[Advertisements for commanders.]
Here such as have command may behold the many miseries that befall them,
not onely by unexpected accidents and mischances, but also by
contradictions and murmurs of their owne people, of all calamities the
greatest which can befall a man of discretion and valour, and as
difficult to be overcome; for, to require reason of the common sort, is,
as the philosopher sayth, to seeke counsell of a madd man. Herein, as I
sayd before, they resemble a stiffe necked horse, who taking the bridle
in his teeth, carrieth the rider whether he pleaseth; so once possessed
with any imagination, no reason is able to convince them. The best
remedie I can propound, is to wish our nation in this poynt to be well
advised, and in especiall, all those that follow the sea, ever having
before their eyes the auncient discipline of our predecessors; who in
conformitie and obedience to their chiefes and commanders, have beene a
mirror to all other [The advantage of obedience.] nations,
with patience, silence, and suffering, putting in execution what they
have beene commanded, and thereby gained the blessings due to such
vertues, and leaving to posteritie perpetuall memories of their glorious
victories. A just recompence for all such as conquer themselves, and
subject their most specious willes to the will of their superiors.