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The importance of their Company, for the education of Princes, and a rule proposed for Counsellors, and companious to both ru∣ling, and young Princes.
UPon this information, let the Familiars and Coun∣sellors of Princes understand, they have a very pre∣cise charge of integrity upon them in their morall conversation, as well as in their politicke comportments; for indeed, their vocations in many respects are rather sacred fun∣ctions,
then simply civil conditions, in regard they are imployed in the ministeries of the most speciall images of God on earth; in which respect, the scandall of their lives is not only propha∣nesse, but a kinde of s••c••iledge, as it endangers the viola∣ting of the most sacred part of a Princes Character, which is the divinenesse of his life and Government.
The life of King Joas is an unhappy precedent in this case, who while he had Joh〈…〉〈…〉a in his eye, was himselfe a singular patern of piety to the people, and eminent for the reparation of the Temple; but after the change of such a companion, when the Princes of Juda came, and adored the King; he being * 1.1 moved by their insinuations, concurr'd with them quickly in leaving the Temple he had so much merit in, and followed them into the groves, to secke out, and set up new Idols. This was the sad effect of infectious familiars, therefore such as are neer in office, or privacy to the persons of young Princes, have a most strict: obligation to be virtuous, and exemplary in their lives and conversations, for humane Nature, like Jacobs sheepe, in the a••dor and ••eat of youth; is very apt to conceive, with some tincture of the colours it sees in those waters whereof it drinks in that season; & the conversations of our familiars, are the waters where with our imaginative faculty is nourished, and so Princes had need to have them kept very cleere and serene; for according to the colours they looke upon in them, their conceptions likely prove, whereby the issues of their mindes become sported, and staind according to such images as are represented to their imaginations in the pregnancy of their youth.
In this regard, they (who have choice of those, to whom they will commit such trusts, as the company and famili∣arity of young Princes) should no•• be lesse••••act, then when their Pictures are to be taken; for which alwayes, such who are the best reputed, are preferr'd: for indeed, their famili∣ars doe this intellectuall office to their mindes, though this spirituall worke is done by acuite contrary manner, to that of the images of their persons; for the familiar companions of
Princes may be said to worke upon the image of their mindes, by sitting to them, that is, by exposing their owne figure to the young fancy, they draw the other to that resemblance; such is the active virtue of example upon the tender age of educa∣tion.
Surely those then who are trusted with this office, of be∣ing a familiar object to young Princes, (which is a nobler place then they can conceive by any name it hath at Court) should set their dispositions in a virtuous posture, knowing they are working upon Gods most speciall image, and that they are to be accountable for what dis-figurements in that forme their workes shall occasion: So that taking Courtiers under this notion, one may advice them a good use of flattery; which is, to flatter the figure of their own humours, and inclinations, to make them as good, and gracious an object as they can, though they be not so like their nature; to the end the exterior representation, which workes upon Princes, may be proper for imitation; this favouring their minds, in the colouring of ver∣tue, is more conscientious then the exposing the naturall ill complexion of them, before young Princes; for when the ex∣emplary part, (which only workes upon their minds) is faire, and vertuous; the un-sincerenesse of it for the present, can have no ill operation on them, because those eyes do not penetrate farther then the superficies of goodnesse; and so peradventure the very flatterd pictures of vertue may work such an impressi∣on upon Princes in their youth, as they may derive the love of truth, even from the face of dissimulation. For as a beautifull Curtizan may be a fit object for a Painter, whereby to make a good image of a Saint by, seeing he takes only the lovely spe∣cies for his pattern; so, even the faire glosse of a counterfeit ver∣tue, may be a convenient object for youth, which commonly only copies the aspect, and countenance of such exposures.
Upon all these considerations methinks this may be a religi∣ous rule for both sorts of great Courtiers: viz. That Counsel∣lors should advise Kings, as if they thought them invested with the Prerogative of their originall, to wit, of the knowledge of
hearts, and companions should live with young Princes, as if they thought they could not discover their hearts, but by their lives before them. This rule will produce sincerity in the for∣mer, and exemplarity in the latter, which are the two things whereby Kings who are in age of Government, and Princes who are in years of Discipline, are the most advantaged; and so may be said to be these, the mediate conveyances, by which God gives judgement to the King, and righteousnesse to the Kings * 1.2 sonne.
To conclude, let Princes and Courtiers of all degrees consi∣der themselves as ministers of the King in the Gospel, who is gone into a farre countrey, and as being all to account by the severall proportions of their talents, wherewith they are trust∣ed. For they who are set over many cities, here, are by the good account of their Governments, to be preferr'd to the command of many greater in their Masters Kingdome: so * 1.3 that this is the most proper Motto they can set upon all their coates, which are blazon'd with so many shining, and glorious colours of the fruitions of the world, To whom most is given, of them most shall be required.
2 Paralip. 24▪ 17.
Psal. 1. 71.
Luke 19.