Life of the Duke 1 57 



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 Hves, lands and estates. 



XXXVIII 



That it is no act of prudence to make poor and 

 mean persons governours 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 disturbances in a state or commonwealth: 

 wherefore the best way is to chuse rich and honour- 

 able persons (or at least, gentlemen) for such employ- 

 ments, who esteem fame and honourable actions, 

 above their lives; and if they want skill, they must 

 get such under-officers as have more then themselves, 

 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 honourable peace, then to 

 make warr to their great disadvantage; but if they 

 be able to maintain warr, then they'l force (in time) 

 their enemies to submit and yield to what tearms and 

 conditions they please. 



XL 



That, when a state or government is ensnarled and 

 troubled, it is more easie to raise the common people to 

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



