will it of a number bee thought verie strange. If anie |Fidelitie|,
haue by feruencie beene accounted off, this you will iudge of anie
others ought chieflie to be embraced. But yet not this, nor anie of
the residue of those partes of |Fidelitie| by mee alreadie deliuered
are such, as in this place I hold meete to be pursued. For howbeit
the seruice of our |Secretorie| is properlie by it selfe with all
|assurance| to be caried, yet doe wee not place him in so meane a degree
as that by corruption of coine, he might be held for distrusted nor on
the other side would we haue him of iudgement so disfurnished, but that
touching the difference of counsels, or tender of his life, he should
make a decernment.=
=In this Boy voluntarilie as hee did, in the verie weakenesse of his
yeares, to seeke by death his Maisters safegarde, was no doubt, a
thing woorthie to bee admired. But in manifestation of so great loue,
and testimonie of so loyall affection, had hee beene by yeares more
enabled, it would haue beene thought verie fondlie of to haue done it,
without thereby his Masters death might haue beene reuenged, or his
life preserued: Els to what end is |Fidelitie| applied, or what vse at
all in reckoning, remaineth there of it?=
=By |discretion| to discerne, by |vertue| to iudge, and by |wisdome|
to resolue, how and which way the efficacie and assurance of all
|trust| and |fidelitie| ought to be caried, is a thing meetest in
all reputation principallie to be obserued. How can there otherwise
appeare anie worthinesse, if affections sort to bee equall, or what
distinguishment may there be of spirits when mens iudgementes are
common.=
=|George Castrioth|, surnamed |Scanderbeg|, the terrour while hee
liued, and onlie man able to confound the |Turkish| forces, during his
infancie, hauing bin trained vp with |Amurath| father to |Mahomet| the
second Emperour of the |Turkes| (for that in the conquest of |Epirus|
by the same |Amurath|, the father of |Scanderbeg| being slaine, and his
|Signory| subdued vnto the |Turke|, hee was then with others led awaie
into |Turky| a captiue.) When hee arriued to manlie yeares, and serued
with great fortune and valour the saide |Amurath| in his warres: it
happened that being in one great battell as generall of the |Turkish|
Armie against the |Christians|, and fighting against |Hungarie|, a
remorse of conscience tooke him, in that hee being the sonne of a
|Christian| Prince, professed in Christianitie, and vowed to God,
should so wickedlie become the confusion of his brethren, and warre
against |Christ| and his kingdome.=
=And albeit he was neuer vnfortunate in anie fight, and at that time
likeliest of al other to attaine the victory, yet regarding the state
and maner of the conquest, he faintinglie withdrew, & with great
discouragement vnto his people, gaue power vnto the enemy to be at
that time a conquerour. Which done, himselfe with a few chiefe and
principall persons his associates, tooke themselues together in flight.=
=In this company, was a noble Gentleman, wise in behauiour, faithfull
in counsell, and secret in trust, at that time |Secretorie| and of
counsell to the great |Turke|. The place of their residence seruing
well to the purpose, him |Scanderbeg| (being of the others assured)
tooke onlie in hand to acquaint with his enterprize. And forasmuch as
his credence with the saide |Amurath| was such, as in the repose of
his troth, rested both Signet, and warrant sufficient, to put forwarde
whatsoeuer direction or commaund in anie the |Turkish signories|, vpon
paine of death to be obeyed, |Scanderbeg| declaring his wearisomnesse
of captiuitie and seruage, desire to visite his kingdome, and liking
after that to liue at liberty a |christian|, and therewithall howe
often the |Turke| had promised to restore him, and yet still brake with
him, enioyned the |Secretorie| to write letters of command in the
|Turkes| name, to the Deputie or rulers of his fathers kingdome, that as
their lawfull Prince and gouernour they shoulde then at that instant
without more delaie receiue him, and thenceforth renounce and put from
them their wonted charge and authoritie.=
=And albeit the power of |Scanderbeg| was in that place great, and the
|Secretorie| nothing misdoubted at all his resolution, and therefore
feared too much to contradict him in the same, knowing also that if
he assented to that demaund, hauing yet libertie to depart, he might
timely inough aduertize the |Turk| to the preuention: yet vsed he
neuerthelesse so manie effectuall speeches as for the present he could,
to disswade him: which not preuailing, hee assented at last for feare,
and wrote as he required him.=
=The Letters orderlie signed and sealed, as to the importance belonged,
|Scanderbeg| knowing the great wisedome, fidelitie and counsell of the
|Secretorie|, thought it nowe a matter of no small worth, if by any
facility he could win him also vnto his companie, to passe in the same
iourny, or otherwise if he refused, then déemed he fit that he should
not returne aliue, to carrie newes to the |Turk| of his determined
iourney. And therefore first with as manie kinde entreaties and offers
of all honour, fauour, estimate, and aduauncement that could be, he
assailed him, he proposed also the expectation of his own fortune,
valour, power and strength of the euerliuing God whom he serued, that
was able to defende them, and all possible meanes that otherwise could
bee deuised to mooue him. But none of these in fine preuailing, he
lastlie set before his eies, that vpon such refusall, hee for his owne
best assurance must be enforced to kill him.=
=Which maner of spéech, albeit mooued in the |Secretorie| diuers
alterations, yet chose he as the most honestest part, no wayes to
defraude the trust in him reposed, especiallie by assistance in
his owne person thereunto giuen. And seeing he could by no meanes
escape with life, aduised suddenlie rather to die in the handes of
|Scanderbeg| for that he had alreadie done, then in so manifest an
action of disloyaltie, to be found a principall actor of treason
against his Lord and maister.=
=Great is the linke of |Vertue| whereby the mindes of men singular are
manie wayes bound, neither falleth it out in those of weake spirite
and capacitie to become partakers of the praise due vnto so high and
honored excellencie. To men baselie conceyted, there is neither respect
of troth, loue, honor, duty, or other matter whatsoeuer, whereby
to drawe them from a sensuall appetite or carnall desire of their
owne liuing, safetie and commoditie: But to those who are the sworne
schollers of |vertue|, to whom true glory is of price, who solie haue
in estimate to make choyce of things worthie: In these it sorteth to be
a shame, what others reckon for laud: to them a preiudice, what many
hold for gaine, they contemning by a sole |vertue| and discréete choice
of the minde, what is besides or lesse then that which accordeth to the
true honor and reputation of well deseruing, cannot content themselues
to liue where their credite dieth, despise wealth, where honour is to
be pursued, neglect reputation, where loyaltie is not entertained, and
expect no fidelitie, where consequently the effects of an honest and
woorthie mind, are not principallie to be caried.=
=As then, by what vse soeuer applied, I do in al things commend
|Fidelitie| and |Trust| to be performed where by districtnesse it is
chalenged: so nowe doe I in the carriage of this our |Secretorie|,
sort him forth properlie from the residue by a difference, for
where in persons of lesse conceite, and lower respect, some vsages
are commendable, in him they are to bee presumed, as no wayes to bee
doubted of: neither is it to be expected, that the mould of such a one
should be so subiect to imperfections, as that in common & mean actions
he should thinke to be praised: séeing that where any breach of those
parts in men lower conceyted might be found, it woulde in them be helde
as in comparison a thing no more then might be doubted, but in him
would it turne to a most vituperable basenes with such intendments to
be spotted.=
=And as I thus sequester him from the ordinarie vsage of what held to
be liked, so doe I againe drawe in him a speciall choice, of things
high, and worthie beseeming, aboue others (lesse considerate) in all
things to bee carried, and wherein the summe of his fidelitie shall
onelie be required. For seeing that by reason of the place wherein hee
standeth of imployment, by reason of his supposed education, birth,
qualitie, or other decernment, by reason of the waight, more then of
common trust, in him diuersly imposed, he séemeth to be a man euerie
way proportionate to a farre other end & purpose, then of euerie
ordinarie attendant is commonlie required, it must néeds thē be of such
a one coniectured, that by far greater skill & measure he be in euery
of his actions demeaned, yᵉ with much greater modestie, care, respect,
consideration and integritie he doe by such meanes temper all his
outward and inward behauiours, and iudgements, as beeing himselfe in
reputation a Gentleman, and conuersing among such as haue discretion to
deeme of a Gentleman, hee may least of all be touched with anie thing,
that lesseneth or il beséemeth anie part of that, which principallie
may appertaine to a Gentleman.=
=And whereas in any other attendant it is a matter praise worthie, to
be beautified or aduanced by some one or other speciall |vertue| or
qualitie, in him it is of necessitie, who by how much the more néerer
he is in frequentation of any honorable place or calling, by so much
the more néedefull is it, that he be accordinglie furnished wherewith
in séemelie and laudable sort, to enter and approch the same. And as
in the seruice of euery one whatsoeuer, it is specially required, to
be endued with all parts of dutifull attendance & loyaltie: so is it
for him to excell, and bee different, because in his imployment, trust
and otherwise, there is exacted at his hands a far greater scope and
efficacie, then wherewith anie other seemeth to be charged by anie
proportion or qualitie.=
=By this measure nowe of |Fidelitie, trust| or |loyall credit| of a
seruant, in which place our |Secretorie|, as you see standeth bounden
by the first degrée of his seruice, it maie secondlie be coniectured,
in what respectiue estate, he ought for the residue of that which to
his attendance appertaineth, bee accounted a |Friend|. The limits of
|Friendship| (as it might bee obiected) are streight, and there can bee
no Friend where an inequalitie remaineth. Twixt the partie commaunded
and him that commaundeth, there is no societie, and therefore no
|Friendship| where resteth a |Superioritie|. But I say and affirme,
that if it bee true, that the summe of all |Friendship| taketh his
originall of loue, and that the true demonstration of loue groweth by
a |simpathie| of affections, of which affections |Vertue| is said to be
the whole & simple ground, then may this |simpathie| of affectiōs so
groūded on |vertue| as aforesaid, be turned into loue, notwithstanding
yᵉ inequality of estate or condition whereby a man vertuouslie
disposed, being seruant to such a one who is honourablie inclined, may
in that place of seruice in which he continueth, be reputed in processe
of time to become as a friend.=
=But if we shall goe to the true definition of friendship, you will
then saie, that this friendshippe so called and reputed among men, as
it is a |simpathie| of affections firmlie vnited togithers, so is it
such a vniting, as wherein what the one coueteth, the other desireth,
in respect whereof worlds and life, and all are not desirable, but
despised, I would not here be taken, that of any sorts of people that
run into all or a number of these like effects, without exception of
qualitie, I intend, that they therfore were also to beare the name of
|friends|, for so men vtterly vicious and lewdly giuen, consorting in
wickednes, and other base exercises, in which each spendeth his life,
or desperatlie dieth one for another, might be reputed as |friends|, I
haue no such meaning, nor is my intent herein to so generall a purpose.
But speaking of |friendship|, I only deale with such, whose actions and
sincere desires haue in |vertue| highest preheminence, for these, not
by aduenture, but by a deliberate counsell and choise regard speciallie
had, of things valuable and worthy, do accomplish their effects by a
most honourable purpose.=
=To this then I answer, that if the weight of |friendship|, so
consisteth in a |simpathie| of affection, vniting of hearts, coueting
anothers good, and despising all that maie be gained, in respect of
the partie befriended: whie yet maie not our |Secretorie| as well as
any other, merit neuerthelesse in this place of seruice at the handes
of his L. or master, the name of a |Friend?| Why should he not therein
aswell as anie other haue that power in him planted, whereby to become
a |Friend?| Touching the equalitie of affections, though it is still
laid down that therein ought to be no difference, & the |commander|
and the |commanded|, do yet alwaies make a discordance: I maie
neuerthelesse thus much deliuer thereof, that by all common likelihood
it is assuredlie to be coniectured, that no one personage of estate,
laieth choice vpon such a one to serue so néer about him, and to be in
place of so great trust as appertaineth to a man of that reckoning,
but ere he long haue vsed him, he bindeth vnto him at least some good
part of his affection. For how can it otherwise be thought, but that
our |Secretorie| being one euerie waie so waightilie to be imployed
as he is, partaking as he doeth with so manie causes of importance,
and vndiscouered secrets and counsels, standing as he must vpon so
neere attendance, as hee that is almost (as occasion serueth) euerie
minute of an houre to be vsed, but that to his L. or Master, he must of
necessitie bee verie charie, and at the leastwise more particularlie
then manie others, by a great deale to be beloued.=
=He then thus finding in so noble a place, so honourable an account,
our |Secretorie| being as he ought to be, a man of |vertue|, and
|worth|, cannot chose on yᵉ other side, but frame his vtmost
thoughts correspondent in all things to those particular fauours,
his conuersing, his neerenesse and attendance, turneth then to an
affection, and this, heated by the dailie encrease of his Lord or
maisters liking towardes him, groweth thence to a feruencie, and
so each |vertue| kindled by the others |Grace|, maketh at last a
coniunction, which by the multitude of fauors rising from the one,
and a thankfull compensation alwayes procured in the other, groweth
in the end to a |simpathie| vnseparable, and therby by all intendment
concludeth a most perfect vniting.=
Panutius|, the faithfull |Secretorie| and counsellour to the great
Emperour and Philosopher surnamed |Aurelius|, for the high |wisdome,
fidelitie|, and counsell by him in all his seruices continued towards
the Prince during his life time, and euen to the verie entrance of
his graue, deserued before manie others, (secrete also in aduice to
the said Emperour) to be termed and called by the name of a |friend|.
Insomuch as he onelie daring to speake plainlie, what in others
iudgements might séeme to be offensiue, & to perswade faithfullie,
what he saw most agreeing to the present extremitie, made the Emperour
pronounce himselfe fortunate, to haue nourished one so discreet in his
Pallace, and most blessed of all, in that when each failed him in his
dying, he onely was found assured vnto him, among all that were liuing.=
=In this friendlie knot of loue, and that of seruile commaund,
remaineth a most notable difference, especiallie for this matter of
|trust| and |fidelitie|, required in seruice, for, _quem metuunt
odiunt_, whom men feare they hate:| well may they for fashions sake
please, but this sound kinde of affection is often far from their
thought. And yet that there may bee an awed reuerence, aswel in |loue|
as in |feare|, who doubteth it, yea and that rather far more assured
and effectuall then the other. For where this grounded |Loue| by
|vertue| once staieth confirmed, the humilitie and gentlenesse of the
mind is it immediatlie that afterwards directeth the thoughtes, we then
doe gladlie honour the more, by how much the willinger we desire to
serue, and more firmlie obeie, by how much the more entirelie we stand
to be fauored. This friendlie |Fidelitie|, not vrged or constrained by
soueraign command, but of a zeale to weldoing voluntarily embraced;
leadeth the reputation and estimate of our |Secretory| to be receiued
as a friend.=
=As of |Fidelity|, besides |Credit| of |counsell| and |riches|, there
are sundrie other branches, and diuers deserued partes that seriouslie
may bee commended, so are there of |Friendship|. The association of
both twaine, combineth and knitteth together all other perfections.
Which granted, vndoubtedlie must the partie frequenting so great
a place of seruice, proue then to be a person of right speciall
commendation, of answerable |vertue|, and of noted discretion. For that
in doing seruice to his Lorde or maister, it séemeth a matter incident
to his accompt, and to the better effecting the name of a friend,
that in causes vrgent and néedfull, he be not vnpurueyed in his owne
person, wherewith discreetlie, as occasion serueth, both to aduise &
counsell (the very efficient matter wherin his enabled discretion may
with greatest singularitie be performed) the assurance whereof, by
credit of most memorable antiquities, hath not onlie framed that of
loyall seruantes, such haue bin entertained as faithfull friendes, but
also hath not beene slender occasion manie times, to the preuention of
sundrie vehement and dangerous mischiefes.=
=To accompanie the troubles, miseries, calamities and infortunities
of him to whom we are this waies, or that waies in our seruice linked
or beholding, or to beare willinglie, and with a sufferable mind
for his sake, whatsoeuer in declaration of our vertue seemeth to an
honest disposition, to be either incident or appertaining, no man
verely denieth, but that they are assured & notable demonstrations of
a verie exquisite performance. But what of that? the propertie and
excellencie of this vertue is not therefore alwaies in that one only
sort to bee caried, neither with the greatest estimate and commendation
that thereunto is appropriate, is the worthinesse hereof whollie to be
commended.=
=To preuent mischiefs sometimes, and by a warie foresight and care had
of the honor and reputation of our commander, to fence (if need be)
the same by a politicke deuise, without preiudice, from any touch of
disgrace or dishonour, to disswade or dehort faithfully, from things
impeaching or offensiue to their estates or nobility to reueale the
hurt they know not, or causes important wherunto they are nothing
priuy, to counsaile deuoid of flatterie, and to oppose the good that
least harmeth, and the euill that hath neerest remedy: these things
as in their seueral considerations, they can as sufficientlie as anie
others declare a man to be endued, both with rare knowledge, and right
excellent vertue, so who doubteth, but that the most slender of them
all, weigheth as déeply as any other in cause of |Fidelity|. And yet if
anie more speciall liking in one thing then other be to be attributed,
where comonly men do seem to haue generallie well deserued, then
of necessitie must the same greatlie rather insue where euils most
preiudicing are foreseene and auoided by politick wisdome, then where
vnskilfullie they are entred into, carying in their bosomes, either
extreame hazard or ineuitable vndoing.=
=Much is the felicitie that the maister or Lord receiueth euermore
of such a seruant, in the chary affection and regard of whom affying
himselfe assuredlie, he findeth he is not alone a commander of his
outward actions, but the disposer of his verie thoughts, yea he is the
Soueraigne of all his desires, in whose bosome hee holdeth the repose
of his safety to be far more precious, then either estate, liuing, or
aduancement, whereof men earthly minded are for the most part desirous.=
=Of all the abuses that haue beene or at this daie remaineth in the
attendance of honorable personages, there is no euil so secret or
pernitious, as is the venome of flatterie, the couert seating whereof,
in men of all ages, humors, qualities and complexions, hath for the
most part taken so vehement and deep impression, as it seemeth almost
irrecuperable in the greatest sortes and numbers of persons to be
auoided. The daliance of this daintie clawback is smooth, the entrance
pleasing, the progression subtill, the continuance forcible, but the
ende falleth out euermore to bee deceitfull.=
=Men infected with this kinde of scurrilitie, and basenesse of
condition, being in proper designments |Curri-fauels| of the world,
it is no maruell if hauing in common request, all shewes possible of
graffed and sound demeanours, they slide manie times into the opinions
of the most notable and worthiest, for they haue learned by art to
acquaint themselues at the first with all sorts of humors and fashions,
and being of their owne dispositions so placable as they be in all
things, it is with them a maner of sacriledge, to bee found slacke or
contrarious in anie thing, _Dicunt?_ saie they, _Dico, aiunt? aio._
Finallie, resoluing trustilie to deale no waie, they deuise how it may
be possible to frame themselues euery way.=
=These and such as these impugning the plaine and simple drifts of
honest meaning, haue alwayes a face of brasse, wherwith to shooue
forward, and to forestall what by the shamefast entendment of anie
other, seemeth bashfully to bee pursued, they are still pressing on,
and euermore sliding, but if they once get handfast, or happilie be
after strained from the hope of that they would, their loue then and
attendance immediatlie thereuppon die at one instant togithers.=
=Iniurious me séemeth, and too perillous is the approaching of these
priuate whisperers, whose inward conuersation, as in the verie first
conceit and discouerie thereof, it appeareth vnto a man vertuously
giuen, to be altogither odious, so vnto him that intendeth purely of
himselfe, they are in the seruices of Noblemen euermore most thwarting
and malicious, insomuch as if such a one staied with honestie, woulde
neuer so faithfullie, simplie and trulie endeuour himselfe by all
parts of dutifull care and loialtie, hee shall yet neuer want of those
peruerse créepers, that by one cautelous suppose or other, will still
be before hand, wherwith if it be possible to disgrace him vtterlie.=
=That these and such other actions of vilitie, commonlie handled, as
they are in honorable places, do become oftentimes barres to good
meaning, and stumbling blockes to plaine dealing, there needeth (as I
thinke) at this present verie small question. Neither would I be so
misled, as to déeme that there wanteth either insight or iudgment
in many noble personages to discerne them, for they are discerned &,
oftentimes spurned at, I know it right well, but what of that? This
beeing also a common practise and occupation of the worlde, smoothlie
to slide through all thinges, and to meane trulie in nothing, it is no
maruell if by the too double diligence of such men, some one or other
happen now and then to be deceiued.=