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. 7. VVhich may be well considered by the doings of Lewes Sforce, [ C] when he committed Valencia to the guard of Donat Raffignin.

MAns wit requireth that other mens doings should serue for example for vs to follow, and that we seeing what hath happened vn∣to others, may consider what may betide our selues. Euery man without controlment confesseth, that treason is the greatest mis∣chiefe [ D] and offence that a man can commit; and the greatest infamie and dishonour that can come to a man, is to be poynted at with the finger for a Tray∣tor. Thence it commeth, that the temporall lawe is more sharpe and seuere against Traytors, than any other malefactors; adiudging that no man can commit a greater and more heynous offence then trea∣son: and as a man cannot expresse words sufficient to blame it, so can there not be torment sufficient to punish it. Lewes Sforce, Duke of Milan, did not consider the treason of Donat Raffignin, who had betrayed Iohn Galeas his Nephew, and Bonna the Dutches, mother

of the said Iohn Galeas, in giuing vnto the said Lewes himselfe, a port [ E] of Tortona, wherewith (in behalfe of the young Duke and his mother) he was put in trust in time of his troubles, (making no lesse account of the treason, then of the Traytor) he committed to his charge the keeping of the Towne of Valencia, and put him in pos∣session thereof, as gouernour and chiefe Captaine of that Towne. But Donat, who had not changed his nature, although he had chan∣ged his Master, (corrupted by the promises of Iohn Iaques Triuulse) deliuered the Fortresse of Valencia to the Frenchmen, enemies to Lewes, and receiued them into the Towne. This treason is the more worthy to be remembred, for that it happened in the same day, [ F] wherein twentie yeares before, the said Donat had betrayed the little Duke Iohn Galeas, and giuen the Towne of Tortona to Lewes his Vncle. Wherein a man may plainely see, that Traytors being mischieuous, retaine alwaies their wicked disposition; and there∣fore no man ought to trust them, when as they are once discoue∣red for such: and whosoeuer doth repose trust in him, who hath once been a Traytor, although the treason were greatly to his pro∣fit, yet he committeth a great error; but he committeth a greater, who imployeth him in a gouernment and charge of importance. [ G]

Notes

• Donat Raffig∣nin, by treason yeeldeth the Fortresse of Valence to the French.