Politique Observation.
THat Prudence, which obligeth all Soveraigns to provide against such accidents as may trouble the present State of their affairs, doth equaly direct them to make sure of such remedies as may prevent the future disturbance of their Peace and quiety which cannot safely be effected, without the assurance of an Hair to succeed. Augustus affordeth us a memorable example in this particular, who governing an Empire not Hereditary, would however, joyn with himself some one of his nearest kindred, in the conduct of affairs, to the end that ingratiating himself with the Sena∣tors, Souldiers and people, he might by that means seem to deserve the Soveraignity. For this reason it was, according as Tacitus hath well observed, that he finding himself destitute of Sons, and that Fortune had taken from him, first Marcus Agrippa, and afterwards Cajus and Lucius his Nephews, advanced Tiberus, who though he had a Son then grown up, he caused to adopt Germanicus, to the suc∣cession of the Empie, and this he did as the Historian observes that the Crown might be assured upon divers supports. By this means he cut off the Senators hopes of reforming the State into a Republique, and from his Enemies the means of aspiring to the Crowns.
Adrian in the like manner, seeing he had not any Sons, which exposed him to the fury of some ambitious mind or other, who for the Empires sake might be perswaded to attempt upon his Person, adopted Antoninus and also required that Antoninus should in the like manner, he having no Sons neither nominate two more successours, as Dion hath observed in his life; and all this was, with intent, that they who were to succeed in the Empire, might be alwayes ready to receive it, and to prevent his Enemies from attempting against his person in hopes to obtain it for themselves.
To how many misfortunes have they, who have been defective in this Care, ex∣posed their Countries? Jane the second, Queen of Napels dying, without nomi∣nating her successour, d' An••ou, whom she had once named, being deceased before her, left her Kingdome cruelly torn in pieces by War, and him whom she least of all desired, to inherit after her. It is very rarely seen, that a Kingdome changeth its Family, without great wars, and that Prince, whom God hath not blessed with Children will find many attempts made upon his person; whence it follows, that he who would secure his Life and State from misfortunes, ought betimes to appoint his successour, to keep him near to him, with Honour, to instruct him in all affairs but not to admit him unto the partaking of the Soveraignity, for that were to cure one evil by a greater, seeing the ambition which usually attendeth young Princes, might perchance ingage him in some ill design, to be master of it, before his time.