Diuision.
ALl good things in this world are ouerthrowne by diuision,* 1.1 and it is almost impossible that many great Noblemen of like e∣state can long entertaine themselues together, if there bee not a head aboue them, and if it were necessarie he should be wise and well esteemed to draw obedience from them all.
A wise Prince hauing the command of ten thousand men,* 1.2 and meanes to entertaine them, is more to bee feared then ten ha∣uing either of them six thousand, all allyed and confederate together, for that they haue so many things to decide among them, as halfe the time is spent before any thing can bee conceiued.
The true signe of the ruine of a Countrey is when as they that should hold together are deuided and abandon it.* 1.3 Exam∣ple in the Towne of Dinand, which left the alliance of them of Liege.
Factions are much to be feared in a Realme when as they hap∣pen,* 1.4 and cause great ruines. Example of the diuisions of England betwixt the houses of Lancaster and Yorke.
When as a faction begins,* 1.5 although there be but two or three Princes, or meaner men that deale in it, yet before the feast hath continued two yeares all the neighbours are inuited.
There was neuer any faction begun in the countrie but the end was preiudiciall and hard to be quencht.* 1.6
Diuisions are the springs of Warre from whence grow mor∣talitie and famine,* 1.7 and all these miseries proceed for want of faith.
Wee must confesse (considering the wickednes of men, and especially of great men who know not, neither doe beleeue that there is a God) that it is necessarie that euery Nobleman and Prince should haue his contrarie to keep him in feare and humi∣litie, else no man should bee able to liue vnder them or neere them.