for from a very weak King, he is now become for fame and
glory, the first King of Christendome, and if you shall wel consider his
actions, you shall find them all illustrious, and every one of them
extraordinary. He in the beginning of his reign assaild Granada, and
that exploit was the ground of his State. At first he made that war in
security, and without suspicion he should be any waies hindred, and
therein held the Barons of Castiglias minds busied, who thinking upon
that war, never minded any innovation; in this while he gaind credit and
authority with them, they not being aware of it; was able to maintain
with the Church and the peoples money all his soldiers, and to lay a
foundation for his military ordinances with that long war, which
afterwards gaind him exceeding much honor. Besides this, to the end he
might be able hereamong to undertake greater matters, serving himself
alwaies of the colour of religion, he gave himself to a kind of
religious cruelty, chasing and dispoyling those Jewes out of the
Kingdome; nor can this example be more admirable and rare: under the
same cloke he invaded Affrick and went through with his exploit in
Italy: and last of all hath he assaild France, and so alwaies proceeded
on forwards contriving of great matters, which alwaies have held his
subjects minds in peace and admiration, and busied in attending the
event, what it should be: and these his actions have thus grown, one
upon another, that they have never given leisure to men so to rest, as
they might ever plot any thing against them. Moreover it much avails a
Prince to give extraordinary proofes of himself touching the government
within, such as those we have heard of Bernard of Milan, whensoever
occasion is given by any one, that may effectuate some great thing
either of good or evil, in the civil government; and to find out some
way either to reward or punish it, whereof in the world much notice may
be taken. And above all things a Prince ought to endeavor in all his
actions to spread abroad a fame of his magnificence and worthiness. A
Prince also is well esteemed, when he is a true friend, or a true enemy;
when without any regard he discovers himself in favor of one against
another; which course shall be alwaies more profit, than to stand
neuter: for if two mighty ones that are thy neighbors, come to fall out,
or are of such quality, that one of them vanquishing, thou art like to
be in fear of the vanquisher, or not; in eithe