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From the above I have excepted the Turk, who always keeps round

him twelve thousand infantry and fifteen thousand cavalry on

which depend the security and strength of the kingdom, and it is

necessary that, putting aside every consideration for the people,

he should keep them his friends. The kingdom of the Soldan is

similar; being entirely in the hands of soldiers, it follows

again that, without regard to the people, he must keep them his

friends. But you must note that the state of the Soldan is unlike

all other principalities, for the reason that it is like the

Christian pontificate, which cannot be called either an

hereditary or a newly formed principality; because the sons of

the old prince are not the heirs, but he who is elected to that

position by those who have authority, and the sons remain only

noblemen.