92 ESS A YS CIVIL AND MORAL. 



lion, it is of necessity that once in an age or two they discharge a 

 portion of their people upon other nations ; which the ancient northern 

 people were wont to do by lot, casting lots what part should stay at 

 home, and what should seek their fortunes. When a warlike state 

 grows soft and effeminate, they may be sure of a war. For com 

 monly such states are grown rich in the time of their degenerating ; 

 and so the prey inviteth, and their decay in valour encourageth a 

 war. 



As for the weapons, it hardly falleth under rule and observation : 

 yet we see, even they have returns and vicissitudes. For certain it is, 

 that ordnance was known in the city of the Oxidraces in India, and 

 was that which the Macedonians called thunder and lightning, and 

 magic. And it is well known that the use of ordnance have been in 

 China above two thousand years. The condition of weapons, and 

 their improvement, are, first, the fetching afar off, for that outruns the 

 danger, as it is seen in ordnance and muskets. Secondly, the strength 

 of the percussion, wherein likewise ordnance do exceed all arietations 

 and ancient inventions. The third is, the commodious use of them, as 

 that they may serve in all weathers, that the carriage may be light and 

 manageable, and the like. 



For the conduct of the war : at the first, men rested extremely upon 

 number : they did put the wars likewise upon main force and valour, 

 pointing days for pitched fields, and so trying it out upon an even 

 match : and they were more ignorant in arranging and arraying their 

 battles. After, they grew to rest upon numbers rather competent 

 than vast ; they grew to advantages of place, cunning diversions* 

 and the like : and they grew more skilful in the ordering of their 

 battles. 



In the youth of a state, arms do flourish ; in the middle age of a 

 state, learning ; and then both of them together for a time : in the 

 declining age of a state, mechanical arts and merchandise. Learning 

 hath its infancy, when it is but beginning and almost childish : then 

 its youth, when it is luxuriant and juvenile : then its strength of years, 

 when it is solid and reduced : and lastly, its old age, when it waxeth 

 dry and exhaust. But it is not good to look too long upon these 

 turning wheels of vicissitude, lest we become giddy. As for the 

 philology of them, that is but a circle of tales, and therefore not fit for 

 this writing. 



OF A KING. 



1. A king is a mortal god on earth, unto whom the living God 

 hath lent his own name as a great honour : but withal told him, he 

 should die like a man, lest he should be proud and flatter himself, that 

 God hath with his name imparted unto him his nature also. 



2. Of all kind of men, God is the least beholden unto them; for he 

 doth most for them, and they do ordinarily least for him. 



3. A king that would not feel his crown too heavy for him, must 

 wear it every day ; but if he think it too light, he knoweth not of what 

 metal it is made. 



