Politick Observation.
IT is very unseemly that a Kings Officers should perswade him to be worse then his word, onely to satisfie their own Passions. It were the ready way to subju∣gate the glory of the Master, to the Will of the servant, and to suffer the least Stars to eclipse the splendor of the Sun, who have no light; but what they borrow from his rayes. Private affections have ever been hurtfull to publick consultations, as Titus Livy recordeth, neither was his judgement to be questioned, when he said, there are cereain Clouds which do darken the Soul, and make it like a dis-temper∣ed eye, which seeth all things far different from what they really are. The word of a Prince is a sacred pledge, and his glory is linked with it. The Minister who is to see it performed, is obliged to effect it with inviolable respect, much lesse, not to abuse it for his own particular anger and Passion. How can it seem lawfull for a Minister to obstruct it by so prophane an abuse, when it is not permitted to a King himself to recede from it, though the good of his State were never so deeply con∣cerned in it. Good Princes, as Traian saith, are more bound to perform what they promise, then to effect what themselves desire, so that it is not permitted them in a Treaty to be worse then their words, under pretence of the publick good; or to say their Counsel doth imagine the contrary to be more proper, or that the ne∣cessity of their affairs doth require it. If once a Prince should do so he would ever passe for a Prince without Faith, which is the greatest misfortune can betide them, and thus Mimus Publicanus saith, he who hath once forfeited his Faith, hath no∣thing else to lose, because all the Goods and Honour of a man depend thereupon. It is indeed fit to consider of Treaties with deliberation before they are entred into, but when once a Prince shall have passed his word to observe them, there cannot then be any starting hole to creep out at. It is a shamefull excuse for them to al∣ledge they did not think of it. Bias saith, they cannot make no lawfull excuse, for he that loseth the credit and glory of being esteemed faithfull, hath a more con∣siderable damage, then if he lost the thing which he promised. After Cinna had sent for Marius, he made a question whether or no he should receive him; but Sertorius understanding he had sent for him, told him it would be unfit to propose it to him; for (quoth he) the obligation of Faith, doth not allow of the conside∣ration of what is once promised. But certainly it is a very great abuse to the Ma∣jesty of a King to break his Oath, for by it he doth seem to mock God, whom he invoketh as a witnesse of his promise. Cicero saith in his Offices, that an Oath ne∣ver ought to be broken, and the Egyptians punished Perjury with death, because they who were guilty of it, did not onely violate the worship of God, but broke faith which is the greatest and strongest tie of humane society.