Politique Observation.
KIngs when they have a mind to make a war, never want pretences to disguise the injustice of it; however it is an absurd rashness to ingage in any, without urgent necessity. I like well of T. Livius Judgment who saith war is then Just, when it is necessary; and that Arms are never attended with Justice, but when there are no other hopes but from them. And who can think otherwise of it, see∣ing war is followed by all sorts of miseries? War it is which ushers in disorders, and evil customes, which taketh away the lives of the Innocent, which bringeth the Rich into want, and which generally banisheth all the pleasures of life to set up troubles and afflictions; So that a man can hardly fancy any thing more to be de∣plored then war, from whence it followeth, that who so begins it, without abso∣lute necessity, may be well compared to those Chymists, who administer such po∣tions to their patients, that they thence suffer more griefs and pains then from their sicknesses and diseases. A wise man will abstain from war, saith Xenophon, though he have some reason for it. Craesus did ever prefer peace before war, if onely for this reason, because in war Fathers did burie their Children against the Laws of Nature. The He Wolf is so ravenous according to Pliny, that having seized upon one Prey, and discovering another, he presently leaveth his first and pursueth his second game, though he be uncertain of taking it: He who would un∣dertake a war without being absolutely necessitated to it, doth not he do the same thing? doth he not hazard the pleasures and certainties of Peace, to obtain victories by his Arms, which by the opinions of all Wise men, depend rather upon Fortune then Valour? He who designs anothers ruine, is himself often included in it, and that Prince who would blemish his Neighbours reputation, doeth often find his own exposed to those disgraces which he had provided for others: He doth not only exhaust his own Treasures, but maketh himself hated by his subjects, in drawing from them contributions, for the carrying on of his war, in leading them to slaughter, and exposing his Country to ruine; for that the divine Providence is well pleased to chastice arrogances and Publique in Justice, and raiseth such a flame as may destroy perchance his own Country, instead of his Neighbours. The flames of war are not so easily extinguished as lighted, and many Grand Monarchs designing to employ them, for the subversion of others, have only raised them, for the last piles of their own glory and Honours. It is no lesse unjust to raise a war, not necessitated to it, then infamous to remain within dores, when the Publique Interests oblige the undertaking of it.