The first part of the disquisition of truth, concerning political affaires Handled in two seuerall sections. The first whereof (by way of certaine questions probleme-wise propounded and answered) consisteth of foureteene chapters. Written by Henry Wright.

SECT. I. CHAP. X.

Of Glory and Renowne, the de∣sire thereof profitable to the Common-wealth: Of Power and Greatnesse, and the acqui∣ring thereof. Of Ambition and vnlawfull desire of raigning: Of eminent Citties, and their be∣ing free, for the most part, from practises of Treasons, Rebelli∣ons, Insurrections, Mutinie, &c.

1

It may bee demanded, what might bee the reason, that the vehement desire and thirst after glory and renowne, hath alwaies beene praise-worthy, and held profitable for the Common-wealth, whereas the least desire of raigning, in any great Subiect, hath beene condemned on all hands, and euer thought to bee dangerous and hurtfull to the State?

IS it because a 1.1 the hunting after honour and renowne, eleuateth and raiseth a mans thoughts, and exciteth to noble and ge∣nerous

actions? Whereas contrary wise the ambi∣tious, and boundlesse desire of ruling, prouoketh a man to propound to himselfe dangerous cour∣ses, and to runne them though it be to his owne vndoing? Or may it bee for this reason likewise, for that hee which is of an b 1.2 ambitious and tur∣bulent spirit, regardeth neither right or wrong, of Soueraigne or Subiect, but vpon the least con∣ceit to compasse his vnlawfull desires, engageth himselfe in factions, brawles, and quarrels, filling all mens hearts with feare, and disturbing the quiet of the State so farre, that as much as in him lyeth, he will rather hazard the safety of it, then desist from his barbarous enterprise? Whereas hee who is onely desirous of honour and re∣nowne, neither feareth dangers, nor attempteth or alloweth of any lewd courses, whereby hee, or his, might bee branded with the note of infamy, or digrace?

2

It may further bee demanded, how c 1.3 potency and greatnesse may bee acquired, whereby the authori∣ty of a Prince may bee made more illustrious and resplendant?

IS it to bee purchased with money, to whom d 1.4 all things do stoope? Or is it to bee acquired by Armes rather? for this is an infallible rule, that large Empire and Dominion, is not gotten, kept, or maintained by e 1.5 idlenesse, but by the vse and exercise of Armes, and Millitary Discipline? Or is

it not gotten by these meanes alone, but by f 1.6 firme counsell, and wary circumspection also? Or may it be attained vnto, by making g 1.7 firme leagues, and sure peace with forraigne Princes? Or to con∣clude, may it bee gotten by the h 1.8 benefite of for∣tune, who (most what) doth maruailously fauour and aduance some speciall sorts of men?

3

It may further bee demanded, what might bee the reason that those men who are ambitious, and haue an itching desire to bee inuested with the gouern∣ment of States, if they once bee euected to some eminent place in the Common-wealth, i 1.9 they are neuer contented, but striue and endeuour to rise higher and higher, and if once they can surprize the State, they wil rather die, then come afterwards to leade a priuate life?

COmmeth it thus to passe, for that all k 1.10 men euen by nature, are apt and prone to desire great matters, though they bee not so fitted and accommodated in themselues, to obtaine and keepe them? Now where the desire is more then the ability to get, the minde can neuer be at quiet, or contented with those things which already it doth enioy. Or is it for that l 1.11 Ambition of it selfe blindeth the eyes of men, perswading them that their merites and deserts are greater then (in∣deed) they bee, and thereupon they affect and attempt strange matters, and run head-strong courses to their owne destructions oftentimes?

Or may this bee the reason, for that hee who once hath had his temples circled with a Crowne, can neuer after brooke a priuate life, because Kings and Kingdomes, are euer to bee thought and beleeued to exceed proportion?

4

It may further bee demanded, what man may rightly be censured and deemed to be ambitious?

IS hee so to bee deemed and taken, who vnder m 1.12 pretence of amplyfying and enlarging the dig∣nity Royall; will seeke to dominere ouer others, and rule all things according to his owne lusts? without cause or reason, changing the auncient Officers (though neuer so honest) at his will and pleasure, and suffecting others into their places, whom hee well knoweth to be of his owne facti∣on, and (when time shall serue) will fauour his party? Or may hee likewise be thought ambitious who with great n 1.13 gifts, large promises, and all kind and friendly Offices, seeketh to conciliate and get the fauour and good will of the people, whereby hee may be one step higher to his rising?

5

It may further bee demanded, why all the Arts, cunning and practises, by which ambitious men study to climbe to the height of greatnesse, are kept so secret, that they hardly or neuer burst out, or come to be knowne, till they haue obtained what they sought for?

COmmeth it so to passe, for that o 1.14 men do not by and by (and as it were vpon the sodaine) but by degrees grow ambitious; whose progresses being not obserued (except of some few) they may more easily deceiue and blind mens eyes? Or may this rather be the reason, for that the ambiti∣ous do alwaies p 1.15 vse some honest pretext whereby they may compasse their designes, as though all their actions did tend and bend to these ends, least the Common-wealth (forsooth) or them∣selues should be wronged, when the truth is, that they striue to get the garland, that thereby they may both oppresse others, and the weale Publick?

6

It may further be demanded, how, and by what safe meanes it may be prouided for, that a man shall not grow too ambitious and insolent in a State, or if hee should, how his insolency may bee repressed, and nipt in the head, whilst it is yet in the bud?

MAy this bee effected, if there should neuer way be giuen, or meanes affoorded, to cre∣ate or erect any such office, or eminent dignity in the Common-wealth, out of the which the State might haue cause to feare, least in processe of time, Tyranny might take her first rising, and be∣ginning there-from? Or may it rather thus bee compassed, if the State take heed, and with wary circumspection prouide, q 1.16 that they neuer foster, cherish, orbring vp, any Lyons Whelpe, much

lesse the Lyon himselfe, within their Territo ries? Or may it thus likewise be done, if such wormes, and r 1.17 moaths, which breed of too much moisture, and are wont to consume those things whereof they had their beginnings, bee choked or shaken off, before they come to any great bignesse, or turne the whole Substance of that they feed vp∣on, into their owne? Or may it thus likewise bee brought to passe, if heed be taken, that if by the heate of the bosome of the Common-wealth, there bee hatched and nourished any dangerous serpent, it bee s 1.18 timously exposed to the cold (which is the onely way to kill it) yet neuer suffer it to hisse other where in a place more commo∣dious, least by sucking out the poyson thereof, there might follow a deeper stinging? Or may this also be effected, if heed be taken that the t 1.19 am∣bitious bee neuer permitted to ingage himselfe in any publique businesse, especially neuer employ∣ed in Martiall affaires, least by the well managing thereof, he draw vnto himselfe credit and estima∣tion with the Common-people, which hee abu∣sing, might afterwards turne to the hurt and dam∣mage of the Weale Publique? Or may it bee brought to passe by this menes also, if diuers of his u 1.20 owne ranke and quality do bandy with him, and of set purpose oppose his proceedings, the munition, and all other warlike furniture, being (in the meane time) vnder the command of the Prince, or Common-wealth? Or may this finally be effected, if x 1.21 hinderance be giuen to his ambi∣tious

designes, by the same waies, meanes, and in∣struments, which he himselfe vsed to climbe to the top of his desires?

7

It may lastly be demanded, wherefore the more emi∣nent Cities (as in particular it may truely bee in∣stanced in, and of, this Honour able Citie of y 1.22 Lon∣don) are generally free from plotting, practising, or contriuing any treasons, rebellions, insurrecti∣ons, mutinies, &c. against the Prince, or State: when other more remote parts of the Kingdome, are, and euer haue beene more subiect to put in practise such hellish proiects?

IS it for that in the more famous and eminent Cities (where the Magistrates are commonly more carefull and watchfull then other where) the plotters of treasons and rebellions, cannot so con∣ueniently conueene and come to together, to consult about their villanies, without being no∣ted, obserued, and espied, as they may do vnder any colourable pretext, in the Countries neere adioyning, or other remote parts from such Ci∣ties? Or is it not for this cause alone, but for that in such eminent Cities (and in particular within this Citie of London) the word of God is more plentifully Preached, whereby the Citizens are better instructed in their duties to God and their Prince, then commonly they are in all the Coun∣trie besides? Or may this bee a further reason for the said Citie of London in particular, for that as

well the chiefe Magistrate thereof, as other wor∣thy * 1.23 Citizens therein, are neerer to the Court, and by reason of their eminent places, and prime Offi∣ces which they beare, and daily do execute for the Prince, and in his name, to the good of Towne and Country, haue (euer) more dependance of their Prince, then in other places further distant there-from, the other subiects can haue: whereby it commeth to passe that they neuer desire inno∣uations, nor engage themselues and their estates by plotting of treasons, raising rebellions, &c. but content themselues with their owne conditions, studying to loue, and to bee beloued of their Prince, which things are not so well performed by particulars, in places further distant there∣from, as hath beene shewed? Or, to conclude, may this likewise be the reason, for that the said Citie of London, being the Chamber of the Prince, wher∣in hee euer presumeth that hee may be most safe, the Citizens euen out of their loue and loyalty to their Prince, haue euer thought foule scorne that themselues should be found vntrue, or disloyall; or that themselues, or their Citie should be bran∣ded with the hatefull name of Traytors, or hauing treason, rebellion, or treachery, batched in it?

Notes

• a 1.1

  Fran. Guicch.
• b 1.2

  Idem.
• c 1.3

  Liuy lib. 2. Potency is the high-way to gaine authori∣ty.
• d 1.4

  Arist. Rhet. II. cap. 16. & horat. Serm. 11.
• e 1.5

  Tacit. 15. An∣nal.
• f 1.6

  Tacit. 11. An∣nal.
• g 1.7

  Arist. Rhet. ad Alex Cap. Vltim.
• h 1.8

  Quint. Curt. lib. 8.
• i 1.9

  So it fared with Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster, and Thomas Wood∣stocke Duke of Glocester, pro∣tectors of Rich. the 2. And with Rich. the 3. pro∣tector of Edw. the 5. &c.
• k 1.10

  Mach. disp. lib. 1. cap. 37.
• l 1.11

  Guicchardi∣nus.
• m 1.12

  Aul. Pol.
• n 1.13

  Tholoz. lib. 22
• o 1.14

  Mach. disp. lib. prim. Cap. 46.
• p 1.15

  Idem. Ibidem.
• q 1.16

  Aristophanes in Ranis.
• r 1.17

  Tholoz. lib. 22.
• s 1.18

  The errour of the Atheni∣ans and Floren∣tiues, that they would not doe after this Counsell.
• t 1.19

  The practise of Rich. the 2. against the Duke of Here∣ford, and Tho. Mowbray Duke of Norfolke: For the King feared Heref. least (hauing the loue of the people) hee should haue vanquisht Mowbray, and so hee banish∣ed them both, and least also it might haue fallen out that the Duke of Heref. should haue gotten the victory, & so haue gra∣ced himselfe.
• u 1.20

  Tholoz. lib. 22.
• x 1.21

  Mach. dis••. lib. 1. cap. 52.
• y 1.22

  So Ia cke Straw his re∣bellion begun in Kent, in the time of Rich. the 2. who was flame by the Right Honou∣rable William Walworth, in Smith-field, whereby the Citie for that honourable seruice had the Dagger added to their Armes. So Iacke Cade his conspiracy and rebellion in Henry the 6. his daies, came from Kent like∣wise. So Kets conspiracie came from Norfolke in the time of Edw. the 6. So the rebellion in the North, was moued against Q Elizabeth of Famous me∣mory by impi∣ous Pius Quin∣tus B. of Rome. So the pow∣der-treason was plotted & contriued in our Soue∣raigne Lord King Iames his
• * 1.23

  time, by diuers Gentlemen in seuerall Coun∣tries. But in all these there was neuer a Citi∣zen in any of them.