The principal Obligations of him who taketh a Prince into Protection.
DOubtlesse it is honourable for a great Prince to undertake the Protection of another, unable to subsist by his own force, but though it is honourable, yet it is not without care, if this protection be to his advantage, yet is he obliged to recover whatever is taken from him; and in fine, fairly to restore it. To leave him a prey to his enemies were a sign of weaknesse, or want of courage, or an ab∣solute breach of promise in the first assumption. He that for fear of the charge, the successe of the War, or any other consideration shall neglect it doth not only deprive himself of that honour which the quality of a Protector ascribes unto him, but doth likewise cloath himself with shame. Moreover, what expences soever he is at on such occasions, yet he is obliged by Justice to restore all places into the hands of their natural Prince, he being only, as it were, a Depositary; and as the Laws of Deposition do not permit the appropriating of any thing to ones self, the restoring of them, will be as honourable, as the detaining of them will be un∣just. Ptolomy King of Egypt dying, committed his son heir to his Crowns, then a child, unto the protection of the Common-Wealth of Rome, who professing a particular observation of their promises, were not deficient in resigning the King∣dom into his power upon his first being capable of Government. Thus Archa∣dius, seeing his son Theodosius very young and unable to secure himself from the power of the Persians, so played his Game with Indigertes their King, that he un∣dertook his protection; and by this means he tied up his Arms by delivering his son into his hands. Indigertes receiv'd the Tutillage as an honour, and discharg'd it with such fidelity that he preserved Theodosius life and Empire. That I may let you see these latter ages want not the like examples, Philip of Austria, King of Castile, leaving his son Charles but of twelve years age, requested Lewis the Twelfth by his Will to be his Guardian, and to take the Kingdom into his prote∣ction. The King accepted thereof, and in prosecution of his charge, was so punctually correspondent to the Trust Philip had reposed in it, that he preser∣ved his States against France it self, nor would usurp the least whatever provocati∣ons Maximilian gave him. In fine, notwithstanding all restitutions or expences, which a King is obliged unto, yet ought he never to refuse the protection of a Prince bordering upon his Countries; because besides the glory whereof he de∣prives himself, he inforceth the other to throw himself into the protection of some one as powerfull as himself, who may raise advantages by it, and peradventure to his prejudice.