Letter 6016: There is no doubt that the prince's inner circle honors those who serve in it, since essential matters are entrusted...

16. FORMULA FOR NOTARIES. [1] There is no doubt that the prince's secret counsel adorns his subordinates, since matters of necessity are deemed fit to be entrusted to none but those who have been made firm by great fidelity. Everything we do is indeed public; but many things are not to be known beforehand, except when, with God's help, they have been brought to completion. And these ought to be concealed all the more, the more greatly they are desired to be discovered. [2] To know the king's counsel befits only the most weighty of men. They ought to imitate cabinets, which hold the records of documents, so that when some piece of information is sought from them, then they may speak: but they ought to dissemble the whole of it, as though, while knowing, they did not know. For with persistent inquirers what is kept silent is often betrayed even by the face. Let innocence be present, which commends all things, since royal words become fitting to be deposited in a tranquil mind. [3] But since our concern, as a huntress of good conduct, has regarded you as one established in tested character, from that indiction we judge you to be our notary, so that, the course of your service having been run, you may happily attain the summit of the office of chief notary [primicerius]. This is an honor that makes a man a senator, to whom the hall of the fathers is opened, and not unjustly: for he who serves in our affairs by constant nightly labor is justly seen to enter even the curia of Liberty. [4] There is added also another gift for the labor performed, namely that, if in any way he should deserve to attain to the rank of illustris, whether actual or honorary, he ought to be set before all those who are reckoned to be adorned with honorary distinctions of illustris by codicils. From which it is plainly gathered that the office of chief notary is granted to be employed by merits, so that within one and the same title the dignity, though equally acquired, should be unequal. You ought therefore to be roused to labors, when you see set before you such a reward as the highest men rejoice to have found.

XVI. FORMULA NOTARIORUM. [1] Non est dubium ornare subiectos principis secretum, dum nullis aestimantur necessaria posse committi, nisi qui fuerint fide magna solidati. publicum est quidem omne quod agimus: sed multa non sunt ante scienda, nisi cum fuerint deo auxiliante perfecta. quae tanto plus debent occuli, quanto amplius desiderantur agnosci. [2] Regis consilium solos decet scire gravissimos. imitari debent armaria, quae continent monumenta chartarum, ut quando ab ipsis aliqua instructio quaeritur, tunc loquantur: totum autem dissimulare debent, quasi nesciant scientes. nam sollicitis inquisitoribus saepe et vultu proditur, quod tacetur. assit innocentia, quae cuncta commendat, quia in placida mente regia decent verba deponi. [3] Sed quoniam te probatis moribus institutum venatrix bonae conversationis sollicitudo nostra respexit, ab illa indictione notarium te nostrum esse censemus, ut ordine decurso militiae ad primiceriatus feliciter pervenias summitatem. honor, qui efficit senatorem, cui patrum aula reseratur, non iniuria: nam qui nostris curis militat assidua lucubratione, iuste videtur et curiam Libertatis intrare. [4] Additur etiam perfuncti laboris aliud munus, ut, si quoquo modo ad illustratum vel vacantem meruerit pervenire, omnibus debeat anteponi, qui codicillariis illustratibus probantur ornari. unde absolute colligitur primiceriatus meritis datum uti, ut in uno eodemque titulo dispar esset dignitas aequaliter adquisita. animari debes igitur ad labores, quando tibi tale praemium propositum vides, quale se gaudent invenisse summates.