bokes shulde brīge hym but I presuppose al wayes reserued the clauses aboue sayde For it is all by vertue of the preuyleges that scolers haue in generall scoles as is paris and other ¶ Whether a grete lorde of englande that fortunably were foūde in a forest al one as madde out of hys witte might of ryght be taken and putte to raunson ¶ Capitulo xx Another questyon I make to the swete mayster I suppose that a duke or an erle departeth out of england and cometh in to Fraunce with hys folke for to werre ayenst the kynge there whyche duk or erle happeth by aduenture to wex madde so that al alone as a fole he gothe renninge by wodes and hedges where as he is foūde by Frenshmen of armes he by a iuste qurelle may be wel putte to raunson ¶ Yf it happed that som ambassatours cam towardys the kynge of Fraunce and as they passed by Bordeawx shulde take and hyre there of englyshmen horses and cartes for to carye they re bagage Whether thees thynges so hyred myght be arrested within Fraunce or not ¶ Item whether an englysh preest myght be emprysonned in Fraūce or not Capytulo xxij Maister I wyl putte to the another questyon I suppose the kynge of Scotlande sendeth his ambassatours into Fraunce the whiche comen and take lāde atte Bordewx or atte bayōne in whiche place they hyre horses mules cartes and other thynges that they nede goo to parys with all and happeth by aduenture that they be mett by the waye of a capytayne frenshman the whiche as he is wel informed that the sayde horses mules cartes be longynge to englishe men and not to the sayde ambassatours arrested and taketh them and saith that where thees thinges be of the kynges enemyes they shal abyde as his owne and that by the right of armes he may wythholde them as that he hathe truly conquested and goten Now telle me mayster yf of ryght they ought to abyde hys or not I telle the that of ryght wryton the ambassatours or legates haue a preuylege al about where they goo that they and they re thynges shal be sure and sauffe sith that they goo to the kynge it apperteyneth not to noon of his men to lette nor trouble them who is he that more gretly is preuyleged than abassatoure for yf he were bounde to a marchaunt of Fraunce in a grete some of money He can not compell̄e hym to paye hym hys money for the tyme durynge of hys legacyon ¶ For ryght suffreth not to constrayne the Legate of a prynce or yf I helde thēne a foo mortall of myn within my powere in what manere that euere it were whiche hapli after he were goon fro me shulde kylle me or atte the lest shulde hurt me right sore yf he myght wel I wote that with al his power he shulde force him self so to doo shulde thenne be wisedome or witte within me to late hym goo thus freely from me Fayre loue to thys I ansuere vnto the that this man of whom I speke vnto the supposed that he be thyn enemye in the forsayd cas thou shuldest not awayte for to kepe hym but onely for to haue syluer of hym by waye of raunson and whan the money were payed whiche without reason thou hast receyued how moche more shuldest thou be thenne assured of hym than thou were by fore certes of nothing this seketh nor wol not the ryght of armes that men shall doo wrōge one partye to an other but all noble men ought to kepe in this bihalue the ryght of other that durste aske require to haue hit Soo telle I to the yet that the worste that to thys man myght be doon it is that men shulde make hym to swere that he neuermore shulde arme hym self aienst the kīge of Fraūce in cas that men myght not brynge hym to this that the man of armes or the towne or the countrey that kepeth hym shulde drede lest they shulde be reproued yf they yet suffred hym goo free by cause he were so grete a man that he might yet greue or hurt full sore the royalme the surest waye for them were so to discharge themself withall y◠they shulde yelde hym to the prynce whiche shulde doo of hym that whiche were best to be doon by thaduyse of his good counseyll al waies to th ende that thou wel shall vndrestande that I telle the of the frrenshman to the englishman I mene semblably of the englishman to the Frenshman ¶ Yf it happe that vpon the fronteres of Caleys be taken som olde man englishe bourgeys or other of the said towne that neuere medled with werre wether by ryght of the lawe of armes ought suche a man to paye raunson or not and in lykewyse a lytel chyld or of a blynd man C xxj I putte cas that som frenshe knyght O thou maister be poynted in armes towardis the fronteres of caleis or of Bordewx it happed that a bourgeys sore olde a man of the said bordewx or caleis be by aduenture come out for to here his messe or for som other adoo vpon the frenshe grownde where soone the said knyght taketh hym saithe that he shall be his prysoner but that other ansuereth that it is not right For in the kynge of englandes werres he neuere armed him self nor neuere went ayenst the kynge of Fraūce nor neuer gyrded swerde nor gaff noo counseill but hathe alwayes be sory for the werre whiche al weyes of all̄ his powere hathe discoūseylled that shal be proued for a trouthe with this saithe he I telle you that an olde man as I am that is not shapen to were nor bere armes nor harneis ought not of ryght to be kepte in prison soo ye may not nor ought not to take nother the goodes nor the prysoners of them that entremete not withe the werre but yf it were that they gaffe helpe fauoure to maynten the werre aienst the kynge of fraunce of theire free goode wille for yf by force it were yet shulde they be excused after ryght but of all this neither by force nor for loue I haue doon nothinge all this I wyl preue true soo demaūde I of the maister yf a man may in suche a cas be kepte in prison after the ryght of armes I telle the as aboue that veryly nay in cas that the saide excuse might be suffisaūtly proued but it were soo that he had gyuen or gaffe pertynent coūseill to the werre in what soeuer manere that it were as many an olde man doth that by his coūseill dooth muche more therto than other yong men doo by theire armes Now wel maister another manere awaie I wil spek telle me thēne a frenshmen had taken a litell childe of an englishman might he aske by ryght any raūson for hym for it shulde seme ye seen that he that may wel make the more grete a thinge may wel make
good customes of the place or couÌ„trey but yf som other synne letteth hym his sowle is not a greued but a right gret meryte he hathe therby suche may the cas and the quarelle be that he goeth right forthe in to paradyse by and by And it is determyned that he that exposeth his lyffe for to deffende iustyce deyeth well a good dethe as it is for to fyght in a iuste quarelle for his kynge or priÌ„ce for the countrey and for the peple whiche his a merytoryouse dede But the thirde conclusyon is contrary to the same that is to witâ— that yf a man deye in a bataille whiche were ayenst hys conscyence that is to wite that he shuld thynke that the quarelle were not goode and that it were doon but for to vsurpâ— and take the ryght from another that shuld â—are for noone other but that he may robbe and take and gete his wages without faylle yf suche a man hathe noo leyser to haue repentauÌ„ce at hys last endyng we coude not presume that he were in waye of saluacyon Late therfore kepe hem wel that therto putten hem self For bothe the body the sowle they putte in grete pareyll yf they doo gyue hem self for to susteyne a false quarelle And to this ought straunge souldyours to take gode hede But many there be that make noo force of the quarelle soo that they be well payed of they re wages and that they may wel robbe But suche folke doon moche worse are lesse to be excused than be thoo whome it behoueth be it right or wronge vpon peyne of losyng of they re landes to be with they re naturell and souerayne lorde how be it that they oughte with all they re power yf they dide fele that they re lorde had wrong to putte hem self in peyne and in her deuoyre for to lette and dysmoeue the werre thou hast spoken ryght well gode mayster but I praye the telle me yf clerkes or men of holy chyrche oughten or may go goo to a bataylle without that they shal mysprise hemself I telle the that oure doctours maken herof many questyons after the opynyon of som they may goo with deffensable armes and not inuasible that is to wite as to a cas of deffense and not for to enuayshe And other sayen that they ought not to come out of they re place for noo manere a cas but onely is permytted to them the deffense of the cyte fortres or manoyre where they be in vpon the walles or at som wyndowes for to deffende hem self with gode stones with suche staues as they haue without shot of yron and other sayen that they may vse of al manere of armes aswell without forthe as within and not tary tyl they hem self be enuahished for a man must somtyme offende another yf he wyl saue hym self and not abyde that he be offeÌ„ded for suche myght be the taryenge that men shuld come to late for to putte remedye therunto another oppynyon is holden that atte the maundement of the pope whiche is souerayn aboue all clerkes they may doo bothe the one and the other And other seyen that the bysshopes other clerkes that iurydsyctyons of landes and of iustyce doo kepe and holde of the princes as of the kynge of Fraunce holden many prelates theâ—â— temporaltees are holden for to goo to the werre with theire lorde yf he wyl and by especyall suche prelates as be of the peres of FrauÌ„ce the whiche may well saye to the men of werre that they take folke and putte hem in pryson but not that they shalle slee noone For thenâ—e irreguler they were And by noo manere it apperteyneth hem not for to smite nor fyght with any man but yf men wolde smyte vpon hem For there nys bishop nor prelat but that he may deffende hymself Iustely in caas that he were fyrst enuahysshed without that he were irreguler therfore namely yf he slewe som body but for to saie that men of the chyrche shal be armed to fight nor specyalli they to be in a felde this is not of right ¶ Begynneth to speke of the manere of armorye whether euery man may take armes atte hys wylle ¶ Capio· xv Mayster without faylle I see and knowe that more grete is thy wytte in concludyng soyllyng proprely to the trouthe all questyons than myght be the Importunytee of myn ignorauÌ„ce in reformyng of dyuerse argumentes where al ynoughe may suffyse wythout I trauaylle the ony more that whiche thou hast declared to me of the ryght of armes yet a worde yf it please the for to make me wyse of som thynges that al ynoughe doo depende of the precedentes that is to wyte of the ryghtes of armes after the whiche demaundes bycause it shal not thynke to the ouer longe I shal take an ende in concludyng my boke vpon thesame It is that thou telle me of the faytte of the badges armes baners and penoncelles that lordes and gentylmen haue and be acustomed for to were and to doo them to be paynted sette vpon they re garementes whether euery man may take and bere them atte his owne wylle Dere loue of thees armes that by noblesse were fyrst founde by cause that the lorde in a bataylle myght be knowen by his armes and entresygnes I shal ansuere to the thou oughtest theÌ„ne to know that in thees armes as for to saye in general ben there thre dyfferences whether the somme were made ordeyned of olde tyme for thestate of the dygnytees and not for the persones nor for they re lygnage as is the sygne of the Egle the whiche is deputed for the dygnyte Imperyal wherfore who someuere is emperoure ought to bere the same Item another manere of armes there be of office lyke as we saye Capytelers of Tholowse the whiche duryng they re offyces doo bere armes the whiche ben of olde deputed and ordeyned for thesame offyce SeÌ„blably the Consules of Mountpellyer where namely yf eny assemble were there made of armes noone other armes they myght not bere but suche as ben deputed to they re offyce of consulate wythout that they wold be rebuked for and they shulde not be suffred Semblably in dyuerse places ben appropred one manere of armes It the seconde dyfference of armes Is of suche as come purely by sucessyon of lynage vnto kynges dukes marquyses erles anb other lordis lyke as the Flourdelyse for the house of FrauÌ„ce the Lupardes for the house of Englond and of al other kynges and in likewise of other lordes lesser as is the Ermyne for the duk of bretayne the white crosse of siluere for the Erle of Sauoye thus of other lordes be it Dukes marqueses Erles or other of whens that they be of thoos specyally ought noon to take they re armes yet maist thou see that men knowe al weyes the hed of the lordship by cause he bereth the playne armes of thesame with out
vpon good coursers whyche ben full redy on the syde for to com and breke wythe courses of horses thordynaunce of the enemyes as they shal be renged and assembled togyder ¶ And therfore the bataylle is often tyme wonne by them that best can shyfte and deale wythall ¶ And where thys manere of rengyng of an oost is moost couenable yet som that ben experte in armes doo counseylle that whan men haue noo grete quantyte of comons but haue for the moo parte all men of armes that all the holl assemble be putte togyder onely in one bataylle wythout noon other forwarde nor arryeregarde but onely the wynges of the fronte of the bataylle as it is sayd a fore and sayen that more surely they fyght soo ¶ And thys manere was kept at the bataylle of rosebeke where as the kynge of Fraunce Charles the sixth of that name had the vyctorye ayenst xl thousend Flemyngys and semblably it was doon but awhyle a goon at the bataylle of Lyege where as Iohan duc of bourgoyne that son was to phylyppe the son of the kynge of Fraunce with a smalle quantyte of his men was vyctoryous ayenst xxxvj thousand Lygeoys ¶ Deuyseth yet the manere of rengynge of bataylles ¶ Capitulo xxiiij Howe be it that it is sayd here by fore and after of the maners of fyghtynge and of rengynge of an oost sayen thauncyent that of thys matyere haue spoken that the best manyere to gyue a bataylle is in roundnes and that men putte many bataylles in the fore fronte and at that syde that they knowe they re enemyes shall come they shal kepe hem self by gode ordynaunce wel nyghe clos togyder and wyth peyne shal they mowe be ouercome nor desconfyted thoughe that they re enemyes be moo than they â— And yf it fall so that the aduersaryes be of lesse folke the bataylle ought to be then ordred and made in manere of a hors shoo and thus saythe he thou shalt stoppe hem aboute yf thou goo to hyt wysely And yf the other be foyson of folke ordeyne ye the bataylle as wyth a sharp ende before for to perse forth But late the capytayne be wel aduysed sayth vegece that at that same owre that the bataylle shall assemble he chaunge not thys manere of ordre nor lede not bere nor there noo nombre of peple on t of they re ordynaunce For that were for to destroye all and shold putte trouble in hys bataylles Nor nothyng profyteth more in a bataylle saith he than to kepe the ordre that ought there to be kepte wyth the interualle or dystance that ought for to be betwix euery rowe For men ought to see by grete cure that they ouerpresse not eche other and that they also large not nother the one from that other but shal kepe themself in couenable ordre togider For they that were to nyghe eche other shuld lese they re strokys and they re fyghtyng for lacke of more rowme and space that one shuld so lette that other Also they that were ouer large ordred shuld gyue to they re ennemyes an entree thrughe theym self And so were they in parell to be broken and sparpeylled a brode Wherof the fere that they shuld haue to see they re ennemyes so comen wythyn them shuld yelde hem as dysperate and loste ¶ Yet sayth vegece that by fayre ordre ought to make an yssue in to the felde where as the capytayne by dyuerse tymes shal haue putte hem in ordynaunce for to shew vnto theyme how that they ought to maynten and be haue hem self when the bataylle shal come in hande the fyrst bataylle so ordred as it ought for to be and the seconde bataylle after and the other so that the ordynaunce be in euery poynt kepte as it is sayd by fore And som capytayne sayth he hath had a manyere to tourne they re bataylle in a square and syn in a manere of a tryangle that men called at that bersuell ¶ And thys manere of ordynaunce hath proffyted muche in bataylle And whan eny grete strengthe of ennemyes dyde comme vpon hem they putte hem self in a rounde and the best to the formest rowe and so kepte theyrs that they tourned not for to flee and that they were not ouer charged wyth to grete a dommayge ¶ And a manyere had the auncyent that they putte neuer al they re folke in one assemblee but made many bataylles to th ende they that were fresshe shuld comme for to socoure helpe theym that were wery And bythys waye with peyne they myght be dysconfyted all for that whiche one bataille loste that other bataille recoured hyt ayen ¶ Neuertheles al dedes of bataylle ben doon at alaventure wherfore noon ought to trust therto in hope to haue the bettre of hyt by cause that often tymes it falleth al contrary to that whiche men thought a fore ¶ Example herof For who shuld euer haue trowed that that of the â—yght grete oostes and grete assemblees of men of the Cartagyens and of the rommayns that werred eche other shulde the slawghter and occysyon be soo equall in a bataylle that ones be felle bytwene hem ¶ For there abode not one man a lyve of neythre of bothe partyes ¶ Item he sayth that that day that the bataylle must be It is couenable for men for to ete lytyl to th ende they haue a longer breth and that they may be the more lyght and more moeuable But som goode wyne ought men to drynke who that may by cause that the wyne moevyth the spyrytes and the strengthes of man so that it be mesurably taken ¶ And it happeth of tymes sayth he that almost all the corages of men are troubled in hem self whan they shal goo to the bataylle but to theym that be fyrst chaffed and angry is the force and hardynes encreced wythyn hem and doo forgete al parell ¶ And therfore the wyse capytayne for to gyue a cause vnto hyemen to be more fyers and hardy ought for to haue had them fyrst at a scarmysshe ayenst the aduersaryes to th ende that for the strokys and sorys that they haue receyued of them they may be in anger and chaffed vpon them ¶ And yet he sayth that the lasse wyse and the lasse bolde are wont for to gyue vp the escrâ—e by fore that the bataylle be bygonne Whyche thyng ought not for to be doo ¶ But the callyng and the scry ought to be wyth the fyrst strookys ¶ The auncyent had a respecte in thassemblyng of they re bataylles that the men of armes were not made a ferde in bataylle by the scrye and alarme that the landysshe peple or comons maken som tyme ¶ And therfore they instructed and aduysed them therof by certeyn sowne of a trompette ¶ Also thoo that be not excersyced in armes nor lerned Redoubten sore the bataylle And therfore the boke sayth that suche men ought to be occupyed in other thynges than in fayttys of werre ¶ For
thoos that neuer sawe noo man kylde nor noo shedyng of bloode they are a ferde to see hyt And for thys cause whan they ben atte hyt they re thoughte is more to flee than to fyght and thus they may lette more than doo eny auayll atte lest yf they be not put vndre the Rule of som good captaynes ¶ Som saye that they ought to be putte by fore all the other to gyder And som sayen nay but ought to be medled emonge the goode ¶ Yet agayne for to speke shortly by recapytulacyon of that that is couenable to be kept in the ordynaunce of bataylles after the teghyng of the noble auncyent ther ben seuen thynges wherupon the gode capytayne ought to take kepe vnto ¶ The fyrst is that he haue take fyrst the aduauntayge of the place yf he may as it is sayde a fore where as he shall haue sette hys peple in fayre ordynaunce ¶ The seconde that they be at the one syde of them shelded or paueysed with hylles that nought may lette them or ellis with the see or wyth a ryuere or som other thynge that shall lette that noon ennemyes shall conne come vpon them of that syde ¶ The thyrde that they haue nother sonne nor wynde that can combre they re fyght wyth pouldre or glysteryng The fourth that muche couenable is to them that they shal knowe yf they can the astate of they re ennemyes What nombre of peple they haue whiche waye they comme and in whyche array ¶ And what ordre they kepe For after the knowlege of the same they may ordeyne and sette hem self to the best for to abyde and to receyue them ¶ The fyfthe that they be not mated nor traueylled nor made the more feble for honger ¶ The syxth that they muste be al of one corage and purpos for to kepe the place and to be wyllyng rather to dey than for to flee awaye ¶ And thus suche men shal not be brought lyghtly vnto noo manere of dysconfyture ¶ And the seuenth is that they re ennemyes knowe not what they re entencyon and purpoos is nor what they thinke for to doo nor what cours they wyl take ¶ Neuerthelesse after that that it is sayd a boue the falles and the aduentures of the bataylles ben wondrefull and merueyllous For hyt happeth at suche a tyme as god wylle helpe that one partye and nought that other ¶ As it dyde fall that tyme whan the rommayns fought som tyme wyth the two myghty kynges of Oryent Iugurta and Boctyus ¶ For at that tyme as the hete of the sonne was so brennynge boot and so feruent that almost hyt smoldred the rommayns sodaynly rose vp awynde so myghty and so grete that the archers shot of whyche thees two kynges had foyson had as almost noo vertue and syn came a rayne that refresshed al the rommayns whiche thyng was contrary to the other by cause hyt slaked the cordes of they re bowes they re elephantes wherof a grete plente was there whiche is a beste that can not wel suffre wet nor watre a boute hem myght vnnethe moeue hem self the girdell that helde vp the castell vpon they re backes were also slaked and the castelles charged wyth water that sore combred them ¶ And by thys manere of waye the Rommayns that al redy had recoured they re strengthe by the refresshyng of the rayne dyde envaysshe so vygourously they re ennemyes that how be it that they were muche lasse in quantyte of peple yet they obteyned and had the victorye ¶ Deuyseth after vegece of vij maneres of arrengyng of an oost and of fyghtyng ¶ Capitulo xxvo· Yet after vegece in hys thirde boke in the eyght and twenti chapytre there ben vij maneres of wayes how an oost shal fight in a felde and vij maneres of ordynaunces of bataylles the whiche wayes and manere how be it he gyueth hem derkly ynoughe for to be vndrestanden but onely of suche that ben excersyced in thoffyce maystrye of armes they ben declared here as foloweth The first manere of rengynge of folke in a felde is that whiche is to be made wyth a longe fore fronte as men doo nowe but this manere of way as it is said is not ryght gode by cause that the space of the grownde muste be longe and that the oost be al stratched in lengthe and hit happeth not alwayes that the place of the felde is founde propyce nor mete so for to doo ¶ And when there ben dyches or dales or som euyll pathes the bataylle is lyghtly broken by the same And wyth this thaduersaryes yf they be eny grete nombre of folke they shall goo to the ryght syde or to the left syde and so they shal enuyrone and close the bataylle a boute wherby many a grete parell may be fall as thauctour sheweth that saythe that if cas be that thou haue more foison of peple than thin enemye hath take of the best of thy folke enuyrone thyn aduersaryes yf thou may wythin the bosom of thyn ooste Te secunde manere is beste for yf thou ordeyne by the same a fewe of thy folke mooste valyaunte and wel assayed in som place covenable thou shalt mowe haue lyghtly the victorye thoughe thyn enemye hath more peple of the whyche manere the waye of fyghtynge is suche that whan the bataylles comen for to assemble togider thou shalt chaunge thenne thy lyfte wynge from hyr place in to another to th ende that thou mayste see ferre vnto the ryght cornere of thyn enemye and thy ryght wynge thou shalt Ioyne wyth the lefte wynge of thyn aduesaryes and there by the best men of thyn ost thou shalt begynne the bataylle sharply and stronge And by grete strengthe bothe an horsbake and on fote the sayd lyfte wynge of thyn enemyes shal be assaylled of thy men that shal goo a boute shouynge and rennyng vpon tyl that they comme at the backe of thyn enemyes ¶ And yf thou mayst ones departe a sounder thyn enemyes that ben so comyng vpon thy folke wythout doubte thou shalt obteyne the vyctorye ¶ And that one parte of thyn ost that thou shalt haue withdrawen from the other shal be sure ¶ Thys manyere of bataylle is ordeyned after the lykenes of thys lettre A And yf thyn enemyes ordeyne they re bataylle after thys manere of waye and make yssue fyrst oute then shalt thou putte thy men in a longe rowe that shal marche forthe all of a fronte wyth thy wynges all in a gode ordynaunce atte the lyfte corner of thyne oost and by thys manere of waye thou shalt wythstande thyn ennemyes ¶ The thyrde maniere is lyke vnto the seconde and noo dyfference is there betwene But that thou muste sette fyrst wyth the lefte corner of thy bataylle vpon the Ryght corner of thyn ennemyes ¶ And yf thy lefte wynge is bettre than thy ryght wynge than shalt thou putte with hit som ryght strong and best fyghting men bothe
the chasse vpon hys enemye vnwysely he putteth hys enemye in a hope to haue that vyctorye that he hymself had had fyrst Who that appareylleth not the bataylle in an oost he is ouercome without stroke To kepe ordre in a felde as ryght wold gyueth victorye bothe to the stronge and to the feble whan thou knowest that the sydes of thyn enemyes are hydyng hem self a bout thyn ost make thy folke to withdrawe within they re lodgis yf thou hast eny supecyon that thy counseyl be shewed vnto the enemyes chaunge thyne ordynauce Noo counseylles ben so good as they wherof the enemies haue noo knowlage of vnto the time that thei be brought awerke Aduenture gyueth often vyctory more than doeth force Impossyble it is to Iugge to the certeyn the ende of the bataylle of whiche fortune dysposeth â— Al that is contrary to thin entencyon thou ought treatte and shewe amonge many one But thy propos thou ought to say or shewe vnto few folke withdrawe towardys the the hertes of strauÌ„gers by yeftes and by promesses and chastyse thyn owne folke throughe thretnyngys By cause that good capytaynes redoubtyng the fortune of bataylle are bothe to fyght wyth an oost assembled togyder Grete wisedom it is to constrayne hys enemye more by honger than by yron ¶ Here fynyssheth the fyrst partye of thys present boke HEre begynneth the table of the Rubrycys of the seconde partye of thys boke wiche speketh of the cawtelÌ„es or wyles of armes after frontyn that calleth theym Stratagemes And of the ordre and manere of fyghtyng and deffensyng of townes and castelles after vegece and other Auctours And to gyue bataylle aswell vpon ryuers as vpon the see ¶ The fyrst chapytre speketh of Scypyon ¶ Te seconde of maryus and of Certoryus ¶ The thryde of theym of the cyte of Boyaux of Hanibal and of Denys the tyraunt ¶ The fourth speketh of theym of hyspayne of Alyxaundrye of Pyrre of Laptenes of Hanybal and of other ¶ The fyfeth of menoles kynge of the Roodes of Scipyon of Certoryus of hanybal of Acoryolo and of Fuluyus nobylyus ¶ The sixth of Acoryolo duc of dace of Fuluyus nobilius of pamondas duc of thebes of Fabyus maxymus of Scypion Affryckan the seconde and of Certorius ¶ The vij of the Lacedemoneus of Iulyus cesar of Papyrius cursor and of Pompee ¶ The viij of the grete Alyxaundre of Cesar augustus and of Crathes duke of athenes ¶ The ix chapitre conteyneth of Symacus kynge of Macedonye of Fabyus maximus of Denys the tyraunt of Alexaunder and of Yphytrates ¶ The x of Amulcar duk of Cartage of haymo Emperour of Affrycke of Hanybal and of Valeryus ¶ The xj speketh of Cesar of Domycyus of Cyuylius of Scypyon of Gayus ¶ The xij of Hanybal of a kynge of Grece and of another kynge of semblable cas of the romains that had nede of souldyours ¶ The xiij chapytre speketh of the wyle of the romayns of Quintius metellus and of Hanybal ¶ The xiiij bygynneth to speke of the manere of besyegiÌ„g of townes castelles and fyrst how they shuld be edyfyed ¶ The xv deuyseth of the garnysons that belongen to castelles and townes in tyme of werre ¶ The xvj how a forteresse ought to be garnysshed and purueyed of fresshe watre ¶ The xvij how it is nedefull that to the garnison of a fortresse be putte true men within thesame and sheweth hit by ensample ¶ The xviij chapytre speketh of leymg of a syege and of assawtes enformed after vegece ¶ The xix of an ordunaunce in leymg of a siege of that whiche longeth for to sawte a ryght stronge place affter the tyme present ¶ The xx deuyseth what powdres longen to gonnes and other engyns ¶ The xxi speketh of certeyn engyns that be called mauÌ„telles ¶ The xxij of the instrumentys that muste be had for to carye all suche thiÌ„ges as bylongen to the faytes of assawtes ¶ The xxiij of the habyllementys that nede therunto ¶ The xxiiij speketh folowyng of thabyllementys that be nedefull for the shot ¶ The xxv of certeyn other habyllementes ¶ The xxv gonnes and stones ¶ The xxvij of other habyllementys or Instrumentes for to vndremyne ¶ The xxvij of the tymber that ought to be had for to make that whiche foloweth ¶ The xxix of the werkmen labourers that be nedefull for makyng of the forsayd habyllementes ¶ The xxx deuyseth of the vytaylles and habyllementes how they shal be conducted and the passages kepte ¶ The xxxj chapytre speketh of certeyn establyshyngis ¶ The xxxij devyseth the manere to stoppe the port of the enemyes ¶ The xxxiij of suche engyns that ben couenable as vegece saith in fayttes of assawte ¶ The xxxiiij begynneth to speke of sawtyngis of townes and castelles after vegece ¶ The xxxv sheweth the remedyes ayenst the forsayd engyns of assawte ¶ The xxxvj of a remedye ayenst the vndermynyng of a Castel ¶ The xxxvij begynneth to speke of bataylles that be doon vpon the see ¶ And the xxxviij chapytre devyseth of the garnysons thau ben couenable and nedefull for folke that goo to an armee vpon the see ¶ Here foloweth the seconde partye of this preseÌ„t boke whiche speketh first of the cawtelles wyles of armes Wherof the fyrst chapytre speketh of Scipyon IN thys seconde partye that we haue deuysed after vegece pryncypally the manieres that somtyme helde the noble valyaunt conquerours of the worlde in fayttes of armes duryng the tyme of they re grete conquestes by cause that they cowde well helpe hemself with moo than of one manere of werreyng it semeth me good to th ende that oure matyere may be yet more encreased and multyplyed alwayes to the proffyte of theym that pursyewen cheualrye that we adde vnto thys matyere the wayes and the manyeres of the cawtelles subtylitees and wyles that the said auncyent conquerours vttred helde in they re dedys of werre â— whiche subtilites and wylis are called by the auctours that haue therof spoken Stratagemes of armes of the whyche Stratagemes made a boke a valyaunt man that men cleâ—ped Froncyus in whiche boke he deuyseth and sheweth the propre dedes of the forsayd ryght noble and worthy conquerours the whiche to here may be of gode exsample to theym that fynde them self in suche a cas after the dyuersyteâ— of the auentures of armes out of whyche boke we haue exâ—stracted to oure proffyte som tytles Thus theÌ„ne saith fyrst the sayd Auctour Froncyus that the worthy conquerour prynce and hed capytayne of the grete oost of the romayns Scypyon the Affrycan that all hyspayne Affrike â— and Cartayge dyde conquerre by the swerde ones emonge other as he was wyth a grete oost vpon the feldes ayenst the kynge Syphax that semblably was commyng ayenst hym wyth a grete oost of folke dyde sende toward the sayd kinge as by manere of ambaxade one of hys knyghtes named lelius with the whiche he comitted to goo
within the engyns may smyte grete strokes with this maste ayenst the walles and so shaken that they be all astonyed wyth all whiche engyne gyueth hys strokes euen soo as a raÌ„me doeth whan he reculeth a bak for to hurte whith hys hornes and therfore is thys engyne called a Mouton ¶ Item the fourthe is called vygne of whyche men vse but selden but yf it be to a grete effort It is made of grete tymber and it hath viij fote of brede and xvj of lengthe and is couerd wyth hyrdell is horsdonge to th ende that stones may not hurte hym and enuyromed al aboute wyth hydes rowhÌ„ for the fyre Vndre the same engyne ben the men of armes that percen the walle and vpon powâ—t leveiz that be made faste therto whiche are called flyghyng brygges and may reche vnto the walles they sette and dresse vp they re ladders to dyuers stallages ¶ Item the v engyn is yet of more grete strengthe and lasse in vsage by cause that it byhoueth not but to the sawtes of grete and notables cytees or fortres and stronge places sore desyred where as a syege be kepte by longe leyser Thys engyn is called Towre It is an edyfyce made of grete tymber and of tablementes with many loftes and stallages And therfore saithe vegece that so grete an edyfyce ought to be wel kepte It behoueth hym to be couered that may wyth lamynes of yron lest fyre sholde be caste or sette therin or at the leste wyth hydes rowhÌ„ all fressle To the whiche engynes men gyuen lyght after as they be hyghe or lowe For som be of xxx fote som of L And namely somÌ„ there ben so highe that not onely they surmonten the walles but also the highest towres Thys engyn is sette vpon moeuable wheles that by force of men and of horses are ledde as nyghe the walles as men can And flighynge brygges there be that as they be let doune men may therupon reche ouere the walles And yf it hap that thys Towre may be approched 〈◊〉 the walles ouere harde a thynge it were but that the towne shal be taken soone at an owre For therynne ben grete foyson of men of armes in al the loftes and stallages of whiche they of aboue with gode shode and hande to hande fyghten wyth them that ben vpon the walles and of lyght may ouercome hem They of the lowe loftes or stallages percen the walle And thus is the cytee or fortresse enuaysshed of suche effort that they of withynne wote not what parte to resyste nor deffende so ben they abasshed and lightly taken And it is that whiche vegece mente whan he saith the more partes and by more engyns and more strengthe that thou shall assaylle the fortres all atones the more are abasshed they that make deffence and the sooner they shall yelde hem vp And by cause that for to doo thys serven the ladders and muche proffyten herto and in lyke wise all engyns that can be made for to clyme highe It is nede for to make bettre thys manere of clymers that men know fyrst the heyght of the walles And therfore for to knowe thys vegece techeth it by two wayes and sayth that an arowe shal be thrawen vnto the height of the walle to the whiche arowe shall a long threde be made faste that shal be holde vndrenethe and by this shal mowe be knowen the heyght of the walles ¶ Item that other waye is whan the sonne is so tourned that he casted the shadowe of the walles and of the towres to the grounde thenne men may mesure the space of the walles wyth two staues y pyght atte eyther ende of the shadowe And by thaduyse of a gode wyse consyderer may be estemed what heyght the ladders and other engyns moste haue ¶ Begynneth to speke of deffensynge of castelles and vytaylles ¶ Capytulo xxxvo· IT is certeyn that lyghtly ynoughe myght al manere of a stronge place be ouercome and taken without folke were there that shuld deffende hit and therfore euyn soo as vegece dide putte in his boke for the doctrine techynge of 〈◊〉 the manyere for to assaylle citees townes and semblably for to deffende and kepe hem here he saith that ayâ—nst the engyns aboue named and other dyuerse paryllis wherof myght be vsed in faytte of assawlte yf ther be wytty deffensours that haue in them yâ— vertue of knyhthode marâ—y a remedye may be hadd For there is noo syknes but that som socours is gyuen therunto And in armes is subtylyte mykel more worthe than is strengthe as it happeth ofte namely in takynge of castelles and cytees As it beffelle som tyme of the rommayns that by a subtyl polycye wytte toke the cyte of capsa that longed vnto Tygram the kinge of Armenye that werred theym For as the ambaxatours of the sayd cytee went and came for to treatte of â—eas the rommayns malycyously made on a nyght abusshement of them self within the gardyns that nygh were to the walle and whan the said ambaxatoures trowed to haue entred ayen within the yates of the cyte the rommayns â—epte vpon the brygge so hastly that they toke the yate And so long kepte hyt tyl the oost entred al ynne And thus by crafte and subtyl witte was the cyte taken that was so stronge and so wel garnysshed that by noo sawtynge hyt myght not be taken And moreuere sayth vegece that they that kepe and deffende a place haue more avauntage than they that doo assaylle hyt for dyuers reasons and namely in befyghtyng For that whiche men caste from hyghe be it sperys stones dartes or other shot the more highe that it commeth fro the moche more hyt hurteth To the whiche thynges yf grete vertue and myght be putte therto noo manere of warantyse can not kepe theym that so assaylle yf they be hytte with all but that they shal be beten doune as the thondre felle vpon hem First of all they of within may be socoured by they re lorde yf he be not there hym self that wyth a power of men shal mowe come to reyse the syege and to gyue hem socours or by som other of they re freÌ„des whome they shall ahue sent worde and prayde for helpe socoure as it be fell whan the duke Lentulus hed captayne of the ost romayn went ayenst the kynge Mytrydates that sent worde to his folke that were withyn the cyte of Mycene that so stronge was that the see smote there at the one syde of her was aduironned with double walles that they shulde not abashe hem self for the grete puyssauÌ„ce of the kynge Mytridates that soone socours they shuld haue And a grete thynge it was to the messauÌ„ger for to passe thrughe so many folke goo there but it was by nyght and swymyng where he dide putte two grete boteylles vndre his okselles swymed viij thousand passes in the see and by thys manere of waye he cam and entred in to the
be by force taken from hym to whyche of bothe may by ryght aske the sayde knyght hys losse or of hym that sendeth hym or of hym that hathe robbed hym I ansuere the that he may aske it of eyther of bothe that is to wyte of hym that hath sent hym by actyon of maundement and of the other by actyon of vyolence doon in dede And yf by the first is restytucyon made vnto hym than is he holden to leue in hys handes thactyon and the ryght of the demaunde that he myght haue made to that other by strengthe and vertue of whiche the lorde that so hathe made restytucyon to thys knyghte may recouere hyt vpon that other ¶ Now telle me morouere a baron hath certeyne werre vnto whome a knyght of his curteysie cometh to hys ayde in his felishyp whout that he be requyred therof â— I demaunde of the yf the same knyght after hys seruyce doon may aske yf it please hym eny wages ¶ For it shulde seme nay ¶ For why he was not called therto and it semed that his entent was to serue hym for a curtoysye I ansuere the to thys but yf that he be of hys kynne or lynage or that he be gretly holden to hym or that he were thyther com by waye of charyte and loue he may curtoysly make askynge without faylle som what for to susteyne hys astate and lyuynge yf it so pleaseth hym for to doo For the lawe sayth that noon ys holden to arme hym self for another atte hys owne costes So ought to suffyse the lorde that he hath had the socours of that other And in asmoche that more freely he ys com the more beholden is the borde vnto hym And ought to satysfye hym other by wages or by other gyftes or benefayttes ¶ Mayster I suppose that the kynge of Arragon shulde sende to morowe a grete oost of hys folke to socoure the kynge of Fraunce in hys werre for a certeyne space of tyme of hys owne pure curtoysye wythout that he had be requyred by noo manere of wyse but shulde doo thys onely for to yelde ayen a suche and semblable curtoysye as he dyde receyue som tyme I aske of the whether this folke after they re seruyce doon may aske wages For it shulde seme nay syth that they haue ben sent as a thyng that was due For how myght they aske payement of that wherfore they be come for to make satsfactyon there as they be bounden I ansuere the my loue that yf the kynge of Fraunce hathe serued som tyme the kynge of Arragon or other in his werre of acerteyn nombre of men of werre payed for space of tyme as it is ynoughe of custome emonge prynces beynge gode frendes to do so that one to that other Semblably is bounde by ryght of gentilnes the kinge of Arragon to doo for the kyng of Fraunce at hys nede ¶ Not soo that by Ryght the kynge of Fraunce myght aske hyt of hym but yf other condycyon of covenaunt were there ¶ For he that frely gyueth may not constrayne to be rewarded But in what somâ—uere manere that the comynge be the kynge of Fraunce is holden by ryght to rewarde hem wyth yeftes Yet I demaunde of the I suppose that a lady the whyche is a wydowe holdynge a lordshyppe be oppressed by werre wrongfully of a grete lorde or knyght to the whyche wydowes helpe goeth a gentyl man moeued with pyte and for to kepe the ladyes ryght and to encreace hys renommee in worthynes of knyghthode and to saye all he doeth there so grete fayttes of armes that thrughe hys prowesse briÌ„geth the sayd lady atte a good ende of hir werre and doeth a playne restytucyon to be made vnto her myght thenne thys knyght after â—â—hees thynges by hym thus doon aske eny salary or wages for hys benefayttes as he that wel hath deserued hyt I ansuere to the that Nay For without her mandement or callâ—ng he myght not constrayne her to gyue hym wages yf thou wyl saye to me that gretly he hath doon the proffyt of the lady I ansuere the that more grete honour he hathe made hys owne in asmuche that he is enhaunced therby in renommee of honoure and worship So is he payed al redy of the salary and rewarde that he sought But wel it is trouthe that yf the lady be of power and that she haue wherof she ought to deale so with hym that she gyue hym exsample and namely to al other in suche a wise that yf she had to doo anoâ—her tyme she myght be gladly socoured yet ageyne ¶ Yf a kynge hathe werre wyth another and is wyllyng to renne hym vpon Whether the lordes by whos landes he and hys oste muste passe may chalenge hym the passage or not ¶ Capytulo xij OF the thynges of armes I wol make vnto the other manere of questyons I suppose that the kynge of FrauÌ„ce for cause of som chalenge or quarell wyl make werre ayenst the kynge of hongry wherfore he doeth calle hys oste togider for to go vpon hym for the whiche cause the kinge of Fraunce writeth to the duke of austeryche that thrughe his land he may passe awaye and he assureth hym that neyther euyll hurt nor noo damage shall not receyue his countrey nother by hym nor bÌ„y hys men but rathere good proffyte in asmoche that for hys money he shall take vytaylles there The duke of austryche that maketh doubte of thys promesse ansuereth to the kinge that therof he wyl be made sure by gode hostages that restytucyon shall be to hym made yf eny greeff or damage is doon vnto hym atte this cause Soo demauÌ„de I now of the what of ryght is to be doon in thys byhalffe For the duke sayth that he is prynce withyn hÌ„ys lande so shall noo man passe there thurgh that bereth armes without hit please hym And of that other parte we putte cas that he consenteth the same yet it sholde be harde that suche an oste shulde passe nor myght passe wythout gret oultrages shulde be doon and therfore he wil haue of restytucyon a good surete Loue I ansuere the that by the ryght wryton he that for hys good ryght and iuste quarelle goeth to werre may and ought to haue hys waye and passages and comyn wayes by all realmes and landes soo that noo greeff nor hurt be there made by hym nor his men And thus thenne syth that ryght gyueth it hym he nedeth not to gyue noon hostages for that whiche of ryght ought to be do and this is wytenessed by the decretall where as it recyteth thystorye how that whan the people of Israell went ayenst theyr enemyes they must nedes passe thurgh the couÌ„trey of the Amorres the whiche folke wolde gaynsaye the passage but whan they sawe that they coude not cheuyshe with them by loue they wanne by force the passage as god ordeyned for them Soo saye I that semblably it shulde be ryght and reason thus for to doo in euery cas
yf they be broken of them and that he can haue som of them to hys a boue noo raunson ought not to spare them but that they be pugnyshed as it apparteineth And I aske the mayster yf the kynge of FrauÌ„ce and the kynge of englande had sworne a trewes togyder for a certeyn tyme and that the sayde kynge of englande shulde breke hem in dede shulde the kynge of Fraunce be holden to kepe for it myght seme ye seeyng that supposed that yf one doo som euyll another is not holden to doo hit semblably but ought euery man to kepe his trouthe within hym self I telle that syth that one of the two kynges whyche that he be and of all other in lyke cas hathe broken hys promesse and hathe for sworn hym self that other is not helden to kepe hys othe that he had made vnto him and for the same he for swereth hym not for after ryght syth that men haue broke fyrst couenaunt wyth hym he is not bounde to kepe the same but he is assoylled by the ryght wryton of the IugemeÌ„t therof And that worse is he shuld synne dedly yf he shulde suffre hys owne folke to be slayne for fawte of his owne deffense ¶ Here speketh of one manere of werre called marâ—ue to wite yf it is iuste Capytulo v MAyster where yet I am not satysfyed with thy wyse and Iuste conclusyons I wol make vnto the certeyn questyons and demaundes vpon another manere of dyffeâ—rence that nyghe draweth to werre whiche I wot not whether it is of ryght or not For the auncyent gestes make noo mencyon therof but the prynces and the lordes syn the auncyent lordshipes haue taken to vse therof whiche is called Marke that is whan a man of a royalme as it were of Fraunce or of som other lande can not haue noo ryght of certeyn wronge doon to hym of som myghty man straunger wherfore the kynge gyueth hym a manere of a lycence to take arreste or to putte in to pryson thrughe strengthe and vertue of certeyne lettres opteyned of hym marchauntis and all other and in likewyse they re goodis that cometh out of the lande and countrey of hym that hath doon the wronge vnto tyme that ryght and restytucyon were made vnto the party playntyff of his actyon and demaunde Soo wolde I gladly wite yf suche a thinge cometh of ryght For a grete merueylle it is to me that a man of the couÌ„trey of hym that hathe doon the mysdede that haply neuer see hym nor is not coulpable and yet for thys cause he shal be arrested or putte in to pryson and his goodys taken yf he be founde where as he that was wronged hathe powere and shall must nede paye and restore that wherof he oweth nought nor hathe no gylt therunto Doughter dere to saye trouthe thou must knowe after the wrytynge of thauncyent ryght that thys manere of werre that is called marke thrughe whiche one taketh and bereth domage for another wythout hys desserte is not iuste nor the ryght wryton graunteth hit not the whyche ryght hath ordeyned that yf a marchaunt of parys or of whens he be of is bounde to a marchaunt of Florens whiche asketh iustice byfore his iuge but he can not haue of hym hys askynge the marchaunt florentyn may pursue his debytour to fore the kynge tyl that ryght be admynystred vnto hym But for to saye that by cause that a marchaunt of paris is bounde vnto hym he myght putte in pryson another marchaunt or bourgeys of parys or of some other place of the royalme or hys goodis to take vndre arrest veryly for to saye thys manere of fourme is nother of ryght not of rayson grounded But see here what of ryght may be doo therto whiche lordes haue brought vp for thys cause I suppose that an ytalyen were holden to a Frenshe man of a grete some of syluere of the whiche bonde he wyl defrawde and begyle hym that is hys credytoure wherfore he forsaketh hys owne countrey and goeth dwell in england by cause that he knowe well that the frensheman shall not goo for to pursue nor plete with hym there Or ellis thys 〈◊〉 fall another manere of cas A genewey is bounde 〈◊〉 a goo to a frencheman whyche shall knowe well that by cause of the euyll wylle that nowe is betwene the kynge of Fraunce and the duke of Iennes the frenshman shal not goo to Iennes for to pursue his dutee wherfore he shal be of so euyll contynaunce that he shal doo noo force for to make restytucyon what shall thenne the frenshman doo he shall drawe hym self towardis the kynge as a subgcet ought to his lorde for to haue his help that he may recouere his owne goodis The kynge thenne well enfourmed that this man sayd trouthe shall gyue hym marke And in lykewyse the kynge shall gyue the same yf it hap that a knyght or som gentylman complayneth that he hathe be dystressed robbed Iniuried or brought to ashame som where as the kynge hathe noo deffyaunce of werre vnto the tyme that restytucion and amende be to hym made Thys cawteâ—e founde the counseyllers of the prynces for to withstande suche barates and deceytes Thys marke conteyneth that euery personne that shuld be fouÌ„de in the lande of the prince that giueth hiâ— that is of the contrey towne or place of hym that shulde haue doo or shulde doo the oultrage or wronge shulde be take â— his goodis in to the courtis hande tyl that the marchauÌ„t were payed restored or that to the iniurie were made a suffâ—sauÌ„t amende thenne whan the marchauÌ„tes see themself so euyl handled in strauÌ„ge couÌ„treis where as marke is giuen aâ—enst them they fynde suche wayes with the iustice of they re place or towne that he or they that be causers of the wrong that was doon shal be constrayned to contente restore that other for this cause hit was fouÌ„de brought vp and to this propos serueth well a comon prouerbe that sayth that by an in conuenyent is chastysed another inconuenient also by the same hurt is another hurt repayred for by noon other waye can men haue noo ryght of many and dyuerse wrongys that be doon or that might be doo to strauÌ„gers gooynge by the waye But not withstandyng that this thing myght haue eny coloure of ryght I telle the so moche therof that euery kynge or prynce of whom this marke is requyred ought not therfore to graunt hit lyghtly For it is a thinge ouere greuouse and poysaunt Wherfore it ought to be delibered wyth peyne for two pryncipall raisons that one by cause it is a thinge that full sore may hurt a mannys conscyence that other is that it may be a begynnyng of awerre And therfore what ought a kynge for to doo whan he is requyred for to gyue hit ayenst som countrey cyte or towne he ought first enquyre by his president or chauÌ„celler or by som other wise legyste or