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troops are those which a prince borrows of his allies to assist and defend him. It was thus that Pope Julius II. having in the enterprise against Ferrara made a lamentable experiment of the danger of employing mercenaries, had recourse to Ferdinand, King of Spain, who entered into a treaty to send troops to his assistance.

This kind of military force may perhaps be useful to him who sends it; but it is always injurious to the prince who uses it. For if it is defeated, he suffers the consequences; and if it is victorious, he lies at its mercy. Ancient history is replete with facts in support of this doctrine. To confine myself, however, to a recent example. Julius II. being desirous to possess himself of Ferrara, was advised to confide the execution of this expedition to a foreigner. Fortunately for him, however, an incident took place which prevented the disaster of such an imprudence. This was, that his auxiliaries having been defeated at Ravenna, the conqueror was unexpectedly attacked by the Swiss, who put him to flight: so that this pontiff escaped both from his enemy, who was in his turn