But seeing that faith and the love of God have not such rule in the most part of men, but that ambition and covetousness ⟨image 27⟩have often times the upper hand: when one unjustly invadeth an others country, and by wars doeth molest it: so far is it of, that the prince which is ordained of God, for the protection and defence of the same, doeth evil in resisting the iniuste violence, that he is bound by the duty of his office to do the same. It is true that a christian prince ought to search all means for peace, and to bye it dear with losses of his own: and so to do that it come not to the sword, until he have assayed all remedies to avoid this necessity But when he hath done all that it him lieth, and hath recoiled as much as he might, if he can not otherwise maintain the country which is committed unto him: the last refuge is to use the sword which God hath put into his hand. For it is all one reason, to pull out the sword to punish evil doers which trouble the public order, & to thrust back those which unjustly come into a country and break peace. In this case, if a christen man, after the order of the country, be called to serve his prince, doeth not only not offend God in going to the wars, but is in a holy vocation, which cannot be reproved without blaspheming of God. And in deed we see that when the soldiers came to John Baptiste to be instructed of him, he did not command them to cast away their armour and renounce their estate: but only did admonish them to be content with their wages, and not to pole or vex any man, but to abstain from all ⟨image 27⟩malice. Saint Peter baptised Cornelius the Centurion: that is to say captain of an hundred men: and yet he commanded him not to leave his company and office as a thing most wicked. And that more is, having received the holy Ghost visibly, did nevertheless remain still with the soldiers, in his office of the wars. To conclude this matter, if we will keep a good mean to reprehend that which is evil and vicious in wars, Let us not condemn simply the going to war, when it is done by the authority of the prince, for the defence of the country: when the prince hath none other respect but the commune profit of his country, and that the subjects for their part have none other consideration but to do their duty:
But seynge that fayeth and the loue of God haue not suche rule in the mooste parte of menne, but that ambition and couetuousnes ⟨image 27⟩haue often tymes the vpper hande: when one vniustly inuadeth an others contrye, and by warres doeth moleste it: so farre is it of, that the prynce whyche is ordeyned of God, for the protection and defence of the same, doeth euyll in resistyng the iniuste violence, that he is bounde by the duty of hys office to do the same. It is true that a christian prince ought to searche all meanes for peace, and to bye it dere wyth losses of hys owne: and so to do that it come not to the swerd, vntyll he haue assayed al remedies to auoyde thys necessitie But when he hath done al that it hym lyeth, and hath reculed as muche as he myght, if he can not otherwyse mayntayne the countrye whyche is committed vnto him: the laste refuge is to vse the swerde whyche God hathe put into hys hande. For it is all one reason, to pull out the swerde to punishe euyll doers whych trouble the publyke order, & to thruste backe those whyche vniustelye come into a countrye and breake peace. In thys case, if a christen man, after the order of the countrye, be called to serue hys prince, doeth not only not offende God in goynge to the warres, but is in a holye vocation, whiche cannot be reproued wythoute blasphemynge of God. And in dede we se that when the souldiours came to Iohn Baptiste to be instructed of hym, he dyd not commaunde theym to cast away theyr armoure and renounce their estate: but onelye dyd admonyshe theim to be contente wyth theyr wages, and not to pole or vexe anye man, but to abstayne frome all ⟨image 27⟩malice. Saynte Peter baptised Cornelius the Centurion: that is to say captayne of an hundred men: and yet he commaunded hym not to leaue hys companye and office as a thynge moste wycked. And that more is, hauynge receyued the holye Goste visiblye, dyd neuertheles remayne styll wyth the souldiours, in hys office of the warres. To conclude thys matter, if wee wyll kepe a good meane to reprehende that whych is euyl and viciouse in warres, Lette vs not condemne simply the goynge to warre, when it is done by the authoritie of the prynce, for the defēce of the contrye: when the prynce hath none other respect but the commune profitte of his contry, and that the subiectes for their parte haue none other cōsideration but to do their duty:
