The accomplish'd courtier consisting of institutions and examples, by which courtiers and officers of state may square their transactions prudently, and in good order and method / by H.W. Gent.

CHAP. VI. (Book 6)

The Argument.

The rarity and condition of honest men in the Courts of Tyrants and dissolute Princes. The seminary of evill men, and the Art of approving themselves to the Prince.

PErhaps some will say, It seldome chanceth that a Tyrant or dissolute Prince takes to him an honest man. Nor can I deny that it is very rare, but this also I affirme, that there are few Princes houses in which some good man (at least) may not be found drawn thither if not by a call from the Prince, yet by a desire of accommodating the good, and infringing the power of evill ones, and may keep his Station there by the aide and benevolence of the better sort, or the friendship of some great or noble One: observing first and keeping that wholesome temperament of Lepidus whom Tacitus in the fourth of his Annals propounds as an ex∣ample of a good and wise Courtier, who neither by abrupt contuma••y hath irritated and provoked the Prince, nor by a deformed obsequiousnesse consented to all his lust.

2. The same Tacitus commendeth Labeo and Cap••••o; of whom speaking. That age, saith he, bare two Ornaments of peace at once: but Labeo being more famous for his incorrupt freedome and liberty; Ca∣pito for his readiness to serve those in Authority, were much approved, Annals 3.

3. It cannot be denied, but that a Courtiers life

to an honest man is more beset with difficulties then to another man. But this labour wilbe made good by the greatnesse of the glory and pleasure of mind which he shall have. Moreover, if he act wisely, and accommodate himself to such things as hee sees cannot be changed, I dare be bold to say that he shalbe at length endeared even to the worst of Princes, more deere certainly then others in after times who seldome with due faithfulnesse transact the business of their Prince, at least not so exactly, but that every man may lawfully pro∣mise himselfe better service from a good man.

4. To this purpose was the Counsell of Salu∣stius and Mecoenas whereby the one to Julius Cae∣sar, the other to Augustus, commended the love and friendship of good men because their owne regard of estimation, and religious Conscience, is more prevalent with them to deterr them from dishonest things, then fear of punishment can do others; or their owne imbecillity, or want of strength, can restraine.

5. But, as is said, the growth and sproutings up of evill men is more plentifull in Courts, who chiefly do approve themselves to the Prince by two causes; first by Adulation and doing any ex∣ploit the Prince commandeth, and so much the more servile is he by how much the hope of profit allureth: moreover there is this, wherein Princes much please themselves, that they may have some in comparison of whom they (although evill them∣selves) may seeme to be good. Others also sup∣pose their life more secure amongst such as are like themselves.

6. Dionysius the Tyrant being required to expell

from Court a certaine fellow, who by his obsceni∣ties had incurred the odium of all men, answered that he must retaine him in the Court, lest him∣selfe should seem to be the worst there.

7. They who know themselves obnoxious to some vices have this way with them, that they cloake themselves with a shew of honesty, by com∣paring themselves with those who are worse. And it is the old Artifice of such as Rule, to choose an unlike and unequall successor, that so their own doings may appear better & more illustrious. Nor was Augustus other wise minded while he called Tiberius to his assistance seeing his Arrogancy and Cruelty, nor Tiberius when he delivered the Em∣pire to Caligula: of which, Tacitus is the Author.

8. But first it is very necessary that an honest man be sober and sparing in speech: for Princes do seldome give freedome to such, nor was it suc∣cessefull to Plato the liberty which he usurped to∣wards Dionysius Syracusa: for therefore was he de∣livered to a certaine Marriner, and sold into the Isle of Creta, from whence being redeemed by certaine Philosophers, he was admonished either to abstaine from the Courts of Princes, or to speak pleasing things unto them.

9. With like counsell Aristotle instructed Ca∣listhenes his kinsman, whom he was fitting and preparing to accompany Alexander that he should speake but seldome and pleasant things to him, up∣on whose word his life depended.