much in generall may be said of these degrees of friendly offices which practised discreetly may much auaile to purchase vs reputation and credit where contrariwise if they are not accompanied with Wisedome they will in the ende proue rediculous and so it being omitted and neglected may iustly offend those who expect to receiue them from vs. CHAP. VI. 1 Of our readinesse to performe a pleasure or good office 2 Considerations thereon 3 4 5 We must doe it voluntarily speedily liberally 6 7 8 Hauing performed it we must not instantly expect or â—raxe the like 9 We must not displease one to please another 10 Examples hereon 1 REadinesse to performe a pleasure or good office is one of the chiefest requisites that should be in a Courtier at least in him who desires to bee scene and bid welcome in good Companies it containes the principall effects of good will and friendship that is to say to pleasure others and to acknowledge it hauing receiued the like of others Good offices wee performe are the cyment of humane societie and the fetters and manacles saies an Antient wherewith we may inchaine and captiuate others especially at Court where the interest and performance thereof is the twist or coard that conioines and combines so many people one to another yea although for the most part they are drawne thereunto with different and contrarie affections 2 But the chiefest consideration we must haue and retaine in performing a good office or pleasure is to performe it in that manner that it may be agreeable and pleasing to him that receiues it of vs there being many occasions wherein thinking to please we displease and this fals out through our owne default in not knowing the desire and inclination of him to whom we would doe good 3 Another consideration is the manner how to performe a good office for there are diuers sorts and degrees of them some are Honourable to those who receiue them and indeed these should be done before the publike eye of the world to the end their honour be the greater and more apparant 4 Others are profitable such are those when wee assist and releeue the pouertie weaknesse shame or necessitie of him who receiues them and these indeed must be performed secretly and apart 5 But both the one and the other should be done willingly and cheerefully not repiningly by constraint or importunat solicitation or request for that which we depart from or distribute in this manner we giue not but rather sell it at a deere rate sith requests and praiers are alwaies accompanied with submission and bashfulnesse 6 They must also be done speedily and willingly for the lingering delaying hereof is a signe either of doubt or of no great good will or affection for soone to refuse or late to giue is almost one and the same thing 7 According to Philosophie good offices performd shold neither be mercinary or performd in hope to receiue the like but in Court there are none perform'd or giuen otherwise and yet we must doe them so as none may discouer this hope in vs but with all our industrie striue to make them beleeue that what we doe is freely otherwise they are no more beholding to vs then to a Vsurer who lends sorth his money to receiue it againe with interest 8 Wherefore he that hath performed a good office or pleasure to his friend must bee aduisd and take heed that he not suddenly demand him a recompence for feare that being discouered to desire and craue the like he make it apparant he did it purposely for the same end 9 We must also be carefull that in pleasuring one we displease and offend not another in Court for feare lest we lose by the bye that which we thought to haue gotten by the maine if a good office that we propose our selues take no desired effect it shall be neuerthelesse wisedome in vs to continue our best endeauors and solicitations therein there by to inforce the Ingratefull person to take notice and knowledge thereof at least if we be any way bound or oblig'd to him for so by our new affections and good offices we still refresh and confirme our old But one thing whereof we must principally take heed although it be common in Court is not to trouble or disturbe him in enioying that good he hath receiued by our meanes as doe those who hauing procured an office for a man will make him execute it according to their owne fantasie and pleasure and refusing it will conuert their affection into hatred and so seeke and plod to ruine him whom they haue formerly preferred and aduanced 10 Thus did Ruffinus vnder the Emperour Arcadius to Lucian whom hee had made Earle and Iudge of the East who afterwards not satisfying him in his iniust request of Eucherius Vnkle vnto Arcadius he caused him miserably to be slaine This Example might be accompanied with diuers others of the like nature had I not as before propos'd breuitie in this my Treatise CHAP. VII 1 Of acknowledging and requitting good offices receiued and wherein is consists 2 Of the consideration thereof 3 How they are to be measured 4 How to be considered according to the Persons 5 The meanes we must obserue in acknowledging a good office done vs. 6 When to acknowledge it 1 LEt vs proceed to the vnderstanâ—ing of a Courtesie or fauour done vs which consists in the orderly receiuing remembring thereof as also in knowing worthily both how and when to requite it This fauour or good office done vs must be graciously receiued with amiable speeches and a smiling countenance As for the remembrance thereof we must expresse and testifie it in reuealing the content we haue receiued not only in praising and cherishing it but also in applauding and extolling our benefactor And for the regard of the recompence and requitall it must beare proportion and relation to the benefit we haue receiued and to the persons and meanes we haue to acknowledge it 2 A good office or courtesie done vs must be measured and considered in its true nature as whether it be great or small easie or difficult singular or common true or false by accident or occasion or whether it were done vs in our great need and necessitie for such fauours and gratuities are of great force and make vs forget all former iniuries and offences if there haue beene any betwixt vs as contrariwise the refusall thereof in such a time is very iniurious and makes vs forget all former fauours 3 Good offices and Courtesies are likewise to be measured by the intent of him who hath done them as if he haue performed them to pleasure vs or for his own priuate benefit and ends or through vanitie constraint necessity or hazard either in not thinking therof or in imagining to haue done the contrary 4 The consideration of the persons may also more or lesse oblige vs to acknowledge receiued fauours for those are alwaies best welcome that are
deface and rase out of mens memories 15 But if we meete with some impudent or brasen-fac'd fellow considering that such fellowes conceiue neither displeasure shame or repentance at any thing they commit although neuer so dishonest but contrariwise applaud and apologize it yea and somtimes take a delight and felicitie to report it hauing neither consideratian nor care of the blemish and preiudice which this may bring to their reputations but rather hating and disdaining those who are opposite and contrary to them or that dislike their actions and behauiour 16 If we cannot vntwist and sequester our selues from these sort of people we must runne with the Hare and condemne the great respect we must beare some men to whom those who serue them are slaues and depriu'd of many infinite pleasures and contents yea we must blame those who betake themselues hereunto either with too much seueritie or simplicitie 17 To accomodate our selues to him that is affectionately bent to a man knowing that these sort of people willingly extoll Honour respect defend and excuse those whom they affect and loue and when occasion presents doe admonish and exhort them wee must seem to approue the choyce and election he hath made praising his constancy in his friendship and his courtesie and kinde offices perform'd to those he loues 18 But if he hate a man and that we see our selues enforc'd to please him we must then blame him who is hated and aggrauate the wrong he hath perpetrated and committed yea seeme to reioice at his errour and to be angrie at any good he hath perform'd and not only blame him but likewise enerease augment the preiudice or wrong he hath done others 19 But because wee see that Affection is neither seene nor knowne but by her effects which are comprehended vnder the name of Curtesie we must therefore know that those who are subiect to this Motton are apt and ready to performe a good Office reioycing that they meete with any occasion and watching and espying out the time place and conditions of those that may perswade and enuite them to doe it or to giue them the meanes to performe a good Office yea to be well contented and to delight that they are the sirst in making the only demonstration of this courtesie thereby blaming those who doe the contrary and withall reputing themselues happy to be found and esteem'd such thereby to be beloued cherished honoured praised and respected 20 Wherefore with such people we must approue and commend their forwardnesse and promptitude to doe a courtesie either that which they haue done or intend to doe shewing our selues to be much contented when we meet with any occasion to perform a good Office to any still seeming to be respectiue and carefull either by acknowledging or in being thankefull or else by requitting or performing some good Office to him who hath formerly oblig'd vs. 21 Or if we haue to doe with Ingratfull persons whose company I alwaies counsell yee as much as possible yee may to anoyde then we must deminish the good office receiued blaming the intention of him that perform'd it and shewing that it is a difficult thing to charge our selues with an obligation without cause and that those who are wise know how to make a difference and destinction betwixt reall good offices and those that are counterseit and dissembled that as ingratefull men are not to bee condemned for their ill will no more are those who acknowledge themselues debtors for that thev owe not 22 Those whose huâ—ors who are free and friendly are likewise commonly accompanied with Pittâ—e and Compassion towards others grieuing at their afflictions seeming not onely to know how vndeseruedly their misfortune is befallen them whom we bewaile but also to take occasion to feare that the like befall not themselues or those whom they loue to commend and applaude the courage conditions and qualities of those who are afflicted cherishing and comforting them and proffering them our helpe and assistance yea to some giuing testimony of our compassion with sighes and teares and thus we must likewise beare our selues yet still according as the quality of the Affliction or Euill and also as Discretion and Decency requires 23 Those who are Angrie at the Good or prosperitie that befalls a man who deserues it not doe commonly augment or deminish his conditions and merits storming and repining at the conduction and nature of humane affaires as also at the partialitie and blindnesse of Fortune 24 The Enuious and Malitious man beares himselfe almost in the same manner but the better to gratifie him wee must enter into the consideration and comparison of him who beares enuie with him who is enuied still augmenting the merits of him who is enuious and deminishing those of him that is enuied alwaies remembring the bad actions which this last hath committed or that are worthy either of contempt or hatred 25 But such motions being of the ranck and Nature of those which an honest man ought to eschew and flie hee must not ingage himselfe to those obseruances except hee bee constraind through some great respect or consideration and yet with this Prouiso and Discretion that hee neither preiudice nor wrong his owne Capacitie and Merits 26 As for Ioy and Sorrow wee must beare our selues therein differentlie for Ioy neither accepts nor admits willinglie of Sorrow into her companie 27 But our Sorrow may be of this Nature that he that is sorrowfull may willingly admit a pleasant and merry man into his company prouided alwaies that he know how to infinuate himselfe fairely and discreetely for if in the middest of sorrow one come and play the merry fellow or foole hee then makes himselfe not onely distastefull but importunate and rediculous but hauing ouer-past the violence and impetuositie of our sorrowes and accommodating and disposing of our selues to the time some one running from matter to matter chance to enter into a discourse which is agreeable and pleasing to him that is sorrowfull no doubt but he may thereby somewhat mollifie and appease it 28 For man being naturally more enclined and addicted to Pleasure then to Griese Pleasure beeing first duely presented him hee more willinglie embraceth it then the other 29 But this hath relation and reference more to displeasing then pleasing which in this sorrow will be accompanied and waited on by silence yea and then when with our best endeauours and skill we cannot immitate the gesture and countenance of him that is afflicted 30 As for Ioy euerie man knowes how to represent and counterfeit it and if we entermixe prayses to him whom we would delight and please wee shall still bee the better welcome I should bee to tedious if I vndertooke to represent the different actions that proceede from our interiour motions yea and it would not onely bee troublesome but vnprofitable That which I haue already written shall suffice and is sufficient to comprehend how wee should beare our selues in pleasing and obseruing
had to purchase and precure it together with the small hope they haue to retaine it during the short tearme of their life as also their facilitie to lose it 12 The remembranee of things past makes them sometimes be too talkatiue and full of kakling and sometimes in their speeches to be too vaine and importunate and although they are soone angry and cholericke and very often with much vehemencie and bitternesse yet neuerthelesse they commonly performe it weakely and faintly 13 The vsuall and customarie appetites and desires which other men conceiue haue partly abandoned and forsaken them and those that remain with them are but of small power efficacie from whence it proceeds that they are often caried away with their owne Wils which they measure and interpret according to the profit they receiue and reape thereby 15 From these two extremities it is easie to point out and imagine the humours and dispositions of those who are in their Virill age which will be still separated and estrang'd from the Considence and Presumption of young and the Feare and Diffidence of old men 16 So as vsing Moderation in their manners and Iudgement and Discretion in their affaires they will beare themselues circumspectely ioyning profit with honesty and recollecting and accumy plating what they haue wanted aswell in their youth as old age the excesse and defects that are found in both these ages will be conuerted to a mediocritie in this CHAP. XXVIII 1 The difference of men according to the condition of their Fortunes 2 The Profits and Preuidices we receiue by Fortune 3 That Nobilitie is the first benefit thereof and of Noble mens conditions 4 That Wealth is the second benefit thereof and of the natures of Rich men 5 6 The difference 'twixt him that is of late grown Rich and hee that hath beene a long time Rich. 7 The Conditions of Great men and of those that are in authoritie being the third benefit of Fortune 8 9 10 The conditions of him that is fortunate being the fourth benefit 11 Other differences of men besides Age and Fortune and how to be considered in our behauiour and conuersation with euery one in particular 12 How to behaue our selues towards our seruants and confidents and how towards strangers 13 How to honest and vpright men 14 How to those of a pleasant conuersation 15 How to those who are Proude Ambitious Modest Malitious or of a Kinde Nature 16 How to the Officious or Inofficious or towards those that are â—ngaged or not â—ngaged to vs. 1 COme wee to the difference that proceedes from the diuers conditiof Fortune 2 The chiefest benefits wee receiue of Fortune are these foure Nobilitâ—e or Gentilitie Wealth Authoritie and Happinesse whereunto are oppos'd foure disaduantages that may alter our demeanours and change our manners and behauiour because by the knowledge of contraries the thing it selfe is best knowne we will therefore here content our selfe only to represent the Inclinations and Manners of those who enioy these foure benefits and aduantages 3 Noblemen and Gentlemen are more desirous and ambitious of Honour then others it being the common nature of men that are enrich'd and grac'd with any priuiledge of Fortune to seeke and striue to encrease it and Pride alwaies accompanying and attending those of this rancke and condition they not only contemne those of lower and inferiour degree but those likewise who are not so anciently Noble or well descended as themselues and this contempt proceeds be-because those things which resemble in that they are distant and farre from vs they are by so much the more esteem'd and respected of vs then these we see before our eyes 4 Rich men are Proud and â—nsolent drawing the conceit thereof from their wealth which they preferre and value aboue all things and consequently imagine that all things lye within the lists of their power In their speech and actions they are imperious and stately aswell because abundance of wealth occasioneth it as also that they delight to make ostentation of their greatnesse 5 They are Ingratefull Vinaictiue Arrogaâ—â— and Vaine because men delight to thinke and speake of that which they admire and loue and Rich men admire and loue nothing so much as their wealth whereof they commonly speake and boast beleeuing that others take as much pleasure therein as themselues to conclude they hereby in effect make themselues happy in their folly 6 But there is a great difference betwixt those who haue beene long and those that are lately become rich for the last are commonly more Indescreete Couetous and Insolent then the former And for the iniuries which Rich men offer and commit they performe them more out of Pride and Brauerie then out of any intent to molest or wrong vs. 7 Those who are oppulent and in any high degree of authoritie are almost of the same humour but they are more haughtie and ambitious of Honour and not so vaine or retchlesse as rich men 8 For authoritie being subiect to reprehension and still in action it behoues them to be vigilant and distrustfull Their countenances holds more of Pride then Anger and are faire more modest then those of rich men beeing alwaies accompanyed with a gracefull kinde of temperate seueritie 9 As for their iniuries and wrongs they are great according to their power they very difficultly reconcile themselues to those whom they mistrust or to those who they thinke are offended with them 10 Those who haue beene fortunate in all their enterprises and actions sympathize and participate of the humours of the Noâ—le Sich and Powerfull men but they are more arrogant cholericke inconsiderate and rash thinking that all things should answer their desires and nothing oppose them 11 Besides the differences that proceede from the differences of Age or the variable Condition of Fortune we must consider it in a mans conuersation and behauiour as if the person with whom we conuerse be a Domesticke or a Straunger whither he be a confident or not equall or vnequall inferiour or superiour to vs whither of a good or euill nature giuen to speake truth or to lye pleasant or seuere proud or modest ingâ—ged and beholding to vs or not Whereof each particular qualitie requires a particular forme to conuerse and treat with them 12 Because with our Domesticke and Confidents we must be free with strangers distrustfull and more retired and retentiue yea we must honour our superiours respect our equals and be pleasant and courteous to our inferiours 13 We must also proceed with all assurance and conâ—â—dence towards those who are true and really honest but we must not beleeue those who are common lyars or that haue no good reputation although as wee say they haue already their reward in their owne hands 14 To those that are Affable and Pleasant in company wee must be familiar to those who are seuere or sullen more retired and cautious and both receiue and entertaine them with few words and much silence 15 To
thereunto solicited many of his Nobles hee at last resolu'd to present himselfe to him naked hauing anointed his body with oyle with a hat or Crowne of Poplar branches on his head his left shoulder couered with a Lyons skinne and in his right hand a great clubbe and in this manner hee went and found Alexander sitting in his throne of Iustice The rarenesse of which spectacle causing all the company to looke on him made Alexander command to haue him brought before him who hearing him although hee neither liked nor approued his proportion yet he neuerthelesse retain'd him for his follower 4 I heere produce not this Example to incite any to the like folly that purposeth to make himselfe knowne in Court but to make yee consider and see that those who are put backe if they are not seconded and assisted by some great man of authoritie and reputation they can hardly breake through this Crowde and Thronge of Courtiers who enuiron the Prince except as I haue formerly said by some extraordinary action or Iest we make both them and our Prince behold vs. CHAP. IV. 1 The second head of this Booke the Courtier must consider the inclination of his Domesticke Officers and Seruants as also other Courtiers 2 What the Inclinations of a Prince are and the reducing thereof either to that which concernes his greatnesse or his pleasures 3 Wherein the greatnesse of a Prince consists 4 Of the vitions Pleasures and inclinations of a Prince 5 Princes willingly loue those who serue them in their Pleasures 6 Examples hereon 7 8 9 10 1 ACourtier therefore as well to make himselfe known as to become agreeable and pleasing hath neede to consider not only the conditions and qualities of the Prince but also those of his most confident Domestickes and Seruants as also of the great Noble men and chiefe Officers and of those who may assist him or which through iealousie feare enuie hatred or their owne or their friends Interest may distast and crosse them In the Prince a Courtier must consider his Inclination the manner of his cariage and behauiour which is commonly most conformable to his humour the which although the greatest part of wise and discreete Princes endeuour to hide and disguise neuerthelesse it is difficult to performe it so cunningly that at sometimes they be not espied because their actions are so obuious and apparant to the World that by the issue and consequence thereof it is easie to iudge whereat they aime and the weight and importance of affaires doth sometimes so presse and crosse them that by the motions of their spirits they must of necessitie discouer their Natures and inclinations and Tiberius the most subtill and close of all the Emperours could neuer play his part so well in concealing and obscuring his intents but that during his raigne almost euery one bewrayed and discouered them 2 The Inclinations of Princes are diuers and almost infinite in this diuersitie as are those of other men but they may be briefly reduced either to their greatnesse or their pleasures 3 Greatnesse consists either in their reputation riches or obedience of their Subiects or in the valour or sidelitie of his warriours according as the Prince bends and enclines more to one side then the other answerable whereunto those who are most fittest to serue him hauing no other parts in them that are supitious or distastfull are alwaies best welcome to him 4 The like it is in his pleasures and vitious inclinations for a Prince that is fearefull and suspitious as was Tiberius will loue a bold Calumniator who feares not the enuie of great men and who is ready to execute his commands and such a one Tacitus depaints Seianus to be 5 In his vices if hee bee subiect to drunkennesse he will draw neere him men of the like humours and qualities as the same Tiberius did Pomponius Flaccus and Lâ—â—cius Piso with whom sometimes he remaind drinking two daies and a night together without starting terming them his friends to performe all and at all times and houres and in consideration and recompense whereof hee gaue one of them the Gouernment of Syria and the other the Praefect-ship of Rome 6 The same Emperor likewise preferred a man of a base descent and scarce knowne to many honourable Personages to the Questership because as it is reported hee had done him reason to vse the tearme of this faire art of Drunkennesse of a certaine measure of Wine which held nintie sixe glasses 7 Nero's Impudicitie among others who serued his beastlie pleasures made him choose Tigilinus hee likewise drew neere him C. Petronius to bee Arbitrato of the brauery of his luxury and lust and the Emperours Commodus and Heliogabalus fill'd all the offices and dignities of the Empire with those who were as vitious and deboshd as themselues 8 Mucianus was not so much esteem'd and beloued for his fidelitie and cariage as because he was fit to content the couetousnesse of Uespasian his master 9 The couetousnesse of Isaacius Angelus Emperour of Constantinople after the death of Theodora Castamonita his Vncle made him take into his fauour a young Clarke of his Exchequer who could scarce write because he proferd him part of those bribes and gifts which he drew from those that imployed him 10 The Emperour Comnenus likewise to satisfie his prodigalitic wanting a seuere exactor and subtill inuentor of Taxes and Monopolies made choice as reporteth Nicetas of one Iohn de Putze a rude and cholericke man of a difficult accesse and insupportable in his Actions and such a one as is vsually put in the execution of the like charge and office vnto whom he gaue so great authoritie and conferred so much power as hee enterpris'd and vsurped on the functions of all other Officers yea hee was so impudently bold sins to breake and reuoake the Statutes and Lawes of his Prince and Councell vnder the colour of parsimony and frugalitie cutting off the most necessary charges and expenses as the arming and entertaining of the Gallies being indeed the chiefest strength and force of the Empire CHAP. V. 1 He that will be welcome to a Prince must second and follow his inclinations 2 How to banish an honest mrn from the Court. 3 The proper definition of the Court. 4 Examples on the corruption of the Court. 5 6 7 A Courtier must some times winke to see tie wicked doe what they please 8 It is very difficult for an honest man to liue and maintaine himselfe in Court. 9 An honest man may liue and bee patient in Court for a time 10 How we must vnderstand this 11 How to diuert the Princes euill inclinatons Examples of Seneca and others lereon 12 13 1 BVt wee need no more Exâ—mples to establish this Maximâ— which is not onely knowne but too much practised by thâ—se who frequent the Courts of Princes insomuch that whosoeuer will bee welcome to them must conforme himselfe to second their inclinations and passions 2 Here an honest
which this Poet alleageth that an honest man managing a great Office or dignitie must not alter his fashions and manners a lesson very seldome or to say truer neuer practised if it were not by Pollion as Seneca writes 8 But the most frequent and common defects of Princes proceede from presumption which commonly follows and is incident to power which makes them more difficult to receiue councell and aduice flattring themselues with this beliefe that as they are superiours in power to their subiects so they are also in Capacitie and Sufficiency and some belieue that in this respect they cannot fashion or subiâ—ct themselues to lawes and and reasons without disparaging or deminishing their authoritie and that if they cannot doe all that they please they are no longer Soueraignes is to abate their greatnesse and to bee no more then common people to rule and suffer themselues to doe onely that which is permitted to the Commons for whom they onely thinke that the rule of Piâ—tie Honour and Iustice haue been instituted and ordained and not for themselues 9 If these tyrannicall opinions entred not but into common wits it would not proue so great a wonder but it seemes that power sometimes inchanteth the best Spirits and Iudgements 10 In all precedent Ages none left better rules of Moderation then those we tearme the seauen Wise Men of Greece and whilest they liued there were no greater nor seuerer Tyrants then those who raigned ouer them 11 Appian speaking of the Philosopher Aristion and of other Philosophers who had tyranniz'd in Athens ioyn'd with them the Pythagoriciens who had commanded in Italy whom he with the rest said had been the greatest and seuerest Tyrants of their age which indeed makes vs doubt if the Philosophers who disdained the honours and managing of affaires did it in earnest or if thereby they only sought some shelter to couer their pouertie and idlenesse 12 And if wee will belieue Aristophanes the Pythagoriciens vsed this frugalitie and parsimony rather to make their pouertie and necessitie belieued then for any desire or affectation of Vertue reioycing as he reports to make good cheare vpon other mens purses CHAP. XII 1 That the suggestions and applause of vitious persons neere Princes serue greatly to change their humours and consequently to debosbe them 2 Examples of Princes who haue permitted themselues to be led by these sorts of men together with the blindnesse and stupiditie of some Princes vpon the ends and intents of those vitious fellowes 3 4 How the Prince is betrayed by these sorts of flatterers 5 Examples to this effect of Old Clodion 6 Â Seianus 7 Â Perrinis 8 Â Bardas 9 Aduice for Princes not to heare or regard these flatterers 1 THe suggestions flatteries and applause of vitious fellowes who approach neare Princes doe much serue to change and alter their natures 2 The pride and cruelty of Uitellius is by Tacitus imputed to these sorts of men 3 And Vespâ—sian held to be of a good nature learned to inuent and impose new subsidies and to oppresse his subiects in the Schooles of the like Masters yea to vse but a word the greatest number of Princes are commonly changde in their natures by the conuersation of such vitious seruants and ministers who to gaine fauor credit with them still lull them asleepe with their greatnes power and riches the which they the more willingly digest and embrace in being sometimes ignorant of the duty of their charge and dignitie but blinded as they are they neither see nor consider that those who flatter and applaude them who make shew to approue all their actions and gestures doe it commonly of purpose to betray them and to make them hated of their subiects 4 The surest way and course to betray his Master is to second his couetousnesse crueltie or lust and this attempt is free from all danger or hazard because the Prince cannot iustly condemne his seruant without hee likewise first accuse and condemne himselfe 5 Hee who would restore Clodius tearmod the Hayrâ—e to his Estate being banished by the French assisted by Aegidius who then commanded Gaule for the Romans insinuated himselfe in the fauour of Aegidius a cruell and couetous man and saith the Historie he so inflamed and imprinted couetousnesse and crueltie in this Roman whereunto hee was excessiuely disposed and adicted that the French hauing sencibly felt it instantly resolued to call home their King this Frenchman his faithfull subiect finding no surer way to betray the enemy of his Prince then to obserue and second him in his passions 6 Seianus to chalke himselfe out the way to the Empire after hee had caused Aggripina and her children to be imprisoned knowing that his Master Tiberius being wearie of the Citie of Rome was desirous to retire himselfe to Caprea he perswaded and fortified him to vndertake this resolution to the end that whilest his Master soiourned there hee might take authoritie on him to command and gouerne all as if all depended of him Tiberius this Interim as one writes being Prince of a little Iland whilest Seianus dominered and playde the Emperour at Rome 7 Perrinis hauing freed himselfe of those who might oppose his designes vnder colour to find out them which were accessary to Lucilla who had conspired against the Emperour Commodus plunged this Emperour as deepe as he might in delights and pleasures thereby to intrude vpon the gouernment of affaires and after to vsurpe the Estate 8 Bardas the Vnkle of Miâ—hael Emperour of Constantinople performed no lesse after hee had caused Theoâ—ostus his fellow Tutor to bee slaine and banished Theodora the Emperours Mother perswading this young Prince that hee himselfe should gouerne and rule all whereunto beeing verie vncapable and improper Bardas plunged him in vaine delights and pleasures making him belieue there was no exercise more honourable then to conduct a Coach nor no vertue greater then to bee a skilfull Coach man In which meane time Bardas courted and the peoples affâ—ctions and calling neare him the learnedst Philosophers and erecting and building Schooles for all sorts of Sciences in Constantinople hee thereby squared himselfe out the way to haue made himselfe Soueraigne of that Estate if he had not beene preuented by another 9 I vnderstand not here to giue any man precepts to betray his Prince but rather I dâ—sire to giue this aduice and councell to Princes that they take heede and looke to themselues and not to belieue those who flatter and soothe them vp in their vices and irrigular actions affect them better then those who freely contradict and reproue them CHAP. XIII 1 Considerations vpon a Prince his domestick Seruants and how wee may reape profit by them Princes beare themselues differentlie in Priuate or Publike and they more willingly discouer themselues to their seruants then others 2 Examples hereon 3 4 5 In this point it s verie difficult for a Prince so to hide and conceale his intentes and motions that his