422 ADAICE TO SIR GEORGE VILL1ERS. 



as the king, out of a due consideration of their worth 

 and abilities, and withal, of their fidelities to his 

 person and to his crown, calleth to be of council 

 with him in his ordinary government. And the 

 council-table is so called from the place where they 

 ordinarily assemble and sit together ; and their oath 

 is the only ceremony used to make them such, which 

 is solemnly given unto them at their first admission : 

 these honourable persons are from thenceforth of that 

 board and body : they cannot come until they be 

 thus called, and the king at his pleasure may spare 

 their attendance ; and he may dispense with their 

 presence there, which at their own pleasure they 

 may not do. 



3. This being the quality of their service, you 

 may easily judge what care the king should use in 

 his choice of them. It behoveth that they be per 

 sons of great trust and fidelity, and also of wisdom 

 and judgment, who shall thus assist in bearing up the 

 king s throne, and of known experience in public 

 affairs. 



4. Yet it may not be unfit to call some of young 

 years, to train them up in that trade, and so fit them 

 for those weighty affairs against the time of greater 

 maturity, and some also for the honour of their per 

 sons : but these two sorts are not to be tied to so 

 strict attendance as the others, from whom the pre 

 sent dispatch of business is expected. 



5. I could wish that their number might not be 

 so over-great, the persons of the counsellors would 

 be the more venerable : and I know that queen Eli- 



