BASILIKON DORON. OR HIS MAIESTIES INSTRVCTIONS TO HIS DEAREST SONNE, HENRY THE PRINCE.
THE ARGUMENT.
Sonnet.
GOD giues not Kings the stile of Gods in vaine,For on his Throne his Scepter doe they swey:
And as their subiects ought them to obey,
So Kings should feare and serue their God againe
If then ye would enioy a happie raigne,
Obserue the Statutes of your heauenly King,
And from his Law, make all your Lawes to spring:
Since his Lieutenant here ye should remain,
Reward the iust, be stedfast, true, and plaine,
Represse the proud, maintayning aye the right,
Walke alwayes so, as euer in his sight,
Who guardes the godly, plaguing the prophane:
And so ye shall in Princely vertues shine,
Resembling right your mightie King Diuine.
TO HENRY MY DEAREST SONNE, AND NATVRAL SVCCESSOVR.
WHOM-to can so rightly appertaine this Booke of instructions to a Prince in all the points of his calling, as well generall, as a Christian towards God; as particular, as a King towards his people ? Whom-to, I say, can it so iustly appertaine, as vnto you my dearest Sonne ? Since I the authour thereof, as your naturall Father, must be carefull for your godly and vertuous education, as my eldest Sonne, and the first fruits of Gods blessing towards mee in my posteritie: and as a King must timously prouide for your trayning vp in all the points of a Kings Office; since yee are my naturall and lawfull successour therein: that being rightly informed hereby, of the waight of your burthen, ye may in time beginne to consider, that being borne to be a king, ye are rather borne to onus, then honos: not excelling all your people so farre in ranke and honour, as in daily care and hazardous paines-taking, for the dutifull administration of that great office, that God hath laide vpon your shoulders. Laying so a just symmetrie and proportion, betwixt the height of your honourable place, and the heauie waight of your great charge: and consequently, in case of failing, which God forbid, of the sadnesse of your fall, according to the pro- portion of that height. I haue therefore for the greater ease to your memory, and that yee may, at the first cast up any part that yee haue to doe with, deuided this Treatise in three parts. The first teacheth you your duetie towards God as a Christian: the next, your duetie in your Office as a King: and the third informeth you how to be- haue your selfe in indifferent things, which of them-selues are neither right nor wrong, but according as they are rightly or wrong vsed; and yet will serue according to your behauiour therein, to augment or empaire your fame and authoritie at the handes of your people. Receiue and welcome this Booke then, as afaithfull Praeceptour and counsellour vnto you: which, because my affaires will not permit mee euer to bee pre- sent with you, I ordaine to bee a resident faithfull admonisher of you: And because the houre of death is vncertaine to mee, as vnto all flesh, I leaue it as my Testament, and latter will vnto you. Chargeing you in the presence of GOD, and by the fatherly authoritie I haue ouer you, that yee keepe it euer with you, as carefully, as Alexander did the Iliads of Homer. Yee willfinde it a iust and impartiall counsellour; neither flattering you in any vice, not importuning you at vnmeete times. It will not come vn-called, neither speake vnspeered at: and yet conferring with it when yee are at quiet, yee shall say with Scipio, that yee are nunquam minus solus, quam cum solus. To conclude then, I charge you, as euer yee thinke to deserue my Fatherly blessing, to follow and put in practise, asfarre as lyeth in you, the praecepts hereafter ollowing. And if yee follow the contrary course, I take the Great GOD to record, that this Booke shall one day bee a witnesse betwixt mee and you; and shall procure to bee ratified in Heauen, the curse that in that case here I giue vnto you. For I protest before that Great GOD, I had rather not bee a Father, and childlesse, then bee a Father of wicked children. But hoping, yea, euen promising vnto my selfe, that GOD, who in his great blessing sent you vnto mee; shall in the same blessing, as hee hath giuen mee a Sonne; so make him a good and a godly Sonne; not repenting him of his Mercie shewed vnto mee, I end, with my earnest prayer to GOD, to worke effectually into you, the fruites of that blessing, which here from my heart I bestow vpon you.I. R.
TO THE READER.
OF A KINGS CHRISTIAN DVETIE TOWARDS GOD.
The First Booke.
As he cannot be thought worthy to rule and command others, that cannot rule
and dantone his owne proper affections and vnreasonable appetites, so can hee
not be thought worthie to gouerne a Christian people, knowing and fearing God,
that in his owne person and heart, feareth not and loueth not the Diuine Maiestie.
Neither can anything in his gouernment succeed well with him, (deuise and
labour as he list) as comming from a filthie spring, if his person be vnsanctified:
for (as that royal Prophet saith) Except the Lord build the house, they labour in
vaine that build it: except the Lord keepe the City, the keepers watch it in vaine2: in
respect the blessing of God hath onely power to giue the successe thereunto: and
as Paul saith, he planteth, Apollos watereth; but it is God onely that giueth the in-
crease.3 Therefore (my Sonne) first of all things, learne to know and loue that God,
whom-to ye haue a double obligation; first, for that he made you a man; and
next, for that he made you a little GOD to sit on his Throne, and rule ouer other
men. Remember, that as in dignitie hee hath erected you aboue others, so ought
ye in thankfulnesse towards him, goe as farre beyond all others. A moate in an-
others eye, is a beame into yours: a blemish in another, is a leprouse byle into
you: and a veniall sinne (as the Papifts call it) in another, is a great crime into
you. Thinke not therefore, that the highnesse of your dignitie, diminisheth your
faults (much lesse giueth you a licence to sinne) but by the contrary your fault
shall be aggrauated, according to the height of your dignitie; any sinne that ye
commit, not being a single sinne procuring but the fall of one; but being an ex-
emplare sinne, and therefore drawing with it the whole multitude to be guiltie of
the same. Remember then, that this glistering worldly glorie of Kings, is giuen
them by God, to teach them to preasse so to glister and shine before their people,
in all workes of sanctification and righteousnesse, that their persons as bright
lampes of godlinesse and vertue, may, going in and out before their people, giue
light to all their steps. Remember also, that by the right knowledge, and feare
of God (which is the beginning of Wisedome,4 as Salomon saith) ye shall know
all the things necessarie for the discharge of your duetie, both as a Christian,
and as a King; seeing in him, as in a mirrour, the course of all earthly things,
whereof hee is the spring and onely moouer.
Now, the onely way to bring you to this knowledge, is diligently to reade his
word, and earnestly to pray for the right vnderstanding thereof. Search the
Scriptures, sayth Christ, for they beare testimonie of me: 5 and, the whole Scripture,
saith Paul, is giuen by inspiration of God, and is profitable to teach, to conuince,
to correct, and to instruct in righteousnesse; that the man of God may be absolute,
being made perfite vnto all good workes.6 And most properly of any other, belong-
eth the reading thereof vnto Kings, since in that part of Scripture, where the
godly Kings are first made mention of, that were ordained to rule ouer the people
of God, there is an expresse and most notable exhortation and commandement
giuen them, to reade and meditate in the Law of God.7 I ioyne to this, the carefull
hearing of the doctrine with attendance and reuerence: for, faith commeth by
hearing,8 sayeth the same Apostle. But aboue all, beware ye wrest not the word
to your owne appetite, as ouer many doe, making it like a bell to sound as ye
please to interprete: but by the contrary, frame all your affections, to follow
precisely the rule there set downe.
The whole Scripture chiefly containeth two things: a command, and a pro-
hibition, to doe such things, and to abstaine from the contrary. Obey in both;
neither thinke it enough to abstaine from euill, and do no good; nor thinke not
that if yee doe many good things, it may serve you for a cloake to mixe euill
turnes therewith. And as in these two points, the whole Scripture principally
consisteth, so in two degrees standeth the whole seruice of God by man: interiour,
or vpward; exteriour, or downward: the first, by prayer in faith towards God;
the next, by workes flowing therefra before the world: which is nothing else, but
the exercise of Religion towards God, and of equitie towards your neighbour.
As for the particular points of Religion, I need not to dilate them; I am no
hypocrite, follow my footsteps, and your owne present education therein. I
thanke God, I was neuer ashamed to giue account of my profession, howsoeuer
the malicious lying tongues of some haue traduced me: and if my conscience had
not resolued me, that all my Religion presently professed by me and my king-
dome, was grounded vpon the plaine words of the Scripture, without the which
all points of Religion are superfluous, as any thing contrary to the same is abomi-
nation, I had neuer outwardly auowed it, for pleasure or awe of any flesh.
And as for the points of equitie towards your neighbour (because that will fall
in properly, vpon the second part concerning a Kings office) I leaue it to the owne
roume.
For the first part then of mans seruice to his God, which is Religion, that is,
the worship of God according to his reuealed will, it is wholly grounded vpon the
Scripture, as I haue alreadie said, quickened by faith, and conserued by con-
science: For the Scripture, I haue now spoken of it in generall, but that yee may
the more readily make choice of any part thereof, for your instruction or comfort,
remember shortly this methode.
The whole Scripture is dyted by Gods Spirit, thereby, as by his liuely word,
to instruct and rule the whole Church militant to the and of the world: It is
composed of two parts, the Olde and New Testament: The ground of the former
is the Lawe, which sheweth our sinne, and containeth iustice: the ground of the
other is Christ, who pardoning sinne containeth grace. The summe of the Law
is the tenne Commandements, more largely delated in the bookes of Moses, in-
terpreted and applied by the Prophets; and by the histories, are the examples
shewed of obedience or disobedience thereto, and what praemium or pæna was
accordingly giuen by God: But because no man was able to keepe the Law, nor
any part thereof, it pleased God of his infinite wisedome and goodnesse, to incar-
nate his only Sonne in our nature, for satisfaction of his iustice in his suffering
for vs; that since we could not be saued by doing, we might at least, bee saued by
beleeuing.
The ground therefore of the word of grace, is contained in the foure histories
of the birth, life, death, resurrection and ascention of Christ: The larger interpre-
tation and vse thereof, is contained in the Epistles of the Apostles: and the
practise in the faithfull or vnfaithfull, with the historie of the infancie and first
progresse of the Church is contained in their Actes.
Would ye then know your sinne by the Lawe ? reade the bookes of Moses con-
taining it. Would ye haue a commentarie thereupon ? Reade the Prophets, and
likewise the bookes of the Prouerbes and Ecclesiastes, written by that great pat-
terne of wisedome Salomon, which will not only serue you for instruction, how to
walke in the obedience of the Lawe of God, but is also so full of golden sentences,
and morall precepts, in all things that can concerne your conuersation in the
world, as among all the prophane Philosophers and Poets, ye shall not finde so
rich a storehouse of precepts of naturall wisedome, agreeing with the will and
diuine wisedome of God. Would ye see how good men are rewarded, and wicked
punished ? looke the historicall parts of these same bookes of Moses, together
with the histories of Ioshua, the Iudges, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, and Iob: but
especially the bookes of the Kings and Chronicles, wherewith ye ought to bee
familiarly acquainted: for there shall yee see your selfe, as in a myrrour, in the
catalogue either of the good or the euill Kings.
Would yee know the doctrine, life, and death of our Sauiour Christ ? reade
the Euangelists. Would ye bee more particularly trained vp in his Schoole ?
meditate vpon the Epistles of the Apostles. And would ye be acquainted with
the practises of that doctrine in the persons of the primitiue Church ? Cast vp
the Apostles Actes. And as to the Apocryphe bookes, I omit them, because I am
no Papist, as I said before; and indeed some of them are no wayes like the dyte-
ment of the Spirit of God.
But when ye reade the Scripture, reade it with a sanctified and chaste heart:
admire reuerently such obscure places as ye vnderstand not, blaming onely your
owne capacitie: read with delight the plaine places, and studie carefully to vnder-
stand those that are somewhat difficile: preasse to bee a good textuarie; for the
Scripture is euer the best interpreter of it selfe; but preasse not curiously to seeke
out farther then is contained therein; for that were ouer vnmannerly a presump-
tion, to striue to bee further vpon Gods secrets, then he hath will ye be; for what
hee thought needfull for vs to know, that hath he reuealed there: And delyte
most in reading such parts of the Scripture, as may best serue for your instruction
in your calling; reiecting foolish curiosities vpon genealogies and contentions,
which are but vaine, and profite not,9 as Paul saith.
Now, as to Faith, which is the nourisher and quickner of Religion, as I haue
alreadie said, It is a sure perswasion and apprehension of the promises of God,
applying them to your soule: and therefore may it iustly be called, the golden
chaine that linketh the faithfull soule to Christ: And because it groweth not in
our garden, but is the free gift of God,10 as the same Apostle saith, it must be
nourished by prayer, Which is nothing else, but a friendly talking with God.
As for teaching you the forme of your prayers, the Psalmes of Dauid are the
meetest schoole-master that ye can be acquainted with (next the prayer of our
Sauiour, which is the onely rule of prayer) whereout of, as of most rich and pure
fountaines, ye may learne all forme of prayer necessarie for your comfort at all
occasions: And so much the fitter are they for you, then for the common sort,
in respect the composer thereof was a King: and therefore best behoued to know
a Kings wants, and what things were meetest to be required by a King at Gods
hand for remedie thereof.
Vse often to pray when ye are quietest, especially forget it not in your bed
how oft soeuer ye doe it at other times: for publike prayer serueth as much for
example, as for any particular comfort to the supplicant.
In your prayer, bee neither ouer strange with God, like the ignorant common
sort, that prayeth nothing but out of bookes, nor yet ouer homely with him, like
some of the vaine Pharisaicall puritanes, that thinke they rule him vpon their
fingers: The former way will breede an vncouth coldnesse in you.towards him, the
other will breede in you a contempt of him. But in your prayer to God speake
with all reuerence: for if a subiect will not speake but reuerently to a King,
much lesse should any flesh presume to talke with God as with his companion.
Craue in your prayer, not onely things spirituall, but also things temporall,
sometimes of greater, and sometimes of lesse consequence; that yee may lay vp
in store his grant of these things, for confirmation of your faith, and to be an
arles-peny vnto you of his loue. Pray, as yee finde your heart moueth you, pro
re nata: but see that yee sute no vnlawfull things, as reuenge, lust, or such like:
for that prayer can not come of faith: and whatsoeuer is done without faith, is
sinne,11 as the Apostle saith.
When ye obtaine your prayer, thanke him ioyfully therefore: if otherwaies,
beare patiently, preassing to winne him with importunitie, as the widow did the
vnrighteous Iudge: and if notwithstanding thereof yee be not heard, assure your
selfe, God foreseeth that which yee aske is not for your weale: and learne in time,
so to interprete all the aduersities that God shall send vnto you; so shall yee in
the middest of them, not onely be armed with patience, but ioyfully lift vp your
eyes from the present trouble, to the happie end that God will turne it to. And
when ye finde it once so fall out by proofe, arme your selfe with the experience
thereof against the next trouble, assuring your selfe, though yee cannot in time
of the showre see through the cloude, yet in the end shall ye find, God sent if for
your weale, as ye found in the former.
And as for conscience, which I called the conseruer of Religion, It is nothing
else, but the light of knowledge that God hath planted in man, which euer watch-
ing ouer all his actions, as it beareth him a ioyfull testimonie when he does right,
so choppeth it him with a feeling that hee hath done wrong, when euer he commit-
teth any sinne. And surely, although this conscience be a great torture to the
wicked, yet is it as great a comfort to the godly, if we will consider it rightly. For
haue wee not a great aduantage, that haue within our selues while wee liue here,
a Count-booke and Inuentarie of all the crimes that wee shall bee accused of,
either at the houre of our death, or at the Great day of Iudgement; which when
wee please (yea though we forget) will chop, and remember vs to looke vpon it;
that while we haue leasure and are here, we may remember to amend; and so
at the day of our triall, compeare with new and white garments washed in the blood
of the Lambe,12 as S. Iohn saith. Aboue all them, my Sonne, labour to keepe sound
this conscience, which many prattle of, but ouer few feele: especially be carefull
to keepe it free from two diseases, wherewith it vseth oft to be infected; to wit,
Leaprosie, and Superstition; the former is the mother of Atheisme, the other of
Heresies. By a leaprouse conscience, I meane a cauterized conscience,13 as Paul
calleth it, being become senselesse of sinne, through sleeping in a carelesse securitie
as King Dauids was after his murther and adulterie, euer til he was wakened by
the Prophet Nathans similitude. And by superstition, I meane, when one re-
straines himselfe to any other rule in the seruice of God, then is warranted by the
word, the onely trew square of Gods seruice ?
As for a preseruatiue against this Leaprosie, remember euer once in the foure
and twentie houres, either in the night, or when yee are at greatest quiet, to call
your selfe to account of all your last dayes actions, either wherein ye haue com-
mitted things yee should not, or omitted the things ye should doe, either in your
Christian or Kingly calling: and in that account, let not your selfe be smoothed
ouer with that flattering φιλαυτία, which is ouerkindly a sicknesse to all mankind:
but censure your selfe as sharply, as if ye were your owne enemie: For if ye iudge
your selfe, ye shall not be iudged,14 as the Apostle saith: and then according to your
censure, reforme your actions as farre as yee may, eschewing euer wilfully and
wittingly to contrare your conscience: For a small sinne wilfully committed, with
a deliberate resolution to breake the bridle of conscience therein, is farre more
grieuous before God, then a greater sinne committed in a suddaine passion, when
conscience is asleepe. Remember therefore in all your actions, of the great ac-
count that yee are one day to make: in all the dayes of your life, euer learning to
die, and liuing euery day as it were you last;
Omnem crede diem tibi diluxisse supremum.15
And therefore, I would not haue you to pray with the Papists, to be preserued
from suddaine death, but that God would giue you grace so to liue, as ye may
euery houre of your life be ready for death: so shall ye attaine to the vertue of
trew fortitude, neuer being afraid for the horrour of death, come when he list:
And especially, beware to offend your conscience with vse of swearing or lying,
suppose but in iest; for othes are but an vse, and a sinne cloathed with no delight
nor gaine, and therefore the more inexcusable euen in the sight of men: and lying
commeth also much of a vile vse, which banisheth shame: Therefore beware euen
to deny the trewth, which is a sort of lie, that may best be eschewed by a person
of your ranke. For if any thing be asked at you that yee thinke not meete to
reueale, if yee say, that question is not pertinent for them to aske, who dare ex-
amine you further ? and vsing sometimes this answere both in trew and false
things that shall be asked at you, such vnmanerly people will neuer be the wiser
thereof.
And for keeping your conscience sound from that sickenesse of superstition,
yee must neither lay the safetie of your conscience vpon the credit of your owne
conceits, nor yet of other mens humors, how great doctors of Diuinitie that euer
they be; but yee must onely ground it vpon the expresse Scripture: for conscience
not grounded vpon sure knowledge, is either an ignorant fantasie, or an arrogant
vanitie. Beware therefore in this case with two extremities: the one, to beleeue
with the Papists; the Churches authority, better then your owne knowledge; the
other, to leane with the Anabaptists, to your owne conceits and dreamed reue-
lations.
But learne wisely to discerne betwixt points of saluation and indifferent things,
betwixt substance and ceremonies; and betwixt the expresse commandement and
will of God in his word, and the inuention or ordinance of man; since all that is
necessarie for saluation is contained in the Scripture: For in any thing that is
expressely commanded or prohibited in the booke of God, ye cannot be ouer
precise, euen in the least thing; counting euery sinne, not according to the light
estimation and common vse of it in the world, but as the booke of God counteth
of it. But as for all other things not contained in the scripture, spare not to vse
or alter them, as the necessitie of the time shall require. And when any of the
spirituall office-bearers in the Church, speake vnto you any thing that is well war-
ranted by the word, reuerence and obey them as the heraulds of the most high
God: but, if passing that bounds, they vrge you to embrace any of their fantasies
in the place of Gods word, or would colour their particulars with a pretended zeal,
acknowledge them for no other then vaine men, exceeding the bounds of their
calling; and according to your office, grauely and with authoritie redact them in
order againe.
To conclude then, both this purpose of conscience, and the first part of this
booke, keepe God more sparingly in your mouth, but abundantly in your heart:
be precise in effect, but sociall in shew: kythe more by your deeds then by your
wordes, the loue of vertue and hatred of vice: and delight more to be godly and
vertuous indeed, then to be thought and called so; expecting more for your praise
and reward in heauen, then heere: and apply to all your outward actions Christs
command, to pray and giue your almes secretly: So shal ye on the one part be
inwardly garnished with trew Christian humilitie, not outwardly (with the proud
Pharisie) glorying in your godlinesse; but saying, as Christ commandeth vs all,
when we haue done all that we can, Inutiles serui sumus: 16 And on the other part,
yee shall eschew outwardly before the world, the suspition of filthie proude hypo-
crisie, and deceitfull dissimulation.
OF A KINGS DVETIE IN HIS OFFICE.
The Second Booke.
BVT as ye are clothed with two callings, so must ye be alike careful for the dis-
charge of them both: that as yee are a good Christian, so yee may be a good
King, discharging your Office (as I shewed before) in the points of Iustice and
Equitie: which in two sundrie waies ye must doe: the one, in establishing and
executing, (which is the life of the Law) good Lawes among your people: 17 the
other, by your behauiour in your owne person, and with your seruants, to teach
your people by your example: 18 for people are naturally inclined to counterfaite
(like apes) their Princes maners, according to the notable saying of Plato,19 ex-
pressed by the Poet -
“
Componitur orbis
Regis ad exemplum, nec sic infiectere sensus
Humanos edicta valent, quam vita regentis.20
” For the part of making, and executing of Lawes, consider first the trew dif- ference betwixt a lawfull good King, and an vsurping Tyran, and yee shall the more easily vnderstand your duetie herein: for contraria iuxta se posita magis elucescunt. The one acknowledgeth himselfe ordained for his people, hauing receiued from God a burthen of gouernment, whereof he must be countable:21 the other thinketh his people ordeined for him, a prey to his passions and inordi- nate appetites, as the fruites of his magnanimitie: 22 And therefore, as their ends are directly contrarie, so are their whole actions, as meanes, whereby they preasse to attaine to their endes. A good King, thinking his highest honour to consist in the due discharge of his calling, emploieth all his studie and paines, to procure and maintaine, by the making and execution of good Lawes, the well-fare and peace of his people; 23 and as their naturall father and kindly Master, thinketh his greatest contentment standeth in their prosperitie, and his greatest suretie in hauing their hearts, subiecting his owne priuate affections and appetites to the weale and standing of his Subiects, euer thinking common interesse his chiefest particular:24 where by the contrarie, an vsurping Tyran, thinking his greatest honour and felicitie to consist in attaining per fas, vel nefas to his ambi- tious pretences, thinketh neuer himselfe sure, but by the dissention and factions among his people, and counterfaiting the Saint while he once creepe in credite, will then (by inuerting all good Lawes to serve onely for his vnrulie priuate affec- tions) frame the common-weale euer to aduance his particular: building his suretie vpon his peoples miserie:25 and in the end (as a step-father and an vncouth hireling) make vp his owne hand vpon the ruines of the Republicke.26 And ac- cording to their actions, so receiue they their reward: For a good King (after a happie and famous reigne) dieth in peace, lamented by his subiects, and admired by his neighbours; and leauing a reuerent renowne behinde him in earth, ob- taineth the Crowne of eternall felicitie in heauen.27 And although some of them (which falleth out very rarelie) may be cut off by the treason of some vnnaturall subiects, yet liueth their fame after them, and some notable plague faileth neuer to ouertake the committers in this life, besides their infamie to all posterities here- after: Where by the contrarie, a Tyrannes miserable and infamous life, armeth in end his owne Subiects to become his burreaux: 28 and although that rebellion be euer vnlawfull on their part, yet is the world so wearied of him, that his fall is little meaned by the rest of his Subjects, and but smiled at by his neighbours.29 And besides the infamous memorie he leaueth behind him here, and the endlesse paine hee sustaineth hereafter, it oft falleth out, that the committers not onely escape vnpunished, but farther, the fact will remaine as allowed by the Law in diuers aages thereafter. It is easie then for you (my Sonne) to make a choise of one of these two sorts of rulers, by following the way of vertue to establish your standing; yea, in case ye fell in the high way, yet should it be with the honourable report, and iust regrate of all honest men. And therefore to returne to my purpose anent the gouernement of your Sub- iects, by making and putting good Lawes to execution; I remit the making of them to your owne discretion, as ye shall finde the necessitie of new-rising corrup- tions to require them: for, ex malis moribus bonae leges natae sunt: besides, that in this country, wee haue alreadie moe good Lawes then are well execute, and am onely to insist in your forme of gouernment anent their execution. Onely re- member, that as Parliaments haue bene ordained for making of Lawes, so ye abuse not their institution, in holding them for any mens particulars: For as a Parliament is the honourablest and highest iudgement in the land (as being the Kings head Court) if it be well vsed, which is by making of good Lawes in it; so is it the in-iustest Iudgement-seat that may be, being abused to mens particulars: irreuocable decreits against particular parties, being giuen therein vnder colour of generall Lawes, and oft-times th'Estates not knowing themselues whom thereby they hurt.30 And therefore hold no Parliaments, but for necessitie of new Lawes, which would be but seldome: for few Lawes and well put in execution, are best in a well ruled common-weale. As for the matter of fore-faltures, which also are done in Parliament, it is not good tigging with these things; but my aduice is, ye fore-fault none but for such odious crimes as may make them vn- worthie euer to be restored againe:31 And for smaller offences, ye haue other penalties sharpe enough to be vsed against them. And as for the execution of good Lawes, whereat I left, remember that among the differences that I put betwixt the formes of the gouernment of a good King, and an vsurping Tyran; I shew how a Tyran would enter like a Saint while he found himselfe fast vnder-foot, and then would suffer his vnrulie affections to burst foorth. Therefore be yee contrare at your first entrie to your Kingdome, to that Quinquennium Neronis, with his tender hearted wish, Vellem nescirem literas,32 in giuing the Law full execution against all breakers thereof but excep- tion.33 For since ye come not to your reigne precario, nor by conquest, but by right and due discent; feare no vproares for doing of iustice, since ye may assure your selfe, the most part of your people will euer naturally fauour Iustice: 34 pro- uiding alwaies, that ye doe it onely for loue to Iustice, and not for satisfying any particular passions of yours, vnder colour thereof: 35 otherwise, how iustly that euer the offender deserue it, ye are guiltie of murther before God: For ye must consider, that God euer looketh to your inward intention in all your actions. And when yee haue by the feueritie of Iustice once setled your countries, and made them know that ye can strike, then may ye thereafter all the daies of your life mixe Iustice with Mercie, punishing or sparing, as ye shall finde the crime to haue bene wilfully or rashly committed, and according to the by-past behauiour of the committer.36 For if otherwise ye kyth your clemencie at the first, the of- fences would soone come to such heapes, and the contempt of you grow so great, that when ye would fall to punish, the number of them to be punished, would exceed the innocent; and yee would be troubled to resolue whom-at to begin: and against your nature would be compelled then to wracke many, whom the chastisement of few in the beginning might haue preserued. But in this, my ouer- deare bought experience may serue you for a sufficient lesson: For I confesse, where I thought (by being gracious at the beginning) to win all mens hearts to a louing and willing obedience, I by the contrary found, the disorder of the coun- trie, and the losse of my thankes to be all my reward. But as this seuere Iustice of yours vpon all offences would bee but for a time, (as I haue alreadie said) so is there some horrible crimes that yee are bound in conscience neuer to forgiue: such as Witch-craft, wilfull murther, Incest, (es- pecially within the degrees of consanguinitie) Sodomie, poisoning, and false coine. As for offences against your owne person and authoritie, since the fault concern- eth your selfe, I remit to your owne choise to punish or pardon therein, as your heart serueth you, and according to the circumstances of the turne, and the qualitie of the committer. Here would I also eike another crime to bee vnpardonable, if I should not be thought partiall: but the fatherly loue I beare you, will make mee breake the bounds of shame in opening it vnto you. It is then, the false and vnreuerent writing or speaking of malicious men against your Parents and Predecessors: ye know the command in Gods lawe, Honour your Father and Mother:37 and con- sequently, sen ye are the lawful magistrate, suffer not both your Princes and your Parents to be dishonoured by any; especially, sith the example also toucheth your selfe, in leauing thereby to your successors, the measure of that which they shal mete out againe to you in your like behalfe.38 I graunt wee haue all our faults, which, priuately betwixt you and God, should serue you for examples to meditate vpon, and mend in your person; but should not be a matter of discourse to others whatsoeuer. And sith ye are come of as honourable Predecessours as any Prince liuing, represse the insolence of such, as vnder pretence to taxe a vice in the per- son, seeke craftily to staine the race, and to steale the affection of the people from their posteritie: For how can they loue you, that hated them whom-of ye are come ? Wherefore destroy men innocent young sucking Wolues and Foxes, but for the hatred they beare to their race ? and why wil a coult of a Courser of Naples, giue a greater price in a market, then an Asse-colt, but for loue of the race ? It is therefore a thing monstrous, to see a man loue the childe, and hate the Parents: as on the other part, the infaming and making odious of the parents, is the readiest way to bring the sonne in contempt. And for conclusion of this point, I may also alledge my owne experience: For besides the iudgments of God, that with my eyes I haue seene fall vpon all them that were chiefe traitours to my parents, I may iustly affirme, I neuer found yet a constant biding by me in all my straites, by any that were of perfite aage in my parents dayes, but onely by such as constantly bode by them; I meane specially by them that serued the Queene my mother: for so that I discharge my conscience to you, my Sonne, in reuealing to you the trewth, I care not, what any traitour or treason-allower thinke of it. And although the crime of oppression be not in this ranke of vnpardonable crimes, yet the ouer-common vse of it in this nation, as if it were a vertue, es- pecially by the greatest ranke of subjects in the land, requireth the King to be a sharpe censurer thereof. Be diligent therefore to trie, and awfull to beate downe the hornes of proud oppressours: 39 embrace the quarrell of the poore and distressed, as your owne particular, thinking it your greatest honour to represse the oppressours: 40 care for the pleasure of none, neither spare ye anie paines in your owne person, to see their wrongs redressed: 41 and remember of the honour- able stile giuen to my grand-father of worthie memorie, in being called the poore mans King. And as the most part of a Kings office, standeth in deciding that question of Meum and Tuum, among his subjects; so remember when ye sit in iudgement, that the Throne ye sit on is Gods,42 as Moyses saith, and sway neither to the right hand nor to the left; either louing the rich, or pittying the poore. Iustice should be blinde and friendlesse: it is not there ye should reward your friends, or seeke to crosse your enemies.43 Here now speaking of oppressours and of iustice, the purpose leadeth me to speake of Hie-land and Border oppressions. As for the Hie-lands, I shortly com- prehend them all in two sorts of people: the one, that dwelleth in our maine land, that are barbarous for the most part, and yet mixed with some shewe of ciuilitie: the other, that dwelleth in the Iles, and are alluterly barbares, without any sort or shew of ciuilitie. For the first sort, put straitly to execution the Lawes made alreadie by me against their Ouer-lords, and the chiefes of their Clannes, and it will be no difficultie to danton them. As for the other sort, follow forth the course that I haue intended, in planting Colonies among them of answerable In-lands subiects, that within short time may reforme and ciuilize the best inclined among them; rooting out or transporting the barbarous and stubborne sort, and plant- ing ciuilitie in their roomes. But as for the Borders, because I know, if ye enioy not this whole Ile, accord- ing to Gods right and your lineall discent, yee will neuer get leaue to brooke this North and barrennest part thereof; no, not your owne head whereon the Crowne should stand; I neede not in that case trouble you with them: for then they will be the middest of the Ile, and so as easily ruled as any part thereof. And that yee may the readier with wisedome and Iustice gouerne your sub- iects, by knowing what vices they are naturallie most inclined to, as a good Phy- sician, who must first know what peccant humours his Patient naturallie is most subiect vnto, before he can begin his cure:44 I shall therefore shortly note vnto you, the principall faults that euery ranke of the people of this countrey is most affected vnto. And as for England, I will not speake be-gesse of them, neuer hauing been among them, although I hope in that God, who euer fauoureth the right, before I die, to be as well acquainted with their fashions. As the whole Subiects of our countrey (by the ancient and fundamentall policie of our Kingdome) are diuided into three estates, so is euerie estate hereof generally subiect to some speciall vices; which in a maner by long habitude, are thought rather vertue then vice among them; not that euerie particular man in any of these rankes of men, is subiect vnto them, for there is good and euill of all sorts; but that I meane, I haue found by experience, these vices to haue taken greatest holde with these rankes of men. And first, that I prejudge not the Church of her ancient priuiledges, reason would shee should haue the first place for orders sake, in this catalogue. The naturall sickenesse that hath euer troubled, and beene the decay of all the Churches, since the beginning of the world, changing the candlesticke from one to another, as Iohn saith, hath beene Pride, Ambition, and Auarice: and now last, these same infirmities wrought the ouerthrow of the Popish Church, in this countrey and diuers others. But the reformation of Religion in Scotland, being extraordinarily wrought by God, wherin many things were inordinately done by a popular tumult and rebellion, of such as blindly were doing the worke of God, but clogged with their owne passions and particular respects, as well appeared by the destruction of our policie, and not proceeding from the Princes order, as it did in our neighbour countrey of England, as likewise in Denmarke, and sundry parts of Germanie; some fierie spirited men in the ministerie, got such a guiding of the people at that time of confusion, as finding the gust of gouernment sweete, they begouth to fantasie to themselues a Democraticke forme of gouernment: and hauing (by the iniquitie of time) beene ouerwell baited vpon the wracke, first of my Grandmother, and next of mine owne mother, and after vsurping the libertie of the time in my long minoritie, setled themselues so fast vpon that imagined Democracie, as they fed themselues with the hope to become Tribuni plebis: and so in a popular gouernment by leading the people by the nose, to beare the sway of all the rule. And for this cause, there neuer rose faction in the time of my minoritie, nor trouble sen-syne, but they that were vpon that factious part, were euer carefull to perswade and allure these vnruly spirits among the ministerie, to spouse that quarrell as their owne: where-through I was ofttimes calumniated in their populare Sermons, not for any euill or vice in me, but because I was a King, which they thought the highest euill. And because they were ashamed to professe this quarrel, they were busie to look narrowly in all my actions; and I warrant you a mote in my eye, yea a false report, was matter enough for them to worke vpon: and yet for all their cunning, whereby they pretended to distinguish the lawfulnesse of the office, from the vice of the person, some of them would sometimes snapper out well grossely with the trewth of their intentions, informing the people, that all Kings and Princes were naturally enemies to the libertie of the Church, and could neuer patiently beare the yoke of Christ: with such sound doctrine fed they their flockes. And because the learned, graue, and honest men of the ministerie, were euer ashamed and offended with their temeritie and pre- sumption, preassing by all good meanes by their authoritie and example, to re- duce them to a greater moderation; there could be no way found out so meete in their conceit, that were turbulent spirits among them, for maintaining their plots, as paritie in the Church: whereby the ignorants were emboldened (as bairdes) to crie the learned, godly, and modest out of it: paritie the mother of confusion, and enemie to Vnitie, which is the mother of order: For if by the example thereof, once established in the Ecclesiasticall gouernment, the Politicke and ciuill estate should be drawen to the like, the great confusion that thereupon would arise may easily be discerned. Take heede therefore (my Sonne) to such Puritanes, verie pestes in the Church and Common-weale, whom no deserts can oblige, neither oathes or promises binde, breathing nothing but sedition and calumnies, aspiring without measure, railing without reason, and making their owne imaginations (without any warrant of the word) the square of their con- science. I protest before the great God, and since I am here as vpon my Testa- ment, it is no place for me to lie in, that ye shall neuer finde with any Hie-land or Border-theeues greater ingratitude, and moe lies and vile periuries, then with these phanaticke spirits: And suffer not the principals of them to brooke your land, if ye like to sit at rest; except yee would keepe them for trying your pa- tience, as Socrates did an euill wife.45 And for preseruatiue against their poison, entertaine and aduance the godly, learned and modest men of the ministerie, whom-of (God be praised) there lacketh not a sufficient number: and by their prouision to Bishoprickes and Benefices (annulling that vile acte of Annexation, if ye finde it not done to your hand) yee shall not onely banish their conceited paritie, whereof I haue spoken, and their other imaginarie grounds; which can neither stand with the order of the Church, nor the peace of a commonweale and well ruled Monarchie: but ye shall also re- establish the olde institution of three Estates in Parliament, which can no other- wise be done: But in this I hope (if God spare me dayes) to make you a faire entrie, alwayes where I leaue, follow ye my steps. And to end my aduice anent the Church estate, cherish no man more then a good Pastor, hate no man more then a proude Puritane; thinking it one of your fairest styles, to be called a louing nourish-father to the Church, seeing all the Churches within your dominions planted with good Pastors, the Schooles (the seminarie of the Church) maintained, the doctrine and discipline preserued in puritie, according to Gods word, a sufficient prouision for their sustentation, a comely order in their policie, pride punished, humilitie aduanced, and they so to reuerence their superiours, and their flockes them, as the flourishing of your Church in pietie, peace, and learning, may be one of the chiefe points of your earthly glory, being euer alike ware with both the extremities; as well as yee re- presse the vaine Puritane, so not to suffer proude Papall Bishops; but as some for their qualities will deserue to bee preferred before others, so chaine them with such bondes as may preserue that estate from creeping to corruption. The next estate now that by order commeth in purpose, according to their rankes in Parliament, is the Nobilitie, although second in ranke, yet ouer farre first in greatnesse and power, either to doe good or euill, as they are inclined. The naturall sickenesse that I haue perceiued this estate subiect to in my time, hath beene, a fectlesse arrogant conceit of their greatnes and power; drinking in with their very nourish-milke, that their honor stood in committing three points of iniquitie: to thrall by oppression, the meaner sort that dwelleth neere them, to their seruice and following, although they holde nothing of them: to maintaine their seruants and dependers in any wrong, although they be not answerable to the lawes (for any body will maintaine his man in a right cause) and for anie dis- pleasure, that they apprehend to be done vnto them by their neighbour, to take vp a plaine feide against him; and (without respect to God, King, or common- weale) to bang it out brauely, hee and all his kinne, against him and all his: yea they will thinke the King farre in their common, in-case they agree to grant an assurance to a short day, for keeping of the peace: where, by their naturall dewtie, they are oblished to obey the lawe, and keepe the peace all the daies of their life, vpon the perill of their verie craigges. For remeid to these euils in their estate, teach your Nobilitie to keepe your lawes as precisely as the meanest; 46 feare not their orping or beeing discontented, as long as yee rule well; for their pretended reformation of Princes taketh neuer effect, but where euill gouernement precedeth. Acquaint your selfe so with all the honest men of your Barrons and Gentlemen, and be in your giuing accesse so open and affable to euery ranke of honest persons, as may make them peart with- out scarring at you, to make their owne suites to you themselues, and not to em- ploy the great Lordes their intercessours; 47 for intercession to Saints is Papistrie: so shall ye bring to a measure their monstrous backes. And for their barbarous feides, put the lawes to due execution made by mee there-anent; beginning euer rathest at him that yee loue best, and is most oblished vnto you; to make him an example to the rest. For yee shall make all your reformations to beginne at your elbow, and so by degrees to flow to the extremities of the land. And rest not, vntill yee roote out these barbarous feides; that their effects may bee as well smoared downe, as their barbarous name is vnknowen to anie other nation: For if this Treatise were written either in French or Latine, I could not get them named vnto you but by circumlocution. And for your easier abolishing of them, put sharpelie to execution my lawes made against Gunnes and traiterous Pisto- lets; thinking in your heart, tearming in your speech, and vsing by your punish- ments, all such as weare and vse them, as brigands and cut-throates. On the other part, eschew the other extremitie, in lightlying and contemning your Nobilitie. Remember howe that errour brake the King my grand-fathers heart. But consider that vertue followeth oftest noble blood: the worthinesse of their antecessors craueth a reuerent regard to be had vnto them:48 honour them therfore that are obedient to the law among them, as Peeres and Fathers of your land: the more frequently that your Court can bee garnished with them; thinke it the more your honour; 49 acquainting and employing them in all your greatest affaires; sen it is, they must be your armes and executers of your lawes: and so vse your selfe louinglie to the obedient, and rigorously to the stubborne, as may make the greatest of them to thinke, that the chiefest point of their honour, stand- eth in striuing with the meanest of the land in humilitie towards you, and obedi- ence to your Lawes: beating euer in their eares, that one of the principall points of seruice that ye craue of them, is, in their persons to practise, and by their power to procure due obedience to the Law; without the which, no seruice they can make, can be agreeable vnto you. But the greatest hinderance to the execution of our Lawes in this countrie, are these heritable Shirefdomes and Regalities, which being in the hands of the great men, do wracke the whole countrie: For which I know no present remedie, but by taking the sharper account of them in their Offices; vsing all punishment against the slouthfull, that the Law will permit: 50 and euer as they vaike, for any offences committed by them, dispone them neuer heritably againe: preassing, with time, to draw it to the laudable custome of England: which ye may the easilier doe, being King of both, as I hope in God ye shall. And as to the third and last estate, which is our Burghes (for the small Bar- rones are but an inferiour part of the Nobilitie and of their estate) they are com- posed of two sorts of men; Merchants and Craftes-men: either of these sorts being subiect to their owne infirmities. The Merchants thinke the whole common-weale ordeined for making them vp; and accounting it their lawfull gaine and trade, to enrich themselues vpon the losse of all the rest of the people, they transport from vs things necessarie; bringing backe sometimes vnnecessary things, and at other times nothing at all. They buy for vs the worst wares, and sell them at the dearest prices: and albeit the victuals fall or rise of their prices, according to the aboundance or skantnesse thereof; yet the prices of their wares euer rise, but neuer fall: being as constant in that their euill custome, as if is were a setled Law for them. They are also the speciall cause of the corruption of the coyne, transporting all our owne, and bring ing in forraine, vpon what price they please to set on it: For order putting to them, put the good Lawes in execution that are already made anent these abuses; but especially doe three things: Establish honest, diligent, but few Searchers, for many hands make slight worke; and haue an honest and diligent Thesaurer to take count of them: Permit and allure forraine Merchants to trade here: 51 so shall ye haue best and best cheape wares, not buying them at the third hand: And set euery yeere downe a certaine price of all things; considering first, how it is in other countries: and the price set reasonably downe, if the Merchants will not bring them home on the price, cry forrainers free to bring them. And because I haue made mention here of the coyne, make your money of fine Gold and Siluer; causing the people be payed with substance, and not abused with number: so shall ye enrich the common-weale, and haue a great treasure laid vp in store, if ye fall in warres or in any straites: For the making it baser, will breed your commoditie; but it is not to bee vsed, but at a great necessitie. And the Craftes-men thinke, we should be content with their worke, how bad and deare soeuer it be: 52 and if they in any thing be controlled, vp goeth the blew-blanket: But for their part, take example by ENGLAND, how it hath flour- ished both in wealth and policie, since the strangers Craftes-men came in among them: Therefore not onely permit, but allure strangers to come heere also;53 taking as strait order for repressing the mutining of ours at them, as was done in ENGLAND, at their first in-bringing there. But vnto one fault is all the common people of this Kingdome subiect, as well burgh as land; which is, to iudge and speake rashly of their Prince, setting the Common-weale vpon foure props, as wee call it; euer wearying of the present estate, and desirous of nouelties.542 For remedie whereof (besides the execution of Lawes that are to be used against vnreuerent speakers) I know no better meane, then so to rule, as may iustly stop their mouthes from all such idle and vnreuerent speeches; and so to prop the weale of your people, with prouident care for their good gouernment, that iustly, Momus himselfe may haue no ground to grudge at: and yet so to temper and mixe your seueritie with mildnes, that as the vniust railers may be restrained with a reuerent awe; so the good and louing Subjects, may not onely liue in suretie and wealth, but be stirred vp and inuited by your benigne courtesies, to open their mouthes in the iust praise of your so well mod- erated regiment.55 In respect whereof, and therewith also the more to allure them to a common amitie among themselues, certaine dayes in the yeere would be ap- pointed, for delighting the people with publicke spectacles of all honest games, and exercise of armes: 56 as also for conueening of neighbours, for entertaining friendship and heartlinesse, by honest feasting and merrinesse: For I cannot see what greater superstition can be in making playes and lawfull games in Maie, and good cheere at Christmas, then in eating fish in Lent, and vpon Fridayes, the Papists as well vsing the one as the other: so that alwayes the Sabboths be kept holy, and no vnlawfull pastime be vsed: And as this forme of contenting the peoples mindes, hath beene vsed in all well gouerned Republicks: so will it make you to performe in your gouernment that olde good sentence, Omne tulit punctum, qui miscuit vtile dulci.57 Ye see now (my Sonne) how for the zeale I beare to acquaint you with the plaine and single veritie of all things, I haue not spared to be something Satyricke, in touching well quickly the faults in all the estates of my kingdome: But I protest before God, I doe it with the fatherly loue that I owe to them all; onely hating their vices, whereof there is a good number of honest men free in euery estate. And because, for the better reformation of all these abuses among your estates, it will be a great helpe vnto you, to be well acquainted with the nature and humours of all your Subjects, and to know particularly the estate of euery part of your dominions;58 I would therefore counsell you, once in the yeere to visite the principall parts of the countrey, ye shal be in for the time: 59 and because I hope ye shall be King of moe countries then this, once in the three yeeres to visite all your Kingdomes; not lipening to Vice-royes, but hearing your selfe their complaints; and hauing ordinarie Councels and iustice-seates in euerie Kingdome, of their owne countriemen: and the principall matters euer to be de- cided by your selfe when ye come in those parts. Ye haue also to consider, that yee must not onely bee carefull to keepe your subiects, from receiuing anie wrong of others within; but also yee must be care- ful to keepe them from the wrong of any forraine Prince without: sen the sword is giuen you by God not onely to reuenge vpon your owne subiects, the wrongs committed amongst themselues; but further, to reuenge and free them of for- raine iniuries done vnto them: And therefore warres vpon iust quarrels are law- ful: but aboue all, let not the wrong cause be on your side.60 Vse all other Princes, as your brethren, honestly and kindely: Keepe precisely your promise vnto them, although to your hurt: Striue with euerie one of them in courtesie and thankefulnesse: 61 and as with all men, so especially with them, bee plaine and trewthfull; keeping euer that Christain rule, to doe as yee would be done to: especially in counting rebellion against any other Prince, a crime against your owne selfe, because of the preparatiue. Supplie not therefore, nor trust not other Princes rebels; but pittie and succour all lawfull Princes in their troubles. But if any of them will not abstaine, notwithstanding what-soeuer your good deserts, to wrong you or your subjects, craue redresse at leasure; 62 heare and doe all reason: and if no offer that is lawfull or honourable, can make him to abstaine, nor repaire his wrong doing; then for last refuge, commit the iustneffe of your cause to God, giuing first honestly vp with him, and in a publicke and honourable forme.63 But omitting now to teach you the forme of making warres, because that arte is largely treated of by many, and is better learned by practise then speculation; I will onely set downe to you heere a few precepts therein. Let first the iustnesse of your cause be your greatest strength; and then omitte not to vse all lawfull meanes for backing of the same.64 Consult therefore with no Necromancier nor false Prophet, vpon the successe of your warres, remembring on king Saules 65 miserable end: but keepe your land cleane of all South-sayers, according to the commaund in the Law of God,66 dilated by Ieremie. Neither commit your quarrell to bee tried by a Duell: for beside that generally all Duell appeareth to bee vn- lawful, committing the quarrell, as it were, to a lot; whereof there is no warrant in the Scripture, since the abrogating of the olde Lawe: it is specially moste vn- lawfull in the person of a King;67 who being a publicke person hath no power therefore to dispose of himselfe, in respect, that to his preseruation or fall, the safetie or wracke of the whole common-weale is necessarily coupled, as the body is to the head. Before ye take on warre, play the wise Kings part described by Christ; fore- seeing how ye may beare it out with all necessarie prouision: 68 especially remem- ber, that money is Neruus belli. Choose old experimented Captaines, and yong able souldiers. Be extreamely strait and seuere in martiall Discipline, as well for keeping of order, which is as requisite as hardinesse in the warres, and punishing of slouth, which at a time may put the whole armie in hazard; as likewise for repressing of mutinies, which in warres are wonderfull dangerous. And looke to the Spaniard, whose great successe in all his warres, hath onely come through straitnesse of Discipline and order: for such errours may be committed in the warres, as cannot be gotten mended againe.69 Be in your owne person walkrife, diligent, and painefull; vsing the aduice of such as are skilfullest in the craft, as ye must also doe in all other. Be homely with your souldiers as your companions, for winning their hearts; and extreamly liberall, for then is no time of sparing. Be cold and foreseeing in deuising, con- stant in your resolutions, and forward and quicke in your executions.70 Fortifie well your Campe, and assaile not rashly without an aduantage: neither feare not lightly your enemie.71 Be curious in deuising stratagems, but alwayes honestly: for of any thing they worke greatest effects in the warres, if secrecie be ioyned to inuention.72 And once or twise in your owne person hazard your selfe fairely; but, hauing acquired so the fame of courage and magnanimitie, make not a daily souldier of your selfe, exposing rashly your person to euery perill: but conserue your selfe thereafter for the weale of your people, for whose sake yee must more care for your selfe, then for your owne.73 And as I haue counselled you to be slow in taking on a warre, so aduife I you to be slow in peace-making.74 Before ye agree, looke that the ground of your warres be satisfied in your peace; and that ye see a good suretie for you and your people: otherwaies a honourable and iust warre is more tollerable, then a dis- honourable and dis-aduantageous peace.75 But it is not enough to a good King, by the scepter of good Lawes well execute to gouerne, and by force of armes to protect his people; if he ioyne not there- with his vertuous life in his owne person, and in the person of his Court and com- pany; by good example alluring his Subiects to the loue of vertue, and hatred of vice. And therefore (my Sonne) sith all people are naturally inclined to follow their Princes example (as I shewed you before) let it not be said, that ye command others to keepe the contrary course to that, which in your owne person ye prac- tise, making so your wordes and deeds to fight together: 76 but by the contrary, let your owne life be a law-booke and a mirrour to your people; that therein they may read the practise of their owne Lawes; and therein they may see, by your image, what life they should leade. And this example in your owne life and person, I likewise diuide in two parts: The first, in the gouernment of your Court and followers, in all godlinesse and vertue: the next, in hauing your owne minde decked and enriched so with all vertuous qualities, that therewith yee may worthily rule your people: For it is not ynough that ye haue and retaine (as prisoners) within your selfe neuer so many good qualities and vertues, except ye employ them, and set them on worke, for the weale of them that are committed to your charge: Virtutis enim laus omnis in actione consistit.77 First then, as to the gouernment of your Court and followers, King Dauid sets downe the best precepts, that any wise and Christian King can practise in that point: For as yee ought to haue a great care for the ruling well of all your Subiects, so ought yee to haue a double care for the ruling well of your owne seruants;78 since vnto them yee are both a Politicke and Oeconomicke gouernour. And as euery one of the people will delite to follow the example of any of the Courteours, as well in euill as in good:79 so what crime so horrible can there be committed and ouer-seene in a Courteour, that will not be an exemplare excuse for any other boldly to commit the like ? And therfore in two points haue ye to take good heed anent your Court and houshold: first, in choosing them wisely; next, in carefully ruling them whom ye haue chosen. It is an olde and trew saying, That a kindly Auer will neuer become a good horse: for albeit good education and company be great helpes to Nature,80 and education be therefore most iustly called altera natura, yet is it euill to get out of the flesh,81 that is bred in the bone, as the olde prouerbe sayth. Be very ware then in making choice of your seruants and companie: - “Nam
Turpius eiicitur, quam non admittitur hospes:
” 82 and many respects may lawfully let an admission, that will not be sufficient causes of depriuation. All your seruants and Court must be composed partly of minors, such as young Lords, to be brought vp in your company, or Pages and such like; and partly of men of perfit aage, for seruing you in such roumes, as ought to be filled with men of wisedome and discretion. For the first sort, ye can doe no more, but choose them within aage, that are come of a good and vertuous kinde,83 In fide parentum, as Baptisme is vsed: For though anima non venit ex traduce,84 but is immediatly created by God, and infused from aboue; yet it is most certaine, that vertue or vice will oftentimes, with the heritage, be transferred from the parents to the posteritie, and runne on a blood (as the Prouerbe is) the sickenesse of the minde becomming as kindly to some races, as these sickenesses of the body, that infect in the seede:85 Especially choose such minors as are come of a trew and hon- est race, and haue not had the house whereof they are descended, infected with falsehood.86 And as for the other sort of your companie and seruants, that ought to be of perfit aage; first see that they be of a good fame and without blemish,87 otherwise, what can the people thinke, but that yee haue chosen a company vnto you, ac- cording to your owne humour, and so haue preferred these men, for the loue of their vices and crimes, that ye knew them to be guiltie of ? For the people that see you not within, cannot iudge of you, but according to the outward appearance of your actions and companie, which onely is subiect to their sight:88 And next, see that they be indued with such honest qualities, as are meete for such offices, as ye ordaine them to serue in; that your iudgement may be knowen in imploy- ing euery man according to his giftes: 89 And shortly, follow good king Dauids counsell in the choise of your seruants, by setting your eyes vpon the faithfull and vpright of the land to dwell with you.90 But here I must not forget to remember, and according to my fatherly authori- tie, to charge you to preferre specially to your seruice, so many as haue trewly serued me, and are able for it: the rest, honourably to reward them, preferring their posteritie before others, as kindliest: so shall ye not onely be best serued, (for if the haters of your parents cannot loue you, as I shewed before, it followeth of necessitie their louers must loue you) but further, ye shall kyth your thankefull memorie of your father, and procure the blessing of these olde seruants, in not missing their olde master in you; which otherwise would be turned in a prayer for me, and a curse for you. Vse them therefore when God shall call me, as the testimonies of your affection towards me; trusting and aduancing those farthest, whom I found faithfullest: which ye must not discerne by their rewards at my hand (for rewards, as they are called Bona fortune, so are they subiect vnto for- tune) but according to the trust I gaue them; hauing oft-times had better heart then hap to the rewarding of sundry: And on the other part, as I wish you to kyth your constant loue towards them that I loued, so desire I you to kyth in the same measure, your constant hatred to them that I hated: I meane, bring not home, nor restore not such, as ye finde standing banished or fore-faulted by me. The contrary would kyth in you ouer great a contempt of me, and lightnesse in your owne nature: for how can they be trew to the Sonne, that were false to the Father ? But to returne to the purpose anent the choise of your seruants, yee shall by this wise forme of doing, eschew the inconuenients, that in my minoritie I fell in, anent the choise of my seruants: For by them that had the command where I was brought vp, were my seruants put vnto mee; not choosing them that were meetest to serue me, but whom they thought meetest to serue their turne about me, as kythed well in many of them at the first rebellion raised against mee, which com- pelled mee to make a great alteration among my seruants. And yet the example of that corruption made mee to be long troubled there-after with solliciters, recommending seruants vnto me, more for seruing in effect, their friends that put them in, then their master that admitted them. Let my example then teach you to follow the rules here set downe, choosing your seruants for your owne vse, and not for the vse of others: 91 And since ye must bee communis parens to all your people, so choose your seruants indifferently out of all quarters; not respect- ing other mens appetites, but their owne qualities: For as ye must command all, so reason would, ye should be serued out of al, as ye please to make choice. But specially take good heed to the choice of your seruants, that ye preferre to the offices of the Crowne and estate: for in other offices yee haue onely to take heede to your owne weale; 92 but these concerne likewise the weale of your people; for the which yee must bee answerable to God. Choose then for all these Offices, men of knowen wisedome, honestie, and good conscience; well practised in the points of the craft, that yee ordaine them for, and free of all factions and partiali- ties; but specially free of that filthie vice of Flatterie, the pest of all Princes, and wracke of Republicks: 93 For since in the first part of this Treatise, I fore-warned you to be at warre with your owne inward flatterer 4LXavrta, how much more should ye be at war with outward flatterers, who are nothing so sib to you, as your selfe is; by the selling of such counterfeit wares, onely preassing to ground their greatnesse vpon your ruines ? 94 And therefore bee carefull to preferre none, as yee will bee answerable to God but onely for their worthinesse: But specially choose honest, diligent, meane, but responsall men, to bee your receiuers in money matters: meane I say, that ye may when yee please, take a sharpe ac- count of their intromission, without perill of their breeding any trouble to your estate: for this ouersight hath beene the greatest cause of my mis-thriuing in money matters. Especially, put neuer a forrainer, in any principall office of estate: for that will neuer faile to stirre vp sedition and enuie in the countrey- mens hearts, both against you and him: But (as I saide before) if God prouide you with moe countries then this; choose the borne-men of euery countrey, to bee your chief counsellers therein.95 And for conclusion of my aduice anent the choice of your feruants, delight to be serued with men of the noblest blood that may bee had: for besides that their seruice shall breed you great good-will and least enuie, contrarie to that of start- vps; ye shall oft finde vertue follow noble races, as I haue said before speaking of the Nobilitie.96 Now, as to the other point, anent your gouerning of your seruants when yee haue chosen them; make your Court and companie to bee a patterne of godlinesse and all honest vertues, to all the rest of the people 97. Bee a daily watch-man ouer your seruants, that they obey your lawes precisely: 98 For how can your lawes bee kept in the countrey, if they be broken at your eare ? Punishing the breach thereof in a Courteour, more seuerely, then in the person of any other of your subiects: and aboue all, suffer none of them (by abusing their credite with you) to oppresse or wrong any of your subiects. Be homely or strange with them, as ye thinke their behauiour deserueth, and their nature may beare with.99 Thinke a quarrellous man a pest in your companie. Bee carefull euer to preferre the gentilest natured and trustiest, to the inwardest Offices about you, especially in your chalmer.100 Suffer none about you to meddle in any mens particulars, but like the Turkes Ianisares, let them know no father but you, nor particular but yours.101 And if any will medde in their kinne or friends quarrels, giue them their leaue: for since ye must be of no surname nor kinne, but equall to all honest men; it becommeth you not to bee followed with partiall or factious seruants. Teach obedience to your seruants, and not to thinke themselues ouer-wise: 102 and, as when any of them deserueth it, ye must not spare to put them away, so, without a seene cause, change none of them. Pay them, as all others your subiects, with praemium or paena as they deserue, which is the very ground-stone of good gouerne- ment. Employ euery man as ye thinke him qualified, but vse not one in all things, lest he waxe proude, and be enuied of his fellowes. Loue them best, that are plainnest with you, and disguise not the trewth for all their kinne: suffer none to be euill tongued, nor backbiters of them they hate: command a hartly and brotherly loue among all them that serue you.103 And shortly, maintaine peace in your Court, bannish enuie, cherish modestie, bannish deboshed insolence, foster humilitie, and represse pride: setting downe such a comely and honourable order in all the points of your seruice; that when strangers shall visite your Court, they may with the Queene of Sheba, admire your wisedome in the glorie of your house,104 and comely order among your seruants. But the principall blessing that yee can get of good companie, will stand in your marrying of a godly and vertuous wife: for shee must bee nearer vnto you, then any other companie, being Flesh of your flesh, and bone of your bone,105 as Adam saide of Heuah. And because I know not but God may call me, before ye be readie for Mariage; I will shortly set downe to you heere my aduice therein. First of all consider, that Mariage is the greatest earthly felicitie or miserie, that can come to a man, according as it pleaseth God to blesse or curse the same. Since then without the blessing of GOD, yee cannot looke for a happie successe in Mariage, yee must bee carefull both in your preparation for it, and in the choice and vsage of your wife, to procure the same. By your preparation, I meane, that yee must keepe your bodie cleane and vnpolluted, till yee giue it to your wife, whom-to onely it belongeth. For how can ye iustly craue to bee ioyned with a pure virgine, if your bodie be polluted ? why should the one halfe bee cleane, and the other defiled ? And although I know, fornication is thought but a light and a veniall sinne, by the most part of the world, yet remember well what I said to you in my first Booke anent conscience, and count euery sinne and breach of Gods law, not according as the vaine world esteemeth of it, but as God the Iudge and maker of the lawe accounteth of the same. Heare God commanding by the mouth of Paul, to abstaine from fornication, declaring that the fornicator shall not inherite the Kingdome of heauen: 106 and by the mouth of Iohn, reckoning our fornication amongst other grieuous sinnes, that debarre the committers amongst dogs and swine, from entry in that spirituall and heauenly Ierusalem.107 And consider, if a man shall once take vpon him, to count that light, which God calleth heauie; and veniall that, which God calleth grieuous; beginning first to measure any one sinne by the rule of his lust and appetites, and not of his conscience; what shall let him to doe so with the next, that his affections shall stirre him to, the like reason seruing for all: and so to goe forward till he place his whole corrupted affections in Gods roome ? And then what shall come of him; but, as a man giuen ouer to his owne filthy affections, shall perish into them ? And because wee are all of that nature, that sibbest examples touch vs neerest, consider the difference of successe that God granted in the Mariages of the King my grand-father, and me your owne father: the reward of his incontinencie, (proceeding from his euill education) being the suddaine death at one time of two pleasant yong Princes; and a daughter onely borne to succeed to him, whom hee had neuer the hap, so much as once to see or blesse before his death: leauing a double curse behinde him to the land, both a Woman of sexe, and a new borne babe of aage to reigne ouer them. And as for the blessing God hath bestowed on mee, in granting me both a greater continencie, and the fruits following there-upon, your selfe, and sib folkes to you, are (praise be to God) sufficient witnesses: which, I hope the same God of his infinite mercie, shall continue and increase, without repentance to me and my posteritie. Be not ashamed then, to keepe cleane your body, which is the Temple of the holy Spirit,108 notwithstanding all vaine allurements to the contrary, discerning trewly and wisely of euery vertue and vice, according to the trew qualities thereof, and not according to the vaine conceits of men.. As for your choise in Mariage, respect chiefly the three causes, wherefore Mariage was first ordeined by God; and then ioyne three accessories, so farre as they may be obtained, not derogating to the principalles. The three causes it was ordeined for, are, for staying of lust, for procreation of children, and that man should by his Wife, get a helper like himselfe. Deferre not then to Marie till your aage: for it is ordeined for quenching the lust of your youth:109 Especially a King must tymouslie Marie for the weale of his people.110 Neither Marie yee, for any accessory cause or worldly respects, a woman vnable, either through aage, nature, or accident, for procreation of children: for in a King that were a double fault, as well against his owne weale, as against the weale of his people. Neither also Marie one of knowne euill conditions, or vicious education: for the woman is ordeined to be a helper, and not a hinderer to man. The three accessories, which as I haue said, ought also to be respected, with- out derogating to the principall causes, are beautie, riches, and friendship by alliance, which are all blessings of God. For beautie increaseth your loue to your Wife, contenting you the better with her, without caring for others: and riches and great alliance, doe both make her the abler to be a helper vnto you.111 But if ouer great respect being had to these accessories, the principall causes bee ouer- seene (which is ouer oft practised in the world) as of themselues they are a blessing being well vsed; so the abuse of them will turne them in a curse. For what can all these worldly respects auaile, when a man shall finde himselfe coupled with a diuel, to be one flesh with him, and the halfe marrow in his bed ? Then (though too late) shall he finde that beautie without bountie, wealth without wisdome, and great friendship without grace and honestie; are but faire shewes, and the deceitfull masques of infinite miseries. But haue ye respect, my Sonne, to these three speciall causes in your Mariage, which flow from the first institution thereof, & caetera omnia adjicientur vobis.112 And therefore I would rathest haue you to Marie one that were fully of your owne Religion; her ranke and other qualities being agreeable to your estate. For although that to my great regrate, the number of any Princes of power and ac- count, professing our Religion, bee but very small; and that therefore this aduice seemes to be the more strait and difficile: yet ye haue deeply to weigh, and con- sider vpon these doubts, how ye and your wife can bee of one flesh, and keepe vnitie betwixt you, being members of two opposite Churches: disagreement in Religion bringeth euer with it, disagreement in maners; and the dissention be- twixt your Preachers and hers, wil breed and foster a dissention among your subiects, taking their example from your family; besides the perill of the euill education of your children. Neither pride you that ye wil be able to frame and make her as ye please: that deceiued Salomon the wisest King that euer was; the grace of Perseuerance, not being a flower that groweth in our garden. Remember also that Mariage is one of the greatest actions that a man doeth in all his time, especially in taking of his first Wife: and if hee Marie first basely beneath his ranke, he will euer be the lesse accounted of thereafter. And lastly, remember to choose your Wife as I aduised you to choose your seruants: that she be of a whole and cleane race, not subiect to the hereditary sicknesses, either of the soule or the body: For if a man wil be careful to breed horses and dogs of good kinds, how much more careful should he be, for the breed of his owne loines?113 So shal ye in your Mariage haue respect to your conscience, honour, and naturall weale in your successours. When yee are Maried, keepe inuiolably your promise made to God in your Mariage; which standeth all in doing of one thing, and abstayning from another: to treat her in all things as your wife, and the halfe of your selfe; and to make your body (which then is no more yours, but properly hers) common with none other.114 I trust I need not to insist here to disswade you from the filthy vice of adulterie: remember onely what solemne promise yee make to God at your Mari- age: and since it is onely by the force of that promise that your children succeed to you, which otherwayes they could not doe; aequitie and reason would, ye should keepe your part thereof.115 God is euer a seuere auenger of all periuries; and it is no oath made in iest, that giueth power to children to succeed to great kingdomes. Haue the King my grand-fathers example before your eyes, who by his adulterie, bred the wracke of his lawfull daughter and heire; in begetting that bastard, who vnnaturally rebelled, and procured the ruine of his owne Souerane and sister. And what good her posteritie hath gotten sensyne, of some of that vn- lawfull generation, Bothuell his treacherous attempts can beare witnesse. Keepe praecisely then your promise made at Mariage, as ye would wish to be partaker of the blessing therein. And for your behauiour to your Wife, the Scripture can best giue you counsell therein: Treat her as your owne flesh, command her as her Lord, cherish her as your helper, rule her as your pupill, and please her in all things reasonable; but teach her not to be curious in things that belong her not: 1164 Ye are the head, shee is your body; It is your office to command, and hers to obey; but yet with such a sweet harmonie, as shee should be as ready to obey, as ye to command; as willing to follow, as ye to go before; your loue being wholly knit vnto her, and all her affections louingly bent to follow your will. And to conclude, keepe specially three rules with your Wife: first, suffer her neuer to meddle with the Politicke gouernment of the Commonweale, but holde her at the Oeconomicke rule of the house; and yet all to be subiect to your direc- tion:117 keepe carefully good and chaste company about her, for women are the frailest sexe; and be neuer both angry at once, but when ye see her in passion, ye should with reason danton yours: for both when yee are setled, ye are meetest to iudge of her errours; and when she is come to her selfe, she may be best made to apprehend her offence, and reuerence your rebuke. If God send you succession, be carefull for their vertuous education: loue them as ye ought, but let them know as much of it, as the gentlenesse of their nature will deserue; contayning them euer in a reuerent loue and feare of you. And in case it please God to prouide you to all these three Kingdomes, make your eldest sonne Isaac, leauing him all your kingdomes; and prouide the rest with priuate possessions: Otherwayes by deuiding your kingdomes, yee shall leaue the seed of diuision and discord among your posteritie; 118 as befell to this Ile, by the diuision and assignement thereof, to the three sonnes of Brutus, Locrine, Albanact, and Camber.119 But if God giue you not succession, defraud neuer the nearest by right, what-soeuer conceit yee haue of the person: For Kingdomes are euer at Gods disposition, and in that case we are but liue-rentars, lying no more in the Kings, nor peoples hands to dispossesse the righteous heire. And as your company should be a paterne to the rest of the people, so should your person be a lampe and mirrour to your company: 120 giuing light to your seruants to walke in the path of vertue, and representing vnto them such worthie qualities, as they should preasse to imitate. I need not to trouble you with the particular discourse of the foure Cardinall vertues, it is so troden a path: but I will shortly say vnto you; make one of them, which is Temperance, Queene of all the rest within you. I meane not by the vulgar interpretation of Temperance, which onely consists in gustu & tactu, by the moderating of these two senses: 121 but, I meane of that wise moderation, that first commaunding your selfe, shall as a Queene, command all the affections and passions of your minde, and as a Phisician, wisely mixe all your actions according thereto. Therefore, not onely in all your affections and passions, but euen in your most vertuous actions, make euer moderation to be the chiefe ruler: For although holinesse be the first and most requisite qualitie of a Christian, as pro- ceeding from a feeling feare and trew knowledge of God: yet yee remember how in the conclusion of my first booke, I aduised you to moderate al your outward actions flowing there-fra. The like say I now of Iustice, which is the greatest vertue that properly belongeth to a Kings office. Vse Iustice, but with such moderation, as it turne not in Tyrannie: otherwaies summum Ius, is summa iniuria.1226 As for example: if a man of a knowen honest life, be inuaded by brigands or theeues for his purse, and in his owne defence slay one of them, they beeing both moe in number, and also knowen to bee deboshed and insolent liuers; where by the contrarie, hee was single alone, beeing a man of sound reputation: yet because they were not at the home, or there was no eye-witnesse present that could verifie their first inuading of him, shall hee there- fore lose his head ? And likewise, by the law-burrowes in our lawes, men are prohibited vnder great pecuniall paines, from any wayes inuading or molesting their neighbours person or bounds: if then his horse breake the halter, and pastour in his neighbours medow, shall he pay two or three thousand pounds for the wantonnesse of his horse, or the weaknesse of his halter ? Surely no: for lawes are ordained as rules of vertuous and sociall liuing, and not to bee snares to trap your good subjects: and therefore the lawe must be interpreted according to the meaning, and not to the literall sense thereof: Nam ratio est anima legis.123 And as I said of Iustice, so say I of Clemencie, Magnanimitie, Liberalitie, Constancie, Humilitie, and all other Princely vertues; Nam in medio stat virtus. And it is but the craft of the Diuell that falsly coloureth the two vices that are on either side thereof, with the borrowed titles of it, albeit in very deede they haue no affinitie therewith and the two extremities themselues, although they seeme contrarie, yet growing to the height, runne euer both in one: For in infinitis omnia concurrunt; and what difference is betwixt extreame tyrannie, delighting to destroy all mankinde; and extreame slackenesse of punishment, permitting euery man to tyrannize ouer his companion ? Or what differeth extreame pro- digalitie, by wasting of all to possesse nothing; from extreame niggardnesse, by hoarding vp all to enioy nothing; like the Asse that carying victuall on her backe, is like to starue for hunger, and will bee glad of thrissels for her part? And what is betwixt the pride of a glorious Nebuchadnezzar, and the preposterous hu- militie of one of the proud Puritanes, claiming to their Paritie, and crying, Wee are all but vile wormes, and yet will iudge and giue Law to their King, but will be iudged nor controlled by none ? Surely there is more pride vnder such a ones blacke bonnet, then vnder Alexander the great his Diademe, as was said of Diogenes in the like case. But aboue all vertues, study to know well your owne craft, which is to rule your people. And when I say this, I bid you know all crafts: For except ye know euery one, how can yee controll euery one, which is your proper office ? Therefore besides your education, it is necessarie yee delight in reading, and seek- ing the knowledge of all lawfull things; but with these two restrictions: 124 first, that yee choose idle houres for it, not interrupting therewith the discharge of your office: and next, that yee studie not for knowledge nakedly, but that your princi- pall ende be, to make you able thereby to vse your office; 125 practising according to your knowledge in all the points of your calling: not like these vaine Astrolo- gians, that studie night and day on the course of the starres, onely that they may, for satisfying their curiositie, know their course.126 But since all Artes and sciences are linked euery one with other, their greatest principles agreeing in one (which mooued the Poets to faine the nine Muses to be all sisters) studie them, that out of their harmonie, ye may sucke the knowledge of all faculties; and consequently be on the counsell of all crafts, that yee may be able to containe them all in order, as I haue alreadie said: For knowledge and learning is a light burthen, the weight whereof will neuer presse your shoulders. First of all then, study to be well seene in the Scriptures, as I remembred you in the first booke; 127 as well for the knowledge of your owne saluation, as that ye may be able to containe your Church in their calling, as Custos vtriusque Tabulae. For the ruling them well, is no small point of your office; taking specially heede, that they vague not from their text in the Pulpit: and if euer ye would haue peace in your land, suffer them not to meddle in that place with the estate or policie; but punish seuerely the first that presumeth to it. Doe nothing towards them without a good ground and warrant, but reason not much with them: for I haue ouer- much surfeited them with that, and it is not their fashion to yeeld. And suffer no conuentions nor meetings among Church-men, but by your knowledge and permission. Next the Scriptures, studie well your owne Lawes: for how can ye discerne by the thing yee know not? But preasse to draw all your Lawes and processes, to be as short and plaine as ye can: assure your selfe the longsomnesse both of rights and processes, breedeth their vnsure loosenesse and obscuritie, the shortest being euer both the surest and plainest forme,128 and the longsomnesse seruing onely for the enriching of the Aduocates and Clerkes, with the spoile of the whole countrey :129 And therefore delite to haunt your Session, and spie carefully their proceedings; taking good heede, if any briberie may be tried among them, which cannot ouer seuerely be punished. Spare not to goe there, for gracing that farre any that yee fauour, by your presence to procure them expedition of Iustice; although that should be specially done, for the poore that cannot waite on, or are debarred by mightier parties. But when yee are there, remember the throne is Gods and not yours, that ye sit in, and let no fauour, nor whatsoeuer respects mooue you from the right. Ye sit not there, as I shewe before, for rewarding of friends or seruants, nor for crossing of contemners, but onely for doing of Iustice.130 Learne also wisely to discerne betwixt Iustice and equitie; and for pitie of the poore, rob not the rich, because he may better spare it, but giue the little man the larger coat if it be his; eschewing the errour of young Cyrus131 therein: For Iustice, by the Law, giueth euery man his owne; and equitie in things arbitrall, giueth euery one that which is meetest for him. Be an ordinarie sitter in your secret Counsell: that iudicature is onely ordained for matters of estate, and repressing of insolent oppressions. Make that iudge- ment as compendious and plaine as ye can; and suffer no Aduocates to be heard there with their dilatours, but let euery partie tell his owne tale himselfe: and wearie not to heare the complaints of the oppressed, aut ne Rex sis.132 Remit euery thing to the ordinary iudicature, for eschewing of confusion: but let it be your owne craft, to take a sharpe account of euery man in his office. And next the Lawes, I would haue you to be well versed in authentick histories, and in the Chronicles of all nations, but specially in our owne histories (Ne sis peregrinus domi) the example whereof most neerely concernes you: I meane not of such infamous inuectiues, as Buchanans or Knoxes Chronicles: and if any of these infamous libels remaine vntill your dayes, vse the Law vpon the keepers thereof: For in that point I would haue you a Pythagorist,133 to thinke that the very spirits of these archibellouses of rebellion, haue made transition in them that hoardes their bookes, or maintaines their opinions; punishing them, euen as it were their authours risen againe.134 But by reading of authenticke histories and Chronicles, yee shall learne experience by Theoricke, applying the bypast things to the present estate, quia nihil nouum sub sole:135 such is the continuall volubilitie of things earthly, according to the roundnesse of the world, and reuolution of the, heauenly circles: which is expressed by the wheeles in Ezechiels visions,136 and counterfeited by the Poets in rota Fortunae. And likewise by the knowledge of histories, yee shall knowe how to behaue your selfe to all Embassadours and strangers; being able to discourse with them vpon the estate of their owne coun- trey. And among al prophane histories, I must not omit most specially to recom- mend vnto you, the Commentaries of Caesar; both for the sweete flowing of the stile, as also for the worthinesse of the matter it selfe: For I haue euer beene of that opinion, that of all the Ethnick Emperors, or great Captaines that euer were, he hath farthest excelled, both in his practise, and in his precepts in martiall affaires. As for the studie of other liberall artes and sciences, I would haue you reason- ably versed in them, but not preassing to bee a passe-master in any of them: for that cannot but distract you from the points of your calling, as I shewed you be- fore:137 and when, by the enemie winning the towne, yee shall bee interrupted in your demonstration, as Archimedes 138 was; your people (I thinke) will looke very bluntly vpon it. I graunt it is meete yee haue some entrance, specially in the Mathematickes; for the knowledge of the arte militarie, in situation of Campes, ordering of battels, making Fortifications, placing of batteries, or such like.139 And let not this your knowledge be dead without fruites, as Saint Iames speaketh of Faith: but let it appeare in your daily conuersation, and in all the actions of your life.140 Embrace trew magnanimitie, not in beeing vindictiue, which the corrupted iudgements of the world thinke to be trew Magnanimitie;141 but by the contrarie, in thinking your offendour not worthie of your wrath, empyring ouer your owne passion, and triumphing in the commaunding your selfe to forgiue: 142 husbanding the effects of your courage and wrath, to be rightly employed vpon repelling of iniuries within, by reuenge taking vpon the oppressours; and in reuenging iniuries without, by iust warres vpon forraine enemies. And so, where ye finde a notable iniurie, spare not to giue course to the torrents of your wrath. The wrath of a King, is like to the roaring of a Lyon.143 Foster trew Humilitie, in bannishing pride, not onely towards God (consider- ing yee differ not in stuffe, but in vse, and that onely by his ordinance, from the basest of your people) but also towards your Parents.144 And if it fall out that my Wife shall out-liue me, as euer ye thinke to purchase my blessing, honour your mother: set Beersheba in a throne on your right hand: offend her for nothing, much lesse wrong her: remember her Quae longa decem tulerit fastidia menses; and that your flesh and blood is made of hers: and beginne not, like the young lordes and lairdes, your first warres vpon your Mother; but presse earnestly to deserue her blessing. Neither deceiue your selfe with many that say, they care not for their Parents curse, so they deserue it not. 0 inuert not the order of nature, by iudging your superiours, chiefly in your owne particular! But assure your selfe, the blessing or curse of the Parents, hath almost euer a Propheticke power ioyned with it: and if there were no more, honour your Parents, for the lengthning of your owne dayes, as GOD in his Law145 promiseth. Honour also them that are in loco Parentum vnto you, such as your gouernours, vp-bringers, and Praeceptours: 146 be thankefull vnto them and reward them, which is your dewtie and honour. But on the other part, let not this trew humilitie stay your high indignation to appeare, when any great oppressours shall presume to come in your presence;147 then frowne as ye ought: And in-case thay vse a colour of Law in oppressing their poore ones, as ouer-many doe, that which ye cannot mend by Law, mend by the withdrawing of your countenance from them: 148 and once in the yeere crosse them, when their erands come in your way, recompencing the oppressour, according to Christs parable of the two debtours.149 Keepe trew Constancie, not onely in your kindenesse towards honest men; but being also inuicti animi against all aduersities: not with that Stoicke insensi- ble stupiditie, wherewith many in our dayes, preassing to winne honour, in imitat- ing that ancient sect, by their inconstant behauiour in their owne liues, belie their profession.150 But although ye are not a stocke, not to feele calamities; yet let not the feeling of them, so ouer-rule and doazen your reason, as may stay you from taking and vsing the best resolution for remedie, that can be found out. Vse trew Liberalitie in rewarding the good, and bestowing frankly for your honour and weale: but with that proportionall discretion, that euery man may be serued according to his measure, wherein respect must be had to his ranke, deserts, and necessitie: And prouide how to haue, but cast not away without cause. In speciall, empaire not by your Liberalitie the ordinarie rents of your crowne; whereby the estate Royall of you, and your successours, must be main- tained, ne exhauriasfontem liberalitatis: for that would euer be kept sacrosanctum & extra commercium: 151 otherwaies, your Liberalitie would decline to Prodigalitie, in helping others with your, and your successours hurt. And aboue all, enrich not your selfe with exactions vpon your subiects; but thinke the riches of your people your best treasure, by the sinnes of offenders, where no praeuention can auaile, making iustly your commoditie.152 And in-case necessitie of warres, or other extraordinaries compell you to lift Subsidies, doe it as rarely as ye can: employing it onely to the vse it was ordained for; and vsing your selfe in that case, as fidus depositarius to your people.153 And principally, exercise trew Wisedome; in discerning wisely betwixt trew and false reports: First, considering the nature of the person reporter; Next, what entresse he can haue in the weale or euill of him, of whom hee maketh the report; Thirdly, the likely-hood of the purpose it selfe; And, last, the nature and by-past life of the dilated person: and where yee finde a tratler, away with him.154 And although it bee true, that a Prince can neuer without secrecie doe great things, yet it is better ofttimes to try reports, then by credulitie to foster suspicion vpon an honest man. For since suspition is the Tyrants sickenesse, as the fruites of an euill Conscience, potius in alteram partem peccato: 155 I meane, in not mistrusting one, whom-to no such vnhonestie was knowne before. But as for such as haue slipped before, former experience may iustly breed praeuention by fore-sight. And to conclude my aduice anent your behauiour in your person; consider that GOD is the authour of all vertue, hauing imprinted in mens mindes by the very light of nature, the loue of all morall vertues; as was seene by the vertuous liues of the old Romanes: 156 and preasse then to shine as farre before your people, in all vertue and honestie; as in greatnesse of ranke: that the vse thereof in all your actions, may turne, with time, to a naturall habitude in you; and as by their hearing of your Lawes, so by their sight of your person, both their eyes and their eares, may leade and allure them to the loue of vertue, and hatred of vice.
OF A KINGS BEHAVIOVR IN INDIFFERENT THINGS.
The Third Booke.
IT is a trew old saying, That a King is as one set on a stage, whose smallest actions
and gestures, all the people gazingly doe behold:157 and therefore although a King
be neuer so praecise in the discharging of his Office, the people, who seeth but
the outward part, will euer iudge of the substance, by the circumstances;158 and
according to the outward appearance, if his behauiour bee light or dissolute, will
conceiue prae-occupied conceits of the Kings inward intention: which although
with time, (the trier of all trewth,) it will euanish, by the euidence of the contrary
effects, yet interim patitur iustus; and praeiudged conceits will, in the meane time,
breed contempt, the mother of rebellion and disorder.159 And besides that, it is
certaine, that all the indifferent actions and behauiour of a man, haue a certaine
holding and dependance, either vpon vertue or vice, according as they are vsed
or ruled:160 for there is not a middes betwixt them, no more then betwixt their
rewards, heauen and hell.
Be carefull then, my Sonne, so to frame all your indifferent actions and out-
ward behauiour, as they may serue for the furtherance and forth-setting of your
inward vertuous disposition.
The whole indifferent actions of a man, I deuide in two sorts: in his behauiour
in things necessary, as food, sleeping, raiment, speaking, writing, and gesture;
and in things not necessary, though conuenient and lawfull, as pastimes or exer-
cises, and vsing of company for recreation.
As to the indifferent things necessary, although that of themselues they can-
not bee wanted, and so in that case are not indifferent; as likewise in-case they
bee not vsed with moderation, declining so to the extremitie, which is vice; yet
the qualitie and forme of vsing them, may smell of vertue or vice, and be great
furtherers to any of them.
To beginne then at the things necessarie; one of the publickest indifferent
actions of a King, and that maniest, especially strangers, will narrowly take heed
to; is his maner of refection at his Table, and his behauiour thereat. Therefore,
as Kings vse oft to eate publickly, it is meete and honourable that ye also doe so,
as well to eschew the opinion that yee loue not to haunt companie, which is one
of the markes of a Tyrant;161 as likewise, that your delight to eate priuatlie, be not
thought to be for private satisfying of your gluttonie; which ye would be ashamed
should bee publicklie seene. Let your Table bee honourably serued; but serue
your appetite with few dishes, as yong Cyrus162 did: which both is holesommest,
and freest from the vice of delicacie, which is a degree of gluttonie.163 And vse
most to eate of reasonablie-grosse, and common-meates; aswell for making your
bodie strong and durable for trauell at all occasions, either in peace or in warre:
as that yee may bee the heartlier receiued by your meane Subiects in their houses,
when their cheare may suffice you: which otherwayes would be imputed to you
for pride and daintinesse, and breed coldnesse and disdaine in them. Let all your
food bee simple, without composition or sauces; which are more like medecines
then meate.164 The vsing of them was counted amongst the ancient Romanes a
filthie vice of delicacie; because they serue onely for pleasing of the taste, and
not for satisfying of the necessitie of nature; abhorring Apicius165 their owne citi-
zen, for his vice of delicacie and monsterous gluttonie. Like as both the Grecians
and Romanes had in detestation the very name of Philoxenus,166 for his filthie wish
of a Crane-craig. And therefore was that sentence vsed amongst them, against
these artificiall false appetites, optimum condimentum fames.167 But beware with
vsing excesse of meat and drinke; and chiefly, beware of drunkennesse, which is
a beastlie vice, namely in a King: but specially beware with it, because it is one
of those vices that increaseth with aage. In the forme of your meate-eating, bee
neither vnciuill, like a grosse Cynicke; nor affectatlie mignarde, like a daintie
dame; but eate in a manlie, round, and honest fashion.168 It is no wayes comely to
dispatch affaires, or to be pensiue at meate: but keepe then an open and cheere-
full countenance, causing to reade pleasant histories vnto you, that profite may
be mixed with pleasure: and when ye are not disposed, entertaine pleasant,
quicke, but honest discourses.
And because meat prouoketh sleeping, be also moderate in your sleepe;169 for
it goeth much by use: and remember that if your whole life were deuided in four
parts, three of them would be found to be consumed on meat, drinke, sleepe, and
vnnecessarie occupations.
But albeit ordinarie times would commonly bee kept in meate and sleepe, yet
vse your selfe some-times so, that any time in the foure and twentie houres may
bee alike to you for any of them; that thereby your diet may be accommodate
to your affaires, and not your affaires to your diet:170 not therefore vsing your selfe
to ouer great softnesse and delicacie in your sleepe, more then in your meate;
and specially in-case yee haue adoe with the warres.
Let not your Chalmer be throng and common in the time of your rest, aswell
for comelinesse as for eschewing of carrying reports out of the same. Let them
that haue the credite to serue in your Chalmer, be trustie and secret; for a King
will haue need to vse secrecie in may things :171 but yet behaue your selfe so in your
greatest secrets, as yee neede not bee ashamed, suppose they were all proclaimed
at the mercate crosse:172 But specially see that those of your Chalmer be of a
sound fame, and without blemish.
Take no heede to any of your dreames, for all prophecies, visions, and prophet-
icke dreames are accomplished and ceased in Christ: And therefore take no
heede to freets either in dreames, or any other things; for that errour proceedeth
of ignorance, and is vnworthy of a Christian, who should be assured, Omnia esse
pura puris,173 as Paul sayth; all dayes and meates being alike to Christians.174
Next followeth to speake of raiment, the on-putting whereof is the ordinarie
action that followeth next to sleepe.175 Be also moderate in your raiment, neither
ouer superfluous, like a deboshed waster; nor yet ouer base, like a miserable
wretch; not artificially trimmed and decked, like a Courtizane, nor yet ouer
sluggishly clothed, like a countrey clowne, not ouer lightly like a Candie souldier
or a vaine young Courtier; nor yet ouer grauely, like a Minister: but in your
garments be proper, cleanely, comely and honest, wearing your clothes in a care-
lesse, yet comely forme: keeping in them a middle forme, inter Togatos & Palu-
datos,176 betwixt the grauitie of the one and lightnesse of the other: thereby to
signifie, that by your calling yee are mixed of both the professions; Togatus, as
a Iudge making and pronouncing the Law; 177 Paludatus, by the power of the
sword: as your office is likewise mixed, betwixt the Ecclesiasticall and ciuill
estate: For a King is not merè laicus, as both the Papists and Anabaptists would
haue him, to the which error also the Puritanes incline ouer farre. But to returne
to the purpose of garments, they ought to be vsed according to their first institu-
tion by God, which was for three causes: first to hide our nakednesse and shame;
next and consequently, to make vs more comely, and thirdly, to preserue vs from
the iniuries of heate and colde. If to hide our nakednesse and shamefull parts,
then these naturall parts ordained to be hid, should not be represented by any
vndecent formes in the cloathes: and if they should helpe our comelinesse, they
should not then by their painted preened fashion, serue for baites to filthie
lecherie, as false haire and fairding does amongst vnchast women: and if they
should preserue vs from the iniuries of heat and colde, men should not, like sense-
lesse stones, contemne God, in lightlying the seasons, glorying to conquere honour
on heate and colde. And although it be praise-worthy and necessarie in a Prince,
to be patiens algoris & aestus, when he shall haue adoe with warres vpon the fields;
yet I thinke it meeter that ye goe both cloathed and armed, then naked to the
battell, except you would make you light for away-running: and yet for cowards,
metus addit alas. And shortly, in your cloathes keepe a proportion, aswell with
the seasons of the yeere, as of your aage: in the fashions of them being carelesse,
vsing them according to the common forme of the time, some-times richlier,
some-times meanlier cloathed, as occasion serueth, without keeping any precise
rule therein: 178 For if your mind be found occupied vpon them, it wil be thought
idle otherwaies, and ye shall bee accounted in the number of one of these compti
iuuenes; 179 which wil make your spirit and iudgment to be lesse thought of. But
specially eschew to be effeminate in your cloathes, in perfuming, preening, or such
like: and faile neuer in time of warres to bee galliardest and brauest, both in
cloathes and countenance. And make not a foole of yourselfe in disguising or
wearing long haire or nailes, which are but excrements, of nature, and bewray
such misusers of them, to bee either of a vindictiue, or a vaine light naturall.
Especially, make no vowes in such vaine and outward things, as concerne either
meate or cloathes.
Let your selfe and all your Court weare no ordinarie armour with your cloathes,
but such as is knightly and honourable; I meane rapier-swordes, and daggers:
For tuilyesome weapons in the Court, betokens confusion in the countrey. And
therefore bannish not onely from your Court, all traiterous offensiue weapons,
forbidden by the Lawes, as guns and such like (whereof I spake alreadie) but also
all traiterous defensiue armes, as secrets, plate-sleeues, and such like vnseene
armour: For, besides that the wearers thereof, may be presupposed to haue a
secret euill intention, they want both the vses that defensiue armour is ordained
for; which is, to be able to holde out violence, and by their outward glaunsing
in their enemies eyes, to strike a terrour in their hearts: Where by the contrary,
they can serue for neither, being not onely vnable to resist, but dangerous for
shots, and gluing no outward showe against the enemie; beeing onely ordained,
for betraying vnder trust, whereof honest men should be ashamed to beare the
outward badge, not resembling the thing they are not. And for answere against
these arguments, I know none but the olde Scots fashion; which if it be wrong,
is no more to be allowed for ancientnesse, then the olde Masse is, which also our
forefathers vsed.
The next thing that yee haue to take heed to, is your speaking and language;
whereunto I ioyne your gesture, since action is one of the chiefest qualities, that
is required in an oratour: 180 for as the tongue speaketh to the eares, so doeth the
gesture speake to the eyes of the auditour.181 In both your speaking and your
gesture, vse a nturall and plaine forme, not fairded with artifice: 182 for (as the
French-men say) Rien contre-faict fin: but eschew all affectate formes in both.
In your language be plaine, honest, naturall, comely, cleane, short, and senten-
tious, eschewing both the extremities, aswell in not vsing any rusticall corrupt
leide, as booke-language, and pen and inke-horne termes: 183 and least of all mi-
gnard and effoeminate tearmes. But let the greatest part of your eloquence consist
in a naturall, cleare, and sensible forme of the deliuerie of your minde, builded
euer vpon certaine and good grounds; 184 tempering it with grauitie, quickenesse,
or merinesse, according to the subiect, and occasion of the time; not taunting in
Theologie, nor alleadging and prophaning the Scripture in drinking purposes, as
ouer many doe.
Vse also the like forme in your gesture; neither looking sillily, like a stupide
pedant; 185 nor vnsetledly, with an vncouth morgue, like a new-comeouer Cavalier:
but let your behauiour be naturall, graue, and according to the fashion of the
countrey.186 Be not ouer-sparing in your courtesies, for that will be imputed to
inciuilitie and arrogancie: 187 nor yet ouer prodigall in iowking or nodding at euery
step: for that forme of being popular, becommeth better aspiring Absalons, then
lawfull Kings: 188 framing euer your gesture according to your present actions: 189
looking grauely and with a maiestie when yee sit in iudgement, or giue audience
to Embassadours, homely, when ye are in priuate with your owne seruants;
merily, when ye are at any pastime or merrie discourse; and let your countenance
smell of courage and magnanimitie when ye are at the warres. And remember (I
say ouer againe) to be plaine and sensible in your language: 190 for besides that
it is the tongues office, to be the messenger of the mind, it may be thought a point
of imbecillitie of spirit in a King, to speake obscurely, much more vntrewly; as
if he stood in awe of any in vttering his thoughts.191
Remember also, to put a difference betwixt your forme of language in reason-
ing, and your pronouncing of sentences, or declaratour of your wil in iudgement,
or any other waies in the points of your office 192 For in the former case, yee must
reason pleasantly and patiently, not like a king, but like a priuate man and a
scholer; otherwaies, your impatience of contradiction will be interpreted to be
for lacke of reason on your part. Where in the points of your office, ye should
ripely aduise indeede, before yee giue foorth your sentence: but fra it be giuen
foorth, the suffering of any contradiction diminisheth the maiestie of your au-
thoritie, and maketh the processes endelsse193. The like forme would also bee ob-
serued by all your inferiour Iudges and Magistrates.194
Now as to your writing, which is nothing else, but a forme of en-registrate
speech; vse a plaine, short, but stately stile, both in your Proclamations and
missiues, especially to forraine Princes. And if your engine spur you to write
any workes, either in verse or in prose, I cannot but allow you to practise it:
but take no longsome workes in hand, for distracting you from your calling.
Flatter not your selfe in your labours, but before they bee set foorth, let them
first bee priuily censured by some of the best skilled men in that craft, that in
these workes yee meddle with.195 And because your writes will remaine as true
pictures of your minde, to all posterities; let them bee free of all vncomelinesse
and vn-honestie: and according to Horace his counsell
- Nonumquam premantur in annum.196
I meane both your verse and your prose; letting first that furie and heate,
wherewith they were written, coole at leasure; and then as an vncouth iudge.
and censour, reuising them ouer againe, before they bee published,
- quia nescit vox missa reuerti.197
If yee would write worthily, choose subiects worthie of you, that bee not full
of vanitie, but of vertue; eschewing obscuritie, and delighting euer to bee plaine
and sensible. And if yee write in verse, remember that it is not the principal
part of a Poeme to rime right, and flowe well with many pretie wordes: but the
chiefe commendation of a Poeme is, that when the verse shall bee shaken sundrie
in prose, it shall bee found so rich in quicke inuentions, and poeticke flowers, and
in faire and pertinent comparisons; as it shall retaine the lustre of a Poeme,
although in prose.198 And I would also aduise you to write in your owne language:
for there is nothing left to be saide in Greeke and Latine alreadie; and ynew of
poore schollers would match you in these languages; and besides that, it best
becommeth a King to purifie and make famous his owne tongue; wherein he may
goe before all his subjects; as it setteth him well to doe in all honest and lawfull
things.
And amongst all vnnecessarie things that are lawfull and expedient, I thinke
exercises of the bodie most commendable to be vsed by a young Prince, in such
honest games or pastimes, as may further abilitie and maintaine health: 199 For
albeit I graunt it to be most requisite for a King to exercise his engine, which
surely with idlenesse will ruste and become blunt; yet certainely bodily exercises
and games are very commendable;200 as well for bannishing of idlenesse (the
mother of all vice) as for making his bodie able and durable for trauell, which is
very necessarie for a King.201 But from this count I debarre all rough and violent
exercises, as the footeball; meeter for laming, then making able the vsers thereof:202
as likewise such tumbling trickes as only serue for Comoedians and Balladines, to
win their bread with. But the exercises that I would haue you to vse (although
but moderately, not making a craft of them) are running, leaping, wrastling,,
fencing, dancing, and playing at the caitch or tennise, archerie, palle maille, and
such like other faire and pleasant field-games.203 And the honourablest and most
commendable games that yee can vse, are on horsebacke:204 for it becommeth a
Prince best of any man, to be a faire and good horse-man.205 Vse therefore to ride
and danton great and couragious horses; that I may say of you, as Philip said
of great Alexander his sonne, Μακεδονία οὐ σε χωρεῖ.206 And specially vse such games on horse-backe, as may teach you to handle your armes thereon; such as
the tilt, the ring, and low-riding for handling of your sword.
I cannot omit heere the hunting, namely with running hounds; which is the
most honourable and noblest sorte thereof: for it is a theeuish forme of hunting
to shoote with gunnes and bowes; and greyhound hunting is not so martiall a
game: But because I would not be thought a partiall praiser of this sport, I
remit you to Xenophon,207 an olde and famous writer, who had no minde of flatter-
ing you or me in this purpose: and who also setteth downe a faire paterne, for
the education of a yong king, vnder the supposed name of Cyrus.208
As for hawking I condemne it not, but I must praise it more sparingly, because
it neither resembleth the warres so neere as hunting doeth, in making a man
hardie, and skilfully ridden in all grounds, and is more vncertaine and subiect to
mischances; and (which is worst of all) is therethrough an extreme stirrer vp of
passions: But in vsing either of these games, obserue that moderation, that ye
slip not therewith the houres appointed for your affaires, which ye ought euer
precisely to keepe;209 remembring that these games are but ordained for you, in
enabling you for your office, for the which ye are ordained.
And as for sitting house-pastimes, wherewith men by driuing time, spurre a
free and fast ynough running horse (as the prouerbe is) although they are not
profitable for the exercise either of minde or body,210 yet can I not vtterly condemne
them; since they may at times supply the roome, which being emptie, would be
patent to pernicious idlenesse, quia nihil potest esse vacuum.2115 I will not there-
fore agree with the curiositie of some learned men in our aage, in forbidding cardes,
dice, and other such like games of hazard; although otherwayes surely I reuerence
them as notable and godly men: For they are deceiued therein, in founding their
argument vpon a mistaken ground, which is, that the playing at such games, is
a kind of casting of lot, and therefore vnlawfull; wherein they deceiue themselues:
For the casting of lot was vsed for triall of the trewth in any obscure thing, that
otherwayes could not be gotten cleared; and therefore was a sort of prophecie:
where by the contrary, no man goeth to any of these playes, to cleare any obscure
trewth, but onely to gage so much of his owne money, as hee pleaseth, vpon the
hazard of the running of the cardes or dice, aswell as he would doe vpon the
speede of a horse or a dog, or any such like gaigeour: And so, if they be vnlawfull,
all gaigeours vpon vncertainties must likewayes be condemned: Not that thereby
I take the defence of vaine carders and dicers, that waste their moyen, and their
time (whereof fewe consider the pretiousnesse) vpon prodigall and continuall
playing:212 no, I would rather allow it to be discharged, where such corruption can-
not be eschewed. But only I cannot condemne you at some times, when ye haue
no other thing adoe (as a good King will be seldome) and are wearie of reading,
or euill disposed in your person, and when it is foule and stormie weather; then,
I say, may ye lawfully play at the cardes or tables: For as to dicing, I thinke it
becommeth best deboshed souldiers to play at, on the head of their drums, being
onely ruled by hazard, and subiect to knauish cogging. And as for the chesse, I
thinke it ouer fond, because it is ouer-wise and Philosophicke a folly. For where
all such light playes, are ordained to free mens heads for a time, from the fashious
thoughts on their affaires; it by the contrarie filleth and troubleth mens heads,
with as many fashious toyes of the play, as before it was filled with thoughts on
his affaires.
But in your playing, I would haue you to keepe three rules: first, or ye play,
consider yee doe it onely for your recreation, and resolue to hazard the losse of
all that ye play; and next, for that cause play no more then yee care to cast
among Pages: and last, play alwaies faire play precisely, that ye come not in vse
of tricking and lying in ieast: otherwise, if yee cannot keepe these rules, my coun-
sell is that yee allutterly abstaine from these playes: For neither a madde passion
for losse, nor falshood vsed for desire of gaine, can be called a play.
Now, it is not onely lawfull, but necessarie, that yee haue companie meete for
euery thing yee take on hand, as well in your games and exercises, as in your
graue and earnest affaires: But learne to distinguish time according to the oc-
casion, choosing your companie accordingly.213 Conferre not with hunters at your
counsell, nor in your counsell affaires: nor dispatch not affaires at hunting or
other games. And haue the like respect to the seasons of your aage, vsing your
sortes of recreation and companie therefore, agreeing thereunto: For it becom-
meth best, as kindliest, euery aage to smell of their owne qualitie, insolence and
vnlawful things beeing alwaies eschewed:214 and not that a colt should draw the
plough, and an olde horse run away with the harrowes. But take heede specially,
that your companie for recreation, be chosen of honest persons, not defamed or
vicious, mixing filthie talke with merrinesse,
Corrumpunt bonos mores colloquia praua.
And chiefly abstaine from haunting before your mariage, the idle companie of
dames, which are nothing else, but irritamenta libidinis. Bee warre likewaies to
abuse your selfe, in making your sporters your counsellers: and delight not to
keepe ordinarily in your companie, Comoedians or Balladines:215 for the Tyrans
delighted most in them, glorying to bee both authors and actors of Comoedies and
Tragedies themselues: Whereupon the answere that the poet Philoxenus dis-
dainfully gaue to the Tyran of Syracuse there-anent, is now come in a prouerbe,
reduc me in latomias.216 And all the ruse that Nero made of himselfe when he died,
was Qualis artifex pereo?217 meaning of his skill in menstrally, and playing of
Tragoedies; as indeede his whole life and death, was all but one Tragoedie.
Delight not also to bee in your owne person a player vpon instruments;
especially on such as commonly men winne their liuing with: nor yet to be fine
of any mechanicke craft: Leur esprit s'en fuit au bout des doigts, saith Du Bartas: 218
whose workes, as they are all most worthie to bee read by any Prince, or other
spare not some-times by merie company, to be free from importunitie; for ye
should be euer mooued with reason, which is the onely qualitie whereby men
differ from beasts; and not with importunitie: 219 For the which cause (as also for
augmenting your Maiestie) ye shall not be so facile of accesse-giuing at all times,
as I haue beene; and yet not altogether retired 220 or locked vp,221 like the Kings of
Persia; appointing also certaine houres for publicke audience.222
And since my trust is, that God hath ordained you for moe Kingdomes then
this (as I haue oft alreadie said) preasse by the outward behauiour as well of your
owne person, as of your court, in all indifferent things, to allure piece and piece,
the rest of your kingdomes, to follow the fashions of that kingdome of yours, that
yee finde most ciuill, easiest to be ruled, and most obedient to the Lawes: for
these outward and indifferent things will serue greatly for allurements to the
people, to embrace and follow vertue. But beware of thrawing or constraining
them thereto; letting it bee brought on with time, and at leisure; specially by
so mixing through alliance and daily conuersation, the inhabitants of euery
kingdom with other, as may with time make them to grow and welde all in one:
Which may easily be done betwixt these two nations, being both but one Ile of
Britaine, and alreadie ioyned in vnitie of Religion and language. So that euen
as in the times of our ancestours, the long warres and many bloodie battels be-
twixt these two countreys, bred a naturall and hereditarie hatred in euery of
them, against the other: the vniting and welding of them hereafter in one, by
all sort of friendship, commerce, and alliance, will by the contrary produce and
maintaine a naturall and inseparable vnitie of loue amongst them. As we haue
already (praise be to God) a great experience of the good beginning hereof, and
of the quenching of the olde hate in the hearts of both the people; procured by
the meanes of this long and happy amitie, betweene the Queene my dearest
sister and me; which during the whole time of both our Reignes, hath euer beene
inuiolably obserued.
And for conclusion of this my whole Treatise, remember my Sonne, by your
trew and constant depending vpon God, to looke for a blessing to all your actions
in your office: by the outward vsing thereof, to testifie the inward vprightnesse
of your heart; and by your behauiour in all indifferent things, to set foorth the
viue image of your vertuous disposition; and in respect of the greatnesse and
weight of your burthen, to be patient in hearing, keeping your heart free from
praeoccupation, ripe in concluding, and constant in your resolution: 223 For better
it is to bide at your resolution, although there were some defect in it, then by
daily changing, to effectuate nothing: 224 taking the paterne thereof from the mi-
crocosme of your owne body; wherein ye haue two eyes, signifying great foresight
and prouidence, with a narrow looking in all things; and also two eares, signify-
ing patient hearing, and that of both the parties: but ye haue but one tongue,
for pronouncing a plaine, sensible, and vniforme sentence; and but one head, and
one heart, for keeping a constant & vniforme resolution, according to your appre-
hension: hauing two hands and two feete, with many fingers and toes for quicke
execution, in employing all instruments meet for effectuating your deliberations.
But forget not to digest euer your passion, before ye determine vpon any-
thing, since Ira furor breuis est:225 vttering onely your anger according to the
Apostles rule, Irascimini, sed ne peccetis: 226 taking pleasure, not only to reward,
but to aduance the good, which is a chiefe point of a Kings glory (but make
none ouer-great, but according as the power of the countrey may beare) and
punishing the euill; but euery man according to his owne offence: 227 not punish-
ing nor blaming the father for the sonne, nor the brother for the brother; 228 much
lesse generally to hate a whole race for the fault of one: for noxa caput sequitur.229
And aboue all, let the measure of your loue to euery one, be according to the
measure of his vertue; letting your fauour to be no longer tyed to any, then the
continuance of his vertuous disposition shall deserue: not admitting the excuse
vpon a iust reuenge, to procure ouersight to an iniurie: For the first iniurie is
committed against the partie; but the parties reuenging thereof at his owne hand,
is a wrong committed against you, in vsurping your office, whom-to onely the sword
belongeth, for reuenging of all the iniuries committed against any of your people.
Thus hoping in the goodnes of God, that your naturall inclination shall haue
a happy sympathie with these precepts, making the wise-mans scholemaster,
which is the example of others, to bee your teacher, according to that old verse,
Faelix quem faciunt aliena pericula cautum;
eschewing so the ouer-late repentance by your owne experience, which is the
schoole-master of fooles; I wil for end of all, require you my Sonne, as euer ye
thinke to deserue my fatherly blessing, to keepe continually before the eyes of
your minde, the greatnesse of your charge:230 making the faithfull and due dis-
charge thereof, the principal butt ye shoot at in all your actions:231 counting it
euer the principall, and all your other actions but as accessories, to be emploied
as middesses for the furthering of that principall. And being content to let
others excell in other things, let it be your chiefest earthly glory, to excell in your
owne craft: according to the worthy counsel and charge of Anchises to his pos-
teritie, in that sublime and heroicall Poet, wherein also my dicton is included;
“ Excudent alij spirantia mollius aera,Credo equidem, & viuos ducent de marmore vultus,
Orabunt causas melius, caelique meatus
Describent radio, & surgentia sydera dicent.
Tu; regere imperio populos, Romane, memento
(Hae tibi erunt artes) pacique imponere morem,
"Parcere subiectis, & debellare superbos.232
”