I take it here in the first sense onely: And
in this sense, there is no choyce of Counsell, neither
in a Democracy, nor Aristocracy; because the persons
Counselling are members of the person Counselled.
The choyce of Counsellours therefore is to Monarchy;
In which, the Soveraign that endeavoureth not to make
choyce of those, that in every kind are the most able,
dischargeth not his Office as he ought to do.
The most able Counsellours, are they that have least
hope of benefit by giving evill Counsell, and most
knowledge of those things that conduce to the Peace,
and Defence of the Common-wealth. It is a hard
matter to know who expecteth benefit from publique
troubles; but the signes that guide to a just suspicion,
is the soothing of the people in their unreasonable,
or irremediable grievances, by men whose estates are
not sufficient to discharge their accustomed expences,
and may easily be observed by any one whom it concerns
to know it. But to know, who has most knowledge
of the Publique affaires, is yet harder; and they
that know them, need them a great deale the lesse.
For to know, who knowes the Rules almost of any Art,
is a great degree of the knowledge of the same Art;
because no man can be assured of the truth of anothers
Rules, but he that is first taught to understand them.
But the best signes of Knowledge of any Art, are,
much conversing in it, and constant good effects of
it. Good Counsell comes not by Lot, nor by Inheritance;
and therefore there is no more reason to expect good
Advice from the rich, or noble, in matter of State,
than in delineating the dimensions of a fortresse;
unlesse we shall think there needs no method in the
study of the Politiques, (as there does in the study
of Geometry,) but onely to be lookers on; which is
not so. For the Politiques is the harder study
of the two. Whereas in these parts of Europe,
it hath been taken for a Right of certain persons,
to have place in the highest Councell of State by Inheritance;
it is derived from the Conquests of the antient Germans;
wherein many absolute Lords joyning together to conquer
other Nations, would not enter in to the Confederacy,
without such Priviledges, as might be marks of difference
in time following, between their Posterity, and the
posterity of their Subjects; which Priviledges being
inconsistent with the Soveraign Power, by the favour
of the Soveraign, they may seem to keep; but contending
for them as their Right, they must needs by degrees
let them go, and have at last no further honour, than
adhaereth naturally to their abilities.
And how able soever be the Counsellours in any affaire, the benefit of their Counsell is greater, when they give every one his Advice, and reasons of it apart, than when they do it in an Assembly, by way of Orations; and when they have praemeditated, than when they speak on the sudden; both because they have more time, to survey the consequences of action; and are lesse subject to be carried away to contradiction, through Envy, Emulation, or other Passions arising from the difference of opinion.