 they served me to apply to the fear of this king,
which I had long since discovered to be his predominant passion. And, at last,
he who had refused pardon to his first offence submitted to give it him after he
had committed many other more monstrous crimes; by which his pardon lost all
grace to the offended, and received double censure from all others.«
    »The king was greatly inclined to the Normans, had created a Norman
archbishop of Canterbury, and had heaped extraordinary favours on him. I had no
other objection to this man than that he rose without my assistance; a cause of
dislike which, in the reign of great and powerful favourites, hath often proved
fatal to the persons who have given it, as the persons thus raised inspire us
constantly with jealousies and apprehensions. For when we promote any one
ourselves, we take effectual care to preserve such an ascendant over him, that
we can at any time reduce him to his former degree, should he dare to act in
opposition to our wills; for which reason we never suffer any to come near the
prince but such as we are assured it is impossible should be capable of engaging
or improving his affection; no prime minister, as I apprehend, esteeming himself
to be safe while any other shares the ear of his prince, of whom we are as
jealous as the fondest husband can be of his wife. Whoever, therefore, can
approach him by any other channel than that of ourselves, is, in our opinion, a
declared enemy, and one whom the first principles of policy oblige us to
demolish with the utmost expedition. For the affection of kings is as precarious
as that of women, and the only way to secure either to ourselves is to keep all
others from them.«
    »But the archbishop did not let matters rest on suspicion. He soon gave open
proofs of his interest with the Confessor in procuring an office of some
importance for one Rollo, a Roman of mean extraction and very despicable parts.
When I represented to the king the indecency of conferring such an honour on
such a fellow, he answered me that he was the archbishop's relation. Then, sir,
replied I, he is related to your enemy. Nothing more past at that time; but I
soon perceived, by the archbishop's behaviour, that the king had acquainted him
with our private discourse; a sufficient assurance of his confidence in him and
neglect of me.«
    »The favour of princes, when once lost, is recoverable only by the gaining a
situation which may make you terrible to them
