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Having discoursed particularly on the characteristics of such

principalities as in the beginning I proposed to discuss, and

having considered in some degree the causes of there being good

or bad, and having shown the methods by which many have sought to

acquire them and to hold them, it now remains for me to discuss

generally the means of offence and defence which belong to each

of them.

We have seen above how necessary it is for a prince to have his

foundations well laid, otherwise it follows of necessity he will

go to ruin. The chief foundations of all states, new as well as

old or composite, are good laws and good arms; and as there

cannot be good laws where the state is not well armed, it follows

that where they are well armed they have good laws. I shall leave

the laws out of the discussion and shall speak of the arms.