makes way to a change A Râ—uolâ—e and Ciuill Warres dispose to a change of Religion As likewise excessiue liberty and contempt of Religion The revnion of a Countrey vnder the same Prince facilitate the setling of Religion Chapter 16. Of the parties necessary for those which will bring in a new Religion Parts and quallities necessary for such as seeke to bring in a new Religion That instruction is a powerfull meanes for the establishing of a Religion That the zeale of Religion must be accompanied and guided by discretion Of Spirituall and Temporall powers and of their iurisdiction That obseruing of the Ceremonies of an ancient Religion facillitates the establishment of a new Chapter 17. That diuersity of Religion is dangerous in an Estate How they ought to carry themselues to preserue the ancient Beliefe in the diuersity of Religions which are crept into the Estate Diuersity of Religions in Egypt There ought to be but one religion in an Estate Diuersity of religions which is dangerous in an Estate ought to be auoyded yea in the lightest matters How they ought to gouern themselues to preserue the ancient beliefe in the diuersity of Religions which are crept into the State Of the extirpation of Heresie and a new Religion in its breeding and how they ought to gouerne themselues That it is not expedient nor fitting to seeke to roote out Heresie by Armes when it hath taken footing in an Estate The tolleration of Religions in an Estate is lesse preiudiciall then a a Ciuill Warre Warre agaynst Heretickes fortifies their party and giues them great aduantages It is dangerous for a Prince to Arme agaynst his Subiects if hee bee not assured of the euent A good aduise to weaken the party of a new Sector religion Chapter 18. Of the disorders which happen in Religion and of the meanes to preuent them Chapter 19. Of the establishing of the Councell of Estate and of the Qualities and number of Counsellors Of a Councell of Estate Qualities of Counsellors of Estate The great difference betwixt an Old Counsellor and a Young for that which concernes their aduice A mixture of Old and Young Counsellors of Estate Obstinacy a wilfull vice in a Counsellor He ought to be without ambition and not depending of any other Irresolution a dangerous vice and to be auoided in a Counsellor of Estate Hee ought not to be too confident Of the change of Counsellors of Estate Of the multitude of Counsellors who are to be otherwise imployed Chapter 20. Of the plurality of Councels of State of the power of a Councell and of the order in deliuering their opinions The power of a Councell A Consultatiue voice A Deliberatiue voice Equality among Counsellors Chapter 21. Considerations for a Prince who is to bee Councelled Sufficiency and capacity necessary for a Prince Of the manner how to demand Councell To receiue Councell To examine it To resolue and execute it Of the flattery of Councellors and how the Prince ought to auoide it Of the truth and liberty which ought to be in a Councellor of Estate Of the chiefe Ministers of Estate A good course for a Minister of Estate to free himselfe duely of his charge Chapter 22. Of the forme of commanding Of the power Of the Law Diuersity of Lawes The ayme and end of the Law Qualities considerable in the establishment thereof Of the breuâ—ty of the Law Of the Princes absolute command Chapter 23. What we must auoide in the making of Lawes Of the multiplicity of Lawes and the causes thereof Of the obseruation of Lawes Of the seuerity When the Prince may dispence in following the Lawes How they ought to gouerne themselues in the seuerity Chapter 24. Of the particular Commanders of the Prince Chapter 25. Of Magistrates A distinction of the Officers and Ministers of an Estate Chapter 26. Of the difference betwixt Officers and Commissaries Considerations to be made vpon a Commission Of the person from whom it proceeds Of the direction thereof Of the charge of the Commission Of the duty of a Commissary Chapter 27. Considerations vpon the establishing of Officers and Magistrates Of the number of Officers That it is more safe to commit a businesse to many then to one That the plurality of Officers is profitable to an Estate Chapter 28. Of the Creation and Nomination of Magistrates The Creation and choice of Officers must be made by the Soueraigne and not otherwise That the charges must be distributed proportionally to the Nature and capacity of the person Principall qualities required in an Officer and Magistrate The Vices and Defects are as well to be considered as the Vertues and Perfections in the choice they will make of Magistrates and Officers Chapter 29. Of the forme and manner of Creating and making Magistrates and Officers and of the time of their charges Three kinds of Creating and making Magistrates The time of their Charges either for life then for a limited time Reasons and Considerations to make Officers for a time Other Considerations to the contrary Change of Officers and Magistrates necessary in a Popular Estate Meanes to hinder the vsurpation of the State by the continuance of Officers in great places The practice of the Pope and the Seignoury of Venice in the disposition of the great places of their Estates to hinder the vsurpation The practise of Kings and Princes vpon the same subiect That the change of Prime Officers and Magistrates is necessary for the safety of the Prince and the quiet of the Subiect Prudence required in this change That they must not giue great Commaunds to those that are borne in a Prouince Chapter 30. Of the duty of principall Officers and Magistrates In what the duty of Officers and Magistrates do consist Of their duty towards the Lawes towards the examination and interpretation thereof How a Magistrate ought to carry himselfe in the interpretation of the words of the Law In the intention of the Law Of the reason of the Law and of the scope thereof That he must hold himselfe vnto the Authority of the Law and not flye subtilties vpon equity Of the execution of the Lawes or ordinances Consideration for the sayd execution From what time and when the Law or ordinance doth bind What they are whom it binds Of the force of Lawes and Ordinances Of Custome Three things requisite to make a Custome Chapter 31 Of the duty of the Magistrates towards their Soueraigne Wherein the duties of the Magistrates towards the Prâ—nce doe consist Of the Princes commaunds and how the Magistrate ought to carry himselfe in the allowing and verifying thereof The Magistrate ought to obey the will of the Prince although it should be vniust The Magistrates disobedience vnto the will of the Prince is of most dangerous consequence That the Magistrate is not allowed to leaue his place rather then to verifie and publish the vniust Commaund of the Prince Causes and reasons for the which hath bin brought in the manner and Custome to verifie the
imposition of Iudges for otherwise it were not a Law but a violence to the which in conscience we are not bound to obey but onely â—o auoyd scandall and sedition It must likewise be peaceable and quiet according vnto Nature and the condition of such as ought to obey and are Subiects grounded vpon naturall reason and accommodated to the quality of affaires and the customes of the Countrey For there are lawes which are good in one Country but would not be so in another The Lawes in like manner must be fitting for the time being necessary to gouerne the Estate as a pilot doth his ship according to the wind that blowes and not lightly established Moreouer the Law must be profitable to all or to the greatest part plaine least its obscurity breeds some errour briefe and according vnto some without preface with the commandment onely Yet others are of a contrary opinion For although that the principall intention of the Law ought not to be to teach the reason for the which it is made no more then the Physitian who is not called by the sick Patient to giue him a reason of his prescriptions but to cure him hauing more need of health then Doctrine yet for that they make Lawes for men capable to vnderstand that which is necessary for the publique good the Prince ought as a common Father not onely to make knowne vnto his people the end of the Law but also the reason that he may know that the Ordinances of his Prince are no lesse full of reason then command It is true that when as by such mildnesâ—e and humanity the Prince preuayles nothing with his Subiects then he may with a sufficient excuse vâ—e his absolute commaund For his duty binds him tâ— practise all meanes to moue and induce his Subiects to well doing yea to imploy force the which in it selfe is not bad if it be well vsed For although that the Lawes ought not to be against men yet they are made to commaund men and for that pleasure doth many times deceiue men delighting in things which are pernicious and hurtfull the Prince in making a Law must not haue any regard to the pleasure or displeasure which his Subiects may take but it shall suffice him that those things which he ordaynes or commaunds may be good and profitable to the publique Yet this is not to say that he should not proceede in those courses which may breed a popular contentment but contrariwise he must haue this principal obiect after the good of the Estate Behold what we are to follow in the establishment of a Law let vs now see what we are to fly CHAP. 23. What we are to to aâ—oyde in the establishing of Lâ—wes AMong other things we must haue a speciall care not to establish any Lawes but such as are very necessary The multiplicâ—ty of Lawes is raâ—â—â— then a testimony of confusion then good orders For few Lawes suffice to entertayne good men in their Duties and to punish the wicked if they be well obserued The number of Lawes proceeds commonly from two causes the one is the ambition and vanity of those which coÌ„mand who to gaine the reputation of wel ruling will prouide for all yea for matters of small moment The which is a cause that being of this quallity they are not obserued and the people accustoming themselues not to obay Lawes of small importance they afterward do easily dispence with themselues from doing that which Lawes of greater importance commaunds Wherefore it is better to leaue the care of such great and weighty things to the Magistrate who may prouide according to occurrents The other cause from whence the multitude of Lawes do vsually proceed is the bad inclination of the Prince who hauing an intent to domineere ouer the Magistrates publick in his particular appetites and affayres makes what Lawes he can to offend in particular eyther those whom he feares or such as he hates or of that from whence he thinkes he may draw some profit for his owne particular I come vnto the obseruation of Lawes without the which the establishment were fruitlesse To this obseruation two things are necessary the example of great men and of those which commaund and Seuerity For as the Lawes prescribe vnto Subiects the rule of well liuing so the Prince ought to giue an Example for the obseruation and entertaynment of the Lawes And the Prince is called the liuing Law of the Estate not only for his intelligence and power to make a Law but also for the obseruation of that which they teach by way of commaundment the Prince by his Example commaunds it When I say the Example of the Prince I speak not of his person alone but of those of his trayne of his neerest Fauourites and of the greatest personages For it would little auayle him to obserue the Lawes if he suffer the great men of his Court to break them Wherefore he must haue an Eye for that the Subiects of a meane condition cannot receiue a greater contentment then to see the actions of great persons conformable to the common rule conceiuing an opinion thereby to haue some equality and participation with them in acknowledging them equall in this obedience As the example of the Prince serues to inuite men to doe well so seuerity retires and hinders those whom impunity might abandon from doing euill This seuerity notwithstanding doth not extend to search out and punish the most secret offences but those which may be the cause of bad example Likewise it is certayne that the punishments or dayned by the Lawes are more in regard of the scandall then for the Crime whereof God is the principall reuenger and not so much to punish the offence past as to strike terrour into the wicked for the future by the rigour of punishment not to commit the like fault And although the intention of the Law be not to hinder any man yet for that men sometimes commit errours which deserue eyther in regard of the person which commits them or for some other good respect compassion and mercy in this case the Prinâ—e may moderate the rigour of the Law by a fauorable temper or giue him an absolute pardon if the Subiect deserues it and that herein he cannot briâ—g impunity in other things or in equality which breeds scandall to good men to the preiudice of the Estate For this effect pardons must not be too frequent but for a Subiect that is full of merit and they must be pleasing to the most part But when he shall be forced to shew himselfe seuere as it is necessary sometimes that in the disobedience of the Subiects the Prince should be rigorous if punishment may be called â—igour this â—igour ingendring vsually feare the which seldome accompanied with loue he must amidst his actious of seuerity extend his bounty to good men and then the feare which was full of hatred will bee conuerted inâ—o Reuerence
to all the Lawes others are priuiledged and exempt from somè one some for their Age others for their sex some by particular fauour or by the prerogatiue of their charge and vocation and others are bound to some duties of honour or assistance more then the rest as feudataries and vassals Of simple Subiects some are Originaries the rest are Strangers The Originaries are those which are borne in the Estate enioying all the Lawes As for Strangers they are intreated diuersly in the world For they draw some eyther to people the Country or Townes newly built or to weaken their neighbours or to gaine good wits who may serue eyther for Traffique or in the War or for the instruction of Youth and in this casâ— they are most commonly priuiledged Others come of themselues eyther for that they are chased out of their Countrey or with an intent to benefit their Estates In this case they are so farre from being priuiledged as all liberty to dispose is taken from them and dying that which they haue accrews to the Prince and State if they haue no Heire remayning there Behold the diuersity of their conditions which obey diuersifying the gouernment But the forme of the Estate may be also considered by the diuision they makâ— of Subiects according to the diuersity of their vocation or profession CHAP. 12. Of the diuersity and distinction of Subiects according to their vocations and professions IN many Estates the Subiects are distinguished into three orders As in France into that of the Clergy the Nobility and the third estate which is the people This distinction is followed in a manner throughout all Europe and taken from that of the ancient Gaules who were distinguished into Drindes Horsemen and the common people In Aegypt there were Labourers Priests Shepheards men at Armes and Artizans The Arabians were diuided into Priests men at Armes and Labourers who made three distinct bodies In some Common-weales they haue beene distinguished otherwise as at Venice into Gentlemen Cittizens and common people and the Gentlemen into ancients new and last or more new Yet this last distinction makes but one body At Florence they had the great the popular and the populace But among all distinctions those are very considerable which are reduced vnder certaine bodies Colledges and Comminalties whereof some are religious as Conuents Abbies and Chapters Others are politicall and ciuill ordayned eyther for Commerce or for the safety of a Towne or Countrey or for Councell and Iustice. Other Comminaâ—ties are composed of Trades and Artizans diuided by Brotherhoods or Companies the which Numa brought first into Rome to quench the faction of the Sabins and Romans and to re-vnite these two people into one taking away the first diuision by this second Distinction which being reduced into many parts miâ—gled one with another was much lesse daâ—gerous And afterwards Tarquin the proud to take away all signes of this ancient Diuision mingled their Ensignes The like course hath bin followed to re-vnite the Estate of Genoa afflicted at one time by many Diuisions That is to say by the Gnelphes and Gibelins the Nobility and the people and that of the Adornes and Fregoses For to vnite the people diuided into so many factions they made a mixture of the one with the other in making a department of Twenty eight families vnder the which they reduced the rest although they carryed not the name of the family neyther were formerly of the same party In other Estates they haue diuided the people by Parishes or quarters and in other by Families The Subiect for settling of such and the like Diuisions of the people must be eyther to let them vnderstand more easily the Soueraignes command oâ— to retire from them their approbation or aduice vpon some proposition that is made vnto them Or for that factioâ—s haue already brought in such distinctions as they are forced to countenance and allow them Or else as Numa did to take away the name of a distinction more preiudiciall to the Estate Or to ease the Prince of some part of his care or to giue assurance to the people of good vsage in making choise of a good number among them for the mannaging of affaires which concerne them in particular And these diuisions are very considerable as also their power and autâ—ority with the people and their dependance of the Prince their Soueraigne as making a part of the forme of the Estate For insome Estates the Soueraigne cannot resolue any thing of importance without these Comminalties or some of them as the King of Poland without the Senate In others he resolues but his resolution must be allowed by them to the end it may be imbraced by the people In others he resolues in certaine things in the which the Comminalties haue but one voyce as likewise in certaine things the Comminalty resolue without the Soueraigne But as the Soueraigne ought to establish this temper in the Soueraignty according to the disposition of affaires and persons so being once setled he must haue a care not to crosse it vnsâ—asonably lest that in shewing himselfe a concurrent in some things he make himselfe by the same meanes equall to his Subiects whereof this Comminalty is composed which will be alwayes supported by others As in like manner he must haue a care that they attempt not any thing that is aboue their power hindring them vpon the least occasion and in the beginning for it is the ordinary of such Companies to vsurpe as much authority as they can and to grow bold by sufferance CHAP. 13. Of Religion AFter the establishing of the forme of the Estate the most considerable is that of Religion For it is the cause of good order and good Fortune And Fortune the Mother of good successe And so she is not onely the foundation but the cause of the preserâ—ation and greatnesse of the Estate Although a people vnable many times to be restrayned but by feare yet there is not any thing more naturall nor more iust nor of greater efficacy in the minds of men then that which proceeds from the Reuerence which we owe vnto God And whereas the feare of God is wanting of necessity the Estate must run to iuine or it muâ—t be supported by the feare of a Prince who supplies this defect who although he were such a one the which is difficult yet this Prince fayling the feare would likewise be wanting and by consequence the obedience for for that the Successor can seldome inherite this Authority which dyes with the person Moreouer many things presenting themselues in an Estate which he must doe or hindeâ— and which cannot be perswaded by any reasons which may be alledged men by their insufficiency not able to satisfie themselues and force on the other side being a dangerous instrument handle which doth harme as soone as good the authority of man being not powerfull enough we must of necessity haue recourse to the authority
and hauing instructed many with such Disciples and his sonnes hauing some aduantages agaynst the Christians turned their Armes agaynst the Kings of Fez and Morocco and setled themselues in their places with their Religion Prudence is next to Piety the principall part which they should haue which vndertake such an enterprize and so much the more necessary for that many times an indiscreet zeale hinders his function and ruines that which he would Establish And although that the counsels of these zealous persons succeed sometimes which notwithstanding is but seldome God hauing giuen prudence to men to serue them for a guide all hauing not deserued that God should daily imploy his power to worke miracles Ananias hauing perswaded Isates King of the Adiabones and his mother to receiue the Iewish-Religion held it fit that he should forbeare to cause himselfe to be circumcised vntill he had disposed his people But Eliazar the Gallilean prest him to do it and not to preferre the feare of men to the grace of God Which was the aduice of a Diuine more zealous then discreet the which although it succeeded well at that time their spirits being better prepared then the Prince expected yet it were dangerous to follow it in all Encounters For the Apostle commaunds that zeale should be guided by Knowledge We know in our time that this rash zeale hath done more harme to the Catholicke Religion then good I doubt whether to this inconsiderate zeale we should not attribute that opinion which some haue of the greatnes of the spirituall power by the which and their Rules they minister cause of Iealousie to all temporall powers the which they submit vnto it agaynst the ancient beliefe and the custome of former ages A proceeding quite contrary to that of Iesus Christ whom the Iewes desiring to surprize by this meanes in the crime of high treason and to bandy the Magistrate agaynst him declared openly that his Kingdome was not of this world and commaunded to yeild vnto Caesar that which was Caesars although he were a Tyrant and an Vsurper of another mans liberty After him his Apostles haue spoken of the ciuill Magistrate with honour and respect commaunding to obay him and it cannot be found that by vertue of the Spirituall power they haue aduised to attempt any thing agaynst the Magistrate It is true that among Christians the Spirituall power hath beene alwayes much respected but only when it hath beeâ—e practized in matters which are meerely Spirituall the which looseth the dignity and grace which is due vnto it when it deales in matters which are temporall terrien These be the bounds which haue alwayes beene set in France betwixt the Ecclesiasticall lurisdiction and a Regall power and with this distinction the Christian Religion hath beene preserued aboue a thousand yeares in France without any blemish But inconsideration or ambition which is vsually blind hath proceeded further to breed a Iealousie among all Christian Princes For by a consequence altogether absurd and foolish they would make the VVorld beleeue that the obedience of the Subiect towards his Prince the which being a temporall thing cannot be reputed but temporall may be prohibited by the Spirituall power the which notwithstanding hath no power nor Iurisdiction ouer temporall things The which is a meanes not only to hinder that such Princes as are distracted from the ancient beleife do not re-vnite themselues seeing they cannot do it without dimunition of their authority and power but also makes others which are not yet separated to free themselues from this subiection leaue it or fauour all which oppose themselues to this Doctrine neuer insisting vpon the errors which they may adde thereunto There is as little wisedome to â—rosse the Rules of a receiued pollicy if they were not altogether impious neyther must they presse to change the Religion of the conscience if without impiety this apparence may be preserued The ancient Christians made no difficulty to apply vnto the Diuine Seruice many of the Iewish and Pagan ceremonies In diuers changes of Religion hapned in our time Luther in Germany and Peter Martyre in England haue carried themselues more discreetly hauing retayned the greatest part of the ceremonies of the Catholicke Religion approoued therein then they which haue made their Religion bald and destitute of all ornament and to make it the more sauage and to seeme more different from the common beleife they haue changed the names and termes by an inâ—iseâ—eeâ— vanity Behold part of the principall considerations which they must obserue in the setling of a Religion Let vs now see how we are to carry our selues to preserue the ancient beleife amidst the diuersitie of other Religions which are crept into the Estate CHAP. 17. That the diuersity of Religion is dangerous in an Estate how they ought to carry themselues to preserue the ancient Beleife in the diuersity of Religions crept into the Estate IN old time the Kings of Aegypt entertayned this diuersity in Religion among their Subiects Some worshipping a Dogge others a Bird and some a Crocadile with other things according vnto their fancies which was a tyrannicall practize to the end their Subiects might not agree to controule and reforme their Actions But it is certayne that if in the Concord of an Estate consists the good and quiet of the Subiects it is more expedient to re-vnite themselues all in one Religion when they may For Religion is the cyment which binds the Quick-siluer that drawes together all the members of the Estate into one perfect vnion And contrariwise there is nothing that doth more dis-unite a people then the diuersity of opinions or the vse of diuers ceremonies in matter of Religion Hence haue proceeded the most violent and furious passions that cuer troubled an Estate and the life of men And in this poynt all other interests are so implyed as it hath drawne with it all that which makes a part of the honours goods and fortunes of men For Religion the children haue left the Fathers cause seruants haue denied their masters seruice and subiects their fidellity to Princes Finally all naturall rights and offices of humanity haue ceased whereas Religion hath resisted Euery man esteeming that which he followes to be the most pure and the true manner of worship and condemning all that which is not conformable to his beliefe VVherefore we must flye this diuersity euen in light things for that a multitude being vncapable to iudge of things by themselues nor by reason or motion in Religion suffring themselues to be carried away by chance and apparent shewes contrary to that which Faith should perswade them aboue the perception of their vnderstanding when they haue once shaken some opinion which he had in Reuerence he presently falls into the like vncertaynty of the other peeces of his beliefe which haue no more authority nor ground with him then those which they haue already shaken Finding then this diuersity in
an Estate we must consider whether it be little or great If it be small and the parties of the new opinion weaker then that of the ancient Religion be it in number of men or in retreats of intelligences it wil be no difficult thing to suppresse them No more then if in a great Estate this opinion had not taken footing but in one corner or in one or two Prouinces as that of the Albygeois had done in France For the rest of the Estate being secure it is easie for the greater party to suppresse the lesse by the conquest of these Prouinces But if this opinion hath crept into all the parts of the Estate although they that follow it make the lesser number yet we must consider if we are in the beginning or in the strongest fit of the disease In the beginning such weeds are to be pulled vp as soon as they grow the which must be done by secret Executions and not as they â—aue vsually practized by publicke punishments if it be not of some opinion that is very difficult to perswade For that the Example of Martyrdome mooues many to pitty makes others obstinate and drawes some to be more curious to examine the reasons for the which a new Preacher who hath nothing in shew but what is holy suffers so constantly and few will perswade themselues that any man will for so small a matter loose his life with so much dishonour and so by this gate many enter into that Comminalty so as instead of retyring the people by the example of punishments they inuite them as being certayne that the terrour thereof workes a contrary effect in a new opinion which haâ—â— a shew of sanctity and of the truth and falshood whereof they may doubt then in other crimes the which are generally condemned in all men For to search the bottome of euery mans conscience were to kindle a fire in the Estate add to discouer a mischiefe which were more expedient to hide and whereof the scandall were dangerous We haue seene many Realmes and Principallities preserue themselues in peace with the exercise of two different Religions but there was neuer any but hath bin ruined by the course and continuance of Ciuill wars and the conditions by the which they may make two Religions agree together would not only be lesse hurtfull to an Estate but more supportable to priuate persons then the lest ciuill war which shal be attempted vpon this subiect For although there may be some found amongst Hereticks who eyther for want of Instruction in their new opiuion or for want of courage thinke to be perswaded by Force that they do meritoriously suffer the paynes which they endure and therefore were easie to reduce yet I will say that in such affayres for that a firme perswasion must preceede the resolution which such men haue taken to change their first manner of liuing in a poynt which doth wholy import their saluation it is dangerous to imploy Armes For some striking sayle and continuing amongst vs serue vnderhand to those of their party by many meanes if it were but only in giuing aduice or dispersing of bruits which may assist their affaires Others which haue more generosity perswaded of the iniustice of the harme which they cause them to suffer continue resolute and obstinate being the ordinary of the spirite of Man to grow more resolute the more it is resisted and giues way when there is least opposition For the more that that man loues his liberty and yet abuses it the more he hates seruitude and constraynt in the which notwithstanding he carryes himselfe better then in the enioying of his freedome All men tend naturally to the contrary of that which is desired of them and affect more willingly that which is forbidden Feare and necessity maintayne men best in their Duties They force them to know themselues to resume courage to allie themselues together and in the end to frame a party within the Estate which vpon the least good successe which shall befall it Fortune not alwayes assisting the greater number it fortifies it selfe as it proceeded from the Iustice of their cause and that GOD fought for them so as by this good successe many being perswaded to follow it they encrease the number of their partizans and it falls out most commonly that the discontented and such as desire to worke their owne ends ioyne with them Moreouer this Sect as I haue sayd being dispersed ouer all the Prouinces of an Estate and the Prince not able to haue Armies in them all whilest that he assailes them on the one side they attempt vpon another surprizing some place of importance or standing vpon their defence they cause an Army to ruine itselfe most commonly before some paltry place I will adde hereunto that if they be the weaker in number they will be found in effect the stronger by their vigilancy and intelligences which they haue one of another For that Vnion is most commonly stronger in a meane number then in a greater and in an opinion receiued by their owne choice and election then in that which is receiued by custome in the which man shews himselfe vsually more negligent Besides this the intelligence is better obserued amongst man that are assayled or that feare to be so by reason of the necessity of the defence then among the assailians For to assayle proceeding from a free will they are sooner wearied then the defendants Moreouer there is nothing more dangerons for a Prince then to make tryall of his forces against his Subiects if he be not well assured of the successe This were to arme and shew the Lyon his pawes to fight against his Master to make himselfe the Head of a party making the head of the contrary faction equall to his power And it hath bin alwayes held a Rule of State that the most powerful should neuer make an Enterprize vpon the weaker without assurance of the euent For the weaker is alwayes in feare that the stronger can doe any thing vntill he hath made tryall of the contrary and when they finde how far the forces of the stronger may extend he falls in his reputation Wherefore in this case the best aduised Princes haue done like wife Pylots who flip their tacklings in a storme knowing that the resâ—stance they should make would be the cause of a generall shipwracke But if he forced of necessity to goe to Field vpon this quarrell and that their courages puft vp too much cannot be humbled but by Armes he must before they haue gotten any aduantage graunt them tolleration of their Religion in places where they may giue the least scandall to such as are opposite vnto them and in all other things make them inferiour The which they will yeeld the more easily vnto for that in this first beginning there is nothing but the conscience that doth threaten them and hauing found their owne weaknesse they will be content to haue
by the establishing of this order being aduertised of the forme how they are to make the Doores and other parts which must answere vpon the Streete they haue them ready long before So as priuate men that will build they haue presently raised their houses which are for the most part of bricke finding that little stone that shall be necessary ready cut It is therefore easie to cut off this excesse and to prouide for the ornament of Townâ—s in restrayning euery man in his buildings according to his meanes that the front may be answerable to the nearest houses if there be obserued in them any proportion or pleasing prospectiue Making the publique places spacious the Streets large straight and long yet in such sort as neither the great heate nor cold may annoy passengers for therein chiefly consists the beauty of a Towne The excesse of moueables Apparrell and other Ornaments of the person must in like manner be cut off as pretious Stones Enamell Embroideries Stuffes of Gold and Siluer and all strange Manufactures of great price If they will adorne themselues with Gold they may allow it in chaines without Enamell in the which the losse cannot bee great For the which the Ordinances of France haue well prouided and the Magistrates very ill That excesse which consists in a great traine of attendants is excused vpon two considerations The one which regards the commodity of those that will be attended the other vpon the feeding and imploying of many men the which being poore and hauing no imployment would be forced to steale or to dye for hunger if they had not this retreate In regard of the first consideration if the number of Seruants were regulated according vnto the commodity it were no excesse But to feede many vnprofitable Mouthes which wee might well spare without any want it is vanity that makes vs doe it As for the second which is to imploy many profitable persons to all other things this is soâ—farre from doing good to the publique as by this retreate they inuite many to be idle which if they wanted they would fall to learne some trade or thrust themselues into the Warre and serue the publique The Venâ—tians haue better then any other prouided for this point For not able to regulate the number which was necessary for the commodite of priuate persons they haue cut off that which serued only for shew which is the atendants in publique Not suffering a Gentleman how great and rich soeuer hee be to be followed with aboue two seruants giuing him libertie to haue as many in his house as hee shall thinke good The which is the cause that not able to make vse of this vaine traine in publique euery man keepes but whâ— he needs in his house But as the ordinance is more easie to execute in a Towne then in a Princes Court whore for that the discommodities are greater they haue need to be serued by a greater number and must likewise satisfie the vanitie of the Court The Italians and Spaniards who are in this regard good husbands seeing themselues forced to this traine for a time make vse of Men whom they retaine with them for daily wages and knowing how much they are to giue them by the day they are not tied to seede them nor to keepe open house for them as they doe in France and Germany And going from Court this troope is dismist there remaining none but the ordinary traine and thus they satisfie vanitie and good husbandrie altogether I confesse that this point would bee hard to reforme in France euery Man desâ—â—ing to eate his meanes in good Companie Yet there might be some course taken that might diminish their disorder The excesse of Banquets and Feasts is that which is most esteemed especially among the Northerne Nations But in effect it is the most superfluous and beastly I doe not say but vpon some occasion as in publique reioycing marriages it is fit to make more expences then we doe in our ordinary courâ—e of liuing but yet we must fly superfluity prouide principally for neatnesse order and seemelinesse which must bee regulated according to the number and qualitie of persons whom you treate Wherefore it imports the Estate and priuate Men much that this should bee reformed In regard of Playes those of hazard are forbidden in all Estates But the defences are so ill obserued as many great families ruine themselues thereby As for Playes of show as Tilting Turneyes and Masques those that may quicken the courage to Vertue as the two first ought not only to bee allowed but the Nobility should bee inuited vnto it yet so as the expence may not seeme greater then the vallour carrying such a moderation as it may not ruine any Man and in regard of those which haue no other ground then vanitie or loue and being apish followers whereof most part of those which haue imployed themselues therein haue beene afterwards ashamed they deserue not only to bâ—e forbidden but scorâ—ed at as ridiculous Wherefore these doores being shut by the which the faculties and meanes of priuate Men flow away incensably there is no doubt but those streames which runne from this abundance whereof wee haue spoken will so swell that when the publique will make vse they may well doe it without drawing priuate Men into necessitie These two foundations being laid of the abundance of all things necessary and of the parcimony of Subiects wee must now speake of the setling of the Finances or ordinary Reuenewes the which haue beene diuers according to the diuersitie of Estates CHAP. 45. Of the Establishment of the Finances or ordinary Reuenewes of an Estate MAny haue Established the principall reuenew of an Estate or publique demesus which is the most honest the most iust and the most safe there hauing beene certaine Lands and Demesus reserued to bee let out to farme and giuen to particular men for a time or in perpetuity in paying the Rents and Reuenewes wherewith they had beene charged towards the Prince In some Estates this reseruation hath beene of a Moietie in others of the third part of the territory and in others of lesse This Establishment is hard to makeâ— vnlesse it be by the meanes of a full and absolute conquest by the which it is lawfull for the Victor to prescribe what Law hee pleaseth to the vanquished but being once made hee must bee maintained without any alienation But likewise an ingagement and no alienation for that the ingagement in the end growes to be an alienation by meanes of the necessity which the Prince hath alwayes to be releiued vpon new affaires which happen So as he is so farre from being able to redeeme it as he is prest to make new ingagements the which being made for a farre lesse value then the alienation would be the Prince findes himselfe depriued of his Reuenewes for a small relesse and it may be sayd that it had beene
may acknowledge his good will Especially if there bee neede of succours hee shall shew himselfe ready yet without giuing cause of Iealousie to others in making them knowe the Iustice of these succours and of his intention raysing those whom hee succours from the shame the which doth vsually accompany him that demands This is the first precept to make them haue confidence in vs. The second to breed confidence is not to enter into any resentment of iniuries against those whom wee desire to make confident of vs vnlesse it bee a matter of great importance And wee must suffer courage to sleepe and awake prudence But if our honour constraines vs to make some demonstration of an iniury receiued wee must lay the fault vpon the Minister and complaine of him so as they may not thinke we hold our selues wronged by the Master For by the very opinion which a neighbour Prince might haue to haue wronged vs he would enter into distrust of vs from distrust into hatred and hatred it may be would draw after it another wrong and an alliance with our Enemies not onely to assure himselfe but to anâ—oy vs The remembrance of an iniury being many times stronger in him that doth it then in him that receiues it especially betwixt Princes whose spirits are very vncapable to take confidence one of another Aboue all wee must bee wary how wee enter into threats For although our Neighbour be weaker then we are and that his timerousnesse might giue vs cause to hope for some aduantage by our threats Yet it might so fall out that from feare he might passe to despaire the which doth vsually guide timerous spirits as well into desperate resolutions as inconsiderations doth the rash But Misfortune carrying vs to a rupture and hauing the Embassadours of our Enemies neare vs who then may be suspect vnto vs wee must consider of the meanes to dismisse them Some haue therein proceeded mildly and others â—orâ— roughly Some to discharge an Enemies Embassadour haue giuen leaue to all other Embassadours which did reside with him and then calling backe those of his friends suffered his enemies Embassadour to depart The Emperour Charles the fift aduertised of the League which was made against him would not dismisse the Embassadours of France England and Venice vntill his owne were in safety But hee set Guards vpon them of France Venice and Florence causing them to bee conducted thirty Miles from his Court with a prohibition not to speake vnto them nor for them to Write To him of Millan as his Subiect hee was enioyned not to part from Court And as for him of England there was no alteration Let vs come to the third point It is a great aduantage to pierce into the designes of his Neighbours and to haue gained some confidence with them For the entire is seldome found But not able to preuaile by this meanes he must doe it by Discourse by Wisedome and by the Knowledge a Prince ought to haue of the quality of their Estates of the defects and aduantages which are in them of the humours designe and inclination of the pâ—ople of great Men and of the Prince and principally of this last whose principall motions and manner of liuing hee must seeke to discouer to iudge of his wisedome and courage then the discontentments diuisions and the heads of parties which are in the Estate their pretexts credit of whom they depend and how farre it may extend the Councell Treasure Iustice how it is mannaged and with what satisfaction of the people or great Men Moreouer what the forces be and the number of Souldiers and Captaines with the sufficiency of the cheife among them The strong Townes and Fortresses and to know the defects there are to defend them and the aduantages to assaile them The Munitions of Warre and Victualls wherein the commerce and traffique doth consist and how it may be incommodated The commodity or discommodity of the Entries of the Countrey The Fertillity Barronnesse extents or â—malnesse of the Estate and of other Neighbours his allianâ—es and dependances with other Princes as well neere as remote Their actions and deportments past as well towards vs as others Their present Estate and whereunto they seeme most to incline In which search we must vse diligence wisedome and secrecie least we giue them cause to distrust vs. All this may be learned from friends which the Prince may haue in the Estates of his Neighbours or by spyes whose intelligences he must duly examine before hee beleiue them And by reason interest or apparance sound if they be true But for that all these courses are full of suspition among Princes and are dangerous for such as imploy themselues to giue these intelligences euery Prince hauing the like interest to know what is done with his Neighbour and desiring to shew the confidence he hath in him Princes haue agreed to receiue Embassadours or Agents who in effect vnder pretext to entertaine the good intelligence betwixt their Maisters serue many times to discouer the ground of Estates and the designes of Princes Wherefore seeing that by this meanes Prinentertaine one another it is fitting to know the quality the charge and the priuiledges of an Embassadour or Agent the which we will set downe here as they haue beene gathered by some of this Age. CHAP. 57. Of the charge of an Embassadour or Agent AN Embassadour and Agent is the same thing if we consider onely the function of their Charges But they differ for the honour and respect they beare more to an Embassadour then to an Agent An Agent hath charge to represent the affaires onely But an Embassadour ought to represent the greatnesse of his Maister and his affaires Wherefore for sufficiency the Aâ—â—nt ought to haue as much as the Embassadour But for wealth and that which concernes shew it is not so necessary for him as for the other Neyther the one nor the other for that which concernes the Body ought if it may be to haue any imperfection as to haue one eye to be pore-blind squint-ey'd lame crooked-backe or extreamely foule and deformed But contrariwise hee must be of a pleasing Encounter and not counterfeit left hee be ridiculous or contemned He must not likewise be sickely nor dainty lest the discommodity of the wayes or the change of the Ayre make him vnprofitable for his Maisters affaires His Countenance must be graue and serious yet mingled with mildnesse and a pleasing aspect For his Age he must neither be too young nor too old as well for the force and disposition of the body as for that of the mind For the conditions of Fortune he ought to be chosen of an honest condition and Noble if it may be Princes holding themselues contemned when they send Men of little worth vnto them as Lewis the Eleuenth did who imployed his Barber to execute this charge As for the profession whereon he ought to be chosen that depends of the quality
him or to corrupt him or to purchase the reputation to bee liberall Concerning the first two sorts of bounty they are necessary as well for the satisfaction of those which receiue them as for the contentment of the Generall who by the example would bee inuited to conforme their actions to the good of the Estate For the acknowledgement of a benefit is no lesse esteemed then if the liberality proceeded from a free will For that the good and pleasure which they doe proceedes many times from the abundance of wealth and the great power which hee hath that giues as well as from good-will But acknowledgement cannot come but from the desire hee had to doe good so as although to giue and doe good be more to be desired yet the content which they feele is peraduenture more commeÌ„dable as proceeding only froÌ„ a francke free courage And it is that whereof among priuate persons wee haue experience that the benefit which comes from a bond or debt is more pleasing then that which comes vnto vs from the free-will of another For that in this consists the conteÌ„t of the giuer who chargeth ys with a bond which binds vs and which in some doth rather ingender hatred then Friendship especially if the benefit exceeds all Satisfaction In the othâ—r besides the pleasure to receiue the benefit we receiue content to see that we acknowledge the former good which we haue done them And although that they which loue vs deserue to be requited for their good-will towards vs as being the principall part of the benefit Yet it deserues rather to be recompenced by a Prince with kind vsage and good words then by effects the which hee must keepe to recompence effects otherwise his Reuenewes would not â—ustice Yet if he finds that some for want of this withdraw themselues from him although vniustly and with out cause it shall be necessary that hee retaine them by the mildest meanes he can and rather in doing them good then in â—mploying threats who according to their naturall disposition might be the more incensed The Prince may also bestow gifts and benefits of those which may serue him against his Enemy I say to those which are of a contrary party to draw them vnto him For as it is a vice in them to suffer themselues to bee corrupted so it is a vertue and wisdome in the Prince to corrupt and gaine them And as some haue not allowed of this expence for that the aduantage which we expect is doubtfull hauing to deale with traytors who may as well betray the Prince which giues theÌ„ as him they serue Yet the general experience is contrary being most certaine that the Minister which takes sells himselfe bee it that the money binds him or that the shame to haue receiued stayes him from failing of his promise Or that the feare to be discouered makes him to be suspected of him hee serues and to him that giues him which were a meanes to ruine him with the one and the other forcing him of necessity to keepe his word with him that hath corrupted him being in his heart growne irreconciliable to him whom he hath resâ—lued to betray Besides few men of quality suffer themselues to be corrupted vnlesse they bee transported by some hatred contempt or desire of Reuenge which they haue conceiued against him whom they serue Or they are not disposed in heart and aâ—fâ—ction to loue him wâ—ich corrupts them there being norâ— but base spirits or needy persons which suffer themseluâ—s to be corâ—upted for meere auarâ—ce The liberality which is vsed to particular persons to purchase reâ—utation extends commonly either to strangers or to Subiects which doe not know nor frequent the Princes Court who ought to haue in no â—â—sse recommendation thoâ—e which aâ—â— remote from his Court then others which are dayly in his eye For that the greatnesâ—e and maiesty of the Prince doth not take its foundation and increase to know but to be knowne of many And the honour and renoâ—nâ— to aide and doe good to another should bâ— too â—ucâ—â—â—strained if his succours and benefiâ—s sâ—ould proceede no farther then to such persons whom they see and know Behold wherein vsually the bounty of Priâ—ces to priuate pâ—rsons is imployed In their manner of giuing they must obâ—erue three things The first not to gâ—ue at the request of a third person to the â—nd that he which receiues may be bound vnto him and not to the other by whoâ—e importunity hee giues The maâ—nâ—rof giuiâ—g must be in such sort that although it be for an acknowledgment or recompence yet they to whom it is giuen receiue the benefit with an obligation otherwise the gift were fruitlesse and is held for a payment and not a liberality so as they encâ—urage him that receiues to demand gâ—ine rather then to acknowledge that which they hauâ— giuen him The tâ—iâ—d is to giue in the view of all men to purchase reputation For although that in a priuate libâ—tality this were not commendable yet this manner is necessary in the Estate where the Actions of Princes must be apparent and visible neyther must they be vnfruitfull And it sufficeth not to doe a pleasure but you must make him that receiues it acknowledge that it is done to such an intention As for the measure of benefits they must be proportionable to the time and to the persons as well of him that receiues as of him that giues And for the time sometimes a small succour giuen in necessity obligeth not onely more then a great gift would doe at anotâ—er time but sometimes causeth an Enemy to foâ—get all the wrongs he had receiued there being two things in concurrence in this benefit either of which may doe much for a reconcilliation and by consequence for loue The one is for the benefit and pleasure he doth him in the best time that could be I meane at need The other is the assurance that he which receiues the benefit takes of his good will that succours him so opportunely Thus he must obserue the time to giue esteeme to his benâ—fits to the end the Debt may be the greater As for persons the humours being diuers the Prince must obserue the humours of his Ministers not onely as I haue sayd to impart their Offices vnto them but also for his recompences For that some demand honours others â—iches according to the which hee must gouerne himselfe And for that there are more men found which affect Riches then honour and that being willing to satisfie euery mans desire he should be forced to exhaust his tâ—easure He must as much as may be encourage his Subiects to seeke for Honours as recompences which can not impouerish him and yet vse it in such sort as it may seeme that he doth not giue them without discretion and election For when as Honour is imparted to vnworthy men it bâ—gins to be contemned and to lose this Title of Honour as likewise
but with the assistance of God Wherefore it imports him much to make esteeme of Church-men which are knowne to haue probity and sufficiency in them to retaine some about him to procure a good reformation in the Church by mild and lawfull meanes without Trouble Schisme or Deuision to dispose of Benefices to capable men to haue care of the poore and finally to imploy himselfe in all workes of Piety By these last meanes a Prince may in time of Peace maintayne his reputation hauing no neede in time of Warre to seeke for other particularities then his owne valour The which shewing it selfe in occasions which shall present themselues will maintaine them alwayes in credit and reputation But if in the time of Peace they desire something more of him there being people to whom he must giue a subiect of discourse and busie them in the consideration of their Princes actions otherwise they contemne them The Prince must imploy himselfe sometimes to reforme Iustice sometimes the Treasure sometimes the discipline of Warre and alwaies to make some new Establishment which may serue the Estate Augustus hauing brought all his affaires to an end and finding no more subiects to entertaine the people of Rome with his actions he imployed himselfe to reforme the Callander So in the like encounters the Prince must seeke all meanes to quicken his reputation in the spirits of the subiects and to make them beleeue that he is not idle giuing them occasions to speake well of him and hinder them from detracting and speaking ill Hauing discoursed of the meanes by the which a Prince might get or maintaine his authority Let vs see the meanes and remedies which may bee found for that which may cause the ruine of the Eâ—ate To know if the remedies bee proper wee must likewise know the disease CHAP. 10. Of the causes of the ruines of Estates and of the remedies which may be found THe workes of nature faile by two kinds of causes whereof some are exteriour and others interiour The exteriour are Fiâ—e Sword and such other violences The interiour are the excesse and corruptions of the first qualities In like manner States are ruined eyther by forraigne force and violence or by the corruption and disorder that is with it but more rarely by the first alone then by the last And we haue seldeme seene any Estate ruined by forraigne force which was not first corrupted within it Yet let vs speake something of the ordinary meanes by the which wee may preuent a forraigne force Eyther the Prince that is assailed by this force is equall in power to him that assailes him and in all meanes and necessary aduantages for his defence Or else he is weaker either in meanes or for that hee hath not his forces ready to oppose If hee be equall he may fore-see his enemies dessigne And if hee hath any iust and tollerable pretext to make an offensiue Warre he must not stand vpon his defence Among Princes which make Warre he that layes the cloth as the prouerbe sayes payes the reckoning For besides that his countrey is ruined as welby his owne Army as by that of his Enemies the amazement is greater among his Subiects And hee will not dare to hazard a Battaile which would endanger his whole Fortune for that loosing it he shall not onely loose his men but also his Countrey Whereas his Enemy may aduenture it with farre more aduantage his Estate beiug secure and whatsoeuer happens he can loose but men But if the Prince be weaker then his Enemy which innades him he must procure him some greater Enemy or many which may effect that which he cannot doe alone He must likewise practise factions and diuisions with his Enemy and get intelligence with some one of his prime Councellors or great Men and with those that haue most authority and credit with his Enemy to the end they may diswade him from this Warre or diuert it or make it vnprofitable in slackning the executions or giuing aduice of his designes to the end hee may oppose himselfe in time But if the practises be such as they may breed a feare in his Enemy of a reuolt Treason Sedition or a ciuill war they will be much better and of greater force Defensiue Leagues with his Neighbours or with the Neighbours of his Enemy may be of great vse who may grow iealous of his power For the feare which his Enemy might haue that inuading one all the rest may goe to Armes would retaine him Besides this the Prince must keepe good guards vpon all the principall passages of his Estate and place strong Garrissons in his Forts who may stay the Enemy and by a long siege cause him to loose much time and many men and by this meanes consume his prouisions and waste his Army whereby he may bee the better able to encounter him And if he be able to raise an Army he must choose a strong place at the entry of his Countrey and lodge it in such sort as he may bee neither forced to fight nor to dislodge to the end he may hinder his Enemy from passing on But hauing neither forces ' nor forts vppon the passage of this quality or the Enemies forces being such as they are not to bee stayed by this meanes Some in this case haue themselues wasted their owne Countrey on that side where the Enemy was to enter causing all to retire into the heart of the Estate depriuing him not onely of all prouision of Victualls but also of other commodities Mills Ouens Lodgings and other imployments whereof an Army is seldome wholy furnished The first against the Polonians and the second against the Turkes forces haue assured their Countryes for a time in laying a great part of the confines waste And the Muscouite being in a Countrey which doth abound in Wood shut himselfe vp in a short time So as Steuen King of Poland meaning to passe into Muscouie was forced to spend much time in cutting downe the Woods to make a passage for his Army And although that he which is assailed be the weaker yet there hath beene some which haue carried the Warre into their Enemies Countrey to make a diuersion as Agâ—thâ—cles did who being besieged by the Carthaginianâ— in Siracusa resolued to leaue a sufficient troupe to maintaine the Siege and to imbarke with the rest to transport the Warre into Affricke Boniface Earle of Corsegus did the like in the yeare 822. to retire the Sarasins out of Sicily The which succeeded the more happily for that the Carthaginians the Affricans who were the inuaders hauing not fore-seene this policy had not prouided for their Countries And it is a generall rule that we must assaile an Enemy where he least suspects But if the Enemy be so powerfull and hath such an aduantage ouer vs as there is no meanes to resist him rather then to lose all it were better to yeeld something And if he may be freed for ready money in making
able to reduce a people to their duty And in such Encounters subtile and in â—entiue spirits are fit as likewise those which are popular and eloquent to entertaine and to draw a mutinous multitude to their duty by feare distrust and hope That familiar and popular course which Menenius Agrippa obserued with the people of Rome by a Comparison of the diuision of the members from a humane body succeeded better to pacifie them then if hee had falne vpon more serious reasons The inuention which Calaminus the Capouan made vse of to saue the Senators of Capoua from the hands of the people was no lesse witty For ioyning himselfe to their party and applauding them in all things seeing them resolute to put their Senators to death hee propounded vnto them that they should begin first with him that was most odious vnto them but withall he let them know that the Estate must not remaine without gouernment that before they put him to death they must make choice of some other in his place So not able to agree and passing from one to another they found that they whom they meanâ— to put to death were much better then the others whom they intended to choose in their pâ—aces And to the people were pacified Sometimes iâ— such mutinies and combustions they haue made vse of the occasion of an Eclipse or of some extraordinary signe from Heauen or of some vnexpected misfortune where with the people being toucht and amazed suffer themselues to be perswaded to returne to their duties A Maâ— of authority and credit with the people may preuaile much in such occasions Soderin Arch-Bishop of Florence comming fâ—â—th in publique with his Pontificall Robes and his Clergie pacified the Florentins who were in combustion one against aâ—other And as in some places Preachers haue beene the Firebrands of sedition and the trumpets of Warre in others they haue serued to pacifie them and they haue made good vse of them But if the people cannot be suddenly recâ—aimed and that the popular mutinie passeth into Rebellion and a setled reuolte you must then seeke to reduce them by degrees disvniting them and gayning some of the commanders vnderhand by promises and benefits or putting them in distrust of the people and in iealousie one of another If neiâ—her of these remedies will preuaile hee must yeild to that which the people demand either in all or in part For that loue and reputation being the foundation of the Princes Authority if the Prince in yeilding seemes to diminish his reputation in some sort yet thereby hee shall preserue the affection of the people who being pacified he may by other meanes recouer his reputation And yet in such occurrents he may so carry himselfe and vse such dexterity that accommodating himselfe mildly to the peoples inclination he shall seeme to grant that willingly which they extort from him by force being necessary that the Prince to maintaine his authority make shewe to will and desire that which hee cannot hinder and so to apply his will to his power And to the end he may make it knowne that it is a thing which he desires he must seeke to draw some apparant aduantage for his greatnesse There being few actions in the Estate from which the Priâ—ce either in effect or in shew may not draw some aduantage although in another thing he be damnified And it shall be a part of Wisedome to shew himselfe more ioyfull of the aduantage which he receiues then discontented for the disaduantage which his Enemies sought to procure him The Turkish Emperours although they be powerfull haue beene many times constrayned to yeeld some of their Ministers to the Ianizaries to be put to death The which a well aduised Prince should neuer doe if his Ministers had not otherwise highly offended but seeing himselfe reduced to this extremity he should giue them meanes to escape yet dissembling that it is with his consent For besides that it were a cruell Iniustice to deliuer an innocent man into the hands of a furious multitude the shame will redowne vpon him with a disdaine and a distrust of all others whom hee should call to serue him who will rather gouerne themselues according to the will of those which had credit with the people then to his desire But if the Ministers are found to haue carried themselues ill the Prince may take this occasion to cause them to be punished by Iustice to pacifie a popular mutinie Although it were more discreetly done to preuent it then to stay vntill hee were vrged to doe that by force which for his owne good he should haue formerly done CHAP. 19. Of Factions and of the meanes to hinder the effects THere remaineth now to speake of Factions for the last and most ordinary causes for the ruine of Estates They are seldome framed among the people vnlesse great men be of the party For they grow eyther from the priuate quarrells of great men who imbarque the people on their sides or from the subiect of some reformation or for the gouernment of publique affaires If they grow from particular quarells the Prince must speedily force them to referre the cause to his Iudges or to Arbitrators without making shewe to fauour the one more then the other This was that which King Francis the first did in the suit depending betwixt Madame Lonyse his Mother and Charles Duke of Bourbon who reuolted vpon this subiect But if the controuersie cannot be reconciled for that the proofes faile on the one side although that by strong presumptions the fact be in some sort apparent or if it concernes the honour of one of the parties in the decision of the business the Prince must separate them imploying them out of his Estate in some honourable charges the one farre from the other And hee must Entertayne them thus diuided vntill that eyther their credit bee diminished with the people or that time hath made them forget or at the least temper their hatred If as it happens often to the priuate quarrells of great Men they adde some publique pretext as of reformation Liberty or Religion The Prince not able to hinder the course of these factions hee must ioyne with the stronger to ruine the weaker Wherein hauing once preuailed he must free himselfe by diuers meanes yet lawfull of the cheife Commanders with whom hee had ioyned eyther imploying them out of the Estate or causing them to bee punished for their priuate offences But if the Prince comes not in time to ruine the one nor the other for that they are equall and that his Counterpease cannot waigh downe the ballance hee must attend that by the Euent of some misfortune to the one they may find the weaknesse of that side to ruine him wholy Yet if in this case the heads of the Factions and not the Prince bee to reape the Honour and fruits of the Victory of one of the two partyes the Prince shall doe more wisely to ballance the one with the