same Passions with former Ages consequently of these doings the same effects ensue Example The Almains and French have ever been noted for their Avarice Pride Fury and Infidelity and so in divers Ages experience hath proved even to this present For perfidious Dealing the French have given sufficient proof not only in ancient times but also in the time of Charles VIII who promised to render to the Florentines the Forts of Pisa but having divers times received Mony held them notwithstanding in possession The Florentines found the like in the Almains for in the Wars of the Visconti Dukes of Milan they prayed aid of the Emperor who promised them great Forces in consideration whereof he was to receive of the Florentines one hundred thousand Crowns in Hand and as much more when his Army was arrived in Italy both which Payments were performed but as soon as the Emperor came to Verona he devised Cavillations of Unkindness whereupon he returned home A Prince desirous to obtain any thing of another must if occasion so permit urge his Demand so earnestly and press for so sudden and present Answer as he who is prest may not have leisure to consider how to excuse himself in denial Example Pope Julio endeavoured to drive out of Bologna all the Bentivoli in which Action he thought the aid of the French necessary and that the Venetians should stand neutral and by divers Messengers did sollicite them to that Effect but not receiving any resolute Answer he thought fit with those few Forces he had to take his Journey to Bologna whereupon the Venetians advertised him they would remain neutral and the French King forthwith sent him Forces as fearing the Popes Indignation likewise the Tuscans having formerly desired aid of the Samnites against the Romans took Arms suddenly and obtained their request which the Samnites had before denied When a Multitude offendeth all may not be punish'd because they are too many To punish part and leave the rest unpunish'd were Injury to the Sufferers and to those that escape an Encouragement to offend again therefore to eschew all extremity mean Courses have been anciently used Example When all the Wives of the Romans conspired to Poyson their Husbands a convenient number of them were punisht and the rest suffered to pass Likewise at the conspiracy of the Bacchanals in the time of the Macedonian War wherein many thousands Men and Women had part every tenth person only was put to death by lot although the offence were general by which manner of punishing he that suffered complain'd on his fortune and he that escaped was put in fear that offending again the same punishment might light upon himself and therefore would no more offend A Battel or great action in Arms ought not to be enterprised without special Commission or Command from the Prince otherwise the General incurs great danger Example Papyrius the Dictator punisht the General of the Horse in the Roman Army for having fought without his consent although he had in battle slain 20000 Enemies without loss of 200 of his own and Caesar commended his Captain Silanus for having refrain'd to fight though with great advantage he might Also count Egmont hazarded the favor of the King his Master for giving battel to Marshall de Thermes albeit he were victorious for upon the success of that action the loss or safety of all the Low Countries depended To govern without Council is not only dangerous in Aristocracies and Popular States but unto independent Princes an occasion of utter ruin Example Hieron the first King of Sicily in all his proceedings used the advice of Counsels and lived fifty years prosperously in Peace but his grand-child succeeding refusing all Counsel lost his Kingdom and was with all his Kinsfolk and Friends cruelly slain In all Monarchies the Senate or privv-Council is or ought to be composed of persons of great dignity or Men of approved wisdom and understanding Example In Polonia no Man is Counsellor unless he be a Palatine a Bishop a Castellan a Captain or such a one as hath been Ambassador and in Turky the title of Counsellor is not given but only to the four Bassaes. The two Cadelesquires the twelve Beglerbegs and Kings Son who in his Fathers absence is as it were a President of the Divano or Senate Many Princes Ancient and Modern have used to select out of their Council two or three or four at most to whom only they did impart their affairs Example The Emperor Augustus had Maecenas and Agrippa Julius Caesar Q. Paedius and Cor. Balbus whom he only trusted with his Cipher and secrets being Counsellors of the Cabinet as we now call them The alteration of old Laws or introduction of new are in all States very dangerous notwithstanding any appearance of profit or publick utility which moved wise Governours to decree that ancient Laws once established might never be called in question Example The Athenians decreed that no Law should be propounded to the People without the consent of the Senate the like use is observed in Venice where no Petition is preferred to the Senate but by advice of the Sages and among the Locrians the Custom was that whosoever presented any new Law to be confirmed should come with a Halter about his Neck and be therewith hanged if his request were rejected also Lycurgus to prevent the alteration of his Laws did swear the People of Sparta to observe them untilhis return and thereupon retired himself into voluntary exile with intent never to return When necessity or good reason moves Innovation or Abolition of Laws a course more secure it is to do it rather by degrees than suddenly Example The Romans finding the Laws of the twelve Tables unprofitable suffered them to be observed or neglected at discretion but would not publickly suppress them for fear of calling other Laws into contempt so did they continue 700 years and were then cassed by Ebutius the Tribune But Agis King of Lacedemon desirous to revive the Laws of Lycurgus long discontinued enforced all Men to bring in their evidence and writings to be cancelled to the end a new partition of Lands and Goods might be made which suddain and violent proceeding proved so fatal that it moved a dangerous sedition wherein he was disposed and with his Mother and Friends put to death which Example haply moved the Venetians not to attempt any thing against the Authority of Augustino Barberino their Duke but after his death and before the Election of Lovedono the Signiory publisht new Ordinances detractive from the Ducal Authority Whose hath won to himself so great Love and Affection as thereby to become master of the forces and at his pleasure commands the Subjects apt for Arms may also without right or title assure himself of the whole Estate Example Hugh Capat a Subject to the Crown of France being greatly honoured by the Soldiers found means thereby to prevent Charles Duke of Lorrain of the Crown being right Heir by descent
Prince sometimes by his own Presence sometimes by his Deputation to perform that Office but however occasion shall require it ever behoveth that one only Commander ought to be for Plurality of Chieftains doth rarely or never work any good Effect yet with this Caution that he be of Experience and Wise In bellica praefectura major aspectus habendus peritiae quam virtutis aut morum Arist. The Qualities required in a Chiestain are these Skill Vertue Providence Authority and Fortune By Skill we mean he should be of great Knowledge and long Experience or to make a sufficient Captain the Information of others or his own reading is not enough Qui norit quis ordo agminis quae cura exploandi quantus urgendo trahendove bello modus Cic. Military Vertue is a certain Vigor or Force both of Body and Mind to exercise Soldiers as well in fained War as to fight with the Enemy and summarily a Captain ought to be Laboriosus in negotio fortis in periculo industrius in agendo celeris in conficiendo Cic. Next to Vertue we placed Providence as necessary in great Captains for being of such Wisdom they will not hazard nor commit more to Fortune than necessity shall inforce yet true it is Fools and vulgar Folks that commend or discommend Actions according to Success were wont to say Cunctatio servilis statim exequi Regium est But advised and provident Captains do think Temeritas praeterquam quod stulta est etiam infelix Livi. Albeit Providence be the best mean of good Speed yet some Captains of that Quality and in Skill excelling have been in their Actions unlucky when others of less Sufficiency have marvellously prevailed we may therefore reasonably say with Cic. Quod olim Maximo Marcello Scipioni Mario ceteris magnis Imperatoribus non solum propter virtutem sed etiam propter fortunam soepius imperia mandata atque exercitus esse commissos Cic. Lastly We wished Authority to be in Chieftains for it greatly importeth what Opinion or Conceit the Enemy hath of such a Governor and likewise how much his Friends and Confederates do esteem him but the chief and only means to maintain Authority is Austerity and Terror Dux Authoritatem maximam severitate sumat omnes culpas militares legibus vindicet nulli errantium credatur ignoscere Veget. Also Experience hath proved that such Chieftains as were affable and kind to their Soldiers were much loved yet did they incur a Contempt but on the other side those that commanded severely and terribly although they gained no good Will yet were they ever obeyed Dux facitis inutilis App. CHAP. XXIII Of Councils in War and Directions Tactick and Stratagematick with Advice how to make an honorable Peace AFter Men found and framed fit for the War to small or no purpose shall they serve unless they be imployed by Wisdom or good Council Mon minus est Imperatoris consilio quam vi persicere Tac. Council in War is of two sorts direct Council and indirect the first sheweth a plain and orderly course for proceeding as to lay hold on occasion for as in all other Humane Actions occasion is of great Force Occasio in bello solet amplius juvare quam virtus Veget. As Occasions presented are means of good Success so Fame worketh great Effects in the Wars therefore it behoveth a Captain to be Constant and not apt to believe the vain Rumors and Reports of Men Male imperatur cum regit vulgus duces suos Sen. Confidence is also to be eschewed for no Man is sooner surprised than he who feareth least also Contempt of the Enemy hath been occasion of great Discomfitures therefore as a Captain ought not to fear so should he not contemn his Enemy Nimia fiducia semper obnoxia AEmyl As Security and overmuch Estimation of our own Vertue or Valor is hurtful so doth it import every good Captain to be well informed not only of his own Forces but also of what Strength the Enemy is likewise it behoveth him to know the Situation of the Country and the Quality of the People with every other Circumstance Moreover the Generals Honor and Capacity ought to be known with the Condition and Nature of the Enemy Impetus acres cunctatione languescunt aut in perfidiam mutantur Tac. Temerity in War is also dangerous for wise Captains were wont not to Enterprise any thing without Deliberation and good Opportunity unless they were thereunto by Necessity inforced In rehus asperis tenui spe fortissima quaque consilia tutissima sunt Livi. Some wise Men not Superstitiously but Discreetly do think prodigious Signs from Heaven or on Earth are not to be neglected neither are Dreams in time of War to be contemned Nam amat benignitas numinis seu quod merentur homines seu quod tangitur eorum affectione his quoque rationibus prodere quae impendent AEmi A wise Captain will also wait Opportunities and spy out fit times when the Enemy is wearied or pretending fear draw him into danger which Advantages with many other are gained chiefly by observing of time Quia si in occasionis momento cujus praetervolat opportunitas cunctatus paulum fueris nequicquam mox omissam querare Livi. Next the Observation of Time the Place is to be well considered whether it be for thine Advantage or thine Enemies Amplius prodest locus saepe quam virtus Veget. Thirdly It importeth much that Men be well ordered trained and prepared for the Fight for the want of Art is cause of many Disadvantages and many times a small Supply of choice Soldiers on Horse-back or Foot doth seem to the Enemy very Terrible likewise a sudden Shout or Conceit hath amazed a whole Army Milites vanis inanibus magis quam justis formidinis causis moventur Curt. Fourthly It were to good purpose that in ordering of Men for Fight Soldiers of one Country or Nations should be ranged together and above all to foresee that the least loss of Blood be among the Natural Subjects and so handle the Matter that the chief Slaughter light upon Strangers and Mercenaries Ingens victoriae decus citra domesticum sanguinem bellanti Tac. The Generals own Courage and lively Disposition to Fight will greatly animate the Multitude of Soldiers as a contrary Countenance or Appearance of Fear will exceedingly Amaze and Daunt Necesse estad fugam parati sint qui ducem suum sentiunt desperare Veget. It were also for thy great Advantage that the Forces should be ordered for the Fight before the Enemy be prepared First For that thou maist the better perform what thou thinkest fit to be done Secondly That thereby thine own Forces will thereof receive great Courage being readiest to assail the Enemy and to begin the Fight Plus animi est inferenti periculum quam propulsanti Livi. After Victory it is not the best Policy to execute the Enemies with extream Cruelty but proceed Moderately for it shall suffice the Victory is
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
ought so much to be regarded as Vertue for young Men having made trial of their Valour soon become aged and thereby either unapt or unable to serve Therefore well-governed Commonwealths preferred Military Vertue before any other respect Example Valerius Corvinus with others made Consul the three and twentieth Year of his Age and Pompey triumphed in his Youth No wise or well-advised Prince or other State will undertake without excessive Forces to invade the Dominions of any other Prince unless he assure himself of some Friends there to be a Mean and as it were a Gate to prepare his Passage Example The Romans by Aid of the Saguntines entred Spain the AEtoli called them into Greece the Hediai into France Likewise the Palaeologi incited the Turk to come into Thrace and Ludovicus Sforza occasioned Charles the French King to come into Italy A Republick desirous to extend the Bounds thereof must endeavour to be fully furnish'd with Inhabitants which may be done both by Love and Force Love is gained by suffering Strangers to inhabit the City securely and Force compels People to come thither when other Cities and Towns near at hand be demolished or defaced And impossible it is without this Order of proceeding to enlarge any City or make the same of greater Power Example The Romans to enlarge their City demolished Alba and many other Towns and therewith also entertained all Strangers courteously So as Rome grew to such greatness that the City only could arm six hundred and forty thousand Men but Sparta or Athens could never exceed twenty thousand for that Lycurgus had inhibited the access of Strangers A Commonwealth that consumes more Treasure in the War than it profits in Victory seems to have rather hindred than honoured or inriched the State A wise Captain therefore in his Actions ought as well to profit the Republick as to gain to himself Glory Example The Consuls of Rome did seldom desire Triumph unless they returned from the War loaden with Gold Silver and other rich Spoils fit to be delivered into the Common Treasury All Foreign Wars with Princes or other States taken in hand be either for Ambition or Desire of Glory or else for Necessity Example The Romans for their Ambition conquered many Nations with intent only to have the Obedience of the People yet did they suffer them to hold Possession of their Houses and sometimes they were permitted to live only with their old Laws Likewise Alexander the Great endeavoured to suppress many Princes for his Glory but did not disposses the People nor kill them Otherwise it is where a whole Nation inforced by Famine or Fury of War abandon their own Dwellings and are forced to inhabit elswhere Example The Goths and other People of the North invaded the Roman Empire and many other Provinces whereof their Alteration of Names did ensue as Illyria now called Slavonia England formerly named Britain A common Conceit and Saying it is That Mony makes the War strong and is the Force and Sinews thereof as though he who hath most Treasure be also most mighty but Experience hath apparently shewed the contrary Example After the Death of Alexander King of Macedon a multitude of Gauls went into Greece and being there arrived sent certain Ambassadors to the King who supposing to make them afraid of his Power shewed them his Treasure which wrought a contrary effect for the Gauls before desirous of Peace resolved then to continue the War in hope to win that mighty mass of Mony Likewise Darius should have vanquished Alexander and the Greeks might have conquered the Romans if the richer Prince might ever by his Mony have prevailed Every League made with a Prince or Republick remote is weak and rather aideth us with Fame than Effect and consequently deceiveth all those that in such amity repose Confidence Example The Florentines being assaulted by the King of Naples and the Pope prayed Aid of the French King who being far distant could not in Time Succour them And the Cedicini desiring Aid of the Capuani against the Samnites a People of no Force were deceived A Prince whose People is well arm'd and train'd shall do better to attend his Enemy at Home than by Invasion to assault his Country But such Princes whose Subjects are disarmed had need to hold the Enemy aloof Example The Romans and in this Age the Swisses being well armed may attend the War at Home but the Carthaginians and Italians being not so well furnished did ever use to seek the Enemy The Plurality of Commanders in equal Authority is for the most part occasion of slow Proceeding in the War Example There was at one Time in Rome created four Tribuni Militares with Authority of Consuls viz. T. Quintus after his Consulship Cajus Furius M. Posthumus and A. Cornelius Cassius amongst whom arose so much Diversity and Contrariety of Opinion as nothing could be done till their Authority ceased and M. AEmylius made Dictator A Victory obtained by any great Captain with the Authority of his Prince's Commission Counsel and Directions ought ever to be imputed rather to the Wisdom of the Prince than the Valour of the Captain Which made the Emperors of Rome to permit no Captains how great soever his Victories were to Triumph as before that time the Consuls had done and even in those Days a modest Refusal of Triumph was commended Example M. Fulvius having gained a great Victory against the Tuscans was both by the Consent of the Senate and People of Rome admitted to Triumph but the Refusal of that Honour proved his great Glory All they that from private Estate have aspired to Principality either by Force or Fraud be come thereunto unless the same be given or by Inheritance descended Yet it is rarely seen that Force alone prevaileth but Fraud without Force oft-times sufficeth Example Agathocles by such means became Prince of Syracusa John Galeazzo by abusing his Uncle Barnabas gained the Dominion of Lombardy and Cyrus circumvented Cyaxares his Mothers Brother and by that Craft aspired to Greatness Sudden Resolutions are always dangerous and no less Peril ensueth of slow and doubtful Delays Example When Hieron Prince of Syracuse died the War even then being in great Heat between the Romans and Carthaginians they of Syracusa consulted whether it were better to follow the Fortune of Rome or Carthage In which Doubt they continued until Apollondies a chief Captain of Syracusa laid before them That so long Delay would make them hated both of Romans and Carthaginians Likewise the Flcrentines being by Lewis the Twelfth required to give his Army Passage towards Naples mused so long upon an Answer that he became their Enemy and they forced to recover his Favour full dearly To govern a State is nothing else but to take such Order as the Subjects may not or ought not to offend which may be done either by removing from them all means to disobey or by affording them so great Favours as reasonably they ought not to
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
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