Historie & policie re-viewed, in the heroick transactions of His Most Serene Highnesse, Oliver, late Lord Protector; from his cradle, to his tomb: declaring his steps to princely perfection; as they are drawn in lively parallels to the ascents of the great patriarch Moses, in thirty degrees, to the height of honour. / By H.D. Esq.

The eighteenth Ascent. (Book 18)

MOses was not only an accomplisht Prince, in all kinds of Pity and Piety, to∣wards the persons of his People: but he did extend it likewise, towards their very Purses: restraining frequently, their abun∣dancies of love, in all their contributions,* 1.1 and very liberalities, not onely towards himself, but to God. In short, he kept not the course of common Policy, which renders Princes lit∣tle better than Publicans; he exacted no∣thing, but love from his subjects, nor imposed any thing upon them, but their own happi∣nesse.

The Parallel.

We have seen at large, in our last Ascent, as well by the practise of our two Mosaical Masters, as divers other elucent arguments, that singular Axiom made good, which tells us, That dinturni magister officii metus esse

nequit, Fear alone, can never contain men in a lasting duty: for otherwise the Devils policy would have more influence upon the hearts of men, than that of God himself. It is the part of every petit Minister of Justice, to use cruel∣ty and severity, but the practise of pity and clemency, (though it becomes all men) does most properly belong to Kings, and Supreme Magistrates. Regia crede mihi res est succur∣rere Lapsis, Non alia major quaeritur arte Fa∣vor, Pity, and Clemency, are Princes privi∣ledges, and parts of their prerogative; Ju∣stice it self, can be but their duty, at most, but the onely art of Government consists in the excellent mixture before spoken of, in our last Ascent: And therefore Alexander, being askt who was the greatest Prince upon earth? answered, Qui amicos donis retinet, & inimicos beneficiis amicos facit: He that holds his friends fast by curtesies, and converts enemies into friends, by benefits: So dealt Augustus with Cinna, and made of a Traytor, a true Friend: And this has alwayes been the wisest Kings Royal high-way; as most particularly, of our late great Prince, and Protector, of whose most obliging wayes of Government, we have been all made so sensible, that we may cry out,* 1.2 as holy Bernard did upon the like occa∣sion. O suaves nexus, queis, animi, obsequiis quasi compedibus illigantur, & tanquam benefi∣ciorum cumulis insepeliuntur: O sweetest tyes of obligations, with which souls are fast bound as with fetters, and as it were, buried in

heapes of benefits. His late most Serene High∣nesse, like that his most exemplary Master, the former Moses, full well considered all this, and collected, that if this were the true way to glory, for all great Ones to go in, to oblige subjects by beneficence, as we have hitherto seen it is; how ignominious and ugly a thing it must needs be, in those, that go about to pil∣lage, spoile, and prey, upon their people, with unjust Taxes, and impositions, as some ill tu∣tored Tyrants have done, who have been, it may be, contented to spare, nay, to com∣plement the persons of their people, whilst they have most theevishly pickt and opprest their purses, serving them, as Prospero Colunna did his Goose, who was still plucking the old feathers, that the new ones, as he said, might grow the better; and so continue to milke their people, till they draw blood from their very hearts; for they have pretty tricks, as they say, when the Cow slacks, to presse her nipples too. And however this was said to be the practise of a very great Politician, late in France, I must be bold, (according to our Mosaical Rule) to passe my censure on, and condemn it, as utterly unchristian, and a very unprofitable policy. Notwithstanding, as I have heard, he was used to boast. That La France est un beau Pre, qu' on tondoit trois fois la'nnee; France was a very fair Meadow, and fit to be mow'd at least thrice a year. He al∣wayes laught at that pious Principle, which called the peoples hearts, the Kings best

Exchecquer; but reflected oftener on that Maxim, Populus aut humiliter servit, aut super∣bè dominatur, The common people either must serve slavishly, or will rule insolently; and that they were like fire and water, Good Ser∣vants, but the worst Masters; therefore he would take a course to keep them under, by perpetual impositions, and a pitiful poverty, and so, upon the matter, made them worse than Asses, to become meer Dromedaries, who not onely submit to bear their heavy burdens, but humbly kneel down, to receive them: yet, by his good leave, he might have reflected something upon what that grave, learned,* 1.3 and eminent Statesman, Boetius told his Gothick King Theodorick, that the com∣mon people, did participate much of the na∣ture of the herb called Basil, which rendreth a good pleasant and wholesome savour, as Na∣turalists informe us, if gently handled, but turns to be poisonous and creates Scorpions themselves when rudely chafed.

* 1.4Alexander, I am sure, was commended by Quintus Curtius, and all Wise men, that have written of him, for making his subjects the keepers of his Treasure. Then Sextus Au∣relius Victor,* 1.5 tells us, that Fiscus est Reipub. lien, quo crescente artus reliqui tabescunt; The Fisk or Exchecquer is the spleen of the Com∣mon-wealth, the over-encrease, or swelling of which, makes all the other members to con∣sume;* 1.6 and Claudian gives the Emperour Ho∣norius this great Elogy, Nec tua privatis cres∣cunt

aeraria damnis, That his coffers did ne∣ver encrease, by any private mans losses.

Basilius often advised his officers,* 1.7 that the money, which they were to raise for him, should not be at any time dipped either in the teares, or blood of his subjects:* 1.8 and Cicero in his Offices, wisely premonisheth all States∣men in those occasions, Ʋt omnes intelligant, si salvi esse velint, necessitati esse parendum: That the peoples private purses, were but so to be opened, as to keep them shut, and safe from those enemies, that might otherwise-seize upon, and consume all.

I might be infinite, to summe up all that has been said, by the gravest and most judici∣ous men of the whole World, upon this point, and to oppose them against that French Politi∣cian, but I am obliged not to digresse too far from our Parallel, whose Mosaical example onely, were enough to confute so heretical a piece of policy. He sufficiently knew all that stuff, to be but a clear chip of the old block of Machiavel, and certainly in his own pious opinion, did very much blame, and would as willingly have redrest, if he could, those grie∣vances of our neighbour-nation, as he did our own; and certainly those counsels are as un∣likely to prove successeful to France, as they have done to other Princes, and Provinces, where they have been practised. I am sure, that Kingdom has smarted for them, pretty well already, and they are in a fair way to be causes of greater confusions.

His Mosaical Highnesse, in the mean time, was contented to follow his old Master Moses, rather than Mr. Machiavel, and frequently has been heard to honour the judgement of that most excellent Person, and pious Politician, Boetius,* 1.9 before spoken of, who was used very often, to inculcate to his King Theodorick, bet∣ter Principles; and once in a most elegant Oration, after this manner, That Kings were but Gods Shepherds, and so permitted to sheare their Flocks; not to stay them. That a body over-charged, could not but sinke to the ground, and that there was no Tribute comparable to the precious commodities, derived from the love of sub∣jects. That a King was made to reign over men, not as a man, but as the Law; to bear his sub∣jects in his bosome, and not to trample them under his feet; to teach by his example, and not con∣strain by force; to be a father of Citizens, and not a master of Slaves: That Kings were given by Heaven, for the use, and benefit of the people, and that they ought not to have so much regard to the extent of their power, as not to consider the stint, and measure of their own obligations; and to handle the matter so on all occasions, that the greatnesse of their Majesty, should appear in its goodnesse onely; and then concludes his sanctified counsels, with a most pious and politick Maxim, That a good Prince, ought to fear nothing so much, as to be too much feared. And all this, I am sure, was the Mosaical policy of his late High∣nesse, who never imposed Taxes upon, or drew blood from his people, but when driven

by the greatest necessities in the world, after the pattern of his Great Prototype, our tran∣scending Patriarch; and that truly, I should humbly conceive to be enough (without re∣spect to the precepts or practises of any other, though the godliest, gravest, and wisest, per∣sons, in all Ages, as we have seen) to con∣vince, any phanatical Florentine, or French Politician whatsoever, under whose depraved Policies, we find all Cities, and Countries, that are subjected to them, still pitifully com∣plaining, the rigourous concussions, that they yet feel, to satisfie with their sweat and blood, the avarice of some curst particular Officers, who are notwithstanding as greedy as fire, and more insatiable than the Abyss, or Hell it self.

But I shall forbear at present, to prosecute this dispute any further; for I conceive by what is already said, there is no sober Chri∣stian, but will conceive, that Cyclopaean piece of policy, is so far from being Mosaical, pro∣fitable to, or becoming the dignity of, a Chri∣stian Prince, that it must be absolutely con∣trary, and destructive, both to Prince and people; nay, fitter to be stiled Barbarisme, than a Civil Government. So I hope, we may now securely proceed, to the conclusion of our precious, and happy Parallel. And as for this great point of Piety, in not pressing upon the peoples purses, or squeezing their estates, so remarkable in our former Moses, there is no man sure, so perverse, as to deny

our second, to be his perfect Parallel; for though, Bella sustent antur pecuniarum abundan∣tiâ, as Dionysius Halicarnassaeus tells us, The support of all Wars,* 1.10 is from a great treasure, and plenty of money; and what Tacitus ob∣serves, is most certain, that Dissolvitur impe∣rium, si fructus quibus Res-Pub. sustinetur, dimi∣nuantur, There is no State or Kingdom can continue long, without a certain, and a large revenue; yet his late Mosaical Highnesse, has been ever so tender of intrenching upon the particular purses of his people, to supply those publick occasions of State, that he has been almost guilty of transgressing in the other ex∣treme, by permitting the General good to be neglected, at least, to suffer some prejudice for want of it. Much lesse sure, can any such thing as unjust coveting, or craving of other mens estates for himself, be objected to him, which most of his malitious adversaries, before mentioned, have been guilty of, in the highest degree. Their fingers were like Talons, and Claws of Harpies, to scratch and scrape what they could for themselves: His hand and heart were alwayes open to do good to o∣thers, as appeared by his manifold charities, in the relief of the poor, especially such as were made so by the sad distresse of War; and I dare say, his expense that way, has been far greater, than all the sharers of the Church and Kingdoms spoiles put together, have dis∣burst.

There was a notable Inscription upon one

Gillias, as Valerius Maximus tells us.* 1.11 Quod Gillias possidebat, omnium quasi commune patri∣monium erat, hic ipsius liberalitatis praecordioe habuit, & domus ejus quasi quaedam munificentiae officina fuit: What Gillias had, was the posses∣sion of all mankind; this man had his heart, and entrails, composed even of charity it self, his house was a shop of bounty; and all this sure, was never more applicable to any per∣son, than to his late Mosaical Highnesse, whose hands were kist by millions, when he was alive, in acknowledgement that they were the gra∣cious distributors of so many blessings, and his grave, now he is dead, will be sprinkled with as many flowers, in gratitude for the preser∣vation of so many lives. His bounty, I say, was a most eminent vertue in him, ever hold∣ing with Cassiodorus,* 1.12 that Periculosissima res est in imperante tenuitas, That narrownesse of soul, and griping hands, were the most peril∣lous qualities that could appear in a Prince; and with the same excellent Writer conclu∣ded likewise, that Regnantis facultas fit ditior, cum remittit, & acquirit nobiles thesauros famae, neglecta utilitate pecuniae, A Kings Treasure is encreased by giving, and forgiving, and the lesse money he plucks into his Exchecquer, the more glory he carries about his Court.

Did his most Serene Highnesse ever draw any thing from private men, but in order to their own preservation? He never desired, or studied, any thing more, than that we should be safe, nor never sought ours, but us.

He never accounted himself rich, but when his people were so, making their hearts, as that great Alexander did, his best Exchec∣quer.

In fine, what was once said of Hadrianus Caesar, must be acknowledged to be his High∣nesse his most especial Character, Sic suum semper gessit Principatum, ut res sit Populi tota, non sua, Whatsoever he has done in his Go∣vernment, has been more for our advantage, than his own; he has not onely forborne to burden us himself, but has most mercifully re∣leased us, from many of the heavy Taxes, that were imposed upon us, by our terrible Task∣masters of the long Parliament, and like a true Soul of Honour, never sought for any other recompense of his great Actions, than the glory of doing well, and the private satis∣faction of his own conscience. Thus are hearts gained here, and Crowns of immorta∣lity hereafter. Thus truly is Heaven it self obliged, and Earth made tributary to vertue: for by that means, he has rendred himself to be truly that, which was said of Octavianus Caesar, Deliciae humani generis, The love and delight of all mankind, which cannot but more and more appear to us, as we proceed to mount higher upon our Mosaical Ascents and Parallels.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Exod. 36.6.

  Levit. 25.35, 36.
• * 1.2

  Bernard.
• * 1.3

  Boetius.
• * 1.4

  Quint. Curt.
• * 1.5

  Sext. Aurel Vict.
• * 1.6

  Claud.
• * 1.7

  Basilius.
• * 1.8

  Cic. l. 2. de Offi.
• * 1.9

  Boetius.
• * 1.10

  Dion. Ha∣••icar. lib. 6. Tacit. An∣nal. 13.
• * 1.11

  Val. Max. l. 4. c. 8.
• * 1.12

  Cassiod. l. 1. Ep. 19. Idem. l. 1. Ep. 16.