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in them； and enlisted the Orsini and Vitelli； whom presently； on handling
and finding them doubtful； unfaithful； and dangerous； he destroyed and
turned to his own men。 And the difference between one and the other of
these forces can easily be seen when one considers the difference there
was in the reputation of the duke； when he had the French； when he had
the Orsini and Vitelli； and when he relied on his own soldiers； on whose
fidelity he could always count and found it ever increasing； he was never
esteemed more highly than when every one saw that he was complete
master of his own forces。
I was not intending to go beyond Italian and recent examples； but I am
unwilling to leave out Hiero； the Syracusan； he being one of those I have
named above。 This man； as I have said； made head of the army by the
Syracusans； soon found out that a mercenary soldiery； constituted like our
Italian condottieri； was of no use； and it appearing to him that he could
neither keep them not let them go； he had them all cut to pieces； and
afterwards made war with his own forces and not with aliens。
I wish also to recall to memory an instance from the Old Testament
applicable to this subject。 David offered himself to Saul to fight with
Goliath； the Philistine champion； and； to give him courage； Saul armed
him with his own weapons； which David rejected as soon as he had them
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on his back； saying he could make no use of them； and that he wished to
meet the enemy with his sling and his knife。 In conclusion； the arms of
others either fall from your back； or they weigh you down； or they bind
you fast。
Charles the Seventh；＇*＇ the father of King Louis the Eleventh；＇＋＇
having by good fortune and valour liberated France from the English；
recognized the necessity of being armed with forces of his own； and he
established in his kingdom ordinances concerning men…at…arms and
infantry。 Afterwards his son； King Louis； abolished the infantry and began
to enlist the Switzers； which mistake； followed by others； is； as is now
seen； a source of peril to that kingdom； because； having raised the
reputation of the Switzers； he has entirely diminished the value of his own
arms； for he has destroyed the infantry altogether； and his men…at…arms he
has subordinated to others； for； being as they are so accustomed to fight
along with Switzers； it does not appear that they can now conquer without
them。 Hence it arises that the French cannot stand against the Switzers；
and without the Switzers they do not come off well against others。 The
armies of the French have thus become mixed； partly mercenary and partly
national； both of which arms together are much better than mercenaries
alone or auxiliaries alone； but much inferior to one's own forces。 And this
example proves it； for the kingdom of France would be unconquerable if
the ordinance of Charles had been enlarged or maintained。
＇*＇ Charles VII of France； surnamed 〃The Victorious；〃 born 1403； died
1461。
＇＋＇ Louis XI； son of the above； born 1423； died 1483。
But the scanty wisdom of man； on entering into an affair which looks
well at first； cannot discern the poison that is hidden in it； as I have said
above of hectic fevers。 Therefore； if he who rules a principality cannot
recognize evils until they are upon him； he is not truly wise； and this
insight is given to few。 And if the first disaster to the Roman Empire＇*＇
should be examined； it will be found to have commenced only with the
enlisting of the Goths； because from that time the vigour of the Roman
Empire began to decline； and all that valour which had raised it passed
away to others。
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＇*＇ 〃Many speakers to the House the other night in the debate on the
reduction of armaments seemed to show a most lamentable ignorance of
the conditions under which the British Empire maintains its existence。
When Mr Balfour replied to the allegations that the Roman Empire sank
under the weight of its military obligations； he said that this was 'wholly
unhistorical。' He might well have added that the Roman power was at its
zenith when every citizen acknowledged his liability to fight for the State；
but that it began to decline as soon as this obligation was no longer
recognized。〃Pall Mall Gazette； 15th May 1906。
I conclude； therefore； that no principality is secure without having its
own forces； on the contrary； it is entirely dependent on good fortune； not
having the valour which in adversity would defend it。 And it has always
been the opinion and judgment of wise men that nothing can be so
uncertain or unstable as fame or power not founded on its own strength。
And one's own forces are those which are composed either of subjects；
citizens； or dependents； all others are mercenaries or auxiliaries。 And the
way to make ready one's own forces will be easily found if the rules
suggested by me shall be reflected upon； and if one will consider how
Philip； the father of Alexander the Great； and many republics and princes
have armed and organized themselves； to which rules I entirely commit
myself。
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CHAPTER XIV
THAT WHICH CONCERNS A PRINCE ON THE SUBJECT OF
THE ART OF WAR
A prince ought to have no other aim or thought； nor select anything
else for his study； than war and its rules and discipline； for this is the sole
art that belongs to him who rules； and it is of such force that it not only
upholds those who are born princes； but it often enables men to rise from a
private station to that rank。 And； on the contrary； it is seen that when
princes have thought more of ease than of arms they have lost their states。
And the first cause of your losing it is to neglect this art； and what enables
you to acquire a state is to be master of the art。