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. XXXVI.

The Argument.

Comforts in adverse fortune. The benefits of Princes are to be dispensed warily: His favour is not to be too much divided amongst others. By what means one may intercede for others. Favour is not ambiti∣ously to be boasted of. The free arbitrement of Princes in acting. What commands of his are to be obeyed & dispatched. The reason of a Princes dresse and sum∣ptuousnesse. How we are to deale with one that com∣plains to us of being offended and hurt by the Prince. Of the Court houshold service. What is the most especiall part and Office of Courtly wisdome.

BUt yet, as it is a great Comfort and consolati∣on in adverse fortune, to have communicated with others in our prosperity, and to have used the favour of the Prince to lift up and advance others: so is a Courtier also to be admonished that he dispense and bestow those benefits wari∣ly. For it is most certain, that whatever the Prince hath conferred on another at our request is in a great measure to be imputed to us. There∣fore his grace and favour, unlesse it be very great towards us, is not to be too much divided a∣mongst others; and very seldome are others who are not after some sort knowne to the prince, to be recomended unto him. That of Horace is to be observed.

Qualem commendes, etiam atque etiam adspice: ne mox Incutiant aliena tibi peccata pudorem.

Englished thus,

Such as in friendly wise thou wouldst commend, Be sure thou try them as thou wouldst thy friend. Lest by their faults thy self should get disgrace; By their reproof a blush light on thy face.

2. If we desire to beg a Boon of the Prince let our request be just, and accommodated and fitted to time; conjoyned likewise with the dignity and Emolument and advantage of the Prince, and such as the like hath been obtained by many others. If the Prince signifieth his consent, let us manifestly evidence that we accept it as a very great benefit and bounty; if he refuse, we must be very carefull, that we give him not cause to think that we are discontented.

3. Here also must we observe that which be∣fore Chap. 35. Num. 1. we admonished, that we do not ambitiously ostentate and boast of the Prin∣ces favour, as if we had him obnoxious to our Commands, which some having done have ill succeeded as we shewed. What ever Princes act, they desire to seem to act it, by their own free Arbitrement and will, without the addita∣ment and props, or Authority of others, especially of their subjects.

4. If the Prince give us in Command any thing hard and perilous, lets endeavour to have it com∣prehended

in writing, and if possible to be most accurately and exquisitely gathered and com∣posed; if any difficulties occur in executing them, let us ripen them, and before we betake us to the Province and place appoynted to execute them in, let us not omit or neglect to unfold and de∣clare them, if the matters be not sit to be written and be to be committed to us in secret, we are of∣ten to iterate and repeat them over in his pre∣sence, that we may more throughly understand the mind of the Commander, and he may see, that his Authority in the things which we act, is not denyed.

5. That which remains, is, We ought to shew our promptitude and readinesse to do, even the meanest offices the Prince Commands us to. A small matter ofttimes opens a way to a great for∣tune; and Princes will have their Commands to be estimated, not by the weight and ponderosity of the things commanded, but by the magnitude and greatnesse of their own fortune: and therefore are not lesse offended at our abandoning and disdaining of their lesse and easie Commands, than of the hardships and hazards they expose us to, by their imployment.

6. When we are neer the Prince, we ought assi∣duously to watch that we be not overrun with suddain and unexpected commands, or taken tardy in doing something besides our businesse and imployment. To this purpose, let us (as much as may be) observe and preoccupate in our mind, the things which are incumbent on us, and prepare our thoughts to every thing which falls into agitation, and that we speak not many things

to the Prince, nor any thing that we do not well know and understand. When the Prince speaks, let us be intent, and not minding other matters, nei∣ther let us appear sad, and full of thoughts, lest we seem, either not to hear, or by a carelesse hea∣ting, to transmit and passe over slightly his spee∣ches.

7. If any one that is grieved by the Prince shall come to us and complain of his fortune; let us shew, that we pitty his case, and perswade him to silence and patience: let us also raise him up to hope well, extenuating the Injury done to him, and excusing the Prince. But we must act very circumspectly with such; for there are some who feigne themselves injured, that so they may pump and draw up something from us, which may sig∣nifie a sinister and evill will in us, towards the Prince, and may thereby find occasion to oppress us. Others are (re vera) and in truth grieved and hurt, yet oftentimes being imprudent and silly, and carried away by affection and selfish∣nesse, do not conceale those things which are communicated to them in secret trust.

8. If it be our fortune to have the charge of a family, we ought to keep our servants also from speaking more freely against the Prince, or such as are by affection and love chiefly endeered to him; for the fault of a houshold servant is of times tranferred upon the Master.

9. This is amongst the choisest parts and Offi∣ces of Courtly wisdom, viz. to be able sagaciously and prudently to resent the Princes affection, when either changed, or but luke-warm towards us. If any such thing should happen, it is gent∣ly

and sweetly to be dissolved and untyed as the knot of love; but in no wise to be broken and torne open, till that the Cause of this change of affection be abolished; for so a returne to the for∣mer favour is sometimes given, especially if we seeme not to have remembred the injury; or else cleerly to have never so much as heeded or regar∣ded it.