man hath to deale with the dead there is lesse daunger and yet a man purchaseth the name and report of wicked malicious and enuious and to malice the glorie of the dead who by his vertues deserued to haue a statue erected vnto him as was done to Bartholmew Coleon erected at Venice in the place of S. Iohn Pol for they which enuied his glorie would whisperingly say that hee was but a pedler and had not deserued such honour and they put into the hand of his statue a beesome a sacke vpon his shoulder and a basket vpon his head which are signes of a pedler But this was a base iniurie and a reueuge of the viler sort of some base common people the valour of Bartholmew of Bergamo as a warriour and Chieftaine of great happines and reputation deserued that the Senate of Venice as wisely reknowledging the deserts of those which haue done them seruice should haue made him a statue on horsebacke with an helme vpon his head and the trouncheon of a Generall in his hand as marks and ensignes of his worth and vertues CHAP. 44. A Prince or Common-wealth which hath to deale with a mightie and well armed enemie ought not to refuse any reasonable and honest composition and agreement by reason of the doubtfull and incertaine hope to preuaile WOrldly hopes are so deceitfull that whosoeuer doth too much depend of them shall commit an error and be euer deceiued and for this cause euery man who vpon hope of a better bargaine shall reiect a good one offered the euent and expectation seldome answering the conceiued hope and the first occasion being lost he wil at length repent the refusing of the first offer and for an incertaine good to haue forsaken a certaine And because men doe oftentimes deceiue themselues herein I shall not doe amisse to corroborate this which I haue spoken with two examples by the which a man may know how ill they are aduised and what error they commit which leaue and refuse a good offer vpon hope to haue a better And if there bee daunger in all things to be gouerned by such hope it is yet most dangerous in the warres when a man hath to deale with mightie enemies with whom it were farre better to come to an honest and good agreement then hoping in vaine to haue a better and not contenting as it were to winne but would ouerwin The example drawne out of the ancients is that of the citie of Tyre which stood in the water as Venice doth now Plutarch in the life of Alexander Alexander the great hauing conquered the East the Tyrians seeing his greatnes sent him Ambassadours to offer him their seruice and to yeeld him such obedience as it should please him yet vpon this condition that they would receiue neither himselfe neither any of his people into their citie Alexander being displeased that one such towne should shut the ports against him whom all the East had receiued reiecting both the Ambassadours and the conditions offered he resolued to send thither his Armie The Citie of Tyre as I haue said was built in the water well walled and furnished with all things for the defence thereof in such sort that Alexander hauing besieged it the space of foure moneths knew well that to stay there was but to diminish his glorie and to lose time whereas in the meane time by the conquest of many other countries he might encrease the same and for this cause he concluded to accept of the conditions offered him before and to graunt to them that which they demanded and so beganne to parle of an agreement But the Tyrians swolne with pride and fierce by reason of the resistance which they had made would not so much as accept of any agreement or composition but they slue those which came to parle with them thereof Wherewith Alexander beeing much moued with such furie and obstinacie he assaulted the Towne that taking it perforce Alexander the great destroyed the citie of Tyre he razed it to the ground and slue the one halfe of all the inhabitants and the other halfe he made slaues And then the Tyrians to their whole subuersion and vtter ruine of their Countrey knew that it had been better for them to haue accepted of the conditions which they themselues had offered then vainely perswading themselues to ouercome Alexander and to haue obtained better which was to make the enemie to giue ouer his enterprise and with shame and dishonour to raise his siege which had redounded to their glorie The other example is taken out of the histories of Guicciardin in an action of the Florentine Common-wealth which was that in the yeere 1512. an armie of Spaniards came into the Seignorie of Florence for three causes to wit to alter the Gouernement to re-establish the de Medicis in Florence and to draw some money from their Common-wealth The altering and chaunging of the Gouernement consisted in taking away the authoritie of Magistracie from Peter Soderini who was Gonfalonier for terme of his life The returne of the de Medicis was to be on condition that they should liue as priuate Citizens and the summe of money which the Spaniards required was not such but that the Florentines might very easily haue paid it The Spaniards had not that fauour which was promised them by many Citizens who had offered themselues to take armes in their behalfe so soone as it should come to their knowledge that they were arriued in that Seignorie Wherefore victuals and other necessarie prouisions beginning to faile they assayed to come to some composition and there beeing no more question of changing of the State which was granted and of the returne of the de Medicis in like manner but all the matter rested in paying a certaine summe of money which exceeded not 30000. Ducats and that out of the towne of Prato before which the Spanish Armie then lay victuals should be giuen vntill that the articles of agreement were ratified But the Florentines moued with a vaine hope of preuailing without accepting of any of these conditions delaied their resolution and finally would not accept of this agreement the three points being reduced into one which was of the payment of the money Wherefore the Spaniards constrained through necessitie and despite spoyled the towne of Prato most miserably Prato sacked by the Spaniards and put the whole estate of Florence to great paine and trouble He then committeth a great fault which is assailed by a mightie enemie and accepteth not of the reasonable conditions which are offered him in hope to preuaile without them The Citie of Tyre ought to haue been contented when Alexander yeelded to graunt vnto them the conditions which they themselues before had demaunded and to haue made so great a Warriour to consent to their wils It ought also to haue sufficed the Florentines when so many conditions propounded by the Spaniards were reduced into one and it was a sufficient Conquest that the
Spanish Armie did yeeld to any of their demands without the performance of all that which they had required But the ambition of the Gonfalonier the deceitfull hope of the people and the desire of glory in him which gouerned put the State in great hazard So shall it euer come to those which grounded vpon the vanitie of their conceits loue better foolishly to follow the deceitfull hope of better fortune then to embrace and wisely accept of good and reasonable offers for a good composition can neuer be so base but that it is some honour to him which accepteth thereof and a man ought by so much the more to consider of this point by how much more the enemie with whom he is to deale is mightie and puissant CHAP. 45. Jt is a great fault when confederats are slow in helping one another in time of daunger and the losse and dammage that riseth thereof WHen a Prince or Common-wealth desireth league or confederacy to offend or defend this groweth not but through the consideration of his owne forces for an estate which would offend or defend it selfe from the force and violence of another and knoweth that their owne forces are not sufficient to resist or offend hath recourse to the ayde or succours neere or farre off according as it best fitteth his purpose though the succours which a man requireth from farre off be for the most part and to say the truth in a manner alwaies vnprofitable and hurtfull ☞ for a towne which cannot defend it selfe by their owne forces and desireth succours from farre off resembleth a man which falleth sicke of some dangerous disease in some village farre from the Citie in such sort that hee must send to the Citie for the Phisition through the farre distance whereof either the sicke man dyeth or the comming of the Phisition serueth to no purpose for that the disease hath taken so great hold on him that it is growne incurable and so when the aide and succour is farre off of force the Citie so assailed must fall into the enemies hands A man may see an example in Sagunt the which being besieged by the Carthaginians attended succours from Rome and Sienna being besieged by the Emperours armie hoped of succours from France in the yeere 1554. And finally the Isle of Cypres being assailed in the yeere 1570. by the Turkes forces had hope of succours though farre off from the Lords of Venice The leagues and confederacies are then much better which are made with neighbours neere at hand and those which may be easily called and may easily helpe But those which are bound in a league and required to giue succour and neuerthelesse deferre the giuing thereof or are cold in sending put their friends in daunger purchase blame to themselues and the name and report to be cold friends and little friendly and by this coldnesse they marre all the busines which might haue brought honour and profit to all for those which demaunde ayde are hot in their attempts and if they which are called be cold mixing this with that it maketh a luke-warmenes which is nothing worth and this is the reason why leagues for the most part come to no good effect And for this cause when two or three or more haue power to ioyne themselues together a man ought not then to be slowe in assembling and vniting his forces and to send them speedely where neede requireth because oftentimes they come too late The Carthagenians had a desire to sease and make themselues Masters of Sicilia and besiege Selinonte and the Selinontins which saw that their forces were not sufficient to endure a long siege neither to resist two or three hot assaults demaunded succours of the Siracusians their friends and allies which willingly promised them ayde but they were very flowe in the perfourmance for if the Siracusians had sent succours when the Silenontines demaunded the same Silenonte had neuer been taken and if it had been taken Silenonte was taken by the Carthagonians for that it was not in time relieued by the Siracusians the Silenontines had had no occasion to haue complained of their confederates and the Siracusians had not purchased the euill report which they did For notwithstanding that the Siracusians knewe that the Silenontines were besieged yet neuerthelesse they foreflowed the relieuing of them and notwithstanding that they were often solicited thereunto by the Ambassadours of Silenonte yet they went slowlie to worke in sending the ayde which at last was sent but the long stay gaue oportunitie to the Carthagenians so to force Silenonte that they tooke it by assault and sacked it and the Siracusians which were vpon the way being aduertised of the taking of it returned with repentance to haue too long deferred the sending of reliefe Lewes the 12. King of France fell into the like error being confederate with the King of Nauarre The King of Castile being enemie to King Lewes of France would haue passed into France with his Armie but the King of Nauarre for that he would not fayle his friend and allie denied and stopt his passage in such sort that the King of Nauarre procured to himselfe the warre and being vnable to resist the Spanish King had recourse to the ayde of France But King Lewes thinking that the King of Nauarre had been able for a time to haue defended himselfe from the forces of the Spaniard slacked to send him succours and this delay was the cause why the King of Nauarre was ouercome and forced to flie and abandon his Kingdome A man might produce many other examples of latter time but these may suffice for the present I will onely say that the Leagues are of this nature that they are hot in the beginning and cold in the end and he which demaundeth being hot and he which is required cold of force there must follow as I haue said before a lukewarmenes which marreth all in the one heat diminishing to see succours failing him and in the other cold encreasing to see how great difference there is betweene thinking and doing CHAP. 46. VVhen succours sent to a friend or confederate are insufficient to put him out of daunger and trouble through being too weake they bring daunger of losse and dishonour THere is no doubt but that he which demaundeth succours of a Prince or Common-wealth sheweth weakenes of strength because that he which is assaulted or which would assaile another knowing that he hath not forces fit thereto which may be sufficient either for the one or the other hath recourse to the ayde of his friend to the end that being vnited with others he may be able to doe that which of himselfe he could not doe alone But when the Prince requested whether by vertue of confederacie or alliance or by any other bond of friendship resolueth to send the succours demaunded he ought to send such as his friend or confederate may serue his turne therewith for that otherwise hee which receiueth
factions and made ciuill warre it came to passe that one of these parties called to their aide the Imeresiens which then were very mightie who comming thither were receiued into Reggio and after that the Imeresiens had chased away the contrarie partie enemie to that which called them thither they likewise chased away their friends and made themselues Lords and Masters of the Citie of Reggio And as for the euill which happeneth through two Generals of equall authoritie in one armie The Imeresiens seaze vpon Reggio these three short examples shall beare witnesse the first is recited by Cornelius Tacitus in his 19. booke Fabius Valens and L. Cecinna were chiefe and Captaines for the Emperour Vitellius and so hated the one the other that but for the respect they had to the Emperours seruice they had ruinated the estate of Rome in fine the one being vnable to endure the other and Cecinna thinking himselfe in lesse reputation then the other with Vitellius vsed treason and departed from the pay and seruice of Vitellius The Emperour Vitellius was ouercome by Vespasian the Emperour Fazel in his 6. booke of the historie of Sicilie and Valens remaining alone being vnable to beare the burthen of the warre which Vespasian waged against him was ouercome and taken prisoner and Vitellius was depriued of his life and Empire Fazel alleageth another example in his sixt booke of the historie of Sicilie Leo and Procopius were chiefe Generals in Italie for Basilius the Emperour of Constantinople these in a battaile at sea against the Sarasins diuided their armie and fleete into two parts Leo led his part on the right hand and Procopius his part on the left Leo of his side ouercame the enemies and Procopius on his part was ouercome Leo notwithstanding that hee might haue done it yet would not helpe him whereby it happened that Procopius dyed and Leo remained alone and was forced to retire being vnable to resist the force of the enemies so as the affaires of the Empire prospered not so well as they might haue done had there not been malice and emulation betweene the two Generals The very same befell the Lords of Venice the Earle of Petiglian and Bartelmy Liuiano were Generals for the Venetians almost of equall power and authoritie Liuiano at the Ghiarra de Adda brauely assailed his enemies and began to make them runne and if that Petiglian had holpen him the victorie had remained to the Seigniorie of Venice Petiglian would not helpe him either for the malice which was betweene them or for the displeasure conceiued against him for that he had begun the battaile without aduertising him thereof whereof ensued the memorable losse and ouerthrow of the battaile of Ghiarra de Adda Let Princes and Common-wealths then be well aduised how they receiue forces and garrisons into their holds and townes for feare they shall not be able after the warres are ended to put them out and send them backe againe let them also take heede that they haue not seuerall Generals in their armie of equall power and authoritie betweene whom there may be debate and contention for preheminence and superioritie in the leading of the Armie or betweene whom may bee hatred and emulation because that from these two faults ensue the ruine and losse of honour of life and estate CHAP. 56. No man ought to giue credit to the words and promises of Fugitiues and runnawaies for whoso reposeth trust in them without being well assured of them committeth a great error WE haue said aboue that it is a great error to vndertake an enterprise through the perswasion of Rebels because that for the most part such enterprises haue not preuailed but haue been dammageable and preiudiciall to the authors thereof But I finde not that there is lesse danger and preiudice easilie to beleeue those which in deede are or for some plot and secret practise faine themselues to be fugitiues principally when the warre is open and to doe any thing at their perswasion may breed great inconuenience Wherefore I am of opinion that those Colonels and Captaines doe wisely which when any of these fugitiues of their owne accord come vnto them if they presently trust them not nor giue any charge of importance but opening theÌ„ their eyes marke well their actions and manner of their behauiour and seeming in words and outward signes that they trust them keepe them busied giuing them good hope vntill they being well certified and assured of their nature and qualities they may afterwards freely without any suspition commit to their charge any honourable enterprise That to trust to the promise of fugitiues is a great fault Crassus a Generall for the Romanes was ouerthrowne and slaine being betrayed by a Fugitiue and cause of most notable losse and dammage the Citie of Babylon can well testifie and Crassus Captaine for the Romanes The Citie was depriued of her libertie and almost ruinated and the other deceiued by a Fugitiue lost the Romane Armie and his life with all which came to passe in this manner The Citie of Babylon rebelled against Darius King of Persia the which to defend it selfe and to resist the forces of Darius and fearing a tedious and long siege made all necessarie prouision as well for munition and things appertaining to the warres to defend and offend as for victuals and to the end that victuals should not be consumed by idle and vnprofitable persons for the warres the Babylonians slue all their women reseruing onely one in euery house to giue order for those things which there are necessarie Darius being aduertised of the rebellion and reuolt of so noble rich and strong a towne hauing assembled a great and mightie armie and made prouision of all things necessarie thereto took his way towards Babylon and at length besieged it very strictly on euery side those of Babylon were nothing amazed to see so great an armie about their walles â—abilon strictly besieged and the siege thereof but in view of the enemies they daunced vpon their rampiers and gaue themselues to feasting and dancing and also vsed some iniurious speeches against the Persians without fearing or caring for the enemie or his forces the siege remained before the citie one whole yeere and seuen moneths continually and it was not possible to get it by force policie nor promise for all that serued to no purpose But a gentleman of Persia called Zophir perceiuing that all the Persians and the King himselfe were wearie of so long a siege attempted a most couragious and profitable enterprise for his King for hauing communicated his desseignes and the course which he meant to hold to the King he marred and mangled al his face with a knife and fled from the Kings Campe to the Citie of Babylon The Babylonians seeing him so ill handled receiued him friendly and thinking that without any malice or faining hee was fled to the towne they had many secret discourses with him whereby they were perswaded that
any thing vnaduisedly and against reason which ought to be obserued not onely in the warres but also in all other actions CHAP. 89. To despise backbite and slaunder any Man breedeth hatred against him which vseth it who seldome escapeth vnpunished I Said before that a man ought not through euill speeches to be drawne and prouoked to doe any thing contrarie to iudgement and reason and haue confirmed by examples all that I haue spoken I say now that to despise and by euill speaking to blame another man is a thing very dangerous for him that doth it and I vphold that they are wise and aduised which absteine as well from threatning as by words from iniuring or wronging the enemie for threatnings take away no forces neither doe iniurious speeches disarme any Man but both the one and the other may prouoke him and make him thinke more aduisedlie how and in what manner he may grieue thee and be reuenged so as a man may rightly say that they are so many weapons to strike thy selfe Wherefore as a wise Captaine ought not to be prouoked by the ill words and reproches comming from his enemies to doe any thing against reason so ought he to forbeare to speake ill himselfe and that his Souldiers iniure not the enemie abroade neither vse any outragious speeches among themselues within for that may prouoke the enemie and vrge him to seeke reuenge and this may also breed a confusion in an armie First we haue an example in Gabades a Captaine of the Persians who hauing long time lien at the siege of Amade and being wearie thereof determined to raise the Siege and began to send away his armie Wherefore the inhabitants of that Citie being puft vp with pride for the victorie came vpon the wals and Ramparts and spake much euill of the enemies forgetting nothing that might offend them calling them Cowards and villaines for which cause Gabades being very wroth returned to the siege which was so hard and streight and the inhabitants were so closely followed that he ouercame them by force sacked their Citie and in this manner taught them how to speake well The same happened to the Veientes when as they came euen to the very Ports Ramparts and Trenches of the Romanes they vsed many iniurious speeches wherewith the Souldiers being moued and much offended prayed and enforced the Consults and Commaunders to giue battaile and therein ouercame them and by this ouerthrow they caused the Veientes to beare the punishment of their licencious audacity Wise Captaines ought not to permit Souldiers to outrage one another in words among themselues reprouing and casting one another in the teeth with dishonest vituperable facts they which prouide not for this inconuenience put themselues in some danger Wherefore Valerius Coruinus Lawes ordained by Valerius Coruinus and Tiberius Gracchus and Tiberius Gracchus are greatly praised and esteemed the one for hauing imposed a grieuous penaltie vpon whosoeuer should reproach certaine seditious Souldiers with a mutinie happened at Padua the other for hauing forbidden vpon paine of death to reproach certaine slaues with seruitude which the Romanes had armed to fight against Hannibal in time of necessitie wherein they did very wisely for there is nothing that more grieueth and troubleth a mans minde than to be reproched with some shamefull matter and worthie of blame CHAP. 90. Princes ought to punish backbiters and slaunderers and in no case to endure them I Remember that I haue said elsewhere that to speake ill of Princes in publike is a very dangerous matter which a man ought not to doe seeing that Princes are to be respected as Fathers I say now that Princes ought to punish euill speakers either in word or writing and principallie those which make profession thereof who hauing a quicke spirite and good wit doe wrong to God and nature for the good gifts and graces receiued mispending that golde and treasure which is giuen them for which cause they deserue to be reproued not onely in words but punished in deede wherefore I doe honour and euer will doe those Princes which put from about their eares that kinde of people and which shall represse with taunts and checks the biting tongues of those ouer liberall and rash euill speakers There be many things which Princes with all their power ought to preserue and maintaine whole and intire Foure things principally to be held inuiotable but principally foure which represse euill speeches to wit the dignitie of degree the reputation the life the friends The Prince which doth not punish slaunderers and euill speakers hazardeth his reputation for so soone as men heare the Prince ill spoken of and see that he regardeth it not they beleeue that that which was written or spoken of him was true and in this manner he is ill thought of little respected and in the end contemned and contempt is the poyson and ruine of all estates for there can be no worse or viler thing than the contempt of a Prince by his Subiects he loseth his good name in suffering those which backbite and slaunder him either in word or writing for speeches and writings passing euery where abroad cause the Prince to lose the reputation which he had gotten with other Princes and forreine estates of continencie wisdome and iustice by hearing the euill tongued to publish euery where his incontinencie vanitie and iniustice and that he cannot or will not correct those which by slaunderous reports publish his vices and imperfections He putteth also his life in danger for to speake ill is to doe wrong or an iniurie and he which endureth one iniurie from a man emboldeneth him to doe him another which shall be greater and afterwards another yet greater so as hee which hath been so audacious as to iniure and wrong his Prince by words seeing that the iniurie is swallowed and endured will afterwards make no great difficultie to wrong and offend him by way of deedes and thence proceede conspiracies and practises against him reputing him for a weake Prince and of small courage He also loseth his friends whereof a Prince ought to make account for his friends seeing that he maketh no reckoning of the iniuries done to his person inferre thereof that he will care yet much lesse for those iniuries which shall be done vnto them and in this manner the loue and affection which they bare vnto him commeth to waxe colde and to be wholy extinct It is true that a Prince must consider when he taketh knowledge of euill speakers of what condition they are and punish them lightly or sharpely according as he shall finde their effect and inclination and giuing them neuerthelesse something for a remembrance A Prince ought to consider of the qualitie of euill speeches and if they be light foreheaded and foolish to vse them like fooles and hayrebrained but if they be malitious to punish them publikely for example to teach others thereby the better to rule their tongues Dionysius
Princes for it may possiblie be that they knowe that which others knowe not and it is better to seeme to regarde it than foolishly and proudelie to despise it For if Mendozza had well noted the aduertisements of Duke Cosmo hee might haue found remedie sufficient for the reuolt and to haue incountred with that which followed and though that hee could not haue letted the conspiracie yet hee might haue beene able to haue resisted the force thereof with the helpe of the succours neere at hand And finallie the vaine boasting of Mendozza was well knowne and that hee alone was not a man to resist so great an inconuenience as afterwards followed in the Citie of Siena and a man may see how great hurt hee did in that hee esteemed not the aduise of so wise a Prince and so well affected to the Emperours proceedings CHAP. 2. That it is very dangerous to be gouerned by the same example without the same reason and the same fortune CHarles the 8. King of France being come into Italie at the instance procurement of Lewes Duke of Milan for the conquest of Naples against those of ArragoÌ„ the French army grew to be so terrible in Italie that they were all afraid thereof and for that the French in their iourney towards Naples determined to passe through Tuscane particularly because of the Seignorie of Florence the King sought by all meanes to draw the Florentines to his friendship whereunto a great part of the citie as well of the nobilitie as of the Communaltie was very much inclined the better to be freed from the present danger But Peterde Medicis who then with great authoritie managed the affaires of the Florentine Common-wealth perseuering firme in the amitie of the house of Arragon would giue no eare to the Kings demaunds who requiring passage offered many faire conditions if it might be graunted and thereto added many threatnings if it were denied Peter de Medicis hereupon entertained the King with delaies alleaging that the could not giue any sudden answere for that the chiefe Burgesses and Citizens were at their farmes and possessions in the countrey so as hoping for aide and succour from the King of Naples and the Pope he resolued not to make any league with the King of France neither to giue him passage wherefore the French resolued to take it perforce And taking their way towards Pontromili Finizan sacked by the French they sacked Finizan and afterwards being in the way towards Serezana a place fortified by the Florentines but not sufficientlie to withstand so great forces they would march no further without taking the first towne that should oppose it selfe against them which was the occasion that they were in great feare at Florence began to speake liberally against Peter de Medicis blaming his obstinacie saying that forasmuch as hee would not yeeld to the aduice and counsell of those Citizens who counselled him well but followed the counsell of some proud hare-braind fellowes hee had exposed his country to the danger which they all saw present and had raised a warre of great importance so as he became hatefull to them all in generall In this meane season the French coÌ„tinued the siege before Serezana and Serezanell at the riuer of Magre they defeated Paul Orsin which came with certaine troupes of horse foot to haue relieued Serezana Which Peter de Medicis vnderstanding considering the discontentment of the citie within the danger of the war kindled abroad and seeing also that the succours of the Arragonnois and of the Church came not prickt forward with a sudden deliberatioÌ„ determined with himselfe to seeke that succour amongst his enemies which he could not find amongst his friends in following the example of Laurence de Medicis his father who by the like manner of proceeding with Ferdinand King of Naples purchased publike safetie to his countrie particular quiet to himselfe he thinking that it would happen vnto him with the King of France as it happened to his father with the King of Naples and so came to King Charles who receiued entertained him with better countenance thaÌ„ with good will he consigned vnto him Serezana Serezanell the fortresses of Pisa Liuorne and yeelded to the King all that he required Wherefore when he returned to Florence they could not abide the sight of him Peter de Medâ—cis chased from his counâ—â—â— finally draue him out of the citie From this doing of Peter de Medicis this aduice counsell may be drawn which Guicciardin wisely noteth which is this That it is a matter very dangerous to follow the exaÌ„ple of another if a man in general or particular haue not the same reason the same wit the same fortune TheÌ„ first I say that although that humane actions seeme to be so ioyned and coupled together that it seemeth that that which now is present hath been and that which hath been ought to be againe yet notwithstanding the accidents which follow are so different and diuers that no man whosoeuer hee be except very prudent can alwayes gouerne himselfe in matters present by the example of that which is past If Peter de Medicis had iustly balanced his reasons with those of Laurence his father he would not by so sudden a determination haue cast himselfe into his enemies armes Three things there ought to haue met and agreed in one to haue caused his proceeding to come to the like issue as his father Laurence his determination did to wit the reason the wisedome and the fortune which ought to haue been alike and the same Comparison betweene the manner of proceeding of Peter de Medicis with the King of France and of Laurence de Medicis with Alphonse king of Naples The reasons which caused Laurence to take that course were these First he knew that he had at once to deale with two very mightie enemies strangers the one of which was the Pope the other the King of Naples and knowing well that hee was not able to resist any one of them alone hee tooke this resolution For his enemies would haue neither truce nor peace nor league or confederacie with him but would absolutely put him from his estate and the one of them had alreadie sought to bereaue him of his life Secondly he considered that Florence was a free Citie and much accustomed to speake euill by reason whereof in publike meetings and assemblies abroad and in their particular houses at home they spake euill of him and he further knew well that his gouernment could not long continue seeing the Citizens and Burgesses did so much enuy and malice the glorie of his reputation Thirdly he well knew that their chamber of accounts and treasure of the estate was well wasted and little money remained so as he must haue publike ayd and particular mens money to defray the charge of the warre which could not long continue And fourthly hee considered that this warre began to be tedious and
kingdome of Naples Peter hauing resolued to continue constant in the friendship of Alphonse of Arragon King of Naples would neuer giue eare to the French King who desiring to enter into league with him and offered him many faire conditions to which league all the whole citie seemed to leane and to yeeld as inclined and well affected to the French nation For afterwards when the French armies began to haue the better in Italie and the name of the French to be terrible and the affaires of those of the house of Arragon to decline from ill to worse Peter repenting him of his resolute determination to asswage the wrath of Charles 〈…〉 Charles the S. King of 〈…〉 to Peeter de Medicis went to S. Peters to see and speak with him in person where being receiued by the King with better countenance then good will the King made vnreasonable demaunds which were that presently the Fortresses of Serezana and Serezanell which are the keyes of the Florentine Seignorie should be giuen into his hands with the Fortresses of Liuorne and of Pisa and that the Florentines by his meanes should lend him 200000. Ducats and vpon this condition hee would take them into his protection Peter yeelded to all these demands and taking vpon him more authoritie then he ought yeelded the Holds and Fortresses aboue said without out the counsel of the citizens without order from the Magistrates and without giuing the Common-wealth to vnderstand thereof Which being vnderstood at Florence did so moue the harts of the people against him that being returned to the Citie hee was verie vnwelcome Peter de Medicis chased from Florence and by the furie of the Citizens was driuen from the Pallace and out of the Citie and declared and proclaimed a Rebell If in any case it be a matter doubtful yea or very dangerous to passe the bounds of the authoritie receiued and as a man may say play the Prince whereas is no neede it is principally in charges and commaunds in the warres where euery fact done in this manner by a Generall is sufficient to put such iealousie in the hearts of his superiours and make his trust and faith so suspect to the Prince who gaue him such charge that he cannot be put from his gouernment without preiudice of his reputation and daunger of his life Paulo Vitellio a man most valorous and in his time one of the chiefe and most renowned Captaines in Italie being by the Florentines established and made Generall of their armie against the Pisans in that time wherein they were vnder the sauegard and protection of the Venetians for one onely fact wherein he vsurped more authoritie then belonged vnto him put the Florentines in such iealousie and suspition of him that taking all his doings in ill part in the end they bereued him of his life This man being at Casantin against the Venetian armie led by the Duke of Vrbin Bartelmy Liuiano Astor Baglioni and other honourable Captaines all which he did so valiantly resist that he did not onely stop the passage against them but also besieged them with their principall Captaines within Bibienna a Castle of the Casantin The Duke of Vrbin fell sicke in this siege who desired Vitellio to giue him a safeconduct to goe to take Phisicke and to cure himselfe and this Paul vsurping a little too much authoritie Guicciar lib. 4 without acquainting the Florentine Commissioners herewith who represented the state of the Common-wealth gaue safeconduct to the Duke and to Iulian de Medicis a rebell to the Seignorie Common-wealth which made him so suspected that they began to marke his behauiour and the manner of his proceedings for they mistrusted him to haue some secret intelligence with the enemie And for this cause when they afterwards sawe that without any occasion hee abandoned the Fortresse of Stampace which was taken by force and that being able to followe the victorie against the Pisans he tooke no care to pursue them but vsurping supreame power and authoritie hee raised the siege from before Pisa without the leaue or knowledge of the Florentine Commissioners they began to hold for certaine that which before they but doubted Paulo Vitellio condemned to dye by the Florentines in such sort that to rid themselues of this suspition and feare and to giue example to their other Leaders and Commanders of armies they put him to death by order of Iustice But except it were vpon some extreame accident or to auoide some manifest and present danger it were ill done for a man to attribute to himselfe more authoritie then he ought and to promise also that which is not in his power to performe as the Lord of Tremouille who being for Lewes the 12. King of France Generall of his armie against Henry the 8. King of England which made warre against the French King before Terouenne and Tournay The said Generall hauing vnderstood that an armie of 20000. Swissers had besieged Dijon the head Citie of Bourgundy thereby to constraine the French King to giue ouer his claime to the Dutchie of Milan and the said Lord of Tremouille seeing the great danger wherein the realme of France was The Lord of Tremouille with absolute power coucluded a peace with the Swissers notwithstanding that it was vpon very vnworthie conditions hee vsurped and attributed to himselfe more authoritie then to him appertained so as promising that which he could not performe neither had commission to promise he came to parley with the chiefe conductors of the Swissers and promised them that the King of France should surrender the right which he pretended to the state of Milan and to assure his promise he gaue thē 4. French gentlemen in ostage The Lord Generall took this resolution knowing that if the citie of Dijon were taken and lost and that if that nation should not giue ouer to vexe the French King being alreadie tired with warres the Swissers on the one side and the English on the other might without any let march to Paris gates Peter de Medicis might peraduenture haue the same consideration in making his treatie with the King of France who seeing his countrie in great daunger for that the King was in armes victorious displeased with the Florentine Common-wealth and neere vnto Florence but this warlike people easily to bee moued to despite and indignation iudging otherwise of his doings then hee deserued chased him out of the towne and proclaimed him Rebell So as in summe a man ought so moderately to vse the authoritie receiued and to carrie himselfe in such sort that he giue his Prince no cause to be iealous of him by taking vpon him as a Prince when as he is but an inferiour and a seruant it is farre better to shew that he respecteth his Prince by giuing him to vnderstand of all his purposes and enterprises than by vsurping equalitie seeme to make no account of him CHAP. 14. VVhether a publike seruant of a Prince or Common-wealth
are established in great authoritie breedeth many disorders which afterwards cannot be remedied OBstinacie is no other thing than a setled and firme purpose and determination to doe or not to doe some thing hee which is in this manner resolute is not to admit or receiue any counsell neither to consider any daunger but preferring his own rash opinioÌ„ before the sound aduertisements of wise and well aduised men to shew himselfe to be a man of little iudgement and of no experience in the affaires of the world Such men are the cause of many euils and commit so many disorders that afterwards following their owne ill fortunes and aduentures ouerthrow their enterprises and bring themselues and others also into extreame daunger and oftentimes cause extreame losse and ruine It is lost labour to gee about to perswade obstinate persons by reason for the more they are counselled the more they perâ—stâ—â— their opiâ—on It is but lost labour to attempt to perswade such persons by reason for that they imagining and presuming themselues to know more than all the world besides stop their eares to all good counsailes and their eyes to all daungers so as all goeth to wracke ANd as an egge by how much the longer it lieth in the fire by so much the harder it waxeth euen so a man who trusteth only to his owne braines by how much the more you counsell him by so much the more you make him obstinate Monsieur de Lautrech was Generall for the French King at the siege of Naples and of heart so hautie and obstinate that although hee manifestly saw before his face that the place wherein hee was incamped was neither fit nor holesome and that it daily waxed worse and worse yet would hee not depart from thence to chuse a better neither for the counsell of his Captaines neither for the discommoditie of the souldiers neither for the death which he saw daily before his eyes so that after the losse of a great number of souldiers which dyed poore and miserablie through the corruption of the ayre in the durt and mire he himselfe also left his life Lautrech through his obstinacie was the cause of the totall ruine of the French armie before Naples and was the occasion of his owne death Guicciar lib. 4 and in this manner hee lost the honour and reputation of the victorie and was the cause that the Kings armie whereof he was Generall came to extreame ruine which had not happened if leauing his obstinacie hee had giuen eare to those which counselled him both for the priuate and publike good Wherefore our author wisely saith that it is good to consider of the disorders bred by the obstinacie of those which are employed in great matters This obstinacie maketh men cruell both against others and themselues also whereof are many examples both ancient and moderne as I haue vnderstood of certaine gentlemen of Siena worthie to be beleeued that in the warres of Siena there were some which in the Senate did propound and declare that they were resolued to kill their wiues their children themselues and to set the towne on fire rather then they would fall into the hands of the Florentines Moreouer Obstinacie maketh men cruel both against themselues and others also obstinacie maketh the obstinate to be easily oppressed by their enemies for knowing their naturall condition meanes may be easily found to offend them and in fine persisting obstinate without reason or iudgement and so consequently without wit or wisedome of force they doe euery thing backward and liuing like fooles and mad men fall from euill to worse and in the end to extreame ruine CHAP. 24. Curtesies employed vpon obstinate enemies are to no purpose but bestowed in vaine WHen a Prince or Common-wealth vndertaketh to wage warre against another people if by chance the obstinacie to yeeld nothing to the enemie which molesteth enter into the mindes of those against whom the warre is made he which beginneth the warre must resolue with himselfe not to vse any curtesie towards his obstinate enemie because that any clemencie or curtesie to be vsed will be in vaine and to no purpose for the nature of obstinacie is to loue better to die than to make any shew be it neuer so little of humilitie or giuing place And although that the obstinate man sometime seemeth to be humbled through extreame necessitie yet his heart is not altered An obstinate man loueth rather to die then to shew but eâ—e the least signe of humilitie or of giuing place to his aduersarie for so soone as occasion is offered him he will shew that what he did was done perforce Wherefore an obstinate and rude enemie is to bee handled and dealt withall by all rigour and seueritie forasmuch as gentlenes and curtesie wil neither pacifie him nor asswage his furie Many examples might be alleaged hereof as of the Saguntines besieged by Hanniball but I will content my selfe with the example of the Pisans happened in the time of our ancestors The Florentines made long warres against the Pisans and oftentimes vanquished them and euer vsed them very hardly and in conclusion they resolued to inuade and to bring them to their obedience through hunger and euery yeere spoyled their haruest and often bereaued them of hope of any for the yeere following but they made prouision from elsewhere At length the Florentines determined to trie them by gentlenes and clemencie to see if curtesie might preuaile to the end to leaue nothing vntried And for this cause they made a new law ordained that euery citizen or countriman of Pisa which within certaine time would returne to dwell in his house or possession in the countrie should haue free pardon for any thing that he had committed and should reenter vpon his goods The Florentines did this in hope to haue drawne many Pisans out of the towne by meane of this law by which meanes the towne would be weaker and worse defended but their hope failed them and al happened to the contrarie For that many which were vnprofitable for the wars by the consent and leaue of the rest went out of Pisa and the citie remained disburthened The Pisans loue better to subiect themselues to the Genouais their mortall enemies then to the Florentines their Lords neighbours and friends and in part discharged of the dearth which oppressed them and those which went forth no lesse obstinate then those which remained within for the defence of the citie with their reuenues did secretly succour and relieue those which remained within in such sort as that they which defended the citie would not yeeld but by force and those which were abroad by no meanes could be mollified abhorring nothing so much as the name of a FloreÌ„tine They resolued to yeeld themselues to the Genouais against whoÌ„ they had so often fought for the Seignorie rather then to yeeld to the Florentines And for this cause all that a man doth touching an obstinate
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
alienate from him straungers and enemies but also his subiects and greatest friends because that the Prince being by nature vnfaithfull and accustomed to shed humane blood is not to spare either friends or parents and much lesse his emulators corriuals competitors or enemies but with all dissimulation fraud and deceit hee will seeke to oppresse those by whose ruine hee may hope to encrease his forces and his owne estate or in any sort to establish the same For this cause a man ought not in any case to trust such Princes neither for promises for prayers neither for safegard or assurance giuen whatsoeuer and those men which commit their persons into the hands of such men which are ambitious disloyall cruell and accustomed to shed blood commit a most grosse fault for vpon the least occasion that may happen they shall be sure to be most cruelly despoyled of their estates and therewith lose their liues The Cardinall Vrsin Vitellozo Vitelli Guicciaâ— lib. â— Pagolo Orsino Iohn Pagolo Baglioni Liuorato da Fermo and Iohn Bentiuogli and some other pettie Lords of Italie seeing the little faith the great ambition and euill nature of Duke Valentin allied themselues together notwithstanding that they had been his Captaines and Generals in the warres to oppose themselues against the forces of the said Duke who sometime bereaued one Lord and sometime another of his estate and their forces being vnited all together The cunning of Duke Valentin were such that Valentin could not annoy them Valentin had recourse to his subtilty and dissimulation and seeing that he could not resist the forces of the confederates by force he sought by all meanes to disunite the mindes of these Lords and to make the one to suspect the other imagining that hee might easily ouercome them being disunited Cagli The confederates might haue put him in great daunger and disorder for that that they once had put him to flight neere the citie of Cagli if they had followed the victorie Valentin had not had the leisure so soone to raise himself againe But he continuing stiffe and resolute to conclude the agreement which was alreadie begun humbling himselfe and promising to his enemies all that which they could demaund brought the matter so wel about that of most mortall enemies that they were vnto him they became his Leaders Captaines and Souldiers as in former time they had been and serued him with their Infantrie and men at armes against the Duke of Vrbin which was a most grosse and foule fault And Valentin hauing taken by their meanes the estate of Vrbin The crueltie and treason of Duke Valentin and still remembring the hatred conceiued against them he caused them to be apprehended in Sinigaglia and there to be hanged and strangled by the hands of a hangman and taught them to know that it was not lawfull for Captaines to dallie and iest with Dukes and their Superiours to make an oth and to breake it as a man will and afterwards to trust to a cruell tyrant who to encrease his estate turned al things vpside downe And if any man would excuse them and say that they for feare of the forces of the King of France who had alreadie sent succours to Valentin made this agreement I answere them that hauing taken armes against him for the preseruation of their estates and liues it had beene better to haue left all to the incertaine hazard and lot of the warre then to giue credit to the words of one who had neuer maintained his faith agreement nor promise with any man whom they themselues held for a Prince faithlesse treacherous cruell and disloyall CHAP. 55. Jt is a pernicious thing for a Prince to haue two Generals in the warres which striue for preheminence or betweene whom is enuie and emulation IF the error of a Prince or Common-wealth be great which hauing any warre either ciuill or forrain admitteth into his holds and townes any garrison and other men at armes who after they haue ouercome the enemie may also subdue him or them which set them at work and in whose pay they haue made the warre that Prince or Common-wealth shall commit a most great fault who hauing or being to make warre against puissant and politike enemies shall hire and take into his seruice sundrie principall Commanders in the warre which doe enuie one another for glorie or are small friends hauing equall power and almost the same authoritie the second error bringeth peraduenture no lesse euill and preiudice that is to wit to haue two Generals which may warre for the preheminence or which are emulators enuying the one the other The first fault to establish settle within the countrie and as a man might say in the house a succour and garrison of men of warre which after the victorie obtained against the enemies turne and band themselues against the Conquerour by dexteritie may easily be auoided by not trusting wholy thereto but as for the other if the euill be secret and far off a man shall hardly foresee and take order for it â—ycurgus his 〈◊〉 For this cause Lycurgus the most wise lawmaker ordained in his lawes that the Kings of Sparta in their ciuill gouernment should not doe any thing but in the companie of the Magistrate but in time of warres in the field with the armie he would that they should haue supreame power and authoritie that they alone should commaund that all should depend of their will and that the regall authoritie should no way be restrained ioyning certaine counsellors vnto him to consult with them of the affaires of the warre which Lycurgus did with great iudgement because that knowing and foreseeing well that when the armies are opposit the one before the other ready to giue battaile the least stay or slacknes sufficeth to let slip a most happie successe and noble victorie from the one and to giue it to his enemie for then is no time to be busied about the aduice and opinion of many and it is a dangerous matter when souldiers are commanded by many heads who for enuie or hatred raigning betweene them or for their obstinacie or temeritie for the most part agree not together and for this cause hauing confirmed and vnited all the power and authoritie in one man alone and hauing cut off all concurrence and enuie which maketh them equall in discord he willed that he alone should gouerne all and that all the armie should readily obey him As for the first fault wee haue infinit examples in histories both ancient and moderne but this for the present shall suffice Fazel in the uinth booke of the first Decade of the history of Sicilie recited by Fazel in the ninth book of the first Decade of Sicilie to shew how dangerous a thing it is for a Prince to haue to his aide and succour a mightie garrison which afterwards he shall not be able to resist The Reginos a people of Sicilie were once diuided into two
he was a deadly enemie to the King of Persia and they gaue him certaine companies of souldiers in charge the tenth day he sallied out of the towne with his companies and slew a thousand Persian souldiers the which according to the order concluded and agreed vpon betweene King Darius and Zophir had made a roade euen vnto the gate of Semiramis Zophir by fraud put the citie of Babilon into the hands of King Darius which wanne Zophir great honour and marueilous credit among the Babylonians Seuen daies after King Darius sent another Captaine with two thousand souldiers to the port of Ninus which valiantly defending themselues in the end were cut in peeces Twentie daies after following the accorde and agreement the King failed not to send foure thousand souldiers to the port of Caldea the which likewise were defeated by the Babylonians by reason whereof Zophir was held by them in such reputation that they put into his hands the gouernment of the towne and charge of the warre against the Persians and Darius at the time appointed with all his whole armie valiantly assaulted the Citie of Babylon and while as the people were vpon the walles to put back the enemie Zophir opened two ports to the Persian armie the port Cisiana and Belida which being entred into the towne sacked it and the King caused the ports of the Citie to be taken away defaced all and put to death 3000. of the most noble and principall of the Citie Hereby the Babylonians to their great losse knew the great fault which they had committed to beleeue a man which fained himselfe to be a fugitiue and to giue him the charge and gouernment of their Citie CHAP. 57. One word only being misunderstood may breede great hurt BEsides many examples which might be alleaged to shew that in the affaires of warre the least fault that a man can doe may bee verie preiudiciall I propound this which consisteth in a word ill vnderstood and ill interpreted In the time that the factions of the Guelphes and Gibelins troubled Italie there were two houses at Perusa to wit of the Oddi and the Baglioni the Oddi were in that towne the chiefe of the faction of the Gibelins and the Baglioni of the Guelphs The Oddi were chased out of Perusa and being resolued to returne through the helpe of the Gibelins of the townes neere adioyning they entred one night into Perusa with so great amazement of the Baglioni that being out of hope to be able to defend themselues they began to slie But they by an accident altogether vnthought of or if wee may so say by an error lost the victorie which could not haue beene taken from them by the enemies There were chaines crosse the streetes of Perusa as at that time was the custome in townes which maintained the factions and the Oddi being come as farre as the place without any let or hindrance a souldier with a sledge which he of purpose carried to that effect would haue broken one of these chaines being drawne and being vnable to lift vp his armes and vse his hands at pleasure because of the other souldiers of his partie which were in a troupe round about him he began to crie backe backe backe which hee said to the end that they should giue backe and make more roome to giue him meane to breake the chaine But this word being giuen from the one to the other was vnderstood as if he had willed them to flie and so putting themselues to flight gaue occasion to the Baglioni to recouer heart and to follow them and they not onely draue them out of the Citie but slew many in the heate of the chase and fight and afterwards put many of them to death by the hands of the Executioner CHAP. 58. VVho so will impart vnto his seruant any secret concerning his life or honour must resolue with himselfe neuer after to displease him AMong the faultes which men of custome commit this to me hath euer seemed very great in matters of importance which concerne a mans honour or his life to trust to seruants The wise man saith if thou haue a good and faithfull seruant loue him as thy soule touching the which words is to be vnderstoode that to know a good seruant there is no great difficultie for the whole consisteth in this he is called a good seruant which loueth his Masters profit better than his owne which is also said of a good seruant and officer of a Prince but it is a very hard matter to finde one which loueth better another mans profit than his owne principallie amongst that kinde of people which get their liuing in other mens seruice and truly that Master may holde himselfe happie whose hap is to meete with such a seruant which loueth him better than himselfe and certainelie such a seruant doth worthelie deserue to be beloued of his Master as his owne life But for as much as this kinde of men are ordinarilie of condition and blood base by reason whereof they are generallie of a cowardly heart I finde it not expedient to trust to them without first hauing good experience and proofe of their goodnes and sidelitie that a man may know that they would more good to their Masters than to themselues I speake not of that kinde of seruants which are otherwise called slaues for that a man may well finde slaues which are noble neither of those which voluntarilie follow some great Lord and doe him seruice but I speake of those which constrained by necessitie ☞ hauing no occupation or arte to get their liuing put themselues to serue for wages and hire by the moneth or otherwise a man ought to proue the goodnes and fidelitie of such men This experience may bee had by meane of two things which of custome haue bin the ciment of all humane harts to wit in giuing him the handling of money and the gouernment of women if he continue firme and constant in the gouernment of these two things a man may know that he is a good and a loyall seruant In an officer and seruant of a Prince besides these ciments I would say that it were the ambition affecting or desire of estate but because that that seldome happeneth I will not speake thereof besides this that a Prince hauing trusted his honour or imparted some great secret with his faithfull seruant to whom afterwards he happily doth displeasure he hath no cause to bee afraid of him being able in a thousand manners to defeate him But standing vpon the former conclusion and speaking of ordinarie seruants I say that whosoeuer doth resolue to impart vnto him any secret the reuealing whereof importeth his life or his honor he ought to resolue and determine with himselfe neuer after to doe him any displeasure And my reason is this That a man naturally is of a generous hart can hardly endure displeasures and iniuries and there is no man how base soeuer he bee that taketh pleasure to be
as that other was see then whether I be thy friend or no and with this answere the importune Citizen withdrew himselfe from his presence The same Citizen not satisfied with this deniall tooke occasion by reason of the death of the Prouost of the fields or skoute master to present a petition vnto the Prince desiring that office the Prince which knew him very well wrote in the foote of his petition in this manner the man might be the case but the house permitteth it not which hath a better grace in Italian L'huomo sarebbe il caso ma'la casa non lo comporta When then a man obtaineth not of the Prince the grace which he desireth let him content himselfe or faine to be contented with his Princes pleasure who for some occasion to vs vnknowne denieth it For shewing our selues content he conceiueth no euill opinion of vs and may vpon some other occasion be better disposed to yeelde to our desire prouided that we degenerate not from our selues and demaund not such things as shall not be fit and conuenient for vs. CHAP. 82. That Captaine which leaueth a strong place ill garded to take another committeth a fault MAns iudgement is knowne in hard matters which bring difficultie as when a man is betweene two extremities and carrieth himselfe so that he auoydeth the danger of the one and acquireth and getteth the good of the other There are none but men well experienced and such as oftentimes haue managed difficulties of importance which are of such iudgement so as he which well escapeth out of such difficulties may well be held for a man very vertuous and of much worth but most commonly a man committeth errour either through too great desire to get and acquire or through too great confidence and trust of that which is alreadie gotten and he which so much assureth himselfe that he shall not lose that which he hath gotten hazarding it to get that which he hath not may well be said to want iudgement for first a man ought to guarde well that which he hath in possession and then to aduenture to get that which he hath not or recouer that which hee hath lost This fault is often found in time of warres when the Armies campe sometimes here sometimes there and sometimes getting and presentlie losing what is gotten according as the fortune of the warres and the valour of the Captaines doth permit And when a Captaine hauing done all that which is requisite for his degree and hauing the guard of a strong hold loseth it by surprise he deserueth not to be blamed but when through his negligence and want of prouisions he be constrained to lose it he cannot be excused but he doth worse who being in a strong place either by his Princes commaundement or his owne free will which will goe to surprise another place and leaue vnfurnished and without men and munition that which he holdeth by which meanes he loseth it a man may well say that he is rightly serued and fortune hath dealt with him iust as he deserued Francis Ferruzzio was in our time for the Florentines in the fortresse of Empoli in the time of the warres of Florence It happened that the Citie of Volterra was taken by the enemies and for this cause the Florentines prickt forwards with a desire to recouer it againe for that that the fortresse held still for them they wrote to Ferruzzio that he should attempt to surprise it and hauing sent him a certaine number of Souldiers and set in his place a Captaine which was of no great experience in the warres made him to leaue Empoli to goe to recouer Volterra Wherefore Ferruzzio either trusting in the strength of the place or iudging that leading so many men with him he should the sooner effect his enterprise left not Empoli sufficientlie guarded whereof the Prince of Orange being aduertised by a Spy thought with himselfe that it might be wonne and sending thither his forces with Artillerie he began to batter it and easilie tooke it which had not happened if there had been sufficient garrison left or that the Florentines had sent sufficient troupes to haue defended Empoly and recouered Volterra Let no man then trust in the strong situation of any places neither in the Fortification thereof for if there be not men to guarde and defend them the strongest Castles and holds in the world are easilie taken CHAP. 83. Betweene Enemie and Enemie courtesies may be vsed without blame of either side ALthough that it seemeth that betweene two enemies nothing but ill can be expected and that betweene them nothing but hurt and ruine is to be gotten yet it is a matter not worthie of blame to vse courtesie although the Souldiers of our time vse to say which hold it for a lawe that one enemie is to vse all the meanes possible to bereaue his enemie of his life and to vse all cunning and deceit to defeate him and make him away which is a lawe and custome worthie to haue place among beasts rather than among men and principallie in particular affraies when two challenge the single combate one to one to satiate their euill will by all kinde of crueltie and rage enforce themselues to giue their life and blood vnto their enemie for the reward and recompence of the victorie or to receiue his life and blood and Souldiers now adaies thinking him vnworthie of honour which vseth any courtesie to an enemie which not onely auncient examples but also some moderne shew to be false yea euen in Combats fought to the death it hath been seene that in the heate of the fight and in the greatest paine of wounds the Combattants haue vsed curtesy one to another wherof they were and euer shall be praised The Lord Iohn de Medicis a most renowned Captaine of his time and restorer of the glorie and splendour of the Militarie art in Italie among his Souldiers had two braue valiant young men the one called Iohn of Turin and the other Amy de Benacque or as others say Peter Corso there happened vnkindnes betweene these two young men as it often happeneth betweene Souldiers which proceeded so far forth that the Lord Iohn de Medicis willing to appease it and to make them friends it was not in his power to doe it neither to reconcile them what perswasions and promises soeuer he vsed willing that they should remit the different and matter in question betweene them A combat betweene two souldiers to him but they were resolued to decide and end the quarrell by Armes The Lord Iohn de Medicis was wroth and taking one of their cloakes he diuided it into two by the middest and gaue to each one halfe with a sword of equall length and lockt them vp in a certaine place of his Pallace and bad them there to ende their quarrell in such sort that when he should returne he might find all qualified The young men began to vse their weapons and to
to be condemned of inconstancie seeing that he was not bound to persist and continue in the friendship of another man notwithstanding that he were a dependant and successour of his deceased friend CHAP. 95. A Generall or Commaunder in chiefe ought not to be touched in his honour and reputation by those which made choise of him and principally during the time that he is in Armes IT is a custome among all Princes hauing occasion to chuse a Generall either of their owne subiects or some stranger to make choise of some honourable personage and of good renowne After that hee is chosen and that hee hath the gouernment and charge of the Armies it is neither secure nor conuenient to touch him in honour either in word or deede as with disgrace to take his charge from him or by iniurious speeches to withdraw him from his enterprises or to charge him to doe some dishonest thing and such like for therein a noble heart aspiring to honour and glorie is stirred vp and inflamed with despite and discontentment so as seeing himselfe touched in honor he frameth himselfe by all meanes to take reuenge Narses an eunuch to confirme my saying with an ancient example was Generall of the Emperor Iustine his Armie in Italie performed for the Empire diuers sundrie worthy enterprises and while as he was armed and euen vpon the point of his victories Iustine deposed him from his charge and gouernment of the imperiall Armie and the Empresse added thereto certaine iniurious speeches Narses wroth with the Emperour of Constantinople and sent him word that he should returne to keepe her women companie and spin Narses made answere that hee would spin her such a thread which after that it were twisted she should in long time not vnwinde it And by his wit and valour hauing called the Lombards into Italie hee was the occasion why the Emperour of the East lost all that which hee possessed in the West A man may also for example bring in the fault which the Florentines committed in the time that Pope Clement the 7. made wars against them which was this They chose Malatesta Baglioni for their General Guicci lib. 20. and put themselues in armes for thier defence against the Popes and the Emperours Armies and hauing sustained and valiantly endured the siege for the space of eleuen moneths and hauing consumed their victuals and being no longer able to make resistance all aide and succours failing them their Generall and the Lord Stephen Columna aduised them to see if they could come to some agreement with the Emperour and the Pope by some good composition But Raphael Girolami which was Standerd-bearer with many other citizens of his faction being moued against Malatesta without consideration of the daunger wherein the citie was and that the Generall was armed and had a good corps de guard of souldiers Perusins and other Nations at his seruice and commaundement they sent Andrew Nicolini and Francis Zati as Ambassadours to Malatesta to discharge him and to depriue him of his authoritie and charge of Generall which was concluded in their Common councell Malatesta was very angrie and setting hand to his poyniard fell vpon Nicolini and once stabd him and would haue slaine him but for those which stood by who prayed him to hold his hands Hereupon the Citie mutined and euery man betooke him to his weapons Wherefore Malatesta fearing some great hurlie burlie presently sent the Captaine Margute of Perusa to seize on the port of S. Peter Gatolini which is the gate towards Rome and gaue him charge to prime the Ordnance and to bend it against the Citie to be able to defend himselfe against the Citizens if peraduenture they sought to offend him A dangerous tumult happened in Florence and caused to come to him all the souldiers strangers which he had in Florence If the enemie at that time had giuen assault vnto the Citie being then disunited from their Generall it might easily haue been taken and sackt as well by those which were within as by those which were without both which at one instant would haue been become enemies And so through the little wit and small discretion of the Magistrates the safetie of their Citie and countrie was set as a man might say vpon the point of a needle Generals then and Colonels are not to bee grieued and touched in honour and it were much better to resolue to punish them when they commit any notable faults as many Potentates haue done then by interressing their honors to hazard the affaires and enterprizes in question as may bee well perceiued by the two examples aboue alleaged now at this present some man would interpose himselfe by some honest and reasonable conditions to accord pacifie the troubles in Flaunders finding meanes that religion might haue libertie and the Prince his authoritie and the Estates assurance and some satisfaction I doe beleeue that hee might easily appease those warres and controuersies which haue indured alreadie so many yeeres with so great preiudice to the Christian faith charge and expence of money and shedding of so much humane blood CHAP. 97. He which goeth into a forraine Countrie with charge of importance ought to frame himselfe according to the fashions of that Countrey wherein he is for to liue after the manner of his owne countrey it is not euery where secure AMong all the faire conditions and qualities which ought to bee in a Gentleman well borne who is to bee employed in publique affaires in my opinion the one of the most principall is for a man to knowe how to accommodate and frame himselfe according to the fashion of those Countries whither hee goeth whether it be vpon his owne pleasure or some other bodies And this is it why many as well Ambassadours as Captaines haue effected great matters about which they haue been sent by their Masters which is not happened vnto them onely so much for knowing the Princes humour with whom they had to negotiate as to be framed and fitted to the fashions and manners of the Court and Countrey where they are and those which haue done otherwise haue been deceiued and most commonly haue borne losse dammage and shame for the likenes of fashions and manners in behauiour is a thing very fit to breede good will and procure friendship but that must not be done in flatterie and adulation which is presently knowne and discouered but to shew that a man doth not abhorre or loath the Countrey fashions where he is as euill or despise them as vicious but so obserueth them as seeming good vnto him which is a meane fit to make him to be beloued and respected by that Countrey people for this cause Alcibiades the Athenian was highly praised Alcibiades an Athenian beloued of strangers for in what place soeuer he came either by his apparell or his manner of life and conuersation he accommodated and framed himselfe to the custome and fashions of the
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