quicknesse and courage to discerne and punish persons that freese draw backe or stagger in cases of religion either by their contempt of the deitie or in ignorance of Gods true worship This ensigneth the readiest and best course which he should obserue in extirpation of contagious schismes and pestilent sects and how to continue with stedfast and often prayer in faith towards God for the true sapience of his holy spirit which is reuealed in a mysterie being a concealed wisedome and determined by God before the world for our glorification This wisedome springeth from the root of Gods feare which giueth vs vnderstanding to depart from euill which maketh a cheerefull heart yeeldth a ioyfull crowne and prolongeth mans life in gladnesse It is a sacred knowledge yea the ineffable perfection of all goodnesse Onely fooles despise wisedome and instructon presuming in weightie causes and consultations to succeed well without that sacred spirit of heauenly wisedome which should direct them But such as are wise feare that vnspeakable power filially which is with a kind of heart-longing loue and vnto such alone and assuredly hath his diuine omnipotencie prepared that which neither eye eare nor heart hath seene heard or certainely conceiued reuealing vnto them those arcane and sacred mysteries by the spirit of holinesse â—…hich openeth the secret treasuries of God All true light which mooueth and inciteth admiration and loue shineth from the contemplatiue throne of cleere sanctitie and it is full of the power of loue and mercie which loue of God Salomon calleth honourable wisedome it beeing accompanied with feare and reuerence which is of it selfe a sacred knowledge by vertue thereof is mans heart iustified honour and long life are the braunches of it fastened in the sacred root of wisedome by faith which vanquisheth sinne and death faith and meekenesse attending it This heauenly loue illuminateth and almost transubstantiateth our hearts of flesh by the power of God which our Sauiour Christ speaking to the woman of Samaria calleth a spirit saying That such as worship God must doe the same in spirit and truth They therefore will learne tast and loue that sacred word and knowledge which is the pure fountaine of true wisedome the sweetnesse of which alas I neither can vtter nor conceiue After this knowledge of God with the sincere loue of true religion there is another kind of pietie most excellently commendable in a Counsellor which is in suffering punishments cheerefully for the exact obseruation of his late deceased Soueraignes constitutions as also principally for the confession of his faith that neither superiorities honours or any carnall and earthly respects feares punishments or martyrdomes may take him from the reuerence and most sweet loue of God which remaineth with him in Iesus Christ. The next care immediate after the knowledge of God consisteth in his skill of gouernment and studie to maintaine the Commonweale which weale doth not onely comprehend the generall good but the benefit and safegard of all priuate persons therein These so combine and loue like turtles that one cannot liue without fellowship of another In which his studious and inseparable loue of the Commonwealth he must sequester so farre his owne priuate profit and authoritie that he be found at all times readie to bestow his honour substance and life in maintenance thereof so should hee therefore respect the state and affaires of his countrey by the prince referred to him as Cicero sayth Vt vtilitas sua communis vtilitas sit vicissim â—…què communis vtilitas sua sit That his priuate weale may proue the common weale and that correspondently the Commonweale may become his proper weale Which is a principle deriued from the needfull precepts of nature This is a vertue by Plato most commended in a Counsellor for to this day no state hath either beene amplified or conserued but by men of that qualitie euen as it was said by Salust to Caesar Firmanda Respublica non armis modò sed quod multò magis mâ—…ltoquè asperius est bonis pacis artibus The Commonwealth must not onely be munited and fortified with armes but with good cunning and skilfull arts to make and maintaine peace being a mysterie of much more force and difficultie It is written of Calicratides a captaine of the Lacedemonians that in their warres at Peloponesus when hee without any losse to himselfe might haue saued the whole Nauie and declined the warre then instant against the Athenians he refused to doe so saying That the Lacedemonians after the losse of that fleet might furnish out another but that hee could not without grieuous inustion of shame and dishonour turne backe from them Whereupon that whole nauie to the irrecouerable losse of the Lacedemonians became a spoyle to their enemies But Qu. Fabius the Romane Generall held a contrarie course and opinion in his seruice enduring the scoffes and contemptuous brags of his foes which scornefully called him a delayor till such time as when good occasion and aduantage was offered he so confounded Anniball then triumphing in his many victories that he wrought out his countries libertie with oppression of the Carthaginians by those meanes Calicratides hauing lost the day lost likewise his countrey life and honour beeing for the reward of his follie named in their Annales Calicratides Temerarius Fabius who by cunctation had giuen life and honour to his countrey was for his actions of valour and in perpetuall glorie thereof cannonized in their immortall Hystories by the title of Maximus And hereupon this as a certaine note and rule may be grounded that all hypocrites coueâ—…ous and vaine glorious persons such as doe with Calicratides more prize their priuat glory than the publicke weale are enemies to the generall state and such vndoubtedly like flatterers if time should so serue would not sticke to the end they might endanger the Prince thereby to say That all the peoples wealth is his By which example we viuely find represented vnto vs the warie circumspection of a good Commonwealths man in the person of Fabius studying the preseruation and honour of himselfe and of his countrey together with the rash and foolish negligence of a vaine-glorious hypocrite like Calicratides which so sleightly valued the conseruation and weale of his owne Nation In this loue and care of the Commonwealth is required a due consideration how the whole politicke societie consisteth of soule and bodie the soule as is aforesaid for religion in aduancing and maintaining the true worship of God the bodie taken for the dwelling or place of habitation There is likewise besides that soule and bodie the spirit of liuing which is the mouing and stirring of the bodie this may bee properly called or compared rather to the forme of euery Commonwealth as in knowing whether it be a Monarchie as great Brittaine Fraunce Ireland Spaine Castile and Portugall or as the Empires of the Turkes and Moscouites but more remote or if an Aristocracie like Venice wherein are
attributes of that nature as appertaineth militarie profession This science is attained by the ingenuous exercise vigilancy assiduitie painfull frequent trauell in places by the contemplatiue direction of military books and indefatigable practise with a delight had in war To discerne whether he which may be thought fit for the office of a Generall be possessed of this science the Prince therfore as I said considereth of his age of his time imployed in seruice of those wars wherin he did serue of the masters and commanders vnder whom he was disciplined exercised of his nation his discretion of the place where he should serue Valor which is the third and principall vertue contained in his heart whereof I purpose to speake more at large in the Morals of my fourth Booke standeth in the middest of these fiue properties issuing from his sapience in aduise from his counsell in prouision from his feruencie in action from expedition in execution from his sagacitie with wilinesse in stratagemes and from his patience in trauell Out of these qualities the temperature of good health magnanimitie fortitude contempt of pirill and faithfulnesse proceed Adiunct to them according to Coepola be modestie clemencie courtesie â—…uauitie facilitie temperance in all actions accompanied with trueth innocencie iustice and liberalitie These honorable qualities amongst all soldiers conciliate vnto the L. generall reputation or authoritie which is when his bâ—…hests are with all diligence willingnesse and expedition executed by the souldiers but specially these haue most force in military masters when they be with beautie power riches honour and nobilitie made absolute Vpon this dependeth likewise his felicitie which in a souldier is most glorious and should seeme principally to proceed from fortitude for certaine it is that he which in fight sheweth courage and excellent alacritie combined with prudence in all extreamities doth in fauour of himselfe forcibly moue malicious and raging fortune being conquered with his fortitude and patience to take his parts for very shame of her selfe and hence is it that Aeneas haâ—…teneth his souldiers languishing in their extremities after escape from Naufrage Durate vosmet rebus seruate secundis Intimating to them that patience ingendreth prosperitie which being the companion of counsell and reason a precious gift of God the true cognizance of diuine fauour and not proceeding in any meane from humane industrie may well suffragate with other giftes to the election of a Generall Besides all these he must be knowne firme to the Prince and quarrel committed to his decision likewise he should retaine that vertue in himselfe to giue life and courage to his battels by the example of Valerius Coruinus captaine of the Romane forces then ready to ioyne in conflict against the Samâ—…tes who wished them in his oration to repose euery man in his owne valor and to follow him in feits of armes to the vttermost of their foroe or like that heroicall speech which the noble Romane rebell Catiline breathed vpon his souldiers and companions fainting in their former resolutions thus None but conquerers will exchange war for peace it were madnes in you to thinke that you can saue your liues by sheathing those swords which should defend you from the violence of such enemies as pursue you with slaughter they which are in most feare stand in deepest daunger whereas boldnesse is a brasen bulwarke But when I ponder your former actions and resolutions my braue souldiers then doe I make sure accompt of certaine victorie which is visibly presented to my spirit from your spirits ages and honours proportionably Adde hereunto that present necessitie which coyneth courage out of cowards And in another place that which infuseth valour into catiue carcases Caâ—…e ne inulâ—…i animam amittatis neu captipotius sicuti pecora trucidemini quà m virorum modâ—… pugnantes cruentam at que luctuosam vtctoriam hostibus reâ—…quatis Haue a care that you loose not your liues vnreuenged neither be taken prisoners like beastes destined to the slaughter but that fighting like valorous men you may leaue vnto your enemies such a dolorous and lamentable spoyle and victorie as may be bought to their cost Such a kind of adhortation or vehement impulsiue persuasion doth marueilously moue and spurre forward the spirits of forlome souldiers vpon desperate aduentures or as that noble saying of Marius animating his fellowes in armes Egomet in agmine in prâ—… consultor idem socius periculi vobiscum adero me vosque in omnibus rebus iuxtageram I my selfe in the shock and in the battell will be readie both to giue you my best directions and aduise and to partake with you fellowlike in all perils and in all prosperous or desastâ—…ous accidents I will personally share fortunes with you Moreouer it well sitteth with the grace and good fortune of a Generall after some good successe victories attained by his souldiers which will vndoubtedly giue great hartinesse and hopes to men in armes although their enemies much exceede them in number to spurre them forward to noble battaile by good example of that priest by whose persuasion the Israelites were set on fire with fortitude and to banish feare faintnesse and astonishment For asmuch as the Lord went with them to fight against their enemies and to protect them Howbeit the prowesse of a Generall may not onely consist in gallant adhortation fierie speeches verball blowes and fierce menaces onely for such take more delight in the plausible volubilitie of their tongues then in th' immortall valour of their hearts but his iudgement also must be sound and ripe his valour noble and perfect his wisedome diuine and vigilant his assiduitie skilfull and profitable his heart franke and honorable heroically despising earthly riches as the very corruption of all blessed mindes on earth and whatsoeuer tasteth of this base and humble putrifaction or mortalitie For Generals which are blotted with couetousnesse can neuer attaine the true faith and loue of their souldiers as by manifold example and experience is found they should therefore consider what the conditions of some speciall gallant captaines in former ages haue bene in that case and they shall find Alexander munificent Caesar magnificent Cirus bountifull and amongst priuate Generals and Captaines that Scipio Africanus was a man that onely protested against the desire of money and treasure when after his conquest of all Afrike which he made tributarie to the Romanes he could not shew any spoiles or booties of that warre vpon his returne but onely the bare title of Africanus which enlarged and famoused his name Good generals and captaines therefore should imitate such honour as those two noble brethren Publius and Lucius Scipio which were called the two thunderboults of warre for they protested that neither the treasures of Carthage nor of all Asia could make them auaricions but that the riches of which they were possessed and had got from others did wholie consist vpon emulation and enuy not vpon money A
talebearers bold in discharging his conscience graue in speech not superstitious neither dissembling in heart toward prince or priuatperson his honesty wil not suffer him to deceiue his wisdom wil not brooke to be deceiued his valor maketh him triumph ouer many calamities tribulatioÌ„s his honor worketh towards him reuerence in the eyes hearts of all the people By such Counsellors therefore euery prince and euery state is strengthened and supported both at home and abroad for his owne subiects will willingly serue him and forrainers stand in awe of his vertues so shall the prince bee generally magnified What strong enemie was there to this our publicke state that in the later dayes of the late deare Soueraigne of our happinesse Queene Elizabeth feared not the valour and fortunes of Robert then Earle of Essex vntill such time as through his owne credulous imprudence hee wilfully wounded himselfe with his owne intollerable appetite Of whom I will onely say that which I might worthely cite out of Cicero then written to the good fame of Caius Marius Nemo vnquà m multitudini fuit carior No subiect euer was more deare to the multitude and which was lamentable to them that depended vpon his greatnesse not Fortunes deareling but her babie nay rather Fortunes bable whose fairest spectacle is like a momentanie bubble as appeared by those great hopes reports and opinions which the people had of him but Non minus periculum ex magna fama quam ex mala But the daunger of a great same is altogether as great as that which proceedeth from a bad report What open or close enemie was he that liued in any forraine part of Europe which was not amated with that diuine care and wisedome with that industrious circumspection and foresight of those two most worthie Senatours of her secret Counsels the Lord William Burghley Lord Treasurer and Sir Francis Walsingham sometimes principall Secretarie to that good Queene which sitting quiet in their studies wrought so many wonders in Spaine Fraunce and Italie for the confirmation and fortification of this Realme against the tyrannous enemies of the Gospell and of that our euer renowned Empresse of England The first died very rich in a most healthfull state of soule and in honour of his countrey which was for many yeares sustained comforted and protected by his prudence the second both in true pietie iustice and glorie respecting God and the Commonwealth honorable and truly rich which was in mentall perfections and in the loue of this Common-wealth which he so much loued onely Much therefore behooueth it Counsellors that in all their actions counsels and consultations they become prudent and valiant taking vp a place in the middest betwixt the zealous and true worship of God vpon the right hand with his vigilant and tender care of the Commonwealth vpon the left respecting them both with feare and feruent affection and aboue all courtly pestilence to take antidotes and preseruatiues against the contagious breath of flatterers which hath corrupted and ruined more princes and noble gentlemen in time of peace than the sword hath many times done in bitter battell Such were they that trecherously myned into the noble nature of that renowmed Earle whom I lately mentioned being men enraged with a lust of innouation and of a present satisfaction of their all variable and licencious appetites This muâ—…ne disperseth it selfe through the Courts of many Princes infecting and eating vp whole families like pestilence the deuouring Angell of Gods iustice sparing none Sycophants of this distemperature naturally like mosse or yuie spread vpon great Oakes and strong walles neuer excercised in vertuous cogitations and studies but fraught with slaunderous rumours falshood and forgerie the professed enemies to vertue and veritie so they may laugh feed sleepe and enioy corporall pleasures they force not what aged fathers widowes or orphans waile starue watch and endure endlesse vexation and calamitie I mention this vice often inculcating the perill and poison of it many times because it is so much practised in this Nation then which nothing can be more base more odious or more degenerate from Nobilitie There is one vertuous condition which must inseparably be fastned placed or rooted rather in a Counsellor and it is a pure will godly zeale and ioyfull promptnesse to giue sound and wholesome counsell of which I spake somewhat before as when things be by mature deliberation consulted before they be peremptorily resolued vpon and all the causes with euen hand first weighed in the ballance of iustice A Senator therefore which retaineth so reuerende and honourable office must respect the ground of his authoritie which doth best and most to life anatomize a magistrate Sodaine and doubtfull counsels do digest more happily with them that are sildome vexed with troubles and difficulties or with ambitious persons which onely respecting their priuate glory feare least time of deliberation will grow scant vnto them then with such Commonwealths as being placed vpon the maine toppe of all power and authoritie can leisurely tarry for a fit time and occasion In anxious or doubtfull matters therefore they choose such a course as most behooueth and least endangereth yet hath it been commonly seene in giuing of counsell that the vulgar attribute all to the Counsellors prudence and foresight if fortune fauour the euent but if otherwise then is he condemned in the contrary And hence is it that the meede of good Counsellors is often ascribed to fortune and fortunes serenitie attributed to good counsell If the businesse in hand be very weightie the counsellors which handle it must be very warie and such things as cannot admit a recorrection or reconsideration must be with good discretion deliberated There is likewise one excellent part in wise and compleate Counsellors required which is to giue good eare and attention to the sayings of all men vttered vnto him and in speciall to those of that societie which though inferior or superior in their places speake before them Herein a Counsellor must muster his wittes together and remember those arguments wherwithall they confirme and corroborate their seuerall opinions that when his tourne inuiteth him to speach he may not misse a mite in recapitulation of any materiall pointes Hence was it that Pericles convening with Sophocles his fellow Pretor concerning State-businesse vpon Sophocles his commendation of the beautie of a very faire Boy passing by earnestly replied It is not only fit to withhold your hands but to withdraw your eyes from such vaine obiects in these serious cases For these respects Lycurgus inhibited all manner of pictures from the chamber of consultation least the Senatours eyes being withdrawne from serious cogitations and obseruations might by looking vpon them forget somewhat to the preiudice of the present seruice Deliberation also being a diligent and prudent meditation of things future doubtfull and contingent remayning in our power by which choice is made of the best meanes to good and happie successe in any