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. II. (Book 2)

The Argument.

Two wayes to aucupate the Favour of the Prince.

THere are two wayes especially and most com∣mon and frequent whereby Courtiers pro∣cure to themselves Authority and Favour with the Prince.

1. One is the course of such who go about to procure to themselves and hunt after publique Charges, Offices, and Dignities; and, in the interi∣valls of such Dignities and Imployments more neer, content themselves with such as are lower & at greater distance from Supremacy.

2. The other, is of such as follow the Court

continually seeking to be imployed in the Prin∣ce's most secret businesses and extraordinary soli∣citations for others.

3. The last of these is the most compendious, and beares the impresse and footsteps of such as have been in the most flagrant and flourishing favour and acceptance with their Prince. Such was Mecoenas with Augustus, and Salustius with him also and Tiberius his Suc••essor. Of whom Tacitus in his Annal 3. sayes thus: Although Sa∣lustius emulating Mecoenas by a prompt and rea∣dy entrance to honour, yet without the dignity of a Senator, out-stript many in power, who had triumphed and were of Consular dignity; being divers from the institutes of the Auncients by his trimnes and sprucenesse, and by wealth and a∣boundance more prone to luxury; had never∣thelesse such vigor of mind as was fit for great negotiations, and so much the sharper by how much he did ostentate and brag of sleep and sloath∣fulnesse.

The like to whom was Mella, of whom the same Tacitus in the twelfth of his Annals, saith: Mella being descendred from the same Linage with Gallio and Seneca abstained from the desire of honour through a prepesterous ambition, that being a Roman Knight he might equalize the power of a Consul, and also believed that it was a shorter way to get riches by procurations and soliciting for others, then by negotiating for the Prince.