As for Asia, it has not produced many extraordinary men, because that Province was
wholly under a Monarchy, which (by reason of its greatness, the greatest part of it being
always at peace) could not produce such excellent men, as where there was action and
war.
In Africa it was the same, yet there they were more numerous, by reason of the Car∣thaginian
Republick: for Commonwealths do furnish the World with more brave men
than Kingdoms; because in States, virtue is many times honoured and advanced; in Mo∣narchies
and Kingdoms it is suspected; from whence it proceeds that in the one it is en∣couraged,
in the other exploded. He then who shall consider Europe, shall find it full of
Commonwealths, and Principalities, which in respect of the jealousies and animosities be∣twixt
them, were constrained to keep up the old military discipline, and advance those
who in it were any ways eminent; for in Greece, besides the Macedonians, there were ma∣nay
Republicks, and in each of them, several excellent men.
The Romans, the Samnites, the Tuscans, Cisalpine Gauls, France and Germany were full
of Republicks and Principalities, and Spain was the same. And though in respect of the
Romans, the numbers which are mentioned of them in History, are but small; that pro∣ceeds
from the emulation and partiality of the Historians, who following fortune, content
themselves with commending the Conqueror; but 'its unreasonable to imagine that among
the Samnites and Tuscans (who waged war with the Romans 150 years together before
they were totally subdued) there were not many brave men; and so in France and in Spain;
but the virtue which Authors do not celebrate in particular men, they impute generally to
the whole people, whom they exalt to the skies for their constancy, and adherence to their
liberty.
It being true then, that where there are most Principalities and Governments there are
more excellent men; it follows, that when those Governments and Principalities extin∣guish,
their brave men and virtue extinguish with them, there being loss occasion to exert it.
After the Roman Empire had dilated in self so strangely, and subverted all the Common∣wealths
and Principalities in Europe, and Africa, and the greatest part of those in Asia; vir∣tue
declined in all places but in Rome. Whereupon virtuous men began to grow thinner
in Europe and Asia, and by degrees came afterwards to a total declination; for the virtue of
the whole World being as it were inclosed in the walls of Rome, when it grew depraved
and corrupted there, the whole World became corrupt, and the Scythians were encouraged
to make their inroads and depredations upon the Empire which had been able to consume
and extinguish the virtue of all other places, but was not able to preserve it at home. And
though afterwards by the inundation of those Barbarians it was divided into several Can∣tons;
yet for two reasons their virtue was never restored: one was because when Laws
and Orders are once neglected and disused, it is with no little pain that they are reassumed:
the other, our way of living in these times (in respect of the Christian Religion) imposes
not that necessity of defending our selves, as anciently it did: for then those who were
overcome in war, either killed themselves, or remained in perpetual slavery, in which they
lived afterwards in continual misery. The Towns that were taken were either totally de∣molished,
or the Inhabitants banished, their Goods plundered, their Estates sequestred, and
themselves dispersed all over the World; so that he who was overcome, suffered such
miseries as are not to be expressed. People being terrified by these insupportable cruel∣ties,
kept up the reputation of military discipline, and advanced all those who were ex∣cellent
therein.
But at present we are under no such apprehensions: no man kills himself for being
conquered: no man is kept long a prisoner, because it is more easie to set him at liberty.
If a City rebels twenty times, it is not immediately razed and demolished; the Citizens
are continued in their Estates, and the greatest punishment they fear, is a mulct or a tax:
so that men will not now submit to military orders, nor apply themselves to those
labours to avoid a peril which they do not apprehend. Besides, the Provin∣ces
of Europe are under few heads in comparison of what they were anciently: for all
France is under one King; all Spain under another: Italy is divided into four parties, so
that the weaker Cities that are unable to maintain war of themselves, defend themselves
by alliances with the Conqueror; and those who are strong (for the reasons abovesaid) are
in no fear of ruine.