other whereupon will those so mighty Princes of Germany and the Imperiall townes spend their reuenues and incomparable riches what occasion can all of them finde more goodly then this to attaine to an immortall glory It is then for the inlarging the kingdome of Christ that we must imploy all we haue and for the deliuerance of those sacred places ouer which those barbarous infidels tyrannize to redeeme so many thousand of poore Christian slaues which suffer and grone vnder the yoake of that inraged dogge to giue life to an infinite number of Christians to reuenge their wrongs to punish the iniurires blasphemies which that tyrant and his helhounds haue breathed out against the glory of God his holy name and church And if humaine appetite must needs be an actor in this theater it would be an easie matter for great Princes that send their forces to vrge this consideration in the capitulations that they should haue in fauour of their contributions part of the spoiles and conquests that they might happily obtaine Againe if the loue of the seruice of God had a working in them they might vndertake in person the Generall conduct of the army or command part of the confederat troupes Godfrey a poore Prince in comparison of those that now sway Christendome alienated the Duchy of Bouillion for so godly a voyage Stephen Count of Chartres did the like with his estate as did also many great men who had no other motiue thereunto then the enterprise of the holy land Charles the seuenth King of France did he not succor the Emperour of Constantinople with a great number of horse which he sent him vnder the conduct of the greatest personages of his kingdome And must we sit idle with crossed armes whilest the cruell flames of this infidels tyranny burne and consume the houses of our neighbours CHAP. X. Wherein consist the greatest forces of the Turke 1 Whether the Ianizzars be the chiefe strength of the Turke 2 That horse are more necessary in the war then foote 3 The progresse of the Turke before and after the institution of the Ianissars 4 Victories gotten by the horse 5 Ouerthrowes giuen by the enemies horse to the Christians 6 Conclusion that horse in seruice excell foote IT seemeth that the greatest part of such as discourse of the forces of the Turke attribute his chiefe strength to the band of Ianizzars as the only sinew of his power and amongst other reasons wherewith they striue to fortify their oppinion this is one It hath hapned many times that the army of the Ottomans hath beene so hardly laide to as the battaile hath been in a manner lost yet haue they gathered strength and kept themselues on foote yea they haue gotten the victory and all through the vertue and valour of these Legionaries 2 Machiauel discourseth vpon this point and as one much passionate holdeth himselfe to this argument that foote are more necessary then horse in all exploites of war and he laieth his principall foundation vpon the example of certaine Romaine Captaines which saith he to breake into and force the enemy on foote haue caused their men at armes to alight from their horses and fight on foote against them It is a poore argument and of small importance since that for once that they made their horsemen alight an hundred occasions were offered to make them mount on horse backe if they had the commodity of horse he which is on horsebacke may when he please alight but a footeman cannot get vp on horsebacke when hee will This mony shall serue to pay Machiauel whom I leaue to proceed forward I affirme that in a ranged battaile and in the plaine field the forces of the Turke consist and principally rely on the horse The proofes are cleere and at hand as the processe of this discourse shall discouer 3 First no man is ignorant of the great victories the Turk got long time before the institution of the Ianizzars Amurath the second the yeere 1420. was he that first ordained them yet Ottoman had before that taken Sebasta a city of importance in Asia where he slew aboue an hundred thousand of his enemies Orcan his sonne had dispoiled the Emperour of Constantinople and of Bithinia at seuerall worthy incounters Amurath the first had passed Asia into Europe with his forces tooke Gallipoli Filipoli and Andrinople and we may thinke that he did not obtaine those victories without dangerous and bloudy incounters he conquered also diuers other cities and wan many other victories of the Princes of Seruia and Bulgaria whom he compelled to stoope vnder the yoake of his obedience Baiazet the first ouercame Sigismonde King of Bohemia and put all those French to the sword which Charles the 6. of France sent to his succour Calepin his sonne vnderstanding that Sigismond had raised an army vpon the newes of the ouerthrow giuen by Tamburlaine to Baiazet to salue his losses went to meete him at Salumbezza and so valiantly incountred him as his whole army was cut in peeces so as it cannot be said that the victories the Turke hath obtained since the institution of Ianizzars haue beene either greater or more memorable then the former rather they were the steps to these other happy atchieuements The beginning of things containe in them the efficient vertue of the whole This disputation might proue great and might ballance on either side if I did not ad waight to one of the opinions I will then say that before the institution and seminary of Ianizzars the Turks receiued but one memorable ouerthrow at mount Stella at the hands of Tamburlan the most strong enemy that euer they assaied and that after their institution they receiued more and greater as were those of Vsumcassan of Iohn Huniades of Mathew Coruin of the Mamelucks of the great Scanderbag of Don Iohn of Austria of the Kings of Persia and others 4 The second proofe which I will produce to fortifie the truth of my proposition is that all such as haue had the better hand of the Turkes euer had it by the meanes of their horse wherein they did exceed the enemy in number and strength as we haue so often saide of the Persians and of the Mamelucks The great Sophi â—â—mael had he not vanquished Selim the second with the strength of his horse if when he did set vpon the rier-ward where the Turke was in person the thunder of his Cannon had not so affrighted the horse as they ran away with their masters to the disordering of the whole armie The onely thing that ouerthrew the fortune which the Persian had almost alreadie in his possession Cudabeuda King of Persia hath many times ouercome the Turkish forces by the onely strength of his horse whereof he hath more and is better armed then the other The Hungarians in like sort haue many times put the Turkes to the woorse by their fight on horsebacke 5 The third and strongest proofe of my assertion is
dispose of their most important affaires wherin they haue bene thus happy that we cannot finde that euer such Captaines lost battaile for lacke of command or obedience or that they euer for want of courage or experience in the arte military made stay or question of their proceedings Of all the Bashas that euer had the managing of matters of importance had greatest hand in the affaires of their Masters Acomet was the chiefe who serued Mahomet the 2. and added much to his greatnes by obteining many glorious victories insomuch as he was no lesse feared then his Soueraign To him Sinam may be ioyned who liued vnder Selim the first and being slaine at the battaile of Matarea wherein he wan the victorie for his Master Selim said of him that the death of so worthy a man as he was cause of such great griefe vnto him as it equalled the ioy he conceiued for so happy a victory such also was Barbarossa that famous pirat who for his many warlike acts wan the renowne of a valiant Captaine and was most highly reputed of his Master Soliman for whom he performed many memorable enterprises as wel by sea as by land Hence we may gather that vndoubtedly a great Prince cannot doe worse then commit the charges of his wars the dignities and conducts of his armies to them which inioy his fauour but vnworthily he should consider the deserts of others especially of such as with more sufficiencie would render an honorable account of so worthy an imploiment We see it fall out oftentimes that for default of wel measured elections a Prince plungeth himselfe and his estate in a thousand dangers and confusions through the insufficiency of his vnskilful ministers the examples of such infortunate euents would fill this volume if I would stand to relate all such as my memory presenteth vnto me But omitting all I will only put you in minde of the Emperour Charles the fifth well knowen for most iudicious in all his elections meruellous in his actions mighty for the great number of his excellent Captaines bredde and trained vp vnder him all which can witnesse the care he had in his choice and in very deede they did him such seruice as by their meanes he enlarged his dominions with many rich Prouinces adorned his scepter with most memorable victories and his house with triumphes to his immortall glory CHAP. IX That he hath made no skippe in his enterprises 1 Vnited vertue strongest 2 The strength of kingdomes by their situation 3 What it is to skippe in an enterprise 4 Kingdomes preserued by the coniunction of their subiect prouinces 5 Confirmation of the Roman Empire 6 The meanes of establishing an Empire by confederacies 7 The French as quicke in losing as in conquering countries 8 We are not to indeauor so much to conquer as to keepe 9 The Portugals and Spaniards distracted gouernment 10 Industrie of the Ottomans in conquering 11 An admonition to Christians 12 Horror of the Turkes 1 NOthing would be so strong as a poinct if it were to bee found in nature at the least if the rules of the Mathematiques be true as they be held because being most simple it cannot be corrupted either by inward beginnings or outward causes so is a body more induring and powerfull the neerer it approcheth to the resemblance of a poinct that is to say the more it is vnited and compact in it selfe And in very deede as nature vnable to bring to passe that all the world should be one only body made it continued and ioining one part vpon another and as to preserue this continuation she in all she may opposeth Vacuum which is onely able to corrupt and destroy her 2 So estates become more durable and of greater abilitie to maintaine themselues when they are as I may say sowed linked and bound together the one helping to entertaine and preserue the other Hence we may gather that such prouinces as haue their situation trussed vp together in a round forme are more strong and mightie then such as extend themselues in length as for example one may say of France in comparison of Italy because this latter resembling a legge stretched out is lesse fit to defend it selfe then France which is round as her prouinces lie and are situate whereby she is consequently not only more vnited in her forces then Italy but also more nimble and able to maintaine herselfe then the other 3 Now let vs come to our discourse and make it appeare what it is we vnderstand by this discontinuation and that which we tearme to skip in our enterprises It is properly when we regard not the contiguity if I may so say or neere adioyning of our estates and that happeneth as often as we leaue an enimy behind vs at one side of vs or otherwise in such sort as he may crosse cut off beseege or inclose vs when we so inconsideratly skip or stride we may likewise saie that he truly skips who crosseth from one country to another so far distant as by that time he hath finished his voiage his strength failes him and his troopes proue so out of heart and tired as they become vtterly vnprofitable We may alledge for example that which befell the Emperours of Germany the king of France and of England in their voiages of the holy land for the length of the iourny the far distance of the country the diuersity of the Climate the change of the aire and many other such like inconueniences so tired and discouraged them by reason of the trauailes and miseries they had suffered vpon the way as they could not attempt any matter of importance or goe thorow with their enterprise according to their proiect not vnlike a ball which stirreth not from the place where it is once setled through want of that moouing power which should tosse and raise it So if these Princes at the first arriuall did affoord any proofe of their courage valour and likelihood of good fortune the languishing of the principall motiue suddenly made them lose their aduantages and reduced the whole to tearmes vnwoorthy the merit of their holy intentions and trauels 4 We must then allow that it is requisite for the preseruation of estates either that their prouinces touch and intertaine the one the other or that their forces be of ability to maintaine themselues of themselues for this continuation hath of it selfe such force and efficacie for the lasting and preseruation of estates as we see that common-weales and meane kingdomes haue thereby longer maintained themselues then great and rich monarchies Wee may alledge for example the common-weales of Sparta and of Venice of the kingdomes of Persia and France whose rule hath much longer endured then that of the Sarazins of the Mamelucks or of other more mighty Empires The cause proceedeth as I haue said of the vnion of that entertainment and coniunction of prouinces abutting the one vpon the other which is of such vertue and efficacie to giue
the first without respect to any This is the reason that there hath neuer beene knowen any popular rebellion in his estate 2 The port of the great Turke as they tearme it as who would say his courte and gard consisteth chiesely and ordinarily of foure thousand horse distributed into foure companies to wit the Spahioglani who are in al a thousand besides their seruants which march not in their rancke but apart and of these euery one hath seauen or eight These range themselues on the right hand of their Lord wheresoeuer he become and the Solastri equall in place and authority on the left These two sortes are accounted as children of the great Turke and are nourished and brought vp in the Sarraglio at his charge as hath beene said and there trained vp in all exercises of armes After these march the companies of the Vlifezgi Charipici inferiour to the other in rancke and authority Those on the right hand these on the left either consisting of a thousand horse And wheresoeuer the great Turke goe they neuer forsake him These foure thousand horse together with twelue thousand Ianizzars are the strength and gard of the person and port of the Turke with these forces he is alwaies able to hold in awe and subiection a city more populous then Constantinople and not stand in feare of any attempt against his person 3 In other places of his Empire he bestowes other great numbers of the Ianizzars to be assistant to the Gouernors and Bassas besides the succours they are to haue of such horse and foote as those are bound to furnish on whom the Turke hath at other times bestowed such arable lands as haue beene conquered by armes whence he draweth one man or more as the necessity of his affaires requireth and according as is the value of what they possesse These are called Mozzellini Such as are tied to this contribution may be compared to the Feudataries of our Prince towards whose seruice they are to finde a light horse or musket and some of them two more or lesse according to the imperiall institutions of such fees and tenures as so binde them After all those we haue named march the Alcanzi or Aconizij as a man would say Aduenturers which haue no wages are appointed to march a daies iourny before the campe pilling harrowing and hauocking all before them whereof they are to answeare the fift parte clcere to the great Turke of these there are thirty thousand besides them there are the Azapi of meane quality but such as serue his turne for Gally-slaues mariners and pioners to intrench fill vp ditches raise engines and perform other such like seruill offices their number is 40000. Ouer and aboue these vnder two Beglerbees or Lientenants generall the one in Europe the other in Asia he hath neere an hundred thousand horse in ordinary intertainment The Beglerby of Grecia or Europ which is as much to say as Prince of all Princes hath his place of residency at Sophia a towne of Seruia That of Asia abideth at Culhea a towne of Galatia Each of these hath vnder his obedience many Sangiacks as much as to say sherifes or bailifs the very children of the great Turke which gouerne in the Prouinces where they command are bound to obey them This great multitude of horsemen are so well mounted and armed as none can chuse or wish a more fit or direct meanes then their ordinary strength to hinder all popular reuolts or rebellions be they neuer so great That which hapned to Gazeles after the death of Selim doth sufficiently approue it he thought to stirre against Soliman and to moue Syria to rebell but he was preuented by that mighty power which Soliman found euen then in a readinesse wherewith he ouerthrew him These ordinary prouisions of war are the more terrible and effectual in regard that all the people of his obedience are intirely disarmed of whatsoeuer offensiue weapons 4 The Romans obserued this custome to distribute diuers of their legions about the frontiers of Germany alongst the Rhene and Danowb to the same end and purpose as the Turke entertaineth his horse But it seemeth that he proceedeth therein more discreetly then did the Romans for they kept all their forces together in one place and vnder one Generall of whom depended the absolute command of the armies whence it fell out that to accommodate themselues they ouerthrew the houses of particular men ruined and famished the countrey as well by the hauocke they made which alwaies attendeth so great a multitude as by their large prouisions most necessary for an armie The other prouinces farre distant were exempt from this oppression yet not from contribution but those which sustained the armie were so ouerburdened as their miserie incited them to rebell and shake off their obedience But contrariwise the Turke which disperseth his horse and foote into diuers Prouinces vnder the command of sixtie and six Sangiacks draweth not after him such disorder or ill satisfaction as did the Romans Their great assemblie in one place was cause of seditions debates mutinies and other mischiefes most difficult to be preuented They did not perceiue how this manner of proceeding was a means that the Souldiers grew too much to affect their Captaines and that the Captaines found themselues by them enabled to attempt as they often did many things to the preiudice of the Empire And in very deed it oftentimes hapned that their armies made choice of their General for Emperour in despite of the Senatours authoritie either in regard of the valour they knew to be in them or of some pecuniarie corrupting their affections which the Senate could not remedy And in trueth it was a very easie matter for the Generall so farre from home and holding his forces vnited in one body to practise the Colonels and the Colonels to bargaine and buie the harts and affections of the Souldiers by them to possesse the Empire so as sometime the armie of Spaine chose their Generall Emperour and at the same time that of Germany theirs whereof we haue many examples as also of the calamities and miseries which did thence accrew to the Estate and subiects 5 It is an inconuenience whereto the Turke cannot be subiect for keeping his troups and armies so spread abroad and disperst they haue not the meanes to mutinie especially being in no place ouer strong nor yet grow to affect their Beglerbyes or Gouernours whom they seldome see or repaire to much lesse can the Beglerbee in his owne behalfe easily winne or entice the hearts of the Sangiacks or affections of the Souldiers as he might well doe if the troupes were alwais together in time of peace and abroad in one and the same prouince CHAP. VI. How the Turke represseth the power of the great men of his estate 1 The authoritie of a Prince if his vertue be not eminent aboue all the great men of his kingdome is by their vertue obscured whence groweth the
long since Zacharias Patriarcke of Constantinople was like to be staked for hauing admitted the new Callender and the reformation of the course of the yeere made in the time of Gregorie the 13. 2 Now to returne to the principall point it is to be presupposed that the proiects and carriage of popular rebellions cannot be vndertaken without the support and direction of the mightiest for wealth meanes and authority in the country which we would surprise and that Princes will not bouge to set a foote these plots and enterprises but by offered occasion of some fortresse which importeth the assurance and consequence of the estate and may serue for a refuge to recouer their decaied strength or else that their destigne relieth vpon some promised succour or finally vpon the consideration that those who inuite them to this conquest are so strong within themselues as they may hope for an honorable issue of their enterprise 3 These are all necessary particularities but not any of them resteth now in the hands of the Greekes abased by extreame seruitude and so far from hauing any fortresse at their deuotion as they cannot once stir without being discouered and though they were disposed to vndertake they haue at their backe so great a number of men at arms as at the least breath of a rebellion they would cut them off before they should haue meanes once to peepe forth of their shels 4 The Turke againe maketh them sure to him so many waies though all barbarous and vnciuill as he scarcely alloweth his subiects leaue to draw their breath nor suffreth his mighty men once to hold vp their heades or forraine Princes to be able in due time to attempt ought against him The end of the second Booke THE THIRD BOOKE CHAP. I. The causes of the fall and ruine of estates 1 Estates are subiect to change 2 Some of longer some of lesse continuance 3 Great small and meane estates and their causes of ruine externall internall and mixt 4 Lesse estates come to their endes soonest by externall causes 5 The great by internall 6 The meane more durable yet subiect to alteration 1 THe order that nature obserueth in all things created doth plainly enough teach vs that whatsoeuer is borne passeth and hastneth towards death and that all things which haue a beginning necessarilie and interchangably roule towards their end This proceedeth either of an ordinarie and naturall course or of the violence and alteration of compound bodies Hence we drawe this construction that estates change monarchies faile and the ruine of one serueth as the raising to the other 2 Againe as of humaine bodies some are more strong vigorous and of a better composition then others and so are of longer continuance so we see the same difference in kingdomes and estates in as much as some preserue themselues longer either because by their nature they are more surely founded as for example the Signory of Nobles is more lasting then the popular estate and a Monarchal estate more then a common-weale because a Monarchy keepeth the causes of corruption more aloofe from her or is policed with better lawes or because of the situation which is naturally more strong then the other as we see at this day in the Signorie of Venice 3 But because this assertion is subiect to diuers obiectiōs we will diuide it only into two propositions First then of principalities some are small some great some indifferent either in regard of their subsistance or first essence or of the comparison which may be made betweene them and their neighbours Secondly the efficient causes of the vtter ruine of estates are either inward or outward or mixt The inward are to be fetched and conceiued in respect of the negligence ignorance and riot of Princes which giue themselues ouer to all voluptuousnesse whereto may be added the factions secret practises ambitions and desperate humors of subiects with sundrie other occasions all fit to bring estates to their vtter ruine The outwad causes are the stratagemes armes and force of the enemie The mixt are such as participate of both as are the rebellions of the people treasons of particular men put in execution by forraine ayd and force Since then it is so that all principalities are subiect to ruine by one of these three causes we are now to vnfold what maladies may infect as well great and indifferent as small estates and draw all within the compasse of inward outward and mixt causes Now like as in naturall things naturall corruption is more tolerable then violent so must we consider whether the alteration and impairing of estates and common weales chance by reason of age or by the violence of some not forseene cause 4 Returning then to our former diuision and well examining it wee shall finde that small Estates come to their ends rather by meanes of outward causes brought in by force and violence then otherwise In as much as their power being insufficient to withstand their mighty neighbours ambitious attempts they are at the first incounter ouerset with the storm of his conquests in this maner the seueral Signories of Lombardy fel in subiection either of the Duke of Milan or of the Venetiās the free cities of Thoscany became a pray to the Duke of Florence The Princes of Africke to the King of Fez-Marocco and Algiers 5 On the contrarie great Empires are vsually subuerted by meanes of inward causes either by ease plenty which customarily makes Princes to swell with insupportable pride by voluptuous riot whereto people amidst their abundance are most prone or else by insolency and presumption seazing the great ones of the country when they see themselues much followed and reuerenced all fit inticements to dispose a hart but indifferently generous to plot for his owne raising Nec quenquam iam ferre potest Caesarue priorem Pompeiusue parem Then is it as one saith that Caesar cannot brooke a superior and that Pompey stomaketh an equall 6 Meane estates vndergoe danger as well as the two former yet far lesse since they hold the meane as the other the extreams for they are not so vnfurnished of strength as that it would be easie for euery one to inuade and oppresse them neither are they of that greatnesse and wealth as to afforde matter to particular men to grow mighty or else abandon themselues immoderatly to delights pleasures or to transport themselues beyond the limits of reason This is it that so long preserued the common weales of Sparta of Venice which euermore respectiuely intertained a meane and equality The mixt causes of the ruine of Estates are inward treacheries and outward force Treason hatched within an Estate much more indammageth a great then a small or meane Empire For a monarke is not able to turne his eie vpon euery corner of his Kingdome and sturring spirits are fortified in their attempts either with the hope of impunity the nourse of vices in all Estates and gouernments or with the opinion
strength and continuance to a monarchie as it almost exceedeth conceit and imagination 5 The Romans which saw wel enough that the inlarging of their Empires limits trained after it a consequence of a necessary dispersing of their forces endeuored by al means possible to reunite this body augmented and made huge by their aduantageous conquests reducing to their obedience and rule all they got both by maintaining sufficient forces vpon the frontiers of their Empire or garrisons in places of importance as also by establishing Colonies and infranchising many strong townes with bestowing on them the like liberties as the people of Rome enioyed by them tearmed Municipia In other places also they instituted certaine fraternities and assemblies of people with prerogatiues of the Romanes priuiledges which they named Conuentus Moreouer they committed estates and intire kingdoms to the gouernment of certaine Princes held and esteemed as friends of the people of Rome By these meanes ioyning them to their loue as well by gratifying them with their liberty and bounty as with other priuiledges honours and dignities whereof they did partake in their towne as in right of Citizens They tearmed these townes and people their confederates and the Kings their friends As for example in Africke they had Massinissa and Iuba in Asia Eumenes Prusias and the King of Egypt In Europe those of Marseilles Autum Auergâ—â—â— Rennes and others making account more to auaile themselues by such confederacies and amities then by meanes more strickt and seuere so then power is established and continued either by our owne forces or by annexing of the forces of our friends which serue vs as a continued rampart and conducteth vs out of danger euen into the country which we intend to inuade and that with so much the greater aduantage when vpon some part it confineth with the country of our confederates 6 But because we are neuer able with good assurance especially Princes amongst whom this is a tickle point to maintaine so good intelligence it is requisite if we will make this vse of an other to make him confident either through the hope of participation in our conquests or else by intimating vnto him if he be our inferiour an euident assurance in our proceedings and such a plainnesse and integrity in all our other actions as euen that may rid him of the distrust he might conceiue of being one day praied vpon and brought vnder by that insolencie which accompanieth the prosperitie of fortune and may serue to stretch the conscience of a conquering Prince After we haue in this manner framed an impression of our integritie in the heart of our neighbour we may march in his countrey as securely as in our owne and rest assured that we shall by him be furthered and assisted 7 The French could neuer keepe any countrey by them conquered abroad vnlesse it were Piemont and Sauoy for it one day they had gained a foote of land they were enforced to forgoe it the next no sooner winning it but they lost it 8 We commonly say that there is no lesse vertue in him that keepeth them in him that getteth I affirme that there is neede of more dexterity in keeping then in getting for an amazement of the people we inuade a rebellion in our behalfe or any other such like sturre makes vs easily masters of that whereto we aspire but to preserue what we get we must maintaine a continuall counsaile which must haue all the parts thereto appertaining as grauity of iudgment ripe deliberation nimblenesse to dissemble industry ioyned with a daily heedefulnesse and patience to attend occasions The French which are reputed the most warlike nation vnder the sunne are but too sodaine open impatient and of too stirring a nature for proofe you shall obserue that what they atchieue not when they first attempt they almost neuer compasse it all their boilling heat is soone exhaled and spent by the sodaine feruencie of their courage which most commonly transports them beyond all moderation and aduice most requisite in what wee vndertake without heeding the end for which they begaÌ„ This negligence together with their impatience hath made way to all the misfortunes which out of their countrie they haue induced The voyage of the Terseras and certaine other attempts vpon the Portugales haue not long since confirmed this opinion and made the wound of their vnhappines bleede a fresh Lews the eleuenth a prince of an approued wisdome and cleare sighted in matters of estate would neuer lend any eare to the perswasions of sending an army into Italie or other remote parts reiecting all such practises as well for the reason formerly alledged as because of the infidelitie which he thought to be in the Italians and particularly in them of Genoa If Charles the 8. his sonne Lewes the 12. Francis the first and Henry his sonne had inherited this their predecessors opinion they had not with such excessiue charge mishap and misery attempted Italy 9 Heere some one will obiect that neuerthelesse the dominion of the Portugals is of 90. yeares continuance or thereabout in the Indies so far distant from the first spring and originall The like appeareth in the gouernment of Philip King of Spaine spread and diuided in so many places aswell in Europe as in India Surely it is not possible to imagine a greater distance then from Lisbon to Ormus Goa Malaca and Ternate so as from Portugale to their farthest Conquests there are no lesse then twentie thousand miles and although they endeuour to ioyne these estates so seuered by the neerenesse of sundry fortresses heere and there bestowed in the midway as Zofala Mohambique Melinde which belongeth to a certaine King their Ally besides other like meanes yet all these are but weake sinewes long to sustaine the vnion of so far separated members But it is Gods pleasure that by how much the foundations of this rule are more feeble and subiect to be shaken by so much the more we should admire the omnipotency of his diuine Maiesty whereby they are maintained fortified and protected The dominion likewise of the King of Spaine is spread into so many parts of Asia especially by meanes of annexing the crowne of Portugale of Afrike of Europe and of the new found world as there appeareth in this preseruation a greater miracle then counsail or humane prouidence for in very deed to rule so many and so seuered nations differing in religion manners and tongues without stirring from home is it not a worke of heauen rather then of humane policy or discourse God therefore which hath of his goodnesse made him owner of so many and so goodly countries hath not denied him wisedome and counsaile to know how to order and maintaine them as he doth vnder his obedience 10 The Ottomans haue ordinarily behaued themselues more iudiciously in this one part of conquering without inconsiderat skipping then in any other of their actions For neither couetousnesse of inriching or inlarging their estate nor the easinesse
they haue conceiued of not being discouered till such time as their proiects meete with some good successe These things happen sooner when the Prince is far off then at hand Spaine can witnesse it which was so vnhappily betraied by Count Iulian as it thereby fell into the hands of the Moores So was the Empire of the Mamelucks by the treason of Caierbeius possest by Selim Emperour of the Turkes Who would search more narowly into Christendome shall finde that the ciuill wars of France minister more examples for proofe of this then is necessary Thus wee see that small estates are most to stand in feare of forraine force since they haue not wherewitheither of or in themselues to be able to resist or to take breath That the meane estates are alwaies lesse offended by outward force then the smallest and more free from inward treason then the greatest CHAP. II. From what coniectures the continuance of estates may be gathered 1 Causes of the change of Estates 2 The ruine of Estates is most answearable to their beginnings 3 The rootes of common wealths how maintained 4 Security especially to be auoided 1 I Will no farther extend the discourse of the former chapter nor diue into the other efficient causes of the ruine of estates for should I handle what might be farther said of this matter I should wander too far frō the propounded subiect and perhaps racke the argument beyond his due pitch I will then tie my selfe only to the coniectures of the continuance or fall of estates omitting other causes as also all that may be referred to the iudgement of the heauens the influence of the stars and to their vertue sithence this knowledge is fraught with so many obscurities and contrarieties in what is written thereof as I will spare to search too far into it Though otherwise we are to imagine that nothing is made in vaine and that those celestiall bodies moue not by chance but rather by diuine order and disposition Againe the errors of their Ephimerides and the different supputation of the first masters of their profession make the knowledge to be vncertaine and their so surely grounded maximes to afford contrarie resolutions Let vs not meddle then with the aspects of the stars or the natiuities of estates but regard and consider the effects of what is at our owne home without taking so high a flight We say then that estates suffer either by the vnremoueable ordinance of God or by the naturall course of time wherewith in time they grow feeble and change or else by the wils of men so vnstable and light as they ordinarily breede an vniuersall alteration thorow out a whole estate and common-weale We will only drawe our coniectures from naturall causes not to meddle with the iudgement of the diuine Maiesty or mans inconstancy nakedly and simply to speake of them as neere and familiar to the end we may not enter into the chaos of causes heauenly and most remote 2 So then we are to thinke that the continuance of estates is proportioned to their beginning It is with them as with sensible creatures which the more they hasten to arriue at the perfection of their being the sooner also they faile and die the contrarie is seene in those which with a slow and measured pase attaine to a more faire maturity and perfection as for example among beastes the horse amongst trees the willow are of no long indurance but those that as the Hart and Oliue make by degrees and slowly towards their ripenes are likewise more lasting We may say the like of Empires and Estates for as we see them slow or swift in their increase so are they more swift or slow in their ruine Haue not the French more then once conquered the duchy of Milan and the kingdome of Naples and that as a man may say almost in a moment so haue they many times lost it and all in a moment such conquests resemble Torrents tumbling downe the mountaines which in lesse then an hour by reason of the great shoutes of waters they bring with them become fearefull and dangerous when soone after in an instant we see them fallen and shallow so as a childe may wade thorow them without trouble or danger Now not to leaue this conquest of Milan and Naples we must to this purpose by examples contrary to the former make good the ground of our proposition which to performe I will set before you the manner how the Spaniards conquered and held these prouinces I finde it hath been by a long course of time and infinite trauaile accompanied with all the paines and troubles which those who set vp their rest vpon a conquest and resolue to abide out the wars ordinarily indure Hence their labour hath taken such roote as nothing since hath been able to escape their hands howsoeuer they haue been oft times galled and put to their plunges It is requisite then that Empires haue their rootes to sustaine them which must be deepe and sound otherwise it is impossible they should long continue Now that they may be such there is an especiall wisedome and many yeeres required 3 The true rootes of an estate are the loue of the people towards their Prince the sincere and holy distribution of Iustice amongst the subiects military discipline well policed and obserued by the souldiours honours rewards and benefits bestowed according to vertue and merit that great men be not slightly set by abased or contemned that the common sort of people be intertained with all honest satisfaction necessary prouisions for the maintenance of places of strength well husbanding of the treasure friendly intelligence with neighbour Princes vncorrupt election of officers modesty in their proceedings these are the very true rootes able to fortifie and make monarchies to flourish and raise them to eternity which rootes can neuer proue setled spring or send foorth worthy fruit vnlesse they be planted in the soile of wisdome aduice and industrie and husbanded by the continuance of time 4 It is often seene that great Conquests and victories attained without losse or labour so blinde the Conquerour as they make him become like one of those long reeds or canes which carry outwardly a good apparance but are inwardly hollow and of fraile substance They cause him to contemne his companions and those who assisted him in obtaining his victories but more the subdued people whence ordinarily followeth that the higher is his fortune the neerer is his fall Wee haue straied sufficiently It is now high time to returne to our principall discourse and as we haue heretofore made it appeare that there are three sorts of estates so wee are now to vnfold in what ranck of the three the Turke is to be bestowed CHAP. III. That the monarchy of the Turke is comprehended within the number of great estates 1 The substance of the ensuing Chapters 2 Greatnesse of the Turkish Empire 3 Compared with the Romaines 4 The marueilous successe thereof
diminution of the subiects obseruance 2 From whence the authoritie of the Nobilitie doth proceed 3 The detestable crueltie of the Turkish Emperour against the next of his bloud 4 Vsage of great men taken by the Turkes 5 The vncertaine fortune and estate of the Turkes officers 1 TO the end the dependencie and authoritie whereof wee haue hitherto entreated be without alteration maintained it is requisite that the Prince haue a care that there be none in his countrey who for their greatnesse may incourage the people and embolden them to attempt ought backt by their authoritie countenance and conduct 2 This greatnesse may grow from three principall causes either in regard they are Princes of the bloud or for that they are noted to be nobly descended and rich or else for the reputation they haue gotten and a long while preserued either by cunning or by their owne valour and merit things that winne credit and name amongst the common people Concerning the first cause the children brethren and kinsmen of the Turke are great by consanguinitie The Barons of the country obtaine the second ranke whereto the noblenesse of their family calleth them for the third such ministers and officers as beare a stroake and swaie in matters of the highest consequence are accounted great 3 The Ottaman Princes of nature barbarous and cruell ordinarily shelter themselues from these inconueniences with courses far from all humanity in as much as without all respect of Law religion or other ciuill consideration they vpon the least scruple that may be ridde their hands by execrable murthers of their neerest kinsfolkes and friends yea euen of their fathers and brethren alone to inioy and by their death to assure to themselues the quiet possession of their kingdome Selim the first murthered two of his brethren procured the death of all his nephewes yea and of his father also He would often say that there was nothing more sweet then to raigne out of the suspition and shadow of his kindred and that he deserued pardon for what he had committed since it was the same play and vsage he should haue receiued if any other but himselfe had attained to the crowne Amurath the third which now raigneth made his entry by the death of his brother and searched the establishing of his Empire euen in the belly of his mother then great with childe making for this end one end of her what she went withall these cruelties are monstrous in the sight of God and man and full of horror and infamie yet hath it not beene knowen for all this that euer any citie any people or armie did reuolt or mutine This inhumanitie is amongst them growne to that lawfull and ordinarie consequence as they vsually put it in practise without feare of blame or reproch The examples thereof are as infinite as their memories stinking and abhominable In a word this butchering is amongst them an hereditary succession descending from one to another which God would reuenge with our hands if we would amend our liues 4 As for the Barons and Lords of the countrey Mahomet the first destroied their seed expelling them out of his estate as he did all the originarie Turkish Princes his allies and if by chance there remaine any of the Ottoman race he is so kept downe as he traileth as they say his belly vpon the ground liuing most poorely without all charge and manage of affaires so as neither valour nor riches can make him appeere or shine in the worlds eie rather he remaineth eclipsed amongst the vulgar sort without honour credit or estimation As for the Princes and mightie men of the countrey by them subdued they know well enough how to ridde their hands of them in sort as we haue before declared so as neuer Empire was raised or maintained with more execrable murthers then this hath beene in these daies they neither sparing Princes of their bloud nor the chiefe Potentates of their prouinces for they blinde them if not kill them 5 Now concerning the ministers and officers who by long managing of waightie affaires haue attained to Honorable places authority and reputation there is not one be hee neuer so great which at the least winke wrath and pleasure of his Lord loseth not his life immediatly Baiazet caused Acomat Bassa to be put to death an excellent man of armes and a woorthy Captaine saying the too much reputation of the seruant was a cause of the too great ielousie of the master Selim likewise put many to death and amongst others Mustafa Bassa whom he caused to be strangled at Prusa and after to be cast out to the dogs This was his recompence for fauoring him in the vsurpation of the Empire against Baiazet his father then liuing and for making riddance of his two brethren Acomat and Corcut. He suspected it was he that had reuealed his secret as indeed he had to Aladin and Amarath children of his brother Acomat because contrary to his expectation he sought their death It is in a manner an ordinary course with Princes that one light offence obscureth and maketh them forget a thousand good seruices performed for the good of their affaires For my part I am of opinion that this rage and inhumane cruelty familiar with the house of the Ottomans is but a true and iust iudgment of God who will by their parricid handes chastice the Apostasies and wickednesse of one by another considering the greater part of them are Christians who haue denied their faith and by that miserable act climed vp to the height of those eminent charges and dignities they possesse As not long since his diuine Maiestie permitted a poore simple souldiour to kill Mahomet Bassa a man most mighty in credit and authority but more rich of power and meanes yet such a one as had beene a Christian and had taken vpon him the orders of Priesthood CHAP. VII How he confoundeth the practises of forraine Princes his neighbours 1 The diuorce of the Greeke church from the Romish confirmeth the Turkish Empire 2 What were requisite to stir vp the Turkish subiects to rebellion 3 The Greekes vtterly destitute of meanes for such proceedings 4 His owne subiects throughly curbed 1 ONe of the most assured meanes practised by the Turke as an infallible course of setling his estate against the intelligence which his people might hold with Christian princes is the diuorce separation he maintaineth betweene the Greeke the Romish church supposing while this schisme shall continue amongst them that they will neuer establish betweene them a sound amity This made the conquest of Constantinople easie vnto them this hath forwarded the proceeding of his victories and as it were put into his hands all those rich and goodly Prouinces whereof he is at this day the peaceable but Tyrannicall owner moreouer he so narrowly obserueth our vnhappie discord as he by a perpetuall counsaill endeuoureth all he can possibly that the Patriarkes render no obedience to the Pope neither is it