Of wisdome three bookes written in French by Peter Charro[n] Doctr of Lawe in Paris. Translated by Samson Lennard

CHAP. XVIII. The dutie of the great and small.

THe dutie of the great consisteth in two things, in inde∣uouring by all meanes, to spend their bloud and abilitie for the defence and conseruation of pietie, iustice, of the Prince, of the state, and generally for the welfare and good of the common-wealth; of which they ought to be the pillers & supporters; and after in defending and protecting the poore afflicted and oppressed, resisting the violence of the wicked: and like good bloud, to runne to the wounded part, accor∣ding to the prouerbe; That good bloud, that is to say, noble and generous, can not lie, that is to say, deceiue where is need. By this meanes Moyses became the head of the Iewish nati∣on, vndertaking the defence of men iniured and vniustly * 1.1 troad vnder foot. Hercules was deified for deliuering the op∣pressed from the hands of tyrants. Those that haue done the like, haue beene called Heroes and demi-gods, and to the like, all honours haue beene anciently ordeined, that is, to

such as deserued well of the common-wealth, and were the deliuerers of the oppressed. It is no greatnesse for a man to make himselfe to be feared, (except it be of his enemies) and to terrifie the world, as some haue done, which also haue pro∣cured them hate. Oderint dum metuant. It is better to be belo∣ued than adored. This commeth of a naturall pride, and in∣humanitie, to contemne and disdaine other men as the ordure and excrements of the world, and as if they were not men; and from thence they grow cruell, and abuse both the bodies and goods of the weake, a thing wholly contrarie to true greatnesse and honour, who ought to vndertake the defence thereof.

The dutie of inferiors towards their superiors, consisteth in two points, in honoring and reuerencing them, not onely ceremoniously and in outward shew, which he must doe as well to the good as the euill, but with loue and affection, if they deserue it, and are louers of the common-wealth. These are two things, to honour, and to esteeme, which are due to the good and truely great: to others to bend the knee, to bowe the body, not the heart, which is to esteeme and loue. Moreouer to please them by humble and seruiceable duties, and to insinuate into their fauour.

Principibus placuisse viris non vltima laus est.

And to make himselfe capable of their protection, which if he cannot procure them to be his friends, yet at the least not to make them his enemies, which must be done with measure and discretion. For ouer-greedilie to auoid their indignation, or to seeke their grace and fauour, besides that it is a testimo∣nie of weaknesse, it is silentlie to condemne them of iniustice and crueltie; Non ex professo cauere aut fugere: nam quem quis fugit, damnat; Or to stirre vp in them a desire to execute their furie, seeing so base and fearefull a submission.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Exod. 2.