received Mony held them not with standing 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 recessary and that the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 neutial and by divers 〈◊〉 did 〈◊〉 them to that 〈◊〉 but not 〈◊〉 any resolute An 〈◊〉 he though 〈◊〉 with those sew 〈◊〉 he had to take his Journey to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 on the Venetians 〈◊〉 him they would remain 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the French King forthwith sent 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as searing the Popes 〈◊〉 likewise the Tuscans having for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 aid of the Samnites against the Romens took Arms suddenly and 〈◊〉 their request which the Samnites 〈◊〉 before denied When a Multitude 〈◊〉 all may not be 〈◊〉 because they are too many To punish part and leave the rest 〈◊〉 were Injury to the Suflerers and to those that escape an Encouragement to offend again therefore to eshew 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 wero 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 ossence 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 〈◊〉 the Dictator punisht the General of the Horse in the Roman Army for having sought without his 〈◊〉 adthough he had in battle slain 20000 Enemies without loss of 200 of his own and Caesar commended his Captain 〈◊〉 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 privy-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 Loerians 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 〈◊〉 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 〈◊〉 that it moved a dangerous sedition wherein he was disposed and with his Mother and Friends put to death which Example haply moved the 〈◊〉 not to attempt any thing against the Authority of Augustino Barberino their Duke but after his death and 〈◊〉 the Election of 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 new Ordinances 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Ducal Authority Whoso 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 sound means thereby to prevent Charles Duke of Lorrain of the Crown being right Heir by descent from Charlemain And albeit the Families of the Paleologi Ebrami and Turcan be of the blood Royal and Right 〈◊〉 to the 〈◊〉 Empire when the 〈◊〉 Line shall fail yet it is like that 〈◊〉 chief Bassa having the love of the 〈◊〉 will usurp the State because the Paleologi and other Competitors be far from the Turks person poor and without means to purchase the Soldiers favor A Commander General in Arms ought upon pain of great punishment be enjoyned not to imploy or
The Qualities required in a Chieftain 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 suffieient 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 sight 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 Temerit as 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 〈◊〉 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 sacilis 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 sit for the War to small or no purpose shall they serve unles they be 〈◊〉 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 〈◊〉 of great Force Occasio in bello solet amplius juvare quam virtus Veget. As Occasions presented are means of good Success so Fame worketh 〈◊〉 Effects in the Wars therefore it 〈◊〉 a Captain to be Constant and not 〈◊〉 to believe the vain Rumors and Report of Men Male imperatur cum regit vulgus 〈◊〉 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 persidiam mutantur Tac. Temerity in War is also dangerous sor wise Captains were wont not to Enterprise any thing without Deliberation and good Opportunity unless they were thereunto by Necessity inforced In rebus asperis tenui spe fortissima quaque consilia tulissima 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 benignit as 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 chiesly by observing of time Quia si in occasionis momento cujus 〈◊〉 opportunit as cunct at us 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 〈◊〉 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 thine Clausis ex desperatione crescit audacia cum spei nihil est sumit arma fermido Veget. Lastly I would advise that the General should be wary in his Actions and in every Enterprise to frustrate the Soldiers from Spoils and Pillage Saepe obstitit vincentibus pravum inter ipsos certamen 〈◊〉 hoste spolia consectanda Tac. Of direct Councils let that we have said suffice
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 〈◊〉 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 slatter 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 diseretion There is no course more comely nor any resolution so well beseeming a wise Man having made prcos 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 〈◊〉 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 〈◊〉 than our own immoderate 〈◊〉 It hath been ever a course observed by wise Princes but much more by Arislocracies and Popular States against Force and Fury of the Multitude to desend 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 sidelity 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 Crast 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 is great when danger is little or far off but Perils growing great and near their Courage quaileth as they whose Passions have no Rule or Measure It is strange to see how apt Men are to doubt displeasure threatned by Enemies chiefly when they draw near for the People do naturally over-much fear Dangers at hand and esteem less than is fit of things present Also to make small account of those that are far from them
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 〈◊〉 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 desaced 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 courtcously 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 War 's 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 dispossess 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 〈◊〉 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 〈◊〉 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 〈◊〉 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 Apollonides a chief Captain of Syracusa laid before them That so long Delay would make them hated both of Romans and Carthaginians Likewise the Florentines 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 pacem 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 Forcresses 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 Bologm built there a strong Castle the Governor thereof robbed the People and they there with grieved in a short Time took the Castle from him So after the Revolt of Genoa Lewis the Twelsth 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 sorced 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 be 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 unieth is Fear War Example The 〈◊〉 and Elinsci having Intelligence of great Contention between the Nobility and People of Rome thought that a sit Opportunity to oppress the one and the other But the Romans informed of such an Intention appeased all Do mestick 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 〈◊〉 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 resrain 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 〈◊〉 Gabides as thereupon he resolved to continue the Siege and within 〈◊〉 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 suimem riam 〈◊〉 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 〈◊〉 turn to Advantage and Honour of him that accepts them Example 〈◊〉 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