Lesson 5 – Of Kings, Rulers, and Governors: how they should rule their subjects.

From the wisdom of the sages

1. Kings, Rulers, and Governors, should first rule themselves; and then their subjects.
2. No one is fit to rule who has not first learned to obey.
3. Princes and Rulers should abhor drunkenness, hastiness and covetousness.
4. A king should search the works of his enemies and the hearts and wills of his subjects, else he shall not long be secure in his realm
5. The strength of a King is in the friendship and love of his people.
6. The King that follows Truth, and rules in Justice, shall reign quietly: to do the contrary is thereby seeking another to reign in his stead.
7. When the King is covetous the realm is in an evil taking.
8. A King’s good word is better than a great gift of another man.
9. The most secret Councillor of a King is his Conscience; and his virtuous deeds are his chiefest treasures.
10. It is not so great an honour for a King to conquer, as for to govern them well whom he has conquered.
11. If a King be merciful, his estate shall prosper, and his wisdom shall help him in his need.
12. If a King be just, his subjects shall rejoice i him; and his reign shall prosper, and his estate continue.
13. A King should not trust a covetous man, nor a flatterer, nor any to whom he has done wrong, nor him that is at truce with his enemies.
14. A King should not company with vicious person: for the evil which they do in his company, is reputed as his.
15. It becomes a King to take good heed to his Councillors, to see who follow his wishes, and which intend the common good, that he may know who to trust.
16. Princes should see that their children be well brought up that they may be able after them to rule and govern the Kingdoms.
17. A King should remember God as the governor of all! As he would be honoured of his subjects, so honour his God.
18. Be not familiar with any vicious person!
19. Trust none with your secrets, before ye have proved them!
20. Sleep no more than is sufficient for the sustenance of the body.
21. Eat sparingly.
22. Love Righteousness and Truth.
23. Embrace Wisdom.
24. Reward your trusted friends.
25. Favour communalty for by it your realms are maintained!
27. Love learned men! that the ignorant may thereby be encoouraged to Learning.
28. Defend the true and just, and punish the evil, doers! that others, admonished thereby, may flee the like vices.
29. Punish immediately evil-doers.
30. Follow not your own will, but be ruled by counsel.
31. Be not too suspicious!
32. It is a great chastisement to the people to have a righteous Prince: and it is a great corruption unto them to have a corrupt and vidious Ruler.
33. A King ought to be of good courage: to be courteous, free and liberal.
34. A King should refrain his wrath where he ought, and shew it where it is needed.
35. A king should keep himself from covetousness,
36. A King should execute true justice and follow the virtuous examples of his good predecessors.
37. If a King’s body should fail; yet he ought to keep the strength of his courage.