united into one Body, whether of Army or Garrison. Whereof we see manifest Examples in the Janizaries, and Pretorian Bands of Rome. But Raifing of Men, and Training them to Arms, both in feveral Places, and under feveral Commanders, and without Donatives, are Things of Defence, and no Danger.

4

PRINCES are like to Heavenly Bodies; which cause good or evil Times by their Influence; and which have much Veneration, but no Reft. All Precepts concerning Kings are comprehended in thofe two Remembrances: Remember that thou art a Man; and, Remember that thou art a God, or, God's Vice-gerent: The one of which tends to the bridling of their Power; the other, to the ruling of their Will,

XX. of COUNSEL

TH

HE greatest Truft between Man and Man, is that of giving COUNSEL. For in every other Sort of Confidence we commit to others, only the Parts of Life; as Lands, Goods, Children, Reputation, and other particular Affairs; but to fuch as we make our COUNSELLORS, we commit the Whole. By how much the more are those that sustain the Part of COUNSELLORS oblig'd to all Integrity and Sincerity.

EVEN the Wifeft Princes need not think it any Diminution of their Authority, to use the COUNSEL of Choice Perfons. Nay, GOD himself is not without COUNSEL; but makes it one of the great Names of his BLESSED SoN, to be call'd the COUNSELLOR. Solomon hath pronounc'd, that in Counfel is Stability. Human Affairs, doubt

lefs,

lefs, will have either their First, or their Second Agitation: If they are not tofs'd upon the Arguments of COUNSEL, they will at least be tofs'd upon the Waves of Fortune; and will be full of Inconftancy and Change, doing and undoing, like the Reeling of a drunken Man.

CERTAINLY, Solomon's Son found the Force of COUNSEL, as his Father faw the Neceffity and Ufe of it. For the beloved Kingdom of Gop was first rent and broken by ill COUNSEL; up, on which COUNSEL there are fet, for our Inftruction, the two Marks whereby Bad COUNSEL may for ever be difcerned; The one, that it was young COUNSEL, for the Perfons; and the other, that it was violent COUNSEL, for the Matter.

THE Wisdom of the Antients hath fhadowed forth in a Parable, as well the Union, and infeparable Conjunction of COUNSEL with Kings; as the wise and politique Ufe thereof to be made by Kings: The one, in that they tell us,

that

that Jupiter married Metis (which Word fignifies COUNSEL:) Whereby they hint, that COUNSEL is instead of a Spoufe to Sovereignty. The other, in that which follows: Which is a Fiction to this Effect. They fay, that, after Metis was married to Jupiter, she was with Child by him: But that Fu piter waited not till fhe brought forth, but eat her up; whereby he became himself with Child; and was delivered of Pallas Armed, out of his Head. Which monftrous Fable has a Secret of EMPIRE Couch'd under it: Namely This; After what Manner KINGS ought to carry themfelves towards their Cabinet COUNCIL: Firft, to propose Matters to their Confideration; which is as it were the firft Conception: Next, when they have been well-labour'd, moulded, and fhap'd in the Womb as it were of their COUNCIL, and are grown ripe, and ready to be brought forth; that then they fuffer not their COUNCIL to finish the Refolution, as if the Thing depended upon their Authority,

thority, but take the Matter back into their own Hands, and make it appear to the World, that the final Decrees and Refolves (which because they come forth with Prudence and Power, are. refembled to Pallas ARMED) proceed from themselves; and iffue not only from their Authority, but (the more to raise their Reputation) from their own Head and Ingenuity.

LET us speak now of the INCONVE NIENCIES of COUNSEL, and of the REMEDIES thereof. The INCONVE NIENCIES that appear in calling and ufing COUNSEL, are Three. First, that it reveals Affairs, and renders them less secret. Secondly, that it seems to derogate from the Authority of Princes, as if they were lefs Independent. Thirdly, that there is Danger of Unfaithful COUNSEL, fuch as tends more to the Good of him that COUNSELS, than of the PRINCE himself. To remedy which INCONVENIENCIES, the Doctrine of Italy, and Practice of France, in certain KING S Times, hath