Meditations upon a siege. By H. P.

MEDITATION 13.

Of Intelligence.

ONE of the essentiall things in the discipline of warre, is to have good intelligence from the ene∣mies quarters, what his strengths are, what his weakenesses, what his store and provisions, what his numbers, what his designes, what his hopes or feares, what his encombrances: A thing not ea∣silie to be learn'd, nor without great ex∣pence; besides that, the parties to be therein imployed must be of tried fidelity, of undaunted resolutions, and of no meane parts. A sleight recompence will not countervaile such an undertaking: Nor is it a businesse for one man alone to goe

through with, but he is usually forced to take in many to his assistance, and it is but reason they should share in the reward, that share in the worke: Amongst whom if any one prove false, they all miscarrie, and the action too. They must be there∣fore singled out with choice; and a man must be very warie whom he boords in such a businesse; For, it is a high point of credulitie to beleeve he will be true to me, whom I endeavor to make false where he owes his Faith. Nor are men of ordinarie parts fit to be embarqu'd as the cheife agents in such an affaire. The art of carrying two faces under one hood, and conversing as a friend with them, whom as an enemie he studies to ruine; of corrupting others to betray their trust, and to tread with him the same pathes of danger for advantage (when discoverie brings certaine death, and no lesse certain shame) askes a practic'd Machivilian, verst in all kinde of subtleties and guiles, and perfect in disguising his intents. That these Arts are honest, is more then I dare affirme: yet that they are necessarie, in time of warre, is that which most men a∣verre.

But God helpe us, if that were necessarie which were not honest. So much I shall venture to determine; That he which gaines his Soveraigne intelli∣gence of any thing that may conduce unto his safetie, doth but what is honest, and that to which he is tyed by the oath of alleigeance: But he that discovers his Soveraignes designes unto his enemie, or corrupts his Subjects in their Loyaltie, making them, for private gaine, the in∣struments of a publique ruine, is a traytor in the highest kinde, and ayming at wick∣ed ends, endeavors to compasse them by as unlawfull meanes. Let such men be as∣sured, that both a certaine, and a great damnation doth attend them; from which they have lesse hope than other men to e∣scape by repentance, because we doe not find, that God ever gave it unto such a traytor. How miserable in the meane time is their condition, that bargain their own certain damnation on such tearmes? the danger great, the reward little, the performance doubtfull, the infamy cer∣taine, even with those whom they have so basely serv'd, but much more with the

other party; for even those that most court their assistance, doe hate their per∣sons, and when their use is at an end, cast off the property with which they acted. If fordid avarice did not blinde them, they must needs see, that those which have once falsified their saith, must ne're be trusted more; and they that would be once corrupted, must ne're be used a∣gaine. If they faile of their promised re∣wards, with what face can they complaine of others falshood, that are conscious of their own? or murmure because their fel∣lowes have deceived them, when they have deceived their Master? Poore, and wretched, and discontented may they perish, begging their bread in desolate places, where they shall finde no hand to relieve them, nor no eye to pitie them, whose Faith gold can corrupt, and make them disloyall to their King and Country. Leaving them to him that will finde them out in their falshood, we may without of∣fence bewaile our own condition, whose greatest danger is from one another, and that so close and secret, that it is not easily avoided. Suspition and circumspection

are our only helps, which though they be both equally necessarie, yet suspition is lyable to construction, and scarce thought consistent with the candor of an ingenu∣ous natur. For it is usually said; Good men doe not misdoubt that in others, which they would not doe themselves; and therefore are as tender to wrong o∣ther men by suspition, as they would be sensible to be so wronged themselves. Truely I should wish that suspitions might not be discovered till presumpti∣ons growe strong, and begin to neigh∣bour upon proofe; yet in publique con∣cernments I would have them alwaies wakeing, and even then most busie when they are least detected; for suspition quickens observation, and observation drawes probabilities, and probabilities make conjectures, which by the weight of circumstances laid together, at length amount to proofes, whereby when we have discovered what we sought, we need not blush that they tooke their rise from such beginings. It is the best advan∣tage in this case to be quick-sighted, and quick-sented, that we may prevent these

treacheries, which being once enacted, can ne're be cur'd.