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VVWherefore lette them obserue, whether it befitte a good and vpright man to reioyce in the inlarging of his dominions. For it was the badnesse of those against whome iust warres were whilome vnder-taken, that hath aduanced earthly soueraignties to that port they now hold: which would haue beene little still, if no enemy had giuen cause nor prouocation to war by offring
his neighbour wrong. If men had alwaies beene thus conditioned, the Kingdomes of the earth would haue continued little in quantity, and peacefull in neighbour∣ly agreement. And then a many Kingdomes would haue beene in the world, as a many families are now in a citty. So that the waging warre, and the augmenta∣tion of dominions by conquest may seeme to the badde as a great felicity, but the good must needs hold it a meere necessity. But because it would bee worse if the badde should gette all the Soueraignty, and so ouer-rule the good, therefore in that respect, the honest men may esteem their owne soueraingty a felicity. But doubtlesse, hee is farre more happy that hath a good neighbour by him in qui∣et, then hee that must bee forced to subdue an euil neighbour by contention. It is an euill wish, to wish for one that thou hatest, or fearest, or for one to trou∣ble thee that thou mightst haue one to conquer. VVherfore if the Romaines at∣tained to so great an Empire by honest, vpright & iust wars, why should they not reuerence their enemies iniquity, & take itfor their goddesses good? For we see that Iniquity hath giuen good assistance to the increase of this Empire by setting on others vppon vniust prouocation to iust warre, that so the Romaines might haue iust cause to subdue them, and so consequently to inlarge their owne do∣minions. And why should not Iniquity be a goddesse (at least among forreyne Nations) as well as Feare and Palenesse and Feuer was at Rome? So that by these two Deities, Iniquity and Victory, the first beginning the warres, and the latter ending them with the conquest, Romes Empire was inlarged infinitely, whilest Ioue kept holyday in the Capitoll. For what hath Iupiter to doe heere wh•…•…e those (which they may say are but meerely his benefits) are worshipped, i•…•…ed and accoumpted for direct deities and partes of his essence? Indeed 〈◊〉〈◊〉 should haue hadde a faire good hand in this businesse, if that hee were called •…•…eraignty as well as shee is called Victory. But if that (a) Soueraignty bee but a meere guift of Ioues, then why may not Victory bee so too? Both would bee 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to bee so if the Romaines didde not worshippe a dead stone in the Capi∣toll, b•…•… the true King of Kinges and Lord of all domination both in earth and Heauen.
I•…•… (a) Kingdome] So saith Homer in diuers places.