THE Quintesence of Wit being A corrant comfort of conceites maximies and poleticke deuises selected and gathered together by Francisco Sansouino Wherin is set foorth sundrye excellent and wise sentences worthie to be regarded and followed Translated out of the Italian tung and put into English for the benefit of all those that please to read and vnderstand the works and worth of a worthy writer AT LONDON Printed by Edward Allde dwelling without Cripple-gate at the signe of the gilded Cuppe Octobris 28. 1590. ¶ To the right Worshipfull Maister Robert Cicell Esquire one of the Sonnes of the right honorable the Lord high treasurer of England IN reading and reuiewing the manifolde discourses and famous works of sundry worthie writers right Worshipfull some translated out of French Italian and some reduced into our English tung by learned Latinestes and Grecians whose studies and labours benefites a multitude I happened on a book written to Rodolphus the second a mighty graue and wise Emperour which book treated on so many matters and touched with quick conceites and sentences such a number of rare arguments and politicke deuises that it seemed not only a register of wit but a naturall quintesence of knowledge gathered and collected out of the highest and deuine spirites of Philosophie the value and varietie of the worke is so excellent that it argues of it selfe to be a rich store-house of precious compoundes fraught and furnished full of deep insight and profound reasons Then to hide or keep secret the same worke were an vnpardonable error and a wilfull offence and fault committed against the common societie of men that dayly and hourely are nourished and fedde with the sweet and sugred taste of Histories and vnderstanding of true nouelties penned out with painefull studie and printed to exercise wise iudgements with matters of great moment So vnder your fauour good Sir the hope of your towardnes and good bringing vp and the desire I suppose you haue to aduaunce learning and good letters the sensible sap of life commaunds me by a bond of causes to honor you with a work not only worthy the reading but likewise worthie the noting and bearing in minde a burthen so pleasant to embrace and delectable to carry in memory as shall vnload and make light a heauie hart and discharge a waighty imagination of disquiet thoughts For the dissoluing of doubts and discouering o◠secret sentences breedes a lightsomnes in man and puts away the wearines of time and labour of the spirites such care and foresight of our commoditie had our fore-fathers and auncient writers that alwaies they filled the Printers shops full of great vollumes and maintained the worldes knowledge with an innumerable number of bookes and neuer in any age bookes were more sought for and better esteemed if the authors therof be of sound iudgement then in these our florishing daies where flowing wittes abound and reapes the reward of well dooing and vertuous disposition The praise preferments great fame and good fortunes they haue found is such a gazing glasse to looke in that thousands therby seek after vertue and learning to shun the rebuke of vicious idlenes and sloath none more disliked then ignorant Idiots nor more admired then the worthie wits of our world Who is not abashed to follow a painted shadowe and who takes not great glorye to waite where some substance is looked for though the wise for their wisedome are enuied of the foolish yet the fond for their folly are derided and pointed at by all kinde of people wisdome is honoured in his meanest attire and fondnes is but scorned in his brauest garments the bare presentation of the honorable brings gladnes to the beholders and the proud pomp of the vain-glorious are both irckesome and disdained golde is more made off for his goodnes then his cullour and men look more into the perfectnes of things then to the outward apparance this book though it be printed in common paper yet was it not penned in ordinarye discourses it spreadeth it self like a tree that hath many braunches whereon some bowe is greater then another and yet the fruit of them all are alike in taste because no soure crabbes were graffed where sweet Apples should growe nor no bitter Oranges can be gathered where sweet Powngarnets are planted the excellency of this fruit must be sencibly felt and tasted with a well seasoned minde and iudgement and the delicatenes therof must be chewed and chawed with a chosen and speciall spirite of vnderstanding not greedily mumbled vp and eaten as a wanton eates Peares that neuer were pared Philosophie and farre fetched knowledge may not be handled and entertained like a Canterbury tale nor vsed like a riding rime of sir Topas this spoken to the generall iudgements of men for I know to whose hands this woork is commended and I doubt not the vsage therof because I see some good sparkes of a noble Father shining in the eyes of a happie Sonne wherefore this booke needes not feare as I hope and beleeue who barketh against it nor the writer thereof if he were aliue neeeds not to doubt who looketh on his labours for generally and absolutely in a most louing phrase and manner he bountifully hath imparted his secrets te a multitude and bestowed a great deale of thankeful paines on the wise if the worlde be not ingrate and forgetfull of a good turn offred he setteth foorth to sale no speeches farssed full of fables but presenteth to our viewe in an open manner heapes of hidden secrets that none but noble and venerable aucthors did euer open before and in a manner leaues neither peace warre pollicy practice nor any thing vntouched that is fit for a publike state or common weale to knowe his golden booke beautified with a thousand graces is translated out of the Italian tung though not in such beauty as becomes the grauitie thereof yet stripped gentlye out of his gaye garments it is clothed and plainely apparelled in such comely weeds and cleane roabes as euery parte and proportion of the booke may easily be seene and well perceiued and albeit that a fine Italian in an English groce gaberdine is not fashioned in all formes to please euery strangers fancye yet the personage may be passable when all comelines is vsed for the setting forth of the same Thus presuming that Francis Sanssouino is no whit disfigured to walke openly in such English habit as is found fitte for him crauing fauour that he may speak his owne minde I hope you of curtesie will let him passe through our Countrey that all kinde of people may see and heare what opinion he was of in matters of state and mighty affaires of this worlde the booke is dedicated vnto you for many good considerations one is that by your meanes a second life may be breathed into Sansouinoes collections through your good liking and being reuiued or awakened out of a long sleep when it lay dead from our common knowledge it may shewe
euill drawe neere the phisick comes not in time forsomuch as not being known it both growes olde and to be without cure WHen a Prince would maintain his state in a Prouince disagreeing in customes and lawes from his nature finding therin much difficultie it is requisite that he haue great fortune and great industry but the most assured way is that he goe to remaine there in person to the intent y e possession may be assured and those disorders maye be discerned vnto which remedye maye be giuen besides that the subiects hauing their Prince néere at hand and carrying willing mindes to be good they haue greater cause to loue him and being the contrary to feare him and he that goes about to assault him shall remaine more doubtfull and although he determine to doo so yet he ouercomes with greater difficultie HE that is in a Prouince with his regiments or colonies that consist of many footmen and of many inhabitours therin ought to make himselfe the head and defendour of his neighbours that are of lesse power then he is himselfe or rather to indeuour himselfe to weaken the most mighty of them and he ought to haue care and regarde that for no accident no Strangers doo enter into his slate forsomuch as they are euer hunted after of those y t are mal-contents in that Prouince either through ouergreat ambition or through ouer-great pouertie IMmediatlye after a mightye Stranger is entered into a Prouince all those that are of meanest power in y e same doo ioyne themselues vnto him moued through the enuye that they haue had against him that hath beene mighty against them by reason that in respect of these small powers the stranger hath little trauail to gain y e same that assemble theÌ„selues incontineÌ„tly about him he hath only this to thinke vpon that they take not vpon them ouer much force or ouermuch authoritie the which he may easily doo debasing with his forces the most mightye to remaine altogither the arbitratour of the Prouince and he that doth not gouerne himselfe well in this part he shall soone loose that he hath gotten THey doo not breake their accorde and compact who when they are not aided and succoured confederate themselues with others but rather those that yeelde no succours to them with whome they haue made coÌ„uention and are in consorte And he merites no blame who because he will not fall into perrilles that be exceeding great castes his eyes with diligence vpon those things that are profitable vnto him rather theÌ„ vnto those which for other mens causâ—s are damageable vnto him A Wise man knowes easily the generall inclination of any nation and the actions therof being publick it is necessarie that the same shewe perforce her minde and desires foorth of which afterward are drawne perticular determinations either more or lesse according to the capacitie of that wise man which hath charge to perce and desipher the same THe great and mighty Northern Princes which haue many Children carrie alwaies their mindes apt and prone to make warres as well in respect of glory as also to obtaine state for their Children and to deliuer their owne Kingdomes from those disturbations which for the most parte the first begotten amongst many brethren is accustomed to bring and if vnto these respects wrath and glorie be ioyned without all doubt they exalte very much that Kingdome which according to their imagination is most easie to be conquered or in the which they haue some 〈◊〉 or prâ—tence of right to the intent they may in eche casâ— that dooth chaunce either of Leages either towardes their aduersaries or in any iustifications salue the appearance thereof to the worlde SOliman the Emperour of the Turkes saide that Princes ought not to vse the help and aide of a Seruant oftner then once forsomuch as in that first fact his desire to obtaine the good grace of his Prince and the greatnes of the demaund dooth make him to resolue in himself to obey his request hauing no space to think either of the perrill or of his owne aduauntage but when after he comes afreshe to request him he thinkes no more of the fauour alreadye obtained but dooth imagine to make frée himselfe with the perrill of his Prince and to aduauntage himselfe by some meanes to the damage oftentimes of his Prince and the falsing of his own faith IT oftentimes comes to passe that when we demaund a thing and are not able to obtain it for that we haue not in a readines the reasons that may be opposed we lose reputation and he that doth deny the same besides that he dooth repute vs for presumptuous and imprudent imagining that he hath offended vs by reason of his deniall and growes to hate vs. Heerof it ariseth that y e gate is shutte vp against oâ—r obtaining of any other thing which easily would haue béene graunted vs the which we do not now procéed to demaund because the first hath been denyed wherupon he knowing our néede and necessitie dooth not offer the same supposing that we are displeased A Wise Officer or seruaunt ought after the maner of an excellent Phisition foresée that which he may hope for or that which he maye feare neither hoping nor fearing more or lesse then so much as is conuenient and he may very easily know in the beginning if that his hope be in augmentation in estate or in declination and knowing the same he may make his prognosticate to the intent he néede not altogither to expect his sorrowe and he ought to aduertise his Prince or Maister thereby to shewe himselfe prudent kéeping alwais his iudgement in hand not suffering him to be exalted through hope neither fall downe to the ground through feare and so affaires are handled with prudence and come to passe to his honor that dooth negotiate for the profit of his Master WHen Princes doo not graunt or are correspondent to other mens demaunds it growes vpon these occasions either that their silence giues them time to resolue vpon some thing that is doubtfull or else with their silence they deny the same iudging the demaund to be vniust or else they despise him y t hath made the demaund although it be vniust either else despise the seruaunt that doth demaund y e same or else exspects new aduertisements y e better to resolue himselfe or otherwise in this case giue good woords to their Seruants therfore the prudent negotiatour ought to make his considerations in which estate of these foresaide cases he dooth finde himselfe and takes his expedition in hand with the better deliberation PLato would haue the duetye of a good Citizen to consist in these fower thinges for the benefite of the common-weale that is that he be prudent in discearning those things that be present and preuent those that are to come iust in distributing to euerye one according to his demerites strong to ouer-come feares which are an impediment to the operation of vertue and temporate in our
suspected that he goes about by some secret and hid way to reape the same againe POuerty makes some men full of audacitie others by riches couetous store are made ambitious and proud and to others doth chaunce other occasions according as euery man doth possesse either ire or some other vnbridled accident y ◠doth moue him the which doo all of thē make vs to put our selues in perill aboue all things hope and loue dooth greatly prick vs forward the one going before and the other following after and the one despising deceites and the other propounding vnto vs the prosperitie of fortune doo bring great damage IT appertains to Princes and Common-weales to take care that their Captaine Generals do nat fall in suspect and if the same doo chaunce they ought by cutting the occasion spéedilye off to prouide and prepare for those damages and for those ruines that therby might hang ouer their State SUspition dooth spring vp sometimes in our mindes either of those thinges that be likely or of any violence that hath falne out or else through a certaine folly and ignorance of men that which doth arise of likely-hoods it is necessarie to examine it well forsomuch as it behoues to haue iustification and he that dooth iustifie himselfe dooth merite no punishment That which dooth arise of any violence that is doon or that is to be doon ought not so stricktly to be examined for that already it is rather an offence then a suspition offences ought to be punished The last which dooth arise of follye and ignorance ought not to be admitted of any person of qualitie but rather reiected and left aparte WRath disdain being nothing else but a passion conceiued in the minde either through anye iniurie receiued or through that which it séemes we shall receiue either offew or of many no person of qualitie ought to giue place vnto the said passion without reasonable occasion and chéefely in those iniuries which it séemes he receiues of many one perticular man being more apt to erre then any vniuersall people PRinces ought to haue care not to prouoke to disdaine their vassailes but aboue all things a multitude or an vniuersall people forsomuch as such a violence is much more headlong is of greater importance and dooth cause more spéedie and perrilous effects for Princes MEn that are strong and of great magnanimitie are not to be afraide of their liues in glorious enterprises but rather ought to account death for most glorious whē either for the benefite of their Cuntry or for their Prince the same should chaunce in some woorthie and hautye enterprise desiring rather to dye gloriouslye then to liue beastly ALthough the actions of men are grounded not onelye vpon honour honesty or iustice but also vpon firme and stable faith wherewithall they are pricked forward to put things in action in such sorte that they may be approued and found good by the consent of all and to the intent when they be doon we growe not to repent vs forsomuch as by repentance what action soeuer although it be well doone is spoyled and defamed FOrtitude is truely the supportation of great thinges wherein there is perrill of death but not in respect of himselfe alone that dooth put himselfe into the same but in respect of the vniuersall and publick benefit either of his country or of his Prince whome he dooth serue TRue fortitude is to moderate feare and audacitie and to be not able to be ouercome with trauailes stout and strong in perrilles seuere against pleasures and to be an enemye to couetousnes is proper to a man that possesseth right fortitude And to be such a one to defend our country and our Prince from barberous inuations and at home the weak and not able with weapons or abroad his companion from théeues or the hye waye from rapines is as I haue saide to accomplishe an ample and full iustice THe fortitude of minde is knowne two waies the one is when being in perrils he dooth no otherwise estéeme and repute of the partes of the body but as superfluous and to be despised the other is when he dooth perseuer to follow those things which are most principall in the enterprise and in them goes forward still pursuing of honour and following that which doth leade to the true and honest way with an vnspotted and excellent intent and minde vntill such time as he hath obtained the effect or the desired end IF Fortitude do principally appertaine vnto man as his proper due and the principall partes dueties of Fortitude is not to be afraid of death neither of gréefe Whosoeuer desires to be a man ought likewise to consider well of the true properties of a man and to haue in memorye that to suffer himselfe to be possessed with feare to be ouercome by his owne will and pleasures or drawne by a couetous desire to gaine money and riches be partes of lightnes and instabilitie contrarye to all fortitude THose thinges which are vniuersallye desired doo sildome come to passe the reason is for that there be fewe that giue beginning or motion to those thinges at the ende whereof there be sundry contrarye to the appetites of many THe arte of clemencye and of pardoning although for the most parte it benefites neuerthelesse sometimes it is hurtfull and damageable but this comes to passe when thou doost pardon a perticular person equall or like vnto thy selfe whereas to pardon or to vse clemencie towards a multitude for the moste parte dooth benefite for that it is almost impossible that a multitude which hath receiued any benefite should all of them be willing to be malignant or ingratefull whereas a perticular person either through his euill nature or through some other vnreasonable desire dooth oftentimes fall into this vice of ingratitude THe true intent of good men and men of iudgement ought neuer to be other then to endeuour themselues to obtaine fame glorye and honour in the sight of men for that all perrilles toyles trauailes discommodities and gréefes which we beare in the exercise or in the managing of great causes is doone with this principall intent to benefite so many as we can or are able and to be hurtfull to none A Wise man ought too consider that he is borne not somuch for himselfe as to benefite others and by how much he findes himself in greater degrée then others or by how much he knowes himselfe to haue more knowledge more vertue or more gifts of God then others by so much he ought to iudge that God hath graunted him the same to the intent he may imparte the same to the benefite of others and in this we ought infinitely to reioyce that he hath opened vnto him so large so plaine and so apparent a way to make him selfe immortall SOddaine determinations when as commoditie is not left to consulte they drawe perrilles oftentimes after them and oftentimes also when a man for feare of a great perrill dooth
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
marshald by chaunce HE that will hang in suspence and ballance thinges amongst Princes and become a newter it is necessary for him very circumspectly to abstaine not only from déeds but from all those demonstrations that maye bring him into suspect of his greater inclination more vnto one part then vnto an other TO doo and not to doo an action although it seeme to bee of small effect yet oftentimes there dooth depend vppon the same moments of matter of importance And therefore in the managing of thinges that be more profitable he must alwaies be well aduertised and haue many good considerations THe nature of the people is to incline themselues to hope more then they ought to be of lesse telleration to take alwaies against hart thinges that be present and to attribute vnto themselues not to desire and challenge that which they ought rather to attribute to their disabilitie besides this those that be fearefull and which determine not to oppose themselues against perils but to flie fall to consolations but to people that are warlicke and hardy it appertaines to charge and to present themselues to the enemy so soon as they haue had sight of him AS there is no age which doth naturally more abhorre infamie and is more couetous of honor and prowesse then is youth so there is no age that is so apt neither of more power and force to tollerate trauailes to supporte discommodities difficulties and wants that of necessitie are suffered in warres And if we doo rightlye enter into consideration of the matter men doo not differ one from another by reason 〈◊〉 but through pollicie in wit through quicknes in iudgement through their study their industrie their experience and their vertue IT is follye to become angrye with those persons against whome by reason of their greatnes thou canst not hope to reuenge thy selfe therefore if it seeme vnto thée that thou hast receiued iniurye at their handes dissemble and suffer IN matters of warfare there springes vp from time to time infinite varieties therefore we must not put vpon vs ouer-great haughty hate for late prosperities nor ouer-great abiect mindes for aduerse calamities for oftentimes there dooth arise mutations Therefore héereby we must learne that when occasion dooth present it selfe let vs not lose or let slippe the same for she is of small continuance WE ought well to consider that which the beginnings of things may be able to bring foorth and to obserue and beware at the first to giue place to vniust and pernitious demaundes for so much as when once any one hath obteined their desired things they doo not deminish at all but doo alwaies encrease our determinations and desires with a greater better will and with greater conceites then before HOw much more any accidents comes at vnawares and vnlooked for by so much more it dooth amase and put men in terrour and therefore a wise man ought to be aboundantly stored with able meanes to prouide that discordes doo not ensue or that if they should ensue that they doo not continue and he must foresee euen from this present state all future perilles remouing them with prudence and with counsell not suffering thinges to runne headlong IN ciuell States and conuersations an offence cannot be chasticed or a vertuous action rewarded but that the Citizens shall receiue that common profit that dooth therby arise neither was there any â—â—medye found better more apt nor of greter effect to maintain a coÌ„monwealth in good and happie estate then a counterpose of punishmeÌ„t and reward vsed vprightly ALl the Securitie that may be had of an enemie either of faith either of fréends either of promises and of other some bonds are good but through the wicked condition of men and through the varying of times there is nothing thought better and more firme then so to accommodate our selues that the enemy cannot haue power to offend vs. THe maner of procéeding in moderne warrefare is far vnlike to the antiquitie who did not suborne secret murtherers but did discouer vnto the enemy if any such wicked treason was wrought against him hauing confidence to be able to ouercome with vertue IT is a more secure glorious resolution with asmuch equalitie of hope as may be to make experience of fortune then by flying and leauing the same to consume by little and little and to giue to the enemy the victory without blood and without perrill forsomuch as in thinges that fall out contrarye the feare and difficultie of him that is ouercome dooth become euerye day greater IN difficulties a man must sometimes not denying but prolonging indeuouring himselfe to cause others to accept and imbrace hope in stead of effects IT is a most true and commendable Prouerbe amongst the antiquitie that Dignities disciphers mens qualities for through experience and measure thereof is not onelye knowne by their weight what ability or insufficiencie is in them but also by reason of the power and libertye they haue are discouered the affections of their mindes and of what nature they are by how much the greater a man is so much lesse respect hath he to suffer and keep himself from being guided according to his own nature INdeuour thy selfe not to be euill thought of by him that is thy superiour in the Countrie neither put trust in the good gouernment of thy owne life but let it be such that thou maist imagine not to fall into his hands for there arise infinite causes not thought vpon wherein thou maist haue need of him and Et e conuerso IF a superiour haue desire to punish or reuenge himselfe against his inferiour let him not doo it in a headlong and rashe manner but let him expect time and occasion the which without doubt shall in such sorte fall out that not discouering himselfe for a passionate and malignant person hee shall be able to satisfie his desire TOuching the managing of warfare the counsell of the olde dooth little helpe if in putting the same in execution the courage the valour and the gallant lustines of youthes doo not set their handes to the dooing who for the moste parte are of a very quicke vnderstanding and haue their spirites and wittes in such a readines that oftentimes they ouercome the difficulties of the affaires with greater discretion and prudence then others can beléeue for we must not expect the processe of yéeres when the vertue of valour and force is to be shewed for so much as the race and course of force and vertue is much more swift then that of age IT is requisite that Gouernours doo rather followe the substance then the appearance of thinges measuring more with prudence then with proper will and not giue ouermuch faith or credit to themselues for it is a great infamie to States when ignorance is accompanied with losse THe order of occasions to obtaine any high matter is necessary to be taken when things are in reuolucion neither is it good for a man to stand to
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
therof is laide to no other end but that the one be not oppressed of the other Therefore he that might be assured that in the state of one alnoe or of many Iustice would be obserued should haue no occasion to desire liberty This was the occasion wherfore the wise men of olde time did not praise the gouernement of those that liue in liberty more then the rest but those in which there was best prouision made for the preseruation of the lawes and iustice MEn Iron Money and Bread are Sinewes of the warres but of these foure the firste two are most necessarye for that Men and Iron will be able to get mony and Bread but money and bread doo not prouide so easily for Men and Iron NEw and soddaine thinges make afraide and terrifie Armies those that are accustomed and sloe are smallye estéemed of them therefore a Generall ought to practise and make knowne to his Army with light small encounters a newe enemy before he come to a day of battaile with him A Prince when he hath about him his familiares dooth distribute his fauours amongst them that are most gratefull and most conformable to his honour but when a time of necessitie and occasion of affaires falles out then the diuersitie and difference that is amongst them is apparently known A Wise personage which hath the meanes to entertain ten thousund Footmen is more to be feared and estéemed then ten confederates together which haue euerye one of â—hem sixe thousand for that very sildome agréeing togither by reason of their sundrie and diuersitie of ends the one halfe of the time is lost and spent before they resolue vpon any thing IF a man would serue a great person let him rather choose him wise then ignorant for about a wise man there be many meanes to be found by the which his fauour is obtayned but about one that is ignorant there can no way be found that is good for that he hath no vnderstanding THe true note of the ruine of a Prouince dooth appeare when those that ought to vnite themselues together become deuided amongst themselues and doo band themselues to be abandoned HE that gaue this rule that a wise man cannot commit errour in speaking had no iudgement for that either because he is affectioned to the matter which is spoken off either for loue either for hate or for that he would be contrarie to another and sometimes through the indisposition of his person he is subiect to commit errours in his woords THe affaires of the world doo not alwaies remain stable and firme but are euer in continuall motion to go forward into that way and path into the which by reason they are to goe and where by their nature they are to take end but oftentimes they make longer staye then we would beléeue for that we doo measure them according to our life which is shorte and not according to their time which is long for that their féete be more sloe then ours be and farre sloe themselues by nature for although they moue yet oftentimes we doo not perceiue their motion by meanes whereof it dooth arise that those iudgements which we make fall very oftentimes to be false and fallible IN matters of importance he that dooth not very well knowe all the perticulars can giue no right iudgement for that one circumstance although it séeme very little dooth change and varie all the whole cause that ought to be iudged yet is it true that oftentimes he may giue good iudgement that hath knowledge of no other then of Generalities and knowing more perticulars giues woorsse iudgement forsomuch as he that hath not his braine very perfect and cleane and free from passions vnderstanding many particulars dooth verye easilye varie and confound himselfe A Man ought aboue all thinges in this worlde to desire and to attribute to his owne felicitie to see his enemie stricken prostrate to the ground and brought into such sâ—ate that he may vse him at his discretion but by how much the more happie he is vnto whom this adueÌ„ture doth befall by so much the more ought he to make himselfe glorious by vsing the victorie commendable in pardoning and in vsing of clemencie a thing proper and perticular to great and woorthy mindes AN inferiour Prince ought neuer to put his state in hazard of one battaile for if he ouercome he gaines nothing but glory and if he loose he is spoyled GReat personages are often much enclined to their own willes without hauing any respect at all to reason and that which is woorst they are for the most part environed with men that cast their eyes vpon nothing else then to praise and congratulate their good and euill déeds whither soeuer they be and if there be any that would doo the contrary he findes him selfe deceiued THose Princes which are equalle in power although they be not young for at such times they thinke onely vpon pleasure doo not well to meet and come to speak personally together forsomuch as besides that they doo not without perrill euil wil dooth spring vp betwixt them and enuie growes to be greater ALthough the issuing and fallying foorth of Souldiers out of a Cittie besiedged be necessarie yet neuerthelesse they be perrilous for those within for that it improts them much more to loose ten of their infantrie theÌ„ it is for them without to loose an hundreth IT is a manifest thing to euery one that he that dooth alwaies holde his Prince in tearmes of suspition and feare with aduertisements stuffed with feare and suspition either will become to be mortallye hated of him or in the ende shall fall into some other euill inconuenience HE that dooth possesse authoritie and rule maye likewise exstend the same ouer his owne forces for that his subiects doo not measure exquisitlie that which de can doo but rather imagining his power to be much more then it is yéeld to those thinges vnto which the Prince can not constraine them IT is to be discerned in those differences that doo arise with vrbanitie amongst Citizens and in those malicious humours into which men do incurre alwaies to haue recourse to those iudgements or to those remedies that of the antiquitie haue been ordained for that the ciuill lawes is nothing else then Sentences giuen by the ancient lawgiuers the which being brought into order do instruct our present Lawyers how to iudge and Phisicke likewise is nothing else but the experience which hath beene made by auncient Phisitions vpon which the Phisitions in these our daies doo ground their iudgements neuerthelesse in the ordering of a Common-wealth in the maintaining of States in the gouernement of Kingdomes in the militarie institutions in the administration of warfare in iudging the Subiects and in the encreasing of the Empire and State There is to be found neither Prince neither Common-wealth neither Generall or Captaine neither Cittizen that haue recourse to the examples of the antiquitie THere be infinite persons
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
to doo so much as they are desired and condiscend to our request either through mercy pitie or through profit or through â—eare but y â— thrée foresaid waies hauing no place amongst couetous and cruell men which are mightye according to their own opinion Those toyle and trouble them selues in vaine which beleeue either with requests to humble them or with rewardes to gaine them or with threatinges to astonish them THose Cities are infortunate which are to defend their libertie againste the ambition of those that would oppresse them but those are much more vnhappye y t are constrained to defende them selues with the mercenarye and vnfaythfull weapons of forraine succours THose that are in hope that a Common weale may be entirely vnited are very much deceiued by that hope true it is that some deuisions do harme a Common weale and some doo benefite Those which doo harme doo arise of factions and of partners banded vnited together Those doo benefite that without factions and without partialities and parteners doo maintaine them selues Therefore the first institution of a Common weale not béeing able to prouide but that there will be discordes and enmities in a Citie he ought at the leastwise to prouide that there be no factions And therfore he ought to knowe how Citizens do obtain reputation two maÌ„ner of waies in a Citie either by publike meanes or by priuate meanes Publikly they are obtained by ouercomming a battaile by winning a Citie by accomplishinge an Ambassage with care and with prudence and by counselling the Common-weale wiselie and happilye By priuate meanes it is obtained by benefiting these and those other Citizens by defending them from seueritie of Magistrates releeuing them with money aduancing them vndeseruedly to honours and with feastes and with publike gifts to gratifie the people By this maner of procéeding springe vp factions and partners and by how much reputation gained in this sorte dooth offende by so much it dooth helpe and benefite when it is not mixed with factions for that it is grounded vpon a common benefite and not vpon a priuate benefite and although that amongst such Citizens we cannot by any meanes so prouide but that there will arise gréeuous hates neuerthelesse hauing partners that through their own proper profit doo follow him they cannot be hurtfull to the Common weale but rather it will fall out that they shall benefite therfore it is necessarie to ouercome their attemptes that they turne themselues to the exaltation of those and perticularly holde certain obseruations one to another to the intent they doo not ouerpasse the ciuill tearmes THe Generall that would make his Souldiours obstinate in any charge and onsette he must not permitte them to send home to their houses any of their spoyles or riches or to lay them vp in any place to the intent they may vnderstand that if flying away doo saue their liues yet will it not saue their goods the loue whereof no lesse then that dooth make a man obstinate to stand to his defence IT is very easie to perswade or disswade one thing to few for that if woords doo not suffice we may vse authoritie but the difficultie is to remoue from a multitude any sinisâ—er opnion which is either contrarye to y e common-weale or else contrary to their owne opinion wherein no other meanes can be vsed then woords the which is conuenient that they should be heard of all THe speaches of a Generall or of a Captaine to his Souldiours dooth take away feare dooth kindle vp and inflame their mindes and courages dooth encrease their obstination and resolution doth discouer deâ—â—ites dooth promise rewards doth shew vnto them perrils and the way how to shun them dooth reprehend requâ—sâ— thretâ—n dooth fill with hope praise and dispraise and dooth performe all those thinges by the which humain passions are eâ—stinguished or are kindled vp Therefore that Prince or common-weale that hath an armie ought to acustome the souldiers to haue their Captaine speak and the Captain to speak often to the Souldiours THe best way that a Generall or Captaine hath to cause his Souldiours become resolute and obstinate in fight is to take away from them all hope to saue themselues but onely by ouercomming the which resolution or obstination is also encreased through confidence or loue towards their Captain or towards their countrye Weapons good order fresh victorie and the opinion which is had of the Captaine dooth cause and confirme in them confidence nature doth bréede in them the loue of their Cuntrie vertue more then any other benefit that of the Captaine also there may be many sorts of necessities but that is strongest which dooth constraine them either to ouercome or to dye A Cittie whose ditches without the same togither with counterscarpes and other strengthes be higher then the walles of the Cittie that Towne is most weake for that those become bulwarkes to the enemye that dooth assalt them and doth not hinder him to endamage them for that easilye they may be opened and giue place to his artillerie NOthing dooth giue more hope to the enemye to be able to inuade a Cittie then to know that the same is not accustomed to see the enemy for that many times through feare onely without experience of force Citties are lost Therfore when any Prince or other Captain dooth assault a Cittie he ought to make all his showes and oâ—â—entations terrible and that a towne that is assaulted ought to place in that parte where the enemye dooth assault strong men and such as are not terrified by opinion but by weapons for if the first attempt doth become vaine it encreaseth the mindes of the besieged and afterwards the enemy is forced to ouercome those that are within the town with valour vertue and reputation GEneralles and Captaines for two reasons are commended and praised the one is that haue with an armie ordered by his naturall discipline performed great things the other is of those that not onelye haue had to ouercome the enemye but firste before they come so farre haue beene of necessitie constrained to order teach and instruct their armie well and those without doubt do merite much more praise then those haue deserued that haue wrought vertuously and worthily with these well exercised auntient armies A Generall amongst all his other actions ought to indeuour himself with all art to deuide y e forces of his enemies either by making his Souldiours suspected of him in whom he trustes and puts confidence or to giue him occasion to seperate his people and by this meanes to become more weake THat which aboue al other things kéeps an army vnited together is the reputation of the Generall the which doth only arise of his vertue for that neither blood neither authoritie doth neuer giue it him without valour THe firste thing that a Generall must looke to performe is to kéep his Souldiours punished and paide for when they want their paye it falles out of necessitie that they must
want punishment for that a Souldier cannot be corrected vnlesse he be paied neither if the Souldier desire to liue can he abstaine from robbing and spoyle but if he pay them and not punishment the Souldiour becomes in euery respect insolent and the Generall growes to be of small estimation the which being so he cannot maintain the dignitie of his degrée and not maintaining the same tumultes and discords of necessitie doo followe which are the ruine of an armie WHen either hunger or any other naturall necessitye or humaine passion doth bring the enemy to his last desperation and pricked forward with the same dooth come to fight with the General he ought to remain within the lodgings of his camp and so much as is in his power to flée and shunne the charge and encounter of battaile NO man ought euer to performe any thing by means whereof without rememedy he dooth begin to loose his first reputation the which being lost it makes his other orders and appointments to be estéemed lesse and doth amaze those that haue taken vpon them his defence THe three principall actions which an Army is to performe is to marche fight and lodge and if an Armie dooth marche lodge and fight in good order and perfect practise the Generall obtaines honour although the battaile take not good effect ALthough a man be of an excellent wit and naturall iudgement yet is it impossible that he should attaine vnto and vnderstand well certaine perticulares and therefore experience is necessarye the which nothing else dooth teache him but the practise of thinges wherefore he that hath managed many affaires dooth vnderstand for that by expeâ—ience it self he hath learned how good and how much experience is woorth WIthout doubt a Prince dooth more please that is prodigall then couetous and neuerthelesse hee ought altogither to be the contrarye for the prodigall person is forced to vse extortions and rapines and the couetous person dooth not take any thing from any person besides that those be of greater number that suffer discommoditie through the burdens of prodigalitie then those that receiue benefites of his liberalitie the reason is that amongst men hope is of greater force then fame and those be of greater number that hope to obtaine something at his hands then those that feare to be oppressed HE that hath liuing possessions or goods in his owne natiue Countrie and is subiect to a bloody and beastly Tirant fewe rules that are good can be giuen to that man except to take vpon him exile but when the tirant either through prudence or through necessitie dooth gouerne with respect a man that is well qualited ought to indeuour himself to be accounted of many not couragious but of a quiet nature and not desirous of alterations if he be not forced therunto For that by this means the tirant will embrace him and will not goe about to giue him cause to make nouelties â—he which thing he would not doo when he dooth knowe him vnquiet for that then he thinks in any case he will not remaine firme and is consâ—rained of necessitie to exstinguish and destroy him IT is an honourable thing to a man not to promise any thing but that which he will perfourme but commonly al those to whom he makes denial although iustly remain euill satisfied for that men do not suffer themselues to be gouerned by reason The contrary chaunceth to him that promiseth for that many cases doo occurre by the which they are not constrained to make experience of that which he hath promised and so he dooth satisfie him with his minde and yet if he must performe the act they want no excuses and many are so vndiscrete that they suffer themselues to be compassed about with woords neuerthelesse it is so foule a thing for a man to faile of his promise that he ought to preferre this before any profit that maye be drawne of the contrarye and therfore a man ought to entertaine or temporise somewhat with general answers and full of good hopes but not in such sorte as they may binde thée precizely IT is a commendable thing that good and valiant souldiours in haughtie and hard enterprises and in difficiâ—e passages should exhort one an other to doo well to the intent that their not ouercomming through their negligence and passing their time with ease and not making one onely experience against their enemies of their vertue and valour should be reputed to them for a shame And therefore they ought not to expect y t their fame should be defamed neither their prosperous fortune turne to a contrarye course but rather hoysse vp their sayles according to y e fréendly winde that blowes THe Stratagems and aduertisements of an olde Captaine when they are effectuallye perfourmed of his Souldiours are as hurtfull to his enemyes as the weapons which doo kill them IT is necessary that those which consider of perrilles doo firste of all compare them amongst them selues and afterwards make choise of the leaste And he that giues fauours it is requisite that he haue that consideration in all thinges WHen a people doo remaine without head and doo liue of them-selues they become lesse apte for the warres And if after they returne vnder a head they are made lesse obedient for that they were once frée and more apt to discordes amongst them dooth forslowe his victorie and often times dooth loose his state PRincipalities when they are instituted by olde men haue alwayes had small continuance for that for the most parte olde men because they liue but a small time either doo not furnish out the planting of their plat or if they doo plant it they leaue it with so small weake rootes that when that vertue force which did custome it dooth faile the first winde dooth bend downe and bow the same THere is nothing more woorthy in an excellent Prince or in a well ordered Common-weale neither more profitable for a Prouince then to builde and edifie a newe Towne whether men maye reduce them selues through the commoditie of deâ—ence or benefite of the fertill ground For that it makes the Countrye that is ouercome more secure to the vanquishour and dooth fill with inhabitants voide places and maintaines men well distributed and dispearced in a Prouince forsomuch as the inhabitours multiplying they be more prompt and readye in their offences and more secure in their defences MEn doo neuer maintain themselues in any difficultie if they be not maintained through a necessitie in such sort as where the feare of warres doth constrain them to inhabit willingly in rough and strong places that feare being ceased and being called vpon by commoditye they doo inhabite more willingly in easie and domesticall places THe gréeuous and naturall discordes which are amongst the populare sorte and the noble being caused for that the one partie would commaund and the other for that they would not obay are the occasions of many euils that arise in a Citie for that through this
dooth containe in it our houses our Children our wiues our fathers and mothers riches the Temples and finally euery humaine and deuine thing THere be two things in a Common-weale the which although by effect and name they are swéete neuertheles oftentimes they haue beene an occasion of great harmes to mightie and noble Cities as peace and a restraint of money foorth of the publike profit For that perrills being placed a farre off or before our eyes either they are not séene or if they be séen whilst we do ouermuch delight in sparing or in peace we estéeme them so small that almoste we are brought into euery euident perrill before we will prouide for the terrible name of warrs although we be in manifest daunger and all to shun the odious name of expences A King is no other then a man brought vp in deliacies and as it is accustomed to be said in swaddle clothes and is a man that hath néed of a greate number of officers and seruants From whome if his wonted seruices be taken away without dout he is of lesse power then others forsomuch as he is not accustomed neither wonted to exercise neither his féete neither his handes neither any other parte of his body but to liue in idlenes And Kings knowe better how to commaund then to performe HEe is aswell to be reprehended that through basenes of minde dooth suffer those occasions to passe wherby he might recouer his state assure the rest succour others vnto whome he is bound and beholden as on the other side also he that ouer boldely or ouer rashly dooth commit all things to fortune where he cannot looke for due worthye recompence of his perrills and trauailes WHen there be many mighty men and Cities confederate together it beeing conuenient that many heads should be of one selfe opinion it is impossible that they should long maintain them selues all of them vnited together or that they should vse one selfe consultation or bring soddainly things to effecte because they are not of one selfe will and minde but rather euery one is onely carefull for his owne proper profit For where mens mindes are disagreeing there likewise their déedes fall out to be disagréeable whereof there can neuer any thing that is perfecte arise COuragious men ought neuer to make account of perrilles in greate matters Therfore those merite to be praised that vse endeuours not only to deliuer themselues from tirannie but become vnto him that dooth aspire vnto tirannie so much his superiour that he haue greater cause to be greeued and to feare them then they him A Good Citizen ought neuer to speake neither for fauour or grace neither through the instigation or beneuolence of others but onlye in respect of that he knowes to be lawdable and best aswell for the particular as generall commoditie of all And neuer to perswade any thing but which shall be as agréeable to God as in the sight of men reasonable iust and sacred louing rather better the publike benefites and the vniuersall quiet then his owne proper life THe end of all enterprises is more vneasie then the beginning for to giue end to a begun enterprise requires trauaile And a Ship dooth fréely cut through the Seas although the windes doo not blowe prosperously the Mariners alwaies bending their sayles in such sorte that they goe forward vpon their voyage but coÌ„ming to enter in to the Hauen it is necessary to haue prosperous windes hauing to enter with their Ship in at a straight passage A Captain ought not to comforte his Souldiers but vnto a glorious enterprise for that to comforte them to their wonted works actions is shamful not only to them that are comforted but also to him that dooth comfort séeking for at the hands of the Souldiour that which he is bound vnto THe Soules of those warriours and valiant men that haue beene esteemed and thought to dye for their cuntrye â—or their Children and for their religion being disseuered with weapons from the bondage of their bodie it is no doubt but the shining starry heauens doth receiue them into a most happie quiet mantion and there doth remaine vpon earth some signe of glorye or clamour for that those that dye by infirmity do leaue behinde no memory of them but he that goes against his enemye if it chaunce he dye glorye dooth follow him HE that dooth serue his turne with the benefite of traiterie through the receiued grace dooth take therein like a Conquerour suddaine pleasure and guided in time to come with a continuall suspition at one instant dooth feare and hate the traitour although he haue béene beneficiall vnto him and haue that in himselfe and proued the same haue afterwards to take héed and warily to shun the signe of tradiments ALl great facts are accustomed to be better directed with good counselles then with celeritie of time for that for the most parte a mature dilation which with opportunity doth conduct to the end doth carry with it much greater profite but rash audacitie and ouer-curious spéed in matters when they are not performed in time conuenient not apâ— hath cut off from many the hope to dispatch any thing for that the enemy dooth more easily ouercome a multitude which as yet is not in order then that which with fewer people but well instructed and ordered dooth come to giue an onset and to fight HAving not well prouided for one warre and to goe about to take in hand another is a great folly for that thâ—se which hang in ballance and are not inteÌ„tiue against one onely enemye reason will that they be ouercome by their aduersaries TO raise vp in time a Campe for any place hath directed and reduced many to better fortune but the desire to doo some glorious act and that doth taste of a valiant man the same being not performed in time hath brought him rather into â—lauerye perpetual dishonour then made him glorious and honourable for that we are not to seeke after and follow the names of things but rather are to gain the commodity of them for that the vertue of a man doth not shewe it selfe in thinges that are new begun but those which are brought to an ende doo make him noble and famous THe enemye dooth shun and flée those that with a great preparation and at one instant time goe to assault him but those which desire perpetually to conserue their bodies and remaine far off from the warres are soone ouercome and made slaues for that it is of great importance in warfare to haue prompt and readie the willes of the combatants and when their mindes are inclined to fight they are accustomed to accomplishe manye egregions victories and famous thinges but how small and fewe soeuer those valiant men and armed with vertues are yet they surpasse the great armies of the enemie THose do not gaine great praise that haue ouercome the lesse mightye but those also that with lesse preparations doo surpasse the rest in greatnes