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. XIII.

The Argument.

Of the Domesticks and fami••iars of Princes, and how to obtain their friendship.

HAving considered what a waiting Courtier is to do, in respect of the Prince, let us come now to what he is to do, in respect of, and a∣mongst those, who are his domestick servants, whose Office is continually, to be employed about the Prince's person, and therefore very usefull for such, as seek addresses to him, either by procuring them an extraordinary accesse, or by mentioning them to him, or informing them of occasions and opportunities, to dispatch their businesse. Princes for the most part, carry one kind of countenance in private, and another in publick; and do more freely disclose their minds to those their domesticks, whom they believe to be faithfull and trusty, supposing that their hu∣mility and low condition, is not capable of any endeavour, either traiterous or mischievous.

2. Who knowes not, that Claudius was sub∣ject to the commands of such, who had been bondmen? One whereof (Pallas by name) he had so enriched, that himself on a time, complai∣ning to one of his wants, had this reply, That if he made sure to be adopted by Pallas, he should forthwith be rich. The same was the Au∣thor, that Claudius married Agrippina, after that, by the help of Narcissus (formerly also a bondman)

he had slain his wife Messalina.

3. Who knowes not also, that while the Em∣pire of Constantinople stood, the power thereof, was sometimes upheld by Eunuchs; and but for them, Arbetius the chief Commissioner of the Empire, had lost his life, when Verissimus accused him.

4. Bor••lus and Germanus, two kitchen-slaves, by the authority whereby they held Botoniates, one of the Emperours, altogether subject and obnoxious, rendred him strange and absurd to Isaacius, and Alexius Comnenus.

5. Put case, the Prince doth not communi∣cate his counsells to them, yet are they more easily sifted out and accused by such. Nor can it be, that a Prince can alwaies keep on his vizard in private: Affections kept close and suppressed, break forth amongst the multitude, and become conspicuous to men, when privacy before hath given them liberty.

6. It is a thing altogether necessary in Court, for a Prince to esteem men of all kinds, even the vilest, usefull to him; and to believe cer∣tainly, that prudence and ingenuity encrease to∣gether with authority and fortune; which Ar∣rianus, writing to Epictetus, shewes, by the ex∣ample of Epaphroditus, and his two slaves, where∣of, although one was Groom of the Stool to the Emperour, the other a wiper of shoes; yet after∣wards Epaphroditus, who had lately sold them as unusefull creatures, not onely insinuated into their favours, but also commended their pru∣dence and discretion.

7. Fortune scarce ever advanced any man to

that height in Court, but that she procured him as many foes, as friends; and never brought any man so low, but that she could afterwards either hurt him further, or again in some kind or other do him good. Whereupon not in vain, is the observation of Tacitus, in the 6th. of his Annalls, That while Tiberius was Emperour, it was accounted a magnifick and stately thing, but onely to be acquainted with, and known to, the Porters of Sejanus.

8. It will be then the part of a wise and pru∣dent man, to procure the friendship of the Prince's Familiars, whatsoever they be, by any such officious serviceablenesse, as reason and re∣putation will permit.