Policie vnveiled vvherein may be learned, the order of true policie in kingdomes, and common-wealths: the matters of justice, and government; the addresses, maxims, and reasons of state: the science of governing well a people: and where the subject may learne true obedience unto their kings, princes, and soveraignes. Written in Spanish, and translated into English by I.M. of Magdalen Hall in Oxford.

§. II.

Of the Blandure, Gentlenes, and Loue, which Kings ought to haue.

THis blandure, and gentlenesse, is like∣wise an Effect of prudence, and Mag∣nanimitie, and is a Lordly kinde of vertue, and which hath made many excellent, and memorable in the world. As Alexander the great, whom no∣thing made so great, as that his Excel∣lencie of minde, which he had, in par∣doning those whom not onely himselfe, but all the world knew, had iustly deserued his displeasure. Hee, that is gentle of heart, and (like Dauid) meeke spirited, nothing troubles him, nothing alters him, but alwayes keepes his iudgement firme and enytre, that hee may the more freely iudge of that, which is worthy of pardon, or punishment, and is a qualitie very proper, and well beseeming royall Maiestie. Many great Monarckes and Kings haue had this in high esteeme, and made it the top of their glory, for by this meanes, they came to be as great in the loue of their subiects, as in their rule and Command. Of whose examples hu∣mane Histories are full; but I shall only cite those are that Di∣uine, which neither adde, nor diminish, by indeering things more then they deserue. Where it is storyed of that great Captaine and Gouernour of Gods people, that he was of the

mildest and peaceablest condition, and of so soft and sweete a nature, that the world afforded not his like: Erat Moses vir mitissimus,* 1.1 super omnes homines, qui morabantur in terra: Moses was very meeke, aboue all the men, which were vpon the face of the earth. And he of all other, had most neede of this most noble qualitie, for to beare with the bit∣ter taunts, and reproachfull words of that stiffe-necked, and vnthankfull people. And this is indeared by Saint Am∣brose,* 1.2 and Philo Iudaeus, both of them affirming; That to∣wards God onely, hee shewd himselfe as stout as a Lyon, and full of courage, resisting the vengeance, that God would haue taken of his people, but with them, was as meeke and gentle as a Lambe. A generous breast, and the courteous and plaine carriage of Kings ouercometh all, pacifieth all, and leuelleth the vneuenest and crookedest dispositions. Which we may well exemplifie in Iacob, and Dauid. Of the former the Scripture saith;* 1.3 Erat homo lenis: He was a smoth man. He was smooth in his countenance, sweete in his conuersati∣on, and naturally of a generous and peaceable condition. Now see, what he got by this; Hee gayned his fathers blessing, his brothers birth right, his Vnckles daughters and wealth, and the good will and loue of all men. And of Dauid, it is sayd; Erat rufus, & pulcher aspectu, facieque decora:* 1.4 That hee was ruddy, and withall, of a beautifull countenance, and goodly to looke to. He was of a louely and gracious aspect, milde, affable, and aboue all, a great friend vnto goodnesse and well doing, onely with his plea∣sing presence, hee drew the eyes of all the people after him, who ioyed in the fight of him; And with this, did he winne their hearts, got their good wills, and gayned the kingdome. When by a good and painefull industrie, and a sweet beha∣uiour, the hearts are first seazed on, it is an easie matter to conquer Kingdomes.* 1.5 In the sacred Historie of the Ma∣chabees, are recounted the heroyicall Acts which that great Captaine Iudas, and his brethren, atcheiued in Spaine, the

Kings and Kingdomes which they subdued; the nations which they conquered, and made tributary to their Em∣pire; and the great treasure of gold and siluer, which they purchased. And all this they effected by their good Coun∣sayle, gentlenesse, and patience; giuing Kings thereby to vnderstand, that if they be of a meeke, peaceable, and no∣ble condition, they shall be Lords and Masters of mens wealths, and hearts. And this made Polibius to say; that a courteous and peaceable King, conquers all with quiet∣nesse, euery man being willing to yeelde and submit him∣selfe to a soft and generous disposition, that is free from anger, and full of clemencie. And this is that Legacie which God allotted and left vnto them long agoe in the olde Testament.* 1.6 Mansueti, haereditabunt terram: The meeke shall inherit the earth. And afterwards, in the new Testa∣ment,* 1.7 he renewes this promise: Ipsi possidebunt terram: They shall inherit the earth. They shall be Lords of the earth; That is: of the men vpon earth, and of their pos∣sessions. For, by this earth which God promiseth vnto them, S. Bernard vnderstands the same earth, whereof men are formed. And it is vsuall in Scripture, to call men earth. And thereby is likewise vnderstood, that of this world, which wee heere inhabit, the possessions thereof, it's go∣uernment, Scepter and Monarchie, for all this, is but a Pa∣trimonie, bequeathed to a kinde, smooth, and louing nature. The best Titles, that a King can present before God, for to pretend the preseruation, and perpetuitie of his King∣dome, are meekenesse, and gentlenesse. These Dauid re∣presented vnto him, when hee petitioned him, that hee would be pleased to continue and confirme his kingdome in his sonne.* 1.8 Memento Domine Dauid, & omnis mansuetu∣dinis eius: Lord remember Dauid, and all his lowly carri∣age. Whose heart, was not haughty, nor his eyes lofty, but behaued and quieted himselfe, as a childe that is weaned of his Mother. And presently God collated this

benefit vpon him, saying; Com cumpleti suerint dies tui, suscitabo semen tuum post te,* 1.9 & firmabo regnum eius: When thy dayes be fullfille•• and thou shalt sleepe with thy fa∣thers, I will set vp thy seede after thee, which shall pro∣ceede out of thy bowells, and I will establish his King∣dome. Such effects doth the smooth breast, and soft heart of a King worke; And this is so sure a Tenet, that for to keepe a Kingdome secure, and to be Lord of many moe, there needeth no other claime, then that which Loue and Gentlenesse maketh. For, in regard that the heart of man is generous, it will not be led by the necke with a halter, nor will subiects long indure the yoake of a Tyrannizing and proud Lord: whereas on the contrary, they are easily led a long, by a smooth and gentle hand. And reason teacheth vs as much; for by how much the more easily is the heart of man moued by conueniences, then by menaces, by faire meanes then by foule, by so much the better is it to gouerne by meekenesse and gentlenesse, then by force and rigour. Whence we draw this Conclusion, That too much sharpnesse, and excesse of rigour in a Prince, procuteth hatred; and affabilitie and clemencie, Loue. Which is that, which Kings ought most to seeke after, as by and by we shall shew vnto you, when wee come to tell you, that these two qualities of blandure, and clemencie, so befitting a supreme Lord, are quite contrarie to that good expedition of Iustice, and that integritie, which God doth require in a Iudge; whom hee willeth and commaundeth. That in matter of iudgement, hee shall not pittie the case of the poore: According to which Instruction, it of force followeth, that a King must represent two contrary persons; that of a kind and pittifull Father; and that of a iust, and angry Iudge. For, if in his owne nature, hee be kinde, and tender hearted, there is not that offender, which will not be set free by the power of Intreaties, and Teares, weapons;

wherewith the hardest and cruellest hearts suffer them∣selues to be ouercome. And if he be otherwise, what can the delinquents hopes end in, but death and despaire? Againe, if he be vertuous, and seuere, it is impossible that he should not hate the vicious, and grow into choller, when hee shall heare of their cruell outrages and insolencies.* 1.10 Now, what remedy in this case is to be vsed? Saint Ierom, and Saint Austen,* 1.11 are of opinion, that a King, by his owne person, is to punish, and premiate, to execute chasticement with iustice,* 1.12 and to mitigate it with mercy. Nor is it vnwor∣thy our consideration, nor lyable to inconueniencie, that a King should represent two persons, so contrary in shew, as iudging with Iustice, and Mercie. For two vertues cannot bee contrary. And as the Saints and holy Doctors say, (and they are in the right) Mercie doth not hinder the execution of Iustice, but it moderateth the crueltie of the punishment. And it is very necessary in a good Iudge, that hee should haue a true and faithfull paire of balance in his hands, and in either scale to put rigor, and equitie, that hee may know how to correct the one by the other. The Kings of Portugall, (especially Don Iuan the third) did vse to iudge Capitall crimes, accompanied with his Councell, and were alway accounted fathers of the people, because with them, Iustice, and Mercie, walked hand in hand; shewing them∣selues iust in punishing the fault, and mercifull in mitiga∣ting the punishment. By which meanes, they were of all, both feared and beloued. And let not Kings perswade themselues, that this doth lessen their authoritie, and take of from their greatnesse, but giues an addition; and the oftner they sit in iudgement, they shall doe God the more seruice, and the Kingdome more good: And in conscience, the surest and safest course, for that recipro∣call obligation, which is between the King and his subiects. For they owe obedience, seruice, and acknowledgement to him, as their Lord and Master. And he vnto them, Iustice,

Defence and Protection. For to this end and purpose, doe they pay him so many great Tributes, and Taxes. Nor is it enough for him to doe it by others, but he must also doe it by himselfe. For, neither that great Gouernor of Gods people, Moses, nor any other after him, is, in all the whole body of the Bible to be found, that euer yet condemned the occupation of iudging the people, to bee vnworthy royall Maiestie nor contrarie to the reputation of a King. I know no other preiudice in it, saue that it is impossible for one sole man, to vndergoe so great a taske. And this impossibilitie ariseth from the multitude of subiects; and in that case▪ they aduise, That a King should not wholly take away his hand from the doing of Iustice, but that the lesser and more ordinary businesses, hee should remit and referr them to different Ministers, and the weightier causes, take to his owne charge, and be present in person, when they come to be sit vpon, and determined; as formerly haue done the wisest and greatest Monarkes, that euer were in the world. Who did euer equall King Salomon, in wisedome, greatnesse, and Maiestie? yet did hee hold it no disgrace vnto him, to humble himselfe to heare suitors, iudge their causes and to doe them Iustice. The Kings of the Hebrew people, were called Iudges, because they did glorie in nothing so much, as to heare, and iudge the people. And in all Nations, this hath alwayes beene the principall Office appertaining vnto Kings. And the Holy Ghost saith; That the King,* 1.13 that faithfully iudgeth the poore, his throne shall be established for euer.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Num. 12. 3.
• * 1.2

  Ambr. lib. 2. Offi. cap. 7.
• * 1.3

  Sen▪ 27. 11.
• * 1.4

  •• King. 16. 12.
• * 1.5

  1 Mac••h. ••.
• * 1.6

  Psal. 37. ••1.
• * 1.7

  M••t. 5. 5.
• * 1.8

  Psal. 131. 1.
• * 1.9

  2 King. 7. 12.
• * 1.10

  Hie••. Sup. I••r••••. 22.
• * 1.11

  Aug. lib. 5. de Ciuit. cap. 24. Isid lib. 3.
• * 1.12

  Sent. cap. 52. S. Th 2. 2. ••. 137 〈◊〉〈◊〉 2. ad 2.
• * 1.13

  Prou. 19. 14.