The foreste or Collection of histories no lesse profitable, then pleasant and necessarie, dooen out of Frenche into Englishe, by Thomas Fortescue.

¶ Of the excellency of Secretes, and in what forte a secrete ought to be couered, with certaine Examples seruinge to that purpose. Chap. 3.

ONe of the perfectest notes to knowe a Wise man, is, if he well can couer the Secrete committed to him by an other, holdinge euermore his owne af∣fayres cloase and vnknowen. Who so of the time paste will reade the Auncient Histories, shall finde that a number of vertuous enterprises, miste farre, and fowly failed of their desired ende, in time of Peace, as well, as also in that of Warre, by the onely reuealinge of some deuised Secretes, whence infinite mischiefes hastely in∣sued and followed. But amonge sundry examples, one wée finde excellent and surpassinge the reste, as imme∣diatly, or directly, procéedinge from God: who to him selfe so well reserueth his Secretes, that he ne reuealeth to any the things that shall happen, or betide vs tomor∣row: as also neither they that liued in y^e Ages past, could at any time Diuine any thinge, of the thinges this daye present. Whence it is easie for eche man to consider, that

vnto God him selfe, to conceale wel a Secrete, is a thing agreant, acceptable, and pleasinge. Who though he haue for mans sake, to him discouered some thinge, yet to let, or preuent, his prouident intention, was neuer to any Creature yet of any parte possible. By meanes whereof the wise, and sage in al Ages, haue loued and learned, to conceale, and couer their Secretes. Wée reade that Cato the Censour confest oftentimes to his Friendes, that he of thrée thinges right often, and greuously re∣pented him: The first, that he to any body had vnfolded his Counsels, or Secretes, but aboue al others especially vnto a Wooman: The seconde, that he had paste some iourneys by Sea, whiche he more safely might haue past with litle payne by the Lande: The third, that he idlely, and without fruite, had spente in his time any one daye. The twoo laste, merite well of all men to be noted, and the firste well aunsweareth to this our present purpose. Alexander on a time, receiuinge from his Mother cer∣taine letters of importance, whiche after he had perused secretely with Ephestion, closde vp his lippes, with his secrete Seale or Signet, geuinge openly thereby to all men to vnderstand, that he to whom a man in his Coun∣sels affieth him, shoulde euermore haue his mouthe well closde, and shutte vp. When the Kinge Lisimachus had offered vnto the Poëte Phillipides, what so should please him to aske or demaunde, he incontinently answeared: the greatest good turne that your grace can do mée, is not to communicate with me any parte of your Counsels. Antonius Sabellicus retcieth to the saide purpose, surely a notable and marueilous example. In the time of Pope Eugenius, saith he, the Senate of Venice had a Capitaine named Cremignoll, by whose Treason, and disloyalty, the Army of the Venitians was to their great harme dis∣comfited. By meanes whereof the Senatours driuen to further consultation, how & in what sorte they should deale with this Capitayne, some beinge of the opinion

presently to sende for him, to laye him in hold, and to d•…•… iustice on him: but others yet then were of opinion con∣trary. In fine therefore this was their conclusion, that presently, and for that time, they woulde dissemble the matter, as though they nothinge had felte of his barba∣rous treacherie, attendinge notwithstandinge somme fitter occasion then that, mindinge euermore to execute him, that so iustly had deserued it. This their determi∣nation was deferred for the space of eight Moneths, du∣ringe whiche time (so well could eche man conceale these affaires) yée though they were in number many, many also moste assured friendes of the saide Cremignoll, some poore, and of meane condition, whiche to haue aduertised him of these newes, mighte haue receiued large & ample rewardes. These thinges not lettinge, their passed de∣termination, was at the ende of these eight Moneths yet then close and Secrete, at whiche time it was decreed that he should come to Venice, where the Senate, with many woordes, & with faire countenances receiued him, whiche notwithstanding, the nexte morninge apprehen∣ded him, and did him forth with for his disloyaltie to die. This then might serue for example, vnto al Senatours, Iudges, Counsellers, and others of our time: to the end that they better kéepe and conceale their affayres, then others some that haue reuealed thinges to their greate hurte, shame, and detriment. To the confusion of which, I shall here remember a pleasant discourse, recited by Aulus Gellius, Noctibus Atticis, as also by Macrobius in his Saturnales, & hath this. The Romaine Senatours enteringe into their Senate at Rome, accustomed eche one to bringe with him his Sonne, and that as soone as he was ones able to go, and to the Children of the Nobi∣litie was graunted this Priuiledge, vntill they were fully seuentene yéeres olde: to the intente, that behol∣dyng the reuerent order of their Parentes, they in time to come afterwarde, aduaunsed to ripe Age, and fitte for

Gouernment, might the better be instructed in common and Publike affayres? So carefully besides were these Infantes instructed, that out of the Senate they neuer discouered, or disclosed any thinge. It happened on a daie, the Senate then sittinge on greate, and weighty matters, and besides their accustomed howre of depar∣ture, longer continuynge that their assemble, the deter∣mination notwithstanding reserued vntill the morrow, with straght inhibitiō, that in the meane time no worde were thereof in any respect spoken. But amonge other children then that day there present, there was one yong boye, the Sonne of Papyrius, of one of the most Honora∣blest families in Rome. This Childe at night beinge re∣turned home, his Mother first by intreatie, in flatteryng sorte desired him, to learne her, what matters were de∣bated that daie in the Senate, consideringe their longe abode, besides the woonted manner. To whom the boye answeared that he might not well disclose it, conside∣ringe it was prohibited, thereof to speake any thinge. Shée this mutche vnderstandinge (as is the common woonte, and vsage of Woomen) waxte then mutche more earnest thereof to féele some thinge, in sutche sorte, that neither, by faire woordes, nor flattery able to gette any thinge, woulde with threates, and roddes finally force him, to answeare her lesse honest, & hasty importunitie. Whose malice to auoide, this wise, and wilye Boye, ad∣uising him wel of this pretie guile, saide: that this defer∣rent was amongest them that daie carefully handled, whither as well for the state Publike, as also for the augmentation, and more spéedy increase of Mankinde, it mighte be more conducible to the whole Empire of Rome, that one Man shoulde haue twoo Wiues, or con∣trary that one Wooman, should be geuen to twoo Hus∣bandes, which bothe partes failed not, of most earnest, & assured Factours: who the nerte day (saithe he) will con∣clude on some final & resolute determination. The which

thinge, thus ones vnderstoode by the Moother, to whiche shée lightly added, bothe faithe and credite: moued there∣with, & something perplexed, aduertiseth other Ladies, & Dames of these newes: to the ende they might lette, and distourne that deuise, of geuing twoo woomen, as wiues to one man, furtheringe the other parte to the vttermost of their mighte, to enritche eche Dame with twoo Hus∣bandes at the least. On the morninge folowing a great number of the Romaine Matrones, were in flockes as∣sembled at the Gates of the Senate, effectuously, and in many woordes requitinge theire Lordes not to passe on any so vniuste a Decrée, as to geue to one man in Marri∣age twoo wiues, but rather to goe forewarde without staye to the contrary. The Senatours lesse wetinge to what pourpose this tended, amazed, in entrance, one af∣ter the other into the Senate, demaunded eche of other, whence mighte procéede this so rare, and shamelesse in∣ciuilitie, altogeather vnable, thereof to yéelde any cause, or reason. But in the ende, the yonge boye, the little Pa∣pyrius, did them out of payne, layinge before them, what had chaunced him the night passed with his Moother, and howe that for feare of her thunderinge threates, and greate woordes, was forced for his discharge, in this pre∣tie sorte to deceiue, and beguile her. The matter thus then vnderstoode by the whole House, they highly com∣mended the secrete constancie in the childe. Concluding notwithstandinge, that thencefoorthe no Father shoulde bringe with him his childe into that place, besides the younge Papyrius, whiche onely after entered, to the in∣tente * 1.1 that by these meanes, no secretes shoulde out of that House, or Place be reuealed. By the practise of this childe againe, maie the Elders of our Age, what to doo in their affayres, be very well aduertised: consideringe that if a Priuate Secrete be not to be disclosed, mutche lesse then a Common, and Publique Secrete, principal∣ly emonge the Aged, and men of assured Iudgemente.

M. Brutus, and Cassius, with the others all, their accom∣plices, whiche had conspired the deathe of Iulius Caesar, supposinge it for the state Publique, no lesse expediente, then it also was necessary, for the maintenaunce of their Libertie, hauing laide their plotte, and deuised the man∣ner howe to putte these thinges in perfecte execution, would notwithstandinge thereof imparte nothing with Cicero, one of their especial, and moste assured friendes, who also aboue others moste effectually desired the abo∣lition of that tyrannie, not for any diffidence, or mistrust they had in him, but for that he onely was reputed a sim∣ple, and badde Secretorie. A thinge assuredly woorthy of admyration, consideringe howe many they were, that conspired his Ruine, in howe priuie manner, and howe longe they concealed it, and that from theire approued, and beste beloued friende. Fuluius sommetime reuealed a greate Secrete to his wife, whiche, not longe before he had receiued of the Emperour Octauian: which after dis∣couered by his saide wife, notis therof came immediatly to the Prince, who, for his ouer mutch lightnesse, in ma∣ner most sharpe, rebuked him tauntingely. By meanes whereof, he entred into desperation, determining to doo presente force on him selfe: but firste charginge his wife with the greate wronge that shée hadde donne him: who saide, that he no reason, nor iuste cause had at all to grieue with her, consideringe the many dayes that they had lyued togeather: he yet had not felte her fickle com∣plexion, or otherwise knowing it, that so londely would abuse his owne knowledge therein, reposinge his trust, and affiance in her. Wherefore thoughe her Husbande were the cause of this errour, yet determined shée to suf∣fer the firste paine due therefore, and with the same laid violente handes on her selfe, after whose deathe, poore Fuluius did the same. It is readde in the Life of the Em∣perour Nero, that his deathe beinge conspired on a time * 1.2 in Rome (a thinge moste expediente, as well for the Ro∣maines,

as also for all others his rare cruelties conside∣red) hée, to whom it belonged by couenaunte, to doo the déede, mette by happe a certaine Prisoner, whiche by or∣dinaunce of the tyrannie, was then on passage, to place of Execution, and consideringe with him selfe, that the wicked, & peruerse nature of the Emperour was suche, that none, whome he apprehended at any time, escaped deathe, and therefore the Prisoner, whiche sorrowfully lamented, mighte no waye escape his bloudy, and mer∣cilesse hande, drewe somethinge nighe him (not remem∣bringe that his affayres demaunded secrete dealinge) Praye to God (saithe he) that it maie please him to pre∣serue thée vntil to morrowe, for if thou doo passe this day vnto an ende, I will assure thée, that Nero shall not doo thée to die. Whiche thinge vnderstoode by that misera∣ble Prisoner, who incontinently suspected that whiche in déede was, séeking the only meanes to saue his owne life, declared the matter foorthewith to the Emperoure, aduisinge him to take good héede to him selfe. By occa∣sion whereof, Nero immediately apprehended him, that had comforted him in sutche sorte, the aboue remembred Prisoner, and by chaunge of tormentes, forced him to confesse the Coniuration. By reason whereof, him selfe was cruelly executed, theire Determination made frustrate, and voide. Pline recoumpteth the plaine con∣trarye of Anaxarchus, who beinge apprehended for the * 1.3 semblable matter, curragiously bitte of his tongue, with countenaunce vnappalled, to the intente that he neuer would disclose therewith any Secrete, spittinge it man∣fully into the face of the Tyrante. The Athenians curi∣ously framed a certaine Image of Iette, in the honour of a common wooman, who hight Lyonna, in memory of her excellente constancie, for that shée so wel, and so secretly * 1.4 had kepte, bothe silence, and consell in a certaine conspi∣racie: whiche Image was framed without any tongue, the better to geue foorthe the force of a Secrete. In like

manner the Vassaules, or Seruauntes of Plancus, are in * 1.5 this place for iuste cause to be remembred, for that no tormentes sufficed to make them confesse any thinge of theire Maister to the enimies, whiche soughte him, and woulde haue slayne him, where so euer they mighte haue founde him. The Page of Cato, that famous Oratoure, * 1.6 priuie of a faulte committed by his Maister, was tor∣mented in Racke, to confesse thereof sommethinge, and yet for what so euer might be done to him in the world, neuer woulde he be broughte to witnesse againste him any thinge. Q. Curtius remembreth, that the Persians * 1.7 had a Lawe, more straightly to pounishe, then for any o∣ther faulte, these that vnaduisedly reuealed any Secret. For confirmation whereof, he saithe, that the Kinge Da∣rius, vanquished by Alexander, not knowinge howe to escape, hidde him selfe: but no paine, or pounishment on the one side, or hope of rewarde on the other, might moue them, that knewe where he was, any thinge to speake of him. And againe he remēbreth, that the Persians main∣taine for an opinion, that no man should, in the man lesse close and secrete, affye him selfe, in cases of charge, and importance. To be a good Secretorie then, is in all thinges necessarye, especially in Warre, that whiche all aunciente Captaines in the Age paste, well obserued. Philippe the sonne of Antigonus, Successour to Alexan∣der, demaunded of his Father in presence of certaine o∣thers, when, & at what houre the Campe should marche. To whom the Kinge in highe disdeigne answeared: Arte thou so deafe, that thou fearest, thou shalte not heare the Trumpet, as wel as others. Letting him thence plainly to vnderstande, that by that his Demaunde, he had com∣mitted an erroure, whiche merited no answeare in the presence of others. There was a Tribune in y^e Hoast of Cecilius Metellus, a Captaine Romaine, which asked his * 1.8 Determination, vpon certaine pointes in their warres. To whome he answeared: If I wiste that my Shurte

knewe, whereon I haue resolued, I woulde foorthwith and out of hande burne it. Horace, in his Lawes of Feastinge, commaundeth that eche man kéepe well to him selfe, what so euer shall there be saide, or spoken. By meanes whereof, the Athenians had emonge them sutche an vsage, that when so euer they mette togeather at any Feaste, the moste aunciente, should shewe to the others, the Gate, whereat they entered, sayinge: aduise yée well, that no one woorde hence passe, that at this pre∣sente shall emonge vs be spoken. The firste thinge that Pythagoras learned his Schollers, was to holde theire peace, and carefully to kéepe silence, so that he euer kept them a certaine time without speakinge, to the intents they mighte be learned well to kéepe a Secrete, and ne∣uer to speake, but when time requires. Which sufficeth to learne vs, that to conceale a Secrete, is of all others a moste principall, and rare Vertue. For proufe hereof, when Aristotle was sommetimes demaunded, whiche was the moste difficill, and hardest thinge in the world, he answeared, that it was to holde our peace, and talke not. S. Ambrose also to this purpose in his Offices, lay∣eth emonge the principal foundations of Vertue, the pa∣tience that man shoulde vse in silence. The Romaines emonge other the vanities of their Goddes, had a God∣desse * 1.9 of Silence, whiche had to name, Angeronna, which they painted euermore in token of silence, with finger continually preste on her mouthe. Pline also writeth, that on the xxii. of December they Sacrificed still vnto her. Which also witnesse M. Varro, Solinus, and Macro∣bius. A God of Silence was in manner semblable ho∣noured of the Aegyptians, whiche, they, as the others, with finger in mouthe purtrayed. In like sorte hath Ca∣tullus, and Ouid described this Idolle. And hence is well knowen, howe thei reuerenced a good Secretorie, in that they adored these Idolles as Goddes. Salomon in his Prouerbes saith, That a Kinge should drinke no Wine,

for other reason none, saue that, who dronke is, can in no wise kéepe, or Silence, or Counsell: and supposeth him further moste vnwoorthye to Raigne, that cannot well couer his Secretes of importance. And againe he saith, That who so discloseth a Secrete committed to him, is a plaine, and open Traytour: and who so well kéepeth it, is a loyall, and faithfull Friende.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Papyrius.
• * 1.2

  Nero.
• * 1.3

  Lib. 7. Cap. 23.
• * 1.4

  Lyonna.
• * 1.5

  Plancus Val. li. 6. Cap. 8.
• * 1.6

  Cato.
• * 1.7

  Q. Curtius.
• * 1.8

  C. Metellus,
• * 1.9

  Pline, Lib. 3. Cap. 5.