Of wisdom three books / written originally in French by the Sieur de Charron ; with an account of the author, made English by George Stanhope ...

SECT. V. Conspiracies.

WE are now advancing to such Accidents, as of all others are of the greatest, most general, and most dange∣rous Consequence, and therefore it will be fit to enlarge a little the more upon them. Which shall be done, first by giving a particular Description of the Thing it self; Then by laying down such Directions as may be serviceable to a Prince under them. And then in the Conclusion of this Subject, casting together into one Chapter that Ad∣vice

proper for private Persons to follow upon these Oc∣casions.

By Conspiracies I mean the Attempts made, either by some one Man singly, or by several in Combination, against the Person of the Prince, or the State and Government in general. And this must be acknowledged a Circumstance of infinite Danger, extremely hard either to escape or to remedy, by reason of the Secresie, and industrious Conceal∣ment of the Thing. For which way shall a Man be able to secure himself from the treacherous Assaults of an un∣known, unsuspected Enemy? And what shall give any just Jealousie of that Man's being so, who wears the Face, and acts the part of our faithfullest, tenderest, and most zea∣lous Friend? The Thoughts and Inclinations of the Heart lie too dark and deep for Human Eyes to penetrate; and yet here is all the Danger; for they who design a Prince's Ruine, will take all the care they can, that no Overt Act, no failure of Respect, no Coldness or Negligence in Beha∣viour, may minister cause of Suspicion; but will rather ex∣ceed in the Expressions of Duty and Respect, and mask their Villany by an officious and double Diligence. Besides, do but consider the Advantages of a desperate and bloody-minded Man; for he that does not value his own Life, may make himself Master of any other Man's whenever he pleases.

* 1.1He knows not how to fear, who dares to die.

So that a Prince is continually exposed to Danger and Death, and lies at the Mercy of every private Man, who hath hardiness enough to sacrifice himself in the Attack∣ing him.

Machiavel takes great Pains to shew how Plots against the State ought to be contriv'd, and so laid as to prove Successful. We leave that wicked Policy to Him; and shall employ all our Care to shew how they may best be discover'd and defeated.

Now the best Remedies and Directions that I can think of for so critical and hazardous a Juncture, are these that follow.

First, Private Intelligence, and cunning underhand Me∣thods, to discover and counterwork all Attempts of this Na∣ture;

in which Faithful, Vigilant, and Discreet Persons should be made use of as Instruments. These are the Eyes and Ears of the Prince; and therefore they should be every where, to discover and bring Information of all that may concern him to know; but particularly they should have a special regard to all that his Principal Officers and Ministers say and do: because These are capable of doing most Mischief, and he cannot be tolerably safe, if they be false to him. Now it is as observable in this Case, as in any whatsoever, That Out of the Abundance of the Heart the Mouth speaketh; For People, who have a Design upon the Government, naturally love to asperse and blacken the Prince, censure his Administration severely, and load him with Calumnies; or if they have Temper enough to be silent themselves, yet they love the Conversation of those that do so, hearken with a sensible Relish and Delight to all kind of Factious Discourse; and frequent the Company of Men, who by railing and blaming all that is done, in∣fuse Jealousies, and foment Discontents among the People. It is very necessary therefore, that a Prince should be well informed what his Subjects, but especially what those about his Person, say of him; what Company they keep, and how they entertain themselves; and it is fit that he should en∣gage to reward the Persons, who make such useful Disco∣veries, not only with Impunity, but large Summs of Mo∣ney for their good Service. But then he must be no less careful too of another Inconvenience which may arise from too easie a Credulity. For tho' he will do wisely to hear all, yet he is by no means bound to believe all. The Re∣wards I mentioned, as they are Recompences well bestow'd upon faithful and good Men, so are they likewise great Temptations to ill Men; and therefore every Report of this kind should be very diligently examin'd, before a Prince gives credit to it; or otherwise this Expedient for his own Preservation will be converted into a means of crushing and murdering the Innocent; and of making himself the com∣mon Detestation and Reproach, the Terrour and the Curse of his People.

The Second Preservative in this Case, is Winning and En∣gaging the Hearts and Affections of all his Subjects, nay even of his very Enemies, by Methods of Justice and Good∣ness, of Courtesie and Clemency. For when all is done,* 1.2 A Prince's best and strongest Guard is his Innocency; the be∣ing

an Universal Blessing, good to all, injurious and grievous to none. The Apostle had reason when he asked that Question, Who is He that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? For, usually speaking, The Man that gives no Offence, takes an effectual Course that none shall be given him: But he who does Injuries, must expect to have them paid back again with Interest: And therefore the worst use that can possibly be made of Power, is to exert it to unjust and base Purposes, and make it an Instrument of Op∣pression and Violence. So says a wise Author,* 1.3 Power ne∣ver puts out its own Strength so ill, as when it breaks forth into Insolence, and contumelious usage of those Persons whose Weakness hath laid them at its Mercy.

A Third Expedient upon these Occasions is, To set the best Face upon the Matter; not to betray any Dejection of Mind, but carry all off with one's usual Gayety and Free∣dom of Behaviour; To give out abroad, that he is very sensible what People are doing, and punctually inform'd of all their Secret Practices and Designs; that there passes no∣thing at any of their Cabals, but he hath immediately an Account of it: For where Privacy is the Life of an Attempt, if once the Plotters can be brought to believe that all they do, takes Air, the Project is broken of course. This was an Expedient which a certain Person assisted Dionysius the Sici∣lian Tyrant with, and it was bought cheap at the Price of a Talent.

The Fourth Direction is, To wait for any danger of this kind without any Confusion or Consternation of Mind: These Three last Rules Caesar practised in great Perfection; but in the first he was altogether deficient; Indeed he pro∣fest to disdain it, as a thing below him, and not worth his while; and declared, That he thought a Prince had bet∣ter die once for all, than live in a perpetual Anxiety and Pain, for any Accident which the most vigilant thoughtful Man alive hath it not in his Power to prevent; and there∣fore he would rather choose to be easie, and in This, as well as other Matters, trust the Event entirely to Divine Providence, which alone can protect and secure the Persons of Princes effectually. But still this Reflection does not take off the usefulness and necessity even of my first Ad∣vice, and the rest it leaves in their full force. Which in truth are yet more recommended by the ill Success of Courses

contrary to these: For all Histories, and particularly those of the Roman Emperors, shew beyond contradiction, that the Intentions to prevent such Plottings by speedy Venge∣ance, and rigorous Punishments, did very seldom obtain their desired Effect: They rather exasperated Men's Minds, than subdu'd them; and the severest and most hasty to take Revenge, and terrifie their People, were commonly least se∣cure, and found the worst Treatment from them.

Thus much may serve for Advice how Princes ought to behave themselves, while the Designs against their Per∣sons and Government are kept close and in the dark. But when such Conspiracies come to be discover'd, and the Truth brought to light, What is fit to be done then? Why truly my first and most general Direction must be, To make the Conspirators publick Examples, by punishing them with all the Severity their Villanies deserve. To spare such black Wretches as these, were not Compassion but Cruelty; Cruelty to the Innocent, and Peaceable, and Good; and Treachery to the Publick, whose Safety is exposed and en∣danger'd by such indiscreet Instances of Pity: For Justice and Equity require, that Those who are Enemies to the Peace and Quiet, the Liberties and Rights, and common Happi∣ness of Mankind, should make Reparation with their Blood, for their Attempts to over-turn and destroy these so neces∣sary, so valuable Advantages. But then, even those Execu∣tions are to be managed with Prudence and Discretion; and the manner and Method of Punishing must vary, ac∣cording as the Face and Condition of Affairs shall happen to vary. Sometimes it is convenient to use all possible Dispatch, and punish presently, especially where the Con∣spirators are not very numerous. But be the Number of them great or small, I can by no means approve of put∣ting Criminals to the Torture, in order to larger Discove∣ries, and the bringing out Accomplices not yet known. (For there are other ways of getting Information by softer and more secret dealing, which very seldom fail; and besides, it may often be of use not to seem very sollicitous to know, or if one does know, to appear otherwise, and pretend Ig∣norance in such Cases.) But, besides all other Mischiefs of such a barbarous Custom as the Rack, this is one certain Discouragement, that a Man is sure to torment others for the Discovery of that, which when found out, will be a Plague and Torment to himself, and set a world of People against him too. Nor do I think it always necessary that

every Individual Malefactor should suffer: It is enough that some few are made exemplary Warnings to the rest; so many as may encourage and contain good Subjects in their Duty, and reclaim the Factious, by striking an early Awe into those, who are not yet, or at least do not imagine that they are discovered. Sometimes again it is necessary to de∣fer punishing the Offenders; but to be sure upon all such Emergencies, the Prince's own Safety must be his first and great Care: In this no Time must be lost; the rest may well submit, and be regulated afterwards, as Opportunities best offer. But the Case may have greater Difficulties in it still, The Conspirators may be Persons of such Quality and Fi∣gure, or the Discovery may be made in such a critical Juncture, that a Prince may be obliged to dissemble his Knowledge and his Danger; and the offering to seize or pu∣nish the Guilty, may hazard his Life and Kingdom ano∣ther way: In such a Streight it requires a great deal of good Conduct to play a safe Game. The best Course of all is without question to countermine and prevent their Plot; to break all their Measures privately; and when the Danger is thus avoided, to decline the giving Offence, by pretending not to know the Parties concern'd, but to manage the Matter, and secure himself, while all the while he appears intent upon something else. Thus the Carthagi∣nians managed their General Hanno, and the Historian's Remark upon this Method of proceeding is,* 1.4 That often∣times the best, nay the only way to prevent treacherous Practices, is to act as if one knew nothing at all of the Matter. Nay, which is still more; I am positive that sometimes it is ab∣solutely necessary not to punish Conspirators at all. For if the principal Contriver be a very great Man; if his Abili∣ties or his Deserts have made him popular; if his former Services have been very considerable, and the Prince and Government particularly obliged by him: If his Children, his Relations, his Friends are in great Posts, or Men of Wealth, and general Interest: What would you do in such a Case? How would you break through all these Difficul∣ties? Who indeed would attempt it? Who would provoke such Dangers, and make so many and such dangerous Ene∣mies, and not rather by wholly remitting his Punishment, if that can safely be done; or if not, yet at least by miti∣gating,

and rendring it as gentle as the Case will bear; con∣tinue a good Understanding, and secure the Affections of all who have an Interest in his Pardon? Clemency upon such an Occasion is not only Brave and great, (for indeed nothing can be more for the Honour of a Prince,* 1.5 nothing give us a brighter Image of Virtue and Magnanimity, than a Monarch pardoning the Affronts and Ill-Usage which he never deserv'd) But it is also very often the most prudent and politick Course, and most effectual Security to him for the Future. For Men, who have any the least remains of Ingenuity and Humanity, will be melted by it into Re∣pentance and better Principles. Perfidiousness it self will be put out of Countenance; and others who see such eminent Goodness, will be ashamed of any base Design, and effectu∣ally diverted from pursuing or projecting it. And of this Augustus hath given us a famous Instance, both as to the Prudential, and the Successful Part, in his Behaviour to Cinna, when engaged in a Conspiracy against him.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Contemnit omnes Ille, qui Mortem priùs.
• * 1.2

  Fidissima Custodia Principis Innocentia.
• * 1.3

  Male vim suam Potestas, aliorum contumeliis experitur.
• * 1.4

  Optimum & solum saepe insidiarum remedium, si non in∣telligantur.
• * 1.5

  Nil gloriosius Principe impunè laeso.