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Gracia de les gentes.
The love of the people.
IT is but a small con∣quest to gain the ūder∣standing, if the will be not won, and tis a great matter to make a joint conquest of admiration with affection. Many maintain their cre∣dits by plausible actions, but they get not benevo∣lence.
He must be born under a favorable constellation, that obtains so universal a grace, but the best part proceeds from our own
diligence; Others hold a contrary discourse when applause doe's not corres∣pond to an equality of me∣rits. That which in one mans nature drawes affe∣ction like the adamant, a∣nother hath it by a conspi∣racie or secretnes of pra∣ctice? I shall alwayes yeeld the superiority to that fa∣cultie that's artificiall.
An Eminencie of per∣fections serves not to get the peoples affection, (al∣though it be enough) Affe∣ctions are easily gotten where the understanding is suborned, because affe∣ction follows good opi∣nion.
The Duke of Guise, that was as famous in misfor∣tune as he was rich in the endowments of nature, did very happily practise the way of gaining com∣mon favour. He grew in greatnes by the favour of one King, and grew grea∣ter by the emulation of an other, I mean the third of the French Henries; A name fatall to Princes in every Monarchy: For in so great a subject the name deciphers Oracles.
The King one day askt some Lords that were a∣bout him, what it was that Guise did to make himself so powerfull to bewitch
the people: An ingenuous Courtier, and the chief of those that were present, answered him, Sir by dea∣ling curtesies with both hands: Those whom the influences of his curtesies, reach not in a direct line, they have it by reflexion, and where his power ex∣tends not into action, there he charms with good words; If they invite him to a wedding, he fails not to be there; If to be a god∣father, he never refuses; If to an enterrment, he honors it with his pre∣sence; He is Human, cour∣teous, liberall, endears all the world to him, and
speaks il of none; In con∣clusion, He is the king in their affections, as your Majestie is in effect.
A happy grace, if it had been in relation to his Prince, and without which it was of no essence: what∣soever the opinion of Ba∣jazet were: yet wee find that applause given to the minister cannot but en∣jealouse the Soveraign. And to say truth, the Grace of God, and of the king, and of the people, are 3 graces of more beau∣ty than those other 3 that were feigned by antiquity. They hold hand in hand, and are so streightly enter∣laced
that if any of them fayl; let it be able to shew a good cause.
The most powerfull Charm to make ones self beloved, is to love, the vul∣gar are as violently car∣ried away in their affecti∣ons as they are furious in their persecutions. The first thing that gets their love after a good opinion is cur∣tesie and generousnes, by means whereof th'Empe∣ror Titus was called the delight of mankind.
The favorable word of a superior is as good as an obliging action from an equal, and a curtesie from a Prince, exceeds a rich
present from the hands of a Citizen.
By forgeting Majestie but a while the Magnani∣mous Don Annoso, lighting from his horse to relieve a country fellow that was in some danger, conquer'd the fortified walls of Ga∣〈…〉〈…〉, which the battry of his Guns could not have done in many dayes. He made his first entry at their hearts, and presently after, entred in triumph into their citty.
Some over-curious Cri∣ticks could find nothing so eminent among the merits of the great Cap∣tain that Giant of Heroes
as the love of the people.
And I am of the same opinion, that in a plurali∣of perfections, where each deserves a plausible re∣nown, this was the happi∣est.
There is also the fa∣vour of Historians to be had in ambition as much as Immortality; because their pennes are the wings of renown: They set not out so much the favours of Nature, as of the Soul: That Phaenix Corvino, the glory of Hungarie, was us'd to say, and practise it much better, That the greatness of an Heroe con∣sisted in two things, by
Charles 9th Henry 3.
Delicias humani ge∣neris.
King of Naples.
Fernando Gonsales.