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

CHAP. 2.

The ways to obtain the Princes favor.

THe ways whereby Courtiers get into au∣thority and favor with the Prince are two, above all other most usual and frequen∣ted. The one is of those that seek after pub∣lick Offices and Dignities, Climbing up the stairs of honor till they come within a stage of the Favorite himself; The other is of those that follow the Court, sedulously seeking all occasions of being imployed in the secret af∣fairs of the Prince, and made use in business of the greatest trust.

The last of which ways, is without doubt the shortest, and traced with their steps, who have lived in the greatest Favor with their Princes; as Mecaenas was to Augustus, and Sa∣lust both to him, and his Successor Tiberius, of whom Tacitus, Annal. 3. Salust, although the ways of honor were easie unto him, imita∣ting Mecaenas, without the senatorial Dignity, outwent in Power many that had been honored, both with triumphs and the consulship, & varying from the custome of the Ancients through his deli∣cacy, and neatness, seemed prone to nothing but the Plenty and aboundance of luxary; although he had indeed a vigorous minde, capable of the weightiest business; by so much the more sharp

and active by how much the more he made sh••w of dulness and floth.

Like to him was Mella, of whom speaks the same Tacitus, Annal. 12. Mella born of the same Parents, that Gallio and Seneca were; through a Preposterous ambition laid aside all pre∣tence to publick honors; to the end, that being only Roman Knight, he might equal in power those that had been Consuls; Besides, he beleeved it the shortest way to the getting of money, to be im∣ployed in Agencies, and solliciting the Princes business.