The Holy State, Book 4 · Chapter 5
CHAP. 5. The wise Statesman.
TO describe the Statesman at large, is the subject rather of a Volume then a Chapter, and is as farre beyond my power, as wide of my profession. We will not lanch into the deep, but satisfie our selves to sail by the shore, and briefly observe his carriage towards God, his King, himself, home-persons, and forein Princes.
He counts the fear of God the beginning of wisdome;Maxime 1 and therefore esteemeth no project profitable, which is not lawfull; nothing politick, which crosseth piety. Let not any plead for the contrary Hushai's dealing with Absalom, which strongly favour'd of double-dealing; for what is a question cannot be an argument, seeing the lawfulnesse of his deed therein was never decided; and he is unwise that will venter the state of his soul on the litigious title of such an example. Besides, we must live by Gods precepts, not by the godlies practice. And though God causeth sometimes the sunne of successe to shine as well on bad as good projects, yet commonly wicked actions end in shame at the last.
2In giving counsell to his Prince, he had rather displease then hurt him. Plain-dealing is one of the daintiest rarities can be presented to some Princes, as being novelty to them all times of the yeare. The Philosopher could say, *Seneca de benefic. lib. 3. c. 30.Quid omnia possidentibus deest? Ille qui verum dicat. Wherefore our Statesman seeks to undeceive his Prince from the fallacies of flatterers, who by their plausible perswasions have bolster'd up their crooked counsells, to make them seem straight in the Kings eyes.
3Yet if dissenting from his Sovereigne, he doth it with all humility and moderation. It is neither manners nor wit to crosse Princes in their game, much lesse in their serious affairs. Yea, it may be Rebellion in a subject to give his Sovereigne loyall counsell, if proceeding from a spirit of contradiction and contempt, and uttered in audacious language. What do these but give wholsome Physick, wrapt up in poysoned papers?
4He is constant, but not obstinate in the advice he gives. Some think it beneath a wise man to alter their opinion: A maxime both false and dangerous. We know what worthy Father wrote his own Retractation; and it matters not though we go back from our word, so we go forward in the truth and a sound judgement. Such a one changeth not his main opinion, which ever was this, to embrace that course which upon mature deliberation shall appear unto him the most advised. As for his carriage towards himself,
5He taketh an exact survey of his own defects and perfections. As for the former, his weaknesses and infirmities he doth carefully and wisely conceal: sometimes he covers them over with a cautious confidence, and presents a fair hilt, but keeps the sword in the sheath which wanteth an edge. But this he manageth with much art, otherwise, being betray'd, it would prove most ridiculous, and it would make brave musick to his enemies, to heare the hissing of an empty bladder when it is prick'd.
His known perfections he seeks modestly to cloud and obscure. 6It is needlesse to shew the sunne shining, which will break out of it self. Not like our Phantasticks, who having a fine watch draw all occasions to draw it out to be seen. Yea, because sometimes he concealeth his sufficiency in such things, wherein others know he hath ability, he shall therefore be thought at other times to have ability in those matters wherein indeed he wants it, men interpreting him therein rather modestly to dissemble, then to be defective. Yet when just occasion is offer'd, he shews his perfections soundly, though seldome, and then graceth them out to the best advantage.
In discourse he is neither too free, 7nor overreserv'd, but observes a mediocrity. His hall is common to all comers, but his closet is lock'd. Generall matters he is as liberall to impart, as carefull to conceal importancies. Moderate liberty in speech inviteth and provoketh liberty to be used again, where a constant closenesse makes all suspect him: and his company is burthensome that liveth altogether on the expences of others, and will lay out nothing himself. Yea, who will barter intelligence with him, that returns no considerable ware in exchange?
He trusteth not any with a secret which may endanger his estate. 8For if he tells it to his servant, he makes him his master; if to his friend, he enables him to be a foe, and to undo him at pleasure, whose secrecy he must buy at the parties own price, and if ever he shuts his purse, the other opens his mouth. Matters of inferiour consequence he will communicate to a fast friend, and crave his advice; for two eyes see more then one, though it be never so big, and set (as in Polyphemus) in the middest of the forehead.
9He is carefull and provident in the managing of his private estate. Excellently *Lib. 2. de ofsic. cap. 112.Ambrose, An idoneum putabo qui mihi det consilium, qui non dat sibi? Well may Princes suspect those Statesmen not to be wise in the businesse of the Common-wealth, who are fools in ordering their own affairs. Our Politician, if he enlargeth not his own estate, at least keeps it in good repair. As for avaricious courses, he disdaineth them. Sr Thomas More, though some years Lord-Chancellour of England, scarce left his sonne *Sanders. de Schism. Anglic. pag. 118.five and twenty pounds ayeare more then his father left him. And Sr Henrie Sidney (father to Sr Philip) being Lord President of Wales and Ireland, got not *Henry Lho…d, in the beginning of his Welch Chronicle.one foot of land in either Countrey, rather seeking after the common good then his private profit. I must confesse the last age produced an English Statesman, who was the picklock of the cabinets of forein Princes, who, though the wisest in his time and way, died poore and indebted to private men, though not so much as the whole Kingdome was indebted to him. But such an accident is rare; and a small Hospitall will hold those Statesmen who have impaired their means, not by their private carelesnesse, but carefulnesse for the publick. As for his carriage towards Home-persons,
10He studieth mens natures, first reading the Title-pages of them by the report of Fame: but credits not Fames relations to the full. Otherwise, as in London-exchange one shall overbuy wares, who gives half the price at first demanded, so he that believeth the moity of Fame may believe too much. Wherefore to be more accurate,
11He reads the Chapters of mens natures (chiefly his concurrents and competitours) by the reports of their friends and foes, making allowance for their engagements, not believing all in the masse, but onelyonly what he judiciously extracteth. Yet virtues confess'd by their foes, and vices acknowledged by their friends, are commonly true. The best intelligence, if it can be obtained, is from a fugitive Privado.
But the most legible Character and truest Edition wherein he reads a man is in his own occasionall openings: 12And that in these three cases.
1 When the party discloses himself in his wine: for though it be unlawfull to practise on any to make them drunk, yet no doubt one may make a good use of another mans abusing himself. What they say of the herb Lunaria ceremoniously gathered at some set times, that laid upon any lock, it makes it flie open, is most true of drunkennesse, unbolting the most important secrets.
2 When he discovereth himself in his passions. Physicians to make some small veins in their Patients arms plump and full, that they may see them the better to let them bloud, use to put them into hot water: so the heat of passion presenteth many invisible veins in mens hearts to the eye of the beholder; yea the sweat of anger washeth off their paint, and makes them appear in their true colours.
3 When accidentally they bolt out speeches unawares to themselves. More hold is then to be taken of a few words casually uttered, then of set solemn speeches, which rather shew mens arts then their natures, as endited rather from their brains then hearts. The drop of one word may shew more then the stream of an whole oration; and our Statesman by examining such fugitive passages (which have stollen on a sudden out of the parties mouth) arrives at his best intelligence.
13In Court-factions he keeps himself in a free neutrality. Otherwise to engage himself needlessely were both folly and danger. When Francis the first, King of France, was consulting with his Captains how to lead his army *Pere de Lancre, of the uncertainty of things, lib. 2. fourth discourseover the Alpes into Italy, whether this way or that way, Amarill his fool sprung out of a corner, where he sate unseen, and bade them rather take care which way they should bring their army out of Italy back again. Thus is it easie for one to interest and embarque himself in others quarrells, but much difficulty it is to be disengaged from them afterwards. Nor will our Statesman entitle himself a party in any feminine discords, knowing that womens jarres breed mens warres.
14Yet he counts neutrality profanenesse in such matters wherein God, his Prince, the Church, or State are concern'd. Indeed, He that meddleth with strife not belonging unto him is like one that taketh a dog by the eares. Prov. 26.17.Yet if the dog worrieth a sheep, we may, yea ought to rescue it from his teeth, and must be champions for innocence when it is overborn with might. He that will stand neuter in such matters of moment, wherein his calling commands him to be a party, with Servilius in Rome, will please neither side: Of whom the Historian sayes, P. Servilius medium se gerendo, nec plebis vitavit odium, nec apud Patres gratiam inivit. And just it is with God, that they should be strained in the twist, who stride so wide as to set their legs in two opposite sides. Indeed an upright shoe may fit both feet, but never saw I glove that would serve both hands. Neutrality in matters of an indifferent nature may fit well, but never suit well in important matters, of farre different conditions.
15He is the centre wherein lines of intelligence meet from all forein countreys. He is carefull that his outlandish instructions be full, true, and speedy; not with the sluggard telling for news at noone, that the sunne is risen. But more largely hereof in the Embassadour, hereafter.
He refuseth all underhand pensions from forein Princes. 16Indeed honourary rewards received with the approbation of his Sovereigne may be lawfull, and lesse dangerous. For although even such gifts tacitly oblige him by way of gratitude to do all good offices to that forein Prince whose Pensioner he is; yet his counsells passe not but with an open abatement, in regard of his known engagements, and so the State is armed against the advice of such, who are well known to lean to one side. But secret pensions which flow from forein Princes, like the river Anas in Spain, under ground, not known or discerned, are most mischievous. The receivers of such will play under-board at the Counsell-table; and the eating and digesting of such outlandish food will by degrees fill their veins with outlandish bloud, even in their very hearts.
His Master-piece is in negotiating for his own Master with forein Princes. 17At Rhodes there was a contention betwixt Apelles and Protogenes, corrivalls in the Mystery of Limming. Apelles with his pencill drew a very slender even line; Protogenes drew another more small and slender in the midst thereof with another colour: Apelles again with a third line of a different colour drew thorow the midst of that Protogenes had made, *Plin. nat. Hist. lib. 34. cap. 10.Nullum relinquens amplius subtilitati locum. Thus our Statesman traverseth matters, doubling and redoubling in his forein negotiations with the Politicians of other Princes, winding, and entrenching themselves mutually within the thoughts each of other, till at last our Statesman leaves no degree of subtlety to go beyond him.
To conclude: Some plead that dissembling is Lawfull in the State-craft, upon the presupposition that men must meet with others which dissemble. Yea they hold, that thus to counterfeit, se defendendo, against a crafty corrivall, is no sinne, but a just punishment on our adversary, who first began it. And therefore Statesmen sometimes must use crooked shoes, to fit hurl'd feet. Besides, the honest Politician would quickly be begger'd, if, receiving black money from cheatours, he payes them in good silver, and not in their own coin back again. For my part, I confesse that herein I rather see what then whither to flie; neither able to answer their arguments, nor willing to allow their practice. But what shall I say? They need to have steddy heads who can dive into these gulfs of policy, and come out with a safe conscience. I'le look no longer on these whirl-pools of State, lest my pen turn giddy.