Postquam Bruto & Cassio coesis, nulla jam publica arma Pompeius apud siciliam oppressus, exu∣toque Lepido, interfecto Antonio, ne Julianis quidem partibus nisi Caesar Dux reliquus; posito triumviri nomine, consulem se ferens & ad tuendam plebem Tribunitio Jure contentum, ubi Militem donis; Populum, annona, cunctos dulcedine otii pellexit.

COrnelius Tacitus not onely in these words, but also in a good part of the first Book, entreating of Au∣gustus, labours to shew what meanes he used to attaine Page  92 the Empire; and what to uphold him, having attai∣ned it. And my meaning is to follow his course, and punctually to examine all things: dividing my Dis∣course into two parts: the first, to shew the waies which Augustus used to attaine the Empire; the second, the waies by which he maintained it.

The ordinary waies, as experience and men teach us, to come to a Principality, are either by fortune, or by vertue, or by wickednesse, or by craft, or by electi∣on; or lastly by succession.

Augustus then came to the Empire by fortune; which holpe him three waies: the first, that when Brutus and Cassius who were his enemies were dead; and that Lepidus and Antonius his partners in greatnesse were extinguisht; he only remained of the Caesarian faction: and therfore Tacitus speaking in what manner fortune ayded him, saith, Postquam Bruto & Cassio caesis; nulla jam publica arma, Pompeius apud siciliam oppressus; exuto Lepido, Interfecto Antonio, ne Julianis quidem partibus nisi Caesar Dux reliqu•…s: and so following.

This onely ayd of fortune, is the ablest way to raise one to a Principality: and therefore Pericles, (as Plu∣tarch in his life relates) by this onely meanes became Prince of Athens, Postquam Aristides vita decessit, Themi∣stocles exulatum abiit, Cimonem bella, plerique citra Graeciam detinuere, ibi demum Pericles populo se dedit.

But thisalone did not serve Augustus, but fortune in another manner gave him assistance: for the stoutest Citizens, being part banished, and part slaine in bat∣tailes, it was an easie matter to attaine the Empire without any let. This second ayd of fortune, Tacitus expresseth, where he saith, Insurgere paulatim, munia Senatus, Magistratum legumque in se trahere; nullo adver∣sante, cum ferocissimi peracies, aut proscriptione cecidissent.

Not lesse apt then the first, is this ayd, to make a change in States; seeing the people of Tarantum, onely Page  93 because the greater part of the Nobility were dead in warre, was easily able to change the state: whereupon Aristotle saith, Contingit vero quandoquidem id, (the change of the State) per fortunam, veluti apud 〈◊〉; cum superati praetio a Lampigensibus Nobilitatis magnam partem amississent.

But fortune not content with this neither gave Au∣gustus another ayd also, to make himselfe Emperour: which was, that he found the Common-wealth wea∣ried with discords, and the Provinces oppressed by Magistrates; which Tacitus describing saith, Cuncta discordiis civilibus fessa, nomine Principis sub Imperium accepit: and of the Provinces he addes, Neque Provinciae illum rerum statum abnuebant, suspecto Senatus populique Imperio, and that which followeth.

This way was the onely cause that brought Visconte to be Lord of Milan; and Bentivoli to be Lord of Bologna.

Yet fortune by all these waies had not power her selfe alone, to bring Augustus to the Empire; though (as we have shewed) each of them of it selfe were apt to doe it: but secondarily there concurred with them his own valour, which he shewed in so many battels: and lastly, in that Navall fight; by meanes whereof he came to be Emperour. And although this alone had beene sufficient to bring him to the Empire, as was seen in Vitellius, who by getting the victory onely in one battaile against Otho, made himselfe Lord of Rome; yet Augustus, besides fortune and his owne vertue, brought himselfe forward by desert, as having enlar∣ged the Roman Empire, Mari Oceano, haud amnitibus longinquis septum Imperium: by this way have many come to be Princes, as Saturnius, and others. And Aristotle himselfe approves it, where he saith, Praeterea ob bene∣ficia accepta Reges Creavere. Which Saint Thomas ex∣pounding, saith, Vel quia pugnavit contra 〈◊〉 Page  94 pro illis, vel invenit artem aliquam iis necessariam.

But besides fortune, vertue, and merit, Augustus brought himselfe forward by wickednesse and perfidi∣ousnesse also, which ayded him two waies: First, by making use of those armes to oppresse his Countrey, which he had received to defend it, Arma quae in Anto∣nium caeperat contra Rempublicam versa: and indeed, there cannot be a greater wickednesse, then when be∣nefits are turned against him of whom they are recei∣ved: and therefore our Lord God meaning by the mouth of Esay, to shew the ungratefulnesse & wicked∣nesse of the Hebrew people, saith, Filios enutrivi, & exaltavi, ipsi autent spreverunt me, Where the Chaldee paraphrase saith, Tulisti de auro meo, atque de Argento meo, quae dedi tibi, & fecisti tibi Imagines Masculinas. This way was also followed by Hiero the Syracusan, who im∣ployed that Army to oppose the Common-wealth, which he had received to defend it.

But neither did this wickednesse of Augustus serve his turne, in committing so many murthers, as Tacitus describes where he saith, Pietatemerga parentem & tem∣pora Reipublicae obtentui sumpta. And againe, Cassii & Brutorum exitus paternis 〈◊〉 datos: deceptos post Antonium Tarentino Brundusinoque faedere: & nuptiis so∣roris illeptum, subdole affinitatis poenas mortis exolvisse. But not onely this wickednesse, with so many other causes spoken of before, concurred; though this alone were enough to bring a man to a Kingdome; as it did Aga∣thocles the Sicilian, and Cleomenes the Spartan and ma∣ny others; a way unworthy to be imitated not onely of Christians, but even of Barbarians: But besides all these, that which ayded Augustus was craft and policy: for being called in by his owne Citizens, and they di∣vided into Commons and Nobility; The Commons by reason of oppression by the great ones: the Nobles by reason of common diffension, desired rather to Page  95 have a King and be safe, then to have liberty, and be in danger: So as Augustus, Ad tuendam plebem, tooke upon him the dignity of a tribune; and to be ayded by the Nobility, advanced them in honours and riches, who Novis ex rebus aucti, tuta & praesentia, quam veter a & periculosa mallent. For safety is so sweet a thing, that the people liked better of servitude with safety, than of liberty with danger. And therefore the Israelites finding that the Canaanites were a valiant Nation, were ready rather to turne backe into Aegypt and be slaves; then to stay in Canaan and be in danger. As it happened also in Exodus, when they saw Pharao com∣ming, Nunquid non erant Sepulchra in Aegypto, quando se∣debamus super ollas 〈◊〉? And therefore the Ro∣mans having driven out the Kings, doubted lest the the people, if the Tarquins should make warre upon Rome, would not to resolve, rather to receive the ty∣rant againe, and live in peace; then continue in liberty, and be still in danger. Nec hostes modo timebant (saith Livy) sed suos met ipsos cives, ne Romana plebs, metu per∣culsa, receptis 〈◊〉 urbem regibus, vel cum servitute pacem ac∣ciperet. And here is to be noted, that men will alwaies be more moved with private interest, then with pub∣like profit; and that every one had rather be a slave and rich, then to be free and poore. Whereof I will bring one example out of Dio: Caesar having before him the Army of Scipio, caused Letters to be carried into the enemies Tents, wherein he friendly promised the Souldiers honours and riches, and to the Coun∣treymen, to save their goods untouched; and by this meanes, he drew them all to come to his side: on the cōtrary, Scipio also being forced to use the same device of sending Letters into Caesars Camp, perswaded them to be of his side, in defence and for the good of the Commonwealth; putting them in mind, of the great benefit of liberty: for all which perswasions, there was Page  96 not a man that would offer to go from Caesar; whereby we may plainly see, that ordinarily men preferre pro∣fit before honesty. And where it may be objected, that people infinite times make insurrections onely for their liberty: it is easily answered, if we consider that under that name of liberty, they alwaies thinke, or are made beleeve, there is great profit to be had: and therefore they desire liberty, not as an end, but as a means to another end.

But to returne to our purpose; besides so many causes alleged, concurring in favour of Augustus; this of election also is to be added: that he was chosen by the Senate, by the people, and by the Souldiers; by which meanes infinite others have obtained the Ro∣man Empire: and so it happened amongst the Graeci∣ans, so the Pope, so the Kings of Polan, so the Emperour in our times, by this meanes onely of being elected, attaine their Principalities.

Lastly, it may be also said, that he came to be Em∣perour by succession, as being the next of kin to Caesar, to whom by right of succession, besides his being made his heire by his Will, the Empire belonged.

We may then say, that Augustus came to be Empe∣rour, neither by fortune, nor by wickednesse, nor by policy, nor by merit, nor by election, nor by succession, but by all of them together; seeing each of these, (as I have before shewed) being apt of it selfe to raise a man to the Empire, certainely all of them concurring in Augustus could not choose but effect it.

And thus much for his attaining the Empire; now for holding it, thus gotten: we say, that an Empire may be held, either from the Nobility, or from the people, or from the Souldiers; and that either by love or by force. With the people it is held by procuring of plenty, and that the poore be not wronged by the rich; there being nothing that makes a Prince more Page  97 beloved of the people, than to keep them safe from the insolencie of great men. And therefore the Holy Ghost meaning to shew the cause, why all Nations should serve that King, saith, Omnes Gentes servient ei, quia liberavit pauperem à potente: and a little after, Et honorabile Nomen eorum coram illo. S. Hierome reads it, Et pretiosus crit sanguis eorum coram illo, That is, they shall hold the honour of the King in great account, and shall not leave unpunished whosoever shall imbrue their hands in his blood; as was seene in the conspiracy against Caesar. This therefore Augustus knowing, tooke upon him the power of a Tribune, Et ad tuendam ple∣bem Tribunitio jure contentunt: and suffered them not to be in want, knowing that safety without plenty is little esteemed: and therefore he saith, Populum annona.

Now for Noble men, they are of two sorts; stout, and timerous. In the stout, there is no trusting, being men that extreamely skorne a servile condition; and consequently extreamly hate a tyrant. And therefore it was necessary, Augustus should send such into banish∣ment or to the warres; and they once dead, he then remained secure and without feare of any new hatred. To the timerous and quiet are to be given honours; for a Gentleman hath no other end, but honour: and of these, the Prince ought to make use in peace; and as for warre he need not feare them: therefore Tacitus saith, Caeteri Nobilium quanto quis servitio promptior opibus & honoribus extolluntur: ac Novis ex rebus aucti, tuta & praesentia quam vetera & periculosa mallent. Where it is to be observed, that by caeteri he meanes, those onely that were not stout: there following, without any words between, Cum ferocissimi per acies ant proscriptione cecidissent.

Augustus then did well, to advance many of the Noble men, above the others; & especially those, that Page  98 shewed themselves most ready to do him service. First, to the end, that such example might draw others to the like servitude, thereby to gaine the like honour. Secondly, to the end that seeing honours attained to under a Prince, which could never have beene attai∣ned in a Common-wealth, they might the better be contented with such a State; and therefore Aristotle amongst the meanes for conserving a Kingdome, for∣gets not to speake of this, where he saith, Atque eos vi∣ros qui aliqua in re honorabiliter se gesserint honorare; ita ut non existiment unquam se magis honorari in civitate degenti∣bus potuisse. Thirdly, Augustus did well, to advance many great ones above others, because as where equa∣lity is, a Kingdome there is hardly raised, and liberty easily maintained: so where there is inequality, a King∣dome there is easily preserved: and therefore a Prince is to be commended, that removeth many from equa∣lity; to the end there may be seen a certaine propor∣tion, and not one to be unequall, and all the rest equall. The reason of this, in my opinion, is, because when onely one is seen unequall, all the rest will have a desire to reduce him to equality, and by some means or other to rid him away; but when there are many unequals, the inferiours not only will never be moved to conspire against the Prince, because they should never by this meanes come to equality: but also they will not suffer any other to doe it, resting satisfied in this, that as themselves have many unequals, their su∣periours; so those have the Prince unequall, and their superiour: and in this at least they shall be equall, that they are all of them inferiour to one.

But because obedience is hardly found, especially in new states, if there be not force concurring; where∣upon the Throne of Salomon, which by Writers is ta∣ken for obedience, was compassed about with twelve Lyons; seeing they who desire to be obeyed, ought Page  99 together with generosity, have force also to make them be obeyed; and therefore the holy Ghost in the mouth of Salomon saith, Sicut Turris David, collum tuum; quae aedisicate est cum propagnaculis; mille clypei pendent ex ea; omnis armatura fortium. This Towre hath so many de∣fences, because it is put for a figure of obedience; mea∣ning to shew, that they who desire to preserve obedi∣ence, have need of all sorts of Armes to defend it: for these causes, Augustus knowing this, and having an Army in his hand, able to make him be obeyed by force, if need should be, he made the Souldiers sure to him, by donatives of which they are most greedy: whereupon it may be said, that Augustus maintained his Empire, neither by the Nobility, nor by the peo∣ple, nor by the souldiers; neither by love, nor yet by force, but by all of them together.