A Mirror both for Saints and Sinners, Treatise · Chapter 74
CHAP. LXXIV. Examples of Dissimulation.
IT's forbidden, Rom. 12. 9. Psal. 26. 4. Jam. 1. 8. 1 Pet. 2. 1.
Complained of, Josh. 7. 11. Jer. 42. 20. Prov. 26 24. Psal. 12. 2.
Scriptural Examples, Jacob, Gen. 27. 19. Jacobs sons, Gen. 34. 13. Joseph, Gen. 42. 7▪ 23. David, 1 Sam. 21. 13. Ammon, 2 Sam. 13. 6. Absalon, 2 Sam. 13. 20, 22, 28. Hushai, 2 Sam. 16. 16. & 17. 11. Joab, 2 Sam. 20. 9, 10. Jeroboams wife, 1 King. 14. 2, 5. Jehu, 2 King. 9. 11, 12. & 10. 18. Sanballat, Neh. 6. 2. Shemaiah, and others, Neh…. 6. 10, 19. Esther, ch. 5. 4. with 7. 4 Davids enemies, Psal. 26. 5. Jeremiah, ch. 38. 27. Ismael, Jer. 41. 6. Herod, Matth. 2. 8. Judas, Luk. 22. 47. Joh. 12. 5, 6. False Apostles, 2 Cor. 11. 13, 14. Peter, Barnabas, and other Jews, Gal. 2. 12, 13. the Beast, Rev. 13. 11.
Other Examples.
Tiberius Caesar when the Empire was first proffered to him, seemed very shie in accepting of it, whereupon one noting his dissimulation said to him: Other men are slow to perform what they promise; thou dost slowly promise what thou performest. Nothing his delay in what he most desired. Eras. Apoth.
Caligula in the beginning of his Empire seemed to be very mild, and merciful: But Theodore Gadaroeus his Master said that he was Lutum sanguine mac…ratum, noting his cruel disposition, as afterwards it came to passe.
Nero in the first five years of his reign pretended to all manner of virtue: so that the people said that he excelled their former good Emperours: but afterwards laying aside his dissimulation, he proved a Pest and Plague to the whole world
What devillish dissimulation Charles the 9th. King of France used to draw the Admiral, and the Protestant Nobility into his snare: See in my Gen. Martyrologie p. 309. &c.
Richard Duke of Gloucester was so cunning a dissembler that he would accompany most familiarly, and jest pleasantly with such as he hated in his heart: He made his conscience in all things serve his will, though his will could not be obtained without the effusion of guiltlesse blood: when he had murthered King Edward the 5th. his Nephew, and his Brother in the Tower, and had cut off the heads of some of the Lords that stood in his way, he suborned one Dr. Shaw in a Sermon at Pauls Crosse to blazon his honourable Birth, and Parentage, to relate his Virtues, to commend his Valour, to weaken the fame, and honour of the deceased King Edward by reason of his lasciviousnesse with Shores Wife, to basterdize all his children as being born in Adultery, &c. and applying his speech to the worthinesse, and goodnesse of Richard, he took it for granted that the people could not choose but receive him for their undoubted Sovereign, and King, and so he strove to have prepared the multitude to have shouted when Richard came in, and to have cryed, King Richard, King Richard: but he failed of his purpose, for every man was silent, and more surprised with wonder then with applause, to see how wickedly these businesses were carried on. The next day the Duke of Buckingham went to Guildhall in London, and there to the Citizens endeavoured by like arguments to make Richard the Protector the right, and undoubted heire, and inheriter of the Crown, and though the people took no content in this speech, nor by their voyces assented to that which was delivered, yet he procured the Lord Major, and Aldermen the next day to go with him, and many other Lords to Bainard's Castle to the Protector, where they offered him to receive him for their lawfull King, intreating him to accept of the burden: But ofttimes he refused to grant their request: yet at last (seeming to be overcome by their importunity) he assented: and thus by their perswasions he gained his own hearts desire. Mart. Chron.