Of wisdome three bookes written in French by Peter Charro[n] Doctr of Lawe in Paris. Translated by Samson Lennard

CHAP. III. The second part of this politike prudence and gouernment of the state, which concerneth the action and gouernment of the Prince.

HAuing discoursed of the prouision, and instructed a so∣ueraigne with what and how he should furnish and de∣fend * 1.1 himselfe and his state, let vs come to the action, and let vs see how hee should emploie himselfe, and make vse of these things, that is to saie, in a word, well to command and gouern. But before we come to handle this distinctlie, according to the diuision which we haue made, wee may say in grosse that well to gouerne and to maintaine himselfe in his state, consi∣steth in the acquisition of two things, goodwill and authori∣tie. Goodwill is a loue and affection towards the soueraigne * 1.2 and his state. Authoritie is a great and good opinion, an ho∣nourable esteeme of the soueraigne and his state. By the first, the soueraigne and the state is loued, by the second feared. These are not contrary things, but different, as loue and feare. Both of them respect the subiects and strangers, but it see∣meth that more properlie, Beneuolence belongeth to the sub∣iect, and authoritie to the stranger; amorem apud populares, metum apud hostes quaerat. To speake simplie and absolutelie, * 1.3 authoritie is the more strong and vigorous, more large and durable. The temperature and harmonie of both is a perfect thing, but according to the diuersity of states, of peoples, their

natures and humours, the one is more easie and more necessa∣rie in some places, than in others. The meanes to attaine them both, are contained and handled in that which hath beene said before, especiallie of the maners and vertue of a soue∣raigne; neuerthelesse of each we will speake a little.

Beneuolence or goodwill (a thing very profitable and al∣most * 1.4 wholly necessarie, insomuch that of it selfe it preuaileth much, and without it all the rest hath but little assurance) is attained by three meanes, gentlenes or clemencie, not only in words and deeds, but much more in his commaunds and the administration of the state; for so doe the natures of men re∣quire, who are impatient both of seruing wholly, and main∣taining themselues in entire libertie, nec totam seruitutem pati, * 1.5 nec totam libertatem. They obey willingly as subiects, not as slaues, domiti vt pareant, non vt seruiant. And to say the truth, a man doth more willinglie obey him which commandeth gentlie and mildly; remissius imperanti melius paretur: qui vult * 1.6 amari languida regnet manu. Power (saith Caesar a great doctor in this matter) indifferentlie exercised preserueth all; but he that keepeth not a moderation in his commaunds, is neuer be∣loued nor assured. But yet it must not be an ouer-loose, and soft effeminate mildnes, lest a man thereby come into con∣tempt, which is worse than feare, Sed incorrupto ducis honore. * 1.7 It is the part of wisdome to temper this, neither seeking to be feared by making himselfe terrible, nor loued by too much debasing himselfe.

The second meane to attaine beneuolence is beneficence, * 1.8 I meane first towards all, especiallie the meaner people, by prouidence and good policie, whereby corne and all other necessarie things for the sustenance of this life may not be wanting, but sold at an indifferent price, yea may abound if it be possible, that dearenesse and dearth afflict not the subiect. For the meaner sort haue no care for the publike good, but for this end, vulgo vna ex republica annonae cura. * 1.9

The third meane is liberalitie (beneficence more speciall) * 1.10 which is a bait, yea, an enchantment, to draw, to winne and captiuate the willes of men: So sweet a thing is it to receiue, honorable to giue. In such sort, that a wise man hath said, That a state did better defend it selfe by good deeds, than by

armes. This vertue is alwaies requisite, but especiallie in the entrance and in a new state. To whom, how much, and how liberalitie must be exercised, hath beene said before. The meanes of beneuolence haue beene wisely practised by Au∣gustus, * 1.11 qui militem donis, populum annona, cunctos dulcedine otij pellexit.

Authoritie is another pillar of state, maiestas imperij, salutis * 1.12 tutela; The inuincible fortresse of a prince, whereby he brin∣geth into reason all those, that dare to contemne or make head against him. Yea because of this they dare not attempt, and all men desire to be in grace and fauor with him. It is com∣posed of feare and respect, by which two a prince and his state is feared of all, and secured. To attaine this authoritie, besides the prouision of things aboue named, there are three meanes which must carefully be kept in the forme of com∣maunding. * 1.13

The first is seueritie, which is better, more wholsome, assured, durable, than common lenitie, and great facili∣tie, * 1.14 which proceedeth first from the nature of the people, which as Aristotle saith, is not so well borne and bred, as to be ranged into dutie and obedience by loue, or shame, but by force and feare of punishment; and secondly from the gene∣rall corruption of the maners, and contagious licentiousnes of the world, which a man must not thinke to mend by mildnes and lenitie, which doth rather giue aid to ill attempts. It in∣gendreth contempt, and hope of impunitie, which is the plague of Common-weales and states, Illecebra peccandi maxi∣ma spes * 1.15 impunitatis. It is a fauour done to many, and the whole weale-publike sometimes well to chastice some one. And he must sometimes cut off a finger, lest the Gangreene spread it selfe through the whole arme, according to that excellent an∣swere of a king of Thrace, whom one telling that he played the mad man, and not the king, answered, That his madnes made his subiects sound and wise. Seueritie keepeth officers and magistrates in their deuoire, driueth away flatterers, courtiers, wicked persons, impudent demaunders, and pety∣tyrannies. Whereas contrariwise too great facilitie openeth the gate to all these kind of people, whereupon followeth an exhausting of the treasuries, impunitie of the wicked, impo∣uerishing

of the people, as rheumes & fluxes in a rheumatike & diseased bodie, fall vpon those parts that are weakest. The goodnes of Pertinax, the licentious libertie of Heliogabalus are thought to haue vndone and ruinated the Empire: The seue∣ritie of Seuerus, and afterwards of Alexander, did reestablish it, and brought it into good estate. But yet this seueritie must be with some moderation, intermission, and to purpose, to the end that rigour towards a few might hold the whole world in feare, vt poena ad paucos, metus ad omnes. And the more seldome punishments serue more for the reformation of a state, saith an ancient writer, than the more frequent. This is to be vnder∣stood, if vices gather not strength, and men grow not opina∣tiuely obstinate in them; for then he must not spare either sword or fire, crudelem medicum intemperans aeger facit.

The second is constancie, which is a stayed resolution, whereby the prince marching alwaies with one and the same * 1.16 pase, without altering or changing, mainteineth alwaies, and enforceth the obseruation of the ancient lawes and customes. To change and to be readuised, besides that it is an argument of inconstancie and irresolution, it bringeth both to the lawes and to the soueraigne, and to the state contempt and sinister opinion. And this is the reason why the wiser sort do so much forbid the change, and rechange of any thing in the lawes and customes, though it were for the better: for the change or re∣moue bringeth alwaies more euill and discommoditie, besides the vncertaintie and the danger, than the noueltie can bring good. And therefore all innouators are suspected, dangerous, and to be chased away. And there cannot be any cause or oc∣casion strong and sufficient enough to change, if it be not for a very great, euident, and certaine vtilitie, or publike necessi∣tie. And in this case likewise he must proceed as it were stea∣lingly, sweetly and slowly, by little and little and almost in∣sensiblie, leuiter & lentè.

The third is to hold alwaies fast in the hand the sterne of [ 8] the state, the raines of gouernment, that is to say, the honour and power to commaund and to ordaine, and not to trust or commit it to another, referring all things to his counsell, to the end that all may haue their eye vpon him, and may know that all dependeth vpon him. That soueraigne that loseth neuer so little of his authoritie marreth all. And therefore it

standeth him vpon, not ouer-much to raise and make great any person, Communis custodia principatus neminem vnum magnum facere. And if there be alreadie any such, he must * 1.17 draw him backe and bring him into order, but yet sweetly and gently; and neuer make great and high charges and offi∣ces perpetuall or for many yeares, to the end a man may not get meanes to fortifie himselfe against his master, as it many times falleth out. Nil tam vtile, quàm breuem potestatem esse, * 1.18 quae magna sit.

Behold heere the iust and honest meanes in a soueraigne to maintaine with beneuolence and loue his authoritie, and to * 1.19 make himselfe to be loued and feared altogether: for the one without the other is neither secure nor reasonable. And there∣fore we abhorre a tyrannicall authoritie, and that feare that is an enemy to loue and beneuolence, and is with a publike hate, oderint quem metuant, which the wicked seeke after abusing their power. The conditions of a good prince and of a tyrant are nothing alike, and easily distinguished. They may be all reduced to these two points, the one to keepe the lawes of God and of nature, or to trample them vnder foot; the other to do all for the publike good and profit of the subiects, or to employ all to his particular profit & pleasure. Now a prince that he may be such as he should, must alwaies remember, that as it is a felicitie to haue power to do what a man will, so it is true greatnes to will that that a man should; Caesari cum * 1.20 omnia licent, propter hoc minus licet: vt felicitatis est posse quan∣tum velis, sic magnitudinis velle quantum possis, vel potius quan∣tū debeas. The greatest infelicitie that can happen to a prince, is to beleeue that all things are lawfull that he can, and that pleaseth him. So soone as he consenteth to this thought, of good he is made wicked. Now this opinion is setled in them by the help of flatterers, who neuer cease alwaies to preach vnto them the greatnes of their power; and very few faith∣full seruitours there are, that dare to tell them what their dutie is. But there is not in the world a more dangerous flattery, than that where with a man flattereth himselfe, when the flat∣terer and flattered is one and the same; there is no remedie for this disease. Neuerthelesse it falleth out sometimes in con∣sideration of the times, persons, places, occasions, that a good

king must do those things which in outward appearance may seeme tyrannicall, as when it is a question of repressing ano∣ther tyrannie, that is to say, of a furious people, the licentious libertie of whom, is a true tyrannie: or of the noble and rich, who tyrannize ouer the poore and meaner people: or when the king is poore and needie, not knowing where to get siluer, to raise loanes vpon the richest. And we must not thinke that the seueritie of a prince is alwaies tyrannie, or his gards & for∣tresses, or the maiestie of his imperious commaunds, which are sometimes profitable, yea necessarie, and are more to be desired than the sweet prayers of tyrants.

These are the two true stayes and pillars of a prince, and of a state, if by them a prince know how to maintaine and pre∣serue * 1.21 himselfe from the two contraries, which are the murthe∣rers of a prince and state, that is to say, hatred and contempt, whereof the better to auoid them, and to take heed of them, a word or two. Hatred contrarie to beneuolence, is a wicked and obstinate affection of subiects against the prince, and his * 1.22 state: It ordinarily proceedeth from feare of what is to come, or desire of reuenge of what is past, or from them both. This hatred when it is great, and of many, a prince can hardly es∣cape it, Multorum odijs nullae opes possunt resistere. He is expo∣sed * 1.23 to all, and there needs but one to make an end of all. Mul∣tae illis manus, illi vna ceruix. It standeth him vpon therefore to preserue himselfe, which he shall do by flying those things that ingender it, that is to say, crueltie and auarice, the contra∣ries to the aforesaid instruments of beneuolence.

He must preserue himselfe pure and free from base cruelty, * 1.24 vnworthie greatnes, very infamous to a prince: But contra∣rily he must arme himselfe with clemencie, as hath been said before, in the vertues required in a prince. But for as much as punishments, though they be iust and necessarie in a state, haue some image of crueltie, he must take heed to carie him∣selfe therein with dexteritie, and for this end I will giue him this aduice: Let him not put his hand to the sword of iustice, * 1.25 but very seldome and vnwillinglie: libenter damnat qui cito: ergo illi parsimonia etiam vilissimi sanguinis: 2. Enforced for the publike good, and rather for example, & to terrifie others from the like offence: 3. That it be to punish the faultie, and

that without choler, or ioy, or other passion: And if he must needs shew some passion, that it be compassion: 4. That it be according to the accustomed maner of the countrie, and not after a new, for new punishments are testimonies of crueltie: 5. Without giuing his assistance, or being present at the exe∣cution: 6. And if he must punish many, he must dispatch it speedily, and all at a blow; for to make delayes, and to vse one correction after another, is a token that he taketh delight, pleaseth and feedeth himselfe therewith.

He must likewise preserue himselfe from auarice, a sinne ill * 1.26 befitting a great personage. It is shewed either by exacting and gathering ouermuch, or by giuing too little. The first doth much displease the people, by nature couetous, to whom their goods are as their blood and their life: The se∣cond, men of seruice and merit, who haue laboured for the publike good, and haue reason to thinke that they deserue some recompence. Now how a prince should gouerne him∣selfe heerein, and in his treasure and exchequer affaires, either in laying their foundation, or spending or preseruing them, hath beene more at large discoursed in the second chapter. I will heere only say, that a prince must carefully preserue himselfe from three things; First, from resembling, by ouer great and excessiue impositions, these tyrants, subiect∣mongers, canibals, qui deuorant plebem sicut escam panis 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, quorum aerarium spoliarium ciuium cruentarum que praeda∣rum receptaculum, for this breeds danger of tumult, witnesse so many examples, and miserable accidents: Secondly, from base vnhonest parsimony, as well in gathering toge∣ther, (indignum lucrum ex omni occasioue odorari; & vt dici∣tur, etiam à mortuo auferre; and therefore hee must not serue his turne heerein, with accusations, confiscations, vniust spoiles) as in giuing nothing, or too little, and that mercena∣rily, and with long and importunate suite: Thirdly, from violence in the leuie of his prouision, and that if it be possible, he neuer sease vpon the moueables and vtensils of husban∣drie. This doth principally belong to receiuers and puruoy∣ers, who by their rigorous courses, expose the prince to the hatred of the people, and dishonour him, a people subtile, cruell, with six hands and three heads, as one saith. A prince

therefore must prouide that they be honest men, and if they faile in their duties, to correct them seuerely, with rough cha∣stisement, and great amends, to the the end they may restore and disgorge like spunges, that which they haue sucked and drawne vniustly from the people.

Let vs come to the other worse enemie, contempt; which * 1.27 is a sinister, base, and abiect opinion of the prince, and the state: This is the death of a state, as authoritie is the soule and life thereof. What doth maintaine one only man, yea an old and worne man, ouer so many thousands of men, if not authoritie and the great esteeme of his person? which if it be once lost by contempt, the prince and state must necessarily fall to the ground. And euen as authoritie, as hath been said, * 1.28 is more strong and large than beneuolence, so contempt is more contrarie and dangerous than hatred, which dareth not any thing, being held backe by feare, if contempt which shaketh off feare, arme it not, and giue it courage to execute. It is true that contempt is not so common, especially if he be a true and lawfull prince, except he be such a one, as doth wholly degrade and prostitute himselfe, & videatur exire de * 1.29 imperio. Neuerthelesse wee must see from whence this con∣tempt doth come, that wee may the better know how to a∣uoid it. It proceedeth from things contrarie to those meanes that winne and get authoritie, and especially from three, that is to say, from too loose, effeminate, milde, languishing and carelesse, or very light forme of gouernment, without any * 1.30 hold or stay; this is a state without a state, vnder such prin∣ces the subiects are made bold, and insolent, all things being permitted, because the prince takes care of nothing. Malum principem habere, sub quo nihil vlli liceat: peius sub quo omnia omnibus. Secondly, from the ill hap and infelicitie of the * 1.31 prince, whether it be in his affaires, which succeede not well, or in his line and issue, if hee haue no children, who are a great proppe and stay to a prince, or in the vncertaintie of his successours, whereof Alexander the great complained, Orbitas mea quòd sine liberis sum, spernitur: Munimen aulae * 1.32 regij liberi. Thirdly, from maners, especially dissolute, loose and voluptuous, drunkennesse, gluttonie, as also rusticitie, childishnesse, scurrilitie.

Thus in grosse haue I spoken of the action of a prince. To handle it more distinctly and particularly, wee must re∣member, * 1.33 as hath beene said in the beginning, that it is two-fold, peaceable and militarie; by the peaceable I heere vnder∣stand that ordinarie action, which is euerie day done, and at all times of peace and of warre; by the militarie, that which is not exercised, but in time of warre.

The peaceable and ordinarie action of a souereigne cannot * 1.34 be whollie prescribed, it is an infinite thing, and consisteth as well in taking heed to doe, as to doe. Wee will heere giue the principall and more necessary aduisements. First therefore * 1.35 a Prince must prouide that he be faithfullie and diligentlie ad∣uertised of all things. This all things may bee reduced to two heads, whereupon there are two sorts of aduertisements and aduertisers, who must be faithfull and assured, wise and secret, though in some there be required, a greater libertie and con∣stancy than in others. Some are to aduertise him of his honor and duty, of his defects, and to tell him the truth. There are no kind of people in the world, who haue so much need of such friends, as Princes haue; who neither see nor vnderstand, but by the eies and eares of another. They maintain and hold vp a publike life, are to satisfie so many people, haue so many things hid from them, that before they be aware, they fall in∣to the hatred and detestation of their people, for matters that would be easily remedied and cured, if they had been in time aduertised of them. On the other side free aduertisements, which are the best offices of true amity, are perillous about so∣ueraignes, though Princes be ouer delicate & shew great infir∣mitie, if for their good and profit, they cannot endure a free aduertisment, which enforceth nothing, it being in their po∣wer, whatsoeuer they heare, to do what they list. Others are to aduertise the Prince of whatsoeuer passeth, not onely a∣mongst his subiects, and within the circuit of his state, but with his bordering neighbours. I say of all, that concerneth either a farre off, or neere at hand, his owne state or his neigh∣bours. These two kind of people answer in some sort to those two friends of Alexander, Ephestion and Crateras, of whom the one loued the King, the other Alexander, that is to say, the one the state, the other the person.

Secondly, a Prince must alwaies haue in his hand a little * 1.36 booke or memoriall containing three things: first and princi∣pallie a briefe register of the affaires of the state: to the end he may know what he must doe, what is begun to bee done, and that there remaine nothing imperfect, and ill executed: A ca∣talogue or bedrowle of the most worthy personages that * 1.37 haue well deserued, or are likely to deserue well of the weale∣publike: A memoriall of the gifts which he hath bestowed, to whom and wherefore; otherwise without these three, there * 1.38 must necessarilie follow many inconueniences. The greatest princes and wisest polititians haue vsed it, Augustus, Tiberius, Vespasian, Traian, Adrian, the Antonies.

Thirdly, in asmuch as one of the principall duties of a * 1.39 prince, is to appoint and order both rewards and punish∣ments, the one whereof is fauorable, the other odious, a prince must retaine vnto himselfe the distribution of rewards, as e∣states, honours, immunities, restitutions, graces and fauours, and leaue vnto his officers, to execute and pronounce con∣demnations, forfeitures, confiscations, depriuations, and other punishments.

Fourthly in the distribution of rewards, gifts, and good * 1.40 deeds, he must alwaies be readie and willing, giue them be∣fore they be asked, if he can, and not to looke that he should refuse them; and he must giue them himselfe, if it may be, or cause them to be giuen in his presence. By this meanes gifts and good turnes shall be better receiued, and giuen to better purpose, and he shall auoid two great and common inconue∣niences, which depriue men of honour and worth of those re∣wards that are due vnto them: the one is a long pursuit, diffi∣cult and chargeable, which a man must vndergoe, to obtaine that which he would, and thinketh to haue deserued, which is no small griefe to honorable minds, and men of spirit: The o∣ther, that after a man hath obtained of the prince a gift, before he can possesse it, it costeth the one halfe, and more, of that it is worth, and many times comes to nothing.

Let vs come to the militarie action, wholly necessarie for * 1.41 the preseruation and defence of a prince, of the subiects, and the whole state, let vs speake thereof briefly. All this matter or subiect may be reduced to three heads, To enterprise,

make, finish warre. In the enterpise there must be two things, iustice and prudence, and an auoidance of their contraries, in∣iustice * 1.42 and temeritie. First, the warre must be iust, yea iustice must march before valour, as deliberation before execution. These reasons must be of no force, yea abhorred, That right consisteth in force; That the issue or euent decideth it; That the stronger carieth it away. But a prince must looke into the cause, into the ground and foundation, and not into the issue; Warre hath it lawes and ordinances as well as peace. God fa∣uoreth iust warres, and giueth the victorie to whom it plea∣seth him, and therefore we must first make our selues capable of this fauor by the equitie of the enterprise. Warre then must not be begun and vndertaken for all causes, vpon euery occa∣sion, non ex omni occasione quaerere triumphum: And aboue all a * 1.43 prince must take heed that ambition, auarice, choler, possesse him not, and cary him beyond reason, which are alwaies, to say the truth, the more ordinarie motiues to warre: vna & ea * 1.44 vetus causa bellandi est profunda cupido imperij & diuitiarum: maximam gloriam in maximo imperio putant: Repere foedus im∣pius lucri furor, & ira praeceps.

That a warre may be in all points iust, three things are ne∣cessarie, * 1.45 that it be denounced and vndertaken by him that hath power to do it, which is only the soueraigne.

That it be for a iust cause, such as a defensiue war is, which is absolute iust, being iustified by all reason amongst the wise, [ 20] by necessitie amongst barbarians, by nature amongst beasts: * 1.46 I say defensiue, of himselfe, that is, of his life, his libertie, his parents, his countrie: of his allies and confederates, in regard of that faith he hath giuen; of such as are vniustlie oppressed, Qui non defendit, nec obsistit, si potest, iniuriae, tam est in vitio, quàm si parentes, aut patriam, aut socios deserat. These three * 1.47 heads of defence are within the bounds of iustice, according to S. Ambrose, Fortitudo, quae per bella tuetur à barbaris patria, vel defendit infirmos, vel à latronibus socios, plena iustitiae est. Ano∣ther more briefly, diuideth it into two heads, faith & health; Nullum bellum à ciuitate optima suscipitur, nisi aut pro fide, aut pro salute: and to offensiue warre he puts two conditions; * 1.48 That it proceede from some former offence giuen, as outrage or vsurpation, and hauing redemaunded openly by a herald

that which hath beene surprised and taken away (post clari∣gatum) * 1.49 and sought it by way of iustice, which must euer goe formost. For if men be willing to submit themselues vnto iu∣stice, and reason, there let them stay themselues; if not, the last, and therefore necessarie, is iust and lawfull, iustum bellum, * 1.50 quibus necessarium; pia arma quibus nulla nisi in armis relinqui∣tur spes.

Thirdly to a good end, that is to say, peace and quietnes. [ 21] Sapientes pacis causa bellum gerunt, & laborem spe otij sustentant: vt in pace sine iniuria viuant.

After iustice commeth prudence, whereby a man doth ad∣uisedly * 1.51 deliberate before by sound of trumpet he publisheth the warre. And therefore, that nothing be done out of passion, and ouer-rashly, it is necessarie that he consider of the points: of forces and meanes, as well his owne, as his enemies; se∣condly of the hazard and dangerous reuolution of humane things especiallie of armes, which are variable, and wherein fortune hath greatest credit, and exerciseth more hir empire, than in any other thing, wherein the issue may be such, that in an houre it carieth all, simul parta ac sperata decora vnius horae * 1.52 fortuna euertere potest.

Thirdly, of those great euils, infelicities, and publike and particular miseries, which warre doth necessarily bring with it, and which be such as the only imagination is lamentable. Fourthly of the calumnies, maledictions, and reproches that are spred abroad against the authours of the warre, by reason of those euils and miseries that follow it. For there is nothing more subiect to the toongs and iudgements of men than war. But all lighteth vpon the Chieftaine, iniquissima bellorum con∣ditio * 1.53 haec est, prospera omnes sibi vendicant, aduersa vni imputan∣tur. All these things together make the iustest warre that may be, detestable, saith S. Augustine; and therefore it standeth a soueraigne vpon, not to enter into warres but vpon great ne∣cessitie, as it is said of Augustus; and not to suffer himselfe to be caried by those incendiaries and fire-brands of warre, who for some particular passion, are readie to kindle and en∣flame him: quibus in pace durius seruitium est, in id nati, vt nec * 1.54 ipsi quiescant, neque alios sinant. And these men are commonly such, whose noses do bleed when they come to the fact it self.

Dulce bellum inexpertis. A wise soueraigne will keepe himselfe in peace, neither prouoking, nor fearing warre, neither disqui∣eting either his owne state, or anothers, betwixt hope and feare, nor comming to those extremities of perishing him∣selfe, or making others to perish.

The second head of militarie action, is to make war, where∣unto are required three things, Munitions, Men, Rules of war. * 1.55 The first is prouision and munition of all things necessarie for warre, which must be done in good time and at leasure, for it were great indiscretion in extremities to be employed about the search and prouision of those things which he should haue alwaies readie. Diu apparandum est, vt vincas celeriùs. Now of the ordinarie and perpetuall prouision required for the good of the prince and the state at all times, hath beene spoken in the first part of this Chapter, which is wholly of this subiect. The principall prouisions and munitions of war are three, Monie, which is the vitall spirit, and sinewes of war, whereof hath been spoken in the second Chapter. 2. Armes both offensiue and defensiue, whereof likewise heeretofore. These two are ordinarie, and at all times. 3. Victualls, with∣out which a man can neither conquer, nor liue, whole armies are ouerthrowne without a blow strucken, souldiers grow li∣centious, and vnrulie, and it is not possible to doe any good. Disciplinam non seruat ieiunus exercitus. * 1.56But this is an extraor∣dinarie prouision, and not perpetuall, and is not made but for warre. It is necessarie therefore that in the deliberating of warre, that there be great store-houses made for victuals, corne, poudered flesh, both for the armie which is in the field, and for the garisons in the frontiers, which may be besieged.

The second thing required to make warre, are men fit to assaile and to defend: we must distinguish them. The first di∣stinction * 1.57 is, into souldiers, and leaders or captaines, both are necessarie. The souldiers are the bodie, the captaines the soule, the life of the armie, who giue motion and action: wee wil speake first of the souldiers who make the bodie in grosse. There are diuers sorts of them: There are footmen and horse∣men; naturall of the same countrie, and strangers; ordinarie and subsidiarie. We must first compare them all together, to the end we may know which are the better, and to be pre∣ferred,

and afterwards we will see how to make our choice, and lastly how to gouerne and discipline them.

In this comparison all are not of one accord. Some, especi∣allie * 1.58 rude and barbarous people, preferre horsemen before footmen; others quite contrarie. A man may say that the foote are simplie and absolutely the better, for they serue both throughout the warre, and in all places, and at all occasions; whereas in hillie, rough, craggie, and strait places, and in sieges, the caualarie is almost vnprofitable. They are likewise more readie and lesse chargeable: and if they be well led and armed, as it is fit they should, they endure the chock of the horsemen. They are likewise preferred by such as are doctors in this arte. A man may say that the caualarie is better in a combat; and for a speedie dispatch; Equestrium virium pro∣prium citò parare, citò cedere victoriam. For the foote are not so speedie, but what they do they performe more surely.

As for naturall souldiers and strangers, diuers men are like∣wise * 1.59 of diuers opinions touching their precedencie; but with∣out all doubt the naturall are much better, because they are more loyall than mercenarie strangers.

Venales{que} manus, ibi fas, vbi maxima merces.

More patient and obedient, carying themselues with more honor and respect towards their leaders, more courage in combats, more affection to the victorie, and good of their countrie: They cost lesse, and are more readie than strangers, who are many times mutinous, yea in greatest necessities, ma∣king more stir, than doing seruice, and the most part of them are importunate, and burthensome to the Common-weale, cruell to those of the countrie, whom they forrage as enemies. Their comming and departure is chargeable, and many times they are expected and attended with great losse and incon∣uenience. If in some extremitie there be neede of them, be it so, but yet let them be in farre lesse number than the naturall, and let them make but a member and part of the armie, not the bodie. For there is danger that if they shall see themselues equall in force, or more strong than the naturall, they will make themselues their masters that called them, as many times it hath fallen out. For he is master of the state, that is master of the forces. And againe, if it be possible, let them be

drawne from allies and confederates, who bring with them more trust and seruice than they that are simplie strangers. For to make more vse of strangers, or to employ them more than naturall subiects, is to play the tyrants, who feare their subiects, and because they handle them like enemies, they make themselues odious vnto them, whereby they feare to arme them, or to employ them in the warres.

As touching ordinarie souldiers and subsidiaries, both are * 1.60 necessarie; but the difference betweene them is, that the or∣dinarie are in lesse number, are alway a foote and in armes both in peace and in warre: and of these we haue spoken in the prouision, a people wholly destinated and confined to the warres, formed to all exercise of armes, resolute. This is the ordinarie force of the prince, his honor in peace, his safegard in warre: such were the Romane legions. These should be di∣uided by troopes in times of peace, to the end they raise no commotions. The subsidiaries are in farre greater number, but they are not perpetuall, and wholly destinated to warre: they haue other vocations: At a neede and in times of warre they are called by the sound of a trumpet, enroled, mustred, and instructed to the warres; and in times of peace they re∣turne, and retire themselues to their vocations.

We haue vnderstood their distinctions and differences, * 1.61 we must now consider of the good choice of them: A matter whereof we must be carefullie aduised, not to gather many, and in great numbers, for number winneth not the victorie, but valour; and commonly they are but few that giue the ouerthrow. An vnbridled multitude doth more hurt than good. Non vires habet sed pondus, potiùs impedimentum quàm auxilium. Victorie then consisteth not in the number, but in the force and valor, manibus opus est bello, non multis nominibus. There must therefore be a great care in the choice of them (not pressing them pell-mell) that they bee not voluntarie aduenturers, ignorant of warre, taken forth of cities, corrupt, vitious, dissolute in their maners, arrogant boasters, hardie and bold to pillage, farre enough off from blowes, leuerets in dangers, Assuet•• latrocinijs bellorum, insolentes, galeati lepores, purgamenta vrbium, quibus ob egestatem & flagitia maxima peccandi necessitudo.

To choose them well, there needs iudgement, attention and instruction, and to this end fiue things must be considered of, * 1.62 that is to say, the place of their birth and education. They must be taken out of the fields, the mountaines, barren and hard places, countries neere adioining to the sea, and brought vp in all maner of labor. Exagris supplendum praecipuè robur exercitus, aptior armis rustica plebs sub dio & in laboribus enu∣trita, ipso terrae suae solo & coelo acrius animantur. Et minus mor∣tem timet, qui minus deliciarum nouit in vita. For they that are brought vp in Cities, in the pleasant shadow and delights thereof, in gaine, are more idle, insolent, effeminate; Vernaculo * 1.63 multitudo, lasciuiae sueta, laborum intolerans. Secondly the age, that they be taken young, at eighteene yeares of age, when they are most pliant and obedient: the elder are possessed with many vices, and not so fit for discipline. Thirdly the bo∣dies, * 1.64 which some will haue to be of a great stature, as Marius and Pirrhus: but though it be but indifferent, so the bodie be strong, drie, vigorous, sinowie, of a fierce looke, it is all one. Dura corpora stricti artus, minax vultus, maior animi vigor. Fourthly the spirit, which must be liuely, resolute, bold, glo∣rious, * 1.65 fearing nothing so much as dishonour and reproch. Fiftly the condition, which importeth much; for they that * 1.66 are of a base and infamous condition, of dishonest qualities, or such as are mingled with effeminate artes, seruing for deli∣cacie and for women, are no way fit for this profession.

After the choice and elections commeth discipline: for it is not enough to haue chosen those that are capable, and like∣ly * 1.67 to prooue good souldiers, if a man make them not good; and if he make them good, if he keepe and continue them not such. Nature makes few men valiant, it is good institution * 1.68 and discipline that doth it. Now it is hard to say how neces∣sarie and profitable good discipline is in warre: This is all in all, it is this that made Rome to flourish, and that woon it the seignorie of the world: yea, it was in greater account, than the loue of their children. Now the principall point of discipline is obedience, to which end serued that ancient precept, That a souldier must more feare his captaine, than his enemie.

Now this discipline must tend to two ends; to make the [ 31]

souldiers valiant, and honest men: and therefore it hath two * 1.69 parts, valour, and maners. To valour three things are re∣quired; daily exercise in armes, wherein they must alwaies keepe themselues in practise without intermission; and from hence commeth the Latin word Exercitus, which signifieth an armie. This exercise in armes, is an instruction to manage and vse them well, to prepare themselues for combats, to draw benefit from armes, with dexteritie to defend them∣selues, to discouer and present vnto them whatsoeuer may fal out in the fight, and come to the triall, as in a ranged battell: to propose rewards to the most apt and actiue, to enflame them. Secondly, trauell or paines, which is as well to harden * 1.70 them to labour, to sweatings, to dust, exercitue labore proficit, otio consenescit, as for the good and seruice of the army, and fortification of the field, whereby they must learne to digge, to plant a pallisade, to order a barricado, to runne, to carrie heauie burthens. These are necessarie things, as well to de∣fend themselues, as to offend and surprise the enemie. Third∣ly order, which is of great vse, and must be kept in warre for * 1.71 diuers causes, and after a diuers maner. First, in the distri∣bution of the troopes, into battallions, regiments, ensignes, camerades. Secondly, in the situation of the campe, that it be disposed into quarters with proportion, hauing the pla∣ces, entries, issues, lodgings fitted both for the horsemen and footemen, whereby it may bee easie for euerie man to finde his quarter, his companion. Thirdly, in the march in the field, and against the enemie, that euery one hold his ranke; that they be equally distant the one from the other, neither too neere, nor too farre from one an other. Now this order is very necessarie and serues for many purposes. It is very plea∣sing to the eie, cheereth vp friends, astonisheth the enemie, secureth the armie, maketh all the remooues, and the com∣mands of the captaines easie; in such sort, that without stir, without confusion the Generall commandeth, and from hand to hand his intents and purposes come euen to the least. Im∣perium ducis simul omne copiae sentiunt; & ad nutum regentis sine tumultu respondent. To be briefe, this order well kept, ma∣keth an armie almost inuincible; and contrarily, many haue lost the field for want of this order, and good intelligence.

The second part of this military discipline concerneth ma∣ners, which are commonly very dissolute and in armies hard∣ly * 1.72 ordered, assiduè dimicantibus difficile morum custodire mensu∣ram. Neuerthelesse there must be paines taken, and especial∣ly to enstale (if it may be) three vertues, Continencie, where∣by * 1.73 all gluttonie, drunkennesse, whordome, and all maner of dishonest pleasures are chased away, which doe make a soul∣dier loose and licentious. Degenerat à robore ac virtute miles assuetudine voluptatum; witnesse Hannibal who by delicacie * 1.74 and delights in a winter was effeminated, and he by vice was vanquished, that was inuincible, and by armes vanquished all others. Modestie in words, driuing away all vanitie, vaine * 1.75 boasting, brauerie of speech; for true valour stirreth not the tongue, but the hands, doth not speake but execute. Viri na∣ti militae factis magni, ad verborum linguaeque certamina rudes: discrimen ipsum certaminis differt: viri fortes, in opere acres, ante id placidi. And contrarily great speakers are small doers. Ni∣mij verbis linguaferoces. Now the tongue is for counsell, the hand for combat, saith Homer; Modestie in action, (that is, a simple and readie obedience, without merchandizing or contradicting the commands of the captaines) haec sunt bonae militiae, velle, vereri, obedire. Abstinencie, whereby souldi∣ers keepe their hands cleane from all violence, forraging, ro∣berie. * 1.76 And this is a briefe summe in the militarie discipline; the which the Generall must strengthen by rewards and re∣compences of honour towards the good and valorous, and by seuere punishments against offenders: for indulgence vndo∣eth souldiers.

Let this suffice of souldiers: Now a word or two of cap∣taines, without whom the souldier can doe nothing: they * 1.77 are a body without a soule, a ship with oares without a master to hold the sterne. There are two sorts, the Generall and first, and afterwards the subalterne, the master of the Campe, Col∣lonels: But the General (who must neuer be but one, vnder * 1.78 paine of losing all) is all in all. And therefore it is said, that an armie can doe as much as a General can doe; and as much account must be made of him as of all the rest, plus in duce re∣pones, * 1.79 quàm in exercitu. Now this Generall is either the prince himselfe and souereigne, or such as hee hath committed the

charge vnto, and made choice of. The presence of a prince is of great importance to the obtaining of a victorie; it dou∣bleth the force and courage of his men; and it seemeth to be requisite when it standeth vpon the safegard and health of his state, and of a prouince. In warres of lesse consequence he may depute another: dubijs praeliorum exemtus summae rerum * 1.80 & imperij seipsum reseruet. Finallie, a Generall must haue these qualities, he must be wise and experienced in the arte milita∣rie, hauing seene and suffered both fortunes: Secundarum ambiguarumque rerum sciens eoque interitus. Secondly, hee must be prouident and well aduised; and therefore staid, cold, * 1.81 and setled; farre from all temerity and precipitation, which is not only foolish, but vnfortunate. For faults in warre cannot be mended; Non licet in bello his peccare. And therefore hee * 1.82 must rather looke backe, than before him, Ducem oportet po∣tius respicere, quàm prospicere. Thirdly, hee must be vigilant and actiue, and by his owne example, teaching his souldiers to doe his will. Fourthlie happie, good fortune comes from heauen, but yet willinglie it followeth and accompanieth these three first qualities.

After the munitions and men of warre, let vs come to the * 1.83 rules and generall aduisements to make warre. This third point is a very great and necessarie instrument of war, with∣out which both munitions and men, are but phantasies, Plura consilio quàm vi perficiuntur. Now to prescribe certaine rules and perpetuall, it is impossible. For they depend of so many things that are to be considered of, and wherunto a man must accommodate himselfe, wherupon it was well said, That men giue not counsell to the affaires, but the affaires to men, that a man must order his warre by his eie. A man must take his counsell in the field, Consilium in arena: for new occur∣rents yeeld new counsels. Neuerthelesse there are some so generall, and certaine, that a man cannot faile in the deliuerie and obseruation of them. We will brieflie set down some few of them, whereunto a man may adde as occasions shall fall out. Some are to be obserued throughout a warre, which we will speake of in the first place, others are for certaine occasi∣ons and affaires. * 1.84

1 The first is carefully to watch and to meet the occasions

not to lose any, nor to permit, if it be possible, the enemie to take his: occasion hath a great place in all humane affaires, e∣speciallie in warre, where it helpeth more than force.

2 To make profit of rumours and reports that runne a∣broad, for whether they be true or false, they may doe much, especiallie in the beginning. Fama bella constant, fama bellum conficit, in spem metumuè impellit animos.

3 But when a man is entred his course, let not reports trouble him: he may consider of them, but let them not hin∣der him to do that he should, and what he can, and let him stand firme to that which reason hath counselled him.

4 Aboue all, he must take heed of too great a confidence and assurance, whereby he growes into contempt of his ene∣mie, and thereby becomes negligent and carelesse; it is the most dangerous euill that can fall out in warre. He that con∣temneth his enemie, discouereth and betrayeth himselfe, Fre∣quentissimum initium calamitatis securitas. Nemo celeriùs oppri∣mitur quam qui non timet. Nil tutò in hoste despicitur: quem spreueris, valentiorem negligentia facies. There is nothing in warre that must be despised: for therein there is nothing little: and many times that which seemeth to a man to be of small moment, yeeldeth great effects. Saepe paruis momentis magni casus: vt nihil timendi, sic nihil contemnendi.

5 To enquire very carefullie, and to know the estate and affaires of the enemie, especiallie these points, 1. The nature, capacitie, and designments of the Chieftaine. 2. The nature, maners, and maner of life of his enemies. 3. The situation of the places, & the nature of the countrie where he is. Hannibal was excellent in this.

6 Touching the fight or maine battell, many things are * 1.85 aduisedly to be considered of, when, where, against whom, and how, to the end it be not to small purpose. And a man must not come to this extremitie, but with great deliberati∣on, but rather make choice of any other meane, and seeke to breake the force of his enemie by patience, and to suffer him to beate himselfe with time, with the place, with the want of many things, before he come to this hazard. For the issue of battailes is very vncertaine, and dangerous: Incertiexitus pug∣narum.

Mars communis, qui saepe spoliantem & iam exultantem euertit; & perculit ab abiecto.

7 A man then must not come to the battell, but seldome, that is to say, in great necessities, or for some great occasion. * 1.86 In necessitie, as if the difficulties grow on his part; his viands, his treasure faileth; his men begin to distaste the warres, and will be gone, and he cannot long continue, capienda rebus in malis praeceps via est; vpon great occasion, as if his part be clearely the stronger; that the victorie seemeth to offer it self, that the enemie is weake, and will shortly be stronger, and will offer the battell; that he is out of doubt and feare, and thinketh his enemie farre off; that he is weary and faint, re∣uictualleth himselfe; his horses feede vpon their litter.

8 He must consider the place, for this is a matter of great consequence in battels. In generall, he must not attend (if he * 1.87 may preuent it) his enemie till he enter within his owne terri∣tories. He must goe foorth to meete him, or at least stay him in the entrance. And if he be alreadie entered, not hazard the battell, before he haue another armie in readinesse, to make a supplie; otherwise he puts his state in hazard. More particu∣larlie hee must consider the field where the battell is to be fought, whether it be fit for himselfe, or his enemie: for the field many times giues a great aduantage. The plaine cham∣pion is good for the caualarie; strait and narrow places, set with piles, full of diches, trees, for the infanterie.

9 He must consider with whom he is to fight, not with the strongest, I meane not the strongest men, but the strongest * 1.88 and stoutest courages. Now there is not any thing that giueth more heart and courage, than necessitie, an enemie inuincible. And therefore I say, that a man must neuer fight with such as are desperate. This agreeth with the former, that is, not to hazard a battell within his owne countrie, for an enemie be∣ing entered fighteth desperatly, knowing if he be vanqui∣shed, he cannot escape death, hauing neither fortresse, nor any place of retrait or succor, vnde necessitas in loco, spes in virtute, salus ex victoria.

10 The maner of fight that brings best aduantage with it, * 1.89 whatsoeuer it be, is the best; whether it be surprise, subtiltie,

close and couert faining to feare, to the end he may draw the enemie, and catch him in his ginne, spe victoriae inducere, vt vincantur; to watch and marke his ouersights and faults, that he may the better preuaile against him, and giue the charge.

For ranged battels these things are required. The first and principall is a good and comely ordering of his people. 2. A * 1.90 supplie and succor alwaies readie, but close and hidden, to the end that comming suddainly and vnawares, it may astonish and confound the enemie. For all suddaine things though they be vaine and ridiculous, bring feare and astonishment with them.

Primi in omnibus praelijs oculi vincuntur & aures.

3. To be first in the field, and ranged in battell ray. This a Generall doth with so much the more ease, and it much in∣creaseth the courage of his souldiers, and abateth his enemies: for this is to make himselfe the assailant, who hath alwaies more heart than the defendant. 4. A beawtifull, gallant, bold, resolued countenance of the Generall and other leaders. 5. An oration to encourage the souldiers, and to lay open vnto them the honor, commoditie and suertie that there is in valor; That dishonor, danger, death, are the reward of cowards; minus ti∣moris minus periculi, audaciam pro muro esse, effugere mortem, qui eam contemnit.

Being come to hand-strokes, if the army wauer, the Gene∣rall must hold himselfe firm, do the dutie of a resolute Leader, * 1.91 & braue man at armes, runne before his astonished souldiers, stay them recoyling, thrust himselfe into the throng, make all to know, both his owne, and his enemies, that his head, his hand, his tongue trembleth not.

And if it fall out that he haue the better, and the field be his, he must stay and with-hold them, lest they scatter and disband themselues, by too obstinate a pursuit of the vanqui∣shed. That is to be feared, which hath many times come to passe, that the vanquished gathering heart, make vse of des∣paire, gather to a head, and vanquish the vanquishers, for this necessitie is a violent schoole-mistris. Clausis ex desperatione enescit audacia: & cùm spei nihil est, sumit arma formido. It is bet∣ter to giue passage vnto them, and to remoue all lets and hin∣drances that may stay their flight. Much lesse must a Gene∣rall

suffer himselfe or his men to attend the booty, or to be al∣lured therby ouer hastily, if he be conqueror. He must vse his victorie wisely, lest the abuse thereof turne to his own harme. And therfore he must not defile it with cruelty, depriuing the enemy of all hope, for there is danger in it. Ignauiam necessitas acuit; saepe desperatio spei caussa est, grauissim sunt morsus irrita∣tae necessitatis. But contrarilie, he must leaue some occasion of hope, and ouerture vnto peace, not spoiling and ransaking the country which he hath conquered; for fury and rage are dangerous beasts. Againe he must not staine his victorie with insolency, but carie himselfe modestly and alwaies remember the perpetuall flux and reflux of this world, & that alternatiue reuolution, wherby from aduersity springeth prosperity, from prosperity aduersity. There are some that cannot digest a good fortune, Magnam foelicitatem concoquere non possunt. fortuna vt∣trea est, tunc cum splendet frangitur: O infidam fiduciam! & saepe victor victus. If he be vanquished, wisdome is necessarie well to waigh and consider of his losse, it is sottishnesse to make himselfe beleeue that it is nothing, and to feed himselfe with vaine hopes, to suppresse the newes of the ouerthrow. Hee must consider thereof as it is at the worst, otherwise how shall he remedie it? And afterwards with a good courage hope for better fortunes, renew his forces, make a new leuy, seeke new succours, put good and strong garrisons into his stron∣gest places. And though the heauens bee contrary vnto him, as sometimes they seeme to oppose themselues to holy and iust armes; it is neuerthelesse neuer forbidden to die in the bed of honour, which is farre better than to liue in dishonour.

And thus wee haue ended the second head of this subiect, which is to make warre, except one scruple that remaineth: * 1.92 That is to say, whether it bee lawfull to vse subtilty, policie, stratagems in warre. There bee some that hold it negatiuely, that it is vnworthy men of honour and vertue, reiecting that excellent saying, Dolus, an virtus quis in hoste requirat? Alex∣ander would take no aduantages of the obscurity of the night, saying, that he liked not of theeuing victories, malo me fortunae pigeat, quàm victoriae pudeat. So likewise the first Romanes sent their schoolemaster to the Phaliscians; to Pyrrhus his traiterous Physitian, making profession of vertue, disauowing

those of their country that did otherwise, reprouing the sub∣tilty of the Greekes and Aphricanes, and teaching that true victorie is by vertue, quae salua fide & integra dignitate para∣tur, that which is gotten by wit and subtiltie, is neither gene∣rous, nor honorable, nor secure. The vanquished hold not themselues to be well vanquished, non virtute, sed occasione & arte ducis se victos rati: ergo non fraude neque occultis sed palam & armatum hostes suos vlcisci. Now all this is well said and true, but to be vnderstood in two cases, in priuat quarrels, and against priuat enemies, or where faith is not giuen, or a league and alliance made. But without these two cases, that is to say, in warre, and without the preiudice of a mans faith, it is per∣mitted by any means whatsoeuer to conquer the enemy that is alreadie condemned. This, besides the iudgement of the greatest warriers (who contrarily haue preferred the victorie * 1.93 gotten by occasion, and by subtile stratagems, before that which is woon by open force; whereupon to that they haue ordained an oxe for a sacrifice, to this onlie a cocke) is the o∣pinion of that great Christian Doctor, Cum iustum bellum su∣scipitur, vt aperte pugnet quis, aut ex insidijs, nihil ad iustitiam in∣terest. Warre hath naturallie reasonable priuiledges, to the preiudice of reason. In time and place it is permitted to make vse and aduantage of the sottishnesse of an enemy, as well as of his weaknesse or idlenesse.

Let vs come to the third head of this militarie matter, * 1.94 more short and pleasing than the rest, which is to finish the warre by peace. The word is sweet, the thing pleasant, and good in all respects, pax optima rerum quas homini nouisse da∣tum est, Pax vna triumphis innumeris potior, and verie commo∣dious to both parts, the conquerors and conquered. But first * 1.95 to the vanquished, who are the weaker: to whom I doe first giue this counsell, to continue armed, to make shew of securi∣tie, assurance and resolution. For he that desireth peace, must be alwaies readie for war, wherupon it hath beene said, That treatises of peace do well and happily succeed when they are concluded vnder a buckler. But this peace must bee honest, and vpon reasonable conditions: otherwise, though it bee said, that a base peace is more profitable than a iust war, yet it is better to die freelie and with honour, than to serue disho∣nourablie.

And againe it must be pure and free, without fraud and hypocrisie, which finisheth the warre, deferreth it not, pace suspecta tutius bellum. Neuerthelesse in times of necessitie a man must accomodate himselfe as he may. When a pilot feareth a shipwracke, hee casteth himselfe into the sea to saue himselfe; and manie times it succeedeth well, when a man committeth himselfe to the discretion of a generous aduersa∣rie. Victores qui sunt alto animo secundae res in miserationem ex ira vertunt. To the vanquishers I giue this counsell, that they * 1.96 be not ouer hardly perswaded to peace, for though perhaps it be lesse profitable vnto them, than to the vanquished, yet some commoditie it bringeth, for the continuance of warre is odious and troublesome. And Lycurgus forbiddeth to make warre often against one and the same enemies, because they learne thereby to defend thēselues, & in the end to assaile too. The bitings of dying beasts are mortall. Fractis rebus violen∣tior vltima virtus. And againe the issue is alwaies vncertaine, Melior tutiorque certa pax sperata victoria, illa in tua, haec in dec∣rum manu est. And many times the poison lieth in the taile, and the more fauourable fortune is, the more it is to bee fea∣red: Nemo se tuto diu periculis offerre tam crebris potest. But it is truly honorable, it is a glory hauing a victorie in his hands, * 1.97 to be facill and easily perswaded vnto peace: it is to make knowen that he vndertaketh a warre iustly, and doth wisely finish it. And contrarilie, to refuse it, and afterwards by some ill successe to repent the refusall, it is very dishonourable, and will be said that glory hath vndone him. Hee refused peace, * 1.98 and would haue honour, and so hath lost them both. But hee must offer a gratious and a debonaire peace, to the end it may be durable. For if it be ouer rough and cruell, at the first ad∣uantage that may be offered, the vanquished will reuolt. Si bonam de deritis, fidam & perpetuam, si malam, haud diuturnam. * 1.99

It is as great greatnesse to shew as much lenitie towards the suppliant vanquished, as valour against the enemie. The Romanes did verie well put this in practise, and it did them no harme.

Notes

• * 1.1

  1 A summary description of the action of the prince.
• * 1.2

  Beneuolence, Authoritie two pillars of a prince and state.
• * 1.3

  Tacit.
• * 1.4

  2 Beneuolence is attained by clemency.
• * 1.5

  Tacit.
• * 1.6

  Senec.
• * 1.7

  Tacit.
• * 1.8

  3 Beneficence.
• * 1.9

  Tacit.
• * 1.10

  4 Liberality.
• * 1.11

  Chap. 2. act. 23. Tacit.
• * 1.12

  5 Authority.
• * 1.13

  By what it is acquired.
• * 1.14

  6 Seuerity.
• * 1.15

  Cicero.
• * 1.16

  7 Constancy.
• * 1.17

  Aristot.
• * 1.18

  Senec.
• * 1.19

  9 Against vn∣iust authori∣ty and ty∣raunie.
• * 1.20

  Plin. de Traia.
• * 1.21

  10 Hate and contempt, two murthe∣rers of ae prince.
• * 1.22

  A rist. lib. 5. Pol. Hatred.
• * 1.23

  Cicero.
• * 1.24

  11 Hatred pro∣ceedeth from crueltie. Cap. 2. art. 12.
• * 1.25

  An aduice for punish∣ments. Senec.
• * 1.26

  12 Auarice.
• * 1.27

  13 Contempt.
• * 1.28

  Art 5.
• * 1.29

  Plin. in Panch.
• * 1.30

  An ill forme of gouern∣ment.
• * 1.31

  Infelicitie.
• * 1.32

  Máners.
• * 1.33

  14 The distin∣ction of the action of a prince.
• * 1.34

  Of the peace∣able.
• * 1.35

  An aduice.
• * 1.36

  15 2 To haue a memoriall of the 1 Affaires.
• * 1.37

  2 Persons.
• * 1.38

  3 Gifts.
• * 1.39

  16 3 To appoint rewards and punishments.
• * 1.40

  17 4 To distri∣bute re∣wards.
• * 1.41

  18 Of the mili∣tarie action which consi∣steth in three points.
• * 1.42

  To enter∣prise, where two things are required.
• * 1.43

  Plin. in Pan.
• * 1.44

  Salust.
• * 1.45

  19 Three things make an en∣terprise iust.
• * 1.46

  Cic. pro Milo.
• * 1.47

  In officijs.
• * 1.48

  Salust.
• * 1.49

  Plin. l. 22. nat. hist. ca. 2.
• * 1.50

  Liuius.
• * 1.51

  22 Prudence.
• * 1.52

  Liuius.
• * 1.53

  Tacit.
• * 1.54

  Pindar.
• * 1.55

  〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.56

  Cassiod.
• * 1.57

  24 Men.
• * 1.58

  25 Rather foote than horse.
• * 1.59

  26 And natu∣rall than strangers.
• * 1.60

  27 As well or∣dinary as subsidiary.
• * 1.61

  28 Well to choose.
• * 1.62

  29 Election of souldiers consisteth in fiue things. 1 Country. Veget.
• * 1.63

  Tacit. 2 Age.
• * 1.64

  3 Bodies.
• * 1.65

  4 Spirit.
• * 1.66

  5 Condition.
• * 1.67

  30 Well disci∣plined.
• * 1.68

  Veget.
• * 1.69

  Discipline hath two parts. 1 Valour which is at∣tained by exercise.
• * 1.70

  2 Trauell.
• * 1.71

  3 Order.
• * 1.72

  Maners the second part of discipline.
• * 1.73

  Continencie.
• * 1.74

  Tacit.
• * 1.75

  Modestie.
• * 1.76

  Abstinencie.
• * 1.77

  33 Of captaines.
• * 1.78

  Of the Ge∣nerall.
• * 1.79

  Tacit.
• * 1.80

  Tacit.
• * 1.81

  Tacit.
• * 1.82

  Sertori. in Plut.
• * 1.83

  34 The third head of the rules and counsels to make warre.
• * 1.84

  Rules for the whole time of warre.
• * 1.85

  35 For the fight.
• * 1.86

  When.
• * 1.87

  Where.
• * 1.88

  With and against whom.
• * 1.89

  How.
• * 1.90

  36 Rules for ranged bat∣tailes.
• * 1.91

  37 Hauing ioy∣ned battaile.
• * 1.92

  38 A question of the stra∣tagems of warre.
• * 1.93

  Polyb. lib. Plut. in Marcell. Vlp. lib. 1. de Prob. Aug. quaest. sup. Iosue.
• * 1.94

  39 The third head of this military subiect, to finish war.
• * 1.95

  Of peace in respect of the vanquished.
• * 1.96

  In respect of the vanqui∣shers.
• * 1.97

  Honorable.
• * 1.98

  S. Bernard.
• * 1.99

  Liuius.