Politique Observation.
KIngs are in some sort oblig'd to defend their Ministers from the assaults of slanders; They owe this protection unto them, in remembrance of their Fidelity, and that they may be the more affectionately engaged in their services, for that they seldome attract the hatred of the Grandees upon themselves, but on∣ly by their resisting of attempts made against their Master's Honour and Authori∣ty. It is impossible for a Minister to serve his Prince as he ought, and not to dis∣content the chief of the State; for he is often necessitated to curb their ambition of advancing their own power, in detriment to that of the Soveraign, and then all the envie falls on him, as if the whole Government were in his hands; and un∣to his Counsels are all the denyals which they receive attributed: Which being so, what Reason or Justice can a King have, to abandon unto the mercy of envie, a loyalty, which (if not cherished) will soon languish? Nothing does so much dimi∣nish the zeal which a Minister hath for his Masters service, as the discountenancing of him. The Prince that forsaketh him who hath done him faithful service, is blind in his neerest Interests, and besides the blot of Ingratitude wherewith he blemisheth his reputation, he exposeth himself unto manifest dangers, by permit∣ting his ruine, who was the greatest Supporter of his glory; which once admitted, he becomes like a City, whose Fortifications are razed, and laid level with the ground. For this reason it was that Artaxerxes seeing the Athenians banish The∣mistocles, who came and cast himself into his Arms, said, he wish'd his enemies no greater evil, then that they might continue to be carried away by their envie, to deprive themselves of the Prudence and Valour of such like men. Now if Pru∣dence and Justice doth oblige Kings not to remove able States men from their ser∣vice, upon the score of Report, so ought they likewise to be careful in defending their Reputations, seeing they are only malign'd upon their accompts, and for their fidelity unto their services. Who knoweth not that an ancient Common∣wealth would not admit of a good Law, if propos'd by a suspitious person, unless in had been first of all moved by one of an approved integrity? They who were the Contrivers of this Designe, were not to know how greatly the credit of a mi∣nister doth advance his Masters Interest, by causing him to be readily obeyed by his Subjects, And experience hath evinced it in a thousand encounters, that all things run into disorder, where a Minister once loseth his Credit and Repute.