Le Secret: 'Le secret est encore expressement recommandé en toutes les actions du Parfait Ambassadeur; c'est le fondement de l'edifice, le timon du navire, le frein du cheval, & le bon effet de qui se pretend … Un habile homme, a tousiours plus d'effet que de parole: celuy qui est excessif en langage, est souvent bien sterile aux bonnes œuvres. Enfin, le secret est l'ame des affaires, & c'est luy qui empesche l'ennemy de se pourvoir contre les accidents. L'Ambassadeur qui n'est pas en estime de garder le secret, n'est guere adverty des choses d'importance; les espions ne s'y osent fier, car la creance qu'ils prennent d'un homme qui ne revele iamais rien, les obligent davantage que le profit qu'ils en peuvent retirer … La Republique de Venise a tousiours merité une glorieuse loüange en ce point particulier.'[1]
Of Instructions[2]: 'It is commonly said, that it is sufficient to send an able Man, and let him act as he shall think fit. However, I don't believe that they who speak this pretend by it that an Embassador ought to go upon his Commission, without Instructions. It is requisite, and even necessary, he should know his Master's Intention, and be inform'd of his Will, in reference to the Affairs he is to negotiate; and all that ought to be expected from him, is, that the Prince should rely on the ability of the Embassador for the Management and Execution thereof. … I am willing to believe, that excepting the essential Particulars, which make the Subject of the Embassy, the most general Instructions are the best, to an able Minister. … The Instructions are a secret Instrument which the Embassador is not obliged to communicate to the Court where he negotiates. Nay, I dare affirm that he ought not to produce it, without a Necessity, and an express Order.[3] … The Publick would be very much oblig'd to him that would give it a Collection of Instructions, at least of the most important ones, of which Extracts may be found in History; and there are some curious Persons that have collected a great many.'[4]
Of Letters and Dispatches[5]; Cipher: 'As to the Quality of Dispatches, the Embassador must know the Humour of
