’ 
XXII. 47. THE SECOND BOOK. 2 
47 : 49 
was meant of particulars: nevertheless even unto the 
general rules and discourses of policy and government 
there is due a reverent and reserved handling. 
48. But contrariwise in the governors towards the 
governed, all things ought as far as the frailty of man 
permitteth to be manifest and revealed. For so it is 
expressed in the scriptures, touching the government of 
God, that this globe, which seemeth to us a dark and 
shady body, is in the view of God as crystal: Zi? zn con- 
spectu sedis tanquam mare vitreum simile crystallo. So 
unto princes and states, and specially towards wise senates 
and councils, the natures and dispositions of the people, 
their conditions and necessities, their factions and com- 
binations, their animosities and discontents, ought to be, 
in regard of the variety of their intelligences, the wisdom 
of their observations, and the height of their station where 
they keep sentinel, in great part clear and transparent. 
Wherefore, considering that I write to a king that is a 
master of this science, and is so well assisted, I think it 
decent to pass over this part in silence, as willing to 
‘obtain the certificate which one of the ancient philo- 
sophers aspired unto; who being silent, when others 
contended to make demonstration of their abilities by 
speech, desired it mought be certified for his part, Zhaz 
there was one that knew how to hold his peace. 
49. Notwithstanding, for the more public part of 
government, which is laws, I think good to note only one 
deficience ; which is, that all those which have written of 
laws, have written either as philosophers or as lawyers, 
and none as statesmen. As for the philosophers, they 
make imaginary laws for imaginary commonwealths, and 
their discourses are as the stars, which give little light 
because they are so high. For the lawyers, they write 
