OF THE STATE OF EUROPE. 447 



There is noted in the disposition of this prince a 

 quiet mildness, giving satisfaction to all men ; facility 

 of access and natural courtesy ; understanding and 

 speech great and eloquent ; secrecy more than com 

 monly is in the French ; from his youth always de 

 sirous of action, the which thing hath made him 

 always followed and respected. And though hi 

 therto he hath brought to pass no great purpose, 

 having suffered great wants, and resistance both at 

 home and abroad, yet by the intermeddling is grown 

 to good experience, readiness and judgement, the 

 better thereby able to guide and govern his affairs, 

 both in practice, in treaty, and action. Moreover, 

 the diseased estate of the world doth so concur with 

 this his active forwardness, as it giveth him matter to 

 work upon : and he is the only man to be seen of all 

 them in distress, or disirous of alteration. A matter 

 of special furtherance to all such as have achieved 

 great things, when they have found matter disposed 

 to receive form. 



And there is to be found no other prince in this 

 part of the world so towards and forward as the 

 duke, towards whom they in distress may turn their 

 eyes. We do plainly see in the most countries of 

 Christendom so unsound and shaken an estate, as 

 desireth the help of some great person, to set to 

 gether and join again the pieces asunder and out of 

 joint. Wherefore the presumption is great, that if 

 this prince continue this his course, he is likely to be 

 come a mighty potentate : for, one enterprise failing, 

 other will be offered, and still men evil at ease, and 



