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72 at this moment be so free but from being themselves so well armed.

The Carthaginians and Thebans are striking examples of the truth of what I have advanced as to the danger of employing foreign troops, The first, though their generals were chosen from their own citizens, had nearly fallen a prey to the tyranny of foreign mercenaries, at the conclusion of their first war against the Romans: and as to the Thebans, it is well known that Philip of Macedon, having on the death of Epaminondas obtained the command of their troops, had no sooner conquered their enemies than he deprived them of their liberties.

Jane II. Queen of Naples, when abandoned by Sforzą who commanded her troops, was, in order to preserve her states, compelled to throw herself into the arms of the King of Arragon; and did not Francis Sforza, son of the former, after having defeated the Venetians at Caravaggio, unite with them for the purpose of oppressing the Milanese, who had on the death of their Duke Philip confided to him the command of their troops?

It may perhaps be said, that the Florențines and Venetians have solely aggrandised their respective ștates by means of the foreign soldiers they had in their pay, and that their generals have always served them well, without any one of them having