must and ought to bee serued, and that where a multitude good are in
attendance, there ensueth cōmonly to be among them some few that are
euill, either of an annexed propinquitie or opposition of good and
bad, vertue and vice, emulating or rather enuieng as we see the daily
progression each of the other, or else for that the world something
addicted to peruerse manners, sendeth forth often times such imps
of her substance, as become monstrous disturbers of euery honest
endeuor. It shall notwithstanding behooue him whatsoeuer, whose end
& expectation stretcheth to yᵉ sole desert, that of euerie laudable
purpose is rightly to be attained, either in abstaining from anie
occasion of blemish to his vertue that may happen, to resolue with
himselfe neuer to serue at all, or seruing, at the least wise so to
arme his conceiptes for all maner of such like disgraces as that he
maie content himselfe in that being but trulie censured as he ought,
the ende of his determinations are certainlie to be adiudged honest,
albeit his ill hap perchance such, as therby he attain neither liking
nor preferment or if either he stand in present, or be in possibilitie
to attain fauor, then not to be discouraged in the honest prosequution
thereof, by anie practis or enuie whatsoeuer, resting in himselfe
firmly assured, that time or the true discernment of him whome hee
serueth, shall at length yéeld scope to that, whereunto by true degrees
of |vertue| he sought to haue aspired.=
=And séeing that in all causes of zeale and loue, where the mind is
tied by an entire desire and care of weldoing, to him whom once in
conceipt it seemeth to growe chary ouer, the force thereof seldom or
neuer passeth lightlie at the first, without some blocke or other laid
before it, whereby to hinder or discourage the proceedings alreadie
determined, and that so farre forth as one while a man supposing
the fidelitie of his seruice might at a time be fully effected
and discharged in the requisite deliuerie of some present aduise &
counsell, yet terrified perchance, or otherwise disswaded with the
resolution, mightinesse, or nobility of his L. or Maister, or fearing
to be argued of presumption, or else in setting downe the desire he
hath of safegard vnkindlie to be mistaken. It shall not therefore
be consonant to this our |Secretories| place of seruice thereupon
immediatly to become silent, or so to suffer the euill which himself
clearly séeth, to passe vnregarded, especiallie when the case is either
weightie, or neerelie otherwise concerneth his nobilitie whom he
serueth, for so should he by a kind of |Pusillanimitie|, become guiltie
of the verie occasion, how great soeuer the same should happen, which
somtimes lying in his credit or counsell, to haue impugned, he of a
weak disposition abstained neuerthelesse to see preuented. And yet is
it not (néeds must I saie and confesse) a matter altogether vntried,
that men vaingloriouslie minded, or arrogantlie otherwise intending of
their owne proper seruices, notoriouslie oftentimes do fal into this
vain of presumption, who pricked on with the credit and fauour to them
giuen by their L. or Maister, and foolishly conceiuing thereof to lead
their thoughts in a string, do ignorantly or péeuishlie thereupon,
take in hande manie times to direct them in their serious affaires
or counsels, and controlling in their inward thoughts whatsoeuer is
besides or contrarying to their own opinions, do of seruants become
|sawcie:| of men modest, |malapert:| of aduisers, |arrogant:| and
consequentlie, running into euerie misprision of others, and what else
appertaining to a regarde of other mens actions, appeare at length so
imperious, as by the sole default of their owne misdemeanours, they are
turned at the last quite forth by the elbowes.=
=The defect hereof, so far discrepant as it is, from the steadie kind
of gouernment hereby throughout concluded vpon, needeth not I thinke in
the framing of this our |Secretory|, to be anie further forewarned, who
by shaking from his own person anie part of the vilities that in others
may seeme chieflie to be discommended, is herein to be ascertained,
that in nothing so greatly can the excellent vertue or condition of
any man shine, then in not first committing anie action that may
appeare vile, or hardlie to bee borne withall, and next in suppressing
so much as in him is, whatsoeuer commendation or liking dulie to
bee annexed to his owne proper deseruing, wherein |humility| fréede
from all maner of base and seruile purposes, shall then sufficientlie
instruct him, that |curtesie| is a vertue, |lowlinesse| a thing annexed
vnto |gentility|, to bee |proud| is a vice, to be |contemptuous| a
filthines, |simplicity| is found, |deceipt| to be abhorred, |Loyalty|
a matter in estimation, |Flattery| to be held abhominable. I will
not here dispute how much excellent and néedfull it were vnto their
estates, that the neerest attendance of honourable personages, were
with men of such vertue and knowledge in this sort frequented, neither
carping at sundry enormities, would I therby deuise, to draw forth
vnto you a man vnmatchable in qualitie, and whereof the worlde or
anie heauen besides, scarce yéeldeth either shadow or propertie, but
proposing the worthiest partes which of euerie one absolutelie are
fittest to be acquired, I do only endeuour to laie down no other matter
or ground, then wherewith men that be speciall are at this date helde
to be endued, and such as in all ages heretofore haue been thought
meetest to be followed.=
=What should I lade this discourse with numbred examples vnto you
of the great estimate and regard of those, who to kéep their faiths
inuiolable to their Lordes, haue some of them beene so iealous of
their honours, as for the safegard thereof, haue by great aduisement
made a voluntarie aduenture of their dearest liues: some againe with
great loue and fauour, entertained and reputed of by their Lordes, and
not able in their seruices as they thought, during their life times
sufficiently to compense the loue and especiall zeale they beare vnto
their Honours, haue afterwards vnto their children beeing in great
disgrace with the state present, so fully effected the fruits of their
welwishing, as that by the tender accompt, reuerance and loialty to
them proposed, they haue right well declared that not vnto times alone
of estate & fortune, when little regard of such things might be at
their hands expected, their vertues haue been limitted, but chieflie in
extremity and times of want, wherin their sundry fruitions, haue bin in
most aboundant maner supplied. Others likewise charged on the death bed
with the secret affaires of their L. to be kept in speciall care and
reckoning from the knowledge of other men, could not by multitudes of
fauors, by threatnings, or other large offers whatsoeuer, bee so far
seduced, (as when the dead was quite passed and gone out of the world,
whereby they néeded not at all to haue doubted) they would yet be led
in the least iote of al, to defraud the trust in them reposed, but haue
kept the same inuiolable to their vndoubted commendation, and further
increase afterward of good liking to a far greater credit.=
=Infinite are the remembrances that of these, and suchlike occasions
are and haue béen dailie recorded, the multitude whereof for breuity
I do omit. Contenting my selfe that of these two chief and principall
matters of seruice, I haue thus far forth alreadie in generalitie
debated, leauing therefore what els to bee considered therein to the
known ability of others, I procéed vnto the next part that in the
continuance of this discourse was at the first intended. And forsomuch
as the exercise of these and such like peculiar vertues and qualities,
appertaineth not, as I haue partly before deliuered, vnto men that
are of meane spirit, to such as bee naturallie touched with anie bad
or vile coercement, capacities that be insensible or ignorant, such
as haue want of education, or whose demeanors are to vertue wholie
insufficient. Let vs then more particularlie if ye will see what maner
a one he ought to be touching his person, habilitie, and condition,
that to the worthines and reputation hereof séemeth a man méetest and
most allowable to be chosen a |Secretory|.=
=For the deliuerie whereof, and the better to finde our |Secretory|,
as neere as either may bee gessed, or framed, such and none other
indeed as in true and perfect meaning hee ought to be reputed, we will
distinguish the seuerall considerations and respectes of such a one, in
three special points sorting to his office, solie and fullie in this
place to be considered.=
=The first shalbe of the person, touching his education or being: the
second of his conuersation and order of liuing: the thirde of his
sufficiencie, by skill, knowledge, and abilitie wherewith to discharge
the place of his calling. Formerlie then touching the regard of his
person, it is requisite, that hee be descended of honest familie or
parents, the efficacie whereof conduceth not a little to the coniecture
of a sound and honest condition: that he haue also had good education,
whereby the minde well disposed is often times framed to verie good
purpose. That he be of shape & countenance proportianable to those
required vertues, forsomuch as commonly ensueth, that |Nature| in
producing of all her creatures maketh in them effects answerable
to their seuerall constitutions, as to flowers of most exquisit
proportion, she giueth the most excellent fauour; the dog is not shaped
like the lion, nor the curre as the Spaniell: the Rennet tree is not
as the Crabbe stocke, the one bearing an Apple, wholsome, delicate and
pleasing, when it commeth to be tasted: the other putting forth of the
knures, no other then the sappe of Vertuyes, when the best of it is
inioyed.=
=By the countenance we doe further also iudge of the qualities and
disposition of men, insomuch as the verie markes of fauour haue not
too many iudgements proued weak discouerers of some peoples good or
vntoward conditions, wee haue likewise in euident testimonie, that
ill disposed nature confirmed by custom, seldome degenerates from the
kind either whence it is sprung, or wherein it hath long time beene
nourished.=
=To mankinde there happeneth in the bodie manie deformities, which
arising not by the defect of |Nature|, so much as by ill vsage
of those, who haue had charge ouer them, cannot be amended, but
being produced by |Nature|, doe portend some one or other notable
inconuenience: To beautifie such a shape with vertuous and honoured
actions, is vndoubtedlie praise worthie, but to accord vnto faire
lineaments, portraied with requisite and daintie fauour, a mind
corrupt, base, wretched and vile, that of all others is the most
greatest and noted deformitie.=
=|Diogenes| being of one passing by, rebuked of his preposterous shape,
and hard kinde of fauour, aunswered, |I with my vertues doe ornifie my
shape, but thou with thy lewdnesse disgracest thy fauour.|=
=Touching the iudgement of nature by the outward face, many things
might be alledged that diuerslie haue beene decerned, the matter wherof
néeding small proofe, more then our owne common experience, I surcease
to debate vpon, seeing my meaning is, but out of sundrie apparances
to drawe forth the greatest likelihoode, and thence to repose a
foundation consonant to yᵉ module or compasse of this my present
intendment. Onely let this be laid down for a certaine, that the finest
ware receiueth the fairest figure, and purest mettall the brightest
colour, the damaske Rose carieth the swéetest fauour, and the most
pliable part of |vertue|, is by greatest obseruance planted in the most
proportionate feature.=
=This being then sufficiently spoken of the person, let vs now go
to the |Conuersation|. This |Conuersation| séemeth vnto me in three
points, or speciall notes to be considered: that is, in the |Qualitie,
Disposition| and |order of companie|. Touching his |Qualitie|, it is
requisite, that first and aboue all other, he be a man sequestred
from all kind of pride, arrogancie or vaine conceiuing of himselfe,
for that the infection of these, are steppes vnto all maner of
disorder, contempt, malice, and presumption whatsoeuer: that he be not
litigious in argument, as one vainlie giuen to contend: that hee bee
no ordinarie scoffer, or friuolous deluder of other mens speeches,
gestures, reasons, or conditions: that he be no quareler, lewd speaker,
priuy carper, slanderer, or sinister backbiter of other mens actions,
or laudable indeuours: but contrarie hereunto, that he be in spéech
gentle, in gesture friendlie, in lookes familiar, in talke courteous,
in argument not obstinate, but giuing place to better opinions, that
gladlie of euerie one he do suppose the best, be readie to excuse
infirmities, and to salue imperfections, that in ieasting hee become
not another |Democritus|, or in carping a |Zoilus|, that his tongue,
eie, and thoughts, be indifferentlie framed to iudge trulie and
impartiallie of euerie one: that of all thinges hee abhorre priuate
quarels, and open contentions, and as the rocks of |Scylla|, doe eschue
of anie one absente sinisterlie to speake, or otherwise to enforme
against them, for that in these qualities and conditions properlie,
each one carieth a decernment of that which néerest appertaineth to a
Gentleman.=
=Now touching his |disposition|, it is exacted at his hands, that hee
bee not a man gluttonous, or that he bee not ouer much subiect to
drinking, for drunkennes ouercommeth the mind, dulleth the memorie,
enfeebleth the wits, maketh a man forgetfull of himself, the reputation
he beareth, and the company wherein he sitteth. |Wine| saith _Ouid_,
is the discouerer of secrets, & maketh a man often commit, yᵉ which
afterwardes turneth to his great preiudice: in wine the regard of a
mans selfe, and likewise all others vanisheth, the respect of his
credite also and place wherein he serueth: a man giuen much to wine,
hath no maisterie ouer himselfe, and is not to be trusted with matters
that be important: a man talkatiue and one giuen to wine are both
likened togither in disposition, for in the one the strength of the
liquor inforceth to speake what he ought not, and in the other the
volubility of the tongue, giueth vtterance many times to what it should
not: |Speech|, saith the wise man, is a thing naturally giuen to euery
man, but he that ordreth his words by discretion, seeth the way to
wisdome.=
=This vertue of ordring and kéeping the tongue, is vnto our
|Secretorie| not the least of manie other points wherewith he ought
especiallie to be charged, in him that is disposed to speake much,
it cannot but ensue that his often babbling must néedes at one time
or other, giue proofe that hee hath in himselfe as little |secrecie|
as |silence|. To preuent this inconuenience, wise men haue obserued
in nature a most notable and singular prouidence, who to the intent
that men by her verie instigation, might be commended to |silence|,
hath giuen vs two eares to heare, and an attentiue conceyte, whereby
generallie to debate and consider of all things, and but one mouth to
speake, giuing vs in testimonie thereby, that we ought to heare much,
to know much, to vnderstand much, and to speake but a little. Besides,
that the tongue whereby deliuerance is made, she hath first closed in
with our téeth, and them couered againe with our lippes, forewarning
still thereby, that nothing ought thence to be discouered in hast, not
without especiall regard and district obseruance. For in this case
also discréete |Nature|, after we haue once receyued into our eares
the sound of anie thing, she thence preferreth it immediatelie vnto
the minde, and thence to the heart to be censured or considered vpon:
and last of all vnto the tongue, to whose lot, as last of these it
befalleth to bee partaker of it, so ought it from thence carefullie,
and not without especiall cause to be deliuered.=
=The |diuine Philosopher| foreséeing in man, the manifolde
discommodities oftentimes ensuing by loosenes of the tongue, where all
others were teachers to speake wel, he only taught his scholers to
vse silence, iudging therby, that the vertue of the toung consisted
not soly in speking, but how or by what occasion to vse yᵉ same, and
vnderstanding first how to restraine the thing, that of it selfe
was plyable ynough to bee vsed without measure, they might easilier
find mean afterward to speake oftentimes to good purpose, and not to
accustome themselues as they did before, to prattle without order or
anie good or reasonable parte belonging to discretion.=
=For this cause |Silence|, as the first gard of all affaires, beeing
either secrete or important, is (vnto men seriouslie occupied or
imployed in the same) directly to be commended. Which maner of
|Silence|, as it fullie instructeth in causes serious and of waight,
to speake nothing more than néedeth, so conueieth it also into the
residue of our behauiours, a modest and choice kind of gouernment, in
all actions whatsoeuer, either of question or argument, to bee with
discretion pursued.=
=How much it importeth vnto our |Secretorie|, to haue notice of the
true and perfect vse hereof, who aboue al others ought rightlie to
know and discerne, how, where, when, what, and to whom hee ought to
speak, and when, and wherein, to be likewise silent: it may by the
reasons aforesaid be sufficientlie collected. For ought his speech in
troth to be so ordinarie as other mens, who for the moste part limit
themselues neither to time, place, occasion, or company, the which in
our |Secretorie| is, and ought to be farre otherwise. And as touching
the affaires, secrets or counsels committed to his charge: It is in him
principallie to aduert and consider that he is but the closet, wherof
another hath both the key, vse and commandement, that he ought therein
to be as a thicke plated doore, where through, without extraordinarie
violence no man may enter, but by the locke which is the tongue, and
that to be of such efficacie, as whereof no counterfeit key shoulde bee
able to make a breach, without the selfe same instrument that by the
director thereof is alwayes to be caried. By reason whereof, he is of
méere trust and fidelitie in him reposed, to become warie of his wayes,
and to take the course néedfull, whereby the least occasion of breach
thereof may preciselie be auoided.=
=Ouer and besides all this, it shall further appertaine to the
disposition of this our |Secretorie|, that in shewing himselfe affable
to all, he doe not either by reason of his birth, qualitie or estimate
that he hath of his L. or maister, goe about to abuse or wrest the
simplicitie of any one to a bad end or purpose, but rather enforce
himselfe gladlie to vnderstande the sutes of the meanest, and to giue
them aide and furtherance to his vttermost: herein shall hee not a
little aduance the honor of his L. or maister in preferring the iust
and lawfull petitions or complaints of the poore, & in helping them to
yᵉ spéedie dispatch of that, wherwith by reason of their simplicitie,
they oftentimes are greatlie incumbred. It behooueth also so much as in
him is, that he auoid all kind of intemperancie, eyther of choler or
too much furie, that hee dispose not himselfe to vile or vnbeseeming
tearmes of basenes or surquedrie, that hee with the two extreames
of couetousnes or prodigality be not touched, that naturallie he do
incline to good, and hate the badnes of any, that he abhorre flatterie
as a Toad, and giue himselfe of anie particular action, either to be
vtterlie silent, or els to speake trulie.=
=Lastlie now, touching the third point of these thrée, consisting in
order, |appertaining to companie:| Néedfull it is that our |Secretorie|
haue in speciall remembrance the auncient saying, that common
experience giueth to all men for approoued, which is, that |Such as a
man of himselfe is, such alwayes are they with whome he conuerseth.=
=If therefore of his owne mind and disposition a man endeuoureth to
bee good, and so to liue and be accounted of, him then beseemeth
chieflie to haue respect to the companie hee holdeth. For which
occasion, the Philosopher aduiseth, that men being good, doe choose to
haue familiaritie with men that are best, to the intent that by the
societie of them, their |Vertue| may haue encrease, and themselues
learne to become better. The corruption of young men, by nothing so
much accrueth, as by the slender respect they haue of those with whome
they do accompanie, for that it resteth assuredlie out of doubt, that
the euill example and encouragement of one vile and ill disposed
person, hurteth more a great deale oftentymes in one dayes companie
kéeping, then seuen yeares endeuour afterwards, maie release by anie
good instruction. Herein also the rather resteth vnto our |Secretorie|,
a most principall regard thereof to be had, forsomuch as not the
conuersation alone, wherein he is choiselie to be affected, dependeth
therupon, but the matter also of his ouerthrow and discredit, for
who séeth not in often apparance, that men simply conceited, and of
their owne proper instinct verie well giuen, are more discredited and
condemned many times, by occasion of the company wherinto they haue
aduentured, then of anie apparant euill that in their owne persons
rested publiquelie to be decerned.=
=Hereunto accordeth the proofe of all common societie, wherein men
onely of those that know them are iudged as they be, but in generall
reckoning, are euer censured according to the goodnesse or badnesse of
those, with whom they liue familiarlie. It followeth therefore, that
|Who so will no euill doe, must doe nought that longs thereto|, for in
good men it is not alwayes inough of themselues wittinglie not to haue
committed anie euill, but hee that desireth to be good indeed, ought
not so much as to become an occasion or slander of euill. If men would
but throughlie enter into the weight of their estates, and trulie
consider with themselues what of dutie appertaineth to verie reputation
indéede, they would not then think it ynough to be in this credite,
or that place, or thus countenanced, or that waie enriched, arming
themselues onelie thereby with vainglorious titles, but therewith
would also deepelie imprint, that them likewise behooued by certaine
especiall insight had into their owne wayes, so to order and direct
themselues, as therby deseruedlie they might beare the selfe same
account whole and vnblemished, which in opinion they haue caried, the
which cannot anie wayes bee, without in all their outward and inward
actions, they doe beare an especialleie to the matter of their owne
credite. And what one thing is there in the world (to him that by true
degrées of |vertue| endeuoureth to be aduaunced) more charie then the
account and estimate had of his name and fame? What one good more
excéeding, nay what life can be more precious? Much therefore ought the
regarde hereof be in choice vnto our |Secretorie|, as that which as an
action most singular I haue iudged fit to be exposed in this place vnto
him.=
=Hitherto haue we endeuoured in person and behauiour to find a man méet
and conuenient to the purpose hereof, wherein my intent hath béene not
to omit anie thing which to that place and calling might anie wayes be
adiudged necessarie. Now the circumstance of these procéedings leadeth
vs next to consider of our |Secretories| abilitie.=
=In this consideration, it falleth out, that for asmuch as his
|Office| and |place|, calleth him altogither, or for the most part
to the handling of deepe and weightie affaires, wherin his capacitie
shall sundrie wayes be exercised, and his wits throughlie tryed,
it behooueth he therefore be furnished with |Skill| and |knowledge
=accordinglie, whereby the better to be adapted, vnto the ordinarie
vsage and employment thereof. To this end it befitteth that he bee well
studied, especiallie in the |Latine| tongue. It is likewise conuenient
that herewithall he haue a ripe and quicke conceit, aptlie to receiue,
what on a sudden shall be to him deliuered, and that he retaine with
himselfe a sound and good memorie, for the conseruation of those things
that vnto his charge shall daylie bee committed. He ought for his owne
furniture and instruction to bee a man not altogither vnexperienced,
to be well languaged, to bee sufficientlie read in |Histories| and
|antiquities| of times passed, to haue notice both by reading and
conference, of the situations, customs, maners & conditions of men,
cities, countries, & common weals, to haue familiaritie with strangers,
and men of diuers nations, whereby the better to bee ascertained of
their humours, behauiours, and dispositions: and wiselie to worke
vnto himselfe a peculiar insight into their estates, counsels and
iurisdictions, béeing there withall warie that this association with
such kind of people, worke not vnto himselfe, or the affaires wherewith
he shall bee credited anie matter of preiudice.=