Aphorismes ciuill and militarie amplified with authorities, and exemplified with historie, out of the first quarterne of Fr. Guicciardine.

APHORISME XXX.

WHere 1 1.1 the Embassadour hath Charge without limi∣tation, he may negotiate in the businesse according to discretion, and as he sees occurrence of circum∣stances and occasions offered. 2 1.4 But when it is in prescript and expresse tearmes limited, he must

imitate the Camel, who neuer will carrie any more weight then what at first was laid vpon him; nor go one foote beyond his ordinarie iourney: No more must the Embassadour exceed one iot of his commission, but tie himselfe to the strict words of his instructions.

The Florentines send their Embassadour to Caesar: they finde him at Genoa: they refuse to referre the cause of Pisa to his arbi∣tration, vnlesse they be first possessed of the towne: this done, they offer willingly to declare and iustifie their right before his Maiestie. He giues them no answer, till he came to Molo: here, he sends them backe to the Popes Legat at Genoa, to whom he referred them for knowing his pleasure. The Legat putteth them ouer to the Duke of Millan: hither they come: they require audience. Solemne preparation is made for the hearing. The Embassadours for the confederates, and all the Dukes Councel, are assembled, out of a pride he had to shew his eloquence, and pleasure he tooke in the aduersitie of others. In this very instant the Florentine Embassadours receiue direction from their State to returne without sceking any further answer. They come into the Assembly: tell the Duke they haue no other commission, but to visit him as a friend to their State, do him honor, and take their leaue. The Duke frustrate of his expectation, demands what

answer they had from Caesar: They replie, that by the lawes of their common-wealth, they might not communicate their busi∣nesse, but with those Princes onely, to whom they were addres∣sed. If we (quoth the Duke) shall giue you your answer, for which you know that Caesar hath sent you vnto vs, will you not heare it? We are not forbidden to heare it (say they) nor can we forbid your Highnesse to speake. We are content to giue it you (replies the Duke) but you must first deliuer as much to vs, as you did to Caesar. That we cannot (say they) for the causes before al∣ledged, and besides it is superfluous: for if Caesar haue giuen you commission to dispatch vs, he hath also giuen you aduertisement of our propositions. The Duke in a rage breaketh vp the as∣semblie: dismisseth them, with charge to depart presently his countrie: and so receiues part of the scorne, which he had thought to haue put vpon others.

Notes

• 1 1.1

  Tiberio mandaua Druso suo figliuolo, co' Principali della Città, & con due companie de' soldati della sua Guardia, alle Legioni abbotinati in Germania: Il che fece, senza dargli commessione limitata: Ma con ordine, di prendere sul fatto, quel partito che gli paresse megliore.

  Sunt mandata quaedam 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, & Legati quibus dantur tam libera man∣data dicuntur 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: quor um mandatis continetur nihil aliud, quàm vt Le∣gatus vti facto opus crit, ita agat.
• * 1.2

  Am. in Tac. an. 2.
• * 1.3

  Pasch. Leg.
• 2 1.4

  Sua cuique mensura sicuti vires: nec vltra assuetum procedit spacium, nec plus instituto oner e recipit.

  Legati munus est, omnia ad praescriptum imperium{que} Consulis agere.

  Quod militi arma & gubernatori clauus, hoc sunt Legato mandata. Manda∣tum est anima Legationis.

  Legatus aut Praeco, si denunciando aut renunciando falsam legationem obierit: impie se gesserit, & contra hunc actiones instituantur.

  Mitis Legatio, ni praeferoces Legatos, Gallis{que} magis quàm Romanis, similes habuisset.
• * 1.5

  Plin. l. 8. c. 18
• * 1.6

  Alex. de Ale. Pasch. Leg.
• * 1.7

  Plat rep. l. 4
• * 1.8

  Liui. l. 5.