Arcana aulica, or, Walsingham's manual of prudential maxims for the states-man and the courtier

CHAP. 23.

How we must, not onely take care to pre∣serve the Princes Favor, but also that of those in Power about him.

IT is not enough, that the Princes them∣selves be not averse unto us, but we must also keep our selves aright with those that are in favor with them. Germanicus at his death, gave that advice to Agrippina his Wife, of which Tacitus, Annal. 2. speaks thus. Then turning to his Wife, he intreated her by his memory, and for their Children sake, which were common to them both, That she would pull down her stomach, and submit her great heart to the rage of Fortune; lest re∣turning to the City, she should with emulation of her greatness, stir up against her, persons more powerful then her self; Agrippina's neglect of this document, ruined her and her children. I told you before, how much Eumenes his favor was diminished with Alexander; after that, railing against Hephaestion, he carried himself irreverently towards the Prince; and discovered his spleen and envy, to him that he accused.

Wherefore, when we see any one in the Princes favor, we must carefully weigh his Authority, and compare it, as it were, in a

ballance against our own; that we may know certainly which weighs down the other: And in the tryal of this, we are not so much to observe outward appearances, as the circumstances of inward causes. Craterus and Hephaestion, for a time did flourish both of them, in great and equal favor with Alex∣ander; until Alexander himself determined the business, in calling one of them, The Kings friend, and the other, Alexanders friend.

Out of which decision, Craterus might have made this judgement, That since Prin∣ces, for the most part, are more in love with their own wills, then their Authority; they also are held more dear unto them, who ra∣ther adore and worship Alexander, that is their Person, then their Fortune and Kingly Dignity: And though that afterward upon a strife that arose between him and Hephaesti∣on, when all the Court was divided into factions, Alexander seemed to incline to neither side; but chiding them both heavi∣ly, threatned punishment, if ever they should harp upon that string again; yet his maner of dealing with them, shewed ra∣ther his singular Prudence, to be imitated by all Princes, then his equal affection to them both. He apprehended, that this discord might produce great tumults, and mischief; For he knew both Craterus his great interest

in the Macedonians, and how much Hephae∣stion was envied for his favor to him. There∣fore to diminish Hephaestions envy, he repre∣hended him publikely; and to avoid giving offence to the Macedonians, he reproved Craterus in private.

Amongst those that in this tryal and ex∣amen of the Princes favor, between them∣selves and others, were out of negligence and discretion, most grosly mistaken: Anto∣nius Primus ought to have the first place, who daring to contend with Mutianus, learnt at last, That he had better have con∣tested with Vespasian himself. And in this maner, you will finde it is a thing wit∣nessed by the examples of all Courts, To vindicate more sharply an injury against the Favorites, then against the Prince himself. Dio tells us the reason of it, when he had re∣counted how the same thing happened to Sejanus, thus, As those whom vertue and con∣sciousness of their own deserts, hath lifted up to dignities, do not much stick upon the vain Cere∣monies, and outward Circumstances of Honor: So on the contrary side, those who seek to ••limb by Ambition, Pride, and Vice, thereby to hide their unworthiness, and meanness, do presently take ill, and understand as a contempt, the least neglect of Ceremony, and respect towards them. Insomuch, that it is harder to preserve the friendship of these men, then of the Prince

himself, for he thinks it a glorious and Prince∣ly act to forgive injuries: When these, lest they should seem to remit that which they cannot revenge, even to ostentation, do use their borrowed power, in persecuting those that have offended them.