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. XXIIII. (Book 24)

The Argument.

Pride denoted and observed by Examples in men, of the most inferiour Ranck and Condition under Princes. Treachery and perfidiousnesse against the Prince in disclose••ng his secrets, is forged and com∣pacted of many Monstr••••s, and unnaturall courses and designes.

1. ANd not onely hath an insolent, and haughty carriage and deportment, been destructive and mischievous to Nobles and great ones: but even to men of the most inferiour and base degree. John king of Arragon so fondly and fervently loved Alvarus de Luna (the son of a former king of Arragon, but borne out of wed∣locke) that he would commit to him the chief affaires, and even the kingly dignity; his Nobles in vaine resisting. But when he being lifted up with pride in this prosperous fortune, had p••e∣cipitated and thrust down head-long a Noble man, who in the kings name had admonished him of his duty, himselfe by the kings Command, lost his head for his paines.

2. This hath been in Court, the frequent cause of such Ship-wrack; when any hath rendred either himselfe, or the Prince odious to the people, or to the chief of the nation. For either the Prince

himselfe to free him from envy, will cast such a one off; or else others will rour him, and de∣stroy him.

3. While Commodus was Emperour, Cleander had armed the Pretorian Companies against the people of Rome. This bred Rome so many troubles and tumults, that (had not the Empe∣rour himselfe sacrificed Cleander to the peoples fury), he could not have been secure.

4. The same Commodus had incurred the odium and hatred of all men, for the love of one Anterus; f••om whom that they might deliver their Master, some of those Ministers, who well affected Com∣modus, met Ante••us upon a time as he returned from Court; and slew him.

5. Eutropius being (amongst a few others) a long time beloved of Arcadius the Emperour, when he was but believed to be the Author of the sedition moved by Tribigildus; was delivered up by the Prince to his Enemies, as a price of peace and quietnesse.

6. Amongst those evills, which subvert and overthrow Courtiers; that unfaithfulness is not to be passed by, which bewrayeth the secrets of the Prince, and imparts them to his enemy. That of Sylla, as it was horrible, so was it notorious by the destruction of many others, and hammered and forged with many Monstrous and prodigious acti∣ons, (to wit) with lightnesse and unconstancy, imprudence and lacke of heed, vanity and infide∣lity; I may add, with a desire of getting money, unjust honour, Revenge, Curiosity, and other restlesse troubles.

7. As to the secret of Princes, I esteeme it best

that they make choice of such, as are not cleft, and full of chincks and crannyes, so as to vent and let out those secrets they impart to them; seeing they fly onely to them to be admitted into their Consciences and private thoughts. For if thou alone be knowing; and yet fame and report, which is ingenious and cunning at conjecture and guessing, shall by chance spread abroad some∣thing like that committed to thy secrecy; thou wilt not avoid suspition, but he will judge his Secret to issue out from thee; And although the Prince (it may be) hath by chance opened the same thing to another, yet possibly he may forget it; or more confide in the others silence and se∣crecy, and the blame be neverthelesse laid on thee.

8. Not without cause was Philippides the Co∣mick poet (amongst the chief) deere unto king Lysimachus, ••ho being asked what he would wish to be made partaker of, by the Prince; answered, That he would refuse nothing that came from him, so long as he might be free from the know∣ledge of his secrets. Let us follow, as much as may be, his example, and count it safer, to be unknowing of his Secret, as a thing hard to be kept, then to be acquainted therewith.

9. Hiero Prince of Syracusa said, that they who revealed the secrets of Princes were injurious; in that they exposed others, aswell as themselves, to the odium and loathing of the Prince.