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
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 â—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 TotoÌ„ 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 impeâ—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 cunniâ—g hee insinuated himselfe into the affections of the pretorian company * 9 Cohortibus praetoriis praefectus 9 for hee being Cheife â—ommander of them hee summoned them very often to come together and by coming amongst them and * 10 Irrepere caepit in militaâ—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 â—maenis locis ducere persuasit 12 he prevailed with Tiberius to
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 quoâ—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
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 intervâ—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 fron 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 servicâ—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
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
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. â—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 Henrâ— the eighth there was one named * 29 Tho. Wolsâ—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
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 stād in by reason of them were sufficient to occasion their removall this was the cause why
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 perpeâ—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 hiâ— 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
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 yer 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
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 whos 's 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 doÌ„ne creare caguolini nelle bracchie lâ—asciando stare i proprâ—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 ratâ—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 tâ—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 trisioÌ„ 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 coÌ„ciouâ— 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 semperâ—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
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 peacâ— 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) 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 satyriceÌ„ scripsit quod animus erat in patinis popinam â—â—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
* 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 â—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 Caetera vi aut fraude pertumpas hâ—â—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 uâ—to you hoping that in thâ—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 noâ— 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
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 Grâ—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 beneficiâ—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
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 Pâ—o 2â— 15 must first bee a probationer in this schoole through many tribulations wee must enter into the Kingdome of heaven the pleasuâ—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 â—â—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 alluâ—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