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

APHORISME XV.

IN 1 1.1 the Tribunall, where mens actions are brought to triall, the eare is but a promoter, the eye is both witnesse and iudge. For, if what we onely heare by report do enforme vs, and not what we see in effect and by proofe, there must needes be error in that iudgement: 2 1.3 Because morall honesty like Christian piety, consists not in verball profession and protestation, but in actuall practise, voide of all corruption, and spotlesse. Hee therefore that will not be deceiued by State-hypocrites, who make honesty and religion the cloake of their ambition, must not listen after their words, but looke into their actions: least his eares that tickle with such pleasing report, do af∣terwards tingle with the smart of the blow.

The French and Spanish Kings, bearing the faire titles of most Christian and Catholick, chalenging to be the first sonnes of the Church, and her chiefe champions, hauing now their ambitious thoughts wheeling about the Sphaere of Christendome, do at last con-center in this one point; to take Naples from Frederick the pre∣sent King, and share it betweene them. The bargaine is already made: the writings drawne: the couenants endorsed: nothing wants but the sealing thereof, which of necessity must be with the bloud of many innocent Christians imployed in that warre. To which end the Spanish forces are ready in Sicilia, and the French troopes are aduanced as farre as Rome. Till now, they had made a glorious protestation, that this army was prepared against the Turk, but here they plainely discouer themselues: their Embassadors come into the Consistory: intimate to the Pope and Cardinalles the league and partage made betweene their masters: and demande their inuestiture in that kingdome, according to the Tenor of their couenants: that they may for∣sooth (this being done) bend both their forces vpon the com∣mon enemy of Christian religion: A thing neuer by them inten∣ded. And againe, Ferdinand King of Spaine, shadowes his treache∣ry towards his kinsman Frederick, and his copartcinery with Lewes 12. vnder colour of necessity: pretending great danger if he did either defend or abandon him. For, to defend him, were to kindle such a fire of warre, as would put all Christendome in cōbustion, and open a way to the Turk, whose preparations were then very great both by sea and by land: and to abandon him, were to put the kingdome of Sicilia into manifest hazard, lying

so neare; and to preiudice his owne right to Naples, in case the line masculine of Frederick failed. And therefore he had taken the middle way, in hope ere long (through the misgouernement of the French) to get the other moiety also: and then he prote∣sted so to dispose of the whole, as should be best for the publick good of Christendome.

Notes

• 1 1.1

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. i. Aures magis incredulae, quàm oculi.

  De fide cuiusque, magis oculis quàm auribus credendum.

  Plus valet oculatus testis quàm auriti decem.

  Segniùs irritant animos demissa per aurem

  Quàm quae sunt oculis subiecta fidelibus, & quae

  Ipse sibi tradit spectator.
• * 1.2

  Herod. Clio. Ruffin. Adag. Hor. de art. poet.
• 2 1.3

  Christianorum omnium Religio est, sine scelere, sine macula viuere.

  Optimus animus, pulcherrimus Dei cultus est.

  Troianus equus ideo fefellit, quia Mineruam mentitus est.

  In verbis ne nimiùm mihi pruri, ad facta abi.
• * 1.4

  Lactant. Seneca. Incer. Aut. Lip. pol. l. 1.