ESSA YS CIVIL AND MORAL. 



fully counselled, and more for the good of them that counsel, than of 

 him that is counselled. For which inconveniences the doctrine of Italy, 

 and practice of France, in some kings times, hath introduced cabinet 

 counsels : a remedy worse than the disease. 



As to secrecy, princes are not bound to communicate all matters 

 with all counsellors, but may extract and select. Neither is it neces 

 sary, that he that consulteth what he should do, should declare what h 

 will do. But let princes beware, that the unsccrcting of their affairs 

 comes not from themselves. And as for cabinet counsels, it may be their 

 motto ; &quot; Plenus rimarum sum : &quot; one futile person, that maketh it his 

 glory to tell, will do more hurt than many that know it their duty to 

 conceal. It is true, there be some affairs which require extreme 

 secrecy, which will hardly go beyond one or two persons besides the 

 king : neither arc those counsels unprosperous ; for besides the secrecy, 

 they commonly go on constantly in one spirit of direction without dis 

 traction. But then it must be a prudent king, such as is able to grind 

 with a hand-mill ; and those inward counsellors had need also to be 

 wise men, and especially true and trusty to the king s ends ; as it was 

 with king Henry the seventh of England, who in his greatest business 

 imparted himself to none, except it were to Morton and Fox. 



For weakening of authority ; the fable showcth the remedy. Nay, 

 he majesty of kings is rather exalted than diminished, when they are 

 in the chair of counsel ; neither was there any prince bereaved of his 

 dependencies by his council, except where there hath been cither an 

 over-greatness in one counsellor, or an over-strict combination in 

 divers ; which arc tilings soon found and holpcn. 



For the last inconvenience, that men will counsel with an eye to them 

 selves : certainly &quot;Non invcnict ficlcm super terrain&quot; is meant of the 

 nature of times, and not of all particular persons. There be that are 

 in nature faithful and sincere, and plain and direct ; not crafty and 

 involved : let princes above all draw to themselves such natures. lie- 

 sides, counsellors ae not commonly so united, but that one counsclloi 

 keepcth sentinel over another ; so that if any do counsel out of faction 

 or private ends, it commonly comes to the king s ear. Hut the best 

 remedy is, if princes know their counsellors, as well as their coun 

 sellors know them: 



Principis cst virtus maxima nossr suos. 



And on the other side, counsellors should not be too speculative into 

 their sovereign s person. The true composition of a counsellor is 

 rather to be skilful in their master s business, than in his nature ; for 

 then he is like to advise him, and not to feed his humour. It is of 

 singular use to princes, if they take the opinions of their counci 

 both separately and together : for private opinion is more free, but 

 opinion before others is more reverend. In private, men arc more 

 bold in their own humours ; and in consort, men arc more obnoxious 

 to others humours ; therefore it is good to take both : and of the 

 inferior sort, rather in private, to preserve freedom; of the greater, 

 rather in consort, to preserve respect. It is in vain for pru 



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