which are for a seuerall discourse I wil only say that if an Ambassador will reape honour of his charge it is meete that he doe honour vnto the same and that he be iealous of the degree and place which is due vnto his Maister without yeelding any iote thereof vnto an other Princes and soueraigne estates doe hold many times more deare the conseruation of their degree and dignitie than of their lands and possessions So Arcases did put his Ambassador to death for hauing surrendered his place vnto Sylla as Plutarke saith It is true that alwayes such questions doe not arise because almost euery one throughout all places knoweth the degree and place that is due vnto him In the Court of Rome for these 50. or 60. yeares the Ambassador of Spaine hath made question of precedencie with those of France There was a great alteration therein at the Councell of Trent At Venice it hath beene adiudged to him of France The late Aduocate Pithou affirmeth that in all the prouincials of all the Cathedrall Churches of Christendome that haue beene imprinted at Rome euen to this present the King of France is put the first of all other Kings being seconded by the King of England and then by him of Spaine Bodin sayeth that in the ceremonie of the Order of England the place of the King of France is at the right hand of the chiefe of the Order and so it was decreed at a Chapter helde on the eue of Saint George patron of that Order in the yeare 1555 by the knights of the Garter albeit that the King of Spaine had maried Mary the elder sister of the late Queene of England I beleeue that there would be no lesse honour done vnto him in Scotland Denmarke of many princes and potentates of Germany and Italy But the Emperor being neere kins-man of the same name and armes that the King of Spaine is giueth the precedencie to his Ambassador and the last Emperor was content that it should goe by turnes as anciently that of the Roman Consulls was and at present that of the Burghemaisters and Auoyers in some Cantons of Swisserland is to the end not to displease th' one nor the other Neuerthelesse the King sent word vnto Monsieur de la Forrest his Ambassador that he should not alter any thing in this matter without his expresse commandement The Senate of Polonia to a like question ordayned tha the first come should be the first heard At an other time at the Councell of Constance the Ambassador of England debated it with him of France whose strongest argument was the title which his Maister then tooke of King of England and France And he possessed Aquitania and pretended vnto Normandie I haue heard reported that an Ambassadour of the Kings in Swisserland being in company with the Ambassador of Spaine at the assembly of Baden and seeing that the spaniard alwaies stroue for the way made as if hee would buy something at a Marchantes shoppe where both of them staying together the French stepped out first and took the aduantage The best is in such occasions neuer to meet together vnlesse that the seruice of his maister doe require it At least he can excuse himselfe for publike places and ceremonies as hath bin practised at Rome for these certaine yeares And if so be our Ambassador chance to be present at such like altercation of other Ambassadors he must take heed not to inuest himselfe in the one side or the other or any way to interpose himselfe therein without his masters commandement It is not so for al other differences that many fal out in the countrie where he is especially if hee perceiue his Maister to haue any interest therein as when there hapneth any discord amongst the Swissers or the Grisons all which haue almost as many common-wealthes as they haue Citties and Corporations And it is very hard that in that great body so diuersly compounded with difference of customes languages and religion in one only Canton of the Grisons there are three different languages spoken there growe not amongest them as wise as they all are some occasion of disputation wherein the wise Ambassadour may make the dexteritie of his spirit to preuaile by setting them at accord imploying the affection of his Maister towardes the one side and the other to oblige them both vnto him The which thing the Sieur de Liuerdis last Ambassador for the King amongst the Grisons knewe how to handle both wisely and profitably when he sawe they were on termes of disagreeing and I can speak for a certainty that his memory is yet helde deare amongest them The Interest of the King in these two estates is that during their diuisions hee can leuie no forces nor be succoured with their people to any purpose if hee shoulde stand in neede of them About the yeere 1602. the Sieur de Dase by his wise Meditation accorded to twoo Kings of Denmarke Swethen being ready to enter into warre and both of them made choice of him for Arbitrator of their differences His Priuiledges IT followeth now to speake of the priuileges immunities of an Ambassador not only for the respect of his owne person but also of those of his family of all that appertaineth vnto him for concerning his person euery man knoweth that by the lawes of God man euen amongst barbarous nations and in the middest of the armes and armies of enemies the person of an Ambassador hath in all ages beene adudged holy sacred and inuiolable for if besides the perill and inconueniences of a long voyage to which they expose themselues they should not be in safetie in the place whereunto they goe there would neuer be any which would vndertake the hazard thereof and consequently there would neuer any longer be made any truce peace or establishment of commerce finally we should fall againe into that first Chaos and confusion of all things And likewise the punishments of those that haue done violence vnto them haue in all times beene very rigorous this lawe being growne into a prouerbe Legatus neque coeditur neque violatur And when men haue not taken punishment for the same it hath beene obserued from age to age that God hath not suffiered this offence vnpunished witnesse the subuersion of Carthage of Sirus of Thebes and of so many other Citties yea Prouinces and whole Kingdomes Dauid fought against discomfited and brought into bondage the Ammonites for this cause The histories both sacred and prophane doe afforde vs enough and too many examples hereof King Frances the first denounced warre against the Emperour Charles for the murther of Amion and Fregose his Ambassadours Yea euen a rough and haughtie word a scorne or contempt done vnto some Ambassadors hath beene oftentimes cause of the beginning of warre as that of Dalmatia whereof Nasica was Generall and a long time after that of Simon King of Bulgarie against Alexander Emperour of Constantinople By a much stronger reason
legatio which Tacitus saith that Tiberius vsed towardes the miserable Agrippa for to ridde him farre off from the Court. It seemeth also that there may be set in the number of Agents and Ambassadors the Consuls which ouersee the affaires of Merchants Townes and Corporations in Argier Tunis Tripoli and other places of Barbarie and Turkie Forasmuch as the Prince alloweth of their nomination authoriseth and recommendeth them by his letters for that for want of Ambassadors they giue aduises and sometimes supplie their charges as some haue done with very good successe as hath beene seene in our time in some places The Venetians haue their consulls in Cario at Aleppo Rosetta Alexandria and other townes and hauens of importance Which is a great commoditie vnto them for besides the intelligence which they haue from time to time of the prices of all sortes of merchandize they receiue also by the same meanes newes from all parts of the world Wherein they exceede all other Estates and Common-wealths His Behauiour TO come then vnto our Ambassador and principally to that whom we haue called Ordinary and Ligier albeit that the principall most generall and ordinary subiect of his Ambassage be for entertainment of alliances and amitie with the Prince or the Estate to whom he is sent yet there are many other occasions of his sending which is needelesle here to articulate the same being infinite according to the diuersitie of treaties and affaires which are betweene Princes and Commonwealths In some countries they speake onely of money and leuying of forces in others of sea matters trafficke and commerce in others of breaches of treaties of inrodes and riottes on frontiers Furthermore in some Estates there are Monarkes others are gouerned by Lords the last by the people so that according to the qualitie of these gouernementes and nature of the affaires it is requisite to make choise of Ambassadors that may be fitting to the place and Prince to whom they are appointed And not onely because of this diuersitie of Estates and negotiations but also by reason of the difference of humours conditions and religion of Princes and people towards whom they are employed it being very certaine that one that is a Protestant should not be so fit to be about the Pope nor the King of Spaine but contrariewise one of that profession if the Kings seruice so require should be more acceptable in England Scotland Denmarke and with the protestant Princes of Germanie whereof the Queene of England willed me to carry word to the King during the siege of Paris by occasion of a Gentleman of qualitie which had bin sent to the protestant Princes of Germany and was not welcome vnto them Likewise must they shunne the like ieast that was made of a Bishop sent to the Grand Signior and of a Gentleman held for a great good Christian who was appointed Ambassador to the Pope for it was said that the one would conuert the Turke and the other should be conuertedby the Pope In some Estates they consider much the qualitie of the Ambassador and make the lesse account of him if he be not a gentleman of nobilitie or at least wel qualified liberall and honorable Some other Princes and Estates had rather haue one that profesleth the Lawes as at Venice none hath of long time bin there so acceptable as Monsieur de Maisse Hurault one of the chiefe Counsellors of this Estate I doubt not but that the Pope would be content to haue rather a Biship or some other Church-man neere him Neuerthelesse I vnderstand that the Spaniardes haue perceiued that it was more necessarie for the seruice of their Maister that the Ambassador were of some other qualitie bicause Ecclesiasticall persons make a very strict oath vnto the Pope and the Church which derogateth from the naturall fidelitie which all subiects owe vnto their Soueraigne Howsoeuer it be the Romans sent none for Ambassadors that had not passed through the greatest parte of the degrees of honour and magistracie and sometimes they were the Consulls themselues not so much for the honour of the Prince to whome they were sent as for the greatnes and maiestie of the commonwealth Philip de Comines complaineth that his Maister King Lewes the eleuenth employed therein ordinarily his Barber Other Princes make no difficultie to send the Groomes of the Chambers Cloake-bearers and others of baser sort vnto the greatest Princes of Christendome And God knoweth how they handle many times the affaires of their Maisters He therefore that appoynteth an Ambassador ought to looke well heerevnto and especially to the sexe to the age and to the disposition of him to whome hee is sent For hee that would giue commission to an olde and melancholie man to treate of a marriage with a yoong Princesse and make loue vnto her in the behalfe of his Maister a thing which most commonly amongst the Great is done by an Atturney it is very certain that naturally she would not so willingly see or heare him as one that were more youthfull and gallant I haue sometime seene the experience thereof This choyce being of greater importance than one woulde belecue and wherein notwithstanding there is oftnest failing A neighbour Prince sent a while sithence a man of an ill grace to a great Lady of France for this purpose who eflected nothing of consequence therein Such a one must bee a man acceptable for the better managing the disposition of him with whom he hath to deale But much more in extraordinarie Ambassadors and those which go not but for one affaire as if it be a matter concerning warre it is fitter to commit it to a Marshall of France or some other Generall of the field and practized in points of armes To Generall Counsailes it were ridiculous to send others than Ecclesiasticall persons diuines and men seene in the Lawes And where question should be of the right of succession of marches reprisalls of other difficulties of right there are men meet for the same and which would better serue their Maister therin then eyther a Churchman or a martiall man But if it be for the renuing of an aliance conducting of som princesse or any other solemn action consisting most in ceremony and magnificence it is meetest to commit the charge and honor thereof to a Prince or Lord of quailitie and meanes Moreouer there are many other things to be considered in the person of an Ambassador of which I will note some not to make a perfect Idea of an Ambassador as Tasso Magio Gentilis and some others haue labored to do For as once one said of Platoes Common-wealth that the Idea thereof was in heauen so the perfect image of an Ambassador such as they haue figured vnto vs was neuer amongst men for they would haue him to be a Divine Astrologer Logician an excellent Orator as learned as Aristotle and as wise as Salomon But for me I require no more of him than hee may attaine vnto by vse and
many times his Maisters messengers to giue attendaunce fifteene or twentie dayes for his pleasure He shall therefore so accommodate himselfe vnto the manners of the country where he is that hee neither force his naturall disposition neither be perceiued to doe it purposedly for the one is ridiculous and the other suspected and odious An other effect of his temperance shal be not to receiue any gifts and presents neither of the Prince to whome hee is sent nor of any of his for any cause whatsoeuer vnlesse at such time as hauing taken his leaue he is ready to take horse and departe The Ambassadour of England sir Amias Pawlet would not receiue the chaine of golde which the king sent vnto him according to the custome vntill he was halfe a league out of Paris Giftes doe oblige and those that receiue them become slaues to those that giue them much more if they take a pension or other benefite in which case there wil be either a staine of auarice or suspition of treason and that is capitall in many places But there is nothing more hurtfull to his reputation then vndiscreete speaking for there are some seene who at the table and at euery word meddle not onely with particular persons but with the Princes also to whom they are sent finde fault with the forme of a popular gouernment laugh openly at the manners of the nation where they are This indiscretion cannot be endured from a priuate man but it is altogether intolerable from the mouth of an Ambassador who in doing therof doeth not any longer remember wherefore he is in that charge since that the principall and most apparant end thereof is to confirme as I haue said and to entertaine the amitie of the Prince or people to whom he is sent and I should neede a resme of paper to reckon vp the inconueniences that haue befalne throgh such indiscretion the danger that those haue incurred which could not commaund their tongues I will onely say with an ancient Writer He that knoweth how to speake well knoweth also when hee must hold his peace Whereas besides the tediousnesse of much speaking the same hindereth him from hearing of others and gathering by that meanes the truth of such matters as hoe ought to know in his charge The Lord Cecill high Treasurer of England had this dexteritie that he left not one at his table whom he did not reason with and heare speake at their turnes And concerning those which speake not the language the same may and ought to be doone by an interpreter who is present for that effect especially in popular Estates where the least will be respected as well as the greatest Neither can I forbeare to speake of those who spare not euen their maister and their owne nation these defaults wherof they discouer by their talke and by the same meanes confirme that opinion which strangers haue thereof Our country is our mother we ought not to reueale the shame thereof and we ought to be as iealous thereof as of our owne honour for it is ill befitting to a seruant to touch the honour of his maister to publish the secrets of his Court to controle his pleasures and blame his actions especially hee must take heede that he speake not in publike what hee iudgeth touching the right of his pretences towards any Estate for either hee must maintaine them to be iust or must altogether hold his peace and discreetly turne his talke to other matter These are Arcana imperij whereof Tacitus speaketh Courage also and resolution are very necessary for him by reason of the hazards intricate affaires oppositions and vexations which are euermore ordinary with those that serue Princes and Commonwealths And euen so the Romanes wel considering the perill which accompanieth Ambassages honoured the memory of those that died in that charge with a statue for which cause an Ambassador of Athens answered so freely King Philip of Macedon who threatned him that he would cause his head to be cut off If thou takest this head from me my Country will giue mee another that shall be immortall Statuam pro capite pro morte immortalitatem Neuerthelesse euery one would not like of such a change and some would rather keepe their owne and if the Ambassadors escaped the danger and had well serued the Commonwealth there were recompenses answerable to the desertes appointed vnto them The English Ambassador Sir Edward Stafford on the day or the next day after the Barricadoes of Paris when a Lorde of the faction of the Duke of Guise that dead is woulde haue him take a pas-port or safe-gard from the said duke made him answer I am vnder the safegard of the law of nations and in the protection of the King to whom you are but subiects and seruantes This proceeded from a generous resolution euen in the furies of a popular commotion when the most mutinous could do all and good men feared all The Lord of Mortfontaine that dead is going Ambassadour into Swisserland about fiue yeeres past and being to passe through the County of Burgundie which at that time was full of Spanish and Italian Souldiers going into Flaunders spake very freely vnto those of the parliament of Dole which would haue put him in feare to the end that hee might not arriue in due time at the assembly of Baden wherein they had some practise against the Kings seruice That he was vnder the assurance of the Law of nations and of the Newtrality and in the protection of the Lords of the Cantons and that they should readily determine to make his passage safe and this furthered him albeit that which he aledged of the Law of nations was very disputable as I told him as soone as wee were out of danger I will speake a worde agayne theereof in his due place Furthermore these are too common and childish precepts to admonish him to be patient and staied if he see any to breake out through impatience as they doe most commonly who thinke they haue right and reason on their sides Especially the Swissers and Germans who are cholerike The sence being distempered choketh reason and choller is an enimy to counsaile breeding hatred and contempt and is ill-befitting to euery man much more to a man that manageth the chiefe affaires of an Estate which many times hee hurteth through his hastinesse coller and impatience The Frenchman who hath his bloud hote and his spirit more stirring hath consequently certaine quicke dispositions which other Nations doe not allow of at least they woulde bee more tolerable in martiall men yea in any other man than in an Ambassador and Counsellor of Estate I wish neuerthelesse that he would moderate his grauitie so as it be not hautie as that of the Spaniards oftentimes is in their speach countenance traine and gate One that hath beene Ambassador in England since in France for the last King of Spaine was wont to say Dios es poderoso en el ciel y