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IT is too great an excesse of bounty, and very hurtful, to a new Prince, who takes possession of the Estate by some extraordinary change, which may clash with the minds of the people, to permit those to live in liberty under him, who have pretended to the same Government, and may peradventure, hinder him in the
enjoyment of it; To do so, were to leave fire amongst straw, which wil soon raise great flames, and he may be very sure, his Country will not long continue without trou∣bles. The rules of Tyrannie, oblige him to put such a one to death, and declare to us, that to take away his State and not his life, were a cruel pitty: But not regarding those, the Laws of Justice, which permit him to restrain him of his liberty, exempt him from all blame, for that his possession being just; he is obliged to make use of all his Authority, to preserve his State, by all warrantable means, and wayes what∣ever. Besides when there is a Question of setting an Army on foot, he ought not to be a little careful of preventing his Enemies, and their designs. We have already declared how necessary and profitable celerity, and a dexterous dispatch is in war∣fare, and no one can doubt but that it is a great piece of Prudence, to fall upon our Enemies before they have assembled their forces to assault us. For besides the in∣fallibleness of a good successe; the Victory doth mightly augment the courage of the Souldiers, and the custome of overcoming, is one of the greatest advantages which can be thought upon in all enterprises, which are afterwards to be attempted. Above all, the keeping of necessary Souldiers in a Town, which the Enemies have either invested, or made their approaches unto must not be neglected, for such a de∣ficiency, were to put their Armes for a prey and to render their being taken infalli∣ble. There is no need of a surprisal, for in such assaults as are made, the Enemy not finding any to resist them, do as it were seize upon it. The slighting which we make of our Enemies, in neglecting to fortefie our selves against them, exposeth us to the danger of receiving a far greater losse, and in consequence the shame to be over∣come by them, which is almost inevitable.