Letusnowspeakoftheinconveniencesofcoun—
sel，andoftheremedies.Theinconveniencesthathavebeennoted，incallingandusingcounsel，arethree.First，therevealingofaffairs，wherebytheybecomelesssecret.Secondly，theweakeningoftheauthorityofprinces，asiftheywerelessofthem—
selves.Thirdly，thedangerofbeingunfaithfullycounselled，andmoreforthegoodofthemthatcounsel，thanofhimthatiscounselled.Forwhichinconveniences，thedoctrineofItaly，andpracticeofFrance，insomekings’times，hathintroducedcabinetcounsels;aremedyworsethanthedisease.
Astosecrecy;princesarenotboundtocommu—
nicateallmatters，withallcounsellors;butmayextractandselect.Neitherisitnecessary，thathethatconsultethwhatheshoulddo，shoulddeclarewhathewilldo.Butletprincesbeware，thattheunsecretingoftheiraffairs，comesnotfromthem—