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Politique Reflection.
ALthough all absolute promises which are made by Kings, ought to be kept, and that even with seditious persons; yet it is not the same thing, where a divers sence may be imposed on them, or where there is an apparent good will shewed on purpose to draw them on into a snare prepared to arrest them. To punish them and hinder their troubling the repose of the Kingdom, cannot be denied for an Act of Justice, which if it cannot be done but by giving them fair hopes and good words to a muse them, then such means are to be made use of accordingly, provided alwayes, that there be no expresse promise granted unto them. King Antigonus having understood how that Pitho Governour of Media, did raise Soul∣diers, and money, to revolt against him; pretended not to believe those informa∣tions, but gave out, that he would send him an Army to command upon some ex∣ploit or other, designing that Pitho when he once heard how affectionately he was esteemed, would peradventure come to wait upon him; which indeed hapned ac∣cordingly, for he presently repaired to the Court, shewing himself highly pleased with the Honour which the King did him, and that he came on purpose to receive his Majesties Commands, whereas Antigonus finding him within his power chasti∣ced him according to his deserts.
Pope Leo, made use of the self same device, to imprison John Paul Baylloni and to punish him for those Crimes which he had committed, and he answered those who complained of being deceived by his promises, that evil doers could not think themselves deceived; when they were chasticed for their fals, but that they were deceived, when as there were permitted to continue Scot free in their Crimes, and when their liberties and lives, of which they were unworthy were continued and granted to them. The proceeding of Artaxerxes King of the Persians towards Artaban is not improper to be remembred on this occasion. This Prince having un••e••s••ood how the other had contrived to kill him, and seize upon his Kingdom, resolved to prevent him; but he being cunning and alwayes well guarded, he had recourse to his wit dissembled the suspition which he had against him, and that so handsomly that Artabanus, imagined himself to stand very right in his opinion; To compleat his designe, he gave out that he intended a certain forraign invasion, and gave him order to levy his Troops, and draw them together, which being all assem∣bled, Artaxerxes desired to see them mustered in his own presence, and comming up to him in the head of his Forces, seemed to be much taken with the handsomness of his Arms, and desired to make an Exchange with him, Artaban finding himself obliged to put them off, forth with disarnied himself, and presented them to the King, who seeing him naked would not loose that opportunity, but fell on him, and killed him with his own hand. I know there are some Politicians, who are of opinion that there need not any great care be taken concerning performance of promises, nay not those which are absolute and expresse, though made by Princes in the way of assurance and security; and that it is sufficient for them to answer those who shall complain of the breach of them, as Agesilaus did a friend, who taxed him upon a promise, which he afterwards had found to be unreasonable. If what you demand be Just, I have promised it, but if it be unjust, I am not obliged to be as good as my word, and when he was answered that a Prince, ought to perform whatever he promiseth, yes Quoth he, and a subject ought not to request any thing of his Soveraign which is unreasonable. But for my particular I am of opi∣nion, that a Prince is obliged inviolably to observe all expresse promises, and that it is only permited to his Ministers for Justice sake to be lesse then their words. I should rather imagine that a Prince should on such occasions make use of all vio∣lent means, rather then delusions, because Force is reputed for a vertue, when backed by authority, and nothing can be alleadged against it; whereas deceipt can∣not be taken for any other thing, then a kind of mallice unbecoming the Majesty of a Soveraign.