and intrust one’s self to him, provided it appear
to be freely done, and without the constraint of necessity,
and in such a condition, that a man manifestly does
it out of a pure and entire confidence in the party,
at least, with a countenance clear from any cloud
of suspicion. I saw, when I was a boy, a gentleman,
who was governor of a great city, upon occasion of
a popular commotion and fury, not knowing what other
course to take, go out of a place of very great strength
and security, and commit himself to the mercy of the
seditious rabble, in hopes by that means to appease
the tumult before it grew to a more formidable head;
but it was ill for him that he did so, for he was
there miserably slain. But I am not, nevertheless,
of opinion, that he committed so great an error in
going out, as men commonly reproach his memory withal,
as he did in choosing a gentle and submissive way
for the effecting his purpose, and in endeavouring
to quiet this storm, rather by obeying than commanding,
and by entreaty rather than remonstrance; and I am
inclined to believe, that a gracious severity, with
a soldierlike way of commanding, full of security and
confidence, suitable to the quality of his person,
and the dignity of his command, would have succeeded
better with him; at least, he had perished with greater
decency and, reputation. There is nothing so
little to be expected or hoped for from this many-headed
monster, in its fury, as humanity and good nature;
it is much more capable of reverence and fear.
I should also reproach him, that having taken a resolution
(in my judgment rather brave than rash) to expose
himself, weak and naked, in this tempestuous sea of
enraged madmen, he ought to have stuck to his text,
and not for an instant to have abandoned the high part
he had undertaken; whereas, coming to discover his
danger nearer hand, and his nose happening to bleed,
he again changed that demiss and fawning countenance
he had at first put on, into another of fear and amazement,
filling his voice with entreaties and his eyes with
tears, and, endeavouring so to withdraw and secure
his person, that carriage more inflamed their fury,
and soon brought the effects of it upon him.
It was upon a time intended that there should be a
general muster of several troops in arms (and that
is the most proper occasion of secret revenges, and
there is no place where they can be executed with greater
safety), and there were public and manifest appearances,
that there was no safe coming for some, whose principal
and necessary office it was to review them.
Whereupon a consultation was held, and several counsels
were proposed, as in a case that was very nice and
of great difficulty; and moreover of grave consequence.
Mine, amongst the rest, was, that they should by
all means avoid giving any sign of suspicion, but that
the officers who were most in danger should boldly
go, and with cheerful and erect countenances ride
boldly and confidently through the ranks, and that
instead of sparing fire (which the counsels of the
major part tended to) they should entreat the captains
to command the soldiers to give round and full volleys
in honour of the spectators, and not to spare their
powder. This was accordingly done, and served
so good use, as to please and gratify the suspected
troops, and thenceforward to beget a mutual and wholesome
confidence and intelligence amongst them.