in a Prince dooth spoyle his Citizens and his Souldiers and is yet an occasion of greater domage when it is vsed with persons of account degree for those that be heads and principalles by offering things not lawfull take possession and become maisters of their administrations and besides that by little and litle to be their superiours And moreouer their insolence maye woorke more pernitious effects then can that of the multitude it being very easie to knowe whither many persons gathered together bend themselues as it is a thing of difficile vnderstanding to discipher the secrets of one man alone WE may graunt vnto our fréends and vnto good Princes the entire possession of our goods of our liues but not of our soule if they cause vs to doo vniust and dishonest actions WHen the multitude are not well pleased with their Prince by beholding the like slacknes in others and that they all remain in y e selfesame tearms they are much lesse afflicted and likewise for that not without great cause they vnite themselues to rebell against a good legitimate Prince they supporte and beare his displeasure After through the aboundance of people in a state of sundrie and diuers humours and that for the most part are of a weake vnderstanding by little and little they forget the same But when a man of great account dooth not rest satisfied touching any his important request he retaines the disdaine in the deapth of his minde and according to the occurrence may conuert it into a pernitious execution WHen a Prince is sought vnto by any great personage for any thing of importance and that he will not graunt the same he ought to consider of two things The one is the necessarye circumstances that is to saye those things wherof dooth spring euill satisfaction the person that is euill content and the time wherein the same dooth occurre the other is to be aduertised and haue in memory to counterpease one benefite with one that hath been refused and reiected THe administration of a peaceable state is that which dooth conserue those things that are gained in time of war as the studies of peace yeeld ciuil prudence y t which dooth accommodate our discourse touching the maner how to make warres so likewise they maintaine them after we haue brought backe victorie For the facultie to exercise warres against our enemies foiling those men that are not good but in the same come to hands together to contend and to exercise in some sort their wittes and their forces in the which they are of value being constrained by their nature and discipline to woorke according to their knowledge and according to their abilitie A Good Souldiour is like vnto bright Stéele the which dooth keep his bright shining glosse whilste it is in continuall exercise but being not wrought withall takes rust rust bréeds to an eating cancker and cancker makes contagion in such sort that right Souldiours which are not good to any other end then to manage and handle weapons in times of peace they suffer great damage in themselues and cause others to be pertakers therof CIuilitie and warfare ought necessarily to be ioyned together for constraining the wicked to take armes if we be not well prouided and of good vnderstanding either the common quiet will be continually disturbed or else we must chase them out of the Citie and State although the same be ruled with a very good gouernment IT falls out often in cōtentions that he which seeth himselfe excluded or that is fauoured of himselfe doth runne headlong setting aparte all respects rather to some third person then to giue place vnto him that dooth oppose himselfe against his intention MEn haue no greater enemies then ouer-great prosperities for that it makes them impotent of themselues licentious and bolde to commit euill and desirous to desturbe their proper benefites and goods with new deuises THe infamie of timeritie hurtes Generalls and Captaines more then the glory of victorie dooth benefite them for temeritie commits many errours and is attributed wholy to the Captaine but the prosperous successe in matters of warfare at the least according to the opinion of men is communicated to many IT is the office and parte of a wise Generall casting in his minde how often it is necessarye in warres to varie deliberations according to the varietie of the accidents to feare and accommodate from the beginning so much as lyes in him prouidently for all chaunces and for all counselles for euen as the happie successe of enterprises gaine to the Generall the beneuolence of y e Armie so those that are vnfortunate get him hate and euill will A Prudent man ought not to suspect that smal credit and faith is giuen vnto him and if he suspect the same he must so order the matter that the wicked doo not knowe that he hath suspition of thē to the intent that through feare licence doo not increace in them and that they take not away their diligence promptnes from others TOuching newe doubts it is either good to faigne not to knowe them or else cloake them not confirming them by beléeuing them for so much as for the most parte either they are altogither false or else much lesse then that which is beleeued of them THose which exhort vs to doo any thing in the night are oftentimes moued to commit some licētious errours for that the night couers in them that which the daye doth discouer which is either feare or shame PRinces in the hands of whom God did place for no other end rule empire but to the intent men might haue recourse from the vnmoueable and dead lawes vnto the quick and breathing if with the adorned woorke of charitie they doo not searche to imitate them they are not onely gréeuouslye reprehended of euery one but they doo deseruedlye incurre the displeasure and hatred of his deuine maiestie WArres at home are much more difficille and perrillous then abroade for defence is made more easilye abroade and a farre off then at home by our owne doores but if it be at home it is no sound counsell to remoue it further before that which is néere and at hand be exstinguished THe malignitie and the imprudence of ministers and officers about Princes maye doo muche that other through negligence doo not apply their affaires or through wante of capacitie doo not discearne of them-selues good counsell from euill THe euent of things is commonlye had in consideration of men by the which sometimes with praise sometimes with infamie according as they be either happye or ouerthwart doo alwaies attribute to councell that which oftentimes procéeds of fortune THe first and the cheefest praise in militarie discipline consists more in not putting our selues in perill without necessitie in making the indeuours of our aduersaries vaine by industrie by patience and by arte then by fighting most couragiously or furiously THe multitude haue béene accustomed to take pleasure in swéete and delicate
that amongst all worldly things the best is liberty whose name is a note of vertue as seruitude and bondage is a note of infelicitie WHen a noble personage dooth degenerate from the vertuous actions of his predecessors let him remember that how much the more famous the life of his Auncestours hath been so much more shamefull slaunderous shal his be forsomuch as the glorie of our fore-fathers is as it were a light to those that discend from them the which doth discouer theÌ„ to the eyes of others that vertue or that vice which they haue IT is a goodly thing in a victorious Prince when as calling him selfe to memory he dooth rather goe about that which is worthie of him selfe then that which he may with reason doo against his ouercome and vanquished enemy HE dooth assuredlye liue and enioy a staide and perfect minde who being intentiue about any busines or action doth procure himselfe a fame of woorthy Princes of good art or letters ALthough flatterie be reprehended of wise men as a wise contrary 〈◊〉 woorthy wit yet did Cicero saye it is necessary in the obtaining of office and gouernment in a free Common-wealth THe life and behauiour of the people is corrupted by the customes of the Prince who beholding his licentious lecherie despise the merites of his chastetie Indeuouring theÌ„selues to imitate his vices as most vertuous actions for that it séemes vnto them that they caÌ„not commend the deedes of their Prince if they themselues doo not likewise practise and vse the same IT is a manifest thing that he that is mighty is alwaies accompanied and followed with enuy not of the least for those cannot much harme him but of his coÌ„petitoures carriualles and his péeres therefore to shun the same in my opinion he should aduise himselfe well if in matters of importance he did vse that parte and meanes of procéeding which dooth most asswage and is contrarye to enuye HE that is not altogether aleuated from peace is neuer hindered or kept from making the same by multitude of complaintes and damages for so much as these differences and debates are cut off although they be many by the force and vertue of vpright iustice or by means of recompencing waying one iniurie with an other or by counterpesing and ballancing this reason and right with that or else for a lesse domage or to giue end to the greater trauailes or troubles let the one yéelde vnto the other some parte of his right as vnto these wise men by consideration of the importance or subiect of the cause it shall séeme conuenient IT is fitte for euery well gouerned Common-wealth to take order that all the causes or at least the greatest part of them if it be possible may be deâ—iâ—hered and discided by the lawes rather then left to y e 〈…〉 of the Iudge for there be very fewe to be found that haue good and mature vnderstanding knowledge and abilitie to minister and ordaine lawes and to giue right iudgement in doubtfull causes for so much as lawes through the long vse of thinges and through many and sundry considerations are brought to full perfection but the iudgementes of man by his own nature being apt to bende either to loue or hate is corrupted spoyled and made partiall vnlesse it be vnder propt with the strong piller of Lawe THose which haue iudgement falling into consideration of the riches and power of any other State doo not meruaile neither at their power neither at their riches but admiring the good forme of the order of the saide State vnder which such power and riches dooth florishe desire the good gouernment of their Common-wealth by being and suffering their Prince and be very vigilant to kéepe themselues from offending him at any time neither with déeds nor with woords to the intent not to imitate him AMongst the rest of these goods that fortune bestowes vpon vs he dooth gaine most worthy praise that being rich doth not aspire to rule and Signorie that is not insolent by reason of his money that dooth not preferre himselfe before others arrogantly and that doth behaue himselfe in such sort that others may iudge that that aboundance of riches haue giuen him meanes to become sober and modest and not malepert and hawtie EUery one knowes that those discordes which arise amongst the people are occasioned by inequalitie of goods and riches for those that be of meane estate would make theÌ„selues equall with their betters but those which spring vp amongst noble and great men be occasioned by meanes of honours for those y e be equalles would make themselues greater then the rest MEn when they draw néere to their future mischéefes do principall 〈◊〉 their discourse discretion and prudence with the which they might easily bring impediment and hinderance to their destinies IT is a great impudence for a man to binde himselfe to a perpetuall perrill vpon foundations not perpetuall and through vncertaine hopes to begin an assured warre with an enemy more mighty then himselfe NOthing is more necessarie in hard and difficult deliberations then counsell nothing on the other side more perillous then to demaund counsell and it is no doubt but that counsell is lesse necessary to prudent men then to those that be imprudent and yet notwithstanding those that be wise do reap much more profit by counsel theÌ„ the ignorant for who is he y t is so perfect in prudence that doth alwaies consider know euery thing of himselfe and in contrary reasons doth euer discern and cull out the best parte but what assurance hath he y â— doth demaund counsell to be faithfully counselled forsomuch as he that dooth giue counsell if he be not very faithfull and much affectioned to him that doth demaund y e same moued not only through notable respectes of profitte but for euery small commoditie or euerye light satisfaction dooth oftentimes direct his counsell to that ende that dooth turne most to his purpose or that wherein he dooth take most pleasure and therefore these ends and tearmes being for the most parte so much vnknowne to him that séekes for counsell he dooth not remeÌ„ber nor perceiue if he be not prudent the infidelitie of the councell A Prince that by the means of his embassadour would deceiue an other Prince must first deceiue the Ambassadour to the intent that he may woorke and speake with greater efficacie perswading himselfe and beléeuing that such is the mindâ— of his prince the which though he would not nor could not doo if he did imagine himselfe to be a dissembler and this practise euerye one dooth vse that by the meanes of an other would perswade that which is false vnto an other IT is proper to fortune so often as â—â—ctorie is not made assured with moderation and prudence to blot and stain the glorie that is gained with some thing vnlooked for therfore it is not requisite in the managing of matters of moment to suffer things to be carried away and
to vnderstand them but dooth indeuour himselfe to encrease them with industrie searching alwaies to drawe the victorie wholye vnto him so in like sorte small errours made in demaunding of honours become most gréeuous and heauye and a small mutation of our willes dooth engender in vs great effectes IT is apparentlye séene that when anye resolution is made either with ouer spéedye or wich ouer great affection alwaies we doo that which is euill for so much as the one dooth not giue vs time to finde out and discipher those things that ought to be cōsidered of before we conclude the other dooth so busie and occupy our mindes that it doth not suffer vs to know any thing but that which doth vrge at that instant To these two sorts of men two other may be ioyned and that is that we finde some that although they haue sufficient time to be able to consider and are voyde of affection neuerthelesse through a certain naturall folly or incapacity or through a continuall negligence they vse in their affaires do neuer perform any good thing or accomplishments to the purpose WHen our affaires are reduced into such tearmes that there remaines no other hope then the prouidence of God to hazard and aduenture enter in to supplye the place of reason and of prudence in such sorte that we ought not to leaue off to attempt those thinges that séeme vnto vs to be of small foundation in respect of humaine prudence for so much as our most blessed Sauiour and God many times to the intent to make the wisedomes of the worlde appeare vaine suffers a some certain sorte of people to runne into great calamities for that he dooth giue and send vs his mercie in those causes in the which the grounds of reason dooth faile vs. EUen as melancholly and heauines of the minde vnder which Ielosie is comprehended euen as suspition feare and such other humours chaunce vnto men and to their mindes so likewise dooth the very same fall out in the negotiation of our affaires for so much as after beginning is giuen to any enterprise the minister executor therof be not patient to conserue it whole then will arise vnto him infinite accidents which will be apt to bring him into infirmitie and moreouer to make him dye Therfore it is necessary before things are moued to consider well of all those contraries that may fall out as well of the Ambassadours parte as of his Princes parte and as well of those with whome he shall negotiate as of euerye other person IT is a wonderful and very perilous parte for him that goes about to set at liberty any people that in any case desires to remaine in seruitude and slauerie IT is a perillous matter to nourish one that hath great reputation vniuersallye for as it is easie to oppresse and withstand disorders at the beginning so suffering them to encrease it is a more hard matter to yéeld remedye GOod Citizens in the gouernment of Common-wealthes ought to take so much as is giuen them of men and the lawes and in so dooing they shall neither incurre perrill nor enuie for that which a man dooth take and not that which is giuen vnto a man dooth cause him to be hated and such persons shal obtaine more then those that going about to get other mens portions lose their own and before they lose the same liue in continual gréef and sorrowe FOr that seruilitie dooth drawe after it the effectes and humoures of feare and that by so much the more by how much it is violent and base it falles out of necessitie that no lesse the Tirant then he that is tirannised should be full of terrour and feare for he that commaunds ouer seruile persons is not frée and a Tirant being such a one it followes that he should be seruile as well as his people and so both of the one side and the other dooth arise forcible actes and great indignities in such maner that feare dooth alwaies spring and encrease ARmes Lawes and diuine honours in a wel gouerned Citie or Common-wealth can neuer be seperated but with destruction of euery one of them for that being vnited together they are maintained entire ruling one an other and so soone as they are disseuered that which peraduenture without his two companions did séeme by it selfe to be sufficient dooth speedilye fall if it be not succoured wherfore it is requisite that they haue the three qualities of the soule or minde of man which is Uigilatiue Sensatiue and Intellectiue which are not to make three soules but one onlye act by the operation of thrée powers and so consequentlye we are of no value in humaine perfections without reciprocall aide and helpe IN warfare valour and art are of great woorthines but their perfection consistes in knowing how to vse morrall vertues and vnderstanding poleticke affaires and in treading the footsteppes of ancient and good Captaines IN the times and cases important in warfare we ought to giue intire authoritie to him that dooth merite the same and to put in him the full managing thereof yet with this prouiso that he haue about him Counsellers of good vnderstanding with whome he may conferre all the whole course of his enterprises IN the accidents of humaine chaunces doubtfull causes are alwaies consulted vpon for it appertaines not to make any consultation vpon those that be certaine for doubts doo spring of that which is within the compasse and power of chaunce and not of prudence wherefore we ought to consider how many partes there is within the one and the other for in consultation when a man is not constrained by necessitie and his beginning dooth depend wholye of his owne will which is altogither frée he dooth tosse in his minde touching the succession of his enterprise whither is greater his hope or his feare and takes resolution not to attempt the same when mear◠chaunce is to haue greatest force and contrariwise to attempt the same when prudence ought to haue the greater swaye HE that is meanelye wicked and likewise he that is meanelye good dooth euill in the handes of one that is verye mightilye wicked but the verye mightye good person dooth ouercome the very mighty euill person WHen Common-wealthes are well administred the persecutions of the enuious which through our good woorkes they practise against vs doo fall out to be to our greater aduauncement for being constrained by the trueth to bring foorth and perfourme actes contrarye to their motions and procéeding they doo that against vs which a Racket dooth against a tennice ball the which by how much the more it is stricken by so much the more it doth rebound in height and therefore in stead of abasing vs they doo exalte vs. IT is no doubt but that other mens continuall seueritie dooth exasperate our mindes but euen as the ouer-much fatherly pardoning suffers the childe to runne astraye to a licentious and a disobedient life euen so the ouer-great abundance of pleasures
in that respect without anger without mercy I may saye that the like is to be obserued when iudgement is to be giuen vpon the cause of any one IT is a thing truely very difficile to be full of valour in battaile and good in counsell for the one is accustomed for the most part to bring feare through prudence and the other small consultation through audacitie SOuldiers if fortune do enuie their valour ought not to faile in hart and courage without reuenge neither suffer themselues being taken like beasts rather to be cut to peeces then fight like valiant men and leaue vnto their enemies the victorie lamentable and bloodye HE that is to prognosticate and diuine of other mens determinations ought if he will not to deceiue himselfe to haue in consideration not so much that that a wise man would think meet to be doon as what the braine and nature of the person is which hath to determine ENuie is a sorrow and gréefe that we haue at the goods which other men possesse and cannot be shunned but of those that be miserable yet neuertheles it may be much diminished and sometimes altogither exstinguished with the vsing of humanitie and curtesie as contrariwise with ouermuch and proude ostentation and bragging it is infinitely kindled and encreased but hate which is a desire that an other man should incurre damage is auoided either with remaining altogether solitarily and quiet apart which appertaines not to a noble personage borne in the Common-wealth or by obtaining that which to our power we ought to indeuour our selues to obtain which is the good grace and beneuolence of all persons vniuersally THe Earle Francisco Carmignuola was accustomed to saye that y e principall rule that men ought to obserue towards Princes was not to beleeue verye easilye that which they speake with their mouth and that which they make outward apparance of but it is necessary to cōsider and to discipher that which with all reason they may imagine they think in their mindes that is that which will turne most commodious for their profit and vpon this they maye make the foundations of their desires and thoughts more then vpon their woords and likewise we ought not to haue regarde to the ametie to the emnitie to the parentage or to any thing else whatsoeuer amongst them for when they perceiue any future profit to arise they forget all amitie they quiet all disdaine and make small account of any brotherhood or parentage and do permit euery respect so y t therin may be found some small colome of honestie sufficient to salue y e apparent shew therof EUen as a good Phisition when he hath to cure the infirmitie of any particular member it is conuenient that he haue care that that medicine be not hurtfull to an other member Euen so a man of State ought alwaies to put his Prince in memory of those things which wil serue the Common-wealth for the preseruation therof WHat great diuersitie and difference there is betwixt those déeds that spring of feare and of errour and betwixt those that are moued of fraud and of euill intent is manifest to euery one THe liberty of Citties do chéefely please God for that in them more then in any other sort of gouernment common benefites are conserued wherein iustice is administred more without destinction and much more kindles and inflames the mindes of the Citizens to vse honourable and vertuous actions and finally they haue more respect to obserue religion then other gouernments HE is an vnprofitable Citizen that for any occasion dooth withdrawe himselfe to perswade vnto others that which in himselfe he dooth féele to be the benefit of the Common-wealth FOr a man to moderate himselfe and to ouercome those proper desires his hart couets is so much more woorthy of praise by how much it is a rare thing to be able to do it by how much the occasions are more iust wherwithall the anger and appetite of men is stirred vp and moued THe silence of a Prince giuen to demaundes and requests is tollerable when it is not doone or procéedes in a despising maner and moreouer oftentimes doth help for that the lawes amities and such other like things are nourished in him moreouer it dooth helpe ouer much whē a naughty answere is fearde and it is taken for a despising of the Prince and if it be a iust quarrell armes is taken and dooth flie the fault in that he hath not demaunded the thing to abtaine it THe coniectures of all elections the which depend of the free will of many is difficile and incertain forsomuch as nothing is more difficile then to penetrate and enter into the willes of men altogether shut vp from all persons and open onely to God and nothing more vncertaine then to establish and set downe in so great a motion and reuolution of mindes vpon what they wil settle their determinations neuerthelesse so farre as mans wit may attaine vnto a wise officer ought to indeuour himselfe so much as he is able to doo his duetie and not become terrified with the greatnes of the act to the intent to make him selfe knowne for prudent the busines taking effect or of a willing minde or diligence by not abandoning any due meanes to obtaine the end of his desire THe opinions of men are so sundrye and so contrarye to things And we haue besides in vs a certaine necessity which doth force vs to attempte fortune although we perceiue that there rest in vs a small foundation in demaunding of the thing neuerthelesse drawne by a certaine inspiration we put our selues in perrill to demaunde those benefites that we are not woorthy to obtaine This thing besides the examples of histories hath likewise his reason if not through the iniurie of him that demaunds the same to those vnto whome the requests are made through their nature carrying a resemblance of God whose mercye is poured vpon those that séek for it many times in our own demerites in our own infelicities in our miseries a certaine spirit which is called of the antiquitie Genio doth prick vs forward to attempt thinges contrarie to all humaine prudence And they fall out in such sorte as we are not able to finde out the reason therof IT is no infamie to retire our selues when it is doone by prudence neither is it pusilanimitie when it is doone to refuse and shun to put in doubtfull tearmes those thinges that be certain when as the approching end of the warres hath to shew to all the world the mature ripenes of counsell forsomuch as no victorie is more profitable more famous or more glorious then that which is gained without losse and without shedding the blood of Souldiours EUen as the minde which cōmonly ought to be mistresse ouer the body should become a Tirant ouer the same and knowing the excellency of her selfe should onlye think and care for herselfe and would graunt no parcell of the time to the body he would become
thinking to gaine him with benefites and so by the meanes of neutralitie he dooth enioy great securitie wheras if he should declare himselfe he should make one of them his manifest enemie and should thrust himself into expresse perrilles MEn doo more easily remember iniuries then receiued benefites therfore that Prince which dooth declare himselfe dooth much more harme then helpe himselfe for that he with whome he doth confederate himselfe is neuer so whot to defend him as he against whom he is declared shall be redy to endamage and offend him it being a naturall effecte that men should become muche more stirred vp and moued with iniuries then with benefites besides that in receiued benefites euery one dooth attribute them a parte of his enemie but iniuries are all attributed to him that hath been iniurious IT is a most certaine thing that warres draw after them many difficulties and most great expences which are occasions of many euils in respect that first of all it empties the princes pursse and makes him weake Since moneye is not onely the sinewes and strength of the warres but of all other humaine actions next after it constraines them so much to oppresse the people with new and sharpe exactions that it dooth bréede them extreame hate from which euery wise prince ought to kéepe him selfe For that the hate of the people is the roote of that which bringes rulers to ruine IT is disputed amongst some who is most ambitious either he that would maintaine or he that would obtain for that both the one and the others appetite maye be an occasion of great Tumultes and it is concluded that for the most parte those tumults are caused of them that possesse for that the feare they haue to loose dooth engender in them the selfesame will that is in those which desire to gaine for that men think they cannot surely possesse any thing if they make no newe gaines And moreouer by possessing much they maye with greater power and with greater motions and stirre make alterations and change besides all this their corrupt and ambitious behauiours kindling vp in the brest of them that haue possessions a will and desire to possesse and to reuenge themselues of them by spoyling them makes them to be able also to enter into those riches and those honours that they perceiue to be euill vsed of others IN all humaine causes this is perceiued whosoeuer dooth examine it well that we can neuer race out one inconuenience but that an other dooth followe And therfore if we desire to make a people to encrease to great numbers and to be armed to the intent to set vp a great empire we make it of such qualitie as we shall not be able to manage it after one discretion and maner and if we maintaine it small and disarmed to the intent we may guide it the better if we gaine any dominion we are not able afterwards to kéepe it or else we shall become so vile that we shall fal to be a spoile pray to whosoeuer doth assaulte vs. Therfore in all our opinions and determinations we ought to consider where the inconueniences are least and to make choise of the best partie for that they be neuer found to be altogither cleare altogither secure and altogither without suspition IT is requisite that those that are principall and publicke Maiestrates haue thrée things in them One is that they loue the state of their Cittie and Common-wealth another is that they haue authoritie as may be sufficient if neede require to force men the third is that they be knowne for persons that be iust and full of valour but it is necessarye to haue in minde that if such as these would beare rule and commaund it behoues them whilste they are young to learne to be gouerned and commaunded of those that be olde WHilste Princes are at hostilitie together and spend out of all measure in their warres he that remaines neuter maye gather together a great summe of money and strengthen himselfe in such sort that y e warres being ended they shall become weake through many exspences and be gallant and mighty The consideration of which thing maye be an arbitrament of their difference and discentions ALthough to remaine neuter is not a thing verye frée yet at the least it cannot be denyed but that the resolution of the contrarye is verye doubtfull in this case the wisest parte is for vs not to moue at all for that when there ariseth a doubt whither any new deliberation be good or not we cannot doo better then followe the olde determinations and chéefelye when the other are found to be hurtful in summe the old and woonted way is rather to be followed then the new and vnaproued way WHen a Prince is instantly required to vnite himselfe with the one of any two that makes warres and that he makes refusall both to the one and the other he enters into suspition with them both that he hath secret intelligence with some one of them and eche of them both doth imagine esteeme him to be against himselfe In such sort that which soeuer of them doth ouercome makes a pray of the newter wherupon it will arise that he shall holde both of them for suspect and neither of them for fréend IN that Prince which dooth declare himselfe it is conuenient that one of these thrée thinges doo followe Either that he with whom he ioynes himselfe remaine vanquisher or that he loose or that the matter be managed in such sorte that he neither loose nor winne in the first case he proceedes to expresse gaine by entring into parte of the victorie in the second he encurres perrill to lose but yet therin is this difference that at the least he hath a fréend for his colligate and confederate who although he haue losse his case is not such that he cannot or that he ought not to minister helpe and it followes not that his fortune may not rise vp againe in breefe it is better to hazard our fortune with a good fréend then to remaine in feare to be offended and iniuried of both of them In the third case more is to be gained then to be lost for that we obtaine a good fréend that may much profit vs and he that we make our enemye dooth harme vs no more then that he did him whilste we remained neuter although apt occasion did offer it selfe IN all the resolutions of the world both good and euill is mixed amongst them ordained of God to the intent to shewe foorth the imperfections of humaine causes but prudent counselles ought to compare the euill with the good and counter pease them in equall ballance and on that side where the least euill is and the most good to cleaue to that parte MEn hauing for finall end goodnes and the conseruation of their good they cannot by any reason be called inconstant for so much as when affaires doo change it is conuenient also that a man doo
but that the greatest part of that which he knowes is not lesse then that which lyes hid vnto him héerof it springes that if we haue occasion to builde we cal vnto vs cunning woorkmen and architectours if we are to saile vpon the Seas we demaund the counsell of Mariners but in matters of warre so much the more diligently we ought to goe about to performe this by how much the perrill séemes to be greater forsomuch as the harmes of other thinges séeme to be more light euerye want being able to be amended but the errours of warre besides the perpetuall shame doo carrie with them blowes woundes death and destruction in a Common-weale the which are so extreame euilles that they cannot be corrected nor shunned and therefore in these cases we ought to take mature counsell of wise men and the aduertisement of those that are inueterated in Armes and experimented in such seruice THere is no man so rash and foolish hardye that being able to depresse and ouercome the enemye with a prudent prolonging of time will rather with a furious speede put the victorie in doubt and hazard which deferring and lingering doth promise him most certain forsomuch as victorie cannot be so well gotten with an inconsiderate spéede as with a prudent staye and neither so well in going to finde the enemye at his owne doores as to defend himselfe within his owne confines and to goe about rather to put our selues in perrill then ouercome is the part of an vnwise man and of one that is more rash then couragious WIse men haue not sought meanes and desired that faith should be more obserued in any humain action then in confederacies for that if faith be broken amongst them which are bound togeather in leage what thing is there that can be accouÌ„ted stable and entire in this world for which respect the iudgementes which are made vpon other contentions for that they are as it were priuate giue almost no other punishment then in money and capitall punishment for that the lawes do not in any case support integrity that he ought to be reputed for entire which is not ofentire faith towards his confederates IN the gouernment of a Common-weale euerye man dooth confesse that we ought to haue greater respect to honor then profit for that euen as a Citie is of great estimation and reputation so faith ought to be pure and sincere EUen as horses through idlenes ouermuch abundance of meate becomes vnwildy and resâ—ie so people sometimes through the curtesie and benignity of those that gouerne become insolent and proude and haue néede of force to hold back the reines of liberty WHen a Common-weale doth moue warres against a Prince she ought first to look about her and take care that she be not deceiued with the woordes of her enemye besides that she ought to traine vp her people so as they maye bee able to resist the inuading force of the enemye and to withstand those perrilles which doo chaunce at vnawares Thirdly she ought to make choise of prudent and well practised men who may stand like Senternelles and watch-men attentiue and vigilant for the benefite of the Common-weale and wisely vnderstand euery thing and with great prudence prouide for euery thing Forthly to conserue and kéep the amitie of adioyning Princes yeelding fauour to those that haue néede Last of all to write to the greatest Princes of the worlde consulting with theÌ„ vpon occurent causes THe expences of the warres are gréeuous to euery one but specially to the multitude which doo not foresee future perrilles Wherupon euen vs Phisitions vse oftentimes â—ire and iron towards the sick persons they gouern and loose one parte to saue the whole so ought the gouernours of the Common-weale perceiuing and foreseeing future perrilles constraine the people to spend one part of their goods for the conseruation of all the rest for that libertye being lost euery thing falles into the handes of the Conquerour and next dooth follow the infamie and shame of slauerie the which of worthy men ought to be chased away euen vnto death it selfe THe people and the vulgare multitudes which doo not foresee future things doo firste feele and sée the perrilles before they haue imagined and thought vpon them but excellent men although they foresee perrilles in a populare Common-weale neither cannot nor dare not make prouision for when they make demonstration of the perrils and perswade to vse remedye immediatly it is saide they desire warres and make lawe and prohibitions in such sort that he that would prouide for the safetie of the Citie there should remaine no way for him able to perfourm the same wherupon it ariseth that making no prouision times doo poste awaye but when perrilles are present and canot be auoyded then full of feare they consult what is to be doon THose men are woorthie of very great infamie who not câ—ring to be infamous doo not obserue their giuen faith neither their promises they haue made neither their sworne conuentions And although euery breache of promise be infamous neuertheles that is most infamous which against capitulacions of peace dooth drawe warres after iâ— For if the sacred effectes of faith and the obseruing of othes be taken awaye what remaines more amongste men that is good and godly wherby one may put trust in an other and by which inconueniences the common conuersation and companye of men is broken IT is manifeste to euery one that nature hath graunted not onely to men but also vnto brute beastes a certaine desire of libertie to obtaine and keepe the which libertie they enforce them selues with all dilligence and naturall industrie to performe all those things that may maintain the same in them and doo beare great hate to all those that they imagine to be contrary to these their appetites And this is apparentlye perceiued in those vnreasonable creatures which are accustomed to remain domestically bound who so soone as they are vnloosed from them that gouerne them with actes and gestures make signe how gratefull it is vnto them to be looste from those bondes and Chaynes and that they are able to goe at libertie where they list And therfore if we beholde this naturall desire of libertie to be in beastes how much more ought the same to be in men who God hath made aboue all other creatures most prudent and wise and hath endowed vs with reason and vnderstanding to the intent that we may follow the order of nature and defend that libertie then the which there is nothing amongst men more déere and of greater prise and valour And although nature the mother of thinges hath graunted vs infinite benefites neuertheles she hath giuen vs nothing neither better neither swéeter then libertie ALthough warrs are made and taken in hand for many ocasions neuertheles there is none more iust nor more woorthy of praise then that which is taken in hand for the defence of our libertie and of our Country the which