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. XXXI.

The Argument.

The Art of Calumniators and the chiefe meanes of detracting; To accuse one of a speech which in it self is true but fould, and not spoken by the accu∣sed; and by a ••••ew of relating the words of others, to reprove the evill actions of the Prince without punishment or danger.

THey who accuse another to have spoken e∣vill of the Prince, by how much they draw and heap up more evill words from those which are true, by so much the easie wil their accusations find credit and belief.

2. This evidently appeares in the example of Granius Marcellus whom (as Tacitus saith in the 1 book of his Annals) Coepio Crispinus accused to have uttered some sinister and unhappy words touching Tiberius, a crime inevitable, fith that the accuser chooseth something of the Prince's vicious actions, and objecteth them to the ac∣cused's charge to have spoken of. For because they were true, therefore were they believed to have been spoken by him.

3. Many Calumniators having followed this Example have upbraided and twitted the Empe∣rours with their faults, by a shew of relating other mens speches, without reproof. This alone, in a manner moved them, to be very sparing in giving ear to false accusers.

4. And truly Tiberius, as he was a hater of re∣proaches,

so was he a lover of calumnies and accusations; and lest he should hear the one, when he was present in the Senate, and that the other might not be omitted, de∣parted to Caprea, believing (as the Historian saith) it was fit for him to shun the assembly of his Councills, and their votes,, which common∣ly, while he was present with them, were grave and weighty. Annal. Book 4.

5. This way of upbraiding Princes, with their vicious actions, did they use, who translating by checks and taunts the Matricide of Nero, accuse others of the same crime, before Caesar, who was the author thereof, with a desire rather of rebuke∣ing and discommending the wickednesse, then of destroying the party accused.

6. These are the most usuall wayes and modes which calumniators use; for who can enumerate them all? Calumny is a Monster, which hath a thousand figures and shapes, a thousand crafts and cunning deceits.