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

CHAP. 5.

The Princes affections whether, and how to be complied with.

BUt that they, who desire to become ac∣ceptable to the Prince, ought to sooth him in all his inclinations, is not onely a thing publiquely granted, but also too au∣thorized by the daily practice of Courtiers. An honest man will wonder at it, and think that by this rule that teaches us to humor all the dispositions of the Prince, he is shut out from Court; since that Princes often run courses, much astray from the paths of Rea∣son and Justice. Truly, he that desires to

lead a life altogether innocent, and remote from the conversation of men addicted to vice, and to their own corrupt inclinations; shall in my opinion, do very well to absent himself from that great Courtisan, the Court (if I may so call it) that sometimes corrupts men of the greatest integrity and inno∣cence.

Let us see an example or two of this cor∣ruption. Festinus the Friend of Maximinus▪ during Valentinians Reign, governed Asia with a wonderful repute of Gentleness and Modesty; being a sharp reprover of the vio∣lence and cruelties of Maximinus, and of the calumnies and frauds, wherewith he cir∣cumvented many: But at last observing that his Companion by these means had got∣ten the command of the Praetorian Bands, next in dignity to the Emperor himself, he changed his maner of life, and imitating Maximinus, did many unjust and cruel things. John Pucius (whom I mentioned but a little before) administred for a time the Affairs and Treasures of the Emperor Manuel with great integrity; which caused, that the Em∣perors pride and inhumanity was in some sort tolerable to those that were well dispo∣sed amongst the Subjects: But at last (as N••cetas witnesseth) giving himself over to the de∣sire of wealth, he was in covetuousness in∣ferior to none, that ever had born those

offices before him; exhorting his very friends and servants, to imitate his example, as many of them did; and the rest, though better, and incorrupted themselves, yet were fain silently to suffer others to be de∣praved, for fear of the danger that hung over those that should oppose him.

Aristides the first, both in name and na∣ture, being by the Athenians made Treasurer; In the first place, according to his own dis∣position, and the duty of an honest man, went about to hinder all those that were under his charge, from robbing the Treasury; where∣upon they presently accused him of cheat∣ing, and bribery, as one of the corruptest persons that ever bore that office; inso∣much, that he had like to have been con∣demned: But being at last quit, and his office still continued, he determined to imitate his Predecessors, and wink at the thefts of his Companions; by which means, he pre∣sently reobtained the name of a good man, in the opinion of all.

Such things often fall out in the Courts of Princes, either through the malice of those that are in most authority, who can endure no man more vertuous then themselves; or else through the folly and imprudenee of the Prince. The preservation of our integrity in Court, I confess, is therefore very difficult; yet if any, either through the necessity of his

Fortune, the eminence of his Birth, the dig∣nity of his office, or the desire of serving, either his Friends or Country, is lead unto it, or called thereunto by the Prince, shall un∣dergo this kinde of life; and as occasion shall require, seek to do thereby good unto himself, and serve his Friends; in my judge∣ment he may persist therein, without pre∣judice to his upright heart, at least-ways for a time.

I speak of the Courts of the worst Princes; for to live in the Court of a wise Prince, that loves honest and vertuous men, the difficulty is not so great. In times past, good men did not always undergo Publique employments with a desire of doing service to their Coun∣try, so much as meerly to keep wicked and corrupt men out of those charges: And for the same reasons, ought they to seek access unto Tyrannical, and voluptuous Princes; to the end, That if they durst not directly, at least obliquely, and as much as in them lay, they might impede the evil, and pernici∣ous Counsels of the Prince; either by fra∣ming delays, and contriving difficulties in his way, or by offering unto him more milde and plausible resolutions.

Burrhus and Seneca, who according to the rate of those times, were accounted not onely good Courtiers, but vertuous men also; when being made Governors of Nero's youth,

they observed the humor of this Prince apt and prone to lust and pleasure; lest he should break out to the rapes of the Noblest Women, they permitted him a Mistris, where∣by for a time they kept him in order: Who took into his familiarity Annaeus Serenus for a cloak unto his lust, Who faining to be in love with this freed Woman, did openly own those gifts to be his (saith Tacitus Annal 13.) which the Prince in private bestowed upon her. This must a good man do, who not being able to master the luxury, liberty, and perversness of the Prince, must at least divert them, and bend them other ways, whence there is least danger like to arise, either to the publike, or the Princes honor.