The Looking Glass of the Holy War, Chapter 22
CHAP. XXII. That great Ones muſt uſe Counſell.
THVS having laid down the grounds why, both in peace and warre vve muſt vvalk and vvork by counſell, I come now to lay down what kinde of counſel this muſt be, and of whom it muſt be taken: All men will ſeeme to agree, that all muſt be diſpoſed by counſell; but by what counſell, and from what counſellors, there they diſagree. The better ſort louelove not to doe all of their own head; but, be they never ſo great, in peace and war they uſe the counſell of others. Iulius Capitolinus delivereth this, to the commendation of Authonius Pius, That hee would never doe any thing in Civill, or Military affaires, which he had not firſt conſulted of, with graue and wiſe Counſellors: Aequius eſt ut ego tot taliumque amicorum conſilium ſequar, quā ut tot tal…ſque am ci meam unius ſequantur voluntatem. D…oniſ H… lic. lib. 2.giving this good reaſon (allowed by all that louelove counſell) It is greater reaſon (ſaith he) that I alone ſhould follow the counſell of ſo many of my faithfull friends, then that they being ſo many ſhould follow my will being but one. Dioniſius giveth a particular inſtance of this Emperours practiſe, in a caſe controverted betwixt him and his Councell, of which was Scoevola that great Lawyer, and many others of good note. To whoſe advice after much debating of the matter, he yeelded willingly. I ſee, quoth he, (Maſters) it muſt be thus as you would hauehave it, giving the ſame reaſon already alledged. This courſe did not Salomon deſpiſe. This courſe did Caeſar, Alexander, Severus, and all good Warriours and Magiſtrates follow, both in peace and war. Neither is this any diſparagement to the Prince or Generall (as though he had no wit or counſell but from others braines) but it rather addeth to their dignity: becauſe a Prince is alwaies holden ſo much the wiſer, the leſſe he is addicted to his own opinion. Goſtorum ſuorum theatrum ſublatum eſſe dixit. Pl…tarch in Apoth.When Zeno the great Philoſopher dyed (of whoſe judgement and advice Antigonus that wiſe King, made uſe in all his actions) he was not aſhamed to ſay, That the theatre of his actions was removed.
But there be another ſort of great Ones, vvith whom it is nothing ſo, they like no counſell but of Matchiavi… his cutting out, that a Prince muſt hauehave no counſell but of his own coyning: What fair coulors he draweth upon this falſe principle, I hauehave now no time to diſcover, I referr you therefore to his firſt and ſecond maxime of Counſell. But to learn the leſſon it ſelfe, without further ſcanning of the truth; Many hauehave been too apt, to their own overthrow: Princes are naturally addicted, Natura laena ſuae Sauctū eſt quod volu mus.to admire what is their own, and to preſume of an abſolute perfection in themſelues, as though they vvere Gods, and needed no more. And ſo it vvas vvith Diocleſian, Caligula, and Nero, vvho ſcorned to hearken to any thing but their own vvils, and vvhat pleaſed their humour. This vvas the fault, and vvrought the overthrow of Lantrechius the Frenchman; vvhom Guicciardine doubteth not to call the chiefe Chieftain of France; but being of a lofty nature and high ſpirit, through his experience in Arms, and authority in the Army; he vvas ſo raviſhed with the conceit of ſelfe ſufficiency, that he contemned every thing that came not from himſelfe. He thought it a diſgrace not to be reputed a domine fa…-totum; neglecting many times better counſell then his own; as for inſtance in the warres of Naples, vvhichwhich turned to the undoing of himſelfe, and of the buſineſſe.
Another notable inſtance vve hauehave in the aforeſaid Lewis Sforcia, a Prince (as Hiſtories report) highly adorned vvith all endowments of nature, Non tutor at crudelis hoſtis, proripit imperium nepoti. lov. l. 4, de El.and ornaments of the minde, a quick vvit, eloquence at vvill, but that the bloud of his Nephew did ſtaine all theſe excellencies; (for of a Tutor he proved a Traytor, like Richard the third) he might vvell hauehave deſerved the name of a meek and benigne Prince; but as his haughtineſſe and arrogancie vvas ſuch that he thought to diſpoſe of Italy at his pleaſure, ſo he vvas puft up vvith ſuch a falſe-conception of his ovvn ſelfe-ſufficiency, that he contemned and rejected all counſell. For though he made a ſhew thereof in his coulors, as I ſhewed you; yet indeed he made uſe of nothing leſſe; hee carryed all by the compaſſe of his own opinion, whereunto he was ſo much addicted, that nothing reliſhed with him that came not from himſelfe. But this ſelfe-confidence, and deſpiſing of counſell, brought him to a tragicall end, as witneſſeth Guicciar…ne: For being foyled by the French, Lib. 4. Hiſt. Ital.he betooke himſelfe …ong the Switzers to the habite of an ordinary ſouldier; …t he was diſcovered, and taken by the French, and in an …ominious manner vvas conducted to Lyons, vvhere in the …ew of a great concourſe of people, he was toſſed betwixt …vie and pitty for a time; and being denyed the Kings pre…nce (which he did exceedingly deſire) vvas ſhut up in …iſon; which ſerved both to limit his ambitious thoughts; … which all Italy could not contain;) and likewiſe to put a …riod to his diſgracefull and diſdained life, after ten yeares …priſonment.
One inſtance more let me giuegive you in Iames the 4, King …f Scots, as braue a man, as vvitie a King; ſo benigne and …acious a Prince to his ſubjects, as Europe had not ſo great …uſticiarie; ſo that he ſeemed to be compoſed of clemency …nd equity; and vvhichwhich ſurpaſt all the reſt; he vvas ſo guar…ed vvith the tranquillity of a good conſcience, ariſing from …he innocency of his princely carriage; that he counted …ot the aſpertions of the wicked vvorthy of requitall, with ſo much as an angry vvord. In a vvord, he did ſo raviſh vvith …oue the hearts of his ſubjects, that as he vvas deerer to them …hile they had him, then their very liues; ſo the remem…rance of his death did ſo gall their ſoules vvith ſorrow, that …ever a Prince in the world lived more deſired; and dyed more …mented. Yet this one Coliquintida put death in the pot; name…y, neglect of counſell, both in undertaking and managing …he war againſt the Engliſh, which put an untimely end, Jncertum eſt peiore concilio an eventu, B. R. Scotie lib. 13.…oth to his being, and his princely vertues: Inſomuch, that …t is well obſerved by the learned authour. It is uncertaine, whether the counſell, or event was worſe.
Theſe examples, and many others of the ſame nature, makes good that poſition of Plato, That a proud man, carryed altogether on the wings of his own conceit; ſcorning the advice both of the wiſe and warriour, is left at length by God to be his own deſtruction. To this effect Comineus, a Stateſman inf… riour to none, laies this down as an infallible prognoſtio… of future ruin, both of King and Kingdom, when a Pr… neglecting counſell, cleaveth onelyonly to his own wit. Yea, he ſhe… eth it plainly to be a fearefull fore-runner of Gods judgment, when God doth infatuate the heart, ſo that it … not hearken to counſell.
The inſtance that vvee had laſt in hand maketh it plai… For the wiſe Councel, of that good King, did earneſtly … ſwade him from vvarre: Beſides that ſtrange monitor th… appeared to him at prayer (as a man of credit vvith the Kin… informed the Hiſtorian, David Lin deſius eques Montanus.that he ſaw him with his eyes) y… for all this, by the inſtigation of Lamote, the French Em… ſador, he would to it. The Engliſh forces being gathered … gether under the conduct of the Earle of Surry; and Hera… being ſent to the King, deſiring that he would deſign th… day and place of battel; his wiſe and warlike councel diſſ… ded him from it, and that upon ſubſtantiall grounds; firſt they had already the better, and ſo much as they could we deſire; ſecondly, the Engliſh were twice ſo many, and th… freſh ſouldiers, againſt them, being wearyed vvith taking i… of Caſtles: thirdly, by delaying fight, they might vvear… the Engliſh out; or at leaſt draw them to ſuch a diſadvantage of place, that they might carry the victory rather by Courſell then by Armes, Victoria magis conſilio quam Armis maximi ducis proprium.vvhichwhich (as the Earle of Angui… ſaid vvell) is the property of a good Commander. The ſai… Earle likewiſe refuted all the allegations of the French, wh… put the King on, onelyonly for their own ends. But all this vvould not vvork upon the King, vvho in great indignation againſt the noble Earle, vvilled him to depart if he were afraid; for I vvill fight (ſaith he) againſt the Engliſh if the… vvere a hundred thouſand. Which hee did, but to his ovv… undoing, and the griefe and damage of his Nation. The vvhichwhich I rather relate, for confirmation of the former poſition; That when God hardens the heart againſ… councell in judgement, hee maketh way for ruin.
Fooliſh then is that forgery of thoſe, who attribute this …ngs fall, to the taking ſacrilegious Armes (as they call them) …gainſt Pope I…lius the ſecond, Englands holy Lord. It was …e Lord of heaven that gave him this defeat, neglect of …unſell being the ſecondarie cauſe. I might inſtance this …t further in Richard the ſecond, a ſtout Prince, and gover…ng well for the time that he was counſelled by his three …od uncles, the Dukes of Lancaſter, Yorke and Glouceſter; …ut the rejecting of them, & their counſell, made vvay to the …ſſe of his Crovvn, dignitie & life. Iratus ad paenā Deus ſi quis trahit auferre mentem talibus primü ſolet.Poets and other writers …e plentiful to this purpoſe, wherof I give you but a taſte:
When God in wrath will men to judgement bring,
The ſoules cleare light from ſuch, he first removes.
So another to theſame effect:
A ſupreme power void of councell good,
Falls of it ſelfe; as though it never ſtood.
And there is great reaſon why ruine ſhould follow neg…ct of counſell, not onelyonly from the equitie of Gods judgment; but alſo from the dangerous diſpoſition of a Princes …ounſell, without the mixture of advice. For as the …imple or pure element would not feed or nouriſh, but …ill or ſtarve; ſo the counſell of a compound body, The neceſſite of a mixt Counſell.had …eed to be a compound counſell. Plato and others, explane …his wel by compariſon, taken from the two-fold courſe of …he Sunne. The Counſell of the ſoveraigne power (ſay they) is like …he diurnall courſe of the Sunne compaſsing the earth in one day: which courſe is ſwift, rapid, awfull, and violent; but this is tempe…ed by the indirect oppoſition of the annual courſe, in the oblique …ircle of the Zodiacke, which alſo diſtinguisheth the ſeaſons, main…ayneth, rerfresheth, and nourisheth all the creatures which otherwiſe could not endure. So the Counſell of Princes, though endued with prudence, yet through the moving intelligence of ſupreme authoritie, becommeth ſo fierce, redoubtable, yea and often ſo devious, that like Phaetons miſguided chariot ſetting all on fire. To be plaine it degenerateth from calme counſell to ſterne will, and from adviſed government to cruell tiranny; but by the ſweet and temperate mixture of choyce counſell from the religious & wiſ… Senate, it becomes pleaſant and ſweet, full of grace to the Prince, and goodnes to the people. For indeed it is no grace to a Prince in peace or in warre (howſoever Sycophants ſuggeſt) when he and his counſell rideth all on one horſe.
Where this mixture is waning there be ever mad doing for Princes, for want of this, involve themſelves, & their ſta… in ſuch an inextricable laborinth, that when they would … wind themſelves, they goe the further in their evills; beconming like Hidraes heads more then they can deale with. It i… an eaſie matter for a Prince, eſpecially neglecting counſell, … put all out of frame, as a Maſter-of a ſhip, may run her upon the rockes; but the ſhipwracke of himſelfe and all the re… followeth. The aberrations of Princes (ſaith Agiſelaus) … the greateſt evills of all; becauſe they undoe themſelves and others. Princes mounted upon their will, are compared pretrily to one got up, on a wilde horſe, who being Aſked by one that met him, whether he went, even whether (ſaith he) this horſe will carry me. So ſome are carryed ſo far on their owne luſts, or their owne wit, and ſome on their owne feares, that when they would, it may be they cannot, or dare not alight, but over ride all in their way, and runne themſelves againſt a wall, or over a rocke.
Theſe are alſo wittily compared by a learned man, to Eucrates, in Lucian, who lighting on Pancrates the Aegiptian, learned many ſecrets of him; amongſt the reſt, they being by themſelves, and wanting one to attend them, Pancrates taketh a peece of wood, maketh it up with cloaths, murmurred ſome words over it, & it began to walk like a man. It went and drew water; made ready their ſupper; ſerved in their meat, and attended the table. Of all things Eucrates longed moſt to learne this, but his Maſter kept this to himſelfe as his chiefe ſecret; yet Eucrates got the word by heart: And his Maſter being one day abroad, he would fall to, and make up a ſerving-man, which by the words pronounced was done: but being ſent to draw water, he could not make him leave off, but he was like to drowne up all. Eucrates falleth to him with an axe, thinking to make a ſhort cut, and cleaveth him in two, but he made himſelfe more vvork, and brought himſelfe in greater danger. For they both fell to draw vvater; and had not his Maſter come he had beene undone. The Morall is no more but this, make worke and hauehave work; There be a great many vvater dravvers, vvorſe then the Gibeonites, that vvill not leaue vvhen they are bidden. To conclude this point vvith Comineus, ſuch Princes, of all men are the moſt miſerable, not onelyonly in bringing ruine upon themſelves, & others, but alſo in making their caſes void of pittie, and their names lyable to an everlaſting diſtaſte. And though (ſaith the ſame Author) their Soveraignty carry them through, vvithout controulment; foreign.becauſe there is nothing but teares, ſighes, & plaints of the vvronged againſt them: yet let thē knovv the Almightie hath a tvvofold tribunall, he maketh their ovvne doings plague them heere, and and plagues them eternally heereafter. Then as Princes would ſhun theſe plagues, let them be content to entertaine counſell, according to Menander.
"Let Councell be thy guide in eueryevery thing:
Nothing as Councell doth ſuch ſaftie bring.
Or if you will that of Iovius in his Elogie of Sfortia.Ergo inſo…entem po…e ſuperbi…m, qui fidis alti viribus i…geni….
Therefore lay downe they pride and inſolence,
Who in thy wit puts all thy confidence.