ADVICE TO SIR GEORGE VILLIERS. 433 



timous inquisition, the peccant humours and humo 

 rists must be discovered, and purged, or cut off; 

 mercy, in such a case, in a king is true cruelty. 



19. Yet if the heads of the tribes can be taken 

 off, and the misled multitude will see their error, 

 and return to their obedience, such an extent of 

 mercy is both honourable and profitable. 



20. A king, against a storm, must foresee to have 

 a convenient stock of treasure ; and neither be with 

 out money, which is the sinews of war, nor to de 

 pend upon the courtesy of others, which may fail at 

 a pinch. 



21. He must also have a magazine of all sorts, 

 which must be had from foreign parts, or provided 

 at home, and to commit them to several places, under 

 the custody of trusty and faithful ministers and offi 

 cers, if it be possible. 



22. He must make choice of expert and able com 

 manders to conduct and manage the war, either 

 against a foreign invasion, or a home rebellion ; which 

 must not be young and giddy, which dare, not only 

 to fight, but to swear, and drink, and curse, neither 

 fit to govern others, nor able to govern themselves. 



23. Let not such be discouraged, if they deserve 

 well, by misinformation, or for the satisfying the hu 

 mours or ambition of others, perhaps out of envy, 

 perhaps out of treachery, or other sinister ends. A 

 steady hand in governing of military affairs is more 

 requisite than in times of peace, because an error 

 commuted in war, may perhaps, prove irremedi 

 able. 



VOL. vi. F F 



