The works of the famous Nicholas Machiavel, citizen and secretary of Florence written originally in Italian, and from thence newly and faithfully translated into English.

THE PREFACE OF NICOLO MACHIAVELLI, TO Lorenzo the Son of Philippo Strozzi, Gentleman of FLORENCE.

MAny have been, and are still of opinion, that in the whole world no two things are more incongruous and dissimilar than a Civil, and a Military life; insomuch that ma∣ny times when a man designs himself for a Soldier, he not only takes upon him a new habit, but he changes his Customs, his Company, his manner of Discourse, and leaves off all ways of civil conversation; for he who would be light and nimble, and ready for the execution of all sort of violence, looks upon a civil habit as improper and cumbersome; civil customs are unsuitable to him who thinks them soft and effeminate, and inconsistant with the life he proposes; and indeed it would be undecent if a man whose business it is to look big, and Hector, and fright the whole world with his Oaths and his Blasphemies, should carry himself demure∣ly, and behave himself with the usual gentleness and complacency of other men; and this is it which in our days makes this opinion true: But if we consider the condition and method of old times, we shall find no two things more united, more conformable; nor more necessarily amicable than they. For all the Arts which are contrived in a City for the common good; all the courses invented to keep men in fear of God and the Laws would be useless and vain, were not force provided for their defence; which force (if well or∣dered) will be able to make them good, though perhaps the Laws are not so exact in themselves; for this is most certain, good Or∣ders without Military coertion will quickly moulder to nothing, and run to decay like a Noble and Princely Palace that is unco∣vered at the top, and has nothing but the splendor and richness of its furniture to defend it from the weather. And if anciently Kingdoms and States imploy'd great industry to keep people in peace, and in the faith and fear of God; certainly in the regu∣lation of their Military Discipline they employed much more;

for where can ones Country repose greater confidence, than in him who has promised to die for it? Where can there be greater inclination to Peace, than in him who is not capable of molestati∣on or injury, but by War? Where can there be more fear of God, than in him who being obnoxious to hourly dangers, has more need of his divine assistance. This necessity being well considered by those who gave Laws to Kingdoms, and those who had the Command of their Armies, was the cause that the life of a Souldier was in great reputation with all people, and much imitated and follow'd. But Military discipline being now totally deprav'd, and degenerated from the practice of the ancients; that depravity hath been the occasion of several ill opinions, which have brought that Discipline into contempt, and made all people hate and a∣void the conversation of a Souldier. But considering with my self both from what I have seen and read, that it is not impossible to revive the discipline of our Ancestors; and reduce it to its pri∣mitive excellence, I resolved (to keep my self from idleness) to write what I thought might be to the satisfaction of such persons as were studious of the art of War, and lovers of Antiquity; 'tis true, 'tis more than ordinary boldness to treat of this Subject, where others have been so scrupulous and wary; yet I cannot think it an error to write of what others have professed and exercised with much more audacity and presumption; For my faults in writing, may be corrected without prejudice to any body; but those faults which they commit in the execution, cannot be repair'd, but by the destruction and ruine of several people; consider then (Sir) the quality of my labours, and according to your judgment let them be approved or rejected, as you think they deserve: I send them to you as a testimony of my gratitude, though my abi∣lities are not in the least commensurat with the greatness of your favours: besides it being the custom to address things of this nature to persons that are Illustrious for their Birth, wealth, parts, or generosity: I knew you had not many equals in your Nobility and Fortune, fewer in your parts; but in Generosity and Li∣berality, none at all.