Page:Bacons Essays 1908 West.djvu/81

Rh And many like Examples there are; But few, or none, where the Fathers had good by such distrust, Except it were, where the Sonnes were up in open Armes against them; As was Selymus the First against Baiazet; And the three Sonnes of Henry the Second, King of England.

For their Prelates; when they are proud and great, there is also danger from them: As it was in the times of Anselmus and Thomas Becket, Archbishops of Canterbury; who, with their Crosiars, did almost try it with the King's Sword; And yet they had to deale with Stout and Haughty Kings, William Rufus, Henry the First, and Henry the Second. The danger is not from that State, but where it hath a dependance of forraine Authority; Or where the Churchmen come in and are elected, not by the Collation of the King, or particular Patrons, but by the People.

For their Nobles; To keepe them at a distance it is not amisse; But to depresse them may make a King more Absolute, but lesse Safe, And lesse able to performe any thing that he desires. I have noted it, in my History of King Henry the Seventh of England, who depressed his Nobility; Whereupon it came to passe that his Times were full of Difficulties and Troubles; For the Nobility, though they continued loyall unto him, yet did they not co-operate with him in his Businesse. So that, in effect, he was faine to doe all things, himselfe. For their Second Nobles; There is not much danger from them, being a Body dispersed. They may sometimes discourse high, but that doth little Hurt: Besides, they are a Counterpoize to the Higher Nobility, that they grow not too Potent: And lastly, being the most immediate in Authority with the Common People, they doe best temper Popular Commotions.

For their Merchants; They are Vena porta; And if they flourish not, a Kingdome may have good Limmes,