Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

308 Of the vanitie of Princesfaxour.r. yet hazarded the Joffe of his eReeme,and incurred his indig_ nation,rather then he would negle& his dutie,in admoni(h_ ing and reprouing him for his finne. $.See7.I2. Which examples that we may imitate, and may learne to Oftbeincoa, loathe thisfweetne(fe of worldly fauour, when the poyfon pantie and mu- of linne is mixed with it, let vs confider that it is not onel tabili:ieofcbe j, vaine ndvn rofitablebutalfodangerous andhurtfull.The fPrin- P ces, vanitie chiefly appeareth in the vnconflancie and mutabili- tie of it,and that both in refpe& of the fauour it Pelf, and the perlons fauouring.For theformer,who knoweth not,that it is vfuall in the Courts ofgreat Princes, to bee one day in fa- uour, and the next in heauie difpleafure; now graced with the chicle honours ()fa kingdome,and Toone after difgraced and vtcerly negleEled? An example whereof we haue in Ha- man,who being the Kings chiefe favourite, ruled all at his owne pleafure ; and the next day following was hanged vp- on the gallowes which himfelfe had made for Laterdecay. The which alteration often hapneth, for a fmall caufe, often vpon an apparance and furmize only ; and not feldome vpon meere phantafie and will, that they may pleafe themfelues with varietie of new fauourites; for as they oftentimes ad- stance them highly into their loue without any defers,vpon conceit and opinion only,fothis varying,their loue alto va- rieth, fometimes turning to a cold negleei, and fometimes into mortall hatred. In which refpc& Princes favouritesare fitly compared to counters vied for computation and calling accounts; which being all in themfelues oflike valuc,haue, according as it pleafeth the accountant to place them, a Oronres Apo- farre differing enimate, Come Handing for thoufands, ionic thcc.apud!'luu- for hundreds and fome for vnites ; yea and thofe which now Y hauethe place of the greaten femme, doe by and by Rand for the leafl,and thofe which were of lean eflimace,are foots after taken for the greaten number. And in the fame regard Princes fauours are likened veto a tender eye, which the lean moate failing into, cauleth to water,and fotnctimes is offended with a blafl of winde: for fo the fmallen trifle of- ten changeth their affcelion, and fometimes meere winde of words, the rumours and tales of backbiters and fyco- phants,