their Prince and certain other particular Lords of Lands and Liberties who not by the Princes Commission but by Ancient Laws or Custom have Inheritance and Tenements or else they are by one Prince and his Ministers commanded which Ministers have not by Law or Ordinance any Authority or Interest of themselves but being like to the People base Men and Slaves they command only by Commission in the Princes name and the Authority of those Ministers doth cease at the Princes pleasure so that the People do not acknowledge any Superior but the Prince nor owe any Service to other mean Lords So as all the People stand without Property in Lands or Goods for example the Empire of Turky and the West-Indies The Provinces of this Monarchy are allotted to sundry Magistrates or Ministers and they altered and removed at the Princes pleasure but it is otherwise in a Monarchy Royal because the Monarch is there accompanied with many mean Lords And albeit those mean Lords are Subjects unto the Prince yet have they particular Tenants who may not without just cause be dispossessed by the Prince and those People having had dependency of their Lords and their Ancestors do ever beare unto them a certain natural Love and dutiful Respect whoso therefore compareth these Principalities shall perceive that to Conquer a State Signioril there is great difficulty but being conquered it may easily be maintained for the difficulty to conquer such a State proceedeth from the lack of mean Lords to call in and assist the Prince that doth invade Who therefore desireth to subdue a Nation thus governed must of force assault all the People and rather trust in his own Strength than the Aid of the Country But if he can prevail then one only Fear remaineth which is the Prince's Posterity which necessarily must be extinguished because the Prince's Race only hath Interest both in the People and Soldiers But to enter a Monarchy Royal is an Enterprise of no great Difficulty when he that doth enter hath the Friendship and Aid of some mean Lords to take his part and prepare the place where he is to arrive CHAP. IV. Of Monarchies Royal with the Means to maintain them MOnarchies Royal are for the most part Ancient and Hereditary and consequently easie to be governed For it is sufficient for the Prince to maintain the old Laws and on occasion temporize with those Accidents that happen Such a State cannot be taken from the Prince without excessive Force and if it be it shall be soon recovered Example England and France But if a Monarchy newly conquered be annexed unto an old and not properly Ancient then it is with much more difficulty maintained First For that Men naturally inclined to Variation are easily induced to take Arms against him that newly governeth Secondly Every new Prince is forced to exact as well upon those Subjects that joyned with him as those that did resist him and therefore shall offend both Example Ireland annexed to the Crown of England Sicilia and Naples to Spain The means to maintain such a Monarchy is First To extinguish the Race of him that was anciently Prince Secondly To continue all Laws and Customs in the former Force for so shall the Subject find nothing altered but the Prince and therefore will soon rest contented and the rather if that new Monarchy and the ancient Dominion of the Prince be of one Language But if the People be of a contrary Language and Humor then to hold it there needeth great Industry and Fortune in that case the best way is that the Prince should inhabit there as well to incounter all Inconveniences proceeding from the Subject as to preserve the People from Oppression of his own Ministers Another way is to send thither certain Colonies and plant them in fit places or else to settle some Garisons both of Horse and Foot but Colonies are less chargeable to the Prince As for the People inhabitant who must necessarily remove they being a small number and dispossessed they cannot have power to offend for in that case this Rule or Maxim shall be found true that Men must be either kindly intreated or with all Extremity oppressed because of light Injuries they may be revenged but of utter Oppression they cannot A third way to hold a conquered Dominion is to cherish and defend the Neighbors of little Power and oppress or keep under those that are most Potent and above all to take order that no Forreign Prince or Power do enter for it is ever to be looked for that so many of the Nation as are discontented either for Ambition or Fear will be ever ready to bring in Strangers And to conclude this matter of Principality annexed I say it behoveth every Prince possessed of such a State never to increase the Power of any Potent Nighbor never to oppress those that are of small Power never to permit any Forreign Potentate to enter but ever to plant Colonies and Garisons or else to make that Dominion his chief Habitation CHAP. V. Of Monarchies Tyrannical TYrannical Princes are not advanced by Favor neither do they trust unto Fortune but by degrees of War or else by some other indirect means do aspire unto Greatness and therein do maintain themselves by all ways either Honest or Dishonest without respect of Justice Conscience or Law either of Nations or Nature A Prince by such impious means aspired and desiring to hold that he hath gained will take order that the Cruelties he committeth may be done roundly suddenly and as it were at an instant for if they be executed at leisure and by piece-meal then will the Prince's Fears continue long and the Terror in Subjects take deeper Impression whose Nature is such that either they must be bound by Benefits or by Cruelty made sure from offending Example Dionysius and Agathocles CHAP. VI. Of new found Monarchies and Principalities with the means to perpetuate them SOme other Princes there are that from private Estate have aspired to Sovereignty not by unnatural or impious proceedings as the former but by Vertue and Fortune and being aspired have found no great Difficulty to be maintained for such a Prince having no other Dominion is forced to settle himself where he is become a Prince But here is to be noted that albeit such a Man be Vertuous yet wanting Fortune his Vertue proveth to small purpose and Fortune without Vertue doth seldom work any great Effect Howsoever it be a Prince being aspired both by the Aid of the one and of the other shall notwithstanding find some difficulty to hold what he hath gotten because he is forced to introduce new Laws and new Orders of Government differing from the old as well for his own Security as confirmation of the Government for avoiding of which Dangers he is to consider whether he be of himself able to compel his Subjects to obey or must pray in aid of others If he can do the first he needeth not doubt but being driven
but otherwise he is to work that seeketh occasion to break and to become an Enemy to one or more of his Neighbors If he do desire to live peaceably withal then he is to observe these Rules viz. First To hold and continue firmly all Contracts and Capitulations Secondly To shew himself resolved neither to offer nor take the least touch of Wrong or Injury Thirdly With all care and favor to further Commerce and reciproke Traffick for the profit of the Subject and increase of the Princes Revenue Fourthly Covertly to win so great Confidence with Neighbors as in all actions of unkindness among them he may be made Umpire Fifthly To become so well believed with them as he may remove such Diffidences as grow to his own disadvantage Sixthly Not to deny Protection or Aid to them that are the weakest and chiefly such as do and will endure his Fortune Lastly In Favouring Aiding and Protecting unless necessity shall otherwise so require to do it moderately so as they who are to be aided become not Jealous and consequently seek Adherency elsewhere which oft-times hath opened way to other Neighbors that desire a like occasion How to prevent their Designs This Point in time of War is with great diligence to be looked unto also in time of Peace to prevent all occasions that may kindle War is behoveful for to foresee what may happen to the Prejudice of a Princes Profit or Reputation is a part of great Wisdom The means to attain the Intelligence of these things are two The First is by Friends the next by Espials the one for the most part faithful the other not so assured These matters are well to be considered for albeit the Nature of Man desireth nothing more than curiously to know the doings of others yet are those things to be handled with so great Secrecy and Dissimulation as the Princes Intent be not in any wise suspected nor the Ministers made odious for these sometimes to win themselves Reputation do devise causes of Difference where no need is divining of things Future which prove to the Prejudice of their own Prince To win Confidence with Neighbors This is chiefly attained unto by being Loved and Honored for these things do work so many good Effects as daily Experience sufficeth without any express Example to prove them of great Force The ways to win Love and Trust is in all Actions to proceed Justly and sometimes to wink at Wrongs or set aside unnecessary Revenges and if any thing be done not justifiable or unfit to be allowed as oftentimes it happeneth there to lay the Blame upon the Minister which must be performed with so great show of Revenge and Dissimulation by reproving and punishing the Minister as the Princes offended may be satisfied and believe that the cause of Unkindness proceeded from thence Now only it resteth that somewhat should be said touching Provision to the end the People may not be drawn into despair by Famine or extream Dearth of Victual and chiefly for want of Corn which is one principal Consideration to be regarded according to the Italian Proverb Pane in Piazza Giustitia in Palazzo siverezza per tutto Whereunto I could wish every Prince or Supreme Governor to be thus qualified viz. Facile de audienza non facile de credenza desioso de spedition essemplare in costunii proprii inquei de sua casa tale chevorra governare e non esser governato da altro he della raggione CHAP. XIII Observations confirmed by Authorities of Princes and Principalities Charactering an excellent Prince or Governor EVery good and lawful Principality is either Elective or Successive Of them Election seemeth the more Ancient but Succession in divers respects the better Minore discrimine sumitur Princeps quam quaeritur Tac. The chief and only Endeavor of every good Prince ought to be the Commodity and Security of the Subjects as contrariwise the Tyrant seeketh his own private Profit with the Oppression of his People Civium non servitus sed tutela tradita est Sal. To the Perfection of every good Prince two things are necessarily required viz. Prudence and Vertue the one to direct his Doings the other to govern his Life Rex eris si recte feceris Hor. The second care which appertaineth to a good Prince is to make his Subjects like unto himself for thereby he is not only honored but they also the better governed Facile imperium in bonos Plaut Subjects are made good by two means viz. by constraint of Law and the Princes Example for in all Estates the People do imitate those Conditions whereunto they see the Prince enclined Quicquid faciunt principes praecipere videantur Quintil. All Vertues be required in a Prince but Justice and Clemency are most necessary for Justice is a Habit of doing things Justly as well to himself as others and giving to every one so much as to him appertaineth This is that Vertue that preserveth Concord among Men and whereof they be called good Jus acquit as vincula civitatum Cic. It is the Quality of this Vertue also to proceed equally and temperately it informeth the Prince not to surcharge the Subjects with infinite Laws for thereof proceedeth the Impoverishment of the Subjects and the Inriching of Lawyers a kind of Men which in Ages more Ancient did seem of no Necessity Sine causidicis satis foelices olim fuere futur acque sunt urbes Sal. The next Vertue required in Princes is Clemency being an Inclination of the Mind to Lenity and Compassion yet tempered with Severity and Judgment this Quality is fit for all great Personages but chiefly Princes because their occasion to use it is most by it also the Love of Men is gained Qui vult regnare languida regnet manu Sen. After Clemency Fidelity is expected in all good Princes which is a certain Performance and Observation of Word and Promise this Vertue seemeth to accompany Justice or is as it were the same and therefore most fit for Princes Sanctissimum generis humani bonum Liv. As Fidelity followeth Justice so doth Modesty accompany Clemency Modesty is a Temperature of Reason whereby the Mind of Man is so governed as neither in Action or Opinion he over-deemeth of himself or any thing that is his a Quality not common in Fortunate Folk and most rare in Princes Superbia commune nobilitatis malum Sal. This Vertue doth also moderate all External Demonstration of Insolence Pride and Arrogance and therefore necessary to be known of Princes and all others whom Favor or Fortune have advanced Impone foelicitati tua fraenos facilius illam reges Curt. But as Princes are to observe the Bounds of Modesty so may they not forget the Majesty appertaining to their Supreme Honor being a certain Reverend Greatness due to Princely Vertue and Royal State a Grace and Gravity no less beseeming a Prince than Vertue it self for neither over-much Familiarity nor too great Austerity ought to be used
beholdeth the new prosperity of others with an envious Eye and wisheth a moderation of Fortune no where so much as in those we have known in equal degree with our selves In all Enterprises of War if present necessity doth not otherwise require Leisure and Deliberation ought to be used for often it sufficeth in lieu of Wisdom to take the advantage of other Mens folly All Men that are to consider of great Actions ought to be informed whether that which is undertaken be profitable for the Commonweal honourable to themselves and easie to be effected or at least not greatly difficult Also he that persuadeth is to be examined whether besides bare Words and Counsel he will joyn his own Peril and if Fortune favour the attempt to whom the principal Glory shall redound The Perils which accompany private Enterprises are far unlike to those which he doth enter that aspireth to Principality For in private attempts a Man may pause or proceed as he will But to him that aspires to Empire there remains no middle course but either by Victory to triumph as a Prince or being vanquished to endure death as a Traytor Let no Man in his Prosperity give much credit to common Applause or Service assured by any of whom in meaner Fortune he hath had no experience for the base People are learned in no Lesson only without difference of Truth or Falshood to flatter Men in Authority and with Shouts and Words of great rejoycing make shew of great Affection As overmuch haste is dangerous so too great delay oftentimes proveth disadvantagious for albeit consultation ought to forego action yet to Dispute long and in the end reject the advice of either side or take a middle course which in cases of doubt and danger is worst was ever accompted great discretion There is no course more comely nor any resolution so well beseeming a wise Man having made proof of his own Vertue and finding in Age no Fortune due to such effect as to retire himself from the Court and Company for so shall he shun the Inconveniences of Contempt and the Discommodity of Travel Jucunda senectuti otia yet true it is that whoso hath lived a Prince or governed as a publick Person cannot expect security in a private Estate Whensoever danger draweth near and terror is at hand all Men look about but none willingly adventure For in such Cases every Man will give Council but few will take part of the peril In Common-wealths where Sects or Partialities be the Leader of any side is able to kindle Civil War yet is he unable to moderate the Victory For to stir up dissentions and troubles the worst Man most commonly bears the stroke but peace and quietness are not established but by Men of rare Gifts and excellent Vertue It may seem strange and contrary both to courtesie and Christian profession that Men are far more mindful of Injuries done unto them than of benefits received by them The reason thereof is that Thankfulness is accompted a burden but Revenge is sweet and reckoned a great gain Of reconciled Foes and such as know that our harms were caused by their means we oft-times expect favour as persuaded that new Friendship will repair the loss of old displeasure But the matter doth seldom so fall out for the quality of Man's nature is ever to hate those whom he hath hurt and love them whom he hath made beholding Quos laeserunt oderunt Tac. To common Persons and such as are ignorant in Matters of State every Taxation and Imposition seemeth heavy or superfluous yet the wiser sort know that the end of all publick endeavour is to confirm People in Peace and Peace cannot be maintained without Arms nor Arms without Pay nor Pay without Impositions As fortunate Folk are envied so are the poor contemned which Rule reacheth also to Princes The one lives in Plenty with War the other in Poverty with Peace For seldom is it seen that those People are assaulted where nothing is to be gained and whose base Beings afford no other spoils than Blood and Beggery Wisemen have observed that in matter of State and the managing thereof three Things are especially to be looked unto The first is Occasion the second the Intentions of other Men the third our own Affection For there is nothing that slippeth away so soon as Occasion nothing so difficult as to judge what an other Man intendeth nor any thing more nocent than our own immoderate desires It hath been ever a course observed by wise Princes but much more by Aristocracies and Popular States against Force and Fury of the Multitude to defend themselves with Silver and Gold How much more it importeth all Princes to lead a vertuous Life and give daily example of Piety and Justice appears apparently in the Proceedings of the Roman Bishops who by the well-doing of some few of them at the first became greatly honoured but afterwards they became contemptible For the Reverence which Men did bear to the sanctity of their Lives failing it was impossible of so contrary Manners and Examples to look for like effects The success of the War chiefly dependeth on the Reputation of the Prince which declining the vertue also of the Soldiers faileth Likewise the fidelity of the People decayeth and their Mony to maintain the War ceaseth contrarywise the Courage of the Enemy is increased they that stood doubtful become resolved and every difficulty augmenteth The Authority which Princes give is chiefly in respect of Wisdom and Valour Yet true it is that for the most part they account them the wisest Men that can best accommodate themselves to their Humour The greatest Distress and Difficulty which can come to any Army doth proceed of these Causes Want of Mony scarcity of Victuals hatred of People discord of Captains disobedience of Soldiers and their flying to the Enemy either of necessity or free-will A Prince or great Magistrate having long maintained the reputation of Wisdom and Vertue must take heed that no rash or dangerous Resolution do taint the Honourable Fame of his former Life For to be transported with Anger against his own Profit is lightness and to esteem small dangers more than great is want of Judgment A Prince or Person of great Estate must be wary not to inure the conceit of double dealing For little Sincerity and Trust is looked in his Actions of whom there is an opinion of Craft and Falshood conceived Experience hath always proved that whatsoever the most part of men desire rarely cometh to pass The reason hereof is that the effects of Human Actions commonly depend on the will of a few and their Intentions ever differing from the greater number the end and success cannot be other than as pleaseth the few that are to direct them There is nothing more dangerous than to enterprise a War or other Actions of Importance upon popular persuasion for such expectations are vain and such designs fallible Also the Fury of the Multitude
nature of Man so much or so soon as the immoderate desire of Honour in so much as Men of honest Minds and vertuous Inclinations are sometimes by Ambition drawn to abuse that Goodness whereunto they are inclined Example Appius Claudius having lived long an Enemy to the Multitude hoping by their aid to continue his Authority of the Decemviri in Rome became their Friend and disfavoured the Factions of great Men. Likewise Q. Fabius a Man of singular vertue being also called to that dignity by Appius's self adulterated his nature and became like unto him Seldom or never is any People discontented without just cause yet if happily they be asked whereof their offence proceedeth many times for want of some fit Man to pronounce their grief they stand silent Example The Romans at the death of Virginia were gathered together armed upon Mount Sacro and being asked by the Senate for what cause they so did No Answer was made until Virginio Father of the Virgin had procured that twenty of the Tribunes might be made to be as Head of the People and confer with the Senate A great Folly or rather meer Madness it seemeth to desire any thing and tell before-hand that the end and purpose of the desire is evil for thereby he sheweth Reason why it ought not to be granted Example The Romans required of the Senate that Appius and the rest of the Decemviri should be delivered into their Hands being determined to burn them all alive The first part of their Request seemed reasonable but the end thereof unreasonable A course very dangerons it is in all States by continual accusing and punishing to hold the Subject in doubt and daily fear For he that stands always looking for some trouble becometh careless and apt to attempt Innovation Example The Decemviri being opprest the Tribunes authorized in their place endeavoured daily to call in question the most part of the Decemviri and many other Citizens also whereof great Inconveniences arose and much danger would have ensued had not a Decree propounded by M. Duillius been made that for one year no Roman Citizen should be accused Strange it is to see how Men in seeking their own security lay the Injuries which they fear upon other Men as though it were necessary either to offend or to be offended Example The Romans among themselves united and strong always endeavoured to offend the Nobles and the Nobles likewise being persuaded they were strong laboured to oppress the People Which Humours were the cause of continual Troubles To make estimation and choice of Men fit to govern the best course is to consider in particular otherwise it might be imagined that among the Multitude or meaner People they being the greatest number might be found some Persons of more perfection Example The People of Rome desiring that the Consulship might be given among them as Men of most Merit did by all means endeavour to obtain that Honour but being come to Election and every Mans Vertue particularly considered there could not be among the Multitude only one found fit for so great a place and therefore the People themselves consented that the Dignity should still remain as it was To persuade a Multitude to any Enterprise is easie if that which is persuaded doth promise either Profit or Honour yet oft under that external apparence lies hid loss or disadvantage Example The Romans persuading themselves that the slow Proceedings of Fabius Maximus in the War was both chargeable and cowardly required That the General of the Horse might direct the War which course had ruined Rome if the Wisdom of Fabius had not been Likewise when Hannibal had divers years reigned in Italy one M. Centenius Penula a Man of base Birth yet a Soldier of some Repute undertook that if he with such Voluntiers as would follow him might have Authority to Fight he would within few days deliver Hannibal either alive or dead Which Offer was by the Senate accounted rash yet for fear to offend the People granted and Penula with his Soldiers was cut in pieces To appease a Mutiny or Tumult in any Camp or City there is no means more speedy or successful than if some Person of great Quality and Respect present himself to the People and by his Wisdom lay before them the damage of their Discords persuading them to Peace and Patience Example The Faction of the Frateschi and Arratiati in Florence the one ready to assault the other Francisco Soderini Bishop of Voterra in his Episcopal Habit went between the Parties and appeased them Also Count Egremont by the Authority of his Wisdom and Presence supprest a great Mutiny in Antwerp between the Martinists and Papists A People corrupted do rarely or never observe any Order or Ordinance unless by Force of some Prince's Power they be thereto inforced but where the Multitude is Incorrupt and Religious all things are done justly and without Compulsion Example Camillus at the Victory against the Urienti vowed that the tenth part of the Pillage should be offered to Apollo but the Senate supposing that the People would not consent to so great a Contribution studied to dispense with that Vow and to please Apollo and the People also by some other Means Whereat the People shewed themselves openly offended and willingly gave no less than the Sum formerly decreed When the Free-Cities of Germany are occasioned to make Mony for any Publick Service the Magistrates impose one or two in the hundred on every City which done every one is sworn to lay down so much as in his own Conscience he is able and he with his own Hand no other Witness being present casteth the Mony into a Coffer prepared for the purpose which he would not if his own Conscience did not inforce him When any extraordinary occasion happens to a City or Province some prodigious Voice is heard or some marvelous Sights are seen Before T. Gracchus General of the Roman Army was betraid by Flavius Lucanus the Aruspices discovered two Serpents eating the Entrails of the Beasts sacrificed which done they vanish'd Which Vision as they divined prognosticated the General 's Death Likewise F. Savanarola foretold the coming of King Charles VIII into Italy And M. Sedigitus when the Gauls first came towards Rome informed the Senate he heard a Voice much louder than any Man's crying aloud Galli veniunt The multitude of base People is naturally audacious and apt to Innovation yet unless they be directed by some Persons of Reputation and Wisdom rarely do they joyn in any Action of great import Example The Romans when their City was taken and sack'd by the Gauls went to Veio with determination to dwell there The Senate informed thereof commanded That upon great Pain every Citizen should return to Rome whereat the People at first mocked but when every Man particularly within himself considered his own Peril all in general determined to obey the Magistrates In the Employment of Men for Service neither Age nor Fortune
change their Fortune for the mean Course proveth Dangerous Example The Latins being by the Valour of Camillus overcome yielded themselves to endure what Punishment it pleased the Romans to inflict An Ingenious and Magnanimous Answer being made unto Wise Magistrates doth oft obtain both Pardon and Grace Example When the Privernates had rebelled and were by Force constrained to return to the Obedience of the Romans they sent certain of the City unto Rome to desire pardon who being brought before the Senate one of the Senators asked the Privernates what punishment themselves did think they had deserved The same quoth they which Men living in Freedom think they are worthy of Whereto the Consul thus replied Quid si poenam remittimus Qualem nos patem vobiscum habituros speremus The Privernates answered Si bonam dederitis fidelem perpetuam Si malam haud diuturnam Which Answer was thought to proceed from generous Men and therefore they were not only pardoned but also honoured and received into the number of the Roman Citizens All Castles Fortresses and Places of Strength be made for Defence either against the Enemy or Subject In the first Case they are not necessary in the second dangerous For thereby the Prince may at his Pleasure take occasion to insult upon the Subject when much more seemly he might settle his Estate upon the Love and good Affection of Men. Example The Castle of Millan made by Duke Francisco Sforza incited his Heirs to become insolent and consequently they became odious which was also the cause that so soon as that City was assaulted the Enemy with facility did possess it That Prince or Potentate which builds his Severity rather upon the Trust he hath in Fortresses than the Love of Men shall be deceived For no Place is so strong as can long defend it self unless by the Love and Aid of Men it be in time of Necessity succoured Example Pope Julio having drawn the Bentivoli out of Bologna built there a strong Castle the Governor thereof robbed the People and they therewith grieved in a short Time took the Castle from him So after the Revolt of Genoa Lewis the Twelfth came to the Recovery thereof and builded there the strongest Fortification of Italy as well for Sight as the Circumstances inexpugnable Nevertheless the Citizens rebelled and within sixteen Months the French were forced to yield the Castle and Government to Octavio Fragosa To build Forts upon Places of Strength either for defence of our own or to hold that which is taken from others hath ever proved to small purpose Example The Romans having supprest the Rebellion of the Latins and Privernates albeit they were People Warlike and lovers of Liberty yet to keep them Subject built there no Castle nor other Places fortified And the Lacedemonians did not only forbear to fortifie the Towns they conquered but also left their chief City of Sparta unwalled The Necessity or Use of Fortification is only upon Frontiers or such principal places where Princes make their Habitation to the end the Fury of sudden Assaults may be staid and Time for Succor entertained Otherwise Example the Castle of Millan being made to hold the State in Obedience could not so do either for the House of Sforza or France Guido Ubaldo Duke of Velin driven from his Dominion by Caesar Borgia so soon as he recovered his Country caused all the Forts to be demolished For by Experience he found the Love of Men was the surest Defence and that Fortifications prevailed no less against him than for him The Causes of Division and Faction in every Commonweal proceed most commonly of Idleness and Peace and that which uniteth is Fear and War Example The Vejenti and Elinsci having Intelligence of great Contention between the Nobility and People of Rome thought that a fit Opportunity to oppress the one and the other But the Romans informed of such an Intention appeased all Domestick Anger and by the Valour of their Arms conducted by Gn. Manlius and M. Fabius defeated the Enemies Forces The means to usurp an Estate disjoynted is first before Arms be taken to become as it were an Arbitrator or a Friend indifferent and after Arms be taken then to send moderate Aid to the weak Side as well to entertain the War between the Factions as also to consume the Strength both of the one and the other yet in no wise to employ any great Forces for thereby either party may discover the Intents to suppress them Example The City of Pistoia fallen into Division the Florentines took occasion sometimes to favor the one and sometimes the other that in the end both sides weary of the War voluntarily yielded to their Devotion Philippo Viscount hoping sundry times by occasion of Faction to oppress the Florentines did often assault them with great Forces which was the Cause that they became reunited and consequently the Duke deceived of his Expectation A great Wisdom it is to refrain Opprobrious and Injurious Speech For as neither the one nor the other can any whit decrease the Enemies Force so doth it move him to greater Hate and more desire to offend Example Gabides a General of the Persians having long besieged Amida became weary and preparing to abandon the enterprise raised his Camp which they of the City beholding began to revile the Persians and from the Walls reproved them of Cowardise which undiscreet Words so highly offended Gabides as thereupon he resolved to continue the Siege and within few days won the City Tiberius Gracchus appointed Captain of certain Bands of Men whom for want of other Soldiers the Romans entertained proclaimed in his Camp That no Man upon Pain of Death should contumeliously call any Soldier Slave either in Earnest or Jest. Nam facetiae asperae quando nimium ex vero traxere acrem sui memoriam relinquunt Likewise Alexander the Great having conquered well near all the East brought his Forces before Tyre they fearing Alexander's Fury offered upon honourable Considerations to yeild him Obedience only requiring that neither he nor any of his Forces should enter the City which motion after four Months Alexander accepted and so signified by his Ambassador who arriving at Tyre was by the proud Citizens slain whereat Alexander grew into Choler and being ready to forsake the Siege staid his Forces and in the end sacked the City and put the People to the Sword A Prince or any other State being assaulted by an Enemy of far more puissance than himself ought not to refuse any honourable Compositions chiefly when they are offered for no Conditions can be so base but shall in some sort turn to Advantage and Honour of him that accepts them Example Anno 1512. certain Florentines procured great Forces of Spaniards to come thither as well to reposess the Medici then banish'd as also to sack the City promising that so soon as the Army of Spain did come into the Florentine Dominion the Faction of Medici would be ready
to the other his Greatness cannot long continue for albeit a matter of no difficulty it is to perswade a People yet to make them constant is a work well near impossible Example Theseus Cyrus Romulus The second sort of new Princes are such as be aspired by Favor or Corruption or by the Vertue or Greatness of Fortune or Friends A Prince by any or all these means advanced and desirous to hold his Estate must indeavor by his own Vertue to maintain himself without depending upon any other which may be done by this means First To assure all Enemies from offending Secondly To win the Love and Friendship of so many Neighbors as possibly he may Thirdly To compass all Designs tending to his Honor or Profit and bring them to pass either by Fraud or Force Fourthly To make himself honored and followed of Captains and Soldiers Fifthly To oppress all those that would or can offend Sixthly To be obsequious and liberal to Friends magnanimous and terrible to Foes Seventhly To cass all old and unfaithful Bands and entertain new Eighthly To hold such Amity with Kings and Princes as they ought reasonably to favor him or else they would offend easily they cannot Example Giovannio Torrigiani Caesar Borgi The third and last means whereby private Persons do aspire to Principalities is not Force and Violence but meer good Will and Favor of Men. The cause or occasion thereof is only Vertue or Fortune or at least a certain Fortunate Craft and Wittiness because he aspireth either by Favor of the People or by Favor of the Nobility for these contrary Humors are in all Common-wealths to be found And the reason thereof is that the great Men do ever endeavor to oppress the People and the People do labor not to be oppressed by them Of these divers Appetites one of these three Effects do proceed viz. Principality Liberty or Licentious Life Principality may come either by love of the Multitude or of the great Men for when any of these Factions do find it self oppressed then do they soon consent to make one a Prince hoping by his Vertue and Valor to be defended Example Francesco Sforza Alessandro de Medici A Prince in this sort aspired to maintain his Estate must first consider well by which of these Factions aforesaid he is advanced for if by Favor of great Men he be aspired then must he meet with many Difficulties for having about him divers Persons of great Quality and such as were but lately his Equals hardly shall he command them in such sort as it behoveth But if the Prince be advanced by the People few or none shall hardly disobey him So it appeareth that a Prince made by the Multitude is much more secure than he whom the Nobility preferreth for common People do not desire to enjoy more than their own and to be defended from Oppression but great Men do study not only to hold their own but also to command and insult upon Inferiors Note that all Monarchies are Principalities But all Principalities are not Monarchies CHAP. VII Of Councils and Counsellors in general A Senate or Council is a certain lawful Assembly of Counsellors to give advice to him or them that have in the Commonweale Power Sovereign A Counsellor is called in the Latine Senator which Word signifieth in effect an old Man The Grecians and Romans also most commonly composed their Councils of ancient and expert Persons for if they or the greater part of them had been Young Men then might the Council have more properly been called a Juvenate than a Senate The chief and most necessary Note required in a Counsellor is to have no dependence of any other Prince or Commonweale either Oath Homage Natural Obligation Pention or Reward In this Point the Venetians have been ever most precise and for that reason do not admit any Cardinal or other Clergy-man to be either of or at their Councils therefore when the Venetian Senate is Assembled the Usher being ready to shut the Door cryeth aloud Fuora Preti Depart Priest Note also that in every State of what Quality soever a Secret or Cabinet-Council is mainly necessary CHAP. VIII Of Councils in some particular Monarchies Aristocraties and Democraties THE King of Spain for the Government of his Dominions hath Seven Councils viz. the Council of the Indies the Council of Spain the Council of Italy and the Low Countries the Council of War the Council of Orders the Council of Inquisition and the Council Royal. In France are Three Councils viz. the Council Privy the Council of Judges which they call Presidents et Conceliers de Parlament and the great Council which they call Assemblies du troys Estates Of Councils in Aristocraties In Venice beside the Senate and great Council are Four Councils viz. the Sages of the Sea the Sages of the Land the Council of Tenn the Three Presidents of Quarantia and the Senate All which Councils do amount to One hundred and twenty Persons with the Magistrates The Great Council of Ragusa consisteth of Sixty Persons and hath another Privy Council of Twelve Of Councils in Democraties Genoua hath Three Councils the Great Council of Two hundred the Senate which consisteth of Sixty and the Privy Council which hath Twenty six Counsellors So it doth appear that in all Commonwealths be they Monarchies Aristocracies or Popular States The Council-Privy is most necessary and often used Also this difference is to be noted between the Councils in Monarchies and the Councils in Aristocracies and States Popular that is to say that all Deliberations fit to be published are in a Monarchy consulted and resolved upon in the Council Privy and after ratified by Common Council But in Optimacies or Popular Government the Custom is contrary Here also is to be noted that albeit the Use and Authority of every Senate a Privy Council is most needful yet hath it no Authority to command but in the name of those in whom the Sovereignty resteth For if Counsellors had power to command absolutely then should they be Sovereigns and consequently all Execution at their Pleasure which may not be without detracting from Majesty which is a thing so Sovereign and Sacred as no Citizen or Subject of what quality soever may touch or approach thereunto CHAP. IX Of Officers and Commissioners with their respective Distinctions AN Officer is a Person publick that hath Charge ordinary and limited by Law A Commissioner is also a Person publick but his Charge is extraordinary and limited by Commission Officers are of two sorts and so be Commissioners the one hath power to command and are called Magistrates the other hath Authority to execute so the one and the other are Persons publick yet are not all publick Persons either Officers or Commissioners Commissioners are ordained to govern in Provinces in War in Justice in disposing the Treasure or some other Function concerning the State but all Commissions do spring and proceed from the Sovereign Magistrates and Commissioners And here is
Providence is a Forecast and likely conjectures of things to come supposed to be in those Princes that in their Actions proceed slowly and circumspectly it seemeth also a course of Princely Discretion to be retired aud not ordinarily to converse with many Autoritatem absentia tueare Suet. CHAP. XVIII Of Conspiracy and Treason with the Causes and ways of Prevention or Discovery COnspiracy is commonly addressed to the Princes Person Treasons are addressed against his Government Authority Country Subjects or Places of Srength These Mischiefs are easily feared but hardly eschewed for albeit open Enemies are openly encountred yet Fraud and Subtilty are secret Foes and consequently not to be avoided Occulta pericula neque praevidere neque vitare in promptu est Salust The danger of Conspiracy proceedeth of divers Causes as Avarice Infidelity of Subjects Ambition in Servants and Corruption in Soldiers therefore with great difficulty to be avoided Vitae tuae dominus est quisquis suam contempsit Sen. Notwithstanding it seemeth that either by Inquisition Punishment Innocency or Destiny the evil Affection of Men may be oft-tentimes discovered 1. For whoso will curiously inquire and consider the Actions and ordinary Speechees of Men I mean those that be Persons of Honor and Reputation may oft-tentimes vent the Myne that lurketh in the Minds Quoniam rarò nisi male loqunti mali faciunt Lips 2. Punishment is likewise a thing so terrible that the Consideration thereof with the hope of Reward doth often discover those dangerous Intentions Cruciatu aut praemio cunct a pervia sunt Tac. But as it is Wisdom in Princes to give ear to Informers so are they not always to be believed for Hope Envy Hate or some other Passion oft-tentimes draws them to speak untruly Quis innocens esse potest si accusare sufficit Tac. 3. The third and likeliest Defence against Conspiracy is the Princes own Innocency for never having injured any Man it cannot be thought there liveth any Subject so lewd as will endeauor to hurt him Fidelissima custodia principis ipsius innocentia Plin. 4. The last and best Bulward to withstand the force of this Mischief we call Destiny which proceeding from the Fountain of Divine Providence may be truly called the Will of God in whose only Power it resteth to protect and defend good Princes Ille erit a latere tuo custodiet pedem tuum ne capiaris Salo. Treasons are most commonly enterprized by covetous Persons who preferring private Profit before Fame or Fidelity do not fear to enter into any impious Action To this humor ambitious Men dissentious and all such as be desirous of Innovation are inclined Pulcra loquentes iidem in pectore prava struentes Hom. To these Offenders no Punishment is equal to their impious Merit can be devised being Persons odious as well to Friends as Foes Proditores etiam in quos anteponunt invisi sunt Tac. CHAP. XIX Of Publick Hate and Contempt with the Occasions and Means to redress and avoid it HAving briefly touched the Virtues and Means whereby Princes are maintained in Authority and Honor let something be said of the Causes from whence their Ruine doth proceed the chief whereof seemeth to be Hate and Contempt Hate cometh of Fear which the more Common it is the more Dangerous Nulla vis imperii tanta est quae premente metu possit esse diuturna Cic. The causes of Fear are Punishments Impositions and Rigor and therefore it behoveth a Prince not only to shun them but to eschew those Actions whereby he may reasonable incur their Suspision Sentias enim homines ut metuant aut oderint non minus opinione fama quam certa aliqua ratione moveri Cic. Yet Punishment Imposition and Censure are in all States necessary although they shew and seem terrible and consequently breed a certain Desperation in Subjects unless they be discreetly and modestly used for extream and frequent Punishments taste of Cruelty great and many Imposts savor of Covetousness Censure of Manners when it exceedeth the quality of Offences doth seem Rigour in these matters therefore it behoveth the Prince to be moderate and cautelous chiefly in Capital Punishment which must be confined within the Bounds of Justice Sit apud principem parsimonia etiam viliffimi sanguinis Sen. But if for Security sake the Prince be forced to punish let the same be done with shew of great Sorrow and Lothness Tanquam invitus magnocum tormento ad castigandum veniat Sen. Let all Punishments also be slowly executed for they that are hastily punished do seem to have been willingly condemned neither ought any Capital Punishment to be inflicted but only that which is profitable to the Commonweale and for Example sake Non tam ut ipsi pareant quam ut alios pereundo deterreant Sen. In punishing also a specil respect must be had that no shew of content or pleasure be taken therein Forma rabiei est sanguine vulneribus gaudere Sen. Also in Punishing equality must be observed and the nature of the Punishment according to the Custom Nec eisdem de causis alii plectantur alii ne appellentur quidem Cic. But in punishing publick Offences wherein a Multitude have part the Execution ought to be otherwise and as it were at an instant which may haply seem terrible but in effect is not Frequens vindict a paucorum odium reprimit omnium irritat Sen. Another means to satisfie a People offended is to punish the Ministers of Cruelty and with their Blood to wash away the common hatred Piaculares publici odii victimae Plin. By this King David did appease the Gibeonites The next cause of Discontent cometh of Impositions under which word is comprehended all Levies of Money a matter nothing pleasing to People as that which they esteem equal to their own Lives Pecunia anima sanguis est mortalibus Plaut First to remove Hate conceived of this cause there is nothing better then publick Expostulation of Necessity for what Commonwealth or Kingdom can be without Tributes Nulla quies gentium sine armis nec arma sine stipendiis nec stipendia sine Tributis haberi queunt Tac. The second Remedy against Hate for Impositions is to make moderate Levies and rare For as Tiberius the Emperor was wont to say a Sheep should be fleeced not flead Qui nimis emungit elicit sanguinem Tac. Thirdly also to eschew the Offence of People it behoveth the Prince to have a vigilant Eye on Informers Promoters and such fiscal Ministers whose Cruelty and covetous Proceedings do oft-tentimes occasion great Hate but this mischief may be though hardly encountred either by choosing honest Officers or proving otherwise not only to remain them but to use them as Spunges Exprimendi post quam biberint Suet. In all Impositions or Taxations no Cruelty or Force ought to be used the second cause to kindle Hate and to meet with that mischief nothing is better than to proceed moderately and
without Extremity Ne Boves ipsos mox agros postremo corpora servitio aut poenae tradant Tac. The fourth Remedy is the Princes own Parsimony not giving so largely to private Persons as thereby to be forced to take from the Multitude Magnae opes non tam multa capiendo quam haud multa perdendo quaeruntur Maecaenas The last help against Hate is in Taxation to proceed equally indifferently and without Favor or Respect and that the Assessors of Taxes may be elected of the meaner fort of People Populis maximam fidem rerum suarum habet Tac. Touching Censure which we numbred amongst the causes whereof Hate is conceived much needeth not to be spoken because the same is discontinued or rather utterly forgotten yet doth it seem a thing necessary being a certain Observation and Controlement of such evil Manners and Disorders as were not by Law corrigible these Officers were of the Romans called Magistri pudoris modestiae Livi. To the Function of Censures these two things are anciently subject Manners and Excess under Manners I comprehend Wantonness Drunkenness Dicing Brawling Perjury and all such Lewdness as Modesty condemneth These Disorders were anciently punished by the discretion of Censors in all Ages and Sexes to the end that Idleness might be generally avoided Universa plebs habeat negotia sua quibus a malo publico detineatur Salust Excess includeth Riotousness expence of Money Prodigal House-keeping Banquetting and Superfluity in Apparel which things are the Mothers of many Mischiefs It also seemeth in some sort perilous to the Prince that the Subject should exceed either in Covetize or Consuming Nemo nimis excedat five amicorum copia sine opum Arist. The Punishment inflicted upon these sorts of Offenders were either Ignominy or Pecuniary Punishments Censoris judicium damnato nihil affert nisi ruborem Tac. The first and chiefest means to remove these Inconveniences is the Princes own Example whose Life being well censured easily reduceth others to order Vita principis censura perpetua Plin. Secondly Those Disorders may be taken away without danger if the Censures do proceed by degrees and leasurely for the Nature of Man may not suddenly be altered Vitia quaedam tollit facilius princeps si eorum sit patiens Sen. These are the chiefest Rules whereby to eschew Hate but impossible it is for any Prince or Minister utterly to avoid it for being himself good he incurreth the Offence of all bad Folk if he be Evil Good Men will hate him this Danger therefore Wise and Vertuous Princes have little regarded because Hate may be gained as well by good as evil Doing Odia qui nimium timet regnare nescit Sen. One other means to remove this Error is to reward the good and well deserving Subjects for no Man can think him Cruel that for love to Vertue useth Austerity which will appear when he bestoweth Bountifully on the Good Praemio poena Respublica continetur Solon The other Vice which indangereth the State of Princes we call Contempt being a certain base and vile Conceit which entereth into the Subjects Strangers or Servants of the Prince and his Proceedings for the Authority of a King may be resembled to the Powers of Mans Mind whereunto the Hands the Feet the Eyes do by consent obey Vires imperii in consensu obedientium sunt Livi. The Causes of Contempt do proceed chiefly from the Form of Government Fortune or the Prince's Manners the Form of Government becometh Contemptible when the Prince desiring to be thought Merciful ruleth rather Pitifully than Justly which manner of Proceeding taketh away all Reverence in the People and in lieu thereof entereth Liberty or at least a certain Boldness to offend Facult as faciendi quod cuilibet visum non potest comprimere ingenitam singulis hominibus pravitatem Tac. Also to be Mutable Irresolute Light and Inconsiderate in bestowing the Honors and Offices of State maketh the Prince Contemptible Qui praesentibus fruitur nec in longius consultat Arist. But if Contempt be caused by Fortune or as may be said more reasonably by Destiny and that those Friends do fail who ought in Duty to defend the Prince and his Authority then is there small hope to eschew Contempt Fato obnoxia virtus Plaut The Prince's Manners do breed Contempt when he yieldeth his Affections to Sensuality and Sloth or if he incur the Suspition of Simplicity Cowardise or any such Vice unworthy the Dignity he beareth Common People do sometimes also disesteem the Prince for external and light causes as Deformity of Person Sickness or such like Mos vulgi est fortuita externa ad culpam trahere Tac. CHAP. XX. Of Diffidence and Dissimulation in the Management of State Affairs ALbeit roundness and plain dealing be most worthy Praise chiefly in private Persons yet because all Men in their Actions do not so proceed it behoveth Wise Men and Princes above others at occasions to Semble and Dissemble for as in all Actions a Prince ought to be Slow and Advised so in Consent and Believing Haste and Facility is most dangerous and though Credulity be rather an Error than a Fault yet for Princes it is both Unfit and Perilous Wherefore it importeth them to be defended with this Caution Nihil credendo atque omnia cavendo Cic. Notwithstanding he must not shew himself Diffident or Distrustful utterly but as I wish he should not over-slightly believe all Men so ought he not for small causes distrust every Man Multi fallere docuerunt dum timent falli Sen. Dissimulation is as it were begotten by Diffidence a Quality in Princes of so great Necessity as moved the Emperor Tiberius to say Nescit regnare qui nescit dissimulare The Necessity of Dissimulation is chiefly to be used with Strangers and Enemies it also sheweth a certain Discretion in Magistrates sometimes to disguise with Friends when no Offence doth thereof follow Doli non sunt doli nisi astu colas Plaut This kind of Craft albeit in every Mans Conceit not praisable is nevertheless tolerable and for Princes and Magistrates the same being used to good ends very necessary But those Cunnings which are contrary to Vertue ought not of Honest Men to be used neither dare I commend Adulation and Corruption though they be often used in Court and are of some Learned Writers allowed Decipere pro moribus temporum prudentia est Plin. By great Subtilty and Frauds contrary to Vertue and Piety I mean Perjury and Injustice which though all Men in Words detest yet in Deeds are used of many perswading themselves by Cavillations and Sophistications to excuse the Impiety of their False Oaths as it is written of Lysander Pueros talis viros juramentis circumvenire solebat Plut. CHAP. XXI Of War Defensive and Invasive with Instructions touching Laws of Arms Soldiers and Military Discipline THE Art Military is of all other Qualities most necessary for Princes for without it they cannot be defended force of Men only
thine Clausis ex desperatione crescit audacia cum spei nihil est sumit arma fermido Veget. Lastly I would advise that the General should be wary in his Actions and in every Enterprise to frustrate the Soldiers from Spoils and Pillage Saepe obstitit vincentibus pravum inter ipsos certamen omisso hoste spolia consectanda Tac. Of direct Councils let that we have said suffice We will now speak of Councils Indirect commonly called by the Greek Word Stratagems or Subtile Practices Which manner of Proceeding hath been in times past of divers Grave Writers condemned Vir nemo mentis altae clanculum velit occidere hostem Eurip. Notwithstanding the Opinion of this and divers other Writers worthy Credit it seemeth reasonable and in Piety allowable that Stratagems and Subtilties may be used in the War yet with such Caution as the same may stand with Fidelity and Honor for Fraud being used contrary to Contracts and Agreements made with the Enemy is mere Treachery As to Poyson him or her a Murtherer to kill him were plain Impiety Faederatum injuste fallere impium Livi. Also out of the War covertly to kill a particular Enemy by secret Assault or Practice is not warrantable either by Faith or Honor yet to use all Craft Cunning and Subtilty in open War is both allowable and praisable and so is thought by Christian Writers Cum justum bellum suscipitur ut aperte pugnet quis aut ex insidiis nihil ad justitiam interest Aug. The same is also approved by divers Authors of good Credit Confice sive dolo seu stricto cominus euse The same is also affirmed by Xenophon Reipsa nihil utilius in bello dolis Thus having briefly touched what Counsels are required in War let us consider how Victory is to be used for the end of every good War is Peace to the enjoying whereof three things are required Wariness Mercy and Modesty because over-great Confidence may happily impeach the end of good Success Res secundae negligentiam creant Livi. I also wish the Victory to be handled Mercifully because all Conquests are in their own Nature cruel enough And the Ire of Insolent Soldiers forces the Conquered to become Desperate Gravissime mor sus irritate necessitatis Curt. To proceed Modestly is also an honorable Quality in him that conquereth for in prosperous Fortunes Men do hardly refrain covetous and proud Doings yea some good and great Captains have in like cases forgotten what did best become them In rebus secundis etiam egregii Duces insolescunt Tac. After Victory followeth Peace For if War did ever continue no State or Government could stand Therefore how great or how long soever the War be the end must be Peace the name whereof is not only Sweet but also Comfortable Pax una triumphis innumeris potior Peace is not only good and profitable to him that is Victorious but also to those that are victored Pacem reduci velle victori expedit victo necesse est Tac. Nevertheless until good and honorable Peace be offered Arms may not be laid aside Wherein I wish Tully's Advice to be followed Bellum gerendum est si bellum omittemus pace nunquam fruemur Livi. In Treaty of Peace two things must be considered First That the Conditions be Honorable To condescend to any Base Conditions is unto a Princely Mind not only great Indignity but also Intolerable Cum dignitate potius cadendum quam cum ignominia serviendum Plut. It also importeth the Peace should be simple true and unfeigned for all feigned and dissembling Amity is to be doubted Pace suspect a tutius est bellum Mithrid The fittest Season to speak of Peace is either when the War beginneth or during the time that the Enemies be of equal Force for if the War continueth it must behove the Weaker to yield to Necessity Not unlike the Ship-master who to save himself doth cast the greatest part of his Loading into the Sea Necessitati pare quam ne dii quidem superant Livi. Finally Having generously defended thy self and performed all things required in a magnanimous Captain and finding nevertheless thy Force insufficient it cannot be dishonorable to accept Peace Wherefore laying aside Hatred and Hope which are but weak Supporters thou maist recommend thee and thine to the approved Discretion of an honorable Enemy Victores secundae res in miserationem ex ira vertunt Livi. Now for as much as every Peace promiseth Rest and Quiet as well to the Victorious as to the Victored we may add thereunto that the Prince Victorious receiveth thereby Honor Profit and Security For although his Happiness may occasion Hope of great Success yet in respect of Fortunes Mutability it shall be Good and Glorious to listen to Peace Decorum principi est cum victoriam prope in manibus habeat pacem non abnuere ut sciant omnes te suscipere juste bellum finire Livi. It seemeth also the more Honorable for who so is Victorious doth give Peace and not take it He also sheweth himself Discreet by using a Moderation in Victory and no Extremity in Spoiling which our Wise and Godly Writers have commended Pacem contemnentes gloriam appetentes pacem perdunt gloriam Bern. Peace is also Profitable for the Victorious because continual War breedeth Weariness and of violent Proceeding Desparation and Peril cometh Maximi mortiferi morsus esse solent morientium bestiarum Sen. Likewise Peace is more assured than any Victory Hope of the one is in thine own Power the other in the Hand of God Add thereunto the force of Fortune which hath great power in all Humane Actions In rebus secundis nihil in quenquam superbe ac violenter consulere decet nec praesenti credere Fortunae cum quid vesper ferat incertus sis Sen. Also Conditions of Peace ought to be reasonably and freely bestowed For no People can live contented under such a Law as forceth them to loath the State wherein they are Misera pax bello bene mutatur Sen. CHAP. XXIV Of Civil War with the Causes and Remedies thereof THE greatest and most grievous Calamity that can come to any State is Civil War for therein Subjects take Arms against their Prince or among themselves whereof followeth a Misery more Lamentable than can be described Non aetas non dignitas quenquam protegit quo minus stuprà caedibus caedes stupris misceantur Tac. The first Cause of Civil War proceedeth of Destiny for God in his own Divine Providence foreseeth many Years before that great and mighty Empires shall be ruined In se magna ruunt laetis hinc numina rebus Crescendi posuere modum Lucan The second Cause is Excess Riot and Dissolute Life for nothing breedeth Civil Fury so soon as over great Happiness also pompous Apparel Banquetting and prodigal Spending consumeth Riches and Plenty is turned into Poverty for by these means are Men brought into Desperation Rapacissimo cuique ac
perditiffimo non agri aut faenus sed sola instrumenta vitiorum manebunt Tac. Now to consider how Destiny might be eschewed were in vain For such a Remedy no Wit or Wisdom can devise being the Decree of God no doubt it is inevitable Ita fato placuit nullius rei eodem semper loco stare fortunam Sen. There is nothing exempt from the peril of Mutation the Earth Heavens and whole World is thereunto Subject Certis eunt cuncta temporibus nasci debent crescere extingui Sen. Touching the second Causes of Civil War some Remedies may be used because it proceedeth of Faction Sedition or Tyranny I call Faction a certain Association of divers Persons combined to the Offence of others It proceedeth often of private or publick Displeasure and more often of Ambition Nemo eorum qui in Rep. versantur quos vincat sed a quibus vincatur aspicis Sen. 1. Factions are of two sorts for either they consist of many or of few Persons both be dangerous but the former more apt to take Arms and that Party which proveth weakest prayeth Arms of Foreign Forces 2. The other Faction wherein are fewer partakers be commonly great Personages or Men of more Importance than ordinary People and that proveth most Perilous and Bloody Nobilium factiones trahunt ad se in partes universum etiam populum Arist. Albeit some wise Men have held Opinion that Factions are necessary yet cannot that conceipt be reasonably maintained unless it be upon Confines and in such places where Conspiracy is feared which Cato in his private Family used Semper contentiunculas aliquas aut dissensum inter servos callide serebat suspectum habens nimiam concordiam orum metuensque Plut. Factions against the Nobility are sometimes suppressed by forbidding Colors or unknown Bagdes to be worn also to inhibit Names or Watch-words of Mutinies is necessary which was Mecaenas Counsel to Augustus and Aristotle thinketh it fit that Laws should be made against the Factions of Noblemen Nobilium contentiones partes etiam legibus oportet prohibere conari Arist. Another Cause of Civil War we call Sedition which is a sudden Commotion or Assembly of Common People against their Prince or his Magistrates the Original of which Disorders may proceed of divers Causes but chiefly of Oppression Imminentium periculocum remedium ipsa pericula arbitrari Arist. Again Fear may be the occasion of Sedition as well in him that hath done Injury as in him that looketh to be injured and is desirous to prevent it before it cometh It may proceed also of over great Mildness in Government Non miseriis licentia sed licentia tantum concitum turbarum lascivire magis plebem quam saevire Livi. Sedition many times ariseth of Poverty or of the Artificers whose Arts are grown out of Use and Consequently no means whereof they can live Semper in civitate quibus opes nullae sunt bonis invidem vetera odere nova expetunt odio rerum suarum mutari omnia student Sab. Lastly Sedition cometh of Tyranny Insolency or Mutinous Disposition of certain Captains Cavaliers or Ring-leaders of the People for albeit the Multitude is apt to Innovation yet doth it stand firm until some first Mover taketh the matter in hand Multitudo omnis sicut mare per se immobilis Livi. Of these Movers some are Ambitious who wanting other means to Aspire hope by practice of Sedition to compass their Designs or else they are Unthrifts who having consumed their own seek by Violence to possess themselves of other Mens Or else they are vain and light Persons that without Cause or Reason attempt Innovation themselves know not for what Non tam praemiis periculorum quam ipsis periculis loeti pro certis olim partis nova ambiguae ancipitia maelunt Thus having told the Causes of Sedition I wish the Remedies were prepared Omne malum nascens facile opprimitur inveteratum fit plerumque robustius Cic. The first way to suppress Sedition is Eloquence and excellent Perswasion which oft-tentimes worketh great Effects among the Multitude chiefly when it proceedeth from some Reverend and grave Person for his Wisdom and Integrity of Life honored For the Prince himself is not to take Office in hand unless necessity so inforce Integra autorit as principis majoribus remediis servetur Tac. If Perswasion cannot prevail then Force must compel But before such violent Proceedings Use Art and Cunning either to appease the People or at least to disunite them and rather if the Prince do offer fair and promise plausibly Verba apud populum plurimum valent Tac. It is lawful also in such Cases for Princes to use Subtilty and the same not prevailing to wash away the Stain thereof with Clemency For when Arms laid down and every one yielded general Punishment were needless Omnium culpa fuit paucorum sit poena Tac. The last Cause of Sedition we named Tyranny which is a certain violent Government exceediug the Laws of God and Nature The difference between Kings and Tyrants is this the one imployeth Arms in defence of Peace the other useth them to terrifie those of whom his Cruelty hath deserved Hate Auferre trucidare rapere falsis nominibus imperium at que ubi solitudinem fecerint pacem appellant Tac. The quality of Tyrants is to esteem Promoters more then good Ministers because those Men are the Scourge of infinite others They are also Protectors of impious Persons and stand in daily doubt of Noble and Virtuous Men. Nobilitas opes amissi gestique honores procrimine Et ob virtutes certissimum exitium Tac. Tyrants do also endeavor to suppress the knowledge of Letters and Civil Life to the end all Arts should be exiled and Barbarism introduced Pellunt sapientiae professores omnes bonas artes in exilium agant Tac. These and such like be the Conditions of Tyrants who for the most part are deposed and slain for as Kings live long and deliver their Dominions to their Children and Posterity So Tyrants being feared and hated of all Men cannot continue in their Estate Adgenerum Cereris sine ceede vulnere pauci Descendunt reges sicca morte Tyranni Juvin The Remedies of these Mischiefs which proceed from the Violence of such a Prince are Persecution or Patience Many generous Spirits have used the first perswading themselves rather to dye than endure the sight of a Tyrant Also the Grecians did think it a Service acceptable to Murther the Person of such an impious Prince Graeci homines deorum honores tribuebant iis qui Tyrannos necaverunt Cic. Nevertheless in Christian Consideration the other Course is to be taken Let Patience therefore incounter this mischief for seeing all Kings as well the bad as the good be sent by God they must be indured Res est gravis occidere regalem stirpem Homer Persecution is not only perilous but for the most part infortunate For therefore present Revenge is taken by that Prince
with other Princes the one being in Arms against the other if he deny both incurreth Suspicion of both and may be thought to have Secret Intelligences with one or both of them so as either of them shall account him an Enemy and consequently he that proves Victorious will be revenged and the other holding him suspected will not acknowledge his Friendship It is the use of Men to presume much upon their own Merit and seeing the Success of some others to be such as without Cause or Desert are aspired to Dignity thereby encouraged they promised to themselves the like Nevertheless being entred into the course of their Design and finding many Crosses and Impeachments they do not a little repent their Overweening and Presumption but also many times utterly abandon their rash and unadvised Enterprize neither can I think that the Vertue or Sufficiency of any Man without the Favor of the Heavens can advance him for as the Poet saith Nec velle javat potiusve nocet si fata repugnant Whoso serveth a Prince far from his Presence shall with great Difficulty content him For if he commit any Error it shall be aggravated Besides that the Instructions sent unto him cannot be particularly conceived because the State of wordly things doth daily alter Also to serve aloof is a thing full of Danger and far from Reward which Inconvenience may for the most part be avoided by him that attendeth near to his Prince's Person Let no Man that cometh to serve in Court assure himself by his Wisdom to be advanced or eschew all Encounters Neither is he to bear himself so careless as to commit all to Fortune but be perswaded that this worldly Life is like to a Voiage by Sea wherein albeit Art with the favor of the Wind may do much yet can we not assure our selves to arrive safe in the Haven appointed for daily Experience doth shew that some strange Ships in the calmest Weather are drowned or impeached by the way when others much weaker and disarmed pass securely Among Men worthy of Commendations those have merited best that first planted true Religion next they that framed Kingdoms and Commonwealths the third place is due to such as have augmented or enlarged their Dominions lastly Learned Men deserve Fame and Memory and as every of these are worthy of Fame and Honor so ought they to be accompted Infamous that introduce Atheism or the Subversion of Kingdoms or are become Enemies to Learning and Virtue Whosoever taketh in hand to govern a Multitude either by way of Liberty or Principality and cannot assure himself of those Persons that are Enimies to that Enterprise doth frame a State of short Perseverance yet true it is that such Princes be infortunate as for their own security are inforced to hold a course extraordinary and have the Multitude their Enemy for he that hath few Foes may with small dishonor be assured but he that is generally hated can by no means live assured and the more Cruelty he useth the weaker his Principality proveth In commending another Man great Moderation is to be used for as contumely offendeth him against whom it is used so great praise besides that it is uttered with danger to his Judgment that speaketh it the same doth oft-ten-times offend him that heareth it For Self-love which commonly possesseth Men causes the Good or Evil we hear to be measured with our own And consequently every Man that is touched with like deserts and defects doth grow offended that his Commendation is not set forth and feareth lest his Imperfection should be discovered It is often or rather ever seen that the force of Leagues not used in their first heat becomes cold because Suspition soon entereth which in short space will destroy whatsoever was concluded and may not without long time be rejoined The power of Ambition which possesseth the Minds of Men is such as rarely or never suffereth them to rest The reason thereof is That Nature hath framed in them a certain Disposition to desire all things but not to obtain them so as our Desires being greater than our Power therefore following Discontent and evil Satisfaction Hereof also proceedeth the Variation of Fortune for some Men desiring to get and others fearing to lose that they had gotten do occasion one Man to injure another and consequently Publick Wars do follow by means whereof one Country is ruined and another inlarged Princes of great Power and chiefly those that are Inhabitants of the North having many Children were wont to be much inclined to the Wars as well to win unto themselves Honor as also to get Possessions for their Sons which manner of Proceedings did oft-tentimes remove such Disturbance as the Plurality of Brethren bringeth These and other reasons induced Princes to attempt War against those Kingdoms which in cheir opinion seemed easily conquered or whereunto they can pretend little for by colour thereof they may the rather justifie their Proceedings When a Prince deferreth to answer an Ambassador it proceedeth from some of these Respects either because he will take time to resolve himself of somewhat whereof he doubteth or that he intendeth covertly to deny that which is demanded or that he esteemeth not the Prince that doth demand or that he disdaineth the Person by whom the demand is made or else that he intendeth to hear from his own Ministers to be better resolved Wherefore a discreet Negotiator ought in such cases to consider which of these Reasons move the Prince where he is employed to entertain him with delays and make his dispatch accordingly The sufficiency of good Counsellors consistetd in fonr things First They ought to be wise and skilful how to handle their Affairs directing all doings to publick Commodity Secondly To be just in their Proceedings giving to every one that which to him appertaineth Thirdly To be stout and void both of partial respects and fear And lastly To be temperate and moderate in their Desires Whoso desireth to govern well and securely it behoveth him to have a vigilant Eye to the Proceedings of great Princes and to consider seriously of their Designs For it is matter of small difficulty to live in Peace with him who desireth our Amity and provideth for others that endeavor to offend us The Intelligences that Princes study to attain are procured by divers means Some are brought by report some vented by Conversation and Sounding some by means of Espials but the most sure and credibe Occurrents are those which come from Ambassadors chiefly those that either for the Greatness of their Prince or their own Virtue be of most Reputation For those Men conversing daily with great Personages and pondering diligently their Manners Words Wisdom and the order of each Man's Proceedings yea of the Prince himself may with Commodity attain unto matters of great Importance sooner than they that are Writers of Rumors or that take upon them to Conjecture of things to come Whensoever a People is induced to commit so great
State that leaves promises unperformed by reason of unexpected Impediments and for no ill intent ought not to be blamed Neither are such accidents any just cause or colour why Friends should abandon their Confederates Where Magistrates govern justly Subjects obey dutifully where private Persons grow rich and Princes enlarge their Empire there is the Common-wealth blessed and the People fortunate CHAP. XXVI Maxims of State or Prudential Grounds and Polemical Precepts concerning all Estates and Forms of Policy in Times of Peace or War c. confirmed by Select Narrations and Historical Parallels ALL Cities and Towns of State are builded either by People dwelling in or about the Place where they are builded or else they are made by Strangers Of the first are Athens and Venice of the other Alexandria and Florence The Fortune of every City builded and Vertue of the Builder appeareth by Choice of the Place and Quality of Laws For as fertile Places occasion Men to be slothful unless by good laws they be forced to labour so Barrenness compels them to Industry which Reason induceth Wise Men to plant Habitations in either Examples of the first are Ferrara and Rome of the second Ragusa and Genoa All Laws whereby Commonwealths are governed were either made by some one excellent Man and at an instant or else they were ordained at sundry Times according to such Accidents as besel Example The Laws of Sparta made at the beginning by Lycurgus the Laws of Rome at sundry Times The Government of every City in Time becomes corrupt Principality changeth into Tyranny The Optimacy is made the Government of the People and the Popular Estate turns to licentious Disorder which Instability or Alteration moved some Law-makers to take Order that in the Government of their City there should be a Mixture of all three and was the Cause that the Policy of Sparta continued 800 Years when the Popular State of Athens endured not one hundred Example The Laws of Sparta made by Lycurgus and the Laws of Athens by Solon Whoso taketh in hand to frame any State or Government ought to presuppose that all Men are Evil and at occasions will shew themselves so to be Example The Envy of the People of Rome to the Nobles and their Insolency towards them appeared not so long as the Kings governed but the Tarquins being Banished Opportunity was thereby offered that the Malice of the one and the other became discovered The divers Honours of the Nobility and People the one desiring to command the other not to obey are the Cause of continual Troubles unless some third Mean there be of more Authority than either to bridle the Force of both Example The Kings in Rome expulsed forth with arose much Mutiny and could not be suppress'd till the Tribum Plebis were created whose Authority wrought the same effect which the Kings had done Some States endeavour to enlarge their Dominions and some others labor only to maintain that Estate they antiently possessed Example of the first was the City of Rome of the second Sparta All States desiring to live at Liberty think fit that every Man should be permitted to accuse any Citizen that offend eth which manner of proceeding works two excellent Effects First That the People should not dare for Fear of accusing to attempt ought against the State or if they do they shall be presently and without Respect punished Secondly by Liberty of accusing every Man hath Means to utter the Offence where with he can charge others which he could not unless it were lawful to take such an ordinary Course and consequently be driven to ways extraordinary particular Revenge or calling in Foreign Forces Example Coriolanus and Appius Claudius at Rome Lucanncve at Chinsi Francisco Valeri in Florence As Accusations are in every State necessary so Slanders are dangerous and worthy of Punishment the Difference betwixt Accusations and Slanders is that the one is publickly performed before Magistrates with good Proofs and Witnesses to maintain the Truth of the Accusation but Slanders are as well publickly performed as dispersed in secret and Places of Repair without Witness and Justification so as every Man may be slandered but few are orderly accused Example Appius Claudius accused by L. Virginius Furius Camillus slandered by Manlius Capitolinus The only means to suppress Slander is to give Authority to some Persons of Repute to compel every Slanderer to become an Accuser and if the Accusation prove true then to reward the Accuser or at least not to punish him Example Manlius the Slanderer of Camillus for his untrue Information punished A Rule most certain and assured it is That every Kingdom and State at the first well framed or after well informed doth take the Perfection thereof from the Wisdom of some excellent Man who ought not to be blind though in a Matter of great Moment he happily useth some extraordinary Violence or Proceedings for he that employeth Force to mend and not to mar deserves Commendation Example Romulus Lycurgus Cleomenes There lives no Man so simple or wise so wicked or well-disposed but prefers those Persons that are praiseable before those that are blameable Notwithstanding for that well-near all Men are beguil'd in discerning what indeed is Good deeming that Honourable which in Truth is otherwise they suffer themselves either willingly or ignorantly to be carried into a Course which merits rather Infamy than Commendation Example Every Man wisheth himself Timoleon or Agesilaus rather than Dionysius or Phalaris rather a Titus or Trajan than Caligula or Vitellius Who reads Histories treating of great Actions shall perceive that good Princes indeed are more secure and better defended by the Love of the People and Fidelity of Counsellors than were they that entertained many Legions and Men of War Example Of all those Emperours which reigned after Caesar until Maximiinus the greatest number were for their Vices taken and slain only Galba and Pertinax excepted who were good Emperours A Prince of great Knowledge both in Arms and Wisdom so firmly setleth the Foundation of Government as albeit his Successor be of the less Vertue yet may he be maintained even by the Memory of his Predecessor But if it happen that the third Prince prove not more like the first than the second then all that is past goeth to Ruine Example The Martial Valour of Romulus was the cause that Numa might govern safely in Peace Which Tullus could not have done had he been unlike to Romulus nor should Bajazet Emperour of Turky have enjoyed the State of his Father Mahomet and left the same to his Posterity if Selim his Son had not been more like to his Grand father than to Bajazet his Father The Succession of two excellent Princes chiesly if they be of long life works wondrous Effects The like is seen in Optimacies and Popular States where the Governours successively elected be Men of great Vertue and Understanding Example The first appeared in Philip of Macedon and Alexander his Son the
second in the Consuls of Rome In every State where Soldiers are not the Fault thereof proceeds from the Governours Wise Princes were therefore wont even in Times of Peace to cause Warlike Exercises to be used for without them the most Warlike Nations become not only Ignorant in Martial Knowledge but also effeminate Example Pelopidas Epaminondas in Thebes and King Tullus in Rome as well in Peaceable as Troublesome Times used the exercise of Arms. No Prince or State well advised hazards his whole Estate upon the Valour of some few Persons nor ought to Strength of strait Places where the Enemy is to pass Example Tully King of Rome and Metius King of Alba condescended that three of their Nobility for either side chosen should enter Combate and that Nation which was Victorious should command the other Francis the French King going to recover Lombardy was by the Switzers attended into two or three Places in the Mountains hoping there to repulse him but the King taking another way passed securely and prevailed Every State well governed doth reward Men of good Merit and punish all Offenders and if any Person of good Desert shall wilfully be a Delinquent the same Man ought not withstanding his former service be punisht Example The same Horatio that in Combat gained the Victory against the Albani having insolently slain his own Sister was notwithstanding his egregious Act and the fresh memory thereof called into trial of his life and with great difficulty obtained Pardon And Manlius who had with great Glory saved the Capitol for moving Sedition in Rome was after from the same cast down headlong Every wise Man having performed any great service to his Prince or Country ought to be content with such recompence as it shall please the Prince or Country to bestow Measuring the same according to the Power of the giver and not the merit of him that receiveth Example Horatius Cocles for having lost his Hand in defence of the Bridge of Rome and Mutius Scaevola suffering his Hand to be burnt for his attempt to kill King Porsenna were rewarded with a small Portion of Land and Manlius that defended the Capitol from the Galleys had no greater reward than a little measure of Meal Ingratitude is a Vice so natural and common as not only private Persons but Princes and States also either through Covetousness or Suspition are therewith infected Example Vespasian proclaimed Emperor was chiefly aided by Antonius Primus and by his help prevailed against Vitellius in Reward of which Service Vespasian removed him from the Command of his Army and gave that honour to Mutianus Consalvo Ferranoe having taken the Kingdom of Naples from the French was first removed from his Command of the Castles and Soldiers and in the end brought into Spain where in disgrace he ended his Life Collatinus Tarquinius who with the aid of Brutus suppressed the Tarquins of Rome and with him Pub. Valerius were banish'd for no other cause but for being of the name of Tarquin the other because he built a House upon Mount Coelio All Errors that great Captains commit are either wilful or ignorant towards the one and the other of which Offenders to use greater lenity than the quality of their Offences deserves seemeth necessary For Men of Honour suffer nought by the Infamy which evil Service doth bring It is also to be considered that a great Captain being cumbred with many cares cannot proceed in his Actions couragiously if he stand in daily doubt to be punish'd for every error that hapneth Example Sergius and Virginius were before Veio the one part of the Army on the one side of the City the other not far from the place Sergius being assaulted by the Falisci was not aided by Virginius neither would he require his help such was the envy the one bare to the other and consequently their Offence is wilful and worthy of capital punishment Likewise when Varro by his Ignorance received an overthrow by Hannibal at Cannae he was nevertheless pardoned and honourably welcomed home by the whole Senate Whensoever an Inconvenience ariseth within or without the State it seems a Resolution more sure to dissemble the knowing thereof than to seek by sudden violence to suppress it Example Cosmo de Medices having gained extraordinary Reputation in Florence the Citizens imagined that to suffer the same to increase was dangerous and therefore they Banished him Which extream Proceeding so offended the Friends of Cosme being the stronger as they forced the Citizens to revoke him and make him Prince of that City The like hapned in Rome where Caesar for his Vertue much admired and followed became afterwards to be feared and they that feared not considering their force to be inferior to the power of Caesar endeavouring to oppress him were the occasion of his greater Glory In every Republick an excessive Authority given to one or two Persons for long time proveth dangerous chiefly when the same is not restrained Example The Dictatorship given to Caesar for life was an occasion to oppress the Liberties of the Romans The same effect was before that time like to follow the Decemvirate by suffering Appius Claudius to prolong the time of his Dignity The Ambition of Men is such as rarely they will obey when formerly they have commanded neither do they willingly accept of mean Office having before sate in higher place Yet the Citizens of well-governed States did not refuse as well to obey as command Example The Victory the Romans obtained against the Veienti Q. Fabius was slain having the year before been Consul Nevertheless he then served in meaner place under C. Manilius and M. Fabius his own Brother then Consul There is nothing more strange yet by experience proved true That Men in adverse Fortune be much grieved and in Prosperity also discontented which is the reason that not being forced to fight for necessity they will nevertheless contend for Ambition and that Humour doth as well possess those that live aloft as others whom Fortune holdeth down Example The People of Rome having by the Authority of the Tribunes obtained to make themselves secure from oppression of the Nobility forthwith required That the Honour and Office of State might be also imparted unto them The like Ambition moved them to have their part of Lands by force of Lex Agaria which was at last the overthrow of the Roman Liberty It seemeth that People displeased with some Innovations hapned in the State do sometime without just Reasons complain of those that govern Not unlike to a sick Man who deemeth that the Physician not the Fever is the cause of his Grief Example The People of Rome were persuaded that the Ambition of Consuls was the cause of continual War therefore required that no more Consuls should be yet they were content that certain Tribunes should command with like Authority so was nothing altered in the Government but the Governors Title which alone did content them Nothing can corrupt and alter the
armed to receive them But the Spaniards being come found no Forces at all to joyn with them and therefore wanting Victual offered Composition The Florentines finding the Enemy distressed grew insolent and refused Peace whereof followed the loss of Prato and many other Inconveniences The like happened to them of Tyre as before The denial or delay of Justice desired in revenge of Injuries either publick or privately offered is a thing very dangerous to every Prince or other State for that the Party injured doth oft by indirect means though with hazard of his Country and himself seek satisfaction Example The Complaint which the Galli made against the Fabii who sent Ambassadors in favour of the Tossani not being heard nor any punishment inflicted upon them for Fighting against the Law of Nations was the cause that the Galli were offended with the States whereof followed the sack of Rome and the delay of Justice in Philip of Macedon for not revenging the incestuous oppression of Attalus to Pausanias was the Motive to murther that King Whoso endeavours the alteration of any State must of necessity proceed with all severity and leave some memorable Example to those that shall impugn the Ordinance of Government newly setled Example When Junius Brutus had by his great Valour banish'd the Tarquins and sworn the People that no King should ever reign in Rome within short time after many young Nobles among whom was Brutus's Son impatient of the equality of the new Government conspired to recall the Tarquins but Brutus thereof informed caused his own Son not only to be condemned to death but was himself present at the Execution As Health and soundness of the Hands Legs and other outward Members cannot continue Life unless the Heart and vital Spirits within be strong and firm so Fortifications and Frontier-defences do not prevail unless the whole Corps of the Kingdom and People be well armed Example When the Emperor came into Italy and had with some difficulty past the confines of the Venetians well near without resistance his Army march'd to Venice and might doubtless have possest the City had it not been defended with Water Likewise the English in their assault of France excepting a few Encounters on the Frontiers found no puissant resistance within the Realm And Anno 1513. they forced all that State and the King himself to tremble as oft before they had done but contrariwise the Romans knowing that Life lay in the Heart ever held the Body of their State strongest For the nearer the Enemy approach'd Rome the better they found the Country armed and defended The desire to command sovereignly is of so great Force as doth not only work in those that are in expectation of Principality but also in them that have no Title at all Example this Appetite moved the Wife of Tarquinius Priscus contrary to all natural Duty to incite her Husband to murder her own Father Servius and possess his Kingdom as being persuaded it were much more honourable to be a Queen than to be the Daughter of a King The violation of ancient Laws Orders and Customs under which People have long time lived is the chief and only Cause whereby Princes hazard their Estate and Royal Dignity Example Albeit the deflowring of Lucrece was the occasion yet was it not the cause that moved the Romans to take Arms against Tarquin for he having before that fact of Sextus his Son governed Tyrannically and taken from the Senate all Authority was become odious both to the Senate Nobility and People who finding themselves well-governed never seek or wish any other liberty or alteration A Prince that desires to live secure from Conspiracy hath cause rather to fear those on whom he hath bestowed over-great Riches and Honors than those whom he hath greatly injured because they want Means to offend the other have many opportunities to do it Example Perrenius the prime Favorite of Commodus the Emperor conspired his Death Plautianus did the like to Severus and Sejanus to Tiberius for being advanced to so great Honors Riches and Offices as nothing remained desirable but the Imperial Title they conspired against the Persons of their Sovereigns in hope of the Dignity but in the end they endured that Punishment which to such Disloyalty and Ingratitude appertaineth An Army which wants Experience albeit the Captain be expert is not greatly to be feared neither ought an Army of well-train'd Soldiers to be much esteemed whose Captain is ignorant Example Caesar going into Africa against Afranius and Petraeus whose Army was full of old Soldiers said he feared them little Quia ibat ad exercitum sine duce Contrariwise when he went to Pharsalia to encounter Pompey he said Ibo ad ducem fine exercitu A Captain-General commanding an Army ought rather to govern with Curtesie and Mildness than with over-much Austerity and Severity Example Q. and Appius Claudius being Consuls were appointed to govern the War To Q. was allotted one Army which served very dutifully but Appius commanding the other with great Cruelty was by his Soldiers unwillingly obeyed Nevertheless Tacitus seems of contrary Opinion saying Plus Poena quam obsequium valet Therefore to reconcile these different Conceits I say that a General having power to command Men either they are Confederates or Subjects If Confederates or Voluntaries he may not proceed to extream punishment if Subjects and his power absolute they may be governed otherwise yet with such respect as the insolence of the General inforce not the Soldiers to hate him Honour may sometime be got as well by the loss as gaining of Victory Every Man knoweth Glory is due to the Victor and we deny not the same Priviledge to the vanquished being able to make proof that the Loss proceeded not from his Default Neither is it dishonourable to violate those Promises whereto the necessity or disadvantage of War inforceth And forced Promises which concern a whole State are not binding and rarely or ever kept nor is the Breaker thereby to receive Disgrace Example Posthumus the Consul having made a dishonourable Peace with the Samnites was by them with his whole Army sent home disarmed Being arrived at Rome the Consul informed the People they were not bound to perform the base Conditions he was compelled to yield unto albeit he and those few that promised were bound to perform them The Senate thereupon concluded to send him Prisoner to Samno where he constantly protested the Fault to be only his own wherefore the People by that Peace incurred no Dishonour at all And Fortune so much favoured Posthumus as the Samnites were content presently to return him to Rome where he became more glorious for losing the Victory than was Pontius at Samno for having won the Victory Wise Men have long observed That who so will know what shall be must consider what is past for all worldly Things hold the same course they had at first The Reason is that as long as Men are possest with the
from Charlemain And albeit the Families of the Paleologi Ebrami and Turcani be of the blood Royal and Right Heirs to the Turkish Empire when the Ottoman Line shall fail yet it is like that the chief Bassa having the love of the Janisaries will usurp the State because the Paleologi and other Competitors be far from the Turks person poor and without means to purchase the Soldiers favor A Commander General in Arms ought upon pain of great punishment be enjoyned not to imploy or retain any forces longer than the time of his Commission Example The Dictators of Rome were in this point so precise as never any of them dared to transgress the time prefixed till Caesar obtained that dignity should continue in him for life which was the cause of his usurpation of the State Also the Thebans commanded that if the General of their Army did hold his forces one day longer than the time prefixt he should thereby incur danger of death which Justice was executed upon Epaminondas and Pelopidas Banishment of great Lords or Citizens of great Reputation hath been in divers places diversly used for in the one they were inforced only to absent themselves without further infliction in the other Banishment was accompanied with Confiscation a course of great danger Example In Argos Athens Ephesus and other Cities of Greece the Citizens puissant in Friends Vertue or Riches were many times banish'd for Envy or Fear but never or very rarely forced to absent themselves longer than ten Years and that without loss of Goods which was the cause that never any of them Warred against the Country But Dion being banish'd Syracusa by Dionysius Junior and Coriolanus from Rome did make mighty Wars against their own Country The like was done by the Medici in Florence Honourable and Magnanimous Men were wont not only to enterprise great Acts but also to suffer patiently all Injuries which Foes or Fortune could expose them to As resolved that no Calamity was so great as to make their Minds abject or to forget the Dignity appertaining to Persons vertuous Example After the defeat of the Roman Army upon the River Allia the Galli persued the Victory even to Rome's Walls Whither being come and finding the Gates open without any sign of Resistance they entred the Streets where all Honourable Palaces were also unshut which caused the Galli greatly to doubt Nevertheless looking into the Houses they found in every of them a Senator set in a Chair of State and in his Hand a Rod of Ivory his Person was also vested with Robes of Dignity which Majestick spectacle did marvelously amate the Galli not having before that time seen any such Reverend Sight and therefore did not only refrain to offer Violence but highly admired the Roman Courage chiefly in that Fortune Nevertheless at length a rude Gall hapned with his Hand to touch the white Beard of M. Papyrius whereat he taking great disdain struck him with his Rod in requital whereof the Barbarian slew Papyrius and by that example all the other Senators and persons of dignity were also slain Albeit the knowledge and study of Letters be both commendable and necesssary in all well regulated States yet if under so honest pretence Idleness enter such Abuses most seasonably be foreseen and removed Example When Deognis and Carneades two excellent Philosophers were sent Ambassadors from Athens to the Romans many of the Nobility that before disposed themselves to Arms allured with their Eloquence and marvelous Wisdom began with great Admiration to follow them And in lieu of Arms turned their endeavours to the study of Letters which the wise Cato discerning procured the Senate to decree that to eschew all Inconveniences which so honest Idleness might breed no Philosophers should from thenceforth be received into Rome The Honour due to Magistrates was anciently much regarded and contrariwise all irreverent and undutiful Behaviour with great Severity punish'd Example The Censors of Rome degraded a Citizen only for having yawned loud in their Presence And another called Vectius was slain in the Field for not doing due reverence to a Tribune when he past by him It is also observed that the Son of Fab. Maximus when he was Censor meeting his Father on Horseback and seeing the Serjeans affraid to speak to him to dismount did himself Command him so to do which Command the Father cheerfully and willingly obeyed saying Domestick Power must give place to Publick Authority Tyrannous Princes having incurred the universal Hate of People found no means so meet to preserve them from Popular Fury as to execute or deliver into their Hands their own chief Minions and intimate Counsellors Example Tiberius delivered to the People his Fa vourite Seianus Nero Tigellinus Henry King of Swede committed to their Fury his best beloved Servant George Preston Caracalla caused all his Flatterers to be slain that had persuaded him to kill his Brother The like was done by Caligula whereby he escaped himself A Prince that rewards or pardons a Person that kills another Prince albeit by that means he is aspired to Soveraignty shall thereby both incur great Danger and Hate and encourage Men therein to attempt the like against himself Therefore wise Princes have not only left such Services quite unrecompenced but also most severely punished them Example The Emperor Severâ—â— put all those to death that consented to the Murder of Pertinax and Alexander the Great executed him that slew Darius as abhorring that Subject that would lay violent Hands on his Prince notwithstanding he were an Enemy Likewise Uitellius put to death all the Murderers and Conspirators against Galba and Domitian Executed his Secretary Epaphroditus for the Murder of Nero although he instantly desired his aid The vertuous and vitious Examples of Princes incite Subjects to imitate the same Qualities which Rule never or very rarely fails Example Francis the First King of France and other Princes in divers Ages and Places had great esteem of Learned Men and forth with all the Princes Nobles Nobility and Clergy disposed themselves so earnestly to study as before that time had not been seen so many and so great a number of Learned Men as well in Tongues as Sciences Contrariwise Alexander the Great otherwise a Prince of great Vertue by his immoderate use of Drinking did draw the greatest number of his Court and People also to delight in Drunkenness The like effect followed the excessive Intemperance of Mithridates King of Amasia The last and not the least considerable is to observe how great effects Devotion and Contempt of Human Glory worketh in the Minds not only of private Persons but of Kings and Princes also who have oft abandoned worldly Profit Honour and Pleasure to embrace the con templative retired Life Example Ramirus King of Aragon Verecundus King of Spain Charlemain Son of Carolus Martellus Matilda Queen of France Amurath King of Turbay with many others Imperio Maximus exemplo Major FINIS Books Printed for and sold by Joseph Watts at the Angel in St. Paul's Church-yard viz. THE History of Ireland from the Conquest thereof by the English to this present Time in two Parts By the Honourable Richard Cox Esq one of the present Judges for that Kingdom Folio The Right Honourable the Marquis of Carmarthen's State of his Case Folio His Answer to the Examination of the State of his Case Folio His Answer to Sir Robert Howard's Book Folio His Reply to some Libels lately Printed Folio Tryal of the Lord Russel Folio Character of a Popish Successor Folio The World's Mistake in Oliver Cromwel By Sl. Bethel Esq Quarto Satyr against Hypocrites Quarto No Protestant Plot 1st 2d and 3d. Parts Quarto Diarry of His Majesty's Expedition into England Quarto Hunton's Treatise of Monarchy in two Parts Quarto The Earl of Rochester's Funeral Sermon Quarto The Present Settlement Vindicated and the late Mis-government proved Quarto Rushworth's Historical Collections from 1618. to 1629. James's Corruption of Popish Father's Counsels c. Octavo The True Nature of the Divine Law c. Octavo Reformed Devotions in Meditations Hymns and Petitions for every Day in the Week Twelves The Excellent Woman described by her true Characters and their Opposites Octavo An Earnest Invitation to the Sacrament By Dr. Glanvill Twelves At which Place may be had Acts of Parliament Proclamations Declarations Orders of King and Council Speeches in Parliament Choice Pamphlets both Ancient and New Tryals Narratives and Gazzetts * Commissions determine in presence of him that granted them * So Henry the Fourth of France by putting his Courtiers to Board-wages was said to make Money with his Teeth * The Author of the Epistle Dedicatory to the Dutchess of Suffolk prefix'd to Mr. Latimer's Sermons saith that Lawyers covetousness hath almost devoured England Discipline Tam bene quam male facta praemunt Mart.