Fire. The Matter of Seditions is of two kindes; Much Poverty and Much Discontentment. It is certaine, so many Overthrowne Estates,[1] so many Votes for Troubles. So Lucan noteth well the State of Rome before the Civill Warre:
Hinc Usura vorax, rapidumque in tempore Fænus,
Hinc concussa Fides, et multis utile Bellum.[2]
This same Multis utile Bellum is an assured and infallible Signe of a State disposed to Seditions and Troubles. And if this Poverty and Broken Estate, in the better Sort, be ioyned with a Want and Necessity in the meane People,[3] the danger is imminent and great. For the Rebellions of the Belly[4] are the worst. As for Discontentments, they are in the Politique Body like to Humours in the Naturall, which are apt to gather a preternaturall Heat and to Enflame. And let no Prince measure the Danger of them by this, whether they be lust, or Uniust? For that were to imagine People to be too reasonable, who doe often spurne at their owne Good; Nor yet by this, whether the Griefes, wherupon they rise,[5] be in fact great or small; For they are the most dangerous Discontentments, where the Feare is greater then the Feeling. Dolendi Modus, Timendi non item.[6] Besides, in great Oppressions, the same Things that provoke the Patience doe withall mate[7] the Courage; But in Feares it is not so. Neither let any Prince or State be secure[8] concerning Discontentments, because they have been often, or have been long, and yet no Perill hath ensued; For as it is true that every Vapor or Fume[9] doth not turne into a Storme, So it is, neverthelesse, true that Stormes, though they blow over divers times, yet may fall at last; And as the Spanish Proverb noteth well; The cord breakdh at the last by the weakest pull.
The Causes and Motives of Seditions are,— Innovation
