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Scottus on the Just Ruler
"In human affairs no art, as they say, is more
difficult than to rule well amidst the stormy tempests of this
turbulent world and to govern the state wisely. And this art attains
its highest degree of perfection when the state itself has prudent
and superlative counselors. ... (Prov. 11:14; 11:14) For a prudent
man summons other prudent men into counsel and does nothing without
their advice but a foolish man deliberates by himself and does
whatever he hastily desires without the counsel of others. Finally,
the third rule in counsels to be observed is that a just ruler
should not have deceitful and pernicious counselors. Who, indeed,
should trust in the counsels of the wicked? ... Such wicked
counselors, therefore, should be in every way repudiated and
detested, since those who scorn God's commandments by living evilly
will never be devoted to an earthly prince. Indeed, for whom can
those who are evil to themselves be of any benefit? ...
"10. In considering these things it should
also be understood, as wise men hold, that there are eight pillars
which strongly support the kingdom of a just king. The first pillar
is truth in all royal affairs; the second pillar is patience in
every matter; the third, generosity in gifts; the fourth,
persuasiveness or affability in speech; the fifth, the correction or
suppression of evil men; the sixth, the friendship and exaltation of
good men; the seventh, the lightness of tribute imposed upon the
people; and the eighth, the equality of justice between the rich and
the poor. And so, there are eight pillars which both uphold the
kingdom of a just king in this world and guide him to the
immutability of eternal glory."
Sedulius Scottus, On Christian rulers,
6 & 10, 855-859. Scottus was an emigre Irish Scholar in Liege,
France.
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