Ciuill considerations vpon many and sundrie histories, as well ancient as moderne, and principallie vpon those of Guicciardin. Containing sundry rules and precepts for princes, common-wealths, captaines, coronels, ambassadours and others, agents and seruants of princes, with sundry aduertisements and counsels concerning a ciuill life, gathered out of the examples of the greatest princes and common-wealths in Christendome. Handled after the manner of a discourse, by the Lord Remy of Florence, and done into French by Gabriel Chappuys, Tourangeau, and out of French into English, by W.T.

CHAP. 70. Promises voluntarily made, are to be held and performed, and [ B] the euill which ensueth through default thereof.

IT is a thing altogether infamous and dishonest to faile and breake promise; but it is most dishonest in a Prince or Common-wealth: for it cannot be said that such persons failed through inaduer∣tence, or want of discretion, as of particular men, if they were not carried away by affection, or ap∣parance of good. A man ought to bee well aduised touching his promise, and ought not to make it, but that first he weigh and consi∣der [ C] well what is required and demaunded: for whosoeuer shall doe otherwise, shall euer commit some fault, because that promises made with small iudgement haue this custome, either (to the dis∣pleasure of those to whom they were made) to be refused and de∣nied, or otherwise they are performed to the great griefe and repen∣tance of those which made them. It is true that some are made [ D] without consideration, and it were better to breake them, then dis∣honestly to put them in effect: as that which was made by Herod to his daughter in law, which daunced before him at a banket; and this promise to giue to her what she should demaund, was made without consideration, and sinfully and wickedly performed: whereby he purchased perpetuall infamie, and the iust man vniust∣ly lost his life. Some there are also which promise dishonest and reprochfull things, and more shamefully performe them: and to these men ordinarily commeth that which Cicero speaketh of, that wicked promises hurt him which made them, and him also which receiueth them: whereof the examples are daily so manifest, in rob∣beries, murthers, and such other Riots, that it is needles to produce them. But speaking of promises which are made, not through ne∣cessitie, but free and voluntarily, if they be of honest matters, I say

they must be performed: for to faile in them, there happen & grow [ E] many euils and inconueniences; as was the promise of Robert Ges∣card made to Roger his naturall brother. This Robert in the diuision of the Norman Empire, promised to his brother Roger the halfe of Calabria, and all Sicilie: but when it came to sharing and diuiding, Robert would giue him nothing in Calabria, but Meto and Squil∣lacci, and bad him to purchase the Realme which he alreadie began to possesse, meaning Sicilie, and in the end resolued, according to Alexanders words to Darius, that as the world could not endure two Sunnes, so one Realme could not endure two soueraigne Lords. Roger being much displeased herewith, made warre against [ F] him, and after many aduentures, hauing taken him prisoner in a Castle, where Robert vnwisely was entred, in the habit of a paisant, to bring it to his owne deuotion, Roger of a brotherly pitie saued his life, and restored him to his estate, which by right of warre, and be∣ing prisoner, hee had lost. So Roberts failing of his word, was the cause that he entred into such disorder, so as if hee had had to deale with any other then his brother, hee had peraduenture learned to his losse, or to his perpetuall dishonour, how great a fault it is not to performe and keep those promises, which no man constrained him to make. [ G]

Notes

• A man ought to be well adui∣sed how he pro∣mise any thing.
• Meto and Squillacci.
• King Robert taken prisoner, & afterwards graciously deli∣uered by his brother Ro∣ger.