Liberality was made use of: Clemency and Cruelty, all alike, as
they might serve to worke with their purposes. All was
sacrific'd to ambition; no friendship could tye these men, nor
any religion: and no marvell: for ambition made them forget both
God and man. But see the end of all this cunning: though this
Cæsar Borgia contrived all his businesse so warily, that our
Author much commends him, and hee had attaind neere the pitch of
his hopes, and had provided for each misadventure could befall
him its remedy; Policy shewd it selefe short-sighted; for hee
foresaw not at the time of his Fathers death, he himself should
bee brought unto deaths doore also. And me thinks this Example
might have given occasion to our Author to confesse, that surely
there is a God that ruleth the earth. And many times God cutts
off those cunning and mighty men in the hight of their purposes,
when they think they have neare surmounted all dangers and
difficulties. 'To the intent that the living may know, that the
most high ruleth in the Kingdome of men, and giveth it to
whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.'
Daniel. 4. 17.
CHAP. VIII
Concerning those who by wicked meanes have attaind to a Principality.
But because a man becomes a Prince of a private man two wayes, which
cannot wholly be attributed either to Fortune or Vertue, I think not fit
to let them passe me: howbeit the one of them may be more largely
discoursed upon, where the Republicks are treated of. These are, when by
some wicked and unlawfull meanes a man rises to the Principality; or
when a private person by the favour of his fellow Citizens becomes
Prince of his countrey. And speaking of the first manner, it shall be
made evident by two Examples, the one ancient, the other moderne,
without entring otherwise into the justice or merit of this part; for I
take it that these are sufficient for any body that is forc'd to follow
them. Agathocles the Sicilian, not of a private man onely, but from a
base and abject fortune, got to be King of Siracusa. This man borne but
of a Potter, continued alwayes a wicked life throughout all the degrees
of this fortune: neverthelesse he accompanied his lewdnesse with such a
courage and resolution, that applying himselfe to military affaires, by
the degrees thereof he attained to bee Prætour of Siracusa, and being
setled in that degree, and having determined that he would become
Prince, and hold that by violence and without obligation to any other,
which by consent had been granted him: and to this purpose haveing had
some private intelligence touching his designe with Amilcar the
Carthaginian, who was imployd with his army in Sicily, one morining
gatherd the people together and the Senate of Syracusa, as if he had
some what to advise with them of matters belonging to the Commonwealth,
and upon a signe given, caus'd his souldiers to kill his Senatours, and