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. VII.

The Argument.

How, when, and with whom, a man may use Flattery. The condition of true, and free Adulation. The necessity of Assentation and flattering.

1. IT cannot otherwise be but Flattery must be used with such dispositioned Princes as have been spoken of, that so a man may oblige them. But this is not to be done after any manner of way; for, a too sordid and servile Adulation and flattery displeased even Tiberius; who was heard when he went out of the Court to speake in Greek to this effect (O men fitted for servitude). They are the words of Tacitus in the 3 of his Annals.

2. Flattery usurped and too often used becomes as hurtfull as when omitted and neglected. For it many times happens that he whom we manifestly flatter, suspects us of deceit and craftiness towards himselfe. It is the judgment of Aesohines and Plutarch, that flattery ought to have something of truth, and of the species and shaddow of liberty and freedome; that so we may perswade not onely the Prince, but others, that we speake cordially, and thereby conserve our Credit and Esteeme with them.

3. Croesus in the time of his reigne had through∣ly learned the Ingenies, and inclinations of kings, and what would please, or displease them: for when on a time Cambyses king of the Persians had enquired of those that stood about him, what

they judged of him in Comparison of his father Cyrus, and all had consented that he was greater then Cyrus, because he had added Egyp••, with the Command of the Sea to his paternall kingdome: but when Croesus his turne came to speake, he adjudged him inferiour farre to Cyrus, because as then he had begotten none like to himselfe. This answer seemed to savour somewhat of freedome, and was therefore the more satisfactory to Cam∣byses his vanity then the rest.

4. Notable was the flattery of Valerius Messala reported by Tacitus in the first of his Annals, Messala Vale ius, saith he, added this that the Sacra∣mentall Oath was yeerly to be renewed in Tiberius his name. And being asked of Tiberius whether or no he had uttered this Sentence of his own head answered that he spoke ir spontaneously and that in those things which concerned the publique, he could use no other Counsell then his owne with∣out hazzard of offence, and so there remained nought but the species or shew of flattery.

5. Like to this is that which the same Tacitus reports of Ateius Capito in the third of his Annals. That Lucius Ennius a Roman Knight being accu∣sed of Treason in that he had coyned into money a Promiscuous Effigies of the Prince, Caesar quashes and countermands the accusation, Ateius Capito openly slights the business out of a kind of freedome (for neither ought the power of judging and determining be taken away from States-men and Counsellors neither ought such an evill Acti∣on to passe unpunished) was not much troubled thereat, lest he should thereby permit an injury to be done to the Common-wealth.

6. It were easie to bring other examples of this kind; but those that have been produced, may suf∣fice to instruct such, on whom a necessity of Adulation and Flattery is imposed. And lest such mens flattery should be conjoyned with pub∣lique or private discommodity, it's sufficient that it be sometimes satisfie the vanity of the Prince.