Prince could be likened to nothing better then to a good Shepherd, so people might be very fitly compared to a very numerous flock of sheep; and that to the end that one onely Shepherd might commodiously go∣vern a great many sheep, the Divine Majestie had made them to be low∣ly minded, and had created them without the weapons of Horns or Teeth: for otherwise, to the great prejudice of mankind, every sheep must of necessity have a shepherd alloted him: for God having armed the head and hands of man with a stout heart, and wise genius, he became not obedient and submissive to his shepherd, as many Princes did believe, by being often shorn and continually milked, or by being hindred from growing fat in good pastures by angersome vexations; for the true way to keep the people low, was not to afflict them perpetually by pinching taxes, was not to reduce them to shameful poverty, by grating penal∣ties, but to avoid the arming of their head with that ambition of com∣mand, which people so delight in, as the appetite is encreased by satie∣ty: Which true means, and safe counsel, is onely known, and succes∣fully practised by the Ottaman Emperors, who knowing very well how dangerous a thing it is for States to arm their subjects with ambition, authority, or the attendance of many Souldiers, think it a capital error, and the ruine of their States, to give any place of command to a native Turk; certainly a most happy custom, and which plainly teacheth Princes, that the true meaning and genuine interpretation of so useful a precept in policy, is onely, That it is a dangerous thing to arm the head of subjects with ambition, not their hands with swords; to keep them humble, by not giving them places of too great attendance, not to de∣sire their poverty by taking their means from them; for that Almighty God not having made sheep humble and obedient for any want they have of wool, milk or lambs, did thereby teach Princes to use all means possible, that their subjects may increase in wealth, and that they may abound in goods; it being very true, that people by increasing their pri∣vate patrimonies, make chains wherewith they keep themselves fast bound up; for lest they may lose their wealth got by so much toil, they did so religiously study peace, as the ancient Romans, who were true masters of the reason of State, found no better means to make the warlike French, whom they had newly conquered, quiet and obedient to their Republike, then by affording them all possible means of growing rich; an advice which proved so fortunate unto them, as that Politick Tacitus speaking of the French, the most warlike people of all Europe, doth not onely call them Dites, & Imbelles, lib. 11. Annal. but freely affirms, Gallos quo{que} in bellis flo•…•…uisses. Tacit. Vita Agric. which plainly shews, that great riches gotten by the French, had brought that formerly warlike Nati∣on into such a wretchless slothfulness, as it seemed an old wives tale, that the French knew ever how to manage arms; whereby we are made aware, that riches by disarming men, keeps them submiss in the humility of peace; whereas on the contrary every one sees, that the not being con∣tent with their present condition, makes men greedy of novilties. For men are not abased, as ignorant people believe, by being poor, but need begets in them such an immence desire of change of fortune, as makes those that are in bad condition, venture upon any how desperate or dan∣gerous soever an undertaking; it having been often times experienced, that nothing arms people more then poverty. Which produceth despe∣ration,