Politique Observation.
ALthough it do much concern little Princes, not to pull upon themselves the forces of their neighbours, who exceed them in power; yet they are hardly to be perswaded thereunto, unlesse compelled by meer force. Though they want power yet they have a good mind, and want no ambition to instigate them; on the contrary, as Passion increaseth by opposition, so it should seem their desires of extending their Authorities, addeth new provocations from those wants of abilities which their sence represents unto them The most inconsiderate do exceed those limits, which their debility hath prescribed, and commit themselves to the hazard of Fortune, which feedeth and blindeth them with vain hopes; whereas, they who are truly wise, make a great vertue of this necessity, knowing that the most eminent Philosophers have placed their greatest felicity in being contented with their con∣ditions, and in cutting their cloaks by their cloth. Admit their minds to be of what temper soever, yet after they have once rashly run into any designs against a Prince more potent then themselves, who forceth them to stoop under his Arms, and to be at Peace, it cannot be doubted but they are obliged to act with all reality and sincerity; to alledge his power with whom they treat, as a pretext to cover their dissimulation, is frivolous; indeed the power of an unjust U••urper, may give a Prince leave to dissemble; yet the case is far otherwise, in consideration of the power of a victorious Prince, who after being compelled by injuries and provoked by indignities to take up his Arms, may lawfully, according to the custom of War, give the Law to the vanquished, and compel them to Treaties very disadvantagious to them. A private person indeed, who is forced to promise any thing by con∣tract, is not obliged to the performance thereof; but otherwise it is, when there is a necessity of obeying a lawful Prince, or of compl••ance for fear of just Laws. Thus a petty Prince oppres••'d by a Ty••anical force, to promise any thing, is not ob∣liged to act with integrity, or to perform any part of his agreement; but if he find himself go by the worst in a just war,, and in conclusion is forced to a Treaty, con∣trary to his Inclinations and desires, it is far otherwise; for there he is obliged to proceed with reality, and is fully bound to perform his agreement: If it were not thus, all Faith would be banished from Treaties of War, for that usually one party finding himself the weaker, is compelled by fear or necessity to submit unto such conditions which else he would refuse. A Prince is a lively Image of the Di∣vinity, and his chiefest happiness consisteth in imitation thereof; Whereupon God being Truth it self, he is the more obliged to study Truth in his Treaties, Antiquity having esteemed them sacred, and not to be violated. He ought not to run into any promises, which are not first discussed with mature deliberation; but having once passed them, he is bound to perform them with Truth and Sincerity: Ad∣mit it be to his disadvantage, he ought to complain of himself only, seeing he first gave the occasion of War; and it is unreasonable to term that violence, which is a meer and just chastisement of injuries. The Saguntines are blamed by Plutarch for having falsified their Treaties with Hannibal, unto whom they gave their Faith to be obedient, and to pay him three hundred Talents of Silver, which they under∣took to do, that he might be induced to raise the Siege from before their City; but