Politique Observation.
ARms are not all the means, for the obtaining of victories, Prudence hath some; if the victory be nothing but the attainment of that end, for which a War is began; and provided that a man once Master his design, what matter is it whether it be by one or t'other. It is the end, that is all in all; So that he who over∣throws a City or wins a pitched Battail, is not the onely man, according to Quintus Curtus, who is victorious but he may justly be likewise termed a Conqueror, who by his Prudence forceth them to surrender and lay down their Arms. In the History of Italy, we read of a great Contestation, between the French and Italians, con∣cerning the Battail of Tar, each of them ascribing the victory to his own Nation: The Italians they pretended they were Masters of the field, because their Quarters and Bagage were safe and whole whereas they had pillaged all the French even to the Kings Tent: The French on the other side pretended, they had the better of the day, because they only lost two hundred men, and the Italians left three thou∣sand behind them, and were also forced to quiet the field and passe over the Tar; and that which was more then all the rest, was, they had obtained that end for which they began the fight, to wit, for a free passage to return into France, and fo•• ••his reason i•• was adjudged, that the French indeed had the better of them, it be••••g certain, that the Honour of a victory, doth not alone belong to him, who h••th killed most of his Enemies, or indeed hath lost fewest of his own, but likewise to him, who in conclusion of the fight, obtains that end, for which he began the Battail. Besides 〈◊〉〈◊〉 esteem those victories which are got by prudence, much more to be commende•• then those which are got by Force of Battails, in regard the one is a••••chieved with little noyses with safety, and without diminution of the strength, or losse of mens Lives; whereas the other, doth obtain but the self same thing, by a way quite contrary, that is, fu••l of trouble, danger, losse and expence. Those Victories which are atchieved by Force have Violence for their Chief cause, where∣as those which are obtained by Prudence have the Rule of all other vertues, for theirs; and besides, who will not more esteem these then the former, if only be∣cause there is lesse bloud spilt? Tygers who delight to shed bloud, may perchance rejoyce to see the earth dyed with 〈◊〉〈◊〉; But true Honour and Glory, which procee∣deth from sweetness and humanity, cannot but abhor such sights, which are so far from being accompanied with real Honour, that rather on the contrary, nothing can be more ignoble or unnatural.