that amongst all worldly things the best is liberty whose name is a note of vertue as seruitude and bondage is a note of infelicitie WHen a noble personage dooth degenerate from the vertuous actions of his predecessors let him remember that how much the more famous the life of his Auncestours hath been so much more shamefull slaunderous shal his be forsomuch as the glorie of our fore-fathers is as it were a light to those that discend from them the which doth discouer theÌ„ to the eyes of others that vertue or that vice which they haue IT is a goodly thing in a victorious Prince when as calling him selfe to memory he dooth rather goe about that which is worthie of him selfe then that which he may with reason doo against his ouercome and vanquished enemy HE dooth assuredlye liue and enioy a staide and perfect minde who being intentiue about any busines or action doth procure himselfe a fame of woorthy Princes of good art or letters ALthough flatterie be reprehended of wise men as a wise contrary 〈◊〉 woorthy wit yet did Cicero saye it is necessary in the obtaining of office and gouernment in a free Common-wealth THe life and behauiour of the people is corrupted by the customes of the Prince who beholding his licentious lecherie despise the merites of his chastetie Indeuouring theÌ„selues to imitate his vices as most vertuous actions for that it séemes vnto them that they caÌ„not commend the deedes of their Prince if they themselues doo not likewise practise and vse the same IT is a manifest thing that he that is mighty is alwaies accompanied and followed with enuy not of the least for those cannot much harme him but of his coÌ„petitoures carriualles and his péeres therefore to shun the same in my opinion he should aduise himselfe well if in matters of importance he did vse that parte and meanes of procéeding which dooth most asswage and is contrarye to enuye HE that is not altogether aleuated from peace is neuer hindered or kept from making the same by multitude of complaintes and damages for so much as these differences and debates are cut off although they be many by the force and vertue of vpright iustice or by means of recompencing waying one iniurie with an other or by counterpesing and ballancing this reason and right with that or else for a lesse domage or to giue end to the greater trauailes or troubles let the one yéelde vnto the other some parte of his right as vnto these wise men by consideration of the importance or subiect of the cause it shall séeme conuenient IT is fitte for euery well gouerned Common-wealth to take order that all the causes or at least the greatest part of them if it be possible may be deâ—iâ—hered and discided by the lawes rather then left to y e 〈…〉 of the Iudge for there be very fewe to be found that haue good and mature vnderstanding knowledge and abilitie to minister and ordaine lawes and to giue right iudgement in doubtfull causes for so much as lawes through the long vse of thinges and through many and sundry considerations are brought to full perfection but the iudgementes of man by his own nature being apt to bende either to loue or hate is corrupted spoyled and made partiall vnlesse it be vnder propt with the strong piller of Lawe THose which haue iudgement falling into consideration of the riches and power of any other State doo not meruaile neither at their power neither at their riches but admiring the good forme of the order of the saide State vnder which such power and riches dooth florishe desire the good gouernment of their Common-wealth by being and suffering their Prince and be very vigilant to kéepe themselues from offending him at any time neither with déeds nor with woords to the intent not to imitate him AMongst the rest of these goods that fortune bestowes vpon vs he dooth gaine most worthy praise that being rich doth not aspire to rule and Signorie that is not insolent by reason of his money that dooth not preferre himselfe before others arrogantly and that doth behaue himselfe in such sort that others may iudge that that aboundance of riches haue giuen him meanes to become sober and modest and not malepert and hawtie EUery one knowes that those discordes which arise amongst the people are occasioned by inequalitie of goods and riches for those that be of meane estate would make theÌ„selues equall with their betters but those which spring vp amongst noble and great men be occasioned by meanes of honours for those y e be equalles would make themselues greater then the rest MEn when they draw néere to their future mischéefes do principall 〈◊〉 their discourse discretion and prudence with the which they might easily bring impediment and hinderance to their destinies IT is a great impudence for a man to binde himselfe to a perpetuall perrill vpon foundations not perpetuall and through vncertaine hopes to begin an assured warre with an enemy more mighty then himselfe NOthing is more necessarie in hard and difficult deliberations then counsell nothing on the other side more perillous then to demaund counsell and it is no doubt but that counsell is lesse necessary to prudent men then to those that be imprudent and yet notwithstanding those that be wise do reap much more profit by counsel theÌ„ the ignorant for who is he y t is so perfect in prudence that doth alwaies consider know euery thing of himselfe and in contrary reasons doth euer discern and cull out the best parte but what assurance hath he y â— doth demaund counsell to be faithfully counselled forsomuch as he that dooth giue counsell if he be not very faithfull and much affectioned to him that doth demaund y e same moued not only through notable respectes of profitte but for euery small commoditie or euerye light satisfaction dooth oftentimes direct his counsell to that ende that dooth turne most to his purpose or that wherein he dooth take most pleasure and therefore these ends and tearmes being for the most parte so much vnknowne to him that séekes for counsell he dooth not remeÌ„ber nor perceiue if he be not prudent the infidelitie of the councell A Prince that by the means of his embassadour would deceiue an other Prince must first deceiue the Ambassadour to the intent that he may woorke and speake with greater efficacie perswading himselfe and beléeuing that such is the mindâ— of his prince the which though he would not nor could not doo if he did imagine himselfe to be a dissembler and this practise euerye one dooth vse that by the meanes of an other would perswade that which is false vnto an other IT is proper to fortune so often as â—â—ctorie is not made assured with moderation and prudence to blot and stain the glorie that is gained with some thing vnlooked for therfore it is not requisite in the managing of matters of moment to suffer things to be carried away and
attempt and make triall of fortune before the armie be dissolued for if he tarry and exspect he is sure to lose but if he attempt the same he may ouercome and if he lose yet he dooth obtaine glory for more glorie it is to be ouercome by force then by anyother inconuenience which may cause thée to loose HE that desires to haue a Cittie to defend it selfe obstinately or that would haue an armie in the féeldes obstinately and resolutely fight he ought aboue all things to indeuour himself to print in the mindes of those that must â—ight necessitie A Wise Generall that goes about to winne expugne any Cittie he ought to measure the facilitie and difficultie that he shall haue to winne the same by knowing and considering what necessitie dooth constraine the inhabitours thereof to defend themselues and when he findes sufficient necessitie that constraines them to defend themselues let him iudge y e expugnation for difficile otherwise let him holde it for most easie TOwnes and Citties after their rebellion are more difficile to be obtained then they are at their firste winning for that in their beginning hauing no occasion to feare any punishment for that they haue made no offence they doo easily yeeld themselues but after rebellion they iudging themselues to haue offended and therfore fearing punishment are most difficile to be expugned ORders are not so much necessarie for an armie to be able to fight in due order as they be for that euerye small accident should not disorder them for the populare multitude are not vnprofitable in warres for any other cause but for that euery rumour euery woord and sound and euerye noyse dooth amaze them and makes them to flye A Wise Generall amongst other things ought to appoint which those be which must receiue his woordes and carrie them to others accustome his Souldiers that they beléeue none but only those Chéeftains and officers that speake or appoint nothing but that which is commaunded by him for that if this parte be not well obserued it is oftentimes séene that disorders of great importance hath followed EUery wise Generall ought to indeuour himselfe to cause some newe thing to appeare whilste the Armies are in fighting to the intent he therby may giue aid to his owne and take the same away from his enemie the which accident maye be verye effectuall to giue him the victorie And besides these aduertisements he ought to doo two things the one to make proofe with newe inuentions to amase the enemye the other to stand prepared that if the same be practised of the enemye against him he both maye be able and knowe how to discouer and make frustrate the same IT is much better to send into an expedition a man alone that is of ordinary prudence then two woorthy personages together with the very same authoritie HE that commaunds ouer subiects to the intent they may not become insolent and that through thy ouer-great felicitie doo spurne at thée thou ought rather to applye thy selfe to punishe then to execute but neuerthelesse with such moderation that thou maist shunne that hate which euery Prince ought to keep him from SOmetimes an act that is replenished and full of charitie dooth woorke greater effect in the minde of a man then one that is cruell and violent And it comes oftentimes to passe that that Prouince and that Cittie that the weapons the warlicke instruements and euery other force hath not béene able to open one example of humanitie or of pietie of chastitie or of such other vertues hath been able not onely to open but also to make subiect HE that desires ouermuch to be beloued euerye small step wherby he straâ—es out of the true way makes him despised and he that desires ouermuch to be respected and feared euerye leaâ—t parte wherein he excéedes the meane makes him odious and to kéepe the meane and middle way cannot be iuâ—tly perfourmed for that our nature doth not consent vnto it wherfore it is necessarie to mitigate both the one and the other with an excessiue vertue WHosoeuer desires to be obeyed it is necessarie he know how to commaund and those know how to commaund that make comparison of their own qualities with that of those ouer whome they are to commaund but when they perceiue they are out of proportion and frame they abâ—taine and if they commaund ouer-hard and violent thinges it is conuenient with violence and hardines to cause them to be obserued otherwise he shall finde himselfe deceiued TO keepe a Common-weale with violence it is conuenient that there be a proportion of him that forceth the same with that which is forced and sometimes there is such a maner of proportion y t it may be thought that that violence may endure but when he that is forced is stronger then he that forceth him it is to be doubted that this violence will cease euerye day TO commaund ouer strong thinges it is conuenient to be strong and he that is of this force and that dooth commaund them cannot afterwards with gentlenes and curtesie cause the same to be obserued but he that is not of this fortitude of minde ought to kéep himselfe from extraordinary rule and commaundings and in those that be ordinary may vse his humanitie for that ordinarye punishments are not imputed to the prince but to the lawes and to the other institutions of the Citie IF we desire that an armie shall ouercome any battaile it is necessary to make it enter into such an opinion of assurance that they may beléeue that in any case they shall ouercome And to make them assured it is necessarye to arme them and to make them cunning in military orders and woorke so that they may haue perfect knowledge and counter-sigâ—es one of an other And this assurance and order cannot arise but amongste those Souldiers that are borne and haue liued together It is conuenient also that the Captaine Generall be estéemed of qualitie that they trust in his prudence and they will alwayes trust in him when they see him order things well to be carefull bolde and that doth hold wel and with great reputation the maiestie of his degree the which he shall always maintaine when he dooth punish them of their errours and dooth not toyle or trauaile them in vaine and that he obserue vnto them his promise and showe them that the waye to ouer come is very easie and to kéepe secrets hid and make mery in such maner as may show that the perrills are remoued The which thinge being well obserued they are a great occasion that the armye should enter into an opinion of assurance and beeing assured to obtain the victorie EUery Prince that makes warres ought to take honour for his begâ—nning and profit for his finall end Neither that can be reputed a profitable warre which dooth obtain State or money I haue made mention of honour and profite For that although maâ—y times honour mooues Princes to make warres yet
weak and féeble euen so contrariwise those that make their bodies Lordes ouer their mindes in satisfiyng their appetites not graunting any parte thereof to their minde they can neuer become vertuous neither haue any valour in them COuetousnes without doubt is a thing more to be detested in a Prince then in a priuate person not onelye for that hauing more liberty to distribute he dooth depriue a man thereof so muche the more but also for that that which a priuat person hath is all to his own vse and may be disposed as it pleaseth himselfe without the iust complaint of any person but that which a Prince hath is giuen him for the vse and benefite of others Therefore if he retaine it for him selfe he defraudeth men of that which he dooth owe vnto them THe affaires of this worlde are so variable and depend vpon so many chaunces and accidents that very hardlye we shall be able to giue iudgement of that which is to come and therfore it is séene by experience that almoste alwaies the coniectures of wise men are vain and fallible I doo not therefore commend the counsell of those which leaue off the commoditie of a present benefite although lesse for feare of a future euill although it be greater vnlesse it be very néer and very certaine for that those things not falling out oftentimes which thou diddest doubt of through a vaine feare it comes into thy memorye that thou hast left off those things that did please thée and therfore that is a wise Prouerb which saith Di cosa nasce cosa et il Tempo le gouerna Affaires spring foorth of affaires and Time dooth gouerne them THose which giue iudgement in matters of state I haue séen oftentimes to erre for that men doo with reason examine that which a Prince hath to doo but not that which he will doo WEll ordered Common-wealths doo not vse to suffer that their confederates who together with them haue well plaide their partes in their occasions should be abandoned in their necessities MIghty Common-wealths be accustomed not only to desire and will that their confederates and freendes doo not loose any thing but y t euerye day they may encrease and make themselues greater in fauours in mightines and in honours WHen a Prince dooth followe vertue he dooth merite to be praised for that Princes more then any other persons are inclined to their appetites forsomuch as they hauing béene nourished with small chastisement in their Childehood most men endeuour themselues to please theÌ„ and to follow them in their waies PRinces for the most part are more suspitious theÌ„ other men for y t they are giuen to vnderstand sundry doubts and aduertisements and very often are â—lattered THat Prince that can gaine persons with well dooing besides his being in the grace of God he shewes that he is not blotted with the vice of pride the which procuâ—es hate to follow the vertues of persons WHen in a Common-wealth any dooth obtaine take vpon him the name of Singuler in what matter soeuer although therein he be ignorant it is a very hard thing to remoue that opinion for that men naturallye conceiue and become grosse with the first impressions the which waxing olde cannot so easilye be defined and plucked out HE that is sent to entreate of peace ought to be faithfull vnto his Prince and of a meane age to y e intent that his weakenesse induce him not to doo things that are not fit or at his returne to terrifie his Maister more then is necessarie and that man is rather to be imployed therin which hath receiued fauours and benefits of his Prince then any other TO know the natures and dissimulations of those that are in election to haue great honors as it is a thing very easie so is it a thing very wise therefore the inclinations and the discourses of such persons ought alwaies to be obserued hauing neuerthelesse an eye not so much to affection as to common profit WHen any persons doo departe from thy enemye to come to enter into thy seruice great profit is reapeâ— by them if they be faithfull for that the forces of thy aduersarie are diminished much more with those that flie from him then by those that are slaine although y e name of a fugitiue to the new freend be suspitious and to the old odious IN warres for the most parte the good fortune of a victorious Prince is nothing else but the euill counsell base minde of his aduersarie and therfore very hardly may he be â—uercome that can measure and knowe both his owne and his enemies forces besides that the valour and vertue of the Souldiours is of more valewe then the multitude and the cituation of the ground doth somtimes more help their valour and vertue HE that is most vigilant in warres to marke and obserue the determinations and plattes of the enemie and can endure greatest trauaile to exercise his people shall incurre least perrilles and may the more hope for victorie but it is requisite in warres to know how to discern occasion and to take héede of her for that she dooth helpe more then any other thing THe ambition of honor and glory is a thing commendable and profitable to the worlde for that it giues men occasion to woork great and high effects but the ambition of power and greatnes is not so for that she is taken of others for an Idole and will in any case obtaine all things either lawfullye or vnlawfullye and is the occasion of many euils and therefore we apparentlye perceiue that whosoeuer dooth possesse ambition to this ende haue no stay of themselues and makes their life and their goods equall ENterprises and other affaires that are to fall in decay not through fury and force but are first to consume theÌ„selues draw out more in length then would haue béen reléeued at the first for that when men growe obstinate to suffer they suffer and supporte much more then we would haue imagined Therefore we see that any warres which is to take end through famine or through any other discommoditie drawes out further in length then we would think HE that first gaue vnto the people this woord Popolo would verily haue tearmde it vn Pazzo A Foole for that he is a monster replenished with confusion and errours forsomuch as his opinions are so farre off from the trueth as according to Tolome the East Indies is from Spaine I Can neuer flatter my selfe to make shew of those things that are not so in effect neuertheles it should be much more profitable to doo the contrarye for it is an incredible thing to be spoken off what benefit the reputation and the opinion that men haue that thou art great will woorke then for that onely by the means of this rumour they run after thee without needing to clime to the height to make showe of thy selfe THe libertie of a Common-wealth is the administration of iustice for that the foundation
lawes that were made in a Common-weale in the beginning thereof when men were good doo not serue after to the purpose when they are once become wicked and if lawes doo varrie in a Cittie according to the accidents the institutions thereof doo sildome or neuer varie the which thing makes that the newe lawes doo not suffise by reason that the institutions that stand firme doo break them AMongst the Romanes the chéefest degrees of the Cittie were not giuen but to those which did demaund them this order at the beginning was good for that none did demaund them but those Citizens which were iudged woorthie and to haue the repulse was an ignominious thing wherupon it did arise that to the intent they might be iudged good euerye one did perfourme good actions IN the institution of a Cittie or State to a politicke life presuppose in your minde a good man And to become a Prince by violence presuppose in your minde a wicked man By this meanes you shall sildome finde that it falles out that a good man becomes a Prince by wicked meanes although the end were good and that one that is wicked being become a Prince will performe good actions that it will fall at any time into his minde to vse the authoritie well which he hath by euill meanes obtained HE that succéeds in state although he be not of so great valour and vertue as his predecessour yet maye he maintaine the saide state through the force and vertue of him that gouerned the same before him and maye enioye the fruites of his trauailes but if it should come to passe that he were not of a long life or that after him there did not spring vp another which dooth put vpon him the valour and vertue of the first that Kingdome is constrained to fall into ruine So in contrary sorte if â—â—ery one after the other are of great vertue it oftentimes appeares that they accomplish great things and that they mount vp with their fame euen to the highest heauens IT is a thing most certaine that if where there be men there be no Souldiers it dooth spring through y e fault of the Prince and not through the defect or any want in nature or of the scituation of the Countrie for that a wise Prince doth vse in time of peace the orders of warfare and militarie discipline THere be two sortes of flatterie the first ariseth of a malicious craft the second of an vnaccustomed vse in conuersation the first with purpose to profit is pricked forward artificially and doo vse all studie to deceiue the second hath for his purposed end a care and feare not to offend and therfore dooth vnwillingly follow the other who for all that becomes his guide but yet he is drawne by her as though it were by feare with putting in obliuion certaine humilitie certain seruile respects and most vaine titles which are made proper and fit and such as are required of all sorts and qualitie of persons in such sort as they cannot be shunned euen of vertuous men and such as remaine written in these tearmes of vse IT was neuer iudged a wise resolution to put in perrill all thy fortune not all thy forces those do fal into this inconuenience which determine when y e enemie comes to defend y e difficile places to kéepe the passages forsomuch as it is a thing of great damages if in that difficilplace we cannot coÌ„modiously place all our forces and in y â— case we ought to take that resolution but if the place be rough and ragged and so strait that we caÌ„not plant al our strengths our resolution is naught therefore if we loose that passage which we did presuppose to kéep and in the which the people and our armie did put their confidence there dooth enter for the most parte into the people and into all the rest of the armie so great terrour that without making triall or experience of their valour and vertue doo giue ouer theÌ„selues to loose all And so it comes to passe that we forgoe all our whole fortune and ouerthrowe parte of our forces NO well ordered Common-wealth dooth at any time cansell out the demerites of her Citizens with their merites but hauing appointed rewardes for a good deede and punishments for a wicked and hauing rewarded some one for that he hath doone well if that the same man do afterwards commit any thing that is euill he is to be chastised without any respect of his good dâ—eds for that if vnto a citizen that hath performed and doone any famous thing for his Cittie be ioyned besides the reputation that such a one hath gained a certaine audacitie confidence trust to be able without feare to doo any thing that is not good he will in time become so insolent that he will dissolue all the order of ciuill life HE that would reforme the state of a Cittie desiring to haue that reformation accepted and to haue it likewise maintained with the satisfaction of euery one It is necessary that he retaine at the least the shadowe of the auntient customes to the intent that it may not appeare to the people that he hath changed the olde orders and institutions although in effects the ordinances were newe and altogither alienated from those that were before for that the vniuersall mindes of men is so fed with that outward shew which it séemes to carrie as if it were the very same indéede so that they are muche more mooued with thâ—se things of outward appearance theÌ„ with that which they are in effect THe vice of ingratitude dooth spring either of couetousnes or of suspect for that when any people or any Prince doo send foorth any Generall or Captaine into what importunate expedition soeuer where he gaines sufficient glorye that Prince or people is afterwardes bound to rewarde him and if in change they dishonour or endamage him moued thereunto by couetousnes they commit an errour which caÌ„not be excused but rather they loade their backs with a perpetuall infamie THe nature of men is ful of ambition and suspition and cannot giue any staye or meane to none of their Fortunes therfore it is an impossible thing but that that suspition which dooth arise in a Prince immediatly after the victorie of his Captaine Generall should be caused by the encrease of some maner or fashion of behauiour vsed insolently in the said Captaine so that a Prince can enter into no other thought then how to assure himselfe either by putting him to death or by taking from him his reputation or to make shewe with all industrie that that victorie did arise not by his valour and vertue but by Fortune or through the vile basenes of his enemie or by the prudence of some other of his Captaines that were in that faction SUspition is so naturall in Princes that they cannot defend themselues from the same wherupon it is impossible that they should shew gratefulnes to those that haue vnder their
for al that for the most parte his state is gayned that against reason hath showed him selfe thy Enemye And that warre wherein there is as muche spâ—nt as there is gotten therein is a damageable warre HE that determines to obtaine the degrée of a Magistrate let him dispose himselfe to supporte the hate and euill will of many and let him neuer imagine to become angrye with any one for any thing that shall chaunce vniustly against him euen of those that he hath holden for most freendlye neither let him leaue of so lightlye by reason of the first denialls and withstandings that are made him his hopes are muche lesse his owne defences for that he that doth suâ—â—ain certain vehement assaults and chéefly the first the which are accustomed to be made neither suffers himself to fal into manifest ouerthrow either through wrath or ouer much haste maye hope to finde many good occasions to fauour his election TO be olde giues great helpe to him that desires honours for that olde age dooth carry with it ordinarily hope of short life yet it is true that olde age is not sufficient but it is necessarie withall to haue other qualities and the first is bounty forsomuch as men are neuer so wicked nor by admiration so vnciuill that they can altogither suppresse the desire of good things that nature hath giuen to euerye one wherupon it dooth arise that the good be honored euen of the wicked THose thinges by the which men are moued to fauour any one to obtaine the degree of a Magistrate it is necessarie that they be encreased in all their operations or at least-wise not deminished from the fauourite and let him beléeue that continually the eyes of euery one is vpon him that he is to make iudgement of euery little thing of his will and desire Forsomuch as the selfe samâ— freends will faile him in affection when they discouer the contrary of that which they haue imagined of him THe people when they beginne to giue anye degrée to anye Citizen grounding them selues vpon the fame vpon opinion and vpon his workes make no euill foundation But when afterwards the sundrye examples and his many good déedes makes him better knowne they ground it better for in such case they are neuer deceiued THe People in the election of maiestrates iudge according to those countersignes that men do holde for mosâ—e true and when they may be counsailed as Princes are they erre lesse then Princes doo And that Citizen whicâ— will beginne to get the fauour of the people ought to gaine the same with some notable fact THose that giue counsell to a Common-weale or vnto a Prince are set amongst these straites that if they giue no counsaile to those thinges that vnto them appéere profitable either for the Citie or for the Prince without hauing any respect they faile in their dutie If they giue counsaile they enter into perrill of their life and of their state all men béeing blinde in this case to iudge the good and the naughtie counsailes by the end TO shunne or flie either infamie or perrils by counsaile I sée no other waye then to take the thinges moderatelye and not to take any by enterprise telling his opinion without passion and without passion defend the same with modestie in such sorte that the Citie that is counsailed or the Prince doo followe the same that he may followe it willingly and that it séeme not that he be drawne therunto by the importunitie of him that giues the counsaile IT seemes y t there is found in humaine actiones in going about to bring things to their perfection alwaies néere vnto the good there is adioyned some euill the which together with the same goodnes dooth easily spring that it séems vnpossible that we can want the one if we desire the other A Wise Generall when he comes to encounter with a new enemy that is of reputacion is constraned before he giue battaile to make his souldiours proue the enemy with light encounters and Skirmishes to the intent that beginning to manage and to knowe them they maye loose that terrour which fame and reputation had giuen them ALthough to vse fraude in any action is detestable neuâ—â—thelesse in the managing of warres it is a laudable and glorious thing and he is aswell commended that ouercomes the enemy by fraude as he that dooth ouercome him by force WHen determinations is altogither to be made touching the safetie of our Countrie we ought not to fall into any consideration either of iust or vniust of pitifull or cruell of laudable and â—gnomie but hauing set aside euery other respect we ought to follow altogither that resolution which dooth maintaine our liues in safetie and our Countrye in libertye HE that would sée what shall fall out let him consider what hath beene for that all things in this worlde in all ages haue the same euents they had in auntient time WHen a Prince desires to obtaine a thing of any other let him not giue him space to dâ—liâ—â—rate vpon the same if occasion doo suffer it and woorke in such sorte that he may see the necessitie of the speedie deliberation the which is when he that is demaunded dooth sée that by denying or by differring doth arise a perilous and suddain indignation A General ought neuer to giue credit to any errour that is euidentlye made by the enemie for alwaies vnder the same there is some fraude since it cannot stand with reason that men should be so vnwarie THere is nothing more difficile to be handled neither more doubtfull to come to passe neither more perillous to be managed then to make our selues chéeâ—e to bring in newe orders for that he which is the bringer in of them hath vnto his enemies all those which haue sped well vnder the olde orders he hath for meane and moderate deâ—enders all those that by the new orders shall spéede well the which medeocritie dooth spring partely for feare of the aduersaries that haue the lawes to benefite â—hem partâ—ly through the incrudelitie of men which doo not giue place to any new thing vnlesse they doo see firme experience HE that dooth beléeue that newe denefites dooth make great personages forget olde iniuries is deceiued and iniuries ought to be made altogither to the intent that taâ—â—ing lesse they may offend lesse but benefits ought to be made by little and little to the intent they may smâ—ll better A Prince ought to haue no other obiect nor any other thought neither take any other thing for his art then warres orders and lawes and the discipline of them for that is the only art that is to be required of him that commaundes and is of such great vertue that it dooth not onlye maintaine those that are borne Princes but oftentimes makes men of priuate fortune to arise vnto that degrée IT is apparently séene that when we make any resolution either with ouer great haste or with ouer great affection it dooth euer
but that the greatest part of that which he knowes is not lesse then that which lyes hid vnto him héerof it springes that if we haue occasion to builde we cal vnto vs cunning woorkmen and architectours if we are to saile vpon the Seas we demaund the counsell of Mariners but in matters of warre so much the more diligently we ought to goe about to performe this by how much the perrill séemes to be greater forsomuch as the harmes of other thinges séeme to be more light euerye want being able to be amended but the errours of warre besides the perpetuall shame doo carrie with them blowes woundes death and destruction in a Common-weale the which are so extreame euilles that they cannot be corrected nor shunned and therefore in these cases we ought to take mature counsell of wise men and the aduertisement of those that are inueterated in Armes and experimented in such seruice THere is no man so rash and foolish hardye that being able to depresse and ouercome the enemye with a prudent prolonging of time will rather with a furious speede put the victorie in doubt and hazard which deferring and lingering doth promise him most certain forsomuch as victorie cannot be so well gotten with an inconsiderate spéede as with a prudent staye and neither so well in going to finde the enemye at his owne doores as to defend himselfe within his owne confines and to goe about rather to put our selues in perrill then ouercome is the part of an vnwise man and of one that is more rash then couragious WIse men haue not sought meanes and desired that faith should be more obserued in any humain action then in confederacies for that if faith be broken amongst them which are bound togeather in leage what thing is there that can be accouÌ„ted stable and entire in this world for which respect the iudgementes which are made vpon other contentions for that they are as it were priuate giue almost no other punishment then in money and capitall punishment for that the lawes do not in any case support integrity that he ought to be reputed for entire which is not ofentire faith towards his confederates IN the gouernment of a Common-weale euerye man dooth confesse that we ought to haue greater respect to honor then profit for that euen as a Citie is of great estimation and reputation so faith ought to be pure and sincere EUen as horses through idlenes ouermuch abundance of meate becomes vnwildy and resâ—ie so people sometimes through the curtesie and benignity of those that gouerne become insolent and proude and haue néede of force to hold back the reines of liberty WHen a Common-weale doth moue warres against a Prince she ought first to look about her and take care that she be not deceiued with the woordes of her enemye besides that she ought to traine vp her people so as they maye bee able to resist the inuading force of the enemye and to withstand those perrilles which doo chaunce at vnawares Thirdly she ought to make choise of prudent and well practised men who may stand like Senternelles and watch-men attentiue and vigilant for the benefite of the Common-weale and wisely vnderstand euery thing and with great prudence prouide for euery thing Forthly to conserue and kéep the amitie of adioyning Princes yeelding fauour to those that haue néede Last of all to write to the greatest Princes of the worlde consulting with theÌ„ vpon occurent causes THe expences of the warres are gréeuous to euery one but specially to the multitude which doo not foresee future perrilles Wherupon euen vs Phisitions vse oftentimes â—ire and iron towards the sick persons they gouern and loose one parte to saue the whole so ought the gouernours of the Common-weale perceiuing and foreseeing future perrilles constraine the people to spend one part of their goods for the conseruation of all the rest for that libertye being lost euery thing falles into the handes of the Conquerour and next dooth follow the infamie and shame of slauerie the which of worthy men ought to be chased away euen vnto death it selfe THe people and the vulgare multitudes which doo not foresee future things doo firste feele and sée the perrilles before they haue imagined and thought vpon them but excellent men although they foresee perrilles in a populare Common-weale neither cannot nor dare not make prouision for when they make demonstration of the perrils and perswade to vse remedye immediatly it is saide they desire warres and make lawe and prohibitions in such sort that he that would prouide for the safetie of the Citie there should remaine no way for him able to perfourm the same wherupon it ariseth that making no prouision times doo poste awaye but when perrilles are present and canot be auoyded then full of feare they consult what is to be doon THose men are woorthie of very great infamie who not câ—ring to be infamous doo not obserue their giuen faith neither their promises they haue made neither their sworne conuentions And although euery breache of promise be infamous neuertheles that is most infamous which against capitulacions of peace dooth drawe warres after iâ— For if the sacred effectes of faith and the obseruing of othes be taken awaye what remaines more amongste men that is good and godly wherby one may put trust in an other and by which inconueniences the common conuersation and companye of men is broken IT is manifeste to euery one that nature hath graunted not onely to men but also vnto brute beastes a certaine desire of libertie to obtaine and keepe the which libertie they enforce them selues with all dilligence and naturall industrie to performe all those things that may maintain the same in them and doo beare great hate to all those that they imagine to be contrary to these their appetites And this is apparentlye perceiued in those vnreasonable creatures which are accustomed to remain domestically bound who so soone as they are vnloosed from them that gouerne them with actes and gestures make signe how gratefull it is vnto them to be looste from those bondes and Chaynes and that they are able to goe at libertie where they list And therfore if we beholde this naturall desire of libertie to be in beastes how much more ought the same to be in men who God hath made aboue all other creatures most prudent and wise and hath endowed vs with reason and vnderstanding to the intent that we may follow the order of nature and defend that libertie then the which there is nothing amongst men more déere and of greater prise and valour And although nature the mother of thinges hath graunted vs infinite benefites neuertheles she hath giuen vs nothing neither better neither swéeter then libertie ALthough warrs are made and taken in hand for many ocasions neuertheles there is none more iust nor more woorthy of praise then that which is taken in hand for the defence of our libertie and of our Country the which
of minde But to those which of their proper nature are very timerous it would fall out to be a great help to them to be full of courage and audacitie for that for the most parte all those whose states depend vpon stéele and weapons by despising perilles couragiously they haue oftentimes become victorious WE maye more easilye breake and kill those that of things already doone haue carried away the victorie if peradueÌ„ture they are puffed vp made proud thereby then those that without thinking vpon the same be fallen downe from the same although they procéed with their enemies in time to come more timerously and doubtfully for negligence and basenes doo corrupt also those thinges that are excellently well ordered but trauaile accompanied with care and diligence hath aided greatly vnto manye although Fortune hath béene contrarye vnto them for that those that with slothe and follye take in hand any enterprise are accustomed oftentimes to weaken themselues and to faile in their forces but those that proceed in the same with care and with diligence are accustomed to encreace marueilously TO all those that are borne the selfe-same ende of life dooth not followe neither the very same chaunce and qualitie of death as in many things it comes to passe men are disagréeing amongst themselues for those that are Cowards and not apt for the warre hauing first receiued many iniuries and giuen occasion to cause themselues to be â—â—outed of the enemy according to the yéeres that God hath most ordained they finishe and make an end of their destinie the which for al that ought not to chaunce to worthye and valiant men who with vertue and with great glory ought to finde the meanes to end their liues THose that be rashe doo much more easilye obtaine the name of couragious then those that be politicke and prudent for that he that dooth take vpon to performe anye enterprise ouer and beside his duetie through the beneuolence of any one vnto whome peraduenture he seeme to be a valiant wise man obtaines honor but he that prudently and with iudgement doth auoide any perrill neither for all that hath well performed those things according to his desire he shal be without doubt accounted capable through the occurrence of the thing and if it fall out according to his minde and iudgement it will not seeme vnto the ignorant that he hath doone any thing of himselfe HUmaine thinges are sometimes accustomed to deceiue much for that euery man being mortall and it séeming to euery one to be hardly apt for the rash disgraces of fortune it is necessarye as reason will that he cléerly and manifestly sée his grosenes and insolence and neuertheles although he will not yet he must needes be subiect to the necessitie of fortune WE maye easilye fight with those that are halfe dead with hunger and much sooner ouercome the enemye with dearth and famine then with weapons neither can we cast more sharpe dartes neither shoote more swift arrowes against our aduersaries then those of long abstinence and fasting the which being a disease that consumeth force it is not nourished with any other meat then with want of things to eate and the penury of meate doth cast to the ground and ruinate the force of weapons THere is no Captaine so farre out of his right sences or simple Souldiour so rash that being able to fight with securitie aduauntage will rather to his losse and perrill attempt the chaunce of battaile and that maye without blowes or wounds receiue victorie will rather with blood put his health and safetie in doubtfull hazard EUery one knows how slolie and without trauaile they doo handle their weapons whose armes are consumed with fasting and can with great paine rule themselues and he cannot very well perfourme any thing with them in battaile that in other exercises hath consumed his forces and there victory is spéedilye obtained where he that is whole dooth fight with the sicke the strong with the weak and the aflicted with labour with him that hath neuer tasted of any trauaile IT is an extreame follye to abandon with the base minde of a woman and to despise with a childish feare that which is gained with the minde of a man and with the valour of a Souldier and to giue into the hands of the enemye that which he hath as yet not gayned together with riches not hoped for and therefore what hope can be had in them or how maye we beléeue that they are to behaue themselues in armes who making the profession of Souldiours are onely made afraide with thinking vpon warres and with the imagination of battailes therefore is it better to take a glorious death then to desire to liue to lead a shamefull and vile life for in a short space of time life dooth leaue vs but shame dooth neuer leaue vs euen after death but dooth rather make our shame so much the longer and the greater by how much our death hath beene shamefull and infamous WHat signe of victorie can we receiue more certaine then before the battaile to possesse the spoyle and to occupye the enemies lodginges before we come to fight with them and it is much better to ouercome securely by putting the enemy in feare then to put in doubt and hazard his safetie with making proofe experience of armes THere is nothing more swéet to him that is in calamitie then death and that death is most happie which is hoped for and desired for that she dooth not take awaye the delights of time but doth consume the vnplesant taste of bitter and noysome things and as in prosperous things it is good to desire life so in aduersitie it is fit we call after death IT is the parte and duetye of a good Citizen that he doo preserue himselfe for the benefite of the Common-weal and beware that he doo not harme without some fruit and he ought not to leaue off and to slippe any fit saying or act for the commodity of his Countrie yea if moreouer he could no otherwise then with his blood preserue it THose which haue a desire to furnish and to obtaine any thing are accustomed to differ in their words and their déeds forsomuch as they faine all thinges to obtain their intent but after they haue once obtained it they do not in any sorte abstaine from the fulfilling of their desires and besides this those that come after doo alwaies force themselues to ouerpasse their auncestours in audacitie thinking that the like is small for that befoore it hath beene committed they choose that which is vnaccustomed as if it weâ—e a thing fit and worthy for them because it is behinde the opinion and exspectation of men THose that hunt after and desire the gifts of liberalitie it is necessarye that they prouide and force themselues that they doo not lose the same at the beginning forsomuch as seruitude doth alwaies giue the firste and chéefest molestation It is a iust thing to moue warres
because they will not sustaine the same but he that is once become subiect to others and afterwardes would rebell dooth shewe himself rather to be a contumelious slaue then a louer of libertye IN warres it dooth not onlye benefite to be store of men although they be very warlicke but also it dooth benefite the small number if amongst them there be force for those that be few may easily set themselues in order and maye easilye help one another but great armies are of greater trauaile to be set in order and besides that they carrye alwaies with them many vices of minde and those thinges that are of valewe in prosperitie through euerye small errour are exstinguished and become woorth nothing EUen as it is the act of vain-glorious and light men to become proud in prosperitie so is it the acte of men of vile and base mindes to become afraide in errours and aduersities for he that dooth so dooth shewe that he hath no constancie at all that he is ouer-light headed to change himselfe firste into one parte then into another and that the strong man of fortitude is he that dooth remaine firme and dooth not change whose minde is sober and quiet euen in thinges that be administred vnluckily to the intent he may be accounted one selfe person in all his actions correcting errours with right counselles NO man at any time vnlesse he be a vanquishour doth chaÌ„ge wars into peace and it is a great folly to hope for safetie by flying and by casting away his armes wepons wher-withall he doth defend himselfe and doth couer his owne proper bodye and those doo bring greatest perrilles in a battaile which are most afraide for that audacitie is as it were a most strong wall WHen the Nobility gouerns a Common-weale that gouernment cannot be but good and cheefelye when they gouerne by loue and haâ—e an eye to the common benefite for that the Nobilitie being frée from the occupations of Artifficers and handie-crafts they may haue their mindes more apt and turned to the management of the conseruation of the state but when contrariwise the Nobilitye haue their mindes blinded with some passions or corrupted with bribes then iustice running into ruine can neuer be found quiet nor in tranquilitye and specialllye turning that gouernement to the damage of the people to the shame and infamie of the Common-weale TO prepare for warres and at one time not to charge L'erario to constrain vnto warfare those y t would not endamage to take care of all those things appertaining to peace and warres and to doo them before the eyes of the enuious of those that are partiall and those that are aduersaries is a way more difficile then that which a man would beléeue IT is not a parte appertaining to a right Souldiour to runne first to one side then to another for vnto that captaine or Souldiour that hath no stedfast faith a charge of importance cannot be committed vnto his handes neither cannot be trusted with any strong place and therfore vnto men that be strong and of valour it appertayneth more to despise death then to haue our life in hatred and oftentimes those that be vile and base are foreced either through the tedious toyle and trauaile to prouide for themselues and for their owne profit but vertue dooth leaue nothing behinde vnprouided and vnexperimented NEcessitie and force goe oftentimes before reason and chéefelye in the enterprises of warres in the which very rarelye we can be able to determine and to assemble times forsomuch as the fortune of warres dooth instruct euen those that are ouercome in the art of warrefare WHat thing is of greater disgrace then to lament our selues of iniuries and to prepare our selues to war to our perrilles and flying and shunning the Iudge make him our enemye for that the Iudge although he be wicked neuerthelesse dooth interprete the Lawes but thy enimye although he be iust dooth séeke thy death then therefore we ought to please the Iudge and defend our selues from our enemy to the intent he doo not moue and raise vp our neighbours against vs for that by pleasing them they become more benigne and this is auoyded by standing aloofe from him ALthough valour and vertue be accustomed to be commended in warrefare neuerthelesse Fortune hath a swaye and rule therein but it is conuenient that prudent men amend their faultes and errours and in prosperitie to be modest for rude wittes become proude through any happye successe as though they were not to fight with men and those that be weake through anye sinister chaunce loose all hope without considering that the successe of Warres doo easilye change he therfore is a most woorthy man that in aduersities can manly sustaine the furies of fortune and dooth studye to amend his wants faults but he that is negligent dooth fall oftentimes in his rising and running headlong goes altogiter into ruine but if this oftentimes fall out where onelye vertue is how much more in warres where the Squadrons are of sundrye generations their mindes and their willes sundrye the place contrarye the raggednes therof difficile and the space of ground straite to fight in in which thinges fortune is of greater force then vertue WHen a Citizen perswading publicke benefites dooth not shewe therein any passion in applying himselfe to priuate benefites he dooth easilye encline the mindes of the hearers to all that which he desires but when in perswading publick benefites it séemes he hath a meaning to procure some priuate commoditie or his owne profite he doth not so easily bow and make fauourable the mindes of them that heare him IT is a more filthye and infamous thing to those that are in anye dignitye to gaine with fraude and with deceite then by manifest and open violence for violence by all reason proceedes from the power which fortune hath giuen vnto some but deceite from the snares of an vniust minde THat wise Captain which with a good vigilant and prudent eye hath in consideration the enemies erroures and dooth dispose himselfe to assault them hottelye and couragiously not in equall battaile or at an appointed time not with like wil but according as he shall sée his aduauntage he dooth obtaine victorie for the most parte I Make my account that that Citie which departes from the exercise of busines and giues it selfe to idlenes will soone runne into ruine and that those men amongst all the rest liue in greatest securitie that vsing the present lawes although they were lesse good without any contention doo gouerne their Common-weale without strife and discorde IN those cases that may endamage a Common-weale it is better to remaine prouided to defend them then to expect to make prouision when they are come and in all matters of warre it is better to feare then to dispraise for that feare makes wise men to be alwaies prouided and despising for the most parte dooth bring vs vnto those ends that are neither desired nor beléeued EUerye