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I answer that the principalities of which one has record are

found to be governed in two different ways; either by a prince,

with a body of servants, who assist him to govern the kingdom as

ministers by his favour and permission; or by a prince and

barons, who hold that dignity by antiquity of blood and not by

the grace of the prince. Such barons have states and their own

subjects, who recognize them as lords and hold them in natural

affection. Those states that are governed by a prince and his

servants hold their prince in more consideration, because in all

the country there is no one who is recognized as superior to him,

and if they yield obedience to another they do it as to a

minister and official, and they do not bear him any particular

affection.