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.

CHAP. XXXVI.

Whether the Kinsfolke and friends of Fauourites are to be excluded from Offices.

THis place requireth that we auerre that, which amongst discreet persons, and such as are zealous of the common good, is vsually called in question, and made a doubt: To wit, whether or no, it be inconuenient, that the Kinsfolke, friends, and followers of Kings Fauou∣rites should bee put into places of Office and Gouernment? For, it cannot but seeme an vnreasonable thing, that those who haue such parts and qualities as well deserue to bee em∣ployed in such places of charge and command, should there∣fore onely and eo nomine, bee excluded from them, for that they haue alliance and friendship with the said Fauourites. Being that this, in it selfe, is not ill. Besides the loue and affe∣ction which Kings beare vnto their Fauourites, cannot (like your bad-made-clothes) so shrinke vpon themselues, or be so straight-laced, that it shall not likewise extend it selfe to the friends and allyes of those, to whom they professe so much loue. Againe, a good, if not a greater part of these mens happinesse and content, consisteth in being able to do good, and to raise their friends.

But for the better satisfying of this doubt, it is fit that we should first consider and distinguish of the qualitie of the per∣sons of this Alliance and friendship with those Fauourites, as also of the condition and qualitie of those offices. For in your offices there are some of grace, and some of Iustice. In the distribution of the former, we are to looke no further then to grace, and the Kings good will and pleasure. In the latter

〈1 page duplicate〉〈1 page duplicate〉

〈1 page duplicate〉〈1 page duplicate〉

to that distribution which is agreeable to distributiue Iustice. There is likewise a great difference in the persons. For some are of better qualities and desarts, then other some. And these are in all prouisions that are made to be first preferred, be they, or be they not, of kinne and acquaintance with the Fauourites. And there are many good reasons that make for their part. Others there are, that are inferiour in merit, and the foresaid qualities; and these in no wise, may or ought to be preferred for the kindred or friendship which they hold with Fauourites. For it were a sinne of accepting of persons, which is contrary to distributiue Iustice. Others there are, that are euery way equall with the rest of the pretenders; and on this Hinge, hangs the force of the Question. Now if they shall stand in this equalitie, and vpon these equall tearmes with the rest, in those qualities that are fitting for Office, it seemeth that they should receiue some wrong, in being exclu∣ded without any fault of theirs; For it is no fault, to bee the friend or kinsman of a Fauourite. To this doubt, the answer would be made the more difficult, if your Fauourites through their too much ambition and couetousnesse had not taught vs the great inconueniences which result in a Common∣wealth, by opening this doore vnto them, and conferring the said Offices on their friends and Allyes, vnder colour and pretext that they are as well deseruing as others. First of all, for that Kings, as Shepherds and common parents of the whole Commonwealth, are to make a distribution of ho∣nours, and of wealth, equally reparting and diuiding them, in that indifferent manner, that they may reach to all houses and families, or at least to extend t••em as farre as they are able. Like a good Husbandman, who, that hee may haue a good and plentifull crop, throwes and scatters his seed on this side, and that side, and euery where. Secondly, for that it is a very odious thing, and which breedeth bad bloud, and ingendreth ill humours in those who onely in regard of this their kindred and friendship, see themselues depriued and de∣barred

of that, which they might otherwise challenge by desert. And others on the other side, when they see that they can neither come to be kinsmen, nor friends, nor of familiar acquaintance with Fauourites (which are the references that must preferre them) the first nature hauing denyed it them; the other their bad fortune, or the Fauourites disaffection, seeing themselues hopelesse of all helpe and remedie, either they runne themselues headlong into some desperate at∣tempt, or at least fall to flagge in their vertue; either of which cannot choose but bee of great inconuenience to the Com∣monwealth. Thirdly, for that it is not fitting, that Fauou∣rites should come to be very powerfull, either in their owne proper wealth and substance, or in the greatnes and strength of their friends and Allies. For the more they increase in these, the more doe their Kings decrease; and sometimes it hath beene seene to grow to that excesse, that powerfull Prin∣ces haue seene, or at least imagined themselues to be of lesser power then they could haue wisht it, or had beene need∣full to haue repressed, and cut short the ambitious wings, and high flowne insolencies of their Fauourites. Fourthly, for that vnder this colour, occasion might bee giuen to Fa∣uourites to dispose in such sort of the gouernment of king∣domes, that Kings should not come to the knowledge of ought that passeth in them, be it good or bad, more then shall stand with the good liking of their Fauourites, and make most for their owne ends. So that, neither those that are wronged, shall finde meanes to bee righted; nor those that are zealous of the common good, and of their Kings autho∣ritie and reputation, be admitted to aduertise and giue notice vnto him, of that which doth most concerne him. For Kings, by reason of their retirednesse, cannot come to the full know∣ledge of all that passeth. One of the things wherewith they charged that great Fauourite of King Don Iuan, in that sen∣tence which they pronounced against him, was, That hee had put into the offices of the Kings house, and without his

house, and in places of gouernment, persons that were tyed and wedged to his house, either by see-tayle, or by friend∣ship. I referre my selfe to that, which the sentence saith, spea∣king in the person of King Don Iuan the second. And it is not to be doubted, that when Fauourites shall wholly apply themselues to seaze vpon all the Ports, thereby to know all, and so to stoppe vp all the doores and passages, that none can come to negociate with their Kings, but by their hands, it is no other but a binding of their Kings hands, and to op∣presse them with a palliated and cloaked kinde of tyranny, with relation to their priuate Interest. And because from our very first entrance into this our discourse, our purpose was to confirme whatsoeuer we proposed, by the testimonies of holy Scripture, to the end that no man vpon any false presuppo∣sall, should so much as surmise, or thinke, that we go about to tread too neare vpon the heeles of Fauourites, I will likewise remit my selfe in this particular, to that Letter registred in the Scripture, which that great King Artaxerxes wrote to all the Dukes and Princes, and to all his vassalls of 127. Pro∣uinces of his kingdomes, wherein with indeared reason hee propoundeth the insolencies and tyrannies, exercised by Fa∣uourites, who vsing amisse the fauours and mercedes, which their Kings doe them, seeke to carry all things before them, with a high hand. And for that the holy Ghost would haue all this set down in the sacred History, we may here very well intersert some part thereof, which is well worthy the noting, Multi,* 1.1 bonitate principum, & honore, &c. Many, the more often they are honoured with the great bounty of their gra∣cious Princes, the more proud they are waxen; And indea∣uour to hurt not our Subiects onely, but not being able to beare abundance, doe take in hand to practise also against those that doe them good. And take not onely thankfulnesse from among men, but also lifted vp with the glorious words of lewd persons, that were neuer good, they thinke to escape the iustice of God, that seeth all things, and hateth euill. Of∣tentimes

also, the faire speech of our friends put in trust to mannage the affaires, haue caused many that are in authori∣tie to bee partakers of innocent bloud, and hath inwrapped them in remedilesse calamities. Beguiling with the falsehood and deceit of their lewd disposition, the innocencie and good∣nesse of Princes, &c. And it oftentimes commeth to passe, that the good actions and intentions of Kings are hin∣dered, and the light of their Iustice eclipsed, by the interpo∣sition of some terrestriall bodie, which doth darken the glory thereof, as the interuention of the earth, obscureth the Sunne. And the publike misfortunes which befall the common∣wealth, and the particular wrongs and iniustices, which men by this meanes must indure, euen vnder the raigne of a iust and religious King, make his Empire hatefull; for it is a na∣turall property incident to the vulgar, when any misfortune shall befall a State, to remoue the blame from themselues, and to lay the fault vpon those that are of greater ranke and qua∣lity. But to returne to our intended purpose, I say, That in the Offices of Iustice (I meane) wherein distributiue Iustice requireth consideration of merit, way is not to bee giuen to the friends and kinsfolke of Fauourites, but respect rather to bee bad to the common good, wherein is to bee vsed the fore-specified warinesse and circumspection. And in such sort may the risentment and complaints of the kingdome in∣crease, that howbeit the said friends and kinsmen, should in their abilities haue the aduantage of others, yet ought they to be excluded. For this reason, in point of weale publike, is of more weight and consequence, then any sufficiencie what∣soeuer in those other pretenders. Marry, in those other offi∣ces which we call Offices of grace, (for that they neither haue the administration of Iustice, nor gouernment, the hand may be stretched out in a freer manner vnto those that haue any reference of amitie or alliance vnto Fauourites. But these offices are but few, and of no great importance; and in case an exact consideration should bee had, there being not

that office, bee it neuer so small, wherein a man shall not meete with some opposites and pretenders, wee must not be too hasty, but hold the hand awhile, that fitting prouision might be made according to the qualities and merits of the person. One, that was a principall Councellour of State, cer∣tified a certaine graue and worthy person, that he being Al∣calde de Corte, the common hangmans office fell voide, and that hee was so earnestly sued vnto, and such intercessions therein vsed, that he was faigne to make two, the better to cumply with his owne obligation, and their importunitie. And of the Catholicke Queene Donna Isabel, it is said, That when she gouerned the State, together with King Don Fer∣nando, her husband, there fell by chance a paper from forth her sleeue, wherein shee had written with her owne hand; Let the Cryars place of such a Citie be bestowed vpon such a one, for that he hath the best voice. And if in so meane an office, these Catholicke and prudent Princes had such great care and respect to the qualities of the persons; what care ought there to bee had in those of Iustice and gouernment? What in Ecclesiasticall dignities, which are the pillars of our sacred Religion? When the day of that strict and rigorous ac∣count shall come, which God shall require at their hands, they will then see how much this did import them.

Let then the finall resolution of this question be, That supposing that the naturall inclination of Fauourites, is to be∣nefit all, and that those that are nearest vnto them, for what respect soeuer it be, are to bee preferred vnto Honours and Offices, I will not straighten them so much, nor my words, and counsell, and seeme to be too much republike, and intire, in condemning all their actions; for that it hath been a thing alwayes permitted to those that are put in such high places. But I would not haue it passe for a rule, in the prouision of publike offices, through which haue past such persons as well vnderstood what belonged to State affaires, and the conseruation of Kings, and their kingdomes, and that were

complete in all kinde of good learning and knowledge; who witting, that those, who had power with their Kings, would fauour those that were theirs, out of that inclination which is common to all men, haue not stickt to say, that this may be done, but with this consideration, that it bee not to the hurt of the commonwealth. For there is not that ground, plant, or man, so barren, but hath some vertue in it, and is good for some Ministrie or other. In confirmation whereof, wee are likewise to consider, that in naturall things, there is not any so vile, and so base, which alwayes, and at all times is vnprofitable. And there are some cases, wherein Experience hath taught the profit, that may be taken therefro, for the vse and conseruation of mans life. And on the other side, there is nothing so precious, so estimable, and so wholsome, which is alwayes, and at all times, profitable. For there are some, as also some infirmities, which would proue mortall, should they bee applyed vnto them. And therefore mans prudence doth come to consist in this, to know it's qualitie, and to vnderstand aright the estate and complexion of the man, and according thereunto to make vse thereof, and of it's vertue. And therefore hee that hath (by his Kings fauour) the supreme disposall of all, let him consider and know, ei∣ther by himselfe, or by others that are his confident friends, (being as free, as free may bee, from naturall affections) the dispositions and inclinations of men, and together with this, the qualitie of the offices, and persons, which are to gouerne, and bee gouerned; and let him imply euery one in that, for which hee shall bee found fit and good. And keeping this course, he shall cumply with his owne inclination, and natu∣rall desires. And shall therein do his King and countrey good seruice. But for a conclusion and vpshot of all that is past, let those aduertisements serue, which follow in the subsequent Chapter.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Esther ••6. 2.