Chap. 3. Of Princes.

*PLutrach of the institutions of Princes, citeth the aucthori∣tie of Plato, which saith thus: when Potentates oppresse their subiects, it is like as if the head of a body should swell to sutch hugines, that the other parts were able scarcely, or not at all, to beare it, but with great paine. Likewise when the hier powers do hate and persecute the subiectes, it is lyke as if the tutor should pursue his pupil to slay him with the sword which he gaue him to defend him against others.* Hel•nan∣dus in his booke of the institution of Princes saith, y^t a Prince should do as the Phisition doth, which neuer geueth extreme medicines, but when he séeth that gentle pocions will neuer recouer the Pacients health. Vnto which purpose said Lucius very well,* that it behoued a Prince to be an old man in man∣ners, & to follow ripe and wise counsell, and to imitate the or∣der of good Phisitions, which sumtime cure by filllnge that which is emptie in spare bodies, & sumtime by emptyinge y^t which aboundeth to much in full bodies, aswaging the greife many times with hot burning irons, & often with fomentaci∣ons, and sumtime otherwise, vnto which intent hee setteth downe these verses:

*Aristotle in the third of the Politickes writeth thus: whoso would haue wit and vnderstanding to gouerne (saith he) it se∣meth he would haue God and the lawes to gouerne: but who∣so will haue a man of himself without these to gouerne, put∣teth Page  [unnumbered] a very sauedge beast in aucthoritie. For when rage and lust beare sway, then good men go to wrack, so that vnder∣standing without affection is as good as a written law. Likewise Vegetius in his first booke and first chapter of the art of war, it is decent for a Prince (saith he) y^t no man know mo things nor better things then he, for his knowledge may pro∣fit all his subiectes, and for that cause Princes ought to ap∣plie themselues to the study of wisdome.