gouerne the bandes that march close square then thin and long inespecially for as much as to an armye that marcheth with the bandes long often times is wont to happen that of somthing seen doubtful vncertaine there groweth sodenly feare and terror Because somtime it hath chaūsed the men decending from high places hilly in the plain to places expedite open the formost seing the last of the selfe same band by a very great distāce to come after supposing them selues to be assauted of some ambushe of enemies it hath ben sene that they haue sodenly turned to faight and afterwardes no otherwise then as with enemies haue with their owne fellowes gone together by the eares The victuailes the caryages al the remnant of prouision of thinstrumentes of war I iudge should be placed in the midst of the army except the places that are left behinde be so safe that without daunger such thinges may be caried and conducted after the army but if it shall be otherwise the hindemost part wold be garded defended of the most valiant soldiers as also is to be don in the formost because the vnawares may happē many thinges Likewise there ought to be sent afore certain men on horsbacke the which should go inuestigating spiing where they may passe inespecially hauing occasion to make voyages by moūtains by woods by places inclosed with hils by most great deserts Because that many rymes the enemye hauing oportunity to laye an ambush priusly by the passage to assault his aduersaries which litle therof toke hede hath easily broken altogether ruinated them The which ambushes if our Captaine by way of explorators shall forsee with a litle paine hauing preuented the councel of the enemy he may attain a most great name of prudence and likewise saue his army But the open plaines which because they may be esely sene without sending afore any spy thou with thine own eies may take hede For as much as in the day dust moued and lifted vp in the ayre doeth shewe the stirring of ennemies and in the night the fires the flame signifieth their campe to be neare When thy men are to be conducted to make a voyage not for to faight thou oughtest to remoue by day if peraduēture some thing do not constraine thee for the which thou thinkest good to go in hast to come before thenemy where in dede for such occasion thou maiest remoue by night so that thou know that safelye it may be done Whē thou comest in place where thou art constrained straight way to come to the handes with thy enemy and to faight lead thy men not in haste but softly inforce theim not to make to long a iorney forasmuche as labour taken before men come to faight is sene most often times vainely to consume the force and strengthe of their bodies But yf thou muste marche wyth thy menne in the Countrye of thy fryendes it is nedefull that thou commaund thy Souldiers that in no maner of wyse they touche or marre any thing but rather altogether to refrayne consyderyng that Souldiers trustyng in their weapons hauing liberty to do what shall please them wyll fauour nothyng inespecially for that the sighte of thinges that please men out of doubt are wont most daūgerously to leade ignoraunt and vnwareful men to desire them and with the swetenesse of robbing to entice them to do al maner of mischiefe Whereunto yf thou prouydest not thy frendes and confederates for euery smal occasion wil become enemies Notwythstandyng the country of thy aduersaryes thou shalt suffer thy soul diers opēly to ruinate destroy burne and consume because by the dearth of victualles and lack of money warres are wonte to diminyshe and to be extinguished and contrariwise through abundance and riches they are nourished and maintained But firste before thou sufferest thy enemies countrie to be destroyed thou shouldest geue aduice to thy enemies threatning them what thou wilte do yf they wil not yelde vnto thee for that the perill of the misery prepared and the feare of the ruine loked for often tymes constraines men to graunt many thinges the whiche at the first by no maner of meane had bene possible to haue brought them to do But after that they haue once receyued the hurte they will make litle accompte of thee and despyse al other thynges as though thou couldest doe them no more harme Albeit if thou knowest surely that in the countrey of thy ennemies thou must tary lōg with thy army suffer to be taken spoiled only those things which thou seest not to be greatly prsfitable vnto thee but the same which is to be thought may be preserued for thy commodity commaund openly vnto thy Souldiers that they forbeare Hauyng made readye and sette in order thy men tarrye not long in thy owne countrye nor yet in the same of thy confiderates lest that consuming al thy prouision it seme not that thou be of greater hurt to thy frendes then to thy ennemyes but rather conducte quickly thine army into the aduersaries countrey wherby if it be fertyle abundant there may be taken at thy nede most plenteouslye those thinges that thou list But if it be otherwise thou shalt cause to be knowen that the sekest to prouyde most louinglie both for the wealth profit of thy frendes And where the Countrey of the enemies is fertyle and aboundaunt there may be taken thereof much commoditye and great profite Besides this thou oughtest to care wyth all diligence that in thy campe both by Sea and Land victuall maye be safelye broughte for asmuche as by suche meanes the Marchauntes will endeuour wyth all dilygence to bring all those thinges which for the vse of an Army shal be necessarye Moreouer when thou must passe throughe straight places or muste cause the Armye to marche throughe rough and hilly wayes then it is conuenient principallye for the preseruation of thy things to send before some to take and keepe the highest places the rockes the foordes and other enclosed wayes to th ende leaste the enemyes goinge before thee come not to take them and so easelye to keepe the passage from thee The contrarye thou oughtest to enforce thy self to do when thou vnderstandest that thy enemye must passe through such roughe straight places Seing that not only thou hast to take hede not to receiue any harme but also to enforce thy selfe to turne against the enemye the verye same deceites whereby he thinkes to deceiue thee withal And like as when thou purposest to go against him it is requisite to solicitate the matter to be able to be afore him and at vnawares to oppresse hym euen so with all dyligence thou oughtest to prouide to let him euery way if thou vnderstandest that he entendes to come against thee Of lying in the field THy tentes being pitched in the coūtry of the enemies althoughe thou haue not delyberated longe to tarye in the same place yet
be ready to ioyne with the rest of thy Armie wyl be afraide put them selues in flight thinking them to bee no suche nomber as in dede they be but a great deale bigger and specially if it be done at a sudden wheÌ„ they are about the feates of Armes For as much as suche chaunce is wonte to make a frayde the myndes of them whiche haue not experience of thinges doubting leste there happen them not some worse thing and therefore with feare they abide the ende of the matter The assaulting the enemies behind at vnawares bringes them in exceadynge great terrour and aboue all thinges is of vncredible profit For which thing if it were possible to do there should be sent by nyght a bande of Souldiers that trauersing the waye might passe beyonde the enemies and behind them place them selues in ambusshe And when bothe the armies were affroonted and nowe comen to the faighte they quickelye marching out of the wayte shoulde assalte the hyndermoste bande of the enemies whom compassed about on euery side although that there were lefte them some hope to saue them selues they shall not haue stomacke to goe about to flye but to yelde as they who are not able to retire backe nor commodiously goe forwarde beynge of euerye syde ouertaken Whylest the faighte continuallye doth increase and that of neither part they beare not theym selues valiauntly thou rydinge rounde aboute shalt comtorte thy men and being on the ryght wynge shalt crye that the lefte is victorious and that the enemies nowe are ouercome If thou be on the lefte wyng declare that the bande of the ryght wyng of thy men hath obtained the victory not passing whether it be true or false For that it is not much amisse nor of small commoditie to vse a ly when the fayghte is greatly moued Moreouer if the Capitain or king of the enemies be somwhat farre from thee or in the other wyng or els in the middest of the battaile thou must crie with a loude voice so that of the enemies thou be also hearde that he is slaine The whiche being openly vnderstodde thy menne more cherefully wil double their worthines to faight and the enemies will lacke hart and altogether for desperation will put them selues to flighte This pollicie hath been often times profitable where at one time is begiled the enemies thine own men to these shewing things of sauegarde and to the other hurtefull and dolorous Lykewyse it is the office of a wyse Capitaine in the arayes to place together the brothers with brothers frendes with frendes For that whylest we see that he is brought in peril to whome we beare good will of loue inforced fearing no manner of daunger more valiauntly we put forward our selues to defende him And he seing him selfe so louinglye defenved will be ashamed and doubte that yelding not the like kyndnes may seeme to be negligente wyllingly and therfore he wyll thinke it a great reproche vnto him to forsake his frende that so redely hathe done for him shamefully to geue hym selfe to flye Of commaundementes wauinges and Signes THe commaundements wauinges and signes ought likewyse first to be geuen to the heads leaders of meÌ„ for as much as to go to finde euery maÌ„ and coÌ„maund them lyke things shuld be a manifest token of a Captain very simple vnexpert seing that whylest to enery one seperatly the coÌ„mendemeÌ„ts at geueÌ„ time coÌ„sumeth great rumor therby is made al asking him at haÌ„d and sekinge euery one to know what the commaundementes are There happeneth besides this that certaine menne to the commaundementes wil adde some thing or els through ignoraunce diminishe them Wherfore it is meete that the coÌ„maundements be geuen first to the heades and rulers after they to refer them to those that are vnder them and those likewise to doe the same from hand to hand to al the other And in this manner the signes and commaundementes maye go from one to another euen to the last For that not so soone as they are geuen but also without noyse and with order euery one shall come to knoweledge therof The which likewise in geuing tokens with fire is wonte to be obserued where the first litle firebrande is lifted vp the second hauing receaued the brande geueth it to the thirde the thirde to the fourth which geueth it to the fifte the fyfte to the sixt so forth the one after the other after such sort that in short time from a most great distaunce the signe had of the first shall come euen to the last ordinarilye and without disturbance Likwise that signe which ought to be geuen the third after the commauÌ„dements should not be geuen with any thing doone by the voyce but either with iesture of bodye or by signe of the head or with mouing of the hande or with striking together the armes or with turning of the Spear or els with glittering of the swerde so that peraduenture making tumulte not onelye the Souldiours oughte to stande attentiue to take the wauing but also the signe For as much as the enemies might vnderstande the meaning of the wauing whiche they may oftentimes see to be geuen But the signe whiche besides may secretly bee geuen after suche sorte that it cannot be knowen of the enemies semes also to be very conuenient and câ—mmodious for the straunge Souldiours to knowe whome although they vse diuerse languages notwithstanding they being confederates and seruing together with you and being not able to speake as they maye bee vnderstode nor vnderstande other which in other language speake by making signes the fredes by frendes may by such meane deserne their meaning The which signes oughte to be geuen and distributed not at such time wheÌ„ they must faight and make noyse with vncertain voyces amoÌ„g the handes that are to be set in araye but long before when quietly they remayn at leysure Of the order that is to be obserued BEsides all this commaunde thy Souldiours to go forward and turne backwarde with good order wherby being repulsed and retyring they maye be lesse hurte as those whom the enemy one by one can not oppresse being not here and there scattred and disorderlye wandering or if they being conquerers shall pursue the enemyes out of order and put to flyghte they shall ouerthrowe them easely more stroÌ„gly oppresse them and with more safegarde if in the chase vnited together and in araye they proceade For vndoubtedly many times when the enemy fliyng seeth his aduersaries come vpon him without anye order he bryngyng agayne his menne in araye turning backwarde withstanding them with violeÌ„ce crusly ouercometh them Wherfore men must thinke that nothing is better nothing more safer nothing more surer then obseruing the order to stande still in their place appointed to the coÌ„trary nothing is more perillous nor more hurtfull then to breake the order to forsake the same place Of making ready and setting foorth the armie to faight the
partesans and if paraduenture there shal be nere some plowed fielde lette theym faight wyth the cloddes of earth and let the souldiers vse harnes of Bulles lether yf they may haue it But if there were litle hilles or places somwhat rougher then plaine and lykewise pendent by commaundement of the Captaine let there be appointed one parte of Souldiers to euerye one of which let there be geuen such sort of weapon as is mete and geuynge theim selues to run take those plates and to the contrary let there be chosen of the other to whome be geuen charge that with like weapons they inforce them selues from such places to driue away those that kepe the highe grounde and to enter their selues Finally the fayght finished let the Captaine praise those the which without euer being moued haue their places to them appointed euen to the laste defended or els to praise them which hauing driuē away the other haue entred their selues With this maner of faighting finally with this emulacion and with this diligence the army is conserued and the bodies of souldiers purged and refreshed after suche sort that euery one of them willingly wil vse euery sorte of meates and swetelye take euerye drinkinge not caringe anye further to seeke thinges neither greatly fine or delicate nor muche exquisite Considering the bunger the which comes vpon men throughe the trauaile of labour and the drines that commeth to them that through labouring swete howe symple so euer the meate and drinke be it wil be thought to be a delicate dishe and a sweete drinkinge Whereby the bodies of Souldiers become more lusty and nimble For that those which be wont to labor in heate and cold in the open aire as men glad and readye do submit them selues to trauell and also lustely sustayne it In the very same maner shoulde be exercised the horsmen In the presence of the Capytaine to be ordeined the running in triall the one of the other the pursuing after the flyinge the incountringe the charginge of their staues speciallye in places playne and large or els at the foot of hilles as far as the borses may go for the stepe and stony places for in deede they ought not to be inforced to runne there where it is to highe and pending or to muche stepe and downeright Of makyng the spoyle THE spoyle ought moderatelye to be made and it is not to be borne withall that the Souldiers be suffered presumtuouslye to goe to rauin and to spoyle nor to lette them goe to much wandering in the Countrey of the enemyes inespecially if it be riche and aboundaunte bycause by such lyberty often tymes most great hurtes hath bene sene to insue Where the enemy findinge suche occasion and setting in order his people assaulting the Souldiers disordered and straggled for the sweetenesse of the praye or els of the same laden and letted hath easely bene of power to put them to flighte to breake and to oppresse them they being not able commodiouslye to vse their weapons nor to geue succour the one to the other For whiche thing those that without commission of the Captaine do geue them selues to spoyle dispersed lette them be punished with most greuous punishment and shamed with notable reproche of infamye But when thou determinest to send of thy men to get booties thou must togethers with those that shal go disarmed sende also horsemen and footmen expert and valiant whom maye not a whit be occupied in the praye but standing continually in araye be alwayes ready to succor the spoylers after such sort that safely out of daūger they may returne And if perauēture somtime thy enemies spies happen to be taken thou must not vse towardes them all one maner of sentence If thou knowe certainly that thy men and all thy preparation be lesse then the same of thy enemy then commaund that straight way they may be killed But if thy armye of men be of a great multitude of weapons better furnished and soldiers more valtaunt and more obedient and hauing leaders more expert and more famous then all thy Hoste being set in good order and as it were to muster commaunde that the spyes be led throughe out all and that they haue libertie to beholde euerye thing diligently and in th ende let them departe without anye maner of punishment for that they reporting the excellency of thy thinges the puisaunce and greate number of people easelye will put in feare the enemies like as the scarsitie of thinges and dearth is wont to bolden to geue them hope Of watch and warde by night IN the tyme of nyght there ought to be ordeined many watchemen of the whiche some must watch and some other be apointed in the places for the wardes the houres of the night deuided the one after the other may slepe repose them selues for as muche as the souldiers should not be constrained to make their warde watchinge more then that whiche nature is able to sustain although they promise to stande in watche al the night Where surely the sweetnes of slepe may cause a man to forget him self against his will and not to haue any care for his owne person nature it selfe consentinge therunto Therefore let euery man stande on his feete to watche for as muche as sitting stretched out doth take a waye a little and a litle the strengthe and maketh weake and languisheth the body wherby the slepe lightly ouercomes On the contrarye the standinge vpright and on the fete kepeth the minde otherwise wakeful Those whiche shal be appointed to make the ward let them go before the Campe or els somewhat farther of and make fyres after suche sorte that they maye see those farre of whiche peraduenture shal go in those partes where the fier shyneth and of whome they can not be sene being set in dark places and hauinge the light against them by whiche way the enemies vnawares maye come to the handes of the watche Of remouing the Armye secretely YF at anye tyme thou haue determined to moue the campe secretly so the the enemies shal not knowe it thou hauing neede to take some place or els some of thine being taken in goinge to defende the same or finallye to auoide the necessitye to come to the deede of Armes fyrste of all commaunde that there be kindled most great fyres and after cause the armie to remoue For asmuche as the fyres beinge seene the ennemies thinkinge that thou reniemaynest stil in the accustomed place wil be still and quiet But if the fyres goe oute in the darknes of the night and thou make thee ready to depart the ennemies suspecting that thou preparest to fly will vse diligence and spede to let thee the passage layinge Ambushes according to the occasion most sharplye will pursue thee Of coming to communicacion with the Captaine of thenemies IF it happen that thou muste come to communycacyon wyth the Captayne of the ennemies hoste and wyth hym as oftentimes happeneth to intreate
of some matter thou shalt take with thee the valiantest most noble men of thine Armye the whiche be in the flower of their age tall and lusty and of goodly personage be also of faire and bright armour furnished Because many times it chaunceth that the ennemy by seinge of suche men as commeth with the Captaine hath iudged the remnaunt accordingly And euery manne shal be sooner moued and drawen of those things that he hath sene then of those whiche by report he hath vnderstode Of Fugetiues YF peraduenture any fugetiues from the Campe of thenemies being scaped shal come into thine for to geue thee aduyse of their power or els of some counsell or if they shall offer to guide thee to th end that thou mayst assault thy enemyes at vnawares cause that they be kept in custodye so that they may vnderstande to haue no libertye to goe where they liste but rather let it be to them manifest that if thou trustyng vpon them with thy army shall safely obtain the victory they shal haue for their rewardes most great plentye of gyftes and most gentely being intreated shall go free where they wil. But if it shall be perceaued that deliberately they be come to betraye thy Army with deceipt make them know that in the self same peril of the thing without any doubt they shall haue to end their lifes And it is not to geue credit otherwise to fugetiues but whē they know that they be not masters of themselues but thou the whiche in their counsels assured doest see thy selfe mayst do therafter Of considering the campe of the enemies THe wyse Capytaine ought with al dilygence to vew the Campe of the enemies nor with lesse forseinge he hath to consider the situation of the same For asmuch as if somtime it be pitched in the plaine in a rounde facion we oughte not for all that to thinke that therein be but fewe because they are shut vp in a litle circuit of grounde for that the circular fygure is wonte to seme lesse in beholding it then with the minde maye be comprehended by proportioning the measure of a massiue thing Likewise the largenes the whych is drawen in compasse is in effect of more capacity then anye man beholding it is able to iudge To the contrary if the sides of the distaunce do extend in length and in some place eyther crooked or els in manye angles tourned doeth inclose vp you haue not for that cause to suppose that therein be great multitude of men seinge that suche facion of incampinge sheweth a certaine resemblaunce of greatnesse and notwithstandinge doeth not containe in it so manie menne as might be within a space made circularwise But the campes lying vppon mountaines and hils if in al places they be not closed ioyned together they may seme bigger then yf they were in the playne and yet contayne lesse number of men then that whiche some man onlye beholdinge may throughly iudge For as muche as they do leue manye places void forsaken as those places be that haue some partes ful of diches and caues or els roughe and stonye wherby they be desart and of no man may be in any maner of wise inhabyted But of necessitye it hapneth that the Campes are alwaies made after such maner and the distaunce in lyke length are extended accordinge to the nūber of people Wherfore when thou seest the Campe of the ennemies shut vp in a litle circuite hauing consideration of the place and of the facion do not esteme it a litle but being destended in lengthe let it not make thee afraid for as much as this aforesayde knowen truste thou in the aduertismentes of war and when occasyon serues attempt to execute some high and honorable enterprise Of incamping WHan thou muste incampe thee it is requisite that thou bring together thy men and in a litle space of groūd to drawe theym together If the enemies do prouoke thee take hede not to conduct them foorth but rather most closely retayne within the trenche thy Souldiers close together after suche sorte that it seme that which thou doest to be cōstrained of feare For as much as many times the enemy whiche lacketh experience of thinges considereth not the facte with that prudence as is conuenient in the affaires of warre but hauinge one onelye time dued the Campe and finally esteaminge the aduersaries to be but fewe and they for beinge afraide to refuse altogether to faight he beginneth to make of theym litle counte and to stand negligently and in the end being come oute of his lodgings and out of his fortification goeth euery where without any hede taking as thoughe that no man were able to incountre him Then he hauing occasion to assault the enemy in his lodgings boldly goeth to besege him not cosidering what great nūber of men may issue out For the which confidence waxing proude as though no thing contrary might happē him he becometh altogether slothfull and retchelesse hauing not anye maner of care of chaunces to come The which occasion if thou determin prudently to rake thy men being put in order and they in a sodaine takyng vppe a most great crie thou shalt send them furthe by the backeside of thy Campe and by other diuers goyng foorthes and in sundrie maners running on the backe of the enemy thou mayest assaulte and faighte with him most valiantlye And in dede if wyth lyke policy and forcastinge thou shalt know howe to guide thy men lightly thou maist perceiue if the enemy be like for to vse against thee suche deceites And not only thou oughtest to knowe that which thou hast to do against the enemy but also that there come not vpon thee some cōtrary accident For as much as with those wayes that thou maist beguile thenemy with the very same thou must beware not to be deceiued For the way of vnderstanding howe to beguile other men may be vnto thee a guide to be able easely for to inuestygate yf they in thy preiudis do worke any thing How Councels are not to be disclosed IF sometyme eyther daye or night thou determine to remoue thy Armie or take some Citye fortresse or Castell or els to get some passage or for to do secretlye some other enterprise with celeritie that the enemies knowe not therof doe not disclose to anye thy secrete nor reuele not where thou intendest to conduct thy men neyther that whiche thou hast to doe inespecially if it were not peraduenture a profitable thinge the communicating it with some of the principals But whan thou arte ariued where thou knowest that it is nedefull quicklye to come to the dedes commaunde that whiche euery man hath to doe accordinge to the occasion and geue order and withoute anye delaye of time openlye admonyshe the conducters and souldiers and shew them to what ende the thinge goeth and afterward with all spede goe forwarde with the enterprise For surelye it is a token of a foolyshe man and vndiscrete
rashly to euery one to manifest his councell and to no purpose to disclose the secretes vnto the multitude For as muche as the euil disposed persons and those that haue a naughty minde towardes the common weale attende lyke occasions whiche when they maye take they fly sodenlie to the enemies for to geue suche aduise wherby they beleue to attaine rewardes and honors Nor there hath neuer bene anie Army but that out of the same for many causes as well free men as seruauntes hath passed to the campe of the ennemies specially when they vnderstande that some secret or matter of importaunce is intreated of or els doe knowe that the time aprocheth to come to handes to do the feates of armes How that before the armie is conducted forth Sacrifice ought to be done VErely thou oughtest not to conduct forthe men nor put them in aray to faight if firste accordinge as custome requires thou haue not made the sacrifices and therefore it is needefull to haue the Aruspici the deuiners the which shoulde folowe the Army But it shoulde be verye well done and a thing to be muche desired if thou thy self couldest know the reason to consider the interiors to do the sacrifice with those ceremonies that is requisite so that thou thy selfe maye well conueniently forsee thy thinges inespecially being able with facilety to haue knowledge thereof But hauing done sacrifice if thou haue learned thy desire and shalte knowe that the holye thinges be fauourable to thee with couragious mind thou shouldest goe to thenterprise For as muche as the conducters will geue knowledge vnto the other of all that whiche the holy things declare and wil put them in good hope and wyll geue theym good courage when they shall vnderstande that beinge guided by the will of the Gods immortall goe to faight For the whiche opinyon the Souldiers altogether takinge hart cherefullye vnto euery perill wyll put theym selues as they which haue hope to obtaine the vyctorie and al the signes euery voyce and euery thing diligent lye wyl obserue Whereby happeneth that this worthye Câ—remonie of publike sacrifices with peticions vowes maye maruelously comfort and cause better hope to increase in the mindes of them which priuately moued with feare of religioÌ„ be made sorowful for things aduerse and abhominable But if peraduenture after offeryng of the oste thy vowes happen not to be fulfylled and the Sacrifices not to goe prosperouslye thou oughtest to remaine in the selfe same place and not to moue thee althoughe that other occasion seme to constrain thee neuer so much For what thing maye happen thee woorse then those that fortune and the sacrifices do shewe thee so that if that whiche is to come might luckely succede thou shouldest by sacrificing haue had it graunted thee For the whiche thing causinge more ostes to be kylled in the selfe same daye thou muste sacrifyce them and renewe the sacrifices done for euery litle moment of tyme is of great importaunce and easelye may both hurte and helpe eyther taking or altogether leauing the commodious occasion of thinges Surelye to me it seemes that the Arte of the Aruspici by meane of the beastes and their interiours by a certayne manner shewed and reason to consider geueth knowledge and declareth the mouings of the celestiall stars their rising vp their going downe and finally the inclinations of the figures of the triangles of quadratures and of the measures For as much as some of their litle minutes differeÌ„ce vertue and way to deuine in the very same daye yea in the selfe same howre haue caused ofteÌ„times that some haue obtained kingdoms or els being vanquished and taken haue bene put in prison Seing then that at a time it happeneth that to some doing sacryfice is shewed that concerning taking in hande the faight the thing shall procede well and yet after the faight hath folowed the conflicte and ouerthrow therfore I haue thought it necessarye to speake somewhat of thys matter How it is nedeful to haue knovvledge of places BEyng as it apeareth manifestly both many sundry countries of the world the situasion of places and the facion of prouinces of the land of diuers maners it hapneth thereby that for the most part a man may stande in doubt and knowe not howe to determine in what places the fieldes is beste to be pitched and howe to sette the battail to faight There be some surely that haue knowledge of their owne countrie but of others they be ignoraunt and nothing skilful Wherby it chaunceth that the enemies being distaunt the space of a dayes iourney and craftely faining to be afraide and not to haue stomacke to abyde the coming of the aduersaries and making as though they would fly causeth the capitayn litle expert of things to pursew him no otherwise but as if he fled in good earnest more boldly to molest folow him in chase But wheÌ„ he hauinge bene drawen through the furie of pursuinge and by vaine hope to oppresse the enemy doth see him selfe to be brought to difficulte passages and into places inclosed with mountaines surely in the ende he perceaneth too late to be compassed aboute with enemies on euery side and as it were shut vp in a Cage the highest places the straightes and the wayes whereby myght haue been some passage to flye being now possessed of the enemy Then beholding all aboute howe he hath been mocked and seing all his armie dispersed to be by the aduersary assaulted doth know hym self to be brought headling into extreame coÌ„fusion being by the propertie of the place depriued for being able to faight or to withstande And for to auoyde the shame of yeldinge estemeth to bee better and a more worthy thyng to dye of famine or els being constrayned to submit him selfe geueth libertie vnto the enemies to doe by hym whatsoeuer shal be their pleasure For whiche thing the retiring that the enemy maketh whiche hath resemblace of flying is alwayes to be had in suspicion Nor it ought not boldely to be folowed but rather regarde should be first had to the places and theire nature diligently considered Therfore in conducting foorth the men of Armes it is specially to be considered that by the selfe same waye that thou enterest the passage maye be opeÌ„ for thee to returne or els to leaue of to enter if thy returne may be letted or being entred to vse meanes to bee able to come foorth Whiche maye be done in this maner if the most imineÌ„t and broken places and wayes in the toppes of the mountaynes be kepte with thy soldiers wherby the passage whylest the returne shal be neadefull maye be open to thee These thinges be sayde not onely to thintent that thou of councell may ercell the ennemy but also that with all diligence thou mayest seeke and forsee not to be at vnawares of him oppressed For as muche as a fayre thing it is to knowe with pollicie how to oppresse the enemy
fielde Haue care to bring thy Armie to the fielde with bright and shining armor which easly may be done by coÌ„forting thy soldiours to make clean their swerds headpeses corcelettes euerye other peese of Armor for as muche as the cleanes and brightnes therof maketh the Armie seeme terrible and putteth feare trauaile in the myndes of the enemies Moreouer cause thy handes to go forwarde with rumors showtinges and sometime running with violence for as muche as the semblaÌ„ce of such thinges the cryinges noyseof barnes and the soundes of trompets woÌ„derfully troubleth and feareth the hartes of the aduersaries When thou shalt come to the point to ioyne battell with the enemy cause thy souldiers somewhat before to florishe ofte their naked swerdes against the sunne For that the glistering swerds and their shining poinctes through the brightnes now of the one nowe of the other against the resplending beames of the sunne doth shew a certaine horrible terror of warre The which thing if as well of the enemye shall likewise be doone aunswering thee with the verye same thou haste cause to be afrayd if he doe not that it is to be thought that thou in anye wyse must nedes thereby put him in drede Being set in aray as well of the one as of the other parte the men being made redy to faight thou oughtest not sodenly to moue thee being drawen with desire to be the first to geue the onset but stay thee nere thy treÌ„ch till that thou seest thy self the redines of the enemies that is how manye of what coÌ„dition finally in what place they be disposed to faight seing that after this maner thou mayst more coÌ„modiously forsee to thy affaires considering which of thine thou hast to set against those of the enemy in what maner thy men is to be placed ordeined doing in like sort as is coÌ„uenient for a good Phisition to do the which considering first knowing the infirmity cometh after to giue the remedies Ordeine thy menne accordyndyng as thou perceiuest to turne most vtilitie to thy busines For as much as the captaine oftentimes hauing seen the preparation of thenemies is constrayned to accomodate to ordein his soldiers according to the Army the men maners of theÌ„ If the enemy be more puisaunt of horsemen that thou peradueÌ„tur haue coÌ„moditie chuse that straight and difficulte places or at the foote of mountaines where the horses caÌ„not easely go but if thou haue not coÌ„moditie so to do proceade so much forward faighting till thou finde places mete and conuenient for thy necessitie But within the trenche leaue the warde for defence of the lodgings of the cariages lest that the enemy vnderstanding the place to be forsakeÌ„ sende his souldiers to take thy campe left with out defence to spoile al thy cariages Some captaines destroy their owne lodginges or elles passe Riuers or deliberately do leue behinde theÌ„ hilles and depe places to the ende that the Souldiours standing constantly may ouercom the aduersaries attaine the victorie or otherwise altogether to perishe For that if they thinke to saue them selues by running awaye they shall see that by al maner of wayes to be taken from them the possibilitie to scape These maner of men surely I of the one part can not prayse much nor yet of the other parte disprayse for as muche as deliberately to purpose to do thinges with peryll is rather reputed foolish hardines then prudence and vnto fortune there is more to bee attributed then to good iudgemeÌ„t For as muche as where thou arte coÌ„strained to do the one of these two thinges either with all thy power faighting to attain the victory or els being ouer come euery thing to goe to ruyn in what maner may I the victory vnto prudence or els the ruine vniuersall conflict vnto the election and to iudge meÌ„t ascribe Yet surely I suppose that sometime to some souldiers it ought to be permitted that for desire of honor glory perilusly they may faight when the care is such that if they bearing theÌ„ selues valiantly shal get vnto the coÌ„mon weale no smal vtilitie if they vnfortunatly faight that it can not turne to much hurt But fortune being doubtful vncertain doubtful the succes of the battel I praise not in any maner of wyse that hasarding with all thy men in the handes of chaunce And me thinkes they erre exceadingly which will faight after such sort that if they shal haue ouercome it seemeth them to haue litle hurt the enemies but if they shal be ouerthrowen vanquished to be like to be of most great hurt to the coÌ„mon weale and yet they leue not to vse like policies of warre But if now it be seen plainly and may be taken for a moste certaine thing that great discomfiture is like to folow if thou doe not faight although it be with perrill that if the enemy shal once be ouercom he is like altogether to perish then me thinkes that those captaines do not amisse which against their soul diers should stoppe the waye for being able to flie For that in a thing vncertain it is better with maÌ„lenes not only to auoyde the mischief but rather to seke to offend the enemy theÌ„ to stand in idelnes to behaue thy selfe vyle when thou mayst be sure that daring to do nothing thy busines are like altogether to go to naught But not only in like places where flying hath no certainty of safegarde but in euery place and in condicions of faightynge thou oughtest to admonishe thy Souldiers and with all reason to shewe theym that to those that flie doeth followe nothing but death manifest and certaine because the enemies haue libertye to perceuer and pursue them being not letted of anye maye easely offende their aduersaries scattered and put in flight and that to them who faighting stand stil and do defend there death is doubtful and the perill vncertaine And if thou perswadest them that in the battaile which is to be fought those that geue them selues to flye wythout faile shal most shamefullye perishe and he that standeth stedfaste in the ende if the worst fall shall die most gloriouslye and that to them whiche forsake their place and not to those whiche keepe araye shall insue the hurte thou shalt perceiue to haue them in the self same perils both bolde and valiant Therefore desire to haue thy Souldiers perswaded and disposed after this maner For as muche as those that be of thys minde and of suche affection eyther they attaine the vyctorye fullye or els suffer litle harme Surely the Councels founde in the instaunt perill while they are a faighting the for casts for to put at a sudden against the deuise of the enemies haue without doubt to the Captaines and to them that well vnderstand the feates of warre brought foorth more excellent glory greater maruel then those haue dâ—n that a man wold
no heede because thou haste hope that for their falseheade and breakynge of faith they are to be punished which vnmercifully haue offended and indamaged thee as thoughe it were lyke to turne thee to profite and safetye so soone as the enemies shall haue suffered paine for the same specially when with safegarde of thy thynges it is lawful for thee to make proofe and to come to knowledge of the impietye of the ennemyes In whiche manner thou being falselye and trayterouslye assaulted shalte not be hurte and the enemy shal shew himselfe to be disleal which hadde thought to haue hurt thee if he hadde bene able How the Captayne shoulde behaue him selfe to cause Cities to yelde VSyng benignity and gentelnes towardes those Cities whiche of their owne minde haue yelded them-selues vnto thee and by couenaunts being rendred-shall come into thy possession thou shalt therby incline other so to do For the they intised of hope to attaine the verye same that the other haue will easely yeld And surely that manne which so soone as he hath obtained a City sheweth himselfe sharp and cruell putting it to sacke tearing and cuttyng to peces al thinges geueth occasion to other Cities to alienate their good willes and to take vpon them selues the warre and the difficulte victorye For as muche as euery man which is assured that the conquerour is vnmercifull and cruell towardes them whome he hath ouercome doth chuse muche rather to doe and to suffer all extremitye then willinglye to yelde And questionles no one thyng filleth so much the mind with valiauntnesse as feare of the imminent perill whiche euery man knoweth to suffer when so euer they yeld And the feare to suffer misery is wont to put in the mindes of men great desire bothe to make resistaunce and to faight And all proofe whiche is made against desperates is difficult and perillous And they who yelding theym selues cannot hope to be intrered more gentlye nor to haue vsed towardes them more benignity then as if faighting they were ouercome much rather making resistence wil suffer all mischiefe Whereby the vnwise and cruell Captaynes geueth occasyon that the siege of a Citie is prolonged and some also to become vayne and are neuer brought to good end and be likewise daungerous and perillous Of keping promise with Traitours VNto them which at thy request shall haue committed some treason thou oughtest to obserue the faithe and promises made theym not so muche for their cause as for the time to come wherby other maye vnderstande that those whiche wil folowe thy part shal be rewarded and so the easelier they will be brought to suche seruices For questionlesse he that geueth to tratours may thereby receyue great benefittes Wherefore be ready to geue thankes to such sort of men conlideryng that thou arte not chosen reuenger of the betraide city but Captain of thy countrye Of treasons by nyght and of vnderstanding the course of the Starres FOr to giue an assaulte and to take occasion to oppresse the enemies by nyghte through treason it is neadefull that thou haue some knoweledge of the course and mouinges of the Starres seing that through the ignorance of suche thinges the determination of them which would commit treason moste oftentymes becommeth vayne where the Traytour hauing sometime appoincted with thee the thyrde or the fourthe or what so euer other howre thou lyste the whiche he hath thought to haue been fytte either to open the gate or to kill some of the warde of the Citie or finally to oppresse at a sudden some ambushe of the enemies not knowyng the determinate bowre of necessitie it is lyke in one of these two thynges to committe error eyther goyng sooner then is nedefull and before the Traytour hath procured the thyng wherby thou mayest be taken of the enemy or be hindred to bryng to effect that which thou hast determined vpon or els going latter then the tyme apoincted giue occasion that the Traytour bee caught and kylled and so be an impediment to thy selfe to bryng to passe the thing that thou goest about Wherefore it is requisite with iudgement to make consecture and diligently consider in what space of tyme how many voiages thou hast to make and then consideryng the courses of the starres thou must with thy selfe moste diligently remember how farre thou hast gone and howe muche there is to go so that thou aryue not sooner nor later then the hower of the tyme appointed and that thou bee within the wal before the enemy vnderstande of thy commyng Of takyng by daye a Citie or Castell by treason BUt if thou must nedes by daye go to take with treason a Citie or Castel whylest thou art a marching sende before a parte of thy horsemenne to take all those which be founde by the waye to the ende that none stirring from the fielde doe runne to the Citie to geue aduyse that thy men come to assaulte thē but rather make that in a momēt at a sudden thou be present with the enemy with thy armie in good araye But after that suddēly thou hast assalted hym he hauing not thereof any whit of suspitiō if it be not good the thing to be done by treason commaunde thy men to faight without further delay withall force and to goe with most spedy celeretie to the intent to preuēt the enemie thou hauing occasion to approche eyther to a Castell or to a forte or finallye to a Citie and this inespecially when thou shalt haue fewe men and inferior to those of the enemy And in dede where the sudden brunt and vnloked for cometh vppon them contrary to their opinion it is wonte greuously to trouble the enemy although he be of greater power But if he seing the men that assaulte hym haue leasure to deliberate taking harte agayne he wyl then begin to passe littell and more boldely wyll faight whereby it chaunceth most often tymes that the first salies and the beginninges of the enterpryse are wonte to seeme more fearfull then when slowely with delay they proceade For the which thyng to manye it hath chaunced that with a sudden larum the enemy nowe astonied and made afrayd they haue with litle labour constrayned to submit him selfe of his own mynde or els against his will to render obedience Of besieging a Citye IN layng the siege to a Citie aboue al thinges the vertue of the captaine is nedeful and the policies of warre like wise is to be required the preparation of ordinaunce Where also ought to be foreseen and taken hede of that those whiche thou kepest besieged in no place at a sudden offende thee Because that they who see theym selues to be besieged knowe if they shall be negligent what greuous hurtes will come vppon them for whiche cause more circumspectlye they take heede and obserue by what waye they may indamage the ennemye that besiegeth them And surely he that thinkes to be in no peril deth some of those thinges which he hath determined
but that rather it hath come to passe by prudence by counsell and by the feates of war and also by the famousnes and by the glory of actes most valiauntly done And in dede where as we ought to desire to haue fortune fauourable to our enterprises notwithstanding it is not to be iudged that she hath rule ouer euery thinge and that she is Lady in all matters And as they that attribute all infelicitye onelye to fortune and not vnto the negligence error of Captaines be fooles and ignorantes so likewise be those whiche thinges directly and with order done assigne it only vnto fortune and nothinge at al vnto vertue and to the diligence of the Captayne And surely it is a token of a malicious and vniust man either altogether to clere him from euery faulte that hath euill ministred the publyke affaires imputinge it to fortune or to depriue him from deserued praise the which valiantly with industry hath ouercome and brought to good passe his desire iudging that the glory of the enterprise well and valiauntly executed ought to be attributed onlye vnto fortune But almost euery man being inclined to geue confidence to them that declare or wryte those thinges of the which they be erpert albeit that it seme they rehearse thinges high and difficult to be done and on the contrarye part cannot be brought to geue credit to those that shewe them any thinge in the whiche they haue not ben exercised although it be neyther difficulte nor incredible Therfore I suppose it shal be necessary for me first to tell you that what so euer in thys booke I haue to wryte of the Captayne and of the aduertysementes of warre hath bene approued with most manifest experience of thinges and in especially of those whiche were patrons Princes of the name of the Romaines whose excellent vertue without doubt amongst all nacions by the consent of all menne euen to this tyme hath obtayned hyghest dignity Then in this my litle booke there is not to be comprehended any thinge done vnaduisedly in haste at all aduentures nor rashelye but that which in varietie of thinges the Romaynes with sage and firme counsell egregiouslye wrought and approued The which not only had true knoweledge of that the was to be don against the enemy but grauely did forsee that they might not in anye maner of wyse take harme Nor it shall neuer bee found that they haue vsed other then a sure order iust occasion to faight I haue therfore gathered froÌ„ these fountaines euery thing the I haue written Albeit that I am fully perswaded that many would desire that al that which of theÌ„ might be spoken about such matter shuld be estemed rather their own proper inuention then taken of other as they who beleue they shoulde attayne to greater prayse where should appeare that of theym suche thinges hath bene firste found and publyshed then if openly they should confesse it not to be theirs and to haue nâ—de of other Authours to attribute it Notwithstanding for this selfe same occasion I doe thinke to get prayse commendacion for as much as lyke as he the whiche peraduenture went to the warres where he hathe wrytten the valiaunt Actes of other ought not to be depriued of glory he hauynge lefte written vnto the posteritye not those thinges that with his proper force he had founde executed but that which other had done euen so I suppose not to be a little praysed and commended plainlye confessyng these thynges not to be inuented by me yea by suche occasion I maye seeme not vniustlye to goe about to excell all other where I ought to report the prayse of other men without enuy and trueth without disprayse and withoute anye maner of blame Of electynge a Capytayne I Say then that a Generall captaine ought to be chosen without hauynge anye respect vnto his stock or vnto his predicessors or vnto goods of fortune the one of the whyche thynges is the eustome obserued in the choosynge of Priestes the other in creating the presidents of plaies and publike feastes But suche a manne is to bee sought who is temperate continente sobre abstinent and not excessiue in eating and drynking pacient in trauaile of witte prompt not couetous neyther yong nor olde and that he haue children if suche a one may be had and to be a faire speaker of good name and same and of muche reputacion The cause why he ought to be temperate is lest being inlured geuen to pleasure he doe forsake the care of thinges that be of most great importance Continent it behoueth him to be the which hath bene preferred to the gouerninge of so muche importaunce for that yf the vyolence of an vnbrideled minde chaunse to haue power and lybertie to doe what so euer shall please him it is after suche sorte with wilfulnesse ouerwhelmed that it cannot easely be refrayned I woulde haue hym also to be sobre to the ende that more commodiously he might be vigilant in the affayres of so great waight For that in the time of night by quietnes of mind the counsels of captaines exammed more perfectly may theÌ„ be confirmed The cause that he ought to be abstinent content with simple fare is for asmuch as the preparyng of diishes ful of delicatenes the too muche diligence and thought aboute meates corrupteth and drowneth the minde after such sorte that the tyme which ought to haue bene spent in the busines that is to be done by the dilicatenes of the capitaines most vainly is consumed The cause why he ought to be most painful is for that principallye it doth apperteine to the Captaine that he in the turmoyles of the war maye be the last to be werye He ought to be quicke witted for as muche as it behoueth him to be swift and as Homer saith flyinge to th end that with his thought he maye most quicklye discurse euerye thinge and with his minde make iudgement and as it were deuine a far of forsee that which is to come Least whiles there happen accidentes neyther foreseene nor looked for the Captaine be constrayned sodenly and vnprouided for to take counsell and the safegarde of thinges to commit most fearefully to the discretion of fortune It behoueth him not to be couerous nor desireful of gaine For surely of this vice he ought moste principallye to take heve For asmuche as he that is not geuen to passe muche of gyftes of Syluer and golde maye most honorably haue the charge of suche doinges And oute of doubt there be some the which without anye whit fearing for highe courage and lustynes of body were apte to wythstand the armyes and power of enemies notwithstanding they become moste vyle whilest they be drawen with the vnsaciablenes of golde the whyche is a weapon of so muche mighte to take and as it were wyth lyuely force to pul the victorye out of suche mens handes and to gyue it to other I haue sayde that the Capitain
and to kepe oure Estate and yet to beholde what they haue bene and what their predecessours haue done as if they which now so long agon are dead might both defende and saue vs. Moreouer it is a thinge altogether vniust and that in no maner of wife is conuenient by order or lawe of Armes to determine that to them the whiche haue in some affaires acquited them selues valiant he geuen rewards and honors not for being borne of most noble parentage and to iudge afterwarde that for a Captayne he ought to be chosen the which only hath his originall of valiaunt and noble progenitours and not he that doth trust in his owne proper vertue wherin he excelleth although he lacke the glory and brauenes of his Auncestry and stocke The which thinges ioined vnto vertue such a captain I suppose verelye shoulde be so muche the more aduenturous but where lacketh his proper vertue I esteme him without any doubt to be altogether vaine and vnprofitable yea and by most reason it is to be thought that they will become better Captaynes the whyche of illustrious and famous bloud cannot muche boaste for as muche as they whome in the worthines of their forefathers doe trust thinke for the selfe some renowme of theim to be honoured if sometime in their offyce they cōmit any fault such confidence they haue in the reputacion and name of their Ansetry wherby it hapneth that oftentimes they more negligently gouerne But these that haue no maner of hope in the glory of their Aunseters to whō hath not decended any sparke of worthines from their forefathers whilest with their own proper solicitatenes and industry they desire vnto the contrarye of their vnknownes to put in light their owne proper actes more warelye they procure thinges in the ende with more prompt and glad minde dispose them selues to euery perill And like as they that by inheritance haue not had lefte theim great aboundaunce nor riche patrimonie more circumspectlye will kepe their goodes then the richer or welthier wil do for asmuch as they with all diligence and labour wil inforce theim selues to increase always euen so those whiche can not serue them selues of the fame and glorye of their fathers as a thing of inheritāce by all maner of wayes seke to attaine reputacion whiche shall be of their owne proper indeuor We ought therfore to chose the captaine valiaunte of noble bloude aduenturus ryche but yet neuertheles the poore is not to be despised and refused so that he althoughe he be not borne of illustrious progenitours be famous and estemed for his own proper vertue And after that he is elected and confirmed in suche degre be pleasant gentle and chereful to them that will come to his presence notwithstandinge he ought not in euery place to euery man shew him self so benigne and gentell least he happen to be despised neyther so proude and stoute that he moue other to beare hym hatred And that he doe this to thintent that with to muche licence and benignitye he cause not the Armye to be dissolute or with sharpenes and seueritie make them alianate theyr mindes and to become enemies Of chusynge the heades of the Souldiers THE Capytayne must elect and ordein the Decurians A Decurian is a 〈◊〉 captaine of ten men A Centurian is a captaine of a C. mā the Centurians and ordinatelye the other heades of Souldyers accordynge as the thinge shall require and as he shall thynke to be nedefull And of these to take and chose those whose vertue is wel knowen and that be lykewise stronge and bolde and faythfull to their countrie And in makinge suche election it makes no matter to take both noble rich for asmuch as there is not to be chosen only one or two that amongest a fewe and those that be of good and honeste maners the election may be the easier When specially in distributinge with order and lastely the number of the Decurians of the Centurians and finallye of the other heades the richest and the most noble are most nedeful And surely it is of much vtility to a common welth to set forward the nobility at such time when an enterprise is to be taken in hand in the doyng wherof is required seleretie Likewise also the commoditie of money is greatlye to be desired when it is necessarye to geue some thing to the Souldiers to spende liberallye For that the liberalitie of Princes and leaders althoughe it be but a litle if with benignitie liberally and at time conuentent it be vsed it may get moste great beneuolence of the multitude and from thenceforth the most assured fidelitie of the Souldiers gottē it doth ad vnto it securety and constantenes in the enterprise seing in dede euery man hopes to obtain greater thinges bearinge them selues valiantlye in fayghtinge whan they knowe that in litle thinges the liberalitie of the Captaine cōmeth of the proper benignitye of his owne minde Of Counsellers BEsydes all thys it is necessarye that the Captain haue with him some Counsellours and companions with whō he may deliberate vpon euery matter And they being made partakers of the counselles muste in time and place tell their iudgementes And let him chose theym eyther before he purpose to do any thyng that they may folow him and the army for to doe their office or els after that he shal be set forward to cal before the day of battaile of the most noblest of greatest grauitye and to cause them to come vnto him the whyche together wyth him ought of euerye thynge to debate For as much as al those thinges that anye man of hym selfe hath founde he may alone by him selfe with study examine but he oughte not strayght wayes to approue and confirme it for that our thoughts and Councels as a thing vnto the which we haue a natural affectiō if of others faythful coūsel it be not holpen easely it may beguile vs and many times it is founde to be full of errorres contrarywyse those thinges that by iudgement and opynion of other be aproued dothe assure the mynde and kepeth thynges stable and sure Notwithstanding no man oughte so little to truste on hym selfe that alwayes he be of opinyon weake and doubtfull nor of him selfe so much to presume that he thinke other cannot fynd councell better then his For that it shal be necessary that he whiche is alwayes subiecte to the councell of other hauing altogether distruste of him selfe come to chaunge infinite thinges wherby in waightye matters both hurt incomoditie doth folowe as lykewyse he must nedes either alwayes or often tymes commit errorre that not hearing the aduise of other euerye thinge doth atribute to him selfe alone Of the warre that is to be taken in hande I Iudge that the warre ought to be begun cyrcumspectly with prudence as a sure foundation of thinges wherby to all menne may as it were moste clearely appeare to be for good cause taken in hande That for
but it is good and necessary to beware of being deceiued by him ¶ Hovve no litle accoumpte is to be made of him that hath brought aduises WHo so euer that shall require to come to speake with thee to geue aduise of some thyng whether he bee free or bonde commynge by day or night let him be geÌ„tly receiued and not only be brought into thy pauilion but also if peraduenture in the voyage he shall come to mete with the or in what so euer maner whether it be either in time when thou takest rest or eatest or washest let his comming neuer be prohibited For as muche as in like matters the delaying taking away the commoditye of men for comming to speake with thee or hauing seruauntes to whom is lawefull to let them whiche woulde come to speake with thee is no other but to lease the occasion of moste greatest importaunce and is likewise losse of time whiche is dearest aboue al other thinges and finallye by suche neglygence to no purpose to put thy thinges in ruine For vndoubtedly where the Captaynes bee admonyshed and taught by suche messengers it bath bene sene that shortly after they haue ben able to come to do thinges which haue bene thought to haue bene of most great helpe to the whole state Of the time vvhen the Souldiers ought to eate their meate YF peraduenture thou must needes lodge thy menne ouer against the campe of thenemies giue order that the souldiers in the breake of day do eat their meate For as muche as if thou perceiue that it is in thy libertie to be able as shal please thee and when thou list to put theym in araye and bringe them to faight then according as shal be most commodious for thee thou mayest commaund euery manne that they eate meate But if thou happen to be brought to suche extremity that eyther throughe the situacion of the place or through the weakenes of the trenches and diches or els for some other cause wherby it lieth in adbetriment of the enemies to inforce thee to yssue forth of thy fortificatioÌ„s to thy losse to bring out thy bands to driue thee both to take thee to thy weapons and to faight Surely it is a thing not litle to be regarded but all diligence is to be vsed that a signe beinge geuen in the breake of daye thy souldiours dee with meate comforte their strengthe leste that being peraduenture assaulted they be not constrained to arme them selues and to faight fasting For the souldiours vndoubtedly being refresshed with a litle meate not thereby full satisfied and filde be come in fayghte bothe more lustier muche stronger Of the whiche thing making no coumpt hath happened often times that vnfortunaâ—ly menne through famin and lacke of meate being cleane without strength haue ben ouercome and speciallye when they come to the battaile that is no lyghte skirmishe but that coÌ„tinueth a whole daye ¶ Of comforting the Armie IF at a time some malincoly bappeÌ„ to grow as is wonte to chaunce through some feare that appeareth to haue occupied the mindes of fouldiours or els through some socours come to the enemies or through some other cause where by the power of the aduersaries might be thought superiour to theirs then specially to a Captaine it is requiset to shewe him selfe cherefull pleasant Considering that the countinance loke of the Captaine is wont to make the mindes of the souldiours conformable for that altogether with his semblaunce they are moued Because he being cherefull sodainly the souldiours take a good harte iudging that nothing contrary nor porilous maye fortune So contrariwise if it seeme that he be afraide or sad all by and by lacke harte no otherwise then if there appeared some great cuyne at hande Wherfore surely it is better doth more agree with the wisdom of a Captaine with the semblaunce of the face to fayne cherefulnesse vnto men and with his merines to make them glad then with wordes and orations to comforte them whylest they be afflicted with malincoly For as muche as vnto wordes often tymes they doe not geue credite whiche accordinge as the condicion of the time requireth maye moste studiously be fayned but euery man specially beholdeth the countenance and the boldnes that appeareth in the face esteaming that there is no faynednes al feare set aside they assure them selues in their minde And out of doubt in a Captaine it is to be desired to haue the one and the other that is to know when nede is to vse to good purpose the facultye of speache and to shewe himselfe such a manne as the tyme and occasion seemes to reguire VVhen it is meete to put the armie in feare and terrour LIke as it auayleth much with wordes and with chereful looke to gyue courage and to fill with hope the army in which is entred some fearfulnes eueÌ„ so it is not of smal vtility at a time to put them in feare when they be geuen to idelnes and slouthfulnes litle esteaminge the Generall Captaine and the other Captaines rendryng not obedience Therfore then with remembringe of perilles and making also mention of the diligence of the enemies it is fit to kepe them in feare wherby thou shalt make thy souldiers not fearefull but warefull And like as the sicke minde afflicted with malincolie is to be releued and holpen with putting the same in good hope euen so lasiuious menne throughe slouth vnrulye ought with terror to be refained and chastised By which meane oftentimes chaunceth that the Cowardes and Dastardes settyng aside feare become valiant contrary wyse the bolde and couragious is made prudent and politike And bothe the one and the other of these two thinges may happen eyther that thy souldiers after such sort doe feare the enemies that they haue no stomack to take in hand to do any thing or els to despise theÌ„ so passe so litle of them that they thynke not that they should take anye heede And therfore to euerye one of these two thynges thou oughtest circumspectlye to frame thy selfe and to haue regarde to the affaires and to the times so that when nede shall require bothe with wordes and with looke to shew thy selfe to haue feare and to forsee that whiche is to come or els to seme bolde and hardye when thou shalte know the same to be lyke to helpe thee Howe Souldiers maye be incouraged vvith prisoners of the enemies ALitle before that they come to the poincte to faighte inespeciallye when the vncertaine end of the day of battail that is to be made causeth the Souldiers to be doubtfull and full of thoughtes all diligence and policy is to be vsed eyther with suddein assaultes or with ambushes or elles with some light skirmishe to take some of the ennemies of theym chiefelie that haue lefte their places appointed to the warde which vse somwhat abrode in the fieldes to straggle who if thou shalt perceaue to be lusty bold cause them
to be put to death by and by or els geue them bounde in custady to those that haue the charge of prisoners that they be diligently kept commaund that no man be suffered to go to speake with them But if thou know that they be afraid and altogether vyle geue commaundement then that quickly they may be brought vnto thy lodging and looking on theim scornefully and with seuere and troubled countenance and also with thretninges after such sorte to bring them more in feare and to make theym humbly to besech thee with wepyng and for doubt of their liues to be good vnto them thou shalt cause them to be brought in the fight of thy Army and shalt speak vnto thy Souldiers shewyng them howe simple vyle fearfull and of no worthynes the enemies be with whom they haue to faight as these whiche feare so muche the stroke of death and so muche distrust them selues that fallynge downe on their knees with so muche vylenes and so shamefully do pray to avoide the peril thereof and to aske mercy of their aduersaries Therfore a most likly thing it is that therby the Souldiers will take hart and of the vituperus spectacle of such made prisoners will iudge of the vilenes and delicatenes of the enemies And surely if a manne who hath not as yet sene doeth notwythstanding hope how much more ought he to be moued by the thinge in dede and with the recompence of hope whereby lightlye is taken awaye feare and difficultye How men ought to be set in araye BEing many and sūdry waies of ordering mē in battel ray which chaūseth through varietie of weapons and after the maner as the Souldiours are taught and accustomed and according to the situation of the place and the qualitye of the enemies it is nedefull that the Captaine haue such knoweledge that he maye vse euerye one of them when occasion shall require But I will brieflye declare those thinges that maye be conuenient to the diuers sortes of weapons at the pitchynge of the fielde besides those thynges that maye be founde in the same necessitye of time Ordaine then thy horsemen not according to thy desire but as the time and the condicion of things shal constrain thee Thou shalt put in aray thy horsemen against those of thy enemies but as muche as maye be possible set them in facion as they are wonte to ordeine the battailes with .ii. hornes so that both on the fronte and on the sides by the commodity of the largenes of the place they maye more spedely ride and manege their horses and not to put other behinde theym that maye let them In the mayne battaile place among the firste the Velitie the whorlers of darts and the crosbowes finally the shooters in longe bowes and the slingers For that if such kind of menne shoulde be placed hyndermost they should hurt more their fellowes then any of thenemies And yf they be placed in the middest their maner of faighting shoulde bee to no pourpose for that they can not retire backewarde for the lengthe of theyr dartes and of their shotte nor yet can not with their bodies moue them selues to whorle beyng let of them that go before And muche lesse the slingers can wild their slinges or throw being hindered of the Souldiers that stande aboute them in the which the swinge of the sling hurting men shal be of more damage to their felowes then to the aduersaries Likwise the shooters if they shall be before the other they wil hit almost in one marke directly in the bodies of the ennemies but if they stande in the last ranke or in the midst they shal be constrained to shoot aloft in the which maner the arowes flying compasse their violence muste nedes consume in vaine and while they fall downe vppon the heades of the enemyes the blowe hauing nowe lost hys force can scarse do any maner of harme If it happen that thou must fayght in places where one partte is plaine and lowe and the other by meane of lytle hylles hygher then the playne then speciallye place thy Souldiers that are lyghte armed on the most rough and hyllye grounde But yf thou be in the playne and the enemye on the hilles conduct the lyght armed Souldiers as they whiche most easely canne throwe their dartes and retire theim selues and in runnyng apase spedilye go vppe in the roughe and stepe places leauing in anye wyse betwene the bandes some distaunce so that if peraduenture the ennemyes abyding to incounter thee and to come to the faight when thy Souldyers haue nowe throwen their dartes and consumed al their other kynde of shot tourninge backe those bandes wyth order and withoute disturbaunce cause that they may retire theym selues for succour in the hindermost partes of the Army For vndoubtedlye to go aboute with the Armye and to turne it vpon a corner is a thing that by no maner of meanes is sure For as muche as the enemies may go before them and before they be ioyned wyth the other part of the armye by force maye breake them Contrariwise the passing straightlye betwene the bandes closed together being thicke and as it were to fall vpon the weapons may cause confusion and put in disorder the rankes But if the Velity assaulte the ennemyes by a wyng they maye then doe exceading great harme as those that maye ouertwhart whorle and throw their dartes and consequentlye hurt the naked partes of the enemies Finally the sunges be more pernisius then al the weapons that the Velity are wont to occupye For that the colour of lead is like the colour of the aire whereby whilest suche bullettes of leade flie in the ayre it is not sene before it woundeth the enemy at a sudden through the force of the whirle and swinge violent mouinge thereof as it were burninge and fired doth wound greuouslye and penitrateth inwardlye nor it cannot be deserued for the lips of the wounde sodeinly closeth as one which making a signe with his eyes shutteth them not fully But if thou lacke suche sort of weapon and the aides of Velitie and that the enemy be aboundantlye furnished of them commaund that the foremost of thy battaile goe forwarde thicke and close together bearing great shieldes with whiche they maye couer all their bodyes and the other that folow after them in araye euen to the laste holding vp their targettes ouer their heades muste passe so muche forward after this sort tyll they come within the whorle of the dartes For as much as beinge couered after thys maner they can not be hurte in anye part by the shotte But if the one and the other army haue plenty of Velitie then cause thyne to be the firste to hurt the enemy before they come nere to the handes or els after the battaile is begon geuinge the assaulte ouertwhart to do then what they can to hurte the enemyes the which shal be inforced to prese together and to bring them selues into a
litle space and molested of the weapons whorlde from farre of shal be constrayned to disorder theym selues If thou wylt auoyde that the enemyes compasse thee not aboute make not thy rankes longe after suche sorte that altogether they become weake that the ennemye maye casely breake theym and thereby attayne the passage and that he nede not foorther to seeke longer waye to gette to compasse thee for as muche as waye beyng geuen and the order of thyne broken he maye gene the charge vppon thy mennes backes the which not only thou hast to take bede of that it chaunce thee not but thou oughtest to vse meanes to do the lyke agaynst the enemy If sometyme thou seest the order of thy men to be weake do not retire nor drawe them together after such sort that the enemy maye compasse them and shutte theym vppe rounde about onely it is nedefull for thee to maintayne strong the hyndermoste partes no lesse then those that fyrste he placed in the heade or in the sydes For as muche as the last and the rescuyng Souldiers may stoppe the enemyes suche waye lyke as also maye they whyche stande in the winges and in the hornes so that thou be attentiue to forsee for thynges to come and inlargyng the hindermoste parte of the battayle and destending bothe the flankes sette thy Souldyers turned agaynst the battaile of the ennemyes and commaunde those that nowe of the ennemyes bee compassed aboute that they tourne theyr backes to the backes of them whyche go before them and so to faight on euery syde It appertayneth to a circumspecte and prudent Captayne when he shall know to haue to fayght wyth a fewe menne agaynste a greate multytude to vse eyther dylygence to chuse suche fytte places whyche bee eyther neare Rockes of Ryuers or elles vnder Mountaynes and vppon all other thinges where thou mayste put in aray thy battailes and by the qualitie of the place be able to let the ennemies that they neither compasse thee about nor inclose thee For as muche as a fewe the whiche haue to occupy the highe and craggy places maye easelye withstande the power of the enemies that shoulde with multitude attempt to compasse thee In the whiche thing it is not only nedefull the councel and prudence of the Captaine but it requireth a greate deale more good fortune Because that often times peraduenture chaunceth that an Army happeneth vpon suche fitte places and notwithstanding the captaine is ignoraunt how to chuse what situacion of grounde is best for him But of those that are present to chuse the best and to foresee whiche to him is lykest to be most profitable is surely a signe of a wise Captaine Some of a custome when they go to faighte trusting to the great number of men haue set them in araye after the maner of a half circull supposyng to be able to intise the enemies after such sort as though they should come to fayght man for manne in the whiche maner mouing them selues they thinke by a litle and a litle bending the corners of the halfe circle of their battel ioyning them together in a circle to inclose in the same their aduersaries Against whome it is not mete to goe with like facion of battaile but deuiding thy men in thre partes with the two the charge may be geuen vppon the one and the other wing of the ennemies the thirde thou shalte set against the halfe circle whiche stande stil and go not forward and if the ennemies wil stand stil in the facion of a semicircle those inespecially that are in the midst shall do no harme where in dede is taken from them all way to be able to doe any thing But if they begin to moue whilest they would frō the bottome of the halfe circle reduce them selues by right line pressing the one the other they shall breake theyr aray For as much as standing still the order of them that be placed by the flankes bowed like a horne and they faighting the halfe circle by no manner of waye maye be reduced in righte order The araye then broken and mouing theym selues from the halfe Circle confusedlye thou oughtest with that thyrde part to assaulte them so disordered But if the enemies stand still in the semicircle set against them lyght armed Souldiours and also whorlers of Dartes whiche may opresse them with multitude of darts and with other weapons that may be shotte or whorled from farre of All be it if with all these force of bothe thy bandes thou assaulte the enemies on the syde and so go againste this order of halfe circle thou doest not erre ther in one whitt For as much as they being not able to come to fayght against thee with all their men wyll deuyde them selues and only they that were sette on the sydes shal be constrayned to be the first to come to the faighte for consideration of the assault which thy men haue gyuē them on the sides But peraduenture it wyll not bee a thynge of litle vtilitie that some time putting first men in araye no other wyse then if thou wouldest fayghte and after as it were for feare retiring backe and keping the raye thou fayne a retire like to a running awaye and then turning thee to come to affronte those which folowe thee For as much as some tyme the enemies thinkinge that the armie of the aduersaries for feare be put in flight through vnmesurable gladnes breaking their order will geue the onset euery man will striue and inforce him selfe to get before his felow Against whome by that meanes thou mayest faight without peril and through the boldenes of thy staying contrary to the opinion of the enemies thou maiest easely disconfite them now being become fearefull schattered here there although they had before so proudly persued thee Besides all this there would be in a readines certaine Souldiours elected which standing in aray out of the battell as Triarii should geue succor to that parte of thine whiche are werye and repulsed and of whome when nede requires thou maiest easely haue helpe Considering that it is the greatest ayde that may be to ioyne vnto wery men those whiche are lustie seing that they commodiously may succour their fellowes nowe wery and freshe and vigorously assault strongly the enemies despearsed and becommen weake And it is not only to good purpose but rather a thing of great benefite if some men of thyne be apoincted to lay them selues secretlye in ambusshe in some place so farre of as maye bes thought mete to whome commaunde whylest with thy battaill set in array thou shalt bee comen to hande strokes so soone as the signe is geuē that they discouering them selues do quickly come vnto thee Whiche then is to be done when succor looked for semes not to come at a due tyme. For that the aduersaries supposing those to be the same men that thou lokedst shuld haue comen in thy succour perauenture whylest they as yet march before they
haue thought by coniecture supposed to haue bene exceading good before that men come to the trial whiche thing to shew one by one and to euery man to geue seuerall instructions is verye difficult For like as the masters of ships hauing prepared disposed by order al things that the sieÌ„ce of nauigation requires after departing out of the hauen do put themselues to the mayne sea but if peraduenture there happen to rise some tempest they doe not that they desire but the same whiche they are driuen to doe and they doe manye thinges boldly and beynge rounde aboute ouercome with perylles wyth stoute mynde they resiste with theyr prouisions vsyng not so muche the memorye and the science of sailying as the occasion whiche vnlooked for appeareth before theym Euen so the Captains must doe Put in order his men and indeuor theym and dispose them in that manner which he thinketh to tourne commodious and profitable to him and to his affaires but when the tempeste ouertaketh him and the waightenes of the battayle for as much as many thinges by force is wont to chaunge and breake and greate varietie to fall then according to the state of thinges present and that is seene before the eyes he muste fynde at a sudden according to occasion the forecast and councels more rather as necessitie of fortune then as the arte and witte it selfe shall haue offred him Of the Captaynes office vvhilest the battayle is a faightyng VNto the captain it is mete rather circomspectly with wisdome then boldly to faight or to refrayne altogether from the faight Because that faighting cannot so much benefite the common weale although he shoulde shew force inuincible as losing his lyfe not a litle should indamage the same Wherefore he ought to be much valianter with prudence of mynde then with the force and lustines of bodye For as muche as with the worthines and strength of bodye the Souldiers may doe some greate attempt but the vsing of prudence and to foresee thynges and deliberating in tymes conuenient to councel the common weal principally to the Captaine and to no other is requisite For that lyke as if the Mayster of a shyppe leauyng the sterne forsaking the gouerning wil do those things that appertaine to the other mariners shall without doubt geue occasion to drown the shyp euen so the very same errour the Captayne shoulde commit who setting a parte his offyce of Councellyng for prouyding euery thing shuld defend so low to take the charge which is mete for soldiers And surely the presumtious necligence of the greater superiors in dignity maketh to become vaine all aid wherin necessarily is commytted the conseruacyon of wayghtye affaires The like I repute ought to be though of that Captaine without anye difference the which when he shal be dead the common weale to bee in hasard to fall in decaye nor beyng not deade no other then he ought to take thoughte for the safegard of the same And such a one by more reason is to be blamed as a simple captaine then to be praysed as stoute And surely he that hath done the duetye of a Captaine wyth counsel and with discretion hauyng atchiued felicity by mean of foresight with reason he may lawfully glory But contrariwyse he that is so arrogant couetous that beleueth not to be able to doe anye thing honorable if he him selfe go not to faighte with the ennemye not onelye is not to be thought valiant but rather presumpteous and foolyshe hardie And that he so dothe to get him selfe a name of the multitude not to esteme any peril for to incourage his Souldiers both to make them redy glad to ieopard them selues in an enterprise But let him that wil do wel faight warely not feare death chuse sooner to remain depriued of his lyfe then hauing any ouerthrowe to liue with shame But the thing being safe and the army in safegard he ought to haue regard to his lyfe For surely where the death of the Captayne chaunceth there manye tymes the reputacion of the happy successe is diminyshed For as muche as they who haue vnfortunatly fought hauing vnderstoode that the enemyes are lefte depriued of their Captayne taking hearte agayne haue assaulted them these of the other part afflycted with malincolye haue lacked stomacke that althoughe they haue fortunately fought before notwythstanding for the death of the Captain they haue then put them selues in dispaire Vnto the captain it likewise appertaineth whilest his men faight to go riding about the battel to shew hym selfe to the faighters to prayse those which valiauntly haue behaued them selues to threaten the fearful to comfort those that be doubtful slowe to geue succor to them that are repulsed to supply the lackes if it shal be nede ful to lead men from one place to another to obserue tymes to take occasions to make coniecture of thinges to come and to commaund when nede is that there be geuen the signe to retire Of that vvhich is to be done after the deede of Armes AFter that he hath reuoked the Souldyers from the faighte let him do sacrifice geue order that thanks may be rendred to the immortall Gods with solemne pompe as muche as in that time maye be done promysing with gratefull minde to make satisfaction in those thynges so soone as the war is ended and the victory obtained accordyng to the conuenyent custome of satisfying After warde let him geue honours and rewardes to them whyche he shall vnderstande haue behaued them selues valiauntlye in the dede of Armes and according to the custome to be towardes them benigne and liberall But those whiche haue bene slacke and fearefull let him punnyshe most shamefully Vnto valiaunt men let him graunt those honours which according to the vse of the countrie are lowed The gyfies which the Captain ought to geue be these armours Ansignes spoiles the offices of Decurians Centuriaus prouostes conducters and other lyke offices But to the most valiant to those that are already in authority there would be greater honors distrybuted and to the priuate Souldiers to be geuen the lesse Although these thinges haue bene accustomed to bee geuen liberallye and with gentelnes according to the deseruinges of euery man neuerthelesse it doth prouoke moreouer other vnto vertue whiche of lyke honours are desirous And without doubt when rewards are geuen to the good for their merites and the yll not scaping withoute punishment of necessitye the armie is put in moste excellent good hope For that some for feare of punishment do abstaine from doing yl and other some drawen with the desire of honoures imbrace vertue Of the Victorie HAuing obtained some victorie thou ough test not onely to euerye Souldiour particularly â—o geue rewardes for the acte well executed but also to all the Armie thou oughtest benignely to geue some generall rewarde for their labours Thou shalt graunte licence to thy Souldiours to putte to sacke the lodginges of the enemies the
wonte to make the myndes of the Souidyers conformable fol. lxvii When the Armye ought to be put in terrour fol. lxix Howe Souldiers may be incouraged wyth the prisoners of the enemye fol. lxxi Howe men are set in araye fol. lxxiii To auoide that the enemy compasse thee not fol. lxxviii Of that whiche appertayneth to a prudent Captayne when he hath to faight with a fewe men against a great multitude fol. lxxix The assaulting the enemyes behinde at vnawares putteth them in most great terrour and is of incredible profite fol. lxxxv The office of a wyse Capitayne is to place to gether in the rankes the brethren with brothers and feendes with frendes fol. lxxxvi Of Commaundementes wauinges and signes fol. lxxxvii Of the order that ought to be obserued fol. xc Nothing is better more safer nor more surer then for men to obserue order and to stande stil in their place fol. xci The cryes the noyse of armour and the sound of trompettes wonderfullye troubleth and feareth the mindes of the enemyes fol. xci The Capitaine often tymes seyng the prepatation of the enemies is constrained to accomodate and to ordayne his men according to the armours the men maner of the same fol. xciii It is not a laudable thing for a Capitayne to cast him selfe with all his men into the handes of chaunce fol. xcv In a thing vncertayne it is better with boldnes not onelye to auoyde the ouerthrowe but also to seke to hurt the enemy fol. xcv The office of the Capitayne whylest the battaile is a faightyng fol. xcviii Many tymes the death of the Capitaine hapning the reputation of fortunate successes doe upayre fol. Ci. Of that which the Capitaine hath to doe after the deede of Armes fol. Ciii The Souldiers ought to be partakers of the gayne fol. Ciiii. So long as the warre lasteth the prisoners ought not to be put to death fol. Cvi The feastes and triumphes after the victory fol. Cvii Of burying them which in the battayle haue bene slayne fol. Cviii. Often tymes the happy succes of the act hath bene of greater damage then the receiued ouerthrow fol. Cix To feare where is nedefull and when the time requires is the property of a man whiche politikely foresees his busines fol. C. x. It is a straunge and foolishe thing a man not to defende him selfe from perrtiles fol. Cxii Howe the Capitayne oughte to behaue him selfe to bringe a Citye to yeide fol. Cxiii Nothing filleth the myndes of men so muche with vakantnes as the iminente feare of peryll fol. Exiiii All profes whiche is made against desperate men are difficult and perilous fol. Cxiiii Fidelity is to be vsed with traytors fol. Exv. Of treason by nighte of vnderstanding the course of the starres fol. Exvi A way to take by day a City or castle by treason fol. Exviii The sodayne inuasions and not looked for comming vpon men contrary to their opinion are wont greuously to trouble the enemy fol. Cxix In laying sege to a City aboue all thinges the vertue of the capitayn is most nedeful fol. Cxx. The thing that is done by nighte is wont to seeme most terrible fol. Cxxi The multitude not so muche wyth threatninges is compelled to do thinges as they are moued with shame of the reuerence towardes their superiours fol. Cxxiii The Capitaine ought when time requires to make such a trustye man his deputy which for reputatiō auctority is next to him fol. cxxviii The reuenge is to be forborne against those that haue bene ouercome fol. Cxxxii. The way that is to be vsed to take a city which by force of armes cannot be ouercome fo cxxxiiii Of the behauior which the Capitaine ought to vse after the war is ended fol. Cxxxv. How enuy is to haue grieft of the prosperity of other and howe emulation is the desire to imitate the vertue of other men fol. Cxxxv. The ende of the Table ¶ Imprynted at London by Wyllyam Seres dwellinge at the West end of Paules at the sygne of the Hedgehogge ¶ Cum priuilegio ad imprimendum solum Anno. 1563.