they banish pride and arrorogancy out of their thoughts , being incident to great fortunes , and carry themselves as if they were private men ; indeed many that are on high must of necessity stick unto their places , for that they cannot come down but they must fall ; yet let them deserve this Testimony , that it is their griefe that they must bee grievious unto others , and that they did not intrude themselves but were placed there ; let them arme themselves with justice , milde and gentle behaviour , and with liberality , that so they may stand safe and secure .

Again , it will be very advantageous unto them if they know and beleeve what is said in Titus Livius , that it is the part of a wise man , nay more , of a fortunate man , to add bounds to his prosperity , and not to rely too much upon the present times , or fortunes favours ; for then is she most to bee suspected when she smiles most upon us ; of this Sirach gives us a caveat in his first Chapter ; humble thy selfe that thou maist not fall , and bring shame to thy soule ; and likewise Seneca ; as when wee are at Sea in a storme wee desire the Haven , so should wee desire to ease our selves of the burthen of our fortunes , and not stay untill wee are eased of them . This Seneca himselfe would have done , when after the death of Burrhus hee saw his friends faile him , and his enemies accuse him ; therefore in that elegant Oration of his , which is extant in Tacitus , in which hee amongst other things acknowledgeth , that there was nothing wanting to his felicity but that hee could not containe himselfe , and add bounds to his felicity ; as being weary , saith hee , on the way by long travells , I would desire rest ; so being grown old , and not able to mannage my estate , and undergo these cares that attend it , I dedesire that you would take it into your tuition , and command your Proctours , that they would have a care of it for your benefit , and give mee leave to spend the remainder of my dayes in the Countrey with such allowance as will keep mee from want ; but Nero not contented with this , cunningly dissembled his hatred in flattering termes ; Seneca gave him thankes , and began to change his former course of life , forbidding any to come to visit him , but his followers ; seldome came into the City , kept his house , as if hee had been sicke , or a student in some faculty ; and when he saw he grew deboist , and to give himselfe to all kinde of wickednesse , that hee might be out of the reach of his envy , he desired his leave that he might live farre remote in the Country ; which being denied , he feined himselfe sick , and never came out of his Chamber ; but how came it to passe , that doing as he did , he did not avoid the displeasure of the Tyrant ? and may not the remedy now prescribed bee said to be no remedy by the Example of Seneca ? truly I will not say any thing that may derogate from the understanding of so wise a man , yet I must say what I think , that Seneca , either * 102 * 102 102 Tardius hoc usus est . used the remedy too late , when Nero's anger was much incensed against him , or that hee took not so fit a time as hee should have done , to move Nero in it ; or rather which I doe most incline unto , that what was done may rather be imputed to his beastly cruelty , from which the most innocent man in the world cannot be safe , and against which no remedy may be prescribed ; therefore as we cannot finde many Princes of the world like unto Nero , so by his Example the remedy before prescibed is not to be neglected , or condemned ; but doe thou as Sylla the dictator did , as Dioclesian , and Charles the fifth , and many other Noble Princes of the World have done ; who of their own accord , without any such cause moving thereunto , in the declining times of their ages , laid downe their Scepters , and retired themselves . Doe thou I say provide for thine owne safety , add bounds to thy prosperity , and expect not fortunes comming to ease thee of thy burthen . Historians affirme that Polycrates a Tyrant of the Samnites lived happily , and enjoyed his honours and preferments without any manner of crosse all his life time ; but Amasis King of Aegypt did feare the end of him ; for he was of opinion , that where there is no entercourse , or change of fortune in the whole course of life , that the end will bee fatall ; therefore his advice was , that if a man hath had no crosses all his life-time , that he would afflict himselfe , and depart from that thing which hee most affecteth . This Counsell I would give unto them that are in power and authority , that they would voluntarily ease themselves of that burthen ; It is harsh I know , but yet it is good and wholsome Counsell , and not to be neglected ; and why ? doe we not see that death is advantageous to many , whom shee takes away in the midst of their prosperity ; for had they lived they might have survived their happinesse ; wherefore Seneca adviseth , that they that are most fortunate , in the very heighth of their fortunes should desire to dye , because there is nothing certaine in this World , but that what is past . And Lucan speaketh thus , of ●neius Pompey , that * * 103 Destruit ingentes animos longius aevum . 103 long life is a dishonour to a man , when he survives his honour ; and Juvenal speakes of him and Ca. Marius ; who had been ever more famous then Marius , if he had died at Rome in the midst of his Army , when hee returned out of Germany ? or then Pompey , if hee had died of the fever which took him in Campania ? Titus Livius reports of Alexander , that hee was happy in this , that he dyed in the spring of his age in the heighth of his prosperity , before he had tasted of both fortunes ; on the other side saith he , to omit many other noble Princes Examples of humane frailty , what was it that gave occasion and opportunity to fortune to work upon Cyrus that was so famous among the Graecians , as also upon Pompey , but onely long life ? * * 104 Quod mors invito hoc tu sponte fac 104 that cure therefore which death may doe to thee against thy will , doe thou to thy selfe willingly , and without doubt it will administer solace and comfort unto thee . These are almost all the meanes by which those that are powerfull with their Princes , may avoid the change of fortune , and descend without a fall : yet to these in their owne wisedomes and discretions , as they see the state of the present times , they may add many more ; some there are that think themselves secure enough by reason of the sacred order they are entred into , as Sleidan reports of G. Poyets Chancellour of France ; others by reason of their allies and kindred , as is reported of Duke Lerma in Spaine ; but unlesse their supportors be better then these , as the Examples before doe sufficiently manifest unto us , they cannot stand ; but doe not thou my friend look so much after these things , as that soveraign Antidote of the Christain Poet ; he is a happy man , saith he , and most like a Saint , that relies not upon the fading glory of the World , that delighteth not in pompe and pride , that lives in the Countrey contented with a meane habite and estate without cares or feares , that is secure which way soever the Scepter fals ; that never feares the direfull menaces of the Planets , nor the prodigious prognostications of the Comets , or that relies upon the fraile and fickle favour of greatnesse , or is ever distracted with ambitious thoughts ; wherefore ●eneca wisely , beware of ambition , for it is vaine and windy , and never satisfied , nay , it is of so troublesome a nature , that it will neither endure any one to goe before it , nor yet to com● after it ; it is ever attended with a double feare within and without ; for as it hates all men , so it is hated of all men , and therefore most miserable ; dost thou not see how the houses of such as are powerfull are annoied with the brawlings and quarrellings of such as meet therein ? * * 105 Multum habent contumeliarum ut intres plus cum intraveris . 105 thou canst not come into them withou reproach , nor stay there without greater ; and if thou chance to passe up the stayrs , they are so slippery that thou canst not stand there without danger of falling ; wherefore apply thy selfe unto wisedome , which will not onely afford thee rest and tranquility , but riches in abundance ; all the honours and preferments in the World , though they are small , in respect of other things , yet they are hard to come by , and the way unto them is tedious , and troublesome ; and if fortune so favour thee , that thou dost attaine to ●he top of them , thou shall see all those wayes that did seeme unto thee when thou was below to be mountainous and steepie , to bee plaine and easie , and that through that plain thou didst ascend to that heighth .

Faelix quem faciunt aliena pericula cautū .

FINIS .

Illustrations and Observations upon EVENKELIUS . By Tho: Nash .

1. Joab fuit in utraque fortuna Davidis individuus diu comes .

Joab for a long time was in both fortunes Davids onely minion .

IOab was King Davids Lieutenant-Generall in all his Warres , Jos. c. 7. de aut . l. 6. yet Joab was not reckoned amongst King Davids Worthies . David had triginta fortes , tres fortiores , et tres fortissimos ; thirty valiant men , three more valiant then the thirty , and three more valiant then any of the thirty three ; in all hee had thirty six Worthies , amongst whom , I say , Ioab was not numbred , quia indignus haberetur ob mortem Abner & Amasae because he was thought unworthy of the name of a Worthy , by reason of the murther which hee committed upon Abner and Amasa .

* 2. Ioab Rabbathae urbis Ammonaorum captae gloriam callide Davidi Regi suo reservavit .

Ioab ascribed the honour of the taking of Rabbathae , a City of the Ammonites , cunningly unto his King , Ios. l. 7. de ant. Iud. c. 7. 2 Sam. c. 12.29 .

* 3. Absalonem contra expressum regis mandatum confodit .

Ioab contrary to the Kings expresse command slew Absolon . Ios. lib. 7 , de ant. Iud. 2 Sam. c. 18.14 .

* 4. Ioab Abnerem ducem Israelitarum , et Amasam ducem Iudaeorum occiderat .

Ioab slew Abner a Captaine of the Israelites , and Amasa a Captaine of the Iewes .

Abner was the Generall of Sauls Army , as Ioab was of Davids , and was beloved of the people , who for that he was reproved by Isbosheth for the keeping of Rispa Sauls Concubine , revolted from him to King David , and used his best endeavour to settle the Crowne upon him ; but Ioab fearing that if hee should come in favour with the King , his greatnesse would be eclipsed , buzzed into the Kings eares , that what he did was in Policy , and that when hee had his end , hee would revolt unto King Saul ; and seeing hee could not divert the affections of the King from him , most treacherously under colour of parle ran his sword through him , and slew him . Ios. lib. 7. de ant. Iud. c. 11.

Amasa was a Generall whom Ioab slew , for no other cause , but because the King had given the same power unto him , as he had done unto Ioab . Ios. lib. 7. de ant. Iud. c. 10.

* 5. Ioab Adoniam patre vivente regnum invadentem aperte juvat .

Ioab treacherously assisted Adonijah against the King .

Adonijah was the sonne of King David by his Wife Agge ; for David had six sonnes before the birth of Solomon , by six severall women , Ammon by Achymas , Daniel by Abigal , Absolon by Machima , Adonijah by Agge , and Gerthesa and Gala by others : the chiefe men that did adhere unto Adonijah were Ioab , and Abiathar the high Priest : the chiefe men that did oppose him , were Zadock the Priest , Nathan the Prophet , and Benaiah the Captaine of the Guard . Ios. lib. 7. de ant. Iud. c. 11.

* 6. Ioab jussu Davidis a Solomone ad ipsam aram interemptus est .

Ioab by the Kings command , by Solomon was put to death before the Altar .

Among other things King David gave this in charge unto Solomon at his death ; remember the iniquity of Ioab who through aemulation slew two good Generals , Abner the sonne of Ner , and Amasa the sonne of Iethram . Ios. l. 7. c. 11.

* 7. Haman totam gentem Iudaeorum propter unius Mardochaei odium excindere parabat .

Haman for the hatred which he bore unto Mardochee , would have sacrificed the whole Nation of the Iews .

In the dayes of Cyrus by the Graecians called Artaxerxes the whole Nation of the Iewes were in danger to bee extirpated ; for Haman being in favour with the King obtained a decree , that all the Iewes together with their Wives , on such a day should be put to death , and for no other reason but because Mardechee the Queens Uncle would not adore him as the Persians did ; yet many other things were buzzed into the Kings eares against the Iewes , as that they were a rebellious people , of corrupt manners , and enemies to all goodnesse ; of which decree Mardochee being given to understand , betook himselfe to fasting and prayer : and it pleased God so to work upon the affection of the King , the Queene mediating for the Jewes , that the punishment intended to Mardochee was inflicted upon Haman . Jos. lib. 11. de Ant. Iud.

* 8. Tiberium illum tam superbum , tam vinolentum , tam crudelem Imperatorem .

That proud licentious and cruell Emperour .

It it is reported by a a Tac. l. 6. Annal. Tacitus that the saying of Passienus the Orator went currant of Tiberius : neque meliorem unquam servum , neque deteriorem unquam dominum fuisse , that there was never a better servant , nor a worse master then Tiberius ; egregiè vixit privatus & insons , whilst hee was a private man , yea and in the beginning of his raign he carried himselfe b b Sue . in Tib. c. 27. Dion Cas. lib. 57 Tac. Annal. lib. 1. very moderately ; vetat Templa sibi erigi , erigique sibi statuam ; multa praeclara gessit de veste serica non utenda : de vasis aureis non adhibendis nisi in sacris ; hee prohibited Temples to be dedicated ro him , and his Statues to be erected : hee regulated the excesse of superfluous apparell , and commanded that vessels of gold should not bee used , but onely in the Temples ; mox ubi regna petivit totas vitiis laxavit habenas , but when hee got the reines of the Empire into his hands , c c Tac. lib. 6. Annal. there was no vice that hee was free from , cruell hee was in a most barbarous manner ; omnis sexus , omnis aetas , illustres & ignobiles dispersi & aggregati , d d Ille nec aetati tenerae nec parcit anili . every sex , age , and degree , men and woemen , old and young , bond and free , noble and ignoble tasted of his cruelty ; and given to Wine he was in excesse , insomuch that instead of e e Suet. in Tiber. Tiberius he was called Biberius , and of Nero Mero ; certare peculis & hilarescere vino erat illi quotidianum , it was a familiar thing with him to spend two or three daies together in Polyphagia & polypotia in gluttony and drunknesse . Cum Pomponio Flocco & L. Pisone noctem biduumque epulando potandoque consumpsit , jucundissimos omnium horarum amicos hos esse affirmans with Floccus and Pyso hee spent two whole dayes and a night in drinking , affirming they were the best companions that ever hee met withall . Historians report , that his nurse was a great drinker of Wine , and that she ordinarily whilst hee was in his tender yeares fed him with sops dipt in wine ; whence it came to passe that when hee came to full growth , hee delighted in nothing more then debosching and gurmondizing ; the Italian saith , that it is a rule infallible , che de latte che poppianio nella infantia dependata tutta la salute della vita nostra , that of the milk that wee suck in whilst wee are in our cradles , depends our health and welfare all our life time ; if that be unwholesome , our bodies will be crasie and subject to diseases ; and the reason is because quod nova testa capit , inveterata sapit , the vessell will ever rellish of the liquour with which it is first seasoned . Titus the sonne of the good Emperour Vespasian had all his life time a weak and crasy body , and no other reason is given , che per haver poppato nella infantia latte di balla mal sana ; but because in his tender yeares he was nurst by a woman that was not sound . The cruelty of Caligula is not imputed to Germanicus that begot him , or to his Mother that brought him forth , but to the nurse that gave him suck , of whom Dion sayes , that she had haire on her brests , as thick as men have on their beards . So likewise the inhumanity of Pyrrhus is imputed to a Tigre , of whom Homer sayes that he was borne in Greece , bred up in Arcadia , and nurst by a tigre , Durius had a daughter whose nurse fed upon nothing but venemous things : whence it came to passe , che a capo di tre anni quando la fauciulla fu dispoppata non mangiava se non animali venenosi , as soone as she was weaned , she would digest an adder or serpent as familiarly as another would doe the brawn of a capon . Paleologus Emperour of Constantinople was so much troubled with melancholy that for three parts of the yeare hee was in a manner frantick ; for hee that is in a deep melancholy , differs little from a mad man , as the word signifies , being derived à 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 insanio : and this is attributed to his nurse that did abound with that humour , of whom this tale passeth , that the empresse meeting with an old woman discovered unto her her husbands infirmity , who did advise her to chide him , and to fall foule upon him twice every week at the least , because he that lulls a melancholy man asleep with musick , doth but foster the humour ; whose counseil the Empresse taking into consideration , non solo due volte di septimana ( as my Authour sayes , ) mai quattro volie il giorno il dava qualche dispiacere , not only twice a week but foure times a day vext and perplext him , and in the end with her bitter potion cured him ; thus the nurse oftentimes causeth the childe to degenerate from the nature and disposition of his Parents ; whereof both the Romanes and the Graecians taking speciall notice in the daies of old , used their best endeavours to regulate the abuses in this kinde . M. Portius that was so famous amongst the Romanes , in a speech which hee made in the Senate house , bitterly enveighs against the Senators for suffering their children to be delivered into the hands of strangers , saying , O padri conscriti mi paere gran monstruosità vedere huomini havere falconi nelle mane e vedere le dōne creare caguolini nelle bracchie l●asciando stare i propr●i figlivoli nelle altrui braccie ; it seemes to me a monstrous thing in nature to see men carry hawks on their hands , and women dogs betweene their armes , and to see them deliver over their children into the hands and armes of others , crudeles certè parentes they are cruell fathers and mothers that mue up their hawks , and keep their dogs in their houses for their delight , and cast their children out of the doores , whom they are bound by the law of God and nature to keep at home ; non pate l'honore , non lo promitte la conscienza , non concedde la legge divina ne humana che Coloro che Jddio ha fatta padri e madre di huomini divengono balie di falconi e cani ( as saith my Authour in some bitternesse ; ) it is not allowed in point of honour , in point of conscience , or by the lawes of God or men , that they whom God hath made the fathers and mothers of children , should make themselves the nurses of hawks and dogs ; if wee have a jewell which wee doe value , wee will not willingly deliver it out of our hands , and if we doe , it shall bee into the hands of such whom wee dare trust as boldly as ourselves ; now what jewell can be compared to the flesh of our flesh , and to the bone of our bone ? and how carefull ought wee to be into whose hands wee commend them ? not without cause therefore Plato gave in charge to the Graecians , and Lycurgus to the Lacedemonians , that every woman of low degree should nurse all her children , and every woman of quality her first begotten . Ortomistus the sixt King of the Lacedemonians lest two sonnes behinde him at the time of his death , the youngest of which inherited his Possessions , and for no other reason but because he was nurst by his mother , and his elder brother by a stranger ; whence arose a custome throughout all Asia , che il figlivolo che non pappana il latte della madre non hereditassero la robba della padre , that the sonne that suckt not the milke of his mother should not inherit the Possessions of his father , giamai fu madre simile di delicatezza ne mai sara alla madre del redemtore nostro as my Authour saith . There was never so delicate a creature in the world , nor ever will bee , as was the Mother of our Saviour , who by her own example hath taught us , that there is nothing more naturall then for a Mother to afford milke out of her owne breasts to the issue engendered of her owne bowels : the naturalists send us to the Sow to schoole , who though she bring forth many , yet nurseth them all ; if children then sometimes neglect their Parents in their age , it is no wonder , being they were so carelesse of them in their minority . When the bastard brother of the two famous Gracchi returned home from the Wars , hee brought with him two girdles , the one of gold , the other of silver ; the golden girdle hee gave to his nurse , the silver one to his Mother : with which his Mother being offended , hee spake thus unto her . Mother , marvell not at it , percioche tu mi portasti Solamente nel ventre nove mese ; e ella mi nutrico nella suo petto tre anni , e quando esecudo io piccolo tu mi cacciasti da tuo occho , ella mi raccolse nella sue braccie ; because that you bare me but nine months in your belly , and shee hath fed mee three years with her breasts , and when you cast me from your eyes she embraced mee in her armes . Cornelius Scipio after his returne home from the Warres between him and Antiochus , condemned to dye two valiant Gentlemen nobly descended , for that they had unadvisedly spoiled the Temple of the Vestall Virgins , to whom his brother Scipio Africanus became an earnest suitor for their pardon , but could not by any meanes prevaile , whereupon they made use of another , that was to Cornelius a foster-Sister , the Daughter of his Nurse , who presently obtained their release , which Scipio taking to heart , Cornelius spake thus unto him ; Sappi frtaello , che io reputa piui per madre colei che mi nutrie non mi partori che colei che mi partori e poi mi abandono ; know thou my Brother that I thinke her rather to bee my Mother that nurst me , and did not beare me , t en she that bare me and after cast me off ; as a Childe hath no excuse for his disobedience , so a Parent hath none for his neglect of him . Vpon a time there arose a great controversie betwee a Father and a Sonne , which was referred to Solon to determine , before whom both parties appearing , the Sonne complained that his Father had done him much wrong , in disinheriting him , being his only Sonne ; the Father answered , that hee had done him none , for that hee had not onely been a disobedient Childe , but a cruell Enemy , opposing him in every thing which hee undertooke , which gave him just occasion to deprive him of his inheritance , and often to beg at the hands of God to cut off the thred of his life , for that hee thought him unworthy to breath upon the face of the earth , that shewed himselfe so disobedient to his Father , and told some that stood up in his defence , that if they did but know how deare the love of a Father is to his Sonne , they would rat●er compassionate the Fathers case , then the Sonnes , because there is no Father in the World so cruell and hard-hearted , but will sheath his sword up to the hilt in his owne heart , before he will strike his Sonne with the hilt of it ; to wit , that is not more grieved that his Sonne should give him an occasion to disinherite him , then his Son is with the losse of his inheritance : the Sonne then replying , acknowledged his disobedience , and wanton course of life , but imputed the cause thereof unto his Father ; for that when hee was of tender yeares hee cast him out of doores , and delivered him into the hands of strangers , from whose breasts hee suckt in the seeds of disobedience and folly : Solon having heard both parties , delivered this sentence , that the Father for that hee had cast his Sonne out of doores as soone as hee came into the World , should bee debarred of the rites of funerall , and so dye without honour ; that the Sonne for his disobedience should bee disinherited during his life , and that the Grandchild , in whom there was no fault , after the death of his Grandfather should inherite the possessions , because it would be injustice to disinherite t●e Sonne for the Fathers offence ; so the Grandfather was punisht after his death , and the Sonne whilst hee lived : thus have I taken a liberty ( occasioned by reason of the Nurse of Tiberius ) to condemne that liberty which parents assume , to turne their Children out of doores as soone as they are borne , being a thing unnaturall , and not used amongst the brute Creatures . Suetonius hath one remarkable passage of Tiberius ; upon a time Tiberius invited himselfe to an old fornicators house to supper , whom Augustus had put to some shame and ignominy , and whom he himselfe not long before had distasted upon this condition , ut nudis puellis ministrantibus caenaretur , that the Symposiarchus who was the Steward of the Feast should especially provide that he might be attended with some handsome young Wenches , clad in no other habite then that wherewith Nature had first invested them .

Observations upon the changing of Tiberius his manners and honours .

There are foure good Mothers that bring forth four abortive daughters ; truth hatred , security danger , familiarity contempt , and prosperity pride ; the Priest untill he became a Cardinall was curteous and loving unto all , but being advanced hee forgate his old friend Michael , Stat foris ante fores Michael dicens quod honores Commutant mores , raro tamen in meliores .

So long as Alexanders horse was clad with his ordinary accouterment and caparison , hee would admit of any man to come upon his backe , and to ride him ; at structus regiis phaleris neminem praeter regem admitteret , but when hee had the Saddle on which the King did usually ride on his back , then hee would admit of no man but the King ; divitiae & honores ( inquit Erasmus ) peccandi quandam necessitudinem secum ad ferunt ; nam sicut difficile est colubrum in sinu alere , & non morderi , ità difficillimum honoribus & divitiis abundantem vitiis non contaminari , riches and honours doe in a manner enforce a man ( as Erasmus sayes ) to transgresse ; for as it is a hard thing for a man to carry a snake in his bosome and not be stung ▪ so it is more hard to abound in wealth and honour , and not to abound in sinne and transgression ; the good fortune of many a man is his utter ruine and destruction ; for if it be not guided with reason and discretion , it drives him as a tempest doth a ship upon the sands of pride and presumtion ; but as a skilfull horseman by his skill in riding will cover the defects of his horse , so a wise man with his discretion will carry himselfe so in both fortunes , that prosperity shall not make him proud , nor adversity sad . Maude the Wife of King Henry the first is deservingly registred for the paragon of her sexe , because in both fortunes she was ever the same ; prospera non laetam fecere , nec aspera trisiō ; Aspera risus ei , prospera terror erant : prosperity never made her proud , or adversity sad , the one shee scorned , the other shee feared , as Henry of Huntington hath it in his seventh book . Cato among all the noble Romanes is preferred for his setled constancy . Senec. 104. Nemo ( inquit Seneca . ) mutatum Catonem toties mutata republica unquam vidit ; eundem se in omni statu praestitit , in praetura , in repulsu , in cōciou● , in exercitu , in morte , cum alij ad Caesarem , alij ad Pompeium inclinabant , solus Cato fecit reip. partes ; no man ever saw Cato dismaid in the most troublesome times of the Romane state , hee was the same man in exile , as hee was when he was praetor , in the Army , as when he was giving the charge in the Senate house , at his death , as at other times . Semper eadem was a Motto well beseeming a most worthy princesse ; and semper●talis , talis erat ludeus epigrammata , talis seria scribens , talis consiliarius , talis cancellarius , was a worthy Encomium of a great officer of this Kingdome in the daies of King Henry the Eight ; and if Tiberius had deserved the like , hee could not have wanted an Encomiastick to have given it him ; but being he changed his manners with his honours , hee is regestred for a childe of inconstancy , a changling , and the off spring of immoderate desires .

* 9 Cohortibus praetoriis praefectus , Hee being chiefe Commander of the Praetorian Company .

This office was sometimes executed by military men . Seius Strabo held the same under Augustus , and Sejanus under Tiberius ; but ( as Bodin in the third book of his Commonwealth observes ) quia nemo nisi qui legum & juris peritissimus erat , fungi poterat hoc munere ; Imperatores pro ducibus legionum , jurisconsultos provexerant ; so as under Otho , Martian ; under Severus , Papinean ; and under Alexander , Vlpian held the same , whose Commission was so large that all men might appeal unto them , no man from them . In the dayes of Romulus , ( as Alciate observes , ) they had not onely a superintendency over the Souldiers that garded the Emperours Person and Palace , but also over them that defended the Empire against his enemies ; but when the Empire began to spread it selfe , this Office was divided : there was praefectus militum , & praefestus vigilum : the one was superintendent over the gard that attended the Emperour , the other over the Souldiers that went against his enemies ; so long as the blood of the Emperors of Germany continued in the line of the Kings of France , the Kings of France had the like Office ; whom they called the Major of the Kings Palace , or Master of the Kings house .

* 10. Inrepere caepit militares animos adeundo , appellando .

Sejanus by calling them by their names won their hearts .

Affabilitas & comitas sunt nullius impendii , amicitias tamen magnas conglutinant exhibitae , dissolvunt praetermissae , good words and kinde and curteous salutations cost little , but prevaile much ; whereas on the otherside uncivill speeches , and rude rustick behaviour draweth much envy ; affability is a precious gemm when it is set in gold and silver , but in tinn and copper vile and contemptible ; in Titus it did appeare like the Sunne at the highest , but in Sejanus like the Moone in the Eclipse ; in vertuous and noble dispositions it is a principall ornament , and gives a great lustre unto them ; but in evill disposed persons it is of no better account then a ring of gold in a swines snout , meere hypocrisy to dazzle the eyes of the simple , and to effect some mischievous design ; of Sejanus his affability , vid. Taci . l. 4. initio .

* 11. Per theatra effigies ejus inter Principes legionum coli statuit .

He commanded his statues to be honoured among the statues of the Princes .

Cum multos alios ( inquit Dion ) post mortem statui● & publico funere cohonestasset Tiberius , Sejani vivi statuam in theatro posuit ; Dion l. 7. it was accounted a speciall favour for the Emperour to allow of any mans statue to be erected after his death , but to admit of the statue of a Subject in his life time to be erected in the Theatre among the statues of the Emperours , was such an honor as before that time was not heard of to be allowed to any Subject .

* 12. Vitam procul Roma amaenis locis ducere persuasit .

Sejanus prevayled with Tiberius to leave Rome .

Tacitus in the fourth book of his Annales doubteth , whether Sejanus were the cause that Tiberius betook himselfe to Capreae , because that Caede ejus patrata sex annos pari secreto convixit , after the death of Sejanus he continued there six yeares ; some are of opinion that hee went thither to hide his deformity , for being grown in yeares , praegracilis & incurva proceritas , nudus capillo vertex , & ulcerosa facies , he had a leane body , a bald pate , and a malmsy nose ; but certaine it is that hee went thither to colour and cover his licentious course of life .

Observations upon Tiberius retyring himselfe in his old age to Capreas .

If Tiberius in the flourishing time of his age when his blood boyled hot within him , had betaken himselfe to Capreas to keep correspondency with his Concubines , hee mighe have pleaded to extenuate his offence , his age , his indiscretion , and how hee was misled by evill Councell ; sed turpe senilis amor , but being that he retired himselfe in his declining time , when age had furrowed his forehead , and pulled the teeth out of his head , and when as his judgement should have over-ruled his affections , hee can plead no such plea ; Againe if Tiberius had been a private man , he might have hoped his exorbitancies might have died with him as to the World , and so his honour saved amongst the people ; but being a Prince cujus facta dictaque omnia etiam in loco areano veluti in aedium culmine populo exposita sunt , whos thoughts are scant free unto himselfe , and whose actions are rules and precepts to the multitude , hee can expect no such thing ; Gnats are unnoted wheresoever they fly , but Eagles are gazed upon with every eye ; againe if Tiberius had betaken himselfe to Capreas , there to have sacrificed the remainder of his dayes in an humble confession and hearty contrition , for his mispent youth , he might have deserved with Maximinian and Dioclesian , and divers other Noble Princes , who in their declining times abandoned the world , to have had his History written with a pen of iron to his eternall praise and commendation , and have had his place in the Catalogue among the renowned Princes of the world ; but being that hee went thither to cover his cruelty , and his lasciviousnesse , and made Religion a Cloke for the same , pretending that hee went to build a Temple at Capreas to Jupiter , and at Nola to Augustus , hee is deservedly branded for an ignominious Prince to all succeeding ages ; of his going to Capreas , vid. Tacit. lib. 4. Annal. and how hee behaved himselfe , vid. Suet. in Tiber.

* 13. Convivium celebratur in Villa quae vocatur Spelunca .

Tiberius was feasted in a house called Spelunca .

According to Varro , there is Villa Rustica , & Villa Vrbana ; Villa Rustica is the house of a farmor appertaining to a mannor . Villa Vrbana is the mannor-house it selfe ; and it is so called , because it is furnished and accommodated like unto a house in the City , which is sometimes called praetorium , the Country house of a Praetor , or a Princes Palace in the Country : Suetonius termes this house where Tiberius was feasted praetorium , which kind of houses the better sort in Rome did keep to recreate and retire themselves upon all occasions : Lips . will have it to be called Spelunca , from a cave , quia adjuncta Speluncae . vid. Lips . in lib. 4. Ann. Tac. & Suet. in Tiber.

* 14. Nuptias petere audebat a Livia . Sejanus presumed to make love unto Livia the Wife of Drusus .

Tacitus observes that Sejanus became a suitor unto Livia , not so much for the love which he bore unto her , as the hatred unto Drusus ; for Sejanus and Drusus falling at variance , after some blowes had past betweene them , Sejanus casts about how hee might ease himselfe of this man that stood in his way , and for that purpose makes love unto Livia , obtaines his unchaste desires , and by putting her in hope of being a Princesse , perswades her to consent to the death of her husband ; a designe is thought upon ; Ligdus the Eunuke is made the instrument , Drusus is poysoned . vid , Tacit. lib. 4. Annal.

* 15. Occidentem ab illo deseri , orientem spectare exprobravit .

Tiberius upbraided Macro for abandoning the setting , and adoring the rising Sunne .

Hopefull plants have ever been cherished , and it is necessary they should ever be for the benefit of posterity ; it is verified in vegetative , in sensitive , and reasonable creatures ; wee cherish the plant of a fruitfull vine , because in time it may yield nourishment to the body , and delight the palate ; a colt of a good race , because it may prove like the syre to doe us service ; the issue of a noble family whose ancesters have triumphed in victory , and have beene honoured for the good service done to their Countries ; and if Macro in his affections had followed Caligula in the second place , no man would or could have condemned him ; but for Macro to leave a bird in hand for a bird in the bush , a possession for a possibility , was not onely extreme folly , but extreme disloyalty ; admit Tiberius had his imperfections in a high degree , and justly deserved reprehension ; yet it had been Macro's duty , if hee could not have reclamed him , as farre forth as in him lay , to have smothered them : but insteed thereof to conspire against him , was a villany inexcusable , and such in the end doe ever receive the wages that is due unto them ; for Princes are ever jealous of them , knowing that upon all occasions they will be ready to revolt ; and therefore in the end requite them , as Alexander did Bessus , Vitellius Tigellinus , Caesar Herodotus and Achillas , Caligula Macro . How Tiberius upbraided Macro for adoring the rising , and turning his back to the setting Sunn , vid. Tacit. l. 6. Annal.

* 16. Narcissum dominum domini appellat .

Narcissus the master of his master .

〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , saith Xenophon , there is nothing so requisite and necessary for the continuance of humane society , as decency and order ; for as it is in the Caelesticall bodies , so it is in the Terrestiall ; as in the naturall , so in the publique body : rule and order is the cause of subsistence in all . In Heaven there is an Hierarchy , Angels and Arch-Angels , one Starre differs from another in greatnesse and glory , one Planet from another , each hath his proper place ; the Sun was made to rule the day , and the Moon the night ; in the sublunary world the Elements have their proper stations ; the place of the Earth is the Center , of the Water to be next unto it , of the Ayre to it , and of the Fire to it ; and so long as they keep their stations , there is peace and tranquility below ; but when the Ayre shall disorderly discend into the cranyes of the Earth , it causeth an Ague there ; and when the earthy vapours shall ascend up to the Skies , it causeth a combustion there ; and as it is in those naturall bodies , so it is in the politique ; each man hath his proper calling , one man is called to one calling , another to another , one to bee a Master , another to be a Servant , and so long as each member confineth himselfe to his proper calling , so long the Commonwealth prospereth ; but when Claudius shall become servus Narcissi , and Narcissus dominus Claudij , then the Commonwealth is out of order . What power Narcissus and Pallas had with Claudius , vid. Suet. in Claud. & Tac. l. 3. Annal.

* 17. Infamem vitam foedavit infami exitu .

Tigellinus ended his ignominious life with as ignominious a death .

〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , Matth. 7. sed ut sementem feceris ita & metes , we gather not grapes of thornes , or figs of thistles , but as we sowe , so we reape ; if in the spring wee sowe vertue , wee shall bee sure at harvest to reap the fruits thereof : if licentiousnesse and voluptuousnesse , wee shall bee sure likewise to reap the fruits thereof ; the spri g of our age is our youth , which being not well husbanded will bring forth nothing but brambles and briars , vaine and idle imaginations , and crasy and decrepite bodyes in our declining times ; for it is a rule infallible , quod libidinosa & intemperans adolescentia effoetum corpus tradit senectuti , if wee then poyson our selves with carousing and drinking , wee can expect no other fruits then gouts and dropsies in our old age ; if with voluptuous , wanton and unchast desires , nothing but boyles and ulcers , the French disease , or the disease of Naples ; for as fevers which breake forth in the spring , in the Summer and in the autumne , when Phoebus hath mounted himselfe on high , are engendred in the winter ; f f Indomitae quae sunt delicta juventae , Non ea cu● fi●nt saecula saepe●●gravant : At collecta diu , cum lit minus apta senectus s●a pati , canos sollicitare solent . so the poyson that breaks forth in our age is suckt in in our youth ; for though the strength of nature may suppresse and keep under the malignant quality for a time , yet when nature begins to fayle in us , then doth it insult and shew it selfe in botches and boyles , in gouts and dropsies , the deserve dwages of wantonnesse and luxury ; wherefore Seneca wisely , Senec. Ep. 51. ante senectutem curavi ut bene viverem , my chiefest care was , how to spend my youth wel ; for youth is like to an untamed colt , which being not well broken will bee sure to put some jadish tricks upon the rider ; and like unto a field the more fertile the more unprofitable if it bee not manured ; nam ut terra ( saith the Orator ) quo melior est magis corrumpitur si negligatur , ita ingenia quo faliciora in juventute , majoribus vitiis obducuntur in senectute , nisi recte excolantur : so as it is a true rule qualis vita finis ita , as our youth is so is our age ; as we live so wee dye ; nam studiae adolescenciae tanquam in herbis ostendunt quantae fruges in senectute sunt futurae , a vertuous youth ever produceth a reverend old age , and a quiet and peaceable death : a wanton youth , a contemptible ould age , and an ignominious and distracted death . Tigellinus lived lewdly and dyed ignominiously , hee ended his ignominious life with as ignominious a death . Of Tigeilinus his life and death , see Tac. lib. 1. Hist ▪ of his lewd qualities , and how hee wound himselfe into Neros favour , see more in Tac. l. 14. Annal.

* 18. Asiaticum in favorem cepit .

Vitellius took into his favour one Asiaticus .

〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 as it is in the Proverbe , birds of a feather will flock together , one Rook will finde out another ; Asiaticus was ( as Tacitus termes him ) mancipium foedum , lerna sentinaque vitiorum , nam omnia prorsus ut in quandam canosam latrinam in animum suum conflux ere vitiae , adeo ut ad caulam potiùs quam ad aulam videretur natura produxisse ; a very abject slave , the very sink of sinne , that had not one good condition , fitter to make a shepheard then a Courtier ; it is true ( I finde ) that hee had certaine seeds and sparks of vertue in him : but as the Courtiers of that time jested upon him , verisimile est in secreta confessione imbibisse , nec fas erat apud alios proferre ; nihil enim laude dignum in illo invenimus , nisi quod in vaporario nemo vocalior , in praelio nemo timidior ; it seemeth hee received them in confession , so as it was not lawfull for him to manifest them to the World : for that wee can finde nothing worthy of praise in him , unlesse it were this , that no man would talke more in an ale●house , or do lesse in the field ; of him whilst hee was a youth , Vitellius made use to satisfie his bestiall appetite , but the boy being weary of that course of life , runn from his master to Puteolus , where Vitellius finding him amongst the hucksters selling of drink made with vinegar and water , laid him by the heeles , and sold him to a common fencer that went from market to market to shew his tricks ; yet not long after got him again , made him his minion , & primo imperii die ( as saith Suet. ) made him a Knight , vid. Sueton in Vitel. & Tac. l. 2. Hist.

* 19. Polycletus & Patrobios aequabat .

No way inferiour to the Polecleti and Patrobii , the most notorious villanes amongst the Romanes .

Polycletes was a notorious theife , depopulabatur & spoliabat quicquid occurrebat , as saith Dion , hee spoyled whatsoever came in his way , hee lived in the daies of Nero. vid. Dion Cas. l. 63. Patrobius was one of Neros freemen : praefectus ludorum gladiatorum , the chief man amongst the hacksters and fencers , who for the notorious villanies he committed in the daies of Nero was by Galba put to death . vid. Dion ibid.

* 20. Nisi Perennis antea tractasset .

Commodus would not endure to heare of any thing , unlesse it had been first told unto Perennis .

Qui statuit aliquid parte inaudita altera , aequum licet statuerit , haud aequus est , ( saith the heathen tragaedian in his Medaea ) he that gives judgement before hee hath heard both parties , though his judgment bee just , yet hee is unjust ; to heare well is a prime quality in a Prince ; for by hearing all parties , the truth comes to light ; Alexander is commended in e e Plutar. in Alex. Plutarch , for that he would never deliver his judgement before hee had heard all parties ; gold is not discerned from Alchymy , but by the touch , or truth from falshood : judgement is the touchstone to try both , and hearing and seeing are the lights by which it discerneth ; wherefore in those Common-Wealths where the generall Counsells consist of three Estates , Monarchicall , Aristocricall , and Democricall , the Princes have ever been pleased to allow freedom of speech to the Aristocricall and Democricall , reserving to themselves the power of ratifying , or disallowing what they heare ; and for that Commodus would not endure to heare but by Perennis , he run himselfe upon a rock . vid. Lamprid. Dion . Nic. & Herod . in Commodo .

* 21. Persuasit Commodo ut deliciis vacret .

Perennis perswaded the Emperour to take his delights , and to leave the cares of the Empire unto him .

It is incident to men of low degree to look upon great Persons with squint eyes , especially upon such as are in most grace and favour with their Princes ; and if the Common Wealth flourish , they may perchance gain some honour and reputation thereby ; but if it doe not , they are sure to beare the whole burthen of it . f f Dion Ca. lib. 72. Milites quotiès iis aliquid parùm ex sententia eveniret , conjecta in Perennem culpa gravitèr irascebantur ; as often as any thing fell out among the souldiers contrary to their expectation they were offended with Perennis , as if he had been the onely man that had been the cause thereof ; Cum Comm odus cum tricentis concubinis quas ex matronarum meretricum que delectu habuerat , trecentisque aliis puberibus in palatio in convivio bacchabatur ; when Commodus swilled himselfe in pleasure with six hundred Concubines , Perenius must bee the cause of it , hee perswaded him to take his pleasure and leave the cares of the Empire unto him ; cum Commodus sororem suam Lucillam compressisset , & posteá occidit ; cum uni ex concubinis matris nomen imposuit & uxoris ; cum deprehensam in adulterio exegit , & exactam relegavit & occidit ; when Commodus defloured his Sister Lucilla , and after put her to death ; when he familiarly called one of his Concubines his mother and his wife , and after finding her to bee false unto him made her away , Perenius must still bee the cause of all , hee swayes the Scepter , and puts to death whom he will . Perenius was guilty of many crimes , I make no doubt ; but whether hee were guilty of all the crimes laid to his charge , I make a great doubt .

* 22. Prefecturas pro libitu vendit .

Cleander sold all Offices of Command .

Cleander ( as Herodian observes ) was a Phrygian by birth , being a Country of that part of Asia that borders upon Bithynia , and became so gracious with Commodus , that hee had not onely the command of him , but of the Souldiery and the whole Empire ; praetores a● arbitrium Cleandr● sunt retenti aut occi● ; ad cujus nutum etiam libertini in Senatum & patritios electi fuêre ; at his disposall were all Praetorships , and places of honour ; whom he affected were chosen , and whom hee distasted were kept back ; and what became of him , vid. Herod . l. 1. & Lamp . in Commodo .

* 23. Convictus jussu Antonii . Plantianus being convicted , by the

Command of Antony was put to death .

The conviction was suddaine ; young Antony demands of him what he can say to these two articles , venista ad Imperatorem minimé accitus ; deinde quid haec lorica vult ? quis ad coenam commessationemque armatus venit ; Sir , you came to the Emperour in an Evening before you were sent for , then you came armed to him ; doe men use to come to the Emperours table armed ? this was his charge , and before hee could give an answer , Anthony commands them that were present strictis gladiis obtruncare , ut hostem manifestarium , who run their swords through him , and after cast his body forth into the high way , ad vulgi ludibrium vid. Herodia , lib. 3.

Observations upon the death of Plautianus .

It is observed by Bodin , that in a tyrannicall government , the Princes Will is a Law , stat pro ratione voluntas ; Anthony commanded the people to kill Plautianus , and they readily observed him ; faciebant quod decebat , sed non quomodo decebat , they paid him the wages that was due unto him , but not according to the Law : in setled governments it favours of Barbarisme to butcher any man in times of Peace ; wherefore Iulian the Apostate , though a Tyrant in other things , in this deserved commendation , that hee would n●ver condemne any man before hee had heard him what hee could say for himselfe : Commines in his fift book ( whom Lipsius commends for the most authentick writer ) prefers the government of England before the government of all the Kingdomes of the World . We never heare in our coasts , for which we are bound to praise God , of any such Barbarisme ; let the offender be never so great , or his offence so grievous ; yet he shall receive an honourable triall by men aequall to himselfe in every degree , and receive his doome according to the Law .

* 24. Authoritatem omnem momento adimit .

On a suddaine Philip cast off Apelles .

●olib . ● . 5 . Histo. Po ybius hath one remarkable passage of Apelles , when hee returned from Challis , a City neare unto Lesbos , of which hee was governour to King Philips Court , attended with a great traine of the Nobility , thinking to have had accesse to the King as hee was used to have ; janitor exspectare illum jussit , dicens occupatum esse in praesentia regem ; the Porter , was so bold as to tell him , Sir you must stay , the King is busie ; which when hee heard to proceed from the Porter , haesitabundus aliquando constitit moestus & inops consilii , stood still , amazed for the time , as if he had been bereaft of his senses ; his followers forsaking him , as if they had never seen him or known him ; after which time ( as saith Polybius ) ad Convivia aliquando , ad Consilia nunquam , hee came to Cour● sometimes , but never sate in Councell .

Observations upon the discarding of Apelles .

Naturale est ( inquit Iacobus nuper rex ) ut populi simiarum more mores regis imitentur ; it is naturall to the people to imitate their King in every thing , what hee affects they affect , and what hee dislikes they dislike . Bodin hath a story of one of the Kings of France , who having received a wound in his head , caused his haire to be cut short , and that immediatly , omnes ordines capillos de capite decuti curaverunt , men of all degrees wore short haire , whereas before that time it was held a great dishonour in the French Court , for any man of quality to wear short haire . Plutarch reports of Alexander the great , Plut. in Alexand. and Alphonsus King of Arragon , that being both of them wry-neckt , all their Courtiers studied to imitate them ; Regis ad Exemplū totus componitur orbis : If Tiberius do distaste Sejanus , Silanus will esteeme of him but as an exile and forlorne man , and the common people will not honour him so much as to permit him to fit amongst them ; quot servi tot preditores , if Diana distaste Act●●on , Et Dromus , & Canathe , Stricteque & Tigris & Alce dilacerant dominum falsi sub imagine cervi , his owne dogs will devour him ; and if Philip of Macedon casts off Apelles , the Porter that not long before would have thought it an honour to him to have kist the hem of his Garment , his Hand , his Toe , his &c. will not stir his cap to him , but confront at the gate , and with a smiling countenance in dirision tell him , he must stay , the King is busie ; so are they neglected whom the King neglects .

* 25 Nulla quies inest animo .

His thoughts being once possest with a desire of soveraignty , he could never rest contented .

Le chat qui vu fois a tastè fromage , n' a jammais de repose qu'il n'ait d'avantage , as the French have it ; the Cat that once hath had his nose in the cream , will never rest till hee come thither againe ; it is injust to usurp a Kingdome , grievous to quit it againe , hee that once hath been invested in the Robes of Soveraignty , feasted , clad , attended , and lodged like an Emperour , whose very looks and nods have been sufficient expressions of his minde to his followers , will hardly ever endure to serve another , as he hath been served ; the Childe that hath been clad from his childhood in auro & argento , & holoseritis vestibus , in gold and silver , and fed with the costliest and curious dishes , will hardly when hee comes to mans estate ever be temperate , or endure to weare decent and comely apparrell ( as Quintilian observes ) it is death unto greatnesse to descend ab equis ad asinos . Dionysius will tyrannise over boyes , when he cannot over men ; and Caesar will rather be primus inter ultimos , quam secundus inter primos , the first of the lowest rank , then the second of the highest ; for so saith Plutarch of him : oppidulum in Alpibus praetergrediens Caesar ▪ mallem ( inquit ) apud hos primus esse quam Roma secundus .

* 26. Vxore illum praesertim instigante .

His Wife animating him thereunto .

The desire of soveraignty is a vanity which attends both sexes . The batchler in King Arthurs Court being adjudged to die for deflowring a Virgin ; having had his pardon obteined by the Queen , was enjoyned upon paine of death , that within a yeare and a day hee should inform her of the thing which all women most desired ; whereupon ( as Chawcer sayes ) hee took his horse and rid farre and neare , [ but hee ne couth arriven in no cost where he might find in this mattiere two creatures according yfere , some said riches , some honors , some jollines , some ( to use his language ) lust a bed , sometime often to be Widow and wed , some to bee flattered and ypraised , some to bee accounted stable , and eke secree ] but meeting with an old wowan , shee rounded him the eare and plainly told him it was soveraignty , which being made known to the Queen at the end of the yeare and day : There was neither Widow , Wife or Maid , that contraried what hee said ; they all acknowledged it was place and precedencie which they most affected . When the Ladies held a Councell for the reformation of such abuses as were crept into their Common-wealth ; these grievances were opened , and a reformation desired ; First , they shewed where in times past women were distinquisht by their attire , the Noble from the Ignoble by habites rich and plaine , the married Wife and Widow from the Virgin by habites of gravity and modesty ; the case is now altered : it is a hard thing now to distinguish Ione from my Lady , and the Noble from the Ignoble , or a Matron , Widow or Wife from a Virgin ; the Plebeians are grown to that heighth of pride , that they are not ashamed to invest themselves in aureis , argenteis ▪ florulentis , holosericis , ungulatis & maeandratis vestibus , dum interim maritus domi consuat calceos , in cloth of gold and silver , in silkes , flowred , waved and imbroydered ; whilst in the meane time their husbands fit cobling of their shoos at home ; sublatus est pudor , adeo ut quidvis usurpet quaelibet , order which is the preserver of honour is neglected , and the Plaebeians are grown lawlesse , and weare what cloathes they please . Againe , they shewed that in times past none were allowed to have their Coaches adorned with silke and Ivory , but onely Ladies and Gentlewomen of quality ; but now the Plaebeians and women of low degree presume to have them so to the great wrong of the higher powers ; nam si pilentis & lecticis eboratis & bisso tectis vehuntur plabeiae , quid relictum est Potentibus & Nobilibus ? if a woman of low degree shall bee permitted to have her coach adorned with Silk and Ivory , what honour can it bee to a Lady to have it so ? Againe , they shewed how that in times past none were allowed to have their anteambulones and laterones , their Gentlemen-ushers , and yeomen , but onely women of quality ; but now the woman of low degree will not stirr forth without her usher before her , and her yeoman after her . Lastly , ( which is most pertinent to our purpose ) they shewed how they had lost much of their honor which did of right belong unto them by yeilding too much to the desires of the masculine sex , how they were debarred from bearing all Offices of authority in the Common Wealth , and desired to bee satisfied why they should be allowed ( as it was due unto them , ) preheminence at the Table , the right hand in the streets and in all publick places , and why they should bee incapable of Magistracy , contrary to their ancient Custome ; but while they were thus parling , Misogynes passing by , and hearing their discourse , rudely steps in to them , and wisht them to remember that they were not made to rule but to obey , that they were inferiour to men in every respect , that by reason of them men undergoe all the misery in the World , that they are of themselves unperfect Creatures , and for that cause every woman desires to bee a man ; that they are cold and timorous , and therefore not fit to undergoe the offices of the Common-Wealth ; that if they should bee admitted to any places of Command , and should but once transgresse the bounds of chastity , they would dishonour themselves and their places in perpetuity ; when as the same offence in men is many times past by and soone forgotten ; that men accompanying them , become imperfect , and for that cause hate them most that had their virginity , and that women accompanying men become more perfect , and for that cause love them best that had theirs ; which Philogynes hearing began to grow in choler , and plainly told him hee was in an errour , and that hee would make it plainly appeare unto him and all the World , that women ( according to the naturalists ) are no way inferiour unto men : for if they be , ( said he ) it is either in respect of their substance or their accidents ; but in respect of their substance it cannot be , because they are both of the same substance , and ( according to the Logicians ) are a species comprehended under one and the same genus : and in respect of their accidents it is not , because it must be either in respect of the accidents belonging to the body , or the accidents belonging to the minde : if by reason of the accidents belonging to the body , it is because men are more strong , more agile , and more laborious then women ; but that s no reason : for that among men the strongest are not in most esteeme , but the wisest ; if by reason of the endowments belonging to the minde , it is because men are more wise , more valiant , more temperate and more just then women ; but that is no reason , for that we may reade of many women that have governed Kingdomes with as great wisedome as men , to have been as excellent Philosophers and Poets as men , to have led on Armies in the field as couragiously as men , to have decided controversies in the Courts of justice as judiciously as men , and to have been as sober and temperate in the whole course of their lives as men ; yea which is more , if any preheminence bee to bee given concerning the endowments of the minde , the woman is to have it , because her flesh is more delicate and tender , and according to Philosophy , the more delicate the constitution of the body is , the more excellent are the endowments of the minde ; for that the form followes the temperature of the body ; and where you alledge that a woman is an imperfect creature without a man , you might as well say a man is imperfect without a woman ; for being that God made man and woman to encrease and multiply humane generation upon the face of the earth , both are imperfect without each other ; and to speake the truth the woman in that case is the more perfect of the two , and is to have the preheminence , if any preheminence bee to bee given , because that man engenders with delight without any trouble , but the woman brings forth with sorrow , and not without hazzard of life : and where you alledge that every woman desires to bee a man , to the end she may be more perfect , certainly you are deceived in the end ; for they do not desire it , to the end they may be more perfect , but to the end they may avoid that tyranny which men have usurp't over them : and where you say that man is hot , and woman cold , and by how much heat is to bee preferred before cold , by so much is a man to bee preferted before a woman ; it is true , heat is the more noble quality of the two , if we consider it in the elements as they are simple , but consider it in the mixt bodies , there it is otherwise ; for if cold cause women to bee timorous and fearefull which is a defect , heat causeth men to bee furious and frantick , which is an excesse , and it cannot bee maintained that a man that is a foole , because hee hath more heat then a woman , ought to be preferred , because a wary distrust in a woman which proceeds of cold , is to bee preferred before a rash and giddy forwardnesse in a man which proceeds of heate ; and where you say that had it not been for a woman man had never tasted of misery , you might as well have remembred , had it not been for a woman man had never tasted of felicity ; and where you say , if women should bee advanced to any places of Command , and should but once transgresse the bounds of chastity , they would dishonour themselves and their places in perpetuity : when men do often transgresse in that kinde , and no notice taken of it ; certainly that is the fault & folly of the times , that doe not lay the burthen upon the right horse ; the man deserves to be condemned and the woman pitied ; for being that the hardest stone is in time worn by the soft drops of rain , the strongest fort with often batteries levelled with the dust , & the gravest judge with bribes & flatteries corrupted ; why should a poore weak woman if after a long seige shee yield her selfe captive , bee condemned , and not rather he that made the breach ? and where you say , that man hates the woman most that had his virginity , because thereby hee becomes more imperfect ; and the woman loves the man best that had hers , because thereby shee becomes most perfect . I confesse there is such a probleme , but you are mistaken in the reason of the problematist ; it is not because the man becomes more imperfect , & the women more perfect ; but because the man is fickle , whom he loves to day he hates to morrow , and the woman constant in her first love to her first lover : & that I may fully stop your mouth , I will tell you of some women whom you shall hardly finde me men to paralell ; there was one Mirte , the first Queen of the Lydians , who was of so low a stature that shee seemed to be a Dwarfe , yet of so great a spirit , that shee led on Armies in the field , and decided causes in courts of justice ; insomuch that the Lydians thought it no dishonour to them to give her the precedency amongst their Kings . Cornelia the Mother of the Gracchi was more honoured in Rome for the Lectures which she read , then her sonnes were for the Victories which they obteined ; of whom Cicero gave this testimony , that hee never knew out of so weak a body to proceed so strong a wit : Arete the daughter of Aristippus read the Naturall and Morall Philosophy Lecture 35 years in Athens , whom the Athenians honoured with this Epitaph , here lies Arete , il splendore di Grecia , la quale hebbe la bellezza d' Helena l'honesta di Tirma , la penna d' Aristippo , l'anima di Socrate , e la lingua di Homero , the splendor of Greece , who had the beauty of Helena , the honesty of Tirma , the pen of Aristippus , the spirit of Socrates , and the tongue of Homer . Policrata the daughter of Pythagoras , was so wise and learned , that it is said of her , che piu váleanole parole che ella diera parlando con la rocca e il fuso , che la filosofia che suo padre leg geva nella Academia , that the words which fell from her when she was at her spindle and distaffe , were more witty and pithy , then the Lectures which her father read in the schooles . Nicostrata the Wife of King Evander , was so well versed in Poetry , that it was said , had shee lived in the dayes of Homer , il nome di Homero sarerbe gia devantato oscuro , Homer would have been but an obscure man . Astemia and Assiotta , the two schollers of Plato , were in such renowne in their generations , that Plato did more glory in the ready apprehension of the one , and the strong memory of the other , then hee did in all the Schollers that ever hee read unto . In the conspiracy against Nero , in which both men and women were engaged , when the men by tortures discovered their brethren , friends , and kindred , Epichaira with all the tortures that could bee devised , could not bee drawn to discover one ; so Leona for the like constancy was honoured by the Athenians : in honour of whom the portraiture of a Lionesse without a tongue , was set up in brasse before the Capitol in Athens . The women of Lacedemon deserve perpetuall memory , who when their children had quit the field , and cowardly run away , their Mothers met them , and in derision askt them : 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 : whether they thought it possible for them to receive them into their wombs againe , and hide them from their Enemies ; 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , It is a most injust thing , and it will ever redound to your dishonour to lose that Country , 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , which your forefathers enjoyed many generarions , and left unto you as your just Inheritance : and so they returned and got the glory of the day . The Persian Ladies are not to bee forgotten , who never triumphed more then when their Children died fighting , and were never more dejected , then when they heard of their cowardise and running away . Vnto these I might add the three Daughters of Laelius , especially Sabina ; the twenty Ladies that are so often remembred in our Histories , wherof ten were of Greece , the other Romane Ladies , who were all Crowned with Lawrell , and had statues of brasse with their names inscribed upon them erected in perpetuall memory of them . Admit them ( quoth Philogynes ) that women have their imperfections , shall they therefore bee debarred of all rule and aurhority ; for the same reason I may except against all men , for that the most noble spirits of the world have not been free from imperfections . Wee read of Plato , who for his incomparable understanding was sirnamed the Divine , that hee was so besotted with the love of his Archenasse , that hee made many verses in the praise of her ; of Aristotle , who shined amoagst learned men as the Sunne amongst the Starres , that he was so enamored with a common lost woman , named Herpyllide ( whom hee kept 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 untill his death , as Atheneus hath it in the 13 Book of his Dipnon-sophists ) that he consumed in the sight of all men , and became a stranger to his study ; of Pericles , that hee was so besotttd with his Aspasia , that his friends were ashamed of him : the like is reported of Demosthenes and Isocrates , which gave just occasion to Lais a lost woman , to say , hearing some highly commending them for their wisedome and learning ; I know not well what their wisedome and learning is , but this I know well , that am but a woman , and never read in the schools at Athens , that they come often to my School , where of learned men they become foolish lovers ; the like is reported of many Noble Princes ; of Demetrius King of the Athenians it is said , that he was so taken with a lost woman , named Lamye , that he lived but in her , and abandoned his Wife Exoine for her sake , that he gave unto her eleven talents of Silver , which the Athenians gave unto him to pay his Souldiers , and so much honoured her at her death , that hee caused her to be buried before his window , to the end hee might not forget her . Of Pyrrhus King of the Epir●tes , that hee was so much taken with another lost woman , that he carried her along with him to the warres in Italy ; of great Manileus , that hee spent more Money in the courting of Flora , then in the conquest of his Enemies . Hereby you may know ( Misogynes ) that aswell men as women are subject to imperfections ; so as if you will exempt women from bearing of rule because of their imperfections , I may except against men ( as I have said ) for the same reason ; wherefore when you speak of women , remember your Mother ( Misogynes ) and speak more moderately , lest the dogs eat you as they did Euripides for the same crime . Philandrogynes hearing this hot dispute between Philogynes and Misogynes , endeavours to moderate the businesse , saying , though I do not attribute so much unto women as Philogynes doth ; yet I may not derogate so much from them as Mysogynes doth ; but as they are species comprehended under one Genus ( as hath been said ) so I thinke it very fit that according to the Lawes of Lycurgus , they should beare equall authority , though in a different manner , that is , that the man should rule abroad and the woman at home ; and to pacifie the Ladies ( whose thoughts could hardly be confined within so narrow a roome ) hee shewed how Lucretia , that was so famous amongst the Romanes , was not so much commended for her Noble Parentage , Beauty , chastity , or any thing else , as for this , that upon the returne of her Husband from the Wars , when other Ladies were from home feasting and dallying , her Husband found her in her house spinning . How it was the constant custome of the Romane Ladies to be either in the Temples praying , or in their houses sowing ; as it was of the Romane Lords , to be either in the fields fighting , or in their studies reading● ; and how that a good housewife will finde all the delights in her house , which may be found abroad ; if she have a desire to make any visit , at her doore she may visit the poore , the lame and the blind ; if shee have a desire to shew her selfe in her bravery , whose approbation can give a better lustre to her attire then her Husbands ? if to sport and play , shee hath her Children to dally with ; if to command , she hath Servants , who are bound to obey her . So the assembly broke up , the Ladies went home well satisfied , and Philogynes and Misogynes were reconciled . It is said that Gabalo set up this assembly which the Graecians called 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , to this end to keep the Ladies from idlenesse , the seminary of all wickednesse .

* 27. Dignitates immoderatè exercuit .

Hee exercised the dignities which hee purchased with excessive usury .

It is a principle amongst hucksters , and such as have dealings in the World , that they that buy deare must sell deare . It holds in spirituall preferments , hee that emptieth his bags in buying of dignities , will fill them againe in selling of Benefices , and poling of under Officers ; it was so in the dayes of Richard the First , when William Longshampe Bishop of Ely lived , and long before him in the dayes of William Rufus when the munke of Malmsbury exclaimed , proh dolor , Ecclesiae nummis venduntur & aere , and it will ever bee so . Aristotle seems to uphold the trade , Consentaneum est ( saith hee ) ut ij qui emunt magistratus quaestui habere assuescant remp . cum ●d eos largitionibus ascenderunt ; it is good reason that hee that buyes authority , should make some profit of his authority ; but let us take heed how wee follow Aristotles consentaneum , lest wee partake of the Bishop of Ely his supplicium . Of the excessive pride and oppression , and of the fall of the Bishop of Ely , vid. Mat. Paris Anno 1190. in R. 7. & Polid l. 14.

* 28 , Quidam comes Warwicensis ab Ed. 4

An Earle of Warwick raised to such a heighth of power by King Edw. the 4.

This is the great Earle of Warwick that set up and pul'd down Kings . Richard Nevill the son of Richard Nevill , Lord Chancellour , and Earle of Salisbury , he was Lord high Chamberlain , Constable of Dover Castle , Lord Warden of the Cinque●orts , and Admirall , and indeed had the whole power of the Kingdome in his hands ; I may well say the whole power ; for he had not only the command of the Ports and Navy , but hee had the command of the hearts of the people , insomuch that they that knew him say , quocunque ille inclinaret , populus aut saltem major pars populi inclinabat ; which way soever hee went , as a torrent hee drew the people along with him ; and to give him his due , fuit verè nobilis quasi prae aliis notabilis ; nam ab ineunte aetate ( as Historians report of him ) non solum veris virtutibus mirabilis , sed etiam art● quadam in ostentatione earum virtutum compositus ; hee was truly noble , for from his childhood hee had not only rare and admirable gifts of nature , but hee had art and eloquence to expresse them ; by meanes whereof hee grew gracious in the sight of the people ; amongst other his vertues he had two most eminent : Magnanimity and Liberality , which will win the heart of an enemy : his Liberality he dayly shewed in his hospitality , his Magnanimity and valour as at divers other times , so especially at the first battell at St. Albons Anno. 1455. ubi ille primus omnium regios milites praelio lacessit , as my Authour saith , where hee himselfe made the first assault against the Kings Army , and after a doubtfull warlike dispute which continued for the space of three or foure houres , prevailed , and slew Henry Lord Piercy the second Earle of Northumberland , the Lord Clifford , and the Duke of Sommerset ; Edmond Beauford that Duke of Somerset , qui tot annos pro patria stren●è pugnasset adversus Francos , that adventured himselfe many yeares against the French in the behalfe of his Country ; miserabile sanè spectaculum quod à suis civibus occideretur , as that Authour saith ; a sad spectacle , that he that so often adventured himself for his country should be killed by his country men : but in abattell when all parties are in the higth of fury there is no distinction ; the Earle buried him nobly , which was as much honour as hee could doe to one that fought against him ; the Earle married Anne the Sister and Heire of Henry Duke of Warwick , King of the Isle of Wight , and the favorite of King Henry the sixt , ( who dyed at Hanly where hee was borne ; being now the Inheritance of the (g) (g) Sir Iohn Russel of Strencham was Mr. of the Horse to Rich. the Second ; and many desc●nts before him was there one Tho. Russel of Strencham the Family quarters many Coates , but the paternall Coat ( as I take it ) is argent , a Cheurom , between three Crosses , Crosses Sables . Russels of Strensham ; I cannot say the most eminent house of that name ; but this I say , that I cannot finde , others peradventure may , any family of that name more ancient , I will not except the most eminent ) in whose right hee was Earle of Warwick , and had a massy estate ; by her hee had issue two daughters , Isabell and Ann whom hee married into the Royall blood , Isabell to George Duke of Clarence the brother of King Edward the fourth , the eldest sonne of King Henry the sixt , who was slaine after the battell at Tewxbury : and afterwards to Richard e e This honour is aptly compared to Sejanus his horse . Tho. of Woodst . Duke of Gloucest . was strangled at Callis An. 1397. Tho. L. Spencer Earle of Gloucest . was beeheaded at Bristoll An. 1400. Humfrey Duke of Gloucest . was strangled in the Abby of St Edinbury An. 1446. Richard Duke of Glou. was slaine at Bosw . an . 1485. Duke of Gloucester who was slaine at Bosworth ; this man notwithstanding hee had been thus advanced , fell off from the King , and the cause of his revolt was for that he being sent into France to treat of a marriage for the King , the King in the meane while married with the Lady Grey , which the Earle taking to heart conceiving it to be a great wrong unto him to bee so deluded , confederated with George Duke of Clarence his sonne in law to set King Henry the sixt at liberty , being then in the Tower of London ; but it is conceived that this was but a pretence , and that their intention was to settle the Crown upon the Duke ; for it is not probable or credible that the Duke would ever agree to settle the Crown out of his owne house upon the house of Lancaster ; and hereupon there was a bloody battell fought at Danes-moore not farr from Banbury , and was called Edgcote field , where the Kings Army was defeated , and not long after the King taken prisoner at Wolney a village neare to Northampton , and conveyed to Warwick Castle , and from thence to Middlenam Castle in Yorkshire , out of which hee escaped , gathered new forces , and at Stamford in Lincolneshire encountred and overcame the Earle , and made him fly for succour into France ; but not long after the Earle returned , and having assistance from the King of France , put the King to the worst , made him forsake the Kingdom and fly for reliefe to the Duke of Burgondy : which Commines imputes to the Kings credulity in relying too much upon the Marquesse Mountacute , who when hee had most need of him revolted to his brother ; but not long after the King returned , and upon an Easter day after a bloody fight at Barnet , the King prevailed and slew both the brothers , the Earle and the Marquesse , which ended the controversy ; and as the losse of the other battell was the revolting of the Marquesse Mountacute from the King to his brother , so the losse of this was the revolt of the Duke of Clarence the Earle to the King his brother . Some say that after the battell was ended , Richard then Duke of Gloucester slew King Henry the sixth in the field with his own hands ; but that is a mistaking ; for Richard Duke of Gloucester did not kill Henry the sixth after the battell at Barnet , but he killed Edward the fifth his eldest sonne after the battell at Tewxbury with his own hands ; for without doubt Henry the sixth was murdered in the Tower of London , whose death was much lamented , for hee was a good man though not so good a King , fuit vir miti & simplici ingenio , qui pacem bello & honestum utili anteponebat , quo nemo probiùs , nemo castiùs , nemo sanctiùs vixit , non inhiabat opes , nec sitiebat honores , ast animae tantûm saluti studebat ; he was a plaine dealing man , one that preferred peac● before warre , and honesty before profit , that was honest , chaste , and religious beyond comparison , that was neither coveteous or ambitious , but addicted himself wholly to the study of Divinity , as the Historians that write of those times say , but in another manner do they speak of his Wife , they say that shee was bello metuenda virago as Ovid speakes of Pallas , foemina virilium operum plena , & gloria appetens , that she had a manly courage , and was thirsty after soveraignty that she was the cause of all her husbands troubles , that shee was taken at the battell at Teuxbury , that shee was ransomed by her Father , and dyed in her own Country beyond the Seas . vid. Commin . lib. 3. & Polid. lib. 23.

* 29. Wolsaeus apud Henricum octavum

Tho. Wolsey very gracious with the King .

Thomas Wolsey was the sonne of a meane man in Ipswich in the County of Suffolke , ubi magnificae structurae fundamentae postea locavit ; he was bred up in Magdalen Colledge in Oxon , and was a Schoole-Master after of the Schoole there , who having the Tutelage of three of the Marquesse Dorsets Sonnes , the Marquesse gratified him with the Benefice of Lymminghton , which was his first preferment ; afterwards hee made in to (k) (k) The posterity of Sir Richard Namphant , remaines to this day in Worcestershire . The family quarters . 5. Coates . The First , Sables a Cheveron Ermine between three dexter-wings argent . The Second argent , 3. Foxes passant a zure . The Third Checkie or and Sables , a chiefe argent Gutty . The Fourth argent , a Lyon Rampant Gules , between a bordure Sables Besanty . The Fifth parted per Pale , Argent and Gules by the name of Fleet. Sir Richard Nanphant , then Treasurer of Callis , a man in great account with King Henry the seventh , and became his Chaplaine , who finding his abilities , being grown in yeares , committed a great part of the burthen of his office to his care , and at last for the good service that he did him , preferred him to be one of the Kings Chaplaines ; not long after by meanes of the Lord Lovell and Doctor Fox then Bishop of Winchester who were the most potent men with the King , hee was sent Ambassadour into Flanders to Maximilian the Emperour : in which Ambassage he behaved himself so discreetly , that the King at his returne rewarded him with the Deanery of Lincoln , and afterwards made him his Almoner , which were ( as I conceive ) all the preferments that he had in the dayes of King Henry the Seventh ; but soone after in the dayes of King Henry the Eighth , hee became to bee one of the Privy Councell , and to be so gracious with him , that he sent him twice into Flanders upon Embassages , to Charles the Fift , and once into France , to Francis the First . After hee made him Bishop of Turney , Bishop of Lincolne , Arch-Bishop of Yorke , Abbot of Saint Albones , Chancellour of England , and the receiver of the profits of the Bishoprick of Bathe and Wels , Worcester and Hereford ; and as if all these preferments had not been sufficient to support the magnificence of a Priest , hee being legate a latere , by expresse Authority from the Pope , got into his hands , opes & praedia quadraginta monasteriorum , ut eorum emolumenta in collegiis extruendis impenderet : of which the King took advantage ; for seeing the Crowes were gone , corvorum nidos penitus distruendos esse curavit , ne iterum ad cohabitandum convolent ; hee took care to have their nests thrown downe , that they might never come thither againe to take up their residence , and so pull'd downe the monasteries , which might have stood a great deale ' longer , had not the Pope and Cardinall opened that gap , and shewed the King the way ; by which mean , which Polydore termes singulare nefas , hee obtained so great a revennue , that they which were most intimate with him , and best knew his estate , report , quod annui proventus plures fuerant quam fi omnes hujus regni Episcoporum atque etiam Decanorum possessiones hodiernae in unum aliquem conferrentur , that his yearly commings in did amount unto more then the revennues of all the Bishopricks and Deaneries in England ; but how did hee imploy this great revennue ? hee was no miser or hoorder , nec erat tam studiosus in rebus comparandis quam liberalis in clargiendis ; neither was hee so carefull to get , as willing to disburse ; for having got this immense estate into his hands , immediately his thoughts run how to dispose of it ; and first the Muses came into his minde the advancement of Learning , and therefore his first designe was to build two famous Colledges , one in Ipswick , the other in Oxford ; the one being the place where hee was borne , the other where hee was bred ; he aid the foundation , but ( I know not why ) he was prevented , so that he could not finish them ; the one continues , the other is demolisht . That in Oxford he Christned with his owne name , and nam'd it the Cardinals Colledge ; but that name continued not long , but it received another name , and was called Regium Collegium , Kings Colledge ; yet that name continued not long ; for the King not willing to assume the honour to himselfe , to be the founder of a Colledge which was founded by another , entituled it Aedes Christi , Christ Church , which name it still retaines . This the Cardinall intended to have made a Colledge beyond comparison ; for had he had his liberty to have gone on , and finished the other parts of it proportionable to the Kitching ( which rather resembles , Vnde fuit quod quidam satyricē scripsit , quod animus erat in patinis , popinam ●●erfecit , Collegium incoepit . dinastae habitationem quam obsonatorum apothecam ) there is no Colledge in Christendome that would have been comparable to it for magnificence ; but one thing unhappily fell out ; upon the Tower in the great Quadrangle , where the Ensignes both of the King and Cardinall were engraven in stone , the Cardinals had the precedencie as Founder , which did not a little move the King , but that I impute to the workmen ; by reason that in a window not much distant , the Cardinall to manifest to the World his originall , and that whatsoever hee had , hee had received by the gracious favour of his Prince , (i) (i) Non ignoro quod aliqui sunt qui hoc esse factum in contumeliam suam volunt , sicut in Gallia , in caenaculo suo insculpsere g●lerum Cardin litum cum p●tibulo supra . caused above his Ensign to bee lively pourtraited for his crest , Molossum ovinam scapulam arrodendem , a Mastive-dog knawing of a shoulder of mutton , because that those kinde of dogs are most commonly kept by Butchers , erat enim lanii filius , and he was not ashamed of it , and therein hee shewed not onely a great deale of humility , but a great deale of worth and wisedome ; for it is no dishonour to descend from mean Parentage , by reason the greatest Rivers have their beginnings from little Springs , and the greatest Families from meane beginnings ; but if he had set up the Crest of any great Lord or Prince , that would have been a dishonour unto him , and shewed a great deale of arrogancy in disclaiming his father that begot him ; Neither did the Cardinals thoughts rest here upon these foundations , but hee raised them a great deale higher ; for if not at the same time that he laid these foundations , yet not long after , quasi natus ad splendida tecta erigenda , hee built those two Princely Palaces of White-Hall and Hampton Court , Novam regiam quae nunc a splendore aula candida dicta , &c. which doe exceed all other the Kings houses ; the one for entertainment , the other for magnificence , which indeed did a little exceed the degree of a Priest ; I might add a Subject ; for that in all the Histories that I have read , I doe not finde any Subject to have done so great things , unlesse it were Cosmo de Medicis , a Citizen of Florence , who built two Churches in the City , and a Monastery , and three Monasteries in the Country , and an Hospitall at Jerusalem for Pilgrims , and endowed them all , and for himselfe a house in Florence , admired for architecture by the best Architects , and in the Country not farre remote from the City foure stately Palaces ; yet lived as a Citizen , married his Daughters to Citizens of his owne rank , and dyed a Citizen , about the yeare of our Lord 1464 , without any title of honour ; but his Posterity was abundantly rewarded for his good workes ; for the Florentines out of his Family chose their Dukes , which doe continue Dukes of Florence , and are named afther his name of the house of Medicis ; but to come to the Cardinall , the retinue of this Cardinall , fidem superat ; and for mine owne part I cannot believe the report which is given of it ; it is repotted , quod assiduo famulitii obsequio aderant Comes unus , barones novem & multo plurimi equites & armige●i ; that an Earle , nine Barons , and many more Knights , and Esquires were Servants in ordinary to him ; it may be they might daily resort to his Table , quasi famulitii , as duly as if they had beene his domestique Servants , which they might doe without disparagement of themselves ; for being that he was quicquid esse voluit , whatsoever hee would bee , and obtained quodcunque voluerit , whatsoever hee asked , & non domi tantûm , sed & foris , for the King himselfe acknowledged , & se & regem Galliae a Wolsaeo regi , I could not blame the Nobility to make in unto him , both for their owne good , and the good of their friends ; but that they should stoop so low , as to become famulitii quotidiani , daily waiters upon him , whose beginning was so fresh in memory , cannot enter into my thoughts . This Cardinall that was so great to day in honors , in possessions , in attendants , I cannot say in treasure , for that went out as fast as it came in , the next day , or within few dayes after became so meane , ut non modò supellectilem , sed etiam pecuniam under aleretur ab amicis sumere necessum habuerit ; that hee was enforced to be beholding to his friends , not onely for Money , but also for necessaries , which gave occasion to his Enemies thus ( but without cause ) to descant upon him .

Vilia qui quondam miseris alinenta negavit , Nunc mendicato pascitur ille cibo .

It is reported , that upon the Message which the King sent unto him , by the Dukes of Suffolke and Norfolke , to retire to Asher in Surrey , being a house belonging to the Bishoprick of Winchester , and not farre from Hampton-Court , that hee continued there with his Family twenty dayes , without either beds , sheets , table-clothes , or dishes to eat his meat ; which report I doe not believe ; and if it be true , yet I conceive it was his owne desire to have it so ; for being that hee wanted no kinde of Provision for his Table , as is acknowledged by the same reporter , hee could not have wanted those necessaries , if hee had desired them of his Servants , being persons of quili●y and estate , and such as did adhere unto him in both fortunes ; as namely Sir William Gaescoigne his Treasureur , Sadler the Clerke of his Kitching , ( as I take it ) , afterwards Sir Ralph Sadler , who left a faire estate in Worcestershire , and Cromwell his receiver , especially of Cromwell , of whom the greatest Enemies to the Cardinall gave this testimony , quod nemo erat Caerdinalitam infensus quin Cromwelli fidelitatem summis laudibus extolleret , quod dominum suum in summa calamitate non deseruit , sed totis viribus defendere conatus est ; that there was no man so much offended with the Cardinall , but highly commended Cromwell for his fidelity to his Lord and Master in his greatest extremity : in few words all his Servants loved him , and adhered to him to the last ; and not without cause ; for as hee wa● a good Steward to his Master , so hee was a better Master to his Stewards and his followers ; thinking upon nothing more then how to advance them ; hee was twice accused of Treason , but what that Treason was , we shall know apud Graecas Calendas , for hee was never attainted or convicted , onely he submitted to a praemunire brought against him in Parliament , by which his estate was confiscate ; 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , he dyed of a Flux in the Abbey of Leicester , and was buried . Divers are the votes that are given of this Cardinall ; Polydore condemnes him in every thing ; but Polydore was a stranger , an Italian ; and had his errours , as they that are familiar with him , know better then I ; but Cavendish that was his Gentleman Vsher , and wrot his life , and knew him better then Polydore , in most things speaks in another manner of him ; and for mine owne part I am of his opinion that sayes , si ingenii dotes tam habuisset temperatas quam habuit illustres , quantum fortunae habuit & gloriae cupiit , tantum & meruisset , if hee had not strained his thoughts unto too high a pitch , but had confined himselfe within a meane , if one man might have deserved so m●ch as he had , hee might have deserved it ; for that I cannot finde that ever hee reflected his thoughts upon himselfe , to rayse any house of his name , but ever sent forth his Treasure in handfulls , that came in in spoonesulls , and what he had , the King knew , the Kingdome knew , because he exposed it daily to view ; hee that diligently reades this story will find that the King from the beginning used the Cardinall but as a sponge . vid. Godw. de Epis. Angl. G. Cavend . in vita Wolsaei Polyd. lib. 27. m. H. S. & Thu. lib. 1.

* 30 Inter tres Principes .

Hee carried himselfe indifferently between the King his Master , the King of England , and the Duke of Burgondy .

Never did the Kingdome of France produce a more turbulent spirit then this Constable ; hee was the only Incendiary between the King his Master , the King of England , and the Duke of Burgondy , and his ambition ever was rather to bee feared then loved , for which hee grew a a Odimus accipitrem qui semper vivit in armis . contemptible , and his death often threatned before it happened . Commines writing of the tumultuous broyles that hapned between these Princes , shews that there were two principall motives that occasioned the Constable and the Duke of Guyen to kindle the fire ; one was their own safety ; for they did conceive if there were a peace concluded , that either the one or the other would fall fowle upon them ; the other was to compell the Duke of Burgondy by a War , if they could not otherwise prevaile , to marry his daughter , being his daughter and heire , to the Duke of Guyen ; and these designes were manifested to the Duke of Burgondy upon the delivering up of St. Quintins , and Amiens to the King ; for the Duke beeng much troubled for the losse of these townes , in a friendly manner writ unto the Constable not to presse a Warr , being that there was no defiance offered ; unto whom the Constable perceiving that hee stood in feare of him , which was the thing hee aymed at , returned a peremptory answer to this effect , that there was but one way for him to help himselfe , which was to bestow his daughter upon the Duke of Guyen ; which if hee would doe , not onely the said Duke but divers other Lords would declare themselves for him against the King , and hee would redeliver St. Quintins and Amiens unto him , and assist him with all his power , otherwise hee would pursue the War ; which answere the Duke having received , resolved to undergoe any misery rather then to have his daughter taken from him in that way ; and thereupon forthwith acquainted the King with those and the like letters which he had sent to the King of England , who immediately revived the agreement made at Bonvines concerning the death of the Constable . Of the letters which the Constable sent to the Duke of Burgondy , and the King of England , see Commines lib. 4. c. how the agreement at Bonvines was afterwards ratified , and hee delivered by the Duke of Burgondy comming to him upon safe conduct , see Commin . lib. 4. See more of the Constable in the generall History of France in Lewis the 11.

* 31. Peculasus accusatus , suspendio affectus .

Enguerrande for robbing the Kings Treasure was accused , and hanged .

Enguerrande was Earle of Longuevill , and Superintendent of the Treasure under Philip the fourth called the fair , and did him good service ; but Charles the Kings brother conceiving inplacable hatred against him in the beginning of the raign of Lewis Hutin accused him for robbing the Kings Treasure , and gave this in evidence against him ; rerum vires nervusque pecunia est ; te interrogo Enguerran● cujusnam pecunia arcaque recondita clausaque cupiditati tuae fuerit ? non interrogo quam amplum patrimonium relictam tibi a Parentibus fuit ; tu te creasti , tu te genuisti ; ingredere fiscum Regis , inopiam invenies , ingredere aedes istius gurgitis , gazam Persicam invenies ; an virtute parta ? quae virtus in tali monstro potest esse ? and upon this evidence prevailed to have him hanged upon a gallowes set up at Mountfalcon . See Paul . Aemil. lib. 8.

* 32. Petrus Laudoicus apud ducem Britaniae .

Peter Landais was in the like favour with the Duke of Britaine .

Peter Landais was the sonne of a very meane man of Vitry in Britanny , and came to the Court very poore , whom the Duke at the first imployed to carry his amorous Letters to his Ladies , after made him the Master of his Wardresse , then his Treasurer , and in the end his power was so great that he did in a manner what he would ; hee was the man that caused the Duke to suffer Chauvin his Chancellour to dye miserably in prison of hunger and cold , which so incensed the Nobility that they resolved to ease the Duke of him ; whereupon John of Chalon Prince of Orange , and son to one of the Dukes Sisters , and John of Rieux Marshall of Britanny , and one of the greatest men in Court , together with the Nobility resolved to surprise him in the Castle of Na●●s , or wheresoever they could finde him , though in the Dukes presence ; which they performed ; And so Peter was arraigned , condemned , and hanged , priusquam causam sciret dux , as Paulus Aemilius hath it . Vid Paul . Aemil. l. 10. c. 8. & supplem . ad lib. 6. Com.

Observations .

There is no man so vile and contemptible in the world but is good to some body ; this Peter that was thus hanged , did one of the greatest curtesies to King Hen. the 7th that ever was done to him . When King Edw. the Fourth sent unto Francis Duke of Brittany , Doctor Stillington with others-laden with Gold , to request him to deliver unto them the Earle of Richmond being his Prisoner , upon pretence to unite the two houses by an alliance ; the Duke conceiving that hee intended to marry Elizabeth his Eldest Daughter unto him , without any scruple took their Gold , and delivered him ; but being informed afterwards by Peter his favourite , that it was but a pretence , and that hee meant to cut off his head , sent him post after them ; who finding them at Saint Mallo staying for a winde , took a course to have the Earle conveyed into the Sanctuary there ; yet possessed the Doctor and his fellowes that hee had no hand in it , but that hee escaped of himselfe ; and when they prest to have him redelivered , hee told them it could not be without his Masters consent , and that they should very speedily know his minde therein ; So Peter sent to the Duke , and the Duke sent a peremptory answer that hee had once delivered him , and being that through their negligence they had suffred him to take Sanctuary , hee would not take him out , but would keep him there or in his own Palace for them , so Peter cosened them of their mony and adventure ( as he had cosened his Master all his life time , ) and sent them home without either .

* 33 , Alvarus de luna jussu Regis .

Alvarus de luna was by the Kings Command put to death .

Aeneas Sylvius in the forty seventh book of his History of Europe , speaking of the manner of the death of Alvarus , saith , non ignavus occubuit , non lachrymans aut ejulans , sed alacri vultu & quasi ad epulas invitatus numeratis suis in Regem ●egnumque meritis cervicem gladio praebuit ; he dyed not a childe weeping and wailing , but relating the good service he had done for his King and Country , chearefully submitted to the sentence of the Law .

* 34. Ludovicus potentissimus Rex .

Lewis the powerfull King of Hungary .

It is worthy our labour to enquire wherein his power did consist ; was it in the extent of his dominions ? no ; for they were no other then were left him ; was it in the multitude of his people , or in the abundance of his Treasures ? no , for many of his predecessours did equalize him and exceed him in them ; e e Caetera vi aut fraude pertumpas ; h●●c arx inaccessa , hoc inexpugnabile munimentum Cicer. but it was in the true and hearty affections of his people ; for never Prince did more affect his Subjects , nor ever a people more affect a Prince , as was manifested by the inconceivable sorrow that was expressed for him , both in the time of his sicknesse , at his death and after his death . Bonsinius writing his History , saith , that when the people heard of his sicknesse , ita vulgo trepidari caeptum est , ut suae quisque vitae timere videretur ; every one began to feare and tremble as if they had been in danger of death ; publick prayers were made for his recovery , and the people in every town and Village went to Church to beg of God not to take him from them ; moerent juvenesque senesque , and when they heard of his death ,

omnia luctus , Omnia solliciti plena timoris erant . Quocunque aspicies gemitus luctusque sonabant , Formaque non taciti funeris instar erat .

There was nothing heard but lamentations and mourning ; the mothers with their children came out of every place to bewaile his death with pitifull cries and lamentations as if they had lost the dearest friend in the world ; some cried they had lost the most indulgent father , others the most sweete Prince , some the best master , others the best Governour ; there was no praelate or Peere to bee seen with dry eyes , universa Hungaria veste pulla triennio luctum regionatim celebrabat ; nusquam risus , sonus , jocus , chorea , aut aliquod festivitatis genus spectatum est , by a publick decree it was commanded that for the space of three yeares every one should mourne , and all sports should bee laid aside : so as in the Prince and People were those old Verses verified , Totum est unus homo Regnum , Rex caput est , Populus caetera membra gerit .

* 35. Carolum parvum ex Apuleia accersunt .

They sent for Carolus parvus out of Apuleia .

The man that was imployed in the businesse was a Bishop named Zagabriensis , who upon his arrivall into Apuleia saluted the King with an eloquent Oration , to this effect &c. The sacred memory of your most Noble Progenitors never to bee forgotten , who have ever governed our Kingdom with the greatest Wisdom , hath invited us to come u●to you , hoping that in th●se our extremities you will not forsake us ; we are not ignorant most Noble Prince that you are the next Heire to the Crowne , and that the government of the Kingdom of right belongs unto you ; wherefore I am sent unto you by the most powerfull Peeres of the Kingdom to intreate you to take into your consideration our distressed estate , and not to preferr an usurpt new authority before the ancient right of the Crowne of Hungary ; how just our cause , is I shall briefly declare unto you . After the death of our Noble King , who deserved well not only of us , but of all the Christian World , for his sake we elected his only daughter Maria to be our King , and commanded that shee should bee stiled by no other name then by the name of King , and caused her to be Crowned with such an applause , that there was not more sorrow conceived at the death of her Father then there was joy at her Coronation . But it so happened that the Queen-Mother assuming to her selfe the Government of the State during the Minority of the young Queen , took into her Counsell one Count Gara , and what hee adviseth onely is put in execution ; the Counsell of the rest of the Nobility being wholly neglected , so that neither our Queene Maria nor the Queen-Mother , but the Count only governes the Kingdome ; hee advanceth whom hee will , and deposeth whom hee will , at which the Peers & People are so much offended , that setting aside law , justice and honesty , many robberies are committed , many Townes burnt , many mens cattell driven away , civill discord ariseth between the Peers , and many other enormous outrages have been and are committed among the people ; for reformation whereof I am now sent to your Excellency to intreate you with as much expedition as you can to come into Hungary , and to take into your Possession the Kingdom not delivered unto you by us , but of right belonging unto you as your ancient Inheritance , which you cannot refuse to doe without incurring the most ignominious blurs of sloth and pusillanimity ; after the delivery of this speech ( which Bonsinius hath most exactly written in Latine ) Zagabriensis delivered unto the King the Letters of divers of the Nobility of the Kingdome of Hungary , whereby hee assured him of their fidelity towards him , the King having read them heartily thanked the Lords and Zagabriensis for their good will towards him ; and because it was a businesse of the greatest consequence , he took three daies respite to returne an answere , and in the meane time commanded that Zagabriensis should bee honorably entertained ; but before the three daies were expired he acquainted his Queene with the effect of the Ambassage , who thereupon fell into a great passion , and with teares cried out , O quam malis hue auspiciis infausti ad nos legatiad-venêre ! O quam depravato cuncta judicio ( mi Carole ) pensitasti ! nescis , heu nescis quam gravis fuerit Vngaria malorum omnium officina ; how unhappily are these Ambassadours come unto us ? O my Charles how art thou mistaken in entertaining their Ambassage ? thou doest no● know , alas thou doest not know how Hungary hath been the storehouse of all manner of wickednesse : how there is nothing but fraud and dissimulation to be found there ? how they never speak what they think , and change their mindes ten times in an houre : wherefore my sweet husband , O my sweet husband , beleeve not their faire promises , if you desire the safety of you and yours ; let the remembrance of King Lewis your noble friend that deserved so well of you and your father never depart out of your memory ; call to minde I pray you how not long before his death he sent with you into Italy a Troope of Horse , and how you enjoy by his meanes the Kingdome of Apuleia ; you have enough if you can content your selfe in Italy , here is your Kingdome , here is your Wife , here are your Children , here in your Hungary , fight for this and defend this . O do not , do not goe about to violate the will of your Noble friend , who bequeathed Hungary to his Daughter Maria , and her to Sigismond the son of Charles the Emperour , and Apuleia unto you ; assure your selve that if you do offer the least wrong to this innocent , whom her Father hath designed to sit in the Throne , God will take the quarrell into his hands and bee revenged of you ; for that he never suffers any wrong done to the innocent , especially to those of the weaker sex , such as are Widdowes and Orphanes , to go unpunished ; and so upon her knees did beseech him , per Deos , per Caelites , per Liberos , per cunctaque humana & divina ne expeditionem hanc infaustam suscipiat ; for Gods sake , for his childrens sake , and as he desired to inherite heaven , and to enjoy his Possession quietly on earth , not to take so great a burthen upon him ; but notwithstanding all these persuasions and intreaties , the hope of a Kingdom prevailed with him ; so that at the end of the three daies the King sent for Zagabriensis , and signified unto him that he was resolved to pursue the designe , and if the businesse succeeded prosperously , hee would not bee unmindefull of them that had been so mindefull of him ; whereupon Apuleia is fortified with strong Garrisons , preparation is made for the voyage , the King passeth the Seas , landeth in Hungary , and is received with the greatest applause that may bee , every one promising his uttermost endeavour to settle the Crown upon him . Elizabeth the Queene-Mother , and Maria the young Queen being given to understand of all passages that fell out , Sigismond being at that time in Hungary to learne the language of the Country , the marriage o● a suddain between him and Maria was solemnized ; which being accomplisht , Sigismond betook himselfe to Bohemia , leaving Maria in Hungary , whereof when Carolus was given to understand he was somewhat danted , knowing how potent an enemy hee had drawn upon him ; shortly after the Queen-Mother and the young Queene sent a speciall messenger unto Carolus , to know the cause of his comming into Hungary , and to signifie unto him that if hee came as a friend , hee should have the best entertainment that Hungary could afford him ; Carolus dissembling his intentions , sent them word that the cause of his comming was to settle things in a right course in Hungary , hee understood it was in a combustion , and that for the love he bare to the deceased father of the young Queene , he thought himself bound in duty to use his best endeavours to reconcile such as were at variance , and rectifie the things which were out of order ; which answer of his being made known to the Queen-mother , and the young Queene , and being given to understand that he was comming towards Buda , in a chariot richly adorned they met him , and with this complement saluted him ; nemo satis charitatem tuam ( Carole ) admirabitur , gratissimumque auimum dignis laudibus persequetur , qui nostri gratia &c. Sir we cannot sufficiently expresse our thankfulnesse unto you , who have for our sakes , and the memory you have of our deceased husband , left your Kingdome , your Wife and Children , and past the seas and mountaines to visit us in these our extremities ; you shew your selfe now to bee a branch of that Royall stock of our deceased husband , in that you are not unmindefull of those good offices which hee when time was did for you and your father ; and although it lies not in our power to requite those your great favours being poore women , yet assure your selfe that God will requite you for them abundantly , and wee shall ever think our selves much bound unto you . Charles still protests , se magnanimi piique Ludovici beneficia nunquam obliteraturum , that he will never forget those noble favours of King Lewis ; but notwithstanding his protestations hee takes upon him the Title of Protectour of the young Queen , and under colour of that takes possession of the Kings House , and not long after the Title of King ; and in the presence both of the Queen-Mother and the young Queen is Crowned ; the poore Ladyes being now dispossest of all kinde of dignitie , and living after a sort private lives have no body to discover their discontents unto , but only to the count Palatine , who taking into his consideration their miserable Estate , bethinks himselfe of a course how to settle them in their former estates : and for that purpose agrees with one Blasius Forgath to kill Carolus , promising him a great reward , and withall to be a perpetuall friend unto him ; and for the better effecting thereof hee desires the Queen-Mother to send unto the King , to doe her so much honour , as to come unto her on such a day , and pretend that shee had received letters from young Sigismond , and that shee would acquaint him with the contents of them ; the Queen pursues the direction of the Palatine ; the King at the day comes accordingjy , and sitting between the Queen-Mother , and the young Queen , Forgath espying his opportunity , with his sword cleft his head downe to his eyes , of which wound hee immediately dyed ; Forgath for the present escaped , but not long after both hee and the Palatine were butchered in the same manner ; for Carolus being dead , and all things well setled in Hungary , the Queen Mother , the young Queen , Gara , and Forgath , together with divers others going upon pleasure to see the lower parts of the Country ; John the Governour of Croatia , being one that wished well unto Carolus , upon a Saint Iames's day provided a Troop of Horse to entertain them , who violently assaulted them , slew Forgath and Gara , turned the Charriot over and over , ravished many of the Ladies , surprised the young Queen , and brutishly dragg'd the Queen Mother by the haire to the Governour , who upon her knees desired to have her life saved , and the life of the young princesse , and to impute the miscarriage of things to the weaknesse of their Sexe , who are not able like men to mannage businesses of so high a nature ; but in vaine ; for that night the governor caused the Queen-Mother to be drowned , and imprisoned the young Queen , where shee remained for a time , yet at last he set her at liberty , and sent her unto Buda with a Troop of Horse , where shee was with much joy received .

But did this bloudy minded Governour escape unpunisht't ? no , for immediatly after the Coronation of Sigismond , which was in the fourth yeare after the death of King Lewis , his Queen Maria did earnestly importune him to take revenge of that bloudy parricide , qui sacro cruore manus foedurat , who thereupon raised an Army , pretending to go against the Turke into Bulgaria ; but being in a readinesse hee went against the Governor of Croatia , and within short time took him Prisoner , caused his hands to bee bound to hot irons , and his flesh with burning pincers to bee pull'd from his body , and what remained to be divided into four parts , and to be hanged upon the Gates of the City ; the rest that were accessaries to the Queens death hee caused to be beheaded .

Observations upon the usurpation of Carolus .

Whatsoever is gotten by usurpation is never of any long continuance . Henry the Fourth , King of England , and King Henry the fift may peradventure for a time enjoy the Scepter , but de male quaesiitis non gaudet tertius haeres , the Grandchilde Henry the sixt shall never enjoy it quietly ; Richard the third may peradventure for a time flourish and prosper , but God in the end will release a poore Prisoner out of Brittany to take revenge of the bloud of his Nephews ; King Hen. the 7th was 15 yeares a Prisoner with the Duke of Brittany , Com. lib. 6. Carolus of Apuleia may for a moment insult over the weaker Sexe , and usurpe upon Maria , but in the end , 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 right will prevaile ; Leo minimarum avium pabulum fiet , and the Crowes shall prognosticate his destiny ; ferunt enim ( as saith Bonfinius ) quod paulo post Coronationem Caroli innumera multitudo Corvorum regiatecta circumvolabant , & tu●matim fenestras impetabant , & veluti strangulati crocitabant , & nulla vi repellipotuissent , Bonf. lib. 3. dec . 1.

CHAP. II.

* 36. Quisque peculiari munere devinctus est .

Every one is called to one calling or other .

SAint Gregory condemneth the vaine conceit and presumption of those Astrologers that attribute so much unto the Planets , that say , if a man be borne under Iupiter he is destinated unto riches and honour ; if under Mercury , unto Wisedome and Knowledge ; that give the reason wherefore seldome is the rich man wise , or the wise man rich , for that these Planets are seldome in conjunction , Jupiter being the slowest of the Planets , and not being able in a lesse space then twelve yeares to compasse the Earth , and Mercury being the swiftest of them , every yeare going about it , so as they seldome meet , or if they doe they stay not long together ; this foolish conceit every Christian ought to reject , for that wee are taught , that there is nothing done in the World without the divine providence of the Omnipotent ; the World is a Stage , and every one that commeth into it hath his part to act assigned him from Heaven ; to one the part of a King , to another of a Subject ; to one of a Priest , to another of a Prophet ; to one this , to another that ; David , Cyrus , Paul , Ieremy had their severall parts , David had his , dixit Dominus Prophetae , surge unge hunc , hic est ille , the Lord said unto Samuel , rise up , annoint him , for this is the man ; Cyrus had his , propter servum Iacobum & Isralitum electum meum , propterea me vocasti de nomine tuo , cognominavi te quamvis ignores me ; Saint Paul had his , Paulus apostolus non ab hominibus neque per hominem , sed per Iesum Christum ac Deum patrem qui suscitavit eum ●● mortuis ; and the Prophet Ieremy had his , cum nondum formavissem te in utero matris agnovi te , & cum non prodiisses e vulva sanctificavi te , & Prophetam ipsis gentibus constitui te . There is no man so meane and contemptible , but hath his part assigned him , and though in the first or second scene hee may personate some fisher-man , shepheard , or heardsman , yet oftentimes in these poore men doth God shew his power and omnipotency . Da●id was for many yeares 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , a poore shepheard , forlorne and neglected , and not esteemed as one of the sonnes of lesse , for when the Prophet came unto Bethlem , and invited lesse with his Sonnes to a Banqu●t , David was not amongst them ; Sala and Nathaniel , Rael and Asam were there , but as for David he was in the fields with his flocks ; and when as the Prophet would have annointed one of them , because they were faire and of comely countenances , the spirit of God sharply reproved him , saying , God judgeth not as men do by the outward lineaments of the body , but by the inward perfections of the mind , and that the man that hee look't after was not there , the Prophet then enquiring what other Sonnes hee had , David was then made know unto him , and of him he said , hic est ille , and thereupon

Vngitur Iessaides qui regia sceptra gubernat , David was annointed .

* 37. Contemptus inter fratres .

Ioseph was hated of his Brethren .

Hee was hated even unto death ; for had not Ruben stickled for him , and shewed them how abominable a thing it was to murther a Brother , an innocent Brother of tender yeares , whose yeares required their tuition ; and for no other cause , but because of the blessings which God had bestowed upon him , of which they might be partakers , by reason of their neernesse in bloud unto him , they had killed him .

* 38. Venditus in servitutem .

Ioseph was sold into bondage .

The Merchants that bought him were cer aine Merchants of Arabia , that carried Spices from the Country of Galedena into Aegypt , who sold him againe to Potiphar the Steward of King Pharoh his house , in whose service he behaved himselfe so well , that his Mistresse fell in love with him , and because he would not yield to her amorous encounters , shee accused him to her Husband , that hee attempted to sollicite her Chastity , and to defile his bed .

* 39. Conjectus in Carcerem .

Ioseph was cast into prison .

Vpon the false accusation of his Mistresse hee was cast into prison , where hee remained for the space of two yeares ; but in the end God delivers him , and verifies the vision which hee saw in his dreame , that his Brothers sheafes of Corne worshipt his , and that the Sunne , Moone , and Eleven Starres humbled themselves before him , Exod. 37.

* 40. Per aequa & iniqua gratiam Principis qu●runt .

They seek by fraud , bribery , and all other unlawfull meanes to attaine their ends .

Nemo unquam imperium flagitio quaesitum bonis artibus exercuit , saith Tacitus , with whom agrees Josephus in his seventh Book of the antiquity of the Iewes , saying , that he that hath attained to any honours and preferments by undue meanes , will not stick to use meanes more pernicious to continue the same . So did Ioab ( as wee have said before ) to support his magnificence murder Abner and Amasa ; so did Sejanus to support his greatnesse make love unto Livia the Wife of Drusus , and procured her to bee accessary to her husbands death , as Tacitus hath it in the fourth Book of his Annalls . So did Tigellinus by his wicked practises , wherein onely he did excell , oblige Nero unto him . Tacitus lib. 14. So did Perennis advise Commodus to take his pleasure in the Countrey . Dion Cas. lib. 72.

* 41 Ministri facinorum ut exprobrantes aspiciuntur .

Princes ever behold the instruments of villany with threatning looks .

Antigonus was used to say , Proditores tantisper amo dum produnt , ast ubi prodiderunt odi , that hee loved the Traytor untill hee had done his work , but then hee hated him ; Princes will not endure to look upon such villanes but with threatning looks ; so Nero beheld Anicetus that slew his Mother , as we may read in the fourteenth book of the Annals of Tacitus ; so David beheld the Amalekite that kild King Saul , and Ioab that slew Abner and Amasa , as wee may likewise read in the beginning of the seventh Book of Iosephus of the antiquity of the Iewes , and in the second of Samuell the first chap. so Caesar Herotodus and Achillas that presented him with the head of Pompey , as Plutarch hath it in Pomp. so Clodovaeus them that betrayed Cannacarius unto him , as Paul . Amilius hath it in Clodov . Quintus Curtins in his fifth and seventh Book of the gests of Alexander , saith , that it was one of the last requests that Darius made unto Alexander , ut ultionem sceleris erga se perpetrati non negligeret , that hee would not forget to punish the villaine that betrayed him , but make him an example to the ages to come ; yet not so much for the wrong done unto him , as for the safety of Princes , and the terrour of such as should dare to lift up their hands against their soveraigns ; and as the some Authour saith , Alexander was not unmindefull of him , for after that hee had delivered him into the hands of Oraxes the Brother of Darius to the end to cut off his eares , his nose , and to torture him , he caused him o be put to death , and rewarded the Souldiers that brought him unto him .

* 42. Exprobrat Hermolaus Alexandrum .

Hermolaus was not afraid to upbraid Alexander .

Ex desperatione crescit audatia , & cum spei nihil est sumit armaformido ; libenter cupit commori qui sinc dubio scit se moriturum , he that is out of all hope to live will not be afraid to speak his minde freely . Hermolaus being resolved to dye , upbraided Alexander so farr that his aged father Persepolis was ashamed to heare him , called him Traytor , and would have stopped his mouth ; but Alexander desirous to heare what hee would say , suffered him to speak ; whereupon hee spake thus ( as Curtius in his eighth Book hath it ) quota pars Macedonum saevitiae tuae superest , small is the number of the Macedonians remaining that have escaped your cruelty . Attalus Philotas , Parmenio , Lincestes , and Clitus are now dead , they were the men when time was , that exposed themselves to dangers that you might ride in triumph before your enemies , and you have well rewarded them ; with the blood of some of them you have besprinkled your table , and not suffred some others of them to dye a simple death ; thus the Captaines of your people have you tortured , a pleasant sight indeed to their enemies the Persians to behold ; Paermenio by whom you slew your servant Attalus , was put to death without judgement , and thus you use the hands of us poore men to kill one another ; and such as even now you imployed to torment others , straightway you command to bee tormented by others .

* 43. Experti sunt Sytalcles & Cleander .

Sytalcles and Cleander found by experience that Princes will not endure the instruments of villany ,

When Sytalcles and Cleander , Agathon and Heracleon who by the Kings appointment had put Parmenio to death , returned from the Province , whereof they had the government , accusers of all conditions followed them ; the Priests accused them that they had made spoyle of every thing , not abstaining from the Temples and the sacred things ; the Virgins and the Ladyes of the Province accused them that they had laid violent hands upon them and ravisht them , especially Cleander , who after hee had ravisht a Virgin of a Noble Family , servo suo ut pellicem dederat , gave her to his slave to use as his Concubine , lib. 10 - yet ( saith Curtius ) the foulnesse of these enormous offences did not make them so odious in the sight of the people , as the killing of Parmenio .

* 44. Non patitur quenquam &c.

It is an inconvenience which attends ambition that it never suffers any man to rest satisfied .

Sensit Alexander testa cum vidit in illa Magnum habitorem , luv . Sat. 14. quantò faelicior hic qui Nil cuperet , quam qui totum sibi posceret orbem .

When Alexander beheld the Cynick in his Tub , he envyed his happinesse , saying , happier is hee that looks after nothing then hee that desires to have the world at will ; non qui parum habet , sed qui plus cupit , pauper est , saith the wise Heathen , Sen. Ep. 2. he is not poore that lives in a cottage with content , k k Cui satis est quod habet , satis illum constat habere . Cui nihil est quod habet satis illum constat egere . but he is poore that possesseth the whole world and is not content ; what can hee enjoy that is possessed with an uncleane spirit ? ambitious thoughts are like so many furies torturing of Orestes , O si pateant pectora ditûm , quantus intus sublimis agit fortuna metusque , saith Senec ▪ in Hercule Oetae● , if the mi●ds of ambitious men were laid open , a man should see them rent in sunder ; for as the body with stripes , so is the minde with ambitious thoughts tortured and tormented ; si cogitationes ejus essent venti , desideria ejus aquae , multo periculosius esset in animo ejus navigare quam in alto mari , if his thoughts were winde , and his desires water , it were safer by many degrees to saile in the Ocean then in his tempestuous stomack , as saith Gueverra ; one while hee inclines to the cape of the good hope , where being arrived in safety , hee desires to goe ultra Sauromatas & glacialem Oceanum , and is as far from his journeys end as hee was at hi● first setting forth ; nunquid enim improbae spei satis est : eò majora cupiunt quo majora venerant , the greedy minded man is never satisfied , the more hee hath the more hee desireth ; wherefore Erasmus wittily , longe periculosior est ebrietas ambitionis quam vini ; nam Cyrus temulentus in comaedia postquam obdormivit sobriè loquutus est ; at animus ambitione ebrius raro aut nunquam expergisci aut resipiscere solet ; it is far more dangerous to surfeit with ambition then wine , for that hee that hath surfeited with the one , after hee hath slept may recover himselfe , but seldome or never doth the other become himselfe againe . In Titii jecore , in Tantali fame , in Ixionis rota , & in Sisiphi saxo misera ambitiosorum conditio scitè demonstratur per Poetam .

* 45 Nutu aut manu loquebatur .

Hee never exprest himselfe at home but either by nod or hand .

Our Authour out of Tacitus doth observe it to bee a badge of pride in Pallas that hee never did expresse himselfe at home but either by nod or hand ; but I am more charitable , I think it a high point of wisdome in him .

Dum tacet indoctus , poterit cordatus haberi , Is morbos animi namque tacendo tegit .

This Cosmo de medicis knew well , who being askt by a great Burgomaster , how hee should carry himselfe in his place , answered , Vesti di rosato e parla poco , put thy selfe into the habit of a Senator , and say little ; and this the old Romanes knew well at that time when they desired of the Gr●cians a transcript of their Lawes ; upon a time the Romans became earnest suitors to the Graecians to send them a transcript of their lawes , which the Graecians taking into consideration , after a long debate resolved to yeild unto their request , and to send one of the wisest men amongst them with it , with a Commission to deliver it , if hee found them learned and capable of them ; if ignorant , then to bring them back again ; of which their resolution the Romanes having notice , having no man within their Dominion that was able to compare in learning with the wise man of Greece , they resolved to attire a foole in the habit of a Senatour to encounter him , and gave it in charge to him , that he should look gravely , and say nothing , for that they thought it would bee no dishonour to their Nation to have the wisest man in Greece to gravell and put to a nonplus the veriest foole in Rome ; whereas if they should imploy one of their wisemen , and hee should bee foiled , it would be a great dishonour to them ; the wiseman of Greece arriving at Rome , the foole in his Senators habit with a low congy salutes him : the wiseman thereupon held up one of his fingers , intimating thereby that he was sent by God the Father , which the foole misconstruing , conceiving that he intended to put out one of his eyes with his finger , held up three of his fingers , intimating unto him that if he went about with his one finger to put out one of his eyes , hee would with two of his fingers pUt out both his , and with the third disfigure his face : which the Graecian interpreted that hee was sent by the three Persons in the Trinity , God the Father , God the Sonne , and God the Holy Ghost ; the Graecian then opened his hand , intimating therby that God being the fountaine of goodnesse had sent him with their lawes unto them , which the foole misconstruing , thinking that by the opening of his hand hee meant to give him a blow on the eare , clutcht his fist intending to requite him with a bloody nose , which the Graecian interpreted that hee meant that God in his hand was able to hold the universe ; and so esteeming of the Romanes by the gestures of the foole to bee a wise generation , hee left his transcript with them ; Ecco , ( saith my Authour ) come questo savio filosofo Greeeo futacendo vinto da vn pazzo Romano , behold how a wise man of Greece was deceived by a foole of Rome that held his peace . Silence by the ancients hath ever been held a commendable vertue ; and therefore did they oftentimes expresse themselves in silent and dumb shewes . Sartorius having a desire to disanimate the Portugals from fighting with the Romanes whilst their Army was united , caused to be delivered to a weak old man a stout and warlike horse , and to a lusty young man a poore weak jade , commanding them both to pull off their tayles ; the young man pull'd and pull'd , and pull'd again , and often pull'd downe the jade , yet could not pull off his tayle ; the old man took another course , hee did not attempt to pull off his taile at once , but pelo a pelo , haire by haire , by little and little hee pull'd it off : intimating unto them that it was but lost labour to set upon the Romanes whilst their Army was united , but if they could divide it , they might doe some good upon them ; the like is reported of Scilurus , King of the Scythians , who drawing neare unto his end , called for his quiver of arrowes , and in the presence of his Sonnes , being eighty in number , hee caused one of his servants to trie whether hee could break them in the quiver or no , who made many attempts but in vaine ; then hee commanded him to take them out one by one , and then hee broke them without any difficulty ; thereby intimating unto them , that so long as they were united , and lived in Peace one with another , no power was able to hurt them ; but if they fell to discord , they would all by degrees come to nothing . In like manner did Tarquine discover himselfe to his sonne Sextus ; Sextus having taken many captives , sent to his Father to know what hee should doe with them , who not willing to discover himselfe by his speech to the Messenger , took him aside into his Garden , and with his knife cut off the tops of the herbes , and cast them on the ground , whereby hee gathered that Tarquin would either have them banish'd or put to death ; in the same manner did Agesilaus reprove the Sophister . Agesilaus upon a time hearing a Sophister making a great flourish in a businesse of small consequence , shewed him a great shooe and a little foot ; thereby intimating unto him how unseemly it was for a man to exceed a meane . Thus did the Ancients oftentimes by signes and mutes expresse themselves ; non tacuisse nocet , nocet esse loquutum , sayes the Poet , the over-flowing of the tongue doth often bring shame and dishonour to a man , but seldome doth the ebbing any harme ; wherefore the wiseman in Apelles shop was pictured with his finger on his mouth , and with wide eares , to shew that a man should hear much and say little .

* 46. Fastus hujus species maximè hodiè usitata .

This kinde of Pride is come into fashion in our dayes .

Solomon in the first of Ecclesiastes asketh this question , estnè aliquid de quo dicitur aspice hoc novum est , is there any new thing under the Sunne ? is there any thing now that hath not been in times past , or was there any thing in times past that shall not bee againe in time to come ? ut pedem primò intra domum ponas , as Seneca hath it in his sixt Book de benefici●s , the wall and the first entrance into the house was much stood upon in the dayes of old , and is it not come againe in fashion in our dayes ? stellarum decursus quicquid praeteriit repetit ; observa orbem rerum ( saith hee in his 36 Epistle ) in se remeantium , & videbis nihil extingui , sed vicibus descendere acresurgere , there is a kinde of revolution of things in the World , and no fashion now that hath not been in the dayes of old .

* 47. Avaritia bellua immanis , intolleranda .

Avarice is a Beast insufferable .

The naturalists doe distinguish the Beasts of the field to be either Beasts of prey , or milde and gentle Beasts ; if they are Beasts of prey , they are of a ravenous nature , live upon the spoile of harmlesse creatures , and are unprofitable both in life and death , as Vipers , Tigres , Woolfes , Foxes , and the like ; if they are milde and gentle Beasts , then they are of a sociable nature , live upon such things as the earth naturally brings forth , and are profitable both in life and death , as the Sheep , the Deere , the Conies , and the like ; dum vivit vipera mordet & veneno enecat , & post mortem odore sanieque inficit ; dum vivit ovis lacte untrit , lana vestit , & cum moritur utile corium praebet , totaque esculenta est ; the Coveteous man is a Beast of prey , a ravenous Beast , who whilst he lives morsu vipereo by his cut-throate dealing spoyles and depopulates wheresoever hee comes : and when hee dies venenato exemplo by his ill example poysons and infects all that are neare him . Rablais hath a tale of a Mare , which Phaio King of Numidia sent out of Africa , who comming into a Wood neare Orleans , containing in length 35 miles , and in breadth 37 , with her very taile in a moment hewed it down , par-mi par-là comme un fae●cher fait d' herbes , as the Authour saith , as a mower would doe a handfull of grasse with the sythe . I cannot compare our Beast here to any thing more aptly then to this Mare , who by an Art which hee hath , is able to throw downe Townes and Steeples , and like another Circe turne the Inhabitants into stones , having eaten them up . Seneca in his 60 Epistle admires the nature of the Beast , and makes an enquiry , why nature gave him so little a body , and so great a belly ; Taurus ( inquit ) paucissimis jugerum pascuis impletur , una silva elephantis plurimis sufficit ; homo & terra pascitur & mari ; quid ergo tam insatiabilem nobis natura alvum dedit , cum tam modica corpora dedisset , ut vastissimormm ed●●issimorumque animalium aviditatem vinceremus ? minimè . The bull ( saith he ) is satisfied with a few Pastures , one Wood will suffice many Elephants , but Sea and Land will not suffice this Creature ; why hath nature given us so little bodies and so great bellies , that wee should surpasse the most devouring Creatures ? no certainly ; the sonne of Syrack demands qui sibi ipsi malus est , cuinam erit bonus ? to whom will hee bee good that is not good to himselfe ? certainly hee will be a good prey for his Prince , a good Marke for a thiefe to shoot at , and a good companion for Judas to have his habitation in the ayre , 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 .

* 48. Dicta in seulciscuntur .

They punish words spoken against themselves in a high degree .

Our Author noteth it to be a badge of cruelty in Pallas , to take advantage of words , and to prosecute the speakers with severity ; and indeed it is so , if they be spoken in heat and choler ; for though the giving of the lye ( as Paulus Aemylius observes ) makes a deeper impression in a noble minde then any wound ; yet in point of honour if the partie shall acknowledge his offence , and withall , that hee is sorry for it , it is a sufficient satisfaction : but I make a great difference between words hastily spoken , and words spoken out of rancor and malice upon some injuries conceived to have beene done ; as if it shall fall out , that between two Merchants that have traded together , some differences have grown , and the one shall maliciously give out of the other , that he will bee a bankerupt within such a time , and generall notice is taken of it ; no private acknowledgement can be a satiafaction for this publique wrong . So in point of judgement if a man hath had a cause depending before a judge in the consistory , who hath given sentence against him , and hee shall maliciously give forth that the judge is corrupt , of which publique notice is taken , no private acknowledgement can satisfie this publique wrong ; so in the case of a Peer of the Realme , if any one shall give forth , that hee is a sower of Sedition , and a disturber of the Peace of the Commonwealth , though hee will in private acknowledge his offence , yet it is not sufficient to satisfie the wrong which hee hath done ; for publique scandals ought to receive exemplary punishment .

* 49. Divisiones serunt & alunt .

They sow Sedition , and maintaine a Faction amongst the people .

Some have been of opinion , that a Faction is necessary in a Common-Wealth , by reason that if one side should mutiny , the other would be ready to suppresse them ; againe by this meanes a Prince should have intelligence of all things that passe ; but the most judicious are of opinion that there is nothing more dangerous to the safety of a Prince ; for that men being naturally fickle , and desirous of changes and alterations , will be ever ready to revolt , and turne to the contrary faction ; againe a Prince cannot carry himselfe so equally and indifferently , but one of the factions will conceive that hee is against them , and then to fortifie themselves will have correspondence with his Enemie ; wherefore when the King of France sent one of his Governours to pacifie a tumult , which was occasioned by reason of a Faction , the Governour told them , that it would be very distastfull to his Master to heare of a Faction within his Dominion , though the Faction did incline to himselfe ; for where there is a Faction , there must be an adverse part ; and his Master would have all such as lived under him to bee his friends ; of whose opinion was Commines , as appeares in his first and sixt book , where hee will not allow of a faction in a settled government , unlesse among the Ladies of the Court , or the servants of a private family , to the end the one might have an eye to the other in the masters absence ; and to that end did Marcus Cato ever maintaine such a faction in his family , of whom Plutarch sayes , quod inimi●itias saepe inter servos familiae suae conserere solebat .

* 50. Lex Talionis .

The law of Talio .

This Law was induced by the Pythagoreans , by the Authority of Rhadamantus ( as Aristotle hath it in the fift book of his Ethicks ) 〈◊〉 it is approved by the Turks , Alcor . Azo . and was executed upon the Bishop of Verdom by Lewis the eleventh as Commines hath it in his sixth book ; and certainly a more just Law cannot be then to punish the projector , and him that induceth innovations into the Common-Wealth in Perillus his bull , then to squize the extortioner , and to swill the blood-sucker in blood .

Nam si quis quod fecit patiatur justissima lex est .

* 51 Perilli taurus .

Perillus first felt the punishment of his new inventions .

Perillus an artificer found out a kinde of torment to punish Delinquents which was never heard of before , being a Bull of brasse , into which burning fiery hot they were to bee thrown ; which being given by him to Phalaris , hee caused him as a just reward for his innovation first to season it .

Artibus ipse suis tauri fabricator aheni , Primus inexpertum Siculo cogente tyranno , Sensit opus . —

* 52. Non sufficit benè caepisse .

It is not sufficient to begin well .

If hee that plants a vineyard be not as carefull to hedge it in as hee was to plante it , he shall receive but little fruit of his labour ; if he that builds a ship bee not as carefull to furnish it with tacklings as hee was to build it , his ship will doe him but little service ; if he that wins a Castle , be not as provident in the keeping of it as hee was in the getting , it had been better for him in the beginning to have sate still and done nothing ; in vaine doe wee plow , sowe , reap , thrash , winnowe , and bring our corne unto the mill , if the mill be out of order , and shall spoyle it after so much paines taken ; finis coronat opus ; if Nero his last daies had been like to his quinquennium , hee had been one of the most renowned Princes of the world ; if Tiberius had ended his raign as he began , hee had excelled Augustus : but because they desisted the wayes of vertue , their faults were more conspicuous , and it had been better for them never to have known them , then having known them to abandon them againe , so as it is not sufficient to begin well .

* 53. Fortuna caeca nos efficit caecos .

Fortune being blinde , blindeth them whom shee doteth upon .

The Heathens of old time deified fortune , ( under which name they comprehended worldly prosperity ) for a blinde Goddesse , that sits at the doore of felicity and keeps out mortals from comming to the tables of the Gods , k k Improba non novit leges fortunae ; illa odit plerumque bonos blanditur iniquis . that rules upon earth without reason and understanding , that makes fooles her favorites and wisemen her vassals , that is as variable as the Moon , and whom at first shee most affecteth , at last she most neglecteth , that begets children like herself , mad , and blinde , and brutish , lifteth them up to the clouds , where shee suffers them for a time to domineere over the inferiour bodyes , and afterwards to make her selfe merry , throwes them down with a vengeance , and sits laughing at them .

Ridendo fallere novi , Sub risus specie deprimo quem que mei .

* 54. Ne quenquam suorum .

Mecenas counselled Augustus not to suffer any of his Peeres to grow too great .

It hath been a custome amongst the Turks ( as we may read in their generall History in the raign of Amurath the third ) for the Princes assoone as they have been Crowned , to put to death their younger brethren , that so the eyes of their Subjects may wholly bee fixt upon them ; in other Countryes it hath been a custome to oppresse and keep under the Nobility for feare of Rebellion ; but these bloody and barbarous customes have been used only amongst barbarous men , & in debellatis regionibus , and in Countryes that have been conquered ; but in every Christian settled Common-wealth the Peers are to the Prince as the stars to the firmament , their greatnesse is his glory ; for the greater they are , the greater must hee needs bee that commands them ; it was the common saying of Ptolomy King of Egypt , quod regalius est super divites dominari quam divitem fore ; when Maximilian the Emperour would at any time set forth the glory and magnificence of the Romane Empire , he was used to say , that the Emperour of Germany was Rex regum , for that hee had a superintendency over such as had power to make lawes , raise Souldiers , and coyne mony , whereas other Princes had not so ; when a controversy grew between two great Lords upon this occasion , quod alter altero potiorem se esse dixisset , that the one should say hee was a better man then the other , it was thus decided , that the one should acknowledge that the other commanded better men then he . The wise King saith , in multitudine populi consistit dignitas Regis , in the multitude of Subjects consisteth the glory of a Prince ; n n Huc valdè pertinet illud Castilionis ; si Circe aliqua Gallos omnes in feras commutaret , nonne Gallorum Regem Principem despicatissimum diceres , etiamsi imperium in tot belluas haberet ? e cont● a si omnia armenta quae in montibus circumvagantur in potentes & sapientes transfererntu● , nonnè pastores harum belluarum tanquam dominos po●entissimos aestimares ? it is as true , in magnitudine populi , in the greatnesse of Subjects consisteth the glory of a Prince ; every meane cotrager hath pira & cerasa , Peares and Cherryes in his Orchard ; but every meane Cottager hath not Palmas & Cedros , Palme and Cedar trees ; every meane Gentleman hath his horses and dogs , but no● his Pumiliones , Leones , & Tigres , his Dwarfs , Lyons , and Tigers ; m m Animalia rara apud principes olim in pretio fuere . Dicitur de Ludovico , ii quod valde operosus erat in raris animalibus comparandis ; e Britannia canes grandi pecunia summa comparabat , ex Sicilia mulos , a Neapoli spetiosos equos , ab Africa genus parvulorum leonum . Com. lib. 9. these rarityes are ensignes of greatnesse , and provided for Princes an great personages . Every petty Prince and meane Lord hath the command of macellarios , usurarios & ferrarios , of Butchers , Brookers and Braziers ; but every meane Lord hath not a command of a loyall gentry and prudent nobility ; Renegathoes are fit attendants for Turkes and Tyrants , but for Christian Princes Potentes & Nobiles ; Ier. 1. Lam. 15. wherefore the Prophet Jeremy doth not complaine in his lamentations , that God tooke from him his macellrios vel usurarios , sed abstulit magnificos meos de medio mei , hee took his nobles from him ; but yet as it is in the naturall body , if the foot shall swell and equalise the head in greatnesse , there is a depravation of nature , and a deformity in the body ; so it is in the politique ; if any one of the Peeres shall so farre out-strip his fellowes in magnificence that the rest must depend upon him , here are two Sunnes in the Firmament , and this body is out of order ; wherefore Maecenas wisely councelled Augustus that hee should not suffer any of his Peeres to grow too great ; what inconveniences have growen by suffering of Peers to grow too great , see Com. lib. 3. of the Earle of Warwick , lib. 4. Of the Constable of France , Iean du Seres . Of the Majors of the Kings Palace in Clotaire . Clovis 2. Thiarry 2. Childerick 5. and in Pippin , and Dion . Case . of Sejan . lib. 57 & 59.

* 55. Galfridus Iustitiarius Angliae .

Geffry a Iustitiary of England by reason of his allies was more feared then beloved of the King .

Offences are sometimes taken , not given ; Matthew Paris speaking of this Iustitiary giveth this Encomium of him that he was firmissima regni columna , and that after his death the Kingdome was quasi navis sine gubernaculo , Mat. Paris . in Ioh , An. 1213.

* 56. Fatum potentiae est quod raro sempiterna .

It is destinated unto greatnesse not to be of long continuance .

The world by the ancients is aptly termed a game of inconstancy , wherein there is nothing but shufling and cutting ; the Card that now is on the top , anon is in the bottome , anon discarded . Tib who whilome rul'd as Commanders , the next dealing , if trump withdraw his Colours , are of no better esteem then a common Card ; vix horae momentum nonnunquam inter est inter solium & solitudinem ( saith Seneca ) heur & malheur se suivent tour a tour , good lucke and bad follow each other turne by turne ; O dii boni ( saith the Orator ) quid est in hominis vita diu ! O good God what is there of any continuance in the World ! 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , such as are most powerfull with their Princes are aptly compared to counters which now stand for a ●ound , anon for a Cipher ; every mortall thing is fading , fleeting and transitory ; n n De Ludovico iidicitur quod dicere solebat naturam hominis novitate delectari , ideoque crebro mutasse cubicularios . Com. lib. 9. The mindes of men are desirous of changes and alterations , and those whom we now most affect , anon after wee most neglect . Besides the many examples which our author hath set forth , see one memorable one in the generall History of the Turkes , in the raigne of Solyman the magnificent of Abrahem , the Visier Basse President of the Councell .

* 57. Hugo de Burgo proto-justitiarius Angliae .

Hugh de Burge chiefe Iustice of England .

Invidia virtutis comes ; besides the testimony which our Authour hath given of Hugh de Burgh , Matthew Paris goes further , and saith , that hee was miles strenuus & fidelis , Constable of Dover Castle , which hee stoutly defended against Lewis of France and the Barons of England , in the behalfe of the King ; who when Lewis sent unto him after the Kings death , Mat. Par. in Ioh. An. 1213. to have him deliver up the Castle , with large promises that he would make him one of his Councell , and confer upon him many honours , returned this answer , though the King bee dead , yet he hath left behinde him filios & filias qui ei debent succedere , and that to the uttermost of his power hee would in their behalfe defend and keep it , Mat. Par. in H. 3. initio . ne illud turpiter reddendo notam proditionis incurreret : yet notwithstanding by the instigation of Peter Bishop of Winchester , the King did not onely withdraw his affections from him , and deprive him of his Offices , but prosecuted him with all severity .

* 58. Plebe vix manibus temperante .

The people hardly forbearing to lay hands upon him .

Demosthenes being banisht Athens , lifting up his hands towards the City , made a bitter invective against it , saying , 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 ; O Minerva that hast the government of the City committed unto thee , why dost thou harbor within thee three most insufferable beasts , the Nightbird , the Dragon , and the Common-people ? hee rankes the multitude in Athens with the most unlucky creatures ; and not without cause ; 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 ; for the common sort of people in Athens are a most ingratefull and barborous kinde of people , persecuting them most , that have most deserved of them ; nullum fretum , nullus Euripus , tantas , tam varias habet agitationes fluctuum ; the Sea doth not so often ebbe and flow , as the unstable multitude change their mindes ; if one sheep transgresse the bounds of the pasture , all the rest will follow after , and for no other reason , but because hee went before .

When Earle Vlrick Ciliensis was banisht by Ladislaus , the peoples hatred was such unto him , that had not the Marquesse of Brandenburgh brought him to the Gates of Vienna , the people would have stoned him ; yet when the King the next yeare received him into favour againe , Aeneas Sil. Hist. Europ . c. 22. eadem plebs ( as Aeneas Sylvius observes ) quae paulo ante l●tum & lapides in fugientem jactare tentavit sternere viam floribus qua redeunti transitus fuit , non dubitavit ; the very same people that threw dirt in his face the yeare before , strowed flowers in his way the yeare after When the Nobility of Hungary deposed Maria , and set up Carolus Parvus , the common people cried , susus & colus sunt arma mulierum , & imperium mulieri non aliter quam clitella bovi convenit ; down with her , down with her , for that it is against the Law of nature , that men should bee subject unto women ; Spindles and Distaffes doe better become women then Scepters : yet not long after , as soone as ever hee was Crowned , Bons . dec . 3. lib. 1. ●erū Hungar . they fell off from him , & quem iniquè ( as saith Bonfinius ) imprudenterque multitudo affectavit , mutatis subinde animis oderit , whom not long before they so much affected without any reason , within a short time after they hated and neglected ; cum fortuna statque caditque fides populi .

* 59 Inquilini sui putant juris esse .

Natives thinke it their Birth right to be governed by men of their owne Nation .

Some have been of opinion , that there is no better way to advance the good of a City then to open the gates to let in strangers into it ; for that therby the City is empeopled , which is the glory of a City ; but these men neither tooke into their consideration either that of Eunius , Moribus antiquis res stat Romana , virisque , that thereby the foundation of the City , the ancient Lawes and Customes are endangered , for that strangers desire to be governed by their own Lawes ; or the seditious and tumultuous Insurrections which thereby usually are occasioned , for that Natives will not endure that strangers should carry away the fat and sweetnesse of their Countrey ; or the Lawes of Lycurgus , who by his Lawes ; advenas in urbe residentes abegit ne alieujus noxae doctores forent ; others have gone further , and have thought it a speciall meanes to advance the good of a City to suffer strangers to execute places of authority there , because thereby correspondency is kept with Forraigne Nations ; but King James utterly opposeth it , and therefore amongst many other things which hee giveth in charge to Prince Henry in his 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , hee giveth him this Caveat , cavendum est ut ne peregrino homini publicum mupus committas ; and Lipsius shewes the inconveniences ; thereby ( saith hee ) the Prince draws much hatred upon himselfe ; for when the Natives of a Countrey , where many able men are to be found , doe perceive the Prince to preferre strangers before others , they doe alien their affections from them , and oftentimes betake themselves to the service of Forraine Princes ; Again , the Commonwealth cannot bee well governed , for that it is impossible that strangers should know the manners and conditions of the people , or the state of the Common-Wealth in any degree like unto Natives ; or if they did , yet generally they fayle in fidelity and true affection ; nam qui potest in alienam remp . benè agere , in qua illud semper cogitant , mihi istis nec seritur nec metitur ? how is it possible that they should advance the good of a Commonwealth , that have alwaies in their mouths , wee neither sow or mow there , winne or lose , whither it flourish or decline ? Againe the Counsels of strangers have been ever fatall to all Commonwealths . Alexander malè audire caepit , cum Persas audivit , Alexander then began to fall into exorbitant courses when hee listned to the Counsell of the Persians ; and then did the Romane States begin to decline , when the Graecians and other strangers bore the sway there ; it is observed that as soone as ever Charles the Eighth , King of France , placed Frenchmen to rule over the Neapolitans , by whose assistance hee had driven the Spaniards out of Naples , the Neapolitans suddainly revolted ; and that as soone as William King of Sicily had made a Frenchman his Chancellour , the Nobility of Sicily conspired together , and in one night slew all the Frenchmen in the Country ; wherefore take this for a rule ( sayes one ) as it is a certain signe of a funerall cum vespilones , when they that are appointed to carry the dead come into a house , so it is a certaine signe of a declining state , when strangers are preferred to sit at the sterne , and to govern the Common-wealth .

* 60. Plerumque isti atque omnes &c.

Both they and their adherents are ruinated .

It is fabled of Perseus , that when hee went to wage warre with Medusa as against the Common Enemy , all the Gods lent h●m a helping hand ; Apollo furnished him with a head-piece , gave him wisedome and understanding to consult , Mercury with wings speedily to execute what deliberately was agreed upon : and the other Gods furnish him with other armes fit for a Souldier ; and so being armed Cap a Pee , he adventured upon her , and overcame her ; a Traitor in a state is like Medusa in Hiberia , hatefull both to God and men ; hee may flourish for a time , but on a suddain he shall perish as if he had never been . In the first and second Scene of the Tragedy , Sejanus may have his statue erected among the Princes of the Nations , may bee courted and honoured as a Prince , have solemn prayers made for him , Dion Cas. lib. 7. and the day of his Nativity celebrated , but in the end of it we shall see his statue demolisht , the day of his Execution proclaimed holy-day , Dion Ca● . lib. 58. and the people villifying him and insulting over him ; nay , more we shall see his children dragd to Execution and thrown into the Gemonyes ; Tac. lib 2. Arnal . his beloved daughter , ( cui forma eximia fama integra , habilitas corporis , & ingenium tali corpore dignum ; so excellently adorned and proportioned both in the outward lineaments of her body , and the inward endowments of her minde that nature could not have framed a more perfect creature ) crying , ob quod delictum , & quo traheretur , neque facturum ultra , alas , what have I done , whether will you carry me , forgive me this one time , I will never doe so againe ; nay , more wee shall see this beautifull Lady , who by reason of her yeares was scant sensible of the punishment , not to be permitted to dy a simple death ; for it being inauditum among the Romanes to strangle a Virgin , she must be delivered to the common hangman to bee deflowred , and then strangled , and cast into the common jakes ; nay we shall not only see Sejanus and his children , but his friends and adherents suffer for his sake ; for as Dion observes , Dion . Cas. lib. 58. si nullum aliud crimen objici poterat , satis erat ad erogandam poenam quod amicus Sejani fuit , it was a sufficient cause to question any man for his life that hee was a friend to Sejanus ; and so much is specified in that Pithy Apology of M. Terentius in Tacitus . Tac. lib. 6. Annal. M. Terent. a Romane knight , being indited and arraigned for that hee was a friend to Sejanus , confesseth and avoideth , fateor ( saith hee ) me amicum fuisse Sejano , & ut essem expetisse , & postquam adeptus eram laetatum ; I confesse I was Sejanus his friend , and desired so to bee , and was glad I had obtained his friendship ; for I saw , ut quisque Sejano intimus , ita ad Caesaris amicitiam validus : contra , quibus offensus erat , metu ac sordibus afflictabantur ; as every one was inward with Sejanus , so was he graced by Caesar ; contrarywise such as were neglected by him , lived in feare and were opprest ; admit Sejanus was advanced without desert , what is that to us ? non est nostrum inquirere quibus de causis super cateros tu quempiam extollis ; tibi summm judicium dii dedere , nobis obsequii gloria relicta est ; aspicimus cui plurima juvandi nocendique potentia datur , quam Sejanum habuisse nemo negavit ; It belongs not unto us to censure him whom thou doest advance above other men , nor to enquire for what cause : judgement belongs unto thee , to us obedience ; wee look who hath most power to doe us good or harme , which Sejanus to have had no man will deny ; this was a part of his plea ; but had hee gone no further , hee had suffred as many others did ; but hee goes on , now ( my Lords of the Senate ) I shall desire your Lordships to take into your considerations not Sejanus his ultimum diem , but his sexdecem annos ; if Sejanus became an enemy to the Common-Wealth , and plotted Treason in his latter time , let them suffer that did adhere unto him in those his conspiracies ; but if Sejanus during the sixteene years that I followed him , carried himselfe loyally to Tiberius , I hope your Lordships will not confound the times past with the times present , and include me in the number of them that did adhere unto him in his conspiracy because I was once his friend ; and so wisely distinguishing of the times he saved his life ; yet hence wee learne with what difficulty they escape that have any dependency upon such as are Enemies to the Common Wealth .

‛ 61. Nihil efficacius Religione sciebat .

Hee knew there was no better way to effect his design then to make religion the cloak .

It hath been a saying of old , that the whole world consists of fooles , and that they are the most notorious fooles , that think themselves the wisest men ; but it is most certaine , universum agere histrioniam , which the Graecians call 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , that the whole world consists of dissemblers , and that hee that will bee free from them must seek an habitation ( as Aeneas Sylvius observes ) ultra Saurom●tas & glacialem Oceanum under the North Pole ; perpauci , immò nulli , qui non aliud externè , aliud internè , aliud vestitu , aliud vna praedicant ; there are few or none to bee found that doe intend what they speak , or practise what they professe : all are dissemblers . intonsum caput , circumtorta barba , torva supercilies , multoties tegunt animum evangelicum ; ècontra cucullus & pallium , vestis cineritia & zona coriacea animum diabolicum ; under a rude and rustick vale is couched oftentimes a great deale of honesty , and under the the vale of simplicity and sanctity a great deale of villany ; there are divers degrees of hypocrites in the world , but amongst them the last that I have mentioned is the chiefest ; for without doubt there are none so abominable as they whom our Saviour compares to the Scribes and Pharisees , crepantes Christum Christum & Templum domini , that make religion a vale to cover their villany ; an open enemy is easily avoided : but a white Divell , Arsenick infused into Nectar and Ambrosia , an enemy that fights under the banner of love and familiarity , and dissimulation guilded over with sanctity , is hardly avoided , Pippin used religion as a cloak to effect his designe ; see Du. Seres in Childer . in fine .

* 62. Nihil tam utile quam brevem esse potestatem .

There is nothing so requisite as that great offices should not bee of long continuance .

It hath been a question amongst such as have written of Common-Wealthes , whether it be better for the CommonWealthe to have Magistrates perpetuall or changeable ; and without question it is better both for Prince and People to have them changeable ; for if they have any command of Provinces and Armyes , and are mischeivously disposed , they have opportunity to effect their designes having a perpetuity in their places ; and the very conceit that they may within a short time be private men , will deterr them from committing divers exorbitances ; yet without doubt it is not good for the CommonWealth for the Prince often to change them , and that for divers reasons ; first , the Common-Wealth would suffer much prejudice by it , haud pareit populo regnum breve ; for knowing their time to bee but short , they would like the evill spirit in the Gospel goe about seeking whom they might devoure , and make a prey of every thing ; and therefore Tiberius being askt , quare ministris diutissimè utebatur , adeò ut plerique iisdem muneribus consuescerent , why hee would suffer his officers to continue their places untill they came to bee old men , gave them this answer , o o Tac. lib 1. Annal. hirudines quae multo sanguine rumpuntur , quiescere solent , recentium verò morsus sunc acerrimi ; hee that is once full will like the leech that is glutted fall off of himselfe , but if he should often change them , they would like new leeches suck out the very marrow of their bones ; to which purpose the answer of the fox in the Apologue is very pertinent , who being taken in a gin , and being much annoied by the flies , was asked by a goose whether hee should drive them away : but the crafty fox answered , deh non far par dio , for Gods sake let them alone ; for if you should drive away those , others would come in their places that will more annoy me ; againe the Common-wealth would in a short time bee turned up side downe ; for that there being as many severall minds in men as there are men in the world , innovations would daily be induced , for that new Lords would ever be devising of new lawes ; againe ars imperandi being ars difficillima , there must bee time to learne this art , which being attained unto , then to remove them were to remove a master , to induce his scholler ; againe able men would not bee found to execute those places , for when they know that within a short time they shall be removed , they will not forgoe the course of life which they are in for an uncertaine preferment ; againe no sedition ( which is the principall cause why the Prorogation of Magistracy is cried down ) is hence occasioned ; for when deserving men attaine to dignities per gradum , no man will repine at them as o o Quicquid subitò inclarescit obnoxium est invidiae , unde vox odiosa 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 apud Graecos , apud Romanos novorum hominum Cognomen , apud utrosque t●rrae filiorum & è Caelo delapsorum . they usually doe at such as attain unto them per saltum and for mony only ; so that where the Writers of Common-Wealthes cry downe Prorogation of Magistracies , they doe intend ●o other then such as in the Persian Dominion was the office of Chiliarchus , in Naples of the Demarchus , among the Turks the President of the Councell , whom they called the Visier Bassa , in France the Majors of the Kings Palace , and among the Romanes the Dictators .

* 63. Decemviri .

The Decemviri were ten select men chosen out of the Nobilitie that did govern the Romane state untill such time as the lawes of the twelve Tables , which they had gathered out of the ancient Greek Lawes , were confirmed amongst them , they held their places without limitation of time , and during their Government , the authority of the Senatours , Consuls and Tribunes were in suspence .

* 64. Dictatores .

The Dictators among the Romans had rigidam & regiam potestatem , a royall power in their hands for the time , and were never chosen but upon speciall occasion , and continued no longer then for the space of six months , at which time they were tyed under a great penalty to yeild up their places ; according to Livy they were set up in the yeare 253. after the building of Rome , to the end to suppresse the suddaine insurrections and tumultuous rebellions which were frequent about that time among the common people ; the Graecians called him that held the office of Dictatorship 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 quasi duplicem Consulem or bis Consulem , because he had fraenum Reip. the whole power of the Common-wealth in his hand ; he had power to proclaime peace and warre , and in his power were the lives and estates of the Citizens ; when he went abroad , foure and twenty torches , and as many axes , as ensignes of his power , threatning vengeance● to such as should oppose that , were carried before him , and whatsoever he decreed , pro numine habebatur .

* 65 Ostracismus inventus est Atheniensibus .

Amongst the Athenians the punishment of Ostracisme .

The punishment of Ostracisme was a banishment for ten yeares ( as Aristotle hath it ) and it was first invented by Chlisthenes ( as appeares in Sigonius ) he manner whereof was thus ; Arist. lib. 3. polit. c. 9. Sig. lib. 1. Athenien . on a certain day every Plebean brought a Shell to the Market place , where the Archontes who were the chiefe Officers of the City met them , Diod. Sic. lib. 11. Bibleoth . and tooke an account first of the number of the persons that brought the shells ; for if they were not full six thousand , there was no sentence given ; that being done , they received the Shells of every one ; and if the name of any man was found in the greater part of the shels , hee was forthwith by the sound of a Trumpet pronounced to bee banisht . This punishment Aristides underwent , Plu● . in Aristid . for that there being some difference betweene him and Themistocles , Themistocles prevailed with the people , for that hee was growne popular by reason of his justice and integrity , to have him banisht by the sentence of Ostracisme . Plutarch hath a pretty Tale of a Countryman who going to Market with his shell , met with Aristides , and not knowing him , wisht him to write downe Aristides name upon it . Aristides then demanding of him , whether the man whose name hee would have written downe ever did him wrong , answered , no ; Neque est mihi notus , verùm valdè stomachor , quod passim justum dici audiam . Neither is hee knowne unto me , but it troubles me much that he is a most just man . This punishment was not inflicted upon Malefactors , but upon such as were growne popular by reason of their vertues : Plut. in Pericle & Nicea . Cymon underwent it , that had so often enricht Athens with the spoiles of their enemies , and because it was inflicted upon so meane a man as Hiperbolus , to whom it was accounted rather an honor then a punishment ; it was utterly aoblisht in the Athenian Common-wealth .

* 66 Syracusanis Petalismus .

Among the Syracusans the punishment of Petalisme .

Petalisme was a banishment for five yeares , which was first induced into the City of Syracuse upon this occasion ; Plut. in Dionys. the government being Aristocraticall , there was one Tyndaris , that endeavoured to reduce the power into his owne hands , which the other Lords perceiving made this Law , that if any one should attempt to make himselfe absolute Lord of the City , that his name should bee written in an Olive Leafe , and delivered unto him , and without any other Ceremony he should be banisht for five yeares ; by which meanes the Government in time came to be changed : the Lords banisht one another , and the Common people came to be Governours : So the Common-wealth from an Aristocratie became a Democratie : Nam destitutis bonis viris rep. pessimus quisque sibi Magistratus poscere caepit .

* 67. Periculosum est ut authoritas in filios descendat .

It is a dangerous thing to suffer authority to descend .

It is a Maxime in the Law , that if a man do enter into another mans possessions , and hold them peaceably all his lifetime , and dye seized , of them , that the true owner cannot regain them by his entry , but must bring his action , and in a legall way recover them , because by the continuance of possession without interruption , and the dying seised , the Law doth suppose ( untill the contrary doe appeare ) that he hath a right due to them . In Eclesiasticall cases nothing is more frequent , then for Parishioners to plead a Prescription per modum decimandi , after two or three Successions , and so debarre the present Incumbent to demand his Tithes in kinde , whereas the Composition in the beginning was voluntary . It holds in Cases of Honours and Dignities ; if a Prince shall gratiously conferre any great office upon any of his Peeres during his life , and after suffer his heire to enjoy it during his , the next heire will not stick to claime it , as his inheritance ; so did the Majors of the Kings Palace in France to the utter extirpation of the Royall bloud ; wherefore Q. Fabius Maximus , whose Father , Grandfather , and great Grandfather had been consuls , and hee himselfe five times , seeing the Senate fully determined to conferre that honour upon his Sonne , ( tendring more the welfare of the Commonwealth then his owne private family ) earnestly desired them , us Fabiae genti consulatus non amplius deferretur , that they would not settle that honour upon his house , or make choice of his sonne ; not because hee thought him unworthy , or lesse deserving , then any of his ancesters , but because hee thought it a thing of dangerous consequence , ut summum imperium in una domo continuaretur : Nobile quidem dictum , & tali viro dignum ; utinam Germani imperatores summum imperium tanquam jus haereditarum sibi vindicantes illud in memoriam revocent .

* 68. Necessarium est ut princeps plures oculos , &c.

Aristotle admonisheth Princes to use many eyes and hands , &c.

It is fabled of Juno that in revenge of the wrong which Iupiter did her , in bringing forth Pallas without her assistance , shee petitioned the Gods that shee might conceive and bring forth a Childe without him , and that the gods granted her request , and shee brought forth the Monster Typhon , who unnaturally rebelled against Iupiter ; such as seek with the strength of their owne braine to mannage the affaires of a State , bring forth Children like unto Typhon , that disturbe the peace and tranquility thereof .

〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , the burthen of a Kingdome is too heavy for one man to beare : Tiberius being tendred it , at the first modestly refused it , Tacit. l. 1. Annal. because of the weight of it : if Thales himselfe ( saith Livy ) were King , Liv. l. 44. and would undertake to mannage all affaires with the strength of his own braine , superbum potius quam sapientem judicarem , I should judge him rather to bee presumptuous then wise . Moses the wise Lawgiver , Numb . 11. considering the weaknesse of humane frailty and his owne infirmity acknowledged , non possum solus sustinere hunc populum , quia gravis est mihi . Pericles is commended because hee ever used the assistance of skilfull men in the mannaging of the affaires committed to his charge ; Amirat . l. 5. dissect . polit. in rebus forensibus , the assistance of Maenippus , in rebus domesticis , of Esialtes . Metiochus is condemned , and the fidlers sang it every where , Metiochus est dux , aedilis , omnia , pereat ; wherefore as that Merchant cannot bee said to bee provident , that adventures his whole estate in one bottome ; so hee shall never deserve those attributes that have beene given to the most renowned Princes , that relies wholly upon his owne braine , or the judgement of any one else .

Quid gravis Antenor , Prianus quid suadeat ipse , Consule , queis aetas long a magistra fuit ,

Is good Councell , and not to be neglected by such as sit at the sterne , and governe the Commonwealth ; magna negotia magnis adjutoribus indigent , many weighty affaires doe need the assestance of many ablemen ; let a man search into all ages , and hee shall finde that great States did ever use divers Councellours ; one man may see some few things ; at esse debent ( as Xenophon hath it ) 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , Princes ought to use many eyes . King James in his 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 to the Prince gives him this advertisement ; ne uno eodemque homine in omnibus negotiis utaris : Xenoph. l. 8. de Paedia . and Xenophon gives this testimony of Cyrus , quòd numerando & honorando , that by his liberality , and heaping of honours on such as did him faithfull service , hee purchased to himselfe many eyes and ears , so as nothing could be said or done that tended to his dishonour , or the hurt of the State , but he had suddainly notice of it ; Arist. l. 3. pol. c. 12. wherefore Aristotle wisely admonisheth Princes to use many eyes and eares .

* 69. Pessimum est unum magistratus plurimos obire .

It is most inconvenient to suffer one to undergo many Offices .

Aristotle condemneth the Law-givers in Carthage , Arist. l. 2. c. 9. that they did not make a Law to prohibite that one man should bee & tibieen & sutor , a fidler and a cobler ; for as in Military discipline , both by Sea and Land , every one hath a proper office assigned him , so should it bee in Civill Government : vitiosum est enim eundem multos magistratus gerere . Plato in the second book of his Commonwealth , where he induceth Socrates and Adimantus debating what persons are most necessary in a Commonwealth , after a long debate , concludes , the husbandman , the architect , the textor , and the taylor , to bee the most necessary ; then Socrates puts this case ; is the husbandman bound to spend his whole time in tillage , and communicate the fruits of his labours to the other three , or may hee spend the fourth part of his time in husbandry , and the other three in building , weaving and making of shoes ; he gives the answer himself , non per Iovem ; nam sicut bos ad aratrum , equus ad cursum , canis ad venatum , ita quisquam debet eam artem exercere quam didicit , for as the oxe is ordained for the plow , the horse for the race , and the dog to hunt ; so is every man to follow that vocation which hee hath learnt , and in which hee hath been bred , neque moleste ferat quispiam , quod non est excellens in omnibus ; nam sicut impossibile est , ut idem sit & leo montanus & Melitaea Catella ; aut quod vinea ferat at ficus , aut olea botros ; ita impossibile est , ut unus excellat in omnibus ; neither let it trouble him , that hee is not excellent in every thing ; for as it is impossible , that one and the same thing should be a Lyon upon the Mountaines , and a little Dog of Melitum , or that the vine should bring forth figs , or the olive grapes ; so it is impossible that any one should excell in every thing . The same Plato in Timaeus , where he bringeth in the Aegyptian Priest talking with Solon , concerning the antiquity and government of Athens , saith , that the Aegyptian laws and the lawes of Athens are in some sort alike ; the Artificers in Athens use their trades as they doe in Aegypt , severally , and not confusedly , every one confining himselfe to his owne trade , and so doe the shepheards and husbandmen ; and if at any time they transgresse their bounds , they are severely punisht , by which meanes , it hapneth that the husbandmen , shepheards and artificers of those places are more skillfull in their professions , then the people of all other Nations .

* 70. Teneriores cum vetulis .

Princes should ever joyne with grave Senators young Gentlemen .

Examples profit more then precepts ; the Senate house and the places of publique meetings were the Schooles , wherein the Senators did traine up their Children . Plutarch in Lycurgo . It was a custome amongst the Lacedaemonians ( as Plutarch observes ) for the Fathers to bring their Children to their solemne feasts and publique meetings , as to publique Schooles , to heare their grave discourses , and to observe their gestures and behaviour ; that so when they grew in yeares they might be able to tell their Children what they had learnt from their Fathers , when they were Children , concerning matter of state and government ; yet ever at those meetings the grave Senior , the eldest of the company , did shew the doore to the rest , thereby intimating unto them , that that which had been spoken of there , must not go out at the doore , and be made publique to the multitude , but bee lockt up close in their owne bosomes .

* 71. Princeps interdùm alios praeter Consiliarios debet audire .

A Prince ought sometimes to converse with others besides his Councellors .

Every generall rule hath an exception ; the golden meane is nor alwaies to bee preferred , as in the case where truth is searcht after ; verissimè dicitur ( saith Erasmus ) quod mediocritas saepenumero locum non habet ; nam ut inter Cantores vbi voluptas quaetur , nemo magis placet quam qui insignitèr benè cecinit aut egregiè malè ; ita ubi veritas quaeritur aut insigniter honesti , aut egregiè stolidi sunt praeferendi ; it is fabled of Luna that shee would sometimes set apart her Majesticall Robes , and vouchafe to come upon the earth and converse with the shepheards , especially with Endymion whom shee favoured above the rest . Children and fooles speak truth ( which the French thus expresse , les fols & les infants prophetisent souvent , and the Graecians thus , 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 ) and whatsoever proceedes from them is well taken , which if it should proceed from wise men , would sometimes be capitall ; the vulgar in respect of the wise are no other , into whose company Princes have thought it no disparagement to come sometimes in disguised habits , where they have heard those things of themselves and of others which they should never have heard elsewhere ; for the Colliar when hee comes neare unto Croydon , having his carkasse well lined with Northdowne Ale will talk as familiarly of the King and the Councell , and the Lord Major and his brethren , as Hermolaus did of Alexander at his death . Commines amongst the vertues of Lewis the eleventh accounts this not the least , quod diligenter de singulis rebus percontabatur , & cupidè audiebat omnes , never Prince ( saith hee ) gave audience to so many men ; never Prince was so inquisitive after occurrences , or desirous to bee acquainted with so many strangers : whereby hee knew all that were in authority , in England , Spaine , Portugall , Italy , and the Seigniories of Burgondy and Brittanny , as well as his owne Subjects ; wherefore as it stands not with the Majesty of a Prince to expose himselfe to the view of the multitude every day , Perche ( as saith Castil . ) non è al mondo cosa tanto eccellente , nelle quale gli igneranti non si satiano , e non tengono poco couto vedendole spesso ; because there is nothing so rare and excellent in the World , but the multitude will undervalue it , and vilifie it if they see it frequently ; so it stands not with the wisedome of a Prince so to mue up himselfe as the Kings of the East Indyes in times past did , who never were seene of their Subjects , but spake unto them arundine ori admota , in a reed or cane through a wall ; or as the Kings of France in times past did , who never shewed themselves to their Subjects but once a yeare , leaving the managing of the affaires , of the Common-Wealth wholly to the Majors of their Pallace , ( as Cedrenus hath it ) but upon every good occasion to give audience to men of the meanest rank .

* 72. Nihil difficilius est quàm benè imperare .

There is nothing more hard then to govern well .

Aeneas Sylvius amongst his choyse sentences ( which hee cals Nomologias ) saith , that to govern well is the art of arts : to obey well is a hard thing , sed benè imperare difficillimum , but to governe well is the hardest thing . Socrates upon a time hearing some country fellowes talking what they would doe if they were Kings and Consuls , wisht that there were a law to punish such as should presume to take into their mouthes things of so high a nature , being out of the reach of their vulgar capacity . See the fable of Phaeton in the second Book of Ovids Metamorphosis , how Phaeton was punisht for taking upon him a matter wherein he had no skill ; in which is shewed quod repellendi sunt a gubernaculo Reip. qui nullam habent rerum experientiam .

* 73. Galba trium arbitrio regi solebat .

Galba was governed by his three Paedagouges .

Galba his Paedagouges , were Titus Junius his Leiuetnnant in Spaine , Cornelius Laco the Captaine of the guard , and Icelus one of his freed men , whom he honored with the degree of Knighthood ; the first was basely covetous , the second was intolerably proud , the third as bad as either of them .

* 74. Talis ipse judicatur .

Hee is thought to bee of that condition as they are whom hee doth use in the managing of his affaires .

Chara est formicae formica , cicada cicadae .

The Greek Orator in his Oration unto Nicocles King of Sicion adviseth him in the administration and government of the affaires of the Commonwealth , never to make use of any ignorant or infamous person , 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , because that all such as are strangers unto thee , will judge of thee by them whom thou usest in the managing of thy affaires ; the Italian saies , la molta famigliarita col cativo fa suspettosa la vita di buono , who so doth make a knave his mate , though hee be good , encurrs much hate , and the Poet saies , Qui juxta claudos habitat subclaudicat idem , Admistusque malis di itur esse malus , hee that is a companion of unworthy men , or that uses such men in the managing of his affaires , will bee thought to bee of their condition ; wherefore Lipsius saith , nullum majus judicium bonae mentis Princes potest ostendere , quam ut adjungat sibi & familiaritèr utatur viris honestis , & fama candidis , that a Prince cannot shew a more manifest token of a Noble minde , then by courteously entertaining and receiving into his service worthy and deserving men ; it was an observation long agoe that the Common-Wealth doth not suffer so much detriment in this , that the Prince is effeminate and given to his delights , as it doth in his neglect in choosing worthy men to manage his affairs .

Plutarch in an Epistle which hee wrote unto Trajan the Emperour , saith , that it did much rejoyce him to heare all men say that there was nothing in him that deserved dispraise ; but was sorry to heare them say , that there was nothing in his officers that deserved prayse ; and that hee should more gladly have heard , that which was spoken of his officers to have been spoken of him ; and that which was spoken of him , to have been spoken of them : because the people can easily brook the imperfections of their Prince , but not the exorbitances of his officers . Seneca in an Epistle which hee wrote unto Lucilius , told him , that hee tooke it for a speciall favour , that hee should make a journey to Rome , of purpose to visit him ; but if by reason of his absence his officers should make a prey of the people , hee should have been better pleased if hee had staid at home . It is a true rule that Common-Wealths florish or decline according to the dispositions and inclinations of the Irenarchae , and of such as are in Authority under Princes ; if an injust Censor be a Superintendent in a City , the City declines ; if a just one , it prospers . Aelius Spartianus in the life of Antonius Pius reports , that hee upon a time taking a progresse to enquire of the behaviour of his Censors , comming into Capua , one of the Towne told him , that upon his knowledge the Censor that was set over them was a most unjust man ; for that when time was he being importuned by a friend , requested of him four things , having no desire to have him grant them , because hee knew hee could not doe it by the rule of justice , yet without making any scruple he granted them all ; and hee verily thought if he had been his familiar friend , as hee was a stranger unto him , hee might aswell have had foure hundred things , as foure : Of such Officers Princes ought to take heed , because it is most inconvenient that they should have power to condemn , that ought to bee condemned : but in another manner doth Cicero speake of M. Cato , happy wast thou O Cato ( saith he ) unto whom no man durst once open his mouth in an injust cause ; hee was used to say , that it is not enough for a censor to be just in his judgements , but that he should bee of such esteem amongst the people for his integrity , that no man wittingly should dare to open his mouth to him in an unjust cause . Not without just cause therefore doth Commines conclude it to bee the greatest part of wisedome in a Prince , to make choice of honest men to serve him , quia aliena haec fama valdè ad suam famam pertinet , because that their good report redounds to his honour , in making such a choice ; and as it is a point of the greatest wisedom in a Prince to make choice of such men to manage his affairs , so it is the greatest happines that can befall unto a nation , if God so dispose of the affections of the Prince , as to settle them upon such men , as tender nothing more then his safety , and the welfare of his people ; and the greatest misery when he suffers the Prince for the sinnes of the people to dote upon unworthy men . During Ner'os Quinquennium whilst Byrrhus and Seneca sate at the sterne , all things succeeded prosperously in the Empire ; but when Tigellinus had a predominant power , all the miseries that could bee imagined fell upon it ; wherefore the daily prayers of the people of all nations should bee , that God would so dispose of the affections of Princes , as to settle them upon honest men ; tales enim talem in ipsos principes potestatem habent , qualem ipse princeps in caeteros ; his se totos ferè trudunt , arcana omnia communicans , & eorum arbitratu & rem familiarem & remp . administrant ( as saith Muretus ) for these men generally have the same power over the Prince , as he hath over other men ; into their breasts hee freely emptieth his seorets , and commends aswell the managing of his private affaires , as the affaires of the Commonwealth .

* 75. Omnium suae aetatis optimus .

Hee was one of the best men of his time .

Vt pupilla in oculo , & anima in corpore , ita Agrippa in rep. oui nemo par , nemo secundus ; as the apple in the eye , and the soule in the body , so was Agrippa in the Commonwealth , having no equall , or any that came near in goodnesse to him . Augustus had two speciall favourites , M. Agrippa , and C. Maecenas ; Agrippa hee so much honoured , that hee advanced him to the highest degree of honour , from so meane a place that hee was ashamed to speak of ; made him twice Consull , and p p Agrippa first married Marcella ; but Augustus desirous to doe him all honour , procured a divorce , and married his daughter Livia to him . married his daughter to him , and it is said , that Augustus never did himselfe more honour then in advancing him ; for that in all his victories hee ascribed the honour still to Augustus . After that hee had overcome Pompey , in which victory heee deserved navalem Coronam & vexillum caeruleum : and whenas Anthony told Augustus , that he was of a heavy and sleepy constitution ; for that before hee could get out of his bed in the morning , Agrippa had vanquisht his Enemies : Agrippa assumed nothing to himselfe , but gave the honour thereof to Augustus , by which his sober and temperate carriage hee wonne not onely the heart of Augustus , but of the Souldiers and Common people , and was accounted the best man of his time .

* 76. Brutidius Niger artibus honestis copiosus .

Brutidius well seene in many good Arts.

Brutidius Niger was a Rhetorician , an Orator , and an Historian . Senec. lib. 2. Controvers. & Lips . in annotat . in lib. 2. Annal. Tac.

* 77. Allegat exemplum cujusdam .

He told him a Story of a certaine man that used all lawfull meanes and could not prevaile .

Ingens telum necessitas , & apud Platonem non minus egestas quam opulentia morbus animi appellatur , it is often seen that extreames in both fortunes turn topsy turvy the very frame and fabrick of nature ; that honours and preferments make men swell and occasion pride , cruelty , and oppression , that wants and necessities drive men into desperate courses , and occasion mutinies , insurrections , and rebellions ; for as the patient that hath no meanes to advise with the Physitian , applyes himselfe to the Emperick : and the Client that wants a purse to retaine a Councellour or Advocate , makes unto the Atturney and Proctor ; so the poore man that wants ability to make in to the best , is of necessity compelled to take up his lodging with the worst , who by ( buzzing into his eares this enchauntment , Aude aliquid brevibus giris , Iuven. Sat. & carcere dignum , Si vis esse aliquid ; probitas laudatur & alget ;

If thou desirest to thrive , doe what deserves imprisonment , for honesty is little esteemed ) corrupts his manners , and in the end makes him become like himselfe ; for as love neglected turnes into hatred , so vertue into vice and villany , nam ubi nullus honos virtuti est , extrema experiri necessitas cogit . Alex. ab Alex. lib. c. 16. Alexander ab Alexandro hath a Story of one that was well versed both in the Greek and Latine tongue , and a man beyond exception in his conversation ; nihil tamen praesidii ad degendum parare potuit , yet could not get cloathes for his back or meate for his belly , who when hee saw there was no way to preferment by vertuous and honest courses , eo vesaniae processit , ut obscaenis & libero homine indignis artibus vacaret , de quibus non licet dicere ita faedae & pudenda sunt , betook himselfe being in want , to so base a course of life that hee was ashamed to speak of it .

* 78. Plures fraude quam virtute .

More raise themselves by fraud then by vertue .

This tenet Machivell Secretary to the Duke of Florence in the second Book of his Commentary upon Livy , sets down for a Principle : but without doubt it is a Paradox ; for greatnesse is no greatnesse that is not founded upon goodnesse ; Horat. Aesops crow is no crow , moveat cornicula risum , furtivis nudata coloribus , and a blazing starr is no starr , it appeares and vanisheth like the lightning and the Morning dew . Sejanus , Cleander , Tigellinus and Asiaticus may peradventure for a time be mounted aloft ; but to what end ? certainly to none other , then malefactors are lifted up at their death , ut lapsu graviore ruant , that their shame may bee the greater ; yet this position may in some times carry a shew and shadow of truth ; it is true that under Tiberius , Commodus , Nero , and Vitellius , more were advanced to a shew of greatnesse by vitious courses then by vertuous ; under Tiberius ( as Tacitus observes ) nemo consulatum imp●trare potuit nisi per Sejanum , neque p p Fuit aulica nubes Excludens reliquos & meliùs meritos : Vt neque virtutes , nec Mars , nec musa , nec artes , a radiis regis quae meruere ferant . Sejani benevolentia nisi scelere obtineri potuit , no man could attaine to any place of honours and reputation but by Sejanus , neither was his favour to bee obtained but by wicked and unjust waies ; under Commodus no man was raised but by Cleander , during all the time that hee was in favour , ad arbitrium Cleandri praetores aut retenti aut oc●isi , & libertini in Senatum electi ; at his disposall were all honours and preferments , Lamp . in Commod . and in his power were the lives and estates of the Senatours and Governours , neither was Cleanders favour to bee obtained but by doing of mischiefe ; Tac. lib. 2. Annal. under Nero no man was preferred but by Tigellinus during all the time that hee was in favour , he by his lewd devises had so scrued himselfe into Neros bosome , that hee would do nothing without him ; under Vitellius , unum ad potentiam iter , scilicet prodigis epulis , Tac. lib. 2. Annal. saginaque satiare inexplebiles Vitelli libidines ; there was but one way to honour and preferment , which was to gluttonise and carouse with him . Againe in the time of war more may peradventure raise themselves by fraud , then by open and plaine dealing ; for that which is fraud in time of peace ; is wisedom in the time of war ; to circumvent an enemy , is no fraud , but wisedome ; quod leonina pellis non potest , vulpina potest , was the saying of Lysander ( as Plutarch hath it in Lysander ) upon whom the Poet thus discanted : Vbi vincere apertè Non datur , insidias armaque tecta parat .

Vid. Supplem . ad Commin post . lib. 6. in principio . In time of war ars decipiendi est ars necessariae ; the Lacedemonians allowed it , and Lewis 11th often read that lesson to his Sonne ; but in times of Peace in setled Governments for a man to raise himselfe by such jugling devises , is to be raised to no other end then to fall againe .

Non habet eventus sordida praeda bonos .

Nam malè parta , malè dilabuntur .

* 79. Exequere munus tuum diligenter .

In thy calling goe on cheerefully .

The Polypragmon is cried downe both by sacred Scripture , and all prophane writers generally ; qua vocatione vocatus , in ea ambula , saith St. Paul , in the first to the Thessal . the fourth . item , sitis quieti , agite propria , 2. Ecclesiast. 22. item quae mandata sunt cogita sanctè . item , Spartam nactus hanc orna .

* 80. Cogitet multa sibi non licere .

It is not lawfull for him to do many things .

Omnia non pariter rerum sunt omnibus apta , saith the Poet , Prop. lib. 3.

Non omnia omnibus decora ( as saith the Orator )

As there are severall Estates and degrees in the world , so there are severall and particular actions incident to each degree ; and those things which may be done by men of one degree with praise and commendation , cannot bee done by men of another degree without disparagement . When the Duke of Orleans Lewis the 12. came to bee King of France , Ami●at . lib. 5 polit. disse●t . certain ill-disposed Courtiers told him that now hee had opportunity to revenge the many wrongs which were done unto him when hee was Duke of Orleans , to whom hee most Princely answered , non decet Gallo●um Regem injurias ducis Aureliensum vin●icare , that it was not fit for the King of France to revenge the wrongs done to the Duke of Orleans . When as Aristides sate as judge between two , Plut. in Aristides one of the parties to incense him against his adversary , told him that hee had not only wronged him but Aristides also ; to whom Aristides like himselfe answered , that hee came not thither to revenge any wrong done to himselfe , but to do him right . When Parmenio would have had Alexander to have done something which was more fit for a private man to do then a Prince , he gave him this answer , ego id agerem si essem Parmenio , I would do it if I were Parmenio , but being that I am Alexander it stands not with my honour to doe it . Plut. in praecept . polit. Themistocles after that he had obtained a famous victory against his enemies , walking up and down amongst the dead corps , espied a chaine of gold about one of their necks , and wished him that was not Themistocles to take it of ; Polybius being in a dump , Seneca to rouse up his spirits set upon him thus : remember your selfe I pray you , doe not shew your selfe so indiscreete as to hurt your selfe to no purpose ; quid tam humile aut tam muliebre quam dolore consumere ? Senec. ad Polib . it is sufficient that you loved your friend whilst hee lived , and performed all friendly offices for him , and exprest as much at his death ; the World hath a great opinion of you for you worth and valour , and exspects that you should shew your selfe more manly ; a common Souldier may quit the field , having receiv'd but a scar , and no notice taken of him ; but for you to shew your self so pusillanimous for so light a wound will be a great dishonor to you ; nam multa tibi non licent quae hominibus in angulo jacentibus licent .

* 81. Non ob propriam virtutem .

Thou shouldst never think that thou art raised for any worth of thine .

When the Painter saw a Phantastick admiring his owne Picture , and preferring the workmanship thereof before the workmanship of all his other pictures , told him that hee did much wonder that it being so excellent a piece did not sell better ; that Alexanders picture did usually bring him so much mony , Hectors so much , Ajax so much , but as for his , no man would give any thing for it ; there is nothi●g so prejudiciall to the servants of Princes as an over weaning opinion of their own worth ; nam quantum sibi ipsissimi videntur , tantum a Rege vilissimi tenentur , for the more highly they doe esteeme of themselves , the more vilely do they appeare in their Princes eyes : for that they generally ( as Commines hath it ) do more affect them on whom they have conferred honours without any desert , then they who having deserved well think them bound to reward them . Lewis the eleventh took great delight to make himselfe merry with these kinde of men , who having at one time received a great Summe of mony , was pleased ( to the end to stirre them up ) to ask what hee should doe with all that mony , and where are now all my servants and followers to whom I owe any thing ? it were good for them to come whilst I have it in my Treasury ; of which his words ( the alarum being given ) the Courtiers came in as the hawk to the lure , every one hoping to get something ; and when the King beheld one above the rest max mè hiautem & quasi oculis pecuniam devorantem , looking upon his mony as if he would have devoured it with his eyes , askt him , what hast thou to say ? Sir , an 't please you ( quoth he ) I have been your Falchoner so long , and the hawks that have been commended to my charge have been as good as any Prince in Christendome ever had , but they cost me a great deale of mony , and a great deale of paines ; another shewed what service hee had done , and a third what hee had done , extolling themselves to the highest ; the King having heard them all , his Chancellour standing by him , askt him , what saist thou my Chancellour ? truly Sir , ( quoth hee ) plùs recepi quam promeruerim , nec ulla de re magis sollicitus sum , quam ut regiae tuae munificentiae responderem , I have received more of your highnesse then I have deserved , neither doth any thing in the World more trouble me then that I cannot tell how to deserve so much as I have received ; well ( quoth the King ) do thou take the mony ; as for these fellowes , erit alia exspectanda occasio , they shall stay untill another time . Here wee finde that verified in the fable of Narcissus , who admiring his owne shadow pined away ; wherefore Amiratus most religiously admonisheth them upon whom the Prince hath cast a more gracious aspect then upon their fellowes , never to ascribe any thing to themselves or their owne merit , but to the providence of God , who hath been pleased to encline the affections of the Prince more towards them then towards other men .

* 82. Tametsi Burrhus

Though Burrhus had promised , yet hee did not performe .

Melius est vota stultae promissionis non implere quam crimen admittere ; though Nero had commanded , and Burrhus had promised to kill Agrippina , yet hee did not performe ; Castilio puts the case whether a servant bee bound to obey his Master in all his commands ; and the answer is negative , cum jubet ea quae in prima tabula vetat deus , aut vetat ea , quaejubet deus , non est observandus , if he commands those things which by the law of God are prohibited , or prohibite those things which by the law of God are commanded , hee is not to bee obeyed ; so did the Mid wives refuse to kill the Children of the Hebrews according to the command of King Pharaoh Exod. the 1. so did the three children refuse to worship the golden Image which Nebuchadnezar had set up ; so did Obadiah refuse to obey the Command of Jezabell in killing of the Prophets ; 1 , Kings 18. and so did Mathias refuse to obey the command of Antioch in offering up of Sacrifices to the Idols . Joseph . lib. 1. de bel . Jud. Cap. 1 ,

* 83 , Templa per Asiam & Achaiam .

Hee defaced the Temples in Asia and Achaia .

It is a fault for the poore to trespasse upon the rich , a greater for the rich to make pillage of the poore , but the greatest of all for either of them to invade the Temples and Holy Places ; the Temples are the places of Gods habitation , and to trespasse upon them is to rob God of his honour ; of this foule offence Iulian the Apostate , Dionysius the Tyrant , and Nero the blood-sucker have been foule guilty , and for it have been branded with infamy to all succeeding ages .

Of Neros cruelty how he spoyled the Temples both in Asia add Africa , how hee set Rome on fire , and accused the Christians with the fact , how he caused them to be clad in the skins of wilde beasts , and to bee torne in pieces with dogs , how in the day time he fastned them to crosses , and when night came burnt them for lamps to give light ; how hee made ascents in his garden , to behold those bloudy prospects ; See Tacit. lib. 15. Annal. and Suet. in Nerone .

* 84. Longinqui ruris secessum orat .

Hee desired leave to spend his dayes in the Countrey .

Hippolitus being resolved to weare out his dayes in a single life in the Country , it so happened , that Phaedra the wife of King Theseus fell in love with him ; and that shee might divert him from that course , prevailed with a Baud thus to assaile him , Sence in Hip. cur tu tot viduas miserè teris , o teris horas ? why doe you lye languishing like a woman that lately buried her husband , and suffer your golden dayes to passe away without taking any comfort in them ? consult with nature , and shee will tell you , quòd laetitia juvenem , frons decet tristis senem , that mirth is as proper to youth , as gravity unto gray haires ; and that if all Creatures should tread in your steps , orbis jacebit squallido turpis fitu , vacuum sine piscibus stabit mare , alesque coelo deerit , there would bee a generall desolation in the world ; there would bee no birds flying in the Aire , no fishes floating in the Sea , no sesitive or reasonable Creatures upon the land . Omnibus est eadem vitae via , non tamen unus Est vitae cunctis exitiique modus . there is but one way to come into the World , but divers wayes to go out of it , and wee dye daily , and if this defect bee not supplied , there must needs follow a vacuum ; wherefore rouse up your spirits , and shake off this solitary humour , and come and revell it with us in the City ; to whom Hippolitus shaped a sharpe answer dii te fecere mulierem , & tu te facis cloacam publicam , in quam se evacuant impuri cujuscunque generis , qui non habent te pro amica , sed pro matula ; follow you your wanton course of life , and give me leave I beseech you to follow mine ; for although the course of life that I lead , seem taedious and irksome to you , yet certainly , non alia est magis libera & vitio carens vita , there is no life more free and angelicall , or commeth more neare to the most innocent and happiest times of our forefathers then the Country life , non torta clausas fregerit saxo balista portas , non hominum strepitus , audit , non ille rotarum , he never heares the sad alarums of the cannon beating at his gate , or the clamorous complaints of the poore at his doores , or the wheeles of the Chariots grating on his eare ; the chirping of the birds are the sounds whereof hee is most sensible ; which course of life though it seem tedious , I say unto you yet , I preferre it before the delights of my fathers Court , q q In hac noverca verificatur etymologia . Noverca quasi novus Orcus , unde poeta in versu plusquam argenteo ; Lurida terribiles miscent aconita novercae . Ovid. lib. 1. Metam . or the love of the Queen my Stepmother . Seneca in his declining time used his best Rhetorick to perswade Nero to give him leave to spend the remainder of his dayes in this course of life . See an eloquent oration of his in the 15 Book of Tacitus to that purpose , wherein hee acknowledgeth the many favours that he had received from Nero , and that now being growen in yeares , and not able to wield so great a burthen as hee had in charge , desires him after the example of Augustus his great Grandfather , who licenced Murcus Agrippa , and Caius Mecenas in their declining times to retire themselves , to give him leave to lead a private life .

* 85. Ars ministri .

It is the wisedome of a Servant at no time to oppose his Prince importunately , unseasonably , without respect of time and place .

Cum inter omnes est observanda quaedam dexteritas , tum praecipuè quandò cum principe agendum est , quod si fit comitèr & dextrè , paulo post plus habent gratiae qui obstitêre quam qui obsecundarunt ; quod enim cupiditati placet , temporarium est , at quod recta ratione geritur perpetuò laudatur , ( saith Erasmus ) As in all our dealings with men of our owne degree , there is a certaine kinde of dexterity to bee used ; so more especially when wee have any thing to do with our Prince , which if wee duly observe in the carriage of our selves soberly and discreetly towards him , we shall have more thankes of him in the end , though we doe sometimes oppose him in his desires , then they shall have that doe second him ; because what pleaseth his phantasie is but temporary and vanisheth , but what is grounded upon reason , is of continuance and abideth . It is reported of Cassandra , that shee did ever truly foretell the people of the event of things , yet they never gave any credit to any she said . The Councels of servants , which unseasonably admonish their masters , are like unto the counsels of Cassandra ; whatsoever they say it is not regarded ; wherefore Aristotle when hee commended Calisthenes his Scholler , and Kinsman unto Alexander did advertise him , that by all meanes he should have a care of his tongue , quia nonnunquam unica vox temerè excidens , nonnunquam jocus intempestivus est maximé nocivus , because that a word spoken unseasonably , or a jest broken is fatall many times ; that hee should speak unto him but seldome , quia difficillimum est simul , & multa , & opportuna loqui ; and when hee did speak unto him it should bee without sharpnesse : but Calisthenes forgetting what Aristotle had taught him , ●un himselfe upon a rock , quod debebat dicebat , sed non quomodo debebat , hee spoke no more then what was fitting , but because hee did not observe a decorum in his speech , hee drew the wrath of the King upon him . Princes are not to bee reformed like other men by telling them plainly of their errours and imperfections ; bluntly to direct a Prince what course hee should pursue ( saith Pliny ) savours of arrogancy , Plut. lib. 3. Ep. Ep. 18. laudare veró opimum principem , ac per hoc posteris veluti è specula lumen quod sequantur ostendere , multu utilitatis habet , arrogantiae nihil . Phalerus being requested by Ptolomy to put him in minde when hee did amisse , answered , that he was of a slow speech , and had not the gift of utterance , but that he would preferre unto him , a Councellor meaning a Chronicle of his own Kingdom , that should do it to the purpose . When Nathan the Prophet reproved King David for killing of Vriah , and commiting Adultery with his wife , hee told him a tale , how there was a rich man that had multa armenta & greges , 2. Sam. 12. and a poore man that had but agnam unam quae de frusto ejus comedebat , de ●nculo ejus hibebat , in sinu ejus cubabat , & erat illi tanquam filia ; and that when a stranger came to this rich man , hee spared his owne , and tooke the poore mans Lamb to entertaine him ; the King not dreaming that hee meant him by the rich man , and Vriah by the poore man , gave this sentence , that he should dye the death , and restore the Lamb four-fold , and so condemned himselfe in the person of another . This is the way to reforme the errours of Princes , that is , by condemning their errours in others , or by commending the contrary in them , without seeming to glance or reflect upon them ; which though it bee the further way about , yet it is the surer and safer way ; see somewhat to this purpose in the sixt book of Commines , of Oliver the Barbour , who forgetting that reproofes should bee used in private without bitternesse , and praises in publique without flatteries , is much blamed for his irreverent behaviour towards Lewis the eleventh .

* 86. Gaudebat talem amicum habuisse .

Hee was glad hee had such a friend .

Petrach l. 7. Ep. 18. It was Petracks request to his friend Hieronymo , that he would deale freely with him , and rather personate Juvenal then Horace , a Satyrist then a harper . Every Garden can bring forth Heliotropium , Aulici Gnathones assimilantur Heliotropo eò quòd cum sole flectit acumen . but not laurum , Marigolds , not Bays ; every Age can produce a Clio and an Agis that will make Alexander believe hee is a god , but not a Scythian Embassadour , to put him in minde of his mortality ; every Age can produce smooth Rhetoritians , and temporising orators to lull Augustus asleep in security , but not a Maecenas to put him in the right way when hee is wandring out of it ; such friends are hard to bee found , and Augustus was glad hee had such a friend .

* 87. Pulchrum est eminere inter viros Illustres .

It is a famous thing amongst renowned Lords to ring .

It is reported of Aemilius Secretary to Nero , that having built a stately house in Rome , hee had a great desire to have Seneca to see it ; and for that end one morning invited him to a breakfast , and whilst it was providing took the opportunity to shew him his house , and withall , acquainted him how hee had disposed of the severall roomes and lodgings therein , how such and such roomes were provided for lodgings for strangers , such for entertainment of Ladies , such for negotiations with Sutors , such for his domestique Servants ▪ and such and such were for other offices : Seneca having viewed them , highly commended the plot , the architecture , and the conveniency of every lodging , being framed alike in all dimensions ; Aemilius then took him into his dyning room , where after they had refresht themselves , Seneca t ok his leave ; and going to his horse , hee lookt upon the house as if hee had never seen it ; and demanded of Aemilius , dichi é questa Casa , whose house that was ? Aemilius wondring that hee should aske such a question , with a smile answered , Sir , did I not invite you to a short repast , and did I not tell you I would shew you my house , and have I not been as good as my word ? and do you ask me whose house it is ? excuse me I beseech you ( quoth Seneca ) it is true I confesse , you told me you would shew me your house , and you brought mee where you shewed me lodgings for strangers , ritramenti per donne , retiring places for Ladies , places for negotiations with Sutors , lodgings for your domestique Servants , and stables for your horses , but you shewed mee never a roome which you said was yours ; and therefore being that you built it for strangers , and for your friends , I conceive that you have the least interest in it ; Sir , between you and mee there have been and are many engagements ; we are fellow servants of one Master , and besides the kinde entertainment which I have now received , I am ingaged unto you for many noble favours , and therefore suffer mee to open my selfe freely unto you ; Guests are accustomed to pay money for what they receive , Parasites requite courtesies with flatteries , Buffones with making sport , but friends with mutuall love and advice ; and therefore as to my loving friend and fellow I speake it , I would have you , Piu tofto con buone e virtuose opere doppo morte acquistar fama , che con edefitii che il tempo consumano , rather with vertuous actions to eternize your memory after your death , then by building of houses subject to ruine and destruction ; for whatsoever is wrought by the hand of man , time turnes topsie turvie , 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , ( as the Greeke Orator hath it in his Oration to Demonicus , ) but the praise of vertue endures for ever ; wherefore amongst the many learned Lectures which Mecaenas read unto Augustus , this was one , Dion cas● lib. 59. That hee should not seeke for fame and renowne by erecting statues of gold and silver , for that they would require a great deale of paines and expence , and to no purpose ; for being not founded upon worth and vertue , they would rather be Trophaea maliciae & monumenta injustitiae quam honoris & gloriae , and the longer they stood , the greater dishonor they would bee unto him ; but that he should with * * Argonautarū expeditio admonet generosos homines ut illustribus rebus agendis gloriam quaererent ; ferunt Carolum ducem Burgundiae mirifice delectarum fuisse lasosonis fabula , ejusque exemplo incensum flagrasse maximarum rerum agendarum desiderio ideoq instituisse societatem aurei velleris . Jason , seeke for prayse and renowne in the performance of Noble atchievments . Sic universa terra erit templum , pro delubris omnes urbes , omnes homines pro statuis , quorum in animis semper cum gloria insidebit : So in every corner of his dominion hee should have a Temple dedicated to his name , in every man that he met he should finde his portraicture and effigies ; in every City that hee past through , hee should heare the Heralds blaze his Armes : one generation should tell another , and there should be no end of his greatnesse ; of which Cyrus was not ignorant , when he gave that in charge to his sonnes upon his death-bed , to undertake noble atchievements , and therby erect to themselves Monuments more durable then the iron and adamant . Pulchrum est eminere inter viros illustres .

* 88. Displicent civilia ingenia filiorum .

That is distastfull to Princes to see their sonnes have popular wits .

As the greatnesse of Subjects is the Glory of Princes , so popularity in Subjects is distastfull to them : When the people began to honour Sejanus in the same degree as they did Tiberius , then did Tiberius abhorre Sejanus ; the glory of the Sunne is not eclipsed by the Moones being in her Complement , but by her Interposition ; the greatnesse of Subjects is no eclipse of Soveraignty : but when the Subject shall stand betweene the Prince and the people , and divert the affections of the people from him , that causeth an eclipse ; wherefore it is distastfull to Princes to see their sonnes have popular wits .

* 89. Pertinax memoria verborum acerborum .

Bitter words make a deepe impression in the minds of great persons .

The use of speech and reason is proper unto mankinde onely ; other Creatures expresse themselves in confused sounds ; the Lyon roares , the Horse neighes , the Deare brayes , the Cow lowes ; man onely being indued with reason , either delights the hearer with the melody of his speech , or offends him with the harshnesse of it : Speech by the Graecians , is aptly termed 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , the light of the minde ; for as by the light of the Sunne which they call 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , the light of life , wee see the superficies of the earth ; So by the light of our words are our intellectualls discerned ; If they are milde and gentle , they are Ensignes of contentment in the mind , and prevaile much ; if bitter and harsh , they are Ensignes of discontentment in the minde , and provoke much . Johannes Salisburiensis hath a Tale of a Lion , lib. 5. c. 17. who being set apart to devoure Andronicus , instead of devouring him , licked and kissed him ; and why ? because hee spake milde unto him , and when time was , pull'd a Thorne out of his foot ; this Appion sayes hee saw amongst other sights which he saw at Rome . As courteous entertainments allay the fury of great spirits , so sharp reproofes kindle and inflame them ; and though for a time they may seeme to bury the fire in the ashes of oblivion , yet in the end it will breake forth and burne the incendiaries ; witnesse those bold speeches of Gallus to Tiberius , Tac. lib. 1. Annal. when the Senate was pleased in all humility after the death of Augustus , to intreat Tiberius to take upon him the charge of the Empire ; and when as he modestly answered , that the charge of the whole would be too great a burthen to him , and that hee would willingly accept of any one part of it : Gallus malepertly and sawcily stands up , and would needs know of him , quam partem reip. mandari voluit ; of which , though Tiberius took no notice for the present , yet he conceived implacable hatred against him ; and although afterwards Gallus would have excused it , and magnified Tiberius for the noble acts which hee did in the dayes of Augustus , Gallus verificatum invenit illud Virgilii Iudicium Paridis ma●et alta mente repostum ; & proverbum , facilius est evocare daemonē qua abigere . yet he could never win his favour againe . Witnesse likewise those speeches which the Constable of France used to the Earle of Embercourt , when the Ambassadors of the King of France and the Duke of Burgundy met together to conclude a peace between them , the Constable with others being assigned for the King , and the Chancellour of Burgundy and the Earle of Embercourt for the Duke ; it fell out that in the parly the Constable gave the Earle of Embercourt the lye , which ( as Comines sayes ) Summam & extremam perniciem ei attulit ; for when the Duke of Burgundy had notice of it , taking it ( as it was ndeed ) as a wrong done to himselfe , the Earle representing his person , he revived the agreement at Bonvines concerning the death of th● Constable , and put that in execution : witnesse likewise those speeches which Enguerande gave to Charles the brother of Philip the fair ; there being some difference betweene two Peeres of France , Enguerande standing for the one , and Charles for the other , in debating of the matter , both being in the height of choler , Enguerande gave Charles the lye ; which ( as Paulus Aemilius sayes ) Nobilitati omni vulnere gravius , and which in the dayes of Lewis Hutin , cost him his life ; for though that was not urged against him , yet that did incense Charles , and occasioned him to accuse him de crimine peculatus ; wherefore Comines gives this Caveat , Lib. 3. lib. 5. Qui sunt in magno loco apud principem , cavere debent ne quid atrocius dicant : And Lipsius this , Cavete vos caniculae , periculosum est leonem vellicare ; beware how yee awake a sleeping Lyon , especially yee that serve your Prince in any high places .

* 90. Commemoratio meritorum gravis . It was fatall to Clitus and Philotas , that Alexander heard that they boasted of the good service which they had done him .

It is observed of yong children , quò celerius loquuntur , tardius gradiuntur , that the sooner their speech comes to them , the longer it is before they goe : And of the Cedars , quo magìs florent ; eo minus fructus ferunt , that the more gloriously they appeare to the eye , the lesse fruit they beare : ( the Frenchman sayes ) les grand diseurs sont sovent les petit faisours , the greatest praters are for the most part the least actors , as the greatest barkers are the worst biters .

Dolia plena cient nullum pulsata fragorem , At digito tactum vas quod inane sonat .

The emptiest vessels and shallowest currents make the greatest noyse . The Mousecatcher with his traps , Altissima flumina minimo sono labūtur . Curt. and the Carman with his coales , will make the streets ring of them , when the Merchant deales in silence without any noyse . Wise men doe and say little , Fooles brag and babble and doe little . * * Ostentatio est certum signum levitatis & stultitiae ; nam quo quisque minus valet , magis se dilatat ostentatione . Cicero . Res ipsa loquatur nobis tacentibus ( saith Seneca ) a servant of a Prince should be no Rodomontado ; for by talking too much hee loseth the honour due unto him . What a shame was it to Terentius Varro , to give forth at the Battell of Cannas , that the same day that he displayed his Ensigne against the Carthaginians , hee would utterly defeat them , and to suffer himselfe to be shamefully beaten by them ? Liv. lib. 2. dec . 3. ( as Livy hath it ) And what a dishonour was it to the Lord Tremoile , to write unto Lewis the 12. that hee would deliver Maximilian la Sforza into his hands , as before he had delivered Ludovick his Father , & in the end to be beaten by him with the losse of two and twenty peeces of his great Artillery ? Guicciard lib. 1● . ( as Guicciardine hath it ) It had beene a great deale more honour unto him to have said and written lesse , and to have done more : Laus in proprio ore sordescit , Qui sese laudat , laudis se munere fraudat , ideo non inutile consilium , Non sua laudabit studia aut aliena reprendet . Hor. Castil . lib , 1. the praises which are an honour to a man , when they proceed out of the mouthes of strangers , are a dishonour when they proceed out of a mans owne mouth ; The people pittied the Souldier when they beheld the many wounds which he had received in the field ; but when they heard him foolishly babling that those many wounds seemed to him but as so many flea-bitings , then they laughed at him . The Ladies likewise thought it an honour to their Festivals , Castil . ib. to have them honoured with the presence of him that had beene a Generall in the Field , but when as being requested to dance with them , he began to talke of his Armes , and how many men he had killed , then they wisht that he might be hang'd up in his Armes untill there were use of him , and were afraid that he would have killed them . In the account of Philotheos , Gnatho and Thraso , a Rodomantado and a Philauto are numbred amongst the most vile and contemptible sort of men : When Philotheos and Philocompos that had beene bred together in their minority , accidentally met , having not seen each other for the space of many yeares before , they both stood amazed , each viewing and beholding the other ; Philocompos wondred that Philotheos , being old , should seem to be so young ; and Philotheos on the other side wondred that Philocompos , being young , should seeme to be so old , and desired each other to give an account what course of life they had pursued . Philotheos began , shewing , that after he had left the Grammar Schoole , he betooke himselfe to the University , where after that he had spent some few yeares , hee returned home and married a wife , 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , like to himselfe in every degree , equall in parentage , equall in portion , and not differing in condition , that he had spent a great part of his time in the study of the seven Liberall Sciences , In the morning searching into the deepest mysteries , Horis matutinis homo tetus est homo dum omnia mentis organasunt tranquilla ; post prandium vix semi homines sumus , cum animus cibis ●onustus gravatur . in the afternoone into matters of lesse difficulty , that hee ever associated such as were of approved integrity , especially Philagatho , and abandoned the company of Gnatho and Thraso , and their Associates , as carefully as Vlysses , did the charmes of the Syrenes , and in this course of life had spent his time . Philocompos then began and shewed how he had followed another course of life , how as soon as he had left the Grammar Schoole , he betook himselfe wholly to his delights , that hee ever hated the name of a wife , because hee could never endure to be confined to one woman ; that he had studied 27. Arts ; but the Art wherein he took most delight , was the Art of Whoring , and to satisfie his desires he had crost the Seas , and had spent many yeares in France and Italy , where he ever spent the morning in his bed , studying what Mistris hee should visit in the afternoone ; that he visited none so often of the feminine Sexe , as Dalila , Flora , Lais , Lamy , Archenasse , and Aspatia ; and of the Masculine , as Gnatho , and Thraso , the Policleti and Patrobii , and their Associates , and in this course had hee spent his time : Philotheos having heard him , made no wonder then to see him so decrepit , and so poore in fortune , but wondred to see him alive , and repented that hee had taken notice of him , fearing that in future times hee would he a burthen to him , and so tooke his leave of him , with a desire never to see him againe ; in this account wee see in what account with wise men a Philauto and Selfprayser is .

* 91. Ne praemiorum petitione sit gravis .

Let not a servant be ever craving and begging .

Castilio gives this advertisement to such as are attendants on the Courts of Princes , Lib. 2. ut rarissime a principe mendicarent , and if they doe at any time move him in the behalfe of any man , to be sure that his cause bee honest , to the end that if his request be denied , it may be no disparagement to him ; if granted , the Prince may have no cause to repent himselfe . It is reported of Lewis the Eleventh , and Maximilian the Emperour , that they did usually sport themselves with the hungry Courtier . Of Lewis it is said , that during the time that hee made his abode in the Duke of Burgundies Court , after his hunting hee did usually retire himselfe to the house of Conon , who did for the most part entertaine him with a dish of Raspes ; that afterwards when hee came to bee setled in his Kingdome , this Conon by the sollicitation of his friends , brought him a present of the same fruit ; but being pinched with hunger upon the way , hee did eate them all , except one of an extraordinary bignesse , which hee presented to the King with great alacrity , and the King received it with greater , and commanded that it should be deposited inter ea que habebat Charissima , and that hee should have for a reward a thousand Crowns ; the fame whereof being spread abroad , and comming to the understanding of a greedy Courtier , hee forthwith presents the King with a faire Gelding , thinking with himselfe , si sic pensavit rapam donatam à rustico , quantò munificentius pensaturus est equum donatum ab aulico ? if the King so liberally rewarded a Countryman that presented him with a Raspe , how much more munificently will hee reward a Courtier that presents him with a horse ? the King perceiving how hee went a fishing with a silver hooke , casts about how to reward him , and at last bethinking himselfe of the Raspe which Conon had given him , caused it to bee brought unto him , and with his owne hands delivered it to the Courtier , telling him withall , quod beue pensatus est equus Cimelio quod sibi constitisset mille coronatis ; that hee was sufficiently recompensed : for that the jewell which hee gave him stood him in a thousand Crownes , and so the fisher was taken in his own net , and became the subject of laughter . The like is reported of Maximilian the Emperour , who having a desire to advance a youg Gentleman , sent to the Citizens of a certaine City to borrow of them a summe of mony , intending it or the greatest part of it to the Gentleman : who prevailing in his suite , knowing the Emperours minde , returned part to the Emperour , and retained part to himselfe , whereof the Emperours Officers being given to understand , forthwith acquainted the Emperour , plus aceeptum fuisse quam exhibitum , that hee had received a great deale more then hee had paid in , and importuned the Emperour to call him to an account for it ; the Emperour seeming not to understand how the matter had been carried , sent to the Gentleman to have him to come to an account ; the Gentleman came accordingly and expressed his willingnesse to performe the Emperours commands , but notwithstanding departed without doing any thing ; whereupon the Emperour sent to him a second time to bring in his account , who as before expressed his willingnesse , yet departed without doing any thing ; the Officers then began to be incensed , and pla●nly told the Emperour , non esse ferendum quod ille tam palam illuderit Caesari , it was not to bee endured that hee should so palpably deceive him ; wherupon the Emperour a third time sent unto him , and told him that without any further delay he must bring in his accompt , assidebant Officiarii paratis adio codicillis , nec diutius tergiversandi locus , hee would bee dallied with no longer , his Officers were there ready to take his accompt ; the Gentleman then plainely told him that hee was a young man and never had been versed in the art of accompts , that the Gentlemen that stood by him were well experienced in it , and if they would but shew him some of their Presidents , they should finde him to bee an apt scholler , and did not doubt but to learn to accompt as well they did , nimirum ut bona pecuniae portio penès ipsum remaneret ; the Emperour smiling at the ingenuity of the young gentleman told his Officers that he demanded no more then was reason , and so dismist both the one and the other : so do Princes oftentimes reward importunate suitors with neglect and derision .

* 92. Hilari vultu injuriae ferendae .

If thy Prince do offer thee any hard measure , undergoe it with all alacrity .

〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 saith Hesiod , a foole is hee that will contend with one whose power doth his transcend ; obsequendo & obtemperando , was the answer of an old Courtier to one questioning him how hee continued so long so gracious in Court ; there is no sacrifice so acceptable to Princes , as is the sacrifice of obedience and observance , nor any thing so distastfull unto them , as to have their words retorted upon them with an t t Dictum est de Olympia matre Alexand. quod p●●●icum habuit , quae acceptam vocem septi●s redderet , quam oppidani Heptaphonon vocabāt , qua reptehendebant veteres objurgarores qui solebāt convitiū unum convitiis multis remunerari . Heptaphonon . Philip of Macedon by his owne Example taught his followers how to carry themselves in the affaires of the Court , who being most contumeliously reproached by an Athenian Embassadour , desired no other satisfaction of the Athenians for the wrong done unto him , but that they would be indifferent judges , which of the two deserved more praise , hee that had a patient eare to heare those opprobrious speeches , or hee that had a tongue to deliver them ; posse & nolle nobile ; as it is a badge of clemency and of a Princely disposition in a Superiour to connive at wrongs , and to construe things ever in the best sence ; so it is a high point of wis●dome in an inferiour ; wherefore Erasmus wisely , as they deserve the name of fools , qui pro ictu apum mel relinquunt , that for a little stinging of the ●●ees will quit the hony in the hives : so they deserve no better attributes , who upon every sleight occasion will take an offence , and quit the service of their Master ; injuriae spraetae vilescunt ( saith Tacitus in the fourth of his Annals ) injuries neglected passe for nought , and vanish with the smoke . cum Lentulus sputum & purulentiam in os Catonis injecit , when Lentulus spit or spued rather in Cato's mouth , Cato put it of merrily , saying , if any man in future times shall make a doubt whether Lentulus have a mouth , let him come to me , and I will resolve him ; and when Xantippe washed her husband , having before shaved him with words keener then a rasor , hee good man said no more then post●tonitrua imbres , after thunder hee lookt for raine ; vincit qui patitur , there is no such weapon to encounter potency as patience , and no Mediators like unto petitions and supplications .

* 93. Otium penitus auxit .

As before hee advanced warre , so now hee studied to advance Peace .

Castilio in his second Book sayes , that it is the property of a wise Courtier to avoid envy and malice which is ever an attendant on such as serve their Prince in any high place ; to frame and fashion his behaviour to the fashion of the Country where hee liveth ; and his discourse to the capacity of the people with whom he converseth , ever having a respect to their age and condition ; q q Apud Italos osculo ●alutant viri viros , apud Germanos si facis . absurdum ; ibi pro osculo dextram porrigunt , in Anglia viri salutant mulieres etiam in templo ; in Italia flagitium habetur ; in Anglia porrigere poculum in convivio civilitatis est , in Gallia contumeliae . Apud Italos salutare more Italorum , apud Germanos Germanorum , apud Gallos Gallorum , & apud Anglos Anglorum ; with the Italian to salute after the manner of Italy , with the German of Germany , with the French of France , and with the English of England ; towards old Men and Matrones to carry himselfe gravitèr , applying his discourse to the times wherein they flourished towards young men and maidens comiter , Senes gaudent ea memorari quae multorum fugiunt memoriam , admiratores temporum in quibus ipsi floruerunt - Matronis dulce est refricare memoriam ejus temporis cum a procis ambirentur . r r De sua cuique arte grata est confabulio . in the Country to advance husbandry , in the City mechanicall trades and occupations , in times of warr military discipline , in times of peace civill government ; briefly in all companies and in all places to behave himself so , ut fines rationis non transiret , that hee never transgresse ●he bounds of honesty and civility .

94. Ne familiarem se nimis .

Let not a Princes servant make himselfe too familiar with him .

Ignorat vulpes cum quo ludit ; the Lion , the Fox , and the Asse as it is in the Apologue meeting together , agreed to goe seek their fortune , and what they got to put into a joint stock , and to share it equally and indifferently ; who after they had wandred long about the wood met with a prey , and it fell to the Asses lot to make the division , who like a silly creature devided it into three equall shares , and presented it to the Lion to make his election , Luc●● . l. 1● who finding his presumption , fell upon him and devoured him ; omnis potestas impatiens consortis erit , as the old Poet hath it . Princes expect to bee reverenced afarr off , and will not endure to have their servants come so neare as to treade upon their heeles ; Caesar will not endure a Superiour , nor Pompey an aequall .

* 95. Ne Principem a rebus ●erendis .

Let a Princes servant be carefull that hee do not take upon him to direct him .

Cu●t . l. 7. The saying of Cobbaris to Bessus in Curtius is observable , Servo utilius est parere dicto quam afferre consilium , it is more safe for a servant to obey then to direct : for if things fall out succesfully , he may perchance have thanks for his labour ; if otherwise , it is fatall unto him ; V. alerius Maximus , and Aulut Gellius have a Story of Posthumus Tubertus , who for that his Sonne his eldest and beloved Sonne fought with his enemy of his owne accord contrary to his command , though hee● overcame him ; cut off his head ; for it is a thing of dangerous consequence , that a servant should neglect the precepts of his Master , a Souldier of his Generall , and a Subject of his Soveraign . Castilio debates the question , whether it be lawfull for a servant to transgresse the bounds of his Commission upon a supposition that what is enjoyned him may bee better effected another way , and hee holds the negative , and produceth two severalll Praesidents ; the one of the Sonne of M. Torquatus , for that hee executed his Fathers Commission in fighting of a duell , suffered for it , though he had the glory of the day ; the other of a certain Engineere , to whom Mutianus sent to have the greatest of the two shipmasts which hee had seen sometimes in Athens , to bee sent unto him to make him a ram to batter the wals of a City which he had besieged in Asia , to whom the Engineere sent the lesser , knowing it to bee the better for that purpose ; sed quia consilium dare potiùs quam obtemperare maluerat , Mutianus committed him to Prison , and caused some corporall punishment to bee inflicted upon him .

96. Cautè omnia faciat .

Let a Princes servant bee ever cautelous .

The Councell which is given by the Sonne of Syrack is not to bee neglected ; separate thy self from thine enemies , and have an eye unto thy friends ; for there bee many that will sit at thy table , and eat of thy meate , & in secundis tuis erint tanquam tu , which in adversity will fall from thee , and discover what they can to defame thee ; let him bee cautelous therefore and wary . When the Soldan of Babylon demanded of Melchisedeck the rich Iew of Alexandria , quale de la tre legge colui reputa la vera'ce o la Giudaica , o la saracenà , o la christiana , which of the three lawes hee thought to bee the true law , either the law of the Iewes , the Saracens , or the Christians , thinking by his answer to have entrapt him , the Iew merrily answered him with a tale of a ring , and told him how there was a certain man which had a ring which he highly valued , and gave it out that he to whom he gave that ring , at his death , should be his Heire and inherite his Possessions ; that it fell out accordingly that hee was his Heire that had the ring bequeathed unto him ; that this custome continued in the family for many discents , the Heire of the house being generally known by having the ring ; that in the end it so hapned that hee that was Heire , had three Sonnes , whom hee so entirely loved that hee intended to make them all joint-Heires of his Possessions , and to that end caused two other rings to bee made so like unto the first , that Argus with his hundred eyes could not distinguish them ; which being given to his Sons upon his death bed , there grew a great contention between them after his death about his Possessions , each pretending to have the right ring ; and this was all that the Soldan could get out of the Iew , reserving the interpretation to himselfe . When the high Priests and Elders set upon our Saviour , and would needs know of him , 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 by what authority hee did those things , hee answered them , 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , the Baptisme of John whence was it of heaven or men ? Mat. 21.25 When the two shepheards met together , and the one would needs know of the other quibus in terris Tres pateat Coeli spatium nou● ampliùs ulnas , Alii hoc aenigma de quodam profundo puteo volunt intelligi , in cujus imo si quis fuerit , tantum Coeli spatium conspiciet , quantum sola latitudo putei fuerit . the other answered , s s Alterum aenigma exponunt ut Hyacinthum significet , in quo flore flebilis illa Graecorum vòx 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 inscripta invenitur , ut Naso Poeta lepidissimè narrat . dic quibus in terris in scripti nomina regum Nascantur flores . Virg. Ecl. 3. To answer an insinuating Sophister with an aenigma or a dilemma , and a curious inquisitor with an impertinent answer , is a point of wisdome ; a wary distrust is requisite in every one , but more especially in them to whom any office of trust is committed , they are as eyes to the body , and as sentinels to an Army , and should ( as Erasmus sayes ) confidere paucis , quamvis arridenti , ●omplexanti , immò dejeranti .

* 97. Sit modestus & humilis .

He will alwayes be of a lowly spirit , and so stop the passages of envie .

It is reported of Cato , Plu. in M. Catone that hee was forty times accused , yet ever came off with credit , to the shame of his accusers : There is no better way to allay the fury of malignant spirits , then an honest and vertuous life .

Vivendum rect● tunc propter plurima , Iuv. at . 9. tunc his Precipuè causis , ut linguas mancipiorum Contemnas ,

As saith the Satyrist ; for whosoever he is that can say with Gracchus when he returned out of Sardinia , I have served my Prince so many yeares , and if during that time I have taken , or was privie to the taking of a bribe of any man to the value of a halfe-penny , Omnium nationum nequissimum existimatote , let me be the chiefest knave in Poneropolis , and accounted the veriest villain that goes on the earth ; he needs not feare the displeasure of any . Prov. 10.9 . Qui ambulat simpliciter , ambulat confidenter , saith the Wiseman ; hee that walketh uprightly , walketh safely : Conseia mens recti famae mendacia ridet , for hee that knowes himselfe to be innocent , cares not what men say , neither feares greatnesse or power .

* 98. Immodicos honores fugiat .

Let him never desire to climbe too high .

When Icarus was to crosse the Seas with his waxen wings , his Father did advise him to flye neither too high , nor too low : Nam si dimissior ibis , Vnda gravet pennas ; si celsior , ignis adurat ; but to keep the middle rode , lest on the one side the Sunne should send forth his beames , and burne him ; or on the other side , the water her vapours , and make his wings flag ; but he neglecting what his Father had warned him of , perished in the waters . Mediocria firma , superflua nocent ; Sen. Ep. 39 sic segetem nimia sternit ubertas , sic rami onere franguntur , sic ad maturitatem non venit nimia foecunditas , saith the wise Heathen ; the Golden Meane is to be preferred ; the House that is situated neither upon a hill , nor in a dale , but betweene both , is freest from winds and waters . A Ship cannot sayle in a storme , or in a calme : Foelices quibus obtigit sor● ne● summa , nec infima , sed sanè modica : The man that lives betweene supereminencie and basenesse , is freest from scorne and envie ; wherefore the counsell that Daedalus gave his sonne , is not to bee neglected by the Servants of Princes ; for if honour be a burthen , great honours must needs be a great burthen ; and if a man doe over-burthen himselfe , hee may perchance breake his backe .

* 99. Immodicas opes fugiat .

As great honours , so great possessions are not to be desired .

Iuv. Sat. 10. Opuleutia ebrii ausi sunt 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 contra stimulos calcitrare , con●ra torrentes niri , donec in exitia sunt educti . Tac. lib. 3. Annal. Quamplures nimia congesta pecunia cura , strangulat , saith the Satyrist , when the spunge it is full , it is crusht ; Cum saginati sues mactantur in coenam domini : When the Hog is fully fatted , hee is destinated for the Shambles ; Great Fortunes and Estates are attended with great envie ; when one man shall gain the estates of many men to himselfe , it cannot but draw the envie of many men upon him . When Seneca began to be exceeding rich , then , and not before , did Suilius begin to upbraid him , how he was an enemy to Claudius friends , and was deservingly banisht by him , how he wrought upon the weaknesse of young Gentlemen , and by his subtill devices within the space of foure yeares had gotten infinite Treasure ; how at Rome he beguiled Legataries of their Legacies , and drained Italy and the Provinces adjoyning with excessive usury . When Italy abounded with treasure , then did the Italian complaine how his Country , Tutta via è prae a ●spostà a genti strane per le motle richezze di chi è pienà , was alwayes exposed as a prey to strange Nations , by reason of the exceeding great riches wherewith it did abound . When Sophocles grew rich , his own sonnes , to gaine his estate , accused him before the Judges pro deliro & ●fatuo quasi qui rem familiarem temere profunderet , & opus habere videretur curatore , that hee was grown childish and needed a Guardian to manage his estate ; wherof Sophocles being given to understand in his old age , wrote that elaborate Tragedy , entituled Oedipus Colonaeus , and acted it to the life before the Judges , which when they heard , t●ey askt his sonnes , Num illud carmen videretur esse carmen delirantis , whether fooles did use to make such Verses , and so with much difficulty freed himselfe ; yet hence we learne , how the estates of some men draw their owne houses upon their heads , and make their children to neglect them .

* 103 Ne publica praedia sibi acquirat .

Let him bee carefull , that he doe not make a prey of the Common-wealth .

It is fabled of the Crow , that being stung by the Adder , cryed out , 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , woe is me that have made such a purchase as will be my ruine , who in the extremity of sicknesse desired his mother to pray for him : but shee askt , 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , which of the gods ( my sonne ) will compassionate thy case , being that thou hast bin an enemy to the Common-wealth all thy life time ? for where is hee whom thou hast not trespassed upon in the stealing of his Corn , by reason whereof thou art esteemed no better then an enemy to the Common-wealth , and art hated of God and men ? It was a constant custome among the Romanes , as often as the Senate met together , to consult of the affaires of the State , to give this in charge , Vt caverent ne resp . aliquid detrimenti caperet . As often as Caesar sent any Letters abroad to his Embassadors or Agents , he ever added Si reip. commodo fieri potest ; when hee wrot unto Labienus and Tribonius , Vt ad certum diem adessent , he addes this , Si reipublicae commodo fieri potest . King James sayes , that in all cases which concerne the Common-wealth , it behoveth a Prince to be strict and severe : but in cases which concerne his owne private affaires , to be easily intreated : Nam quaedam scelera ( as he saith ) sine scelere condonaeri non possunt , for that there are certaine offences which cannot be pardoned without offence , as Murder , Incest , Witchcraft , Poysoning , and the Sodomiticall sinne , which the Grecians call 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , of which abominable Sodomiticall sinne the Apostle speakes in the 1. to the Romanes , saying , 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 ; in which cases a Prince should be very circumspect how he grants any pardon , because it is more consonant to reason , and more pleasing both in the sight of God and man that one suffer , then that the Common-wealth suffer . Friends are deare , and kindred are deare , and Parents are deare , and children are deare , Sedomnes omnium charitates patria una complexa est , pro qua quis bonus dubitat mortem appetere ( as saith the Orator . )

* 101. Si superbiam fugiant .

If they banish pride .

As there is no vertue that gives a greater lustre unto greatnesse , then affability and courtesie ; so there is no vice that doth more eclipse it , then pride and arrogancie , Insuaves enim sunt ad omnem vitae consuetudinem superciliosi & caperatafronte magistri .

* 102. Tardius hoc usus est .

Hee used the remedy too late .

Sero sapiunt Phryges , sero ga●eatus ab armis ; when the Souldier hath received his presse-money , it is too late for him then , Palinediam canere : When Seneca hath enricht himselfe by the service of his Master , and incurred his displeasure , it is too late for him then to desire to retire himself . Castilio puts the case , whether a man being once admitted into the service of a Master , may without prejudice leave his service ; the case is controverted ; on the one side it is said that he may , especially if he see him running into exorbitant courses , for that he will be thought to be accessary to his exorbitancies : For as the Astrologers report of Mercury ( whom the Poets feign to be the servant of the Gods ) that it is a Planet indifferent , and good or bad as it is in conjunction with other Planets ; if it be joyned with Sol , Jupiter , or Venus , it produceth good effects ; if with Saturne or Mars , evill : So are servan●● regularly reputed to be as their Master● are . On the other side it is said , Exorandus est Deus ut bonos nobis Magistros concedat , utcunque tolerandi sunt ; that we must pray to God to send us good Mast●rs , for when wee are once admitted into their service , we must take them with all their faults , and for many respects not to quit their service ; for as it is a hard thi●g to get up , so it is dangerous to come downe , for that the most just man in the world cannot carry himselfe so upright , but he shall commit many slips , which every Plebeian will be ready to take hold of , when he sees him stand by himselfe : wherefore Seneca should either in the beginning , or not at all , have quit his Masters service .

* 103. Destruit ingentes animos longius aevum .

Long life is a dishonour to a man when he survives his honour .

Philodoxos ambitious of fame , came to his friend to know what he should doe to get him a name , who gave him this answer , Non ignoro , honestum illum 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 ( quem vulgo Sergeant votamus ) multum contum●liae perpessum . Imitare Erostratum qui incendit templum Dianae , aut Zoilum qui laceravit Homerum ; imitate Erostratus that burnt the Temple of Diana , or Zoilus that tore Wilde in pieces . O but ( quoth Philodoxos ) I would not bee knowne by doing of villanies , but by the performance of noble atchievements ; why then ( said his friend ) pursue the wayes of honour , and look not after honour , for it is the nature of it to flye from those that follow it , and follow those that fl●e from it ; imitate Aristides , Phocion , Socrates , both the Catoes , all which deserved well of their Countries in their Generations : O but their fame was attended with envie , Aristides was banisht , Phocion and Socrates poysoned , Cato senior was forty times accused , Cato Vticensis was guilty of his owne death ; and I would have honour , but not attended with envy ; why then you must ( said his Friend ) with Codrus and Decius perform some Noble worke , and in the very acting thereof desire of God to take you unto him ; for if you survive it , envie will follow you as the shadow doth the body , and long life will redound to your dishonour . How many may we call to minde that in their declining times have been most unfortunate , who in the flower of their youth were most fortunate ? Let us behold Priamus who lived to see not onely the destruction of his Kingdome , but of his hopefull children ; Let us admire Dionysius who being driven from Syracuse where he had reigned a long time , became a poor Schoole-master in Corinth , and got his living by teaching of children . ●et us behold Croesus , Xerxes , Polycrates , M●thridates , Pompey , Longshampe , Wolsey , who if they could now rise out of their graves , would tell us that our lives are prolonged for the most part , rather to adde to our afflictions , then for our content ; if Priamus had dyed before hee had seen the destruction of his Kingdome and children ; if Dionysius , whilst he was King of Sicily ; if Wolsey and Warwick in the height of their fortunes , how advantagious had Death been unto them ? The Historians then in future ages would have had no cause to have stiled them Ludibria Fortunae . The Thracians never lamented the death of their children and friends , for that it did disingage them of many miseries , but their Nativities , and when they were in the world to see them survive their sences and reputations ; Non ego , quos ra●uit mors , defleo , defleo vivos quos uru●t longo fata futura metu ( saith the ●pigrammatist ) there is no such torture as to anatomize a living man , he that survives his reputation is anatomized whilst hee lives , and long life is a dishonour to him .

* 104. Quod mors invito , hoe tu sponte fac.

That which death doth against thy will , doe thou thy selfe willingly .

The Iustitiaries hold that there is a two-fold death , a naturall and a civill death ; the one is when our dayes are run out according to the course of nature , the other when wee abandon the world and the delights thereof ; this kinde of death doth Evenkelius perswade the servants of Princes in the height of their fortunes to undergoe , to prevent future mischiefes .

* 105. Multum habent contumeliarum ut intres .

Thou canst not come into them without reproach .

They were discreet and wise answers which a Physitian gave once to his Patient ; a Patient being troubled in his eyes , in his eares , in his stomack , in his estate , and in his minde , came to a Physitian to seek for remedy , who prescribed him for his eyes à Meretricibus abstinere , to forbeare the company of lewd women , for that there is nothing so offensive unto them as those kind of Cattell ; for his eares , a a Balnea , vina , Venus , valde nocent oculis . that he should have a speciall care how hee married Rixosam foeminam , b b

Quidam jocosus de quadam foemina quae fuit valdè formosa , sed valde rixosa taliter jocosè scripsit , Tacta places , oculisque places , & dum taciturnaes , Tota places , neutro non taciturna places . Aliter alter de altera foemina quae ●uit admodum prudens & modesta , sed valdè incurva & deformis .

Tacta places , audita places ; si non videare , Tota places ; neutro si videare places . nam ut fumus est oculis , ita faemina procax est auribus , for that the smok is not so offensive to the eyes as a scolding wife is to the eares ; For his stomack , that he should abstain à Cardinalis mensa ; Nam nihil magis sanitatem impedit quam ciborum varietas . Destruit ingentes stomachos confusio pastus , Quisi sit simplex nausea nulla foret , for that there is nothing so offensive to it , as variety of meates ; for his estate , ( although that did not lie within the compasse of his profession , yet he would tell him freely what hee thought ) Quod a Judaeo mutuum non acciperet , that hee should never have any thing to doe with a Iew about matter of money ; And for his minde that hee should carry himselfe so towards all men , Vt aulas dominantium non ingrediatur , that hee might have no occasion to attend the Courts of Iustice , or the houses of great men ; Quia multum habent contumeliarum ut intres , plus cum intraveris , because thou canst not come into them without reproach , or stay there without greater .

Epilogus .

WHen Panurge consulted with the multitude concerning his marri●ge , 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 Friar John utterly disswaded him from it , and why ? because the bels sounded forth nothing els , but marie point , marie point , point point , point point , si tu te marie , tu t'en repentiras , tiras , iras coqu seras , marry not , marry not , not not , not not , if you doe , you will repent , pent pent , for you will be a Cuckhold ; which put Panurge into such an agony that hee never durst adventure upon a wife by reason of the sound of the Bels. Wee read of a people living in Vtopia that have seven tongues , and every tongue divided into seven parts , and every part speaking seven severall languages , that prayse and disprayse without reason or sense , and judge according to phansy as the Bels direct them , whom Plato resembles to a monster with seven heads whom wee call the multitude ; from this kinde of people I wash my hands , I dare not meddle with them , they have too many tongues for me to deale withall ; it is not for them that I provided this service , it is too hard for their disgestion ; but for you my friends wheresoever you are , either in the Academyes or in the City , to whom God hath given two eares , and but one tongue . And for no other reason , but because ( as I have said in the beginning ) I conceive it to bee both usefull and delightfull ; for as he that travailes into Italy having never been there before , hath need of a guide and an interpreter , otherwise he may perchance fall into the hands of the Banditi before hee is aware ; and as he that is to crosse the Seas hath need of a Pilot if hee have no skill in navigation , otherwise hee may fall into Scylla and Charybidis ; so it is with them that converse in the Courts of Princes , which are in the body politick as the heart in the naturall body , and as the center in the circumference where all the lines meete ; they have need of Intelligencers , Interpreters , Councellours , and all little enough ; and because I conceive this stranger to be an excellent truchman , and to bee able to shew unto you on the one side the dangerous wayes of dishonour , that you may avoid them by the examples of such as have perished in them , and on the otherside the wayes of honour , to the end that you may pursue them by the examples of such as have lived and dyed in grace and favour with God and men ; I have here made him speak unto you , ( to the end you might bee acquainted with him ) in your own language ; who could with more ease have acted my part ( by saving the transcribing of it ) in the Authours own language , desiring you to bee advised by him , and for no fading , momentary , windy profit , pleasure , or honour to neglect his advice .

AFter I had past over this little treatise , and considered how they that had obtained the greatest honours and preferments , have come to the most untimely and unfortunate ends ; the saying of the Psalmist came often into my minde , man that is in honour and understandeth not , is like the beast that perisheth , Psal. 49.12 . which occasioned this short meditation .

〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 : you know not what you ask : Mar. 10.38 was the answer of our Saviour to the sonnes of Zebedee that desired to bee preferred before their fellows . When the Hawk is full gorged she flies from her Keeper , and the Prodigall in prosperity runs from his father , but hunger and adversity reclaimes them and brings them home to the lure againe ; the schoole of affliction is the schoole of instruction and humiliation , and in this schoole doth Christ traine up his schollers ; here are read Lectures of divinity and humanity , and here wee learne our duties both towards God and our Neighbours ; affliction giveth underderstanding , and the rod bringeth wisedome saith the wise man , and whosoever will bee a fellow with Christ in heaven , P●o 2● . 15 . must first bee a probationer in this schoole ; through many tribulations wee must enter into the Kingdome of heaven ; the pleasu●es and vaine delights of the world like strong wine dazle our sences ; and leade us hudwinke to destruction ; but by crosses and tribulations as a tender mother with soure t'hings weanes the childe from the dug , doth Christ weane us from the world , and brings us home to himselfe ; in my trouble ( saith the good Prophet ) I called upon thee , but in my prosperity I said I shall never bee removed . Sol and Boreas the Sunne and Winde upon a time conspired to try their power in disarming a travailer of the weapon ( being his cloake ) which did defend him against them , and by consent the winde was to make the first assault , who in the morning early went forth to seek his prey , and meeting with the travailer upon the rode , in a furious manner set upon him , but hee holding his weapon in his hand stoutly withstood his first encounter ; anon after hee set upon him againe , and so violently that he gave him a blow which made him reele and stagger , yet the travailer stoutly still held his weapon ; a third time like a Lyon enraged hee set upon him more furiously then before , and so farr prevailed notwithstanding hee lay cauteously at a close ward , that hee came within him and strok up his heeles , thinking then certainly to have disarmed him ; but the poore man stoutly ●●ill held his weapon , and would not yeild it upon any conditions ; the Winde then being out of all hope to prevaile , betook himselfe to his wings , and in a great rage flew away ; the Sunne standing by and observing the valour and magnanimity of the poor man , and that in a rigorous way there was no dealing with him , in the afternoone set upon him in another manner ; hee came not like a Lyon , but like a Fox , not as an enemy , but as a friend , and in a friendly manner by his delightfull beames insinuated himselfe so into his bosome , that within a short time hee made him lay down not only his cloak but his coate also ; the blustering winds of adversity make us more vigilant and cautelous , but the delightfull beames of prosperity dazle our eyes and deceive us ; whilst the Prodigall was in prosperity , swilling himselfe in pleasure with his Mistresses hee never dreamt of his father : but when he once tasted of adversity , then hee cried out ; 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , Luk. 15.18 . I have sinned against Heaven , and against thee , and am not worthy to bee called thy sonne , suffer me to bee one of thy hired servants ; the dearest of gods children have been over-taken with the foolish delights of this vaine world , and they whom the stormes of adversity could never move a jot , have been allu●ed in times of prosperity to doe those things which a modest eare would blush to heare ; as David in the case of Vriah ; hee that in adversity preserved the life of his Enemy , 1 Sam. 26 , 9 in prosperity took away the life of his friend that fought in his behalfe ; but thou , 2 Sam. 11. O thou Bersheba , wast the cause of all ; beauty , riches , honours , pleasure , profit and promotion , which Saint Iohn in his first Epistle set forth by the concupiscence of the flesh , 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Ioh. 2.16 . concupiscence of the eyes , and the pride of life , bewich us ; beauty whose fuell is gluttony , whose flame is ignominy , whose ashes and end is beggery , like Judas , with a kisse betrays us ; riches with their cares and feares consume us , as a moth doth the garment , and the rust the iron ; honours and preferments transport us beyond our selves , and whilst they set us up on high , and make us known to the world , they make us forget our selves , our neighbours , and our Saviour ; yet these are esteemed the chiefest and choysest commodities in the great faire of the world , which indeed make a glorious shew to the eye , but being touched and weighed they prove not Gold but Alchymy , mear frippery and vanity , ( as the wise King , who was a great dealer in them hath sufficiently shewed out of his owne experience ) hee that kept for his pleasure 700 Wives , and 300 Concubines , that had the rarest Musitians of both sexes , 1 Reg. 10. ●●1 . that had his Vineyards , gardens , orchards , fishponds , and whatsoever else could be thought upon to please the sences in a most exquisite manner , that had an Estate that exceeded all the Princes of that Age , 2 C●ron . ● having his very footsteps made of beaten Gold , by whom silver by reason of the abundance of it , was esteemed no better then Stones , that was honoured a d sought unto by all the Princes of the earth for his wisedome and magnificence , delivers this opinion of these so choice and much desired commodities ; Ecclesiastes , 1.2 . vanity of vanities , and all is vanity . Saint Paul values them according to their worth , I have not esteemed ( saith he ) the riches of the world better then 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , Phil. 3.8 . dung , dung indeed they are , or very little better if wee duly consider of what materials those merchandises that are so highly prized are composed ; what are the precious stones of which there is so great an opinion , but the froth and superfluity of the Sea coagulated , esteemed onely for rarity , and of no use , nor in the eye of our law valuable ; and what is Gold and Silver but earth refined ? what are Silkes and Velvets but the excrements of wormes woven and knit together by poor labouring men ? what are those rich furs of Martins , Sables and Ermines , but the skins of little beasts esteemed onely for rarity , and in no degree so usefull as are the skins of sheep and oxen ? what is the finest Scarlet Cloth but the woole of sheep , painted over with an artifitiall dye to please the eye onely ? what are the sumptuous buildings of the world , but heaps of wood and stone , laid together by a company of poore labouring men , set apart in the Common-Wealth to gather sticks and stones , and to pile them handsomely together ? what is beauty but a flower , subject to the blasting of every winde , and to be defaced by the scratch of a hand or pin ? and what is honour without virtue but a puffe , a smoke , a bubble , a nothing ? Saint Austin desirous to suppresse the market where these Commodities are uttered , in some indignation thus informes against it ; O vile and miserable world , whose vexations are certaine , whose pleasures uncertaine , whose troubles are durable , whose joyes momentary , whose torments insufferable , whose gifts contemptible , whose promises prodigall , whose performances base and miserable , who despisest them that love thee , and beguilest them that trust thee ! It is extreme folly for a man to dote upon a woman that hath neither portion or proportion , nor yet any good quality or condition in her ; but for a man to settle his affections upon earth and stones , upon dung and excrements , and upon things of the like nature is extreme madnesse ; God hath given dominion unto man over all the sublunary Creatures , and hath placed him in degree little inferiour to the Angels , to the end that hee should look upwards , and settle his affections upon heavenly things ; 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , Quia sursü oculos tollit and for him to lose that soveraignty which God hath given him , by making himself too familiar with these base earthly commodities savours of brutishnesse and pusilanimity . Love is of a transcendent nature , and is cast away where it cannot be requited with love againe ; love thy Lord thy God , and thy Neighbour as thy selfe because they are able to render unto thee love for love , like for like ; but despise the world and the vanities thereof , because they are trash and dung , and cannot in any degree recompence compence thy love . There were upon a time two Gentlemen that much frequented one Inne upon the rode ; the one was very prodigall in his expenses , the other provident , and it fell out at last , that hee that was so profuse fell into poverty , and comming to his Inne , hee enquired for his old hoste , who being told by his servants who hee was , and having notice before that hee was in wants , came unto him , but lookt upon him as strangely as Nabal did upon King Davids Servants ; the Gentleman wondring at it , askt him whether hee did not know him ? 1 Sam. 25.10 . truly Sir ( quoth the hoste ) I think I have seene you , but where and when , I cannot call to minde ; I have beene an old guest to your house replied the Gentleman ; it may bee so ( quoth the hoste ) many honest Gentlemen frequent my house whom I know not ; the Gentleman desirous to make himselfe knowne unto him , askt him whether hee did not know such a one ; yes very well , he 's an honest stout Gentleman , and whensoever hee comes to my house hee brings mony in his purse and paies well ; I marvaile ( said the Gentleman ) that you should so well remember him and forget mee ; for wee two often met here together , and were merry ; now the truth is , hee had good cause to remember the other , for whensoever hee found him false in his bills , hee would send for him and cudgell him handsomely ; and at one time above the rest finding the totals to exceed the particulars in his bils hee broke his pate , and cut his nose into the bargain , which gave him just occasion to remember him , and to commend him for an honest stout Gentleman , and that he paid him well ; if the other had paid him after the same manner , he would not so soone have forgotten him ; non est hic habitandi locus sed commorandi diversorium ( saith the orator ) there is no place for us here to settle our selves , but as an Inne to rest for a short space ; so the Apostle , Heb. 13.14 : Psal. 39.14 . 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 we have here no continuing City , but wee seek for one to come ; so the Prophet David , 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 I am a Sojourner as all my fathers were ; the life of man is a meere pilgrimage , from the wombe to the tombe we take our journey ; the world is our Inne where as Pilgrims we take up our lodging for a few dayes , and then come to our long home : Now if in this our pilgrimage we spend our dayes in pleasure and vaine delights , as soone as we are gone we are forgotten ; but if wee husband our time well , and manfully subdue our unruly affections , by withdrawing our eyes from those allurements and tickling delights , which Dalilae our hostesse presents unto us , and suffer her not by her flatteries and enchantments to deceive us , then shall wee bee remembred with praise and commendation in our Inne , at our journeys end , and ever after : Oingnes vilain il vous poindra poindrez vilain , il vouz oindra ( saith Rab. ) annoint a villaine , and he will annoy and sting thee ; but sting and annoy him , and hee will annoint thee ; the way to make a knave know himselfe , is to neglect him ; and the way to have honour in the world , is to trample upon the world , and to neglect it ; especially that frothy windy honour which consists in popular applause . Who have been more renowned in all ages since their time , throughout the Christian world , then the Patriarkes , Prophets , and Evangelists , and then they who when they were in the world , were not of the world , but lived 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , in Deserts , Heb. 11.38 in Mountaines , in dens , and caves of the earth ? who are at this day more honoured throughout the Christian world then S. Peter and S. Paul ? the way unto honor is humility ; 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , He that humbleth himself shall be exalted ; Luk. 18.14 and hee that out of the pride of his heart , thinketh himself worthy of honour , for that very reason he is not , 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , he that exalteth himlsefe shall be brought low . Who more humble then old Father Abraham , the Father of the Faithfull ? then S. Paul , one of the chiefe Apostles ? then the Prophet David , a man after Gods owne heart ? then S , John ? Shall I ( saith that good old Father ) speak unto my Lord that am but dust and ashes ? Gen. 18 , 27 S. Paul of himselfe acknowledgeth , 1 Cor. 15.9 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , he that was not worthy to be called an Apostle : David not worthy to be a doore-keeper in the house of God ; Luk. 3.16 . S. Iohn 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , I am not worthy to loose the shooe latchet of my S●viour : Yet of these men that were so lowly in their owne eyes , the Christian world hath taken more notice then of all the Nobles of the earth ; God in the dust shewes his power and Majesty ; hee ever preferres the humble before the proud , the youngest oftentimes before the eldest ; he raised Abel above Cain his elder brother , Isaack above Ismael , Jacob above Esau , Joseph above his brethren , and David above his , because they were more humble , because they were more worthy , because they were more vertuous in their conversations then their elder brethren ; the same stock that brings forth the Rose , bring forth the Bryar , the same Father that begot Abel , begot Cain ; both were alike nobly-descended ; but because the one pursued the wayes of honour , and the other desisted it , therefore was the one enobled , and the other a runnagate upon the face of the earth ; honour is the reward of vertue , and hee that will be honourable must first bee vertuous ; that is the foundation , and if that faile , the Fabrick cannot stand ; there may be a resemblance and an imaginary honour without it , but no true honour . Thersites may peradventure act the part of Achilles in a Comedy , an ignoble man of a noble , but it is but honos titulo tenus , an honour that extends no further then the bare title ; for when the Comedy is ended , hee is Thersites still , and no better a man then hee was before it began . I have seene ( saith the Prophet David ) the wicked in great prosperity flourishing and spreading himselfe like a green Bay tree , Psa. 3● . 3● . but he suddenly vanished , and I sought him , but he could not be found .

Baruc 3.16 , 17 , 18. Baruck makes an enquiry , where are the Princes of the people that tooke so much pleasure in hunting after the beasts of the earth ? Where are they that spent their time in hawking after the birds of the ayre ? And where are they that hoarded up gold and silver ? Deleti sunt & in sepulchrum descenderunt , they are in the dust and cleane forgotten : The memory of the licentious man is like unto ashes ( as Job saith ) and unto chaffe ( as the Prophet David saith ) which the wind drives from the face of the earth ; Iob. 13.12 . Psal. 1.4 . but the memory of Iosias shall be tanquam mel in ore & instrumenta musica in convivio , Eccl. 49.1 . Psal. 11● . 6 . as a sweet perfume in an Apothecaries shop , as Honey in the mouth , and as Musick at a Banquet . The just shall be had in perpetuall remembrance ; the meanes then to have thy memory to smell sweetly in the nostrils of posterity , is to live justly in this present world ; this is that one thing that is necessary ; direct the Compasse of thy affections to this port , here thou shalt finde true honour , and here thou shalt finde wisdome and knowledge , that will so temper and regulate thy prosperity and worldly blessings which God hath given thee , that though they bee instruments of shame and confusion ( as the Wiseman saith ) to the foole , Pro. 1.32 . yet to thee they shall bee instruments of honour , of praise , and of glory : Beauty which is to him a stumbling blocke and a meanes to lead captive silly women , Gratior est virtus veniens è corpore pulchro shall make thy vertues more transparent , through which as through Chrystall they shall appeare more gloriously to the world : Riches which to him are like the plague of Flyes to the Aegyptians , to thee shal be servants and hand-maids and instruments of Charity and Hospitality : Honour , which is to him as a phrenzie to make him run hither and thither , he knowes not whither like a mad man , to thee shall be quasi Chiara lampa che manifesta l'opere buone , as the Italian saith , as a Lampe to shew others the way to vertue ; and as his shame shall bee the greater by how much he hath been the occasion by his example to lead others unto ruine and destruction , so thy honour shall be the greater , by how much thou by thy good example hast beene the meanes to shew others the way to vertue ; pursue then the wayes of honour yee whom God hath honoured , and set above your brethren , and spend that short time that is allotted you in that way : so shall you have your Coates of Armes beautified and adorned with additaments of Honour , and smell like Iosias in the nostrils of posterity ; otherwise you must expect to heare that of your selves which I have before remembred out of the nine and fortieth Psalme , and to have your armes defaced by posterity with gores and gussets , Posteritas suum cuique rependet , Ta● . l. 4. Ann. which diminutions and abatements incident to such as addict themselves to dishonourable courses . So now being at a period , I must needs acknowledge with the holy Father Saint Bernard , ( who was used to say , Se nullos habuisse magistros praeter quercus & fagos , intimating , that by prayer and meditation among the Trees in the Desart hee composed the greatest part of his Workes ) that this Meditation of mine upon this Psalme was hatcht amongst his Masters in the Parke of the good old Gentlewoman my worthy Aunt by alliance Mistris Anne Fleete , 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 : whose great Grandfather was High-Sheriffe of the County of Warwicke , Anno 1485. and was slaine at the Battell at Bosworth that yeare .

Conclusio .

Quàm vana , momentanea 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 sit magnatum potentia & opulentia , utinam Deus optimus maximus voluisset ut aliundè potiùs quàm domi ex intestinis dissentionibus disceremus . 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 .

〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 .

Errors in the Printing .

PAg. 19. lin. 22. r. yet . p. 23. l. 13. r. drayned . p. 25. l. 28. r. Enguerande . p. 29. l. 13. r. but. & l. 21. r. and. p. 33. l. 17 r. Iohn . p 42. l. 7. r. shame . p. 45. l. 5. r. dung ▪ p. 49. l. 13. r. supercilious . p. 60. l. 22. r. ignominy . p. 63. l. 13. r. of a molehill a mountaine . p. 77. l. 5. r. yet . p. 111. l. 9. r , Vopiscus . p. 253. l. 8. r. Isabell and Anne whom he married into the royall bloud , Isabell to George Duke of Clarence , the brother of King Edw. the fourth , who was drownd in a butt of Malmsy , and Anne first to Edw. the fift . In the Margine r. Edmondsbury .