Machivael's [sic] discourses upon the first decade of T. Livius, translated out of the Italian. To which is added his Prince. With some marginal animadversions noting and taxing his errors. By E.D.

CHAP. IIII.

Republiques have taken three particular courses, to amplifie and inlarge their states.

HE that hath read the ancient histories with observation, findes that Commonwealths have three manner of wayes to amplify their states. The one hath bin that which the ancient Tuscans followed, to make a league of many Republiques together, where no

one is preserred before the other, neither in authority nor in dignity; and to make other cities partakers with them in their gains; just as now adayes the Swisses do, and formerly in Greece the Achaeans and Eto∣lians were wont. And because the Romans had much war with the Tuscans, the better to shew the quality of this first way, I will inlarge my self in giving notice of them par ieularly. Before the Romans had any great power in Italy, the Tuscans were very mighty both by sea and by land: and though there is no particu∣lar history that touches their affairs, yet is there some small remembrance thereof, and some signes left us of their greatness; and we know, how they sent a colony to the sea coast above, called by them Adria, which prooved of such renown, that it gave the name to that sea, and the Latins call it the Adri tick to this day. Moreover we know, that they had conquered all from Tiber, to the very foot of the Alpes, which encompass the whole body of Italy. Notwithstanding that two hundred years before the Romans grew to any considerable strength, the said Tuscans lost the dominion of that countrey which is now called Lombar∣dy; Which was seized on by the French; who either driven by necessity, or allured by the delicacy of the fruits, especially the wines, came into Italy under the conduct of Bellovesus their Captain, and having defeated and chased out the natives; seated themselves in that place, therein built many cities, and called the Countrey Gallia, from the name they then bare; and this they held til they were conquered by the Romans. The Tuscans then liv'd with that equality, and

proceeded in the amplifying their State, in that first manner, spoken of before: and there were twelve Cities, among which were Clu∣sium, Vejum, Desola, Aretium, and Volaterra and the like; who by way of league rul'd their dominions; nor could they inlarge their conquests beyond the bounds of Italy, where∣of also there was a great part left untoucht by them, for the reasons which we shall after∣wards tell. The other manner is to make allies, yet not so thought, that thou still reservest not to thy self the principal place in the command & rule and title of all the exploits, which course was alwaies observ'd by the Romans. The third manner is, to make them immediatly sub∣jects, and not allies, as did the Spa••tans and Athenians: of which three waies, this last is altogether unprofitable; as it appears, it was in the two foresaid Republiques, which, for no other cause went to ruine, but for possessing themselves of those dominions, which they were not able to hold. For it is a thing of great difficulty and pains to hold the government of Cities by violence, especially of those that have bin accustomed to live free. And if thou beest not in armes, and well furnished with good numbers of soldiers, thou canst neither com∣mand, nor rule them. And to be able to do this, it is necessary to make friends and com∣panions, who may assist thee in multiplying the people of thy City. And because these two Cities, did neither the one nor the other of these, their manner of proceeding was of no advantage to them. And because Rome which gives us an example touching this third manner, did the one and the other, therefore grew it to that excessive power: and for that

she alone took this course of living, she alone therefore became so mighty: For she having taken to her throughout all Italy many for her companions to help her, who in many things liv'd with her upon equal termes; but on the other side, as is abovesaid, reserving to her self alwaies the seat of the Empire, and the title of commanding, these their companions (who were never aware of it) with their own pains & loss of their own bloud came to bring their own necks to the yoke: for when they be∣gan to transport their Armies out of Italy, and to reduce Kingdomes into Provinces, & to make thosetheir subjects, who for that they were used to live under Kings, were never much troubled to become Subjects; and receiving Roman Go∣vernors over them, and having bin overcome by Armies, whereof the Romans had the name and title, they acknowledged no other head, but Rome. So that those allyes of Rome that were in Italy, found themselves on a sudden be∣girt round by Romes Subjects, and oppress'd by an exceeding vast City, as then Rome was: and when they perceiv'd the deceit into which they had bin train'd, it was too late to help it, Rome had then gotten such authority with forrein Nations, and was then of such strength within it self, the people of their City being grown very numerous and warlike. And al∣though those their companions, to be reveng'd on them for these injuries, conspir'd together against them, yet in a short time were they losers by the war, making their own condi∣tions worse: for of allies, they became Sub∣jects. Which manner of proceeding (as is said) hath bin observ'd onely by the Romans: nor

can a Republique that would enlarge her State take any other; for experience hath not shew'd us any course more certain or true. This way formerly spoken of concerning the leagues, wherein anciently the Tuscans, Acheans, and Aerosians liv'd, and which now adayes the Swisses use, is the better way next after that the Romans took: for, it being not possible by it to grow very great, thou gainest two advan∣tages thereby, the one, that easily thou draw∣est no war upon thee; the other, that what thou gettest thou easily holdest. The reason why they cannot grow great, is, because they are disunited Republiques, and placed in di∣vers seats; which makes it more difficult to consult and resolve. And besides, because they are not very greedy of extending the limits of their dominions; for that divers Commonal∣ties being to participate of that rule, they va∣lue not so much such conquests, as does a Re∣publique alone, which hopes to injoy it all her self. Moreover, they govern themselves by common advice and counsel, and therfore of force they must be slower in every deliberation, then they that live within the walls of the same City. It is plain also by experience, that this manner of proceeding prescribes it self certain bounds, which it passes not; nor have we any example that they were exceeded. And these were to joyn together some dozen or fourteen Commonalties, and afterwards never seek to go beyond that: for being come to those terms, that they think they are able to defend themselves against every one, they desire no greater power, as well because necessity does not bind them to have greater force; as also because they understand not any great profits

that arise from such like purchases, for the causes formerly alledged: for then of ne∣cessity they must either go on forward to make themselves allyes, and so the multitude would make a confusion; or els to make them their subjects: and because they see herein many difficulties, and no great advantage in holding them, they make no account of them. Where∣upon, when they have attaind to such greatness, that they think they may live secure, they apply themselves to two things; the one to entertain others in their protection, and undertake their defences, and by these means to draw money from every part, which they can very easily divide among one another, and the other to serve in the wars under another, and to take pay of this or that Prince, who gives them wages for their service, as now adayes the Switzers do, and as we read, those we spoke of before did, whereof Titus Livius bears witness, where he sayes, that when Philip King of Macedon came to a parley with Titus Quintius Flamminius, to treat an accord in presence of a Prercur of the Aetolians, the said Pretour comming to some words with Philip; was reproved by him for avarice and infide∣lity, saying, that the Ae••olians were not asha∣med to take pay and serve in the wars on both sides, so that many times their ensignes were seen in two contrary Armies. We know with∣all, that this manner of proceeding by Leagues hath bin alwayes alike, and hath prodec'd the same effects. We see also, that that way of ma∣king people become subjects hath bin alwaies weak, and brought forth but small advantages; and when they have exceeded the due mean, they have gone to ruine, And if this course of ma∣king

Subjects, be unprofitable in warlike Com∣monwealths, surely in those that are disorde∣red, it must needs be far worse, as in our daies have bin the Republiques of Italy. Where∣fore we find that to be the true way, which the Romans held, which is the rather to be ad∣mired, in somuch as there was no other ex∣ample thereof before that of Rome, nor since hath bin any that hath imitated it. And touching the leagues, there are the Switzers onely & the Swevian league that follows them. And, as in the conclusion of this matter shall be said, so many orders observ'd by the Romans, as well concerning the affairs within the City, as those without, in these our times are not onely not followed, but made no account of; some of them are deem'd untrue, some unpossble, o∣thers nothing to purpose, or unprofitable: so that whiles we stand still in this ignorance, we become a prey to any that invades our Countrey. And though it should seem difficult to imitate the Romans, yet ought it not seem so, to follow the steps of the ancient Tuscans, especially to the Tuscans now living: for though they were not able for the reasons al∣ledged, to make themselves an Empire like that of Rome, yet could they gain them that power in Italy, that their manner of procee∣ding would permit them, which for a long time was with great glory of their rule, and wars, and with exceeding great commenda∣tion of their manners and religion. Which power and glory was first abated by the French, and afterwards quite put out by the Romans, and so put out, that of this power, which two thousand years since was very great, at this present we have no memory left. Which

hath made me muse, what the cause is that matters are thus forgotten, whereof in the Chapter following we shall treat.