The six books of a common-weale

A Tirannicall Monarchie is that where one man treading vndet[*](À tirannicall Monarchie.) foot the lawes of God and nature, abuseth his free borne subiects as his slaues: and other mens goods as his owne. This word Tyrant deriued from the Grekes was of the proprietie thereof honorable, and in auncient time signified no other thing then a Prince, which without the consent of the people, had by force or fraud possessed himselfe of the state; and of a companion made himselfe their master: whom they called a Tyrant, although he were[*](The name of a tirant in auntient time taken in good part: and how the same became odious.) a right wise and iust prince. So Plato writing to Dionysius the Tyrant of Syracusa by way of honour giueth him this title; Plato to Dionysius the Tyrant greeting, and the answere was; Dionysius the Tyrant to Plato health. And so the rest aswell philosophers as friends, honestly called them Tyrants which had by force or finenesse got the soueraigntie of their cities and states: in which name the Tyrants themselves also gloried. And to show that the name of a Tyrant was aswell giuen unto a good and iust prince, as to an euill and wicked, it appeareth euidently in that, that Pittacus and Periander reckened among the seauen Sages of Graece, were called Tyrants, hauing taken unto themselves the state and government of their countries. But for the mercie of their enemies, were constrained for the safetie of their lives and goods to have gardes of straungers about their persons, and great garisons in their fortresses and strong holds: and for the maintenance of their souldiours and retinue were enforced to lay upon their subiects great impositions and tributes: and seeing their lives not yet so assured, hauing but poore friends, and puisant enemies, put to death, or banished the one, to enrich the other; and hauing taken their goods, rauished also their wiues and children: they with these outragious enormities raised a wonderful hatred of themselves through out the whole world. For we read that Dionysius the elder which had oppressed Syracusa had alwaies about him for the garding of his person and the citie ten thousand footmen, and as many horsemen; beside a fleete of foure hundred gallies still readie furnished with all things necessarie: and yet thought it not a strength sufficient to keepe under those fewe citizens that were left, whom he had vtterly disarmed, and in most seruile manner oppressed: although hee had before taken away not onely their societies and companies; but forbidden also neighbours and friends to eate together, and oft times commaunded them returning home from supper or making merie, to be robbed and spoiled by his garde; to the intent there might bee the lesse friendship amongst them, and so they more hardly conspire against him. And yet for all that Plutarque hath giuen him the praise of a good prince, as one who in iustice and vertue exceeded many, who abusing the most honorable names of Kings, are themselves polluted and defiled with all maner of vices. For we are not much to rest upon the vaine show of

words and glorious titles; when as often times the worst men arrogate unto them selues the most commendable names, showes, and recognancies of vertue; against which sort of Princes, the subiects for all that vse to cast forth most reproachfull taunts: as the three Ptolemeis kings of Aegypt; of whom the one had put to death his brother; the other his mother; and the third his father: the subiects in derision called them [*](A lover of his brother.) Philadelphe, [*](A lover of his mother.) Philometor, and [*](A lover of his father.) Philopator. Also the most reuerend and holy names haue become abhominable, for the wickednesse of them that have most filthyly abused the same. The name truely of a king is holy, yet was it for the pride of Tarquinius, and the rauishment of Lucretia by his sonne, made hatefull unto the Romans. And the crueltie of Scylla in his Dictatorship made the Dictators odious. So the immoderat ambition of Francis Valori made the Confalonniers of Florence hatefull unto the Florentines. And so also it is euident, the name of Tyrant to have bene hateful to all nations for oppressing of the people.

But it may be, that one and the same prince, whose dominion is large and wide, may beare himselfe as a king unto his naturall subiects: and as a lordly monarch towards them, whome he hath by iust warre subdued, and as a tyrant toward the rest: or that in the same citie he may tyrannise over the rich and better sort of the citisens; and yet show himselfe courteous and gentle vnto the poore and baser sort. And amongst tyrants there are diuers sorts and degrees of more or lesse: and as there is not so good a prince, which hath not some notable vice; so wee see that there is none so cruell a tyrant, which is not endued with some good vertue, or hath not in him some thing to be commended. Wherefore it is a thing of most euill example, and thereto daungerous[*](A soueraign princes actions are not by his subiects to be rashly censured▪) withall, rashly and foolishly to censure a prince, whose actions and comportments we throughly know not; whereas we ought first wisely to weigh his vertues and vices, his heroicall or base and euill disposition: after the manner of the Persians, who condemned no man to death (although conuicted of the crime whereof he was accused) except it first appeared by his former life, whether his vices exceeded his vertues or not. For so Liuie did well, who hauing diligently reckoned up Hannibal his vertues, and comming afterward unto his vices, saith, Has tot ac tantas virtutes ingentia vitia aequabant, These his so many and great vertues, were counteruailed with great vices. Wherefore least the good should be confused and so confounded with the bad; o--- that we should under the name of a tyrant comprehend them also which were right worthy and famous men: let vs compare the worst tyrant with the best king; that by such comparison of the two extreames, those may bee the better perceiued which are in the middest betwixt both. Now when I say the best king, my meaning is after the[*](The best king.) common manner: neither doe I seeke after such an one as is accomplished with all heroicall vertues; or the rare paragon of iustice, wisedome, and religion, a man without all imputation: which in the fables of auntient worthies, were propounded with more magnificence than truth, for princes to looke upon and to imitat; such as neuer was, nor euer shall be: but rather such an example of a good and iust king, as is indeed in the ranke of princes to be found; and such an one as is alwayes readie to bestow his goods, his blood, and life, for the good of his people: What manner of prince is of Homer in two words called ---, whose whole endeuour is to bee indeed such an one as Codrus and Decius are reported to have bene, who aduertised by the Oracle, that the victorie over their enemies depended of their death, without farther delay sodenly sacrificed their lives: and Moyses aboue all, whome Philo calleth the most wise law giuer; a most iust prince, who besought God, That he might rather die the euerlasting death of the wicked, and have his name blotted out of the booke of life, than that the people committed to his charge, should endure so great and grieuous punishment as it

had deserued: by which prayers hee appeased the wrath of God, like a most good king, & true father of his people: than which name Augustus the great emperor is reported neuer to haue heard any title or addition, unto him more pleasing, at such time as M. Valerius Messala, was by a decree of the Senat, and of the people of Rome, called Father of his countrey. For why, the best prince nothing differeth from the best father, as Xenophon was woont most excellently to say.

Now the greatest difference betwixt a king and a tyrant is, for that a king conformeth[*](The greatest difference betwixt a king and a tyrant.) himselfe unto the lawes of nature, which the tyrant at his pleasure treadeth under foot: the one of them respecteth religion, iustice, and faith; whereas the other regardeth neither God, faith, nor law: the one of them referreth all his actions to the good of the Commonweale, and safetie of his subiects; whereas the other respecteth nothing more than his owne particular profit, revenge, or pleasure: the one doth all his endeuour for the enriching of his subiects; whereas the other seeketh after nothing more, than by the impouerishment of them, to encrease his owne wealth: the one of them accounteth his owne goods to be the goods of his people; the other reckoneth not onely the goods, but euen the bodies of his subiects also to be his owne: the one of them seuerely revengeth the publique iniuries done against the state, and easily pardoneth the wrongs done unto himselfe; the other most cruelly revengeth his owne, and pardoneth that which is done against others: the one easily forgiueth the offences of other men, but is of his owne misdeeds a seuere judge; whereas the other most sharply revengeth euen the least offences of others, but is unto himselfe most favourable: the one of them favoureth the honour of modest matrons, and other mens wiues; the other triumpheth in their shame and dishonour: the one refuseth not to bee freely and discreetly reproued for that he hath done amisse; the other hateth nothing more than the graue free spoken man: the one enforceth himselfe to maintaine and keepe his subiects in peace and unitie; whereas the other seeketh still to set them at ods, so to ruinat them one by another; and with the confiscation of their lands and goods to enrich himselfe: the one taketh pleasure to see his subiects, and to be of them oftentimes seene and heard; whereas the other feareth their presence, and hideth himselfe from them, as from his enemies: the one reposeth his estate and fealtie in their loue towards him; the other in their feare: the one taketh no care but for his subiects; the other feareth nothing more than them: the one chargeth his subiects as little as he can, neither exacteth any thing of them, but when the publike necessitie so requireth; whereas the other drinketh his subiects blood, gnaweth their bones, and out of them also sucketh euen the marrow, so by all meanes seeking to weaken them: the one aduanceth unto the highest degrees of honour the best and most vertuous men; whereas the other stil promoteth the greatest theeves and villaines, whome he may vse as spunges, to sucke up the wealth of his subiects: the one frankly bestoweth the greatest and most gainful offices of the state upon men of best deserts, who free from briberie & corruption, may defend the people from all iniurie and oppression; whereas the other setteth the same to sale to such as will giue most for them, so by their robberies and vnreasonable exactions, to keepe the people vnder, and then afterward when they are well fatted, to cut such caterpillers throates also, so to be accounted great iusticiars: the one measureth his manners, according unto his lawes; the other measureth his lawes, according to his owne disposition and pleasure: the one is readie to expose his life for the good of his countrey and people; the other wisheth it and them all to perish for himselfe: the one is beloued and honoured of his subiects; the other hateth them all, and is likewise of them hated: the one in time of warre hath no recourse but unto his owne subiects; whereas the other hath no greater warre than against them: the one hath neither

guard, nor garrison, but of his owne people; whereas the other for the defence of his person, and keeping of his subiects in awe, hath alwayes a garrison of armed straungers to go before him: the one liveth secure in all quiet and tranquilitie of mind; the other troubled with carefull and contrarie thoughts, stil languishing in perpetuall feare: the one expecteth a most blessed and eternall life in heauen; the other still fearing euerlasting paines of hell: the one hath the immortall good author of all his actions; the other followeth the aduise of wicked men and damned spirits: in briefe the one is praised and honoured of all men whilest he liveth, and much missed after his death; whereas the other is defamed yet liuing, and most shamefully reuiled both by word and writing when he is dead. And albeit that a tyrant abound in wealth, haue honour, soueraigntie, health, and surpassing Champion like strength of bodie, with the deepe and profound knowledge of many and great matters, and flowing eloquence most of tyrants to be in others feared; yet shal he therefore be neuer the better, but wel the worse; abusing his wealth to fulfill his lust; his soueraigntie, to the oppressing of other mens libertie; his strength for the performing of his villanie; and his knowledge for the circumuenting of the plaine and simple, and shamefull confusion of all things. Which so many and notable gifts, if they chaunce by the grace and goodnesse of God to bee giuen to any good prince: we then esteeme of him, as of a God, sent euen down from heauen into the earth here amongst vs.

But what need we to vse many examples to proue this to be true, being of it selfe so[*](Tirants slaine by effeminate and weake persons.) manifest in euerie mans eye. And seeing that we find in histories tyrannie to have bene of all men so much feared, hated and detested, that euen schollers and weake women have not doubted to aduenture with daunger of their lives, to gaine unto themselves the honour of the killing of tyrants. As did Aristotle (not hee of Stagira, but hee that was surnamed the Logitian) who slew a tyrant of Sicione. And Thebe, who slew her[*](Tirants neuer in safetie.) husband Alexander, tyrant of the Pheraeans. And to thinke that tyrants might by force warrant themselves, is but meere and vaine errour. For who were of greater force than were the Roman emperors, who ordinarily had fortie legions at their command in their prouinces, and three moe in Italie, beside their Praetorian bands, for the defence of their persons: and yet in no place in the world were there so many princes slaine; yea sometimes the captaines of their guards slew them euen in their pallaces, whome they guarded. As Cherea the tyrant, and the Mamalukes eight Sultans of Aegypt.

But he that would see the miserable ends of tyrants, let him but read the lives of [*](Plutar in Arat et Timoleone) Timoleon, and of Aratus, where hee shall see the tyrants drawne out of the nest of their tyranny, stripped starke naked, theeves beaten to death with clubbes in the presence of Children, and the rest of the common people: and after that their wines and children, their kinsfolkes and familiar friendes most cruelly murthered and slaine: and that more is the verie image & statues of them that were dead in their tyranny, accused, and publikely condemned, delivered unto the common hangman to bee as it were executed; their bones also taken out of their graues, and cast into most lothsom iakesses, and the raking officers of these tyrants dismembred, and most miserably tormented with al the cruelty that a people enraged could deuise: their edicts & laws torn, their castles and proud houses rased and laid euen with the ground, and the verie memorie of their name, by publike iudgements and written bookes, condemned to perpetuall infamie, as an example to all future princes, to the end they might have in detestation such plagues, so pernitious and dangerous unto mankind.

And albeit that tyrants whilest they lived, have not wanted their flattering clawbacks,[*](Tyrants alwayes infamous and detested.) whome they with rewards enduced to write their vnworthie prayses; yet wee

read, that after their death, such their histories, and panegiricall orations, before written in their prayses, were burnt, torne and suppressed, and the truth (yea sometime with more too) brought to light, & in stead of them other most reprochfull and contumelious writings published, in such sort, as that not so much as one small fragment of any booke written in the prayse of any tyrant, were he neuer so great, is now extant or to be found. Which thing maketh tyrants, whilest they yet live to fret and fume as if they were mad: for that they see they must in time become a laughing stocke unto the people and their verie enemies. And albeit that they euill perswaded of the immortalitie of the soule, thinke the same to perish together with the bodie, or haply before the body, which embaulmed with sweet odours may be long preserued, yet so long as they[*](Tyrants still tormented with the feare of future in famy.) live they still feele the torment of the infamie to come, which they yet liuing see shall befall them after their death. Whereof Tiberius the emperour grieuously complained, but Nero much more, who wished that when he died, yea that whilest hee yet breathed, all the world might with fire be consumed. And for this cause Demetrius, surnamed Poliorcetes, to gratifie the Athenians vndertooke the warre for the defence of their rights and libertie, to the intent to be honoured by their learned writings; knowing well that the citie of Athens was as it were the watch of the whole world, which might in like sort make the glorie of his noble acts to shine throughout the world, as doth a beacon set on fire upon the top of an high tower: neither was he therein deceiued: but so soone as he gaue himselfe over unto vices and villanies, there was neuer tyrant better (than he was by them) washed; hauing his name most shamefully by them defamed, by whome he had bene before commended. And albeit that some may think tyrants, for that they have no taste of true praise, to care the lesse what posteritie either thinke or say of them, yet in truth live they most miserably, if their life be so to be called, which live in continuall feare, still feele the most sharpe sting of greefe; seeing themselves, their lawes, their wiues and children, their kinsfolks and friends, euer in daunger. For it is impossible for him that hateth and feareth his subiects; and is againe of them all himselfe also hated and feared, to be able long to continue or stand. Whereby it commeth to passe, that in stead of being assailed by his enemies, hee is oft times uppon the sodaine assailed by his owne subiects. Neither may hee repose any trust or confidence in his friends, unto whom he is himselfe oftentimes a traytour and disloyall, causing them for the least suspition to be slaine: as we read it reported of Nero, Commodus, Caracalla, and such other tyrants. And sometime the whole people with one rage and surie runneth headlong upon the tyrant, as it did upon Phalaris, Heliogabalus, Alcetes tyrant of the Epirots, and upon Andronicus emperour of Constantinople, whom stript and set upon a bare asses backe, the people of Constantinople caused to endure all the indignities and reproaches that were possible, before they would giue him leaue to die. Yea and sometimes it chanceth, that euen they themselves are the occasion of the hastening[*](Tyrants oftentimes to hasten their owne deathes in seekeing to eschu the same.) of their owne death, as it is reported of Caracalla the emperour, who would needs know of Iultus, his mothers Mathematician, whom he thought should succeed him in the empire (for that is a common course amongst tyrants in their affairs and doings, to aske the councell and aduise of wisards and diuels) vnto whome the Astronomer by his letters aunswered, That Macrinus was the man that should succeed him; which letters by chaunce falling into the hands of Macrinus: he thereupon forthwith caused Caracalla to be slaine, for feare of the danger prepared for him by Caracalla. So Commodus also, hauing hardly escaped the stabbe which a murtherous villaine was about with a dagger to have giuen him, (who in giuing of the blow said, That the Senat had sent him that) straight waies after made a roll of al them whom he purposed to put to death: which roll by good hap comming into the hands of Martia his concubine▪ and she therein finding her owne name enrolled amongst the rest, to auoid the daunger prepared for her and the rest, caused the tyrant to be forthwith slaine. Of like examples all the auntient histories are full, which show plainly the lives of tyrants to bee alwayes beset with a thousand ineuitable mischiefs, death still hanging over their heads.

Now the state of a royall Monarchie is quite contrarie unto a tyrannie: for the king[*](The happie estate of a good Royal prince, in comparison of a Tyrant.) is so vnited with his subiects, that they are still willing to spend their goods, their blood, and lives, for the defence of his estate, honour, and life; and cease not after his death to write, sing, and publish his prayses, amplifying them also in what they can. As we see in Xenophon the lively purtract of a great and vertuous prince, drawne under the person of Cyrus, whose praises he hath with wonderfull eloquence set forth, to giue eaxmple to other princes for to imitat and conforme themselves vnto; as did Scipio Africanus, [*](The worthie praise of Scipio Africanus.) who hauing alwaies before his eyes and in his hands Xenophon his Cyropoediae, and framing himselfe to the imitation thereof, profited so much, as that he in vertue, honor, and prowesse, surmounted all the kings and princes, not of his owne age onely, but of former times also; in such sort, that certaine pirats enflamed with the report of his fame, and knowing that he was in his house in the countrey farre from any towne, came and beset the same: against whom as he was about to put himselfe with his people in readinesse, and so to have stood upon his guard: they perceiuing the same, forthwith threw downe their armes, assuring him that they were not come thither, but onely to see him, and to do him honour, which they most humbly requested, that they might be admitted to do him. Now if the lustre and brightnesse of vertue in such a prince, hath drawne euen theeves and pirats into the admiration thereof; than of how much greater force ought it to be in good and loyall subiects? And what prince is there so foolish or void of sence, which would not wonderfully reioyce to heare it reported, how that Menander king of the Bactrians, was for his vertue & iustice so well beloued of his subiects, as that after his death the cities were at great strife & debate amongst themselves, which of them shuld have the honor of his sepulchre: neither could the matter be appeased, vntill that at length it was agreed, that euerie one of them should in the honour and memoriall of him build a seuerall tombe or sepulchre. What tyrants malice also or dissimulation is so great, whome Plinie his Panegyricall oration would not driue into a phrensie? who when he had therein with all worthie prayses so adorned Traian the emperour, as that it seemed nothing more could thereunto be added: he so concludeth the period, That nothing greater or better could bee wished for vnto the Commonweale, but that the immortall gods would imitat the life of Traian. Which excessiue amplification, although it sauour of impietie, yet who doubteth but that it proceeded from the zeale of a most famous man, towards his most excellent prince? for whose daunger at his going out, and welfare at his comming home, all the temples were filled; and who himselfe in his solemne prayers, was thus woont to couenant with the gods, That they should keep and preserue him, if they saw it to be for the good of the Commonweale. What tyrant is so cruell, what show soeuer he make, which most hartily wisheth not for the honour which king Agesilaus receiued, at such time as he was fined by the Ephori, for hauing alone robbed the hearts and gained the loue of all the citisens unto him? What king is there, which wisheth not to have the surname of Aristides the Iust? a title more diuine and royall than euer prince yet knew how to get: albeit that in stead thereof many haue caused themselves to be called Conquerors, Besiegers, Lightnings. Now on the contrarie part, when as we read of the most horrible cruelties of Phalaris, Busiris, Nero, and Caligula, who is he which is not moued to a iust indignation against them? or hearing of their miserable

and wretched ends, can containe himselfe from reioycing thereat?

Thus have we seene the most remarquable differences betwixt a king and a Tyrant, which are not hard to be perceiued betwixt the two extremes of a most good king, and a most detestable Tyrant: but is not so easilie to be deemed, when the prince taketh part of a good king, and some other part of a tyrant: so as it were tempering the good with the bad. For so things oft times fall out, that for the varietie of times, places, persons,[*](Necessarie seueritie not to be accounted tirannie but to be in a soueraigne prince much commended.) and other occasions presenting themselves, princes are constrained to doe such things, as may seeme unto them tyrannicall, and vnto others commendable. Wherefore let no man measure Tyrannie by Seueritie, which is oft times in a prince most necessarie: neither for his castles, gardes, and garisons: neither by the soueraigntie of his commaunds, which are in deed more to be wished for, then the sweet requests of tyrants: which draw after them an ineuitable violence. And that is it for which in law, he which hath bound himselfe at the request of a Tirant, is alwaies againe to be restored into his former estate, wherein he was: whereas if he that shall so doe at the commaundement of a good prince shall not by the law be relieued: neither are those murthers, proscriptions, banishments, incests, rauishments, and other such villanies which happen in civill warres, in the chaunging or destruction of the states of commonweales, or the establishment of the same, to be called tyranies: for that in such violent conuersion and chaunge of state, it cannot otherwise be. As it fell out in the Roman Triumuirat, in the election of diuers Emperours, and in our time Cosmus de Medices, first taking upon him the dukedome of Florence. For he after the death of his kinsman Alexander Medices, slaine by the conspiracie of his enemies, tooke unto himselfe a strong garde of straungers for the defence and safetie of his owne person: built castles and strong holds: fortified the citie with strong garrisons: imposed new tributes and customes upon the subiects; which unto the common people, and men abusing the popular libertie, seemed violent oppressions and tiranies: but unto the wise men necessarie and wholsome remedies: especially in such a sicke citie and Commonweal, as with most desperate diseases and incurable vlcers was like otherwise to have perished: as also against such vnruly citizens, and inured to all licentious libertie; who had a thousand times conspired against this new Duke, reputed for one of the most wise and vertuous princes of his time: but of them accounted a tyrant.

Now to the contrarie it hapneth often that the state of a citie or Commonweal ruinated[*](Seueritie in a prince more wholsome for the Commonweale thn letie.) by the too much lenitie and facilitie of one prince, is againe relieued and upholden by the austeare seueritie of an other. It is sufficiently knowne how terrible the tyranie of Domitian was unto the Senat, the nobilitie, and other the great lords and gouernours of the Roman Empire; in somuch that all his lawes and edicts were by their procurement after his death repealed: and yet for all that was he euen after his death also most highly by the generall consent of all the prouinces commended: for that the Proconsuls with the other magistrats and officers of the Commonweal, were neuer before more upright or freer from corruption then they were in his time, for feare they had of his seueritie, & him. But when Nerua who succeeeded him in the Empire, abhorring seuerity, enclined altogether to lenitie, & things began to fall into a most miserable estate; the lawes being prostituted, iustice peruerted, and the poore by the mightie oppressed: then Fronto the Consul with many moe with most earnest desire, wished for that crueltie and tyranie which they before had condemned in Domitian. Also when a prince with most sharpe seueritie as with a bridle, keepeth in the mindes and licentious desires of a furious and headstrong people, as if it were an vntamed beast: such wholsom seueritie ought in no wise to be accounted or called tiranie; but to the contrarie Cicero calleth such licentious libertie of the vnrulie people meere tiranie.

It may be also that a prince may exercise tiranie against the great ones in the state, as

it alwaies hapneth in the violent chaunge of an Aristocratie into a Monarchie, when [*](Diuers causes inducing princes unto Tyranie.) as the new prince being in necessitie and poore, and not knowing where to have money, oft times falleth upon the rich, without regard of right or wrong: or else infranchiseth the common people from the seruitude of the nobilitie, and the rich by that one and selfe same act to gaine the goods and wealth of the rich, and the favour of the poore. But of all tirants there is none lesse to be detested than he which preieth upon the rich to ease the necessitie of the poore. Now they that praise the goodnes, bountie, and courtesie of a prince, without wisedom; are themselves vnwise and ignorant in matters of state, abusing therein both their praises and leasure: for asmuch as such simplicitie without wisedome is most dangerous and pernitious unto a king, and much more to be feared than is the great seueritie of a cruell, couetous, and inaccessible prince. So that it seemeth our auntient fathers not without cause to have used this Prouerbe, That of a craftie and subtill man is made a good king: which saying unto the delicate[*](A true Paradox.) eares of such as measure all things by false opinions rather than by sound reasons, may seeme right strange: for by the too much sufferance and simplicitie of too good a king, it commeth to passe that flatterers, extorcioners, and men of most wicked disposition, without respect, inioy the principall honors, offices, charges, benefits, and preferments of the Commonwealth, spoyling the reuenues of the state: wherby the poore people are gnawne unto the verie bones, and cruelly made slaues unto the great: in somuch as that in stead of one tirant, there is ten thousand. Out of which corruption also of the magistrats, and too much curtesie of the king, proceed many mischiefes and euils; as impunitie of offenders, of murderers, and oppressours: for that the king so good and so gratious cannot refuse to graunt them pardon. In briefe, under such a prince the publique good is turned into particuler, and all the charge falleth upon the poore people: as wee see in cathares and fluxes in sicke and rheumatique bodies, the maladie still falleth unto the weakest parts; which to be so, we might proue by many examples aswell of the Grekes as of the Latins: but we will go no farther than to this our owne * realme, which was in the most miserable case that euer it was, under the raigne of Charles surnamed the simple, and of some called Charles do nothing. It[*](The happie estate of Fraunce under king Francis the first, a wayward and hard Prince.) was seene also, great, rich, and florishing, in armes, lawes, and learning of all sorts in the time of Francis the first: but especially some few yeares before his death, when as he waxing old, became so wayward and inaccessible, as that no man durst come unto him to craue any thing of him; hauing driuen the courtly doggs, and shameles persons far from him, bestowing rewards, offices, honours, and benefits upon none but such as were vertuous, and had well deserued of the Commonweal: and withall so gouerning his bountie, as that at the time of his death were found in the common treasurie almost a thousand Sestertioes, that is to say, seauentie hundred thousand french crownes, besides three moneths tribute which was now due: neither was the Commonweale unto any then indebted, more than unto the Swissers, and the Banque of Lyons, whom he would not pay, so to keepe them in awe: at which time he had firme amitie and peace also with all princes and people: and the bounds of his kingdom extended euen unto the gates of Millan: his realme full of great captaines, and of the wisest men of the world.

But within twelue yeares after that Henry the second his sonne raigned (whose bountie[*](The lenitie and immoderat boūtie of king Henry the second, most hurtfull unto the kingdome of Fraunce.) was so great, as that the like was neuer in any prince of his time,) we saw the state almost quite chaunged: for as he was sweet, gratious, and courteous, so could he not denie any thing to any person; so that his fathers treasures were in few moneths scattered, the great offices and places of commaund were set to sale more than euer, the greatest spirituall preferments without respect bestowed upon vnworthy men, magistracies

sold to them that would giue most, and so consequently to the most vnworthie greater customes and payments exacted than euer were before: and yet when he--- died, the estate of the receipt of Fraunce was found charged with two and fortie millions, after it had lost Piemont, Sauoy, the isle of Corsica, and the frontiers of the Low countrey: Howbeit that all these losses were but little, in comparison of the losse of his reputation and honour. Whereas had the facilitie of this great king bene tempered with seueritie, his lenitie with some rigour: his bountie, with a certaine sparing, and that for a weake and soft spirit, he had borne a stout and couragious mind: we had no doubt lived both well and happily, neither had the Commonweale fallen into such miserable calamities as now we have endured.

But to hold this golden meane (some man will say) as it is hard for euerie man to do: so for princes whom diuers strong perturbations call out of the middle course unto the one or other of the the extreames, it is of all others most hard. True it is, that vertue consisting in the meane, is enuironed with many vices, much like unto a straight line, which is hard to be found among a million of crooked: which graunted, yet so it is neuerthelesse, that it is better and more expedient for the people and the preseruation of an estate to have a rigorous and seuere prince, than too gentle and courteous. The bountie of the emperour Pertinax, and the enraged youthfulnesse of Heliogabalus had brought the Roman empire euen unto the verie point of vtter ruine: when as the emperours Seuerus of Afrike, and Alexander Seuerus of Syria, by a rude kind of seueritie and imperiall austeritie reestablished the same, in the former brightnes and maiestie, to the great and wonderfull contentment of all good men. Thus therefore is the prouerbe that we receiued from our auncestors (That of an euill and subtill man is made [*](How the paradoxe, That of an euill and craftie man is made a good king, is to be vnderstood.) a good king) to be vnderstood: for otherwise the word euill, of the proprietie of it selfe signifieth not so much seueritie, as the vttermost point, or the extremitie of impietie, which our auncestors called euill: so Charles king of Nauarre was called an euil king, than whom none was more wicked of his time. Wee must not therefore iudge a prince to be a tyrant for his seueritie and rigour, so that he do nothing contrarie to the lawes of God and nature. But forasmuch as this discourse hath brought vs on so far, let vs see also whether it be lawfull for a good man to lay violent hand upon the person of a tyrant.