Politique Observation.
IT is equally base and inconsiderate to suffer the insolencie of a City, which not contented to revolt against its Soveraign alone, doth also call in strangers to up∣hold their Rebellion. After the reducing of them by fair means hath been tryed to no purpose, then ought all forcible means be used, to bring then within their bounds. That King, who is deficient in this particular will soon find himself ex∣posed to scorn, both in his designs at home by his neighbours, and in prosecution he will inevitably find both one and the other take up arms against him. His neigh∣bours, if they know his aversion to war, and how unwilling he is to appear in the field, will soon rush in upon him; and a party once accustomed to revolts, and permitted to attempt against the Soveraign authority, will soon shake off the yoak of obedience. He ought therefore equality to be disposed both for peace and war; He ought to intend nothing more than the chastising of Rebels upon such an occa∣sion. The expences, dangers, and cares ought not to be considered by him. It is equally dangerours for a Prince, to be more inclined either to war or peace. Hence Marius was blamed because he exercised not his authority in times of peace, by which means he could never keep the Common-wealth in quiet.
Perseus lost his Kingdome by slothfulness, and to much loving of mony, desiring rather to keept in coffers than to expend it, in paying Souldiers necessary for his defence; Thus he lost his Kingdome, and his treasures were ransacked before his face. Pipin had never been so bold, as to have put his Masters Crown upon his own heads, had Childerick loved arms, as well as himself, and opposed those first attempts which were made against his Kingdome. Francis Sforzza from a private Souldier, became Duke of Milan, and his Children who were Princes and Dukes, became private Gentlemen, for want of experience in the war, and because they would deceive others by their cheats, rather than render themselves famours by battles. Lesse than this cannot befall a King, who suffers the Rebellion of a strong Town to go away unpunished, especially when it serves for a prop to uphold the revolt of any great party, or to countenance the attempts of stangers. He ought to be in the field as soon as they begin to declare themselves, and to take up arms with so much the more courage, for that Trasan saith, God doth usually overwhelm the enemies of peace, and those who are the disturbers of others by war; as hereto∣fore in the example of Pyrchus and of later ages, in that of Charles Duke of Bour∣goign, I shall add, that for the quicker and more secure reducing of his subjects to obedience, he ought not to expect till their revolts make Levies. He ought alwayes to have Regiments ready in Garrisons, as the Macedonians had their Argyraspi••es. the Romans their Legions, the Sultans of Aegypt their Mammalukes, and the Turks their Janisari••s By this means, a Town shall no sooner seem to mutiny, but it will be assaulted, and if any of their Forces shall appear in the field, they will be soon cut in pieces.