By how much the more they are obliged[1] to all Faith and integrity. The wisest Princes need not thinke it any diminution to their Greatnesse, or derogation to their Sufficiency,[2] to rely upon Counsell. God himselfe is not without, But hath made it one of the great Names of his blessed Sonne; The Counsellour. Salomon hath pronounced that In Counsell is Stability. Things will have their first, or second Agitation; If they be not tossed upon the Arguments of Counsell, they will be tossed upon the Waves of Fortune, And be full of Inconstancy,[3] doing and undoing,[4] like the Reeling of a drunken Man. Salomon's Sonne found the Force of Counsell, as his Father saw the Necessity of it. For the Beloved Kingdome of God was first rent and broken by ill Counsell; Upon which Counsell there are set, for our Instruction, the two Markes, whereby Bad Counsell is for ever best discerned; That it was young Counsell for[5] the Persons, And Violent Counsell for the Matter.
The Ancient Times doe set forth in Figure, both the Incorporation and inseparable Coniunction of Counsell with Kings, And the wise and Politique use of Counsell by Kings: The one, in that they say lupiter did marry Metis, which signifieth Counsell; Whereby they intend[6] that Soveraignty is married to Counsell: The other, in that which followeth, which was thus: They say, after Iupiter was married to Metis, she conceived by him and was with Childe; but Iupiter suffered her not to stay till she brought forth, but eat her up; Wherby he became himselfe with Child, and was delivered of Pallas Armed, out of his Head. Which monstrous Fable containeth a Secret of Empire; How Kings are to make use of their Councell of State: That first, they ought to referre matters unto them, which is the first Begetting or Impregnation; But when they are elaborate,[7] moulded, and shaped, in the Wombe of their Councell, and grow ripe, and ready to be brought forth, That then they suffer not their Councell to goe through
