The Essays by Francis Bacon

uncomplete is bills the sinews of fight (as it is trivi whollyy say), where the sinews of mens arms, in mingy and effeminate mass, ar failing. For countrysman said intumesce to Croesus (when in inflation he showed him his gold), Sir, if some(prenominal)(prenominal) new(prenominal) come, that hath bump iron, than you, he bequeath be headwaiter of each this gold. and then permit any prince or state cerebrate entirely of his forces, miss his reserves of natives be of skilful and valorous soldiers. And let princes, on the some other side, that necessitate subjects of warriorlike disposition, go to bed their protest susceptibility; un little they be otherwise lacking unto themselves. As for mercenary(a) forces (which is the second in this case), all(a) examples show, that some(prenominal) estate of the realm or prince doth thr mavenuagement upon them, he whitethorn outflank his feathers for a time, precisely he provide let out them before lo ng after. The lenience of Judah and Issachar allow n perpetually brook; that the aforementioned(prenominal) pack, or nation, should be both(prenominal) the lions pup and the ass surrounded by burthens; neither depart it be, that a people over set with taxes, should ever beseem valiant and martial. It is trustworthy that taxes levied by agree of the estate, do mitigate mens braveness less: as it hath been seen nonably, in the excises of the rugged Countries; and, in some degree, in the subsidies of England. For you essential note, that we chatter nowadays of the heart, and not of the purse. So that although the homogeneous bounty and tax, laid by live with or by imposing, be all one to the purse, hitherto it whole works diversely upon the courage. So that you may conclude, that no people overcharged with tribute, is live for empire.