King Solomons Solace, Book · Chapter 6
CAP. VI.
Ahiſhar the Maſter of the Kings Pallace, Iehoſophat the Recorder and Helioreph and Ahiah the Secretaries examine and cleare themſelves.
Ahiſhar the M. of the Pallace and his office.AS ſoone as Azariah had ended his Apologie, and ſo cleared himſelfe of all iuſt offence offered the king: Ahiſhar the maſter of the kings Pallace, ſtoode foorth and ſaide: The Kinges Maieſtie hath of his gratious fauour ordained me the Maſter of his Royall Pallace and therein, what he hath conceyued of me in any thing diſliking his minde,pro. 19.12. I know not: nor woulde I wiſh to incurre his diſpleaſure, which is as fearefull as the roaring of a Lyon: when as his fauour is like the pleaſant dew vponupon the graſſe, and as the rayne in the time of drieth. But this I knowe, that to the vttermoſt of my power, wiſedome and diſcretion, I hauehave done my duetye aſwell touching the preſeruation of the good orders of the kings houſe as in my behauiour towards his highnes; and this I proteſt for my ſelfe not vaine gloriouſly to boaſt of mine integrity, and demerites (for therein I confeſſe, I hauehave done but as I ſhoulde, and am bound to do) but to expreſſe my loyall heart, and to excuſe my ſelfe of all ſuch ſuſpected crime, as might iuſtly moue the kings mind to this high ſorrowe, the which I would not (for all that I am worth in worldly wealth) ſhould bee occaſioned through me. And therefore, as touching mine office, I hauehave been right careful and diligent that the kings pallace might be clenſed and cleared of all ſuch vayne perſons as hauing neither the feare of God, nor any honor of the king, do cōmonly diſturbe & break all good orders in houſes, in citties, in Cōmonwealths:What kind of perſons are vnfit for the Kings Court. I hauehave not only abandoned, but alſo cauſed the Court gates to bee ſhut and barred againſt all Caynes, Hagars, Iſmaels, Eſaus, Chams, Dalilaes, Achitophels, Doegs, Shimeis, Nabals, Zibaes, Adoniahs, Ioabs, Ieroboams, as ſuch as are knowne to be proud, headdy, high minded, ambitious, trecherous, couetous enuious, malitious, together with all fornicators, murtherers, ſwearers, lyers, whiſperers, backbyters, boaſters, fighters, brawlers: Al profane, idle, ireful, ſlothful, and vncourteous perſons, haters of God, vnnaturall, vnmercifull, ſuch as ſay in their hearts that God is not, and ſuch as knowing God, honor him not as God: but giuegive themſelues ouer vntounto al vngodlines, Theſe are they which diſturbe the tranquillitie of brotherly felowſhip and all good order▪ and therefore are worthily expelled and kept out.
* On th'other ſide, I hauehave gladly admitted, entertained, retained and embraced righteous and godly, Abel, Abraham, Iſaack, Iacob, Sarah, Anna, Ruth, Shem, Lot, What perſons ſhould be welcome to the Court.Ioſeph, Sampſon, Gedeon, Ioſuah, Aaron, Nathan, Gad, Samuel, Abigail as ſuch both men and women as are holy, iuſt, wiſe, faithfull, obedient, gentle, louing, docile, affable, diligent, couragious, induſtrious, gratefull, beneficial, religious, godly, chaſte and vertuous: Theſe I ſay, I hauehave gladly welcommed and admitted whether they were poore or rich: knowing well, it is the Kinges will page missing good pleaſure I ſhould ſo do; that ſo his pallace ſhould not only be an houſe of Noble-men, but a receptable to receiue and intertaine the holy and iuſt, ſuch as might become not only the kings Court, but the mount Zion, and that holie houſe which he hath built for the name of the Lord. Now, to this is added a ſpeciall care,The exerciſes and the orders of the pallace. firſt, that the Lord of heauen be ſerued, and then the houſe ordered and diſpoſed in other thinges conuenient: Three times in the day are they called to this ſeruice, namely at morning, at noone, and in the euening, notwithſtanding the ordinarie repaire to the Temple, with his Maieſtie. They which are merry are exerciſed in ſinging of Pſalms hymnes and ſpirituall ſongs: they that be afflicted, are occupied in prayer: and both th'one and th'other, do ordinarilie vſe to read, with vnderſtanding the Lawe, the Iudges, and the bookes of the godlie and wiſe, whereby wiſdome and the knowledge of God is learned and followed, and therein are they excited as well by word, as by examples to meditate day and night, and to order themſelues according to the ſame in all thinges. *And as touching the ordinarie ſeruices within the kinges houſe (as the king hath likewiſe deuiſed and giuen in charge) I hauehave béene carefull for the order thereof, the facilitie of performance, and the conditions of the kings ſeruantes: There is among them an obſerued order, which hath a cheife reſpect vntounto one cheife Officer for the better performance:Monarchicall gouerment. for where there is not in gouerment one principall perſon, by whom the others are to be directed, there confuſion marreth al & nothing can wel'procéede: Then that facilitie may bee added to the executiō of thoſe ſeruices, it is prouided that one man be not ouercharged either with many offices, or in one ſuch office as paſſeth one mans abilitie to performe; but that the ſame be particularlie diſpoſed to particular perſons, as it is thought both eaſy and conuenient for the one and the other, in time & place. And as there was an eſpeciall care taken and had who ſhould be admitted, and who ſhould be expelled the Court: ſo is there no leſſe conſideration of the election and reteining of the kings houſhold ſeruantes:The kings houſhold ſeruants It is therefore required, that they be faithfull, that they deceiue not the King, and that they be wiſe and prudent, not to be decieued by others. Moreouer that they be docile, induſtrious, courteous, gentle and virtuous. Theſe and many ſuch be the orders and ſeruantes of the kings houſe, inſtituted by his moſt wiſe diſpoſition, the which alſo I hauehave withall diligence endeuoured to maintaine to my power, according to his will: This the noble Quéene of Saba at her being here, obſerued and commended with high prayſes to the honor of the king, the ioy of his people, and the glory of the euerlaſting God. Theſe words (among others) ſpake Ahiſhar, the which being ended,Iehoſophat ſpeaketh to excuſe himſelfe Iehoſophat the Recorder put forth alſo his Apologie. And whether in the Records or geſtes (ſaid he) which are written, remembred or confirmed by me, the king hath eſpied or béene certified of any error or faulte diſpleaſing his conceit, I alſo reſt doubtfull. Indeede all things cannot be ſo carried or writen by any Scribe or Recorder whatſoeuer, but that imperfections or faultes may be made &. found therein; as there is no man ſo perfect, but he may hauehave a fault, and no man ſo wiſe but he may by an occaſion ſlide, and by want of héede paſſe ouer a fault in his time, a thing ſone done, eſpecially in them that write or record much or hauehave many and ſundrie matters occurring, moleſting,The Recorder his office. and diſtracting the mind. Notwithſtanding I hold it not onelyonly for a fault, but a fault intolerable that a Recorder either for fauour, louelove, or affection to one: or for malice, enuie, hatred or diſlike of another, ſhould falſefie a Record, or willingly write or conſent to the writing or recording of that which is falſe; or ſhould raze or blot out that which is true. This is a ſinne agaynſt God, an offence to the King, the periſhing of a good conſcience, the decay of a good name, the ſubuerting of mens rites the cauſe of contentions, and an occaſion of greate inconueniences euen in thoſe matters and cauſes which concerne man and man; how much more then are ſuch vngodly practizes both heinous and hurtfull in the thinges which concerne the Lord of heauen and his truth, to the which to add any thing, or from the which to take away, deſerueth an extirpation and loſſe both of body and ſoule. The conſideration hereof (my Lords) and the daunger not forgotten, will make a man héedie and carefull, that in this office, he neither erre nor doe amiſſe, amiſſe, much more that he offend not of ſet purpoſe. But to ſpeake for my ſelfe, I hauehave aduētured to record nothing beſides the truth, & that alſo which is not onelyonly lawfull and honeſt, but right worthie the kings Annales, and very profitable to be remembred in the poſteritie, as ſuch whereof the kings father ſpake ſaying This ſhall be written and recorded for them that come after. The truth of the thing, & mine owne conſcience ſhall alwaies teſtifie for me both before God & man, the one is ſtrong & preuaileth, & ye other is to me as a thouſand witneſſes, either to acquite me of guilt, or to iuſtifie my doings in this caſe Moreouer ye ſhall find (my Lord) if it pleaſe you to turne ouer, peruſe and conſider the Records, that there is nothing contained therein, recorded or confirmed by me, beſides that which hath beene well conſidered of and weighed with deliberation & iudgement in this place and ſocietie, and by the conſent of your honors decreed to be committed to my Record. I fit be found otherwiſe, & the fault proued to reſt in me, (eſpecially if any ſuch fault be wilinglie done) let me beare the blame thereof: yea let me (as well worthie) be depriued of the honour of my place, let me be puniſhed as a periured and faithleſſe wretch, and let me vtterly be diſcreited & made aſhamed, to the terror and example of all others. But I truſt in God, that howſoeuer ſome hauehave taken offences before they be giuen, who therein reſemble children of variable affectiōs, the Kings Grace, being moſt wiſe, is not offended at me, ſeeing I hauehave not offered him any abuſe or iuſt cauſe or occaſion of any ſuch matter: And that thoſe thinges which hauehave beene recorded by mee in the kinges Annales, cheifely ſuch as concerne God and the king ſhall be belieued, as the moſt certaine truth, ſhall be receiued into the holie church and eſteemed and canonized for authority with them that come after vsus,Helioreph and Ahiah the Secretaries excuſe and iuſtifie thē ſelues. euen vntounto the end of daies. This being ſpoken the two Secretaries ſtood forth, namely Helioreph and Ahiah: And we alſo (ſaid Helioreph) hauehave beene much troubled with the like feare, whether his excellent Maieſtie hath holden either of vsus or our dealings ſuſpenſiue, as towching either the reueling of any his ſecrets committed to either of vsus, or cōcerning any commandemētes Precepts, Patents, warrants, or letters, that hauehave been written and ſet foorth by vsus, or either of vsus in His highnes Name without his expreſſe commandement, will or knowledge firſt had and obtained therein. But truely, as this were a note of much malepartneſſe in vsus, and (is indeede) a dangerous kinde of Treaſon, ſo ſhould we thereby occaſion the kinges people and ſubiects not onelyonly to murmure againſt vsus & our dealings, but to condemne the king of great ſimplicitie and weakenes, permitting or neglecting ſuch our bold preſumption: yea, and they may thereon much dread, what we may peraduenture do and execute againſt them in the kings name, contrary to the lawes, and the good pleaſure of the king, who being (as they know) moſt wiſe, prudent and filled with diuine graces, neither willeth, nor executeth willingly any thing in the gouernment of his people, but that which ſtandeth with righteouſnes and equitie, and therein ſheweth great magnanimitie & kingly vertues towards them all, whether they be poore or rich.Num. 32.23. Neither I thinke but that, as they which ſinne againſt the Lord of heauen, are found out of their owne ſinnes,1. Sam. 22.5. when hee goeth about to iudge and puniſh them, as Moſes ſaid: nor ſhal there be found a dayſe-man: betweene God & thē, as in matters of treſpaſ betwixt mā & man, as father Eli the high Prieſt in his time ſaid: ſo, ſuch as vſurp, preſume and ſinne aganſt the kings honor ſhal neither be hidden, notwithſtanding their great hypocriſy & diſſimulation: nor be holden guiltles in the day when hee ſhal come to viſit them in his fierce wrath. But cōcerning any ſuch matter doubted of me, I here teſtifie from my cleare conſciēce, that if ſuch a queſtion were propoſed, I would gladly and that ſafely ſweare, & take the liuing God to recorde for me, that as I hauehave been euer ſecret to his grace in matters of ſecrecie to me cōmitted with al fidelity: ſo hath there not any thing ſo paſſed mine handes to bee ſent forth to his ſubiects touching any the kinges affaires, without his graces will or preſcript cōmādement: or at the leaſt without his certaine knowledge, & that I hauehave, to the vttermoſt of my skill & habilitie, behaued my ſelfe faithfully in this reſpect both towards my Lord the king & his liege people. *And the ſame may be ſaid alſo for me (ſaid the other ſecretary) in al points as I likewiſe here proteſt for myſelf with integritie of minde. Neyther, beſides the danger that of ſuch a fault might enſew, I promiſe you faithfully I durſt not aduenture to attempt that which I knowe woulde much empaire and hurt that credit and good name,pro. 12.1. the which (as the King hath ſaide) is better then the ſweete ſmelling ointment, and worth the preferring, before Siluer, Gold, and pretious ſtones. It is true that the ſweete ſauoure of filthie lucre both diſſwadeth and perſwadeth many a thing:The couetous mind of officers. and the moſt part of all perſons care very little how, or by what meanes they come by wealth, when as wealthie they would bee: and therefore oftentimes ſuch as be preferred to offices by his royall grace eſtéeming their priuate gaine and honour for the right end of their functions and callings, deale therein, I ſay not, with great partialitie, but with deepe iniquitie, whiles ſeruing rather Mammon then the true God, they ſay in their hearte, if not with their mouth, what will ye giuegive me? What ſhall I hauehave? What reward will ye beſtowe? and ſo fill their cofers with the treaſures of vngodlines and ſinne, which doe yet but waite the opportune time, wherein they may be called forth not onelyonly to teſtifie, but alſo cry and call for vengeance againſt them. And then they ſhall confeſſe and ſaye: we hauehave indeed wearied our ſelues in the way of wickednes & deſtruction, what good hath this vngodly gaine and the pompe of riches brought vsus? But I hope that the kings grace is not offended at me to whome to my knowledge, I hauehave not giuen (as touching my duty in my place) any occaſion of offence. The Lord ſaue his noble Grace, and graunt that hee may thinke and reſolue of mee but as in equitie I hauehave deſerued, then, as mine owne integritie of conſcience doth cleare mee: ſo ſhall not his noble Grace bée perſwaded to ſuſpect mée: But as I am well reſolued in the one, hee ſhalbe ſatiſfied in the other: and ſo neither ſhall I feare the terror of his face, nor his grace be either grieued or offended at any fault of mine.