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IT is necessary that all men, who desire with prudence and order, to govern their Af∣fairs; do in the first place, propose unto themselves, an end whereunto all their acti∣ons must tend? Those that look towards the Court, do not all fix upon the same ends; some the hope of gain, and others the desire of honor; leads; the Ambition of Rule; draws not a few; and very many
steer that Course, meerly out of a busie in∣clination, to the Engrossing, Crossing, or Inter∣posing in other mens affairs; whilst the num∣ber of those is very small, who Princitively intend the Honor, Safety, and Advantage of the Prince.
But though their ends be diverse, yet the way to attain, to whatever end any man there hath pitcht upon, is but one, and Common to all that move in that Sphere, to wit, the Favor of the Prince; in obtaining which the industry, and labor of all Courtiers is im∣ployed. In order whereunto it is in the first place necessary, that you be known unto your Prince; and then either by your behavior, your parts, your actions, or some other laud∣able means, that you make your self Grateful in his eye; yet there are those for whom the splendor of their Family, the authority of their Office, or convenience of their imployment (whether it be high, or low, come unto them by inheritance, or got with money) hath pre∣pared an access unto the Princes person; so that they being hereby exempted, from the toil of seeking how to become known unto the Prince, finde half their work performed unto their hands; whilst those to whom these introductions are denyed, finde their greatest difficulties in their first beginnings: But when they are once known unto the Prince, as he judges them fit for his Service;
they are often preferred and trusted before others; by reason that being lifted up from a low Condition, or a mean Fortune; they are more addicted and subject to the Princes will, whom they submissively reverence, as the one∣ly Author of their advancement.
It is otherwise with Courtiers that are born Great, for upon those the Dignity either of their imployment, or their Family, imposes a necessity of having a regard unto their own Honor, and of referring sometimes their own to the Princes opinion; who besides is more oft unwilling to promote these through a certain emulation, or fear, lest their swelling greatness should insult at last against him that is the Author of it; and he not able to repress them without danger to himself and his Kingdom; whilst on the other side, the op∣pression of him that riseth from a mean Condi∣tion, is far more easy; onely let the Prince turn his back upon him, or abandon him to the great ones (who for the most part look with envy upon such) and he is lost. I intend here onely those wise Princes that have known, how to limit within due bounds, the Power of those they love, and advance; not conferring all the authority and trust of his Kingdom upon one of these men, in sub∣jecting even the Peers unto him; which ha∣ving been done by some Princes, did seldom or almost never succeed well.