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. IV.

The Argument.

The manners, conditions, inclinations, and propen∣sities of Princes, and their Familiars, are to be known by such as are Court-suitors.

1. AN unadvanced Courtier, and he who de∣sires both to be known to, and beloved of his Prince, ought to consider both ••he manners and conditions of the Prince, and those his fa∣miliars in whom he most confideth; of great Ones also, and of all those, who either are able to assist him, or, on the contrary, (being snatcht from the Prince, either by the emulation, fear, envy, hatred, or endeavour, of himself or those about him) are able to prejudice him. First, it is necessary, that he have a clear insight into the in linations and customs of the Prince, which do commonly follow the temperature of his body; for although this may be concealed by cautelous and wary Princes, yet it can hardly be▪ but that at last it will break forth, and shew it self; since all their actions are so exposed to the eyes of all men, that it cannot be, but some will take notice which way they tend. They are also some∣times so sharply stimulated and enraged, by the weightinesse of negotiations, that forgetting to dissemble, they betray their ingenies and naturall dispositions: Even Tiberius, although the most crafty Artificer of dissimulation, could not so well bear up the scene of his contracted brow,

but that time, by little and little, brought all his Arts to light.

2. But since the propensions and inclinations of all men, but chiefly of Princes, are divers, and almost infinite, yet may they be brought to two heads; one whereof containeth such, as re∣spect their Greatnesse; the other, their Plea∣sures.

3. Greatnesse consisteth either in fame or wealth, or in the obsequiousnesse of their Sub∣jects, or, lastly, in the strength, puissance, and faithfulnesse of Armies. In these, as the Prince fareth well, and need requireth, a man ought to accommodate his endeavours; which whosoe∣ver doth wittily, (provided he be neither suspe∣cted nor hated upon any other account) shall doubtlesse be mostly accepted with his Prince.

4. The same is to be conceived and judged, concerning the ••itious pleasures and affections of Princes: If he be of a diffident and timorous Genius, you may conceive, that a bold Accuser & Delator, and one who careth not much for the envy of great ones, and is ••rompt and ready to execute his Prince's commands, shall find ac∣ceptance with him; such a one Tacitus describeth Sejanus to be, He had a body, (saith he in the fourth of his Annalls) able for labour, a bold mind, shie and wary of himself, to others a dis∣coverer of crimes, closely flattering and proud, openly composed and modest, inwardly gripe∣ing and covetous.

5. If the Prince delight in drinking, he will delight in those thereunto addicted; for which cause, Tiberius loved Pomponius, and Lucius Piso;

whereof Suetonius writing of Tiberius, in his chap. 24. saith thus, Afterwards the Prince, (to the corrupting of publick manners) spent two whole nights and daies, in continuall eating and drinking, with Pomponius. Flaccus, and Piso; on the one of which, he conferred the Province of Syria; on the other, the Presidentship of the Ci∣ty of Rome; and in books professed them, omnium horarum amicos, his jolly friends and company at all hours.

6. The same Tiberius, (as Suetonius reports) preferred a most ignorant and simple fellow, that sought onely for a Questorship, and Tax-gathe∣rer, before his Nobles, for drinking at a Banquet, himself taking off his whole glasses.

7. Society in lust endeared Tigellinus to Ne∣ro, as Tacitus, Annal 14. hath it: Tigellinus, saith he, became more strong in the Princes mind, be∣ing associated with him in his most intimate and close pleasures. So Petronius the Arbitrator, and Judge of Elegancy, (they are the same Histori∣ans words, Annal. 16.) being taken in among those few familiars to Nero, he thought nothing pleasant and delicate, in his affluence and plenty, but what Petronius had given his approbation of. After the same example, Commodus and Heliogaba∣lus, preferred to all the dignities of the Empire, men most like themselves in licentiousnesse.

8. Mutianus was not so well beloved of Vespa∣sian, for his faithfull duty and actions, as for that he was most fit (before others) to satisfie his avaritious desires.

9. Such covetousnesse endeared a certain youth to Isaacius Angelus, (who held the Em∣pire

after the death of Theodorus) whom he made President of his Exchequer, (although he could hardly write) upon hopes to participate of the large Bribes, which he there might have opportunity to take, from such as had occasion to make use of him in that employment.

10. Manuel Comnenus, an Emperour also, see∣king for a sharp Exactor, and crafty Artificer, in gathering of Tribute and Customes, and one that might largely supply his prodigality with mony, chose John Pucius, a fellow rude, and morose, and testy, hard to be accosted and spoken to, of intolerable asperity and sharpnesse; and, in a word, Procuratorem vultu qui praeferat ipso, who carried a Procurer or Solicitor in his very face. And not content herewith, or as if that were not enough, put him in such high Authority, that he not onely trampled upon all others in dignity, but would abrogate and disannul the Decrees and Edicts of the Prince, and Ordinances of the Se∣nate, upon pretext of his houshold affairs, sha∣ving and poleing the most necessary advantages, (such as was the custody of the Gallies) the chief strength and benefit of the Empire.