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. XXXII.

The Argument.

Of the wiles and subtleties of Court-commendations, masked Courtiers, and such as disguise them∣selves. The inward intention and disposition of such, as commend or dispraise us, is to be looked into. The third way and means, by which one Courtier oppresseth and grieveth another, viz. Power and Force.

FRom Calumnies, let us come to Commen∣dations; there is use made likewise of these in Courts, (as we have said) to suppresse and pul down others; the most here do palliate and cloak their odium, envy, and emulation, that so they may the more easily deceive and frustrate.

2. Thus did Fabius Valens scandalize Mantius Valens, by secret criminations, without his knowledge or mistrust; and that he might be the lesse aware of his deceits, would openly commend him. Tacitus Hist. 1.

3. So did Eusebius the Eunuch, impugne and overcome Ursicinus, by the inticeing allurements of immense and huge bounty and largesse, and did often openly call him, a stout and valiant man; being very crafty and cunning, to intangle and insnare the simple man, in his poysonous and deathfull intrapments; and in that season too powerful, as Ammianus Marcellinus reports.

4. Alfonsus King of Arragon, when a certain person had before him commended another,

(besides his accustomed wont and manner) tur∣ning about to his friend, Iste exitium haud dubie ei, quem laudat, meditatur, That man doubtlesse means ruine to him, whom he thus commendeth. Nor was the King mistaken in this opinion; for about six months after, he that so highly had commended, impleads and sues the other at Law, and had overthrown him, had not the King in∣terceded.

5. Mucianus, when he could not oppresse An∣tonius the first, openly loadeth him with much commendations in the Senate, and secret promi∣ses; shewing and boasting, that the nigher Spain was vacant, by the departure of Cluvius Rufus; and bestowes upon his friends Tribuneships and Offi∣ces: And after he had puft up his mind with hope and desire, remitteth and weakeneth his force and strength, by dismissing the seventh Legion in their winter-quarters, whose love to Antonius was most ardent. Tacitus in the 4 th. Book of his Histories.

6. Neither do Courtiers onely, but even Prin∣ces, when they desire to di••inish and pull down some, take this way and road. Tiberius (having Libo under secret suspect and envy) advanceth him to the Pretorship, and feafteth him often, not being estranged in countenance, not moved in language, and so conceals his anger, as Tacitus saith, in the second Book of his Annalls. By the same Art, he also overthrew Sejanus. Domition was never more to be feared, then when in his countenance he made shew of courtesie. Nicetas was wont to call the commendations of Andro∣n••cus, the beginnings of an injury; his liberality,

a token of confiscation of goods; his lenity, the forerunner of death.

7. Some, in commending others, have this reach, that thereby they may kindle the Prince's hate against them. By this means, was Julius A∣gricola suppressed by Domitian; whereupon, Ta∣citus writing of Agricola, saith thus; The cause of his danger, was not any crime or complaint of hurting any body, but the Prince's being displeased at his vertues, and the glory of the man, and withall (that worst sort of friends) such as commend and applaud.

8. Ju••ian the Emperour had a saying, Nullos esse capitaliores hostes quàm larvates Aulicos: There are none more capital and deadly enemies, then masked and vizarded Courtiers, such as Po∣lybius, and, after him, Mamertinus describes; who, in a Panegyrick, and flattering speech, speaks thus: Callido artificio accusatoriam dicacitatem lau∣dum titul••s peragebant in omnibus conventiculis, quasi per benevo entiam: They rehearsed accusato∣ry scoffings and reproaches, by a cunning Art, under the titles of commendations, in all their conventicles, and private meetings, as done out of good will.

9. But we may then discover those commen∣dations to be usurped by some, when in com∣mending one, they endeavour to bewray••ard de∣note another, as unlike to him. This kind of ma∣lignity, Plutarch objects to Herodotus, when he saies, that the Athenians were commended by him, as valiantly retunding and repressing the Persians Armies; not with a desire to extoll the Athenians, but to disgrace and defame the others,

10. It is usuall with Kings, as Seneca testifieth, to commend their ministers and servants, who are deceased, that so they may shame such as are living. Thus did Augustus advance and set forth, the faithfull duty and services of Mecoenas and Agrippa, when having openly manifested the sen∣sualities of their daughters, he would reprehend his familiars and friends, as carelesse and negle∣ctive of their Prince's businesse and fame.

11. Augustus beats Tiberius black and blew, by commending and excusing him; whereof Ta∣citus writing in the first Book of his Annals, saith thus, Augustus a few years before, had required of the State and Councill, that Tiberius should have the power of a Tribune, although in an ho∣nourable Oration, he had yet cast out something, touching his habit and attire, and his institutions and purposes; all which, as seeming to excuse, he upbraids and casts in his teeth.

12. These things therefore should admonish us, that we endeavour to look into the inward intents, and dispositions of such, as either praise or reproach us.

13. We told you, that the last way and means, by which Courtiers are oppressed by their ene∣mies, is, Force and Strength, which then prin∣cipally takes place, when either People or Soul∣diery, being offended at our dignity or manners, stir up sedition.

14. 'Tis not unknown, what tumults were amongst the Parisians, how they were heated therewith, when John King of England was taken prisoner. Nor is the condition and fortune of those unknown, who, when his son was Vice-Roy,

held the principall offices and dignities in the Kingdome.

15. Not many years since, the seditions of the Janizaries, swept away Ministers of chief autho∣rity, from the Turkish Emperours. The times of Arcadius the Emperour, will afford us some ex∣amples hereof, from the most antient Histories. Ruffinus was very neer and deer (amongst the chiefest) to that Prince, who being offended with Stilico, and meditating his ruine and destructi∣on, sends Gaina with the Armies, as an Auxilia∣ry to the Emperour; but, in very deed, to take away the life of Ruffinus, which also was accom∣plished: For Ruffinus being gone forth with the Armie, the Souldiers of Gaina having risen up, by giving a signall, compassed him about, and tore him in pieces. Eutropius being substituted in place of Ruffinus, had likewise offended some prime Courtiers; and (the same Gaina being the plotter and contriver) Tribigildus moves sediti∣on; who flying over, and dispoyling Asia, denies peace upon any other tearms or advantage, then, that Eutropius should be taken away: To which Law, at length (Gaina driving the Chariot) the Emperour consenteth. Nor was this enou••h; the same Gaina afterwards, openly joyning with Tribigildus, that it might be manifested, that he was reconciled to Arca••ius, requires, that Au∣relianus Salurinus, and Jobn Chrysostomus, (then chief men in transacting affairs) should be deli∣vered up to their arbitrement and pleasure; whom (being delivered up) he commands to ba∣nishment; and was content, that he had given

them occasion, to bewail the edge of their own swords.