Instructions to a Son, Instructions 1
The Marquiss OF ARGYL'S Instructions to his Son.
SON,
I Know there are several books in Print, written Prudently, Politickly, and Piously of this very title of late years. I confess, most of them were of particular entendment to their own relations, the reason probably that they are not of such general observation and use; others designed out of presumptuous ambition, of exceeding by imitation such rare patterns as went before, in the accessions of wit and elegant discourse, discoloured sometime with urbane, facete Prophaness.
Ido acknowledge 'tis a singular and the right way of transmiting of a mans memory to posterity, especially to his own; it argues a kind of reverence that men bear to themselves when they can so impartially unbosome themselves in the account and register of all their Actions, and can shew no disliked experience of them, as to their own proper guilt. I do not hereby understand what concerns religion, who can excuse or extenuate his failings? but of moral transient Acts, to the evil of which no man is so strongly inclinable, but by the bias of a corrupt education.
Many very sententious pieces are extant among Ancient Authors of this subject, but I know none Testamentary but among the Moderns, and of them we have some excellent Princes, and renowned Statesmen.
My care of you, whom I would have to consider your self, as the prop of an ancient Honorable Family, is no way less then theirs, however I am inferiour to them in Dignity and Judgment: and therefore I will trace a beaten way, rather then lose my self and you in a general discourse; what I come short of here, you cannot misse in their common places, and so I may be sure I shall attain my end.
Probably men may think I can adde nothing to that store, but if they consider my station, and how far concerned in these Times, they may rather expect novel Politicks from me, such a variation of the Latitude of the most approved and received maximes of State lying in the sphere in which I acted; but the managery of the Counsels of those times, were by success, or the monstrous guilt and fraud of the Politicians so irregular, that I cannot if I would bring them under Heads, though up and down as they occur I may point at them.
I confess, 'twas my great misfortune to be so deeply engaged in these Fatal Times; I know the Nobility of Scotland, have always bickered with their Princes, and from the insolency of that Custome, not any of our Kings have been free. 'Tis also true, the perpetual Family feuds among us, which by all the industry and Authority of our Princes, could never be so pacified, but that they revived again, and took upon themselves as they had advantage to revenge their quarrel; (and yet like sudden floods which violently over-run, and as peacably return within their banks, abated to their due allegiance,) did easily perswade me that there was no such apparent danger in the first beginnings of the contest, betwixt the King and my Nation of Scotland. I had laid it for a maxime, that a Reformation was sooner effected per Gladium Oris, then per Os Gladii; and certainly true Religion is rather a setler, then stickler in Policy, and rather confirms men in obedience to the Government established, then invites them to the erecting of new; which they neither do nor can know, till it be discovered and declared. Wherein I did not look upon our intended Reformation as any way taxable, since it had the whole stream of universal consent of the whole Nation; I never thought of those dire consequences which presently followed, till by that confusion my thoughts became distracted, and my self incountred so many difficulties in the way, that all remedies that were applyed did the quite contrary operation; whatever therefore hath been said by me and others in this matter, you must repute and accept them as from a distracted Man, of a distracted Subject, in a distracted Time wherein I lived: and this shall serve to let you know how far I waded unwarily in that business.
I will not however counsel you, if any such lamentable commotions (which God forbid) should break out, for my unhappiness, to withdraw your self, from interposing to quench and allay them as much as by your Authority you can, (however I was mistaken by some in my Actions, I did labour for a right understanding,) but be sure let your Allegiance keep the ballance; by no means stand like a neuter in the cause of your King and Country. That Decree of Solons, that every man that in a general Commotion was of neither party, should be adjudged infamous, is rightly decreed of great men. Popular furies would never have end, if not awed by their Superiours, who supinely neglecting such outrages, not ordinarily, are rnined and depress'd in their own Estates and Honours, a late example whereof we had in our neighbour Nation; the People will soon learn their own strength, that Summa Potestas radicatur in voluntatibus Hominum; and from thence inferre, that the popular power excels the power of the Noblesse.
Great men therefore, are in some sort as necessary as good men, as power is as requisite as wisedome, where they are both wanting, Imperium in Imperio quaerendum est. Your famous Ancestors by both these, have kept their Vassals (and what is well done in one canton of the Kingdome is like to be imitated throughout,) in a quiet subjection, and good comportment many generations, and I question not but you will find the same reverence from them, if you do not degenerate.
Do not content your self with the bare titles of greatness, Principis tantum nomen habere non est esse Princeps, that power is vain which never exerts it self forth into Act.
The loosness of these late Times will require at first a gentle hand, while you have got the bridle in the mouths of your Family, Dependants and Vassels, then you may curbe them, and reduce them to the former obedience they once willingly paid. I have had a difficult task with them, yet by one means or other I kept them in order; nor will they be ever serviceable to their Supreme, if they be not in a due subjection to you, their immediate Lord.
Take all fair occasions of doing your Soverain service, let that be your only Emulation with other Noble Houses, supply the great and necessary distance of your Prince from this his Native Kingdome, by a close application of your self to his concerns, if not in a publick capacity, yet in your private sphear, which will soon advance you to higher Trusts.
You have a great task to do, you must from the bottome climb up to the mount of Honour, a very abrupt and difficult ascent; which yet, nevertheless by observing the sure footings of some of your progenitors, and the slips of others, particularly those recent slidings of mine own, (for other they are not) you may at last attain the top, and by your own merit and your Princes favour, your House may be Culminant again.
If it shall so happen, as I despair not of it, (ancient merit with good Princes (such as without flattery I may say the most of ours were and are like to be,) will out-last their longest displeasure,) have a care then of that Precipice; let no revenge or ambition blind you into destruction; you may poise your self with your wings of Honour and Greatness, but venture not, nor presume to fly.
Covet not with immoderate hast Lands, Riches, Honour, for it is seldom that men whose rash desires and designs are laid out that way, compass their full content, and for the most part meet with a destiny far other then they expected; and when they are once so disappointed, Fortune or rather Providence so much amazeth the judgment even of wise men, as in time of danger they know not what resolution is best to be taken. You will not be necessitated through the want of these three, so as to reach at them unlawfully, and endanger what you have in possession, and your self together.
I do not much regret your private life, nor should I labour to bring you into State Employment, for there is no course more comely, nor any resolution so well beseeming a wise man, having made proof of his own vertue, as to retire himself from Court and Company, for so he shall shun the inconveniencies of contempt, and the discommodity of a perpetual trouble.
I have tryed and found the many perplexities that attend that life, and have reaped nothing but calumny and envy, though I do not say this is the fate of all Statists; this I am sure, the best way of coming there, is without popular fame or over-vogued merit, especially by the interest of a Favourite.
But who so cannot endure the envy and hate that are the attendants thereof, must set down with his present condition, and not meddle with, or enterprise great matters; for great Honours being desired of many, it is of necessity that he that aspireth unto them, must be for his advancement thereunto envied, and for his Authority hated; which, although they be well managed and used, yet those who hate and envy, perswading themselves they might be better handled, endevour to oppress that power as fearing it might be worse.
You will have time after the setling of your own private Fortunes to cast about for some honorable advantages for your self. Time is the best Counsellour, rather let Magistracy want you, then you want it; which you may effect, if by a wise moderation you can slight those insignia which the world knows your Ancestors have born with commendation and honour, and who have added more lustre to them, then the want of them can take from you.
Keep a firm and amicable correspondence with your neighbours howsoever, but so that it be far from giving any suspition of making parties or factions; this is chiefly attained by a generous compliance and noble familiarity, that's the way to be loved and Honoured, which works so many good effects, as daily experience sufficeth without any express example to prove them of great force. If you be happy in this particular, this will be your certain repose, and may not be reckoned within the Externa bona Fortunae.
To compass this, take an exact care that your actions be just, be not offended at every injury, wink sometimes at your wrong, but beware of unnecessary revenges. I leave you enemies enough, 'twill be meat and drink (as the English Proverb) to them, to see you froward and quarrelsome; bear off all the affronts that be put upon you with an inviolable invincible mind, and let them see you are above them; Master all your pasfions and affections, and so discipline them that they may become your most necessary Servants.
You will be freed, by this your retirement from publique employment, of adulation and flattery, and by that means will the better and more plainly and sincerely converse with your self, and be able to give a near judgment what you are, and of your abilities and defects, which is the most necessary knowledge in the world, and which will recompense the disuse of other Policy. E Coelo descendit, foreign
Demean your self in an equality of mind, that may show Fortune hath no power over you, that her excesses and recesses, her over-flows nor her low ebbs, can either drown or dry up your vertue. 'Tis but Common Fate; as the Sea loseth in one place it gets in another; so contrarily, such shakings as these which through me befall my family, may by your prudence rivet it faster.
This I thought fit in general, as to the Condition I shall leave you in, to direct and advise you; only one word more: I charge you to forget, and not harbour any animofity or particular anger against any man concerning me. Such heart-burnings have been the destruction of many a Noble person in this Kingdom, and I know not of any person so given, but the very same measure hath been meeted unto him again. The Cup is gone round, and therefore content your self; but above all I require you to have more regard to Christianity, then covertly or basely to kill a particular Enemy by secret assault or practise, it being altogether most unwarrantable either by Faith or Honour.
And this by way of Praemise.