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. XXIII.

The Argument.

How a man may conserve the Prince's benevolence, and the good will of such as are in favour with him.

1. WE ought not therefore to crosse or resist Princes themselves onely, but even not such as are in favour with them, and are more pre∣valent then ourselves.

2. This Counsell Germanicus when he dyed gave to Agrippina; whereof Tacitus speakes in the 2. of his Annals, thus: Then turning to his wife (sayeth he) he intreateth her by the memory of himselfe, and the Children they had between them, that she should put off cruelty and fierce∣ness, and submit her mind to rigorous fortune; least returning back to the City, she should stirre up, and provoke, such as were more powerfull then herselfe, through emulation. This precept being sleighted by Agrippina, ruined both her, and her children. We spake a little before, of that which was the diminution and shortning of Eumenes his favour with Alexander, that behaving himselfe too irreverently and unseemly in the Prince's pre∣sence, when he came to complain of Hephaestion, he even wove himselfe, (through the Complaint) into the web of Envy.

3. Therefore, when we see any one flourish by the grace and favour of the Prince; we ought carefully to waigh our Authority, if we have

any, in the ballance with theirs, and try whose is most ponderous. And in the Examen and tryall thereof, not to attend so much to the externall species and shadow; but to the importance and wa••ght of interiour and inward causes.

4. Craterus and Hephaestion seemed once to be both in great and equall favour with Alexander, till Alexander himself made the difference; when he calls the one, Amicum Regis, the friend of the King; the other Amicum Alexandri the friend of Alexander; for upon this speech, Craterus could make this observation and judgment, That Prin∣ces being commonly more addicted to their plea∣sure, then their owne dignity and honour, do hold, and account them most deere unto them, who do love and embrace Alexanders, that is themselves; then those who do court, and ad∣mire the fortune of Kings. And although there arose a dissention afterwards between him and Hephaestion, whereby the whole Court was divi∣ded into parties; Alexander shewed himselfe ad∣dicted and tied to neither party, but chid both; and threatned to punish them, if hereafter they put him to the like trouble. In this kind of deci∣sion which Alexander here useth, he manifested, not so much his equall and indifferent affection towards them both; as a singular and most especial kind of prudence in Princes, very much to be imitated. This discord and difference, he sees, may produce many troubles; neither was he igno∣rant that Craterus his wonderfull Authority, with the Macedonians; and his owne favour to∣wards Hephaestion was envyed, and bred displea∣sure against himselfe: he therefore blames He∣phaestion

for his envy, ••n p••blique; and chides Craterus p••ivately, lest the Macedonians should be offended.

5. Amongst those, who in the examination of Princely benevolence and favour, have either been more neglective, or being devoid of reason have been more unexperienced and unskilfull, An∣tonius Primus deserves to be listed, who (presume∣ing to contend with Mutianus) learnt at length, That it was more destructive to him that he had disdained Mutianus, then if he had despised Vespa∣sian.

6. Now, that Princes do more sharply revenge an injury done to their Ministers, then to them∣selves, is a thing attested by Examples almost in all Courts, the cause whereof Dio sifted out; after he had declared the same to have happened in the case of Sejanus.

7. Even as they, (saith he) whom virtue and their known merits, have dignified and exalred, do not very much stand upon, and esteem or heed the vanities of their honours, and the outward marks and expressions of worship and reverence: So on the contrary, they, who by Ambition en∣deavour to raise themselves from the ground and dust, and to cover their domestick and covetous briberies, do take it very hainously, and interpret it presently a contempt, if you neglect the least matter or punctillio of homage, or good turne towards them. So much the more difficult is it therefore, to conserve and hold fast the benevo∣lence of such, then of the Prince himselfe. For he counts it his glory to pardon an injury, but they, (that they may not seeme to remit, what

they cannot vindicate) not onely straine their power in persecuting their enemies, but ostentate and boast of such their doings.