may be such an example to the rest that they shall not dare to prouoke them againe And so consequently it will come to passe that glory shall be lincked with vtilitie and that those deliberations which proceede of generositie and magnanimitie shall arise to be full of profite and commoditie A Great power vnited wholy together is much more to be feared then the powers forces of many y t are disseuered the which as they haue sundry mouings and proceedings so haue they seuerall disagréeing operations ALthough some hold for a maxime That these coÌ„mon-wealths which are not gouerned by one mans appetite but by the consent of many procéede with more moderation and with greater respects then a Prince can doo neither doo so out of reason depart from that which hath some appearance of honesty as oftentimes they doo yet dooth it fall out to be a farre better gouernment when the common-wealth makes the bodie and the members and the Prince the head so that being incorporated together as one bodie the dignitie maiestie and state of the common-wealth falles out to be of a farre greater perfection A Wise man ought alwaies to draw commodities out of occasions therfore a Prince should not cast away the instruements of encrease neither slack them when he hath the fauours of fortune propetious COuncelles not well measured of Princes are pernitious not onlye to themselues but also to their people when as hauing only before their eyes either vain errours or present ambitions not remembring the often change of fortune and conuerting into damage the power of others graunted them for common commoditie they are made either through want of prudence or through ouer-great ambicion the authors of new troubles PRinces are to their great domage disceiued when in making election of persons vnto whome they commit the execution of important affaires they haue greater coÌ„sideration to the fauour of them they choose then to their valour and vertue GReat Princes thinke themselues iniured when they are denied that thing they desire and become displesed against euery one which followe not their willes and that together with their fortune doo not put forward to them their owne proper fortune SUch as the custome of Princes be such likewise be the gouernment of their affaires If the Prince be of small discretion and lesse estimation they runne into ruine If good and valerous they florish for God doth prosper alwaies the good and for the most part doth throwe downe headlong those that bâ— wicked A New Empire not well ordered nor prudently gouerned doth rather burden then make more mighty him that hath gained it besides that no man hath at any time born himself well in gouerning a state which hath béene euill gotten EUen as in the sustenance of the body it is not only necessary that the head be well and in good state but also it is requisite that the other members do their duety so it is not enough that a Prince be faultles if his officers do not proportionally doo their dueties with diligence and vertue THe nature of great Princes cannot easily resist their appetites like priuate persons for being accustomed to be reuerenced vnderstoode and obeyed by signes they become not onelye hautie and insolent but also they cannot beare nor tollerate to be denied or not to obteine that which séemes iust vnto them and in their sight that appeares iust which they desire perswading themselues that they are able to smoothe and make easie all impediments and to ouercome the nature of thinges with one onelye woorde or looke PRinces and common wealths ought to consider in their enterprises what difference is betwixt making warres against others or exspecting that they come to be made against them to practice and worke the deuision of an other mans state or abide vntill his own be deuided to be accompanied against one alone or to remaine post alone against many that are knit in league togeather And after the consideration héereof to determine which will turne best to his particular profit IT is a note of high prudence and reputation in a great Prince to procéed in such sorte in all his causes that of the actions he workes those that obey him haue not any cause to enter into suspect either that he doth it cunningly to disceiue or feinedly for some other sinister end WHere many Princes that pretend to be equalles doo consort and kéepe company together there dooth easilye spring vp amongst them suspitions and contentions by reason whereof those enterprises which they haue begun with great reputation doo fall into many difficulties and finally become vaine TO giue good hopes to augment as much as is possible the fauours and reputations of an armye with arte and with industrie to remain ready to make agréements and concords according to occasions are affaires fit to be perfourmed of a Prince TO gouerne and raigne dependes onely on fortune but to be a King that doth preferre for his finall end the safetie and felicitie of his people doth onlye depend of him selfe and of his proper vertue IT appertains to wise Princes in their difficill and dangerous determinations to approue for easie and plaucible those that be necessary or that are subiect to lesse difficulties and perilles then the rest BY how much more a King is great and mightye by so much more is it glorious for him to shewe his power for the maintaining of iustice faith nothing being more vnworthie for him and for his â—ommon-wealth then to want and faile in faith ALl people by nature imitate y e customes of their princes and follow his footsteps and according to his procéedings doo either hate him or loue him but when once he begins to be odious whither his actions be good or bad all things be accounted euill but if once he haue begun to get the loue of them euery thing how euill soeuer it be doon is attributed to vertue as though he would not goe about to doo euill if he were not occasioned vpon some grouÌ„ded reason A Prince in duetifull causes must hang in suspition and reserue to himselfe so much as is possible the meanes and facultie to take these deliberations that by the procéeding of generall and vniuersall causes he dooth discern to be his best A Prince can haue no greater felicitie then that his deliberations wherof dooth arise his own greatnes and glory may be accompanied with such consequences circumstances that they may appeare that they are doone no lesse for an vniuersall safetie and benefite then for the exaltation of the whole Christian Common-wealth IT is the custome of Princes artificiallye to entertaine one another with vaine hopes and dissembling practises besides that they be couetous and greedy to embrace counterfeite cullours to the intent they maye with more apparant honestie disturbe and vexe although oftentimes wrongfully the states and dominions of others And if a man goe about to perswade them that which is good he renues molestation and trauaile but
some such singular spirit as shall reioice both men of greatest capacitie and meanest iudgements so committing the worthines of the matter to your censure and protection alwaies hoping my good will and good meaning shall be well accepted I take my leaue leauing you to the blessing of God and to iudge fauourably of my boldenes and wishing you encrease of woorship and credit euen such as your selfe can desire Yours at commaundement in that he may Robert Hichcock ¶ Francisco Sansouino to the Emperour Rodolph the second MOst happie and fortunate Emperour there is nothing more necessary for a Prince in this world thē Histories for so much as being the mirrours maisters of our life they shew and teach vs what the gouernment of a cittie and Prouince ought to be what lawes we ought to institute cause our subiects to obserue in what manner to increase maintain diuine worships in what sort to exercise morall vertues and how to reape benefit of counsell in our affaires of importance heerof it came to passe that histories were called of wise men most noble for their antiquitie for so much as by them we receiue the creation of this huge worlde and the originall of mans generation For their perpetuitie because they haue endured with the world and shall continually endure alwaies writing vp humaine Actions for the benefit of our posteritie For their dignitie in respect they befit to be read and known as the proper art and science of Emperours of Kings of common weales and of great Lords and captaines for their generalities considering that in histories we finde written in euery tung in euerie Prouince and in euerie age those things that haue falne out either well or euil For their iustice because they do honour and dishonour whosoeuer doth merite deserue the same giuing due praise to the excellencie of vertue valour and dispraise to the vile filth of vice and idlenes For their subiect for that they do entreate of great things the acts of great men which they haue accomplished to the intent to enlarge to preserue and to sway rule For their end because the same is no other thē to sacrifice trueth to eternitie For their profit for the making vs to beholde thinges past we may prudentlye by their meanes foresee that which is to come and therfore it came to passe in former auncient time many excellent Princes and Emperours not content with the glory they had gotten through their wise and valiant acts did greatlye desire also to ioyne vnto their name this other glory that is eloquently to haue written histories as did Augustus after him Adrianus and finally Gordianus the predecessours of your Maiestie To this therfore hauing applied my studie not to obserue onely what the cuntries the mountaines and the riuers and flouds of this world are or to haue knowledge how embassages were sent of Parlaments of the managing and handling of affaires or to vnderstand the voyages of armies their order in ranging battailes their encamping their Stratagems their beseegings their expugnations their victories but rather to drawe and suck out of all these particular things the sap the sweete and marrow reducing them into precepts for the commoditie of great persons that being otherwise busied neither haue they time neither can they well continually apply thēselues in reading of histories which was the onely motiue that made me take in hand this book wherinto if any prince or gouernour will looke he may as though it were in a bright christal glasse incontinently beholde the substance that fully is contained in the volumes of the most commendable auncient and moderne writers And for so much as so worthie and noble food appertaines vnto Princes and for that amongst Princes your Emperiall Maiestie is of highest degree and dignitie therfore comming toward your Maiestie with no lesse affection of minde then that wherwithall I was enflamed when I applyed my selfe about this profitable enterprise I present the same most humbly at the feete of your Maiestie to the intent that with your sacred name due perfect honor may be giuen to this worke since it shal be vnder the protection of your Emperiall maiestie who carying in his noble person the greatnes and felicity of so many famous Emperours and Heroes of that worthie house of Austridge which through a long course of worlds haue gouerned and shall gouern heerafter the sacred Empire who being no lesse benigne and affable then high in blood and honour I assure my self that he will not disdaine to look vpon the same for although it be little in quantity yet notwithstanding it is very great in qualitie since it containes in it self a Quintesence of those thinges that haue been written for the profit and commoditie of men gouernours and Princes Venice the 24. of February 1578. The most humble and dutifull seruant of your Emperiall Maiestie Francisco Sansouino ¶ The Author to the Reader I Could imparte vnto you many thinges touching this my present trauaile excusing my selfe for that I haue not called the same rather experiments aduertisements maximies axiomies precepts or sentēces thē cōceits And therin to haue entermixt some morall and priuat matters if I had not been assured that I should not preuaile For I know very wel that it is almost a general rule by that I haue obserued in things past that euery writer what good intent soeuer hath moued him or what trauail soeuer he hath endured for the vniuersall profit of all yet is he euer taxed of criticall persons forsomuch as our tunges being moued and stirred through enuie or hate or through a certaine corruption which is brought in amongst vs not to haue any taste but onely in our own proper matters we are much more easie drawne to speak euill then the wisedome of him that is moued is prompt and readie to doo well Therfore referring all my excuses to your vpright iudgement when it is not driuen forward with any passion I will onely say this that I holde for a certain that this worke howsoeuer it be will be of great helpe and aide to those that be studious for that I imagine it will enriche the priuat discourses and the publicke actions of those that shall chaunce at any time to vse and handle these conceits in humain actions which almost haue been euer the selfe-same in all times and amongst all men and for that in the working and negotiating of affaires as wel in publick as in priuat they will minister vnto them many conditions and partes the which conceites although they be somewhat generall yet neuerthelesse they will giue no small light partitie how to knowe the partes and conditions of greatest aduauntage in particular things as well of publicke actions as of priuate affaires And although these accidents which doo at vnawares chaunce vnto men in their affaires and vpon the deed dooing are so many and so vnknowen that they cannot be comprehended within the compasse of precepts therefore
looke about him so oftentimes as he knowes it more perillous to stand still then to aduenture MAtter 's of warrefare consist rather in obedience then in will intruding themselues to knowe the circumstances and reasons of the Generall Captains affaires and that army aboue all other is of greatest valour in perilles at the encounter and charge that before the encouÌ„ter and stroke of the battaile is more then any other in tranquilitie and quiet ALl they that would determine and resolue themselues vpon any thing of importance ought to consider whither that which they enterprise and take in hand to doo is to fall out profitable to the Common-welth honourable to himselfe and easie to be brought to passe or at leastwise not very difficill IN all enterprises it is necessary to haue an eye be aduertised if any one perswade beside giuing of counsell whether likewise he put himself in peril wheÌ„ fortun hath brought y e enterprise to an end who it is y e ought to haue the principall degrée and honour IN discordes and tumultes those haue alwaies most force and power that amongst all the rest be most wicked In peace and quietnes those are of most valour that doo shine and are decked with good and commendable disciplines ALl men naturally are good when they reape no profit or take no delight in euill but so greatly dooth varrie the corruption of this world their fragilitie that easilye and very often for their owne profit they encline to euill Therefore the rewarde of vertue and punishment of vice was found out and inuented by wise Lawe-giuers for the foundation of Common-wealth not to destroye men but to the intent they might followe the inclination of nature HE that hath to gouerne Citties peoples and would haue them corrected let him punishe the offenders in them after the rate of thirtéene pence halfepeny and let him in effect chastise all faultes he may very well vse mercy but not in hainous causes for in those it is requisite to giue example to the rest GLorie for that it is the proper and true reward of humaine trauails is that which doth enflame and prick forward woorthye mindes to honourable enterprises neither can we finde out any thing that is of greater effect to cause any man to raise vp his mind to quicken his vnderstanding and to make sharpe his industrie then the desire to obtaine glory and the hope of immortallity SO long as men shall be in the world so long shall there be found vices these neuerthelesse not alwaies nor continually but the good and the euill shall come in their turnes and by the comming of better thinges they shall recompence and redresse themselues amongst themselues EUen as discord in a Cittie doth discouer and giues occasion to those that lye in waite to betray to perform their practises well so vnitie dooth knit together the diuersities of opinions and of many making one body alone doth kéepe gouernments and States vncorrupted NO lesse doth a kingdom take her beginning of a King then a king of a kingdome for the King giues lawes and orders to the kingdome and not the kingdome to the King the pardons the gifts the warres the peace the punishments and the rewardes doo procéede from the King to the kingdome and not in contrary course for onely vnto an emperiall maiestie appertaines to commaund and the Common-wealth to obay AS in a building of importance there is greater perrill when a stone falles foorth of the foundation theÌ„ fifty tiles from the roofe so it is a greater faulte once to disobaye iustice then to commit a hundreth errours against the Common-wealth for we haue oftentimes séene that there hath sprung vp scandalles of great importance in a Common-wealth through a very small disobedience IN doubtfull causes we cannot haue recourse to any better thing then to counsell for the piller and remedye of doubt is counsell but in trueth leauing counsel aparte we ought to put ende to the execution thereof and with so much greater speede followe and performe that thing that is assuredly determined by how much more we perceiue it to be frée and secure from all perilles and to serue to the purpose and is apt and good for our intention WE ordaine and commaund that to that man which doth not rule his life aright which doth not gouerne his house well which dooth not administer well his owne affaires and which dooth not vse discipline towardes his famulie liuing in debate with his neighbours shall haue giuen vnto him a gouernour which may haue charge ouer him like a foole and that he be chased from amongst the people like a vagabound for Common-wealthes are neuer disturbed but by those that haue no methode and maner of rule in their life AMongst mortall men there is nothing more common and therewithall more perillous then to giue place to that imagination wherby wee beleeue that the state of one man is better then that of an others and heereby it comes to passe that humain malice dooth so blinde men that they rather seeke to haue that with trauaile which appertaines vnto another then to enioye with rest and quietnes that which is his owne The state of a Prince assuredlye is good if of them it be vsed to a good end and the being of the people is likewise good if they be content with the same So in like sorte that of religious men is best if they reape that profite thereby which they ought To be rich is very good if therein they vse temperaunce in like manner the poore man if he haue patience his esâ—ate falles out to be good for to merrite doth not consist in suffering many trauailes and discommodities but by hauing in them great patience TO threaten and manace a mightye enemye and to make him mindful that thou aboundantly retaines in memorye the iniuries receiued of him is no other then to inuite and stir him vp to a greater offence for either thou art such a one that thou hast to be ashamed that thou art inflamed to contend with him and cannot suffer it or thou art such a one that he maye in what or whensoeuer be afraide of thy power And if he be wise he will neuer expect that time so all those threatninges shall fall out to be to thy damage IF Subiects did know what it costes the Prince to commaund and rule or if the Prince did knowe how sweet a thing it is to liue in peace the meaner sorte would haue more compassion towardes the greater and the greater would not beare enuye towards the meaner for much lesse be the pleasures that Princes inioye in respect of the displeasures they suffer but as the state of a Prince is greater then all others can performe more then all others is more woorth then all others doth support more then all others and to conclude doth ouerpasse and excell the gouernment of all others So is it most necessarye that the Court the person and
accidents and chaunces that dooth followe the same but those haue very euill hopes that abase and intangle themselues in things of small importance wherof succeeds small losse and as small dishonour HE that desires to be beloued of his Superiours it is requisite that he shewe himselfe to vse respect and reuerence towards them For nothing doth more offend the mindes of our betters then that it should séeme vnto them that we doo not carry that respect and that reuerence towards them that they iudge dooth appertaine vnto them WHosoeuer hath the charge of a Cittie that is to be besieged or assaulted ought to make most mightye foundations and grounds vpon all those remedies which prolong the time and to estéeme very muche euerye thing although it be verye small that takes away time from the enemy for oftentimes one day one hower of aduauntage doth bring foorth some accidents that may set theÌ„ frée and at liberty HE deceiues himselfe that resolues vpon the firste aduertisementes that come and are brought him touching his affaires for they alwaies ariue with greater heate and with greater terrour then they fall out to be when they grow to effect therfore he that is not constrained by necessitie let him alwaies expect the second aduertisements and the rest one after another IT is almost impossible but that he which with a great and wonderfull efficacie dooth affirme a thing should raise some ambiguitie to beleeue the contrary yea in the mindes of those that are resolutely determined WHen we proceed to giue beginning to the execution of any new great and difficill thing although it be already thorowly determined vpon but diuers reasons present themselues vnto the mindes of men which in contrary sence may be considered IT is very perilous to gouerne our selues by examples if the selfesame reasons doo not concurre as well in the generall as also in the particular pointes if the affaires be not ruled with the same prudence and if besides that in all the other grounds and foundations the verye selfe fortune doo not play his parte to woorke the like effects EUen as to suffer our selues to be ouercome by our affections is a seruile act so to restraine our rage ire which is an impediment to our counsell to vse victorye temporatly which of it owne nature is proude and insolent to rule our selues and appetites which is the parte of a staide and woorthy hart and to be humaine benigne and liberall towardes our enemie is truelye a most famous and princelye qualitye woorthye of diuine and eternall memory THere is nothing more proper more conuenient more necessary or more profitable to a Prince then to be iust liberall and benigne for it appertaines to their power and greatnes to be mindefull of the oppressed and to releeue other mens calamities and speciallye for Kinges who are the liuely images of God WIcked and naughty persons haue power to doo euill and although they doo it not it is not so gratefull to behold that they doo it not as it is noisome to thinke that they may doo it and therefore without doubt it is a miserable thing to haue before our eyes that person that without any feare alwaies when he will maye harme And it most séems an impossible thing that he dooth not hurt For knowing that the good cannot keepe companye or consorte with him it is behouefull for him to beare them hatred and knowing that they are followed and fauoured of all the rest that be good it behoues him likewise to stand in feare of theÌ„ Now therfore to escape from him that hates that feares and that hath power to doo euill dooth arise more of aduenture then reason MY opinion is that if nobilitie and grauitie I speak of that wherof men superficially make such estimation doo not consist in any other thing then in the long succession of our auncestours beginnings and euents and of good counsel He may be called most noble most graue whose knowledge and whose counsell doth spring from these accidents that are borne from the beginning of the world euen vntill this present time EUen as it is a great offeÌ„ce for vs to praise those things that are of wicked and pernitious example so it is no lesse sinne and shame to burye those in obliuion the which through their merites of vertue deserue to be most highly celebrated THat Common-wealth where iustice is found for the poore chastisement for those that be insolent tirants weight and measure in those things that are solde for the vse of man exercise and discipline amongst yong men small couetousnes amongst olde persons can neuer perishe A Prince ought not to beléeue that to make choise of a good maister for his sonne is of small importance for if in this point he doo not vse very great diligence he dooth burden himselfe with a great fault my opinion therefore is that he ought not to giue the office of instructing his Sonne in such sort as other offices are giuen that is either for requestes either for giftes either for importunitie either for ametie either else in respect to reward some seruice for although some of his subiects haue béen Ambassadours in strange and forraine Countries or the Generall of his armye or that he hath borne in his royall Courte great offices yet for all that it followes not that he should be apt to instruct the Sonne of his Prince For to be a good Generall it is requisite for him to be ful of valour and verye fortunate but to be the maister and instructour of a Prince it is necessary that he be indowed with great vertue ioyned together with a setled and staide minde IN the aduerse chaunces of our life and in the persecutions of fortune where industrie and force dooth a little helpe it is the best remedy to esteem of them like men and to disseemble them like prudent persons HE that takes in hand to performe any enterprise and afterwardes dooth not know how to issue foorth of the same or to bring it to an end either he shall faile in Conscience or it is ouer troublesome and tedious for he that is afraide of shame and dooth possesse a worthie noble hart either must make an end of that enterprise he hath taken vpon him or else declare the occasion that moues him to giue it ouer THis difference is discerned betwixt one Prince and an other that he that is euill is onely obeyed but he that is good is both obeyed and loued and besides that a good and vertuous prince makes hard enterprises to séem light but with a tirant those that be light are made most hard through their pernitious naughtines Happy is he therefore that is obeyed but most happy the other that is both obeyed and loued for the bodie becomes weary to obeye but the minde is neuer wearied neither euer satisfied witâ— louing A Good Prince ought neuer to laye handes vpon anâ— man for what iniurie soeuer he hath doone him for hiâ—
and perrils hath gained but much more he is to be reprehended which doth it through a fearefull and base minde then he that doth it through generositie and greatnes IT comes by nature that aâ—ter suspect followes hate after hate followes harmes after harmes followes the familiaritie and confederations with the enemies of him that hath offended and the determination not onely to assure himselfe but to gaine Moreouer with the ruine of the endamaged the memory of the iniurye greater without doubt and more displeasant in him that dooth it then in him that receiues it THe principall grounds in determining vpon any enterprise be the iustice and right of the cause the facilitie and easines to ouercome the fruit and commodity of the victorie THe desire of liberty almost a thing naturall in al men ought to consist in the equall proportion of the conditions artes and qualities of the Citizens a most necessary foundation in populare gouernment AS the distribution of Magistrates and the determination of the lawes dependes vpon the arbitriment of fewe the Citizens then being intentiue not about publike profites but about couetous and priuate affaires there dooth arise particular sects and conspiracies with the which the deuisions of the Cittie doo ioyne themselues a most assured plague and death to the Common-weaâ—â—hâ—s of empires and gouernments IT was neuer accounted wisdome to determin vpon any matter of moment without long consultation and without reuoluing and disgesting the same in our mindes â—n infinite number of times OF his owne nature nothing is more shorte nothing doth liue a lesse while then the memory of benâ—â—ites and so much the greater they be so much the more they aâ—e paid with the partes of ingratitude for he that cannot nor will not blot them out with requitalles dooth oftentimes goe about to deface them by perswading himselfe that they haue not been so great as they were and those which become ashamed that they were brought into such tearms that they haue had néed of benefites growe to be displesed that they haue receiued them in such sorte that hate is of more effect in them through the auntient memory of their necessitie into which they did fall then the bond of the obligation through the confederation of the curtesie which hath béen vsed vnto them WHere insolence is there is blindenes where vaine lightnes is there is no knowledge of vertue no iudgement to discearne the actions of others neither no grauitie to measure that which is conuenient to him selfe THe practises the preparations and the opperations of confederates are differred interrupted broken off and varied according to the forces according to the ends and according to the counselles of Princes whereby it is not easie to make an assured and firme knotte and vnion where there be diuersities of mindes variety of wils and change of conditions and qualities PRinces that bend of their owne proper inclination to preferre vtilitie before fidelitie are easilye perswaded the selfesame that other Princes are THe common people of his nature is couetous alwaies of new things who are easie to be filled 〈…〉 errours and with false perswaisions euen as 〈◊〉 waues of the Sea are rouled forward with the blast◠〈◊〉 winde AS of an vnexpert and vncapable iudge we cannot look for a right sentence so of a people that is full of confusion and ignoraunce we cannot look for but by meare chaunce an election and deliberation of reason and discretion IT is the nature of men when they departe from one extreme in the which they haue béene holden violentlye to runne voluntarily without staying in the meane into other extremeties THe successe of warres depend for the most parte of reputations the which when they decline the valour and vertue of the Souldiers likewise decline the fidelitye of the people deminishe the reuenues appointed to sustain the warres grow to be nothing contrariwise the minde of the enemies encrease doubts are nourished and al sorts of difficulties doo augment infinitely IN all humaine actions it is oftentimes requisite to accommodate and frame our counsell to our necessitie neither for the desire we haue to obtaine that part which is ouer difficile and almost impossible to put all to the hazard of manifest perrilles THose leages wherin there chaunceth to be many potentates are not so firme or of such concord but that we may hope that they wil become colder or some of them to dis-vnite himselfe from the rest IT is the nature of men that those things which in the beginning present themselues verye teriblye doo in such sorte canâ—ell and diminish the same from day to day that if no newe accidents doo arise that may make freshe and quicken the terrour and feare they haue They make themselues in the processe of small time almost assured EUery one that dooth perceiue and smelles out that there is no account made of him becomes angry anger makes him bolde or else somtimes to applye himselfe to thinke moste perrillous thinges the which oftentimes comes to passe and cheefely if to audacitie any authority be ioyned to some singular quality that is in the person of him that is growne so audatious PErrillous determinations and practises so much the more they are considered of so much the vnwillinglye they are taken in hand wherupon it dooth alwaies come to passe that those commorations and rebellions that giue space of time to the execution of them are discouered THe name of liberty is so woorthy a thing that no force can tame it no time can consume it and no merite can counterpese it in so much as to go about to maintain seruilitie in a frée Citie forrain forces are not sufficient and of those within the same a man can put no confidence for those that be now freendes and comfort others to take vpon them the Signorie when they haue by the authoritie of their new Lord ouerthrowen their enemies they go about afterwardes as they can or maye to thrust out the Prince and make themselues Lords TO one that is accustomed to liue lose and at libertye euery chaine is waighty and euery bond dooth pinch although to finde a violent state with a good Prince is almost impossible for of necessitie it is conuenient either that they become like or else that spéedilye the one or the other doo ruinate THat Cittie that would maintaine it selfe more by sects and factions then by lawes when one sect doth remain at home without opposition of necessity it comes to passe that it deuide it selfe for from these priuat meanes it cannot defend it self the which for her safetie she had firste ordained TIme is not euer altogether commodious to woorke a thing in in such sort that whosoeuer doth expect all the commodities or else dooth neuer attempt any thing or if he doo attempt it doth performe it for the most parte to his disaduauntage AS Erâ—onices which otherwise should be smal become in warres capitall hauing against him a prepared enemy which giues no time
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
well ordered Common-weale ought to proceede faire and easily to banish a man foorth of his house and to send him into exile who through his vertue or through his fauour either with his owne or with forraine strangers may be embraced of his enemies and that may more hurt them being banished then he could benefite being at home in his owne house FOr that it is a perrillous thing to tell the trueth vnto Princes and speciallye in those thinges that they are resolutely determined to doo esteeming them for good therefore it silâ—ome comes to passe that they are well councelled and as they ought to be forasmuch as if they tell the trueth he becomes their enemy if they flatter he obtaines their grace and flatterye is more secure then veritie IF the opinion and iudgements that be contrary amongst themselues be not well examined and discussed we cannot so easily make choise of the best parte but it is conuenient to vse that which is first reported but when many do alleadge that which euery one dooth beléeue to be best we maye make choice thereof as we would doo of golde that dooth glister of it selfe and being put to the touch is discearned whither it be pure or not ALl the gaine of great enterprises dooth consist in good counsell and although some froward hap doo chaunce against all counsell this comes to passe for that Fortune dooth ouercome our prouidence but hee that dooth take naughty counsell although it succeede happily is woorthy of blame for verye sildome to the deuices of euill counsell dooth succeed prosperous endes A Good counsellour ought neuer to hide the trueth although it turn to the preiudice of his life for it is better for him to loose his life then to kéepe secret a good counsell for that the end of things will make manifest of what minde he was that did wiselye giue counsell and who did speak things to please the Prince to flatter him and it wil then followe that the good counsellour will be better beloued being so dead then the flatterer shall be esteemed that remaines liuing MAnye chaunces in warrefare make men beleeue that men constrained of necessitie procéed much farther theÌ„ their proper courage and naturall force dooth beare and héerby it comes to passe that many after the ouer-throwe constrained to begin a new battaile haue ouerthrown the vanquishours THose which haue their life in gifte of the enemye and accustomed oftentimes to dye with miserie and with shame and contrariwise all those that consider that the law of death is common to all without hauing to fighting combate or any other perrill they goe to encounter an honorable death such as those haue I euer seene arriue to a goodly olde age and during their life alwaies to manage honorable enterprises and such as were ful of great praise and fame IT sildom comes to passe that any good counsel should not generally be accepted of all for that our vnderstanding being by nature giuen to settle and staye it selfe in true thinges or that haue great apparence of trueth it is requisite that they should embrace right counselles for good and true THe speach of a light and of an inconstant person is reputed vnprofitable and vaine who dooth vnconsideratly runne here and there without any reputation or honor Contrariwise when it is knowne that any one dooth carry greate respecte to his faith his speache when he dooth desire praye or make request is much more woorth then the force of any other And the same chanceth when he would cause any one to returne to his obedience he dooth farre more basely obtaine his desire with woordes then an other with déedes and his threatnings haue more force then other meanes executions and punishments and he dooth bring foorth greater frute by promising then any other by giuing NO man that dooth gouerne and rule others can haue neither a more godlye neither a more honourable riches then vertue iustice and the magnanimitie of minde The which if any one haue hauing together with the same greate numbers of frâ—endâ—â— and trustie faithfull persons hâ—e can not but be verye rich neither shall he want anye persons that shall reioyce with him in his prosperitie and who in y e time of aduersse fortune will conuersse with him helpe him and succour him IT is no doubte but that the couetousnes of Princes Officers be apte and sufficient to make their goodnes and bountie infamous For that Princes when they make warres not béeing able for the moste parte to be there in personne of force they must put trust in their Officers and Commissaryes of their Campe. Who beleeuing that the Souldiours may be driuen off and entertayned with fayre woordes and greate hopes retaines those payes which Princes doo send to the Armye to paye the Souldiours NOt onely the Common-weales but also priuate men ought of necessitie by how much the more they florish in forces by so much the more to procure themselues those things which at some time maye turne to their profit to the intent that when occasion and néed requires they may haue a defence wherewithall to help themselues HE that desires to ouercome ought not to put himselfe in flight for victorie is not gained with our shoulders but with our hands euery victorie merites to be praised in euery place but that which is shewed séene in warres is woorthy to be celebrated and lift vp euen vnto heauen for that the same is visible and doth shine in the middest of so many perrilles no lesse then golde in the midst of a hot flaming fire FRom the beginning of the world it hath béen instituted for a lawe that Cities taken by warres should appertaine to the conquerours and besides this the men the money and what thing soeuer else is within the Citie to be a reward of the victorie MEn estéeme it a great thing to gaine Empire but much greater it is to kéepe it after that it is gotten for that we oftentimes sée that manye through audacitye and fortune may take a Kingdome but not maintain it whilste it is gained with much diligence and care without Prudence and Temperance THe proportion or the name dooth not make anye man freend or enemye but the good or euill which we reap of things dooth make theÌ„ freends or enemies louing thâ—se that bring vs good and hating those that bring vs euill neither haue men planted this lawe neither haue we taken it from any of our predicessours but nature doth teach it vs and for this rispect we leaue our fréendes when they offend vs and embrace our enemies when they doo benefite vs and that Citie which hath engendred vs we loue it when it dooth well and dispraise it when it shewes the contrarie and dooth euill and this falles not out by reason of the place where it is set but through the damage or through the proffite which chaunceth to be perfourmed by the same neither dooth it chaunce only to priuate persons to
permits that nouelties arise in his kingdome and y t those which ought to obeye liue in greater securitie then Princes and great Lords PRinces doo not gaine honour for going enuironed with wicked men for heaping vp treasures for killing the innocents for taking from others their goods but for being conuersant with those that be good for straite familiaritie with the wicked bringes the life of a good man to be suspected For spending his riches in good woorkes it beeing a thing by proofe verye manifest that that man which makes account of his fame estéemes little of mony for routing out tirants for that the good hermonye in the gouernment of a Prince dooth consist in chastesing of the wicked and rewarding the good and for the giuing fréelye of that which is his own for nothing dooth make more notable the maiestie of a Prince then to shew his greatnes in helping of others and not to be gréedy to be ouerpassed and aduauntaged by others TWo things makes a cittie safe and secure and brings vnto those that gouernes the same praise and honour the one is when it is garded by the most mighty and kept and conserued with due defence the other is if the Gouernours doo ioyne and knit themselues together in amitie with their neighbours without the which they cannot fréely conduct victuaâ—les and other necessarye thinges from one place to another in safetie A Prince or Lord that desires to be obeyed it is necessary that what he commaundes be first obserued to be in his owne person for no Lord or Prince can well withdrawe or exempt himselfe from vertuous opperations for so much as a Prince being an example to others is bound to vse such actions and opperations that he may become a woorthye and notable example to those that he gouernes IF a Prince would knowe for what end he is a Prince I would tell him to gouerne well and to be patient when he is tolde that men murmure at his dooinges forsomuch as finallye they are men and become handled like men neither can they shunne the miseries of men and neuer was there any Prince in this worlde but that he was touched yea and torne with the tunges of wicked persons for they are subiectes to those two euents that if they be wicked they incurre the euill will of those that be good and if they be good soddainly all those that be wicked murmure THere be two thinges amongst the rest that woorke great effectes against the State the one is ambition the other is desperation neuerthelesse the second is much woorsse then the first for so much as ambition may expect occasion and oppertunitie but so cannot desperation it being a Subiect vnto the which there beeing no time permitted or graunted it neither can nor is able to graunt it to others TO receiue losse is neuer good of his owne nature yet it is very true that it may sometimes accidently helpe and benefite when it is receiued and dooth chaunce vnto men that be of good vnderstanding for it is an occasion to bring them to be of great experience since there is a fewe if once they haue not proued the euill will enter into conceite or beléeue that the same is such as it is whereof it ariseth that those that be vnexpert and ignorant in their affaires doo euer procéede either with ouer-great rashenes wheras if once they haue tasted the wrath of fortune they become more warie carefull and prouident PRinces ought to studye to indeuour themselues to vse such conuersation with their Subiects that they may make choise rather to serue them for their good wills then for wages and rewardes for when money begins to deminish their seruice likewise beginnes to diminish and a thousand troubles dooth folowe them which doo not serue with a good hart for he that dooth loue with all his whole affection dooth not become arrogant in propertie doth not withdraw himselfe in aduerse fortune dooth not complain of his pouertye dooth not grudge at y e small fauour which is vsed towardes him neither dooth departe from him in time of persecution and bréefly that course of life and loue doth neuer take end vntill the houre of death PRinces without doubt haue greater néede to haue about them more wiseand prudent men to the intent 〈◊〉 preuaile by them and to vse their counsell then any other whosoeuer for since they are to stand in centernell and watch to beholde and discouer what the dooings of all others be they haue lesse liberty or licence then their subiects haue to commit errours for euen as they haue liberty to beholde and iudge of others euen so are they behelde and iudged of others without any licence or liberty granted them so to doo EUery state ought to desire peace and thereof to make demonstrations both with déeds and with woords but for al that they ought to shew themselues in military preparations and prouisions most warlicke for a disarmed peace is weake and féeble neither dooth there séeme to be contradiction betwixt the desiring of peace and to arme our selues since there is nothing more fréend to ease and peace then knowledge and specculation to the antiquitie it did seeme conuenient that the image of Pallace which is the Goddesse of science should be portraited and figured armed DUetie requires that a fréend doo indeuour him selfe to yéeld helpe vnto an other freend and must not expect and tarry vntill he be requested for he that dooth so dooth not only offer it thankfully but dooth also cause it to be receiued as thankfully preuenting and taking away in his fréend a certaine shamefastnes and feare which dooth alwaies accompany y e demaunder wherby it comes to passe that he receiues it with a more gratefull minde and with greater disposition to yéelde the like againe in exchange A Prince dooth playe a verye wise parte when he dooth procure to haue prudent and valiant Captaines for the warres but without comparison it is much better to kéepe in his Courte wise men for the victories of battailes dooth finally consist in the force of many but the gouernement of the Common-wealth sometimes is referred and credited to the aduise and iudgement of one alone THat particular loue that princes very often shew more to one then to another is a thousand times occasion of gréeuous alterations in kingdomes for by reason that one is in disgrace and out of fauour and another in loue and credit there dooth spring vp harmefull hates pernitious thoughtes and great enuye the end whereof is wicked woordes and finallye wicked déedes And therefore that Prince that dooth make any difference in conuersation with those that be equall dooth kindle and set fire in his Common-wealth AMongst all other offices there is none wursse then to take charge to chastise other mens vices and therefore a wise man ought to flée this care like the infection of the plague for to reprehend vices dooth spring greater hate against him that dooth chastice theÌ„
there doth grow amendment in him that is chasticed PRinces and wise men ought to prohibite that seditious persons doo not disturbe the quiet of the people for whē the people doo rise the desire of riches is wakened couetousnes doth encrease iustice doth fall of it selfe wicked persons preuaile good men are reprehended and finally euery one dooth reioyce to liue to the preiudice of others to the intent they may set forward their déeds to prefer their own proper commodities ALthough we excuse ordinarilye the fault of any man that hath cōmitted the same notwithstanding there is no man found faultie nor any fault which dooth not merite punishment for if he did commit the same in his rage vpon the suddaine it was a great euill and offence but if he committed the same pondering the case before hand and with deliberation it was much wursse IT is very good that we goe about to doo all thinges with reason and it is good that we doo guide all our enterprises in order but yet in this there falles out to be great difficulties For wise and staid men in perfourming their affaires doo consider reuolue compasse with such diligence those inconueniences that may spring in y e same that they neuer almost determine to resolue vpon any finall end REason requires that that Cittizen which is in the state of a priuate person is affable and curteous with his frends when he doth arise afterwards to beare the title of a Magistrate that he should maintaine himself with them in the selfe-same degrée of humanitie for euen as to become proude through the obtaining of perpetuall honours newly gotten either by Fortune or by valour is a demonstratiue signe of a vile abiect minde So to become hautie through the office of a Magistrate which is shortly to take ende is the signe of a minde that dooth possesse small modesty and vertue for although honours do change manners and humours of men yet for all that they ought to change them not into wursse but into better ALl persons of iudgement that desire to obtaine any thing that is difficile to attaine vnto procure to haue meanes to be able to obtain it for many things are broght to passe if a man haue any great or good facility dexterity in thē which we lose whē we go about to get thē by force A Man must so farre as is possible kéep himself from emulations which are of most naughty nature and endowed with apparēt customes which haue in their mouth the contrarye to that which is their minde and must double their tung not suffering it vnaduisedlye to breake the bonds and the two bulwarkes of the teeth and the lips amongst which nature hath shut vp the tung as in y e midst of a strong and double Fortresse HE that doth inuade occupie a state must gain the fauour of the souldiers with rewards and gifts the good willes and grace of the people with the abundance of the Cittie the beneuolence of the vniuersall cuntrie with ease and with peace and afterwards draw vnto him the affairs and actions of the old gouernment that of the magistrats and togither with the same the authoritie of the lawe TO a general captain besides his knowledge in the art of wars it appertains to him to be indewed w t magnanimity temperance fortitude liberality prudence to him it is requisit to carry authority in his déeds grauity in his woords and to kéep faith in his promise moreouer he must disgest and discourse vpon his affaires with great aduisement deliberate vpon them with mature iudgements and execute them with great celeritie In his countenaunce he must shewe himselfe vnto his Souldiers wilde alegre and sterne he ought to be pleasant humaine and benigne towards men neuertheles obseruing alwaies together with that manner of behauiour his degrée and y e decorum of his dignitie that he neither with his ouer-much familiaritie and homelines make his armye become dissolute and of small obedience neither with ouer-much severitie bring them to be his enemies and for so much as the beneuolence of the Souldiers is the most certaine hope to obtaine victorie he must so frame his actions that not onelye they may carry towards him a due respect and reuerence but that they may more-ouer loue one another greatlye and him especially therefore he ought alwaies to reward and honour those that merites and contrariwise reproche and punish those that are faultie THe power of Fortune is very great in all humain operations yet greater in military affaires then in any other but vnstable vnmeasurable and infinite in the deedes of armes Where a commaundement euill vnderstoode an appointed order euil executed one rash temeritie one vain voice euen of the meanest souldier dooth oftentimes carry the victorie to them which appeare to be ouercommen where at vnawares doo rise innumerable Accidents which are impossible to be foreséene or gouerned by the counsel of the Generall or Captaines HE dooth most easilye deceiue others who is reported neuer to deceiue and which dooth couer with falshood that which is true ONe Iudge alone dooth very well and easily discearne matters as well those that be true as those that be sinisterly enterpreted for so much as hate and enuy where they are many may perfourme much more HOw much greater and how much more important things are so much more they are spoken of and so muche lesse we doo gather and groape out the trueth in respect that one sorte of men beleeue and declare for true those things that they haue heard whether they be true or false othersome although part of those things be true yet alwaies they reporte them otherwise thē they are and so with time they encrease and those that come after to those things that they haue heard of their Auncestours do alwaies adde and ioyne some-thing more THe heauens doo seldome times graunt that y e greatnes of priuat persons neare vnto Princes doo endure perpetually for that the one or the other dooth washe them away hauing thē graunted the whole there rests no more for them to gape after AT the hands of the Prince is alwaies expected something more high and greater then of others And as euerye one in particular dooth receiue a good parte those thinges that be well doone of him so contrariwise the Prince is onely the man vpon whom doth fall all the hate and euill will of vniuersall errours TO procure fauours and authorities sometimes with pompe and libertye somtimes with watchfulnes and industrie are harmfull and pernitious meanes when they are vsed fainedlye to open the way to principalitye and therfore it is the sayings of wise men that the pathes that leades other men to principalities is very rough and difficil but when once a man is entred and slipt into them the fauours and helpes of many doo concurre on all sides I Oftentimes doubt in my selfe whether it be giuen to Princes from their birth as in other thinges it is