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only remains for me to treat of ecclesiastical principalities, which are more easy to preserve than to acquire, the reason of which is; on the one hand, that we can only arrive at the government of them by personal merit, or some fortunate event. On the other hand, this species of government is founded on ancient religious institutions, which operate so powerfully that a prince may preserve his consideration with very little trouble, in what manner soever he may govern. Ecclesiastical princes are the only ones who possess states without defending them, and subjects without governing them; they are the only ones whose territories are respected, and whose subjects have neither the inclination nor the means of shaking off their dominion. In one word; there is no happiness nor security for princes excepting in this kind of states. As they are governed by supernatural means, to which poor fallible reason cannot presume to attain, it would be presumption and temerity in me to argue upon it.

However, if any one were to ask me how the