and how pernicious he had been to all Italie so long as abilitie was ioyned with his ill disposition drew him vnto him by a safeconduct vnder assurance whereof so soone as he had him in his power he sent him prisoner into Spaine After the death of Alexander the sixt Valentine liued in base fortune which nothing altered his olde condition for he perswaded Gonsaluo to inuade Pisa with his forces both by Sea and by Land to the end to trouble and make warre against the Florentines for the seruice of his King Gonsaluo which very well knewe the terrible inclination of this cruell man and remembring the mischieues and cruelties vsed by him while he had meanes to execute the same thought that it should be a good deede to free Italie from this beast which alreadie had so tormented it and againe sought to bring it into trouble Wherefore sending him a safeconduct and entertaining him with a shew of much kindnes feeding him with hopes and promises and while as he consulted and deuised with him of matters of importance vpon the plottes and stratagems which hee had in hand hee had leasure to write to the King of Spaine what he thought fit to be done with this pestilent man Guicciar lib. 6 and receiuing an answere according to his desire hee tooke away his safeconduit and sent him prisoner into Spaine Valentine cunningly entrapped by Gonsaluo Fernandes and sent prisoner into Spaine and there kept prisoner in the Castle at Medina del Campo And as Valentine complained that faith and promise was not held with him Gonsaluo wisely answered that seruants hands and writings serue to no purpose and are of no effect and valew without the consent of their Masters and therefore this safeconduct could not serue his turne seeing his Emperour had otherwise determined contrarie to his desire And Valentine being arriued in Spaine attended on by one Page onely he was committed prisoner to the Castle of Medina del Campo and escaping from thence he went into Nauarre to for feare to make those which already are wicked to become worse Euen so it shall be well done to aduise honest and good men to take heede how they so easily yeeld themselues for a pray vnto those which are wicked by reason whereof they may incurre such or greater daungers than the Pope did as before is said who in truth was very venturous and resolute and Baglione bare himselfe as a wise Prince notwithstanding that it was in him to haue done otherwise but hee considered that wisedome and good dealing would support him and the contrarie would be his ruine and so it may be coucluded that hee might haue been disloyall if hee had would but he would not for the reasons abouesaid CHAP. 33. That enterprises executed by the perswasion of Rebels and banished men are dangerous and seldome come to good end SVch men as are banished from their countrie haue so great desire to returne thither againe that being alwaies in hope they promise both to themselues and to others also great matters and seeking alwaies waies and meanes to recouer their countrie they hazard and aduenture themselues in euery desperate actiō be it neuer so hard and doubtfull and hauing but two things to lose to wit life and goods they expose both the one and the other to attaine to their desire And moreouer when they finde as some say a mans ground soft who vpon their hopes and promises will vndertake to settle them againe in their countrie you will not beleeue in how many bands they will engage their faith and with how many promises and perswasions they stirre vp and spurre men forwards to attempt the desired enterprise But afterwards when a man commeth to the triall of the matter and that they recouer their countrie by any other meanes than thine they wil faile of their faith so as the promises grounded vpon incertaine hopes being found vaine and missing effect thou knowest with shame and often with losse how vaine and weake the foundations were and how deceitfull they were by whom thou wast perswaded to put their practises in execution We haue hereof two examples the one ancient in Titus Liuius the other moderne in our author the one appertaineth to the want of faith in banished men and the other concerneth the vanitie and falsenes of their promises Titus Liuius declareth that when Alexander the great passed with his armie into Asia Alexander King of Epire or Albania his kinsman went with a great power into Italie A Prouince in the Kingdome of Naples whither he was called by certaine banished men called Lucains now the people of Basilicate who put him in hope by their meanes to possesse the whole Prouince and sware neuer to abandon him Alexander the Epirote was induced by the othes and promises of the Lucains and being arriued in Lucania the inhabitants there promised to call home and restore their banished men to their countrie vpon condition that they would kill Alexander Alexander King of the Epirotes slaine by the Lucains being banished from their Countrey whom he sought to restore Wherefore in hope to repossesse their countrie they slew the Albanian King falsifying their othes and promises made vnto him and so will all they doe which binde themselues by oth to him which shall promise to restore them to their libertie in their owne houses so great is their desire to returne thither That it is very inconuenient to be induced or moued by the greatnes of their promises wee haue infinit examples in the histories for banished men ordinarily promise much and cunningly faine many things so as they stuffe a man with hopes and prouoke him to execute their desseignes which in the end turne to the great dishonour and losse of him who putteth them in execution Themistocles being banished from Greece by his promises and perswasions induced Artaxerxes to make warre against it Themistocles poysoned himselfe but Themistocles being vnable to maintaine and hold his promise to Artaxerxes for shame or feare of punishment poysoned himselfe by which reason this enterprise was pernicious and deadly hurtfull to Themistocles who procured it and scandalous and exceeding chargeable to Artaxerxes who by his perswasion put it in execution Of later time the Lord of Chaumont Generall for the King of France in Italie a personage of great vertue and authoritie through the perswasiō of those of the house of the Bentiuogli was induced to goe to Boulogne to restore them againe into the Citie and there to haue suppressed Pope Iuli the second But the promises which the out Ferdinand and Don Iulius conspire against Alfonso Duke of Ferrara and made them to be put in their place againe without losse of his sight by the quicke and carefull care of the Phisitions conspired together to put the Duke to death Ferdinand which was the second sonne in hope to possesse the state and Iulius for that it seemed vnto him that Alfonso regarded not the
vnto him afterwards but ought to entertaine him in shew and giuing him some honest pension or prouision to hold him farre from him for when noble harts are grieued they neuer forget the wrong and although that for the present they haue not the power to be reuenged yet neuerthelesse they still retaine the desire to doe it and faile not to put it in execution when they haue oportunitie In the time of our ancestors Charles Duke of Burgundie incurred the same error who being in a councell of warre with his Captaines gaue a blow to Nicolas Campo Bachio an Italian Earle who was in that councell who imprinting the iniurie in his memorie made shew many yeers that he regarded it not attending time and place to be reuenged Nicholas Campo-Bachio an Italian Earle to be reuenged betrayed his Master Charles Duke of Burgundie and withdrew himselfe to Lewes King of France which at length came to passe for being entertained by the Duke of Burgundie in his wars against Rene Duke of Lorraine the said Earle Nicholas at the battaile at Nansci gaue Duke Rene warning that he should make no difficultie to encounter the Duke of Burgundie with the Swissers for that he would come to his aide with his men at armes The Duke of Lorraine gaue battaile to the Duke of Burgundie and the Earle Nicholas would not once vouchsafe to boudge with his Cauallerie but turning his Cornet towards France hee went to the seruice of King Lewes reuenging himselfe by the death and ouerthrow of his Master of the blow and iniurie which he had receiued Charles then committed a great fault to hold in his campe for chiefe of his men at armes him whom he had so grieuously offended through follie in choler and although that the Earle bare the name of disloyall and a traytor yet neuerthelesse hee gaue an example to Princes and by this fact doth aduise them to take heede how they grieue their subiects especially such as are men of spirit and of qualitie for euer trusting them any more The Lord Peter Strozzi a Captaine of great worth in our time Guicciar lib. 5 in the defence which he wrote to shew the occasion wherefore he was in battaile ouercome and put to flight by the Marquesse of Marignan where some Captaines forsooke him produceth many reasons but he concealeth the iniuries done vnto some which he afterwards tooke with him to the warres to which hee gaue the charge to garde certaine holds and to commaund certaine men at Armes for which fault he was publikelie blamed For there are some men which care not by a publike losse to reuenge a priuate iniurie and so as they may effect their purpose they care not what becommeth of the affayres wherein they are employed And although that they which forsooke and abandoned him ought principallie to haue considered that they were in the pay of the French King and not of Strozza yet they cared not for that prouided that he who had offended them might lose his credit and reputation and whosoeuer shall reade his apologie shall see though he expresly say it not yet he noteth and meaneth it when he silentlie saith It is a thing neither honest nor honourable Jt is dishonorable for a man to abandon his friend in time of neede for any occasion vvhatsoeuer for any to abandon their masters and friends in their greatest neede notwithstanding there had been some occasion giuen And to speake vprightly I say that he is much to be blamed that wrongeth another but after that he perceiueth that he hath done him wrong humane wisdome doth then will and require him to take heede that he trust him no more whom he hath once offended and if of necessitie he must reteine him neere about him or that he haue neede of his seruice he ought so well to looke to his affayres that the euill managing of them may not greatly hurt him or else he ought to holde him farre off from him with some charge that may be of greater apparance in shew than of effect or importance doing as Alphonse King of Naples did by Iacques Piccinino the sonne of Nicholas whom he wisely ayded and relieued as a friend but kept himselfe as well from him as from an enemie CHAP. 31. He is not to be blamed who by policie or industrie draweth vnto him pernicious and wicked persons to the end to punish them for offences alreadie committed and to stop them from proceeding further in their wickednes THere are sometimes such men borne into world which seeme to be borne to no other end than to the ruine of mankinde and are so full of mischiefe and so grounded in all kinde of villanie that when they dye and leaue this world a man may iustly say that the world is deliuered and purged of a dangerous plague These men or rather monsters than men no sooner haue power and authoritie ioyned to their inclination and desire to doe ill but they fall into infinit cruelties disordinate desires and monstrous actions And for that they are nousled vp and accustomed to do ill they liue in great vnquietnes without rest when they cannot exercise their malice alwaies carefully seek occasion to make themselues knowne what they are willingly offering themselues with great readines to execute the wicked resolutions and counsels of others when they cannot effect their owne purposes hauing by some accident lost the meanes and power to doe ill of themselues When the many misdeeds of such pernicious persons deserue punishment When assurance and safegard giuen to a and by a Prince is to be maintained and when not all policie and cunning meanes to intrap them is to be vsed and it is but well done to faile and breake the doubtfull promises and assurances made vnto them so as they may be punished for the euils which they haue cōmitted or at the least hindred and kept from committing any more And although that faith and promise ought to be held yea euen with a mans enemies and that it is the part of a good and iust Prince to hold his word neuerthelesse that is to be vnderstood when the cases are alike for when faith is expressely giuen and that safegard is granted vpon the word of a King or Prince I say that such faith is to be maintained and kept euen with traytors But when the words which are vsed and the promise made is equiuocent and may be diuersly construed and haue sundry meanings and interpretations I say that then it is not ill done for a man to serue his turne to his best aduauntage vpon such persons for that those are a kinde of people which are abstract and as a man might say diuided and separated from the essence and being of men and doe participate more with the brutall than with the humane and so ought to be handled and dealt withall rather as beasts than men Gonsaluo Fernandez surnamed the great Captaine knowing the most wicked inclination of Valentine
Laurentines in reuenge of the iniurie done to their Ambassadours slew Tatius king of the Romanes 89. b Lewes More Gouernour of Milan caused himselfe to bee called the sonne of Fortune 99. d Lewes Duke of Milan betrayed by the Swissers 52. e Lycurgus his law 140. h the liberalitie of Artaxerxes 188. h the liberalitie of Cosmo de Medicis Duke of Florence 203. a M MOre praise and commendation is purchased by pardoning then by taking reuenge 102. f a Man wrongeth himself in speaking ill of his superiours 211. b no Man would be too freely reprehended 209. d a Man ought to bee well aduised how he promise any thing 179. b a Man may in two manners haue knowledge of his enemies purposes 156. h a Man cannot retaine that greatnes in aduersitie which he shewed in the beginning of his prosperitie 91. b no Man is absolutely nor altogether wicked 82. h Men happen oftentimes to haue need of those men which in former time they despised 69. d no Man can serue two masters 232. h a Man ought by his wisedome to eschue ouercome the euils threatned against him by his constellation 59. d Manfredi by a wile deliuered himselfe frō the siege of Nocerra and seazed on the kingdome of Sicilie 56. f no Mans friendship is to be despised whatsoeuer when it is offred 45. c one Mans doings ought not to serue for a generall rule for all mē 42. g Manlius Torquatus caused his own sonne to be slaine 63. e the Meanes of Duke Valentine to make himselfe great 29. d N NIcholas Campo Bachio an Italian Earle to be reuenged betrayed his Master Charles Duke of Burgundie and withdrew himselfe to Lewes King of France 78. h a Notable ouerthrow of the English 21. a the Noblenes of a man is to be considered according to his valour and vertue and not according to and after his descent 46. g a Notable reuenge vpon Panioni Sciotte by Hermotine of Pedase 76. f a Noble act of the Emperour Maximilian 103. e Nicias a Captaine of the Athenians through his temeritie was ouercome slain by Gilippus 127. b the Noble mind of the Emperor Rodulph the first 183. a Nicholas Franco was hanged at Rome for railing 224. g Narses wroth with the Emperour of Constantinople 235. d O ONe foolish act maketh a man to bee reputed a foole and one act of infidelitie maketh a mā for euer to be held for disloyall 196. g the Opinion of the Marquesse of Pescara 161. a the Ouerthrow of the Florentines before Pisa through the policie of Mutolo a Pisan Captaine 105. b Obstinacie maketh men cruell both against themselues others 61. c an Obstinate man loueth rather to dye then to shew euen the least signe of humilitie 62. g the Ouerthrowe of the French at Guinguast in Picardie 22. f the Ouersight of Peter de Medicis 7. b P PEace betweene Charles the fift and Francis the first King of France 238. e Peter de Medicis chased from his countrey 4. h Penander the tyrant slaine by one of his household 15. d the Pleasant dangerous iest of a souldier 16. e Peter de Medicis driuen from Florence 33. a Paulo Vitellio condemned to die by the Florentines 34. e the People of Milan reiected by Lewes King of France 45. b the Pisans loued better to subiect themselues to the Genoays their mortall enemies than to the Florentines their Lords neighbours and friends 63. b Peter Candian Prince of Venice for his euill behauiour was slaine by the common people 77. d Princes haue neede of many things and of the seruice of many persons 86. h Pausanias murthered Phillip king of Macedonia his soueraigne Lord 87. c more Praise is purchased by pardoning than by taking reuenge 102. f Petilius Coreal Generall for the Romanes through his negligence was put to flight 106. g Prospero Columna through his owne fault was taken prisoner by the Lord of Palisse a Commaunder of the French 108. e Prato sacked by the Spaniards 117. b Publike persons hauing charge incur many errors if they bee not endued with wisdome 149. b Pope Leo the tenth his discourse to a Groome of his Chamber 189. a a Prince ought to consider what he speaketh in choler when he speaketh any thing of any particular subiect 211. d the Prudence of the Senate of Siracusa 215. d Particular persons preserued by God 244. g Peace between the Emperor Charles the fift and Francis the first king of France 238. e Peter Brunor betraied Francis Sforce 234. e a Prince ought to consider of the qualitie of euill speeches 223. c Prospero and Fabritio Columna returne to the seruice of Ferdinand king of Naples 9. c the common People is insatiable euer coueteth new things and is neuer content 44. g a Prince ought to haue many Spies and one not to know the other 160. f the Prudence of king Francis the first in the battaile against the Swissers at Marignan 158. e Proude men are hardly appeased by humilitie 98. e R ROger the second king of Sicilie taken prisoner by the Emperour Henry the fift at Palermo with his three sisters and had his eyes and stones pluckt out and dyed in prison 54. f more Reckoning is made of one pleasure to come than of a hundred alreadie receiued 29. d a publike Rumor is not to be contemned because it seemeth that what is in euery mans mouth is to be held for a diuine oracle 58. f Rome abandoned by the Romanes for feare of the Gaules 104. h Robert K. of Sicilie taken prisoner and afterwards deliuered by his brother Roger. 180. f S SPies may doe harme by their reports to Princes 160. e a Scoffe vsed by an Agent for Charles the fift 200. g certaine Spanish Captaines conuict of treason and made to passe the Pikes 168. f to Speake to no purpose is hurtfull 165. d the Subtiltie of Gonsaluo Fernandes the great Captaine 161. c Spyes ought not by a Prince to be aduaunced to honours and publike charges 160. g the Swissers were deceiued by the French in passing the Alpes 155. c Subiects ought not to be put in dispaire by maintaining of Gouernours 132. e Silenonte was taken by the Carthagenians for that it was not in time relieued by the Siracusans 119. c Sundrie opinions whether a man ought to containe himselfe within the bonds of his Commission 35. c a Small matter breaketh friendship but much is required to restore it 25. d Scipio Nasica odious to the Romane people 15. d a Spirit appeared to Iaques a Chirurgion in the likenes of Ferdinand king of Naples 12. g Spirits are of two kindes 12. h a Spirit appeared to Saul in the likenes of Samuel 13. a Spirits appeare in diuers formes 13. b to what kind of men they appeare eadem a Subiect ought to dissemble his discontentment when he is reiected by his Prince 203. e T TErentius Varro defeated by the Carthagenians 151. c Things which may be or not be and depend on the will of Fortune ought not constantly to be affirmed before they be perfourmed 149. d Tygranes king of Armenia put to flight by Lucullus a Captaine of the Romanes 122. g They which doe wrong and shew crueltie to the dead are worthie of eternall shame and dishonour 113. b To knowe what may breede feare in an enemie is the beginning of good successe 111. c Themistocles poysoned himselfe 85. d There are fiue things which induce a man which hath been disloyall to his first friend to be faithfull to the second 42. g V VIrginio Vrsin sent his sonne to serue the French 8. h that Vertue is knowne in time of trouble which in peace is not esteemed 49. a Vital Michael Prince of Venice in disgrace with the people 55. b Valentine cunningly entrapped by Gonsaluo Fernandes sent into Spaine prisoner and there kept in the Castle at Medina del Campo 81. d that is a perfect Victorie which assureth a man in his estate and deliuereth him from the feare of his enemies 109. a an imperfect Victorie is the seede roote and originall of another warre 109. c Victorie is oftentimes the cause of vices 109. d the Venetians would not suffer Bernard Contarini to kill the Duke of Milan 133. c the Villanie of certaine Spanish Captaines who by treason would haue caused the Aluain a Captaine of the Venetians to haue been slaine 154. h that Vertue is known in time of trouble which in peace is not esteemed 149. a W WIlliam the first king of Sicilie would neuer beleeue that Maion a fauorite of his would haue slaine him 59. b William king of Sicilie caused a certaine Iudge to be fleyed because he did not execute Iustice in his charge 134. f the Wittie speech of Marius and Fabius Maximus 219. b the Wise answer of the Poet Philippides to king Lysimachus 228. h X XEnophon giueth his Souldiers to vnderstand that hee had not robbed thē of their pay 217. d Z ZOphir by fraude put the Citie of Babilon into the hands of king Darius 144. h FINIS
consideration this place of our author where hee telleth of the appearing of the Spirit of Ferdinand to his Chirurgion whose words are these Guiâ—â—iaâ— lib. 1 The report also is if it be lawfull altogether not to contemne such things that the Spirit of Ferdinand did three seuerall nights appeare to Iames A 〈…〉 Iaques a 〈…〉 of Ferdinand King 〈…〉 the chiefe Chirurgion of the Court and that first with fayre words and afterwards with many threatnings he charged him to say vnto Alphonse from him that hee should not thinke or account himselfe able to withstand the King of France for that it was predestinated that his race being tyred with infinit troubles and accidents and being deprined of so excellent a kingdome should at last be extinct c. Vpon which words I haue deemed and thought it fit to discouer and know whether these apparitions be true and reall or phantastick imaginations whereof there is so good testimonie as well in holie Scripture as prophane writers so as it might seeme rashnes and heresie 〈…〉 to affirme the contrarie Secondly it is said that Spirits are of two sorts to wit good and euill and that both the one and the other appeare the good are sent from God and the wicked by Gods permission are forced by Magicke and vnlawfull arts to appeare and shew themselues and sometimes shew themselues voluntarilie as that which tempted our Sauiour Iesus Christ in the desart The good Spirits which are sent from God are for the good and benefit of man but those which are constrained through Magicke are for the most part Ambassadours and messengers of euill Thirdly I say that they appeare either in bodies taken and borrowed or in dreames to him that sleepeth which is common aswell to the good as the wicked as the Angell of Tobie who tooke a humane bodie A Spirit appeared to Saul in the likenes of Samuel and that of Saul also who by the meanes of the Enchantresse tooke the likenes of Samuel for it seemeth that wicked Spirits haue this propertie to shew themselues in such forme as they desire which see them wherefore he appeared in the shape and likenes of Samuel to Saul who desired to see and speake to Samuel for the Scripture saith that he knew him by his garment and by his face Moreouer they appeare in diuers shapes Spirits appeare in â—â—â—ers formes and most commonly monstrous fearefull and hideous as may well be gathered out of sundry histories Plutarch saith that the euill Genius or Daemon of Dion of Syracusa appeared vnto him in the likenesse of a woman clothed in blacke sweeping the house the which did so much amaze him lying alone that he was much afraid The Genius or Daemon of Brutus appeared to him in the forme of a horrible humane bodie at his Tent or Pauillion doore as Appian Alexandrin and Plutarch doe both witnesse And to the Emperour Iulianus Apostata a Spirit appeared in the likenesse of a leane pale-faced man holding a horne of abundance in his hand couered with a black cloath They appeare also in dreames to those which sleepe which is of the good To what kind of men they appeare as wee reade of the spirit of Ferdinand which appeared to his Chirurgion Some are of opinion that they appeare to good and religious men and to couragious wicked men and to such as certainly beleeue that there are such The wicked Genius appeare vnto holy and good men as wee reade of many Saints they appeare to valiant wicked men as is said of Dion of Brutus and Iulianus Apostata the one of which shewed himselfe an ouer-hardie and audacious freer of his countrie the other was ingratefull and betrayed Caesar the third renounced Christ They doe likewise shew themselues to them who beleeue that there are such for the Spirit which appeared to Brutus did not appeare to Cassius who did not beleeue that there were any such for he was an Epicurian and for that cause when Brutus told him what he had seene hee fell into a great laughter and said it was but a melancholy humour Fourthly some say that they neuer prognosticate but euill which they doe either by voyce by signes or by doubtfull speeches by the voyce which is vnderstood they foretell the euill to come as that which represented Samuel who told Saul that his armie should be ouerthrowne and put to flight prognosticating to him his own death and the death of his sonnes and all that which happened vnto him in the Mount Gilboa They foreshew euill to come by signes as that which appeared to Dion in the shape of an vgly woman which went vp and down the house with a beesome for a little after this vision Dion was slaine through a conspiracie and a sonne of his which was then well growne in a melancholike humour cast himselfe from the top of the house 〈…〉 and was slaine and Areta his wife and sonne which was borne to him in prison Aristomacha his sister and Ipparin his nephew were drowned in the sea by Iretas sometimes a friend to Dion And so the diuell foreshewed vnto him that death should sweepe his house that is to say should extinguish his whole race And by another contrarie signe hee foreshewed vnto the Emperour Iulianus his death when hee appeared vnto him with a heauie countenance couered with blacke which is the token of death They prognosticate also by doubtfull speeches without resolution as it did to Brutus when his Daemon said vnto him I will see thee againe in the plaines at Philippos And sometimes by expresse and plaine words as the Spirit of Ferdinand to his Chirurgion who told him expressely of the losse of that kingdome and that his great linage and race should be extinct This discourse shall suffice for this place which I accounted worthie to be considered of CHAP. 6. That it is a dangerous matter to iest and scoffe with men which are of valour and as some say which haue their blood in their nayles THE small consideration which is sometimes held in conuersing with men maketh some persons to fall into errors which they perceiue not vntill they are committed and they beare the losse and dishonour thereof Of which number there are some which make profession of laughing iesting and scoffing with others nothing perceiuing when they doe it that they are held for fooles for their labour or else incurre certaine danger which maketh them afterwards repent that euer they vsed such iesting Iests ought not to passe but betweene equall persons or such as are neere equals or sometimes betweene the greater and his inferiour or betweene the inferiour and the greater When a iest passeth betweene persons of equall qualitie and seemeth rather a greeting then a nipping or dog-biting it is tolerable there is no danger therein as that of Lewes Sforce with Peter de Medicis Peter excusing himselfe for that hee did not meete Lewes to doe him honour vpon the way Guicciar
enemie is to no purpose and therefore it auaileth more to deale sharply and roughly with them then to thinke to ouercome them by humanitie and signes of good will CHAP. 25. The suspitions increased and made greater by the euill speeches and reports of men in authoritie is the occasion that men oftentimes become cruell SVspition being an opinion of euill which entreth into our mindes and corrupteth the good which a man possesseth or thinketh to possesse when this suspition is accompanied with probable and apparant coniectures or maintained through the report of some personage of credit and authoritie it may then haue such force in mans hart as to make him become inraged inhumane and cruell When such suspition is entred into Princes and great Lords which hold estates feare to lose the same it is easie to make them to feele it and encrease and augment their suspition chiefly when they are stirred and that the flea according to the common saying is put in their eare by persons to be beleeued which alleage reasons with some apparance or likelihood of truth I wil not produce many examples which might be infinit but this onely shall serue for a memorable example written by Guicciardin of Iohn Bentiuogli Lord of Bologna who hauing to his aduantage by meanes of the King of France ended his busines with Duke Valentine and being assured that he should not be molested by him any more he began againe to entertaine and to continue the suspition which he bare in himselfe against the house of the Mariscotti which was enemie vnto him and this suspition being augmented by the rapport whether true or fained of Duke Valentine who told him in secret yet with a malitious heart that he was inuited by the house of the Mariscotti to approch draw neere to Bologna which was the occasion that Bentiuogli who held the Duke to be a man of credit and authoritie giuing credit vnto his words entred into so great iealousie suspition that being become very eager and cruell to deliuer himselfe of this feare knowing the house of the Mariscotti to be rich mightie and well followed determined to rid himselfe of this corrosiue by the death of all the Mariscotti whether they were culpable or innocent And making his son Hermes the instrument of his cruell determination Iohn Bentiuogli Hern◠〈…〉 he brought it so to passe that many of the most honorable houses of Bologna did with him embrue their hands in the blood of almost all the Mariscotti which were in Bologna This was done by these young men to the end that those honorable houses which had serued his turne in the execution of so great a crueltie in fauour of Bentiuogli becomming enemies of this noble house of Mariscotti should euer desire the conseruation of him and his estate and with all their power helpe to support the same And although Duke Valentines purpose was to make Bentiuogli odious in that citie he should not haue done it by such meanes as might bring his friends in daunger for that he ought to haue considered that a Prince to maintaine his estate is to doe any thing and to attempt any hazardous enterprise to deliuer himselfe from his enemies and emulators When a man seeth another man to haue a great suspition of another he ought not further to inflame him by ill reports because that the suspitious to the end to be deliuered of this hart-burning regardeth not whether the report be true or false but vsing all meanes to assure himselfe will attempt any thing be it neuer so hard vniust dangerous or infamous CHAP. 26. A man ought not neither in iest or by any other meanes to put a Prince in iealousie of his estate for that it is a matter full of danger FOrasmuch as Princes concerning their estates A comparison betweene a louer and a Prince are like louers towards their Mistresses and as for iealousie they are equal and march with like pace for as a man may easily lodge iealousie in the heart of a louer euen so may a man with great facilitie put a doubt and suspition into the heart of a Prince by reason of his estate And as he which reuealing to a louer something which may be preiudiciall to his loue maketh him vigilant and watchfull carefully to take heede to euery thing that passeth euen so those which put their Prince in doubt and suspition of a conspiracie insurrection or depriuing him of his estate or such like put him in most extreame great trouble of minde make him make sudden and extraordinarie preparations oftentimes to take offensiue resolutions But as a louer being certified that all that which was told him of his beloued was fained a lie he iustly turneth all his wrath indignation against those which gaue him this hammer of suspition euen so a Prince seeing in the end that that which was told him of the danger of his estate was false and forged is with iust cause displeased with him who put him to this trouble and punisheth him accordingly In the yeere 1566. Alexander Bon a gentleman of Venice through a vaine plot and enterprise put the whole Common-wealth of Venice in doubt and suspition of a reuolution of their estate but he mist to effect with his honour that which he pretended This man hauing once deceiued the Senate in case of reuealing of secrets of importance and thereby got money and the practise succeeding well he practised the second time to doe the like for hee was a man of great expence and wanting meanes sufficient to maintaine that greatnes which he desired with rigour A Captaine through boldnes and diligence oftentimes obtaineth that which by mildnes he should neuer attaine vnto he obtained of them what he would Whereby a man may perceiue that sometimes that is obtained by boldnes of spirit and constant resolution which by ordinarie meanes would neuer be graunted for that whilest that he who is sued vnto deliberateth there may growe some let and hinderance and likewise in consulting and considering of the matter he may resolue with himselfe not to graunt what is demaunded and by this meanes warres and troubles arise which breake off the desseignes But when a man sheweth himselfe bolde and audacious and giueth him that is sued vnto no leasure to studie and deliberate on the thing demaunded the suddennesse of the matter presenteth before him the present danger in deferring or denying to yeeld to that which is required and so a man shewing himselfe hardie and bolde commeth to obtaine that which he desireth The Earle of Foix serued his turne in this manner who being at Bologna was aduertised of the rebellion of Bresse and marching forwards to make a conquest of that towne he resolued to take the next and shortest passage through the Seignorie of Mantoua and so hauing vpon a sudden taken this way at the very instant he sent word to the Marques that he would passe through his Countrey
1539. with many wounds was murthered and she desiring that her sonne which she had by him who was then but a little childe should one day reuenge the death of his farther she kept his fathers bloodie and gorie shirt in her chest euen as it was taken from his backe when hee was slaine which she often shewed to her sonne to the end to imprint in his minde by that obiect the outrage done to his father In in processe of time it happened that either at the intreatie of her parents and friends or the perswasion of some religious persons she yeelded to a peace and pardoned the murtherer of her husband and with so great a generositie of heart she forgaue him and ratified the peace promised that to shew the sincertie of her heart and that of an enemie she was become an honest Christian friend she put out of sight the obiect which might put her in minde of the offence committed and taking the bloodie shirt of her slaine husband she sent it to him who slew him letting him to vnderstand that hee might liue securely for she not onely pardoned him but had also put from before her eyes the obiect which might alter her minde and make her to remember the iniurie past In like manner the noble and magnanimous act of Maximilian the first Emperour is worthie of eternall memorie and to bee registred in the immortall writings of the most excellent authors who being resolued to hold for his friend Lewes the 12. King of France A noble acte of the Emperour Maxunâ—â—an from the house of the which Kings of France the Empire had receiued many iniuries he not onely thanked the King for helping him by his meanes to recouer his townes in Frioli which the Venetians held but forgetting all the wrongs receiued of the kingdome of France and to shew that he was become a true friend and had no obiect before his eyes which might call to memorie offences past he caused a booke to be burnt which was kept at Spire wherein were written all the iniuries which in time past the Kings of France had done to the Empire an act truly of great goodnes and worthie of the magnanimitie of the house of Austrich CHAP. 39. A man ought not to giue credit to an error which he seeth his enemie to commit but rather to thinke that he doth it to some speciall purpose and that vnder the same there lieth hidden some ambush or deepe deceite A Wise Captaine or Generall of an Armie ought neuer to giue credit to an error which hee seeth his enemie to commit especially when the errour is apparantly foule grosse for therein euer lieth some secret and hidden deceit which may happen in sundrie manners first in shewing a great and audacious rashnesse and temeritie vsing to aduenture so far forwards that it should seeme impossible that the enemie should be so vnaduised to commit a fault of so great importance except to some purpose as for example when the enemie commeth to call thee at the very foote of thy walles and to prouoke thee to fight boldly presenteth himselfe euen into thy campe that all men may maruell thereat or by some grosse fayned shew in disguised and counterfeite apparell making shew to doe something enforcing themselues thereby to draw thee out of thy Campe. Such manner of the enemies proceeding ought to make thee beware for such drifts are not without some cause and especiall set purpose to deceiue thee 〈…〉 Amongst the examples of the Romanes we haue one of Fuluius Lieutenant of the Romane armie when he remained alone to guard the Campe in the warre against the Tuscanes for the Consull being gone to Rome to doe certaine ceremonies the Tuscanes then thinking to drawe the Romanes in the absence of the Consull out of their Campe and to make them fall into an ambush laide there hard by they sent certaine Souldiers apparrelled like Shepheards with a good number of beasts and made them goe within sight of the Romane Armie comming almost to the trenches of the Campe. The Lieutenant meruailed much at this their boldnes and deuising with himselfe what this presumption might meane and considering well that it had some foundation he found out the meanes to discouer the fraude and so this deuise of the Tuscanes serued to no purpose A man ought also to knowe this error when the rashnes of a few with a great brauado prouoketh the enemie to fight being encamped in a strong and sure ground and when men sallie forth to fight with them they begin to file and make such retrait that the incamped desiring to ouercome may follow without thinking of any ambush and fall therein without perceiuing their error vntill such time as they be surprised wherefore they ought to beware of such manifest errors and to beleeue that thereunder lyeth some hidden deceit And to the end to trust to a most euident error committed by the enemie we haue an example in the Lombards sometime called Gaules These Lombards hauing ouercome the Romanes at the riuer of Allia now called Caminate tooke their way towards Rome and finding the gates all open 〈…〉 and seeing none to guarde the same and fearing some Ambush and deceit for they thought it impossible that the Romanes should commit so grosse a fault as to leaue their Cittie open without defence but for some purpose wherefore they held themselues all that day and all the night following without entring neuer thinking that in the hearts of the Romanes had been harboured so great cowardise and so little iudgement that they should haue abandoned their Citie and Countrey We haue another example of error Culcciardin which happened in the time of our auncesters in the yeare 1508. when the Florentines made warre against the Pisans In this warre was taken prisoner Alfonso de Mutolo a citizen of Pisa but a man of base condition who was taken by Canaicio de prato an olde Souldier of the Florentines which kept this Alfonso and made him great cheere and vsed him very honourably This man being by the Pisans induced to doe some exployte offered to giue vnto the Florentines one of the ports of Pisa prouided that they should set him at libertie whereupon he was deliuered and being come to Pisa he entertained the Florentines with this hope to be possessed of a port of Pisa wherein their armie might enter and the matter was carried so openly that comming to consult and parle with the Commissioners and principall men of the Florentine Campe The ouerthrow of the Florentines before Pisa through the policie of Mutolo a Pisan Captaine Mutolo brought with him certaine young men of Pisa to keepe him companie and although he left them a part when he went to speake with those which were sent by the chiefe Commaudners of the Florentine Armie it is not to be said but that the aforesaide Florentines might haue perceiued that affaires of so great importance are not handled in
as no reckoning was made thereof but of one man onely which was Iohn de Cardine Earle of Colisan who was slaine with a shot in the head which was in the yeere 1522. But before that Pope Eugenius being then liuing who was created in the yeere 1431. Boulogna being reuolted and rebelling against the Church through the occasion of Canedoli the armies of the Pope the Venetians and the Florentines being confederates enforced themselues to get and recouer it againe Nicholas de Tolentin was Captaine of the League and Picinino was chiefe of the enemies they came to giue battaile in the countrie of Imote Tolentin was put to flight and there taken prisoner with fiue principall Colonels and 3500. men at armes Sabellicus and a thousand souldiers besides the dead and in the armie of Picinino died but foure and thirtie were wounded yet neuerthelesse Artillerie and small shot were then vsed although not with such perfection as now we see The hardines of the Swissers at Nouarra was admirable but the battailes and victories repeated were no lesse memorable in which may be seene that the wisedome and discretion of the Captains hath had great part yet neuerthelesse through the valour of the souldiers accompanied with the good counsell and direction of the Captaines happy victories are to be hoped for CHAP. 65. Speeches vsed without consideration haue been the occasion of much euill as well to them which vsed them as to others IN consideration in all things is euill To speake to no purpose is hurtfull but worse in speaking and to babble and prate is a vice blame-worthie in all men but most pernicious and hurtfull to those which haue publike charge and as to speake in time and place is a part of wisedome euen so to speake to no purpose is a principal part of follie I haue euer esteemed more of them which first consider with reason and speake afterward and therefore the Shepheard of Archadia said wisely E pria chio parli le parole mastico Which is to say And before I speake I chew my words This vice besides the blame which it deserueth bringeth with it much danger and oftentimes one only word hath caused the death of him which spake it or hath brought into danger and trouble some other person who by a fit conuenient silence had auoyded it I speake not now of words proceeding frō a passionate man and in choler but of those which through want of wit and iudgement are vttered of persons of whom it had been good to haue beene silent and principally when they manage affaires of importance When as Dionysius was Lord in Siracusa there were certaine young men which went to his Barbers shop to wash or to discourse as the manner is in such shops whither idle persons resort to talke and to heare newes and these young men beginning to talke freely of the gouernment of the Tyrant and to say that it was impossible to bee able to change their Lord because that hee euer had a good guard and that his gouernment might be rightly called Diamantin being impossible to bee broken whereto his Barber without consideration said Wherefore is it impossible to kill him seeing that I euery day haue this Rasour at his throte These words were noted and by his espials reported to Dionysius who made this Barber to be apprehended and quartered This inconsidered word vttered without reason was cause of his death and did aduise Dionysius to trust himselfe no more in the hands of a Barber for he made his daughters to burne the haire of his head and beard with coales because he would haue no more iron come about his head The same Dionysius put a gentleman his very familiar to death for a word by him foolishly spoken who being in companie with certaine gentlemen his friends said Wot you what I dreamed to night that I had cut Dionysius his throte These words were reported to the Tyrant who notwithstanding the great familiaritie betweene them made him to dye saying If he had not first thought it in the day time he had neuer dreamed thereof at night But a man may say that these were common persons which are not worthie to bee alleaged for example therefore I will shew that there haue beene also men of great authoritie which haue fallen into this inconsideration Demaratus which should haue succeeded in the kingdome of the Lacedemonians was depriued of that kingdome by Ariston his father for one onely word vttered without consideration in the Senate which was that newes being brought vnto him that he had a sonne borne he counted vpon his fingers how long his wife had been with him and seeing that there were no more but seuen moneths and that vsually women are deliuered at nine hee said It is not possible that hee should be my sonne This word turned to the great dammage of Demaratus for after the death of Ariston his father the Lacedemonians refused to giue him the kingdome Herodot lib. 6 because the Ephores bare record that Ariston had said that it was not possible that Demaratus borne at seuen moneths end should be his sonne which he confirmed with an oth When Pope Iulius the second attempted to deliuer Italie from the Oltramontani hee sent an Italian Ambassadour to the King of England to perswade him to take armes in his behalfe against the King of France and the Ambassadour hauing deliuered all that he had in charge to say answere was giuen him in the behalfe of the King that he was most readie and willing to defend the Pope but that an Armie was not so soone to be made readie for that the English by reason of their long peace had in a manner lost the vse of armes and becausethey were to goe against a King who was no lesse mightie and puissant then warlike as was the King of France there ought to be a time to make necessarie prouision for a warre of so great importance The Ambassadour presently to no purpose or reason added these words Anchio hodetto piu volte questo medesimo a sua sanctita which is to say And I haue oftentimes said the same to his holines These words which shewed the will of the Ambassadour to be different from that of his Prince The Ambassadour of Pope Iulius was taken for a Spie by the King of England gaue great doubt and suspition to the Kings Counsell and they began to doubt that the Ambassadour was rather inclined to fauour the King of France then the Pope his Master and setting secret Spies about him to take notice of his behauiour it was perceiued that by night hee spake secretly with the French Ambassadour by which meanes he was vndone and if he had fallen into the hands of the Pope he had peraduenture put him to death And so by his answere which was not to the purpose of his charge he wronged himselfe and was the occasion that the King of England was constrained to begin the warre
iust cause and euer shall be blamed Those which after that they haue obtained the fauour to returne being neuerthelesse in doubt of their Princes word promise and require assurance and securitie do anger him giue him iust cause of offence for he which requireth security of his Princes faith sheweth that he esteemeth him for wicked and for a man which vseth treason rather then pardon for which cause if the Prince be offended and reiect him he is no way to be blamed For all cannot be like vnto Alexander the great who being entreated by Proteus to receiue him againe into grace and fauour hee granted it him and afterwards being by him prayed to giue him assurance that this his grace should bee maintained and continued vnto him wherewith Alexander was nothing discontented The answere of Alexander to Protens who required securitie but pleasantly answered him that the best assurance that he could giue him was to bestow fiue talents vpon him to the end that he might be the better able to maintaine himselfe neere about him But when as a Prince cannot bee so perfect and complete with all vertues as to heape grace vpon grace but should be displeased to be dealt withall as a man of little faith and not to be trusted vpon his word he were not to be blamed but the subiect should deserue to be sharply reproued who should doubt of his Princes faith who was not bound by any desert of a Rebell to pardon him but receiued him into fauour of his owne meere goodnes and clemencie And it is to bee beleeued that a Prince would not staine his renowne and honour so farre as to bring a man vpon his word and faith to ruine and destruction The effect of all this matter consisteth in the subiect that he beware that by new disorders and offences he prouoke not his Princes wrath against him but considering the cause why he was out so to liue that Iustice take no occasion to lay hold on him and punish him both for old new for he which continueth in offending ought to be punished not onely for those faults which he presently committeth but also for those whereof he hath been alreadie pardoned The subiect then which is againe receiued into grace doth ill to liue in feare and suspition and to slye his Princes presence but ought to honour him to present himselfe before him and so farre forth as conueniently hee may to shew all signes of good will and thankfulnes for in this manner he shal giue his Prince cause to respect him and to make much of him as did Cosmo de Medicis the great Duke of Tuscane an enemie of his after the victorie of Mount Murle for the Duke hauing pardoned him and knowing him to be a man of authoritie great grauitie made him his friend making him to eate and drinke with him and cherished him according as his old age the nobilitie of his house his linnage and the degree and dignitie which he held required and continuing my discourse and example of the same Prince The liberalitie of Cosmo de Medicis Duke of Florence this hath bin seene in him towards his enemies taken at the battaile of Chiana that hauing pardoned their faults and saued preserued them from the paines of death whereto they were neere and condemned knowing their vertues yet he loued them gaue them maintenance and vsed their seruice in honourable places When then a subiect hath recouered his Princes grace and fauor let him enforce himselfe to keep it and let him not enter into an humour to require securitie neither to doubt of his Princes faith for if he doe he shall liue infortunatly and giue his Prince occasion to looke to his manner of liuing and to distrust him as an enemie which is not well reconciled and as for him he shall incurre the danger of an euill end CHAP. 81. How that man ought to behaue himselfe to whom is denyed the grace which is desired of his Prince IT often happeneth vnto subiects to intreat fauours at their Princes hands which happeneth both to inferiours and superiours and sometimes it also happeneth that a man obtaineth not that which he desireth either because the Prince cannot or because he knoweth the man vncapeable and needlesse of such a grace or that for diuers other respects he will not graunt that which is required A subiect ought to dissemble his discontentment when he is reiected by his Prince In this case it is better to dissemble the displeasure which a man feeleth through this deniall and to seeme contented with the Princes pleasure than to appeare discontented whereby the Prince might doubt that you would remember it another day whereby some hurt might arise vnto you and the Prince might resolue with himselfe neuer after to doe you any pleasure whereas to the contrarie when a man being denyed sheweth himselfe contented with any occasion be it neuer so small that the Prince shall alleage for a deniall and to hold him excused and himselfe satisfied it will be an occasion that the Prince will not be offended with him nor haue any distrust of him but as occasion shall be offered will recompence him in lieu of the grace and fauour denied or refused He then which sheweth himselfe discontented may doe himselfe much wrong and he which doth dissemble it may much preuaile thereby wherefore Guicciardin in his aduertisements saith That for hauing dissembled the discontentment which he conceiued against some with whom he was displeased at length grew to be profitable vnto him for afterwards they became his friends and did him many fauours which they would neuer haue done if they had first perceiued his ill will and discontentment But this dissimulation ought not to be such that it may seeme hatefull for ill will is easilie perceiued notwithstanding that the dissembler vse gracious speeches He also which desireth a fauour ought not to be ouer curious and importune to knowe at large the occasion wherefore he is denied for which a man sometimes may receiue such an answere as shall little please him but that the sutors importunacie draweth it from the Prince his mouth as Cosmo de Medicis the great Duke of Tuscane who caused the receiuer of his tenths to be hanged for his demeanour in his charge Wherefore another Citizen whom for the honour of his house I will not name intreated the great Duke to giue him that office to whom he answered that he could not nor ought not to bestowe it vpon him and the Citizen being earnest to know wherefore he would not giue it him the Duke answered The great loue which I beare thee and the good which I wish vnto thee permit not that I giue it thee But quoth the Citizen if you loued me and would me any good you would giue it me Wherefore the Duke knowing him to be a dishonest man said I will not giue it to thee because I will not haue thee to be hanged
of the Duke of Florence when hee gaue him to vnderstand of the Rebellion and reuolt of Siena 2. f a Daungerous tumult happened in Florence 236. g the subtill Discourse of Demetrius Phalerius to King Ptolomie 210. f Dionysius the Tyrant made his Barber to be slaine 166. g Donat Raffignin by treason yeeldeth the fortresse of Valence to the French 18. e Demaratus lost the kingdome of the Lacedemonians for speaking one word vnaduisedly 166. h the Demaunds of Charles the eight King of France 32. h Dionysius put a gentleman to death for speaking of a word 166. g It is dishonorable for a man to abandon his friend in time of need for any occasion whatsoeuer 79. c Duke Valentine caused Ranire de Orco a Spaniard his Lieutenant to be slaine in Romania for doing iniustice 135. b In chusing of Generals for the warres the qualitie of the warre and the worthines of the person which is to be chosen is chiefly to be regarded 50. f E ENterprises ought to be considered in cold blood and executed in hot blood 190. e the Emperour Maximilian distrusted the Swissers 52. g the Emperour Vitellius was ouerthrowne by Vespasian the Emperour 141. d the error of Alberigue of Barbian 194. f the errour of Ferdinand King of Spaine 194. g the error of Francis the first King of France 194. h there is double errour committed in chusing of Captaines 46. g the Egyptians punished those children which were ingratefull to their parents 250. e Empoli taken by the Prince of Orange 206. g of an Enemie what account is to bee made 183. c. d F FInizan sacked by the French 4. e Francis Sforce of his owne authority concluded a peace between the Venetians and Duke Phillip of Milan 37. a Francis Sforce maketh warre against Phillip his father in law 39. e the Fault of Lewes Poggio in departing from Milan 41. a Fabius Maximus opposed himselfe against Titus Ottacilius who maried his sisters daughter and would haue been Consul 49. c Fuluius a wise Captaine of the Romanes 104. a the Florentines by distrusting the King of France and the Lord Beaumont his Generall lost a most fit oportunitie to recouer the Citie of Pisa 72. f Ferdinand and Don Iulius conspire against Alfonse Duke of Ferrara 88. e Francis Guicciardin deliuered the Citie of Florence from great danger 130. e the Florentines murmured against Guicciardin 130. g Federick of Sicilie caused Remond il Blanco to be beheaded for treason 171. d the Follie and obstinacie of Cambyses 213. c the French ouerthrowne by the Swissers 151. c wherefore Francis the first would not performe the articles of agreement made betweene him and Charles the fift 181. b Francis Sforce Duke of Milan renounced the safeconduct of the Emperor Charles the fift 218. f Foure things principally to bee held inuiolable 222. g the Florentines were seuerely punished for breaking certaine statues 114. e G GArsia Nicosio slaine by his Lord vpon suspition 229. c God reuealeth sinne early or late and the punishment followeth 170. e the Greedines of souldiers and Captaines hath been the losse of many faire enterprises 19. b Gabades a Captaine of the Persians sacked the Citie of Amide 220. h the Greedines of English souldiers 19. d the Greedines of Italian souldiers 21. c the Greedines of the Stradiots 21. d Galeas Sanseuerin fled from Alexandria and left it in pray to the enemie 47. d the Greatnes of courage of the Romane Common-wealth 93. b the Germanes were defeated by the Guelphes before Siena 121. d in chusing of Generals for the warres the qualitie of the warre and the worthines of the person which is to be chosen is chiefly to be regarded 50. g the Gabaonites punished for abusing a stranger 246. e a Gentlewoman of Cesena much praised 102. g H HAnnibal preserued by a gentleman of Capua 246. g Hanniball compelled the Saguntines to depart their countrey with the cloathes on their backes onely 182. e Harpagus tooke pitie of Cyrus being an innocent infant 74. c Harpagus Generall for Astyages reuolted from him ouercame and slew him 75. a Henry the 5. Emperour made warre in Sicilie against King Roger. 54. e He that is employed ought to haue an eye to his Princes qualities and conditions 36. e the Hopes of banished men are more measured with desire then with reason 86. h Hippolito de Medicis much fauoured of the Hungars 240. g Herod made a promise to his daughter in law without any consideration 179. d Hierom Sauonarola lost his credit in Florence 28. e Hippolita Cardinall of Ferrara made the eyes of Iulius de Esté to be pluckt out and set in againe 87. d Hospitalitie is a vertue worthie of a gentleman a Christian 244. e Hugo de Moncado slaine in a battaile by Sea against Phillippin de Doria 191. a I IT is notable folly to giue much credit to iudiciall Astrologie 57. c It is not possible to foresee or preuent al the mishaps disgraces which may happen to Princes neither to resist or redresse them when they happen 51. f It is follie to commit the state of an Empire to the will of a few 154. e Iohn Bentiuogli and Hermes his sonne in one night murthered almost all those which were of the house of Marescotti or depending thereof through suspition 64. g Iaques Caldor noted of inconstancie 233. a Imbault Generall of the French armie mocked the Florentines 72. g Iohn Rata Earle of Caserta put his Lord Manfredi King of Sicilie in extreame danger 78. e the Insolence of the Spanish souldiers 132. g the Imeresians seaze vpon Reggio 141. c Ioy cannot be hidden 99. c the Issue and end of an enterprise manifesteth the wisedom of the counsell giuen 178. e be which doth an Iniurie doth more shame and dishonour to himselfe then to him to whom the wrong is done 73. c to deface an Image or statue is a poore reuenge 113. a Inconstancie and lightnes of wit is greatly to be reproued principally in a Captaine 233. b L LAwes ordained by Valerius Coruinus and Tiberius Gracchus 221. b Laurence de Medicis reconciled to Alfonse King of Naples 6. h Let not him which is not of power sufficient attēpt enterprises which he cannot maintaine 11. b Lewes More out of countenance and mocked by the Florentine Ambassadours 24. h the Law of Appeal introduced by Sauonarola 27. c the Lord of Tremouille with absolute power concluded a peace with the Swissers notwithstanding that it was vpon very vnworthie conditions 34. g Light beleefe in euery thing sheweth a light wit and weak braines 53. b it is Lost labour to goe about to perswade obstinate persons by reason for the more they are counselled the more stifly they persist in their opinion 60. g Lautrech through his obstinacie was the cause of the totall ruine of the French Army before Naples and was the occasion of his owne death 61. a Liuius Salinator exposed the Romane Armie to manifest danger 27. a the