128 The Life of William, Duke of Newcastle 



XXXVII 



That the nobility and gentry in this kingdom have done 

 themselves a great injury, by giving away (out of a petty 

 pride) to the commonalty, the power of being juries and justices 

 of peace : for certainly they cannot but understand that that 

 must of necessity be an act of great consequence and power, 

 which concerns men's lives, lands, and estates. 



XXXVIII 



That it is no act of prudence to make poor and mean persons 

 governors or commanders, either by land or sea ; by reason 

 their poverty causes them to take bribes, and so betray their 

 trust : at best, they are apt to extort, which is a great grievance 

 to the people. Besides, it breeds envy in the nobility and 

 gentry, who by that means rise into factions, and cause dis- 

 turbances in a state or commonwealth ; wherefore the best 

 way is to choose rich and honourable persons (or, at least, 

 gentlemen)* for such employments, who esteem fame and 

 honourable actions above their lives ; and if they want skill, 

 they must get such under-officers as have more than them- 

 selves, to instruct them. 



XXXIX 



That great princes should consider, before they make war 

 against foreign nations, whether they be able to maintain it : 

 for if they be not able, then it is better to submit to an hon- 

 ourable peace, than to make war to their great disadvantage : 

 but if they be able to maintain war, then they'll force (in 

 time) their enemies to submit and yield to what terms and 

 conditions they please. 



XL 



That, when a state or government is ensnarled * and 

 troubled, it is more easy to raise the common people to a 

 factious mutiny, than to draw them to a loyal duty. 



i Ensnarle, i.e. ensnare or entangle — Halliwell. 



