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+The Project Gutenberg eBook, Machiavelli, Volume I, by Niccolò
+Machiavelli, Translated by Peter Whitehorne and Edward Dacres
+
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+
+
+
+Title: Machiavelli, Volume I
+       The Art of War; and The Prince
+
+
+Author: Niccolò Machiavelli
+
+Translator: Peter Whitehorne and Edward Dacres
+
+Release Date: May 6, 2005  [eBook #15772]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+
+***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MACHIAVELLI, VOLUME I***
+
+
+E-text prepared by Ted Garvin, David King, and the Project Gutenberg
+Online Distributed Proofreading Team
+
+
+
+MACHIAVELLI
+
+WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY
+
+HENRY CUST. M.P.
+
+VOLUME I
+
+
+
+THE ART OF WAR
+
+TRANSLATED BY
+
+PETER WHITEHORNE
+
+1560
+
+
+
+THE PRINCE
+
+TRANSLATED BY
+
+EDWARD DACRES
+
+1640
+
+
+
+LONDON
+
+Published by DAVID NUTT
+at the Sign of the Phoenix
+LONG ACRE
+
+1905
+
+Edinburgh: T. and A. CONSTABLE, Printers to His Majesty
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+TO MY FRIEND
+CHARLES WHIBLEY
+
+H.C.
+
+
+
+
+INTRODUCTION
+
+
+[Sidenote: The Life of a Day.]
+
+'I am at my farm; and, since my last misfortunes, have not been in
+Florence twenty days. I spent September in snaring thrushes; but at the
+end of the month, even this rather tiresome sport failed me. I rise with
+the sun, and go into a wood of mine that is being cut, where I remain
+two hours inspecting the work of the previous day and conversing with
+the woodcutters, who have always some trouble on hand amongst themselves
+or with their neighbours. When I leave the wood, I go to a spring, and
+thence to the place which I use for snaring birds, with a book under my
+arm--Dante or Petrarch, or one of the minor poets, like Tibullus or
+Ovid. I read the story of their passions, and let their loves remind me
+of my own, which is a pleasant pastime for a while. Next I take the
+road, enter the inn door, talk with the passers-by, inquire the news of
+the neighbourhood, listen to a variety of matters, and make note of the
+different tastes and humours of men.
+
+'This brings me to dinner-time, when I join my family and eat the poor
+produce of my farm. After dinner I go back to the inn, where I generally
+find the host and a butcher, a miller, and a pair of bakers. With these
+companions I play the fool all day at cards or backgammon: a thousand
+squabbles, a thousand insults and abusive dialogues take place, while we
+haggle over a farthing, and shout loud enough to be heard from San
+Casciano.
+
+'But when evening falls I go home and enter my writing-room. On the
+threshold I put off my country habits, filthy with mud and mire, and
+array myself in royal courtly garments. Thus worthily attired, I make my
+entrance into the ancient courts of the men of old, where they receive
+me with love, and where I feed upon that food which only is my own and
+for which I was born. I feel no shame in conversing with them and asking
+them the reason of their actions.
+
+'They, moved by their humanity, make answer. For four hours' space I
+feel no annoyance, forget all care; poverty cannot frighten, nor death
+appal me. I am carried away to their society. And since Dante says "that
+there is no science unless we retain what we have learned" I have set
+down what I have gained from their discourse, and composed a treatise,
+_De Principalibus_, in which I enter as deeply as I can into the science
+of the subject, with reasonings on the nature of principality, its
+several species, and how they are acquired, how maintained, how lost. If
+you ever liked any of my scribblings, this ought to suit your taste. To
+a prince, and especially to a new prince, it ought to prove acceptable.
+Therefore I am dedicating it to the Magnificence of Giuliano.'
+
+[Sidenote: Niccolò Machiavelli.]
+
+Such is the account that Niccolò Machiavelli renders of himself when
+after imprisonment, torture, and disgrace, at the age of forty-four, he
+first turned to serious writing. For the first twenty-six or indeed
+twenty-nine of those years we have not one line from his pen or one word
+of vaguest information about him. Throughout all his works written for
+publication, there is little news about himself. Montaigne could
+properly write, 'Ainsi, lecteur, je suis moy-mesme la matière de mon
+livre.' But the matter of Machiavelli was far other: 'Io ho espresso
+quanto io so, e quanto io ho imparato per una lunga pratica e continua
+lezione delle cose del mondo.'
+
+[Sidenote: The Man.]
+
+Machiavelli was born on the 3rd of May 1469. The period of his life
+almost exactly coincides with that of Cardinal Wolsey. He came of the
+old and noble Tuscan stock of Montespertoli, who were men of their hands
+in the eleventh century. He carried their coat, but the property had
+been wasted and divided. His forefathers had held office of high
+distinction, but had fallen away as the new wealth of the bankers and
+traders increased in Florence. He himself inherited a small property in
+San Casciano and its neighbourhood, which assured him a sufficient, if
+somewhat lean, independence. Of his education we know little enough. He
+was well acquainted with Latin, and knew, perhaps, Greek enough to serve
+his turn. 'Rather not without letters than lettered,' Varchi describes
+him. That he was not loaded down with learned reading proved probably a
+great advantage. The coming of the French, and the expulsion of the
+Medici, the proclamation of the Republic (1494), and later the burning
+of Savonarola convulsed Florence and threw open many public offices. It
+has been suggested, but without much foundation, that some clerical work
+was found for Machiavelli in 1494 or even earlier. It is certain that on
+July 14, 1498, he was appointed Chancellor and Secretary to the Dieci di
+Libertà e Pace, an office which he held till the close of his political
+life at fall of the Republic in 1512.
+
+[Sidenote: Official Life.]
+
+The functions of his Council were extremely varied, and in the hands of
+their Secretary became yet more diversified. They represented in some
+sense the Ministry for Home, Military, and especially for Foreign
+Affairs. It is impossible to give any full account of Machiavelli's
+official duties. He wrote many thousands of despatches and official
+letters, which are still preserved. He was on constant errands of State
+through the Florentine dominions. But his diplomatic missions and what
+he learned by them make the main interest of his office. His first
+adventure of importance was to the Court of Caterina Sforza, the Lady of
+Forlì, in which matter that astute Countess entirely bested the teacher
+of all diplomatists to be. In 1500 he smelt powder at the siege at Pisa,
+and was sent to France to allay the irritations of Louis XII. Many
+similar and lesser missions follow. The results are in no case of great
+importance, but the opportunities to the Secretary of learning men and
+things, intrigue and policy, the Court and the gutter were invaluable.
+At the camp of Cæsar Borgia, in 1502, he found in his host that
+fantastic hero whom he incarnated in _The Prince_, and he was
+practically an eye-witness of the amazing masterpiece, the Massacre of
+Sinigaglia. The next year he is sent to Rome with a watching brief at
+the election of Julius II., and in 1506 is again sent to negotiate with
+the Pope. An embassy to the Emperor Maximilian, a second mission to the
+French King at Blois, in which he persuades Louis XII. to postpone the
+threatened General Council of the Church (1511), and constant
+expeditions to report upon and set in order unrestful towns and
+provinces did not fulfil his activity. His pen was never idle. Reports,
+despatches, elaborate monographs on France, Germany, or wherever he
+might be, and personal letters innumerable, and even yet unpublished,
+ceased not night nor day. Detail, wit, character-drawing, satire,
+sorrow, bitterness, all take their turn. But this was only a fraction of
+his work. By duty and by expediency he was bound to follow closely the
+internal politics of Florence where his enemies and rivals abounded. And
+in all these years he was pushing forward and carrying through with
+unceasing and unspeakable vigour the great military dream of his life,
+the foundation of a National Militia and the extinction of Mercenary
+Companies. But the fabric he had fancied and thought to have built
+proved unsubstantial. The spoilt half-mutinous levies whom he had spent
+years in odious and unwilling training failed him at the crowning moment
+in strength and spirit: and the fall of the Republic implied the fall of
+Machiavelli and the close of his official life. He struggled hard to
+save himself, but the wealthy classes were against him, perhaps afraid
+of him, and on them the Medici relied. For a year he was forbidden to
+leave Florentine territory, and for a while was excluded from the
+Palazzo. Later his name was found in a list of Anti-Medicean
+conspirators. He was arrested and decorously tortured with six turns of
+the rack, and then liberated for want of evidence.
+
+[Sidenote: After his Fall.]
+
+For perhaps a year after his release the Secretary engaged in a series
+of tortuous intrigues to gain the favour of the Medici. Many of the
+stories may be exaggerated, but none make pleasant reading, and nothing
+proved successful. His position was miserable. Temporarily crippled by
+torture, out of favour with the Government, shunned by his friends, in
+deep poverty, burdened with debt and with a wife and four children, his
+material circumstances were ill enough. But, worse still, he was idle.
+He had deserved well of the Republic, and had never despaired of it, and
+this was his reward. He seemed to himself a broken man. He had no great
+natural dignity, no great moral strength. He profoundly loved and
+admired Dante, but he could not for one moment imitate him. He sought
+satisfaction in sensuality of life and writing, but found no comfort.
+Great things were stirring in the world and he had neither part nor lot
+in them. By great good fortune he began a correspondence with his friend
+Francesco Vettori, the Medicean Ambassador at Rome, to whom he appeals
+for his good offices: 'And if nothing can be done, I must live as I came
+into the world, for I was born poor and learnt to want before learning
+to enjoy.' Before long these two diplomats had co-opted themselves into
+a kind of Secret Cabinet of Europe. It is a strange but profoundly
+interesting correspondence, both politically and personally. Nothing is
+too great or too small, too glorious or too mean for their pens. Amid
+foolish anecdotes and rather sordid love affairs the politics of Europe,
+and especially of Italy, are dissected and discussed. Leo X. had now
+plunged into political intrigue. Ferdinand of Spain was in difficulty.
+France had allied herself with Venice. The Swiss are the Ancient Romans,
+and may conquer Italy. Then back again, or rather constant throughout,
+the love intrigues and the 'likely wench hard-by who may help to pass
+our time.' But through it all there is an ache at Machiavelli's heart,
+and on a sudden he will break down, crying,
+
+  Però se aleuna volta io rido e canto
+  Facciol, perchè non ho se non quest' una
+  Via da sfogare il mio angoscioso pianto.
+
+Vettori promised much, but nothing came of it. By 1515 the
+correspondence died away, and the Ex-Secretary found for himself at last
+the true pathway through his vale of years.
+
+[Sidenote: The true Life.]
+
+The remainder of Machiavelli's life is bounded by his books. He settled
+at his villa at San Casciano, where he spent his day as he describes in
+the letter quoted at the beginning of this essay. In 1518 he began to
+attend the meetings of the Literary Club in the Orti Oricellarii, and
+made new and remarkable friends. 'Era amato grandamente da loro ... e
+della sua conversazione si dilettavano maravigliosamente, tenendo in
+prezzo grandissimo tutte l'opere sue,' which shows the personal
+authority he exercised. Occasionally he was employed by Florentine
+merchants to negotiate for them at Venice, Genoa, Lucca, and other
+places. In 1519 Cardinal Medici deigned to consult him as to the
+Government, and commissioned him to write the History of Florence. But
+in the main he wrote his books and lived the daily life we know. In 1525
+he went to Rome to present his History to Clement VII., and was sent on
+to Guicciardini. In 1526 he was busy once more with military matters and
+the fortification of Florence. On the 22nd of June 1527 he died at
+Florence immediately after the establishment of the second Republic. He
+had lived as a practising Christian, and so died, surrounded by his wife
+and family. Wild legends grew about his death, but have no foundation. A
+peasant clod in San Casciano could not have made a simpler end. He was
+buried in the family Chapel in Santa Croce, and a monument was there at
+last erected with the epitaph by Doctor Ferroni--'Tanto nomini nullum
+par elogium.' The first edition of his complete works was published in
+1782, and was dedicated to Lord Cowper.
+
+[Sidenote: His Character.]
+
+What manner of man was Machiavelli at home and in the market-place? It
+is hard to say. There are doubtful busts, the best, perhaps, that
+engraved in the 'Testina' edition of 1550, so-called on account of the
+portrait. 'Of middle height, slender figure, with sparkling eyes, dark
+hair, rather a small head, a slightly aquiline nose, a tightly closed
+mouth: all about him bore the impress of a very acute observer and
+thinker, but not that of one able to wield much influence over others.'
+Such is a reconstruction of him by one best able to make one. 'In his
+conversation,' says Varchi, 'Machiavelli was pleasant, serviceable to
+his friends, a friend of virtuous men, and, in a word, worthy to have
+received from Nature either less genius or a better mind.' If not much
+above the moral standard of the day he was certainly not below it. His
+habits were loose and his language lucid and licentious. But there is no
+bad or even unkind act charged against him. To his honesty and good
+faith he very fairly claims that his poverty bears witness. He was a
+kind, if uncertain, husband and a devoted father. His letters to his
+children are charming. Here is one written soon before his death to his
+little son Guido.--'Guido, my darling son, I received a letter of thine
+and was delighted with it, particularly because you tell me of your full
+recovery, the best news I could have. If God grants life to us both I
+expect to make a good man of you, only you must do your fair share
+yourself.' Guido is to stick to his books and music, and if the family
+mule is too fractious, 'Unbridle him, take off the halter and turn him
+loose at Montepulciano. The farm is large, the mule is small, so no harm
+can come of it. Tell your mother, with my love, not to be nervous. I
+shall surely be home before any trouble comes. Give a kiss to Baccina,
+Piero, and Totto: I wish I knew his eyes were getting well. Be happy and
+spend as little as you may. Christ have you in his keeping.'--There is
+nothing exquisite or divinely delicate in this letter, but there are
+many such, and they were not written by a bad man, any more than the
+answers they evoke were addressed to one. There is little more save of a
+like character that is known of Machiavelli the man. But to judge him
+and his work we must have some knowledge of the world in which he was to
+move and have his being.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+[Sidenote: State of Italy.]
+
+At the beginning of the sixteenth century Italy was rotten to the core.
+In the close competition of great wickedness the Vicar of Christ easily
+carried off the palm, and the Court of Alexander VI. was probably the
+wickedest meeting-place of men that has ever existed upon earth. No
+virtue, Christian or Pagan, was there to be found; little art that was
+not sensuous or sensual. It seemed as if Bacchus and Venus and Priapus
+had come to their own again, and yet Rome had not ceased to call herself
+Christian.
+
+[Sidenote: Superstition.]
+
+'Owing to the evil ensample of the Papal Court,' writes Machiavelli,
+'Italy has lost all piety and all religion: whence follow infinite
+troubles and disorders; for as religion implies all good, so its absence
+implies the contrary. To the Church and priests of Rome we owe another
+even greater disaster which is the cause of her ruin. I mean that the
+Church has maintained, and still maintains Italy divided.' The Papacy is
+too weak to unite and rule, but strong enough to prevent others doing
+so, and is always ready to call in the foreigner to crush all Italians
+to the foreigner's profit, and Guicciardini, a high Papal officer,
+commenting on this, adds, 'It would be impossible to speak so ill of the
+Roman Court, but that more abuse should not be merited, seeing it is an
+infamy, and example of all the shames and scandals of the world.' The
+lesser clergy, the monks, the nuns followed, with anxious fidelity, the
+footsteps of their shepherds. There was hardly a tonsure in Italy which
+covered more than thoughts and hopes of lust and avarice. Religion and
+morals which God had joined together, were set by man a thousand leagues
+asunder. Yet religion still sat upon the alabaster throne of Peter, and
+in the filthy straw of the meanest Calabrian confessional. And still
+deeper remained a blind devoted superstition. Vitellozzo Vitelli, as
+Machiavelli tells us, while being strangled by Cæesar Borgia's assassin,
+implored his murderer to procure for him the absolution of that
+murderer's father. Gianpaolo Baglioni, who reigned by parricide and
+lived in incest, was severely blamed by the Florentines for not killing
+Pope Julius II. when the latter was his guest at Perugia. And when
+Gabrino Fondato, the tyrant of Cremona, was on the scaffold, his only
+regret was that when he had taken his guests, the Pope and Emperor, to
+the top of the Cremona tower, four hundred feet high, his nerve failed
+him and he did not push them both over. Upon this anarchy of religion,
+morals, and conduct breathed suddenly the inspiring breath of Pagan
+antiquity which seemed to the Italian mind to find its finest climax in
+tyrannicide. There is no better instance than in the plot of the Pazzi
+at Florence. Francesco Pazzi and Bernardo Bandini decided to kill
+Lorenzo and Giuliano de' Medici in the cathedral at the moment of the
+elevation of the Host. They naturally took the priest into their
+confidence. They escorted Giuliano to the Duomo, laughing and talking,
+and playfully embraced him--to discover if he wore armour under his
+clothes. Then they killed him at the moment appointed.
+
+[Sidenote: Pagan influence.]
+
+Nor were there any hills from which salvation might be looked for.
+Philosophy, poetry, science, expressed themselves in terms of
+materialism. Faith and hope are ever the last survivors in the life of a
+man or of a nation. But in Italy these brave comforters were at their
+latest breath. It is perhaps unfair to accept in full the judgment of
+Northern travellers. The conditions, training, needs of England and
+Germany were different. In these countries courage was a necessity, and
+good faith a paying policy. Subtlety could do little against a
+two-handed sword in the hands of an angry or partially intoxicated
+giant. Climate played its part as well as culture, and the crude
+pleasures and vices of the North seemed fully as loathsome to the
+refined Italian as did the tortuous policy and the elaborate infamies of
+the South to their rough invaders. Alone, perhaps, among the nations of
+Europe the Italians had never understood or practised chivalry, save in
+such select and exotic schools as the Casa Gioiosa under Vittorino da
+Feltre at Mantua. The oath of Arthur's knights would have seemed to them
+mere superfluity of silliness. _Onore_ connoted credit, reputation, and
+prowess. _Virtù_, which may be roughly translated as mental ability
+combined with personal daring, set the standard and ruled opinion.
+'Honour in the North was subjective: _Onore_ in Italy objective.'
+Individual liberty, indeed, was granted in full to all, at the
+individual's risk. The love of beauty curbed grossness and added
+distinction. Fraud became an art and force a science. There is liberty
+for all, but for the great ones there is licence. And when the day of
+trial comes, it is the Churchmen and the Princes who can save neither
+themselves nor man, nor thing that is theirs. To such a world was
+Machiavelli born. To whom should he turn? To the People? To the Church?
+To the Princes and Despots? But hear him:--
+
+    'There shall never be found any good mason, which will beleeve
+    to be able to make a faire image of a peece of marble ill hewed,
+    but verye well of a rude peece. Our Italian Princes beleeved,
+    before they tasted the blowes of the outlandish warre, that it
+    should suffice a Prince to know by writinges, how to make a
+    subtell aunswere, to write a goodly letter, to shewe in
+    sayinges, and in woordes, witte and promptenesse, to know how to
+    canvas a fraude, to decke themselves with precious stones and
+    gold, to sleepe and to eate with greater glory then other: To
+    kepe many lascivious persons about them, to governe themselves
+    with their subjects, covetously and proudely: To roote in
+    idlenes, to give the degrees of the exercise of warre for good
+    will, to dispise if any should have shewed them any laudable
+    waie, minding that their wordes should bee aunswers of oracles:
+    nor the sely wretches were not aware that they prepared
+    themselves to be a pray to whome so ever should assaulte them.
+    Hereby grew then in the thousand fowre hundred and nintie and
+    fowre yere, the great feares, the sodaine flightes and the
+    marveilous losses: and so three most mighty states which were in
+    Italie, have bene dievers times sacked and destroyed. But that
+    which is worse, is where those that remaine, continue in the
+    very same errour, and liev in the verie same disorder and
+    consider not, that those who in olde time would keepe their
+    states, caused to be done these thinges, which of me hath beene
+    reasoned, and that their studies were, to prepare the body to
+    diseases, and the minde not to feare perills. Whereby grewe that
+    Cæsar, Alexander, and all those men and excellent Princes in
+    olde time, were the formost amongst the fighters, going armed on
+    foote: and if they lost their state, they would loose their
+    life, so that they lievd and died vertuously.'
+
+Such was the clay that waited the moulding of the potter's hand.
+'Posterity, that high court of appeal, which is never tired of
+eulogising its own justice and discernment,' has recorded harsh sentence
+on the Florentine. It is better to-day to let him speak for himself.
+
+[Sidenote: _The Prince_.]
+
+The slender volume of _The Prince_ has probably produced wider
+discussion, more bitter controversy, more varied interpretations and a
+deeper influence than any book save Holy Writ. Kings and statesmen,
+philosophers and theologians, monarchists and republicans have all and
+always used or abused it for their purposes. Written in 1513, the first
+year of Machiavelli's disgrace, concurrently with part of the
+_Discorsi_, which contain the germs of it, the book represents the
+fulness of its author's thought and experience. It was not till after
+Machiavelli's death, that it was published in 1532, by order of Clement
+VII. Meanwhile, however, in manuscript it had been widely read and
+favourably received.
+
+[Sidenote: Its purpose.]
+
+The mere motive of its creation and dedication has been the theme of
+many volumes. Machiavelli was poor, was idle, was out of favour, and
+therefore, though a Republican, wrote a devilish hand-book of tyranny to
+strengthen the Medici and recover his position. Machiavelli, a loyal
+Republican, wrote a primer of such fiendish principles as might lure the
+Medici to their ruin. Machiavelli's one idea was to ruin the rich:
+Machiavelli's one idea was to oppress the poor: he was a Protestant, a
+Jesuit, an Atheist: a Royalist and a Republican. And the book published
+by one Pope's express authority was utterly condemned and forbidden,
+with all its author's works, by the express command of another (1559).
+But before facing the whirlwind of savage controversy which raged and
+rages still about _The Prince_, it may be well to consider shortly the
+book itself--consider it as a new book and without prejudice. The
+purpose of its composition is almost certainly to be found in the plain
+fact that Machiavelli, a politician and a man of letters, wished to
+write a book upon the subject which had been his special study and lay
+nearest to his business and bosom. To ensure prominence for such a book,
+to engage attention and incidentally perhaps to obtain political
+employment for himself, he dedicated it to Lorenzo de' Medici, the
+existing and accepted Chief of the State. But far and above such lighter
+motives stood the fact that he saw in Lorenzo the only man who might
+conceivably bring to being the vast dream of patriotism which the writer
+had imagined. The subject he proposed to himself was largely, though not
+wholly, conditioned by the time and place in which he lived. He wrote
+for his countrymen and he wrote for his own generation. He had heard
+with his ears and seen with his eyes the alternate rending anarchy and
+moaning paralysis of Italy. He had seen what Agricola had long before
+been spared the sight of. And what he saw, he saw not through a glass
+darkly or distorted, but in the whitest, driest light, without flinching
+and face to face. 'We are much beholden,' writes Bacon, 'to Machiavelli
+and others that wrote what men do, and not what they ought to do.' He
+did not despair of Italy, he did not despair even of Italian unity. But
+he despaired of what he saw around him, and he was willing at almost any
+price to end it. He recognised, despite the nominal example of Venice,
+that a Republican system was impossible, and that the small
+Principalities and Free Cities were corrupt beyond hope of healing. A
+strong central unifying government was imperative, and at that day such
+government could only be vested in a single man. For it must ever be
+closely remembered, as will be pointed out again, that throughout the
+book the Prince is what would now be called the Government. And then he
+saw with faithful prophecy, in the splendid peroration of his hope, a
+hope deferred for near four hundred years, he saw beyond the painful
+paths of blood and tyranny, a vision of deliverance and union. For at
+least it is plain that in all things Machiavelli was a passionate
+patriot, and _Amo la patria mia più dell' anima_ is found in one of the
+last of many thousand letters that his untiring pen had written.
+
+The purpose, then, of _The Prince_ is to lay down rules, within the
+possibilities of the time, for the making of a man who shall create,
+increase, and maintain a strong and stable government. This is done in
+the main by a plain presentation of facts, a presentation condensed and
+critical but based on men and things as they actually were. The ethical
+side is wholly omitted: the social and economical almost entirely. The
+aspect is purely political, with the underlying thought, it may be
+supposed, that under the postulated government, all else will prosper.
+
+[Sidenote: The Book; New States.]
+
+Machiavelli opens by discussing the various forms of governments, which
+he divides into Republics and Principalities. Of the latter some may be
+hereditary and some acquired. Of hereditary states he says little and
+quotes but one, the Duchy of Ferrara. He then turns to his true subject,
+the acquisition and preservation of States wholly new or new in part,
+States such as he saw himself on every side around him. Having gained
+possession of a new State, he says, you must first extirpate the family
+of your predecessor. You should then either reside or plant colonies,
+but not trust to garrisons. 'Colonies are not costly to the Prince, are
+more faithful and cause less offence to the subject States: those whom
+they may injure being poor and scattered, are prevented from doing
+mischief. For it should be observed that men ought either to be caressed
+or trampled out, seeing that small injuries may be avenged, whereas
+great ones destroy the possibility of retaliation: and so the damage
+that has to be inflicted ought to be such that it need involve no fear
+of reprisals.' There is perhaps in all Machiavelli no better example of
+his lucid scientific method than this passage. There is neither excuse
+nor hypocrisy. It is merely a matter of business calculation. Mankind is
+the raw material, the State is the finished work. Further you are to
+conciliate your neighbours who are weak and abase the strong, and you
+must not let the stranger within your gates. Above all look before as
+well as after and think not to leave it to time, _godere li benefici del
+tempo_, but, as did the Romans, strike and strike at once. For
+illustration he criticises, in a final and damning analysis, the career
+of Louis XII. in Italy. There was no canon of statecraft so absolute
+that the King did not ignore it, and in inevitable Nemesis, there was no
+ultimate disaster so crowning as not to be achieved.
+
+[Sidenote: Conquests.]
+
+After observing that a feudal monarchy is much less easy of conquest
+than a despotism, since in the one case you must vanquish many lesser
+lordships while in the other you merely replace slaves by slaves,
+Machiavelli considers the best method of subjugating Free Cities. Here
+again is eminent the terrible composure and the exact truth of his
+politics. A conquered Free City you may of course rule in person, or you
+may construct an oligarchy to govern for you, but the only safe way is
+to destroy it utterly, since 'that name of Liberty, those ancient usages
+of Freedom,' are things 'which no length of years and no benefits can
+extinguish in the nation's mind, things which no pains or forethought
+can uproot unless the citizens be utterly destroyed.'
+
+Hitherto the discussion has ranged round the material politics of the
+matter, the acquisition of material power. Machiavelli now turns to the
+heart of his matter, the proper character and conduct of a new Prince in
+a new Principality and the ways by which he shall deal most fortunately
+with friend and foe. For fortune it is, as well as ability, which go to
+the making of the man and the maintenance of his power.
+
+[Sidenote: Cæsar Borgia.]
+
+In the manner of the day Moses, Cyrus, Romulus, and Theseus are led
+across the stage in illustration. The common attribute of all such
+fortunate masters of men was force of arms, while the mission of an
+unarmed prophet such as Savonarola was foredoomed to failure. In such
+politics Machiavelli is positive and ruthless: force is and must be the
+remedy and the last appeal, a principle which indeed no later generation
+has in practice set at naught. But in the hard dry eyes of the
+Florentine Secretary stood, above all others, one shining figure, a
+figure to all other eyes, from then till now, wrapped in mysterious and
+miasmatic cloud. In the pages of common history he was a tyrant, he was
+vicious beyond compare, he was cruel beyond the Inquisition, he was
+false beyond the Father of Lies, he was the Antichrist of Rome and he
+was a failure: but he was the hero of Niccolò Machiavelli, who, indeed,
+found in Cæsar Borgia the fine flower of Italian politics in the Age of
+the Despots. Son of the Pope, a Prince of the Church, a Duke of France,
+a master of events, a born soldier, diplomatist, and more than half a
+statesman, Cæsar seemed indeed the darling of gods and men whom original
+fortune had crowned with inborn ability. Machiavelli knew him as well as
+it was possible to know a soul so tortuous and secret, and he had been
+present at the most critical and terrible moments of Cæsar's life. That
+in despite of a life which the world calls infamous, in despite of the
+howling execrations of all Christendom, in despite of ultimate and
+entire failures, Machiavelli could still write years after, 'I know not
+what lessons I could teach a new Prince more useful than the example of
+his actions,' exhibits the ineffaceable impressions that Cæsar Borgia
+had made upon the most subtle and observant mind of modern history.
+
+[Sidenote: Cæsar's Career.]
+
+Cæsar was the acknowledged son of Pope Alexander by his acknowledged
+mistress Vannozza dei Cattani. Born in 1472, he was an Archbishop and a
+Cardinal at sixteen, and the murderer of his elder brother at an age
+when modern youths are at college. He played his part to the full in the
+unspeakable scandals of the Vatican, but already 'he spoke little and
+people feared him.' Ere long the splendours of the Papacy seemed too
+remote and uncertain for his fierce ambition, and, indeed, through his
+father, he already wielded both the temporal and the spiritual arms of
+Peter. To the subtlety of the Italian his Spanish blood had lent a
+certain stern resolution, and as with Julius and Sulla the lust for
+sloth and sensuality were quickened by the lust for sway. He unfrocked
+himself with pleasure. He commenced politician, soldier, and despot. And
+for the five years preceding Alexander's death he may almost be looked
+upon as a power in Europe. Invested Duke of Romagna, that hot-bed of
+petty tyranny and tumult, he repressed disorder through his governor
+Messer Ramiro with a relentless hand. When order reigned, Machiavelli
+tells us he walked out one morning into the market-place at Cesena and
+saw the body of Ramiro, who had borne the odium of reform, lying in two
+pieces with his head on a lance, and a bloody axe by his side. Cæsar
+reaped the harvest of Ramiro's severity, and the people recognising his
+benevolence and justice were 'astounded and satisfied.'
+
+But the gaze of the Borgia was not bounded by the strait limits of a
+mere Italian Duchy. Whether indeed there mingled with personal ambition
+an ideal of a united Italy, swept clean of the barbarians, it is hard to
+say, though Machiavelli would have us believe it. What is certain is
+that he desired the supreme dominion in Italy for himself, and to win it
+spared neither force nor fraud nor the help of the very barbarians
+themselves. With a decree of divorce and a Cardinal's hat he gained the
+support of France, the French Duchy of Valentinois, and the sister of
+the King of Navarre to wife. By largesse of bribery and hollow promises
+he brought to his side the great families of Rome, his natural enemies,
+and the great Condottieri with their men-at-arms. When by their aid he
+had established and extended his government he mistrusted their good
+faith. With an infinity of fascination and cunning, without haste and
+without rest, he lured these leaders, almost more cunning than himself,
+to visit him as friends in his fortress of Sinigaglia. 'I doubt if they
+will be alive to-morrow morning,' wrote Machiavelli, who was on the
+spot. He was right. Cæsar caused them to be strangled the same night,
+while his father dealt equal measure to their colleagues and adherents
+in Rome. Thenceforth, distrusting mercenaries, he found and disciplined
+out of a mere rabble, a devoted army of his own, and having
+unobtrusively but completely extirpated the whole families of those
+whose thrones he had usurped, not only the present but the future seemed
+assured to him.
+
+He had fulfilled the first of Machiavelli's four conditions. He rapidly
+achieved the remaining three. He bought the Roman nobles so as to be
+able to put a bridle in the new 'Pope's mouth.' He bought or poisoned or
+packed or terrorised the existing College of Cardinals and selected new
+Princes of the Church who should accept a Pontiff of his choosing. He
+was effectively strong enough to resist the first onset upon him at his
+father's death. Five years had been enough for so great an undertaking.
+One thing alone he had not and indeed could not have foreseen. 'He told
+me himself on the day on which (Pope) Julius was created, that he had
+foreseen and provided for everything else that could happen on his
+father's death, but had never anticipated that, when his father died, he
+too should have been at death's door.' Even so the fame and splendour of
+his name for a while maintained his authority against his unnumbered
+enemies. But soon the great betrayer was betrayed. 'It is well to cheat
+those who have been masters of treachery,' he had said himself in his
+hours of brief authority. His wheel had turned full cycle. Within three
+years his fate, like that of Charles XII., was destined to a foreign
+strand, a petty fortress, and a dubious hand. Given over to Spain he
+passed three years obscurely. 'He was struck down in a fight at Viana in
+Navarre (1507) after a furious resistance: he was stripped of his fine
+armour by men who did not know his name or quality and his body was left
+naked on the bare ground, bloody and riddled with wounds. He was only
+thirty-one.' And so the star of Machiavelli's hopes and dreams was
+quenched for a season in the clouds from which it came.
+
+[Sidenote: The Lesson.]
+
+It seems worth while to sketch the strange tempestuous career of Cæsar
+Borgia because in the remaining chapters of _The Prince_ and elsewhere
+in his writings, it is the thought and memory of Valentinois, transmuted
+doubtless and idealised by the lapse of years, that largely inform and
+inspire the perfect Prince of Machiavelli. But it must not be supposed
+that in life or in mind they were intimate or even sympathetic.
+Machiavelli criticises his hero liberally and even harshly. But for the
+work he wanted done he had found no better craftsman and no better
+example to follow for those that might come after. Morals and religion
+did not touch the purpose of his arguments except as affecting policy.
+In policy virtues may be admitted as useful agents and in the chapter
+following that on Cæsar, entitled, curiously enough, 'Of those who by
+their crimes come to be Princes,' he lays down that 'to slaughter fellow
+citizens, to betray friends, to be devoid of honour, pity and religion
+cannot be counted as merits, for these are means which may lead to power
+but which confer no glory.' Cruelty he would employ without hesitation
+but with the greatest care both in degree and in kind. It should be
+immediate and complete and leave no possibility of counter-revenge. For
+it is never forgotten by the living, and 'he deceives himself who
+believes that, with the great, recent benefits cause old wrongs to be
+forgotten.' On the other hand 'Benefits should be conferred little by
+little so that they may be more fully relished.' The cruelty proper to a
+Prince (Government, for as ever they are identical) aims only at
+authority. Now authority must spring from love or fear. It were best to
+combine both motives to obedience but you cannot. The Prince must
+remember that men are fickle, and love at their own pleasure, and that
+men are fearful and fear at the pleasure of the Prince. Let him
+therefore depend on what is of himself, not on that which is of others.
+'Yet if he win not love he may escape hate, and so it will be if he does
+not meddle with the property or women-folk of his subjects.' When he
+must punish let him kill. 'For men will sooner forget the death of their
+father than the loss of their estate.' And moreover you cannot always go
+on killing, but a Prince who has once set himself to plundering will
+never stop. This is the more needful because the only secure foundation
+of his rule lies in his trust of the people and in their support. And
+indeed again and again you shall find no more thorough democrat than
+this teacher of tyrants. 'The people own better broader qualities,
+fidelities and passions than any Prince and have better cause to show
+for them.' 'As for prudence and stability, I say that a people is more
+stable, more prudent, and of better judgment than a Prince.' If the
+people go wrong it is almost certainly the crime or negligence of the
+Prince which drives or leads them astray. 'Better far than any number of
+fortresses is not to be hated by your people.' The support of the people
+and a national militia make the essential strength of the Prince and of
+the State.
+
+[Sidenote: National Defence.]
+
+The chapters on military organisation may be more conveniently
+considered in conjunction with _The Art of War_. It is enough at present
+to point out two or three observations of Machiavelli which touch
+politics from the military side. To his generation they were entirely
+novel, though mere commonplace to-day. National strength means national
+stability and national greatness; and this can be achieved, and can only
+be achieved, by a national army. The Condottiere system, born of sloth
+and luxury, has proved its rottenness. Your hired general is either a
+tyrant or a traitor, a bully or a coward. 'In a word the armour of
+others is too wide or too strait for us: it falls off us, or it weighs
+us down.' And in a fine illustration he compares auxiliary troops to the
+armour of Saul which David refused, preferring to fight Goliath with his
+sling and stone.
+
+[Sidenote: Conduct of the Prince.]
+
+Having assured the external security of the State, Machiavelli turns
+once more to the qualities and conduct of the Prince. So closely packed
+are these concluding chapters that it is almost impossible to compress
+them further. The author at the outset states his purpose: 'Since it is
+my object to write what shall be useful to whosoever understands it, it
+seems to me better to follow the practical truth of things rather than
+an imaginary view of them. For many Republics and Princedoms have been
+imagined that were never seen or known to exist in reality. And the
+manner in which we live and in which we ought to live, are things so
+wide asunder that he who suits the one to betake himself to the other is
+more likely to destroy than to save himself.' Nothing that Machiavelli
+wrote is more sincere, analytic, positive and ruthless. He operates
+unflinchingly on an assured diagnosis. The hand never an instant
+falters, the knife is never blunt. He deals with what is, and not with
+what ought to be. Should the Prince be all-virtuous, all-liberal,
+all-humane? Should his word be his bond for ever? Should true religion
+be the master-passion of his life? Machiavelli considers. The first duty
+of the Prince (or Government) is to maintain the existence, stability,
+and prosperity of the State. Now if all the world were perfect so should
+the Prince be perfect too. But such are not the conditions of human
+life. An idealising Prince must fall before a practising world. A Prince
+must learn in self-defence how to be bad, but like Cæsar Borgia, he must
+be a great judge of occasion. And what evil he does must be deliberate,
+appropriate, and calculated, and done, not selfishly, but for the good
+of the State of which he is trustee. There is the power of Law and the
+power of Force. The first is proper to men, the second to beasts. And
+that is why Achilles was brought up by Cheiron the Centaur that he might
+learn to use both natures. A ruler must be half lion and half fox, a fox
+to discern the toils, a lion to drive off the wolves. Merciful,
+faithful, humane, religious, just, these he may be and above all should
+seem to be, nor should any word escape his lips to give the lie to his
+professions: and in fact he should not leave these qualities but when he
+must. He should, if possible, practise goodness, but under necessity
+should know how to pursue evil. He should keep faith until occasion
+alter, or reason of state compel him to break his pledge. Above all he
+should profess and observe religion, 'because men in general judge
+rather by the eye than by the hand, and every one can see but few can
+touch.' But none the less, must he learn (as did William the Silent,
+Elizabeth of England, and Henry of Navarre) how to subordinate creed to
+policy when urgent need is upon him. In a word, he must realise and face
+his own position, and the facts of mankind and of the world. If not
+veracious to his conscience, he must be veracious to facts. He must not
+be bad for badness' sake, but seeing things as they are, must deal as he
+can to protect and preserve the trust committed to his care. Fortune is
+still a fickle jade, but at least the half our will is free, and if we
+are bold we may master her yet. For Fortune is a woman who, to be kept
+under, must be beaten and roughly handled, and we see that she is more
+ready to be mastered by those who treat her so, than by those who are
+shy in their wooing. And always, like a woman, she gives her favours to
+the young, because they are less scrupulous and fiercer and more
+audaciously command her to their will.
+
+[Sidenote: The Appeal.]
+
+And so at the last the sometime Secretary of the Florentine Republic
+turns to the new Master of the Florentines in splendid exhortation. He
+points to no easy path. He proposes no mean ambition. He has said
+already that 'double will that Prince's glory be, who has founded a new
+realm and fortified it and adorned it with good laws, good arms, good
+friends, and good examples.' But there is more and better to be done.
+The great misery of men has ever made the great leaders of men. But was
+Israel in Egypt, were the Persians, the Athenians ever more enslaved,
+down-trodden, disunited, beaten, despoiled, mangled, overrun and
+desolate than is our Italy to-day? The barbarians must be hounded out,
+and Italy be free and one. Now is the accepted time. All Italy is
+waiting and only seeks the man. To you the darling of Fortune and the
+Church this splendid task is given, to and to the army of Italy and of
+Italians only. Arm Italy and lead her. To you, the deliverer, what gates
+would be closed, what obedience refused! What jealousies opposed, what
+homage denied. Love, courage, and fixed fidelity await you, and under
+your standards shall the voice of Petrarch be fulfilled:
+
+            Virtu contro al furore
+  Prenderà l'arme e fia il combatter corto:
+              Chè l'antico valore
+  Negl' Italici cor non è ancor morto.
+
+Such is _The Prince_ of Machiavelli. The vision of its breathless
+exhortation seemed then as but a landscape to a blind man's eye. But the
+passing of three hundred and fifty years of the misery he wept for
+brought at the last, almost in perfect exactness, the fulfilment of that
+impossible prophecy.
+
+[Sidenote: The Attack.]
+
+There is no great book in the world of smaller compass than _The Prince_
+of Machiavelli. There is no book more lucidly, directly, and plainly
+written. There is no book that has aroused more vehement, venomous, and
+even truculent controversy from the moment of its publication until
+to-day. And it is asserted with great probability that _The Prince_ has
+had a more direct action upon real life than any other book in the
+world, and a larger share in breaking the chains and lighting the dark
+places of the Middle Ages. It is a truism to say that Machiavellism
+existed before Machiavelli. The politics of Gian Galeazzo Visconti, of
+Louis XI. of France, of Ferdinand of Spain, of the Papacy, of Venice,
+might have been dictated by the author of _The Prince_. But Machiavelli
+was the first to observe, to compare, to diagnose, to analyse, and to
+formulate their principles of government. The first to establish, not a
+divorce, but rather a judicial separation between the morals of a man
+and the morals of a government. It is around the purpose and possible
+results of such a separation in politics, ethics, and religion that the
+storm has raged most fiercely. To follow the path of that storm through
+near four centuries many volumes would be needed, and it will be more
+convenient to deal with the more general questions in summing up the
+influence of Machiavelli as a whole. But the main lines and varying
+fortunes of the long campaign may be indicated. During the period of its
+manuscript circulation and for a few years after its publication _The
+Prince_ was treated with favour or at worst with indifference, and the
+first mutterings were merely personal to the author. He was a scurvy
+knave and turncoat with neither bowels nor conscience, almost
+negligible. But still men read him, and a change in conditions brought a
+change in front. He had in _The Prince_, above all in the _Discorsi_,
+accused the Church of having ruined Italy and debauched the world. In
+view of the writer's growing popularity, of the Reformation and the
+Pagan Renaissance, such charges could no longer be lightly set aside.
+The Churchmen opened the main attack. Amongst the leaders was Cardinal
+Pole, to whom the practical precepts of _The Prince_ had been
+recommended in lieu of the dreams of Plato, by Thomas Cromwell, the
+_malleus monachorum_ of Henry VIII. The Catholic attack was purely
+theological, but before long the Jesuits joined in the cry. Machiavelli
+was burnt in effigy at Ingoldstadt. He was _subdolus diabolicarum
+cogitationum faber_, and _irrisor et atheos_ to boot. The Pope himself
+gave commissions to unite against him, and his books were placed on the
+Index, together, it must be admitted, with those of Boccaccio, Erasmus,
+and Savonarola so the company was goodly. But meanwhile, and perhaps in
+consequence, editions and translations of _The Prince_ multiplied apace.
+The great figures of the world were absorbed by it. Charles V., his son,
+and his courtiers studied the book. Catherine de Medici brought it to
+France. A copy of _The Prince_ was found on the murdered bodies of Henry
+III. and Henry IV. Richelieu praised it. Sextus V. analysed it in his
+own handwriting. It was read at the English Court; Bacon was steeped in
+it, and quotes or alludes to it constantly. Hobbes and Harrington
+studied it.
+
+But now another change. So then, cried Innocent Gentillet, the Huguenot,
+the book is a primer of despotism and Rome, and a grammar for bigots and
+tyrants. It doubtless is answerable for the Massacre of St. Bartholomew.
+The man is a _chien impur_. And in answer to this new huntsman the whole
+Protestant pack crashed in pursuit. Within fifty years of his death _The
+Prince_ and Machiavelli himself had become a legend and a myth, a
+haunting, discomforting ghost that would not be laid. Machiavellism had
+grown to be a case of conscience both to Catholic and Protestant, to
+Theologian, Moralist, and Philosopher. In Spain the author, damned in
+France for his despotism and popery, was as freshly and freely damned
+for his civil and religious toleration. In England to the Cavaliers he
+was an Atheist, to the Roundheads a Jesuit. Christina of Sweden
+annotated him with enthusiasm. Frederick the Great published his
+_Anti-Machiavel_ brimming with indignation, though it is impossible not
+to wonder what would have become of Prussia had not the Prussian king so
+closely followed in practice the precepts of the Florentine, above all
+perhaps, as Voltaire observed, in the publication of the
+_Anti-Machiavel_ itself. No doubt in the eighteenth century, when
+monarchy was so firmly established as not to need Machiavelli, kings and
+statesmen sought to clear kingship of the supposed stain he had
+besmirched them with. But their reading was as little as their
+misunderstanding was great, and the Florentine Secretary remained the
+mysterious necromancer. It was left for Rousseau to describe the book of
+this 'honnête homme et bon citoyen' as 'le livre des Républicains,' and
+for Napoleon, the greatest of the author's followers if not disciples,
+to draw inspiration and suggestion from his Florentine forerunner and to
+justify the murder of the Due d'Enghien by a quotation from _The
+Prince_. 'Mais après tout,' he said, 'un homme d'Etat est-il fait pour
+être sensible? N'est-ce pas un personnage--complètement excentrique,
+toujours seul d'un côté, avec le monde de l'autre?' and again 'Jugez
+done s'il doit s'amuser à ménager certaines convenances de sentiments si
+importantes pour le commun des hommes? Peut-il considérer les liens du
+sang, les affections, les puérils ménagements de la société? Et dans la
+situation où il se trouve, que d'actions séparées de l'ensemble et qu'on
+blâme, quoiqu'elles doivent contribuer au grand oeuvre que tout le monde
+n'aperçoit pas? ... Malheureux que vous êtes! vous retiendrez vos éloges
+parce que vous craindrez que le mouvement de cette grande machine ne
+fasse sur vous l'effet de Gulliver, qui, lorsqu'il déplaçait sa jambe,
+écrasait les Lilliputiens. Exhortez-vous, devancez le temps, agrandissez
+votre imagination, regardez de loin, et vous verrez que ces grands
+personnages que vous croyez violents, cruels, que sais-je? ne sont que
+des politiques. Ils se connaissent, se jugent mieux que vous, et, quand
+ils sont réellement habiles, ils savent se rendre maîtres de leurs
+passions car ils vont jusqu'à en calculer les effets.' Even in his
+carriage at Waterloo was found a French translation of _The Prince_
+profusely annotated.
+
+[Sidenote: The Defence.]
+
+But from the first the defence was neither idle nor weak. The assault
+was on the morals of the man: the fortress held for the ideas of the
+thinker. He does not treat of morals, therefore he is immoral, cried the
+plaintiff. Has he spoken truth or falsehood? Is his word the truth and
+will his truth prevail? was the rejoinder. In Germany and Italy
+especially and in France and England in less degree, philosophers and
+critics have argued and written without stint and without cease. As
+history has grown wider and more scientific so has the preponderance of
+opinion leaned to the Florentine's favour.
+
+It would be impossible to recapitulate the arguments or even to indicate
+the varying points of view. And indeed the main hindrance in forming a
+just idea of _The Prince_ is the constant treatment of a single side of
+the book and the preconceived intent of the critic. Bacon has already
+been mentioned. Among later names are Hobbes, Spinoza, Leibnitz. Herder
+gives qualified approval, while Fichte frankly throws down the glove as
+_The Prince's_ champion. 'Da man weiss dass politische Machtfragen nie,
+am wenigsten in einem verderbten Volke, mit den Mitteln der Moral zu
+lösen sind, so ist es unverständig das Buch von Fürsten zu verschreien.
+Macchiavelli hatte einen Herrscher zu schildern, keinen Klosterbruder.'
+The last sentence may at least be accepted as a last word by practical
+politicians. Ranke and Macaulay, and a host of competent Germans and
+Italians have lent their thought and pens to solve the riddle in the
+Florentine's favour. And lastly, the course of political events in
+Europe have seemed to many the final justification of the teaching of
+_The Prince_. The leaders of the Risorgimento thought that they found in
+letters, 'writ with a stiletto,' not only the inspirations of patriotism
+and the aspirations to unity, but a sure and trusted guide to the
+achievement. Germany recognised in the author a schoolmaster to lead
+them to unification, and a military instructor to teach them of an Armed
+People. Half Europe snatched at the principle of Nationality. For in
+_The Prince_, Machiavelli not only begat ideas but fertilised the ideas
+of others, and whatever the future estimation of the book may be, it
+stands, read or unread, as a most potent, if not as the dominant, factor
+in European politics for four hundred years.
+
+[Sidenote: The _Discorsi_.]
+
+The _Discorsi_, printed in Rome by Blado, 1537, are not included in the
+present edition, as the first English translation did not appear until
+1680, when almost the entire works of Machiavelli were published by an
+anonymous translator in London. But some account and consideration of
+their contents is imperative to any review of the Florentine's political
+thoughts. Such Discorsi and Relazioni were not uncommon at the time. The
+stronger and younger minds of the Renaissance wearied of discussing in
+the lovely gardens of the Rucellai the ideas of Plato or the allegories
+of Plotinus. The politics of Aristotle had just been intelligibly
+translated by Leonardo Bruni (1492). And to-day the young ears and eyes
+of Florence were alert for an impulse to action. They saw glimpses, in
+reopened fields of history, of quarries long grown over where the ore of
+positive politics lay hid. The men who came to-day to the Orti
+Oricellarii were men versed in public affairs, men of letters,
+historians, poets, living greatly in a great age, with Raphael, Michael
+Angelo, Ariosto, Leonardo going up and down amongst them. Machiavelli
+was now in fair favour with the Medici, and is described by Strozzi as
+_una persona per sorgere_ (a rising man). He was welcomed into the group
+with enthusiasm, and there read and discussed the _Discorsi_. Nominally
+mere considerations upon the First Decade of Livy, they rapidly
+encircled all that was known and thought of policy and state-craft, old
+and living.
+
+[Sidenote: Their Plan.]
+
+Written concurrently with _The Prince_, though completed later, the
+_Discorsi_ contain almost the whole of the thoughts and intents of the
+more famous book, but with a slightly different application. '_The
+Prince_ traces the progress of an ambitious man, the _Discorsi_ the
+progress of an ambitious people,' is an apt if inadequate criticism.
+Machiavelli was not the first Italian who thought and wrote upon the
+problems of his time. But he was the first who discussed grave questions
+in modern language. He was the first modern political writer who wrote
+of men and not of man, for the Prince himself is a collective
+individuality.
+
+'This must be regarded as a general rule,' is ever in Machiavelli's
+mouth, while Guicciardini finds no value in a general rule, but only in
+'long experience and worthy discretion.' The one treated of policy, the
+other of politics. Guicciardini considered specifically by what methods
+to control and arrange an existing Government. Machiavelli sought to
+create a science, which should show how to establish, maintain, and
+hinder the decline of states generally conceived. Even Cavour counted
+the former as a more practical guide in affairs. But Machiavelli was the
+theorist of humanity in politics, not the observer only. He
+distinguished the two orders of research. And, during the Italian
+Renaissance such distinction was supremely necessary. With a crumbled
+theology, a pagan Pope, amid the wreck of laws and the confusion of
+social order, _il sue particolare_ and _virtù_, individuality and
+ability (energy, political genius, prowess, vital force: _virtù_ is
+impossible to translate, and only does not mean virtue), were the
+dominating and unrelenting factors of life. Niccolò Machiavelli, unlike
+Montesquieu, agreed with Martin Luther that man was bad. It was for both
+the Wittenberger and the Florentine, in their very separate ways, to
+found the school and wield the scourge. In the naked and unashamed
+candour of the time Guicciardini could say that he loathed the Papacy
+and all its works. 'For all that, he adds, 'the preferments I have
+enjoyed, have forced me for my private ends to set my heart upon papal
+greatness. Were it not for this consideration, I should love Martin
+Luther as my second self.' In the _Discorsi_, Machiavelli bitterly
+arraigns the Church as having 'deprived Italians of religion and
+liberty.' He utterly condemns Savonarolà, yet he could love and learn
+from Dante, and might almost have said with Pym, 'The greatest liberty
+of the Kingdom is Religion. Thereby we are freed from spiritual evils,
+and no impositions are so grievous as those that are laid upon the
+soul.'
+
+[Sidenote: Religion.]
+
+The Florentine postulates religion as an essential element in a strong
+and stable State. Perhaps, with Gibbon, he deemed it useful to the
+Magistrate. But his science is impersonal. He will not tolerate a Church
+that poaches on his political preserves. Good dogma makes bad politics.
+It must not tamper with liberty or security. And most certainly, with
+Dante, in the _Paradiso_, he would either have transformed or omitted
+the third Beatitude, that the Meek shall inherit the earth. With such a
+temperament, Machiavelli must ever keep touch with sanity. It was not
+for him as for Aristotle to imagine what an ideal State should be, but
+rather to inquire what States actually were and what they might actually
+become. He seeks first and foremost 'the use that may be derived from
+history in politics'; not from its incidents but from its general
+principles. His darling model of a State is to be found where Dante
+found it, in the Roman Republic. The memory and even the substance of
+Dante occur again and again. But Dante's inspiration was spiritual:
+Machiavelli's frankly pagan, and with the latter Fortune takes the place
+of God. Dante did not love the Papacy, but Machiavelli, pointing out how
+even in ancient Rome religion was politic or utilitarian, leads up to
+his famous attack upon the Roman Church, to which he attributes all the
+shame and losses, political, social, moral, national, that Italy has
+suffered at her hands. And now for the first time the necessity for
+Italian Unity is laid plainly down, and the Church and its temporal
+power denounced as the central obstacles. In religion itself the
+Secretary saw much merit. 'But when it is an absolute question of the
+welfare of our country, then justice or injustice, mercy or cruelty,
+praise or ignominy, must be set aside, and we must seek alone whatever
+course may preserve the existence and liberty of the state.' Throughout
+the _Discorsi_, Machiavelli in a looser and more expansive form,
+suggests, discusses, or re-affirms the ideas of _The Prince_. There is
+the same absence of judgment on the moral value of individual conduct;
+the same keen decision of its practical effect as a political act. But
+here more than in _The Prince_, he deals with the action and conduct of
+the people. With his passion for personal and contemporary incarnation
+he finds in the Swiss of his day the Romans of Republican Rome, and
+reiterates the comparison in detail. Feudalism, mercenaries, political
+associations embodied in Arts and Guilds, the Temporal power of the
+Church, all these are put away, and in their stead he announces the new
+and daring gospel that for organic unity subjects must be treated as
+equals and not as inferiors. 'Trust the people' is a maxim he repeats
+and enforces again and again. And he does not shrink from, but rather
+urges the corollary, 'Arm the people.' Indeed it were no audacious
+paradox to state the ideal of Machiavelli, though he nominally preferred
+a Republic, as a Limited Monarchy, ruling over a Nation in Arms. No
+doubt he sought, as was natural enough in his day, to construct the
+State from without rather than to guide and encourage its evolution from
+within. It seemed to him that, in such an ocean of corruption, Force
+_was_ a remedy and Fraud no sluttish handmaid. 'Vice n'est-ce pas,'
+writes Montaigne, of such violent acts of Government, 'car il a quitté
+sa raison à une plus universelle et puissante raison.' Even so the
+Prince and the people could only be justified by results. But the public
+life is of larger value than the private, and sometimes one man must be
+crucified for a thousand. Despite all prejudice and make-belief, such a
+rule and practice has obtained from the Assemblies of Athens to the
+Parliaments of the twentieth century. But Machiavelli first candidly
+imparted it to the unwilling consciences and brains of men, and it is he
+who has been the chosen scape-goat to carry the sins of the people. His
+earnestness makes him belie his own precept to keep the name and take
+away the thing. In this, as in a thousand instances, he was not too
+darkly hidden; he was too plain. 'Machiavelli,' says one who studied the
+Florentine as hardly another had done, 'Machiavelli hat gesündigt, aber
+noch mehr ist gegen ihn gesündigt worden.' Liberty is good, but Unity is
+its only sure foundation. It is the way to the Unity of Government and
+People that the thoughts both of _The Prince_ and the _Discorsi_ lead,
+though the incidents be so nakedly presented as to shock the timorous
+and vex the prurient, the puritan, and the evil thinker. The people must
+obey the State and fight and die for its salvation, and for the Prince
+the hatred of the subjects is never good, but their love, and the best
+way to gain it is by 'not interrupting the subject in the quiet
+enjoyment of his estate.' Even so bland and gentle a spirit as the poet
+Gray cannot but comment, 'I rejoice when I see Machiavelli defended or
+illustrated, who to me appears one of the wisest men that any nation in
+any age hath produced.'
+
+[Sidenote: The Art of War.]
+
+Throughout both _The Prince_ and the _Discorsi_ are constant allusions
+to, and often long discussions on, military affairs. The Army profoundly
+interested Machiavelli both as a primary condition of national existence
+and stability, and also, as he pondered upon the contrast between
+ancient Rome and the Florence that he lived in, as a subject fascinating
+in itself. His _Art of War_ was probably published in 1520. Before that
+date the Florentine Secretary had had some personal touch both with the
+theory and practice of war. As a responsible official in the camp before
+Pisa he had seen both siege work and fighting. Having lost faith in
+mercenary forces he made immense attempts to form a National Militia,
+and was appointed Chancellor of the Nove della Milizia. In Switzerland
+and the Tyrol he had studied army questions. He planned with Pietro
+Navarro the defence of Florence and Prato against Charles V. At Verona
+and Mantua in 1509, he closely studied the famous siege of Padua. From
+birth to death war and battles raged all about him, and he had personal
+knowledge of the great captains of the Age. Moreover, he saw in Italy
+troops of every country, of every quality, in every stage of discipline,
+in every manner of formation. His love of ancient Rome led him naturally
+to the study of Livy and Vegetius, and from them with regard to
+formations, to the relative values of infantry and cavalry and other
+points of tactics, he drew or deduced many conclusions which hold good
+to-day. Indeed a German staff officer has written that in reading the
+Florentine you think you are listening to a modern theorist of war. But
+for the theorist of those days a lion stood in the path. The art of war
+was not excepted from the quick and thorough transformation that all
+earthly and spiritual things were undergoing. Gunpowder, long invented,
+was being applied. Armour, that, since the beginning, had saved both man
+and horse, had now lost the half of its virtue. The walls of fortresses,
+impregnable for a thousand years, became as matchwood ramparts. The
+mounted man-at-arms was found with wonder to be no match for the
+lightly-armoured but nimble foot-man. The Swiss were seen to hold their
+own with ease against the knighthood of Austria and Burgundy. The Free
+Companies lost in value and prestige what they added to their corruption
+and treachery. All these things grew clear to Machiavelli. But his
+almost fatal misfortune was that he observed and wrote in the mid-moment
+of the transition. He had no faith in fire-arms, and as regards the
+portable fire-arms of those days he was right. After the artillery work
+at Ravenna, Novara, and Marignano it is argued that he should have known
+better. But he was present at no great battles, and pike, spear, and
+sword had been the stable weapons of four thousand years. These were
+indeed too simple to be largely modified, and the future of mechanisms
+and explosives no prophet uninspired could foresee. And indeed the
+armament and formation of men were not the main intent of Machiavelli's
+thought. His care in detail, especially in fortifications, of which he
+made a special study, in encampments, in plans, in calculations, is
+immense. Nothing is so trivial as to be left inexact.
+
+[Sidenote: The New Model.]
+
+But he centred his observation and imagination on the origin, character,
+and discipline of an army in being. He pictures the horror, waste, and
+failure of a mercenary system, and lays down the fatal error in Italy of
+separating civil from military life, converting the latter into a trade.
+In such a way the soldier grows to a beast, and the citizen to a coward.
+All this must be changed. The basic idea of this astounding Secretary is
+to form a National Army, furnished by conscription and informed by the
+spirit of the New Model of Cromwell. All able-bodied men between the
+ages of seventeen and forty should be drilled on stated days and be kept
+in constant readiness. Once or twice a year each battalion must be
+mobilised and manoeuvred as in time of war. The discipline must be
+constant and severe. The men must be not only robust and well-trained,
+but, above all, virtuous, modest, and disposed to any sacrifice for the
+public good. So imbued should they be with duty and lofty devotion to
+their country that though they may rightly deceive the enemy, reward the
+enemy's deserters and employ spies, yet 'an apple tree laden with fruit
+might stand untouched in the midst of their encampment.' The infantry
+should far exceed the cavalry, 'since it is by infantry that battles are
+won.' Secrecy, mobility, and familiarity with the country are to be
+objects of special care, and positions should be chosen from which
+advance is safer than retreat. In war this army must be led by one
+single leader, and, when peace shines again, they must go back contented
+to their grateful fellow-countrymen and their wonted ways of living. The
+conception and foundation of such a scheme, at such a time, by such a
+man is indeed astounding. He broke with the past and with all
+contemporary organisations. He forecast the future of military Europe,
+though his own Italy was the last to win her redemption through his
+plans. 'Taken all in all,' says a German military writer, 'we may
+recognise Machiavelli in his inspired knowledge of the principles of
+universal military discipline as a true prophet and as one of the
+weightiest thinkers in the field of military construction and
+constitution. He penetrated the essence of military technique with a
+precision wholly alien to his period, and it is, so to say, a new
+psychological proof of the relationship between the art of war and the
+art of statecraft, that the founder of Modern Politics is also the first
+of modern Military Classics.'
+
+But woe to the Florentine Secretary with his thoughts born centuries
+before their time. As in _The Prince_, so in the _Art of War_, he closes
+with a passionate appeal of great sorrow and the smallest ray of hope.
+Where shall I hope to find the things that I have told of? What is Italy
+to-day? What are the Italians? Enervated, impotent, vile. Wherefore, 'I
+lament mee of nature, the which either ought not to have made mee a
+knower of this, or it ought to have given mee power, to have bene able
+to have executed it: For now beeing olde, I cannot hope to have any
+occasion, to be able so to doo: In consideration whereof, I have bene
+liberall with you who beeing grave young men, may (when the thinges said
+of me shall please you) at due times, in favoure of your Princes, helpe
+them and counsider them. Wherin I would have you not to be afraied, or
+mistrustfull, because this Province seemes to bee altogether given to
+raise up againe the things deade, as is seene by the perfection that
+Poesie, painting, and writing, is now brought unto: Albeit, as much as
+is looked for of mee, beeing strooken in yeeres, I do mistrust. Where
+surely, if Fortune had heretofore graunted mee so much state, as
+suffiseth for a like enterprise, I would not have doubted, but in most
+short time, to have shewed to the world, how much the auncient orders
+availe: and without peradventure, either I would have increased it with
+glory, or lost it without shame.'
+
+[Sidenote: _The History of Florence_.]
+
+In 1520 Machiavelli was an ageing and disappointed man. He was not
+popular with any party, but the Medici were willing to use him in minor
+matters if only to secure his adherence. He was commissioned by Giulio
+de Medici to write a history of Florence with an annual allowance of 100
+florins. In 1525 he completed his task and dedicated the book to its
+begetter, Pope Clement VII.
+
+In the History, as in much of his other work, Machiavelli enriches the
+science of humanity with a new department. 'He was the first to
+contemplate the life of a nation in its continuity, to trace the
+operation of political forces through successive generations, to
+contrast the action of individuals with the evolution of causes over
+which they had but little control, and to bring the salient features of
+the national biography into relief by the suppression of comparatively
+unimportant details.' He found no examples to follow, for Villani with
+all his merits was of a different order. Diarists and chroniclers there
+were in plenty, and works of the learned men led by Aretino, written in
+Latin and mainly rhetorical. The great work of Guicciardini was not
+published till years after the Secretary's death. Machiavelli broke away
+from the Chronicle or any other existing form. He deliberately applied
+philosophy to the sequence of facts. He organised civil and political
+history. He originally intended to begin his work at the year 1234, the
+year of the return of Cosimo il Vecchio from exile and of the
+consolidation of Medicean power on the ground that the earlier periods
+had been covered by Aretino and Bracciolini. But he speedily recognised
+that they told of nothing but external wars and business while the heart
+of the history of Florence was left unbared. The work was to do again in
+very different manner, and in that manner he did it. Throughout he
+maintains and insistently insinuates his unfailing explanation of the
+miseries of Italy; the necessity of unity and the evils of the Papacy
+which prevents it. In this book dedicated to a Pope he scants nothing of
+his hatred of the Holy See. For ever he is still seeking the one strong
+man in a blatant land with almost absolute power to punish, pull down,
+and reconstruct on an abiding foundation, for to his clear eyes it is
+ever the events that are born of the man, and not the man of the events.
+He was the first to observe that the Ghibellines were not only the
+Imperial party but the party of the aristocrats and influential men,
+whereas the Guelphs were the party not only of the Church but of the
+people, and he traces the slow but increasing struggle to the triumph of
+democracy in the Ordinamenti di Giustizia (1293). But the triumph was
+not final. The Florentines were 'unable to preserve liberty and could
+not tolerate slavery.' So the fighting, banishments, bloodshed, cruelty,
+injustice, began once more. The nobles were in origin Germanic, he
+points out, the people Latin; so that a racial bitterness gave accent to
+their hate. But yet, he adds impartially, when the crushed nobility were
+forced to change their names and no longer dared be heard 'Florence was
+not only stripped of arms but likewise of all generosity.' It would be
+impossible to follow the History in detail. The second, seventh and
+eighth books are perhaps the most powerful and dramatic. Outside affairs
+and lesser events are lightly touched. But no stories in the world have
+been told with more intensity than those of the conspiracies in the
+seventh and eighth books, and none have given a more intimate and
+accurate perception of the modes of thought and feeling at the time. The
+History ends with the death of Lorenzo de Medici in 1492. Enough has
+been said of its breadth of scope and originality of method. The spirit
+of clear flaming patriotism, of undying hope that will not in the
+darkest day despair, the plangent appeal to Italy for its own great sake
+to rouse and live, all these are found pre-eminently in the History as
+they are found wherever Machiavelli speaks from the heart of his heart.
+Of the style a foreigner may not speak. But those who are proper judges
+maintain that in simplicity and lucidity, vigour, and power, softness,
+elevation, and eloquence, the style of Machiavelli is 'divine,' and
+remains, as that of Dante among the poets, unchallenged and insuperable
+among all writers of Italian prose.
+
+[Sidenote: Other Works.]
+
+Though Machiavelli must always stand as a political thinker, an
+historian, and a military theorist it would leave an insufficient idea
+of his mental activities were there no short notice of his other
+literary works. With his passion for incarnating his theories in a
+single personality, he wrote the _Life of Castruccio Castracani_, a
+politico-military romance. His hero was a soldier of fortune born Lucca
+in 1281, and, playing with a free hand, Machiavelli weaves a life of
+adventure and romance in which his constant ideas of war and politics
+run through and across an almost imaginary tapestry. He seems to have
+intended to illustrate and to popularise his ideals and to attain by a
+story the many whom his discourses could not reach. In verse Machiavelli
+was fluent, pungent, and prosaic. The unfinished _Golden Ass_ is merely
+made of paragraphs of the _Discorsi_ twined into rhymes. And the others
+are little better. Countless pamphlets, essays, and descriptions may be
+searched without total waste by the very curious and the very leisurely.
+The many despatches and multitudinous private letters tell the story
+both of his life and his mind. But the short but famous _Novella di
+Belfagor Arcidiavolo_ is excellent in wit, satire, and invention. As a
+playwright he wrote, among many lesser efforts, one supreme comedy,
+_Mandragola_, which Macaulay declares to be better than the best of
+Goldoni's plays, and only less excellent than the very best of
+Molière's. Italian critics call it the finest play in Italian. The plot
+is not for nursery reading, but there are tears and laughter and pity
+and anger to furnish forth a copious author, and it has been not ill
+observed that _Mandragola_ is the comedy of a society of which _The
+Prince_ is the tragedy.
+
+[Sidenote: The End.]
+
+It has been said of the Italians of the Renaissance that with so much of
+unfairness in their policy, there was an extraordinary degree of
+fairness in their intellects. They were as direct in thought as they
+were tortuous in action and could see no wickedness in deceiving a man
+whom they intended to destroy. To such a charge--if charge it
+be--Machiavelli would have willingly owned himself answerable. He
+observed, in order to know, and he wished to use his knowledge for the
+advancement of good. To him the means were indifferent, provided only
+that they were always apt and moderate in accordance with necessity, A
+surgeon has no room for sentiment: in such an operator pity were a
+crime. It is his to examine, to probe, to diagnose, flinching at no
+ulcer, sparing neither to himself or to his patient. And if he may not
+act, he is to lay down very clearly the reasons which led to his
+conclusions and to state the mode by which life itself may be saved,
+cost what amputation and agony it may. This was Machiavelli's business,
+and he applied his eye, his brains, and his knife with a relentless
+persistence, which, only because it was so faithful, was not called
+heroic. And we know that he suffered in the doing of it and that his
+heart was sore for his patient. But there was no other way. His record
+is clear and shining. He has been accused of no treachery, of no evil
+action. His patriotism for Italy as a fatherland, a dream undreamt by
+any other, never glowed more brightly than when Italy lay low in shame,
+and ruin, and despair. His faith never faltered, his spirit never
+shrank. And the Italy that he saw, through dark bursts of storm, broken
+and sinking, we see to-day riding in the sunny haven where he would have
+her to be.
+
+HENRY CUST.
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS             PAGE
+
+THE ARTE OF WARRE       1
+
+THE PRINCE            251
+
+
+
+
+THE ARTE OF WARRE
+
+WRITTEN FIRST IN ITALIAN BY
+
+NICHOLAS MACHIAVELL
+
+AND SET FORTHE IN ENGLISHE BY
+
+PETER WHITEHORNE
+
+STUDIENT AT GRAIES INNE
+
+WITH AN ADDICION OF OTHER LIKE
+MARCIALLE FEATES AND EXPERIMENTES
+
+AS IN A TABLE
+
+IN THE ENDE OF THE BOOKE
+
+MAIE APPERE
+
+
+1560
+
+_Menfss. Iulij_.
+
+
+
+TO THE MOSTE
+
+HIGHE, AND EXCELLENT PRINCES,
+
+ELIZABETH, by the Grace of God, Quene
+
+of Englande, Fraunce, and Irelande,
+
+defender of the faithe, and of the Churche
+
+of Englande, and Irelande, on yearth
+
+next under God, the supreme
+
+Governour.
+
+
+Although commonlie every man, moste worthie and renoumed Soveraine,
+seketh specially to commend and extolle the thing, whereunto he feleth
+hymself naturally bent and inclined, yet al soche parciallitie and
+private affection laid aside, it is to bee thought (that for the
+defence, maintenaunce, and advauncemente of a Kyngdome, or Common weale,
+or for the good and due observacion of peace, and administracion of
+Justice in the same) no one thinge to be more profitable, necessarie, or
+more honourable, then the knowledge of service in warre, and dedes of
+armes; bicause consideryng the ambicion of the worlde, it is impossible
+for any realme or dominion, long to continue free in quietnesse and
+savegarde, where the defence of the sweard is not alwaies in a
+readinesse. For like as the Grekes, beyng occupied aboute triflyng
+matters, takyng pleasure in resityng of Comedies, and soche other vain
+thinges, altogether neclecting Marciall feates, gave occasion to Philip
+kyng of Macedonia, father to Alexander the Great, to oppresse and to
+bring theim in servitude, under his subjeccion, even so undoubtedly,
+libertie will not be kepte, but men shall be troden under foote, and
+brought to moste horrible miserie and calamitie, if thei givyng theim
+selves to pastymes and pleasure, forssake the juste regarde of their
+owne defence, and savegarde of their countrie, whiche in temporall
+regimente, chiefly consisteth in warlike skilfulnesse. And therefore the
+aunciente Capitaines and mightie Conquerours, so longe as thei
+florished, did devise with moste greate diligence, all maner of waies,
+to bryng their men to the perfect knowledge of what so ever thing
+appertained to the warre: as manifestly appereth by the warlike games,
+whiche in old time the Princes of Grecia ordained, upon the mount
+Olimpus, and also by thorders and exercises, that the aunciente Romaines
+used in sundrie places, and specially in Campo Martio, and in their
+wonderful sumptuous Theaters, whiche chiefly thei builded to that
+purpose. Whereby thei not onely made their Souldiours so experte, that
+thei obtained with a fewe, in faightyng againste a greate houge
+multitude of enemies, soche marveilous victories, as in many credible
+Histories are mencioned, but also by the same meanes, their unarmed and
+rascalle people that followed their Campes, gotte soche understandyng in
+the feates of warre, that thei in the daie of battaile, beeyng lefte
+destitute of succour, were able without any other help, to set
+themselves in good order, for their defence againste the enemie, that
+would seke to hurte theim, and in soche daungerous times, have doen
+their countrie so good service, that verie often by their helpe, the
+adversaries have been put to flight, and fieldes moste happely wone. So
+that thantiquitie estemed nothing more happie in a common weale, then to
+have in the same many men skilfull in warlike affaires: by meanes
+whereof, their Empire continually inlarged, and moste wonderfully and
+triumphantly prospered. For so longe as men for their valiauntnesse,
+were then rewarded and had in estimacion, glad was he that could finde
+occasion to venter, yea, and spende his life, to benefite his countrie:
+as by the manly actes that Marcus Curcius, Oracius Cocles, and Gaius
+Mucius did for the savegarde of Rome and also by other innumerable like
+examples dooeth plainly appeare. But when through long and continuall
+peace, thei began to bee altogether given to pleasure and delicatenesse,
+little regardyng Marciall feates, nor soche as were expert in the
+practise thereof: Their dominions and estates, did not so moche before
+increase and prospere, as then by soche meanes and oversight, thei
+sodainly fell into decaie and utter ruine. For soche truly is the nature
+and condicion, bothe of peace and warre, that where in governemente,
+there is not had equalle consideration of them bothe, the one in fine,
+doeth woorke and induce, the others oblivion and utter abholicion.
+Wherfore, sith the necessitie of the science of warres is so greate, and
+also the necessarie use thereof so manifeste, that even Ladie Peace her
+self, doeth in maner from thens crave her chief defence and
+preservacion, and the worthinesse moreover, and honour of the same so
+greate, that as by prose we see, the perfecte glorie therof, cannot
+easely finde roote, but in the hartes of moste noble couragious and
+manlike personages, I thought most excellente Princes, I could not
+either to the specialle gratefiyng of your highnesse, the universall
+delight of all studious gentlemen, or the common utilitie of the publike
+wealth, imploie my labours more profitablie in accomplishyng of my
+duetie and good will, then in settyng foorthe some thing, that might
+induce to the augmentyng and increase of the knowledge thereof:
+inespecially thexample of your highnes most politike governemente over
+us, givyng plaine testimonie of the wonderfull prudente desire that is
+in you, to have your people instructed in this kinde of service, as well
+for the better defence of your highnesse, theim selves, and their
+countrie, as also to discourage thereby, and to be able to resist the
+malingnitie of the enemie, who otherwise would seeke peradventure, to
+invade this noble realme or kyngdome.
+
+When therfore about x. yeres paste, in the Emperours warres against the
+Mores and certain Turkes beyng in Barberie, at the siege and winnyng of
+Calibbia, Monesterio and Africa, I had as well for my further
+instruction in those affaires, as also the better to acquainte me with
+the Italian tongue, reduced into Englishe, the booke called The arte of
+Warre, of the famous and excellente Nicholas Machiavell, whiche in times
+paste he beyng a counsailour, and Secretarie of the noble Citee of
+Florence, not without his greate laude and praise did write: and havyng
+lately againe, somwhat perused the same, the whiche in soche continuall
+broiles and unquietnesse, was by me translated, I determined with my
+self, by publishyng thereof, to bestowe as greate a gift (sins greater I
+was not able) emongeste my countrie men, not experte in the Italian
+tongue, as in like woorkes I had seen before me, the Frenchemen,
+Duchemen, Spaniardes, and other forreine nacions, moste lovyngly to have
+bestowed emongeste theirs: The rather undoubtedly, that as by private
+readyng of the same booke, I then felt my self in that knowledge
+marveilously holpen and increased, so by communicatyng the same to many,
+our Englishemen findyng out the orderyng and disposyng of exploictes of
+warre therein contained, the aide and direction of these plaine and
+briefe preceptes, might no lesse in knowledge of warres become
+incomperable, then in prowes also and exercise of the same, altogether
+invincible: which my translacion moste gracious Soveraine, together with
+soche other thynges, as by me hath been gathered, and thought good to
+adde thereunto, I have presumed to dedicate unto youre highnes: not
+onely bicause the whole charge and furniture of warlike counsailes and
+preparacions, being determined by the arbitremente of Governours and
+Princes, the treatise also of like effecte should in like maner as of
+right, depende upon the protection of a moste worthie and noble
+Patronesse, but also that the discourse it self, and the woorke of a
+forrein aucthour, under the passeport and safeconduite of your highnes
+moste noble name, might by speciall aucthoritie of the same, winne
+emongest your Majesties subjectes, moche better credite and estimacion.
+And if mooste mightie Queen, in this kind of Philosophie (if I maie so
+terme it) grave and sage counsailes, learned and wittie preceptes, or
+politike and prudente admonicions, ought not to be accompted the least
+and basest tewels of weale publike. Then dare I boldely affirme, that of
+many straungers, whiche from forrein countries, have here tofore in this
+your Majesties realme arrived, there is none in comparison to bee
+preferred, before this worthie Florentine and Italian, who havyng frely
+without any gaine of exchaunge (as after some acquaintaunce and
+familiaritie will better appeare) brought with hym moste riche, rare and
+plentiful Treasure, shall deserve I trust of all good Englishe lishe
+hartes, most lovingly and frendly to be intertained, embraced and
+cherished. Whose newe Englishe apparell, how so ever it shall seme by
+me, after a grosse fasion, more fitlie appoincted to the Campe, then in
+nice termes attired to the Carpet, and in course clothyng rather putte
+foorthe to battaile, then in any brave shewe prepared to the bankette,
+neverthelesse my good will I truste, shall of your grace be taken in
+good parte, havyng fashioned the phraise of my rude stile, even
+accordyng to the purpose of my travaile, whiche was rather to profite
+the desirous manne of warre, then to delight the eares of the fine
+Rethorician, or daintie curious scholemanne: Moste humblie besechyng
+your highnes, so to accept my labour herein, as the first fruictes of a
+poore souldiours studie, who to the uttermoste of his smalle power, in
+the service of your moste gracious majestie, and of his countrie, will
+at al tymes, accordyng to his bounden duetie and allegeaunce, promptlie
+yeld hym self to any labour, travaile, or daunger, what so ever shal
+happen. Praiyng in the mean season the almightie God, to give your
+highnes in longe prosperous raigne, perfect health, desired
+tranquilitie, and against all your enemies, luckie and joifull victorie.
+
+Your humble subject and dailie oratour,
+
+PETER WHITEHORNE.
+
+
+
+
+THE PROHEME
+OF NICHOLAS MACHIAVELL,
+Citezein and Secretarie of Florence,
+upon his booke of the Arte of Warre, unto
+Laurence Philippe Strozze, one of the
+nobilitie of Florence.
+
+
+There have Laurence, many helde, and do holde this opinion, that there
+is no maner of thing, whiche lesse agreeth the one with the other, nor
+that is so much unlike, as the civil life to the Souldiours. Wherby it
+is often seen, that if any determin in thexercise of that kinde of
+service to prevaile, that incontinent he doeth not only chaunge in
+apparel, but also in custome and maner, in voice, and from the facion of
+all civil use, he doeth alter: For that he thinketh not meete to clothe
+with civell apparell him, who wil be redie, and promt to all kinde of
+violence, nor the civell customes, and usages maie that man have, the
+whiche judgeth bothe those customes to be effeminate, and those usages
+not to be agreable to his profession: Nor it semes not convenient for
+him to use the civill gesture and ordinarie wordes, who with fasing and
+blasphemies, will make afraied other menne: the whiche causeth in this
+time, suche opinion to be moste true. But if thei should consider
+thauncient orders, there should nothing be founde more united, more
+confirmable, and that of necessitie ought to love so much the one the
+other, as these: for as muche as all the artes that are ordeined in a
+common weale, in regarde or respecte of common profite of menne, all the
+orders made in the same, to live with feare of the Lawe, and of God
+should be vaine, if by force of armes their defence wer not prepared,
+which, well ordeined, doe maintain those also whiche be not well
+ordeined. And likewise to the contrarie the good orders, without the
+souldiours help, no lesse or otherwise doe disorder, then the habitacion
+of a sumptuous and roiall palais, although it wer decte with gold and
+precious stones, when without being covered, should not have wherewith
+to defende it from the raine. And if in what so ever other orders of
+Cities and Kyngdomes, there hath been used al diligence for to maintain
+men faithfull, peaceable, and full of the feare of God, in the service
+of warre, it was doubled: if for in what man ought the countrie to seke
+greater faith, then in him, who must promise to die for the same? In
+whom ought there to bee more love of peace, then in him, whiche onely by
+the warre maie be hurte? In whome ought there to bee more feare of GOD,
+then in him, which every daie committyng himself to infinite perilles,
+hath moste neede of his helpe? This necessitie considered wel, bothe of
+them that gave the lawes to Empires, and of those that to the exercise
+of service wer apoincted, made that the life of Souldiours, of other
+menne was praised, and with all studie folowed and imitated. But the
+orders of service of war, beyng altogether corrupted, and a greate waie
+from the auncient maners altered, there hath growen these sinisterous
+opinions, which maketh men to hate the warlike service, and to flie the
+conversacion of those that dooe exercise it. Albeit I judgeing by the
+same, that I have seen and redde, that it is not a thyng impossible, to
+bryng it again to the auncient maners, and to give it some facion of the
+vertue passed, I have determined to the entente not to passe this my
+idell time, without doyng some thyng, to write that whiche I doe
+understande, to the satisfaction of those, who of aunciente actes, are
+lovers of the science of warre. And although it be a bold thing to
+intreate of the same matter, wher of otherwise I have made no
+profession, notwithstanding I beleve it is no errour, to occupie with
+wordes a degree, the whiche many with greater presumpcion with their
+deedes have occupied: for as muche as the errours that I maie happen to
+make by writing, may be without harme to any man corrected: but those
+the whiche of them be made in doyng cannot be knowen without the ruine
+of Empires. Therefore Laurence you ought to consider the qualitie of
+this my laboure, and with your judgement to give it that blame, or that
+praise, as shall seeme unto you it hath deserved. The whiche I sende
+unto you, as well to shewe my selfe gratefull, although my habilitie
+reche not to the benefites, which I have received of you, as also for
+that beyng the custome to honour with like workes them who for
+nobilitie, riches, wisedome, and liberalitie doe shine: I knowe you for
+riches, and nobilitie, not to have many peeres, for wisedome fewe, and
+for liberalitie none.
+
+
+
+
+THE ARTE OF WARRE
+
+THE TABLE
+OF CERTAIN PRINCIPALL THINGES,
+CONTAINED IN THIS WOORKE
+OF MACHIAVEL
+
+IN THE FIRSTE BOOKE
+
+
+Why a good man ought not to exersise warfare as his arte, 33
+
+Deedes of armes ought to be used privatly in time of peace for exersise,
+and in time of warre for necessetie and renoume, 36
+
+The strength of an armie is the footemen, 38
+
+The Romaines renued their Legions and had men in the flower of their
+age, 38
+
+Whether men of armes ought to be kept, 40
+
+What is requisete for the preparyng of an armie, 42
+
+Out of what contrie souldiers ought to be chosen, 43
+
+Souldiers ought to bee chosen, by thaucthoritie of the Prince, of suche
+men as be his oune subjectes, 44
+
+The difference of ages, that is to be taken in the chosinge of
+souldiours for the restoring of an olde power and for the making of a
+newe, 44
+
+The weapons or power that is prepared, of the naturall subjectes, of a
+common weale bringeth profit and not hurte, 47
+
+What cause letted the Venetians, that they made not a Monarchi of the
+worlde, 48
+
+How an armie maye bee prepared in the countrie, where were no exersise
+of warre, 49
+
+The custome that the Romaines used, in the chosyng of their souldiours,
+51
+
+The greater number of men is best, 53
+
+Whether the multitude of armed men ar occation of confusion and of
+dissorder, 55
+
+How to prohibite, that the Capitaines make no discension, 57
+
+
+IN THE SECONDE BOOKE
+
+What armour the antiquetie used, 61
+
+The occation of the boldenes of the duchemen, 64
+
+Whiche maner of armyng menne is better either the Duche or Romaine
+fasion, 64
+
+Diverse examples of late dayes, 66
+
+An example of Tigran, 69
+
+Whether the footemen or the horsemen ought to bee estemed moste, 70
+
+The cause whie the Romaines were overcome of the parthians, 71
+
+What order, or what vertue maketh, that footemen overcum horsemen, 71
+
+Howe the antiquitie exersised their men to learne them to handle their
+weapons, 73
+
+What the antiquitie estemed moste happie in a common weale, 75
+
+The maner, of maintainyng the order, 77
+
+What a legion is, of Grekes called a Falange, and of Frenchemen
+Catterva, 77
+
+The devision of a legion, and the divers names of orders, 78
+
+The order of batellraye, and the manner of appoincting the battels, 82
+
+How to order, CCCC.L. men to doo some severall feate, 88
+
+The fation of a battaile that the Suisers make like a crosse, 90
+
+What carriages the Capitaines ought to have, and the number of carriages
+requisite to every band of men, 91
+
+Diverse effectes caused of diverse soundes, 93
+
+Whereof cometh the utilitie, and the dissorder of the armies that are
+now a daies, 93
+
+The manner of arminge men, 97
+
+The number of carriages that men of armes and lighte horsemen ought to
+have, 98
+
+
+IN THE THIRDE BOOKE
+
+The greatest dissorder that is used now a dayes in the orderinge of an
+armie, 102
+
+How the Romaines devided their armie in Hastati, Principi and Triarii,
+102
+
+The manner that the Romaines used to order them selves agayne in the
+overthrow, 103
+
+The custom of the Greekes, 103
+
+A maine battaile of Suissers, 104
+
+How manie legions of Romaine Citesens was in an ordinarie armie, 105
+
+The manner how to pitche a fielde to faighte a battaile, 106
+
+Of what number of faighting men an armie oughte to be, 110
+
+The description of a battaile that is a faighting, 111
+
+An exsample of Ventidio faighting against the Parthians, 114
+
+An example of Epaminondas, 115
+
+How the Artillerie is unprofitable, 116
+
+How that a maine battaile of Suissers cannot ocupie more then fower
+pikes, 120
+
+How the battailes when thei cum to be eight or ten, maye be receyved in
+the verie same space, that received the fyve, 123
+
+The armes that the Standarde of all tharmie ought to have, 125
+
+Divers examples of the antiquetie, 126
+
+
+IN THE FOWERTH BOOKE
+
+Whether the fronte of the armie ought to bee made large, 132
+
+To how many thinges respecte ought to be had, in the ordringe of an
+armie, 133
+
+An example of Scipio, 134
+
+In what place a Capitain maie order his armie with savegarde not to be
+clene overthrowen, 135
+
+Aniball and Scipio praised for the orderynge of their armies, 135
+
+Cartes used of the Asiaticans, 137
+
+Diverse examples of the antiquitie, 137
+
+The prudence which the Capitaine ought to use, in the accidence that
+chaunse in faightinge, 138
+
+What a Capitaine ought to doo, that is the conqueror, or that is
+conquered, 140
+
+A Capitaine ought not to faighte the battaile, but with advauntage,
+excepte he be constrained, 142
+
+How to avoide the faightinge of the fielde, 144
+
+Advertismentes that the Capitaine ought to have, 146
+
+Speakyng to souldiers helpeth muche to make them to be curagious and
+bolde, 146
+
+Whether all the armie ought to bee spoken unto, or onely to the heddes
+thereof, 147
+
+
+IN THE FYVETH BOOKE
+
+The manner how to leade an armie gowinge thorough suspected places, or
+to incounter the enemie, 152
+
+An example of Aniball, 156
+
+Wether any thing oughte to bee commaunded with the voise or with the
+trompet, 159
+
+The occations why the warres made now a dayes, doo impoverish the
+conquerors as well as the conquered, 162
+
+Credite ought not to be given to thinges which stand nothinge with
+reason, 164
+
+The armie ought not to knowe what the Capitaine purposeth to doo, 165
+
+Diverse examples, 167
+
+
+IN THE SIXTE BOOKE
+
+The maner how to incampe an armie, 175
+
+How brode the spaces and the wayes ought to be within the campe, 182
+
+What waye ought to be used when it is requiset to incampe nere the
+enemie, 184
+
+How the watche and warde ought to be apoincted in the campe, and what
+punishmente they ought to have that doo not their dutie, 186
+
+How the Romanies prohibited women to be in their armies and idell games
+to be used, 188
+
+How to incampe accordinge to the nomber of men, and what nomber of menne
+maie suffise againste, what so ever enemie that wer, 191
+
+How to doo to be assured, of the fideletie of those that are had in
+suspition, 193
+
+What a Capitaine ought to doo beinge beseged of his enemies, 194
+
+Example of Coriliano and others, 195
+
+It is requiset chiefly for a Capitain to kepe his souldiers punished and
+payed, 197
+
+Of aguries, 197
+
+Moste excellent advertismentes and pollicies, 198
+
+The occation of the overthrowe of the Frenchmen at Garigliano, 202
+
+
+IN THE SEVENTH BOOKE
+
+Cities are strong, either by nature or by industrie, 205
+
+The maner of fortificacion, 205
+
+Bulwarkes ought not to be made oute of a towne distante from the same,
+207
+
+Example of Genoa, 208
+
+Of the Countes Catherin, 208
+
+The fation of percullesies used in Almaine, 210
+
+Howe the battelmentes of walles were made at the first, and how thei are
+made now adaies, 210
+
+The provisions that is mete to bee made, for the defence of a towne, 212
+
+Divers pollicies, for the beseginge and defendinge of a toune or
+fortres, 214
+
+Secrete conveing of letters, 219
+
+The defence againste a breache, 219
+
+Generall rules of warre, 222
+
+
+
+
+THE FIRST BOOKE
+
+OF THE ARTE OF WARRE OF
+
+NICHOLAS MACHIAVEL, CITEZEIN
+
+AND SECRETARIE OF FLORENCE,
+
+UNTO
+
+LAURENCE PHILIP STROZZE
+
+ONE OF THE NOBILTIE
+
+OF FLORENCE.
+
+
+
+
+THE FIRST BOOKE
+
+
+Forasmuch as I beleve that after death, al men maie be praised without
+charge, al occasion and suspecte of flatterie beyng taken awaie, I shal
+not doubte to praise our Cosimo Ruchellay, whose name was never
+remembred of me without teares, havyng knowen in him those condicions,
+the whiche in a good frende or in a citezien, might of his freendes, or
+of his countrie, be desired: for that I doe not knowe what thyng was so
+muche his, not excepting any thing (saving his soule) which for his
+frendes willingly of him should not have been spent: I knowe not what
+enterprise should have made him afraide, where the same should have ben
+knowen to have been for the benefite of his countrie. And I doe painly
+confesse, not to have mette emongest so many men, as I have knowen, and
+practised withal, a man, whose minde was more inflamed then his, unto
+great and magnificent thynges. Nor he lamented not with his frendes of
+any thyng at his death, but because he was borne to die a yong manne
+within his owne house, before he had gotten honour, and accordynge to
+his desire, holpen any manne: for that he knewe, that of him coulde not
+be spoken other, savyng that there should be dead a good freende. Yet it
+resteth not for this, that we, and what so ever other that as we did
+know him, are not able to testifie (seeyng his woorkes doe not appere)
+of his lawdable qualities. True it is, that fortune was not for al this,
+so muche his enemie, that it left not some brief record of the
+readinesse of his witte, as doeth declare certaine of his writinges, and
+settyng foorthe of amorous verses, wherin (although he were not in love)
+yet for that he would not consume time in vain, til unto profounder
+studies fortune should have brought him, in his youthfull age he
+exercised himselfe. Whereby moste plainly maie be comprehended, with how
+moche felicitie he did describe his conceiptes, and how moche for
+Poetrie he should have ben estemed, if the same for the ende therof, had
+of him ben exercised. Fortune having therfore deprived us from the use
+of so great a frende, me thinketh there can bee founde no other remedie,
+then as muche as is possible, to seke to enjoye the memorie of the same,
+and to repeate suche thynges as hath been of him either wittely saied,
+or wisely disputed. And for as much as there is nothyng of him more
+freshe, then the reasonyng, the whiche in his last daies Signior
+Fabricio Collonna, in his orchard had with him, where largely of the
+same gentilman were disputed matters of warre, bothe wittely and
+prudently, for the moste parte of Cosimo demaunded, I thought good, for
+that I was present there with certain other of our frendes, to bring it
+to memorie, so that reading the same, the frendes of Cosimo, whiche
+thether came, might renewe in their mindes, the remembraunce of his
+vertue: and the other part beyng sorie for their absence, might partly
+learne hereby many thynges profitable, not onely to the life of
+Souldiours, but also to civil mennes lives, which gravely of a moste
+wise man was disputed. Therfore I saie, that Fabricio Collonna
+retournyng out of Lombardie, where longe time greatly to his glorie, he
+had served in the warres the catholike kyng, he determined, passyng by
+Florence, to rest himself certain daies in the same citee, to visite the
+Dukes excellencie, and to see certaine gentilmen, whiche in times paste
+he had been acquainted withal. For whiche cause, unto Cosimo it was
+thought beste to bid him into his orchard, not so muche to use his
+liberalitee, as to have occasion to talke with him at leasure, and of
+him to understande and to learne divers thinges, accordyng as of suche a
+man maie bee hoped for, semyng to have accasion to spende a daie in
+reasonyng of suche matters, which to his minde should best satisfie him.
+Then Fabricio came, accordyng to his desire, and was received of Cosimo
+together, with certain of his trustie frendes, emongest whome wer Zanoby
+Buondelmonti, Baptiste Palla, and Luigi Allamanni, all young men loved
+of him and of the very same studies moste ardente, whose good qualities,
+for as muche as every daie, and at every houre thei dooe praise
+themselves, we will omit. Fabricio was then accordyng to the time and
+place honoured, of all those honours, that thei could possible devise:
+But the bankettyng pleasures beyng passed, and the tabel taken up, and
+al preparacion of feastinges consumed, the which are sone at an ende in
+sight of greate men, who to honorable studies have their mindes set, the
+daie beyng longe, and the heate muche, Cosimo judged for to content
+better his desire, that it wer well doen, takyng occasion to avoide the
+heate, to bring him into the moste secret, and shadowest place of his
+garden. Where thei beyng come, and caused to sit, some upon herbes, some
+in the coldest places, other upon litle seates which there was ordeined,
+under the shadow of moste high trees, Fabricio praiseth the place, to be
+delectable, and particularly consideryng the trees, and not knowyng some
+of them, he did stande musinge in his minde, whereof Cosimo beeyng a
+ware saied, you have not peradventure ben acquainted with some of these
+sortes of trees: But doe not marvell at it, for as muche as there bee
+some, that were more estemed of the antiquitie, then thei are commonly
+now a daies: and he tolde him the names of them, and how Barnardo his
+graundfather did travaile in suche kinde of plantyng: Fabricio replied,
+I thought it shuld be the same you saie, and this place, and this
+studie, made me to remember certaine Princes of the Kyngdome of Naples,
+whiche of these anncient tillage and shadow doe delight. And staiyng
+upon this talke, and somewhat standyng in a studdie, saied moreover, if
+I thought I should not offende, I woud tell my opinion, but I beleeve I
+shall not, commonyng with friendes, and to dispute of thynges, and not
+to condemne them. How much better thei should have doen (be it spoken
+without displeasure to any man) to have sought to been like the
+antiquitie in thinges strong, and sharpe, not in the delicate and softe:
+and in those that thei did in the Sunne, not in the shadowe: and to take
+the true and perfecte maners of the antiquitie: not those that are false
+and corrupted: for that when these studies pleased my Romaines, my
+countrie fell into ruin. Unto which Cosimo answered. But to avoide the
+tediousnesse to repeate so many times he saied, and the other answered,
+there shall be onely noted the names of those that speakes, without
+rehersing other.
+
+Then COSIMO saied, you have opened the waie of a reasoning, which I have
+desired, and I praie you that you will speake withoute respecte, for
+that that I without respecte will aske you, and if I demaundyng, or
+repliyng shall excuse, or accuse any, it shal not be to excuse, or
+accuse, but to understande of you the truth.
+
+FABRICIO. And I shall be very well contented to tell you that, whiche I
+understand of al the same that you shall aske me, the whiche if it shall
+be true, or no, I wil report me to your judgemente: and I will be glad
+that you aske me, for that I am to learne, as well of you in askyng me,
+as you of me in aunswerynge you: for as muche as many times a wise
+demaunder, maketh one to consider many thynges, and to knowe many other,
+whiche without havyng been demaunded, he should never have knowen.
+
+COSIMO. I will retourne to thesame, that you said first, that my
+graundfather and those your Princes, should have doen more wisely, to
+have resembled the antiquitie in hard thinges, then in the delicate, and
+I will excuse my parte, for that, the other I shall leave to excuse for
+you. I doe not beleve that in his tyme was any manne, that so moche
+detested the livyng in ease, as he did, and that so moche was a lover of
+the same hardenesse of life, whiche you praise: notwithstandyng he knewe
+not how to bee able in persone, nor in those of his sonnes to use it,
+beeyng borne in so corrupte a worlde, where one that would digresse from
+the common use, should bee infamed and disdained of every man:
+consideryng that if one in the hottest day of Summer being naked, should
+wallowe hymself upon the Sande, or in Winter in the moste coldest
+monethes upon the snowe, as Diogenes did, he should be taken as a foole.
+If one, (as the Spartans were wonte to doe) should nourishe his children
+in a village, makyng them to slepe in the open aire, to go with hedde
+and feete naked, to washe them selves in the colde water for to harden
+them, to be able to abide moche paine, and for to make theim to love
+lesse life, and to feare lesse death, he should be scorned, and soner
+taken as a wilde beast, then as a manne. If there wer seen also one, to
+nourishe himself with peason and beanes, and to despise gold, as
+Fabricio doeth, he should bee praised of fewe, and followed of none: so
+that he being afraied of this present maner of livyng, he left
+thauncient facions, and thesame, that he could with lest admiracion
+imitate in the antiquitie, he did.
+
+FABRICIO. You have excused it in this parte mooste strongly: and surely
+you saie the truthe: but I did not speake so moche of this harde maner
+of livyng, as of other maners more humaine, and whiche have with the
+life now a daies greater conformitie. The whiche I doe not beleve, that
+it hath been difficulte to bryng to passe unto one, who is nombred
+emongest Princes of a citee: for the provyng whereof, I will never seke
+other, then thexample of the Romaines. Whose lives, if thei wer well
+considred, and thorders of thesame common weale, there should therin be
+seen many thinges, not impossible to induce into a cominaltie, so that
+it had in her any good thing.
+
+COSIMO. What thynges are those, that you would induce like unto the
+antiquitie.
+
+FABRICIO. To honour, and to reward vertue, not to despise povertie, to
+esteme the maners and orders of warfare, to constrain the citezeins to
+love one an other, to live without sectes, to esteme lesse the private,
+than the publike, and other like thinges, that easily might bee with
+this time accompanied: the which maners ar not difficult to bring to
+passe, when a man should wel consider them, and entre therin by due
+meanes: for asmoche as in thesame, the truth so moche appereth, that
+every common wit, maie easely perceive it: which thing, who that
+ordeineth, doth plant trees, under the shadowe wherof, thei abide more
+happie, and more pleasantly, then under these shadowes of this goodly
+gardeine.
+
+COSIMO. I will not speake any thyng againste thesame that you have
+saied, but I will leave it to bee judged of these, whom easely can
+judge, and I will tourne my communicacion to you, that is an accusar of
+theim, the whiche in grave, and greate doynges, are not followers of the
+antiquitie, thinkyng by this waie more easely to be in my entent
+satisfied. Therfore, I would knowe of you whereof it groweth, that of
+the one side you condempne those, that in their doynges resemble not the
+antiquitie? Of the other, in the warre, whiche is your art, wherin you
+are judged excellent, it is not seen, that you have indevoured your
+self, to bryng the same to any soche ende, or any thyng at all resembled
+therein the auncient maners.
+
+FABRICIO. You are happened upon the poincte, where I loked: for that my
+talke deserved no other question: nor I desired other: and albeit that I
+could save my self with an easie excuse, not withstandyng for my more
+contentacion, and yours, seyng that the season beareth it, I will enter
+in moche longer reasoning. Those men, whiche will enterprise any thyng,
+ought firste with all diligence to prepare theim selves, to be ready and
+apte when occasion serveth, to accomplish that, which thei have
+determined to worke: and for that when the preparacions are made
+craftely, thei are not knowen, there cannot be accused any man of any
+negligence, if firste it be not disclosed by thoccasion: in the which
+working not, is after seen, either that there is not prepared so moche
+as suffiseth, or that there hath not been of any part therof thought
+upon. And for as moche as to me there is not come any occasion to be
+able, to shewe the preparacions made of me, to reduce the servise of
+warre into his auncient orders, if I have not reduced it, I cannot be of
+you, nor of other blamed: I beleve this excuse shuld suffise for answere
+to your accusement.
+
+COSIMO. It should suffice, when I wer certain, that thoccasion were not
+come.
+
+FABRICIO. But for that I know, that you maie doubt whether this occasion
+hath been cum, or no, I will largely (when you with pacience will heare
+me) discourse what preparacions are necessary first to make, what
+occasion muste growe, what difficultie doeth let, that the preparacions
+help not, and why thoccasion cannot come, and how these things at ones,
+which some contrary endes, is most difficill, and most easie to do.
+
+COSIMO. You cannot do bothe to me, and unto these other, a thing more
+thankfull then this. And if to you it shall not be tedious to speake,
+unto us it shal never be grevous to heare: but for asmoch as this
+reasonyng ought to be long, I will with your license take helpe of these
+my frendes: and thei, and I praie you of one thyng, that is, that you
+will not bee greved, if some tyme with some question of importaunce, we
+interrupte you.
+
+[Sidenote: Why a good man ought never to use the exercise of armes, as
+his art.]
+
+FABRICIO. I am moste well contented, that you Cosimo with these other
+younge men here, doe aske me: for that I beleve, that youthfulnes, will
+make you lovers of warlike thinges, and more easie to beleve thesame,
+that of me shalbe saied. These other, by reason of havyng nowe their
+hedde white, and for havyng upon their backes their bloude congeled,
+parte of theim are wonte to bee enemies of warre, parte uncorrectable,
+as those, whom beleve, that tymes, and not the naughtie maners,
+constraine men to live thus: so that safely aske you all of me, and
+without respecte: the whiche I desire, as well, for that it maie be unto
+me a little ease, as also for that I shall have pleasure, not to leave
+in your mynde any doubt. I will begin at your woordes, where you saied
+unto me, that in the warre, that is my arte, I had not indevoured to
+bryng it to any aunciente ende: whereupon I saie, as this beyng an arte,
+whereby men of no maner of age can live honestly, it cannot bee used for
+an arte, but of a common weale: or of a kyngdome: and the one and the
+other of these, when thei bee well ordeined, will never consente to any
+their Citezeins, or Subjectes, to use it for any arte, nor never any
+good manne doeth exercise it for his particulare arte: for as moche as
+good he shall never bee judged, whom maketh an excersise thereof, where
+purposing alwaies to gaine thereby, it is requisite for hym to be
+ravenyng, deceiptfull, violente, and to have many qualities, the whiche
+of necessitie maketh hym not good: nor those menne cannot, whiche use it
+for an arte, as well the greate as the leaste, bee made otherwise: for
+that this arte doeth not nourishe them in peace. Wherfore thei ar
+constrained either to thinke that there is no peace, or so moche to
+prevaile in the tyme of warre, that in peace thei maie bee able to kepe
+them selves: and neither of these two thoughtes happeneth in a good man:
+for that in mindyng to bee able to finde himself at all tymes, dooe
+growe robberies, violence, slaughters, whiche soche souldiours make as
+well to the frendes, as to the enemies: and in mindyng not to have
+peace, there groweth deceiptes, whiche the capitaines use to those,
+whiche hire them, to the entent the warre maie continue, and yet though
+the peace come often, it happeneth that the capitaines beyng deprived of
+their stipendes, and of their licencious livyng, thei erecte an ansigne
+of adventures, and without any pitie thei put to sacke a province. Have
+not you in memorie of your affaires, how that beyng many Souldiours in
+Italie without wages, bicause the warre was ended, thei assembled
+together many companies, and went taxyng the tounes, and sackyng the
+countrie, without beyng able to make any remedie? Have you not red, that
+the Carthagenes souldiours, the first warre beyng ended which thei had
+with the Romaines, under Matho, and Spendio, twoo capitaines,
+rebelliously constituted of theim, made more perillous warre to the
+Carthaginens, then thesame whiche thei had ended with the Romaines? In
+the time of our fathers, Frances Sforza, to the entente to bee able to
+live honourably in the time of peace, not only beguiled the Millenars,
+whose souldiour he was, but he toke from them their libertie and became
+their Prince. Like unto him hath been all the other souldiours of Italie
+whiche have used warfare, for their particulare arte, and albeeit thei
+have not through their malignitie becomen Dukes of Milein, so moche the
+more thei deserve to bee blamed: for that although thei have not gotten
+so moch as he, thei have all (if their lives wer seen) sought to bring
+the like thynges to passe. Sforza father of Fraunces, constrained Quene
+Jone, to caste her self into the armes of the king of Aragon, havyng in
+a sodain forsaken her, and in the middest of her enemies, lefte her
+disarmed, onely to satisfie his ambicion, either in taxyng her, or in
+takyng from her the Kyngdome. Braccio with the verie same industrie,
+sought to possesse the kyngdome of Naples, and if he had not been
+overthrowen and slaine at Aquila, he had brought it to passe. Like
+disorders growe not of other, then of soche men as hath been, that use
+the exercise of warfare, for their proper arte. Have not you a Proverbe,
+whiche fortefieth my reasons, whiche saieth, that warre maketh Theves,
+and peace hangeth theim up? For as moche as those, whiche knowe not how
+to live of other exercise, and in the same finding not enie man to
+sustayne theym, and havyng not so moche power, to knowe how to reduce
+theim selves together, to make an open rebellion, they are constrayned
+of necessetie to Robbe in the highe waies, and Justice is enforced to
+extinguishe theim.
+
+COSIMO. You have made me to esteme this arte of warfare almoste as
+nothyng, and I have supposed it the moste excellentes, and moste
+honourableste that hath been used: so that if you declare me it not
+better, I cannot remaine satisfied: For that when it is thesame, that
+you saie, I knowe not, whereof groweth the glorie of Cesar, of Pompei,
+of Scipio, of Marcello, and of so many Romaine Capitaines, whiche by
+fame are celebrated as Goddes.
+
+FABRICIO. I have not yet made an ende of disputyng al thesame, that I
+purposed to propounde: whiche were twoo thynges, the one, that a good
+manne could not use this exercise for his arte: the other, that a common
+weale or a kingdome well governed, did never permitte, that their
+Subjectes or Citezeins should use it for an arte. Aboute the firste, I
+have spoken as moche as hath comen into my mynde: there remaineth in me
+to speake of the seconde where I woll come to aunswere to this your
+laste question, and I saie that Pompey and Cesar, and almoste all those
+Capitaines, whiche were at Rome, after the laste Carthagenens warre,
+gotte fame as valiaunt men, not as good, and those whiche lived before
+them, gotte glorie as valiaunte and good menne: the whiche grewe, for
+that these tooke not the exercise of warre for their arte: and those
+whiche I named firste, as their arte did use it. And so longe as the
+common weale lived unspotted, never any noble Citezein would presume, by
+the meane of soche exercise, to availe thereby in peace, breakyng the
+lawes, spoilyng the Provinces, usurpyng, and plaiyng the Tyraunte in the
+countrie, and in every maner prevailyng: nor any of how lowe degree so
+ever thei were, would goe aboute to violate the Religion, confederatyng
+theim selves with private men, not to feare the Senate, or to followe
+any tirannicall insolence, for to bee able to live with the arte of
+warre in all tymes. But those whiche were Capitaines, contented with
+triumphe, with desire did tourne to their private life, and those whiche
+were membres, would be more willyng to laie awaie their weapons, then to
+take them, and every manne tourned to his science, whereby thei gotte
+their livyng: Nor there was never any, that would hope with praie, and
+with this arte, to be able to finde theim selves. Of this there maie be
+made concernyng Citezeins, moste evidente conjecture, by the ensample of
+Regolo Attillio, who beyng Capitain of the Romaine armies in Affrica,
+and havyng as it wer overcome the Carthegenens, he required of the
+Senate, licence to retourne home, to kepe his possessions, and told
+them, that thei were marde of his housbandmen. Whereby it is more clere
+then the Sunne, that if thesame manne had used the warre as his arte,
+and by meanes thereof, had purposed to have made it profitable unto him,
+havyng in praie so many Provinces, he would not have asked license, to
+returne to kepe his feldes: for as moche as every daie he might
+otherwise, have gotten moche more, then the value of al those
+possessions: but bicause these good men and soche as use not the warre
+for their arte, will not take of thesame any thing then labour,
+perilles, and gloris, when thei are sufficiently glorious, thei desire
+to returne home, and to live of their owne science. Concernyng menne of
+lowe degree, and common souldiours, to prove that thei kepte the verie
+same order, it doeth appeare that every one willingly absented theim
+selves from soche exercise, and when thei served not in the warre, thei
+would have desired to serve, and when thei did serve, thei would have
+desired leave not to have served: whiche is wel knowen through many
+insamples, and inespecially seeyng how emonge the firste privileges,
+whiche the Romaine people gave to their Citezeins was, that thei should
+not be constrained against their willes, to serve in the warres.
+Therefore Rome so long as it was well governed, whiche was untill the
+commyng of Graccus, it had not any Souldiour that would take this
+exercise for an arte, and therefore it had fewe naughtie, and those few
+wer severely punished. Then a citee well governed, ought to desire, that
+this studie of warre, be used in tyme of peace for exercise, and in the
+time of warre, for necessitie and for glorie: and to suffer onely the
+common weale to use it for an arte, as Rome did, and what so ever
+Citezein, that hath in soche exercise other ende, is not good, and what
+so ever citee is governed otherwise, is not well ordeined.
+
+COSIMO. I remain contented enough and satisfied of thesame, whiche
+hetherto you have told, and this conclusion pleaseth me verie wel whiche
+you have made, and as muche as is loked for touching a common welth, I
+beleve that it is true, but concerning Kinges, I can not tell nowe, for
+that I woulde beleve that a Kinge would have about him, whome
+particularly should take suche exercise for his arte.
+
+FABRICIO. A kingdome well ordred ought moste of all to avoide the like
+kinde of men, for only thei, are the destruction of their king, and all
+together ministers of tiranny, and alledge me not to the contrarie anie
+presente kingdome, for that I woll denie you all those to be kingdomes
+well ordered, bicause the kingdomes whiche have good orders, give not
+their absolute Empire unto their king, saving in the armies, for as much
+as in this place only, a quicke deliberation is necessarie, and for this
+cause a principall power ought to be made. In the other affaires, he
+ought not to doe any thing without councell, and those are to be feared,
+which councell him, leaste he have some aboute him which in time of
+peace desireth to have warre bicause they are not able without the same
+to live, but in this, I wilbe a little more large: neither to seke a
+kingdome altogether good, but like unto those whiche be nowe a daies
+where also of a king those ought to be feared, whiche take the warre for
+theire art, for that the strength of armies without any doubte are the
+foote menne: so that if a king take not order in suche wise, that his
+men in time of peace may be content to returne home, and to live of
+their owne trades, it will follow of necessitie, that he ruinate: for
+that there is not found more perilous men, then those, whiche make the
+warre as their arte: bicause in such case, a king is inforsed either
+alwaies to make warre, or to paie them alwaies, or else to bee in
+perill, that they take not from him his kingdome. To make warre alwaies,
+it is not possible: to paie them alwaies it can not be: see that of
+necessitie, he runneth in peril to lese the state. The Romaines (as I
+have saide) so long as they were wise and good, would never permitte,
+that their Citizeins should take this exercise for their arte, although
+they were able to nurrishe them therin alwaies, for that that alwaies
+they made warre: but to avoide thesame hurte, whiche this continuall
+exercise might doe them, seyng the time did not varie, they changed the
+men, and from time to time toke such order with their legions, that in
+xv. yeres alwaies, they renewed them: and so thei had their men in the
+floure of their age, that is from xviij. to xxxiij. yeres, in which time
+the legges, the handes, and the yes answere the one the other, nor thei
+tarried not till there strengthe should decaie, and there naghtines
+increase, as it did after in the corrupted times. For as muche as
+Octavian first, and after Tiberius, minding more their own proper power,
+then the publicke profite, began to unarme the Romaine people, to be
+able easely to commaunde them, and to kepe continually those same armies
+on the frontries of the Empire: and bicause also they judged those, not
+sufficient to kepe brideled the people and Romaine Senate, they ordeined
+an armie called Pretoriano, which laie harde by the walles of Rome, and
+was as a rocke on the backe of the same Citie. And for as much as then
+thei began frely to permitte, that suche men as were apoincted in suche
+exercises, should use the service of warre for their arte, streight waie
+the insolence of theim grewe, that they became fearful unto the Senate,
+and hurtefull to the Emperour, whereby ensued suche harme, that manie
+were slaine thorough there insolensie: for that they gave, and toke
+awaie the Empire, to whome they thought good. And some while it hapned,
+that in one self time there were manie Emperours, created of divers
+armies, of whiche thinges proceded first the devision of the Empire, and
+at laste the ruine of the same. Therefore kinges ought, if thei wil live
+safely, to have there souldiours made of men, who when it is time to
+make warre, willingly for his love will go to the same, and when the
+peace cometh after, more willingly will returne home. Whiche alwaies
+wilbe, when thei shalbe men that know how to live of other arte then
+this: and so they ought to desire, peace beyng come, that there Prince
+doo tourne to governe their people, the gentilmen to the tending of
+there possessions, and the common souldiours to their particular arte,
+and everie one of these, to make warre to have peace, and not to seke to
+trouble the peace, to have warre.
+
+COSIMO. Truely this reasonyng of yours, I thinke to bee well considered,
+notwithstanding beyng almost contrarie to that, whiche till nowe I have
+thought, my minde as yet doeth not reste purged of all doubte, for as
+muche as I see manie Lordes and gentelmen, to finde them selves in time
+of peace, thorough the studies of warre, as your matches bee, who have
+provision of there princes, and of the cominaltie. I see also, almost al
+the gentelmen of armes, remaine with neir provision, I see manie
+souldiours lie in garison of Cities and fortresses, so that my thinkes,
+that there is place in time of peace, for everie one.
+
+FABRICIO. I doe not beleve that you beleve this, that in time of peace
+everie man may have place, bicause, put case that there coulde not be
+brought other reason, the small number, that all they make, whiche
+remaine in the places alledged of you, would answer you. What proporcion
+have the souldiours, whiche are requiset to bee in the warre with those,
+whiche in the peace are occupied? For as much as the fortreses, and the
+cities that be warded in time of peace, in the warre are warded muche
+more, unto whome are joyned the souldiours, whiche kepe in the fielde,
+whiche are a great number, all whiche in the peace be putte awaie. And
+concerning the garde of states, whiche are a small number, Pope July,
+and you have shewed to everie man, how muche are to be feared those, who
+will not learne to exercise any other art, then the warre, and you have
+for there insolence, deprived them from your garde, and have placed
+therin Swisers, as men borne and brought up under lawes, and chosen of
+the cominaltie, according to the true election: so that saie no more,
+that in peace is place for everie man. Concerning men at armes, thei al
+remaining in peace with their wages, maketh this resolution to seme more
+difficulte: notwithstandyng who considereth well all, shall finde the
+answere easie, bicause this manner of keping men of armes, is a
+corrupted manner and not good, the occasion is, for that they be men,
+who make thereof an arte, and of them their should grow every daie a
+thousande inconveniencies in the states, where thei should be, if thei
+were accompanied of sufficient company: but beyng fewe, and not able by
+them selves to make an armie, they cannot often doe suche grevous
+hurtes, neverthelesse they have done oftentimes: as I have said of
+Frances, and of Sforza his father, and of Braccio of Perugia: so that
+this use of keping men of armes, I doe not alowe, for it is a corrupte
+maner, and it may make great inconveniencies.
+
+COSIMO. Woulde you live without them? or keping them, how would you kepe
+them?
+
+[Sidenote: A kinge that hath about him any that are to much lovers of
+warre, or to much lovers of peace shal cause him to erre.]
+
+FABRICIO. By waie of ordinaunce, not like to those of the king of
+Fraunce: for as muche as they be perilous, and insolent like unto ours,
+but I would kepe them like unto those of the auncient Romaines, whom
+created their chivalry of their own subjectes, and in peace time, thei
+sente them home unto their houses, to live of their owne trades, as more
+largely before this reasoning ende, I shal dispute. So that if now this
+part of an armie, can live in such exercise, as wel when it is peace, it
+groweth of the corrupt order. Concerning the provisions, which are
+reserved to me, and to other capitaines, I saie unto you, that this
+likewise is an order moste corrupted: for as much as a wise common
+weale, ought not to give such stipendes to any, but rather thei ought to
+use for Capitaines in the warre, their Citezeins, and in time of peace
+to will, that thei returne to their occupations. Likewise also, a wise
+king either ought not to give to suche, or giving any, the occasion
+ought to be either for rewarde of some worthy dede, or else for the
+desire to kepe suche a kinde of man, as well in peace as in warre. And
+bicause you alledged me, I will make ensample upon my self, and saie
+that I never used the warre as an arte, for as muche as my arte, is to
+governe my subjectes, and to defende them, and to be able to defende
+them, to love peace, and to know how to make warre, and my kinge not so
+muche to rewarde and esteeme me, for my knowledge in the warre, as for
+the knowledge that I have to councel him in peace. Then a king ought not
+to desire to have about him, any that is not of this condicion if he be
+wise, and prudently minde to governe: for that, that if he shal have
+about him either to muche lovers of peace, or to much lovers of warre,
+they shall make him to erre. I cannot in this my firste reasoning, and
+according to my purpose saie more, and when this suffiseth you not, it
+is mete, you seke of them that may satisfie you better. You maie now
+verie well understand, how difficulte it is to bringe in use the
+auncient maners in the presente warres, and what preparations are mete
+for a wise man to make, and what occasions ought to be loked for, to be
+able to execute it. But by and by, you shall know these things better,
+if this reasoning make you not werie, conferring what so ever partes of
+the auncient orders hath ben, to the maners nowe presente.
+
+COSIMO. If we desired at the first to here your reason of these thinges,
+truly thesame whiche hetherto you have spoken, hath doubled our desire:
+wherefore we thanke you for that we have hard, and the rest, we crave of
+you to here.
+
+FABRICIO. Seyng that it is so your pleasure, I will begin to intreate of
+this matter from the beginning, to the intent it maye be better
+understode, being able by thesame meane, more largely to declare it. The
+ende of him that wil make warre, is to be able to fight with every enemy
+in the fielde and to be able to overcum an armie. To purpose to doe
+this, it is convenient to ordeine an hoost. To ordein an hoost, their
+must be found menne, armed, ordered, and as well in the small, as in the
+great orders exercised, to knowe howe to kepe araie, and to incampe, so
+that after bringing them unto the enemie, either standing or marching,
+they maie know how to behave themselves valiantly. In this thing
+consisteth all the industrie of the warre on the lande, whiche is the
+most necessarie, and the most honorablest, for he that can wel order a
+fielde against the enemie, the other faultes that he should make in the
+affaires of warre, wilbe borne with: but he that lacketh this knowledge,
+although that in other particulars he be verie good, he shal never bring
+a warre to honor: for as muche as a fielde that thou winnest, lesing?
+img 94 doeth cancell all other thy evill actes: so like wise lesing it,
+all thinges well done of thee before, remaine vaine. Therfore, beyng
+necessarie first to finde the menne, it is requiset to come to the
+choise of them. They whiche unto the warre have given rule, will that
+the menne be chosen out of temperate countries, to the intente they may
+have hardines, and prudence, for as muche as the hote countrey, bredes
+prudente men and not hardy, the colde, hardy, and not prudente. This
+rule is good to be geven, to one that were prince of all the world,
+bicause it is lawfull for him to choose men out of those places, whiche
+he shall thinke beste. But minding to give a rule, that every one may
+use, it is mete to declare, that everie common weale, and every
+kingdome, ought to choose their souldiours out of their owne countrie,
+whether it be hote, colde, or temperate: for that it is scene by olde
+ensamples, how that in every countrie with exercise, their is made good
+souldiours: bicause where nature lacketh, the industry supplieth, the
+which in this case is worthe more, then nature, and taking them in other
+places, you shal not have of the choise, for choise is as much to saie,
+as the best of a province, and to have power to chuse those that will
+not, as well as those that wil serve. Wherfore, you muste take your
+choise in those places, that are subjecte unto you, for that you cannot
+take whome you liste, in the countries that are not yours, but you muste
+take suche as will goe with you.
+
+COSIMO. Yet there maie bee of those, that will come, taken and lefte,
+and therefore, thei maie be called chosen.
+
+[Sidenote: Oute of what Countrie is best to chuse Souldiours to make a
+good election.]
+
+FABUICIO. You saie the truthe in a certaine maner, but consider the
+faultes, whiche soche a chosen manne hath in himselfe, for that also
+many times it hapneth, that he is not a chosen manne. For those that are
+not thy subjectes, and whiche willyngly doe serve, are not of the beste,
+but rather of the worste of a Province, for as moche as if any be
+sclanderous, idell, unruly, without Religion, fugetive from the rule of
+their fathers, blasphemours, Dise plaiers, in every condicion evill
+brought up, bee those, whiche will serve, whose customes cannot be more
+contrarie, to a true and good servise: Albeit, when there bee offered
+unto you, so many of soche men, as come to above the nomber, that you
+have appoincted, you maie chuse them: but the matter beyng naught, the
+choise is not possible to be good: also, many times it chaunceth, that
+thei be not so many, as will make up the nomber, whereof you have nede,
+so that beyng constrained to take them al, it commeth to passe, that
+thei cannot then bee called chosen men, but hired Souldiours. With this
+disorder the armies of Italie, are made now a daies, and in other
+places, except in Almaine, bicause there thei doe not hire any by
+commaundemente of the Prince, but accordyng to the will of them, that
+are disposed to serve. Then consider now, what maners of those aunciente
+armies, maie bee brought into an armie of men, put together by like
+waies.
+
+COSIMO. What waie ought to bee used then?
+
+FABRICIO. The same waie that I saied, to chuse them of their owne
+subjectes, and with the auethoritie of the Prince.
+
+COSMO. In the chosen, shall there bee likewise brought in any auncient
+facion?
+
+FABRICIO. You know well enough that ye: when he that should commaunde
+theim, were their Prince, or ordinarie lorde, whether he were made
+chief, or as a Citezein, and for the same tyme Capitaine, beyng a common
+weale, otherwise it is harde to make any thyng good.
+
+COSIMO. Why?
+
+FABRICIO. I will tell you a nane: For this time I will that this suffise
+you, that it cannot be wrought well by other waie.
+
+[Sidenote: Whether it be better to take menne oute of townes or out of
+the countrie to serve.]
+
+COSIMO. Having then to make this choyse of men in their owne countries,
+whether judge you that it be better to take them oute of the citie, or
+out of the countrie?
+
+FABRICIO. Those that have written of such matters, doe all agree, that
+it is best to chuse them out of the countrie, being men accustomed to no
+ease, nurished in labours, used to stonde in the sunne, to flie the
+shadow, knowing how to occupy the spade, to make a diche, to carrie a
+burden, and to bee without any deceite, and without malisiousnes. But in
+this parte my opinion should be, that beyng two sortes of souldiours, on
+foote, and on horsebacke, that those on foote, should be chosen out of
+the countrie, and those on horseback, oute of the Cities.
+
+[Sidenote: Of what age Souldiours ought to bee chosen.]
+
+COSIMO. Of what age would you choose them?
+
+FABRICIO. I would take them, when I had to make a newe armie, from xvii.
+to xl. yeres: when it were made alredy, and I had to restore them, of
+xvii. alwaies.
+
+COSIMO. I doe not understonde well this distinction.
+
+FABRICIO. I shall tell you: when I should ordaine an hooste to make
+warre, where were no hooste alredy, it should be necessarie to chuse all
+those men, which were most fitte and apte for the warre, so that they
+were of servisable age, that I might bee able to instructe theim, as by
+me shalbe declared: but when I would make my choise of menne in places,
+where a powre were alredy prepared, for suppliyng of thesame, I would
+take them of xvii. yeres: for as much as the other of more age be alredy
+chosen and apoincted.
+
+COSIMO. Then woulde you prepare a power like to those whiche is in our
+countrie?
+
+FABRICIO. Ye truly, it is so that I would arme them, Captaine them,
+exercise and order them in a maner, whiche I cannot tell, if you have
+ordred them so.
+
+COSIMO. Then do you praise the keping of order?
+
+FABRICIO. Wherefore would you that I should dispraise it?
+
+COSIMO. Bicause many wise menne have alwaies blamed it.
+
+FABRICIO. You speake against all reason, to saie that a wise man blameth
+order, he maie bee well thought wise, and be nothyng so.
+
+COSIMO. The naughtie profe, which it hath alwaies, maketh us to have
+soche opinion thereof.
+
+FABRICIO. Take hede it be not your fault, and not the kepyng of order,
+the whiche you shall knowe, before this reasonyng be ended.
+
+COSIMO. You shall doe a thyng moste thankfull, yet I will saie
+concernyng thesame, that thei accuse it, to the entente you maie the
+better justifie it. Thei saie thus, either it is unprofitable, and we
+trustyng on the same, shall make us to lese our state, or it shall be
+verteous, and by thesame meane, he that governeth may easely deprive us
+thereof. Thei alledge the Romaines, who by meane of their owne powers,
+loste their libertie. Thei alledge the Venicians, and the Frenche king,
+whiche Venicians, bicause thei will not be constrained, to obeie one of
+their owne Citezeins, use the power of straungers: and the Frenche kyng
+hath disarmed his people, to be able more easely to commaunde them, but
+thei whiche like not the ordinaunces, feare moche more the
+unprofitablenesse, that thei suppose maie insue thereby, then any thyng
+els: the one cause whiche thei allege is, bicause thei are unexperte:
+The other, for that thei have to serve par force: for asmoche as thei
+saie, that the aged bee not so dissiplinable, nor apte to learne the
+feate of armes, and that by force, is doen never any thyng good.
+
+[Sidenote: By what meanes souldiours bee made bolde and experte.]
+
+FABRICIO. All these reasons that you have rehearsed, be of men, whiche
+knoweth the thyng full little, as I shall plainly declare. And firste,
+concernyng the unprofitablenesse, I tell you, that there is no service
+used in any countrie more profitable, then the service by the Subjectes
+of thesame nor thesame service cannot bee prepared, but in this maner:
+and for that this nedeth not to be disputed of, I will not lese moche
+tyme: bicause al thensamples of auncient histores, make for my purpose,
+and for that thei alledge the lacke of experience, and to use
+constraint: I saie how it is true, that the lacke of experience, causeth
+lacke of courage, and constrainte, maketh evill contentacion: but
+courage, and experience thei are made to gette, with the maner of armyng
+theim, exercisyng, and orderyng theim, as in proceadyng of this
+reasonyng, you shall heare. But concernyng constrainte, you ought to
+understande, that the menne, whiche are conducted to warfare, by
+commaundement of their Prince, thei ought to come, neither altogether
+forced, nor altogether willyngly, for as moche as to moche willyngnesse,
+would make thinconveniencies, where I told afore, that he should not be
+a chosen manne, and those would be fewe that would go: and so to moche
+constraint, will bring forth naughtie effectes. Therefore, a meane ought
+to be taken, where is not all constrainte, nor all willingnesse: but
+beyng drawen of a respecte, that thei have towardes their Prince, where
+thei feare more the displeasure of thesame, then the presente paine: and
+alwaies it shall happen to be a constrainte, in maner mingled with
+willingnesse, that there cannot growe soche evil contentacion, that it
+make evill effectes. Yet I saie not for all this, that it cannot bee
+overcome, for that full many tymes, were overcome the Romaine armies,
+and the armie of Aniball was overcome, so that it is seen, that an armie
+cannot be ordained so sure, that it cannot be overthrowen. Therefore,
+these your wise men, ought not to measure this unprofitablenesse, for
+havyng loste ones, but to beleve, that like as thei lese, so thei maie
+winne, and remeadie the occasion of the losse: and when thei shall seke
+this thei shall finde, that it hath not been through faulte of the waie,
+but of the order, whiche had not his perfeccion and as I have saied,
+thei ought to provide, not with blamyng the order, but with redressing
+it, the whiche how it ought to be doen, you shall understande, from
+poinct to poinct. Concernyng the doubte, leste soche ordinaunces, take
+not from thee thy state, by meane of one, whiche is made hedde therof, I
+answere, that the armure on the backes of citezeins, or subjectes, given
+by the disposicion of order and lawe, did never harme, but rather
+alwaies it doeth good, and mainteineth the citee, moche lenger in
+suretie, through helpe of this armure, then without. Rome continued free
+CCCC. yeres, and was armed. Sparta viii.C. Many other citees have been
+disarmed, and have remained free, lesse then xl. For as moche as citees
+have nede of defence, and when thei have no defence of their owne, thei
+hire straungers, and the straunges defence, shall hurte moche soner the
+common weale, then their owne: bicause thei be moche easier to be
+corrupted, and a citezein that becommeth mightie, maie moche soner
+usurpe, and more easely bryng his purpose to passe, where the people bee
+disarmed, that he seketh to oppresse: besides this, a citee ought to
+feare a greate deale more, twoo enemies then one. Thesame citee that
+useth straungers power, feareth at one instant the straunger, whiche it
+hireth, and the Citezein: and whether this feare ought to be, remember
+thesame, whiche I rehearsed a little a fore of Frances Sforza. That
+citee, whiche useth her own proper power, feareth no man, other then
+onely her owne Citezein. But for all the reasons that maie bee saied,
+this shall serve me, that never any ordeined any common weale, or
+Kyngdome, that would not thinke, that thei theim selves, that inhabite
+thesame, should with their sweardes defende it.
+
+And if the Venicians had been so wise in this, as in all their other
+orders, thei should have made a new Monarchie in the world, whom so
+moche the more deserve blame, havyng been armed of their first giver of
+lawes: for havyng no dominion on the lande, thei wer armed on the sea,
+where thei made their warre vertuously, and with weapons in their
+handes, increased their countrie. But when thei were driven to make
+warre on the lande, to defende Vicenza, where thei ought to have sent
+one of their citezens, to have fought on the lande, thei hired for their
+capitain, the Marques of Mantua: this was thesame foolishe acte, whiche
+cut of their legges, from climyng into heaven, and from enlargyng their
+dominion: and if thei did it, bicause thei beleved that as thei knewe,
+how to make warre on the Sea, so thei mistrusted theim selves, to make
+it on the lande, it was a mistruste not wise: for as moche as more
+easely, a capitain of the sea, whiche is used to fight with the windes,
+with the water, and with men, shall become a Capitaine of the lande,
+where he shall fight with men onely, then a capitaine of the lande, to
+become a capitain of the sea. The Romanies knowyng how to fight on the
+lande, and on the sea, commyng to warre, with the Carthaginens, whiche
+were mightie on the sea, hired not Grekes, or Spaniardes, accustomed to
+the sea, but thei committed thesame care, to their Citezeins, whiche
+thei sent on the land, and thei overcame. If thei did it, for that one
+of their citezeins should not become a tiraunt, it was a feare smally
+considered: for that besides thesame reasons, whiche to this purpose, a
+little afore I have rehearsed, if a Citezein with the powers on the sea,
+was never made a tiraunt in a citee standyng in the sea, so moche the
+lesse he should have been able to accomplishe this with the powers of
+the lande: whereby thei ought to se that the weapons in the handes of
+their Citezeins, could not make tirantes: but the naughtie orders of the
+governement, whiche maketh tirannie in a citee, and thei havyng good
+governement, thei nede not to feare their owne weapons: thei toke
+therefore an unwise waie, the whiche hath been occasion, to take from
+them moche glorie, and moche felicitie. Concernyng the erroure, whiche
+the kyng of Fraunce committeth not kepyng instructed his people in the
+warre, the whiche those your wise men alledge for ensample, there is no
+man, (his particulare passions laied a side) that doeth not judge this
+fault, to be in thesame kyngdome, and this negligence onely to make hym
+weake. But I have made to greate a digression, and peradventure am come
+out of my purpose, albeit I have doen it to aunswere you, and to shewe
+you, that in no countrie, there can bee made sure foundacion, for
+defence in other powers but of their owne subjectes: and their own
+power, cannot be prepared otherwise, then by waie of an ordinaunce, nor
+by other waie, to induce the facion of an armie in any place, nor by
+other meane to ordein an instruction of warfare. If you have red the
+orders, whiche those first kynges made in Rome, and inespecially Servio
+Tullo, you shall finde that the orders of the Classi is no other, then
+an ordinaunce, to bee able at a sodaine, to bryng together an armie, for
+defence of thesame citee. But let us retourne to our choise, I saie
+againe, that havyng to renewe an olde order, I would take them of xvii.
+havyng to make a newe armie, I would take them of all ages, betwene
+xvii. and xl. to be able to warre straight waie.
+
+[Sidenote: Of what science soldiours ought to bee chosen.]
+
+COSIMO. Would you make any difference, of what science you would chuse
+them?
+
+FABRICIO. The aucthours, which have written of the arte of warre, make
+difference, for that thei will not, that there bee taken Foulers,
+Fishers, Cookes, baudes, nor none that use any science of
+voluptuousnesse. But thei will, that there bee taken Plowmen, Ferrars,
+Smithes, Carpenters, Buchars, Hunters, and soche like: but I would make
+little difference, through conjecture of the science, concernyng the
+goodnesse of the man, notwithstandyng, in as moche as to be able with
+more profite to use theim, I would make difference, and for this cause,
+the countrie men, which are used to till the grounde, are more
+profitable then any other. Next to whom be Smithes, Carpentars, Ferrars,
+Masons, wherof it is profitable to have enough: for that their
+occupacions, serve well in many thynges: beyng a thyng verie good to
+have a souldiour, of whom maie be had double servise.
+
+[Sidenote: Howe to chose a souldiour.]
+
+COSIMO. Wherby doe thei knowe those, that be, or are not sufficient to
+serve.
+
+FABRICIO. I will speake of the maner of chusing a new ordinaunce, to
+make an armie after, for that parte of this matter, doeth come also to
+be reasoned of, in the election, which should be made for the
+replenishing, or restoring of an old ordinaunce. I saie therfore, that
+the goodnesse of one, whiche thou muste chuse for a Souldiour, is knowen
+either by experience, thorough meane of some of his worthy doynges, or
+by conjecture. The proofe of vertue, cannot be founde in men whiche are
+chosen of newe, and whiche never afore have ben chosen, and of these are
+founde either fewe or none, in the ordinaunce that of newe is ordeined.
+It is necessarie therefore, lackyng this experience, to runne to the
+conjecture, whiche is taken by the yeres, by the occupacion, and by the
+personage: of those two first, hath been reasoned, there remaineth to
+speake of the thirde. And therefore, I saie how some have willed, that
+the souldiour bee greate, emongest whom was Pirrus. Some other have
+chosen theim onely, by the lustinesse of the body, as Cesar did: whiche
+lustinesse of bodie and mynde, is conjectured by the composicion of the
+members, and of the grace of the countenaunce: and therefore, these that
+write saie, that thei would have the iyes lively and cherefull, the
+necke full of sinowes, the breaste large, the armes full of musculles,
+the fingers long, little beallie, the flankes rounde, the legges and
+feete drie: whiche partes are wont alwayes to make a manne nimble and
+strong, whiche are twoo thynges, that in a souldiour are sought above al
+other. Regarde ought to bee had above all thynges, to his customes, and
+that in hym bee honestie, and shame: otherwise, there shall bee chosen
+an instrumente of mischief, and a beginnyng of corrupcion: for that
+lette no manne beleve that in the dishoneste educacion, and filthy
+minde, there maie take any vertue, whiche is in any parte laudable. And
+I thinke it not superfluous, but rather I beleve it to bee necessarie,
+to the entente you maie the better understande, the importaunce of this
+chosen, to tell you the maner that the Romaine Consuls, in the beginnyng
+of their rule, observed in the chosing of their Romain legions: in the
+whiche choise of men, bicause thesame legions were mingled with old
+souldiours and newe, consideryng the continuall warre thei kepte, thei
+might in their choise procede, with the experince of the old, and with
+the conjecture of the newe: and this ought to be noted, that these men
+be chosen, either to serve incontinently, or to exercise theim
+incontinently, and after to serve when nede should require. But my
+intencion is to shew you, how an armie maie be prepared in the countrie,
+where there is no warlike discipline: in which countrie, chosen men
+cannot be had, to use them straight waie, but there, where the custome
+is to levie armies, and by meane of the Prince, thei maie then well bee
+had, as the Romaines observed, and as is observed at this daie emong the
+Suisers: bicause in these chosen, though there be many newe menne, there
+be also so many of the other olde Souldiours, accustomed to serve in the
+warlike orders, where the newe mingled together with the olde, make a
+bodie united and good, notwithstanding, that themperours after,
+beginning the staciones of ordinarie Souldiours, had appoincted over the
+newe souldiours, whiche were called tironi, a maister to exercise theim,
+as appeareth in the life of Massimo the Emperour. The whiche thyng,
+while Rome was free, not onely in the armies, but in the citee was
+ordeined: and the exercises of warre, beyng accustomed in thesame, where
+the yong men did exercise, there grewe, that beyng chosen after to goe
+into warre, thei were so used in the fained exercise of warfare, that
+thei could easely worke in the true: but those Emperours havyng after
+put doune these exercises, thei wer constrained to use the waies, that I
+have shewed you. Therefore, comyng to the maner of the chosen Romain, I
+saie that after the Romain Consulles (to whom was appoincted the charge
+of the warre) had taken the rule, myndyng to ordeine their armies, for
+that it was the custome, that either of them should have twoo Legions of
+Romaine menne, whiche was the strength of their armies, thei created
+xxiiii. Tribunes of warre, and thei appoincted sixe for every Legion,
+whom did thesame office, whiche those doe now a daies, that we call
+Conestables: thei made after to come together, all the Romain men apte
+to beare weapons and thei put the Tribunes of every Legion, seperate the
+one from the other. Afterwarde, by lot thei drewe the Tribes, of whiche
+thei had firste to make the chosen, and of thesame Tribe thei chose
+fower of the best, of whiche was chosen one of the Tribunes, of the
+first Legion, and of the other three was chosen, one of the Tribunes of
+the second Legion, of the other two there was chosen one of the Tribunes
+of the third, and the same last fell to the fowerth Legion. After these
+iiij, thei chose other fower, of which, first one was chosen of the
+Tribunes of the seconde Legion, the seconde of those of the thirde, the
+thirde of those of the fowerth, the fowerth remained to the first.
+After, thei chose other fower, the first chose the thirde, the second
+the fowerth, the thirde the fiveth, the fowerth remained to the seconde:
+and thus thei varied successively, this maner of chosyng, so that the
+election came to be equall, and the Legions wer gathered together: and
+as afore we saied, this choise might bee made to use straighte waie, for
+that thei made them of men, of whom a good parte were experiensed in the
+verie warfare in deede, and all in the fained exercised, and thei might
+make this choise by conjecture, and by experience. But where a power
+must be ordeined of newe, and for this to chuse them out of hande, this
+chosen cannot be made, saving by conjecture, whiche is taken by
+consideryng their ages and their likelinesse.
+
+COSIMO. I beleve all to be true, as moche as of you hath been spoken:
+but before that you procede to other reasonyng, I woll aske of you one
+thing, which you have made me to remember: saiyng that the chosen, that
+is to be made where men were not used to warre, ought to be made by
+conjecture: for asmoche as I have heard some men, in many places
+dispraise our ordinaunce, and in especially concernyng the nomber, for
+that many saie, that there ought to bee taken lesse nomber, whereof is
+gotten this profite, that thei shall be better and better chosen, and
+men shal not be so moche diseased, so that there maie bee given them
+some rewarde, whereby thei maie bee more contented, and better bee
+commaunded, whereof I would understande in this parte your opinion, and
+whether you love better the greate nomber, than the little, and what
+waie you would take to chuse theim in the one, and in the other nomber.
+
+FABRICIO. Without doubte it is better, and more necessary, the great
+nomber, then the little: but to speake more plainly, where there cannot
+be ordeined a great nomber of men, there cannot be ordeined a perfect
+ordinaunce: and I will easely confute all the reasons of them
+propounded. I saie therefore firste, that the lesse nomber where is many
+people, as is for ensample Tuscane, maketh not that you have better, nor
+that the chosen be more excellent, for that myndyng in chosing the
+menne, to judge them by experience, there shall be founde in thesame
+countrie moste fewe, whom experience should make provable, bothe for
+that fewe hath been in warre, as also for that of those, mooste fewe
+have made triall, whereby thei might deserve to bee chosen before the
+other: so that he whiche ought in like places to chuse, it is mete he
+leave a parte the experience, and take them by conjecture. Then being
+brought likewise into soche necessitie, I would understande, if there
+come before me twentie young men of good stature, with what rule I ought
+to take, or to leave any: where without doubte, I beleve that every man
+will confesse, how it is lesse errour to take them al, to arme theim and
+exercise theim, beyng not able to knowe, whiche of theim is beste, and
+to reserve to make after more certaine chosen, when in practisyng theim
+with exercise, there shall be knowen those of moste spirite, and of
+moste life: which considered, the chusing in this case a fewe, to have
+them better, is altogether naught.
+
+Concernyng diseasing lesse the countrie, and men, I saie that the
+ordinaunce, either evill or little that it bee, causeth not any disease,
+for that this order doeth not take menne from any of their businesse, it
+bindeth them not, that thei cannot go to doe any of their affaires: for
+that it bindeth them onely in the idell daies, to assemble together, to
+exercise them, the whiche thyng doeth not hurt, neither to the countrie,
+nor to the men, but rather to yong men it shall bryng delite: For that
+where vilie on the holy daies thei stande idell in tipplyng houses, thei
+will go for pleasure to those exercises, for that the handlyng of
+weapons, as it is a goodly spectacle, so unto yong men it is pleasaunt.
+Concernyng to bee able to paie the lesse nomber, and for this to kepe
+theim more obediente, and more contented, I answere, how there cannot be
+made an ordinaunce of so fewe, whiche maie be in maner continually
+paied, where thesame paiment of theirs maie satisfie them. As for
+ensample, if there were ordeined a power of v. thousande men, for to
+paie them after soche sorte, that it might be thought sufficient, to
+content them, it shal bee convenient to give theim at least, ten
+thousaunde crounes the moneth: first, this nomber of men are not able to
+make an armie, this paie is intolerable to a state, and of the other
+side, it is not sufficiente to kepe men contented, and bounde to be able
+to serve at al times: so that in doyng this, there shall be spent moche,
+and a small power kept, whiche shall not be sufficient to defend thee,
+or to doe any enterprise of thine. If thou shouldest give theim more, or
+shouldest take more, so moche more impossibilitie it should be, for thee
+to paie theim: if thou shouldest give them lesse, or should take lesse,
+so moche the lesse contentacion should be in them, or so moche the lesse
+profite thei shal bring thee. Therfore, those that reason of makyng an
+ordinaunce, and whilest thei tary at home to paie them, thei reason of a
+thing either impossible, or unprofitable, but it is necessarie to paie
+them, when thei are taken up to be led to the warre: albeit, though
+soche order should somewhat disease those, in time of peace, that are
+appoincted in thesame, which I se not how, there is for recompence all
+those benefites, whiche a power brynges, that is ordeined in a countrie:
+for that without thesame, there is nothyng sure. I conclude, that he
+that will have the little nomber, to be able to paie them, or for any of
+the other causes alledged of you, doeth not understande, for that also
+it maketh for my opinion, that every nomber shall deminishe in thy
+handes, through infinite impedimentes, whiche men have: so that the
+little nomber shall tourne to nothing: again havyng thordinaunce greate,
+thou maiest at thy pleasure use fewe of many, besides this, it must
+serve thee in deede, and in reputacion and alwaies the great nomber
+shall give thee moste reputacion. More over, makyng the ordinaunce to
+kepe menne exercised, if thou appoincte a fewe nomber of men in many
+countries, the handes of men bee so farre a sonder, the one from the
+other, that thou canst not without their moste grevous losse, gather
+them together to exercise them, and without this exercise, the
+ordinaunce is unprofitable, as hereafter shall be declared.
+
+COSIMO. It suffiseth upon this my demaunde, that whiche you have saied:
+but I desire now, that you declare me an other doubt. Thei saie, that
+soche a multitude of armed men, will make confusion, discension and
+disorder in the countrie where thei are.
+
+[Sidenote: How to provid againste soche inconveniences as souldiours
+maie cause.]
+
+FABRICIO. This is an other vaine opinion, the cause wherof, I shall tell
+you: soche as are ordeined to serve in the warres, maie cause disorder
+in twoo maners, either betwene them selves, or against other, whiche
+thinges moste easely maie be withstode, where the order of it self,
+should not withstande it: for that concernyng the discorde emong theim
+selves, this order taketh it waie, and doeth not nourishe it, for that
+in orderyng them, you give them armour and capitaines. If the countrie
+where you ordein them, bee so unapte for the warre, that there are not
+armours emong the men of thesame, and that thei bee so united, that thei
+have no heddes, this order maketh theim moche fearser against the
+straunger, but it maketh them not any thyng the more disunited, for that
+men well ordered, feare the lawe beyng armed, as well as unarmed, nor
+thei can never alter, if the capitaines, which you give them, cause not
+the alteracion, and the waie to make this, shall be tolde now: but if
+the countrie where you ordein them, be warlike and disunited, this order
+onely shal be occasion to unite them: bicause this order giveth them
+armours profitable for the warre, and heddes, extinguishers of
+discencion: where their owne armours bee unprofitable for the warres,
+and their heddes nourishers of discorde. For that so sone as any in
+thesame countrie is offended, he resorteth by and by to his capitain to
+make complaint, who for to maintain his reputacion, comforteth hym to
+revengement not to peace. To the contrary doeth the publike hed, so that
+by this meanes, thoccasion of discorde is taken awaie, and the occasion
+of union is prepared, and the provinces united and effeminated, gette
+utilitie, and maintain union: the disunited and discencious, doe agree,
+and thesame their fearsnesse, which is wont disordinately to worke, is
+tourned into publike utilitie. To minde to have them, to doe no hurt
+against other, it ought to bee considered, that thei cannot dooe this,
+except by meane of the heddes, whiche governe them. To will that the
+heddes make no disorder, it is necessarie to have care, that thei get
+not over them to much auctoritie. And you must consider that this
+auctoritie, is gotten either by nature, or by accidente: and as to
+nature, it behoveth to provide, that he which is boren in one place, be
+not apoincted to the men billed in the same, but be made hedde of those
+places, where he hath not any naturall aquaintance: and as to the
+accident, the thing ought to be ordeined in suche maner, that every yere
+the heddes maie be changed from governement to goverment: for as muche
+as the continuall auctoritie over one sorte of menne, breedeth among
+them so muche union, that it maie turne easely to the prejudice of the
+Prince: whiche permutations howe profitable they be to those who have
+used theim, and hurtefull to them that have not observed theim, it is
+well knowen by the kingdome of the Assirians, and by the Empire of the
+Romaines: where is seene, that the same kingdome indured a M. yeres
+without tumulte, and without any Civill warre: whiche preceded not of
+other, then of the permutations, whiche from place to place everie yere
+thesame Capitaines made, unto whome were apoincted the charge of the
+Armies. Nor for any other occasion in the Romaine Empire, after the
+bloud of Cesar was extinguished, there grewe so many civill warres,
+betwene the Capitaines of the hostes, and so many conspiracies of the
+forsaied capitaines against the Emperours, not onely kepyng continually
+still those capitaines alwayes in one governement. And if in some of
+those firste Emperoures, of those after, whom helde the Empire with
+reputacion, as Adriane, Marcus, Severus, and soche like, there had been
+so moche foresight, that thei had brought this custome of chaungyng the
+capitaines in thesame Empire, without doubte it should have made theim
+more quiete, and more durable: For that the Capitaines should have had
+lesse occasion to make tumultes, the Emperours lesse cause to feare, and
+the senate in the lackes of the successions, should have had in the
+election of the Emperour, more aucthoritie, and by consequence should
+have been better: but the naughtie custome, either for ignoraunce, or
+through the little diligence of menne, neither for the wicked, nor good
+ensamples, can be taken awaie.
+
+COSIMO. I cannot tell, if with my questionyng, I have as it were led you
+out of your order, bicause from the chusyng of men, we be entred into an
+other matter, and if I had not been a little before excused, I should
+thinke to deserve some reprehension.
+
+[Sidenote: The nomber of horsemen, that the Romanies chose for a Legion,
+and for a Consailes armie.]
+
+FABRICIO. Let not this disquiete you, for that all this reasonyng was
+necessary, myndyng to reason of the ordinaunce, the which beyng blamed
+of many, it was requsite to excuse it, willyng to have this first parte
+of chusyng men to be alowed. But now before I discend to the other
+partes, I will reason of the choise of men on horsebacke. Of the
+antiquitie, these were made of the moste richeste, havyng regard bothe
+to the yeres, and to the qualitie of the man, and thei chose CCC. for a
+Legion, so that the Romain horse, in every Consulles armie, passed not
+the nomber of vi. C.
+
+COSIMO. Would you make an ordinaunce of hors, to exercise them at home,
+and to use their service when nede requires?
+
+[Sidenote: The choosing and ordering of horsemen, that is to be observed
+at this present.]
+
+FABRICIO. It is most necessary, and it cannot be doen otherwise, minding
+to have the power, that it be the owne proper, and not to purpose to
+take of those, which make thereof an art.
+
+COSIMO. How would you choose them?
+
+FABRICIO. I would imitate the Romans, I would take of the richest, I
+would give them heads or chief Captains, in the same manner, as nowadays
+to other is given, and I would arm them and exercise them.
+
+COSIMO. To these should it be well to give some provision?
+
+FABRICIO. Yea marie, but so much only as is necessary to keep the horse,
+for as much as bringing to thy subjects expenses, they might justly
+complain of thee, therefore it should be necessary, to pay them their
+charges of their horse.
+
+COSIMO. What number would you make? and how would you arme them?
+
+FABRICIO. You pass into another matter. I will tell you in convenient
+place, which shall be when I have told you, how footmen ought to be
+armed, and how a power of men is prepared, for a day of battle.
+
+
+
+
+THE SECOND BOOKE
+
+
+[Sidenote: Howe the Romaines armed their souldiers and what weapons thei
+used.]
+
+I beleeve that it is necessarye, men being founde, to arme them, and
+minding to doo this, I suppose that it is a needefull thing to examine,
+what armoure the antiquitie used, and of the same to chose the best. The
+Romanes devided their foote men in heavie and lighte armed: Those that
+were light armed, they called by the name of Veliti: Under this name
+were understoode all those that threwe with Slinges, shot with
+Crossebowes, cast Dartes, and they used the most parte of them for their
+defence, to weare on their heade a Murion, with a Targaet on their arme:
+they fought out of the orders, and farre of from the heavie armed, which
+did weare a head peece, that came downe to their shoulders, a Corselet,
+which with the tases came downe to the knees, and they had the legges
+and armes, covered with greaves, and vambraces, with a targaet on the
+left arme, a yarde and a halfe long, and three quarters of a yarde
+brode, whiche had a hoope of Iron upon it, to bee able to sustaine a
+blowe, and an other under, to the intente, that it being driven to the
+earth, it should not breake: for to offende, they had girte on their
+left flanke a swoorde, the length of a yearde and a naile, on their
+righte side, a Dagger: they had a darte in every one of their handes,
+the which they called Pilo, and in the beginning of the fight, they
+threwe those at the enemie. This was the ordering, and importaunce of
+the armours of the Romanes, by the which they possessed all the world.
+And although some of these ancient writers gave them, besides the
+foresayde weapons, a staffe in their hande like unto a Partasen, I
+cannot tell howe a heavy staff, may of him that holdeth a Targaet be
+occupied: for that to handle it with both hands, the Targaet should bee
+an impediment, and to occupye the same with one hande, there can be done
+no good therewith, by reason of the weightynesse thereof: besides this,
+to faight in the strong, and in the orders with such long kinde of
+weapon, it is unprofitable, except in the first front, where they have
+space enough, to thrust out all the staffe, which in the orders within,
+cannot be done, for that the nature of the battaile (as in the order of
+the same, I shall tell you) is continually to throng together, which
+although it be an inconvenience, yet in so doing they fear lesse, then
+to stande wide, where the perill is most evident, so that all the
+weapons, which passe in length a yarde and a halfe, in the throng, be
+unprofitable: for that, if a man have the Partasen, and will occupye it
+with both handes, put case that the Targaet let him not, he can not
+hurte with the same an enemy, whom is upon him, if he take it with one
+hande, to the intent to occupy also the Targaet, being not able to take
+it, but in the middest, there remayneth so much of the staff behind,
+that those which are behinde him, shall let him to welde it. And whether
+it were true, either that the Romans had not this Partasen, or that
+having it, did little good withal, read all the battailes, in the
+historye thereof, celebrated of Titus Livius, and you shall see in the
+same, most seldom times made mencion of Partasens, but rather alwaies he
+saieth, that the Dartes being thrown, they laid their hands on their
+sweardes. Therefore I will leave this staffe, and observe, concerning
+the Romanes, the swoorde for to hurte, and for defense the Targaet, with
+the other armours aforesaide.
+
+[Sidenote: A brave and a terrible thing to the enemies.]
+
+The Greekes did not arme them selves so heavyly, for their defense, as
+the Romans dyd: but for to offend the enemies, they grounded more on
+their staves, then on their swoordes, and in especiallye the Fallangye
+of Macedonia, which used staves, that they called Sarisse, seven yardes
+and a halfe long, with the which they opened the rankes of their
+enemies, and they keept the orders in their Fallangy. And although some
+writers saie, that they had also the Targaet, I can not tell (by the
+reasons aforesayde) howe the Sarisse and they coulde stande together.
+Besides this, in the battaile that Paulus Emilius made, with Persa king
+of Macedonia, I do not remember, that there is made any mention of
+Targaettes, but only of the Sarisse, and of the difficultie that the
+Romane armie had, to overcome them: so that I conjecture, that a
+Macedonicall Fallange, was no other wise, then is now a dayes a battaile
+of Suizzers, the whiche in their Pikes have all their force, and all
+their power. The Romanes did garnish (besides the armours) the footemen
+with feathers; the whiche thinges makes the fight of an armie to the
+friendes goodly, to the enemies terrible. The armour of the horsemen, in
+the same first Romane antiquitie, was a rounde Targaet, and they had
+their head armed, and the rest unarmed: They had a swoorde and a staffe,
+with an Iron head onely before, long and small: whereby it happened,
+that they were not able to staye the Targaet, and the staffe in the
+incountring broke, and they through being unarmed, were subjecte to
+hurtes: after, in processe of time, they armed them as the footemen,
+albeit they used the Targaette muche shorter, square, and the staffe
+more stiffe, and with twoo heades, to the entente, that breaking one of
+the heades, they mighte prevaile with the other. With these armours as
+well on foote, as on horsebacke, the Romanes conquered all the worlde,
+and it is to be beleeved, by the fruiet thereof, whiche is seene, that
+they were the beste appointed armies, that ever were: and Titus Livius
+in his history, doeth testifie verye often, where comming to comparison
+with the enemies armies, he saieth: But the Romanes, by vertue, by the
+kinde of their armours, and piactise in the service of warre, were
+superiours: and therfore I have more particularly reasoned of the
+armours of conquerours, then of the conquered. But nowe mee thikes good,
+to reason onelye of the manner of arming men at this presente. Footemen
+have for their defence, a breast plate, and for to offende, a launce,
+sixe yardes and three quarters long, which is called a pike, with a
+swoorde on their side, rather rounde at the poinct, then sharpe. This is
+the ordinarie arming of footemen nowe a dayes, for that fewe there be,
+which have their legges armed, and their armes, the heade none, and
+those fewe, beare insteede of a Pike, a Halberde, the staffe whereof as
+you know, is twoo yardes and a quarter long, and it hath the Iron made
+like an axe. Betweene them, they have Harkebutters, the which with the
+violence of the fire, do the same office, which in olde time the
+slingers did, and the Crosseboweshoters. This maner of arming, was found
+out by the Dutchemen, inespeciallye of Suizzers, whom being poore, and
+desirous to live free, they were, and be constrayned to fight, with the
+ambition of the Princes of Almaine, who being riche, were able to keepe
+horse, the which the same people could not do for povertye. Wherby it
+grewe, that being on foote, minding to defende them selves from the
+enemies, that were on horsebacke, it behooveth them to seeke of the
+aunciente orders, and to finde weapons, whiche from the furie of horses,
+should defende them: This necessitie hath made either to be maintayned,
+or to bee founde of them the aunciente orders, without whiche, as everye
+prudente man affirmeth, the footemen is altogether unprofitable.
+Therefore, they tooke for their weapon the Pike, a moste profitable
+weapon, not only to withstande horses, but to overcome them: and the
+Dutchemen have by vertue of these weapons, and of these orders, taken
+such boldnesse, that XV. or XX. thousande of them, will assault the
+greatest nomber of horse that maye be: and of this, there hath beene
+experience enough within this XXV. yeres. And the insamples of their
+vertue hath bene so mightie, grounded upon these weapons, and these
+orders, that sence King Charles passed into Italie, everye nation hath
+imitated them: so that the Spanish armies, are become into most great
+reputation.
+
+COSIMO. Which maner of arming, do you praise moste, either these
+Dutchemens, or the auncient Romanes?
+
+[Sidenote: Whether the Romanes maner in arming of men, be better then
+the arming of men, that is used nowe a daies.]
+
+FABRICIO. The Romane without doubte, and I will tell the commoditie, and
+the discommoditie of the one, and the other. The Dutche footemen, are
+able to withstande, and overcome the horses: they bee moste speedie to
+marche, and to be set in araye, being not laden with armours: of the
+other part, they be subjecte to all blowes, both farre of, and at hande:
+because they be unarmed, they bee unprofitable unto the battaile on the
+lande, and to everye fighte, where is strong resistaunce. But the
+Romanes withstoode, and overcame the horses, as well as the Dutchemen,
+they were safe from blowes at hande, and farre of, being covered with
+armours: they were also better able to charge, and better able to
+sustaine charges, having Targaettes: they might more aptly in the preace
+fight with the swoorde, then these with the Pike, and though the
+Dutchemen have likewise swoordes, yet being without Targaets, they
+become in suche case unprofitable: The Romanes might safelye assault
+townes, having their bodies cleane covered with armour, and being better
+able to cover themselves with their Targaettes. So that they had no
+other incommoditie, then the waightynesse of their armours, and the pain
+to cary them: the whiche thinges thei overcame, with accustomyng the
+body to diseases, and with hardenyng it, to bee able to indure labour.
+And you knowe, how that in thinges accustomed, men suffer no grief. And
+you have to understand this, that the footemen maie be constrained, to
+faight with footemen, and with horse, and alwaies those be unprofitable,
+whiche cannot either sustain the horses, or beyng able to sustain them,
+have notwithstandyng neede to feare the footemen, whiche be better
+armed, and better ordeined then thei. Now if you consider the Duchemen,
+and the Romaines, you shall finde in the Duchemen activitie (as we have
+said) to overcome the horses, but greate dissavauntage, when thei
+faighte with menne, ordeined as thei them selves are, and armed as the
+Romaines were: so that there shall be this advauntage more of the one,
+then of thother, that the Romaines could overcome the men, and the
+horses, the Duchemen onely the horses.
+
+COSIMO. I would desire, that you would come to some more particulare
+insample, whereby wee maie better understande.
+
+[Sidenote: An ensample whiche proveth that horsemen with staves, cannot
+prevaile against footemen with Pikes, and what great advauntage the
+armed have, againste the unarmed. The victory of Carminvola against the
+Duchemen.]
+
+FABRICIO. I saie thus, that you shall finde in many places of our
+histories, the Romain footemen to have overcome innumerable horses, and
+you shall never finde, that thei have been overcome of men on foote, for
+default that thei have had in their armour, or thorowe the vantage that
+the enemie hath had in the armours: For that if the maner of their
+armyng, should have had defaulte, it had been necessarie, that there
+should folowe, the one of these twoo thynges, either that findyng soche,
+as should arme theim better then thei, thei should not have gone still
+forwardes, with their conquestes, or that thei should have taken the
+straungers maners, and should have left their owne, and for that it
+folowed not in the one thing, nor in the other, there groweth that ther
+maie be easely conjectured, that the maner of their armyng, was better
+then thesame of any other. It is not yet thus happened to the Duchemen,
+for that naughtie profe, hath ben seen made them, when soever thei have
+chaunsed to faight with men on foote prepared, and as obstinate as thei,
+the whiche is growen of the vauntage, whiche thesame have incountred in
+thenemies armours. Philip Vicecounte of Milaine, being assaulted of
+xviii. thousande Suizzers, sent against theim the Counte Carminvola,
+whiche then was his capitaine. He with sixe thousande horse, and a fewe
+footemen, went to mete with them, and incounteryng theim, he was
+repulsed with his moste greate losse: wherby Carminvola as a prudente
+man, knewe straight waie the puisaunce of the enemies weapons, and how
+moche against the horses thei prevailed, and the debilitie of the
+horses, againste those on foote so appoincted: and gatheryng his men
+together again, he went to finde the Suizzers, and so sone as he was
+nere them, he made his men of armes, to a light from their horse, and in
+thesame mane, faightyng with them he slue theim all, excepte three
+thousande: the whiche seyng them selves to consume, without havyng
+reamedy, castyng their weapons to the grounde, yelded.
+
+COSIMO. Whereof cometh so moche disavauntage?
+
+[Sidenote: The battailes when thei are a faightyng, doe throng
+together.]
+
+FABRICIO. I have a little afore tolde you, but seyng that you have not
+understoode it, I will rehearse it againe. The Duchemen (as a little
+before I saied unto you) as it were unarmed, to defende themselves, have
+to offende, the Pike and the swearde: thei come with these weapons, and
+with their orders to finde the enemies, whom if thei bee well armed, to
+defende theim selves, as were the menne of armes of Carminvola, whiche
+made theim a lighte on foote, thei come with the sweard, and in their
+orders to find them, and have no other difficultie, then to come nere to
+the Suizzers, so that thei maie reche them with the sweard, for that so
+sone as thei have gotten unto them, thei faight safely: for asmoche as
+the Duch man cannot strike thenemie with the Pike, whom is upon him, for
+the length of the staffe, wherefore it is conveniente for hym, to put
+the hande to the sweard, the whiche to hym is unprofitable, he beyng
+unarmed, and havyng against hym an enemie, that is all armed. Whereby he
+that considereth the vantage, and the disavantage of the one, and of the
+other, shall see, how the unarmed, shall have no maner of remeady, and
+the overcommyng of the firste faight, and to passe the firste poinctes
+of the Pikes, is not moche difficulte, he that faighteth beyng well
+armed: for that the battailes go (as you shall better understande, when
+I have shewed you, how thei are set together) and incounteryng the one
+the other, of necessitie thei thrust together, after soche sorte, that
+thei take the one thother by the bosome, and though by the Pikes some
+bee slaine, or overthrowen, those that remain on their feete, be so
+many, that thei suffice to obtaine the victorie. Hereof it grewe, that
+Carminvola overcame them, with so greate slaughter of the Suizzers, and
+with little losse of his.
+
+COSIMO. Consider that those of Carminvola, were men of armes, whom
+although thei wer on foote, thei were covered all with stele, and
+therefore thei wer able to make the profe thei did: so that me thinkes,
+that a power ought to be armed as thei, mindyng to make the verie same
+profe.
+
+FABRICIO. If you should remember, how I tolde you the Romaines were
+armed, you would not thynke so: for as moche as a manne, that hath the
+hedde covered with Iron, the breaste defended of a Corselet, and of a
+Targaet, the armes and the legges armed, is moche more apt to defende
+hymself from the Pike, and to enter emong them, then a man of armes on
+foote. I wil give you a little of a late ensample. There wer come out of
+Cicelie, into the kyngdome of Naples, a power of Spaniardes, for to go
+to finde Consalvo, who was besieged in Barlet, of the Frenchemen: there
+made against theim Mounsier de Vhigni, with his menne of armes, and with
+aboute fower thousande Duchemen on foote: The Duchemen incountered with
+their Pikes lowe, and thei opened the power of the Spaniardes: but those
+beyng holp, by meane of their bucklers and of the agiletie of their
+bodies, mingled togethers with the Duchemen, so that thei might reche
+them with the swearde, whereby happened the death, almoste of all theim,
+and the victorie to the Spaniardes. Every man knoweth, how many Duchemen
+were slaine in the battaile of Ravenna, the whiche happened by the verie
+same occasion: for that the Spanishe souldiours, got them within a
+swerdes length of the Duche souldiours, and thei had destroied them all,
+if of the Frenche horsemen, the Duchemen on foote, had not been
+succored: notwithstandyng, the Spaniardes close together, brought
+themselves into a safe place. I conclude therefore, that a good power
+ought not onely to be able, to withstande the horses, but also not to
+have fear of menne on foote, the which (as I have many tymes saied)
+procedeth of the armours, and of the order.
+
+[Sidenote: How to arme men, and what weapons to appoincte theim, after
+the Romaine maner, and Duche facion.]
+
+COSIMO. Tell therefore, how you would arme them?
+
+FABRICIO. I would take of the Romaine armours, and of the Duchemennes
+weapons, and I would that the one haulfe, should bee appoincted like the
+Romaines, and the other haulfe like the Duchemen: for that if in sixe
+thousande footemen (as I shall tell you a little hereafter) I should
+have thre thousande men with Targaettes, after the Romain maner, and two
+thousande Pikes, and a thousand Harkebutters, after the Duche facion,
+thei should sufice me: for that I would place the Pikes, either in the
+fronte of the battaile, or where I should feare moste the horses, and
+those with the Targaetes and sweardes, shall serve me to make a backe to
+the Pikes, and to winne the battaile, as I shall shewe you: so that I
+beleeve, that a power thus ordayned, should overcome at this daye, any
+other power.
+
+COSIMO. This which hath beene saide, sufficeth concerning footemen, but
+concerning horsemen, wee desire to understand which you thinke more
+stronger armed, either ours, or the antiquitie.
+
+[Sidenote: The victorie of Lucullo, against Tiarane king of Armenia; For
+what pupose horsemen be most requisite.]
+
+FABRICIO. I beleeve that in these daies, having respect to the Saddelles
+bolstered, and to the stiroppes not used of the antiquitie, they stande
+more stronglye on horsebacke, then in the olde time: I thinke also they
+arme them more sure: so that at this daye, a bande of men of armes,
+paysing very muche, commeth to be with more difficultie withstoode, then
+were the horsemen of old time: notwithstanding for all this, I judge,
+that there ought not to be made more accompt of horses, then in olde
+time was made, for that (as afore is sayde) manye times in our dayes,
+they have with the footemen receyved shame and shall receyve alwayes,
+where they incounter, with a power of footemen armed, and ordered, as
+above hath bene declared. Tigrane king of Armenia, had againste the
+armie of the Romanes, wherof was Capitayne Lucullo, CL. thousande
+horsemen, amongest the whiche, were many armed, like unto our men of
+armes, which they called Catafratti, and of the other parte, the Romanes
+were about sixe thousande, with xxv. thousand footemen: so that Tigrane
+seeing the armie of the enemies, saide: these be horses enough for an
+imbassage: notwithstanding, incountering together, he was overthrowen:
+and he that writeth of the same fighte, disprayseth those Catafratti,
+declaring them to be unprofitable; for that hee sayeth, because they had
+their faces covered, they had muche a doe to see, and to offende the
+enemie, and they falling, being laden with armour coulde not rise up
+again, nor welde themselves in any maner to prevaile. I say therefore,
+that those people or kingdomes, whiche shall esteeme more the power of
+horses, then the power of footemen be alwaies weake, and subjecte to all
+ruine, as by Italie hath been seene in our time, the whiche hath beene
+taken, ruinated, and over run with straungers, through not other fault,
+then for having taken litle care, of the service on foote, and being
+brought the souldiours therof, all on horsebacke. Yet there ought to bee
+had horses, but for seconde, and not for firste foundaion of an armie:
+for that to make a discovery, to over run and to destroy the enemies
+countrie, and to keepe troubled and disquieted, the armie of the same,
+and in their armours alwayes, to let them of their victuals, they are
+necessary, and most profitable: but concerning for the daye of battaile,
+and for the fighte in the fielde, whiche is the importaunce of the
+warre, and the ende, for which the armies are ordeined, they are more
+meeter to follow the enemie being discomfited then to do any other thing
+which in the same is to be done, and they bee in comparison, to the
+footemen much inferiour.
+
+COSIMO. There is happened unto mee twoo doubtes, the one, where I knowe,
+that the Parthians dyd not use in the warre, other then horses, and yet
+they devided the worlde with the Romanes: the other is, that I woulde
+that you should shewe, howe the horsemen can be withstoode of footemen,
+and wherof groweth the strength of these, and the debilitie of those?
+
+[Sidenote: The reason why footmen are able to overcome horsemen; How
+footmen maie save them selves from horsemen; The exercise of Souldiours,
+ought to be devided into thre partes; What exercises the auncient common
+weales used to exercise their youth in, and what commoditie insued
+thereby; How the antiquitie, learned their yong soldiours, to handell
+their weapons; What thantiquitie estemed moste happie in a common weale;
+Mouster Maisters; for thexercisyng of yong men unexperte.]
+
+FABRICIO. Either I have tolde you, or I minded to tell you, howe that my
+reasoning of the affaires of warre, ought not to passe the boundes of
+Europe: when thus it is, I am not bounde unto you, to make accompte of
+the same, which is used in Asia, yet I muste saye unto you thus, that
+the warring of the Parthians, was altogether contrarye, to the same of
+the Romanes: for as muche as the Parthians, warred all on horsebacke,
+and in the fight, they proceeded confusedlye, and scattered, and it was
+a maner of fighte unstable, and full of uncertaintie. The Romanes were
+(it maye be sayde) almoste al on foote, and thei fought close together
+and sure, and thei overcame diversly, the one the other, according to
+the largenesse, or straightnesse of the situation: for that in this the
+Romaines were superiours, in thesame the Parthians, whom might make
+greate proofe, with thesame maner of warryng, consideryng the region,
+which thei had to defende, the which was moste large: for as moche as it
+hath the sea coaste, distant a thousande miles, the rivers thone from
+thother, twoo or three daies journey, the tounes in like maner and the
+inhabitauntes few: so that a Romaine armie heavie and slowe, by meanes
+of their armoures, and their orders, could not over run it, without
+their grevous hurt (those that defended it, being on horsebacke mooste
+expedite) so that thei were to daie in one place, and to morowe distaunt
+fiftie miles. Hereof it grewe, that the Parthians might prevaile with
+their chivalrie onely, bothe to the ruine of the armie of Crassus, and
+to the perill of thesame, of Marcus Antonius: but I (as I have told you)
+doe not intende in this my reasonyng, to speake of the warfare out of
+Europe, therfore I will stand upon thesame, whiche in times past, the
+Romaines ordained, and the Grekes, and as the Duchemen doe now adaies.
+But let us se to the other question of yours, where you desire to
+understande, what order, or what naturall vertue makes, that the
+footemen overcome the horsmen. And I saie unto you first that the horses
+cannot go, as the footmen in every place: Thei are slower then the
+footemen to obeie, when it is requisite to alter the order: for as
+moche, as if it be nedefull, either goyng forward, to turne backwarde,
+or tournyng backwarde, to go forwarde, or to move themselves standing
+stil, or goyng to stand still, without doubt, the horsemen cannot dooe
+it so redilie as the footemen: the horsemen cannot, being of some
+violence, disordained, returne in their orders, but with difficultie,
+although thesame violence cease, the whiche the footemen dooe moste
+easely and quickly. Besides this, it happeneth many tymes, that a hardie
+manne shall be upon a vile horse, and a coward upon a good, whereby it
+foloweth, that this evill matchyng of stomackes, makes disorder. Nor no
+man doeth marvell, that a bande of footemenne, susteineth all violence
+of horse for that a horse is a beaste, that hath sence, and knoweth the
+perilles, and with an ill will, will enter in them: and if you consider,
+what force maketh theim go forwarde, and what holdeth them backwarde,
+you shall se without doubt thesame to be greater, whiche kepeth them
+backe, then that whiche maketh them go forwardes: For that the spurre
+maketh theim go forwarde, and of the other side, either the swearde, or
+the Pike, kepeth theim backe: so that it hath been seen by the olde, and
+by the late experience, a bande of footemen to bee moste safe, ye,
+invinsible for horses. And if you should argue to this, that the heate,
+with whiche thei come, maketh theim more furious to incounter who that
+would withstande them, and lesse to regard the Pike, then the spurre: I
+saie, that if the horse so disposed, begin to see, that he must run upon
+the poincte of the Pike, either of himself, he wil refrain the course so
+that so sone as he shall feele himself pricked, he will stande still
+atones, or beeyng come to theim, he will tourne on the right, or on the
+lefte hande. Whereof if you wil make experience, prove to run a horse
+against a walle: you shall finde fewe, with what so ever furie he come
+withall, will strike against it. Cesar havyng in Fraunce, to faighte
+with the Suizzers, a lighted, and made every manne a light on foote, and
+to avoide from the araies, the horses, as a thyng more meete to flie,
+then to faight. But notwithstandyng these naturall impedimentes, whiche
+horses have, thesame Capitaine, whiche leadeth the footemen, ought to
+chuse waies, whiche have for horse, the moste impedimentes that maie
+bee, and seldome tymes it happeneth, but that a manne maie save hymself,
+by the qualitie of the countrie: for that if thou marche on the hilles,
+the situacion doeth save thee from thesame furie, whereof you doubt,
+that thei go withail in the plain, fewe plaines be, whiche through the
+tillage or by meanes of the woddes, doe not assure thee: for that every
+hillocke, every bancke, although it be but small, taketh awaie thesame
+heate, and every culture where bee Vines, and other trees, lettes the
+horses: and if thou come to battaile, the very same lettes happeneth,
+that chaunceth in marchyng: for as moche as every little impedemente,
+that the horse hath, abateth his furie. One thyng notwithstandyng, I
+will not forgette to tell you, how the Romaines estemed so moche their
+orders, and trusted so moche to their weapons, that if thei shuld have
+had, to chuse either so rough a place to save theim selves from horses,
+where thei should not have been able, to raunge their orders, or a place
+where thei should have nede, to feare more of horses, but ben able to
+deffende their battaile, alwaies thei toke this, and left that: but
+bicause it is tyme, to passe to the armie, having armed these
+souldiours, accordyng to the aunciente and newe use, let us see what
+exercises the Romaines caused theim make, before the menne were brought
+to the battaile. Although thei be well chosen, and better armed, thei
+ought with moste greate studie be exercised, for that without this
+exercise, there was never any souldiour good: these exercises ought to
+be devided into three partes, the one, for to harden the bodie, and to
+make it apte to take paines, and to bee more swifter and more readier,
+the other, to teach them, how to handell their weapons, the third, for
+to learne them to kepe the orders in the armie, as well in marchyng, as
+in faightyng, and in the incampyng: The whiche be three principall
+actes, that an armie doeth: for asmoche, as if an armie marche, incampe,
+and faight with order, and expertly, the Capitaine leseth not his
+honoure, although the battaile should have no good ende. Therfore, all
+thauncient common weales, provided these exercises in maner, by custome,
+and by lawe, that there should not be left behinde any part thereof.
+Thei exercised then their youth, for to make them swift, in runnyng, to
+make theim readie, in leapyng, for to make them strong, in throwyng the
+barre, or in wrestlyng: and these three qualities, be as it were
+necessarie in souldiours. For that swiftnesse, maketh theim apte to
+possesse places, before the enemie, and to come to them unloked for, and
+at unwares to pursue them, when thei are discomfaicted: the readinesse,
+maketh theim apte to avoide a blowe, to leape over a diche, to winne a
+banke: strength, maketh them the better able to beare their armours, to
+incounter the enemie, to withstande a violence. And above all, to make
+the bodie the more apte to take paines, thei used to beare greate
+burthens, the whiche custome is necessarie: for that in difficulte
+expedicions it is requisite many tymes, that the souldiour beside his
+armours, beare vitualles for many daies, and if he were not accustomed
+to this labour, he could not dooe it: and without this, there can
+neither bee avoided a perill, nor a victorie gotten with fame.
+Concernyng to learne how to handell the weapons, thei exercised theim,
+in this maner: thei would have the yong menne, to put on armour, whiche
+should waie twise as moche, as their field armour, and in stede of a
+swearde, thei gave them a cudgell leaded, whiche in comparison of a
+verie swearde in deede, was moste heavie; thei made for every one of
+them, a poste to be set up in the ground, which should be in height twoo
+yardes and a quarter, and in soche maner, and so strong, that the blowes
+should not slur nor hurle it doune, against the whiche poste, the yong
+man with a targaet, and with the cudgell, as against an enemie did
+exercise, and some whiles he stroke, as though he would hurte the hedde,
+or the face, somewhile he retired backe, an other while he made
+forewarde: and thei had in this exercise, this advertisment, to make
+theim apt to cover theim selves, and to hurte the enemie: and havyng the
+counterfaight armours moste heavy, their ordinarie armours semed after
+unto them more lighter. The Romanies, would that their souldiours should
+hurte with the pricke, and not with the cutte, as well bicause the
+pricke is more mortalle, and hath lesse defence, as also to thentent
+that he that should hurt, might lye the lesse open, and be more apt to
+redouble it, then with cuttes. Dooe not marvaile that these auncient
+men, should thinke on these small thynges, for that where the
+incounteryng of men is reasoned of, you shall perceive, that every
+little vauntage, is of greate importaunce: and I remember you the same,
+whiche the writers of this declare, rather then I to teache you. The
+antiquitie estemed nothing move happie, in a common weale, then to be in
+thesame, many men exercised in armes: bicause not the shining of
+precious stones and of golde, maketh that the enemies submit themselves
+unto thee, but onely the fear of the weapons: afterwarde the errours
+whiche are made in other thynges, maie sometymes be corrected, but those
+whiche are dooen in the warre, the paine straight waie commyng on,
+cannot be amended. Besides that, the knowlege to faight, maketh men more
+bold, bicause no man feareth to doe that thing, which he thinketh to
+have learned to dooe. The antiquitie would therefore, that their
+Citezeins should exercise themselves, in all marcial feates, and thei
+made them to throwe against thesame poste, dartes moche hevier then the
+ordinarie: the whiche exercise, besides the makyng men expert in
+throwyng, maketh also the arme more nimble, and moche stronger. Thei
+taught them also to shote in the long bowe, to whorle with the sling:
+and to all these thynges, thei appoincted maisters, in soche maner, that
+after when thei were chosen for to go to the warre, thei were now with
+mynde and disposicion, souldiours. Nor there remained them to learn
+other, then to go in the orders, and to maintain them selves in those,
+either marchyng, or faightyng: The whiche moste easely thei learned,
+mingeling themselves with those, whiche had long tyme served, whereby
+thei knewe how to stande in the orders.
+
+COSIMO. What exercises would you cause theim to make at this present?
+
+[Sidenote: The exercises that souldiers ought to make in these daies;
+The exercise of swimmyng; Tiber, is a river runnyng through Rome the
+water wher of will never corrupte; Thexercise of vautyng, and the
+commoditie thereof; An order that is taken in certain countries,
+concerning exercises of warre; What knowledge a Souldiour ought to have;
+A Cohorte is a bande of men; Of what nomer and of what kind of armours
+and weapons, a maine battaile ought to bee, and the distributing and
+appoinetyng of thesame; veliti are light armed men; Thecapitaines that
+ar appointed to every band of men; Twoo orders observed in an armie; How
+a captain muste instructe muste instructe his souldiours how thei ought
+to governe themselves in the battaile.]
+
+FABRICIO. A good many of those, whiche have been declared, as runnyng,
+and wrestlyng, makyng theim to leape, makyng theim to labour in armours,
+moche heavier then the ordinarie, making them shoote with Crosse bowes,
+and longe bowes, whereunto I would joyne the harkabus, a newe instrument
+(as you know) verie necessarie, and to these exercises I would use, al
+the youth of my state, but with greater industrie, and more
+sollicitatenesse thesame parte, whiche I should have alreadie appoincted
+to serve, and alwaies in the idell daies, thei should bee exercised. I
+would also that thei should learne to swimme, the whiche is a thyng
+verie profitable: for that there be not alwaies bridges over rivers,
+boates be not alwaies readie: so that thy army not knowyng howe to
+swime, remaineth deprived of many commodities: and many occasions to
+woorke well, is taken awaie. The Romaines for none other cause had
+ordained, that the yong men should exercise them selves in Campus
+Martius, then onely, for that havyng Tiber at hande, thei might, beyng
+weried with the exercise on lande, refreshe theim selves in the water,
+and partly in swimmyng, to exercise them selves. I would make also, as
+the antiquitie, those whiche should serve on horsebacke to exercise, the
+whiche is moste necessarie, for that besides to know how to ride, thei
+muste knowe how on horsebacke thei maie prevaile of them selves. And for
+this thei had ordeined horses of wood, upon the which thei practised, to
+leape by armed, and unarmed, without any helpe, and on every hande: the
+whiche made, that atones, and at a beck of a capitain, the horsmen were
+on foote, and likewise at a token, thei mounted on horsebacke. And soche
+exercises, bothe on foote and on horsebacke, as thei were then easie to
+bee doen, so now thei should not be difficult to thesame common weale,
+or to thesame prince, whiche would cause them to be put in practise of
+their yong men. As by experience is seen, in certaine citees of the
+Weste countrie, where is kepte a live like maners with this order. Thei
+devide all their inhabiters into divers partes: and every parte thei
+name of the kinde of those weapons, that thei use in the warre. And for
+that thei use Pikes, Halbardes, Bowes, and Harkebuses, thei call them
+Pike menne, Halberders, Harkebutters, and Archars: Therefore, it is mete
+for all the inhabiters to declare, in what orders thei will be
+appoincted in. And for that all men, either for age, or for other
+impedimentes, be not fitte for the warre, every order maketh a choise of
+men, and thei call them the sworen, whom in idell daies, be bounde to
+exercise themselves in those weapons, wherof thei be named: and every
+manne hath his place appoincted hym of the cominaltie, where soche
+exercise ought to be made: and those whiche be of thesame order, but not
+of the sworen, are contributaries with their money, to thesame expenses,
+whiche in soche exercises be necessarie: therfore thesame that thei doe,
+we maie doe. But our smal prudence dooeth not suffre us, to take any
+good waie. Of these exercises there grewe, that the antiquitie had good
+souldiours, and that now those of the Weste, bee better men then ours:
+for as moche as the antiquitie exercised them, either at home (as those
+common weales doe) or in the armies, as those Emperours did, for
+thoccasions aforesaied: but we, at home will not exercise theim, in
+Campe we cannot, bicause thei are not our subjectes, and for that we are
+not able to binde them to other exercises then thei them selves liste to
+doe: the whiche occacion hath made, that firste the armies bee
+neclected, and after, the orders, and that the kyngdomes, and the common
+weales, in especially Italians, live in soche debilitie. But let us
+tourne to our order, and folowyng this matter of exercises, I saie, how
+it suffiseth not to make good armies, for havyng hardened the men, made
+them strong, swift, and handsome, it is nedefull also, that thei learne
+to stande in the orders, to obeie to signes, to soundes, and to the
+voice of the capitain: to knowe, standyng, to retire them selves, goyng
+forwardes, bothe faightyng, and marchyng to maintain those: bicause
+without this knowlege, withal serious diligence observed, and practised,
+there was never armie good: and without doubt, the fierce and disordered
+menne, bee moche more weaker, then the fearfull that are ordered, for
+that thorder driveth awaie from men feare, the disorder abateth
+fiercenesse. And to the entente you maie the better perceive that,
+whiche here folowyng shalbe declared, you have to understande, how every
+nation, in the orderyng of their men to the warre, have made in their
+hoste, or in their armie, a principall member, the whiche though thei
+have varied with the name, thei have little varied with the nomber of
+the menne: for that thei all have made it, betwene sixe and viii. M.
+men. This nomber of men was called of the Romaines, a Legion, of Grekes
+a Fallange, of Frenchemen Caterva: this verie same in our tyme of the
+Suizzers, whom onely of the auncient warfare, kepe some shadowe, is
+called in their tongue that, whiche in ours signifieththe maine
+battaile. True it is, that every one of them, hath after devided it,
+accordyng to their purposes. Therefore me thinkes beste, that wee
+grounde our talke, upon this name moste knowen, and after, according to
+the aunciente, and to the orders now adaies, the beste that is possible
+to ordaine it; and bicause the Romaines devided their Legion, whiche was
+made betwene five and sixe thousande men, in ten Cohortes, I will that
+wee devide our main battaile, into ten battailes, and that we make it of
+sixe thousande menne on foote, and we will give to every battaile,
+CCCCL. men, of whiche shall be, CCCC. armed with heavie armour, and L.
+with light armour: the heavie armed, shall be CCC. Targettes with
+sweardes, and shalbe called Target men: and C. with Pikes, whiche shalbe
+called ordinarie Pikes: the light armed shalbe, L. men armed with
+Harkabuses, Crosse bowes, and Partisans, and smal Targaettes, and these
+by an aunciente name, were called ordinarie Veliti: all of the ten
+battailes therefore, comes to have three thousande Targaet men, a
+thousande ordinarie Pikes, CCCC. ordinarie Veliti, all whiche make the
+nomber of fower thousande and five hundred men. And we saied, that we
+would make the maine battaile of six thousande; therefore there must be
+added an other thousande, five hundred men, of whiche I will appoinet a
+thousande with Pikes, whom I will call extraordinarie Veliti, and thus
+my menne should come (as a little before I have saied) to bee made halfe
+of Targaetes, and halfe of Pikes and other weapons. I would appoinete to
+everie battaile, or bande of men, a Conestable, fower Centurions and
+fouretic peticapitaines, and moreover a hedde to the ordinarie Veliti.
+with five peticapitaines; I would give to the thousande extraordinarie
+Pikes, three Conestabelles, ten Centurions, and a hundred
+peticapitaines; to the extraodrinarie Veliti, two Conestabelles, v.
+Centurions, and l. peticapitaines: I would then apoinet a generall hed,
+over all the main battaile: I would that every Conestable should have an
+Ansigne, and a Drum. Thus there should be made a manne battaile of ten
+battailes, of three thousande Targaet men, of a thousande ordinarie
+Pikes, of a thousande extraordinarie of five hundred ordinarie Veliti,
+of five hundred extraordinarie, so there should come to bee sixe
+thousande men, emongeste the whiche there should bee M.D.
+peticapitaines, and moreover, xv. Conestables, with xv. Drummes, and xv.
+Ansignes, lv. Centurions, x. heddes of the ordinarie Veliti, and a
+Capitaine over all the maine battaile with his Asigne and Drume, and I
+have of purpose repeated this order the oftener, to the intent, that
+after when I shall shewe you, the maners of orderyng the battailes, and
+tharmies, you should not be confounded: I saie therefore, how that, that
+king, or that common weale, whiche intendeth to ordeine their subjectes
+to armes, ought to appoincte theim with these armoures and weapons, and
+with these partes, and to make in their countrie so many maine
+battailes, as it were able: and when thei should have ordained them,
+according to the forsaid distribucion, minding to exercise them in the
+orders, it should suffice to exercise every battaile by it self: and
+although the nomber of the men, of every one of them, cannot by it self,
+make the facion of a juste armie, notwithstandyng, every man maie learne
+to dooe thesame, whiche particularly appertaineth unto hym: for that in
+the armies, twoo orders is observed, the one, thesame that the men ought
+to doe in every battaile, and the other that, whiche the battaile ought
+to doe after, when it is with the other in an armie. And those men,
+whiche doe wel the first, mooste easely maie observe the seconde: But
+without knowyng thesame, thei can never come to the knowlege of the
+seconde. Then (as I have saied) every one of these battailes, maie by
+them selves, learne to kepe the orders of the araies, in every qualitie
+of movyng, and of place, and after learne to put them selves togethers,
+to understande the soundes, by meanes wherof in the faight thei are
+commaunded, to learne to know by that, as the Gallics by the whissell,
+what ought to be doen, either to stande still, or to tourne forward, or
+to tourne backwarde or whiche waie to tourne the weapons, and the face:
+so that knowyng how to kepe well the araie, after soche sorte, that
+neither place nor movyng maie disorder them, understandyng well the
+commaundementes of their heddes, by meanes of the sounde, and knowyng
+quickly, how to retourne into their place, these battailes maie after
+easly (as I have said) beyng brought many together, learne to do that,
+whiche all the body together, with the other battailes in a juste armie,
+is bounde to dooe. And bicause soche universall practise, is also not to
+bee estemed a little, ones or twise a yere, when there is peace, all the
+main battaile maie be brought together, to give it the facion of an
+whole armie, some daies exercisyng theim, as though thei should faight a
+fielde, settyng the fronte, and the sides with their succours in their
+places. And bicause a capitaine ordeineth his hoste to the fielde,
+either for coumpte of the enemie he seeth, or for that, of whiche
+without seyng he doubteth, he ought to exercise his armie in the one
+maner, and in the other, and to instructe theim in soche sorte, that
+thei maie knowe how to marche, and to faight, when nede should require,
+the wyng to his souldiours, how thei should governe theim selves, when
+thei should happen to be assaulted of this, or of that side: and where
+he ought to instructe theim how to faight againste the enemie, whom thei
+should see: he must shewe them also, how the faight is begun, and where
+thei ought to retire: being overthrowen, who hath to succeade in their
+places, to what signes, to what soundes, to what voices, thei ought to
+obeie, and to practise them in soche wise in the battaile, and with
+fained assaultes, that thei may desire the verie thyng in deede. For
+that an armie is not made coragious, bicause in thesame be hardie menne,
+but by reason the orders thereof bee well appoineted: For as moche as if
+I be one of the first faighters, and do knowe, beyng overcome, where I
+maie retire, and who hath to succeade in my place, I shall alwaies
+faight with boldnes, seing my succour at hand. If I shall be one of the
+seconde faighters, the first being driven backe, and overthrowen, I
+shall not bee afraied, for that I shall have presuposed that I maie bee,
+and I shall have desire to be thesame, whiche maie give the victory to
+my maister, and not to bee any of the other. These exercises bee moste
+necessarie, where an armie is made of newe, and where the old armie is,
+thei bee also necessarie: for that it is also seen, how the Romaines
+knew from their infancie, thorder of their armies, notwithstandyng,
+those capitaines before thei should come to thenemie, continually did
+exercise them in those. And Josephus in his historie saieth, that the
+continuall exercises of the Romaine armies, made that all thesame
+multitude, whiche folowe the campe for gain, was in the daie of battaile
+profitable: bicause thei all knewe, how to stande in the orders, and to
+faight kepyng the same: but in the armies of newe men, whether thou have
+putte theim together, to faight straight waie, or that thou make a power
+to faight, when neede requires, without these exercises, as well of the
+battailes severally by themselves, as of all the armie, is made nothing:
+wherefore the orders beying necessarie, it is conveniente with double
+industrie and laboure, to shewe them unto soche as knoweth them not, and
+for to teache it, many excellent capitaines have travailed, without any
+respecte.
+
+COSIMO. My thinkes that this reasoning, hath sumwhat transported you:
+for asmoche, as havyng not yet declared the waies, with the whiche the
+battailes bee exercised, you have reasoned of the whole armie, and of
+the daie of battaile.
+
+[Sidenote: The chief importance in the exercisyng of bandes of men;
+Three principall for thorderyng of menne into battaile raie; The manner
+how to bryng a bande of men into battaile raie after a square facion;
+The better waie for the ordring of a band of men in battaile raie, after
+the first facion; How to exercise men, and to take soche order, whereby
+a band of men that were by whatsoever chance disordred maye straighte
+wai be brought into order againe; What advertisement ought to bee used
+in tourning about a whole bande of menne, after soche sorte, as though
+it were but one bodie; How to order a band of menne after soche sort
+that thei maie make their front againste thenemie of whiche flanke thei
+list; How a band of man oughte to be ordered, when in marchyng thei
+should bee constrained to faighton their backes.]
+
+FABRICIO. You saie truth, but surely thoccasion hath been the affection,
+whiche I beare to these orders, and the grief that I feele, seyng thei
+be not put in use: notwithstanding, doubt not but that I will tourne to
+the purpose: as I have saied, the chief importaunce that is in
+thexercise of the battailes, is to knowe how to kepe well the armies:
+and bicause I tolde you that one of these battailes, ought to bee made
+of fower hundred men heavie armed, I wil staie my self upon this nomber.
+Thei ought then to be brought into lxxx. rankes, and five to a ranke:
+afterward goyng fast, or softly, to knit them together, and to lose
+them: the whiche how it is dooen, maie bee shewed better with deedes,
+then with wordes. Which nedeth not gretly to be taught, for that every
+manne, whom is practised in servise of warre, knoweth how this order
+procedeth, whiche is good for no other, then to use the souldiours to
+keepe the raie: but let us come to putte together one of these
+battailes, I saie, that there is given them three facions principally,
+the firste, and the moste profitablest is, to make al massive, and to
+give it the facion of two squares, the second is, to make it square with
+the front horned, the thirde is, to make it with a voide space in the
+middest: the maner to put men together in the first facion, maie be of
+twoo sortes, tho together in the first facion, maie be of twoo sortes,
+thone is to double the rankes, that is, to make the seconde ranke enter
+into the first, the iiii. into the third, the sixt into the fift, and so
+foorth, so that where there was lxxx. rankes, five to a ranke, thei maie
+become xl. rankes, x. to a ranke. Afterward cause theim to double ones
+more in thesame maner, settyng the one ranke into an other, and so there
+shall remain twentie rankes, twentie men to a ranke: this maketh twoo
+squares aboute, for as moche as albeit that there bee as many men the
+one waie, as in the other, notwithstandyng to wardes the hedde, thei
+joine together, that the one side toucheth the other: but by the other
+waie, thei be distant the one from the other, at least a yarde and a
+haulfe, after soche sorte, that the square is moche longer, from the
+backe to the fronte, then from the one side to thother: and bicause we
+have at this presente, to speake often of the partes afore, of behinde,
+and of the sides of these battailes, and of all the armie together,
+knowe you, that when I saie either hedde or fronte, I meane the parte
+afore, when I shall saie backe, the part behind, when I shall saie
+flankes, the partes on the sides. The fiftie ordinarie veliti of the
+battaile, muste not mingle with the other rankes, but so sone as the
+battaile is facioned, thei shalbe set a long by the flankes therof. The
+other waie to set together the battaile is this, and bicause it is
+better then the firste, I will set it before your ives juste, how it
+ought to bee ordeined. I beleve that you remember of what nomber of
+menne, of what heddes it is made, and of what armours thei are armed,
+then the facion, that this battaile ought to have, is (as I have saied)
+of twentie rankes, twentie men to a ranke, five rankes of Pikes in the
+front, and fiftene rankes of Targaettes on the backe, twoo Centurions
+standying in the fronte, twoo behinde on the backe, who shall execute
+the office of those, whiche the antiquitie called Tergiductori. The
+Conestable with the Ansigne, and with the Drumme, shall stande in
+thesame space, that is betwene the five rankes of the Pikes, and the
+fiftene of the Targeaettes. Of the Peticapitaines, there shall stande
+one upon every side of the ranckes, so that every one, maie have on his
+side his men, those peticapitaines, whiche shalbe on the left hande, to
+have their men on the right hand, those Peticapitaines, whiche shall be
+on the right hand, to have their menne on the left hande: The fiftie
+Veliti, muste stande a long the flankes, and on the backe of the
+battaile. To mynde now, that this battaile maie be set together in this
+facion, the men goyng ordinarily, it is convenient to order them thus.
+Make the men to be brought into lxxx. rankes, five to a ranke, as a
+little afore we have said, leavyng the Veliti either at the hedde, or at
+the taile, so that thei stande out of this order: and it ought to be
+ordeined, that every Centurion have behinde his back twentie rankes, and
+to bee nexte behinde every Centurion, five rankes of Pikes, and the
+reste Targaettes. The Conestable shall stande with the Drum, and the
+Ansigne, in thesame space, whiche is betwene the Pikes, and the
+Targaettes of the seconde Centurion, and to occupie the places of three
+Targaette men. Of the Peticapitaines, twentie shall stand on the sides
+of the rankes, of the first Centurion, on the lefte hande, and twentie
+shall stande on the sides of the rankes, of the last Centurion on the
+right hande. And you muste understande, that the Peticapitaine, whiche
+hath to leade the Pikes, ought to have a Pike, and those that leade the
+Targaettes, ought to have like weapons. Then the rankes beyng brought
+into this order, and mindyng in marchyng, to bryng them into battaile,
+for to make the hedde, the first Centurion must be caused to stande
+still, with the firste twentie rankes, and the seconde to proceade
+marchyng, and tournyng on the right hand, he must go a long the sides of
+the twentie rankes that stande still, till he come to bee even with the
+other Centurion, where he must also stande still, and the thirde
+Centurion to procede marchyng, likewise tournyng on the right hand, and
+a long the sides of the rankes that stande still, must go so farre, that
+he be even with the other twoo Centurions, and he also standyng still,
+the other Centurion must folowe with his rankes, likewise tournyng on
+the right hande, a longe the sides of the rankes that stande still, so
+farre that he come to the hed of the other, and then to stand still, and
+straight waie twoo Centurions onely, shall depart from the front, and go
+to the backe of the battaile, the whiche cometh to bee made in thesame
+maner, and with thesame order juste, as a little afore I have shewed
+you. The Veliti muste stande a long, by the flankes of thesame,
+accordyng as is disposed in the first waie, whiche waie is called
+redoublyng by right line, this is called redoublyng by flanke: the first
+waie is more easie, this is with better order, and commeth better to
+passe, and you maie better correcte it, after your owne maner, for that
+in redoublyng by righte line, you muste bee ruled by the nomber, bicause
+five maketh ten, ten twentie, twentie fourtie, so that with redoublyng
+by right line, you cannot make a hedde of fiftene, nor of five and
+twentie, nor of thirtie, nor of five and thirtie, but you must go where
+thesame nomber will leade you. And yet it happeneth every daie in
+particulare affaires, that it is convenient to make the forwarde with
+sixe hundred, or eight hundred men, so that to redouble by right line,
+should disorder you: therefore this liketh me better: that difficultie
+that is, ought moste with practise, and with exercise to bee made easie.
+Therefore I saie unto you, how it importeth more then any thyng, to have
+the souldiours to know how to set themselves in araie quickly, and it is
+necessarie to keepe theim in this battaile, to exercise theim therin,
+and to make them to go apace, either forward or backward, to passe
+through difficulte places, without troublyng thorder: for asmoche as the
+souldiours, whiche can doe this well, be expert souldiours, and although
+thei have never seen enemies in the face, thei maie be called old
+souldiours, and contrariwise, those whiche cannot keepe these orders,
+though thei have been in a thousande warres, thei ought alwaies to be
+reputed new souldiours. This is, concernyng setting them together, when
+thei are marching in small rankes: but beyng set, and after beyng broken
+by some accident or chaunce, whiche groweth either of the situacion, or
+of the enemie, to make that in a sodaine, thei maie come into order
+againe, this is the importaunce and the difficultie, and where is
+nedefull moche exercise, and moche practise, and wherin the antiquitie
+bestowed moche studie. Therefore it is necessarie to doe twoo thynges,
+firste to have this battaile full of countersignes, the other, to keepe
+alwaies this order, that those same men maie stand alwaies in the ranke,
+which thei were firste placed in: as for insample, if one have begon to
+stande in the seconde, that he stande after alwaie in that, and not
+onely in that self same rancke, but in that self same place: for the
+observyng whereof (as I have saied) bee necessarie many countersignes.
+In especially it is requisite, that the Ansigne bee after soche sorte
+countersigned, that companyng with the other battailes, it maie be
+knowen from theim, accordyng as the Conestable, and the Centurions have
+plumes of fethers in their heddes differente, and easie to be knowen,
+and that whiche importeth moste, is to ordaine that the peticapitaines
+bee knowen. Whereunto the antiquitie had so moche care, that thei would
+have nothing els written in their hedde peces, but the nomber that thei
+were named by, callyng them firste, seconde, thirde, and fourthe xc. And
+yet thei were not contented with this, but made every souldiour to have
+written in his Targaet, the nomber of the ranke, and the nomber of the
+place, in whiche ranke he was appoineted. Then the menne being
+countersigned thus, and used to stande betwene these limites, it is an
+easie thyng, thei beyng disordered, to sett theim all againe quickly
+into order: considering, that the Ansigne standyng still, the
+Centurions, and the Peticapitaines maie gesse their places by the iye,
+and beyng brought the left of the left, the right of the right, with
+their accustomed distance, the souldiours led by their rule, and by the
+differences of the cognisances, maie be quickly in their proper places,
+no otherwise, then as if the boordes of a tunne should bee taken a
+sunder, whiche beyng first marked, moste easely maie bee set together
+again, where thesame beyng not countersigned, were impossible to bryng
+into order any more. These thynges, with diligence and with exercise,
+are quickely taught, and quickly learned, and beyng learned, with
+difficultie are forgotten: for that the newe menne, be led of the olde,
+and with tyme, a Province with these exercises, may become throughly
+practised in the war. It is also necessarie to teache theim, to tourne
+theim selves all at ones, and when neede requires, to make of the
+flankes, and of the backe, the fronte, and of the front, flankes, or
+backe, whiche is moste easie: bicause it suffiseth that every manne doe
+tourne his bodie, towardes thesame parte that he is commaunded, and
+where thei tourne their faces, there the fronte commeth to bee. True it
+is, that when thei tourne to any of the flanckes, the orders tourne out
+of their proporcion: for that from the breast to the backe, there is
+little difference, and from the one flancke to the other, there is verie
+moche distance, the whiche is al contrarie to the ordinarie order of the
+battaile: therefore it is convenient, that practise, and discrecion, doe
+place them as thei ought to be: but this is small disorder, for that
+moste easely by themselves, thei maie remedie it. But that whiche
+importeth more, and where is requisite more practise, is when a battaile
+would tourne all at ones, as though it were a whole bodie, here is meete
+to have greate practise, and greate discrecion: bicause mindyng to
+tourne, as for insample on the left hande, the left corner must stande
+still, and those that be next to hym that standeth still, muste marche
+so softly, that thei that bee in the right corner, nede not to runne:
+otherwise all thing should be confounded. But bicause it happeneth
+alwaies, when an armie marcheth from place to place, that the battailes,
+whiche are not placed in the front, shall be driven to faight not by
+hedde, but either by flancke, or by backe, so that a battaile muste in a
+sodaine make of flancke, or of backe, hedde: and mindyng that like
+battailes in soche cace, maie have their proporcion, as above is
+declared, it is necessarie, that thei have the Pikes on thesame flancke,
+that ought to be hedde, and the Peticapitaines, Centurions, and
+Conestables, to resorte accordyngly to their places. Therefore to mynde
+to dooe this, in plasyng them together, you must ordeine the fower skore
+rankes, of five in a ranke, thus: Set all the Pikes in the first twentie
+rankes, and place the Peticapitaines thereof, five in the first places,
+and five in the last: the other three score rankes, whiche come after,
+bee all of Targaettes, whiche come to bee three Centuries. Therefore,
+the first and the laste ranke of every Centurion, would be
+Peticapitaines, the Conestable with the Ansigne, and with the Drumme,
+muste stande in the middest of the first Centurie of Targaettes, and the
+Centurions in the hed of every Centurie. The bande thus ordained, when
+you would have the Pikes to come on the left flancke, you must redouble
+Centurie by Centurie, on the right flancke: if you would have them to
+come on the right flancke, you must redouble theim on the lefte. And so
+this battaile tourneth with the Pikes upon a flancke, and the Conestable
+in the middeste: the whiche facion it hath marchyng: but the enemie
+commyng, and the tyme that it would make of flancke hedde, it nedeth not
+but to make every man to tourne his face, towardes thesame flancke,
+where the Pikes be, and then the battaile tourneth with the rankes, and
+with the heddes in thesame maner, as is aforesaied: for that every man
+is in his place, excepte the Centurions, and the Centurions straight
+waie, and without difficultie, place themselves: But when thei in
+marchyng, should bee driven to faight on the backe, it is convenient to
+ordein the rankes after soch sorte, that settyng theim in battaile, the
+Pikes maie come behinde, and to doe this, there is to bee kepte no other
+order, then where in orderyng the battaile, by the ordinarie, every
+Centurie hath five rankes of Pikes before, to cause that thei maie have
+them behind, and in all the other partes to observe thorder, whiche I
+declared firste.
+
+COSIMO. You have tolde (if I dooe well remember me) that this maner of
+exercise, is to bee able to bryng these battailes together into an
+armie, and that this practise, serveth to be able to order theim selves
+in the same: But if it should happen, that these CCCCL. men, should have
+to doe an acte seperate, how would you order them?
+
+[Sidenote: How a battaile is made with twoo hornes; The orderyng of a
+battaile with a voide space in the middeste.]
+
+FABRICIO. He that leadeth them, ought then to judge, where he will place
+the Pikes, and there to put them, the whiche doeth not repugne in any
+part to the order above written: for that also, though thesame bee the
+maner, that is observed to faighte a fielde, together with thother
+battailes, notwithstandyng it is a rule, whiche serveth to all those
+waies, wherein a band of menne should happen to have to doe: but in
+shewyng you the other twoo waies of me propounded, of ordering the
+battailes, I shal also satisfie you more to your question: for that
+either thei are never used, or thei are used when a battaile is a lone,
+and not in companie of other, and to come to the waie of ordering them,
+with twoo hornes, I saie, that thou oughteste to order the lxxx. rankes,
+five to a ranke, in this maner. Place in the middest, one Centurion, and
+after hym xxv. rankes, whiche muste bee with twoo Pikes on the lefte
+hande, and with three Targaettes on the right, and after the first five,
+there must be put in the twentie folowyng, twentie Peticapitaines, all
+betwene the pikes, and the Targaettes, excepte those whiche beare the
+Pike, whom maie stand with the Pikes: after these xxv. rankes thus
+ordered, there is to be placed an other Centurion, and behinde hym
+fiftene rankes of Targaettes: after these, the Conestable betwene the
+Drum and the Ansigne, who also must have after him, other fiftene rankes
+of Targaettes: after this, the thirde Centurion must be placed, and
+behinde hym, xxv. rankes, in every one of whiche, ought to bee three
+Targaettes on the lefte flancke, and twoo Pikes on the right, and after
+the five first rankes, there must be xx. Peticapitaines placed betwene
+the Pikes, and the Targaettes: after these rankes, the fowerth Centurion
+must folowe. Intendying therefore, of these rankes thus ordered, to make
+a battaile with twoo hornes, the first Centurion must stand still, with
+the xxv. rankes, whiche be behinde him, after the second Centurion muste
+move, with the fiftene rankes of Targaettes, that bee behinde hym, and
+to tourne on the right hande, and up by the right flancke of the xxv.
+rankes, to go so farre, that he arrive to the xv. ranke, and there to
+stande still: after, the Conestable muste move, with the fiftene rankes
+of Targaettes, whiche be behinde hym, and tournyng likewise on the right
+hande, up by the right flancke of the fiftene rankes, that wer firste
+moved, muste marche so farre, that he come to their heddes, and there to
+stand stil: after, the thirde Centurion muste move with the xxv. rankes,
+and with the fowerth Centurion, whiche was behinde, and turnyng up
+straight, must go a long by the right flanck of the fiftene last rankes
+of the Targaettes, and not to stande still when he is at the heddes of
+them, but to followe marchyng so farre, that the laste ranke of the xxv.
+maie come to be even with the rankes behinde. And this dooen, the
+Centurion, whiche was hedde of the firste fiftene rankes of Targaettes,
+must go awaie from thens where he stoode, and go to the backe in the
+lefte corner: and thus a battaile shall be made of xxv. rankes, after
+twentie men to a rank, with two hornes, upon every side of the front,
+one horn, and every one, shall have ten rankes, five to a ranke, and
+there shall remain a space betwene the twoo hornes, as moche as
+containeth ten men, whiche tourne their sides, the one to thother.
+Betwene the two hornes, the capitain shall stande, and on every poinct
+of a horne, a Centurion: There shall bee also behinde, on every corner,
+a Centurion: there shal be twoo rankes of Pikes, and xx. Peticapitaines
+on every flancke. These twoo hornes, serve to kepe betwene theim the
+artillerie, when this battaile should have any withit, and the cariages:
+The Veliti muste stande a long the flankes, under the Pikes. But mindyng
+to bring this horned battaile, with a voide space in the middeste, there
+ought no other to bee doen, then of fiftene rankes, of twentie to a
+ranke, to take eight rankes, and to place them on the poinctes of the
+twoo hornes, whiche then of hornes, become backe of the voide space, in
+this place, the cariages are kept, the capitain standeth, and the
+Ansigne, but never the Artillerie, the whiche is placed either in the
+front, or a long the flankes. These be the waies, that a battaile maie
+use when it is constrained to passe alone through suspected places:
+notwithstandyng, the massive battaile without hornes, and without any
+soche voide place is better, yet purposyng to assure the disarmed, the
+same horned battaile is necessarie. The Suizzers make also many facions
+of battailes, emong which, thei make one like unto a crosse: bicause in
+the spaces that is betwen the armes therof, thei kepe safe their
+Harkebuters from the daunger of the enemies: but bicause soche battailes
+be good to faight by theim selves, and my intente is to shew, how many
+battailes united, do faight with thenemie, I wil not labour further in
+describing them.
+
+COSIMO. My thinkes I have verie well comprehended the waie, that ought
+to be kept to exercise the men in these battailes: But (if I remember me
+well) you have saied, how that besides the tenne battailes, you joyne to
+the maine battaile, a thousande extraordinarie Pikes, and five hundred
+extraordinarie Veliti: will you not appoincte these to be exercised?
+
+[Sidenote: To what purpose the Pikes and Velite extraordinarie must
+serve.]
+
+FABRICIO. I would have theim to bee exercised, and that with moste great
+diligence: and the Pikes I would exercise, at leaste Ansigne after
+Ansigne, in the orders of the battailes, as the other: For as moche as
+these should doe me more servise, then the ordinarie battailes, in all
+particulare affaires: as to make guides, to get booties, and to doe like
+thynges: but the Veliti, I would exercise at home, without bringing them
+together, for that their office being to faight a sonder, it is not
+mete, that thei should companie with other, in the common exercises: for
+that it shall suffice, to exercise them well in the particular
+exercises. Thei ought then (as I firste tolde you, nor now me thynkes no
+labour to rehearse it againe) to cause their men to exercise them selves
+in these battailes, whereby thei maie knowe how to kepe the raie, to
+knowe their places, to tourne quickly, when either enemie, or situacion
+troubleth them: for that, when thei knowe how to do this, the place is
+after easely learned, which a battaile hath to kepe, and what is the
+office thereof in the armie: and when a Prince, or a common weale, will
+take the paine, and will use their diligence in these orders, and in
+these exercisyng, it shall alwaies happen, that in their countrie, there
+shall bee good souldiours, and thei to be superiours to their
+neighbours, and shalbe those, whiche shall give, and not receive the
+lawes of other men: but (as I have saied) the disorder wherein thei
+live, maketh that thei neclecte, and doe not esteme these thynges, and
+therefore our armies be not good: and yet though there were either hed,
+or member naturally vertuous, thei cannot shewe it.
+
+COSIMO. What carriages would you, that every one of these battailes
+should have?
+
+[Sidenote: Neither Centurion nor Peticapitaine, ought not to ride; What
+carriages the Capitaines ought to have, and the nomber of carrages
+requisite to every bande of menne.]
+
+FABRICIO. Firste, I would that neither Centurion, nor Peticapitain,
+should be suffered to ride: and if the Conestable would nedes ride, I
+would that he should have a Mule, and not a horse: I would allowe hym
+twoo carriages, and one to every Centurion, and twoo to every three
+Peticapitaines, for that so many wee lodge in a lodgyng, as in the place
+therof we shall tell you: So that every battaile will come to have
+xxxvi. carriages, the whiche I would should carrie of necessitie the
+tentes, the vesselles to seeth meate, axes, barres of Iron, sufficient
+to make the lodgynges, and then if thei can carry any other thyng, thei
+maie dooe it at their pleasure.
+
+COSIMO. I beleve that the heddes of you, ordeined in every one of these
+battailes, be necessarie: albeit, I would doubt, lest that so many
+commaunders, should confounde all.
+
+[Sidenote: Without many capitaines, an armie cannot be governed; To what
+purpose Ansignes ought to serve; For what purpose Drummes oughte to bee
+used; The propertie that soundes of instrumentes have in mens myndes.]
+
+FABRICIO. That should bee, when it were not referred to one man, but
+referryng it, thei cause order, ye and without theim, it is impossible
+to governe an armie: for that a wall, whiche on every parte enclineth,
+requireth rather to have many proppes, and thicke, although not so
+strong, then fewe, though thei were strong: bicause the vertue of one a
+lone, doeth not remedie the ruine a farre of. And therefore in tharmies,
+and emong every ten men, it is convenient that there bee one, of more
+life, of more harte, or at leaste wise of more aucthoritie, who with
+stomacke, with wordes, and with example, maie kepe them constante, and
+disposed to faight, and these thynges of me declared, bee necessarie in
+an armie, as the Heddes, the Ansignes, and the Drummes, is seen that wee
+have theim all in our armies, but none doeth his office. First to mynde
+that the Peticapitaines doe thesame, for whiche thei are ordeined, it is
+necessarie (as I have said) that there bee a difference, betwene every
+one of them and their men, and that thei lodge together, doyng their
+duties, standyng in thorder with them: for that thei placed in their
+places, bee a rule and a temperaunce, to maintaine the raies straight
+and steddie, and it is impossible that thei disorder, or disorderyng,
+dooe not reduce themselves quickly into their places. But we now adaies,
+doe not use them to other purpose, then to give theim more wages, then
+to other menne, and to cause that thei dooe some particulare feate: The
+very same happeneth of the Ansigne bearers, for that thei are kept
+rather to make a faire muster, then for any other warlike use: but the
+antiquitie used theim for guides, and to bryng theim selves againe into
+order: for that every man, so sone as the Ansigne stoode still, knewe
+the place, that he kept nere to his Ansigne, wherunto he retourned
+alwaies: thei knewe also, how that the same movyng, or standyng, thei
+should staie, or move: therfore it is necessarie in an armie, that there
+be many bodies, and every bande of menne to have his Ansigne, and his
+guide: wherfore havyng this, it is mete that thei have stomackes inough,
+and by consequence life enough. Then the menne ought to marche,
+accordyng to the Ansigne: and the Ansigne to move, accordyng to the
+Drumme, the whiche Drumme well ordered, commaundeth to the armie, the
+whiche goyng with paces, that answereth the tyme of thesame, will come
+to kepe easilie thorders: for whiche cause the antiquitie had Shalmes,
+Flutes, and soundes perfectly tymed: For as moche as like as he that
+daunseth, proceadeth with the tyme of the Musick, and goyng with thesame
+doeth not erre, even so an armie obeiyng, in movyng it self to thesame
+sounde, doeth not disorder: and therefore, thei varied the sounde,
+accordyng as thei would varie the mocion, and accordyng as thei would
+inflame, or quiete, or staie the mindes of men: and like as the soundes
+were divers, so diversly thei named them: the sounde Dorico, ingendered
+constancie, the sounde Frigio, furie: whereby thei saie, that Alexander
+beyng at the Table, and one soundyng the sounde Frigio, it kendled so
+moche his minde, that he laied hande on his weapons. All these maners
+should be necessarie to finde again: and when this should bee
+difficulte, at least there would not be left behind those that teache
+the Souldiour to obeie, the whiche every man maie varie, and ordeine
+after his owne facion, so that with practise, he accustome the eares of
+his souldiours to knowe it: But now adaies of this sounde, there is no
+other fruicte taken for the moste part, then to make a rumour.
+
+COSIMO. I would desire to understande of you, if ever with your self you
+have discourced, whereof groweth so moche vilenesse, and so moche
+disorder, and so moche necligence in these daies of this exercise?
+
+[Sidenote: A notable discourse of the aucthour, declaryng whereof
+groweth so moche vilenes disorder and necligence in these daies,
+concernyng the exercises of warre.]
+
+FABRICIO. With a good will I will tell you thesame, that I thinke. You
+knowe how that of the excellente men of warre, there hath been named
+many in Europe, fewe in Affric, and lesse in Asia: this grewe, for that
+these twoo laste partes of the worlde, have had not paste one kyngdome,
+or twoo, and fewe common weales, but Europe onely, hath had many
+kyngdomes, and infinite common weales, where menne became excellent, and
+did shewe their vertue, accordyng as thei were sette a woorke, and
+brought before their Prince, or common weale, or king that he be: it
+followeth therefore, that where be many dominions, there rise many
+valiaunt menne, and where be fewe, fewe. In Asia is founde Ninus, Cirus,
+Artasercses, Mithridates: and verie fewe other, that to these maie be
+compared. In Africk, is named (lettyng stande thesame auncient Egipt)
+Massinissa, Jugurta, and those Capitaines, whiche of the Carthaginens
+common weale were nourished, whom also in respecte to those of Europe,
+are moste fewe: bicause in Europe, be excellente men without nomber, and
+so many more should be, if together with those should bee named the
+other, that be through the malignitie of time extincte: for that the
+worlde hath been moste vertuous, where hath been moste states, whiche
+have favoured vertue of necessitie, or for other humaine passion. There
+rose therfore in Asia, fewe excellente menne: bicause thesame Province,
+was all under one kyngdome, in the whiche for the greatnesse thereof,
+thesame standing for the moste parte of tyme idell, there could not
+growe men in doynges excellent. To Africke there happened the verie
+same, yet there were nourished more then in Asia, by reason of the
+Carthaginens common weale: for that in common weales, there growe more
+excellent men, then in kingdomes, bicause in common weales for the most
+part, vertue is honoured, in Kyngdomes it is helde backe: wherby
+groweth, that in thone, vertuous men are nourished, in the other thei
+are extincte. Therefore he that shall consider the partes of Europe,
+shall finde it to have been full of common weales, and of princedomes,
+the whiche for feare, that the one had of the other, thei wer
+constrained to kepe lively the warlike orders, and to honor them, whiche
+in those moste prevailed: for that in Grece, besides the kyngdome of the
+Macedonians, there were many common weales, and in every one of theim,
+were bred moste excellente men. In Italie, were the Romaines, the
+Sannites, the Toscanes, the Gallie Cisalpini. Fraunce, and Almainie, wer
+ful of common weales and princedomes. Spaine likewise: and although in
+comparison of the Romaines, there are named fewe other, it groweth
+through the malignitie of the writers, whom folowe fortune, and to theim
+for the moste parte it suffised, to honour the conquerours: but it
+standeth not with reason, that betwene the Sannites, and the Toscanes,
+whom fought CL. yeres with the Romaine people, before thei wer overcome,
+there should not growe exceadyng many excellente menne. And so likewise
+in Fraunce, and in Spaine: but that vertue, whiche the writers did not
+celebrate in particuler menne, thei celebrated generally in the people,
+where thei exalte to the starres, the obstinatenesse that was in them,
+to defende their libertie. Beyng then true, that where bee moste
+dominions, there riseth moste valiaunt menne, it foloweth of necessitie,
+that extinguishyng those, vertue is extincte straighte waie, the
+occasion decaiyng, whiche maketh menne vertuous. Therefore, the Romaine
+Empire beyng after increased, and havyng extinguished all the common
+weales, and Princedomes of Europe, and of Afrike, and for the moste part
+those of Asia, it lefte not any waie to vertue, excepte Rome: whereby
+grewe, that vertuous menne began to be as fewe in Europe, as in Asia:
+the whiche vertue, came after to the laste caste: For as moche, as all
+the vertue beyng reduced to Roome, so sone as thesame was corrupted,
+almoste all the worlde came to bee corrupted: and the Scithian people,
+were able to come to spoile thesame Empire, the whiche had extinguished
+the vertue of other, and knewe not howe to maintaine their owne: and
+after, although through the inundacion of those barberous nacions,
+thesame Empire was devided into many partes, this vertue is not renued:
+
+[Sidenote: The causes why the aunciente orders are neclected.]
+
+The one cause is, for that it greveth theim moche, to take againe the
+orders when thei are marde, the other, bicause the maner of livyng now
+adaies, having respect to the Christian religion, commaundeth not
+thesame necessitie to menne, to defende themselves, whiche in olde tyme
+was: for that then, the menne overcome in warre, either were killed, or
+remained perpetuall slaves, where thei led their lives moste miserably:
+The tounes overcome, either were rased, or the inhabiters thereof driven
+out, their goodes taken awaie, sent dispersed through the worlde: so
+that the vanquished in warre, suffered all extreme miserie: of this
+feare, men beyng made afraied, thei wer driven to kepe lively the
+warlike exercises, and thei honoured soche as were excellente in theim:
+But nowe adaies, this feare for the moste part is not regarded: of those
+that are overcom, fewe bee killed, none is kepte longe in prison: for
+that with facelitie, thei are sette at libertie: the citees also, whiche
+a thousande tymes have rebelled, are not destroied, the men wherof, are
+let a lone with their goodes, so that the greateste hurte that is
+feared, is but a taske: in so moche, that men will not submit them
+selves to the orders of warre, and to abide alwaies under those, to
+avoide the perilles whereof thei are little afraied: again these
+Provinces of Europe, be under a verie fewe heddes, in respecte as it
+hath been in times past: for that al Fraunce, obeieth one kyng, al
+Spain, an other: Italie is in fewe partes, so that the weake citees, are
+defended with leanyng to hym that overcometh, and the strong states, for
+the causes aforesaied, feare no soche extreme ruine.
+
+COSIMO. Yet ther hath ben seen many tounes that have ben sacked within
+this xxv. yeres, and lost their dominions, whose insample, ought to
+teache other how to live, and to take again some of those old orders.
+
+FABRICIO. You saie true: but if you note what tounes have gone to sacke,
+you shall not finde that thei have been the heddes of states, but of the
+members; as was seen sacked Tortona, and not Milaine: Capua, and not
+Napelles, Brescia, and not Venice, Ravenna, and not Roome: the whiche
+insamples maketh those that governe, not to chaunge their purposes, but
+rather maketh them to stande more in their opinion, to be able to redeme
+again all thynges with taskes, and for this, thei will not submit theim
+selves to the troubles of thexercises of warre, semyng unto them partly
+not necessarie, partly, an intrinsicate matter, whiche thei understande
+not: Those other, whiche bee subjectes to them, whom soche insamples
+ought to make afraied, have no power to remedie it: and those Princes,
+that have ones loste their estates, are no more able, and those which as
+yet kept them, know not, nor wil not. Bicause thei will without any
+disease rain by fortune, and not by their vertue: for that in the worlde
+beyng but little vertue, thei see fortune governeth all thynges. And
+thei will have it to rule theim, not thei to rule it. And to prove this
+that I have discoursed to bee true, consider Almaine, in the whiche,
+bicause there is many Princedomes, and common weales, there is moche
+vertue, and all thesame, whiche in the present service of warre is good,
+dependeth of the insamples of those people: who beyng all gellious of
+their states, fearing servitude, the which in other places is not
+feared, thei all maintaine theim selves Lordes, and honourable: this
+that I have saied, shall suffice to shewe the occacions of the presente
+utilitie, accordyng to my opinion: I cannot tell, whether it seeme
+thesame unto you, or whether there be growen in you any doubtyng.
+
+COSIMO. None, but rather I understande all verie well: onely I desire,
+tournyng to our principall matter, to understande of you, how you would
+ordein the horses with these battailes, and how many, and how thei
+should be governed, and how armed.
+
+[Sidenote: The armyng of horsemen; The weapons that light horsmenne
+should have; The nombre of horsmen requisite for a maine bataille of six
+thousand men; The nombre of carrages that men of armes and light horsmen
+ought to have.]
+
+FABRICIO. You thinke peraventure, that I have left it behinde: whereat
+doe not marvell, for that I purpose for twoo causes, to speake therof
+little, the one is, for that the strengthe, and the importaunce of an
+armie, is the footemen, the other is, bicause this part of service of
+warre, is lesse corrupted, then thesame of footemen. For that though it
+be not stronger then the old, yet it maie compare with thesame,
+nevertheles ther hath been spoken a little afore, of the maner of
+exercisyng them. And concernyng tharmyng them, I would arme them as thei
+doe at this present, as wel the light horsemen, as the menne of armes:
+but the light horsemen, I would that thei should be all Crossebowe
+shuters, with some Harkebutters emong them: the whiche though in the
+other affaires of warre, thei bee little profitable, thei be for this
+most profitable, to make afraied the countrie menne, and to drive them
+from a passage, that were kept of them: bicause a Harkebutter, shall
+feare them more, then twentie other armed. But commyng to the nomber, I
+saie, that having taken in hand, to imitate the service of warre of the
+Romaines, I would not ordein more then three hundred horse, profitable
+for every maine battaile, of whiche I would that there were CL. men of
+armes, and CL. light horsmen, and I would give to every one of these
+partes, a hedde, making after emong them fiftene peticapitaines for a
+bande, givyng to every one of them a Trompet, and a standarde: I would
+that every ten menne of armes, should have five carriages, and every ten
+light horsemen twoo, the whiche as those of the footemen, should carrie
+the tentes, the vesselles, and the axes, and the stakes, and the rest of
+their other harneis. Nor beleve not but that it is disorder, where the
+menne of armes have to their service fower horse, bicause soche a thyng
+is a corrupt use: for that the men of armes in Almaine, are seen to bee
+with their horse alone, every twentie of theim, havyng onely a carte,
+that carrieth after them their necessary thynges. The Romaine horsemen,
+were likewise a lone: true it is, that the Triary lodged nere them,
+whiche wer bound to minister helpe unto theim, in the kepyng of their
+horses the whiche maie easely be imitated of us, as in the distributyng
+of the lodgynges, I shall shewe you. Thesame then that the Romaines did,
+and that whiche the Duchmen doe now a daies, we maie doe also, ye, not
+doyng it, we erre. These horses ordained and appoincted together with a
+main battaile, maie sometymes be put together, when the battailes bee
+assembled, and to cause that betwene theim bee made some sight of
+assault, the whiche should be more to make them acquainted together,
+then for any other necessitie. But now of this part, there hath been
+spoke sufficiently, wherefore let us facion the armie, to be able to
+come into the field against the enemie, and hope to winne it: whiche
+thyng is the ende, for whiche the exercise of warre is ordeined, and so
+moche studie therein bestowed.
+
+
+
+
+THE THIRDE BOOKE
+
+
+COSIMO. Seeing that we chaunge reasonyng, I will that the demaunder be
+chaunged: bicause I would not be thought presumptuous, the which I have
+alwaies blamed in other: therfore, I resigne the Dictatorship, and give
+this aucthoritie to hym that will have it, of these my other frendes.
+
+ZANOBI. We would be moste glad, that you should procede, but seyng that
+you will not, yet tell at leaste, whiche of us shall succede in your
+place.
+
+COSIMO. I will give this charge to signor Fabricio.
+
+FABRICIO. I am content to take it, and I will that we folowe the
+Venecian custome, that is, that the youngeste speake firste: bicause
+this beyng an exercise for yong men, I perswade my self, that yong
+menne, bee moste apt to reason thereof, as thei be moste readie to
+execute it.
+
+COSIMO. Then it falleth to you Luigi: and as I have pleasure of soche a
+successour, so you shal satisfie your self of soche a demaunder:
+therefore I praie you, let us tourne to the matter, and let us lese no
+more tyme.
+
+[Sidenote: The greateste disorder that is used now a daies in pitching
+of a fielde; The order how a Romain Legion was appoincted to faight; The
+maner that the Grekes used in their Falangi, when thei fought against
+their enemies; The order that the Suizzers use in their main battailes
+when thei faight; Howe to appoincte a main battaile with armour and
+weapons, and to order thesame after the Greke and Romain maner.]
+
+FABRICIO. I am certain, that to mynde to shewe wel, how an armie is
+prepared, to faight a fielde, it should be necessarie to declare, how
+the Grekes, and the Romaines ordeined the bandes of their armies:
+Notwithstandyng, you your selves, beeyng able to rede, and to consider
+these tnynges, by meanes of the auncient writers. I will passe over many
+particulars: and I will onely bryng in those thynges, whiche I thinke
+necessarie to imitate, mindyng at this tyme, to give to our exercise of
+warre, some parte of perfection: The whiche shall make, that in one
+instant, I shall shewe you, how an armie is prepared to the field, and
+how it doeth incounter in the verie faight, and how it maie be exercised
+in the fained. The greatest disorder, that thei make, whiche ordeine an
+armie to the fielde, is in giving them onely one fronte, and to binde
+them to one brunt, and to one fortune: the whiche groweth, of havyng
+loste the waie, that the antiquitie used to receive one bande within an
+other: bicause without this waie, thei can neither succour the formoste,
+nor defende them, nor succede in the faight in their steede: the whiche
+of the Romaines, was moste excellently well observed. Therefore,
+purposyng to shewe this waie, I saie, how that the Romaines devided into
+iii. partes every Legion, in Hastati, Prencipi, and Triarii, of which,
+the Hastati wer placed in the first front, or forward of the armie, with
+thorders thicke and sure, behinde whom wer the Prencipi, but placed with
+their orders more thinne: after these, thei set the Triarii, and with so
+moche thinnes of orders, that thei might, if nede wer, receive betwene
+them the Prencipi, and the Hastati. Thei had besides these, the
+Slingers, and Crosbowshoters, and the other lighte armed, the whiche
+stoode not in these orders, but thei placed them in the bed of tharmie,
+betwene the horses and the other bandes of footemen: therefore these
+light armed, began the faight, if thei overcame (whiche happened seldom
+times) thei folowed the victorie: if thei were repulced, thei retired by
+the flanckes of the armie, or by the spaces ordained for soche purposes,
+and thei brought them selves emong the unarmed: after the departure of
+whom, the Hastati incountered with the enemie, the whiche if thei saw
+themselves to be overcome, thei retired by a little and little, by the
+rarenesse of thorders betwene the Prencipi, and together with those,
+thei renued the faight if these also wer repulced, thei retired al in
+the rarenesse of the orders of the Triarii, and al together on a heape,
+began againe the faight: and then, if thei were overcome, there was no
+more remeady, bicause there remained no more waies to renue them again.
+The horses stoode on the corners of the armie, to the likenes of twoo
+winges to a bodie, and somewhiles thei fought with the enemies horses,
+an other while, thei rescued the fotmen, according as nede required.
+This waie of renuyng theim selves three tymes, is almoste impossible to
+overcome: for that, fortune muste three tymes forsake thee, and the
+enemie to have so moche strengthe, that three tymes he maie overcome
+thee. The Grekes, had not in their Falangi, this maner of renuyng them
+selves, and although in those wer many heddes, and many orders,
+notwithstandyng, thei made one bodie, or els one hedde: the maner that
+thei kepte in rescuyng the one the other was, not to retire the one
+order within the other, as the Romaines, but to enter the one manne into
+the place of the other: the which thei did in this maner. Their Falange
+brought into rankes, and admit, that thei put in a ranke fiftie menne,
+commyng after with their hedde againste the enemie, of all the rankes
+the foremoste sixe, mighte faight: Bicause their Launces, the whiche
+thei called Sarisse, were so long, that the sixt ranke, passed with the
+hedde of their Launces, out of the first ranke: then in faightyng, if
+any of the first, either through death, or through woundes fell,
+straight waie there entered into his place, thesame man, that was
+behinde in the second ranke, and in the place that remained voide of the
+seconde, thesame man entred, whiche was behind hym in the thirde, and
+thus successively, in a sodaine the rankes behinde, restored the faultes
+of those afore, so that the rankes alwaies remained whole, and no place
+of the faighters was voide, except the laste rankes, the whiche came to
+consume, havyng not menne behinde their backes, whom might restore
+theim: So that the hurte that the first rankes suffered, consumed the
+laste, and the firste remained alwaies whole: and thus these Falangi by
+their order, might soner be consumed, then broken, for that the grosse
+bodie, made it more immovable. The Romaines used at the beginnyng the
+Falangi, and did set in order their Legions like unto them: after, this
+order pleased them not, and thei devided the Legions into many bodies,
+that is, in bandes and companies: Bicause thei judged (as a little afore
+I saied) that thesame bodie, should have neede of many capitaines, and
+that it should be made of sunderie partes, so that every one by it self,
+might be governed. The maine battailes of the Suizzers, use at this
+present, all the maners of the Falangi, as well in ordryng it grosse,
+and whole, as in rescuyng the one the other: and in pitchyng the field,
+thei set the main battailes, thone to the sides of the other: and though
+thei set them the one behinde the other, thei have no waie, that the
+firste retiryng it self, maie bee received of the seconde, but thei use
+this order, to the entent to bee able to succour the one thother, where
+thei put a maine battaile before, and an other behinde thesame on the
+right hande: so that if the first have nede of helpe, that then the
+other maie make forewarde, and succour it: the third main battaile, thei
+put behind these, but distant from them, a Harkebus shot: this thei doe,
+for that thesaid two main battailes being repulced, this maie make
+forwarde, and have space for theim selves, and for the repulced, and
+thesame that marcheth forward, to avoide the justling of the one the
+other: for asmoche as a grosse multitude, cannot bee received as a
+little bodie: and therefore, the little bodies beyng destincte, whiche
+were in a Romaine Legion, might be placed in soche wise, that thei might
+receive betwene theim, and rescue the one the other. And to prove this
+order of the Suizzers not to be so good, as the auncient Romaines, many
+insamples of the Romain Legions doe declare, when thei fought with the
+Grekes Falangi, where alwaies thei were consumed of theim: for that the
+kinde of their weapons (as I have said afore) and this waie of renuyng
+themselves, could do more, then the massivenesse of the Falangi. Havyng
+therefore, with these insamples to ordaine an armie, I have thought
+good, partly to retaine the maner of armyng and the orders of the Grekes
+Falangi, and partely of the Romain Legions: and therfore I have saied,
+that I would have in a main battaile, twoo thousande pikes, whiche be
+the weapons of the Macedonicall Falangi, and three thousande Targaettes
+with sweardes, whiche be the Romain weapons: I have devided the main
+battaile, into x. battailes, as the Romaines their Legion into ten
+Cohortes: I have ordeined the Veliti, that is the light armed, to begin
+the faight, as the Romaines used: and like as the weapons beyng mingled,
+doe participate of thone and of the other nacion, so the orders also doe
+participate: I have ordained, that every battaile shall have v. rankes
+of Pikes in the fronte, and the rest of Targaettes, to bee able with the
+front, to withstande the horses, and to enter easely into the battaile
+of the enemies on foot, having in the firste fronte, or vawarde, Pikes,
+as well as the enemie, the whiche shall suffice me to withstande them,
+the Targaettes after to overcome theim. And if you note the vertue of
+this order, you shal se al these weapons, to doe fully their office, for
+that the Pikes, bee profitable against the horses, and when thei come
+against the footemenne, thei dooe their office well, before the faight
+throng together, bicause so sone as thei presse together, thei become
+unprofitable: wherefore, the Suizzers to avoide this inconvenience, put
+after everye three rankes of Pikes, a ranke of Halberdes, the whiche
+they do to make roome to the Pikes, which is not yet so much as
+suffiseth. Then putting our Pikes afore, and the Targaettes behinde,
+they come to withstande the horses, and in the beginning of the fight,
+they open the rayes, and molest the footemen: But when the fight is
+thrust together, and that they become unprofitable, the Targaettes and
+swoords succeede, which may in every narowe place be handled.
+
+LUIGI. Wee looke nowe with desire to understande, howe you would ordeyne
+the armie to fighte the fielde, with these weapons, and with these
+order.
+
+[Sidenote: The nomber of men that was in a Counsulles armie; How the
+Romaines placed their Legions in the field; How to order an armie in the
+fielde to fighte a battaile, according to the minde of the authour; How
+the extraordinary pikes bee placed in the set battaile; The place where
+thextraordinarie archars and harkebutters, and the men of armes and
+lighte horsmen ought to stande when the field is pitched, and goeth to
+faighte the battaile; The ordinarie archars and harkebutters are placed
+aboute their owne battailes; The place where the generall hedde of a
+maine battaile muste stande, when thesame power of men is appoincted to
+faight; What menne a general capitain of a maine battaile oughte to have
+aboute hym; The place wher a general capitain of all thearmie must stand
+when the battaile is ready to be fought and what nomber of chosen men
+oughte to be aboute hym; How many canons is requisite for an armie, and
+of what sise they ought to bee; Where the artillerie ought to be placed
+when thearmie is reedie to fight; An armie that were ordered as above is
+declared, maie in fighting, use the Grekes maner, and the Roman fashion;
+To what purpose the spaces that be betwene every bande of men do serve.]
+
+FABRICIO. And I will not nowe shewe you other, then this: you have to
+understande, how that in an ordinarye Romane armie, which they call a
+Consull armie, there were no more, then twoo Legions of Romane Citezens
+which were sixe hundred horse, and about aleven thousande footemen: they
+had besides as many more footemen and horsemen, whiche were sente them
+from their friends and confiderates, whome they divided into twoo
+partes, and called the one, the right horne and the other the left
+horne: nor they never permitted, that these aiding footemen, should
+passe the nomber of the footemen of their Legions, they were well
+contented, that the nomber of those horse shoulde be more then theirs:
+with this armie, which was of xxii. thousand footemen, and about twoo
+thousande good horse, a Consul executed all affaires, and went to all
+enterprises: yet when it was needefull to set against a greater force,
+twoo Consulles joyned together with twoo armies. You ought also to note
+in especially, that in all the three principall actes, which an armie
+doth that is, to march, to incampe, and to fight, the Romanes used to
+put their Legions in the middeste, for that they woulde, that the same
+power, wherein they most trusted, shoulde bee moste united, as in the
+reasoning of these three actes, shall be shewed you: those aiding
+footemen, through the practise they had with the Legion Souldiours, were
+as profitable as they, because they were instructed, according as the
+souldiours of the Legions were, and therefore, in like maner in pitching
+the field, they pitched. Then he that knoweth how the Romaines disposed
+a Legion in their armie, to fight a field, knoweth how they disposed
+all: therefor, having tolde you how they devided a Legion into three
+bandes, and how the one bande received the other, I have then told you,
+how al tharmie in a fielde, was ordained. Wherefore, I minding to ordain
+a field like unto the Romaines, as they had twoo Legions, I will take
+ii. main batailes, and these being disposed, the disposicion of all an
+armie shalbe understode therby: bycause in joyning more men, there is no
+other to be doen, then to ingrosse the orders: I thinke I neede not to
+rehearse how many men a maine battaile hath, and howe it hath ten
+battailes, and what heades bee in a battaile and what weapons they have,
+and which be the ordinarie Pikes and Veliti, and which the
+extraordinarie for that a litle a fore I told you it destinctly, and I
+willed you to kepe it in memorie as a necessarie thing to purpose, to
+understande all the other orders: and therfore I will come to the
+demonstracion of the order without repeating it any more: Me thinkes
+good, that the ten battailes of one main battaile be set on the left
+flanke, and the tenne other, of the other main battaile, on the right:
+these that are placed on the left flanke, be ordeined in this maner,
+there is put five battailes the one to the side of the other in the
+fronte, after suche sorte, that betweene the one and the other, there
+remaine a space of three yardes, whiche come to occupie for largenesse
+Cvi. yardes, of ground, and for length thirtie: behinde these five
+battailes, I would put three other distante by right line from the
+firste thirtie yardes: twoo of the whiche, should come behinde by right
+line, to the uttermoste of the five, and the other should kepe the space
+in the middeste, and so these three, shall come to occupie for bredth
+and length, as moche space, as the five doeth. But where the five have
+betwene the one, and the other, a distaunce of three yardes, these shall
+have a distance of xxv. yardes. After these, I would place the twoo last
+battailes, in like maner behinde the three by right line, and distaunte
+from those three, thirtie yardes, and I would place eche of theim,
+behinde the uttermoste part of the three, so that the space, whiche
+should remain betwen the one and the other, should be lxviii. yardes:
+then al these battailes thus ordered, will take in bredth Cvi. yardes,
+and in length CL. Thextraordinarie Pikes, I would deffende a long the
+flanckes of these battailes, on the left side, distante from them
+fiftene yardes, makyng Cxliij. rankes, seven to a ranke, after soche
+sorte, that thei maie impale with their length, all the left sixe of the
+tenne battailes in thesame wise, declared of me to be ordained: and
+there shall remain fourtie rankes to keepe the carriages, and the
+unarmed, whiche ought to remaine in the taile of the armie, distributyng
+the Peticapitaines, and the Centurions, in their places: and of the
+three Conestables, I would place one in the hedde, the other in the
+middeste, the third in the laste ranke, the whiche should execute the
+office of a Tergiductore, whom the antiquitie so called hym, that was
+appoincted to the backe of the armie. But retournyng to the hedde of the
+armie, I saie how that I would place nere to the extraordinarie pikes,
+the Veliti extraordinarie, whiche you knowe to be five hundred, and I
+would give them a space of xxx. yardes: on the side of these likewise on
+the left hande, I would place the menne of armes, and I would thei
+should have a space of a Cxii. yardes: after these, the light horsemen,
+to whom I would appoinct as moche ground to stande in, as the menne of
+armes have: the ordinarie veliti, I would leave about their owne
+battailes, who should stand in those spaces, whiche I appoincte betwene
+thone battaile and thother: whom should be as their ministers, if
+sometyme I thought not good to place them under the extraordinarie
+Pikes: in dooyng or not doyng whereof, I would proceade, accordyng as
+should tourne best to my purpose. The generall hedde of all the maine
+battaile, I would place in thesame space, that were betwene the first
+and the seconde order of the battailes, or els in the hedde, and in
+thesame space, that is betwene the laste battaile of the firste five,
+and the extraordinarie Pikes, accordyng as beste should serve my
+purpose, with thirtie or fourtie chosen men about hym, that knewe by
+prudence, how to execute a commission, and by force, to withstande a
+violence, and thei to be also betwen the Drumme and the Ansigne: this is
+thorder, with the whiche I would dispose a maine battaile, whiche should
+bee the disposyng of halfe the armie, and it should take in breadth
+three hundred fourscore and twoo yardes, and in length as moche as above
+is saied, not accomptyng the space, that thesame parte of the
+extraordinarie Pikes will take, whiche muste make a defence for the
+unarmed, whiche will bee aboute lxxv. yardes: the other maine battaile,
+I would dispose on the righte side, after the same maner juste, as I
+have disposed that on the lefte, leavyng betwene the one main battaile,
+and thother, a space of xxii. yardes: in the hedde of whiche space, I
+would set some little carriages of artillerie, behynde the whiche,
+should stande the generall capitaine of all the armie, and should have
+about hym with the Trumpet, and with the Capitaine standerde, twoo
+hundred menne at least, chosen to be on foote the moste parte, emongest
+whiche there should be tenne or more, mete to execute all
+commaundementes, and should bee in soche wise a horsebacke, and armed,
+that thei mighte bee on horsebacke, and on foote, accordyng as neede
+should require. The artillerie of the armie, suffiseth ten Cannons, for
+the winning of Townes, whose shotte shoulde not passe fiftie pounde: the
+whiche in the fielde should serve mee more for defence of the campe,
+then for to fight the battaile: The other artillerie, should bee rather
+of ten, then of fifteene pounde the shotte: this I would place afore on
+the front of all the armie, if sometime the countrie should not stande
+in such wise, that I mighte place it by the flancke in a sure place,
+where it mighte not of the enemie be in daunger: this fashion of an
+armie thus ordered, may in fighting, use the order of the Falangi, and
+the order of the Romane Legions: for that in the fronte, bee Pikes, all
+the men bee set in the rankes, after such sorte, that incountering with
+the enemie, and withstanding him, maye after the use of the Falangi,
+restore the firste ranckes, with those behinde: on the other parte, if
+they be charged so sore, that they be constrayned to breake the orders,
+and to retire themselves, they maye enter into the voide places of the
+seconde battailes, which they have behinde them, and unite their selves
+with them, and making a new force, withstande the enemie, and overcome
+him: and when this sufficeth not, they may in the verie same maner,
+retire them selves the seconde time, and the third fight: so that in
+this order, concerning to fight, there is to renue them selves, both
+according to the Greeke maner, and according to the Romane: concerning
+the strength of the armie, there cannot be ordayned a more stronger: for
+as much, as the one and the other borne therof, is exceedingly well
+replenished, both with heades, and weapons, nor there remayneth weake,
+other then the part behinde of the unarmed, and the same also, hath the
+flanckes impaled with the extraordinarie Pikes: nor the enemie can not
+of anye parte assaulte it, where he shall not finde it well appointed,
+and the hinder parte can not be assaulted: Because there can not bee an
+enemie, that hath so much puissaunce, whome equallye maye assault thee
+on everye side: for that hee having so great a power, thou oughtest not
+then to matche thy selfe in the fielde with him: but when he were three
+times more then thou, and as well appointed as thou, hee doth weaken him
+selfe in assaulting thee in divers places, one part that thou breakest,
+will cause all the reste go to naughte: concerning horses, although he
+chaunce to have more then thine, thou needest not feare: for that the
+orders of the Pikes, which impale thee, defende thee from all violence
+of them, although thy horses were repulced. The heades besides this, be
+disposed in such place, that they may easyly commaunde, and obeye: the
+spaces that bee between the one battaile, and the other, and betweene
+the one order, and the other, not onely serve to be able to receyve the
+one the other, but also to give place to the messengers, whiche should
+go and come by order of the Capitayne. And as I tolde you firste, howe
+the Romanes had for an armie, aboute foure and twentie thousande men,
+even so this oughte to bee: and as the other souldiours tooke ensample
+of the Legions, for the maner of fighting, and the fashion of the armie,
+so those souldiours, whiche you shoulde joyne to oure twoo mayne
+battailes, oughte to take the forme and order of them: whereof having
+put you an ensample, it is an easye matter to imitate it, for that
+increasing, either twoo other mayne battailes unto the armie, or as many
+other souldiours, as they bee, there is no other to bee done, then to
+double the orders, and where was put tenne battailes on the lefte parte,
+to put twentie, either ingrossing, or distending the orders, according
+as the place, or the enemie shoulde compell thee.
+
+LUIGI. Surelye sir I imagine in suche wise of this armie, that mee
+thinkes I nowe see it, and I burne with a desire to see it incounter,
+and I woulde for nothing in the worlde, that you shoulde become Fabius
+Maximus intendyng to kepe the enemie at a baie, and to deferre the daie
+of battaile: bicause I would saie worse of you, then the Romain people
+saied of hym.
+
+[Sidenote: The descripcion of a battaile that is a faightyng.]
+
+FABRICIO. Doubt not: Doe you not heare the artillerie? Ours have alredie
+shotte, but little hurte the enemie: and thextraordinarie Veliti,
+issuyng out of their places together with the light horsemen, moste
+speadely, and with moste merveilous furie, and greateste crie that maie
+be, thei assaulte the enemie: whose artillerie hath discharged ones, and
+hath passed over the heddes of our footemen, without doyng them any
+hurt, and bicause it cannot shoote the seconde tyme, the Veliti, and our
+horsemen, have nowe gotten it, and the enemies for to defende it, are
+come fore warde, so that neither our ordinaunce, nor thenemies, can any
+more doe their office. Se with how moche vertue, strengthe and agilitie
+our men faighteth, and with how moche knowledge through the exercise,
+whiche hath made them to abide, and by the confidence, that thei have in
+the armie, the whiche, see, how with the pace therof, and with the men
+of armes on the sides, it marcheth in good order, to give the charge on
+the adversarie: See our artillerie, whiche to give theim place, and to
+leave them the space free, is retired by thesame space, from whens the
+Veliti issued: See how the capitaine incourageth them, sheweth them the
+victorie certain: See how the Veliti and light horsemen bee inlarged,
+and retourned on the flanckes of tharmie, to seke and view, if thei maie
+by the flanck, doe any injurie to the adversaries: behold how the armies
+be affronted. Se with how moche valiauntnesse thei have withstode the
+violence of thenemies, and with how moche silence, and how the capitain
+commaundeth the menne of armes, that thei sustain, and not charge, and
+that thei breake not from the order of the footemen: see how our light
+horsemen be gone, to give the charge on a band of the enemies
+Harkebutters, whiche would have hurt our men by flancke, and how the
+enemies horse have succoured them, so that tourned betwene the one and
+the other horse, thei cannot shoote, but are faine to retire behinde
+their owne battaile: see with what furie our Pikes doe also affront, and
+how the footemen be now so nere together the one to the other, that the
+Pikes can no more be occupied: so that according to the knowlege learned
+of us, our pikes do retire a little and a little betwen the targaettes.
+Se how in this while a great bande of men of armes of the enemies, have
+charged our men of armes on the lefte side, and how ours, accordyng to
+knowlege, bee retired under the extraordinarie Pikes, and with the help
+of those, giving again a freshe charge, have repulced the adversaries,
+and slain a good part of them: in so moche, that thordinarie pikes of
+the first battailes, be hidden betwene the raies of the Targaettes, thei
+havyng lefte the faight to the Targaet men: whom you maie see, with how
+moche vertue, securitie, and leasure, thei kill the enemie: see you not
+how moche by faightyng, the orders be thrust together? That thei can
+scarse welde their sweardes? Behold with how moche furie the enemies
+move: bicause beyng armed with the pike, and with the swerd unprofitable
+(the one for beyng to long, the other for findyng thenemie to well
+armed) in part thei fall hurt or dedde, in parte thei flie. See, thei
+flie on the righte corner, thei flie also on the lefte: behold, the
+victorie is ours. Have not we wonne a field moste happely? But with more
+happinesse it should bee wonne, if it were graunted me to put it in
+acte. And see, how there neded not the helpe of the seconde, nor of the
+third order, for our first fronte hath sufficed to overcome theim: in
+this part, I have no other to saie unto you, then to resolve if any
+doubt be growen you.
+
+[Sidenote: Questions concerning the shotyng of ordinaunce.]
+
+LUIGI. You have with so moche furie wonne this fielde that I so moche
+mervaile and am so astonied, that I beleve that I am not able to
+expresse, if any doubt remain in my mynde: yet trustyng in your
+prudence, I will be so bolde to tell thesame that I understande. Tell me
+firste, why made you not your ordinaunce to shoote more then ones? And
+why straighte waie you made them to retire into tharmie, nor after made
+no mension of them? Me thought also, that you leveled the artillerie of
+the enemie high, and appoincted it after your own devise: the whiche
+might very well bee, yet when it should happen, as I beleve it chaunseth
+often, that thei strike the rankes, what reamedie have you? And seyng
+that I have begun of the artillerie, I will finishe all this question,
+to the intente I nede not to reason therof any more. I have heard many
+dispraise the armours, and the orders of the aunciente armies, arguyng,
+how now a daies, thei can doe little, but rather should bee altogether
+unprofitable, havyng respecte to the furie of the artillerie: bicause,
+this breaketh the orders, and passeth the armours in soche wise, that it
+semeth unto them a foolishenesse to make an order, whiche cannot bee
+kepte, and to take pain to beare a harneis, that cannot defende a man.
+
+[Sidenote: An aunswere to the questions that were demaunded, concernyng
+the shoting of ordinaunce; The best remedie to avoide the hurte that the
+enemie in the fielde maie doe with his ordinaunce; A policie against
+bowes and dartes; Nothyng causeth greater confusion in an armie, than to
+hinder mennes fightes; Nothing more blindeth the sight of men in an
+armie, then the smoke of ordinaunce; A policie to trouble the enemies
+sight; The shotte of greate ordinaunce in the fielde, is not moche to
+bee feared of fotemenne; Bicause menne of armes stand closer together
+then light horsmen, thei ought to remaine behinde the armie till the
+enemies ordinaunce have done shootyng; The artillerie is no let, why the
+auncient orders of warfar ought not to be used in these daies.]
+
+FABRICIO. This question of yours (bicause it hath many heddes) hath
+neede of a long aunswere. It is true, that I made not thartillery to
+shoote more than ones, and also of thesame ones, I stoode in doubte: the
+occasion was, for asmoche as it importeth more, for one to take hede not
+to be striken, then it importeth to strike the enemie. You have to
+understande, that to purpose that a pece of ordinaunce hurte you not, it
+is necessarie either to stande where it cannot reche you, or to get
+behinde a wall, or behinde a banke: other thing there is not that can
+witholde it: and it is nedefull also, that the one and the other be
+moste strong. Those capitaines whiche come to faight a field, cannot
+stand behind a wal, or behind bankes, nor where thei maie not be
+reached: therfore it is mete for them, seyng thei cannot finde a waie to
+defende them, to finde some mean, by the whiche thei maie be least
+hurte: nor thei cannot finde any other waie, then to prevente it
+quickly: the waie to prevent it, is to go to finde it out of hande, and
+hastely, not at leasure and in a heape: for that through spede, the
+blowe is not suffered to bee redoubled, and by the thinnesse, lesse
+nomber of menne maie be hurt. This, a bande of menne ordered, cannot
+dooe; bicause if thesame marche hastely, it goweth out of order: if it
+go scattered, the enemie shall have no paine to breake it, for that it
+breaketh by it self: and therfore, I ordered the armie after soche
+sorte, that it might dooe the one thyng and the other: for as moche as
+havyng set in the corners thereof, a thousande Veliti, I appoincted that
+after that our ordinaunce had shotte, thei should issue out together
+with the light horsemen, to get the enemies artillerie: and therfore, I
+made not my ordinance to shoote again, to the intente, to give no tyme
+to the enemie to shoote: Bicause space could not be given to me, and
+taken from other men, and for thesame occasion, where I made my
+ordinaunce not to shoote the seconde tyme, was for that I would not have
+suffered the enemie to have shot at al, if I had could: seyng that to
+mynde that the enemies artillerie be unprofitable, there is no other
+remedie, but to assaulte it spedely: for as moche as if the enemies
+forsake it, thou takeste it, if thei will defende it, it is requisite
+that thei leave it behind, so that being possessed of enemies, and of
+frendes, it cannot shoote. I would beleve, that with out insamples these
+reasons should suffice you, yet beyng able to shewe olde ensamples, to
+prove my saiynges true, I will. Ventidio commyng to faight a field with
+the Parthians, whose strength for the moste part, consisted in bowes and
+arrowes, he suffered theim almoste to come harde to his campe, before he
+drewe out his armie, the whiche onely he did, to be able quickly to
+prevent them: and not to give them space to shoote. Cesar when he was in
+Fraunce, maketh mencion, that in faighting a battaile with the enemies,
+he was with so moche furie assaulted of them, that his menne had no time
+to whorle their Dartes, accordyng to the custome of the Romaines:
+wherfore it is seen, that to intende, that a thyng that shooteth farre
+of, beyng in the field, doe not hurte thee, there is no other remedy,
+then with as moche celeritie as maie bee, to prevente it. An other cause
+moved me to procede, without shotyng the ordinaunce, whereat
+peradventure you will laugh: yet I judge not that it is to be
+dispraised. Ther is nothyng that causeth greater confusion in an armie,
+then to hinder mennes fightes: whereby many moste puisaunte armies have
+been broken, by meanes their fighte hath been letted, either with duste,
+or with the Sunne: yet there is nothyng, that more letteth the sight
+then the smoke that the artillerie maketh in shotyng: therfore, I would
+thinke that it wer more wisedome, to suffer the enemie to blinde
+hymself, then to purpose (thou being blind) to go to finde hym: for this
+cause, either I would not shote, or (for that this should not be proved,
+considering the reputacion that the artillerie hath) I would place it on
+the corners of the armie, so that shootyng, it should not with the smoke
+thereof, blinde the front of thesame, whiche is the importaunce of my
+men. And to prove that it is a profitable thyng, to let the sight of the
+enemie, there maie be brought for insample Epaminondas, whom to blind
+the enemies armie, whiche came to faight with hym, he caused his light
+horsemen, to run before the fronte of the enemies, to raise up the
+duste, and to lette their sight, whereby he gotte the victorie. And
+where it semeth unto you, that I have guided the shot of the artillerie,
+after my owne devise, making it to passe over the heddes of my men, I
+answer you, that most often tymes, and without comparison, the greate
+ordinaunce misse the footemen, moche soner than hitte theim: for that
+the footemen are so lowe, and those so difficult to shoote; that every
+little that thou raisest theim, thei passe over the heddes of men: and
+if thei be leveled never so little to lowe, thei strike in the yearth,
+and the blowe cometh not to theim: also the unevenesse of the grounde
+saveth them, for that every little hillocke, or high place that is,
+betwene the men and thordinance, letteth the shot therof. And concernyng
+horsmen, and in especially men of armes, bicause thei ought to stand
+more close together, then the light horsemen, and for that thei are
+moche higher, maie the better be stroken, thei maie, untill the
+artillerie have shotte, be kepte in the taile of the armie. True it is,
+that the Harkebutters doe moche more hurt, and the field peces, then the
+greate ordinance, for the whiche, the greatest remedy is, to come to
+hande strokes quickly: and if in the firste assaulte, there be slaine
+some, alwaies there shall bee slaine: but a good capitaine, and a good
+armie, ought not to make a coumpte of a hurte, that is particulare, but
+of a generall, and to imitate the Suizzers, whom never eschue to faight,
+beyng made afraied of the artillerie: but rather punishe with death
+those, whiche for feare thereof, either should go out of the ranke, or
+should make with his body any signe of feare. I made them (so sone as
+thei had shotte) to bee retired into the armie, that thei might leave
+the waie free for the battaile: I made no more mencion of theim, as of a
+thyng unprofitable, the faight beyng begun. You have also saied, that
+consideryng the violence of this instrument, many judge the armours, and
+the auncient orders to be to no purpose, and it semeth by this your
+talke, that men now a daies, have founde orders and armours, whiche are
+able to defend them against the artillerie: if you knowe this, I would
+bee glad that you would teache it me: for that hetherto, I never sawe
+any, nor I beleve that there can any be founde: so that I would
+understande of soche men, for what cause the souldiours on foote in
+these daies, weare the breastplate, or the corselet of steele, and thei
+on horsebacke go all armed: bicause seyng that thei blame the aunciente
+armyng of men as unprofitable, considryng the artillery, thei ought to
+despise also this? I would understande moreover, for what occasion the
+Suizzers, like unto the auncient orders, make a battaile close together
+of sixe, or eight thousande menne, and for what occasion all other have
+imitated theim, this order bearyng the verie same perill, concernyng the
+artillerie, that those other should beare, whiche should imitate the
+antiquitie. I beleve thei should not knowe what to answere: but if you
+should aske soche Souldiours, as had some judgement, thei would aunswere
+first, that thei go armed, for that though thesame armoure defende theim
+not from the artillerie: it defendeth them from crossebowes, from Pikes,
+from sweardes, from stones, and from all other hurt, that commeth from
+the enemies, thei would answere also, that thei went close together,
+like the Suizzers, to be able more easely to overthrow the footemen, to
+be able to withstand better the horse and to give more difficultie to
+the enemie to breake them: so that it is seen, that the souldiours have
+to fear, many other thynges besides the ordinance: from which thynges,
+with the armours, and with the orders, thei are defended: whereof
+foloweth, that the better that an armie is armed, and the closer that it
+hath the orders, and stronger, so moche the surer it is: so that he that
+is of thesame opinion, that you saie, it behoveth either that he bee of
+smalle wisedome, or that in this thyng, he hath studied verie little:
+for as moche as if we see, that so little a parte of the aunciente maner
+of armyng, whiche is used now a daies, that is the pike, and so little a
+parte of those orders, as are the maine battailes of the Suizzers, dooe
+us so moche good, and cause our armies to bee so strong, why ought not
+we to beleve, that the other armours, and thother orders whiche are
+lefte, be profitable? Seyng that if we have no regard to the artillerie,
+in puttyng our selves close together, as the Suizzers, what other orders
+maie make us more to feare thesame? For as moche as no order can cause
+us so moche to feare thesame, as those, whiche bryng men together.
+Besides this, if the artillerie of the enemies should not make me
+afraied, in besiegyng a Toune, where it hurteth me with more safegarde,
+beyng defended of a wall, I beyng not able to prevente it, but onely
+with tyme, with my artillerie to lette it, after soche sorte that it
+maie double the blowe as it liste, why should I feare thesame in the
+field, where I maie quickly prevent it? So that I conclude thus, that
+the artillerie, according to my opinion, doeth not let, that the
+aunciente maners cannot be used, and to shewe the auncient vertue: and
+if I had not talked alreadie with you of this instrument, I would of
+thesame, declare unto you more at length: but I will remit my self to
+that, whiche then I saied.
+
+LUIGI. Wee maie now understande verie well, how moche you have aboute
+the artillerie discoursed: and in conclusion, my thinkes you have
+shewed, that the preventyng it quickly, is the greatest remedie, that
+maie be had for thesame, beyng in the fielde, and havyng an armie
+againste you. Upon the whiche there groweth in me a doubte: bicause me
+thinkes, that the enemie might place his ordinaunce in soche wise, in
+his armie, that it should hurt you, and should be after soche sort
+garded of the footemen, that it could not be prevented. You have (if you
+remember your self well) in the orderyng of your armie to faight, made
+distaunces of three yardes, betwene the one battaile and the other,
+makyng those distaunces fiftene, whiche is from the battailes, to
+thextraordinarie pikes: if thenemie, shuld order his armie like unto
+yours, and should putte the artillerie a good waie within those spaces,
+I beleve that from thens, it should hurte you with their moste greate
+safegard: bicause menne can not enter into the force of their enemies to
+prevent it.
+
+[Sidenote: A generall rule againste soche thynges as cannot bee
+withstoode.]
+
+FABRICIO. You doubt moste prudently, and I will devise with my self,
+either to resolve you the doubte, or shewe you the remedie: I have tolde
+you, that continually these battailes, either through goyng, or thorowe
+faightyng, are movyng, and alwaies naturally, thei come to drawe harde
+together, so that if you make the distaunces of a small breadth, where
+you set the artillerie, in a little tyme thei be shootte up, after soche
+sort, that the artillerie cannot any more shoote: if you make theim
+large, to avoide this perill, you incurre into a greater, where you
+through those distances, not onely give commoditie to the enemie, to
+take from you the artillerie, but to breake you: but you have to
+understande, that it is impossible to keepe the artillerie betwene the
+bandes, and in especially those whiche go on carriages: For that the
+artillerie goeth one waie, and shooteth an other waie: So that havyng to
+go and to shoote, it is necessary, before thei shote, that thei tourne,
+and for to tourne theim, thei will have so moche space, that fiftie
+cartes of artillerie, would disorder any armie: therfore, it is mete to
+kepe them out of the bandes, where thei may be overcome in the maner, as
+a little afore we have shewed: but admit thei might be kept, and that
+there might be found a waie betwen bothe, and of soche condicion, that
+the presyng together of men should not hinder the artillerie, and were
+not so open that it should give waie to the enemie, I saie, that it is
+remedied moste easely, with makyng distances in thy armie against it,
+whiche maie give free passage to the shot of those, and so the violence
+thereof shall come to be vain, the which maie be doen moste easely: for
+asmoche, as the enemie mindyng to have his artillerie stand safe, it
+behoveth that he put them behinde, in the furthest part of the
+distances, so that the shot of the same, he purposyng that thei hurt not
+his owne men, ought to passe by right line, and by that very same
+alwaies: and therefore with givyng theim place, easely thei maie bee
+avoided: for that this is a generall rule, that to those thynges, whiche
+cannot be withstoode, there must bee given waie, as the antiquitie made
+to the Eliphantes, and to the carres full of hookes. I beleve, ye, I am
+more then certaine, that it semeth unto you, that I have ordered and
+wonne a battaile after my own maner: notwithstanding, I answeer unto you
+this, when so moche as I have saied hetherto, should not suffice, that
+it should be impossible, that an armie thus ordered, and armed, should
+not overcome at the first incounter, any other armie that should bee
+ordained, as thei order the armies now adaies, whom most often tymes,
+make not but one front, havyng no targaettes, and are in soche wise
+unarmed, that thei cannot defende themselves from the enemie at hand,
+and thei order theim after soche sorte, that if thei set their battailes
+by flanck, the one to the other, thei make the armie thinne: if thei put
+the one behind the other, havyng no waie to receive the one the other,
+thei doe it confusedly, and apt to be easly troubled: and although thei
+give three names to their armies, and devide them into thre companies,
+vaward, battaile, and rereward, notwithstandyng it serveth to no other
+purpose, then to marche, and to distinguis the lodgynges: but in the
+daie of battaile, thei binde them all to the first brunte, and to the
+first fortune.
+
+LUIGI. I have noted also in the faightyng of your fielde, how your
+horsemen were repulced of the enemies horsemen: for whiche cause thei
+retired to the extraordinaire Pikes: whereby grewe, that with the aide
+of theim, thei withstode, and drave the enemies backe? I beleve that the
+Pikes maie withstande the horses, as you saie, but in a grosse and
+thicke maine battaile, as the Suizzers make: but you in your army, have
+for the hedde five rankes of Pikes, and for the flancke seven, so that I
+cannot tell how thei maie bee able to withstande them.
+
+[Sidenote: A Battaile how greate so ever it bee, cannot atones occupy
+above v. rankes of Pikes.]
+
+FABRICIO. Yet I have told you, how sixe rankes of pikes wer occupied at
+ones, in the Macedonicall Falangi, albeit you ought to understande, that
+a maine battaile of Suizzers, if it were made of a thousande rankes, it
+cannot occupie more then fower, or at the most five: bicause the Pikes
+be sixe yardes and three quarters longe, one yarde and halfe a quarter,
+is occupied of the handes, wherefore to the firste ranke, there
+remaineth free five yardes and a half, and a halfe quarter of Pike: the
+seconde ranke besides that whiche is occupied with the hande, consumeth
+a yarde and half a quarter in the space, whiche remaineth betwene the
+one ranke and thother: so that there is not left of pike profitable,
+more then fower yardes and a halfe: to the thirde ranke, by this verie
+same reason, there remaineth three yardes and a quarter and a halfe: to
+the fowerth, twoo yardes and a quarter: to the fift one yard and halfe a
+quarter: the other rankes, for to hurte, be unprofitable, but thei serve
+to restore these firste rankes, as we have declared, and to bee a
+fortificacion to those v. Then if five of their rankes can withstande
+the horse, why cannot five of ours withstande theim? to the whiche also
+there lacketh not rankes behinde, that doeth sustain and make them the
+very same staie, although thei have no pikes as the other. And when the
+rankes of thextraordinarie pikes, which are placed on the flanckes,
+should seme unto you thinne, thei maie bee brought into a quadrante, and
+put on the flancke nere the twoo battailes, whiche I set in the laste
+companie of the armie: From the whiche place, thei maie easely
+altogether succour the fronte, and the backe of the armie, and minister
+helpe to the horses, accordyng as nede shall require.
+
+LUIGI. Would you alwaies use this forme of order, when you would pitche
+a fielde.
+
+[Sidenote: An advertiement concernyng the pitchying of a field.]
+
+FABRICIO. No in no wise: for that you ought to varie the facion of the
+armie, according to the qualitie of the situacion, and the condicion and
+quantitie of the enemie, as before this reasonyng dooe ende, shall bee
+shewed certaine insamples: but this forme is given unto you, not so
+moche as moste strongeste of all, where in deede it is verie strong, as
+to the intente that thereby you maie take a rule, and an order to learne
+to knowe the waies to ordeine the other: for as moche, as every science
+hath his generalitie, upon the whiche a good part of it is grounded. One
+thing onely I advise you, that you never order an armie, after soche
+sorte, that those that faight afore, cannot bee sucoured of theim,
+whiche be set behind: bicause he that committeth this errour, maketh the
+greateste parte of his armie to bee unprofitable, and if it incounter
+any strength, it cannot overcome.
+
+LUIGI. There is growen in me, upon this parte a doubte. I have seen that
+in the placyng of the battailes, you make the fronte of five on a side,
+the middeste of three, and the last partes of twoo, and I beleve, that
+it were better to ordain them contrariwise: for that I thinke, that an
+armie should with more difficultie bee broken, when he that should
+charge upon it, the more that he should entre into the-same, so moche
+the stronger he should finde it: and the order devised of you, me
+thinkes maketh, that the more it is entered into, so moche the weaker it
+is founde.
+
+[Sidenote: How the front of the armie ought to bee made; How the middell
+part of the armie ought to be ordered.]
+
+FABRICIO. If you should remember how to the Triarii, whom were the
+thirde order of the Romain Legions, there were not assigned more then
+sixe hundred men, you would doubt lesse, havyng understode how thei were
+placed in the laste companie: For that you should see, how I moved of
+this insample, have placed in the last companie twoo battailes, whiche
+are nine hundred men, so that I come rather (folowyng the insample of
+the Romaine people) to erre, for havyng taken to many, then to fewe: and
+although this insample should suffice, I will tell you the reason, the
+which is this. The first fronte of the armie, is made perfectly whole
+and thicke, bicause it must withstande the brunt of the enemies, and it
+hath not to receive in it any of their felowes: and for this, it is
+fitte that it bee full of menne: bicause a fewe menne, should make it
+weake, either thinnesse, or for lacke of sufficiente nomber: but the
+seconde companie, for as moche as it must first receive their frendes,
+to sustain the enemie, it is mete that it have greate spaces, and for
+this it behoveth, that it be of lesse nomber then the first: for that if
+it wer of greater nomber, or equall, it should bee conveniente, either
+not to leave the distaunces, the whiche should be disorder, or leavyng
+theim, to passe the boundes of thoseafore, the whiche should make the
+facion of the armie unperfecte: and it is not true that you saie, that
+the enemie, the more that he entereth into the maine battaile, so moche
+the weaker he findeth it: for that the enemie, can never faight with the
+seconde order, except the first be joined with thesame: so that he
+cometh to finde the middest of the maine battaile more stronger, and not
+more weaker, havyng to faight with the first, and with the seconde order
+altogether: the verie same happeneth, when the enemie should come to the
+thirde companie: for that there, not with twoo battailes, whiche is
+founde freshe, but with all the maine battaile he must faight: and for
+that this last part hath to receive moste men, the spaces therof is
+requisite to be greatest, and that whiche receiveth them, to be the
+leste nomber.
+
+[Sidenote: The orderyng of the hinder part of tharmy.]
+
+LUIGI. It pleaseth me thesame that you have told: but answere me also
+this: if the five first battailes doe retire betwene the three seconde
+battailes, and after the eight betwene the twoo thirde, it semeth not
+possible, that the eight beyng brought together, and then the tenne
+together, maie bee received when thei bee eight, or when thei be tenne
+in the verie same space, whiche received the five.
+
+[Sidenote: The retire of the Pikes, to place the Targaet men.]
+
+FABRICIO. The first thyng that I aunswere is, that it is not the verie
+same space: For that the five have fower spaces in the middeste, whiche
+retiryng betwene the thre, or betwene the twoo, thei occupie: then there
+remaineth thesame space, that is betwene the one maine battaile and
+other and thesame that is, betwene the battailes, and the extraordinarie
+Pikes, al the whiche spaces makes largenesse: besides this, it is to bee
+considered, that the battailes kepe other maner of spaces, when thei bee
+in the orders without beyng altered, then when thei be altered: for that
+in the alteracion: either thei throng together, or thei inlarge the
+orders: thei inlarge theim, when thei feare so moche, that thei fall to
+fliyng, thei thrust them together, when thei feare in soche wise, that
+thei seke to save them selves, not with runnyng a waie, but with
+defence: So that in this case, thei should come to be destingueshed, and
+not to be inlarged. Moreover, the five rankes of the Pikes, that are
+before, so sone as thei have begun the faighte, thei ought betwene their
+battailes to retire, into the taile of the armie, for to give place to
+the Targaet men, that thei maie faighte: and thei goyng into the taile
+of the armie, maie dooe soche service as the capitain should judge, were
+good to occupie theim aboute, where in the forward, the faight beyng
+mingled, thei should otherwise bee altogether unprofitable. And for this
+the spaces ordained, come to bee for the remnaunte of the menne, wide
+inough to receive them: yet when these spaces should not suffice, the
+flankes on the sides be men, and not walles, whom givyng place, and
+inlargyng them selves, maie make the space to containe so moche, that it
+maie bee sufficient to receive theim.
+
+[Sidenote: How the pikes that are placed on the flankes of the armie
+ought to governe them selves when the rest of the armie is driven to
+retire.]
+
+LUIGI. The rankes of the extraordinarie Pikes, whiche you place on the
+flanckes of the armie, when the first battailes retire into the second,
+will you have them to stande still, and remain with twoo homes to the
+armie? Or will you that thei also retire together, with the battailes?
+The whiche when thei should do, I see not how thei can, havyng no
+battailes behinde with distaunces that maie receive them.
+
+[Sidenote: Thexercise of the army in generall; The nomber that is mete
+to be written in the Ansigne of every band of men; The degrees of
+honours in an armie, whiche soche a man ought to rise by, as should bee
+made a generall capitain.]
+
+FABRICIO. If the enemie overcome theim not, when he inforceth the
+battailes to retire, thei maie stande still in their order, and hurte
+the enemie on the flanck, after that the firste battailes retired: but
+if he should also overcome theim, as semeth reason, beyng so puisaunte,
+that he is able to repulce the other, thei also ought to retire: whiche
+thei maie dooe excellently well, although thei have not behinde, any to
+receive them: bicause from the middest thei maie redouble by right line,
+entring the one ranke into the other, in the maner whereof wee reasoned,
+when it was spoken of the order of redoublyng: True it is, that to mynde
+redoublyng to retire backe, it behoveth to take an other waie, then
+thesame that I shewed you: for that I told you, that the second ranke,
+ought to enter into the first, the fowerth into the thirde, and so
+foorth: in this case, thei ought not to begin before, but behinde, so
+that redoublyng the rankes, thei maie come to retire backewarde not to
+tourne forward: but to aunswere to all thesame, that upon this foughten
+field by me shewed, might of you bee replied. I saie unto you again,
+that I have ordained you this armie, and shewed this foughten field for
+two causes, thone, for to declare unto you how it is ordered, the other
+to shewe you how it is exercised: thorder, I beleve you understande
+moste well: and concernyng the exersice, I saie unto you, that thei
+ought to be put together in this forme, as often times as maie be: for
+as moche as the heddes learne therby, to kepe their battailes in these
+orders: for that to particulare souldiours, it appertaineth to keepe
+well the orders of every battaile, to the heddes of the battailes, it
+appertaineth to keepe theim well in every order of the armie, and that
+thei knowe how to obeie, at the commaundement of the generall capitain:
+therefore, it is conveniente that thei knowe, how to joyne the one
+battaile with thother, that thei maie knowe how to take their place
+atones: and for this cause it is mete that thansigne of every battaile,
+have written in some evident part, the nomber therof: as well for to be
+able to commaunde them, as also for that the capitain, and the
+souldiours by thesame nomber, maie more easely knowe theim againe: also
+the maine battailes, ought to be nombred, and to have the nomber in
+their principal Ansigne: Therefore it is requisite, to knowe of what
+nomber the maine battaile shall be, that is placed on the left, or on
+the right horne of what nombers the battailes bee, that are set in the
+fronte, and in the middeste, and so foorthe of the other. The antiquitie
+would also, that these nombers should bee steppes to degrees, of honors
+of the armies: as for insample, the first degree, is the Peticapitain,
+the seconde, the hedde of fiftie ordinarie Veliti, the thirde, the
+Centurion, the fowerth, the hedde of the first battaile, the fifte, of
+the second, the sixt, of the thirde, and so forthe, even to the tenth
+battaile, the whiche must be honoured in the seconde place, nexte the
+generall capitaine of a maine battaile: nor any ought to come to thesame
+hedde, if first, he have not risen up by all these degrees. And bicause
+besides these heddes, there be the three Conestables of the
+extraordinarie Pikes, and twoo of the extraordinarie Veliti, I would
+that thei should be in the same degree of the Conestable of the first
+battaile: nor I would not care, that there were sixe men of like degree,
+to thintent, that every one of them might strive, who should doe beste,
+for to be promised to be hedde of the seconde battaile. Then every one
+of these heddes, knowyng in what place his battaile ought to be sette
+in, of necessitie it must folowe, that at a sounde of the Trompette, so
+sone as the hedde standarde shall bee erected, all the armie shall be in
+their places: and this is the first exercise, whereunto an armie ought
+to bee accustomed, that is to set theim quickly together: and to doe
+this, it is requisite every daie, and divers times in one daie, to set
+them in order, and to disorder them.
+
+LUIGI. What armes would you that thansignes of all the armie, shoul'd
+have beside the nomber?
+
+[Sidenote: The armes that oughte to bee in the standarde, and in the
+ansignes of an armie; The second and thirde exercise of an armie; The
+fowerth exercise of an armie; The soundes of the instrumentes of
+musicke, that the antiquitie used in their armies; What is signified by
+the sounde of the Trompet.]
+
+FABRICIO. The standarde of the generall Capitaine oughte to have the
+armes of the Prince of the armie, all the other, maie have the verie
+same armes, and to varie with the fieldes, or to varie with the armes,
+as should seme beste to the Lorde of the armie: Bicause this importeth
+little, so that the effect growe, that thei be knowen the one from the
+other. But let us passe to the other exercise: the which is to make them
+to move, and with a convenient pace to marche, and to se, that marehyng
+thei kepe the orders. The third exercise is, that thei learne to handle
+themselves in thesame maner, whiche thei ought after to handle
+theimselves in the daie of battaile, to cause the artillerie to shoote,
+and to bee drawen out of the waie, to make the extraordinarie Veliti to
+issue out, after a likenes of an assault, to retire theim: To make that
+the firste battailes, as though thei wer sore charged, retire into the
+spaces of the second: and after, all into the thirde, and from thens
+every one to retourne to his place: and in soche wise to use theim in
+this exercise, that to every manne, all thyng maie be knowen, and
+familiar: the which with practise, and with familiaritie, is brought to
+passe moste quickly. The fowerth exercise is, that thei learne to knowe
+by meane of the sounde, and of the Ansigne, the commaundemente of their
+capitaine: for as moche as that, whiche shall be to them pronounced by
+voice, thei without other commaundemente, maie understande: and bicause
+the importaunce of this commaundement, ought to growe of the sounde, I
+shall tell you what soundes the antiquitie used. Of the Lacedemonians,
+accordyng as Tucidido affirmeth, in their armies were used Flutes: for
+that thei judged, that this armonie, was moste mete to make their armie
+to procede with gravetie, and with furie: the Carthaginens beyng moved
+by this verie same reason, in the first assaulte, used the violone.
+Aliatte kyng of the Lidians, used in the warre the violone, and the
+Flutes: but Alexander Magnus, and the Romaines, used hornes, and
+Trumpettes, as thei, that thought by vertue of soche instrumentes, to
+bee able to incourage more the myndes of Souldiours, and make theim to
+faight the more lustely: but as we have in armyng the armie, taken of
+the Greke maner, and of the Romaine, so in distrihutyng the soundes, we
+will keepe the customes of the one, and of the other nacion: therefore,
+nere the generall capitain, I would make the Trompettes to stand, as a
+sounde not onely apt to inflame the armie, but apte to bee heard in all
+the whole tumoult more, then any other sounde: all the other soundes,
+whiche should bee aboute the Conestables, and the heddes of maine
+battailes I would, that thei should bee smalle Drummes, and Flutes,
+sounded not as thei sounde theim now but as thei use to sounde theim at
+feastes. The capitaine then with the Trompet, should shewe when thei
+must stande still, and go forward, or tourne backward, when the
+artillerie must shoote, when the extraordinarie Veliti must move, and
+with the varietie or distinccion of soche soundes, to shewe unto the
+armie all those mocions, whiche generally maie bee shewed, the whiche
+Trompettes, should bee after followed of the Drummes, and in this
+exercise, bicause it importeth moche, it behoveth moche to exercise the
+armie. Concernyng the horsemen, there would be used likewise Trompettes,
+but of a lesse sounde, and of a divers voice from those of the
+Capitaine. This is as moche as is come into my remembraunce, aboute the
+order of the armie, and of the exercise of thesame.
+
+LUIGI. I praie you let it not be grevous unto you to declare unto me an
+other thyng, that is, for what cause you made the light horsmen, and the
+extraordinarie Veliti, to goe with cries, rumours, and furie, when thei
+gave the charge? And after in the incountering of the rest of tharmie,
+you shewed, that the thing folowed with a moste greate scilence? And for
+that I understande not the occasion of this varietie, I would desire
+that you would declare it unto me.
+
+[Sidenote: The cries, and rumours, wher with the firste charge is given
+unto the enemies, and the silence that ought to bee used after, when the
+faight is ones begunne.]
+
+FABRICIO. The opinion of auncient capitaines, hath been divers about the
+commyng to handes, whether thei ought with rumour to go a pace, or with
+scilence to go faire and softely: this laste waie, serveth to kepe the
+order more sure, and to understande better the commaundementes of the
+Capitaine: the firste, serveth to incourage more the mindes of men: and
+for that I beleve, that respecte ought to bee had to the one, and to the
+other of these twoo thynges, I made the one goe with rumour, and thother
+with scilence: nor me thinkes not in any wise, that the continuall
+rumours bee to purpose: bicause thei lette the commaundementes, the
+whiche is a thyng moste pernicious: nor it standeth not with reason,
+that the Romaines used, except at the firste assaulte to make rumour:
+for that in their histories, is seen many tymes to have happened, that
+through the wordes, and comfortinges of the capitain the souldiours that
+ranne awaie, were made to stande to it, and in sundrie wise by his
+commaundemente, to have varied the orders, the whiche should not have
+followed, if the rumoures had been louder then his voyce.
+
+
+
+
+THE FOWERTH BOOKE
+
+
+LUIGI. Seng that under my governement, a field hath been wonne so
+honourably, I suppose that it is good, that I tempt not fortune any
+more, knowyng how variable, and unstable she is: and therefore, I desire
+to give up my governement, and that Zanobi do execute now this office of
+demaundyng, mindyng to followe the order, whiche concerneth the
+youngeste: and I knowe he will not refuse this honoure, or as we would
+saie, this labour, as well for to doe me pleasure, as also for beyng
+naturally of more stomach than I: nor it shall not make hym afraied, to
+have to enter into these travailes, where he maie bee as well overcome,
+as able to conquere.
+
+ZANOBI. I am readie to do what soever shall please you to appoinete me,
+although that I desire more willingly to heare: for as moche as
+hetherto, your questions have satisfied me more, then those should have
+pleased me, whiche in harkenyng to your reasonyng, hath chaunced to come
+into my remembraunce. But sir, I beleve that it is good, that you lese
+no tyme, and that you have pacience, if with these our Ceremonies we
+trouble you.
+
+FABRICIO. You doe me rather pleasure, for that this variacion of
+demaunders, maketh me to knowe the sundrie wittes and sunderie appetites
+of yours: But remaineth there any thyng, whiche seemeth unto you good,
+to bee joyned to the matter, that alreadie hath been reasoned of?
+
+ZANOBI. Twoo thinges I desire, before you passe to an other parte: the
+one is, to have you to shewe, if in orderyng armies, there needeth to
+bee used any other facion: the other, what respectes a capitaine ought
+to have, before he conducte his men to the faight, and in thesame an
+accidente risyng or growyng, what reamedie maie be had.
+
+[Sidenote: To deffende moche the fronte of an armie, is most perillous;
+What is beste for a capitaine to dooe, where his power is, moche lesse
+then thenemies power; A general rule; The higher grounde ought to be
+chosen; An advertisement not to place an armie wher the enemie maie se
+what the same doeth; Respectes for the Sonne and Winde; The variyng of
+order and place maie cause the conquered to become victorius; A policie
+in the ordering of men and pitchyng of a fielde; How to compasse about
+the enemies power; How a capitaine maie faight and bee as it were sure,
+not to be overcome; How to trouble the orders of the enemie; What a
+capitaine oughte to dooe when he hath not so many horsmen as the enemie;
+A greate aide for horsemen; The policies used betwene Aniball and
+Scipio.]
+
+FABRICIO. I will inforce my self to satisfie you, I will not answere now
+distinctly to your questions: for that whileste I shall aunswere to one,
+many tymes it will come to passe, that I muste aunswere to an other. I
+have tolde you, how I have shewed you a facion of an armie, to the
+intent, that accordyng to thesame, there maie bee given all those
+facions, that the enemie, and the situacion requireth: For as moche as
+in this case, bothe accordyng to the power thereof, and accordyng to the
+enemie, it proceadeth: but note this, that there is not a more perillous
+facion, then to deffende moche the front of tharmie, if then thou have
+not a most puisant, and moste great hoste: otherwise, thou oughtest to
+make it rather grosse, and of small largenesse, then of moche largenes
+and thin: for when thou hast fewe men in comparison to thenemie, thou
+oughtest to seke other remedies, as is to ordain thine army in soche a
+place, wher thou maiest be fortefied, either through rivers, or by
+meanes of fennes, after soch sort, that thou canst not bee compassed
+aboute, or to inclose thy self on the flanckes with diches, as Cesar did
+in Fraunce. You have to take in this cace, this generall rule, to
+inlarge your self, or to draw in your self with the front, according to
+your nomber, and thesame of the enemie. For thenemies being of lesse
+nomber, thou oughtest to seke large places, havyng in especially thy men
+well instructed: to the intent thou maiest, not onely compasse aboute
+the enemie, but to deffende thy orders: for that in places rough and
+difficulte, beyng not able to prevaile of thy orders, thou commeste not
+to have any advauntage, hereby grewe, that the Romaines almoste alwaies,
+sought the open fieldes, and advoided the straightes. To the contrarie,
+as I have said, thou oughtest to doe, if thou hast fewe menne, or ill
+instructed: for that then thou oughteste to seeke places, either where
+the little nomber maye be saved, and where the small experience dooe not
+hurte thee: Thou oughtest also to chuse the higher grounde, to be able
+more easily to infest them: notwithstandyng, this advertisment ought to
+be had, not to ordaine thy armie, where the enemie maie spie what thou
+doest and in place nere to the rootes of the same, where the enemies
+armie maie come: For that in this case, havyng respecte unto the
+artillerie, the higher place shall gette thee disadvauntage: Bicause
+that alwaies and commodiously, thou mightest of the enemies artillerie
+bee hurte, without beyng able to make any remedy, and thou couldest not
+commodiously hurte thesame, beyng hindered by thine owne men. Also, he
+that prepareth an armie to faight a battaile, ought to have respecte,
+bothe to the Sunne, and to the Winde, that the one and the other, doe
+not hurte the fronte, for that the one and the other, will let thee the
+sight, the one with the beames, and the other with the duste: and
+moreover, the Winde hindereth the weapons, whiche are stroken at the
+enemie, and maketh their blowes more feable: and concerning the Sunne,
+it sufficeth not to have care, that at the firste it shine not in the
+face, but it is requisite to consider, that increasyng the daie, it
+hurte thee not: and for this, it should bee requsite in orderyng the
+men, to have it all on the backe, to the entente it should have to passe
+moche tyme, to come to lye on the fronte. This waie was observed of
+Aniball at Canne, and of Mario against the Cimbrians. If thou happen to
+be moche inferiour of horses, ordaine thine armie emongeste Vines, and
+trees, and like impedimentes, as in our time the Spaniardes did, when
+thei overthrewe the Frenchmenne at Cirignuola. And it hath been seen
+many times, with all one Souldiours, variyng onely the order, and the
+place, that thei have become of losers victorers: as it happened to the
+Carthageners, whom havyng been overcome of Marcus Regolus divers tymes,
+were after by the counsaill of Santippo a Lacedemonian, victorious: whom
+made them to go doune into the plaine, where by vertue of the horses,
+and of Eliphantes, thei were able to overcome the Romaines. It semes
+unto me, accordyng to the auncient insamples that almoste all the
+excellente Capitaines, when thei have knowen, that the enemie hath made
+strong one side of his battaile, thei have not set against it, the moste
+strongest parte, but the moste weakest, and thother moste strongest thei
+have set against the most weakest: after in the beginning the faighte,
+thei have commaunded to their strongest parte, that onely thei sustaine
+the enemie, and not to preace upon hym, and to the weaker, that thei
+suffer them selves to be overcome, and to retire into the hindermoste
+bandes of the armie. This breadeth twoo greate disorders to the enemie:
+the firste, that he findeth his strongest parte compassed about, the
+second is, that semyng unto him to have the victorie, seldome tymes it
+happeneth, that thei disorder not theim selves, whereof groweth his
+sodain losse. Cornelius Scipio beyng in Spain, againste Asdruball of
+Carthage, and understanding how to Asdruball it was knowen, that he in
+the orderyng the armie, placed his Legions in the middest, the whiche
+was the strongest parte of his armie, and for this how Asdruball with
+like order ought to procede: after when he came to faighte the battaile,
+he chaunged order, and put his Legions on the hornes of the armie, and
+in the middest, placed all his weakeste men: then commyng to the handes,
+in a sodain those men placed in the middeste, he made to marche softly,
+and the hornes of the armie, with celeritie to make forwarde, so that
+onely the hornes of bothe the armies fought, and the bandes in the
+middest, through beyng distaunt the one from the other, joyned not
+together, and thus the strongest parte of Scipio, came to faight with
+the weakest of Asdruball, and overcame hym. The whiche waie was then
+profitable, but now havyng respect to the artillerie, it cannot be used:
+bicause the same space, whiche should remain in the middest, betwene the
+one armie and the other, should give tyme to thesame to shoote: The
+whiche is moste pernicious, as above is saied: Therefore it is requisite
+to laie this waie aside, and to use, as a little afore we saied, makyng
+all the armie to incounter, and the weakest parte to give place. When a
+capitaine perceiveth, that he hath a greater armie then his enemie,
+mindyng to compasse hym aboute, before he be aware let hym ordaine his
+fronte equall, to thesame of his adversaries, after, so sone as the
+faight is begun, let hym make the fronte by a little and little to
+retire, and the flanckes to deffende, and alwaies it shall happen, that
+the enemie shal find hymself, before he be aware compassed about. When a
+capitain will faight, as it wer sure not to be broken, let hym ordaine
+his armie in place, where he hath refuge nere, and safe, either betwene
+Fennes, or betwene hilles, or by some strong citee: for that in this
+case, he cannot bee followed of the enemie, where the enemie maie be
+pursued of him: this poincte was used of Aniball, when fortune began to
+become his adversarie, and that he doubted of the valiauntnesse of
+Marcus Marcello. Some to trouble the orders of the enemie, have
+commaunded those that were light armed, to begin the faight, and that
+beyng begunne, to retire betwene the orders: and when the armies were
+after buckled together, and that the fronte of either of them were
+occupied in faightyng, thei have made theim to issue out by the flanckes
+of the battaile, and thesame have troubled and broken. If any perceive
+hymself to bee inferiour of horse, he maie besides the waies that are
+alredie shewed, place behinde his horsemen a battaile of Pikes, and in
+faightyng take order, that thei give waie to the Pikes, and he shall
+remain alwaies superiour. Many have accustomed to use certain fotemenne
+lighte armed, to faighte emong horsemen, the whiche hath been to the
+chivalrie moste greate helpe. Of all those, which have prepared armies
+to the field, be moste praised Aniball and Scipio, when thei fought in
+Africk: and for that Aniball had his armie made of Carthaginers, and of
+straungers of divers nacions, he placed in the first fronte thereof
+lxxx. Elephantes, after he placed the straungers, behinde whom he sette
+his Carthaginers, in the hindermoste place, he putte the Italians, in
+whom he trusted little: the whiche thing he ordained so, for that the
+straungers havyng before theim the enemie, and behinde beyng inclosed of
+his men, could not flie: so that being constrained to faight thei should
+overcome, or wearie the Romaines, supposyng after with his freshe and
+valiaunte men, to be then able easely to overcome the Romaines, beeyng
+wearied. Against this order, Scipio set the Astati, the Prencipi, and
+the Triarii, in the accustomed maner, to bee able to receive the one the
+other, and to rescue the one the other: he made the fronte of the armie,
+full of voide spaces, and bicause it should not be perceived but rather
+should seme united, he filled them ful of veliti, to whom he commaunded,
+that so sone as the Eliphantes came, thei should avoide, and by the
+ordinarie spaces, should enter betwene the Legins, and leave open the
+waie to the Eliphauntes, and so it came to passe, that it made vaine the
+violence of theim, so that commyng to handes, he was superiour.
+
+ZANOBI. You have made me to remember, in alledging me this battaile, how
+Scipio in faighting, made not the Astati to retire into thorders of the
+Prencipi, but he devided theim, and made theim to retire in the hornes
+of the armie, to thintent thei might give place to the Prencipi, when he
+would force forwarde: therfore I would you should tell me, what occasion
+moved hym, not to observe the accustomed order.
+
+[Sidenote: Cartes full of hookes made to destroie the enemies; The
+remedy that was used against Cartes full of hookes; The straunge maner
+that Silla used in orderyng his army against Archelaus; How to trouble
+in the faighte the armie of the enemies; A policie of Caius Sulpitius,
+to make his enemies afraied; A policie of Marius againste the Duchmenne;
+A policie of greate importaunce, while a battaile is a faightyng; How
+horsemen maie bee disordered; How the turke gave the Sophie an
+overthrowe; How the Spaniardes overcame the armie of Amilcare; How to
+traine the enemie, to his destruccion; A policie of Tullo Hostilio and
+Lucius Silla in dessemlyng of a mischaunce; Sertorius slue a man for
+telling him of the death of one of his capitaines; Howe certaine
+captaines have staied their men that hath been running awaie; Attillius
+constrained his men that ran awaie to tourne again and to faight; How
+Philip king of Macedonia made his men afraied to run awaie; Victorie
+ought with all celeritie to bee folowed; What a capitaine ought to dooe,
+when he should chaunce to receive an overthrowe; How Martius overcame
+the armie of the Carthaginers; A policie of Titus Dimius to hide a
+losse, whiche he had received in a faight; A general rule; Aniball;
+Scipio; Asdruball; A Capitaine ought not to faight without advantage,
+excepte he be constrained; How advauntage maie bee taken of the enemies;
+Furie withstode, converteth into vilenesse; What maner of men a
+capitaine ought to have about him continually, to consult withall; The
+condicions of the capitain of the enemies, and of those that are about
+hym is moste requisite to bee knowen; A timerous army is not to be
+conducted to faight; How to avoide the faightyng of a fielde.]
+
+FABRICIO. I will tell you. Aniball had putte all the strengthe of his
+armie, in the seconde bande: wherefore Scipio for to set againste
+thesame like strengthe, gathered the Prencipi and the Triarii together:
+So that the distaunces of the Prencipi, beyng occupied of the Triarii,
+there was no place to bee able to receive the Astati: and therefore he
+made the Astati to devide, and to go in the hornes of the armie, and he
+drewe them not betwene the Prencipi. But note, that this waie of openyng
+the first bande, for to give place to the seconde, cannot bee used, but
+when a man is superiour to his enemie: for that then there is commoditie
+to bee able to dooe it, as Scipio was able: but beyng under, and
+repulced, it cannot be doen, but with thy manifest ruine: and therefore
+it is convenient to have behinde, orders that maie receive thee, but let
+us tourne to our reasonyng. The auncient Asiaticans, emongest other
+thynges devised of them to hurt the enemies, used carres. The whiche had
+on the sides certaine hookes, so that not onely thei served to open with
+their violence the bandes, but also to kill with the hookes the
+adversaries: against the violence of those, in thre maners thei
+provided, either thei sustained theim with the thickenesse of the raies,
+or thei received theim betwene the bandes, as the Eliphantes were
+received, or els thei made with arte some strong resistence: As Silla a
+Romaine made againste Archelaus, whom had many of these cartes, whiche
+thei called hooked, who for to sustaine theim, drave many stakes into
+the grounde, behinde his first bandes of men, whereby the cartes beyng
+stopped, lost their violence. And the newe maner that Silla used against
+hym in orderyng the armie, is to bee noted: for that he put the Veliti,
+and the horse, behinde, and all the heavie armed afore, leavyng many
+distaunces to be able to sende before those behinde, when necessite
+required: whereby the fight beyng begun, with the helpe of the horsemen,
+to the whiche he gave the waie, he got the victorie. To intende to
+trouble in the faight the enemies armie, it is conveniente to make some
+thyng to growe, that maie make theim afraied, either with showyng of
+newe helpe that commeth, or with showyng thynges, whiche maie represente
+a terrour unto theim: after soche sorte, that the enemies begiled of
+that sight, maie be afraied, and being made afraied, thei maie easely
+bee overcome: the whiche waies Minutio Rufo used, and Accilio Glabrione
+Consulls of Rome. Caius Sulpitius also set a greate many of sackes upon
+Mules, and other beastes unprofitable for the warre, but in soche wise
+ordained, that thei semed men of armes, and he commaunded, that thei
+should appere upon a hill, while he were a faightyng with the
+Frenchemen, whereby grewe his victorie. The verie same did Marius, when
+he foughte against the Duchemen. Then the fained assaultes availyng
+moche, whilest the faight continueth, it is conveniente, that the very
+assaultes in deede, dooe helpe moche: inespecially if at unwares in the
+middest of the faight, the enemie might bee assaulted behinde, or on the
+side: the whiche hardely maie be doen, if the countrie helpe thee not:
+for that when it is open, parte of thy men cannot bee hid, as is mete to
+bee doen in like enterprises: but in woddie or hille places, and for
+this apt for ambusshes parte of thy men maie be well hidden, to be able
+in a sodain, and contrary to thenemies opinion to assaut him, whiche
+thyng alwaies shall be occasion to give thee the victorie. It hath been
+sometyme of greate importaunce, whilest the faighte continueth, to sowe
+voices, whiche doe pronounce the capitaine of thenemies to be dedde, or
+to have overcome on the other side of the armie: the whiche many times
+to them that have used it, hath given the victorie. The chivalrie of the
+enemies maie bee easely troubled, either with sightes, or with rumours,
+not used: as Creso did, whom put Camelles againste the horses of the
+adversaries, and Pirrus sette againste the Romaine horsemen Eliphantes,
+the sighte of whiche troubled and disordered them. In our time, the
+Turke discomfited the Sophi in Persia, and the Soldane in Surria with no
+other, then with the noise of Harkabuses, the whiche in soche wise, with
+their straunge rumours, disturbed the horses of those, that the Turke
+mighte easely overcome them: The Spaniardes to overcome the armie of
+Amilcare, put in the firste fronte Cartes full of towe drawen of oxen,
+and comming to handes, thei kindeled fire to thesame, wherfore the oxen
+to flie from the fire, thrust into the armie of Amilcar, and opened it.
+Thei are wonte (as we have saied) to begile the enemie in the faight,
+drawyng him into their ambusshes, where the Countrie is commodious for
+the same purpose, but where it were open and large, many have used to
+make diches, and after have covered them lightly with bowes and yearth,
+and lefte certain spaces whole, to be able betnene those to retire:
+after, so sone as the faight hath been begunne, retiryng by those, and
+the enemie folowing them, hath fallen in the pittes. If in the faight
+there happen thee, any accident that maie feare thy souldiours, it is a
+moste prudente thyng, to knowe how to desemble it, and to pervert it to
+good, as Tullo Hostilio did, and Lucius Silla: whom seyng while thei
+fought, how a parte of his men wer gone to the enemies side, and how
+thesame thing had verie moche made afraied his men, he made straighte
+waie throughout all the armie to be understoode, how all thing proceded,
+accordyng to his order: the whiche not onely did not trouble the armie,
+but it increased in them so moche stomack, that he remained victorious.
+It happened also to Silla, that havyng sente certaine souldiours to doe
+some businesse, and thei beyng slain he saied, to the intent his armie
+should not be made afraied thereby, that he had with crafte sent theim
+into the handes of the enemies, for that he had found them nothyng
+faithfull. Sertorius faightyng a battaile in Spaine, slue one, whom
+signified unto hym the death of one of his capitaines, for feare that
+tellyng the very same to other, he should make theim afraied. It is a
+moste difficult thyng, an armie beyng now moved to flie, to staie it,
+and make it to faight. And you have to make this distinccion: either
+that it is all moved, and then to be impossible to tourne it, or there
+is moved a parte thereof, and then there is some remedie. Many Romain
+capitaines, with making afore those whiche fled, have caused them to
+staie, making them ashamed of running awaie, as Lucius Silla did, where
+alredy parte of his Legions beyng tourned to flight, driven awaie by the
+men of Mithridates, he made afore them with a swearde in his hande
+criyng: if any aske you, where you left your capitaine, saie, we have
+left hym in Boecia, where he faighteth. Attillius a consull set againste
+that ran awaie, them that ranne not awaie, and made them to understande,
+that if thei would not tourne, thei should be slaine of their frendes,
+and of their enemies. Philip of Macedonia understanding how his men
+feared the Scithian Souldiours, placed behinde his armie, certaine of
+his moste trustie horsemen, and gave commission to theim, that thei
+should kill whom so ever fledde: wherfore, his men mindyng rather to die
+faightyng, then fliyng, overcame. Many Romaines, not so moche to staie a
+flight, as for to give occasion to their men, to make greater force,
+have whileste thei have foughte, taken an Ansigne out of their owne
+mennes handes, and throwen it emongeste the enemies, and appoincted
+rewardes to hym that could get it again. I doe not beleve that it is out
+of purpose, to joyne to this reasonyng those thynges, whiche chaunce
+after the faight, in especially beyng brief thinges, and not to be left
+behinde, and to this reasonyng conformable inough. Therefore I saie, how
+the fielde is loste, or els wonne: when it is wonne, the victorie ought
+with all celeritie to be folowed, and in this case to imitate Cesar, and
+not Aniball, whom staiyng after that he had discomfited the Romaines at
+Canne, loste the Empire of Rome: The other never rested after the
+victorie, but folowed the enemie beyng broken, with greater violence and
+furie, then when he assalted hym whole: but when a capitaine dooeth
+loese, he ought to see, if of the losse there maie growe any utilite
+unto hym, inespecially if there remain any residue of tharmie. The
+commoditie maie growe of the small advertisment of the enemie, whom
+moste often times after the victorie, becometh negligent, and giveth
+thee occasion to oppresse hym, as Marcius a Romaine oppressed the armie
+of the Carthaginers, whom having slain the twoo Scipions, and broken
+their armie, not estemyng thesame remnaunt of menne, whiche with Marcius
+remained a live, were of hym assaulted and overthrowen: for that it is
+seen, that there is no thing so moche to bee brought to passe, as
+thesame, whiche the enemie thinketh, that thou canst not attempte:
+bicause for the moste parte, men bee hurte moste, where thei doubt
+leaste: therefore a capitain ought when he cannot doe this, to devise at
+least with diligence, that the losse bee lesse hurtfull, to dooe this,
+it is necessarie for thee to use meanes, that the enemie maie not easely
+folowe thee, or to give him occasion to make delaie: in the first case,
+some after thei have been sure to lese, have taken order with their
+heddes, that in divers partes, and by divers waies thei should flie,
+havyng appoincted wher thei should after assemble together: the which
+made, that thenemie (fearing to devide the armie) was faine to let go
+safe either all, or the greatest part of them. In the seconde case, many
+have cast before the enemie, their dearest thinges, to the entent that
+he tariyng about the spoile, might give them more laisure to flie. Titus
+Dimius used no small policie to hide the losse, whiche he had received
+in the faight, for asmoche as havyng fought untill night, with great
+losse of his menne, he made in the night to be buried, the greatest part
+of them, wherefore in the mornyng, the enemies seyng so many slaine of
+theirs, and so fewe of the Romaines, belevyng that thei had the
+disavauntage, ran awaie. I trust I have thus confusedly, as I saied,
+satisfied in good part your demaunde: in dede about the facions of the
+armies, there resteth me to tell you, how some tyme, by some Capitaines,
+it hath been used to make theim with the fronte, like unto a wedge,
+judgyng to bee able by soche meane, more easely to open the enemies
+armie. Against this facion, thei have used to make a facion like unto a
+paire of sheres, to be able betwene thesame voide place, to receive that
+wedge, and to compasse it about, and to faight with it on every side:
+whereupon I will that you take this generall rule, that the greatest
+remedie that is used againste a devise of the enemie, is to dooe
+willingly thesame, whiche he hath devised that thou shalt dooe perforce:
+bicause that doyng it willingly, thou doest it with order, and with thy
+advauntage, and his disadvauntage, if thou shouldest doe it beyng
+inforced, it should be thy undoyng: For the provyng whereof, I care not
+to reherse unto you, certain thynges alredy tolde. The adversary maketh
+the wedge to open thy bandes: if thou gowest with them open, thou
+disorderest hym, and he disordereth not thee. Aniball set the Elephantes
+in the fronte of his armie, to open with theim the armie of Scipio.
+Scipio went with it open, and it was the occasion of his victorie, and
+of the ruine of hym. Asdruball placed his strongest men in the middest
+of the fronte of his armie, to overthrowe Scipios menne: Scipio
+commaunded, that by them selves thei should retire and he broke theim:
+So that like devises when thei are foreseen, bee the causes of the
+victorie of him, against whom thei be prepared. There remaineth me also,
+if I remember my self well, to tell you what respectes a Capitaine ought
+to have, before he leade his men to faight: upon whiche I have to tell
+you firste, how a capitaine ought never to faight a battaile, except he
+have advauntage, or be constrained. The vantage groweth of the
+situacion, of the order, of havyng more, or better menne: the necessitie
+groweth when thou seest how that not faightyng, thou muste in any wise
+lose, as should bee for lackyng of money, and for this, thy armie to bee
+ready all maner of waies to resolve, where famishemente is ready to
+assaulte thee, where the enemie looketh to bee ingrosed with newe men:
+in these cases, thou oughtest alwaies to faight, although with thy
+disadvauntage: for that it is moche better to attempte fortune, where
+she maie favour thee, then not attemptyng, to see thy certaine ruine:
+and it is as grevous a faulte in this case, in a capitain not to faight,
+as to have had occasion to overcome, and not to have either knowen it
+through ignoraunce, or lefte it through vilenesse. The advauntages some
+tymes the enemie giveth thee, and some tymes thy prudence: Many in
+passyng Rivers have been broken of their enemie, that hath been aware
+thereof, whom hath taried, till the one halfe hath been of the one side,
+and the other halfe on the other, and then hath assaulted them: as Cesar
+did to the Suizzers, where he destroied the fowerth parte of theim,
+through beyng halfe over a river. Some tyme thy enemie is founde wearie,
+for havyng folowed thee to undescritely, so that findyng thy self freshe
+and lustie, thou oughtest not to let passe soche an occasion: besides
+this, if the enemie offer unto thee in the mornyng betymes to faight,
+thou maiest a good while deferre to issue out of thy lodgyng, and when
+he hath stoode long in armour, and that he hath loste that same firste
+heate, with the whiche he came, thou maiest then faight with him. This
+waie Scipio and Metellus used in Spaine: the one against Asdruball, the
+other against Sertorius. If the enemie be deminished of power, either
+for havyng devided the armie, as the Scipions in Spain, or for some
+other occasion, thou oughteste to prove chaunce. The greateste parte of
+prudent capitaines, rather receive the violence of the enemies, then go
+with violence to assalte them: for that the furie is easely withstoode
+of sure and steddie menne, and the furie beyng sustained, converteth
+lightly into vilenesse: Thus Fabius did againste the Sannites, and
+against the Galles, and was victorious and his felowe Decius remained
+slain. Some fearing the power of their enemies, have begun the faight a
+little before night, to the intent that their men chaunsyng to bee
+overcome, might then by the helpe of the darkenesse thereof, save theim
+selves. Some havyng knowen, how the enemies armie beyng taken of
+certaine supersticion, not to faight in soche a tyme, have chosen
+thesame tyme to faighte, and overcome: The whiche Cesar observed in
+Fraunce, againste Arionistus, and Vespasian in Surrie, againste the
+Jewes. The greatest and moste importaunte advertismente, that a
+capitaine ought to have, is to have aboute hym faithfull menne, that are
+wise and moste expert in the warre, with whom he must continually
+consulte and reason of his men, and of those of the enemies, whiche is
+the greater nomber, whiche is beste armed, or beste on horsebacke, or
+best exercised, whiche be moste apte to suffer necessitie, in whom he
+trusteth moste, either in the footemen, or in the horsemen: after thei
+ought to consider the place where thei be, and whether it be more to the
+purpose for thenemie, then for him: which of theim hath victualles moste
+commodious: whether it be good to deferre the battaile, or to faight it:
+what good might bee given hym, or taken awaie by tyme: for that many
+tymes, souldiours seyng the warre to be delaied, are greved, and beyng
+wearie, in the pain and in the tediousnesse therof, wil forsake thee. It
+importeth above all thyng, to knowe the capitain of the enemies, and
+whom he hath aboute hym, whether he be rashe, or politike, whether he be
+fearfull, or hardie: to see how thou maiest truste upon the aidyng
+souldiours. And above all thyng thou oughtest to take hede, not to
+conducte the armie to faight when it feareth, or when in any wise it
+mistrusteth of the victorie: for that the greatest signe to lose, is
+thei beleve not to be able to winne: and therfore in this case, thou
+oughtest to avoide the faightyng of the fielde, either with doyng as
+Fabius Maximus, whom incampyng in strong places, gave no courage to
+Aniball, to goe to finde hym, or when thou shouldest thinke, that the
+enemie also in strong places, would come to finde thee, to departe out
+of the fielde, and to devide the menne into thy tounes to thentent that
+tediousnesse of winnyng them, maie wearie hym.
+
+ZANOBI. Cannot the faightyng of the battaile be otherwise avoided, then
+in devidyng the armie in sunderie partes and placyng the men in tounes?
+
+[Sidenote: Fabius Maximus.]
+
+FABRICIO. I beleve that ones alreadie, with some of you I have reasoned,
+how that he, that is in the field, cannot avoide to faight the battaile,
+when he hath an enemie, which will faight with hym in any wise, and he
+hath not, but one remedie, and that is, to place him self with his armie
+distant fiftie miles at leaste, from his adversarie, to be able betymes
+to avoide him, when he should go to finde hym. For Fabius Maximus never
+avoided to faight the battaile with Aniball, but he would have it with
+his advauntage: and Aniball did not presume to bee able to overcome hym,
+goyng to finde hym in the places where he incamped: where if he had
+presupposed, to have been able to have overcome, it had been conveniente
+for Fabius, to have fought the battaile with hym, or to have avoided.
+
+[Sidenote: Philip king of Macedonia, overcome by the Romaines; How
+Cingentorige avoided the faightyng of the fielde with Cesar; The
+ignorance of the Venecians; What is to be doen wher soldiours desire to
+faight, contrary to their capitaines minde; How to incourage souldiers;
+An advertisment to make the soldiour most obstinately to faight.]
+
+Philip Kyng of Macedonia, thesame that was father to Perse, commyng to
+warre with the Romaines, pitched his campe upon a verie high hill, to
+the entent not to faight with theim: but the Romaines wente to find hym
+on thesame hill, and discomfaited hym. Cingentorige capitain of the
+Frenche menne, for that he would not faight the field with Cesar, whom
+contrarie to his opinion, had passed a river, got awaie many miles with
+his men. The Venecians in our tyme, if thei would not have come to have
+fought with the Frenche kyng, thei ought not to have taried till the
+Frenche armie, had passed the River Addus, but to have gotten from them
+as Cingentorige, where thei havyng taried knewe not how to take in the
+passyng of the men, the occasion to faight the battaile, nor to avoide
+it: For that the Frenche men beyng nere unto them, as the Venecians went
+out of their Campe, assaulted theim, and discomfited theim: so it is,
+that the battaile cannot bee avoided, when the enemie in any wise will
+faight, nor let no man alledge Fabius, for that so moche in thesame
+case, he did flie the daie of battaile, as Aniball. It happeneth many
+tymes, that thy souldiours be willyng to faight, and thou knoweste by
+the nomber, and by the situacion, or for some other occasion to have
+disadvauntage, and desirest to make them chaunge from this desire: it
+happeneth also, that necessitie, or occasion, constraineth thee to
+faight, and that thy souldiours are evill to be trusted, and smally
+disposed to faight: where it is necessarie in thone case, to make theim
+afraied, and in the other to incourage theim: In the firste case, when
+perswacions suffiseth not, there is no better waie, then to give in
+praie, a part of them unto thenemie, to thintent those that have, and
+those that have not fought, maie beleve thee: and it may very wel be
+doen with art, thesame which to Fabius Maximus hapned by chaunce.
+Tharmie of Fabius (as you knowe) desired to faight with Aniballs armie:
+the very same desire had the master of his horses: to Fabius it semed
+not good, to attempte the faight: so that through soche contrary
+opinions, he was fain to devide the armie: Fabius kept his men in the
+campe, the other fought, and commyng into great perill, had been
+overthrowen, if Fabius had not rescued him: by the whiche insample the
+maister of the horse, together with all the armie, knewe how it was a
+wise waie to obeie Fabius. Concernyng to incourage theim to faight, it
+should be well doen, to make them to disdain the enemies, shewyng how
+thei speake slaunderous woordes of them, to declare to have intelligence
+with them, and to have corrupted part of them, to incampe in place,
+where thei maie see the enemies, and make some light skirmishe with
+them, for that the thyng that is dailie seen, with more facilitie is
+despised: to shewe theim to bee unworthie, and with an oracion for the
+purpose, to reprehende them of their cowardnesse, and for to make them
+ashamed, to tell theim that you will faight alone, when thei will not
+beare you companie. And you ought above all thyng to have this
+advertismente, mindyng to make the Souldiour obstinate to faight, not to
+permitte, that thei maie send home any of their substaunce, or to leave
+it in any place, till the warre bee ended, that thei maie understande,
+that although fliyng save their life, yet it saveth not theim their
+goodes, the love whereof, is wonte no lesse then thesame, to make men
+obstinate in defence.
+
+ZANOBI. YOU have tolde, how the souldiours maie be tourned to faight,
+with speakyng to theim: doe you meane by this, that all the armie must
+bee spoken unto, or to the heddes thereof?
+
+[Sidenote: It is requisite for excellent Capitaines to bee good orators;
+Alexander Magnus used openly to perswade his armie; The effecteousnes of
+speking; Souldiours ought to be accustomed to heare their Capitaine
+speake; How in olde time souldiers were threatened for their faltes;
+Enterprises maie the easelier be brought to passe by meanes of religion;
+Sertorius; A policie of Silla; A policie of Charles the seventh king of
+Fraunce against the Englishmen; How souldiers maiebee made to esteme
+little their enemies; The surest wai to make souldiours moste obstinat
+to faight; By what meanes obstinatenesse to faighte is increased.]
+
+FABRICIO. TO perswade, or to diswade a thyng unto fewe, is verie easie,
+for that if woordes suffise not, you maie then use aucthoritie and
+force: but the difficultie is, to remove from a multitude an evill
+opinion, and that whiche is contrary either to the common profite, or to
+thy opinion, where cannot be used but woordes, the whiche is meete that
+thei be heard of every man, mindyng to perswade them all. Wherfore, it
+was requisite that the excellente Capitaines were oratours: for that
+without knowyng how to speake to al the army, with difficultie maie be
+wrought any good thing: the whiche altogether in this our tyme is laied
+aside. Rede the life of Alexander Magnus, and you shall see how many
+tymes it was necessarie for hym to perswade, and to speake publikly to
+his armie: otherwise he should never have brought theim, beyng become
+riche, and full of spoile, through the desertes of Arabia, and into
+India with so moche his disease, and trouble: for that infinite tymes
+there growe thynges, wherby an armie ruinateth, when the capitain either
+knoweth not, or useth not to speake unto thesame, for that this speakyng
+taketh awaie feare, in courageth the mindes, increaseth the obstinatenes
+to faight, discovereth the deceiptes, promiseth rewardes, sheweth the
+perilles, and the waie to avoide theim, reprehendeth, praieth,
+threatened, filleth full of hope, praise, shame, and doeth a11 those
+thynges, by the whiche the humaine passions are extincte or kendled:
+wherefore, that prince, or common weale, whiche should appoincte to make
+a newe power, and cause reputacion to their armie, ought to accustome
+the Souldiours thereof, to heare the capitain to speake, and the
+capitain to know how to speake unto them. In kepyng desposed the
+souldiours in old tyme, to faight for their countrie, the religion
+availed moche, and the othes whiche thei gave them, when thei led theim
+to warfare: for as moche as in al their faultes, thei threatned them not
+onely with those punishementes, whiche might be feared of men but with
+those whiche of God might be looked for: the whiche thyng mingled with
+the other Religious maners, made many tymes easie to the auncient
+capitaines all enterprises, and will doe alwaies, where religion shall
+be feared, and observed. Sertorius prevailed, by declaryng that he spake
+with a Stagge, the whiche in Goddes parte, promised hym the victorie.
+Silla saied, he spoke with an Image, whiche he had taken out of the
+Temple of Apollo. Many have tolde how God hath appered unto them in
+their slepe, whom hath admonished them to faight. In our fathers time,
+Charles the seventh kyng of Fraunce, in the warre whiche he made
+againste the Englishemen, saied, he counsailed with a maide, sent from
+God, who was called every where the Damosell of Fraunce, the which was
+occacion of his victorie. There maie be also used meanes, that maie make
+thy men to esteme little the enemie, as Agesilao a Spartaine used, whom
+shewed to his souldiours, certain Persians naked, to the intent that
+seyng their delicate members, thei should not have cause to feare them.
+Some have constrained their men to faight through necessitie, takyng
+awaie from them all hope of savyng theim selves, savyng in overcommyng.
+The whiche is the strongest, and the beste provision that is made, to
+purpose to make the souldiour obstinate to faight: whiche obstinatenesse
+is increased by the confidence, and love of the Capitaine, or of the
+countrie. Confidence is caused through the armour, the order the late
+victorie, and the opinion of the Capitaine. The love of the countrie, is
+caused of nature: that of the Capitain, through vertue, more then by any
+other benefite: the necessities maie be many, but that is strongest,
+whiche constraineth thee; either to overcome, or to dye.
+
+
+
+
+THE FIVETH BOOKE
+
+
+[Sidenote: How the Romaines marched with their armies; How the Romaines
+ordered their armie when it happened to be assaulted on the waie; How
+the main battailes ought to marche; The orderyng of an armie after soche
+sorte, that it maie marche safelie through the enemies countrie and be
+alwaies in a redines to faight; The place in the armie wher the bowmen
+and Harkabutters are appoincted; The place in the armie wher
+thextraordinarie Pikes are appoincted. The place in the armie wherthe
+generall capitain must be; Where the artillerie must be placed. The
+light horsmenne must be sente before to discover the countrie and the
+menne of armes to come behind tharmy; A generall rule concernyng horse;
+Wher the carriages and the unarmed are placed; The waie must be made
+plaine wher the armie shall marche in order; How many miles a day an
+armie maie marche in battaile raie, to bee able to incampe before sunne
+set; The orderyng of the armie, when it is assaulted on the vawarde; The
+orderyng of tharmie when thenemie commes to assaulte it behinde; How the
+armie is ordered when it is assaulted of any of the sides; doen when the
+army is assaulted on twoo sides.]
+
+FABRICIO. I have shewed you, how an armi, is ordained to faight a fielde
+with an other armie, which is seen pitched against it, and have declared
+unto you, howe the same is overcome, and after many circumstaunces, I
+have likewise shewed you, what divers chaunces, maie happen about
+thesame, so that me thinkes tyme to shewe you now, how an armie is
+ordered, againste thesame enemie, whiche otherwise is not seen, but
+continually feared, that he assaulte thee: this happeneth when an armie
+marcheth through the enemies countrie, or through suspected places.
+Firste, you must understande, how a Romaine armie, sent alwaies
+ordinarely afore, certaine bandes of horsemen, as spies of the waie:
+after followed the right horne, after this, came all the carriages,
+whiche to thesame apperteined, after this, came a Legion, after it, the
+carriages therof, after that, an other legion, and next to it, their
+carriages, after whiche, came the left horne, with the carriages thereof
+at their backe, and in the laste part, folowed the remnaunte of the
+chivalrie: this was in effecte the maner, with whiche ordinarily thei
+marched: and if it happened that the armie were assaulted in the waie on
+the fronte, or on the backe, thei made straight waie all the carriages
+to bee drawen, either on the right, or on the lefte side, accordyng as
+chaunsed, or as thei could beste, havyng respecte to the situacion: and
+all the men together free from their impedimentes, made hedde on that
+parte, where the enemie came. If thei were assaulted on the flancke,
+thei drue the carriages towardes thesame parte that was safe, and of the
+other, thei made hedde. This waie beyng well and prudently governed, I
+have thought meete to imitate, sending afore the light horsemen, as
+exploratours of the Countrie: Then havyng fower maine battailes I would
+make them to marche in araie, and every one with their carriages
+folowyng theim. And for that there be twoo sortes of carriages, that is
+partainyng to particulare souldiours, and partainyng to the publike use
+of all the Campe, I would devide the publike Carriages into fower
+partes, and to every maine battaile, I would appoinct his parte,
+deviding also the artillerie into fower partes, and all the unarmed, so
+that every nomber of armed menne, should equally have their
+impedimentes. But bicause it happeneth some times, that thei marche
+through the countrie, not onely suspected, but so daungerous, that thou
+fearest every hower to be assaulted, thou art constrained for to go more
+sure, to chaunge the forme of marchyng, and to goe in soche wise
+prepared, that neither the countrie menne, nor any armie, maie hurte
+thee, findyng thee in any parte unprovided. In soche case, the aunciente
+capitaines were wont, to marche with the armie quadrante, whiche so thei
+called this forme, not for that it was altogether quadrante, but for
+that it was apte to faight of fower partes, and thei saied, that thei
+wente prepared, bothe for the waie, and for the faight: from whiche
+waie, I will not digresse, and I will ordaine my twoo maine battailes,
+whiche I have taken for to make an armie of, to this effect. Mindyng
+therefore, to marche safely through the enemies Countrie, and to bee
+able to aunswere hym on every side, when at unwares the armie might
+chaunce to be assaulted, and intendyng therefore, accordyng to the
+antiquitie, to bryng thesame into a square, I would devise to make a
+quadrant, that the rome therof should be of space on every part Clix.
+yardes, in this maner. First I would put the flanckes, distant the one
+flanck from the other, Clix. yardes, and I would place five battailes
+for a flancke, in a raie in length, and distant the one from the other,
+twoo yardes and a quarter: the whiche shall occupie with their spaces,
+every battaile occupiyng thirtie yardes, Clix. yardes. Then betwen the
+hedde and the taile of these two flanckes, I would place the other tenne
+battailes, in every parte five, orderyng them after soche sorte, that
+fower should joyne to the hedde of the right flanck, and fower to the
+taile of the lefte flancke, leaving betwene every one of them, a
+distance of thre yardes: one should after joyne to the hedde of the
+lefte flancke, and one to the taile of the right flancke: and for that
+the space that is betwene the one flancke and the other, is Clix.
+yardes, and these battailes whiche are set the one to the side of the
+other by breadth, and not by length, will come to occupie with the
+distaunces one hundred yardes and a halfe yarde, there shall come
+betwene theim fower battailes, placed in the fronte on the right
+flancke, and the one placed in thesame on the lefte, to remaine a space
+of fiftie and eighte yardes and a halfe, and the verie same space will
+come to remaine in the battailes, placed in the hinder parte: nor there
+shall bee no difference, saving that the one space shall come on the
+parte behind towardes the right horne, and thother shall come on the
+parte afore, towardes the lefte home. In the space of the lviii. yardes
+and a halfe before, I would place all the ordinarie Veliti, in thesame
+behinde, the extraordinarie, which wil come to be a thousande for a
+space, and mindyng to have the space that ought to be within the armie,
+to be every waie Clix. yardes, it is mete that the five battailes,
+whiche are placed in the hedde, and those whiche are placed in the
+taile, occupie not any parte of the space, whiche the flanckes keepe:
+and therefore it shall be convenient, that the five battailes behinde,
+doe touche with the fronte, the taile of their flanckes, and those
+afore, with the taile to touche he hedde, after soche sorte, that upon
+every corner of the ame armie, there maie remaine a space, to receive an
+other battaile: and for that there bee fower spaces, I would take fower
+bandes of the extraordinarie Pikes, and in every corner I would place
+one, and the twoo Ansignes of the foresaied Pikes, whiche shall remain
+overplus, I would sette in the middest of the rome of this armie, in a
+square battaile, on the hedde whereof, should stande the generall
+capitaine, with his menne about him. And for that these battailes
+ordeined thus, marche all one waie, but faight not all one waie, in
+puttyng them together, those sides ought to be ordained to faight,
+whiche are not defended of thother battailes. And therfore it ought to
+be considered, that the five battailes that be in the front, have all
+their other partes defended, excepte the fronte: and therfore these
+ought to bee put together in good order, and with the Pikes afore. The
+five battailes whiche are behinde, have all their sides defended, except
+the parte behinde, and therefore those ought to bee put together in
+soche wise, that the Pikes come behind, as in the place therof we shall
+shewe. The five battailes that bee in the right flancke, have all their
+sides defended, except the right flancke. The five that be on the left
+flanck, have all their partes defended, excepte the lefte flancke: and
+therefore in orderyng the battailes, thei ought to bee made, that the
+Pikes maie tourne on the same flanck, that lieth open: and the
+Peticapitaines to stand on the hedde, and on the taile, so that nedyng
+to faight, all the armour and weapons maie be in their due places, the
+waie to doe this, is declared where we reasoned of the maner of orderyng
+the battailes. The artillerie I would devide, and one parte I would
+place without, on the lefte flancke, and the other on the right. The
+light horsemen, I would sende afore to discover the countrie. Of the
+menne of armes, I would place part behinde, on the right home, and parte
+on the lefte, distante about thirtie yardes from the battailes: and
+concerning horse, you have to take this for a general rule in every
+condicion, where you ordaine an armie, that alwaies thei ought to be
+put, either behinde, or on the flanckes of thesame: he that putteth them
+afore, over against the armie, it behoveth hym to doe one of these twoo
+thinges, either that he put them so moche afore, that beyng repulced,
+thei maie have so moche space, that maie give them tyme, to be able to
+go a side from thy footemen, and not to runne upon them, or to order
+them in soche wise, with so many spaces, that the horses by those maie
+enter betwene them, without disorderyng them. Nor let no man esteme
+little this remembraunce, for as moche as many capitaines, whom havyng
+taken no hede thereof, have been ruinated, and by themselves have been
+disordered, and broken. The carriages and the unarmed menne are placed,
+in the rome that remaineth within the armie, and in soche sorte equally
+devided, that thei maie give the waie easely, to whom so ever would go,
+either from the one corner to the other, or from the one hedde, to the
+other of the armie. These battailes without the artillerie and the
+horse, occupie every waie from the utter side, twoo hundred and eleven
+yardes and a halfe of space: and bicause this quadrante is made of twoo
+main battailes, it is convenient to distinguishe, what part thone maine
+battaile maketh, and what the other: and for that the main battailes are
+called by the nomber, and every of theim hath (as you knowe) tenne
+battailes, and a generall hed, I would cause that the first main
+battaile, should set the first v. battailes therof in the front, the
+other five, in the left flanck, and the capitain of the same should
+stande in the left corner of the front. The seconde maine battaile,
+should then put the firste five battailes therof, in the right flanck,
+and the other five in the taile, and the hedde capitain of thesame,
+should stande in the right corner, whom should come to dooe the office
+of the Tergiductor. The armie ordained in this maner, ought to be made
+to move, and in the marchyng, to observe all this order, and without
+doubte, it is sure from all the tumultes of the countrie men. Nor the
+capitain ought not to make other provision, to the tumultuarie
+assaultes, then to give sometyme Commission to some horse, or Ansigne of
+Veliti, that thei set themselves in order: nor it shall never happen
+that these tumultuous people, will come to finde thee at the drawyng of
+the swerd, or pikes poincte: for that men out of order, have feare of
+those that be in araie: and alwaies it shall bee seen, that with cries
+and rumours, thei will make a greate assaulte, without otherwise commyng
+nere unto thee, like unto barking curres aboute a Mastie. Aniball when
+he came to the hurte of the Romaines into Italie, he passed through all
+Fraunce, and alwaies of the Frenche tumultes, he took small regarde.
+Mindyng to marche, it is conveniente to have plainers and labourers
+afore, whom maie make thee the waie plaine, whiche shall bee garded of
+those horsemen, that are sent afore to viewe the countrie: an armie in
+this order maie marche tenne mile the daie, and shall have tyme inough
+to incampe, and suppe before Sunne goyng doune, for that ordinarely, an
+armie maie marche twentie mile: if it happen that thou be assaulted, of
+an armie set in order, this assaulte cannot growe sodainly: for that an
+armie in order, commeth with his pace, so that thou maiest have tyme
+inough, to set thy self in order to faight the field, and reduce thy
+menne quickly into thesame facion, or like to thesame facion of an
+armie, which afore is shewed thee. For that if thou be assaulted, on the
+parte afore, thou needeste not but to cause, that the artillerie that be
+on the flanckes, and the horse that be behinde, to come before, and
+place theimselves in those places, and with those distaunces, as afore
+is declared. The thousande Veliti that bee before, must go out of their
+place, and be devided into CCCCC. for a parte, and go into their place,
+betwene the horse and the hornes of tharmy: then in the voide place that
+thei shal leave, the twoo Ansignes of the extraordinarie Pikes muste
+entre, whiche I did set in the middest of the quadrante of the armie.
+The thousande Veliti, whiche I placed behinde, must departe from thesame
+place, and devide them selves in the flanckes of the battailes, to the
+fortificacion of those: and by the open place that thei shal leave, all
+the carriages and unarmed menne must go out, and place themselves on the
+backe of the battaile. Then the rome in the middeste beyng voided, and
+every man gone to his place: the five battailes, whiche I placed behinde
+on the armie, must make forward in the voide place, that is betwene the
+one and the other flanck, and marche towardes the battailes, that stand
+in the hedde, and three of theim, muste stande within thirtie yardes of
+those, with equall distances, betwene the one and the other, and the
+other twoo shal remain behinde, distaunte other thirtie yardes: the
+whiche facion maie bee ordained in a sodaine, and commeth almoste to bee
+like, unto the firste disposicion, whiche of tharmy afore we shewed. And
+though it come straighter in the fronte, it commeth grosser in the
+flanckes, whiche giveth it no lesse strength: but bicause the five
+battailes, that be in the taile, have the Pikes on the hinder parte, for
+the occasion that before we have declared, it is necessarie to make
+theim to come on the parte afore, mindyng to have theim to make a backe
+to the front of tharmie: and therfore it behoveth either to make them to
+tourne battaile after battaile, as a whole body, or to make them quickly
+to enter betwen thorders of targettes, and conduct them afore, the
+whiche waie is more spedy, and of lesse disorder, then to make them to
+turn al together: and so thou oughtest to doe of all those, whiche
+remain behind in every condicion of assault, as I shal shewe you. If it
+appere that thenemie come on the part behinde, the first thyng that
+ought to bee dooen, is to cause that every man tourne his face where his
+backe stode, and straight waie tharmie cometh to have made of taile,
+hed, and of hed taile: then al those waies ought to be kept, in orderyng
+thesame fronte, as I tolde afore. If the enemie come to incounter the
+right flancke, the face of thy armie ought to bee made to tourne
+towardes thesame side: after, make all those thynges in fortificacion of
+thesame hedde, whiche above is saied, so that the horsemen, the Veliti,
+and the artillerie, maie be in places conformable to the hed thereof:
+onely you have this difference, that in variyng the hed of those, which
+are transposed, some have to go more, and some lesse. In deede makyng
+hedde of the right flancke, the Veliti ought to enter in the spaces,
+that bee betwene the horne of the armie, and those horse, whiche were
+nerest to the lefte flancke, in whose place ought to enter, the twoo
+Ansignes of the extraordinarie Pikes, placed in the middest: But firste
+the carriages and the unarmed, shall goe out by the open place, avoidyng
+the rome in the middest, and retiryng themselves behinde the lefte
+flancke, whiche shall come to bee then the taile of the armie: the other
+Veliti that were placed in the taile, accordyng to the principall
+orderyng of the armie, in this case, shall not move: Bicause the same
+place should not remaine open, whiche of taile shall come to be flancke:
+all other thyng ought to bee dooen, as in orderyng of the firste hedde
+is saied: this that is told about the makyng hed of the right flanck,
+must be understode to be told, havyng nede to make it of the left
+flanck: for that the very same order ought to bee observed. If the
+enemie should come grose, and in order to assaulte thee on twoo sides,
+those twoo sides, whiche he commeth to assaulte thee on, ought to bee
+made stronge with the other twoo sides, that are not assaulted, doublyng
+the orders in eche of theim, and devidyng for bothe partes the
+artillerie, the Veliti, and the horse. If he come on three or on fower
+sides, it is necessarie that either thou or he lacke prudence: for that
+if thou shalt bee wise, thou wilte never putte thy self in place, that
+the enemie on three or fower sides, with a greate nomber of men, and in
+order, maie assault thee: for that mindyng, safely to hurte thee, it is
+requisit, that he be so great, that on every side, he maie assault thee,
+with as many men, as thou haste almoste in al thy army: and if thou be
+so unwise, that thou put thy self in the daunger and force of an enemie,
+whom hath three tymes more menne ordained then thou, if thou catche
+hurte, thou canste blame no man but thy self: if it happen not through
+thy faulte, but throughe some mischaunce, the hurt shall be without the
+shame, and it shal chaunce unto thee, as unto the Scipions in Spaine,
+and to Asdruball in Italie but if the enemie have not many more men then
+thou, and intende for to disorder thee, to assaulte thee on divers
+sides, it shal be his foolishnesse, and thy good fortune: for as moche
+as to doe so, it is convenient, that he become so thinne in soche wise,
+that then easely thou maiste overthrow one bande, and withstande an
+other, and in short time ruinate him: this maner of ordering an armie
+against an enemie, whiche is not seen, but whiche is feared, is a
+necessarie and a profitable thing, to accustome thy souldiours, to put
+themselves together, and to march with soche order, and in marchyng, to
+order theimselves to faight, accordyng to the first hedde, and after to
+retourne in the forme, that thei marched in, then to make hedde of the
+taile, after, of the flanckes, from these, to retourne into the first
+facion: the whiche exercises and uses bee necessarie, mindyng to have an
+armie, throughly instructed and practised: in whiche thyng the Princes
+and the capitaines, ought to take paine. Nor the discipline of warre is
+no other, then to knowe how to commaunde, and to execute these thynges.
+Nor an instructed armie is no other, then an armie that is wel practised
+in these orders: nor it cannot be possible, that who so ever in this
+time, should use like disciplin shall ever bee broken. And if this
+quadrante forme whiche I have shewed you, is somewhat difficulte, soche
+difficultnesse is necessarie, takyng it for an exercise: for as moche as
+knowyng well, how to set theim selves in order, and to maintaine theim
+selves in the same, thei shall knowe after more easely, how to stand in
+those, whiche should not have so moche difficultie.
+
+ZANOBI. I beleve as you saie, that these orders bee verie necessarie,
+and I for my parte, knowe not what to adde or take from it: true it is,
+that I desire to know of you twoo thynges, the one, if when you will
+make of the taile, or of the flancke hedde, and would make them to
+tourne, whether this be commaunded by the voice, or with the sounde:
+thother, whether those that you sende afore, to make plain the waie, for
+the armie to marche, ought to be of the verie same souldiours of your
+battailes, or other vile menne appoincted, to like exercise.
+
+[Sidenote: Commaundementes of Capitaines being not wel understoode, maie
+be the destruction of an armie; Respect that is to be had in
+commaundementes made with the sounde of the Trompet; In commaundmentes
+made with the voice, what respect is to be had; Of Pianars.]
+
+FABRICIO. Your firste question importeth moche: for that many tymes the
+commaundementes of Capitaines, beyng not well understoode, or evill
+interpreted, have disordered their armie: therfore the voices, with the
+whiche thei commaunde in perilles, ought to bee cleare, and nete. And if
+thou commaunde with the sounde, it is convenient to make, that betwene
+the one waie and the other, there be so moche difference, that the one
+cannot be chaunged for the other: and if thou commaundest with the
+voice, thou oughteste to take heede, that thou flie the general voices,
+and to use the particulares, and of the particulars, to flie those,
+whiche maie be interpreted sinisterly. Many tymes the saiyng backe,
+backe, hath made to ruinate an armie; therfore this voice ought not to
+be used, but in steede therof to use, retire you. If you will make theim
+to tourne, for to chaunge the hedde, either to flanck, or to backe, use
+never to saie tourne you, but saie to the lefte, to the right, to the
+backe, to the front: thus all the other voices ought to be simple, and
+nete, as thrust on, march, stande stronge, forwarde, retourne you: and
+all those thynges, whiche maie bee dooen with the voice, thei doe, the
+other is dooen with the sounde. Concernyng those menne, that must make
+the waies plaine for the armie to marche, whiche is your seconde
+question, I would cause my owne souldiours to dooe this office, as well
+bicause in the aunciente warfare thei did so, as also for that there
+should be in the armie, lesser nomber of unarmed men, and lesse
+impedimentes: and I would choose out of every battaile, thesame nomber
+that should nede, and I would make theim to take the instrumentes, meete
+to plaine the grounde withall, and their weapons to leave with those
+rankes, that should bee nereste them, who should carrie them, and the
+enemie commyng, thei shall have no other to doe, then to take them
+again, and to retourne into their araie.
+
+ZANOBI. Who shall carrie thinstrumentes to make the waie plaine withall?
+
+FABRICIO. The Cartes that are appoincted to carrie the like
+instrumentes.
+
+ZANOBI. I doubte whether you should ever brynge these our souldiours, to
+labour with Shovell or Mattocke, after soche sorte.
+
+[Sidenote: The victualles that thantiquitie made provision of, for their
+armies.]
+
+FABRICIO. All these thynges shall bee reasoned in the place thereof, but
+now I will let alone this parte, and reason of the maner of the
+victualing of the armie: for that me thinketh, havyng so moche
+traivailed theim, it is tyme to refreshe them, and to comfort them with
+meate. You have to understande, that a Prince ought to ordaine his
+armie, as expedite as is possible, and take from thesame all those
+thynges, whiche maie cause any trouble or burthen unto it, and make unto
+hym any enterprise difficulte. Emongest those thynges that causeth moste
+difficultie, is to be constrained to keepe the armie provided of wine,
+and baked bread. The antiquitie cared not for Wine, for that lackyng it,
+thei dranke water, mingeled with a little vinegre, to give it a taste:
+For whiche cause, emong the municions of victualles for the hoste,
+vineger was one, and not wine. Thei baked not the breade in Ovens, as
+thei use for Citees, but thei provided the Meale, and of thesame, every
+Souldiour after his owne maner, satisfied hym self, havyng for
+condimente Larde and Baken, the whiche made the breade saverie, that
+thei made, and maintained theim strong, so that the provision of
+victualles for the armie, was Meale, Vineger, Larde, and Bacon, and for
+the horses Barley. Thei had ordinarely heardes of greate beastes and
+small, whiche folowed the armie, the whiche havyng no nede to bee
+carried, caused not moche impedimente. Of this order there grewe, that
+an armie in old time, marched somtymes many daies through solitarie
+places, and difficulte, without sufferyng disease of victualles: for
+that thei lived of thyngs, whiche easely thei might convey after them.
+To the contrarie it happeneth in the armies, that are now a daies,
+whiche mindyng not to lacke wine, and to eate baked breade in thesame
+maner, as when thei are at home, whereof beyng not able to make
+provision long, thei remaine often tymes famished, or though thei be
+provided, it is dooen with disease, and with moste greate coste:
+therfore I would reduce my armie to this maner of living: and I would
+not that thei should eate other bread, then that, which by themselves
+thei should bake. Concernyng wine, I would not prohibite the drinkyng
+thereof, nor yet the commyng of it into the armie, but I would not use
+indevour, nor any labour for to have it, and in the other provisions, I
+would governe my self altogether, like unto the antiquitie: the whiche
+thing, if you consider well, you shall see how moche difficultie is
+taken awaie, and how moche trouble and disease, an armie and a capitaine
+is avoided of, and how moche commoditie shall bee given, to what so ever
+enterprise is to bee dooen.
+
+ZANOBI. We have overcome thenemie in the field, marched afterward upon
+his countrie, reason would, that spoiles be made, tounes sacked,
+prisoners taken, therefore I would knowe how the antiquitie in these
+thynges, governed them selves.
+
+[Sidenote: The occasions why the warres made nowe adaies, doe
+impoverishe the conquerors as well as the conquered; The order that the
+Romaines toke, concerning the spoile and the booties that their
+souldiours gotte; An order that the antiquitie tooke, concernyng their
+soldiours wages.]
+
+FABRICIO. Beholde, I will satisfie you. I beleve you have considered,
+for that once alredie with some of you I have reasoned, howe these
+present warres, impoverishe as well those lordes that overcome, as those
+that leese: for that if the one leese his estate, the other leeseth his
+money, and his movables: the whiche in olde time was not, for that the
+conquerour of the warre, waxed ritche. This groweth of keepyng no compte
+in these daies of the spoiles, as in olde tyme thei did, but thei leave
+it to the discreacion of the souldiours. This manner maketh twoo moste
+great disorders: the one, that whiche I have tolde: the other that the
+souldiour becometh more covetous to spoyle, and lesse observeth the
+orders: and manie times it hath been seen, howe the covetousnesse of the
+praye, hath made those to leese, whome were victorious. Therefore the
+Romaines whiche were princes of armies, provided to the one and to the
+other of these inconvenienses, ordainyng that all the spoyle should
+apertaine to the publicke, and that the publicke after should bestowe
+it, as shoulde be thought good: and therfore thei had in tharmie the
+questours, whom were as we would say, the chamberlaines, to whose charge
+all the spoyle and booties were committed: whereof the consull was
+served to geve the ordinarie pay to the souldiours, to succour the
+wounded, and the sicke, and for the other businesse of the armie. The
+consull might well, and he used it often, to graunte a spoyle to
+soldiours: but this grauntyng, made no disorder: for that the armie
+beyng broken all the pray was put in the middest, and distributed by
+hedde, accordyng to the qualitee of everie man: the which maner thei
+constituted, to thintente, that the soldiours should attend to overcome,
+and not to robbe: and the Romaine Legions overcame the enemies, and
+folowed them not, for that thei never departed from their orders: onely
+there folowed them, the horsemenne with those that were light armed, and
+if there were any other souldiours then those of the legions, they
+likewyse pursued the chase. Where if the spoyle shoulde have ben his
+that gotte it, it had not ben possible nor reasonable, to have kepte the
+legions steddie, and to withstonde manie perils; hereby grewe therefore,
+that the common weale inritched, and every Consull carried with his
+triumphe into the treasurie, muche treasure, whiche all was of booties
+and spoiles. An other thing the antiquetie did upon good consideration,
+that of the wages, whiche they gave to every souldiour, the thirde parte
+they woulde shoulde be laied up nexte to him, whome carried the ansigne
+of their bande, whiche never gave it them againe, before the warre was
+ended: this thei did, beyng moved of twoo reasons, the first was to
+thintente, that the souldiour should thrive by his wages, because the
+greatest parte of them beyng yonge men, and carelesse, the more thei
+have, so muche the more without neede thei spende, the other cause was,
+for that knowyng, that their movabelles were nexte to the ansigne, thei
+should be constrained to have more care thereof, and with more
+obstinatenesse to defende it: and this made them stronge and to holde
+together: all which thynges is necessarie to observe, purposinge to
+reduce the exercise of armes unto the intier perfection therof.
+
+ZANOBI. I beleeve that it is not possible, that to an armie that
+marcheth from place to place, there fal not perrilous accidentes, where
+the industerie of the capitaine is needefull, and the worthinesse of the
+souldiours, mindyng to avoyde them. Therefore I woulde be glad, that you
+remembring any, would shew them.
+
+[Sidenote: Captaines mai incurre the daunger of ambusshes twoo maner of
+wayes; How to avoide the perill of ambusshes; Howe ambusshes have ben
+perceived; Howe the Capitaine of the enemies ought to be esteemed; Where
+men be in greatest perill; The description of the countrey where an army
+muste marche, is most requiset for a Capitaine to have; A most
+profitable thyng it is for a capitayne to be secrete in all his
+affaires; An advertisment concernyng the marchyng of an armie; The
+marching of an armie ought to be ruled by the stroke of the Drumme; The
+condicion of the enemie ought to be considered.]
+
+FABRICIO. I shall contente you with a good will, beyng inespetially
+necessarie, intendyng to make of this exercise a perfecte science. The
+Capitaines ought above all other thynges, whileste thei marche with an
+armie, to take heede of ambusshes, wherein they incurre daunger twoo
+waies, either marchynge thou entrest into them, or thoroughe crafte of
+the enemie thou arte trained in before thou arte aware. In the first
+case, mindyng to avoide suche perill, it is necessarie to sende afore
+double warde, whome may discover the countrey, and so muche the more
+dilligence ought to be used, the more that the countrey is apte for
+ambusshes, as be the woddie or hilly countries, for that alwaies thei be
+layd either in a wodde, or behind a hille: and as the ambusshe not
+forseene, doeth ruin thee, so forseyng the same, it cannot hurte thee.
+Manie tymes birdes or muche duste have discovered the enemie: for that
+alwayes where the enemie cometh to finde thee, he shall make great
+duste, whiche shall signifie unto thee his comyng: so often tymes a
+Capitaine seyng in the places where he ought to passe, Doves to rise, or
+other of those birdes that flie in flockes, and to tourne aboute and not
+to light, hath knowen by the same the ambusshe of the enemies to be
+there, and sendynge before his men, and sertainely understandyng it,
+hath saved him selfe and hurte his enemie. Concernyng the seconde case,
+to be trained in, (which these our men cal to be drawen to the shot)
+thou ought to take heede, not straight way to beleve those thinges,
+which are nothyng reasonable, that thei be as they seeme: as shoulde be,
+if the enemie should set afore thee a praie, thou oughtest to beleeve
+that in the same is the hooke, and that therin is hid the deceipte. If
+many enemies be driven away by a fewe of thine, if a fewe enemies
+assaulte manie of thine, if the enemies make a sodeine flight, and not
+standynge with reason, alwaies thou oughtest in suche cases to feare
+deceipte, and oughtest never to beleeve that the enemie knoweth not how
+to doe his businesse, but rather intendyng that he may begile thee the
+lesse, and mindyng to stand in lesse peril, the weaker that he is, and
+the lesse craftier that the enemie is, so muche the more thou oughtest
+to esteeme him: and thou muste in this case use twoo sundrie poinctes,
+for that thou oughtest to feare him in thy minde and with the order, but
+with wordes, and with other outewarde demonstracion, to seeme to dispyse
+him: because this laste way, maketh that the souldiours hope the more to
+have the victorie: the other maketh thee more warie, and lesse apte to
+be begyled. And thou hast to understand, that when men marche thoroughe
+the enemies countrey, they ar in muche more, and greater perils, then in
+fayghtyng the fielde: and therefore the Capitaine in marchyng, ought to
+use double diligence: and the first thyng that he ought to doo, is to
+get described, and payncted oute all the countrie, thorough the which he
+must marche, so that he maye know the places, the number, the distances,
+the waies, the hilles, the rivers, the fennes, and all the quallites of
+them: and to cause this to bee knowen, it is convenient to have with him
+diversly, and in sundrie maners such men, as know the places, and to
+aske them with diligence, and to se whether their talke agree, and
+accordyng to the agreyng therof, to note: he oughte also to sende afore
+the horsemen, and with them prudente heddes, not so muche to discover
+the enemie, as to viewe the countrey, to se whether it agree with the
+description, and with the knowledge that they have of the same. Also the
+guydes that are sente, ought to be kepte with hope of rewarde, and feare
+of paine. And above all thynges it ought to be provided, that the armie
+knowe not to what businesse he leadeth them: for that there is nothyng
+in the warre more profitable, then to keepe secret the thynges that is
+to be dooen: and to thintente a suddeine assaulte dooe not trouble thy
+soldiours, thou oughteste to see them to stande reddie with their
+weapons, because the thynges that ar provided for, offend lesse. Manie
+for to avoyde the confusion of marchyng, have placed under the
+standerde, the carriages, and the unarmed, and have commaunded them to
+folow the same, to the intente that in marchyng needyng to staye, or to
+retire, they might dooe it more easely, which thyng as profitable, I
+alowe very muche. Also in marchyng, advertismente ought to be had, that
+the one parte of the armie goe not a sunder from the other, or that
+thoroughe some goyng fast, and some softe, the armie become not slender:
+the whiche thynges, be occation of dissorder: therfore the heddes muste
+be placed in suche wise, that they may maintaine the pace even, causing
+to goe softe those that goe to fast, and to haste forward the other that
+goe to sloe, the whiche pace can not bee better ruled, then by the
+stroke of the drumme. The waies ought to be caused to be inlarged, so
+that alwaies at least a bande of iiii. hundred men may marche in order
+of battaile. The custome and the qualitie of the enemie ought to be
+considered, and whether that he wil assaulte thee either in the mornyng,
+or at none or in the evenynge, and whether he be more puisante with
+fotemen or horsemen, and accordyng as thou understandest, to ordeine and
+to provide for thy self. But let us come to some particular accidente.
+It hapneth sometime, that thou gettyng from the enemie, because thou
+judgest thy selfe inferiour, and therfore mindynge not to faight with
+him, and he comyng at thy backe, thou arivest at the banke of a river,
+passyng over the which, asketh time, so that the enemie is redie to
+overtake thee and to fayght with thee. Some, which chaunsing to bee in
+suche perill, have inclosed their armie on the hinder parte with a
+diche, and fillyng the same full of towe, and firyng it, have then
+passed with the armie without beyng able to be letted of the enemie, he
+beyng by the same fire that was betwene them held backe.
+
+[Sidenote: Annone of Carthage.]
+
+ZANOBI. I am harde of beliefe, that this fyre coulde stay theim, in
+especially because I remember that I have harde, howe Annone of
+Carthage, beyng besieged of enemies, inclosed him selfe on the same
+parte, with wodde, which he did set on fire where he purposed to make
+eruption. Wherfore the enemies beyng not intentive on the same parte to
+looke to him, he made his armie to passe over the same flame, causing
+every man to holde his Target before his face for to defend them from
+the fire, and smoke.
+
+[Sidenote: Nabide a spartayne; Quintus Luttatius pollecie to passe over
+a river; How to passe a ryver without a bridge; A polecie of Cesar to
+passe a river, where his enemie beyng on the other side therof sought to
+lette hym.]
+
+FABRICIO. You saye well: but consider you howe I have saied, and howe
+Annone did: for as muche as I saied that they made a diche, and filled
+it with towe, so that he, that woulde passe over the same, should be
+constrained to contende with the diche and with fire: Annone made the
+fire, without the diche, and because he intended to passe over it, he
+made it not great, for that otherwise without the diche, it shoulde have
+letted him. Dooe you not knowe, that Nabide a Spartan beyng besieged in
+Sparta of the Romaines, set fire on parte of his towne to let the way to
+the Romaines, who alredie wer entred in? And by meane of the same flame
+not onely hindered their way, but drave them oute: but let us turne to
+our matter. Quintus Luttatius a Romaine, havyng at his backe the Cimbri,
+and commyng to a river, to thentente the enemie should give him time to
+passe over, semed to geve time to them to faight with him: and therfore
+he fained that he would lodge there, and caused trenches to be made, and
+certaine pavilions to be erected, and sent certayne horsemen into the
+countrie for forredge: so that the Cimbrise beleevyng, that he incamped,
+they also incamped, and devided them selves into sundrie partes, to
+provide for victuals, wherof Luttatius being aware, passed the river
+they beyng not able to let him. Some for to passe a river havynge no
+bridge, have devided it, and one parte they have turned behynde their
+backes, and the other then becomynge shalower, with ease they have
+passed it: when the rivers be swift, purposyng to have their footemen to
+passe safely, they place their strongest horses on the higher side, that
+thei may sustain the water, and an other parte be lowe that may succour
+the men, if any of the river in passyng should be overcome with the
+water: They passe also rivers, that be verie deepe, with bridges, with
+botes, and with barrelles: and therfore it is good to have in a
+redinesse in an armie wherewith to be able to make all these thynges. It
+fortuneth sometime that in passyng a river, the enemie standynge agaynst
+thee on the other banke, doeth let thee: to minde to overcome this
+difficultie, I know not a better insample to folow, then the same of
+Cesar, whome havynge his armie on the banke of a river in Fraunce, and
+his passage beynge letted of Vergintorige a Frenche man, the whiche on
+the other side of the river had his men, marched many daies a longe the
+river, and the like did the enemie: wherfore Cesar incamping in a woddie
+place, apte to hide men, he tooke out of every legion three cohortes,
+and made them to tarie in the same place, commaundynge theim that so
+soone as he was departed, they shoulde caste over a bridge, and should
+fortefie it, and he with his other menne folowed on the waye: wherfore
+Vergintorige seyng the number of the legions, thinkyng that there was
+not left anie parte of theim behinde, folowed also his way: but Cesar
+when he supposed that the bridge was made, tourned backewarde, and
+findynge all thinges in order, passed the river without difficultee.
+
+ZANOBI. Have ye any rule to know the foordes?
+
+[Sidenote: How to know the Foordes of a river.]
+
+FABRICIO. Yea, we have: alwaies the river, in that parte, whiche is
+betwene the water, that is stilleste, and the water that runneth
+fastest, there is least depth and it is a place more meete to be looked
+on, then any other where. For that alwaies in thesame place, the river
+is moste shallowest. The whiche thyng, bicause it hath been proved many
+tymes, is moste true.
+
+ZANOBI. If it chaunce that the River hath marde the Foorde, so that the
+horses sincke, what reamedy have you?
+
+[Sidenote: Howe to escape oute of a straight where the same is besette
+with enemies; Howe Lutius Minutius escaped out of a strayght wherin he
+was inclosed of his enemies; Howe some Capitaynes have suffered them
+selves to be compassed aboute of their enemies; A polecie of Marcus
+Antonius; A defence for the shotte of arrowes.]
+
+FABRICIO. The remedie is to make hardels of roddes whiche must be placed
+in the bottome of the river, and so to passe upon those: but let us
+folowe our reasonyng. If it happen that a capitain be led with his
+armie, betwen two hilles, and that he have not but twoo waies to save
+hymself, either that before, or that behinde, and those beyng beset of
+thenemies, he hath for remidie to doe the same, which some have doen
+heretofore: that which have made on their hinder parte a greate trenche,
+difficult to passe over, and semed to the enemie, to mynde to kepe him
+of, for to be able with al his power, without neding to feare behinde,
+to make force that waie, whiche before remaineth open. The whiche the
+enemies belevyng, have made theim selves stronge, towardes the open
+parte, and have forsaken the inclosed and he then castyng a bridge of
+woode over the Trenche, for soche an effect prepared, bothe on thesame
+parte, with out any impedimente hath passed, and also delivered hymself
+out of the handes of the enemie. Lucius Minutus a Consul of Rome, was in
+Liguria with an armie, and was of the enemies inclosed, betwene certaine
+hilles, whereby he could not go out: therefore he sente certaine
+souldiours of Numidia on horsebacke, whiche he had in his armie (whom
+were evill armed, and upon little leane horses) towardes the places that
+were kepte of the enemies, whom at the first sight made the enemies, to
+order theim selves together, to defende the passage: but after that thei
+sawe those men ill apoincted, and accordyng to their facion evill
+horsed, regardyng theim little, enlarged the orders of their warde,
+wherof so sone as the Numidians wer a ware, givyng the spurres to their
+horses, and runnyng violently upon theim, passed before thei could
+provide any remedy, whom beyng passed, destroied and spoiled the
+countrie after soche sorte, that thei constrained the enemies, to leave
+the passage free to the armie of Lucius. Some capitaine, whiche hath
+perceived hymself to be assaulted of a greate multitude of enemies, hath
+drawen together his men, and hath given to the enemie commoditie, to
+compasse hym all about, and then on thesame part, whiche he hath
+perceived to be moste weake, hath made force, and by thesame waie, hath
+caused to make waie, and saved hymself.
+
+Marcus Antonius retiryng before the armie of the Parthians, perceived
+how the enemies every daie before Sunne risyng, when he removed,
+assaulted him, and all the waie troubled hym: in so moch, that he
+determined not to departe the nexte daie, before None: so that the
+Parthians beleving, that he would not remove that daie, retourned to
+their tentes. Whereby Marcus Antonius might then all the reste of the
+daie, marche without any disquietnesse. This self same man for to avoide
+the arrowes of the Parthians, commaunded his men, that when the
+Parthians came towardes them, thei should knele, and that the second
+ranke of the battailes, should cover with their Targaettes, the heddes
+of the firste, the thirde, the seconde, the fowerth the third, and so
+successively, that all the armie came, to be as it were under a
+pentehouse, and defended from the shotte of the enemies. This is as
+moche as is come into my remembraunce, to tell you, which maie happen
+unto an armie marchyng: therefore, if you remember not any thyng els, I
+will passe to an other parte.
+
+
+
+
+THE SIXTHE BOOKE
+
+
+ZANOBI. I beleve that it is good, seyng the reasonyng must be chaunged,
+that Baptiste take his office, and I to resigne myne, and wee shall come
+in this case, to imitate the good Capitaines (accordyng as I have nowe
+here understoode of the gentilman) who place the beste souldiours,
+before and behinde the armie, semyng unto theim necessarie to have
+before, soche as maie lustely beginne the faight, and soche as behinde
+maie lustely sustaine it. Now seyng Cosimus began this reasonyng
+prudently, Baptiste prudently shall ende it. As for Luigi and I, have in
+this middeste intertained it, and as every one of us hath taken his part
+willingly, so I beleve not, that Baptiste wil refuse it.
+
+BAPTISTE. I have let my self been governed hetherto, so I minde to doe
+still. Therfore be contente sir, to folowe your reasonyng, and if we
+interrupte you with this practise of ours, have us excused.
+
+[Sidenote: How the Grekes incamped; Howe the Romaines incamped; The
+maner of the incamping of an armie; The lodging for the generall
+capitaine.]
+
+FABRICIO. You dooe me, as all readie I have saied, a moste greate
+pleasure; for this your interrupting me, taketh not awaie my fantasie,
+but rather refresheth me. But mindyng to followe our matter I saie, how
+that it is now tyme, that we lodge this our armie, for that you knowe
+every thyng desireth reste and saftie, bicause to reste, and not to
+reste safely, is no perfecte reste: I doubte moche, whether it hath not
+been desired of you, that I should firste have lodged them, after made
+theim to marche, and laste of all to faight, and we have doen the
+contrary: whereunto necessitie hath brought us, for that intendyng to
+shewe, how an armie in going, is reduced from the forme of marching, to
+thesame maner of faightyng, it was necessarie to have firste shewed, how
+thei ordered it to faight. But tournyng to our matter, I saie, that
+minding to have the Campe sure, it is requisite that it be strong, and
+in good order: the industrie of the Capitaine, maketh it in order, the
+situacion, or the arte, maketh it stronge. The Grekes sought strong
+situacions, nor thei would never place theim selves, where had not been
+either cave, or bancke of a river, or multitude of trees, or other
+naturall fortificacion, that might defende theim: but the Romaines not
+so moche incamped safe through the situacion, as through arte, nor thei
+would never incampe in place, where thei should not have been able to
+have raunged all their bandes of menne, accordyng to their discipline.
+Hereby grewe, that the Romaines might kepe alwaies one forme of
+incamping, for that thei would, that the situacion should bee ruled by
+them, not thei by the situacion: the which the Grekes could not observe,
+for that beyng ruled by the situacion, and variyng the situacion and
+forme, it was conveniente, that also thei should varie the maner of
+incampyng, and the facion of their lodgynges. Therefore the Romaines,
+where the situacion lacked strength thei supplied thesame with arte, and
+with industrie. And for that I in this my declaracion, have willed to
+imitate the Romaines, I will not departe from the maner of their
+incamping, yet not observyng altogether their order, but takyng thesame
+parte, whiche semeth unto me, to be mete for this present tyme. I have
+told you many tymes, how the Romaines had in their consull armies, twoo
+Legions of Romaine men, whiche were aboute a leven thousande footemen,
+and sixe hundred horsemen, and moreover thei had an other leven
+thousande footemen, sente from their frendes in their aide: nor in their
+armie thei had never more souldiers that were straungers, then Romaines,
+excepte horsemenne, whom thei cared not, though thei were more in nomber
+then theirs: and in all their doynges, thei did place their Legions in
+the middeste, and the aiders, on the sides: the whiche maner, thei
+observed also in incampyng, as by your self you maie rede, in those
+aucthoures, that write of their actes: and therefore I purpose not to
+shewe you distinctly how thei incamped, but to tell you onely with what
+order, I at this presente would incampe my armie, whereby you shall then
+knowe, what parte I have taken out of the Romaine maners. You knowe,
+that in stede of twoo Romaine Legions, I have taken twoo maine battailes
+of footemen, of sixe thousande footemen, and three hundred horsemen,
+profitable for a maine battaile, and into what battailes, into what
+weapons, into what names I have devided theim: you knowe howe in
+orderyng tharmie to marche, and to faight, I have not made mencion of
+other men, but onely have shewed, how that doublyng the men, thei neded
+not but to double the orders: but mindyng at this presente, to shew you
+the maner of incampyng, me thinketh good not to stande onely with twoo
+maine battailes, but to bryng together a juste armie, made like unto the
+Romaines, of twoo maine battailes, and of as many more aidyng men: the
+whiche I make, to the intent that the forme of the incampyng, maie be
+the more perfect, by lodgyng a perfecte armie: whiche thyng in the other
+demonstracions, hath not semed unto me so necessarie. Purposing then, to
+incampe a juste armie, of xxiiii. thousande footemen, and of twoo
+thousande good horsemenne, beeyng devided into fower maine battailes,
+twoo of our owne menne, and twoo of straungers, I would take this waie.
+The situacion beyng founde, where I would incampe, I would erecte the
+hed standarde, and aboute it, I would marke out a quadrant, whiche
+should have every side distante from it xxxvii. yardes and a half, of
+whiche every one of them should lye, towardes one of the fower regions
+of heaven, as Easte, Weste, Southe, and Northe: betwene the whiche
+space, I would that the capitaines lodgyng should be appoincted. And
+bicause I beleve that it is wisedom, to devide the armed from the
+unarmed, seyng that so, for the moste parte the Romaines did, I would
+therefore seperate the menne, that were cumbered with any thing, from
+the uncombered. I would lodge all, or the greatest parte of the armed,
+on the side towardes the Easte, and the unarmed, and the cumbred, on the
+Weste side, makyng Easte the hedde, and Weste the backe of the Campe,
+and Southe, and Northe should be the flanckes: and for to distinguishe
+the lodgynges of the armed, I would take this waie. I would drawe a line
+from the hedde standarde, and lead it towardes the Easte, the space of
+CCCCC.x. yardes and a half: I would after, make two other lines, that
+should place in the middeste the same, and should bee as longe as that,
+but distante eche of theim from it a leven yardes and a quarter: in the
+ende whereof, I would have the Easte gate, and the space that is betwene
+the twoo uttermoste lines, should make a waie, that should go from the
+gate, to the capitaines lodging, whiche shall come to be xxii. yardes
+and a halfe broad, and CCCClxxii. yardes and a halfe longe, for the
+xxxvii. yardes and a halfe, the lodgyng of the Capitaine will take up:
+and this shall bee called the Capitaine waie. Then there shall be made
+an other waie, from the Southe gate, to the Northe gate, and shall passe
+by the hedde of the capitaine waie, and leave the Capitaines lodgyng
+towardes theaste, whiche waie shalbe ix.C.xxxvii. yardes and a halfe
+long (for the length therof wilbe as moche as the breadth of all the
+lodgynges) and shall likewise be xxii. yardes and a half broad, and
+shalbe called the crosse waie. Then so sone as the Capitaines lodgyng,
+were appoincted out, and these twoo waies, there shall bee begun to be
+appoincted out, the lodginges of our own two main battailes, one of the
+whiche, I would lodge on the right hand of the capitaines waie, and the
+other, on the lefte: and therefore passing over the space, that the
+breadth of the crosse waie taketh, I would place xxxii. lodgynges, on
+the lefte side of the capitain waie, and xxxii. on the right side,
+leavyng betwene the xvi. and the xvii. lodgyng, a space of xxii. yardes
+and a halfe, the whiche should serve for a waie overthwart, whiche
+should runne overthwarte, throughout all the lodgynges of the maine
+battailes as in the distributyng of them shall bee seen.
+
+[Sidenote: The lodgings for the men of armes, and their Capitaine; Note,
+which is breadth and whiche length in the square campe; The lodgings for
+the lighte horsemen, and their capitain; The lodgings for the footemen
+of twoo ordinary main battailes; The lodgings for the conestables; The
+nomber of footemen appoincted to every lodging; The lodynges for the
+chiefe Capitaines of the maine battayles and for the treasurers,
+marshals and straungers; Lodginges for the horsemen, of the
+extraordinarie mayne battailes; The lodgynges for the extraordinarie
+Pykes and Veliti; How the Artillerie must be placed in the Campe;
+Lodgynges for the unarmed men, and the places that are apoineted for the
+impedimentes of the campe.]
+
+Of these twoo orders of lodgynges in the beginnyng of the head, whiche
+shall come to joygne to the crosse waye, I would lodge the Capitaine of
+the men of armes, in the xv. lodgynges, which on everie side foloweth
+next, their men of armes, where eche main battaile, havyng a CL. men of
+armes, it will come to ten men of armes for a lodgyng. The spaces of the
+Capitaines lodgynges, should be in bredth xxx. and in length vii. yardes
+and a halfe. And note that when so ever I sai bredeth, it signifieth the
+space of the middest from Southe to Northe, and saiyng length, that
+whiche is from weste to Easte. Those of the men of armes, shoulde be xi.
+yardes and a quarter in length, and xxii. yardes and a halfe in bredeth.
+In the other xv. lodgynges, that on everie syde should folowe, the
+whiche should have their beginnyng on the other side of the overthwarte
+way, and whiche shall have the very same space, that those of the men of
+armes had, I woulde lodge the light horsemen: wherof beynge a hundred
+and fiftie, it will come to x. horsemen for a lodgyng, and in the xvi.
+that remaineth, I woulde lodge their Capitaine, gevynge him the verie
+same space, that is geven to the Capitain of the men of armes: and thus
+the lodginges of the horsemen of two maine battailes, will come to place
+in the middest the Capitaine way, and geve rule to the lodginges of the
+footemen, as I shall declare. You have noted how I have lodged the CCC.
+horsemen of everie main battaile with their Capitaines, in xxxii.
+lodgynges placed on the Captaine waie, havynge begun from the crosse
+waie, and how from the xvi. to the xvii. there remaineth a space of
+xxii. yardes and a halfe, to make awaie overthwarte. Mindyng therefore
+to lodge the xx. battailes, which the twoo ordinarie maine battailes
+have, I woulde place the lodgyng of everie twoo battailes, behinde the
+lodgynges of the horsemen, everie one of whiche, should have in length
+xi. yardes and a quarter, and in bredeth xxii. yardes and a half as
+those of the horsemens, and shoulde bee joigned on the hinder parte,
+that thei shoulde touche the one the other. And in every first lodgyng
+on everie side which cometh to lie on the crosse waie, I woulde lodge
+the Counstable of a battaile, whiche should come to stand even with the
+lodgyng of the Capitayne of the men of armes, and this lodgyng shall
+have onely of space for bredeth xv. yardes, and for length vii. yardes
+and a halfe. In the other xv. lodgynges, that on everie side followeth
+after these, even unto the overthwarte way, I would lodge on everie part
+a battaile of foote men, whiche beyng iiii. hundred and fiftie, there
+will come to a lodgyng xxx. The other xv. lodgynges, I woulde place
+continually on every side on those of the light horse men, with the
+verie same spaces, where I woulde lodge on everie part, an other
+battaile of fote men, and in the laste lodgyng, I would place on every
+parte the Conestable of the battaile, whiche will come to joigne with
+the same of the Capitaine of the lighte horsemen, with the space of vii.
+yardes and a halfe for length, and xv. for bredeth: and so these two
+firste orders of lodgynges, shal be halfe of horsemen, and halfe of
+footemen. And for that I woulde (as in the place therof I have tolde
+you) these horse menne shoulde be all profitable, and for this havynge
+no servauntes whiche in kepyng the horses, or in other necessarie
+thynges might helpe them, I woulde that these footemen, who lodge
+behynde the horse, should bee bounde to helpe to provide, and to keepe
+theim for their maisters: and for this to bee exempted from the other
+doynges of the Campe. The whiche maner, was observed of the Romanies.
+Then leavyng after these lodgynges on everie parte, a space of xxii.
+yardes and a halfe, whiche shoulde make awaye, that shoulde be called
+the one, the firste waye on the righte hande, and the other the firste
+waie on the lefte hand, I woulde pitche on everie side an other order of
+xxxii. double lodgynges, whiche should tourne their hinder partes the
+one againste the other with the verie same spaces, as those that I have
+tolde you of, and devided after the sixtenth in the verie same maner for
+to make the overthwarte waie, where I would lodge on every side iiii.
+battailes of footemen, with their constables in bothe endes. Then
+leavyng on every side an other space of xxii. yardes and a halfe, that
+shoulde make a waie, whiche shoulde be called of the one side, the
+seconde waie on the right hande, and on the other syde, the seconde way
+on the lefte hande, I would place an other order on everie side of
+xxxii. double lodgynges, with the verie same distance and devisions,
+where I would lodge on everie side, other iiii. battailes with their
+Constables: and thus the horesemenne and the bandes of the twoo
+ordinarie maine battailes, should come to be lodged in three orders of
+lodgynges, on the one side of the capitaine waie, and in three other
+orders of lodgynges on the other side of the Capitaine waie. The twoo
+aidyng maine battels (for that I cause them to be made of the verie same
+nation) I woulde lodge them on everie parte of these twoo ordinarie
+maine battailes, with the very same orders of double lodgynges, pitchyng
+first one order of lodgynges, where should lodge halfe the horsemen, and
+half the foote men, distance xxii. yardes and a halfe from the other,
+for to make a way whiche should be called the one, the thirde waie on
+the right hande, and the other the thirde waie on the lefte hande. And
+after, I woulde make on everie side, twoo other orders of lodgynges, in
+the verie same maner destinguesshed and ordeined, as those were of the
+ordinarie maine battelles, which shall make twoo other wayes, and they
+all should be called of the numbre, and of the hande, where thei should
+be placed: in suche wyse, that all this side of the armie, shoulde come
+to be lodged in xii. orders of double lodgynges, and in xiii. waies,
+reckenynge captaine waie, and crosse waie: I would there should remayne
+a space from the lodgynges to the Trenche of lxxv. yardes rounde aboute:
+and if you recken al these spaces, you shall see that from the middest
+of the Capitaines lodgyng to the easte gate, there is Dx. yardes. Now
+there remaineth twoo spaces, whereof one is from the Capitaines lodgyng
+to the Southe gate, the other is from thense to the Northe gate: whiche
+come to be (either of them measurynge them from the poincte in the
+middest) CCCC.lxxvi. yardes. Then takyng out of everie one of these
+spaces xxxvii. yardes and a halfe, whiche the Capitaynes lodgynge
+occupieth, and xxxiiii. yardes everie waie for a market place, and xxii.
+yardes and a halfe for way that devides everie one of the saied spaces
+in the middest, and lxxv. yardes, that is lefte on everie part betweene
+the lodgynges and the Trenche, there remaineth on every side a space for
+lodginges of CCC. yardes broade, and lxxv. yardes longe, measurynge the
+length with the space that the Captaines lodgynge taketh up. Devidynge
+then in the middest the saied lengthe, there woulde be made on every
+hande of the Capitaine xl. lodgynges xxxvii. yardes and a halfe longe,
+and xv. broade, whiche will come to be in all lxxx. lodgynges, wherin
+shall be lodged the heddes of the maine battailes, the Treasurers, the
+Marshalles of the fielde, and all those that shoulde have office in the
+armie, leavyng some voide for straungers that shoulde happen to come,
+and for those that shall serve for good will of the Capitaine. On the
+parte behinde the Capitaines lodgynge, I would have a way from Southe to
+Northe xxiii. yardes large, and shoulde be called the bed way, whiche
+shall come to be placed a longe by the lxxx. lodgynges aforesayd: for
+that this waie, and the crosseway, shall come to place in the middest
+betweene them bothe the Capitaines lodgynge, and the lxxx. lodgynges
+that be on the sides therof. From this bed waie, and from over agaynst
+the captaines lodgyng, I would make an other waie, which shoulde goe
+from thens to the weste gate, lykewyse broade xxii. yardes and a halfe,
+and should aunswer in situation and in length to the Captaine way, and
+should be called the market waie. These twoo waies beynge made, I woulde
+ordeine the market place, where the market shall bee kepte, whiche I
+woulde place on the head of the market way over against the capitaines
+lodgynge, and joigned to the head way, and I woulde have it to be
+quadrante, and woulde assigne lxxxx. yardes and three quarters to a
+square: and on the right hande and lefte hande, of the saied market
+place, I would make two orders of lodginges, where everie order shal
+have eight double lodginges, which shall take up in length, ix. yardes,
+and in bredeth xxii. yardes and a halfe, so that there shall come to be
+on every hande of the market place, xvi. lodgynges that shall place the
+same in the middest which shall be in al xxxii. wherin I woulde lodge
+those horsemen, which shoulde remaine to the aidyng mayne battailes: and
+when these should not suffise, I woulde assigne theim some of those
+lodginges that placeth between them the Capitaines lodgynge, and in
+especially those, that lie towardes the Trenche. There resteth now to
+lodge the Pikes, and extraordinarie Veliti, that everie main battaile
+hath, which you know accordynge to our order, how everie one hath
+besides the x. battailes M. extraordinarie Pikes, and five hundreth
+Veliti: so that the twoo cheefe maine battailes, have two thousande
+extraordinarie Pikes, and a thousande extraordinarie Veliti, and the
+ayders as many as those, so that yet there remaineth to be lodged, vi.
+M. menne, whome I woulde lodge all on the weste side, and a longe the
+Trenche. Then from the ende of the hed waye, towardes Northe, leavyng
+the space of lxxv. yardes from them to the trenche, I woulde place an
+order of v. double lodgynges, whiche in all shoulde take up lvi. yardes
+in lengthe, and xxx. in bredeth: so that the bredeth devided, there will
+come to everie lodgyng xi. yardes and a quarter for lengthe, and for
+bredeth twoo and twentie yardes and a half. And because there shall be
+x. lodgynges, I will lodge three hundred men, apoinctyng to every
+lodging xxx. men: leavyng then a space of three and twentie yardes and a
+quarter, I woulde place in like wise, and with like spaces an other
+order of five double lodgynges, and againe an other, till there were
+five orders of five double lodgynges: which wil come to be fiftie
+lodgynges placed by right line on the Northe side, every one of them
+distante from the Trenche lxxv. yardes, which will lodge fifteene
+hundred men. Tournyng after on the lefte hande towardes the weste gate,
+I woulde pitche in all the same tracte, whiche were from them to the
+saied gate, five other orders of double lodgynges, with the verie same
+spaces, and with the verie same maner: true it is, that from the one
+order to the other, there shall not be more then a xi. yardes and a
+quarter of space: wherin shall be lodged also fifteene hundred men: and
+thus from the Northe gate to the weste, as the Trenche turneth, in a
+hundred lodginges devided in x. rewes of five double lodgynges in a
+rowe, there will be lodged all the Pikes and extraordinarie Veliti of
+the cheefe maine battayles. And so from the west gate to the Southe, as
+the Trenche tourneth even in the verie same maner, in other ten rewes of
+ten lodgynges in a rewe, there shall be lodged the pikes, and
+extraordinarie Veliti of the aidyng mayne battailes. Their headdes or
+their counstables may take those lodgynges, that shal seeme unto them
+moste commodious, on the parte towardes the trenche. The Artillerie, I
+woulde dispose throughoute all the Campe, a longe the banke of the
+Trenche: and in all the other space that shoulde remaine towardes weste,
+I woulde lodge all the unarmed, and place all the impedimentes of the
+Campe. And it is to be understoode, that under this name of impedimentes
+(as you know) the antiquitee mente all the same trayne, and all those
+thynges, which are necessarie for an armie, besides the souldiours: as
+are Carpenters, Smithes, Masons, Ingeners, Bombardiers, althoughe that
+those might be counted in the numbre of the armed, herdemen with their
+herdes of motons and beeves whiche for victuallyng of the armie, are
+requiset: and moreover maisters of all sciences, together with publicke
+carriages of the publicke munition, whiche pertaine as well to
+victuallyng, as to armynge. Nor I would not distinguishe these lodginges
+perticularly, only I would marke out the waies which should not be
+occupied of them: then the other spaces, that betweene the waies shall
+remaine, whiche shall be fower, I woulde appoincte theim generally for
+all the saied impedimentes, that is one for the herdemen, the other for
+artificers and craftes men, the thirde for publicke carriages of
+victuals, the fowerth for the municion of armour and weapons. The waies
+whiche I woulde shoulde be lefte without ocupiyng them, shal be the
+market waie, the head waye, and more over a waie that shoulde be called
+the midde waye, whiche should goe from Northe to Southe, and should
+passe thoroughe the middest of the market waie, whiche from the weste
+parte, shoulde serve for the same purpose that the overthwarte way doeth
+on the east parte. And besides this, a waye whiche shall goe aboute on
+the hinder parte, alonge the lodgynges of the Pikes and extraordinarie
+Veliti, and all these wayes shall be twoo and tweentie vardes and a
+halfe broade. And the Artilerie, I woulde place a longe the Trenche of
+the Campe, rounde aboute the same.
+
+BAPTISTE. I confesse that I understand not, nor I beleeve that also to
+saye so, is any shame unto me, this beyng not my exercise:
+notwithstandyng, this order pleaseth me muche: onely I woulde that you
+shoulde declare me these doubtes: The one, whie you make the waie, and
+the spaces aboute so large. The other, that troubleth me more, is these
+spaces, whiche you apoincte oute for the lodgynges, howe they ought to
+be used.
+
+[Sidenote: The Campe ought to be all waies of one facion.]
+
+FABRICIO. You must note, that I make all the waies, xxii. yardes and a
+halfe broade, to the intente that thorowe them, maie go a battaile of
+men in araie, where if you remember wel, I tolde you how every bande of
+menne, taketh in breadth betwene xviii. and xxii. yardes of space to
+marche or stande in. Nowe where the space that is betwene the trenche,
+and the lodgynges, is lxxv. yardes broade, thesame is moste necessarie,
+to the intent thei maie there order the battailes, and the artillerie,
+bothe to conducte by thesame the praies, and to have space to retire
+theim selves with newe trenches, and newe fortificacion if neede were:
+The lodginges also, stande better so farre from the diches, beyng the
+more out of daunger of fires, and other thynges, whiche the enemie,
+might throwe to hurte them. Concernyng the seconde demaunde, my intent
+is not that every space, of me marked out, bee covered with a pavilion
+onely, but to be used, as tourneth commodious to soch as lodge there,
+either with more or with lesse Tentes, so that thei go not out of the
+boundes of thesame. And for to marke out these lodginges, there ought to
+bee moste cunnyng menne, and moste excellente Architectours, whom, so
+sone as the Capitaine hath chosen the place, maie knowe how to give it
+the facion, and to distribute it, distinguishyng the waies, devidyng the
+lodgynges with Coardes and staves, in soche practised wise, that
+straight waie, thei maie bee ordained, and devided: and to minde that
+there growe no confusion, it is conveniente to tourne the Campe, alwaies
+one waie, to the intente that every manne maie knowe in what waie, in
+what space he hath to finde his lodgyng: and this ought to be observed
+in every tyme, in every place, and after soche maner, that it seme a
+movyng Citee, the whiche where so ever it goweth, carrieth with it the
+verie same waies, the verie same habitacions, and the verie same
+aspectes, that it had at the firste: The whiche thing thei cannot
+observe, whom sekyng strong situacions, must chaunge forme, accordyng to
+the variacion of the grounde: but the Romaines in the plaine, made
+stronge the place where thei incamped with trenches, and with Rampires,
+bicause thei made a space about the campe, and before thesame a ditche,
+ordinary broad fower yardes and a halfe, and depe aboute twoo yardes and
+a quarter, the which spaces, thei increased, according as thei intended
+to tarie in a place, and accordyng as thei feared the enemie. I for my
+parte at this presente, would not make the listes, if I intende not to
+Winter in a place: yet I would make the Trenche and the bancke no lesse,
+then the foresaied, but greater, accordyng to necessitie. Also,
+consideryng the artellerie, I would intrench upon every corner of the
+Campe, a halfe circle of ground, from whens the artillerie might
+flancke, whom so ever should seke to come over the Trenche. In this
+practise in knowyng how to ordain a campe, the souldiours ought also to
+be exercised, and to make with them the officers expert, that are
+appoincted to marke it out, and the Souldiours readie to knowe their
+places: nor nothyng therein is difficulte, as in the place thereof shall
+bee declared: wherefore, I will goe forewarde at this tyme to the warde
+of the campe, bicause without distribucion of the watche, all the other
+pain that hath been taken, should be vain.
+
+BAPTISTE. Before you passe to the watche, I desire that you would
+declare unto me, when one would pitche his campe nere the enemie, what
+waie is used: for that I knowe not, how a man maie have tyme, to be able
+to ordaine it without perill.
+
+FABRICIO. You shall understande this, that no Capitaine will lye nere
+the enemie, except he, that is desposed to faight the fielde, when so
+ever his adversarie will: and when a capitaine is so disposed, there is
+no perill, but ordinarie: for that the twoo partes of the armie, stande
+alwaies in a redinesse, to faight the battaile, and thother maketh the
+lodginges. The Romaines in this case, gave this order of fortifiyng the
+Campe, unto the Triarii: and the Prencipi, and the Astati, stoode in
+armes. This thei did, for as moche as the Triarii, beyng the last to
+faight, might have time inough, if the enemie came, to leave the woorke,
+and to take their weapons, and to get them into their places. Therfore,
+accordyng unto the Romaines maner, you ought to cause the Campe to be
+made of those battailes, whiche you will set in the hinder parte of the
+armie, in the place of the Triarii. But let us tourne to reason of the
+watche.
+
+[Sidenote: Theantiquitie used no Scoutes; The watche and warde of the
+Campe.]
+
+I thinke I have not founde, emongest the antiquitie, that for to warde
+the campe in the night, thei have kepte watche without the Trenche,
+distaunte as thei use now a daies, whom thei call Scoutes: the whiche I
+beleve thei did, thinkyng that the armie might easely bee deceived,
+through the difficultie, that is in seeyng them againe, for that thei
+might bee either corrupted, or oppressed of the enemie: So that to
+truste either in parte, or altogether on them, thei judged it perillous.
+And therefore, all the strength of the watche, was with in the trenche,
+whiche thei did withall diligence kepe, and with moste greate order,
+punished with death, whom so ever observed not thesame order: the whiche
+how it was of them ordained, I will tell you no other wise, leaste I
+should bee tedious unto you, beyng able by your self to see it, if as
+yet you have not seen it: I shall onely briefly tell that, whiche shall
+make for my purpose, I wold cause to stand ordinarely every night, the
+thirde parte of the armie armed, and of thesame, the fowerth parte
+alwaies on foote, whom I would make to bee destributed, throughout all
+the banckes, and throughout all the places of the armie, with double
+warde, placed in every quadrante of thesame: Of whiche, parte should
+stande still, parte continually should go from the one corner of the
+Campe, to the other: and this order, I would observe also in the daie,
+when I should have the enemie nere.
+
+[Sidenote: Dilligence ought to be used, to knowe who lieth oute of the
+Campe, and who they be that cometh of newe; Claudius Nero; The justice
+that ought to be in a campe. The fauts that the antiquitie punisshed
+with Death; Where greate punishementes be, there oughte likewise to bee
+great rewardes; It was no marvel that the Romaines became mightie
+Princes; A meane to punishe and execute Justice, without raising
+tumultes; Manlius Capitolinus; Souldiours sworen to kepe the discipline
+of warre.]
+
+Concernyng the givyng of the watche worde, and renuyng thesame every
+evening, and to doe the other thynges, whiche in like watches is used,
+bicause thei are thynges well inough knowen, I will speake no further of
+them: onely I shall remember one thyng, for that it is of greate
+importaunce, and whiche causeth great saulfgarde observyng it, and not
+observyng it, moche harme: The whiche is, that there be observed greate
+diligence, to knowe at night, who lodgeth not in the Campe, and who
+commeth a newe: and this is an easie thing to see who lodgeth, with
+thesame order that wee have appoincted: for as moche as every lodgyng
+havyng the determined nomber of menne, it is an easie matter to see, if
+thei lacke, or if there be more menne: and when thei come to be absente
+without lisence, to punishe them as Fugetives, and if there bee more, to
+understande what thei be, what they make there, and of their other
+condicions. This diligence maketh that the enemie cannot but with
+difficultie, practise with thy capitaines, and have knowlege of thy
+counsailes: which thing if of the Romaines, had not been diligently
+observed, Claudius Nero could not, havyng Aniball nere hym, depart from
+his Campe, whiche he had in Lucania, and to go and to retourne from
+Marca, without Aniball should have firste heard thereof some thyng. But
+it suffiseth not to make these orders good, excepte thei bee caused to
+bee observed, with a greate severtie: for that there is nothyng that
+would have more observacion, then is requisite in an armie: therefore
+the lawes for the maintenaunce of thesame, ought to be sharpe and harde,
+and the executour therof moste harde. The Romaines punished with death
+him that lacked in the watch, he that forsoke the place that was given
+hym to faight in, he that caried any thynge, hidde out of the Campe, if
+any manne should saie, that he had doen some worthy thing in the faight,
+and had not doen it, if any had fought without the commaundemente of the
+Capitaine, if any had for feare, caste awaie his weapons: and when it
+happened, that a Cohorte, or a whole Legion, had committed like fault,
+bicause thei would not put to death all, thei yet tooke al their names,
+and did put them in a bagge, and then by lotte, thei drue oute the
+tenthe parte, and so those were put to death: the whiche punishemente,
+was in soche wise made, that though every man did not feele it every man
+notwithstandyng feared it: and bicause where be greate punishementes,
+there ought to be also rewardes, mindyng to have menne at one instant,
+to feare and to hope, thei had appoincted rewardes to every worthie
+acte: as he that faighting, saved the life of one of his Citezeins, to
+hym that firste leapte upon the walle of the enemies Toune, to hym that
+entered firste into the Campe of the enemies, to hym that had in
+faightyng hurte, or slaine the enemie, he that had stroken him from his
+horse: and so every vertuous act, was of the Consulles knowen and
+rewarded, and openly of every manne praised: and soche as obtained
+giftes, for any of these thynges, besides the glorie and fame, whiche
+thei got emongest the souldiours, after when thei returned into their
+countrie, with solemne pompe, and with greate demonstracion emong their
+frendes and kinsfolkes, thei shewed them. Therefore it was no marveile,
+though thesame people gotte so moche dominion, having so moche
+observacion in punishemente, and rewarde towardes theim, whom either for
+their well doyng, or for their ill doyng, should deserve either praise
+or blame: Of whiche thynges it were convenient, to observe the greater
+parte. Nor I thinke not good to kepe secrete, one maner of punishmente
+of theim observed, whiche was, that so sone as the offendour, was before
+the Tribune, or Consulle convicted, he was of the same lightely stroken
+with a rodde: after the whiche strikyng, it was lawfull for the
+offendour to flie, and to all the Souldiours to kill hym: so that
+straight waie, every man threwe at hym either stones, or dartes, or with
+other weapons, stroke hym in soche wise, that he went but little waie a
+live, and moste fewe escaped, and to those that so escaped, it was not
+lawfull for them to retourne home, but with so many incommodities, and
+soche greate shame and ignomie, that it should have ben moche better for
+him to have died. This maner is seen to be almoste observed of the
+Suizzers, who make the condempned to be put to death openly, of thother
+souldiours, the whiche is well considered, and excellently dooen: for
+that intendyng, that one be not a defendour of an evill doer, the
+greateste reamedie that is founde, is to make hym punisher of thesame:
+bicause otherwise, with other respecte he favoureth hym: where when he
+hymself is made execucioner, with other desire, he desireth his
+punishemente, then when the execucion commeth to an other. Therefore
+mindyng, not to have one favored in his faulte of the people, a greate
+remedie it is, to make that the people, maie have hym to judge. For the
+greater proofe of this, thinsample of Manlius Capitolinus might be
+brought, who being accused of the Scenate, was defended of the people,
+so longe as thei were not Judge, but becommyng arbitratours in his
+cause, thei condempned hym to death. This is then a waie to punishe,
+without raisyng tumultes, and to make justise to be kepte: and for as
+moche as to bridell armed menne, neither the feare of the Lawes, nor of
+menne suffise not, the antiquitie joined thereunto the aucthoritie of
+God: and therefore with moste greate Ceremonies, thei made their
+souldiours to sweare, to kepe the discipline of warre, so that doyng
+contrariewise, thei should not onely have to feare the Lawes, and menne,
+but God: and thei used all diligence, to fill them with Religion.
+
+[Sidenote: Women and idell games, were not suffered by the antiquitie,
+to bee in their armies.]
+
+BAPTISTE. Did the Romaines permitte, that women might bee in their
+armies, or that there might be used these idell plaies, whiche thei use
+now a daies.
+
+FABRICIO. Thei prohibited the one and thother, and this prohibicion was
+not moche difficulte: For that there were so many exercises, in the
+whiche thei kept every daie the souldiours, some whiles particularely,
+somewhiles generally occupied that thei had no time to thinke, either on
+Venus, or on plaies, nor on any other thyng, whiche sedicious and
+unproffitable souldiours doe.
+
+BAPTISTE. I am herein satisfied, but tell me, when the armie had to
+remove, what order kepte thei?
+
+[Sidenote: Ordre in the removing the armie by the soundes of a Trumpet.]
+
+FABRICIO. The chief Trumpet sounded three tymes, at the firste sound,
+thei toke up the Tentes, and made the packes, at the seconde, thei laded
+the carriage, at the thirde, thei removed in thesame maner aforsaied,
+with the impedimentes after every parte of armed men, placyng the
+Legions in the middeste: and therefore you ought to cause after thesame
+sorte, an extraordinarie maine battaile to remove: and after that, the
+particulare impedimentes therof, and with those, the fowerth part of the
+publike impedimentes, which should bee all those, that were lodged in
+one of those partes, whiche a little afore we declared: and therfore it
+is conveniente, to have every one of them, appointed to a maine
+battaile, to the entente that the armie removyng, every one might knowe
+his place in marchyng: and thus every maine battaile ought to goe awaie,
+with their owne impedimentes, and with the fowerth parte of the publike
+impedimentes, followyng after in soche maner, as wee shewed that the
+Romaines marched.
+
+BAPTISTE. In pitchyng the Campe, had thei other respectes, then those
+you have tolde?
+
+[Sidenote: Respectes to be had for incampyng; How to choose a place to
+incampe; How to avoide diseases from the armie; The wonderfull
+commoditie of exercise; The provision of victualles that ought alwaies
+to bee in a readinesse in an armie.]
+
+FABRICIO. I tell you again, that the Romaines when thei encamped, would
+be able to kepe the accustomed fashion of their maner, the whiche to
+observe, thei had no other respecte: but concernyng for other
+consideracions, thei had twoo principall, the one, to incampe theim
+selves in a wholesome place, the other, to place themselves, where
+thenemie could not besiege theim, nor take from them the waie to the
+water, or victualles. Then for to avoide infirmitie, thei did flie from
+places Fennie, or subjecte to hurtfull windes: whiche thei knewe not so
+well, by the qualitie of the situacion, as by the face of the
+inhabitours: for when thei sawe theim evill coloured, or swollen, or
+full of other infeccion, thei would not lodge there: concernyng thother
+respecte to provide not to be besieged, it is requisite to consider the
+nature of the place, where the friendes lye, and thenemies, and of this
+to make a conjecture, if thou maiest be besieged or no: and therefore it
+is meete, that the Capitaine be moste experte, in the knowlege of
+situacions of countries, and have aboute him divers men, that have the
+verie same expertenes. Thei avoide also diseases, and famishment, with
+causyng the armie to kepe no misrule, for that to purpose to maintain it
+in health, it is nedefull to provide, that the souldiours maie slepe
+under tentes, that thei maie lodge where bee Trees, that make shadowe,
+where woodde is for to dresse their meate, that thei go not in the
+heate, and therefore thei muste bee drawen out of the campe, before daie
+in Summer, and in Winter, to take hede that thei marche not in the
+Snowe, and in the Froste, without havyng comoditie to make fire, and not
+to lack necessarie aparel, nor to drink naughtie water: those that fall
+sicke by chaunce, make them to bee cured of Phisicions: bicause a
+capitain hath no reamedie, when he hath to faight with sicknesse, and
+with an enemie: but nothing is so profitable, to maintaine the armie in
+health, as is the exercise: and therfore the antiquitie every daie, made
+them to exercise: wherby is seen how muche exercise availeth: for that
+in the Campe, it kepeth thee in health, and in the faight victorious.
+Concernyng famishemente, it is necessarie to see, that the enemie hinder
+thee not of thy victualles, but to provide where thou maieste have it,
+and to see that thesame whiche thou haste, bee not loste: and therefore
+it is requisite, that thou have alwaies in provision with the armie,
+sufficiente victuall for a monethe, and then removyng into some strong
+place, thou muste take order with thy nexte frendes, that daily thei
+maie provide for thee, and above al thinges bestowe the victual with
+diligence, givyng every daie to every manne, a reasonable measure, and
+observe after soche sorte this poincte, that it disorder thee not:
+bicause all other thyng in the warre, maie with tyme be overcome, this
+onely with tyme overcometh thee: nor there shall never any enemie of
+thyne, who maie overcome thee with famishemente, that will seeke to
+overcome thee with iron. For that though the victory be not so
+honourable, yet it is more sure and more certaine: Then, thesame armie
+cannot avoide famishemente, that is not an observer of justice, whiche
+licenciously consumeth what it liste: bicause the one disorder, maketh
+that the victualls commeth not unto you, the other, that soche victuall
+as commeth, is unprofitably consumed: therefore thantiquitie ordained,
+that thei should spende thesame, whiche thei gave, and in thesame tyme
+when thei appoincted: for that no souldiour did eate, but when the
+Capitaine did eate: The whiche how moche it is observed of the armies
+nowe adaies, every manne knoweth, and worthely thei can not bee called
+menne of good order and sober, as the antiquitie, but lasivious and
+drunkardes.
+
+BAPTISTE. You saied in the beginnyng of orderynge the Campe, that you
+woulde not stande onely uppon twoo maine battailes, but woulde take
+fower, for to shewe how a juste armie incamped: therfore I would you
+shoulde tell me twoo thynges, the one, when I shoulde have more or lesse
+men, howe I ought to incampe them, the other, what numbre of souldiours
+should suffice you to faight against what so ever enemie that were.
+
+[Sidenote: Howe to lodge in the Campe more or lesse menne, then the
+ordinarie; The nombre of men that an army ought to be made of, to bee
+able to faighte with the puisantest enemie that is; Howe to cause men to
+do soche a thing as shold bee profitable for thee, and hurtfull to them
+selves; Howe to overcome menne at unwares; How to tourne to commoditie
+the doynges of soche, as use to advertise thy enemie of thy
+proceadynges; How to order the campe, that the enemie shal not perceive
+whether the same bee deminished, or increased; A saiyng of Metellus;
+Marcus Crassus; How to understand the secretes of thy enemie; A policie
+of Marius, to understande howe he might truste the Frenchmen; What some
+Capitaines have doen when their countrie have been invaded of enemies;
+To make the enemie necligente in his doynges; Silla Asdruball; The
+policie of Aniball, where by he escaped out of the danger of Fabius
+Maximus; A Capitayne muste devise how to devide the force of his
+enemies; How to cause the enemie to have in suspect his most trusty men;
+Aniball Coriolanus; Metellus against Jugurte; A practis of the Romayne
+oratours, to bryng Aniball out of Credit with Antiochus; Howe to cause
+the enemie to devide his power; Howe Titus Didius staied his enemies
+that wer going to incounter a legion of men that were commyng in his
+ayde; Howe some have caused the enemie to devide his force; A policie to
+winne the enemies countrie before he be aware; Howe to reforme sedicion
+and discorde; The benefitte that the reputacion of the Capitaine
+causeth, which is only gotten by vertue; The chiefe thyng that a
+capitayne ought to doe; When paie wanteth, punishment is not to be
+executed; The inconvenience of not punisshynge; Cesar chaunsynge to
+fall, made the same to be supposed to signifi good lucke; Religion
+taketh away fantasticall opinions; In what cases a Capitaine ought not
+to faight with his enemie if he may otherwyse choose; A policie of
+Fulvius wherby he got and spoyled his enemies Campe; A policie to
+disorder the enemie; A policie to overcome the enemie; A policie; How to
+beguile the enemie; Howe Mennonus trained his enemies oute of stronge
+places to bee the better able to overcom them.]
+
+FABRICIO. To the first question I answer you, that if the armie be more
+or lesse, then fower or sixe thousande souldiours, the orders of
+lodgynges, may bee taken awaie or joined, so many as suffiseth: and with
+this way a man may goe in more, and in lesse, into infinite:
+Notwithstandynge the Romaines, when thei joigned together twoo consull
+armies, thei made twoo campes, and thei tourned the partes of the
+unarmed, thone against thother. Concernyng the second question, I say
+unto you, that the Romaines ordinary armie, was about xxiiii. M.
+souldiours: but when thei were driven to faight against the greatest
+power that might be, the moste that thei put together, wer L. M. With
+this number, thei did set against two hundred thousand Frenchemen, whome
+assaulted them after the first warre, that thei had with the
+Carthageners. With this verie same numbre, thei fought againste
+Anniball. And you muste note, that the Romaines, and the Grekes, have
+made warre with fewe, fortefiyng themselves thorough order, and thorough
+arte: the west, and the easte, have made it with multitude: But the one
+of these nacions, doeth serve with naturall furie: as doe the men of the
+west partes, the other through the great obedience whiche those men have
+to their kyng. But in Grece, and in Italy, beyng no naturall furie, nor
+the naturall reverence towardes their king, it hath been necessary for
+them to learne the discipline of warre, the whiche is of so muche force,
+that it hath made that a fewe, hath been able to overcome the furie, and
+the naturall obstinatenesse of manie. Therefore I saie, that mindyng to
+imitate the Romaines, and the Grekes, the number of L. M. souldiers
+ought not to bee passed, but rather to take lesse: because manie make
+confucion, nor suffer not the discipline to be observed, and the orders
+learned, and Pirrus used to saie, that with xv. thousande men he woulde
+assaile the worlde: but let us pas to an other parte. We have made this
+our armie to winne a field and shewed the travailes, that in the same
+fight may happen: we have made it to marche, and declared of what
+impedimentes in marchyng it may be disturbed: and finally we have lodged
+it: where not only it ought to take a littell reste of the labours
+passed, but also to thinke howe the warre ought to be ended: for that in
+the lodgynges, is handeled many thynges, inespecially thy enemies as yet
+remainyng in the fielde, and in suspected townes, of whome it is good to
+be assured, and those that be enemies to overcome them: therfore it is
+necessarie to come to this demonstracion, and to passe this difficultie
+with the same glorie, as hitherto we have warred. Therfore comynge to
+particular matters, I saie that if it shoulde happen, that thou wouldest
+have manie men, or many people to dooe a thyng, whiche were to thee
+profittable, and to theim greate hurte, as should be to breake downe the
+wall of their citie, or to sende into exile many of them, it is
+necessarie for thee, either to beguile them in such wise that everie one
+beleeve not that it toucheth him: so that succouryng not the one the
+other, thei may finde them selves al to be oppressed without remedie, or
+els unto all to commaunde the same, whiche they ought to dooe in one
+selfe daie, to the intente that every man belevyng to be alone, to whome
+the commaundement is made, maie thinke to obey and not to remedie it:
+and so withoute tumulte thy commaundement to be of everie man executed.
+If thou shouldest suspecte the fidelitie of anie people, and woulde
+assure thee, and overcome them at unawares, for to colour thy intente
+more easelie, thou canst not doe better, then to counsel with them of
+some purpose of thine, desiryng their aide, and to seeme to intende to
+make an other enterprise, and to have thy minde farre from thinkyng on
+them: the whiche will make, that thei shall not think on their owne
+defence, beleevyng not that thou purposest to hurte them, and thei shal
+geve thee commoditie, to be able easely to satisfie thy desire. When
+thou shouldest perceive, that there were in thine armie some, that used
+to advertise thy enemie of thy devises, thou canst not doe better,
+myndynge to take commoditie by their traiterous mindes, then to commen
+with them of those thynges, that thou wilte not doe, and those that thou
+wilt doe, to kepe secret, and to say to doubte of thynges, that thou
+doubtest not, and those of whiche thou doubtest, to hide: the which
+shall make thenemie to take some enterprise in hand, beleving to know
+thy devises, where by easly thou maiest beguile and opresse hym. If thou
+shouldest intende (as Claudius Nero did) to deminishe thy armie,
+sendynge helpe to some freende, and that the enemie shoulde not bee
+aware therof, it is necessarie not to deminishe the lodgynges, but to
+maintayne the signes, and the orders whole, makyng the verie same fires,
+and the verye same wardes throughout all the campe, as wer wont to be
+afore. Lykewise if with thy armie there should joigne new men, and
+wouldest that the enemie shoulde not know that thou werte ingrosed, it
+is necessarie not to increase the lodgynges: Because keepyng secrete
+doynges and devises, hath alwaies been moste profitable. Wherfore
+Metellus beyng with an armie in Hispayne, to one, who asked him what he
+would doe the nexte daie, answered, that if his sherte knew therof, he
+would bourne it. Marcus Craussus, unto one, whome asked him, when the
+armie shoulde remove, saied beleevest thou to be alone not to here the
+trumpet? If thou shouldest desire to understande the secretes of thy
+enemie, and to know his orders, some have used to sende embassadours,
+and with theim in servauntes aparel, moste expertest men in warre: whom
+havynge taken occasion to se the enemies armie, and to consider his
+strengthe and weakenesse, it hath geven them oportunitie to overcome
+him. Some have sente into exile one of their familiars, and by meanes of
+the same, hath knowen the devises of his adversarie. Also like secrettes
+are understoode of the enemies when for this effecte there were taken
+any prisoners. Marius whiche in the warre that he made with the Cimbrie,
+for to know the faieth of those Frenchmen, who then inhabited Lombardie,
+and were in leage with the Romaine people, sent them letters open, and
+sealed: and in the open he wrote, that they shoulde not open the sealed,
+but at a certaine time, and before the same time demaundyng them againe,
+and finding them opened, knew thereby that their faithe was not to be
+trusted. Some Capitaines, being invaded, have not desired to goe to
+meete the enemie, but have gone to assaulte his countrey, and
+constrained him to retorne to defende his owne home: The whiche manie
+times hath come wel to passe, for that those soldiours beginnyng to fil
+them selves with booties, and confidence to overcome, shall sone make
+the enemies souldiours to wexe afraide, when they supposynge theim
+selves conquerours, shal understand to become losers: So that to him
+that hath made this diversion, manie times it hath proved well. But
+onely it may be doen by him, whiche hath his countrey stronger then that
+of the enemies, because when it were otherwise, he should goe to leese.
+It hath been often a profitable thyng to a capitaine, that hath been
+besieged in his lodgynges by the enemie, to move an intreatie of
+agreemente, and to make truse with him for certaine daies: the which is
+wonte to make the enemies more necligente in all doynges: so that
+avaylynge thee of their necligence, thou maiest easely have occacion to
+get thee oute of handes. By this way Silla delivered him selfe twise
+from the enemies: and with this verie same deceipte, Asdruball in
+Hispayne got oute of the force of Claudious Nero, whome had besieged
+him. It helpeth also to deliver a man out of the daunger of the enemie,
+to do some thyng beside the forsaied, that may keepe him at a baye: this
+is dooen in two maners, either to assaulte him with parte of thy power,
+so that he beyng attentive to the same faight, may geve commoditie to
+the reste of thy men to bee able to save theim selves, or to cause to
+rise some newe accidente, which for the strayngenesse of the thynge,
+maie make him to marvell, and for this occasion to stande doubtefull,
+and still: as you knowe howe Anniball dyd, who beynge inclosed of Fabius
+Maximus, tied in the nighte small Bavens kindeled beetweene the hornes
+of manie Oxen, so that Fabius astonied at the strangenesse of the same
+sight, thought not to lette him at all the passage. A Capitayne oughte
+amonge all other of his affaires, with al subtiltie to devise to devide
+the force of the enemie, either with makyng him to suspecte his owne
+menne, in whome he trusteth, or to give him occasion, that he maye
+seperate his menne, and therby to be come more weake. The fyrste way is
+dooen with keepyng saulfe the thynges of some of those whiche he hath
+aboute him, as to save in the warre their menne and their possessions,
+renderynge theim their children, or other their necessaries withoute
+raunsome. You know that Anniball havynge burned all the fieldes aboute
+Rome, he made onely to bee reserved saulfe those of Fabius Maximus. You
+know how Coriolanus comyng with an armie to Rome, preserved the
+possessions of the nobilitie, and those of the comminaltie he bourned,
+and sacked. Metellus havinge an armie againste Jugurte, all the
+oratours, whiche of Jugurte were sente him, were required of him, that
+they woulde geve him Jugurte prisoner, and after to the verie same men
+writyng letters of the verie same matter, wrought in suche wise, that in
+shorte tyme Jugurte havyng in suspecte all his counsellours, in diverse
+maners put them to death. Anniball beynge fled to Antiochus, the Romaine
+oratours practised with him so familiarly, that Antiochus beyng in
+suspecte of him, trusted not anie more after to his counselles.
+Concernyng to devide the enemies men, there is no more certainer waie,
+then to cause their countrie to be assaulted to the intente that being
+constrained to goe to defende the same, they maie forsake the warre.
+This way Fabius used havynge agaynst his armie the power of the
+Frenchemen, of the Tuscans, Umbries and Sannites. Titus Didius havyng a
+few men in respecte to those of the enemies, and lookynge for a legion
+from Rome, and the enemies purposinge to goe to incounter it, to the
+intente that they should not goe caused to bee noised through all his
+armie, that he intended the nexte daie to faighte the field with the
+enemies: after he used means, that certaine of the prisoners, that he
+had taken afore, had occasion to runne awaie. Who declaryng the order
+that the Consull had taken to faighte the nexte daie, by reason wherof
+the enemies beyng afraide to deminishe their owne strength, went not to
+incounter the same legion, and by this way thei wer conducted safe. The
+which means serveth not to devide the force of the enemies, but to
+augmente a mans owne. Some have used to devide the enemies force, by
+lettyng him to enter into their countrie, and in profe have let him take
+manie townes, to the intente that puttynge in the same garrisons, he
+might thereby deminishe his power, and by this waie havynge made him
+weake, have assaulted and overcomen him. Some other mindyng to goe into
+one province, have made as though they woulde have invaded an other, and
+used so much diligence, that sodenly entryng into the same, where it was
+not doubted that they woulde enter, they have first wonne it, before the
+ennemie coulde have time to succour it: for that thy enemie beynge not
+sure, whether thou purposest to tourne backe, to the place fyrste of
+thee threatned, is constrained not to forsake the one place, to succour
+the other, and so many times he defendeth neither the one nor the other.
+It importeth besides the sayde thynges to a Capitaine, if there growe
+sedicion or discorde amonge the souldiours, to knowe with arte howe to
+extynguishe it: The beste waie is to chastise the headdes of the
+faultes, but it muste be doen in such wise, that thou maiest first have
+oppressed them, before they be able to be aware: The way is if they be
+distante from thee, not onely to call the offenders, but together with
+theim all the other, to the entente that not beleevynge, that it is for
+any cause to punishe them, they become not contumelius, but geve
+commoditie to the execution of the punishemente: when thei be present,
+thou oughtest to make thy selfe stronge with those that be not in
+faulte, and by meane of their helpe to punishe the other. When there
+hapneth discorde amonge them, the beste waye is, to bryng them to the
+perill, the feare whereof is wonte alwaies to make them agree. But that,
+which above all other thynge kepeth the armie in unitee, is the
+reputacion of the Capitaine, the whiche onely groweth of his vertue:
+because neither bloud, nor authoritie gave it ever without vertue. And
+the chiefe thyng, whiche of a Capitain is looked for to be doen, is, to
+keepe his souldiours punisshed, and paied: for that when so ever the
+paie lacketh, it is conveniente that the punisshement lacke: because
+thou canst not correcte a souldiour, that robbeth, if thou doest not
+paie him, nor the same mindynge to live, cannot abstaine from robbynge:
+but if thou paiest him and punisshest him not, he beecometh in everie
+condicion insolente: For that thou becomest of small estimacion, where
+thou chaunsest not to bee able to maintaine the dignitie of thy degree,
+and not mainetainyng it, there foloweth of necessitee tumulte, and
+discorde, whiche is the ruine of an armie. Olde Capitaines had a
+troubell, of the which the presente be almoste free, whiche was to
+interprete to their purpose the sinister auguries: because if there fell
+a thunderbolte in an armie, if the sunne were darkened or the Moone, if
+there came an erthequake, if the Capitaine either in gettyng up, or in
+lightynge of his horse fell, it was of the souldiours interpreted
+sinisterously: And it ingendred in them so moche feare, that comynge to
+faight the fielde, easely they should have lost it: and therefore the
+aunciente Capitaines so sone as a lyke accidente grewe, either they
+shewed the cause of the same, and redused it to a naturall cause, or
+they interpreted it to their purpose. Cesar fallyng in Africa, in comyng
+of the sea saied, Africa I have taken thee. Moreover manie have declared
+the cause of the obscuryng of the Moone, and of earthquakes: which thing
+in our time cannot happen, as well because our men be not so
+supersticious, as also for that our religion taketh away altogether such
+opinions: al be it when they should chaunse, the orders of the
+antiquitie ought to be imitated. When either famishement, or other
+naturall necessitie, or humaine passion, hath broughte thy enemie to an
+utter desperation, and he driven of the same, cometh to faight with
+thee, thou oughtest to stande within thy campe, and as muche as lieth in
+thy power, to flie the faight. So the Lacedemonians did against the
+Masonians, so Cesar did against Afranio, and Petreio. Fulvius beyng
+Consul, against the Cimbrians, made his horsemen manie daies continually
+to assaulte the enemies, and considered how thei issued out of their
+campe for to folow them: wherfore he sette an ambusshe behinde the Campe
+of the Cimbrians, and made them to be assaulted of his horsmen, and the
+Cimbrians issuyng oute of their campe for to follow them. Fulvio gotte
+it, and sacked it. It hath ben of great utilitie to a Capitaine, havyng
+his armie nere to the enemies armie, to sende his menne with the enemies
+ansignes to robbe, and to burne his owne countrey, whereby the enemies
+beleevynge those to bee menne, whiche are come in their aide, have also
+runne to helpe to make them the pray: and for this disorderyng them
+selves, hathe therby given oportunitie to the adversary to overcome
+them. This waie Alexander of Epirus used againste the Illirans and
+Leptenus of Siracusa against the Carthaginers and bothe to the one and
+to the other, the devise came to passe most happely. Manie have overcome
+the enemie, gevyng him occasion to eate and to drinke oute of measure,
+fayning to have feared, and leaving their Campes full of wyne and herdes
+of cattell, wherof the enemie beyng filled above all naturall use, have
+then assaulted him, and with his destruction overthrowen him. So Tamirus
+did against Cirus, and Tiberius Graccus agaynst the Spaniardes. Some
+have poysoned the wine, and other thynges to feede on, for to be able
+more easely to overcome them. I saied a littel afore how I founde not,
+that the antiquetie kepte in the night Scoutes abroade, and supposed
+that they did it for to avoide the hurte, whiche might growe therby:
+because it is founde, that through no other meane then throughe the
+watche man, whiche was set in the daie to watche the enemie, hath been
+cause of the ruin of him, that set him there: for that manie times it
+hath hapned, that he beyng taken, hath been made perforce to tell theim
+the token, whereby they might call his felowes, who commyng to the
+token, have been slaine or taken. It helpeth to beguile the enemie
+sometime to varie a custome of thine, whereupon he having grounded him
+self, remaineth ruinated: as a Capitaine did once, whome usinge to cause
+to be made signes to his men for comynge of the enemies in the night
+with fire, and in the daie with smoke, commaunded that withoute anie
+intermission, they shoulde make smoke and fire, and after commynge upon
+them the enemie, they should reste, whome beleevyng to come without
+beynge seen, perceivyng no signe to be made of beyng discovered, caused
+(through goeyng disordered) more easie the victorie to his adversarie.
+Mennonus a Rodian mindynge to drawe from stronge places the enemies
+armie, sente one under colour of a fugitive, the whiche affirmed, howe
+his armie was in discorde, and that the greater parte of them wente
+awaie: and for to make the thynge to be credited, he caused to make in
+sporte, certaine tumultes amonge the lodgynges: whereby the enemie
+thvnkyng thereby to be able to discomfaighte them, assaultynge theim,
+were overthrowen.
+
+[Sidenote: The enemie ought not to be brought into extreme desperacion;
+How Lucullus constrained certaine men that ran awaie from him to his
+enemies, to fayght whether they wold or not.]
+
+Besides thesaied thynges, regarde ought to be had not to brynge the
+enemie into extreme desperacion: whereunto Cesar had regarde, faightyng
+with the Duchemen, who opened them the waie, seyng, howe thei beyng not
+able to flie, necessitie made them strong, and would rather take paine
+to followe theim, when thei fled, then the perill to overcome them, when
+thei defended them selves. Lucullus seyng, how certaine Macedonian
+horsemenne, whiche were with hym, went to the enemies parte, straight
+waie made to sounde to battaile, and commaunded, that the other men
+should folowe hym: whereby the enemies beleving, that Lucullus would
+begin the faight, went to incounter the same Macedonians, with soche
+violence, that thei were constrained to defende themselves: and so thei
+became against their willes, of fugetives, faighters. It importeth also
+to knowe, how to be assured of a toune, when thou doubteste of the
+fidelitie thereof, so sone as thou haste wonne the fielde, or before,
+the whiche certain old insamples maie teache thee.
+
+[Sidenote: A policie wher by Pompey got a towne; How Publius Valerius
+assured him self of a towne; A policie that Alexander Magnus used to be
+assured of all Tracia, which Philip kynge of Spaine did practise to be
+asured of England when he wente to sainct Quintens; Examples for
+Capitaines to winne the hartes of the people.]
+
+Pompei doubtyng of the Catinensians, praied them that thei would bee
+contente, to receive certaine sicke menne, that he had in his armie, and
+sendyng under the habite of sicke persones, most lustie menne, gotte the
+toune. Publius Valerius, fearyng the fidelitie of the Epidannians,
+caused to come, as who saieth, a Pardon to a churche without the toune,
+and when al the people wer gone for Pardon, he shutte the gates,
+receivyng after none in, but those whom he trusted. Alexander Magnus,
+mindyng to goe into Asia, and to assure himself of Thracia, toke with
+him all the principall of thesame Province, givyng theim provision, and
+he set over the common people of Thracia, men of lowe degree, and so he
+made the Princes contented with paiyng theim, and the people quiete,
+havyng no heddes that should disquiete them: But emong all the thynges,
+with the whiche the Capitaines, winne the hartes of the people, be the
+insamples of chastitie and justice, as was thesame of Scipio in Spaine,
+when he rendered that yong woman, moste faire of personage to her
+father, and to her housebande: the whiche made him more, then with force
+of armes to winne Spain.
+
+Cesar having caused that woodde to bee paied for, whiche he had occupied
+for to make the Listes, about his armie in Fraunce, got so moche a name
+of justice, that he made easier the conquest of thesame province. I
+cannot tell what remaineth me, to speake more upon these accidentes, for
+that concerning this matter, there is not lefte any parte, that hath not
+been of us disputed. Onely there lacketh to tell, of the maner of
+winnyng, and defendyng a toune: the whiche I am readie to doe willingly,
+if you be not now wearie.
+
+BAPTISTE. Your humanitie is so moche, that it maketh us to followe our
+desires, without beyng afraied to be reputed presumptuous, seyng that
+you liberally offer thesame, whiche we should have been ashamed, to have
+asked you: Therefore, we saie unto you onely this, that to us you cannot
+dooe a greater, nor a more gratefuller benefite, then to finishe this
+reasonyng. But before that you passe to that other matter, declare us a
+doubte, whether it bee better to continewe the warre, as well in the
+Winter, as thei use now adaies, or to make it onely in the Sommer, and
+to goe home in the Winter, as the antiquitie did.
+
+[Sidenote: Warre ought not to be made in winter; Rough situacions, colde
+and watrie times, are enemies to the oder of warre; An overthrowe caused
+by winter.]
+
+FABRICIO. See, that if the prudence of the demaunder were not, there had
+remained behinde a speciall part, that deserveth consideracion. I
+answere you againe, that the antiquitie did all thynges better, and with
+more prudence then wee: and if wee in other things commit some erroure,
+in the affaires of warre, wee commit all errour. There is nothing more
+undiscrete, or more perrillous to a Capitayne, then to make warre in the
+Winter, and muche more perrill beareth he, that maketh it, then he that
+abideth it: the reason is this. All the industrie that is used in the
+discipline of warre, is used for to bee prepared to fighte a fielde with
+thy enemie, because this is the ende, whereunto a Capitayne oughte to
+goo or endevour him selfe: For that the foughten field, geveth thee the
+warre wonne or loste: then he that knoweth best how to order it, and he
+that hath his army beste instructed, hath moste advauntage in this, and
+maye beste hope to overcome. On the other side, there is nothing more
+enemie to the orders, and then the rough situacions, or the colde watery
+time: for that the rough situacions, suffereth thee not to deffende thy
+bandes, according to thee discipline: the coulde and watery times,
+suffereth thee not to keepe thy men together, nor thou canst not bring
+them in good order to the enemy: but it is convenient for thee to lodge
+them a sunder of necessitie, and without order, being constrayned to
+obeye to Castells, to Boroughes, and to the Villages, that maye receyve
+thee, in maner that all thy laboure of thee, used to instructe the army
+is vaine. Nor marvayle you not though now a daies, they warre in the
+Winter, because the armies being without discipline, know not the hurt
+that it dooth them, in lodging not together, for that it is no griefe to
+them not to be able to keepe those orders, and to observe that
+discipline, which they have not: yet they oughte to see howe much harme,
+the Camping in the Winter hath caused, and to remember, how the
+Frenchmen in the yeare of oure Lorde God, a thousande five hundred and
+three, were broken at Gariliano of the Winter, and not of the
+Spaniardes: For as much as I have saide, he that assaulteth, hath more
+disadvauntage then he that defendeth: because the fowle weather hurteth
+him not a littell, being in the dominion of others and minding to make
+warre. For that he is constrayned, either to stande together with his
+men, and to sustaine the incommoditie of water and colde, or to avoide
+it to devide his power: But he that defendeth, may chuse the place as he
+listeth, and tary him with his freshe men: and he in a sodayne may set
+his men in araye, and goo to find a band of the enemies men, who cannot
+resiste the violence of them. So the Frenchemen were discomfited, and so
+they shall alwayes be discomfited, which will assaulte in the Winter an
+enemye, whoo hath in him prudence. Then he that will that force, that
+orders, that discipline and vertue, in anye condition availe him not,
+let him make warre in the fielde in the winter: and because that the
+Romaines woulde that all these thinges, in which they bestowed so much
+diligence, should availe them, fleedde no otherwise the Winter, then the
+highe Alpes, and difficulte places, and whatsoever other thing shoulde
+let them, for being able to shewe their arte and their vertue. So this
+suffiseth to your demaund, wherefore we wil come to intreate of the
+defending and besieging of tounes, and of their situacions and
+edifications.
+
+
+
+
+THE SEVENTH BOOKE
+
+
+[Sidenote: Tounes and Fortresses maie be strong twoo waies; The place
+that now a daies is moste sought to fortifie in; How a Toune walle ought
+to bee made; The walle of a toune ought to bee high, and the diche
+within, and not without; The thickenes that a Toune walle ought to bee
+of, and the distaunces betwene everie flancker, and of what breadth and
+deapth the dich ought to bee; How the ordinaunce is planted, for the
+defence of a toune; The nature of the batterie.]
+
+You oughte to knowe, how that tounes and fortresses, maie bee strong
+either by nature, or by industrie; by nature, those bee strong, whiche
+bee compassed aboute with rivers, or with Fennes, as Mantua is and
+Ferrara, or whiche bee builded upon a Rocke, or upon a stepe hille, as
+Monaco, and Sanleo: For that those that stande upon hilles, that be not
+moche difficulct to goe up, be now a daies, consideryng the artillerie
+and the Caves, moste weake. And therfore moste often times in building,
+thei seke now a daies a plain, for to make it stronge with industrie.
+The firste industrie is, to make the walles crooked, and full of
+tournynges, and of receiptes: the whiche thyng maketh, that thenemie
+cannot come nere to it, bicause he maie be hurte, not onely on the
+front, but by flancke. If the walles be made high, thei bee to moche
+subjecte to the blowes of the artillerie: if thei be made lowe, thei bee
+moste easie to scale. If thou makeste the diches on the out side
+thereof, for to give difficultie to the Ladders, if it happen that the
+enemie fill them up (whiche a great armie maie easely dooe) the wall
+remaineth taken of thenemie. Therefore purposyng to provide to the one
+and thother foresaid inconveniences, I beleve (savyng alwaies better
+judgement) that the walle ought to be made highe, and the Diche within,
+and not without. This is the moste strongeste waie of edificacion, that
+is made, for that it defendeth thee from the artillerie, and from
+Ladders, and it giveth not facilitie to the enemie, to fill up the
+diche: Then the walle ought to be high, of that heighth as shall bee
+thought beste, and no lesse thick, then two yardes and a quarter, for to
+make it more difficult to ruinate. Moreover it ought to have the toures
+placed, with distances of CL. yardes betwen thone and thother: the diche
+within, ought to be at leaste twoo and twentie yardes and a halfe broad,
+and nine depe, and al the yearth that is digged out, for to make the
+diche, muste be throwen towardes the Citee, and kepte up of a walle,
+that muste be raised from the bottome of the diche, and goe so high over
+the toune, that a man maie bee covered behinde thesame, the whiche thing
+shal make the depth of the diche the greater. In the bottome of the
+diche, within every hundred and l. yardes, there would be a slaughter
+house, which with the ordinaunce, maie hurte whom so ever should goe
+doune into thesame: the greate artillerie that defende the citee, are
+planted behinde the walle, that shutteth the diche, bicause for to
+defende the utter walle, being high, there cannot bee occupied
+commodiously, other then smalle or meane peeses. If the enemie come to
+scale, the heigth of the firste walle moste easely defendeth thee: if he
+come with ordinaunce, it is convenient for hym to batter the utter
+walle: but it beyng battered, for that the nature of the batterie is, to
+make the walle to fall, towardes the parte battered, the ruine of the
+walle commeth, finding no diche that receiveth and hideth it, to
+redouble the profunditie of thesame diche: after soche sorte, that to
+passe any further, it is not possible, findyng a ruine that with holdeth
+thee, a diche that letteth thee, and the enemies ordinaunce, that from
+the walle of the diche, moste safely killeth thee. Onely there is this
+remedie, to fill the diche: the whiche is moste difficulte to dooe, as
+well bicause the capacitie thereof is greate, as also for the
+difficultie, that is in commyng nere it, the walle beeyng strong and
+concaved, betwene the whiche, by the reasons aforesaied, with
+difficultie maie be entered, havyng after to goe up a breache through a
+ruin, whiche giveth thee moste greate difficultie, so that I suppose a
+citee thus builded, to be altogether invinsible.
+
+BAPTISTE. When there should bee made besides the diche within, a diche
+also without, should it not bee stronger?
+
+FABRICIO. It should be without doubt, but mindyng to make one diche
+onely, myne opinion is, that it standeth better within then without.
+
+BAPTISTE. Would you, that water should bee in the diches, or would you
+have them drie?
+
+[Sidenote: A drie diche is moste sureste.]
+
+FABRICIO. The opinion of men herein bee divers, bicause the diches full
+of water, saveth thee from mines under grounde, the Diches without
+water, maketh more difficulte the fillyng of them: but I havyng
+considered all, would make them without water, for that thei bee more
+sure: For diches with water, have been seen in the Winter to bee frosen,
+and to make easie the winnyng of a citee, as it happened to Mirandola,
+when Pope Julie besieged it: and for to save me from mines, I would make
+it so deepe, that he that would digge lower, should finde water.
+
+[Sidenote: An advertisemente for the buildyng and defending of a Toune
+or Fortresse; Small fortresses cannot bee defended; A toune of war or
+Fortresse, ought not to have in them any retiring places; Cesar Borgia;
+The causes of the losse of the Fortresse of Furlie, that was thought
+invincible; Howe the houses that are in a toune of war or Fortresse
+ought to be builded.]
+
+The Fortresses also, I would builde concernyng the diches and the walles
+in like maner, to the intent thei should have the like difficultie to be
+wonne. One thyng I will earnestly advise hym, that defendeth a Citee:
+and that is, that he make no Bulwarkes without distaunte from the walle
+of thesame: and an other to hym that buildeth the Fortresse, and this
+is, that he make not any refuge place in them, in whiche he that is
+within, the firste walle beyng loste, maie retire: That whiche maketh me
+to give the firste counsaile is, that no manne ought to make any thyng,
+by meane wherof, he maie be driven without remedie to lese his firste
+reputacion, the whiche losyng, causeth to be estemed lesse his other
+doinges, and maketh afraied them, whom have taken upon theim his
+defence, and alwaies it shall chaunce him this, whiche I saie, when
+there are made Bulwarkes out of the Toune, that is to bee defended,
+bicause alwaies he shall leese theim, little thynges now a daies, beyng
+not able to bee defended, when thei be subject to the furie of
+ordinance, in soche wise that lesyng them, thei be beginning and cause
+of his ruine. When Genua rebelled againste king Leus of Fraunce, it made
+certaine Bulwarkes alofte on those hilles, whiche bee about it, the
+whiche so sone as thei were loste, whiche was sodainly, made also the
+citee to be loste. Concernyng the second counsaile, I affirme nothyng to
+be to a Fortresse more perilous, then to be in thesame refuge places, to
+be able to retire: Bicause the hope that menne have thereby, maketh that
+thei leese the utter warde, when it is assaulted: and that loste, maketh
+to bee loste after, all the Fortresse. For insample there is freshe in
+remembraunce, the losse of the Fortresse of Furly, when Catherin the
+Countesse defended it againste Cesar Borgia, sonne to Pope Alexander the
+vi. who had conducted thether the armie of the king of Fraunce: thesame
+Fortresse, was al full of places, to retire out of one into an other:
+for that there was firste the kepe, from the same to the Fortresse, was
+a diche after soche sorte, that thei passed over it by a draw bridge:
+the fortresse was devided into three partes, and every parte was devided
+from the other with diches, and with water, and by Bridges, thei passed
+from the one place to the other: wherefore the Duke battered with his
+artillerie, one of the partes of the fortresse, and opened part of the
+walle: For whiche cause Maister Jhon Casale, whiche was appoincted to
+that Warde, thought not good to defende that breache, but abandoned it
+for to retire hymself into the other places: so that the Dukes men
+having entered into that parte without incounter, in a sodaine thei
+gotte it all: For that the Dukes menne became lordes of the bridges,
+whiche went from one place to an other. Thei loste then this Fortresse,
+whiche was thought invinsible, through two defaultes, the one for havyng
+so many retiryng places, the other, bicause every retiryng place, was
+not Lorde of the bridge thereof. Therefore, the naughtie builded
+Fortresse, and the little wisedome of them that defended it, caused
+shame to the noble enterprise of the countesse, whoe had thought to have
+abidden an armie, whiche neither the kyng of Naples, nor the Duke of
+Milaine would have abidden: and although his inforcementes had no good
+ende, yet notwithstandyng he gotte that honoure, whiche his
+valiauntnesse had deserved: The whiche was testified of many Epigrammes,
+made in those daies in his praise. Therefore, if I should have to builde
+a Fortresse, I would make the walles strong, and the diches in the maner
+as we have reasoned, nor I would not make therein other, then houses to
+inhabite, and those I would make weake and lowe, after soche sorte that
+thei should not let him that should stande in the middest of the Market
+place, the sight of all the walle, to the intente that the Capitain
+might see with the iye, where he maie succour: and that every manne
+should understande, that the walle and the diche beyng lost, the
+fortresse were lost. And yet when I should make any retiryng places, I
+would make the bridges devided in soche wise, that every parte should be
+Lorde of the bridges of his side, ordainyng, that thei should fall upon
+postes, in the middest of the diche.
+
+BAPTISTE. You have saied that littel thynges now a daies can not bee
+defended, and it seemed unto me to have understoode the contrarie, that
+the lesser that a thyng wer, the better it might be defended.
+
+[Sidenote: The fortifiyng of the entrance of a Toune.]
+
+FABRICIO. You have not understoode well, because that place cannot be
+now a daies called stronge, wher he that defendeth it, hath not space to
+retire with new diches, and with new fortificacions, for that the force
+of the ordinance is so much, that he that trusteth uppon the warde of
+one wall and of one fortification only, is deceived: and because the
+Bulwarkes (mindyng that they passe not their ordinarie measure, for that
+then they shoulde be townes and Castels) be not made, in suche wise that
+men maie have space within them to retire, thei are loste straight waie.
+Therefore it is wisdom to let alone those Bulwarkes without, and to
+fortifie thenterance of the toune, and to kever the gates of the same
+with turnyngs after suche sort, that men cannot goe in nor oute of the
+gate by right line: and from the tournynges to the gate, to make a diche
+with a bridge. Also they fortifie the gate, with a Percullis, for to bee
+abell to put therin their menne, when they be issued out to faight, and
+hapnyng that the enemies pursue them, to avoide, that in the mingelynge
+together, they enter not in with them: and therfore these be used, the
+which the antiquitie called Cattarratte, the whiche beyng let fall,
+exclude thenemies, and save the freendes, for that in suche a case, men
+can do no good neither by bridges nor by a gate, the one and the other
+beynge ocupied with prease of menne.
+
+BAPTISTE. I have seene these Perculleses that you speake of, made in
+Almayne of littell quarters of woodde after the facion of a grate of
+Iron, and these percullises of ouers, be made of plankes all massive: I
+woulde desire to understande whereof groweth this difference, and which
+be the strongest.
+
+[Sidenote: Battelments ought to be large and thicke and the flanckers
+large within.]
+
+FABRICIO. I tell you agayne, that the manners and orders of the warre,
+throughe oute all the worlde, in respecte to those of the antiquitie, be
+extinguesshed, and in Italye they bee altogether loste, for if there bee
+a thing somewhat stronger then the ordinarye, it groweth of the insample
+of other countries. You mighte have understoode and these other may
+remember, with howe muche debilitie before, that king Charles of Fraunce
+in the yere of our salvation a thousande CCCC. xciiii. had passed into
+Italie, they made the batelmentes not halfe a yarde thicke, the loopes,
+and the flanckers were made with a litle opening without, and muche
+within, and with manye other faultes whiche not to be tedious I will let
+passe: for that easely from thinne battelments the defence is taken
+awaye, the flanckers builded in the same maner, moste easylye are
+opened: Nowe of the Frenchemen is learned to make the battelment large
+and thicke, and the flanckers to bee large on the parte within, and to
+drawe together in the middeste of the wall, and then agayn to waxe wider
+unto the uttermost parte without: this maketh that the ordinaunce
+hardlye can take away the defence. Therfore the Frenchmen have, manye
+other devises like these, the whiche because they have not beene seene
+of our men, they have not beene considered. Among whiche, is this kinde
+of perculles made like unto a grate, the which is a greate deale better
+then oures: for that if you have for defence of a gate a massive
+parculles as oures, letting it fall, you shutte in your menne, and you
+can not though the same hurte the enemie, so that hee with axes, and
+with fire, maye breake it downe safely: but if it bee made like a grate,
+you maye, it being let downe, through those holes and through those open
+places, defende it with Pikes, with crosbowes, and with all other kinde
+of weapons.
+
+BAPTISTE. I have seene in Italye an other use after the outelandishe
+fashion, and this is, to make the carriage of the artillery with the
+spokes of the wheele crooked towardes the Axeltree. I woulde knowe why
+they make them so: seeming unto mee that they bee stronger when they are
+made straighte as those of oure wheeles.
+
+[Sidenote: Neither the ditche, wall tillage, nor any kinde of
+edificacion, ought to be within a mile of a toune of warre.]
+
+FABRICIO. Never beleeve that the thinges that differ from the ordinarie
+wayes, be made by chaunce: and if you shoulde beleeve that they make
+them so, to shewe fayrer, you are deceaved: because where strength is
+necessarie, there is made no counte of fayrenesse: but all groweth, for
+that they be muche surer and muche stronger then ours. The reason is
+this: the carte when it is laden, either goeth even, or leaning upon the
+righte, or upon the lefte side: when it goeth even, the wheeles equally
+sustayne the wayght, the which being equallye devided betweene them,
+doth not burden much, but leaning, it commeth to have all the paise of
+the cariage on the backe of that wheele upon the which it leaneth. If
+the spokes of the same be straight they wil soone breake: for that the
+wheele leaning, the spokes come also to leane, and not to sustaine the
+paise by the straightnesse of them, and so when the carte goeth even,
+and when they are least burdened, they come to bee strongest: when the
+Carte goeth awrye, and that they come to have moste paise, they bee
+weakest. Even the contrarie happeneth to the crooked spokes of the
+Frenche Cartes, for that when the carte leaning upon one side poincteth
+uppon them, because they bee ordinary crooked, they come then to bee
+straight, and to be able to sustayne strongly al the payse, where when
+the carte goeth even, and that they bee crooked, they sustayne it halfe:
+but let us tourne to our citie and Fortresse. The Frenchemen use also
+for more safegarde of the gates of their townes, and for to bee able in
+sieges more easylye to convey and set oute men of them, besides the
+sayde thinges, an other devise, of which I have not seene yet in Italye
+anye insample: and this is, where they rayse on the oute side from the
+ende of the drawe bridge twoo postes, and upon either of them they
+joigne a beame, in suche wise that the one halfe of them comes over the
+bridge, the other halfe with oute: then all the same parte that commeth
+withoute, they joygne together with small quarters of woodde, the whiche
+they set thicke from one beame to an other like unto a grate, and on the
+parte within, they fasten to the ende of either of the beames a chaine:
+then when they will shutte the bridge on the oute side, they slacke the
+chaines, and let downe all the same parte like unto a grate, the whiche
+comming downe, shuttethe the bridge, and when they will open it, they
+drawe the chaines, and the same commeth to rise up, and they maye raise
+it up so much that a man may passe under it, and not a horse, and so
+much that there maye passe horse and man, and shutte it againe at ones,
+for that it falleth and riseth as a window of a battelment. This devise
+is more sure than the Parculles, because hardely it maye be of the
+enemye lette in such wise, that it fall not downe, falling not by a
+righte line as the Parculles, which easely may be underpropped. Therfore
+they which will make a citie oughte to cause to be ordained all the
+saide things: and moreover aboute the walle, there woulde not bee
+suffered any grounde to be tilled, within a myle thereof, nor any wall
+made, but shoulde be all champaine, where should be neither ditch nor
+banck, neither tree nor house, which might let the fighte, and make
+defence for the enemie that incampeth.
+
+[Sidenote: Noote; The provision that is meete to be made for the defence
+of a toune.]
+
+And noote, that a Towne, whiche hathe the ditches withoute, with the
+banckes higher then the grounde, is moste weake: for as muche as they
+make defence to the enemye which assaulteth thee, and letteth him not
+hurte thee, because easely they may be opened, and geve place to his
+artillerye: but let us passe into the Towne. I will not loose so muche
+time in shewing you howe that besides the foresayde thinges, it is
+requisite to have provision of victualles, and wherewith to fight, for
+that they be thinges that everye man underdeth, and without them, all
+other provision is vaine: and generally twoo thinges oughte to be done,
+to provide and to take the commoditie from the enemie that he availe not
+by the things of thy countrey: therfore the straw, the beastes, the
+graine, whiche thou canste not receive into house, ought to be
+destroied. Also he that defendeth a Towne, oughte to provide that
+nothing bee done tumultuouslye and disordinatelye, and to take suche
+order, that in all accidentes everye man maye knowe what he hath to doo.
+
+[Sidenote: What incoragethe the enemy most that besiegeth a toune; What
+he that besiegeth and he that defendeth oughte to doo; Advertisementes
+for a besieged towne; Howe the Romaines vitaled Casalino besieged of
+Aniball; A policie for the besieged.]
+
+The order that oughte to be taken is thus, that the women, the olde
+folkes, the children, and the impotent, be made to keepe within doores,
+that the Towne maye be left free, to yong and lustie men, whom being
+armed, must be destributed for the defence of the same, appointing part
+of them to the wall, parte to the gates, parte to the principall places
+of the Citie, for to remedie those inconveniences, that might growe
+within: an other parte must not be bound to any place, but be ready to
+succour all, neede requiring: and the thing beeing ordained thus, with
+difficultie tumulte can growe, whiche maye disorder thee. Also I will
+that you note this, in the besieging and defending of a Citie, that
+nothing geveth so muche hoope to the adversarye to be able to winne a
+towne, as when he knoweth that the same is not accustomed to see the
+enemie: for that many times for feare onely without other experience of
+force, cities have bene loste: Therefore a man oughte, when he
+assaulteth a like Citie, to make all his ostentacions terrible. On the
+other parte he that is assaulted, oughte to appoincte to the same parte,
+whiche the enemie fighteth againste, strong men and suche as opinion
+makethe not afraide, but weapons onely: for that if the first proofe
+turne vaine, it increaseth boldenesse to the besieged, and then the
+enemie is constrained to overcome them within, with vertue and
+reputacion. The instrumentes wherwith the antiquitie defended townes,
+where manie: as balistes, onagris, scorpions, Arcubalistes, Fustibals,
+Slinges: and also those were manie with which thei gave assaultes. As
+Arrieti, Towers, Musculi Plutei, Viney, Falci, testudeni, in steede of
+which thynges be now a daies the ordinance, the whiche serve him that
+bessegeth, and him that defendeth: and therfore I will speake no forther
+of theim: But let us retourne to our reasonyng and let us come to
+particular offences. They ought to have care not to be taken by famine,
+and not to be overcome through assaultes: concernyng famin, it hath ben
+tolde, that it is requiset before the siege come, to be well provided of
+vitualles. But when a towne throughe longe siege, lacketh victuals, some
+times hath ben seen used certaine extraordinarie waies to be provided of
+their friendes, whome woulde save them: inespeciall if through the
+middest of the besieged Citie there runne a river, as the Romaines
+vittelled their castell called Casalino besieged of Anibal, whom being
+not able by the river to sende them other victual then Nuttes, wherof
+castyng in the same great quantitie, the which carried of the river,
+without beyng abel to be letted, fedde longe time the Casalinians. Some
+besieged, for to shew unto the enemie, that they have graine more then
+inough and for to make him to dispaire, that he cannot, by famin
+overcome theim, have caste breade oute of the gates, or geven a Bullocke
+graine to eate, and after have suffered the same to be taken, to the
+intent that kilde and founde full of graine, might shewe that
+aboundance, whiche they had not. On the other parte excellent Capitaines
+have used sundrie waies to werie the enemie.
+
+[Sidenote: A policie of Fabius in besieging of a toune; A policie of
+Dionisius in besiegynge of a toune.]
+
+Fabius suffered them whome he besieged, to sowe their fieldes, to the
+entente that thei should lacke the same corne, whiche they sowed.
+
+Dionisius beynge in Campe at Regio, fained to minde to make an agreement
+with them, and duryng the practise therof he caused him selfe to be
+provided of their victuales, and then when he had by this mean got from
+them their graine, he kepte them straight and famished them.
+
+[Sidenote: Howe Alexander wanne Leucadia.]
+
+Alexander Magnus mindyng to winne Leucadia overcame all the Castels
+aboute it, and by that means drivyng into the same citie a great
+multitude of their owne countrie men, famished them.
+
+[Sidenote: The besieged ought to take heed of the first brunte; The
+remedie that townes men have, when the enemies ar entred into the towne;
+How to make the townes men yeelde.]
+
+Concernynge the assaultes, there hath been tolde that chiefely thei
+ought to beware of the firste bronte, with whiche the Romaines gotte
+often times manie townes, assaultyng them sodainly, and on every side:
+and thei called it _Aggredi urbem corona_. As Scipio did, when he wanne
+newe Carthage in Hispayne: the which brunte if of a towne it be
+withstoode, with difficultie after will bee overcome: and yet thoughe it
+should happen that the enemie were entred into the citie, by overcomynge
+the wall, yet the townes men have some remedie, so thei forsake it not:
+for as much as manie armies through entring into a toune, have ben
+repulced or slaine: the remedie is, that the townes men doe keepe them
+selves in highe places, and from the houses, and from the towers to
+faight with them: the whiche thynge, they that have entered into the
+citie, have devised to overcome in twoo manners: the one with openyng
+the gates of the citie, and to make the waie for the townes men, that
+thei might safely flie: the other with sendynge foorthe a proclamacion,
+that signifieth, that none shall be hurte but the armed, and to them
+that caste their weapons on the grounde, pardon shall be graunted: the
+whiche thynge hath made easie the victorie of manie cities.
+
+[Sidenote: How townes or cities are easelie wonne; How duke Valentine
+got the citie of Urbine; The besieged ought to take heede of the
+deciptes and policies of the enemie; How Domitio Calvino wan a towne.]
+
+Besides this, the Citees are easie to bee wonne, if thou come upon them
+unawares: whiche is dooen beyng with thy armie farre of, after soche
+sort, that it be not beleved, either that thou wilte assaulte theim, or
+that thou canst dooe it, without commyng openly, bicause of the distance
+of the place: wherefore, if thou secretely and spedely assaulte theim,
+almoste alwaies it shall followe, that thou shalte gette the victorie. I
+reason unwillingly of the thynges succeded in our tyme, for that to me
+and to mine, it should be a burthen, and to reason of other, I cannot
+tel what to saie: notwithstanding, I cannot to this purpose but declare,
+the insample of Cesar Borgia, called duke Valentine, who beyng at Nocera
+with his menne, under colour of goyng to besiege Camerino, tourned
+towardes the state of Urbin, and gotte a state in a daie, and without
+any paine, the whiche an other with moche time and cost, should scante
+have gotten. It is conveniente also to those, that be besieged, to take
+heede of the deceiptes, and of the policies of the enemie, and therefore
+the besieged ought not to truste to any thyng, whiche thei see the
+enemie dooe continually, but let theim beleve alwaies, that it is under
+deceipte, and that he can to their hurte varie it. Domitio Calvino
+besiegyng a toune, used for a custome to compasse aboute every daie,
+with a good parte of his menne, the wall of the same: whereby the Tounes
+menne, belevyng that he did it for exercise, slacked the Ward: whereof
+Domicius beyng aware, assaulted and overcame them.
+
+[Sidenote: A policie to get a towne.]
+
+Certaine Capitaines understandyng, that there should come aide to the
+besieged, have apareled their Souldiours, under the Ansigne of those,
+that should come, and beyng let in, have gotte the Toune.
+
+[Sidenote: How Simon of Athens wan a towne; A policie to get a towne;
+How Scipio gotte certaine castels in Afrike.]
+
+Simon of Athens set fire in a night on a Temple, whiche was out of the
+toune, wherefore, the tounes menne goyng to succour it, lefte the toune
+in praie to the enemie. Some have slaine those, whiche from the besieged
+Castle, have gone a foragyng, and have appareled their souldiours, with
+the apparell of the forragers, whom after have gotte the toune. The
+aunciente Capitaines, have also used divers waies, to destroie the
+Garison of the Toune, whiche thei have sought to take. Scipio beyng in
+Africa, and desiring to gette certaine Castles, in whiche were putte the
+Garrisons of Carthage, he made many tymes, as though he would assaulte
+theim, albeit, he fained after, not onely to abstaine, but to goe awaie
+from them for feare: the whiche Aniball belevyng to bee true, for to
+pursue hym with greater force, and for to bee able more easely to
+oppresse him, drewe out all the garrisons of theim: The whiche Scipio
+knowyng, sente Massinissa his Capitaine to overcome them.
+
+[Sidenote: Howe Pirrus wan the chiefe Citie of Sclavonie; A policie to
+get a towne; How the beseiged are made to yelde; Howe to get a towne by
+treason; A policie of Aniball for the betraiyng of a Castell; How the
+besieged maie be begiled; How Formion overcame the Calcidensians; What
+the besieged muste take heede of; Liberalitie maketh enemies frendes;
+The diligence that the besieged ought to use in their watche and ward.]
+
+Pirrus makyng warre in Sclavonie, to the chiefe citee of the same
+countrie, where were brought many menne in Garrison, fained to dispaire
+to bee able to winne it, and tourning to other places, made that the
+same for to succour them, emptied it self of the warde, and became easie
+to bee wonne. Many have corrupted the water, and have tourned the rivers
+an other waie to take Tounes. Also the besieged, are easely made to
+yelde them selves, makyng theim afraied, with signifiyng unto them a
+victorie gotten, or with new aides, whiche come in their disfavour. The
+old Capitaines have sought to gette Tounes by treason, corruptyng some
+within, but thei have used divers meanes. Sum have sente a manne of
+theirs, whiche under the name of a fugetive, might take aucthoritie and
+truste with the enemies, who after have used it to their profite. Some
+by this meanes, have understode the maner of the watche, and by meanes
+of the same knowledge, have taken the Toune. Some with a Carte, or with
+Beames under some colour, have letted the gate, that it could not bee
+shutte, and with this waie, made the entrie easie to the enemie. Aniball
+perswaded one, to give him a castle of the Romaines, and that he should
+fain to go a huntyng in the night, makyng as though he could not goe by
+daie, for feare of the enemies, and tournyng after with the Venison,
+should put in with hym certaine of his menne, and so killyng the
+watchmen, should give hym the gate. Also the besieged are beguiled, with
+drawyng them out of the Toune, and goyng awaie from them, faining to
+flie when thei assault thee. And many (emong whom was Anibal) have for
+no other intente, let their Campe to be taken, but to have occasion to
+get betwene theim and home, and to take their Toune. Also, thei are
+beguiled with fainyng to departe from them, as Formion of Athens did,
+who havyng spoiled the countrie of the Calcidensians, received after
+their ambassadours, fillyng their Citee with faire promises, and hope of
+safetie, under the which as simple menne, thei were a little after of
+Formione oppressed. The besieged ought to beware of the men, whiche thei
+have in suspecte emong them: but some times thei are wont, as well to
+assure them selves with deserte, as with punishemente. Marcellus
+knoweyng how Lucius Bancius a Nolane, was tourned to favour Aniball so
+moche humanitie and liberalitie, he used towardes him, that of an
+enemie, he made him moste frendely. The besieged ought to use more
+diligence in the warde, when the enemie is gone from theim, then when he
+is at hande. And thei ought to warde those places, whiche thei thinke,
+that maie bee hurt least: for that many tounes have been loste, when
+thenemie assaulteth it on thesame part, where thei beleve not possible
+to be assaulted. And this deceipt groweth of twoo causes, either for the
+place being strong, and to beleve, that it is invinsible, or through
+craft beyng used of the enemie, in assaltyng theim on one side with
+fained alaroms, and on the other without noise, and with verie assaltes
+in deede: and therefore the besieged, ought to have greate advertisment,
+and above all thynges at all times, and in especially in the night to
+make good watche to bee kepte on the walles, and not onely to appoincte
+menne, but Dogges, and soche fiearse Mastives, and lively, the whiche by
+their sente maie descrie the enemie, and with barkyng discover him: and
+not Dogges onely, but Geese have ben seen to have saved a citee, as it
+happened to Roome, when the Frenchemen besieged the Capitoll.
+
+[Sidenote: An order of Alcibiades for the dew keping of watch and
+warde.]
+
+Alcibiades for to see, whether the warde watched, Athense beeyng
+besieged of the Spartaines, ordained that when in the night, he should
+lifte up a light, all the ward should lift up likewise, constitutyng
+punishmente to hym that observed it not.
+
+[Sidenote: The secrete conveighyng of Letters; The defence against a
+breach; How the antiquitie got tounes by muining under grounde.]
+
+Isicrates of Athens killed a watchman, which slept, saiyng that he lefte
+him as he found him. Those that have been besieged, have used divers
+meanes, to sende advise to their frendes: and mindyng not to send their
+message by mouth, thei have written letters in Cifers, and hidden them
+in sundrie wise: the Cifers be according, as pleaseth him that ordaineth
+them, the maner of hidyng them is divers. Some have written within the
+scaberde of a sweard: Other have put the Letters in an unbaked lofe, and
+after have baked the same, and given it for meate to hym that caried
+theim. Certaine have hidden them, in the secreteste place of their
+bodies: other have hidden them in the collor of a Dogge, that is
+familiare with hym, whiche carrieth theim: Some have written in a letter
+ordinarie thinges, and after betwene thone line and thother, have also
+written with water, that wetyng it or warming it after, the letters
+should appere. This waie hath been moste politikely observed in our
+time: where some myndyng to signifie to their freendes inhabityng within
+a towne, thinges to be kept secret, and mindynge not to truste any
+person, have sente common matters written, accordyng to the common use
+and enterlined it, as I have saied above, and the same have made to be
+hanged on the gates of the Temples, the whiche by countersignes beyng
+knowen of those, unto whome they have been sente, were taken of and
+redde: the whiche way is moste politique, bicause he that carrieth them
+maie bee beguiled, and there shall happen hym no perill. There be moste
+infinite other waies, whiche every manne maie by himself rede and finde:
+but with more facilitie, the besieged maie bee written unto, then the
+besieged to their frendes without, for that soche letters cannot be
+sent, but by one, under colour of a fugetive, that commeth out of a
+toune: the whiche is a daungerous and perilous thing, when thenemie is
+any whit craftie: But those that sende in, he that is sente, maie under
+many colours, goe into the Campe that besiegeth, and from thens takyng
+conveniente occasion, maie leape into the toune: but lette us come to
+speake of the present winnyng of tounes. I saie that if it happen, that
+thou bee besieged in thy citee, whiche is not ordained with diches
+within, as a little before we shewed, to mynde that thenemie shall not
+enter through the breach of the walle, whiche the artillerie maketh:
+bicause there is no remedie to lette thesame from makyng of a breache,
+it is therefore necessarie for thee, whileste the ordinance battereth,
+to caste a diche within the wall which is battered, and that it be in
+bredth at leaste twoo and twentie yardes and a halfe, and to throwe all
+thesame that is digged towardes the toun, whiche maie make banke, and
+the diche more deper: and it is convenient for thee, to sollicitate this
+worke in soche wise, that when the walle falleth, the Diche maie be
+digged at least, fower or five yardes in depth: the whiche diche is
+necessarie, while it is a digging, to shutte it on every side with a
+slaughter house: and when the wall is so strong, that it giveth thee
+time to make the diche, and the slaughter houses, that battered parte,
+commeth to be moche stronger, then the rest of the citee: for that soche
+fortificacion, cometh to have the forme, of the diches which we devised
+within: but when the walle is weake, and that it giveth thee not tyme,
+to make like fortificacions, then strengthe and valiauntnesse muste bee
+shewed, settyng againste the enemies armed menne, with all thy force.
+This maner of fortificacion was observed of the Pisans, when you
+besieged theim, and thei might doe it, bicause thei had strong walles,
+whiche gave them time, the yearth beyng softe and moste meete to raise
+up banckes, and to make fortificacions: where if thei had lacked this
+commoditie, thei should have loste the toune. Therefore it shall bee
+alwaies prudently doen, to provide afore hand, makyng diches within the
+citee, and through out all the circuite thereof, as a little before wee
+devised: for that in this case, the enemie maie safely be taried for at
+laisure, the fortificacions beyng redy made. The antiquitie many tymes
+gotte tounes, with muinyng under ground in twoo maners, either thei made
+a waie under grounde secretely, whiche risse in the toune, and by
+thesame entered, in whiche maner the Romaines toke the citee of Veienti,
+or with the muinyng, thei overthrewe a walle, and made it ruinate: this
+laste waie is now a daies moste stronge, and maketh, that the citees
+placed high, be most weake, bicause thei maie better bee under muined:
+and puttyng after in a Cave of this Gunne pouder, whiche in a momente
+kindelyng, not onely ruinateth a wall, but it openeth the hilles, and
+utterly dissolveth the strength of them.
+
+[Sidenote: The reamedie against Caves or undermuinynges; What care the
+besieged ought to have; What maketh a citee or campe difficulte to bee
+defended; By what meanes thei that besiege ar made afraied; Honour got
+by constancie.]
+
+The remedie for this, is to builde in the plain, and to make the diche
+that compasseth thy citee, so deepe, that the enemie maie not digge
+lower then thesame, where he shall not finde water, whiche onely is
+enemie to the caves: for if thou be in a toune, which thou defendest on
+a high ground, thou canst not remedie it otherwise, then to make within
+thy walles many deepe Welles, the whiche be as drouners to thesame
+Caves, that the enemie is able to ordain against thee. An other remedie
+there is, to make a cave againste it, when thou shouldeste bee aware
+where he muineth, the whiche waie easely hindereth hym, but difficultly
+it is foreseen, beyng besieged of a craftie enemie. He that is besieged,
+ought above al thinges to have care, not to bee oppressed in the tyme of
+reste: as is after a battaile fought, after the watche made, whiche is
+in the Mornyng at breake of daie, and in the Evenyng betwen daie and
+night, and above al, at meale times: in whiche tyme many tounes have
+been wonne, and armies have been of them within ruinated: therefore it
+is requisite with diligence on all partes, to stande alwaies garded, and
+in a good part armed. I will not lacke to tell you, how that, whiche
+maketh a citee or a campe difficult to be defended, is to be driven to
+kepe sundred all the force, that thou haste in theim, for that the
+enemie beyng able to assaulte thee at his pleasure altogether, it is
+conveniente for thee on every side, to garde every place, and so he
+assaulteth thee with all his force, and thou with parte of thine
+defendest thee. Also, the besieged maie bee overcome altogether, he
+without cannot bee, but repulced: wherefore many, whom have been
+besieged, either in a Campe, or in a Toune, although thei have been
+inferiour of power, have issued out with their men at a sodaine, and
+have overcome the enemie. This Marcellus of Nola did: this did Cesar in
+Fraunce, where his Campe beeyng assaulted of a moste great nomber of
+Frenchmen, and seeyng hymself not able to defende it, beyng constrained
+to devide his force into many partes, and not to bee able standyng
+within the Listes, with violence to repulce thenemie: he opened the
+campe on thone side, and turning towardes thesame parte with all his
+power, made so moche violence against them, and with moche valiantnes,
+that he vanquisshed and overcame them. The constancie also of the
+besieged, causeth many tymes displeasure, and maketh afraied them that
+doe besiege. Pompei beyng against Cesar, and Cesars armie beeyng in
+greate distresse through famine, there was brought of his bredde to
+Pompei, whom seyng it made of grasse, commaunded, that it should not bee
+shewed unto his armie, least it shoulde make them afraide, seyng what
+enemies they had against theim. Nothyng caused so muche honour to the
+Romaines in the warre of Aniball, as their constancie: for as muche as
+in what so ever envious, and adverse fortune thei were troubled, they
+never demaunded peace, thei never made anie signe of feare, but rather
+when Aniball was aboute Rome, thei solde those fieldes, where he had
+pitched his campe, dearer then ordinarie in other times shoulde have
+been solde: and they stoode in so much obstinacie in their enterprises,
+that for to defende Rome, thei would not raise their campe from Capua,
+the whiche in the verie same time that Roome was besieged, the Romaines
+did besiege.
+
+I knowe that I have tolde you of manie thynges, the whiche by your selfe
+you might have understoode, and considered, notwithstandyng I have doen
+it (as to daie also I have tolde you) for to be abell to shewe you
+better by meane therof, the qualitie of this armie, and also for to
+satisfie those, if there be anie, whome have not had the same commoditie
+to understand them as you. Nor me thinkes that there resteth other to
+tell you, then certaine generall rules, the whiche you shal have moste
+familiar, which be these.
+
+[Sidenote: Generall rules of warre.]
+
+The same that helpeth the enemie, hurteth thee: and the same that
+helpeth thee, hurteth the enemie.
+
+He that shall be in the warre moste vigilant to observe the devises of
+the enemie, and shall take moste payne to exercise his armie, shall
+incurre least perilles and maie hope moste of the victorie.
+
+Never conducte thy men to faight the field, if first them hast not
+confirmed their mindes and knowest them to be without feare, and to be
+in good order: for thou oughteste never to enterprise any dangerous
+thyng with thy souldiours, but when thou seest, that they hope to
+overcome.
+
+It is better to conquere the enemie with faminne, then with yron: in the
+victorie of which, fortune maie doe much more then valiantnesse.
+
+No purpose is better then that, whiche is hidde from the enemie untill
+thou have executed it.
+
+To know in the warre how to understande occasion, and to take it,
+helpeth more then anie other thynge.
+
+Nature breedeth few stronge menne, the industrie and the exercise maketh
+manie.
+
+Discipline maie doe more in warre, then furie.
+
+When anie departe from the enemies side for to come to serve thee, when
+thei be faithfull, thei shalbe unto thee alwaies great gaines: for that
+the power of thadversaries are more deminisshed with the losse of them,
+that runne awaie, then of those that be slaine, although that the name
+of a fugetive be to new frendes suspected, to olde odius.
+
+Better it is in pitchyng the fielde, to reserve behynde the first front
+aide inoughe, then to make the fronte bigger to disperse the souldiours.
+
+He is difficultely overcome, whiche can know his owne power and the same
+of the enemie.
+
+The valiantenesse of the souldiours availeth more then the multitude.
+
+Some times the situacion helpeth more then the valiantenesse.
+
+New and sudden thynges, make armies afrayde.
+
+Slowe and accustomed thinges, be littell regarded of them. Therfore make
+thy armie to practise and to know with small faightes a new enemie,
+before thou come to faight the fielde with him.
+
+He that with disorder foloweth the enemie after that he is broken, will
+doe no other, then to become of a conquerour a loser.
+
+He that prepareth not necessarie victualles to live upon, is overcome
+without yron.
+
+He that trusteth more in horsemen then in footemen, more in footemen
+then in horsemen, must accommodate him selfe with the situacion.
+
+When thou wilte see if in the daie there be comen anie spie into the
+Campe, cause everie man to goe to his lodgynge.
+
+Chaunge purpose, when thou perceivest that the enemie hath forseene it.
+
+[Sidenote: How to consulte.]
+
+Consulte with many of those thinges, which thou oughtest to dooe: the
+same that thou wilt after dooe, conferre with fewe.
+
+Souldiours when thei abide at home, are mainteined with feare and
+punishemente, after when thei ar led to the warre with hope and with
+rewarde.
+
+Good Capitaines come never to faight the fielde, excepte necessitie
+constraine theim, and occasion call them.
+
+Cause that thenemies know not, how thou wilte order thy armie to faight,
+and in what so ever maner that thou ordainest it, make that the firste
+bande may be received of the seconde and of the thirde.
+
+In the faight never occupie a battell to any other thyng, then to the
+same, for whiche thou haste apoineted it, if thou wilt make no disorder.
+
+The sodene accidentes, with difficultie are reamedied: those that are
+thought upon, with facilitie.
+
+[Sidenote: What thynges are the strength of the warre.]
+
+Men, yron, money, and bread, be the strengthe of the warre, but of these
+fower, the first twoo be moste necessarie: because men and yron, finde
+money and breade: but breade and money fynde not men and yron.
+
+The unarmed riche man, is a bootie to the poore souldiour.
+
+Accustome thy souldiours to dispise delicate livyng and lacivius
+aparell.
+
+This is as muche as hapneth me generally to remember you, and I know
+that there might have ben saied manie other thynges in all this my
+reasonynge: as should be, howe and in howe manie kinde of waies the
+antiquitie ordered their bandes, how thei appareled them, and how in
+manie other thynges they exercised them, and to have joygned hereunto
+manie other particulars, the whiche I have not judged necessarie to
+shew, as wel for that you your self may se them, as also for that my
+intente hath not been to shew juste how the olde servis of warre was
+apoincted, but howe in these daies a servis of warre might be ordained,
+whiche should have more vertue then the same that is used. Wherfore I
+have not thought good of the auncient thynges to reason other, then
+that, which I have judged to suche introduction necessarie. I know also
+that I might have delated more upon the service on horsebacke, and after
+have reasoned of the warre on the Sea: for as muche as he that
+destinguissheth the servis of warre, saieth, how there is an armie on
+the sea, and of the lande, on foote, and on horsebacke. Of that on the
+sea, I will not presume to speake, for that I have no knowledge therof:
+but I will let the Genoues, and the Venecians speake therof, whome with
+like studies have heretofore doen great thinges.
+
+Also of horses, I wil speake no other, then as afore I have saied, this
+parte beynge (as I have declared) least corrupted. Besides this, the
+footemen being wel ordained, which is the puissance of the armie, good
+horses of necessitie will come to be made.
+
+[Sidenote: Provisions that maie bee made to fill a Realme full of good
+horse; The knowledge that a capitaine oughte to have.]
+
+Onely I counsel him that would ordayne the exercise of armes in his owne
+countrey, and desireth to fill the same with good horses, that he make
+two provisions: the one is, that he destribute Mares of a good race
+throughe his dominion, and accustome his menne to make choise of coltes,
+as you in this countrie make of Calves and Mules: the other is, that to
+thentente the excepted might finde a byer, I woulde prohibet that no man
+should kepe a Mule excepte he woulde keepe a horse: so that he that
+woulde kepe but one beaste to ride on, shoulde be constrained to keepe a
+horse: and moreover that no man should weare fine cloathe except he
+which doeth keepe a horse: this order I under stande hath beene devised
+of certaine princes in our time, whome in short space have therby,
+brought into their countrey an excellente numbre of good horses. Aboute
+the other thynges, as much as might be looked for concernynge horse, I
+remit to as much as I have saied to daie, and to that whiche they use.
+Peradventure also you woulde desire to understand what condicions a
+Capitaine ought to have: wherof I shal satisfie you moste breeflie: for
+that I cannot tell how to chose anie other man then the same, who
+shoulde know howe to doe all those thynges whiche this daie hath ben
+reasoned of by us: the which also should not suffise, when he should not
+knowe howe to devise of him selfe: for that no man without invencion,
+was ever excellent in anie science: and if invencion causeth honour in
+other thynges, in this above all, it maketh a man honorable: for everie
+invention is seen, although it were but simple, to be of writers
+celebrated: as it is seen, where Alexander Magnus is praised, who for to
+remove his Campe moste secretely, gave not warnyng with the Trumpette,
+but with a hatte upon a Launce. And was praised also for havyng taken
+order that his souldiours in buckelynge with the enemies, shoulde kneele
+with the lefte legge, to bee able more strongly to withstande their
+violence: the whiche havyng geven him the victorie, it got him also so
+muche praise, that all the Images, whiche were erected in his honour,
+stoode after the same facion. But because it is tyme to finishe this
+reasonyng, I wil turne againe to my first purpose, and partly I shall
+avoide the same reproche, wherin they use to condempne in this towne,
+such as knoweth not when to make an ende.
+
+[Sidenote: The auctor retorneth to his first purpose and maketh a littel
+discorse to make an ende of his reasonyng.]
+
+If you remembre Cosimus you tolde me, that I beyng of one side an
+exalter of the antiquitie, and a dispraiser of those, which in waightie
+matters imitated them not, and of the other side, I havynge not in the
+affaires of war, wherin I have taken paine, imitated them, you coulde
+not perceive the occasion: wherunto I answered, how that men which wil
+doo any thing, muste firste prepare to knowe how to doe it, for to be
+able, after to use it, when occasion permitteth: whether I doe know how
+to bryng the servis of warre to the auncient manners or no, I will be
+judged by you, whiche have hearde me upon this matter longe dispute
+wherby you may know, how much time I have consumed in these studies: and
+also I beleeve that you maie imagen, how much desire is in me to brynge
+it to effecte: the whiche whether I have been able to have doen, or that
+ever occasion hath been geven me, most easely you maie conjecture: yet
+for to make you more certaine and for my better justificacion, I will
+also aledge the occasions: and as much as I have promised, I will
+partely performe, to shew you the difficultie and the facelitie, whiche
+bee at this presente in suche imitacions.
+
+[Sidenote: A prince may easelie brynge to intiere perfection the servis
+of warre; Two sortes of Capitaines worthie to bee praysed.]
+
+Therfore I saie, how that no deede that is doen now a daies emong men,
+is more easie to be reduced unto the aunciente maners, then the service
+of Warre: but by them onely that be Princes of so moche state, who can
+at least gather together of their owne subjectes, xv. or twentie
+thousande yong menne: otherwise, no thyng is more difficulte, then this,
+to them whiche have not soche commoditie: and for that you maie the
+better understande this parte, you have to knowe, howe that there bee of
+twoo condicions, Capitaines to bee praised: The one are those, that with
+an armie ordained through the naturalle discipline thereof, have dooen
+greate thynges: as were the greater parte of the Romaine Citezeins, and
+suche as have ledde armies, the which have had no other paine, then to
+maintaine them good, and to se them guided safely: the other are they,
+whiche not onely have had to overcome the enemie, but before they come
+to the same, have been constrained to make good and well ordered their
+armie: who without doubte deserve muche more praise, then those have
+deserved, which with olde armies, and good, have valiantely wrought. Of
+these, such wer Pelopida, and Epaminonda, Tullus Hostillius, Phillip of
+Macedony father of Alexander, Cirus kyng of the Percians, Graccus a
+Romaine: they all were driven first to make their armies good, and after
+to faighte with them: they all coulde doe it, as well throughe their
+prudence, as also for havynge subjectes whome thei might in like
+exercises instruct: nor it shuld never have ben otherwise possible, that
+anie of theim, though they had ben never so good and ful of al
+excellencie, should have been able in a straunge countrey, full of men
+corrupted, not used to anie honest obedience, to have brought to passe
+anie laudable worke. It suffiseth not then in Italie, to know how to
+governe an army made, but first it is necessarie to know how to make it
+and after to know how to commaunde it: and to do these things it is
+requisit they bee those princes, whome havyng much dominion, and
+subjectes inoughe, maie have commoditie to doe it: of whiche I can not
+bee, who never commaunded, nor cannot commaunde, but to armies of
+straungers, and to men bounde to other, and not to me: in whiche if it
+be possible, or no, to introduce anie of those thynges that this daie of
+me hath ben reasoned, I will leave it to your judgement.
+
+Albeit when coulde I make one of these souldiours which now a daies
+practise, to weare more armur then the ordinarie, and besides the armur,
+to beare their owne meate for two or three daies, with a mattocke: When
+coulde I make theim to digge, or keepe theim every daie manie howers
+armed, in fained exercises, for to bee able after in the verie thyng in
+deede to prevaile? When woulde thei abstaine from plaie, from
+laciviousnesse, from swearynge, from the insolence, whiche everie daie
+they committe? when would they be reduced into so muche dissepline, into
+so much obedience and reverence, that a tree full of appels in the
+middest of their Campe, shoulde be founde there and lefte untouched? As
+is redde, that in the auncient armies manie times hapned. What thynge
+maye I promis them, by meane wherof thei may have me in reverence to
+love, or to feare, when the warre beyng ended, they have not anie more
+to doe with me? wher of maie I make them ashamed, whiche be borne and
+brought up without shame? whie shoulde thei be ruled by me who knowe me
+not? By what God or by what sainctes may I make them to sweare? By those
+that thei worship, or by those that they blaspheme? Who they worship I
+knowe not anie: but I knowe well they blaspheme all. How shoulde I
+beleeve that thei will keepe their promise to them, whome everie hower
+they dispise? How can they, that dispise God, reverence men? Then what
+good fashion shoulde that be, whiche might be impressed in this matter?
+And if you should aledge unto me that Suyzzers and Spaniardes bee good
+souldiours, I woulde confesse unto you, how they be farre better then
+the Italians: but if you note my reasonynge, and the maner of procedyng
+of bothe, you shall see, howe they lacke many thynges to joygne to the
+perfection of the antiquetie. And how the Suyzzers be made good of one
+of their naturall uses caused of that, whiche to daie I tolde you: those
+other are made good by mean of a necessitie: for that servyng in a
+straunge countrie, and seemyng unto them to be constrained either to
+die, or to overcome, thei perceivynge to have no place to flie, doe
+become good: but it is a goodnesse in manie partes fawtie: for that in
+the same there is no other good, but that they bee accustomed to tarie
+the enemie at the Pike and sweardes poincte: nor that, which thei lacke,
+no man should be meete to teache them, and so much the lesse, he that
+coulde not speake their language.
+
+[Sidenote: The Auctor excuseth the people of Italie to the great
+reproche of their prynces for their ignorance in the affaires of warre.]
+
+But let us turne to the Italians, who for havynge not had wise Princes,
+have not taken anie good order: and for havyng not had the same
+necessitie, whiche the Spaniardes have hadde, they have not taken it of
+theim selves, so that they remaine the shame of the worlde: and the
+people be not to blame, but onely their princes, who have ben chastised,
+and for their ignorance have ben justely punisshed, leesinge moste
+shamefully their states, without shewing anie vertuous ensample. And if
+you will see whether this that I say be trew: consider how manie warres
+have ben in Italie since the departure of kyng Charles to this day,
+where the war beyng wonte to make men warlyke and of reputacion, these
+the greater and fierser that they have been, so muche the more they have
+made the reputacion of the members and of the headdes therof to bee
+loste. This proveth that it groweth, that the accustomed orders were not
+nor bee not good, and of the newe orders, there is not anie whiche have
+knowen how to take them. Nor never beleeve that reputacion will be
+gotten, by the Italians weapons, but by the same waie that I have
+shewed, and by means of theim, that have great states in Italie: for
+that this forme maie be impressed in simple rude men, of their owne, and
+not in malicious, ill brought up, and straungers. Nor there shall never
+bee founde anie good mason, whiche will beleeve to be able to make a
+faire image of a peece of Marbell ill hewed, but verye well of a rude
+peece.
+
+[Sidenote: A discription of the folishenesse of the Italian princes;
+Cesar and Alexander, were the formoste in battell; The Venecians and the
+duke of Ferare began to have reduced the warfare to the Aunciente
+maners; He that despiseth the servis of warre, despiseth his own
+welthe.]
+
+Our Italian Princes beleved, before thei tasted the blowes of the
+outlandishe warre, that it should suffice a Prince to knowe by
+writynges, how to make a subtell answere, to write a goodly letter, to
+shewe in saiynges, and in woordes, witte and promptenesse, to knowe how
+to canvas a fraude, to decke theim selves with precious stones and gold,
+to slepe and to eate with greater glorie then other: To keepe many
+lascivious persones aboute them, to governe theim selves with their
+subjectes, covetuously and proudely: To rotte in idlenesse, to give the
+degrees of the exercise of warre, for good will, to despise if any
+should have shewed them any laudable waie, minding that their wordes
+should bee aunswers of oracles: nor the sely wretches were not aware,
+that thei prepared theim selves to bee a praie, to whom so ever should
+assaulte theim. Hereby grewe then in the thousande fower hundred nintie
+and fower yere, the greate feares, the sodain flightes, and the
+marveilous losses: and so three most mightie states which were in
+Italie, have been divers times sacked and destroied. But that which is
+worse, is where those that remaine, continue in the verie same erroure,
+and live in the verie same disorder, and consider not, that those, who
+in old time would kepe their states, caused to be dooen these thynges,
+which of me hath been reasoned, and that their studies wer, to prepare
+the body to diseases, and the minde not to feare perilles. Whereby grewe
+that Cesar, Alexander, and all those menne and excellente Princes in old
+tyme, were the formoste emongest the faighters, goyng armed on foote:
+and if thei loste their state, thei would loose their life, so that thei
+lived and died vertuously. And if in theim, or in parte of theim, there
+might bee condempned to muche ambicion to reason of: yet there shall
+never bee founde, that in theim is condempned any tendernesse or any
+thynge that maketh menne delicate and feable: the whiche thyng, if of
+these Princes were redde and beleved, it should be impossible, that thei
+should not change their forme of living, and their provinces not to
+chaunge fortune. And for that you in the beginnyng of this our
+reasonyng, lamented your ordinaunces, I saie unto you, that if you had
+ordained it, as I afore have reasoned, and it had given of it self no
+good experience, you might with reason have been greved therewith: but
+if it bee not so ordained, and exercised, as I have saied, it maie be
+greeved with you, who have made a counterfaite thereof, and no perfecte
+figure. The Venecians also, and the Duke of Ferare, beganne it, and
+followed it not, the whiche hath been through their faulte, not through
+their menne. And therfore I assure you, that who so ever of those,
+whiche at this daie have states in Italie, shall enter firste into this
+waie, shall be firste, before any other, Lorde of this Province, and it
+shall happen to his state, as to the kyngdome of the Macedonians, the
+which commyng under Philip, who had learned the maner of settyng armies
+in order of Epaminondas a Thebane, became with this order, and with
+these exercises (whileste the reste of Grece stoode in idlenesse, and
+attended to risite comedes) so puisant, that he was able in few yeres to
+possesse it all, and to leave soche foundacion to his sonne, that he was
+able to make hymself, prince of all the world. He then that despiseth
+these studies, if he be a Prince, despiseth his Princedome: if he bee a
+Citezein, his Citee. Wherefore, I lamente me of nature, the whiche
+either ought not to have made me a knower of this, or it ought to have
+given me power, to have been able to have executed it: For now beyng
+olde, I cannot hope to have any occasion, to bee able so to dooe: In
+consideracion whereof, I have been liberall with you, who beeyng grave
+yong menne, maie (when the thynges saied of me shall please you) at due
+tymes in favour of your Princes, helpe theim and counsaile them, wherein
+I would have you not to bee afraied, or mistrustfull, bicause this
+Province seemes to bee altogether given, to raise up againe the thynges
+dedde, as is seen by the perfeccion that poesie, paintyng, and writing,
+is now brought unto: Albeit, as moche as is looked for of me, beyng
+strooken in yeres, I do mistruste. Where surely, if Fortune had
+heretofore graunted me so moche state, as suffiseth for a like
+enterprise, I would not have doubted, but in moste shorte tyme, to have
+shewed to the worlde, how moche the aunciente orders availe: and without
+peradventure, either I would have increased it with glory, or loste it
+without shame.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+The ende of the seventh and laste booke of the arte of warre, of
+Nicholas Machiavell, Citezein and Secretarie of Florence, translated out
+of Italian into Englishe: By Peter Whitehorne, felow of Graise Inne.
+
+
+
+
+NICHOLAS MACHIAVEL,
+
+CITEZEIN AND SECRETARIE OF FLORENCE,
+
+TO THE READERS
+
+
+To thentente that such as rede this booke maie without difficultie
+understande the order of the battailes, or bandes of men, and of the
+armies, and lodgynges in the Campe, accordynge as they in the
+discription of theim are apoincted, I thinke it necessarie to shewe you
+the figure of everie one of them: wherefore it is requiset firste, to
+declare unto you, by what poinctes and letters, the footemen, the
+horsemen, and everie other particuler membre are set foorthe.
+
+KNOW THERFORE THAT
+
+.} Signifieth {Targetmen.
+
+'} {Pikemen.
+
+c} {a Capitaine of ten men.
+
+v} {Veliti ordinarie.  (Those men that shoot with harcabuses or bowes)
+
+r} {Veliti extraordinari.
+
+C} {a Centurion or captaine of a hundred men.
+
+k} {a Constable or a captaine of a band of fower hundred and fiftie men.
+
+H} {The hed captain of a maine battel.
+
+G} {The general Captaine of the whole armie.
+
+t} {The Trompet.
+
+d} {The Drum.
+
+b} {The Ansigne.
+
+s} {The Standerde.
+
+m} {Men of Armes.
+
+l} {Light horsemen.
+
+A} {Artillerie or ordinance.
+
+In the first figure nexte folowyng, is discribed the forme of an
+ordinarie battaile or bande of fower hundred and fiftie men, and in what
+maner it is redoubled by flanke. And also how with the verie same order
+of lxxx. rankes, by chaungyng onely to the hinder parte the five rankes
+of Pikes which were the formost of everie Centurie, thei maye likewise
+in bringyng them in battaile raie, come to bee placed behinde: whiche
+may be doen, when in marchyng, the enemies should come to assaulte them
+at their backes: accordynge as the orderyng therof is before declared.
+Fol. 87.
+
+In the seconde figure, is shewed how a battaile or bande of men is
+ordered, whiche in marchyng should be driven to faight on the flanke:
+accordyng as in the booke is declared. Fol. 87.
+
+In the thirde figure, is shewed how a battaile or bande of men, is
+ordered with two hornes, fol. 88, and after is shewed how the same maie
+be made with a voide place in the middest: accordynge as the orderyng
+therof, in the booke moste plainely is declared, fol. 89.
+
+In the fowerth figure, is shewed the forme or facion of an armie
+apoincted to faight the battaile with the enemies: and for the better
+understandynge thereof, the verie same is plainlier set foorthe in the
+figure next unto it, wherby the other two figures next folowyng maie the
+easier be understoode: accordynge as in the booke is expressed. Fol.
+105.
+
+In the fifte figure, is shewed the forme of a fower square armie: as in
+the booke is discribed. Fol. 152.
+
+In the sixte figure, is shewed howe an Armie is brought from a fower
+square facion, to the ordinarie forme, to faight a fielde: accordyng as
+afore is declared. Fol. 156.
+
+In the seventh figure, is discribed the maner of incamping: according as
+the same in the booke is declared. Fol. 174.
+
+
+THE FIRSTE FIGURE
+
+This is the maner of ordering of CCCC. men, into lxxx. rankes, five to a
+ranke, to bring them into a iiii square battaile with the Pikes on the
+front, as after foloweth.
+
+  C
+c''''
+c''''
+c''''
+c''''
+c''''
+c....
+c....
+c....
+c....
+c....
+c....
+c....
+c....
+c....
+c....
+c....
+c....
+c....
+c....
+c....
+  C
+'''''
+'''''
+'''''
+'''''
+'''''
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+  C
+'''''
+'''''
+'''''
+'''''
+'''''
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+  C
+''''c
+''''c
+''''c
+''''c
+''''c
+....c
+....c
+....c
+....c
+....c
+....c
+....c
+....c
+....c
+....c
+....c
+....c
+....c
+....c
+....c
+
+
+This is the foresaied lxxx. rankes of iiii. C. men brought into a fower
+square battaile with the Pikes on the fronte. And the fiftie Veliti on
+the sides and on the backe.
+
+
+C                    C
+vc''''''''''''''''''cv
+vc''''''''''''''''''cv
+vc''''''''''''''''''cv
+vc''''''''''''''''''cv
+vc''''''''''''''''''cv
+vc........dkb.......cv
+vc..................cv
+vc..................cv
+vc..................cv
+vc..................cv
+vc..................cv
+vc..................cv
+vc..................cv
+vc..................cv
+vc..................cv
+vc..................cv
+vc..................cv
+vc..................cv
+vc..................cv
+vc..................cv
+C v v v v v v v v v v C
+
+
+THE SECONDE FIGURE
+
+This is the maner of ordering of CCCC. men, into lxxx. rankes, five to a
+ranke, to bring them into a iiii square battaile with the Pikes on the
+side, as after foloweth.
+
+
+  C
+ccccc
+'''''
+'''''
+'''''
+'''''
+'''''
+'''''
+'''''
+'''''
+'''''
+'''''
+'''''
+'''''
+'''''
+'''''
+'''''
+'''''
+'''''
+'''''
+ccccc
+  C
+ccccc
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+ccccc
+  C
+ccccc
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+ccccc
+  C
+ccccc
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+ccccc
+
+
+This is the foresaied lxxx. rankes of iiii. C. men brought into a fower
+square battaile with the Pikes on the side.
+
+
+CvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvC
+ cccccccccccccccccccc
+v...............'''''
+ ...............'''''
+v...............'''''
+ ...............'''''
+v...............'''''
+ ...............'''''
+v...............'''''
+ ...............'''''
+v...............'''''
+ ...............'''''
+v...............'''''
+ ...............'''''
+v...............'''''
+ ...............'''''
+v...............'''''
+ ...............'''''
+v...............'''''
+ ...............'''''
+v...............'''''
+ cccccccccccccccccccc
+CvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvC
+
+
+THE THYRDE FIGURE
+
+These are the nombers of rankes appoincted to make the horned battaile
+of, and the square battaile with the voide space in the middest, as
+after foloweth.
+
+
+''''''''''''''''''''''''' ...............
+''''''''''''''''''''''''' ...............
+cccccccccccccccccccc.....C...............C
+......................... ...............
+......................... ...............
+
+
+
+
+ '''''''''''''''''''''''''
+ '''''''''''''''''''''''''
+Ccccccccccccccccccccc.....C
+ .........................
+ .........................
+ ...............
+ ...............
+ ...............
+ ...............
+ ...............d
+ ...............k
+ ...............b
+ ...............
+ ...............
+ ...............
+ ...............
+ .........................
+ .........................
+Ccccccccccccccccccccc.....C
+ '''''''''''''''''''''''''
+ '''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+
+
+............... .........................
+............... .........................
+...............Ccccccccccccccccccccc.....C
+............... '''''''''''''''''''''''''
+............... '''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+
+
+ '''''''''''''''''''''''''
+ '''''''''''''''''''''''''
+Ccccccccccccccccccccc.....C
+ .........................
+ .........................
+ .......          ........
+ .......          ........
+ .......          ........
+ .......    d     ........
+ .......    k     ........
+ .......    b     ........
+ .......          ........
+ .......          ........
+ .......          ........
+ .......          ........
+ .........................
+ .........................
+Ccccccccccccccccccccc.....C
+ '''''''''''''''''''''''''
+ '''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+
+THE FOURTH FIGURE
+
+
+     A           A     A     A     A     A
+llm mCrCCC    Cu,,uCCu,,uCCu,,uCCu,,uCCu,,uCA
+llm mrrr,,,   vu,,uvvu,,uvvu,,uvvu,,uvvu,,uvA
+llm mrrrdkb   vdk bvvdk bvvdk bvvdk bvvdk bv
+lltksdkb,,,   vc..uvvu..uvvu..uvvu..uvvu..uv   t G
+llm mrrr,,,   vc..uvvu..uvvu..uvvu..uvvu..uv   lll
+ktm mrrr,,,   vc..uvvu..uvvu..uvvu..uvvu..uv  ....
+lsm mCr(,,,   Cu..uCCu..uCCu..uCCu..uCCu..uC
+llm m   ,,,
+llm m   ,,,               .....
+llm m   ,,,                dHb
+llm m   ,,,               .....
+,,,
+,,,
+,,,
+,,,   Cu..uC      Cu..uC      Cu..uC
+,,,   vu,,uv      vu,,uv      vu,,uv
+,,,   vdk bv      vdk bv      vdk bv
+CdkbC  vu..uv      vu..uv      vu..uv
+,,   vu..uv      vu..uv      vu..uv
+,,,   vu..uv      vu..uv      vu..uv
+,,,   Cu..uC      Cu..uC      Cu..uC
+,,,
+,,,
+,,,
+,,,
+,,,
+,,,
+,,,
+,,,   Cu,,uC                  Cu,,uC
+,,,   vu,,uv                  vu,,uv
+,,,   vdk bv                  vdk bv
+,,,   vu..uv                  vu..uv
+dkb   vu..uv                  vu..uv
+,,,   vu..uv                  vu..uv
+C C   Cu..uC                  Cu..uC
+
+The cariages and the unarmed.
+
+
+  A     A     A     A     A     A
+A Cu,,uCCu,,uCCu,,uCCu,,uCCu,,uC   C CCrCm mll
+A vu,,uvvu,,uvvu,,uvvu,,uvvu,,uv   ,,,rrrm mll
+m vdk bvvdk bvvdk bvvdk bvvdk bv   dkbrrrm mll
+s vu..uvvu..uvvu..uvvu..uvvu..uv   ,,,dkbm mll
+llvu..uvvu..uvvu..uvvu..uvvu..uv   ,,,rrrtksll
+..vu.. vvu..uvvu..uvvu..uvvu..uv   ,,,rrrm mtk
+Cu..uCCu..uC  ..uCCu..uCCu..uC   ,,,rrrm msl
+,,,   m mll
+,,,   m mll
+dHb           ,,,   m mll
+....          ,,,   m mll
+,,,
+,,,
+,,,
+Cu,,uC      Cu,,uC      Cu,,uC   ,,,
+vu,,uv      uv,,uv      uv,,uv   ,,,
+vdk bv      vdk bv      vdk bv   ,,,
+vu..uv      vu..uv      vu..uv  CdkbC
+vu..uv      vu..uv      vu..uv   ,,,
+vu..uv      vu..uv      vu..uv   ,,,
+Cu..uC      Cu..uC      Cu..uC   ,,,
+,,,
+,,,
+,,,
+,,,
+,,,
+,,,
+,,,
+Cu,,uC                  Cu,,uC   ,,,
+vu,,uv                  uv,,uv   ,,,
+vdk bv                  vdk bv   ,,,
+vu..uv                  vu..uv   ,,,
+vu..uv                  vu..uv   dkb
+vu..uv                  vu..uv   ,,,
+Cu..uC                  Cu..uC   C C
+
+
+THE FIFT FIGURE
+
+
+A ) ,,,, C) ,,,, C) ,,,, C),,,,C),,,,))v) vCvC),,,,C) ,,,, C A
+  u ,,,, uu ,,,, uu ,,,, uu,,,,uu,,,,uvvvvvvvvu,,,,uu ,,,, u
+  u ,,,, uu  dkb uu  dkb uu dkbuu dkbuvvvvvvvvu dkbuu ,,,, u
+  u  dkb uu .... uu .... uu....uu....u)vv vvvCu....uu  dkb u  A
+A u ,,,, uu .... uu .... uu....uu....uvvvvvvvvu....uu ,,,, u
+  u ,,,, uu .... uu .... uu....uu....uvvvvvvvvu....uu ,,,, u A
+  ) ,,,, C) .... C) .... C)....C)....C)v) vCvC)....)) ,,,, C
+A ) uuuC                                            )  uuu C
+  ,,,,....                                          ....,,,, A
+  ,,,,....    ....                                  ....,,,,
+  ,,dkb...    dHb                                    ..dkb,,
+A ,,,,....    ....                                  ....,,,,
+  ,,,,....                                          ....,,,, A
+  ) n n nC                                          ) n n nC
+A ) u u uC                                          ) u u uC
+  ,,,,....                                          ....,,,,
+  ,,,,....                  ...III..                ....,,,, A
+  ,, dkb..                  .. mm ..                .. dkb,,
+A ,,,,....                  .. tGs..                ....,,,,
+  ,,,,....                  ........                ....,,,,
+  ) n n nC                                          ) n n nC A
+  ) u u uC               ),,,,C),,,,C               ) u u uC
+A ,,,,....               u,,,,uu,,,,u               ....,,,,
+  ,,,,....               u,,,,uu,,,,u               ....,,,, A
+  ,, dkb..               u dkbuu dkbu               .. dkb,,
+  ,,,,....               u,,,,uu,,,,u               ....,,,,
+  ,,,,....               u,,,,uu,,,,u               ....,,,,
+A ) n n nC               ),,,,C),,,,C               ) n n nC
+#/
+
+/#
+A ) u u uC                                          ) u u uC A
+  ,,,,....                                          ....,,,,
+  ,,,,....                                          ....,,,,
+  ,, dkb..                                          .. dkb,,
+A ,,,,....                                          ....,,,, A
+  ,,,,....                                          ....,,,,
+  ) n n nC                                          ) n n nC
+  ) u u uC                                          ) u u uC
+A ,,,,....                                          ....,,,, A
+  ,,,,....                                  ....    ....,,,,
+  ,, dkb..                                  d Hb    .. dkb,,
+  ,,,,....                                  ....    .. dkb,,
+A ,,,,....                                          ....,,,, A
+  ) n n nC                                          ) n n nC
+  ) ,,,, C)....C ) r) rC rC )....C)....C)....C)....C) ,,,, C
+  u ,,,, uu....urrrrrrrrrrrru....uu....uu....uu....uu ,,,, C
+A u ,,,, uu....urr dkb dkb ru....uu....uu....uu....uu ,,,, u A
+  u  dkb uu dkbu rrrrrrrrrrru dkbnu dkbuu dkbuu dkbuu  dkb u
+  u ,,,, uu,,,,urr dkb dkb ru,,,,uu,,,,uu,,,,uu,,,,uu ,,,, u
+  u ,,,, uu,,,,u rrrrrrrrrrru,,,,uu,,,,uu,,,,uu,,,,uu ,,,, u
+A ) ,,,, C),,,,C ) r) rC rC ),,,,u),,,,C),,,,C),,,,C) ,,,, C A
+
+  mmmm mmmm                                        mmmm mmmm
+  mmmm mmmm                                        mmmm mmmm
+  mmmm mmmm                                        mmmm mmmm
+  mmmtksmmm                                        mmmtksmmm
+  mmmm mmmm                                        mmmm mmmm
+  mmmm mmmm                                        mmmm mmmm
+  mmmm mmmm                                        mmmm mmmm
+
+
+
+      A      A      A       A     A
+mmmmmmmm CvC)u, ,uC)u, ,uC)u, ,uC)u,,uC)u,
+mmmmmmmm vvvru, ,urru, ,urru, ,urru,,urru,,
+mmmmmmmm vvvrudkburrudkburrd k brrdk brrudk
+mmmtksmmmvvvru. .urru. .urru. .urru..urru..
+mmmmmmmm vvvru. .ruur. .urru. .urru..urru..
+mmmmmmmm vvv)u. .uC)u. .uC)u. .uC)u..uCCu .
+mmmmmmmm vvv),,,,,C
+         dkbr,,,...r       ....        .lll
+         vvvr,dkb..r       dHb         . .m
+         vvvr,,,...r       ....        ...t
+         vvvr,,,...r                   ....
+         vvv),,,...C
+         vvv),,,...C
+         vvvr,,,...r      )u, ,uC      )u,,
+         )vCr,dkb .r      ru. ,ur      ru,,
+            r,,,...r      rudkbur      ru,d
+            r,,,...r      ru. .ur      ru..
+            r,,,...r      ru. .ur      ru..
+            ),,,...C      )u. .uC      )u.
+            ),,,...C
+            r,,,...r
+            r,dkb..r
+            r,,,...r
+            r,,,...r
+            ),,,...C
+            ),,,...C
+            r,,,...r      )u. .uC
+            r,dkb..r      ru, ,ur
+            r,,,...r      rudkbur
+            r,,,...r      ru. .ur
+            ),,, ..C      ru. .ur
+            ),,,...C      )u. .uC
+            r,,,...r      )u. .uC
+            r,,dkb.r
+            r,,,...r
+            r,,,...r
+            ),,, ..C
+            ),,,,,,C
+            r,,,,,,r
+            r, dkb,r
+            r,,,,,,r
+            r,,,,,,r
+            ),,,,,,C
+
+
+
+   A     A       A     A      A
+,uC)u, ,uC)u, ,uC)u, ,uC)u, ,uC)v) mmmmmmmm
+,urru, ,urru, ,urru, ,urru, ,urvvv mmmmmmmm
+b,rr,dkb,rr,dkb,rr,dkb,rr dkb rvvv mmmmmmmm
+.urru. .urru. .urru. .urru. .urvvvmmmtkfmmm
+.urru. .urru. .urru. .urru. .urvvv mmmmmmmm
+.uC)u. .uC)u. .uC)u. .uCCu. .u)vvv mmmmmmmm
+                        )...,,Cvvv mmmmmmmm
+.ll..       ....        r...,,,rdkb
+.m.         dHb         r.dkb, rvvv
+Gs..        ....        r...,,,rvvv
+....                    r...,,,rvvv
+                        )... ,,Cvvv
+,uC       )u. .uC       )... ,,Cvvv
+,ur       ru, ,ur       r...,,,rvvv
+kb,r      r,dkb,r       r.dkb, rC )
+,ur       ru. .ur       r...,,,r
+,ur       ru. .ur       r...,,,r
+,uC       )u. .u)       )... ,,C
+                        )... ,,C
+                        r...,,,r
+                        r.dkb, r
+                        r...,,,r
+                        r...,,,r
+                        )...,,,C
+                        )...,,,C
+          )u, ,uC       r...,, r
+          ru, ,ur       r.dkb, r
+          r,dkb,r       r...,,,r
+          ru. .ur       r...,,,r
+          ru. .ur       )... ,,C
+          )u. .uC       )... ,,C
+                        r...,,,r
+                        r.dkb, r
+                        r...,,,r
+                        r...,,,r
+                        )... ,,C
+                        ),,, ,,C
+                        r,,,,,,r
+                        r,dkb, r
+                        r,,,,,,r
+                        r,,,,,,r
+                        ),,, ,,C
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+NICHOLAS MACHIAVEL'S
+
+PRINCE
+
+TRANSLATED
+OUT OF ITALIAN INTO ENGLISH BY
+
+E.D.
+
+WITH SOME ANIMADVERSIONS
+NOTING AND TAXING
+HIS ERRORS
+
+1640
+
+
+
+TO THE MOST
+NOBLE AND ILLUSTRIOUS,
+JAMES Duke of Lenox, Earle of March, Baron of Setrington, Darnly,
+Terbanten, and Methuen, Lord Great Chamberlain and Admiral of Scotland,
+Knight of the most Noble Order of the Garter, and one of his Majesties
+most honourable Privy Counsel in both kingdomes.
+
+Poysons are not all of that malignant and noxious quality, that as
+destructives of Nature, they are utterly to be abhord; but we find many,
+nay most of them have their medicinal uses. This book carries its poyson
+and malice in it; yet mee thinks the judicious peruser may honestly make
+use of it in the actions of his life, with advantage. The Lamprey, they
+say, hath a venemous string runs all along the back of it; take that
+out, and it is serv'd in for a choyce dish to dainty palates; Epictetus
+the Philosopher, sayes, Every thing hath two handles, as the fire brand,
+it may be taken up at one end in the bare hand without hurt: the other
+being laid hold on, will cleave to the very flesh, and the smart of it
+will pierce even to the heart. Sin hath the condition of the fiery end;
+the touch of it is wounding with griefe unto the soule: nay it is worse;
+one sin goes not alone but hath many consequences. Your Grace may find
+the truth of this in your perusal of this Author: your judgement shall
+easily direct you in finding out the good uses of him: I have pointed at
+his chiefest errors with my best endeavors, and have devoted them to
+your Graces service: which if you shall accept and protect, I shall
+remain
+
+Your Graces humble and devoted servant,
+
+EDWARD DACRES.
+
+
+
+
+THE EPISTLE TO THE READER.
+
+
+Questionless some men will blame me for making this Author speak in our
+vulgar tongue. For his Maximes and Tenents are condemnd of all, as
+pernicious to all Christian States, and hurtfull to all humane
+Societies. Herein I shall answer for my self with the Comoedian,
+_Placere studeo bonis quam plurimis, et minimé multos lædere_: I
+endeavor to give content to the most I can of those that are well
+disposed, and no scandal to any. I grant, I find him blamed and
+condemned: I do no less my self. Reader, either do thou read him without
+a prejudicate opinion, and out of thy own judgement taxe his errors; or
+at least, if thou canst stoop so low, make use of my pains to help thee;
+I will promise thee this reward for thy labor: if thou consider well the
+actions of the world, thou shalt find him much practised by those that
+condemn him; who willingly would walk as theeves do with close lanternes
+in the night, that they being undescried, and yet seeing all, might
+surprise the unwary in the dark. Surely this book will infect no man:
+out of the wicked treasure of a mans own wicked heart, he drawes his
+malice and mischief. From the same flower the Bee sucks honey, from
+whence the Spider hath his poyson. And he that means well, shall be here
+warnd, where the deceitfull man learnes to set his snares. A judge who
+hath often used to examine theeves, becomes the more expert to sift out
+their tricks. If mischief come hereupon, blame not me, nor blame my
+Author: lay the saddle on the right horse: but _Hony soit qui mal y
+pense_: let shame light on him that hatcht the mischief.
+
+
+
+
+THE PRINCE
+
+NICHOLAS MACHIAVELLI,
+
+to the Magnificent LAURENCE sonne
+to PETER OF MEDICIS health.
+
+
+They that desire to ingratiate themselves with a Prince, commonly use to
+offer themselves to his view, with things of that nature as such persons
+take most pleasure and delight in: whereupon we see they are many times
+presented with Horses and Armes, cloth of gold, pretious stones, and
+such like ornaments, worthy of their greatness. Having then a mind to
+offer up my self to your Magnificence, with some testimony of my service
+to you, I found nothing in my whole inventory, that I think better of,
+or more esteeme, than the knowlege of great mens actions, which I have
+learned by a long experience of modern affairs, and a continual reading
+of those of the ancients. Which, now that I have with great diligence
+long workt it out, and throughly sifted, I commend to your Magnificence.
+And, however I may well think this work unworthy of your view; yet such
+is your humanity, that I doubt not but it shall find acceptance,
+considering, that for my part I am not able to tender a greater gift,
+than to present you with the means, whereby in a very short time you may
+be able to understand all that, which I, in the space of many years, and
+with many sufferances and dangers, have made proof and gaind the
+knowledge of. And this work I have not set forth either with elegancy of
+discourse or stile, nor with any other ornament whereby to captivate the
+reader, as others use, because I would not have it gain its esteem from
+elsewhere than from the truth of the matter, and the gravity of the
+subject. Nor can this be thought presumption, if a man of humble and low
+condition venture to dilate and discourse upon the governments of
+Princes; for even as they that with their pensils designe out countreys,
+get themselves into the plains below to consider the nature of the
+mountains, and other high places above; and again to consider the plains
+below, they get up to the tops of the mountains; in like manner to
+understand the nature of the people, it is fit to be a Prince; and to
+know well the dispositions of Princes, sutes best with the understanding
+of a subject. Your Magnificence then may be pleased, to receive this
+small present, with the same mind that I send it; which if you shall
+throughly peruse and consider, you shall perceive therein that I
+exceedingly wish, that you may attain to that greatness, which your own
+fortune, and your excellent endowments promise you: and if your
+Magnificence from the very point of your Highness shall sometime cast
+your eyes upon these inferior places, you shall see how undeservedly I
+undergoe an extream and continual despight of Fortune.
+
+
+
+
+THE TABLE OF THE CHAPTERS
+
+CHAP. 1.
+
+How many sorts of Principalities there are, and how many wayes they are
+attained to, 263
+
+CHAP. 2.
+
+Of hereditary Principalities, 264
+
+CHAP. 3.
+
+Of mixt Principalities, 265
+
+CHAP. 4.
+
+Wherefore Darius his Kingdome, taken by Alexander, rebelled not against
+his successors after Alexanders death, 273
+
+CHAP. 5.
+
+In what manner Cities and Principalities are to be governed, which
+before they were conquered, lived under their own laws, 276
+
+CHAP. 6.
+
+Of new Principalities that are conquered by ones own armes and valor,
+277
+
+CHAP. 7.
+
+Of new Principalities gotten by fortune and other mens forces, 281
+
+CHAP. 8.
+
+Concerning those who by wicked means have attaind to a Principality, 289
+
+CHAP. 9.
+
+Of the Civil Principality, 293
+
+CHAP. 10.
+
+In what manner the forces of all Principalities ought to be measured,
+297
+
+CHAP. 11.
+
+Concerning Ecclesiastical Principalities, 299
+
+CHAP. 12.
+
+How many sorts of Military discipline there be; and touching mercenary
+soldiers, 302
+
+CHAP. 13.
+
+Of Auxiliary Soldiers, mixt and natives, 307
+
+CHAP. 14.
+
+What belongs to the Prince touching military discipline, 310
+
+CHAP. 15.
+
+Of those things in respect whereof men, and especially Princes are
+prais'd or disprais'd, 313
+
+CHAP. 16.
+
+Of Liberality and Miserableness, 315
+
+CHAP. 17.
+
+Of Cruelty and Clemency, and whether it is better to be belov'd or
+feared, 318
+
+CHAP. 18.
+
+In what manner Princes ought to keep their word, 321
+
+CHAP. 19.
+
+That Princes should take a care not to incur contempt or hatred, 325
+
+CHAP. 20.
+
+Whether the Citadels and many other things, which Princes make use of,
+are profitable or dammageable, 335
+
+CHAP. 21.
+
+How a Prince ought to behave himself to gain reputation, 339
+
+CHAP. 22.
+
+Touching Princes Secretaries, 343
+
+CHAP. 23.
+
+That Flatterers are to be avoyded, 344
+
+CHAP. 24.
+
+Wherefore the Princes of Italy have lost their States, 347
+
+CHAP. 25.
+
+How great power Fortune hath in humane affairs, and what means there is
+to resist it, 349
+
+CHAP. 26.
+
+An exhortation to free Italy from the Barbarions, 353
+
+
+
+
+THE PRINCE
+
+Written by
+
+NICHOLAS MACHIAVELLI,
+Secretary and Citizen of Florence.
+
+
+CHAP. I
+
+How many sorts of Principalities there are, and how many wayes they are
+attained to.
+
+
+All States, all Dominions that have had, or now have rule over men, have
+been and are, either Republiques or Principalities. Principalities are
+either hereditary, whereof they of the blood of the Lord thereof have
+long time been Princes; or else they are new; and those that are new,
+are either all new, as was the Dutchy of Millan to Francis Sforce; or
+are as members adjoyned to the hereditary State of the Prince that gains
+it; as the Kingdom of Naples is to the King of Spain. These Dominions so
+gotten, are accustomed either to live under a Prince, or to enjoy their
+liberty; and are made conquest of, either with others forces, or ones
+own, either by fortune, or by valor.
+
+
+
+
+CHAP. II
+
+Of Hereditary Principalities.
+
+
+I will not here discourse of Republiques, because I have other where
+treated of them at large: I will apply my self only to a Principality,
+and proceed, while I weave this web, by arguing thereupon, how these
+Principallities can be governed and maintained. I say then that in
+States of inheritance, and accustomed to the blood of their Princes,
+there are far fewer difficulties to keep them, than in the new: for it
+suffices only not to transgress the course his Ancestors took, and so
+afterward to temporise with those accidents that can happen; that if
+such a Prince be but of ordinary industry, he shall allwaies be able to
+maintain himself in his State, unless by some extraordinary or excessive
+power he be deprived thereof; and when he had lost it, upon the least
+sinister chance that befalls the usurper, he recovers it again. We have
+in Italy the Duke of Ferrara for example hereof, who was of ability to
+resist the Venetians, in the year 84, and to withstand Pope Julius in
+the tenth for no other reason, than because he had of old continued in
+that rule; for the natural Prince hath fewer occasions, and less heed to
+give offence, whereupon of necessity he must be more beloved; and unless
+it be that some extravagant vices of his bring him into hatred, it is
+agreeable to reason, that naturally he should be well beloved by his own
+subjects: and in the antiquity and continuation of the Dominion, the
+remembrances and occasions of innovations are quite extinguished: for
+evermore one change leaves a kind of breach or dent, to fasten the
+building of another.
+
+
+
+
+CHAP. III
+
+Of mixt Principalities.
+
+
+But the difficulties consist in the new Principality; and first, if it
+be not all new, but as a member, so that it may be termed altogether as
+mixt; and the variations thereof proceed in the first place from a
+natural difficulty, which we commonly finde in all new Principalities;
+for men do willingly change their Lord, beleeving to better their
+condition; and this beliefe causes them to take armes against him that
+rules over them, whereby they deceive themselves, because they find
+after by experience, they have made it worse: which depends upon another
+natural and ordinary necessity, forcing him alwaies to offend those,
+whose Prince he newly becomes, as well by his soldiers he is put to
+entertain upon them as by many other injuries, which a new conquest
+draws along with it; in such manner as thou findest all those thine
+enemies, whom thou hast endammaged in the seizing of that Principality,
+and afterwards canst not keep them thy friends that have seated thee in
+it, for not being able to satisfie them according to their expectations,
+nor put in practice strong remedies against them, being obliged to them.
+For however one be very well provided with strong armies, yet hath he
+alwaies need of the favor of the inhabitants in the Countrey, to enter
+thereinto. For these reasons, Lewis the twelfth, King of France,
+suddenly took Milan, and as soon lost it; and the first time Lodwick his
+own forces served well enough to wrest it out of his hands; for those
+people that had opened him the gates, finding themselves deceived of
+their opinion, and of that future good which they had promised
+themselves, could not endure the distastes the new Prince gave them.
+True it is, that Countreys that have rebelled again the second time,
+being recovered, are harder lost; for their Lord, taking occasion from
+their rebellion, is less respective of persons, but cares only to secure
+himself, by punishing the delinquents, to clear all suspicions, and to
+provide for himself where he thinks he is weakest: so that if to make
+France lose Milan the first time, it was enough for Duke Lodwick to make
+some small stir only upon the confines; yet afterwards, before they
+could make him lose it the second time, they had need of the whole world
+together against him, and that all his armies should be wasted and
+driven out of Italy; which proceeded from the forenamed causes: however
+though both the first and second time it was taken from him. The
+generall causes of the first we have treated of; it remains now that we
+see those of the second; and set down the remedies that he had, or any
+one else can have that should chance to be in those termes he was,
+whereby he might be able to maintain himself better in his conquest than
+the King of France did. I say therefore, that these States which by
+Conquest are annexed to the ancient states of their conqueror, are
+either of the same province and the same language, or otherwise; and
+when they are, it is very easy to hold them, especially when they are
+not used to live free; and to enjoy them securely, it is enough to have
+extinguished the Princes line who ruled over them: For in other matters,
+allowing them their ancient conditions, and there being not much
+difference of manners betwixt them, men ordinarily live quiet enough; as
+we have seen that Burgundy did, Britany, Gascony, and Normandy, which so
+long time continued with France: for however there be some difference of
+language between them, yet can they easily comport one with another; and
+whosoever makes the conquest of them, meaning to hold them, must have
+two regards; the first, that the race of their former Prince be quite
+extinguished; the other, that he change nothing, neither in their lawes
+nor taxes, so that in a very short time they become one entire body with
+their ancient Principality. But when any States are gaind in a Province
+disagreeing in language, manners, and orders, here are the difficulties,
+and here is there need of good fortune, and great industry to maintain
+them; and it would be one of the best and livelyest remedies, for the
+Conqueror to goe in person and dwell there; this would make the
+possession hereof more secure and durable; as the Turk hath done in
+Greece, who among all the other courses taken by him for to hold that
+State, had he not gone thither himself in person to dwell, it had never
+been possible for him to have kept it: for abiding there, he sees the
+disorders growing in their beginnings, and forthwith can remedy them;
+whereas being not there present, they are heard of when they are grown
+to some height, and then is there no help for them. Moreover, the
+Province is not pillaged by the officers thou sendest thither: the
+subjects are much satisfied of having recourse to the Prince near at
+hand, whereupon have they more reason to love him, if they mean to be
+good; and intending to do otherwise, to fear him: and forrein Princes
+will be well aware how they invade that State; insomuch, that making his
+abode there, he can very hardly lose it. Another remedy, which is also a
+better, is to send Colonies into one or two places, which may be as it
+were the keys of that State; for it is necessary either to do this, or
+to maintain there many horse and foot. In these colonies the Prince
+makes no great expence, and either without his charge, or at a very
+small rate, he may both send and maintain them; and gives offence only
+to them from whom he takes their fields and houses, to bestow them on
+those new inhabitants who are but a very small part of that State; and
+those that he offends, remaining dispersed and poore, can never hurt
+him: and all the rest on one part, have no offence given them, and
+therefore a small matter keeps them in quiet: on the other side, they
+are wary not to erre, for fear it befalls not them, as it did those that
+were dispoild. I conclude then, that those colonies that are not
+chargeable, are the more trusty, give the less offence; and they that
+are offended, being but poor and scattered, can do but little harme, as
+I have said; for it is to be noted, that men must either be dallyed and
+flattered withall, or else be quite crusht; for they revenge themselves
+of small dammages; but of great ones they are not able; so that when
+wrong is done to any man, it ought so to be done, that it need fear no
+return of revenge again. But in lieu of Colonies, by maintaining
+soldiers there, the expence is great; for the whole revenues of that
+State are to be spent in the keeping of it; so the conquest proves but a
+loss to him that hath got it, and endammages him rather; for it hurts
+that whole State to remove the army from place to place, of which
+annoyance every one hath a feeling, and so becomes enemie to thee; as
+they are enemies, I wis, who are outraged by thee in their own houses,
+whensoever they are able to do thee mischief. Every way then is this
+guard unprofitable. Besides, he that is in a different Province, (as it
+is said) should make himself Head and defender of his less powerfull
+neighbors, and devise alwaies to weaken those that are more mighty
+therein, and take care that upon no chance there enter not any foreiner
+as mighty as himself; for it will alwaies come to pass, that they shall
+be brought in by those that are discontented, either upon ambition, or
+fear; as the Etolians brought the Romans into Greece; and they were
+brought into every countrey they came, by the Natives; and the course of
+the matter is, that so soon as a powerfull Stranger enters a countrey,
+all those that are the less powerfull there, cleave to him, provoked by
+an envy they beare him that is more mighty than they; so that for these
+of the weaker sort, he may easily gain them without any pains: for
+presently all of them together very willingly make one lump with that he
+hath gotten: He hath only to beware that these increase not their
+strengths, nor their authorities, and so he shall easily be able by his
+own forces, and their assistances, to take down those that are mighty,
+and remain himself absolute arbitre of that Countrey. And he that playes
+not well this part, shall quickly lose what he hath gotten; and while he
+holds it, shall find therein a great many troubles and vexations. The
+Romans in the Provinces they seiz'd on, observed well these points, sent
+colonies thither, entertained the weaker sort, without augmenting any
+thing their power, abated the forces of those that were mighty, and
+permitted not any powerfull forreiner to gain too much reputation there.
+And I will content my self only with the countrey of Greece for example
+hereof. The Achayans and Etolians were entertained by them, the Macedons
+kingdome was brought low, Antiochus was driven thence, nor ever did the
+Achayans or Etolians deserts prevail so far for them, that they would
+ever promise to enlarge their State, nor the perswasions of Philip
+induce them ever to be his friends, without bringing him lower; nor yet
+could Antiochus his power make them ever consent that he should hold any
+State in that countrey: for the Romans did in these cases that which all
+judicious Princes ought to do, who are not only to have regard unto all
+present mischiefs, but also to the future, and to provide for those with
+all industry; for by taking order for those when they are afarre off, it
+is easie to prevent them; but by delaying till they come near hand to
+thee, the remedy comes too late; for this malignity is grown incurable:
+and it befalls this, as the physicians say of the hectick feaver, that
+in the beginning it is easily cur'd, but hardly known; but in the course
+of time, not having been known in the beginning, nor cured, it becomes
+easie to know, but hard to cure. Even so falls it out in matters of
+State; for by knowing it aloof off (which is given only to a wise man to
+do) the mischiefs that then spring up, are quickly helped; but when, for
+not having been perceived, they are suffered to increase, so that every
+one sees them, there is then no cure for them: therefore the Romans,
+seeing these inconvenients afar off, alwaies prevented them, and never
+sufferd them to follow; for to escape a war, because they knew that a
+war is not undertaken, but deferred for anothers advantage; therefore
+would they rather make a war with Philip and Antiochus in Greece, to the
+end it should not afterwards be made with them in Italy, though for that
+time they were able to avoid both the one and the other, which they
+thought not good to do: nor did they approve of that saying that is
+ordinarily in the mouthes of the Sages of our dayes, _to enjoy the
+benefits of the present time_; but that rather, to take the benefit of
+their valor and wisdome; for time drives forward everything, and may
+bring with it as well good as evil, and evil as good. But let us return
+to France, and examine if any of the things prescribed have been done by
+them: and we will speak of Lewis, and not of Charles, as of whom by
+reason of the long possession he held in Italy we better knew the wayes
+he went: and you shall see he did the clean contrary to what should have
+been done by him that would maintain a State of different Language and
+conditions. King Lewis was brought into Italy by the Venetians ambition,
+who would have gotten for their shares half the State of Lombardy: I
+will not blame his comming, or the course he took, because he had a mind
+to begin to set a foot in Italy; but having not any friends in the
+country, all gates being barred against him, by reason of King Charles
+his carriage there, he was constrained to joyn friendship with those he
+could; and this consideration well taken, would have proved lucky to
+him, when in the rest of his courses he had not committed any error. The
+King then having conquered Lombardy, recovered presently all that
+reputation that Charles had lost him; Genua yeelded to him, the
+Florentines became friends with him; the Marquess of Mantua, the Duke of
+Ferrara, the Bentivolti, the Lady of Furli, the Lord of Faenza, Pesaro
+Rimino, Camerino, and Piombino, the Lucheses, Pisans and Sienses, every
+one came and offered him friendship: then might the Venetians consider
+the rashness of the course they had taken, who, only to get into their
+hands two Townes in Lombardy, made the King Lord of two thirds in Italy.
+Let any man now consider with how small difficulty could the King have
+maintained his reputation in Italy, if he had followed these aforenamed
+rules, and secured and defended those his friends, who because their
+number was great, and they weak and fearful, some of the Church, and
+others of the Venetians were alwaies forced to hold with him, and by
+their means he might easily have been able to secure himself against
+those that were mightiest: but he was no sooner got into Milan, than he
+took a quite wrong course, by giving ayd to Pope Alexander, to seize
+upon Romania, and perceiv'd not that by this resolution he weakned
+himself, ruining his own friends, and those had cast themselves into his
+bosom, making the Church puissant, by adding to their Spiritual power,
+they gaind their authority, and so much temporal estate. And having once
+got out of the way, he was constrained to go on forward; insomuch as to
+stop Alexanders ambition, and that he should not become Lord of all
+Tuscany, of force he was to come into Italy: and this sufficed him not,
+to have made the Church mighty, and taken away his own friends; but for
+the desire he had to get the Kingdome of Naples, he divided it with the
+King of Spain: and where before he was the sole arbitre of Italy, he
+brought in a competitor, to the end that all the ambitious persons of
+that country, and all that were ill affected to him, might have
+otherwhere to make their recourse: and whereas he might have left in
+that Kingdome some Vice-King of his own, he took him from thence, to
+place another there, that might afterward chace him thence. It is a
+thing indeed very natural and ordinary, to desire to be of the getting
+hand: and alwaies when men undertake it, if they can effect it, they
+shall be prais'd for it, or at least not blam'd: but when they are not
+able, and yet will undertake it, here lies the blame, here is the error
+committed. If France then was able with her own power to assail the
+Kingdome of Naples, she might well have done it; but not being able, she
+should not have divided it: and if the division she made of Lombardy
+with the Venetians, deserv'd some excuse, thereby to set one foot in
+Italy; yet this merits blame, for not being excused by that necessity.
+Lewis then committed these five faults; extinguisht the feebler ones,
+augmented the State of another that was already powerful in Italy,
+brought thereinto a very puissant forreiner, came not thither himself to
+dwell there, nor planted any colonies there: which faults while he
+liv'd, he could not but be the worse for; yet all could not have gone so
+ill, had he not committed the sixt, to take from the Venetians their
+State; for if he had not enlarg'd the Churches territories nor brought
+the Spaniard into Italy, it had bin necessary to take them lower; but
+having first taken those other courses, he should never have given way
+to their destruction; for while they had been strong, they would alwaies
+have kept the others off from venturing on the conquest of Lombardy. For
+the Venetians would never have given their consents thereto, unless they
+should have been made Lords of it themselves; and the others would never
+have taken it from France, to give it them: and then they would never
+have dar'd to go and set upon them both together. And if any one should
+say, that King Lewis yeelded Romania to Alexander, and the Kingdome of
+Naples to Spain, to avoid a war; I answer with the reasons above
+alledged, that one should never suffer any disorder to follow, for
+avoiding of a war; for that war is not sav'd, but put off to thy
+disadvantage. And if any others argue, that the King had given his word
+to the Pope, to do that exploit for him, for dissolving of his marriage,
+and for giving the Cardinals Cap to him of Roan; I answer with that
+which hereafter I shall say touching Princes words, how they ought to be
+kept. King Lewis then lost Lombardy, for not having observ'd some of
+those termes which others us'd, who have possessed themselves of
+countries, and desir'd to keep them. Nor is this any strange thing, but
+very ordinary and reasonable: and to this purpose I spake at Nantes with
+that French Cardinal, when Valentine (for so ordinarily was Cæsar Borgia
+Pope Alexanders son call'd) made himself master of Romania; for when the
+Cardinal said to me, that the Italians understood not the feats of war;
+I answered, the Frenchmen understood not matters of State: for had they
+been well vers'd therein, they would never have suffer'd the Church to
+have grown to that greatness. And by experience we have seen it, that
+the power hereof in Italy, and that of Spain also, was caused by France,
+and their own ruine proceeded from themselves. From whence a general
+rule may be taken, which never, or very seldom fails, _That he that
+gives the means to another to become powerful, ruines himself_; for that
+power is caus'd by him either with his industry, or with his force; and
+as well the one as the other of these two is suspected by him that is
+grown puissant.
+
+
+
+
+CHAP. IV
+
+Wherefore Darius his Kingdome taken by Alexander, rebelled not against
+Alexanders Successors after his death.
+
+
+The difficulties being consider'd, which a man hath in the maintaining
+of a State new gotten, some might marvaile how it came to pass, that
+Alexander the great subdued all Asia in a few years; and having hardly
+possessed himself of it, died; whereupon it seemed probable that all
+that State should have rebelled; nevertheless his Successors kept the
+possession of it, nor found they other difficulty in holding it, than
+what arose among themselves through their own ambition. I answer, that
+all the Principalities whereof we have memory left us, have been
+governed in two several manners; either by a Prince, and all the rest
+Vassals, who as ministers by his favor and allowance, do help to govern
+that Kingdom; or by a Prince and by Barons, who not by their Princes
+favor, but by the antiquity of blood hold that degree. And these kinds
+of Barons have both states of their own, and Vassals who acknowledge
+them for their Lords; and bare them a true natural affection. Those
+States that are govern'd by a Prince and by Vassals, have their Prince
+ruling over them with more authority; for in all his countrey, there is
+none acknowledged for superior, but himself: and if they yeeld obedience
+to any one else, it is but as to his minister and officer, nor beare
+they him any particular good will. The examples of these two different
+Governments now in our dayes, are, the Turk, and the King of France. The
+Turks whole Monarchy is govern'd by one Lord, and the rest are all his
+Vassals; and dividing his whole Kingdom into divers Sangiacques or
+Governments, he sends several thither, and those he chops and changes,
+as he pleases. But the King of France is seated in the midst of a
+multitude of Lords, who of old have been acknowledg'd for such by their
+subjects, and being belov'd by them, enjoy their preheminencies; nor can
+the King take their States from them without danger. He then that
+considers the one and the other of these two States, shall find
+difficulty in the conquest of the Turks State; but when once it is
+subdu'd, great facility to hold it. The reasons of these difficulties in
+taking of the Turks Kingdom from him, are, because the Invader cannot be
+called in by the Princes of that Kingdom, nor hope by the rebellion of
+those which he hath about him, to be able to facilitate his enterprize:
+which proceeds from the reasons aforesaid; for they being all his
+slaves, and oblig'd to him, can more hardly be corrupted; and put case
+they were corrupted, little profit could he get by it, they not being
+able to draw after them any people, for the reasons we have shewed:
+whereupon he that assails the Turk, must think to find him united; and
+must rather relie upon his own forces, than in the others disorders: but
+when once he is overcome and broken in the field, so that he cannot
+repair his armies, there is nothing else to be doubted than the Royal
+blood, which being once quite out, there is none else left to be feard,
+none of the others having any credit with the people. And as the
+conqueror before the victory could not hope in them; so after it, ought
+he not to fear them. The contrary falls out in Kingdoms governed as is
+that of France: for it is easie to be enterd by the gaining of any Baron
+in the Kingdom; for there are alwaies some malecontents to be found, and
+those that are glad of innovation. Those for the reasons alledg'd are
+able to open thee a way into that State, and to further thy victory,
+which afterwards to make good to thee, draws with it exceeding many
+difficulties, as well with those that have ayded thee, as those thou
+hast supprest. Nor is it enough for thee to root out the Princes race:
+for there remaine still those Lords who quickly will be the ring-leaders
+of new changes; and in case thou art not able to content these, nor
+extinguish them, thou losest that State, whensoever the occasion is
+offerd. Now if thou shalt consider what sort of government that of
+Darius was, thou shalt find it like to the Turks dominion, and therefore
+Alexander was necessitated first to defeat him utterly, and drive him
+out of the field; after which victory Darius being dead, that State was
+left secure to Alexander, for the reasons we treated of before: and his
+successors, had they continued in amity, might have enjoy'd it at ease:
+nor ever arose there in that Kingdome other tumults, than those they
+themselves stir'd up. But of the States that are order'd and grounded as
+that of France, it is impossible to become master at such ease: and from
+hence grew the frequent rebellions of Spain, France, and Greece against
+the Romans, by reason of the many Principalities those States had:
+whereof while the memory lasted, the Romans were alwayes doubtfull of
+the possession of them; but the memory of them being quite wip't out, by
+the power and continuance of the Empire, at length they enjoy'd it
+securely; and they also were able afterwards fighting one with another,
+each of one them to draw after them the greater part of those provinces,
+according as their authority had gain'd them credit therein: and that
+because the blood of their ancient Lords was quite spent, they
+acknowledg'd no other but the Romans. By the consideration then of these
+things, no man will marvaile that Alexander had so little trouble to
+keep together the State of Asia; and that others have had such great
+difficulties to maintain their conquest, as Pyrrhus, and many others;
+which proceeds not from the small or great valour of the conquerour, but
+from the difference of the subject.
+
+
+
+
+CHAP. V
+
+In what manner Cities and Principalities are to be govern'd, which,
+before they were conquer'd, liv'd under their own Laws.
+
+
+When those States that are conquered, as it is said, have been
+accustomed to live under their own Laws, and in liberty, there are three
+wayes for a man to hold them. The first is to demolish all their strong
+places; the other, personally to goe and dwell there; the third, to
+suffer them to live under their own Laws, drawing from them some
+tribute, and creating therein an Oligarchy, that may continue it in thy
+service: for that State being created by that Prince, knowes it cannot
+consist without his aid and force, who is like to doe all he can to
+maintain it; and with more facility is a City kept by meanes of her own
+Citizens, which hath been us'd before to live free, than by any other
+way of keeping. We have for example the Spartans and the Romans; the
+Spartans held Athens and Thebes, creating there an Oligarchy: yet they
+lost it. The Romans to be sure of Capua, Carthage, and Numantia,
+dismantell'd them quite, and so lost them not: they would have kept
+Greece as the Spartans had held them, leaving them free, and letting
+them enjoy their own Laws; and it prospered not with them: so that they
+were forc'd to deface many Cities of that province to hold it. For in
+truth there is not a surer way to keep them under, than by
+demolishments; and whoever becomes master of a City us'd to live free,
+and dismantells it not, let him look himselfe to bee ruin'd by it; for
+it alwayes in time of rebellion takes the name of liberty for refuge,
+and the ancient orders it had; which neither by length of time, nor for
+any favours afforded them, are ever forgotten; and for any thing that
+can be done, or order'd, unlesse the inhabitants be disunited and
+dispers'd, that name is never forgotten, nor those customes: but
+presently in every chance recourse is thither made: as Pisa did after so
+many yeeres that she had been subdu'd by the Florentines. But when the
+Cities or the Provinces are accustomed to live under a Prince, and that
+whole race is quite extirpated: on one part being us'd to obey; on the
+other, not having their old Prince; they agree not to make one from
+among themselves: they know not how to live in liberty, in such manner
+that they are much slower to take armes; and with more facility may a
+Prince gaine them, and secure himselfe of them. But in Republiques there
+is more life in them, more violent hatred, more earnest desire of
+revenge; nor does the remembrance of the ancient liberty ever leave
+them, or suffer them to rest; so that the safest way, is, either to
+ruine them, or dwell among them.
+
+
+
+
+CHAP. VI
+
+Of new Principalities, that are conquer'd by ones own armes and valour.
+
+
+Let no man marvaile, if in the discourse I shall make of new
+Principalities, both touching a Prince, and touching a State, I shall
+alledge very famous examples: for seeing men almost alwayes walk in the
+pathes beaten by others, and proceed in their actions by imitation; and
+being that others wayes cannot bee exactly follow'd, nor their vertues,
+whose patterne thou set'st before thee, attain'd unto; a wise man ought
+alwayes to tread the footsteps of the worthiest persons, and imitate
+those that have been the most excellent: to the end that if his vertue
+arrive not thereto, at least it may yeeld some favour thereof, and doe
+as good Archers use, who thinking the place they intend to hit, too
+farre distant, and knowing how farr the strength of their bow will
+carry, they lay their ayme a great deale higher than the mark; not for
+to hit so high with their arrow, but to bee able with the help of so
+high an aime to reach the place they shoot at. I say, that in
+Principalities wholly new, where there is a new Prince, there is more
+and lesse difficulty in maintaining them, as the vertue of their
+Conquerour is greater or lesser. And because this successe, to become a
+Prince of a private man, presupposes either vertue, or fortune; mee
+thinks the one and other of these two things in part should mitigate
+many difficulties; however he that hath lesse stood upon fortune, hath
+maintain'd himselfe the better. Moreover it somewhat facilitates the
+matter in that the Prince is constrain'd, because he hath not other
+dominions, in person to come and dwell there. But to come to these who
+by their own vertues, and not by fortune, attain'd to be Princes; the
+excellentest of these are Moses, Cyrus, Romulus, Theseus, and such like;
+and though of Moses we are not to reason, he onely executing the things
+that were commanded him by God; yet merits he well to be admir'd, were
+it only for that grace that made him worthy to converse with God. But
+considering Cyrus, and the others, who either got or founded Kingdomes,
+we shall find them all admirable; and if there particular actions and
+Lawes be throughly weigh'd, they will not appeare much differing from
+those of Moyses, which he receiv'd from so Sovraigne an instructer. And
+examining their lives and actions, it will not appeare, that they had
+other help of fortune, than the occasion, which presented them with the
+matter wherein they might introduce what forme they then pleas'd; and
+without that occasion, the vertue of their mind had been extinguish'd;
+and without that vertue, the occasion had been offer'd in vaine. It was
+then necessary for Moses to find the people of Israel slaves in Ægypt,
+and oppress'd by the Ægyptians, to the end that they to get out of their
+thraldome, should bee willing to follow him. It was fit that Romulus
+should not be kept in Albia, but expos'd presently after his birth, that
+he might become King of Rome, and founder of that City. There was need
+that Cyrus should find the Persians discontented with the Medes
+government, and the Medes delicate and effeminate through their long
+peace. Theseus could not make proof his vertue, had not he found the
+Athenians dispers'd. These occasions therefore made these men happy, and
+their excellent vertue made the occasion be taken notice of, whereby
+their countrey became enobled, and exceeding fortunate. They, who by
+vertuous waies, like unto these, become Princes, attain the Principality
+with difficulty, but hold it with much ease; and the difficulties they
+find in gaining the Principality, arise partly from the new orders and
+courses they are forc'd to bring in, to lay the foundation of their
+State, and work their own security. And it is to be consider'd, how
+there is not any thing harder to take in hand, nor doubtfuller to
+succeed, nor more dangerous to mannage, than to be the chief in bringing
+in new orders; for this Chief finds all those his enemies, that thrive
+upon the old orders; and hath but luke warme defenders of all those that
+would do well upon the new orders, which luke-warme temper proceeds
+partly from fear of the opposers who have the laws to their advantage;
+partly from the incredulity of the men who truly beleeve not a new
+thing, unless there be some certain proof given them thereof. Whereupon
+it arises, that whensoever they that are adversaries, take the occasion
+to assayle, they do it factiously; and these others defend but cooly, so
+that their whole party altogether runs a hazzard. Therefore it is
+necessary, being we intend throughly to discourse this part, to examine
+if these innovators stand of themselves, or if they depend upon others;
+that is, if to bring their work to effect, it be necessary they should
+intreat, or be able to constrain; in the first case they allwayes
+succeed ill, and bring nothing to pass; but when they depend of
+themselves, and are able to force, then seldom it is that they hazzard.
+Hence came it that all the prophets that were arm'd, prevail'd; but
+those that were unarm'd, were too weak: for besides what we have
+alledg'd, the nature of the people is changeable, and easie to be
+perswaded to a matter; but it is hard also to settle them in that
+perswasion. And therefore it behoves a man to be so provided, that when
+they beleeve no longer, he may be able to compel them thereto by force.
+Moses, Cyrus, Theseus, and Romulus would never have been able to cause
+their Laws to be obey'd, had they been disarm'd; as in our times it
+befel Fryer Jerome Savanarola, who perished in his new constitutions,
+when the multitude began not to beleeve him; neither had he the means to
+keep them firme, that had beleev'd; not to force beleefe in them that
+had not beleev'd him. Wherefore such men as these, in their proceedings
+find great difficulty, and all their dangers are in the way, and these
+they must surmount by their vertue; but having once master'd them, and
+beginning to be honored by all, when they have rooted those out that
+envi'd their dignities, they remain powerful, secure, honorable, and
+happy. To these choice examples, I will add one of less remark; but it
+shall hold some proportion with them, and this shall suffice me for all
+others of this kind, which is Hiero the Siracusan. He of a private man,
+became Prince of Siracusa, nor knew he any other ayd of fortune than the
+occasion: for the Siracusans being oppress'd, made choyce of him for
+their Captain, whereupon he deserv'd to be made their Prince: and he was
+of such vertue even in his private fortune, that he who writes of him,
+sayes, he wanted nothing of reigning, but a Kingdom; this man
+extinguish'd all the old soldiery, ordaind the new; left the old
+allyances, entertained new; and as he had friendship, and soldiers that
+were his own, upon that ground he was able to build any edifice; so that
+he indured much trouble in gaining, and suffered but little in
+maintaining.
+
+
+
+
+CHAP. VII
+
+Of new Principalities, gotten by fortune, and other mens forces.
+
+
+They who by fortune only become Princes of private men, with small pains
+attain to it, but have much ado to maintain themselves in it; and find
+no difficulty at all in the way, because they are carried thither with
+wings: but all the difficulties arise there, after they are plac'd in
+them. And of such sort are those who have an estate given them for
+money, by the favor of some one that grants it them: as it befell many
+in Greece, in the cities of Jonia, and Hellespont; where divers Princes
+were made by Darius, as well for his own safety as his glory; as also
+them that were made Emperors; who from private men by corrupting the
+soldiers, attaind to the Empire. These subsist meerly upon the will, and
+fortune of those that have advanced them; which are two voluble and
+unsteady things; and they neither know how, nor are able to continue in
+that dignity: they know not how, because unless it be a man of great
+understanding and vertue, it is not probable that he who hath always
+liv'd a private life, can know how to command: neither are they able,
+because they have not any forces that can be friendly or faithful to
+them. Moreover those States that suddenly fall into a mans hands, as all
+other things in nature that spring and grow quickly, cannot well have
+taken root, nor have made their correspondencies so firm, but that the
+first storm that takes them, ruines them; in case these, who (as it is
+said) are thus on a sudden clambred up to be Princes, are not of that
+worth and vertue as to know how to prepare themselves to maintain that
+which chance hath cast into their bosoms, and can afterwards lay those
+foundations, which others have cast before they were Princes. For the
+one and the other of these wayes about the attaining to be a Prince, by
+Vertue, or by Fortune, I will alledge you two examples which have been
+in the dayes of our memory. These were Francis Sforza, and Cæsar Borgia;
+Francis by just means and with a great deal of vertue, of a private man
+got to be Duke of Millan; and that which with much pains he had gaind,
+he kept with small ado. On the other side Cæesar Borgia (commonly termed
+Duke Valentine) got his state by his Fathers fortune, and with the same
+lost it; however that for his own part no pains was spar'd, nor any
+thing omitted, which by a discreet and valorus man ought to have been
+done, to fasten his roots in those Estates, which others armes or
+fortune had bestowed on him; for (as it was formerly said) he that lays
+not the foundations first, yet might be able by means of his
+extraordinary vertues to lay them afterwards, however it be with the
+great trouble of the architect, and danger of the edifice. If therefore
+we consider all the Dukes progresses, we may perceive how great
+foundations he had cast for his future power, which I judge a matter not
+superfluous to run over; because I should not well know, what better
+rules I might give to a new Prince, than the pattern of his actions; and
+however the courses he took, availd him not, yet was it not his fault,
+but it proceeded from an extraordinary and extream malignity of fortune.
+Pope Alexander the sixt, desiring to make the Duke his son a great man,
+had a great many difficulties, present and future: first he saw no way
+there was whereby he might be able to make him Lord of any State, that
+was not the Churches; and if he turnd to take that from the Church, he
+knew that the Duke of Milan, and the Venetians would never agree to it;
+for Faenza and Riminum were under the Venetians protection. Moreover, he
+saw that the armes of Italy, and those whereof in particular he might
+have been able to make some use, were in their hands, who ought to fear
+the Popes greatness; and therefore could not any wayes rely upon them:
+being all in the Orsins and Colonies hands, and those of their faction.
+It was necessary then, that those matters thus appointed by them should
+be disturbed, and the States of Italy disordered, to be able safely to
+master part of them, which he then found easie to do, seeing the
+Venetians upon three considerations had us'd the means to bring the
+French men back again into Italy: which he not only did not withstand,
+but furthered, with a resolution of King Lewis his ancient marriage. The
+King then past into Italy with the Venetians ayd, and Alexanders
+consent; nor was he sooner arrived in Milan, than the Pope had soldiers
+from him for the service of Romania, which was quickly yeelded up to him
+upon the reputation of the Kings forces. The Duke then having made
+himself master of Romania, and beaten the Colonies, desiring to hold it,
+and proceed forward, two things hindered him: the one, his own soldiers,
+which he thought were not true to him; the other, the French mens good
+wills; that is to say, he feared that the Princes soldiers, whereof he
+had served himself, would fail him, and not only hinder his conquest,
+but take from him what he had gotten; and that the King also would serve
+him the same turn. He had experience of the Orsini upon an occasion,
+when after the taking of Faenza he assaulted Bolonia, to which assault
+he saw them go very cold. And touching the King, he discovered his mind,
+when having taken the Dutchy of Urbin, he invaded Tuscany; from which
+action the King made him retire; whereupon the Duke resolved to depend
+no more upon fortune, and other mens armes. And the first thing he did,
+was, to weaken the Orsini, and Colonnies factions in Rome: for he gain'd
+all their adherents that were gentlemen, giving them large allowances,
+and honoring them according to their qualities with charges and
+governments; so that in a few months the good will they bare to the
+parties was quite extinguisht, and wholly bent to the Duke. After this,
+he waited an occasion to root out the Orsini, having before dispersed
+those of the family of Colonnia, which fell out well to his hand; and he
+us'd it better. For the Orsini being too late aware, that the Dukes and
+the Churches greatness was their destruction, held a Council together in
+a dwelling house of theirs in the country adjoyning to Perusia. From
+thence grew the rebellion of Urbin, and the troubles of Romania, and
+many other dangers befell the Duke, which he overcame all with the help
+of the French: and having regained his reputation, trusting neither
+France, nor any forrein forces, to the end he might not be put to make
+trial of them again, he betook himself to his sleghts; and he knew so
+well to disguise his intention, that the Orsins, by the mediation of
+Paul Orsine, were reconciled to him, to whom the Duke was no way wanting
+in all manner of courtesies whereby to bring them into security, giving
+them rich garments, money, and horses, til their own simplicities led
+them all to Sinigallia, into his hands. These heads being then pluck'd
+off, and their partisans made his friends; the Duke had laid very good
+foundations, to build his own greatness on, having in his power all
+Romania with the Dutchy of Urbin, and gained the hearts of those people,
+by beginning to give them some relish of their well being. And because
+this part is worthy to be taken notice of, and to be imitated by others,
+I will not let it escape. The Duke, when he had taken Romania, finding
+it had been under the hands of poor Lords who had rather pillag'd their
+subjects, than chastis'd or amended them, giving them more cause of
+discord, than of peace and union, so that the whole countrey was fraught
+with robberies, quarrels, and other sorts of insolencies; thought the
+best way to reduce them to termes of pacification, and obedience to a
+Princely power, was, to give them some good government: and therefore he
+set over them one Remiro D'Orco, a cruel hasty man, to whom he gave an
+absolute power. This man in a very short time setled peace and union
+amongst them with very great reputation. Afterwards the Duke thought
+such excessive authority serv'd not so well to his purpose, and doubting
+it would grow odious, he erected a civil Judicature in the midst of the
+countrey, where one excellent Judge did Preside, and thither every City
+sent their Advocate: and because he knew the rigors past had bred some
+hatred against him, to purge the minds of those people, and to gain them
+wholly to himself, he purpos'd to shew, that if there was any cruelty
+used, it proceeded not from any order of his, but from the harsh
+disposition of his Officers. Whereupon laying hold on him, at this
+occasion, he caus'd his head to be struck off one morning early in the
+market place at Cesena, where he was left upon a gibbet, with a bloody
+sword by his side; the cruelty of which spectacle for a while satisfied
+and amaz'd those people. But to return from whence we have digressd: I
+say, that the Duke finding himself very strong, and in part out of doubt
+of the present dangers, because he was arm'd after his own manner, and
+had in some good measure suppress'd those forces, which, because of
+their vicinity, were able to annoy him, he wanted nothing else to go on
+with his Conquest, but the consideration of France: for he knew, that
+the King, who now, though late, was advis'd of his error, would never
+suffer him: and hereupon he began to seek after new allyances, and to
+waver with France, when the French came towards Naples against the
+Spaniards, who then besieged Gagetta; and his design was only to be out
+of their danger, which had been effected for him, had Pope Alexander
+lived. And thus were his businesses carried touching his present estate.
+As for the future, he had reason to doubt lest the new successor to the
+Papacy would not be his friend, and would endeavor to take that from him
+that Alexander had bestowed on him; and he thought to provide for this
+foure waies: First by rooting out the races of all those Lords he had
+dispoyled, whereby to take those occasions from the Pope. Secondly, by
+gaining all the gentlemen of Rome, whereby he might be able with those
+to keep the Pope in some awe. Thirdly, to make the Colledge of Cardinals
+as much at his devotion as possibly might be. Fourthly, by making of so
+large Conquests, before the Popes death, as that he might be able of
+himself to withstand the first fury of his enemies. Three of these fowre
+at Pope Alexanders death he had effected, and the fourth he had neare
+brought to a point. For of those Lords he had stript, he put to death as
+many as he could come at, and very few escap'd him: he gaind him the
+Roman Gentlemen: and in the Colledge he had made a great faction. And
+touching his new Conquest, he had a designe to become Lord of Tuscany.
+And he had possessed himself already of Perusia, and Pombin, and taken
+protection of Pisa: and so soon as he should have cast off his respect
+to France (which now he meant to hold no longer) being the French were
+now driven out of the Kingdome of Naples by the Spaniards, so that each
+of them was forc'd to buy his friendship at any termes; he was then to
+leap into Pisa. After this Lucca and Siena were presently to fall to
+him, partly for envy to the Florentines, and partly for fear. The
+Florentines had no way to escape him: all which, had it succeeded with
+him, as without question it had, the very same year that Alexander dy'd,
+he had made himself master of so great forces, and such reputation, that
+he would have been able to have stood upon his own bottom, without any
+dependance of fortune, or resting upon others helps, but only upon his
+own strength and valor. But Alexander dy'd five years after that he had
+begun to draw forth his sword: and left him setled only in the State of
+Romania, with all his other designes in the ayre, sick unto death,
+between two very strong armies of his enemies; and yet was there in this
+Duke such a spirit and courage; and he understood so well, how men are
+to be gaind, and how to be lost, and so firm were the grounds he had
+laid in a short time, that, had he not had those armies upon his back,
+or had been in health, he would have carried through his purpose in
+spight of all opposition; and that the foundations he grounded upon were
+good, it appeard in that Romania held for him above a moneth, and he
+remained secure in Rome, though even at deaths doore: and however the
+Baglioni, Vitelli, and Orsini came into Rome; yet found they none would
+take their parts against him. And this he was able to have effected,
+that if he could not have made him Pope whom be would, he could have
+hindred him that he would not should be Pope. But had he been in health
+when Alexander dy'd, every thing had gone easily with him; and he told
+me on that day that Julius the second was created Pope, that he had
+fore-thought on all that which could happen, in case his father chanc'd
+to dye, and for every thing provided its remedy, this onely excepted,
+that he foresaw not that he should at the same time be brought unto
+deaths dore also. Having then collected all the Dukes actions, me thinks
+I could not well blame him, but rather (as I have here done) set him as
+a pattern to be followed by all those who by fortune and others armes
+have been exalted to an Empire. For he being of great courage, and
+having lofty designes, could not carry himself otherwise; and the only
+obstacle of his purposes was the brevity of Alexanders life, and his own
+sickness. Whoever therefore deemes it necessary in his entrance into a
+new Principality, to secure himself of his enemies, and gain him
+friends, to overcome either by force or by cunning, to make himself
+beloved, or feared of his people, be followed and reverenced by his
+soldiers, to root out those that can, or owe thee any hurt, to change
+the ancient orders with new wayes, to be severe, and yet acceptable,
+magnanimous, and liberall; to extinguish the unfaithfull soldiery, and
+create new; to maintain to himself the armities of Kings and Princes, so
+that they shall either with favor benefit thee, or be wary how to offend
+thee; cannot find more fresh and lively examples than the actions of
+this man. He deserves to be found fault withall for the creation of
+Julius the second, wherein an evil choice was made for him: for, as it
+is said, not being able to make a Pope to his mind, he could have
+withheld any one from being Pope; and should never have consented that
+any one of those Cardinals should have got the Papacy, whom he had ever
+done harme to; or who having attaind the Pontificate were likely to be
+afraid of him: because men ordinarily do hurt either for fear, or
+hatred. Those whom he had offended, were among others, he who had the
+title of St. Peter ad Vincula, Colonna, St. George, and Ascanius; all
+the others that were in possibility of the Popedome, were such as might
+have feard him rather, except the Cardinal of Roan, and the Spaniards;
+these by reason of their allyance and obligation with him, the other
+because of the power they had, having the Kingdome of France on their
+party; wherefore the Duke above all things should have created a
+Spanyard Pope, and in case he could not have done that, he should have
+agreed that Roan should have been, and not St. Peter ad Vincula. And
+whoever beleeves, that with great personages new benefits blot on the
+remembrance of old injuries, is much deceiv'd. The Duke therefore in
+this election, was the cause of his own ruine at last.
+
+    Till wee come to this seaventh Chapter, I find not any thing
+    much blame-worthy, unlesse it be on ground he layes in the
+    second Chapter; whereupon hee builds most of this Fabrick, viz.
+    That Subjects must either be dallyed or flatterd withall, or
+    quite crusht. Whereby our Author advises his Prince to support
+    his authority with two Cardinall Vertues, Dissimulation, and
+    Cruelty. He considers not herein that the head is but a member
+    of the body, though the principall; and the end of the parts is
+    the good of the whole. And here he goes against himselfe in the
+    twenty sixt Chapter of his Rep. 1. 1. where hee blames Philip of
+    Macedon for such courses, terming them very cruell, and against
+    all Christian manner of living; and that every man should refuse
+    to be a King, and desire rather to live a private life, than to
+    reigne so much to the ruine of mankind. The life of Cæsar
+    Borgia, which is here given as a paterne to new Princes, we
+    shall find to have been nothing else but a cunning carriage of
+    things so, that he might thereby first deceive and inveigle, and
+    then suppresse all those that could oppose or hinder his
+    ambition. For if you runne over his life, you shall see the
+    Father Pope Alexander the sixt and him, both imbarqued for his
+    advancement, wherein they engag'd the Papall authority, and
+    reputation of Religion; for faith and conscience these men never
+    knew, though they exacted it of others: there was never promise
+    made, but it was only so farre kept as servd for advantage;
+    Liberality was made use of: Clemency and Cruelty, all alike, as
+    they might serve to worke with their purposes. All was
+    sacrific'd to ambition; no friendship could tye these men, nor
+    any religion: and no marvell: for ambition made them forget both
+    God and man. But see the end of all this cunning: though this
+    Cæsar Borgia contrived all his businesse so warily, that our
+    Author much commends him, and hee had attaind neere the pitch of
+    his hopes, and had provided for each misadventure could befall
+    him its remedy; Policy shewd it selefe short-sighted; for hee
+    foresaw not at the time of his Fathers death, he himself should
+    bee brought unto deaths doore also. And me thinks this Example
+    might have given occasion to our Author to confesse, that surely
+    there is a God that ruleth the earth. And many times God cutts
+    off those cunning and mighty men in the hight of their purposes,
+    when they think they have neare surmounted all dangers and
+    difficulties. 'To the intent that the living may know, that the
+    most high ruleth in the Kingdome of men, and giveth it to
+    whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.'
+    Daniel. 4. 17.
+
+
+
+
+CHAP. VIII
+
+Concerning those who by wicked meanes have attaind to a Principality.
+
+
+But because a man becomes a Prince of a private man two wayes, which
+cannot wholly be attributed either to Fortune or Vertue, I think not fit
+to let them passe me: howbeit the one of them may be more largely
+discoursed upon, where the Republicks are treated of. These are, when by
+some wicked and unlawfull meanes a man rises to the Principality; or
+when a private person by the favour of his fellow Citizens becomes
+Prince of his countrey. And speaking of the first manner, it shall be
+made evident by two Examples, the one ancient, the other moderne,
+without entring otherwise into the justice or merit of this part; for I
+take it that these are sufficient for any body that is forc'd to follow
+them. Agathocles the Sicilian, not of a private man onely, but from a
+base and abject fortune, got to be King of Siracusa. This man borne but
+of a Potter, continued alwayes a wicked life throughout all the degrees
+of this fortune: neverthelesse he accompanied his lewdnesse with such a
+courage and resolution, that applying himselfe to military affaires, by
+the degrees thereof he attained to bee Prætour of Siracusa, and being
+setled in that degree, and having determined that he would become
+Prince, and hold that by violence and without obligation to any other,
+which by consent had been granted him: and to this purpose haveing had
+some private intelligence touching his designe with Amilcar the
+Carthaginian, who was imployd with his army in Sicily, one morining
+gatherd the people together and the Senate of Syracusa, as if he had
+some what to advise with them of matters belonging to the Commonwealth,
+and upon a signe given, caus'd his souldiers to kill his Senatours, and
+the richest of the people; who being slaine, he usurp'd the Principality
+of that City without any civill strife: and however he was twice broken
+by the Carthaginians, and at last besieged, was able not onely to defend
+his own City, but leaving part of his own army at the defence thereof,
+with the other invaded Affrique, and in a short time freed Siracusa from
+the siege, and brought the Carthaginians into extreme necessity, who
+were constraind to accord with him, be contented with the possession of
+Affrique, and quitt Sicily to Agathocles. He then that should consider
+the actions and valour of this man, would not see any, or very few
+things to be attributed unto Fortune; seeing that as is formerly sayd,
+not by any ones favour, but by the degrees of service in warre with many
+sufferings and dangers, to which he had risen, he came to the
+Principality; and that hee maintained afterwards with so many resolute
+and hazardous undertakings. Yet cannot this be term'd vertue or valour
+to slay his own Citizens, betray his friends, to be without faith,
+without pitty, without religion, which wayes are of force to gaine
+dominion, but not glory: for if Agathocles his valour bee well weighd,
+in his enturing upon, and comming off from dangers, and the greatnesse
+of his courage, in supporting and mastering of adversities, no man can
+see why he should be thought any way inferiour even to the ablest
+Captaines. Notwithstanding his beastly cruelty and inhumanity with
+innumerable wickednesses, allow not that he should be celebrated among
+the most excellent men. That cannot then be attributed to Fortune or
+Vertue, which without the one or the other was attaind to by him. In our
+dayes, while Alexander the sixth held the sea, Oliverotte of Fermo, who
+some few yeeres before had been left young by his parents, was brought
+up under the care of an uncle of his on the mothers side, called John
+Foliani, and in the beginning of his youth given, by him to serve in the
+warres under Paulo Vitelli: to the end that being well instructed in
+that discipline, he might rise to some worthy degree in the warrs.
+Afterwards when Paulo was dead, he served under Vitellozzo his brother,
+and in very short time, being ingenious, of a good personage, and brave
+courage, he became one of the prime men among the troops he served in:
+but thinking it but servile to depend upon another, he plotted by the
+ayd of some Citizens of Fermo (who lik'd rather the thraldome of their
+City than the liberty of it) and by the favour of the Vitelli, to make
+himselfe master of Fermo; and writ to John Foliani, that having been
+many yeeres from home, he had a mind to come and see him and the City,
+and in some part take notice of his own patrimony; and because he had
+not imployd himselfe but to purchase honour, to the end his Citizens
+might perceive, that he had not vainely spent his time, he had a desire
+to come in good equipage and accompanied with a hundred horse of his
+friends and servants; and he intreated him that he would be pleasd so to
+take order, that he might be honourably received by the inhabitants of
+Fermo, which turnd as well to his honor that was his uncle, as his that
+was the nephew. In this, John faild not in any office of courtesie due
+to his nephew: and caused him to be well receivd by them of Fermo, and
+lodged him in his own house: where having passed some dayes, and stayd
+to put in order somewhat that was necessary for his intended villany, he
+made a very solemne feast, whether he invited John Foliani, and all the
+prime men of Fermo: and when all their chear was ended, and all their
+other entertainments, as in such feasts it is customary, Oliverotto of
+purpose mov'd some grave discourses; speaking of the greatnesse of Pope
+Alexander, and Cæsar his son, and their undertakings; where unto John
+and the others making answer, he of a sudden stood up, saying, that
+those were things to be spoken of in a more secret place, and so retir'd
+into a chamber, whether John and all the other Citizens followd him; nor
+were they sooner set downe there, than from some secret place therein
+camp forth diverse souldiers, who slew John and all the others: after
+which homicide Oliverotto got a horsebacke and ravaged the whole towne,
+and besieged the supreme Magistrate in the palace, so that for feare
+they were all constraind to obey him, and to settle a government,
+whereof hee made himselfe Prince; and they being all dead who, had they
+been discontented with him, could have hurt him; he strengthned himselfe
+with new civill and military orders, so that in the space of a yeer that
+he held the Principality, he was not only secure in the City of Fermo,
+but became fearefull to all his neighbours; and the conquest of him
+would have prov'd difficult, as that of Agathocles, had he not let
+himselfe been deceivd by Cæsar Borgia, when at Sinigallia, as before was
+said, he took the Orsini and Vitelli: where he also being taken a yeere
+after he had committed the parricide, was strangled together with
+Vitellozzo (whome he had had for master both of his vertues and vices.)
+Some man might doubt from whence it should proceed, that Agathocles, and
+such like, after many treacheries and crueltyes, could possibly live
+long secure in his own countrey, and defend himselfe from his forrein
+enemies, and that never any of his own Citizens conspir'd against him,
+seeing that by means of cruelty, many others have never been able even
+in peaceable times to maintaine their States, much lesse in the
+doubtfull times of warre. I beleeve that this proceeds from the well, or
+ill using of those cruelties: they may bee termd well us'd (if it bee
+lawfull to say well of evill) that are put in practice only once of
+necessity for securities sake, not insisting therein afterwards; but
+there is use made of them for the subjects profit, as much as may be.
+But those that are ill us'd, are such as though they bee but few in the
+beginning, yet they multiply rather in time, than diminish. They that
+take that first way, may with the help of God, and mens care, find some
+remedy for their State, as Agathocles did: for the others, it is
+impossible they should continue. Whereupon it is to be noted, that in
+the laying hold of a State, the usurper thereof ought to runne over and
+execute all his cruelties at once, that he be not forced often to
+returne to them, and that he may be able, by not renewing of them, to
+give men some security, and gaine their affections by doing them some
+courtesies. Hee that carries it otherwise, either for fearefullnesse, or
+upon evill advice, is alwayes constraind to hold his sword drawne in his
+hand; nor ever can hee rely upon his subjects, there being no
+possibility for them, because of his daily and continuall injuries, to
+live in any safety: for his injuries should bee done altogether, that
+being seldomer tasted, they might lesse offend; his favours should bee
+bestowd by little, and little to the end they might keep their taste the
+better; and above all things a Prince must live with his subjects in
+such sort, that no accident either of good or evill can make him vary:
+for necessity comming upon him by reason of adversities, thou hast not
+time given thee to make advantage of thy cruelties; and the favours
+which then thou bestowest, will little help thee, being taken as if they
+came from thee perforce, and so yeeld no returne of thanks.
+
+
+
+
+CHAP. IX
+
+Of the Civill Principality.
+
+
+But comming to the other part, when a principall Citizen, not by
+villany, or any other insufferable violence, but by the favour of his
+fellow-citizens becomes Prince of his native countrey: which we may
+terme a Civill Principality; nor to attaine hereunto is Vertue wholly or
+Fortune wholly necessary, but rather a fortunate cunning: I say, this
+Principality is climb'd up to, either by the peoples help, or the great
+mens. For, in every City we finde these two humours differ; and they
+spring from this, that the people desire not to be commanded nor
+oppressed by the great ones, and the great ones are desirous to command
+and oppresse the people: and from these two several appetites, arise in
+the City one of these three effects, either a Principality, or Liberty,
+or Tumultuary licentiousnesse. The Principality is caused either by the
+people, or the great ones, according as the one or other of these
+factions have the occasion offerd; for the great ones seeing themselves
+not able to resist the people, begin to turne the whole reputation to
+one among them, and make him Prince, whereby they may under his shadow
+vent their spleenes. The people also, not being able to support the
+great mens insolencies, converting the whole reputation to one man,
+create him their Prince, to be protected by his authority. He that comes
+to the Principality by the assistance of the great ones, subsists with
+more difficulty, than he that attaines to it by the peoples favour; for
+he being made Prince, hath many about him, who account themselves his
+equalls, and therefore cannot dispose nor command them at his pleasure.
+But he that gaines the Principality by the peoples favor, finds himselfe
+alone in his throne, and hath none or very few neare him that are not
+very supple to bend: besides this, the great ones cannot upon easie
+termes be satisfied, or without doing of wrong to others, where as a
+small matter contents the people: for the end which the people propound
+to themselves, is more honest than that of the great men, these desiring
+to oppresse, they only not to be oppressed. To this may be added also,
+that the Prince which is the peoples enemy, can never well secure
+himselfe of them, because of their multitude; well may hee bee sure of
+the Nobles, they being but a few. The worst that a Prince can look for
+of the people become his enemy, is to be abandoned by them: but when the
+great ones once grow his enemies, he is not only to feare their
+abandoning of him, but their making of a party against him also: for
+there being in them more forecast and craft, they alwayes take time by
+the forelocks whereby to save themselves, and seeke credit with him who
+they hope shall get the mastery. The Prince likewise is necessitated
+alwayes to live with the same people, but can doe well enough without
+the same great men; he being able to create new ones, and destroy them
+again every day, and to take from them, and give them credit as he
+pleases: and to cleare this part, I say, that great men ought to be
+considerd two wayes principally, that is, if they take thy proceedings
+so much to heart, as to engage their fortunes wholly in thine, in case
+they lye not alwayes catching at spoyle, they ought to be well honourd
+and esteem'd: those that bind themselves not to thy fortune, are to be
+considerd also two wayes; either they doe it for lack of courage, and
+naturall want of spirit, and then shouldst thou serve thy selfe of them,
+and of them especially that are men of good advice; for if thy affaires
+prosper, thou dost thy selfe honour thereby; if crost, thou needst not
+feare them: but when they oblige not themselves to thee of purpose, and
+upon occasion of ambition, it is a signe they think more of themselves
+than of thee: and of these the Prince ought to beware, and account of
+them as his discoverd enemyes: for alwayes in thy adversity they will
+give a hand too to ruine thee. Therefore ought hee that comes to be
+Prince by the peoples favour, keepe them his friends: which he may
+easily doe, they desiring only to live free from oppression: but he that
+becomes Prince by the great mens favour, against the will of the people,
+ought above all things to gaine the people to him, which he may easily
+effect, when he takes upon him their protection: And because men when
+they find good, where they look for evill, are thereby more endered to
+their benefactour, therefore growes the people so pliant in their
+subjection to him, as if by their favours he had attaind his dignity.
+And the Prince is able to gaine them to his side by many wayes, which
+because they vary according to the subject, no certaine rule can be
+given thereupon; wherefore we shall let them passe I will only conclude,
+that it is necessary for a Prince to have the people his friend;
+otherwise in his adversities he hath no helpe. Nabis Prince of the
+Spartans supported the siege of all Greece, and an exceeding victorious
+army of the Romans, and against those defended his native countrey and
+State, and this suffic'd him alone, that as the danger came upon him, he
+secur'd himself of a fewer; whereas if the people had been his enemy,
+this had nothing availd him. And let no man think to overthrow this my
+opinion with that common proverb, that He who relyes upon the people,
+layes his foundation in the dirt; for that is true where a private
+Citizen grounds upon them, making his account that the people shall free
+him, when either his enemyes or the Magistrates oppresse him: In this
+case he should find himself often deceiv'd, as it befell the Gracchyes
+in Rome, and in Florence George Scali: but he being a Prince that
+grounds thereupon, who can command, and is a man of courage, who hath
+his wits about him in his adversityes, and wants not other preparations,
+and holds together the whole multitude animated with his valour and
+orders, shall not prove deceiv'd by them, and shall find he hath layd
+good foundations. These Principalityes are wont to be upon the point of
+falling when they goe about to skip from the civil order to the
+absolute: for these Princes either command of themselves, or by the
+Magistrate; in this last case their State is more weak and dangerous,
+because they stand wholly at the will and pleasure of these Citizens,
+who then are set over the Magistrates, who especially in adverse times
+are able with facility to take their State from them either by rising up
+against them, or by not obeying them; and then the Prince is not at hand
+in those dangers to take the absolute authority upon him: for the
+Citizens and subjects that are accustomed to receive the commands from
+the Magistrates, are not like in those fractions to obey his: and in
+doubtfull times he shall alwayes have greatest penury of whom he may
+trust; for such a Prince cannot ground upon that which he sees in
+peaceable times, when the Citizens have need of the State; for then
+every one runs, and every one promises, and every one will venture his
+life for him, where there is no danger neare; but in times of hazzard,
+when the State hath need of Citizens, there are but few of them then,
+and so much the more is this experience dangerous, in that it can be but
+once made. Therefore a prudent Prince ought to devise a way whereby his
+Citizens alwayes and in any case and quality of time may have need of
+his government, and they shall alwaies after prove faithfull to him.
+
+
+
+
+CHAP. X
+
+In what manner the Forces of all Principalities ought to be measured.
+
+
+It is requisite in examining the quality of those Principalities, to
+have another consideration of them, that is, if a Prince have such
+dominions, that he is able in case of necessity to subsist of himself,
+or else whether he hath alwaies need of another to defend him. And to
+cleer this point the better, I judge them able to stand of themselves,
+who are of power either for their multitudes of men, or quantity of
+money, to bring into the field a compleat armie, and joyn battel with
+whoever comes to assail them: and so I think those alwaies to stand in
+need of others help, who are not able to appear in the field against the
+enemy, but are forc'd to retire within their walls and guard them.
+Touching the first case, we have treated already, and shall adde somwhat
+thereto as occasion shall require. In the second case, we cannot say
+other, save only to encourage such Princes to fortifie and guard their
+own Capital city, and of the countrey about, not to hold much account;
+and whoever shall have well fortified that town, and touching other
+matters of governments shall have behaved himself towards his subjects,
+as hath been formerly said, and hereafter shall be, shall never be
+assaild but with great regard; for men willingly undertake not
+enterprises, where they see difficulty to work them through; nor can
+much facility be there found, where one assails him, who hath his town
+strong and wel guarded, and is not hated of his people. The cities of
+Germany are very free; they have but very little of the countrey about
+them belonging to them; and they obey the Emperor, when they please, and
+they stand not in fear, neither of him nor any other Potentate about
+them: for they are in such a manner fortified, that every one thinks the
+siege of any of them would prove hard and tedious: for all of them have
+ditches, and rampires, and good store of Artillery, and alwaies have
+their publick cellars well provided with meat and drink and firing for a
+yeer: besides this, whereby to feed the common people, and without any
+loss to the publick, they have alwaies in common whereby they are able
+for a year to imploy them in the labor of those trades that are the
+sinews and the life of that city, and of that industry whereby the
+commons ordinarily supported themselves: they hold up also the military
+exercises in repute, and hereupon have they many orders to maintain
+them. A Prince then that is master of a good strong city, and causeth
+not himself to be hated, cannot be assaulted; and in case he were, he
+that should assail him, would be fain to quit him with shame: for the
+affairs of the world are so various, that it is almost impossible that
+an army can lie incampt before a town for the space of a whole yeer: and
+if any should reply, that the people having their possessions abroad, in
+case they should see them a fire, would not have patience, and the
+tedious siege and their love to themselves would make them forget their
+Prince: I answer that a Prince puissant and couragious, will easily
+master those difficulties, now giving his subjects hope, that the
+mischief will not be of durance; sometimes affright them with the
+cruelty of their enemies, and other whiles cunningly securing himself of
+those whom he thinks too forward to run to the enemy. Besides this by
+ordinary reason the enemy should burne and waste their countrey, upon
+his arrival, and at those times while mens minds are yet warme, and
+resolute in their defence: and therefore so much the less ought a Prince
+doubt: for after some few dayes, that their courages grow coole, the
+dammages are all done, and mischiefs received, and there is no help for
+it, and then have they more occasion to cleave faster to their Prince,
+thinking he is now more bound to them, their houses having for his
+defence been fired, and their possessions wasted; and mens nature is as
+well to hold themselves oblig'd for the kindnesses they do, as for those
+they receive; whereupon if all be well weigh'd, a wise Prince shall not
+find much difficulty to keep sure and true to him his Citizens hearts at
+the beginning and latter end of the siege, when he hath no want of
+provision for food and ammunition.
+
+
+
+
+CHAP. XI
+
+Concerning Ecclesiastical Principalities.
+
+
+There remains now only that we treat of the Ecclesiastical
+Principalities, about which all the difficulties are before they are
+gotten: for they are attained to either by vertue, or Fortune; and
+without the one or the other they are held: for they are maintaind by
+orders inveterated in the religion, all which are so powerfull and of
+such nature, that they maintain their Princes in their dominions in what
+manner soever they proceed and live. These only have an Estate and
+defend it not; have subjects and govern them not; and yet their States
+because undefended, are not taken from them; nor their subjects, though
+not govern'd, care not, think not, neither are able to aliene themselves
+from them. These Principalities then are only happy and secure: but they
+being sustained by superior causes, whereunto humane understanding
+reaches not, I will not meddle with them: for being set up and
+maintained by God, it would be the part of a presumptuous and rash man
+to enter into discourse of them. Yet if any man should ask me whence it
+proceeds, that the Church in temporal power hath attaind to such
+greatness, seeing that till the time of Alexander the sixt, the Italian
+Potentates, and not only they who are entituled the potentates, but
+every Baron and Lord though of the meanest condition in regard of the
+temporality, made but small account of it; and now a King of France
+trembles at the power thereof; and it hath been able to drive him out of
+Italy, and ruine the Venetians; and however this be well known, me
+thinks it is not superstitious in some part to recall it to memory.
+Before that Charles King of France past into Italy, this countrey was
+under the rule of the Pope, Venetians, the King of Naples, the Duke of
+Milan, and the Florentines. These Potentates took two things principally
+to their care; the one, that no forreiner should invade Italy; the other
+that no one of them should inlarge their State. They, against whom this
+care was most taken, were the Pope and the Venetians; and to restrain
+the Venetians, there needed the union of all the rest, as it was in the
+defence of Ferrara; and to keep the Pope low, they served themselves of
+the Barons of Rome, who being divided into two factions, the Orsini and
+Colonnesi, there was alwaies occasion of offence between them, who
+standing ready with their armes in hand in the view of the Pope, held
+the Popedome weak and feeble: and however sometimes there arose a
+couragious Pope, as was Sextus; yet either his fortune, or his wisdome
+was not able to free him of these incommodities, and the brevity of
+their lives was the cause thereof; for in ten years, which time, one
+with another, Popes ordinarily liv'd, with much ado could they bring low
+one of the factions. And if, as we may say, one had near put out the
+Colonnesi, there arose another enemy to the Orsini, who made them grow
+again, so that there was never time quite to root them out. This then
+was the cause, why the Popes temporal power was of small esteem in
+Italy; there arose afterwards Pope Alexander the sixt, who of all the
+Popes that ever were, shewed what a Pope was able to do with money and
+forces: and he effected, by means of his instrument, Duke Valentine, and
+by the ocasion of the French mens passage, all those things which I have
+formerly discoursed upon in the Dukes actions: and however his purpose
+was nothing at all to inlarge the Church dominions, but to make the Duke
+great; yet what he did, turnd to the Churches advantage, which after his
+death when the Duke was taken away, was the heir of all his pains.
+Afterwards succeeded Pope Julius, and found the Church great, having all
+Romania, and all the Barons of Rome being quite rooted out, and by
+Alexanders persecutions, all their factions worne down; he found also
+the way open for the heaping up of moneys, never practised before
+Alexanders time; which things Julius not only follow'd, but augmented;
+and thought to make himself master of Bolonia, and extinguish the
+Venetians, and chase the French men out of Italy: and these designes of
+his prov'd all lucky to him, and so much the more to his praise in that
+he did all for the good of the Church, and in no private regard: he kept
+also the factions of the Orsins and Colonnesi, in the same State he
+found them: and though there were among them some head whereby to cause
+an alteration; yet two things have held them quiet; the one the power of
+the Church, which somewhat affrights them; the other because they have
+no Cardinals of their factions, who are the primary causes of all the
+troubles amongst them: nor shall these parties ever be at rest, while
+they have Cardinals; because they nourish the factions both in Rome, and
+abroad; and the Barons then are forced to undertake the defence of them:
+and thus from the Prelates ambitions arise the discords and tumults
+among the Barons. And now hath Pope Leo his Holiness found the Popedome
+exceeding puissant, of whom it is hoped, that if they amplified it by
+armes, he by his goodness, and infinite other vertues, will much more
+advantage and dignifie it.
+
+
+
+
+CHAP. XII
+
+How many sorts of Military discipline there are and touching Mercenary
+soldiers.
+
+
+Having treated particularly of the qualities of those Principalities,
+which in the beginning I propounded to discourse upon, and considered in
+some part the reasons of their well and ill being, and shewd the waies
+whereby many have sought to gain, and hold them, it remains now that I
+speak in general of the offences and defences, that may chance in each
+of the forenamed. We have formerly said that it is necessary for a
+Prince to have good foundations laid; otherwise it must needs be that he
+go to wrack. The Principal foundations that all States have, as well
+new, as old, or mixt, are good laws, and good armes; and because there
+cannot be good laws, where there are not good armes; and where there are
+good armes, there must needs be good laws, I will omit to discourse of
+the laws, and speak of armes. I say then that the armes, wherewithall a
+Prince defends his State, either are his own, or mercenary, or
+auxiliary, or mixt. Those that are mercenary and auxiliar, are
+unprofitable, and dangerous, and if any one holds his State founded upon
+mercenary armes, he shall never be quiet, nor secure, because they are
+never well united, ambitious, and without discipline, treacherous, among
+their friends stour, among their enemies cowardly; they have no fear of
+God, nor keep any faith with men; and so long only defer they the doing
+of mischief, till the enemy comes to assul thee; and in time of peace
+thou art despoyled by them, in war by thy enemies: the reason hereof is,
+because they have no other love, nor other cause to keep them in the
+field, but only a small stipend, which is not of force to make them
+willing to hazard their lives for thee: they are willing indeed to be
+thy soldiers, till thou goest to fight; but then they fly, or run away;
+which thing would cost me but small pains to perswade; for the ruine of
+Italy hath not had any other cause now a dayes, than for that it hath
+these many years rely'd upon mercenary armes; which a good while since
+perhaps may have done some man some service, and among themselves they
+may have been thought valiant: but so soon as any forrein enemy
+appeared, they quickly shewed what they were. Whereupon Charles the King
+of France, without opposition, made himself master of all Italy: and he
+that said, that the causes thereof were our faults, said true; but these
+were not those they beleeved, but what I have told; and because they
+were the Princes faults, they also have suffered the punishment. I will
+fuller shew the infelicity of these armes. The mercenary Captains are
+either very able men, or not: if they be, thou canst not repose any
+trust in them: for they will alwaies aspire unto their own proper
+advancements, either by suppressing of thee that art their Lord, or by
+suppressing of some one else quite out of thy purpose: but if the
+Captain be not valorous, he ordinarily ruines thee: and in case it be
+answered, that whoever shall have his armes in his hands, whether
+mercenary or not, will do so: I would reply, that armes are to be
+imployed either by a Prince, or Common-wealth. The Prince ought to go in
+person, and performe the office of a commander: the Republick is to send
+forth her Citizens: and when she sends forth one that proves not of
+abilities, she ought to change him then; and when he does prove
+valorous, to bridle him so by the laws, that he exceed not his
+commission. And by experience we see, that Princes and Republiques of
+themselves alone, make very great conquests; but that mercenary armes
+never do other than harme; and more hardly falls a Republick armed with
+her own armes under the obedience of one of her own Citizens, than one
+that is armed by forrein armes. Rome and Sparta subsisted many ages
+armed and free. The Swissers are exceedingly well armed, and yet very
+free. Touching mercenary armes that were of old, we have an example of
+the Carthagians, who near upon were oppress'd by their own mercenary
+soldiers, when the first war with the Romans was finished; however the
+Carthagians had their own Citizens for their Captains. Philip of Macedon
+was made by the Thebans after Epaminondas his death, General of their
+Armies; and after the victory, he took from them liberty. The Milaneses
+when Duke Philip was dead, entertaind Francis Sforza into their pay
+against the Venetians, who having vanquisht their enemie at Caravaggio,
+afterwards joyned with them, where by to usurp upon the Milaneses his
+Masters. Sforza his father, being in Joan the Queen of Naples pay, left
+her on a sudden disarmed; whereupon she, to save her Kingdom, was
+constraind to cast her self into the King of Arrragon's bosome. And in
+case the Venetians and the Florentines have formerly augmented their
+State with these kind of armes, and their own Captains, and yet none of
+them have ever made themselves their Princes, but rather defended them:
+I answer, that the Florentines in this case have had fortune much their
+friend: for of valorous Captains, which they might any way fear, some
+have not been victors, some have had opposition, and others have laid
+the aim of their ambitions another way. He who overcame not, was John
+Aouto, of whose faith there could no proof be made, being he vanquisht
+not; but every one will acknowledge, that, had he vanquisht, the
+Florentines were at his discretion. Sforza had alwaies the Bracceschi
+for his adversaries, so that they were as a guard one upon another.
+Francis converted all his ambition against Lombardy. Braccio against the
+Church, and the Kingdome of Naples. But let us come to that which
+followed a while agoe. The Florentines made Paul Vitelli their General,
+a throughly advis'd man, and who from a private fortune had rose to very
+great reputation: had he taken Pisa, no man will deny but that the
+Florentines must have held fast with him; for had he been entertained in
+their enemies pay, they had no remedy; and they themselves holding of
+him, of force were to obey him. The Venetians, if we consider their
+proceedings, we shall see wrought both warily and gloriously, while
+themselves made war, which was before their undertakings by land, where
+the gentlemen with their own Commons in armes behav'd themselves
+bravely: but when they began to fight by land, they lost their valor,
+and follow'd the customes of Italy; and in the beginning of their
+enlargement by land, because they had not much territory, and yet were
+of great reputation, they had not much cause to fear their Captains; but
+as they began to extend their bounds, which was under their Commander
+Carminiola, they had a taste of this error: for perceiving he was
+exceeding valorous, having under his conduct beaten the Duke of Milan;
+and knowing on the other side, how he was cold in the war, they judg'd
+that they could not make any great conquest with him; and because they
+neither would, nor could cashier him, that they might not lose what they
+had gotten, they were forced for their own safeties to put him to death.
+Since they have had for their General Bartholomew of Berganio, Robert of
+St. Severin, the Count of Petilian, and such like: whereby they were to
+fear their losses, as well as to hope for gain: as it fell out
+afterwards at Vayla, where in one day they lost that, which with so much
+pains they had gotten in eight hundred years: for from these kind of
+armes grow slack and slow and weak gains; but sudden and wonderfull
+losses: And because I am now come with these examples into Italy, which
+now these many years, have been governd by mercenary armes, I will
+search deeper into them, to the end that their course and progress being
+better discoverd, they may be the better amended. You have to
+understand, that so soon as in these later times the yoak of the Italian
+Empire began to be shaken off, and the Pope had gotten reputation in the
+temporality, Italy was divided into several States: for many of the
+great cities took armes against their Nobility; who under the Emperors
+protection had held them in oppression; and the Pope favored these,
+whereby he might get himself reputation, in the temporality; of many
+others, their Citizens became Princes, so that hereupon Italy being come
+into the Churches hands as it were, and some few Republicks, those
+Priests and Citizens not accustomed to the use of armes, began to take
+strangers to their pay. The first that gave reputation to these soldiers
+was Alberick of Como in Romania. From his discipline among others
+descended Brachio and Sforza, who in their time were the arbitres of
+Italy; after these followed all others, who even till our dayes have
+commanded the armes of Italy; and the success of their valor hath been,
+that it was overrun by Charles, pillaged by Lewis, forc'd by Ferdinand,
+and disgrac'd by the Swissers. The order which they have held, hath
+been, first whereby to give reputation to their own armes to take away
+the credit of the Infantry. This they did, because they having no State
+of their own, but living upon their industry, their few foot gave them
+no reputation, and many they were not able to maintain; whereupon they
+reduc'd themselves to cavalery, and so with a supportable number they
+were entertained and honored: and matters were brought to such termes,
+that in an army of twenty thousand soldiers you should not find two
+thousand foot. They had moreover us'd all industry to free themselves
+and their soldiers of all pains and fear, in their skirmishes, not
+killing, but taking one another prisoners, and without ransome for their
+freedom; they repaired not all to their tents by night, nor made
+palizado or trench thereabout, nor lay in the field in the summer: and
+all these things were thus contrived and agreed of among them in their
+military orders, whereby (as is said) to avoid pains and dangers,
+insomuch as they have brought Italy into slavery and disgrace.
+
+
+
+
+CHAP. XIII
+
+Of Auxiliary Soldiers, mixt, and native.
+
+
+The Auxiliary forces, being the other kind of unprofitable armes, are,
+when any puissant one is called in, who with his forces comes to assist
+and defend thee; such as in these later times did Pope Julius use, who
+having seen the evil proof of his mercenary soldiers in the enterprize
+of Ferrara, applied himself to the Auxiliaries, and agreed with
+Ferdinand King of Spain, that with his Forces he should aid him. These
+armes may be profitable and advantagious for themselves; but for him
+that calls them in, hurtfull; because in losing, thou art left defeated;
+and conquering, thou becomest their prisoner. And however that of these
+examples the ancient stories are full fraught; yet will I not part from
+this of Pope Julius the second, which is as yet fresh: whose course
+could not have been more inconsiderate, for the desire he had to get
+Ferrara, putting himself wholly into strangers hands: but his good
+fortune caused another cause to arise, that hindred him from receiving
+the fruit of his evil choice; for his Auxiliaries being broken at
+Ravenna, and the Swissers thereupon arriving, who put the Conquerors to
+flight beyond all opinion, even their own and others, he chanced not to
+remain his enemies prisoner, they being put to flight, nor prisoner to
+his Auxiliaries, having vanquished by other forces than theirs. The
+Florentines being wholly disarmed, brought ten thousand French to Pisa
+for to take it: by which course they ran more hazzard, than in any time
+of their troubles. The Emperor of Constantinople, to oppress his
+neighbors, brought into Greece ten thousand Turks, who when the war was
+ended, could not be got out thence, which was the beginning of Greeces
+servitude under the Infidels. He then that will in no case be able to
+overcome, let him serve himself of these armes; for they are much more
+dangerous than the mercenaries; for by those thy ruine is more suddenly
+executed; for they are all united, and all bent to the obedience of
+another. But for the mercenaries to hurt thee, when they have
+vanquished, there is no more need of time, and greater occasion, they
+not being all united in a body, and being found out and paid by thee,
+wherein a third that thou mak'st their head, cannot suddenly gaine so
+great authority, that he can endammage thee. In summe, in the
+mercenaries their sloth and lazinesse to fight is more dangerous: in the
+auxiliaries their valour. Wherefore a wise Prince hath alwayes avoyded
+these kind of armes, and betaken himselfe to his owne, and desired
+rather to loss with his owne, than conquer with anothers, accounting
+that not a true victorie which was gotten with others armes. I will not
+doubt to alleadge Cæsar Borgia, and his actions. This Duke entred into
+Romania with auxiliarie armes, bringing with him all French souldiers:
+but afterwards not accounting those armes secure, bent himselfe to
+mercenaries, judging lesse danger to be in those, and tooke in pay the
+Orsini and the Vitelli, which afterwards in the proof of them, finding
+wavering, unfaithful, and dangerous, he extinguishd, and betook himselfe
+to his owne; and it may easily be perceiv'd what difference there is
+between the one and the other of these armes, considering the difference
+that was between the Dukes reputation, when he had the French men alone,
+and when he had the Orsini and Vitelli; but when he remaind with his
+own, and stood of himselfe, we shall find it was much augmented: nor
+ever was it of grate esteeme, but when every one saw, that he wholly
+possessed his owne armes. I thought not to have parted from the Italian
+examples of late memory; but that I must not let passe that of Hiero the
+Siracusan, being one of those I formerly nam'd. This man (as I said
+before) being made general of the Siracusans forces, knew presently that
+mercenary souldiery was nothing for their profit in that they were
+hirelings, as our Italians are; and finding no way either to hold, or
+cashier them made them all bee cut to peeces, and afterwards waged warre
+with his owne men, and none others. I will also call to memory a figure
+of the old Testament serving just to this purpose. When David presented
+himselfe before Saul to goe to fight with Goliah the Philistins
+Champion, Saul to encourage him, clad him with his owne armes, which
+David when he had them upon back, refused, saying, he was not able to
+make any proofe of himself therein, and therefore would goe meet the
+enemy with his own sling and sword. In summe, others armes either fall
+from thy shoulders, or cumber or streighten thee. Charls the seventh,
+Father of Lewis the eleventh, having by his good fortune and valour set
+France at liberty from the English, knew well this necessity of being
+arm'd with his owne armes, and settled in his Kingdome the ordinances of
+men at armes, and infantry. Afterwards King Lewis his sonne abolisht
+those of the infantry, and began to take the Swissers to pay; which
+errour follow'd by the others, is (as now indeed it appeares) the cause
+of that Kingdomes dangers. For having given reputation to the Swissers,
+they have renderd all their own armes contemptible; for this hath wholly
+ruind their foot, and oblig'd their men at armes to forrein armes: for
+being accustomed to serve with the Swissers, they think they are not
+able to overcome without them. From whence it comes that the French are
+not of force against the Swissers, and without them also against others
+they use not to adventure. Therefore are the French armies mixt, part
+mercenaries, and part natives, which armes are farre better than the
+simple mercenaries or simple auxiliaries, and much inferiour to the
+natives; and let the said example suffice for that: for the Kingdome of
+France would have been unconquerable, if Charles his order had been
+augmented and maintaind: but men in their small wisdome begin a thing,
+which then because it hath some favour of good, discovers not the poyson
+that lurkes thereunder, as I before said of the hectick feavers.
+Wherefore that Prince which perceives not mischiefes, but as they grow
+up, is not truely wise; and this is given but to few: and if we consider
+the first ruine of the Romane Empire, we shall find it was from taking
+the Goths first into their pay; for from that beginning the forces of
+the Romane Empire began to grow weak, and all the valour that was taken
+hence was given to them. I conclude then that without having armes of
+their owne, no Principality can be secure, or rather is wholly oblig'd
+to fortune, not having valour to shelter it in adversity. And it was
+alwayes the opinion and saying of wise men, that nothing is so weak and
+unsetled, as is the reputation of power not founded upon ones owne
+proper forces: which are those that are composed of thy subjects, or
+Citizens, or servants; all the rest are mercenary or auxiliary; and the
+manner how to order those well, is easie to find out, if those orders
+above nam'd by me, shall be but run over, and if it shall be but
+consider'd, how Philip Alexander the Great his Father, and in what
+manner many Republicks and Princes have armd and appointed themselves,
+to which appointments I referre my selfe wholly.
+
+
+
+
+CHAP. XIV
+
+What belongs to the Prince touching military Discipline.
+
+
+A prince then ought to have no other ayme, nor other thought, nor take
+any thing else for his proper art, but warr, and the orders and
+discipline thereof: for that is the sole arte which belongs to him that
+commands, and is of so great excellency, that not only those that are
+borne Princes, it maintains so; but many times raises men from a private
+fortune to that dignity. And it is seene by the contrary, that when
+Princes have given themselves more to their delights, than to the
+warres, they have lost their States; and the first cause that makes thee
+lose it, is the neglect of that arte; and the cause that makes thee
+gaine it, is that thou art experienc'd and approvd in that arte. Francis
+Sforza by being a man at armes, of a private man became Duke of Milan;
+and his sons by excusing themselves of the troubles and paines belonging
+to those imployments of Princes, became private men. For among other
+mischiefes thy neglect of armes brings upon thee, it causes thee to be
+contemnd, which is one of those disgraces, from which a Prince ought to
+keepe himselfe, as hereafter shall be sayd: for from one that is disarmd
+to one that is armd there is no proportion; and reason will not, that he
+who is in armes, should willingly yeeld obedience to him that is
+unfurnishd of them, and that he that is disarmd should be in security
+among his armed vassalls; for there being disdaine in the one, and
+suspicion in the other, it is impossible these should ever well
+cooperate. And therefore a Prince who is quite unexperienced in matter
+of warre, besides the other infelicities belonging to him, as is said,
+cannot be had in any esteeme among his souldiers, nor yet trust in them.
+Wherefore he ought never to neglect the practice of the arte of warre,
+and in time of peace should he exercise it more than in the warre; which
+he may be able to doe two wayes; the one practically, and in his labours
+and recreations of his body, the other theoretically. And touching the
+practick part, he ought besides the keeping of his own subjects well
+traind up in the discipline and exercise of armes, give himselfe much to
+the chase, whereby to accustome his body to paines, and partly to
+understand the manner of situations, and to know how the mountaines
+arise, which way the vallyes open themselves, and how the plaines are
+distended flat abroad, and to conceive well the nature of the rivers,
+and marrish ground, and herein to bestow very much care, which knowledge
+is profitable in two kinds: first he learnes thereby to know his own
+countrey, and is the better enabled to understand the defence thereof,
+and afterwards by meanes of this knowledge and experience in these
+situations, easily comprehends any other situation, which a new he hath
+need to view, for the little hillocks, vallies, plaines, rivers, and
+marrish places. For example, they in Tuscany are like unto those of
+other countries: so that from the knowledge of the site of one country,
+it is easie to attain to know that of others. And that Prince that wants
+this skill, failes of the principall part a Commander should be furnisht
+with; for this shows the way how to discover the enemy, to pitch the
+camp, to lead their armies, to order their battells, and also to besiege
+a town at thy best advantage, Philopomenes Prince of the Achayans, among
+other praises Writers give him, they say, that in time of peace, he
+thought not upon any thing so much as the practise of warre; and
+whensoever he was abroad in the field to disport himselfe with his
+friends, would often stand still, and discourse with them, in case the
+enemies were upon the top of that hill, and we here with our army,
+whether of us two should have the advantage, and how might we safely goe
+to find them, keeping still our orders; and if we would retire our
+selves, what course should we take if they retir'd, how should we follow
+them? and thus on the way, propounded them all such accidents could
+befall in any army; would heare their opinions, and tell his owne, and
+confirme it by argument; so that by his continuall thought hereupon,
+when ever he led any army no chance could happen, for which he had not a
+remedy. But touching the exercise of the mind, a Prince ought to read
+Histories, and in them consider the actions of the worthiest men, marke
+how they have behav'd themselves in the warrs, examine the occasions of
+their victories, and their losses; wherby they may be able to avoyd
+these, and obtaine those; and above all, doe as formerly some excellent
+man hath done, who hath taken upon him to imitate, if any one that hath
+gone before him hath left his memory glorious; the course he took, and
+kept alwaies near unto him the remembrances of his actions and worthy
+deeds: as it is said, that Alexander the great imitated Achilles; Cæsar
+Alexander, and Scipio Cyrus. And whoever reads the life of Cyrus,
+written by Xenophon, may easily perceive afterwards in Scipio's life how
+much glory his imitation gaind him, and how much Scipio did conforme
+himselfe in his chastity, affability, humanity, and liberality with
+those things, that are written by Xenophon of Cyrus. Such like wayes
+ought a wise Prince to take, nor ever be idle in quiet times, but by his
+paines then, as it were provide himself of store, whereof he may make
+some use in his adversity, the end that when the times change, he may be
+able to resist the stormes of his hard fortune.
+
+
+
+
+CHAP. XV
+
+Of those things, in respect whereof, men, and especially Princes, are
+praised, or dispraised.
+
+
+It now remaines that we consider what the conditions of a Prince ought
+to be, and his termes of government over his subjects, and towards his
+friends. And because I know that many have written hereupon; I doubt,
+lest I venturing also to treat thereof, may be branded with presumption,
+especially seeing I am like enough to deliver an opinion different from
+others. But my intent being to write for the advantage of him that
+understands me, I thought it fitter to follow the effectuall truth of
+the matter, than the imagination thereof; And many Principalities and
+Republiques, have been in imagination, which neither have been seen nor
+knowne to be indeed: for there is such a distance between how men doe
+live, and how men ought to live; that he who leaves that which is done,
+for that which ought to be done, learnes sooner his ruine than his
+preservation; for that man who will professe honesty in all his actions,
+must needs goe to ruine among so many that are dishonest. Whereupon it
+is necessary for a Prince, desiring to preserve himselfe, to be able to
+make use of that honestie, and to lay it aside againe, as need shall
+require. Passing by then things that are only in imagination belonging
+to a Prince, to discourse upon those that are really true; I say that
+all men, whensoever mention is made of them, and especially Princes,
+because they are placed aloft in the view of all, are taken notice of
+for some of these qualities, which procure them either commendations or
+blame: and this is that some one is held liberal, some miserable,
+(miserable I say, nor covetous; for the covetous desire to have, though
+it were by rapine; but a miserable man is he, that too much for bears to
+make use of his owne) some free givers, others extortioners; some
+cruell, others pitious; the one a Leaguebreaker, another faithfull; the
+one effeminate and of small courage, the other fierce and couragious;
+the one courteous, the other proud; the one lascivious, the other
+chaste; the one of faire dealing, the other wily and crafty; the one
+hard, the other easie; the one grave, the other light; the one
+religious, the other incredulous, and such like. I know that every one
+will confesse, it were exceedingly praise worthy for a Prince to be
+adorned with all these above nam'd qualities that are good: but because
+this is not possible, nor doe humane conditions admit such perfection in
+vertues, it is necessary for him to be so discret, that he know how to
+avoid the infamie of those vices which would thrust him out of his
+State; and if it be possible, beware of those also which are not able to
+remove him thence; but where it cannot be, let them passe with lesse
+regard. And yet, let him not stand much upon it, though he incurre the
+infamie of those vices, without which he can very hardly save his State:
+for if all be throughly considerd, some thing we shall find which will
+have the colour and very face of Vertue, and following them, they will
+lead the to thy destruction; whereas some others that shall as much
+seeme vice, if we take the course they lead us, shall discover unto us
+the way to our safety and well-being.
+
+    The second blemish in this our Authours book, I find in his
+    fifteenth Chapter: where he instructs his Prince to use such an
+    ambidexterity as that he may serve himselfe either of vertue, or
+    vice, according to his advantage, which in true pollicy is
+    neither good in attaining the Principality nor in securing it
+    when it is attaind. For Politicks, presuppose Ethiques, which
+    will never allow this rule: as that a man might make this small
+    difference between vertue, and vice, that he may indifferently
+    lay aside, or take up the one or the other, and put it in
+    practise as best conduceth to the end he propounds himselfe. I
+    doubt our Authour would have blamd Davids regard to Saul when 1
+    Sam. 24. in the cave he cut off the lap of Sauls garment, and
+    spared his head; and afterwards in the 26. when he forbad
+    Abishai to strike him as he lay sleeping. Worthy of a Princes
+    consideration is that saying of Abigal to David 1 Sam. 25. 30.
+
+    'It shall come to passe when the Lord shall have done to my Lord
+    according to all that he hath spoken concerning thee, and shall
+    have appointed thee Ruler over Israel, that this shall be no
+    grief to thee, nor offence of heart unto my Lord, that thou hast
+    forborne to shed blood, etc.'
+
+    For surely the conscience of this evill ground whereupon they
+    have either built, or underpropped their tyranny, causes men, as
+    well _metus_ as _spes in longum projicere_, which sets them a
+    work on further mischiefe.
+
+
+
+
+CHAP. XVI
+
+Of Liberality, and Miserablenesse.
+
+
+Beginning then at the first of the above mentioned qualities, I say that
+it would be very well to be accounted liberall: neverthelesse,
+liberality used in such a manner, as to make thee be accounted so,
+wrongs thee: for in case it be used vertuously, and as it ought to be,
+it shall never come to be taken notice of, so as to free thee from the
+infamie of its contrary. And therefore for one to hold the name of
+liberal among men, it were needfull not to omit any sumptuous quality,
+insomuch that a Prince alwayes so dispos'd, shall waste all his
+revenues, and at the end shall be forc'd, if he will still maintaine
+that reputation of liberality, heavily to burthen his subjects, and
+become a great exactour; and put in practise all those things that can
+be done to get mony: Which begins to make him hatefull to his subjects,
+and fall into every ones contempt, growing necessitous: so that having
+with this liberality wrong'd many, and imparted of his bounty but to a
+few; he feels every first mischance, and runs a hazard of every first
+danger: Which he knowing, and desiring to withdraw himself from, incurs
+presently the disgrace of being termed miserable. A Prince therefore not
+being able to use this vertue of liberality, without his own damage, in
+such a sort, that it may be taken notice of, ought, if he be wise, not
+to regard the name of Miserable; for in time he shall alwaies be
+esteemed the more liberal, seeing that by his parsimony his own revenues
+are sufficient for him; as also he can defend himself against whoever
+makes war against him, and can do some exploits without grieving his
+subjects: so that he comes to use his liberality to all those, from whom
+he takes nothing, who are infinite in number; and his miserableness
+towards those to whom he gives nothing, who are but a few. In our dayes
+we have not seen any, but those who have been held miserable, do any
+great matters; but the others all quite ruin'd. Pope Julius the second,
+however he serv'd himself of the name of Liberal, to get the Papacy, yet
+never intended he to continue it, to the end he might be able to make
+war against the King of France: and he made so many wars without
+imposing any extraordinary tax, because his long thrift supplyed his
+large expences. This present King of Spain could never have undertaken,
+nor gone through with so many exploits, had he been accounted liberal.
+Wherefore a Prince ought little to regard (that he may not be driven to
+pillage his subjects, that he may be able to defend himself, that he may
+not fall into poverty and contempt, that he be not forced to become an
+extortioner) though he incurre the name of miserable; for this is one of
+those vices, which does not pluck him from his throne. And if any one
+should say, Cæsar by his liberality obtained the Empire, and many others
+(because they both were, and were esteemd liberal) attaind to exceeding
+great dignities. I answer, either thou art already come to be a Prince,
+or thou art in the way to it; in the first case, this liberality is
+hurtful; in the second, it is necessary to be accounted so; and Cæsar
+was one of those that aspired to the Principality of Rome. But if after
+he had gotten it, he had survived, and not forborne those expences, he
+would quite have ruined that Empire. And if any one should reply; many
+have been Princes, and with their armies have done great exploits, who
+have been held very liberal. I answer, either the Prince spends of his
+own and his subjects, or that which belongs to others: in the first, he
+ought to be sparing; in the second, he should not omit any part of
+liberality. And that Prince that goes abroad with his army, and feeds
+upon prey, and spoyle, and tributes, and hath the disposing of that
+which belongs to others, necessarily should use this liberality;
+otherwise would his soldiers never follow him; and of that which is
+neither thine, nor thy subjects, thou mayest well be a free giver, as
+were Cyrus, Cæsar and Alexander; for the spending of that which is
+anothers, takes not away thy reputation, but rather adds to it, only the
+wasting of that which is thine own hurts thee; nor is there any thing
+consumes itself so much as liberality, which whilest thou usest, thou
+losest the means to make use of it, and becomest poore and abject; or to
+avoid this poverty, an extortioner and hatefull person. And among all
+those things which a Prince ought to beware of is, to be dispised, and
+odious; to one and the other of which, liberality brings thee. Wherefore
+there is more discretion to hold the stile of Miserable, which begets an
+infamy without hatred, than to desire that of Liberal, whereby to
+incurre the necessity of being thought an extortioner, which procures an
+infamy with hatred.
+
+
+
+
+CHAP. XVII
+
+Of Cruelty, and Clemency, and whether it is better to be belov'd, or
+feard.
+
+
+Descending afterwards unto the other fore-alledged qualities, I say,
+that every Prince should desire to be held pitiful, and not cruel.
+Nevertheless ought he beware that he ill uses not this pitty. Cæsar
+Borgia was accounted cruel, yet had his cruelty redrest the disorders in
+Romania, setled it in union, and restored it to peace, and fidelity:
+which, if it be well weighed, we shall see was an act of more pitty,
+than that of the people of Florence, who to avoyd the terme of cruelty,
+suffered Pistoya to fall to destruction. Wherefore a Prince ought not to
+regard the infamy of cruelty, for to hold his subjects united and
+faithfull: for by giving a very few proofes of himself the other way, he
+shall be held more pittiful than they, who through their too much pitty,
+suffer disorders to follow, from whence arise murthers and rapines: for
+these are wont to hurt an intire universality, whereas the executions
+practised by a Prince, hurt only some particular. And among all sorts of
+Princes, it is impossible for a new Prince to avoyd the name of cruel,
+because all new States are full of dangers: whereupon Virgil by the
+mouth of Dido excuses the inhumanity of her Kingdom, saying,
+
+  _Res dura et Regni novitas me talia cogunt
+  Moliri et latè fines custode tenere._
+
+  My hard plight and new State force me to guard
+  My confines all about with watch and ward.
+
+Nevertheless ought he to be judicious in his giving belief to any thing,
+or moving himself thereat, nor make his people extreamly afraid of him;
+but proceed in a moderate way with wisdome, and humanity, that his too
+much confidence make him not unwary, and his too much distrust
+intolerable; from hence arises a dispute, whether it is better to be
+belov'd or feard: I answer, a man would wish he might be the one and the
+other: but because hardly can they subsist both together, it is much
+safer to be feard, than be loved; being that one of the two must needs
+fail; for touching men, we may say this in general, they are unthankful,
+unconstant, dissemblers, they avoyd dangers, and are covetous of gain;
+and whilest thou doest them good, they are wholly thine; their blood,
+their fortunes, lives and children are at thy service, as is said
+before, when the danger is remote; but when it approaches, they revolt.
+And that Prince who wholly relies upon their words, unfurnished of all
+other preparations, goes to wrack: for the friendships that are gotten
+with rewards, and not by the magnificence and worth of the mind, are
+dearly bought indeed; but they will neither keep long, nor serve well in
+time of need: and men do less regard to offend one that is supported by
+love, than by fear. For love is held by a certainty of obligation, which
+because men are mischievous, is broken upon any occasion of their own
+profit. But fear restrains with a dread of punishment which never
+forsakes a man. Yet ought a Prince cause himself to be belov'd in such a
+manner, that if he gains not love, he may avoid hatred: for it may well
+stand together, that a man may be feard and not hated; which shall never
+fail, if he abstain from his subjects goods, and their wives; and
+whensoever he should be forc'd to proceed against any of their lives, do
+it when it is to be done upon a just cause, and apparent conviction; but
+above all things forbeare to lay his hands on other mens goods; for men
+forget sooner the death of their father, than the loss of their
+patrimony. Moreover the occasions of taking from men their goods, do
+never fail: and alwaies he that begins to live by rapine, finds occasion
+to lay hold upon other mens goods: but against mens lives, they are
+seldome found, and sooner fail. But where a Prince is abroad in the
+field with his army, and hath a multitude of soldiers under his
+government, then is it necessary that he stands not much upon it, though
+he be termed cruel: for unless he be so, he shall never have his
+soldiers live in accord one with another, nor ever well disposed to any
+brave piece of service. Among Hannibals actions of mervail, this is
+reckoned for one, that having a very huge army, gathered out of several
+nations, and all led to serve in a strange countrey, there was never any
+dissention neither amongst themselves, nor against their General, as
+well in their bad fortune as their good. Which could not proceed from
+any thing else than from that barbarous cruelty of his, which together
+with his exceeding many vertues, rendred him to his soldiers both
+venerable and terrible; without which, to that effect his other vertues
+had served him to little purpose: and some writers though not of the
+best advised, on one side admire these his worthy actions, and on the
+otherside, condemn the principal causes thereof. And that it is true,
+that his other vertues would not have suffic'd him, we may consider in
+Scipio, the rarest man not only in the dayes he liv'd, but even in the
+memory of man; from whom his army rebel'd in Spain: which grew only upon
+his too much clemency, which had given way to his soldiers to become
+more licentious, than was well tollerable by military discipline: for
+which he was reprov'd by Fabius Maximus in the Senate, who termed him
+the corrupter of the Roman soldiery. The Locrensians having been
+destroyed by a Lieutenant of Scipio's, were never reveng'd by him, nor
+the insolence of that Lieutenant punisht; all this arising from his
+easie nature: so that one desiring to excuse him in the Senate, said,
+that there were many men knew better how to keep themselves from faults,
+than to correct the faults of other men: which disposition of his in
+time would have wrong'd Scipio's reputation and glory, had he therewith
+continu'd in his commands: but living under the government of the
+Senate, this quality of his that would have disgrac'd him not only was
+conceal'd, but prov'd to the advancement of his glory. I conclude then,
+returning to the purpose of being feard, and belov'd; insomuch as men
+love at their own pleasure, and to serve their own turne, and their fear
+depends upon the Princes pleasure, every wise Prince ought to ground
+upon that which is of himself, and not upon that which is of another:
+only this, he ought to use his best wits to avoid hatred, as was said.
+
+
+
+
+CHAP. XVIII
+
+In what manner Princes ought to keep their words.
+
+
+How commendable in a Prince it is to keep his word, and live with
+integrity, not making use of cunning and subtlety, every one knows well:
+yet we see by experience in these our dayes, that those Princes have
+effected great matters, who have made small reckoning of keeping their
+words, and have known by their craft to turne and wind men about, and in
+the end, have overcome those who have grounded upon the truth. You must
+then know, there are two kinds of combating or fighting; the one by
+right of the laws, the other meerly by force. That first way is proper
+to men, the other is also common to beasts: but because the first many
+times suffices not, there is a necessity to make recourse to the second;
+wherefore it behooves a Prince to know how to make good use of that part
+which belongs to a beast, as well as that which is proper to a man. This
+part hath been covertly shew'd to Princes by ancient writers; who say
+that Achilles and many others of those ancient Princes were intrusted to
+Chiron the Senator, to be brought up under his discipline: the moral of
+this, having for their teacher one that was half a beast and half a man,
+was nothing else, but that it was needful for a Prince to understand how
+to make his advantage of the one and the other nature, because neither
+could subsist without the other. A Prince then being necessitated to
+know how to make use of that part belonging to a beast, ought to serve
+himself of the conditions of the Fox and the Lion; for the Lion cannot
+keep himself from snares, nor the Fox defend himself against the Wolves.
+He had need then be a Fox, that he may beware of the snares, and a Lion
+that he may scare the wolves. Those that stand wholly upon the Lion,
+understand not well themselves. And therefore a wise Prince cannot, nor
+ought not keep his faith given when the observance thereof turnes to
+disadvantage, and the occasions that made him promise, are past. For if
+men were all good, this rule would not be allowable; but being they are
+full of mischief, and would not make it good to thee, neither art thou
+tyed to keep it with them: nor shall a Prince ever want lawfull
+occasions to give colour to this breach. Very many modern examples
+hereof might be alledg'd, wherein might be shewed how many peaces
+concluded, and how many promises made, have been violated and broken by
+the infidelity of Princes; and ordinarily things have best succeeded
+with him that hath been nearest the Fox in condition. But it is
+necessary to understand how to set a good colour upon this disposition,
+and to be able to fain and dissemble throughly; and men are so simple,
+and yeeld so much to the present necessities, that he who hath a mind to
+deceive, shall alwaies find another that will be deceivd. I will not
+conceal any one of the examples that have been of late. Alexander the
+sixth, never did any thing else than deceive men, and never meant
+otherwise, and alwaies found whom to work upon; yet never was there man
+would protest more effectually, nor aver any thing with more solemn
+oaths, and observe them less than he; nevertheless, his cousenages all
+thriv'd well with him; for he knew how to play this part cunningly.
+Therefore is there no necessity for a Prince to be endued with all above
+written qualities, but it behooveth well that he seem to be so; or
+rather I will boldly say this, that having these qualities, and alwaies
+regulating himself by them, they are hurtfull; but seeming to have them,
+they are advantageous; as to seem pittiful, faithful, mild, religious,
+and of integrity, and indeed to be so; provided withall thou beest of
+such a composition, that if need require to use the contrary, thou
+canst, and knowest how to apply thy self thereto. And it suffices to
+conceive this, that a Prince, and especially a new Prince, cannot
+observe all those things, for which men are held good; he being often
+forc'd, for the maintenance of his State, to do contrary to his faith,
+charity, humanity, and religion: and therefore it behooves him to have a
+mind so disposd, as to turne and take the advantage of all winds and
+fortunes; and as formerly I said, not forsake the good, while he can;
+but to know how to make use of the evil upon necessity. A Prince then
+ought to have a special care, that he never let fall any words, but what
+are all season'd with the five above written qualities, and let him seem
+to him that sees and hears him, all pitty, all faith, all integrity, all
+humanity, all religion; nor is there any thing more necessary for him to
+seem to have, than this last quality: for all men in general judge
+thereof, rather by the sight, than by the touch; for every man may come
+to the sight of him, few come to the touch and feeling of him; yvery man
+may come to see what thou seemest, few come to perceive and understand
+what thou art; and those few dare not oppose the opinion of many, who
+have the majesty of State to protect them: And in all mens actions,
+especially those of Princes wherein there is no judgement to appeale
+unto men, forbeare to give their censures, till the events and ends of
+things. Let a Prince therefore take the surest courses he can to
+maintain his life and State: the means shall alwaies be thought
+honorable, and commended by every one; for the vulgar is over-taken with
+the appearance and event of a thing: and for the most part of people,
+they are but the vulgar: the others that are but few, take place where
+the vulgar have no subsisteance. A Prince there is in these dayes, whom
+I shall not do well to name, that preaches nothing else but peace and
+faith; but had he kept the one and the other, several times had they
+taken from him his state and reputation.
+
+    In the sixteenth, seventeenth, and eighteenth Chap, our Author
+    descends to particulars, perswading his Prince in his sixteenth
+    to such a suppleness of disposition, as that upon occasion he
+    can make use either of liberality or miserableness, as need
+    shall require. But that of liberality is to last no longer than
+    while he is in the way to some designe: which if he well weigh,
+    is not really a reward of vertue, how ere it seems; but a bait
+    and lure to bring birds to the net. In the seventeenth Chap, he
+    treats of clemency and cruelty, neither of which are to be
+    exercis'd by him as acts of mercy or justice; but as they may
+    serve to advantage his further purposes. And lest the Prince
+    should incline too much to clemency, our Author allows rather
+    the restraint by fear, than by love. The contrary to which all
+    stories shew us. I will say this only, cruelty may cut of the
+    power of some, but causes the hatred of all, and gives a will to
+    most to take the first occasion offerd for revenge. In the
+    eighteenth Chap, our Author discourses how Princes ought to
+    govern themselves in keeping their promises made: whereof he
+    sayes they ought to make such small reckoning, as that rather
+    they should know by their craft how to turne and wind men about,
+    whereby to take advantage of all winds and fortunes. To this I
+    would oppose that in the fifteenth Psal. v. 5. He that sweareth
+    to his neighbor, and disappointeth him not, though it were to
+    his own hindrance. It was a King that writ it, and me thinks the
+    rule he gave, should well befit both King and Subject: and
+    surely this perswades against all taking of advantages. A man
+    may reduce all the causes of faith-breaking to three heads. One
+    may be, because he that promised, had no intention to keep his
+    word; and this is a wicked and malitious way of dealing. A
+    second may bee, because hee that promisd, repents of his promise
+    made; and that is grounded on unconstancy, and lightness in that
+    he would not be well resolved before he entred into covenant.
+    The third may be, when it so falls out, that it lyes not in his
+    power that made the promise to performe it. In which case a man
+    ought to imitate the good debter, who having not wherewithall to
+    pay, hides not himself, but presents his person to his creditor,
+    willingly suffering imprisonment. The first and second are very
+    vitious and unworthy of a Prince: in the third, men might well
+    be directed by the examples of those two famous Romans, Regulus
+    and Posthumius. I shall close this with the answer of Charles
+    the fifth, when he was pressed to break his word with Luther for
+    his safe return from Wormes; _Fides rerum promissarum etsi toto
+    mundo exulet, tamen apud imperatorem cam consistere oportet_.
+    Though truth be banisht out of the whole world, yet should it
+    alwaies find harbour in an Emperors breast.
+
+[Sidenote: _Gulielmus Xenocarus_ in vit. Car. Quinti.]
+
+
+
+
+CHAP. XIX
+
+That Princes should take a care, not to incurre contempt or hatred.
+
+
+But because among the qualities, whereof formerly mention is made, I
+have spoken of those of most importance, I will treat of the others more
+briefly under these qualityes that a Prince is to beware, as in part is
+above-said, and that he fly those things which cause him to be odious or
+vile: and when ever he shall avoid this, he shall fully have plaid his
+part, and in the other disgraces he shall find no danger at all. There
+is nothing makes him so odious, as I said, as his extortion of his
+subjects goods, and abuse of their women, from which he ought to
+forbear; and so long as he wrongs not his whole people, neither in their
+goods, nor honors, they live content, and he hath only to strive with
+the Ambition of some few: which many waies and easily too, is
+restrain'd. To be held various, light, effeminate, faint-hearted,
+unresolv'd, these make him be contemnd and thought base, which a Prince
+should shun like rocks, and take a care that in all his actions there
+appear magnanimity, courage, gravity, and valor; and that in all the
+private affairs of his subjects, he orders it so, that his word stand
+irrevocable: and maintain himself in such repute, that no man may think
+either to deceive or wind and turn him about: that Prince that gives
+such an opinion of himself, is much esteemed, and against him who is so
+well esteemed, hardly are any conspiracies made by his subjects, or by
+forreiners any invasion, when once notice is taken of his worth, and how
+much he is reverenced by his subjects: For a Prince ought to have two
+fears, the one from within, in regard of his subjects; the other from
+abroad, in regard of his mighty neighbors; from these he defends himself
+by good armes and good friends; and alwayes he shall have good friends,
+if he have good armes; and all things shall alwaies stand sure at home,
+when those abroad are firme, in case some conspiracy have not disturbed
+them; and however the forrein matters stand but ticklishly; yet if he
+have taken such courses at home, and liv'd as we have prescribed, he
+shall never be able (in case he forsake not himself) to resist all
+possibility, force and violence, as I said Nabis the Spartan did: but
+touching his subjects, even when his affairs abroad are setled, it is to
+be fear'd they may conspire privily; from which a Prince sufficiently
+secure himself by shunning to be hated or contemned, and keeping himself
+in his peoples good opinion, which it is necessary for him to compass,
+as formerly we treated at large. And one of the powerfullest remedies a
+Prince can have against conspiracies, is, not to be hated nor dispised
+by the universality; for alwaies he that conspires, beleeves the Princes
+death is acceptable to the subject: but when he thinks it displeases
+them, he hath not the heart to venture on such a matter; for the
+difficulties that are on the conspirators side, are infinite. By
+experience it is plain, that many times plots have been laid, but few of
+them have succeeded luckily; for he that conspires, cannot be alone, nor
+can he take the company of any, but of those, who he beleeves are
+malecontents; and so soon as thou hast discover'd thy self to a
+malecontent, thou givest him means to work his own content: for by
+revealing thy treason, he may well hope for all manner of favour: so
+that seeing his gain certain of one side; and on the other, finding only
+doubt and danger, either he had need be a rare friend, or that he be an
+exceeding obstinate enemy to the Prince, if he keeps his word with thee.
+And to reduce this matter into short termes: I say, there is nothing but
+jealousie, fear, and suspect of punishment on the conspirators part to
+affright him; but on the Princes part, there is the majesty of the
+principality, the laws, the defences of his friends and the State, which
+do so guard him, that to all these things the peoples good wills being
+added, it is unpossible any one should be so head-strong as to conspire;
+for ordinarily where a traytor is to feare before the execution of his
+mischiefe, in this case he is also to feare afterwards, having the
+people for his enemy when the fact is commited, and therefore for this
+cause, not being able to hope for any refuge. Touching this matter, many
+examples might be brought; but I will content my selfe to name one which
+fell out in the memory of our Fathers. Annibal Bentivolii, grand Father
+of this Annibal who now lives, that was Prince in Bolonia, being slaine
+by the Canneschi that conspir'd against him, none of his race being
+left, but this John, who was then in swadling clouts; presently the
+people rose upon this murder, and slew all the Canneschi which proceeded
+from the popular affection, which the family of the Bentivolii held then
+in Bolonia: which was so great, that being there remain'd not any, now
+Anniball was dead, that was able to manage the State; and having notice
+that in Florence there was one borne of the Bentivolii, who till then
+was taken for a Smiths sonne: the citizens of Bolonia went to Florence
+for him, and gave the government of their City to him, which was rul'd
+by him, untill John was of fit yeares to governe. I conclude then, that
+a Prince ought to make small account of treasons, whiles he hath the
+people to friend: but if they be his enemies and hate him, he may well
+feare every thing, and every one. And well ordered States, and discreet
+Princes have taken care withall diligence, not to cause their great men
+to fall into desperation, and to content the people, and so to maintaine
+them: for this is one of the most important businesses belonging to a
+Prince. Among the Kingdomes that are well orderd and governd in our
+dayes, is that of France, and therein are found exceeding many good
+orders, whereupon the Kings liberty and security depends: of which the
+chiefe is the Parliament, and the authority thereof: for he that founded
+that Kingdome, knowing the great mens ambition and insolence; and
+judgeing it necessary there should be a bridle to curbe them; and on the
+other side knowing the hatred of the Commonalty against the great ones,
+grounded upon feare, intending to secure them, would not lay this care
+wholly upon the King, but take this trouble from him, which he might
+have with the great men, in case he favourd the Commonalty; or with the
+Commonalty, in case he favourd the great men; and thereupon set up a
+third judge, which was that, to the end it should keep under the great
+ones, and favour the meaner sort, without any imputation to the King. It
+was not possible to take a better, nor wiser course then this; nor a
+surer way to secure the King, and the Kingdome. From whence we may draw
+another conclusion worthie of note, that Princes ought to cause others
+to take upon them the matters of blame and imputation; and upon
+themselves to take only those of grace and favour. Here againe I
+conclude, that a Prince ought to make good esteeme of his Nobility; but
+not thereby to incur the Commons hatred: It would seeme perhaps to many,
+considering the life and death of many Romane Emperours, that they were
+examples contrary to my opinion, finding that some have liv'd worthily,
+and shewd many rare vertues of the minde, and yet have lost the Empire,
+and been put to death by their owne subjects, conspiring against them.
+Intending then to answer these objections, I shall discourse upon the
+qualities of some Emperours, declaring the occasions of their ruine, not
+disagreeing from that which I have alledgd; and part thereof I will
+bestow on the consideration of these things, which are worthy to be
+noted by him that reads the actions of those times: and it shall suffice
+me to take all those Emperours that succeeded in the Empire from Marcus
+the Philosopher to Maximinus, who were Mercus and Commodus his sonne,
+Pertinax, Julian, Severus, Antonius, Caracalla his sonne, Macrinus,
+Heliogabalus, Alexander, and Maximin. And first it is to be noted, that
+where in the other Principalities, they are to contend only with the
+ambition of the Nobles, and the insolence of the people; the Romane
+Emperours had a third difficulty, having to support the cruelty and
+covetousnesse of the souldiers, which was so hard a thing, that it
+caused the ruine of many, being hard to satisfy the souldiers, and the
+people; for the people love their quiet, and therefore affect modest
+Princes; and the souldiers love a Prince of a warlike courage, that is
+insolent, cruell, and plucking from every one: which things they would
+have them exercise upon the people, whereby they might be able to double
+their stipends, and satisfie their avarice and cruelty: whence it
+proceeds, that those Emperours who either by Nature or by Art, had not
+such a reputation, as therewith they could curbe the one and the other,
+were alwayes ruind: and the most of them, specially those who as new men
+came to the principality, finding the difficulty of those two different
+humours, applyed themselves to content the souldiers, making small
+account of wronging the people, which was a course then necessary; for
+the Princes not being able to escape the hatred of every one, ought
+first endeavour that they incurre not the hatred of any whole
+universality; and when they cannot attaine thereunto, they are to
+provide with all industry, to avoyd the hatred of those universalities
+that are the most mighty. And therefore those Emperors, who because they
+were but newly call'd to the Empire, had need of extraordinary favours,
+more willingly stuck to the soldiers, than to the people; which
+neverthelesse turnd to their advantage, or otherwise, according as that
+Prince knew how to maintaine his repute with them. From these causes
+aforesayd proceeded it, that Marcus Pertinax, and Alexander, though all
+living modestly, being lovers of justice, and enemies of cruelty,
+courteous and bountifull, had all from Marcus on ward, miserable ends;
+Marcus only liv'd and dy'd exceedingly honoured: for he came to the
+Empire by inheritance, and was not to acknowledge it either from the
+soldiers, nor from the people: afterwards being accompanyed with many
+vertues, which made him venerable, he held alwayes whilst he liv'd the
+one and the other order within their limits, and was never either hated,
+or contemnd. But Pertinax was created Emperour against the soldiers
+wills, who being accustomed to live licentiously under Commodus, could
+not endure that honest course that Pertinax sought to reduce them to:
+Whereupon having gotten himself hatred, and to this hatred added
+contempt, in that he was old, was ruind in the very beginning of his
+government. Whence it ought to be observed, that hatred is gaind as well
+by good deeds as bad; and therefore as I formerly said, when a Prince
+would maintaine the State, he is often forced not to be good: for when
+that generality, whether it be the people, or soldiers, or Nobility,
+whereof thou thinkst thou standst in need to maintain thee, is
+corrupted, it behoves thee to follow their humour, and content them, and
+then all good deeds are thy adversaries. But let us come to Alexander
+who was of that goodnesse, that among the prayses given him, had this
+for one, that in fourteen yeers wherein he held the Empire, he never put
+any man to death, but by course of justice; neverthelesse being held
+effeminate, and a man that suffered himselfe to be ruled by his mother,
+and thereupon fallen into contempt, the army conspird against him. Now
+on the contrary discoursing upon the qualities of Commodus, Severus,
+Antonius, Caracalla, and Maximinus, you shall find them exceeding
+cruell, and ravinous, who to satisfie their soldiers, forbeare no kinde
+of injury that could be done upon the people; and all of them, except
+Severus, came to evill ends: for in Severus, there was such
+extraordinary valour, that while he held the soldiers his freinds,
+however the people were much burthend by him, he might alwayes reigne
+happily: for his valour rendred him so admirable in the souldiers and
+peoples sights; that these in a manner stood amazd and astonishd, and
+those others reverencing and honoring him. And because the actions of
+this man were exceeding great, being in a new Prince, I will briefly
+shew how well he knew to act the Foxes and the Lions parts; the
+conditions of which two, I say, as before, are very necessary for a
+Prince to imitate. Severus having had experience of Julian the Emperours
+sloth, perswaded his army (whereof he was commander in Sclavonia) that
+they should doe well to goe to Rome to revenge Pertinax his death, who
+was put to death by the Imperiall guard; and under this pretence, not
+making any shew that he aspird unto the Empire, set his army in march
+directly towards Rome, and was sooner come into Italy, than it was
+knowne he had mov'd from his station. Being ariv'd at Rome, he was by
+the Senate chosen Emperour for feare, and Julian slaine. After this
+beginning, two difficulties yet remaind to Severus, before he could make
+himselfe Lord of the whole State; the one in Asia, where Niger the
+Generall of those armies had gotten the title of Emperour, the other in
+the West with Albinus, who also aspird to the Empire: and because he
+thought there might be some danger to discover himselfe enemy to them
+both, he purposed to set upon Niger, and cozen Albinus, to whom he writ,
+that being elected Emperour by the Senate, he would willingly
+communicate it with him; and thereupon sent him the title of Cæsar, and
+by resolution of the Senate, tooke him to him for his Colleague; which
+things were taken by Albinus in true meaning. But afterwards when
+Severus had overcome and slaine Niger, and pacified the affaires and in
+the East, being returned to Rome, he complaind in the Senate of Albinus,
+how little weighing the benefits received from him, he had sought to
+slay him by treason, and therefore was he forc'd to goe punish his
+ingratitude: afterwards he went into France, where he bereft him both of
+his State and life, whoever then shall in particular examine his
+actions, shall finde he was a very cruell Lion, and as crafty a Fox: and
+shall see that he was alwayes feard and reverenc'd by every one, and by
+the armies not hated; and shall nothing marvell that he being a new man,
+was able to hold together such a great Empire: for his extraordinary
+reputation defended him alwayes from that hatred, which the people for
+his extortions might have conceiv'd against him. But Antonius his sonne,
+was also an exceeding brave man, and endued with most excellent
+qualities, which causd him to be admird by the people, and acceptable to
+the souldiers, because he was a warlike man, enduring all kind of
+travell and paines, despising all delicate food, and all kinde of
+effeminacy, which gaind him the love of all the armies: neverthelesse
+his fiercenesse and cruelty were such, and so hideous, having upon many
+particular occasions put to death a great part of the people of Rome,
+and all those of Alexandria, that he grew odious to the world, and began
+to be feard by those also that were neare about him; so that he was
+slaine by a Centurion in the very midst of his army. Where it is to be
+noted, that these kinde of deaths, which follow upon the deliberation of
+a resolv'd and obstinate minde, cannot by a Prince be avoyded: for every
+one that feares not to dye, is able to doe it; but a Prince ought to be
+lesse afraid of it because it very seldome falls out. Only should he
+beware not to doe any extreame injury to any of those of whom he serves
+himself, or that he hath near about him in any imployment of his
+Principality, as Antonius did: who had reproachfully slaine a brother of
+that Centurion; also threatned him every day, and neverthelesse
+entertaind him still as one of the guards of his body, which was a rash
+course taken, and the way to destruction, as befell him. But let us come
+to Commodus for whom it was very easie to hold the Empire, by reason it
+descended upon him by inheritance, being Marcus his sonne, and it had
+been enough for him to follow his fathers footsteps, and then had he
+contented both the people and the soldiers: but being of a cruell and
+savage disposition, whereby to exercise his actions upon the people, he
+gave himselfe to entertaine armies, and those in all licentiousnesse. On
+the other part not maintaining his dignity, but often descending upon
+the stages to combate with fencers, and doing such other like base
+things, little worthy of the Imperiall majesty, he became contemptible
+in the soldiers sight; and being hated of one part, and despisd of the
+other, he was conspird against, and slaine. It remaines now, that we
+declare Maximinus his conditions, who was a very warlike man; and the
+armies loathing Alexanders effeminacy, whereof I spake before, when they
+had slain him, chose this man Emperour, who not long continued so,
+because two things there were that brought him into hatred and contempt;
+the one because he was very base, having kept cattell in Thrace, which
+was well knowne to every one, and made them to scorne him; the other,
+because in the beginning of his Principality having delayd to goe to
+Rome, and enter into possession of the Imperiall throne, he had gaind
+the infamy of being thought exceeding cruell, having by his Prefects in
+Rome, and in every place of the Empire, exercisd many cruelties,
+insomuch that the whole world being provok'd against him to contempt for
+the basenesse of his blood; on the other side upon the hatred conceiv'd
+against him for feare of his crulty; first Affrica, afterwards the
+Senate, with all the people of Rome and all Italy, conspired against
+him, with whom his own army took part; which incamping before Aquileya,
+and finding some difficulty to take the town, being weary of his
+cruelties, and because they saw he had so many enemies, fearing him the
+lesse, slew him. I purpose not to say any thing either of Heliogabalus,
+Macrinus, or Julian, who because they were throughly base, were sudenly
+extinguished: but I will come to the conclusion of this discourse; and I
+say, that the Princes of our times have lesse of this difficulty to
+satisfie the Soldiers extraordinarily in their government; for
+notwithstanding that there be some considerations to be had of them, yet
+presently are those armies dissolved, because none of these Princes do
+use to maintaine any armies together, which are annex'd and inveterated
+with the governments of the provinces, as were the armies of the Romane
+Empire. And therefore if then it was necessary rather to content the
+soldiers than the people, it was because the soldiers were more
+powerfull than the people: now is it more necessary for all Princes,
+(except the Turk and the Souldan) to satisfie their people than their
+soldiers, because the people are more mighty than they; wherein I except
+the Turk, he alwayes maintaining about his person 12000 foot, and 15000
+horse, upon which depends the safety and strength of his Kingdome; and
+it is necessary that laying aside all other regard of his people, he
+maintaine these his friends. The Souldans Kingdome is like hereunto,
+which being wholy in the souldiers power, he must also without respect
+of his people keep them his friends. And you are to consider, that this
+State of the Souldans differs much from all the other Principalities:
+For it is very like the Papacy, which cannot be termd an hereditary
+Principality: nor a new Principality: for the sons of the deceasd Prince
+are not heires and Lords thereof, but he that is chosen receives that
+dignity from those who have the authority in them. And this order being
+of antiquity, cannot be termd a new Principality, because therein are
+none of those difficulties that are in new ones: for though the Prince
+be new, yet are the orders of that state ancient, and ordaind to receive
+him, as if he were their hereditary Prince. But let us returne to our
+matter; whosoever shall consider our discourse before, shall perceive
+that either hatred, or contempt have caus'd the ruine of the afore-named
+Emperors; and shall know also, from it came that part of them proceeding
+one way, and part a contrary; yet in any of them the one had a happy
+success, and the others unhappy: for it was of no availe, but rather
+hurtful for Pertinax and Alexander, because they were new Princes, to
+desire to imitate Marcus, who by inheritance came to the Principality:
+and in like manner it was a wrong to Caracalla, Commodus, and Maximus,
+to imitate Severus, because none of them were endued with so great valor
+as to follow his steps therein. Wherefore a new Prince in his
+Principality cannot well imitate Marcus his actions; nor yet is it
+necessary to follow those of Severus: but he ought make choyce of those
+parts in Severus which are necessary for the founding of a State; and to
+take from Marcus those that are fit and glorious to preserve a State
+which is already established and setled.
+
+
+
+
+CHAP. XX
+
+Whether the Citadels and many other things which Princes often make use
+of, are profitable or dammageable.
+
+
+Some Princes, whereby they might safely keep their State, have disarmed
+their subjects; some others have held the towns under their dominion,
+divided into factions; others have maintain'd enmities against
+themselves; others have appli'd themselves to gain them, where they have
+suspected at their entrance into the government; others have built
+Fortresses; and others again have ruined and demolished them: and
+however that upon all these things, a man cannot well pass a determinate
+sentence, unless one comes to the particulars of these States, where
+some such like determinations were to be taken; yet I shall speak of
+them in so large a manner, as the matter of it self will bear. It was
+never then that a new Prince would disarme his own subjects; but rather
+when he hath found them disarmed, he hath alwaies arm'd them. For being
+belov'd, those armes become thine; those become faithful, which thou
+hadst in suspicion; and those which were faithful, are maintaind so; and
+thy subjects are made thy partisans; and because all thy subjects cannot
+be put in armes, when thou bestowest favors on those thou armest, with
+the others thou canst deal more for thy safety; and that difference of
+proceeding which they know among them, obliges them to thee; those
+others excuse thee, judgeing it necessary that they have deservd more,
+who have undergone more danger, and so have greater obligation: but when
+thou disarmst them, thou beginst to offend them, that thou distrustest
+them, either for cowardise, or small faith; and the one or the other of
+those two opinions provokes their hatred against thee; and because thou
+canst not stand disarmed, thou must then turn thy self to mercenary
+Soldiery, whereof we have formerly spoken what it is, and when it is
+good; it can never be so much as to defend thee from powerful enemies,
+and suspected subjects; therefore as I have said, a new Prince in a new
+Principality hath alwaies ordaind them armes. Of examples to this
+purpose, Histories are full. But when a Prince gains a new State, which
+as a member he adds to his ancient dominions, then it is necessary to
+disarme that State, unless it be those whom thou hast discoverd to have
+assisted thee in the conquest thereof; and these also in time and upon
+occasions, it is necessary to render delicate and effeminate, and so
+order them, that all the arms of thy State be in the hands of thy own
+Soldiers, who live in thy ancient State near unto thee. Our ancestors
+and they that were accounted Sages, were wont to say that it was
+necessary to hold Pistoya in factions, and Pisa with Fortresses; and for
+this cause maintaind some towns subject to them in differences, whereby
+to hold it more easily. This, at what time Italy was ballanc'd in a
+certain manner, might be well done; but mee thinks it cannot now a dayes
+be well given for a precept; for I do not beleeve, that divisions made
+can do any good; rather it must needs be, that when the enemy approaches
+them, Cities divided are presently lost; for alwaies the weaker part
+will cleave to the forrein power, and the other not be able to subsist.
+The Venetians (as I think) mov'd by the aforesaid reasons, maintaind the
+factions of the Guelfes and Gibellins, in their townes; and however they
+never suffered them to spill one anothers blood, yet they nourish'd
+these differences among them, to the end that the citizens imployd in
+these quarrels, should not plot any thing against them: which as it
+proved, never serv'd them to any great purpose: for being defeated at
+Vayla, presently one of those two factions took courage and seizd upon
+their whole State. Therefore such like waies argue the Princes weakness;
+for in a strong principality they never will suffer such divisions; for
+they shew them some kind of profit in time of peace, being they are able
+by means thereof more easily to mannage their subjects: but war comming,
+such like orders discover their fallacy. Without doubt, Princes become
+great, when they overcome the difficulties and oppositions that are made
+against them; and therefore Fortune especially when she hath to make any
+new Prince great, who hath more need to gain reputation than an
+hereditary Prince, causes enemies to rise against him, and him to
+undertake against them: to the end he may have occasion to master them,
+and know that ladder, which his enemies have set him upon, whereby to
+rise yet higher. And therefore many think, that a wise Prince when he
+hath the occasion, ought cunningly to nourish some enmity, that by the
+suppressing thereof, his greatness may grow thereupon. Princes,
+especially those that are new, have found more faith and profit in those
+men, who in the beginning of their State, have been held suspected, than
+in those who at their entrance have been their confidents. Pandulphus
+Petrucci, Prince of Siena, governd his State, more with them that had
+been suspected by him, than with the others. But of this matter we
+cannot speak at large, because it varies according to the subject; I
+will only say this, that those men, who in the beginning of a
+Principality were once enemies, if they be of quality so that to
+maintain themselves they have need of support, the Prince might alwaies
+with the greatest facility gain for his; and they are the rather forced
+to serve him faithfully, insomuch as they know it is more necessary for
+them by their deeds to cancel that sinister opinion, which was once held
+of them; and so the Prince ever draws from these more advantage, than
+from those, who serving him too supinely, neglect his affairs. And seing
+the matter requires it, I will not omit to put a Prince in mind, who
+hath anew made himself master of a State, by means of the inward helps
+he had from thence that he consider well the cause that mov'd them that
+favor'd him to favor him, if it be not a natural affection towards him;
+for if it be only because they were not content with their former
+government, with much pains and difficulties shall he be able to keep
+them long his friends, because it will be impossible for him to content
+them. By these examples then which are drawn out of ancient and modern
+affaires, searching into the cause hereof, we shall find it much more
+easie to gain those men for friends, who formerly were contented with
+the State, and therefore were his enemies: than those, who because they
+were not contented therewith, became his fiends, and favor'd him in
+getting the mastery of it. It hath been the custome of Princes, whereby
+to hold their States more securely, to build Citadels, which might be
+bridles and curbs to those that should purpose any thing against them,
+and so to have a secure retreat from the first violences. I commend this
+course, because it hath been used of old; notwithstanding Nicholas
+Vitelli in our dayes hath been known to demolish two Citadels in the
+town of Castello, the better to keep the State; Guidubaldo Duke of Urbin
+being to return into his State, out of which he was driven by Cæsar
+Borgia, raz'd all the Fortresses of that Countrey, and thought he should
+hardlyer lose that State again without them. The Bentivolii returning
+into Bolonia, used the like courses. Citadels then are profitable, or
+not, according to the times; and if they advantage thee in one part,
+they do thee harme in another; and this part may be argued thus. That
+Prince who stands more in fear of his own people than of strangers,
+ought to build Fortresses: but he that is more afraid of strangers than
+of his people, should let them alone. Against the house of Sforza, the
+Castle of Milan, which Francis Sforza built, hath and will make more
+war, than any other disorder in that State: and therefore the best
+Citadel that may be, is not to incurre the peoples hatred; for however
+thou holdest a Fortress, and the people hate thee, thou canst hardly
+scape them; for people, when once they have taken armes, never want the
+help of strangers at their need to take ther parts. In our dayes we
+never saw that they ever profited any Prince, unless it were the
+Countess of Furli, when Count Hieronymo of Furli her husband was slain;
+for by means thereof she escap'd the peoples rage, and attended aid from
+Milan, and so recover'd her State: and then such were the times that the
+stranger could not assist the people: but afterwards they serv'd her to
+little purpose, when Cæsar Borgia assaild her, and that the people which
+was her enemy, sided with the stranger. Therefore both then, and at
+first, it would have been more for her safety, not to have been odious
+to the people, than to have held the Fortresses. These things being well
+weigh'd then, I will commend those that shall build up Fortresses, and
+him also that shall not; and I will blame him, howsoever he be, that
+relying upon those, shall make small account of being hated by his
+people.
+
+
+
+
+CHAP. XXI
+
+How a Prince ought to behave himself to gain reputation.
+
+
+There is nothing gains a Prince such repute as great exploits, and rare
+tryals of himself in Heroick actions. We have now in our dayes Ferdinand
+King of Arragon the present King of Spain: he in a manner may be termed
+a new Prince; for from a very weak King, he is now become for fame and
+glory, the first King of Christendome, and if you shall wel consider his
+actions, you shall find them all illustrious, and every one of them
+extraordinary. He in the beginning of his reign assaild Granada, and
+that exploit was the ground of his State. At first he made that war in
+security, and without suspicion he should be any waies hindred, and
+therein held the Barons of Castiglias minds busied, who thinking upon
+that war, never minded any innovation; in this while he gaind credit and
+authority with them, they not being aware of it; was able to maintain
+with the Church and the peoples money all his soldiers, and to lay a
+foundation for his military ordinances with that long war, which
+afterwards gaind him exceeding much honor. Besides this, to the end he
+might be able hereamong to undertake greater matters, serving himself
+alwaies of the colour of religion, he gave himself to a kind of
+religious cruelty, chasing and dispoyling those Jewes out of the
+Kingdome; nor can this example be more admirable and rare: under the
+same cloke he invaded Affrick and went through with his exploit in
+Italy: and last of all hath he assaild France, and so alwaies proceeded
+on forwards contriving of great matters, which alwaies have held his
+subjects minds in peace and admiration, and busied in attending the
+event, what it should be: and these his actions have thus grown, one
+upon another, that they have never given leisure to men so to rest, as
+they might ever plot any thing against them. Moreover it much avails a
+Prince to give extraordinary proofes of himself touching the government
+within, such as those we have heard of Bernard of Milan, whensoever
+occasion is given by any one, that may effectuate some great thing
+either of good or evil, in the civil government; and to find out some
+way either to reward or punish it, whereof in the world much notice may
+be taken. And above all things a Prince ought to endeavor in all his
+actions to spread abroad a fame of his magnificence and worthiness. A
+Prince also is well esteemed, when he is a true friend, or a true enemy;
+when without any regard he discovers himself in favor of one against
+another; which course shall be alwaies more profit, than to stand
+neuter: for if two mighty ones that are thy neighbors, come to fall out,
+or are of such quality, that one of them vanquishing, thou art like to
+be in fear of the vanquisher, or not; in either of these two cases, it
+will ever prove more for thy profit, to discover thy self, and make a
+good war of it: for in the first case, if thou discoverest not thy
+selfe, thou shalt alwaies be a prey to him that overcomes, to the
+contentment and satisfaction of the vanquisht; neither shalt thou have
+reason on thy side, nor any thing else to defend or receive thee. For he
+that overcomes, will not have any suspected friends that give him no
+assistance in his necessity: and he that loses, receives thee not,
+because thou wouldest not with thy armes in hand run the hazzard of his
+fortune. Antiochus passed into Greece, thereunto induc'd by the
+Etolians, to chace the Romans thence: and sent his Ambassadors to the
+Achayans, who were the Romans friends, to perswade them to stand
+neuters; on the other side the Romans moved them to joyne armes with
+theirs: this matter came to be deliberated on in the council of the
+Achayans, where Antiochus his Ambassador encouraged them to stand
+neuters, whereunto the Romans Ambassador answerd; Touching the course,
+that is commended to you, as best and profitablest for your State, to
+wit, not to intermeddle in the war between us, nothing can be more
+against you: because, not taking either part, you shall remain without
+thanks, and without reputation a prey to the conqueror. And it will
+alwaies come to pass that he who is not thy friend, will requite thy
+neutrality; and he that is thy friend, will urge thee to discover thy
+self by taking arms for him: and evil advised Princes; to avoyd the
+present dangers, folow often times that way of neutrality, and most
+commonly go to ruine: but when a Prince discovers himself strongly in
+favor of a party; if he to whom thou cleavest, overcomes; however that
+he be puissant, and thou remainest at his disposing, he is oblig'd to
+thee, and there is a contract of friendship made; and men are never so
+openly dishonest, as with such a notorious example of dishonesty to
+oppress thee. Besides victories are never so prosperous, that the
+conqueror is like neglect all respects, and especially of justice. But
+if he to whom thou stickst, loses, thou art received by him; and, while
+he is able, he aydes thee, and so thou becomest partner of a fortune
+that may arise again; the second case, when they that enter into the
+lists together, are of such quality, that thou needest not fear him that
+vanquisheth, so much the more is it discretion in thee to stick to him;
+for thou goest to ruine one with his assistance, who ought to do the
+best he could to save him, if he were well advised; and he overcomming,
+is left at thy discretion; and it is unpossible but with thy ayd he must
+overcome. And here it is to be noted, that a Prince should be well aware
+never to joyn with any one more powerfull than himself, to offend
+another, unless upon necessity, as formerly is said. For when he
+overcomes, thou art left at his discretion, and Princes ought avoid as
+much as they are able, to stand at anothers discretion. The Venetians
+took part with France against the Duke of Milan, and yet could have
+avoided that partaking, from which proceeded their ruine. But when it
+cannot be avoyded, as it befel the Florentines when the Pope and the
+King of Spain went both with their armies to Lombardy, there the Prince
+ought to side with them for the reasons aforesaid. Nor let any State
+think they are able to make such sure parties, but rather that they are
+all doubtfull; for in the order of things we find it alwaies, that
+whensoever a man seeks to avoid one inconvenient, he incurs another. But
+the principal point of judgement, is in discerning between the qualities
+of inconvenients, and not taking the bad for the good. Moreover a Prince
+ought to shew himself a lover of vertue, and that he honors those that
+excel in every Art. Afterwards ought he encourage his Citizens, whereby
+they may be enabled quickly to exercise their faculties as well in
+merchandise, and husbandry, as in any other kind of traffick, to the end
+that no man forbear to adorne and cultivate his possessions for fear
+that he be despoyled of them; or any other to open the commerce upon the
+danger of heavy impositions: but rather to provide rewards for those
+that shall set these matters afoot, or for any one else that shall any
+way amplifie his City or State. Besides he ought in the fit times of the
+year entertain the people with Feasts and Maskes; and because every City
+is devided into Companies, and arts, and Tribes, he ought to take
+special notice of those bodies, and some times afford them a meeting,
+and give them some proof of his humanity, and magnificence; yet withall
+holding firme the majestie of his State; for this must never fail in any
+case.
+
+
+
+
+CHAP.   XXII
+
+Touching Princes Secretaries.
+
+
+It is no small importance to a Prince, the choyce he makes, of servants
+being ordinarily good or bad, as his wisdome is. And the first
+conjecture one gives of a great man, and of his understanding, is, upon
+the sight of his followers and servants he hath about him, when they
+prove able and faithful, and then may he alwaies be reputed wise because
+he hath known how to discern those that are able, and to keep them true
+to him. But when they are otherwise, there can be no good conjecture
+made of him; for the first error he commits, is in this choyce. There
+was no man that had any knowledge of Antonio of Vanafro, the servant of
+Pandulfus Petrucci Prince of Sicily, who did not esteem Pandulfus for a
+very discreet man, having him for his servant. And because there are
+three kinds of understandings; the one that is advised by it self; the
+other that understands when it is informed by another; the third that
+neither is advised by it self nor by the demonstration of another; the
+first is best, the second is good, and the last quite unprofitable.
+Therefore it was of necessity, that if Pandulfus attaind not the first
+degree, yet he got to the second; for whenever any one hath the
+judgement to discerne between the good and the evil, that he does and
+sayes, however that he hath not his distinction from himself, yet still
+comes he to take notice of the good or evil actions of that servant; and
+those he cherishes, and these he suppresses; insomuch that the servant
+finding no means to deceive his master, keeps himself upright and
+honest. But how a Prince may throughly understand his servant, here is
+the way that never fails. When thou seest the servant study more for his
+own advantage than thine, and that in all his actions, he searches most
+after his own profit; this man thus qualified, shall never prove good
+servant, nor canst thou ever relie upon him: for he that holds the
+Sterne of the State in hand, ought never call home his cares to his own
+particular, but give himself wholly over to his Princes service, nor
+ever put him in minde of any thing not appertaining to him. And on the
+other side the Prince to keep him good to him, ought to take a care for
+his servant, honoring him, enriching, and obliging him to him, giving
+him part both of dignities and offices, to the end that the many honors
+and much wealth bestowed on him, may restrain his desires from other
+honors, and other wealth, and that those many charges cause him to fear
+changes that may fall, knowing he is not able to stand without his
+master. And when both the Princes and the servants are thus disposed,
+they may rely the one upon the other: when otherwise, the end will ever
+prove hurtfull for the one as well as for the other.
+
+
+
+
+CHAP. XXIII
+
+That Flatterers are to be avoyded.
+
+
+I will not omit one principle of great inportance, being an errour from
+which Princes with much difficulty defend themselves, unlesse they be
+very discreet, and make a very good choice; and this is concerning
+flatterers; whereof all writings are full: and that because men please
+themselves so much in their own things, and therein cozen themselves,
+that very hardly can they escape this pestilence; and desiring to escape
+it, there is danger of falling into contempt; for there is no other way
+to be secure from flattery, but to let men know, that they displease
+thee not in telling thee truth: but when every one hath this leave, thou
+losest thy reverence. Therefore ought a wise Prince take a third course,
+making choyce of some understanding men in his State, and give only to
+them a free liberty of speaking to him the truth; and touching those
+things only which he inquires of, and nothing else; but he ought to be
+inquisitive of every thing, and hear their opinions, and then afterwards
+advise himself after his own manner; and in these deliberations, and
+with every one of them so carrie himself, that they all know, that the
+more freely they shall speak, the better they shall be liked of: and
+besides those, not give eare to any one; and thus pursue the thing
+resolved on, and thence continue obstinate in the resolution taken. He
+who does otherwise, either falls upon flatterers, or often changes upon
+the varying of opinions, from whence proceeds it that men conceive but
+slightly of him. To this purpose I will alledge you a moderne example.
+Peter Lucas a servant of Maximilians the present Emperor, speaking of
+his Majesty, said that he never advised with any body, nor never did any
+thing after his own way: which was because he took a contrary course to
+what we have now said: for the Emperor is a close man, who communicates
+his secrets to none, nor takes counsel of any one; but as they come to
+be put in practise, they begin to be discovered and known, and so
+contradicted by those that are near about him; and he as being an easy
+man, is quickly wrought from them. Whence it comes that what he does to
+day, he undoes on the morrow; and that he never understands himself what
+he would, nor what he purposes, and that there is no grounding upon any
+of his resolutions. A Prince therefore ought alwayes to take counsell,
+but at his owne pleasure, and not at other mens; or rather should take
+away any mans courage to advise him of any thing, but what he askes: but
+he ought well to aske at large, and then touching the things inquird of,
+be a patient hearer of the truth; and perceiving that for some respect
+the truth were conceald from him, be displeased thereat. And because
+some men have thought that a Prince that gaines the opinion to bee wise,
+may bee held so, not by his owne naturall indowments, but by the good
+counsells he hath about him; without question they are deceivd; for this
+is a generall rule and never failes, that a Prince who of himselfe is
+not wise, can never be well advised, unlesse he should light upon one
+alone, wholly to direct and govern him, who himself were a very wise
+man. In this case it is possible he may be well governd: but this would
+last but little: for that governor in a short time would deprive him of
+his State; but a Prince not having any parts of nature, being advised of
+more then one, shall never be able to unite these counsels: of himself
+shall he never know how to unite them; and each one of the Counsellers,
+probably will follow that which is most properly his owne; and he shall
+never find the meanes to amend or discerne these things; nor can they
+fall out otherwise, because men alwayes prove mischievous, unlesse upon
+some necessity they be forc'd to become good: we conclude therefore,
+that counsells from whencesoever they proceed, must needs take their
+beginning from the Princes wisdome, and not the wisdome of the Prince
+from good counsells.
+
+    In this Chapter our Authour prescribes some rules how to avoyd
+    flattery, and not to fall into contempt. The extent of these two
+    extreames is so large on both sides, that there is left but a
+    very narrow path for the right temper to walke between them
+    both: and happy were that Prince, who could light on so good a
+    Pilote as to bring him to Port between those rocks and those
+    quicksands. Where Majesty becomes familiar, unlesse endued with
+    a super-eminent vertue, it loses all awfull regards: as the
+    light of the Sunne, because so ordinary, because so common, we
+    should little value, were it not that all Creatures feele
+    themselves quickned by the rayes thereof. On the other side,
+    _Omnis insipiens arrogantiâ et plausibus capitur_, Every foole
+    is taken with his owne pride and others flatteryes: and this
+    foole keeps company so much with all great wise men, that hardly
+    with a candle and lantern can they be discernd betwixt. The
+    greatest men are more subject to grosse and palpable flatteries;
+    and especially the greatest of men, who are Kings and Princes:
+    for many seek the Rulers favour. _Prov._ 28. 26. For there are
+    divers meanes whereby private men are instructed; Princes have
+    not that good hap: but they whose instruction is of most
+    importance, so soone as they have taken the government upon
+    them, no longer suffer any reproovers: for but few have accesse
+    unto them, and they who familiary converse with them, doe and
+    say all for favour. Isocrat, to Nicocles, All are afraid to give
+    him occasion of displeasure, though by telling him truth. To
+    this purpose therefore sayes one; a Prince excells in learning
+    to ride the great horse, rather than in any other exercise,
+    because his horse being no flatterer, will shew him he makes no
+    difference between him and another man, and unlesse he keepe his
+    seate well, will lay him on the ground. This is plaine dealing.
+    Men are more subtile, more double-hearted, they have a heart and
+    a heart neither is their tongue their hearts true interpreter.
+    Counsell in the heart of man is like deepe waters; but a man of
+    understanding will draw it out. _Prov._ 20. 5. This
+    understanding is most requisite in a Prince, inasmuch as the
+    whole Globe is in his hand, and the inferiour Orbes are swayed
+    by the motion of the highest. And therefore surely it is the
+    honour of a King to search out such a secret: _Prov._ 25. 2. His
+    counsellours are his eyes and eares; as they ought to be dear to
+    him, so they ought to be true to him, and make him the true
+    report of things without disguise. If they prove false eyes, let
+    him pluck them out; he may as they use glasse eyes, take them
+    forth without paine, and see never a whit the worse for it. The
+    wisdome of a Princes Counsellours is a great argument of the
+    Princes wisdome. And being the choyce of them imports the
+    Princes credit and safety, our Authour will make him amends for
+    his other errours by his good advice in his 22 Chap. whether I
+    referre him.
+
+
+
+
+CHAP. XXIV
+
+Wherefore the Princes of Italy have lost their States.
+
+
+When these things above said are well observ'd, they make a new Prince
+seeme as if he had been of old, and presently render him more secure and
+firme in the State, than if he had already grown ancient therein: for a
+new Prince is much more observd in his action, than a Prince by
+inheritance; and when they are known to bee vertuous, men are much more
+gaind and oblig'd to them thereby, than by the antiquity of their blood:
+for men are much more taken by things present, than by things past, and
+when in the present they find good, they content themselves therein, and
+seeke no further; or rather they undertake the defence of him to their
+utmost, when the Prince is not wanting in other matters to himself; and
+so shall he gaine double glory to have given a beginning to a new
+Principality, adornd, and strengthnd it with good lawes, good arms, good
+friends, and good examples; as he shall have double shame, that is born
+a Prince, and by reason of his small discretion hath lost it. And if we
+shall consider those Lords, that in Italy have lost their States in our
+dayes, as the King of Naples, the Duke of Milan, and others; first we
+shall find in them a common defect, touching their armes, for the
+reasons which have been above discoursd at length. Afterwards we shall
+see some of them, that either shall have had the people for their
+enemies; or be it they had the people to friend, could never know how to
+assure themselves of the great ones: for without such defects as these,
+States are not lost, which have so many nerves, that they are able to
+maintaine an army in the feld. Philip of Macedon, not the father of
+Alexander the Great, but he that was vanquished by Titus Quintius, had
+not much State in regard of the greatnesse of the Romanes and of Greece
+that assail'd him; neverthelesse in that he was a warlike man and knew
+how to entertaine the people, and assure himself of the Nobles, for many
+yeares he made the warre good against them: and though at last some town
+perhaps were taken from him, yet the Kingdome remaind in his hands
+still. Wherefore these our Princes who for many yeares had continued in
+their Principalities, for having afterwards lost them, let them not
+blame Fortune, but their own sloth; because they never having thought
+during the time of quiet, that they could suffer a change (which is the
+common fault of men, while faire weather lasts, not to provide for the
+tempest) when afterwards mischiefes came upon them, thought rather upon
+flying from them, than upon their defence, and hop'd that the people,
+weary of the vanquishers insolence, would recall them: which course when
+the others faile, is good: but very ill is it to leave the other
+remedies for that: for a man wou'd never go to fall, beleeving another
+would come to take him up: which may either not come to passe, or if it
+does, it is not for thy security, because that defence of his is vile,
+and depends not upon thee; but those defences only are good, certaine,
+and durable, which depend upon thy owne selfe, and thy owne vertues.
+
+
+
+
+CHAP. XXV
+
+How great power Fortune hath in humane affaires, and what meanes there
+is to resist it.
+
+
+It is not unknown unto me, how that many have held opinion, and still
+hold it, that the affaires of the world are so governd by fortune, and
+by God, that men by their wisdome cannot amend or alter them; or rather
+that there is no remedy for them: and hereupon they would think that it
+were of no availe to take much paines in any thing, but leave all to be
+governd by chance. This opinion hath gain'd the more credit in our
+dayes, by reason of the great alteration of things, which we have of
+late seen, and do every day see, beyond all humane conjecture: upon
+which, I sometimes thinking, am in some parte inclind to their opinion:
+neverthelesse not to extinguish quite our owne free will, I think it may
+be true, that Fortune is the mistrisse of one halfe of our actions; but
+yet that she lets us have rule of the other half, or little lesse. And I
+liken her to a precipitous torrent, which when it rages, over-flows the
+plaines, overthrowes the trees, and buildings, removes the earth from
+one side, and laies it on another, every one flyes before it, every one
+yeelds to the fury thereof, as unable to withstand it; and yet however
+it be thus, when the times are calmer, men are able to make provision
+against these excesses, with banks and fences so, that afterwards when
+it swels again, it shall all passe smoothly along, within its channell,
+or else the violence thereof shall not prove so licentious and hurtfull.
+In like manner befals it us with fortune, which there shewes her power
+where vertue is not ordeind to resist her, and thither turnes she all
+her forces, where she perceives that no provisions nor resistances are
+made to uphold her. And if you shall consider Italy, which is the seat
+of these changes, and that which hath given them their motions, you
+shall see it to be a plaine field, without any trench or bank; which had
+it been fenc'd with convenient vertue as was Germany, Spain or France;
+this inundation would never have causd these great alterations it hath,
+or else would it not have reach'd to us: and this shall suffice to have
+said, touching the opposing of fortune in generall. But restraining my
+selfe more to particulars, I say that to day we see a Prince prosper and
+flourish and to morrow utterly go to ruine; not seeing that he hath
+alterd any condition or quality; which I beleeve arises first from the
+causes which we have long since run over, that is because that Prince
+that relies wholly upon fortune, runnes as her wheele turnes. I beleeve
+also, that he proves the fortunate man, whose manner of proceeding meets
+with the quality of the time; and so likewise he unfortunate from whose
+course of proceeding the times differ: for we see that men, in the
+things that induce them to the end, (which every one propounds to
+himselfe, as glory and riches) proceed therein diversly; some with
+respects, others more bold, and rashly; one with violence, and th'other
+with cunning; the one with patience, th'other with its contrary; and
+every one of severall wayes may attaine thereto; we see also two very
+respective and wary men, the one come to his purpose, and th'other not;
+and in like maner two equally prosper, taking divers course; the one
+being wary the other head-strong; which proceeds from nothing else, but
+from the quality of the times, which agree, or not, with their
+proceedings. From hence arises that which I said, that two working
+diversly, produce the same effect: and two equaly working, the one
+attains his end, the other not. Hereupon depends the alteration of the
+good; for if to one that behaves himself with warinesse and patience,
+times and affaires turne so favourably, that the carriage of his
+businesse prove well, he prospers; but if the times and affaires chance,
+he is ruind, because he changes not his manner of proceeding: nor is
+there any man so wise, that can frame himselfe hereunto; as well because
+he cannot go out of the way, from that whereunto Nature inclines him: as
+also, for that one having alwayes prosperd, walking such a way, cannot
+be perswaded to leave it; and therefore the respective and wary man,
+when it is fit time for him to use violence and force, knows not how to
+put it in practice, whereupon he is ruind: but if he could change his
+disposition with the times and the affaires, he should not change his
+fortune. Pope Julius the second proceeded in all his actions with very
+great violence, and found the times and things so conformable to that
+his manner of proceeding that in all of them he had happy successe.
+Consider the first exploit he did at Bolonia, even while John Bentivolio
+lived: the Venetians were not well contented therewith; the King of
+Spaine likewise with the French, had treated of that enterprise; and
+notwithstanding al this, he stirrd up by his own rage and fiercenesse,
+personally undertook that expedition: which action of his put in
+suspence and stopt Spaine and the Venetians; those for feare, and the
+others for desire to recover the Kingdome of Naples; and on the other
+part drew after him the King of France; for that King seeing him already
+in motion, and desiring to hold him his friend, whereby to humble the
+Venetians, thought he could no way deny him his souldiers, without doing
+him an open injury. Julius then effected that with his violent and heady
+motion, which no other Pope with all humane wisdome could ever have
+done; for if he had expected to part from Rome with his conclusions
+settled, and all his affaires ordered before hand, as any other Pope
+would have done, he had never brought it to passe: For the King of
+France would have devised a thousand excuses, and others would have put
+him in as many feares. I will let passe his other actions, for all of
+them were alike, and all of them prov'd lucky to him; and the brevity of
+his life never sufferd him to feele the contrary: for had he litt upon
+such times afterwards, that it had been necessary for him to proceed
+with respects, there had been his utter ruine; for he would never have
+left those wayes, to which he had been naturally inclind. I conclude
+then, fortune varying, and men continuing still obstinate to their own
+wayes, prove happy, while these accord together: and as they disagree,
+prove unhappy: and I think it true, that it is better to be heady than
+wary; because Fortune is a mistresse; and it is necessary, to keep her
+in obedience to ruffle and force her: and we see, that she suffers her
+self rather to be masterd by those, than by others that proceed coldly.
+And therefore, as a mistresse, shee is a friend to young men, because
+they are lesse respective, more rough, and command her with more
+boldnesse.
+
+    I have considered the 25 Chapter, as representing me a full view
+    of humane policy and cunning: yet me thinks it cannot satisfie a
+    Christian in the causes of the good and bad successe of things.
+    The life of man is like a game at Tables; skill availes much I
+    grant, but that's not all: play thy game well, but that will not
+    winne: the chance thou throwest must accord with thy play.
+    Examine this; play never so surely, play never so probably,
+    unlesse the chance thou castest, lead thee forward to advantage,
+    all hazards are losses, and thy sure play leaves thee in the
+    lurch. The sum of this is set down in Ecclesiastes chap. 9. v.
+    11. The race is not to the swift, nor the battell to the strong:
+    neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of
+    understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and
+    chance hapeneth to them all. Our cunning Author for all his
+    exact rules he delivere in his books, could not fence against
+    the despight of Fortune, as he complaines in his Epistle to this
+    booke. Nor that great example of policy, Duke Valentine, whome
+    our Author commends to Princes for his crafts-master, could so
+    ruffle or force his mistresse Fortune, that he could keep her in
+    obedience. Man can contribute no more to his actions than vertue
+    and wisdome: but the successe depends upon a power above. Surely
+    there is the finger of god; or as Prov. 16. v. 33. 'The lot is
+    cast into the lap, but the whole disposing thereof is of the
+    Lord.' It was not Josephs wisdome made all things thrive under
+    his hand; but because the Lord was with him; and that which he
+    did, the Lord made it to prosper, Gen. 39. Surely this is a
+    blessing proceeding from the divine providence, which beyond
+    humane capacity so cooperateth with the causes, as that their
+    effects prove answerable, and sometimes (that we may know there
+    is something above the ordinary causes) the success returns with
+    such a supereminency of worth, that it far exceeds the vertue of
+    the ordinary causes.
+
+
+
+
+CHAP. XXVI
+
+An Exhortation to free Italy from the Barbarians.
+
+
+Having then weighed all things above discours'd, and devising with my
+self, whether at this present in Italy the time might serve to honor a
+new Prince, and whether there were matter that might minister occasion
+to a wise and valorous Prince, to introduce such a forme, that might do
+honor to him, and good to the whole generality of the people in the
+countrey: me thinks so many things concurre in favor of a new Prince,
+that I know not whether there were ever any time more proper for this
+purpose. And if as I said, it was necessary, desiring to see Moses his
+vertue, that the children of Israel should be inthrald in Ægypt; and to
+have experience of the magnanimity of Cyrus his mind, that the Persians
+should be oppress'd by the Medes; and to set forth the excellency of
+Theseus, that the Athenians should be dispersed; so at this present now
+we are desirous to know the valor of an Italian spirit, it were
+necessary Italy should be reduc'd to the same termes it is now in, and
+were in more slavery than the Hebrews were; more subject than the
+Persians, more scatterd than the Athenians; without head, without order,
+battered, pillaged, rent asunder, overrun, and had undergone all kind of
+destruction. And however even in these later dayes, we have had some
+kind of shew of hope in some one, whereby we might have conjectur'd,
+that he had been ordained for the deliverance hereof, yet it prov'd
+afterwards, that in the very height of all his actions he was curb'd by
+fortune, insomuch that this poore countrey remaining as it were without
+life, attends still for him that shall heal her wounds, give an end to
+all those pillagings and sackings of Lombardy, to those robberies and
+taxations of the Kingdome, and of Tuscany, and heal them of their soars,
+now this long time gangren'd. We see how she makes her prayers to God,
+that he send some one to redeem her from these Barbarous cruelties and
+insolencies. We see her also wholly ready and disposed to follow any
+colours, provided there be any one take them up. Nor do we see at this
+present, that she can look for other, than your Illustrious Family, to
+become Cheiftain of this deliverance, which hath now by its own vertue
+and Fortune been so much exalted, and favored by God and the Church,
+whereof it now holds the Principality: and this shall not be very hard
+for you to do, if you shall call to mind the former actions, and lives
+of those that are above named. And though those men were very rare and
+admirable, yet were they men, and every one of them began upon less
+occasion than this; for neither was their enterprize more just than
+this, nor more easie; nor was God more their friend, than yours. Here is
+very great justice: for that war is just, that is necessary; and those
+armes are religious, when there is no hope left otherwhere, but in them.
+Here is an exceeding good disposition thereto: nor can there be, where
+there is a good disposition, a giant difficulty, provided that use be
+made of those orders, which I propounded for aim and direction to you.
+Besides this, here we see extraordinary things without example effected
+by God; the sea was opened, a cloud guided the way, devotion poured
+forth the waters, and it rain'd down Manna; all these things have
+concurred in your greatness, the rest is left for you to do. God will
+not do every thing himself, that he may not take from us our free will,
+and of that glory that belongs to us. Neither is it a marvel, if any of
+the aforenamed Italians have not been able to compass that, which we may
+hope your illustrious family shall: though in so many revolutions of
+Italy, and so many feats of war, it may seem that the whole military
+vertue therein be quite extinguisht; for this arises from that the
+ancient orders thereof were not good; and there hath since been none
+that hath known how to invent new ones. Nothing can so much honor a man
+rising anew, as new laws and new ordinances devised by him: these things
+when they have a good foundation given them, and contain in them their
+due greatness, gain him reverence and admiration; and in Italy their
+wants not the matter wherein to introduce any forme. Here is great
+vertue in the members, were it not wanting in the heads. Consider in the
+single fights that have been, and duels, how much the Italians have
+excel'd in their strength, activity and address; but when they come to
+armies, they appear not, and all proceeds from the weakness of the
+Chieftaines; for they that understand the managing of these matters, are
+not obeyed; and every one presumes to understand; hitherto there having
+not been any one so highly raised either by fortune or vertue, as that
+others would submit unto him. From hence proceeds it, that in so long
+time, and in so many battels fought for these last past 20 years, when
+there hath been an army wholly Italian, it alwaies hath had evil
+success; whereof the river Tarus first was witness, afterwards
+Alexandria, Capua, Genua, Vayla, Bolonia, Mestri. Your Illustrious
+family then being desirous to tread the footsteps of these Worthyes who
+redeem'd their countreys, must above all things as the very foundation
+of the whole fabrick, be furnished with soldiers of your own natives:
+because you cannot have more faithful, true, nor better soldiers; and
+though every one of them be good, all together they will become better
+when they shall find themselves entertained, commanded, and honored by
+their own Prince. Wherefore it is necessary to provide for those armes,
+whereby to be able with the Italian valor to make a defence against
+forreiners. And however the Swisse infantry and Spanish be accounted
+terrible; yet is there defect in both of them, by which a third order
+might not only oppose them, but may be confident to vanquish them: for
+the Spaniards are not able to indure the Horse, and the Swisse are to
+feare the foot, when they incounter with them, as resolute in the fight
+as they; whereupon it hath been seen, and upon experience shall be
+certain, that the Spaniards are not able to beare up against the French
+Cavalery, and the Swisses have been routed by the Spanish Foot. And
+though touching this last, there hath not been any entire experience
+had, yet was there some proof thereof given in the battel of Ravenna,
+when the Spanish Foot affronted the Dutch battalions, which keep the
+same rank the Swisses do, where the Spaniards with their nimbleness of
+body, and the help of their targets entred in under their Pikes, and
+there stood safe to offend them, the Dutch men having no remedy: and had
+it not been for the Cavalery that rusht in upon them, they had quite
+defeated them. There may then (the defect of the one and other of these
+two infantries being discoverd) another kind of them be anew ordained,
+which may be able to make resistance against the Horse, and not fear the
+Foot, which shall not be a new sort of armes, but change of orders. And
+these are some of those things which ordained a new, gain reputation and
+greatness to a new Prince. Therefore this occasion should not be let
+pass, to the end that Italy after so long a time may see some one
+redeemer of hers appear. Nor can I express with what dearness of
+affection he would be received in all those countreys which have
+suffered by those forrein scums, with what thirst of revenge, with what
+resolution of fidelity, with what piety, with what tears. Would any
+gates be shut again him? Any people deny him obedience? Any envy oppose
+him? Would not every Italian fully consent with him? This government of
+the Barbarians stinks in every ones nostrils. Let your Illustrious
+Family then undertake this worthy exployt with that courage and those
+hopes wherewith such just actions are to be attempted; to the end that
+under your colours, this countrey may be enabled, and under the
+protection of your fortune that saying of Petrarch be verifyed.
+
+  _Virtù contr' al fuore
+  Prendera l'arme, e fia il combatter corto:
+  Che l'antico valore
+  Ne gli Italici cor non è morto._
+
+  Vertue against fury shall advance the fight,
+  And it i' th' combate soon shall put to flight:
+  For th' old Roman valor is not dead,
+  Nor in th' Italians brests extinguished.
+
+FINIS
+
+
+
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+<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Machiavelli, Volume I, by Niccolò Machiavelli</title>
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+<h1>The Project Gutenberg eBook, Machiavelli, Volume I, by Niccolò
+Machiavelli, Translated by Peter Whitehorne and Edward Dacres</h1>
+<pre>
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at <a href = "https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre>
+<p>Title: Machiavelli, Volume I</p>
+<p>       The Art of War; and The Prince</p>
+<p>Author: Niccolò Machiavelli</p>
+<p>Release Date: May 6, 2005  [eBook #15772]</p>
+<p>Language: English</p>
+<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p>
+<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MACHIAVELLI, VOLUME I***</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<h3>E-text prepared by Ted Garvin, David King,<br />
+    and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team</h3>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<hr class="full" />
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<h1>MACHIAVELLI</h1>
+<h3>WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY</h3>
+<h2>HENRY CUST. M.P.</h2>
+<h3>VOLUME I</h3>
+<hr />
+<h2>THE ART OF WAR</h2>
+<h4>TRANSLATED BY</h4>
+<h3>PETER WHITEHORNE</h3>
+<h3>1560</h3>
+<hr />
+<h2>THE PRINCE</h2>
+<h4>TRANSLATED BY</h4>
+<h3>EDWARD DACRES</h3>
+<h3>1640</h3>
+<hr />
+<h3>LONDON</h3>
+<h3>Published by DAVID NUTT</h3>
+<h3>at the Sign of the Phoenix LONG ACRE</h3>
+<h3>1905</h3>
+<h3>Edinburgh: T. and A. CONSTABLE, Printers to His Majesty</h3>
+<h3>TO MY FRIEND CHARLES WHIBLEY</h3>
+<h4>H.C.</h4>
+<h2>INTRODUCTION</h2>
+<p class="side">The Life of a Day.</p>
+<p>'<img width="10%" src="images/image-i.png" alt="I" /> am at my
+farm; and, since my last misfortunes, have not been in Florence
+twenty days. I spent September in snaring thrushes; but at the end
+of the month, even this rather tiresome sport failed me. I rise
+with the sun, and go into a wood of mine that is being cut, where I
+remain two hours inspecting the work of the previous day and
+conversing with the woodcutters, who have always some trouble on
+hand amongst themselves or with their neighbours. When I leave the
+wood, I go to a spring, and thence to the place which I use for
+snaring birds, with a book under my arm&mdash;Dante or Petrarch, or
+one of the minor poets, like Tibullus or Ovid. I read the story of
+their passions, and let their loves remind me of my own, which is a
+pleasant pastime for a while. Next I take the road, enter the inn
+door, talk with the passers-by, inquire the news of the
+neighbourhood, listen to a variety of matters, and make note of the
+different tastes and humours of men.</p>
+<p>'This brings me to dinner-time, when I join my family and eat
+the poor produce of my farm. After dinner I go back to the inn,
+where I generally find the host and a butcher, a miller, and a pair
+of bakers. With these companions I play the fool all day at cards
+or backgammon: a thousand squabbles, a thousand insults and abusive
+dialogues take place, while we haggle over a farthing, and shout
+loud enough to be heard from San Casciano.</p>
+<p>'But when evening falls I go home and enter my writing-room. On
+the threshold I put off my country habits, filthy with mud and
+mire, and array myself in royal courtly garments. Thus worthily
+attired, I make my entrance into the ancient courts of the men of
+old, where they receive me with love, and where I feed upon that
+food which only is my own and for which I was born. I feel no shame
+in conversing with them and asking them the reason of their
+actions.</p>
+<p>'They, moved by their humanity, make answer. For four hours'
+space I feel no annoyance, forget all care; poverty cannot
+frighten, nor death appal me. I am carried away to their society.
+And since Dante says "that there is no science unless we retain
+what we have learned" I have set down what I have gained from their
+discourse, and composed a treatise, <i>De Principalibus</i>, in
+which I enter as deeply as I can into the science of the subject,
+with reasonings on the nature of principality, its several species,
+and how they are acquired, how maintained, how lost. If you ever
+liked any of my scribblings, this ought to suit your taste. To a
+prince, and especially to a new prince, it ought to prove
+acceptable. Therefore I am dedicating it to the Magnificence of
+Giuliano.'</p>
+<p class="side">Niccol&ograve; Machiavelli.</p>
+<p>Such is the account that Niccol&ograve; Machiavelli renders of
+himself when after imprisonment, torture, and disgrace, at the age
+of forty-four, he first turned to serious writing. For the first
+twenty-six or indeed twenty-nine of those years we have not one
+line from his pen or one word of vaguest information about him.
+Throughout all his works written for publication, there is little
+news about himself. Montaigne could properly write, 'Ainsi,
+lecteur, je suis moy-mesme la mati&egrave;re de mon livre.' But the
+matter of Machiavelli was far other: 'Io ho espresso quanto io so,
+e quanto io ho imparato per una lunga pratica e continua lezione
+delle cose del mondo.'</p>
+<p class="side">The Man.</p>
+<p>Machiavelli was born on the 3rd of May 1469. The period of his
+life almost exactly coincides with that of Cardinal Wolsey. He came
+of the old and noble Tuscan stock of Montespertoli, who were men of
+their hands in the eleventh century. He carried their coat, but the
+property had been wasted and divided. His forefathers had held
+office of high distinction, but had fallen away as the new wealth
+of the bankers and traders increased in Florence. He himself
+inherited a small property in San Casciano and its neighbourhood,
+which assured him a sufficient, if somewhat lean, independence. Of
+his education we know little enough. He was well acquainted with
+Latin, and knew, perhaps, Greek enough to serve his turn. 'Rather
+not without letters than lettered,' Varchi describes him. That he
+was not loaded down with learned reading proved probably a great
+advantage. The coming of the French, and the expulsion of the
+Medici, the proclamation of the Republic (1494), and later the
+burning of Savonarola convulsed Florence and threw open many public
+offices. It has been suggested, but without much foundation, that
+some clerical work was found for Machiavelli in 1494 or even
+earlier. It is certain that on July 14, 1498, he was appointed
+Chancellor and Secretary to the Dieci di Libert&agrave; e Pace, an
+office which he held till the close of his political life at fall
+of the Republic in 1512.</p>
+<p class="side">Official Life.</p>
+<p>The functions of his Council were extremely varied, and in the
+hands of their Secretary became yet more diversified. They
+represented in some sense the Ministry for Home, Military, and
+especially for Foreign Affairs. It is impossible to give any full
+account of Machiavelli's official duties. He wrote many thousands
+of despatches and official letters, which are still preserved. He
+was on constant errands of State through the Florentine dominions.
+But his diplomatic missions and what he learned by them make the
+main interest of his office. His first adventure of importance was
+to the Court of Caterina Sforza, the Lady of Forl&igrave;, in which
+matter that astute Countess entirely bested the teacher of all
+diplomatists to be. In 1500 he smelt powder at the siege at Pisa,
+and was sent to France to allay the irritations of Louis XII. Many
+similar and lesser missions follow. The results are in no case of
+great importance, but the opportunities to the Secretary of
+learning men and things, intrigue and policy, the Court and the
+gutter were invaluable. At the camp of C&aelig;sar Borgia, in 1502,
+he found in his host that fantastic hero whom he incarnated in
+<i>The Prince</i>, and he was practically an eye-witness of the
+amazing masterpiece, the Massacre of Sinigaglia. The next year he
+is sent to Rome with a watching brief at the election of Julius
+II., and in 1506 is again sent to negotiate with the Pope. An
+embassy to the Emperor Maximilian, a second mission to the French
+King at Blois, in which he persuades Louis XII. to postpone the
+threatened General Council of the Church (1511), and constant
+expeditions to report upon and set in order unrestful towns and
+provinces did not fulfil his activity. His pen was never idle.
+Reports, despatches, elaborate monographs on France, Germany, or
+wherever he might be, and personal letters innumerable, and even
+yet unpublished, ceased not night nor day. Detail, wit,
+character-drawing, satire, sorrow, bitterness, all take their turn.
+But this was only a fraction of his work. By duty and by expediency
+he was bound to follow closely the internal politics of Florence
+where his enemies and rivals abounded. And in all these years he
+was pushing forward and carrying through with unceasing and
+unspeakable vigour the great military dream of his life, the
+foundation of a National Militia and the extinction of Mercenary
+Companies. But the fabric he had fancied and thought to have built
+proved unsubstantial. The spoilt half-mutinous levies whom he had
+spent years in odious and unwilling training failed him at the
+crowning moment in strength and spirit: and the fall of the
+Republic implied the fall of Machiavelli and the close of his
+official life. He struggled hard to save himself, but the wealthy
+classes were against him, perhaps afraid of him, and on them the
+Medici relied. For a year he was forbidden to leave Florentine
+territory, and for a while was excluded from the Palazzo. Later his
+name was found in a list of Anti-Medicean conspirators. He was
+arrested and decorously tortured with six turns of the rack, and
+then liberated for want of evidence.</p>
+<p class="side">After his Fall.</p>
+<p>For perhaps a year after his release the Secretary engaged in a
+series of tortuous intrigues to gain the favour of the Medici. Many
+of the stories may be exaggerated, but none make pleasant reading,
+and nothing proved successful. His position was miserable.
+Temporarily crippled by torture, out of favour with the Government,
+shunned by his friends, in deep poverty, burdened with debt and
+with a wife and four children, his material circumstances were ill
+enough. But, worse still, he was idle. He had deserved well of the
+Republic, and had never despaired of it, and this was his reward.
+He seemed to himself a broken man. He had no great natural dignity,
+no great moral strength. He profoundly loved and admired Dante, but
+he could not for one moment imitate him. He sought satisfaction in
+sensuality of life and writing, but found no comfort. Great things
+were stirring in the world and he had neither part nor lot in them.
+By great good fortune he began a correspondence with his friend
+Francesco Vettori, the Medicean Ambassador at Rome, to whom he
+appeals for his good offices: 'And if nothing can be done, I must
+live as I came into the world, for I was born poor and learnt to
+want before learning to enjoy.' Before long these two diplomats had
+co-opted themselves into a kind of Secret Cabinet of Europe. It is
+a strange but profoundly interesting correspondence, both
+politically and personally. Nothing is too great or too small, too
+glorious or too mean for their pens. Amid foolish anecdotes and
+rather sordid love affairs the politics of Europe, and especially
+of Italy, are dissected and discussed. Leo X. had now plunged into
+political intrigue. Ferdinand of Spain was in difficulty. France
+had allied herself with Venice. The Swiss are the Ancient Romans,
+and may conquer Italy. Then back again, or rather constant
+throughout, the love intrigues and the 'likely wench hard-by who
+may help to pass our time.' But through it all there is an ache at
+Machiavelli's heart, and on a sudden he will break down,
+crying,</p>
+<div class="poem">
+<div class="stanza">
+<p>Per&ograve; se aleuna volta io rido e canto</p>
+<p>Facciol, perch&egrave; non ho se non quest' una</p>
+<p>Via da sfogare il mio angoscioso pianto.</p>
+</div>
+</div>
+<p>Vettori promised much, but nothing came of it. By 1515 the
+correspondence died away, and the Ex-Secretary found for himself at
+last the true pathway through his vale of years.</p>
+<p class="side">The true Life.</p>
+<p>The remainder of Machiavelli's life is bounded by his books. He
+settled at his villa at San Casciano, where he spent his day as he
+describes in the letter quoted at the beginning of this essay. In
+1518 he began to attend the meetings of the Literary Club in the
+Orti Oricellarii, and made new and remarkable friends. 'Era amato
+grandamente da loro ... e della sua conversazione si dilettavano
+maravigliosamente, tenendo in prezzo grandissimo tutte l'opere
+sue,' which shows the personal authority he exercised. Occasionally
+he was employed by Florentine merchants to negotiate for them at
+Venice, Genoa, Lucca, and other places. In 1519 Cardinal Medici
+deigned to consult him as to the Government, and commissioned him
+to write the History of Florence. But in the main he wrote his
+books and lived the daily life we know. In 1525 he went to Rome to
+present his History to Clement VII., and was sent on to
+Guicciardini. In 1526 he was busy once more with military matters
+and the fortification of Florence. On the 22nd of June 1527 he died
+at Florence immediately after the establishment of the second
+Republic. He had lived as a practising Christian, and so died,
+surrounded by his wife and family. Wild legends grew about his
+death, but have no foundation. A peasant clod in San Casciano could
+not have made a simpler end. He was buried in the family Chapel in
+Santa Croce, and a monument was there at last erected with the
+epitaph by Doctor Ferroni&mdash;'Tanto nomini nullum par elogium.'
+The first edition of his complete works was published in 1782, and
+was dedicated to Lord Cowper.</p>
+<p class="side">His Character.</p>
+<p>What manner of man was Machiavelli at home and in the
+market-place? It is hard to say. There are doubtful busts, the
+best, perhaps, that engraved in the 'Testina' edition of 1550,
+so-called on account of the portrait. 'Of middle height, slender
+figure, with sparkling eyes, dark hair, rather a small head, a
+slightly aquiline nose, a tightly closed mouth: all about him bore
+the impress of a very acute observer and thinker, but not that of
+one able to wield much influence over others.' Such is a
+reconstruction of him by one best able to make one. 'In his
+conversation,' says Varchi, 'Machiavelli was pleasant, serviceable
+to his friends, a friend of virtuous men, and, in a word, worthy to
+have received from Nature either less genius or a better mind.' If
+not much above the moral standard of the day he was certainly not
+below it. His habits were loose and his language lucid and
+licentious. But there is no bad or even unkind act charged against
+him. To his honesty and good faith he very fairly claims that his
+poverty bears witness. He was a kind, if uncertain, husband and a
+devoted father. His letters to his children are charming. Here is
+one written soon before his death to his little son
+Guido.&mdash;'Guido, my darling son, I received a letter of thine
+and was delighted with it, particularly because you tell me of your
+full recovery, the best news I could have. If God grants life to us
+both I expect to make a good man of you, only you must do your fair
+share yourself.' Guido is to stick to his books and music, and if
+the family mule is too fractious, 'Unbridle him, take off the
+halter and turn him loose at Montepulciano. The farm is large, the
+mule is small, so no harm can come of it. Tell your mother, with my
+love, not to be nervous. I shall surely be home before any trouble
+comes. Give a kiss to Baccina, Piero, and Totto: I wish I knew his
+eyes were getting well. Be happy and spend as little as you may.
+Christ have you in his keeping.'&mdash;There is nothing exquisite
+or divinely delicate in this letter, but there are many such, and
+they were not written by a bad man, any more than the answers they
+evoke were addressed to one. There is little more save of a like
+character that is known of Machiavelli the man. But to judge him
+and his work we must have some knowledge of the world in which he
+was to move and have his being.</p>
+<hr />
+<p class="side">State of Italy.</p>
+<p>At the beginning of the sixteenth century Italy was rotten to
+the core. In the close competition of great wickedness the Vicar of
+Christ easily carried off the palm, and the Court of Alexander VI.
+was probably the wickedest meeting-place of men that has ever
+existed upon earth. No virtue, Christian or Pagan, was there to be
+found; little art that was not sensuous or sensual. It seemed as if
+Bacchus and Venus and Priapus had come to their own again, and yet
+Rome had not ceased to call herself Christian.</p>
+<p class="side">Superstition.</p>
+<p>'Owing to the evil ensample of the Papal Court,' writes
+Machiavelli, 'Italy has lost all piety and all religion: whence
+follow infinite troubles and disorders; for as religion implies all
+good, so its absence implies the contrary. To the Church and
+priests of Rome we owe another even greater disaster which is the
+cause of her ruin. I mean that the Church has maintained, and still
+maintains Italy divided.' The Papacy is too weak to unite and rule,
+but strong enough to prevent others doing so, and is always ready
+to call in the foreigner to crush all Italians to the foreigner's
+profit, and Guicciardini, a high Papal officer, commenting on this,
+adds, 'It would be impossible to speak so ill of the Roman Court,
+but that more abuse should not be merited, seeing it is an infamy,
+and example of all the shames and scandals of the world.' The
+lesser clergy, the monks, the nuns followed, with anxious fidelity,
+the footsteps of their shepherds. There was hardly a tonsure in
+Italy which covered more than thoughts and hopes of lust and
+avarice. Religion and morals which God had joined together, were
+set by man a thousand leagues asunder. Yet religion still sat upon
+the alabaster throne of Peter, and in the filthy straw of the
+meanest Calabrian confessional. And still deeper remained a blind
+devoted superstition. Vitellozzo Vitelli, as Machiavelli tells us,
+while being strangled by C&aelig;esar Borgia's assassin, implored
+his murderer to procure for him the absolution of that murderer's
+father. Gianpaolo Baglioni, who reigned by parricide and lived in
+incest, was severely blamed by the Florentines for not killing Pope
+Julius II. when the latter was his guest at Perugia. And when
+Gabrino Fondato, the tyrant of Cremona, was on the scaffold, his
+only regret was that when he had taken his guests, the Pope and
+Emperor, to the top of the Cremona tower, four hundred feet high,
+his nerve failed him and he did not push them both over. Upon this
+anarchy of religion, morals, and conduct breathed suddenly the
+inspiring breath of Pagan antiquity which seemed to the Italian
+mind to find its finest climax in tyrannicide. There is no better
+instance than in the plot of the Pazzi at Florence. Francesco Pazzi
+and Bernardo Bandini decided to kill Lorenzo and Giuliano de'
+Medici in the cathedral at the moment of the elevation of the Host.
+They naturally took the priest into their confidence. They escorted
+Giuliano to the Duomo, laughing and talking, and playfully embraced
+him&mdash;to discover if he wore armour under his clothes. Then
+they killed him at the moment appointed.</p>
+<p class="side">Pagan influence.</p>
+<p>Nor were there any hills from which salvation might be looked
+for. Philosophy, poetry, science, expressed themselves in terms of
+materialism. Faith and hope are ever the last survivors in the life
+of a man or of a nation. But in Italy these brave comforters were
+at their latest breath. It is perhaps unfair to accept in full the
+judgment of Northern travellers. The conditions, training, needs of
+England and Germany were different. In these countries courage was
+a necessity, and good faith a paying policy. Subtlety could do
+little against a two-handed sword in the hands of an angry or
+partially intoxicated giant. Climate played its part as well as
+culture, and the crude pleasures and vices of the North seemed
+fully as loathsome to the refined Italian as did the tortuous
+policy and the elaborate infamies of the South to their rough
+invaders. Alone, perhaps, among the nations of Europe the Italians
+had never understood or practised chivalry, save in such select and
+exotic schools as the Casa Gioiosa under Vittorino da Feltre at
+Mantua. The oath of Arthur's knights would have seemed to them mere
+superfluity of silliness. <i>Onore</i> connoted credit, reputation,
+and prowess. <i>Virt&ugrave;</i>, which may be roughly translated
+as mental ability combined with personal daring, set the standard
+and ruled opinion. 'Honour in the North was subjective:
+<i>Onore</i> in Italy objective.' Individual liberty, indeed, was
+granted in full to all, at the individual's risk. The love of
+beauty curbed grossness and added distinction. Fraud became an art
+and force a science. There is liberty for all, but for the great
+ones there is licence. And when the day of trial comes, it is the
+Churchmen and the Princes who can save neither themselves nor man,
+nor thing that is theirs. To such a world was Machiavelli born. To
+whom should he turn? To the People? To the Church? To the Princes
+and Despots? But hear him:&mdash;</p>
+<blockquote>
+<p>'There shall never be found any good mason, which will beleeve
+to be able to make a faire image of a peece of marble ill hewed,
+but verye well of a rude peece. Our Italian Princes beleeved,
+before they tasted the blowes of the outlandish warre, that it
+should suffice a Prince to know by writinges, how to make a subtell
+aunswere, to write a goodly letter, to shewe in sayinges, and in
+woordes, witte and promptenesse, to know how to canvas a fraude, to
+decke themselves with precious stones and gold, to sleepe and to
+eate with greater glory then other: To kepe many lascivious persons
+about them, to governe themselves with their subjects, covetously
+and proudely: To roote in idlenes, to give the degrees of the
+exercise of warre for good will, to dispise if any should have
+shewed them any laudable waie, minding that their wordes should bee
+aunswers of oracles: nor the sely wretches were not aware that they
+prepared themselves to be a pray to whome so ever should assaulte
+them. Hereby grew then in the thousand fowre hundred and nintie and
+fowre yere, the great feares, the sodaine flightes and the
+marveilous losses: and so three most mighty states which were in
+Italie, have bene dievers times sacked and destroyed. But that
+which is worse, is where those that remaine, continue in the very
+same errour, and liev in the verie same disorder and consider not,
+that those who in olde time would keepe their states, caused to be
+done these thinges, which of me hath beene reasoned, and that their
+studies were, to prepare the body to diseases, and the minde not to
+feare perills. Whereby grewe that C&aelig;sar, Alexander, and all
+those men and excellent Princes in olde time, were the formost
+amongst the fighters, going armed on foote: and if they lost their
+state, they would loose their life, so that they lievd and died
+vertuously.'</p>
+</blockquote>
+<p>Such was the clay that waited the moulding of the potter's hand.
+'Posterity, that high court of appeal, which is never tired of
+eulogising its own justice and discernment,' has recorded harsh
+sentence on the Florentine. It is better to-day to let him speak
+for himself.</p>
+<p class="side"><i>The Prince</i>.</p>
+<p>The slender volume of <i>The Prince</i> has probably produced
+wider discussion, more bitter controversy, more varied
+interpretations and a deeper influence than any book save Holy
+Writ. Kings and statesmen, philosophers and theologians,
+monarchists and republicans have all and always used or abused it
+for their purposes. Written in 1513, the first year of
+Machiavelli's disgrace, concurrently with part of the
+<i>Discorsi</i>, which contain the germs of it, the book represents
+the fulness of its author's thought and experience. It was not till
+after Machiavelli's death, that it was published in 1532, by order
+of Clement VII. Meanwhile, however, in manuscript it had been
+widely read and favourably received.</p>
+<p class="side">Its purpose.</p>
+<p>The mere motive of its creation and dedication has been the
+theme of many volumes. Machiavelli was poor, was idle, was out of
+favour, and therefore, though a Republican, wrote a devilish
+hand-book of tyranny to strengthen the Medici and recover his
+position. Machiavelli, a loyal Republican, wrote a primer of such
+fiendish principles as might lure the Medici to their ruin.
+Machiavelli's one idea was to ruin the rich: Machiavelli's one idea
+was to oppress the poor: he was a Protestant, a Jesuit, an Atheist:
+a Royalist and a Republican. And the book published by one Pope's
+express authority was utterly condemned and forbidden, with all its
+author's works, by the express command of another (1559). But
+before facing the whirlwind of savage controversy which raged and
+rages still about <i>The Prince</i>, it may be well to consider
+shortly the book itself&mdash;consider it as a new book and without
+prejudice. The purpose of its composition is almost certainly to be
+found in the plain fact that Machiavelli, a politician and a man of
+letters, wished to write a book upon the subject which had been his
+special study and lay nearest to his business and bosom. To ensure
+prominence for such a book, to engage attention and incidentally
+perhaps to obtain political employment for himself, he dedicated it
+to Lorenzo de' Medici, the existing and accepted Chief of the
+State. But far and above such lighter motives stood the fact that
+he saw in Lorenzo the only man who might conceivably bring to being
+the vast dream of patriotism which the writer had imagined. The
+subject he proposed to himself was largely, though not wholly,
+conditioned by the time and place in which he lived. He wrote for
+his countrymen and he wrote for his own generation. He had heard
+with his ears and seen with his eyes the alternate rending anarchy
+and moaning paralysis of Italy. He had seen what Agricola had long
+before been spared the sight of. And what he saw, he saw not
+through a glass darkly or distorted, but in the whitest, driest
+light, without flinching and face to face. 'We are much beholden,'
+writes Bacon, 'to Machiavelli and others that wrote what men do,
+and not what they ought to do.' He did not despair of Italy, he did
+not despair even of Italian unity. But he despaired of what he saw
+around him, and he was willing at almost any price to end it. He
+recognised, despite the nominal example of Venice, that a
+Republican system was impossible, and that the small Principalities
+and Free Cities were corrupt beyond hope of healing. A strong
+central unifying government was imperative, and at that day such
+government could only be vested in a single man. For it must ever
+be closely remembered, as will be pointed out again, that
+throughout the book the Prince is what would now be called the
+Government. And then he saw with faithful prophecy, in the splendid
+peroration of his hope, a hope deferred for near four hundred
+years, he saw beyond the painful paths of blood and tyranny, a
+vision of deliverance and union. For at least it is plain that in
+all things Machiavelli was a passionate patriot, and <i>Amo la
+patria mia pi&ugrave; dell' anima</i> is found in one of the last
+of many thousand letters that his untiring pen had written.</p>
+<p>The purpose, then, of <i>The Prince</i> is to lay down rules,
+within the possibilities of the time, for the making of a man who
+shall create, increase, and maintain a strong and stable
+government. This is done in the main by a plain presentation of
+facts, a presentation condensed and critical but based on men and
+things as they actually were. The ethical side is wholly omitted:
+the social and economical almost entirely. The aspect is purely
+political, with the underlying thought, it may be supposed, that
+under the postulated government, all else will prosper.</p>
+<p class="side">The Book; New States.</p>
+<p>Machiavelli opens by discussing the various forms of
+governments, which he divides into Republics and Principalities. Of
+the latter some may be hereditary and some acquired. Of hereditary
+states he says little and quotes but one, the Duchy of Ferrara. He
+then turns to his true subject, the acquisition and preservation of
+States wholly new or new in part, States such as he saw himself on
+every side around him. Having gained possession of a new State, he
+says, you must first extirpate the family of your predecessor. You
+should then either reside or plant colonies, but not trust to
+garrisons. 'Colonies are not costly to the Prince, are more
+faithful and cause less offence to the subject States: those whom
+they may injure being poor and scattered, are prevented from doing
+mischief. For it should be observed that men ought either to be
+caressed or trampled out, seeing that small injuries may be
+avenged, whereas great ones destroy the possibility of retaliation:
+and so the damage that has to be inflicted ought to be such that it
+need involve no fear of reprisals.' There is perhaps in all
+Machiavelli no better example of his lucid scientific method than
+this passage. There is neither excuse nor hypocrisy. It is merely a
+matter of business calculation. Mankind is the raw material, the
+State is the finished work. Further you are to conciliate your
+neighbours who are weak and abase the strong, and you must not let
+the stranger within your gates. Above all look before as well as
+after and think not to leave it to time, <i>godere li benefici del
+tempo</i>, but, as did the Romans, strike and strike at once. For
+illustration he criticises, in a final and damning analysis, the
+career of Louis XII. in Italy. There was no canon of statecraft so
+absolute that the King did not ignore it, and in inevitable
+Nemesis, there was no ultimate disaster so crowning as not to be
+achieved.</p>
+<p class="side">Conquests.</p>
+<p>After observing that a feudal monarchy is much less easy of
+conquest than a despotism, since in the one case you must vanquish
+many lesser lordships while in the other you merely replace slaves
+by slaves, Machiavelli considers the best method of subjugating
+Free Cities. Here again is eminent the terrible composure and the
+exact truth of his politics. A conquered Free City you may of
+course rule in person, or you may construct an oligarchy to govern
+for you, but the only safe way is to destroy it utterly, since
+'that name of Liberty, those ancient usages of Freedom,' are things
+'which no length of years and no benefits can extinguish in the
+nation's mind, things which no pains or forethought can uproot
+unless the citizens be utterly destroyed.'</p>
+<p>Hitherto the discussion has ranged round the material politics
+of the matter, the acquisition of material power. Machiavelli now
+turns to the heart of his matter, the proper character and conduct
+of a new Prince in a new Principality and the ways by which he
+shall deal most fortunately with friend and foe. For fortune it is,
+as well as ability, which go to the making of the man and the
+maintenance of his power.</p>
+<p class="side">C&aelig;sar Borgia.</p>
+<p>In the manner of the day Moses, Cyrus, Romulus, and Theseus are
+led across the stage in illustration. The common attribute of all
+such fortunate masters of men was force of arms, while the mission
+of an unarmed prophet such as Savonarola was foredoomed to failure.
+In such politics Machiavelli is positive and ruthless: force is and
+must be the remedy and the last appeal, a principle which indeed no
+later generation has in practice set at naught. But in the hard dry
+eyes of the Florentine Secretary stood, above all others, one
+shining figure, a figure to all other eyes, from then till now,
+wrapped in mysterious and miasmatic cloud. In the pages of common
+history he was a tyrant, he was vicious beyond compare, he was
+cruel beyond the Inquisition, he was false beyond the Father of
+Lies, he was the Antichrist of Rome and he was a failure: but he
+was the hero of Niccol&ograve; Machiavelli, who, indeed, found in
+C&aelig;sar Borgia the fine flower of Italian politics in the Age
+of the Despots. Son of the Pope, a Prince of the Church, a Duke of
+France, a master of events, a born soldier, diplomatist, and more
+than half a statesman, C&aelig;sar seemed indeed the darling of
+gods and men whom original fortune had crowned with inborn ability.
+Machiavelli knew him as well as it was possible to know a soul so
+tortuous and secret, and he had been present at the most critical
+and terrible moments of C&aelig;sar's life. That in despite of a
+life which the world calls infamous, in despite of the howling
+execrations of all Christendom, in despite of ultimate and entire
+failures, Machiavelli could still write years after, 'I know not
+what lessons I could teach a new Prince more useful than the
+example of his actions,' exhibits the ineffaceable impressions that
+C&aelig;sar Borgia had made upon the most subtle and observant mind
+of modern history.</p>
+<p class="side">C&aelig;sar's Career.</p>
+<p>C&aelig;sar was the acknowledged son of Pope Alexander by his
+acknowledged mistress Vannozza dei Cattani. Born in 1472, he was an
+Archbishop and a Cardinal at sixteen, and the murderer of his elder
+brother at an age when modern youths are at college. He played his
+part to the full in the unspeakable scandals of the Vatican, but
+already 'he spoke little and people feared him.' Ere long the
+splendours of the Papacy seemed too remote and uncertain for his
+fierce ambition, and, indeed, through his father, he already
+wielded both the temporal and the spiritual arms of Peter. To the
+subtlety of the Italian his Spanish blood had lent a certain stern
+resolution, and as with Julius and Sulla the lust for sloth and
+sensuality were quickened by the lust for sway. He unfrocked
+himself with pleasure. He commenced politician, soldier, and
+despot. And for the five years preceding Alexander's death he may
+almost be looked upon as a power in Europe. Invested Duke of
+Romagna, that hot-bed of petty tyranny and tumult, he repressed
+disorder through his governor Messer Ramiro with a relentless hand.
+When order reigned, Machiavelli tells us he walked out one morning
+into the market-place at Cesena and saw the body of Ramiro, who had
+borne the odium of reform, lying in two pieces with his head on a
+lance, and a bloody axe by his side. C&aelig;sar reaped the harvest
+of Ramiro's severity, and the people recognising his benevolence
+and justice were 'astounded and satisfied.'</p>
+<p>But the gaze of the Borgia was not bounded by the strait limits
+of a mere Italian Duchy. Whether indeed there mingled with personal
+ambition an ideal of a united Italy, swept clean of the barbarians,
+it is hard to say, though Machiavelli would have us believe it.
+What is certain is that he desired the supreme dominion in Italy
+for himself, and to win it spared neither force nor fraud nor the
+help of the very barbarians themselves. With a decree of divorce
+and a Cardinal's hat he gained the support of France, the French
+Duchy of Valentinois, and the sister of the King of Navarre to
+wife. By largesse of bribery and hollow promises he brought to his
+side the great families of Rome, his natural enemies, and the great
+Condottieri with their men-at-arms. When by their aid he had
+established and extended his government he mistrusted their good
+faith. With an infinity of fascination and cunning, without haste
+and without rest, he lured these leaders, almost more cunning than
+himself, to visit him as friends in his fortress of Sinigaglia. 'I
+doubt if they will be alive to-morrow morning,' wrote Machiavelli,
+who was on the spot. He was right. C&aelig;sar caused them to be
+strangled the same night, while his father dealt equal measure to
+their colleagues and adherents in Rome. Thenceforth, distrusting
+mercenaries, he found and disciplined out of a mere rabble, a
+devoted army of his own, and having unobtrusively but completely
+extirpated the whole families of those whose thrones he had
+usurped, not only the present but the future seemed assured to
+him.</p>
+<p>He had fulfilled the first of Machiavelli's four conditions. He
+rapidly achieved the remaining three. He bought the Roman nobles so
+as to be able to put a bridle in the new 'Pope's mouth.' He bought
+or poisoned or packed or terrorised the existing College of
+Cardinals and selected new Princes of the Church who should accept
+a Pontiff of his choosing. He was effectively strong enough to
+resist the first onset upon him at his father's death. Five years
+had been enough for so great an undertaking. One thing alone he had
+not and indeed could not have foreseen. 'He told me himself on the
+day on which (Pope) Julius was created, that he had foreseen and
+provided for everything else that could happen on his father's
+death, but had never anticipated that, when his father died, he too
+should have been at death's door.' Even so the fame and splendour
+of his name for a while maintained his authority against his
+unnumbered enemies. But soon the great betrayer was betrayed. 'It
+is well to cheat those who have been masters of treachery,' he had
+said himself in his hours of brief authority. His wheel had turned
+full cycle. Within three years his fate, like that of Charles XII.,
+was destined to a foreign strand, a petty fortress, and a dubious
+hand. Given over to Spain he passed three years obscurely. 'He was
+struck down in a fight at Viana in Navarre (1507) after a furious
+resistance: he was stripped of his fine armour by men who did not
+know his name or quality and his body was left naked on the bare
+ground, bloody and riddled with wounds. He was only thirty-one.'
+And so the star of Machiavelli's hopes and dreams was quenched for
+a season in the clouds from which it came.</p>
+<p class="side">The Lesson.</p>
+<p>It seems worth while to sketch the strange tempestuous career of
+C&aelig;sar Borgia because in the remaining chapters of <i>The
+Prince</i> and elsewhere in his writings, it is the thought and
+memory of Valentinois, transmuted doubtless and idealised by the
+lapse of years, that largely inform and inspire the perfect Prince
+of Machiavelli. But it must not be supposed that in life or in mind
+they were intimate or even sympathetic. Machiavelli criticises his
+hero liberally and even harshly. But for the work he wanted done he
+had found no better craftsman and no better example to follow for
+those that might come after. Morals and religion did not touch the
+purpose of his arguments except as affecting policy. In policy
+virtues may be admitted as useful agents and in the chapter
+following that on C&aelig;sar, entitled, curiously enough, 'Of
+those who by their crimes come to be Princes,' he lays down that
+'to slaughter fellow citizens, to betray friends, to be devoid of
+honour, pity and religion cannot be counted as merits, for these
+are means which may lead to power but which confer no glory.'
+Cruelty he would employ without hesitation but with the greatest
+care both in degree and in kind. It should be immediate and
+complete and leave no possibility of counter-revenge. For it is
+never forgotten by the living, and 'he deceives himself who
+believes that, with the great, recent benefits cause old wrongs to
+be forgotten.' On the other hand 'Benefits should be conferred
+little by little so that they may be more fully relished.' The
+cruelty proper to a Prince (Government, for as ever they are
+identical) aims only at authority. Now authority must spring from
+love or fear. It were best to combine both motives to obedience but
+you cannot. The Prince must remember that men are fickle, and love
+at their own pleasure, and that men are fearful and fear at the
+pleasure of the Prince. Let him therefore depend on what is of
+himself, not on that which is of others. 'Yet if he win not love he
+may escape hate, and so it will be if he does not meddle with the
+property or women-folk of his subjects.' When he must punish let
+him kill. 'For men will sooner forget the death of their father
+than the loss of their estate.' And moreover you cannot always go
+on killing, but a Prince who has once set himself to plundering
+will never stop. This is the more needful because the only secure
+foundation of his rule lies in his trust of the people and in their
+support. And indeed again and again you shall find no more thorough
+democrat than this teacher of tyrants. 'The people own better
+broader qualities, fidelities and passions than any Prince and have
+better cause to show for them.' 'As for prudence and stability, I
+say that a people is more stable, more prudent, and of better
+judgment than a Prince.' If the people go wrong it is almost
+certainly the crime or negligence of the Prince which drives or
+leads them astray. 'Better far than any number of fortresses is not
+to be hated by your people.' The support of the people and a
+national militia make the essential strength of the Prince and of
+the State.</p>
+<p class="side">National Defence.</p>
+<p>The chapters on military organisation may be more conveniently
+considered in conjunction with <i>The Art of War</i>. It is enough
+at present to point out two or three observations of Machiavelli
+which touch politics from the military side. To his generation they
+were entirely novel, though mere commonplace to-day. National
+strength means national stability and national greatness; and this
+can be achieved, and can only be achieved, by a national army. The
+Condottiere system, born of sloth and luxury, has proved its
+rottenness. Your hired general is either a tyrant or a traitor, a
+bully or a coward. 'In a word the armour of others is too wide or
+too strait for us: it falls off us, or it weighs us down.' And in a
+fine illustration he compares auxiliary troops to the armour of
+Saul which David refused, preferring to fight Goliath with his
+sling and stone.</p>
+<p class="side">Conduct of the Prince.</p>
+<p>Having assured the external security of the State, Machiavelli
+turns once more to the qualities and conduct of the Prince. So
+closely packed are these concluding chapters that it is almost
+impossible to compress them further. The author at the outset
+states his purpose: 'Since it is my object to write what shall be
+useful to whosoever understands it, it seems to me better to follow
+the practical truth of things rather than an imaginary view of
+them. For many Republics and Princedoms have been imagined that
+were never seen or known to exist in reality. And the manner in
+which we live and in which we ought to live, are things so wide
+asunder that he who suits the one to betake himself to the other is
+more likely to destroy than to save himself.' Nothing that
+Machiavelli wrote is more sincere, analytic, positive and ruthless.
+He operates unflinchingly on an assured diagnosis. The hand never
+an instant falters, the knife is never blunt. He deals with what
+is, and not with what ought to be. Should the Prince be
+all-virtuous, all-liberal, all-humane? Should his word be his bond
+for ever? Should true religion be the master-passion of his life?
+Machiavelli considers. The first duty of the Prince (or Government)
+is to maintain the existence, stability, and prosperity of the
+State. Now if all the world were perfect so should the Prince be
+perfect too. But such are not the conditions of human life. An
+idealising Prince must fall before a practising world. A Prince
+must learn in self-defence how to be bad, but like C&aelig;sar
+Borgia, he must be a great judge of occasion. And what evil he does
+must be deliberate, appropriate, and calculated, and done, not
+selfishly, but for the good of the State of which he is trustee.
+There is the power of Law and the power of Force. The first is
+proper to men, the second to beasts. And that is why Achilles was
+brought up by Cheiron the Centaur that he might learn to use both
+natures. A ruler must be half lion and half fox, a fox to discern
+the toils, a lion to drive off the wolves. Merciful, faithful,
+humane, religious, just, these he may be and above all should seem
+to be, nor should any word escape his lips to give the lie to his
+professions: and in fact he should not leave these qualities but
+when he must. He should, if possible, practise goodness, but under
+necessity should know how to pursue evil. He should keep faith
+until occasion alter, or reason of state compel him to break his
+pledge. Above all he should profess and observe religion, 'because
+men in general judge rather by the eye than by the hand, and every
+one can see but few can touch.' But none the less, must he learn
+(as did William the Silent, Elizabeth of England, and Henry of
+Navarre) how to subordinate creed to policy when urgent need is
+upon him. In a word, he must realise and face his own position, and
+the facts of mankind and of the world. If not veracious to his
+conscience, he must be veracious to facts. He must not be bad for
+badness' sake, but seeing things as they are, must deal as he can
+to protect and preserve the trust committed to his care. Fortune is
+still a fickle jade, but at least the half our will is free, and if
+we are bold we may master her yet. For Fortune is a woman who, to
+be kept under, must be beaten and roughly handled, and we see that
+she is more ready to be mastered by those who treat her so, than by
+those who are shy in their wooing. And always, like a woman, she
+gives her favours to the young, because they are less scrupulous
+and fiercer and more audaciously command her to their will.</p>
+<p class="side">The Appeal.</p>
+<p>And so at the last the sometime Secretary of the Florentine
+Republic turns to the new Master of the Florentines in splendid
+exhortation. He points to no easy path. He proposes no mean
+ambition. He has said already that 'double will that Prince's glory
+be, who has founded a new realm and fortified it and adorned it
+with good laws, good arms, good friends, and good examples.' But
+there is more and better to be done. The great misery of men has
+ever made the great leaders of men. But was Israel in Egypt, were
+the Persians, the Athenians ever more enslaved, down-trodden,
+disunited, beaten, despoiled, mangled, overrun and desolate than is
+our Italy to-day? The barbarians must be hounded out, and Italy be
+free and one. Now is the accepted time. All Italy is waiting and
+only seeks the man. To you the darling of Fortune and the Church
+this splendid task is given, to and to the army of Italy and of
+Italians only. Arm Italy and lead her. To you, the deliverer, what
+gates would be closed, what obedience refused! What jealousies
+opposed, what homage denied. Love, courage, and fixed fidelity
+await you, and under your standards shall the voice of Petrarch be
+fulfilled:</p>
+<div class="poem">
+<div class="stanza">
+<p class="i10">Virtu contro al furore</p>
+<p>Prender&agrave; l'arme e fia il combatter corto:</p>
+<p class="i10">Ch&egrave; l'antico valore</p>
+<p>Negl' Italici cor non &egrave; ancor morto.</p>
+</div>
+</div>
+<p>Such is <i>The Prince</i> of Machiavelli. The vision of its
+breathless exhortation seemed then as but a landscape to a blind
+man's eye. But the passing of three hundred and fifty years of the
+misery he wept for brought at the last, almost in perfect
+exactness, the fulfilment of that impossible prophecy.</p>
+<p class="side">The Attack.</p>
+<p>There is no great book in the world of smaller compass than
+<i>The Prince</i> of Machiavelli. There is no book more lucidly,
+directly, and plainly written. There is no book that has aroused
+more vehement, venomous, and even truculent controversy from the
+moment of its publication until to-day. And it is asserted with
+great probability that <i>The Prince</i> has had a more direct
+action upon real life than any other book in the world, and a
+larger share in breaking the chains and lighting the dark places of
+the Middle Ages. It is a truism to say that Machiavellism existed
+before Machiavelli. The politics of Gian Galeazzo Visconti, of
+Louis XI. of France, of Ferdinand of Spain, of the Papacy, of
+Venice, might have been dictated by the author of <i>The
+Prince</i>. But Machiavelli was the first to observe, to compare,
+to diagnose, to analyse, and to formulate their principles of
+government. The first to establish, not a divorce, but rather a
+judicial separation between the morals of a man and the morals of a
+government. It is around the purpose and possible results of such a
+separation in politics, ethics, and religion that the storm has
+raged most fiercely. To follow the path of that storm through near
+four centuries many volumes would be needed, and it will be more
+convenient to deal with the more general questions in summing up
+the influence of Machiavelli as a whole. But the main lines and
+varying fortunes of the long campaign may be indicated. During the
+period of its manuscript circulation and for a few years after its
+publication <i>The Prince</i> was treated with favour or at worst
+with indifference, and the first mutterings were merely personal to
+the author. He was a scurvy knave and turncoat with neither bowels
+nor conscience, almost negligible. But still men read him, and a
+change in conditions brought a change in front. He had in <i>The
+Prince</i>, above all in the <i>Discorsi</i>, accused the Church of
+having ruined Italy and debauched the world. In view of the
+writer's growing popularity, of the Reformation and the Pagan
+Renaissance, such charges could no longer be lightly set aside. The
+Churchmen opened the main attack. Amongst the leaders was Cardinal
+Pole, to whom the practical precepts of <i>The Prince</i> had been
+recommended in lieu of the dreams of Plato, by Thomas Cromwell, the
+<i>malleus monachorum</i> of Henry VIII. The Catholic attack was
+purely theological, but before long the Jesuits joined in the cry.
+Machiavelli was burnt in effigy at Ingoldstadt. He was <i>subdolus
+diabolicarum cogitationum faber</i>, and <i>irrisor et atheos</i>
+to boot. The Pope himself gave commissions to unite against him,
+and his books were placed on the Index, together, it must be
+admitted, with those of Boccaccio, Erasmus, and Savonarola so the
+company was goodly. But meanwhile, and perhaps in consequence,
+editions and translations of <i>The Prince</i> multiplied apace.
+The great figures of the world were absorbed by it. Charles V., his
+son, and his courtiers studied the book. Catherine de Medici
+brought it to France. A copy of <i>The Prince</i> was found on the
+murdered bodies of Henry III. and Henry IV. Richelieu praised it.
+Sextus V. analysed it in his own handwriting. It was read at the
+English Court; Bacon was steeped in it, and quotes or alludes to it
+constantly. Hobbes and Harrington studied it.</p>
+<p>But now another change. So then, cried Innocent Gentillet, the
+Huguenot, the book is a primer of despotism and Rome, and a grammar
+for bigots and tyrants. It doubtless is answerable for the Massacre
+of St. Bartholomew. The man is a <i>chien impur</i>. And in answer
+to this new huntsman the whole Protestant pack crashed in pursuit.
+Within fifty years of his death <i>The Prince</i> and Machiavelli
+himself had become a legend and a myth, a haunting, discomforting
+ghost that would not be laid. Machiavellism had grown to be a case
+of conscience both to Catholic and Protestant, to Theologian,
+Moralist, and Philosopher. In Spain the author, damned in France
+for his despotism and popery, was as freshly and freely damned for
+his civil and religious toleration. In England to the Cavaliers he
+was an Atheist, to the Roundheads a Jesuit. Christina of Sweden
+annotated him with enthusiasm. Frederick the Great published his
+<i>Anti-Machiavel</i> brimming with indignation, though it is
+impossible not to wonder what would have become of Prussia had not
+the Prussian king so closely followed in practice the precepts of
+the Florentine, above all perhaps, as Voltaire observed, in the
+publication of the <i>Anti-Machiavel</i> itself. No doubt in the
+eighteenth century, when monarchy was so firmly established as not
+to need Machiavelli, kings and statesmen sought to clear kingship
+of the supposed stain he had besmirched them with. But their
+reading was as little as their misunderstanding was great, and the
+Florentine Secretary remained the mysterious necromancer. It was
+left for Rousseau to describe the book of this 'honn&ecirc;te homme
+et bon citoyen' as 'le livre des R&eacute;publicains,' and for
+Napoleon, the greatest of the author's followers if not disciples,
+to draw inspiration and suggestion from his Florentine forerunner
+and to justify the murder of the Due d'Enghien by a quotation from
+<i>The Prince</i>. 'Mais apr&egrave;s tout,' he said, 'un homme
+d'Etat est-il fait pour &ecirc;tre sensible? N'est-ce pas un
+personnage&mdash;compl&egrave;tement excentrique, toujours seul
+d'un c&ocirc;t&eacute;, avec le monde de l'autre?' and again 'Jugez
+done s'il doit s'amuser &agrave; m&eacute;nager certaines
+convenances de sentiments si importantes pour le commun des hommes?
+Peut-il consid&eacute;rer les liens du sang, les affections, les
+pu&eacute;rils m&eacute;nagements de la soci&eacute;t&eacute;? Et
+dans la situation o&ugrave; il se trouve, que d'actions
+s&eacute;par&eacute;es de l'ensemble et qu'on bl&acirc;me,
+quoiqu'elles doivent contribuer au grand oeuvre que tout le monde
+n'aper&ccedil;oit pas? ... Malheureux que vous &ecirc;tes! vous
+retiendrez vos &eacute;loges parce que vous craindrez que le
+mouvement de cette grande machine ne fasse sur vous l'effet de
+Gulliver, qui, lorsqu'il d&eacute;pla&ccedil;ait sa jambe,
+&eacute;crasait les Lilliputiens. Exhortez-vous, devancez le temps,
+agrandissez votre imagination, regardez de loin, et vous verrez que
+ces grands personnages que vous croyez violents, cruels, que
+sais-je? ne sont que des politiques. Ils se connaissent, se jugent
+mieux que vous, et, quand ils sont r&eacute;ellement habiles, ils
+savent se rendre ma&icirc;tres de leurs passions car ils vont
+jusqu'&agrave; en calculer les effets.' Even in his carriage at
+Waterloo was found a French translation of <i>The Prince</i>
+profusely annotated.</p>
+<p class="side">The Defence.</p>
+<p>But from the first the defence was neither idle nor weak. The
+assault was on the morals of the man: the fortress held for the
+ideas of the thinker. He does not treat of morals, therefore he is
+immoral, cried the plaintiff. Has he spoken truth or falsehood? Is
+his word the truth and will his truth prevail? was the rejoinder.
+In Germany and Italy especially and in France and England in less
+degree, philosophers and critics have argued and written without
+stint and without cease. As history has grown wider and more
+scientific so has the preponderance of opinion leaned to the
+Florentine's favour.</p>
+<p>It would be impossible to recapitulate the arguments or even to
+indicate the varying points of view. And indeed the main hindrance
+in forming a just idea of <i>The Prince</i> is the constant
+treatment of a single side of the book and the preconceived intent
+of the critic. Bacon has already been mentioned. Among later names
+are Hobbes, Spinoza, Leibnitz. Herder gives qualified approval,
+while Fichte frankly throws down the glove as <i>The Prince's</i>
+champion. 'Da man weiss dass politische Machtfragen nie, am
+wenigsten in einem verderbten Volke, mit den Mitteln der Moral zu
+l&ouml;sen sind, so ist es unverst&auml;ndig das Buch von
+F&uuml;rsten zu verschreien. Macchiavelli hatte einen Herrscher zu
+schildern, keinen Klosterbruder.' The last sentence may at least be
+accepted as a last word by practical politicians. Ranke and
+Macaulay, and a host of competent Germans and Italians have lent
+their thought and pens to solve the riddle in the Florentine's
+favour. And lastly, the course of political events in Europe have
+seemed to many the final justification of the teaching of <i>The
+Prince</i>. The leaders of the Risorgimento thought that they found
+in letters, 'writ with a stiletto,' not only the inspirations of
+patriotism and the aspirations to unity, but a sure and trusted
+guide to the achievement. Germany recognised in the author a
+schoolmaster to lead them to unification, and a military instructor
+to teach them of an Armed People. Half Europe snatched at the
+principle of Nationality. For in <i>The Prince</i>, Machiavelli not
+only begat ideas but fertilised the ideas of others, and whatever
+the future estimation of the book may be, it stands, read or
+unread, as a most potent, if not as the dominant, factor in
+European politics for four hundred years.</p>
+<p class="side">The <i>Discorsi</i>.</p>
+<p>The <i>Discorsi</i>, printed in Rome by Blado, 1537, are not
+included in the present edition, as the first English translation
+did not appear until 1680, when almost the entire works of
+Machiavelli were published by an anonymous translator in London.
+But some account and consideration of their contents is imperative
+to any review of the Florentine's political thoughts. Such Discorsi
+and Relazioni were not uncommon at the time. The stronger and
+younger minds of the Renaissance wearied of discussing in the
+lovely gardens of the Rucellai the ideas of Plato or the allegories
+of Plotinus. The politics of Aristotle had just been intelligibly
+translated by Leonardo Bruni (1492). And to-day the young ears and
+eyes of Florence were alert for an impulse to action. They saw
+glimpses, in reopened fields of history, of quarries long grown
+over where the ore of positive politics lay hid. The men who came
+to-day to the Orti Oricellarii were men versed in public affairs,
+men of letters, historians, poets, living greatly in a great age,
+with Raphael, Michael Angelo, Ariosto, Leonardo going up and down
+amongst them. Machiavelli was now in fair favour with the Medici,
+and is described by Strozzi as <i>una persona per sorgere</i> (a
+rising man). He was welcomed into the group with enthusiasm, and
+there read and discussed the <i>Discorsi</i>. Nominally mere
+considerations upon the First Decade of Livy, they rapidly
+encircled all that was known and thought of policy and state-craft,
+old and living.</p>
+<p class="side">Their Plan.</p>
+<p>Written concurrently with <i>The Prince</i>, though completed
+later, the <i>Discorsi</i> contain almost the whole of the thoughts
+and intents of the more famous book, but with a slightly different
+application. '<i>The Prince</i> traces the progress of an ambitious
+man, the <i>Discorsi</i> the progress of an ambitious people,' is
+an apt if inadequate criticism. Machiavelli was not the first
+Italian who thought and wrote upon the problems of his time. But he
+was the first who discussed grave questions in modern language. He
+was the first modern political writer who wrote of men and not of
+man, for the Prince himself is a collective individuality.</p>
+<p>'This must be regarded as a general rule,' is ever in
+Machiavelli's mouth, while Guicciardini finds no value in a general
+rule, but only in 'long experience and worthy discretion.' The one
+treated of policy, the other of politics. Guicciardini considered
+specifically by what methods to control and arrange an existing
+Government. Machiavelli sought to create a science, which should
+show how to establish, maintain, and hinder the decline of states
+generally conceived. Even Cavour counted the former as a more
+practical guide in affairs. But Machiavelli was the theorist of
+humanity in politics, not the observer only. He distinguished the
+two orders of research. And, during the Italian Renaissance such
+distinction was supremely necessary. With a crumbled theology, a
+pagan Pope, amid the wreck of laws and the confusion of social
+order, <i>il sue particolare</i> and <i>virt&ugrave;</i>,
+individuality and ability (energy, political genius, prowess, vital
+force: <i>virt&ugrave;</i> is impossible to translate, and only
+does not mean virtue), were the dominating and unrelenting factors
+of life. Niccol&ograve; Machiavelli, unlike Montesquieu, agreed
+with Martin Luther that man was bad. It was for both the
+Wittenberger and the Florentine, in their very separate ways, to
+found the school and wield the scourge. In the naked and unashamed
+candour of the time Guicciardini could say that he loathed the
+Papacy and all its works. 'For all that, he adds, 'the preferments
+I have enjoyed, have forced me for my private ends to set my heart
+upon papal greatness. Were it not for this consideration, I should
+love Martin Luther as my second self.' In the <i>Discorsi</i>,
+Machiavelli bitterly arraigns the Church as having 'deprived
+Italians of religion and liberty.' He utterly condemns
+Savonarol&agrave;, yet he could love and learn from Dante, and
+might almost have said with Pym, 'The greatest liberty of the
+Kingdom is Religion. Thereby we are freed from spiritual evils, and
+no impositions are so grievous as those that are laid upon the
+soul.'</p>
+<p class="side">Religion.</p>
+<p>The Florentine postulates religion as an essential element in a
+strong and stable State. Perhaps, with Gibbon, he deemed it useful
+to the Magistrate. But his science is impersonal. He will not
+tolerate a Church that poaches on his political preserves. Good
+dogma makes bad politics. It must not tamper with liberty or
+security. And most certainly, with Dante, in the <i>Paradiso</i>,
+he would either have transformed or omitted the third Beatitude,
+that the Meek shall inherit the earth. With such a temperament,
+Machiavelli must ever keep touch with sanity. It was not for him as
+for Aristotle to imagine what an ideal State should be, but rather
+to inquire what States actually were and what they might actually
+become. He seeks first and foremost 'the use that may be derived
+from history in politics'; not from its incidents but from its
+general principles. His darling model of a State is to be found
+where Dante found it, in the Roman Republic. The memory and even
+the substance of Dante occur again and again. But Dante's
+inspiration was spiritual: Machiavelli's frankly pagan, and with
+the latter Fortune takes the place of God. Dante did not love the
+Papacy, but Machiavelli, pointing out how even in ancient Rome
+religion was politic or utilitarian, leads up to his famous attack
+upon the Roman Church, to which he attributes all the shame and
+losses, political, social, moral, national, that Italy has suffered
+at her hands. And now for the first time the necessity for Italian
+Unity is laid plainly down, and the Church and its temporal power
+denounced as the central obstacles. In religion itself the
+Secretary saw much merit. 'But when it is an absolute question of
+the welfare of our country, then justice or injustice, mercy or
+cruelty, praise or ignominy, must be set aside, and we must seek
+alone whatever course may preserve the existence and liberty of the
+state.' Throughout the <i>Discorsi</i>, Machiavelli in a looser and
+more expansive form, suggests, discusses, or re-affirms the ideas
+of <i>The Prince</i>. There is the same absence of judgment on the
+moral value of individual conduct; the same keen decision of its
+practical effect as a political act. But here more than in <i>The
+Prince</i>, he deals with the action and conduct of the people.
+With his passion for personal and contemporary incarnation he finds
+in the Swiss of his day the Romans of Republican Rome, and
+reiterates the comparison in detail. Feudalism, mercenaries,
+political associations embodied in Arts and Guilds, the Temporal
+power of the Church, all these are put away, and in their stead he
+announces the new and daring gospel that for organic unity subjects
+must be treated as equals and not as inferiors. 'Trust the people'
+is a maxim he repeats and enforces again and again. And he does not
+shrink from, but rather urges the corollary, 'Arm the people.'
+Indeed it were no audacious paradox to state the ideal of
+Machiavelli, though he nominally preferred a Republic, as a Limited
+Monarchy, ruling over a Nation in Arms. No doubt he sought, as was
+natural enough in his day, to construct the State from without
+rather than to guide and encourage its evolution from within. It
+seemed to him that, in such an ocean of corruption, Force
+<i>was</i> a remedy and Fraud no sluttish handmaid. 'Vice n'est-ce
+pas,' writes Montaigne, of such violent acts of Government, 'car il
+a quitt&eacute; sa raison &agrave; une plus universelle et
+puissante raison.' Even so the Prince and the people could only be
+justified by results. But the public life is of larger value than
+the private, and sometimes one man must be crucified for a
+thousand. Despite all prejudice and make-belief, such a rule and
+practice has obtained from the Assemblies of Athens to the
+Parliaments of the twentieth century. But Machiavelli first
+candidly imparted it to the unwilling consciences and brains of
+men, and it is he who has been the chosen scape-goat to carry the
+sins of the people. His earnestness makes him belie his own precept
+to keep the name and take away the thing. In this, as in a thousand
+instances, he was not too darkly hidden; he was too plain.
+'Machiavelli,' says one who studied the Florentine as hardly
+another had done, 'Machiavelli hat ges&uuml;ndigt, aber noch mehr
+ist gegen ihn ges&uuml;ndigt worden.' Liberty is good, but Unity is
+its only sure foundation. It is the way to the Unity of Government
+and People that the thoughts both of <i>The Prince</i> and the
+<i>Discorsi</i> lead, though the incidents be so nakedly presented
+as to shock the timorous and vex the prurient, the puritan, and the
+evil thinker. The people must obey the State and fight and die for
+its salvation, and for the Prince the hatred of the subjects is
+never good, but their love, and the best way to gain it is by 'not
+interrupting the subject in the quiet enjoyment of his estate.'
+Even so bland and gentle a spirit as the poet Gray cannot but
+comment, 'I rejoice when I see Machiavelli defended or illustrated,
+who to me appears one of the wisest men that any nation in any age
+hath produced.'</p>
+<p class="side">The Art of War.</p>
+<p>Throughout both <i>The Prince</i> and the <i>Discorsi</i> are
+constant allusions to, and often long discussions on, military
+affairs. The Army profoundly interested Machiavelli both as a
+primary condition of national existence and stability, and also, as
+he pondered upon the contrast between ancient Rome and the Florence
+that he lived in, as a subject fascinating in itself. His <i>Art of
+War</i> was probably published in 1520. Before that date the
+Florentine Secretary had had some personal touch both with the
+theory and practice of war. As a responsible official in the camp
+before Pisa he had seen both siege work and fighting. Having lost
+faith in mercenary forces he made immense attempts to form a
+National Militia, and was appointed Chancellor of the Nove della
+Milizia. In Switzerland and the Tyrol he had studied army
+questions. He planned with Pietro Navarro the defence of Florence
+and Prato against Charles V. At Verona and Mantua in 1509, he
+closely studied the famous siege of Padua. From birth to death war
+and battles raged all about him, and he had personal knowledge of
+the great captains of the Age. Moreover, he saw in Italy troops of
+every country, of every quality, in every stage of discipline, in
+every manner of formation. His love of ancient Rome led him
+naturally to the study of Livy and Vegetius, and from them with
+regard to formations, to the relative values of infantry and
+cavalry and other points of tactics, he drew or deduced many
+conclusions which hold good to-day. Indeed a German staff officer
+has written that in reading the Florentine you think you are
+listening to a modern theorist of war. But for the theorist of
+those days a lion stood in the path. The art of war was not
+excepted from the quick and thorough transformation that all
+earthly and spiritual things were undergoing. Gunpowder, long
+invented, was being applied. Armour, that, since the beginning, had
+saved both man and horse, had now lost the half of its virtue. The
+walls of fortresses, impregnable for a thousand years, became as
+matchwood ramparts. The mounted man-at-arms was found with wonder
+to be no match for the lightly-armoured but nimble foot-man. The
+Swiss were seen to hold their own with ease against the knighthood
+of Austria and Burgundy. The Free Companies lost in value and
+prestige what they added to their corruption and treachery. All
+these things grew clear to Machiavelli. But his almost fatal
+misfortune was that he observed and wrote in the mid-moment of the
+transition. He had no faith in fire-arms, and as regards the
+portable fire-arms of those days he was right. After the artillery
+work at Ravenna, Novara, and Marignano it is argued that he should
+have known better. But he was present at no great battles, and
+pike, spear, and sword had been the stable weapons of four thousand
+years. These were indeed too simple to be largely modified, and the
+future of mechanisms and explosives no prophet uninspired could
+foresee. And indeed the armament and formation of men were not the
+main intent of Machiavelli's thought. His care in detail,
+especially in fortifications, of which he made a special study, in
+encampments, in plans, in calculations, is immense. Nothing is so
+trivial as to be left inexact.</p>
+<p class="side">The New Model.</p>
+<p>But he centred his observation and imagination on the origin,
+character, and discipline of an army in being. He pictures the
+horror, waste, and failure of a mercenary system, and lays down the
+fatal error in Italy of separating civil from military life,
+converting the latter into a trade. In such a way the soldier grows
+to a beast, and the citizen to a coward. All this must be changed.
+The basic idea of this astounding Secretary is to form a National
+Army, furnished by conscription and informed by the spirit of the
+New Model of Cromwell. All able-bodied men between the ages of
+seventeen and forty should be drilled on stated days and be kept in
+constant readiness. Once or twice a year each battalion must be
+mobilised and manoeuvred as in time of war. The discipline must be
+constant and severe. The men must be not only robust and
+well-trained, but, above all, virtuous, modest, and disposed to any
+sacrifice for the public good. So imbued should they be with duty
+and lofty devotion to their country that though they may rightly
+deceive the enemy, reward the enemy's deserters and employ spies,
+yet 'an apple tree laden with fruit might stand untouched in the
+midst of their encampment.' The infantry should far exceed the
+cavalry, 'since it is by infantry that battles are won.' Secrecy,
+mobility, and familiarity with the country are to be objects of
+special care, and positions should be chosen from which advance is
+safer than retreat. In war this army must be led by one single
+leader, and, when peace shines again, they must go back contented
+to their grateful fellow-countrymen and their wonted ways of
+living. The conception and foundation of such a scheme, at such a
+time, by such a man is indeed astounding. He broke with the past
+and with all contemporary organisations. He forecast the future of
+military Europe, though his own Italy was the last to win her
+redemption through his plans. 'Taken all in all,' says a German
+military writer, 'we may recognise Machiavelli in his inspired
+knowledge of the principles of universal military discipline as a
+true prophet and as one of the weightiest thinkers in the field of
+military construction and constitution. He penetrated the essence
+of military technique with a precision wholly alien to his period,
+and it is, so to say, a new psychological proof of the relationship
+between the art of war and the art of statecraft, that the founder
+of Modern Politics is also the first of modern Military
+Classics.'</p>
+<p>But woe to the Florentine Secretary with his thoughts born
+centuries before their time. As in <i>The Prince</i>, so in the
+<i>Art of War</i>, he closes with a passionate appeal of great
+sorrow and the smallest ray of hope. Where shall I hope to find the
+things that I have told of? What is Italy to-day? What are the
+Italians? Enervated, impotent, vile. Wherefore, 'I lament mee of
+nature, the which either ought not to have made mee a knower of
+this, or it ought to have given mee power, to have bene able to
+have executed it: For now beeing olde, I cannot hope to have any
+occasion, to be able so to doo: In consideration whereof, I have
+bene liberall with you who beeing grave young men, may (when the
+thinges said of me shall please you) at due times, in favoure of
+your Princes, helpe them and counsider them. Wherin I would have
+you not to be afraied, or mistrustfull, because this Province
+seemes to bee altogether given to raise up againe the things deade,
+as is seene by the perfection that Poesie, painting, and writing,
+is now brought unto: Albeit, as much as is looked for of mee,
+beeing strooken in yeeres, I do mistrust. Where surely, if Fortune
+had heretofore graunted mee so much state, as suffiseth for a like
+enterprise, I would not have doubted, but in most short time, to
+have shewed to the world, how much the auncient orders availe: and
+without peradventure, either I would have increased it with glory,
+or lost it without shame.'</p>
+<p class="side"><i>The History of Florence</i>.</p>
+<p>In 1520 Machiavelli was an ageing and disappointed man. He was
+not popular with any party, but the Medici were willing to use him
+in minor matters if only to secure his adherence. He was
+commissioned by Giulio de Medici to write a history of Florence
+with an annual allowance of 100 florins. In 1525 he completed his
+task and dedicated the book to its begetter, Pope Clement VII.</p>
+<p>In the History, as in much of his other work, Machiavelli
+enriches the science of humanity with a new department. 'He was the
+first to contemplate the life of a nation in its continuity, to
+trace the operation of political forces through successive
+generations, to contrast the action of individuals with the
+evolution of causes over which they had but little control, and to
+bring the salient features of the national biography into relief by
+the suppression of comparatively unimportant details.' He found no
+examples to follow, for Villani with all his merits was of a
+different order. Diarists and chroniclers there were in plenty, and
+works of the learned men led by Aretino, written in Latin and
+mainly rhetorical. The great work of Guicciardini was not published
+till years after the Secretary's death. Machiavelli broke away from
+the Chronicle or any other existing form. He deliberately applied
+philosophy to the sequence of facts. He organised civil and
+political history. He originally intended to begin his work at the
+year 1234, the year of the return of Cosimo il Vecchio from exile
+and of the consolidation of Medicean power on the ground that the
+earlier periods had been covered by Aretino and Bracciolini. But he
+speedily recognised that they told of nothing but external wars and
+business while the heart of the history of Florence was left
+unbared. The work was to do again in very different manner, and in
+that manner he did it. Throughout he maintains and insistently
+insinuates his unfailing explanation of the miseries of Italy; the
+necessity of unity and the evils of the Papacy which prevents it.
+In this book dedicated to a Pope he scants nothing of his hatred of
+the Holy See. For ever he is still seeking the one strong man in a
+blatant land with almost absolute power to punish, pull down, and
+reconstruct on an abiding foundation, for to his clear eyes it is
+ever the events that are born of the man, and not the man of the
+events. He was the first to observe that the Ghibellines were not
+only the Imperial party but the party of the aristocrats and
+influential men, whereas the Guelphs were the party not only of the
+Church but of the people, and he traces the slow but increasing
+struggle to the triumph of democracy in the Ordinamenti di
+Giustizia (1293). But the triumph was not final. The Florentines
+were 'unable to preserve liberty and could not tolerate slavery.'
+So the fighting, banishments, bloodshed, cruelty, injustice, began
+once more. The nobles were in origin Germanic, he points out, the
+people Latin; so that a racial bitterness gave accent to their
+hate. But yet, he adds impartially, when the crushed nobility were
+forced to change their names and no longer dared be heard 'Florence
+was not only stripped of arms but likewise of all generosity.' It
+would be impossible to follow the History in detail. The second,
+seventh and eighth books are perhaps the most powerful and
+dramatic. Outside affairs and lesser events are lightly touched.
+But no stories in the world have been told with more intensity than
+those of the conspiracies in the seventh and eighth books, and none
+have given a more intimate and accurate perception of the modes of
+thought and feeling at the time. The History ends with the death of
+Lorenzo de Medici in 1492. Enough has been said of its breadth of
+scope and originality of method. The spirit of clear flaming
+patriotism, of undying hope that will not in the darkest day
+despair, the plangent appeal to Italy for its own great sake to
+rouse and live, all these are found pre-eminently in the History as
+they are found wherever Machiavelli speaks from the heart of his
+heart. Of the style a foreigner may not speak. But those who are
+proper judges maintain that in simplicity and lucidity, vigour, and
+power, softness, elevation, and eloquence, the style of Machiavelli
+is 'divine,' and remains, as that of Dante among the poets,
+unchallenged and insuperable among all writers of Italian
+prose.</p>
+<p class="side">Other Works.</p>
+<p>Though Machiavelli must always stand as a political thinker, an
+historian, and a military theorist it would leave an insufficient
+idea of his mental activities were there no short notice of his
+other literary works. With his passion for incarnating his theories
+in a single personality, he wrote the <i>Life of Castruccio
+Castracani</i>, a politico-military romance. His hero was a soldier
+of fortune born Lucca in 1281, and, playing with a free hand,
+Machiavelli weaves a life of adventure and romance in which his
+constant ideas of war and politics run through and across an almost
+imaginary tapestry. He seems to have intended to illustrate and to
+popularise his ideals and to attain by a story the many whom his
+discourses could not reach. In verse Machiavelli was fluent,
+pungent, and prosaic. The unfinished <i>Golden Ass</i> is merely
+made of paragraphs of the <i>Discorsi</i> twined into rhymes. And
+the others are little better. Countless pamphlets, essays, and
+descriptions may be searched without total waste by the very
+curious and the very leisurely. The many despatches and
+multitudinous private letters tell the story both of his life and
+his mind. But the short but famous <i>Novella di Belfagor
+Arcidiavolo</i> is excellent in wit, satire, and invention. As a
+playwright he wrote, among many lesser efforts, one supreme comedy,
+<i>Mandragola</i>, which Macaulay declares to be better than the
+best of Goldoni's plays, and only less excellent than the very best
+of Moli&egrave;re's. Italian critics call it the finest play in
+Italian. The plot is not for nursery reading, but there are tears
+and laughter and pity and anger to furnish forth a copious author,
+and it has been not ill observed that <i>Mandragola</i> is the
+comedy of a society of which <i>The Prince</i> is the tragedy.</p>
+<p class="side">The End.</p>
+<p>It has been said of the Italians of the Renaissance that with so
+much of unfairness in their policy, there was an extraordinary
+degree of fairness in their intellects. They were as direct in
+thought as they were tortuous in action and could see no wickedness
+in deceiving a man whom they intended to destroy. To such a
+charge&mdash;if charge it be&mdash;Machiavelli would have willingly
+owned himself answerable. He observed, in order to know, and he
+wished to use his knowledge for the advancement of good. To him the
+means were indifferent, provided only that they were always apt and
+moderate in accordance with necessity, A surgeon has no room for
+sentiment: in such an operator pity were a crime. It is his to
+examine, to probe, to diagnose, flinching at no ulcer, sparing
+neither to himself or to his patient. And if he may not act, he is
+to lay down very clearly the reasons which led to his conclusions
+and to state the mode by which life itself may be saved, cost what
+amputation and agony it may. This was Machiavelli's business, and
+he applied his eye, his brains, and his knife with a relentless
+persistence, which, only because it was so faithful, was not called
+heroic. And we know that he suffered in the doing of it and that
+his heart was sore for his patient. But there was no other way. His
+record is clear and shining. He has been accused of no treachery,
+of no evil action. His patriotism for Italy as a fatherland, a
+dream undreamt by any other, never glowed more brightly than when
+Italy lay low in shame, and ruin, and despair. His faith never
+faltered, his spirit never shrank. And the Italy that he saw,
+through dark bursts of storm, broken and sinking, we see to-day
+riding in the sunny haven where he would have her to be.</p>
+<p>HENRY CUST.</p>
+<hr />
+<h2>CONTENTS</h2>
+<center><a href="#book-warre">THE ARTE OF WARRE</a></center>
+<center><a href="#book-prince">THE PRINCE</a></center>
+<hr />
+<h1><a name="book-warre" id="book-warre">THE ARTE OF WARRE</a></h1>
+<h3>WRITTEN FIRST IN ITALIAN BY</h3>
+<h2>NICHOLAS MACHIAVELL</h2>
+<h4>AND SET FORTHE IN ENGLISHE BY</h4>
+<h2>PETER WHITEHORNE</h2>
+<h3>STUDIENT AT GRAIES INNE</h3>
+<h3>WITH AN ADDICION OF OTHER LIKE MARCIALLE FEATES AND
+EXPERIMENTES</h3>
+<h3>AS IN A TABLE</h3>
+<h3>IN THE ENDE OF THE BOOKE</h3>
+<h3>MAIE APPERE</h3>
+<h3>1560</h3>
+<h3><i>Menfss. Iulij</i>.</h3>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page3" id="page3"></a>{3}</span>
+<p>TO THE MOSTE</p>
+<p>HIGHE, AND EXCELLENT PRINCES,</p>
+<p>ELIZABETH, by the Grace of God, Quene</p>
+<p>of Englande, Fraunce, and Irelande,</p>
+<p>defender of the faithe, and of the Churche</p>
+<p>of Englande, and Irelande, on yearth</p>
+<p>next under God, the supreme</p>
+<p>Governour.</p>
+<p><img width="10%" src="images/image-a.png" alt="A" /> lthough
+commonlie every man, moste worthie and renoumed Soveraine, seketh
+specially to commend and extolle the thing, whereunto he feleth
+hymself naturally bent and inclined, yet al soche parciallitie and
+private affection laid aside, it is to bee thought (that for the
+defence, maintenaunce, and advauncemente of a Kyngdome, or Common
+weale, or for the good and due observacion of peace, and
+administracion of Justice in the same) no one thinge to be more
+profitable, necessarie, or more honourable, then the knowledge of
+service in warre, and dedes of armes; bicause consideryng the
+ambicion of the <span class="pagenum"><a name="page4" id=
+"page4"></a>{4}</span> worlde, it is impossible for any realme or
+dominion, long to continue free in quietnesse and savegarde, where
+the defence of the sweard is not alwaies in a readinesse. For like
+as the Grekes, beyng occupied aboute triflyng matters, takyng
+pleasure in resityng of Comedies, and soche other vain thinges,
+altogether neclecting Marciall feates, gave occasion to Philip kyng
+of Macedonia, father to Alexander the Great, to oppresse and to
+bring theim in servitude, under his subjeccion, even so
+undoubtedly, libertie will not be kepte, but men shall be troden
+under foote, and brought to moste horrible miserie and calamitie,
+if thei givyng theim selves to pastymes and pleasure, forssake the
+juste regarde of their owne defence, and savegarde of their
+countrie, whiche in temporall regimente, chiefly consisteth in
+warlike skilfulnesse. And therefore the aunciente Capitaines and
+mightie Conquerours, so longe as thei florished, did devise with
+moste greate diligence, all maner of waies, to bryng their men to
+the perfect knowledge of what so ever thing appertained to the
+warre: as manifestly appereth by the warlike games, whiche in old
+time the Princes of Grecia ordained, upon the mount Olimpus, and
+also by thorders and exercises, that the aunciente <span class=
+"pagenum"><a name="page5" id="page5"></a>{5}</span> Romaines used
+in sundrie places, and specially in Campo Martio, and in their
+wonderful sumptuous Theaters, whiche chiefly thei builded to that
+purpose. Whereby thei not onely made their Souldiours so experte,
+that thei obtained with a fewe, in faightyng againste a greate
+houge multitude of enemies, soche marveilous victories, as in many
+credible Histories are mencioned, but also by the same meanes,
+their unarmed and rascalle people that followed their Campes, gotte
+soche understandyng in the feates of warre, that thei in the daie
+of battaile, beeyng lefte destitute of succour, were able without
+any other help, to set themselves in good order, for their defence
+againste the enemie, that would seke to hurte theim, and in soche
+daungerous times, have doen their countrie so good service, that
+verie often by their helpe, the adversaries have been put to
+flight, and fieldes moste happely wone. So that thantiquitie
+estemed nothing more happie in a common weale, then to have in the
+same many men skilfull in warlike affaires: by meanes whereof,
+their Empire continually inlarged, and moste wonderfully and
+triumphantly prospered. For so longe as men for their
+valiauntnesse, were then rewarded and had in estimacion, glad was
+he that <span class="pagenum"><a name="page6" id=
+"page6"></a>{6}</span> could finde occasion to venter, yea, and
+spende his life, to benefite his countrie: as by the manly actes
+that Marcus Curcius, Oracius Cocles, and Gaius Mucius did for the
+savegarde of Rome and also by other innumerable like examples
+dooeth plainly appeare. But when through long and continuall peace,
+thei began to bee altogether given to pleasure and delicatenesse,
+little regardyng Marciall feates, nor soche as were expert in the
+practise thereof: Their dominions and estates, did not so moche
+before increase and prospere, as then by soche meanes and
+oversight, thei sodainly fell into decaie and utter ruine. For
+soche truly is the nature and condicion, bothe of peace and warre,
+that where in governemente, there is not had equalle consideration
+of them bothe, the one in fine, doeth woorke and induce, the others
+oblivion and utter abholicion. Wherfore, sith the necessitie of the
+science of warres is so greate, and also the necessarie use thereof
+so manifeste, that even Ladie Peace her self, doeth in maner from
+thens crave her chief defence and preservacion, and the worthinesse
+moreover, and honour of the same so greate, that as by prose we
+see, the perfecte glorie therof, cannot easely finde roote, but in
+the hartes of moste noble couragious <span class="pagenum"><a name=
+"page7" id="page7"></a>{7}</span> and manlike personages, I thought
+most excellente Princes, I could not either to the specialle
+gratefiyng of your highnesse, the universall delight of all
+studious gentlemen, or the common utilitie of the publike wealth,
+imploie my labours more profitablie in accomplishyng of my duetie
+and good will, then in settyng foorthe some thing, that might
+induce to the augmentyng and increase of the knowledge thereof:
+inespecially thexample of your highnes most politike governemente
+over us, givyng plaine testimonie of the wonderfull prudente desire
+that is in you, to have your people instructed in this kinde of
+service, as well for the better defence of your highnesse, theim
+selves, and their countrie, as also to discourage thereby, and to
+be able to resist the malingnitie of the enemie, who otherwise
+would seeke peradventure, to invade this noble realme or
+kyngdome.</p>
+<p>When therfore about x. yeres paste, in the Emperours warres
+against the Mores and certain Turkes beyng in Barberie, at the
+siege and winnyng of Calibbia, Monesterio and Africa, I had as well
+for my further instruction in those affaires, as also the better to
+acquainte me with the Italian tongue, reduced into Englishe, the
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page8" id="page8"></a>{8}</span>
+booke called The arte of Warre, of the famous and excellente
+Nicholas Machiavell, whiche in times paste he beyng a counsailour,
+and Secretarie of the noble Citee of Florence, not without his
+greate laude and praise did write: and havyng lately againe,
+somwhat perused the same, the whiche in soche continuall broiles
+and unquietnesse, was by me translated, I determined with my self,
+by publishyng thereof, to bestowe as greate a gift (sins greater I
+was not able) emongeste my countrie men, not experte in the Italian
+tongue, as in like woorkes I had seen before me, the Frenchemen,
+Duchemen, Spaniardes, and other forreine nacions, moste lovyngly to
+have bestowed emongeste theirs: The rather undoubtedly, that as by
+private readyng of the same booke, I then felt my self in that
+knowledge marveilously holpen and increased, so by communicatyng
+the same to many, our Englishemen findyng out the orderyng and
+disposyng of exploictes of warre therein contained, the aide and
+direction of these plaine and briefe preceptes, might no lesse in
+knowledge of warres become incomperable, then in prowes also and
+exercise of the same, altogether invincible: which my translacion
+moste gracious Soveraine, together <span class="pagenum"><a name=
+"page9" id="page9"></a>{9}</span> with soche other thynges, as by
+me hath been gathered, and thought good to adde thereunto, I have
+presumed to dedicate unto youre highnes: not onely bicause the
+whole charge and furniture of warlike counsailes and preparacions,
+being determined by the arbitremente of Governours and Princes, the
+treatise also of like effecte should in like maner as of right,
+depende upon the protection of a moste worthie and noble
+Patronesse, but also that the discourse it self, and the woorke of
+a forrein aucthour, under the passeport and safeconduite of your
+highnes moste noble name, might by speciall aucthoritie of the
+same, winne emongest your Majesties subjectes, moche better credite
+and estimacion. And if mooste mightie Queen, in this kind of
+Philosophie (if I maie so terme it) grave and sage counsailes,
+learned and wittie preceptes, or politike and prudente admonicions,
+ought not to be accompted the least and basest tewels of weale
+publike. Then dare I boldely affirme, that of many straungers,
+whiche from forrein countries, have here tofore in this your
+Majesties realme arrived, there is none in comparison to bee
+preferred, before this worthie Florentine and Italian, who havyng
+frely without any gaine of exchaunge (as after some <span class=
+"pagenum"><a name="page10" id="page10"></a>{10}</span>
+acquaintaunce and familiaritie will better appeare) brought with
+hym moste riche, rare and plentiful Treasure, shall deserve I trust
+of all good Englishe lishe hartes, most lovingly and frendly to be
+intertained, embraced and cherished. Whose newe Englishe apparell,
+how so ever it shall seme by me, after a grosse fasion, more fitlie
+appoincted to the Campe, then in nice termes attired to the Carpet,
+and in course clothyng rather putte foorthe to battaile, then in
+any brave shewe prepared to the bankette, neverthelesse my good
+will I truste, shall of your grace be taken in good parte, havyng
+fashioned the phraise of my rude stile, even accordyng to the
+purpose of my travaile, whiche was rather to profite the desirous
+manne of warre, then to delight the eares of the fine Rethorician,
+or daintie curious scholemanne: Moste humblie besechyng your
+highnes, so to accept my labour herein, as the first fruictes of a
+poore souldiours studie, who to the uttermoste of his smalle power,
+in the service of your moste gracious majestie, and of his
+countrie, will at al tymes, accordyng to his bounden duetie and
+allegeaunce, promptlie yeld hym self to any labour, travaile, or
+daunger, what so ever shal happen. Praiyng <span class=
+"pagenum"><a name="page11" id="page11"></a>{11}</span> in the mean
+season the almightie God, to give your highnes in longe prosperous
+raigne, perfect health, desired tranquilitie, and against all your
+enemies, luckie and joifull victorie.</p>
+<p>Your humble subject and dailie oratour,</p>
+<p>PETER WHITEHORNE. <span class="pagenum"><a name="page13" id=
+"page13"></a>{13}</span></p>
+<p>THE PROHEME</p>
+<p>OF NICHOLAS MACHIAVELL,</p>
+<p>Citezein and Secretarie of Florence,</p>
+<p>upon his booke of the Arte of Warre, unto</p>
+<p>Laurence Philippe Strozze, one of the</p>
+<p>nobilitie of Florence.</p>
+<p><img width="10%" src="images/image-t.png" alt="T" />here have
+Laurence, many helde, and do holde this opinion, that there is no
+maner of thing, whiche lesse agreeth the one with the other, nor
+that is so much unlike, as the civil life to the Souldiours. Wherby
+it is often seen, that if any determin in thexercise of that kinde
+of service to prevaile, that incontinent he doeth not only chaunge
+in apparel, but also in custome and maner, in voice, and from the
+facion of all civil use, he doeth alter: For that he thinketh not
+meete to clothe with civell apparell him, who wil be redie, and
+promt to all kinde of violence, nor the civell customes, and usages
+maie that man have, the whiche judgeth bothe those customes to be
+effeminate, and those usages not to be agreable to his profession:
+Nor it semes not convenient for him to use the civill gesture and
+ordinarie wordes, who with fasing and blasphemies, will make
+afraied other menne: the whiche causeth in this time, suche opinion
+to be moste true. But if thei should consider thauncient orders,
+there should nothing be founde more united, more confirmable, and
+that of necessitie ought to love so much the one the other, as
+these: for as muche as <span class="pagenum"><a name="page14" id=
+"page14"></a>{14}</span> all the artes that are ordeined in a
+common weale, in regarde or respecte of common profite of menne,
+all the orders made in the same, to live with feare of the Lawe,
+and of God should be vaine, if by force of armes their defence wer
+not prepared, which, well ordeined, doe maintain those also whiche
+be not well ordeined. And likewise to the contrarie the good
+orders, without the souldiours help, no lesse or otherwise doe
+disorder, then the habitacion of a sumptuous and roiall palais,
+although it wer decte with gold and precious stones, when without
+being covered, should not have wherewith to defende it from the
+raine. And if in what so ever other orders of Cities and Kyngdomes,
+there hath been used al diligence for to maintain men faithfull,
+peaceable, and full of the feare of God, in the service of warre,
+it was doubled: if for in what man ought the countrie to seke
+greater faith, then in him, who must promise to die for the same?
+In whom ought there to bee more love of peace, then in him, whiche
+onely by the warre maie be hurte? In whome ought there to bee more
+feare of GOD, then in him, which every daie committyng himself to
+infinite perilles, hath moste neede of his helpe? This necessitie
+considered wel, bothe of them that gave the lawes to Empires, and
+of those that to the exercise of service wer apoincted, made that
+the life of Souldiours, of other menne was praised, and with all
+studie folowed and imitated. But the orders of service of war,
+beyng altogether corrupted, and a greate waie from the auncient
+maners altered, there hath growen these sinisterous opinions, which
+maketh men to hate the warlike service, and to flie the
+conversacion of those that dooe exercise it. Albeit I judgeing by
+the same, that I have seen and redde, that it is not a thyng
+impossible, to bryng it again to the auncient maners, and to give
+it some facion of the vertue passed, I have determined to the
+entente not to passe this my idell time, without doyng some thyng,
+to write that whiche I doe understande, to the satisfaction of
+those, who of aunciente actes, are lovers of the science of warre.
+And although it be a bold thing to intreate of the same matter,
+wher of <span class="pagenum"><a name="page15" id=
+"page15"></a>{15}</span> otherwise I have made no profession,
+notwithstanding I beleve it is no errour, to occupie with wordes a
+degree, the whiche many with greater presumpcion with their deedes
+have occupied: for as muche as the errours that I maie happen to
+make by writing, may be without harme to any man corrected: but
+those the whiche of them be made in doyng cannot be knowen without
+the ruine of Empires. Therefore Laurence you ought to consider the
+qualitie of this my laboure, and with your judgement to give it
+that blame, or that praise, as shall seeme unto you it hath
+deserved. The whiche I sende unto you, as well to shewe my selfe
+gratefull, although my habilitie reche not to the benefites, which
+I have received of you, as also for that beyng the custome to
+honour with like workes them who for nobilitie, riches, wisedome,
+and liberalitie doe shine: I knowe you for riches, and nobilitie,
+not to have many peeres, for wisedome fewe, and for liberalitie
+none. <span class="pagenum"><a name="page17" id=
+"page17"></a>{17}</span></p>
+<h2>THE ARTE OF WARRE</h2>
+<h3>THE TABLE OF CERTAIN PRINCIPALL THINGES, CONTAINED IN THIS
+WOORKE OF MACHIAVEL</h3>
+<p><a href="#warre-1">IN THE FIRSTE BOOKE</a></p>
+<p>Why a good man ought not to exersise warfare as his arte</p>
+<p>Deedes of armes ought to be used privatly in time of peace for
+exersise, and in time of warre for necessetie and renoume</p>
+<p>The strength of an armie is the footemen</p>
+<p>The Romaines renued their Legions and had men in the flower of
+their age</p>
+<p>Whether men of armes ought to be kept</p>
+<p>What is requisete for the preparyng of an armie</p>
+<p>Out of what contrie souldiers ought to be chosen</p>
+<p>Souldiers ought to bee chosen, by thaucthoritie of the Prince,
+of suche men as be his oune subjectes</p>
+<p>The difference of ages, that is to be taken in the chosinge of
+souldiours for the restoring of an olde power and for the making of
+a newe</p>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page18" id="page18"></a>{18}</span>
+<p>The weapons or power that is prepared, of the naturall
+subjectes, of a common weale bringeth profit and not hurte</p>
+<p>What cause letted the Venetians, that they made not a Monarchi
+of the worlde</p>
+<p>How an armie maye bee prepared in the countrie, where were no
+exersise of warre</p>
+<p>The custome that the Romaines used, in the chosyng of their
+souldiours</p>
+<p>The greater number of men is best</p>
+<p>Whether the multitude of armed men ar occation of confusion and
+of dissorder</p>
+<p>How to prohibite, that the Capitaines make no discension</p>
+<p><a href="#warre-2">IN THE SECONDE BOOKE</a></p>
+<p>What armour the antiquetie used</p>
+<p>The occation of the boldenes of the duchemen</p>
+<p>Whiche maner of armyng menne is better either the Duche or
+Romaine fasion</p>
+<p>Diverse examples of late dayes</p>
+<p>An example of Tigran</p>
+<p>Whether the footemen or the horsemen ought to bee estemed
+moste</p>
+<p>The cause whie the Romaines were overcome of the parthians</p>
+<p>What order, or what vertue maketh, that footemen overcum
+horsemen</p>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page19" id="page19"></a>{19}</span>
+<p>Howe the antiquitie exersised their men to learne them to handle
+their weapons</p>
+<p>What the antiquitie estemed moste happie in a common weale</p>
+<p>The maner, of maintainyng the order</p>
+<p>What a legion is, of Grekes called a Falange, and of Frenchemen
+Catterva</p>
+<p>The devision of a legion, and the divers names of orders</p>
+<p>The order of batellraye, and the manner of appoincting the
+battels</p>
+<p>How to order, CCCC.L. men to doo some severall feate</p>
+<p>The fation of a battaile that the Suisers make like a crosse</p>
+<p>What carriages the Capitaines ought to have, and the number of
+carriages requisite to every band of men</p>
+<p>Diverse effectes caused of diverse soundes</p>
+<p>Whereof cometh the utilitie, and the dissorder of the armies
+that are now a daies</p>
+<p>The manner of arminge men</p>
+<p>The number of carriages that men of armes and lighte horsemen
+ought to have</p>
+<p><a href="#warre-3">IN THE THIRDE BOOKE</a></p>
+<p>The greatest dissorder that is used now a dayes in the orderinge
+of an armie</p>
+<p>How the Romaines devided their armie in Hastati, Principi and
+Triarii</p>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page20" id="page20"></a>{20}</span>
+<p>The manner that the Romaines used to order them selves agayne in
+the overthrow</p>
+<p>The custom of the Greekes</p>
+<p>A maine battaile of Suissers</p>
+<p>How manie legions of Romaine Citesens was in an ordinarie
+armie</p>
+<p>The manner how to pitche a fielde to faighte a battaile</p>
+<p>Of what number of faighting men an armie oughte to be</p>
+<p>The description of a battaile that is a faighting</p>
+<p>An exsample of Ventidio faighting against the Parthians</p>
+<p>An example of Epaminondas</p>
+<p>How the Artillerie is unprofitable</p>
+<p>How that a maine battaile of Suissers cannot ocupie more then
+fower pikes</p>
+<p>How the battailes when thei cum to be eight or ten, maye be
+receyved in the verie same space, that received the fyve</p>
+<p>The armes that the Standarde of all tharmie ought to have</p>
+<p>Divers examples of the antiquetie</p>
+<p><a href="#warre-4">IN THE FOWERTH BOOKE</a></p>
+<p>Whether the fronte of the armie ought to bee made large</p>
+<p>To how many thinges respecte ought to be had, in the ordringe of
+an armie</p>
+<p>An example of Scipio</p>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page21" id="page21"></a>{21}</span>
+<p>In what place a Capitain maie order his armie with savegarde not
+to be clene overthrowen</p>
+<p>Aniball and Scipio praised for the orderynge of their armies</p>
+<p>Cartes used of the Asiaticans</p>
+<p>Diverse examples of the antiquitie</p>
+<p>The prudence which the Capitaine ought to use, in the accidence
+that chaunse in faightinge</p>
+<p>What a Capitaine ought to doo, that is the conqueror, or that is
+conquered</p>
+<p>A Capitaine ought not to faighte the battaile, but with
+advauntage, excepte he be constrained</p>
+<p>How to avoide the faightinge of the fielde</p>
+<p>Advertismentes that the Capitaine ought to have</p>
+<p>Speakyng to souldiers helpeth muche to make them to be curagious
+and bolde</p>
+<p>Whether all the armie ought to bee spoken unto, or onely to the
+heddes thereof</p>
+<p><a href="#warre-5">IN THE FYVETH BOOKE</a></p>
+<p>The manner how to leade an armie gowinge thorough suspected
+places, or to incounter the enemie</p>
+<p>An example of Aniball</p>
+<p>Wether any thing oughte to bee commaunded with the voise or with
+the trompet</p>
+<p>The occations why the warres made now a dayes, doo impoverish
+the conquerors as well as the conquered</p>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page22" id="page22"></a>{22}</span>
+<p>Credite ought not to be given to thinges which stand nothinge
+with reason</p>
+<p>The armie ought not to knowe what the Capitaine purposeth to
+doo</p>
+<p>Diverse examples</p>
+<p><a href="#warre-6">IN THE SIXTE BOOKE</a></p>
+<p>The maner how to incampe an armie</p>
+<p>How brode the spaces and the wayes ought to be within the
+campe</p>
+<p>What waye ought to be used when it is requiset to incampe nere
+the enemie</p>
+<p>How the watche and warde ought to be apoincted in the campe, and
+what punishmente they ought to have that doo not their dutie</p>
+<p>How the Romanies prohibited women to be in their armies and
+idell games to be used</p>
+<p>How to incampe accordinge to the nomber of men, and what nomber
+of menne maie suffise againste, what so ever enemie that wer</p>
+<p>How to doo to be assured, of the fideletie of those that are had
+in suspition</p>
+<p>What a Capitaine ought to doo beinge beseged of his enemies</p>
+<p>Example of Coriliano and others</p>
+<p>It is requiset chiefly for a Capitain to kepe his souldiers
+punished and payed</p>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page23" id="page23"></a>{23}</span>
+<p>Of aguries</p>
+<p>Moste excellent advertismentes and pollicies</p>
+<p>The occation of the overthrowe of the Frenchmen at
+Garigliano</p>
+<p><a href="#warre-7">IN THE SEVENTH BOOKE</a></p>
+<p>Cities are strong, either by nature or by industrie</p>
+<p>The maner of fortificacion</p>
+<p>Bulwarkes ought not to be made oute of a towne distante from the
+same</p>
+<p>Example of Genoa</p>
+<p>Of the Countes Catherin</p>
+<p>The fation of percullesies used in Almaine</p>
+<p>Howe the battelmentes of walles were made at the first, and how
+thei are made now adaies</p>
+<p>The provisions that is mete to bee made, for the defence of a
+towne</p>
+<p>Divers pollicies, for the beseginge and defendinge of a toune or
+fortres</p>
+<p>Secrete conveing of letters</p>
+<p>The defence againste a breache</p>
+<p>Generall rules of warre</p>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page25" id="page25"></a>{25}</span>
+<h2><a name="warre-1" id="warre-1">THE FIRST BOOKE</a></h2>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page27" id="page27"></a>{27}</span>
+<p>Forasmuch as I beleve that after death, al men maie be praised
+without charge, al occasion and suspecte of flatterie beyng taken
+awaie, I shal not doubte to praise our Cosimo Ruchellay, whose name
+was never remembred of me without teares, havyng knowen in him
+those condicions, the whiche in a good frende or in a citezien,
+might of his freendes, or of his countrie, be desired: for that I
+doe not knowe what thyng was so muche his, not excepting any thing
+(saving his soule) which for his frendes willingly of him should
+not have been spent: I knowe not what enterprise should have made
+him afraide, where the same should have ben knowen to have been for
+the benefite of his countrie. And I doe painly confesse, not to
+have mette emongest so many men, as I have knowen, and practised
+withal, a man, whose minde was more inflamed then his, unto great
+and magnificent thynges. Nor he lamented not with his frendes of
+any thyng at his death, but because he was borne to die a yong
+manne within his owne house, before he had gotten honour, and
+accordynge to his desire, holpen any manne: for that he knewe, that
+of him coulde not be spoken other, savyng that there should be dead
+a good freende. Yet it resteth not for this, that we, and what so
+ever other that as we did know him, are not able to testifie
+(seeyng his woorkes doe not appere) of his lawdable qualities. True
+it is, that fortune was not for al this, so muche his enemie, that
+it left not some brief <span class="pagenum"><a name="page28" id=
+"page28"></a>{28}</span> record of the readinesse of his witte, as
+doeth declare certaine of his writinges, and settyng foorthe of
+amorous verses, wherin (although he were not in love) yet for that
+he would not consume time in vain, til unto profounder studies
+fortune should have brought him, in his youthfull age he exercised
+himselfe. Whereby moste plainly maie be comprehended, with how
+moche felicitie he did describe his conceiptes, and how moche for
+Poetrie he should have ben estemed, if the same for the ende
+therof, had of him ben exercised. Fortune having therfore deprived
+us from the use of so great a frende, me thinketh there can bee
+founde no other remedie, then as muche as is possible, to seke to
+enjoye the memorie of the same, and to repeate suche thynges as
+hath been of him either wittely saied, or wisely disputed. And for
+as much as there is nothyng of him more freshe, then the reasonyng,
+the whiche in his last daies Signior Fabricio Collonna, in his
+orchard had with him, where largely of the same gentilman were
+disputed matters of warre, bothe wittely and prudently, for the
+moste parte of Cosimo demaunded, I thought good, for that I was
+present there with certain other of our frendes, to bring it to
+memorie, so that reading the same, the frendes of Cosimo, whiche
+thether came, might renewe in their mindes, the remembraunce of his
+vertue: and the other part beyng sorie for their absence, might
+partly learne hereby many thynges profitable, not onely to the life
+of Souldiours, but also to civil mennes lives, which gravely of a
+moste wise man was disputed. Therfore I saie, that Fabricio
+Collonna retournyng out of Lombardie, where longe time greatly to
+his glorie, he had served in the warres the catholike kyng, he
+determined, passyng by Florence, to rest himself certain daies in
+the same citee, to visite the Dukes excellencie, and to see
+certaine gentilmen, whiche in times paste he had been acquainted
+withal. For whiche cause, unto Cosimo it was thought beste to bid
+him into his orchard, not so muche to use his liberalitee, as to
+have occasion to talke with him at leasure, and of him to
+understande and to learne divers thinges, accordyng as of suche a
+man maie bee hoped for, <span class="pagenum"><a name="page29" id=
+"page29"></a>{29}</span> semyng to have accasion to spende a daie
+in reasonyng of suche matters, which to his minde should best
+satisfie him. Then Fabricio came, accordyng to his desire, and was
+received of Cosimo together, with certain of his trustie frendes,
+emongest whome wer Zanoby Buondelmonti, Baptiste Palla, and Luigi
+Allamanni, all young men loved of him and of the very same studies
+moste ardente, whose good qualities, for as muche as every daie,
+and at every houre thei dooe praise themselves, we will omit.
+Fabricio was then accordyng to the time and place honoured, of all
+those honours, that thei could possible devise: But the bankettyng
+pleasures beyng passed, and the tabel taken up, and al preparacion
+of feastinges consumed, the which are sone at an ende in sight of
+greate men, who to honorable studies have their mindes set, the
+daie beyng longe, and the heate muche, Cosimo judged for to content
+better his desire, that it wer well doen, takyng occasion to avoide
+the heate, to bring him into the moste secret, and shadowest place
+of his garden. Where thei beyng come, and caused to sit, some upon
+herbes, some in the coldest places, other upon litle seates which
+there was ordeined, under the shadow of moste high trees, Fabricio
+praiseth the place, to be delectable, and particularly consideryng
+the trees, and not knowyng some of them, he did stande musinge in
+his minde, whereof Cosimo beeyng a ware saied, you have not
+peradventure ben acquainted with some of these sortes of trees: But
+doe not marvell at it, for as muche as there bee some, that were
+more estemed of the antiquitie, then thei are commonly now a daies:
+and he tolde him the names of them, and how Barnardo his
+graundfather did travaile in suche kinde of plantyng: Fabricio
+replied, I thought it shuld be the same you saie, and this place,
+and this studie, made me to remember certaine Princes of the
+Kyngdome of Naples, whiche of these anncient tillage and shadow doe
+delight. And staiyng upon this talke, and somewhat standyng in a
+studdie, saied moreover, if I thought I should not offende, I woud
+tell my opinion, but I beleeve I shall not, commonyng with
+friendes, and to dispute of thynges, and not to <span class=
+"pagenum"><a name="page30" id="page30"></a>{30}</span> condemne
+them. How much better thei should have doen (be it spoken without
+displeasure to any man) to have sought to been like the antiquitie
+in thinges strong, and sharpe, not in the delicate and softe: and
+in those that thei did in the Sunne, not in the shadowe: and to
+take the true and perfecte maners of the antiquitie: not those that
+are false and corrupted: for that when these studies pleased my
+Romaines, my countrie fell into ruin. Unto which Cosimo answered.
+But to avoide the tediousnesse to repeate so many times he saied,
+and the other answered, there shall be onely noted the names of
+those that speakes, without rehersing other.</p>
+<p>Then COSIMO saied, you have opened the waie of a reasoning,
+which I have desired, and I praie you that you will speake withoute
+respecte, for that that I without respecte will aske you, and if I
+demaundyng, or repliyng shall excuse, or accuse any, it shal not be
+to excuse, or accuse, but to understande of you the truth.</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. And I shall be very well contented to tell you that,
+whiche I understand of al the same that you shall aske me, the
+whiche if it shall be true, or no, I wil report me to your
+judgemente: and I will be glad that you aske me, for that I am to
+learne, as well of you in askyng me, as you of me in aunswerynge
+you: for as muche as many times a wise demaunder, maketh one to
+consider many thynges, and to knowe many other, whiche without
+havyng been demaunded, he should never have knowen.</p>
+<p>COSIMO. I will retourne to thesame, that you said first, that my
+graundfather and those your Princes, should have doen more wisely,
+to have resembled the antiquitie in hard thinges, then in the
+delicate, and I will excuse my parte, for that, the other I shall
+leave to excuse for you. I doe not beleve that in his tyme was any
+manne, that so moche detested the livyng in ease, as he did, and
+that so moche was a lover of the same hardenesse of life, whiche
+you praise: notwithstandyng he knewe not how to bee able in
+persone, nor in those of his sonnes to use it, beeyng borne in so
+corrupte a worlde, where one that would digresse from the common
+use, should <span class="pagenum"><a name="page31" id=
+"page31"></a>{31}</span> bee infamed and disdained of every man:
+consideryng that if one in the hottest day of Summer being naked,
+should wallowe hymself upon the Sande, or in Winter in the moste
+coldest monethes upon the snowe, as Diogenes did, he should be
+taken as a foole. If one, (as the Spartans were wonte to doe)
+should nourishe his children in a village, makyng them to slepe in
+the open aire, to go with hedde and feete naked, to washe them
+selves in the colde water for to harden them, to be able to abide
+moche paine, and for to make theim to love lesse life, and to feare
+lesse death, he should be scorned, and soner taken as a wilde
+beast, then as a manne. If there wer seen also one, to nourishe
+himself with peason and beanes, and to despise gold, as Fabricio
+doeth, he should bee praised of fewe, and followed of none: so that
+he being afraied of this present maner of livyng, he left
+thauncient facions, and thesame, that he could with lest admiracion
+imitate in the antiquitie, he did.</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. You have excused it in this parte mooste strongly: and
+surely you saie the truthe: but I did not speake so moche of this
+harde maner of livyng, as of other maners more humaine, and whiche
+have with the life now a daies greater conformitie. The whiche I
+doe not beleve, that it hath been difficulte to bryng to passe unto
+one, who is nombred emongest Princes of a citee: for the provyng
+whereof, I will never seke other, then thexample of the Romaines.
+Whose lives, if thei wer well considred, and thorders of thesame
+common weale, there should therin be seen many thinges, not
+impossible to induce into a cominaltie, so that it had in her any
+good thing.</p>
+<p>COSIMO. What thynges are those, that you would induce like unto
+the antiquitie.</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. To honour, and to reward vertue, not to despise
+povertie, to esteme the maners and orders of warfare, to constrain
+the citezeins to love one an other, to live without sectes, to
+esteme lesse the private, than the publike, and other like thinges,
+that easily might bee with this time accompanied: the which maners
+ar not difficult to bring to passe, when a man should wel consider
+them, and entre <span class="pagenum"><a name="page32" id=
+"page32"></a>{32}</span> therin by due meanes: for asmoche as in
+thesame, the truth so moche appereth, that every common wit, maie
+easely perceive it: which thing, who that ordeineth, doth plant
+trees, under the shadowe wherof, thei abide more happie, and more
+pleasantly, then under these shadowes of this goodly gardeine.</p>
+<p>COSIMO. I will not speake any thyng againste thesame that you
+have saied, but I will leave it to bee judged of these, whom easely
+can judge, and I will tourne my communicacion to you, that is an
+accusar of theim, the whiche in grave, and greate doynges, are not
+followers of the antiquitie, thinkyng by this waie more easely to
+be in my entent satisfied. Therfore, I would knowe of you whereof
+it groweth, that of the one side you condempne those, that in their
+doynges resemble not the antiquitie? Of the other, in the warre,
+whiche is your art, wherin you are judged excellent, it is not
+seen, that you have indevoured your self, to bryng the same to any
+soche ende, or any thyng at all resembled therein the auncient
+maners.</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. You are happened upon the poincte, where I loked: for
+that my talke deserved no other question: nor I desired other: and
+albeit that I could save my self with an easie excuse, not
+withstandyng for my more contentacion, and yours, seyng that the
+season beareth it, I will enter in moche longer reasoning. Those
+men, whiche will enterprise any thyng, ought firste with all
+diligence to prepare theim selves, to be ready and apte when
+occasion serveth, to accomplish that, which thei have determined to
+worke: and for that when the preparacions are made craftely, thei
+are not knowen, there cannot be accused any man of any negligence,
+if firste it be not disclosed by thoccasion: in the which working
+not, is after seen, either that there is not prepared so moche as
+suffiseth, or that there hath not been of any part therof thought
+upon. And for as moche as to me there is not come any occasion to
+be able, to shewe the preparacions made of me, to reduce the
+servise of warre into his auncient orders, if I have not reduced
+it, I cannot be of you, nor of other blamed: I <span class=
+"pagenum"><a name="page33" id="page33"></a>{33}</span> beleve this
+excuse shuld suffise for answere to your accusement.</p>
+<p>COSIMO. It should suffice, when I wer certain, that thoccasion
+were not come.</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. But for that I know, that you maie doubt whether this
+occasion hath been cum, or no, I will largely (when you with
+pacience will heare me) discourse what preparacions are necessary
+first to make, what occasion muste growe, what difficultie doeth
+let, that the preparacions help not, and why thoccasion cannot
+come, and how these things at ones, which some contrary endes, is
+most difficill, and most easie to do.</p>
+<p>COSIMO. You cannot do bothe to me, and unto these other, a thing
+more thankfull then this. And if to you it shall not be tedious to
+speake, unto us it shal never be grevous to heare: but for asmoch
+as this reasonyng ought to be long, I will with your license take
+helpe of these my frendes: and thei, and I praie you of one thyng,
+that is, that you will not bee greved, if some tyme with some
+question of importaunce, we interrupte you.</p>
+<p class="side">Why a good man ought never to use the exercise of
+armes, as his art.</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. I am moste well contented, that you Cosimo with these
+other younge men here, doe aske me: for that I beleve, that
+youthfulnes, will make you lovers of warlike thinges, and more
+easie to beleve thesame, that of me shalbe saied. These other, by
+reason of havyng nowe their hedde white, and for havyng upon their
+backes their bloude congeled, parte of theim are wonte to bee
+enemies of warre, parte uncorrectable, as those, whom beleve, that
+tymes, and not the naughtie maners, constraine men to live thus: so
+that safely aske you all of me, and without respecte: the whiche I
+desire, as well, for that it maie be unto me a little ease, as also
+for that I shall have pleasure, not to leave in your mynde any
+doubt. I will begin at your woordes, where you saied unto me, that
+in the warre, that is my arte, I had not indevoured to bryng it to
+any aunciente ende: whereupon I saie, as this beyng an arte,
+whereby men of no maner of age can live honestly, it cannot bee
+used for an arte, but of a common weale: or of a kyngdome: and the
+one and the other of these, when thei bee well ordeined, will never
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page34" id="page34"></a>{34}</span>
+consente to any their Citezeins, or Subjectes, to use it for any
+arte, nor never any good manne doeth exercise it for his
+particulare arte: for as moche as good he shall never bee judged,
+whom maketh an excersise thereof, where purposing alwaies to gaine
+thereby, it is requisite for hym to be ravenyng, deceiptfull,
+violente, and to have many qualities, the whiche of necessitie
+maketh hym not good: nor those menne cannot, whiche use it for an
+arte, as well the greate as the leaste, bee made otherwise: for
+that this arte doeth not nourishe them in peace. Wherfore thei ar
+constrained either to thinke that there is no peace, or so moche to
+prevaile in the tyme of warre, that in peace thei maie bee able to
+kepe them selves: and neither of these two thoughtes happeneth in a
+good man: for that in mindyng to bee able to finde himself at all
+tymes, dooe growe robberies, violence, slaughters, whiche soche
+souldiours make as well to the frendes, as to the enemies: and in
+mindyng not to have peace, there groweth deceiptes, whiche the
+capitaines use to those, whiche hire them, to the entent the warre
+maie continue, and yet though the peace come often, it happeneth
+that the capitaines beyng deprived of their stipendes, and of their
+licencious livyng, thei erecte an ansigne of adventures, and
+without any pitie thei put to sacke a province. Have not you in
+memorie of your affaires, how that beyng many Souldiours in Italie
+without wages, bicause the warre was ended, thei assembled together
+many companies, and went taxyng the tounes, and sackyng the
+countrie, without beyng able to make any remedie? Have you not red,
+that the Carthagenes souldiours, the first warre beyng ended which
+thei had with the Romaines, under Matho, and Spendio, twoo
+capitaines, rebelliously constituted of theim, made more perillous
+warre to the Carthaginens, then thesame whiche thei had ended with
+the Romaines? In the time of our fathers, Frances Sforza, to the
+entente to bee able to live honourably in the time of peace, not
+only beguiled the Millenars, whose souldiour he was, but he toke
+from them their libertie and became their Prince. Like unto him
+hath been all the other souldiours <span class="pagenum"><a name=
+"page35" id="page35"></a>{35}</span> of Italie whiche have used
+warfare, for their particulare arte, and albeeit thei have not
+through their malignitie becomen Dukes of Milein, so moche the more
+thei deserve to bee blamed: for that although thei have not gotten
+so moch as he, thei have all (if their lives wer seen) sought to
+bring the like thynges to passe. Sforza father of Fraunces,
+constrained Quene Jone, to caste her self into the armes of the
+king of Aragon, havyng in a sodain forsaken her, and in the middest
+of her enemies, lefte her disarmed, onely to satisfie his ambicion,
+either in taxyng her, or in takyng from her the Kyngdome. Braccio
+with the verie same industrie, sought to possesse the kyngdome of
+Naples, and if he had not been overthrowen and slaine at Aquila, he
+had brought it to passe. Like disorders growe not of other, then of
+soche men as hath been, that use the exercise of warfare, for their
+proper arte. Have not you a Proverbe, whiche fortefieth my reasons,
+whiche saieth, that warre maketh Theves, and peace hangeth theim
+up? For as moche as those, whiche knowe not how to live of other
+exercise, and in the same finding not enie man to sustayne theym,
+and havyng not so moche power, to knowe how to reduce theim selves
+together, to make an open rebellion, they are constrayned of
+necessetie to Robbe in the highe waies, and Justice is enforced to
+extinguishe theim.</p>
+<p>COSIMO. You have made me to esteme this arte of warfare almoste
+as nothyng, and I have supposed it the moste excellentes, and moste
+honourableste that hath been used: so that if you declare me it not
+better, I cannot remaine satisfied: For that when it is thesame,
+that you saie, I knowe not, whereof groweth the glorie of Cesar, of
+Pompei, of Scipio, of Marcello, and of so many Romaine Capitaines,
+whiche by fame are celebrated as Goddes.</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. I have not yet made an ende of disputyng al thesame,
+that I purposed to propounde: whiche were twoo thynges, the one,
+that a good manne could not use this exercise for his arte: the
+other, that a common weale or a kingdome well governed, did never
+permitte, that their Subjectes or Citezeins should use it for an
+arte. Aboute the <span class="pagenum"><a name="page36" id=
+"page36"></a>{36}</span> firste, I have spoken as moche as hath
+comen into my mynde: there remaineth in me to speake of the seconde
+where I woll come to aunswere to this your laste question, and I
+saie that Pompey and Cesar, and almoste all those Capitaines,
+whiche were at Rome, after the laste Carthagenens warre, gotte fame
+as valiaunt men, not as good, and those whiche lived before them,
+gotte glorie as valiaunte and good menne: the whiche grewe, for
+that these tooke not the exercise of warre for their arte: and
+those whiche I named firste, as their arte did use it. And so longe
+as the common weale lived unspotted, never any noble Citezein would
+presume, by the meane of soche exercise, to availe thereby in
+peace, breakyng the lawes, spoilyng the Provinces, usurpyng, and
+plaiyng the Tyraunte in the countrie, and in every maner
+prevailyng: nor any of how lowe degree so ever thei were, would goe
+aboute to violate the Religion, confederatyng theim selves with
+private men, not to feare the Senate, or to followe any tirannicall
+insolence, for to bee able to live with the arte of warre in all
+tymes. But those whiche were Capitaines, contented with triumphe,
+with desire did tourne to their private life, and those whiche were
+membres, would be more willyng to laie awaie their weapons, then to
+take them, and every manne tourned to his science, whereby thei
+gotte their livyng: Nor there was never any, that would hope with
+praie, and with this arte, to be able to finde theim selves. Of
+this there maie be made concernyng Citezeins, moste evidente
+conjecture, by the ensample of Regolo Attillio, who beyng Capitain
+of the Romaine armies in Affrica, and havyng as it wer overcome the
+Carthegenens, he required of the Senate, licence to retourne home,
+to kepe his possessions, and told them, that thei were marde of his
+housbandmen. Whereby it is more clere then the Sunne, that if
+thesame manne had used the warre as his arte, and by meanes
+thereof, had purposed to have made it profitable unto him, havyng
+in praie so many Provinces, he would not have asked license, to
+returne to kepe his feldes: for as moche as every daie he might
+otherwise, have gotten moche more, then the value of al those
+possessions: but bicause <span class="pagenum"><a name="page37" id=
+"page37"></a>{37}</span> these good men and soche as use not the
+warre for their arte, will not take of thesame any thing then
+labour, perilles, and gloris, when thei are sufficiently glorious,
+thei desire to returne home, and to live of their owne science.
+Concernyng menne of lowe degree, and common souldiours, to prove
+that thei kepte the verie same order, it doeth appeare that every
+one willingly absented theim selves from soche exercise, and when
+thei served not in the warre, thei would have desired to serve, and
+when thei did serve, thei would have desired leave not to have
+served: whiche is wel knowen through many insamples, and
+inespecially seeyng how emonge the firste privileges, whiche the
+Romaine people gave to their Citezeins was, that thei should not be
+constrained against their willes, to serve in the warres. Therefore
+Rome so long as it was well governed, whiche was untill the commyng
+of Graccus, it had not any Souldiour that would take this exercise
+for an arte, and therefore it had fewe naughtie, and those few wer
+severely punished. Then a citee well governed, ought to desire,
+that this studie of warre, be used in tyme of peace for exercise,
+and in the time of warre, for necessitie and for glorie: and to
+suffer onely the common weale to use it for an arte, as Rome did,
+and what so ever Citezein, that hath in soche exercise other ende,
+is not good, and what so ever citee is governed otherwise, is not
+well ordeined.</p>
+<p>COSIMO. I remain contented enough and satisfied of thesame,
+whiche hetherto you have told, and this conclusion pleaseth me
+verie wel whiche you have made, and as muche as is loked for
+touching a common welth, I beleve that it is true, but concerning
+Kinges, I can not tell nowe, for that I woulde beleve that a Kinge
+would have about him, whome particularly should take suche exercise
+for his arte.</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. A kingdome well ordred ought moste of all to avoide
+the like kinde of men, for only thei, are the destruction of their
+king, and all together ministers of tiranny, and alledge me not to
+the contrarie anie presente kingdome, for that I woll denie you all
+those to be kingdomes well ordered, bicause the kingdomes whiche
+have <span class="pagenum"><a name="page38" id=
+"page38"></a>{38}</span> good orders, give not their absolute
+Empire unto their king, saving in the armies, for as much as in
+this place only, a quicke deliberation is necessarie, and for this
+cause a principall power ought to be made. In the other affaires,
+he ought not to doe any thing without councell, and those are to be
+feared, which councell him, leaste he have some aboute him which in
+time of peace desireth to have warre bicause they are not able
+without the same to live, but in this, I wilbe a little more large:
+neither to seke a kingdome altogether good, but like unto those
+whiche be nowe a daies where also of a king those ought to be
+feared, whiche take the warre for theire art, for that the strength
+of armies without any doubte are the foote menne: so that if a king
+take not order in suche wise, that his men in time of peace may be
+content to returne home, and to live of their owne trades, it will
+follow of necessitie, that he ruinate: for that there is not found
+more perilous men, then those, whiche make the warre as their arte:
+bicause in such case, a king is inforsed either alwaies to make
+warre, or to paie them alwaies, or else to bee in perill, that they
+take not from him his kingdome. To make warre alwaies, it is not
+possible: to paie them alwaies it can not be: see that of
+necessitie, he runneth in peril to lese the state. The Romaines (as
+I have saide) so long as they were wise and good, would never
+permitte, that their Citizeins should take this exercise for their
+arte, although they were able to nurrishe them therin alwaies, for
+that that alwaies they made warre: but to avoide thesame hurte,
+whiche this continuall exercise might doe them, seyng the time did
+not varie, they changed the men, and from time to time toke such
+order with their legions, that in xv. yeres alwaies, they renewed
+them: and so thei had their men in the floure of their age, that is
+from xviij. to xxxiij. yeres, in which time the legges, the handes,
+and the yes answere the one the other, nor thei tarried not till
+there strengthe should decaie, and there naghtines increase, as it
+did after in the corrupted times. For as muche as Octavian first,
+and after Tiberius, minding more their own proper power, then the
+publicke profite, began to <span class="pagenum"><a name="page39"
+id="page39"></a>{39}</span> unarme the Romaine people, to be able
+easely to commaunde them, and to kepe continually those same armies
+on the frontries of the Empire: and bicause also they judged those,
+not sufficient to kepe brideled the people and Romaine Senate, they
+ordeined an armie called Pretoriano, which laie harde by the walles
+of Rome, and was as a rocke on the backe of the same Citie. And for
+as much as then thei began frely to permitte, that suche men as
+were apoincted in suche exercises, should use the service of warre
+for their arte, streight waie the insolence of theim grewe, that
+they became fearful unto the Senate, and hurtefull to the Emperour,
+whereby ensued suche harme, that manie were slaine thorough there
+insolensie: for that they gave, and toke awaie the Empire, to whome
+they thought good. And some while it hapned, that in one self time
+there were manie Emperours, created of divers armies, of whiche
+thinges proceded first the devision of the Empire, and at laste the
+ruine of the same. Therefore kinges ought, if thei wil live safely,
+to have there souldiours made of men, who when it is time to make
+warre, willingly for his love will go to the same, and when the
+peace cometh after, more willingly will returne home. Whiche
+alwaies wilbe, when thei shalbe men that know how to live of other
+arte then this: and so they ought to desire, peace beyng come, that
+there Prince doo tourne to governe their people, the gentilmen to
+the tending of there possessions, and the common souldiours to
+their particular arte, and everie one of these, to make warre to
+have peace, and not to seke to trouble the peace, to have
+warre.</p>
+<p>COSIMO. Truely this reasonyng of yours, I thinke to bee well
+considered, notwithstanding beyng almost contrarie to that, whiche
+till nowe I have thought, my minde as yet doeth not reste purged of
+all doubte, for as muche as I see manie Lordes and gentelmen, to
+finde them selves in time of peace, thorough the studies of warre,
+as your matches bee, who have provision of there princes, and of
+the cominaltie. I see also, almost al the gentelmen of armes,
+remaine with neir provision, I see manie souldiours lie in garison
+of Cities <span class="pagenum"><a name="page40" id=
+"page40"></a>{40}</span> and fortresses, so that my thinkes, that
+there is place in time of peace, for everie one.</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. I doe not beleve that you beleve this, that in time of
+peace everie man may have place, bicause, put case that there
+coulde not be brought other reason, the small number, that all they
+make, whiche remaine in the places alledged of you, would answer
+you. What proporcion have the souldiours, whiche are requiset to
+bee in the warre with those, whiche in the peace are occupied? For
+as much as the fortreses, and the cities that be warded in time of
+peace, in the warre are warded muche more, unto whome are joyned
+the souldiours, whiche kepe in the fielde, whiche are a great
+number, all whiche in the peace be putte awaie. And concerning the
+garde of states, whiche are a small number, Pope July, and you have
+shewed to everie man, how muche are to be feared those, who will
+not learne to exercise any other art, then the warre, and you have
+for there insolence, deprived them from your garde, and have placed
+therin Swisers, as men borne and brought up under lawes, and chosen
+of the cominaltie, according to the true election: so that saie no
+more, that in peace is place for everie man. Concerning men at
+armes, thei al remaining in peace with their wages, maketh this
+resolution to seme more difficulte: notwithstandyng who considereth
+well all, shall finde the answere easie, bicause this manner of
+keping men of armes, is a corrupted manner and not good, the
+occasion is, for that they be men, who make thereof an arte, and of
+them their should grow every daie a thousande inconveniencies in
+the states, where thei should be, if thei were accompanied of
+sufficient company: but beyng fewe, and not able by them selves to
+make an armie, they cannot often doe suche grevous hurtes,
+neverthelesse they have done oftentimes: as I have said of Frances,
+and of Sforza his father, and of Braccio of Perugia: so that this
+use of keping men of armes, I doe not alowe, for it is a corrupte
+maner, and it may make great inconveniencies.</p>
+<p>COSIMO. Woulde you live without them? or keping them, how would
+you kepe them?</p>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page41" id="page41"></a>{41}</span>
+<p class="side">A kinge that hath about him any that are to much
+lovers of warre, or to much lovers of peace shal cause him to
+erre.</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. By waie of ordinaunce, not like to those of the king
+of Fraunce: for as muche as they be perilous, and insolent like
+unto ours, but I would kepe them like unto those of the auncient
+Romaines, whom created their chivalry of their own subjectes, and
+in peace time, thei sente them home unto their houses, to live of
+their owne trades, as more largely before this reasoning ende, I
+shal dispute. So that if now this part of an armie, can live in
+such exercise, as wel when it is peace, it groweth of the corrupt
+order. Concerning the provisions, which are reserved to me, and to
+other capitaines, I saie unto you, that this likewise is an order
+moste corrupted: for as much as a wise common weale, ought not to
+give such stipendes to any, but rather thei ought to use for
+Capitaines in the warre, their Citezeins, and in time of peace to
+will, that thei returne to their occupations. Likewise also, a wise
+king either ought not to give to suche, or giving any, the occasion
+ought to be either for rewarde of some worthy dede, or else for the
+desire to kepe suche a kinde of man, as well in peace as in warre.
+And bicause you alledged me, I will make ensample upon my self, and
+saie that I never used the warre as an arte, for as muche as my
+arte, is to governe my subjectes, and to defende them, and to be
+able to defende them, to love peace, and to know how to make warre,
+and my kinge not so muche to rewarde and esteeme me, for my
+knowledge in the warre, as for the knowledge that I have to councel
+him in peace. Then a king ought not to desire to have about him,
+any that is not of this condicion if he be wise, and prudently
+minde to governe: for that, that if he shal have about him either
+to muche lovers of peace, or to much lovers of warre, they shall
+make him to erre. I cannot in this my firste reasoning, and
+according to my purpose saie more, and when this suffiseth you not,
+it is mete, you seke of them that may satisfie you better. You maie
+now verie well understand, how difficulte it is to bringe in use
+the auncient maners in the presente warres, and what preparations
+are mete for a wise man to make, and what occasions ought to be
+loked for, to be able to execute it. But by and by, you shall
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page42" id="page42"></a>{42}</span>
+know these things better, if this reasoning make you not werie,
+conferring what so ever partes of the auncient orders hath ben, to
+the maners nowe presente.</p>
+<p>COSIMO. If we desired at the first to here your reason of these
+thinges, truly thesame whiche hetherto you have spoken, hath
+doubled our desire: wherefore we thanke you for that we have hard,
+and the rest, we crave of you to here.</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. Seyng that it is so your pleasure, I will begin to
+intreate of this matter from the beginning, to the intent it maye
+be better understode, being able by thesame meane, more largely to
+declare it. The ende of him that wil make warre, is to be able to
+fight with every enemy in the fielde and to be able to overcum an
+armie. To purpose to doe this, it is convenient to ordeine an
+hoost. To ordein an hoost, their must be found menne, armed,
+ordered, and as well in the small, as in the great orders
+exercised, to knowe howe to kepe araie, and to incampe, so that
+after bringing them unto the enemie, either standing or marching,
+they maie know how to behave themselves valiantly. In this thing
+consisteth all the industrie of the warre on the lande, whiche is
+the most necessarie, and the most honorablest, for he that can wel
+order a fielde against the enemie, the other faultes that he should
+make in the affaires of warre, wilbe borne with: but he that
+lacketh this knowledge, although that in other particulars he be
+verie good, he shal never bring a warre to honor: for as muche as a
+fielde that thou winnest, lesing? img 94 doeth cancell all other
+thy evill actes: so like wise lesing it, all thinges well done of
+thee before, remaine vaine. Therfore, beyng necessarie first to
+finde the menne, it is requiset to come to the choise of them. They
+whiche unto the warre have given rule, will that the menne be
+chosen out of temperate countries, to the intente they may have
+hardines, and prudence, for as muche as the hote countrey, bredes
+prudente men and not hardy, the colde, hardy, and not prudente.
+This rule is good to be geven, to one that were prince of all the
+world, bicause it is lawfull for him to choose men out of those
+places, whiche he shall thinke beste. But minding to give a rule,
+that every one may use, it is mete to <span class=
+"pagenum"><a name="page43" id="page43"></a>{43}</span> declare,
+that everie common weale, and every kingdome, ought to choose their
+souldiours out of their owne countrie, whether it be hote, colde,
+or temperate: for that it is scene by olde ensamples, how that in
+every countrie with exercise, their is made good souldiours:
+bicause where nature lacketh, the industry supplieth, the which in
+this case is worthe more, then nature, and taking them in other
+places, you shal not have of the choise, for choise is as much to
+saie, as the best of a province, and to have power to chuse those
+that will not, as well as those that wil serve. Wherfore, you muste
+take your choise in those places, that are subjecte unto you, for
+that you cannot take whome you liste, in the countries that are not
+yours, but you muste take suche as will goe with you.</p>
+<p>COSIMO. Yet there maie bee of those, that will come, taken and
+lefte, and therefore, thei maie be called chosen.</p>
+<p class="side">Oute of what Countrie is best to chuse Souldiours
+to make a good election.</p>
+<p>FABUICIO. You saie the truthe in a certaine maner, but consider
+the faultes, whiche soche a chosen manne hath in himselfe, for that
+also many times it hapneth, that he is not a chosen manne. For
+those that are not thy subjectes, and whiche willyngly doe serve,
+are not of the beste, but rather of the worste of a Province, for
+as moche as if any be sclanderous, idell, unruly, without Religion,
+fugetive from the rule of their fathers, blasphemours, Dise
+plaiers, in every condicion evill brought up, bee those, whiche
+will serve, whose customes cannot be more contrarie, to a true and
+good servise: Albeit, when there bee offered unto you, so many of
+soche men, as come to above the nomber, that you have appoincted,
+you maie chuse them: but the matter beyng naught, the choise is not
+possible to be good: also, many times it chaunceth, that thei be
+not so many, as will make up the nomber, whereof you have nede, so
+that beyng constrained to take them al, it commeth to passe, that
+thei cannot then bee called chosen men, but hired Souldiours. With
+this disorder the armies of Italie, are made now a daies, and in
+other places, except in Almaine, bicause there thei doe not hire
+any by commaundemente of the Prince, but accordyng to the will of
+them, that are disposed to serve. <span class="pagenum"><a name=
+"page44" id="page44"></a>{44}</span> Then consider now, what maners
+of those aunciente armies, maie bee brought into an armie of men,
+put together by like waies.</p>
+<p>COSIMO. What waie ought to bee used then?</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. The same waie that I saied, to chuse them of their
+owne subjectes, and with the auethoritie of the Prince.</p>
+<p>COSMO. In the chosen, shall there bee likewise brought in any
+auncient facion?</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. You know well enough that ye: when he that should
+commaunde theim, were their Prince, or ordinarie lorde, whether he
+were made chief, or as a Citezein, and for the same tyme Capitaine,
+beyng a common weale, otherwise it is harde to make any thyng
+good.</p>
+<p>COSIMO. Why?</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. I will tell you a nane: For this time I will that this
+suffise you, that it cannot be wrought well by other waie.</p>
+<p class="side">Whether it be better to take menne oute of townes
+or out of the countrie to serve.</p>
+<p>COSIMO. Having then to make this choyse of men in their owne
+countries, whether judge you that it be better to take them oute of
+the citie, or out of the countrie?</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. Those that have written of such matters, doe all
+agree, that it is best to chuse them out of the countrie, being men
+accustomed to no ease, nurished in labours, used to stonde in the
+sunne, to flie the shadow, knowing how to occupy the spade, to make
+a diche, to carrie a burden, and to bee without any deceite, and
+without malisiousnes. But in this parte my opinion should be, that
+beyng two sortes of souldiours, on foote, and on horsebacke, that
+those on foote, should be chosen out of the countrie, and those on
+horseback, oute of the Cities.</p>
+<p class="side">Of what age Souldiours ought to bee chosen.</p>
+<p>COSIMO. Of what age would you choose them?</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. I would take them, when I had to make a newe armie,
+from xvii. to xl. yeres: when it were made alredy, and I had to
+restore them, of xvii. alwaies.</p>
+<p>COSIMO. I doe not understonde well this distinction.</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. I shall tell you: when I should ordaine an hooste to
+make warre, where were no hooste alredy, it <span class=
+"pagenum"><a name="page45" id="page45"></a>{45}</span> should be
+necessarie to chuse all those men, which were most fitte and apte
+for the warre, so that they were of servisable age, that I might
+bee able to instructe theim, as by me shalbe declared: but when I
+would make my choise of menne in places, where a powre were alredy
+prepared, for suppliyng of thesame, I would take them of xvii.
+yeres: for as much as the other of more age be alredy chosen and
+apoincted.</p>
+<p>COSIMO. Then woulde you prepare a power like to those whiche is
+in our countrie?</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. Ye truly, it is so that I would arme them, Captaine
+them, exercise and order them in a maner, whiche I cannot tell, if
+you have ordred them so.</p>
+<p>COSIMO. Then do you praise the keping of order?</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. Wherefore would you that I should dispraise it?</p>
+<p>COSIMO. Bicause many wise menne have alwaies blamed it.</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. You speake against all reason, to saie that a wise man
+blameth order, he maie bee well thought wise, and be nothyng
+so.</p>
+<p>COSIMO. The naughtie profe, which it hath alwaies, maketh us to
+have soche opinion thereof.</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. Take hede it be not your fault, and not the kepyng of
+order, the whiche you shall knowe, before this reasonyng be
+ended.</p>
+<p>COSIMO. You shall doe a thyng moste thankfull, yet I will saie
+concernyng thesame, that thei accuse it, to the entente you maie
+the better justifie it. Thei saie thus, either it is unprofitable,
+and we trustyng on the same, shall make us to lese our state, or it
+shall be verteous, and by thesame meane, he that governeth may
+easely deprive us thereof. Thei alledge the Romaines, who by meane
+of their owne powers, loste their libertie. Thei alledge the
+Venicians, and the Frenche king, whiche Venicians, bicause thei
+will not be constrained, to obeie one of their owne Citezeins, use
+the power of straungers: and the Frenche kyng hath disarmed his
+people, to be able more easely to commaunde them, but thei whiche
+like not the ordinaunces, feare moche more the unprofitablenesse,
+that thei suppose maie insue <span class="pagenum"><a name="page46"
+id="page46"></a>{46}</span> thereby, then any thyng els: the one
+cause whiche thei allege is, bicause thei are unexperte: The other,
+for that thei have to serve par force: for asmoche as thei saie,
+that the aged bee not so dissiplinable, nor apte to learne the
+feate of armes, and that by force, is doen never any thyng
+good.</p>
+<p class="side">By what meanes souldiours bee made bolde and
+experte.</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. All these reasons that you have rehearsed, be of men,
+whiche knoweth the thyng full little, as I shall plainly declare.
+And firste, concernyng the unprofitablenesse, I tell you, that
+there is no service used in any countrie more profitable, then the
+service by the Subjectes of thesame nor thesame service cannot bee
+prepared, but in this maner: and for that this nedeth not to be
+disputed of, I will not lese moche tyme: bicause al thensamples of
+auncient histores, make for my purpose, and for that thei alledge
+the lacke of experience, and to use constraint: I saie how it is
+true, that the lacke of experience, causeth lacke of courage, and
+constrainte, maketh evill contentacion: but courage, and experience
+thei are made to gette, with the maner of armyng theim, exercisyng,
+and orderyng theim, as in proceadyng of this reasonyng, you shall
+heare. But concernyng constrainte, you ought to understande, that
+the menne, whiche are conducted to warfare, by commaundement of
+their Prince, thei ought to come, neither altogether forced, nor
+altogether willyngly, for as moche as to moche willyngnesse, would
+make thinconveniencies, where I told afore, that he should not be a
+chosen manne, and those would be fewe that would go: and so to
+moche constraint, will bring forth naughtie effectes. Therefore, a
+meane ought to be taken, where is not all constrainte, nor all
+willingnesse: but beyng drawen of a respecte, that thei have
+towardes their Prince, where thei feare more the displeasure of
+thesame, then the presente paine: and alwaies it shall happen to be
+a constrainte, in maner mingled with willingnesse, that there
+cannot growe soche evil contentacion, that it make evill effectes.
+Yet I saie not for all this, that it cannot bee overcome, for that
+full many tymes, were overcome the Romaine armies, and the armie of
+Aniball was overcome, so that it is seen, that an armie cannot be
+ordained so sure, that it cannot be overthrowen. <span class=
+"pagenum"><a name="page47" id="page47"></a>{47}</span> Therefore,
+these your wise men, ought not to measure this unprofitablenesse,
+for havyng loste ones, but to beleve, that like as thei lese, so
+thei maie winne, and remeadie the occasion of the losse: and when
+thei shall seke this thei shall finde, that it hath not been
+through faulte of the waie, but of the order, whiche had not his
+perfeccion and as I have saied, thei ought to provide, not with
+blamyng the order, but with redressing it, the whiche how it ought
+to be doen, you shall understande, from poinct to poinct.
+Concernyng the doubte, leste soche ordinaunces, take not from thee
+thy state, by meane of one, whiche is made hedde therof, I answere,
+that the armure on the backes of citezeins, or subjectes, given by
+the disposicion of order and lawe, did never harme, but rather
+alwaies it doeth good, and mainteineth the citee, moche lenger in
+suretie, through helpe of this armure, then without. Rome continued
+free CCCC. yeres, and was armed. Sparta viii.C. Many other citees
+have been disarmed, and have remained free, lesse then xl. For as
+moche as citees have nede of defence, and when thei have no defence
+of their owne, thei hire straungers, and the straunges defence,
+shall hurte moche soner the common weale, then their owne: bicause
+thei be moche easier to be corrupted, and a citezein that becommeth
+mightie, maie moche soner usurpe, and more easely bryng his purpose
+to passe, where the people bee disarmed, that he seketh to
+oppresse: besides this, a citee ought to feare a greate deale more,
+twoo enemies then one. Thesame citee that useth straungers power,
+feareth at one instant the straunger, whiche it hireth, and the
+Citezein: and whether this feare ought to be, remember thesame,
+whiche I rehearsed a little a fore of Frances Sforza. That citee,
+whiche useth her own proper power, feareth no man, other then onely
+her owne Citezein. But for all the reasons that maie bee saied,
+this shall serve me, that never any ordeined any common weale, or
+Kyngdome, that would not thinke, that thei theim selves, that
+inhabite thesame, should with their sweardes defende it.</p>
+<p>And if the Venicians had been so wise in this, as in all
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page48" id="page48"></a>{48}</span>
+their other orders, thei should have made a new Monarchie in the
+world, whom so moche the more deserve blame, havyng been armed of
+their first giver of lawes: for havyng no dominion on the lande,
+thei wer armed on the sea, where thei made their warre vertuously,
+and with weapons in their handes, increased their countrie. But
+when thei were driven to make warre on the lande, to defende
+Vicenza, where thei ought to have sent one of their citezens, to
+have fought on the lande, thei hired for their capitain, the
+Marques of Mantua: this was thesame foolishe acte, whiche cut of
+their legges, from climyng into heaven, and from enlargyng their
+dominion: and if thei did it, bicause thei beleved that as thei
+knewe, how to make warre on the Sea, so thei mistrusted theim
+selves, to make it on the lande, it was a mistruste not wise: for
+as moche as more easely, a capitain of the sea, whiche is used to
+fight with the windes, with the water, and with men, shall become a
+Capitaine of the lande, where he shall fight with men onely, then a
+capitaine of the lande, to become a capitain of the sea. The
+Romanies knowyng how to fight on the lande, and on the sea, commyng
+to warre, with the Carthaginens, whiche were mightie on the sea,
+hired not Grekes, or Spaniardes, accustomed to the sea, but thei
+committed thesame care, to their Citezeins, whiche thei sent on the
+land, and thei overcame. If thei did it, for that one of their
+citezeins should not become a tiraunt, it was a feare smally
+considered: for that besides thesame reasons, whiche to this
+purpose, a little afore I have rehearsed, if a Citezein with the
+powers on the sea, was never made a tiraunt in a citee standyng in
+the sea, so moche the lesse he should have been able to accomplishe
+this with the powers of the lande: whereby thei ought to se that
+the weapons in the handes of their Citezeins, could not make
+tirantes: but the naughtie orders of the governement, whiche maketh
+tirannie in a citee, and thei havyng good governement, thei nede
+not to feare their owne weapons: thei toke therefore an unwise
+waie, the whiche hath been occasion, to take from them moche
+glorie, and moche felicitie. Concernyng the erroure, whiche the
+kyng of Fraunce committeth <span class="pagenum"><a name="page49"
+id="page49"></a>{49}</span> not kepyng instructed his people in the
+warre, the whiche those your wise men alledge for ensample, there
+is no man, (his particulare passions laied a side) that doeth not
+judge this fault, to be in thesame kyngdome, and this negligence
+onely to make hym weake. But I have made to greate a digression,
+and peradventure am come out of my purpose, albeit I have doen it
+to aunswere you, and to shewe you, that in no countrie, there can
+bee made sure foundacion, for defence in other powers but of their
+owne subjectes: and their own power, cannot be prepared otherwise,
+then by waie of an ordinaunce, nor by other waie, to induce the
+facion of an armie in any place, nor by other meane to ordein an
+instruction of warfare. If you have red the orders, whiche those
+first kynges made in Rome, and inespecially Servio Tullo, you shall
+finde that the orders of the Classi is no other, then an
+ordinaunce, to bee able at a sodaine, to bryng together an armie,
+for defence of thesame citee. But let us retourne to our choise, I
+saie againe, that havyng to renewe an olde order, I would take them
+of xvii. havyng to make a newe armie, I would take them of all
+ages, betwene xvii. and xl. to be able to warre straight waie.</p>
+<p class="side">Of what science soldiours ought to bee chosen.</p>
+<p>COSIMO. Would you make any difference, of what science you would
+chuse them?</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. The aucthours, which have written of the arte of
+warre, make difference, for that thei will not, that there bee
+taken Foulers, Fishers, Cookes, baudes, nor none that use any
+science of voluptuousnesse. But thei will, that there bee taken
+Plowmen, Ferrars, Smithes, Carpenters, Buchars, Hunters, and soche
+like: but I would make little difference, through conjecture of the
+science, concernyng the goodnesse of the man, notwithstandyng, in
+as moche as to be able with more profite to use theim, I would make
+difference, and for this cause, the countrie men, which are used to
+till the grounde, are more profitable then any other. Next to whom
+be Smithes, Carpentars, Ferrars, Masons, wherof it is profitable to
+have enough: for that their occupacions, serve well in many
+thynges: beyng a thyng verie good to have a souldiour, of whom maie
+be had double servise.</p>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page50" id="page50"></a>{50}</span>
+<p class="side">Howe to chose a souldiour.</p>
+<p>COSIMO. Wherby doe thei knowe those, that be, or are not
+sufficient to serve.</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. I will speake of the maner of chusing a new
+ordinaunce, to make an armie after, for that parte of this matter,
+doeth come also to be reasoned of, in the election, which should be
+made for the replenishing, or restoring of an old ordinaunce. I
+saie therfore, that the goodnesse of one, whiche thou muste chuse
+for a Souldiour, is knowen either by experience, thorough meane of
+some of his worthy doynges, or by conjecture. The proofe of vertue,
+cannot be founde in men whiche are chosen of newe, and whiche never
+afore have ben chosen, and of these are founde either fewe or none,
+in the ordinaunce that of newe is ordeined. It is necessarie
+therefore, lackyng this experience, to runne to the conjecture,
+whiche is taken by the yeres, by the occupacion, and by the
+personage: of those two first, hath been reasoned, there remaineth
+to speake of the thirde. And therefore, I saie how some have
+willed, that the souldiour bee greate, emongest whom was Pirrus.
+Some other have chosen theim onely, by the lustinesse of the body,
+as Cesar did: whiche lustinesse of bodie and mynde, is conjectured
+by the composicion of the members, and of the grace of the
+countenaunce: and therefore, these that write saie, that thei would
+have the iyes lively and cherefull, the necke full of sinowes, the
+breaste large, the armes full of musculles, the fingers long,
+little beallie, the flankes rounde, the legges and feete drie:
+whiche partes are wont alwayes to make a manne nimble and strong,
+whiche are twoo thynges, that in a souldiour are sought above al
+other. Regarde ought to bee had above all thynges, to his customes,
+and that in hym bee honestie, and shame: otherwise, there shall bee
+chosen an instrumente of mischief, and a beginnyng of corrupcion:
+for that lette no manne beleve that in the dishoneste educacion,
+and filthy minde, there maie take any vertue, whiche is in any
+parte laudable. And I thinke it not superfluous, but rather I
+beleve it to bee necessarie, to the entente you maie the better
+understande, the importaunce of this chosen, to tell <span class=
+"pagenum"><a name="page51" id="page51"></a>{51}</span> you the
+maner that the Romaine Consuls, in the beginnyng of their rule,
+observed in the chosing of their Romain legions: in the whiche
+choise of men, bicause thesame legions were mingled with old
+souldiours and newe, consideryng the continuall warre thei kepte,
+thei might in their choise procede, with the experince of the old,
+and with the conjecture of the newe: and this ought to be noted,
+that these men be chosen, either to serve incontinently, or to
+exercise theim incontinently, and after to serve when nede should
+require. But my intencion is to shew you, how an armie maie be
+prepared in the countrie, where there is no warlike discipline: in
+which countrie, chosen men cannot be had, to use them straight
+waie, but there, where the custome is to levie armies, and by meane
+of the Prince, thei maie then well bee had, as the Romaines
+observed, and as is observed at this daie emong the Suisers:
+bicause in these chosen, though there be many newe menne, there be
+also so many of the other olde Souldiours, accustomed to serve in
+the warlike orders, where the newe mingled together with the olde,
+make a bodie united and good, notwithstanding, that themperours
+after, beginning the staciones of ordinarie Souldiours, had
+appoincted over the newe souldiours, whiche were called tironi, a
+maister to exercise theim, as appeareth in the life of Massimo the
+Emperour. The whiche thyng, while Rome was free, not onely in the
+armies, but in the citee was ordeined: and the exercises of warre,
+beyng accustomed in thesame, where the yong men did exercise, there
+grewe, that beyng chosen after to goe into warre, thei were so used
+in the fained exercise of warfare, that thei could easely worke in
+the true: but those Emperours havyng after put doune these
+exercises, thei wer constrained to use the waies, that I have
+shewed you. Therefore, comyng to the maner of the chosen Romain, I
+saie that after the Romain Consulles (to whom was appoincted the
+charge of the warre) had taken the rule, myndyng to ordeine their
+armies, for that it was the custome, that either of them should
+have twoo Legions of Romaine menne, whiche was the strength of
+their armies, thei created xxiiii. <span class="pagenum"><a name=
+"page52" id="page52"></a>{52}</span> Tribunes of warre, and thei
+appoincted sixe for every Legion, whom did thesame office, whiche
+those doe now a daies, that we call Conestables: thei made after to
+come together, all the Romain men apte to beare weapons and thei
+put the Tribunes of every Legion, seperate the one from the other.
+Afterwarde, by lot thei drewe the Tribes, of whiche thei had firste
+to make the chosen, and of thesame Tribe thei chose fower of the
+best, of whiche was chosen one of the Tribunes, of the first
+Legion, and of the other three was chosen, one of the Tribunes of
+the second Legion, of the other two there was chosen one of the
+Tribunes of the third, and the same last fell to the fowerth
+Legion. After these iiij, thei chose other fower, of which, first
+one was chosen of the Tribunes of the seconde Legion, the seconde
+of those of the thirde, the thirde of those of the fowerth, the
+fowerth remained to the first. After, thei chose other fower, the
+first chose the thirde, the second the fowerth, the thirde the
+fiveth, the fowerth remained to the seconde: and thus thei varied
+successively, this maner of chosyng, so that the election came to
+be equall, and the Legions wer gathered together: and as afore we
+saied, this choise might bee made to use straighte waie, for that
+thei made them of men, of whom a good parte were experiensed in the
+verie warfare in deede, and all in the fained exercised, and thei
+might make this choise by conjecture, and by experience. But where
+a power must be ordeined of newe, and for this to chuse them out of
+hande, this chosen cannot be made, saving by conjecture, whiche is
+taken by consideryng their ages and their likelinesse.</p>
+<p>COSIMO. I beleve all to be true, as moche as of you hath been
+spoken: but before that you procede to other reasonyng, I woll aske
+of you one thing, which you have made me to remember: saiyng that
+the chosen, that is to be made where men were not used to warre,
+ought to be made by conjecture: for asmoche as I have heard some
+men, in many places dispraise our ordinaunce, and in especially
+concernyng the nomber, for that many saie, that there ought to bee
+taken lesse nomber, whereof is gotten this profite, that thei shall
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page53" id="page53"></a>{53}</span>
+be better and better chosen, and men shal not be so moche diseased,
+so that there maie bee given them some rewarde, whereby thei maie
+bee more contented, and better bee commaunded, whereof I would
+understande in this parte your opinion, and whether you love better
+the greate nomber, than the little, and what waie you would take to
+chuse theim in the one, and in the other nomber.</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. Without doubte it is better, and more necessary, the
+great nomber, then the little: but to speake more plainly, where
+there cannot be ordeined a great nomber of men, there cannot be
+ordeined a perfect ordinaunce: and I will easely confute all the
+reasons of them propounded. I saie therefore firste, that the lesse
+nomber where is many people, as is for ensample Tuscane, maketh not
+that you have better, nor that the chosen be more excellent, for
+that myndyng in chosing the menne, to judge them by experience,
+there shall be founde in thesame countrie moste fewe, whom
+experience should make provable, bothe for that fewe hath been in
+warre, as also for that of those, mooste fewe have made triall,
+whereby thei might deserve to bee chosen before the other: so that
+he whiche ought in like places to chuse, it is mete he leave a
+parte the experience, and take them by conjecture. Then being
+brought likewise into soche necessitie, I would understande, if
+there come before me twentie young men of good stature, with what
+rule I ought to take, or to leave any: where without doubte, I
+beleve that every man will confesse, how it is lesse errour to take
+them al, to arme theim and exercise theim, beyng not able to knowe,
+whiche of theim is beste, and to reserve to make after more
+certaine chosen, when in practisyng theim with exercise, there
+shall be knowen those of moste spirite, and of moste life: which
+considered, the chusing in this case a fewe, to have them better,
+is altogether naught.</p>
+<p>Concernyng diseasing lesse the countrie, and men, I saie that
+the ordinaunce, either evill or little that it bee, causeth not any
+disease, for that this order doeth not take menne from any of their
+businesse, it bindeth them not, that thei cannot go to doe any of
+their affaires: for that it bindeth <span class="pagenum"><a name=
+"page54" id="page54"></a>{54}</span> them onely in the idell daies,
+to assemble together, to exercise them, the whiche thyng doeth not
+hurt, neither to the countrie, nor to the men, but rather to yong
+men it shall bryng delite: For that where vilie on the holy daies
+thei stande idell in tipplyng houses, thei will go for pleasure to
+those exercises, for that the handlyng of weapons, as it is a
+goodly spectacle, so unto yong men it is pleasaunt. Concernyng to
+bee able to paie the lesse nomber, and for this to kepe theim more
+obediente, and more contented, I answere, how there cannot be made
+an ordinaunce of so fewe, whiche maie be in maner continually
+paied, where thesame paiment of theirs maie satisfie them. As for
+ensample, if there were ordeined a power of v. thousande men, for
+to paie them after soche sorte, that it might be thought
+sufficient, to content them, it shal bee convenient to give theim
+at least, ten thousaunde crounes the moneth: first, this nomber of
+men are not able to make an armie, this paie is intolerable to a
+state, and of the other side, it is not sufficiente to kepe men
+contented, and bounde to be able to serve at al times: so that in
+doyng this, there shall be spent moche, and a small power kept,
+whiche shall not be sufficient to defend thee, or to doe any
+enterprise of thine. If thou shouldest give theim more, or
+shouldest take more, so moche more impossibilitie it should be, for
+thee to paie theim: if thou shouldest give them lesse, or should
+take lesse, so moche the lesse contentacion should be in them, or
+so moche the lesse profite thei shal bring thee. Therfore, those
+that reason of makyng an ordinaunce, and whilest thei tary at home
+to paie them, thei reason of a thing either impossible, or
+unprofitable, but it is necessarie to paie them, when thei are
+taken up to be led to the warre: albeit, though soche order should
+somewhat disease those, in time of peace, that are appoincted in
+thesame, which I se not how, there is for recompence all those
+benefites, whiche a power brynges, that is ordeined in a countrie:
+for that without thesame, there is nothyng sure. I conclude, that
+he that will have the little nomber, to be able to paie them, or
+for any of the other causes alledged of you, doeth not <span class=
+"pagenum"><a name="page55" id="page55"></a>{55}</span> understande,
+for that also it maketh for my opinion, that every nomber shall
+deminishe in thy handes, through infinite impedimentes, whiche men
+have: so that the little nomber shall tourne to nothing: again
+havyng thordinaunce greate, thou maiest at thy pleasure use fewe of
+many, besides this, it must serve thee in deede, and in reputacion
+and alwaies the great nomber shall give thee moste reputacion. More
+over, makyng the ordinaunce to kepe menne exercised, if thou
+appoincte a fewe nomber of men in many countries, the handes of men
+bee so farre a sonder, the one from the other, that thou canst not
+without their moste grevous losse, gather them together to exercise
+them, and without this exercise, the ordinaunce is unprofitable, as
+hereafter shall be declared.</p>
+<p>COSIMO. It suffiseth upon this my demaunde, that whiche you have
+saied: but I desire now, that you declare me an other doubt. Thei
+saie, that soche a multitude of armed men, will make confusion,
+discension and disorder in the countrie where thei are.</p>
+<p class="side">How to provid againste soche inconveniences as
+souldiours maie cause.</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. This is an other vaine opinion, the cause wherof, I
+shall tell you: soche as are ordeined to serve in the warres, maie
+cause disorder in twoo maners, either betwene them selves, or
+against other, whiche thinges moste easely maie be withstode, where
+the order of it self, should not withstande it: for that concernyng
+the discorde emong theim selves, this order taketh it waie, and
+doeth not nourishe it, for that in orderyng them, you give them
+armour and capitaines. If the countrie where you ordein them, bee
+so unapte for the warre, that there are not armours emong the men
+of thesame, and that thei bee so united, that thei have no heddes,
+this order maketh theim moche fearser against the straunger, but it
+maketh them not any thyng the more disunited, for that men well
+ordered, feare the lawe beyng armed, as well as unarmed, nor thei
+can never alter, if the capitaines, which you give them, cause not
+the alteracion, and the waie to make this, shall be tolde now: but
+if the countrie where you ordein them, be warlike and disunited,
+this order onely shal be occasion to unite them: bicause this order
+giveth them <span class="pagenum"><a name="page56" id=
+"page56"></a>{56}</span> armours profitable for the warre, and
+heddes, extinguishers of discencion: where their owne armours bee
+unprofitable for the warres, and their heddes nourishers of
+discorde. For that so sone as any in thesame countrie is offended,
+he resorteth by and by to his capitain to make complaint, who for
+to maintain his reputacion, comforteth hym to revengement not to
+peace. To the contrary doeth the publike hed, so that by this
+meanes, thoccasion of discorde is taken awaie, and the occasion of
+union is prepared, and the provinces united and effeminated, gette
+utilitie, and maintain union: the disunited and discencious, doe
+agree, and thesame their fearsnesse, which is wont disordinately to
+worke, is tourned into publike utilitie. To minde to have them, to
+doe no hurt against other, it ought to bee considered, that thei
+cannot dooe this, except by meane of the heddes, whiche governe
+them. To will that the heddes make no disorder, it is necessarie to
+have care, that thei get not over them to much auctoritie. And you
+must consider that this auctoritie, is gotten either by nature, or
+by accidente: and as to nature, it behoveth to provide, that he
+which is boren in one place, be not apoincted to the men billed in
+the same, but be made hedde of those places, where he hath not any
+naturall aquaintance: and as to the accident, the thing ought to be
+ordeined in suche maner, that every yere the heddes maie be changed
+from governement to goverment: for as muche as the continuall
+auctoritie over one sorte of menne, breedeth among them so muche
+union, that it maie turne easely to the prejudice of the Prince:
+whiche permutations howe profitable they be to those who have used
+theim, and hurtefull to them that have not observed theim, it is
+well knowen by the kingdome of the Assirians, and by the Empire of
+the Romaines: where is seene, that the same kingdome indured a M.
+yeres without tumulte, and without any Civill warre: whiche
+preceded not of other, then of the permutations, whiche from place
+to place everie yere thesame Capitaines made, unto whome were
+apoincted the charge of the Armies. Nor for any other occasion in
+the Romaine Empire, after the bloud of Cesar was extinguished,
+there grewe so many civill warres, <span class="pagenum"><a name=
+"page57" id="page57"></a>{57}</span> betwene the Capitaines of the
+hostes, and so many conspiracies of the forsaied capitaines against
+the Emperours, not onely kepyng continually still those capitaines
+alwayes in one governement. And if in some of those firste
+Emperoures, of those after, whom helde the Empire with reputacion,
+as Adriane, Marcus, Severus, and soche like, there had been so
+moche foresight, that thei had brought this custome of chaungyng
+the capitaines in thesame Empire, without doubte it should have
+made theim more quiete, and more durable: For that the Capitaines
+should have had lesse occasion to make tumultes, the Emperours
+lesse cause to feare, and the senate in the lackes of the
+successions, should have had in the election of the Emperour, more
+aucthoritie, and by consequence should have been better: but the
+naughtie custome, either for ignoraunce, or through the little
+diligence of menne, neither for the wicked, nor good ensamples, can
+be taken awaie.</p>
+<p>COSIMO. I cannot tell, if with my questionyng, I have as it were
+led you out of your order, bicause from the chusyng of men, we be
+entred into an other matter, and if I had not been a little before
+excused, I should thinke to deserve some reprehension.</p>
+<p class="side">The nomber of horsemen, that the Romanies chose for
+a Legion, and for a Consailes armie.</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. Let not this disquiete you, for that all this
+reasonyng was necessary, myndyng to reason of the ordinaunce, the
+which beyng blamed of many, it was requsite to excuse it, willyng
+to have this first parte of chusyng men to be alowed. But now
+before I discend to the other partes, I will reason of the choise
+of men on horsebacke. Of the antiquitie, these were made of the
+moste richeste, havyng regard bothe to the yeres, and to the
+qualitie of the man, and thei chose CCC. for a Legion, so that the
+Romain horse, in every Consulles armie, passed not the nomber of
+vi. C.</p>
+<p>COSIMO. Would you make an ordinaunce of hors, to exercise them
+at home, and to use their service when nede requires?</p>
+<p class="side">The choosing and ordering of horsemen, that is to
+be observed at this present.</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. It is most necessary, and it cannot be doen otherwise,
+minding to have the power, that it be the owne <span class=
+"pagenum"><a name="page58" id="page58"></a>{58}</span> proper, and
+not to purpose to take of those, which make thereof an art.</p>
+<p>COSIMO. How would you choose them?</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. I would imitate the Romans, I would take of the
+richest, I would give them heads or chief Captains, in the same
+manner, as nowadays to other is given, and I would arm them and
+exercise them.</p>
+<p>COSIMO. To these should it be well to give some provision?</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. Yea marie, but so much only as is necessary to keep
+the horse, for as much as bringing to thy subjects expenses, they
+might justly complain of thee, therefore it should be necessary, to
+pay them their charges of their horse.</p>
+<p>COSIMO. What number would you make? and how would you arme
+them?</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. You pass into another matter. I will tell you in
+convenient place, which shall be when I have told you, how footmen
+ought to be armed, and how a power of men is prepared, for a day of
+battle.</p>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page59" id="page59"></a>{59}</span>
+<h2><a name="warre-2" id="warre-2">THE SECOND BOOKE</a></h2>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page61" id="page61"></a>{61}</span>
+<p class="side">Howe the Romaines armed their souldiers and what
+weapons thei used.</p>
+<p><img width="10%" src="images/image-i.png" alt="I" /> beleeve
+that it is necessarye, men being founde, to arme them, and minding
+to doo this, I suppose that it is a needefull thing to examine,
+what armoure the antiquitie used, and of the same to chose the
+best. The Romanes devided their foote men in heavie and lighte
+armed: Those that were light armed, they called by the name of
+Veliti: Under this name were understoode all those that threwe with
+Slinges, shot with Crossebowes, cast Dartes, and they used the most
+parte of them for their defence, to weare on their heade a Murion,
+with a Targaet on their arme: they fought out of the orders, and
+farre of from the heavie armed, which did weare a head peece, that
+came downe to their shoulders, a Corselet, which with the tases
+came downe to the knees, and they had the legges and armes, covered
+with greaves, and vambraces, with a targaet on the left arme, a
+yarde and a halfe long, and three quarters of a yarde brode, whiche
+had a hoope of Iron upon it, to bee able to sustaine a blowe, and
+an other under, to the intente, that it being driven to the earth,
+it should not breake: for to offende, they had girte on their left
+flanke a swoorde, the length of a yearde and a naile, on their
+righte side, a Dagger: they had a darte in every one of their
+handes, the which they called Pilo, and in the beginning of the
+fight, they threwe those at the enemie. This was the ordering, and
+importaunce of the armours of the Romanes, by the which
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page62" id="page62"></a>{62}</span>
+they possessed all the world. And although some of these ancient
+writers gave them, besides the foresayde weapons, a staffe in their
+hande like unto a Partasen, I cannot tell howe a heavy staff, may
+of him that holdeth a Targaet be occupied: for that to handle it
+with both hands, the Targaet should bee an impediment, and to
+occupye the same with one hande, there can be done no good
+therewith, by reason of the weightynesse thereof: besides this, to
+faight in the strong, and in the orders with such long kinde of
+weapon, it is unprofitable, except in the first front, where they
+have space enough, to thrust out all the staffe, which in the
+orders within, cannot be done, for that the nature of the battaile
+(as in the order of the same, I shall tell you) is continually to
+throng together, which although it be an inconvenience, yet in so
+doing they fear lesse, then to stande wide, where the perill is
+most evident, so that all the weapons, which passe in length a
+yarde and a halfe, in the throng, be unprofitable: for that, if a
+man have the Partasen, and will occupye it with both handes, put
+case that the Targaet let him not, he can not hurte with the same
+an enemy, whom is upon him, if he take it with one hande, to the
+intent to occupy also the Targaet, being not able to take it, but
+in the middest, there remayneth so much of the staff behind, that
+those which are behinde him, shall let him to welde it. And whether
+it were true, either that the Romans had not this Partasen, or that
+having it, did little good withal, read all the battailes, in the
+historye thereof, celebrated of Titus Livius, and you shall see in
+the same, most seldom times made mencion of Partasens, but rather
+alwaies he saieth, that the Dartes being thrown, they laid their
+hands on their sweardes. Therefore I will leave this staffe, and
+observe, concerning the Romanes, the swoorde for to hurte, and for
+defense the Targaet, with the other armours aforesaide.</p>
+<p class="side">A brave and a terrible thing to the enemies.</p>
+<p>The Greekes did not arme them selves so heavyly, for their
+defense, as the Romans dyd: but for to offend the enemies, they
+grounded more on their staves, then on their swoordes, and in
+especiallye the Fallangye of Macedonia, <span class=
+"pagenum"><a name="page63" id="page63"></a>{63}</span> which used
+staves, that they called Sarisse, seven yardes and a halfe long,
+with the which they opened the rankes of their enemies, and they
+keept the orders in their Fallangy. And although some writers saie,
+that they had also the Targaet, I can not tell (by the reasons
+aforesayde) howe the Sarisse and they coulde stande together.
+Besides this, in the battaile that Paulus Emilius made, with Persa
+king of Macedonia, I do not remember, that there is made any
+mention of Targaettes, but only of the Sarisse, and of the
+difficultie that the Romane armie had, to overcome them: so that I
+conjecture, that a Macedonicall Fallange, was no other wise, then
+is now a dayes a battaile of Suizzers, the whiche in their Pikes
+have all their force, and all their power. The Romanes did garnish
+(besides the armours) the footemen with feathers; the whiche
+thinges makes the fight of an armie to the friendes goodly, to the
+enemies terrible. The armour of the horsemen, in the same first
+Romane antiquitie, was a rounde Targaet, and they had their head
+armed, and the rest unarmed: They had a swoorde and a staffe, with
+an Iron head onely before, long and small: whereby it happened,
+that they were not able to staye the Targaet, and the staffe in the
+incountring broke, and they through being unarmed, were subjecte to
+hurtes: after, in processe of time, they armed them as the
+footemen, albeit they used the Targaette muche shorter, square, and
+the staffe more stiffe, and with twoo heades, to the entente, that
+breaking one of the heades, they mighte prevaile with the other.
+With these armours as well on foote, as on horsebacke, the Romanes
+conquered all the worlde, and it is to be beleeved, by the fruiet
+thereof, whiche is seene, that they were the beste appointed
+armies, that ever were: and Titus Livius in his history, doeth
+testifie verye often, where comming to comparison with the enemies
+armies, he saieth: But the Romanes, by vertue, by the kinde of
+their armours, and piactise in the service of warre, were
+superiours: and therfore I have more particularly reasoned of the
+armours of conquerours, then of the conquered. But nowe mee thikes
+good, to reason onelye of the manner of arming <span class=
+"pagenum"><a name="page64" id="page64"></a>{64}</span> men at this
+presente. Footemen have for their defence, a breast plate, and for
+to offende, a launce, sixe yardes and three quarters long, which is
+called a pike, with a swoorde on their side, rather rounde at the
+poinct, then sharpe. This is the ordinarie arming of footemen nowe
+a dayes, for that fewe there be, which have their legges armed, and
+their armes, the heade none, and those fewe, beare insteede of a
+Pike, a Halberde, the staffe whereof as you know, is twoo yardes
+and a quarter long, and it hath the Iron made like an axe. Betweene
+them, they have Harkebutters, the which with the violence of the
+fire, do the same office, which in olde time the slingers did, and
+the Crosseboweshoters. This maner of arming, was found out by the
+Dutchemen, inespeciallye of Suizzers, whom being poore, and
+desirous to live free, they were, and be constrayned to fight, with
+the ambition of the Princes of Almaine, who being riche, were able
+to keepe horse, the which the same people could not do for
+povertye. Wherby it grewe, that being on foote, minding to defende
+them selves from the enemies, that were on horsebacke, it behooveth
+them to seeke of the aunciente orders, and to finde weapons, whiche
+from the furie of horses, should defende them: This necessitie hath
+made either to be maintayned, or to bee founde of them the
+aunciente orders, without whiche, as everye prudente man affirmeth,
+the footemen is altogether unprofitable. Therefore, they tooke for
+their weapon the Pike, a moste profitable weapon, not only to
+withstande horses, but to overcome them: and the Dutchemen have by
+vertue of these weapons, and of these orders, taken such boldnesse,
+that XV. or XX. thousande of them, will assault the greatest nomber
+of horse that maye be: and of this, there hath beene experience
+enough within this XXV. yeres. And the insamples of their vertue
+hath bene so mightie, grounded upon these weapons, and these
+orders, that sence King Charles passed into Italie, everye nation
+hath imitated them: so that the Spanish armies, are become into
+most great reputation.</p>
+<p>COSIMO. Which maner of arming, do you praise moste, either these
+Dutchemens, or the auncient Romanes?</p>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page65" id="page65"></a>{65}</span>
+<p class="side">Whether the Romanes maner in arming of men, be
+better then the arming of men, that is used nowe a daies.</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. The Romane without doubte, and I will tell the
+commoditie, and the discommoditie of the one, and the other. The
+Dutche footemen, are able to withstande, and overcome the horses:
+they bee moste speedie to marche, and to be set in araye, being not
+laden with armours: of the other part, they be subjecte to all
+blowes, both farre of, and at hande: because they be unarmed, they
+bee unprofitable unto the battaile on the lande, and to everye
+fighte, where is strong resistaunce. But the Romanes withstoode,
+and overcame the horses, as well as the Dutchemen, they were safe
+from blowes at hande, and farre of, being covered with armours:
+they were also better able to charge, and better able to sustaine
+charges, having Targaettes: they might more aptly in the preace
+fight with the swoorde, then these with the Pike, and though the
+Dutchemen have likewise swoordes, yet being without Targaets, they
+become in suche case unprofitable: The Romanes might safelye
+assault townes, having their bodies cleane covered with armour, and
+being better able to cover themselves with their Targaettes. So
+that they had no other incommoditie, then the waightynesse of their
+armours, and the pain to cary them: the whiche thinges thei
+overcame, with accustomyng the body to diseases, and with hardenyng
+it, to bee able to indure labour. And you knowe, how that in
+thinges accustomed, men suffer no grief. And you have to understand
+this, that the footemen maie be constrained, to faight with
+footemen, and with horse, and alwaies those be unprofitable, whiche
+cannot either sustain the horses, or beyng able to sustain them,
+have notwithstandyng neede to feare the footemen, whiche be better
+armed, and better ordeined then thei. Now if you consider the
+Duchemen, and the Romaines, you shall finde in the Duchemen
+activitie (as we have said) to overcome the horses, but greate
+dissavauntage, when thei faighte with menne, ordeined as thei them
+selves are, and armed as the Romaines were: so that there shall be
+this advauntage more of the one, then of thother, that the Romaines
+could overcome the men, and the horses, the Duchemen onely the
+horses.</p>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page66" id="page66"></a>{66}</span>
+<p>COSIMO. I would desire, that you would come to some more
+particulare insample, whereby wee maie better understande.</p>
+<p class="side">An ensample whiche proveth that horsemen with
+staves, cannot prevaile against footemen with Pikes, and what great
+advauntage the armed have, againste the unarmed. The victory of
+Carminvola against the Duchemen.</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. I saie thus, that you shall finde in many places of
+our histories, the Romain footemen to have overcome innumerable
+horses, and you shall never finde, that thei have been overcome of
+men on foote, for default that thei have had in their armour, or
+thorowe the vantage that the enemie hath had in the armours: For
+that if the maner of their armyng, should have had defaulte, it had
+been necessarie, that there should folowe, the one of these twoo
+thynges, either that findyng soche, as should arme theim better
+then thei, thei should not have gone still forwardes, with their
+conquestes, or that thei should have taken the straungers maners,
+and should have left their owne, and for that it folowed not in the
+one thing, nor in the other, there groweth that ther maie be easely
+conjectured, that the maner of their armyng, was better then
+thesame of any other. It is not yet thus happened to the Duchemen,
+for that naughtie profe, hath ben seen made them, when soever thei
+have chaunsed to faight with men on foote prepared, and as
+obstinate as thei, the whiche is growen of the vauntage, whiche
+thesame have incountred in thenemies armours. Philip Vicecounte of
+Milaine, being assaulted of xviii. thousande Suizzers, sent against
+theim the Counte Carminvola, whiche then was his capitaine. He with
+sixe thousande horse, and a fewe footemen, went to mete with them,
+and incounteryng theim, he was repulsed with his moste greate
+losse: wherby Carminvola as a prudente man, knewe straight waie the
+puisaunce of the enemies weapons, and how moche against the horses
+thei prevailed, and the debilitie of the horses, againste those on
+foote so appoincted: and gatheryng his men together again, he went
+to finde the Suizzers, and so sone as he was nere them, he made his
+men of armes, to a light from their horse, and in thesame mane,
+faightyng with them he slue theim all, excepte three thousande: the
+whiche seyng them selves to consume, without havyng reamedy,
+castyng their weapons to the grounde, yelded.</p>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page67" id="page67"></a>{67}</span>
+<p>COSIMO. Whereof cometh so moche disavauntage?</p>
+<p class="side">The battailes when thei are a faightyng, doe throng
+together.</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. I have a little afore tolde you, but seyng that you
+have not understoode it, I will rehearse it againe. The Duchemen
+(as a little before I saied unto you) as it were unarmed, to
+defende themselves, have to offende, the Pike and the swearde: thei
+come with these weapons, and with their orders to finde the
+enemies, whom if thei bee well armed, to defende theim selves, as
+were the menne of armes of Carminvola, whiche made theim a lighte
+on foote, thei come with the sweard, and in their orders to find
+them, and have no other difficultie, then to come nere to the
+Suizzers, so that thei maie reche them with the sweard, for that so
+sone as thei have gotten unto them, thei faight safely: for asmoche
+as the Duch man cannot strike thenemie with the Pike, whom is upon
+him, for the length of the staffe, wherefore it is conveniente for
+hym, to put the hande to the sweard, the whiche to hym is
+unprofitable, he beyng unarmed, and havyng against hym an enemie,
+that is all armed. Whereby he that considereth the vantage, and the
+disavantage of the one, and of the other, shall see, how the
+unarmed, shall have no maner of remeady, and the overcommyng of the
+firste faight, and to passe the firste poinctes of the Pikes, is
+not moche difficulte, he that faighteth beyng well armed: for that
+the battailes go (as you shall better understande, when I have
+shewed you, how thei are set together) and incounteryng the one the
+other, of necessitie thei thrust together, after soche sorte, that
+thei take the one thother by the bosome, and though by the Pikes
+some bee slaine, or overthrowen, those that remain on their feete,
+be so many, that thei suffice to obtaine the victorie. Hereof it
+grewe, that Carminvola overcame them, with so greate slaughter of
+the Suizzers, and with little losse of his.</p>
+<p>COSIMO. Consider that those of Carminvola, were men of armes,
+whom although thei wer on foote, thei were covered all with stele,
+and therefore thei wer able to make the profe thei did: so that me
+thinkes, that a power ought to be armed as thei, mindyng to make
+the verie same profe.</p>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page68" id="page68"></a>{68}</span>
+<p>FABRICIO. If you should remember, how I tolde you the Romaines
+were armed, you would not thynke so: for as moche as a manne, that
+hath the hedde covered with Iron, the breaste defended of a
+Corselet, and of a Targaet, the armes and the legges armed, is
+moche more apt to defende hymself from the Pike, and to enter emong
+them, then a man of armes on foote. I wil give you a little of a
+late ensample. There wer come out of Cicelie, into the kyngdome of
+Naples, a power of Spaniardes, for to go to finde Consalvo, who was
+besieged in Barlet, of the Frenchemen: there made against theim
+Mounsier de Vhigni, with his menne of armes, and with aboute fower
+thousande Duchemen on foote: The Duchemen incountered with their
+Pikes lowe, and thei opened the power of the Spaniardes: but those
+beyng holp, by meane of their bucklers and of the agiletie of their
+bodies, mingled togethers with the Duchemen, so that thei might
+reche them with the swearde, whereby happened the death, almoste of
+all theim, and the victorie to the Spaniardes. Every man knoweth,
+how many Duchemen were slaine in the battaile of Ravenna, the
+whiche happened by the verie same occasion: for that the Spanishe
+souldiours, got them within a swerdes length of the Duche
+souldiours, and thei had destroied them all, if of the Frenche
+horsemen, the Duchemen on foote, had not been succored:
+notwithstandyng, the Spaniardes close together, brought themselves
+into a safe place. I conclude therefore, that a good power ought
+not onely to be able, to withstande the horses, but also not to
+have fear of menne on foote, the which (as I have many tymes saied)
+procedeth of the armours, and of the order.</p>
+<p class="side">How to arme men, and what weapons to appoincte
+theim, after the Romaine maner, and Duche facion.</p>
+<p>COSIMO. Tell therefore, how you would arme them?</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. I would take of the Romaine armours, and of the
+Duchemennes weapons, and I would that the one haulfe, should bee
+appoincted like the Romaines, and the other haulfe like the
+Duchemen: for that if in sixe thousande footemen (as I shall tell
+you a little hereafter) I should have thre thousande men with
+Targaettes, after the Romain maner, and two thousande Pikes, and a
+thousand <span class="pagenum"><a name="page69" id=
+"page69"></a>{69}</span> Harkebutters, after the Duche facion, thei
+should sufice me: for that I would place the Pikes, either in the
+fronte of the battaile, or where I should feare moste the horses,
+and those with the Targaetes and sweardes, shall serve me to make a
+backe to the Pikes, and to winne the battaile, as I shall shewe
+you: so that I beleeve, that a power thus ordayned, should overcome
+at this daye, any other power.</p>
+<p>COSIMO. This which hath beene saide, sufficeth concerning
+footemen, but concerning horsemen, wee desire to understand which
+you thinke more stronger armed, either ours, or the antiquitie.</p>
+<p class="side">The victorie of Lucullo, against Tiarane king of
+Armenia; For what pupose horsemen be most requisite.</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. I beleeve that in these daies, having respect to the
+Saddelles bolstered, and to the stiroppes not used of the
+antiquitie, they stande more stronglye on horsebacke, then in the
+olde time: I thinke also they arme them more sure: so that at this
+daye, a bande of men of armes, paysing very muche, commeth to be
+with more difficultie withstoode, then were the horsemen of old
+time: notwithstanding for all this, I judge, that there ought not
+to be made more accompt of horses, then in olde time was made, for
+that (as afore is sayde) manye times in our dayes, they have with
+the footemen receyved shame and shall receyve alwayes, where they
+incounter, with a power of footemen armed, and ordered, as above
+hath bene declared. Tigrane king of Armenia, had againste the armie
+of the Romanes, wherof was Capitayne Lucullo, CL. thousande
+horsemen, amongest the whiche, were many armed, like unto our men
+of armes, which they called Catafratti, and of the other parte, the
+Romanes were about sixe thousande, with xxv. thousand footemen: so
+that Tigrane seeing the armie of the enemies, saide: these be
+horses enough for an imbassage: notwithstanding, incountering
+together, he was overthrowen: and he that writeth of the same
+fighte, disprayseth those Catafratti, declaring them to be
+unprofitable; for that hee sayeth, because they had their faces
+covered, they had muche a doe to see, and to offende the enemie,
+and they falling, being laden with armour coulde not rise up again,
+nor welde themselves in <span class="pagenum"><a name="page70" id=
+"page70"></a>{70}</span> any maner to prevaile. I say therefore,
+that those people or kingdomes, whiche shall esteeme more the power
+of horses, then the power of footemen be alwaies weake, and
+subjecte to all ruine, as by Italie hath been seene in our time,
+the whiche hath beene taken, ruinated, and over run with
+straungers, through not other fault, then for having taken litle
+care, of the service on foote, and being brought the souldiours
+therof, all on horsebacke. Yet there ought to bee had horses, but
+for seconde, and not for firste foundaion of an armie: for that to
+make a discovery, to over run and to destroy the enemies countrie,
+and to keepe troubled and disquieted, the armie of the same, and in
+their armours alwayes, to let them of their victuals, they are
+necessary, and most profitable: but concerning for the daye of
+battaile, and for the fighte in the fielde, whiche is the
+importaunce of the warre, and the ende, for which the armies are
+ordeined, they are more meeter to follow the enemie being
+discomfited then to do any other thing which in the same is to be
+done, and they bee in comparison, to the footemen much
+inferiour.</p>
+<p>COSIMO. There is happened unto mee twoo doubtes, the one, where
+I knowe, that the Parthians dyd not use in the warre, other then
+horses, and yet they devided the worlde with the Romanes: the other
+is, that I woulde that you should shewe, howe the horsemen can be
+withstoode of footemen, and wherof groweth the strength of these,
+and the debilitie of those?</p>
+<p class="side">The reason why footmen are able to overcome
+horsemen; How footmen maie save them selves from horsemen; The
+exercise of Souldiours, ought to be devided into thre partes; What
+exercises the auncient common weales used to exercise their youth
+in, and what commoditie insued thereby; How the antiquitie, learned
+their yong soldiours, to handell their weapons; What thantiquitie
+estemed moste happie in a common weale; Mouster Maisters; for
+thexercisyng of yong men unexperte.</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. Either I have tolde you, or I minded to tell you, howe
+that my reasoning of the affaires of warre, ought not to passe the
+boundes of Europe: when thus it is, I am not bounde unto you, to
+make accompte of the same, which is used in Asia, yet I muste saye
+unto you thus, that the warring of the Parthians, was altogether
+contrarye, to the same of the Romanes: for as muche as the
+Parthians, warred all on horsebacke, and in the fight, they
+proceeded confusedlye, and scattered, and it was a maner of fighte
+unstable, and full of uncertaintie. The Romanes were (it maye be
+sayde) almoste al on foote, and thei fought close <span class=
+"pagenum"><a name="page71" id="page71"></a>{71}</span> together and
+sure, and thei overcame diversly, the one the other, according to
+the largenesse, or straightnesse of the situation: for that in this
+the Romaines were superiours, in thesame the Parthians, whom might
+make greate proofe, with thesame maner of warryng, consideryng the
+region, which thei had to defende, the which was moste large: for
+as moche as it hath the sea coaste, distant a thousande miles, the
+rivers thone from thother, twoo or three daies journey, the tounes
+in like maner and the inhabitauntes few: so that a Romaine armie
+heavie and slowe, by meanes of their armoures, and their orders,
+could not over run it, without their grevous hurt (those that
+defended it, being on horsebacke mooste expedite) so that thei were
+to daie in one place, and to morowe distaunt fiftie miles. Hereof
+it grewe, that the Parthians might prevaile with their chivalrie
+onely, bothe to the ruine of the armie of Crassus, and to the
+perill of thesame, of Marcus Antonius: but I (as I have told you)
+doe not intende in this my reasonyng, to speake of the warfare out
+of Europe, therfore I will stand upon thesame, whiche in times
+past, the Romaines ordained, and the Grekes, and as the Duchemen
+doe now adaies. But let us se to the other question of yours, where
+you desire to understande, what order, or what naturall vertue
+makes, that the footemen overcome the horsmen. And I saie unto you
+first that the horses cannot go, as the footmen in every place:
+Thei are slower then the footemen to obeie, when it is requisite to
+alter the order: for as moche, as if it be nedefull, either goyng
+forward, to turne backwarde, or tournyng backwarde, to go forwarde,
+or to move themselves standing stil, or goyng to stand still,
+without doubt, the horsemen cannot dooe it so redilie as the
+footemen: the horsemen cannot, being of some violence, disordained,
+returne in their orders, but with difficultie, although thesame
+violence cease, the whiche the footemen dooe moste easely and
+quickly. Besides this, it happeneth many tymes, that a hardie manne
+shall be upon a vile horse, and a coward upon a good, whereby it
+foloweth, that this evill matchyng of stomackes, makes disorder.
+Nor no man doeth marvell, that <span class="pagenum"><a name=
+"page72" id="page72"></a>{72}</span> a bande of footemenne,
+susteineth all violence of horse for that a horse is a beaste, that
+hath sence, and knoweth the perilles, and with an ill will, will
+enter in them: and if you consider, what force maketh theim go
+forwarde, and what holdeth them backwarde, you shall se without
+doubt thesame to be greater, whiche kepeth them backe, then that
+whiche maketh them go forwardes: For that the spurre maketh theim
+go forwarde, and of the other side, either the swearde, or the
+Pike, kepeth theim backe: so that it hath been seen by the olde,
+and by the late experience, a bande of footemen to bee moste safe,
+ye, invinsible for horses. And if you should argue to this, that
+the heate, with whiche thei come, maketh theim more furious to
+incounter who that would withstande them, and lesse to regard the
+Pike, then the spurre: I saie, that if the horse so disposed, begin
+to see, that he must run upon the poincte of the Pike, either of
+himself, he wil refrain the course so that so sone as he shall
+feele himself pricked, he will stande still atones, or beeyng come
+to theim, he will tourne on the right, or on the lefte hande.
+Whereof if you wil make experience, prove to run a horse against a
+walle: you shall finde fewe, with what so ever furie he come
+withall, will strike against it. Cesar havyng in Fraunce, to
+faighte with the Suizzers, a lighted, and made every manne a light
+on foote, and to avoide from the araies, the horses, as a thyng
+more meete to flie, then to faight. But notwithstandyng these
+naturall impedimentes, whiche horses have, thesame Capitaine,
+whiche leadeth the footemen, ought to chuse waies, whiche have for
+horse, the moste impedimentes that maie bee, and seldome tymes it
+happeneth, but that a manne maie save hymself, by the qualitie of
+the countrie: for that if thou marche on the hilles, the situacion
+doeth save thee from thesame furie, whereof you doubt, that thei go
+withail in the plain, fewe plaines be, whiche through the tillage
+or by meanes of the woddes, doe not assure thee: for that every
+hillocke, every bancke, although it be but small, taketh awaie
+thesame heate, and every culture where bee Vines, and other trees,
+lettes the horses: and if thou come <span class="pagenum"><a name=
+"page73" id="page73"></a>{73}</span> to battaile, the very same
+lettes happeneth, that chaunceth in marchyng: for as moche as every
+little impedemente, that the horse hath, abateth his furie. One
+thyng notwithstandyng, I will not forgette to tell you, how the
+Romaines estemed so moche their orders, and trusted so moche to
+their weapons, that if thei shuld have had, to chuse either so
+rough a place to save theim selves from horses, where thei should
+not have been able, to raunge their orders, or a place where thei
+should have nede, to feare more of horses, but ben able to deffende
+their battaile, alwaies thei toke this, and left that: but bicause
+it is tyme, to passe to the armie, having armed these souldiours,
+accordyng to the aunciente and newe use, let us see what exercises
+the Romaines caused theim make, before the menne were brought to
+the battaile. Although thei be well chosen, and better armed, thei
+ought with moste greate studie be exercised, for that without this
+exercise, there was never any souldiour good: these exercises ought
+to be devided into three partes, the one, for to harden the bodie,
+and to make it apte to take paines, and to bee more swifter and
+more readier, the other, to teach them, how to handell their
+weapons, the third, for to learne them to kepe the orders in the
+armie, as well in marchyng, as in faightyng, and in the incampyng:
+The whiche be three principall actes, that an armie doeth: for
+asmoche, as if an armie marche, incampe, and faight with order, and
+expertly, the Capitaine leseth not his honoure, although the
+battaile should have no good ende. Therfore, all thauncient common
+weales, provided these exercises in maner, by custome, and by lawe,
+that there should not be left behinde any part thereof. Thei
+exercised then their youth, for to make them swift, in runnyng, to
+make theim readie, in leapyng, for to make them strong, in throwyng
+the barre, or in wrestlyng: and these three qualities, be as it
+were necessarie in souldiours. For that swiftnesse, maketh theim
+apte to possesse places, before the enemie, and to come to them
+unloked for, and at unwares to pursue them, when thei are
+discomfaicted: the readinesse, maketh theim apte to avoide a blowe,
+to leape over a diche, to winne a <span class="pagenum"><a name=
+"page74" id="page74"></a>{74}</span> banke: strength, maketh them
+the better able to beare their armours, to incounter the enemie, to
+withstande a violence. And above all, to make the bodie the more
+apte to take paines, thei used to beare greate burthens, the whiche
+custome is necessarie: for that in difficulte expedicions it is
+requisite many tymes, that the souldiour beside his armours, beare
+vitualles for many daies, and if he were not accustomed to this
+labour, he could not dooe it: and without this, there can neither
+bee avoided a perill, nor a victorie gotten with fame. Concernyng
+to learne how to handell the weapons, thei exercised theim, in this
+maner: thei would have the yong menne, to put on armour, whiche
+should waie twise as moche, as their field armour, and in stede of
+a swearde, thei gave them a cudgell leaded, whiche in comparison of
+a verie swearde in deede, was moste heavie; thei made for every one
+of them, a poste to be set up in the ground, which should be in
+height twoo yardes and a quarter, and in soche maner, and so
+strong, that the blowes should not slur nor hurle it doune, against
+the whiche poste, the yong man with a targaet, and with the
+cudgell, as against an enemie did exercise, and some whiles he
+stroke, as though he would hurte the hedde, or the face, somewhile
+he retired backe, an other while he made forewarde: and thei had in
+this exercise, this advertisment, to make theim apt to cover theim
+selves, and to hurte the enemie: and havyng the counterfaight
+armours moste heavy, their ordinarie armours semed after unto them
+more lighter. The Romanies, would that their souldiours should
+hurte with the pricke, and not with the cutte, as well bicause the
+pricke is more mortalle, and hath lesse defence, as also to
+thentent that he that should hurt, might lye the lesse open, and be
+more apt to redouble it, then with cuttes. Dooe not marvaile that
+these auncient men, should thinke on these small thynges, for that
+where the incounteryng of men is reasoned of, you shall perceive,
+that every little vauntage, is of greate importaunce: and I
+remember you the same, whiche the writers of this declare, rather
+then I to teache you. The antiquitie estemed nothing move
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page75" id="page75"></a>{75}</span>
+happie, in a common weale, then to be in thesame, many men
+exercised in armes: bicause not the shining of precious stones and
+of golde, maketh that the enemies submit themselves unto thee, but
+onely the fear of the weapons: afterwarde the errours whiche are
+made in other thynges, maie sometymes be corrected, but those
+whiche are dooen in the warre, the paine straight waie commyng on,
+cannot be amended. Besides that, the knowlege to faight, maketh men
+more bold, bicause no man feareth to doe that thing, which he
+thinketh to have learned to dooe. The antiquitie would therefore,
+that their Citezeins should exercise themselves, in all marcial
+feates, and thei made them to throwe against thesame poste, dartes
+moche hevier then the ordinarie: the whiche exercise, besides the
+makyng men expert in throwyng, maketh also the arme more nimble,
+and moche stronger. Thei taught them also to shote in the long
+bowe, to whorle with the sling: and to all these thynges, thei
+appoincted maisters, in soche maner, that after when thei were
+chosen for to go to the warre, thei were now with mynde and
+disposicion, souldiours. Nor there remained them to learn other,
+then to go in the orders, and to maintain them selves in those,
+either marchyng, or faightyng: The whiche moste easely thei
+learned, mingeling themselves with those, whiche had long tyme
+served, whereby thei knewe how to stande in the orders.</p>
+<p>COSIMO. What exercises would you cause theim to make at this
+present?</p>
+<p class="side">The exercises that souldiers ought to make in these
+daies; The exercise of swimmyng; Tiber, is a river runnyng through
+Rome the water wher of will never corrupte; Thexercise of vautyng,
+and the commoditie thereof; An order that is taken in certain
+countries, concerning exercises of warre; What knowledge a
+Souldiour ought to have; A Cohorte is a bande of men; Of what nomer
+and of what kind of armours and weapons, a maine battaile ought to
+bee, and the distributing and appoinetyng of thesame; veliti are
+light armed men; Thecapitaines that ar appointed to every band of
+men; Twoo orders observed in an armie; How a captain muste
+instructe muste instructe his souldiours how thei ought to governe
+themselves in the battaile.</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. A good many of those, whiche have been declared, as
+runnyng, and wrestlyng, makyng theim to leape, makyng theim to
+labour in armours, moche heavier then the ordinarie, making them
+shoote with Crosse bowes, and longe bowes, whereunto I would joyne
+the harkabus, a newe instrument (as you know) verie necessarie, and
+to these exercises I would use, al the youth of my state, but with
+greater industrie, and more sollicitatenesse thesame parte, whiche
+I should have alreadie appoincted to serve, and alwaies in the
+idell daies, thei should bee exercised. I would also that thei
+should learne to swimme, the whiche <span class="pagenum"><a name=
+"page76" id="page76"></a>{76}</span> is a thyng verie profitable:
+for that there be not alwaies bridges over rivers, boates be not
+alwaies readie: so that thy army not knowyng howe to swime,
+remaineth deprived of many commodities: and many occasions to
+woorke well, is taken awaie. The Romaines for none other cause had
+ordained, that the yong men should exercise them selves in Campus
+Martius, then onely, for that havyng Tiber at hande, thei might,
+beyng weried with the exercise on lande, refreshe theim selves in
+the water, and partly in swimmyng, to exercise them selves. I would
+make also, as the antiquitie, those whiche should serve on
+horsebacke to exercise, the whiche is moste necessarie, for that
+besides to know how to ride, thei muste knowe how on horsebacke
+thei maie prevaile of them selves. And for this thei had ordeined
+horses of wood, upon the which thei practised, to leape by armed,
+and unarmed, without any helpe, and on every hande: the whiche
+made, that atones, and at a beck of a capitain, the horsmen were on
+foote, and likewise at a token, thei mounted on horsebacke. And
+soche exercises, bothe on foote and on horsebacke, as thei were
+then easie to bee doen, so now thei should not be difficult to
+thesame common weale, or to thesame prince, whiche would cause them
+to be put in practise of their yong men. As by experience is seen,
+in certaine citees of the Weste countrie, where is kepte a live
+like maners with this order. Thei devide all their inhabiters into
+divers partes: and every parte thei name of the kinde of those
+weapons, that thei use in the warre. And for that thei use Pikes,
+Halbardes, Bowes, and Harkebuses, thei call them Pike menne,
+Halberders, Harkebutters, and Archars: Therefore, it is mete for
+all the inhabiters to declare, in what orders thei will be
+appoincted in. And for that all men, either for age, or for other
+impedimentes, be not fitte for the warre, every order maketh a
+choise of men, and thei call them the sworen, whom in idell daies,
+be bounde to exercise themselves in those weapons, wherof thei be
+named: and every manne hath his place appoincted hym of the
+cominaltie, where soche exercise ought to be made: and those whiche
+be of thesame <span class="pagenum"><a name="page77" id=
+"page77"></a>{77}</span> order, but not of the sworen, are
+contributaries with their money, to thesame expenses, whiche in
+soche exercises be necessarie: therfore thesame that thei doe, we
+maie doe. But our smal prudence dooeth not suffre us, to take any
+good waie. Of these exercises there grewe, that the antiquitie had
+good souldiours, and that now those of the Weste, bee better men
+then ours: for as moche as the antiquitie exercised them, either at
+home (as those common weales doe) or in the armies, as those
+Emperours did, for thoccasions aforesaied: but we, at home will not
+exercise theim, in Campe we cannot, bicause thei are not our
+subjectes, and for that we are not able to binde them to other
+exercises then thei them selves liste to doe: the whiche occacion
+hath made, that firste the armies bee neclected, and after, the
+orders, and that the kyngdomes, and the common weales, in
+especially Italians, live in soche debilitie. But let us tourne to
+our order, and folowyng this matter of exercises, I saie, how it
+suffiseth not to make good armies, for havyng hardened the men,
+made them strong, swift, and handsome, it is nedefull also, that
+thei learne to stande in the orders, to obeie to signes, to
+soundes, and to the voice of the capitain: to knowe, standyng, to
+retire them selves, goyng forwardes, bothe faightyng, and marchyng
+to maintain those: bicause without this knowlege, withal serious
+diligence observed, and practised, there was never armie good: and
+without doubt, the fierce and disordered menne, bee moche more
+weaker, then the fearfull that are ordered, for that thorder
+driveth awaie from men feare, the disorder abateth fiercenesse. And
+to the entente you maie the better perceive that, whiche here
+folowyng shalbe declared, you have to understande, how every
+nation, in the orderyng of their men to the warre, have made in
+their hoste, or in their armie, a principall member, the whiche
+though thei have varied with the name, thei have little varied with
+the nomber of the menne: for that thei all have made it, betwene
+sixe and viii. M. men. This nomber of men was called of the
+Romaines, a Legion, of Grekes a Fallange, of Frenchemen Caterva:
+this verie same in our tyme of the <span class="pagenum"><a name=
+"page78" id="page78"></a>{78}</span> Suizzers, whom onely of the
+auncient warfare, kepe some shadowe, is called in their tongue
+that, whiche in ours signifieththe maine battaile. True it is, that
+every one of them, hath after devided it, accordyng to their
+purposes. Therefore me thinkes beste, that wee grounde our talke,
+upon this name moste knowen, and after, according to the aunciente,
+and to the orders now adaies, the beste that is possible to ordaine
+it; and bicause the Romaines devided their Legion, whiche was made
+betwene five and sixe thousande men, in ten Cohortes, I will that
+wee devide our main battaile, into ten battailes, and that we make
+it of sixe thousande menne on foote, and we will give to every
+battaile, CCCCL. men, of whiche shall be, CCCC. armed with heavie
+armour, and L. with light armour: the heavie armed, shall be CCC.
+Targettes with sweardes, and shalbe called Target men: and C. with
+Pikes, whiche shalbe called ordinarie Pikes: the light armed
+shalbe, L. men armed with Harkabuses, Crosse bowes, and Partisans,
+and smal Targaettes, and these by an aunciente name, were called
+ordinarie Veliti: all of the ten battailes therefore, comes to have
+three thousande Targaet men, a thousande ordinarie Pikes, CCCC.
+ordinarie Veliti, all whiche make the nomber of fower thousande and
+five hundred men. And we saied, that we would make the maine
+battaile of six thousande; therefore there must be added an other
+thousande, five hundred men, of whiche I will appoinet a thousande
+with Pikes, whom I will call extraordinarie Veliti, and thus my
+menne should come (as a little before I have saied) to bee made
+halfe of Targaetes, and halfe of Pikes and other weapons. I would
+appoinete to everie battaile, or bande of men, a Conestable, fower
+Centurions and fouretic peticapitaines, and moreover a hedde to the
+ordinarie Veliti. with five peticapitaines; I would give to the
+thousande extraordinarie Pikes, three Conestabelles, ten
+Centurions, and a hundred peticapitaines; to the extraodrinarie
+Veliti, two Conestabelles, v. Centurions, and l. peticapitaines: I
+would then apoinet a generall hed, over all the main <span class=
+"pagenum"><a name="page79" id="page79"></a>{79}</span> battaile: I
+would that every Conestable should have an Ansigne, and a Drum.
+Thus there should be made a manne battaile of ten battailes, of
+three thousande Targaet men, of a thousande ordinarie Pikes, of a
+thousande extraordinarie of five hundred ordinarie Veliti, of five
+hundred extraordinarie, so there should come to bee sixe thousande
+men, emongeste the whiche there should bee M.D. peticapitaines, and
+moreover, xv. Conestables, with xv. Drummes, and xv. Ansignes, lv.
+Centurions, x. heddes of the ordinarie Veliti, and a Capitaine over
+all the maine battaile with his Asigne and Drume, and I have of
+purpose repeated this order the oftener, to the intent, that after
+when I shall shewe you, the maners of orderyng the battailes, and
+tharmies, you should not be confounded: I saie therefore, how that,
+that king, or that common weale, whiche intendeth to ordeine their
+subjectes to armes, ought to appoincte theim with these armoures
+and weapons, and with these partes, and to make in their countrie
+so many maine battailes, as it were able: and when thei should have
+ordained them, according to the forsaid distribucion, minding to
+exercise them in the orders, it should suffice to exercise every
+battaile by it self: and although the nomber of the men, of every
+one of them, cannot by it self, make the facion of a juste armie,
+notwithstandyng, every man maie learne to dooe thesame, whiche
+particularly appertaineth unto hym: for that in the armies, twoo
+orders is observed, the one, thesame that the men ought to doe in
+every battaile, and the other that, whiche the battaile ought to
+doe after, when it is with the other in an armie. And those men,
+whiche doe wel the first, mooste easely maie observe the seconde:
+But without knowyng thesame, thei can never come to the knowlege of
+the seconde. Then (as I have saied) every one of these battailes,
+maie by them selves, learne to kepe the orders of the araies, in
+every qualitie of movyng, and of place, and after learne to put
+them selves togethers, to understande the soundes, by meanes wherof
+in the faight thei are commaunded, to learne to know by that, as
+the Gallics by the whissell, what ought to be doen, either to
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page80" id="page80"></a>{80}</span>
+stande still, or to tourne forward, or to tourne backwarde or
+whiche waie to tourne the weapons, and the face: so that knowyng
+how to kepe well the araie, after soche sorte, that neither place
+nor movyng maie disorder them, understandyng well the
+commaundementes of their heddes, by meanes of the sounde, and
+knowyng quickly, how to retourne into their place, these battailes
+maie after easly (as I have said) beyng brought many together,
+learne to do that, whiche all the body together, with the other
+battailes in a juste armie, is bounde to dooe. And bicause soche
+universall practise, is also not to bee estemed a little, ones or
+twise a yere, when there is peace, all the main battaile maie be
+brought together, to give it the facion of an whole armie, some
+daies exercisyng theim, as though thei should faight a fielde,
+settyng the fronte, and the sides with their succours in their
+places. And bicause a capitaine ordeineth his hoste to the fielde,
+either for coumpte of the enemie he seeth, or for that, of whiche
+without seyng he doubteth, he ought to exercise his armie in the
+one maner, and in the other, and to instructe theim in soche sorte,
+that thei maie knowe how to marche, and to faight, when nede should
+require, the wyng to his souldiours, how thei should governe theim
+selves, when thei should happen to be assaulted of this, or of that
+side: and where he ought to instructe theim how to faight againste
+the enemie, whom thei should see: he must shewe them also, how the
+faight is begun, and where thei ought to retire: being overthrowen,
+who hath to succeade in their places, to what signes, to what
+soundes, to what voices, thei ought to obeie, and to practise them
+in soche wise in the battaile, and with fained assaultes, that thei
+may desire the verie thyng in deede. For that an armie is not made
+coragious, bicause in thesame be hardie menne, but by reason the
+orders thereof bee well appoineted: For as moche as if I be one of
+the first faighters, and do knowe, beyng overcome, where I maie
+retire, and who hath to succeade in my place, I shall alwaies
+faight with boldnes, seing my succour at hand. If I shall be one of
+the seconde faighters, the first being driven backe, <span class=
+"pagenum"><a name="page81" id="page81"></a>{81}</span> and
+overthrowen, I shall not bee afraied, for that I shall have
+presuposed that I maie bee, and I shall have desire to be thesame,
+whiche maie give the victory to my maister, and not to bee any of
+the other. These exercises bee moste necessarie, where an armie is
+made of newe, and where the old armie is, thei bee also necessarie:
+for that it is also seen, how the Romaines knew from their
+infancie, thorder of their armies, notwithstandyng, those
+capitaines before thei should come to thenemie, continually did
+exercise them in those. And Josephus in his historie saieth, that
+the continuall exercises of the Romaine armies, made that all
+thesame multitude, whiche folowe the campe for gain, was in the
+daie of battaile profitable: bicause thei all knewe, how to stande
+in the orders, and to faight kepyng the same: but in the armies of
+newe men, whether thou have putte theim together, to faight
+straight waie, or that thou make a power to faight, when neede
+requires, without these exercises, as well of the battailes
+severally by themselves, as of all the armie, is made nothing:
+wherefore the orders beying necessarie, it is conveniente with
+double industrie and laboure, to shewe them unto soche as knoweth
+them not, and for to teache it, many excellent capitaines have
+travailed, without any respecte.</p>
+<p>COSIMO. My thinkes that this reasoning, hath sumwhat transported
+you: for asmoche, as havyng not yet declared the waies, with the
+whiche the battailes bee exercised, you have reasoned of the whole
+armie, and of the daie of battaile.</p>
+<p class="side">The chief importance in the exercisyng of bandes of
+men; Three principall for thorderyng of menne into battaile raie;
+The manner how to bryng a bande of men into battaile raie after a
+square facion; The better waie for the ordring of a band of men in
+battaile raie, after the first facion; How to exercise men, and to
+take soche order, whereby a band of men that were by whatsoever
+chance disordred maye straighte wai be brought into order againe;
+What advertisement ought to bee used in tourning about a whole
+bande of menne, after soche sorte, as though it were but one bodie;
+How to order a band of menne after soche sort that thei maie make
+their front againste thenemie of whiche flanke thei list; How a
+band of man oughte to be ordered, when in marchyng thei should bee
+constrained to faighton their backes.</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. You saie truth, but surely thoccasion hath been the
+affection, whiche I beare to these orders, and the grief that I
+feele, seyng thei be not put in use: notwithstanding, doubt not but
+that I will tourne to the purpose: as I have saied, the chief
+importaunce that is in thexercise of the battailes, is to knowe how
+to kepe well the armies: and bicause I tolde you that one of these
+battailes, ought to bee made of fower hundred men heavie armed, I
+wil staie my self upon this nomber. Thei ought then to be brought
+into lxxx. rankes, and five to a ranke: afterward goyng
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page82" id="page82"></a>{82}</span>
+fast, or softly, to knit them together, and to lose them: the
+whiche how it is dooen, maie bee shewed better with deedes, then
+with wordes. Which nedeth not gretly to be taught, for that every
+manne, whom is practised in servise of warre, knoweth how this
+order procedeth, whiche is good for no other, then to use the
+souldiours to keepe the raie: but let us come to putte together one
+of these battailes, I saie, that there is given them three facions
+principally, the firste, and the moste profitablest is, to make al
+massive, and to give it the facion of two squares, the second is,
+to make it square with the front horned, the thirde is, to make it
+with a voide space in the middest: the maner to put men together in
+the first facion, maie be of twoo sortes, tho together in the first
+facion, maie be of twoo sortes, thone is to double the rankes, that
+is, to make the seconde ranke enter into the first, the iiii. into
+the third, the sixt into the fift, and so foorth, so that where
+there was lxxx. rankes, five to a ranke, thei maie become xl.
+rankes, x. to a ranke. Afterward cause theim to double ones more in
+thesame maner, settyng the one ranke into an other, and so there
+shall remain twentie rankes, twentie men to a ranke: this maketh
+twoo squares aboute, for as moche as albeit that there bee as many
+men the one waie, as in the other, notwithstandyng to wardes the
+hedde, thei joine together, that the one side toucheth the other:
+but by the other waie, thei be distant the one from the other, at
+least a yarde and a haulfe, after soche sorte, that the square is
+moche longer, from the backe to the fronte, then from the one side
+to thother: and bicause we have at this presente, to speake often
+of the partes afore, of behinde, and of the sides of these
+battailes, and of all the armie together, knowe you, that when I
+saie either hedde or fronte, I meane the parte afore, when I shall
+saie backe, the part behind, when I shall saie flankes, the partes
+on the sides. The fiftie ordinarie veliti of the battaile, muste
+not mingle with the other rankes, but so sone as the battaile is
+facioned, thei shalbe set a long by the flankes therof. The other
+waie to set together the battaile is this, and bicause it is better
+then the firste, I will set it before your ives juste, how it
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page83" id="page83"></a>{83}</span>
+ought to bee ordeined. I beleve that you remember of what nomber of
+menne, of what heddes it is made, and of what armours thei are
+armed, then the facion, that this battaile ought to have, is (as I
+have saied) of twentie rankes, twentie men to a ranke, five rankes
+of Pikes in the front, and fiftene rankes of Targaettes on the
+backe, twoo Centurions standying in the fronte, twoo behinde on the
+backe, who shall execute the office of those, whiche the antiquitie
+called Tergiductori. The Conestable with the Ansigne, and with the
+Drumme, shall stande in thesame space, that is betwene the five
+rankes of the Pikes, and the fiftene of the Targeaettes. Of the
+Peticapitaines, there shall stande one upon every side of the
+ranckes, so that every one, maie have on his side his men, those
+peticapitaines, whiche shalbe on the left hande, to have their men
+on the right hand, those Peticapitaines, whiche shall be on the
+right hand, to have their menne on the left hande: The fiftie
+Veliti, muste stande a long the flankes, and on the backe of the
+battaile. To mynde now, that this battaile maie be set together in
+this facion, the men goyng ordinarily, it is convenient to order
+them thus. Make the men to be brought into lxxx. rankes, five to a
+ranke, as a little afore we have said, leavyng the Veliti either at
+the hedde, or at the taile, so that thei stande out of this order:
+and it ought to be ordeined, that every Centurion have behinde his
+back twentie rankes, and to bee nexte behinde every Centurion, five
+rankes of Pikes, and the reste Targaettes. The Conestable shall
+stande with the Drum, and the Ansigne, in thesame space, whiche is
+betwene the Pikes, and the Targaettes of the seconde Centurion, and
+to occupie the places of three Targaette men. Of the
+Peticapitaines, twentie shall stand on the sides of the rankes, of
+the first Centurion, on the lefte hande, and twentie shall stande
+on the sides of the rankes, of the last Centurion on the right
+hande. And you muste understande, that the Peticapitaine, whiche
+hath to leade the Pikes, ought to have a Pike, and those that leade
+the Targaettes, ought to have like weapons. Then the rankes beyng
+brought into this order, and mindyng in marchyng, <span class=
+"pagenum"><a name="page84" id="page84"></a>{84}</span> to bryng
+them into battaile, for to make the hedde, the first Centurion must
+be caused to stande still, with the firste twentie rankes, and the
+seconde to proceade marchyng, and tournyng on the right hand, he
+must go a long the sides of the twentie rankes that stande still,
+till he come to bee even with the other Centurion, where he must
+also stande still, and the thirde Centurion to procede marchyng,
+likewise tournyng on the right hand, and a long the sides of the
+rankes that stande still, must go so farre, that he be even with
+the other twoo Centurions, and he also standyng still, the other
+Centurion must folowe with his rankes, likewise tournyng on the
+right hande, a longe the sides of the rankes that stande still, so
+farre that he come to the hed of the other, and then to stand
+still, and straight waie twoo Centurions onely, shall depart from
+the front, and go to the backe of the battaile, the whiche cometh
+to bee made in thesame maner, and with thesame order juste, as a
+little afore I have shewed you. The Veliti muste stande a long, by
+the flankes of thesame, accordyng as is disposed in the first waie,
+whiche waie is called redoublyng by right line, this is called
+redoublyng by flanke: the first waie is more easie, this is with
+better order, and commeth better to passe, and you maie better
+correcte it, after your owne maner, for that in redoublyng by
+righte line, you muste bee ruled by the nomber, bicause five maketh
+ten, ten twentie, twentie fourtie, so that with redoublyng by right
+line, you cannot make a hedde of fiftene, nor of five and twentie,
+nor of thirtie, nor of five and thirtie, but you must go where
+thesame nomber will leade you. And yet it happeneth every daie in
+particulare affaires, that it is convenient to make the forwarde
+with sixe hundred, or eight hundred men, so that to redouble by
+right line, should disorder you: therefore this liketh me better:
+that difficultie that is, ought moste with practise, and with
+exercise to bee made easie. Therefore I saie unto you, how it
+importeth more then any thyng, to have the souldiours to know how
+to set themselves in araie quickly, and it is necessarie to keepe
+theim in this battaile, to exercise theim therin, and <span class=
+"pagenum"><a name="page85" id="page85"></a>{85}</span> to make them
+to go apace, either forward or backward, to passe through
+difficulte places, without troublyng thorder: for asmoche as the
+souldiours, whiche can doe this well, be expert souldiours, and
+although thei have never seen enemies in the face, thei maie be
+called old souldiours, and contrariwise, those whiche cannot keepe
+these orders, though thei have been in a thousande warres, thei
+ought alwaies to be reputed new souldiours. This is, concernyng
+setting them together, when thei are marching in small rankes: but
+beyng set, and after beyng broken by some accident or chaunce,
+whiche groweth either of the situacion, or of the enemie, to make
+that in a sodaine, thei maie come into order againe, this is the
+importaunce and the difficultie, and where is nedefull moche
+exercise, and moche practise, and wherin the antiquitie bestowed
+moche studie. Therefore it is necessarie to doe twoo thynges,
+firste to have this battaile full of countersignes, the other, to
+keepe alwaies this order, that those same men maie stand alwaies in
+the ranke, which thei were firste placed in: as for insample, if
+one have begon to stande in the seconde, that he stande after
+alwaie in that, and not onely in that self same rancke, but in that
+self same place: for the observyng whereof (as I have saied) bee
+necessarie many countersignes. In especially it is requisite, that
+the Ansigne bee after soche sorte countersigned, that companyng
+with the other battailes, it maie be knowen from theim, accordyng
+as the Conestable, and the Centurions have plumes of fethers in
+their heddes differente, and easie to be knowen, and that whiche
+importeth moste, is to ordaine that the peticapitaines bee knowen.
+Whereunto the antiquitie had so moche care, that thei would have
+nothing els written in their hedde peces, but the nomber that thei
+were named by, callyng them firste, seconde, thirde, and fourthe
+xc. And yet thei were not contented with this, but made every
+souldiour to have written in his Targaet, the nomber of the ranke,
+and the nomber of the place, in whiche ranke he was appoineted.
+Then the menne being countersigned thus, and used to stande betwene
+these limites, it is an easie thyng, thei <span class=
+"pagenum"><a name="page86" id="page86"></a>{86}</span> beyng
+disordered, to sett theim all againe quickly into order:
+considering, that the Ansigne standyng still, the Centurions, and
+the Peticapitaines maie gesse their places by the iye, and beyng
+brought the left of the left, the right of the right, with their
+accustomed distance, the souldiours led by their rule, and by the
+differences of the cognisances, maie be quickly in their proper
+places, no otherwise, then as if the boordes of a tunne should bee
+taken a sunder, whiche beyng first marked, moste easely maie bee
+set together again, where thesame beyng not countersigned, were
+impossible to bryng into order any more. These thynges, with
+diligence and with exercise, are quickely taught, and quickly
+learned, and beyng learned, with difficultie are forgotten: for
+that the newe menne, be led of the olde, and with tyme, a Province
+with these exercises, may become throughly practised in the war. It
+is also necessarie to teache theim, to tourne theim selves all at
+ones, and when neede requires, to make of the flankes, and of the
+backe, the fronte, and of the front, flankes, or backe, whiche is
+moste easie: bicause it suffiseth that every manne doe tourne his
+bodie, towardes thesame parte that he is commaunded, and where thei
+tourne their faces, there the fronte commeth to bee. True it is,
+that when thei tourne to any of the flanckes, the orders tourne out
+of their proporcion: for that from the breast to the backe, there
+is little difference, and from the one flancke to the other, there
+is verie moche distance, the whiche is al contrarie to the
+ordinarie order of the battaile: therefore it is convenient, that
+practise, and discrecion, doe place them as thei ought to be: but
+this is small disorder, for that moste easely by themselves, thei
+maie remedie it. But that whiche importeth more, and where is
+requisite more practise, is when a battaile would tourne all at
+ones, as though it were a whole bodie, here is meete to have greate
+practise, and greate discrecion: bicause mindyng to tourne, as for
+insample on the left hande, the left corner must stande still, and
+those that be next to hym that standeth still, muste marche so
+softly, that thei that bee in the right corner, nede not to runne:
+otherwise <span class="pagenum"><a name="page87" id=
+"page87"></a>{87}</span> all thing should be confounded. But
+bicause it happeneth alwaies, when an armie marcheth from place to
+place, that the battailes, whiche are not placed in the front,
+shall be driven to faight not by hedde, but either by flancke, or
+by backe, so that a battaile muste in a sodaine make of flancke, or
+of backe, hedde: and mindyng that like battailes in soche cace,
+maie have their proporcion, as above is declared, it is necessarie,
+that thei have the Pikes on thesame flancke, that ought to be
+hedde, and the Peticapitaines, Centurions, and Conestables, to
+resorte accordyngly to their places. Therefore to mynde to dooe
+this, in plasyng them together, you must ordeine the fower skore
+rankes, of five in a ranke, thus: Set all the Pikes in the first
+twentie rankes, and place the Peticapitaines thereof, five in the
+first places, and five in the last: the other three score rankes,
+whiche come after, bee all of Targaettes, whiche come to bee three
+Centuries. Therefore, the first and the laste ranke of every
+Centurion, would be Peticapitaines, the Conestable with the
+Ansigne, and with the Drumme, muste stande in the middest of the
+first Centurie of Targaettes, and the Centurions in the hed of
+every Centurie. The bande thus ordained, when you would have the
+Pikes to come on the left flancke, you must redouble Centurie by
+Centurie, on the right flancke: if you would have them to come on
+the right flancke, you must redouble theim on the lefte. And so
+this battaile tourneth with the Pikes upon a flancke, and the
+Conestable in the middeste: the whiche facion it hath marchyng: but
+the enemie commyng, and the tyme that it would make of flancke
+hedde, it nedeth not but to make every man to tourne his face,
+towardes thesame flancke, where the Pikes be, and then the battaile
+tourneth with the rankes, and with the heddes in thesame maner, as
+is aforesaied: for that every man is in his place, excepte the
+Centurions, and the Centurions straight waie, and without
+difficultie, place themselves: But when thei in marchyng, should
+bee driven to faight on the backe, it is convenient to ordein the
+rankes after soch sorte, that settyng theim in battaile, the Pikes
+maie come behinde, and to doe this, there is to bee kepte
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page88" id="page88"></a>{88}</span>
+no other order, then where in orderyng the battaile, by the
+ordinarie, every Centurie hath five rankes of Pikes before, to
+cause that thei maie have them behind, and in all the other partes
+to observe thorder, whiche I declared firste.</p>
+<p>COSIMO. You have tolde (if I dooe well remember me) that this
+maner of exercise, is to bee able to bryng these battailes together
+into an armie, and that this practise, serveth to be able to order
+theim selves in the same: But if it should happen, that these
+CCCCL. men, should have to doe an acte seperate, how would you
+order them?</p>
+<p class="side">How a battaile is made with twoo hornes; The
+orderyng of a battaile with a voide space in the middeste.</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. He that leadeth them, ought then to judge, where he
+will place the Pikes, and there to put them, the whiche doeth not
+repugne in any part to the order above written: for that also,
+though thesame bee the maner, that is observed to faighte a fielde,
+together with thother battailes, notwithstandyng it is a rule,
+whiche serveth to all those waies, wherein a band of menne should
+happen to have to doe: but in shewyng you the other twoo waies of
+me propounded, of ordering the battailes, I shal also satisfie you
+more to your question: for that either thei are never used, or thei
+are used when a battaile is a lone, and not in companie of other,
+and to come to the waie of ordering them, with twoo hornes, I saie,
+that thou oughteste to order the lxxx. rankes, five to a ranke, in
+this maner. Place in the middest, one Centurion, and after hym xxv.
+rankes, whiche muste bee with twoo Pikes on the lefte hande, and
+with three Targaettes on the right, and after the first five, there
+must be put in the twentie folowyng, twentie Peticapitaines, all
+betwene the pikes, and the Targaettes, excepte those whiche beare
+the Pike, whom maie stand with the Pikes: after these xxv. rankes
+thus ordered, there is to be placed an other Centurion, and behinde
+hym fiftene rankes of Targaettes: after these, the Conestable
+betwene the Drum and the Ansigne, who also must have after him,
+other fiftene rankes of Targaettes: after this, the thirde
+Centurion must be placed, and behinde hym, xxv. rankes,
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page89" id="page89"></a>{89}</span>
+in every one of whiche, ought to bee three Targaettes on the lefte
+flancke, and twoo Pikes on the right, and after the five first
+rankes, there must be xx. Peticapitaines placed betwene the Pikes,
+and the Targaettes: after these rankes, the fowerth Centurion must
+folowe. Intendying therefore, of these rankes thus ordered, to make
+a battaile with twoo hornes, the first Centurion must stand still,
+with the xxv. rankes, whiche be behinde him, after the second
+Centurion muste move, with the fiftene rankes of Targaettes, that
+bee behinde hym, and to tourne on the right hande, and up by the
+right flancke of the xxv. rankes, to go so farre, that he arrive to
+the xv. ranke, and there to stande still: after, the Conestable
+muste move, with the fiftene rankes of Targaettes, whiche be
+behinde hym, and tournyng likewise on the right hande, up by the
+right flancke of the fiftene rankes, that wer firste moved, muste
+marche so farre, that he come to their heddes, and there to stand
+stil: after, the thirde Centurion muste move with the xxv. rankes,
+and with the fowerth Centurion, whiche was behinde, and turnyng up
+straight, must go a long by the right flanck of the fiftene last
+rankes of the Targaettes, and not to stande still when he is at the
+heddes of them, but to followe marchyng so farre, that the laste
+ranke of the xxv. maie come to be even with the rankes behinde. And
+this dooen, the Centurion, whiche was hedde of the firste fiftene
+rankes of Targaettes, must go awaie from thens where he stoode, and
+go to the backe in the lefte corner: and thus a battaile shall be
+made of xxv. rankes, after twentie men to a rank, with two hornes,
+upon every side of the front, one horn, and every one, shall have
+ten rankes, five to a ranke, and there shall remain a space betwene
+the twoo hornes, as moche as containeth ten men, whiche tourne
+their sides, the one to thother. Betwene the two hornes, the
+capitain shall stande, and on every poinct of a horne, a Centurion:
+There shall bee also behinde, on every corner, a Centurion: there
+shal be twoo rankes of Pikes, and xx. Peticapitaines on every
+flancke. These twoo hornes, serve to kepe betwene theim the
+artillerie, when this battaile should have any <span class=
+"pagenum"><a name="page90" id="page90"></a>{90}</span> withit, and
+the cariages: The Veliti muste stande a long the flankes, under the
+Pikes. But mindyng to bring this horned battaile, with a voide
+space in the middeste, there ought no other to bee doen, then of
+fiftene rankes, of twentie to a ranke, to take eight rankes, and to
+place them on the poinctes of the twoo hornes, whiche then of
+hornes, become backe of the voide space, in this place, the
+cariages are kept, the capitain standeth, and the Ansigne, but
+never the Artillerie, the whiche is placed either in the front, or
+a long the flankes. These be the waies, that a battaile maie use
+when it is constrained to passe alone through suspected places:
+notwithstandyng, the massive battaile without hornes, and without
+any soche voide place is better, yet purposyng to assure the
+disarmed, the same horned battaile is necessarie. The Suizzers make
+also many facions of battailes, emong which, thei make one like
+unto a crosse: bicause in the spaces that is betwen the armes
+therof, thei kepe safe their Harkebuters from the daunger of the
+enemies: but bicause soche battailes be good to faight by theim
+selves, and my intente is to shew, how many battailes united, do
+faight with thenemie, I wil not labour further in describing
+them.</p>
+<p>COSIMO. My thinkes I have verie well comprehended the waie, that
+ought to be kept to exercise the men in these battailes: But (if I
+remember me well) you have saied, how that besides the tenne
+battailes, you joyne to the maine battaile, a thousande
+extraordinarie Pikes, and five hundred extraordinarie Veliti: will
+you not appoincte these to be exercised?</p>
+<p class="side">To what purpose the Pikes and Velite extraordinarie
+must serve.</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. I would have theim to bee exercised, and that with
+moste great diligence: and the Pikes I would exercise, at leaste
+Ansigne after Ansigne, in the orders of the battailes, as the
+other: For as moche as these should doe me more servise, then the
+ordinarie battailes, in all particulare affaires: as to make
+guides, to get booties, and to doe like thynges: but the Veliti, I
+would exercise at home, without bringing them together, for that
+their office being to faight a sonder, it is not mete, that thei
+should companie with <span class="pagenum"><a name="page91" id=
+"page91"></a>{91}</span> other, in the common exercises: for that
+it shall suffice, to exercise them well in the particular
+exercises. Thei ought then (as I firste tolde you, nor now me
+thynkes no labour to rehearse it againe) to cause their men to
+exercise them selves in these battailes, whereby thei maie knowe
+how to kepe the raie, to knowe their places, to tourne quickly,
+when either enemie, or situacion troubleth them: for that, when
+thei knowe how to do this, the place is after easely learned, which
+a battaile hath to kepe, and what is the office thereof in the
+armie: and when a Prince, or a common weale, will take the paine,
+and will use their diligence in these orders, and in these
+exercisyng, it shall alwaies happen, that in their countrie, there
+shall bee good souldiours, and thei to be superiours to their
+neighbours, and shalbe those, whiche shall give, and not receive
+the lawes of other men: but (as I have saied) the disorder wherein
+thei live, maketh that thei neclecte, and doe not esteme these
+thynges, and therefore our armies be not good: and yet though there
+were either hed, or member naturally vertuous, thei cannot shewe
+it.</p>
+<p>COSIMO. What carriages would you, that every one of these
+battailes should have?</p>
+<p class="side">Neither Centurion nor Peticapitaine, ought not to
+ride; What carriages the Capitaines ought to have, and the nomber
+of carrages requisite to every bande of menne.</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. Firste, I would that neither Centurion, nor
+Peticapitain, should be suffered to ride: and if the Conestable
+would nedes ride, I would that he should have a Mule, and not a
+horse: I would allowe hym twoo carriages, and one to every
+Centurion, and twoo to every three Peticapitaines, for that so many
+wee lodge in a lodgyng, as in the place therof we shall tell you:
+So that every battaile will come to have xxxvi. carriages, the
+whiche I would should carrie of necessitie the tentes, the
+vesselles to seeth meate, axes, barres of Iron, sufficient to make
+the lodgynges, and then if thei can carry any other thyng, thei
+maie dooe it at their pleasure.</p>
+<p>COSIMO. I beleve that the heddes of you, ordeined in every one
+of these battailes, be necessarie: albeit, I would doubt, lest that
+so many commaunders, should confounde all.</p>
+<p class="side">Without many capitaines, an armie cannot be
+governed; To what purpose Ansignes ought to serve; For what purpose
+Drummes oughte to bee used; The propertie that soundes of
+instrumentes have in mens myndes.</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. That should bee, when it were not referred to
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page92" id="page92"></a>{92}</span>
+one man, but referryng it, thei cause order, ye and without theim,
+it is impossible to governe an armie: for that a wall, whiche on
+every parte enclineth, requireth rather to have many proppes, and
+thicke, although not so strong, then fewe, though thei were strong:
+bicause the vertue of one a lone, doeth not remedie the ruine a
+farre of. And therefore in tharmies, and emong every ten men, it is
+convenient that there bee one, of more life, of more harte, or at
+leaste wise of more aucthoritie, who with stomacke, with wordes,
+and with example, maie kepe them constante, and disposed to faight,
+and these thynges of me declared, bee necessarie in an armie, as
+the Heddes, the Ansignes, and the Drummes, is seen that wee have
+theim all in our armies, but none doeth his office. First to mynde
+that the Peticapitaines doe thesame, for whiche thei are ordeined,
+it is necessarie (as I have said) that there bee a difference,
+betwene every one of them and their men, and that thei lodge
+together, doyng their duties, standyng in thorder with them: for
+that thei placed in their places, bee a rule and a temperaunce, to
+maintaine the raies straight and steddie, and it is impossible that
+thei disorder, or disorderyng, dooe not reduce themselves quickly
+into their places. But we now adaies, doe not use them to other
+purpose, then to give theim more wages, then to other menne, and to
+cause that thei dooe some particulare feate: The very same
+happeneth of the Ansigne bearers, for that thei are kept rather to
+make a faire muster, then for any other warlike use: but the
+antiquitie used theim for guides, and to bryng theim selves againe
+into order: for that every man, so sone as the Ansigne stoode
+still, knewe the place, that he kept nere to his Ansigne, wherunto
+he retourned alwaies: thei knewe also, how that the same movyng, or
+standyng, thei should staie, or move: therfore it is necessarie in
+an armie, that there be many bodies, and every bande of menne to
+have his Ansigne, and his guide: wherfore havyng this, it is mete
+that thei have stomackes inough, and by consequence life enough.
+Then the menne ought to marche, accordyng to the Ansigne: and the
+Ansigne to move, accordyng to the <span class="pagenum"><a name=
+"page93" id="page93"></a>{93}</span> Drumme, the whiche Drumme well
+ordered, commaundeth to the armie, the whiche goyng with paces,
+that answereth the tyme of thesame, will come to kepe easilie
+thorders: for whiche cause the antiquitie had Shalmes, Flutes, and
+soundes perfectly tymed: For as moche as like as he that daunseth,
+proceadeth with the tyme of the Musick, and goyng with thesame
+doeth not erre, even so an armie obeiyng, in movyng it self to
+thesame sounde, doeth not disorder: and therefore, thei varied the
+sounde, accordyng as thei would varie the mocion, and accordyng as
+thei would inflame, or quiete, or staie the mindes of men: and like
+as the soundes were divers, so diversly thei named them: the sounde
+Dorico, ingendered constancie, the sounde Frigio, furie: whereby
+thei saie, that Alexander beyng at the Table, and one soundyng the
+sounde Frigio, it kendled so moche his minde, that he laied hande
+on his weapons. All these maners should be necessarie to finde
+again: and when this should bee difficulte, at least there would
+not be left behind those that teache the Souldiour to obeie, the
+whiche every man maie varie, and ordeine after his owne facion, so
+that with practise, he accustome the eares of his souldiours to
+knowe it: But now adaies of this sounde, there is no other fruicte
+taken for the moste part, then to make a rumour.</p>
+<p>COSIMO. I would desire to understande of you, if ever with your
+self you have discourced, whereof groweth so moche vilenesse, and
+so moche disorder, and so moche necligence in these daies of this
+exercise?</p>
+<p class="side">A notable discourse of the aucthour, declaryng
+whereof groweth so moche vilenes disorder and necligence in these
+daies, concernyng the exercises of warre.</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. With a good will I will tell you thesame, that I
+thinke. You knowe how that of the excellente men of warre, there
+hath been named many in Europe, fewe in Affric, and lesse in Asia:
+this grewe, for that these twoo laste partes of the worlde, have
+had not paste one kyngdome, or twoo, and fewe common weales, but
+Europe onely, hath had many kyngdomes, and infinite common weales,
+where menne became excellent, and did shewe their vertue, accordyng
+as thei were sette a woorke, and brought before their Prince, or
+common weale, or king that he be: it <span class="pagenum"><a name=
+"page94" id="page94"></a>{94}</span> followeth therefore, that
+where be many dominions, there rise many valiaunt menne, and where
+be fewe, fewe. In Asia is founde Ninus, Cirus, Artasercses,
+Mithridates: and verie fewe other, that to these maie be compared.
+In Africk, is named (lettyng stande thesame auncient Egipt)
+Massinissa, Jugurta, and those Capitaines, whiche of the
+Carthaginens common weale were nourished, whom also in respecte to
+those of Europe, are moste fewe: bicause in Europe, be excellente
+men without nomber, and so many more should be, if together with
+those should bee named the other, that be through the malignitie of
+time extincte: for that the worlde hath been moste vertuous, where
+hath been moste states, whiche have favoured vertue of necessitie,
+or for other humaine passion. There rose therfore in Asia, fewe
+excellente menne: bicause thesame Province, was all under one
+kyngdome, in the whiche for the greatnesse thereof, thesame
+standing for the moste parte of tyme idell, there could not growe
+men in doynges excellent. To Africke there happened the verie same,
+yet there were nourished more then in Asia, by reason of the
+Carthaginens common weale: for that in common weales, there growe
+more excellent men, then in kingdomes, bicause in common weales for
+the most part, vertue is honoured, in Kyngdomes it is helde backe:
+wherby groweth, that in thone, vertuous men are nourished, in the
+other thei are extincte. Therefore he that shall consider the
+partes of Europe, shall finde it to have been full of common
+weales, and of princedomes, the whiche for feare, that the one had
+of the other, thei wer constrained to kepe lively the warlike
+orders, and to honor them, whiche in those moste prevailed: for
+that in Grece, besides the kyngdome of the Macedonians, there were
+many common weales, and in every one of theim, were bred moste
+excellente men. In Italie, were the Romaines, the Sannites, the
+Toscanes, the Gallie Cisalpini. Fraunce, and Almainie, wer ful of
+common weales and princedomes. Spaine likewise: and although in
+comparison of the Romaines, there are named fewe other, it groweth
+through the malignitie of the writers, whom folowe fortune,
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page95" id="page95"></a>{95}</span>
+and to theim for the moste parte it suffised, to honour the
+conquerours: but it standeth not with reason, that betwene the
+Sannites, and the Toscanes, whom fought CL. yeres with the Romaine
+people, before thei wer overcome, there should not growe exceadyng
+many excellente menne. And so likewise in Fraunce, and in Spaine:
+but that vertue, whiche the writers did not celebrate in particuler
+menne, thei celebrated generally in the people, where thei exalte
+to the starres, the obstinatenesse that was in them, to defende
+their libertie. Beyng then true, that where bee moste dominions,
+there riseth moste valiaunt menne, it foloweth of necessitie, that
+extinguishyng those, vertue is extincte straighte waie, the
+occasion decaiyng, whiche maketh menne vertuous. Therefore, the
+Romaine Empire beyng after increased, and havyng extinguished all
+the common weales, and Princedomes of Europe, and of Afrike, and
+for the moste part those of Asia, it lefte not any waie to vertue,
+excepte Rome: whereby grewe, that vertuous menne began to be as
+fewe in Europe, as in Asia: the whiche vertue, came after to the
+laste caste: For as moche, as all the vertue beyng reduced to
+Roome, so sone as thesame was corrupted, almoste all the worlde
+came to bee corrupted: and the Scithian people, were able to come
+to spoile thesame Empire, the whiche had extinguished the vertue of
+other, and knewe not howe to maintaine their owne: and after,
+although through the inundacion of those barberous nacions, thesame
+Empire was devided into many partes, this vertue is not renued:</p>
+<p class="side">The causes why the aunciente orders are
+neclected.</p>
+<p>The one cause is, for that it greveth theim moche, to take
+againe the orders when thei are marde, the other, bicause the maner
+of livyng now adaies, having respect to the Christian religion,
+commaundeth not thesame necessitie to menne, to defende themselves,
+whiche in olde tyme was: for that then, the menne overcome in
+warre, either were killed, or remained perpetuall slaves, where
+thei led their lives moste miserably: The tounes overcome, either
+were rased, or the inhabiters thereof driven out, their goodes
+taken awaie, sent dispersed through the worlde: so that the
+vanquished in warre, suffered all extreme miserie: <span class=
+"pagenum"><a name="page96" id="page96"></a>{96}</span> of this
+feare, men beyng made afraied, thei wer driven to kepe lively the
+warlike exercises, and thei honoured soche as were excellente in
+theim: But nowe adaies, this feare for the moste part is not
+regarded: of those that are overcom, fewe bee killed, none is kepte
+longe in prison: for that with facelitie, thei are sette at
+libertie: the citees also, whiche a thousande tymes have rebelled,
+are not destroied, the men wherof, are let a lone with their
+goodes, so that the greateste hurte that is feared, is but a taske:
+in so moche, that men will not submit them selves to the orders of
+warre, and to abide alwaies under those, to avoide the perilles
+whereof thei are little afraied: again these Provinces of Europe,
+be under a verie fewe heddes, in respecte as it hath been in times
+past: for that al Fraunce, obeieth one kyng, al Spain, an other:
+Italie is in fewe partes, so that the weake citees, are defended
+with leanyng to hym that overcometh, and the strong states, for the
+causes aforesaied, feare no soche extreme ruine.</p>
+<p>COSIMO. Yet ther hath ben seen many tounes that have ben sacked
+within this xxv. yeres, and lost their dominions, whose insample,
+ought to teache other how to live, and to take again some of those
+old orders.</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. You saie true: but if you note what tounes have gone
+to sacke, you shall not finde that thei have been the heddes of
+states, but of the members; as was seen sacked Tortona, and not
+Milaine: Capua, and not Napelles, Brescia, and not Venice, Ravenna,
+and not Roome: the whiche insamples maketh those that governe, not
+to chaunge their purposes, but rather maketh them to stande more in
+their opinion, to be able to redeme again all thynges with taskes,
+and for this, thei will not submit theim selves to the troubles of
+thexercises of warre, semyng unto them partly not necessarie,
+partly, an intrinsicate matter, whiche thei understande not: Those
+other, whiche bee subjectes to them, whom soche insamples ought to
+make afraied, have no power to remedie it: and those Princes, that
+have ones loste their estates, are no more able, and those which as
+yet kept them, know not, nor wil not. Bicause thei will
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page97" id="page97"></a>{97}</span>
+without any disease rain by fortune, and not by their vertue: for
+that in the worlde beyng but little vertue, thei see fortune
+governeth all thynges. And thei will have it to rule theim, not
+thei to rule it. And to prove this that I have discoursed to bee
+true, consider Almaine, in the whiche, bicause there is many
+Princedomes, and common weales, there is moche vertue, and all
+thesame, whiche in the present service of warre is good, dependeth
+of the insamples of those people: who beyng all gellious of their
+states, fearing servitude, the which in other places is not feared,
+thei all maintaine theim selves Lordes, and honourable: this that I
+have saied, shall suffice to shewe the occacions of the presente
+utilitie, accordyng to my opinion: I cannot tell, whether it seeme
+thesame unto you, or whether there be growen in you any
+doubtyng.</p>
+<p>COSIMO. None, but rather I understande all verie well: onely I
+desire, tournyng to our principall matter, to understande of you,
+how you would ordein the horses with these battailes, and how many,
+and how thei should be governed, and how armed.</p>
+<p class="side">The armyng of horsemen; The weapons that light
+horsmenne should have; The nombre of horsmen requisite for a maine
+bataille of six thousand men; The nombre of carrages that men of
+armes and light horsmen ought to have.</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. You thinke peraventure, that I have left it behinde:
+whereat doe not marvell, for that I purpose for twoo causes, to
+speake therof little, the one is, for that the strengthe, and the
+importaunce of an armie, is the footemen, the other is, bicause
+this part of service of warre, is lesse corrupted, then thesame of
+footemen. For that though it be not stronger then the old, yet it
+maie compare with thesame, nevertheles ther hath been spoken a
+little afore, of the maner of exercisyng them. And concernyng
+tharmyng them, I would arme them as thei doe at this present, as
+wel the light horsemen, as the menne of armes: but the light
+horsemen, I would that thei should be all Crossebowe shuters, with
+some Harkebutters emong them: the whiche though in the other
+affaires of warre, thei bee little profitable, thei be for this
+most profitable, to make afraied the countrie menne, and to drive
+them from a passage, that were kept of them: bicause a Harkebutter,
+shall feare them more, then twentie other armed. But commyng to the
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page98" id="page98"></a>{98}</span>
+nomber, I saie, that having taken in hand, to imitate the service
+of warre of the Romaines, I would not ordein more then three
+hundred horse, profitable for every maine battaile, of whiche I
+would that there were CL. men of armes, and CL. light horsmen, and
+I would give to every one of these partes, a hedde, making after
+emong them fiftene peticapitaines for a bande, givyng to every one
+of them a Trompet, and a standarde: I would that every ten menne of
+armes, should have five carriages, and every ten light horsemen
+twoo, the whiche as those of the footemen, should carrie the
+tentes, the vesselles, and the axes, and the stakes, and the rest
+of their other harneis. Nor beleve not but that it is disorder,
+where the menne of armes have to their service fower horse, bicause
+soche a thyng is a corrupt use: for that the men of armes in
+Almaine, are seen to bee with their horse alone, every twentie of
+theim, havyng onely a carte, that carrieth after them their
+necessary thynges. The Romaine horsemen, were likewise a lone: true
+it is, that the Triary lodged nere them, whiche wer bound to
+minister helpe unto theim, in the kepyng of their horses the whiche
+maie easely be imitated of us, as in the distributyng of the
+lodgynges, I shall shewe you. Thesame then that the Romaines did,
+and that whiche the Duchmen doe now a daies, we maie doe also, ye,
+not doyng it, we erre. These horses ordained and appoincted
+together with a main battaile, maie sometymes be put together, when
+the battailes bee assembled, and to cause that betwene theim bee
+made some sight of assault, the whiche should be more to make them
+acquainted together, then for any other necessitie. But now of this
+part, there hath been spoke sufficiently, wherefore let us facion
+the armie, to be able to come into the field against the enemie,
+and hope to winne it: whiche thyng is the ende, for whiche the
+exercise of warre is ordeined, and so moche studie therein
+bestowed.</p>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page101" id=
+"page101"></a>{101}</span>
+<h2><a name="warre-3" id="warre-3">THE THIRDE BOOKE</a></h2>
+<p>COSIMO. <img width="10%" src="images/image-s.png" alt="S" />
+eeing that we chaunge reasonyng, I will that the demaunder be
+chaunged: bicause I would not be thought presumptuous, the which I
+have alwaies blamed in other: therfore, I resigne the Dictatorship,
+and give this aucthoritie to hym that will have it, of these my
+other frendes.</p>
+<p>ZANOBI. We would be moste glad, that you should procede, but
+seyng that you will not, yet tell at leaste, whiche of us shall
+succede in your place.</p>
+<p>COSIMO. I will give this charge to signor Fabricio.</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. I am content to take it, and I will that we folowe the
+Venecian custome, that is, that the youngeste speake firste:
+bicause this beyng an exercise for yong men, I perswade my self,
+that yong menne, bee moste apt to reason thereof, as thei be moste
+readie to execute it.</p>
+<p>COSIMO. Then it falleth to you Luigi: and as I have pleasure of
+soche a successour, so you shal satisfie your self of soche a
+demaunder: therefore I praie you, let us tourne to the matter, and
+let us lese no more tyme.</p>
+<p class="side">The greateste disorder that is used now a daies in
+pitching of a fielde; The order how a Romain Legion was appoincted
+to faight; The maner that the Grekes used in their Falangi, when
+thei fought against their enemies; The order that the Suizzers use
+in their main battailes when thei faight; Howe to appoincte a main
+battaile with armour and weapons, and to order thesame after the
+Greke and Romain maner.</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. I am certain, that to mynde to shewe wel, how an armie
+is prepared, to faight a fielde, it should be necessarie to
+declare, how the Grekes, and the Romaines ordeined the bandes of
+their armies: Notwithstandyng, you your selves, beeyng able to
+rede, and to consider these tnynges, by meanes of the auncient
+writers. I will passe <span class="pagenum"><a name="page102" id=
+"page102"></a>{102}</span> over many particulars: and I will onely
+bryng in those thynges, whiche I thinke necessarie to imitate,
+mindyng at this tyme, to give to our exercise of warre, some parte
+of perfection: The whiche shall make, that in one instant, I shall
+shewe you, how an armie is prepared to the field, and how it doeth
+incounter in the verie faight, and how it maie be exercised in the
+fained. The greatest disorder, that thei make, whiche ordeine an
+armie to the fielde, is in giving them onely one fronte, and to
+binde them to one brunt, and to one fortune: the whiche groweth, of
+havyng loste the waie, that the antiquitie used to receive one
+bande within an other: bicause without this waie, thei can neither
+succour the formoste, nor defende them, nor succede in the faight
+in their steede: the whiche of the Romaines, was moste excellently
+well observed. Therefore, purposyng to shewe this waie, I saie, how
+that the Romaines devided into iii. partes every Legion, in
+Hastati, Prencipi, and Triarii, of which, the Hastati wer placed in
+the first front, or forward of the armie, with thorders thicke and
+sure, behinde whom wer the Prencipi, but placed with their orders
+more thinne: after these, thei set the Triarii, and with so moche
+thinnes of orders, that thei might, if nede wer, receive betwene
+them the Prencipi, and the Hastati. Thei had besides these, the
+Slingers, and Crosbowshoters, and the other lighte armed, the
+whiche stoode not in these orders, but thei placed them in the bed
+of tharmie, betwene the horses and the other bandes of footemen:
+therefore these light armed, began the faight, if thei overcame
+(whiche happened seldom times) thei folowed the victorie: if thei
+were repulced, thei retired by the flanckes of the armie, or by the
+spaces ordained for soche purposes, and thei brought them selves
+emong the unarmed: after the departure of whom, the Hastati
+incountered with the enemie, the whiche if thei saw themselves to
+be overcome, thei retired by a little and little, by the rarenesse
+of thorders betwene the Prencipi, and together with those, thei
+renued the faight if these also wer repulced, thei retired al in
+the rarenesse of the orders of the Triarii, and al together on a
+heape, <span class="pagenum"><a name="page103" id=
+"page103"></a>{103}</span> began againe the faight: and then, if
+thei were overcome, there was no more remeady, bicause there
+remained no more waies to renue them again. The horses stoode on
+the corners of the armie, to the likenes of twoo winges to a bodie,
+and somewhiles thei fought with the enemies horses, an other while,
+thei rescued the fotmen, according as nede required. This waie of
+renuyng theim selves three tymes, is almoste impossible to
+overcome: for that, fortune muste three tymes forsake thee, and the
+enemie to have so moche strengthe, that three tymes he maie
+overcome thee. The Grekes, had not in their Falangi, this maner of
+renuyng them selves, and although in those wer many heddes, and
+many orders, notwithstandyng, thei made one bodie, or els one
+hedde: the maner that thei kepte in rescuyng the one the other was,
+not to retire the one order within the other, as the Romaines, but
+to enter the one manne into the place of the other: the which thei
+did in this maner. Their Falange brought into rankes, and admit,
+that thei put in a ranke fiftie menne, commyng after with their
+hedde againste the enemie, of all the rankes the foremoste sixe,
+mighte faight: Bicause their Launces, the whiche thei called
+Sarisse, were so long, that the sixt ranke, passed with the hedde
+of their Launces, out of the first ranke: then in faightyng, if any
+of the first, either through death, or through woundes fell,
+straight waie there entered into his place, thesame man, that was
+behinde in the second ranke, and in the place that remained voide
+of the seconde, thesame man entred, whiche was behind hym in the
+thirde, and thus successively, in a sodaine the rankes behinde,
+restored the faultes of those afore, so that the rankes alwaies
+remained whole, and no place of the faighters was voide, except the
+laste rankes, the whiche came to consume, havyng not menne behinde
+their backes, whom might restore theim: So that the hurte that the
+first rankes suffered, consumed the laste, and the firste remained
+alwaies whole: and thus these Falangi by their order, might soner
+be consumed, then broken, for that the grosse bodie, made it more
+immovable. The Romaines used at the beginnyng the Falangi, and did
+set <span class="pagenum"><a name="page104" id=
+"page104"></a>{104}</span> in order their Legions like unto them:
+after, this order pleased them not, and thei devided the Legions
+into many bodies, that is, in bandes and companies: Bicause thei
+judged (as a little afore I saied) that thesame bodie, should have
+neede of many capitaines, and that it should be made of sunderie
+partes, so that every one by it self, might be governed. The maine
+battailes of the Suizzers, use at this present, all the maners of
+the Falangi, as well in ordryng it grosse, and whole, as in
+rescuyng the one the other: and in pitchyng the field, thei set the
+main battailes, thone to the sides of the other: and though thei
+set them the one behinde the other, thei have no waie, that the
+firste retiryng it self, maie bee received of the seconde, but thei
+use this order, to the entent to bee able to succour the one
+thother, where thei put a maine battaile before, and an other
+behinde thesame on the right hande: so that if the first have nede
+of helpe, that then the other maie make forewarde, and succour it:
+the third main battaile, thei put behind these, but distant from
+them, a Harkebus shot: this thei doe, for that thesaid two main
+battailes being repulced, this maie make forwarde, and have space
+for theim selves, and for the repulced, and thesame that marcheth
+forward, to avoide the justling of the one the other: for asmoche
+as a grosse multitude, cannot bee received as a little bodie: and
+therefore, the little bodies beyng destincte, whiche were in a
+Romaine Legion, might be placed in soche wise, that thei might
+receive betwene theim, and rescue the one the other. And to prove
+this order of the Suizzers not to be so good, as the auncient
+Romaines, many insamples of the Romain Legions doe declare, when
+thei fought with the Grekes Falangi, where alwaies thei were
+consumed of theim: for that the kinde of their weapons (as I have
+said afore) and this waie of renuyng themselves, could do more,
+then the massivenesse of the Falangi. Havyng therefore, with these
+insamples to ordaine an armie, I have thought good, partly to
+retaine the maner of armyng and the orders of the Grekes Falangi,
+and partely of the Romain Legions: and therfore I have saied, that
+I would have in a main battaile, twoo <span class=
+"pagenum"><a name="page105" id="page105"></a>{105}</span> thousande
+pikes, whiche be the weapons of the Macedonicall Falangi, and three
+thousande Targaettes with sweardes, whiche be the Romain weapons: I
+have devided the main battaile, into x. battailes, as the Romaines
+their Legion into ten Cohortes: I have ordeined the Veliti, that is
+the light armed, to begin the faight, as the Romaines used: and
+like as the weapons beyng mingled, doe participate of thone and of
+the other nacion, so the orders also doe participate: I have
+ordained, that every battaile shall have v. rankes of Pikes in the
+fronte, and the rest of Targaettes, to bee able with the front, to
+withstande the horses, and to enter easely into the battaile of the
+enemies on foot, having in the firste fronte, or vawarde, Pikes, as
+well as the enemie, the whiche shall suffice me to withstande them,
+the Targaettes after to overcome theim. And if you note the vertue
+of this order, you shal se al these weapons, to doe fully their
+office, for that the Pikes, bee profitable against the horses, and
+when thei come against the footemenne, thei dooe their office well,
+before the faight throng together, bicause so sone as thei presse
+together, thei become unprofitable: wherefore, the Suizzers to
+avoide this inconvenience, put after everye three rankes of Pikes,
+a ranke of Halberdes, the whiche they do to make roome to the
+Pikes, which is not yet so much as suffiseth. Then putting our
+Pikes afore, and the Targaettes behinde, they come to withstande
+the horses, and in the beginning of the fight, they open the rayes,
+and molest the footemen: But when the fight is thrust together, and
+that they become unprofitable, the Targaettes and swoords succeede,
+which may in every narowe place be handled.</p>
+<p>LUIGI. Wee looke nowe with desire to understande, howe you would
+ordeyne the armie to fighte the fielde, with these weapons, and
+with these order.</p>
+<p class="side">The nomber of men that was in a Counsulles armie;
+How the Romaines placed their Legions in the field; How to order an
+armie in the fielde to fighte a battaile, according to the minde of
+the authour; How the extraordinary pikes bee placed in the set
+battaile; The place where thextraordinarie archars and
+harkebutters, and the men of armes and lighte horsmen ought to
+stande when the field is pitched, and goeth to faighte the
+battaile; The ordinarie archars and harkebutters are placed aboute
+their owne battailes; The place where the generall hedde of a maine
+battaile muste stande, when thesame power of men is appoincted to
+faight; What menne a general capitain of a maine battaile oughte to
+have aboute hym; The place wher a general capitain of all thearmie
+must stand when the battaile is ready to be fought and what nomber
+of chosen men oughte to be aboute hym; How many canons is requisite
+for an armie, and of what sise they ought to bee; Where the
+artillerie ought to be placed when thearmie is reedie to fight; An
+armie that were ordered as above is declared, maie in fighting, use
+the Grekes maner, and the Roman fashion; To what purpose the spaces
+that be betwene every bande of men do serve.</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. And I will not nowe shewe you other, then this: you
+have to understande, how that in an ordinarye Romane armie, which
+they call a Consull armie, there were no more, then twoo Legions of
+Romane Citezens which were sixe hundred horse, and about aleven
+thousande footemen: they had besides as many more footemen and
+horsemen, <span class="pagenum"><a name="page106" id=
+"page106"></a>{106}</span> whiche were sente them from their
+friends and confiderates, whome they divided into twoo partes, and
+called the one, the right horne and the other the left horne: nor
+they never permitted, that these aiding footemen, should passe the
+nomber of the footemen of their Legions, they were well contented,
+that the nomber of those horse shoulde be more then theirs: with
+this armie, which was of xxii. thousand footemen, and about twoo
+thousande good horse, a Consul executed all affaires, and went to
+all enterprises: yet when it was needefull to set against a greater
+force, twoo Consulles joyned together with twoo armies. You ought
+also to note in especially, that in all the three principall actes,
+which an armie doth that is, to march, to incampe, and to fight,
+the Romanes used to put their Legions in the middeste, for that
+they woulde, that the same power, wherein they most trusted,
+shoulde bee moste united, as in the reasoning of these three actes,
+shall be shewed you: those aiding footemen, through the practise
+they had with the Legion Souldiours, were as profitable as they,
+because they were instructed, according as the souldiours of the
+Legions were, and therefore, in like maner in pitching the field,
+they pitched. Then he that knoweth how the Romaines disposed a
+Legion in their armie, to fight a field, knoweth how they disposed
+all: therefor, having tolde you how they devided a Legion into
+three bandes, and how the one bande received the other, I have then
+told you, how al tharmie in a fielde, was ordained. Wherefore, I
+minding to ordain a field like unto the Romaines, as they had twoo
+Legions, I will take ii. main batailes, and these being disposed,
+the disposicion of all an armie shalbe understode therby: bycause
+in joyning more men, there is no other to be doen, then to ingrosse
+the orders: I thinke I neede not to rehearse how many men a maine
+battaile hath, and howe it hath ten battailes, and what heades bee
+in a battaile and what weapons they have, and which be the
+ordinarie Pikes and Veliti, and which the extraordinarie for that a
+litle a fore I told you it destinctly, and I willed you to kepe it
+in memorie as a necessarie thing to purpose, to understande
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page107" id=
+"page107"></a>{107}</span> all the other orders: and therfore I
+will come to the demonstracion of the order without repeating it
+any more: Me thinkes good, that the ten battailes of one main
+battaile be set on the left flanke, and the tenne other, of the
+other main battaile, on the right: these that are placed on the
+left flanke, be ordeined in this maner, there is put five battailes
+the one to the side of the other in the fronte, after suche sorte,
+that betweene the one and the other, there remaine a space of three
+yardes, whiche come to occupie for largenesse Cvi. yardes, of
+ground, and for length thirtie: behinde these five battailes, I
+would put three other distante by right line from the firste
+thirtie yardes: twoo of the whiche, should come behinde by right
+line, to the uttermoste of the five, and the other should kepe the
+space in the middeste, and so these three, shall come to occupie
+for bredth and length, as moche space, as the five doeth. But where
+the five have betwene the one, and the other, a distaunce of three
+yardes, these shall have a distance of xxv. yardes. After these, I
+would place the twoo last battailes, in like maner behinde the
+three by right line, and distaunte from those three, thirtie
+yardes, and I would place eche of theim, behinde the uttermoste
+part of the three, so that the space, whiche should remain betwen
+the one and the other, should be lxviii. yardes: then al these
+battailes thus ordered, will take in bredth Cvi. yardes, and in
+length CL. Thextraordinarie Pikes, I would deffende a long the
+flanckes of these battailes, on the left side, distante from them
+fiftene yardes, makyng Cxliij. rankes, seven to a ranke, after
+soche sorte, that thei maie impale with their length, all the left
+sixe of the tenne battailes in thesame wise, declared of me to be
+ordained: and there shall remain fourtie rankes to keepe the
+carriages, and the unarmed, whiche ought to remaine in the taile of
+the armie, distributyng the Peticapitaines, and the Centurions, in
+their places: and of the three Conestables, I would place one in
+the hedde, the other in the middeste, the third in the laste ranke,
+the whiche should execute the office of a Tergiductore, whom the
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page108" id=
+"page108"></a>{108}</span> antiquitie so called hym, that was
+appoincted to the backe of the armie. But retournyng to the hedde
+of the armie, I saie how that I would place nere to the
+extraordinarie pikes, the Veliti extraordinarie, whiche you knowe
+to be five hundred, and I would give them a space of xxx. yardes:
+on the side of these likewise on the left hande, I would place the
+menne of armes, and I would thei should have a space of a Cxii.
+yardes: after these, the light horsemen, to whom I would appoinct
+as moche ground to stande in, as the menne of armes have: the
+ordinarie veliti, I would leave about their owne battailes, who
+should stand in those spaces, whiche I appoincte betwene thone
+battaile and thother: whom should be as their ministers, if
+sometyme I thought not good to place them under the extraordinarie
+Pikes: in dooyng or not doyng whereof, I would proceade, accordyng
+as should tourne best to my purpose. The generall hedde of all the
+maine battaile, I would place in thesame space, that were betwene
+the first and the seconde order of the battailes, or els in the
+hedde, and in thesame space, that is betwene the laste battaile of
+the firste five, and the extraordinarie Pikes, accordyng as beste
+should serve my purpose, with thirtie or fourtie chosen men about
+hym, that knewe by prudence, how to execute a commission, and by
+force, to withstande a violence, and thei to be also betwen the
+Drumme and the Ansigne: this is thorder, with the whiche I would
+dispose a maine battaile, whiche should bee the disposyng of halfe
+the armie, and it should take in breadth three hundred fourscore
+and twoo yardes, and in length as moche as above is saied, not
+accomptyng the space, that thesame parte of the extraordinarie
+Pikes will take, whiche muste make a defence for the unarmed,
+whiche will bee aboute lxxv. yardes: the other maine battaile, I
+would dispose on the righte side, after the same maner juste, as I
+have disposed that on the lefte, leavyng betwene the one main
+battaile, and thother, a space of xxii. yardes: in the hedde of
+whiche space, I would set some little carriages of artillerie,
+behynde the whiche, should stande the generall capitaine of all the
+armie, and should have <span class="pagenum"><a name="page109" id=
+"page109"></a>{109}</span> about hym with the Trumpet, and with the
+Capitaine standerde, twoo hundred menne at least, chosen to be on
+foote the moste parte, emongest whiche there should be tenne or
+more, mete to execute all commaundementes, and should bee in soche
+wise a horsebacke, and armed, that thei mighte bee on horsebacke,
+and on foote, accordyng as neede should require. The artillerie of
+the armie, suffiseth ten Cannons, for the winning of Townes, whose
+shotte shoulde not passe fiftie pounde: the whiche in the fielde
+should serve mee more for defence of the campe, then for to fight
+the battaile: The other artillerie, should bee rather of ten, then
+of fifteene pounde the shotte: this I would place afore on the
+front of all the armie, if sometime the countrie should not stande
+in such wise, that I mighte place it by the flancke in a sure
+place, where it mighte not of the enemie be in daunger: this
+fashion of an armie thus ordered, may in fighting, use the order of
+the Falangi, and the order of the Romane Legions: for that in the
+fronte, bee Pikes, all the men bee set in the rankes, after such
+sorte, that incountering with the enemie, and withstanding him,
+maye after the use of the Falangi, restore the firste ranckes, with
+those behinde: on the other parte, if they be charged so sore, that
+they be constrayned to breake the orders, and to retire themselves,
+they maye enter into the voide places of the seconde battailes,
+which they have behinde them, and unite their selves with them, and
+making a new force, withstande the enemie, and overcome him: and
+when this sufficeth not, they may in the verie same maner, retire
+them selves the seconde time, and the third fight: so that in this
+order, concerning to fight, there is to renue them selves, both
+according to the Greeke maner, and according to the Romane:
+concerning the strength of the armie, there cannot be ordayned a
+more stronger: for as much, as the one and the other borne therof,
+is exceedingly well replenished, both with heades, and weapons, nor
+there remayneth weake, other then the part behinde of the unarmed,
+and the same also, hath the flanckes impaled with the
+extraordinarie Pikes: nor the enemie can not of anye parte
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page110" id=
+"page110"></a>{110}</span> assaulte it, where he shall not finde it
+well appointed, and the hinder parte can not be assaulted: Because
+there can not bee an enemie, that hath so much puissaunce, whome
+equallye maye assault thee on everye side: for that hee having so
+great a power, thou oughtest not then to matche thy selfe in the
+fielde with him: but when he were three times more then thou, and
+as well appointed as thou, hee doth weaken him selfe in assaulting
+thee in divers places, one part that thou breakest, will cause all
+the reste go to naughte: concerning horses, although he chaunce to
+have more then thine, thou needest not feare: for that the orders
+of the Pikes, which impale thee, defende thee from all violence of
+them, although thy horses were repulced. The heades besides this,
+be disposed in such place, that they may easyly commaunde, and
+obeye: the spaces that bee between the one battaile, and the other,
+and betweene the one order, and the other, not onely serve to be
+able to receyve the one the other, but also to give place to the
+messengers, whiche should go and come by order of the Capitayne.
+And as I tolde you firste, howe the Romanes had for an armie,
+aboute foure and twentie thousande men, even so this oughte to bee:
+and as the other souldiours tooke ensample of the Legions, for the
+maner of fighting, and the fashion of the armie, so those
+souldiours, whiche you shoulde joyne to oure twoo mayne battailes,
+oughte to take the forme and order of them: whereof having put you
+an ensample, it is an easye matter to imitate it, for that
+increasing, either twoo other mayne battailes unto the armie, or as
+many other souldiours, as they bee, there is no other to bee done,
+then to double the orders, and where was put tenne battailes on the
+lefte parte, to put twentie, either ingrossing, or distending the
+orders, according as the place, or the enemie shoulde compell
+thee.</p>
+<p>LUIGI. Surelye sir I imagine in suche wise of this armie, that
+mee thinkes I nowe see it, and I burne with a desire to see it
+incounter, and I woulde for nothing in the worlde, that you shoulde
+become Fabius Maximus intendyng to kepe the enemie at a baie, and
+to deferre the daie of battaile: <span class="pagenum"><a name=
+"page111" id="page111"></a>{111}</span> bicause I would saie worse
+of you, then the Romain people saied of hym.</p>
+<p class="side">The descripcion of a battaile that is a
+faightyng.</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. Doubt not: Doe you not heare the artillerie? Ours have
+alredie shotte, but little hurte the enemie: and thextraordinarie
+Veliti, issuyng out of their places together with the light
+horsemen, moste speadely, and with moste merveilous furie, and
+greateste crie that maie be, thei assaulte the enemie: whose
+artillerie hath discharged ones, and hath passed over the heddes of
+our footemen, without doyng them any hurt, and bicause it cannot
+shoote the seconde tyme, the Veliti, and our horsemen, have nowe
+gotten it, and the enemies for to defende it, are come fore warde,
+so that neither our ordinaunce, nor thenemies, can any more doe
+their office. Se with how moche vertue, strengthe and agilitie our
+men faighteth, and with how moche knowledge through the exercise,
+whiche hath made them to abide, and by the confidence, that thei
+have in the armie, the whiche, see, how with the pace therof, and
+with the men of armes on the sides, it marcheth in good order, to
+give the charge on the adversarie: See our artillerie, whiche to
+give theim place, and to leave them the space free, is retired by
+thesame space, from whens the Veliti issued: See how the capitaine
+incourageth them, sheweth them the victorie certain: See how the
+Veliti and light horsemen bee inlarged, and retourned on the
+flanckes of tharmie, to seke and view, if thei maie by the flanck,
+doe any injurie to the adversaries: behold how the armies be
+affronted. Se with how moche valiauntnesse thei have withstode the
+violence of thenemies, and with how moche silence, and how the
+capitain commaundeth the menne of armes, that thei sustain, and not
+charge, and that thei breake not from the order of the footemen:
+see how our light horsemen be gone, to give the charge on a band of
+the enemies Harkebutters, whiche would have hurt our men by
+flancke, and how the enemies horse have succoured them, so that
+tourned betwene the one and the other horse, thei cannot shoote,
+but are faine to retire behinde their owne battaile: see with what
+furie our Pikes doe also affront, and <span class=
+"pagenum"><a name="page112" id="page112"></a>{112}</span> how the
+footemen be now so nere together the one to the other, that the
+Pikes can no more be occupied: so that according to the knowlege
+learned of us, our pikes do retire a little and a little betwen the
+targaettes. Se how in this while a great bande of men of armes of
+the enemies, have charged our men of armes on the lefte side, and
+how ours, accordyng to knowlege, bee retired under the
+extraordinarie Pikes, and with the help of those, giving again a
+freshe charge, have repulced the adversaries, and slain a good part
+of them: in so moche, that thordinarie pikes of the first
+battailes, be hidden betwene the raies of the Targaettes, thei
+havyng lefte the faight to the Targaet men: whom you maie see, with
+how moche vertue, securitie, and leasure, thei kill the enemie: see
+you not how moche by faightyng, the orders be thrust together? That
+thei can scarse welde their sweardes? Behold with how moche furie
+the enemies move: bicause beyng armed with the pike, and with the
+swerd unprofitable (the one for beyng to long, the other for
+findyng thenemie to well armed) in part thei fall hurt or dedde, in
+parte thei flie. See, thei flie on the righte corner, thei flie
+also on the lefte: behold, the victorie is ours. Have not we wonne
+a field moste happely? But with more happinesse it should bee
+wonne, if it were graunted me to put it in acte. And see, how there
+neded not the helpe of the seconde, nor of the third order, for our
+first fronte hath sufficed to overcome theim: in this part, I have
+no other to saie unto you, then to resolve if any doubt be growen
+you.</p>
+<p class="side">Questions concerning the shotyng of ordinaunce.</p>
+<p>LUIGI. You have with so moche furie wonne this fielde that I so
+moche mervaile and am so astonied, that I beleve that I am not able
+to expresse, if any doubt remain in my mynde: yet trustyng in your
+prudence, I will be so bolde to tell thesame that I understande.
+Tell me firste, why made you not your ordinaunce to shoote more
+then ones? And why straighte waie you made them to retire into
+tharmie, nor after made no mension of them? Me thought also, that
+you leveled the artillerie of the enemie high, and appoincted it
+after your own devise: the whiche might very <span class=
+"pagenum"><a name="page113" id="page113"></a>{113}</span> well bee,
+yet when it should happen, as I beleve it chaunseth often, that
+thei strike the rankes, what reamedie have you? And seyng that I
+have begun of the artillerie, I will finishe all this question, to
+the intente I nede not to reason therof any more. I have heard many
+dispraise the armours, and the orders of the aunciente armies,
+arguyng, how now a daies, thei can doe little, but rather should
+bee altogether unprofitable, havyng respecte to the furie of the
+artillerie: bicause, this breaketh the orders, and passeth the
+armours in soche wise, that it semeth unto them a foolishenesse to
+make an order, whiche cannot bee kepte, and to take pain to beare a
+harneis, that cannot defende a man.</p>
+<p class="side">An aunswere to the questions that were demaunded,
+concernyng the shoting of ordinaunce; The best remedie to avoide
+the hurte that the enemie in the fielde maie doe with his
+ordinaunce; A policie against bowes and dartes; Nothyng causeth
+greater confusion in an armie, than to hinder mennes fightes;
+Nothing more blindeth the sight of men in an armie, then the smoke
+of ordinaunce; A policie to trouble the enemies sight; The shotte
+of greate ordinaunce in the fielde, is not moche to bee feared of
+fotemenne; Bicause menne of armes stand closer together then light
+horsmen, thei ought to remaine behinde the armie till the enemies
+ordinaunce have done shootyng; The artillerie is no let, why the
+auncient orders of warfar ought not to be used in these daies.</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. This question of yours (bicause it hath many heddes)
+hath neede of a long aunswere. It is true, that I made not
+thartillery to shoote more than ones, and also of thesame ones, I
+stoode in doubte: the occasion was, for asmoche as it importeth
+more, for one to take hede not to be striken, then it importeth to
+strike the enemie. You have to understande, that to purpose that a
+pece of ordinaunce hurte you not, it is necessarie either to stande
+where it cannot reche you, or to get behinde a wall, or behinde a
+banke: other thing there is not that can witholde it: and it is
+nedefull also, that the one and the other be moste strong. Those
+capitaines whiche come to faight a field, cannot stand behind a
+wal, or behind bankes, nor where thei maie not be reached: therfore
+it is mete for them, seyng thei cannot finde a waie to defende
+them, to finde some mean, by the whiche thei maie be least hurte:
+nor thei cannot finde any other waie, then to prevente it quickly:
+the waie to prevent it, is to go to finde it out of hande, and
+hastely, not at leasure and in a heape: for that through spede, the
+blowe is not suffered to bee redoubled, and by the thinnesse, lesse
+nomber of menne maie be hurt. This, a bande of menne ordered,
+cannot dooe; bicause if thesame marche hastely, it goweth out of
+order: if it go scattered, the enemie shall have no paine to breake
+it, for that it breaketh by it self: and therfore, I ordered the
+armie after soche sorte, that it might dooe the one thyng
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page114" id=
+"page114"></a>{114}</span> and the other: for as moche as havyng
+set in the corners thereof, a thousande Veliti, I appoincted that
+after that our ordinaunce had shotte, thei should issue out
+together with the light horsemen, to get the enemies artillerie:
+and therfore, I made not my ordinance to shoote again, to the
+intente, to give no tyme to the enemie to shoote: Bicause space
+could not be given to me, and taken from other men, and for thesame
+occasion, where I made my ordinaunce not to shoote the seconde
+tyme, was for that I would not have suffered the enemie to have
+shot at al, if I had could: seyng that to mynde that the enemies
+artillerie be unprofitable, there is no other remedie, but to
+assaulte it spedely: for as moche as if the enemies forsake it,
+thou takeste it, if thei will defende it, it is requisite that thei
+leave it behind, so that being possessed of enemies, and of
+frendes, it cannot shoote. I would beleve, that with out insamples
+these reasons should suffice you, yet beyng able to shewe olde
+ensamples, to prove my saiynges true, I will. Ventidio commyng to
+faight a field with the Parthians, whose strength for the moste
+part, consisted in bowes and arrowes, he suffered theim almoste to
+come harde to his campe, before he drewe out his armie, the whiche
+onely he did, to be able quickly to prevent them: and not to give
+them space to shoote. Cesar when he was in Fraunce, maketh mencion,
+that in faighting a battaile with the enemies, he was with so moche
+furie assaulted of them, that his menne had no time to whorle their
+Dartes, accordyng to the custome of the Romaines: wherfore it is
+seen, that to intende, that a thyng that shooteth farre of, beyng
+in the field, doe not hurte thee, there is no other remedy, then
+with as moche celeritie as maie bee, to prevente it. An other cause
+moved me to procede, without shotyng the ordinaunce, whereat
+peradventure you will laugh: yet I judge not that it is to be
+dispraised. Ther is nothyng that causeth greater confusion in an
+armie, then to hinder mennes fightes: whereby many moste puisaunte
+armies have been broken, by meanes their fighte hath been letted,
+either with duste, or with the Sunne: yet there is nothyng, that
+more letteth the sight <span class="pagenum"><a name="page115" id=
+"page115"></a>{115}</span> then the smoke that the artillerie
+maketh in shotyng: therfore, I would thinke that it wer more
+wisedome, to suffer the enemie to blinde hymself, then to purpose
+(thou being blind) to go to finde hym: for this cause, either I
+would not shote, or (for that this should not be proved,
+considering the reputacion that the artillerie hath) I would place
+it on the corners of the armie, so that shootyng, it should not
+with the smoke thereof, blinde the front of thesame, whiche is the
+importaunce of my men. And to prove that it is a profitable thyng,
+to let the sight of the enemie, there maie be brought for insample
+Epaminondas, whom to blind the enemies armie, whiche came to faight
+with hym, he caused his light horsemen, to run before the fronte of
+the enemies, to raise up the duste, and to lette their sight,
+whereby he gotte the victorie. And where it semeth unto you, that I
+have guided the shot of the artillerie, after my owne devise,
+making it to passe over the heddes of my men, I answer you, that
+most often tymes, and without comparison, the greate ordinaunce
+misse the footemen, moche soner than hitte theim: for that the
+footemen are so lowe, and those so difficult to shoote; that every
+little that thou raisest theim, thei passe over the heddes of men:
+and if thei be leveled never so little to lowe, thei strike in the
+yearth, and the blowe cometh not to theim: also the unevenesse of
+the grounde saveth them, for that every little hillocke, or high
+place that is, betwene the men and thordinance, letteth the shot
+therof. And concernyng horsmen, and in especially men of armes,
+bicause thei ought to stand more close together, then the light
+horsemen, and for that thei are moche higher, maie the better be
+stroken, thei maie, untill the artillerie have shotte, be kepte in
+the taile of the armie. True it is, that the Harkebutters doe moche
+more hurt, and the field peces, then the greate ordinance, for the
+whiche, the greatest remedy is, to come to hande strokes quickly:
+and if in the firste assaulte, there be slaine some, alwaies there
+shall bee slaine: but a good capitaine, and a good armie, ought not
+to make a coumpte of a hurte, that is particulare, but of a
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page116" id=
+"page116"></a>{116}</span> generall, and to imitate the Suizzers,
+whom never eschue to faight, beyng made afraied of the artillerie:
+but rather punishe with death those, whiche for feare thereof,
+either should go out of the ranke, or should make with his body any
+signe of feare. I made them (so sone as thei had shotte) to bee
+retired into the armie, that thei might leave the waie free for the
+battaile: I made no more mencion of theim, as of a thyng
+unprofitable, the faight beyng begun. You have also saied, that
+consideryng the violence of this instrument, many judge the
+armours, and the auncient orders to be to no purpose, and it semeth
+by this your talke, that men now a daies, have founde orders and
+armours, whiche are able to defend them against the artillerie: if
+you knowe this, I would bee glad that you would teache it me: for
+that hetherto, I never sawe any, nor I beleve that there can any be
+founde: so that I would understande of soche men, for what cause
+the souldiours on foote in these daies, weare the breastplate, or
+the corselet of steele, and thei on horsebacke go all armed:
+bicause seyng that thei blame the aunciente armyng of men as
+unprofitable, considryng the artillery, thei ought to despise also
+this? I would understande moreover, for what occasion the Suizzers,
+like unto the auncient orders, make a battaile close together of
+sixe, or eight thousande menne, and for what occasion all other
+have imitated theim, this order bearyng the verie same perill,
+concernyng the artillerie, that those other should beare, whiche
+should imitate the antiquitie. I beleve thei should not knowe what
+to answere: but if you should aske soche Souldiours, as had some
+judgement, thei would aunswere first, that thei go armed, for that
+though thesame armoure defende theim not from the artillerie: it
+defendeth them from crossebowes, from Pikes, from sweardes, from
+stones, and from all other hurt, that commeth from the enemies,
+thei would answere also, that thei went close together, like the
+Suizzers, to be able more easely to overthrow the footemen, to be
+able to withstand better the horse and to give more difficultie to
+the enemie to breake them: so that it is seen, that the souldiours
+have to fear, <span class="pagenum"><a name="page117" id=
+"page117"></a>{117}</span> many other thynges besides the
+ordinance: from which thynges, with the armours, and with the
+orders, thei are defended: whereof foloweth, that the better that
+an armie is armed, and the closer that it hath the orders, and
+stronger, so moche the surer it is: so that he that is of thesame
+opinion, that you saie, it behoveth either that he bee of smalle
+wisedome, or that in this thyng, he hath studied verie little: for
+as moche as if we see, that so little a parte of the aunciente
+maner of armyng, whiche is used now a daies, that is the pike, and
+so little a parte of those orders, as are the maine battailes of
+the Suizzers, dooe us so moche good, and cause our armies to bee so
+strong, why ought not we to beleve, that the other armours, and
+thother orders whiche are lefte, be profitable? Seyng that if we
+have no regard to the artillerie, in puttyng our selves close
+together, as the Suizzers, what other orders maie make us more to
+feare thesame? For as moche as no order can cause us so moche to
+feare thesame, as those, whiche bryng men together. Besides this,
+if the artillerie of the enemies should not make me afraied, in
+besiegyng a Toune, where it hurteth me with more safegarde, beyng
+defended of a wall, I beyng not able to prevente it, but onely with
+tyme, with my artillerie to lette it, after soche sorte that it
+maie double the blowe as it liste, why should I feare thesame in
+the field, where I maie quickly prevent it? So that I conclude
+thus, that the artillerie, according to my opinion, doeth not let,
+that the aunciente maners cannot be used, and to shewe the auncient
+vertue: and if I had not talked alreadie with you of this
+instrument, I would of thesame, declare unto you more at length:
+but I will remit my self to that, whiche then I saied.</p>
+<p>LUIGI. Wee maie now understande verie well, how moche you have
+aboute the artillerie discoursed: and in conclusion, my thinkes you
+have shewed, that the preventyng it quickly, is the greatest
+remedie, that maie be had for thesame, beyng in the fielde, and
+havyng an armie againste you. Upon the whiche there groweth in me a
+doubte: bicause me thinkes, that the enemie might place his
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page118" id=
+"page118"></a>{118}</span> ordinaunce in soche wise, in his armie,
+that it should hurt you, and should be after soche sort garded of
+the footemen, that it could not be prevented. You have (if you
+remember your self well) in the orderyng of your armie to faight,
+made distaunces of three yardes, betwene the one battaile and the
+other, makyng those distaunces fiftene, whiche is from the
+battailes, to thextraordinarie pikes: if thenemie, shuld order his
+armie like unto yours, and should putte the artillerie a good waie
+within those spaces, I beleve that from thens, it should hurte you
+with their moste greate safegard: bicause menne can not enter into
+the force of their enemies to prevent it.</p>
+<p class="side">A generall rule againste soche thynges as cannot
+bee withstoode.</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. You doubt moste prudently, and I will devise with my
+self, either to resolve you the doubte, or shewe you the remedie: I
+have tolde you, that continually these battailes, either through
+goyng, or thorowe faightyng, are movyng, and alwaies naturally,
+thei come to drawe harde together, so that if you make the
+distaunces of a small breadth, where you set the artillerie, in a
+little tyme thei be shootte up, after soche sort, that the
+artillerie cannot any more shoote: if you make theim large, to
+avoide this perill, you incurre into a greater, where you through
+those distances, not onely give commoditie to the enemie, to take
+from you the artillerie, but to breake you: but you have to
+understande, that it is impossible to keepe the artillerie betwene
+the bandes, and in especially those whiche go on carriages: For
+that the artillerie goeth one waie, and shooteth an other waie: So
+that havyng to go and to shoote, it is necessary, before thei
+shote, that thei tourne, and for to tourne theim, thei will have so
+moche space, that fiftie cartes of artillerie, would disorder any
+armie: therfore, it is mete to kepe them out of the bandes, where
+thei may be overcome in the maner, as a little afore we have
+shewed: but admit thei might be kept, and that there might be found
+a waie betwen bothe, and of soche condicion, that the presyng
+together of men should not hinder the artillerie, and were not so
+open that it should give waie to the enemie, I saie, that it is
+remedied moste easely, with makyng distances <span class=
+"pagenum"><a name="page119" id="page119"></a>{119}</span> in thy
+armie against it, whiche maie give free passage to the shot of
+those, and so the violence thereof shall come to be vain, the which
+maie be doen moste easely: for asmoche, as the enemie mindyng to
+have his artillerie stand safe, it behoveth that he put them
+behinde, in the furthest part of the distances, so that the shot of
+the same, he purposyng that thei hurt not his owne men, ought to
+passe by right line, and by that very same alwaies: and therefore
+with givyng theim place, easely thei maie bee avoided: for that
+this is a generall rule, that to those thynges, whiche cannot be
+withstoode, there must bee given waie, as the antiquitie made to
+the Eliphantes, and to the carres full of hookes. I beleve, ye, I
+am more then certaine, that it semeth unto you, that I have ordered
+and wonne a battaile after my own maner: notwithstanding, I answeer
+unto you this, when so moche as I have saied hetherto, should not
+suffice, that it should be impossible, that an armie thus ordered,
+and armed, should not overcome at the first incounter, any other
+armie that should bee ordained, as thei order the armies now
+adaies, whom most often tymes, make not but one front, havyng no
+targaettes, and are in soche wise unarmed, that thei cannot defende
+themselves from the enemie at hand, and thei order theim after
+soche sorte, that if thei set their battailes by flanck, the one to
+the other, thei make the armie thinne: if thei put the one behind
+the other, havyng no waie to receive the one the other, thei doe it
+confusedly, and apt to be easly troubled: and although thei give
+three names to their armies, and devide them into thre companies,
+vaward, battaile, and rereward, notwithstandyng it serveth to no
+other purpose, then to marche, and to distinguis the lodgynges: but
+in the daie of battaile, thei binde them all to the first brunte,
+and to the first fortune.</p>
+<p>LUIGI. I have noted also in the faightyng of your fielde, how
+your horsemen were repulced of the enemies horsemen: for whiche
+cause thei retired to the extraordinaire Pikes: whereby grewe, that
+with the aide of theim, thei withstode, and drave the enemies
+backe? I beleve that the Pikes maie <span class="pagenum"><a name=
+"page120" id="page120"></a>{120}</span> withstande the horses, as
+you saie, but in a grosse and thicke maine battaile, as the
+Suizzers make: but you in your army, have for the hedde five rankes
+of Pikes, and for the flancke seven, so that I cannot tell how thei
+maie bee able to withstande them.</p>
+<p class="side">A Battaile how greate so ever it bee, cannot atones
+occupy above v. rankes of Pikes.</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. Yet I have told you, how sixe rankes of pikes wer
+occupied at ones, in the Macedonicall Falangi, albeit you ought to
+understande, that a maine battaile of Suizzers, if it were made of
+a thousande rankes, it cannot occupie more then fower, or at the
+most five: bicause the Pikes be sixe yardes and three quarters
+longe, one yarde and halfe a quarter, is occupied of the handes,
+wherefore to the firste ranke, there remaineth free five yardes and
+a half, and a halfe quarter of Pike: the seconde ranke besides that
+whiche is occupied with the hande, consumeth a yarde and half a
+quarter in the space, whiche remaineth betwene the one ranke and
+thother: so that there is not left of pike profitable, more then
+fower yardes and a halfe: to the thirde ranke, by this verie same
+reason, there remaineth three yardes and a quarter and a halfe: to
+the fowerth, twoo yardes and a quarter: to the fift one yard and
+halfe a quarter: the other rankes, for to hurte, be unprofitable,
+but thei serve to restore these firste rankes, as we have declared,
+and to bee a fortificacion to those v. Then if five of their rankes
+can withstande the horse, why cannot five of ours withstande theim?
+to the whiche also there lacketh not rankes behinde, that doeth
+sustain and make them the very same staie, although thei have no
+pikes as the other. And when the rankes of thextraordinarie pikes,
+which are placed on the flanckes, should seme unto you thinne, thei
+maie bee brought into a quadrante, and put on the flancke nere the
+twoo battailes, whiche I set in the laste companie of the armie:
+From the whiche place, thei maie easely altogether succour the
+fronte, and the backe of the armie, and minister helpe to the
+horses, accordyng as nede shall require.</p>
+<p>LUIGI. Would you alwaies use this forme of order, when you would
+pitche a fielde.</p>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page121" id=
+"page121"></a>{121}</span>
+<p class="side">An advertiement concernyng the pitchying of a
+field.</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. No in no wise: for that you ought to varie the facion
+of the armie, according to the qualitie of the situacion, and the
+condicion and quantitie of the enemie, as before this reasonyng
+dooe ende, shall bee shewed certaine insamples: but this forme is
+given unto you, not so moche as moste strongeste of all, where in
+deede it is verie strong, as to the intente that thereby you maie
+take a rule, and an order to learne to knowe the waies to ordeine
+the other: for as moche, as every science hath his generalitie,
+upon the whiche a good part of it is grounded. One thing onely I
+advise you, that you never order an armie, after soche sorte, that
+those that faight afore, cannot bee sucoured of theim, whiche be
+set behind: bicause he that committeth this errour, maketh the
+greateste parte of his armie to bee unprofitable, and if it
+incounter any strength, it cannot overcome.</p>
+<p>LUIGI. There is growen in me, upon this parte a doubte. I have
+seen that in the placyng of the battailes, you make the fronte of
+five on a side, the middeste of three, and the last partes of twoo,
+and I beleve, that it were better to ordain them contrariwise: for
+that I thinke, that an armie should with more difficultie bee
+broken, when he that should charge upon it, the more that he should
+entre into the-same, so moche the stronger he should finde it: and
+the order devised of you, me thinkes maketh, that the more it is
+entered into, so moche the weaker it is founde.</p>
+<p class="side">How the front of the armie ought to bee made; How
+the middell part of the armie ought to be ordered.</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. If you should remember how to the Triarii, whom were
+the thirde order of the Romain Legions, there were not assigned
+more then sixe hundred men, you would doubt lesse, havyng
+understode how thei were placed in the laste companie: For that you
+should see, how I moved of this insample, have placed in the last
+companie twoo battailes, whiche are nine hundred men, so that I
+come rather (folowyng the insample of the Romaine people) to erre,
+for havyng taken to many, then to fewe: and although this insample
+should suffice, I will tell you the reason, the which is this. The
+first fronte of the armie, is made perfectly whole and thicke,
+bicause it must withstande the brunt of <span class=
+"pagenum"><a name="page122" id="page122"></a>{122}</span> the
+enemies, and it hath not to receive in it any of their felowes: and
+for this, it is fitte that it bee full of menne: bicause a fewe
+menne, should make it weake, either thinnesse, or for lacke of
+sufficiente nomber: but the seconde companie, for as moche as it
+must first receive their frendes, to sustain the enemie, it is mete
+that it have greate spaces, and for this it behoveth, that it be of
+lesse nomber then the first: for that if it wer of greater nomber,
+or equall, it should bee conveniente, either not to leave the
+distaunces, the whiche should be disorder, or leavyng theim, to
+passe the boundes of thoseafore, the whiche should make the facion
+of the armie unperfecte: and it is not true that you saie, that the
+enemie, the more that he entereth into the maine battaile, so moche
+the weaker he findeth it: for that the enemie, can never faight
+with the seconde order, except the first be joined with thesame: so
+that he cometh to finde the middest of the maine battaile more
+stronger, and not more weaker, havyng to faight with the first, and
+with the seconde order altogether: the verie same happeneth, when
+the enemie should come to the thirde companie: for that there, not
+with twoo battailes, whiche is founde freshe, but with all the
+maine battaile he must faight: and for that this last part hath to
+receive moste men, the spaces therof is requisite to be greatest,
+and that whiche receiveth them, to be the leste nomber.</p>
+<p class="side">The orderyng of the hinder part of tharmy.</p>
+<p>LUIGI. It pleaseth me thesame that you have told: but answere me
+also this: if the five first battailes doe retire betwene the three
+seconde battailes, and after the eight betwene the twoo thirde, it
+semeth not possible, that the eight beyng brought together, and
+then the tenne together, maie bee received when thei bee eight, or
+when thei be tenne in the verie same space, whiche received the
+five.</p>
+<p class="side">The retire of the Pikes, to place the Targaet
+men.</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. The first thyng that I aunswere is, that it is not the
+verie same space: For that the five have fower spaces in the
+middeste, whiche retiryng betwene the thre, or betwene the twoo,
+thei occupie: then there remaineth thesame space, that is betwene
+the one maine battaile and <span class="pagenum"><a name="page123"
+id="page123"></a>{123}</span> other and thesame that is, betwene
+the battailes, and the extraordinarie Pikes, al the whiche spaces
+makes largenesse: besides this, it is to bee considered, that the
+battailes kepe other maner of spaces, when thei bee in the orders
+without beyng altered, then when thei be altered: for that in the
+alteracion: either thei throng together, or thei inlarge the
+orders: thei inlarge theim, when thei feare so moche, that thei
+fall to fliyng, thei thrust them together, when thei feare in soche
+wise, that thei seke to save them selves, not with runnyng a waie,
+but with defence: So that in this case, thei should come to be
+destingueshed, and not to be inlarged. Moreover, the five rankes of
+the Pikes, that are before, so sone as thei have begun the faighte,
+thei ought betwene their battailes to retire, into the taile of the
+armie, for to give place to the Targaet men, that thei maie
+faighte: and thei goyng into the taile of the armie, maie dooe
+soche service as the capitain should judge, were good to occupie
+theim aboute, where in the forward, the faight beyng mingled, thei
+should otherwise bee altogether unprofitable. And for this the
+spaces ordained, come to bee for the remnaunte of the menne, wide
+inough to receive them: yet when these spaces should not suffice,
+the flankes on the sides be men, and not walles, whom givyng place,
+and inlargyng them selves, maie make the space to containe so
+moche, that it maie bee sufficient to receive theim.</p>
+<p class="side">How the pikes that are placed on the flankes of the
+armie ought to governe them selves when the rest of the armie is
+driven to retire.</p>
+<p>LUIGI. The rankes of the extraordinarie Pikes, whiche you place
+on the flanckes of the armie, when the first battailes retire into
+the second, will you have them to stande still, and remain with
+twoo homes to the armie? Or will you that thei also retire
+together, with the battailes? The whiche when thei should do, I see
+not how thei can, havyng no battailes behinde with distaunces that
+maie receive them.</p>
+<p class="side">Thexercise of the army in generall; The nomber that
+is mete to be written in the Ansigne of every band of men; The
+degrees of honours in an armie, whiche soche a man ought to rise
+by, as should bee made a generall capitain.</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. If the enemie overcome theim not, when he inforceth
+the battailes to retire, thei maie stande still in their order, and
+hurte the enemie on the flanck, after that the firste battailes
+retired: but if he should also overcome <span class=
+"pagenum"><a name="page124" id="page124"></a>{124}</span> theim, as
+semeth reason, beyng so puisaunte, that he is able to repulce the
+other, thei also ought to retire: whiche thei maie dooe excellently
+well, although thei have not behinde, any to receive them: bicause
+from the middest thei maie redouble by right line, entring the one
+ranke into the other, in the maner whereof wee reasoned, when it
+was spoken of the order of redoublyng: True it is, that to mynde
+redoublyng to retire backe, it behoveth to take an other waie, then
+thesame that I shewed you: for that I told you, that the second
+ranke, ought to enter into the first, the fowerth into the thirde,
+and so foorth: in this case, thei ought not to begin before, but
+behinde, so that redoublyng the rankes, thei maie come to retire
+backewarde not to tourne forward: but to aunswere to all thesame,
+that upon this foughten field by me shewed, might of you bee
+replied. I saie unto you again, that I have ordained you this
+armie, and shewed this foughten field for two causes, thone, for to
+declare unto you how it is ordered, the other to shewe you how it
+is exercised: thorder, I beleve you understande moste well: and
+concernyng the exersice, I saie unto you, that thei ought to be put
+together in this forme, as often times as maie be: for as moche as
+the heddes learne therby, to kepe their battailes in these orders:
+for that to particulare souldiours, it appertaineth to keepe well
+the orders of every battaile, to the heddes of the battailes, it
+appertaineth to keepe theim well in every order of the armie, and
+that thei knowe how to obeie, at the commaundement of the generall
+capitain: therefore, it is conveniente that thei knowe, how to
+joyne the one battaile with thother, that thei maie knowe how to
+take their place atones: and for this cause it is mete that
+thansigne of every battaile, have written in some evident part, the
+nomber therof: as well for to be able to commaunde them, as also
+for that the capitain, and the souldiours by thesame nomber, maie
+more easely knowe theim againe: also the maine battailes, ought to
+be nombred, and to have the nomber in their principal Ansigne:
+Therefore it is requisite, to knowe of what nomber the maine
+battaile shall be, that is placed on the left, or on <span class=
+"pagenum"><a name="page125" id="page125"></a>{125}</span> the right
+horne of what nombers the battailes bee, that are set in the
+fronte, and in the middeste, and so foorthe of the other. The
+antiquitie would also, that these nombers should bee steppes to
+degrees, of honors of the armies: as for insample, the first
+degree, is the Peticapitain, the seconde, the hedde of fiftie
+ordinarie Veliti, the thirde, the Centurion, the fowerth, the hedde
+of the first battaile, the fifte, of the second, the sixt, of the
+thirde, and so forthe, even to the tenth battaile, the whiche must
+be honoured in the seconde place, nexte the generall capitaine of a
+maine battaile: nor any ought to come to thesame hedde, if first,
+he have not risen up by all these degrees. And bicause besides
+these heddes, there be the three Conestables of the extraordinarie
+Pikes, and twoo of the extraordinarie Veliti, I would that thei
+should be in the same degree of the Conestable of the first
+battaile: nor I would not care, that there were sixe men of like
+degree, to thintent, that every one of them might strive, who
+should doe beste, for to be promised to be hedde of the seconde
+battaile. Then every one of these heddes, knowyng in what place his
+battaile ought to be sette in, of necessitie it must folowe, that
+at a sounde of the Trompette, so sone as the hedde standarde shall
+bee erected, all the armie shall be in their places: and this is
+the first exercise, whereunto an armie ought to bee accustomed,
+that is to set theim quickly together: and to doe this, it is
+requisite every daie, and divers times in one daie, to set them in
+order, and to disorder them.</p>
+<p>LUIGI. What armes would you that thansignes of all the armie,
+shoul'd have beside the nomber?</p>
+<p class="side">The armes that oughte to bee in the standarde, and
+in the ansignes of an armie; The second and thirde exercise of an
+armie; The fowerth exercise of an armie; The soundes of the
+instrumentes of musicke, that the antiquitie used in their armies;
+What is signified by the sounde of the Trompet.</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. The standarde of the generall Capitaine oughte to have
+the armes of the Prince of the armie, all the other, maie have the
+verie same armes, and to varie with the fieldes, or to varie with
+the armes, as should seme beste to the Lorde of the armie: Bicause
+this importeth little, so that the effect growe, that thei be
+knowen the one from the other. But let us passe to the other
+exercise: the which is to make them to move, and with a convenient
+pace to <span class="pagenum"><a name="page126" id=
+"page126"></a>{126}</span> marche, and to se, that marehyng thei
+kepe the orders. The third exercise is, that thei learne to handle
+themselves in thesame maner, whiche thei ought after to handle
+theimselves in the daie of battaile, to cause the artillerie to
+shoote, and to bee drawen out of the waie, to make the
+extraordinarie Veliti to issue out, after a likenes of an assault,
+to retire theim: To make that the firste battailes, as though thei
+wer sore charged, retire into the spaces of the second: and after,
+all into the thirde, and from thens every one to retourne to his
+place: and in soche wise to use theim in this exercise, that to
+every manne, all thyng maie be knowen, and familiar: the which with
+practise, and with familiaritie, is brought to passe moste quickly.
+The fowerth exercise is, that thei learne to knowe by meane of the
+sounde, and of the Ansigne, the commaundemente of their capitaine:
+for as moche as that, whiche shall be to them pronounced by voice,
+thei without other commaundemente, maie understande: and bicause
+the importaunce of this commaundement, ought to growe of the
+sounde, I shall tell you what soundes the antiquitie used. Of the
+Lacedemonians, accordyng as Tucidido affirmeth, in their armies
+were used Flutes: for that thei judged, that this armonie, was
+moste mete to make their armie to procede with gravetie, and with
+furie: the Carthaginens beyng moved by this verie same reason, in
+the first assaulte, used the violone. Aliatte kyng of the Lidians,
+used in the warre the violone, and the Flutes: but Alexander
+Magnus, and the Romaines, used hornes, and Trumpettes, as thei,
+that thought by vertue of soche instrumentes, to bee able to
+incourage more the myndes of Souldiours, and make theim to faight
+the more lustely: but as we have in armyng the armie, taken of the
+Greke maner, and of the Romaine, so in distrihutyng the soundes, we
+will keepe the customes of the one, and of the other nacion:
+therefore, nere the generall capitain, I would make the Trompettes
+to stand, as a sounde not onely apt to inflame the armie, but apte
+to bee heard in all the whole tumoult more, then any other sounde:
+all the other soundes, whiche should bee aboute the Conestables,
+and <span class="pagenum"><a name="page127" id=
+"page127"></a>{127}</span> the heddes of maine battailes I would,
+that thei should bee smalle Drummes, and Flutes, sounded not as
+thei sounde theim now but as thei use to sounde theim at feastes.
+The capitaine then with the Trompet, should shewe when thei must
+stande still, and go forward, or tourne backward, when the
+artillerie must shoote, when the extraordinarie Veliti must move,
+and with the varietie or distinccion of soche soundes, to shewe
+unto the armie all those mocions, whiche generally maie bee shewed,
+the whiche Trompettes, should bee after followed of the Drummes,
+and in this exercise, bicause it importeth moche, it behoveth moche
+to exercise the armie. Concernyng the horsemen, there would be used
+likewise Trompettes, but of a lesse sounde, and of a divers voice
+from those of the Capitaine. This is as moche as is come into my
+remembraunce, aboute the order of the armie, and of the exercise of
+thesame.</p>
+<p>LUIGI. I praie you let it not be grevous unto you to declare
+unto me an other thyng, that is, for what cause you made the light
+horsmen, and the extraordinarie Veliti, to goe with cries, rumours,
+and furie, when thei gave the charge? And after in the incountering
+of the rest of tharmie, you shewed, that the thing folowed with a
+moste greate scilence? And for that I understande not the occasion
+of this varietie, I would desire that you would declare it unto
+me.</p>
+<p class="side">The cries, and rumours, wher with the firste charge
+is given unto the enemies, and the silence that ought to bee used
+after, when the faight is ones begunne.</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. The opinion of auncient capitaines, hath been divers
+about the commyng to handes, whether thei ought with rumour to go a
+pace, or with scilence to go faire and softely: this laste waie,
+serveth to kepe the order more sure, and to understande better the
+commaundementes of the Capitaine: the firste, serveth to incourage
+more the mindes of men: and for that I beleve, that respecte ought
+to bee had to the one, and to the other of these twoo thynges, I
+made the one goe with rumour, and thother with scilence: nor me
+thinkes not in any wise, that the continuall rumours bee to
+purpose: bicause thei lette the commaundementes, the whiche is a
+thyng moste pernicious: nor it standeth not with reason, that the
+Romaines used, except at the firste assaulte <span class=
+"pagenum"><a name="page128" id="page128"></a>{128}</span> to make
+rumour: for that in their histories, is seen many tymes to have
+happened, that through the wordes, and comfortinges of the capitain
+the souldiours that ranne awaie, were made to stande to it, and in
+sundrie wise by his commaundemente, to have varied the orders, the
+whiche should not have followed, if the rumoures had been louder
+then his voyce.</p>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page131" id=
+"page131"></a>{131}</span>
+<h2><a name="warre-4" id="warre-4">THE FOWERTH BOOKE</a></h2>
+<p>LUIGI.<img width="10%" src="images/image-s.png" alt="S" /> eng
+that under my governement, a field hath been wonne so honourably, I
+suppose that it is good, that I tempt not fortune any more, knowyng
+how variable, and unstable she is: and therefore, I desire to give
+up my governement, and that Zanobi do execute now this office of
+demaundyng, mindyng to followe the order, whiche concerneth the
+youngeste: and I knowe he will not refuse this honoure, or as we
+would saie, this labour, as well for to doe me pleasure, as also
+for beyng naturally of more stomach than I: nor it shall not make
+hym afraied, to have to enter into these travailes, where he maie
+bee as well overcome, as able to conquere.</p>
+<p>ZANOBI. I am readie to do what soever shall please you to
+appoinete me, although that I desire more willingly to heare: for
+as moche as hetherto, your questions have satisfied me more, then
+those should have pleased me, whiche in harkenyng to your
+reasonyng, hath chaunced to come into my remembraunce. But sir, I
+beleve that it is good, that you lese no tyme, and that you have
+pacience, if with these our Ceremonies we trouble you.</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. You doe me rather pleasure, for that this variacion of
+demaunders, maketh me to knowe the sundrie wittes and sunderie
+appetites of yours: But remaineth there any thyng, whiche seemeth
+unto you good, to bee joyned to the matter, that alreadie hath been
+reasoned of?</p>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page132" id=
+"page132"></a>{132}</span>
+<p>ZANOBI. Twoo thinges I desire, before you passe to an other
+parte: the one is, to have you to shewe, if in orderyng armies,
+there needeth to bee used any other facion: the other, what
+respectes a capitaine ought to have, before he conducte his men to
+the faight, and in thesame an accidente risyng or growyng, what
+reamedie maie be had.</p>
+<p class="side">To deffende moche the fronte of an armie, is most
+perillous; What is beste for a capitaine to dooe, where his power
+is, moche lesse then thenemies power; A general rule; The higher
+grounde ought to be chosen; An advertisement not to place an armie
+wher the enemie maie se what the same doeth; Respectes for the
+Sonne and Winde; The variyng of order and place maie cause the
+conquered to become victorius; A policie in the ordering of men and
+pitchyng of a fielde; How to compasse about the enemies power; How
+a capitaine maie faight and bee as it were sure, not to be
+overcome; How to trouble the orders of the enemie; What a capitaine
+oughte to dooe when he hath not so many horsmen as the enemie; A
+greate aide for horsemen; The policies used betwene Aniball and
+Scipio.</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. I will inforce my self to satisfie you, I will not
+answere now distinctly to your questions: for that whileste I shall
+aunswere to one, many tymes it will come to passe, that I muste
+aunswere to an other. I have tolde you, how I have shewed you a
+facion of an armie, to the intent, that accordyng to thesame, there
+maie bee given all those facions, that the enemie, and the
+situacion requireth: For as moche as in this case, bothe accordyng
+to the power thereof, and accordyng to the enemie, it proceadeth:
+but note this, that there is not a more perillous facion, then to
+deffende moche the front of tharmie, if then thou have not a most
+puisant, and moste great hoste: otherwise, thou oughtest to make it
+rather grosse, and of small largenesse, then of moche largenes and
+thin: for when thou hast fewe men in comparison to thenemie, thou
+oughtest to seke other remedies, as is to ordain thine army in
+soche a place, wher thou maiest be fortefied, either through
+rivers, or by meanes of fennes, after soch sort, that thou canst
+not bee compassed aboute, or to inclose thy self on the flanckes
+with diches, as Cesar did in Fraunce. You have to take in this
+cace, this generall rule, to inlarge your self, or to draw in your
+self with the front, according to your nomber, and thesame of the
+enemie. For thenemies being of lesse nomber, thou oughtest to seke
+large places, havyng in especially thy men well instructed: to the
+intent thou maiest, not onely compasse aboute the enemie, but to
+deffende thy orders: for that in places rough and difficulte, beyng
+not able to prevaile of thy orders, thou commeste not to have any
+advauntage, hereby grewe, that the Romaines almoste alwaies, sought
+the open fieldes, and advoided the straightes. To the contrarie, as
+I have said, thou oughtest to doe, if thou hast fewe menne, or ill
+instructed: for that then thou <span class="pagenum"><a name=
+"page133" id="page133"></a>{133}</span> oughteste to seeke places,
+either where the little nomber maye be saved, and where the small
+experience dooe not hurte thee: Thou oughtest also to chuse the
+higher grounde, to be able more easily to infest them:
+notwithstandyng, this advertisment ought to be had, not to ordaine
+thy armie, where the enemie maie spie what thou doest and in place
+nere to the rootes of the same, where the enemies armie maie come:
+For that in this case, havyng respecte unto the artillerie, the
+higher place shall gette thee disadvauntage: Bicause that alwaies
+and commodiously, thou mightest of the enemies artillerie bee
+hurte, without beyng able to make any remedy, and thou couldest not
+commodiously hurte thesame, beyng hindered by thine owne men. Also,
+he that prepareth an armie to faight a battaile, ought to have
+respecte, bothe to the Sunne, and to the Winde, that the one and
+the other, doe not hurte the fronte, for that the one and the
+other, will let thee the sight, the one with the beames, and the
+other with the duste: and moreover, the Winde hindereth the
+weapons, whiche are stroken at the enemie, and maketh their blowes
+more feable: and concerning the Sunne, it sufficeth not to have
+care, that at the firste it shine not in the face, but it is
+requisite to consider, that increasyng the daie, it hurte thee not:
+and for this, it should bee requsite in orderyng the men, to have
+it all on the backe, to the entente it should have to passe moche
+tyme, to come to lye on the fronte. This waie was observed of
+Aniball at Canne, and of Mario against the Cimbrians. If thou
+happen to be moche inferiour of horses, ordaine thine armie
+emongeste Vines, and trees, and like impedimentes, as in our time
+the Spaniardes did, when thei overthrewe the Frenchmenne at
+Cirignuola. And it hath been seen many times, with all one
+Souldiours, variyng onely the order, and the place, that thei have
+become of losers victorers: as it happened to the Carthageners,
+whom havyng been overcome of Marcus Regolus divers tymes, were
+after by the counsaill of Santippo a Lacedemonian, victorious: whom
+made them to go doune into the plaine, where by vertue of the
+horses, and of <span class="pagenum"><a name="page134" id=
+"page134"></a>{134}</span> Eliphantes, thei were able to overcome
+the Romaines. It semes unto me, accordyng to the auncient insamples
+that almoste all the excellente Capitaines, when thei have knowen,
+that the enemie hath made strong one side of his battaile, thei
+have not set against it, the moste strongest parte, but the moste
+weakest, and thother moste strongest thei have set against the most
+weakest: after in the beginning the faighte, thei have commaunded
+to their strongest parte, that onely thei sustaine the enemie, and
+not to preace upon hym, and to the weaker, that thei suffer them
+selves to be overcome, and to retire into the hindermoste bandes of
+the armie. This breadeth twoo greate disorders to the enemie: the
+firste, that he findeth his strongest parte compassed about, the
+second is, that semyng unto him to have the victorie, seldome tymes
+it happeneth, that thei disorder not theim selves, whereof groweth
+his sodain losse. Cornelius Scipio beyng in Spain, againste
+Asdruball of Carthage, and understanding how to Asdruball it was
+knowen, that he in the orderyng the armie, placed his Legions in
+the middest, the whiche was the strongest parte of his armie, and
+for this how Asdruball with like order ought to procede: after when
+he came to faighte the battaile, he chaunged order, and put his
+Legions on the hornes of the armie, and in the middest, placed all
+his weakeste men: then commyng to the handes, in a sodain those men
+placed in the middeste, he made to marche softly, and the hornes of
+the armie, with celeritie to make forwarde, so that onely the
+hornes of bothe the armies fought, and the bandes in the middest,
+through beyng distaunt the one from the other, joyned not together,
+and thus the strongest parte of Scipio, came to faight with the
+weakest of Asdruball, and overcame hym. The whiche waie was then
+profitable, but now havyng respect to the artillerie, it cannot be
+used: bicause the same space, whiche should remain in the middest,
+betwene the one armie and the other, should give tyme to thesame to
+shoote: The whiche is moste pernicious, as above is saied:
+Therefore it is requisite to laie this waie aside, and to use, as a
+little afore we saied, makyng all the <span class=
+"pagenum"><a name="page135" id="page135"></a>{135}</span> armie to
+incounter, and the weakest parte to give place. When a capitaine
+perceiveth, that he hath a greater armie then his enemie, mindyng
+to compasse hym aboute, before he be aware let hym ordaine his
+fronte equall, to thesame of his adversaries, after, so sone as the
+faight is begun, let hym make the fronte by a little and little to
+retire, and the flanckes to deffende, and alwaies it shall happen,
+that the enemie shal find hymself, before he be aware compassed
+about. When a capitain will faight, as it wer sure not to be
+broken, let hym ordaine his armie in place, where he hath refuge
+nere, and safe, either betwene Fennes, or betwene hilles, or by
+some strong citee: for that in this case, he cannot bee followed of
+the enemie, where the enemie maie be pursued of him: this poincte
+was used of Aniball, when fortune began to become his adversarie,
+and that he doubted of the valiauntnesse of Marcus Marcello. Some
+to trouble the orders of the enemie, have commaunded those that
+were light armed, to begin the faight, and that beyng begunne, to
+retire betwene the orders: and when the armies were after buckled
+together, and that the fronte of either of them were occupied in
+faightyng, thei have made theim to issue out by the flanckes of the
+battaile, and thesame have troubled and broken. If any perceive
+hymself to bee inferiour of horse, he maie besides the waies that
+are alredie shewed, place behinde his horsemen a battaile of Pikes,
+and in faightyng take order, that thei give waie to the Pikes, and
+he shall remain alwaies superiour. Many have accustomed to use
+certain fotemenne lighte armed, to faighte emong horsemen, the
+whiche hath been to the chivalrie moste greate helpe. Of all those,
+which have prepared armies to the field, be moste praised Aniball
+and Scipio, when thei fought in Africk: and for that Aniball had
+his armie made of Carthaginers, and of straungers of divers
+nacions, he placed in the first fronte thereof lxxx. Elephantes,
+after he placed the straungers, behinde whom he sette his
+Carthaginers, in the hindermoste place, he putte the Italians, in
+whom he trusted little: the whiche thing he ordained so, for that
+the straungers havyng before <span class="pagenum"><a name=
+"page136" id="page136"></a>{136}</span> theim the enemie, and
+behinde beyng inclosed of his men, could not flie: so that being
+constrained to faight thei should overcome, or wearie the Romaines,
+supposyng after with his freshe and valiaunte men, to be then able
+easely to overcome the Romaines, beeyng wearied. Against this
+order, Scipio set the Astati, the Prencipi, and the Triarii, in the
+accustomed maner, to bee able to receive the one the other, and to
+rescue the one the other: he made the fronte of the armie, full of
+voide spaces, and bicause it should not be perceived but rather
+should seme united, he filled them ful of veliti, to whom he
+commaunded, that so sone as the Eliphantes came, thei should
+avoide, and by the ordinarie spaces, should enter betwene the
+Legins, and leave open the waie to the Eliphauntes, and so it came
+to passe, that it made vaine the violence of theim, so that commyng
+to handes, he was superiour.</p>
+<p>ZANOBI. You have made me to remember, in alledging me this
+battaile, how Scipio in faighting, made not the Astati to retire
+into thorders of the Prencipi, but he devided theim, and made theim
+to retire in the hornes of the armie, to thintent thei might give
+place to the Prencipi, when he would force forwarde: therfore I
+would you should tell me, what occasion moved hym, not to observe
+the accustomed order.</p>
+<p class="side">Cartes full of hookes made to destroie the enemies;
+The remedy that was used against Cartes full of hookes; The
+straunge maner that Silla used in orderyng his army against
+Archelaus; How to trouble in the faighte the armie of the enemies;
+A policie of Caius Sulpitius, to make his enemies afraied; A
+policie of Marius againste the Duchmenne; A policie of greate
+importaunce, while a battaile is a faightyng; How horsemen maie bee
+disordered; How the turke gave the Sophie an overthrowe; How the
+Spaniardes overcame the armie of Amilcare; How to traine the
+enemie, to his destruccion; A policie of Tullo Hostilio and Lucius
+Silla in dessemlyng of a mischaunce; Sertorius slue a man for
+telling him of the death of one of his capitaines; Howe certaine
+captaines have staied their men that hath been running awaie;
+Attillius constrained his men that ran awaie to tourne again and to
+faight; How Philip king of Macedonia made his men afraied to run
+awaie; Victorie ought with all celeritie to bee folowed; What a
+capitaine ought to dooe, when he should chaunce to receive an
+overthrowe; How Martius overcame the armie of the Carthaginers; A
+policie of Titus Dimius to hide a losse, whiche he had received in
+a faight; A general rule; Aniball; Scipio; Asdruball; A Capitaine
+ought not to faight without advantage, excepte he be constrained;
+How advauntage maie bee taken of the enemies; Furie withstode,
+converteth into vilenesse; What maner of men a capitaine ought to
+have about him continually, to consult withall; The condicions of
+the capitain of the enemies, and of those that are about hym is
+moste requisite to bee knowen; A timerous army is not to be
+conducted to faight; How to avoide the faightyng of a fielde.</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. I will tell you. Aniball had putte all the strengthe
+of his armie, in the seconde bande: wherefore Scipio for to set
+againste thesame like strengthe, gathered the Prencipi and the
+Triarii together: So that the distaunces of the Prencipi, beyng
+occupied of the Triarii, there was no place to bee able to receive
+the Astati: and therefore he made the Astati to devide, and to go
+in the hornes of the armie, and he drewe them not betwene the
+Prencipi. But note, that this waie of openyng the first bande, for
+to give place to the seconde, cannot bee used, but when a man is
+superiour to his enemie: for that then there is commoditie to bee
+able to dooe it, as Scipio was able: but beyng under, and repulced,
+it cannot be doen, but with thy manifest ruine: and therefore it is
+convenient <span class="pagenum"><a name="page137" id=
+"page137"></a>{137}</span> to have behinde, orders that maie
+receive thee, but let us tourne to our reasonyng. The auncient
+Asiaticans, emongest other thynges devised of them to hurt the
+enemies, used carres. The whiche had on the sides certaine hookes,
+so that not onely thei served to open with their violence the
+bandes, but also to kill with the hookes the adversaries: against
+the violence of those, in thre maners thei provided, either thei
+sustained theim with the thickenesse of the raies, or thei received
+theim betwene the bandes, as the Eliphantes were received, or els
+thei made with arte some strong resistence: As Silla a Romaine made
+againste Archelaus, whom had many of these cartes, whiche thei
+called hooked, who for to sustaine theim, drave many stakes into
+the grounde, behinde his first bandes of men, whereby the cartes
+beyng stopped, lost their violence. And the newe maner that Silla
+used against hym in orderyng the armie, is to bee noted: for that
+he put the Veliti, and the horse, behinde, and all the heavie armed
+afore, leavyng many distaunces to be able to sende before those
+behinde, when necessite required: whereby the fight beyng begun,
+with the helpe of the horsemen, to the whiche he gave the waie, he
+got the victorie. To intende to trouble in the faight the enemies
+armie, it is conveniente to make some thyng to growe, that maie
+make theim afraied, either with showyng of newe helpe that commeth,
+or with showyng thynges, whiche maie represente a terrour unto
+theim: after soche sorte, that the enemies begiled of that sight,
+maie be afraied, and being made afraied, thei maie easely bee
+overcome: the whiche waies Minutio Rufo used, and Accilio Glabrione
+Consulls of Rome. Caius Sulpitius also set a greate many of sackes
+upon Mules, and other beastes unprofitable for the warre, but in
+soche wise ordained, that thei semed men of armes, and he
+commaunded, that thei should appere upon a hill, while he were a
+faightyng with the Frenchemen, whereby grewe his victorie. The
+verie same did Marius, when he foughte against the Duchemen. Then
+the fained assaultes availyng moche, whilest the faight continueth,
+it is conveniente, that the very assaultes in deede, dooe helpe
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page138" id=
+"page138"></a>{138}</span> moche: inespecially if at unwares in the
+middest of the faight, the enemie might bee assaulted behinde, or
+on the side: the whiche hardely maie be doen, if the countrie helpe
+thee not: for that when it is open, parte of thy men cannot bee
+hid, as is mete to bee doen in like enterprises: but in woddie or
+hille places, and for this apt for ambusshes parte of thy men maie
+be well hidden, to be able in a sodain, and contrary to thenemies
+opinion to assaut him, whiche thyng alwaies shall be occasion to
+give thee the victorie. It hath been sometyme of greate
+importaunce, whilest the faighte continueth, to sowe voices, whiche
+doe pronounce the capitaine of thenemies to be dedde, or to have
+overcome on the other side of the armie: the whiche many times to
+them that have used it, hath given the victorie. The chivalrie of
+the enemies maie bee easely troubled, either with sightes, or with
+rumours, not used: as Creso did, whom put Camelles againste the
+horses of the adversaries, and Pirrus sette againste the Romaine
+horsemen Eliphantes, the sighte of whiche troubled and disordered
+them. In our time, the Turke discomfited the Sophi in Persia, and
+the Soldane in Surria with no other, then with the noise of
+Harkabuses, the whiche in soche wise, with their straunge rumours,
+disturbed the horses of those, that the Turke mighte easely
+overcome them: The Spaniardes to overcome the armie of Amilcare,
+put in the firste fronte Cartes full of towe drawen of oxen, and
+comming to handes, thei kindeled fire to thesame, wherfore the oxen
+to flie from the fire, thrust into the armie of Amilcar, and opened
+it. Thei are wonte (as we have saied) to begile the enemie in the
+faight, drawyng him into their ambusshes, where the Countrie is
+commodious for the same purpose, but where it were open and large,
+many have used to make diches, and after have covered them lightly
+with bowes and yearth, and lefte certain spaces whole, to be able
+betnene those to retire: after, so sone as the faight hath been
+begunne, retiryng by those, and the enemie folowing them, hath
+fallen in the pittes. If in the faight there happen thee, any
+accident that maie feare thy souldiours, it is a moste <span class=
+"pagenum"><a name="page139" id="page139"></a>{139}</span> prudente
+thyng, to knowe how to desemble it, and to pervert it to good, as
+Tullo Hostilio did, and Lucius Silla: whom seyng while thei fought,
+how a parte of his men wer gone to the enemies side, and how
+thesame thing had verie moche made afraied his men, he made
+straighte waie throughout all the armie to be understoode, how all
+thing proceded, accordyng to his order: the whiche not onely did
+not trouble the armie, but it increased in them so moche stomack,
+that he remained victorious. It happened also to Silla, that havyng
+sente certaine souldiours to doe some businesse, and thei beyng
+slain he saied, to the intent his armie should not be made afraied
+thereby, that he had with crafte sent theim into the handes of the
+enemies, for that he had found them nothyng faithfull. Sertorius
+faightyng a battaile in Spaine, slue one, whom signified unto hym
+the death of one of his capitaines, for feare that tellyng the very
+same to other, he should make theim afraied. It is a moste
+difficult thyng, an armie beyng now moved to flie, to staie it, and
+make it to faight. And you have to make this distinccion: either
+that it is all moved, and then to be impossible to tourne it, or
+there is moved a parte thereof, and then there is some remedie.
+Many Romain capitaines, with making afore those whiche fled, have
+caused them to staie, making them ashamed of running awaie, as
+Lucius Silla did, where alredy parte of his Legions beyng tourned
+to flight, driven awaie by the men of Mithridates, he made afore
+them with a swearde in his hande criyng: if any aske you, where you
+left your capitaine, saie, we have left hym in Boecia, where he
+faighteth. Attillius a consull set againste that ran awaie, them
+that ranne not awaie, and made them to understande, that if thei
+would not tourne, thei should be slaine of their frendes, and of
+their enemies. Philip of Macedonia understanding how his men feared
+the Scithian Souldiours, placed behinde his armie, certaine of his
+moste trustie horsemen, and gave commission to theim, that thei
+should kill whom so ever fledde: wherfore, his men mindyng rather
+to die faightyng, then fliyng, overcame. Many Romaines, not so
+moche to staie a flight, as for to <span class="pagenum"><a name=
+"page140" id="page140"></a>{140}</span> give occasion to their men,
+to make greater force, have whileste thei have foughte, taken an
+Ansigne out of their owne mennes handes, and throwen it emongeste
+the enemies, and appoincted rewardes to hym that could get it
+again. I doe not beleve that it is out of purpose, to joyne to this
+reasonyng those thynges, whiche chaunce after the faight, in
+especially beyng brief thinges, and not to be left behinde, and to
+this reasonyng conformable inough. Therefore I saie, how the fielde
+is loste, or els wonne: when it is wonne, the victorie ought with
+all celeritie to be folowed, and in this case to imitate Cesar, and
+not Aniball, whom staiyng after that he had discomfited the
+Romaines at Canne, loste the Empire of Rome: The other never rested
+after the victorie, but folowed the enemie beyng broken, with
+greater violence and furie, then when he assalted hym whole: but
+when a capitaine dooeth loese, he ought to see, if of the losse
+there maie growe any utilite unto hym, inespecially if there remain
+any residue of tharmie. The commoditie maie growe of the small
+advertisment of the enemie, whom moste often times after the
+victorie, becometh negligent, and giveth thee occasion to oppresse
+hym, as Marcius a Romaine oppressed the armie of the Carthaginers,
+whom having slain the twoo Scipions, and broken their armie, not
+estemyng thesame remnaunt of menne, whiche with Marcius remained a
+live, were of hym assaulted and overthrowen: for that it is seen,
+that there is no thing so moche to bee brought to passe, as
+thesame, whiche the enemie thinketh, that thou canst not attempte:
+bicause for the moste parte, men bee hurte moste, where thei doubt
+leaste: therefore a capitain ought when he cannot doe this, to
+devise at least with diligence, that the losse bee lesse hurtfull,
+to dooe this, it is necessarie for thee to use meanes, that the
+enemie maie not easely folowe thee, or to give him occasion to make
+delaie: in the first case, some after thei have been sure to lese,
+have taken order with their heddes, that in divers partes, and by
+divers waies thei should flie, havyng appoincted wher thei should
+after assemble together: the which made, that thenemie (fearing to
+devide the armie) <span class="pagenum"><a name="page141" id=
+"page141"></a>{141}</span> was faine to let go safe either all, or
+the greatest part of them. In the seconde case, many have cast
+before the enemie, their dearest thinges, to the entent that he
+tariyng about the spoile, might give them more laisure to flie.
+Titus Dimius used no small policie to hide the losse, whiche he had
+received in the faight, for asmoche as havyng fought untill night,
+with great losse of his menne, he made in the night to be buried,
+the greatest part of them, wherefore in the mornyng, the enemies
+seyng so many slaine of theirs, and so fewe of the Romaines,
+belevyng that thei had the disavauntage, ran awaie. I trust I have
+thus confusedly, as I saied, satisfied in good part your demaunde:
+in dede about the facions of the armies, there resteth me to tell
+you, how some tyme, by some Capitaines, it hath been used to make
+theim with the fronte, like unto a wedge, judgyng to bee able by
+soche meane, more easely to open the enemies armie. Against this
+facion, thei have used to make a facion like unto a paire of
+sheres, to be able betwene thesame voide place, to receive that
+wedge, and to compasse it about, and to faight with it on every
+side: whereupon I will that you take this generall rule, that the
+greatest remedie that is used againste a devise of the enemie, is
+to dooe willingly thesame, whiche he hath devised that thou shalt
+dooe perforce: bicause that doyng it willingly, thou doest it with
+order, and with thy advauntage, and his disadvauntage, if thou
+shouldest doe it beyng inforced, it should be thy undoyng: For the
+provyng whereof, I care not to reherse unto you, certain thynges
+alredy tolde. The adversary maketh the wedge to open thy bandes: if
+thou gowest with them open, thou disorderest hym, and he
+disordereth not thee. Aniball set the Elephantes in the fronte of
+his armie, to open with theim the armie of Scipio. Scipio went with
+it open, and it was the occasion of his victorie, and of the ruine
+of hym. Asdruball placed his strongest men in the middest of the
+fronte of his armie, to overthrowe Scipios menne: Scipio
+commaunded, that by them selves thei should retire and he broke
+theim: So that like devises when thei are foreseen, bee the causes
+of the <span class="pagenum"><a name="page142" id=
+"page142"></a>{142}</span> victorie of him, against whom thei be
+prepared. There remaineth me also, if I remember my self well, to
+tell you what respectes a Capitaine ought to have, before he leade
+his men to faight: upon whiche I have to tell you firste, how a
+capitaine ought never to faight a battaile, except he have
+advauntage, or be constrained. The vantage groweth of the
+situacion, of the order, of havyng more, or better menne: the
+necessitie groweth when thou seest how that not faightyng, thou
+muste in any wise lose, as should bee for lackyng of money, and for
+this, thy armie to bee ready all maner of waies to resolve, where
+famishemente is ready to assaulte thee, where the enemie looketh to
+bee ingrosed with newe men: in these cases, thou oughtest alwaies
+to faight, although with thy disadvauntage: for that it is moche
+better to attempte fortune, where she maie favour thee, then not
+attemptyng, to see thy certaine ruine: and it is as grevous a
+faulte in this case, in a capitain not to faight, as to have had
+occasion to overcome, and not to have either knowen it through
+ignoraunce, or lefte it through vilenesse. The advauntages some
+tymes the enemie giveth thee, and some tymes thy prudence: Many in
+passyng Rivers have been broken of their enemie, that hath been
+aware thereof, whom hath taried, till the one halfe hath been of
+the one side, and the other halfe on the other, and then hath
+assaulted them: as Cesar did to the Suizzers, where he destroied
+the fowerth parte of theim, through beyng halfe over a river. Some
+tyme thy enemie is founde wearie, for havyng folowed thee to
+undescritely, so that findyng thy self freshe and lustie, thou
+oughtest not to let passe soche an occasion: besides this, if the
+enemie offer unto thee in the mornyng betymes to faight, thou
+maiest a good while deferre to issue out of thy lodgyng, and when
+he hath stoode long in armour, and that he hath loste that same
+firste heate, with the whiche he came, thou maiest then faight with
+him. This waie Scipio and Metellus used in Spaine: the one against
+Asdruball, the other against Sertorius. If the enemie be deminished
+of power, either for havyng devided the armie, as the Scipions in
+Spain, or <span class="pagenum"><a name="page143" id=
+"page143"></a>{143}</span> for some other occasion, thou oughteste
+to prove chaunce. The greateste parte of prudent capitaines, rather
+receive the violence of the enemies, then go with violence to
+assalte them: for that the furie is easely withstoode of sure and
+steddie menne, and the furie beyng sustained, converteth lightly
+into vilenesse: Thus Fabius did againste the Sannites, and against
+the Galles, and was victorious and his felowe Decius remained
+slain. Some fearing the power of their enemies, have begun the
+faight a little before night, to the intent that their men
+chaunsyng to bee overcome, might then by the helpe of the
+darkenesse thereof, save theim selves. Some havyng knowen, how the
+enemies armie beyng taken of certaine supersticion, not to faight
+in soche a tyme, have chosen thesame tyme to faighte, and overcome:
+The whiche Cesar observed in Fraunce, againste Arionistus, and
+Vespasian in Surrie, againste the Jewes. The greatest and moste
+importaunte advertismente, that a capitaine ought to have, is to
+have aboute hym faithfull menne, that are wise and moste expert in
+the warre, with whom he must continually consulte and reason of his
+men, and of those of the enemies, whiche is the greater nomber,
+whiche is beste armed, or beste on horsebacke, or best exercised,
+whiche be moste apte to suffer necessitie, in whom he trusteth
+moste, either in the footemen, or in the horsemen: after thei ought
+to consider the place where thei be, and whether it be more to the
+purpose for thenemie, then for him: which of theim hath victualles
+moste commodious: whether it be good to deferre the battaile, or to
+faight it: what good might bee given hym, or taken awaie by tyme:
+for that many tymes, souldiours seyng the warre to be delaied, are
+greved, and beyng wearie, in the pain and in the tediousnesse
+therof, wil forsake thee. It importeth above all thyng, to knowe
+the capitain of the enemies, and whom he hath aboute hym, whether
+he be rashe, or politike, whether he be fearfull, or hardie: to see
+how thou maiest truste upon the aidyng souldiours. And above all
+thyng thou oughtest to take hede, not to conducte the armie to
+faight when it feareth, or when in any wise it mistrusteth
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page144" id=
+"page144"></a>{144}</span> of the victorie: for that the greatest
+signe to lose, is thei beleve not to be able to winne: and therfore
+in this case, thou oughtest to avoide the faightyng of the fielde,
+either with doyng as Fabius Maximus, whom incampyng in strong
+places, gave no courage to Aniball, to goe to finde hym, or when
+thou shouldest thinke, that the enemie also in strong places, would
+come to finde thee, to departe out of the fielde, and to devide the
+menne into thy tounes to thentent that tediousnesse of winnyng
+them, maie wearie hym.</p>
+<p>ZANOBI. Cannot the faightyng of the battaile be otherwise
+avoided, then in devidyng the armie in sunderie partes and placyng
+the men in tounes?</p>
+<p class="side">Fabius Maximus.</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. I beleve that ones alreadie, with some of you I have
+reasoned, how that he, that is in the field, cannot avoide to
+faight the battaile, when he hath an enemie, which will faight with
+hym in any wise, and he hath not, but one remedie, and that is, to
+place him self with his armie distant fiftie miles at leaste, from
+his adversarie, to be able betymes to avoide him, when he should go
+to finde hym. For Fabius Maximus never avoided to faight the
+battaile with Aniball, but he would have it with his advauntage:
+and Aniball did not presume to bee able to overcome hym, goyng to
+finde hym in the places where he incamped: where if he had
+presupposed, to have been able to have overcome, it had been
+conveniente for Fabius, to have fought the battaile with hym, or to
+have avoided.</p>
+<p class="side">Philip king of Macedonia, overcome by the Romaines;
+How Cingentorige avoided the faightyng of the fielde with Cesar;
+The ignorance of the Venecians; What is to be doen wher soldiours
+desire to faight, contrary to their capitaines minde; How to
+incourage souldiers; An advertisment to make the soldiour most
+obstinately to faight.</p>
+<p>Philip Kyng of Macedonia, thesame that was father to Perse,
+commyng to warre with the Romaines, pitched his campe upon a verie
+high hill, to the entent not to faight with theim: but the Romaines
+wente to find hym on thesame hill, and discomfaited hym.
+Cingentorige capitain of the Frenche menne, for that he would not
+faight the field with Cesar, whom contrarie to his opinion, had
+passed a river, got awaie many miles with his men. The Venecians in
+our tyme, if thei would not have come to have fought with the
+Frenche kyng, thei ought not to have taried till the Frenche armie,
+had passed the River Addus, but to have <span class=
+"pagenum"><a name="page145" id="page145"></a>{145}</span> gotten
+from them as Cingentorige, where thei havyng taried knewe not how
+to take in the passyng of the men, the occasion to faight the
+battaile, nor to avoide it: For that the Frenche men beyng nere
+unto them, as the Venecians went out of their Campe, assaulted
+theim, and discomfited theim: so it is, that the battaile cannot
+bee avoided, when the enemie in any wise will faight, nor let no
+man alledge Fabius, for that so moche in thesame case, he did flie
+the daie of battaile, as Aniball. It happeneth many tymes, that thy
+souldiours be willyng to faight, and thou knoweste by the nomber,
+and by the situacion, or for some other occasion to have
+disadvauntage, and desirest to make them chaunge from this desire:
+it happeneth also, that necessitie, or occasion, constraineth thee
+to faight, and that thy souldiours are evill to be trusted, and
+smally disposed to faight: where it is necessarie in thone case, to
+make theim afraied, and in the other to incourage theim: In the
+firste case, when perswacions suffiseth not, there is no better
+waie, then to give in praie, a part of them unto thenemie, to
+thintent those that have, and those that have not fought, maie
+beleve thee: and it may very wel be doen with art, thesame which to
+Fabius Maximus hapned by chaunce. Tharmie of Fabius (as you knowe)
+desired to faight with Aniballs armie: the very same desire had the
+master of his horses: to Fabius it semed not good, to attempte the
+faight: so that through soche contrary opinions, he was fain to
+devide the armie: Fabius kept his men in the campe, the other
+fought, and commyng into great perill, had been overthrowen, if
+Fabius had not rescued him: by the whiche insample the maister of
+the horse, together with all the armie, knewe how it was a wise
+waie to obeie Fabius. Concernyng to incourage theim to faight, it
+should be well doen, to make them to disdain the enemies, shewyng
+how thei speake slaunderous woordes of them, to declare to have
+intelligence with them, and to have corrupted part of them, to
+incampe in place, where thei maie see the enemies, and make some
+light skirmishe with them, for that the thyng that is dailie seen,
+with more facilitie is despised: to shewe <span class=
+"pagenum"><a name="page146" id="page146"></a>{146}</span> theim to
+bee unworthie, and with an oracion for the purpose, to reprehende
+them of their cowardnesse, and for to make them ashamed, to tell
+theim that you will faight alone, when thei will not beare you
+companie. And you ought above all thyng to have this advertismente,
+mindyng to make the Souldiour obstinate to faight, not to permitte,
+that thei maie send home any of their substaunce, or to leave it in
+any place, till the warre bee ended, that thei maie understande,
+that although fliyng save their life, yet it saveth not theim their
+goodes, the love whereof, is wonte no lesse then thesame, to make
+men obstinate in defence.</p>
+<p>ZANOBI. YOU have tolde, how the souldiours maie be tourned to
+faight, with speakyng to theim: doe you meane by this, that all the
+armie must bee spoken unto, or to the heddes thereof?</p>
+<p class="side">It is requisite for excellent Capitaines to bee
+good orators; Alexander Magnus used openly to perswade his armie;
+The effecteousnes of speking; Souldiours ought to be accustomed to
+heare their Capitaine speake; How in olde time souldiers were
+threatened for their faltes; Enterprises maie the easelier be
+brought to passe by meanes of religion; Sertorius; A policie of
+Silla; A policie of Charles the seventh king of Fraunce against the
+Englishmen; How souldiers maiebee made to esteme little their
+enemies; The surest wai to make souldiours moste obstinat to
+faight; By what meanes obstinatenesse to faighte is increased.</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. TO perswade, or to diswade a thyng unto fewe, is verie
+easie, for that if woordes suffise not, you maie then use
+aucthoritie and force: but the difficultie is, to remove from a
+multitude an evill opinion, and that whiche is contrary either to
+the common profite, or to thy opinion, where cannot be used but
+woordes, the whiche is meete that thei be heard of every man,
+mindyng to perswade them all. Wherfore, it was requisite that the
+excellente Capitaines were oratours: for that without knowyng how
+to speake to al the army, with difficultie maie be wrought any good
+thing: the whiche altogether in this our tyme is laied aside. Rede
+the life of Alexander Magnus, and you shall see how many tymes it
+was necessarie for hym to perswade, and to speake publikly to his
+armie: otherwise he should never have brought theim, beyng become
+riche, and full of spoile, through the desertes of Arabia, and into
+India with so moche his disease, and trouble: for that infinite
+tymes there growe thynges, wherby an armie ruinateth, when the
+capitain either knoweth not, or useth not to speake unto thesame,
+for that this speakyng taketh awaie feare, in courageth the mindes,
+increaseth the obstinatenes to faight, discovereth the deceiptes,
+promiseth rewardes, sheweth the perilles, and the waie to avoide
+theim, reprehendeth, praieth, <span class="pagenum"><a name=
+"page147" id="page147"></a>{147}</span> threatened, filleth full of
+hope, praise, shame, and doeth a11 those thynges, by the whiche the
+humaine passions are extincte or kendled: wherefore, that prince,
+or common weale, whiche should appoincte to make a newe power, and
+cause reputacion to their armie, ought to accustome the Souldiours
+thereof, to heare the capitain to speake, and the capitain to know
+how to speake unto them. In kepyng desposed the souldiours in old
+tyme, to faight for their countrie, the religion availed moche, and
+the othes whiche thei gave them, when thei led theim to warfare:
+for as moche as in al their faultes, thei threatned them not onely
+with those punishementes, whiche might be feared of men but with
+those whiche of God might be looked for: the whiche thyng mingled
+with the other Religious maners, made many tymes easie to the
+auncient capitaines all enterprises, and will doe alwaies, where
+religion shall be feared, and observed. Sertorius prevailed, by
+declaryng that he spake with a Stagge, the whiche in Goddes parte,
+promised hym the victorie. Silla saied, he spoke with an Image,
+whiche he had taken out of the Temple of Apollo. Many have tolde
+how God hath appered unto them in their slepe, whom hath admonished
+them to faight. In our fathers time, Charles the seventh kyng of
+Fraunce, in the warre whiche he made againste the Englishemen,
+saied, he counsailed with a maide, sent from God, who was called
+every where the Damosell of Fraunce, the which was occacion of his
+victorie. There maie be also used meanes, that maie make thy men to
+esteme little the enemie, as Agesilao a Spartaine used, whom shewed
+to his souldiours, certain Persians naked, to the intent that seyng
+their delicate members, thei should not have cause to feare them.
+Some have constrained their men to faight through necessitie,
+takyng awaie from them all hope of savyng theim selves, savyng in
+overcommyng. The whiche is the strongest, and the beste provision
+that is made, to purpose to make the souldiour obstinate to faight:
+whiche obstinatenesse is increased by the confidence, and love of
+the Capitaine, or of the countrie. Confidence is caused through the
+armour, <span class="pagenum"><a name="page148" id=
+"page148"></a>{148}</span> the order the late victorie, and the
+opinion of the Capitaine. The love of the countrie, is caused of
+nature: that of the Capitain, through vertue, more then by any
+other benefite: the necessities maie be many, but that is
+strongest, whiche constraineth thee; either to overcome, or to
+dye.</p>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page151" id=
+"page151"></a>{151}</span>
+<h2><a name="warre-5" id="warre-5">THE FIVETH BOOKE</a></h2>
+<p class="side">How the Romaines marched with their armies; How the
+Romaines ordered their armie when it happened to be assaulted on
+the waie; How the main battailes ought to marche; The orderyng of
+an armie after soche sorte, that it maie marche safelie through the
+enemies countrie and be alwaies in a redines to faight; The place
+in the armie wher the bowmen and Harkabutters are appoincted; The
+place in the armie wher thextraordinarie Pikes are appoincted. The
+place in the armie wherthe generall capitain must be; Where the
+artillerie must be placed. The light horsmenne must be sente before
+to discover the countrie and the menne of armes to come behind
+tharmy; A generall rule concernyng horse; Wher the carriages and
+the unarmed are placed; The waie must be made plaine wher the armie
+shall marche in order; How many miles a day an armie maie marche in
+battaile raie, to bee able to incampe before sunne set; The
+orderyng of the armie, when it is assaulted on the vawarde; The
+orderyng of tharmie when thenemie commes to assaulte it behinde;
+How the armie is ordered when it is assaulted of any of the sides;
+doen when the army is assaulted on twoo sides.</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. <img width="10%" src="images/image-i.png" alt="I" />
+have shewed you, how an armi, is ordained to faight a fielde with
+an other armie, which is seen pitched against it, and have declared
+unto you, howe the same is overcome, and after many circumstaunces,
+I have likewise shewed you, what divers chaunces, maie happen about
+thesame, so that me thinkes tyme to shewe you now, how an armie is
+ordered, againste thesame enemie, whiche otherwise is not seen, but
+continually feared, that he assaulte thee: this happeneth when an
+armie marcheth through the enemies countrie, or through suspected
+places. Firste, you must understande, how a Romaine armie, sent
+alwaies ordinarely afore, certaine bandes of horsemen, as spies of
+the waie: after followed the right horne, after this, came all the
+carriages, whiche to thesame apperteined, after this, came a
+Legion, after it, the carriages therof, after that, an other
+legion, and next to it, their carriages, after whiche, came the
+left horne, with the carriages thereof at their backe, and in the
+laste part, folowed the remnaunte of the chivalrie: this was in
+effecte the maner, with whiche ordinarily thei marched: and if it
+happened that the armie were assaulted in the waie on the fronte,
+or on the backe, thei made straight waie all the carriages to bee
+drawen, either on the right, or on the lefte side, accordyng as
+chaunsed, or as thei could beste, havyng <span class=
+"pagenum"><a name="page152" id="page152"></a>{152}</span> respecte
+to the situacion: and all the men together free from their
+impedimentes, made hedde on that parte, where the enemie came. If
+thei were assaulted on the flancke, thei drue the carriages
+towardes thesame parte that was safe, and of the other, thei made
+hedde. This waie beyng well and prudently governed, I have thought
+meete to imitate, sending afore the light horsemen, as exploratours
+of the Countrie: Then havyng fower maine battailes I would make
+them to marche in araie, and every one with their carriages
+folowyng theim. And for that there be twoo sortes of carriages,
+that is partainyng to particulare souldiours, and partainyng to the
+publike use of all the Campe, I would devide the publike Carriages
+into fower partes, and to every maine battaile, I would appoinct
+his parte, deviding also the artillerie into fower partes, and all
+the unarmed, so that every nomber of armed menne, should equally
+have their impedimentes. But bicause it happeneth some times, that
+thei marche through the countrie, not onely suspected, but so
+daungerous, that thou fearest every hower to be assaulted, thou art
+constrained for to go more sure, to chaunge the forme of marchyng,
+and to goe in soche wise prepared, that neither the countrie menne,
+nor any armie, maie hurte thee, findyng thee in any parte
+unprovided. In soche case, the aunciente capitaines were wont, to
+marche with the armie quadrante, whiche so thei called this forme,
+not for that it was altogether quadrante, but for that it was apte
+to faight of fower partes, and thei saied, that thei wente
+prepared, bothe for the waie, and for the faight: from whiche waie,
+I will not digresse, and I will ordaine my twoo maine battailes,
+whiche I have taken for to make an armie of, to this effect.
+Mindyng therefore, to marche safely through the enemies Countrie,
+and to bee able to aunswere hym on every side, when at unwares the
+armie might chaunce to be assaulted, and intendyng therefore,
+accordyng to the antiquitie, to bryng thesame into a square, I
+would devise to make a quadrant, that the rome therof should be of
+space on every part Clix. yardes, in this maner. First I would put
+the flanckes, distant the one <span class="pagenum"><a name=
+"page153" id="page153"></a>{153}</span> flanck from the other,
+Clix. yardes, and I would place five battailes for a flancke, in a
+raie in length, and distant the one from the other, twoo yardes and
+a quarter: the whiche shall occupie with their spaces, every
+battaile occupiyng thirtie yardes, Clix. yardes. Then betwen the
+hedde and the taile of these two flanckes, I would place the other
+tenne battailes, in every parte five, orderyng them after soche
+sorte, that fower should joyne to the hedde of the right flanck,
+and fower to the taile of the lefte flancke, leaving betwene every
+one of them, a distance of thre yardes: one should after joyne to
+the hedde of the lefte flancke, and one to the taile of the right
+flancke: and for that the space that is betwene the one flancke and
+the other, is Clix. yardes, and these battailes whiche are set the
+one to the side of the other by breadth, and not by length, will
+come to occupie with the distaunces one hundred yardes and a halfe
+yarde, there shall come betwene theim fower battailes, placed in
+the fronte on the right flancke, and the one placed in thesame on
+the lefte, to remaine a space of fiftie and eighte yardes and a
+halfe, and the verie same space will come to remaine in the
+battailes, placed in the hinder parte: nor there shall bee no
+difference, saving that the one space shall come on the parte
+behind towardes the right horne, and thother shall come on the
+parte afore, towardes the lefte home. In the space of the lviii.
+yardes and a halfe before, I would place all the ordinarie Veliti,
+in thesame behinde, the extraordinarie, which wil come to be a
+thousande for a space, and mindyng to have the space that ought to
+be within the armie, to be every waie Clix. yardes, it is mete that
+the five battailes, whiche are placed in the hedde, and those
+whiche are placed in the taile, occupie not any parte of the space,
+whiche the flanckes keepe: and therefore it shall be convenient,
+that the five battailes behinde, doe touche with the fronte, the
+taile of their flanckes, and those afore, with the taile to touche
+he hedde, after soche sorte, that upon every corner of the ame
+armie, there maie remaine a space, to receive an other battaile:
+and for that there bee fower spaces, I would take <span class=
+"pagenum"><a name="page154" id="page154"></a>{154}</span> fower
+bandes of the extraordinarie Pikes, and in every corner I would
+place one, and the twoo Ansignes of the foresaied Pikes, whiche
+shall remain overplus, I would sette in the middest of the rome of
+this armie, in a square battaile, on the hedde whereof, should
+stande the generall capitaine, with his menne about him. And for
+that these battailes ordeined thus, marche all one waie, but faight
+not all one waie, in puttyng them together, those sides ought to be
+ordained to faight, whiche are not defended of thother battailes.
+And therfore it ought to be considered, that the five battailes
+that be in the front, have all their other partes defended, excepte
+the fronte: and therfore these ought to bee put together in good
+order, and with the Pikes afore. The five battailes whiche are
+behinde, have all their sides defended, except the parte behinde,
+and therefore those ought to bee put together in soche wise, that
+the Pikes come behind, as in the place therof we shall shewe. The
+five battailes that bee in the right flancke, have all their sides
+defended, except the right flancke. The five that be on the left
+flanck, have all their partes defended, excepte the lefte flancke:
+and therefore in orderyng the battailes, thei ought to bee made,
+that the Pikes maie tourne on the same flanck, that lieth open: and
+the Peticapitaines to stand on the hedde, and on the taile, so that
+nedyng to faight, all the armour and weapons maie be in their due
+places, the waie to doe this, is declared where we reasoned of the
+maner of orderyng the battailes. The artillerie I would devide, and
+one parte I would place without, on the lefte flancke, and the
+other on the right. The light horsemen, I would sende afore to
+discover the countrie. Of the menne of armes, I would place part
+behinde, on the right home, and parte on the lefte, distante about
+thirtie yardes from the battailes: and concerning horse, you have
+to take this for a general rule in every condicion, where you
+ordaine an armie, that alwaies thei ought to be put, either
+behinde, or on the flanckes of thesame: he that putteth them afore,
+over against the armie, it behoveth hym to doe one of these twoo
+thinges, either that he put <span class="pagenum"><a name="page155"
+id="page155"></a>{155}</span> them so moche afore, that beyng
+repulced, thei maie have so moche space, that maie give them tyme,
+to be able to go a side from thy footemen, and not to runne upon
+them, or to order them in soche wise, with so many spaces, that the
+horses by those maie enter betwene them, without disorderyng them.
+Nor let no man esteme little this remembraunce, for as moche as
+many capitaines, whom havyng taken no hede thereof, have been
+ruinated, and by themselves have been disordered, and broken. The
+carriages and the unarmed menne are placed, in the rome that
+remaineth within the armie, and in soche sorte equally devided,
+that thei maie give the waie easely, to whom so ever would go,
+either from the one corner to the other, or from the one hedde, to
+the other of the armie. These battailes without the artillerie and
+the horse, occupie every waie from the utter side, twoo hundred and
+eleven yardes and a halfe of space: and bicause this quadrante is
+made of twoo main battailes, it is convenient to distinguishe, what
+part thone maine battaile maketh, and what the other: and for that
+the main battailes are called by the nomber, and every of theim
+hath (as you knowe) tenne battailes, and a generall hed, I would
+cause that the first main battaile, should set the first v.
+battailes therof in the front, the other five, in the left flanck,
+and the capitain of the same should stande in the left corner of
+the front. The seconde maine battaile, should then put the firste
+five battailes therof, in the right flanck, and the other five in
+the taile, and the hedde capitain of thesame, should stande in the
+right corner, whom should come to dooe the office of the
+Tergiductor. The armie ordained in this maner, ought to be made to
+move, and in the marchyng, to observe all this order, and without
+doubte, it is sure from all the tumultes of the countrie men. Nor
+the capitain ought not to make other provision, to the tumultuarie
+assaultes, then to give sometyme Commission to some horse, or
+Ansigne of Veliti, that thei set themselves in order: nor it shall
+never happen that these tumultuous people, will come to finde thee
+at the drawyng of the swerd, or pikes poincte: for that men out of
+order, have <span class="pagenum"><a name="page156" id=
+"page156"></a>{156}</span> feare of those that be in araie: and
+alwaies it shall bee seen, that with cries and rumours, thei will
+make a greate assaulte, without otherwise commyng nere unto thee,
+like unto barking curres aboute a Mastie. Aniball when he came to
+the hurte of the Romaines into Italie, he passed through all
+Fraunce, and alwaies of the Frenche tumultes, he took small
+regarde. Mindyng to marche, it is conveniente to have plainers and
+labourers afore, whom maie make thee the waie plaine, whiche shall
+bee garded of those horsemen, that are sent afore to viewe the
+countrie: an armie in this order maie marche tenne mile the daie,
+and shall have tyme inough to incampe, and suppe before Sunne goyng
+doune, for that ordinarely, an armie maie marche twentie mile: if
+it happen that thou be assaulted, of an armie set in order, this
+assaulte cannot growe sodainly: for that an armie in order, commeth
+with his pace, so that thou maiest have tyme inough, to set thy
+self in order to faight the field, and reduce thy menne quickly
+into thesame facion, or like to thesame facion of an armie, which
+afore is shewed thee. For that if thou be assaulted, on the parte
+afore, thou needeste not but to cause, that the artillerie that be
+on the flanckes, and the horse that be behinde, to come before, and
+place theimselves in those places, and with those distaunces, as
+afore is declared. The thousande Veliti that bee before, must go
+out of their place, and be devided into CCCCC. for a parte, and go
+into their place, betwene the horse and the hornes of tharmy: then
+in the voide place that thei shal leave, the twoo Ansignes of the
+extraordinarie Pikes muste entre, whiche I did set in the middest
+of the quadrante of the armie. The thousande Veliti, whiche I
+placed behinde, must departe from thesame place, and devide them
+selves in the flanckes of the battailes, to the fortificacion of
+those: and by the open place that thei shal leave, all the
+carriages and unarmed menne must go out, and place themselves on
+the backe of the battaile. Then the rome in the middeste beyng
+voided, and every man gone to his place: the five battailes, whiche
+I placed behinde on the armie, must make forward in the voide
+place, that is <span class="pagenum"><a name="page157" id=
+"page157"></a>{157}</span> betwene the one and the other flanck,
+and marche towardes the battailes, that stand in the hedde, and
+three of theim, muste stande within thirtie yardes of those, with
+equall distances, betwene the one and the other, and the other twoo
+shal remain behinde, distaunte other thirtie yardes: the whiche
+facion maie bee ordained in a sodaine, and commeth almoste to bee
+like, unto the firste disposicion, whiche of tharmy afore we
+shewed. And though it come straighter in the fronte, it commeth
+grosser in the flanckes, whiche giveth it no lesse strength: but
+bicause the five battailes, that be in the taile, have the Pikes on
+the hinder parte, for the occasion that before we have declared, it
+is necessarie to make theim to come on the parte afore, mindyng to
+have theim to make a backe to the front of tharmie: and therfore it
+behoveth either to make them to tourne battaile after battaile, as
+a whole body, or to make them quickly to enter betwen thorders of
+targettes, and conduct them afore, the whiche waie is more spedy,
+and of lesse disorder, then to make them to turn al together: and
+so thou oughtest to doe of all those, whiche remain behind in every
+condicion of assault, as I shal shewe you. If it appere that
+thenemie come on the part behinde, the first thyng that ought to
+bee dooen, is to cause that every man tourne his face where his
+backe stode, and straight waie tharmie cometh to have made of
+taile, hed, and of hed taile: then al those waies ought to be kept,
+in orderyng thesame fronte, as I tolde afore. If the enemie come to
+incounter the right flancke, the face of thy armie ought to bee
+made to tourne towardes thesame side: after, make all those thynges
+in fortificacion of thesame hedde, whiche above is saied, so that
+the horsemen, the Veliti, and the artillerie, maie be in places
+conformable to the hed thereof: onely you have this difference,
+that in variyng the hed of those, which are transposed, some have
+to go more, and some lesse. In deede makyng hedde of the right
+flancke, the Veliti ought to enter in the spaces, that bee betwene
+the horne of the armie, and those horse, whiche were nerest to the
+lefte flancke, in whose place ought to enter, the twoo Ansignes of
+the <span class="pagenum"><a name="page158" id=
+"page158"></a>{158}</span> extraordinarie Pikes, placed in the
+middest: But firste the carriages and the unarmed, shall goe out by
+the open place, avoidyng the rome in the middest, and retiryng
+themselves behinde the lefte flancke, whiche shall come to bee then
+the taile of the armie: the other Veliti that were placed in the
+taile, accordyng to the principall orderyng of the armie, in this
+case, shall not move: Bicause the same place should not remaine
+open, whiche of taile shall come to be flancke: all other thyng
+ought to bee dooen, as in orderyng of the firste hedde is saied:
+this that is told about the makyng hed of the right flanck, must be
+understode to be told, havyng nede to make it of the left flanck:
+for that the very same order ought to bee observed. If the enemie
+should come grose, and in order to assaulte thee on twoo sides,
+those twoo sides, whiche he commeth to assaulte thee on, ought to
+bee made stronge with the other twoo sides, that are not assaulted,
+doublyng the orders in eche of theim, and devidyng for bothe partes
+the artillerie, the Veliti, and the horse. If he come on three or
+on fower sides, it is necessarie that either thou or he lacke
+prudence: for that if thou shalt bee wise, thou wilte never putte
+thy self in place, that the enemie on three or fower sides, with a
+greate nomber of men, and in order, maie assault thee: for that
+mindyng, safely to hurte thee, it is requisit, that he be so great,
+that on every side, he maie assault thee, with as many men, as thou
+haste almoste in al thy army: and if thou be so unwise, that thou
+put thy self in the daunger and force of an enemie, whom hath three
+tymes more menne ordained then thou, if thou catche hurte, thou
+canste blame no man but thy self: if it happen not through thy
+faulte, but throughe some mischaunce, the hurt shall be without the
+shame, and it shal chaunce unto thee, as unto the Scipions in
+Spaine, and to Asdruball in Italie but if the enemie have not many
+more men then thou, and intende for to disorder thee, to assaulte
+thee on divers sides, it shal be his foolishnesse, and thy good
+fortune: for as moche as to doe so, it is convenient, that he
+become so thinne in soche wise, that then easely thou maiste
+overthrow <span class="pagenum"><a name="page159" id=
+"page159"></a>{159}</span> one bande, and withstande an other, and
+in short time ruinate him: this maner of ordering an armie against
+an enemie, whiche is not seen, but whiche is feared, is a
+necessarie and a profitable thing, to accustome thy souldiours, to
+put themselves together, and to march with soche order, and in
+marchyng, to order theimselves to faight, accordyng to the first
+hedde, and after to retourne in the forme, that thei marched in,
+then to make hedde of the taile, after, of the flanckes, from
+these, to retourne into the first facion: the whiche exercises and
+uses bee necessarie, mindyng to have an armie, throughly instructed
+and practised: in whiche thyng the Princes and the capitaines,
+ought to take paine. Nor the discipline of warre is no other, then
+to knowe how to commaunde, and to execute these thynges. Nor an
+instructed armie is no other, then an armie that is wel practised
+in these orders: nor it cannot be possible, that who so ever in
+this time, should use like disciplin shall ever bee broken. And if
+this quadrante forme whiche I have shewed you, is somewhat
+difficulte, soche difficultnesse is necessarie, takyng it for an
+exercise: for as moche as knowyng well, how to set theim selves in
+order, and to maintaine theim selves in the same, thei shall knowe
+after more easely, how to stand in those, whiche should not have so
+moche difficultie.</p>
+<p>ZANOBI. I beleve as you saie, that these orders bee verie
+necessarie, and I for my parte, knowe not what to adde or take from
+it: true it is, that I desire to know of you twoo thynges, the one,
+if when you will make of the taile, or of the flancke hedde, and
+would make them to tourne, whether this be commaunded by the voice,
+or with the sounde: thother, whether those that you sende afore, to
+make plain the waie, for the armie to marche, ought to be of the
+verie same souldiours of your battailes, or other vile menne
+appoincted, to like exercise.</p>
+<p class="side">Commaundementes of Capitaines being not wel
+understoode, maie be the destruction of an armie; Respect that is
+to be had in commaundementes made with the sounde of the Trompet;
+In commaundmentes made with the voice, what respect is to be had;
+Of Pianars.</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. Your firste question importeth moche: for that many
+tymes the commaundementes of Capitaines, beyng not well
+understoode, or evill interpreted, have disordered their armie:
+therfore the voices, with the whiche thei commaunde <span class=
+"pagenum"><a name="page160" id="page160"></a>{160}</span> in
+perilles, ought to bee cleare, and nete. And if thou commaunde with
+the sounde, it is convenient to make, that betwene the one waie and
+the other, there be so moche difference, that the one cannot be
+chaunged for the other: and if thou commaundest with the voice,
+thou oughteste to take heede, that thou flie the general voices,
+and to use the particulares, and of the particulars, to flie those,
+whiche maie be interpreted sinisterly. Many tymes the saiyng backe,
+backe, hath made to ruinate an armie; therfore this voice ought not
+to be used, but in steede therof to use, retire you. If you will
+make theim to tourne, for to chaunge the hedde, either to flanck,
+or to backe, use never to saie tourne you, but saie to the lefte,
+to the right, to the backe, to the front: thus all the other voices
+ought to be simple, and nete, as thrust on, march, stande stronge,
+forwarde, retourne you: and all those thynges, whiche maie bee
+dooen with the voice, thei doe, the other is dooen with the sounde.
+Concernyng those menne, that must make the waies plaine for the
+armie to marche, whiche is your seconde question, I would cause my
+owne souldiours to dooe this office, as well bicause in the
+aunciente warfare thei did so, as also for that there should be in
+the armie, lesser nomber of unarmed men, and lesse impedimentes:
+and I would choose out of every battaile, thesame nomber that
+should nede, and I would make theim to take the instrumentes, meete
+to plaine the grounde withall, and their weapons to leave with
+those rankes, that should bee nereste them, who should carrie them,
+and the enemie commyng, thei shall have no other to doe, then to
+take them again, and to retourne into their araie.</p>
+<p>ZANOBI. Who shall carrie thinstrumentes to make the waie plaine
+withall?</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. The Cartes that are appoincted to carrie the like
+instrumentes.</p>
+<p>ZANOBI. I doubte whether you should ever brynge these our
+souldiours, to labour with Shovell or Mattocke, after soche
+sorte.</p>
+<p class="side">The victualles that thantiquitie made provision of,
+for their armies.</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. All these thynges shall bee reasoned in the
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page161" id=
+"page161"></a>{161}</span> place thereof, but now I will let alone
+this parte, and reason of the maner of the victualing of the armie:
+for that me thinketh, havyng so moche traivailed theim, it is tyme
+to refreshe them, and to comfort them with meate. You have to
+understande, that a Prince ought to ordaine his armie, as expedite
+as is possible, and take from thesame all those thynges, whiche
+maie cause any trouble or burthen unto it, and make unto hym any
+enterprise difficulte. Emongest those thynges that causeth moste
+difficultie, is to be constrained to keepe the armie provided of
+wine, and baked bread. The antiquitie cared not for Wine, for that
+lackyng it, thei dranke water, mingeled with a little vinegre, to
+give it a taste: For whiche cause, emong the municions of
+victualles for the hoste, vineger was one, and not wine. Thei baked
+not the breade in Ovens, as thei use for Citees, but thei provided
+the Meale, and of thesame, every Souldiour after his owne maner,
+satisfied hym self, havyng for condimente Larde and Baken, the
+whiche made the breade saverie, that thei made, and maintained
+theim strong, so that the provision of victualles for the armie,
+was Meale, Vineger, Larde, and Bacon, and for the horses Barley.
+Thei had ordinarely heardes of greate beastes and small, whiche
+folowed the armie, the whiche havyng no nede to bee carried, caused
+not moche impedimente. Of this order there grewe, that an armie in
+old time, marched somtymes many daies through solitarie places, and
+difficulte, without sufferyng disease of victualles: for that thei
+lived of thyngs, whiche easely thei might convey after them. To the
+contrarie it happeneth in the armies, that are now a daies, whiche
+mindyng not to lacke wine, and to eate baked breade in thesame
+maner, as when thei are at home, whereof beyng not able to make
+provision long, thei remaine often tymes famished, or though thei
+be provided, it is dooen with disease, and with moste greate coste:
+therfore I would reduce my armie to this maner of living: and I
+would not that thei should eate other bread, then that, which by
+themselves thei should bake. Concernyng wine, I would not prohibite
+the drinkyng thereof, nor yet the commyng of it <span class=
+"pagenum"><a name="page162" id="page162"></a>{162}</span> into the
+armie, but I would not use indevour, nor any labour for to have it,
+and in the other provisions, I would governe my self altogether,
+like unto the antiquitie: the whiche thing, if you consider well,
+you shall see how moche difficultie is taken awaie, and how moche
+trouble and disease, an armie and a capitaine is avoided of, and
+how moche commoditie shall bee given, to what so ever enterprise is
+to bee dooen.</p>
+<p>ZANOBI. We have overcome thenemie in the field, marched
+afterward upon his countrie, reason would, that spoiles be made,
+tounes sacked, prisoners taken, therefore I would knowe how the
+antiquitie in these thynges, governed them selves.</p>
+<p class="side">The occasions why the warres made nowe adaies, doe
+impoverishe the conquerors as well as the conquered; The order that
+the Romaines toke, concerning the spoile and the booties that their
+souldiours gotte; An order that the antiquitie tooke, concernyng
+their soldiours wages.</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. Beholde, I will satisfie you. I beleve you have
+considered, for that once alredie with some of you I have reasoned,
+howe these present warres, impoverishe as well those lordes that
+overcome, as those that leese: for that if the one leese his
+estate, the other leeseth his money, and his movables: the whiche
+in olde time was not, for that the conquerour of the warre, waxed
+ritche. This groweth of keepyng no compte in these daies of the
+spoiles, as in olde tyme thei did, but thei leave it to the
+discreacion of the souldiours. This manner maketh twoo moste great
+disorders: the one, that whiche I have tolde: the other that the
+souldiour becometh more covetous to spoyle, and lesse observeth the
+orders: and manie times it hath been seen, howe the covetousnesse
+of the praye, hath made those to leese, whome were victorious.
+Therefore the Romaines whiche were princes of armies, provided to
+the one and to the other of these inconvenienses, ordainyng that
+all the spoyle should apertaine to the publicke, and that the
+publicke after should bestowe it, as shoulde be thought good: and
+therfore thei had in tharmie the questours, whom were as we would
+say, the chamberlaines, to whose charge all the spoyle and booties
+were committed: whereof the consull was served to geve the
+ordinarie pay to the souldiours, to succour the wounded, and the
+sicke, and for the other businesse of the armie. The consull might
+well, and he used it often, to graunte a spoyle to soldiours: but
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page163" id=
+"page163"></a>{163}</span> this grauntyng, made no disorder: for
+that the armie beyng broken all the pray was put in the middest,
+and distributed by hedde, accordyng to the qualitee of everie man:
+the which maner thei constituted, to thintente, that the soldiours
+should attend to overcome, and not to robbe: and the Romaine
+Legions overcame the enemies, and folowed them not, for that thei
+never departed from their orders: onely there folowed them, the
+horsemenne with those that were light armed, and if there were any
+other souldiours then those of the legions, they likewyse pursued
+the chase. Where if the spoyle shoulde have ben his that gotte it,
+it had not ben possible nor reasonable, to have kepte the legions
+steddie, and to withstonde manie perils; hereby grewe therefore,
+that the common weale inritched, and every Consull carried with his
+triumphe into the treasurie, muche treasure, whiche all was of
+booties and spoiles. An other thing the antiquetie did upon good
+consideration, that of the wages, whiche they gave to every
+souldiour, the thirde parte they woulde shoulde be laied up nexte
+to him, whome carried the ansigne of their bande, whiche never gave
+it them againe, before the warre was ended: this thei did, beyng
+moved of twoo reasons, the first was to thintente, that the
+souldiour should thrive by his wages, because the greatest parte of
+them beyng yonge men, and carelesse, the more thei have, so muche
+the more without neede thei spende, the other cause was, for that
+knowyng, that their movabelles were nexte to the ansigne, thei
+should be constrained to have more care thereof, and with more
+obstinatenesse to defende it: and this made them stronge and to
+holde together: all which thynges is necessarie to observe,
+purposinge to reduce the exercise of armes unto the intier
+perfection therof.</p>
+<p>ZANOBI. I beleeve that it is not possible, that to an armie that
+marcheth from place to place, there fal not perrilous accidentes,
+where the industerie of the capitaine is needefull, and the
+worthinesse of the souldiours, mindyng to avoyde them. Therefore I
+woulde be glad, that you remembring any, would shew them.</p>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page164" id=
+"page164"></a>{164}</span>
+<p class="side">Captaines mai incurre the daunger of ambusshes twoo
+maner of wayes; How to avoide the perill of ambusshes; Howe
+ambusshes have ben perceived; Howe the Capitaine of the enemies
+ought to be esteemed; Where men be in greatest perill; The
+description of the countrey where an army muste marche, is most
+requiset for a Capitaine to have; A most profitable thyng it is for
+a capitayne to be secrete in all his affaires; An advertisment
+concernyng the marchyng of an armie; The marching of an armie ought
+to be ruled by the stroke of the Drumme; The condicion of the
+enemie ought to be considered.</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. I shall contente you with a good will, beyng
+inespetially necessarie, intendyng to make of this exercise a
+perfecte science. The Capitaines ought above all other thynges,
+whileste thei marche with an armie, to take heede of ambusshes,
+wherein they incurre daunger twoo waies, either marchynge thou
+entrest into them, or thoroughe crafte of the enemie thou arte
+trained in before thou arte aware. In the first case, mindyng to
+avoide suche perill, it is necessarie to sende afore double warde,
+whome may discover the countrey, and so muche the more dilligence
+ought to be used, the more that the countrey is apte for ambusshes,
+as be the woddie or hilly countries, for that alwaies thei be layd
+either in a wodde, or behind a hille: and as the ambusshe not
+forseene, doeth ruin thee, so forseyng the same, it cannot hurte
+thee. Manie tymes birdes or muche duste have discovered the enemie:
+for that alwayes where the enemie cometh to finde thee, he shall
+make great duste, whiche shall signifie unto thee his comyng: so
+often tymes a Capitaine seyng in the places where he ought to
+passe, Doves to rise, or other of those birdes that flie in
+flockes, and to tourne aboute and not to light, hath knowen by the
+same the ambusshe of the enemies to be there, and sendynge before
+his men, and sertainely understandyng it, hath saved him selfe and
+hurte his enemie. Concernyng the seconde case, to be trained in,
+(which these our men cal to be drawen to the shot) thou ought to
+take heede, not straight way to beleve those thinges, which are
+nothyng reasonable, that thei be as they seeme: as shoulde be, if
+the enemie should set afore thee a praie, thou oughtest to beleeve
+that in the same is the hooke, and that therin is hid the deceipte.
+If many enemies be driven away by a fewe of thine, if a fewe
+enemies assaulte manie of thine, if the enemies make a sodeine
+flight, and not standynge with reason, alwaies thou oughtest in
+suche cases to feare deceipte, and oughtest never to beleeve that
+the enemie knoweth not how to doe his businesse, but rather
+intendyng that he may begile thee the lesse, and mindyng to stand
+in lesse peril, the weaker that he is, and the lesse craftier that
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page165" id=
+"page165"></a>{165}</span> the enemie is, so muche the more thou
+oughtest to esteeme him: and thou muste in this case use twoo
+sundrie poinctes, for that thou oughtest to feare him in thy minde
+and with the order, but with wordes, and with other outewarde
+demonstracion, to seeme to dispyse him: because this laste way,
+maketh that the souldiours hope the more to have the victorie: the
+other maketh thee more warie, and lesse apte to be begyled. And
+thou hast to understand, that when men marche thoroughe the enemies
+countrey, they ar in muche more, and greater perils, then in
+fayghtyng the fielde: and therefore the Capitaine in marchyng,
+ought to use double diligence: and the first thyng that he ought to
+doo, is to get described, and payncted oute all the countrie,
+thorough the which he must marche, so that he maye know the places,
+the number, the distances, the waies, the hilles, the rivers, the
+fennes, and all the quallites of them: and to cause this to bee
+knowen, it is convenient to have with him diversly, and in sundrie
+maners such men, as know the places, and to aske them with
+diligence, and to se whether their talke agree, and accordyng to
+the agreyng therof, to note: he oughte also to sende afore the
+horsemen, and with them prudente heddes, not so muche to discover
+the enemie, as to viewe the countrey, to se whether it agree with
+the description, and with the knowledge that they have of the same.
+Also the guydes that are sente, ought to be kepte with hope of
+rewarde, and feare of paine. And above all thynges it ought to be
+provided, that the armie knowe not to what businesse he leadeth
+them: for that there is nothyng in the warre more profitable, then
+to keepe secret the thynges that is to be dooen: and to thintente a
+suddeine assaulte dooe not trouble thy soldiours, thou oughteste to
+see them to stande reddie with their weapons, because the thynges
+that ar provided for, offend lesse. Manie for to avoyde the
+confusion of marchyng, have placed under the standerde, the
+carriages, and the unarmed, and have commaunded them to folow the
+same, to the intente that in marchyng needyng to staye, or to
+retire, they might dooe it more easely, which thyng as profitable,
+I alowe very <span class="pagenum"><a name="page166" id=
+"page166"></a>{166}</span> muche. Also in marchyng, advertismente
+ought to be had, that the one parte of the armie goe not a sunder
+from the other, or that thoroughe some goyng fast, and some softe,
+the armie become not slender: the whiche thynges, be occation of
+dissorder: therfore the heddes muste be placed in suche wise, that
+they may maintaine the pace even, causing to goe softe those that
+goe to fast, and to haste forward the other that goe to sloe, the
+whiche pace can not bee better ruled, then by the stroke of the
+drumme. The waies ought to be caused to be inlarged, so that
+alwaies at least a bande of iiii. hundred men may marche in order
+of battaile. The custome and the qualitie of the enemie ought to be
+considered, and whether that he wil assaulte thee either in the
+mornyng, or at none or in the evenynge, and whether he be more
+puisante with fotemen or horsemen, and accordyng as thou
+understandest, to ordeine and to provide for thy self. But let us
+come to some particular accidente. It hapneth sometime, that thou
+gettyng from the enemie, because thou judgest thy selfe inferiour,
+and therfore mindynge not to faight with him, and he comyng at thy
+backe, thou arivest at the banke of a river, passyng over the
+which, asketh time, so that the enemie is redie to overtake thee
+and to fayght with thee. Some, which chaunsing to bee in suche
+perill, have inclosed their armie on the hinder parte with a diche,
+and fillyng the same full of towe, and firyng it, have then passed
+with the armie without beyng able to be letted of the enemie, he
+beyng by the same fire that was betwene them held backe.</p>
+<p class="side">Annone of Carthage.</p>
+<p>ZANOBI. I am harde of beliefe, that this fyre coulde stay theim,
+in especially because I remember that I have harde, howe Annone of
+Carthage, beyng besieged of enemies, inclosed him selfe on the same
+parte, with wodde, which he did set on fire where he purposed to
+make eruption. Wherfore the enemies beyng not intentive on the same
+parte to looke to him, he made his armie to passe over the same
+flame, causing every man to holde his Target before his face for to
+defend them from the fire, and smoke.</p>
+<p class="side">Nabide a spartayne; Quintus Luttatius pollecie to
+passe over a river; How to passe a ryver without a bridge; A
+polecie of Cesar to passe a river, where his enemie beyng on the
+other side therof sought to lette hym.</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. You saye well: but consider you howe I have
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page167" id=
+"page167"></a>{167}</span> saied, and howe Annone did: for as muche
+as I saied that they made a diche, and filled it with towe, so that
+he, that woulde passe over the same, should be constrained to
+contende with the diche and with fire: Annone made the fire,
+without the diche, and because he intended to passe over it, he
+made it not great, for that otherwise without the diche, it shoulde
+have letted him. Dooe you not knowe, that Nabide a Spartan beyng
+besieged in Sparta of the Romaines, set fire on parte of his towne
+to let the way to the Romaines, who alredie wer entred in? And by
+meane of the same flame not onely hindered their way, but drave
+them oute: but let us turne to our matter. Quintus Luttatius a
+Romaine, havyng at his backe the Cimbri, and commyng to a river, to
+thentente the enemie should give him time to passe over, semed to
+geve time to them to faight with him: and therfore he fained that
+he would lodge there, and caused trenches to be made, and certaine
+pavilions to be erected, and sent certayne horsemen into the
+countrie for forredge: so that the Cimbrise beleevyng, that he
+incamped, they also incamped, and devided them selves into sundrie
+partes, to provide for victuals, wherof Luttatius being aware,
+passed the river they beyng not able to let him. Some for to passe
+a river havynge no bridge, have devided it, and one parte they have
+turned behynde their backes, and the other then becomynge shalower,
+with ease they have passed it: when the rivers be swift, purposyng
+to have their footemen to passe safely, they place their strongest
+horses on the higher side, that thei may sustain the water, and an
+other parte be lowe that may succour the men, if any of the river
+in passyng should be overcome with the water: They passe also
+rivers, that be verie deepe, with bridges, with botes, and with
+barrelles: and therfore it is good to have in a redinesse in an
+armie wherewith to be able to make all these thynges. It fortuneth
+sometime that in passyng a river, the enemie standynge agaynst thee
+on the other banke, doeth let thee: to minde to overcome this
+difficultie, I know not a better insample to folow, then the same
+of Cesar, whome havynge his armie on the banke of a river in
+Fraunce, and <span class="pagenum"><a name="page168" id=
+"page168"></a>{168}</span> his passage beynge letted of
+Vergintorige a Frenche man, the whiche on the other side of the
+river had his men, marched many daies a longe the river, and the
+like did the enemie: wherfore Cesar incamping in a woddie place,
+apte to hide men, he tooke out of every legion three cohortes, and
+made them to tarie in the same place, commaundynge theim that so
+soone as he was departed, they shoulde caste over a bridge, and
+should fortefie it, and he with his other menne folowed on the
+waye: wherfore Vergintorige seyng the number of the legions,
+thinkyng that there was not left anie parte of theim behinde,
+folowed also his way: but Cesar when he supposed that the bridge
+was made, tourned backewarde, and findynge all thinges in order,
+passed the river without difficultee.</p>
+<p>ZANOBI. Have ye any rule to know the foordes?</p>
+<p class="side">How to know the Foordes of a river.</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. Yea, we have: alwaies the river, in that parte, whiche
+is betwene the water, that is stilleste, and the water that runneth
+fastest, there is least depth and it is a place more meete to be
+looked on, then any other where. For that alwaies in thesame place,
+the river is moste shallowest. The whiche thyng, bicause it hath
+been proved many tymes, is moste true.</p>
+<p>ZANOBI. If it chaunce that the River hath marde the Foorde, so
+that the horses sincke, what reamedy have you?</p>
+<p class="side">Howe to escape oute of a straight where the same is
+besette with enemies; Howe Lutius Minutius escaped out of a
+strayght wherin he was inclosed of his enemies; Howe some
+Capitaynes have suffered them selves to be compassed aboute of
+their enemies; A polecie of Marcus Antonius; A defence for the
+shotte of arrowes.</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. The remedie is to make hardels of roddes whiche must
+be placed in the bottome of the river, and so to passe upon those:
+but let us folowe our reasonyng. If it happen that a capitain be
+led with his armie, betwen two hilles, and that he have not but
+twoo waies to save hymself, either that before, or that behinde,
+and those beyng beset of thenemies, he hath for remidie to doe the
+same, which some have doen heretofore: that which have made on
+their hinder parte a greate trenche, difficult to passe over, and
+semed to the enemie, to mynde to kepe him of, for to be able with
+al his power, without neding to feare behinde, to make force that
+waie, whiche before remaineth open. The whiche the enemies
+belevyng, have made theim selves stronge, towardes the open parte,
+and have forsaken the <span class="pagenum"><a name="page169" id=
+"page169"></a>{169}</span> inclosed and he then castyng a bridge of
+woode over the Trenche, for soche an effect prepared, bothe on
+thesame parte, with out any impedimente hath passed, and also
+delivered hymself out of the handes of the enemie. Lucius Minutus a
+Consul of Rome, was in Liguria with an armie, and was of the
+enemies inclosed, betwene certaine hilles, whereby he could not go
+out: therefore he sente certaine souldiours of Numidia on
+horsebacke, whiche he had in his armie (whom were evill armed, and
+upon little leane horses) towardes the places that were kepte of
+the enemies, whom at the first sight made the enemies, to order
+theim selves together, to defende the passage: but after that thei
+sawe those men ill apoincted, and accordyng to their facion evill
+horsed, regardyng theim little, enlarged the orders of their warde,
+wherof so sone as the Numidians wer a ware, givyng the spurres to
+their horses, and runnyng violently upon theim, passed before thei
+could provide any remedy, whom beyng passed, destroied and spoiled
+the countrie after soche sorte, that thei constrained the enemies,
+to leave the passage free to the armie of Lucius. Some capitaine,
+whiche hath perceived hymself to be assaulted of a greate multitude
+of enemies, hath drawen together his men, and hath given to the
+enemie commoditie, to compasse hym all about, and then on thesame
+part, whiche he hath perceived to be moste weake, hath made force,
+and by thesame waie, hath caused to make waie, and saved
+hymself.</p>
+<p>Marcus Antonius retiryng before the armie of the Parthians,
+perceived how the enemies every daie before Sunne risyng, when he
+removed, assaulted him, and all the waie troubled hym: in so moch,
+that he determined not to departe the nexte daie, before None: so
+that the Parthians beleving, that he would not remove that daie,
+retourned to their tentes. Whereby Marcus Antonius might then all
+the reste of the daie, marche without any disquietnesse. This self
+same man for to avoide the arrowes of the Parthians, commaunded his
+men, that when the Parthians came towardes them, thei should knele,
+and that the second ranke of the battailes, should cover with their
+Targaettes, <span class="pagenum"><a name="page170" id=
+"page170"></a>{170}</span> the heddes of the firste, the thirde,
+the seconde, the fowerth the third, and so successively, that all
+the armie came, to be as it were under a pentehouse, and defended
+from the shotte of the enemies. This is as moche as is come into my
+remembraunce, to tell you, which maie happen unto an armie
+marchyng: therefore, if you remember not any thyng els, I will
+passe to an other parte.</p>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page173" id=
+"page173"></a>{173}</span>
+<h2><a name="warre-6" id="warre-6">THE SIXTHE BOOKE</a></h2>
+<p>ZANOBI. <img width="10%" src="images/image-i.png" alt="I" />
+beleve that it is good, seyng the reasonyng must be chaunged, that
+Baptiste take his office, and I to resigne myne, and wee shall come
+in this case, to imitate the good Capitaines (accordyng as I have
+nowe here understoode of the gentilman) who place the beste
+souldiours, before and behinde the armie, semyng unto theim
+necessarie to have before, soche as maie lustely beginne the
+faight, and soche as behinde maie lustely sustaine it. Now seyng
+Cosimus began this reasonyng prudently, Baptiste prudently shall
+ende it. As for Luigi and I, have in this middeste intertained it,
+and as every one of us hath taken his part willingly, so I beleve
+not, that Baptiste wil refuse it.</p>
+<p>BAPTISTE. I have let my self been governed hetherto, so I minde
+to doe still. Therfore be contente sir, to folowe your reasonyng,
+and if we interrupte you with this practise of ours, have us
+excused.</p>
+<p class="side">How the Grekes incamped; Howe the Romaines
+incamped; The maner of the incamping of an armie; The lodging for
+the generall capitaine.</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. You dooe me, as all readie I have saied, a moste
+greate pleasure; for this your interrupting me, taketh not awaie my
+fantasie, but rather refresheth me. But mindyng to followe our
+matter I saie, how that it is now tyme, that we lodge this our
+armie, for that you knowe every thyng desireth reste and saftie,
+bicause to reste, and not to reste safely, is no perfecte reste: I
+doubte moche, whether it hath not been desired of you, that I
+should firste <span class="pagenum"><a name="page174" id=
+"page174"></a>{174}</span> have lodged them, after made theim to
+marche, and laste of all to faight, and we have doen the contrary:
+whereunto necessitie hath brought us, for that intendyng to shewe,
+how an armie in going, is reduced from the forme of marching, to
+thesame maner of faightyng, it was necessarie to have firste
+shewed, how thei ordered it to faight. But tournyng to our matter,
+I saie, that minding to have the Campe sure, it is requisite that
+it be strong, and in good order: the industrie of the Capitaine,
+maketh it in order, the situacion, or the arte, maketh it stronge.
+The Grekes sought strong situacions, nor thei would never place
+theim selves, where had not been either cave, or bancke of a river,
+or multitude of trees, or other naturall fortificacion, that might
+defende theim: but the Romaines not so moche incamped safe through
+the situacion, as through arte, nor thei would never incampe in
+place, where thei should not have been able to have raunged all
+their bandes of menne, accordyng to their discipline. Hereby grewe,
+that the Romaines might kepe alwaies one forme of incamping, for
+that thei would, that the situacion should bee ruled by them, not
+thei by the situacion: the which the Grekes could not observe, for
+that beyng ruled by the situacion, and variyng the situacion and
+forme, it was conveniente, that also thei should varie the maner of
+incampyng, and the facion of their lodgynges. Therefore the
+Romaines, where the situacion lacked strength thei supplied thesame
+with arte, and with industrie. And for that I in this my
+declaracion, have willed to imitate the Romaines, I will not
+departe from the maner of their incamping, yet not observyng
+altogether their order, but takyng thesame parte, whiche semeth
+unto me, to be mete for this present tyme. I have told you many
+tymes, how the Romaines had in their consull armies, twoo Legions
+of Romaine men, whiche were aboute a leven thousande footemen, and
+sixe hundred horsemen, and moreover thei had an other leven
+thousande footemen, sente from their frendes in their aide: nor in
+their armie thei had never more souldiers that were straungers,
+then Romaines, excepte horsemenne, whom thei cared not,
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page175" id=
+"page175"></a>{175}</span> though thei were more in nomber then
+theirs: and in all their doynges, thei did place their Legions in
+the middeste, and the aiders, on the sides: the whiche maner, thei
+observed also in incampyng, as by your self you maie rede, in those
+aucthoures, that write of their actes: and therefore I purpose not
+to shewe you distinctly how thei incamped, but to tell you onely
+with what order, I at this presente would incampe my armie, whereby
+you shall then knowe, what parte I have taken out of the Romaine
+maners. You knowe, that in stede of twoo Romaine Legions, I have
+taken twoo maine battailes of footemen, of sixe thousande footemen,
+and three hundred horsemen, profitable for a maine battaile, and
+into what battailes, into what weapons, into what names I have
+devided theim: you knowe howe in orderyng tharmie to marche, and to
+faight, I have not made mencion of other men, but onely have
+shewed, how that doublyng the men, thei neded not but to double the
+orders: but mindyng at this presente, to shew you the maner of
+incampyng, me thinketh good not to stande onely with twoo maine
+battailes, but to bryng together a juste armie, made like unto the
+Romaines, of twoo maine battailes, and of as many more aidyng men:
+the whiche I make, to the intent that the forme of the incampyng,
+maie be the more perfect, by lodgyng a perfecte armie: whiche thyng
+in the other demonstracions, hath not semed unto me so necessarie.
+Purposing then, to incampe a juste armie, of xxiiii. thousande
+footemen, and of twoo thousande good horsemenne, beeyng devided
+into fower maine battailes, twoo of our owne menne, and twoo of
+straungers, I would take this waie. The situacion beyng founde,
+where I would incampe, I would erecte the hed standarde, and aboute
+it, I would marke out a quadrant, whiche should have every side
+distante from it xxxvii. yardes and a half, of whiche every one of
+them should lye, towardes one of the fower regions of heaven, as
+Easte, Weste, Southe, and Northe: betwene the whiche space, I would
+that the capitaines lodgyng should be appoincted. And bicause I
+beleve that it is wisedom, to devide the armed from the unarmed,
+seyng that so, for the moste parte the <span class=
+"pagenum"><a name="page176" id="page176"></a>{176}</span> Romaines
+did, I would therefore seperate the menne, that were cumbered with
+any thing, from the uncombered. I would lodge all, or the greatest
+parte of the armed, on the side towardes the Easte, and the
+unarmed, and the cumbred, on the Weste side, makyng Easte the
+hedde, and Weste the backe of the Campe, and Southe, and Northe
+should be the flanckes: and for to distinguishe the lodgynges of
+the armed, I would take this waie. I would drawe a line from the
+hedde standarde, and lead it towardes the Easte, the space of
+CCCCC.x. yardes and a half: I would after, make two other lines,
+that should place in the middeste the same, and should bee as longe
+as that, but distante eche of theim from it a leven yardes and a
+quarter: in the ende whereof, I would have the Easte gate, and the
+space that is betwene the twoo uttermoste lines, should make a
+waie, that should go from the gate, to the capitaines lodging,
+whiche shall come to be xxii. yardes and a halfe broad, and
+CCCClxxii. yardes and a halfe longe, for the xxxvii. yardes and a
+halfe, the lodgyng of the Capitaine will take up: and this shall
+bee called the Capitaine waie. Then there shall be made an other
+waie, from the Southe gate, to the Northe gate, and shall passe by
+the hedde of the capitaine waie, and leave the Capitaines lodgyng
+towardes theaste, whiche waie shalbe ix.C.xxxvii. yardes and a
+halfe long (for the length therof wilbe as moche as the breadth of
+all the lodgynges) and shall likewise be xxii. yardes and a half
+broad, and shalbe called the crosse waie. Then so sone as the
+Capitaines lodgyng, were appoincted out, and these twoo waies,
+there shall bee begun to be appoincted out, the lodginges of our
+own two main battailes, one of the whiche, I would lodge on the
+right hand of the capitaines waie, and the other, on the lefte: and
+therefore passing over the space, that the breadth of the crosse
+waie taketh, I would place xxxii. lodgynges, on the lefte side of
+the capitain waie, and xxxii. on the right side, leavyng betwene
+the xvi. and the xvii. lodgyng, a space of xxii. yardes and a
+halfe, the whiche should serve for a waie overthwart, whiche should
+runne overthwarte, throughout all the lodgynges of the <span class=
+"pagenum"><a name="page177" id="page177"></a>{177}</span> maine
+battailes as in the distributyng of them shall bee seen.</p>
+<p class="side">The lodgings for the men of armes, and their
+Capitaine; Note, which is breadth and whiche length in the square
+campe; The lodgings for the lighte horsemen, and their capitain;
+The lodgings for the footemen of twoo ordinary main battailes; The
+lodgings for the conestables; The nomber of footemen appoincted to
+every lodging; The lodynges for the chiefe Capitaines of the maine
+battayles and for the treasurers, marshals and straungers;
+Lodginges for the horsemen, of the extraordinarie mayne battailes;
+The lodgynges for the extraordinarie Pykes and Veliti; How the
+Artillerie must be placed in the Campe; Lodgynges for the unarmed
+men, and the places that are apoineted for the impedimentes of the
+campe.</p>
+<p>Of these twoo orders of lodgynges in the beginnyng of the head,
+whiche shall come to joygne to the crosse waye, I would lodge the
+Capitaine of the men of armes, in the xv. lodgynges, which on
+everie side foloweth next, their men of armes, where eche main
+battaile, havyng a CL. men of armes, it will come to ten men of
+armes for a lodgyng. The spaces of the Capitaines lodgynges, should
+be in bredth xxx. and in length vii. yardes and a halfe. And note
+that when so ever I sai bredeth, it signifieth the space of the
+middest from Southe to Northe, and saiyng length, that whiche is
+from weste to Easte. Those of the men of armes, shoulde be xi.
+yardes and a quarter in length, and xxii. yardes and a halfe in
+bredeth. In the other xv. lodgynges, that on everie syde should
+folowe, the whiche should have their beginnyng on the other side of
+the overthwarte way, and whiche shall have the very same space,
+that those of the men of armes had, I woulde lodge the light
+horsemen: wherof beynge a hundred and fiftie, it will come to x.
+horsemen for a lodgyng, and in the xvi. that remaineth, I woulde
+lodge their Capitaine, gevynge him the verie same space, that is
+geven to the Capitain of the men of armes: and thus the lodginges
+of the horsemen of two maine battailes, will come to place in the
+middest the Capitaine way, and geve rule to the lodginges of the
+footemen, as I shall declare. You have noted how I have lodged the
+CCC. horsemen of everie main battaile with their Capitaines, in
+xxxii. lodgynges placed on the Captaine waie, havynge begun from
+the crosse waie, and how from the xvi. to the xvii. there remaineth
+a space of xxii. yardes and a halfe, to make awaie overthwarte.
+Mindyng therefore to lodge the xx. battailes, which the twoo
+ordinarie maine battailes have, I woulde place the lodgyng of
+everie twoo battailes, behinde the lodgynges of the horsemen,
+everie one of whiche, should have in length xi. yardes and a
+quarter, and in bredeth xxii. yardes and a half as those of the
+horsemens, and shoulde bee joigned on the hinder parte, that thei
+shoulde touche the one the other. <span class="pagenum"><a name=
+"page178" id="page178"></a>{178}</span> And in every first lodgyng
+on everie side which cometh to lie on the crosse waie, I woulde
+lodge the Counstable of a battaile, whiche should come to stand
+even with the lodgyng of the Capitayne of the men of armes, and
+this lodgyng shall have onely of space for bredeth xv. yardes, and
+for length vii. yardes and a halfe. In the other xv. lodgynges,
+that on everie side followeth after these, even unto the
+overthwarte way, I would lodge on everie part a battaile of foote
+men, whiche beyng iiii. hundred and fiftie, there will come to a
+lodgyng xxx. The other xv. lodgynges, I woulde place continually on
+every side on those of the light horse men, with the verie same
+spaces, where I woulde lodge on everie part, an other battaile of
+fote men, and in the laste lodgyng, I would place on every parte
+the Conestable of the battaile, whiche will come to joigne with the
+same of the Capitaine of the lighte horsemen, with the space of
+vii. yardes and a halfe for length, and xv. for bredeth: and so
+these two firste orders of lodgynges, shal be halfe of horsemen,
+and halfe of footemen. And for that I woulde (as in the place
+therof I have tolde you) these horse menne shoulde be all
+profitable, and for this havynge no servauntes whiche in kepyng the
+horses, or in other necessarie thynges might helpe them, I woulde
+that these footemen, who lodge behynde the horse, should bee bounde
+to helpe to provide, and to keepe theim for their maisters: and for
+this to bee exempted from the other doynges of the Campe. The
+whiche maner, was observed of the Romanies. Then leavyng after
+these lodgynges on everie parte, a space of xxii. yardes and a
+halfe, whiche shoulde make awaye, that shoulde be called the one,
+the firste waye on the righte hande, and the other the firste waie
+on the lefte hand, I woulde pitche on everie side an other order of
+xxxii. double lodgynges, whiche should tourne their hinder partes
+the one againste the other with the verie same spaces, as those
+that I have tolde you of, and devided after the sixtenth in the
+verie same maner for to make the overthwarte waie, where I would
+lodge on every side iiii. battailes of footemen, with their
+constables in bothe endes. Then leavyng on every side an other
+space of xxii. yardes <span class="pagenum"><a name="page179" id=
+"page179"></a>{179}</span> and a halfe, that shoulde make a waie,
+whiche shoulde be called of the one side, the seconde waie on the
+right hande, and on the other syde, the seconde way on the lefte
+hande, I would place an other order on everie side of xxxii. double
+lodgynges, with the verie same distance and devisions, where I
+would lodge on everie side, other iiii. battailes with their
+Constables: and thus the horesemenne and the bandes of the twoo
+ordinarie maine battailes, should come to be lodged in three orders
+of lodgynges, on the one side of the capitaine waie, and in three
+other orders of lodgynges on the other side of the Capitaine waie.
+The twoo aidyng maine battels (for that I cause them to be made of
+the verie same nation) I woulde lodge them on everie parte of these
+twoo ordinarie maine battailes, with the very same orders of double
+lodgynges, pitchyng first one order of lodgynges, where should
+lodge halfe the horsemen, and half the foote men, distance xxii.
+yardes and a halfe from the other, for to make a way whiche should
+be called the one, the thirde waie on the right hande, and the
+other the thirde waie on the lefte hande. And after, I woulde make
+on everie side, twoo other orders of lodgynges, in the verie same
+maner destinguesshed and ordeined, as those were of the ordinarie
+maine battelles, which shall make twoo other wayes, and they all
+should be called of the numbre, and of the hande, where thei should
+be placed: in suche wyse, that all this side of the armie, shoulde
+come to be lodged in xii. orders of double lodgynges, and in xiii.
+waies, reckenynge captaine waie, and crosse waie: I would there
+should remayne a space from the lodgynges to the Trenche of lxxv.
+yardes rounde aboute: and if you recken al these spaces, you shall
+see that from the middest of the Capitaines lodgyng to the easte
+gate, there is Dx. yardes. Now there remaineth twoo spaces, whereof
+one is from the Capitaines lodgyng to the Southe gate, the other is
+from thense to the Northe gate: whiche come to be (either of them
+measurynge them from the poincte in the middest) CCCC.lxxvi.
+yardes. Then takyng out of everie one of these spaces xxxvii.
+yardes and a halfe, whiche the Capitaynes lodgynge occupieth, and
+xxxiiii. yardes everie <span class="pagenum"><a name="page180" id=
+"page180"></a>{180}</span> waie for a market place, and xxii.
+yardes and a halfe for way that devides everie one of the saied
+spaces in the middest, and lxxv. yardes, that is lefte on everie
+part betweene the lodgynges and the Trenche, there remaineth on
+every side a space for lodginges of CCC. yardes broade, and lxxv.
+yardes longe, measurynge the length with the space that the
+Captaines lodgynge taketh up. Devidynge then in the middest the
+saied lengthe, there woulde be made on every hande of the Capitaine
+xl. lodgynges xxxvii. yardes and a halfe longe, and xv. broade,
+whiche will come to be in all lxxx. lodgynges, wherin shall be
+lodged the heddes of the maine battailes, the Treasurers, the
+Marshalles of the fielde, and all those that shoulde have office in
+the armie, leavyng some voide for straungers that shoulde happen to
+come, and for those that shall serve for good will of the
+Capitaine. On the parte behinde the Capitaines lodgynge, I would
+have a way from Southe to Northe xxiii. yardes large, and shoulde
+be called the bed way, whiche shall come to be placed a longe by
+the lxxx. lodgynges aforesayd: for that this waie, and the
+crosseway, shall come to place in the middest betweene them bothe
+the Capitaines lodgynge, and the lxxx. lodgynges that be on the
+sides therof. From this bed waie, and from over agaynst the
+captaines lodgyng, I would make an other waie, which shoulde goe
+from thens to the weste gate, lykewyse broade xxii. yardes and a
+halfe, and should aunswer in situation and in length to the
+Captaine way, and should be called the market waie. These twoo
+waies beynge made, I woulde ordeine the market place, where the
+market shall bee kepte, whiche I woulde place on the head of the
+market way over against the capitaines lodgynge, and joigned to the
+head way, and I woulde have it to be quadrante, and woulde assigne
+lxxxx. yardes and three quarters to a square: and on the right
+hande and lefte hande, of the saied market place, I would make two
+orders of lodginges, where everie order shal have eight double
+lodginges, which shall take up in length, ix. yardes, and in
+bredeth xxii. yardes and a halfe, so that there shall come to be on
+every hande of the market place, xvi. lodgynges <span class=
+"pagenum"><a name="page181" id="page181"></a>{181}</span> that
+shall place the same in the middest which shall be in al xxxii.
+wherin I woulde lodge those horsemen, which shoulde remaine to the
+aidyng mayne battailes: and when these should not suffise, I woulde
+assigne theim some of those lodginges that placeth between them the
+Capitaines lodgynge, and in especially those, that lie towardes the
+Trenche. There resteth now to lodge the Pikes, and extraordinarie
+Veliti, that everie main battaile hath, which you know accordynge
+to our order, how everie one hath besides the x. battailes M.
+extraordinarie Pikes, and five hundreth Veliti: so that the twoo
+cheefe maine battailes, have two thousande extraordinarie Pikes,
+and a thousande extraordinarie Veliti, and the ayders as many as
+those, so that yet there remaineth to be lodged, vi. M. menne,
+whome I woulde lodge all on the weste side, and a longe the
+Trenche. Then from the ende of the hed waye, towardes Northe,
+leavyng the space of lxxv. yardes from them to the trenche, I
+woulde place an order of v. double lodgynges, whiche in all shoulde
+take up lvi. yardes in lengthe, and xxx. in bredeth: so that the
+bredeth devided, there will come to everie lodgyng xi. yardes and a
+quarter for lengthe, and for bredeth twoo and twentie yardes and a
+half. And because there shall be x. lodgynges, I will lodge three
+hundred men, apoinctyng to every lodging xxx. men: leavyng then a
+space of three and twentie yardes and a quarter, I woulde place in
+like wise, and with like spaces an other order of five double
+lodgynges, and againe an other, till there were five orders of five
+double lodgynges: which wil come to be fiftie lodgynges placed by
+right line on the Northe side, every one of them distante from the
+Trenche lxxv. yardes, which will lodge fifteene hundred men.
+Tournyng after on the lefte hande towardes the weste gate, I woulde
+pitche in all the same tracte, whiche were from them to the saied
+gate, five other orders of double lodgynges, with the verie same
+spaces, and with the verie same maner: true it is, that from the
+one order to the other, there shall not be more then a xi. yardes
+and a quarter of space: wherin shall be lodged also fifteene
+hundred men: and thus from the <span class="pagenum"><a name=
+"page182" id="page182"></a>{182}</span> Northe gate to the weste,
+as the Trenche turneth, in a hundred lodginges devided in x. rewes
+of five double lodgynges in a rowe, there will be lodged all the
+Pikes and extraordinarie Veliti of the cheefe maine battayles. And
+so from the west gate to the Southe, as the Trenche tourneth even
+in the verie same maner, in other ten rewes of ten lodgynges in a
+rewe, there shall be lodged the pikes, and extraordinarie Veliti of
+the aidyng mayne battailes. Their headdes or their counstables may
+take those lodgynges, that shal seeme unto them moste commodious,
+on the parte towardes the trenche. The Artillerie, I woulde dispose
+throughoute all the Campe, a longe the banke of the Trenche: and in
+all the other space that shoulde remaine towardes weste, I woulde
+lodge all the unarmed, and place all the impedimentes of the Campe.
+And it is to be understoode, that under this name of impedimentes
+(as you know) the antiquitee mente all the same trayne, and all
+those thynges, which are necessarie for an armie, besides the
+souldiours: as are Carpenters, Smithes, Masons, Ingeners,
+Bombardiers, althoughe that those might be counted in the numbre of
+the armed, herdemen with their herdes of motons and beeves whiche
+for victuallyng of the armie, are requiset: and moreover maisters
+of all sciences, together with publicke carriages of the publicke
+munition, whiche pertaine as well to victuallyng, as to armynge.
+Nor I would not distinguishe these lodginges perticularly, only I
+would marke out the waies which should not be occupied of them:
+then the other spaces, that betweene the waies shall remaine,
+whiche shall be fower, I woulde appoincte theim generally for all
+the saied impedimentes, that is one for the herdemen, the other for
+artificers and craftes men, the thirde for publicke carriages of
+victuals, the fowerth for the municion of armour and weapons. The
+waies whiche I woulde shoulde be lefte without ocupiyng them, shal
+be the market waie, the head waye, and more over a waie that
+shoulde be called the midde waye, whiche should goe from Northe to
+Southe, and should passe thoroughe the middest of the market waie,
+whiche from the weste parte, shoulde serve for the same purpose
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page183" id=
+"page183"></a>{183}</span> that the overthwarte way doeth on the
+east parte. And besides this, a waye whiche shall goe aboute on the
+hinder parte, alonge the lodgynges of the Pikes and extraordinarie
+Veliti, and all these wayes shall be twoo and tweentie vardes and a
+halfe broade. And the Artilerie, I woulde place a longe the Trenche
+of the Campe, rounde aboute the same.</p>
+<p>BAPTISTE. I confesse that I understand not, nor I beleeve that
+also to saye so, is any shame unto me, this beyng not my exercise:
+notwithstandyng, this order pleaseth me muche: onely I woulde that
+you shoulde declare me these doubtes: The one, whie you make the
+waie, and the spaces aboute so large. The other, that troubleth me
+more, is these spaces, whiche you apoincte oute for the lodgynges,
+howe they ought to be used.</p>
+<p class="side">The Campe ought to be all waies of one facion.</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. You must note, that I make all the waies, xxii. yardes
+and a halfe broade, to the intente that thorowe them, maie go a
+battaile of men in araie, where if you remember wel, I tolde you
+how every bande of menne, taketh in breadth betwene xviii. and
+xxii. yardes of space to marche or stande in. Nowe where the space
+that is betwene the trenche, and the lodgynges, is lxxv. yardes
+broade, thesame is moste necessarie, to the intent thei maie there
+order the battailes, and the artillerie, bothe to conducte by
+thesame the praies, and to have space to retire theim selves with
+newe trenches, and newe fortificacion if neede were: The lodginges
+also, stande better so farre from the diches, beyng the more out of
+daunger of fires, and other thynges, whiche the enemie, might
+throwe to hurte them. Concernyng the seconde demaunde, my intent is
+not that every space, of me marked out, bee covered with a pavilion
+onely, but to be used, as tourneth commodious to soch as lodge
+there, either with more or with lesse Tentes, so that thei go not
+out of the boundes of thesame. And for to marke out these
+lodginges, there ought to bee moste cunnyng menne, and moste
+excellente Architectours, whom, so sone as the Capitaine hath
+chosen the place, maie knowe how to give it the facion, and to
+distribute it, distinguishyng the waies, <span class=
+"pagenum"><a name="page184" id="page184"></a>{184}</span> devidyng
+the lodgynges with Coardes and staves, in soche practised wise,
+that straight waie, thei maie bee ordained, and devided: and to
+minde that there growe no confusion, it is conveniente to tourne
+the Campe, alwaies one waie, to the intente that every manne maie
+knowe in what waie, in what space he hath to finde his lodgyng: and
+this ought to be observed in every tyme, in every place, and after
+soche maner, that it seme a movyng Citee, the whiche where so ever
+it goweth, carrieth with it the verie same waies, the verie same
+habitacions, and the verie same aspectes, that it had at the
+firste: The whiche thing thei cannot observe, whom sekyng strong
+situacions, must chaunge forme, accordyng to the variacion of the
+grounde: but the Romaines in the plaine, made stronge the place
+where thei incamped with trenches, and with Rampires, bicause thei
+made a space about the campe, and before thesame a ditche, ordinary
+broad fower yardes and a halfe, and depe aboute twoo yardes and a
+quarter, the which spaces, thei increased, according as thei
+intended to tarie in a place, and accordyng as thei feared the
+enemie. I for my parte at this presente, would not make the listes,
+if I intende not to Winter in a place: yet I would make the Trenche
+and the bancke no lesse, then the foresaied, but greater, accordyng
+to necessitie. Also, consideryng the artellerie, I would intrench
+upon every corner of the Campe, a halfe circle of ground, from
+whens the artillerie might flancke, whom so ever should seke to
+come over the Trenche. In this practise in knowyng how to ordain a
+campe, the souldiours ought also to be exercised, and to make with
+them the officers expert, that are appoincted to marke it out, and
+the Souldiours readie to knowe their places: nor nothyng therein is
+difficulte, as in the place thereof shall bee declared: wherefore,
+I will goe forewarde at this tyme to the warde of the campe,
+bicause without distribucion of the watche, all the other pain that
+hath been taken, should be vain.</p>
+<p>BAPTISTE. Before you passe to the watche, I desire that you
+would declare unto me, when one would pitche his campe nere the
+enemie, what waie is used: for that I knowe <span class=
+"pagenum"><a name="page185" id="page185"></a>{185}</span> not, how
+a man maie have tyme, to be able to ordaine it without perill.</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. You shall understande this, that no Capitaine will lye
+nere the enemie, except he, that is desposed to faight the fielde,
+when so ever his adversarie will: and when a capitaine is so
+disposed, there is no perill, but ordinarie: for that the twoo
+partes of the armie, stande alwaies in a redinesse, to faight the
+battaile, and thother maketh the lodginges. The Romaines in this
+case, gave this order of fortifiyng the Campe, unto the Triarii:
+and the Prencipi, and the Astati, stoode in armes. This thei did,
+for as moche as the Triarii, beyng the last to faight, might have
+time inough, if the enemie came, to leave the woorke, and to take
+their weapons, and to get them into their places. Therfore,
+accordyng unto the Romaines maner, you ought to cause the Campe to
+be made of those battailes, whiche you will set in the hinder parte
+of the armie, in the place of the Triarii. But let us tourne to
+reason of the watche.</p>
+<p class="side">Theantiquitie used no Scoutes; The watche and warde
+of the Campe.</p>
+<p>I thinke I have not founde, emongest the antiquitie, that for to
+warde the campe in the night, thei have kepte watche without the
+Trenche, distaunte as thei use now a daies, whom thei call Scoutes:
+the whiche I beleve thei did, thinkyng that the armie might easely
+bee deceived, through the difficultie, that is in seeyng them
+againe, for that thei might bee either corrupted, or oppressed of
+the enemie: So that to truste either in parte, or altogether on
+them, thei judged it perillous. And therefore, all the strength of
+the watche, was with in the trenche, whiche thei did withall
+diligence kepe, and with moste greate order, punished with death,
+whom so ever observed not thesame order: the whiche how it was of
+them ordained, I will tell you no other wise, leaste I should bee
+tedious unto you, beyng able by your self to see it, if as yet you
+have not seen it: I shall onely briefly tell that, whiche shall
+make for my purpose, I wold cause to stand ordinarely every night,
+the thirde parte of the armie armed, and of thesame, the fowerth
+parte alwaies on foote, whom I would make to bee destributed,
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page186" id=
+"page186"></a>{186}</span> throughout all the banckes, and
+throughout all the places of the armie, with double warde, placed
+in every quadrante of thesame: Of whiche, parte should stande
+still, parte continually should go from the one corner of the
+Campe, to the other: and this order, I would observe also in the
+daie, when I should have the enemie nere.</p>
+<p class="side">Dilligence ought to be used, to knowe who lieth
+oute of the Campe, and who they be that cometh of newe; Claudius
+Nero; The justice that ought to be in a campe. The fauts that the
+antiquitie punisshed with Death; Where greate punishementes be,
+there oughte likewise to bee great rewardes; It was no marvel that
+the Romaines became mightie Princes; A meane to punishe and execute
+Justice, without raising tumultes; Manlius Capitolinus; Souldiours
+sworen to kepe the discipline of warre.</p>
+<p>Concernyng the givyng of the watche worde, and renuyng thesame
+every evening, and to doe the other thynges, whiche in like watches
+is used, bicause thei are thynges well inough knowen, I will speake
+no further of them: onely I shall remember one thyng, for that it
+is of greate importaunce, and whiche causeth great saulfgarde
+observyng it, and not observyng it, moche harme: The whiche is,
+that there be observed greate diligence, to knowe at night, who
+lodgeth not in the Campe, and who commeth a newe: and this is an
+easie thing to see who lodgeth, with thesame order that wee have
+appoincted: for as moche as every lodgyng havyng the determined
+nomber of menne, it is an easie matter to see, if thei lacke, or if
+there be more menne: and when thei come to be absente without
+lisence, to punishe them as Fugetives, and if there bee more, to
+understande what thei be, what they make there, and of their other
+condicions. This diligence maketh that the enemie cannot but with
+difficultie, practise with thy capitaines, and have knowlege of thy
+counsailes: which thing if of the Romaines, had not been diligently
+observed, Claudius Nero could not, havyng Aniball nere hym, depart
+from his Campe, whiche he had in Lucania, and to go and to retourne
+from Marca, without Aniball should have firste heard thereof some
+thyng. But it suffiseth not to make these orders good, excepte thei
+bee caused to bee observed, with a greate severtie: for that there
+is nothyng that would have more observacion, then is requisite in
+an armie: therefore the lawes for the maintenaunce of thesame,
+ought to be sharpe and harde, and the executour therof moste harde.
+The Romaines punished with death him that lacked in the watch, he
+that forsoke the place that was given hym to faight in, he that
+caried any thynge, hidde out of the <span class="pagenum"><a name=
+"page187" id="page187"></a>{187}</span> Campe, if any manne should
+saie, that he had doen some worthy thing in the faight, and had not
+doen it, if any had fought without the commaundemente of the
+Capitaine, if any had for feare, caste awaie his weapons: and when
+it happened, that a Cohorte, or a whole Legion, had committed like
+fault, bicause thei would not put to death all, thei yet tooke al
+their names, and did put them in a bagge, and then by lotte, thei
+drue oute the tenthe parte, and so those were put to death: the
+whiche punishemente, was in soche wise made, that though every man
+did not feele it every man notwithstandyng feared it: and bicause
+where be greate punishementes, there ought to be also rewardes,
+mindyng to have menne at one instant, to feare and to hope, thei
+had appoincted rewardes to every worthie acte: as he that
+faighting, saved the life of one of his Citezeins, to hym that
+firste leapte upon the walle of the enemies Toune, to hym that
+entered firste into the Campe of the enemies, to hym that had in
+faightyng hurte, or slaine the enemie, he that had stroken him from
+his horse: and so every vertuous act, was of the Consulles knowen
+and rewarded, and openly of every manne praised: and soche as
+obtained giftes, for any of these thynges, besides the glorie and
+fame, whiche thei got emongest the souldiours, after when thei
+returned into their countrie, with solemne pompe, and with greate
+demonstracion emong their frendes and kinsfolkes, thei shewed them.
+Therefore it was no marveile, though thesame people gotte so moche
+dominion, having so moche observacion in punishemente, and rewarde
+towardes theim, whom either for their well doyng, or for their ill
+doyng, should deserve either praise or blame: Of whiche thynges it
+were convenient, to observe the greater parte. Nor I thinke not
+good to kepe secrete, one maner of punishmente of theim observed,
+whiche was, that so sone as the offendour, was before the Tribune,
+or Consulle convicted, he was of the same lightely stroken with a
+rodde: after the whiche strikyng, it was lawfull for the offendour
+to flie, and to all the Souldiours to kill hym: so that straight
+waie, every man threwe at hym either stones, or dartes, or with
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page188" id=
+"page188"></a>{188}</span> other weapons, stroke hym in soche wise,
+that he went but little waie a live, and moste fewe escaped, and to
+those that so escaped, it was not lawfull for them to retourne
+home, but with so many incommodities, and soche greate shame and
+ignomie, that it should have ben moche better for him to have died.
+This maner is seen to be almoste observed of the Suizzers, who make
+the condempned to be put to death openly, of thother souldiours,
+the whiche is well considered, and excellently dooen: for that
+intendyng, that one be not a defendour of an evill doer, the
+greateste reamedie that is founde, is to make hym punisher of
+thesame: bicause otherwise, with other respecte he favoureth hym:
+where when he hymself is made execucioner, with other desire, he
+desireth his punishemente, then when the execucion commeth to an
+other. Therefore mindyng, not to have one favored in his faulte of
+the people, a greate remedie it is, to make that the people, maie
+have hym to judge. For the greater proofe of this, thinsample of
+Manlius Capitolinus might be brought, who being accused of the
+Scenate, was defended of the people, so longe as thei were not
+Judge, but becommyng arbitratours in his cause, thei condempned hym
+to death. This is then a waie to punishe, without raisyng tumultes,
+and to make justise to be kepte: and for as moche as to bridell
+armed menne, neither the feare of the Lawes, nor of menne suffise
+not, the antiquitie joined thereunto the aucthoritie of God: and
+therefore with moste greate Ceremonies, thei made their souldiours
+to sweare, to kepe the discipline of warre, so that doyng
+contrariewise, thei should not onely have to feare the Lawes, and
+menne, but God: and thei used all diligence, to fill them with
+Religion.</p>
+<p class="side">Women and idell games, were not suffered by the
+antiquitie, to bee in their armies.</p>
+<p>BAPTISTE. Did the Romaines permitte, that women might bee in
+their armies, or that there might be used these idell plaies,
+whiche thei use now a daies.</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. Thei prohibited the one and thother, and this
+prohibicion was not moche difficulte: For that there were so many
+exercises, in the whiche thei kept every daie the souldiours, some
+whiles particularely, somewhiles generally <span class=
+"pagenum"><a name="page189" id="page189"></a>{189}</span> occupied
+that thei had no time to thinke, either on Venus, or on plaies, nor
+on any other thyng, whiche sedicious and unproffitable souldiours
+doe.</p>
+<p>BAPTISTE. I am herein satisfied, but tell me, when the armie had
+to remove, what order kepte thei?</p>
+<p class="side">Ordre in the removing the armie by the soundes of a
+Trumpet.</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. The chief Trumpet sounded three tymes, at the firste
+sound, thei toke up the Tentes, and made the packes, at the
+seconde, thei laded the carriage, at the thirde, thei removed in
+thesame maner aforsaied, with the impedimentes after every parte of
+armed men, placyng the Legions in the middeste: and therefore you
+ought to cause after thesame sorte, an extraordinarie maine
+battaile to remove: and after that, the particulare impedimentes
+therof, and with those, the fowerth part of the publike
+impedimentes, which should bee all those, that were lodged in one
+of those partes, whiche a little afore we declared: and therfore it
+is conveniente, to have every one of them, appointed to a maine
+battaile, to the entente that the armie removyng, every one might
+knowe his place in marchyng: and thus every maine battaile ought to
+goe awaie, with their owne impedimentes, and with the fowerth parte
+of the publike impedimentes, followyng after in soche maner, as wee
+shewed that the Romaines marched.</p>
+<p>BAPTISTE. In pitchyng the Campe, had thei other respectes, then
+those you have tolde?</p>
+<p class="side">Respectes to be had for incampyng; How to choose a
+place to incampe; How to avoide diseases from the armie; The
+wonderfull commoditie of exercise; The provision of victualles that
+ought alwaies to bee in a readinesse in an armie.</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. I tell you again, that the Romaines when thei
+encamped, would be able to kepe the accustomed fashion of their
+maner, the whiche to observe, thei had no other respecte: but
+concernyng for other consideracions, thei had twoo principall, the
+one, to incampe theim selves in a wholesome place, the other, to
+place themselves, where thenemie could not besiege theim, nor take
+from them the waie to the water, or victualles. Then for to avoide
+infirmitie, thei did flie from places Fennie, or subjecte to
+hurtfull windes: whiche thei knewe not so well, by the qualitie of
+the situacion, as by the face of the inhabitours: for when thei
+sawe theim evill coloured, or swollen, or full of other infeccion,
+thei would not lodge there: concernyng thother respecte
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page190" id=
+"page190"></a>{190}</span> to provide not to be besieged, it is
+requisite to consider the nature of the place, where the friendes
+lye, and thenemies, and of this to make a conjecture, if thou
+maiest be besieged or no: and therefore it is meete, that the
+Capitaine be moste experte, in the knowlege of situacions of
+countries, and have aboute him divers men, that have the verie same
+expertenes. Thei avoide also diseases, and famishment, with causyng
+the armie to kepe no misrule, for that to purpose to maintain it in
+health, it is nedefull to provide, that the souldiours maie slepe
+under tentes, that thei maie lodge where bee Trees, that make
+shadowe, where woodde is for to dresse their meate, that thei go
+not in the heate, and therefore thei muste bee drawen out of the
+campe, before daie in Summer, and in Winter, to take hede that thei
+marche not in the Snowe, and in the Froste, without havyng
+comoditie to make fire, and not to lack necessarie aparel, nor to
+drink naughtie water: those that fall sicke by chaunce, make them
+to bee cured of Phisicions: bicause a capitain hath no reamedie,
+when he hath to faight with sicknesse, and with an enemie: but
+nothing is so profitable, to maintaine the armie in health, as is
+the exercise: and therfore the antiquitie every daie, made them to
+exercise: wherby is seen how muche exercise availeth: for that in
+the Campe, it kepeth thee in health, and in the faight victorious.
+Concernyng famishemente, it is necessarie to see, that the enemie
+hinder thee not of thy victualles, but to provide where thou
+maieste have it, and to see that thesame whiche thou haste, bee not
+loste: and therefore it is requisite, that thou have alwaies in
+provision with the armie, sufficiente victuall for a monethe, and
+then removyng into some strong place, thou muste take order with
+thy nexte frendes, that daily thei maie provide for thee, and above
+al thinges bestowe the victual with diligence, givyng every daie to
+every manne, a reasonable measure, and observe after soche sorte
+this poincte, that it disorder thee not: bicause all other thyng in
+the warre, maie with tyme be overcome, this onely with tyme
+overcometh thee: nor there shall never any enemie of thyne, who
+maie overcome thee <span class="pagenum"><a name="page191" id=
+"page191"></a>{191}</span> with famishemente, that will seeke to
+overcome thee with iron. For that though the victory be not so
+honourable, yet it is more sure and more certaine: Then, thesame
+armie cannot avoide famishemente, that is not an observer of
+justice, whiche licenciously consumeth what it liste: bicause the
+one disorder, maketh that the victualls commeth not unto you, the
+other, that soche victuall as commeth, is unprofitably consumed:
+therefore thantiquitie ordained, that thei should spende thesame,
+whiche thei gave, and in thesame tyme when thei appoincted: for
+that no souldiour did eate, but when the Capitaine did eate: The
+whiche how moche it is observed of the armies nowe adaies, every
+manne knoweth, and worthely thei can not bee called menne of good
+order and sober, as the antiquitie, but lasivious and
+drunkardes.</p>
+<p>BAPTISTE. You saied in the beginnyng of orderynge the Campe,
+that you woulde not stande onely uppon twoo maine battailes, but
+woulde take fower, for to shewe how a juste armie incamped:
+therfore I would you shoulde tell me twoo thynges, the one, when I
+shoulde have more or lesse men, howe I ought to incampe them, the
+other, what numbre of souldiours should suffice you to faight
+against what so ever enemie that were.</p>
+<p class="side">Howe to lodge in the Campe more or lesse menne,
+then the ordinarie; The nombre of men that an army ought to be made
+of, to bee able to faighte with the puisantest enemie that is; Howe
+to cause men to do soche a thing as shold bee profitable for thee,
+and hurtfull to them selves; Howe to overcome menne at unwares; How
+to tourne to commoditie the doynges of soche, as use to advertise
+thy enemie of thy proceadynges; How to order the campe, that the
+enemie shal not perceive whether the same bee deminished, or
+increased; A saiyng of Metellus; Marcus Crassus; How to understand
+the secretes of thy enemie; A policie of Marius, to understande
+howe he might truste the Frenchmen; What some Capitaines have doen
+when their countrie have been invaded of enemies; To make the
+enemie necligente in his doynges; Silla Asdruball; The policie of
+Aniball, where by he escaped out of the danger of Fabius Maximus; A
+Capitayne muste devise how to devide the force of his enemies; How
+to cause the enemie to have in suspect his most trusty men; Aniball
+Coriolanus; Metellus against Jugurte; A practis of the Romayne
+oratours, to bryng Aniball out of Credit with Antiochus; Howe to
+cause the enemie to devide his power; Howe Titus Didius staied his
+enemies that wer going to incounter a legion of men that were
+commyng in his ayde; Howe some have caused the enemie to devide his
+force; A policie to winne the enemies countrie before he be aware;
+Howe to reforme sedicion and discorde; The benefitte that the
+reputacion of the Capitaine causeth, which is only gotten by
+vertue; The chiefe thyng that a capitayne ought to doe; When paie
+wanteth, punishment is not to be executed; The inconvenience of not
+punisshynge; Cesar chaunsynge to fall, made the same to be supposed
+to signifi good lucke; Religion taketh away fantasticall opinions;
+In what cases a Capitaine ought not to faight with his enemie if he
+may otherwyse choose; A policie of Fulvius wherby he got and
+spoyled his enemies Campe; A policie to disorder the enemie; A
+policie to overcome the enemie; A policie; How to beguile the
+enemie; Howe Mennonus trained his enemies oute of stronge places to
+bee the better able to overcom them.</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. To the first question I answer you, that if the armie
+be more or lesse, then fower or sixe thousande souldiours, the
+orders of lodgynges, may bee taken awaie or joined, so many as
+suffiseth: and with this way a man may goe in more, and in lesse,
+into infinite: Notwithstandynge the Romaines, when thei joigned
+together twoo consull armies, thei made twoo campes, and thei
+tourned the partes of the unarmed, thone against thother.
+Concernyng the second question, I say unto you, that the Romaines
+ordinary armie, was about xxiiii. M. souldiours: but when thei were
+driven to faight against the greatest power that might be, the
+moste that thei put together, wer L. M. With this number, thei did
+set against two hundred thousand Frenchemen, whome assaulted them
+after the first warre, that thei had with the Carthageners. With
+this verie same numbre, thei fought againste Anniball. And you
+muste note, that <span class="pagenum"><a name="page192" id=
+"page192"></a>{192}</span> the Romaines, and the Grekes, have made
+warre with fewe, fortefiyng themselves thorough order, and thorough
+arte: the west, and the easte, have made it with multitude: But the
+one of these nacions, doeth serve with naturall furie: as doe the
+men of the west partes, the other through the great obedience
+whiche those men have to their kyng. But in Grece, and in Italy,
+beyng no naturall furie, nor the naturall reverence towardes their
+king, it hath been necessary for them to learne the discipline of
+warre, the whiche is of so muche force, that it hath made that a
+fewe, hath been able to overcome the furie, and the naturall
+obstinatenesse of manie. Therefore I saie, that mindyng to imitate
+the Romaines, and the Grekes, the number of L. M. souldiers ought
+not to bee passed, but rather to take lesse: because manie make
+confucion, nor suffer not the discipline to be observed, and the
+orders learned, and Pirrus used to saie, that with xv. thousande
+men he woulde assaile the worlde: but let us pas to an other parte.
+We have made this our armie to winne a field and shewed the
+travailes, that in the same fight may happen: we have made it to
+marche, and declared of what impedimentes in marchyng it may be
+disturbed: and finally we have lodged it: where not only it ought
+to take a littell reste of the labours passed, but also to thinke
+howe the warre ought to be ended: for that in the lodgynges, is
+handeled many thynges, inespecially thy enemies as yet remainyng in
+the fielde, and in suspected townes, of whome it is good to be
+assured, and those that be enemies to overcome them: therfore it is
+necessarie to come to this demonstracion, and to passe this
+difficultie with the same glorie, as hitherto we have warred.
+Therfore comynge to particular matters, I saie that if it shoulde
+happen, that thou wouldest have manie men, or many people to dooe a
+thyng, whiche were to thee profittable, and to theim greate hurte,
+as should be to breake downe the wall of their citie, or to sende
+into exile many of them, it is necessarie for thee, either to
+beguile them in such wise that everie one beleeve not that it
+toucheth him: so that succouryng not the one the other, thei may
+finde them selves al to <span class="pagenum"><a name="page193" id=
+"page193"></a>{193}</span> be oppressed without remedie, or els
+unto all to commaunde the same, whiche they ought to dooe in one
+selfe daie, to the intente that every man belevyng to be alone, to
+whome the commaundement is made, maie thinke to obey and not to
+remedie it: and so withoute tumulte thy commaundement to be of
+everie man executed. If thou shouldest suspecte the fidelitie of
+anie people, and woulde assure thee, and overcome them at unawares,
+for to colour thy intente more easelie, thou canst not doe better,
+then to counsel with them of some purpose of thine, desiryng their
+aide, and to seeme to intende to make an other enterprise, and to
+have thy minde farre from thinkyng on them: the whiche will make,
+that thei shall not think on their owne defence, beleevyng not that
+thou purposest to hurte them, and thei shal geve thee commoditie,
+to be able easely to satisfie thy desire. When thou shouldest
+perceive, that there were in thine armie some, that used to
+advertise thy enemie of thy devises, thou canst not doe better,
+myndynge to take commoditie by their traiterous mindes, then to
+commen with them of those thynges, that thou wilte not doe, and
+those that thou wilt doe, to kepe secret, and to say to doubte of
+thynges, that thou doubtest not, and those of whiche thou doubtest,
+to hide: the which shall make thenemie to take some enterprise in
+hand, beleving to know thy devises, where by easly thou maiest
+beguile and opresse hym. If thou shouldest intende (as Claudius
+Nero did) to deminishe thy armie, sendynge helpe to some freende,
+and that the enemie shoulde not bee aware therof, it is necessarie
+not to deminishe the lodgynges, but to maintayne the signes, and
+the orders whole, makyng the verie same fires, and the verye same
+wardes throughout all the campe, as wer wont to be afore. Lykewise
+if with thy armie there should joigne new men, and wouldest that
+the enemie shoulde not know that thou werte ingrosed, it is
+necessarie not to increase the lodgynges: Because keepyng secrete
+doynges and devises, hath alwaies been moste profitable. Wherfore
+Metellus beyng with an armie in Hispayne, to one, who asked him
+what he would doe the nexte daie, answered, that if his sherte knew
+therof, he <span class="pagenum"><a name="page194" id=
+"page194"></a>{194}</span> would bourne it. Marcus Craussus, unto
+one, whome asked him, when the armie shoulde remove, saied
+beleevest thou to be alone not to here the trumpet? If thou
+shouldest desire to understande the secretes of thy enemie, and to
+know his orders, some have used to sende embassadours, and with
+theim in servauntes aparel, moste expertest men in warre: whom
+havynge taken occasion to se the enemies armie, and to consider his
+strengthe and weakenesse, it hath geven them oportunitie to
+overcome him. Some have sente into exile one of their familiars,
+and by meanes of the same, hath knowen the devises of his
+adversarie. Also like secrettes are understoode of the enemies when
+for this effecte there were taken any prisoners. Marius whiche in
+the warre that he made with the Cimbrie, for to know the faieth of
+those Frenchmen, who then inhabited Lombardie, and were in leage
+with the Romaine people, sent them letters open, and sealed: and in
+the open he wrote, that they shoulde not open the sealed, but at a
+certaine time, and before the same time demaundyng them againe, and
+finding them opened, knew thereby that their faithe was not to be
+trusted. Some Capitaines, being invaded, have not desired to goe to
+meete the enemie, but have gone to assaulte his countrey, and
+constrained him to retorne to defende his owne home: The whiche
+manie times hath come wel to passe, for that those soldiours
+beginnyng to fil them selves with booties, and confidence to
+overcome, shall sone make the enemies souldiours to wexe afraide,
+when they supposynge theim selves conquerours, shal understand to
+become losers: So that to him that hath made this diversion, manie
+times it hath proved well. But onely it may be doen by him, whiche
+hath his countrey stronger then that of the enemies, because when
+it were otherwise, he should goe to leese. It hath been often a
+profitable thyng to a capitaine, that hath been besieged in his
+lodgynges by the enemie, to move an intreatie of agreemente, and to
+make truse with him for certaine daies: the which is wonte to make
+the enemies more necligente in all doynges: so that avaylynge thee
+of their necligence, thou maiest easely have occacion to get thee
+oute of <span class="pagenum"><a name="page195" id=
+"page195"></a>{195}</span> handes. By this way Silla delivered him
+selfe twise from the enemies: and with this verie same deceipte,
+Asdruball in Hispayne got oute of the force of Claudious Nero,
+whome had besieged him. It helpeth also to deliver a man out of the
+daunger of the enemie, to do some thyng beside the forsaied, that
+may keepe him at a baye: this is dooen in two maners, either to
+assaulte him with parte of thy power, so that he beyng attentive to
+the same faight, may geve commoditie to the reste of thy men to bee
+able to save theim selves, or to cause to rise some newe accidente,
+which for the strayngenesse of the thynge, maie make him to
+marvell, and for this occasion to stande doubtefull, and still: as
+you knowe howe Anniball dyd, who beynge inclosed of Fabius Maximus,
+tied in the nighte small Bavens kindeled beetweene the hornes of
+manie Oxen, so that Fabius astonied at the strangenesse of the same
+sight, thought not to lette him at all the passage. A Capitayne
+oughte amonge all other of his affaires, with al subtiltie to
+devise to devide the force of the enemie, either with makyng him to
+suspecte his owne menne, in whome he trusteth, or to give him
+occasion, that he maye seperate his menne, and therby to be come
+more weake. The fyrste way is dooen with keepyng saulfe the thynges
+of some of those whiche he hath aboute him, as to save in the warre
+their menne and their possessions, renderynge theim their children,
+or other their necessaries withoute raunsome. You know that
+Anniball havynge burned all the fieldes aboute Rome, he made onely
+to bee reserved saulfe those of Fabius Maximus. You know how
+Coriolanus comyng with an armie to Rome, preserved the possessions
+of the nobilitie, and those of the comminaltie he bourned, and
+sacked. Metellus havinge an armie againste Jugurte, all the
+oratours, whiche of Jugurte were sente him, were required of him,
+that they woulde geve him Jugurte prisoner, and after to the verie
+same men writyng letters of the verie same matter, wrought in suche
+wise, that in shorte tyme Jugurte havyng in suspecte all his
+counsellours, in diverse maners put them to death. Anniball beynge
+fled to Antiochus, the Romaine oratours practised <span class=
+"pagenum"><a name="page196" id="page196"></a>{196}</span> with him
+so familiarly, that Antiochus beyng in suspecte of him, trusted not
+anie more after to his counselles. Concernyng to devide the enemies
+men, there is no more certainer waie, then to cause their countrie
+to be assaulted to the intente that being constrained to goe to
+defende the same, they maie forsake the warre. This way Fabius used
+havynge agaynst his armie the power of the Frenchemen, of the
+Tuscans, Umbries and Sannites. Titus Didius havyng a few men in
+respecte to those of the enemies, and lookynge for a legion from
+Rome, and the enemies purposinge to goe to incounter it, to the
+intente that they should not goe caused to bee noised through all
+his armie, that he intended the nexte daie to faighte the field
+with the enemies: after he used means, that certaine of the
+prisoners, that he had taken afore, had occasion to runne awaie.
+Who declaryng the order that the Consull had taken to faighte the
+nexte daie, by reason wherof the enemies beyng afraide to deminishe
+their owne strength, went not to incounter the same legion, and by
+this way thei wer conducted safe. The which means serveth not to
+devide the force of the enemies, but to augmente a mans owne. Some
+have used to devide the enemies force, by lettyng him to enter into
+their countrie, and in profe have let him take manie townes, to the
+intente that puttynge in the same garrisons, he might thereby
+deminishe his power, and by this waie havynge made him weake, have
+assaulted and overcomen him. Some other mindyng to goe into one
+province, have made as though they woulde have invaded an other,
+and used so much diligence, that sodenly entryng into the same,
+where it was not doubted that they woulde enter, they have first
+wonne it, before the ennemie coulde have time to succour it: for
+that thy enemie beynge not sure, whether thou purposest to tourne
+backe, to the place fyrste of thee threatned, is constrained not to
+forsake the one place, to succour the other, and so many times he
+defendeth neither the one nor the other. It importeth besides the
+sayde thynges to a Capitaine, if there growe sedicion or discorde
+amonge the souldiours, to knowe with arte howe to extynguishe it:
+The <span class="pagenum"><a name="page197" id=
+"page197"></a>{197}</span> beste waie is to chastise the headdes of
+the faultes, but it muste be doen in such wise, that thou maiest
+first have oppressed them, before they be able to be aware: The way
+is if they be distante from thee, not onely to call the offenders,
+but together with theim all the other, to the entente that not
+beleevynge, that it is for any cause to punishe them, they become
+not contumelius, but geve commoditie to the execution of the
+punishemente: when thei be present, thou oughtest to make thy selfe
+stronge with those that be not in faulte, and by meane of their
+helpe to punishe the other. When there hapneth discorde amonge
+them, the beste waye is, to bryng them to the perill, the feare
+whereof is wonte alwaies to make them agree. But that, which above
+all other thynge kepeth the armie in unitee, is the reputacion of
+the Capitaine, the whiche onely groweth of his vertue: because
+neither bloud, nor authoritie gave it ever without vertue. And the
+chiefe thyng, whiche of a Capitain is looked for to be doen, is, to
+keepe his souldiours punisshed, and paied: for that when so ever
+the paie lacketh, it is conveniente that the punisshement lacke:
+because thou canst not correcte a souldiour, that robbeth, if thou
+doest not paie him, nor the same mindynge to live, cannot abstaine
+from robbynge: but if thou paiest him and punisshest him not, he
+beecometh in everie condicion insolente: For that thou becomest of
+small estimacion, where thou chaunsest not to bee able to maintaine
+the dignitie of thy degree, and not mainetainyng it, there foloweth
+of necessitee tumulte, and discorde, whiche is the ruine of an
+armie. Olde Capitaines had a troubell, of the which the presente be
+almoste free, whiche was to interprete to their purpose the
+sinister auguries: because if there fell a thunderbolte in an
+armie, if the sunne were darkened or the Moone, if there came an
+erthequake, if the Capitaine either in gettyng up, or in lightynge
+of his horse fell, it was of the souldiours interpreted
+sinisterously: And it ingendred in them so moche feare, that
+comynge to faight the fielde, easely they should have lost it: and
+therefore the aunciente Capitaines so sone as a lyke accidente
+grewe, either they <span class="pagenum"><a name="page198" id=
+"page198"></a>{198}</span> shewed the cause of the same, and
+redused it to a naturall cause, or they interpreted it to their
+purpose. Cesar fallyng in Africa, in comyng of the sea saied,
+Africa I have taken thee. Moreover manie have declared the cause of
+the obscuryng of the Moone, and of earthquakes: which thing in our
+time cannot happen, as well because our men be not so
+supersticious, as also for that our religion taketh away altogether
+such opinions: al be it when they should chaunse, the orders of the
+antiquitie ought to be imitated. When either famishement, or other
+naturall necessitie, or humaine passion, hath broughte thy enemie
+to an utter desperation, and he driven of the same, cometh to
+faight with thee, thou oughtest to stande within thy campe, and as
+muche as lieth in thy power, to flie the faight. So the
+Lacedemonians did against the Masonians, so Cesar did against
+Afranio, and Petreio. Fulvius beyng Consul, against the Cimbrians,
+made his horsemen manie daies continually to assaulte the enemies,
+and considered how thei issued out of their campe for to folow
+them: wherfore he sette an ambusshe behinde the Campe of the
+Cimbrians, and made them to be assaulted of his horsmen, and the
+Cimbrians issuyng oute of their campe for to follow them. Fulvio
+gotte it, and sacked it. It hath ben of great utilitie to a
+Capitaine, havyng his armie nere to the enemies armie, to sende his
+menne with the enemies ansignes to robbe, and to burne his owne
+countrey, whereby the enemies beleevynge those to bee menne, whiche
+are come in their aide, have also runne to helpe to make them the
+pray: and for this disorderyng them selves, hathe therby given
+oportunitie to the adversary to overcome them. This waie Alexander
+of Epirus used againste the Illirans and Leptenus of Siracusa
+against the Carthaginers and bothe to the one and to the other, the
+devise came to passe most happely. Manie have overcome the enemie,
+gevyng him occasion to eate and to drinke oute of measure, fayning
+to have feared, and leaving their Campes full of wyne and herdes of
+cattell, wherof the enemie beyng filled above all naturall use,
+have then assaulted him, and with his destruction overthrowen him.
+So Tamirus did against <span class="pagenum"><a name="page199" id=
+"page199"></a>{199}</span> Cirus, and Tiberius Graccus agaynst the
+Spaniardes. Some have poysoned the wine, and other thynges to feede
+on, for to be able more easely to overcome them. I saied a littel
+afore how I founde not, that the antiquetie kepte in the night
+Scoutes abroade, and supposed that they did it for to avoide the
+hurte, whiche might growe therby: because it is founde, that
+through no other meane then throughe the watche man, whiche was set
+in the daie to watche the enemie, hath been cause of the ruin of
+him, that set him there: for that manie times it hath hapned, that
+he beyng taken, hath been made perforce to tell theim the token,
+whereby they might call his felowes, who commyng to the token, have
+been slaine or taken. It helpeth to beguile the enemie sometime to
+varie a custome of thine, whereupon he having grounded him self,
+remaineth ruinated: as a Capitaine did once, whome usinge to cause
+to be made signes to his men for comynge of the enemies in the
+night with fire, and in the daie with smoke, commaunded that
+withoute anie intermission, they shoulde make smoke and fire, and
+after commynge upon them the enemie, they should reste, whome
+beleevyng to come without beynge seen, perceivyng no signe to be
+made of beyng discovered, caused (through goeyng disordered) more
+easie the victorie to his adversarie. Mennonus a Rodian mindynge to
+drawe from stronge places the enemies armie, sente one under colour
+of a fugitive, the whiche affirmed, howe his armie was in discorde,
+and that the greater parte of them wente awaie: and for to make the
+thynge to be credited, he caused to make in sporte, certaine
+tumultes amonge the lodgynges: whereby the enemie thvnkyng thereby
+to be able to discomfaighte them, assaultynge theim, were
+overthrowen.</p>
+<p class="side">The enemie ought not to be brought into extreme
+desperacion; How Lucullus constrained certaine men that ran awaie
+from him to his enemies, to fayght whether they wold or not.</p>
+<p>Besides thesaied thynges, regarde ought to be had not to brynge
+the enemie into extreme desperacion: whereunto Cesar had regarde,
+faightyng with the Duchemen, who opened them the waie, seyng, howe
+thei beyng not able to flie, necessitie made them strong, and would
+rather take paine to followe theim, when thei fled, then the perill
+to overcome them, when thei defended them selves. <span class=
+"pagenum"><a name="page200" id="page200"></a>{200}</span> Lucullus
+seyng, how certaine Macedonian horsemenne, whiche were with hym,
+went to the enemies parte, straight waie made to sounde to
+battaile, and commaunded, that the other men should folowe hym:
+whereby the enemies beleving, that Lucullus would begin the faight,
+went to incounter the same Macedonians, with soche violence, that
+thei were constrained to defende themselves: and so thei became
+against their willes, of fugetives, faighters. It importeth also to
+knowe, how to be assured of a toune, when thou doubteste of the
+fidelitie thereof, so sone as thou haste wonne the fielde, or
+before, the whiche certain old insamples maie teache thee.</p>
+<p class="side">A policie wher by Pompey got a towne; How Publius
+Valerius assured him self of a towne; A policie that Alexander
+Magnus used to be assured of all Tracia, which Philip kynge of
+Spaine did practise to be asured of England when he wente to sainct
+Quintens; Examples for Capitaines to winne the hartes of the
+people.</p>
+<p>Pompei doubtyng of the Catinensians, praied them that thei would
+bee contente, to receive certaine sicke menne, that he had in his
+armie, and sendyng under the habite of sicke persones, most lustie
+menne, gotte the toune. Publius Valerius, fearyng the fidelitie of
+the Epidannians, caused to come, as who saieth, a Pardon to a
+churche without the toune, and when al the people wer gone for
+Pardon, he shutte the gates, receivyng after none in, but those
+whom he trusted. Alexander Magnus, mindyng to goe into Asia, and to
+assure himself of Thracia, toke with him all the principall of
+thesame Province, givyng theim provision, and he set over the
+common people of Thracia, men of lowe degree, and so he made the
+Princes contented with paiyng theim, and the people quiete, havyng
+no heddes that should disquiete them: But emong all the thynges,
+with the whiche the Capitaines, winne the hartes of the people, be
+the insamples of chastitie and justice, as was thesame of Scipio in
+Spaine, when he rendered that yong woman, moste faire of personage
+to her father, and to her housebande: the whiche made him more,
+then with force of armes to winne Spain.</p>
+<p>Cesar having caused that woodde to bee paied for, whiche he had
+occupied for to make the Listes, about his armie in Fraunce, got so
+moche a name of justice, that he made easier the conquest of
+thesame province. I cannot tell what remaineth me, to speake more
+upon these accidentes, for that concerning this matter, there is
+not lefte any parte, <span class="pagenum"><a name="page201" id=
+"page201"></a>{201}</span> that hath not been of us disputed. Onely
+there lacketh to tell, of the maner of winnyng, and defendyng a
+toune: the whiche I am readie to doe willingly, if you be not now
+wearie.</p>
+<p>BAPTISTE. Your humanitie is so moche, that it maketh us to
+followe our desires, without beyng afraied to be reputed
+presumptuous, seyng that you liberally offer thesame, whiche we
+should have been ashamed, to have asked you: Therefore, we saie
+unto you onely this, that to us you cannot dooe a greater, nor a
+more gratefuller benefite, then to finishe this reasonyng. But
+before that you passe to that other matter, declare us a doubte,
+whether it bee better to continewe the warre, as well in the
+Winter, as thei use now adaies, or to make it onely in the Sommer,
+and to goe home in the Winter, as the antiquitie did.</p>
+<p class="side">Warre ought not to be made in winter; Rough
+situacions, colde and watrie times, are enemies to the oder of
+warre; An overthrowe caused by winter.</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. See, that if the prudence of the demaunder were not,
+there had remained behinde a speciall part, that deserveth
+consideracion. I answere you againe, that the antiquitie did all
+thynges better, and with more prudence then wee: and if wee in
+other things commit some erroure, in the affaires of warre, wee
+commit all errour. There is nothing more undiscrete, or more
+perrillous to a Capitayne, then to make warre in the Winter, and
+muche more perrill beareth he, that maketh it, then he that abideth
+it: the reason is this. All the industrie that is used in the
+discipline of warre, is used for to bee prepared to fighte a fielde
+with thy enemie, because this is the ende, whereunto a Capitayne
+oughte to goo or endevour him selfe: For that the foughten field,
+geveth thee the warre wonne or loste: then he that knoweth best how
+to order it, and he that hath his army beste instructed, hath moste
+advauntage in this, and maye beste hope to overcome. On the other
+side, there is nothing more enemie to the orders, and then the
+rough situacions, or the colde watery time: for that the rough
+situacions, suffereth thee not to deffende thy bandes, according to
+thee discipline: the coulde and watery times, suffereth thee not to
+keepe thy men together, nor thou canst not bring them in good order
+to the enemy: but it is convenient for thee to lodge them a sunder
+of necessitie, and <span class="pagenum"><a name="page202" id=
+"page202"></a>{202}</span> without order, being constrayned to
+obeye to Castells, to Boroughes, and to the Villages, that maye
+receyve thee, in maner that all thy laboure of thee, used to
+instructe the army is vaine. Nor marvayle you not though now a
+daies, they warre in the Winter, because the armies being without
+discipline, know not the hurt that it dooth them, in lodging not
+together, for that it is no griefe to them not to be able to keepe
+those orders, and to observe that discipline, which they have not:
+yet they oughte to see howe much harme, the Camping in the Winter
+hath caused, and to remember, how the Frenchmen in the yeare of
+oure Lorde God, a thousande five hundred and three, were broken at
+Gariliano of the Winter, and not of the Spaniardes: For as much as
+I have saide, he that assaulteth, hath more disadvauntage then he
+that defendeth: because the fowle weather hurteth him not a
+littell, being in the dominion of others and minding to make warre.
+For that he is constrayned, either to stande together with his men,
+and to sustaine the incommoditie of water and colde, or to avoide
+it to devide his power: But he that defendeth, may chuse the place
+as he listeth, and tary him with his freshe men: and he in a
+sodayne may set his men in araye, and goo to find a band of the
+enemies men, who cannot resiste the violence of them. So the
+Frenchemen were discomfited, and so they shall alwayes be
+discomfited, which will assaulte in the Winter an enemye, whoo hath
+in him prudence. Then he that will that force, that orders, that
+discipline and vertue, in anye condition availe him not, let him
+make warre in the fielde in the winter: and because that the
+Romaines woulde that all these thinges, in which they bestowed so
+much diligence, should availe them, fleedde no otherwise the
+Winter, then the highe Alpes, and difficulte places, and whatsoever
+other thing shoulde let them, for being able to shewe their arte
+and their vertue. So this suffiseth to your demaund, wherefore we
+wil come to intreate of the defending and besieging of tounes, and
+of their situacions and edifications.</p>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page205" id=
+"page205"></a>{205}</span>
+<h2><a name="warre-7" id="warre-7">THE SEVENTH BOOKE</a></h2>
+<p class="side">Tounes and Fortresses maie be strong twoo waies;
+The place that now a daies is moste sought to fortifie in; How a
+Toune walle ought to bee made; The walle of a toune ought to bee
+high, and the diche within, and not without; The thickenes that a
+Toune walle ought to bee of, and the distaunces betwene everie
+flancker, and of what breadth and deapth the dich ought to bee; How
+the ordinaunce is planted, for the defence of a toune; The nature
+of the batterie.</p>
+<p><img width="10%" src="images/image-y.png" alt="Y" /> ou oughte
+to knowe, how that tounes and fortresses, maie bee strong either by
+nature, or by industrie; by nature, those bee strong, whiche bee
+compassed aboute with rivers, or with Fennes, as Mantua is and
+Ferrara, or whiche bee builded upon a Rocke, or upon a stepe hille,
+as Monaco, and Sanleo: For that those that stande upon hilles, that
+be not moche difficulct to goe up, be now a daies, consideryng the
+artillerie and the Caves, moste weake. And therfore moste often
+times in building, thei seke now a daies a plain, for to make it
+stronge with industrie. The firste industrie is, to make the walles
+crooked, and full of tournynges, and of receiptes: the whiche thyng
+maketh, that thenemie cannot come nere to it, bicause he maie be
+hurte, not onely on the front, but by flancke. If the walles be
+made high, thei bee to moche subjecte to the blowes of the
+artillerie: if thei be made lowe, thei bee moste easie to scale. If
+thou makeste the diches on the out side thereof, for to give
+difficultie to the Ladders, if it happen that the enemie fill them
+up (whiche a great armie maie easely dooe) the wall remaineth taken
+of thenemie. Therefore purposyng to provide to the one and thother
+foresaid inconveniences, I beleve (savyng alwaies better judgement)
+that the walle ought to be made highe, and the Diche within, and
+not without. This is the moste strongeste waie of <span class=
+"pagenum"><a name="page206" id="page206"></a>{206}</span>
+edificacion, that is made, for that it defendeth thee from the
+artillerie, and from Ladders, and it giveth not facilitie to the
+enemie, to fill up the diche: Then the walle ought to be high, of
+that heighth as shall bee thought beste, and no lesse thick, then
+two yardes and a quarter, for to make it more difficult to ruinate.
+Moreover it ought to have the toures placed, with distances of CL.
+yardes betwen thone and thother: the diche within, ought to be at
+leaste twoo and twentie yardes and a halfe broad, and nine depe,
+and al the yearth that is digged out, for to make the diche, muste
+be throwen towardes the Citee, and kepte up of a walle, that muste
+be raised from the bottome of the diche, and goe so high over the
+toune, that a man maie bee covered behinde thesame, the whiche
+thing shal make the depth of the diche the greater. In the bottome
+of the diche, within every hundred and l. yardes, there would be a
+slaughter house, which with the ordinaunce, maie hurte whom so ever
+should goe doune into thesame: the greate artillerie that defende
+the citee, are planted behinde the walle, that shutteth the diche,
+bicause for to defende the utter walle, being high, there cannot
+bee occupied commodiously, other then smalle or meane peeses. If
+the enemie come to scale, the heigth of the firste walle moste
+easely defendeth thee: if he come with ordinaunce, it is convenient
+for hym to batter the utter walle: but it beyng battered, for that
+the nature of the batterie is, to make the walle to fall, towardes
+the parte battered, the ruine of the walle commeth, finding no
+diche that receiveth and hideth it, to redouble the profunditie of
+thesame diche: after soche sorte, that to passe any further, it is
+not possible, findyng a ruine that with holdeth thee, a diche that
+letteth thee, and the enemies ordinaunce, that from the walle of
+the diche, moste safely killeth thee. Onely there is this remedie,
+to fill the diche: the whiche is moste difficulte to dooe, as well
+bicause the capacitie thereof is greate, as also for the
+difficultie, that is in commyng nere it, the walle beeyng strong
+and concaved, betwene the whiche, by the reasons aforesaied, with
+difficultie maie be entered, havyng after to goe up a breache
+through a <span class="pagenum"><a name="page207" id=
+"page207"></a>{207}</span> ruin, whiche giveth thee moste greate
+difficultie, so that I suppose a citee thus builded, to be
+altogether invinsible.</p>
+<p>BAPTISTE. When there should bee made besides the diche within, a
+diche also without, should it not bee stronger?</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. It should be without doubt, but mindyng to make one
+diche onely, myne opinion is, that it standeth better within then
+without.</p>
+<p>BAPTISTE. Would you, that water should bee in the diches, or
+would you have them drie?</p>
+<p class="side">A drie diche is moste sureste.</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. The opinion of men herein bee divers, bicause the
+diches full of water, saveth thee from mines under grounde, the
+Diches without water, maketh more difficulte the fillyng of them:
+but I havyng considered all, would make them without water, for
+that thei bee more sure: For diches with water, have been seen in
+the Winter to bee frosen, and to make easie the winnyng of a citee,
+as it happened to Mirandola, when Pope Julie besieged it: and for
+to save me from mines, I would make it so deepe, that he that would
+digge lower, should finde water.</p>
+<p class="side">An advertisemente for the buildyng and defending of
+a Toune or Fortresse; Small fortresses cannot bee defended; A toune
+of war or Fortresse, ought not to have in them any retiring places;
+Cesar Borgia; The causes of the losse of the Fortresse of Furlie,
+that was thought invincible; Howe the houses that are in a toune of
+war or Fortresse ought to be builded.</p>
+<p>The Fortresses also, I would builde concernyng the diches and
+the walles in like maner, to the intent thei should have the like
+difficultie to be wonne. One thyng I will earnestly advise hym,
+that defendeth a Citee: and that is, that he make no Bulwarkes
+without distaunte from the walle of thesame: and an other to hym
+that buildeth the Fortresse, and this is, that he make not any
+refuge place in them, in whiche he that is within, the firste walle
+beyng loste, maie retire: That whiche maketh me to give the firste
+counsaile is, that no manne ought to make any thyng, by meane
+wherof, he maie be driven without remedie to lese his firste
+reputacion, the whiche losyng, causeth to be estemed lesse his
+other doinges, and maketh afraied them, whom have taken upon theim
+his defence, and alwaies it shall chaunce him this, whiche I saie,
+when there are made Bulwarkes out of the Toune, that is to bee
+defended, bicause alwaies he shall leese theim, little thynges now
+a daies, beyng not able to bee defended, when thei be subject to
+the furie of ordinance, in soche wise that lesyng them,
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page208" id=
+"page208"></a>{208}</span> thei be beginning and cause of his
+ruine. When Genua rebelled againste king Leus of Fraunce, it made
+certaine Bulwarkes alofte on those hilles, whiche bee about it, the
+whiche so sone as thei were loste, whiche was sodainly, made also
+the citee to be loste. Concernyng the second counsaile, I affirme
+nothyng to be to a Fortresse more perilous, then to be in thesame
+refuge places, to be able to retire: Bicause the hope that menne
+have thereby, maketh that thei leese the utter warde, when it is
+assaulted: and that loste, maketh to bee loste after, all the
+Fortresse. For insample there is freshe in remembraunce, the losse
+of the Fortresse of Furly, when Catherin the Countesse defended it
+againste Cesar Borgia, sonne to Pope Alexander the vi. who had
+conducted thether the armie of the king of Fraunce: thesame
+Fortresse, was al full of places, to retire out of one into an
+other: for that there was firste the kepe, from the same to the
+Fortresse, was a diche after soche sorte, that thei passed over it
+by a draw bridge: the fortresse was devided into three partes, and
+every parte was devided from the other with diches, and with water,
+and by Bridges, thei passed from the one place to the other:
+wherefore the Duke battered with his artillerie, one of the partes
+of the fortresse, and opened part of the walle: For whiche cause
+Maister Jhon Casale, whiche was appoincted to that Warde, thought
+not good to defende that breache, but abandoned it for to retire
+hymself into the other places: so that the Dukes men having entered
+into that parte without incounter, in a sodaine thei gotte it all:
+For that the Dukes menne became lordes of the bridges, whiche went
+from one place to an other. Thei loste then this Fortresse, whiche
+was thought invinsible, through two defaultes, the one for havyng
+so many retiryng places, the other, bicause every retiryng place,
+was not Lorde of the bridge thereof. Therefore, the naughtie
+builded Fortresse, and the little wisedome of them that defended
+it, caused shame to the noble enterprise of the countesse, whoe had
+thought to have abidden an armie, whiche neither the kyng of
+Naples, nor the Duke of Milaine would have abidden: and although
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page209" id=
+"page209"></a>{209}</span> his inforcementes had no good ende, yet
+notwithstandyng he gotte that honoure, whiche his valiauntnesse had
+deserved: The whiche was testified of many Epigrammes, made in
+those daies in his praise. Therefore, if I should have to builde a
+Fortresse, I would make the walles strong, and the diches in the
+maner as we have reasoned, nor I would not make therein other, then
+houses to inhabite, and those I would make weake and lowe, after
+soche sorte that thei should not let him that should stande in the
+middest of the Market place, the sight of all the walle, to the
+intente that the Capitain might see with the iye, where he maie
+succour: and that every manne should understande, that the walle
+and the diche beyng lost, the fortresse were lost. And yet when I
+should make any retiryng places, I would make the bridges devided
+in soche wise, that every parte should be Lorde of the bridges of
+his side, ordainyng, that thei should fall upon postes, in the
+middest of the diche.</p>
+<p>BAPTISTE. You have saied that littel thynges now a daies can not
+bee defended, and it seemed unto me to have understoode the
+contrarie, that the lesser that a thyng wer, the better it might be
+defended.</p>
+<p class="side">The fortifiyng of the entrance of a Toune.</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. You have not understoode well, because that place
+cannot be now a daies called stronge, wher he that defendeth it,
+hath not space to retire with new diches, and with new
+fortificacions, for that the force of the ordinance is so much,
+that he that trusteth uppon the warde of one wall and of one
+fortification only, is deceived: and because the Bulwarkes (mindyng
+that they passe not their ordinarie measure, for that then they
+shoulde be townes and Castels) be not made, in suche wise that men
+maie have space within them to retire, thei are loste straight
+waie. Therefore it is wisdom to let alone those Bulwarkes without,
+and to fortifie thenterance of the toune, and to kever the gates of
+the same with turnyngs after suche sort, that men cannot goe in nor
+oute of the gate by right line: and from the tournynges to the
+gate, to make a diche with a bridge. Also they fortifie the gate,
+with a Percullis, for to bee abell <span class="pagenum"><a name=
+"page210" id="page210"></a>{210}</span> to put therin their menne,
+when they be issued out to faight, and hapnyng that the enemies
+pursue them, to avoide, that in the mingelynge together, they enter
+not in with them: and therfore these be used, the which the
+antiquitie called Cattarratte, the whiche beyng let fall, exclude
+thenemies, and save the freendes, for that in suche a case, men can
+do no good neither by bridges nor by a gate, the one and the other
+beynge ocupied with prease of menne.</p>
+<p>BAPTISTE. I have seene these Perculleses that you speake of,
+made in Almayne of littell quarters of woodde after the facion of a
+grate of Iron, and these percullises of ouers, be made of plankes
+all massive: I woulde desire to understande whereof groweth this
+difference, and which be the strongest.</p>
+<p class="side">Battelments ought to be large and thicke and the
+flanckers large within.</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. I tell you agayne, that the manners and orders of the
+warre, throughe oute all the worlde, in respecte to those of the
+antiquitie, be extinguesshed, and in Italye they bee altogether
+loste, for if there bee a thing somewhat stronger then the
+ordinarye, it groweth of the insample of other countries. You
+mighte have understoode and these other may remember, with howe
+muche debilitie before, that king Charles of Fraunce in the yere of
+our salvation a thousande CCCC. xciiii. had passed into Italie,
+they made the batelmentes not halfe a yarde thicke, the loopes, and
+the flanckers were made with a litle opening without, and muche
+within, and with manye other faultes whiche not to be tedious I
+will let passe: for that easely from thinne battelments the defence
+is taken awaye, the flanckers builded in the same maner, moste
+easylye are opened: Nowe of the Frenchemen is learned to make the
+battelment large and thicke, and the flanckers to bee large on the
+parte within, and to drawe together in the middeste of the wall,
+and then agayn to waxe wider unto the uttermost parte without: this
+maketh that the ordinaunce hardlye can take away the defence.
+Therfore the Frenchmen have, manye other devises like these, the
+whiche because they have not beene seene of our men, they have not
+beene considered. Among whiche, is this kinde of <span class=
+"pagenum"><a name="page211" id="page211"></a>{211}</span> perculles
+made like unto a grate, the which is a greate deale better then
+oures: for that if you have for defence of a gate a massive
+parculles as oures, letting it fall, you shutte in your menne, and
+you can not though the same hurte the enemie, so that hee with
+axes, and with fire, maye breake it downe safely: but if it bee
+made like a grate, you maye, it being let downe, through those
+holes and through those open places, defende it with Pikes, with
+crosbowes, and with all other kinde of weapons.</p>
+<p>BAPTISTE. I have seene in Italye an other use after the
+outelandishe fashion, and this is, to make the carriage of the
+artillery with the spokes of the wheele crooked towardes the
+Axeltree. I woulde knowe why they make them so: seeming unto mee
+that they bee stronger when they are made straighte as those of
+oure wheeles.</p>
+<p class="side">Neither the ditche, wall tillage, nor any kinde of
+edificacion, ought to be within a mile of a toune of warre.</p>
+<p>FABRICIO. Never beleeve that the thinges that differ from the
+ordinarie wayes, be made by chaunce: and if you shoulde beleeve
+that they make them so, to shewe fayrer, you are deceaved: because
+where strength is necessarie, there is made no counte of
+fayrenesse: but all groweth, for that they be muche surer and muche
+stronger then ours. The reason is this: the carte when it is laden,
+either goeth even, or leaning upon the righte, or upon the lefte
+side: when it goeth even, the wheeles equally sustayne the wayght,
+the which being equallye devided betweene them, doth not burden
+much, but leaning, it commeth to have all the paise of the cariage
+on the backe of that wheele upon the which it leaneth. If the
+spokes of the same be straight they wil soone breake: for that the
+wheele leaning, the spokes come also to leane, and not to sustaine
+the paise by the straightnesse of them, and so when the carte goeth
+even, and when they are least burdened, they come to bee strongest:
+when the Carte goeth awrye, and that they come to have moste paise,
+they bee weakest. Even the contrarie happeneth to the crooked
+spokes of the Frenche Cartes, for that when the carte leaning upon
+one side poincteth uppon them, because they bee ordinary crooked,
+they come then to bee straight, and to be able to sustayne
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page212" id=
+"page212"></a>{212}</span> strongly al the payse, where when the
+carte goeth even, and that they bee crooked, they sustayne it
+halfe: but let us tourne to our citie and Fortresse. The Frenchemen
+use also for more safegarde of the gates of their townes, and for
+to bee able in sieges more easylye to convey and set oute men of
+them, besides the sayde thinges, an other devise, of which I have
+not seene yet in Italye anye insample: and this is, where they
+rayse on the oute side from the ende of the drawe bridge twoo
+postes, and upon either of them they joigne a beame, in suche wise
+that the one halfe of them comes over the bridge, the other halfe
+with oute: then all the same parte that commeth withoute, they
+joygne together with small quarters of woodde, the whiche they set
+thicke from one beame to an other like unto a grate, and on the
+parte within, they fasten to the ende of either of the beames a
+chaine: then when they will shutte the bridge on the oute side,
+they slacke the chaines, and let downe all the same parte like unto
+a grate, the whiche comming downe, shuttethe the bridge, and when
+they will open it, they drawe the chaines, and the same commeth to
+rise up, and they maye raise it up so much that a man may passe
+under it, and not a horse, and so much that there maye passe horse
+and man, and shutte it againe at ones, for that it falleth and
+riseth as a window of a battelment. This devise is more sure than
+the Parculles, because hardely it maye be of the enemye lette in
+such wise, that it fall not downe, falling not by a righte line as
+the Parculles, which easely may be underpropped. Therfore they
+which will make a citie oughte to cause to be ordained all the
+saide things: and moreover aboute the walle, there woulde not bee
+suffered any grounde to be tilled, within a myle thereof, nor any
+wall made, but shoulde be all champaine, where should be neither
+ditch nor banck, neither tree nor house, which might let the
+fighte, and make defence for the enemie that incampeth.</p>
+<p class="side">Noote; The provision that is meete to be made for
+the defence of a toune.</p>
+<p>And noote, that a Towne, whiche hathe the ditches withoute, with
+the banckes higher then the grounde, is moste weake: for as muche
+as they make defence to the enemye <span class="pagenum"><a name=
+"page213" id="page213"></a>{213}</span> which assaulteth thee, and
+letteth him not hurte thee, because easely they may be opened, and
+geve place to his artillerye: but let us passe into the Towne. I
+will not loose so muche time in shewing you howe that besides the
+foresayde thinges, it is requisite to have provision of victualles,
+and wherewith to fight, for that they be thinges that everye man
+underdeth, and without them, all other provision is vaine: and
+generally twoo thinges oughte to be done, to provide and to take
+the commoditie from the enemie that he availe not by the things of
+thy countrey: therfore the straw, the beastes, the graine, whiche
+thou canste not receive into house, ought to be destroied. Also he
+that defendeth a Towne, oughte to provide that nothing bee done
+tumultuouslye and disordinatelye, and to take suche order, that in
+all accidentes everye man maye knowe what he hath to doo.</p>
+<p class="side">What incoragethe the enemy most that besiegeth a
+toune; What he that besiegeth and he that defendeth oughte to doo;
+Advertisementes for a besieged towne; Howe the Romaines vitaled
+Casalino besieged of Aniball; A policie for the besieged.</p>
+<p>The order that oughte to be taken is thus, that the women, the
+olde folkes, the children, and the impotent, be made to keepe
+within doores, that the Towne maye be left free, to yong and lustie
+men, whom being armed, must be destributed for the defence of the
+same, appointing part of them to the wall, parte to the gates,
+parte to the principall places of the Citie, for to remedie those
+inconveniences, that might growe within: an other parte must not be
+bound to any place, but be ready to succour all, neede requiring:
+and the thing beeing ordained thus, with difficultie tumulte can
+growe, whiche maye disorder thee. Also I will that you note this,
+in the besieging and defending of a Citie, that nothing geveth so
+muche hoope to the adversarye to be able to winne a towne, as when
+he knoweth that the same is not accustomed to see the enemie: for
+that many times for feare onely without other experience of force,
+cities have bene loste: Therefore a man oughte, when he assaulteth
+a like Citie, to make all his ostentacions terrible. On the other
+parte he that is assaulted, oughte to appoincte to the same parte,
+whiche the enemie fighteth againste, strong men and suche as
+opinion makethe not afraide, but weapons onely: for that if the
+first proofe turne vaine, it <span class="pagenum"><a name=
+"page214" id="page214"></a>{214}</span> increaseth boldenesse to
+the besieged, and then the enemie is constrained to overcome them
+within, with vertue and reputacion. The instrumentes wherwith the
+antiquitie defended townes, where manie: as balistes, onagris,
+scorpions, Arcubalistes, Fustibals, Slinges: and also those were
+manie with which thei gave assaultes. As Arrieti, Towers, Musculi
+Plutei, Viney, Falci, testudeni, in steede of which thynges be now
+a daies the ordinance, the whiche serve him that bessegeth, and him
+that defendeth: and therfore I will speake no forther of theim: But
+let us retourne to our reasonyng and let us come to particular
+offences. They ought to have care not to be taken by famine, and
+not to be overcome through assaultes: concernyng famin, it hath ben
+tolde, that it is requiset before the siege come, to be well
+provided of vitualles. But when a towne throughe longe siege,
+lacketh victuals, some times hath ben seen used certaine
+extraordinarie waies to be provided of their friendes, whome woulde
+save them: inespeciall if through the middest of the besieged Citie
+there runne a river, as the Romaines vittelled their castell called
+Casalino besieged of Anibal, whom being not able by the river to
+sende them other victual then Nuttes, wherof castyng in the same
+great quantitie, the which carried of the river, without beyng abel
+to be letted, fedde longe time the Casalinians. Some besieged, for
+to shew unto the enemie, that they have graine more then inough and
+for to make him to dispaire, that he cannot, by famin overcome
+theim, have caste breade oute of the gates, or geven a Bullocke
+graine to eate, and after have suffered the same to be taken, to
+the intent that kilde and founde full of graine, might shewe that
+aboundance, whiche they had not. On the other parte excellent
+Capitaines have used sundrie waies to werie the enemie.</p>
+<p class="side">A policie of Fabius in besieging of a toune; A
+policie of Dionisius in besiegynge of a toune.</p>
+<p>Fabius suffered them whome he besieged, to sowe their fieldes,
+to the entente that thei should lacke the same corne, whiche they
+sowed.</p>
+<p>Dionisius beynge in Campe at Regio, fained to minde to make an
+agreement with them, and duryng the practise <span class=
+"pagenum"><a name="page215" id="page215"></a>{215}</span> therof he
+caused him selfe to be provided of their victuales, and then when
+he had by this mean got from them their graine, he kepte them
+straight and famished them.</p>
+<p class="side">Howe Alexander wanne Leucadia.</p>
+<p>Alexander Magnus mindyng to winne Leucadia overcame all the
+Castels aboute it, and by that means drivyng into the same citie a
+great multitude of their owne countrie men, famished them.</p>
+<p class="side">The besieged ought to take heed of the first
+brunte; The remedie that townes men have, when the enemies ar
+entred into the towne; How to make the townes men yeelde.</p>
+<p>Concernynge the assaultes, there hath been tolde that chiefely
+thei ought to beware of the firste bronte, with whiche the Romaines
+gotte often times manie townes, assaultyng them sodainly, and on
+every side: and thei called it <i>Aggredi urbem corona</i>. As
+Scipio did, when he wanne newe Carthage in Hispayne: the which
+brunte if of a towne it be withstoode, with difficultie after will
+bee overcome: and yet thoughe it should happen that the enemie were
+entred into the citie, by overcomynge the wall, yet the townes men
+have some remedie, so thei forsake it not: for as much as manie
+armies through entring into a toune, have ben repulced or slaine:
+the remedie is, that the townes men doe keepe them selves in highe
+places, and from the houses, and from the towers to faight with
+them: the whiche thynge, they that have entered into the citie,
+have devised to overcome in twoo manners: the one with openyng the
+gates of the citie, and to make the waie for the townes men, that
+thei might safely flie: the other with sendynge foorthe a
+proclamacion, that signifieth, that none shall be hurte but the
+armed, and to them that caste their weapons on the grounde, pardon
+shall be graunted: the whiche thynge hath made easie the victorie
+of manie cities.</p>
+<p class="side">How townes or cities are easelie wonne; How duke
+Valentine got the citie of Urbine; The besieged ought to take heede
+of the deciptes and policies of the enemie; How Domitio Calvino wan
+a towne.</p>
+<p>Besides this, the Citees are easie to bee wonne, if thou come
+upon them unawares: whiche is dooen beyng with thy armie farre of,
+after soche sort, that it be not beleved, either that thou wilte
+assaulte theim, or that thou canst dooe it, without commyng openly,
+bicause of the distance of the place: wherefore, if thou secretely
+and spedely assaulte theim, almoste alwaies it shall followe, that
+thou shalte gette the victorie. I reason unwillingly of the thynges
+succeded in our tyme, for that to me and to mine, it <span class=
+"pagenum"><a name="page216" id="page216"></a>{216}</span> should be
+a burthen, and to reason of other, I cannot tel what to saie:
+notwithstanding, I cannot to this purpose but declare, the insample
+of Cesar Borgia, called duke Valentine, who beyng at Nocera with
+his menne, under colour of goyng to besiege Camerino, tourned
+towardes the state of Urbin, and gotte a state in a daie, and
+without any paine, the whiche an other with moche time and cost,
+should scante have gotten. It is conveniente also to those, that be
+besieged, to take heede of the deceiptes, and of the policies of
+the enemie, and therefore the besieged ought not to truste to any
+thyng, whiche thei see the enemie dooe continually, but let theim
+beleve alwaies, that it is under deceipte, and that he can to their
+hurte varie it. Domitio Calvino besiegyng a toune, used for a
+custome to compasse aboute every daie, with a good parte of his
+menne, the wall of the same: whereby the Tounes menne, belevyng
+that he did it for exercise, slacked the Ward: whereof Domicius
+beyng aware, assaulted and overcame them.</p>
+<p class="side">A policie to get a towne.</p>
+<p>Certaine Capitaines understandyng, that there should come aide
+to the besieged, have apareled their Souldiours, under the Ansigne
+of those, that should come, and beyng let in, have gotte the
+Toune.</p>
+<p class="side">How Simon of Athens wan a towne; A policie to get a
+towne; How Scipio gotte certaine castels in Afrike.</p>
+<p>Simon of Athens set fire in a night on a Temple, whiche was out
+of the toune, wherefore, the tounes menne goyng to succour it,
+lefte the toune in praie to the enemie. Some have slaine those,
+whiche from the besieged Castle, have gone a foragyng, and have
+appareled their souldiours, with the apparell of the forragers,
+whom after have gotte the toune. The aunciente Capitaines, have
+also used divers waies, to destroie the Garison of the Toune,
+whiche thei have sought to take. Scipio beyng in Africa, and
+desiring to gette certaine Castles, in whiche were putte the
+Garrisons of Carthage, he made many tymes, as though he would
+assaulte theim, albeit, he fained after, not onely to abstaine, but
+to goe awaie from them for feare: the whiche Aniball belevyng to
+bee true, for to pursue hym with greater force, and for to bee able
+more easely to oppresse him, drewe out <span class=
+"pagenum"><a name="page217" id="page217"></a>{217}</span> all the
+garrisons of theim: The whiche Scipio knowyng, sente Massinissa his
+Capitaine to overcome them.</p>
+<p class="side">Howe Pirrus wan the chiefe Citie of Sclavonie; A
+policie to get a towne; How the beseiged are made to yelde; Howe to
+get a towne by treason; A policie of Aniball for the betraiyng of a
+Castell; How the besieged maie be begiled; How Formion overcame the
+Calcidensians; What the besieged muste take heede of; Liberalitie
+maketh enemies frendes; The diligence that the besieged ought to
+use in their watche and ward.</p>
+<p>Pirrus makyng warre in Sclavonie, to the chiefe citee of the
+same countrie, where were brought many menne in Garrison, fained to
+dispaire to bee able to winne it, and tourning to other places,
+made that the same for to succour them, emptied it self of the
+warde, and became easie to bee wonne. Many have corrupted the
+water, and have tourned the rivers an other waie to take Tounes.
+Also the besieged, are easely made to yelde them selves, makyng
+theim afraied, with signifiyng unto them a victorie gotten, or with
+new aides, whiche come in their disfavour. The old Capitaines have
+sought to gette Tounes by treason, corruptyng some within, but thei
+have used divers meanes. Sum have sente a manne of theirs, whiche
+under the name of a fugetive, might take aucthoritie and truste
+with the enemies, who after have used it to their profite. Some by
+this meanes, have understode the maner of the watche, and by meanes
+of the same knowledge, have taken the Toune. Some with a Carte, or
+with Beames under some colour, have letted the gate, that it could
+not bee shutte, and with this waie, made the entrie easie to the
+enemie. Aniball perswaded one, to give him a castle of the
+Romaines, and that he should fain to go a huntyng in the night,
+makyng as though he could not goe by daie, for feare of the
+enemies, and tournyng after with the Venison, should put in with
+hym certaine of his menne, and so killyng the watchmen, should give
+hym the gate. Also the besieged are beguiled, with drawyng them out
+of the Toune, and goyng awaie from them, faining to flie when thei
+assault thee. And many (emong whom was Anibal) have for no other
+intente, let their Campe to be taken, but to have occasion to get
+betwene theim and home, and to take their Toune. Also, thei are
+beguiled with fainyng to departe from them, as Formion of Athens
+did, who havyng spoiled the countrie of the Calcidensians, received
+after their ambassadours, fillyng their Citee with faire promises,
+and hope of safetie, under the which as simple menne, thei were a
+little after of Formione <span class="pagenum"><a name="page218"
+id="page218"></a>{218}</span> oppressed. The besieged ought to
+beware of the men, whiche thei have in suspecte emong them: but
+some times thei are wont, as well to assure them selves with
+deserte, as with punishemente. Marcellus knoweyng how Lucius
+Bancius a Nolane, was tourned to favour Aniball so moche humanitie
+and liberalitie, he used towardes him, that of an enemie, he made
+him moste frendely. The besieged ought to use more diligence in the
+warde, when the enemie is gone from theim, then when he is at
+hande. And thei ought to warde those places, whiche thei thinke,
+that maie bee hurt least: for that many tounes have been loste,
+when thenemie assaulteth it on thesame part, where thei beleve not
+possible to be assaulted. And this deceipt groweth of twoo causes,
+either for the place being strong, and to beleve, that it is
+invinsible, or through craft beyng used of the enemie, in assaltyng
+theim on one side with fained alaroms, and on the other without
+noise, and with verie assaltes in deede: and therefore the
+besieged, ought to have greate advertisment, and above all thynges
+at all times, and in especially in the night to make good watche to
+bee kepte on the walles, and not onely to appoincte menne, but
+Dogges, and soche fiearse Mastives, and lively, the whiche by their
+sente maie descrie the enemie, and with barkyng discover him: and
+not Dogges onely, but Geese have ben seen to have saved a citee, as
+it happened to Roome, when the Frenchemen besieged the
+Capitoll.</p>
+<p class="side">An order of Alcibiades for the dew keping of watch
+and warde.</p>
+<p>Alcibiades for to see, whether the warde watched, Athense beeyng
+besieged of the Spartaines, ordained that when in the night, he
+should lifte up a light, all the ward should lift up likewise,
+constitutyng punishmente to hym that observed it not.</p>
+<p class="side">The secrete conveighyng of Letters; The defence
+against a breach; How the antiquitie got tounes by muining under
+grounde.</p>
+<p>Isicrates of Athens killed a watchman, which slept, saiyng that
+he lefte him as he found him. Those that have been besieged, have
+used divers meanes, to sende advise to their frendes: and mindyng
+not to send their message by mouth, thei have written letters in
+Cifers, and hidden them in sundrie wise: the Cifers be according,
+as pleaseth him that ordaineth them, the maner of hidyng them is
+divers. Some <span class="pagenum"><a name="page219" id=
+"page219"></a>{219}</span> have written within the scaberde of a
+sweard: Other have put the Letters in an unbaked lofe, and after
+have baked the same, and given it for meate to hym that caried
+theim. Certaine have hidden them, in the secreteste place of their
+bodies: other have hidden them in the collor of a Dogge, that is
+familiare with hym, whiche carrieth theim: Some have written in a
+letter ordinarie thinges, and after betwene thone line and thother,
+have also written with water, that wetyng it or warming it after,
+the letters should appere. This waie hath been moste politikely
+observed in our time: where some myndyng to signifie to their
+freendes inhabityng within a towne, thinges to be kept secret, and
+mindynge not to truste any person, have sente common matters
+written, accordyng to the common use and enterlined it, as I have
+saied above, and the same have made to be hanged on the gates of
+the Temples, the whiche by countersignes beyng knowen of those,
+unto whome they have been sente, were taken of and redde: the
+whiche way is moste politique, bicause he that carrieth them maie
+bee beguiled, and there shall happen hym no perill. There be moste
+infinite other waies, whiche every manne maie by himself rede and
+finde: but with more facilitie, the besieged maie bee written unto,
+then the besieged to their frendes without, for that soche letters
+cannot be sent, but by one, under colour of a fugetive, that
+commeth out of a toune: the whiche is a daungerous and perilous
+thing, when thenemie is any whit craftie: But those that sende in,
+he that is sente, maie under many colours, goe into the Campe that
+besiegeth, and from thens takyng conveniente occasion, maie leape
+into the toune: but lette us come to speake of the present winnyng
+of tounes. I saie that if it happen, that thou bee besieged in thy
+citee, whiche is not ordained with diches within, as a little
+before we shewed, to mynde that thenemie shall not enter through
+the breach of the walle, whiche the artillerie maketh: bicause
+there is no remedie to lette thesame from makyng of a breache, it
+is therefore necessarie for thee, whileste the ordinance battereth,
+to caste a diche within the wall which is battered, and that it be
+in bredth at leaste <span class="pagenum"><a name="page220" id=
+"page220"></a>{220}</span> twoo and twentie yardes and a halfe, and
+to throwe all thesame that is digged towardes the toun, whiche maie
+make banke, and the diche more deper: and it is convenient for
+thee, to sollicitate this worke in soche wise, that when the walle
+falleth, the Diche maie be digged at least, fower or five yardes in
+depth: the whiche diche is necessarie, while it is a digging, to
+shutte it on every side with a slaughter house: and when the wall
+is so strong, that it giveth thee time to make the diche, and the
+slaughter houses, that battered parte, commeth to be moche
+stronger, then the rest of the citee: for that soche fortificacion,
+cometh to have the forme, of the diches which we devised within:
+but when the walle is weake, and that it giveth thee not tyme, to
+make like fortificacions, then strengthe and valiauntnesse muste
+bee shewed, settyng againste the enemies armed menne, with all thy
+force. This maner of fortificacion was observed of the Pisans, when
+you besieged theim, and thei might doe it, bicause thei had strong
+walles, whiche gave them time, the yearth beyng softe and moste
+meete to raise up banckes, and to make fortificacions: where if
+thei had lacked this commoditie, thei should have loste the toune.
+Therefore it shall bee alwaies prudently doen, to provide afore
+hand, makyng diches within the citee, and through out all the
+circuite thereof, as a little before wee devised: for that in this
+case, the enemie maie safely be taried for at laisure, the
+fortificacions beyng redy made. The antiquitie many tymes gotte
+tounes, with muinyng under ground in twoo maners, either thei made
+a waie under grounde secretely, whiche risse in the toune, and by
+thesame entered, in whiche maner the Romaines toke the citee of
+Veienti, or with the muinyng, thei overthrewe a walle, and made it
+ruinate: this laste waie is now a daies moste stronge, and maketh,
+that the citees placed high, be most weake, bicause thei maie
+better bee under muined: and puttyng after in a Cave of this Gunne
+pouder, whiche in a momente kindelyng, not onely ruinateth a wall,
+but it openeth the hilles, and utterly dissolveth the strength of
+them.</p>
+<p class="side">The reamedie against Caves or undermuinynges; What
+care the besieged ought to have; What maketh a citee or campe
+difficulte to bee defended; By what meanes thei that besiege ar
+made afraied; Honour got by constancie.</p>
+<p>The remedie for this, is to builde in the plain, and to
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page221" id=
+"page221"></a>{221}</span> make the diche that compasseth thy
+citee, so deepe, that the enemie maie not digge lower then thesame,
+where he shall not finde water, whiche onely is enemie to the
+caves: for if thou be in a toune, which thou defendest on a high
+ground, thou canst not remedie it otherwise, then to make within
+thy walles many deepe Welles, the whiche be as drouners to thesame
+Caves, that the enemie is able to ordain against thee. An other
+remedie there is, to make a cave againste it, when thou shouldeste
+bee aware where he muineth, the whiche waie easely hindereth hym,
+but difficultly it is foreseen, beyng besieged of a craftie enemie.
+He that is besieged, ought above al thinges to have care, not to
+bee oppressed in the tyme of reste: as is after a battaile fought,
+after the watche made, whiche is in the Mornyng at breake of daie,
+and in the Evenyng betwen daie and night, and above al, at meale
+times: in whiche tyme many tounes have been wonne, and armies have
+been of them within ruinated: therefore it is requisite with
+diligence on all partes, to stande alwaies garded, and in a good
+part armed. I will not lacke to tell you, how that, whiche maketh a
+citee or a campe difficult to be defended, is to be driven to kepe
+sundred all the force, that thou haste in theim, for that the
+enemie beyng able to assaulte thee at his pleasure altogether, it
+is conveniente for thee on every side, to garde every place, and so
+he assaulteth thee with all his force, and thou with parte of thine
+defendest thee. Also, the besieged maie bee overcome altogether, he
+without cannot bee, but repulced: wherefore many, whom have been
+besieged, either in a Campe, or in a Toune, although thei have been
+inferiour of power, have issued out with their men at a sodaine,
+and have overcome the enemie. This Marcellus of Nola did: this did
+Cesar in Fraunce, where his Campe beeyng assaulted of a moste great
+nomber of Frenchmen, and seeyng hymself not able to defende it,
+beyng constrained to devide his force into many partes, and not to
+bee able standyng within the Listes, with violence to repulce
+thenemie: he opened the campe on thone side, and turning towardes
+thesame parte with all his <span class="pagenum"><a name="page222"
+id="page222"></a>{222}</span> power, made so moche violence against
+them, and with moche valiantnes, that he vanquisshed and overcame
+them. The constancie also of the besieged, causeth many tymes
+displeasure, and maketh afraied them that doe besiege. Pompei beyng
+against Cesar, and Cesars armie beeyng in greate distresse through
+famine, there was brought of his bredde to Pompei, whom seyng it
+made of grasse, commaunded, that it should not bee shewed unto his
+armie, least it shoulde make them afraide, seyng what enemies they
+had against theim. Nothyng caused so muche honour to the Romaines
+in the warre of Aniball, as their constancie: for as muche as in
+what so ever envious, and adverse fortune thei were troubled, they
+never demaunded peace, thei never made anie signe of feare, but
+rather when Aniball was aboute Rome, thei solde those fieldes,
+where he had pitched his campe, dearer then ordinarie in other
+times shoulde have been solde: and they stoode in so much
+obstinacie in their enterprises, that for to defende Rome, thei
+would not raise their campe from Capua, the whiche in the verie
+same time that Roome was besieged, the Romaines did besiege.</p>
+<p>I knowe that I have tolde you of manie thynges, the whiche by
+your selfe you might have understoode, and considered,
+notwithstandyng I have doen it (as to daie also I have tolde you)
+for to be abell to shewe you better by meane therof, the qualitie
+of this armie, and also for to satisfie those, if there be anie,
+whome have not had the same commoditie to understand them as you.
+Nor me thinkes that there resteth other to tell you, then certaine
+generall rules, the whiche you shal have moste familiar, which be
+these.</p>
+<p class="side">Generall rules of warre.</p>
+<p>The same that helpeth the enemie, hurteth thee: and the same
+that helpeth thee, hurteth the enemie.</p>
+<p>He that shall be in the warre moste vigilant to observe the
+devises of the enemie, and shall take moste payne to exercise his
+armie, shall incurre least perilles and maie hope moste of the
+victorie.</p>
+<p>Never conducte thy men to faight the field, if first them hast
+not confirmed their mindes and knowest them to be <span class=
+"pagenum"><a name="page223" id="page223"></a>{223}</span> without
+feare, and to be in good order: for thou oughteste never to
+enterprise any dangerous thyng with thy souldiours, but when thou
+seest, that they hope to overcome.</p>
+<p>It is better to conquere the enemie with faminne, then with
+yron: in the victorie of which, fortune maie doe much more then
+valiantnesse.</p>
+<p>No purpose is better then that, whiche is hidde from the enemie
+untill thou have executed it.</p>
+<p>To know in the warre how to understande occasion, and to take
+it, helpeth more then anie other thynge.</p>
+<p>Nature breedeth few stronge menne, the industrie and the
+exercise maketh manie.</p>
+<p>Discipline maie doe more in warre, then furie.</p>
+<p>When anie departe from the enemies side for to come to serve
+thee, when thei be faithfull, thei shalbe unto thee alwaies great
+gaines: for that the power of thadversaries are more deminisshed
+with the losse of them, that runne awaie, then of those that be
+slaine, although that the name of a fugetive be to new frendes
+suspected, to olde odius.</p>
+<p>Better it is in pitchyng the fielde, to reserve behynde the
+first front aide inoughe, then to make the fronte bigger to
+disperse the souldiours.</p>
+<p>He is difficultely overcome, whiche can know his owne power and
+the same of the enemie.</p>
+<p>The valiantenesse of the souldiours availeth more then the
+multitude.</p>
+<p>Some times the situacion helpeth more then the
+valiantenesse.</p>
+<p>New and sudden thynges, make armies afrayde.</p>
+<p>Slowe and accustomed thinges, be littell regarded of them.
+Therfore make thy armie to practise and to know with small faightes
+a new enemie, before thou come to faight the fielde with him.</p>
+<p>He that with disorder foloweth the enemie after that he is
+broken, will doe no other, then to become of a conquerour a
+loser.</p>
+<p>He that prepareth not necessarie victualles to live upon, is
+overcome without yron.</p>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page224" id=
+"page224"></a>{224}</span>
+<p>He that trusteth more in horsemen then in footemen, more in
+footemen then in horsemen, must accommodate him selfe with the
+situacion.</p>
+<p>When thou wilte see if in the daie there be comen anie spie into
+the Campe, cause everie man to goe to his lodgynge.</p>
+<p>Chaunge purpose, when thou perceivest that the enemie hath
+forseene it.</p>
+<p class="side">How to consulte.</p>
+<p>Consulte with many of those thinges, which thou oughtest to
+dooe: the same that thou wilt after dooe, conferre with fewe.</p>
+<p>Souldiours when thei abide at home, are mainteined with feare
+and punishemente, after when thei ar led to the warre with hope and
+with rewarde.</p>
+<p>Good Capitaines come never to faight the fielde, excepte
+necessitie constraine theim, and occasion call them.</p>
+<p>Cause that thenemies know not, how thou wilte order thy armie to
+faight, and in what so ever maner that thou ordainest it, make that
+the firste bande may be received of the seconde and of the
+thirde.</p>
+<p>In the faight never occupie a battell to any other thyng, then
+to the same, for whiche thou haste apoineted it, if thou wilt make
+no disorder.</p>
+<p>The sodene accidentes, with difficultie are reamedied: those
+that are thought upon, with facilitie.</p>
+<p class="side">What thynges are the strength of the warre.</p>
+<p>Men, yron, money, and bread, be the strengthe of the warre, but
+of these fower, the first twoo be moste necessarie: because men and
+yron, finde money and breade: but breade and money fynde not men
+and yron.</p>
+<p>The unarmed riche man, is a bootie to the poore souldiour.</p>
+<p>Accustome thy souldiours to dispise delicate livyng and lacivius
+aparell.</p>
+<p>This is as muche as hapneth me generally to remember you, and I
+know that there might have ben saied manie other thynges in all
+this my reasonynge: as should be, howe and in howe manie kinde of
+waies the antiquitie ordered their bandes, how thei appareled them,
+and how in manie other thynges they exercised them, and to have
+joygned <span class="pagenum"><a name="page225" id=
+"page225"></a>{225}</span> hereunto manie other particulars, the
+whiche I have not judged necessarie to shew, as wel for that you
+your self may se them, as also for that my intente hath not been to
+shew juste how the olde servis of warre was apoincted, but howe in
+these daies a servis of warre might be ordained, whiche should have
+more vertue then the same that is used. Wherfore I have not thought
+good of the auncient thynges to reason other, then that, which I
+have judged to suche introduction necessarie. I know also that I
+might have delated more upon the service on horsebacke, and after
+have reasoned of the warre on the Sea: for as muche as he that
+destinguissheth the servis of warre, saieth, how there is an armie
+on the sea, and of the lande, on foote, and on horsebacke. Of that
+on the sea, I will not presume to speake, for that I have no
+knowledge therof: but I will let the Genoues, and the Venecians
+speake therof, whome with like studies have heretofore doen great
+thinges.</p>
+<p>Also of horses, I wil speake no other, then as afore I have
+saied, this parte beynge (as I have declared) least corrupted.
+Besides this, the footemen being wel ordained, which is the
+puissance of the armie, good horses of necessitie will come to be
+made.</p>
+<p class="side">Provisions that maie bee made to fill a Realme full
+of good horse; The knowledge that a capitaine oughte to have.</p>
+<p>Onely I counsel him that would ordayne the exercise of armes in
+his owne countrey, and desireth to fill the same with good horses,
+that he make two provisions: the one is, that he destribute Mares
+of a good race throughe his dominion, and accustome his menne to
+make choise of coltes, as you in this countrie make of Calves and
+Mules: the other is, that to thentente the excepted might finde a
+byer, I woulde prohibet that no man should kepe a Mule excepte he
+woulde keepe a horse: so that he that woulde kepe but one beaste to
+ride on, shoulde be constrained to keepe a horse: and moreover that
+no man should weare fine cloathe except he which doeth keepe a
+horse: this order I under stande hath beene devised of certaine
+princes in our time, whome in short space have therby, brought into
+their countrey an excellente numbre of good horses. Aboute the
+other thynges, as much as might be looked for concernynge
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page226" id=
+"page226"></a>{226}</span> horse, I remit to as much as I have
+saied to daie, and to that whiche they use. Peradventure also you
+woulde desire to understand what condicions a Capitaine ought to
+have: wherof I shal satisfie you moste breeflie: for that I cannot
+tell how to chose anie other man then the same, who shoulde know
+howe to doe all those thynges whiche this daie hath ben reasoned of
+by us: the which also should not suffise, when he should not knowe
+howe to devise of him selfe: for that no man without invencion, was
+ever excellent in anie science: and if invencion causeth honour in
+other thynges, in this above all, it maketh a man honorable: for
+everie invention is seen, although it were but simple, to be of
+writers celebrated: as it is seen, where Alexander Magnus is
+praised, who for to remove his Campe moste secretely, gave not
+warnyng with the Trumpette, but with a hatte upon a Launce. And was
+praised also for havyng taken order that his souldiours in
+buckelynge with the enemies, shoulde kneele with the lefte legge,
+to bee able more strongly to withstande their violence: the whiche
+havyng geven him the victorie, it got him also so muche praise,
+that all the Images, whiche were erected in his honour, stoode
+after the same facion. But because it is tyme to finishe this
+reasonyng, I wil turne againe to my first purpose, and partly I
+shall avoide the same reproche, wherin they use to condempne in
+this towne, such as knoweth not when to make an ende.</p>
+<p class="side">The auctor retorneth to his first purpose and
+maketh a littel discorse to make an ende of his reasonyng.</p>
+<p>If you remembre Cosimus you tolde me, that I beyng of one side
+an exalter of the antiquitie, and a dispraiser of those, which in
+waightie matters imitated them not, and of the other side, I
+havynge not in the affaires of war, wherin I have taken paine,
+imitated them, you coulde not perceive the occasion: wherunto I
+answered, how that men which wil doo any thing, muste firste
+prepare to knowe how to doe it, for to be able, after to use it,
+when occasion permitteth: whether I doe know how to bryng the
+servis of warre to the auncient manners or no, I will be judged by
+you, whiche have hearde me upon this matter longe dispute wherby
+you may know, how much time I have consumed <span class=
+"pagenum"><a name="page227" id="page227"></a>{227}</span> in these
+studies: and also I beleeve that you maie imagen, how much desire
+is in me to brynge it to effecte: the whiche whether I have been
+able to have doen, or that ever occasion hath been geven me, most
+easely you maie conjecture: yet for to make you more certaine and
+for my better justificacion, I will also aledge the occasions: and
+as much as I have promised, I will partely performe, to shew you
+the difficultie and the facelitie, whiche bee at this presente in
+suche imitacions.</p>
+<p class="side">A prince may easelie brynge to intiere perfection
+the servis of warre; Two sortes of Capitaines worthie to bee
+praysed.</p>
+<p>Therfore I saie, how that no deede that is doen now a daies
+emong men, is more easie to be reduced unto the aunciente maners,
+then the service of Warre: but by them onely that be Princes of so
+moche state, who can at least gather together of their owne
+subjectes, xv. or twentie thousande yong menne: otherwise, no thyng
+is more difficulte, then this, to them whiche have not soche
+commoditie: and for that you maie the better understande this
+parte, you have to knowe, howe that there bee of twoo condicions,
+Capitaines to bee praised: The one are those, that with an armie
+ordained through the naturalle discipline thereof, have dooen
+greate thynges: as were the greater parte of the Romaine Citezeins,
+and suche as have ledde armies, the which have had no other paine,
+then to maintaine them good, and to se them guided safely: the
+other are they, whiche not onely have had to overcome the enemie,
+but before they come to the same, have been constrained to make
+good and well ordered their armie: who without doubte deserve muche
+more praise, then those have deserved, which with olde armies, and
+good, have valiantely wrought. Of these, such wer Pelopida, and
+Epaminonda, Tullus Hostillius, Phillip of Macedony father of
+Alexander, Cirus kyng of the Percians, Graccus a Romaine: they all
+were driven first to make their armies good, and after to faighte
+with them: they all coulde doe it, as well throughe their prudence,
+as also for havynge subjectes whome thei might in like exercises
+instruct: nor it shuld never have ben otherwise possible, that anie
+of theim, though they had ben never so good and ful of al
+excellencie, should have <span class="pagenum"><a name="page228"
+id="page228"></a>{228}</span> been able in a straunge countrey,
+full of men corrupted, not used to anie honest obedience, to have
+brought to passe anie laudable worke. It suffiseth not then in
+Italie, to know how to governe an army made, but first it is
+necessarie to know how to make it and after to know how to
+commaunde it: and to do these things it is requisit they bee those
+princes, whome havyng much dominion, and subjectes inoughe, maie
+have commoditie to doe it: of whiche I can not bee, who never
+commaunded, nor cannot commaunde, but to armies of straungers, and
+to men bounde to other, and not to me: in whiche if it be possible,
+or no, to introduce anie of those thynges that this daie of me hath
+ben reasoned, I will leave it to your judgement.</p>
+<p>Albeit when coulde I make one of these souldiours which now a
+daies practise, to weare more armur then the ordinarie, and besides
+the armur, to beare their owne meate for two or three daies, with a
+mattocke: When coulde I make theim to digge, or keepe theim every
+daie manie howers armed, in fained exercises, for to bee able after
+in the verie thyng in deede to prevaile? When woulde thei abstaine
+from plaie, from laciviousnesse, from swearynge, from the
+insolence, whiche everie daie they committe? when would they be
+reduced into so muche dissepline, into so much obedience and
+reverence, that a tree full of appels in the middest of their
+Campe, shoulde be founde there and lefte untouched? As is redde,
+that in the auncient armies manie times hapned. What thynge maye I
+promis them, by meane wherof thei may have me in reverence to love,
+or to feare, when the warre beyng ended, they have not anie more to
+doe with me? wher of maie I make them ashamed, whiche be borne and
+brought up without shame? whie shoulde thei be ruled by me who
+knowe me not? By what God or by what sainctes may I make them to
+sweare? By those that thei worship, or by those that they
+blaspheme? Who they worship I knowe not anie: but I knowe well they
+blaspheme all. How shoulde I beleeve that thei will keepe their
+promise to them, whome everie hower they dispise? How can they,
+that dispise God, reverence men? Then <span class=
+"pagenum"><a name="page229" id="page229"></a>{229}</span> what good
+fashion shoulde that be, whiche might be impressed in this matter?
+And if you should aledge unto me that Suyzzers and Spaniardes bee
+good souldiours, I woulde confesse unto you, how they be farre
+better then the Italians: but if you note my reasonynge, and the
+maner of procedyng of bothe, you shall see, howe they lacke many
+thynges to joygne to the perfection of the antiquetie. And how the
+Suyzzers be made good of one of their naturall uses caused of that,
+whiche to daie I tolde you: those other are made good by mean of a
+necessitie: for that servyng in a straunge countrie, and seemyng
+unto them to be constrained either to die, or to overcome, thei
+perceivynge to have no place to flie, doe become good: but it is a
+goodnesse in manie partes fawtie: for that in the same there is no
+other good, but that they bee accustomed to tarie the enemie at the
+Pike and sweardes poincte: nor that, which thei lacke, no man
+should be meete to teache them, and so much the lesse, he that
+coulde not speake their language.</p>
+<p class="side">The Auctor excuseth the people of Italie to the
+great reproche of their prynces for their ignorance in the affaires
+of warre.</p>
+<p>But let us turne to the Italians, who for havynge not had wise
+Princes, have not taken anie good order: and for havyng not had the
+same necessitie, whiche the Spaniardes have hadde, they have not
+taken it of theim selves, so that they remaine the shame of the
+worlde: and the people be not to blame, but onely their princes,
+who have ben chastised, and for their ignorance have ben justely
+punisshed, leesinge moste shamefully their states, without shewing
+anie vertuous ensample. And if you will see whether this that I say
+be trew: consider how manie warres have ben in Italie since the
+departure of kyng Charles to this day, where the war beyng wonte to
+make men warlyke and of reputacion, these the greater and fierser
+that they have been, so muche the more they have made the
+reputacion of the members and of the headdes therof to bee loste.
+This proveth that it groweth, that the accustomed orders were not
+nor bee not good, and of the newe orders, there is not anie whiche
+have knowen how to take them. Nor never beleeve that reputacion
+will be gotten, by the Italians weapons, but by the same waie that
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page230" id=
+"page230"></a>{230}</span> I have shewed, and by means of theim,
+that have great states in Italie: for that this forme maie be
+impressed in simple rude men, of their owne, and not in malicious,
+ill brought up, and straungers. Nor there shall never bee founde
+anie good mason, whiche will beleeve to be able to make a faire
+image of a peece of Marbell ill hewed, but verye well of a rude
+peece.</p>
+<p class="side">A discription of the folishenesse of the Italian
+princes; Cesar and Alexander, were the formoste in battell; The
+Venecians and the duke of Ferare began to have reduced the warfare
+to the Aunciente maners; He that despiseth the servis of warre,
+despiseth his own welthe.</p>
+<p>Our Italian Princes beleved, before thei tasted the blowes of
+the outlandishe warre, that it should suffice a Prince to knowe by
+writynges, how to make a subtell answere, to write a goodly letter,
+to shewe in saiynges, and in woordes, witte and promptenesse, to
+knowe how to canvas a fraude, to decke theim selves with precious
+stones and gold, to slepe and to eate with greater glorie then
+other: To keepe many lascivious persones aboute them, to governe
+theim selves with their subjectes, covetuously and proudely: To
+rotte in idlenesse, to give the degrees of the exercise of warre,
+for good will, to despise if any should have shewed them any
+laudable waie, minding that their wordes should bee aunswers of
+oracles: nor the sely wretches were not aware, that thei prepared
+theim selves to bee a praie, to whom so ever should assaulte theim.
+Hereby grewe then in the thousande fower hundred nintie and fower
+yere, the greate feares, the sodain flightes, and the marveilous
+losses: and so three most mightie states which were in Italie, have
+been divers times sacked and destroied. But that which is worse, is
+where those that remaine, continue in the verie same erroure, and
+live in the verie same disorder, and consider not, that those, who
+in old time would kepe their states, caused to be dooen these
+thynges, which of me hath been reasoned, and that their studies
+wer, to prepare the body to diseases, and the minde not to feare
+perilles. Whereby grewe that Cesar, Alexander, and all those menne
+and excellente Princes in old tyme, were the formoste emongest the
+faighters, goyng armed on foote: and if thei loste their state,
+thei would loose their life, so that thei lived and died
+vertuously. And if in theim, or in parte of theim, there might bee
+condempned to muche ambicion to reason of: yet there shall
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page231" id=
+"page231"></a>{231}</span> never bee founde, that in theim is
+condempned any tendernesse or any thynge that maketh menne delicate
+and feable: the whiche thyng, if of these Princes were redde and
+beleved, it should be impossible, that thei should not change their
+forme of living, and their provinces not to chaunge fortune. And
+for that you in the beginnyng of this our reasonyng, lamented your
+ordinaunces, I saie unto you, that if you had ordained it, as I
+afore have reasoned, and it had given of it self no good
+experience, you might with reason have been greved therewith: but
+if it bee not so ordained, and exercised, as I have saied, it maie
+be greeved with you, who have made a counterfaite thereof, and no
+perfecte figure. The Venecians also, and the Duke of Ferare,
+beganne it, and followed it not, the whiche hath been through their
+faulte, not through their menne. And therfore I assure you, that
+who so ever of those, whiche at this daie have states in Italie,
+shall enter firste into this waie, shall be firste, before any
+other, Lorde of this Province, and it shall happen to his state, as
+to the kyngdome of the Macedonians, the which commyng under Philip,
+who had learned the maner of settyng armies in order of Epaminondas
+a Thebane, became with this order, and with these exercises
+(whileste the reste of Grece stoode in idlenesse, and attended to
+risite comedes) so puisant, that he was able in few yeres to
+possesse it all, and to leave soche foundacion to his sonne, that
+he was able to make hymself, prince of all the world. He then that
+despiseth these studies, if he be a Prince, despiseth his
+Princedome: if he bee a Citezein, his Citee. Wherefore, I lamente
+me of nature, the whiche either ought not to have made me a knower
+of this, or it ought to have given me power, to have been able to
+have executed it: For now beyng olde, I cannot hope to have any
+occasion, to bee able so to dooe: In consideracion whereof, I have
+been liberall with you, who beeyng grave yong menne, maie (when the
+thynges saied of me shall please you) at due tymes in favour of
+your Princes, helpe theim and counsaile them, wherein I would have
+you not to bee afraied, or mistrustfull, bicause this Province
+seemes to bee altogether given, <span class="pagenum"><a name=
+"page232" id="page232"></a>{232}</span> to raise up againe the
+thynges dedde, as is seen by the perfeccion that poesie, paintyng,
+and writing, is now brought unto: Albeit, as moche as is looked for
+of me, beyng strooken in yeres, I do mistruste. Where surely, if
+Fortune had heretofore graunted me so moche state, as suffiseth for
+a like enterprise, I would not have doubted, but in moste shorte
+tyme, to have shewed to the worlde, how moche the aunciente orders
+availe: and without peradventure, either I would have increased it
+with glory, or loste it without shame.</p>
+<hr />
+<p>The ende of the seventh and laste booke of the arte of warre, of
+Nicholas Machiavell, Citezein and Secretarie of Florence,
+translated out of Italian into Englishe: By Peter Whitehorne, felow
+of Graise Inne.</p>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page234" id=
+"page234"></a>{234}</span>
+<h2>TO THE READERS</h2>
+<p><img width="10%" src="images/image-t.png" alt="T" /> o thentente
+that such as rede this booke maie without difficultie understande
+the order of the battailes, or bandes of men, and of the armies,
+and lodgynges in the Campe, accordynge as they in the discription
+of theim are apoincted, I thinke it necessarie to shewe you the
+figure of everie one of them: wherefore it is requiset firste, to
+declare unto you, by what poinctes and letters, the footemen, the
+horsemen, and everie other particuler membre are set foorthe.</p>
+<p>KNOW THERFORE THAT</p>
+<pre>
+.} Signifieth {Targetmen.
+
+'} {Pikemen.
+
+c} {a Capitaine of ten men.
+
+v} {Veliti ordinarie.  (Those men that shoot with harcabuses or bowes)
+
+r} {Veliti extraordinari.
+
+C} {a Centurion or captaine of a hundred men.
+
+k} {a Constable or a captaine of a band of fower hundred and fiftie men.
+
+H} {The hed captain of a maine battel.
+
+G} {The general Captaine of the whole armie.
+
+t} {The Trompet.
+
+d} {The Drum.
+
+b} {The Ansigne.
+
+s} {The Standerde.
+
+m} {Men of Armes.
+
+l} {Light horsemen.
+
+A} {Artillerie or ordinance.
+</pre>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page235" id=
+"page235"></a>{235}</span>
+<p>In the first figure nexte folowyng, is discribed the forme of an
+ordinarie battaile or bande of fower hundred and fiftie men, and in
+what maner it is redoubled by flanke. And also how with the verie
+same order of lxxx. rankes, by chaungyng onely to the hinder parte
+the five rankes of Pikes which were the formost of everie Centurie,
+thei maye likewise in bringyng them in battaile raie, come to bee
+placed behinde: whiche may be doen, when in marchyng, the enemies
+should come to assaulte them at their backes: accordynge as the
+orderyng therof is before declared. Fol. 87.</p>
+<p>In the seconde figure, is shewed how a battaile or bande of men
+is ordered, whiche in marchyng should be driven to faight on the
+flanke: accordyng as in the booke is declared. Fol. 87.</p>
+<p>In the thirde figure, is shewed how a battaile or bande of men,
+is ordered with two hornes, fol. 88, and after is shewed how the
+same maie be made with a voide place in the middest: accordynge as
+the orderyng therof, in the booke moste plainely is declared, fol.
+89.</p>
+<p>In the fowerth figure, is shewed the forme or facion of an armie
+apoincted to faight the battaile with the enemies: and for the
+better understandynge thereof, the verie same is plainlier set
+foorthe in the figure next unto it, wherby the other two figures
+next folowyng maie the easier be understoode: accordynge as in the
+booke is expressed. Fol. 105.</p>
+<p>In the fifte figure, is shewed the forme of a fower square
+armie: as in the booke is discribed. Fol. 152.</p>
+<p>In the sixte figure, is shewed howe an Armie is brought from a
+fower square facion, to the ordinarie forme, to faight a fielde:
+accordyng as afore is declared. Fol. 156.</p>
+<p>In the seventh figure, is discribed the maner of incamping:
+according as the same in the booke is declared. Fol. 174.</p>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page236" id=
+"page236"></a>{236}</span>
+<p>THE FIRSTE FIGURE</p>
+<p>This is the maner of ordering of CCCC. men, into lxxx. rankes,
+five to a ranke, to bring them into a iiii square battaile with the
+Pikes on the front, as after foloweth.</p>
+<pre>
+  C
+c''''
+c''''
+c''''
+c''''
+c''''
+c....
+c....
+c....
+c....
+c....
+c....
+c....
+c....
+c....
+c....
+c....
+c....
+c....
+c....
+c....
+  C
+'''''
+'''''
+'''''
+'''''
+'''''
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+  C
+'''''
+'''''
+'''''
+'''''
+'''''
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+  C
+''''c
+''''c
+''''c
+''''c
+''''c
+....c
+....c
+....c
+....c
+....c
+....c
+....c
+....c
+....c
+....c
+....c
+....c
+....c
+....c
+....c
+</pre>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page237" id=
+"page237"></a>{237}</span>
+<p>This is the foresaied lxxx. rankes of iiii. C. men brought into
+a fower square battaile with the Pikes on the fronte. And the
+fiftie Veliti on the sides and on the backe.</p>
+<pre>
+C                    C
+vc''''''''''''''''''cv
+vc''''''''''''''''''cv
+vc''''''''''''''''''cv
+vc''''''''''''''''''cv
+vc''''''''''''''''''cv
+vc........dkb.......cv
+vc..................cv
+vc..................cv
+vc..................cv
+vc..................cv
+vc..................cv
+vc..................cv
+vc..................cv
+vc..................cv
+vc..................cv
+vc..................cv
+vc..................cv
+vc..................cv
+vc..................cv
+vc..................cv
+C v v v v v v v v v v C
+</pre>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page238" id=
+"page238"></a>{238}</span>
+<p>THE SECONDE FIGURE</p>
+<p>This is the maner of ordering of CCCC. men, into lxxx. rankes,
+five to a ranke, to bring them into a iiii square battaile with the
+Pikes on the side, as after foloweth.</p>
+<pre>
+  C
+ccccc
+'''''
+'''''
+'''''
+'''''
+'''''
+'''''
+'''''
+'''''
+'''''
+'''''
+'''''
+'''''
+'''''
+'''''
+'''''
+'''''
+'''''
+'''''
+ccccc
+  C
+ccccc
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+ccccc
+  C
+ccccc
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+ccccc
+  C
+ccccc
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+ccccc
+</pre>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page239" id=
+"page239"></a>{239}</span>
+<p>This is the foresaied lxxx. rankes of iiii. C. men brought into
+a fower square battaile with the Pikes on the side.</p>
+<pre>
+CvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvC
+ cccccccccccccccccccc
+v...............'''''
+ ...............'''''
+v...............'''''
+ ...............'''''
+v...............'''''
+ ...............'''''
+v...............'''''
+ ...............'''''
+v...............'''''
+ ...............'''''
+v...............'''''
+ ...............'''''
+v...............'''''
+ ...............'''''
+v...............'''''
+ ...............'''''
+v...............'''''
+ ...............'''''
+v...............'''''
+ cccccccccccccccccccc
+CvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvC
+</pre>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page240" id=
+"page240"></a>{240}</span>
+<p>THE THYRDE FIGURE</p>
+<p>These are the nombers of rankes appoincted to make the horned
+battaile of, and the square battaile with the voide space in the
+middest, as after foloweth.</p>
+<pre>
+''''''''''''''''''''''''' ...............
+''''''''''''''''''''''''' ...............
+cccccccccccccccccccc.....C...............C
+......................... ...............
+......................... ...............
+
+
+
+
+ '''''''''''''''''''''''''
+ '''''''''''''''''''''''''
+Ccccccccccccccccccccc.....C
+ .........................
+ .........................
+ ...............
+ ...............
+ ...............
+ ...............
+ ...............d
+ ...............k
+ ...............b
+ ...............
+ ...............
+ ...............
+ ...............
+ .........................
+ .........................
+Ccccccccccccccccccccc.....C
+ '''''''''''''''''''''''''
+ '''''''''''''''''''''''''
+</pre>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page241" id=
+"page241"></a>{241}</span>
+<pre>
+............... .........................
+............... .........................
+...............Ccccccccccccccccccccc.....C
+............... '''''''''''''''''''''''''
+............... '''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+
+
+ '''''''''''''''''''''''''
+ '''''''''''''''''''''''''
+Ccccccccccccccccccccc.....C
+ .........................
+ .........................
+ .......          ........
+ .......          ........
+ .......          ........
+ .......    d     ........
+ .......    k     ........
+ .......    b     ........
+ .......          ........
+ .......          ........
+ .......          ........
+ .......          ........
+ .........................
+ .........................
+Ccccccccccccccccccccc.....C
+ '''''''''''''''''''''''''
+ '''''''''''''''''''''''''
+</pre>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page242" id=
+"page242"></a>{242}</span>
+<p>THE FOURTH FIGURE</p>
+<pre>
+     A           A     A     A     A     A
+llm mCrCCC    Cu,,uCCu,,uCCu,,uCCu,,uCCu,,uCA
+llm mrrr,,,   vu,,uvvu,,uvvu,,uvvu,,uvvu,,uvA
+llm mrrrdkb   vdk bvvdk bvvdk bvvdk bvvdk bv
+lltksdkb,,,   vc..uvvu..uvvu..uvvu..uvvu..uv   t G
+llm mrrr,,,   vc..uvvu..uvvu..uvvu..uvvu..uv   lll
+ktm mrrr,,,   vc..uvvu..uvvu..uvvu..uvvu..uv  ....
+lsm mCr(,,,   Cu..uCCu..uCCu..uCCu..uCCu..uC
+llm m   ,,,
+llm m   ,,,               .....
+llm m   ,,,                dHb
+llm m   ,,,               .....
+,,,
+,,,
+,,,
+,,,   Cu..uC      Cu..uC      Cu..uC
+,,,   vu,,uv      vu,,uv      vu,,uv
+,,,   vdk bv      vdk bv      vdk bv
+CdkbC  vu..uv      vu..uv      vu..uv
+,,   vu..uv      vu..uv      vu..uv
+,,,   vu..uv      vu..uv      vu..uv
+,,,   Cu..uC      Cu..uC      Cu..uC
+,,,
+,,,
+,,,
+,,,
+,,,
+,,,
+,,,
+,,,   Cu,,uC                  Cu,,uC
+,,,   vu,,uv                  vu,,uv
+,,,   vdk bv                  vdk bv
+,,,   vu..uv                  vu..uv
+dkb   vu..uv                  vu..uv
+,,,   vu..uv                  vu..uv
+C C   Cu..uC                  Cu..uC
+</pre>
+<p>The cariages and the unarmed.</p>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page243" id=
+"page243"></a>{243}</span>
+<pre>
+  A     A     A     A     A     A
+A Cu,,uCCu,,uCCu,,uCCu,,uCCu,,uC   C CCrCm mll
+A vu,,uvvu,,uvvu,,uvvu,,uvvu,,uv   ,,,rrrm mll
+m vdk bvvdk bvvdk bvvdk bvvdk bv   dkbrrrm mll
+s vu..uvvu..uvvu..uvvu..uvvu..uv   ,,,dkbm mll
+llvu..uvvu..uvvu..uvvu..uvvu..uv   ,,,rrrtksll
+..vu.. vvu..uvvu..uvvu..uvvu..uv   ,,,rrrm mtk
+Cu..uCCu..uC  ..uCCu..uCCu..uC   ,,,rrrm msl
+,,,   m mll
+,,,   m mll
+dHb           ,,,   m mll
+....          ,,,   m mll
+,,,
+,,,
+,,,
+Cu,,uC      Cu,,uC      Cu,,uC   ,,,
+vu,,uv      uv,,uv      uv,,uv   ,,,
+vdk bv      vdk bv      vdk bv   ,,,
+vu..uv      vu..uv      vu..uv  CdkbC
+vu..uv      vu..uv      vu..uv   ,,,
+vu..uv      vu..uv      vu..uv   ,,,
+Cu..uC      Cu..uC      Cu..uC   ,,,
+,,,
+,,,
+,,,
+,,,
+,,,
+,,,
+,,,
+Cu,,uC                  Cu,,uC   ,,,
+vu,,uv                  uv,,uv   ,,,
+vdk bv                  vdk bv   ,,,
+vu..uv                  vu..uv   ,,,
+vu..uv                  vu..uv   dkb
+vu..uv                  vu..uv   ,,,
+Cu..uC                  Cu..uC   C C
+</pre>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page244" id=
+"page244"></a>{244}</span>
+<p>THE FIFT FIGURE</p>
+<pre>
+A ) ,,,, C) ,,,, C) ,,,, C),,,,C),,,,))v) vCvC),,,,C) ,,,, C A
+  u ,,,, uu ,,,, uu ,,,, uu,,,,uu,,,,uvvvvvvvvu,,,,uu ,,,, u
+  u ,,,, uu  dkb uu  dkb uu dkbuu dkbuvvvvvvvvu dkbuu ,,,, u
+  u  dkb uu .... uu .... uu....uu....u)vv vvvCu....uu  dkb u  A
+A u ,,,, uu .... uu .... uu....uu....uvvvvvvvvu....uu ,,,, u
+  u ,,,, uu .... uu .... uu....uu....uvvvvvvvvu....uu ,,,, u A
+  ) ,,,, C) .... C) .... C)....C)....C)v) vCvC)....)) ,,,, C
+A ) uuuC                                            )  uuu C
+  ,,,,....                                          ....,,,, A
+  ,,,,....    ....                                  ....,,,,
+  ,,dkb...    dHb                                    ..dkb,,
+A ,,,,....    ....                                  ....,,,,
+  ,,,,....                                          ....,,,, A
+  ) n n nC                                          ) n n nC
+A ) u u uC                                          ) u u uC
+  ,,,,....                                          ....,,,,
+  ,,,,....                  ...III..                ....,,,, A
+  ,, dkb..                  .. mm ..                .. dkb,,
+A ,,,,....                  .. tGs..                ....,,,,
+  ,,,,....                  ........                ....,,,,
+  ) n n nC                                          ) n n nC A
+  ) u u uC               ),,,,C),,,,C               ) u u uC
+A ,,,,....               u,,,,uu,,,,u               ....,,,,
+  ,,,,....               u,,,,uu,,,,u               ....,,,, A
+  ,, dkb..               u dkbuu dkbu               .. dkb,,
+  ,,,,....               u,,,,uu,,,,u               ....,,,,
+  ,,,,....               u,,,,uu,,,,u               ....,,,,
+A ) n n nC               ),,,,C),,,,C               ) n n nC
+</pre>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page245" id=
+"page245"></a>{245}</span>
+<pre>
+A ) u u uC                                          ) u u uC A
+  ,,,,....                                          ....,,,,
+  ,,,,....                                          ....,,,,
+  ,, dkb..                                          .. dkb,,
+A ,,,,....                                          ....,,,, A
+  ,,,,....                                          ....,,,,
+  ) n n nC                                          ) n n nC
+  ) u u uC                                          ) u u uC
+A ,,,,....                                          ....,,,, A
+  ,,,,....                                  ....    ....,,,,
+  ,, dkb..                                  d Hb    .. dkb,,
+  ,,,,....                                  ....    .. dkb,,
+A ,,,,....                                          ....,,,, A
+  ) n n nC                                          ) n n nC
+  ) ,,,, C)....C ) r) rC rC )....C)....C)....C)....C) ,,,, C
+  u ,,,, uu....urrrrrrrrrrrru....uu....uu....uu....uu ,,,, C
+A u ,,,, uu....urr dkb dkb ru....uu....uu....uu....uu ,,,, u A
+  u  dkb uu dkbu rrrrrrrrrrru dkbnu dkbuu dkbuu dkbuu  dkb u
+  u ,,,, uu,,,,urr dkb dkb ru,,,,uu,,,,uu,,,,uu,,,,uu ,,,, u
+  u ,,,, uu,,,,u rrrrrrrrrrru,,,,uu,,,,uu,,,,uu,,,,uu ,,,, u
+A ) ,,,, C),,,,C ) r) rC rC ),,,,u),,,,C),,,,C),,,,C) ,,,, C A
+
+  mmmm mmmm                                        mmmm mmmm
+  mmmm mmmm                                        mmmm mmmm
+  mmmm mmmm                                        mmmm mmmm
+  mmmtksmmm                                        mmmtksmmm
+  mmmm mmmm                                        mmmm mmmm
+  mmmm mmmm                                        mmmm mmmm
+  mmmm mmmm                                        mmmm mmmm
+</pre>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page246" id=
+"page246"></a>{246}</span>
+<pre>
+      A      A      A       A     A
+mmmmmmmm CvC)u, ,uC)u, ,uC)u, ,uC)u,,uC)u,
+mmmmmmmm vvvru, ,urru, ,urru, ,urru,,urru,,
+mmmmmmmm vvvrudkburrudkburrd k brrdk brrudk
+mmmtksmmmvvvru. .urru. .urru. .urru..urru..
+mmmmmmmm vvvru. .ruur. .urru. .urru..urru..
+mmmmmmmm vvv)u. .uC)u. .uC)u. .uC)u..uCCu .
+mmmmmmmm vvv),,,,,C
+         dkbr,,,...r       ....        .lll
+         vvvr,dkb..r       dHb         . .m
+         vvvr,,,...r       ....        ...t
+         vvvr,,,...r                   ....
+         vvv),,,...C
+         vvv),,,...C
+         vvvr,,,...r      )u, ,uC      )u,,
+         )vCr,dkb .r      ru. ,ur      ru,,
+            r,,,...r      rudkbur      ru,d
+            r,,,...r      ru. .ur      ru..
+            r,,,...r      ru. .ur      ru..
+            ),,,...C      )u. .uC      )u.
+            ),,,...C
+            r,,,...r
+            r,dkb..r
+            r,,,...r
+            r,,,...r
+            ),,,...C
+            ),,,...C
+            r,,,...r      )u. .uC
+            r,dkb..r      ru, ,ur
+            r,,,...r      rudkbur
+            r,,,...r      ru. .ur
+            ),,, ..C      ru. .ur
+            ),,,...C      )u. .uC
+            r,,,...r      )u. .uC
+            r,,dkb.r
+            r,,,...r
+            r,,,...r
+            ),,, ..C
+            ),,,,,,C
+            r,,,,,,r
+            r, dkb,r
+            r,,,,,,r
+            r,,,,,,r
+            ),,,,,,C
+</pre>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page247" id=
+"page247"></a>{247}</span>
+<pre>
+   A     A       A     A      A
+,uC)u, ,uC)u, ,uC)u, ,uC)u, ,uC)v) mmmmmmmm
+,urru, ,urru, ,urru, ,urru, ,urvvv mmmmmmmm
+b,rr,dkb,rr,dkb,rr,dkb,rr dkb rvvv mmmmmmmm
+.urru. .urru. .urru. .urru. .urvvvmmmtkfmmm
+.urru. .urru. .urru. .urru. .urvvv mmmmmmmm
+.uC)u. .uC)u. .uC)u. .uCCu. .u)vvv mmmmmmmm
+                        )...,,Cvvv mmmmmmmm
+.ll..       ....        r...,,,rdkb
+.m.         dHb         r.dkb, rvvv
+Gs..        ....        r...,,,rvvv
+....                    r...,,,rvvv
+                        )... ,,Cvvv
+,uC       )u. .uC       )... ,,Cvvv
+,ur       ru, ,ur       r...,,,rvvv
+kb,r      r,dkb,r       r.dkb, rC )
+,ur       ru. .ur       r...,,,r
+,ur       ru. .ur       r...,,,r
+,uC       )u. .u)       )... ,,C
+                        )... ,,C
+                        r...,,,r
+                        r.dkb, r
+                        r...,,,r
+                        r...,,,r
+                        )...,,,C
+                        )...,,,C
+          )u, ,uC       r...,, r
+          ru, ,ur       r.dkb, r
+          r,dkb,r       r...,,,r
+          ru. .ur       r...,,,r
+          ru. .ur       )... ,,C
+          )u. .uC       )... ,,C
+                        r...,,,r
+                        r.dkb, r
+                        r...,,,r
+                        r...,,,r
+                        )... ,,C
+                        ),,, ,,C
+                        r,,,,,,r
+                        r,dkb, r
+                        r,,,,,,r
+                        r,,,,,,r
+                        ),,, ,,C
+</pre>
+<hr class="full" />
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page252" id=
+"page252"></a>{252}</span>
+<h2><a name="book-prince" id="book-prince">NICHOLAS
+MACHIAVEL'S</a></h2>
+<h1>PRINCE</h1>
+<h3>TRANSLATED OUT OF ITALIAN INTO ENGLISH BY</h3>
+<h2>E.D.</h2>
+<h3>WITH SOME ANIMADVERSIONS NOTING AND TAXING HIS ERRORS</h3>
+<h3>1640</h3>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page253" id=
+"page253"></a>{253}</span>
+<p>TO THE MOST NOBLE AND ILLUSTRIOUS, JAMES Duke of Lenox, Earle of
+March, Baron of Setrington, Darnly, Terbanten, and Methuen, Lord
+Great Chamberlain and Admiral of Scotland, Knight of the most Noble
+Order of the Garter, and one of his Majesties most honourable Privy
+Counsel in both kingdomes.</p>
+<p><img width="10%" src="images/image-p.png" alt="P" /> oysons are
+not all of that malignant and noxious quality, that as destructives
+of Nature, they are utterly to be abhord; but we find many, nay
+most of them have their medicinal uses. This book carries its
+poyson and malice in it; yet mee thinks the judicious peruser may
+honestly make use of it in the actions of his life, with advantage.
+The Lamprey, they say, hath a venemous string runs all along the
+back of it; take that out, and it is serv'd in for a choyce dish to
+dainty palates; Epictetus the Philosopher, sayes, Every thing hath
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page254" id=
+"page254"></a>{254}</span> two handles, as the fire brand, it may
+be taken up at one end in the bare hand without hurt: the other
+being laid hold on, will cleave to the very flesh, and the smart of
+it will pierce even to the heart. Sin hath the condition of the
+fiery end; the touch of it is wounding with griefe unto the soule:
+nay it is worse; one sin goes not alone but hath many consequences.
+Your Grace may find the truth of this in your perusal of this
+Author: your judgement shall easily direct you in finding out the
+good uses of him: I have pointed at his chiefest errors with my
+best endeavors, and have devoted them to your Graces service: which
+if you shall accept and protect, I shall remain</p>
+<p>Your Graces humble and devoted servant,</p>
+<p>EDWARD DACRES.</p>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page255" id=
+"page255"></a>{255}</span>
+<h2>THE EPISTLE TO THE READER.</h2>
+<p><img width="10%" src="images/image-q.png" alt="Q" /> uestionless
+some men will blame me for making this Author speak in our vulgar
+tongue. For his Maximes and Tenents are condemnd of all, as
+pernicious to all Christian States, and hurtfull to all humane
+Societies. Herein I shall answer for my self with the Com&oelig;dian,
+<i>Placere studeo bonis quam plurimis, et minim&eacute; multos
+l&aelig;dere</i>: I endeavor to give content to the most I can of
+those that are well disposed, and no scandal to any. I grant, I
+find him blamed and condemned: I do no less my self. Reader, either
+do thou read him without a prejudicate opinion, and out of thy own
+judgement taxe his errors; or at least, if thou canst stoop so low,
+make use of my pains to help thee; I will promise thee this reward
+for thy labor: if thou consider well the actions of the world, thou
+shalt find him much practised by those that condemn him; who
+willingly would walk as theeves do with close lanternes in the
+night, that they being undescried, and yet seeing all, might
+surprise the unwary in the dark. Surely this book will infect no
+man: out of the wicked treasure of a mans own wicked heart, he
+drawes his malice and mischief. From the same flower the Bee sucks
+honey, from whence the Spider hath his poyson. And he that means
+well, shall be here warnd, where the deceitfull man learnes to set
+his snares. A judge who hath often used to examine theeves, becomes
+the more expert to sift out their tricks. If mischief come
+hereupon, blame not me, nor blame my Author: lay the saddle on the
+right horse: but <i>Hony soit qui mal y pense</i>: let shame light
+on him that hatcht the mischief.</p>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page256" id=
+"page256"></a>{256}</span>
+<h1>THE PRINCE</h1>
+<h2>NICHOLAS MACHIAVELLI,</h2>
+<h3>to the Magnificent LAURENCE sonne to PETER OF MEDICIS
+health.</h3>
+<p><img width="10%" src="images/image-t.png" alt="T" /> hey that
+desire to ingratiate themselves with a Prince, commonly use to
+offer themselves to his view, with things of that nature as such
+persons take most pleasure and delight in: whereupon we see they
+are many times presented with Horses and Armes, cloth of gold,
+pretious stones, and such like ornaments, worthy of their
+greatness. Having then a mind to offer up my self to your
+Magnificence, with some testimony of my service to you, I found
+nothing in my whole inventory, that I think better of, or more
+esteeme, than the knowlege of great mens actions, which I have
+learned by a long experience of modern affairs, and a continual
+reading of those of the ancients. Which, now that I have with great
+diligence long workt it out, and throughly sifted, I commend to
+your Magnificence. And, however I may well think this work unworthy
+of your view; yet such is your humanity, that I doubt not but it
+shall find acceptance, considering, that for my part I am not able
+to tender a greater gift, than to present you with the means,
+whereby in a very short time you may be able to understand all
+that, which I, in the space of many years, and with many
+sufferances and dangers, have made proof and gaind the knowledge
+of. And this work I have not set forth either with elegancy of
+discourse or stile, nor with any other ornament whereby to
+captivate the reader, as others use, because I would not have it
+gain its esteem from elsewhere than from the truth of the matter,
+and the gravity of the subject. Nor can this <span class=
+"pagenum"><a name="page257" id="page257"></a>{257}</span> be
+thought presumption, if a man of humble and low condition venture
+to dilate and discourse upon the governments of Princes; for even
+as they that with their pensils designe out countreys, get
+themselves into the plains below to consider the nature of the
+mountains, and other high places above; and again to consider the
+plains below, they get up to the tops of the mountains; in like
+manner to understand the nature of the people, it is fit to be a
+Prince; and to know well the dispositions of Princes, sutes best
+with the understanding of a subject. Your Magnificence then may be
+pleased, to receive this small present, with the same mind that I
+send it; which if you shall throughly peruse and consider, you
+shall perceive therein that I exceedingly wish, that you may attain
+to that greatness, which your own fortune, and your excellent
+endowments promise you: and if your Magnificence from the very
+point of your Highness shall sometime cast your eyes upon these
+inferior places, you shall see how undeservedly I undergoe an
+extream and continual despight of Fortune.</p>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page259" id=
+"page259"></a>{259}</span>
+<h2>THE TABLE OF THE CHAPTERS</h2>
+<p><a href="#prince-1">CHAP. 1.</a> How many sorts of
+Principalities there are, and how many wayes they are attained
+to</p>
+<p><a href="#prince-2">CHAP. 2.</a> Of hereditary
+Principalities</p>
+<p><a href="#prince-3">CHAP. 3.</a> Of mixt Principalities</p>
+<p><a href="#prince-4">CHAP. 4.</a> Wherefore Darius his Kingdome,
+taken by Alexander, rebelled not against his successors after
+Alexanders death</p>
+<p><a href="#prince-5">CHAP. 5.</a> In what manner Cities and
+Principalities are to be governed, which before they were
+conquered, lived under their own laws</p>
+<p><a href="#prince-6">CHAP. 6.</a> Of new Principalities that are
+conquered by ones own armes and valor</p>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page260" id=
+"page260"></a>{260}</span>
+<p><a href="#prince-7">CHAP. 7.</a> Of new Principalities gotten by
+fortune and other mens forces</p>
+<p><a href="#prince-8">CHAP. 8.</a> Concerning those who by wicked
+means have attaind to a Principality</p>
+<p><a href="#prince-9">CHAP. 9.</a> Of the Civil Principality</p>
+<p><a href="#prince-10">CHAP. 10.</a> In what manner the forces of
+all Principalities ought to be measured</p>
+<p><a href="#prince-11">CHAP. 11</a>. Concerning Ecclesiastical
+Principalities</p>
+<p><a href="#prince-12">CHAP. 12.</a> How many sorts of Military
+discipline there be; and touching mercenary soldiers</p>
+<p><a href="#prince-13">CHAP. 13.</a> Of Auxiliary Soldiers, mixt
+and natives</p>
+<p><a href="#prince-14">CHAP. 14.</a> What belongs to the Prince
+touching military discipline</p>
+<p><a href="#prince-15">CHAP. 15.</a> Of those things in respect
+whereof men, and especially Princes are prais'd or disprais'd</p>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page261" id=
+"page261"></a>{261}</span>
+<p><a href="#prince-16">CHAP. 16.</a> Of Liberality and
+Miserableness</p>
+<p><a href="#prince-17">CHAP. 17.</a> Of Cruelty and Clemency, and
+whether it is better to be belov'd or feared</p>
+<p><a href="#prince-18">CHAP. 18.</a> In what manner Princes ought
+to keep their word</p>
+<p><a href="#prince-19">CHAP. 19.</a> That Princes should take a
+care not to incur contempt or hatred</p>
+<p><a href="#prince-20">CHAP. 20.</a> Whether the Citadels and many
+other things, which Princes make use of, are profitable or
+dammageable</p>
+<p><a href="#prince-21">CHAP. 21.</a> How a Prince ought to behave
+himself to gain reputation</p>
+<p><a href="#prince-22">CHAP. 22.</a> Touching Princes
+Secretaries</p>
+<p><a href="#prince-23">CHAP. 23.</a> That Flatterers are to be
+avoyded</p>
+<p><a href="#prince-24">CHAP. 24.</a> Wherefore the Princes of
+Italy have lost their States</p>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page262" id=
+"page262"></a>{262}</span>
+<p><a href="#prince-25">CHAP. 25.</a> How great power Fortune hath
+in humane affairs, and what means there is to resist it</p>
+<p><a href="#prince-26">CHAP. 26.</a> An exhortation to free Italy
+from the Barbarions</p>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page263" id=
+"page263"></a>{263}</span>
+<h1>THE PRINCE</h1>
+<h3>Written by</h3>
+<h2>NICHOLAS MACHIAVELLI, Secretary and Citizen of Florence.</h2>
+<h2><a name="prince-1" id="prince-1">CHAP. I</a></h2>
+<h3>How many sorts of Principalities there are, and how many wayes
+they are attained to.</h3>
+<p><img width="10%" src="images/image-a.png" alt="A" /> ll States,
+all Dominions that have had, or now have rule over men, have been
+and are, either Republiques or Principalities. Principalities are
+either hereditary, whereof they of the blood of the Lord thereof
+have long time been Princes; or else they are new; and those that
+are new, are either all new, as was the Dutchy of Millan to Francis
+Sforce; or are as members adjoyned to the hereditary State of the
+Prince that gains it; as the Kingdom of Naples is to the King of
+Spain. These Dominions so gotten, are accustomed either to live
+under a Prince, or to enjoy their liberty; and are made conquest
+of, either with others forces, or ones own, either by fortune, or
+by valor.</p>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page264" id=
+"page264"></a>{264}</span>
+<h2><a name="prince-2" id="prince-2">CHAP. II</a></h2>
+<h3>Of Hereditary Principalities.</h3>
+<p><img width="10%" src="images/image-i.png" alt="I" /> will not
+here discourse of Republiques, because I have other where treated
+of them at large: I will apply my self only to a Principality, and
+proceed, while I weave this web, by arguing thereupon, how these
+Principallities can be governed and maintained. I say then that in
+States of inheritance, and accustomed to the blood of their
+Princes, there are far fewer difficulties to keep them, than in the
+new: for it suffices only not to transgress the course his
+Ancestors took, and so afterward to temporise with those accidents
+that can happen; that if such a Prince be but of ordinary industry,
+he shall allwaies be able to maintain himself in his State, unless
+by some extraordinary or excessive power he be deprived thereof;
+and when he had lost it, upon the least sinister chance that
+befalls the usurper, he recovers it again. We have in Italy the
+Duke of Ferrara for example hereof, who was of ability to resist
+the Venetians, in the year 84, and to withstand Pope Julius in the
+tenth for no other reason, than because he had of old continued in
+that rule; for the natural Prince hath fewer occasions, and less
+heed to give offence, whereupon of necessity he must be more
+beloved; and unless it be that some extravagant vices of his bring
+him into hatred, it is agreeable to reason, that naturally he
+should be well beloved by his own subjects: and in the antiquity
+and continuation of the Dominion, the remembrances and occasions of
+innovations are quite extinguished: for evermore one change leaves
+a kind of breach or dent, to fasten the building of another.</p>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page265" id=
+"page265"></a>{265}</span>
+<h2><a name="prince-3" id="prince-3">CHAP. III</a></h2>
+<h3>Of mixt Principalities.</h3>
+<p><img width="10%" src="images/image-b.png" alt="B" /> ut the
+difficulties consist in the new Principality; and first, if it be
+not all new, but as a member, so that it may be termed altogether
+as mixt; and the variations thereof proceed in the first place from
+a natural difficulty, which we commonly finde in all new
+Principalities; for men do willingly change their Lord, beleeving
+to better their condition; and this beliefe causes them to take
+armes against him that rules over them, whereby they deceive
+themselves, because they find after by experience, they have made
+it worse: which depends upon another natural and ordinary
+necessity, forcing him alwaies to offend those, whose Prince he
+newly becomes, as well by his soldiers he is put to entertain upon
+them as by many other injuries, which a new conquest draws along
+with it; in such manner as thou findest all those thine enemies,
+whom thou hast endammaged in the seizing of that Principality, and
+afterwards canst not keep them thy friends that have seated thee in
+it, for not being able to satisfie them according to their
+expectations, nor put in practice strong remedies against them,
+being obliged to them. For however one be very well provided with
+strong armies, yet hath he alwaies need of the favor of the
+inhabitants in the Countrey, to enter thereinto. For these reasons,
+Lewis the twelfth, King of France, suddenly took Milan, and as soon
+lost it; and the first time Lodwick his own forces served well
+enough to wrest it out of his hands; for those people that had
+opened him the gates, finding themselves deceived of their opinion,
+and of that future good which they had promised themselves, could
+not endure the distastes the new Prince gave them. True it is, that
+Countreys that have rebelled again the second time, being
+recovered, are harder lost; for their Lord, taking occasion from
+their rebellion, is less respective of <span class=
+"pagenum"><a name="page266" id="page266"></a>{266}</span> persons,
+but cares only to secure himself, by punishing the delinquents, to
+clear all suspicions, and to provide for himself where he thinks he
+is weakest: so that if to make France lose Milan the first time, it
+was enough for Duke Lodwick to make some small stir only upon the
+confines; yet afterwards, before they could make him lose it the
+second time, they had need of the whole world together against him,
+and that all his armies should be wasted and driven out of Italy;
+which proceeded from the forenamed causes: however though both the
+first and second time it was taken from him. The generall causes of
+the first we have treated of; it remains now that we see those of
+the second; and set down the remedies that he had, or any one else
+can have that should chance to be in those termes he was, whereby
+he might be able to maintain himself better in his conquest than
+the King of France did. I say therefore, that these States which by
+Conquest are annexed to the ancient states of their conqueror, are
+either of the same province and the same language, or otherwise;
+and when they are, it is very easy to hold them, especially when
+they are not used to live free; and to enjoy them securely, it is
+enough to have extinguished the Princes line who ruled over them:
+For in other matters, allowing them their ancient conditions, and
+there being not much difference of manners betwixt them, men
+ordinarily live quiet enough; as we have seen that Burgundy did,
+Britany, Gascony, and Normandy, which so long time continued with
+France: for however there be some difference of language between
+them, yet can they easily comport one with another; and whosoever
+makes the conquest of them, meaning to hold them, must have two
+regards; the first, that the race of their former Prince be quite
+extinguished; the other, that he change nothing, neither in their
+lawes nor taxes, so that in a very short time they become one
+entire body with their ancient Principality. But when any States
+are gaind in a Province disagreeing in language, manners, and
+orders, here are the difficulties, and here is there need of good
+fortune, and great industry to maintain them; and it would be one
+of the best <span class="pagenum"><a name="page267" id=
+"page267"></a>{267}</span> and livelyest remedies, for the
+Conqueror to goe in person and dwell there; this would make the
+possession hereof more secure and durable; as the Turk hath done in
+Greece, who among all the other courses taken by him for to hold
+that State, had he not gone thither himself in person to dwell, it
+had never been possible for him to have kept it: for abiding there,
+he sees the disorders growing in their beginnings, and forthwith
+can remedy them; whereas being not there present, they are heard of
+when they are grown to some height, and then is there no help for
+them. Moreover, the Province is not pillaged by the officers thou
+sendest thither: the subjects are much satisfied of having recourse
+to the Prince near at hand, whereupon have they more reason to love
+him, if they mean to be good; and intending to do otherwise, to
+fear him: and forrein Princes will be well aware how they invade
+that State; insomuch, that making his abode there, he can very
+hardly lose it. Another remedy, which is also a better, is to send
+Colonies into one or two places, which may be as it were the keys
+of that State; for it is necessary either to do this, or to
+maintain there many horse and foot. In these colonies the Prince
+makes no great expence, and either without his charge, or at a very
+small rate, he may both send and maintain them; and gives offence
+only to them from whom he takes their fields and houses, to bestow
+them on those new inhabitants who are but a very small part of that
+State; and those that he offends, remaining dispersed and poore,
+can never hurt him: and all the rest on one part, have no offence
+given them, and therefore a small matter keeps them in quiet: on
+the other side, they are wary not to erre, for fear it befalls not
+them, as it did those that were dispoild. I conclude then, that
+those colonies that are not chargeable, are the more trusty, give
+the less offence; and they that are offended, being but poor and
+scattered, can do but little harme, as I have said; for it is to be
+noted, that men must either be dallyed and flattered withall, or
+else be quite crusht; for they revenge themselves of small
+dammages; but of great ones they are not able; so that when wrong
+is done <span class="pagenum"><a name="page268" id=
+"page268"></a>{268}</span> to any man, it ought so to be done, that
+it need fear no return of revenge again. But in lieu of Colonies,
+by maintaining soldiers there, the expence is great; for the whole
+revenues of that State are to be spent in the keeping of it; so the
+conquest proves but a loss to him that hath got it, and endammages
+him rather; for it hurts that whole State to remove the army from
+place to place, of which annoyance every one hath a feeling, and so
+becomes enemie to thee; as they are enemies, I wis, who are
+outraged by thee in their own houses, whensoever they are able to
+do thee mischief. Every way then is this guard unprofitable.
+Besides, he that is in a different Province, (as it is said) should
+make himself Head and defender of his less powerfull neighbors, and
+devise alwaies to weaken those that are more mighty therein, and
+take care that upon no chance there enter not any foreiner as
+mighty as himself; for it will alwaies come to pass, that they
+shall be brought in by those that are discontented, either upon
+ambition, or fear; as the Etolians brought the Romans into Greece;
+and they were brought into every countrey they came, by the
+Natives; and the course of the matter is, that so soon as a
+powerfull Stranger enters a countrey, all those that are the less
+powerfull there, cleave to him, provoked by an envy they beare him
+that is more mighty than they; so that for these of the weaker
+sort, he may easily gain them without any pains: for presently all
+of them together very willingly make one lump with that he hath
+gotten: He hath only to beware that these increase not their
+strengths, nor their authorities, and so he shall easily be able by
+his own forces, and their assistances, to take down those that are
+mighty, and remain himself absolute arbitre of that Countrey. And
+he that playes not well this part, shall quickly lose what he hath
+gotten; and while he holds it, shall find therein a great many
+troubles and vexations. The Romans in the Provinces they seiz'd on,
+observed well these points, sent colonies thither, entertained the
+weaker sort, without augmenting any thing their power, abated the
+forces of those that were mighty, and permitted not any powerfull
+forreiner to gain too much <span class="pagenum"><a name="page269"
+id="page269"></a>{269}</span> reputation there. And I will content
+my self only with the countrey of Greece for example hereof. The
+Achayans and Etolians were entertained by them, the Macedons
+kingdome was brought low, Antiochus was driven thence, nor ever did
+the Achayans or Etolians deserts prevail so far for them, that they
+would ever promise to enlarge their State, nor the perswasions of
+Philip induce them ever to be his friends, without bringing him
+lower; nor yet could Antiochus his power make them ever consent
+that he should hold any State in that countrey: for the Romans did
+in these cases that which all judicious Princes ought to do, who
+are not only to have regard unto all present mischiefs, but also to
+the future, and to provide for those with all industry; for by
+taking order for those when they are afarre off, it is easie to
+prevent them; but by delaying till they come near hand to thee, the
+remedy comes too late; for this malignity is grown incurable: and
+it befalls this, as the physicians say of the hectick feaver, that
+in the beginning it is easily cur'd, but hardly known; but in the
+course of time, not having been known in the beginning, nor cured,
+it becomes easie to know, but hard to cure. Even so falls it out in
+matters of State; for by knowing it aloof off (which is given only
+to a wise man to do) the mischiefs that then spring up, are quickly
+helped; but when, for not having been perceived, they are suffered
+to increase, so that every one sees them, there is then no cure for
+them: therefore the Romans, seeing these inconvenients afar off,
+alwaies prevented them, and never sufferd them to follow; for to
+escape a war, because they knew that a war is not undertaken, but
+deferred for anothers advantage; therefore would they rather make a
+war with Philip and Antiochus in Greece, to the end it should not
+afterwards be made with them in Italy, though for that time they
+were able to avoid both the one and the other, which they thought
+not good to do: nor did they approve of that saying that is
+ordinarily in the mouthes of the Sages of our dayes, <i>to enjoy
+the benefits of the present time</i>; but that rather, to take the
+benefit of their valor and wisdome; for time drives forward
+everything, and may bring <span class="pagenum"><a name="page270"
+id="page270"></a>{270}</span> with it as well good as evil, and
+evil as good. But let us return to France, and examine if any of
+the things prescribed have been done by them: and we will speak of
+Lewis, and not of Charles, as of whom by reason of the long
+possession he held in Italy we better knew the wayes he went: and
+you shall see he did the clean contrary to what should have been
+done by him that would maintain a State of different Language and
+conditions. King Lewis was brought into Italy by the Venetians
+ambition, who would have gotten for their shares half the State of
+Lombardy: I will not blame his comming, or the course he took,
+because he had a mind to begin to set a foot in Italy; but having
+not any friends in the country, all gates being barred against him,
+by reason of King Charles his carriage there, he was constrained to
+joyn friendship with those he could; and this consideration well
+taken, would have proved lucky to him, when in the rest of his
+courses he had not committed any error. The King then having
+conquered Lombardy, recovered presently all that reputation that
+Charles had lost him; Genua yeelded to him, the Florentines became
+friends with him; the Marquess of Mantua, the Duke of Ferrara, the
+Bentivolti, the Lady of Furli, the Lord of Faenza, Pesaro Rimino,
+Camerino, and Piombino, the Lucheses, Pisans and Sienses, every one
+came and offered him friendship: then might the Venetians consider
+the rashness of the course they had taken, who, only to get into
+their hands two Townes in Lombardy, made the King Lord of two
+thirds in Italy. Let any man now consider with how small difficulty
+could the King have maintained his reputation in Italy, if he had
+followed these aforenamed rules, and secured and defended those his
+friends, who because their number was great, and they weak and
+fearful, some of the Church, and others of the Venetians were
+alwaies forced to hold with him, and by their means he might easily
+have been able to secure himself against those that were mightiest:
+but he was no sooner got into Milan, than he took a quite wrong
+course, by giving ayd to Pope Alexander, to seize upon Romania, and
+perceiv'd not that by this resolution he weakned himself, ruining
+his own <span class="pagenum"><a name="page271" id=
+"page271"></a>{271}</span> friends, and those had cast themselves
+into his bosom, making the Church puissant, by adding to their
+Spiritual power, they gaind their authority, and so much temporal
+estate. And having once got out of the way, he was constrained to
+go on forward; insomuch as to stop Alexanders ambition, and that he
+should not become Lord of all Tuscany, of force he was to come into
+Italy: and this sufficed him not, to have made the Church mighty,
+and taken away his own friends; but for the desire he had to get
+the Kingdome of Naples, he divided it with the King of Spain: and
+where before he was the sole arbitre of Italy, he brought in a
+competitor, to the end that all the ambitious persons of that
+country, and all that were ill affected to him, might have
+otherwhere to make their recourse: and whereas he might have left
+in that Kingdome some Vice-King of his own, he took him from
+thence, to place another there, that might afterward chace him
+thence. It is a thing indeed very natural and ordinary, to desire
+to be of the getting hand: and alwaies when men undertake it, if
+they can effect it, they shall be prais'd for it, or at least not
+blam'd: but when they are not able, and yet will undertake it, here
+lies the blame, here is the error committed. If France then was
+able with her own power to assail the Kingdome of Naples, she might
+well have done it; but not being able, she should not have divided
+it: and if the division she made of Lombardy with the Venetians,
+deserv'd some excuse, thereby to set one foot in Italy; yet this
+merits blame, for not being excused by that necessity. Lewis then
+committed these five faults; extinguisht the feebler ones,
+augmented the State of another that was already powerful in Italy,
+brought thereinto a very puissant forreiner, came not thither
+himself to dwell there, nor planted any colonies there: which
+faults while he liv'd, he could not but be the worse for; yet all
+could not have gone so ill, had he not committed the sixt, to take
+from the Venetians their State; for if he had not enlarg'd the
+Churches territories nor brought the Spaniard into Italy, it had
+bin necessary to take them lower; but having first taken those
+other courses, he should never have <span class="pagenum"><a name=
+"page272" id="page272"></a>{272}</span> given way to their
+destruction; for while they had been strong, they would alwaies
+have kept the others off from venturing on the conquest of
+Lombardy. For the Venetians would never have given their consents
+thereto, unless they should have been made Lords of it themselves;
+and the others would never have taken it from France, to give it
+them: and then they would never have dar'd to go and set upon them
+both together. And if any one should say, that King Lewis yeelded
+Romania to Alexander, and the Kingdome of Naples to Spain, to avoid
+a war; I answer with the reasons above alledged, that one should
+never suffer any disorder to follow, for avoiding of a war; for
+that war is not sav'd, but put off to thy disadvantage. And if any
+others argue, that the King had given his word to the Pope, to do
+that exploit for him, for dissolving of his marriage, and for
+giving the Cardinals Cap to him of Roan; I answer with that which
+hereafter I shall say touching Princes words, how they ought to be
+kept. King Lewis then lost Lombardy, for not having observ'd some
+of those termes which others us'd, who have possessed themselves of
+countries, and desir'd to keep them. Nor is this any strange thing,
+but very ordinary and reasonable: and to this purpose I spake at
+Nantes with that French Cardinal, when Valentine (for so ordinarily
+was C&aelig;sar Borgia Pope Alexanders son call'd) made himself
+master of Romania; for when the Cardinal said to me, that the
+Italians understood not the feats of war; I answered, the Frenchmen
+understood not matters of State: for had they been well vers'd
+therein, they would never have suffer'd the Church to have grown to
+that greatness. And by experience we have seen it, that the power
+hereof in Italy, and that of Spain also, was caused by France, and
+their own ruine proceeded from themselves. From whence a general
+rule may be taken, which never, or very seldom fails, <i>That he
+that gives the means to another to become powerful, ruines
+himself</i>; for that power is caus'd by him either with his
+industry, or with his force; and as well the one as the other of
+these two is suspected by him that is grown puissant.</p>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page273" id=
+"page273"></a>{273}</span>
+<h2><a name="prince-4" id="prince-4">CHAP. IV</a></h2>
+<h3>Wherefore Darius his Kingdome taken by Alexander, rebelled not
+against Alexanders Successors after his death.</h3>
+<p><img width="10%" src="images/image-t.png" alt="T" /> he
+difficulties being consider'd, which a man hath in the maintaining
+of a State new gotten, some might marvaile how it came to pass,
+that Alexander the great subdued all Asia in a few years; and
+having hardly possessed himself of it, died; whereupon it seemed
+probable that all that State should have rebelled; nevertheless his
+Successors kept the possession of it, nor found they other
+difficulty in holding it, than what arose among themselves through
+their own ambition. I answer, that all the Principalities whereof
+we have memory left us, have been governed in two several manners;
+either by a Prince, and all the rest Vassals, who as ministers by
+his favor and allowance, do help to govern that Kingdom; or by a
+Prince and by Barons, who not by their Princes favor, but by the
+antiquity of blood hold that degree. And these kinds of Barons have
+both states of their own, and Vassals who acknowledge them for
+their Lords; and bare them a true natural affection. Those States
+that are govern'd by a Prince and by Vassals, have their Prince
+ruling over them with more authority; for in all his countrey,
+there is none acknowledged for superior, but himself: and if they
+yeeld obedience to any one else, it is but as to his minister and
+officer, nor beare they him any particular good will. The examples
+of these two different Governments now in our dayes, are, the Turk,
+and the King of France. The Turks whole Monarchy is govern'd by one
+Lord, and the rest are all his Vassals; and dividing his whole
+Kingdom into divers Sangiacques or Governments, he sends several
+thither, and those he chops and changes, as he pleases. But the
+King <span class="pagenum"><a name="page274" id=
+"page274"></a>{274}</span> of France is seated in the midst of a
+multitude of Lords, who of old have been acknowledg'd for such by
+their subjects, and being belov'd by them, enjoy their
+preheminencies; nor can the King take their States from them
+without danger. He then that considers the one and the other of
+these two States, shall find difficulty in the conquest of the
+Turks State; but when once it is subdu'd, great facility to hold
+it. The reasons of these difficulties in taking of the Turks
+Kingdom from him, are, because the Invader cannot be called in by
+the Princes of that Kingdom, nor hope by the rebellion of those
+which he hath about him, to be able to facilitate his enterprize:
+which proceeds from the reasons aforesaid; for they being all his
+slaves, and oblig'd to him, can more hardly be corrupted; and put
+case they were corrupted, little profit could he get by it, they
+not being able to draw after them any people, for the reasons we
+have shewed: whereupon he that assails the Turk, must think to find
+him united; and must rather relie upon his own forces, than in the
+others disorders: but when once he is overcome and broken in the
+field, so that he cannot repair his armies, there is nothing else
+to be doubted than the Royal blood, which being once quite out,
+there is none else left to be feard, none of the others having any
+credit with the people. And as the conqueror before the victory
+could not hope in them; so after it, ought he not to fear them. The
+contrary falls out in Kingdoms governed as is that of France: for
+it is easie to be enterd by the gaining of any Baron in the
+Kingdom; for there are alwaies some malecontents to be found, and
+those that are glad of innovation. Those for the reasons alledg'd
+are able to open thee a way into that State, and to further thy
+victory, which afterwards to make good to thee, draws with it
+exceeding many difficulties, as well with those that have ayded
+thee, as those thou hast supprest. Nor is it enough for thee to
+root out the Princes race: for there remaine still those Lords who
+quickly will be the ring-leaders of new changes; and in case thou
+art not able to content these, nor extinguish them, thou losest
+that State, whensoever the occasion is offerd. Now if thou
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page275" id=
+"page275"></a>{275}</span> shalt consider what sort of government
+that of Darius was, thou shalt find it like to the Turks dominion,
+and therefore Alexander was necessitated first to defeat him
+utterly, and drive him out of the field; after which victory Darius
+being dead, that State was left secure to Alexander, for the
+reasons we treated of before: and his successors, had they
+continued in amity, might have enjoy'd it at ease: nor ever arose
+there in that Kingdome other tumults, than those they themselves
+stir'd up. But of the States that are order'd and grounded as that
+of France, it is impossible to become master at such ease: and from
+hence grew the frequent rebellions of Spain, France, and Greece
+against the Romans, by reason of the many Principalities those
+States had: whereof while the memory lasted, the Romans were
+alwayes doubtfull of the possession of them; but the memory of them
+being quite wip't out, by the power and continuance of the Empire,
+at length they enjoy'd it securely; and they also were able
+afterwards fighting one with another, each of one them to draw
+after them the greater part of those provinces, according as their
+authority had gain'd them credit therein: and that because the
+blood of their ancient Lords was quite spent, they acknowledg'd no
+other but the Romans. By the consideration then of these things, no
+man will marvaile that Alexander had so little trouble to keep
+together the State of Asia; and that others have had such great
+difficulties to maintain their conquest, as Pyrrhus, and many
+others; which proceeds not from the small or great valour of the
+conquerour, but from the difference of the subject.</p>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page276" id=
+"page276"></a>{276}</span>
+<h2><a name="prince-5" id="prince-5">CHAP. V</a></h2>
+<h3>In what manner Cities and Principalities are to be govern'd,
+which, before they were conquer'd, liv'd under their own Laws.</h3>
+<p><img width="10%" src="images/image-w.png" alt="W" /> hen those
+States that are conquered, as it is said, have been accustomed to
+live under their own Laws, and in liberty, there are three wayes
+for a man to hold them. The first is to demolish all their strong
+places; the other, personally to goe and dwell there; the third, to
+suffer them to live under their own Laws, drawing from them some
+tribute, and creating therein an Oligarchy, that may continue it in
+thy service: for that State being created by that Prince, knowes it
+cannot consist without his aid and force, who is like to doe all he
+can to maintain it; and with more facility is a City kept by meanes
+of her own Citizens, which hath been us'd before to live free, than
+by any other way of keeping. We have for example the Spartans and
+the Romans; the Spartans held Athens and Thebes, creating there an
+Oligarchy: yet they lost it. The Romans to be sure of Capua,
+Carthage, and Numantia, dismantell'd them quite, and so lost them
+not: they would have kept Greece as the Spartans had held them,
+leaving them free, and letting them enjoy their own Laws; and it
+prospered not with them: so that they were forc'd to deface many
+Cities of that province to hold it. For in truth there is not a
+surer way to keep them under, than by demolishments; and whoever
+becomes master of a City us'd to live free, and dismantells it not,
+let him look himselfe to bee ruin'd by it; for it alwayes in time
+of rebellion takes the name of liberty for refuge, and the ancient
+orders it had; which neither by length of time, nor for any favours
+afforded them, are ever forgotten; and for any thing that can be
+done, or order'd, unlesse the inhabitants be disunited <span class=
+"pagenum"><a name="page277" id="page277"></a>{277}</span> and
+dispers'd, that name is never forgotten, nor those customes: but
+presently in every chance recourse is thither made: as Pisa did
+after so many yeeres that she had been subdu'd by the Florentines.
+But when the Cities or the Provinces are accustomed to live under a
+Prince, and that whole race is quite extirpated: on one part being
+us'd to obey; on the other, not having their old Prince; they agree
+not to make one from among themselves: they know not how to live in
+liberty, in such manner that they are much slower to take armes;
+and with more facility may a Prince gaine them, and secure himselfe
+of them. But in Republiques there is more life in them, more
+violent hatred, more earnest desire of revenge; nor does the
+remembrance of the ancient liberty ever leave them, or suffer them
+to rest; so that the safest way, is, either to ruine them, or dwell
+among them.</p>
+<h2><a name="prince-6" id="prince-6">CHAP. VI</a></h2>
+<h3>Of new Principalities, that are conquer'd by ones own armes and
+valour.</h3>
+<p><img width="10%" src="images/image-l.png" alt="L" /> et no man
+marvaile, if in the discourse I shall make of new Principalities,
+both touching a Prince, and touching a State, I shall alledge very
+famous examples: for seeing men almost alwayes walk in the pathes
+beaten by others, and proceed in their actions by imitation; and
+being that others wayes cannot bee exactly follow'd, nor their
+vertues, whose patterne thou set'st before thee, attain'd unto; a
+wise man ought alwayes to tread the footsteps of the worthiest
+persons, and imitate those that have been the most excellent: to
+the end that if his vertue arrive not thereto, at least it may
+yeeld some favour thereof, and doe as good Archers use, who
+thinking the place they intend to hit, too farre distant, and
+knowing how farr the strength of their bow will carry, they lay
+their ayme a great <span class="pagenum"><a name="page278" id=
+"page278"></a>{278}</span> deale higher than the mark; not for to
+hit so high with their arrow, but to bee able with the help of so
+high an aime to reach the place they shoot at. I say, that in
+Principalities wholly new, where there is a new Prince, there is
+more and lesse difficulty in maintaining them, as the vertue of
+their Conquerour is greater or lesser. And because this successe,
+to become a Prince of a private man, presupposes either vertue, or
+fortune; mee thinks the one and other of these two things in part
+should mitigate many difficulties; however he that hath lesse stood
+upon fortune, hath maintain'd himselfe the better. Moreover it
+somewhat facilitates the matter in that the Prince is constrain'd,
+because he hath not other dominions, in person to come and dwell
+there. But to come to these who by their own vertues, and not by
+fortune, attain'd to be Princes; the excellentest of these are
+Moses, Cyrus, Romulus, Theseus, and such like; and though of Moses
+we are not to reason, he onely executing the things that were
+commanded him by God; yet merits he well to be admir'd, were it
+only for that grace that made him worthy to converse with God. But
+considering Cyrus, and the others, who either got or founded
+Kingdomes, we shall find them all admirable; and if there
+particular actions and Lawes be throughly weigh'd, they will not
+appeare much differing from those of Moyses, which he receiv'd from
+so Sovraigne an instructer. And examining their lives and actions,
+it will not appeare, that they had other help of fortune, than the
+occasion, which presented them with the matter wherein they might
+introduce what forme they then pleas'd; and without that occasion,
+the vertue of their mind had been extinguish'd; and without that
+vertue, the occasion had been offer'd in vaine. It was then
+necessary for Moses to find the people of Israel slaves in
+&AElig;gypt, and oppress'd by the &AElig;gyptians, to the end that
+they to get out of their thraldome, should bee willing to follow
+him. It was fit that Romulus should not be kept in Albia, but
+expos'd presently after his birth, that he might become King of
+Rome, and founder of that City. There was need that Cyrus should
+find the Persians discontented with the <span class=
+"pagenum"><a name="page279" id="page279"></a>{279}</span> Medes
+government, and the Medes delicate and effeminate through their
+long peace. Theseus could not make proof his vertue, had not he
+found the Athenians dispers'd. These occasions therefore made these
+men happy, and their excellent vertue made the occasion be taken
+notice of, whereby their countrey became enobled, and exceeding
+fortunate. They, who by vertuous waies, like unto these, become
+Princes, attain the Principality with difficulty, but hold it with
+much ease; and the difficulties they find in gaining the
+Principality, arise partly from the new orders and courses they are
+forc'd to bring in, to lay the foundation of their State, and work
+their own security. And it is to be consider'd, how there is not
+any thing harder to take in hand, nor doubtfuller to succeed, nor
+more dangerous to mannage, than to be the chief in bringing in new
+orders; for this Chief finds all those his enemies, that thrive
+upon the old orders; and hath but luke warme defenders of all those
+that would do well upon the new orders, which luke-warme temper
+proceeds partly from fear of the opposers who have the laws to
+their advantage; partly from the incredulity of the men who truly
+beleeve not a new thing, unless there be some certain proof given
+them thereof. Whereupon it arises, that whensoever they that are
+adversaries, take the occasion to assayle, they do it factiously;
+and these others defend but cooly, so that their whole party
+altogether runs a hazzard. Therefore it is necessary, being we
+intend throughly to discourse this part, to examine if these
+innovators stand of themselves, or if they depend upon others; that
+is, if to bring their work to effect, it be necessary they should
+intreat, or be able to constrain; in the first case they allwayes
+succeed ill, and bring nothing to pass; but when they depend of
+themselves, and are able to force, then seldom it is that they
+hazzard. Hence came it that all the prophets that were arm'd,
+prevail'd; but those that were unarm'd, were too weak: for besides
+what we have alledg'd, the nature of the people is changeable, and
+easie to be perswaded to a matter; but it is hard also to settle
+them in that perswasion. And therefore it behoves <span class=
+"pagenum"><a name="page280" id="page280"></a>{280}</span> a man to
+be so provided, that when they beleeve no longer, he may be able to
+compel them thereto by force. Moses, Cyrus, Theseus, and Romulus
+would never have been able to cause their Laws to be obey'd, had
+they been disarm'd; as in our times it befel Fryer Jerome
+Savanarola, who perished in his new constitutions, when the
+multitude began not to beleeve him; neither had he the means to
+keep them firme, that had beleev'd; not to force beleefe in them
+that had not beleev'd him. Wherefore such men as these, in their
+proceedings find great difficulty, and all their dangers are in the
+way, and these they must surmount by their vertue; but having once
+master'd them, and beginning to be honored by all, when they have
+rooted those out that envi'd their dignities, they remain powerful,
+secure, honorable, and happy. To these choice examples, I will add
+one of less remark; but it shall hold some proportion with them,
+and this shall suffice me for all others of this kind, which is
+Hiero the Siracusan. He of a private man, became Prince of
+Siracusa, nor knew he any other ayd of fortune than the occasion:
+for the Siracusans being oppress'd, made choyce of him for their
+Captain, whereupon he deserv'd to be made their Prince: and he was
+of such vertue even in his private fortune, that he who writes of
+him, sayes, he wanted nothing of reigning, but a Kingdom; this man
+extinguish'd all the old soldiery, ordaind the new; left the old
+allyances, entertained new; and as he had friendship, and soldiers
+that were his own, upon that ground he was able to build any
+edifice; so that he indured much trouble in gaining, and suffered
+but little in maintaining.</p>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page281" id=
+"page281"></a>{281}</span>
+<h2><a name="prince-7" id="prince-7">CHAP. VII</a></h2>
+<h3>Of new Principalities, gotten by fortune, and other mens
+forces.</h3>
+<p><img width="10%" src="images/image-t.png" alt="T" /> hey who by
+fortune only become Princes of private men, with small pains attain
+to it, but have much ado to maintain themselves in it; and find no
+difficulty at all in the way, because they are carried thither with
+wings: but all the difficulties arise there, after they are plac'd
+in them. And of such sort are those who have an estate given them
+for money, by the favor of some one that grants it them: as it
+befell many in Greece, in the cities of Jonia, and Hellespont;
+where divers Princes were made by Darius, as well for his own
+safety as his glory; as also them that were made Emperors; who from
+private men by corrupting the soldiers, attaind to the Empire.
+These subsist meerly upon the will, and fortune of those that have
+advanced them; which are two voluble and unsteady things; and they
+neither know how, nor are able to continue in that dignity: they
+know not how, because unless it be a man of great understanding and
+vertue, it is not probable that he who hath always liv'd a private
+life, can know how to command: neither are they able, because they
+have not any forces that can be friendly or faithful to them.
+Moreover those States that suddenly fall into a mans hands, as all
+other things in nature that spring and grow quickly, cannot well
+have taken root, nor have made their correspondencies so firm, but
+that the first storm that takes them, ruines them; in case these,
+who (as it is said) are thus on a sudden clambred up to be Princes,
+are not of that worth and vertue as to know how to prepare
+themselves to maintain that which chance hath cast into their
+bosoms, and can afterwards lay those foundations, which others have
+cast before they were Princes. For the one and <span class=
+"pagenum"><a name="page282" id="page282"></a>{282}</span> the other
+of these wayes about the attaining to be a Prince, by Vertue, or by
+Fortune, I will alledge you two examples which have been in the
+dayes of our memory. These were Francis Sforza, and C&aelig;sar
+Borgia; Francis by just means and with a great deal of vertue, of a
+private man got to be Duke of Millan; and that which with much
+pains he had gaind, he kept with small ado. On the other side
+C&aelig;esar Borgia (commonly termed Duke Valentine) got his state
+by his Fathers fortune, and with the same lost it; however that for
+his own part no pains was spar'd, nor any thing omitted, which by a
+discreet and valorus man ought to have been done, to fasten his
+roots in those Estates, which others armes or fortune had bestowed
+on him; for (as it was formerly said) he that lays not the
+foundations first, yet might be able by means of his extraordinary
+vertues to lay them afterwards, however it be with the great
+trouble of the architect, and danger of the edifice. If therefore
+we consider all the Dukes progresses, we may perceive how great
+foundations he had cast for his future power, which I judge a
+matter not superfluous to run over; because I should not well know,
+what better rules I might give to a new Prince, than the pattern of
+his actions; and however the courses he took, availd him not, yet
+was it not his fault, but it proceeded from an extraordinary and
+extream malignity of fortune. Pope Alexander the sixt, desiring to
+make the Duke his son a great man, had a great many difficulties,
+present and future: first he saw no way there was whereby he might
+be able to make him Lord of any State, that was not the Churches;
+and if he turnd to take that from the Church, he knew that the Duke
+of Milan, and the Venetians would never agree to it; for Faenza and
+Riminum were under the Venetians protection. Moreover, he saw that
+the armes of Italy, and those whereof in particular he might have
+been able to make some use, were in their hands, who ought to fear
+the Popes greatness; and therefore could not any wayes rely upon
+them: being all in the Orsins and Colonies hands, and those of
+their faction. It was necessary then, that those matters thus
+appointed by them should be disturbed, and <span class=
+"pagenum"><a name="page283" id="page283"></a>{283}</span> the
+States of Italy disordered, to be able safely to master part of
+them, which he then found easie to do, seeing the Venetians upon
+three considerations had us'd the means to bring the French men
+back again into Italy: which he not only did not withstand, but
+furthered, with a resolution of King Lewis his ancient marriage.
+The King then past into Italy with the Venetians ayd, and
+Alexanders consent; nor was he sooner arrived in Milan, than the
+Pope had soldiers from him for the service of Romania, which was
+quickly yeelded up to him upon the reputation of the Kings forces.
+The Duke then having made himself master of Romania, and beaten the
+Colonies, desiring to hold it, and proceed forward, two things
+hindered him: the one, his own soldiers, which he thought were not
+true to him; the other, the French mens good wills; that is to say,
+he feared that the Princes soldiers, whereof he had served himself,
+would fail him, and not only hinder his conquest, but take from him
+what he had gotten; and that the King also would serve him the same
+turn. He had experience of the Orsini upon an occasion, when after
+the taking of Faenza he assaulted Bolonia, to which assault he saw
+them go very cold. And touching the King, he discovered his mind,
+when having taken the Dutchy of Urbin, he invaded Tuscany; from
+which action the King made him retire; whereupon the Duke resolved
+to depend no more upon fortune, and other mens armes. And the first
+thing he did, was, to weaken the Orsini, and Colonnies factions in
+Rome: for he gain'd all their adherents that were gentlemen, giving
+them large allowances, and honoring them according to their
+qualities with charges and governments; so that in a few months the
+good will they bare to the parties was quite extinguisht, and
+wholly bent to the Duke. After this, he waited an occasion to root
+out the Orsini, having before dispersed those of the family of
+Colonnia, which fell out well to his hand; and he us'd it better.
+For the Orsini being too late aware, that the Dukes and the
+Churches greatness was their destruction, held a Council together
+in a dwelling house of theirs in the <span class="pagenum"><a name=
+"page284" id="page284"></a>{284}</span> country adjoyning to
+Perusia. From thence grew the rebellion of Urbin, and the troubles
+of Romania, and many other dangers befell the Duke, which he
+overcame all with the help of the French: and having regained his
+reputation, trusting neither France, nor any forrein forces, to the
+end he might not be put to make trial of them again, he betook
+himself to his sleghts; and he knew so well to disguise his
+intention, that the Orsins, by the mediation of Paul Orsine, were
+reconciled to him, to whom the Duke was no way wanting in all
+manner of courtesies whereby to bring them into security, giving
+them rich garments, money, and horses, til their own simplicities
+led them all to Sinigallia, into his hands. These heads being then
+pluck'd off, and their partisans made his friends; the Duke had
+laid very good foundations, to build his own greatness on, having
+in his power all Romania with the Dutchy of Urbin, and gained the
+hearts of those people, by beginning to give them some relish of
+their well being. And because this part is worthy to be taken
+notice of, and to be imitated by others, I will not let it escape.
+The Duke, when he had taken Romania, finding it had been under the
+hands of poor Lords who had rather pillag'd their subjects, than
+chastis'd or amended them, giving them more cause of discord, than
+of peace and union, so that the whole countrey was fraught with
+robberies, quarrels, and other sorts of insolencies; thought the
+best way to reduce them to termes of pacification, and obedience to
+a Princely power, was, to give them some good government: and
+therefore he set over them one Remiro D'Orco, a cruel hasty man, to
+whom he gave an absolute power. This man in a very short time
+setled peace and union amongst them with very great reputation.
+Afterwards the Duke thought such excessive authority serv'd not so
+well to his purpose, and doubting it would grow odious, he erected
+a civil Judicature in the midst of the countrey, where one
+excellent Judge did Preside, and thither every City sent their
+Advocate: and because he knew the rigors past had bred some hatred
+against him, to purge the minds of those people, and to gain them
+wholly to himself, he purpos'd to <span class="pagenum"><a name=
+"page285" id="page285"></a>{285}</span> shew, that if there was any
+cruelty used, it proceeded not from any order of his, but from the
+harsh disposition of his Officers. Whereupon laying hold on him, at
+this occasion, he caus'd his head to be struck off one morning
+early in the market place at Cesena, where he was left upon a
+gibbet, with a bloody sword by his side; the cruelty of which
+spectacle for a while satisfied and amaz'd those people. But to
+return from whence we have digressd: I say, that the Duke finding
+himself very strong, and in part out of doubt of the present
+dangers, because he was arm'd after his own manner, and had in some
+good measure suppress'd those forces, which, because of their
+vicinity, were able to annoy him, he wanted nothing else to go on
+with his Conquest, but the consideration of France: for he knew,
+that the King, who now, though late, was advis'd of his error,
+would never suffer him: and hereupon he began to seek after new
+allyances, and to waver with France, when the French came towards
+Naples against the Spaniards, who then besieged Gagetta; and his
+design was only to be out of their danger, which had been effected
+for him, had Pope Alexander lived. And thus were his businesses
+carried touching his present estate. As for the future, he had
+reason to doubt lest the new successor to the Papacy would not be
+his friend, and would endeavor to take that from him that Alexander
+had bestowed on him; and he thought to provide for this foure
+waies: First by rooting out the races of all those Lords he had
+dispoyled, whereby to take those occasions from the Pope. Secondly,
+by gaining all the gentlemen of Rome, whereby he might be able with
+those to keep the Pope in some awe. Thirdly, to make the Colledge
+of Cardinals as much at his devotion as possibly might be.
+Fourthly, by making of so large Conquests, before the Popes death,
+as that he might be able of himself to withstand the first fury of
+his enemies. Three of these fowre at Pope Alexanders death he had
+effected, and the fourth he had neare brought to a point. For of
+those Lords he had stript, he put to death as many as he could come
+at, and very few escap'd him: he gaind him the Roman Gentlemen: and
+in the Colledge he had made a <span class="pagenum"><a name=
+"page286" id="page286"></a>{286}</span> great faction. And touching
+his new Conquest, he had a designe to become Lord of Tuscany. And
+he had possessed himself already of Perusia, and Pombin, and taken
+protection of Pisa: and so soon as he should have cast off his
+respect to France (which now he meant to hold no longer) being the
+French were now driven out of the Kingdome of Naples by the
+Spaniards, so that each of them was forc'd to buy his friendship at
+any termes; he was then to leap into Pisa. After this Lucca and
+Siena were presently to fall to him, partly for envy to the
+Florentines, and partly for fear. The Florentines had no way to
+escape him: all which, had it succeeded with him, as without
+question it had, the very same year that Alexander dy'd, he had
+made himself master of so great forces, and such reputation, that
+he would have been able to have stood upon his own bottom, without
+any dependance of fortune, or resting upon others helps, but only
+upon his own strength and valor. But Alexander dy'd five years
+after that he had begun to draw forth his sword: and left him
+setled only in the State of Romania, with all his other designes in
+the ayre, sick unto death, between two very strong armies of his
+enemies; and yet was there in this Duke such a spirit and courage;
+and he understood so well, how men are to be gaind, and how to be
+lost, and so firm were the grounds he had laid in a short time,
+that, had he not had those armies upon his back, or had been in
+health, he would have carried through his purpose in spight of all
+opposition; and that the foundations he grounded upon were good, it
+appeard in that Romania held for him above a moneth, and he
+remained secure in Rome, though even at deaths doore: and however
+the Baglioni, Vitelli, and Orsini came into Rome; yet found they
+none would take their parts against him. And this he was able to
+have effected, that if he could not have made him Pope whom be
+would, he could have hindred him that he would not should be Pope.
+But had he been in health when Alexander dy'd, every thing had gone
+easily with him; and he told me on that day that Julius the second
+was created Pope, that he had fore-thought on all that which could
+happen, in case his <span class="pagenum"><a name="page287" id=
+"page287"></a>{287}</span> father chanc'd to dye, and for every
+thing provided its remedy, this onely excepted, that he foresaw not
+that he should at the same time be brought unto deaths dore also.
+Having then collected all the Dukes actions, me thinks I could not
+well blame him, but rather (as I have here done) set him as a
+pattern to be followed by all those who by fortune and others armes
+have been exalted to an Empire. For he being of great courage, and
+having lofty designes, could not carry himself otherwise; and the
+only obstacle of his purposes was the brevity of Alexanders life,
+and his own sickness. Whoever therefore deemes it necessary in his
+entrance into a new Principality, to secure himself of his enemies,
+and gain him friends, to overcome either by force or by cunning, to
+make himself beloved, or feared of his people, be followed and
+reverenced by his soldiers, to root out those that can, or owe thee
+any hurt, to change the ancient orders with new wayes, to be
+severe, and yet acceptable, magnanimous, and liberall; to
+extinguish the unfaithfull soldiery, and create new; to maintain to
+himself the armities of Kings and Princes, so that they shall
+either with favor benefit thee, or be wary how to offend thee;
+cannot find more fresh and lively examples than the actions of this
+man. He deserves to be found fault withall for the creation of
+Julius the second, wherein an evil choice was made for him: for, as
+it is said, not being able to make a Pope to his mind, he could
+have withheld any one from being Pope; and should never have
+consented that any one of those Cardinals should have got the
+Papacy, whom he had ever done harme to; or who having attaind the
+Pontificate were likely to be afraid of him: because men ordinarily
+do hurt either for fear, or hatred. Those whom he had offended,
+were among others, he who had the title of St. Peter ad Vincula,
+Colonna, St. George, and Ascanius; all the others that were in
+possibility of the Popedome, were such as might have feard him
+rather, except the Cardinal of Roan, and the Spaniards; these by
+reason of their allyance and obligation with him, the other because
+of the power they had, having the Kingdome of France on their
+party; wherefore the Duke above <span class="pagenum"><a name=
+"page288" id="page288"></a>{288}</span> all things should have
+created a Spanyard Pope, and in case he could not have done that,
+he should have agreed that Roan should have been, and not St. Peter
+ad Vincula. And whoever beleeves, that with great personages new
+benefits blot on the remembrance of old injuries, is much deceiv'd.
+The Duke therefore in this election, was the cause of his own ruine
+at last.</p>
+<blockquote>
+<p>Till wee come to this seaventh Chapter, I find not any thing
+much blame-worthy, unlesse it be on ground he layes in the second
+Chapter; whereupon hee builds most of this Fabrick, viz. That
+Subjects must either be dallyed or flatterd withall, or quite
+crusht. Whereby our Author advises his Prince to support his
+authority with two Cardinall Vertues, Dissimulation, and Cruelty.
+He considers not herein that the head is but a member of the body,
+though the principall; and the end of the parts is the good of the
+whole. And here he goes against himselfe in the twenty sixt Chapter
+of his Rep. 1. 1. where hee blames Philip of Macedon for such
+courses, terming them very cruell, and against all Christian manner
+of living; and that every man should refuse to be a King, and
+desire rather to live a private life, than to reigne so much to the
+ruine of mankind. The life of C&aelig;sar Borgia, which is here
+given as a paterne to new Princes, we shall find to have been
+nothing else but a cunning carriage of things so, that he might
+thereby first deceive and inveigle, and then suppresse all those
+that could oppose or hinder his ambition. For if you runne over his
+life, you shall see the Father Pope Alexander the sixt and him,
+both imbarqued for his advancement, wherein they engag'd the Papall
+authority, and reputation of Religion; for faith and conscience
+these men never knew, though they exacted it of others: there was
+never promise made, but it was only so farre kept as servd for
+advantage; Liberality was made use of: Clemency and Cruelty, all
+alike, as they might serve to worke with their purposes. All was
+sacrific'd to ambition; no friendship could tye these men, nor any
+religion: and no marvell: for ambition made them forget both God
+and man. But see the end of all this cunning: though this
+C&aelig;sar Borgia contrived all his businesse so warily, that our
+Author much commends him, and hee had attaind neere the pitch of
+his hopes, and had provided for each misadventure could befall him
+its remedy; Policy shewd it selefe short-sighted; for hee foresaw
+not at the time of his Fathers death, he himself should bee brought
+unto deaths doore also. And me thinks this Example might have given
+occasion to our Author to confesse, that surely there is a God that
+ruleth the earth. And many <span class="pagenum"><a name="page289"
+id="page289"></a>{289}</span> times God cutts off those cunning and
+mighty men in the hight of their purposes, when they think they
+have neare surmounted all dangers and difficulties. 'To the intent
+that the living may know, that the most high ruleth in the Kingdome
+of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it
+the basest of men.' Daniel. 4. 17.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<h2><a name="prince-8" id="prince-8">CHAP. VIII</a></h2>
+<h3>Concerning those who by wicked meanes have attaind to a
+Principality.</h3>
+<p><img width="10%" src="images/image-b.png" alt="B" /> ut because
+a man becomes a Prince of a private man two wayes, which cannot
+wholly be attributed either to Fortune or Vertue, I think not fit
+to let them passe me: howbeit the one of them may be more largely
+discoursed upon, where the Republicks are treated of. These are,
+when by some wicked and unlawfull meanes a man rises to the
+Principality; or when a private person by the favour of his fellow
+Citizens becomes Prince of his countrey. And speaking of the first
+manner, it shall be made evident by two Examples, the one ancient,
+the other moderne, without entring otherwise into the justice or
+merit of this part; for I take it that these are sufficient for any
+body that is forc'd to follow them. Agathocles the Sicilian, not of
+a private man onely, but from a base and abject fortune, got to be
+King of Siracusa. This man borne but of a Potter, continued alwayes
+a wicked life throughout all the degrees of this fortune:
+neverthelesse he accompanied his lewdnesse with such a courage and
+resolution, that applying himselfe to military affaires, by the
+degrees thereof he attained to bee Pr&aelig;tour of Siracusa, and
+being setled in that degree, and having determined that he would
+become Prince, and hold that by violence and without obligation to
+any other, which by consent had been granted him: and to this
+purpose haveing had some private intelligence touching his designe
+with <span class="pagenum"><a name="page290" id=
+"page290"></a>{290}</span> Amilcar the Carthaginian, who was
+imployd with his army in Sicily, one morining gatherd the people
+together and the Senate of Syracusa, as if he had some what to
+advise with them of matters belonging to the Commonwealth, and upon
+a signe given, caus'd his souldiers to kill his Senatours, and the
+richest of the people; who being slaine, he usurp'd the
+Principality of that City without any civill strife: and however he
+was twice broken by the Carthaginians, and at last besieged, was
+able not onely to defend his own City, but leaving part of his own
+army at the defence thereof, with the other invaded Affrique, and
+in a short time freed Siracusa from the siege, and brought the
+Carthaginians into extreme necessity, who were constraind to accord
+with him, be contented with the possession of Affrique, and quitt
+Sicily to Agathocles. He then that should consider the actions and
+valour of this man, would not see any, or very few things to be
+attributed unto Fortune; seeing that as is formerly sayd, not by
+any ones favour, but by the degrees of service in warre with many
+sufferings and dangers, to which he had risen, he came to the
+Principality; and that hee maintained afterwards with so many
+resolute and hazardous undertakings. Yet cannot this be term'd
+vertue or valour to slay his own Citizens, betray his friends, to
+be without faith, without pitty, without religion, which wayes are
+of force to gaine dominion, but not glory: for if Agathocles his
+valour bee well weighd, in his enturing upon, and comming off from
+dangers, and the greatnesse of his courage, in supporting and
+mastering of adversities, no man can see why he should be thought
+any way inferiour even to the ablest Captaines. Notwithstanding his
+beastly cruelty and inhumanity with innumerable wickednesses, allow
+not that he should be celebrated among the most excellent men. That
+cannot then be attributed to Fortune or Vertue, which without the
+one or the other was attaind to by him. In our dayes, while
+Alexander the sixth held the sea, Oliverotte of Fermo, who some few
+yeeres before had been left young by his parents, was brought up
+under the care of an uncle of his on the <span class=
+"pagenum"><a name="page291" id="page291"></a>{291}</span> mothers
+side, called John Foliani, and in the beginning of his youth given,
+by him to serve in the warres under Paulo Vitelli: to the end that
+being well instructed in that discipline, he might rise to some
+worthy degree in the warrs. Afterwards when Paulo was dead, he
+served under Vitellozzo his brother, and in very short time, being
+ingenious, of a good personage, and brave courage, he became one of
+the prime men among the troops he served in: but thinking it but
+servile to depend upon another, he plotted by the ayd of some
+Citizens of Fermo (who lik'd rather the thraldome of their City
+than the liberty of it) and by the favour of the Vitelli, to make
+himselfe master of Fermo; and writ to John Foliani, that having
+been many yeeres from home, he had a mind to come and see him and
+the City, and in some part take notice of his own patrimony; and
+because he had not imployd himselfe but to purchase honour, to the
+end his Citizens might perceive, that he had not vainely spent his
+time, he had a desire to come in good equipage and accompanied with
+a hundred horse of his friends and servants; and he intreated him
+that he would be pleasd so to take order, that he might be
+honourably received by the inhabitants of Fermo, which turnd as
+well to his honor that was his uncle, as his that was the nephew.
+In this, John faild not in any office of courtesie due to his
+nephew: and caused him to be well receivd by them of Fermo, and
+lodged him in his own house: where having passed some dayes, and
+stayd to put in order somewhat that was necessary for his intended
+villany, he made a very solemne feast, whether he invited John
+Foliani, and all the prime men of Fermo: and when all their chear
+was ended, and all their other entertainments, as in such feasts it
+is customary, Oliverotto of purpose mov'd some grave discourses;
+speaking of the greatnesse of Pope Alexander, and C&aelig;sar his
+son, and their undertakings; where unto John and the others making
+answer, he of a sudden stood up, saying, that those were things to
+be spoken of in a more secret place, and so retir'd into a chamber,
+whether John and all the other Citizens followd him; nor were they
+sooner <span class="pagenum"><a name="page292" id=
+"page292"></a>{292}</span> set downe there, than from some secret
+place therein camp forth diverse souldiers, who slew John and all
+the others: after which homicide Oliverotto got a horsebacke and
+ravaged the whole towne, and besieged the supreme Magistrate in the
+palace, so that for feare they were all constraind to obey him, and
+to settle a government, whereof hee made himselfe Prince; and they
+being all dead who, had they been discontented with him, could have
+hurt him; he strengthned himselfe with new civill and military
+orders, so that in the space of a yeer that he held the
+Principality, he was not only secure in the City of Fermo, but
+became fearefull to all his neighbours; and the conquest of him
+would have prov'd difficult, as that of Agathocles, had he not let
+himselfe been deceivd by C&aelig;sar Borgia, when at Sinigallia, as
+before was said, he took the Orsini and Vitelli: where he also
+being taken a yeere after he had committed the parricide, was
+strangled together with Vitellozzo (whome he had had for master
+both of his vertues and vices.) Some man might doubt from whence it
+should proceed, that Agathocles, and such like, after many
+treacheries and crueltyes, could possibly live long secure in his
+own countrey, and defend himselfe from his forrein enemies, and
+that never any of his own Citizens conspir'd against him, seeing
+that by means of cruelty, many others have never been able even in
+peaceable times to maintaine their States, much lesse in the
+doubtfull times of warre. I beleeve that this proceeds from the
+well, or ill using of those cruelties: they may bee termd well us'd
+(if it bee lawfull to say well of evill) that are put in practice
+only once of necessity for securities sake, not insisting therein
+afterwards; but there is use made of them for the subjects profit,
+as much as may be. But those that are ill us'd, are such as though
+they bee but few in the beginning, yet they multiply rather in
+time, than diminish. They that take that first way, may with the
+help of God, and mens care, find some remedy for their State, as
+Agathocles did: for the others, it is impossible they should
+continue. Whereupon it is to be noted, that in the laying
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page293" id=
+"page293"></a>{293}</span> hold of a State, the usurper thereof
+ought to runne over and execute all his cruelties at once, that he
+be not forced often to returne to them, and that he may be able, by
+not renewing of them, to give men some security, and gaine their
+affections by doing them some courtesies. Hee that carries it
+otherwise, either for fearefullnesse, or upon evill advice, is
+alwayes constraind to hold his sword drawne in his hand; nor ever
+can hee rely upon his subjects, there being no possibility for
+them, because of his daily and continuall injuries, to live in any
+safety: for his injuries should bee done altogether, that being
+seldomer tasted, they might lesse offend; his favours should bee
+bestowd by little, and little to the end they might keep their
+taste the better; and above all things a Prince must live with his
+subjects in such sort, that no accident either of good or evill can
+make him vary: for necessity comming upon him by reason of
+adversities, thou hast not time given thee to make advantage of thy
+cruelties; and the favours which then thou bestowest, will little
+help thee, being taken as if they came from thee perforce, and so
+yeeld no returne of thanks.</p>
+<h2><a name="prince-9" id="prince-9">CHAP. IX</a></h2>
+<h3>Of the Civill Principality.</h3>
+<p><img width="10%" src="images/image-b.png" alt="B" /> ut comming
+to the other part, when a principall Citizen, not by villany, or
+any other insufferable violence, but by the favour of his
+fellow-citizens becomes Prince of his native countrey: which we may
+terme a Civill Principality; nor to attaine hereunto is Vertue
+wholly or Fortune wholly necessary, but rather a fortunate cunning:
+I say, this Principality is climb'd up to, either by the peoples
+help, or the great mens. For, in every City we finde these two
+humours differ; and they <span class="pagenum"><a name="page294"
+id="page294"></a>{294}</span> spring from this, that the people
+desire not to be commanded nor oppressed by the great ones, and the
+great ones are desirous to command and oppresse the people: and
+from these two several appetites, arise in the City one of these
+three effects, either a Principality, or Liberty, or Tumultuary
+licentiousnesse. The Principality is caused either by the people,
+or the great ones, according as the one or other of these factions
+have the occasion offerd; for the great ones seeing themselves not
+able to resist the people, begin to turne the whole reputation to
+one among them, and make him Prince, whereby they may under his
+shadow vent their spleenes. The people also, not being able to
+support the great mens insolencies, converting the whole reputation
+to one man, create him their Prince, to be protected by his
+authority. He that comes to the Principality by the assistance of
+the great ones, subsists with more difficulty, than he that
+attaines to it by the peoples favour; for he being made Prince,
+hath many about him, who account themselves his equalls, and
+therefore cannot dispose nor command them at his pleasure. But he
+that gaines the Principality by the peoples favor, finds himselfe
+alone in his throne, and hath none or very few neare him that are
+not very supple to bend: besides this, the great ones cannot upon
+easie termes be satisfied, or without doing of wrong to others,
+where as a small matter contents the people: for the end which the
+people propound to themselves, is more honest than that of the
+great men, these desiring to oppresse, they only not to be
+oppressed. To this may be added also, that the Prince which is the
+peoples enemy, can never well secure himselfe of them, because of
+their multitude; well may hee bee sure of the Nobles, they being
+but a few. The worst that a Prince can look for of the people
+become his enemy, is to be abandoned by them: but when the great
+ones once grow his enemies, he is not only to feare their
+abandoning of him, but their making of a party against him also:
+for there being in them more forecast and craft, they alwayes take
+time by the forelocks whereby to save themselves, and seeke credit
+with him who they hope shall get the mastery. The Prince
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page295" id=
+"page295"></a>{295}</span> likewise is necessitated alwayes to live
+with the same people, but can doe well enough without the same
+great men; he being able to create new ones, and destroy them again
+every day, and to take from them, and give them credit as he
+pleases: and to cleare this part, I say, that great men ought to be
+considerd two wayes principally, that is, if they take thy
+proceedings so much to heart, as to engage their fortunes wholly in
+thine, in case they lye not alwayes catching at spoyle, they ought
+to be well honourd and esteem'd: those that bind themselves not to
+thy fortune, are to be considerd also two wayes; either they doe it
+for lack of courage, and naturall want of spirit, and then shouldst
+thou serve thy selfe of them, and of them especially that are men
+of good advice; for if thy affaires prosper, thou dost thy selfe
+honour thereby; if crost, thou needst not feare them: but when they
+oblige not themselves to thee of purpose, and upon occasion of
+ambition, it is a signe they think more of themselves than of thee:
+and of these the Prince ought to beware, and account of them as his
+discoverd enemyes: for alwayes in thy adversity they will give a
+hand too to ruine thee. Therefore ought hee that comes to be Prince
+by the peoples favour, keepe them his friends: which he may easily
+doe, they desiring only to live free from oppression: but he that
+becomes Prince by the great mens favour, against the will of the
+people, ought above all things to gaine the people to him, which he
+may easily effect, when he takes upon him their protection: And
+because men when they find good, where they look for evill, are
+thereby more endered to their benefactour, therefore growes the
+people so pliant in their subjection to him, as if by their favours
+he had attaind his dignity. And the Prince is able to gaine them to
+his side by many wayes, which because they vary according to the
+subject, no certaine rule can be given thereupon; wherefore we
+shall let them passe I will only conclude, that it is necessary for
+a Prince to have the people his friend; otherwise in his
+adversities he hath no helpe. Nabis Prince of the Spartans
+supported the siege of all Greece, and an exceeding victorious army
+of the Romans, <span class="pagenum"><a name="page296" id=
+"page296"></a>{296}</span> and against those defended his native
+countrey and State, and this suffic'd him alone, that as the danger
+came upon him, he secur'd himself of a fewer; whereas if the people
+had been his enemy, this had nothing availd him. And let no man
+think to overthrow this my opinion with that common proverb, that
+He who relyes upon the people, layes his foundation in the dirt;
+for that is true where a private Citizen grounds upon them, making
+his account that the people shall free him, when either his enemyes
+or the Magistrates oppresse him: In this case he should find
+himself often deceiv'd, as it befell the Gracchyes in Rome, and in
+Florence George Scali: but he being a Prince that grounds
+thereupon, who can command, and is a man of courage, who hath his
+wits about him in his adversityes, and wants not other
+preparations, and holds together the whole multitude animated with
+his valour and orders, shall not prove deceiv'd by them, and shall
+find he hath layd good foundations. These Principalityes are wont
+to be upon the point of falling when they goe about to skip from
+the civil order to the absolute: for these Princes either command
+of themselves, or by the Magistrate; in this last case their State
+is more weak and dangerous, because they stand wholly at the will
+and pleasure of these Citizens, who then are set over the
+Magistrates, who especially in adverse times are able with facility
+to take their State from them either by rising up against them, or
+by not obeying them; and then the Prince is not at hand in those
+dangers to take the absolute authority upon him: for the Citizens
+and subjects that are accustomed to receive the commands from the
+Magistrates, are not like in those fractions to obey his: and in
+doubtfull times he shall alwayes have greatest penury of whom he
+may trust; for such a Prince cannot ground upon that which he sees
+in peaceable times, when the Citizens have need of the State; for
+then every one runs, and every one promises, and every one will
+venture his life for him, where there is no danger neare; but in
+times of hazzard, when the State hath need of Citizens, there are
+but few of them then, and so much the more is this experience
+dangerous, in that <span class="pagenum"><a name="page297" id=
+"page297"></a>{297}</span> it can be but once made. Therefore a
+prudent Prince ought to devise a way whereby his Citizens alwayes
+and in any case and quality of time may have need of his
+government, and they shall alwaies after prove faithfull to
+him.</p>
+<h2><a name="prince-10" id="prince-10">CHAP. X</a></h2>
+<h3>In what manner the Forces of all Principalities ought to be
+measured.</h3>
+<p><img width="10%" src="images/image-i.png" alt="I" />t is
+requisite in examining the quality of those Principalities, to have
+another consideration of them, that is, if a Prince have such
+dominions, that he is able in case of necessity to subsist of
+himself, or else whether he hath alwaies need of another to defend
+him. And to cleer this point the better, I judge them able to stand
+of themselves, who are of power either for their multitudes of men,
+or quantity of money, to bring into the field a compleat armie, and
+joyn battel with whoever comes to assail them: and so I think those
+alwaies to stand in need of others help, who are not able to appear
+in the field against the enemy, but are forc'd to retire within
+their walls and guard them. Touching the first case, we have
+treated already, and shall adde somwhat thereto as occasion shall
+require. In the second case, we cannot say other, save only to
+encourage such Princes to fortifie and guard their own Capital
+city, and of the countrey about, not to hold much account; and
+whoever shall have well fortified that town, and touching other
+matters of governments shall have behaved himself towards his
+subjects, as hath been formerly said, and hereafter shall be, shall
+never be assaild but with great regard; for men willingly undertake
+not enterprises, where they see difficulty to work them through;
+nor can much facility be there found, where one assails him, who
+hath his town strong and wel guarded, and is not <span class=
+"pagenum"><a name="page298" id="page298"></a>{298}</span> hated of
+his people. The cities of Germany are very free; they have but very
+little of the countrey about them belonging to them; and they obey
+the Emperor, when they please, and they stand not in fear, neither
+of him nor any other Potentate about them: for they are in such a
+manner fortified, that every one thinks the siege of any of them
+would prove hard and tedious: for all of them have ditches, and
+rampires, and good store of Artillery, and alwaies have their
+publick cellars well provided with meat and drink and firing for a
+yeer: besides this, whereby to feed the common people, and without
+any loss to the publick, they have alwaies in common whereby they
+are able for a year to imploy them in the labor of those trades
+that are the sinews and the life of that city, and of that industry
+whereby the commons ordinarily supported themselves: they hold up
+also the military exercises in repute, and hereupon have they many
+orders to maintain them. A Prince then that is master of a good
+strong city, and causeth not himself to be hated, cannot be
+assaulted; and in case he were, he that should assail him, would be
+fain to quit him with shame: for the affairs of the world are so
+various, that it is almost impossible that an army can lie incampt
+before a town for the space of a whole yeer: and if any should
+reply, that the people having their possessions abroad, in case
+they should see them a fire, would not have patience, and the
+tedious siege and their love to themselves would make them forget
+their Prince: I answer that a Prince puissant and couragious, will
+easily master those difficulties, now giving his subjects hope,
+that the mischief will not be of durance; sometimes affright them
+with the cruelty of their enemies, and other whiles cunningly
+securing himself of those whom he thinks too forward to run to the
+enemy. Besides this by ordinary reason the enemy should burne and
+waste their countrey, upon his arrival, and at those times while
+mens minds are yet warme, and resolute in their defence: and
+therefore so much the less ought a Prince doubt: for after some few
+dayes, that their courages grow coole, the dammages are all done,
+and mischiefs received, and there is no help for <span class=
+"pagenum"><a name="page299" id="page299"></a>{299}</span> it, and
+then have they more occasion to cleave faster to their Prince,
+thinking he is now more bound to them, their houses having for his
+defence been fired, and their possessions wasted; and mens nature
+is as well to hold themselves oblig'd for the kindnesses they do,
+as for those they receive; whereupon if all be well weigh'd, a wise
+Prince shall not find much difficulty to keep sure and true to him
+his Citizens hearts at the beginning and latter end of the siege,
+when he hath no want of provision for food and ammunition.</p>
+<h2><a name="prince-11" id="prince-11">CHAP. XI</a></h2>
+<h3>Concerning Ecclesiastical Principalities.</h3>
+<p><img width="10%" src="images/image-t.png" alt="T" /> here
+remains now only that we treat of the Ecclesiastical
+Principalities, about which all the difficulties are before they
+are gotten: for they are attained to either by vertue, or Fortune;
+and without the one or the other they are held: for they are
+maintaind by orders inveterated in the religion, all which are so
+powerfull and of such nature, that they maintain their Princes in
+their dominions in what manner soever they proceed and live. These
+only have an Estate and defend it not; have subjects and govern
+them not; and yet their States because undefended, are not taken
+from them; nor their subjects, though not govern'd, care not, think
+not, neither are able to aliene themselves from them. These
+Principalities then are only happy and secure: but they being
+sustained by superior causes, whereunto humane understanding
+reaches not, I will not meddle with them: for being set up and
+maintained by God, it would be the part of a presumptuous and rash
+man to enter into discourse of them. Yet if any man should ask me
+whence it proceeds, that the Church in temporal power hath attaind
+to such greatness, seeing that till the time of Alexander the sixt,
+the Italian Potentates, <span class="pagenum"><a name="page300" id=
+"page300"></a>{300}</span> and not only they who are entituled the
+potentates, but every Baron and Lord though of the meanest
+condition in regard of the temporality, made but small account of
+it; and now a King of France trembles at the power thereof; and it
+hath been able to drive him out of Italy, and ruine the Venetians;
+and however this be well known, me thinks it is not superstitious
+in some part to recall it to memory. Before that Charles King of
+France past into Italy, this countrey was under the rule of the
+Pope, Venetians, the King of Naples, the Duke of Milan, and the
+Florentines. These Potentates took two things principally to their
+care; the one, that no forreiner should invade Italy; the other
+that no one of them should inlarge their State. They, against whom
+this care was most taken, were the Pope and the Venetians; and to
+restrain the Venetians, there needed the union of all the rest, as
+it was in the defence of Ferrara; and to keep the Pope low, they
+served themselves of the Barons of Rome, who being divided into two
+factions, the Orsini and Colonnesi, there was alwaies occasion of
+offence between them, who standing ready with their armes in hand
+in the view of the Pope, held the Popedome weak and feeble: and
+however sometimes there arose a couragious Pope, as was Sextus; yet
+either his fortune, or his wisdome was not able to free him of
+these incommodities, and the brevity of their lives was the cause
+thereof; for in ten years, which time, one with another, Popes
+ordinarily liv'd, with much ado could they bring low one of the
+factions. And if, as we may say, one had near put out the
+Colonnesi, there arose another enemy to the Orsini, who made them
+grow again, so that there was never time quite to root them out.
+This then was the cause, why the Popes temporal power was of small
+esteem in Italy; there arose afterwards Pope Alexander the sixt,
+who of all the Popes that ever were, shewed what a Pope was able to
+do with money and forces: and he effected, by means of his
+instrument, Duke Valentine, and by the ocasion of the French mens
+passage, all those things which I have formerly discoursed upon in
+the Dukes actions: and however his purpose was nothing at all to
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page301" id=
+"page301"></a>{301}</span> inlarge the Church dominions, but to
+make the Duke great; yet what he did, turnd to the Churches
+advantage, which after his death when the Duke was taken away, was
+the heir of all his pains. Afterwards succeeded Pope Julius, and
+found the Church great, having all Romania, and all the Barons of
+Rome being quite rooted out, and by Alexanders persecutions, all
+their factions worne down; he found also the way open for the
+heaping up of moneys, never practised before Alexanders time; which
+things Julius not only follow'd, but augmented; and thought to make
+himself master of Bolonia, and extinguish the Venetians, and chase
+the French men out of Italy: and these designes of his prov'd all
+lucky to him, and so much the more to his praise in that he did all
+for the good of the Church, and in no private regard: he kept also
+the factions of the Orsins and Colonnesi, in the same State he
+found them: and though there were among them some head whereby to
+cause an alteration; yet two things have held them quiet; the one
+the power of the Church, which somewhat affrights them; the other
+because they have no Cardinals of their factions, who are the
+primary causes of all the troubles amongst them: nor shall these
+parties ever be at rest, while they have Cardinals; because they
+nourish the factions both in Rome, and abroad; and the Barons then
+are forced to undertake the defence of them: and thus from the
+Prelates ambitions arise the discords and tumults among the Barons.
+And now hath Pope Leo his Holiness found the Popedome exceeding
+puissant, of whom it is hoped, that if they amplified it by armes,
+he by his goodness, and infinite other vertues, will much more
+advantage and dignifie it.</p>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page302" id=
+"page302"></a>{302}</span>
+<h2><a name="prince-12" id="prince-12">CHAP. XII</a></h2>
+<h3>How many sorts of Military discipline there are and touching
+Mercenary soldiers.</h3>
+<p><img width="10%" src="images/image-h.png" alt="H" /> aving
+treated particularly of the qualities of those Principalities,
+which in the beginning I propounded to discourse upon, and
+considered in some part the reasons of their well and ill being,
+and shewd the waies whereby many have sought to gain, and hold
+them, it remains now that I speak in general of the offences and
+defences, that may chance in each of the forenamed. We have
+formerly said that it is necessary for a Prince to have good
+foundations laid; otherwise it must needs be that he go to wrack.
+The Principal foundations that all States have, as well new, as
+old, or mixt, are good laws, and good armes; and because there
+cannot be good laws, where there are not good armes; and where
+there are good armes, there must needs be good laws, I will omit to
+discourse of the laws, and speak of armes. I say then that the
+armes, wherewithall a Prince defends his State, either are his own,
+or mercenary, or auxiliary, or mixt. Those that are mercenary and
+auxiliar, are unprofitable, and dangerous, and if any one holds his
+State founded upon mercenary armes, he shall never be quiet, nor
+secure, because they are never well united, ambitious, and without
+discipline, treacherous, among their friends stour, among their
+enemies cowardly; they have no fear of God, nor keep any faith with
+men; and so long only defer they the doing of mischief, till the
+enemy comes to assul thee; and in time of peace thou art despoyled
+by them, in war by thy enemies: the reason hereof is, because they
+have no other love, nor other cause to keep them in the field, but
+only a small stipend, which is not of force to make them willing to
+hazard their lives for thee: they are willing indeed to be thy
+soldiers, till thou goest to fight; but then they fly, or
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page303" id=
+"page303"></a>{303}</span> run away; which thing would cost me but
+small pains to perswade; for the ruine of Italy hath not had any
+other cause now a dayes, than for that it hath these many years
+rely'd upon mercenary armes; which a good while since perhaps may
+have done some man some service, and among themselves they may have
+been thought valiant: but so soon as any forrein enemy appeared,
+they quickly shewed what they were. Whereupon Charles the King of
+France, without opposition, made himself master of all Italy: and
+he that said, that the causes thereof were our faults, said true;
+but these were not those they beleeved, but what I have told; and
+because they were the Princes faults, they also have suffered the
+punishment. I will fuller shew the infelicity of these armes. The
+mercenary Captains are either very able men, or not: if they be,
+thou canst not repose any trust in them: for they will alwaies
+aspire unto their own proper advancements, either by suppressing of
+thee that art their Lord, or by suppressing of some one else quite
+out of thy purpose: but if the Captain be not valorous, he
+ordinarily ruines thee: and in case it be answered, that whoever
+shall have his armes in his hands, whether mercenary or not, will
+do so: I would reply, that armes are to be imployed either by a
+Prince, or Common-wealth. The Prince ought to go in person, and
+performe the office of a commander: the Republick is to send forth
+her Citizens: and when she sends forth one that proves not of
+abilities, she ought to change him then; and when he does prove
+valorous, to bridle him so by the laws, that he exceed not his
+commission. And by experience we see, that Princes and Republiques
+of themselves alone, make very great conquests; but that mercenary
+armes never do other than harme; and more hardly falls a Republick
+armed with her own armes under the obedience of one of her own
+Citizens, than one that is armed by forrein armes. Rome and Sparta
+subsisted many ages armed and free. The Swissers are exceedingly
+well armed, and yet very free. Touching mercenary armes that were
+of old, we have an example of the Carthagians, who near upon were
+oppress'd by their own mercenary soldiers, when the first war
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page304" id=
+"page304"></a>{304}</span> with the Romans was finished; however
+the Carthagians had their own Citizens for their Captains. Philip
+of Macedon was made by the Thebans after Epaminondas his death,
+General of their Armies; and after the victory, he took from them
+liberty. The Milaneses when Duke Philip was dead, entertaind
+Francis Sforza into their pay against the Venetians, who having
+vanquisht their enemie at Caravaggio, afterwards joyned with them,
+where by to usurp upon the Milaneses his Masters. Sforza his
+father, being in Joan the Queen of Naples pay, left her on a sudden
+disarmed; whereupon she, to save her Kingdom, was constraind to
+cast her self into the King of Arrragon's bosome. And in case the
+Venetians and the Florentines have formerly augmented their State
+with these kind of armes, and their own Captains, and yet none of
+them have ever made themselves their Princes, but rather defended
+them: I answer, that the Florentines in this case have had fortune
+much their friend: for of valorous Captains, which they might any
+way fear, some have not been victors, some have had opposition, and
+others have laid the aim of their ambitions another way. He who
+overcame not, was John Aouto, of whose faith there could no proof
+be made, being he vanquisht not; but every one will acknowledge,
+that, had he vanquisht, the Florentines were at his discretion.
+Sforza had alwaies the Bracceschi for his adversaries, so that they
+were as a guard one upon another. Francis converted all his
+ambition against Lombardy. Braccio against the Church, and the
+Kingdome of Naples. But let us come to that which followed a while
+agoe. The Florentines made Paul Vitelli their General, a throughly
+advis'd man, and who from a private fortune had rose to very great
+reputation: had he taken Pisa, no man will deny but that the
+Florentines must have held fast with him; for had he been
+entertained in their enemies pay, they had no remedy; and they
+themselves holding of him, of force were to obey him. The
+Venetians, if we consider their proceedings, we shall see wrought
+both warily and gloriously, while themselves made war, which was
+before their undertakings by land, where the gentlemen <span class=
+"pagenum"><a name="page305" id="page305"></a>{305}</span> with
+their own Commons in armes behav'd themselves bravely: but when
+they began to fight by land, they lost their valor, and follow'd
+the customes of Italy; and in the beginning of their enlargement by
+land, because they had not much territory, and yet were of great
+reputation, they had not much cause to fear their Captains; but as
+they began to extend their bounds, which was under their Commander
+Carminiola, they had a taste of this error: for perceiving he was
+exceeding valorous, having under his conduct beaten the Duke of
+Milan; and knowing on the other side, how he was cold in the war,
+they judg'd that they could not make any great conquest with him;
+and because they neither would, nor could cashier him, that they
+might not lose what they had gotten, they were forced for their own
+safeties to put him to death. Since they have had for their General
+Bartholomew of Berganio, Robert of St. Severin, the Count of
+Petilian, and such like: whereby they were to fear their losses, as
+well as to hope for gain: as it fell out afterwards at Vayla, where
+in one day they lost that, which with so much pains they had gotten
+in eight hundred years: for from these kind of armes grow slack and
+slow and weak gains; but sudden and wonderfull losses: And because
+I am now come with these examples into Italy, which now these many
+years, have been governd by mercenary armes, I will search deeper
+into them, to the end that their course and progress being better
+discoverd, they may be the better amended. You have to understand,
+that so soon as in these later times the yoak of the Italian Empire
+began to be shaken off, and the Pope had gotten reputation in the
+temporality, Italy was divided into several States: for many of the
+great cities took armes against their Nobility; who under the
+Emperors protection had held them in oppression; and the Pope
+favored these, whereby he might get himself reputation, in the
+temporality; of many others, their Citizens became Princes, so that
+hereupon Italy being come into the Churches hands as it were, and
+some few Republicks, those Priests and Citizens not accustomed to
+the use of armes, began to take strangers to their pay. The first
+that gave <span class="pagenum"><a name="page306" id=
+"page306"></a>{306}</span> reputation to these soldiers was
+Alberick of Como in Romania. From his discipline among others
+descended Brachio and Sforza, who in their time were the arbitres
+of Italy; after these followed all others, who even till our dayes
+have commanded the armes of Italy; and the success of their valor
+hath been, that it was overrun by Charles, pillaged by Lewis,
+forc'd by Ferdinand, and disgrac'd by the Swissers. The order which
+they have held, hath been, first whereby to give reputation to
+their own armes to take away the credit of the Infantry. This they
+did, because they having no State of their own, but living upon
+their industry, their few foot gave them no reputation, and many
+they were not able to maintain; whereupon they reduc'd themselves
+to cavalery, and so with a supportable number they were entertained
+and honored: and matters were brought to such termes, that in an
+army of twenty thousand soldiers you should not find two thousand
+foot. They had moreover us'd all industry to free themselves and
+their soldiers of all pains and fear, in their skirmishes, not
+killing, but taking one another prisoners, and without ransome for
+their freedom; they repaired not all to their tents by night, nor
+made palizado or trench thereabout, nor lay in the field in the
+summer: and all these things were thus contrived and agreed of
+among them in their military orders, whereby (as is said) to avoid
+pains and dangers, insomuch as they have brought Italy into slavery
+and disgrace.</p>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page307" id=
+"page307"></a>{307}</span>
+<h2><a name="prince-13" id="prince-13">CHAP. XIII</a></h2>
+<h3>Of Auxiliary Soldiers, mixt, and native.</h3>
+<p><img width="10%" src="images/image-t.png" alt="T" /> he
+Auxiliary forces, being the other kind of unprofitable armes, are,
+when any puissant one is called in, who with his forces comes to
+assist and defend thee; such as in these later times did Pope
+Julius use, who having seen the evil proof of his mercenary
+soldiers in the enterprize of Ferrara, applied himself to the
+Auxiliaries, and agreed with Ferdinand King of Spain, that with his
+Forces he should aid him. These armes may be profitable and
+advantagious for themselves; but for him that calls them in,
+hurtfull; because in losing, thou art left defeated; and
+conquering, thou becomest their prisoner. And however that of these
+examples the ancient stories are full fraught; yet will I not part
+from this of Pope Julius the second, which is as yet fresh: whose
+course could not have been more inconsiderate, for the desire he
+had to get Ferrara, putting himself wholly into strangers hands:
+but his good fortune caused another cause to arise, that hindred
+him from receiving the fruit of his evil choice; for his
+Auxiliaries being broken at Ravenna, and the Swissers thereupon
+arriving, who put the Conquerors to flight beyond all opinion, even
+their own and others, he chanced not to remain his enemies
+prisoner, they being put to flight, nor prisoner to his
+Auxiliaries, having vanquished by other forces than theirs. The
+Florentines being wholly disarmed, brought ten thousand French to
+Pisa for to take it: by which course they ran more hazzard, than in
+any time of their troubles. The Emperor of Constantinople, to
+oppress his neighbors, brought into Greece ten thousand Turks, who
+when the war was ended, could not be got out thence, which was the
+beginning of Greeces servitude under the Infidels. He then that
+will in no case be able to overcome, let him serve himself of these
+armes; for they are much <span class="pagenum"><a name="page308"
+id="page308"></a>{308}</span> more dangerous than the mercenaries;
+for by those thy ruine is more suddenly executed; for they are all
+united, and all bent to the obedience of another. But for the
+mercenaries to hurt thee, when they have vanquished, there is no
+more need of time, and greater occasion, they not being all united
+in a body, and being found out and paid by thee, wherein a third
+that thou mak'st their head, cannot suddenly gaine so great
+authority, that he can endammage thee. In summe, in the mercenaries
+their sloth and lazinesse to fight is more dangerous: in the
+auxiliaries their valour. Wherefore a wise Prince hath alwayes
+avoyded these kind of armes, and betaken himselfe to his owne, and
+desired rather to loss with his owne, than conquer with anothers,
+accounting that not a true victorie which was gotten with others
+armes. I will not doubt to alleadge C&aelig;sar Borgia, and his
+actions. This Duke entred into Romania with auxiliarie armes,
+bringing with him all French souldiers: but afterwards not
+accounting those armes secure, bent himselfe to mercenaries,
+judging lesse danger to be in those, and tooke in pay the Orsini
+and the Vitelli, which afterwards in the proof of them, finding
+wavering, unfaithful, and dangerous, he extinguishd, and betook
+himselfe to his owne; and it may easily be perceiv'd what
+difference there is between the one and the other of these armes,
+considering the difference that was between the Dukes reputation,
+when he had the French men alone, and when he had the Orsini and
+Vitelli; but when he remaind with his own, and stood of himselfe,
+we shall find it was much augmented: nor ever was it of grate
+esteeme, but when every one saw, that he wholly possessed his owne
+armes. I thought not to have parted from the Italian examples of
+late memory; but that I must not let passe that of Hiero the
+Siracusan, being one of those I formerly nam'd. This man (as I said
+before) being made general of the Siracusans forces, knew presently
+that mercenary souldiery was nothing for their profit in that they
+were hirelings, as our Italians are; and finding no way either to
+hold, or cashier them made them all bee cut to peeces, and
+afterwards waged warre with his owne men, and <span class=
+"pagenum"><a name="page309" id="page309"></a>{309}</span> none
+others. I will also call to memory a figure of the old Testament
+serving just to this purpose. When David presented himselfe before
+Saul to goe to fight with Goliah the Philistins Champion, Saul to
+encourage him, clad him with his owne armes, which David when he
+had them upon back, refused, saying, he was not able to make any
+proofe of himself therein, and therefore would goe meet the enemy
+with his own sling and sword. In summe, others armes either fall
+from thy shoulders, or cumber or streighten thee. Charls the
+seventh, Father of Lewis the eleventh, having by his good fortune
+and valour set France at liberty from the English, knew well this
+necessity of being arm'd with his owne armes, and settled in his
+Kingdome the ordinances of men at armes, and infantry. Afterwards
+King Lewis his sonne abolisht those of the infantry, and began to
+take the Swissers to pay; which errour follow'd by the others, is
+(as now indeed it appeares) the cause of that Kingdomes dangers.
+For having given reputation to the Swissers, they have renderd all
+their own armes contemptible; for this hath wholly ruind their
+foot, and oblig'd their men at armes to forrein armes: for being
+accustomed to serve with the Swissers, they think they are not able
+to overcome without them. From whence it comes that the French are
+not of force against the Swissers, and without them also against
+others they use not to adventure. Therefore are the French armies
+mixt, part mercenaries, and part natives, which armes are farre
+better than the simple mercenaries or simple auxiliaries, and much
+inferiour to the natives; and let the said example suffice for
+that: for the Kingdome of France would have been unconquerable, if
+Charles his order had been augmented and maintaind: but men in
+their small wisdome begin a thing, which then because it hath some
+favour of good, discovers not the poyson that lurkes thereunder, as
+I before said of the hectick feavers. Wherefore that Prince which
+perceives not mischiefes, but as they grow up, is not truely wise;
+and this is given but to few: and if we consider the first ruine of
+the Romane Empire, we shall find it was from taking the Goths first
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page310" id=
+"page310"></a>{310}</span> into their pay; for from that beginning
+the forces of the Romane Empire began to grow weak, and all the
+valour that was taken hence was given to them. I conclude then that
+without having armes of their owne, no Principality can be secure,
+or rather is wholly oblig'd to fortune, not having valour to
+shelter it in adversity. And it was alwayes the opinion and saying
+of wise men, that nothing is so weak and unsetled, as is the
+reputation of power not founded upon ones owne proper forces: which
+are those that are composed of thy subjects, or Citizens, or
+servants; all the rest are mercenary or auxiliary; and the manner
+how to order those well, is easie to find out, if those orders
+above nam'd by me, shall be but run over, and if it shall be but
+consider'd, how Philip Alexander the Great his Father, and in what
+manner many Republicks and Princes have armd and appointed
+themselves, to which appointments I referre my selfe wholly.</p>
+<h2><a name="prince-14" id="prince-14">CHAP. XIV</a></h2>
+<h3>What belongs to the Prince touching military Discipline.</h3>
+<p><img width="10%" src="images/image-a.png" alt="A" /> prince then
+ought to have no other ayme, nor other thought, nor take any thing
+else for his proper art, but warr, and the orders and discipline
+thereof: for that is the sole arte which belongs to him that
+commands, and is of so great excellency, that not only those that
+are borne Princes, it maintains so; but many times raises men from
+a private fortune to that dignity. And it is seene by the contrary,
+that when Princes have given themselves more to their delights,
+than to the warres, they have lost their States; and the first
+cause that makes thee lose it, is the neglect of that arte; and the
+cause that makes thee gaine it, is that thou art experienc'd and
+approvd in that arte. Francis Sforza by being a man at armes, of a
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page311" id=
+"page311"></a>{311}</span> private man became Duke of Milan; and
+his sons by excusing themselves of the troubles and paines
+belonging to those imployments of Princes, became private men. For
+among other mischiefes thy neglect of armes brings upon thee, it
+causes thee to be contemnd, which is one of those disgraces, from
+which a Prince ought to keepe himselfe, as hereafter shall be sayd:
+for from one that is disarmd to one that is armd there is no
+proportion; and reason will not, that he who is in armes, should
+willingly yeeld obedience to him that is unfurnishd of them, and
+that he that is disarmd should be in security among his armed
+vassalls; for there being disdaine in the one, and suspicion in the
+other, it is impossible these should ever well cooperate. And
+therefore a Prince who is quite unexperienced in matter of warre,
+besides the other infelicities belonging to him, as is said, cannot
+be had in any esteeme among his souldiers, nor yet trust in them.
+Wherefore he ought never to neglect the practice of the arte of
+warre, and in time of peace should he exercise it more than in the
+warre; which he may be able to doe two wayes; the one practically,
+and in his labours and recreations of his body, the other
+theoretically. And touching the practick part, he ought besides the
+keeping of his own subjects well traind up in the discipline and
+exercise of armes, give himselfe much to the chase, whereby to
+accustome his body to paines, and partly to understand the manner
+of situations, and to know how the mountaines arise, which way the
+vallyes open themselves, and how the plaines are distended flat
+abroad, and to conceive well the nature of the rivers, and marrish
+ground, and herein to bestow very much care, which knowledge is
+profitable in two kinds: first he learnes thereby to know his own
+countrey, and is the better enabled to understand the defence
+thereof, and afterwards by meanes of this knowledge and experience
+in these situations, easily comprehends any other situation, which
+a new he hath need to view, for the little hillocks, vallies,
+plaines, rivers, and marrish places. For example, they in Tuscany
+are like unto those of other countries: so that from the knowledge
+of <span class="pagenum"><a name="page312" id=
+"page312"></a>{312}</span> the site of one country, it is easie to
+attain to know that of others. And that Prince that wants this
+skill, failes of the principall part a Commander should be furnisht
+with; for this shows the way how to discover the enemy, to pitch
+the camp, to lead their armies, to order their battells, and also
+to besiege a town at thy best advantage, Philopomenes Prince of the
+Achayans, among other praises Writers give him, they say, that in
+time of peace, he thought not upon any thing so much as the
+practise of warre; and whensoever he was abroad in the field to
+disport himselfe with his friends, would often stand still, and
+discourse with them, in case the enemies were upon the top of that
+hill, and we here with our army, whether of us two should have the
+advantage, and how might we safely goe to find them, keeping still
+our orders; and if we would retire our selves, what course should
+we take if they retir'd, how should we follow them? and thus on the
+way, propounded them all such accidents could befall in any army;
+would heare their opinions, and tell his owne, and confirme it by
+argument; so that by his continuall thought hereupon, when ever he
+led any army no chance could happen, for which he had not a remedy.
+But touching the exercise of the mind, a Prince ought to read
+Histories, and in them consider the actions of the worthiest men,
+marke how they have behav'd themselves in the warrs, examine the
+occasions of their victories, and their losses; wherby they may be
+able to avoyd these, and obtaine those; and above all, doe as
+formerly some excellent man hath done, who hath taken upon him to
+imitate, if any one that hath gone before him hath left his memory
+glorious; the course he took, and kept alwaies near unto him the
+remembrances of his actions and worthy deeds: as it is said, that
+Alexander the great imitated Achilles; C&aelig;sar Alexander, and
+Scipio Cyrus. And whoever reads the life of Cyrus, written by
+Xenophon, may easily perceive afterwards in Scipio's life how much
+glory his imitation gaind him, and how much Scipio did conforme
+himselfe in his chastity, affability, humanity, and liberality with
+those things, that are written by Xenophon of Cyrus. <span class=
+"pagenum"><a name="page313" id="page313"></a>{313}</span> Such like
+wayes ought a wise Prince to take, nor ever be idle in quiet times,
+but by his paines then, as it were provide himself of store,
+whereof he may make some use in his adversity, the end that when
+the times change, he may be able to resist the stormes of his hard
+fortune.</p>
+<h2><a name="prince-15" id="prince-15">CHAP. XV</a></h2>
+<h3>Of those things, in respect whereof, men, and especially
+Princes, are praised, or dispraised.</h3>
+<p><img width="10%" src="images/image-i.png" alt="I" /> t now
+remaines that we consider what the conditions of a Prince ought to
+be, and his termes of government over his subjects, and towards his
+friends. And because I know that many have written hereupon; I
+doubt, lest I venturing also to treat thereof, may be branded with
+presumption, especially seeing I am like enough to deliver an
+opinion different from others. But my intent being to write for the
+advantage of him that understands me, I thought it fitter to follow
+the effectuall truth of the matter, than the imagination thereof;
+And many Principalities and Republiques, have been in imagination,
+which neither have been seen nor knowne to be indeed: for there is
+such a distance between how men doe live, and how men ought to
+live; that he who leaves that which is done, for that which ought
+to be done, learnes sooner his ruine than his preservation; for
+that man who will professe honesty in all his actions, must needs
+goe to ruine among so many that are dishonest. Whereupon it is
+necessary for a Prince, desiring to preserve himselfe, to be able
+to make use of that honestie, and to lay it aside againe, as need
+shall require. Passing by then things that are only in imagination
+belonging to a Prince, to discourse upon those that are really
+true; I say that all men, whensoever mention is made of them, and
+especially Princes, because they are placed <span class=
+"pagenum"><a name="page314" id="page314"></a>{314}</span> aloft in
+the view of all, are taken notice of for some of these qualities,
+which procure them either commendations or blame: and this is that
+some one is held liberal, some miserable, (miserable I say, nor
+covetous; for the covetous desire to have, though it were by
+rapine; but a miserable man is he, that too much for bears to make
+use of his owne) some free givers, others extortioners; some
+cruell, others pitious; the one a Leaguebreaker, another faithfull;
+the one effeminate and of small courage, the other fierce and
+couragious; the one courteous, the other proud; the one lascivious,
+the other chaste; the one of faire dealing, the other wily and
+crafty; the one hard, the other easie; the one grave, the other
+light; the one religious, the other incredulous, and such like. I
+know that every one will confesse, it were exceedingly praise
+worthy for a Prince to be adorned with all these above nam'd
+qualities that are good: but because this is not possible, nor doe
+humane conditions admit such perfection in vertues, it is necessary
+for him to be so discret, that he know how to avoid the infamie of
+those vices which would thrust him out of his State; and if it be
+possible, beware of those also which are not able to remove him
+thence; but where it cannot be, let them passe with lesse regard.
+And yet, let him not stand much upon it, though he incurre the
+infamie of those vices, without which he can very hardly save his
+State: for if all be throughly considerd, some thing we shall find
+which will have the colour and very face of Vertue, and following
+them, they will lead the to thy destruction; whereas some others
+that shall as much seeme vice, if we take the course they lead us,
+shall discover unto us the way to our safety and well-being.</p>
+<blockquote>
+<p>The second blemish in this our Authours book, I find in his
+fifteenth Chapter: where he instructs his Prince to use such an
+ambidexterity as that he may serve himselfe either of vertue, or
+vice, according to his advantage, which in true pollicy is neither
+good in attaining the Principality nor in securing it when it is
+attaind. For Politicks, presuppose Ethiques, which will never allow
+this rule: as that a man might make this small <span class=
+"pagenum"><a name="page315" id="page315"></a>{315}</span>
+difference between vertue, and vice, that he may indifferently lay
+aside, or take up the one or the other, and put it in practise as
+best conduceth to the end he propounds himselfe. I doubt our
+Authour would have blamd Davids regard to Saul when 1 Sam. 24. in
+the cave he cut off the lap of Sauls garment, and spared his head;
+and afterwards in the 26. when he forbad Abishai to strike him as
+he lay sleeping. Worthy of a Princes consideration is that saying
+of Abigal to David 1 Sam. 25. 30.</p>
+<p>'It shall come to passe when the Lord shall have done to my Lord
+according to all that he hath spoken concerning thee, and shall
+have appointed thee Ruler over Israel, that this shall be no grief
+to thee, nor offence of heart unto my Lord, that thou hast forborne
+to shed blood, etc.'</p>
+<p>For surely the conscience of this evill ground whereupon they
+have either built, or underpropped their tyranny, causes men, as
+well <i>metus</i> as <i>spes in longum projicere</i>, which sets
+them a work on further mischiefe.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<h2><a name="prince-16" id="prince-16">CHAP. XVI</a></h2>
+<h3>Of Liberality, and Miserablenesse.</h3>
+<p><img width="10%" src="images/image-b.png" alt="B" /> eginning
+then at the first of the above mentioned qualities, I say that it
+would be very well to be accounted liberall: neverthelesse,
+liberality used in such a manner, as to make thee be accounted so,
+wrongs thee: for in case it be used vertuously, and as it ought to
+be, it shall never come to be taken notice of, so as to free thee
+from the infamie of its contrary. And therefore for one to hold the
+name of liberal among men, it were needfull not to omit any
+sumptuous quality, insomuch that a Prince alwayes so dispos'd,
+shall waste all his revenues, and at the end shall be forc'd, if he
+will still maintaine that reputation of liberality, heavily to
+burthen his subjects, and become a great exactour; and put in
+practise all those things that can be done to get mony: Which
+begins to make him hatefull to his subjects, and fall into every
+ones contempt, growing necessitous: so that having with this
+liberality wrong'd many, and imparted of his bounty but to a few;
+he feels every first mischance, and runs a hazard <span class=
+"pagenum"><a name="page316" id="page316"></a>{316}</span> of every
+first danger: Which he knowing, and desiring to withdraw himself
+from, incurs presently the disgrace of being termed miserable. A
+Prince therefore not being able to use this vertue of liberality,
+without his own damage, in such a sort, that it may be taken notice
+of, ought, if he be wise, not to regard the name of Miserable; for
+in time he shall alwaies be esteemed the more liberal, seeing that
+by his parsimony his own revenues are sufficient for him; as also
+he can defend himself against whoever makes war against him, and
+can do some exploits without grieving his subjects: so that he
+comes to use his liberality to all those, from whom he takes
+nothing, who are infinite in number; and his miserableness towards
+those to whom he gives nothing, who are but a few. In our dayes we
+have not seen any, but those who have been held miserable, do any
+great matters; but the others all quite ruin'd. Pope Julius the
+second, however he serv'd himself of the name of Liberal, to get
+the Papacy, yet never intended he to continue it, to the end he
+might be able to make war against the King of France: and he made
+so many wars without imposing any extraordinary tax, because his
+long thrift supplyed his large expences. This present King of Spain
+could never have undertaken, nor gone through with so many
+exploits, had he been accounted liberal. Wherefore a Prince ought
+little to regard (that he may not be driven to pillage his
+subjects, that he may be able to defend himself, that he may not
+fall into poverty and contempt, that he be not forced to become an
+extortioner) though he incurre the name of miserable; for this is
+one of those vices, which does not pluck him from his throne. And
+if any one should say, C&aelig;sar by his liberality obtained the
+Empire, and many others (because they both were, and were esteemd
+liberal) attaind to exceeding great dignities. I answer, either
+thou art already come to be a Prince, or thou art in the way to it;
+in the first case, this liberality is hurtful; in the second, it is
+necessary to be accounted so; and C&aelig;sar was one of those that
+aspired to the Principality of Rome. But if after he had gotten it,
+he had survived, and not forborne <span class="pagenum"><a name=
+"page317" id="page317"></a>{317}</span> those expences, he would
+quite have ruined that Empire. And if any one should reply; many
+have been Princes, and with their armies have done great exploits,
+who have been held very liberal. I answer, either the Prince spends
+of his own and his subjects, or that which belongs to others: in
+the first, he ought to be sparing; in the second, he should not
+omit any part of liberality. And that Prince that goes abroad with
+his army, and feeds upon prey, and spoyle, and tributes, and hath
+the disposing of that which belongs to others, necessarily should
+use this liberality; otherwise would his soldiers never follow him;
+and of that which is neither thine, nor thy subjects, thou mayest
+well be a free giver, as were Cyrus, C&aelig;sar and Alexander; for
+the spending of that which is anothers, takes not away thy
+reputation, but rather adds to it, only the wasting of that which
+is thine own hurts thee; nor is there any thing consumes itself so
+much as liberality, which whilest thou usest, thou losest the means
+to make use of it, and becomest poore and abject; or to avoid this
+poverty, an extortioner and hatefull person. And among all those
+things which a Prince ought to beware of is, to be dispised, and
+odious; to one and the other of which, liberality brings thee.
+Wherefore there is more discretion to hold the stile of Miserable,
+which begets an infamy without hatred, than to desire that of
+Liberal, whereby to incurre the necessity of being thought an
+extortioner, which procures an infamy with hatred.</p>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page318" id=
+"page318"></a>{318}</span>
+<h2><a name="prince-17" id="prince-17">CHAP. XVII</a></h2>
+<h3>Of Cruelty, and Clemency, and whether it is better to be
+belov'd, or feard.</h3>
+<p><img width="10%" src="images/image-d.png" alt="D" /> escending
+afterwards unto the other fore-alledged qualities, I say, that
+every Prince should desire to be held pitiful, and not cruel.
+Nevertheless ought he beware that he ill uses not this pitty.
+C&aelig;sar Borgia was accounted cruel, yet had his cruelty redrest
+the disorders in Romania, setled it in union, and restored it to
+peace, and fidelity: which, if it be well weighed, we shall see was
+an act of more pitty, than that of the people of Florence, who to
+avoyd the terme of cruelty, suffered Pistoya to fall to
+destruction. Wherefore a Prince ought not to regard the infamy of
+cruelty, for to hold his subjects united and faithfull: for by
+giving a very few proofes of himself the other way, he shall be
+held more pittiful than they, who through their too much pitty,
+suffer disorders to follow, from whence arise murthers and rapines:
+for these are wont to hurt an intire universality, whereas the
+executions practised by a Prince, hurt only some particular. And
+among all sorts of Princes, it is impossible for a new Prince to
+avoyd the name of cruel, because all new States are full of
+dangers: whereupon Virgil by the mouth of Dido excuses the
+inhumanity of her Kingdom, saying,</p>
+<div class="poem">
+<div class="stanza">
+<p><i>Res dura et Regni novitas me talia cogunt</i></p>
+<p><i>Moliri et lat&egrave; fines custode tenere.</i></p>
+</div>
+</div>
+<div class="poem">
+<div class="stanza">
+<p>My hard plight and new State force me to guard</p>
+<p>My confines all about with watch and ward.</p>
+</div>
+</div>
+<p>Nevertheless ought he to be judicious in his giving belief to
+any thing, or moving himself thereat, nor make his people extreamly
+afraid of him; but proceed in a moderate way <span class=
+"pagenum"><a name="page319" id="page319"></a>{319}</span> with
+wisdome, and humanity, that his too much confidence make him not
+unwary, and his too much distrust intolerable; from hence arises a
+dispute, whether it is better to be belov'd or feard: I answer, a
+man would wish he might be the one and the other: but because
+hardly can they subsist both together, it is much safer to be
+feard, than be loved; being that one of the two must needs fail;
+for touching men, we may say this in general, they are unthankful,
+unconstant, dissemblers, they avoyd dangers, and are covetous of
+gain; and whilest thou doest them good, they are wholly thine;
+their blood, their fortunes, lives and children are at thy service,
+as is said before, when the danger is remote; but when it
+approaches, they revolt. And that Prince who wholly relies upon
+their words, unfurnished of all other preparations, goes to wrack:
+for the friendships that are gotten with rewards, and not by the
+magnificence and worth of the mind, are dearly bought indeed; but
+they will neither keep long, nor serve well in time of need: and
+men do less regard to offend one that is supported by love, than by
+fear. For love is held by a certainty of obligation, which because
+men are mischievous, is broken upon any occasion of their own
+profit. But fear restrains with a dread of punishment which never
+forsakes a man. Yet ought a Prince cause himself to be belov'd in
+such a manner, that if he gains not love, he may avoid hatred: for
+it may well stand together, that a man may be feard and not hated;
+which shall never fail, if he abstain from his subjects goods, and
+their wives; and whensoever he should be forc'd to proceed against
+any of their lives, do it when it is to be done upon a just cause,
+and apparent conviction; but above all things forbeare to lay his
+hands on other mens goods; for men forget sooner the death of their
+father, than the loss of their patrimony. Moreover the occasions of
+taking from men their goods, do never fail: and alwaies he that
+begins to live by rapine, finds occasion to lay hold upon other
+mens goods: but against mens lives, they are seldome found, and
+sooner fail. But where a Prince is abroad in the field with his
+army, and <span class="pagenum"><a name="page320" id=
+"page320"></a>{320}</span> hath a multitude of soldiers under his
+government, then is it necessary that he stands not much upon it,
+though he be termed cruel: for unless he be so, he shall never have
+his soldiers live in accord one with another, nor ever well
+disposed to any brave piece of service. Among Hannibals actions of
+mervail, this is reckoned for one, that having a very huge army,
+gathered out of several nations, and all led to serve in a strange
+countrey, there was never any dissention neither amongst
+themselves, nor against their General, as well in their bad fortune
+as their good. Which could not proceed from any thing else than
+from that barbarous cruelty of his, which together with his
+exceeding many vertues, rendred him to his soldiers both venerable
+and terrible; without which, to that effect his other vertues had
+served him to little purpose: and some writers though not of the
+best advised, on one side admire these his worthy actions, and on
+the otherside, condemn the principal causes thereof. And that it is
+true, that his other vertues would not have suffic'd him, we may
+consider in Scipio, the rarest man not only in the dayes he liv'd,
+but even in the memory of man; from whom his army rebel'd in Spain:
+which grew only upon his too much clemency, which had given way to
+his soldiers to become more licentious, than was well tollerable by
+military discipline: for which he was reprov'd by Fabius Maximus in
+the Senate, who termed him the corrupter of the Roman soldiery. The
+Locrensians having been destroyed by a Lieutenant of Scipio's, were
+never reveng'd by him, nor the insolence of that Lieutenant
+punisht; all this arising from his easie nature: so that one
+desiring to excuse him in the Senate, said, that there were many
+men knew better how to keep themselves from faults, than to correct
+the faults of other men: which disposition of his in time would
+have wrong'd Scipio's reputation and glory, had he therewith
+continu'd in his commands: but living under the government of the
+Senate, this quality of his that would have disgrac'd him not only
+was conceal'd, but prov'd to the advancement of his glory. I
+conclude then, returning to the purpose of being feard, and
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page321" id=
+"page321"></a>{321}</span> belov'd; insomuch as men love at their
+own pleasure, and to serve their own turne, and their fear depends
+upon the Princes pleasure, every wise Prince ought to ground upon
+that which is of himself, and not upon that which is of another:
+only this, he ought to use his best wits to avoid hatred, as was
+said.</p>
+<h2><a name="prince-18" id="prince-18">CHAP. XVIII</a></h2>
+<h3>In what manner Princes ought to keep their words.</h3>
+<p><img width="10%" src="images/image-h.png" alt="H" /> ow
+commendable in a Prince it is to keep his word, and live with
+integrity, not making use of cunning and subtlety, every one knows
+well: yet we see by experience in these our dayes, that those
+Princes have effected great matters, who have made small reckoning
+of keeping their words, and have known by their craft to turne and
+wind men about, and in the end, have overcome those who have
+grounded upon the truth. You must then know, there are two kinds of
+combating or fighting; the one by right of the laws, the other
+meerly by force. That first way is proper to men, the other is also
+common to beasts: but because the first many times suffices not,
+there is a necessity to make recourse to the second; wherefore it
+behooves a Prince to know how to make good use of that part which
+belongs to a beast, as well as that which is proper to a man. This
+part hath been covertly shew'd to Princes by ancient writers; who
+say that Achilles and many others of those ancient Princes were
+intrusted to Chiron the Senator, to be brought up under his
+discipline: the moral of this, having for their teacher one that
+was half a beast and half a man, was nothing else, but that it was
+needful for a Prince to understand how to make his advantage of the
+one and the other nature, because neither could subsist without the
+other. A Prince then being necessitated to know how to make use of
+that part belonging to a beast, <span class="pagenum"><a name=
+"page322" id="page322"></a>{322}</span> ought to serve himself of
+the conditions of the Fox and the Lion; for the Lion cannot keep
+himself from snares, nor the Fox defend himself against the Wolves.
+He had need then be a Fox, that he may beware of the snares, and a
+Lion that he may scare the wolves. Those that stand wholly upon the
+Lion, understand not well themselves. And therefore a wise Prince
+cannot, nor ought not keep his faith given when the observance
+thereof turnes to disadvantage, and the occasions that made him
+promise, are past. For if men were all good, this rule would not be
+allowable; but being they are full of mischief, and would not make
+it good to thee, neither art thou tyed to keep it with them: nor
+shall a Prince ever want lawfull occasions to give colour to this
+breach. Very many modern examples hereof might be alledg'd, wherein
+might be shewed how many peaces concluded, and how many promises
+made, have been violated and broken by the infidelity of Princes;
+and ordinarily things have best succeeded with him that hath been
+nearest the Fox in condition. But it is necessary to understand how
+to set a good colour upon this disposition, and to be able to fain
+and dissemble throughly; and men are so simple, and yeeld so much
+to the present necessities, that he who hath a mind to deceive,
+shall alwaies find another that will be deceivd. I will not conceal
+any one of the examples that have been of late. Alexander the
+sixth, never did any thing else than deceive men, and never meant
+otherwise, and alwaies found whom to work upon; yet never was there
+man would protest more effectually, nor aver any thing with more
+solemn oaths, and observe them less than he; nevertheless, his
+cousenages all thriv'd well with him; for he knew how to play this
+part cunningly. Therefore is there no necessity for a Prince to be
+endued with all above written qualities, but it behooveth well that
+he seem to be so; or rather I will boldly say this, that having
+these qualities, and alwaies regulating himself by them, they are
+hurtfull; but seeming to have them, they are advantageous; as to
+seem pittiful, faithful, mild, religious, and of integrity, and
+indeed to be so; provided withall thou beest of such a <span class=
+"pagenum"><a name="page323" id="page323"></a>{323}</span>
+composition, that if need require to use the contrary, thou canst,
+and knowest how to apply thy self thereto. And it suffices to
+conceive this, that a Prince, and especially a new Prince, cannot
+observe all those things, for which men are held good; he being
+often forc'd, for the maintenance of his State, to do contrary to
+his faith, charity, humanity, and religion: and therefore it
+behooves him to have a mind so disposd, as to turne and take the
+advantage of all winds and fortunes; and as formerly I said, not
+forsake the good, while he can; but to know how to make use of the
+evil upon necessity. A Prince then ought to have a special care,
+that he never let fall any words, but what are all season'd with
+the five above written qualities, and let him seem to him that sees
+and hears him, all pitty, all faith, all integrity, all humanity,
+all religion; nor is there any thing more necessary for him to seem
+to have, than this last quality: for all men in general judge
+thereof, rather by the sight, than by the touch; for every man may
+come to the sight of him, few come to the touch and feeling of him;
+yvery man may come to see what thou seemest, few come to perceive
+and understand what thou art; and those few dare not oppose the
+opinion of many, who have the majesty of State to protect them: And
+in all mens actions, especially those of Princes wherein there is
+no judgement to appeale unto men, forbeare to give their censures,
+till the events and ends of things. Let a Prince therefore take the
+surest courses he can to maintain his life and State: the means
+shall alwaies be thought honorable, and commended by every one; for
+the vulgar is over-taken with the appearance and event of a thing:
+and for the most part of people, they are but the vulgar: the
+others that are but few, take place where the vulgar have no
+subsisteance. A Prince there is in these dayes, whom I shall not do
+well to name, that preaches nothing else but peace and faith; but
+had he kept the one and the other, several times had they taken
+from him his state and reputation.</p>
+<blockquote>
+<p>In the sixteenth, seventeenth, and eighteenth Chap, our Author
+descends to particulars, perswading his Prince in his sixteenth to
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page324" id=
+"page324"></a>{324}</span> such a suppleness of disposition, as
+that upon occasion he can make use either of liberality or
+miserableness, as need shall require. But that of liberality is to
+last no longer than while he is in the way to some designe: which
+if he well weigh, is not really a reward of vertue, how ere it
+seems; but a bait and lure to bring birds to the net. In the
+seventeenth Chap, he treats of clemency and cruelty, neither of
+which are to be exercis'd by him as acts of mercy or justice; but
+as they may serve to advantage his further purposes. And lest the
+Prince should incline too much to clemency, our Author allows
+rather the restraint by fear, than by love. The contrary to which
+all stories shew us. I will say this only, cruelty may cut of the
+power of some, but causes the hatred of all, and gives a will to
+most to take the first occasion offerd for revenge. In the
+eighteenth Chap, our Author discourses how Princes ought to govern
+themselves in keeping their promises made: whereof he sayes they
+ought to make such small reckoning, as that rather they should know
+by their craft how to turne and wind men about, whereby to take
+advantage of all winds and fortunes. To this I would oppose that in
+the fifteenth Psal. v. 5. He that sweareth to his neighbor, and
+disappointeth him not, though it were to his own hindrance. It was
+a King that writ it, and me thinks the rule he gave, should well
+befit both King and Subject: and surely this perswades against all
+taking of advantages. A man may reduce all the causes of
+faith-breaking to three heads. One may be, because he that
+promised, had no intention to keep his word; and this is a wicked
+and malitious way of dealing. A second may bee, because hee that
+promisd, repents of his promise made; and that is grounded on
+unconstancy, and lightness in that he would not be well resolved
+before he entred into covenant. The third may be, when it so falls
+out, that it lyes not in his power that made the promise to
+performe it. In which case a man ought to imitate the good debter,
+who having not wherewithall to pay, hides not himself, but presents
+his person to his creditor, willingly suffering imprisonment. The
+first and second are very vitious and unworthy of a Prince: in the
+third, men might well be directed by the examples of those two
+famous Romans, Regulus and Posthumius. I shall close this with the
+answer of Charles the fifth, when he was pressed to break his word
+with Luther for his safe return from Wormes; <i>Fides rerum
+promissarum etsi toto mundo exulet, tamen apud imperatorem cam
+consistere oportet</i>. Though truth be banisht out of the whole
+world, yet should it alwaies find harbour in an Emperors
+breast.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<p class="side"><i>Gulielmus Xenocarus</i> in vit. Car. Quinti.</p>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page325" id=
+"page325"></a>{325}</span>
+<h2><a name="prince-19" id="prince-19">CHAP. XIX</a></h2>
+<h3>That Princes should take a care, not to incurre contempt or
+hatred.</h3>
+<p><img width="10%" src="images/image-b.png" alt="B" /> ut because
+among the qualities, whereof formerly mention is made, I have
+spoken of those of most importance, I will treat of the others more
+briefly under these qualityes that a Prince is to beware, as in
+part is above-said, and that he fly those things which cause him to
+be odious or vile: and when ever he shall avoid this, he shall
+fully have plaid his part, and in the other disgraces he shall find
+no danger at all. There is nothing makes him so odious, as I said,
+as his extortion of his subjects goods, and abuse of their women,
+from which he ought to forbear; and so long as he wrongs not his
+whole people, neither in their goods, nor honors, they live
+content, and he hath only to strive with the Ambition of some few:
+which many waies and easily too, is restrain'd. To be held various,
+light, effeminate, faint-hearted, unresolv'd, these make him be
+contemnd and thought base, which a Prince should shun like rocks,
+and take a care that in all his actions there appear magnanimity,
+courage, gravity, and valor; and that in all the private affairs of
+his subjects, he orders it so, that his word stand irrevocable: and
+maintain himself in such repute, that no man may think either to
+deceive or wind and turn him about: that Prince that gives such an
+opinion of himself, is much esteemed, and against him who is so
+well esteemed, hardly are any conspiracies made by his subjects, or
+by forreiners any invasion, when once notice is taken of his worth,
+and how much he is reverenced by his subjects: For a Prince ought
+to have two fears, the one from within, in regard of his subjects;
+the other from abroad, in regard of his mighty neighbors; from
+these he defends himself by good armes and good friends; and
+alwayes he shall have <span class="pagenum"><a name="page326" id=
+"page326"></a>{326}</span> good friends, if he have good armes; and
+all things shall alwaies stand sure at home, when those abroad are
+firme, in case some conspiracy have not disturbed them; and however
+the forrein matters stand but ticklishly; yet if he have taken such
+courses at home, and liv'd as we have prescribed, he shall never be
+able (in case he forsake not himself) to resist all possibility,
+force and violence, as I said Nabis the Spartan did: but touching
+his subjects, even when his affairs abroad are setled, it is to be
+fear'd they may conspire privily; from which a Prince sufficiently
+secure himself by shunning to be hated or contemned, and keeping
+himself in his peoples good opinion, which it is necessary for him
+to compass, as formerly we treated at large. And one of the
+powerfullest remedies a Prince can have against conspiracies, is,
+not to be hated nor dispised by the universality; for alwaies he
+that conspires, beleeves the Princes death is acceptable to the
+subject: but when he thinks it displeases them, he hath not the
+heart to venture on such a matter; for the difficulties that are on
+the conspirators side, are infinite. By experience it is plain,
+that many times plots have been laid, but few of them have
+succeeded luckily; for he that conspires, cannot be alone, nor can
+he take the company of any, but of those, who he beleeves are
+malecontents; and so soon as thou hast discover'd thy self to a
+malecontent, thou givest him means to work his own content: for by
+revealing thy treason, he may well hope for all manner of favour:
+so that seeing his gain certain of one side; and on the other,
+finding only doubt and danger, either he had need be a rare friend,
+or that he be an exceeding obstinate enemy to the Prince, if he
+keeps his word with thee. And to reduce this matter into short
+termes: I say, there is nothing but jealousie, fear, and suspect of
+punishment on the conspirators part to affright him; but on the
+Princes part, there is the majesty of the principality, the laws,
+the defences of his friends and the State, which do so guard him,
+that to all these things the peoples good wills being added, it is
+unpossible any one should be so head-strong as to conspire; for
+ordinarily where a traytor is to feare before the execution of his
+mischiefe, <span class="pagenum"><a name="page327" id=
+"page327"></a>{327}</span> in this case he is also to feare
+afterwards, having the people for his enemy when the fact is
+commited, and therefore for this cause, not being able to hope for
+any refuge. Touching this matter, many examples might be brought;
+but I will content my selfe to name one which fell out in the
+memory of our Fathers. Annibal Bentivolii, grand Father of this
+Annibal who now lives, that was Prince in Bolonia, being slaine by
+the Canneschi that conspir'd against him, none of his race being
+left, but this John, who was then in swadling clouts; presently the
+people rose upon this murder, and slew all the Canneschi which
+proceeded from the popular affection, which the family of the
+Bentivolii held then in Bolonia: which was so great, that being
+there remain'd not any, now Anniball was dead, that was able to
+manage the State; and having notice that in Florence there was one
+borne of the Bentivolii, who till then was taken for a Smiths
+sonne: the citizens of Bolonia went to Florence for him, and gave
+the government of their City to him, which was rul'd by him, untill
+John was of fit yeares to governe. I conclude then, that a Prince
+ought to make small account of treasons, whiles he hath the people
+to friend: but if they be his enemies and hate him, he may well
+feare every thing, and every one. And well ordered States, and
+discreet Princes have taken care withall diligence, not to cause
+their great men to fall into desperation, and to content the
+people, and so to maintaine them: for this is one of the most
+important businesses belonging to a Prince. Among the Kingdomes
+that are well orderd and governd in our dayes, is that of France,
+and therein are found exceeding many good orders, whereupon the
+Kings liberty and security depends: of which the chiefe is the
+Parliament, and the authority thereof: for he that founded that
+Kingdome, knowing the great mens ambition and insolence; and
+judgeing it necessary there should be a bridle to curbe them; and
+on the other side knowing the hatred of the Commonalty against the
+great ones, grounded upon feare, intending to secure them, would
+not lay this care wholly upon the King, but take this trouble from
+him, which he <span class="pagenum"><a name="page328" id=
+"page328"></a>{328}</span> might have with the great men, in case
+he favourd the Commonalty; or with the Commonalty, in case he
+favourd the great men; and thereupon set up a third judge, which
+was that, to the end it should keep under the great ones, and
+favour the meaner sort, without any imputation to the King. It was
+not possible to take a better, nor wiser course then this; nor a
+surer way to secure the King, and the Kingdome. From whence we may
+draw another conclusion worthie of note, that Princes ought to
+cause others to take upon them the matters of blame and imputation;
+and upon themselves to take only those of grace and favour. Here
+againe I conclude, that a Prince ought to make good esteeme of his
+Nobility; but not thereby to incur the Commons hatred: It would
+seeme perhaps to many, considering the life and death of many
+Romane Emperours, that they were examples contrary to my opinion,
+finding that some have liv'd worthily, and shewd many rare vertues
+of the minde, and yet have lost the Empire, and been put to death
+by their owne subjects, conspiring against them. Intending then to
+answer these objections, I shall discourse upon the qualities of
+some Emperours, declaring the occasions of their ruine, not
+disagreeing from that which I have alledgd; and part thereof I will
+bestow on the consideration of these things, which are worthy to be
+noted by him that reads the actions of those times: and it shall
+suffice me to take all those Emperours that succeeded in the Empire
+from Marcus the Philosopher to Maximinus, who were Mercus and
+Commodus his sonne, Pertinax, Julian, Severus, Antonius, Caracalla
+his sonne, Macrinus, Heliogabalus, Alexander, and Maximin. And
+first it is to be noted, that where in the other Principalities,
+they are to contend only with the ambition of the Nobles, and the
+insolence of the people; the Romane Emperours had a third
+difficulty, having to support the cruelty and covetousnesse of the
+souldiers, which was so hard a thing, that it caused the ruine of
+many, being hard to satisfy the souldiers, and the people; for the
+people love their quiet, and therefore affect modest Princes; and
+the souldiers love a Prince of a warlike courage, that is insolent,
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page329" id=
+"page329"></a>{329}</span> cruell, and plucking from every one:
+which things they would have them exercise upon the people, whereby
+they might be able to double their stipends, and satisfie their
+avarice and cruelty: whence it proceeds, that those Emperours who
+either by Nature or by Art, had not such a reputation, as therewith
+they could curbe the one and the other, were alwayes ruind: and the
+most of them, specially those who as new men came to the
+principality, finding the difficulty of those two different
+humours, applyed themselves to content the souldiers, making small
+account of wronging the people, which was a course then necessary;
+for the Princes not being able to escape the hatred of every one,
+ought first endeavour that they incurre not the hatred of any whole
+universality; and when they cannot attaine thereunto, they are to
+provide with all industry, to avoyd the hatred of those
+universalities that are the most mighty. And therefore those
+Emperors, who because they were but newly call'd to the Empire, had
+need of extraordinary favours, more willingly stuck to the
+soldiers, than to the people; which neverthelesse turnd to their
+advantage, or otherwise, according as that Prince knew how to
+maintaine his repute with them. From these causes aforesayd
+proceeded it, that Marcus Pertinax, and Alexander, though all
+living modestly, being lovers of justice, and enemies of cruelty,
+courteous and bountifull, had all from Marcus on ward, miserable
+ends; Marcus only liv'd and dy'd exceedingly honoured: for he came
+to the Empire by inheritance, and was not to acknowledge it either
+from the soldiers, nor from the people: afterwards being
+accompanyed with many vertues, which made him venerable, he held
+alwayes whilst he liv'd the one and the other order within their
+limits, and was never either hated, or contemnd. But Pertinax was
+created Emperour against the soldiers wills, who being accustomed
+to live licentiously under Commodus, could not endure that honest
+course that Pertinax sought to reduce them to: Whereupon having
+gotten himself hatred, and to this hatred added contempt, in that
+he was old, was ruind in the very beginning of his government.
+Whence it ought to be <span class="pagenum"><a name="page330" id=
+"page330"></a>{330}</span> observed, that hatred is gaind as well
+by good deeds as bad; and therefore as I formerly said, when a
+Prince would maintaine the State, he is often forced not to be
+good: for when that generality, whether it be the people, or
+soldiers, or Nobility, whereof thou thinkst thou standst in need to
+maintain thee, is corrupted, it behoves thee to follow their
+humour, and content them, and then all good deeds are thy
+adversaries. But let us come to Alexander who was of that
+goodnesse, that among the prayses given him, had this for one, that
+in fourteen yeers wherein he held the Empire, he never put any man
+to death, but by course of justice; neverthelesse being held
+effeminate, and a man that suffered himselfe to be ruled by his
+mother, and thereupon fallen into contempt, the army conspird
+against him. Now on the contrary discoursing upon the qualities of
+Commodus, Severus, Antonius, Caracalla, and Maximinus, you shall
+find them exceeding cruell, and ravinous, who to satisfie their
+soldiers, forbeare no kinde of injury that could be done upon the
+people; and all of them, except Severus, came to evill ends: for in
+Severus, there was such extraordinary valour, that while he held
+the soldiers his freinds, however the people were much burthend by
+him, he might alwayes reigne happily: for his valour rendred him so
+admirable in the souldiers and peoples sights; that these in a
+manner stood amazd and astonishd, and those others reverencing and
+honoring him. And because the actions of this man were exceeding
+great, being in a new Prince, I will briefly shew how well he knew
+to act the Foxes and the Lions parts; the conditions of which two,
+I say, as before, are very necessary for a Prince to imitate.
+Severus having had experience of Julian the Emperours sloth,
+perswaded his army (whereof he was commander in Sclavonia) that
+they should doe well to goe to Rome to revenge Pertinax his death,
+who was put to death by the Imperiall guard; and under this
+pretence, not making any shew that he aspird unto the Empire, set
+his army in march directly towards Rome, and was sooner come into
+Italy, than it was knowne he had mov'd from his station. Being
+ariv'd at Rome, he <span class="pagenum"><a name="page331" id=
+"page331"></a>{331}</span> was by the Senate chosen Emperour for
+feare, and Julian slaine. After this beginning, two difficulties
+yet remaind to Severus, before he could make himselfe Lord of the
+whole State; the one in Asia, where Niger the Generall of those
+armies had gotten the title of Emperour, the other in the West with
+Albinus, who also aspird to the Empire: and because he thought
+there might be some danger to discover himselfe enemy to them both,
+he purposed to set upon Niger, and cozen Albinus, to whom he writ,
+that being elected Emperour by the Senate, he would willingly
+communicate it with him; and thereupon sent him the title of
+C&aelig;sar, and by resolution of the Senate, tooke him to him for
+his Colleague; which things were taken by Albinus in true meaning.
+But afterwards when Severus had overcome and slaine Niger, and
+pacified the affaires and in the East, being returned to Rome, he
+complaind in the Senate of Albinus, how little weighing the
+benefits received from him, he had sought to slay him by treason,
+and therefore was he forc'd to goe punish his ingratitude:
+afterwards he went into France, where he bereft him both of his
+State and life, whoever then shall in particular examine his
+actions, shall finde he was a very cruell Lion, and as crafty a
+Fox: and shall see that he was alwayes feard and reverenc'd by
+every one, and by the armies not hated; and shall nothing marvell
+that he being a new man, was able to hold together such a great
+Empire: for his extraordinary reputation defended him alwayes from
+that hatred, which the people for his extortions might have
+conceiv'd against him. But Antonius his sonne, was also an
+exceeding brave man, and endued with most excellent qualities,
+which causd him to be admird by the people, and acceptable to the
+souldiers, because he was a warlike man, enduring all kind of
+travell and paines, despising all delicate food, and all kinde of
+effeminacy, which gaind him the love of all the armies:
+neverthelesse his fiercenesse and cruelty were such, and so
+hideous, having upon many particular occasions put to death a great
+part of the people of Rome, and all those of Alexandria, that he
+grew odious to the world, and began to be feard by those
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page332" id=
+"page332"></a>{332}</span> also that were neare about him; so that
+he was slaine by a Centurion in the very midst of his army. Where
+it is to be noted, that these kinde of deaths, which follow upon
+the deliberation of a resolv'd and obstinate minde, cannot by a
+Prince be avoyded: for every one that feares not to dye, is able to
+doe it; but a Prince ought to be lesse afraid of it because it very
+seldome falls out. Only should he beware not to doe any extreame
+injury to any of those of whom he serves himself, or that he hath
+near about him in any imployment of his Principality, as Antonius
+did: who had reproachfully slaine a brother of that Centurion; also
+threatned him every day, and neverthelesse entertaind him still as
+one of the guards of his body, which was a rash course taken, and
+the way to destruction, as befell him. But let us come to Commodus
+for whom it was very easie to hold the Empire, by reason it
+descended upon him by inheritance, being Marcus his sonne, and it
+had been enough for him to follow his fathers footsteps, and then
+had he contented both the people and the soldiers: but being of a
+cruell and savage disposition, whereby to exercise his actions upon
+the people, he gave himselfe to entertaine armies, and those in all
+licentiousnesse. On the other part not maintaining his dignity, but
+often descending upon the stages to combate with fencers, and doing
+such other like base things, little worthy of the Imperiall
+majesty, he became contemptible in the soldiers sight; and being
+hated of one part, and despisd of the other, he was conspird
+against, and slaine. It remaines now, that we declare Maximinus his
+conditions, who was a very warlike man; and the armies loathing
+Alexanders effeminacy, whereof I spake before, when they had slain
+him, chose this man Emperour, who not long continued so, because
+two things there were that brought him into hatred and contempt;
+the one because he was very base, having kept cattell in Thrace,
+which was well knowne to every one, and made them to scorne him;
+the other, because in the beginning of his Principality having
+delayd to goe to Rome, and enter into possession of the Imperiall
+throne, he had gaind the infamy of being thought <span class=
+"pagenum"><a name="page333" id="page333"></a>{333}</span> exceeding
+cruell, having by his Prefects in Rome, and in every place of the
+Empire, exercisd many cruelties, insomuch that the whole world
+being provok'd against him to contempt for the basenesse of his
+blood; on the other side upon the hatred conceiv'd against him for
+feare of his crulty; first Affrica, afterwards the Senate, with all
+the people of Rome and all Italy, conspired against him, with whom
+his own army took part; which incamping before Aquileya, and
+finding some difficulty to take the town, being weary of his
+cruelties, and because they saw he had so many enemies, fearing him
+the lesse, slew him. I purpose not to say any thing either of
+Heliogabalus, Macrinus, or Julian, who because they were throughly
+base, were sudenly extinguished: but I will come to the conclusion
+of this discourse; and I say, that the Princes of our times have
+lesse of this difficulty to satisfie the Soldiers extraordinarily
+in their government; for notwithstanding that there be some
+considerations to be had of them, yet presently are those armies
+dissolved, because none of these Princes do use to maintaine any
+armies together, which are annex'd and inveterated with the
+governments of the provinces, as were the armies of the Romane
+Empire. And therefore if then it was necessary rather to content
+the soldiers than the people, it was because the soldiers were more
+powerfull than the people: now is it more necessary for all
+Princes, (except the Turk and the Souldan) to satisfie their people
+than their soldiers, because the people are more mighty than they;
+wherein I except the Turk, he alwayes maintaining about his person
+12000 foot, and 15000 horse, upon which depends the safety and
+strength of his Kingdome; and it is necessary that laying aside all
+other regard of his people, he maintaine these his friends. The
+Souldans Kingdome is like hereunto, which being wholy in the
+souldiers power, he must also without respect of his people keep
+them his friends. And you are to consider, that this State of the
+Souldans differs much from all the other Principalities: For it is
+very like the Papacy, which cannot be termd an hereditary
+Principality: nor a new Principality: for the sons of the deceasd
+Prince are <span class="pagenum"><a name="page334" id=
+"page334"></a>{334}</span> not heires and Lords thereof, but he
+that is chosen receives that dignity from those who have the
+authority in them. And this order being of antiquity, cannot be
+termd a new Principality, because therein are none of those
+difficulties that are in new ones: for though the Prince be new,
+yet are the orders of that state ancient, and ordaind to receive
+him, as if he were their hereditary Prince. But let us returne to
+our matter; whosoever shall consider our discourse before, shall
+perceive that either hatred, or contempt have caus'd the ruine of
+the afore-named Emperors; and shall know also, from it came that
+part of them proceeding one way, and part a contrary; yet in any of
+them the one had a happy success, and the others unhappy: for it
+was of no availe, but rather hurtful for Pertinax and Alexander,
+because they were new Princes, to desire to imitate Marcus, who by
+inheritance came to the Principality: and in like manner it was a
+wrong to Caracalla, Commodus, and Maximus, to imitate Severus,
+because none of them were endued with so great valor as to follow
+his steps therein. Wherefore a new Prince in his Principality
+cannot well imitate Marcus his actions; nor yet is it necessary to
+follow those of Severus: but he ought make choyce of those parts in
+Severus which are necessary for the founding of a State; and to
+take from Marcus those that are fit and glorious to preserve a
+State which is already established and setled.</p>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page335" id=
+"page335"></a>{335}</span>
+<h2><a name="prince-20" id="prince-20">CHAP. XX</a></h2>
+<h3>Whether the Citadels and many other things which Princes often
+make use of, are profitable or dammageable.</h3>
+<p><img width="10%" src="images/image-s.png" alt="S" /> ome
+Princes, whereby they might safely keep their State, have disarmed
+their subjects; some others have held the towns under their
+dominion, divided into factions; others have maintain'd enmities
+against themselves; others have appli'd themselves to gain them,
+where they have suspected at their entrance into the government;
+others have built Fortresses; and others again have ruined and
+demolished them: and however that upon all these things, a man
+cannot well pass a determinate sentence, unless one comes to the
+particulars of these States, where some such like determinations
+were to be taken; yet I shall speak of them in so large a manner,
+as the matter of it self will bear. It was never then that a new
+Prince would disarme his own subjects; but rather when he hath
+found them disarmed, he hath alwaies arm'd them. For being belov'd,
+those armes become thine; those become faithful, which thou hadst
+in suspicion; and those which were faithful, are maintaind so; and
+thy subjects are made thy partisans; and because all thy subjects
+cannot be put in armes, when thou bestowest favors on those thou
+armest, with the others thou canst deal more for thy safety; and
+that difference of proceeding which they know among them, obliges
+them to thee; those others excuse thee, judgeing it necessary that
+they have deservd more, who have undergone more danger, and so have
+greater obligation: but when thou disarmst them, thou beginst to
+offend them, that thou distrustest them, either for cowardise, or
+small faith; and the one or the other of those two opinions
+provokes their hatred against thee; and because thou canst not
+stand disarmed, <span class="pagenum"><a name="page336" id=
+"page336"></a>{336}</span> thou must then turn thy self to
+mercenary Soldiery, whereof we have formerly spoken what it is, and
+when it is good; it can never be so much as to defend thee from
+powerful enemies, and suspected subjects; therefore as I have said,
+a new Prince in a new Principality hath alwaies ordaind them armes.
+Of examples to this purpose, Histories are full. But when a Prince
+gains a new State, which as a member he adds to his ancient
+dominions, then it is necessary to disarme that State, unless it be
+those whom thou hast discoverd to have assisted thee in the
+conquest thereof; and these also in time and upon occasions, it is
+necessary to render delicate and effeminate, and so order them,
+that all the arms of thy State be in the hands of thy own Soldiers,
+who live in thy ancient State near unto thee. Our ancestors and
+they that were accounted Sages, were wont to say that it was
+necessary to hold Pistoya in factions, and Pisa with Fortresses;
+and for this cause maintaind some towns subject to them in
+differences, whereby to hold it more easily. This, at what time
+Italy was ballanc'd in a certain manner, might be well done; but
+mee thinks it cannot now a dayes be well given for a precept; for I
+do not beleeve, that divisions made can do any good; rather it must
+needs be, that when the enemy approaches them, Cities divided are
+presently lost; for alwaies the weaker part will cleave to the
+forrein power, and the other not be able to subsist. The Venetians
+(as I think) mov'd by the aforesaid reasons, maintaind the factions
+of the Guelfes and Gibellins, in their townes; and however they
+never suffered them to spill one anothers blood, yet they nourish'd
+these differences among them, to the end that the citizens imployd
+in these quarrels, should not plot any thing against them: which as
+it proved, never serv'd them to any great purpose: for being
+defeated at Vayla, presently one of those two factions took courage
+and seizd upon their whole State. Therefore such like waies argue
+the Princes weakness; for in a strong principality they never will
+suffer such divisions; for they shew them some kind of profit in
+time of peace, being they are able by means thereof more easily to
+mannage their subjects: but war comming, such like orders discover
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page337" id=
+"page337"></a>{337}</span> their fallacy. Without doubt, Princes
+become great, when they overcome the difficulties and oppositions
+that are made against them; and therefore Fortune especially when
+she hath to make any new Prince great, who hath more need to gain
+reputation than an hereditary Prince, causes enemies to rise
+against him, and him to undertake against them: to the end he may
+have occasion to master them, and know that ladder, which his
+enemies have set him upon, whereby to rise yet higher. And
+therefore many think, that a wise Prince when he hath the occasion,
+ought cunningly to nourish some enmity, that by the suppressing
+thereof, his greatness may grow thereupon. Princes, especially
+those that are new, have found more faith and profit in those men,
+who in the beginning of their State, have been held suspected, than
+in those who at their entrance have been their confidents.
+Pandulphus Petrucci, Prince of Siena, governd his State, more with
+them that had been suspected by him, than with the others. But of
+this matter we cannot speak at large, because it varies according
+to the subject; I will only say this, that those men, who in the
+beginning of a Principality were once enemies, if they be of
+quality so that to maintain themselves they have need of support,
+the Prince might alwaies with the greatest facility gain for his;
+and they are the rather forced to serve him faithfully, insomuch as
+they know it is more necessary for them by their deeds to cancel
+that sinister opinion, which was once held of them; and so the
+Prince ever draws from these more advantage, than from those, who
+serving him too supinely, neglect his affairs. And seing the matter
+requires it, I will not omit to put a Prince in mind, who hath anew
+made himself master of a State, by means of the inward helps he had
+from thence that he consider well the cause that mov'd them that
+favor'd him to favor him, if it be not a natural affection towards
+him; for if it be only because they were not content with their
+former government, with much pains and difficulties shall he be
+able to keep them long his friends, because it will be impossible
+for him to content them. By these examples then which are drawn out
+of ancient and modern <span class="pagenum"><a name="page338" id=
+"page338"></a>{338}</span> affaires, searching into the cause
+hereof, we shall find it much more easie to gain those men for
+friends, who formerly were contented with the State, and therefore
+were his enemies: than those, who because they were not contented
+therewith, became his fiends, and favor'd him in getting the
+mastery of it. It hath been the custome of Princes, whereby to hold
+their States more securely, to build Citadels, which might be
+bridles and curbs to those that should purpose any thing against
+them, and so to have a secure retreat from the first violences. I
+commend this course, because it hath been used of old;
+notwithstanding Nicholas Vitelli in our dayes hath been known to
+demolish two Citadels in the town of Castello, the better to keep
+the State; Guidubaldo Duke of Urbin being to return into his State,
+out of which he was driven by C&aelig;sar Borgia, raz'd all the
+Fortresses of that Countrey, and thought he should hardlyer lose
+that State again without them. The Bentivolii returning into
+Bolonia, used the like courses. Citadels then are profitable, or
+not, according to the times; and if they advantage thee in one
+part, they do thee harme in another; and this part may be argued
+thus. That Prince who stands more in fear of his own people than of
+strangers, ought to build Fortresses: but he that is more afraid of
+strangers than of his people, should let them alone. Against the
+house of Sforza, the Castle of Milan, which Francis Sforza built,
+hath and will make more war, than any other disorder in that State:
+and therefore the best Citadel that may be, is not to incurre the
+peoples hatred; for however thou holdest a Fortress, and the people
+hate thee, thou canst hardly scape them; for people, when once they
+have taken armes, never want the help of strangers at their need to
+take ther parts. In our dayes we never saw that they ever profited
+any Prince, unless it were the Countess of Furli, when Count
+Hieronymo of Furli her husband was slain; for by means thereof she
+escap'd the peoples rage, and attended aid from Milan, and so
+recover'd her State: and then such were the times that the stranger
+could not assist the people: but afterwards they serv'd her to
+little purpose, when C&aelig;sar Borgia assaild her, and that
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page339" id=
+"page339"></a>{339}</span> the people which was her enemy, sided
+with the stranger. Therefore both then, and at first, it would have
+been more for her safety, not to have been odious to the people,
+than to have held the Fortresses. These things being well weigh'd
+then, I will commend those that shall build up Fortresses, and him
+also that shall not; and I will blame him, howsoever he be, that
+relying upon those, shall make small account of being hated by his
+people.</p>
+<h2><a name="prince-21" id="prince-21">CHAP. XXI</a></h2>
+<h3>How a Prince ought to behave himself to gain reputation.</h3>
+<p><img width="10%" src="images/image-t.png" alt="T" /> here is
+nothing gains a Prince such repute as great exploits, and rare
+tryals of himself in Heroick actions. We have now in our dayes
+Ferdinand King of Arragon the present King of Spain: he in a manner
+may be termed a new Prince; for from a very weak King, he is now
+become for fame and glory, the first King of Christendome, and if
+you shall wel consider his actions, you shall find them all
+illustrious, and every one of them extraordinary. He in the
+beginning of his reign assaild Granada, and that exploit was the
+ground of his State. At first he made that war in security, and
+without suspicion he should be any waies hindred, and therein held
+the Barons of Castiglias minds busied, who thinking upon that war,
+never minded any innovation; in this while he gaind credit and
+authority with them, they not being aware of it; was able to
+maintain with the Church and the peoples money all his soldiers,
+and to lay a foundation for his military ordinances with that long
+war, which afterwards gaind him exceeding much honor. Besides this,
+to the end he might be able hereamong to undertake greater matters,
+serving himself alwaies of the colour of religion, he gave himself
+to a kind of <span class="pagenum"><a name="page340" id=
+"page340"></a>{340}</span> religious cruelty, chasing and
+dispoyling those Jewes out of the Kingdome; nor can this example be
+more admirable and rare: under the same cloke he invaded Affrick
+and went through with his exploit in Italy: and last of all hath he
+assaild France, and so alwaies proceeded on forwards contriving of
+great matters, which alwaies have held his subjects minds in peace
+and admiration, and busied in attending the event, what it should
+be: and these his actions have thus grown, one upon another, that
+they have never given leisure to men so to rest, as they might ever
+plot any thing against them. Moreover it much avails a Prince to
+give extraordinary proofes of himself touching the government
+within, such as those we have heard of Bernard of Milan, whensoever
+occasion is given by any one, that may effectuate some great thing
+either of good or evil, in the civil government; and to find out
+some way either to reward or punish it, whereof in the world much
+notice may be taken. And above all things a Prince ought to
+endeavor in all his actions to spread abroad a fame of his
+magnificence and worthiness. A Prince also is well esteemed, when
+he is a true friend, or a true enemy; when without any regard he
+discovers himself in favor of one against another; which course
+shall be alwaies more profit, than to stand neuter: for if two
+mighty ones that are thy neighbors, come to fall out, or are of
+such quality, that one of them vanquishing, thou art like to be in
+fear of the vanquisher, or not; in either of these two cases, it
+will ever prove more for thy profit, to discover thy self, and make
+a good war of it: for in the first case, if thou discoverest not
+thy selfe, thou shalt alwaies be a prey to him that overcomes, to
+the contentment and satisfaction of the vanquisht; neither shalt
+thou have reason on thy side, nor any thing else to defend or
+receive thee. For he that overcomes, will not have any suspected
+friends that give him no assistance in his necessity: and he that
+loses, receives thee not, because thou wouldest not with thy armes
+in hand run the hazzard of his fortune. Antiochus passed into
+Greece, thereunto induc'd by the Etolians, to chace the Romans
+thence: and sent his Ambassadors to the <span class=
+"pagenum"><a name="page341" id="page341"></a>{341}</span> Achayans,
+who were the Romans friends, to perswade them to stand neuters; on
+the other side the Romans moved them to joyne armes with theirs:
+this matter came to be deliberated on in the council of the
+Achayans, where Antiochus his Ambassador encouraged them to stand
+neuters, whereunto the Romans Ambassador answerd; Touching the
+course, that is commended to you, as best and profitablest for your
+State, to wit, not to intermeddle in the war between us, nothing
+can be more against you: because, not taking either part, you shall
+remain without thanks, and without reputation a prey to the
+conqueror. And it will alwaies come to pass that he who is not thy
+friend, will requite thy neutrality; and he that is thy friend,
+will urge thee to discover thy self by taking arms for him: and
+evil advised Princes; to avoyd the present dangers, folow often
+times that way of neutrality, and most commonly go to ruine: but
+when a Prince discovers himself strongly in favor of a party; if he
+to whom thou cleavest, overcomes; however that he be puissant, and
+thou remainest at his disposing, he is oblig'd to thee, and there
+is a contract of friendship made; and men are never so openly
+dishonest, as with such a notorious example of dishonesty to
+oppress thee. Besides victories are never so prosperous, that the
+conqueror is like neglect all respects, and especially of justice.
+But if he to whom thou stickst, loses, thou art received by him;
+and, while he is able, he aydes thee, and so thou becomest partner
+of a fortune that may arise again; the second case, when they that
+enter into the lists together, are of such quality, that thou
+needest not fear him that vanquisheth, so much the more is it
+discretion in thee to stick to him; for thou goest to ruine one
+with his assistance, who ought to do the best he could to save him,
+if he were well advised; and he overcomming, is left at thy
+discretion; and it is unpossible but with thy ayd he must overcome.
+And here it is to be noted, that a Prince should be well aware
+never to joyn with any one more powerfull than himself, to offend
+another, unless upon necessity, as formerly is said. For when he
+overcomes, thou art left at his discretion, and Princes ought avoid
+as <span class="pagenum"><a name="page342" id=
+"page342"></a>{342}</span> much as they are able, to stand at
+anothers discretion. The Venetians took part with France against
+the Duke of Milan, and yet could have avoided that partaking, from
+which proceeded their ruine. But when it cannot be avoyded, as it
+befel the Florentines when the Pope and the King of Spain went both
+with their armies to Lombardy, there the Prince ought to side with
+them for the reasons aforesaid. Nor let any State think they are
+able to make such sure parties, but rather that they are all
+doubtfull; for in the order of things we find it alwaies, that
+whensoever a man seeks to avoid one inconvenient, he incurs
+another. But the principal point of judgement, is in discerning
+between the qualities of inconvenients, and not taking the bad for
+the good. Moreover a Prince ought to shew himself a lover of
+vertue, and that he honors those that excel in every Art.
+Afterwards ought he encourage his Citizens, whereby they may be
+enabled quickly to exercise their faculties as well in merchandise,
+and husbandry, as in any other kind of traffick, to the end that no
+man forbear to adorne and cultivate his possessions for fear that
+he be despoyled of them; or any other to open the commerce upon the
+danger of heavy impositions: but rather to provide rewards for
+those that shall set these matters afoot, or for any one else that
+shall any way amplifie his City or State. Besides he ought in the
+fit times of the year entertain the people with Feasts and Maskes;
+and because every City is devided into Companies, and arts, and
+Tribes, he ought to take special notice of those bodies, and some
+times afford them a meeting, and give them some proof of his
+humanity, and magnificence; yet withall holding firme the majestie
+of his State; for this must never fail in any case.</p>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page343" id=
+"page343"></a>{343}</span>
+<h2><a name="prince-22" id="prince-22">CHAP. XXII</a></h2>
+<h3>Touching Princes Secretaries.</h3>
+<p><img width="10%" src="images/image-i.png" alt="I" /> t is no
+small importance to a Prince, the choyce he makes, of servants
+being ordinarily good or bad, as his wisdome is. And the first
+conjecture one gives of a great man, and of his understanding, is,
+upon the sight of his followers and servants he hath about him,
+when they prove able and faithful, and then may he alwaies be
+reputed wise because he hath known how to discern those that are
+able, and to keep them true to him. But when they are otherwise,
+there can be no good conjecture made of him; for the first error he
+commits, is in this choyce. There was no man that had any knowledge
+of Antonio of Vanafro, the servant of Pandulfus Petrucci Prince of
+Sicily, who did not esteem Pandulfus for a very discreet man,
+having him for his servant. And because there are three kinds of
+understandings; the one that is advised by it self; the other that
+understands when it is informed by another; the third that neither
+is advised by it self nor by the demonstration of another; the
+first is best, the second is good, and the last quite unprofitable.
+Therefore it was of necessity, that if Pandulfus attaind not the
+first degree, yet he got to the second; for whenever any one hath
+the judgement to discerne between the good and the evil, that he
+does and sayes, however that he hath not his distinction from
+himself, yet still comes he to take notice of the good or evil
+actions of that servant; and those he cherishes, and these he
+suppresses; insomuch that the servant finding no means to deceive
+his master, keeps himself upright and honest. But how a Prince may
+throughly understand his servant, here is the way that never fails.
+When thou seest the servant study more for his own advantage than
+thine, and that in all his actions, he searches most <span class=
+"pagenum"><a name="page344" id="page344"></a>{344}</span> after his
+own profit; this man thus qualified, shall never prove good
+servant, nor canst thou ever relie upon him: for he that holds the
+Sterne of the State in hand, ought never call home his cares to his
+own particular, but give himself wholly over to his Princes
+service, nor ever put him in minde of any thing not appertaining to
+him. And on the other side the Prince to keep him good to him,
+ought to take a care for his servant, honoring him, enriching, and
+obliging him to him, giving him part both of dignities and offices,
+to the end that the many honors and much wealth bestowed on him,
+may restrain his desires from other honors, and other wealth, and
+that those many charges cause him to fear changes that may fall,
+knowing he is not able to stand without his master. And when both
+the Princes and the servants are thus disposed, they may rely the
+one upon the other: when otherwise, the end will ever prove
+hurtfull for the one as well as for the other.</p>
+<h2><a name="prince-23" id="prince-23">CHAP. XXIII</a></h2>
+<h3>That Flatterers are to be avoyded.</h3>
+<p><img width="10%" src="images/image-i.png" alt="I" /> will not
+omit one principle of great inportance, being an errour from which
+Princes with much difficulty defend themselves, unlesse they be
+very discreet, and make a very good choice; and this is concerning
+flatterers; whereof all writings are full: and that because men
+please themselves so much in their own things, and therein cozen
+themselves, that very hardly can they escape this pestilence; and
+desiring to escape it, there is danger of falling into contempt;
+for there is no other way to be secure from flattery, but to let
+men know, that they displease thee not in telling thee truth: but
+when every one hath this leave, thou losest thy reverence.
+Therefore ought <span class="pagenum"><a name="page345" id=
+"page345"></a>{345}</span> a wise Prince take a third course,
+making choyce of some understanding men in his State, and give only
+to them a free liberty of speaking to him the truth; and touching
+those things only which he inquires of, and nothing else; but he
+ought to be inquisitive of every thing, and hear their opinions,
+and then afterwards advise himself after his own manner; and in
+these deliberations, and with every one of them so carrie himself,
+that they all know, that the more freely they shall speak, the
+better they shall be liked of: and besides those, not give eare to
+any one; and thus pursue the thing resolved on, and thence continue
+obstinate in the resolution taken. He who does otherwise, either
+falls upon flatterers, or often changes upon the varying of
+opinions, from whence proceeds it that men conceive but slightly of
+him. To this purpose I will alledge you a moderne example. Peter
+Lucas a servant of Maximilians the present Emperor, speaking of his
+Majesty, said that he never advised with any body, nor never did
+any thing after his own way: which was because he took a contrary
+course to what we have now said: for the Emperor is a close man,
+who communicates his secrets to none, nor takes counsel of any one;
+but as they come to be put in practise, they begin to be discovered
+and known, and so contradicted by those that are near about him;
+and he as being an easy man, is quickly wrought from them. Whence
+it comes that what he does to day, he undoes on the morrow; and
+that he never understands himself what he would, nor what he
+purposes, and that there is no grounding upon any of his
+resolutions. A Prince therefore ought alwayes to take counsell, but
+at his owne pleasure, and not at other mens; or rather should take
+away any mans courage to advise him of any thing, but what he
+askes: but he ought well to aske at large, and then touching the
+things inquird of, be a patient hearer of the truth; and perceiving
+that for some respect the truth were conceald from him, be
+displeased thereat. And because some men have thought that a Prince
+that gaines the opinion to bee wise, may bee held so, not by his
+owne naturall indowments, but by the good counsells he hath about
+him; without <span class="pagenum"><a name="page346" id=
+"page346"></a>{346}</span> question they are deceivd; for this is a
+generall rule and never failes, that a Prince who of himselfe is
+not wise, can never be well advised, unlesse he should light upon
+one alone, wholly to direct and govern him, who himself were a very
+wise man. In this case it is possible he may be well governd: but
+this would last but little: for that governor in a short time would
+deprive him of his State; but a Prince not having any parts of
+nature, being advised of more then one, shall never be able to
+unite these counsels: of himself shall he never know how to unite
+them; and each one of the Counsellers, probably will follow that
+which is most properly his owne; and he shall never find the meanes
+to amend or discerne these things; nor can they fall out otherwise,
+because men alwayes prove mischievous, unlesse upon some necessity
+they be forc'd to become good: we conclude therefore, that
+counsells from whencesoever they proceed, must needs take their
+beginning from the Princes wisdome, and not the wisdome of the
+Prince from good counsells.</p>
+<blockquote>
+<p>In this Chapter our Authour prescribes some rules how to avoyd
+flattery, and not to fall into contempt. The extent of these two
+extreames is so large on both sides, that there is left but a very
+narrow path for the right temper to walke between them both: and
+happy were that Prince, who could light on so good a Pilote as to
+bring him to Port between those rocks and those quicksands. Where
+Majesty becomes familiar, unlesse endued with a super-eminent
+vertue, it loses all awfull regards: as the light of the Sunne,
+because so ordinary, because so common, we should little value,
+were it not that all Creatures feele themselves quickned by the
+rayes thereof. On the other side, <i>Omnis insipiens
+arroganti&acirc; et plausibus capitur</i>, Every foole is taken
+with his owne pride and others flatteryes: and this foole keeps
+company so much with all great wise men, that hardly with a candle
+and lantern can they be discernd betwixt. The greatest men are more
+subject to grosse and palpable flatteries; and especially the
+greatest of men, who are Kings and Princes: for many seek the
+Rulers favour. <i>Prov.</i> 28. 26. For there are divers meanes
+whereby private men are instructed; Princes have not that good hap:
+but they whose instruction is of most importance, so soone as they
+have taken the government upon them, no longer suffer any
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page347" id=
+"page347"></a>{347}</span> reproovers: for but few have accesse
+unto them, and they who familiary converse with them, doe and say
+all for favour. Isocrat, to Nicocles, All are afraid to give him
+occasion of displeasure, though by telling him truth. To this
+purpose therefore sayes one; a Prince excells in learning to ride
+the great horse, rather than in any other exercise, because his
+horse being no flatterer, will shew him he makes no difference
+between him and another man, and unlesse he keepe his seate well,
+will lay him on the ground. This is plaine dealing. Men are more
+subtile, more double-hearted, they have a heart and a heart neither
+is their tongue their hearts true interpreter. Counsell in the
+heart of man is like deepe waters; but a man of understanding will
+draw it out. <i>Prov.</i> 20. 5. This understanding is most
+requisite in a Prince, inasmuch as the whole Globe is in his hand,
+and the inferiour Orbes are swayed by the motion of the highest.
+And therefore surely it is the honour of a King to search out such
+a secret: <i>Prov.</i> 25. 2. His counsellours are his eyes and
+eares; as they ought to be dear to him, so they ought to be true to
+him, and make him the true report of things without disguise. If
+they prove false eyes, let him pluck them out; he may as they use
+glasse eyes, take them forth without paine, and see never a whit
+the worse for it. The wisdome of a Princes Counsellours is a great
+argument of the Princes wisdome. And being the choyce of them
+imports the Princes credit and safety, our Authour will make him
+amends for his other errours by his good advice in his 22 Chap.
+whether I referre him.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<h2><a name="prince-24" id="prince-24">CHAP. XXIV</a></h2>
+<h3>Wherefore the Princes of Italy have lost their States.</h3>
+<p><img width="10%" src="images/image-w.png" alt="W" /> hen these
+things above said are well observ'd, they make a new Prince seeme
+as if he had been of old, and presently render him more secure and
+firme in the State, than if he had already grown ancient therein:
+for a new Prince is much more observd in his action, than a Prince
+by inheritance; and when they are known to bee vertuous, men are
+much more gaind and oblig'd to them thereby, than by the antiquity
+of their blood: for men <span class="pagenum"><a name="page348" id=
+"page348"></a>{348}</span> are much more taken by things present,
+than by things past, and when in the present they find good, they
+content themselves therein, and seeke no further; or rather they
+undertake the defence of him to their utmost, when the Prince is
+not wanting in other matters to himself; and so shall he gaine
+double glory to have given a beginning to a new Principality,
+adornd, and strengthnd it with good lawes, good arms, good friends,
+and good examples; as he shall have double shame, that is born a
+Prince, and by reason of his small discretion hath lost it. And if
+we shall consider those Lords, that in Italy have lost their States
+in our dayes, as the King of Naples, the Duke of Milan, and others;
+first we shall find in them a common defect, touching their armes,
+for the reasons which have been above discoursd at length.
+Afterwards we shall see some of them, that either shall have had
+the people for their enemies; or be it they had the people to
+friend, could never know how to assure themselves of the great
+ones: for without such defects as these, States are not lost, which
+have so many nerves, that they are able to maintaine an army in the
+feld. Philip of Macedon, not the father of Alexander the Great, but
+he that was vanquished by Titus Quintius, had not much State in
+regard of the greatnesse of the Romanes and of Greece that assail'd
+him; neverthelesse in that he was a warlike man and knew how to
+entertaine the people, and assure himself of the Nobles, for many
+yeares he made the warre good against them: and though at last some
+town perhaps were taken from him, yet the Kingdome remaind in his
+hands still. Wherefore these our Princes who for many yeares had
+continued in their Principalities, for having afterwards lost them,
+let them not blame Fortune, but their own sloth; because they never
+having thought during the time of quiet, that they could suffer a
+change (which is the common fault of men, while faire weather
+lasts, not to provide for the tempest) when afterwards mischiefes
+came upon them, thought rather upon flying from them, than upon
+their defence, and hop'd that the people, weary of the vanquishers
+insolence, would recall them: which course when the others faile,
+is good: <span class="pagenum"><a name="page349" id=
+"page349"></a>{349}</span> but very ill is it to leave the other
+remedies for that: for a man wou'd never go to fall, beleeving
+another would come to take him up: which may either not come to
+passe, or if it does, it is not for thy security, because that
+defence of his is vile, and depends not upon thee; but those
+defences only are good, certaine, and durable, which depend upon
+thy owne selfe, and thy owne vertues.</p>
+<h2><a name="prince-25" id="prince-25">CHAP. XXV</a></h2>
+<h3>How great power Fortune hath in humane affaires, and what
+meanes there is to resist it.</h3>
+<p><img width="10%" src="images/image-i.png" alt="I" /> t is not
+unknown unto me, how that many have held opinion, and still hold
+it, that the affaires of the world are so governd by fortune, and
+by God, that men by their wisdome cannot amend or alter them; or
+rather that there is no remedy for them: and hereupon they would
+think that it were of no availe to take much paines in any thing,
+but leave all to be governd by chance. This opinion hath gain'd the
+more credit in our dayes, by reason of the great alteration of
+things, which we have of late seen, and do every day see, beyond
+all humane conjecture: upon which, I sometimes thinking, am in some
+parte inclind to their opinion: neverthelesse not to extinguish
+quite our owne free will, I think it may be true, that Fortune is
+the mistrisse of one halfe of our actions; but yet that she lets us
+have rule of the other half, or little lesse. And I liken her to a
+precipitous torrent, which when it rages, over-flows the plaines,
+overthrowes the trees, and buildings, removes the earth from one
+side, and laies it on another, every one flyes before it, every one
+yeelds to the fury thereof, as unable to <span class=
+"pagenum"><a name="page350" id="page350"></a>{350}</span> withstand
+it; and yet however it be thus, when the times are calmer, men are
+able to make provision against these excesses, with banks and
+fences so, that afterwards when it swels again, it shall all passe
+smoothly along, within its channell, or else the violence thereof
+shall not prove so licentious and hurtfull. In like manner befals
+it us with fortune, which there shewes her power where vertue is
+not ordeind to resist her, and thither turnes she all her forces,
+where she perceives that no provisions nor resistances are made to
+uphold her. And if you shall consider Italy, which is the seat of
+these changes, and that which hath given them their motions, you
+shall see it to be a plaine field, without any trench or bank;
+which had it been fenc'd with convenient vertue as was Germany,
+Spain or France; this inundation would never have causd these great
+alterations it hath, or else would it not have reach'd to us: and
+this shall suffice to have said, touching the opposing of fortune
+in generall. But restraining my selfe more to particulars, I say
+that to day we see a Prince prosper and flourish and to morrow
+utterly go to ruine; not seeing that he hath alterd any condition
+or quality; which I beleeve arises first from the causes which we
+have long since run over, that is because that Prince that relies
+wholly upon fortune, runnes as her wheele turnes. I beleeve also,
+that he proves the fortunate man, whose manner of proceeding meets
+with the quality of the time; and so likewise he unfortunate from
+whose course of proceeding the times differ: for we see that men,
+in the things that induce them to the end, (which every one
+propounds to himselfe, as glory and riches) proceed therein
+diversly; some with respects, others more bold, and rashly; one
+with violence, and th'other with cunning; the one with patience,
+th'other with its contrary; and every one of severall wayes may
+attaine thereto; we see also two very respective and wary men, the
+one come to his purpose, and th'other not; and in like maner two
+equally prosper, taking divers course; the one being wary the other
+head-strong; which proceeds from nothing else, but from the quality
+of the times, which agree, or not, with their proceedings.
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page351" id=
+"page351"></a>{351}</span> From hence arises that which I said,
+that two working diversly, produce the same effect: and two equaly
+working, the one attains his end, the other not. Hereupon depends
+the alteration of the good; for if to one that behaves himself with
+warinesse and patience, times and affaires turne so favourably,
+that the carriage of his businesse prove well, he prospers; but if
+the times and affaires chance, he is ruind, because he changes not
+his manner of proceeding: nor is there any man so wise, that can
+frame himselfe hereunto; as well because he cannot go out of the
+way, from that whereunto Nature inclines him: as also, for that one
+having alwayes prosperd, walking such a way, cannot be perswaded to
+leave it; and therefore the respective and wary man, when it is fit
+time for him to use violence and force, knows not how to put it in
+practice, whereupon he is ruind: but if he could change his
+disposition with the times and the affaires, he should not change
+his fortune. Pope Julius the second proceeded in all his actions
+with very great violence, and found the times and things so
+conformable to that his manner of proceeding that in all of them he
+had happy successe. Consider the first exploit he did at Bolonia,
+even while John Bentivolio lived: the Venetians were not well
+contented therewith; the King of Spaine likewise with the French,
+had treated of that enterprise; and notwithstanding al this, he
+stirrd up by his own rage and fiercenesse, personally undertook
+that expedition: which action of his put in suspence and stopt
+Spaine and the Venetians; those for feare, and the others for
+desire to recover the Kingdome of Naples; and on the other part
+drew after him the King of France; for that King seeing him already
+in motion, and desiring to hold him his friend, whereby to humble
+the Venetians, thought he could no way deny him his souldiers,
+without doing him an open injury. Julius then effected that with
+his violent and heady motion, which no other Pope with all humane
+wisdome could ever have done; for if he had expected to part from
+Rome with his conclusions settled, and all his affaires ordered
+before hand, as any other Pope would have done, he had never
+brought it to passe: <span class="pagenum"><a name="page352" id=
+"page352"></a>{352}</span> For the King of France would have
+devised a thousand excuses, and others would have put him in as
+many feares. I will let passe his other actions, for all of them
+were alike, and all of them prov'd lucky to him; and the brevity of
+his life never sufferd him to feele the contrary: for had he litt
+upon such times afterwards, that it had been necessary for him to
+proceed with respects, there had been his utter ruine; for he would
+never have left those wayes, to which he had been naturally
+inclind. I conclude then, fortune varying, and men continuing still
+obstinate to their own wayes, prove happy, while these accord
+together: and as they disagree, prove unhappy: and I think it true,
+that it is better to be heady than wary; because Fortune is a
+mistresse; and it is necessary, to keep her in obedience to ruffle
+and force her: and we see, that she suffers her self rather to be
+masterd by those, than by others that proceed coldly. And
+therefore, as a mistresse, shee is a friend to young men, because
+they are lesse respective, more rough, and command her with more
+boldnesse.</p>
+<blockquote>
+<p>I have considered the 25 Chapter, as representing me a full view
+of humane policy and cunning: yet me thinks it cannot satisfie a
+Christian in the causes of the good and bad successe of things. The
+life of man is like a game at Tables; skill availes much I grant,
+but that's not all: play thy game well, but that will not winne:
+the chance thou throwest must accord with thy play. Examine this;
+play never so surely, play never so probably, unlesse the chance
+thou castest, lead thee forward to advantage, all hazards are
+losses, and thy sure play leaves thee in the lurch. The sum of this
+is set down in Ecclesiastes chap. 9. v. 11. The race is not to the
+swift, nor the battell to the strong: neither yet bread to the
+wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men
+of skill; but time and chance hapeneth to them all. Our cunning
+Author for all his exact rules he delivere in his books, could not
+fence against the despight of Fortune, as he complaines in his
+Epistle to this booke. Nor that great example of policy, Duke
+Valentine, whome our Author commends to Princes for his
+crafts-master, could so ruffle or force his mistresse Fortune, that
+he could keep her in obedience. Man can contribute no more to his
+actions than vertue and wisdome: but the successe depends upon a
+power above. Surely there is the <span class="pagenum"><a name=
+"page353" id="page353"></a>{353}</span> finger of god; or as Prov.
+16. v. 33. 'The lot is cast into the lap, but the whole disposing
+thereof is of the Lord.' It was not Josephs wisdome made all things
+thrive under his hand; but because the Lord was with him; and that
+which he did, the Lord made it to prosper, Gen. 39. Surely this is
+a blessing proceeding from the divine providence, which beyond
+humane capacity so cooperateth with the causes, as that their
+effects prove answerable, and sometimes (that we may know there is
+something above the ordinary causes) the success returns with such
+a supereminency of worth, that it far exceeds the vertue of the
+ordinary causes.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<h2><a name="prince-26" id="prince-26">CHAP. XXVI</a></h2>
+<h3>An Exhortation to free Italy from the Barbarians.</h3>
+<p><img width="10%" src="images/image-h.png" alt="H" /> aving then
+weighed all things above discours'd, and devising with my self,
+whether at this present in Italy the time might serve to honor a
+new Prince, and whether there were matter that might minister
+occasion to a wise and valorous Prince, to introduce such a forme,
+that might do honor to him, and good to the whole generality of the
+people in the countrey: me thinks so many things concurre in favor
+of a new Prince, that I know not whether there were ever any time
+more proper for this purpose. And if as I said, it was necessary,
+desiring to see Moses his vertue, that the children of Israel
+should be inthrald in &AElig;gypt; and to have experience of the
+magnanimity of Cyrus his mind, that the Persians should be
+oppress'd by the Medes; and to set forth the excellency of Theseus,
+that the Athenians should be dispersed; so at this present now we
+are desirous to know the valor of an Italian spirit, it were
+necessary Italy should be reduc'd to the same termes it is now in,
+and were in more slavery than the Hebrews were; more subject than
+the Persians, more <span class="pagenum"><a name="page354" id=
+"page354"></a>{354}</span> scatterd than the Athenians; without
+head, without order, battered, pillaged, rent asunder, overrun, and
+had undergone all kind of destruction. And however even in these
+later dayes, we have had some kind of shew of hope in some one,
+whereby we might have conjectur'd, that he had been ordained for
+the deliverance hereof, yet it prov'd afterwards, that in the very
+height of all his actions he was curb'd by fortune, insomuch that
+this poore countrey remaining as it were without life, attends
+still for him that shall heal her wounds, give an end to all those
+pillagings and sackings of Lombardy, to those robberies and
+taxations of the Kingdome, and of Tuscany, and heal them of their
+soars, now this long time gangren'd. We see how she makes her
+prayers to God, that he send some one to redeem her from these
+Barbarous cruelties and insolencies. We see her also wholly ready
+and disposed to follow any colours, provided there be any one take
+them up. Nor do we see at this present, that she can look for
+other, than your Illustrious Family, to become Cheiftain of this
+deliverance, which hath now by its own vertue and Fortune been so
+much exalted, and favored by God and the Church, whereof it now
+holds the Principality: and this shall not be very hard for you to
+do, if you shall call to mind the former actions, and lives of
+those that are above named. And though those men were very rare and
+admirable, yet were they men, and every one of them began upon less
+occasion than this; for neither was their enterprize more just than
+this, nor more easie; nor was God more their friend, than yours.
+Here is very great justice: for that war is just, that is
+necessary; and those armes are religious, when there is no hope
+left otherwhere, but in them. Here is an exceeding good disposition
+thereto: nor can there be, where there is a good disposition, a
+giant difficulty, provided that use be made of those orders, which
+I propounded for aim and direction to you. Besides this, here we
+see extraordinary things without example effected by God; the sea
+was opened, a cloud guided the way, devotion poured forth the
+waters, and it rain'd down Manna; all these things have concurred
+in your greatness, <span class="pagenum"><a name="page355" id=
+"page355"></a>{355}</span> the rest is left for you to do. God will
+not do every thing himself, that he may not take from us our free
+will, and of that glory that belongs to us. Neither is it a marvel,
+if any of the aforenamed Italians have not been able to compass
+that, which we may hope your illustrious family shall: though in so
+many revolutions of Italy, and so many feats of war, it may seem
+that the whole military vertue therein be quite extinguisht; for
+this arises from that the ancient orders thereof were not good; and
+there hath since been none that hath known how to invent new ones.
+Nothing can so much honor a man rising anew, as new laws and new
+ordinances devised by him: these things when they have a good
+foundation given them, and contain in them their due greatness,
+gain him reverence and admiration; and in Italy their wants not the
+matter wherein to introduce any forme. Here is great vertue in the
+members, were it not wanting in the heads. Consider in the single
+fights that have been, and duels, how much the Italians have
+excel'd in their strength, activity and address; but when they come
+to armies, they appear not, and all proceeds from the weakness of
+the Chieftaines; for they that understand the managing of these
+matters, are not obeyed; and every one presumes to understand;
+hitherto there having not been any one so highly raised either by
+fortune or vertue, as that others would submit unto him. From hence
+proceeds it, that in so long time, and in so many battels fought
+for these last past 20 years, when there hath been an army wholly
+Italian, it alwaies hath had evil success; whereof the river Tarus
+first was witness, afterwards Alexandria, Capua, Genua, Vayla,
+Bolonia, Mestri. Your Illustrious family then being desirous to
+tread the footsteps of these Worthyes who redeem'd their countreys,
+must above all things as the very foundation of the whole fabrick,
+be furnished with soldiers of your own natives: because you cannot
+have more faithful, true, nor better soldiers; and though every one
+of them be good, all together they will become better when they
+shall find themselves entertained, commanded, and honored by their
+own Prince. Wherefore it is necessary to provide for <span class=
+"pagenum"><a name="page356" id="page356"></a>{356}</span> those
+armes, whereby to be able with the Italian valor to make a defence
+against forreiners. And however the Swisse infantry and Spanish be
+accounted terrible; yet is there defect in both of them, by which a
+third order might not only oppose them, but may be confident to
+vanquish them: for the Spaniards are not able to indure the Horse,
+and the Swisse are to feare the foot, when they incounter with
+them, as resolute in the fight as they; whereupon it hath been
+seen, and upon experience shall be certain, that the Spaniards are
+not able to beare up against the French Cavalery, and the Swisses
+have been routed by the Spanish Foot. And though touching this
+last, there hath not been any entire experience had, yet was there
+some proof thereof given in the battel of Ravenna, when the Spanish
+Foot affronted the Dutch battalions, which keep the same rank the
+Swisses do, where the Spaniards with their nimbleness of body, and
+the help of their targets entred in under their Pikes, and there
+stood safe to offend them, the Dutch men having no remedy: and had
+it not been for the Cavalery that rusht in upon them, they had
+quite defeated them. There may then (the defect of the one and
+other of these two infantries being discoverd) another kind of them
+be anew ordained, which may be able to make resistance against the
+Horse, and not fear the Foot, which shall not be a new sort of
+armes, but change of orders. And these are some of those things
+which ordained a new, gain reputation and greatness to a new
+Prince. Therefore this occasion should not be let pass, to the end
+that Italy after so long a time may see some one redeemer of hers
+appear. Nor can I express with what dearness of affection he would
+be received in all those countreys which have suffered by those
+forrein scums, with what thirst of revenge, with what resolution of
+fidelity, with what piety, with what tears. Would any gates be shut
+again him? Any people deny him obedience? Any envy oppose him?
+Would not every Italian fully consent with him? This government of
+the Barbarians stinks in every ones nostrils. Let your Illustrious
+Family then undertake this worthy exployt with that courage and
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page357" id=
+"page357"></a>{357}</span> those hopes wherewith such just actions
+are to be attempted; to the end that under your colours, this
+countrey may be enabled, and under the protection of your fortune
+that saying of Petrarch be verifyed.</p>
+<div class="poem">
+<div class="stanza">
+<p><i>Virt&ugrave; contr' al fuore</i></p>
+<p><i>Prendera l'arme, e fia il combatter corto:</i></p>
+<p><i>Che l'antico valore</i></p>
+<p><i>Ne gli Italici cor non &egrave; morto.</i></p>
+</div>
+<div class="stanza">
+<p>Vertue against fury shall advance the fight,</p>
+<p>And it i' th' combate soon shall put to flight:</p>
+<p>For th' old Roman valor is not dead,</p>
+<p>Nor in th' Italians brests extinguished.</p>
+</div>
+</div>
+<p>FINIS</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<hr class="full" />
+<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MACHIAVELLI, VOLUME I***</p>
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@@ -0,0 +1,12816 @@
+The Project Gutenberg eBook, Machiavelli, Volume I, by Niccolo
+Machiavelli, Translated by Peter Whitehorne and Edward Dacres
+
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+
+
+
+Title: Machiavelli, Volume I
+       The Art of War; and The Prince
+
+
+Author: Niccolo Machiavelli
+
+Translator: Peter Whitehorne and Edward Dacres
+
+Release Date: May 6, 2005  [eBook #15772]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII)
+
+
+***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MACHIAVELLI, VOLUME I***
+
+
+E-text prepared by Ted Garvin, David King, and the Project Gutenberg
+Online Distributed Proofreading Team
+
+
+
+MACHIAVELLI
+
+WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY
+
+HENRY CUST. M.P.
+
+VOLUME I
+
+
+
+THE ART OF WAR
+
+TRANSLATED BY
+
+PETER WHITEHORNE
+
+1560
+
+
+
+THE PRINCE
+
+TRANSLATED BY
+
+EDWARD DACRES
+
+1640
+
+
+
+LONDON
+
+Published by DAVID NUTT
+at the Sign of the Phoenix
+LONG ACRE
+
+1905
+
+Edinburgh: T. and A. CONSTABLE, Printers to His Majesty
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+TO MY FRIEND
+CHARLES WHIBLEY
+
+H.C.
+
+
+
+
+INTRODUCTION
+
+
+[Sidenote: The Life of a Day.]
+
+'I am at my farm; and, since my last misfortunes, have not been in
+Florence twenty days. I spent September in snaring thrushes; but at the
+end of the month, even this rather tiresome sport failed me. I rise with
+the sun, and go into a wood of mine that is being cut, where I remain
+two hours inspecting the work of the previous day and conversing with
+the woodcutters, who have always some trouble on hand amongst themselves
+or with their neighbours. When I leave the wood, I go to a spring, and
+thence to the place which I use for snaring birds, with a book under my
+arm--Dante or Petrarch, or one of the minor poets, like Tibullus or
+Ovid. I read the story of their passions, and let their loves remind me
+of my own, which is a pleasant pastime for a while. Next I take the
+road, enter the inn door, talk with the passers-by, inquire the news of
+the neighbourhood, listen to a variety of matters, and make note of the
+different tastes and humours of men.
+
+'This brings me to dinner-time, when I join my family and eat the poor
+produce of my farm. After dinner I go back to the inn, where I generally
+find the host and a butcher, a miller, and a pair of bakers. With these
+companions I play the fool all day at cards or backgammon: a thousand
+squabbles, a thousand insults and abusive dialogues take place, while we
+haggle over a farthing, and shout loud enough to be heard from San
+Casciano.
+
+'But when evening falls I go home and enter my writing-room. On the
+threshold I put off my country habits, filthy with mud and mire, and
+array myself in royal courtly garments. Thus worthily attired, I make my
+entrance into the ancient courts of the men of old, where they receive
+me with love, and where I feed upon that food which only is my own and
+for which I was born. I feel no shame in conversing with them and asking
+them the reason of their actions.
+
+'They, moved by their humanity, make answer. For four hours' space I
+feel no annoyance, forget all care; poverty cannot frighten, nor death
+appal me. I am carried away to their society. And since Dante says "that
+there is no science unless we retain what we have learned" I have set
+down what I have gained from their discourse, and composed a treatise,
+_De Principalibus_, in which I enter as deeply as I can into the science
+of the subject, with reasonings on the nature of principality, its
+several species, and how they are acquired, how maintained, how lost. If
+you ever liked any of my scribblings, this ought to suit your taste. To
+a prince, and especially to a new prince, it ought to prove acceptable.
+Therefore I am dedicating it to the Magnificence of Giuliano.'
+
+[Sidenote: Niccolo Machiavelli.]
+
+Such is the account that Niccolo Machiavelli renders of himself when
+after imprisonment, torture, and disgrace, at the age of forty-four, he
+first turned to serious writing. For the first twenty-six or indeed
+twenty-nine of those years we have not one line from his pen or one word
+of vaguest information about him. Throughout all his works written for
+publication, there is little news about himself. Montaigne could
+properly write, 'Ainsi, lecteur, je suis moy-mesme la matiere de mon
+livre.' But the matter of Machiavelli was far other: 'Io ho espresso
+quanto io so, e quanto io ho imparato per una lunga pratica e continua
+lezione delle cose del mondo.'
+
+[Sidenote: The Man.]
+
+Machiavelli was born on the 3rd of May 1469. The period of his life
+almost exactly coincides with that of Cardinal Wolsey. He came of the
+old and noble Tuscan stock of Montespertoli, who were men of their hands
+in the eleventh century. He carried their coat, but the property had
+been wasted and divided. His forefathers had held office of high
+distinction, but had fallen away as the new wealth of the bankers and
+traders increased in Florence. He himself inherited a small property in
+San Casciano and its neighbourhood, which assured him a sufficient, if
+somewhat lean, independence. Of his education we know little enough. He
+was well acquainted with Latin, and knew, perhaps, Greek enough to serve
+his turn. 'Rather not without letters than lettered,' Varchi describes
+him. That he was not loaded down with learned reading proved probably a
+great advantage. The coming of the French, and the expulsion of the
+Medici, the proclamation of the Republic (1494), and later the burning
+of Savonarola convulsed Florence and threw open many public offices. It
+has been suggested, but without much foundation, that some clerical work
+was found for Machiavelli in 1494 or even earlier. It is certain that on
+July 14, 1498, he was appointed Chancellor and Secretary to the Dieci di
+Liberta e Pace, an office which he held till the close of his political
+life at fall of the Republic in 1512.
+
+[Sidenote: Official Life.]
+
+The functions of his Council were extremely varied, and in the hands of
+their Secretary became yet more diversified. They represented in some
+sense the Ministry for Home, Military, and especially for Foreign
+Affairs. It is impossible to give any full account of Machiavelli's
+official duties. He wrote many thousands of despatches and official
+letters, which are still preserved. He was on constant errands of State
+through the Florentine dominions. But his diplomatic missions and what
+he learned by them make the main interest of his office. His first
+adventure of importance was to the Court of Caterina Sforza, the Lady of
+Forli, in which matter that astute Countess entirely bested the teacher
+of all diplomatists to be. In 1500 he smelt powder at the siege at Pisa,
+and was sent to France to allay the irritations of Louis XII. Many
+similar and lesser missions follow. The results are in no case of great
+importance, but the opportunities to the Secretary of learning men and
+things, intrigue and policy, the Court and the gutter were invaluable.
+At the camp of Caesar Borgia, in 1502, he found in his host that
+fantastic hero whom he incarnated in _The Prince_, and he was
+practically an eye-witness of the amazing masterpiece, the Massacre of
+Sinigaglia. The next year he is sent to Rome with a watching brief at
+the election of Julius II., and in 1506 is again sent to negotiate with
+the Pope. An embassy to the Emperor Maximilian, a second mission to the
+French King at Blois, in which he persuades Louis XII. to postpone the
+threatened General Council of the Church (1511), and constant
+expeditions to report upon and set in order unrestful towns and
+provinces did not fulfil his activity. His pen was never idle. Reports,
+despatches, elaborate monographs on France, Germany, or wherever he
+might be, and personal letters innumerable, and even yet unpublished,
+ceased not night nor day. Detail, wit, character-drawing, satire,
+sorrow, bitterness, all take their turn. But this was only a fraction of
+his work. By duty and by expediency he was bound to follow closely the
+internal politics of Florence where his enemies and rivals abounded. And
+in all these years he was pushing forward and carrying through with
+unceasing and unspeakable vigour the great military dream of his life,
+the foundation of a National Militia and the extinction of Mercenary
+Companies. But the fabric he had fancied and thought to have built
+proved unsubstantial. The spoilt half-mutinous levies whom he had spent
+years in odious and unwilling training failed him at the crowning moment
+in strength and spirit: and the fall of the Republic implied the fall of
+Machiavelli and the close of his official life. He struggled hard to
+save himself, but the wealthy classes were against him, perhaps afraid
+of him, and on them the Medici relied. For a year he was forbidden to
+leave Florentine territory, and for a while was excluded from the
+Palazzo. Later his name was found in a list of Anti-Medicean
+conspirators. He was arrested and decorously tortured with six turns of
+the rack, and then liberated for want of evidence.
+
+[Sidenote: After his Fall.]
+
+For perhaps a year after his release the Secretary engaged in a series
+of tortuous intrigues to gain the favour of the Medici. Many of the
+stories may be exaggerated, but none make pleasant reading, and nothing
+proved successful. His position was miserable. Temporarily crippled by
+torture, out of favour with the Government, shunned by his friends, in
+deep poverty, burdened with debt and with a wife and four children, his
+material circumstances were ill enough. But, worse still, he was idle.
+He had deserved well of the Republic, and had never despaired of it, and
+this was his reward. He seemed to himself a broken man. He had no great
+natural dignity, no great moral strength. He profoundly loved and
+admired Dante, but he could not for one moment imitate him. He sought
+satisfaction in sensuality of life and writing, but found no comfort.
+Great things were stirring in the world and he had neither part nor lot
+in them. By great good fortune he began a correspondence with his friend
+Francesco Vettori, the Medicean Ambassador at Rome, to whom he appeals
+for his good offices: 'And if nothing can be done, I must live as I came
+into the world, for I was born poor and learnt to want before learning
+to enjoy.' Before long these two diplomats had co-opted themselves into
+a kind of Secret Cabinet of Europe. It is a strange but profoundly
+interesting correspondence, both politically and personally. Nothing is
+too great or too small, too glorious or too mean for their pens. Amid
+foolish anecdotes and rather sordid love affairs the politics of Europe,
+and especially of Italy, are dissected and discussed. Leo X. had now
+plunged into political intrigue. Ferdinand of Spain was in difficulty.
+France had allied herself with Venice. The Swiss are the Ancient Romans,
+and may conquer Italy. Then back again, or rather constant throughout,
+the love intrigues and the 'likely wench hard-by who may help to pass
+our time.' But through it all there is an ache at Machiavelli's heart,
+and on a sudden he will break down, crying,
+
+  Pero se aleuna volta io rido e canto
+  Facciol, perche non ho se non quest' una
+  Via da sfogare il mio angoscioso pianto.
+
+Vettori promised much, but nothing came of it. By 1515 the
+correspondence died away, and the Ex-Secretary found for himself at last
+the true pathway through his vale of years.
+
+[Sidenote: The true Life.]
+
+The remainder of Machiavelli's life is bounded by his books. He settled
+at his villa at San Casciano, where he spent his day as he describes in
+the letter quoted at the beginning of this essay. In 1518 he began to
+attend the meetings of the Literary Club in the Orti Oricellarii, and
+made new and remarkable friends. 'Era amato grandamente da loro ... e
+della sua conversazione si dilettavano maravigliosamente, tenendo in
+prezzo grandissimo tutte l'opere sue,' which shows the personal
+authority he exercised. Occasionally he was employed by Florentine
+merchants to negotiate for them at Venice, Genoa, Lucca, and other
+places. In 1519 Cardinal Medici deigned to consult him as to the
+Government, and commissioned him to write the History of Florence. But
+in the main he wrote his books and lived the daily life we know. In 1525
+he went to Rome to present his History to Clement VII., and was sent on
+to Guicciardini. In 1526 he was busy once more with military matters and
+the fortification of Florence. On the 22nd of June 1527 he died at
+Florence immediately after the establishment of the second Republic. He
+had lived as a practising Christian, and so died, surrounded by his wife
+and family. Wild legends grew about his death, but have no foundation. A
+peasant clod in San Casciano could not have made a simpler end. He was
+buried in the family Chapel in Santa Croce, and a monument was there at
+last erected with the epitaph by Doctor Ferroni--'Tanto nomini nullum
+par elogium.' The first edition of his complete works was published in
+1782, and was dedicated to Lord Cowper.
+
+[Sidenote: His Character.]
+
+What manner of man was Machiavelli at home and in the market-place? It
+is hard to say. There are doubtful busts, the best, perhaps, that
+engraved in the 'Testina' edition of 1550, so-called on account of the
+portrait. 'Of middle height, slender figure, with sparkling eyes, dark
+hair, rather a small head, a slightly aquiline nose, a tightly closed
+mouth: all about him bore the impress of a very acute observer and
+thinker, but not that of one able to wield much influence over others.'
+Such is a reconstruction of him by one best able to make one. 'In his
+conversation,' says Varchi, 'Machiavelli was pleasant, serviceable to
+his friends, a friend of virtuous men, and, in a word, worthy to have
+received from Nature either less genius or a better mind.' If not much
+above the moral standard of the day he was certainly not below it. His
+habits were loose and his language lucid and licentious. But there is no
+bad or even unkind act charged against him. To his honesty and good
+faith he very fairly claims that his poverty bears witness. He was a
+kind, if uncertain, husband and a devoted father. His letters to his
+children are charming. Here is one written soon before his death to his
+little son Guido.--'Guido, my darling son, I received a letter of thine
+and was delighted with it, particularly because you tell me of your full
+recovery, the best news I could have. If God grants life to us both I
+expect to make a good man of you, only you must do your fair share
+yourself.' Guido is to stick to his books and music, and if the family
+mule is too fractious, 'Unbridle him, take off the halter and turn him
+loose at Montepulciano. The farm is large, the mule is small, so no harm
+can come of it. Tell your mother, with my love, not to be nervous. I
+shall surely be home before any trouble comes. Give a kiss to Baccina,
+Piero, and Totto: I wish I knew his eyes were getting well. Be happy and
+spend as little as you may. Christ have you in his keeping.'--There is
+nothing exquisite or divinely delicate in this letter, but there are
+many such, and they were not written by a bad man, any more than the
+answers they evoke were addressed to one. There is little more save of a
+like character that is known of Machiavelli the man. But to judge him
+and his work we must have some knowledge of the world in which he was to
+move and have his being.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+[Sidenote: State of Italy.]
+
+At the beginning of the sixteenth century Italy was rotten to the core.
+In the close competition of great wickedness the Vicar of Christ easily
+carried off the palm, and the Court of Alexander VI. was probably the
+wickedest meeting-place of men that has ever existed upon earth. No
+virtue, Christian or Pagan, was there to be found; little art that was
+not sensuous or sensual. It seemed as if Bacchus and Venus and Priapus
+had come to their own again, and yet Rome had not ceased to call herself
+Christian.
+
+[Sidenote: Superstition.]
+
+'Owing to the evil ensample of the Papal Court,' writes Machiavelli,
+'Italy has lost all piety and all religion: whence follow infinite
+troubles and disorders; for as religion implies all good, so its absence
+implies the contrary. To the Church and priests of Rome we owe another
+even greater disaster which is the cause of her ruin. I mean that the
+Church has maintained, and still maintains Italy divided.' The Papacy is
+too weak to unite and rule, but strong enough to prevent others doing
+so, and is always ready to call in the foreigner to crush all Italians
+to the foreigner's profit, and Guicciardini, a high Papal officer,
+commenting on this, adds, 'It would be impossible to speak so ill of the
+Roman Court, but that more abuse should not be merited, seeing it is an
+infamy, and example of all the shames and scandals of the world.' The
+lesser clergy, the monks, the nuns followed, with anxious fidelity, the
+footsteps of their shepherds. There was hardly a tonsure in Italy which
+covered more than thoughts and hopes of lust and avarice. Religion and
+morals which God had joined together, were set by man a thousand leagues
+asunder. Yet religion still sat upon the alabaster throne of Peter, and
+in the filthy straw of the meanest Calabrian confessional. And still
+deeper remained a blind devoted superstition. Vitellozzo Vitelli, as
+Machiavelli tells us, while being strangled by Caeesar Borgia's assassin,
+implored his murderer to procure for him the absolution of that
+murderer's father. Gianpaolo Baglioni, who reigned by parricide and
+lived in incest, was severely blamed by the Florentines for not killing
+Pope Julius II. when the latter was his guest at Perugia. And when
+Gabrino Fondato, the tyrant of Cremona, was on the scaffold, his only
+regret was that when he had taken his guests, the Pope and Emperor, to
+the top of the Cremona tower, four hundred feet high, his nerve failed
+him and he did not push them both over. Upon this anarchy of religion,
+morals, and conduct breathed suddenly the inspiring breath of Pagan
+antiquity which seemed to the Italian mind to find its finest climax in
+tyrannicide. There is no better instance than in the plot of the Pazzi
+at Florence. Francesco Pazzi and Bernardo Bandini decided to kill
+Lorenzo and Giuliano de' Medici in the cathedral at the moment of the
+elevation of the Host. They naturally took the priest into their
+confidence. They escorted Giuliano to the Duomo, laughing and talking,
+and playfully embraced him--to discover if he wore armour under his
+clothes. Then they killed him at the moment appointed.
+
+[Sidenote: Pagan influence.]
+
+Nor were there any hills from which salvation might be looked for.
+Philosophy, poetry, science, expressed themselves in terms of
+materialism. Faith and hope are ever the last survivors in the life of a
+man or of a nation. But in Italy these brave comforters were at their
+latest breath. It is perhaps unfair to accept in full the judgment of
+Northern travellers. The conditions, training, needs of England and
+Germany were different. In these countries courage was a necessity, and
+good faith a paying policy. Subtlety could do little against a
+two-handed sword in the hands of an angry or partially intoxicated
+giant. Climate played its part as well as culture, and the crude
+pleasures and vices of the North seemed fully as loathsome to the
+refined Italian as did the tortuous policy and the elaborate infamies of
+the South to their rough invaders. Alone, perhaps, among the nations of
+Europe the Italians had never understood or practised chivalry, save in
+such select and exotic schools as the Casa Gioiosa under Vittorino da
+Feltre at Mantua. The oath of Arthur's knights would have seemed to them
+mere superfluity of silliness. _Onore_ connoted credit, reputation, and
+prowess. _Virtu_, which may be roughly translated as mental ability
+combined with personal daring, set the standard and ruled opinion.
+'Honour in the North was subjective: _Onore_ in Italy objective.'
+Individual liberty, indeed, was granted in full to all, at the
+individual's risk. The love of beauty curbed grossness and added
+distinction. Fraud became an art and force a science. There is liberty
+for all, but for the great ones there is licence. And when the day of
+trial comes, it is the Churchmen and the Princes who can save neither
+themselves nor man, nor thing that is theirs. To such a world was
+Machiavelli born. To whom should he turn? To the People? To the Church?
+To the Princes and Despots? But hear him:--
+
+    'There shall never be found any good mason, which will beleeve
+    to be able to make a faire image of a peece of marble ill hewed,
+    but verye well of a rude peece. Our Italian Princes beleeved,
+    before they tasted the blowes of the outlandish warre, that it
+    should suffice a Prince to know by writinges, how to make a
+    subtell aunswere, to write a goodly letter, to shewe in
+    sayinges, and in woordes, witte and promptenesse, to know how to
+    canvas a fraude, to decke themselves with precious stones and
+    gold, to sleepe and to eate with greater glory then other: To
+    kepe many lascivious persons about them, to governe themselves
+    with their subjects, covetously and proudely: To roote in
+    idlenes, to give the degrees of the exercise of warre for good
+    will, to dispise if any should have shewed them any laudable
+    waie, minding that their wordes should bee aunswers of oracles:
+    nor the sely wretches were not aware that they prepared
+    themselves to be a pray to whome so ever should assaulte them.
+    Hereby grew then in the thousand fowre hundred and nintie and
+    fowre yere, the great feares, the sodaine flightes and the
+    marveilous losses: and so three most mighty states which were in
+    Italie, have bene dievers times sacked and destroyed. But that
+    which is worse, is where those that remaine, continue in the
+    very same errour, and liev in the verie same disorder and
+    consider not, that those who in olde time would keepe their
+    states, caused to be done these thinges, which of me hath beene
+    reasoned, and that their studies were, to prepare the body to
+    diseases, and the minde not to feare perills. Whereby grewe that
+    Caesar, Alexander, and all those men and excellent Princes in
+    olde time, were the formost amongst the fighters, going armed on
+    foote: and if they lost their state, they would loose their
+    life, so that they lievd and died vertuously.'
+
+Such was the clay that waited the moulding of the potter's hand.
+'Posterity, that high court of appeal, which is never tired of
+eulogising its own justice and discernment,' has recorded harsh sentence
+on the Florentine. It is better to-day to let him speak for himself.
+
+[Sidenote: _The Prince_.]
+
+The slender volume of _The Prince_ has probably produced wider
+discussion, more bitter controversy, more varied interpretations and a
+deeper influence than any book save Holy Writ. Kings and statesmen,
+philosophers and theologians, monarchists and republicans have all and
+always used or abused it for their purposes. Written in 1513, the first
+year of Machiavelli's disgrace, concurrently with part of the
+_Discorsi_, which contain the germs of it, the book represents the
+fulness of its author's thought and experience. It was not till after
+Machiavelli's death, that it was published in 1532, by order of Clement
+VII. Meanwhile, however, in manuscript it had been widely read and
+favourably received.
+
+[Sidenote: Its purpose.]
+
+The mere motive of its creation and dedication has been the theme of
+many volumes. Machiavelli was poor, was idle, was out of favour, and
+therefore, though a Republican, wrote a devilish hand-book of tyranny to
+strengthen the Medici and recover his position. Machiavelli, a loyal
+Republican, wrote a primer of such fiendish principles as might lure the
+Medici to their ruin. Machiavelli's one idea was to ruin the rich:
+Machiavelli's one idea was to oppress the poor: he was a Protestant, a
+Jesuit, an Atheist: a Royalist and a Republican. And the book published
+by one Pope's express authority was utterly condemned and forbidden,
+with all its author's works, by the express command of another (1559).
+But before facing the whirlwind of savage controversy which raged and
+rages still about _The Prince_, it may be well to consider shortly the
+book itself--consider it as a new book and without prejudice. The
+purpose of its composition is almost certainly to be found in the plain
+fact that Machiavelli, a politician and a man of letters, wished to
+write a book upon the subject which had been his special study and lay
+nearest to his business and bosom. To ensure prominence for such a book,
+to engage attention and incidentally perhaps to obtain political
+employment for himself, he dedicated it to Lorenzo de' Medici, the
+existing and accepted Chief of the State. But far and above such lighter
+motives stood the fact that he saw in Lorenzo the only man who might
+conceivably bring to being the vast dream of patriotism which the writer
+had imagined. The subject he proposed to himself was largely, though not
+wholly, conditioned by the time and place in which he lived. He wrote
+for his countrymen and he wrote for his own generation. He had heard
+with his ears and seen with his eyes the alternate rending anarchy and
+moaning paralysis of Italy. He had seen what Agricola had long before
+been spared the sight of. And what he saw, he saw not through a glass
+darkly or distorted, but in the whitest, driest light, without flinching
+and face to face. 'We are much beholden,' writes Bacon, 'to Machiavelli
+and others that wrote what men do, and not what they ought to do.' He
+did not despair of Italy, he did not despair even of Italian unity. But
+he despaired of what he saw around him, and he was willing at almost any
+price to end it. He recognised, despite the nominal example of Venice,
+that a Republican system was impossible, and that the small
+Principalities and Free Cities were corrupt beyond hope of healing. A
+strong central unifying government was imperative, and at that day such
+government could only be vested in a single man. For it must ever be
+closely remembered, as will be pointed out again, that throughout the
+book the Prince is what would now be called the Government. And then he
+saw with faithful prophecy, in the splendid peroration of his hope, a
+hope deferred for near four hundred years, he saw beyond the painful
+paths of blood and tyranny, a vision of deliverance and union. For at
+least it is plain that in all things Machiavelli was a passionate
+patriot, and _Amo la patria mia piu dell' anima_ is found in one of the
+last of many thousand letters that his untiring pen had written.
+
+The purpose, then, of _The Prince_ is to lay down rules, within the
+possibilities of the time, for the making of a man who shall create,
+increase, and maintain a strong and stable government. This is done in
+the main by a plain presentation of facts, a presentation condensed and
+critical but based on men and things as they actually were. The ethical
+side is wholly omitted: the social and economical almost entirely. The
+aspect is purely political, with the underlying thought, it may be
+supposed, that under the postulated government, all else will prosper.
+
+[Sidenote: The Book; New States.]
+
+Machiavelli opens by discussing the various forms of governments, which
+he divides into Republics and Principalities. Of the latter some may be
+hereditary and some acquired. Of hereditary states he says little and
+quotes but one, the Duchy of Ferrara. He then turns to his true subject,
+the acquisition and preservation of States wholly new or new in part,
+States such as he saw himself on every side around him. Having gained
+possession of a new State, he says, you must first extirpate the family
+of your predecessor. You should then either reside or plant colonies,
+but not trust to garrisons. 'Colonies are not costly to the Prince, are
+more faithful and cause less offence to the subject States: those whom
+they may injure being poor and scattered, are prevented from doing
+mischief. For it should be observed that men ought either to be caressed
+or trampled out, seeing that small injuries may be avenged, whereas
+great ones destroy the possibility of retaliation: and so the damage
+that has to be inflicted ought to be such that it need involve no fear
+of reprisals.' There is perhaps in all Machiavelli no better example of
+his lucid scientific method than this passage. There is neither excuse
+nor hypocrisy. It is merely a matter of business calculation. Mankind is
+the raw material, the State is the finished work. Further you are to
+conciliate your neighbours who are weak and abase the strong, and you
+must not let the stranger within your gates. Above all look before as
+well as after and think not to leave it to time, _godere li benefici del
+tempo_, but, as did the Romans, strike and strike at once. For
+illustration he criticises, in a final and damning analysis, the career
+of Louis XII. in Italy. There was no canon of statecraft so absolute
+that the King did not ignore it, and in inevitable Nemesis, there was no
+ultimate disaster so crowning as not to be achieved.
+
+[Sidenote: Conquests.]
+
+After observing that a feudal monarchy is much less easy of conquest
+than a despotism, since in the one case you must vanquish many lesser
+lordships while in the other you merely replace slaves by slaves,
+Machiavelli considers the best method of subjugating Free Cities. Here
+again is eminent the terrible composure and the exact truth of his
+politics. A conquered Free City you may of course rule in person, or you
+may construct an oligarchy to govern for you, but the only safe way is
+to destroy it utterly, since 'that name of Liberty, those ancient usages
+of Freedom,' are things 'which no length of years and no benefits can
+extinguish in the nation's mind, things which no pains or forethought
+can uproot unless the citizens be utterly destroyed.'
+
+Hitherto the discussion has ranged round the material politics of the
+matter, the acquisition of material power. Machiavelli now turns to the
+heart of his matter, the proper character and conduct of a new Prince in
+a new Principality and the ways by which he shall deal most fortunately
+with friend and foe. For fortune it is, as well as ability, which go to
+the making of the man and the maintenance of his power.
+
+[Sidenote: Caesar Borgia.]
+
+In the manner of the day Moses, Cyrus, Romulus, and Theseus are led
+across the stage in illustration. The common attribute of all such
+fortunate masters of men was force of arms, while the mission of an
+unarmed prophet such as Savonarola was foredoomed to failure. In such
+politics Machiavelli is positive and ruthless: force is and must be the
+remedy and the last appeal, a principle which indeed no later generation
+has in practice set at naught. But in the hard dry eyes of the
+Florentine Secretary stood, above all others, one shining figure, a
+figure to all other eyes, from then till now, wrapped in mysterious and
+miasmatic cloud. In the pages of common history he was a tyrant, he was
+vicious beyond compare, he was cruel beyond the Inquisition, he was
+false beyond the Father of Lies, he was the Antichrist of Rome and he
+was a failure: but he was the hero of Niccolo Machiavelli, who, indeed,
+found in Caesar Borgia the fine flower of Italian politics in the Age of
+the Despots. Son of the Pope, a Prince of the Church, a Duke of France,
+a master of events, a born soldier, diplomatist, and more than half a
+statesman, Caesar seemed indeed the darling of gods and men whom original
+fortune had crowned with inborn ability. Machiavelli knew him as well as
+it was possible to know a soul so tortuous and secret, and he had been
+present at the most critical and terrible moments of Caesar's life. That
+in despite of a life which the world calls infamous, in despite of the
+howling execrations of all Christendom, in despite of ultimate and
+entire failures, Machiavelli could still write years after, 'I know not
+what lessons I could teach a new Prince more useful than the example of
+his actions,' exhibits the ineffaceable impressions that Caesar Borgia
+had made upon the most subtle and observant mind of modern history.
+
+[Sidenote: Caesar's Career.]
+
+Caesar was the acknowledged son of Pope Alexander by his acknowledged
+mistress Vannozza dei Cattani. Born in 1472, he was an Archbishop and a
+Cardinal at sixteen, and the murderer of his elder brother at an age
+when modern youths are at college. He played his part to the full in the
+unspeakable scandals of the Vatican, but already 'he spoke little and
+people feared him.' Ere long the splendours of the Papacy seemed too
+remote and uncertain for his fierce ambition, and, indeed, through his
+father, he already wielded both the temporal and the spiritual arms of
+Peter. To the subtlety of the Italian his Spanish blood had lent a
+certain stern resolution, and as with Julius and Sulla the lust for
+sloth and sensuality were quickened by the lust for sway. He unfrocked
+himself with pleasure. He commenced politician, soldier, and despot. And
+for the five years preceding Alexander's death he may almost be looked
+upon as a power in Europe. Invested Duke of Romagna, that hot-bed of
+petty tyranny and tumult, he repressed disorder through his governor
+Messer Ramiro with a relentless hand. When order reigned, Machiavelli
+tells us he walked out one morning into the market-place at Cesena and
+saw the body of Ramiro, who had borne the odium of reform, lying in two
+pieces with his head on a lance, and a bloody axe by his side. Caesar
+reaped the harvest of Ramiro's severity, and the people recognising his
+benevolence and justice were 'astounded and satisfied.'
+
+But the gaze of the Borgia was not bounded by the strait limits of a
+mere Italian Duchy. Whether indeed there mingled with personal ambition
+an ideal of a united Italy, swept clean of the barbarians, it is hard to
+say, though Machiavelli would have us believe it. What is certain is
+that he desired the supreme dominion in Italy for himself, and to win it
+spared neither force nor fraud nor the help of the very barbarians
+themselves. With a decree of divorce and a Cardinal's hat he gained the
+support of France, the French Duchy of Valentinois, and the sister of
+the King of Navarre to wife. By largesse of bribery and hollow promises
+he brought to his side the great families of Rome, his natural enemies,
+and the great Condottieri with their men-at-arms. When by their aid he
+had established and extended his government he mistrusted their good
+faith. With an infinity of fascination and cunning, without haste and
+without rest, he lured these leaders, almost more cunning than himself,
+to visit him as friends in his fortress of Sinigaglia. 'I doubt if they
+will be alive to-morrow morning,' wrote Machiavelli, who was on the
+spot. He was right. Caesar caused them to be strangled the same night,
+while his father dealt equal measure to their colleagues and adherents
+in Rome. Thenceforth, distrusting mercenaries, he found and disciplined
+out of a mere rabble, a devoted army of his own, and having
+unobtrusively but completely extirpated the whole families of those
+whose thrones he had usurped, not only the present but the future seemed
+assured to him.
+
+He had fulfilled the first of Machiavelli's four conditions. He rapidly
+achieved the remaining three. He bought the Roman nobles so as to be
+able to put a bridle in the new 'Pope's mouth.' He bought or poisoned or
+packed or terrorised the existing College of Cardinals and selected new
+Princes of the Church who should accept a Pontiff of his choosing. He
+was effectively strong enough to resist the first onset upon him at his
+father's death. Five years had been enough for so great an undertaking.
+One thing alone he had not and indeed could not have foreseen. 'He told
+me himself on the day on which (Pope) Julius was created, that he had
+foreseen and provided for everything else that could happen on his
+father's death, but had never anticipated that, when his father died, he
+too should have been at death's door.' Even so the fame and splendour of
+his name for a while maintained his authority against his unnumbered
+enemies. But soon the great betrayer was betrayed. 'It is well to cheat
+those who have been masters of treachery,' he had said himself in his
+hours of brief authority. His wheel had turned full cycle. Within three
+years his fate, like that of Charles XII., was destined to a foreign
+strand, a petty fortress, and a dubious hand. Given over to Spain he
+passed three years obscurely. 'He was struck down in a fight at Viana in
+Navarre (1507) after a furious resistance: he was stripped of his fine
+armour by men who did not know his name or quality and his body was left
+naked on the bare ground, bloody and riddled with wounds. He was only
+thirty-one.' And so the star of Machiavelli's hopes and dreams was
+quenched for a season in the clouds from which it came.
+
+[Sidenote: The Lesson.]
+
+It seems worth while to sketch the strange tempestuous career of Caesar
+Borgia because in the remaining chapters of _The Prince_ and elsewhere
+in his writings, it is the thought and memory of Valentinois, transmuted
+doubtless and idealised by the lapse of years, that largely inform and
+inspire the perfect Prince of Machiavelli. But it must not be supposed
+that in life or in mind they were intimate or even sympathetic.
+Machiavelli criticises his hero liberally and even harshly. But for the
+work he wanted done he had found no better craftsman and no better
+example to follow for those that might come after. Morals and religion
+did not touch the purpose of his arguments except as affecting policy.
+In policy virtues may be admitted as useful agents and in the chapter
+following that on Caesar, entitled, curiously enough, 'Of those who by
+their crimes come to be Princes,' he lays down that 'to slaughter fellow
+citizens, to betray friends, to be devoid of honour, pity and religion
+cannot be counted as merits, for these are means which may lead to power
+but which confer no glory.' Cruelty he would employ without hesitation
+but with the greatest care both in degree and in kind. It should be
+immediate and complete and leave no possibility of counter-revenge. For
+it is never forgotten by the living, and 'he deceives himself who
+believes that, with the great, recent benefits cause old wrongs to be
+forgotten.' On the other hand 'Benefits should be conferred little by
+little so that they may be more fully relished.' The cruelty proper to a
+Prince (Government, for as ever they are identical) aims only at
+authority. Now authority must spring from love or fear. It were best to
+combine both motives to obedience but you cannot. The Prince must
+remember that men are fickle, and love at their own pleasure, and that
+men are fearful and fear at the pleasure of the Prince. Let him
+therefore depend on what is of himself, not on that which is of others.
+'Yet if he win not love he may escape hate, and so it will be if he does
+not meddle with the property or women-folk of his subjects.' When he
+must punish let him kill. 'For men will sooner forget the death of their
+father than the loss of their estate.' And moreover you cannot always go
+on killing, but a Prince who has once set himself to plundering will
+never stop. This is the more needful because the only secure foundation
+of his rule lies in his trust of the people and in their support. And
+indeed again and again you shall find no more thorough democrat than
+this teacher of tyrants. 'The people own better broader qualities,
+fidelities and passions than any Prince and have better cause to show
+for them.' 'As for prudence and stability, I say that a people is more
+stable, more prudent, and of better judgment than a Prince.' If the
+people go wrong it is almost certainly the crime or negligence of the
+Prince which drives or leads them astray. 'Better far than any number of
+fortresses is not to be hated by your people.' The support of the people
+and a national militia make the essential strength of the Prince and of
+the State.
+
+[Sidenote: National Defence.]
+
+The chapters on military organisation may be more conveniently
+considered in conjunction with _The Art of War_. It is enough at present
+to point out two or three observations of Machiavelli which touch
+politics from the military side. To his generation they were entirely
+novel, though mere commonplace to-day. National strength means national
+stability and national greatness; and this can be achieved, and can only
+be achieved, by a national army. The Condottiere system, born of sloth
+and luxury, has proved its rottenness. Your hired general is either a
+tyrant or a traitor, a bully or a coward. 'In a word the armour of
+others is too wide or too strait for us: it falls off us, or it weighs
+us down.' And in a fine illustration he compares auxiliary troops to the
+armour of Saul which David refused, preferring to fight Goliath with his
+sling and stone.
+
+[Sidenote: Conduct of the Prince.]
+
+Having assured the external security of the State, Machiavelli turns
+once more to the qualities and conduct of the Prince. So closely packed
+are these concluding chapters that it is almost impossible to compress
+them further. The author at the outset states his purpose: 'Since it is
+my object to write what shall be useful to whosoever understands it, it
+seems to me better to follow the practical truth of things rather than
+an imaginary view of them. For many Republics and Princedoms have been
+imagined that were never seen or known to exist in reality. And the
+manner in which we live and in which we ought to live, are things so
+wide asunder that he who suits the one to betake himself to the other is
+more likely to destroy than to save himself.' Nothing that Machiavelli
+wrote is more sincere, analytic, positive and ruthless. He operates
+unflinchingly on an assured diagnosis. The hand never an instant
+falters, the knife is never blunt. He deals with what is, and not with
+what ought to be. Should the Prince be all-virtuous, all-liberal,
+all-humane? Should his word be his bond for ever? Should true religion
+be the master-passion of his life? Machiavelli considers. The first duty
+of the Prince (or Government) is to maintain the existence, stability,
+and prosperity of the State. Now if all the world were perfect so should
+the Prince be perfect too. But such are not the conditions of human
+life. An idealising Prince must fall before a practising world. A Prince
+must learn in self-defence how to be bad, but like Caesar Borgia, he must
+be a great judge of occasion. And what evil he does must be deliberate,
+appropriate, and calculated, and done, not selfishly, but for the good
+of the State of which he is trustee. There is the power of Law and the
+power of Force. The first is proper to men, the second to beasts. And
+that is why Achilles was brought up by Cheiron the Centaur that he might
+learn to use both natures. A ruler must be half lion and half fox, a fox
+to discern the toils, a lion to drive off the wolves. Merciful,
+faithful, humane, religious, just, these he may be and above all should
+seem to be, nor should any word escape his lips to give the lie to his
+professions: and in fact he should not leave these qualities but when he
+must. He should, if possible, practise goodness, but under necessity
+should know how to pursue evil. He should keep faith until occasion
+alter, or reason of state compel him to break his pledge. Above all he
+should profess and observe religion, 'because men in general judge
+rather by the eye than by the hand, and every one can see but few can
+touch.' But none the less, must he learn (as did William the Silent,
+Elizabeth of England, and Henry of Navarre) how to subordinate creed to
+policy when urgent need is upon him. In a word, he must realise and face
+his own position, and the facts of mankind and of the world. If not
+veracious to his conscience, he must be veracious to facts. He must not
+be bad for badness' sake, but seeing things as they are, must deal as he
+can to protect and preserve the trust committed to his care. Fortune is
+still a fickle jade, but at least the half our will is free, and if we
+are bold we may master her yet. For Fortune is a woman who, to be kept
+under, must be beaten and roughly handled, and we see that she is more
+ready to be mastered by those who treat her so, than by those who are
+shy in their wooing. And always, like a woman, she gives her favours to
+the young, because they are less scrupulous and fiercer and more
+audaciously command her to their will.
+
+[Sidenote: The Appeal.]
+
+And so at the last the sometime Secretary of the Florentine Republic
+turns to the new Master of the Florentines in splendid exhortation. He
+points to no easy path. He proposes no mean ambition. He has said
+already that 'double will that Prince's glory be, who has founded a new
+realm and fortified it and adorned it with good laws, good arms, good
+friends, and good examples.' But there is more and better to be done.
+The great misery of men has ever made the great leaders of men. But was
+Israel in Egypt, were the Persians, the Athenians ever more enslaved,
+down-trodden, disunited, beaten, despoiled, mangled, overrun and
+desolate than is our Italy to-day? The barbarians must be hounded out,
+and Italy be free and one. Now is the accepted time. All Italy is
+waiting and only seeks the man. To you the darling of Fortune and the
+Church this splendid task is given, to and to the army of Italy and of
+Italians only. Arm Italy and lead her. To you, the deliverer, what gates
+would be closed, what obedience refused! What jealousies opposed, what
+homage denied. Love, courage, and fixed fidelity await you, and under
+your standards shall the voice of Petrarch be fulfilled:
+
+            Virtu contro al furore
+  Prendera l'arme e fia il combatter corto:
+              Che l'antico valore
+  Negl' Italici cor non e ancor morto.
+
+Such is _The Prince_ of Machiavelli. The vision of its breathless
+exhortation seemed then as but a landscape to a blind man's eye. But the
+passing of three hundred and fifty years of the misery he wept for
+brought at the last, almost in perfect exactness, the fulfilment of that
+impossible prophecy.
+
+[Sidenote: The Attack.]
+
+There is no great book in the world of smaller compass than _The Prince_
+of Machiavelli. There is no book more lucidly, directly, and plainly
+written. There is no book that has aroused more vehement, venomous, and
+even truculent controversy from the moment of its publication until
+to-day. And it is asserted with great probability that _The Prince_ has
+had a more direct action upon real life than any other book in the
+world, and a larger share in breaking the chains and lighting the dark
+places of the Middle Ages. It is a truism to say that Machiavellism
+existed before Machiavelli. The politics of Gian Galeazzo Visconti, of
+Louis XI. of France, of Ferdinand of Spain, of the Papacy, of Venice,
+might have been dictated by the author of _The Prince_. But Machiavelli
+was the first to observe, to compare, to diagnose, to analyse, and to
+formulate their principles of government. The first to establish, not a
+divorce, but rather a judicial separation between the morals of a man
+and the morals of a government. It is around the purpose and possible
+results of such a separation in politics, ethics, and religion that the
+storm has raged most fiercely. To follow the path of that storm through
+near four centuries many volumes would be needed, and it will be more
+convenient to deal with the more general questions in summing up the
+influence of Machiavelli as a whole. But the main lines and varying
+fortunes of the long campaign may be indicated. During the period of its
+manuscript circulation and for a few years after its publication _The
+Prince_ was treated with favour or at worst with indifference, and the
+first mutterings were merely personal to the author. He was a scurvy
+knave and turncoat with neither bowels nor conscience, almost
+negligible. But still men read him, and a change in conditions brought a
+change in front. He had in _The Prince_, above all in the _Discorsi_,
+accused the Church of having ruined Italy and debauched the world. In
+view of the writer's growing popularity, of the Reformation and the
+Pagan Renaissance, such charges could no longer be lightly set aside.
+The Churchmen opened the main attack. Amongst the leaders was Cardinal
+Pole, to whom the practical precepts of _The Prince_ had been
+recommended in lieu of the dreams of Plato, by Thomas Cromwell, the
+_malleus monachorum_ of Henry VIII. The Catholic attack was purely
+theological, but before long the Jesuits joined in the cry. Machiavelli
+was burnt in effigy at Ingoldstadt. He was _subdolus diabolicarum
+cogitationum faber_, and _irrisor et atheos_ to boot. The Pope himself
+gave commissions to unite against him, and his books were placed on the
+Index, together, it must be admitted, with those of Boccaccio, Erasmus,
+and Savonarola so the company was goodly. But meanwhile, and perhaps in
+consequence, editions and translations of _The Prince_ multiplied apace.
+The great figures of the world were absorbed by it. Charles V., his son,
+and his courtiers studied the book. Catherine de Medici brought it to
+France. A copy of _The Prince_ was found on the murdered bodies of Henry
+III. and Henry IV. Richelieu praised it. Sextus V. analysed it in his
+own handwriting. It was read at the English Court; Bacon was steeped in
+it, and quotes or alludes to it constantly. Hobbes and Harrington
+studied it.
+
+But now another change. So then, cried Innocent Gentillet, the Huguenot,
+the book is a primer of despotism and Rome, and a grammar for bigots and
+tyrants. It doubtless is answerable for the Massacre of St. Bartholomew.
+The man is a _chien impur_. And in answer to this new huntsman the whole
+Protestant pack crashed in pursuit. Within fifty years of his death _The
+Prince_ and Machiavelli himself had become a legend and a myth, a
+haunting, discomforting ghost that would not be laid. Machiavellism had
+grown to be a case of conscience both to Catholic and Protestant, to
+Theologian, Moralist, and Philosopher. In Spain the author, damned in
+France for his despotism and popery, was as freshly and freely damned
+for his civil and religious toleration. In England to the Cavaliers he
+was an Atheist, to the Roundheads a Jesuit. Christina of Sweden
+annotated him with enthusiasm. Frederick the Great published his
+_Anti-Machiavel_ brimming with indignation, though it is impossible not
+to wonder what would have become of Prussia had not the Prussian king so
+closely followed in practice the precepts of the Florentine, above all
+perhaps, as Voltaire observed, in the publication of the
+_Anti-Machiavel_ itself. No doubt in the eighteenth century, when
+monarchy was so firmly established as not to need Machiavelli, kings and
+statesmen sought to clear kingship of the supposed stain he had
+besmirched them with. But their reading was as little as their
+misunderstanding was great, and the Florentine Secretary remained the
+mysterious necromancer. It was left for Rousseau to describe the book of
+this 'honnete homme et bon citoyen' as 'le livre des Republicains,' and
+for Napoleon, the greatest of the author's followers if not disciples,
+to draw inspiration and suggestion from his Florentine forerunner and to
+justify the murder of the Due d'Enghien by a quotation from _The
+Prince_. 'Mais apres tout,' he said, 'un homme d'Etat est-il fait pour
+etre sensible? N'est-ce pas un personnage--completement excentrique,
+toujours seul d'un cote, avec le monde de l'autre?' and again 'Jugez
+done s'il doit s'amuser a menager certaines convenances de sentiments si
+importantes pour le commun des hommes? Peut-il considerer les liens du
+sang, les affections, les puerils menagements de la societe? Et dans la
+situation ou il se trouve, que d'actions separees de l'ensemble et qu'on
+blame, quoiqu'elles doivent contribuer au grand oeuvre que tout le monde
+n'apercoit pas? ... Malheureux que vous etes! vous retiendrez vos eloges
+parce que vous craindrez que le mouvement de cette grande machine ne
+fasse sur vous l'effet de Gulliver, qui, lorsqu'il deplacait sa jambe,
+ecrasait les Lilliputiens. Exhortez-vous, devancez le temps, agrandissez
+votre imagination, regardez de loin, et vous verrez que ces grands
+personnages que vous croyez violents, cruels, que sais-je? ne sont que
+des politiques. Ils se connaissent, se jugent mieux que vous, et, quand
+ils sont reellement habiles, ils savent se rendre maitres de leurs
+passions car ils vont jusqu'a en calculer les effets.' Even in his
+carriage at Waterloo was found a French translation of _The Prince_
+profusely annotated.
+
+[Sidenote: The Defence.]
+
+But from the first the defence was neither idle nor weak. The assault
+was on the morals of the man: the fortress held for the ideas of the
+thinker. He does not treat of morals, therefore he is immoral, cried the
+plaintiff. Has he spoken truth or falsehood? Is his word the truth and
+will his truth prevail? was the rejoinder. In Germany and Italy
+especially and in France and England in less degree, philosophers and
+critics have argued and written without stint and without cease. As
+history has grown wider and more scientific so has the preponderance of
+opinion leaned to the Florentine's favour.
+
+It would be impossible to recapitulate the arguments or even to indicate
+the varying points of view. And indeed the main hindrance in forming a
+just idea of _The Prince_ is the constant treatment of a single side of
+the book and the preconceived intent of the critic. Bacon has already
+been mentioned. Among later names are Hobbes, Spinoza, Leibnitz. Herder
+gives qualified approval, while Fichte frankly throws down the glove as
+_The Prince's_ champion. 'Da man weiss dass politische Machtfragen nie,
+am wenigsten in einem verderbten Volke, mit den Mitteln der Moral zu
+loesen sind, so ist es unverstaendig das Buch von Fuersten zu verschreien.
+Macchiavelli hatte einen Herrscher zu schildern, keinen Klosterbruder.'
+The last sentence may at least be accepted as a last word by practical
+politicians. Ranke and Macaulay, and a host of competent Germans and
+Italians have lent their thought and pens to solve the riddle in the
+Florentine's favour. And lastly, the course of political events in
+Europe have seemed to many the final justification of the teaching of
+_The Prince_. The leaders of the Risorgimento thought that they found in
+letters, 'writ with a stiletto,' not only the inspirations of patriotism
+and the aspirations to unity, but a sure and trusted guide to the
+achievement. Germany recognised in the author a schoolmaster to lead
+them to unification, and a military instructor to teach them of an Armed
+People. Half Europe snatched at the principle of Nationality. For in
+_The Prince_, Machiavelli not only begat ideas but fertilised the ideas
+of others, and whatever the future estimation of the book may be, it
+stands, read or unread, as a most potent, if not as the dominant, factor
+in European politics for four hundred years.
+
+[Sidenote: The _Discorsi_.]
+
+The _Discorsi_, printed in Rome by Blado, 1537, are not included in the
+present edition, as the first English translation did not appear until
+1680, when almost the entire works of Machiavelli were published by an
+anonymous translator in London. But some account and consideration of
+their contents is imperative to any review of the Florentine's political
+thoughts. Such Discorsi and Relazioni were not uncommon at the time. The
+stronger and younger minds of the Renaissance wearied of discussing in
+the lovely gardens of the Rucellai the ideas of Plato or the allegories
+of Plotinus. The politics of Aristotle had just been intelligibly
+translated by Leonardo Bruni (1492). And to-day the young ears and eyes
+of Florence were alert for an impulse to action. They saw glimpses, in
+reopened fields of history, of quarries long grown over where the ore of
+positive politics lay hid. The men who came to-day to the Orti
+Oricellarii were men versed in public affairs, men of letters,
+historians, poets, living greatly in a great age, with Raphael, Michael
+Angelo, Ariosto, Leonardo going up and down amongst them. Machiavelli
+was now in fair favour with the Medici, and is described by Strozzi as
+_una persona per sorgere_ (a rising man). He was welcomed into the group
+with enthusiasm, and there read and discussed the _Discorsi_. Nominally
+mere considerations upon the First Decade of Livy, they rapidly
+encircled all that was known and thought of policy and state-craft, old
+and living.
+
+[Sidenote: Their Plan.]
+
+Written concurrently with _The Prince_, though completed later, the
+_Discorsi_ contain almost the whole of the thoughts and intents of the
+more famous book, but with a slightly different application. '_The
+Prince_ traces the progress of an ambitious man, the _Discorsi_ the
+progress of an ambitious people,' is an apt if inadequate criticism.
+Machiavelli was not the first Italian who thought and wrote upon the
+problems of his time. But he was the first who discussed grave questions
+in modern language. He was the first modern political writer who wrote
+of men and not of man, for the Prince himself is a collective
+individuality.
+
+'This must be regarded as a general rule,' is ever in Machiavelli's
+mouth, while Guicciardini finds no value in a general rule, but only in
+'long experience and worthy discretion.' The one treated of policy, the
+other of politics. Guicciardini considered specifically by what methods
+to control and arrange an existing Government. Machiavelli sought to
+create a science, which should show how to establish, maintain, and
+hinder the decline of states generally conceived. Even Cavour counted
+the former as a more practical guide in affairs. But Machiavelli was the
+theorist of humanity in politics, not the observer only. He
+distinguished the two orders of research. And, during the Italian
+Renaissance such distinction was supremely necessary. With a crumbled
+theology, a pagan Pope, amid the wreck of laws and the confusion of
+social order, _il sue particolare_ and _virtu_, individuality and
+ability (energy, political genius, prowess, vital force: _virtu_ is
+impossible to translate, and only does not mean virtue), were the
+dominating and unrelenting factors of life. Niccolo Machiavelli, unlike
+Montesquieu, agreed with Martin Luther that man was bad. It was for both
+the Wittenberger and the Florentine, in their very separate ways, to
+found the school and wield the scourge. In the naked and unashamed
+candour of the time Guicciardini could say that he loathed the Papacy
+and all its works. 'For all that, he adds, 'the preferments I have
+enjoyed, have forced me for my private ends to set my heart upon papal
+greatness. Were it not for this consideration, I should love Martin
+Luther as my second self.' In the _Discorsi_, Machiavelli bitterly
+arraigns the Church as having 'deprived Italians of religion and
+liberty.' He utterly condemns Savonarola, yet he could love and learn
+from Dante, and might almost have said with Pym, 'The greatest liberty
+of the Kingdom is Religion. Thereby we are freed from spiritual evils,
+and no impositions are so grievous as those that are laid upon the
+soul.'
+
+[Sidenote: Religion.]
+
+The Florentine postulates religion as an essential element in a strong
+and stable State. Perhaps, with Gibbon, he deemed it useful to the
+Magistrate. But his science is impersonal. He will not tolerate a Church
+that poaches on his political preserves. Good dogma makes bad politics.
+It must not tamper with liberty or security. And most certainly, with
+Dante, in the _Paradiso_, he would either have transformed or omitted
+the third Beatitude, that the Meek shall inherit the earth. With such a
+temperament, Machiavelli must ever keep touch with sanity. It was not
+for him as for Aristotle to imagine what an ideal State should be, but
+rather to inquire what States actually were and what they might actually
+become. He seeks first and foremost 'the use that may be derived from
+history in politics'; not from its incidents but from its general
+principles. His darling model of a State is to be found where Dante
+found it, in the Roman Republic. The memory and even the substance of
+Dante occur again and again. But Dante's inspiration was spiritual:
+Machiavelli's frankly pagan, and with the latter Fortune takes the place
+of God. Dante did not love the Papacy, but Machiavelli, pointing out how
+even in ancient Rome religion was politic or utilitarian, leads up to
+his famous attack upon the Roman Church, to which he attributes all the
+shame and losses, political, social, moral, national, that Italy has
+suffered at her hands. And now for the first time the necessity for
+Italian Unity is laid plainly down, and the Church and its temporal
+power denounced as the central obstacles. In religion itself the
+Secretary saw much merit. 'But when it is an absolute question of the
+welfare of our country, then justice or injustice, mercy or cruelty,
+praise or ignominy, must be set aside, and we must seek alone whatever
+course may preserve the existence and liberty of the state.' Throughout
+the _Discorsi_, Machiavelli in a looser and more expansive form,
+suggests, discusses, or re-affirms the ideas of _The Prince_. There is
+the same absence of judgment on the moral value of individual conduct;
+the same keen decision of its practical effect as a political act. But
+here more than in _The Prince_, he deals with the action and conduct of
+the people. With his passion for personal and contemporary incarnation
+he finds in the Swiss of his day the Romans of Republican Rome, and
+reiterates the comparison in detail. Feudalism, mercenaries, political
+associations embodied in Arts and Guilds, the Temporal power of the
+Church, all these are put away, and in their stead he announces the new
+and daring gospel that for organic unity subjects must be treated as
+equals and not as inferiors. 'Trust the people' is a maxim he repeats
+and enforces again and again. And he does not shrink from, but rather
+urges the corollary, 'Arm the people.' Indeed it were no audacious
+paradox to state the ideal of Machiavelli, though he nominally preferred
+a Republic, as a Limited Monarchy, ruling over a Nation in Arms. No
+doubt he sought, as was natural enough in his day, to construct the
+State from without rather than to guide and encourage its evolution from
+within. It seemed to him that, in such an ocean of corruption, Force
+_was_ a remedy and Fraud no sluttish handmaid. 'Vice n'est-ce pas,'
+writes Montaigne, of such violent acts of Government, 'car il a quitte
+sa raison a une plus universelle et puissante raison.' Even so the
+Prince and the people could only be justified by results. But the public
+life is of larger value than the private, and sometimes one man must be
+crucified for a thousand. Despite all prejudice and make-belief, such a
+rule and practice has obtained from the Assemblies of Athens to the
+Parliaments of the twentieth century. But Machiavelli first candidly
+imparted it to the unwilling consciences and brains of men, and it is he
+who has been the chosen scape-goat to carry the sins of the people. His
+earnestness makes him belie his own precept to keep the name and take
+away the thing. In this, as in a thousand instances, he was not too
+darkly hidden; he was too plain. 'Machiavelli,' says one who studied the
+Florentine as hardly another had done, 'Machiavelli hat gesuendigt, aber
+noch mehr ist gegen ihn gesuendigt worden.' Liberty is good, but Unity is
+its only sure foundation. It is the way to the Unity of Government and
+People that the thoughts both of _The Prince_ and the _Discorsi_ lead,
+though the incidents be so nakedly presented as to shock the timorous
+and vex the prurient, the puritan, and the evil thinker. The people must
+obey the State and fight and die for its salvation, and for the Prince
+the hatred of the subjects is never good, but their love, and the best
+way to gain it is by 'not interrupting the subject in the quiet
+enjoyment of his estate.' Even so bland and gentle a spirit as the poet
+Gray cannot but comment, 'I rejoice when I see Machiavelli defended or
+illustrated, who to me appears one of the wisest men that any nation in
+any age hath produced.'
+
+[Sidenote: The Art of War.]
+
+Throughout both _The Prince_ and the _Discorsi_ are constant allusions
+to, and often long discussions on, military affairs. The Army profoundly
+interested Machiavelli both as a primary condition of national existence
+and stability, and also, as he pondered upon the contrast between
+ancient Rome and the Florence that he lived in, as a subject fascinating
+in itself. His _Art of War_ was probably published in 1520. Before that
+date the Florentine Secretary had had some personal touch both with the
+theory and practice of war. As a responsible official in the camp before
+Pisa he had seen both siege work and fighting. Having lost faith in
+mercenary forces he made immense attempts to form a National Militia,
+and was appointed Chancellor of the Nove della Milizia. In Switzerland
+and the Tyrol he had studied army questions. He planned with Pietro
+Navarro the defence of Florence and Prato against Charles V. At Verona
+and Mantua in 1509, he closely studied the famous siege of Padua. From
+birth to death war and battles raged all about him, and he had personal
+knowledge of the great captains of the Age. Moreover, he saw in Italy
+troops of every country, of every quality, in every stage of discipline,
+in every manner of formation. His love of ancient Rome led him naturally
+to the study of Livy and Vegetius, and from them with regard to
+formations, to the relative values of infantry and cavalry and other
+points of tactics, he drew or deduced many conclusions which hold good
+to-day. Indeed a German staff officer has written that in reading the
+Florentine you think you are listening to a modern theorist of war. But
+for the theorist of those days a lion stood in the path. The art of war
+was not excepted from the quick and thorough transformation that all
+earthly and spiritual things were undergoing. Gunpowder, long invented,
+was being applied. Armour, that, since the beginning, had saved both man
+and horse, had now lost the half of its virtue. The walls of fortresses,
+impregnable for a thousand years, became as matchwood ramparts. The
+mounted man-at-arms was found with wonder to be no match for the
+lightly-armoured but nimble foot-man. The Swiss were seen to hold their
+own with ease against the knighthood of Austria and Burgundy. The Free
+Companies lost in value and prestige what they added to their corruption
+and treachery. All these things grew clear to Machiavelli. But his
+almost fatal misfortune was that he observed and wrote in the mid-moment
+of the transition. He had no faith in fire-arms, and as regards the
+portable fire-arms of those days he was right. After the artillery work
+at Ravenna, Novara, and Marignano it is argued that he should have known
+better. But he was present at no great battles, and pike, spear, and
+sword had been the stable weapons of four thousand years. These were
+indeed too simple to be largely modified, and the future of mechanisms
+and explosives no prophet uninspired could foresee. And indeed the
+armament and formation of men were not the main intent of Machiavelli's
+thought. His care in detail, especially in fortifications, of which he
+made a special study, in encampments, in plans, in calculations, is
+immense. Nothing is so trivial as to be left inexact.
+
+[Sidenote: The New Model.]
+
+But he centred his observation and imagination on the origin, character,
+and discipline of an army in being. He pictures the horror, waste, and
+failure of a mercenary system, and lays down the fatal error in Italy of
+separating civil from military life, converting the latter into a trade.
+In such a way the soldier grows to a beast, and the citizen to a coward.
+All this must be changed. The basic idea of this astounding Secretary is
+to form a National Army, furnished by conscription and informed by the
+spirit of the New Model of Cromwell. All able-bodied men between the
+ages of seventeen and forty should be drilled on stated days and be kept
+in constant readiness. Once or twice a year each battalion must be
+mobilised and manoeuvred as in time of war. The discipline must be
+constant and severe. The men must be not only robust and well-trained,
+but, above all, virtuous, modest, and disposed to any sacrifice for the
+public good. So imbued should they be with duty and lofty devotion to
+their country that though they may rightly deceive the enemy, reward the
+enemy's deserters and employ spies, yet 'an apple tree laden with fruit
+might stand untouched in the midst of their encampment.' The infantry
+should far exceed the cavalry, 'since it is by infantry that battles are
+won.' Secrecy, mobility, and familiarity with the country are to be
+objects of special care, and positions should be chosen from which
+advance is safer than retreat. In war this army must be led by one
+single leader, and, when peace shines again, they must go back contented
+to their grateful fellow-countrymen and their wonted ways of living. The
+conception and foundation of such a scheme, at such a time, by such a
+man is indeed astounding. He broke with the past and with all
+contemporary organisations. He forecast the future of military Europe,
+though his own Italy was the last to win her redemption through his
+plans. 'Taken all in all,' says a German military writer, 'we may
+recognise Machiavelli in his inspired knowledge of the principles of
+universal military discipline as a true prophet and as one of the
+weightiest thinkers in the field of military construction and
+constitution. He penetrated the essence of military technique with a
+precision wholly alien to his period, and it is, so to say, a new
+psychological proof of the relationship between the art of war and the
+art of statecraft, that the founder of Modern Politics is also the first
+of modern Military Classics.'
+
+But woe to the Florentine Secretary with his thoughts born centuries
+before their time. As in _The Prince_, so in the _Art of War_, he closes
+with a passionate appeal of great sorrow and the smallest ray of hope.
+Where shall I hope to find the things that I have told of? What is Italy
+to-day? What are the Italians? Enervated, impotent, vile. Wherefore, 'I
+lament mee of nature, the which either ought not to have made mee a
+knower of this, or it ought to have given mee power, to have bene able
+to have executed it: For now beeing olde, I cannot hope to have any
+occasion, to be able so to doo: In consideration whereof, I have bene
+liberall with you who beeing grave young men, may (when the thinges said
+of me shall please you) at due times, in favoure of your Princes, helpe
+them and counsider them. Wherin I would have you not to be afraied, or
+mistrustfull, because this Province seemes to bee altogether given to
+raise up againe the things deade, as is seene by the perfection that
+Poesie, painting, and writing, is now brought unto: Albeit, as much as
+is looked for of mee, beeing strooken in yeeres, I do mistrust. Where
+surely, if Fortune had heretofore graunted mee so much state, as
+suffiseth for a like enterprise, I would not have doubted, but in most
+short time, to have shewed to the world, how much the auncient orders
+availe: and without peradventure, either I would have increased it with
+glory, or lost it without shame.'
+
+[Sidenote: _The History of Florence_.]
+
+In 1520 Machiavelli was an ageing and disappointed man. He was not
+popular with any party, but the Medici were willing to use him in minor
+matters if only to secure his adherence. He was commissioned by Giulio
+de Medici to write a history of Florence with an annual allowance of 100
+florins. In 1525 he completed his task and dedicated the book to its
+begetter, Pope Clement VII.
+
+In the History, as in much of his other work, Machiavelli enriches the
+science of humanity with a new department. 'He was the first to
+contemplate the life of a nation in its continuity, to trace the
+operation of political forces through successive generations, to
+contrast the action of individuals with the evolution of causes over
+which they had but little control, and to bring the salient features of
+the national biography into relief by the suppression of comparatively
+unimportant details.' He found no examples to follow, for Villani with
+all his merits was of a different order. Diarists and chroniclers there
+were in plenty, and works of the learned men led by Aretino, written in
+Latin and mainly rhetorical. The great work of Guicciardini was not
+published till years after the Secretary's death. Machiavelli broke away
+from the Chronicle or any other existing form. He deliberately applied
+philosophy to the sequence of facts. He organised civil and political
+history. He originally intended to begin his work at the year 1234, the
+year of the return of Cosimo il Vecchio from exile and of the
+consolidation of Medicean power on the ground that the earlier periods
+had been covered by Aretino and Bracciolini. But he speedily recognised
+that they told of nothing but external wars and business while the heart
+of the history of Florence was left unbared. The work was to do again in
+very different manner, and in that manner he did it. Throughout he
+maintains and insistently insinuates his unfailing explanation of the
+miseries of Italy; the necessity of unity and the evils of the Papacy
+which prevents it. In this book dedicated to a Pope he scants nothing of
+his hatred of the Holy See. For ever he is still seeking the one strong
+man in a blatant land with almost absolute power to punish, pull down,
+and reconstruct on an abiding foundation, for to his clear eyes it is
+ever the events that are born of the man, and not the man of the events.
+He was the first to observe that the Ghibellines were not only the
+Imperial party but the party of the aristocrats and influential men,
+whereas the Guelphs were the party not only of the Church but of the
+people, and he traces the slow but increasing struggle to the triumph of
+democracy in the Ordinamenti di Giustizia (1293). But the triumph was
+not final. The Florentines were 'unable to preserve liberty and could
+not tolerate slavery.' So the fighting, banishments, bloodshed, cruelty,
+injustice, began once more. The nobles were in origin Germanic, he
+points out, the people Latin; so that a racial bitterness gave accent to
+their hate. But yet, he adds impartially, when the crushed nobility were
+forced to change their names and no longer dared be heard 'Florence was
+not only stripped of arms but likewise of all generosity.' It would be
+impossible to follow the History in detail. The second, seventh and
+eighth books are perhaps the most powerful and dramatic. Outside affairs
+and lesser events are lightly touched. But no stories in the world have
+been told with more intensity than those of the conspiracies in the
+seventh and eighth books, and none have given a more intimate and
+accurate perception of the modes of thought and feeling at the time. The
+History ends with the death of Lorenzo de Medici in 1492. Enough has
+been said of its breadth of scope and originality of method. The spirit
+of clear flaming patriotism, of undying hope that will not in the
+darkest day despair, the plangent appeal to Italy for its own great sake
+to rouse and live, all these are found pre-eminently in the History as
+they are found wherever Machiavelli speaks from the heart of his heart.
+Of the style a foreigner may not speak. But those who are proper judges
+maintain that in simplicity and lucidity, vigour, and power, softness,
+elevation, and eloquence, the style of Machiavelli is 'divine,' and
+remains, as that of Dante among the poets, unchallenged and insuperable
+among all writers of Italian prose.
+
+[Sidenote: Other Works.]
+
+Though Machiavelli must always stand as a political thinker, an
+historian, and a military theorist it would leave an insufficient idea
+of his mental activities were there no short notice of his other
+literary works. With his passion for incarnating his theories in a
+single personality, he wrote the _Life of Castruccio Castracani_, a
+politico-military romance. His hero was a soldier of fortune born Lucca
+in 1281, and, playing with a free hand, Machiavelli weaves a life of
+adventure and romance in which his constant ideas of war and politics
+run through and across an almost imaginary tapestry. He seems to have
+intended to illustrate and to popularise his ideals and to attain by a
+story the many whom his discourses could not reach. In verse Machiavelli
+was fluent, pungent, and prosaic. The unfinished _Golden Ass_ is merely
+made of paragraphs of the _Discorsi_ twined into rhymes. And the others
+are little better. Countless pamphlets, essays, and descriptions may be
+searched without total waste by the very curious and the very leisurely.
+The many despatches and multitudinous private letters tell the story
+both of his life and his mind. But the short but famous _Novella di
+Belfagor Arcidiavolo_ is excellent in wit, satire, and invention. As a
+playwright he wrote, among many lesser efforts, one supreme comedy,
+_Mandragola_, which Macaulay declares to be better than the best of
+Goldoni's plays, and only less excellent than the very best of
+Moliere's. Italian critics call it the finest play in Italian. The plot
+is not for nursery reading, but there are tears and laughter and pity
+and anger to furnish forth a copious author, and it has been not ill
+observed that _Mandragola_ is the comedy of a society of which _The
+Prince_ is the tragedy.
+
+[Sidenote: The End.]
+
+It has been said of the Italians of the Renaissance that with so much of
+unfairness in their policy, there was an extraordinary degree of
+fairness in their intellects. They were as direct in thought as they
+were tortuous in action and could see no wickedness in deceiving a man
+whom they intended to destroy. To such a charge--if charge it
+be--Machiavelli would have willingly owned himself answerable. He
+observed, in order to know, and he wished to use his knowledge for the
+advancement of good. To him the means were indifferent, provided only
+that they were always apt and moderate in accordance with necessity, A
+surgeon has no room for sentiment: in such an operator pity were a
+crime. It is his to examine, to probe, to diagnose, flinching at no
+ulcer, sparing neither to himself or to his patient. And if he may not
+act, he is to lay down very clearly the reasons which led to his
+conclusions and to state the mode by which life itself may be saved,
+cost what amputation and agony it may. This was Machiavelli's business,
+and he applied his eye, his brains, and his knife with a relentless
+persistence, which, only because it was so faithful, was not called
+heroic. And we know that he suffered in the doing of it and that his
+heart was sore for his patient. But there was no other way. His record
+is clear and shining. He has been accused of no treachery, of no evil
+action. His patriotism for Italy as a fatherland, a dream undreamt by
+any other, never glowed more brightly than when Italy lay low in shame,
+and ruin, and despair. His faith never faltered, his spirit never
+shrank. And the Italy that he saw, through dark bursts of storm, broken
+and sinking, we see to-day riding in the sunny haven where he would have
+her to be.
+
+HENRY CUST.
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS             PAGE
+
+THE ARTE OF WARRE       1
+
+THE PRINCE            251
+
+
+
+
+THE ARTE OF WARRE
+
+WRITTEN FIRST IN ITALIAN BY
+
+NICHOLAS MACHIAVELL
+
+AND SET FORTHE IN ENGLISHE BY
+
+PETER WHITEHORNE
+
+STUDIENT AT GRAIES INNE
+
+WITH AN ADDICION OF OTHER LIKE
+MARCIALLE FEATES AND EXPERIMENTES
+
+AS IN A TABLE
+
+IN THE ENDE OF THE BOOKE
+
+MAIE APPERE
+
+
+1560
+
+_Menfss. Iulij_.
+
+
+
+TO THE MOSTE
+
+HIGHE, AND EXCELLENT PRINCES,
+
+ELIZABETH, by the Grace of God, Quene
+
+of Englande, Fraunce, and Irelande,
+
+defender of the faithe, and of the Churche
+
+of Englande, and Irelande, on yearth
+
+next under God, the supreme
+
+Governour.
+
+
+Although commonlie every man, moste worthie and renoumed Soveraine,
+seketh specially to commend and extolle the thing, whereunto he feleth
+hymself naturally bent and inclined, yet al soche parciallitie and
+private affection laid aside, it is to bee thought (that for the
+defence, maintenaunce, and advauncemente of a Kyngdome, or Common weale,
+or for the good and due observacion of peace, and administracion of
+Justice in the same) no one thinge to be more profitable, necessarie, or
+more honourable, then the knowledge of service in warre, and dedes of
+armes; bicause consideryng the ambicion of the worlde, it is impossible
+for any realme or dominion, long to continue free in quietnesse and
+savegarde, where the defence of the sweard is not alwaies in a
+readinesse. For like as the Grekes, beyng occupied aboute triflyng
+matters, takyng pleasure in resityng of Comedies, and soche other vain
+thinges, altogether neclecting Marciall feates, gave occasion to Philip
+kyng of Macedonia, father to Alexander the Great, to oppresse and to
+bring theim in servitude, under his subjeccion, even so undoubtedly,
+libertie will not be kepte, but men shall be troden under foote, and
+brought to moste horrible miserie and calamitie, if thei givyng theim
+selves to pastymes and pleasure, forssake the juste regarde of their
+owne defence, and savegarde of their countrie, whiche in temporall
+regimente, chiefly consisteth in warlike skilfulnesse. And therefore the
+aunciente Capitaines and mightie Conquerours, so longe as thei
+florished, did devise with moste greate diligence, all maner of waies,
+to bryng their men to the perfect knowledge of what so ever thing
+appertained to the warre: as manifestly appereth by the warlike games,
+whiche in old time the Princes of Grecia ordained, upon the mount
+Olimpus, and also by thorders and exercises, that the aunciente Romaines
+used in sundrie places, and specially in Campo Martio, and in their
+wonderful sumptuous Theaters, whiche chiefly thei builded to that
+purpose. Whereby thei not onely made their Souldiours so experte, that
+thei obtained with a fewe, in faightyng againste a greate houge
+multitude of enemies, soche marveilous victories, as in many credible
+Histories are mencioned, but also by the same meanes, their unarmed and
+rascalle people that followed their Campes, gotte soche understandyng in
+the feates of warre, that thei in the daie of battaile, beeyng lefte
+destitute of succour, were able without any other help, to set
+themselves in good order, for their defence againste the enemie, that
+would seke to hurte theim, and in soche daungerous times, have doen
+their countrie so good service, that verie often by their helpe, the
+adversaries have been put to flight, and fieldes moste happely wone. So
+that thantiquitie estemed nothing more happie in a common weale, then to
+have in the same many men skilfull in warlike affaires: by meanes
+whereof, their Empire continually inlarged, and moste wonderfully and
+triumphantly prospered. For so longe as men for their valiauntnesse,
+were then rewarded and had in estimacion, glad was he that could finde
+occasion to venter, yea, and spende his life, to benefite his countrie:
+as by the manly actes that Marcus Curcius, Oracius Cocles, and Gaius
+Mucius did for the savegarde of Rome and also by other innumerable like
+examples dooeth plainly appeare. But when through long and continuall
+peace, thei began to bee altogether given to pleasure and delicatenesse,
+little regardyng Marciall feates, nor soche as were expert in the
+practise thereof: Their dominions and estates, did not so moche before
+increase and prospere, as then by soche meanes and oversight, thei
+sodainly fell into decaie and utter ruine. For soche truly is the nature
+and condicion, bothe of peace and warre, that where in governemente,
+there is not had equalle consideration of them bothe, the one in fine,
+doeth woorke and induce, the others oblivion and utter abholicion.
+Wherfore, sith the necessitie of the science of warres is so greate, and
+also the necessarie use thereof so manifeste, that even Ladie Peace her
+self, doeth in maner from thens crave her chief defence and
+preservacion, and the worthinesse moreover, and honour of the same so
+greate, that as by prose we see, the perfecte glorie therof, cannot
+easely finde roote, but in the hartes of moste noble couragious and
+manlike personages, I thought most excellente Princes, I could not
+either to the specialle gratefiyng of your highnesse, the universall
+delight of all studious gentlemen, or the common utilitie of the publike
+wealth, imploie my labours more profitablie in accomplishyng of my
+duetie and good will, then in settyng foorthe some thing, that might
+induce to the augmentyng and increase of the knowledge thereof:
+inespecially thexample of your highnes most politike governemente over
+us, givyng plaine testimonie of the wonderfull prudente desire that is
+in you, to have your people instructed in this kinde of service, as well
+for the better defence of your highnesse, theim selves, and their
+countrie, as also to discourage thereby, and to be able to resist the
+malingnitie of the enemie, who otherwise would seeke peradventure, to
+invade this noble realme or kyngdome.
+
+When therfore about x. yeres paste, in the Emperours warres against the
+Mores and certain Turkes beyng in Barberie, at the siege and winnyng of
+Calibbia, Monesterio and Africa, I had as well for my further
+instruction in those affaires, as also the better to acquainte me with
+the Italian tongue, reduced into Englishe, the booke called The arte of
+Warre, of the famous and excellente Nicholas Machiavell, whiche in times
+paste he beyng a counsailour, and Secretarie of the noble Citee of
+Florence, not without his greate laude and praise did write: and havyng
+lately againe, somwhat perused the same, the whiche in soche continuall
+broiles and unquietnesse, was by me translated, I determined with my
+self, by publishyng thereof, to bestowe as greate a gift (sins greater I
+was not able) emongeste my countrie men, not experte in the Italian
+tongue, as in like woorkes I had seen before me, the Frenchemen,
+Duchemen, Spaniardes, and other forreine nacions, moste lovyngly to have
+bestowed emongeste theirs: The rather undoubtedly, that as by private
+readyng of the same booke, I then felt my self in that knowledge
+marveilously holpen and increased, so by communicatyng the same to many,
+our Englishemen findyng out the orderyng and disposyng of exploictes of
+warre therein contained, the aide and direction of these plaine and
+briefe preceptes, might no lesse in knowledge of warres become
+incomperable, then in prowes also and exercise of the same, altogether
+invincible: which my translacion moste gracious Soveraine, together with
+soche other thynges, as by me hath been gathered, and thought good to
+adde thereunto, I have presumed to dedicate unto youre highnes: not
+onely bicause the whole charge and furniture of warlike counsailes and
+preparacions, being determined by the arbitremente of Governours and
+Princes, the treatise also of like effecte should in like maner as of
+right, depende upon the protection of a moste worthie and noble
+Patronesse, but also that the discourse it self, and the woorke of a
+forrein aucthour, under the passeport and safeconduite of your highnes
+moste noble name, might by speciall aucthoritie of the same, winne
+emongest your Majesties subjectes, moche better credite and estimacion.
+And if mooste mightie Queen, in this kind of Philosophie (if I maie so
+terme it) grave and sage counsailes, learned and wittie preceptes, or
+politike and prudente admonicions, ought not to be accompted the least
+and basest tewels of weale publike. Then dare I boldely affirme, that of
+many straungers, whiche from forrein countries, have here tofore in this
+your Majesties realme arrived, there is none in comparison to bee
+preferred, before this worthie Florentine and Italian, who havyng frely
+without any gaine of exchaunge (as after some acquaintaunce and
+familiaritie will better appeare) brought with hym moste riche, rare and
+plentiful Treasure, shall deserve I trust of all good Englishe lishe
+hartes, most lovingly and frendly to be intertained, embraced and
+cherished. Whose newe Englishe apparell, how so ever it shall seme by
+me, after a grosse fasion, more fitlie appoincted to the Campe, then in
+nice termes attired to the Carpet, and in course clothyng rather putte
+foorthe to battaile, then in any brave shewe prepared to the bankette,
+neverthelesse my good will I truste, shall of your grace be taken in
+good parte, havyng fashioned the phraise of my rude stile, even
+accordyng to the purpose of my travaile, whiche was rather to profite
+the desirous manne of warre, then to delight the eares of the fine
+Rethorician, or daintie curious scholemanne: Moste humblie besechyng
+your highnes, so to accept my labour herein, as the first fruictes of a
+poore souldiours studie, who to the uttermoste of his smalle power, in
+the service of your moste gracious majestie, and of his countrie, will
+at al tymes, accordyng to his bounden duetie and allegeaunce, promptlie
+yeld hym self to any labour, travaile, or daunger, what so ever shal
+happen. Praiyng in the mean season the almightie God, to give your
+highnes in longe prosperous raigne, perfect health, desired
+tranquilitie, and against all your enemies, luckie and joifull victorie.
+
+Your humble subject and dailie oratour,
+
+PETER WHITEHORNE.
+
+
+
+
+THE PROHEME
+OF NICHOLAS MACHIAVELL,
+Citezein and Secretarie of Florence,
+upon his booke of the Arte of Warre, unto
+Laurence Philippe Strozze, one of the
+nobilitie of Florence.
+
+
+There have Laurence, many helde, and do holde this opinion, that there
+is no maner of thing, whiche lesse agreeth the one with the other, nor
+that is so much unlike, as the civil life to the Souldiours. Wherby it
+is often seen, that if any determin in thexercise of that kinde of
+service to prevaile, that incontinent he doeth not only chaunge in
+apparel, but also in custome and maner, in voice, and from the facion of
+all civil use, he doeth alter: For that he thinketh not meete to clothe
+with civell apparell him, who wil be redie, and promt to all kinde of
+violence, nor the civell customes, and usages maie that man have, the
+whiche judgeth bothe those customes to be effeminate, and those usages
+not to be agreable to his profession: Nor it semes not convenient for
+him to use the civill gesture and ordinarie wordes, who with fasing and
+blasphemies, will make afraied other menne: the whiche causeth in this
+time, suche opinion to be moste true. But if thei should consider
+thauncient orders, there should nothing be founde more united, more
+confirmable, and that of necessitie ought to love so much the one the
+other, as these: for as muche as all the artes that are ordeined in a
+common weale, in regarde or respecte of common profite of menne, all the
+orders made in the same, to live with feare of the Lawe, and of God
+should be vaine, if by force of armes their defence wer not prepared,
+which, well ordeined, doe maintain those also whiche be not well
+ordeined. And likewise to the contrarie the good orders, without the
+souldiours help, no lesse or otherwise doe disorder, then the habitacion
+of a sumptuous and roiall palais, although it wer decte with gold and
+precious stones, when without being covered, should not have wherewith
+to defende it from the raine. And if in what so ever other orders of
+Cities and Kyngdomes, there hath been used al diligence for to maintain
+men faithfull, peaceable, and full of the feare of God, in the service
+of warre, it was doubled: if for in what man ought the countrie to seke
+greater faith, then in him, who must promise to die for the same? In
+whom ought there to bee more love of peace, then in him, whiche onely by
+the warre maie be hurte? In whome ought there to bee more feare of GOD,
+then in him, which every daie committyng himself to infinite perilles,
+hath moste neede of his helpe? This necessitie considered wel, bothe of
+them that gave the lawes to Empires, and of those that to the exercise
+of service wer apoincted, made that the life of Souldiours, of other
+menne was praised, and with all studie folowed and imitated. But the
+orders of service of war, beyng altogether corrupted, and a greate waie
+from the auncient maners altered, there hath growen these sinisterous
+opinions, which maketh men to hate the warlike service, and to flie the
+conversacion of those that dooe exercise it. Albeit I judgeing by the
+same, that I have seen and redde, that it is not a thyng impossible, to
+bryng it again to the auncient maners, and to give it some facion of the
+vertue passed, I have determined to the entente not to passe this my
+idell time, without doyng some thyng, to write that whiche I doe
+understande, to the satisfaction of those, who of aunciente actes, are
+lovers of the science of warre. And although it be a bold thing to
+intreate of the same matter, wher of otherwise I have made no
+profession, notwithstanding I beleve it is no errour, to occupie with
+wordes a degree, the whiche many with greater presumpcion with their
+deedes have occupied: for as muche as the errours that I maie happen to
+make by writing, may be without harme to any man corrected: but those
+the whiche of them be made in doyng cannot be knowen without the ruine
+of Empires. Therefore Laurence you ought to consider the qualitie of
+this my laboure, and with your judgement to give it that blame, or that
+praise, as shall seeme unto you it hath deserved. The whiche I sende
+unto you, as well to shewe my selfe gratefull, although my habilitie
+reche not to the benefites, which I have received of you, as also for
+that beyng the custome to honour with like workes them who for
+nobilitie, riches, wisedome, and liberalitie doe shine: I knowe you for
+riches, and nobilitie, not to have many peeres, for wisedome fewe, and
+for liberalitie none.
+
+
+
+
+THE ARTE OF WARRE
+
+THE TABLE
+OF CERTAIN PRINCIPALL THINGES,
+CONTAINED IN THIS WOORKE
+OF MACHIAVEL
+
+IN THE FIRSTE BOOKE
+
+
+Why a good man ought not to exersise warfare as his arte, 33
+
+Deedes of armes ought to be used privatly in time of peace for exersise,
+and in time of warre for necessetie and renoume, 36
+
+The strength of an armie is the footemen, 38
+
+The Romaines renued their Legions and had men in the flower of their
+age, 38
+
+Whether men of armes ought to be kept, 40
+
+What is requisete for the preparyng of an armie, 42
+
+Out of what contrie souldiers ought to be chosen, 43
+
+Souldiers ought to bee chosen, by thaucthoritie of the Prince, of suche
+men as be his oune subjectes, 44
+
+The difference of ages, that is to be taken in the chosinge of
+souldiours for the restoring of an olde power and for the making of a
+newe, 44
+
+The weapons or power that is prepared, of the naturall subjectes, of a
+common weale bringeth profit and not hurte, 47
+
+What cause letted the Venetians, that they made not a Monarchi of the
+worlde, 48
+
+How an armie maye bee prepared in the countrie, where were no exersise
+of warre, 49
+
+The custome that the Romaines used, in the chosyng of their souldiours,
+51
+
+The greater number of men is best, 53
+
+Whether the multitude of armed men ar occation of confusion and of
+dissorder, 55
+
+How to prohibite, that the Capitaines make no discension, 57
+
+
+IN THE SECONDE BOOKE
+
+What armour the antiquetie used, 61
+
+The occation of the boldenes of the duchemen, 64
+
+Whiche maner of armyng menne is better either the Duche or Romaine
+fasion, 64
+
+Diverse examples of late dayes, 66
+
+An example of Tigran, 69
+
+Whether the footemen or the horsemen ought to bee estemed moste, 70
+
+The cause whie the Romaines were overcome of the parthians, 71
+
+What order, or what vertue maketh, that footemen overcum horsemen, 71
+
+Howe the antiquitie exersised their men to learne them to handle their
+weapons, 73
+
+What the antiquitie estemed moste happie in a common weale, 75
+
+The maner, of maintainyng the order, 77
+
+What a legion is, of Grekes called a Falange, and of Frenchemen
+Catterva, 77
+
+The devision of a legion, and the divers names of orders, 78
+
+The order of batellraye, and the manner of appoincting the battels, 82
+
+How to order, CCCC.L. men to doo some severall feate, 88
+
+The fation of a battaile that the Suisers make like a crosse, 90
+
+What carriages the Capitaines ought to have, and the number of carriages
+requisite to every band of men, 91
+
+Diverse effectes caused of diverse soundes, 93
+
+Whereof cometh the utilitie, and the dissorder of the armies that are
+now a daies, 93
+
+The manner of arminge men, 97
+
+The number of carriages that men of armes and lighte horsemen ought to
+have, 98
+
+
+IN THE THIRDE BOOKE
+
+The greatest dissorder that is used now a dayes in the orderinge of an
+armie, 102
+
+How the Romaines devided their armie in Hastati, Principi and Triarii,
+102
+
+The manner that the Romaines used to order them selves agayne in the
+overthrow, 103
+
+The custom of the Greekes, 103
+
+A maine battaile of Suissers, 104
+
+How manie legions of Romaine Citesens was in an ordinarie armie, 105
+
+The manner how to pitche a fielde to faighte a battaile, 106
+
+Of what number of faighting men an armie oughte to be, 110
+
+The description of a battaile that is a faighting, 111
+
+An exsample of Ventidio faighting against the Parthians, 114
+
+An example of Epaminondas, 115
+
+How the Artillerie is unprofitable, 116
+
+How that a maine battaile of Suissers cannot ocupie more then fower
+pikes, 120
+
+How the battailes when thei cum to be eight or ten, maye be receyved in
+the verie same space, that received the fyve, 123
+
+The armes that the Standarde of all tharmie ought to have, 125
+
+Divers examples of the antiquetie, 126
+
+
+IN THE FOWERTH BOOKE
+
+Whether the fronte of the armie ought to bee made large, 132
+
+To how many thinges respecte ought to be had, in the ordringe of an
+armie, 133
+
+An example of Scipio, 134
+
+In what place a Capitain maie order his armie with savegarde not to be
+clene overthrowen, 135
+
+Aniball and Scipio praised for the orderynge of their armies, 135
+
+Cartes used of the Asiaticans, 137
+
+Diverse examples of the antiquitie, 137
+
+The prudence which the Capitaine ought to use, in the accidence that
+chaunse in faightinge, 138
+
+What a Capitaine ought to doo, that is the conqueror, or that is
+conquered, 140
+
+A Capitaine ought not to faighte the battaile, but with advauntage,
+excepte he be constrained, 142
+
+How to avoide the faightinge of the fielde, 144
+
+Advertismentes that the Capitaine ought to have, 146
+
+Speakyng to souldiers helpeth muche to make them to be curagious and
+bolde, 146
+
+Whether all the armie ought to bee spoken unto, or onely to the heddes
+thereof, 147
+
+
+IN THE FYVETH BOOKE
+
+The manner how to leade an armie gowinge thorough suspected places, or
+to incounter the enemie, 152
+
+An example of Aniball, 156
+
+Wether any thing oughte to bee commaunded with the voise or with the
+trompet, 159
+
+The occations why the warres made now a dayes, doo impoverish the
+conquerors as well as the conquered, 162
+
+Credite ought not to be given to thinges which stand nothinge with
+reason, 164
+
+The armie ought not to knowe what the Capitaine purposeth to doo, 165
+
+Diverse examples, 167
+
+
+IN THE SIXTE BOOKE
+
+The maner how to incampe an armie, 175
+
+How brode the spaces and the wayes ought to be within the campe, 182
+
+What waye ought to be used when it is requiset to incampe nere the
+enemie, 184
+
+How the watche and warde ought to be apoincted in the campe, and what
+punishmente they ought to have that doo not their dutie, 186
+
+How the Romanies prohibited women to be in their armies and idell games
+to be used, 188
+
+How to incampe accordinge to the nomber of men, and what nomber of menne
+maie suffise againste, what so ever enemie that wer, 191
+
+How to doo to be assured, of the fideletie of those that are had in
+suspition, 193
+
+What a Capitaine ought to doo beinge beseged of his enemies, 194
+
+Example of Coriliano and others, 195
+
+It is requiset chiefly for a Capitain to kepe his souldiers punished and
+payed, 197
+
+Of aguries, 197
+
+Moste excellent advertismentes and pollicies, 198
+
+The occation of the overthrowe of the Frenchmen at Garigliano, 202
+
+
+IN THE SEVENTH BOOKE
+
+Cities are strong, either by nature or by industrie, 205
+
+The maner of fortificacion, 205
+
+Bulwarkes ought not to be made oute of a towne distante from the same,
+207
+
+Example of Genoa, 208
+
+Of the Countes Catherin, 208
+
+The fation of percullesies used in Almaine, 210
+
+Howe the battelmentes of walles were made at the first, and how thei are
+made now adaies, 210
+
+The provisions that is mete to bee made, for the defence of a towne, 212
+
+Divers pollicies, for the beseginge and defendinge of a toune or
+fortres, 214
+
+Secrete conveing of letters, 219
+
+The defence againste a breache, 219
+
+Generall rules of warre, 222
+
+
+
+
+THE FIRST BOOKE
+
+OF THE ARTE OF WARRE OF
+
+NICHOLAS MACHIAVEL, CITEZEIN
+
+AND SECRETARIE OF FLORENCE,
+
+UNTO
+
+LAURENCE PHILIP STROZZE
+
+ONE OF THE NOBILTIE
+
+OF FLORENCE.
+
+
+
+
+THE FIRST BOOKE
+
+
+Forasmuch as I beleve that after death, al men maie be praised without
+charge, al occasion and suspecte of flatterie beyng taken awaie, I shal
+not doubte to praise our Cosimo Ruchellay, whose name was never
+remembred of me without teares, havyng knowen in him those condicions,
+the whiche in a good frende or in a citezien, might of his freendes, or
+of his countrie, be desired: for that I doe not knowe what thyng was so
+muche his, not excepting any thing (saving his soule) which for his
+frendes willingly of him should not have been spent: I knowe not what
+enterprise should have made him afraide, where the same should have ben
+knowen to have been for the benefite of his countrie. And I doe painly
+confesse, not to have mette emongest so many men, as I have knowen, and
+practised withal, a man, whose minde was more inflamed then his, unto
+great and magnificent thynges. Nor he lamented not with his frendes of
+any thyng at his death, but because he was borne to die a yong manne
+within his owne house, before he had gotten honour, and accordynge to
+his desire, holpen any manne: for that he knewe, that of him coulde not
+be spoken other, savyng that there should be dead a good freende. Yet it
+resteth not for this, that we, and what so ever other that as we did
+know him, are not able to testifie (seeyng his woorkes doe not appere)
+of his lawdable qualities. True it is, that fortune was not for al this,
+so muche his enemie, that it left not some brief record of the
+readinesse of his witte, as doeth declare certaine of his writinges, and
+settyng foorthe of amorous verses, wherin (although he were not in love)
+yet for that he would not consume time in vain, til unto profounder
+studies fortune should have brought him, in his youthfull age he
+exercised himselfe. Whereby moste plainly maie be comprehended, with how
+moche felicitie he did describe his conceiptes, and how moche for
+Poetrie he should have ben estemed, if the same for the ende therof, had
+of him ben exercised. Fortune having therfore deprived us from the use
+of so great a frende, me thinketh there can bee founde no other remedie,
+then as muche as is possible, to seke to enjoye the memorie of the same,
+and to repeate suche thynges as hath been of him either wittely saied,
+or wisely disputed. And for as much as there is nothyng of him more
+freshe, then the reasonyng, the whiche in his last daies Signior
+Fabricio Collonna, in his orchard had with him, where largely of the
+same gentilman were disputed matters of warre, bothe wittely and
+prudently, for the moste parte of Cosimo demaunded, I thought good, for
+that I was present there with certain other of our frendes, to bring it
+to memorie, so that reading the same, the frendes of Cosimo, whiche
+thether came, might renewe in their mindes, the remembraunce of his
+vertue: and the other part beyng sorie for their absence, might partly
+learne hereby many thynges profitable, not onely to the life of
+Souldiours, but also to civil mennes lives, which gravely of a moste
+wise man was disputed. Therfore I saie, that Fabricio Collonna
+retournyng out of Lombardie, where longe time greatly to his glorie, he
+had served in the warres the catholike kyng, he determined, passyng by
+Florence, to rest himself certain daies in the same citee, to visite the
+Dukes excellencie, and to see certaine gentilmen, whiche in times paste
+he had been acquainted withal. For whiche cause, unto Cosimo it was
+thought beste to bid him into his orchard, not so muche to use his
+liberalitee, as to have occasion to talke with him at leasure, and of
+him to understande and to learne divers thinges, accordyng as of suche a
+man maie bee hoped for, semyng to have accasion to spende a daie in
+reasonyng of suche matters, which to his minde should best satisfie him.
+Then Fabricio came, accordyng to his desire, and was received of Cosimo
+together, with certain of his trustie frendes, emongest whome wer Zanoby
+Buondelmonti, Baptiste Palla, and Luigi Allamanni, all young men loved
+of him and of the very same studies moste ardente, whose good qualities,
+for as muche as every daie, and at every houre thei dooe praise
+themselves, we will omit. Fabricio was then accordyng to the time and
+place honoured, of all those honours, that thei could possible devise:
+But the bankettyng pleasures beyng passed, and the tabel taken up, and
+al preparacion of feastinges consumed, the which are sone at an ende in
+sight of greate men, who to honorable studies have their mindes set, the
+daie beyng longe, and the heate muche, Cosimo judged for to content
+better his desire, that it wer well doen, takyng occasion to avoide the
+heate, to bring him into the moste secret, and shadowest place of his
+garden. Where thei beyng come, and caused to sit, some upon herbes, some
+in the coldest places, other upon litle seates which there was ordeined,
+under the shadow of moste high trees, Fabricio praiseth the place, to be
+delectable, and particularly consideryng the trees, and not knowyng some
+of them, he did stande musinge in his minde, whereof Cosimo beeyng a
+ware saied, you have not peradventure ben acquainted with some of these
+sortes of trees: But doe not marvell at it, for as muche as there bee
+some, that were more estemed of the antiquitie, then thei are commonly
+now a daies: and he tolde him the names of them, and how Barnardo his
+graundfather did travaile in suche kinde of plantyng: Fabricio replied,
+I thought it shuld be the same you saie, and this place, and this
+studie, made me to remember certaine Princes of the Kyngdome of Naples,
+whiche of these anncient tillage and shadow doe delight. And staiyng
+upon this talke, and somewhat standyng in a studdie, saied moreover, if
+I thought I should not offende, I woud tell my opinion, but I beleeve I
+shall not, commonyng with friendes, and to dispute of thynges, and not
+to condemne them. How much better thei should have doen (be it spoken
+without displeasure to any man) to have sought to been like the
+antiquitie in thinges strong, and sharpe, not in the delicate and softe:
+and in those that thei did in the Sunne, not in the shadowe: and to take
+the true and perfecte maners of the antiquitie: not those that are false
+and corrupted: for that when these studies pleased my Romaines, my
+countrie fell into ruin. Unto which Cosimo answered. But to avoide the
+tediousnesse to repeate so many times he saied, and the other answered,
+there shall be onely noted the names of those that speakes, without
+rehersing other.
+
+Then COSIMO saied, you have opened the waie of a reasoning, which I have
+desired, and I praie you that you will speake withoute respecte, for
+that that I without respecte will aske you, and if I demaundyng, or
+repliyng shall excuse, or accuse any, it shal not be to excuse, or
+accuse, but to understande of you the truth.
+
+FABRICIO. And I shall be very well contented to tell you that, whiche I
+understand of al the same that you shall aske me, the whiche if it shall
+be true, or no, I wil report me to your judgemente: and I will be glad
+that you aske me, for that I am to learne, as well of you in askyng me,
+as you of me in aunswerynge you: for as muche as many times a wise
+demaunder, maketh one to consider many thynges, and to knowe many other,
+whiche without havyng been demaunded, he should never have knowen.
+
+COSIMO. I will retourne to thesame, that you said first, that my
+graundfather and those your Princes, should have doen more wisely, to
+have resembled the antiquitie in hard thinges, then in the delicate, and
+I will excuse my parte, for that, the other I shall leave to excuse for
+you. I doe not beleve that in his tyme was any manne, that so moche
+detested the livyng in ease, as he did, and that so moche was a lover of
+the same hardenesse of life, whiche you praise: notwithstandyng he knewe
+not how to bee able in persone, nor in those of his sonnes to use it,
+beeyng borne in so corrupte a worlde, where one that would digresse from
+the common use, should bee infamed and disdained of every man:
+consideryng that if one in the hottest day of Summer being naked, should
+wallowe hymself upon the Sande, or in Winter in the moste coldest
+monethes upon the snowe, as Diogenes did, he should be taken as a foole.
+If one, (as the Spartans were wonte to doe) should nourishe his children
+in a village, makyng them to slepe in the open aire, to go with hedde
+and feete naked, to washe them selves in the colde water for to harden
+them, to be able to abide moche paine, and for to make theim to love
+lesse life, and to feare lesse death, he should be scorned, and soner
+taken as a wilde beast, then as a manne. If there wer seen also one, to
+nourishe himself with peason and beanes, and to despise gold, as
+Fabricio doeth, he should bee praised of fewe, and followed of none: so
+that he being afraied of this present maner of livyng, he left
+thauncient facions, and thesame, that he could with lest admiracion
+imitate in the antiquitie, he did.
+
+FABRICIO. You have excused it in this parte mooste strongly: and surely
+you saie the truthe: but I did not speake so moche of this harde maner
+of livyng, as of other maners more humaine, and whiche have with the
+life now a daies greater conformitie. The whiche I doe not beleve, that
+it hath been difficulte to bryng to passe unto one, who is nombred
+emongest Princes of a citee: for the provyng whereof, I will never seke
+other, then thexample of the Romaines. Whose lives, if thei wer well
+considred, and thorders of thesame common weale, there should therin be
+seen many thinges, not impossible to induce into a cominaltie, so that
+it had in her any good thing.
+
+COSIMO. What thynges are those, that you would induce like unto the
+antiquitie.
+
+FABRICIO. To honour, and to reward vertue, not to despise povertie, to
+esteme the maners and orders of warfare, to constrain the citezeins to
+love one an other, to live without sectes, to esteme lesse the private,
+than the publike, and other like thinges, that easily might bee with
+this time accompanied: the which maners ar not difficult to bring to
+passe, when a man should wel consider them, and entre therin by due
+meanes: for asmoche as in thesame, the truth so moche appereth, that
+every common wit, maie easely perceive it: which thing, who that
+ordeineth, doth plant trees, under the shadowe wherof, thei abide more
+happie, and more pleasantly, then under these shadowes of this goodly
+gardeine.
+
+COSIMO. I will not speake any thyng againste thesame that you have
+saied, but I will leave it to bee judged of these, whom easely can
+judge, and I will tourne my communicacion to you, that is an accusar of
+theim, the whiche in grave, and greate doynges, are not followers of the
+antiquitie, thinkyng by this waie more easely to be in my entent
+satisfied. Therfore, I would knowe of you whereof it groweth, that of
+the one side you condempne those, that in their doynges resemble not the
+antiquitie? Of the other, in the warre, whiche is your art, wherin you
+are judged excellent, it is not seen, that you have indevoured your
+self, to bryng the same to any soche ende, or any thyng at all resembled
+therein the auncient maners.
+
+FABRICIO. You are happened upon the poincte, where I loked: for that my
+talke deserved no other question: nor I desired other: and albeit that I
+could save my self with an easie excuse, not withstandyng for my more
+contentacion, and yours, seyng that the season beareth it, I will enter
+in moche longer reasoning. Those men, whiche will enterprise any thyng,
+ought firste with all diligence to prepare theim selves, to be ready and
+apte when occasion serveth, to accomplish that, which thei have
+determined to worke: and for that when the preparacions are made
+craftely, thei are not knowen, there cannot be accused any man of any
+negligence, if firste it be not disclosed by thoccasion: in the which
+working not, is after seen, either that there is not prepared so moche
+as suffiseth, or that there hath not been of any part therof thought
+upon. And for as moche as to me there is not come any occasion to be
+able, to shewe the preparacions made of me, to reduce the servise of
+warre into his auncient orders, if I have not reduced it, I cannot be of
+you, nor of other blamed: I beleve this excuse shuld suffise for answere
+to your accusement.
+
+COSIMO. It should suffice, when I wer certain, that thoccasion were not
+come.
+
+FABRICIO. But for that I know, that you maie doubt whether this occasion
+hath been cum, or no, I will largely (when you with pacience will heare
+me) discourse what preparacions are necessary first to make, what
+occasion muste growe, what difficultie doeth let, that the preparacions
+help not, and why thoccasion cannot come, and how these things at ones,
+which some contrary endes, is most difficill, and most easie to do.
+
+COSIMO. You cannot do bothe to me, and unto these other, a thing more
+thankfull then this. And if to you it shall not be tedious to speake,
+unto us it shal never be grevous to heare: but for asmoch as this
+reasonyng ought to be long, I will with your license take helpe of these
+my frendes: and thei, and I praie you of one thyng, that is, that you
+will not bee greved, if some tyme with some question of importaunce, we
+interrupte you.
+
+[Sidenote: Why a good man ought never to use the exercise of armes, as
+his art.]
+
+FABRICIO. I am moste well contented, that you Cosimo with these other
+younge men here, doe aske me: for that I beleve, that youthfulnes, will
+make you lovers of warlike thinges, and more easie to beleve thesame,
+that of me shalbe saied. These other, by reason of havyng nowe their
+hedde white, and for havyng upon their backes their bloude congeled,
+parte of theim are wonte to bee enemies of warre, parte uncorrectable,
+as those, whom beleve, that tymes, and not the naughtie maners,
+constraine men to live thus: so that safely aske you all of me, and
+without respecte: the whiche I desire, as well, for that it maie be unto
+me a little ease, as also for that I shall have pleasure, not to leave
+in your mynde any doubt. I will begin at your woordes, where you saied
+unto me, that in the warre, that is my arte, I had not indevoured to
+bryng it to any aunciente ende: whereupon I saie, as this beyng an arte,
+whereby men of no maner of age can live honestly, it cannot bee used for
+an arte, but of a common weale: or of a kyngdome: and the one and the
+other of these, when thei bee well ordeined, will never consente to any
+their Citezeins, or Subjectes, to use it for any arte, nor never any
+good manne doeth exercise it for his particulare arte: for as moche as
+good he shall never bee judged, whom maketh an excersise thereof, where
+purposing alwaies to gaine thereby, it is requisite for hym to be
+ravenyng, deceiptfull, violente, and to have many qualities, the whiche
+of necessitie maketh hym not good: nor those menne cannot, whiche use it
+for an arte, as well the greate as the leaste, bee made otherwise: for
+that this arte doeth not nourishe them in peace. Wherfore thei ar
+constrained either to thinke that there is no peace, or so moche to
+prevaile in the tyme of warre, that in peace thei maie bee able to kepe
+them selves: and neither of these two thoughtes happeneth in a good man:
+for that in mindyng to bee able to finde himself at all tymes, dooe
+growe robberies, violence, slaughters, whiche soche souldiours make as
+well to the frendes, as to the enemies: and in mindyng not to have
+peace, there groweth deceiptes, whiche the capitaines use to those,
+whiche hire them, to the entent the warre maie continue, and yet though
+the peace come often, it happeneth that the capitaines beyng deprived of
+their stipendes, and of their licencious livyng, thei erecte an ansigne
+of adventures, and without any pitie thei put to sacke a province. Have
+not you in memorie of your affaires, how that beyng many Souldiours in
+Italie without wages, bicause the warre was ended, thei assembled
+together many companies, and went taxyng the tounes, and sackyng the
+countrie, without beyng able to make any remedie? Have you not red, that
+the Carthagenes souldiours, the first warre beyng ended which thei had
+with the Romaines, under Matho, and Spendio, twoo capitaines,
+rebelliously constituted of theim, made more perillous warre to the
+Carthaginens, then thesame whiche thei had ended with the Romaines? In
+the time of our fathers, Frances Sforza, to the entente to bee able to
+live honourably in the time of peace, not only beguiled the Millenars,
+whose souldiour he was, but he toke from them their libertie and became
+their Prince. Like unto him hath been all the other souldiours of Italie
+whiche have used warfare, for their particulare arte, and albeeit thei
+have not through their malignitie becomen Dukes of Milein, so moche the
+more thei deserve to bee blamed: for that although thei have not gotten
+so moch as he, thei have all (if their lives wer seen) sought to bring
+the like thynges to passe. Sforza father of Fraunces, constrained Quene
+Jone, to caste her self into the armes of the king of Aragon, havyng in
+a sodain forsaken her, and in the middest of her enemies, lefte her
+disarmed, onely to satisfie his ambicion, either in taxyng her, or in
+takyng from her the Kyngdome. Braccio with the verie same industrie,
+sought to possesse the kyngdome of Naples, and if he had not been
+overthrowen and slaine at Aquila, he had brought it to passe. Like
+disorders growe not of other, then of soche men as hath been, that use
+the exercise of warfare, for their proper arte. Have not you a Proverbe,
+whiche fortefieth my reasons, whiche saieth, that warre maketh Theves,
+and peace hangeth theim up? For as moche as those, whiche knowe not how
+to live of other exercise, and in the same finding not enie man to
+sustayne theym, and havyng not so moche power, to knowe how to reduce
+theim selves together, to make an open rebellion, they are constrayned
+of necessetie to Robbe in the highe waies, and Justice is enforced to
+extinguishe theim.
+
+COSIMO. You have made me to esteme this arte of warfare almoste as
+nothyng, and I have supposed it the moste excellentes, and moste
+honourableste that hath been used: so that if you declare me it not
+better, I cannot remaine satisfied: For that when it is thesame, that
+you saie, I knowe not, whereof groweth the glorie of Cesar, of Pompei,
+of Scipio, of Marcello, and of so many Romaine Capitaines, whiche by
+fame are celebrated as Goddes.
+
+FABRICIO. I have not yet made an ende of disputyng al thesame, that I
+purposed to propounde: whiche were twoo thynges, the one, that a good
+manne could not use this exercise for his arte: the other, that a common
+weale or a kingdome well governed, did never permitte, that their
+Subjectes or Citezeins should use it for an arte. Aboute the firste, I
+have spoken as moche as hath comen into my mynde: there remaineth in me
+to speake of the seconde where I woll come to aunswere to this your
+laste question, and I saie that Pompey and Cesar, and almoste all those
+Capitaines, whiche were at Rome, after the laste Carthagenens warre,
+gotte fame as valiaunt men, not as good, and those whiche lived before
+them, gotte glorie as valiaunte and good menne: the whiche grewe, for
+that these tooke not the exercise of warre for their arte: and those
+whiche I named firste, as their arte did use it. And so longe as the
+common weale lived unspotted, never any noble Citezein would presume, by
+the meane of soche exercise, to availe thereby in peace, breakyng the
+lawes, spoilyng the Provinces, usurpyng, and plaiyng the Tyraunte in the
+countrie, and in every maner prevailyng: nor any of how lowe degree so
+ever thei were, would goe aboute to violate the Religion, confederatyng
+theim selves with private men, not to feare the Senate, or to followe
+any tirannicall insolence, for to bee able to live with the arte of
+warre in all tymes. But those whiche were Capitaines, contented with
+triumphe, with desire did tourne to their private life, and those whiche
+were membres, would be more willyng to laie awaie their weapons, then to
+take them, and every manne tourned to his science, whereby thei gotte
+their livyng: Nor there was never any, that would hope with praie, and
+with this arte, to be able to finde theim selves. Of this there maie be
+made concernyng Citezeins, moste evidente conjecture, by the ensample of
+Regolo Attillio, who beyng Capitain of the Romaine armies in Affrica,
+and havyng as it wer overcome the Carthegenens, he required of the
+Senate, licence to retourne home, to kepe his possessions, and told
+them, that thei were marde of his housbandmen. Whereby it is more clere
+then the Sunne, that if thesame manne had used the warre as his arte,
+and by meanes thereof, had purposed to have made it profitable unto him,
+havyng in praie so many Provinces, he would not have asked license, to
+returne to kepe his feldes: for as moche as every daie he might
+otherwise, have gotten moche more, then the value of al those
+possessions: but bicause these good men and soche as use not the warre
+for their arte, will not take of thesame any thing then labour,
+perilles, and gloris, when thei are sufficiently glorious, thei desire
+to returne home, and to live of their owne science. Concernyng menne of
+lowe degree, and common souldiours, to prove that thei kepte the verie
+same order, it doeth appeare that every one willingly absented theim
+selves from soche exercise, and when thei served not in the warre, thei
+would have desired to serve, and when thei did serve, thei would have
+desired leave not to have served: whiche is wel knowen through many
+insamples, and inespecially seeyng how emonge the firste privileges,
+whiche the Romaine people gave to their Citezeins was, that thei should
+not be constrained against their willes, to serve in the warres.
+Therefore Rome so long as it was well governed, whiche was untill the
+commyng of Graccus, it had not any Souldiour that would take this
+exercise for an arte, and therefore it had fewe naughtie, and those few
+wer severely punished. Then a citee well governed, ought to desire, that
+this studie of warre, be used in tyme of peace for exercise, and in the
+time of warre, for necessitie and for glorie: and to suffer onely the
+common weale to use it for an arte, as Rome did, and what so ever
+Citezein, that hath in soche exercise other ende, is not good, and what
+so ever citee is governed otherwise, is not well ordeined.
+
+COSIMO. I remain contented enough and satisfied of thesame, whiche
+hetherto you have told, and this conclusion pleaseth me verie wel whiche
+you have made, and as muche as is loked for touching a common welth, I
+beleve that it is true, but concerning Kinges, I can not tell nowe, for
+that I woulde beleve that a Kinge would have about him, whome
+particularly should take suche exercise for his arte.
+
+FABRICIO. A kingdome well ordred ought moste of all to avoide the like
+kinde of men, for only thei, are the destruction of their king, and all
+together ministers of tiranny, and alledge me not to the contrarie anie
+presente kingdome, for that I woll denie you all those to be kingdomes
+well ordered, bicause the kingdomes whiche have good orders, give not
+their absolute Empire unto their king, saving in the armies, for as much
+as in this place only, a quicke deliberation is necessarie, and for this
+cause a principall power ought to be made. In the other affaires, he
+ought not to doe any thing without councell, and those are to be feared,
+which councell him, leaste he have some aboute him which in time of
+peace desireth to have warre bicause they are not able without the same
+to live, but in this, I wilbe a little more large: neither to seke a
+kingdome altogether good, but like unto those whiche be nowe a daies
+where also of a king those ought to be feared, whiche take the warre for
+theire art, for that the strength of armies without any doubte are the
+foote menne: so that if a king take not order in suche wise, that his
+men in time of peace may be content to returne home, and to live of
+their owne trades, it will follow of necessitie, that he ruinate: for
+that there is not found more perilous men, then those, whiche make the
+warre as their arte: bicause in such case, a king is inforsed either
+alwaies to make warre, or to paie them alwaies, or else to bee in
+perill, that they take not from him his kingdome. To make warre alwaies,
+it is not possible: to paie them alwaies it can not be: see that of
+necessitie, he runneth in peril to lese the state. The Romaines (as I
+have saide) so long as they were wise and good, would never permitte,
+that their Citizeins should take this exercise for their arte, although
+they were able to nurrishe them therin alwaies, for that that alwaies
+they made warre: but to avoide thesame hurte, whiche this continuall
+exercise might doe them, seyng the time did not varie, they changed the
+men, and from time to time toke such order with their legions, that in
+xv. yeres alwaies, they renewed them: and so thei had their men in the
+floure of their age, that is from xviij. to xxxiij. yeres, in which time
+the legges, the handes, and the yes answere the one the other, nor thei
+tarried not till there strengthe should decaie, and there naghtines
+increase, as it did after in the corrupted times. For as muche as
+Octavian first, and after Tiberius, minding more their own proper power,
+then the publicke profite, began to unarme the Romaine people, to be
+able easely to commaunde them, and to kepe continually those same armies
+on the frontries of the Empire: and bicause also they judged those, not
+sufficient to kepe brideled the people and Romaine Senate, they ordeined
+an armie called Pretoriano, which laie harde by the walles of Rome, and
+was as a rocke on the backe of the same Citie. And for as much as then
+thei began frely to permitte, that suche men as were apoincted in suche
+exercises, should use the service of warre for their arte, streight waie
+the insolence of theim grewe, that they became fearful unto the Senate,
+and hurtefull to the Emperour, whereby ensued suche harme, that manie
+were slaine thorough there insolensie: for that they gave, and toke
+awaie the Empire, to whome they thought good. And some while it hapned,
+that in one self time there were manie Emperours, created of divers
+armies, of whiche thinges proceded first the devision of the Empire, and
+at laste the ruine of the same. Therefore kinges ought, if thei wil live
+safely, to have there souldiours made of men, who when it is time to
+make warre, willingly for his love will go to the same, and when the
+peace cometh after, more willingly will returne home. Whiche alwaies
+wilbe, when thei shalbe men that know how to live of other arte then
+this: and so they ought to desire, peace beyng come, that there Prince
+doo tourne to governe their people, the gentilmen to the tending of
+there possessions, and the common souldiours to their particular arte,
+and everie one of these, to make warre to have peace, and not to seke to
+trouble the peace, to have warre.
+
+COSIMO. Truely this reasonyng of yours, I thinke to bee well considered,
+notwithstanding beyng almost contrarie to that, whiche till nowe I have
+thought, my minde as yet doeth not reste purged of all doubte, for as
+muche as I see manie Lordes and gentelmen, to finde them selves in time
+of peace, thorough the studies of warre, as your matches bee, who have
+provision of there princes, and of the cominaltie. I see also, almost al
+the gentelmen of armes, remaine with neir provision, I see manie
+souldiours lie in garison of Cities and fortresses, so that my thinkes,
+that there is place in time of peace, for everie one.
+
+FABRICIO. I doe not beleve that you beleve this, that in time of peace
+everie man may have place, bicause, put case that there coulde not be
+brought other reason, the small number, that all they make, whiche
+remaine in the places alledged of you, would answer you. What proporcion
+have the souldiours, whiche are requiset to bee in the warre with those,
+whiche in the peace are occupied? For as much as the fortreses, and the
+cities that be warded in time of peace, in the warre are warded muche
+more, unto whome are joyned the souldiours, whiche kepe in the fielde,
+whiche are a great number, all whiche in the peace be putte awaie. And
+concerning the garde of states, whiche are a small number, Pope July,
+and you have shewed to everie man, how muche are to be feared those, who
+will not learne to exercise any other art, then the warre, and you have
+for there insolence, deprived them from your garde, and have placed
+therin Swisers, as men borne and brought up under lawes, and chosen of
+the cominaltie, according to the true election: so that saie no more,
+that in peace is place for everie man. Concerning men at armes, thei al
+remaining in peace with their wages, maketh this resolution to seme more
+difficulte: notwithstandyng who considereth well all, shall finde the
+answere easie, bicause this manner of keping men of armes, is a
+corrupted manner and not good, the occasion is, for that they be men,
+who make thereof an arte, and of them their should grow every daie a
+thousande inconveniencies in the states, where thei should be, if thei
+were accompanied of sufficient company: but beyng fewe, and not able by
+them selves to make an armie, they cannot often doe suche grevous
+hurtes, neverthelesse they have done oftentimes: as I have said of
+Frances, and of Sforza his father, and of Braccio of Perugia: so that
+this use of keping men of armes, I doe not alowe, for it is a corrupte
+maner, and it may make great inconveniencies.
+
+COSIMO. Woulde you live without them? or keping them, how would you kepe
+them?
+
+[Sidenote: A kinge that hath about him any that are to much lovers of
+warre, or to much lovers of peace shal cause him to erre.]
+
+FABRICIO. By waie of ordinaunce, not like to those of the king of
+Fraunce: for as muche as they be perilous, and insolent like unto ours,
+but I would kepe them like unto those of the auncient Romaines, whom
+created their chivalry of their own subjectes, and in peace time, thei
+sente them home unto their houses, to live of their owne trades, as more
+largely before this reasoning ende, I shal dispute. So that if now this
+part of an armie, can live in such exercise, as wel when it is peace, it
+groweth of the corrupt order. Concerning the provisions, which are
+reserved to me, and to other capitaines, I saie unto you, that this
+likewise is an order moste corrupted: for as much as a wise common
+weale, ought not to give such stipendes to any, but rather thei ought to
+use for Capitaines in the warre, their Citezeins, and in time of peace
+to will, that thei returne to their occupations. Likewise also, a wise
+king either ought not to give to suche, or giving any, the occasion
+ought to be either for rewarde of some worthy dede, or else for the
+desire to kepe suche a kinde of man, as well in peace as in warre. And
+bicause you alledged me, I will make ensample upon my self, and saie
+that I never used the warre as an arte, for as muche as my arte, is to
+governe my subjectes, and to defende them, and to be able to defende
+them, to love peace, and to know how to make warre, and my kinge not so
+muche to rewarde and esteeme me, for my knowledge in the warre, as for
+the knowledge that I have to councel him in peace. Then a king ought not
+to desire to have about him, any that is not of this condicion if he be
+wise, and prudently minde to governe: for that, that if he shal have
+about him either to muche lovers of peace, or to much lovers of warre,
+they shall make him to erre. I cannot in this my firste reasoning, and
+according to my purpose saie more, and when this suffiseth you not, it
+is mete, you seke of them that may satisfie you better. You maie now
+verie well understand, how difficulte it is to bringe in use the
+auncient maners in the presente warres, and what preparations are mete
+for a wise man to make, and what occasions ought to be loked for, to be
+able to execute it. But by and by, you shall know these things better,
+if this reasoning make you not werie, conferring what so ever partes of
+the auncient orders hath ben, to the maners nowe presente.
+
+COSIMO. If we desired at the first to here your reason of these thinges,
+truly thesame whiche hetherto you have spoken, hath doubled our desire:
+wherefore we thanke you for that we have hard, and the rest, we crave of
+you to here.
+
+FABRICIO. Seyng that it is so your pleasure, I will begin to intreate of
+this matter from the beginning, to the intent it maye be better
+understode, being able by thesame meane, more largely to declare it. The
+ende of him that wil make warre, is to be able to fight with every enemy
+in the fielde and to be able to overcum an armie. To purpose to doe
+this, it is convenient to ordeine an hoost. To ordein an hoost, their
+must be found menne, armed, ordered, and as well in the small, as in the
+great orders exercised, to knowe howe to kepe araie, and to incampe, so
+that after bringing them unto the enemie, either standing or marching,
+they maie know how to behave themselves valiantly. In this thing
+consisteth all the industrie of the warre on the lande, whiche is the
+most necessarie, and the most honorablest, for he that can wel order a
+fielde against the enemie, the other faultes that he should make in the
+affaires of warre, wilbe borne with: but he that lacketh this knowledge,
+although that in other particulars he be verie good, he shal never bring
+a warre to honor: for as muche as a fielde that thou winnest, lesing?
+img 94 doeth cancell all other thy evill actes: so like wise lesing it,
+all thinges well done of thee before, remaine vaine. Therfore, beyng
+necessarie first to finde the menne, it is requiset to come to the
+choise of them. They whiche unto the warre have given rule, will that
+the menne be chosen out of temperate countries, to the intente they may
+have hardines, and prudence, for as muche as the hote countrey, bredes
+prudente men and not hardy, the colde, hardy, and not prudente. This
+rule is good to be geven, to one that were prince of all the world,
+bicause it is lawfull for him to choose men out of those places, whiche
+he shall thinke beste. But minding to give a rule, that every one may
+use, it is mete to declare, that everie common weale, and every
+kingdome, ought to choose their souldiours out of their owne countrie,
+whether it be hote, colde, or temperate: for that it is scene by olde
+ensamples, how that in every countrie with exercise, their is made good
+souldiours: bicause where nature lacketh, the industry supplieth, the
+which in this case is worthe more, then nature, and taking them in other
+places, you shal not have of the choise, for choise is as much to saie,
+as the best of a province, and to have power to chuse those that will
+not, as well as those that wil serve. Wherfore, you muste take your
+choise in those places, that are subjecte unto you, for that you cannot
+take whome you liste, in the countries that are not yours, but you muste
+take suche as will goe with you.
+
+COSIMO. Yet there maie bee of those, that will come, taken and lefte,
+and therefore, thei maie be called chosen.
+
+[Sidenote: Oute of what Countrie is best to chuse Souldiours to make a
+good election.]
+
+FABUICIO. You saie the truthe in a certaine maner, but consider the
+faultes, whiche soche a chosen manne hath in himselfe, for that also
+many times it hapneth, that he is not a chosen manne. For those that are
+not thy subjectes, and whiche willyngly doe serve, are not of the beste,
+but rather of the worste of a Province, for as moche as if any be
+sclanderous, idell, unruly, without Religion, fugetive from the rule of
+their fathers, blasphemours, Dise plaiers, in every condicion evill
+brought up, bee those, whiche will serve, whose customes cannot be more
+contrarie, to a true and good servise: Albeit, when there bee offered
+unto you, so many of soche men, as come to above the nomber, that you
+have appoincted, you maie chuse them: but the matter beyng naught, the
+choise is not possible to be good: also, many times it chaunceth, that
+thei be not so many, as will make up the nomber, whereof you have nede,
+so that beyng constrained to take them al, it commeth to passe, that
+thei cannot then bee called chosen men, but hired Souldiours. With this
+disorder the armies of Italie, are made now a daies, and in other
+places, except in Almaine, bicause there thei doe not hire any by
+commaundemente of the Prince, but accordyng to the will of them, that
+are disposed to serve. Then consider now, what maners of those aunciente
+armies, maie bee brought into an armie of men, put together by like
+waies.
+
+COSIMO. What waie ought to bee used then?
+
+FABRICIO. The same waie that I saied, to chuse them of their owne
+subjectes, and with the auethoritie of the Prince.
+
+COSMO. In the chosen, shall there bee likewise brought in any auncient
+facion?
+
+FABRICIO. You know well enough that ye: when he that should commaunde
+theim, were their Prince, or ordinarie lorde, whether he were made
+chief, or as a Citezein, and for the same tyme Capitaine, beyng a common
+weale, otherwise it is harde to make any thyng good.
+
+COSIMO. Why?
+
+FABRICIO. I will tell you a nane: For this time I will that this suffise
+you, that it cannot be wrought well by other waie.
+
+[Sidenote: Whether it be better to take menne oute of townes or out of
+the countrie to serve.]
+
+COSIMO. Having then to make this choyse of men in their owne countries,
+whether judge you that it be better to take them oute of the citie, or
+out of the countrie?
+
+FABRICIO. Those that have written of such matters, doe all agree, that
+it is best to chuse them out of the countrie, being men accustomed to no
+ease, nurished in labours, used to stonde in the sunne, to flie the
+shadow, knowing how to occupy the spade, to make a diche, to carrie a
+burden, and to bee without any deceite, and without malisiousnes. But in
+this parte my opinion should be, that beyng two sortes of souldiours, on
+foote, and on horsebacke, that those on foote, should be chosen out of
+the countrie, and those on horseback, oute of the Cities.
+
+[Sidenote: Of what age Souldiours ought to bee chosen.]
+
+COSIMO. Of what age would you choose them?
+
+FABRICIO. I would take them, when I had to make a newe armie, from xvii.
+to xl. yeres: when it were made alredy, and I had to restore them, of
+xvii. alwaies.
+
+COSIMO. I doe not understonde well this distinction.
+
+FABRICIO. I shall tell you: when I should ordaine an hooste to make
+warre, where were no hooste alredy, it should be necessarie to chuse all
+those men, which were most fitte and apte for the warre, so that they
+were of servisable age, that I might bee able to instructe theim, as by
+me shalbe declared: but when I would make my choise of menne in places,
+where a powre were alredy prepared, for suppliyng of thesame, I would
+take them of xvii. yeres: for as much as the other of more age be alredy
+chosen and apoincted.
+
+COSIMO. Then woulde you prepare a power like to those whiche is in our
+countrie?
+
+FABRICIO. Ye truly, it is so that I would arme them, Captaine them,
+exercise and order them in a maner, whiche I cannot tell, if you have
+ordred them so.
+
+COSIMO. Then do you praise the keping of order?
+
+FABRICIO. Wherefore would you that I should dispraise it?
+
+COSIMO. Bicause many wise menne have alwaies blamed it.
+
+FABRICIO. You speake against all reason, to saie that a wise man blameth
+order, he maie bee well thought wise, and be nothyng so.
+
+COSIMO. The naughtie profe, which it hath alwaies, maketh us to have
+soche opinion thereof.
+
+FABRICIO. Take hede it be not your fault, and not the kepyng of order,
+the whiche you shall knowe, before this reasonyng be ended.
+
+COSIMO. You shall doe a thyng moste thankfull, yet I will saie
+concernyng thesame, that thei accuse it, to the entente you maie the
+better justifie it. Thei saie thus, either it is unprofitable, and we
+trustyng on the same, shall make us to lese our state, or it shall be
+verteous, and by thesame meane, he that governeth may easely deprive us
+thereof. Thei alledge the Romaines, who by meane of their owne powers,
+loste their libertie. Thei alledge the Venicians, and the Frenche king,
+whiche Venicians, bicause thei will not be constrained, to obeie one of
+their owne Citezeins, use the power of straungers: and the Frenche kyng
+hath disarmed his people, to be able more easely to commaunde them, but
+thei whiche like not the ordinaunces, feare moche more the
+unprofitablenesse, that thei suppose maie insue thereby, then any thyng
+els: the one cause whiche thei allege is, bicause thei are unexperte:
+The other, for that thei have to serve par force: for asmoche as thei
+saie, that the aged bee not so dissiplinable, nor apte to learne the
+feate of armes, and that by force, is doen never any thyng good.
+
+[Sidenote: By what meanes souldiours bee made bolde and experte.]
+
+FABRICIO. All these reasons that you have rehearsed, be of men, whiche
+knoweth the thyng full little, as I shall plainly declare. And firste,
+concernyng the unprofitablenesse, I tell you, that there is no service
+used in any countrie more profitable, then the service by the Subjectes
+of thesame nor thesame service cannot bee prepared, but in this maner:
+and for that this nedeth not to be disputed of, I will not lese moche
+tyme: bicause al thensamples of auncient histores, make for my purpose,
+and for that thei alledge the lacke of experience, and to use
+constraint: I saie how it is true, that the lacke of experience, causeth
+lacke of courage, and constrainte, maketh evill contentacion: but
+courage, and experience thei are made to gette, with the maner of armyng
+theim, exercisyng, and orderyng theim, as in proceadyng of this
+reasonyng, you shall heare. But concernyng constrainte, you ought to
+understande, that the menne, whiche are conducted to warfare, by
+commaundement of their Prince, thei ought to come, neither altogether
+forced, nor altogether willyngly, for as moche as to moche willyngnesse,
+would make thinconveniencies, where I told afore, that he should not be
+a chosen manne, and those would be fewe that would go: and so to moche
+constraint, will bring forth naughtie effectes. Therefore, a meane ought
+to be taken, where is not all constrainte, nor all willingnesse: but
+beyng drawen of a respecte, that thei have towardes their Prince, where
+thei feare more the displeasure of thesame, then the presente paine: and
+alwaies it shall happen to be a constrainte, in maner mingled with
+willingnesse, that there cannot growe soche evil contentacion, that it
+make evill effectes. Yet I saie not for all this, that it cannot bee
+overcome, for that full many tymes, were overcome the Romaine armies,
+and the armie of Aniball was overcome, so that it is seen, that an armie
+cannot be ordained so sure, that it cannot be overthrowen. Therefore,
+these your wise men, ought not to measure this unprofitablenesse, for
+havyng loste ones, but to beleve, that like as thei lese, so thei maie
+winne, and remeadie the occasion of the losse: and when thei shall seke
+this thei shall finde, that it hath not been through faulte of the waie,
+but of the order, whiche had not his perfeccion and as I have saied,
+thei ought to provide, not with blamyng the order, but with redressing
+it, the whiche how it ought to be doen, you shall understande, from
+poinct to poinct. Concernyng the doubte, leste soche ordinaunces, take
+not from thee thy state, by meane of one, whiche is made hedde therof, I
+answere, that the armure on the backes of citezeins, or subjectes, given
+by the disposicion of order and lawe, did never harme, but rather
+alwaies it doeth good, and mainteineth the citee, moche lenger in
+suretie, through helpe of this armure, then without. Rome continued free
+CCCC. yeres, and was armed. Sparta viii.C. Many other citees have been
+disarmed, and have remained free, lesse then xl. For as moche as citees
+have nede of defence, and when thei have no defence of their owne, thei
+hire straungers, and the straunges defence, shall hurte moche soner the
+common weale, then their owne: bicause thei be moche easier to be
+corrupted, and a citezein that becommeth mightie, maie moche soner
+usurpe, and more easely bryng his purpose to passe, where the people bee
+disarmed, that he seketh to oppresse: besides this, a citee ought to
+feare a greate deale more, twoo enemies then one. Thesame citee that
+useth straungers power, feareth at one instant the straunger, whiche it
+hireth, and the Citezein: and whether this feare ought to be, remember
+thesame, whiche I rehearsed a little a fore of Frances Sforza. That
+citee, whiche useth her own proper power, feareth no man, other then
+onely her owne Citezein. But for all the reasons that maie bee saied,
+this shall serve me, that never any ordeined any common weale, or
+Kyngdome, that would not thinke, that thei theim selves, that inhabite
+thesame, should with their sweardes defende it.
+
+And if the Venicians had been so wise in this, as in all their other
+orders, thei should have made a new Monarchie in the world, whom so
+moche the more deserve blame, havyng been armed of their first giver of
+lawes: for havyng no dominion on the lande, thei wer armed on the sea,
+where thei made their warre vertuously, and with weapons in their
+handes, increased their countrie. But when thei were driven to make
+warre on the lande, to defende Vicenza, where thei ought to have sent
+one of their citezens, to have fought on the lande, thei hired for their
+capitain, the Marques of Mantua: this was thesame foolishe acte, whiche
+cut of their legges, from climyng into heaven, and from enlargyng their
+dominion: and if thei did it, bicause thei beleved that as thei knewe,
+how to make warre on the Sea, so thei mistrusted theim selves, to make
+it on the lande, it was a mistruste not wise: for as moche as more
+easely, a capitain of the sea, whiche is used to fight with the windes,
+with the water, and with men, shall become a Capitaine of the lande,
+where he shall fight with men onely, then a capitaine of the lande, to
+become a capitain of the sea. The Romanies knowyng how to fight on the
+lande, and on the sea, commyng to warre, with the Carthaginens, whiche
+were mightie on the sea, hired not Grekes, or Spaniardes, accustomed to
+the sea, but thei committed thesame care, to their Citezeins, whiche
+thei sent on the land, and thei overcame. If thei did it, for that one
+of their citezeins should not become a tiraunt, it was a feare smally
+considered: for that besides thesame reasons, whiche to this purpose, a
+little afore I have rehearsed, if a Citezein with the powers on the sea,
+was never made a tiraunt in a citee standyng in the sea, so moche the
+lesse he should have been able to accomplishe this with the powers of
+the lande: whereby thei ought to se that the weapons in the handes of
+their Citezeins, could not make tirantes: but the naughtie orders of the
+governement, whiche maketh tirannie in a citee, and thei havyng good
+governement, thei nede not to feare their owne weapons: thei toke
+therefore an unwise waie, the whiche hath been occasion, to take from
+them moche glorie, and moche felicitie. Concernyng the erroure, whiche
+the kyng of Fraunce committeth not kepyng instructed his people in the
+warre, the whiche those your wise men alledge for ensample, there is no
+man, (his particulare passions laied a side) that doeth not judge this
+fault, to be in thesame kyngdome, and this negligence onely to make hym
+weake. But I have made to greate a digression, and peradventure am come
+out of my purpose, albeit I have doen it to aunswere you, and to shewe
+you, that in no countrie, there can bee made sure foundacion, for
+defence in other powers but of their owne subjectes: and their own
+power, cannot be prepared otherwise, then by waie of an ordinaunce, nor
+by other waie, to induce the facion of an armie in any place, nor by
+other meane to ordein an instruction of warfare. If you have red the
+orders, whiche those first kynges made in Rome, and inespecially Servio
+Tullo, you shall finde that the orders of the Classi is no other, then
+an ordinaunce, to bee able at a sodaine, to bryng together an armie, for
+defence of thesame citee. But let us retourne to our choise, I saie
+againe, that havyng to renewe an olde order, I would take them of xvii.
+havyng to make a newe armie, I would take them of all ages, betwene
+xvii. and xl. to be able to warre straight waie.
+
+[Sidenote: Of what science soldiours ought to bee chosen.]
+
+COSIMO. Would you make any difference, of what science you would chuse
+them?
+
+FABRICIO. The aucthours, which have written of the arte of warre, make
+difference, for that thei will not, that there bee taken Foulers,
+Fishers, Cookes, baudes, nor none that use any science of
+voluptuousnesse. But thei will, that there bee taken Plowmen, Ferrars,
+Smithes, Carpenters, Buchars, Hunters, and soche like: but I would make
+little difference, through conjecture of the science, concernyng the
+goodnesse of the man, notwithstandyng, in as moche as to be able with
+more profite to use theim, I would make difference, and for this cause,
+the countrie men, which are used to till the grounde, are more
+profitable then any other. Next to whom be Smithes, Carpentars, Ferrars,
+Masons, wherof it is profitable to have enough: for that their
+occupacions, serve well in many thynges: beyng a thyng verie good to
+have a souldiour, of whom maie be had double servise.
+
+[Sidenote: Howe to chose a souldiour.]
+
+COSIMO. Wherby doe thei knowe those, that be, or are not sufficient to
+serve.
+
+FABRICIO. I will speake of the maner of chusing a new ordinaunce, to
+make an armie after, for that parte of this matter, doeth come also to
+be reasoned of, in the election, which should be made for the
+replenishing, or restoring of an old ordinaunce. I saie therfore, that
+the goodnesse of one, whiche thou muste chuse for a Souldiour, is knowen
+either by experience, thorough meane of some of his worthy doynges, or
+by conjecture. The proofe of vertue, cannot be founde in men whiche are
+chosen of newe, and whiche never afore have ben chosen, and of these are
+founde either fewe or none, in the ordinaunce that of newe is ordeined.
+It is necessarie therefore, lackyng this experience, to runne to the
+conjecture, whiche is taken by the yeres, by the occupacion, and by the
+personage: of those two first, hath been reasoned, there remaineth to
+speake of the thirde. And therefore, I saie how some have willed, that
+the souldiour bee greate, emongest whom was Pirrus. Some other have
+chosen theim onely, by the lustinesse of the body, as Cesar did: whiche
+lustinesse of bodie and mynde, is conjectured by the composicion of the
+members, and of the grace of the countenaunce: and therefore, these that
+write saie, that thei would have the iyes lively and cherefull, the
+necke full of sinowes, the breaste large, the armes full of musculles,
+the fingers long, little beallie, the flankes rounde, the legges and
+feete drie: whiche partes are wont alwayes to make a manne nimble and
+strong, whiche are twoo thynges, that in a souldiour are sought above al
+other. Regarde ought to bee had above all thynges, to his customes, and
+that in hym bee honestie, and shame: otherwise, there shall bee chosen
+an instrumente of mischief, and a beginnyng of corrupcion: for that
+lette no manne beleve that in the dishoneste educacion, and filthy
+minde, there maie take any vertue, whiche is in any parte laudable. And
+I thinke it not superfluous, but rather I beleve it to bee necessarie,
+to the entente you maie the better understande, the importaunce of this
+chosen, to tell you the maner that the Romaine Consuls, in the beginnyng
+of their rule, observed in the chosing of their Romain legions: in the
+whiche choise of men, bicause thesame legions were mingled with old
+souldiours and newe, consideryng the continuall warre thei kepte, thei
+might in their choise procede, with the experince of the old, and with
+the conjecture of the newe: and this ought to be noted, that these men
+be chosen, either to serve incontinently, or to exercise theim
+incontinently, and after to serve when nede should require. But my
+intencion is to shew you, how an armie maie be prepared in the countrie,
+where there is no warlike discipline: in which countrie, chosen men
+cannot be had, to use them straight waie, but there, where the custome
+is to levie armies, and by meane of the Prince, thei maie then well bee
+had, as the Romaines observed, and as is observed at this daie emong the
+Suisers: bicause in these chosen, though there be many newe menne, there
+be also so many of the other olde Souldiours, accustomed to serve in the
+warlike orders, where the newe mingled together with the olde, make a
+bodie united and good, notwithstanding, that themperours after,
+beginning the staciones of ordinarie Souldiours, had appoincted over the
+newe souldiours, whiche were called tironi, a maister to exercise theim,
+as appeareth in the life of Massimo the Emperour. The whiche thyng,
+while Rome was free, not onely in the armies, but in the citee was
+ordeined: and the exercises of warre, beyng accustomed in thesame, where
+the yong men did exercise, there grewe, that beyng chosen after to goe
+into warre, thei were so used in the fained exercise of warfare, that
+thei could easely worke in the true: but those Emperours havyng after
+put doune these exercises, thei wer constrained to use the waies, that I
+have shewed you. Therefore, comyng to the maner of the chosen Romain, I
+saie that after the Romain Consulles (to whom was appoincted the charge
+of the warre) had taken the rule, myndyng to ordeine their armies, for
+that it was the custome, that either of them should have twoo Legions of
+Romaine menne, whiche was the strength of their armies, thei created
+xxiiii. Tribunes of warre, and thei appoincted sixe for every Legion,
+whom did thesame office, whiche those doe now a daies, that we call
+Conestables: thei made after to come together, all the Romain men apte
+to beare weapons and thei put the Tribunes of every Legion, seperate the
+one from the other. Afterwarde, by lot thei drewe the Tribes, of whiche
+thei had firste to make the chosen, and of thesame Tribe thei chose
+fower of the best, of whiche was chosen one of the Tribunes, of the
+first Legion, and of the other three was chosen, one of the Tribunes of
+the second Legion, of the other two there was chosen one of the Tribunes
+of the third, and the same last fell to the fowerth Legion. After these
+iiij, thei chose other fower, of which, first one was chosen of the
+Tribunes of the seconde Legion, the seconde of those of the thirde, the
+thirde of those of the fowerth, the fowerth remained to the first.
+After, thei chose other fower, the first chose the thirde, the second
+the fowerth, the thirde the fiveth, the fowerth remained to the seconde:
+and thus thei varied successively, this maner of chosyng, so that the
+election came to be equall, and the Legions wer gathered together: and
+as afore we saied, this choise might bee made to use straighte waie, for
+that thei made them of men, of whom a good parte were experiensed in the
+verie warfare in deede, and all in the fained exercised, and thei might
+make this choise by conjecture, and by experience. But where a power
+must be ordeined of newe, and for this to chuse them out of hande, this
+chosen cannot be made, saving by conjecture, whiche is taken by
+consideryng their ages and their likelinesse.
+
+COSIMO. I beleve all to be true, as moche as of you hath been spoken:
+but before that you procede to other reasonyng, I woll aske of you one
+thing, which you have made me to remember: saiyng that the chosen, that
+is to be made where men were not used to warre, ought to be made by
+conjecture: for asmoche as I have heard some men, in many places
+dispraise our ordinaunce, and in especially concernyng the nomber, for
+that many saie, that there ought to bee taken lesse nomber, whereof is
+gotten this profite, that thei shall be better and better chosen, and
+men shal not be so moche diseased, so that there maie bee given them
+some rewarde, whereby thei maie bee more contented, and better bee
+commaunded, whereof I would understande in this parte your opinion, and
+whether you love better the greate nomber, than the little, and what
+waie you would take to chuse theim in the one, and in the other nomber.
+
+FABRICIO. Without doubte it is better, and more necessary, the great
+nomber, then the little: but to speake more plainly, where there cannot
+be ordeined a great nomber of men, there cannot be ordeined a perfect
+ordinaunce: and I will easely confute all the reasons of them
+propounded. I saie therefore firste, that the lesse nomber where is many
+people, as is for ensample Tuscane, maketh not that you have better, nor
+that the chosen be more excellent, for that myndyng in chosing the
+menne, to judge them by experience, there shall be founde in thesame
+countrie moste fewe, whom experience should make provable, bothe for
+that fewe hath been in warre, as also for that of those, mooste fewe
+have made triall, whereby thei might deserve to bee chosen before the
+other: so that he whiche ought in like places to chuse, it is mete he
+leave a parte the experience, and take them by conjecture. Then being
+brought likewise into soche necessitie, I would understande, if there
+come before me twentie young men of good stature, with what rule I ought
+to take, or to leave any: where without doubte, I beleve that every man
+will confesse, how it is lesse errour to take them al, to arme theim and
+exercise theim, beyng not able to knowe, whiche of theim is beste, and
+to reserve to make after more certaine chosen, when in practisyng theim
+with exercise, there shall be knowen those of moste spirite, and of
+moste life: which considered, the chusing in this case a fewe, to have
+them better, is altogether naught.
+
+Concernyng diseasing lesse the countrie, and men, I saie that the
+ordinaunce, either evill or little that it bee, causeth not any disease,
+for that this order doeth not take menne from any of their businesse, it
+bindeth them not, that thei cannot go to doe any of their affaires: for
+that it bindeth them onely in the idell daies, to assemble together, to
+exercise them, the whiche thyng doeth not hurt, neither to the countrie,
+nor to the men, but rather to yong men it shall bryng delite: For that
+where vilie on the holy daies thei stande idell in tipplyng houses, thei
+will go for pleasure to those exercises, for that the handlyng of
+weapons, as it is a goodly spectacle, so unto yong men it is pleasaunt.
+Concernyng to bee able to paie the lesse nomber, and for this to kepe
+theim more obediente, and more contented, I answere, how there cannot be
+made an ordinaunce of so fewe, whiche maie be in maner continually
+paied, where thesame paiment of theirs maie satisfie them. As for
+ensample, if there were ordeined a power of v. thousande men, for to
+paie them after soche sorte, that it might be thought sufficient, to
+content them, it shal bee convenient to give theim at least, ten
+thousaunde crounes the moneth: first, this nomber of men are not able to
+make an armie, this paie is intolerable to a state, and of the other
+side, it is not sufficiente to kepe men contented, and bounde to be able
+to serve at al times: so that in doyng this, there shall be spent moche,
+and a small power kept, whiche shall not be sufficient to defend thee,
+or to doe any enterprise of thine. If thou shouldest give theim more, or
+shouldest take more, so moche more impossibilitie it should be, for thee
+to paie theim: if thou shouldest give them lesse, or should take lesse,
+so moche the lesse contentacion should be in them, or so moche the lesse
+profite thei shal bring thee. Therfore, those that reason of makyng an
+ordinaunce, and whilest thei tary at home to paie them, thei reason of a
+thing either impossible, or unprofitable, but it is necessarie to paie
+them, when thei are taken up to be led to the warre: albeit, though
+soche order should somewhat disease those, in time of peace, that are
+appoincted in thesame, which I se not how, there is for recompence all
+those benefites, whiche a power brynges, that is ordeined in a countrie:
+for that without thesame, there is nothyng sure. I conclude, that he
+that will have the little nomber, to be able to paie them, or for any of
+the other causes alledged of you, doeth not understande, for that also
+it maketh for my opinion, that every nomber shall deminishe in thy
+handes, through infinite impedimentes, whiche men have: so that the
+little nomber shall tourne to nothing: again havyng thordinaunce greate,
+thou maiest at thy pleasure use fewe of many, besides this, it must
+serve thee in deede, and in reputacion and alwaies the great nomber
+shall give thee moste reputacion. More over, makyng the ordinaunce to
+kepe menne exercised, if thou appoincte a fewe nomber of men in many
+countries, the handes of men bee so farre a sonder, the one from the
+other, that thou canst not without their moste grevous losse, gather
+them together to exercise them, and without this exercise, the
+ordinaunce is unprofitable, as hereafter shall be declared.
+
+COSIMO. It suffiseth upon this my demaunde, that whiche you have saied:
+but I desire now, that you declare me an other doubt. Thei saie, that
+soche a multitude of armed men, will make confusion, discension and
+disorder in the countrie where thei are.
+
+[Sidenote: How to provid againste soche inconveniences as souldiours
+maie cause.]
+
+FABRICIO. This is an other vaine opinion, the cause wherof, I shall tell
+you: soche as are ordeined to serve in the warres, maie cause disorder
+in twoo maners, either betwene them selves, or against other, whiche
+thinges moste easely maie be withstode, where the order of it self,
+should not withstande it: for that concernyng the discorde emong theim
+selves, this order taketh it waie, and doeth not nourishe it, for that
+in orderyng them, you give them armour and capitaines. If the countrie
+where you ordein them, bee so unapte for the warre, that there are not
+armours emong the men of thesame, and that thei bee so united, that thei
+have no heddes, this order maketh theim moche fearser against the
+straunger, but it maketh them not any thyng the more disunited, for that
+men well ordered, feare the lawe beyng armed, as well as unarmed, nor
+thei can never alter, if the capitaines, which you give them, cause not
+the alteracion, and the waie to make this, shall be tolde now: but if
+the countrie where you ordein them, be warlike and disunited, this order
+onely shal be occasion to unite them: bicause this order giveth them
+armours profitable for the warre, and heddes, extinguishers of
+discencion: where their owne armours bee unprofitable for the warres,
+and their heddes nourishers of discorde. For that so sone as any in
+thesame countrie is offended, he resorteth by and by to his capitain to
+make complaint, who for to maintain his reputacion, comforteth hym to
+revengement not to peace. To the contrary doeth the publike hed, so that
+by this meanes, thoccasion of discorde is taken awaie, and the occasion
+of union is prepared, and the provinces united and effeminated, gette
+utilitie, and maintain union: the disunited and discencious, doe agree,
+and thesame their fearsnesse, which is wont disordinately to worke, is
+tourned into publike utilitie. To minde to have them, to doe no hurt
+against other, it ought to bee considered, that thei cannot dooe this,
+except by meane of the heddes, whiche governe them. To will that the
+heddes make no disorder, it is necessarie to have care, that thei get
+not over them to much auctoritie. And you must consider that this
+auctoritie, is gotten either by nature, or by accidente: and as to
+nature, it behoveth to provide, that he which is boren in one place, be
+not apoincted to the men billed in the same, but be made hedde of those
+places, where he hath not any naturall aquaintance: and as to the
+accident, the thing ought to be ordeined in suche maner, that every yere
+the heddes maie be changed from governement to goverment: for as muche
+as the continuall auctoritie over one sorte of menne, breedeth among
+them so muche union, that it maie turne easely to the prejudice of the
+Prince: whiche permutations howe profitable they be to those who have
+used theim, and hurtefull to them that have not observed theim, it is
+well knowen by the kingdome of the Assirians, and by the Empire of the
+Romaines: where is seene, that the same kingdome indured a M. yeres
+without tumulte, and without any Civill warre: whiche preceded not of
+other, then of the permutations, whiche from place to place everie yere
+thesame Capitaines made, unto whome were apoincted the charge of the
+Armies. Nor for any other occasion in the Romaine Empire, after the
+bloud of Cesar was extinguished, there grewe so many civill warres,
+betwene the Capitaines of the hostes, and so many conspiracies of the
+forsaied capitaines against the Emperours, not onely kepyng continually
+still those capitaines alwayes in one governement. And if in some of
+those firste Emperoures, of those after, whom helde the Empire with
+reputacion, as Adriane, Marcus, Severus, and soche like, there had been
+so moche foresight, that thei had brought this custome of chaungyng the
+capitaines in thesame Empire, without doubte it should have made theim
+more quiete, and more durable: For that the Capitaines should have had
+lesse occasion to make tumultes, the Emperours lesse cause to feare, and
+the senate in the lackes of the successions, should have had in the
+election of the Emperour, more aucthoritie, and by consequence should
+have been better: but the naughtie custome, either for ignoraunce, or
+through the little diligence of menne, neither for the wicked, nor good
+ensamples, can be taken awaie.
+
+COSIMO. I cannot tell, if with my questionyng, I have as it were led you
+out of your order, bicause from the chusyng of men, we be entred into an
+other matter, and if I had not been a little before excused, I should
+thinke to deserve some reprehension.
+
+[Sidenote: The nomber of horsemen, that the Romanies chose for a Legion,
+and for a Consailes armie.]
+
+FABRICIO. Let not this disquiete you, for that all this reasonyng was
+necessary, myndyng to reason of the ordinaunce, the which beyng blamed
+of many, it was requsite to excuse it, willyng to have this first parte
+of chusyng men to be alowed. But now before I discend to the other
+partes, I will reason of the choise of men on horsebacke. Of the
+antiquitie, these were made of the moste richeste, havyng regard bothe
+to the yeres, and to the qualitie of the man, and thei chose CCC. for a
+Legion, so that the Romain horse, in every Consulles armie, passed not
+the nomber of vi. C.
+
+COSIMO. Would you make an ordinaunce of hors, to exercise them at home,
+and to use their service when nede requires?
+
+[Sidenote: The choosing and ordering of horsemen, that is to be observed
+at this present.]
+
+FABRICIO. It is most necessary, and it cannot be doen otherwise, minding
+to have the power, that it be the owne proper, and not to purpose to
+take of those, which make thereof an art.
+
+COSIMO. How would you choose them?
+
+FABRICIO. I would imitate the Romans, I would take of the richest, I
+would give them heads or chief Captains, in the same manner, as nowadays
+to other is given, and I would arm them and exercise them.
+
+COSIMO. To these should it be well to give some provision?
+
+FABRICIO. Yea marie, but so much only as is necessary to keep the horse,
+for as much as bringing to thy subjects expenses, they might justly
+complain of thee, therefore it should be necessary, to pay them their
+charges of their horse.
+
+COSIMO. What number would you make? and how would you arme them?
+
+FABRICIO. You pass into another matter. I will tell you in convenient
+place, which shall be when I have told you, how footmen ought to be
+armed, and how a power of men is prepared, for a day of battle.
+
+
+
+
+THE SECOND BOOKE
+
+
+[Sidenote: Howe the Romaines armed their souldiers and what weapons thei
+used.]
+
+I beleeve that it is necessarye, men being founde, to arme them, and
+minding to doo this, I suppose that it is a needefull thing to examine,
+what armoure the antiquitie used, and of the same to chose the best. The
+Romanes devided their foote men in heavie and lighte armed: Those that
+were light armed, they called by the name of Veliti: Under this name
+were understoode all those that threwe with Slinges, shot with
+Crossebowes, cast Dartes, and they used the most parte of them for their
+defence, to weare on their heade a Murion, with a Targaet on their arme:
+they fought out of the orders, and farre of from the heavie armed, which
+did weare a head peece, that came downe to their shoulders, a Corselet,
+which with the tases came downe to the knees, and they had the legges
+and armes, covered with greaves, and vambraces, with a targaet on the
+left arme, a yarde and a halfe long, and three quarters of a yarde
+brode, whiche had a hoope of Iron upon it, to bee able to sustaine a
+blowe, and an other under, to the intente, that it being driven to the
+earth, it should not breake: for to offende, they had girte on their
+left flanke a swoorde, the length of a yearde and a naile, on their
+righte side, a Dagger: they had a darte in every one of their handes,
+the which they called Pilo, and in the beginning of the fight, they
+threwe those at the enemie. This was the ordering, and importaunce of
+the armours of the Romanes, by the which they possessed all the world.
+And although some of these ancient writers gave them, besides the
+foresayde weapons, a staffe in their hande like unto a Partasen, I
+cannot tell howe a heavy staff, may of him that holdeth a Targaet be
+occupied: for that to handle it with both hands, the Targaet should bee
+an impediment, and to occupye the same with one hande, there can be done
+no good therewith, by reason of the weightynesse thereof: besides this,
+to faight in the strong, and in the orders with such long kinde of
+weapon, it is unprofitable, except in the first front, where they have
+space enough, to thrust out all the staffe, which in the orders within,
+cannot be done, for that the nature of the battaile (as in the order of
+the same, I shall tell you) is continually to throng together, which
+although it be an inconvenience, yet in so doing they fear lesse, then
+to stande wide, where the perill is most evident, so that all the
+weapons, which passe in length a yarde and a halfe, in the throng, be
+unprofitable: for that, if a man have the Partasen, and will occupye it
+with both handes, put case that the Targaet let him not, he can not
+hurte with the same an enemy, whom is upon him, if he take it with one
+hande, to the intent to occupy also the Targaet, being not able to take
+it, but in the middest, there remayneth so much of the staff behind,
+that those which are behinde him, shall let him to welde it. And whether
+it were true, either that the Romans had not this Partasen, or that
+having it, did little good withal, read all the battailes, in the
+historye thereof, celebrated of Titus Livius, and you shall see in the
+same, most seldom times made mencion of Partasens, but rather alwaies he
+saieth, that the Dartes being thrown, they laid their hands on their
+sweardes. Therefore I will leave this staffe, and observe, concerning
+the Romanes, the swoorde for to hurte, and for defense the Targaet, with
+the other armours aforesaide.
+
+[Sidenote: A brave and a terrible thing to the enemies.]
+
+The Greekes did not arme them selves so heavyly, for their defense, as
+the Romans dyd: but for to offend the enemies, they grounded more on
+their staves, then on their swoordes, and in especiallye the Fallangye
+of Macedonia, which used staves, that they called Sarisse, seven yardes
+and a halfe long, with the which they opened the rankes of their
+enemies, and they keept the orders in their Fallangy. And although some
+writers saie, that they had also the Targaet, I can not tell (by the
+reasons aforesayde) howe the Sarisse and they coulde stande together.
+Besides this, in the battaile that Paulus Emilius made, with Persa king
+of Macedonia, I do not remember, that there is made any mention of
+Targaettes, but only of the Sarisse, and of the difficultie that the
+Romane armie had, to overcome them: so that I conjecture, that a
+Macedonicall Fallange, was no other wise, then is now a dayes a battaile
+of Suizzers, the whiche in their Pikes have all their force, and all
+their power. The Romanes did garnish (besides the armours) the footemen
+with feathers; the whiche thinges makes the fight of an armie to the
+friendes goodly, to the enemies terrible. The armour of the horsemen, in
+the same first Romane antiquitie, was a rounde Targaet, and they had
+their head armed, and the rest unarmed: They had a swoorde and a staffe,
+with an Iron head onely before, long and small: whereby it happened,
+that they were not able to staye the Targaet, and the staffe in the
+incountring broke, and they through being unarmed, were subjecte to
+hurtes: after, in processe of time, they armed them as the footemen,
+albeit they used the Targaette muche shorter, square, and the staffe
+more stiffe, and with twoo heades, to the entente, that breaking one of
+the heades, they mighte prevaile with the other. With these armours as
+well on foote, as on horsebacke, the Romanes conquered all the worlde,
+and it is to be beleeved, by the fruiet thereof, whiche is seene, that
+they were the beste appointed armies, that ever were: and Titus Livius
+in his history, doeth testifie verye often, where comming to comparison
+with the enemies armies, he saieth: But the Romanes, by vertue, by the
+kinde of their armours, and piactise in the service of warre, were
+superiours: and therfore I have more particularly reasoned of the
+armours of conquerours, then of the conquered. But nowe mee thikes good,
+to reason onelye of the manner of arming men at this presente. Footemen
+have for their defence, a breast plate, and for to offende, a launce,
+sixe yardes and three quarters long, which is called a pike, with a
+swoorde on their side, rather rounde at the poinct, then sharpe. This is
+the ordinarie arming of footemen nowe a dayes, for that fewe there be,
+which have their legges armed, and their armes, the heade none, and
+those fewe, beare insteede of a Pike, a Halberde, the staffe whereof as
+you know, is twoo yardes and a quarter long, and it hath the Iron made
+like an axe. Betweene them, they have Harkebutters, the which with the
+violence of the fire, do the same office, which in olde time the
+slingers did, and the Crosseboweshoters. This maner of arming, was found
+out by the Dutchemen, inespeciallye of Suizzers, whom being poore, and
+desirous to live free, they were, and be constrayned to fight, with the
+ambition of the Princes of Almaine, who being riche, were able to keepe
+horse, the which the same people could not do for povertye. Wherby it
+grewe, that being on foote, minding to defende them selves from the
+enemies, that were on horsebacke, it behooveth them to seeke of the
+aunciente orders, and to finde weapons, whiche from the furie of horses,
+should defende them: This necessitie hath made either to be maintayned,
+or to bee founde of them the aunciente orders, without whiche, as everye
+prudente man affirmeth, the footemen is altogether unprofitable.
+Therefore, they tooke for their weapon the Pike, a moste profitable
+weapon, not only to withstande horses, but to overcome them: and the
+Dutchemen have by vertue of these weapons, and of these orders, taken
+such boldnesse, that XV. or XX. thousande of them, will assault the
+greatest nomber of horse that maye be: and of this, there hath beene
+experience enough within this XXV. yeres. And the insamples of their
+vertue hath bene so mightie, grounded upon these weapons, and these
+orders, that sence King Charles passed into Italie, everye nation hath
+imitated them: so that the Spanish armies, are become into most great
+reputation.
+
+COSIMO. Which maner of arming, do you praise moste, either these
+Dutchemens, or the auncient Romanes?
+
+[Sidenote: Whether the Romanes maner in arming of men, be better then
+the arming of men, that is used nowe a daies.]
+
+FABRICIO. The Romane without doubte, and I will tell the commoditie, and
+the discommoditie of the one, and the other. The Dutche footemen, are
+able to withstande, and overcome the horses: they bee moste speedie to
+marche, and to be set in araye, being not laden with armours: of the
+other part, they be subjecte to all blowes, both farre of, and at hande:
+because they be unarmed, they bee unprofitable unto the battaile on the
+lande, and to everye fighte, where is strong resistaunce. But the
+Romanes withstoode, and overcame the horses, as well as the Dutchemen,
+they were safe from blowes at hande, and farre of, being covered with
+armours: they were also better able to charge, and better able to
+sustaine charges, having Targaettes: they might more aptly in the preace
+fight with the swoorde, then these with the Pike, and though the
+Dutchemen have likewise swoordes, yet being without Targaets, they
+become in suche case unprofitable: The Romanes might safelye assault
+townes, having their bodies cleane covered with armour, and being better
+able to cover themselves with their Targaettes. So that they had no
+other incommoditie, then the waightynesse of their armours, and the pain
+to cary them: the whiche thinges thei overcame, with accustomyng the
+body to diseases, and with hardenyng it, to bee able to indure labour.
+And you knowe, how that in thinges accustomed, men suffer no grief. And
+you have to understand this, that the footemen maie be constrained, to
+faight with footemen, and with horse, and alwaies those be unprofitable,
+whiche cannot either sustain the horses, or beyng able to sustain them,
+have notwithstandyng neede to feare the footemen, whiche be better
+armed, and better ordeined then thei. Now if you consider the Duchemen,
+and the Romaines, you shall finde in the Duchemen activitie (as we have
+said) to overcome the horses, but greate dissavauntage, when thei
+faighte with menne, ordeined as thei them selves are, and armed as the
+Romaines were: so that there shall be this advauntage more of the one,
+then of thother, that the Romaines could overcome the men, and the
+horses, the Duchemen onely the horses.
+
+COSIMO. I would desire, that you would come to some more particulare
+insample, whereby wee maie better understande.
+
+[Sidenote: An ensample whiche proveth that horsemen with staves, cannot
+prevaile against footemen with Pikes, and what great advauntage the
+armed have, againste the unarmed. The victory of Carminvola against the
+Duchemen.]
+
+FABRICIO. I saie thus, that you shall finde in many places of our
+histories, the Romain footemen to have overcome innumerable horses, and
+you shall never finde, that thei have been overcome of men on foote, for
+default that thei have had in their armour, or thorowe the vantage that
+the enemie hath had in the armours: For that if the maner of their
+armyng, should have had defaulte, it had been necessarie, that there
+should folowe, the one of these twoo thynges, either that findyng soche,
+as should arme theim better then thei, thei should not have gone still
+forwardes, with their conquestes, or that thei should have taken the
+straungers maners, and should have left their owne, and for that it
+folowed not in the one thing, nor in the other, there groweth that ther
+maie be easely conjectured, that the maner of their armyng, was better
+then thesame of any other. It is not yet thus happened to the Duchemen,
+for that naughtie profe, hath ben seen made them, when soever thei have
+chaunsed to faight with men on foote prepared, and as obstinate as thei,
+the whiche is growen of the vauntage, whiche thesame have incountred in
+thenemies armours. Philip Vicecounte of Milaine, being assaulted of
+xviii. thousande Suizzers, sent against theim the Counte Carminvola,
+whiche then was his capitaine. He with sixe thousande horse, and a fewe
+footemen, went to mete with them, and incounteryng theim, he was
+repulsed with his moste greate losse: wherby Carminvola as a prudente
+man, knewe straight waie the puisaunce of the enemies weapons, and how
+moche against the horses thei prevailed, and the debilitie of the
+horses, againste those on foote so appoincted: and gatheryng his men
+together again, he went to finde the Suizzers, and so sone as he was
+nere them, he made his men of armes, to a light from their horse, and in
+thesame mane, faightyng with them he slue theim all, excepte three
+thousande: the whiche seyng them selves to consume, without havyng
+reamedy, castyng their weapons to the grounde, yelded.
+
+COSIMO. Whereof cometh so moche disavauntage?
+
+[Sidenote: The battailes when thei are a faightyng, doe throng
+together.]
+
+FABRICIO. I have a little afore tolde you, but seyng that you have not
+understoode it, I will rehearse it againe. The Duchemen (as a little
+before I saied unto you) as it were unarmed, to defende themselves, have
+to offende, the Pike and the swearde: thei come with these weapons, and
+with their orders to finde the enemies, whom if thei bee well armed, to
+defende theim selves, as were the menne of armes of Carminvola, whiche
+made theim a lighte on foote, thei come with the sweard, and in their
+orders to find them, and have no other difficultie, then to come nere to
+the Suizzers, so that thei maie reche them with the sweard, for that so
+sone as thei have gotten unto them, thei faight safely: for asmoche as
+the Duch man cannot strike thenemie with the Pike, whom is upon him, for
+the length of the staffe, wherefore it is conveniente for hym, to put
+the hande to the sweard, the whiche to hym is unprofitable, he beyng
+unarmed, and havyng against hym an enemie, that is all armed. Whereby he
+that considereth the vantage, and the disavantage of the one, and of the
+other, shall see, how the unarmed, shall have no maner of remeady, and
+the overcommyng of the firste faight, and to passe the firste poinctes
+of the Pikes, is not moche difficulte, he that faighteth beyng well
+armed: for that the battailes go (as you shall better understande, when
+I have shewed you, how thei are set together) and incounteryng the one
+the other, of necessitie thei thrust together, after soche sorte, that
+thei take the one thother by the bosome, and though by the Pikes some
+bee slaine, or overthrowen, those that remain on their feete, be so
+many, that thei suffice to obtaine the victorie. Hereof it grewe, that
+Carminvola overcame them, with so greate slaughter of the Suizzers, and
+with little losse of his.
+
+COSIMO. Consider that those of Carminvola, were men of armes, whom
+although thei wer on foote, thei were covered all with stele, and
+therefore thei wer able to make the profe thei did: so that me thinkes,
+that a power ought to be armed as thei, mindyng to make the verie same
+profe.
+
+FABRICIO. If you should remember, how I tolde you the Romaines were
+armed, you would not thynke so: for as moche as a manne, that hath the
+hedde covered with Iron, the breaste defended of a Corselet, and of a
+Targaet, the armes and the legges armed, is moche more apt to defende
+hymself from the Pike, and to enter emong them, then a man of armes on
+foote. I wil give you a little of a late ensample. There wer come out of
+Cicelie, into the kyngdome of Naples, a power of Spaniardes, for to go
+to finde Consalvo, who was besieged in Barlet, of the Frenchemen: there
+made against theim Mounsier de Vhigni, with his menne of armes, and with
+aboute fower thousande Duchemen on foote: The Duchemen incountered with
+their Pikes lowe, and thei opened the power of the Spaniardes: but those
+beyng holp, by meane of their bucklers and of the agiletie of their
+bodies, mingled togethers with the Duchemen, so that thei might reche
+them with the swearde, whereby happened the death, almoste of all theim,
+and the victorie to the Spaniardes. Every man knoweth, how many Duchemen
+were slaine in the battaile of Ravenna, the whiche happened by the verie
+same occasion: for that the Spanishe souldiours, got them within a
+swerdes length of the Duche souldiours, and thei had destroied them all,
+if of the Frenche horsemen, the Duchemen on foote, had not been
+succored: notwithstandyng, the Spaniardes close together, brought
+themselves into a safe place. I conclude therefore, that a good power
+ought not onely to be able, to withstande the horses, but also not to
+have fear of menne on foote, the which (as I have many tymes saied)
+procedeth of the armours, and of the order.
+
+[Sidenote: How to arme men, and what weapons to appoincte theim, after
+the Romaine maner, and Duche facion.]
+
+COSIMO. Tell therefore, how you would arme them?
+
+FABRICIO. I would take of the Romaine armours, and of the Duchemennes
+weapons, and I would that the one haulfe, should bee appoincted like the
+Romaines, and the other haulfe like the Duchemen: for that if in sixe
+thousande footemen (as I shall tell you a little hereafter) I should
+have thre thousande men with Targaettes, after the Romain maner, and two
+thousande Pikes, and a thousand Harkebutters, after the Duche facion,
+thei should sufice me: for that I would place the Pikes, either in the
+fronte of the battaile, or where I should feare moste the horses, and
+those with the Targaetes and sweardes, shall serve me to make a backe to
+the Pikes, and to winne the battaile, as I shall shewe you: so that I
+beleeve, that a power thus ordayned, should overcome at this daye, any
+other power.
+
+COSIMO. This which hath beene saide, sufficeth concerning footemen, but
+concerning horsemen, wee desire to understand which you thinke more
+stronger armed, either ours, or the antiquitie.
+
+[Sidenote: The victorie of Lucullo, against Tiarane king of Armenia; For
+what pupose horsemen be most requisite.]
+
+FABRICIO. I beleeve that in these daies, having respect to the Saddelles
+bolstered, and to the stiroppes not used of the antiquitie, they stande
+more stronglye on horsebacke, then in the olde time: I thinke also they
+arme them more sure: so that at this daye, a bande of men of armes,
+paysing very muche, commeth to be with more difficultie withstoode, then
+were the horsemen of old time: notwithstanding for all this, I judge,
+that there ought not to be made more accompt of horses, then in olde
+time was made, for that (as afore is sayde) manye times in our dayes,
+they have with the footemen receyved shame and shall receyve alwayes,
+where they incounter, with a power of footemen armed, and ordered, as
+above hath bene declared. Tigrane king of Armenia, had againste the
+armie of the Romanes, wherof was Capitayne Lucullo, CL. thousande
+horsemen, amongest the whiche, were many armed, like unto our men of
+armes, which they called Catafratti, and of the other parte, the Romanes
+were about sixe thousande, with xxv. thousand footemen: so that Tigrane
+seeing the armie of the enemies, saide: these be horses enough for an
+imbassage: notwithstanding, incountering together, he was overthrowen:
+and he that writeth of the same fighte, disprayseth those Catafratti,
+declaring them to be unprofitable; for that hee sayeth, because they had
+their faces covered, they had muche a doe to see, and to offende the
+enemie, and they falling, being laden with armour coulde not rise up
+again, nor welde themselves in any maner to prevaile. I say therefore,
+that those people or kingdomes, whiche shall esteeme more the power of
+horses, then the power of footemen be alwaies weake, and subjecte to all
+ruine, as by Italie hath been seene in our time, the whiche hath beene
+taken, ruinated, and over run with straungers, through not other fault,
+then for having taken litle care, of the service on foote, and being
+brought the souldiours therof, all on horsebacke. Yet there ought to bee
+had horses, but for seconde, and not for firste foundaion of an armie:
+for that to make a discovery, to over run and to destroy the enemies
+countrie, and to keepe troubled and disquieted, the armie of the same,
+and in their armours alwayes, to let them of their victuals, they are
+necessary, and most profitable: but concerning for the daye of battaile,
+and for the fighte in the fielde, whiche is the importaunce of the
+warre, and the ende, for which the armies are ordeined, they are more
+meeter to follow the enemie being discomfited then to do any other thing
+which in the same is to be done, and they bee in comparison, to the
+footemen much inferiour.
+
+COSIMO. There is happened unto mee twoo doubtes, the one, where I knowe,
+that the Parthians dyd not use in the warre, other then horses, and yet
+they devided the worlde with the Romanes: the other is, that I woulde
+that you should shewe, howe the horsemen can be withstoode of footemen,
+and wherof groweth the strength of these, and the debilitie of those?
+
+[Sidenote: The reason why footmen are able to overcome horsemen; How
+footmen maie save them selves from horsemen; The exercise of Souldiours,
+ought to be devided into thre partes; What exercises the auncient common
+weales used to exercise their youth in, and what commoditie insued
+thereby; How the antiquitie, learned their yong soldiours, to handell
+their weapons; What thantiquitie estemed moste happie in a common weale;
+Mouster Maisters; for thexercisyng of yong men unexperte.]
+
+FABRICIO. Either I have tolde you, or I minded to tell you, howe that my
+reasoning of the affaires of warre, ought not to passe the boundes of
+Europe: when thus it is, I am not bounde unto you, to make accompte of
+the same, which is used in Asia, yet I muste saye unto you thus, that
+the warring of the Parthians, was altogether contrarye, to the same of
+the Romanes: for as muche as the Parthians, warred all on horsebacke,
+and in the fight, they proceeded confusedlye, and scattered, and it was
+a maner of fighte unstable, and full of uncertaintie. The Romanes were
+(it maye be sayde) almoste al on foote, and thei fought close together
+and sure, and thei overcame diversly, the one the other, according to
+the largenesse, or straightnesse of the situation: for that in this the
+Romaines were superiours, in thesame the Parthians, whom might make
+greate proofe, with thesame maner of warryng, consideryng the region,
+which thei had to defende, the which was moste large: for as moche as it
+hath the sea coaste, distant a thousande miles, the rivers thone from
+thother, twoo or three daies journey, the tounes in like maner and the
+inhabitauntes few: so that a Romaine armie heavie and slowe, by meanes
+of their armoures, and their orders, could not over run it, without
+their grevous hurt (those that defended it, being on horsebacke mooste
+expedite) so that thei were to daie in one place, and to morowe distaunt
+fiftie miles. Hereof it grewe, that the Parthians might prevaile with
+their chivalrie onely, bothe to the ruine of the armie of Crassus, and
+to the perill of thesame, of Marcus Antonius: but I (as I have told you)
+doe not intende in this my reasonyng, to speake of the warfare out of
+Europe, therfore I will stand upon thesame, whiche in times past, the
+Romaines ordained, and the Grekes, and as the Duchemen doe now adaies.
+But let us se to the other question of yours, where you desire to
+understande, what order, or what naturall vertue makes, that the
+footemen overcome the horsmen. And I saie unto you first that the horses
+cannot go, as the footmen in every place: Thei are slower then the
+footemen to obeie, when it is requisite to alter the order: for as
+moche, as if it be nedefull, either goyng forward, to turne backwarde,
+or tournyng backwarde, to go forwarde, or to move themselves standing
+stil, or goyng to stand still, without doubt, the horsemen cannot dooe
+it so redilie as the footemen: the horsemen cannot, being of some
+violence, disordained, returne in their orders, but with difficultie,
+although thesame violence cease, the whiche the footemen dooe moste
+easely and quickly. Besides this, it happeneth many tymes, that a hardie
+manne shall be upon a vile horse, and a coward upon a good, whereby it
+foloweth, that this evill matchyng of stomackes, makes disorder. Nor no
+man doeth marvell, that a bande of footemenne, susteineth all violence
+of horse for that a horse is a beaste, that hath sence, and knoweth the
+perilles, and with an ill will, will enter in them: and if you consider,
+what force maketh theim go forwarde, and what holdeth them backwarde,
+you shall se without doubt thesame to be greater, whiche kepeth them
+backe, then that whiche maketh them go forwardes: For that the spurre
+maketh theim go forwarde, and of the other side, either the swearde, or
+the Pike, kepeth theim backe: so that it hath been seen by the olde, and
+by the late experience, a bande of footemen to bee moste safe, ye,
+invinsible for horses. And if you should argue to this, that the heate,
+with whiche thei come, maketh theim more furious to incounter who that
+would withstande them, and lesse to regard the Pike, then the spurre: I
+saie, that if the horse so disposed, begin to see, that he must run upon
+the poincte of the Pike, either of himself, he wil refrain the course so
+that so sone as he shall feele himself pricked, he will stande still
+atones, or beeyng come to theim, he will tourne on the right, or on the
+lefte hande. Whereof if you wil make experience, prove to run a horse
+against a walle: you shall finde fewe, with what so ever furie he come
+withall, will strike against it. Cesar havyng in Fraunce, to faighte
+with the Suizzers, a lighted, and made every manne a light on foote, and
+to avoide from the araies, the horses, as a thyng more meete to flie,
+then to faight. But notwithstandyng these naturall impedimentes, whiche
+horses have, thesame Capitaine, whiche leadeth the footemen, ought to
+chuse waies, whiche have for horse, the moste impedimentes that maie
+bee, and seldome tymes it happeneth, but that a manne maie save hymself,
+by the qualitie of the countrie: for that if thou marche on the hilles,
+the situacion doeth save thee from thesame furie, whereof you doubt,
+that thei go withail in the plain, fewe plaines be, whiche through the
+tillage or by meanes of the woddes, doe not assure thee: for that every
+hillocke, every bancke, although it be but small, taketh awaie thesame
+heate, and every culture where bee Vines, and other trees, lettes the
+horses: and if thou come to battaile, the very same lettes happeneth,
+that chaunceth in marchyng: for as moche as every little impedemente,
+that the horse hath, abateth his furie. One thyng notwithstandyng, I
+will not forgette to tell you, how the Romaines estemed so moche their
+orders, and trusted so moche to their weapons, that if thei shuld have
+had, to chuse either so rough a place to save theim selves from horses,
+where thei should not have been able, to raunge their orders, or a place
+where thei should have nede, to feare more of horses, but ben able to
+deffende their battaile, alwaies thei toke this, and left that: but
+bicause it is tyme, to passe to the armie, having armed these
+souldiours, accordyng to the aunciente and newe use, let us see what
+exercises the Romaines caused theim make, before the menne were brought
+to the battaile. Although thei be well chosen, and better armed, thei
+ought with moste greate studie be exercised, for that without this
+exercise, there was never any souldiour good: these exercises ought to
+be devided into three partes, the one, for to harden the bodie, and to
+make it apte to take paines, and to bee more swifter and more readier,
+the other, to teach them, how to handell their weapons, the third, for
+to learne them to kepe the orders in the armie, as well in marchyng, as
+in faightyng, and in the incampyng: The whiche be three principall
+actes, that an armie doeth: for asmoche, as if an armie marche, incampe,
+and faight with order, and expertly, the Capitaine leseth not his
+honoure, although the battaile should have no good ende. Therfore, all
+thauncient common weales, provided these exercises in maner, by custome,
+and by lawe, that there should not be left behinde any part thereof.
+Thei exercised then their youth, for to make them swift, in runnyng, to
+make theim readie, in leapyng, for to make them strong, in throwyng the
+barre, or in wrestlyng: and these three qualities, be as it were
+necessarie in souldiours. For that swiftnesse, maketh theim apte to
+possesse places, before the enemie, and to come to them unloked for, and
+at unwares to pursue them, when thei are discomfaicted: the readinesse,
+maketh theim apte to avoide a blowe, to leape over a diche, to winne a
+banke: strength, maketh them the better able to beare their armours, to
+incounter the enemie, to withstande a violence. And above all, to make
+the bodie the more apte to take paines, thei used to beare greate
+burthens, the whiche custome is necessarie: for that in difficulte
+expedicions it is requisite many tymes, that the souldiour beside his
+armours, beare vitualles for many daies, and if he were not accustomed
+to this labour, he could not dooe it: and without this, there can
+neither bee avoided a perill, nor a victorie gotten with fame.
+Concernyng to learne how to handell the weapons, thei exercised theim,
+in this maner: thei would have the yong menne, to put on armour, whiche
+should waie twise as moche, as their field armour, and in stede of a
+swearde, thei gave them a cudgell leaded, whiche in comparison of a
+verie swearde in deede, was moste heavie; thei made for every one of
+them, a poste to be set up in the ground, which should be in height twoo
+yardes and a quarter, and in soche maner, and so strong, that the blowes
+should not slur nor hurle it doune, against the whiche poste, the yong
+man with a targaet, and with the cudgell, as against an enemie did
+exercise, and some whiles he stroke, as though he would hurte the hedde,
+or the face, somewhile he retired backe, an other while he made
+forewarde: and thei had in this exercise, this advertisment, to make
+theim apt to cover theim selves, and to hurte the enemie: and havyng the
+counterfaight armours moste heavy, their ordinarie armours semed after
+unto them more lighter. The Romanies, would that their souldiours should
+hurte with the pricke, and not with the cutte, as well bicause the
+pricke is more mortalle, and hath lesse defence, as also to thentent
+that he that should hurt, might lye the lesse open, and be more apt to
+redouble it, then with cuttes. Dooe not marvaile that these auncient
+men, should thinke on these small thynges, for that where the
+incounteryng of men is reasoned of, you shall perceive, that every
+little vauntage, is of greate importaunce: and I remember you the same,
+whiche the writers of this declare, rather then I to teache you. The
+antiquitie estemed nothing move happie, in a common weale, then to be in
+thesame, many men exercised in armes: bicause not the shining of
+precious stones and of golde, maketh that the enemies submit themselves
+unto thee, but onely the fear of the weapons: afterwarde the errours
+whiche are made in other thynges, maie sometymes be corrected, but those
+whiche are dooen in the warre, the paine straight waie commyng on,
+cannot be amended. Besides that, the knowlege to faight, maketh men more
+bold, bicause no man feareth to doe that thing, which he thinketh to
+have learned to dooe. The antiquitie would therefore, that their
+Citezeins should exercise themselves, in all marcial feates, and thei
+made them to throwe against thesame poste, dartes moche hevier then the
+ordinarie: the whiche exercise, besides the makyng men expert in
+throwyng, maketh also the arme more nimble, and moche stronger. Thei
+taught them also to shote in the long bowe, to whorle with the sling:
+and to all these thynges, thei appoincted maisters, in soche maner, that
+after when thei were chosen for to go to the warre, thei were now with
+mynde and disposicion, souldiours. Nor there remained them to learn
+other, then to go in the orders, and to maintain them selves in those,
+either marchyng, or faightyng: The whiche moste easely thei learned,
+mingeling themselves with those, whiche had long tyme served, whereby
+thei knewe how to stande in the orders.
+
+COSIMO. What exercises would you cause theim to make at this present?
+
+[Sidenote: The exercises that souldiers ought to make in these daies;
+The exercise of swimmyng; Tiber, is a river runnyng through Rome the
+water wher of will never corrupte; Thexercise of vautyng, and the
+commoditie thereof; An order that is taken in certain countries,
+concerning exercises of warre; What knowledge a Souldiour ought to have;
+A Cohorte is a bande of men; Of what nomer and of what kind of armours
+and weapons, a maine battaile ought to bee, and the distributing and
+appoinetyng of thesame; veliti are light armed men; Thecapitaines that
+ar appointed to every band of men; Twoo orders observed in an armie; How
+a captain muste instructe muste instructe his souldiours how thei ought
+to governe themselves in the battaile.]
+
+FABRICIO. A good many of those, whiche have been declared, as runnyng,
+and wrestlyng, makyng theim to leape, makyng theim to labour in armours,
+moche heavier then the ordinarie, making them shoote with Crosse bowes,
+and longe bowes, whereunto I would joyne the harkabus, a newe instrument
+(as you know) verie necessarie, and to these exercises I would use, al
+the youth of my state, but with greater industrie, and more
+sollicitatenesse thesame parte, whiche I should have alreadie appoincted
+to serve, and alwaies in the idell daies, thei should bee exercised. I
+would also that thei should learne to swimme, the whiche is a thyng
+verie profitable: for that there be not alwaies bridges over rivers,
+boates be not alwaies readie: so that thy army not knowyng howe to
+swime, remaineth deprived of many commodities: and many occasions to
+woorke well, is taken awaie. The Romaines for none other cause had
+ordained, that the yong men should exercise them selves in Campus
+Martius, then onely, for that havyng Tiber at hande, thei might, beyng
+weried with the exercise on lande, refreshe theim selves in the water,
+and partly in swimmyng, to exercise them selves. I would make also, as
+the antiquitie, those whiche should serve on horsebacke to exercise, the
+whiche is moste necessarie, for that besides to know how to ride, thei
+muste knowe how on horsebacke thei maie prevaile of them selves. And for
+this thei had ordeined horses of wood, upon the which thei practised, to
+leape by armed, and unarmed, without any helpe, and on every hande: the
+whiche made, that atones, and at a beck of a capitain, the horsmen were
+on foote, and likewise at a token, thei mounted on horsebacke. And soche
+exercises, bothe on foote and on horsebacke, as thei were then easie to
+bee doen, so now thei should not be difficult to thesame common weale,
+or to thesame prince, whiche would cause them to be put in practise of
+their yong men. As by experience is seen, in certaine citees of the
+Weste countrie, where is kepte a live like maners with this order. Thei
+devide all their inhabiters into divers partes: and every parte thei
+name of the kinde of those weapons, that thei use in the warre. And for
+that thei use Pikes, Halbardes, Bowes, and Harkebuses, thei call them
+Pike menne, Halberders, Harkebutters, and Archars: Therefore, it is mete
+for all the inhabiters to declare, in what orders thei will be
+appoincted in. And for that all men, either for age, or for other
+impedimentes, be not fitte for the warre, every order maketh a choise of
+men, and thei call them the sworen, whom in idell daies, be bounde to
+exercise themselves in those weapons, wherof thei be named: and every
+manne hath his place appoincted hym of the cominaltie, where soche
+exercise ought to be made: and those whiche be of thesame order, but not
+of the sworen, are contributaries with their money, to thesame expenses,
+whiche in soche exercises be necessarie: therfore thesame that thei doe,
+we maie doe. But our smal prudence dooeth not suffre us, to take any
+good waie. Of these exercises there grewe, that the antiquitie had good
+souldiours, and that now those of the Weste, bee better men then ours:
+for as moche as the antiquitie exercised them, either at home (as those
+common weales doe) or in the armies, as those Emperours did, for
+thoccasions aforesaied: but we, at home will not exercise theim, in
+Campe we cannot, bicause thei are not our subjectes, and for that we are
+not able to binde them to other exercises then thei them selves liste to
+doe: the whiche occacion hath made, that firste the armies bee
+neclected, and after, the orders, and that the kyngdomes, and the common
+weales, in especially Italians, live in soche debilitie. But let us
+tourne to our order, and folowyng this matter of exercises, I saie, how
+it suffiseth not to make good armies, for havyng hardened the men, made
+them strong, swift, and handsome, it is nedefull also, that thei learne
+to stande in the orders, to obeie to signes, to soundes, and to the
+voice of the capitain: to knowe, standyng, to retire them selves, goyng
+forwardes, bothe faightyng, and marchyng to maintain those: bicause
+without this knowlege, withal serious diligence observed, and practised,
+there was never armie good: and without doubt, the fierce and disordered
+menne, bee moche more weaker, then the fearfull that are ordered, for
+that thorder driveth awaie from men feare, the disorder abateth
+fiercenesse. And to the entente you maie the better perceive that,
+whiche here folowyng shalbe declared, you have to understande, how every
+nation, in the orderyng of their men to the warre, have made in their
+hoste, or in their armie, a principall member, the whiche though thei
+have varied with the name, thei have little varied with the nomber of
+the menne: for that thei all have made it, betwene sixe and viii. M.
+men. This nomber of men was called of the Romaines, a Legion, of Grekes
+a Fallange, of Frenchemen Caterva: this verie same in our tyme of the
+Suizzers, whom onely of the auncient warfare, kepe some shadowe, is
+called in their tongue that, whiche in ours signifieththe maine
+battaile. True it is, that every one of them, hath after devided it,
+accordyng to their purposes. Therefore me thinkes beste, that wee
+grounde our talke, upon this name moste knowen, and after, according to
+the aunciente, and to the orders now adaies, the beste that is possible
+to ordaine it; and bicause the Romaines devided their Legion, whiche was
+made betwene five and sixe thousande men, in ten Cohortes, I will that
+wee devide our main battaile, into ten battailes, and that we make it of
+sixe thousande menne on foote, and we will give to every battaile,
+CCCCL. men, of whiche shall be, CCCC. armed with heavie armour, and L.
+with light armour: the heavie armed, shall be CCC. Targettes with
+sweardes, and shalbe called Target men: and C. with Pikes, whiche shalbe
+called ordinarie Pikes: the light armed shalbe, L. men armed with
+Harkabuses, Crosse bowes, and Partisans, and smal Targaettes, and these
+by an aunciente name, were called ordinarie Veliti: all of the ten
+battailes therefore, comes to have three thousande Targaet men, a
+thousande ordinarie Pikes, CCCC. ordinarie Veliti, all whiche make the
+nomber of fower thousande and five hundred men. And we saied, that we
+would make the maine battaile of six thousande; therefore there must be
+added an other thousande, five hundred men, of whiche I will appoinet a
+thousande with Pikes, whom I will call extraordinarie Veliti, and thus
+my menne should come (as a little before I have saied) to bee made halfe
+of Targaetes, and halfe of Pikes and other weapons. I would appoinete to
+everie battaile, or bande of men, a Conestable, fower Centurions and
+fouretic peticapitaines, and moreover a hedde to the ordinarie Veliti.
+with five peticapitaines; I would give to the thousande extraordinarie
+Pikes, three Conestabelles, ten Centurions, and a hundred
+peticapitaines; to the extraodrinarie Veliti, two Conestabelles, v.
+Centurions, and l. peticapitaines: I would then apoinet a generall hed,
+over all the main battaile: I would that every Conestable should have an
+Ansigne, and a Drum. Thus there should be made a manne battaile of ten
+battailes, of three thousande Targaet men, of a thousande ordinarie
+Pikes, of a thousande extraordinarie of five hundred ordinarie Veliti,
+of five hundred extraordinarie, so there should come to bee sixe
+thousande men, emongeste the whiche there should bee M.D.
+peticapitaines, and moreover, xv. Conestables, with xv. Drummes, and xv.
+Ansignes, lv. Centurions, x. heddes of the ordinarie Veliti, and a
+Capitaine over all the maine battaile with his Asigne and Drume, and I
+have of purpose repeated this order the oftener, to the intent, that
+after when I shall shewe you, the maners of orderyng the battailes, and
+tharmies, you should not be confounded: I saie therefore, how that, that
+king, or that common weale, whiche intendeth to ordeine their subjectes
+to armes, ought to appoincte theim with these armoures and weapons, and
+with these partes, and to make in their countrie so many maine
+battailes, as it were able: and when thei should have ordained them,
+according to the forsaid distribucion, minding to exercise them in the
+orders, it should suffice to exercise every battaile by it self: and
+although the nomber of the men, of every one of them, cannot by it self,
+make the facion of a juste armie, notwithstandyng, every man maie learne
+to dooe thesame, whiche particularly appertaineth unto hym: for that in
+the armies, twoo orders is observed, the one, thesame that the men ought
+to doe in every battaile, and the other that, whiche the battaile ought
+to doe after, when it is with the other in an armie. And those men,
+whiche doe wel the first, mooste easely maie observe the seconde: But
+without knowyng thesame, thei can never come to the knowlege of the
+seconde. Then (as I have saied) every one of these battailes, maie by
+them selves, learne to kepe the orders of the araies, in every qualitie
+of movyng, and of place, and after learne to put them selves togethers,
+to understande the soundes, by meanes wherof in the faight thei are
+commaunded, to learne to know by that, as the Gallics by the whissell,
+what ought to be doen, either to stande still, or to tourne forward, or
+to tourne backwarde or whiche waie to tourne the weapons, and the face:
+so that knowyng how to kepe well the araie, after soche sorte, that
+neither place nor movyng maie disorder them, understandyng well the
+commaundementes of their heddes, by meanes of the sounde, and knowyng
+quickly, how to retourne into their place, these battailes maie after
+easly (as I have said) beyng brought many together, learne to do that,
+whiche all the body together, with the other battailes in a juste armie,
+is bounde to dooe. And bicause soche universall practise, is also not to
+bee estemed a little, ones or twise a yere, when there is peace, all the
+main battaile maie be brought together, to give it the facion of an
+whole armie, some daies exercisyng theim, as though thei should faight a
+fielde, settyng the fronte, and the sides with their succours in their
+places. And bicause a capitaine ordeineth his hoste to the fielde,
+either for coumpte of the enemie he seeth, or for that, of whiche
+without seyng he doubteth, he ought to exercise his armie in the one
+maner, and in the other, and to instructe theim in soche sorte, that
+thei maie knowe how to marche, and to faight, when nede should require,
+the wyng to his souldiours, how thei should governe theim selves, when
+thei should happen to be assaulted of this, or of that side: and where
+he ought to instructe theim how to faight againste the enemie, whom thei
+should see: he must shewe them also, how the faight is begun, and where
+thei ought to retire: being overthrowen, who hath to succeade in their
+places, to what signes, to what soundes, to what voices, thei ought to
+obeie, and to practise them in soche wise in the battaile, and with
+fained assaultes, that thei may desire the verie thyng in deede. For
+that an armie is not made coragious, bicause in thesame be hardie menne,
+but by reason the orders thereof bee well appoineted: For as moche as if
+I be one of the first faighters, and do knowe, beyng overcome, where I
+maie retire, and who hath to succeade in my place, I shall alwaies
+faight with boldnes, seing my succour at hand. If I shall be one of the
+seconde faighters, the first being driven backe, and overthrowen, I
+shall not bee afraied, for that I shall have presuposed that I maie bee,
+and I shall have desire to be thesame, whiche maie give the victory to
+my maister, and not to bee any of the other. These exercises bee moste
+necessarie, where an armie is made of newe, and where the old armie is,
+thei bee also necessarie: for that it is also seen, how the Romaines
+knew from their infancie, thorder of their armies, notwithstandyng,
+those capitaines before thei should come to thenemie, continually did
+exercise them in those. And Josephus in his historie saieth, that the
+continuall exercises of the Romaine armies, made that all thesame
+multitude, whiche folowe the campe for gain, was in the daie of battaile
+profitable: bicause thei all knewe, how to stande in the orders, and to
+faight kepyng the same: but in the armies of newe men, whether thou have
+putte theim together, to faight straight waie, or that thou make a power
+to faight, when neede requires, without these exercises, as well of the
+battailes severally by themselves, as of all the armie, is made nothing:
+wherefore the orders beying necessarie, it is conveniente with double
+industrie and laboure, to shewe them unto soche as knoweth them not, and
+for to teache it, many excellent capitaines have travailed, without any
+respecte.
+
+COSIMO. My thinkes that this reasoning, hath sumwhat transported you:
+for asmoche, as havyng not yet declared the waies, with the whiche the
+battailes bee exercised, you have reasoned of the whole armie, and of
+the daie of battaile.
+
+[Sidenote: The chief importance in the exercisyng of bandes of men;
+Three principall for thorderyng of menne into battaile raie; The manner
+how to bryng a bande of men into battaile raie after a square facion;
+The better waie for the ordring of a band of men in battaile raie, after
+the first facion; How to exercise men, and to take soche order, whereby
+a band of men that were by whatsoever chance disordred maye straighte
+wai be brought into order againe; What advertisement ought to bee used
+in tourning about a whole bande of menne, after soche sorte, as though
+it were but one bodie; How to order a band of menne after soche sort
+that thei maie make their front againste thenemie of whiche flanke thei
+list; How a band of man oughte to be ordered, when in marchyng thei
+should bee constrained to faighton their backes.]
+
+FABRICIO. You saie truth, but surely thoccasion hath been the affection,
+whiche I beare to these orders, and the grief that I feele, seyng thei
+be not put in use: notwithstanding, doubt not but that I will tourne to
+the purpose: as I have saied, the chief importaunce that is in
+thexercise of the battailes, is to knowe how to kepe well the armies:
+and bicause I tolde you that one of these battailes, ought to bee made
+of fower hundred men heavie armed, I wil staie my self upon this nomber.
+Thei ought then to be brought into lxxx. rankes, and five to a ranke:
+afterward goyng fast, or softly, to knit them together, and to lose
+them: the whiche how it is dooen, maie bee shewed better with deedes,
+then with wordes. Which nedeth not gretly to be taught, for that every
+manne, whom is practised in servise of warre, knoweth how this order
+procedeth, whiche is good for no other, then to use the souldiours to
+keepe the raie: but let us come to putte together one of these
+battailes, I saie, that there is given them three facions principally,
+the firste, and the moste profitablest is, to make al massive, and to
+give it the facion of two squares, the second is, to make it square with
+the front horned, the thirde is, to make it with a voide space in the
+middest: the maner to put men together in the first facion, maie be of
+twoo sortes, tho together in the first facion, maie be of twoo sortes,
+thone is to double the rankes, that is, to make the seconde ranke enter
+into the first, the iiii. into the third, the sixt into the fift, and so
+foorth, so that where there was lxxx. rankes, five to a ranke, thei maie
+become xl. rankes, x. to a ranke. Afterward cause theim to double ones
+more in thesame maner, settyng the one ranke into an other, and so there
+shall remain twentie rankes, twentie men to a ranke: this maketh twoo
+squares aboute, for as moche as albeit that there bee as many men the
+one waie, as in the other, notwithstandyng to wardes the hedde, thei
+joine together, that the one side toucheth the other: but by the other
+waie, thei be distant the one from the other, at least a yarde and a
+haulfe, after soche sorte, that the square is moche longer, from the
+backe to the fronte, then from the one side to thother: and bicause we
+have at this presente, to speake often of the partes afore, of behinde,
+and of the sides of these battailes, and of all the armie together,
+knowe you, that when I saie either hedde or fronte, I meane the parte
+afore, when I shall saie backe, the part behind, when I shall saie
+flankes, the partes on the sides. The fiftie ordinarie veliti of the
+battaile, muste not mingle with the other rankes, but so sone as the
+battaile is facioned, thei shalbe set a long by the flankes therof. The
+other waie to set together the battaile is this, and bicause it is
+better then the firste, I will set it before your ives juste, how it
+ought to bee ordeined. I beleve that you remember of what nomber of
+menne, of what heddes it is made, and of what armours thei are armed,
+then the facion, that this battaile ought to have, is (as I have saied)
+of twentie rankes, twentie men to a ranke, five rankes of Pikes in the
+front, and fiftene rankes of Targaettes on the backe, twoo Centurions
+standying in the fronte, twoo behinde on the backe, who shall execute
+the office of those, whiche the antiquitie called Tergiductori. The
+Conestable with the Ansigne, and with the Drumme, shall stande in
+thesame space, that is betwene the five rankes of the Pikes, and the
+fiftene of the Targeaettes. Of the Peticapitaines, there shall stande
+one upon every side of the ranckes, so that every one, maie have on his
+side his men, those peticapitaines, whiche shalbe on the left hande, to
+have their men on the right hand, those Peticapitaines, whiche shall be
+on the right hand, to have their menne on the left hande: The fiftie
+Veliti, muste stande a long the flankes, and on the backe of the
+battaile. To mynde now, that this battaile maie be set together in this
+facion, the men goyng ordinarily, it is convenient to order them thus.
+Make the men to be brought into lxxx. rankes, five to a ranke, as a
+little afore we have said, leavyng the Veliti either at the hedde, or at
+the taile, so that thei stande out of this order: and it ought to be
+ordeined, that every Centurion have behinde his back twentie rankes, and
+to bee nexte behinde every Centurion, five rankes of Pikes, and the
+reste Targaettes. The Conestable shall stande with the Drum, and the
+Ansigne, in thesame space, whiche is betwene the Pikes, and the
+Targaettes of the seconde Centurion, and to occupie the places of three
+Targaette men. Of the Peticapitaines, twentie shall stand on the sides
+of the rankes, of the first Centurion, on the lefte hande, and twentie
+shall stande on the sides of the rankes, of the last Centurion on the
+right hande. And you muste understande, that the Peticapitaine, whiche
+hath to leade the Pikes, ought to have a Pike, and those that leade the
+Targaettes, ought to have like weapons. Then the rankes beyng brought
+into this order, and mindyng in marchyng, to bryng them into battaile,
+for to make the hedde, the first Centurion must be caused to stande
+still, with the firste twentie rankes, and the seconde to proceade
+marchyng, and tournyng on the right hand, he must go a long the sides of
+the twentie rankes that stande still, till he come to bee even with the
+other Centurion, where he must also stande still, and the thirde
+Centurion to procede marchyng, likewise tournyng on the right hand, and
+a long the sides of the rankes that stande still, must go so farre, that
+he be even with the other twoo Centurions, and he also standyng still,
+the other Centurion must folowe with his rankes, likewise tournyng on
+the right hande, a longe the sides of the rankes that stande still, so
+farre that he come to the hed of the other, and then to stand still, and
+straight waie twoo Centurions onely, shall depart from the front, and go
+to the backe of the battaile, the whiche cometh to bee made in thesame
+maner, and with thesame order juste, as a little afore I have shewed
+you. The Veliti muste stande a long, by the flankes of thesame,
+accordyng as is disposed in the first waie, whiche waie is called
+redoublyng by right line, this is called redoublyng by flanke: the first
+waie is more easie, this is with better order, and commeth better to
+passe, and you maie better correcte it, after your owne maner, for that
+in redoublyng by righte line, you muste bee ruled by the nomber, bicause
+five maketh ten, ten twentie, twentie fourtie, so that with redoublyng
+by right line, you cannot make a hedde of fiftene, nor of five and
+twentie, nor of thirtie, nor of five and thirtie, but you must go where
+thesame nomber will leade you. And yet it happeneth every daie in
+particulare affaires, that it is convenient to make the forwarde with
+sixe hundred, or eight hundred men, so that to redouble by right line,
+should disorder you: therefore this liketh me better: that difficultie
+that is, ought moste with practise, and with exercise to bee made easie.
+Therefore I saie unto you, how it importeth more then any thyng, to have
+the souldiours to know how to set themselves in araie quickly, and it is
+necessarie to keepe theim in this battaile, to exercise theim therin,
+and to make them to go apace, either forward or backward, to passe
+through difficulte places, without troublyng thorder: for asmoche as the
+souldiours, whiche can doe this well, be expert souldiours, and although
+thei have never seen enemies in the face, thei maie be called old
+souldiours, and contrariwise, those whiche cannot keepe these orders,
+though thei have been in a thousande warres, thei ought alwaies to be
+reputed new souldiours. This is, concernyng setting them together, when
+thei are marching in small rankes: but beyng set, and after beyng broken
+by some accident or chaunce, whiche groweth either of the situacion, or
+of the enemie, to make that in a sodaine, thei maie come into order
+againe, this is the importaunce and the difficultie, and where is
+nedefull moche exercise, and moche practise, and wherin the antiquitie
+bestowed moche studie. Therefore it is necessarie to doe twoo thynges,
+firste to have this battaile full of countersignes, the other, to keepe
+alwaies this order, that those same men maie stand alwaies in the ranke,
+which thei were firste placed in: as for insample, if one have begon to
+stande in the seconde, that he stande after alwaie in that, and not
+onely in that self same rancke, but in that self same place: for the
+observyng whereof (as I have saied) bee necessarie many countersignes.
+In especially it is requisite, that the Ansigne bee after soche sorte
+countersigned, that companyng with the other battailes, it maie be
+knowen from theim, accordyng as the Conestable, and the Centurions have
+plumes of fethers in their heddes differente, and easie to be knowen,
+and that whiche importeth moste, is to ordaine that the peticapitaines
+bee knowen. Whereunto the antiquitie had so moche care, that thei would
+have nothing els written in their hedde peces, but the nomber that thei
+were named by, callyng them firste, seconde, thirde, and fourthe xc. And
+yet thei were not contented with this, but made every souldiour to have
+written in his Targaet, the nomber of the ranke, and the nomber of the
+place, in whiche ranke he was appoineted. Then the menne being
+countersigned thus, and used to stande betwene these limites, it is an
+easie thyng, thei beyng disordered, to sett theim all againe quickly
+into order: considering, that the Ansigne standyng still, the
+Centurions, and the Peticapitaines maie gesse their places by the iye,
+and beyng brought the left of the left, the right of the right, with
+their accustomed distance, the souldiours led by their rule, and by the
+differences of the cognisances, maie be quickly in their proper places,
+no otherwise, then as if the boordes of a tunne should bee taken a
+sunder, whiche beyng first marked, moste easely maie bee set together
+again, where thesame beyng not countersigned, were impossible to bryng
+into order any more. These thynges, with diligence and with exercise,
+are quickely taught, and quickly learned, and beyng learned, with
+difficultie are forgotten: for that the newe menne, be led of the olde,
+and with tyme, a Province with these exercises, may become throughly
+practised in the war. It is also necessarie to teache theim, to tourne
+theim selves all at ones, and when neede requires, to make of the
+flankes, and of the backe, the fronte, and of the front, flankes, or
+backe, whiche is moste easie: bicause it suffiseth that every manne doe
+tourne his bodie, towardes thesame parte that he is commaunded, and
+where thei tourne their faces, there the fronte commeth to bee. True it
+is, that when thei tourne to any of the flanckes, the orders tourne out
+of their proporcion: for that from the breast to the backe, there is
+little difference, and from the one flancke to the other, there is verie
+moche distance, the whiche is al contrarie to the ordinarie order of the
+battaile: therefore it is convenient, that practise, and discrecion, doe
+place them as thei ought to be: but this is small disorder, for that
+moste easely by themselves, thei maie remedie it. But that whiche
+importeth more, and where is requisite more practise, is when a battaile
+would tourne all at ones, as though it were a whole bodie, here is meete
+to have greate practise, and greate discrecion: bicause mindyng to
+tourne, as for insample on the left hande, the left corner must stande
+still, and those that be next to hym that standeth still, muste marche
+so softly, that thei that bee in the right corner, nede not to runne:
+otherwise all thing should be confounded. But bicause it happeneth
+alwaies, when an armie marcheth from place to place, that the battailes,
+whiche are not placed in the front, shall be driven to faight not by
+hedde, but either by flancke, or by backe, so that a battaile muste in a
+sodaine make of flancke, or of backe, hedde: and mindyng that like
+battailes in soche cace, maie have their proporcion, as above is
+declared, it is necessarie, that thei have the Pikes on thesame flancke,
+that ought to be hedde, and the Peticapitaines, Centurions, and
+Conestables, to resorte accordyngly to their places. Therefore to mynde
+to dooe this, in plasyng them together, you must ordeine the fower skore
+rankes, of five in a ranke, thus: Set all the Pikes in the first twentie
+rankes, and place the Peticapitaines thereof, five in the first places,
+and five in the last: the other three score rankes, whiche come after,
+bee all of Targaettes, whiche come to bee three Centuries. Therefore,
+the first and the laste ranke of every Centurion, would be
+Peticapitaines, the Conestable with the Ansigne, and with the Drumme,
+muste stande in the middest of the first Centurie of Targaettes, and the
+Centurions in the hed of every Centurie. The bande thus ordained, when
+you would have the Pikes to come on the left flancke, you must redouble
+Centurie by Centurie, on the right flancke: if you would have them to
+come on the right flancke, you must redouble theim on the lefte. And so
+this battaile tourneth with the Pikes upon a flancke, and the Conestable
+in the middeste: the whiche facion it hath marchyng: but the enemie
+commyng, and the tyme that it would make of flancke hedde, it nedeth not
+but to make every man to tourne his face, towardes thesame flancke,
+where the Pikes be, and then the battaile tourneth with the rankes, and
+with the heddes in thesame maner, as is aforesaied: for that every man
+is in his place, excepte the Centurions, and the Centurions straight
+waie, and without difficultie, place themselves: But when thei in
+marchyng, should bee driven to faight on the backe, it is convenient to
+ordein the rankes after soch sorte, that settyng theim in battaile, the
+Pikes maie come behinde, and to doe this, there is to bee kepte no other
+order, then where in orderyng the battaile, by the ordinarie, every
+Centurie hath five rankes of Pikes before, to cause that thei maie have
+them behind, and in all the other partes to observe thorder, whiche I
+declared firste.
+
+COSIMO. You have tolde (if I dooe well remember me) that this maner of
+exercise, is to bee able to bryng these battailes together into an
+armie, and that this practise, serveth to be able to order theim selves
+in the same: But if it should happen, that these CCCCL. men, should have
+to doe an acte seperate, how would you order them?
+
+[Sidenote: How a battaile is made with twoo hornes; The orderyng of a
+battaile with a voide space in the middeste.]
+
+FABRICIO. He that leadeth them, ought then to judge, where he will place
+the Pikes, and there to put them, the whiche doeth not repugne in any
+part to the order above written: for that also, though thesame bee the
+maner, that is observed to faighte a fielde, together with thother
+battailes, notwithstandyng it is a rule, whiche serveth to all those
+waies, wherein a band of menne should happen to have to doe: but in
+shewyng you the other twoo waies of me propounded, of ordering the
+battailes, I shal also satisfie you more to your question: for that
+either thei are never used, or thei are used when a battaile is a lone,
+and not in companie of other, and to come to the waie of ordering them,
+with twoo hornes, I saie, that thou oughteste to order the lxxx. rankes,
+five to a ranke, in this maner. Place in the middest, one Centurion, and
+after hym xxv. rankes, whiche muste bee with twoo Pikes on the lefte
+hande, and with three Targaettes on the right, and after the first five,
+there must be put in the twentie folowyng, twentie Peticapitaines, all
+betwene the pikes, and the Targaettes, excepte those whiche beare the
+Pike, whom maie stand with the Pikes: after these xxv. rankes thus
+ordered, there is to be placed an other Centurion, and behinde hym
+fiftene rankes of Targaettes: after these, the Conestable betwene the
+Drum and the Ansigne, who also must have after him, other fiftene rankes
+of Targaettes: after this, the thirde Centurion must be placed, and
+behinde hym, xxv. rankes, in every one of whiche, ought to bee three
+Targaettes on the lefte flancke, and twoo Pikes on the right, and after
+the five first rankes, there must be xx. Peticapitaines placed betwene
+the Pikes, and the Targaettes: after these rankes, the fowerth Centurion
+must folowe. Intendying therefore, of these rankes thus ordered, to make
+a battaile with twoo hornes, the first Centurion must stand still, with
+the xxv. rankes, whiche be behinde him, after the second Centurion muste
+move, with the fiftene rankes of Targaettes, that bee behinde hym, and
+to tourne on the right hande, and up by the right flancke of the xxv.
+rankes, to go so farre, that he arrive to the xv. ranke, and there to
+stande still: after, the Conestable muste move, with the fiftene rankes
+of Targaettes, whiche be behinde hym, and tournyng likewise on the right
+hande, up by the right flancke of the fiftene rankes, that wer firste
+moved, muste marche so farre, that he come to their heddes, and there to
+stand stil: after, the thirde Centurion muste move with the xxv. rankes,
+and with the fowerth Centurion, whiche was behinde, and turnyng up
+straight, must go a long by the right flanck of the fiftene last rankes
+of the Targaettes, and not to stande still when he is at the heddes of
+them, but to followe marchyng so farre, that the laste ranke of the xxv.
+maie come to be even with the rankes behinde. And this dooen, the
+Centurion, whiche was hedde of the firste fiftene rankes of Targaettes,
+must go awaie from thens where he stoode, and go to the backe in the
+lefte corner: and thus a battaile shall be made of xxv. rankes, after
+twentie men to a rank, with two hornes, upon every side of the front,
+one horn, and every one, shall have ten rankes, five to a ranke, and
+there shall remain a space betwene the twoo hornes, as moche as
+containeth ten men, whiche tourne their sides, the one to thother.
+Betwene the two hornes, the capitain shall stande, and on every poinct
+of a horne, a Centurion: There shall bee also behinde, on every corner,
+a Centurion: there shal be twoo rankes of Pikes, and xx. Peticapitaines
+on every flancke. These twoo hornes, serve to kepe betwene theim the
+artillerie, when this battaile should have any withit, and the cariages:
+The Veliti muste stande a long the flankes, under the Pikes. But mindyng
+to bring this horned battaile, with a voide space in the middeste, there
+ought no other to bee doen, then of fiftene rankes, of twentie to a
+ranke, to take eight rankes, and to place them on the poinctes of the
+twoo hornes, whiche then of hornes, become backe of the voide space, in
+this place, the cariages are kept, the capitain standeth, and the
+Ansigne, but never the Artillerie, the whiche is placed either in the
+front, or a long the flankes. These be the waies, that a battaile maie
+use when it is constrained to passe alone through suspected places:
+notwithstandyng, the massive battaile without hornes, and without any
+soche voide place is better, yet purposyng to assure the disarmed, the
+same horned battaile is necessarie. The Suizzers make also many facions
+of battailes, emong which, thei make one like unto a crosse: bicause in
+the spaces that is betwen the armes therof, thei kepe safe their
+Harkebuters from the daunger of the enemies: but bicause soche battailes
+be good to faight by theim selves, and my intente is to shew, how many
+battailes united, do faight with thenemie, I wil not labour further in
+describing them.
+
+COSIMO. My thinkes I have verie well comprehended the waie, that ought
+to be kept to exercise the men in these battailes: But (if I remember me
+well) you have saied, how that besides the tenne battailes, you joyne to
+the maine battaile, a thousande extraordinarie Pikes, and five hundred
+extraordinarie Veliti: will you not appoincte these to be exercised?
+
+[Sidenote: To what purpose the Pikes and Velite extraordinarie must
+serve.]
+
+FABRICIO. I would have theim to bee exercised, and that with moste great
+diligence: and the Pikes I would exercise, at leaste Ansigne after
+Ansigne, in the orders of the battailes, as the other: For as moche as
+these should doe me more servise, then the ordinarie battailes, in all
+particulare affaires: as to make guides, to get booties, and to doe like
+thynges: but the Veliti, I would exercise at home, without bringing them
+together, for that their office being to faight a sonder, it is not
+mete, that thei should companie with other, in the common exercises: for
+that it shall suffice, to exercise them well in the particular
+exercises. Thei ought then (as I firste tolde you, nor now me thynkes no
+labour to rehearse it againe) to cause their men to exercise them selves
+in these battailes, whereby thei maie knowe how to kepe the raie, to
+knowe their places, to tourne quickly, when either enemie, or situacion
+troubleth them: for that, when thei knowe how to do this, the place is
+after easely learned, which a battaile hath to kepe, and what is the
+office thereof in the armie: and when a Prince, or a common weale, will
+take the paine, and will use their diligence in these orders, and in
+these exercisyng, it shall alwaies happen, that in their countrie, there
+shall bee good souldiours, and thei to be superiours to their
+neighbours, and shalbe those, whiche shall give, and not receive the
+lawes of other men: but (as I have saied) the disorder wherein thei
+live, maketh that thei neclecte, and doe not esteme these thynges, and
+therefore our armies be not good: and yet though there were either hed,
+or member naturally vertuous, thei cannot shewe it.
+
+COSIMO. What carriages would you, that every one of these battailes
+should have?
+
+[Sidenote: Neither Centurion nor Peticapitaine, ought not to ride; What
+carriages the Capitaines ought to have, and the nomber of carrages
+requisite to every bande of menne.]
+
+FABRICIO. Firste, I would that neither Centurion, nor Peticapitain,
+should be suffered to ride: and if the Conestable would nedes ride, I
+would that he should have a Mule, and not a horse: I would allowe hym
+twoo carriages, and one to every Centurion, and twoo to every three
+Peticapitaines, for that so many wee lodge in a lodgyng, as in the place
+therof we shall tell you: So that every battaile will come to have
+xxxvi. carriages, the whiche I would should carrie of necessitie the
+tentes, the vesselles to seeth meate, axes, barres of Iron, sufficient
+to make the lodgynges, and then if thei can carry any other thyng, thei
+maie dooe it at their pleasure.
+
+COSIMO. I beleve that the heddes of you, ordeined in every one of these
+battailes, be necessarie: albeit, I would doubt, lest that so many
+commaunders, should confounde all.
+
+[Sidenote: Without many capitaines, an armie cannot be governed; To what
+purpose Ansignes ought to serve; For what purpose Drummes oughte to bee
+used; The propertie that soundes of instrumentes have in mens myndes.]
+
+FABRICIO. That should bee, when it were not referred to one man, but
+referryng it, thei cause order, ye and without theim, it is impossible
+to governe an armie: for that a wall, whiche on every parte enclineth,
+requireth rather to have many proppes, and thicke, although not so
+strong, then fewe, though thei were strong: bicause the vertue of one a
+lone, doeth not remedie the ruine a farre of. And therefore in tharmies,
+and emong every ten men, it is convenient that there bee one, of more
+life, of more harte, or at leaste wise of more aucthoritie, who with
+stomacke, with wordes, and with example, maie kepe them constante, and
+disposed to faight, and these thynges of me declared, bee necessarie in
+an armie, as the Heddes, the Ansignes, and the Drummes, is seen that wee
+have theim all in our armies, but none doeth his office. First to mynde
+that the Peticapitaines doe thesame, for whiche thei are ordeined, it is
+necessarie (as I have said) that there bee a difference, betwene every
+one of them and their men, and that thei lodge together, doyng their
+duties, standyng in thorder with them: for that thei placed in their
+places, bee a rule and a temperaunce, to maintaine the raies straight
+and steddie, and it is impossible that thei disorder, or disorderyng,
+dooe not reduce themselves quickly into their places. But we now adaies,
+doe not use them to other purpose, then to give theim more wages, then
+to other menne, and to cause that thei dooe some particulare feate: The
+very same happeneth of the Ansigne bearers, for that thei are kept
+rather to make a faire muster, then for any other warlike use: but the
+antiquitie used theim for guides, and to bryng theim selves againe into
+order: for that every man, so sone as the Ansigne stoode still, knewe
+the place, that he kept nere to his Ansigne, wherunto he retourned
+alwaies: thei knewe also, how that the same movyng, or standyng, thei
+should staie, or move: therfore it is necessarie in an armie, that there
+be many bodies, and every bande of menne to have his Ansigne, and his
+guide: wherfore havyng this, it is mete that thei have stomackes inough,
+and by consequence life enough. Then the menne ought to marche,
+accordyng to the Ansigne: and the Ansigne to move, accordyng to the
+Drumme, the whiche Drumme well ordered, commaundeth to the armie, the
+whiche goyng with paces, that answereth the tyme of thesame, will come
+to kepe easilie thorders: for whiche cause the antiquitie had Shalmes,
+Flutes, and soundes perfectly tymed: For as moche as like as he that
+daunseth, proceadeth with the tyme of the Musick, and goyng with thesame
+doeth not erre, even so an armie obeiyng, in movyng it self to thesame
+sounde, doeth not disorder: and therefore, thei varied the sounde,
+accordyng as thei would varie the mocion, and accordyng as thei would
+inflame, or quiete, or staie the mindes of men: and like as the soundes
+were divers, so diversly thei named them: the sounde Dorico, ingendered
+constancie, the sounde Frigio, furie: whereby thei saie, that Alexander
+beyng at the Table, and one soundyng the sounde Frigio, it kendled so
+moche his minde, that he laied hande on his weapons. All these maners
+should be necessarie to finde again: and when this should bee
+difficulte, at least there would not be left behind those that teache
+the Souldiour to obeie, the whiche every man maie varie, and ordeine
+after his owne facion, so that with practise, he accustome the eares of
+his souldiours to knowe it: But now adaies of this sounde, there is no
+other fruicte taken for the moste part, then to make a rumour.
+
+COSIMO. I would desire to understande of you, if ever with your self you
+have discourced, whereof groweth so moche vilenesse, and so moche
+disorder, and so moche necligence in these daies of this exercise?
+
+[Sidenote: A notable discourse of the aucthour, declaryng whereof
+groweth so moche vilenes disorder and necligence in these daies,
+concernyng the exercises of warre.]
+
+FABRICIO. With a good will I will tell you thesame, that I thinke. You
+knowe how that of the excellente men of warre, there hath been named
+many in Europe, fewe in Affric, and lesse in Asia: this grewe, for that
+these twoo laste partes of the worlde, have had not paste one kyngdome,
+or twoo, and fewe common weales, but Europe onely, hath had many
+kyngdomes, and infinite common weales, where menne became excellent, and
+did shewe their vertue, accordyng as thei were sette a woorke, and
+brought before their Prince, or common weale, or king that he be: it
+followeth therefore, that where be many dominions, there rise many
+valiaunt menne, and where be fewe, fewe. In Asia is founde Ninus, Cirus,
+Artasercses, Mithridates: and verie fewe other, that to these maie be
+compared. In Africk, is named (lettyng stande thesame auncient Egipt)
+Massinissa, Jugurta, and those Capitaines, whiche of the Carthaginens
+common weale were nourished, whom also in respecte to those of Europe,
+are moste fewe: bicause in Europe, be excellente men without nomber, and
+so many more should be, if together with those should bee named the
+other, that be through the malignitie of time extincte: for that the
+worlde hath been moste vertuous, where hath been moste states, whiche
+have favoured vertue of necessitie, or for other humaine passion. There
+rose therfore in Asia, fewe excellente menne: bicause thesame Province,
+was all under one kyngdome, in the whiche for the greatnesse thereof,
+thesame standing for the moste parte of tyme idell, there could not
+growe men in doynges excellent. To Africke there happened the verie
+same, yet there were nourished more then in Asia, by reason of the
+Carthaginens common weale: for that in common weales, there growe more
+excellent men, then in kingdomes, bicause in common weales for the most
+part, vertue is honoured, in Kyngdomes it is helde backe: wherby
+groweth, that in thone, vertuous men are nourished, in the other thei
+are extincte. Therefore he that shall consider the partes of Europe,
+shall finde it to have been full of common weales, and of princedomes,
+the whiche for feare, that the one had of the other, thei wer
+constrained to kepe lively the warlike orders, and to honor them, whiche
+in those moste prevailed: for that in Grece, besides the kyngdome of the
+Macedonians, there were many common weales, and in every one of theim,
+were bred moste excellente men. In Italie, were the Romaines, the
+Sannites, the Toscanes, the Gallie Cisalpini. Fraunce, and Almainie, wer
+ful of common weales and princedomes. Spaine likewise: and although in
+comparison of the Romaines, there are named fewe other, it groweth
+through the malignitie of the writers, whom folowe fortune, and to theim
+for the moste parte it suffised, to honour the conquerours: but it
+standeth not with reason, that betwene the Sannites, and the Toscanes,
+whom fought CL. yeres with the Romaine people, before thei wer overcome,
+there should not growe exceadyng many excellente menne. And so likewise
+in Fraunce, and in Spaine: but that vertue, whiche the writers did not
+celebrate in particuler menne, thei celebrated generally in the people,
+where thei exalte to the starres, the obstinatenesse that was in them,
+to defende their libertie. Beyng then true, that where bee moste
+dominions, there riseth moste valiaunt menne, it foloweth of necessitie,
+that extinguishyng those, vertue is extincte straighte waie, the
+occasion decaiyng, whiche maketh menne vertuous. Therefore, the Romaine
+Empire beyng after increased, and havyng extinguished all the common
+weales, and Princedomes of Europe, and of Afrike, and for the moste part
+those of Asia, it lefte not any waie to vertue, excepte Rome: whereby
+grewe, that vertuous menne began to be as fewe in Europe, as in Asia:
+the whiche vertue, came after to the laste caste: For as moche, as all
+the vertue beyng reduced to Roome, so sone as thesame was corrupted,
+almoste all the worlde came to bee corrupted: and the Scithian people,
+were able to come to spoile thesame Empire, the whiche had extinguished
+the vertue of other, and knewe not howe to maintaine their owne: and
+after, although through the inundacion of those barberous nacions,
+thesame Empire was devided into many partes, this vertue is not renued:
+
+[Sidenote: The causes why the aunciente orders are neclected.]
+
+The one cause is, for that it greveth theim moche, to take againe the
+orders when thei are marde, the other, bicause the maner of livyng now
+adaies, having respect to the Christian religion, commaundeth not
+thesame necessitie to menne, to defende themselves, whiche in olde tyme
+was: for that then, the menne overcome in warre, either were killed, or
+remained perpetuall slaves, where thei led their lives moste miserably:
+The tounes overcome, either were rased, or the inhabiters thereof driven
+out, their goodes taken awaie, sent dispersed through the worlde: so
+that the vanquished in warre, suffered all extreme miserie: of this
+feare, men beyng made afraied, thei wer driven to kepe lively the
+warlike exercises, and thei honoured soche as were excellente in theim:
+But nowe adaies, this feare for the moste part is not regarded: of those
+that are overcom, fewe bee killed, none is kepte longe in prison: for
+that with facelitie, thei are sette at libertie: the citees also, whiche
+a thousande tymes have rebelled, are not destroied, the men wherof, are
+let a lone with their goodes, so that the greateste hurte that is
+feared, is but a taske: in so moche, that men will not submit them
+selves to the orders of warre, and to abide alwaies under those, to
+avoide the perilles whereof thei are little afraied: again these
+Provinces of Europe, be under a verie fewe heddes, in respecte as it
+hath been in times past: for that al Fraunce, obeieth one kyng, al
+Spain, an other: Italie is in fewe partes, so that the weake citees, are
+defended with leanyng to hym that overcometh, and the strong states, for
+the causes aforesaied, feare no soche extreme ruine.
+
+COSIMO. Yet ther hath ben seen many tounes that have ben sacked within
+this xxv. yeres, and lost their dominions, whose insample, ought to
+teache other how to live, and to take again some of those old orders.
+
+FABRICIO. You saie true: but if you note what tounes have gone to sacke,
+you shall not finde that thei have been the heddes of states, but of the
+members; as was seen sacked Tortona, and not Milaine: Capua, and not
+Napelles, Brescia, and not Venice, Ravenna, and not Roome: the whiche
+insamples maketh those that governe, not to chaunge their purposes, but
+rather maketh them to stande more in their opinion, to be able to redeme
+again all thynges with taskes, and for this, thei will not submit theim
+selves to the troubles of thexercises of warre, semyng unto them partly
+not necessarie, partly, an intrinsicate matter, whiche thei understande
+not: Those other, whiche bee subjectes to them, whom soche insamples
+ought to make afraied, have no power to remedie it: and those Princes,
+that have ones loste their estates, are no more able, and those which as
+yet kept them, know not, nor wil not. Bicause thei will without any
+disease rain by fortune, and not by their vertue: for that in the worlde
+beyng but little vertue, thei see fortune governeth all thynges. And
+thei will have it to rule theim, not thei to rule it. And to prove this
+that I have discoursed to bee true, consider Almaine, in the whiche,
+bicause there is many Princedomes, and common weales, there is moche
+vertue, and all thesame, whiche in the present service of warre is good,
+dependeth of the insamples of those people: who beyng all gellious of
+their states, fearing servitude, the which in other places is not
+feared, thei all maintaine theim selves Lordes, and honourable: this
+that I have saied, shall suffice to shewe the occacions of the presente
+utilitie, accordyng to my opinion: I cannot tell, whether it seeme
+thesame unto you, or whether there be growen in you any doubtyng.
+
+COSIMO. None, but rather I understande all verie well: onely I desire,
+tournyng to our principall matter, to understande of you, how you would
+ordein the horses with these battailes, and how many, and how thei
+should be governed, and how armed.
+
+[Sidenote: The armyng of horsemen; The weapons that light horsmenne
+should have; The nombre of horsmen requisite for a maine bataille of six
+thousand men; The nombre of carrages that men of armes and light horsmen
+ought to have.]
+
+FABRICIO. You thinke peraventure, that I have left it behinde: whereat
+doe not marvell, for that I purpose for twoo causes, to speake therof
+little, the one is, for that the strengthe, and the importaunce of an
+armie, is the footemen, the other is, bicause this part of service of
+warre, is lesse corrupted, then thesame of footemen. For that though it
+be not stronger then the old, yet it maie compare with thesame,
+nevertheles ther hath been spoken a little afore, of the maner of
+exercisyng them. And concernyng tharmyng them, I would arme them as thei
+doe at this present, as wel the light horsemen, as the menne of armes:
+but the light horsemen, I would that thei should be all Crossebowe
+shuters, with some Harkebutters emong them: the whiche though in the
+other affaires of warre, thei bee little profitable, thei be for this
+most profitable, to make afraied the countrie menne, and to drive them
+from a passage, that were kept of them: bicause a Harkebutter, shall
+feare them more, then twentie other armed. But commyng to the nomber, I
+saie, that having taken in hand, to imitate the service of warre of the
+Romaines, I would not ordein more then three hundred horse, profitable
+for every maine battaile, of whiche I would that there were CL. men of
+armes, and CL. light horsmen, and I would give to every one of these
+partes, a hedde, making after emong them fiftene peticapitaines for a
+bande, givyng to every one of them a Trompet, and a standarde: I would
+that every ten menne of armes, should have five carriages, and every ten
+light horsemen twoo, the whiche as those of the footemen, should carrie
+the tentes, the vesselles, and the axes, and the stakes, and the rest of
+their other harneis. Nor beleve not but that it is disorder, where the
+menne of armes have to their service fower horse, bicause soche a thyng
+is a corrupt use: for that the men of armes in Almaine, are seen to bee
+with their horse alone, every twentie of theim, havyng onely a carte,
+that carrieth after them their necessary thynges. The Romaine horsemen,
+were likewise a lone: true it is, that the Triary lodged nere them,
+whiche wer bound to minister helpe unto theim, in the kepyng of their
+horses the whiche maie easely be imitated of us, as in the distributyng
+of the lodgynges, I shall shewe you. Thesame then that the Romaines did,
+and that whiche the Duchmen doe now a daies, we maie doe also, ye, not
+doyng it, we erre. These horses ordained and appoincted together with a
+main battaile, maie sometymes be put together, when the battailes bee
+assembled, and to cause that betwene theim bee made some sight of
+assault, the whiche should be more to make them acquainted together,
+then for any other necessitie. But now of this part, there hath been
+spoke sufficiently, wherefore let us facion the armie, to be able to
+come into the field against the enemie, and hope to winne it: whiche
+thyng is the ende, for whiche the exercise of warre is ordeined, and so
+moche studie therein bestowed.
+
+
+
+
+THE THIRDE BOOKE
+
+
+COSIMO. Seeing that we chaunge reasonyng, I will that the demaunder be
+chaunged: bicause I would not be thought presumptuous, the which I have
+alwaies blamed in other: therfore, I resigne the Dictatorship, and give
+this aucthoritie to hym that will have it, of these my other frendes.
+
+ZANOBI. We would be moste glad, that you should procede, but seyng that
+you will not, yet tell at leaste, whiche of us shall succede in your
+place.
+
+COSIMO. I will give this charge to signor Fabricio.
+
+FABRICIO. I am content to take it, and I will that we folowe the
+Venecian custome, that is, that the youngeste speake firste: bicause
+this beyng an exercise for yong men, I perswade my self, that yong
+menne, bee moste apt to reason thereof, as thei be moste readie to
+execute it.
+
+COSIMO. Then it falleth to you Luigi: and as I have pleasure of soche a
+successour, so you shal satisfie your self of soche a demaunder:
+therefore I praie you, let us tourne to the matter, and let us lese no
+more tyme.
+
+[Sidenote: The greateste disorder that is used now a daies in pitching
+of a fielde; The order how a Romain Legion was appoincted to faight; The
+maner that the Grekes used in their Falangi, when thei fought against
+their enemies; The order that the Suizzers use in their main battailes
+when thei faight; Howe to appoincte a main battaile with armour and
+weapons, and to order thesame after the Greke and Romain maner.]
+
+FABRICIO. I am certain, that to mynde to shewe wel, how an armie is
+prepared, to faight a fielde, it should be necessarie to declare, how
+the Grekes, and the Romaines ordeined the bandes of their armies:
+Notwithstandyng, you your selves, beeyng able to rede, and to consider
+these tnynges, by meanes of the auncient writers. I will passe over many
+particulars: and I will onely bryng in those thynges, whiche I thinke
+necessarie to imitate, mindyng at this tyme, to give to our exercise of
+warre, some parte of perfection: The whiche shall make, that in one
+instant, I shall shewe you, how an armie is prepared to the field, and
+how it doeth incounter in the verie faight, and how it maie be exercised
+in the fained. The greatest disorder, that thei make, whiche ordeine an
+armie to the fielde, is in giving them onely one fronte, and to binde
+them to one brunt, and to one fortune: the whiche groweth, of havyng
+loste the waie, that the antiquitie used to receive one bande within an
+other: bicause without this waie, thei can neither succour the formoste,
+nor defende them, nor succede in the faight in their steede: the whiche
+of the Romaines, was moste excellently well observed. Therefore,
+purposyng to shewe this waie, I saie, how that the Romaines devided into
+iii. partes every Legion, in Hastati, Prencipi, and Triarii, of which,
+the Hastati wer placed in the first front, or forward of the armie, with
+thorders thicke and sure, behinde whom wer the Prencipi, but placed with
+their orders more thinne: after these, thei set the Triarii, and with so
+moche thinnes of orders, that thei might, if nede wer, receive betwene
+them the Prencipi, and the Hastati. Thei had besides these, the
+Slingers, and Crosbowshoters, and the other lighte armed, the whiche
+stoode not in these orders, but thei placed them in the bed of tharmie,
+betwene the horses and the other bandes of footemen: therefore these
+light armed, began the faight, if thei overcame (whiche happened seldom
+times) thei folowed the victorie: if thei were repulced, thei retired by
+the flanckes of the armie, or by the spaces ordained for soche purposes,
+and thei brought them selves emong the unarmed: after the departure of
+whom, the Hastati incountered with the enemie, the whiche if thei saw
+themselves to be overcome, thei retired by a little and little, by the
+rarenesse of thorders betwene the Prencipi, and together with those,
+thei renued the faight if these also wer repulced, thei retired al in
+the rarenesse of the orders of the Triarii, and al together on a heape,
+began againe the faight: and then, if thei were overcome, there was no
+more remeady, bicause there remained no more waies to renue them again.
+The horses stoode on the corners of the armie, to the likenes of twoo
+winges to a bodie, and somewhiles thei fought with the enemies horses,
+an other while, thei rescued the fotmen, according as nede required.
+This waie of renuyng theim selves three tymes, is almoste impossible to
+overcome: for that, fortune muste three tymes forsake thee, and the
+enemie to have so moche strengthe, that three tymes he maie overcome
+thee. The Grekes, had not in their Falangi, this maner of renuyng them
+selves, and although in those wer many heddes, and many orders,
+notwithstandyng, thei made one bodie, or els one hedde: the maner that
+thei kepte in rescuyng the one the other was, not to retire the one
+order within the other, as the Romaines, but to enter the one manne into
+the place of the other: the which thei did in this maner. Their Falange
+brought into rankes, and admit, that thei put in a ranke fiftie menne,
+commyng after with their hedde againste the enemie, of all the rankes
+the foremoste sixe, mighte faight: Bicause their Launces, the whiche
+thei called Sarisse, were so long, that the sixt ranke, passed with the
+hedde of their Launces, out of the first ranke: then in faightyng, if
+any of the first, either through death, or through woundes fell,
+straight waie there entered into his place, thesame man, that was
+behinde in the second ranke, and in the place that remained voide of the
+seconde, thesame man entred, whiche was behind hym in the thirde, and
+thus successively, in a sodaine the rankes behinde, restored the faultes
+of those afore, so that the rankes alwaies remained whole, and no place
+of the faighters was voide, except the laste rankes, the whiche came to
+consume, havyng not menne behinde their backes, whom might restore
+theim: So that the hurte that the first rankes suffered, consumed the
+laste, and the firste remained alwaies whole: and thus these Falangi by
+their order, might soner be consumed, then broken, for that the grosse
+bodie, made it more immovable. The Romaines used at the beginnyng the
+Falangi, and did set in order their Legions like unto them: after, this
+order pleased them not, and thei devided the Legions into many bodies,
+that is, in bandes and companies: Bicause thei judged (as a little afore
+I saied) that thesame bodie, should have neede of many capitaines, and
+that it should be made of sunderie partes, so that every one by it self,
+might be governed. The maine battailes of the Suizzers, use at this
+present, all the maners of the Falangi, as well in ordryng it grosse,
+and whole, as in rescuyng the one the other: and in pitchyng the field,
+thei set the main battailes, thone to the sides of the other: and though
+thei set them the one behinde the other, thei have no waie, that the
+firste retiryng it self, maie bee received of the seconde, but thei use
+this order, to the entent to bee able to succour the one thother, where
+thei put a maine battaile before, and an other behinde thesame on the
+right hande: so that if the first have nede of helpe, that then the
+other maie make forewarde, and succour it: the third main battaile, thei
+put behind these, but distant from them, a Harkebus shot: this thei doe,
+for that thesaid two main battailes being repulced, this maie make
+forwarde, and have space for theim selves, and for the repulced, and
+thesame that marcheth forward, to avoide the justling of the one the
+other: for asmoche as a grosse multitude, cannot bee received as a
+little bodie: and therefore, the little bodies beyng destincte, whiche
+were in a Romaine Legion, might be placed in soche wise, that thei might
+receive betwene theim, and rescue the one the other. And to prove this
+order of the Suizzers not to be so good, as the auncient Romaines, many
+insamples of the Romain Legions doe declare, when thei fought with the
+Grekes Falangi, where alwaies thei were consumed of theim: for that the
+kinde of their weapons (as I have said afore) and this waie of renuyng
+themselves, could do more, then the massivenesse of the Falangi. Havyng
+therefore, with these insamples to ordaine an armie, I have thought
+good, partly to retaine the maner of armyng and the orders of the Grekes
+Falangi, and partely of the Romain Legions: and therfore I have saied,
+that I would have in a main battaile, twoo thousande pikes, whiche be
+the weapons of the Macedonicall Falangi, and three thousande Targaettes
+with sweardes, whiche be the Romain weapons: I have devided the main
+battaile, into x. battailes, as the Romaines their Legion into ten
+Cohortes: I have ordeined the Veliti, that is the light armed, to begin
+the faight, as the Romaines used: and like as the weapons beyng mingled,
+doe participate of thone and of the other nacion, so the orders also doe
+participate: I have ordained, that every battaile shall have v. rankes
+of Pikes in the fronte, and the rest of Targaettes, to bee able with the
+front, to withstande the horses, and to enter easely into the battaile
+of the enemies on foot, having in the firste fronte, or vawarde, Pikes,
+as well as the enemie, the whiche shall suffice me to withstande them,
+the Targaettes after to overcome theim. And if you note the vertue of
+this order, you shal se al these weapons, to doe fully their office, for
+that the Pikes, bee profitable against the horses, and when thei come
+against the footemenne, thei dooe their office well, before the faight
+throng together, bicause so sone as thei presse together, thei become
+unprofitable: wherefore, the Suizzers to avoide this inconvenience, put
+after everye three rankes of Pikes, a ranke of Halberdes, the whiche
+they do to make roome to the Pikes, which is not yet so much as
+suffiseth. Then putting our Pikes afore, and the Targaettes behinde,
+they come to withstande the horses, and in the beginning of the fight,
+they open the rayes, and molest the footemen: But when the fight is
+thrust together, and that they become unprofitable, the Targaettes and
+swoords succeede, which may in every narowe place be handled.
+
+LUIGI. Wee looke nowe with desire to understande, howe you would ordeyne
+the armie to fighte the fielde, with these weapons, and with these
+order.
+
+[Sidenote: The nomber of men that was in a Counsulles armie; How the
+Romaines placed their Legions in the field; How to order an armie in the
+fielde to fighte a battaile, according to the minde of the authour; How
+the extraordinary pikes bee placed in the set battaile; The place where
+thextraordinarie archars and harkebutters, and the men of armes and
+lighte horsmen ought to stande when the field is pitched, and goeth to
+faighte the battaile; The ordinarie archars and harkebutters are placed
+aboute their owne battailes; The place where the generall hedde of a
+maine battaile muste stande, when thesame power of men is appoincted to
+faight; What menne a general capitain of a maine battaile oughte to have
+aboute hym; The place wher a general capitain of all thearmie must stand
+when the battaile is ready to be fought and what nomber of chosen men
+oughte to be aboute hym; How many canons is requisite for an armie, and
+of what sise they ought to bee; Where the artillerie ought to be placed
+when thearmie is reedie to fight; An armie that were ordered as above is
+declared, maie in fighting, use the Grekes maner, and the Roman fashion;
+To what purpose the spaces that be betwene every bande of men do serve.]
+
+FABRICIO. And I will not nowe shewe you other, then this: you have to
+understande, how that in an ordinarye Romane armie, which they call a
+Consull armie, there were no more, then twoo Legions of Romane Citezens
+which were sixe hundred horse, and about aleven thousande footemen: they
+had besides as many more footemen and horsemen, whiche were sente them
+from their friends and confiderates, whome they divided into twoo
+partes, and called the one, the right horne and the other the left
+horne: nor they never permitted, that these aiding footemen, should
+passe the nomber of the footemen of their Legions, they were well
+contented, that the nomber of those horse shoulde be more then theirs:
+with this armie, which was of xxii. thousand footemen, and about twoo
+thousande good horse, a Consul executed all affaires, and went to all
+enterprises: yet when it was needefull to set against a greater force,
+twoo Consulles joyned together with twoo armies. You ought also to note
+in especially, that in all the three principall actes, which an armie
+doth that is, to march, to incampe, and to fight, the Romanes used to
+put their Legions in the middeste, for that they woulde, that the same
+power, wherein they most trusted, shoulde bee moste united, as in the
+reasoning of these three actes, shall be shewed you: those aiding
+footemen, through the practise they had with the Legion Souldiours, were
+as profitable as they, because they were instructed, according as the
+souldiours of the Legions were, and therefore, in like maner in pitching
+the field, they pitched. Then he that knoweth how the Romaines disposed
+a Legion in their armie, to fight a field, knoweth how they disposed
+all: therefor, having tolde you how they devided a Legion into three
+bandes, and how the one bande received the other, I have then told you,
+how al tharmie in a fielde, was ordained. Wherefore, I minding to ordain
+a field like unto the Romaines, as they had twoo Legions, I will take
+ii. main batailes, and these being disposed, the disposicion of all an
+armie shalbe understode therby: bycause in joyning more men, there is no
+other to be doen, then to ingrosse the orders: I thinke I neede not to
+rehearse how many men a maine battaile hath, and howe it hath ten
+battailes, and what heades bee in a battaile and what weapons they have,
+and which be the ordinarie Pikes and Veliti, and which the
+extraordinarie for that a litle a fore I told you it destinctly, and I
+willed you to kepe it in memorie as a necessarie thing to purpose, to
+understande all the other orders: and therfore I will come to the
+demonstracion of the order without repeating it any more: Me thinkes
+good, that the ten battailes of one main battaile be set on the left
+flanke, and the tenne other, of the other main battaile, on the right:
+these that are placed on the left flanke, be ordeined in this maner,
+there is put five battailes the one to the side of the other in the
+fronte, after suche sorte, that betweene the one and the other, there
+remaine a space of three yardes, whiche come to occupie for largenesse
+Cvi. yardes, of ground, and for length thirtie: behinde these five
+battailes, I would put three other distante by right line from the
+firste thirtie yardes: twoo of the whiche, should come behinde by right
+line, to the uttermoste of the five, and the other should kepe the space
+in the middeste, and so these three, shall come to occupie for bredth
+and length, as moche space, as the five doeth. But where the five have
+betwene the one, and the other, a distaunce of three yardes, these shall
+have a distance of xxv. yardes. After these, I would place the twoo last
+battailes, in like maner behinde the three by right line, and distaunte
+from those three, thirtie yardes, and I would place eche of theim,
+behinde the uttermoste part of the three, so that the space, whiche
+should remain betwen the one and the other, should be lxviii. yardes:
+then al these battailes thus ordered, will take in bredth Cvi. yardes,
+and in length CL. Thextraordinarie Pikes, I would deffende a long the
+flanckes of these battailes, on the left side, distante from them
+fiftene yardes, makyng Cxliij. rankes, seven to a ranke, after soche
+sorte, that thei maie impale with their length, all the left sixe of the
+tenne battailes in thesame wise, declared of me to be ordained: and
+there shall remain fourtie rankes to keepe the carriages, and the
+unarmed, whiche ought to remaine in the taile of the armie, distributyng
+the Peticapitaines, and the Centurions, in their places: and of the
+three Conestables, I would place one in the hedde, the other in the
+middeste, the third in the laste ranke, the whiche should execute the
+office of a Tergiductore, whom the antiquitie so called hym, that was
+appoincted to the backe of the armie. But retournyng to the hedde of the
+armie, I saie how that I would place nere to the extraordinarie pikes,
+the Veliti extraordinarie, whiche you knowe to be five hundred, and I
+would give them a space of xxx. yardes: on the side of these likewise on
+the left hande, I would place the menne of armes, and I would thei
+should have a space of a Cxii. yardes: after these, the light horsemen,
+to whom I would appoinct as moche ground to stande in, as the menne of
+armes have: the ordinarie veliti, I would leave about their owne
+battailes, who should stand in those spaces, whiche I appoincte betwene
+thone battaile and thother: whom should be as their ministers, if
+sometyme I thought not good to place them under the extraordinarie
+Pikes: in dooyng or not doyng whereof, I would proceade, accordyng as
+should tourne best to my purpose. The generall hedde of all the maine
+battaile, I would place in thesame space, that were betwene the first
+and the seconde order of the battailes, or els in the hedde, and in
+thesame space, that is betwene the laste battaile of the firste five,
+and the extraordinarie Pikes, accordyng as beste should serve my
+purpose, with thirtie or fourtie chosen men about hym, that knewe by
+prudence, how to execute a commission, and by force, to withstande a
+violence, and thei to be also betwen the Drumme and the Ansigne: this is
+thorder, with the whiche I would dispose a maine battaile, whiche should
+bee the disposyng of halfe the armie, and it should take in breadth
+three hundred fourscore and twoo yardes, and in length as moche as above
+is saied, not accomptyng the space, that thesame parte of the
+extraordinarie Pikes will take, whiche muste make a defence for the
+unarmed, whiche will bee aboute lxxv. yardes: the other maine battaile,
+I would dispose on the righte side, after the same maner juste, as I
+have disposed that on the lefte, leavyng betwene the one main battaile,
+and thother, a space of xxii. yardes: in the hedde of whiche space, I
+would set some little carriages of artillerie, behynde the whiche,
+should stande the generall capitaine of all the armie, and should have
+about hym with the Trumpet, and with the Capitaine standerde, twoo
+hundred menne at least, chosen to be on foote the moste parte, emongest
+whiche there should be tenne or more, mete to execute all
+commaundementes, and should bee in soche wise a horsebacke, and armed,
+that thei mighte bee on horsebacke, and on foote, accordyng as neede
+should require. The artillerie of the armie, suffiseth ten Cannons, for
+the winning of Townes, whose shotte shoulde not passe fiftie pounde: the
+whiche in the fielde should serve mee more for defence of the campe,
+then for to fight the battaile: The other artillerie, should bee rather
+of ten, then of fifteene pounde the shotte: this I would place afore on
+the front of all the armie, if sometime the countrie should not stande
+in such wise, that I mighte place it by the flancke in a sure place,
+where it mighte not of the enemie be in daunger: this fashion of an
+armie thus ordered, may in fighting, use the order of the Falangi, and
+the order of the Romane Legions: for that in the fronte, bee Pikes, all
+the men bee set in the rankes, after such sorte, that incountering with
+the enemie, and withstanding him, maye after the use of the Falangi,
+restore the firste ranckes, with those behinde: on the other parte, if
+they be charged so sore, that they be constrayned to breake the orders,
+and to retire themselves, they maye enter into the voide places of the
+seconde battailes, which they have behinde them, and unite their selves
+with them, and making a new force, withstande the enemie, and overcome
+him: and when this sufficeth not, they may in the verie same maner,
+retire them selves the seconde time, and the third fight: so that in
+this order, concerning to fight, there is to renue them selves, both
+according to the Greeke maner, and according to the Romane: concerning
+the strength of the armie, there cannot be ordayned a more stronger: for
+as much, as the one and the other borne therof, is exceedingly well
+replenished, both with heades, and weapons, nor there remayneth weake,
+other then the part behinde of the unarmed, and the same also, hath the
+flanckes impaled with the extraordinarie Pikes: nor the enemie can not
+of anye parte assaulte it, where he shall not finde it well appointed,
+and the hinder parte can not be assaulted: Because there can not bee an
+enemie, that hath so much puissaunce, whome equallye maye assault thee
+on everye side: for that hee having so great a power, thou oughtest not
+then to matche thy selfe in the fielde with him: but when he were three
+times more then thou, and as well appointed as thou, hee doth weaken him
+selfe in assaulting thee in divers places, one part that thou breakest,
+will cause all the reste go to naughte: concerning horses, although he
+chaunce to have more then thine, thou needest not feare: for that the
+orders of the Pikes, which impale thee, defende thee from all violence
+of them, although thy horses were repulced. The heades besides this, be
+disposed in such place, that they may easyly commaunde, and obeye: the
+spaces that bee between the one battaile, and the other, and betweene
+the one order, and the other, not onely serve to be able to receyve the
+one the other, but also to give place to the messengers, whiche should
+go and come by order of the Capitayne. And as I tolde you firste, howe
+the Romanes had for an armie, aboute foure and twentie thousande men,
+even so this oughte to bee: and as the other souldiours tooke ensample
+of the Legions, for the maner of fighting, and the fashion of the armie,
+so those souldiours, whiche you shoulde joyne to oure twoo mayne
+battailes, oughte to take the forme and order of them: whereof having
+put you an ensample, it is an easye matter to imitate it, for that
+increasing, either twoo other mayne battailes unto the armie, or as many
+other souldiours, as they bee, there is no other to bee done, then to
+double the orders, and where was put tenne battailes on the lefte parte,
+to put twentie, either ingrossing, or distending the orders, according
+as the place, or the enemie shoulde compell thee.
+
+LUIGI. Surelye sir I imagine in suche wise of this armie, that mee
+thinkes I nowe see it, and I burne with a desire to see it incounter,
+and I woulde for nothing in the worlde, that you shoulde become Fabius
+Maximus intendyng to kepe the enemie at a baie, and to deferre the daie
+of battaile: bicause I would saie worse of you, then the Romain people
+saied of hym.
+
+[Sidenote: The descripcion of a battaile that is a faightyng.]
+
+FABRICIO. Doubt not: Doe you not heare the artillerie? Ours have alredie
+shotte, but little hurte the enemie: and thextraordinarie Veliti,
+issuyng out of their places together with the light horsemen, moste
+speadely, and with moste merveilous furie, and greateste crie that maie
+be, thei assaulte the enemie: whose artillerie hath discharged ones, and
+hath passed over the heddes of our footemen, without doyng them any
+hurt, and bicause it cannot shoote the seconde tyme, the Veliti, and our
+horsemen, have nowe gotten it, and the enemies for to defende it, are
+come fore warde, so that neither our ordinaunce, nor thenemies, can any
+more doe their office. Se with how moche vertue, strengthe and agilitie
+our men faighteth, and with how moche knowledge through the exercise,
+whiche hath made them to abide, and by the confidence, that thei have in
+the armie, the whiche, see, how with the pace therof, and with the men
+of armes on the sides, it marcheth in good order, to give the charge on
+the adversarie: See our artillerie, whiche to give theim place, and to
+leave them the space free, is retired by thesame space, from whens the
+Veliti issued: See how the capitaine incourageth them, sheweth them the
+victorie certain: See how the Veliti and light horsemen bee inlarged,
+and retourned on the flanckes of tharmie, to seke and view, if thei maie
+by the flanck, doe any injurie to the adversaries: behold how the armies
+be affronted. Se with how moche valiauntnesse thei have withstode the
+violence of thenemies, and with how moche silence, and how the capitain
+commaundeth the menne of armes, that thei sustain, and not charge, and
+that thei breake not from the order of the footemen: see how our light
+horsemen be gone, to give the charge on a band of the enemies
+Harkebutters, whiche would have hurt our men by flancke, and how the
+enemies horse have succoured them, so that tourned betwene the one and
+the other horse, thei cannot shoote, but are faine to retire behinde
+their owne battaile: see with what furie our Pikes doe also affront, and
+how the footemen be now so nere together the one to the other, that the
+Pikes can no more be occupied: so that according to the knowlege learned
+of us, our pikes do retire a little and a little betwen the targaettes.
+Se how in this while a great bande of men of armes of the enemies, have
+charged our men of armes on the lefte side, and how ours, accordyng to
+knowlege, bee retired under the extraordinarie Pikes, and with the help
+of those, giving again a freshe charge, have repulced the adversaries,
+and slain a good part of them: in so moche, that thordinarie pikes of
+the first battailes, be hidden betwene the raies of the Targaettes, thei
+havyng lefte the faight to the Targaet men: whom you maie see, with how
+moche vertue, securitie, and leasure, thei kill the enemie: see you not
+how moche by faightyng, the orders be thrust together? That thei can
+scarse welde their sweardes? Behold with how moche furie the enemies
+move: bicause beyng armed with the pike, and with the swerd unprofitable
+(the one for beyng to long, the other for findyng thenemie to well
+armed) in part thei fall hurt or dedde, in parte thei flie. See, thei
+flie on the righte corner, thei flie also on the lefte: behold, the
+victorie is ours. Have not we wonne a field moste happely? But with more
+happinesse it should bee wonne, if it were graunted me to put it in
+acte. And see, how there neded not the helpe of the seconde, nor of the
+third order, for our first fronte hath sufficed to overcome theim: in
+this part, I have no other to saie unto you, then to resolve if any
+doubt be growen you.
+
+[Sidenote: Questions concerning the shotyng of ordinaunce.]
+
+LUIGI. You have with so moche furie wonne this fielde that I so moche
+mervaile and am so astonied, that I beleve that I am not able to
+expresse, if any doubt remain in my mynde: yet trustyng in your
+prudence, I will be so bolde to tell thesame that I understande. Tell me
+firste, why made you not your ordinaunce to shoote more then ones? And
+why straighte waie you made them to retire into tharmie, nor after made
+no mension of them? Me thought also, that you leveled the artillerie of
+the enemie high, and appoincted it after your own devise: the whiche
+might very well bee, yet when it should happen, as I beleve it chaunseth
+often, that thei strike the rankes, what reamedie have you? And seyng
+that I have begun of the artillerie, I will finishe all this question,
+to the intente I nede not to reason therof any more. I have heard many
+dispraise the armours, and the orders of the aunciente armies, arguyng,
+how now a daies, thei can doe little, but rather should bee altogether
+unprofitable, havyng respecte to the furie of the artillerie: bicause,
+this breaketh the orders, and passeth the armours in soche wise, that it
+semeth unto them a foolishenesse to make an order, whiche cannot bee
+kepte, and to take pain to beare a harneis, that cannot defende a man.
+
+[Sidenote: An aunswere to the questions that were demaunded, concernyng
+the shoting of ordinaunce; The best remedie to avoide the hurte that the
+enemie in the fielde maie doe with his ordinaunce; A policie against
+bowes and dartes; Nothyng causeth greater confusion in an armie, than to
+hinder mennes fightes; Nothing more blindeth the sight of men in an
+armie, then the smoke of ordinaunce; A policie to trouble the enemies
+sight; The shotte of greate ordinaunce in the fielde, is not moche to
+bee feared of fotemenne; Bicause menne of armes stand closer together
+then light horsmen, thei ought to remaine behinde the armie till the
+enemies ordinaunce have done shootyng; The artillerie is no let, why the
+auncient orders of warfar ought not to be used in these daies.]
+
+FABRICIO. This question of yours (bicause it hath many heddes) hath
+neede of a long aunswere. It is true, that I made not thartillery to
+shoote more than ones, and also of thesame ones, I stoode in doubte: the
+occasion was, for asmoche as it importeth more, for one to take hede not
+to be striken, then it importeth to strike the enemie. You have to
+understande, that to purpose that a pece of ordinaunce hurte you not, it
+is necessarie either to stande where it cannot reche you, or to get
+behinde a wall, or behinde a banke: other thing there is not that can
+witholde it: and it is nedefull also, that the one and the other be
+moste strong. Those capitaines whiche come to faight a field, cannot
+stand behind a wal, or behind bankes, nor where thei maie not be
+reached: therfore it is mete for them, seyng thei cannot finde a waie to
+defende them, to finde some mean, by the whiche thei maie be least
+hurte: nor thei cannot finde any other waie, then to prevente it
+quickly: the waie to prevent it, is to go to finde it out of hande, and
+hastely, not at leasure and in a heape: for that through spede, the
+blowe is not suffered to bee redoubled, and by the thinnesse, lesse
+nomber of menne maie be hurt. This, a bande of menne ordered, cannot
+dooe; bicause if thesame marche hastely, it goweth out of order: if it
+go scattered, the enemie shall have no paine to breake it, for that it
+breaketh by it self: and therfore, I ordered the armie after soche
+sorte, that it might dooe the one thyng and the other: for as moche as
+havyng set in the corners thereof, a thousande Veliti, I appoincted that
+after that our ordinaunce had shotte, thei should issue out together
+with the light horsemen, to get the enemies artillerie: and therfore, I
+made not my ordinance to shoote again, to the intente, to give no tyme
+to the enemie to shoote: Bicause space could not be given to me, and
+taken from other men, and for thesame occasion, where I made my
+ordinaunce not to shoote the seconde tyme, was for that I would not have
+suffered the enemie to have shot at al, if I had could: seyng that to
+mynde that the enemies artillerie be unprofitable, there is no other
+remedie, but to assaulte it spedely: for as moche as if the enemies
+forsake it, thou takeste it, if thei will defende it, it is requisite
+that thei leave it behind, so that being possessed of enemies, and of
+frendes, it cannot shoote. I would beleve, that with out insamples these
+reasons should suffice you, yet beyng able to shewe olde ensamples, to
+prove my saiynges true, I will. Ventidio commyng to faight a field with
+the Parthians, whose strength for the moste part, consisted in bowes and
+arrowes, he suffered theim almoste to come harde to his campe, before he
+drewe out his armie, the whiche onely he did, to be able quickly to
+prevent them: and not to give them space to shoote. Cesar when he was in
+Fraunce, maketh mencion, that in faighting a battaile with the enemies,
+he was with so moche furie assaulted of them, that his menne had no time
+to whorle their Dartes, accordyng to the custome of the Romaines:
+wherfore it is seen, that to intende, that a thyng that shooteth farre
+of, beyng in the field, doe not hurte thee, there is no other remedy,
+then with as moche celeritie as maie bee, to prevente it. An other cause
+moved me to procede, without shotyng the ordinaunce, whereat
+peradventure you will laugh: yet I judge not that it is to be
+dispraised. Ther is nothyng that causeth greater confusion in an armie,
+then to hinder mennes fightes: whereby many moste puisaunte armies have
+been broken, by meanes their fighte hath been letted, either with duste,
+or with the Sunne: yet there is nothyng, that more letteth the sight
+then the smoke that the artillerie maketh in shotyng: therfore, I would
+thinke that it wer more wisedome, to suffer the enemie to blinde
+hymself, then to purpose (thou being blind) to go to finde hym: for this
+cause, either I would not shote, or (for that this should not be proved,
+considering the reputacion that the artillerie hath) I would place it on
+the corners of the armie, so that shootyng, it should not with the smoke
+thereof, blinde the front of thesame, whiche is the importaunce of my
+men. And to prove that it is a profitable thyng, to let the sight of the
+enemie, there maie be brought for insample Epaminondas, whom to blind
+the enemies armie, whiche came to faight with hym, he caused his light
+horsemen, to run before the fronte of the enemies, to raise up the
+duste, and to lette their sight, whereby he gotte the victorie. And
+where it semeth unto you, that I have guided the shot of the artillerie,
+after my owne devise, making it to passe over the heddes of my men, I
+answer you, that most often tymes, and without comparison, the greate
+ordinaunce misse the footemen, moche soner than hitte theim: for that
+the footemen are so lowe, and those so difficult to shoote; that every
+little that thou raisest theim, thei passe over the heddes of men: and
+if thei be leveled never so little to lowe, thei strike in the yearth,
+and the blowe cometh not to theim: also the unevenesse of the grounde
+saveth them, for that every little hillocke, or high place that is,
+betwene the men and thordinance, letteth the shot therof. And concernyng
+horsmen, and in especially men of armes, bicause thei ought to stand
+more close together, then the light horsemen, and for that thei are
+moche higher, maie the better be stroken, thei maie, untill the
+artillerie have shotte, be kepte in the taile of the armie. True it is,
+that the Harkebutters doe moche more hurt, and the field peces, then the
+greate ordinance, for the whiche, the greatest remedy is, to come to
+hande strokes quickly: and if in the firste assaulte, there be slaine
+some, alwaies there shall bee slaine: but a good capitaine, and a good
+armie, ought not to make a coumpte of a hurte, that is particulare, but
+of a generall, and to imitate the Suizzers, whom never eschue to faight,
+beyng made afraied of the artillerie: but rather punishe with death
+those, whiche for feare thereof, either should go out of the ranke, or
+should make with his body any signe of feare. I made them (so sone as
+thei had shotte) to bee retired into the armie, that thei might leave
+the waie free for the battaile: I made no more mencion of theim, as of a
+thyng unprofitable, the faight beyng begun. You have also saied, that
+consideryng the violence of this instrument, many judge the armours, and
+the auncient orders to be to no purpose, and it semeth by this your
+talke, that men now a daies, have founde orders and armours, whiche are
+able to defend them against the artillerie: if you knowe this, I would
+bee glad that you would teache it me: for that hetherto, I never sawe
+any, nor I beleve that there can any be founde: so that I would
+understande of soche men, for what cause the souldiours on foote in
+these daies, weare the breastplate, or the corselet of steele, and thei
+on horsebacke go all armed: bicause seyng that thei blame the aunciente
+armyng of men as unprofitable, considryng the artillery, thei ought to
+despise also this? I would understande moreover, for what occasion the
+Suizzers, like unto the auncient orders, make a battaile close together
+of sixe, or eight thousande menne, and for what occasion all other have
+imitated theim, this order bearyng the verie same perill, concernyng the
+artillerie, that those other should beare, whiche should imitate the
+antiquitie. I beleve thei should not knowe what to answere: but if you
+should aske soche Souldiours, as had some judgement, thei would aunswere
+first, that thei go armed, for that though thesame armoure defende theim
+not from the artillerie: it defendeth them from crossebowes, from Pikes,
+from sweardes, from stones, and from all other hurt, that commeth from
+the enemies, thei would answere also, that thei went close together,
+like the Suizzers, to be able more easely to overthrow the footemen, to
+be able to withstand better the horse and to give more difficultie to
+the enemie to breake them: so that it is seen, that the souldiours have
+to fear, many other thynges besides the ordinance: from which thynges,
+with the armours, and with the orders, thei are defended: whereof
+foloweth, that the better that an armie is armed, and the closer that it
+hath the orders, and stronger, so moche the surer it is: so that he that
+is of thesame opinion, that you saie, it behoveth either that he bee of
+smalle wisedome, or that in this thyng, he hath studied verie little:
+for as moche as if we see, that so little a parte of the aunciente maner
+of armyng, whiche is used now a daies, that is the pike, and so little a
+parte of those orders, as are the maine battailes of the Suizzers, dooe
+us so moche good, and cause our armies to bee so strong, why ought not
+we to beleve, that the other armours, and thother orders whiche are
+lefte, be profitable? Seyng that if we have no regard to the artillerie,
+in puttyng our selves close together, as the Suizzers, what other orders
+maie make us more to feare thesame? For as moche as no order can cause
+us so moche to feare thesame, as those, whiche bryng men together.
+Besides this, if the artillerie of the enemies should not make me
+afraied, in besiegyng a Toune, where it hurteth me with more safegarde,
+beyng defended of a wall, I beyng not able to prevente it, but onely
+with tyme, with my artillerie to lette it, after soche sorte that it
+maie double the blowe as it liste, why should I feare thesame in the
+field, where I maie quickly prevent it? So that I conclude thus, that
+the artillerie, according to my opinion, doeth not let, that the
+aunciente maners cannot be used, and to shewe the auncient vertue: and
+if I had not talked alreadie with you of this instrument, I would of
+thesame, declare unto you more at length: but I will remit my self to
+that, whiche then I saied.
+
+LUIGI. Wee maie now understande verie well, how moche you have aboute
+the artillerie discoursed: and in conclusion, my thinkes you have
+shewed, that the preventyng it quickly, is the greatest remedie, that
+maie be had for thesame, beyng in the fielde, and havyng an armie
+againste you. Upon the whiche there groweth in me a doubte: bicause me
+thinkes, that the enemie might place his ordinaunce in soche wise, in
+his armie, that it should hurt you, and should be after soche sort
+garded of the footemen, that it could not be prevented. You have (if you
+remember your self well) in the orderyng of your armie to faight, made
+distaunces of three yardes, betwene the one battaile and the other,
+makyng those distaunces fiftene, whiche is from the battailes, to
+thextraordinarie pikes: if thenemie, shuld order his armie like unto
+yours, and should putte the artillerie a good waie within those spaces,
+I beleve that from thens, it should hurte you with their moste greate
+safegard: bicause menne can not enter into the force of their enemies to
+prevent it.
+
+[Sidenote: A generall rule againste soche thynges as cannot bee
+withstoode.]
+
+FABRICIO. You doubt moste prudently, and I will devise with my self,
+either to resolve you the doubte, or shewe you the remedie: I have tolde
+you, that continually these battailes, either through goyng, or thorowe
+faightyng, are movyng, and alwaies naturally, thei come to drawe harde
+together, so that if you make the distaunces of a small breadth, where
+you set the artillerie, in a little tyme thei be shootte up, after soche
+sort, that the artillerie cannot any more shoote: if you make theim
+large, to avoide this perill, you incurre into a greater, where you
+through those distances, not onely give commoditie to the enemie, to
+take from you the artillerie, but to breake you: but you have to
+understande, that it is impossible to keepe the artillerie betwene the
+bandes, and in especially those whiche go on carriages: For that the
+artillerie goeth one waie, and shooteth an other waie: So that havyng to
+go and to shoote, it is necessary, before thei shote, that thei tourne,
+and for to tourne theim, thei will have so moche space, that fiftie
+cartes of artillerie, would disorder any armie: therfore, it is mete to
+kepe them out of the bandes, where thei may be overcome in the maner, as
+a little afore we have shewed: but admit thei might be kept, and that
+there might be found a waie betwen bothe, and of soche condicion, that
+the presyng together of men should not hinder the artillerie, and were
+not so open that it should give waie to the enemie, I saie, that it is
+remedied moste easely, with makyng distances in thy armie against it,
+whiche maie give free passage to the shot of those, and so the violence
+thereof shall come to be vain, the which maie be doen moste easely: for
+asmoche, as the enemie mindyng to have his artillerie stand safe, it
+behoveth that he put them behinde, in the furthest part of the
+distances, so that the shot of the same, he purposyng that thei hurt not
+his owne men, ought to passe by right line, and by that very same
+alwaies: and therefore with givyng theim place, easely thei maie bee
+avoided: for that this is a generall rule, that to those thynges, whiche
+cannot be withstoode, there must bee given waie, as the antiquitie made
+to the Eliphantes, and to the carres full of hookes. I beleve, ye, I am
+more then certaine, that it semeth unto you, that I have ordered and
+wonne a battaile after my own maner: notwithstanding, I answeer unto you
+this, when so moche as I have saied hetherto, should not suffice, that
+it should be impossible, that an armie thus ordered, and armed, should
+not overcome at the first incounter, any other armie that should bee
+ordained, as thei order the armies now adaies, whom most often tymes,
+make not but one front, havyng no targaettes, and are in soche wise
+unarmed, that thei cannot defende themselves from the enemie at hand,
+and thei order theim after soche sorte, that if thei set their battailes
+by flanck, the one to the other, thei make the armie thinne: if thei put
+the one behind the other, havyng no waie to receive the one the other,
+thei doe it confusedly, and apt to be easly troubled: and although thei
+give three names to their armies, and devide them into thre companies,
+vaward, battaile, and rereward, notwithstandyng it serveth to no other
+purpose, then to marche, and to distinguis the lodgynges: but in the
+daie of battaile, thei binde them all to the first brunte, and to the
+first fortune.
+
+LUIGI. I have noted also in the faightyng of your fielde, how your
+horsemen were repulced of the enemies horsemen: for whiche cause thei
+retired to the extraordinaire Pikes: whereby grewe, that with the aide
+of theim, thei withstode, and drave the enemies backe? I beleve that the
+Pikes maie withstande the horses, as you saie, but in a grosse and
+thicke maine battaile, as the Suizzers make: but you in your army, have
+for the hedde five rankes of Pikes, and for the flancke seven, so that I
+cannot tell how thei maie bee able to withstande them.
+
+[Sidenote: A Battaile how greate so ever it bee, cannot atones occupy
+above v. rankes of Pikes.]
+
+FABRICIO. Yet I have told you, how sixe rankes of pikes wer occupied at
+ones, in the Macedonicall Falangi, albeit you ought to understande, that
+a maine battaile of Suizzers, if it were made of a thousande rankes, it
+cannot occupie more then fower, or at the most five: bicause the Pikes
+be sixe yardes and three quarters longe, one yarde and halfe a quarter,
+is occupied of the handes, wherefore to the firste ranke, there
+remaineth free five yardes and a half, and a halfe quarter of Pike: the
+seconde ranke besides that whiche is occupied with the hande, consumeth
+a yarde and half a quarter in the space, whiche remaineth betwene the
+one ranke and thother: so that there is not left of pike profitable,
+more then fower yardes and a halfe: to the thirde ranke, by this verie
+same reason, there remaineth three yardes and a quarter and a halfe: to
+the fowerth, twoo yardes and a quarter: to the fift one yard and halfe a
+quarter: the other rankes, for to hurte, be unprofitable, but thei serve
+to restore these firste rankes, as we have declared, and to bee a
+fortificacion to those v. Then if five of their rankes can withstande
+the horse, why cannot five of ours withstande theim? to the whiche also
+there lacketh not rankes behinde, that doeth sustain and make them the
+very same staie, although thei have no pikes as the other. And when the
+rankes of thextraordinarie pikes, which are placed on the flanckes,
+should seme unto you thinne, thei maie bee brought into a quadrante, and
+put on the flancke nere the twoo battailes, whiche I set in the laste
+companie of the armie: From the whiche place, thei maie easely
+altogether succour the fronte, and the backe of the armie, and minister
+helpe to the horses, accordyng as nede shall require.
+
+LUIGI. Would you alwaies use this forme of order, when you would pitche
+a fielde.
+
+[Sidenote: An advertiement concernyng the pitchying of a field.]
+
+FABRICIO. No in no wise: for that you ought to varie the facion of the
+armie, according to the qualitie of the situacion, and the condicion and
+quantitie of the enemie, as before this reasonyng dooe ende, shall bee
+shewed certaine insamples: but this forme is given unto you, not so
+moche as moste strongeste of all, where in deede it is verie strong, as
+to the intente that thereby you maie take a rule, and an order to learne
+to knowe the waies to ordeine the other: for as moche, as every science
+hath his generalitie, upon the whiche a good part of it is grounded. One
+thing onely I advise you, that you never order an armie, after soche
+sorte, that those that faight afore, cannot bee sucoured of theim,
+whiche be set behind: bicause he that committeth this errour, maketh the
+greateste parte of his armie to bee unprofitable, and if it incounter
+any strength, it cannot overcome.
+
+LUIGI. There is growen in me, upon this parte a doubte. I have seen that
+in the placyng of the battailes, you make the fronte of five on a side,
+the middeste of three, and the last partes of twoo, and I beleve, that
+it were better to ordain them contrariwise: for that I thinke, that an
+armie should with more difficultie bee broken, when he that should
+charge upon it, the more that he should entre into the-same, so moche
+the stronger he should finde it: and the order devised of you, me
+thinkes maketh, that the more it is entered into, so moche the weaker it
+is founde.
+
+[Sidenote: How the front of the armie ought to bee made; How the middell
+part of the armie ought to be ordered.]
+
+FABRICIO. If you should remember how to the Triarii, whom were the
+thirde order of the Romain Legions, there were not assigned more then
+sixe hundred men, you would doubt lesse, havyng understode how thei were
+placed in the laste companie: For that you should see, how I moved of
+this insample, have placed in the last companie twoo battailes, whiche
+are nine hundred men, so that I come rather (folowyng the insample of
+the Romaine people) to erre, for havyng taken to many, then to fewe: and
+although this insample should suffice, I will tell you the reason, the
+which is this. The first fronte of the armie, is made perfectly whole
+and thicke, bicause it must withstande the brunt of the enemies, and it
+hath not to receive in it any of their felowes: and for this, it is
+fitte that it bee full of menne: bicause a fewe menne, should make it
+weake, either thinnesse, or for lacke of sufficiente nomber: but the
+seconde companie, for as moche as it must first receive their frendes,
+to sustain the enemie, it is mete that it have greate spaces, and for
+this it behoveth, that it be of lesse nomber then the first: for that if
+it wer of greater nomber, or equall, it should bee conveniente, either
+not to leave the distaunces, the whiche should be disorder, or leavyng
+theim, to passe the boundes of thoseafore, the whiche should make the
+facion of the armie unperfecte: and it is not true that you saie, that
+the enemie, the more that he entereth into the maine battaile, so moche
+the weaker he findeth it: for that the enemie, can never faight with the
+seconde order, except the first be joined with thesame: so that he
+cometh to finde the middest of the maine battaile more stronger, and not
+more weaker, havyng to faight with the first, and with the seconde order
+altogether: the verie same happeneth, when the enemie should come to the
+thirde companie: for that there, not with twoo battailes, whiche is
+founde freshe, but with all the maine battaile he must faight: and for
+that this last part hath to receive moste men, the spaces therof is
+requisite to be greatest, and that whiche receiveth them, to be the
+leste nomber.
+
+[Sidenote: The orderyng of the hinder part of tharmy.]
+
+LUIGI. It pleaseth me thesame that you have told: but answere me also
+this: if the five first battailes doe retire betwene the three seconde
+battailes, and after the eight betwene the twoo thirde, it semeth not
+possible, that the eight beyng brought together, and then the tenne
+together, maie bee received when thei bee eight, or when thei be tenne
+in the verie same space, whiche received the five.
+
+[Sidenote: The retire of the Pikes, to place the Targaet men.]
+
+FABRICIO. The first thyng that I aunswere is, that it is not the verie
+same space: For that the five have fower spaces in the middeste, whiche
+retiryng betwene the thre, or betwene the twoo, thei occupie: then there
+remaineth thesame space, that is betwene the one maine battaile and
+other and thesame that is, betwene the battailes, and the extraordinarie
+Pikes, al the whiche spaces makes largenesse: besides this, it is to bee
+considered, that the battailes kepe other maner of spaces, when thei bee
+in the orders without beyng altered, then when thei be altered: for that
+in the alteracion: either thei throng together, or thei inlarge the
+orders: thei inlarge theim, when thei feare so moche, that thei fall to
+fliyng, thei thrust them together, when thei feare in soche wise, that
+thei seke to save them selves, not with runnyng a waie, but with
+defence: So that in this case, thei should come to be destingueshed, and
+not to be inlarged. Moreover, the five rankes of the Pikes, that are
+before, so sone as thei have begun the faighte, thei ought betwene their
+battailes to retire, into the taile of the armie, for to give place to
+the Targaet men, that thei maie faighte: and thei goyng into the taile
+of the armie, maie dooe soche service as the capitain should judge, were
+good to occupie theim aboute, where in the forward, the faight beyng
+mingled, thei should otherwise bee altogether unprofitable. And for this
+the spaces ordained, come to bee for the remnaunte of the menne, wide
+inough to receive them: yet when these spaces should not suffice, the
+flankes on the sides be men, and not walles, whom givyng place, and
+inlargyng them selves, maie make the space to containe so moche, that it
+maie bee sufficient to receive theim.
+
+[Sidenote: How the pikes that are placed on the flankes of the armie
+ought to governe them selves when the rest of the armie is driven to
+retire.]
+
+LUIGI. The rankes of the extraordinarie Pikes, whiche you place on the
+flanckes of the armie, when the first battailes retire into the second,
+will you have them to stande still, and remain with twoo homes to the
+armie? Or will you that thei also retire together, with the battailes?
+The whiche when thei should do, I see not how thei can, havyng no
+battailes behinde with distaunces that maie receive them.
+
+[Sidenote: Thexercise of the army in generall; The nomber that is mete
+to be written in the Ansigne of every band of men; The degrees of
+honours in an armie, whiche soche a man ought to rise by, as should bee
+made a generall capitain.]
+
+FABRICIO. If the enemie overcome theim not, when he inforceth the
+battailes to retire, thei maie stande still in their order, and hurte
+the enemie on the flanck, after that the firste battailes retired: but
+if he should also overcome theim, as semeth reason, beyng so puisaunte,
+that he is able to repulce the other, thei also ought to retire: whiche
+thei maie dooe excellently well, although thei have not behinde, any to
+receive them: bicause from the middest thei maie redouble by right line,
+entring the one ranke into the other, in the maner whereof wee reasoned,
+when it was spoken of the order of redoublyng: True it is, that to mynde
+redoublyng to retire backe, it behoveth to take an other waie, then
+thesame that I shewed you: for that I told you, that the second ranke,
+ought to enter into the first, the fowerth into the thirde, and so
+foorth: in this case, thei ought not to begin before, but behinde, so
+that redoublyng the rankes, thei maie come to retire backewarde not to
+tourne forward: but to aunswere to all thesame, that upon this foughten
+field by me shewed, might of you bee replied. I saie unto you again,
+that I have ordained you this armie, and shewed this foughten field for
+two causes, thone, for to declare unto you how it is ordered, the other
+to shewe you how it is exercised: thorder, I beleve you understande
+moste well: and concernyng the exersice, I saie unto you, that thei
+ought to be put together in this forme, as often times as maie be: for
+as moche as the heddes learne therby, to kepe their battailes in these
+orders: for that to particulare souldiours, it appertaineth to keepe
+well the orders of every battaile, to the heddes of the battailes, it
+appertaineth to keepe theim well in every order of the armie, and that
+thei knowe how to obeie, at the commaundement of the generall capitain:
+therefore, it is conveniente that thei knowe, how to joyne the one
+battaile with thother, that thei maie knowe how to take their place
+atones: and for this cause it is mete that thansigne of every battaile,
+have written in some evident part, the nomber therof: as well for to be
+able to commaunde them, as also for that the capitain, and the
+souldiours by thesame nomber, maie more easely knowe theim againe: also
+the maine battailes, ought to be nombred, and to have the nomber in
+their principal Ansigne: Therefore it is requisite, to knowe of what
+nomber the maine battaile shall be, that is placed on the left, or on
+the right horne of what nombers the battailes bee, that are set in the
+fronte, and in the middeste, and so foorthe of the other. The antiquitie
+would also, that these nombers should bee steppes to degrees, of honors
+of the armies: as for insample, the first degree, is the Peticapitain,
+the seconde, the hedde of fiftie ordinarie Veliti, the thirde, the
+Centurion, the fowerth, the hedde of the first battaile, the fifte, of
+the second, the sixt, of the thirde, and so forthe, even to the tenth
+battaile, the whiche must be honoured in the seconde place, nexte the
+generall capitaine of a maine battaile: nor any ought to come to thesame
+hedde, if first, he have not risen up by all these degrees. And bicause
+besides these heddes, there be the three Conestables of the
+extraordinarie Pikes, and twoo of the extraordinarie Veliti, I would
+that thei should be in the same degree of the Conestable of the first
+battaile: nor I would not care, that there were sixe men of like degree,
+to thintent, that every one of them might strive, who should doe beste,
+for to be promised to be hedde of the seconde battaile. Then every one
+of these heddes, knowyng in what place his battaile ought to be sette
+in, of necessitie it must folowe, that at a sounde of the Trompette, so
+sone as the hedde standarde shall bee erected, all the armie shall be in
+their places: and this is the first exercise, whereunto an armie ought
+to bee accustomed, that is to set theim quickly together: and to doe
+this, it is requisite every daie, and divers times in one daie, to set
+them in order, and to disorder them.
+
+LUIGI. What armes would you that thansignes of all the armie, shoul'd
+have beside the nomber?
+
+[Sidenote: The armes that oughte to bee in the standarde, and in the
+ansignes of an armie; The second and thirde exercise of an armie; The
+fowerth exercise of an armie; The soundes of the instrumentes of
+musicke, that the antiquitie used in their armies; What is signified by
+the sounde of the Trompet.]
+
+FABRICIO. The standarde of the generall Capitaine oughte to have the
+armes of the Prince of the armie, all the other, maie have the verie
+same armes, and to varie with the fieldes, or to varie with the armes,
+as should seme beste to the Lorde of the armie: Bicause this importeth
+little, so that the effect growe, that thei be knowen the one from the
+other. But let us passe to the other exercise: the which is to make them
+to move, and with a convenient pace to marche, and to se, that marehyng
+thei kepe the orders. The third exercise is, that thei learne to handle
+themselves in thesame maner, whiche thei ought after to handle
+theimselves in the daie of battaile, to cause the artillerie to shoote,
+and to bee drawen out of the waie, to make the extraordinarie Veliti to
+issue out, after a likenes of an assault, to retire theim: To make that
+the firste battailes, as though thei wer sore charged, retire into the
+spaces of the second: and after, all into the thirde, and from thens
+every one to retourne to his place: and in soche wise to use theim in
+this exercise, that to every manne, all thyng maie be knowen, and
+familiar: the which with practise, and with familiaritie, is brought to
+passe moste quickly. The fowerth exercise is, that thei learne to knowe
+by meane of the sounde, and of the Ansigne, the commaundemente of their
+capitaine: for as moche as that, whiche shall be to them pronounced by
+voice, thei without other commaundemente, maie understande: and bicause
+the importaunce of this commaundement, ought to growe of the sounde, I
+shall tell you what soundes the antiquitie used. Of the Lacedemonians,
+accordyng as Tucidido affirmeth, in their armies were used Flutes: for
+that thei judged, that this armonie, was moste mete to make their armie
+to procede with gravetie, and with furie: the Carthaginens beyng moved
+by this verie same reason, in the first assaulte, used the violone.
+Aliatte kyng of the Lidians, used in the warre the violone, and the
+Flutes: but Alexander Magnus, and the Romaines, used hornes, and
+Trumpettes, as thei, that thought by vertue of soche instrumentes, to
+bee able to incourage more the myndes of Souldiours, and make theim to
+faight the more lustely: but as we have in armyng the armie, taken of
+the Greke maner, and of the Romaine, so in distrihutyng the soundes, we
+will keepe the customes of the one, and of the other nacion: therefore,
+nere the generall capitain, I would make the Trompettes to stand, as a
+sounde not onely apt to inflame the armie, but apte to bee heard in all
+the whole tumoult more, then any other sounde: all the other soundes,
+whiche should bee aboute the Conestables, and the heddes of maine
+battailes I would, that thei should bee smalle Drummes, and Flutes,
+sounded not as thei sounde theim now but as thei use to sounde theim at
+feastes. The capitaine then with the Trompet, should shewe when thei
+must stande still, and go forward, or tourne backward, when the
+artillerie must shoote, when the extraordinarie Veliti must move, and
+with the varietie or distinccion of soche soundes, to shewe unto the
+armie all those mocions, whiche generally maie bee shewed, the whiche
+Trompettes, should bee after followed of the Drummes, and in this
+exercise, bicause it importeth moche, it behoveth moche to exercise the
+armie. Concernyng the horsemen, there would be used likewise Trompettes,
+but of a lesse sounde, and of a divers voice from those of the
+Capitaine. This is as moche as is come into my remembraunce, aboute the
+order of the armie, and of the exercise of thesame.
+
+LUIGI. I praie you let it not be grevous unto you to declare unto me an
+other thyng, that is, for what cause you made the light horsmen, and the
+extraordinarie Veliti, to goe with cries, rumours, and furie, when thei
+gave the charge? And after in the incountering of the rest of tharmie,
+you shewed, that the thing folowed with a moste greate scilence? And for
+that I understande not the occasion of this varietie, I would desire
+that you would declare it unto me.
+
+[Sidenote: The cries, and rumours, wher with the firste charge is given
+unto the enemies, and the silence that ought to bee used after, when the
+faight is ones begunne.]
+
+FABRICIO. The opinion of auncient capitaines, hath been divers about the
+commyng to handes, whether thei ought with rumour to go a pace, or with
+scilence to go faire and softely: this laste waie, serveth to kepe the
+order more sure, and to understande better the commaundementes of the
+Capitaine: the firste, serveth to incourage more the mindes of men: and
+for that I beleve, that respecte ought to bee had to the one, and to the
+other of these twoo thynges, I made the one goe with rumour, and thother
+with scilence: nor me thinkes not in any wise, that the continuall
+rumours bee to purpose: bicause thei lette the commaundementes, the
+whiche is a thyng moste pernicious: nor it standeth not with reason,
+that the Romaines used, except at the firste assaulte to make rumour:
+for that in their histories, is seen many tymes to have happened, that
+through the wordes, and comfortinges of the capitain the souldiours that
+ranne awaie, were made to stande to it, and in sundrie wise by his
+commaundemente, to have varied the orders, the whiche should not have
+followed, if the rumoures had been louder then his voyce.
+
+
+
+
+THE FOWERTH BOOKE
+
+
+LUIGI. Seng that under my governement, a field hath been wonne so
+honourably, I suppose that it is good, that I tempt not fortune any
+more, knowyng how variable, and unstable she is: and therefore, I desire
+to give up my governement, and that Zanobi do execute now this office of
+demaundyng, mindyng to followe the order, whiche concerneth the
+youngeste: and I knowe he will not refuse this honoure, or as we would
+saie, this labour, as well for to doe me pleasure, as also for beyng
+naturally of more stomach than I: nor it shall not make hym afraied, to
+have to enter into these travailes, where he maie bee as well overcome,
+as able to conquere.
+
+ZANOBI. I am readie to do what soever shall please you to appoinete me,
+although that I desire more willingly to heare: for as moche as
+hetherto, your questions have satisfied me more, then those should have
+pleased me, whiche in harkenyng to your reasonyng, hath chaunced to come
+into my remembraunce. But sir, I beleve that it is good, that you lese
+no tyme, and that you have pacience, if with these our Ceremonies we
+trouble you.
+
+FABRICIO. You doe me rather pleasure, for that this variacion of
+demaunders, maketh me to knowe the sundrie wittes and sunderie appetites
+of yours: But remaineth there any thyng, whiche seemeth unto you good,
+to bee joyned to the matter, that alreadie hath been reasoned of?
+
+ZANOBI. Twoo thinges I desire, before you passe to an other parte: the
+one is, to have you to shewe, if in orderyng armies, there needeth to
+bee used any other facion: the other, what respectes a capitaine ought
+to have, before he conducte his men to the faight, and in thesame an
+accidente risyng or growyng, what reamedie maie be had.
+
+[Sidenote: To deffende moche the fronte of an armie, is most perillous;
+What is beste for a capitaine to dooe, where his power is, moche lesse
+then thenemies power; A general rule; The higher grounde ought to be
+chosen; An advertisement not to place an armie wher the enemie maie se
+what the same doeth; Respectes for the Sonne and Winde; The variyng of
+order and place maie cause the conquered to become victorius; A policie
+in the ordering of men and pitchyng of a fielde; How to compasse about
+the enemies power; How a capitaine maie faight and bee as it were sure,
+not to be overcome; How to trouble the orders of the enemie; What a
+capitaine oughte to dooe when he hath not so many horsmen as the enemie;
+A greate aide for horsemen; The policies used betwene Aniball and
+Scipio.]
+
+FABRICIO. I will inforce my self to satisfie you, I will not answere now
+distinctly to your questions: for that whileste I shall aunswere to one,
+many tymes it will come to passe, that I muste aunswere to an other. I
+have tolde you, how I have shewed you a facion of an armie, to the
+intent, that accordyng to thesame, there maie bee given all those
+facions, that the enemie, and the situacion requireth: For as moche as
+in this case, bothe accordyng to the power thereof, and accordyng to the
+enemie, it proceadeth: but note this, that there is not a more perillous
+facion, then to deffende moche the front of tharmie, if then thou have
+not a most puisant, and moste great hoste: otherwise, thou oughtest to
+make it rather grosse, and of small largenesse, then of moche largenes
+and thin: for when thou hast fewe men in comparison to thenemie, thou
+oughtest to seke other remedies, as is to ordain thine army in soche a
+place, wher thou maiest be fortefied, either through rivers, or by
+meanes of fennes, after soch sort, that thou canst not bee compassed
+aboute, or to inclose thy self on the flanckes with diches, as Cesar did
+in Fraunce. You have to take in this cace, this generall rule, to
+inlarge your self, or to draw in your self with the front, according to
+your nomber, and thesame of the enemie. For thenemies being of lesse
+nomber, thou oughtest to seke large places, havyng in especially thy men
+well instructed: to the intent thou maiest, not onely compasse aboute
+the enemie, but to deffende thy orders: for that in places rough and
+difficulte, beyng not able to prevaile of thy orders, thou commeste not
+to have any advauntage, hereby grewe, that the Romaines almoste alwaies,
+sought the open fieldes, and advoided the straightes. To the contrarie,
+as I have said, thou oughtest to doe, if thou hast fewe menne, or ill
+instructed: for that then thou oughteste to seeke places, either where
+the little nomber maye be saved, and where the small experience dooe not
+hurte thee: Thou oughtest also to chuse the higher grounde, to be able
+more easily to infest them: notwithstandyng, this advertisment ought to
+be had, not to ordaine thy armie, where the enemie maie spie what thou
+doest and in place nere to the rootes of the same, where the enemies
+armie maie come: For that in this case, havyng respecte unto the
+artillerie, the higher place shall gette thee disadvauntage: Bicause
+that alwaies and commodiously, thou mightest of the enemies artillerie
+bee hurte, without beyng able to make any remedy, and thou couldest not
+commodiously hurte thesame, beyng hindered by thine owne men. Also, he
+that prepareth an armie to faight a battaile, ought to have respecte,
+bothe to the Sunne, and to the Winde, that the one and the other, doe
+not hurte the fronte, for that the one and the other, will let thee the
+sight, the one with the beames, and the other with the duste: and
+moreover, the Winde hindereth the weapons, whiche are stroken at the
+enemie, and maketh their blowes more feable: and concerning the Sunne,
+it sufficeth not to have care, that at the firste it shine not in the
+face, but it is requisite to consider, that increasyng the daie, it
+hurte thee not: and for this, it should bee requsite in orderyng the
+men, to have it all on the backe, to the entente it should have to passe
+moche tyme, to come to lye on the fronte. This waie was observed of
+Aniball at Canne, and of Mario against the Cimbrians. If thou happen to
+be moche inferiour of horses, ordaine thine armie emongeste Vines, and
+trees, and like impedimentes, as in our time the Spaniardes did, when
+thei overthrewe the Frenchmenne at Cirignuola. And it hath been seen
+many times, with all one Souldiours, variyng onely the order, and the
+place, that thei have become of losers victorers: as it happened to the
+Carthageners, whom havyng been overcome of Marcus Regolus divers tymes,
+were after by the counsaill of Santippo a Lacedemonian, victorious: whom
+made them to go doune into the plaine, where by vertue of the horses,
+and of Eliphantes, thei were able to overcome the Romaines. It semes
+unto me, accordyng to the auncient insamples that almoste all the
+excellente Capitaines, when thei have knowen, that the enemie hath made
+strong one side of his battaile, thei have not set against it, the moste
+strongest parte, but the moste weakest, and thother moste strongest thei
+have set against the most weakest: after in the beginning the faighte,
+thei have commaunded to their strongest parte, that onely thei sustaine
+the enemie, and not to preace upon hym, and to the weaker, that thei
+suffer them selves to be overcome, and to retire into the hindermoste
+bandes of the armie. This breadeth twoo greate disorders to the enemie:
+the firste, that he findeth his strongest parte compassed about, the
+second is, that semyng unto him to have the victorie, seldome tymes it
+happeneth, that thei disorder not theim selves, whereof groweth his
+sodain losse. Cornelius Scipio beyng in Spain, againste Asdruball of
+Carthage, and understanding how to Asdruball it was knowen, that he in
+the orderyng the armie, placed his Legions in the middest, the whiche
+was the strongest parte of his armie, and for this how Asdruball with
+like order ought to procede: after when he came to faighte the battaile,
+he chaunged order, and put his Legions on the hornes of the armie, and
+in the middest, placed all his weakeste men: then commyng to the handes,
+in a sodain those men placed in the middeste, he made to marche softly,
+and the hornes of the armie, with celeritie to make forwarde, so that
+onely the hornes of bothe the armies fought, and the bandes in the
+middest, through beyng distaunt the one from the other, joyned not
+together, and thus the strongest parte of Scipio, came to faight with
+the weakest of Asdruball, and overcame hym. The whiche waie was then
+profitable, but now havyng respect to the artillerie, it cannot be used:
+bicause the same space, whiche should remain in the middest, betwene the
+one armie and the other, should give tyme to thesame to shoote: The
+whiche is moste pernicious, as above is saied: Therefore it is requisite
+to laie this waie aside, and to use, as a little afore we saied, makyng
+all the armie to incounter, and the weakest parte to give place. When a
+capitaine perceiveth, that he hath a greater armie then his enemie,
+mindyng to compasse hym aboute, before he be aware let hym ordaine his
+fronte equall, to thesame of his adversaries, after, so sone as the
+faight is begun, let hym make the fronte by a little and little to
+retire, and the flanckes to deffende, and alwaies it shall happen, that
+the enemie shal find hymself, before he be aware compassed about. When a
+capitain will faight, as it wer sure not to be broken, let hym ordaine
+his armie in place, where he hath refuge nere, and safe, either betwene
+Fennes, or betwene hilles, or by some strong citee: for that in this
+case, he cannot bee followed of the enemie, where the enemie maie be
+pursued of him: this poincte was used of Aniball, when fortune began to
+become his adversarie, and that he doubted of the valiauntnesse of
+Marcus Marcello. Some to trouble the orders of the enemie, have
+commaunded those that were light armed, to begin the faight, and that
+beyng begunne, to retire betwene the orders: and when the armies were
+after buckled together, and that the fronte of either of them were
+occupied in faightyng, thei have made theim to issue out by the flanckes
+of the battaile, and thesame have troubled and broken. If any perceive
+hymself to bee inferiour of horse, he maie besides the waies that are
+alredie shewed, place behinde his horsemen a battaile of Pikes, and in
+faightyng take order, that thei give waie to the Pikes, and he shall
+remain alwaies superiour. Many have accustomed to use certain fotemenne
+lighte armed, to faighte emong horsemen, the whiche hath been to the
+chivalrie moste greate helpe. Of all those, which have prepared armies
+to the field, be moste praised Aniball and Scipio, when thei fought in
+Africk: and for that Aniball had his armie made of Carthaginers, and of
+straungers of divers nacions, he placed in the first fronte thereof
+lxxx. Elephantes, after he placed the straungers, behinde whom he sette
+his Carthaginers, in the hindermoste place, he putte the Italians, in
+whom he trusted little: the whiche thing he ordained so, for that the
+straungers havyng before theim the enemie, and behinde beyng inclosed of
+his men, could not flie: so that being constrained to faight thei should
+overcome, or wearie the Romaines, supposyng after with his freshe and
+valiaunte men, to be then able easely to overcome the Romaines, beeyng
+wearied. Against this order, Scipio set the Astati, the Prencipi, and
+the Triarii, in the accustomed maner, to bee able to receive the one the
+other, and to rescue the one the other: he made the fronte of the armie,
+full of voide spaces, and bicause it should not be perceived but rather
+should seme united, he filled them ful of veliti, to whom he commaunded,
+that so sone as the Eliphantes came, thei should avoide, and by the
+ordinarie spaces, should enter betwene the Legins, and leave open the
+waie to the Eliphauntes, and so it came to passe, that it made vaine the
+violence of theim, so that commyng to handes, he was superiour.
+
+ZANOBI. You have made me to remember, in alledging me this battaile, how
+Scipio in faighting, made not the Astati to retire into thorders of the
+Prencipi, but he devided theim, and made theim to retire in the hornes
+of the armie, to thintent thei might give place to the Prencipi, when he
+would force forwarde: therfore I would you should tell me, what occasion
+moved hym, not to observe the accustomed order.
+
+[Sidenote: Cartes full of hookes made to destroie the enemies; The
+remedy that was used against Cartes full of hookes; The straunge maner
+that Silla used in orderyng his army against Archelaus; How to trouble
+in the faighte the armie of the enemies; A policie of Caius Sulpitius,
+to make his enemies afraied; A policie of Marius againste the Duchmenne;
+A policie of greate importaunce, while a battaile is a faightyng; How
+horsemen maie bee disordered; How the turke gave the Sophie an
+overthrowe; How the Spaniardes overcame the armie of Amilcare; How to
+traine the enemie, to his destruccion; A policie of Tullo Hostilio and
+Lucius Silla in dessemlyng of a mischaunce; Sertorius slue a man for
+telling him of the death of one of his capitaines; Howe certaine
+captaines have staied their men that hath been running awaie; Attillius
+constrained his men that ran awaie to tourne again and to faight; How
+Philip king of Macedonia made his men afraied to run awaie; Victorie
+ought with all celeritie to bee folowed; What a capitaine ought to dooe,
+when he should chaunce to receive an overthrowe; How Martius overcame
+the armie of the Carthaginers; A policie of Titus Dimius to hide a
+losse, whiche he had received in a faight; A general rule; Aniball;
+Scipio; Asdruball; A Capitaine ought not to faight without advantage,
+excepte he be constrained; How advauntage maie bee taken of the enemies;
+Furie withstode, converteth into vilenesse; What maner of men a
+capitaine ought to have about him continually, to consult withall; The
+condicions of the capitain of the enemies, and of those that are about
+hym is moste requisite to bee knowen; A timerous army is not to be
+conducted to faight; How to avoide the faightyng of a fielde.]
+
+FABRICIO. I will tell you. Aniball had putte all the strengthe of his
+armie, in the seconde bande: wherefore Scipio for to set againste
+thesame like strengthe, gathered the Prencipi and the Triarii together:
+So that the distaunces of the Prencipi, beyng occupied of the Triarii,
+there was no place to bee able to receive the Astati: and therefore he
+made the Astati to devide, and to go in the hornes of the armie, and he
+drewe them not betwene the Prencipi. But note, that this waie of openyng
+the first bande, for to give place to the seconde, cannot bee used, but
+when a man is superiour to his enemie: for that then there is commoditie
+to bee able to dooe it, as Scipio was able: but beyng under, and
+repulced, it cannot be doen, but with thy manifest ruine: and therefore
+it is convenient to have behinde, orders that maie receive thee, but let
+us tourne to our reasonyng. The auncient Asiaticans, emongest other
+thynges devised of them to hurt the enemies, used carres. The whiche had
+on the sides certaine hookes, so that not onely thei served to open with
+their violence the bandes, but also to kill with the hookes the
+adversaries: against the violence of those, in thre maners thei
+provided, either thei sustained theim with the thickenesse of the raies,
+or thei received theim betwene the bandes, as the Eliphantes were
+received, or els thei made with arte some strong resistence: As Silla a
+Romaine made againste Archelaus, whom had many of these cartes, whiche
+thei called hooked, who for to sustaine theim, drave many stakes into
+the grounde, behinde his first bandes of men, whereby the cartes beyng
+stopped, lost their violence. And the newe maner that Silla used against
+hym in orderyng the armie, is to bee noted: for that he put the Veliti,
+and the horse, behinde, and all the heavie armed afore, leavyng many
+distaunces to be able to sende before those behinde, when necessite
+required: whereby the fight beyng begun, with the helpe of the horsemen,
+to the whiche he gave the waie, he got the victorie. To intende to
+trouble in the faight the enemies armie, it is conveniente to make some
+thyng to growe, that maie make theim afraied, either with showyng of
+newe helpe that commeth, or with showyng thynges, whiche maie represente
+a terrour unto theim: after soche sorte, that the enemies begiled of
+that sight, maie be afraied, and being made afraied, thei maie easely
+bee overcome: the whiche waies Minutio Rufo used, and Accilio Glabrione
+Consulls of Rome. Caius Sulpitius also set a greate many of sackes upon
+Mules, and other beastes unprofitable for the warre, but in soche wise
+ordained, that thei semed men of armes, and he commaunded, that thei
+should appere upon a hill, while he were a faightyng with the
+Frenchemen, whereby grewe his victorie. The verie same did Marius, when
+he foughte against the Duchemen. Then the fained assaultes availyng
+moche, whilest the faight continueth, it is conveniente, that the very
+assaultes in deede, dooe helpe moche: inespecially if at unwares in the
+middest of the faight, the enemie might bee assaulted behinde, or on the
+side: the whiche hardely maie be doen, if the countrie helpe thee not:
+for that when it is open, parte of thy men cannot bee hid, as is mete to
+bee doen in like enterprises: but in woddie or hille places, and for
+this apt for ambusshes parte of thy men maie be well hidden, to be able
+in a sodain, and contrary to thenemies opinion to assaut him, whiche
+thyng alwaies shall be occasion to give thee the victorie. It hath been
+sometyme of greate importaunce, whilest the faighte continueth, to sowe
+voices, whiche doe pronounce the capitaine of thenemies to be dedde, or
+to have overcome on the other side of the armie: the whiche many times
+to them that have used it, hath given the victorie. The chivalrie of the
+enemies maie bee easely troubled, either with sightes, or with rumours,
+not used: as Creso did, whom put Camelles againste the horses of the
+adversaries, and Pirrus sette againste the Romaine horsemen Eliphantes,
+the sighte of whiche troubled and disordered them. In our time, the
+Turke discomfited the Sophi in Persia, and the Soldane in Surria with no
+other, then with the noise of Harkabuses, the whiche in soche wise, with
+their straunge rumours, disturbed the horses of those, that the Turke
+mighte easely overcome them: The Spaniardes to overcome the armie of
+Amilcare, put in the firste fronte Cartes full of towe drawen of oxen,
+and comming to handes, thei kindeled fire to thesame, wherfore the oxen
+to flie from the fire, thrust into the armie of Amilcar, and opened it.
+Thei are wonte (as we have saied) to begile the enemie in the faight,
+drawyng him into their ambusshes, where the Countrie is commodious for
+the same purpose, but where it were open and large, many have used to
+make diches, and after have covered them lightly with bowes and yearth,
+and lefte certain spaces whole, to be able betnene those to retire:
+after, so sone as the faight hath been begunne, retiryng by those, and
+the enemie folowing them, hath fallen in the pittes. If in the faight
+there happen thee, any accident that maie feare thy souldiours, it is a
+moste prudente thyng, to knowe how to desemble it, and to pervert it to
+good, as Tullo Hostilio did, and Lucius Silla: whom seyng while thei
+fought, how a parte of his men wer gone to the enemies side, and how
+thesame thing had verie moche made afraied his men, he made straighte
+waie throughout all the armie to be understoode, how all thing proceded,
+accordyng to his order: the whiche not onely did not trouble the armie,
+but it increased in them so moche stomack, that he remained victorious.
+It happened also to Silla, that havyng sente certaine souldiours to doe
+some businesse, and thei beyng slain he saied, to the intent his armie
+should not be made afraied thereby, that he had with crafte sent theim
+into the handes of the enemies, for that he had found them nothyng
+faithfull. Sertorius faightyng a battaile in Spaine, slue one, whom
+signified unto hym the death of one of his capitaines, for feare that
+tellyng the very same to other, he should make theim afraied. It is a
+moste difficult thyng, an armie beyng now moved to flie, to staie it,
+and make it to faight. And you have to make this distinccion: either
+that it is all moved, and then to be impossible to tourne it, or there
+is moved a parte thereof, and then there is some remedie. Many Romain
+capitaines, with making afore those whiche fled, have caused them to
+staie, making them ashamed of running awaie, as Lucius Silla did, where
+alredy parte of his Legions beyng tourned to flight, driven awaie by the
+men of Mithridates, he made afore them with a swearde in his hande
+criyng: if any aske you, where you left your capitaine, saie, we have
+left hym in Boecia, where he faighteth. Attillius a consull set againste
+that ran awaie, them that ranne not awaie, and made them to understande,
+that if thei would not tourne, thei should be slaine of their frendes,
+and of their enemies. Philip of Macedonia understanding how his men
+feared the Scithian Souldiours, placed behinde his armie, certaine of
+his moste trustie horsemen, and gave commission to theim, that thei
+should kill whom so ever fledde: wherfore, his men mindyng rather to die
+faightyng, then fliyng, overcame. Many Romaines, not so moche to staie a
+flight, as for to give occasion to their men, to make greater force,
+have whileste thei have foughte, taken an Ansigne out of their owne
+mennes handes, and throwen it emongeste the enemies, and appoincted
+rewardes to hym that could get it again. I doe not beleve that it is out
+of purpose, to joyne to this reasonyng those thynges, whiche chaunce
+after the faight, in especially beyng brief thinges, and not to be left
+behinde, and to this reasonyng conformable inough. Therefore I saie, how
+the fielde is loste, or els wonne: when it is wonne, the victorie ought
+with all celeritie to be folowed, and in this case to imitate Cesar, and
+not Aniball, whom staiyng after that he had discomfited the Romaines at
+Canne, loste the Empire of Rome: The other never rested after the
+victorie, but folowed the enemie beyng broken, with greater violence and
+furie, then when he assalted hym whole: but when a capitaine dooeth
+loese, he ought to see, if of the losse there maie growe any utilite
+unto hym, inespecially if there remain any residue of tharmie. The
+commoditie maie growe of the small advertisment of the enemie, whom
+moste often times after the victorie, becometh negligent, and giveth
+thee occasion to oppresse hym, as Marcius a Romaine oppressed the armie
+of the Carthaginers, whom having slain the twoo Scipions, and broken
+their armie, not estemyng thesame remnaunt of menne, whiche with Marcius
+remained a live, were of hym assaulted and overthrowen: for that it is
+seen, that there is no thing so moche to bee brought to passe, as
+thesame, whiche the enemie thinketh, that thou canst not attempte:
+bicause for the moste parte, men bee hurte moste, where thei doubt
+leaste: therefore a capitain ought when he cannot doe this, to devise at
+least with diligence, that the losse bee lesse hurtfull, to dooe this,
+it is necessarie for thee to use meanes, that the enemie maie not easely
+folowe thee, or to give him occasion to make delaie: in the first case,
+some after thei have been sure to lese, have taken order with their
+heddes, that in divers partes, and by divers waies thei should flie,
+havyng appoincted wher thei should after assemble together: the which
+made, that thenemie (fearing to devide the armie) was faine to let go
+safe either all, or the greatest part of them. In the seconde case, many
+have cast before the enemie, their dearest thinges, to the entent that
+he tariyng about the spoile, might give them more laisure to flie. Titus
+Dimius used no small policie to hide the losse, whiche he had received
+in the faight, for asmoche as havyng fought untill night, with great
+losse of his menne, he made in the night to be buried, the greatest part
+of them, wherefore in the mornyng, the enemies seyng so many slaine of
+theirs, and so fewe of the Romaines, belevyng that thei had the
+disavauntage, ran awaie. I trust I have thus confusedly, as I saied,
+satisfied in good part your demaunde: in dede about the facions of the
+armies, there resteth me to tell you, how some tyme, by some Capitaines,
+it hath been used to make theim with the fronte, like unto a wedge,
+judgyng to bee able by soche meane, more easely to open the enemies
+armie. Against this facion, thei have used to make a facion like unto a
+paire of sheres, to be able betwene thesame voide place, to receive that
+wedge, and to compasse it about, and to faight with it on every side:
+whereupon I will that you take this generall rule, that the greatest
+remedie that is used againste a devise of the enemie, is to dooe
+willingly thesame, whiche he hath devised that thou shalt dooe perforce:
+bicause that doyng it willingly, thou doest it with order, and with thy
+advauntage, and his disadvauntage, if thou shouldest doe it beyng
+inforced, it should be thy undoyng: For the provyng whereof, I care not
+to reherse unto you, certain thynges alredy tolde. The adversary maketh
+the wedge to open thy bandes: if thou gowest with them open, thou
+disorderest hym, and he disordereth not thee. Aniball set the Elephantes
+in the fronte of his armie, to open with theim the armie of Scipio.
+Scipio went with it open, and it was the occasion of his victorie, and
+of the ruine of hym. Asdruball placed his strongest men in the middest
+of the fronte of his armie, to overthrowe Scipios menne: Scipio
+commaunded, that by them selves thei should retire and he broke theim:
+So that like devises when thei are foreseen, bee the causes of the
+victorie of him, against whom thei be prepared. There remaineth me also,
+if I remember my self well, to tell you what respectes a Capitaine ought
+to have, before he leade his men to faight: upon whiche I have to tell
+you firste, how a capitaine ought never to faight a battaile, except he
+have advauntage, or be constrained. The vantage groweth of the
+situacion, of the order, of havyng more, or better menne: the necessitie
+groweth when thou seest how that not faightyng, thou muste in any wise
+lose, as should bee for lackyng of money, and for this, thy armie to bee
+ready all maner of waies to resolve, where famishemente is ready to
+assaulte thee, where the enemie looketh to bee ingrosed with newe men:
+in these cases, thou oughtest alwaies to faight, although with thy
+disadvauntage: for that it is moche better to attempte fortune, where
+she maie favour thee, then not attemptyng, to see thy certaine ruine:
+and it is as grevous a faulte in this case, in a capitain not to faight,
+as to have had occasion to overcome, and not to have either knowen it
+through ignoraunce, or lefte it through vilenesse. The advauntages some
+tymes the enemie giveth thee, and some tymes thy prudence: Many in
+passyng Rivers have been broken of their enemie, that hath been aware
+thereof, whom hath taried, till the one halfe hath been of the one side,
+and the other halfe on the other, and then hath assaulted them: as Cesar
+did to the Suizzers, where he destroied the fowerth parte of theim,
+through beyng halfe over a river. Some tyme thy enemie is founde wearie,
+for havyng folowed thee to undescritely, so that findyng thy self freshe
+and lustie, thou oughtest not to let passe soche an occasion: besides
+this, if the enemie offer unto thee in the mornyng betymes to faight,
+thou maiest a good while deferre to issue out of thy lodgyng, and when
+he hath stoode long in armour, and that he hath loste that same firste
+heate, with the whiche he came, thou maiest then faight with him. This
+waie Scipio and Metellus used in Spaine: the one against Asdruball, the
+other against Sertorius. If the enemie be deminished of power, either
+for havyng devided the armie, as the Scipions in Spain, or for some
+other occasion, thou oughteste to prove chaunce. The greateste parte of
+prudent capitaines, rather receive the violence of the enemies, then go
+with violence to assalte them: for that the furie is easely withstoode
+of sure and steddie menne, and the furie beyng sustained, converteth
+lightly into vilenesse: Thus Fabius did againste the Sannites, and
+against the Galles, and was victorious and his felowe Decius remained
+slain. Some fearing the power of their enemies, have begun the faight a
+little before night, to the intent that their men chaunsyng to bee
+overcome, might then by the helpe of the darkenesse thereof, save theim
+selves. Some havyng knowen, how the enemies armie beyng taken of
+certaine supersticion, not to faight in soche a tyme, have chosen
+thesame tyme to faighte, and overcome: The whiche Cesar observed in
+Fraunce, againste Arionistus, and Vespasian in Surrie, againste the
+Jewes. The greatest and moste importaunte advertismente, that a
+capitaine ought to have, is to have aboute hym faithfull menne, that are
+wise and moste expert in the warre, with whom he must continually
+consulte and reason of his men, and of those of the enemies, whiche is
+the greater nomber, whiche is beste armed, or beste on horsebacke, or
+best exercised, whiche be moste apte to suffer necessitie, in whom he
+trusteth moste, either in the footemen, or in the horsemen: after thei
+ought to consider the place where thei be, and whether it be more to the
+purpose for thenemie, then for him: which of theim hath victualles moste
+commodious: whether it be good to deferre the battaile, or to faight it:
+what good might bee given hym, or taken awaie by tyme: for that many
+tymes, souldiours seyng the warre to be delaied, are greved, and beyng
+wearie, in the pain and in the tediousnesse therof, wil forsake thee. It
+importeth above all thyng, to knowe the capitain of the enemies, and
+whom he hath aboute hym, whether he be rashe, or politike, whether he be
+fearfull, or hardie: to see how thou maiest truste upon the aidyng
+souldiours. And above all thyng thou oughtest to take hede, not to
+conducte the armie to faight when it feareth, or when in any wise it
+mistrusteth of the victorie: for that the greatest signe to lose, is
+thei beleve not to be able to winne: and therfore in this case, thou
+oughtest to avoide the faightyng of the fielde, either with doyng as
+Fabius Maximus, whom incampyng in strong places, gave no courage to
+Aniball, to goe to finde hym, or when thou shouldest thinke, that the
+enemie also in strong places, would come to finde thee, to departe out
+of the fielde, and to devide the menne into thy tounes to thentent that
+tediousnesse of winnyng them, maie wearie hym.
+
+ZANOBI. Cannot the faightyng of the battaile be otherwise avoided, then
+in devidyng the armie in sunderie partes and placyng the men in tounes?
+
+[Sidenote: Fabius Maximus.]
+
+FABRICIO. I beleve that ones alreadie, with some of you I have reasoned,
+how that he, that is in the field, cannot avoide to faight the battaile,
+when he hath an enemie, which will faight with hym in any wise, and he
+hath not, but one remedie, and that is, to place him self with his armie
+distant fiftie miles at leaste, from his adversarie, to be able betymes
+to avoide him, when he should go to finde hym. For Fabius Maximus never
+avoided to faight the battaile with Aniball, but he would have it with
+his advauntage: and Aniball did not presume to bee able to overcome hym,
+goyng to finde hym in the places where he incamped: where if he had
+presupposed, to have been able to have overcome, it had been conveniente
+for Fabius, to have fought the battaile with hym, or to have avoided.
+
+[Sidenote: Philip king of Macedonia, overcome by the Romaines; How
+Cingentorige avoided the faightyng of the fielde with Cesar; The
+ignorance of the Venecians; What is to be doen wher soldiours desire to
+faight, contrary to their capitaines minde; How to incourage souldiers;
+An advertisment to make the soldiour most obstinately to faight.]
+
+Philip Kyng of Macedonia, thesame that was father to Perse, commyng to
+warre with the Romaines, pitched his campe upon a verie high hill, to
+the entent not to faight with theim: but the Romaines wente to find hym
+on thesame hill, and discomfaited hym. Cingentorige capitain of the
+Frenche menne, for that he would not faight the field with Cesar, whom
+contrarie to his opinion, had passed a river, got awaie many miles with
+his men. The Venecians in our tyme, if thei would not have come to have
+fought with the Frenche kyng, thei ought not to have taried till the
+Frenche armie, had passed the River Addus, but to have gotten from them
+as Cingentorige, where thei havyng taried knewe not how to take in the
+passyng of the men, the occasion to faight the battaile, nor to avoide
+it: For that the Frenche men beyng nere unto them, as the Venecians went
+out of their Campe, assaulted theim, and discomfited theim: so it is,
+that the battaile cannot bee avoided, when the enemie in any wise will
+faight, nor let no man alledge Fabius, for that so moche in thesame
+case, he did flie the daie of battaile, as Aniball. It happeneth many
+tymes, that thy souldiours be willyng to faight, and thou knoweste by
+the nomber, and by the situacion, or for some other occasion to have
+disadvauntage, and desirest to make them chaunge from this desire: it
+happeneth also, that necessitie, or occasion, constraineth thee to
+faight, and that thy souldiours are evill to be trusted, and smally
+disposed to faight: where it is necessarie in thone case, to make theim
+afraied, and in the other to incourage theim: In the firste case, when
+perswacions suffiseth not, there is no better waie, then to give in
+praie, a part of them unto thenemie, to thintent those that have, and
+those that have not fought, maie beleve thee: and it may very wel be
+doen with art, thesame which to Fabius Maximus hapned by chaunce.
+Tharmie of Fabius (as you knowe) desired to faight with Aniballs armie:
+the very same desire had the master of his horses: to Fabius it semed
+not good, to attempte the faight: so that through soche contrary
+opinions, he was fain to devide the armie: Fabius kept his men in the
+campe, the other fought, and commyng into great perill, had been
+overthrowen, if Fabius had not rescued him: by the whiche insample the
+maister of the horse, together with all the armie, knewe how it was a
+wise waie to obeie Fabius. Concernyng to incourage theim to faight, it
+should be well doen, to make them to disdain the enemies, shewyng how
+thei speake slaunderous woordes of them, to declare to have intelligence
+with them, and to have corrupted part of them, to incampe in place,
+where thei maie see the enemies, and make some light skirmishe with
+them, for that the thyng that is dailie seen, with more facilitie is
+despised: to shewe theim to bee unworthie, and with an oracion for the
+purpose, to reprehende them of their cowardnesse, and for to make them
+ashamed, to tell theim that you will faight alone, when thei will not
+beare you companie. And you ought above all thyng to have this
+advertismente, mindyng to make the Souldiour obstinate to faight, not to
+permitte, that thei maie send home any of their substaunce, or to leave
+it in any place, till the warre bee ended, that thei maie understande,
+that although fliyng save their life, yet it saveth not theim their
+goodes, the love whereof, is wonte no lesse then thesame, to make men
+obstinate in defence.
+
+ZANOBI. YOU have tolde, how the souldiours maie be tourned to faight,
+with speakyng to theim: doe you meane by this, that all the armie must
+bee spoken unto, or to the heddes thereof?
+
+[Sidenote: It is requisite for excellent Capitaines to bee good orators;
+Alexander Magnus used openly to perswade his armie; The effecteousnes of
+speking; Souldiours ought to be accustomed to heare their Capitaine
+speake; How in olde time souldiers were threatened for their faltes;
+Enterprises maie the easelier be brought to passe by meanes of religion;
+Sertorius; A policie of Silla; A policie of Charles the seventh king of
+Fraunce against the Englishmen; How souldiers maiebee made to esteme
+little their enemies; The surest wai to make souldiours moste obstinat
+to faight; By what meanes obstinatenesse to faighte is increased.]
+
+FABRICIO. TO perswade, or to diswade a thyng unto fewe, is verie easie,
+for that if woordes suffise not, you maie then use aucthoritie and
+force: but the difficultie is, to remove from a multitude an evill
+opinion, and that whiche is contrary either to the common profite, or to
+thy opinion, where cannot be used but woordes, the whiche is meete that
+thei be heard of every man, mindyng to perswade them all. Wherfore, it
+was requisite that the excellente Capitaines were oratours: for that
+without knowyng how to speake to al the army, with difficultie maie be
+wrought any good thing: the whiche altogether in this our tyme is laied
+aside. Rede the life of Alexander Magnus, and you shall see how many
+tymes it was necessarie for hym to perswade, and to speake publikly to
+his armie: otherwise he should never have brought theim, beyng become
+riche, and full of spoile, through the desertes of Arabia, and into
+India with so moche his disease, and trouble: for that infinite tymes
+there growe thynges, wherby an armie ruinateth, when the capitain either
+knoweth not, or useth not to speake unto thesame, for that this speakyng
+taketh awaie feare, in courageth the mindes, increaseth the obstinatenes
+to faight, discovereth the deceiptes, promiseth rewardes, sheweth the
+perilles, and the waie to avoide theim, reprehendeth, praieth,
+threatened, filleth full of hope, praise, shame, and doeth a11 those
+thynges, by the whiche the humaine passions are extincte or kendled:
+wherefore, that prince, or common weale, whiche should appoincte to make
+a newe power, and cause reputacion to their armie, ought to accustome
+the Souldiours thereof, to heare the capitain to speake, and the
+capitain to know how to speake unto them. In kepyng desposed the
+souldiours in old tyme, to faight for their countrie, the religion
+availed moche, and the othes whiche thei gave them, when thei led theim
+to warfare: for as moche as in al their faultes, thei threatned them not
+onely with those punishementes, whiche might be feared of men but with
+those whiche of God might be looked for: the whiche thyng mingled with
+the other Religious maners, made many tymes easie to the auncient
+capitaines all enterprises, and will doe alwaies, where religion shall
+be feared, and observed. Sertorius prevailed, by declaryng that he spake
+with a Stagge, the whiche in Goddes parte, promised hym the victorie.
+Silla saied, he spoke with an Image, whiche he had taken out of the
+Temple of Apollo. Many have tolde how God hath appered unto them in
+their slepe, whom hath admonished them to faight. In our fathers time,
+Charles the seventh kyng of Fraunce, in the warre whiche he made
+againste the Englishemen, saied, he counsailed with a maide, sent from
+God, who was called every where the Damosell of Fraunce, the which was
+occacion of his victorie. There maie be also used meanes, that maie make
+thy men to esteme little the enemie, as Agesilao a Spartaine used, whom
+shewed to his souldiours, certain Persians naked, to the intent that
+seyng their delicate members, thei should not have cause to feare them.
+Some have constrained their men to faight through necessitie, takyng
+awaie from them all hope of savyng theim selves, savyng in overcommyng.
+The whiche is the strongest, and the beste provision that is made, to
+purpose to make the souldiour obstinate to faight: whiche obstinatenesse
+is increased by the confidence, and love of the Capitaine, or of the
+countrie. Confidence is caused through the armour, the order the late
+victorie, and the opinion of the Capitaine. The love of the countrie, is
+caused of nature: that of the Capitain, through vertue, more then by any
+other benefite: the necessities maie be many, but that is strongest,
+whiche constraineth thee; either to overcome, or to dye.
+
+
+
+
+THE FIVETH BOOKE
+
+
+[Sidenote: How the Romaines marched with their armies; How the Romaines
+ordered their armie when it happened to be assaulted on the waie; How
+the main battailes ought to marche; The orderyng of an armie after soche
+sorte, that it maie marche safelie through the enemies countrie and be
+alwaies in a redines to faight; The place in the armie wher the bowmen
+and Harkabutters are appoincted; The place in the armie wher
+thextraordinarie Pikes are appoincted. The place in the armie wherthe
+generall capitain must be; Where the artillerie must be placed. The
+light horsmenne must be sente before to discover the countrie and the
+menne of armes to come behind tharmy; A generall rule concernyng horse;
+Wher the carriages and the unarmed are placed; The waie must be made
+plaine wher the armie shall marche in order; How many miles a day an
+armie maie marche in battaile raie, to bee able to incampe before sunne
+set; The orderyng of the armie, when it is assaulted on the vawarde; The
+orderyng of tharmie when thenemie commes to assaulte it behinde; How the
+armie is ordered when it is assaulted of any of the sides; doen when the
+army is assaulted on twoo sides.]
+
+FABRICIO. I have shewed you, how an armi, is ordained to faight a fielde
+with an other armie, which is seen pitched against it, and have declared
+unto you, howe the same is overcome, and after many circumstaunces, I
+have likewise shewed you, what divers chaunces, maie happen about
+thesame, so that me thinkes tyme to shewe you now, how an armie is
+ordered, againste thesame enemie, whiche otherwise is not seen, but
+continually feared, that he assaulte thee: this happeneth when an armie
+marcheth through the enemies countrie, or through suspected places.
+Firste, you must understande, how a Romaine armie, sent alwaies
+ordinarely afore, certaine bandes of horsemen, as spies of the waie:
+after followed the right horne, after this, came all the carriages,
+whiche to thesame apperteined, after this, came a Legion, after it, the
+carriages therof, after that, an other legion, and next to it, their
+carriages, after whiche, came the left horne, with the carriages thereof
+at their backe, and in the laste part, folowed the remnaunte of the
+chivalrie: this was in effecte the maner, with whiche ordinarily thei
+marched: and if it happened that the armie were assaulted in the waie on
+the fronte, or on the backe, thei made straight waie all the carriages
+to bee drawen, either on the right, or on the lefte side, accordyng as
+chaunsed, or as thei could beste, havyng respecte to the situacion: and
+all the men together free from their impedimentes, made hedde on that
+parte, where the enemie came. If thei were assaulted on the flancke,
+thei drue the carriages towardes thesame parte that was safe, and of the
+other, thei made hedde. This waie beyng well and prudently governed, I
+have thought meete to imitate, sending afore the light horsemen, as
+exploratours of the Countrie: Then havyng fower maine battailes I would
+make them to marche in araie, and every one with their carriages
+folowyng theim. And for that there be twoo sortes of carriages, that is
+partainyng to particulare souldiours, and partainyng to the publike use
+of all the Campe, I would devide the publike Carriages into fower
+partes, and to every maine battaile, I would appoinct his parte,
+deviding also the artillerie into fower partes, and all the unarmed, so
+that every nomber of armed menne, should equally have their
+impedimentes. But bicause it happeneth some times, that thei marche
+through the countrie, not onely suspected, but so daungerous, that thou
+fearest every hower to be assaulted, thou art constrained for to go more
+sure, to chaunge the forme of marchyng, and to goe in soche wise
+prepared, that neither the countrie menne, nor any armie, maie hurte
+thee, findyng thee in any parte unprovided. In soche case, the aunciente
+capitaines were wont, to marche with the armie quadrante, whiche so thei
+called this forme, not for that it was altogether quadrante, but for
+that it was apte to faight of fower partes, and thei saied, that thei
+wente prepared, bothe for the waie, and for the faight: from whiche
+waie, I will not digresse, and I will ordaine my twoo maine battailes,
+whiche I have taken for to make an armie of, to this effect. Mindyng
+therefore, to marche safely through the enemies Countrie, and to bee
+able to aunswere hym on every side, when at unwares the armie might
+chaunce to be assaulted, and intendyng therefore, accordyng to the
+antiquitie, to bryng thesame into a square, I would devise to make a
+quadrant, that the rome therof should be of space on every part Clix.
+yardes, in this maner. First I would put the flanckes, distant the one
+flanck from the other, Clix. yardes, and I would place five battailes
+for a flancke, in a raie in length, and distant the one from the other,
+twoo yardes and a quarter: the whiche shall occupie with their spaces,
+every battaile occupiyng thirtie yardes, Clix. yardes. Then betwen the
+hedde and the taile of these two flanckes, I would place the other tenne
+battailes, in every parte five, orderyng them after soche sorte, that
+fower should joyne to the hedde of the right flanck, and fower to the
+taile of the lefte flancke, leaving betwene every one of them, a
+distance of thre yardes: one should after joyne to the hedde of the
+lefte flancke, and one to the taile of the right flancke: and for that
+the space that is betwene the one flancke and the other, is Clix.
+yardes, and these battailes whiche are set the one to the side of the
+other by breadth, and not by length, will come to occupie with the
+distaunces one hundred yardes and a halfe yarde, there shall come
+betwene theim fower battailes, placed in the fronte on the right
+flancke, and the one placed in thesame on the lefte, to remaine a space
+of fiftie and eighte yardes and a halfe, and the verie same space will
+come to remaine in the battailes, placed in the hinder parte: nor there
+shall bee no difference, saving that the one space shall come on the
+parte behind towardes the right horne, and thother shall come on the
+parte afore, towardes the lefte home. In the space of the lviii. yardes
+and a halfe before, I would place all the ordinarie Veliti, in thesame
+behinde, the extraordinarie, which wil come to be a thousande for a
+space, and mindyng to have the space that ought to be within the armie,
+to be every waie Clix. yardes, it is mete that the five battailes,
+whiche are placed in the hedde, and those whiche are placed in the
+taile, occupie not any parte of the space, whiche the flanckes keepe:
+and therefore it shall be convenient, that the five battailes behinde,
+doe touche with the fronte, the taile of their flanckes, and those
+afore, with the taile to touche he hedde, after soche sorte, that upon
+every corner of the ame armie, there maie remaine a space, to receive an
+other battaile: and for that there bee fower spaces, I would take fower
+bandes of the extraordinarie Pikes, and in every corner I would place
+one, and the twoo Ansignes of the foresaied Pikes, whiche shall remain
+overplus, I would sette in the middest of the rome of this armie, in a
+square battaile, on the hedde whereof, should stande the generall
+capitaine, with his menne about him. And for that these battailes
+ordeined thus, marche all one waie, but faight not all one waie, in
+puttyng them together, those sides ought to be ordained to faight,
+whiche are not defended of thother battailes. And therfore it ought to
+be considered, that the five battailes that be in the front, have all
+their other partes defended, excepte the fronte: and therfore these
+ought to bee put together in good order, and with the Pikes afore. The
+five battailes whiche are behinde, have all their sides defended, except
+the parte behinde, and therefore those ought to bee put together in
+soche wise, that the Pikes come behind, as in the place therof we shall
+shewe. The five battailes that bee in the right flancke, have all their
+sides defended, except the right flancke. The five that be on the left
+flanck, have all their partes defended, excepte the lefte flancke: and
+therefore in orderyng the battailes, thei ought to bee made, that the
+Pikes maie tourne on the same flanck, that lieth open: and the
+Peticapitaines to stand on the hedde, and on the taile, so that nedyng
+to faight, all the armour and weapons maie be in their due places, the
+waie to doe this, is declared where we reasoned of the maner of orderyng
+the battailes. The artillerie I would devide, and one parte I would
+place without, on the lefte flancke, and the other on the right. The
+light horsemen, I would sende afore to discover the countrie. Of the
+menne of armes, I would place part behinde, on the right home, and parte
+on the lefte, distante about thirtie yardes from the battailes: and
+concerning horse, you have to take this for a general rule in every
+condicion, where you ordaine an armie, that alwaies thei ought to be
+put, either behinde, or on the flanckes of thesame: he that putteth them
+afore, over against the armie, it behoveth hym to doe one of these twoo
+thinges, either that he put them so moche afore, that beyng repulced,
+thei maie have so moche space, that maie give them tyme, to be able to
+go a side from thy footemen, and not to runne upon them, or to order
+them in soche wise, with so many spaces, that the horses by those maie
+enter betwene them, without disorderyng them. Nor let no man esteme
+little this remembraunce, for as moche as many capitaines, whom havyng
+taken no hede thereof, have been ruinated, and by themselves have been
+disordered, and broken. The carriages and the unarmed menne are placed,
+in the rome that remaineth within the armie, and in soche sorte equally
+devided, that thei maie give the waie easely, to whom so ever would go,
+either from the one corner to the other, or from the one hedde, to the
+other of the armie. These battailes without the artillerie and the
+horse, occupie every waie from the utter side, twoo hundred and eleven
+yardes and a halfe of space: and bicause this quadrante is made of twoo
+main battailes, it is convenient to distinguishe, what part thone maine
+battaile maketh, and what the other: and for that the main battailes are
+called by the nomber, and every of theim hath (as you knowe) tenne
+battailes, and a generall hed, I would cause that the first main
+battaile, should set the first v. battailes therof in the front, the
+other five, in the left flanck, and the capitain of the same should
+stande in the left corner of the front. The seconde maine battaile,
+should then put the firste five battailes therof, in the right flanck,
+and the other five in the taile, and the hedde capitain of thesame,
+should stande in the right corner, whom should come to dooe the office
+of the Tergiductor. The armie ordained in this maner, ought to be made
+to move, and in the marchyng, to observe all this order, and without
+doubte, it is sure from all the tumultes of the countrie men. Nor the
+capitain ought not to make other provision, to the tumultuarie
+assaultes, then to give sometyme Commission to some horse, or Ansigne of
+Veliti, that thei set themselves in order: nor it shall never happen
+that these tumultuous people, will come to finde thee at the drawyng of
+the swerd, or pikes poincte: for that men out of order, have feare of
+those that be in araie: and alwaies it shall bee seen, that with cries
+and rumours, thei will make a greate assaulte, without otherwise commyng
+nere unto thee, like unto barking curres aboute a Mastie. Aniball when
+he came to the hurte of the Romaines into Italie, he passed through all
+Fraunce, and alwaies of the Frenche tumultes, he took small regarde.
+Mindyng to marche, it is conveniente to have plainers and labourers
+afore, whom maie make thee the waie plaine, whiche shall bee garded of
+those horsemen, that are sent afore to viewe the countrie: an armie in
+this order maie marche tenne mile the daie, and shall have tyme inough
+to incampe, and suppe before Sunne goyng doune, for that ordinarely, an
+armie maie marche twentie mile: if it happen that thou be assaulted, of
+an armie set in order, this assaulte cannot growe sodainly: for that an
+armie in order, commeth with his pace, so that thou maiest have tyme
+inough, to set thy self in order to faight the field, and reduce thy
+menne quickly into thesame facion, or like to thesame facion of an
+armie, which afore is shewed thee. For that if thou be assaulted, on the
+parte afore, thou needeste not but to cause, that the artillerie that be
+on the flanckes, and the horse that be behinde, to come before, and
+place theimselves in those places, and with those distaunces, as afore
+is declared. The thousande Veliti that bee before, must go out of their
+place, and be devided into CCCCC. for a parte, and go into their place,
+betwene the horse and the hornes of tharmy: then in the voide place that
+thei shal leave, the twoo Ansignes of the extraordinarie Pikes muste
+entre, whiche I did set in the middest of the quadrante of the armie.
+The thousande Veliti, whiche I placed behinde, must departe from thesame
+place, and devide them selves in the flanckes of the battailes, to the
+fortificacion of those: and by the open place that thei shal leave, all
+the carriages and unarmed menne must go out, and place themselves on the
+backe of the battaile. Then the rome in the middeste beyng voided, and
+every man gone to his place: the five battailes, whiche I placed behinde
+on the armie, must make forward in the voide place, that is betwene the
+one and the other flanck, and marche towardes the battailes, that stand
+in the hedde, and three of theim, muste stande within thirtie yardes of
+those, with equall distances, betwene the one and the other, and the
+other twoo shal remain behinde, distaunte other thirtie yardes: the
+whiche facion maie bee ordained in a sodaine, and commeth almoste to bee
+like, unto the firste disposicion, whiche of tharmy afore we shewed. And
+though it come straighter in the fronte, it commeth grosser in the
+flanckes, whiche giveth it no lesse strength: but bicause the five
+battailes, that be in the taile, have the Pikes on the hinder parte, for
+the occasion that before we have declared, it is necessarie to make
+theim to come on the parte afore, mindyng to have theim to make a backe
+to the front of tharmie: and therfore it behoveth either to make them to
+tourne battaile after battaile, as a whole body, or to make them quickly
+to enter betwen thorders of targettes, and conduct them afore, the
+whiche waie is more spedy, and of lesse disorder, then to make them to
+turn al together: and so thou oughtest to doe of all those, whiche
+remain behind in every condicion of assault, as I shal shewe you. If it
+appere that thenemie come on the part behinde, the first thyng that
+ought to bee dooen, is to cause that every man tourne his face where his
+backe stode, and straight waie tharmie cometh to have made of taile,
+hed, and of hed taile: then al those waies ought to be kept, in orderyng
+thesame fronte, as I tolde afore. If the enemie come to incounter the
+right flancke, the face of thy armie ought to bee made to tourne
+towardes thesame side: after, make all those thynges in fortificacion of
+thesame hedde, whiche above is saied, so that the horsemen, the Veliti,
+and the artillerie, maie be in places conformable to the hed thereof:
+onely you have this difference, that in variyng the hed of those, which
+are transposed, some have to go more, and some lesse. In deede makyng
+hedde of the right flancke, the Veliti ought to enter in the spaces,
+that bee betwene the horne of the armie, and those horse, whiche were
+nerest to the lefte flancke, in whose place ought to enter, the twoo
+Ansignes of the extraordinarie Pikes, placed in the middest: But firste
+the carriages and the unarmed, shall goe out by the open place, avoidyng
+the rome in the middest, and retiryng themselves behinde the lefte
+flancke, whiche shall come to bee then the taile of the armie: the other
+Veliti that were placed in the taile, accordyng to the principall
+orderyng of the armie, in this case, shall not move: Bicause the same
+place should not remaine open, whiche of taile shall come to be flancke:
+all other thyng ought to bee dooen, as in orderyng of the firste hedde
+is saied: this that is told about the makyng hed of the right flanck,
+must be understode to be told, havyng nede to make it of the left
+flanck: for that the very same order ought to bee observed. If the
+enemie should come grose, and in order to assaulte thee on twoo sides,
+those twoo sides, whiche he commeth to assaulte thee on, ought to bee
+made stronge with the other twoo sides, that are not assaulted, doublyng
+the orders in eche of theim, and devidyng for bothe partes the
+artillerie, the Veliti, and the horse. If he come on three or on fower
+sides, it is necessarie that either thou or he lacke prudence: for that
+if thou shalt bee wise, thou wilte never putte thy self in place, that
+the enemie on three or fower sides, with a greate nomber of men, and in
+order, maie assault thee: for that mindyng, safely to hurte thee, it is
+requisit, that he be so great, that on every side, he maie assault thee,
+with as many men, as thou haste almoste in al thy army: and if thou be
+so unwise, that thou put thy self in the daunger and force of an enemie,
+whom hath three tymes more menne ordained then thou, if thou catche
+hurte, thou canste blame no man but thy self: if it happen not through
+thy faulte, but throughe some mischaunce, the hurt shall be without the
+shame, and it shal chaunce unto thee, as unto the Scipions in Spaine,
+and to Asdruball in Italie but if the enemie have not many more men then
+thou, and intende for to disorder thee, to assaulte thee on divers
+sides, it shal be his foolishnesse, and thy good fortune: for as moche
+as to doe so, it is convenient, that he become so thinne in soche wise,
+that then easely thou maiste overthrow one bande, and withstande an
+other, and in short time ruinate him: this maner of ordering an armie
+against an enemie, whiche is not seen, but whiche is feared, is a
+necessarie and a profitable thing, to accustome thy souldiours, to put
+themselves together, and to march with soche order, and in marchyng, to
+order theimselves to faight, accordyng to the first hedde, and after to
+retourne in the forme, that thei marched in, then to make hedde of the
+taile, after, of the flanckes, from these, to retourne into the first
+facion: the whiche exercises and uses bee necessarie, mindyng to have an
+armie, throughly instructed and practised: in whiche thyng the Princes
+and the capitaines, ought to take paine. Nor the discipline of warre is
+no other, then to knowe how to commaunde, and to execute these thynges.
+Nor an instructed armie is no other, then an armie that is wel practised
+in these orders: nor it cannot be possible, that who so ever in this
+time, should use like disciplin shall ever bee broken. And if this
+quadrante forme whiche I have shewed you, is somewhat difficulte, soche
+difficultnesse is necessarie, takyng it for an exercise: for as moche as
+knowyng well, how to set theim selves in order, and to maintaine theim
+selves in the same, thei shall knowe after more easely, how to stand in
+those, whiche should not have so moche difficultie.
+
+ZANOBI. I beleve as you saie, that these orders bee verie necessarie,
+and I for my parte, knowe not what to adde or take from it: true it is,
+that I desire to know of you twoo thynges, the one, if when you will
+make of the taile, or of the flancke hedde, and would make them to
+tourne, whether this be commaunded by the voice, or with the sounde:
+thother, whether those that you sende afore, to make plain the waie, for
+the armie to marche, ought to be of the verie same souldiours of your
+battailes, or other vile menne appoincted, to like exercise.
+
+[Sidenote: Commaundementes of Capitaines being not wel understoode, maie
+be the destruction of an armie; Respect that is to be had in
+commaundementes made with the sounde of the Trompet; In commaundmentes
+made with the voice, what respect is to be had; Of Pianars.]
+
+FABRICIO. Your firste question importeth moche: for that many tymes the
+commaundementes of Capitaines, beyng not well understoode, or evill
+interpreted, have disordered their armie: therfore the voices, with the
+whiche thei commaunde in perilles, ought to bee cleare, and nete. And if
+thou commaunde with the sounde, it is convenient to make, that betwene
+the one waie and the other, there be so moche difference, that the one
+cannot be chaunged for the other: and if thou commaundest with the
+voice, thou oughteste to take heede, that thou flie the general voices,
+and to use the particulares, and of the particulars, to flie those,
+whiche maie be interpreted sinisterly. Many tymes the saiyng backe,
+backe, hath made to ruinate an armie; therfore this voice ought not to
+be used, but in steede therof to use, retire you. If you will make theim
+to tourne, for to chaunge the hedde, either to flanck, or to backe, use
+never to saie tourne you, but saie to the lefte, to the right, to the
+backe, to the front: thus all the other voices ought to be simple, and
+nete, as thrust on, march, stande stronge, forwarde, retourne you: and
+all those thynges, whiche maie bee dooen with the voice, thei doe, the
+other is dooen with the sounde. Concernyng those menne, that must make
+the waies plaine for the armie to marche, whiche is your seconde
+question, I would cause my owne souldiours to dooe this office, as well
+bicause in the aunciente warfare thei did so, as also for that there
+should be in the armie, lesser nomber of unarmed men, and lesse
+impedimentes: and I would choose out of every battaile, thesame nomber
+that should nede, and I would make theim to take the instrumentes, meete
+to plaine the grounde withall, and their weapons to leave with those
+rankes, that should bee nereste them, who should carrie them, and the
+enemie commyng, thei shall have no other to doe, then to take them
+again, and to retourne into their araie.
+
+ZANOBI. Who shall carrie thinstrumentes to make the waie plaine withall?
+
+FABRICIO. The Cartes that are appoincted to carrie the like
+instrumentes.
+
+ZANOBI. I doubte whether you should ever brynge these our souldiours, to
+labour with Shovell or Mattocke, after soche sorte.
+
+[Sidenote: The victualles that thantiquitie made provision of, for their
+armies.]
+
+FABRICIO. All these thynges shall bee reasoned in the place thereof, but
+now I will let alone this parte, and reason of the maner of the
+victualing of the armie: for that me thinketh, havyng so moche
+traivailed theim, it is tyme to refreshe them, and to comfort them with
+meate. You have to understande, that a Prince ought to ordaine his
+armie, as expedite as is possible, and take from thesame all those
+thynges, whiche maie cause any trouble or burthen unto it, and make unto
+hym any enterprise difficulte. Emongest those thynges that causeth moste
+difficultie, is to be constrained to keepe the armie provided of wine,
+and baked bread. The antiquitie cared not for Wine, for that lackyng it,
+thei dranke water, mingeled with a little vinegre, to give it a taste:
+For whiche cause, emong the municions of victualles for the hoste,
+vineger was one, and not wine. Thei baked not the breade in Ovens, as
+thei use for Citees, but thei provided the Meale, and of thesame, every
+Souldiour after his owne maner, satisfied hym self, havyng for
+condimente Larde and Baken, the whiche made the breade saverie, that
+thei made, and maintained theim strong, so that the provision of
+victualles for the armie, was Meale, Vineger, Larde, and Bacon, and for
+the horses Barley. Thei had ordinarely heardes of greate beastes and
+small, whiche folowed the armie, the whiche havyng no nede to bee
+carried, caused not moche impedimente. Of this order there grewe, that
+an armie in old time, marched somtymes many daies through solitarie
+places, and difficulte, without sufferyng disease of victualles: for
+that thei lived of thyngs, whiche easely thei might convey after them.
+To the contrarie it happeneth in the armies, that are now a daies,
+whiche mindyng not to lacke wine, and to eate baked breade in thesame
+maner, as when thei are at home, whereof beyng not able to make
+provision long, thei remaine often tymes famished, or though thei be
+provided, it is dooen with disease, and with moste greate coste:
+therfore I would reduce my armie to this maner of living: and I would
+not that thei should eate other bread, then that, which by themselves
+thei should bake. Concernyng wine, I would not prohibite the drinkyng
+thereof, nor yet the commyng of it into the armie, but I would not use
+indevour, nor any labour for to have it, and in the other provisions, I
+would governe my self altogether, like unto the antiquitie: the whiche
+thing, if you consider well, you shall see how moche difficultie is
+taken awaie, and how moche trouble and disease, an armie and a capitaine
+is avoided of, and how moche commoditie shall bee given, to what so ever
+enterprise is to bee dooen.
+
+ZANOBI. We have overcome thenemie in the field, marched afterward upon
+his countrie, reason would, that spoiles be made, tounes sacked,
+prisoners taken, therefore I would knowe how the antiquitie in these
+thynges, governed them selves.
+
+[Sidenote: The occasions why the warres made nowe adaies, doe
+impoverishe the conquerors as well as the conquered; The order that the
+Romaines toke, concerning the spoile and the booties that their
+souldiours gotte; An order that the antiquitie tooke, concernyng their
+soldiours wages.]
+
+FABRICIO. Beholde, I will satisfie you. I beleve you have considered,
+for that once alredie with some of you I have reasoned, howe these
+present warres, impoverishe as well those lordes that overcome, as those
+that leese: for that if the one leese his estate, the other leeseth his
+money, and his movables: the whiche in olde time was not, for that the
+conquerour of the warre, waxed ritche. This groweth of keepyng no compte
+in these daies of the spoiles, as in olde tyme thei did, but thei leave
+it to the discreacion of the souldiours. This manner maketh twoo moste
+great disorders: the one, that whiche I have tolde: the other that the
+souldiour becometh more covetous to spoyle, and lesse observeth the
+orders: and manie times it hath been seen, howe the covetousnesse of the
+praye, hath made those to leese, whome were victorious. Therefore the
+Romaines whiche were princes of armies, provided to the one and to the
+other of these inconvenienses, ordainyng that all the spoyle should
+apertaine to the publicke, and that the publicke after should bestowe
+it, as shoulde be thought good: and therfore thei had in tharmie the
+questours, whom were as we would say, the chamberlaines, to whose charge
+all the spoyle and booties were committed: whereof the consull was
+served to geve the ordinarie pay to the souldiours, to succour the
+wounded, and the sicke, and for the other businesse of the armie. The
+consull might well, and he used it often, to graunte a spoyle to
+soldiours: but this grauntyng, made no disorder: for that the armie
+beyng broken all the pray was put in the middest, and distributed by
+hedde, accordyng to the qualitee of everie man: the which maner thei
+constituted, to thintente, that the soldiours should attend to overcome,
+and not to robbe: and the Romaine Legions overcame the enemies, and
+folowed them not, for that thei never departed from their orders: onely
+there folowed them, the horsemenne with those that were light armed, and
+if there were any other souldiours then those of the legions, they
+likewyse pursued the chase. Where if the spoyle shoulde have ben his
+that gotte it, it had not ben possible nor reasonable, to have kepte the
+legions steddie, and to withstonde manie perils; hereby grewe therefore,
+that the common weale inritched, and every Consull carried with his
+triumphe into the treasurie, muche treasure, whiche all was of booties
+and spoiles. An other thing the antiquetie did upon good consideration,
+that of the wages, whiche they gave to every souldiour, the thirde parte
+they woulde shoulde be laied up nexte to him, whome carried the ansigne
+of their bande, whiche never gave it them againe, before the warre was
+ended: this thei did, beyng moved of twoo reasons, the first was to
+thintente, that the souldiour should thrive by his wages, because the
+greatest parte of them beyng yonge men, and carelesse, the more thei
+have, so muche the more without neede thei spende, the other cause was,
+for that knowyng, that their movabelles were nexte to the ansigne, thei
+should be constrained to have more care thereof, and with more
+obstinatenesse to defende it: and this made them stronge and to holde
+together: all which thynges is necessarie to observe, purposinge to
+reduce the exercise of armes unto the intier perfection therof.
+
+ZANOBI. I beleeve that it is not possible, that to an armie that
+marcheth from place to place, there fal not perrilous accidentes, where
+the industerie of the capitaine is needefull, and the worthinesse of the
+souldiours, mindyng to avoyde them. Therefore I woulde be glad, that you
+remembring any, would shew them.
+
+[Sidenote: Captaines mai incurre the daunger of ambusshes twoo maner of
+wayes; How to avoide the perill of ambusshes; Howe ambusshes have ben
+perceived; Howe the Capitaine of the enemies ought to be esteemed; Where
+men be in greatest perill; The description of the countrey where an army
+muste marche, is most requiset for a Capitaine to have; A most
+profitable thyng it is for a capitayne to be secrete in all his
+affaires; An advertisment concernyng the marchyng of an armie; The
+marching of an armie ought to be ruled by the stroke of the Drumme; The
+condicion of the enemie ought to be considered.]
+
+FABRICIO. I shall contente you with a good will, beyng inespetially
+necessarie, intendyng to make of this exercise a perfecte science. The
+Capitaines ought above all other thynges, whileste thei marche with an
+armie, to take heede of ambusshes, wherein they incurre daunger twoo
+waies, either marchynge thou entrest into them, or thoroughe crafte of
+the enemie thou arte trained in before thou arte aware. In the first
+case, mindyng to avoide suche perill, it is necessarie to sende afore
+double warde, whome may discover the countrey, and so muche the more
+dilligence ought to be used, the more that the countrey is apte for
+ambusshes, as be the woddie or hilly countries, for that alwaies thei be
+layd either in a wodde, or behind a hille: and as the ambusshe not
+forseene, doeth ruin thee, so forseyng the same, it cannot hurte thee.
+Manie tymes birdes or muche duste have discovered the enemie: for that
+alwayes where the enemie cometh to finde thee, he shall make great
+duste, whiche shall signifie unto thee his comyng: so often tymes a
+Capitaine seyng in the places where he ought to passe, Doves to rise, or
+other of those birdes that flie in flockes, and to tourne aboute and not
+to light, hath knowen by the same the ambusshe of the enemies to be
+there, and sendynge before his men, and sertainely understandyng it,
+hath saved him selfe and hurte his enemie. Concernyng the seconde case,
+to be trained in, (which these our men cal to be drawen to the shot)
+thou ought to take heede, not straight way to beleve those thinges,
+which are nothyng reasonable, that thei be as they seeme: as shoulde be,
+if the enemie should set afore thee a praie, thou oughtest to beleeve
+that in the same is the hooke, and that therin is hid the deceipte. If
+many enemies be driven away by a fewe of thine, if a fewe enemies
+assaulte manie of thine, if the enemies make a sodeine flight, and not
+standynge with reason, alwaies thou oughtest in suche cases to feare
+deceipte, and oughtest never to beleeve that the enemie knoweth not how
+to doe his businesse, but rather intendyng that he may begile thee the
+lesse, and mindyng to stand in lesse peril, the weaker that he is, and
+the lesse craftier that the enemie is, so muche the more thou oughtest
+to esteeme him: and thou muste in this case use twoo sundrie poinctes,
+for that thou oughtest to feare him in thy minde and with the order, but
+with wordes, and with other outewarde demonstracion, to seeme to dispyse
+him: because this laste way, maketh that the souldiours hope the more to
+have the victorie: the other maketh thee more warie, and lesse apte to
+be begyled. And thou hast to understand, that when men marche thoroughe
+the enemies countrey, they ar in muche more, and greater perils, then in
+fayghtyng the fielde: and therefore the Capitaine in marchyng, ought to
+use double diligence: and the first thyng that he ought to doo, is to
+get described, and payncted oute all the countrie, thorough the which he
+must marche, so that he maye know the places, the number, the distances,
+the waies, the hilles, the rivers, the fennes, and all the quallites of
+them: and to cause this to bee knowen, it is convenient to have with him
+diversly, and in sundrie maners such men, as know the places, and to
+aske them with diligence, and to se whether their talke agree, and
+accordyng to the agreyng therof, to note: he oughte also to sende afore
+the horsemen, and with them prudente heddes, not so muche to discover
+the enemie, as to viewe the countrey, to se whether it agree with the
+description, and with the knowledge that they have of the same. Also the
+guydes that are sente, ought to be kepte with hope of rewarde, and feare
+of paine. And above all thynges it ought to be provided, that the armie
+knowe not to what businesse he leadeth them: for that there is nothyng
+in the warre more profitable, then to keepe secret the thynges that is
+to be dooen: and to thintente a suddeine assaulte dooe not trouble thy
+soldiours, thou oughteste to see them to stande reddie with their
+weapons, because the thynges that ar provided for, offend lesse. Manie
+for to avoyde the confusion of marchyng, have placed under the
+standerde, the carriages, and the unarmed, and have commaunded them to
+folow the same, to the intente that in marchyng needyng to staye, or to
+retire, they might dooe it more easely, which thyng as profitable, I
+alowe very muche. Also in marchyng, advertismente ought to be had, that
+the one parte of the armie goe not a sunder from the other, or that
+thoroughe some goyng fast, and some softe, the armie become not slender:
+the whiche thynges, be occation of dissorder: therfore the heddes muste
+be placed in suche wise, that they may maintaine the pace even, causing
+to goe softe those that goe to fast, and to haste forward the other that
+goe to sloe, the whiche pace can not bee better ruled, then by the
+stroke of the drumme. The waies ought to be caused to be inlarged, so
+that alwaies at least a bande of iiii. hundred men may marche in order
+of battaile. The custome and the qualitie of the enemie ought to be
+considered, and whether that he wil assaulte thee either in the mornyng,
+or at none or in the evenynge, and whether he be more puisante with
+fotemen or horsemen, and accordyng as thou understandest, to ordeine and
+to provide for thy self. But let us come to some particular accidente.
+It hapneth sometime, that thou gettyng from the enemie, because thou
+judgest thy selfe inferiour, and therfore mindynge not to faight with
+him, and he comyng at thy backe, thou arivest at the banke of a river,
+passyng over the which, asketh time, so that the enemie is redie to
+overtake thee and to fayght with thee. Some, which chaunsing to bee in
+suche perill, have inclosed their armie on the hinder parte with a
+diche, and fillyng the same full of towe, and firyng it, have then
+passed with the armie without beyng able to be letted of the enemie, he
+beyng by the same fire that was betwene them held backe.
+
+[Sidenote: Annone of Carthage.]
+
+ZANOBI. I am harde of beliefe, that this fyre coulde stay theim, in
+especially because I remember that I have harde, howe Annone of
+Carthage, beyng besieged of enemies, inclosed him selfe on the same
+parte, with wodde, which he did set on fire where he purposed to make
+eruption. Wherfore the enemies beyng not intentive on the same parte to
+looke to him, he made his armie to passe over the same flame, causing
+every man to holde his Target before his face for to defend them from
+the fire, and smoke.
+
+[Sidenote: Nabide a spartayne; Quintus Luttatius pollecie to passe over
+a river; How to passe a ryver without a bridge; A polecie of Cesar to
+passe a river, where his enemie beyng on the other side therof sought to
+lette hym.]
+
+FABRICIO. You saye well: but consider you howe I have saied, and howe
+Annone did: for as muche as I saied that they made a diche, and filled
+it with towe, so that he, that woulde passe over the same, should be
+constrained to contende with the diche and with fire: Annone made the
+fire, without the diche, and because he intended to passe over it, he
+made it not great, for that otherwise without the diche, it shoulde have
+letted him. Dooe you not knowe, that Nabide a Spartan beyng besieged in
+Sparta of the Romaines, set fire on parte of his towne to let the way to
+the Romaines, who alredie wer entred in? And by meane of the same flame
+not onely hindered their way, but drave them oute: but let us turne to
+our matter. Quintus Luttatius a Romaine, havyng at his backe the Cimbri,
+and commyng to a river, to thentente the enemie should give him time to
+passe over, semed to geve time to them to faight with him: and therfore
+he fained that he would lodge there, and caused trenches to be made, and
+certaine pavilions to be erected, and sent certayne horsemen into the
+countrie for forredge: so that the Cimbrise beleevyng, that he incamped,
+they also incamped, and devided them selves into sundrie partes, to
+provide for victuals, wherof Luttatius being aware, passed the river
+they beyng not able to let him. Some for to passe a river havynge no
+bridge, have devided it, and one parte they have turned behynde their
+backes, and the other then becomynge shalower, with ease they have
+passed it: when the rivers be swift, purposyng to have their footemen to
+passe safely, they place their strongest horses on the higher side, that
+thei may sustain the water, and an other parte be lowe that may succour
+the men, if any of the river in passyng should be overcome with the
+water: They passe also rivers, that be verie deepe, with bridges, with
+botes, and with barrelles: and therfore it is good to have in a
+redinesse in an armie wherewith to be able to make all these thynges. It
+fortuneth sometime that in passyng a river, the enemie standynge agaynst
+thee on the other banke, doeth let thee: to minde to overcome this
+difficultie, I know not a better insample to folow, then the same of
+Cesar, whome havynge his armie on the banke of a river in Fraunce, and
+his passage beynge letted of Vergintorige a Frenche man, the whiche on
+the other side of the river had his men, marched many daies a longe the
+river, and the like did the enemie: wherfore Cesar incamping in a woddie
+place, apte to hide men, he tooke out of every legion three cohortes,
+and made them to tarie in the same place, commaundynge theim that so
+soone as he was departed, they shoulde caste over a bridge, and should
+fortefie it, and he with his other menne folowed on the waye: wherfore
+Vergintorige seyng the number of the legions, thinkyng that there was
+not left anie parte of theim behinde, folowed also his way: but Cesar
+when he supposed that the bridge was made, tourned backewarde, and
+findynge all thinges in order, passed the river without difficultee.
+
+ZANOBI. Have ye any rule to know the foordes?
+
+[Sidenote: How to know the Foordes of a river.]
+
+FABRICIO. Yea, we have: alwaies the river, in that parte, whiche is
+betwene the water, that is stilleste, and the water that runneth
+fastest, there is least depth and it is a place more meete to be looked
+on, then any other where. For that alwaies in thesame place, the river
+is moste shallowest. The whiche thyng, bicause it hath been proved many
+tymes, is moste true.
+
+ZANOBI. If it chaunce that the River hath marde the Foorde, so that the
+horses sincke, what reamedy have you?
+
+[Sidenote: Howe to escape oute of a straight where the same is besette
+with enemies; Howe Lutius Minutius escaped out of a strayght wherin he
+was inclosed of his enemies; Howe some Capitaynes have suffered them
+selves to be compassed aboute of their enemies; A polecie of Marcus
+Antonius; A defence for the shotte of arrowes.]
+
+FABRICIO. The remedie is to make hardels of roddes whiche must be placed
+in the bottome of the river, and so to passe upon those: but let us
+folowe our reasonyng. If it happen that a capitain be led with his
+armie, betwen two hilles, and that he have not but twoo waies to save
+hymself, either that before, or that behinde, and those beyng beset of
+thenemies, he hath for remidie to doe the same, which some have doen
+heretofore: that which have made on their hinder parte a greate trenche,
+difficult to passe over, and semed to the enemie, to mynde to kepe him
+of, for to be able with al his power, without neding to feare behinde,
+to make force that waie, whiche before remaineth open. The whiche the
+enemies belevyng, have made theim selves stronge, towardes the open
+parte, and have forsaken the inclosed and he then castyng a bridge of
+woode over the Trenche, for soche an effect prepared, bothe on thesame
+parte, with out any impedimente hath passed, and also delivered hymself
+out of the handes of the enemie. Lucius Minutus a Consul of Rome, was in
+Liguria with an armie, and was of the enemies inclosed, betwene certaine
+hilles, whereby he could not go out: therefore he sente certaine
+souldiours of Numidia on horsebacke, whiche he had in his armie (whom
+were evill armed, and upon little leane horses) towardes the places that
+were kepte of the enemies, whom at the first sight made the enemies, to
+order theim selves together, to defende the passage: but after that thei
+sawe those men ill apoincted, and accordyng to their facion evill
+horsed, regardyng theim little, enlarged the orders of their warde,
+wherof so sone as the Numidians wer a ware, givyng the spurres to their
+horses, and runnyng violently upon theim, passed before thei could
+provide any remedy, whom beyng passed, destroied and spoiled the
+countrie after soche sorte, that thei constrained the enemies, to leave
+the passage free to the armie of Lucius. Some capitaine, whiche hath
+perceived hymself to be assaulted of a greate multitude of enemies, hath
+drawen together his men, and hath given to the enemie commoditie, to
+compasse hym all about, and then on thesame part, whiche he hath
+perceived to be moste weake, hath made force, and by thesame waie, hath
+caused to make waie, and saved hymself.
+
+Marcus Antonius retiryng before the armie of the Parthians, perceived
+how the enemies every daie before Sunne risyng, when he removed,
+assaulted him, and all the waie troubled hym: in so moch, that he
+determined not to departe the nexte daie, before None: so that the
+Parthians beleving, that he would not remove that daie, retourned to
+their tentes. Whereby Marcus Antonius might then all the reste of the
+daie, marche without any disquietnesse. This self same man for to avoide
+the arrowes of the Parthians, commaunded his men, that when the
+Parthians came towardes them, thei should knele, and that the second
+ranke of the battailes, should cover with their Targaettes, the heddes
+of the firste, the thirde, the seconde, the fowerth the third, and so
+successively, that all the armie came, to be as it were under a
+pentehouse, and defended from the shotte of the enemies. This is as
+moche as is come into my remembraunce, to tell you, which maie happen
+unto an armie marchyng: therefore, if you remember not any thyng els, I
+will passe to an other parte.
+
+
+
+
+THE SIXTHE BOOKE
+
+
+ZANOBI. I beleve that it is good, seyng the reasonyng must be chaunged,
+that Baptiste take his office, and I to resigne myne, and wee shall come
+in this case, to imitate the good Capitaines (accordyng as I have nowe
+here understoode of the gentilman) who place the beste souldiours,
+before and behinde the armie, semyng unto theim necessarie to have
+before, soche as maie lustely beginne the faight, and soche as behinde
+maie lustely sustaine it. Now seyng Cosimus began this reasonyng
+prudently, Baptiste prudently shall ende it. As for Luigi and I, have in
+this middeste intertained it, and as every one of us hath taken his part
+willingly, so I beleve not, that Baptiste wil refuse it.
+
+BAPTISTE. I have let my self been governed hetherto, so I minde to doe
+still. Therfore be contente sir, to folowe your reasonyng, and if we
+interrupte you with this practise of ours, have us excused.
+
+[Sidenote: How the Grekes incamped; Howe the Romaines incamped; The
+maner of the incamping of an armie; The lodging for the generall
+capitaine.]
+
+FABRICIO. You dooe me, as all readie I have saied, a moste greate
+pleasure; for this your interrupting me, taketh not awaie my fantasie,
+but rather refresheth me. But mindyng to followe our matter I saie, how
+that it is now tyme, that we lodge this our armie, for that you knowe
+every thyng desireth reste and saftie, bicause to reste, and not to
+reste safely, is no perfecte reste: I doubte moche, whether it hath not
+been desired of you, that I should firste have lodged them, after made
+theim to marche, and laste of all to faight, and we have doen the
+contrary: whereunto necessitie hath brought us, for that intendyng to
+shewe, how an armie in going, is reduced from the forme of marching, to
+thesame maner of faightyng, it was necessarie to have firste shewed, how
+thei ordered it to faight. But tournyng to our matter, I saie, that
+minding to have the Campe sure, it is requisite that it be strong, and
+in good order: the industrie of the Capitaine, maketh it in order, the
+situacion, or the arte, maketh it stronge. The Grekes sought strong
+situacions, nor thei would never place theim selves, where had not been
+either cave, or bancke of a river, or multitude of trees, or other
+naturall fortificacion, that might defende theim: but the Romaines not
+so moche incamped safe through the situacion, as through arte, nor thei
+would never incampe in place, where thei should not have been able to
+have raunged all their bandes of menne, accordyng to their discipline.
+Hereby grewe, that the Romaines might kepe alwaies one forme of
+incamping, for that thei would, that the situacion should bee ruled by
+them, not thei by the situacion: the which the Grekes could not observe,
+for that beyng ruled by the situacion, and variyng the situacion and
+forme, it was conveniente, that also thei should varie the maner of
+incampyng, and the facion of their lodgynges. Therefore the Romaines,
+where the situacion lacked strength thei supplied thesame with arte, and
+with industrie. And for that I in this my declaracion, have willed to
+imitate the Romaines, I will not departe from the maner of their
+incamping, yet not observyng altogether their order, but takyng thesame
+parte, whiche semeth unto me, to be mete for this present tyme. I have
+told you many tymes, how the Romaines had in their consull armies, twoo
+Legions of Romaine men, whiche were aboute a leven thousande footemen,
+and sixe hundred horsemen, and moreover thei had an other leven
+thousande footemen, sente from their frendes in their aide: nor in their
+armie thei had never more souldiers that were straungers, then Romaines,
+excepte horsemenne, whom thei cared not, though thei were more in nomber
+then theirs: and in all their doynges, thei did place their Legions in
+the middeste, and the aiders, on the sides: the whiche maner, thei
+observed also in incampyng, as by your self you maie rede, in those
+aucthoures, that write of their actes: and therefore I purpose not to
+shewe you distinctly how thei incamped, but to tell you onely with what
+order, I at this presente would incampe my armie, whereby you shall then
+knowe, what parte I have taken out of the Romaine maners. You knowe,
+that in stede of twoo Romaine Legions, I have taken twoo maine battailes
+of footemen, of sixe thousande footemen, and three hundred horsemen,
+profitable for a maine battaile, and into what battailes, into what
+weapons, into what names I have devided theim: you knowe howe in
+orderyng tharmie to marche, and to faight, I have not made mencion of
+other men, but onely have shewed, how that doublyng the men, thei neded
+not but to double the orders: but mindyng at this presente, to shew you
+the maner of incampyng, me thinketh good not to stande onely with twoo
+maine battailes, but to bryng together a juste armie, made like unto the
+Romaines, of twoo maine battailes, and of as many more aidyng men: the
+whiche I make, to the intent that the forme of the incampyng, maie be
+the more perfect, by lodgyng a perfecte armie: whiche thyng in the other
+demonstracions, hath not semed unto me so necessarie. Purposing then, to
+incampe a juste armie, of xxiiii. thousande footemen, and of twoo
+thousande good horsemenne, beeyng devided into fower maine battailes,
+twoo of our owne menne, and twoo of straungers, I would take this waie.
+The situacion beyng founde, where I would incampe, I would erecte the
+hed standarde, and aboute it, I would marke out a quadrant, whiche
+should have every side distante from it xxxvii. yardes and a half, of
+whiche every one of them should lye, towardes one of the fower regions
+of heaven, as Easte, Weste, Southe, and Northe: betwene the whiche
+space, I would that the capitaines lodgyng should be appoincted. And
+bicause I beleve that it is wisedom, to devide the armed from the
+unarmed, seyng that so, for the moste parte the Romaines did, I would
+therefore seperate the menne, that were cumbered with any thing, from
+the uncombered. I would lodge all, or the greatest parte of the armed,
+on the side towardes the Easte, and the unarmed, and the cumbred, on the
+Weste side, makyng Easte the hedde, and Weste the backe of the Campe,
+and Southe, and Northe should be the flanckes: and for to distinguishe
+the lodgynges of the armed, I would take this waie. I would drawe a line
+from the hedde standarde, and lead it towardes the Easte, the space of
+CCCCC.x. yardes and a half: I would after, make two other lines, that
+should place in the middeste the same, and should bee as longe as that,
+but distante eche of theim from it a leven yardes and a quarter: in the
+ende whereof, I would have the Easte gate, and the space that is betwene
+the twoo uttermoste lines, should make a waie, that should go from the
+gate, to the capitaines lodging, whiche shall come to be xxii. yardes
+and a halfe broad, and CCCClxxii. yardes and a halfe longe, for the
+xxxvii. yardes and a halfe, the lodgyng of the Capitaine will take up:
+and this shall bee called the Capitaine waie. Then there shall be made
+an other waie, from the Southe gate, to the Northe gate, and shall passe
+by the hedde of the capitaine waie, and leave the Capitaines lodgyng
+towardes theaste, whiche waie shalbe ix.C.xxxvii. yardes and a halfe
+long (for the length therof wilbe as moche as the breadth of all the
+lodgynges) and shall likewise be xxii. yardes and a half broad, and
+shalbe called the crosse waie. Then so sone as the Capitaines lodgyng,
+were appoincted out, and these twoo waies, there shall bee begun to be
+appoincted out, the lodginges of our own two main battailes, one of the
+whiche, I would lodge on the right hand of the capitaines waie, and the
+other, on the lefte: and therefore passing over the space, that the
+breadth of the crosse waie taketh, I would place xxxii. lodgynges, on
+the lefte side of the capitain waie, and xxxii. on the right side,
+leavyng betwene the xvi. and the xvii. lodgyng, a space of xxii. yardes
+and a halfe, the whiche should serve for a waie overthwart, whiche
+should runne overthwarte, throughout all the lodgynges of the maine
+battailes as in the distributyng of them shall bee seen.
+
+[Sidenote: The lodgings for the men of armes, and their Capitaine; Note,
+which is breadth and whiche length in the square campe; The lodgings for
+the lighte horsemen, and their capitain; The lodgings for the footemen
+of twoo ordinary main battailes; The lodgings for the conestables; The
+nomber of footemen appoincted to every lodging; The lodynges for the
+chiefe Capitaines of the maine battayles and for the treasurers,
+marshals and straungers; Lodginges for the horsemen, of the
+extraordinarie mayne battailes; The lodgynges for the extraordinarie
+Pykes and Veliti; How the Artillerie must be placed in the Campe;
+Lodgynges for the unarmed men, and the places that are apoineted for the
+impedimentes of the campe.]
+
+Of these twoo orders of lodgynges in the beginnyng of the head, whiche
+shall come to joygne to the crosse waye, I would lodge the Capitaine of
+the men of armes, in the xv. lodgynges, which on everie side foloweth
+next, their men of armes, where eche main battaile, havyng a CL. men of
+armes, it will come to ten men of armes for a lodgyng. The spaces of the
+Capitaines lodgynges, should be in bredth xxx. and in length vii. yardes
+and a halfe. And note that when so ever I sai bredeth, it signifieth the
+space of the middest from Southe to Northe, and saiyng length, that
+whiche is from weste to Easte. Those of the men of armes, shoulde be xi.
+yardes and a quarter in length, and xxii. yardes and a halfe in bredeth.
+In the other xv. lodgynges, that on everie syde should folowe, the
+whiche should have their beginnyng on the other side of the overthwarte
+way, and whiche shall have the very same space, that those of the men of
+armes had, I woulde lodge the light horsemen: wherof beynge a hundred
+and fiftie, it will come to x. horsemen for a lodgyng, and in the xvi.
+that remaineth, I woulde lodge their Capitaine, gevynge him the verie
+same space, that is geven to the Capitain of the men of armes: and thus
+the lodginges of the horsemen of two maine battailes, will come to place
+in the middest the Capitaine way, and geve rule to the lodginges of the
+footemen, as I shall declare. You have noted how I have lodged the CCC.
+horsemen of everie main battaile with their Capitaines, in xxxii.
+lodgynges placed on the Captaine waie, havynge begun from the crosse
+waie, and how from the xvi. to the xvii. there remaineth a space of
+xxii. yardes and a halfe, to make awaie overthwarte. Mindyng therefore
+to lodge the xx. battailes, which the twoo ordinarie maine battailes
+have, I woulde place the lodgyng of everie twoo battailes, behinde the
+lodgynges of the horsemen, everie one of whiche, should have in length
+xi. yardes and a quarter, and in bredeth xxii. yardes and a half as
+those of the horsemens, and shoulde bee joigned on the hinder parte,
+that thei shoulde touche the one the other. And in every first lodgyng
+on everie side which cometh to lie on the crosse waie, I woulde lodge
+the Counstable of a battaile, whiche should come to stand even with the
+lodgyng of the Capitayne of the men of armes, and this lodgyng shall
+have onely of space for bredeth xv. yardes, and for length vii. yardes
+and a halfe. In the other xv. lodgynges, that on everie side followeth
+after these, even unto the overthwarte way, I would lodge on everie part
+a battaile of foote men, whiche beyng iiii. hundred and fiftie, there
+will come to a lodgyng xxx. The other xv. lodgynges, I woulde place
+continually on every side on those of the light horse men, with the
+verie same spaces, where I woulde lodge on everie part, an other
+battaile of fote men, and in the laste lodgyng, I would place on every
+parte the Conestable of the battaile, whiche will come to joigne with
+the same of the Capitaine of the lighte horsemen, with the space of vii.
+yardes and a halfe for length, and xv. for bredeth: and so these two
+firste orders of lodgynges, shal be halfe of horsemen, and halfe of
+footemen. And for that I woulde (as in the place therof I have tolde
+you) these horse menne shoulde be all profitable, and for this havynge
+no servauntes whiche in kepyng the horses, or in other necessarie
+thynges might helpe them, I woulde that these footemen, who lodge
+behynde the horse, should bee bounde to helpe to provide, and to keepe
+theim for their maisters: and for this to bee exempted from the other
+doynges of the Campe. The whiche maner, was observed of the Romanies.
+Then leavyng after these lodgynges on everie parte, a space of xxii.
+yardes and a halfe, whiche shoulde make awaye, that shoulde be called
+the one, the firste waye on the righte hande, and the other the firste
+waie on the lefte hand, I woulde pitche on everie side an other order of
+xxxii. double lodgynges, whiche should tourne their hinder partes the
+one againste the other with the verie same spaces, as those that I have
+tolde you of, and devided after the sixtenth in the verie same maner for
+to make the overthwarte waie, where I would lodge on every side iiii.
+battailes of footemen, with their constables in bothe endes. Then
+leavyng on every side an other space of xxii. yardes and a halfe, that
+shoulde make a waie, whiche shoulde be called of the one side, the
+seconde waie on the right hande, and on the other syde, the seconde way
+on the lefte hande, I would place an other order on everie side of
+xxxii. double lodgynges, with the verie same distance and devisions,
+where I would lodge on everie side, other iiii. battailes with their
+Constables: and thus the horesemenne and the bandes of the twoo
+ordinarie maine battailes, should come to be lodged in three orders of
+lodgynges, on the one side of the capitaine waie, and in three other
+orders of lodgynges on the other side of the Capitaine waie. The twoo
+aidyng maine battels (for that I cause them to be made of the verie same
+nation) I woulde lodge them on everie parte of these twoo ordinarie
+maine battailes, with the very same orders of double lodgynges, pitchyng
+first one order of lodgynges, where should lodge halfe the horsemen, and
+half the foote men, distance xxii. yardes and a halfe from the other,
+for to make a way whiche should be called the one, the thirde waie on
+the right hande, and the other the thirde waie on the lefte hande. And
+after, I woulde make on everie side, twoo other orders of lodgynges, in
+the verie same maner destinguesshed and ordeined, as those were of the
+ordinarie maine battelles, which shall make twoo other wayes, and they
+all should be called of the numbre, and of the hande, where thei should
+be placed: in suche wyse, that all this side of the armie, shoulde come
+to be lodged in xii. orders of double lodgynges, and in xiii. waies,
+reckenynge captaine waie, and crosse waie: I would there should remayne
+a space from the lodgynges to the Trenche of lxxv. yardes rounde aboute:
+and if you recken al these spaces, you shall see that from the middest
+of the Capitaines lodgyng to the easte gate, there is Dx. yardes. Now
+there remaineth twoo spaces, whereof one is from the Capitaines lodgyng
+to the Southe gate, the other is from thense to the Northe gate: whiche
+come to be (either of them measurynge them from the poincte in the
+middest) CCCC.lxxvi. yardes. Then takyng out of everie one of these
+spaces xxxvii. yardes and a halfe, whiche the Capitaynes lodgynge
+occupieth, and xxxiiii. yardes everie waie for a market place, and xxii.
+yardes and a halfe for way that devides everie one of the saied spaces
+in the middest, and lxxv. yardes, that is lefte on everie part betweene
+the lodgynges and the Trenche, there remaineth on every side a space for
+lodginges of CCC. yardes broade, and lxxv. yardes longe, measurynge the
+length with the space that the Captaines lodgynge taketh up. Devidynge
+then in the middest the saied lengthe, there woulde be made on every
+hande of the Capitaine xl. lodgynges xxxvii. yardes and a halfe longe,
+and xv. broade, whiche will come to be in all lxxx. lodgynges, wherin
+shall be lodged the heddes of the maine battailes, the Treasurers, the
+Marshalles of the fielde, and all those that shoulde have office in the
+armie, leavyng some voide for straungers that shoulde happen to come,
+and for those that shall serve for good will of the Capitaine. On the
+parte behinde the Capitaines lodgynge, I would have a way from Southe to
+Northe xxiii. yardes large, and shoulde be called the bed way, whiche
+shall come to be placed a longe by the lxxx. lodgynges aforesayd: for
+that this waie, and the crosseway, shall come to place in the middest
+betweene them bothe the Capitaines lodgynge, and the lxxx. lodgynges
+that be on the sides therof. From this bed waie, and from over agaynst
+the captaines lodgyng, I would make an other waie, which shoulde goe
+from thens to the weste gate, lykewyse broade xxii. yardes and a halfe,
+and should aunswer in situation and in length to the Captaine way, and
+should be called the market waie. These twoo waies beynge made, I woulde
+ordeine the market place, where the market shall bee kepte, whiche I
+woulde place on the head of the market way over against the capitaines
+lodgynge, and joigned to the head way, and I woulde have it to be
+quadrante, and woulde assigne lxxxx. yardes and three quarters to a
+square: and on the right hande and lefte hande, of the saied market
+place, I would make two orders of lodginges, where everie order shal
+have eight double lodginges, which shall take up in length, ix. yardes,
+and in bredeth xxii. yardes and a halfe, so that there shall come to be
+on every hande of the market place, xvi. lodgynges that shall place the
+same in the middest which shall be in al xxxii. wherin I woulde lodge
+those horsemen, which shoulde remaine to the aidyng mayne battailes: and
+when these should not suffise, I woulde assigne theim some of those
+lodginges that placeth between them the Capitaines lodgynge, and in
+especially those, that lie towardes the Trenche. There resteth now to
+lodge the Pikes, and extraordinarie Veliti, that everie main battaile
+hath, which you know accordynge to our order, how everie one hath
+besides the x. battailes M. extraordinarie Pikes, and five hundreth
+Veliti: so that the twoo cheefe maine battailes, have two thousande
+extraordinarie Pikes, and a thousande extraordinarie Veliti, and the
+ayders as many as those, so that yet there remaineth to be lodged, vi.
+M. menne, whome I woulde lodge all on the weste side, and a longe the
+Trenche. Then from the ende of the hed waye, towardes Northe, leavyng
+the space of lxxv. yardes from them to the trenche, I woulde place an
+order of v. double lodgynges, whiche in all shoulde take up lvi. yardes
+in lengthe, and xxx. in bredeth: so that the bredeth devided, there will
+come to everie lodgyng xi. yardes and a quarter for lengthe, and for
+bredeth twoo and twentie yardes and a half. And because there shall be
+x. lodgynges, I will lodge three hundred men, apoinctyng to every
+lodging xxx. men: leavyng then a space of three and twentie yardes and a
+quarter, I woulde place in like wise, and with like spaces an other
+order of five double lodgynges, and againe an other, till there were
+five orders of five double lodgynges: which wil come to be fiftie
+lodgynges placed by right line on the Northe side, every one of them
+distante from the Trenche lxxv. yardes, which will lodge fifteene
+hundred men. Tournyng after on the lefte hande towardes the weste gate,
+I woulde pitche in all the same tracte, whiche were from them to the
+saied gate, five other orders of double lodgynges, with the verie same
+spaces, and with the verie same maner: true it is, that from the one
+order to the other, there shall not be more then a xi. yardes and a
+quarter of space: wherin shall be lodged also fifteene hundred men: and
+thus from the Northe gate to the weste, as the Trenche turneth, in a
+hundred lodginges devided in x. rewes of five double lodgynges in a
+rowe, there will be lodged all the Pikes and extraordinarie Veliti of
+the cheefe maine battayles. And so from the west gate to the Southe, as
+the Trenche tourneth even in the verie same maner, in other ten rewes of
+ten lodgynges in a rewe, there shall be lodged the pikes, and
+extraordinarie Veliti of the aidyng mayne battailes. Their headdes or
+their counstables may take those lodgynges, that shal seeme unto them
+moste commodious, on the parte towardes the trenche. The Artillerie, I
+woulde dispose throughoute all the Campe, a longe the banke of the
+Trenche: and in all the other space that shoulde remaine towardes weste,
+I woulde lodge all the unarmed, and place all the impedimentes of the
+Campe. And it is to be understoode, that under this name of impedimentes
+(as you know) the antiquitee mente all the same trayne, and all those
+thynges, which are necessarie for an armie, besides the souldiours: as
+are Carpenters, Smithes, Masons, Ingeners, Bombardiers, althoughe that
+those might be counted in the numbre of the armed, herdemen with their
+herdes of motons and beeves whiche for victuallyng of the armie, are
+requiset: and moreover maisters of all sciences, together with publicke
+carriages of the publicke munition, whiche pertaine as well to
+victuallyng, as to armynge. Nor I would not distinguishe these lodginges
+perticularly, only I would marke out the waies which should not be
+occupied of them: then the other spaces, that betweene the waies shall
+remaine, whiche shall be fower, I woulde appoincte theim generally for
+all the saied impedimentes, that is one for the herdemen, the other for
+artificers and craftes men, the thirde for publicke carriages of
+victuals, the fowerth for the municion of armour and weapons. The waies
+whiche I woulde shoulde be lefte without ocupiyng them, shal be the
+market waie, the head waye, and more over a waie that shoulde be called
+the midde waye, whiche should goe from Northe to Southe, and should
+passe thoroughe the middest of the market waie, whiche from the weste
+parte, shoulde serve for the same purpose that the overthwarte way doeth
+on the east parte. And besides this, a waye whiche shall goe aboute on
+the hinder parte, alonge the lodgynges of the Pikes and extraordinarie
+Veliti, and all these wayes shall be twoo and tweentie vardes and a
+halfe broade. And the Artilerie, I woulde place a longe the Trenche of
+the Campe, rounde aboute the same.
+
+BAPTISTE. I confesse that I understand not, nor I beleeve that also to
+saye so, is any shame unto me, this beyng not my exercise:
+notwithstandyng, this order pleaseth me muche: onely I woulde that you
+shoulde declare me these doubtes: The one, whie you make the waie, and
+the spaces aboute so large. The other, that troubleth me more, is these
+spaces, whiche you apoincte oute for the lodgynges, howe they ought to
+be used.
+
+[Sidenote: The Campe ought to be all waies of one facion.]
+
+FABRICIO. You must note, that I make all the waies, xxii. yardes and a
+halfe broade, to the intente that thorowe them, maie go a battaile of
+men in araie, where if you remember wel, I tolde you how every bande of
+menne, taketh in breadth betwene xviii. and xxii. yardes of space to
+marche or stande in. Nowe where the space that is betwene the trenche,
+and the lodgynges, is lxxv. yardes broade, thesame is moste necessarie,
+to the intent thei maie there order the battailes, and the artillerie,
+bothe to conducte by thesame the praies, and to have space to retire
+theim selves with newe trenches, and newe fortificacion if neede were:
+The lodginges also, stande better so farre from the diches, beyng the
+more out of daunger of fires, and other thynges, whiche the enemie,
+might throwe to hurte them. Concernyng the seconde demaunde, my intent
+is not that every space, of me marked out, bee covered with a pavilion
+onely, but to be used, as tourneth commodious to soch as lodge there,
+either with more or with lesse Tentes, so that thei go not out of the
+boundes of thesame. And for to marke out these lodginges, there ought to
+bee moste cunnyng menne, and moste excellente Architectours, whom, so
+sone as the Capitaine hath chosen the place, maie knowe how to give it
+the facion, and to distribute it, distinguishyng the waies, devidyng the
+lodgynges with Coardes and staves, in soche practised wise, that
+straight waie, thei maie bee ordained, and devided: and to minde that
+there growe no confusion, it is conveniente to tourne the Campe, alwaies
+one waie, to the intente that every manne maie knowe in what waie, in
+what space he hath to finde his lodgyng: and this ought to be observed
+in every tyme, in every place, and after soche maner, that it seme a
+movyng Citee, the whiche where so ever it goweth, carrieth with it the
+verie same waies, the verie same habitacions, and the verie same
+aspectes, that it had at the firste: The whiche thing thei cannot
+observe, whom sekyng strong situacions, must chaunge forme, accordyng to
+the variacion of the grounde: but the Romaines in the plaine, made
+stronge the place where thei incamped with trenches, and with Rampires,
+bicause thei made a space about the campe, and before thesame a ditche,
+ordinary broad fower yardes and a halfe, and depe aboute twoo yardes and
+a quarter, the which spaces, thei increased, according as thei intended
+to tarie in a place, and accordyng as thei feared the enemie. I for my
+parte at this presente, would not make the listes, if I intende not to
+Winter in a place: yet I would make the Trenche and the bancke no lesse,
+then the foresaied, but greater, accordyng to necessitie. Also,
+consideryng the artellerie, I would intrench upon every corner of the
+Campe, a halfe circle of ground, from whens the artillerie might
+flancke, whom so ever should seke to come over the Trenche. In this
+practise in knowyng how to ordain a campe, the souldiours ought also to
+be exercised, and to make with them the officers expert, that are
+appoincted to marke it out, and the Souldiours readie to knowe their
+places: nor nothyng therein is difficulte, as in the place thereof shall
+bee declared: wherefore, I will goe forewarde at this tyme to the warde
+of the campe, bicause without distribucion of the watche, all the other
+pain that hath been taken, should be vain.
+
+BAPTISTE. Before you passe to the watche, I desire that you would
+declare unto me, when one would pitche his campe nere the enemie, what
+waie is used: for that I knowe not, how a man maie have tyme, to be able
+to ordaine it without perill.
+
+FABRICIO. You shall understande this, that no Capitaine will lye nere
+the enemie, except he, that is desposed to faight the fielde, when so
+ever his adversarie will: and when a capitaine is so disposed, there is
+no perill, but ordinarie: for that the twoo partes of the armie, stande
+alwaies in a redinesse, to faight the battaile, and thother maketh the
+lodginges. The Romaines in this case, gave this order of fortifiyng the
+Campe, unto the Triarii: and the Prencipi, and the Astati, stoode in
+armes. This thei did, for as moche as the Triarii, beyng the last to
+faight, might have time inough, if the enemie came, to leave the woorke,
+and to take their weapons, and to get them into their places. Therfore,
+accordyng unto the Romaines maner, you ought to cause the Campe to be
+made of those battailes, whiche you will set in the hinder parte of the
+armie, in the place of the Triarii. But let us tourne to reason of the
+watche.
+
+[Sidenote: Theantiquitie used no Scoutes; The watche and warde of the
+Campe.]
+
+I thinke I have not founde, emongest the antiquitie, that for to warde
+the campe in the night, thei have kepte watche without the Trenche,
+distaunte as thei use now a daies, whom thei call Scoutes: the whiche I
+beleve thei did, thinkyng that the armie might easely bee deceived,
+through the difficultie, that is in seeyng them againe, for that thei
+might bee either corrupted, or oppressed of the enemie: So that to
+truste either in parte, or altogether on them, thei judged it perillous.
+And therefore, all the strength of the watche, was with in the trenche,
+whiche thei did withall diligence kepe, and with moste greate order,
+punished with death, whom so ever observed not thesame order: the whiche
+how it was of them ordained, I will tell you no other wise, leaste I
+should bee tedious unto you, beyng able by your self to see it, if as
+yet you have not seen it: I shall onely briefly tell that, whiche shall
+make for my purpose, I wold cause to stand ordinarely every night, the
+thirde parte of the armie armed, and of thesame, the fowerth parte
+alwaies on foote, whom I would make to bee destributed, throughout all
+the banckes, and throughout all the places of the armie, with double
+warde, placed in every quadrante of thesame: Of whiche, parte should
+stande still, parte continually should go from the one corner of the
+Campe, to the other: and this order, I would observe also in the daie,
+when I should have the enemie nere.
+
+[Sidenote: Dilligence ought to be used, to knowe who lieth oute of the
+Campe, and who they be that cometh of newe; Claudius Nero; The justice
+that ought to be in a campe. The fauts that the antiquitie punisshed
+with Death; Where greate punishementes be, there oughte likewise to bee
+great rewardes; It was no marvel that the Romaines became mightie
+Princes; A meane to punishe and execute Justice, without raising
+tumultes; Manlius Capitolinus; Souldiours sworen to kepe the discipline
+of warre.]
+
+Concernyng the givyng of the watche worde, and renuyng thesame every
+evening, and to doe the other thynges, whiche in like watches is used,
+bicause thei are thynges well inough knowen, I will speake no further of
+them: onely I shall remember one thyng, for that it is of greate
+importaunce, and whiche causeth great saulfgarde observyng it, and not
+observyng it, moche harme: The whiche is, that there be observed greate
+diligence, to knowe at night, who lodgeth not in the Campe, and who
+commeth a newe: and this is an easie thing to see who lodgeth, with
+thesame order that wee have appoincted: for as moche as every lodgyng
+havyng the determined nomber of menne, it is an easie matter to see, if
+thei lacke, or if there be more menne: and when thei come to be absente
+without lisence, to punishe them as Fugetives, and if there bee more, to
+understande what thei be, what they make there, and of their other
+condicions. This diligence maketh that the enemie cannot but with
+difficultie, practise with thy capitaines, and have knowlege of thy
+counsailes: which thing if of the Romaines, had not been diligently
+observed, Claudius Nero could not, havyng Aniball nere hym, depart from
+his Campe, whiche he had in Lucania, and to go and to retourne from
+Marca, without Aniball should have firste heard thereof some thyng. But
+it suffiseth not to make these orders good, excepte thei bee caused to
+bee observed, with a greate severtie: for that there is nothyng that
+would have more observacion, then is requisite in an armie: therefore
+the lawes for the maintenaunce of thesame, ought to be sharpe and harde,
+and the executour therof moste harde. The Romaines punished with death
+him that lacked in the watch, he that forsoke the place that was given
+hym to faight in, he that caried any thynge, hidde out of the Campe, if
+any manne should saie, that he had doen some worthy thing in the faight,
+and had not doen it, if any had fought without the commaundemente of the
+Capitaine, if any had for feare, caste awaie his weapons: and when it
+happened, that a Cohorte, or a whole Legion, had committed like fault,
+bicause thei would not put to death all, thei yet tooke al their names,
+and did put them in a bagge, and then by lotte, thei drue oute the
+tenthe parte, and so those were put to death: the whiche punishemente,
+was in soche wise made, that though every man did not feele it every man
+notwithstandyng feared it: and bicause where be greate punishementes,
+there ought to be also rewardes, mindyng to have menne at one instant,
+to feare and to hope, thei had appoincted rewardes to every worthie
+acte: as he that faighting, saved the life of one of his Citezeins, to
+hym that firste leapte upon the walle of the enemies Toune, to hym that
+entered firste into the Campe of the enemies, to hym that had in
+faightyng hurte, or slaine the enemie, he that had stroken him from his
+horse: and so every vertuous act, was of the Consulles knowen and
+rewarded, and openly of every manne praised: and soche as obtained
+giftes, for any of these thynges, besides the glorie and fame, whiche
+thei got emongest the souldiours, after when thei returned into their
+countrie, with solemne pompe, and with greate demonstracion emong their
+frendes and kinsfolkes, thei shewed them. Therefore it was no marveile,
+though thesame people gotte so moche dominion, having so moche
+observacion in punishemente, and rewarde towardes theim, whom either for
+their well doyng, or for their ill doyng, should deserve either praise
+or blame: Of whiche thynges it were convenient, to observe the greater
+parte. Nor I thinke not good to kepe secrete, one maner of punishmente
+of theim observed, whiche was, that so sone as the offendour, was before
+the Tribune, or Consulle convicted, he was of the same lightely stroken
+with a rodde: after the whiche strikyng, it was lawfull for the
+offendour to flie, and to all the Souldiours to kill hym: so that
+straight waie, every man threwe at hym either stones, or dartes, or with
+other weapons, stroke hym in soche wise, that he went but little waie a
+live, and moste fewe escaped, and to those that so escaped, it was not
+lawfull for them to retourne home, but with so many incommodities, and
+soche greate shame and ignomie, that it should have ben moche better for
+him to have died. This maner is seen to be almoste observed of the
+Suizzers, who make the condempned to be put to death openly, of thother
+souldiours, the whiche is well considered, and excellently dooen: for
+that intendyng, that one be not a defendour of an evill doer, the
+greateste reamedie that is founde, is to make hym punisher of thesame:
+bicause otherwise, with other respecte he favoureth hym: where when he
+hymself is made execucioner, with other desire, he desireth his
+punishemente, then when the execucion commeth to an other. Therefore
+mindyng, not to have one favored in his faulte of the people, a greate
+remedie it is, to make that the people, maie have hym to judge. For the
+greater proofe of this, thinsample of Manlius Capitolinus might be
+brought, who being accused of the Scenate, was defended of the people,
+so longe as thei were not Judge, but becommyng arbitratours in his
+cause, thei condempned hym to death. This is then a waie to punishe,
+without raisyng tumultes, and to make justise to be kepte: and for as
+moche as to bridell armed menne, neither the feare of the Lawes, nor of
+menne suffise not, the antiquitie joined thereunto the aucthoritie of
+God: and therefore with moste greate Ceremonies, thei made their
+souldiours to sweare, to kepe the discipline of warre, so that doyng
+contrariewise, thei should not onely have to feare the Lawes, and menne,
+but God: and thei used all diligence, to fill them with Religion.
+
+[Sidenote: Women and idell games, were not suffered by the antiquitie,
+to bee in their armies.]
+
+BAPTISTE. Did the Romaines permitte, that women might bee in their
+armies, or that there might be used these idell plaies, whiche thei use
+now a daies.
+
+FABRICIO. Thei prohibited the one and thother, and this prohibicion was
+not moche difficulte: For that there were so many exercises, in the
+whiche thei kept every daie the souldiours, some whiles particularely,
+somewhiles generally occupied that thei had no time to thinke, either on
+Venus, or on plaies, nor on any other thyng, whiche sedicious and
+unproffitable souldiours doe.
+
+BAPTISTE. I am herein satisfied, but tell me, when the armie had to
+remove, what order kepte thei?
+
+[Sidenote: Ordre in the removing the armie by the soundes of a Trumpet.]
+
+FABRICIO. The chief Trumpet sounded three tymes, at the firste sound,
+thei toke up the Tentes, and made the packes, at the seconde, thei laded
+the carriage, at the thirde, thei removed in thesame maner aforsaied,
+with the impedimentes after every parte of armed men, placyng the
+Legions in the middeste: and therefore you ought to cause after thesame
+sorte, an extraordinarie maine battaile to remove: and after that, the
+particulare impedimentes therof, and with those, the fowerth part of the
+publike impedimentes, which should bee all those, that were lodged in
+one of those partes, whiche a little afore we declared: and therfore it
+is conveniente, to have every one of them, appointed to a maine
+battaile, to the entente that the armie removyng, every one might knowe
+his place in marchyng: and thus every maine battaile ought to goe awaie,
+with their owne impedimentes, and with the fowerth parte of the publike
+impedimentes, followyng after in soche maner, as wee shewed that the
+Romaines marched.
+
+BAPTISTE. In pitchyng the Campe, had thei other respectes, then those
+you have tolde?
+
+[Sidenote: Respectes to be had for incampyng; How to choose a place to
+incampe; How to avoide diseases from the armie; The wonderfull
+commoditie of exercise; The provision of victualles that ought alwaies
+to bee in a readinesse in an armie.]
+
+FABRICIO. I tell you again, that the Romaines when thei encamped, would
+be able to kepe the accustomed fashion of their maner, the whiche to
+observe, thei had no other respecte: but concernyng for other
+consideracions, thei had twoo principall, the one, to incampe theim
+selves in a wholesome place, the other, to place themselves, where
+thenemie could not besiege theim, nor take from them the waie to the
+water, or victualles. Then for to avoide infirmitie, thei did flie from
+places Fennie, or subjecte to hurtfull windes: whiche thei knewe not so
+well, by the qualitie of the situacion, as by the face of the
+inhabitours: for when thei sawe theim evill coloured, or swollen, or
+full of other infeccion, thei would not lodge there: concernyng thother
+respecte to provide not to be besieged, it is requisite to consider the
+nature of the place, where the friendes lye, and thenemies, and of this
+to make a conjecture, if thou maiest be besieged or no: and therefore it
+is meete, that the Capitaine be moste experte, in the knowlege of
+situacions of countries, and have aboute him divers men, that have the
+verie same expertenes. Thei avoide also diseases, and famishment, with
+causyng the armie to kepe no misrule, for that to purpose to maintain it
+in health, it is nedefull to provide, that the souldiours maie slepe
+under tentes, that thei maie lodge where bee Trees, that make shadowe,
+where woodde is for to dresse their meate, that thei go not in the
+heate, and therefore thei muste bee drawen out of the campe, before daie
+in Summer, and in Winter, to take hede that thei marche not in the
+Snowe, and in the Froste, without havyng comoditie to make fire, and not
+to lack necessarie aparel, nor to drink naughtie water: those that fall
+sicke by chaunce, make them to bee cured of Phisicions: bicause a
+capitain hath no reamedie, when he hath to faight with sicknesse, and
+with an enemie: but nothing is so profitable, to maintaine the armie in
+health, as is the exercise: and therfore the antiquitie every daie, made
+them to exercise: wherby is seen how muche exercise availeth: for that
+in the Campe, it kepeth thee in health, and in the faight victorious.
+Concernyng famishemente, it is necessarie to see, that the enemie hinder
+thee not of thy victualles, but to provide where thou maieste have it,
+and to see that thesame whiche thou haste, bee not loste: and therefore
+it is requisite, that thou have alwaies in provision with the armie,
+sufficiente victuall for a monethe, and then removyng into some strong
+place, thou muste take order with thy nexte frendes, that daily thei
+maie provide for thee, and above al thinges bestowe the victual with
+diligence, givyng every daie to every manne, a reasonable measure, and
+observe after soche sorte this poincte, that it disorder thee not:
+bicause all other thyng in the warre, maie with tyme be overcome, this
+onely with tyme overcometh thee: nor there shall never any enemie of
+thyne, who maie overcome thee with famishemente, that will seeke to
+overcome thee with iron. For that though the victory be not so
+honourable, yet it is more sure and more certaine: Then, thesame armie
+cannot avoide famishemente, that is not an observer of justice, whiche
+licenciously consumeth what it liste: bicause the one disorder, maketh
+that the victualls commeth not unto you, the other, that soche victuall
+as commeth, is unprofitably consumed: therefore thantiquitie ordained,
+that thei should spende thesame, whiche thei gave, and in thesame tyme
+when thei appoincted: for that no souldiour did eate, but when the
+Capitaine did eate: The whiche how moche it is observed of the armies
+nowe adaies, every manne knoweth, and worthely thei can not bee called
+menne of good order and sober, as the antiquitie, but lasivious and
+drunkardes.
+
+BAPTISTE. You saied in the beginnyng of orderynge the Campe, that you
+woulde not stande onely uppon twoo maine battailes, but woulde take
+fower, for to shewe how a juste armie incamped: therfore I would you
+shoulde tell me twoo thynges, the one, when I shoulde have more or lesse
+men, howe I ought to incampe them, the other, what numbre of souldiours
+should suffice you to faight against what so ever enemie that were.
+
+[Sidenote: Howe to lodge in the Campe more or lesse menne, then the
+ordinarie; The nombre of men that an army ought to be made of, to bee
+able to faighte with the puisantest enemie that is; Howe to cause men to
+do soche a thing as shold bee profitable for thee, and hurtfull to them
+selves; Howe to overcome menne at unwares; How to tourne to commoditie
+the doynges of soche, as use to advertise thy enemie of thy
+proceadynges; How to order the campe, that the enemie shal not perceive
+whether the same bee deminished, or increased; A saiyng of Metellus;
+Marcus Crassus; How to understand the secretes of thy enemie; A policie
+of Marius, to understande howe he might truste the Frenchmen; What some
+Capitaines have doen when their countrie have been invaded of enemies;
+To make the enemie necligente in his doynges; Silla Asdruball; The
+policie of Aniball, where by he escaped out of the danger of Fabius
+Maximus; A Capitayne muste devise how to devide the force of his
+enemies; How to cause the enemie to have in suspect his most trusty men;
+Aniball Coriolanus; Metellus against Jugurte; A practis of the Romayne
+oratours, to bryng Aniball out of Credit with Antiochus; Howe to cause
+the enemie to devide his power; Howe Titus Didius staied his enemies
+that wer going to incounter a legion of men that were commyng in his
+ayde; Howe some have caused the enemie to devide his force; A policie to
+winne the enemies countrie before he be aware; Howe to reforme sedicion
+and discorde; The benefitte that the reputacion of the Capitaine
+causeth, which is only gotten by vertue; The chiefe thyng that a
+capitayne ought to doe; When paie wanteth, punishment is not to be
+executed; The inconvenience of not punisshynge; Cesar chaunsynge to
+fall, made the same to be supposed to signifi good lucke; Religion
+taketh away fantasticall opinions; In what cases a Capitaine ought not
+to faight with his enemie if he may otherwyse choose; A policie of
+Fulvius wherby he got and spoyled his enemies Campe; A policie to
+disorder the enemie; A policie to overcome the enemie; A policie; How to
+beguile the enemie; Howe Mennonus trained his enemies oute of stronge
+places to bee the better able to overcom them.]
+
+FABRICIO. To the first question I answer you, that if the armie be more
+or lesse, then fower or sixe thousande souldiours, the orders of
+lodgynges, may bee taken awaie or joined, so many as suffiseth: and with
+this way a man may goe in more, and in lesse, into infinite:
+Notwithstandynge the Romaines, when thei joigned together twoo consull
+armies, thei made twoo campes, and thei tourned the partes of the
+unarmed, thone against thother. Concernyng the second question, I say
+unto you, that the Romaines ordinary armie, was about xxiiii. M.
+souldiours: but when thei were driven to faight against the greatest
+power that might be, the moste that thei put together, wer L. M. With
+this number, thei did set against two hundred thousand Frenchemen, whome
+assaulted them after the first warre, that thei had with the
+Carthageners. With this verie same numbre, thei fought againste
+Anniball. And you muste note, that the Romaines, and the Grekes, have
+made warre with fewe, fortefiyng themselves thorough order, and thorough
+arte: the west, and the easte, have made it with multitude: But the one
+of these nacions, doeth serve with naturall furie: as doe the men of the
+west partes, the other through the great obedience whiche those men have
+to their kyng. But in Grece, and in Italy, beyng no naturall furie, nor
+the naturall reverence towardes their king, it hath been necessary for
+them to learne the discipline of warre, the whiche is of so muche force,
+that it hath made that a fewe, hath been able to overcome the furie, and
+the naturall obstinatenesse of manie. Therefore I saie, that mindyng to
+imitate the Romaines, and the Grekes, the number of L. M. souldiers
+ought not to bee passed, but rather to take lesse: because manie make
+confucion, nor suffer not the discipline to be observed, and the orders
+learned, and Pirrus used to saie, that with xv. thousande men he woulde
+assaile the worlde: but let us pas to an other parte. We have made this
+our armie to winne a field and shewed the travailes, that in the same
+fight may happen: we have made it to marche, and declared of what
+impedimentes in marchyng it may be disturbed: and finally we have lodged
+it: where not only it ought to take a littell reste of the labours
+passed, but also to thinke howe the warre ought to be ended: for that in
+the lodgynges, is handeled many thynges, inespecially thy enemies as yet
+remainyng in the fielde, and in suspected townes, of whome it is good to
+be assured, and those that be enemies to overcome them: therfore it is
+necessarie to come to this demonstracion, and to passe this difficultie
+with the same glorie, as hitherto we have warred. Therfore comynge to
+particular matters, I saie that if it shoulde happen, that thou wouldest
+have manie men, or many people to dooe a thyng, whiche were to thee
+profittable, and to theim greate hurte, as should be to breake downe the
+wall of their citie, or to sende into exile many of them, it is
+necessarie for thee, either to beguile them in such wise that everie one
+beleeve not that it toucheth him: so that succouryng not the one the
+other, thei may finde them selves al to be oppressed without remedie, or
+els unto all to commaunde the same, whiche they ought to dooe in one
+selfe daie, to the intente that every man belevyng to be alone, to whome
+the commaundement is made, maie thinke to obey and not to remedie it:
+and so withoute tumulte thy commaundement to be of everie man executed.
+If thou shouldest suspecte the fidelitie of anie people, and woulde
+assure thee, and overcome them at unawares, for to colour thy intente
+more easelie, thou canst not doe better, then to counsel with them of
+some purpose of thine, desiryng their aide, and to seeme to intende to
+make an other enterprise, and to have thy minde farre from thinkyng on
+them: the whiche will make, that thei shall not think on their owne
+defence, beleevyng not that thou purposest to hurte them, and thei shal
+geve thee commoditie, to be able easely to satisfie thy desire. When
+thou shouldest perceive, that there were in thine armie some, that used
+to advertise thy enemie of thy devises, thou canst not doe better,
+myndynge to take commoditie by their traiterous mindes, then to commen
+with them of those thynges, that thou wilte not doe, and those that thou
+wilt doe, to kepe secret, and to say to doubte of thynges, that thou
+doubtest not, and those of whiche thou doubtest, to hide: the which
+shall make thenemie to take some enterprise in hand, beleving to know
+thy devises, where by easly thou maiest beguile and opresse hym. If thou
+shouldest intende (as Claudius Nero did) to deminishe thy armie,
+sendynge helpe to some freende, and that the enemie shoulde not bee
+aware therof, it is necessarie not to deminishe the lodgynges, but to
+maintayne the signes, and the orders whole, makyng the verie same fires,
+and the verye same wardes throughout all the campe, as wer wont to be
+afore. Lykewise if with thy armie there should joigne new men, and
+wouldest that the enemie shoulde not know that thou werte ingrosed, it
+is necessarie not to increase the lodgynges: Because keepyng secrete
+doynges and devises, hath alwaies been moste profitable. Wherfore
+Metellus beyng with an armie in Hispayne, to one, who asked him what he
+would doe the nexte daie, answered, that if his sherte knew therof, he
+would bourne it. Marcus Craussus, unto one, whome asked him, when the
+armie shoulde remove, saied beleevest thou to be alone not to here the
+trumpet? If thou shouldest desire to understande the secretes of thy
+enemie, and to know his orders, some have used to sende embassadours,
+and with theim in servauntes aparel, moste expertest men in warre: whom
+havynge taken occasion to se the enemies armie, and to consider his
+strengthe and weakenesse, it hath geven them oportunitie to overcome
+him. Some have sente into exile one of their familiars, and by meanes of
+the same, hath knowen the devises of his adversarie. Also like secrettes
+are understoode of the enemies when for this effecte there were taken
+any prisoners. Marius whiche in the warre that he made with the Cimbrie,
+for to know the faieth of those Frenchmen, who then inhabited Lombardie,
+and were in leage with the Romaine people, sent them letters open, and
+sealed: and in the open he wrote, that they shoulde not open the sealed,
+but at a certaine time, and before the same time demaundyng them againe,
+and finding them opened, knew thereby that their faithe was not to be
+trusted. Some Capitaines, being invaded, have not desired to goe to
+meete the enemie, but have gone to assaulte his countrey, and
+constrained him to retorne to defende his owne home: The whiche manie
+times hath come wel to passe, for that those soldiours beginnyng to fil
+them selves with booties, and confidence to overcome, shall sone make
+the enemies souldiours to wexe afraide, when they supposynge theim
+selves conquerours, shal understand to become losers: So that to him
+that hath made this diversion, manie times it hath proved well. But
+onely it may be doen by him, whiche hath his countrey stronger then that
+of the enemies, because when it were otherwise, he should goe to leese.
+It hath been often a profitable thyng to a capitaine, that hath been
+besieged in his lodgynges by the enemie, to move an intreatie of
+agreemente, and to make truse with him for certaine daies: the which is
+wonte to make the enemies more necligente in all doynges: so that
+avaylynge thee of their necligence, thou maiest easely have occacion to
+get thee oute of handes. By this way Silla delivered him selfe twise
+from the enemies: and with this verie same deceipte, Asdruball in
+Hispayne got oute of the force of Claudious Nero, whome had besieged
+him. It helpeth also to deliver a man out of the daunger of the enemie,
+to do some thyng beside the forsaied, that may keepe him at a baye: this
+is dooen in two maners, either to assaulte him with parte of thy power,
+so that he beyng attentive to the same faight, may geve commoditie to
+the reste of thy men to bee able to save theim selves, or to cause to
+rise some newe accidente, which for the strayngenesse of the thynge,
+maie make him to marvell, and for this occasion to stande doubtefull,
+and still: as you knowe howe Anniball dyd, who beynge inclosed of Fabius
+Maximus, tied in the nighte small Bavens kindeled beetweene the hornes
+of manie Oxen, so that Fabius astonied at the strangenesse of the same
+sight, thought not to lette him at all the passage. A Capitayne oughte
+amonge all other of his affaires, with al subtiltie to devise to devide
+the force of the enemie, either with makyng him to suspecte his owne
+menne, in whome he trusteth, or to give him occasion, that he maye
+seperate his menne, and therby to be come more weake. The fyrste way is
+dooen with keepyng saulfe the thynges of some of those whiche he hath
+aboute him, as to save in the warre their menne and their possessions,
+renderynge theim their children, or other their necessaries withoute
+raunsome. You know that Anniball havynge burned all the fieldes aboute
+Rome, he made onely to bee reserved saulfe those of Fabius Maximus. You
+know how Coriolanus comyng with an armie to Rome, preserved the
+possessions of the nobilitie, and those of the comminaltie he bourned,
+and sacked. Metellus havinge an armie againste Jugurte, all the
+oratours, whiche of Jugurte were sente him, were required of him, that
+they woulde geve him Jugurte prisoner, and after to the verie same men
+writyng letters of the verie same matter, wrought in suche wise, that in
+shorte tyme Jugurte havyng in suspecte all his counsellours, in diverse
+maners put them to death. Anniball beynge fled to Antiochus, the Romaine
+oratours practised with him so familiarly, that Antiochus beyng in
+suspecte of him, trusted not anie more after to his counselles.
+Concernyng to devide the enemies men, there is no more certainer waie,
+then to cause their countrie to be assaulted to the intente that being
+constrained to goe to defende the same, they maie forsake the warre.
+This way Fabius used havynge agaynst his armie the power of the
+Frenchemen, of the Tuscans, Umbries and Sannites. Titus Didius havyng a
+few men in respecte to those of the enemies, and lookynge for a legion
+from Rome, and the enemies purposinge to goe to incounter it, to the
+intente that they should not goe caused to bee noised through all his
+armie, that he intended the nexte daie to faighte the field with the
+enemies: after he used means, that certaine of the prisoners, that he
+had taken afore, had occasion to runne awaie. Who declaryng the order
+that the Consull had taken to faighte the nexte daie, by reason wherof
+the enemies beyng afraide to deminishe their owne strength, went not to
+incounter the same legion, and by this way thei wer conducted safe. The
+which means serveth not to devide the force of the enemies, but to
+augmente a mans owne. Some have used to devide the enemies force, by
+lettyng him to enter into their countrie, and in profe have let him take
+manie townes, to the intente that puttynge in the same garrisons, he
+might thereby deminishe his power, and by this waie havynge made him
+weake, have assaulted and overcomen him. Some other mindyng to goe into
+one province, have made as though they woulde have invaded an other, and
+used so much diligence, that sodenly entryng into the same, where it was
+not doubted that they woulde enter, they have first wonne it, before the
+ennemie coulde have time to succour it: for that thy enemie beynge not
+sure, whether thou purposest to tourne backe, to the place fyrste of
+thee threatned, is constrained not to forsake the one place, to succour
+the other, and so many times he defendeth neither the one nor the other.
+It importeth besides the sayde thynges to a Capitaine, if there growe
+sedicion or discorde amonge the souldiours, to knowe with arte howe to
+extynguishe it: The beste waie is to chastise the headdes of the
+faultes, but it muste be doen in such wise, that thou maiest first have
+oppressed them, before they be able to be aware: The way is if they be
+distante from thee, not onely to call the offenders, but together with
+theim all the other, to the entente that not beleevynge, that it is for
+any cause to punishe them, they become not contumelius, but geve
+commoditie to the execution of the punishemente: when thei be present,
+thou oughtest to make thy selfe stronge with those that be not in
+faulte, and by meane of their helpe to punishe the other. When there
+hapneth discorde amonge them, the beste waye is, to bryng them to the
+perill, the feare whereof is wonte alwaies to make them agree. But that,
+which above all other thynge kepeth the armie in unitee, is the
+reputacion of the Capitaine, the whiche onely groweth of his vertue:
+because neither bloud, nor authoritie gave it ever without vertue. And
+the chiefe thyng, whiche of a Capitain is looked for to be doen, is, to
+keepe his souldiours punisshed, and paied: for that when so ever the
+paie lacketh, it is conveniente that the punisshement lacke: because
+thou canst not correcte a souldiour, that robbeth, if thou doest not
+paie him, nor the same mindynge to live, cannot abstaine from robbynge:
+but if thou paiest him and punisshest him not, he beecometh in everie
+condicion insolente: For that thou becomest of small estimacion, where
+thou chaunsest not to bee able to maintaine the dignitie of thy degree,
+and not mainetainyng it, there foloweth of necessitee tumulte, and
+discorde, whiche is the ruine of an armie. Olde Capitaines had a
+troubell, of the which the presente be almoste free, whiche was to
+interprete to their purpose the sinister auguries: because if there fell
+a thunderbolte in an armie, if the sunne were darkened or the Moone, if
+there came an erthequake, if the Capitaine either in gettyng up, or in
+lightynge of his horse fell, it was of the souldiours interpreted
+sinisterously: And it ingendred in them so moche feare, that comynge to
+faight the fielde, easely they should have lost it: and therefore the
+aunciente Capitaines so sone as a lyke accidente grewe, either they
+shewed the cause of the same, and redused it to a naturall cause, or
+they interpreted it to their purpose. Cesar fallyng in Africa, in comyng
+of the sea saied, Africa I have taken thee. Moreover manie have declared
+the cause of the obscuryng of the Moone, and of earthquakes: which thing
+in our time cannot happen, as well because our men be not so
+supersticious, as also for that our religion taketh away altogether such
+opinions: al be it when they should chaunse, the orders of the
+antiquitie ought to be imitated. When either famishement, or other
+naturall necessitie, or humaine passion, hath broughte thy enemie to an
+utter desperation, and he driven of the same, cometh to faight with
+thee, thou oughtest to stande within thy campe, and as muche as lieth in
+thy power, to flie the faight. So the Lacedemonians did against the
+Masonians, so Cesar did against Afranio, and Petreio. Fulvius beyng
+Consul, against the Cimbrians, made his horsemen manie daies continually
+to assaulte the enemies, and considered how thei issued out of their
+campe for to folow them: wherfore he sette an ambusshe behinde the Campe
+of the Cimbrians, and made them to be assaulted of his horsmen, and the
+Cimbrians issuyng oute of their campe for to follow them. Fulvio gotte
+it, and sacked it. It hath ben of great utilitie to a Capitaine, havyng
+his armie nere to the enemies armie, to sende his menne with the enemies
+ansignes to robbe, and to burne his owne countrey, whereby the enemies
+beleevynge those to bee menne, whiche are come in their aide, have also
+runne to helpe to make them the pray: and for this disorderyng them
+selves, hathe therby given oportunitie to the adversary to overcome
+them. This waie Alexander of Epirus used againste the Illirans and
+Leptenus of Siracusa against the Carthaginers and bothe to the one and
+to the other, the devise came to passe most happely. Manie have overcome
+the enemie, gevyng him occasion to eate and to drinke oute of measure,
+fayning to have feared, and leaving their Campes full of wyne and herdes
+of cattell, wherof the enemie beyng filled above all naturall use, have
+then assaulted him, and with his destruction overthrowen him. So Tamirus
+did against Cirus, and Tiberius Graccus agaynst the Spaniardes. Some
+have poysoned the wine, and other thynges to feede on, for to be able
+more easely to overcome them. I saied a littel afore how I founde not,
+that the antiquetie kepte in the night Scoutes abroade, and supposed
+that they did it for to avoide the hurte, whiche might growe therby:
+because it is founde, that through no other meane then throughe the
+watche man, whiche was set in the daie to watche the enemie, hath been
+cause of the ruin of him, that set him there: for that manie times it
+hath hapned, that he beyng taken, hath been made perforce to tell theim
+the token, whereby they might call his felowes, who commyng to the
+token, have been slaine or taken. It helpeth to beguile the enemie
+sometime to varie a custome of thine, whereupon he having grounded him
+self, remaineth ruinated: as a Capitaine did once, whome usinge to cause
+to be made signes to his men for comynge of the enemies in the night
+with fire, and in the daie with smoke, commaunded that withoute anie
+intermission, they shoulde make smoke and fire, and after commynge upon
+them the enemie, they should reste, whome beleevyng to come without
+beynge seen, perceivyng no signe to be made of beyng discovered, caused
+(through goeyng disordered) more easie the victorie to his adversarie.
+Mennonus a Rodian mindynge to drawe from stronge places the enemies
+armie, sente one under colour of a fugitive, the whiche affirmed, howe
+his armie was in discorde, and that the greater parte of them wente
+awaie: and for to make the thynge to be credited, he caused to make in
+sporte, certaine tumultes amonge the lodgynges: whereby the enemie
+thvnkyng thereby to be able to discomfaighte them, assaultynge theim,
+were overthrowen.
+
+[Sidenote: The enemie ought not to be brought into extreme desperacion;
+How Lucullus constrained certaine men that ran awaie from him to his
+enemies, to fayght whether they wold or not.]
+
+Besides thesaied thynges, regarde ought to be had not to brynge the
+enemie into extreme desperacion: whereunto Cesar had regarde, faightyng
+with the Duchemen, who opened them the waie, seyng, howe thei beyng not
+able to flie, necessitie made them strong, and would rather take paine
+to followe theim, when thei fled, then the perill to overcome them, when
+thei defended them selves. Lucullus seyng, how certaine Macedonian
+horsemenne, whiche were with hym, went to the enemies parte, straight
+waie made to sounde to battaile, and commaunded, that the other men
+should folowe hym: whereby the enemies beleving, that Lucullus would
+begin the faight, went to incounter the same Macedonians, with soche
+violence, that thei were constrained to defende themselves: and so thei
+became against their willes, of fugetives, faighters. It importeth also
+to knowe, how to be assured of a toune, when thou doubteste of the
+fidelitie thereof, so sone as thou haste wonne the fielde, or before,
+the whiche certain old insamples maie teache thee.
+
+[Sidenote: A policie wher by Pompey got a towne; How Publius Valerius
+assured him self of a towne; A policie that Alexander Magnus used to be
+assured of all Tracia, which Philip kynge of Spaine did practise to be
+asured of England when he wente to sainct Quintens; Examples for
+Capitaines to winne the hartes of the people.]
+
+Pompei doubtyng of the Catinensians, praied them that thei would bee
+contente, to receive certaine sicke menne, that he had in his armie, and
+sendyng under the habite of sicke persones, most lustie menne, gotte the
+toune. Publius Valerius, fearyng the fidelitie of the Epidannians,
+caused to come, as who saieth, a Pardon to a churche without the toune,
+and when al the people wer gone for Pardon, he shutte the gates,
+receivyng after none in, but those whom he trusted. Alexander Magnus,
+mindyng to goe into Asia, and to assure himself of Thracia, toke with
+him all the principall of thesame Province, givyng theim provision, and
+he set over the common people of Thracia, men of lowe degree, and so he
+made the Princes contented with paiyng theim, and the people quiete,
+havyng no heddes that should disquiete them: But emong all the thynges,
+with the whiche the Capitaines, winne the hartes of the people, be the
+insamples of chastitie and justice, as was thesame of Scipio in Spaine,
+when he rendered that yong woman, moste faire of personage to her
+father, and to her housebande: the whiche made him more, then with force
+of armes to winne Spain.
+
+Cesar having caused that woodde to bee paied for, whiche he had occupied
+for to make the Listes, about his armie in Fraunce, got so moche a name
+of justice, that he made easier the conquest of thesame province. I
+cannot tell what remaineth me, to speake more upon these accidentes, for
+that concerning this matter, there is not lefte any parte, that hath not
+been of us disputed. Onely there lacketh to tell, of the maner of
+winnyng, and defendyng a toune: the whiche I am readie to doe willingly,
+if you be not now wearie.
+
+BAPTISTE. Your humanitie is so moche, that it maketh us to followe our
+desires, without beyng afraied to be reputed presumptuous, seyng that
+you liberally offer thesame, whiche we should have been ashamed, to have
+asked you: Therefore, we saie unto you onely this, that to us you cannot
+dooe a greater, nor a more gratefuller benefite, then to finishe this
+reasonyng. But before that you passe to that other matter, declare us a
+doubte, whether it bee better to continewe the warre, as well in the
+Winter, as thei use now adaies, or to make it onely in the Sommer, and
+to goe home in the Winter, as the antiquitie did.
+
+[Sidenote: Warre ought not to be made in winter; Rough situacions, colde
+and watrie times, are enemies to the oder of warre; An overthrowe caused
+by winter.]
+
+FABRICIO. See, that if the prudence of the demaunder were not, there had
+remained behinde a speciall part, that deserveth consideracion. I
+answere you againe, that the antiquitie did all thynges better, and with
+more prudence then wee: and if wee in other things commit some erroure,
+in the affaires of warre, wee commit all errour. There is nothing more
+undiscrete, or more perrillous to a Capitayne, then to make warre in the
+Winter, and muche more perrill beareth he, that maketh it, then he that
+abideth it: the reason is this. All the industrie that is used in the
+discipline of warre, is used for to bee prepared to fighte a fielde with
+thy enemie, because this is the ende, whereunto a Capitayne oughte to
+goo or endevour him selfe: For that the foughten field, geveth thee the
+warre wonne or loste: then he that knoweth best how to order it, and he
+that hath his army beste instructed, hath moste advauntage in this, and
+maye beste hope to overcome. On the other side, there is nothing more
+enemie to the orders, and then the rough situacions, or the colde watery
+time: for that the rough situacions, suffereth thee not to deffende thy
+bandes, according to thee discipline: the coulde and watery times,
+suffereth thee not to keepe thy men together, nor thou canst not bring
+them in good order to the enemy: but it is convenient for thee to lodge
+them a sunder of necessitie, and without order, being constrayned to
+obeye to Castells, to Boroughes, and to the Villages, that maye receyve
+thee, in maner that all thy laboure of thee, used to instructe the army
+is vaine. Nor marvayle you not though now a daies, they warre in the
+Winter, because the armies being without discipline, know not the hurt
+that it dooth them, in lodging not together, for that it is no griefe to
+them not to be able to keepe those orders, and to observe that
+discipline, which they have not: yet they oughte to see howe much harme,
+the Camping in the Winter hath caused, and to remember, how the
+Frenchmen in the yeare of oure Lorde God, a thousande five hundred and
+three, were broken at Gariliano of the Winter, and not of the
+Spaniardes: For as much as I have saide, he that assaulteth, hath more
+disadvauntage then he that defendeth: because the fowle weather hurteth
+him not a littell, being in the dominion of others and minding to make
+warre. For that he is constrayned, either to stande together with his
+men, and to sustaine the incommoditie of water and colde, or to avoide
+it to devide his power: But he that defendeth, may chuse the place as he
+listeth, and tary him with his freshe men: and he in a sodayne may set
+his men in araye, and goo to find a band of the enemies men, who cannot
+resiste the violence of them. So the Frenchemen were discomfited, and so
+they shall alwayes be discomfited, which will assaulte in the Winter an
+enemye, whoo hath in him prudence. Then he that will that force, that
+orders, that discipline and vertue, in anye condition availe him not,
+let him make warre in the fielde in the winter: and because that the
+Romaines woulde that all these thinges, in which they bestowed so much
+diligence, should availe them, fleedde no otherwise the Winter, then the
+highe Alpes, and difficulte places, and whatsoever other thing shoulde
+let them, for being able to shewe their arte and their vertue. So this
+suffiseth to your demaund, wherefore we wil come to intreate of the
+defending and besieging of tounes, and of their situacions and
+edifications.
+
+
+
+
+THE SEVENTH BOOKE
+
+
+[Sidenote: Tounes and Fortresses maie be strong twoo waies; The place
+that now a daies is moste sought to fortifie in; How a Toune walle ought
+to bee made; The walle of a toune ought to bee high, and the diche
+within, and not without; The thickenes that a Toune walle ought to bee
+of, and the distaunces betwene everie flancker, and of what breadth and
+deapth the dich ought to bee; How the ordinaunce is planted, for the
+defence of a toune; The nature of the batterie.]
+
+You oughte to knowe, how that tounes and fortresses, maie bee strong
+either by nature, or by industrie; by nature, those bee strong, whiche
+bee compassed aboute with rivers, or with Fennes, as Mantua is and
+Ferrara, or whiche bee builded upon a Rocke, or upon a stepe hille, as
+Monaco, and Sanleo: For that those that stande upon hilles, that be not
+moche difficulct to goe up, be now a daies, consideryng the artillerie
+and the Caves, moste weake. And therfore moste often times in building,
+thei seke now a daies a plain, for to make it stronge with industrie.
+The firste industrie is, to make the walles crooked, and full of
+tournynges, and of receiptes: the whiche thyng maketh, that thenemie
+cannot come nere to it, bicause he maie be hurte, not onely on the
+front, but by flancke. If the walles be made high, thei bee to moche
+subjecte to the blowes of the artillerie: if thei be made lowe, thei bee
+moste easie to scale. If thou makeste the diches on the out side
+thereof, for to give difficultie to the Ladders, if it happen that the
+enemie fill them up (whiche a great armie maie easely dooe) the wall
+remaineth taken of thenemie. Therefore purposyng to provide to the one
+and thother foresaid inconveniences, I beleve (savyng alwaies better
+judgement) that the walle ought to be made highe, and the Diche within,
+and not without. This is the moste strongeste waie of edificacion, that
+is made, for that it defendeth thee from the artillerie, and from
+Ladders, and it giveth not facilitie to the enemie, to fill up the
+diche: Then the walle ought to be high, of that heighth as shall bee
+thought beste, and no lesse thick, then two yardes and a quarter, for to
+make it more difficult to ruinate. Moreover it ought to have the toures
+placed, with distances of CL. yardes betwen thone and thother: the diche
+within, ought to be at leaste twoo and twentie yardes and a halfe broad,
+and nine depe, and al the yearth that is digged out, for to make the
+diche, muste be throwen towardes the Citee, and kepte up of a walle,
+that muste be raised from the bottome of the diche, and goe so high over
+the toune, that a man maie bee covered behinde thesame, the whiche thing
+shal make the depth of the diche the greater. In the bottome of the
+diche, within every hundred and l. yardes, there would be a slaughter
+house, which with the ordinaunce, maie hurte whom so ever should goe
+doune into thesame: the greate artillerie that defende the citee, are
+planted behinde the walle, that shutteth the diche, bicause for to
+defende the utter walle, being high, there cannot bee occupied
+commodiously, other then smalle or meane peeses. If the enemie come to
+scale, the heigth of the firste walle moste easely defendeth thee: if he
+come with ordinaunce, it is convenient for hym to batter the utter
+walle: but it beyng battered, for that the nature of the batterie is, to
+make the walle to fall, towardes the parte battered, the ruine of the
+walle commeth, finding no diche that receiveth and hideth it, to
+redouble the profunditie of thesame diche: after soche sorte, that to
+passe any further, it is not possible, findyng a ruine that with holdeth
+thee, a diche that letteth thee, and the enemies ordinaunce, that from
+the walle of the diche, moste safely killeth thee. Onely there is this
+remedie, to fill the diche: the whiche is moste difficulte to dooe, as
+well bicause the capacitie thereof is greate, as also for the
+difficultie, that is in commyng nere it, the walle beeyng strong and
+concaved, betwene the whiche, by the reasons aforesaied, with
+difficultie maie be entered, havyng after to goe up a breache through a
+ruin, whiche giveth thee moste greate difficultie, so that I suppose a
+citee thus builded, to be altogether invinsible.
+
+BAPTISTE. When there should bee made besides the diche within, a diche
+also without, should it not bee stronger?
+
+FABRICIO. It should be without doubt, but mindyng to make one diche
+onely, myne opinion is, that it standeth better within then without.
+
+BAPTISTE. Would you, that water should bee in the diches, or would you
+have them drie?
+
+[Sidenote: A drie diche is moste sureste.]
+
+FABRICIO. The opinion of men herein bee divers, bicause the diches full
+of water, saveth thee from mines under grounde, the Diches without
+water, maketh more difficulte the fillyng of them: but I havyng
+considered all, would make them without water, for that thei bee more
+sure: For diches with water, have been seen in the Winter to bee frosen,
+and to make easie the winnyng of a citee, as it happened to Mirandola,
+when Pope Julie besieged it: and for to save me from mines, I would make
+it so deepe, that he that would digge lower, should finde water.
+
+[Sidenote: An advertisemente for the buildyng and defending of a Toune
+or Fortresse; Small fortresses cannot bee defended; A toune of war or
+Fortresse, ought not to have in them any retiring places; Cesar Borgia;
+The causes of the losse of the Fortresse of Furlie, that was thought
+invincible; Howe the houses that are in a toune of war or Fortresse
+ought to be builded.]
+
+The Fortresses also, I would builde concernyng the diches and the walles
+in like maner, to the intent thei should have the like difficultie to be
+wonne. One thyng I will earnestly advise hym, that defendeth a Citee:
+and that is, that he make no Bulwarkes without distaunte from the walle
+of thesame: and an other to hym that buildeth the Fortresse, and this
+is, that he make not any refuge place in them, in whiche he that is
+within, the firste walle beyng loste, maie retire: That whiche maketh me
+to give the firste counsaile is, that no manne ought to make any thyng,
+by meane wherof, he maie be driven without remedie to lese his firste
+reputacion, the whiche losyng, causeth to be estemed lesse his other
+doinges, and maketh afraied them, whom have taken upon theim his
+defence, and alwaies it shall chaunce him this, whiche I saie, when
+there are made Bulwarkes out of the Toune, that is to bee defended,
+bicause alwaies he shall leese theim, little thynges now a daies, beyng
+not able to bee defended, when thei be subject to the furie of
+ordinance, in soche wise that lesyng them, thei be beginning and cause
+of his ruine. When Genua rebelled againste king Leus of Fraunce, it made
+certaine Bulwarkes alofte on those hilles, whiche bee about it, the
+whiche so sone as thei were loste, whiche was sodainly, made also the
+citee to be loste. Concernyng the second counsaile, I affirme nothyng to
+be to a Fortresse more perilous, then to be in thesame refuge places, to
+be able to retire: Bicause the hope that menne have thereby, maketh that
+thei leese the utter warde, when it is assaulted: and that loste, maketh
+to bee loste after, all the Fortresse. For insample there is freshe in
+remembraunce, the losse of the Fortresse of Furly, when Catherin the
+Countesse defended it againste Cesar Borgia, sonne to Pope Alexander the
+vi. who had conducted thether the armie of the king of Fraunce: thesame
+Fortresse, was al full of places, to retire out of one into an other:
+for that there was firste the kepe, from the same to the Fortresse, was
+a diche after soche sorte, that thei passed over it by a draw bridge:
+the fortresse was devided into three partes, and every parte was devided
+from the other with diches, and with water, and by Bridges, thei passed
+from the one place to the other: wherefore the Duke battered with his
+artillerie, one of the partes of the fortresse, and opened part of the
+walle: For whiche cause Maister Jhon Casale, whiche was appoincted to
+that Warde, thought not good to defende that breache, but abandoned it
+for to retire hymself into the other places: so that the Dukes men
+having entered into that parte without incounter, in a sodaine thei
+gotte it all: For that the Dukes menne became lordes of the bridges,
+whiche went from one place to an other. Thei loste then this Fortresse,
+whiche was thought invinsible, through two defaultes, the one for havyng
+so many retiryng places, the other, bicause every retiryng place, was
+not Lorde of the bridge thereof. Therefore, the naughtie builded
+Fortresse, and the little wisedome of them that defended it, caused
+shame to the noble enterprise of the countesse, whoe had thought to have
+abidden an armie, whiche neither the kyng of Naples, nor the Duke of
+Milaine would have abidden: and although his inforcementes had no good
+ende, yet notwithstandyng he gotte that honoure, whiche his
+valiauntnesse had deserved: The whiche was testified of many Epigrammes,
+made in those daies in his praise. Therefore, if I should have to builde
+a Fortresse, I would make the walles strong, and the diches in the maner
+as we have reasoned, nor I would not make therein other, then houses to
+inhabite, and those I would make weake and lowe, after soche sorte that
+thei should not let him that should stande in the middest of the Market
+place, the sight of all the walle, to the intente that the Capitain
+might see with the iye, where he maie succour: and that every manne
+should understande, that the walle and the diche beyng lost, the
+fortresse were lost. And yet when I should make any retiryng places, I
+would make the bridges devided in soche wise, that every parte should be
+Lorde of the bridges of his side, ordainyng, that thei should fall upon
+postes, in the middest of the diche.
+
+BAPTISTE. You have saied that littel thynges now a daies can not bee
+defended, and it seemed unto me to have understoode the contrarie, that
+the lesser that a thyng wer, the better it might be defended.
+
+[Sidenote: The fortifiyng of the entrance of a Toune.]
+
+FABRICIO. You have not understoode well, because that place cannot be
+now a daies called stronge, wher he that defendeth it, hath not space to
+retire with new diches, and with new fortificacions, for that the force
+of the ordinance is so much, that he that trusteth uppon the warde of
+one wall and of one fortification only, is deceived: and because the
+Bulwarkes (mindyng that they passe not their ordinarie measure, for that
+then they shoulde be townes and Castels) be not made, in suche wise that
+men maie have space within them to retire, thei are loste straight waie.
+Therefore it is wisdom to let alone those Bulwarkes without, and to
+fortifie thenterance of the toune, and to kever the gates of the same
+with turnyngs after suche sort, that men cannot goe in nor oute of the
+gate by right line: and from the tournynges to the gate, to make a diche
+with a bridge. Also they fortifie the gate, with a Percullis, for to bee
+abell to put therin their menne, when they be issued out to faight, and
+hapnyng that the enemies pursue them, to avoide, that in the mingelynge
+together, they enter not in with them: and therfore these be used, the
+which the antiquitie called Cattarratte, the whiche beyng let fall,
+exclude thenemies, and save the freendes, for that in suche a case, men
+can do no good neither by bridges nor by a gate, the one and the other
+beynge ocupied with prease of menne.
+
+BAPTISTE. I have seene these Perculleses that you speake of, made in
+Almayne of littell quarters of woodde after the facion of a grate of
+Iron, and these percullises of ouers, be made of plankes all massive: I
+woulde desire to understande whereof groweth this difference, and which
+be the strongest.
+
+[Sidenote: Battelments ought to be large and thicke and the flanckers
+large within.]
+
+FABRICIO. I tell you agayne, that the manners and orders of the warre,
+throughe oute all the worlde, in respecte to those of the antiquitie, be
+extinguesshed, and in Italye they bee altogether loste, for if there bee
+a thing somewhat stronger then the ordinarye, it groweth of the insample
+of other countries. You mighte have understoode and these other may
+remember, with howe muche debilitie before, that king Charles of Fraunce
+in the yere of our salvation a thousande CCCC. xciiii. had passed into
+Italie, they made the batelmentes not halfe a yarde thicke, the loopes,
+and the flanckers were made with a litle opening without, and muche
+within, and with manye other faultes whiche not to be tedious I will let
+passe: for that easely from thinne battelments the defence is taken
+awaye, the flanckers builded in the same maner, moste easylye are
+opened: Nowe of the Frenchemen is learned to make the battelment large
+and thicke, and the flanckers to bee large on the parte within, and to
+drawe together in the middeste of the wall, and then agayn to waxe wider
+unto the uttermost parte without: this maketh that the ordinaunce
+hardlye can take away the defence. Therfore the Frenchmen have, manye
+other devises like these, the whiche because they have not beene seene
+of our men, they have not beene considered. Among whiche, is this kinde
+of perculles made like unto a grate, the which is a greate deale better
+then oures: for that if you have for defence of a gate a massive
+parculles as oures, letting it fall, you shutte in your menne, and you
+can not though the same hurte the enemie, so that hee with axes, and
+with fire, maye breake it downe safely: but if it bee made like a grate,
+you maye, it being let downe, through those holes and through those open
+places, defende it with Pikes, with crosbowes, and with all other kinde
+of weapons.
+
+BAPTISTE. I have seene in Italye an other use after the outelandishe
+fashion, and this is, to make the carriage of the artillery with the
+spokes of the wheele crooked towardes the Axeltree. I woulde knowe why
+they make them so: seeming unto mee that they bee stronger when they are
+made straighte as those of oure wheeles.
+
+[Sidenote: Neither the ditche, wall tillage, nor any kinde of
+edificacion, ought to be within a mile of a toune of warre.]
+
+FABRICIO. Never beleeve that the thinges that differ from the ordinarie
+wayes, be made by chaunce: and if you shoulde beleeve that they make
+them so, to shewe fayrer, you are deceaved: because where strength is
+necessarie, there is made no counte of fayrenesse: but all groweth, for
+that they be muche surer and muche stronger then ours. The reason is
+this: the carte when it is laden, either goeth even, or leaning upon the
+righte, or upon the lefte side: when it goeth even, the wheeles equally
+sustayne the wayght, the which being equallye devided betweene them,
+doth not burden much, but leaning, it commeth to have all the paise of
+the cariage on the backe of that wheele upon the which it leaneth. If
+the spokes of the same be straight they wil soone breake: for that the
+wheele leaning, the spokes come also to leane, and not to sustaine the
+paise by the straightnesse of them, and so when the carte goeth even,
+and when they are least burdened, they come to bee strongest: when the
+Carte goeth awrye, and that they come to have moste paise, they bee
+weakest. Even the contrarie happeneth to the crooked spokes of the
+Frenche Cartes, for that when the carte leaning upon one side poincteth
+uppon them, because they bee ordinary crooked, they come then to bee
+straight, and to be able to sustayne strongly al the payse, where when
+the carte goeth even, and that they bee crooked, they sustayne it halfe:
+but let us tourne to our citie and Fortresse. The Frenchemen use also
+for more safegarde of the gates of their townes, and for to bee able in
+sieges more easylye to convey and set oute men of them, besides the
+sayde thinges, an other devise, of which I have not seene yet in Italye
+anye insample: and this is, where they rayse on the oute side from the
+ende of the drawe bridge twoo postes, and upon either of them they
+joigne a beame, in suche wise that the one halfe of them comes over the
+bridge, the other halfe with oute: then all the same parte that commeth
+withoute, they joygne together with small quarters of woodde, the whiche
+they set thicke from one beame to an other like unto a grate, and on the
+parte within, they fasten to the ende of either of the beames a chaine:
+then when they will shutte the bridge on the oute side, they slacke the
+chaines, and let downe all the same parte like unto a grate, the whiche
+comming downe, shuttethe the bridge, and when they will open it, they
+drawe the chaines, and the same commeth to rise up, and they maye raise
+it up so much that a man may passe under it, and not a horse, and so
+much that there maye passe horse and man, and shutte it againe at ones,
+for that it falleth and riseth as a window of a battelment. This devise
+is more sure than the Parculles, because hardely it maye be of the
+enemye lette in such wise, that it fall not downe, falling not by a
+righte line as the Parculles, which easely may be underpropped. Therfore
+they which will make a citie oughte to cause to be ordained all the
+saide things: and moreover aboute the walle, there woulde not bee
+suffered any grounde to be tilled, within a myle thereof, nor any wall
+made, but shoulde be all champaine, where should be neither ditch nor
+banck, neither tree nor house, which might let the fighte, and make
+defence for the enemie that incampeth.
+
+[Sidenote: Noote; The provision that is meete to be made for the defence
+of a toune.]
+
+And noote, that a Towne, whiche hathe the ditches withoute, with the
+banckes higher then the grounde, is moste weake: for as muche as they
+make defence to the enemye which assaulteth thee, and letteth him not
+hurte thee, because easely they may be opened, and geve place to his
+artillerye: but let us passe into the Towne. I will not loose so muche
+time in shewing you howe that besides the foresayde thinges, it is
+requisite to have provision of victualles, and wherewith to fight, for
+that they be thinges that everye man underdeth, and without them, all
+other provision is vaine: and generally twoo thinges oughte to be done,
+to provide and to take the commoditie from the enemie that he availe not
+by the things of thy countrey: therfore the straw, the beastes, the
+graine, whiche thou canste not receive into house, ought to be
+destroied. Also he that defendeth a Towne, oughte to provide that
+nothing bee done tumultuouslye and disordinatelye, and to take suche
+order, that in all accidentes everye man maye knowe what he hath to doo.
+
+[Sidenote: What incoragethe the enemy most that besiegeth a toune; What
+he that besiegeth and he that defendeth oughte to doo; Advertisementes
+for a besieged towne; Howe the Romaines vitaled Casalino besieged of
+Aniball; A policie for the besieged.]
+
+The order that oughte to be taken is thus, that the women, the olde
+folkes, the children, and the impotent, be made to keepe within doores,
+that the Towne maye be left free, to yong and lustie men, whom being
+armed, must be destributed for the defence of the same, appointing part
+of them to the wall, parte to the gates, parte to the principall places
+of the Citie, for to remedie those inconveniences, that might growe
+within: an other parte must not be bound to any place, but be ready to
+succour all, neede requiring: and the thing beeing ordained thus, with
+difficultie tumulte can growe, whiche maye disorder thee. Also I will
+that you note this, in the besieging and defending of a Citie, that
+nothing geveth so muche hoope to the adversarye to be able to winne a
+towne, as when he knoweth that the same is not accustomed to see the
+enemie: for that many times for feare onely without other experience of
+force, cities have bene loste: Therefore a man oughte, when he
+assaulteth a like Citie, to make all his ostentacions terrible. On the
+other parte he that is assaulted, oughte to appoincte to the same parte,
+whiche the enemie fighteth againste, strong men and suche as opinion
+makethe not afraide, but weapons onely: for that if the first proofe
+turne vaine, it increaseth boldenesse to the besieged, and then the
+enemie is constrained to overcome them within, with vertue and
+reputacion. The instrumentes wherwith the antiquitie defended townes,
+where manie: as balistes, onagris, scorpions, Arcubalistes, Fustibals,
+Slinges: and also those were manie with which thei gave assaultes. As
+Arrieti, Towers, Musculi Plutei, Viney, Falci, testudeni, in steede of
+which thynges be now a daies the ordinance, the whiche serve him that
+bessegeth, and him that defendeth: and therfore I will speake no forther
+of theim: But let us retourne to our reasonyng and let us come to
+particular offences. They ought to have care not to be taken by famine,
+and not to be overcome through assaultes: concernyng famin, it hath ben
+tolde, that it is requiset before the siege come, to be well provided of
+vitualles. But when a towne throughe longe siege, lacketh victuals, some
+times hath ben seen used certaine extraordinarie waies to be provided of
+their friendes, whome woulde save them: inespeciall if through the
+middest of the besieged Citie there runne a river, as the Romaines
+vittelled their castell called Casalino besieged of Anibal, whom being
+not able by the river to sende them other victual then Nuttes, wherof
+castyng in the same great quantitie, the which carried of the river,
+without beyng abel to be letted, fedde longe time the Casalinians. Some
+besieged, for to shew unto the enemie, that they have graine more then
+inough and for to make him to dispaire, that he cannot, by famin
+overcome theim, have caste breade oute of the gates, or geven a Bullocke
+graine to eate, and after have suffered the same to be taken, to the
+intent that kilde and founde full of graine, might shewe that
+aboundance, whiche they had not. On the other parte excellent Capitaines
+have used sundrie waies to werie the enemie.
+
+[Sidenote: A policie of Fabius in besieging of a toune; A policie of
+Dionisius in besiegynge of a toune.]
+
+Fabius suffered them whome he besieged, to sowe their fieldes, to the
+entente that thei should lacke the same corne, whiche they sowed.
+
+Dionisius beynge in Campe at Regio, fained to minde to make an agreement
+with them, and duryng the practise therof he caused him selfe to be
+provided of their victuales, and then when he had by this mean got from
+them their graine, he kepte them straight and famished them.
+
+[Sidenote: Howe Alexander wanne Leucadia.]
+
+Alexander Magnus mindyng to winne Leucadia overcame all the Castels
+aboute it, and by that means drivyng into the same citie a great
+multitude of their owne countrie men, famished them.
+
+[Sidenote: The besieged ought to take heed of the first brunte; The
+remedie that townes men have, when the enemies ar entred into the towne;
+How to make the townes men yeelde.]
+
+Concernynge the assaultes, there hath been tolde that chiefely thei
+ought to beware of the firste bronte, with whiche the Romaines gotte
+often times manie townes, assaultyng them sodainly, and on every side:
+and thei called it _Aggredi urbem corona_. As Scipio did, when he wanne
+newe Carthage in Hispayne: the which brunte if of a towne it be
+withstoode, with difficultie after will bee overcome: and yet thoughe it
+should happen that the enemie were entred into the citie, by overcomynge
+the wall, yet the townes men have some remedie, so thei forsake it not:
+for as much as manie armies through entring into a toune, have ben
+repulced or slaine: the remedie is, that the townes men doe keepe them
+selves in highe places, and from the houses, and from the towers to
+faight with them: the whiche thynge, they that have entered into the
+citie, have devised to overcome in twoo manners: the one with openyng
+the gates of the citie, and to make the waie for the townes men, that
+thei might safely flie: the other with sendynge foorthe a proclamacion,
+that signifieth, that none shall be hurte but the armed, and to them
+that caste their weapons on the grounde, pardon shall be graunted: the
+whiche thynge hath made easie the victorie of manie cities.
+
+[Sidenote: How townes or cities are easelie wonne; How duke Valentine
+got the citie of Urbine; The besieged ought to take heede of the
+deciptes and policies of the enemie; How Domitio Calvino wan a towne.]
+
+Besides this, the Citees are easie to bee wonne, if thou come upon them
+unawares: whiche is dooen beyng with thy armie farre of, after soche
+sort, that it be not beleved, either that thou wilte assaulte theim, or
+that thou canst dooe it, without commyng openly, bicause of the distance
+of the place: wherefore, if thou secretely and spedely assaulte theim,
+almoste alwaies it shall followe, that thou shalte gette the victorie. I
+reason unwillingly of the thynges succeded in our tyme, for that to me
+and to mine, it should be a burthen, and to reason of other, I cannot
+tel what to saie: notwithstanding, I cannot to this purpose but declare,
+the insample of Cesar Borgia, called duke Valentine, who beyng at Nocera
+with his menne, under colour of goyng to besiege Camerino, tourned
+towardes the state of Urbin, and gotte a state in a daie, and without
+any paine, the whiche an other with moche time and cost, should scante
+have gotten. It is conveniente also to those, that be besieged, to take
+heede of the deceiptes, and of the policies of the enemie, and therefore
+the besieged ought not to truste to any thyng, whiche thei see the
+enemie dooe continually, but let theim beleve alwaies, that it is under
+deceipte, and that he can to their hurte varie it. Domitio Calvino
+besiegyng a toune, used for a custome to compasse aboute every daie,
+with a good parte of his menne, the wall of the same: whereby the Tounes
+menne, belevyng that he did it for exercise, slacked the Ward: whereof
+Domicius beyng aware, assaulted and overcame them.
+
+[Sidenote: A policie to get a towne.]
+
+Certaine Capitaines understandyng, that there should come aide to the
+besieged, have apareled their Souldiours, under the Ansigne of those,
+that should come, and beyng let in, have gotte the Toune.
+
+[Sidenote: How Simon of Athens wan a towne; A policie to get a towne;
+How Scipio gotte certaine castels in Afrike.]
+
+Simon of Athens set fire in a night on a Temple, whiche was out of the
+toune, wherefore, the tounes menne goyng to succour it, lefte the toune
+in praie to the enemie. Some have slaine those, whiche from the besieged
+Castle, have gone a foragyng, and have appareled their souldiours, with
+the apparell of the forragers, whom after have gotte the toune. The
+aunciente Capitaines, have also used divers waies, to destroie the
+Garison of the Toune, whiche thei have sought to take. Scipio beyng in
+Africa, and desiring to gette certaine Castles, in whiche were putte the
+Garrisons of Carthage, he made many tymes, as though he would assaulte
+theim, albeit, he fained after, not onely to abstaine, but to goe awaie
+from them for feare: the whiche Aniball belevyng to bee true, for to
+pursue hym with greater force, and for to bee able more easely to
+oppresse him, drewe out all the garrisons of theim: The whiche Scipio
+knowyng, sente Massinissa his Capitaine to overcome them.
+
+[Sidenote: Howe Pirrus wan the chiefe Citie of Sclavonie; A policie to
+get a towne; How the beseiged are made to yelde; Howe to get a towne by
+treason; A policie of Aniball for the betraiyng of a Castell; How the
+besieged maie be begiled; How Formion overcame the Calcidensians; What
+the besieged muste take heede of; Liberalitie maketh enemies frendes;
+The diligence that the besieged ought to use in their watche and ward.]
+
+Pirrus makyng warre in Sclavonie, to the chiefe citee of the same
+countrie, where were brought many menne in Garrison, fained to dispaire
+to bee able to winne it, and tourning to other places, made that the
+same for to succour them, emptied it self of the warde, and became easie
+to bee wonne. Many have corrupted the water, and have tourned the rivers
+an other waie to take Tounes. Also the besieged, are easely made to
+yelde them selves, makyng theim afraied, with signifiyng unto them a
+victorie gotten, or with new aides, whiche come in their disfavour. The
+old Capitaines have sought to gette Tounes by treason, corruptyng some
+within, but thei have used divers meanes. Sum have sente a manne of
+theirs, whiche under the name of a fugetive, might take aucthoritie and
+truste with the enemies, who after have used it to their profite. Some
+by this meanes, have understode the maner of the watche, and by meanes
+of the same knowledge, have taken the Toune. Some with a Carte, or with
+Beames under some colour, have letted the gate, that it could not bee
+shutte, and with this waie, made the entrie easie to the enemie. Aniball
+perswaded one, to give him a castle of the Romaines, and that he should
+fain to go a huntyng in the night, makyng as though he could not goe by
+daie, for feare of the enemies, and tournyng after with the Venison,
+should put in with hym certaine of his menne, and so killyng the
+watchmen, should give hym the gate. Also the besieged are beguiled, with
+drawyng them out of the Toune, and goyng awaie from them, faining to
+flie when thei assault thee. And many (emong whom was Anibal) have for
+no other intente, let their Campe to be taken, but to have occasion to
+get betwene theim and home, and to take their Toune. Also, thei are
+beguiled with fainyng to departe from them, as Formion of Athens did,
+who havyng spoiled the countrie of the Calcidensians, received after
+their ambassadours, fillyng their Citee with faire promises, and hope of
+safetie, under the which as simple menne, thei were a little after of
+Formione oppressed. The besieged ought to beware of the men, whiche thei
+have in suspecte emong them: but some times thei are wont, as well to
+assure them selves with deserte, as with punishemente. Marcellus
+knoweyng how Lucius Bancius a Nolane, was tourned to favour Aniball so
+moche humanitie and liberalitie, he used towardes him, that of an
+enemie, he made him moste frendely. The besieged ought to use more
+diligence in the warde, when the enemie is gone from theim, then when he
+is at hande. And thei ought to warde those places, whiche thei thinke,
+that maie bee hurt least: for that many tounes have been loste, when
+thenemie assaulteth it on thesame part, where thei beleve not possible
+to be assaulted. And this deceipt groweth of twoo causes, either for the
+place being strong, and to beleve, that it is invinsible, or through
+craft beyng used of the enemie, in assaltyng theim on one side with
+fained alaroms, and on the other without noise, and with verie assaltes
+in deede: and therefore the besieged, ought to have greate advertisment,
+and above all thynges at all times, and in especially in the night to
+make good watche to bee kepte on the walles, and not onely to appoincte
+menne, but Dogges, and soche fiearse Mastives, and lively, the whiche by
+their sente maie descrie the enemie, and with barkyng discover him: and
+not Dogges onely, but Geese have ben seen to have saved a citee, as it
+happened to Roome, when the Frenchemen besieged the Capitoll.
+
+[Sidenote: An order of Alcibiades for the dew keping of watch and
+warde.]
+
+Alcibiades for to see, whether the warde watched, Athense beeyng
+besieged of the Spartaines, ordained that when in the night, he should
+lifte up a light, all the ward should lift up likewise, constitutyng
+punishmente to hym that observed it not.
+
+[Sidenote: The secrete conveighyng of Letters; The defence against a
+breach; How the antiquitie got tounes by muining under grounde.]
+
+Isicrates of Athens killed a watchman, which slept, saiyng that he lefte
+him as he found him. Those that have been besieged, have used divers
+meanes, to sende advise to their frendes: and mindyng not to send their
+message by mouth, thei have written letters in Cifers, and hidden them
+in sundrie wise: the Cifers be according, as pleaseth him that ordaineth
+them, the maner of hidyng them is divers. Some have written within the
+scaberde of a sweard: Other have put the Letters in an unbaked lofe, and
+after have baked the same, and given it for meate to hym that caried
+theim. Certaine have hidden them, in the secreteste place of their
+bodies: other have hidden them in the collor of a Dogge, that is
+familiare with hym, whiche carrieth theim: Some have written in a letter
+ordinarie thinges, and after betwene thone line and thother, have also
+written with water, that wetyng it or warming it after, the letters
+should appere. This waie hath been moste politikely observed in our
+time: where some myndyng to signifie to their freendes inhabityng within
+a towne, thinges to be kept secret, and mindynge not to truste any
+person, have sente common matters written, accordyng to the common use
+and enterlined it, as I have saied above, and the same have made to be
+hanged on the gates of the Temples, the whiche by countersignes beyng
+knowen of those, unto whome they have been sente, were taken of and
+redde: the whiche way is moste politique, bicause he that carrieth them
+maie bee beguiled, and there shall happen hym no perill. There be moste
+infinite other waies, whiche every manne maie by himself rede and finde:
+but with more facilitie, the besieged maie bee written unto, then the
+besieged to their frendes without, for that soche letters cannot be
+sent, but by one, under colour of a fugetive, that commeth out of a
+toune: the whiche is a daungerous and perilous thing, when thenemie is
+any whit craftie: But those that sende in, he that is sente, maie under
+many colours, goe into the Campe that besiegeth, and from thens takyng
+conveniente occasion, maie leape into the toune: but lette us come to
+speake of the present winnyng of tounes. I saie that if it happen, that
+thou bee besieged in thy citee, whiche is not ordained with diches
+within, as a little before we shewed, to mynde that thenemie shall not
+enter through the breach of the walle, whiche the artillerie maketh:
+bicause there is no remedie to lette thesame from makyng of a breache,
+it is therefore necessarie for thee, whileste the ordinance battereth,
+to caste a diche within the wall which is battered, and that it be in
+bredth at leaste twoo and twentie yardes and a halfe, and to throwe all
+thesame that is digged towardes the toun, whiche maie make banke, and
+the diche more deper: and it is convenient for thee, to sollicitate this
+worke in soche wise, that when the walle falleth, the Diche maie be
+digged at least, fower or five yardes in depth: the whiche diche is
+necessarie, while it is a digging, to shutte it on every side with a
+slaughter house: and when the wall is so strong, that it giveth thee
+time to make the diche, and the slaughter houses, that battered parte,
+commeth to be moche stronger, then the rest of the citee: for that soche
+fortificacion, cometh to have the forme, of the diches which we devised
+within: but when the walle is weake, and that it giveth thee not tyme,
+to make like fortificacions, then strengthe and valiauntnesse muste bee
+shewed, settyng againste the enemies armed menne, with all thy force.
+This maner of fortificacion was observed of the Pisans, when you
+besieged theim, and thei might doe it, bicause thei had strong walles,
+whiche gave them time, the yearth beyng softe and moste meete to raise
+up banckes, and to make fortificacions: where if thei had lacked this
+commoditie, thei should have loste the toune. Therefore it shall bee
+alwaies prudently doen, to provide afore hand, makyng diches within the
+citee, and through out all the circuite thereof, as a little before wee
+devised: for that in this case, the enemie maie safely be taried for at
+laisure, the fortificacions beyng redy made. The antiquitie many tymes
+gotte tounes, with muinyng under ground in twoo maners, either thei made
+a waie under grounde secretely, whiche risse in the toune, and by
+thesame entered, in whiche maner the Romaines toke the citee of Veienti,
+or with the muinyng, thei overthrewe a walle, and made it ruinate: this
+laste waie is now a daies moste stronge, and maketh, that the citees
+placed high, be most weake, bicause thei maie better bee under muined:
+and puttyng after in a Cave of this Gunne pouder, whiche in a momente
+kindelyng, not onely ruinateth a wall, but it openeth the hilles, and
+utterly dissolveth the strength of them.
+
+[Sidenote: The reamedie against Caves or undermuinynges; What care the
+besieged ought to have; What maketh a citee or campe difficulte to bee
+defended; By what meanes thei that besiege ar made afraied; Honour got
+by constancie.]
+
+The remedie for this, is to builde in the plain, and to make the diche
+that compasseth thy citee, so deepe, that the enemie maie not digge
+lower then thesame, where he shall not finde water, whiche onely is
+enemie to the caves: for if thou be in a toune, which thou defendest on
+a high ground, thou canst not remedie it otherwise, then to make within
+thy walles many deepe Welles, the whiche be as drouners to thesame
+Caves, that the enemie is able to ordain against thee. An other remedie
+there is, to make a cave againste it, when thou shouldeste bee aware
+where he muineth, the whiche waie easely hindereth hym, but difficultly
+it is foreseen, beyng besieged of a craftie enemie. He that is besieged,
+ought above al thinges to have care, not to bee oppressed in the tyme of
+reste: as is after a battaile fought, after the watche made, whiche is
+in the Mornyng at breake of daie, and in the Evenyng betwen daie and
+night, and above al, at meale times: in whiche tyme many tounes have
+been wonne, and armies have been of them within ruinated: therefore it
+is requisite with diligence on all partes, to stande alwaies garded, and
+in a good part armed. I will not lacke to tell you, how that, whiche
+maketh a citee or a campe difficult to be defended, is to be driven to
+kepe sundred all the force, that thou haste in theim, for that the
+enemie beyng able to assaulte thee at his pleasure altogether, it is
+conveniente for thee on every side, to garde every place, and so he
+assaulteth thee with all his force, and thou with parte of thine
+defendest thee. Also, the besieged maie bee overcome altogether, he
+without cannot bee, but repulced: wherefore many, whom have been
+besieged, either in a Campe, or in a Toune, although thei have been
+inferiour of power, have issued out with their men at a sodaine, and
+have overcome the enemie. This Marcellus of Nola did: this did Cesar in
+Fraunce, where his Campe beeyng assaulted of a moste great nomber of
+Frenchmen, and seeyng hymself not able to defende it, beyng constrained
+to devide his force into many partes, and not to bee able standyng
+within the Listes, with violence to repulce thenemie: he opened the
+campe on thone side, and turning towardes thesame parte with all his
+power, made so moche violence against them, and with moche valiantnes,
+that he vanquisshed and overcame them. The constancie also of the
+besieged, causeth many tymes displeasure, and maketh afraied them that
+doe besiege. Pompei beyng against Cesar, and Cesars armie beeyng in
+greate distresse through famine, there was brought of his bredde to
+Pompei, whom seyng it made of grasse, commaunded, that it should not bee
+shewed unto his armie, least it shoulde make them afraide, seyng what
+enemies they had against theim. Nothyng caused so muche honour to the
+Romaines in the warre of Aniball, as their constancie: for as muche as
+in what so ever envious, and adverse fortune thei were troubled, they
+never demaunded peace, thei never made anie signe of feare, but rather
+when Aniball was aboute Rome, thei solde those fieldes, where he had
+pitched his campe, dearer then ordinarie in other times shoulde have
+been solde: and they stoode in so much obstinacie in their enterprises,
+that for to defende Rome, thei would not raise their campe from Capua,
+the whiche in the verie same time that Roome was besieged, the Romaines
+did besiege.
+
+I knowe that I have tolde you of manie thynges, the whiche by your selfe
+you might have understoode, and considered, notwithstandyng I have doen
+it (as to daie also I have tolde you) for to be abell to shewe you
+better by meane therof, the qualitie of this armie, and also for to
+satisfie those, if there be anie, whome have not had the same commoditie
+to understand them as you. Nor me thinkes that there resteth other to
+tell you, then certaine generall rules, the whiche you shal have moste
+familiar, which be these.
+
+[Sidenote: Generall rules of warre.]
+
+The same that helpeth the enemie, hurteth thee: and the same that
+helpeth thee, hurteth the enemie.
+
+He that shall be in the warre moste vigilant to observe the devises of
+the enemie, and shall take moste payne to exercise his armie, shall
+incurre least perilles and maie hope moste of the victorie.
+
+Never conducte thy men to faight the field, if first them hast not
+confirmed their mindes and knowest them to be without feare, and to be
+in good order: for thou oughteste never to enterprise any dangerous
+thyng with thy souldiours, but when thou seest, that they hope to
+overcome.
+
+It is better to conquere the enemie with faminne, then with yron: in the
+victorie of which, fortune maie doe much more then valiantnesse.
+
+No purpose is better then that, whiche is hidde from the enemie untill
+thou have executed it.
+
+To know in the warre how to understande occasion, and to take it,
+helpeth more then anie other thynge.
+
+Nature breedeth few stronge menne, the industrie and the exercise maketh
+manie.
+
+Discipline maie doe more in warre, then furie.
+
+When anie departe from the enemies side for to come to serve thee, when
+thei be faithfull, thei shalbe unto thee alwaies great gaines: for that
+the power of thadversaries are more deminisshed with the losse of them,
+that runne awaie, then of those that be slaine, although that the name
+of a fugetive be to new frendes suspected, to olde odius.
+
+Better it is in pitchyng the fielde, to reserve behynde the first front
+aide inoughe, then to make the fronte bigger to disperse the souldiours.
+
+He is difficultely overcome, whiche can know his owne power and the same
+of the enemie.
+
+The valiantenesse of the souldiours availeth more then the multitude.
+
+Some times the situacion helpeth more then the valiantenesse.
+
+New and sudden thynges, make armies afrayde.
+
+Slowe and accustomed thinges, be littell regarded of them. Therfore make
+thy armie to practise and to know with small faightes a new enemie,
+before thou come to faight the fielde with him.
+
+He that with disorder foloweth the enemie after that he is broken, will
+doe no other, then to become of a conquerour a loser.
+
+He that prepareth not necessarie victualles to live upon, is overcome
+without yron.
+
+He that trusteth more in horsemen then in footemen, more in footemen
+then in horsemen, must accommodate him selfe with the situacion.
+
+When thou wilte see if in the daie there be comen anie spie into the
+Campe, cause everie man to goe to his lodgynge.
+
+Chaunge purpose, when thou perceivest that the enemie hath forseene it.
+
+[Sidenote: How to consulte.]
+
+Consulte with many of those thinges, which thou oughtest to dooe: the
+same that thou wilt after dooe, conferre with fewe.
+
+Souldiours when thei abide at home, are mainteined with feare and
+punishemente, after when thei ar led to the warre with hope and with
+rewarde.
+
+Good Capitaines come never to faight the fielde, excepte necessitie
+constraine theim, and occasion call them.
+
+Cause that thenemies know not, how thou wilte order thy armie to faight,
+and in what so ever maner that thou ordainest it, make that the firste
+bande may be received of the seconde and of the thirde.
+
+In the faight never occupie a battell to any other thyng, then to the
+same, for whiche thou haste apoineted it, if thou wilt make no disorder.
+
+The sodene accidentes, with difficultie are reamedied: those that are
+thought upon, with facilitie.
+
+[Sidenote: What thynges are the strength of the warre.]
+
+Men, yron, money, and bread, be the strengthe of the warre, but of these
+fower, the first twoo be moste necessarie: because men and yron, finde
+money and breade: but breade and money fynde not men and yron.
+
+The unarmed riche man, is a bootie to the poore souldiour.
+
+Accustome thy souldiours to dispise delicate livyng and lacivius
+aparell.
+
+This is as muche as hapneth me generally to remember you, and I know
+that there might have ben saied manie other thynges in all this my
+reasonynge: as should be, howe and in howe manie kinde of waies the
+antiquitie ordered their bandes, how thei appareled them, and how in
+manie other thynges they exercised them, and to have joygned hereunto
+manie other particulars, the whiche I have not judged necessarie to
+shew, as wel for that you your self may se them, as also for that my
+intente hath not been to shew juste how the olde servis of warre was
+apoincted, but howe in these daies a servis of warre might be ordained,
+whiche should have more vertue then the same that is used. Wherfore I
+have not thought good of the auncient thynges to reason other, then
+that, which I have judged to suche introduction necessarie. I know also
+that I might have delated more upon the service on horsebacke, and after
+have reasoned of the warre on the Sea: for as muche as he that
+destinguissheth the servis of warre, saieth, how there is an armie on
+the sea, and of the lande, on foote, and on horsebacke. Of that on the
+sea, I will not presume to speake, for that I have no knowledge therof:
+but I will let the Genoues, and the Venecians speake therof, whome with
+like studies have heretofore doen great thinges.
+
+Also of horses, I wil speake no other, then as afore I have saied, this
+parte beynge (as I have declared) least corrupted. Besides this, the
+footemen being wel ordained, which is the puissance of the armie, good
+horses of necessitie will come to be made.
+
+[Sidenote: Provisions that maie bee made to fill a Realme full of good
+horse; The knowledge that a capitaine oughte to have.]
+
+Onely I counsel him that would ordayne the exercise of armes in his owne
+countrey, and desireth to fill the same with good horses, that he make
+two provisions: the one is, that he destribute Mares of a good race
+throughe his dominion, and accustome his menne to make choise of coltes,
+as you in this countrie make of Calves and Mules: the other is, that to
+thentente the excepted might finde a byer, I woulde prohibet that no man
+should kepe a Mule excepte he woulde keepe a horse: so that he that
+woulde kepe but one beaste to ride on, shoulde be constrained to keepe a
+horse: and moreover that no man should weare fine cloathe except he
+which doeth keepe a horse: this order I under stande hath beene devised
+of certaine princes in our time, whome in short space have therby,
+brought into their countrey an excellente numbre of good horses. Aboute
+the other thynges, as much as might be looked for concernynge horse, I
+remit to as much as I have saied to daie, and to that whiche they use.
+Peradventure also you woulde desire to understand what condicions a
+Capitaine ought to have: wherof I shal satisfie you moste breeflie: for
+that I cannot tell how to chose anie other man then the same, who
+shoulde know howe to doe all those thynges whiche this daie hath ben
+reasoned of by us: the which also should not suffise, when he should not
+knowe howe to devise of him selfe: for that no man without invencion,
+was ever excellent in anie science: and if invencion causeth honour in
+other thynges, in this above all, it maketh a man honorable: for everie
+invention is seen, although it were but simple, to be of writers
+celebrated: as it is seen, where Alexander Magnus is praised, who for to
+remove his Campe moste secretely, gave not warnyng with the Trumpette,
+but with a hatte upon a Launce. And was praised also for havyng taken
+order that his souldiours in buckelynge with the enemies, shoulde kneele
+with the lefte legge, to bee able more strongly to withstande their
+violence: the whiche havyng geven him the victorie, it got him also so
+muche praise, that all the Images, whiche were erected in his honour,
+stoode after the same facion. But because it is tyme to finishe this
+reasonyng, I wil turne againe to my first purpose, and partly I shall
+avoide the same reproche, wherin they use to condempne in this towne,
+such as knoweth not when to make an ende.
+
+[Sidenote: The auctor retorneth to his first purpose and maketh a littel
+discorse to make an ende of his reasonyng.]
+
+If you remembre Cosimus you tolde me, that I beyng of one side an
+exalter of the antiquitie, and a dispraiser of those, which in waightie
+matters imitated them not, and of the other side, I havynge not in the
+affaires of war, wherin I have taken paine, imitated them, you coulde
+not perceive the occasion: wherunto I answered, how that men which wil
+doo any thing, muste firste prepare to knowe how to doe it, for to be
+able, after to use it, when occasion permitteth: whether I doe know how
+to bryng the servis of warre to the auncient manners or no, I will be
+judged by you, whiche have hearde me upon this matter longe dispute
+wherby you may know, how much time I have consumed in these studies: and
+also I beleeve that you maie imagen, how much desire is in me to brynge
+it to effecte: the whiche whether I have been able to have doen, or that
+ever occasion hath been geven me, most easely you maie conjecture: yet
+for to make you more certaine and for my better justificacion, I will
+also aledge the occasions: and as much as I have promised, I will
+partely performe, to shew you the difficultie and the facelitie, whiche
+bee at this presente in suche imitacions.
+
+[Sidenote: A prince may easelie brynge to intiere perfection the servis
+of warre; Two sortes of Capitaines worthie to bee praysed.]
+
+Therfore I saie, how that no deede that is doen now a daies emong men,
+is more easie to be reduced unto the aunciente maners, then the service
+of Warre: but by them onely that be Princes of so moche state, who can
+at least gather together of their owne subjectes, xv. or twentie
+thousande yong menne: otherwise, no thyng is more difficulte, then this,
+to them whiche have not soche commoditie: and for that you maie the
+better understande this parte, you have to knowe, howe that there bee of
+twoo condicions, Capitaines to bee praised: The one are those, that with
+an armie ordained through the naturalle discipline thereof, have dooen
+greate thynges: as were the greater parte of the Romaine Citezeins, and
+suche as have ledde armies, the which have had no other paine, then to
+maintaine them good, and to se them guided safely: the other are they,
+whiche not onely have had to overcome the enemie, but before they come
+to the same, have been constrained to make good and well ordered their
+armie: who without doubte deserve muche more praise, then those have
+deserved, which with olde armies, and good, have valiantely wrought. Of
+these, such wer Pelopida, and Epaminonda, Tullus Hostillius, Phillip of
+Macedony father of Alexander, Cirus kyng of the Percians, Graccus a
+Romaine: they all were driven first to make their armies good, and after
+to faighte with them: they all coulde doe it, as well throughe their
+prudence, as also for havynge subjectes whome thei might in like
+exercises instruct: nor it shuld never have ben otherwise possible, that
+anie of theim, though they had ben never so good and ful of al
+excellencie, should have been able in a straunge countrey, full of men
+corrupted, not used to anie honest obedience, to have brought to passe
+anie laudable worke. It suffiseth not then in Italie, to know how to
+governe an army made, but first it is necessarie to know how to make it
+and after to know how to commaunde it: and to do these things it is
+requisit they bee those princes, whome havyng much dominion, and
+subjectes inoughe, maie have commoditie to doe it: of whiche I can not
+bee, who never commaunded, nor cannot commaunde, but to armies of
+straungers, and to men bounde to other, and not to me: in whiche if it
+be possible, or no, to introduce anie of those thynges that this daie of
+me hath ben reasoned, I will leave it to your judgement.
+
+Albeit when coulde I make one of these souldiours which now a daies
+practise, to weare more armur then the ordinarie, and besides the armur,
+to beare their owne meate for two or three daies, with a mattocke: When
+coulde I make theim to digge, or keepe theim every daie manie howers
+armed, in fained exercises, for to bee able after in the verie thyng in
+deede to prevaile? When woulde thei abstaine from plaie, from
+laciviousnesse, from swearynge, from the insolence, whiche everie daie
+they committe? when would they be reduced into so muche dissepline, into
+so much obedience and reverence, that a tree full of appels in the
+middest of their Campe, shoulde be founde there and lefte untouched? As
+is redde, that in the auncient armies manie times hapned. What thynge
+maye I promis them, by meane wherof thei may have me in reverence to
+love, or to feare, when the warre beyng ended, they have not anie more
+to doe with me? wher of maie I make them ashamed, whiche be borne and
+brought up without shame? whie shoulde thei be ruled by me who knowe me
+not? By what God or by what sainctes may I make them to sweare? By those
+that thei worship, or by those that they blaspheme? Who they worship I
+knowe not anie: but I knowe well they blaspheme all. How shoulde I
+beleeve that thei will keepe their promise to them, whome everie hower
+they dispise? How can they, that dispise God, reverence men? Then what
+good fashion shoulde that be, whiche might be impressed in this matter?
+And if you should aledge unto me that Suyzzers and Spaniardes bee good
+souldiours, I woulde confesse unto you, how they be farre better then
+the Italians: but if you note my reasonynge, and the maner of procedyng
+of bothe, you shall see, howe they lacke many thynges to joygne to the
+perfection of the antiquetie. And how the Suyzzers be made good of one
+of their naturall uses caused of that, whiche to daie I tolde you: those
+other are made good by mean of a necessitie: for that servyng in a
+straunge countrie, and seemyng unto them to be constrained either to
+die, or to overcome, thei perceivynge to have no place to flie, doe
+become good: but it is a goodnesse in manie partes fawtie: for that in
+the same there is no other good, but that they bee accustomed to tarie
+the enemie at the Pike and sweardes poincte: nor that, which thei lacke,
+no man should be meete to teache them, and so much the lesse, he that
+coulde not speake their language.
+
+[Sidenote: The Auctor excuseth the people of Italie to the great
+reproche of their prynces for their ignorance in the affaires of warre.]
+
+But let us turne to the Italians, who for havynge not had wise Princes,
+have not taken anie good order: and for havyng not had the same
+necessitie, whiche the Spaniardes have hadde, they have not taken it of
+theim selves, so that they remaine the shame of the worlde: and the
+people be not to blame, but onely their princes, who have ben chastised,
+and for their ignorance have ben justely punisshed, leesinge moste
+shamefully their states, without shewing anie vertuous ensample. And if
+you will see whether this that I say be trew: consider how manie warres
+have ben in Italie since the departure of kyng Charles to this day,
+where the war beyng wonte to make men warlyke and of reputacion, these
+the greater and fierser that they have been, so muche the more they have
+made the reputacion of the members and of the headdes therof to bee
+loste. This proveth that it groweth, that the accustomed orders were not
+nor bee not good, and of the newe orders, there is not anie whiche have
+knowen how to take them. Nor never beleeve that reputacion will be
+gotten, by the Italians weapons, but by the same waie that I have
+shewed, and by means of theim, that have great states in Italie: for
+that this forme maie be impressed in simple rude men, of their owne, and
+not in malicious, ill brought up, and straungers. Nor there shall never
+bee founde anie good mason, whiche will beleeve to be able to make a
+faire image of a peece of Marbell ill hewed, but verye well of a rude
+peece.
+
+[Sidenote: A discription of the folishenesse of the Italian princes;
+Cesar and Alexander, were the formoste in battell; The Venecians and the
+duke of Ferare began to have reduced the warfare to the Aunciente
+maners; He that despiseth the servis of warre, despiseth his own
+welthe.]
+
+Our Italian Princes beleved, before thei tasted the blowes of the
+outlandishe warre, that it should suffice a Prince to knowe by
+writynges, how to make a subtell answere, to write a goodly letter, to
+shewe in saiynges, and in woordes, witte and promptenesse, to knowe how
+to canvas a fraude, to decke theim selves with precious stones and gold,
+to slepe and to eate with greater glorie then other: To keepe many
+lascivious persones aboute them, to governe theim selves with their
+subjectes, covetuously and proudely: To rotte in idlenesse, to give the
+degrees of the exercise of warre, for good will, to despise if any
+should have shewed them any laudable waie, minding that their wordes
+should bee aunswers of oracles: nor the sely wretches were not aware,
+that thei prepared theim selves to bee a praie, to whom so ever should
+assaulte theim. Hereby grewe then in the thousande fower hundred nintie
+and fower yere, the greate feares, the sodain flightes, and the
+marveilous losses: and so three most mightie states which were in
+Italie, have been divers times sacked and destroied. But that which is
+worse, is where those that remaine, continue in the verie same erroure,
+and live in the verie same disorder, and consider not, that those, who
+in old time would kepe their states, caused to be dooen these thynges,
+which of me hath been reasoned, and that their studies wer, to prepare
+the body to diseases, and the minde not to feare perilles. Whereby grewe
+that Cesar, Alexander, and all those menne and excellente Princes in old
+tyme, were the formoste emongest the faighters, goyng armed on foote:
+and if thei loste their state, thei would loose their life, so that thei
+lived and died vertuously. And if in theim, or in parte of theim, there
+might bee condempned to muche ambicion to reason of: yet there shall
+never bee founde, that in theim is condempned any tendernesse or any
+thynge that maketh menne delicate and feable: the whiche thyng, if of
+these Princes were redde and beleved, it should be impossible, that thei
+should not change their forme of living, and their provinces not to
+chaunge fortune. And for that you in the beginnyng of this our
+reasonyng, lamented your ordinaunces, I saie unto you, that if you had
+ordained it, as I afore have reasoned, and it had given of it self no
+good experience, you might with reason have been greved therewith: but
+if it bee not so ordained, and exercised, as I have saied, it maie be
+greeved with you, who have made a counterfaite thereof, and no perfecte
+figure. The Venecians also, and the Duke of Ferare, beganne it, and
+followed it not, the whiche hath been through their faulte, not through
+their menne. And therfore I assure you, that who so ever of those,
+whiche at this daie have states in Italie, shall enter firste into this
+waie, shall be firste, before any other, Lorde of this Province, and it
+shall happen to his state, as to the kyngdome of the Macedonians, the
+which commyng under Philip, who had learned the maner of settyng armies
+in order of Epaminondas a Thebane, became with this order, and with
+these exercises (whileste the reste of Grece stoode in idlenesse, and
+attended to risite comedes) so puisant, that he was able in few yeres to
+possesse it all, and to leave soche foundacion to his sonne, that he was
+able to make hymself, prince of all the world. He then that despiseth
+these studies, if he be a Prince, despiseth his Princedome: if he bee a
+Citezein, his Citee. Wherefore, I lamente me of nature, the whiche
+either ought not to have made me a knower of this, or it ought to have
+given me power, to have been able to have executed it: For now beyng
+olde, I cannot hope to have any occasion, to bee able so to dooe: In
+consideracion whereof, I have been liberall with you, who beeyng grave
+yong menne, maie (when the thynges saied of me shall please you) at due
+tymes in favour of your Princes, helpe theim and counsaile them, wherein
+I would have you not to bee afraied, or mistrustfull, bicause this
+Province seemes to bee altogether given, to raise up againe the thynges
+dedde, as is seen by the perfeccion that poesie, paintyng, and writing,
+is now brought unto: Albeit, as moche as is looked for of me, beyng
+strooken in yeres, I do mistruste. Where surely, if Fortune had
+heretofore graunted me so moche state, as suffiseth for a like
+enterprise, I would not have doubted, but in moste shorte tyme, to have
+shewed to the worlde, how moche the aunciente orders availe: and without
+peradventure, either I would have increased it with glory, or loste it
+without shame.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+The ende of the seventh and laste booke of the arte of warre, of
+Nicholas Machiavell, Citezein and Secretarie of Florence, translated out
+of Italian into Englishe: By Peter Whitehorne, felow of Graise Inne.
+
+
+
+
+NICHOLAS MACHIAVEL,
+
+CITEZEIN AND SECRETARIE OF FLORENCE,
+
+TO THE READERS
+
+
+To thentente that such as rede this booke maie without difficultie
+understande the order of the battailes, or bandes of men, and of the
+armies, and lodgynges in the Campe, accordynge as they in the
+discription of theim are apoincted, I thinke it necessarie to shewe you
+the figure of everie one of them: wherefore it is requiset firste, to
+declare unto you, by what poinctes and letters, the footemen, the
+horsemen, and everie other particuler membre are set foorthe.
+
+KNOW THERFORE THAT
+
+.} Signifieth {Targetmen.
+
+'} {Pikemen.
+
+c} {a Capitaine of ten men.
+
+v} {Veliti ordinarie.  (Those men that shoot with harcabuses or bowes)
+
+r} {Veliti extraordinari.
+
+C} {a Centurion or captaine of a hundred men.
+
+k} {a Constable or a captaine of a band of fower hundred and fiftie men.
+
+H} {The hed captain of a maine battel.
+
+G} {The general Captaine of the whole armie.
+
+t} {The Trompet.
+
+d} {The Drum.
+
+b} {The Ansigne.
+
+s} {The Standerde.
+
+m} {Men of Armes.
+
+l} {Light horsemen.
+
+A} {Artillerie or ordinance.
+
+In the first figure nexte folowyng, is discribed the forme of an
+ordinarie battaile or bande of fower hundred and fiftie men, and in what
+maner it is redoubled by flanke. And also how with the verie same order
+of lxxx. rankes, by chaungyng onely to the hinder parte the five rankes
+of Pikes which were the formost of everie Centurie, thei maye likewise
+in bringyng them in battaile raie, come to bee placed behinde: whiche
+may be doen, when in marchyng, the enemies should come to assaulte them
+at their backes: accordynge as the orderyng therof is before declared.
+Fol. 87.
+
+In the seconde figure, is shewed how a battaile or bande of men is
+ordered, whiche in marchyng should be driven to faight on the flanke:
+accordyng as in the booke is declared. Fol. 87.
+
+In the thirde figure, is shewed how a battaile or bande of men, is
+ordered with two hornes, fol. 88, and after is shewed how the same maie
+be made with a voide place in the middest: accordynge as the orderyng
+therof, in the booke moste plainely is declared, fol. 89.
+
+In the fowerth figure, is shewed the forme or facion of an armie
+apoincted to faight the battaile with the enemies: and for the better
+understandynge thereof, the verie same is plainlier set foorthe in the
+figure next unto it, wherby the other two figures next folowyng maie the
+easier be understoode: accordynge as in the booke is expressed. Fol.
+105.
+
+In the fifte figure, is shewed the forme of a fower square armie: as in
+the booke is discribed. Fol. 152.
+
+In the sixte figure, is shewed howe an Armie is brought from a fower
+square facion, to the ordinarie forme, to faight a fielde: accordyng as
+afore is declared. Fol. 156.
+
+In the seventh figure, is discribed the maner of incamping: according as
+the same in the booke is declared. Fol. 174.
+
+
+THE FIRSTE FIGURE
+
+This is the maner of ordering of CCCC. men, into lxxx. rankes, five to a
+ranke, to bring them into a iiii square battaile with the Pikes on the
+front, as after foloweth.
+
+  C
+c''''
+c''''
+c''''
+c''''
+c''''
+c....
+c....
+c....
+c....
+c....
+c....
+c....
+c....
+c....
+c....
+c....
+c....
+c....
+c....
+c....
+  C
+'''''
+'''''
+'''''
+'''''
+'''''
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+  C
+'''''
+'''''
+'''''
+'''''
+'''''
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+  C
+''''c
+''''c
+''''c
+''''c
+''''c
+....c
+....c
+....c
+....c
+....c
+....c
+....c
+....c
+....c
+....c
+....c
+....c
+....c
+....c
+....c
+
+
+This is the foresaied lxxx. rankes of iiii. C. men brought into a fower
+square battaile with the Pikes on the fronte. And the fiftie Veliti on
+the sides and on the backe.
+
+
+C                    C
+vc''''''''''''''''''cv
+vc''''''''''''''''''cv
+vc''''''''''''''''''cv
+vc''''''''''''''''''cv
+vc''''''''''''''''''cv
+vc........dkb.......cv
+vc..................cv
+vc..................cv
+vc..................cv
+vc..................cv
+vc..................cv
+vc..................cv
+vc..................cv
+vc..................cv
+vc..................cv
+vc..................cv
+vc..................cv
+vc..................cv
+vc..................cv
+vc..................cv
+C v v v v v v v v v v C
+
+
+THE SECONDE FIGURE
+
+This is the maner of ordering of CCCC. men, into lxxx. rankes, five to a
+ranke, to bring them into a iiii square battaile with the Pikes on the
+side, as after foloweth.
+
+
+  C
+ccccc
+'''''
+'''''
+'''''
+'''''
+'''''
+'''''
+'''''
+'''''
+'''''
+'''''
+'''''
+'''''
+'''''
+'''''
+'''''
+'''''
+'''''
+'''''
+ccccc
+  C
+ccccc
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+ccccc
+  C
+ccccc
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+ccccc
+  C
+ccccc
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+.....
+ccccc
+
+
+This is the foresaied lxxx. rankes of iiii. C. men brought into a fower
+square battaile with the Pikes on the side.
+
+
+CvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvC
+ cccccccccccccccccccc
+v...............'''''
+ ...............'''''
+v...............'''''
+ ...............'''''
+v...............'''''
+ ...............'''''
+v...............'''''
+ ...............'''''
+v...............'''''
+ ...............'''''
+v...............'''''
+ ...............'''''
+v...............'''''
+ ...............'''''
+v...............'''''
+ ...............'''''
+v...............'''''
+ ...............'''''
+v...............'''''
+ cccccccccccccccccccc
+CvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvC
+
+
+THE THYRDE FIGURE
+
+These are the nombers of rankes appoincted to make the horned battaile
+of, and the square battaile with the voide space in the middest, as
+after foloweth.
+
+
+''''''''''''''''''''''''' ...............
+''''''''''''''''''''''''' ...............
+cccccccccccccccccccc.....C...............C
+......................... ...............
+......................... ...............
+
+
+
+
+ '''''''''''''''''''''''''
+ '''''''''''''''''''''''''
+Ccccccccccccccccccccc.....C
+ .........................
+ .........................
+ ...............
+ ...............
+ ...............
+ ...............
+ ...............d
+ ...............k
+ ...............b
+ ...............
+ ...............
+ ...............
+ ...............
+ .........................
+ .........................
+Ccccccccccccccccccccc.....C
+ '''''''''''''''''''''''''
+ '''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+
+
+............... .........................
+............... .........................
+...............Ccccccccccccccccccccc.....C
+............... '''''''''''''''''''''''''
+............... '''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+
+
+ '''''''''''''''''''''''''
+ '''''''''''''''''''''''''
+Ccccccccccccccccccccc.....C
+ .........................
+ .........................
+ .......          ........
+ .......          ........
+ .......          ........
+ .......    d     ........
+ .......    k     ........
+ .......    b     ........
+ .......          ........
+ .......          ........
+ .......          ........
+ .......          ........
+ .........................
+ .........................
+Ccccccccccccccccccccc.....C
+ '''''''''''''''''''''''''
+ '''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+
+THE FOURTH FIGURE
+
+
+     A           A     A     A     A     A
+llm mCrCCC    Cu,,uCCu,,uCCu,,uCCu,,uCCu,,uCA
+llm mrrr,,,   vu,,uvvu,,uvvu,,uvvu,,uvvu,,uvA
+llm mrrrdkb   vdk bvvdk bvvdk bvvdk bvvdk bv
+lltksdkb,,,   vc..uvvu..uvvu..uvvu..uvvu..uv   t G
+llm mrrr,,,   vc..uvvu..uvvu..uvvu..uvvu..uv   lll
+ktm mrrr,,,   vc..uvvu..uvvu..uvvu..uvvu..uv  ....
+lsm mCr(,,,   Cu..uCCu..uCCu..uCCu..uCCu..uC
+llm m   ,,,
+llm m   ,,,               .....
+llm m   ,,,                dHb
+llm m   ,,,               .....
+,,,
+,,,
+,,,
+,,,   Cu..uC      Cu..uC      Cu..uC
+,,,   vu,,uv      vu,,uv      vu,,uv
+,,,   vdk bv      vdk bv      vdk bv
+CdkbC  vu..uv      vu..uv      vu..uv
+,,   vu..uv      vu..uv      vu..uv
+,,,   vu..uv      vu..uv      vu..uv
+,,,   Cu..uC      Cu..uC      Cu..uC
+,,,
+,,,
+,,,
+,,,
+,,,
+,,,
+,,,
+,,,   Cu,,uC                  Cu,,uC
+,,,   vu,,uv                  vu,,uv
+,,,   vdk bv                  vdk bv
+,,,   vu..uv                  vu..uv
+dkb   vu..uv                  vu..uv
+,,,   vu..uv                  vu..uv
+C C   Cu..uC                  Cu..uC
+
+The cariages and the unarmed.
+
+
+  A     A     A     A     A     A
+A Cu,,uCCu,,uCCu,,uCCu,,uCCu,,uC   C CCrCm mll
+A vu,,uvvu,,uvvu,,uvvu,,uvvu,,uv   ,,,rrrm mll
+m vdk bvvdk bvvdk bvvdk bvvdk bv   dkbrrrm mll
+s vu..uvvu..uvvu..uvvu..uvvu..uv   ,,,dkbm mll
+llvu..uvvu..uvvu..uvvu..uvvu..uv   ,,,rrrtksll
+..vu.. vvu..uvvu..uvvu..uvvu..uv   ,,,rrrm mtk
+Cu..uCCu..uC  ..uCCu..uCCu..uC   ,,,rrrm msl
+,,,   m mll
+,,,   m mll
+dHb           ,,,   m mll
+....          ,,,   m mll
+,,,
+,,,
+,,,
+Cu,,uC      Cu,,uC      Cu,,uC   ,,,
+vu,,uv      uv,,uv      uv,,uv   ,,,
+vdk bv      vdk bv      vdk bv   ,,,
+vu..uv      vu..uv      vu..uv  CdkbC
+vu..uv      vu..uv      vu..uv   ,,,
+vu..uv      vu..uv      vu..uv   ,,,
+Cu..uC      Cu..uC      Cu..uC   ,,,
+,,,
+,,,
+,,,
+,,,
+,,,
+,,,
+,,,
+Cu,,uC                  Cu,,uC   ,,,
+vu,,uv                  uv,,uv   ,,,
+vdk bv                  vdk bv   ,,,
+vu..uv                  vu..uv   ,,,
+vu..uv                  vu..uv   dkb
+vu..uv                  vu..uv   ,,,
+Cu..uC                  Cu..uC   C C
+
+
+THE FIFT FIGURE
+
+
+A ) ,,,, C) ,,,, C) ,,,, C),,,,C),,,,))v) vCvC),,,,C) ,,,, C A
+  u ,,,, uu ,,,, uu ,,,, uu,,,,uu,,,,uvvvvvvvvu,,,,uu ,,,, u
+  u ,,,, uu  dkb uu  dkb uu dkbuu dkbuvvvvvvvvu dkbuu ,,,, u
+  u  dkb uu .... uu .... uu....uu....u)vv vvvCu....uu  dkb u  A
+A u ,,,, uu .... uu .... uu....uu....uvvvvvvvvu....uu ,,,, u
+  u ,,,, uu .... uu .... uu....uu....uvvvvvvvvu....uu ,,,, u A
+  ) ,,,, C) .... C) .... C)....C)....C)v) vCvC)....)) ,,,, C
+A ) uuuC                                            )  uuu C
+  ,,,,....                                          ....,,,, A
+  ,,,,....    ....                                  ....,,,,
+  ,,dkb...    dHb                                    ..dkb,,
+A ,,,,....    ....                                  ....,,,,
+  ,,,,....                                          ....,,,, A
+  ) n n nC                                          ) n n nC
+A ) u u uC                                          ) u u uC
+  ,,,,....                                          ....,,,,
+  ,,,,....                  ...III..                ....,,,, A
+  ,, dkb..                  .. mm ..                .. dkb,,
+A ,,,,....                  .. tGs..                ....,,,,
+  ,,,,....                  ........                ....,,,,
+  ) n n nC                                          ) n n nC A
+  ) u u uC               ),,,,C),,,,C               ) u u uC
+A ,,,,....               u,,,,uu,,,,u               ....,,,,
+  ,,,,....               u,,,,uu,,,,u               ....,,,, A
+  ,, dkb..               u dkbuu dkbu               .. dkb,,
+  ,,,,....               u,,,,uu,,,,u               ....,,,,
+  ,,,,....               u,,,,uu,,,,u               ....,,,,
+A ) n n nC               ),,,,C),,,,C               ) n n nC
+#/
+
+/#
+A ) u u uC                                          ) u u uC A
+  ,,,,....                                          ....,,,,
+  ,,,,....                                          ....,,,,
+  ,, dkb..                                          .. dkb,,
+A ,,,,....                                          ....,,,, A
+  ,,,,....                                          ....,,,,
+  ) n n nC                                          ) n n nC
+  ) u u uC                                          ) u u uC
+A ,,,,....                                          ....,,,, A
+  ,,,,....                                  ....    ....,,,,
+  ,, dkb..                                  d Hb    .. dkb,,
+  ,,,,....                                  ....    .. dkb,,
+A ,,,,....                                          ....,,,, A
+  ) n n nC                                          ) n n nC
+  ) ,,,, C)....C ) r) rC rC )....C)....C)....C)....C) ,,,, C
+  u ,,,, uu....urrrrrrrrrrrru....uu....uu....uu....uu ,,,, C
+A u ,,,, uu....urr dkb dkb ru....uu....uu....uu....uu ,,,, u A
+  u  dkb uu dkbu rrrrrrrrrrru dkbnu dkbuu dkbuu dkbuu  dkb u
+  u ,,,, uu,,,,urr dkb dkb ru,,,,uu,,,,uu,,,,uu,,,,uu ,,,, u
+  u ,,,, uu,,,,u rrrrrrrrrrru,,,,uu,,,,uu,,,,uu,,,,uu ,,,, u
+A ) ,,,, C),,,,C ) r) rC rC ),,,,u),,,,C),,,,C),,,,C) ,,,, C A
+
+  mmmm mmmm                                        mmmm mmmm
+  mmmm mmmm                                        mmmm mmmm
+  mmmm mmmm                                        mmmm mmmm
+  mmmtksmmm                                        mmmtksmmm
+  mmmm mmmm                                        mmmm mmmm
+  mmmm mmmm                                        mmmm mmmm
+  mmmm mmmm                                        mmmm mmmm
+
+
+
+      A      A      A       A     A
+mmmmmmmm CvC)u, ,uC)u, ,uC)u, ,uC)u,,uC)u,
+mmmmmmmm vvvru, ,urru, ,urru, ,urru,,urru,,
+mmmmmmmm vvvrudkburrudkburrd k brrdk brrudk
+mmmtksmmmvvvru. .urru. .urru. .urru..urru..
+mmmmmmmm vvvru. .ruur. .urru. .urru..urru..
+mmmmmmmm vvv)u. .uC)u. .uC)u. .uC)u..uCCu .
+mmmmmmmm vvv),,,,,C
+         dkbr,,,...r       ....        .lll
+         vvvr,dkb..r       dHb         . .m
+         vvvr,,,...r       ....        ...t
+         vvvr,,,...r                   ....
+         vvv),,,...C
+         vvv),,,...C
+         vvvr,,,...r      )u, ,uC      )u,,
+         )vCr,dkb .r      ru. ,ur      ru,,
+            r,,,...r      rudkbur      ru,d
+            r,,,...r      ru. .ur      ru..
+            r,,,...r      ru. .ur      ru..
+            ),,,...C      )u. .uC      )u.
+            ),,,...C
+            r,,,...r
+            r,dkb..r
+            r,,,...r
+            r,,,...r
+            ),,,...C
+            ),,,...C
+            r,,,...r      )u. .uC
+            r,dkb..r      ru, ,ur
+            r,,,...r      rudkbur
+            r,,,...r      ru. .ur
+            ),,, ..C      ru. .ur
+            ),,,...C      )u. .uC
+            r,,,...r      )u. .uC
+            r,,dkb.r
+            r,,,...r
+            r,,,...r
+            ),,, ..C
+            ),,,,,,C
+            r,,,,,,r
+            r, dkb,r
+            r,,,,,,r
+            r,,,,,,r
+            ),,,,,,C
+
+
+
+   A     A       A     A      A
+,uC)u, ,uC)u, ,uC)u, ,uC)u, ,uC)v) mmmmmmmm
+,urru, ,urru, ,urru, ,urru, ,urvvv mmmmmmmm
+b,rr,dkb,rr,dkb,rr,dkb,rr dkb rvvv mmmmmmmm
+.urru. .urru. .urru. .urru. .urvvvmmmtkfmmm
+.urru. .urru. .urru. .urru. .urvvv mmmmmmmm
+.uC)u. .uC)u. .uC)u. .uCCu. .u)vvv mmmmmmmm
+                        )...,,Cvvv mmmmmmmm
+.ll..       ....        r...,,,rdkb
+.m.         dHb         r.dkb, rvvv
+Gs..        ....        r...,,,rvvv
+....                    r...,,,rvvv
+                        )... ,,Cvvv
+,uC       )u. .uC       )... ,,Cvvv
+,ur       ru, ,ur       r...,,,rvvv
+kb,r      r,dkb,r       r.dkb, rC )
+,ur       ru. .ur       r...,,,r
+,ur       ru. .ur       r...,,,r
+,uC       )u. .u)       )... ,,C
+                        )... ,,C
+                        r...,,,r
+                        r.dkb, r
+                        r...,,,r
+                        r...,,,r
+                        )...,,,C
+                        )...,,,C
+          )u, ,uC       r...,, r
+          ru, ,ur       r.dkb, r
+          r,dkb,r       r...,,,r
+          ru. .ur       r...,,,r
+          ru. .ur       )... ,,C
+          )u. .uC       )... ,,C
+                        r...,,,r
+                        r.dkb, r
+                        r...,,,r
+                        r...,,,r
+                        )... ,,C
+                        ),,, ,,C
+                        r,,,,,,r
+                        r,dkb, r
+                        r,,,,,,r
+                        r,,,,,,r
+                        ),,, ,,C
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+NICHOLAS MACHIAVEL'S
+
+PRINCE
+
+TRANSLATED
+OUT OF ITALIAN INTO ENGLISH BY
+
+E.D.
+
+WITH SOME ANIMADVERSIONS
+NOTING AND TAXING
+HIS ERRORS
+
+1640
+
+
+
+TO THE MOST
+NOBLE AND ILLUSTRIOUS,
+JAMES Duke of Lenox, Earle of March, Baron of Setrington, Darnly,
+Terbanten, and Methuen, Lord Great Chamberlain and Admiral of Scotland,
+Knight of the most Noble Order of the Garter, and one of his Majesties
+most honourable Privy Counsel in both kingdomes.
+
+Poysons are not all of that malignant and noxious quality, that as
+destructives of Nature, they are utterly to be abhord; but we find many,
+nay most of them have their medicinal uses. This book carries its poyson
+and malice in it; yet mee thinks the judicious peruser may honestly make
+use of it in the actions of his life, with advantage. The Lamprey, they
+say, hath a venemous string runs all along the back of it; take that
+out, and it is serv'd in for a choyce dish to dainty palates; Epictetus
+the Philosopher, sayes, Every thing hath two handles, as the fire brand,
+it may be taken up at one end in the bare hand without hurt: the other
+being laid hold on, will cleave to the very flesh, and the smart of it
+will pierce even to the heart. Sin hath the condition of the fiery end;
+the touch of it is wounding with griefe unto the soule: nay it is worse;
+one sin goes not alone but hath many consequences. Your Grace may find
+the truth of this in your perusal of this Author: your judgement shall
+easily direct you in finding out the good uses of him: I have pointed at
+his chiefest errors with my best endeavors, and have devoted them to
+your Graces service: which if you shall accept and protect, I shall
+remain
+
+Your Graces humble and devoted servant,
+
+EDWARD DACRES.
+
+
+
+
+THE EPISTLE TO THE READER.
+
+
+Questionless some men will blame me for making this Author speak in our
+vulgar tongue. For his Maximes and Tenents are condemnd of all, as
+pernicious to all Christian States, and hurtfull to all humane
+Societies. Herein I shall answer for my self with the Comoedian,
+_Placere studeo bonis quam plurimis, et minime multos laedere_: I
+endeavor to give content to the most I can of those that are well
+disposed, and no scandal to any. I grant, I find him blamed and
+condemned: I do no less my self. Reader, either do thou read him without
+a prejudicate opinion, and out of thy own judgement taxe his errors; or
+at least, if thou canst stoop so low, make use of my pains to help thee;
+I will promise thee this reward for thy labor: if thou consider well the
+actions of the world, thou shalt find him much practised by those that
+condemn him; who willingly would walk as theeves do with close lanternes
+in the night, that they being undescried, and yet seeing all, might
+surprise the unwary in the dark. Surely this book will infect no man:
+out of the wicked treasure of a mans own wicked heart, he drawes his
+malice and mischief. From the same flower the Bee sucks honey, from
+whence the Spider hath his poyson. And he that means well, shall be here
+warnd, where the deceitfull man learnes to set his snares. A judge who
+hath often used to examine theeves, becomes the more expert to sift out
+their tricks. If mischief come hereupon, blame not me, nor blame my
+Author: lay the saddle on the right horse: but _Hony soit qui mal y
+pense_: let shame light on him that hatcht the mischief.
+
+
+
+
+THE PRINCE
+
+NICHOLAS MACHIAVELLI,
+
+to the Magnificent LAURENCE sonne
+to PETER OF MEDICIS health.
+
+
+They that desire to ingratiate themselves with a Prince, commonly use to
+offer themselves to his view, with things of that nature as such persons
+take most pleasure and delight in: whereupon we see they are many times
+presented with Horses and Armes, cloth of gold, pretious stones, and
+such like ornaments, worthy of their greatness. Having then a mind to
+offer up my self to your Magnificence, with some testimony of my service
+to you, I found nothing in my whole inventory, that I think better of,
+or more esteeme, than the knowlege of great mens actions, which I have
+learned by a long experience of modern affairs, and a continual reading
+of those of the ancients. Which, now that I have with great diligence
+long workt it out, and throughly sifted, I commend to your Magnificence.
+And, however I may well think this work unworthy of your view; yet such
+is your humanity, that I doubt not but it shall find acceptance,
+considering, that for my part I am not able to tender a greater gift,
+than to present you with the means, whereby in a very short time you may
+be able to understand all that, which I, in the space of many years, and
+with many sufferances and dangers, have made proof and gaind the
+knowledge of. And this work I have not set forth either with elegancy of
+discourse or stile, nor with any other ornament whereby to captivate the
+reader, as others use, because I would not have it gain its esteem from
+elsewhere than from the truth of the matter, and the gravity of the
+subject. Nor can this be thought presumption, if a man of humble and low
+condition venture to dilate and discourse upon the governments of
+Princes; for even as they that with their pensils designe out countreys,
+get themselves into the plains below to consider the nature of the
+mountains, and other high places above; and again to consider the plains
+below, they get up to the tops of the mountains; in like manner to
+understand the nature of the people, it is fit to be a Prince; and to
+know well the dispositions of Princes, sutes best with the understanding
+of a subject. Your Magnificence then may be pleased, to receive this
+small present, with the same mind that I send it; which if you shall
+throughly peruse and consider, you shall perceive therein that I
+exceedingly wish, that you may attain to that greatness, which your own
+fortune, and your excellent endowments promise you: and if your
+Magnificence from the very point of your Highness shall sometime cast
+your eyes upon these inferior places, you shall see how undeservedly I
+undergoe an extream and continual despight of Fortune.
+
+
+
+
+THE TABLE OF THE CHAPTERS
+
+CHAP. 1.
+
+How many sorts of Principalities there are, and how many wayes they are
+attained to, 263
+
+CHAP. 2.
+
+Of hereditary Principalities, 264
+
+CHAP. 3.
+
+Of mixt Principalities, 265
+
+CHAP. 4.
+
+Wherefore Darius his Kingdome, taken by Alexander, rebelled not against
+his successors after Alexanders death, 273
+
+CHAP. 5.
+
+In what manner Cities and Principalities are to be governed, which
+before they were conquered, lived under their own laws, 276
+
+CHAP. 6.
+
+Of new Principalities that are conquered by ones own armes and valor,
+277
+
+CHAP. 7.
+
+Of new Principalities gotten by fortune and other mens forces, 281
+
+CHAP. 8.
+
+Concerning those who by wicked means have attaind to a Principality, 289
+
+CHAP. 9.
+
+Of the Civil Principality, 293
+
+CHAP. 10.
+
+In what manner the forces of all Principalities ought to be measured,
+297
+
+CHAP. 11.
+
+Concerning Ecclesiastical Principalities, 299
+
+CHAP. 12.
+
+How many sorts of Military discipline there be; and touching mercenary
+soldiers, 302
+
+CHAP. 13.
+
+Of Auxiliary Soldiers, mixt and natives, 307
+
+CHAP. 14.
+
+What belongs to the Prince touching military discipline, 310
+
+CHAP. 15.
+
+Of those things in respect whereof men, and especially Princes are
+prais'd or disprais'd, 313
+
+CHAP. 16.
+
+Of Liberality and Miserableness, 315
+
+CHAP. 17.
+
+Of Cruelty and Clemency, and whether it is better to be belov'd or
+feared, 318
+
+CHAP. 18.
+
+In what manner Princes ought to keep their word, 321
+
+CHAP. 19.
+
+That Princes should take a care not to incur contempt or hatred, 325
+
+CHAP. 20.
+
+Whether the Citadels and many other things, which Princes make use of,
+are profitable or dammageable, 335
+
+CHAP. 21.
+
+How a Prince ought to behave himself to gain reputation, 339
+
+CHAP. 22.
+
+Touching Princes Secretaries, 343
+
+CHAP. 23.
+
+That Flatterers are to be avoyded, 344
+
+CHAP. 24.
+
+Wherefore the Princes of Italy have lost their States, 347
+
+CHAP. 25.
+
+How great power Fortune hath in humane affairs, and what means there is
+to resist it, 349
+
+CHAP. 26.
+
+An exhortation to free Italy from the Barbarions, 353
+
+
+
+
+THE PRINCE
+
+Written by
+
+NICHOLAS MACHIAVELLI,
+Secretary and Citizen of Florence.
+
+
+CHAP. I
+
+How many sorts of Principalities there are, and how many wayes they are
+attained to.
+
+
+All States, all Dominions that have had, or now have rule over men, have
+been and are, either Republiques or Principalities. Principalities are
+either hereditary, whereof they of the blood of the Lord thereof have
+long time been Princes; or else they are new; and those that are new,
+are either all new, as was the Dutchy of Millan to Francis Sforce; or
+are as members adjoyned to the hereditary State of the Prince that gains
+it; as the Kingdom of Naples is to the King of Spain. These Dominions so
+gotten, are accustomed either to live under a Prince, or to enjoy their
+liberty; and are made conquest of, either with others forces, or ones
+own, either by fortune, or by valor.
+
+
+
+
+CHAP. II
+
+Of Hereditary Principalities.
+
+
+I will not here discourse of Republiques, because I have other where
+treated of them at large: I will apply my self only to a Principality,
+and proceed, while I weave this web, by arguing thereupon, how these
+Principallities can be governed and maintained. I say then that in
+States of inheritance, and accustomed to the blood of their Princes,
+there are far fewer difficulties to keep them, than in the new: for it
+suffices only not to transgress the course his Ancestors took, and so
+afterward to temporise with those accidents that can happen; that if
+such a Prince be but of ordinary industry, he shall allwaies be able to
+maintain himself in his State, unless by some extraordinary or excessive
+power he be deprived thereof; and when he had lost it, upon the least
+sinister chance that befalls the usurper, he recovers it again. We have
+in Italy the Duke of Ferrara for example hereof, who was of ability to
+resist the Venetians, in the year 84, and to withstand Pope Julius in
+the tenth for no other reason, than because he had of old continued in
+that rule; for the natural Prince hath fewer occasions, and less heed to
+give offence, whereupon of necessity he must be more beloved; and unless
+it be that some extravagant vices of his bring him into hatred, it is
+agreeable to reason, that naturally he should be well beloved by his own
+subjects: and in the antiquity and continuation of the Dominion, the
+remembrances and occasions of innovations are quite extinguished: for
+evermore one change leaves a kind of breach or dent, to fasten the
+building of another.
+
+
+
+
+CHAP. III
+
+Of mixt Principalities.
+
+
+But the difficulties consist in the new Principality; and first, if it
+be not all new, but as a member, so that it may be termed altogether as
+mixt; and the variations thereof proceed in the first place from a
+natural difficulty, which we commonly finde in all new Principalities;
+for men do willingly change their Lord, beleeving to better their
+condition; and this beliefe causes them to take armes against him that
+rules over them, whereby they deceive themselves, because they find
+after by experience, they have made it worse: which depends upon another
+natural and ordinary necessity, forcing him alwaies to offend those,
+whose Prince he newly becomes, as well by his soldiers he is put to
+entertain upon them as by many other injuries, which a new conquest
+draws along with it; in such manner as thou findest all those thine
+enemies, whom thou hast endammaged in the seizing of that Principality,
+and afterwards canst not keep them thy friends that have seated thee in
+it, for not being able to satisfie them according to their expectations,
+nor put in practice strong remedies against them, being obliged to them.
+For however one be very well provided with strong armies, yet hath he
+alwaies need of the favor of the inhabitants in the Countrey, to enter
+thereinto. For these reasons, Lewis the twelfth, King of France,
+suddenly took Milan, and as soon lost it; and the first time Lodwick his
+own forces served well enough to wrest it out of his hands; for those
+people that had opened him the gates, finding themselves deceived of
+their opinion, and of that future good which they had promised
+themselves, could not endure the distastes the new Prince gave them.
+True it is, that Countreys that have rebelled again the second time,
+being recovered, are harder lost; for their Lord, taking occasion from
+their rebellion, is less respective of persons, but cares only to secure
+himself, by punishing the delinquents, to clear all suspicions, and to
+provide for himself where he thinks he is weakest: so that if to make
+France lose Milan the first time, it was enough for Duke Lodwick to make
+some small stir only upon the confines; yet afterwards, before they
+could make him lose it the second time, they had need of the whole world
+together against him, and that all his armies should be wasted and
+driven out of Italy; which proceeded from the forenamed causes: however
+though both the first and second time it was taken from him. The
+generall causes of the first we have treated of; it remains now that we
+see those of the second; and set down the remedies that he had, or any
+one else can have that should chance to be in those termes he was,
+whereby he might be able to maintain himself better in his conquest than
+the King of France did. I say therefore, that these States which by
+Conquest are annexed to the ancient states of their conqueror, are
+either of the same province and the same language, or otherwise; and
+when they are, it is very easy to hold them, especially when they are
+not used to live free; and to enjoy them securely, it is enough to have
+extinguished the Princes line who ruled over them: For in other matters,
+allowing them their ancient conditions, and there being not much
+difference of manners betwixt them, men ordinarily live quiet enough; as
+we have seen that Burgundy did, Britany, Gascony, and Normandy, which so
+long time continued with France: for however there be some difference of
+language between them, yet can they easily comport one with another; and
+whosoever makes the conquest of them, meaning to hold them, must have
+two regards; the first, that the race of their former Prince be quite
+extinguished; the other, that he change nothing, neither in their lawes
+nor taxes, so that in a very short time they become one entire body with
+their ancient Principality. But when any States are gaind in a Province
+disagreeing in language, manners, and orders, here are the difficulties,
+and here is there need of good fortune, and great industry to maintain
+them; and it would be one of the best and livelyest remedies, for the
+Conqueror to goe in person and dwell there; this would make the
+possession hereof more secure and durable; as the Turk hath done in
+Greece, who among all the other courses taken by him for to hold that
+State, had he not gone thither himself in person to dwell, it had never
+been possible for him to have kept it: for abiding there, he sees the
+disorders growing in their beginnings, and forthwith can remedy them;
+whereas being not there present, they are heard of when they are grown
+to some height, and then is there no help for them. Moreover, the
+Province is not pillaged by the officers thou sendest thither: the
+subjects are much satisfied of having recourse to the Prince near at
+hand, whereupon have they more reason to love him, if they mean to be
+good; and intending to do otherwise, to fear him: and forrein Princes
+will be well aware how they invade that State; insomuch, that making his
+abode there, he can very hardly lose it. Another remedy, which is also a
+better, is to send Colonies into one or two places, which may be as it
+were the keys of that State; for it is necessary either to do this, or
+to maintain there many horse and foot. In these colonies the Prince
+makes no great expence, and either without his charge, or at a very
+small rate, he may both send and maintain them; and gives offence only
+to them from whom he takes their fields and houses, to bestow them on
+those new inhabitants who are but a very small part of that State; and
+those that he offends, remaining dispersed and poore, can never hurt
+him: and all the rest on one part, have no offence given them, and
+therefore a small matter keeps them in quiet: on the other side, they
+are wary not to erre, for fear it befalls not them, as it did those that
+were dispoild. I conclude then, that those colonies that are not
+chargeable, are the more trusty, give the less offence; and they that
+are offended, being but poor and scattered, can do but little harme, as
+I have said; for it is to be noted, that men must either be dallyed and
+flattered withall, or else be quite crusht; for they revenge themselves
+of small dammages; but of great ones they are not able; so that when
+wrong is done to any man, it ought so to be done, that it need fear no
+return of revenge again. But in lieu of Colonies, by maintaining
+soldiers there, the expence is great; for the whole revenues of that
+State are to be spent in the keeping of it; so the conquest proves but a
+loss to him that hath got it, and endammages him rather; for it hurts
+that whole State to remove the army from place to place, of which
+annoyance every one hath a feeling, and so becomes enemie to thee; as
+they are enemies, I wis, who are outraged by thee in their own houses,
+whensoever they are able to do thee mischief. Every way then is this
+guard unprofitable. Besides, he that is in a different Province, (as it
+is said) should make himself Head and defender of his less powerfull
+neighbors, and devise alwaies to weaken those that are more mighty
+therein, and take care that upon no chance there enter not any foreiner
+as mighty as himself; for it will alwaies come to pass, that they shall
+be brought in by those that are discontented, either upon ambition, or
+fear; as the Etolians brought the Romans into Greece; and they were
+brought into every countrey they came, by the Natives; and the course of
+the matter is, that so soon as a powerfull Stranger enters a countrey,
+all those that are the less powerfull there, cleave to him, provoked by
+an envy they beare him that is more mighty than they; so that for these
+of the weaker sort, he may easily gain them without any pains: for
+presently all of them together very willingly make one lump with that he
+hath gotten: He hath only to beware that these increase not their
+strengths, nor their authorities, and so he shall easily be able by his
+own forces, and their assistances, to take down those that are mighty,
+and remain himself absolute arbitre of that Countrey. And he that playes
+not well this part, shall quickly lose what he hath gotten; and while he
+holds it, shall find therein a great many troubles and vexations. The
+Romans in the Provinces they seiz'd on, observed well these points, sent
+colonies thither, entertained the weaker sort, without augmenting any
+thing their power, abated the forces of those that were mighty, and
+permitted not any powerfull forreiner to gain too much reputation there.
+And I will content my self only with the countrey of Greece for example
+hereof. The Achayans and Etolians were entertained by them, the Macedons
+kingdome was brought low, Antiochus was driven thence, nor ever did the
+Achayans or Etolians deserts prevail so far for them, that they would
+ever promise to enlarge their State, nor the perswasions of Philip
+induce them ever to be his friends, without bringing him lower; nor yet
+could Antiochus his power make them ever consent that he should hold any
+State in that countrey: for the Romans did in these cases that which all
+judicious Princes ought to do, who are not only to have regard unto all
+present mischiefs, but also to the future, and to provide for those with
+all industry; for by taking order for those when they are afarre off, it
+is easie to prevent them; but by delaying till they come near hand to
+thee, the remedy comes too late; for this malignity is grown incurable:
+and it befalls this, as the physicians say of the hectick feaver, that
+in the beginning it is easily cur'd, but hardly known; but in the course
+of time, not having been known in the beginning, nor cured, it becomes
+easie to know, but hard to cure. Even so falls it out in matters of
+State; for by knowing it aloof off (which is given only to a wise man to
+do) the mischiefs that then spring up, are quickly helped; but when, for
+not having been perceived, they are suffered to increase, so that every
+one sees them, there is then no cure for them: therefore the Romans,
+seeing these inconvenients afar off, alwaies prevented them, and never
+sufferd them to follow; for to escape a war, because they knew that a
+war is not undertaken, but deferred for anothers advantage; therefore
+would they rather make a war with Philip and Antiochus in Greece, to the
+end it should not afterwards be made with them in Italy, though for that
+time they were able to avoid both the one and the other, which they
+thought not good to do: nor did they approve of that saying that is
+ordinarily in the mouthes of the Sages of our dayes, _to enjoy the
+benefits of the present time_; but that rather, to take the benefit of
+their valor and wisdome; for time drives forward everything, and may
+bring with it as well good as evil, and evil as good. But let us return
+to France, and examine if any of the things prescribed have been done by
+them: and we will speak of Lewis, and not of Charles, as of whom by
+reason of the long possession he held in Italy we better knew the wayes
+he went: and you shall see he did the clean contrary to what should have
+been done by him that would maintain a State of different Language and
+conditions. King Lewis was brought into Italy by the Venetians ambition,
+who would have gotten for their shares half the State of Lombardy: I
+will not blame his comming, or the course he took, because he had a mind
+to begin to set a foot in Italy; but having not any friends in the
+country, all gates being barred against him, by reason of King Charles
+his carriage there, he was constrained to joyn friendship with those he
+could; and this consideration well taken, would have proved lucky to
+him, when in the rest of his courses he had not committed any error. The
+King then having conquered Lombardy, recovered presently all that
+reputation that Charles had lost him; Genua yeelded to him, the
+Florentines became friends with him; the Marquess of Mantua, the Duke of
+Ferrara, the Bentivolti, the Lady of Furli, the Lord of Faenza, Pesaro
+Rimino, Camerino, and Piombino, the Lucheses, Pisans and Sienses, every
+one came and offered him friendship: then might the Venetians consider
+the rashness of the course they had taken, who, only to get into their
+hands two Townes in Lombardy, made the King Lord of two thirds in Italy.
+Let any man now consider with how small difficulty could the King have
+maintained his reputation in Italy, if he had followed these aforenamed
+rules, and secured and defended those his friends, who because their
+number was great, and they weak and fearful, some of the Church, and
+others of the Venetians were alwaies forced to hold with him, and by
+their means he might easily have been able to secure himself against
+those that were mightiest: but he was no sooner got into Milan, than he
+took a quite wrong course, by giving ayd to Pope Alexander, to seize
+upon Romania, and perceiv'd not that by this resolution he weakned
+himself, ruining his own friends, and those had cast themselves into his
+bosom, making the Church puissant, by adding to their Spiritual power,
+they gaind their authority, and so much temporal estate. And having once
+got out of the way, he was constrained to go on forward; insomuch as to
+stop Alexanders ambition, and that he should not become Lord of all
+Tuscany, of force he was to come into Italy: and this sufficed him not,
+to have made the Church mighty, and taken away his own friends; but for
+the desire he had to get the Kingdome of Naples, he divided it with the
+King of Spain: and where before he was the sole arbitre of Italy, he
+brought in a competitor, to the end that all the ambitious persons of
+that country, and all that were ill affected to him, might have
+otherwhere to make their recourse: and whereas he might have left in
+that Kingdome some Vice-King of his own, he took him from thence, to
+place another there, that might afterward chace him thence. It is a
+thing indeed very natural and ordinary, to desire to be of the getting
+hand: and alwaies when men undertake it, if they can effect it, they
+shall be prais'd for it, or at least not blam'd: but when they are not
+able, and yet will undertake it, here lies the blame, here is the error
+committed. If France then was able with her own power to assail the
+Kingdome of Naples, she might well have done it; but not being able, she
+should not have divided it: and if the division she made of Lombardy
+with the Venetians, deserv'd some excuse, thereby to set one foot in
+Italy; yet this merits blame, for not being excused by that necessity.
+Lewis then committed these five faults; extinguisht the feebler ones,
+augmented the State of another that was already powerful in Italy,
+brought thereinto a very puissant forreiner, came not thither himself to
+dwell there, nor planted any colonies there: which faults while he
+liv'd, he could not but be the worse for; yet all could not have gone so
+ill, had he not committed the sixt, to take from the Venetians their
+State; for if he had not enlarg'd the Churches territories nor brought
+the Spaniard into Italy, it had bin necessary to take them lower; but
+having first taken those other courses, he should never have given way
+to their destruction; for while they had been strong, they would alwaies
+have kept the others off from venturing on the conquest of Lombardy. For
+the Venetians would never have given their consents thereto, unless they
+should have been made Lords of it themselves; and the others would never
+have taken it from France, to give it them: and then they would never
+have dar'd to go and set upon them both together. And if any one should
+say, that King Lewis yeelded Romania to Alexander, and the Kingdome of
+Naples to Spain, to avoid a war; I answer with the reasons above
+alledged, that one should never suffer any disorder to follow, for
+avoiding of a war; for that war is not sav'd, but put off to thy
+disadvantage. And if any others argue, that the King had given his word
+to the Pope, to do that exploit for him, for dissolving of his marriage,
+and for giving the Cardinals Cap to him of Roan; I answer with that
+which hereafter I shall say touching Princes words, how they ought to be
+kept. King Lewis then lost Lombardy, for not having observ'd some of
+those termes which others us'd, who have possessed themselves of
+countries, and desir'd to keep them. Nor is this any strange thing, but
+very ordinary and reasonable: and to this purpose I spake at Nantes with
+that French Cardinal, when Valentine (for so ordinarily was Caesar Borgia
+Pope Alexanders son call'd) made himself master of Romania; for when the
+Cardinal said to me, that the Italians understood not the feats of war;
+I answered, the Frenchmen understood not matters of State: for had they
+been well vers'd therein, they would never have suffer'd the Church to
+have grown to that greatness. And by experience we have seen it, that
+the power hereof in Italy, and that of Spain also, was caused by France,
+and their own ruine proceeded from themselves. From whence a general
+rule may be taken, which never, or very seldom fails, _That he that
+gives the means to another to become powerful, ruines himself_; for that
+power is caus'd by him either with his industry, or with his force; and
+as well the one as the other of these two is suspected by him that is
+grown puissant.
+
+
+
+
+CHAP. IV
+
+Wherefore Darius his Kingdome taken by Alexander, rebelled not against
+Alexanders Successors after his death.
+
+
+The difficulties being consider'd, which a man hath in the maintaining
+of a State new gotten, some might marvaile how it came to pass, that
+Alexander the great subdued all Asia in a few years; and having hardly
+possessed himself of it, died; whereupon it seemed probable that all
+that State should have rebelled; nevertheless his Successors kept the
+possession of it, nor found they other difficulty in holding it, than
+what arose among themselves through their own ambition. I answer, that
+all the Principalities whereof we have memory left us, have been
+governed in two several manners; either by a Prince, and all the rest
+Vassals, who as ministers by his favor and allowance, do help to govern
+that Kingdom; or by a Prince and by Barons, who not by their Princes
+favor, but by the antiquity of blood hold that degree. And these kinds
+of Barons have both states of their own, and Vassals who acknowledge
+them for their Lords; and bare them a true natural affection. Those
+States that are govern'd by a Prince and by Vassals, have their Prince
+ruling over them with more authority; for in all his countrey, there is
+none acknowledged for superior, but himself: and if they yeeld obedience
+to any one else, it is but as to his minister and officer, nor beare
+they him any particular good will. The examples of these two different
+Governments now in our dayes, are, the Turk, and the King of France. The
+Turks whole Monarchy is govern'd by one Lord, and the rest are all his
+Vassals; and dividing his whole Kingdom into divers Sangiacques or
+Governments, he sends several thither, and those he chops and changes,
+as he pleases. But the King of France is seated in the midst of a
+multitude of Lords, who of old have been acknowledg'd for such by their
+subjects, and being belov'd by them, enjoy their preheminencies; nor can
+the King take their States from them without danger. He then that
+considers the one and the other of these two States, shall find
+difficulty in the conquest of the Turks State; but when once it is
+subdu'd, great facility to hold it. The reasons of these difficulties in
+taking of the Turks Kingdom from him, are, because the Invader cannot be
+called in by the Princes of that Kingdom, nor hope by the rebellion of
+those which he hath about him, to be able to facilitate his enterprize:
+which proceeds from the reasons aforesaid; for they being all his
+slaves, and oblig'd to him, can more hardly be corrupted; and put case
+they were corrupted, little profit could he get by it, they not being
+able to draw after them any people, for the reasons we have shewed:
+whereupon he that assails the Turk, must think to find him united; and
+must rather relie upon his own forces, than in the others disorders: but
+when once he is overcome and broken in the field, so that he cannot
+repair his armies, there is nothing else to be doubted than the Royal
+blood, which being once quite out, there is none else left to be feard,
+none of the others having any credit with the people. And as the
+conqueror before the victory could not hope in them; so after it, ought
+he not to fear them. The contrary falls out in Kingdoms governed as is
+that of France: for it is easie to be enterd by the gaining of any Baron
+in the Kingdom; for there are alwaies some malecontents to be found, and
+those that are glad of innovation. Those for the reasons alledg'd are
+able to open thee a way into that State, and to further thy victory,
+which afterwards to make good to thee, draws with it exceeding many
+difficulties, as well with those that have ayded thee, as those thou
+hast supprest. Nor is it enough for thee to root out the Princes race:
+for there remaine still those Lords who quickly will be the ring-leaders
+of new changes; and in case thou art not able to content these, nor
+extinguish them, thou losest that State, whensoever the occasion is
+offerd. Now if thou shalt consider what sort of government that of
+Darius was, thou shalt find it like to the Turks dominion, and therefore
+Alexander was necessitated first to defeat him utterly, and drive him
+out of the field; after which victory Darius being dead, that State was
+left secure to Alexander, for the reasons we treated of before: and his
+successors, had they continued in amity, might have enjoy'd it at ease:
+nor ever arose there in that Kingdome other tumults, than those they
+themselves stir'd up. But of the States that are order'd and grounded as
+that of France, it is impossible to become master at such ease: and from
+hence grew the frequent rebellions of Spain, France, and Greece against
+the Romans, by reason of the many Principalities those States had:
+whereof while the memory lasted, the Romans were alwayes doubtfull of
+the possession of them; but the memory of them being quite wip't out, by
+the power and continuance of the Empire, at length they enjoy'd it
+securely; and they also were able afterwards fighting one with another,
+each of one them to draw after them the greater part of those provinces,
+according as their authority had gain'd them credit therein: and that
+because the blood of their ancient Lords was quite spent, they
+acknowledg'd no other but the Romans. By the consideration then of these
+things, no man will marvaile that Alexander had so little trouble to
+keep together the State of Asia; and that others have had such great
+difficulties to maintain their conquest, as Pyrrhus, and many others;
+which proceeds not from the small or great valour of the conquerour, but
+from the difference of the subject.
+
+
+
+
+CHAP. V
+
+In what manner Cities and Principalities are to be govern'd, which,
+before they were conquer'd, liv'd under their own Laws.
+
+
+When those States that are conquered, as it is said, have been
+accustomed to live under their own Laws, and in liberty, there are three
+wayes for a man to hold them. The first is to demolish all their strong
+places; the other, personally to goe and dwell there; the third, to
+suffer them to live under their own Laws, drawing from them some
+tribute, and creating therein an Oligarchy, that may continue it in thy
+service: for that State being created by that Prince, knowes it cannot
+consist without his aid and force, who is like to doe all he can to
+maintain it; and with more facility is a City kept by meanes of her own
+Citizens, which hath been us'd before to live free, than by any other
+way of keeping. We have for example the Spartans and the Romans; the
+Spartans held Athens and Thebes, creating there an Oligarchy: yet they
+lost it. The Romans to be sure of Capua, Carthage, and Numantia,
+dismantell'd them quite, and so lost them not: they would have kept
+Greece as the Spartans had held them, leaving them free, and letting
+them enjoy their own Laws; and it prospered not with them: so that they
+were forc'd to deface many Cities of that province to hold it. For in
+truth there is not a surer way to keep them under, than by
+demolishments; and whoever becomes master of a City us'd to live free,
+and dismantells it not, let him look himselfe to bee ruin'd by it; for
+it alwayes in time of rebellion takes the name of liberty for refuge,
+and the ancient orders it had; which neither by length of time, nor for
+any favours afforded them, are ever forgotten; and for any thing that
+can be done, or order'd, unlesse the inhabitants be disunited and
+dispers'd, that name is never forgotten, nor those customes: but
+presently in every chance recourse is thither made: as Pisa did after so
+many yeeres that she had been subdu'd by the Florentines. But when the
+Cities or the Provinces are accustomed to live under a Prince, and that
+whole race is quite extirpated: on one part being us'd to obey; on the
+other, not having their old Prince; they agree not to make one from
+among themselves: they know not how to live in liberty, in such manner
+that they are much slower to take armes; and with more facility may a
+Prince gaine them, and secure himselfe of them. But in Republiques there
+is more life in them, more violent hatred, more earnest desire of
+revenge; nor does the remembrance of the ancient liberty ever leave
+them, or suffer them to rest; so that the safest way, is, either to
+ruine them, or dwell among them.
+
+
+
+
+CHAP. VI
+
+Of new Principalities, that are conquer'd by ones own armes and valour.
+
+
+Let no man marvaile, if in the discourse I shall make of new
+Principalities, both touching a Prince, and touching a State, I shall
+alledge very famous examples: for seeing men almost alwayes walk in the
+pathes beaten by others, and proceed in their actions by imitation; and
+being that others wayes cannot bee exactly follow'd, nor their vertues,
+whose patterne thou set'st before thee, attain'd unto; a wise man ought
+alwayes to tread the footsteps of the worthiest persons, and imitate
+those that have been the most excellent: to the end that if his vertue
+arrive not thereto, at least it may yeeld some favour thereof, and doe
+as good Archers use, who thinking the place they intend to hit, too
+farre distant, and knowing how farr the strength of their bow will
+carry, they lay their ayme a great deale higher than the mark; not for
+to hit so high with their arrow, but to bee able with the help of so
+high an aime to reach the place they shoot at. I say, that in
+Principalities wholly new, where there is a new Prince, there is more
+and lesse difficulty in maintaining them, as the vertue of their
+Conquerour is greater or lesser. And because this successe, to become a
+Prince of a private man, presupposes either vertue, or fortune; mee
+thinks the one and other of these two things in part should mitigate
+many difficulties; however he that hath lesse stood upon fortune, hath
+maintain'd himselfe the better. Moreover it somewhat facilitates the
+matter in that the Prince is constrain'd, because he hath not other
+dominions, in person to come and dwell there. But to come to these who
+by their own vertues, and not by fortune, attain'd to be Princes; the
+excellentest of these are Moses, Cyrus, Romulus, Theseus, and such like;
+and though of Moses we are not to reason, he onely executing the things
+that were commanded him by God; yet merits he well to be admir'd, were
+it only for that grace that made him worthy to converse with God. But
+considering Cyrus, and the others, who either got or founded Kingdomes,
+we shall find them all admirable; and if there particular actions and
+Lawes be throughly weigh'd, they will not appeare much differing from
+those of Moyses, which he receiv'd from so Sovraigne an instructer. And
+examining their lives and actions, it will not appeare, that they had
+other help of fortune, than the occasion, which presented them with the
+matter wherein they might introduce what forme they then pleas'd; and
+without that occasion, the vertue of their mind had been extinguish'd;
+and without that vertue, the occasion had been offer'd in vaine. It was
+then necessary for Moses to find the people of Israel slaves in AEgypt,
+and oppress'd by the AEgyptians, to the end that they to get out of their
+thraldome, should bee willing to follow him. It was fit that Romulus
+should not be kept in Albia, but expos'd presently after his birth, that
+he might become King of Rome, and founder of that City. There was need
+that Cyrus should find the Persians discontented with the Medes
+government, and the Medes delicate and effeminate through their long
+peace. Theseus could not make proof his vertue, had not he found the
+Athenians dispers'd. These occasions therefore made these men happy, and
+their excellent vertue made the occasion be taken notice of, whereby
+their countrey became enobled, and exceeding fortunate. They, who by
+vertuous waies, like unto these, become Princes, attain the Principality
+with difficulty, but hold it with much ease; and the difficulties they
+find in gaining the Principality, arise partly from the new orders and
+courses they are forc'd to bring in, to lay the foundation of their
+State, and work their own security. And it is to be consider'd, how
+there is not any thing harder to take in hand, nor doubtfuller to
+succeed, nor more dangerous to mannage, than to be the chief in bringing
+in new orders; for this Chief finds all those his enemies, that thrive
+upon the old orders; and hath but luke warme defenders of all those that
+would do well upon the new orders, which luke-warme temper proceeds
+partly from fear of the opposers who have the laws to their advantage;
+partly from the incredulity of the men who truly beleeve not a new
+thing, unless there be some certain proof given them thereof. Whereupon
+it arises, that whensoever they that are adversaries, take the occasion
+to assayle, they do it factiously; and these others defend but cooly, so
+that their whole party altogether runs a hazzard. Therefore it is
+necessary, being we intend throughly to discourse this part, to examine
+if these innovators stand of themselves, or if they depend upon others;
+that is, if to bring their work to effect, it be necessary they should
+intreat, or be able to constrain; in the first case they allwayes
+succeed ill, and bring nothing to pass; but when they depend of
+themselves, and are able to force, then seldom it is that they hazzard.
+Hence came it that all the prophets that were arm'd, prevail'd; but
+those that were unarm'd, were too weak: for besides what we have
+alledg'd, the nature of the people is changeable, and easie to be
+perswaded to a matter; but it is hard also to settle them in that
+perswasion. And therefore it behoves a man to be so provided, that when
+they beleeve no longer, he may be able to compel them thereto by force.
+Moses, Cyrus, Theseus, and Romulus would never have been able to cause
+their Laws to be obey'd, had they been disarm'd; as in our times it
+befel Fryer Jerome Savanarola, who perished in his new constitutions,
+when the multitude began not to beleeve him; neither had he the means to
+keep them firme, that had beleev'd; not to force beleefe in them that
+had not beleev'd him. Wherefore such men as these, in their proceedings
+find great difficulty, and all their dangers are in the way, and these
+they must surmount by their vertue; but having once master'd them, and
+beginning to be honored by all, when they have rooted those out that
+envi'd their dignities, they remain powerful, secure, honorable, and
+happy. To these choice examples, I will add one of less remark; but it
+shall hold some proportion with them, and this shall suffice me for all
+others of this kind, which is Hiero the Siracusan. He of a private man,
+became Prince of Siracusa, nor knew he any other ayd of fortune than the
+occasion: for the Siracusans being oppress'd, made choyce of him for
+their Captain, whereupon he deserv'd to be made their Prince: and he was
+of such vertue even in his private fortune, that he who writes of him,
+sayes, he wanted nothing of reigning, but a Kingdom; this man
+extinguish'd all the old soldiery, ordaind the new; left the old
+allyances, entertained new; and as he had friendship, and soldiers that
+were his own, upon that ground he was able to build any edifice; so that
+he indured much trouble in gaining, and suffered but little in
+maintaining.
+
+
+
+
+CHAP. VII
+
+Of new Principalities, gotten by fortune, and other mens forces.
+
+
+They who by fortune only become Princes of private men, with small pains
+attain to it, but have much ado to maintain themselves in it; and find
+no difficulty at all in the way, because they are carried thither with
+wings: but all the difficulties arise there, after they are plac'd in
+them. And of such sort are those who have an estate given them for
+money, by the favor of some one that grants it them: as it befell many
+in Greece, in the cities of Jonia, and Hellespont; where divers Princes
+were made by Darius, as well for his own safety as his glory; as also
+them that were made Emperors; who from private men by corrupting the
+soldiers, attaind to the Empire. These subsist meerly upon the will, and
+fortune of those that have advanced them; which are two voluble and
+unsteady things; and they neither know how, nor are able to continue in
+that dignity: they know not how, because unless it be a man of great
+understanding and vertue, it is not probable that he who hath always
+liv'd a private life, can know how to command: neither are they able,
+because they have not any forces that can be friendly or faithful to
+them. Moreover those States that suddenly fall into a mans hands, as all
+other things in nature that spring and grow quickly, cannot well have
+taken root, nor have made their correspondencies so firm, but that the
+first storm that takes them, ruines them; in case these, who (as it is
+said) are thus on a sudden clambred up to be Princes, are not of that
+worth and vertue as to know how to prepare themselves to maintain that
+which chance hath cast into their bosoms, and can afterwards lay those
+foundations, which others have cast before they were Princes. For the
+one and the other of these wayes about the attaining to be a Prince, by
+Vertue, or by Fortune, I will alledge you two examples which have been
+in the dayes of our memory. These were Francis Sforza, and Caesar Borgia;
+Francis by just means and with a great deal of vertue, of a private man
+got to be Duke of Millan; and that which with much pains he had gaind,
+he kept with small ado. On the other side Caeesar Borgia (commonly termed
+Duke Valentine) got his state by his Fathers fortune, and with the same
+lost it; however that for his own part no pains was spar'd, nor any
+thing omitted, which by a discreet and valorus man ought to have been
+done, to fasten his roots in those Estates, which others armes or
+fortune had bestowed on him; for (as it was formerly said) he that lays
+not the foundations first, yet might be able by means of his
+extraordinary vertues to lay them afterwards, however it be with the
+great trouble of the architect, and danger of the edifice. If therefore
+we consider all the Dukes progresses, we may perceive how great
+foundations he had cast for his future power, which I judge a matter not
+superfluous to run over; because I should not well know, what better
+rules I might give to a new Prince, than the pattern of his actions; and
+however the courses he took, availd him not, yet was it not his fault,
+but it proceeded from an extraordinary and extream malignity of fortune.
+Pope Alexander the sixt, desiring to make the Duke his son a great man,
+had a great many difficulties, present and future: first he saw no way
+there was whereby he might be able to make him Lord of any State, that
+was not the Churches; and if he turnd to take that from the Church, he
+knew that the Duke of Milan, and the Venetians would never agree to it;
+for Faenza and Riminum were under the Venetians protection. Moreover, he
+saw that the armes of Italy, and those whereof in particular he might
+have been able to make some use, were in their hands, who ought to fear
+the Popes greatness; and therefore could not any wayes rely upon them:
+being all in the Orsins and Colonies hands, and those of their faction.
+It was necessary then, that those matters thus appointed by them should
+be disturbed, and the States of Italy disordered, to be able safely to
+master part of them, which he then found easie to do, seeing the
+Venetians upon three considerations had us'd the means to bring the
+French men back again into Italy: which he not only did not withstand,
+but furthered, with a resolution of King Lewis his ancient marriage. The
+King then past into Italy with the Venetians ayd, and Alexanders
+consent; nor was he sooner arrived in Milan, than the Pope had soldiers
+from him for the service of Romania, which was quickly yeelded up to him
+upon the reputation of the Kings forces. The Duke then having made
+himself master of Romania, and beaten the Colonies, desiring to hold it,
+and proceed forward, two things hindered him: the one, his own soldiers,
+which he thought were not true to him; the other, the French mens good
+wills; that is to say, he feared that the Princes soldiers, whereof he
+had served himself, would fail him, and not only hinder his conquest,
+but take from him what he had gotten; and that the King also would serve
+him the same turn. He had experience of the Orsini upon an occasion,
+when after the taking of Faenza he assaulted Bolonia, to which assault
+he saw them go very cold. And touching the King, he discovered his mind,
+when having taken the Dutchy of Urbin, he invaded Tuscany; from which
+action the King made him retire; whereupon the Duke resolved to depend
+no more upon fortune, and other mens armes. And the first thing he did,
+was, to weaken the Orsini, and Colonnies factions in Rome: for he gain'd
+all their adherents that were gentlemen, giving them large allowances,
+and honoring them according to their qualities with charges and
+governments; so that in a few months the good will they bare to the
+parties was quite extinguisht, and wholly bent to the Duke. After this,
+he waited an occasion to root out the Orsini, having before dispersed
+those of the family of Colonnia, which fell out well to his hand; and he
+us'd it better. For the Orsini being too late aware, that the Dukes and
+the Churches greatness was their destruction, held a Council together in
+a dwelling house of theirs in the country adjoyning to Perusia. From
+thence grew the rebellion of Urbin, and the troubles of Romania, and
+many other dangers befell the Duke, which he overcame all with the help
+of the French: and having regained his reputation, trusting neither
+France, nor any forrein forces, to the end he might not be put to make
+trial of them again, he betook himself to his sleghts; and he knew so
+well to disguise his intention, that the Orsins, by the mediation of
+Paul Orsine, were reconciled to him, to whom the Duke was no way wanting
+in all manner of courtesies whereby to bring them into security, giving
+them rich garments, money, and horses, til their own simplicities led
+them all to Sinigallia, into his hands. These heads being then pluck'd
+off, and their partisans made his friends; the Duke had laid very good
+foundations, to build his own greatness on, having in his power all
+Romania with the Dutchy of Urbin, and gained the hearts of those people,
+by beginning to give them some relish of their well being. And because
+this part is worthy to be taken notice of, and to be imitated by others,
+I will not let it escape. The Duke, when he had taken Romania, finding
+it had been under the hands of poor Lords who had rather pillag'd their
+subjects, than chastis'd or amended them, giving them more cause of
+discord, than of peace and union, so that the whole countrey was fraught
+with robberies, quarrels, and other sorts of insolencies; thought the
+best way to reduce them to termes of pacification, and obedience to a
+Princely power, was, to give them some good government: and therefore he
+set over them one Remiro D'Orco, a cruel hasty man, to whom he gave an
+absolute power. This man in a very short time setled peace and union
+amongst them with very great reputation. Afterwards the Duke thought
+such excessive authority serv'd not so well to his purpose, and doubting
+it would grow odious, he erected a civil Judicature in the midst of the
+countrey, where one excellent Judge did Preside, and thither every City
+sent their Advocate: and because he knew the rigors past had bred some
+hatred against him, to purge the minds of those people, and to gain them
+wholly to himself, he purpos'd to shew, that if there was any cruelty
+used, it proceeded not from any order of his, but from the harsh
+disposition of his Officers. Whereupon laying hold on him, at this
+occasion, he caus'd his head to be struck off one morning early in the
+market place at Cesena, where he was left upon a gibbet, with a bloody
+sword by his side; the cruelty of which spectacle for a while satisfied
+and amaz'd those people. But to return from whence we have digressd: I
+say, that the Duke finding himself very strong, and in part out of doubt
+of the present dangers, because he was arm'd after his own manner, and
+had in some good measure suppress'd those forces, which, because of
+their vicinity, were able to annoy him, he wanted nothing else to go on
+with his Conquest, but the consideration of France: for he knew, that
+the King, who now, though late, was advis'd of his error, would never
+suffer him: and hereupon he began to seek after new allyances, and to
+waver with France, when the French came towards Naples against the
+Spaniards, who then besieged Gagetta; and his design was only to be out
+of their danger, which had been effected for him, had Pope Alexander
+lived. And thus were his businesses carried touching his present estate.
+As for the future, he had reason to doubt lest the new successor to the
+Papacy would not be his friend, and would endeavor to take that from him
+that Alexander had bestowed on him; and he thought to provide for this
+foure waies: First by rooting out the races of all those Lords he had
+dispoyled, whereby to take those occasions from the Pope. Secondly, by
+gaining all the gentlemen of Rome, whereby he might be able with those
+to keep the Pope in some awe. Thirdly, to make the Colledge of Cardinals
+as much at his devotion as possibly might be. Fourthly, by making of so
+large Conquests, before the Popes death, as that he might be able of
+himself to withstand the first fury of his enemies. Three of these fowre
+at Pope Alexanders death he had effected, and the fourth he had neare
+brought to a point. For of those Lords he had stript, he put to death as
+many as he could come at, and very few escap'd him: he gaind him the
+Roman Gentlemen: and in the Colledge he had made a great faction. And
+touching his new Conquest, he had a designe to become Lord of Tuscany.
+And he had possessed himself already of Perusia, and Pombin, and taken
+protection of Pisa: and so soon as he should have cast off his respect
+to France (which now he meant to hold no longer) being the French were
+now driven out of the Kingdome of Naples by the Spaniards, so that each
+of them was forc'd to buy his friendship at any termes; he was then to
+leap into Pisa. After this Lucca and Siena were presently to fall to
+him, partly for envy to the Florentines, and partly for fear. The
+Florentines had no way to escape him: all which, had it succeeded with
+him, as without question it had, the very same year that Alexander dy'd,
+he had made himself master of so great forces, and such reputation, that
+he would have been able to have stood upon his own bottom, without any
+dependance of fortune, or resting upon others helps, but only upon his
+own strength and valor. But Alexander dy'd five years after that he had
+begun to draw forth his sword: and left him setled only in the State of
+Romania, with all his other designes in the ayre, sick unto death,
+between two very strong armies of his enemies; and yet was there in this
+Duke such a spirit and courage; and he understood so well, how men are
+to be gaind, and how to be lost, and so firm were the grounds he had
+laid in a short time, that, had he not had those armies upon his back,
+or had been in health, he would have carried through his purpose in
+spight of all opposition; and that the foundations he grounded upon were
+good, it appeard in that Romania held for him above a moneth, and he
+remained secure in Rome, though even at deaths doore: and however the
+Baglioni, Vitelli, and Orsini came into Rome; yet found they none would
+take their parts against him. And this he was able to have effected,
+that if he could not have made him Pope whom be would, he could have
+hindred him that he would not should be Pope. But had he been in health
+when Alexander dy'd, every thing had gone easily with him; and he told
+me on that day that Julius the second was created Pope, that he had
+fore-thought on all that which could happen, in case his father chanc'd
+to dye, and for every thing provided its remedy, this onely excepted,
+that he foresaw not that he should at the same time be brought unto
+deaths dore also. Having then collected all the Dukes actions, me thinks
+I could not well blame him, but rather (as I have here done) set him as
+a pattern to be followed by all those who by fortune and others armes
+have been exalted to an Empire. For he being of great courage, and
+having lofty designes, could not carry himself otherwise; and the only
+obstacle of his purposes was the brevity of Alexanders life, and his own
+sickness. Whoever therefore deemes it necessary in his entrance into a
+new Principality, to secure himself of his enemies, and gain him
+friends, to overcome either by force or by cunning, to make himself
+beloved, or feared of his people, be followed and reverenced by his
+soldiers, to root out those that can, or owe thee any hurt, to change
+the ancient orders with new wayes, to be severe, and yet acceptable,
+magnanimous, and liberall; to extinguish the unfaithfull soldiery, and
+create new; to maintain to himself the armities of Kings and Princes, so
+that they shall either with favor benefit thee, or be wary how to offend
+thee; cannot find more fresh and lively examples than the actions of
+this man. He deserves to be found fault withall for the creation of
+Julius the second, wherein an evil choice was made for him: for, as it
+is said, not being able to make a Pope to his mind, he could have
+withheld any one from being Pope; and should never have consented that
+any one of those Cardinals should have got the Papacy, whom he had ever
+done harme to; or who having attaind the Pontificate were likely to be
+afraid of him: because men ordinarily do hurt either for fear, or
+hatred. Those whom he had offended, were among others, he who had the
+title of St. Peter ad Vincula, Colonna, St. George, and Ascanius; all
+the others that were in possibility of the Popedome, were such as might
+have feard him rather, except the Cardinal of Roan, and the Spaniards;
+these by reason of their allyance and obligation with him, the other
+because of the power they had, having the Kingdome of France on their
+party; wherefore the Duke above all things should have created a
+Spanyard Pope, and in case he could not have done that, he should have
+agreed that Roan should have been, and not St. Peter ad Vincula. And
+whoever beleeves, that with great personages new benefits blot on the
+remembrance of old injuries, is much deceiv'd. The Duke therefore in
+this election, was the cause of his own ruine at last.
+
+    Till wee come to this seaventh Chapter, I find not any thing
+    much blame-worthy, unlesse it be on ground he layes in the
+    second Chapter; whereupon hee builds most of this Fabrick, viz.
+    That Subjects must either be dallyed or flatterd withall, or
+    quite crusht. Whereby our Author advises his Prince to support
+    his authority with two Cardinall Vertues, Dissimulation, and
+    Cruelty. He considers not herein that the head is but a member
+    of the body, though the principall; and the end of the parts is
+    the good of the whole. And here he goes against himselfe in the
+    twenty sixt Chapter of his Rep. 1. 1. where hee blames Philip of
+    Macedon for such courses, terming them very cruell, and against
+    all Christian manner of living; and that every man should refuse
+    to be a King, and desire rather to live a private life, than to
+    reigne so much to the ruine of mankind. The life of Caesar
+    Borgia, which is here given as a paterne to new Princes, we
+    shall find to have been nothing else but a cunning carriage of
+    things so, that he might thereby first deceive and inveigle, and
+    then suppresse all those that could oppose or hinder his
+    ambition. For if you runne over his life, you shall see the
+    Father Pope Alexander the sixt and him, both imbarqued for his
+    advancement, wherein they engag'd the Papall authority, and
+    reputation of Religion; for faith and conscience these men never
+    knew, though they exacted it of others: there was never promise
+    made, but it was only so farre kept as servd for advantage;
+    Liberality was made use of: Clemency and Cruelty, all alike, as
+    they might serve to worke with their purposes. All was
+    sacrific'd to ambition; no friendship could tye these men, nor
+    any religion: and no marvell: for ambition made them forget both
+    God and man. But see the end of all this cunning: though this
+    Caesar Borgia contrived all his businesse so warily, that our
+    Author much commends him, and hee had attaind neere the pitch of
+    his hopes, and had provided for each misadventure could befall
+    him its remedy; Policy shewd it selefe short-sighted; for hee
+    foresaw not at the time of his Fathers death, he himself should
+    bee brought unto deaths doore also. And me thinks this Example
+    might have given occasion to our Author to confesse, that surely
+    there is a God that ruleth the earth. And many times God cutts
+    off those cunning and mighty men in the hight of their purposes,
+    when they think they have neare surmounted all dangers and
+    difficulties. 'To the intent that the living may know, that the
+    most high ruleth in the Kingdome of men, and giveth it to
+    whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.'
+    Daniel. 4. 17.
+
+
+
+
+CHAP. VIII
+
+Concerning those who by wicked meanes have attaind to a Principality.
+
+
+But because a man becomes a Prince of a private man two wayes, which
+cannot wholly be attributed either to Fortune or Vertue, I think not fit
+to let them passe me: howbeit the one of them may be more largely
+discoursed upon, where the Republicks are treated of. These are, when by
+some wicked and unlawfull meanes a man rises to the Principality; or
+when a private person by the favour of his fellow Citizens becomes
+Prince of his countrey. And speaking of the first manner, it shall be
+made evident by two Examples, the one ancient, the other moderne,
+without entring otherwise into the justice or merit of this part; for I
+take it that these are sufficient for any body that is forc'd to follow
+them. Agathocles the Sicilian, not of a private man onely, but from a
+base and abject fortune, got to be King of Siracusa. This man borne but
+of a Potter, continued alwayes a wicked life throughout all the degrees
+of this fortune: neverthelesse he accompanied his lewdnesse with such a
+courage and resolution, that applying himselfe to military affaires, by
+the degrees thereof he attained to bee Praetour of Siracusa, and being
+setled in that degree, and having determined that he would become
+Prince, and hold that by violence and without obligation to any other,
+which by consent had been granted him: and to this purpose haveing had
+some private intelligence touching his designe with Amilcar the
+Carthaginian, who was imployd with his army in Sicily, one morining
+gatherd the people together and the Senate of Syracusa, as if he had
+some what to advise with them of matters belonging to the Commonwealth,
+and upon a signe given, caus'd his souldiers to kill his Senatours, and
+the richest of the people; who being slaine, he usurp'd the Principality
+of that City without any civill strife: and however he was twice broken
+by the Carthaginians, and at last besieged, was able not onely to defend
+his own City, but leaving part of his own army at the defence thereof,
+with the other invaded Affrique, and in a short time freed Siracusa from
+the siege, and brought the Carthaginians into extreme necessity, who
+were constraind to accord with him, be contented with the possession of
+Affrique, and quitt Sicily to Agathocles. He then that should consider
+the actions and valour of this man, would not see any, or very few
+things to be attributed unto Fortune; seeing that as is formerly sayd,
+not by any ones favour, but by the degrees of service in warre with many
+sufferings and dangers, to which he had risen, he came to the
+Principality; and that hee maintained afterwards with so many resolute
+and hazardous undertakings. Yet cannot this be term'd vertue or valour
+to slay his own Citizens, betray his friends, to be without faith,
+without pitty, without religion, which wayes are of force to gaine
+dominion, but not glory: for if Agathocles his valour bee well weighd,
+in his enturing upon, and comming off from dangers, and the greatnesse
+of his courage, in supporting and mastering of adversities, no man can
+see why he should be thought any way inferiour even to the ablest
+Captaines. Notwithstanding his beastly cruelty and inhumanity with
+innumerable wickednesses, allow not that he should be celebrated among
+the most excellent men. That cannot then be attributed to Fortune or
+Vertue, which without the one or the other was attaind to by him. In our
+dayes, while Alexander the sixth held the sea, Oliverotte of Fermo, who
+some few yeeres before had been left young by his parents, was brought
+up under the care of an uncle of his on the mothers side, called John
+Foliani, and in the beginning of his youth given, by him to serve in the
+warres under Paulo Vitelli: to the end that being well instructed in
+that discipline, he might rise to some worthy degree in the warrs.
+Afterwards when Paulo was dead, he served under Vitellozzo his brother,
+and in very short time, being ingenious, of a good personage, and brave
+courage, he became one of the prime men among the troops he served in:
+but thinking it but servile to depend upon another, he plotted by the
+ayd of some Citizens of Fermo (who lik'd rather the thraldome of their
+City than the liberty of it) and by the favour of the Vitelli, to make
+himselfe master of Fermo; and writ to John Foliani, that having been
+many yeeres from home, he had a mind to come and see him and the City,
+and in some part take notice of his own patrimony; and because he had
+not imployd himselfe but to purchase honour, to the end his Citizens
+might perceive, that he had not vainely spent his time, he had a desire
+to come in good equipage and accompanied with a hundred horse of his
+friends and servants; and he intreated him that he would be pleasd so to
+take order, that he might be honourably received by the inhabitants of
+Fermo, which turnd as well to his honor that was his uncle, as his that
+was the nephew. In this, John faild not in any office of courtesie due
+to his nephew: and caused him to be well receivd by them of Fermo, and
+lodged him in his own house: where having passed some dayes, and stayd
+to put in order somewhat that was necessary for his intended villany, he
+made a very solemne feast, whether he invited John Foliani, and all the
+prime men of Fermo: and when all their chear was ended, and all their
+other entertainments, as in such feasts it is customary, Oliverotto of
+purpose mov'd some grave discourses; speaking of the greatnesse of Pope
+Alexander, and Caesar his son, and their undertakings; where unto John
+and the others making answer, he of a sudden stood up, saying, that
+those were things to be spoken of in a more secret place, and so retir'd
+into a chamber, whether John and all the other Citizens followd him; nor
+were they sooner set downe there, than from some secret place therein
+camp forth diverse souldiers, who slew John and all the others: after
+which homicide Oliverotto got a horsebacke and ravaged the whole towne,
+and besieged the supreme Magistrate in the palace, so that for feare
+they were all constraind to obey him, and to settle a government,
+whereof hee made himselfe Prince; and they being all dead who, had they
+been discontented with him, could have hurt him; he strengthned himselfe
+with new civill and military orders, so that in the space of a yeer that
+he held the Principality, he was not only secure in the City of Fermo,
+but became fearefull to all his neighbours; and the conquest of him
+would have prov'd difficult, as that of Agathocles, had he not let
+himselfe been deceivd by Caesar Borgia, when at Sinigallia, as before was
+said, he took the Orsini and Vitelli: where he also being taken a yeere
+after he had committed the parricide, was strangled together with
+Vitellozzo (whome he had had for master both of his vertues and vices.)
+Some man might doubt from whence it should proceed, that Agathocles, and
+such like, after many treacheries and crueltyes, could possibly live
+long secure in his own countrey, and defend himselfe from his forrein
+enemies, and that never any of his own Citizens conspir'd against him,
+seeing that by means of cruelty, many others have never been able even
+in peaceable times to maintaine their States, much lesse in the
+doubtfull times of warre. I beleeve that this proceeds from the well, or
+ill using of those cruelties: they may bee termd well us'd (if it bee
+lawfull to say well of evill) that are put in practice only once of
+necessity for securities sake, not insisting therein afterwards; but
+there is use made of them for the subjects profit, as much as may be.
+But those that are ill us'd, are such as though they bee but few in the
+beginning, yet they multiply rather in time, than diminish. They that
+take that first way, may with the help of God, and mens care, find some
+remedy for their State, as Agathocles did: for the others, it is
+impossible they should continue. Whereupon it is to be noted, that in
+the laying hold of a State, the usurper thereof ought to runne over and
+execute all his cruelties at once, that he be not forced often to
+returne to them, and that he may be able, by not renewing of them, to
+give men some security, and gaine their affections by doing them some
+courtesies. Hee that carries it otherwise, either for fearefullnesse, or
+upon evill advice, is alwayes constraind to hold his sword drawne in his
+hand; nor ever can hee rely upon his subjects, there being no
+possibility for them, because of his daily and continuall injuries, to
+live in any safety: for his injuries should bee done altogether, that
+being seldomer tasted, they might lesse offend; his favours should bee
+bestowd by little, and little to the end they might keep their taste the
+better; and above all things a Prince must live with his subjects in
+such sort, that no accident either of good or evill can make him vary:
+for necessity comming upon him by reason of adversities, thou hast not
+time given thee to make advantage of thy cruelties; and the favours
+which then thou bestowest, will little help thee, being taken as if they
+came from thee perforce, and so yeeld no returne of thanks.
+
+
+
+
+CHAP. IX
+
+Of the Civill Principality.
+
+
+But comming to the other part, when a principall Citizen, not by
+villany, or any other insufferable violence, but by the favour of his
+fellow-citizens becomes Prince of his native countrey: which we may
+terme a Civill Principality; nor to attaine hereunto is Vertue wholly or
+Fortune wholly necessary, but rather a fortunate cunning: I say, this
+Principality is climb'd up to, either by the peoples help, or the great
+mens. For, in every City we finde these two humours differ; and they
+spring from this, that the people desire not to be commanded nor
+oppressed by the great ones, and the great ones are desirous to command
+and oppresse the people: and from these two several appetites, arise in
+the City one of these three effects, either a Principality, or Liberty,
+or Tumultuary licentiousnesse. The Principality is caused either by the
+people, or the great ones, according as the one or other of these
+factions have the occasion offerd; for the great ones seeing themselves
+not able to resist the people, begin to turne the whole reputation to
+one among them, and make him Prince, whereby they may under his shadow
+vent their spleenes. The people also, not being able to support the
+great mens insolencies, converting the whole reputation to one man,
+create him their Prince, to be protected by his authority. He that comes
+to the Principality by the assistance of the great ones, subsists with
+more difficulty, than he that attaines to it by the peoples favour; for
+he being made Prince, hath many about him, who account themselves his
+equalls, and therefore cannot dispose nor command them at his pleasure.
+But he that gaines the Principality by the peoples favor, finds himselfe
+alone in his throne, and hath none or very few neare him that are not
+very supple to bend: besides this, the great ones cannot upon easie
+termes be satisfied, or without doing of wrong to others, where as a
+small matter contents the people: for the end which the people propound
+to themselves, is more honest than that of the great men, these desiring
+to oppresse, they only not to be oppressed. To this may be added also,
+that the Prince which is the peoples enemy, can never well secure
+himselfe of them, because of their multitude; well may hee bee sure of
+the Nobles, they being but a few. The worst that a Prince can look for
+of the people become his enemy, is to be abandoned by them: but when the
+great ones once grow his enemies, he is not only to feare their
+abandoning of him, but their making of a party against him also: for
+there being in them more forecast and craft, they alwayes take time by
+the forelocks whereby to save themselves, and seeke credit with him who
+they hope shall get the mastery. The Prince likewise is necessitated
+alwayes to live with the same people, but can doe well enough without
+the same great men; he being able to create new ones, and destroy them
+again every day, and to take from them, and give them credit as he
+pleases: and to cleare this part, I say, that great men ought to be
+considerd two wayes principally, that is, if they take thy proceedings
+so much to heart, as to engage their fortunes wholly in thine, in case
+they lye not alwayes catching at spoyle, they ought to be well honourd
+and esteem'd: those that bind themselves not to thy fortune, are to be
+considerd also two wayes; either they doe it for lack of courage, and
+naturall want of spirit, and then shouldst thou serve thy selfe of them,
+and of them especially that are men of good advice; for if thy affaires
+prosper, thou dost thy selfe honour thereby; if crost, thou needst not
+feare them: but when they oblige not themselves to thee of purpose, and
+upon occasion of ambition, it is a signe they think more of themselves
+than of thee: and of these the Prince ought to beware, and account of
+them as his discoverd enemyes: for alwayes in thy adversity they will
+give a hand too to ruine thee. Therefore ought hee that comes to be
+Prince by the peoples favour, keepe them his friends: which he may
+easily doe, they desiring only to live free from oppression: but he that
+becomes Prince by the great mens favour, against the will of the people,
+ought above all things to gaine the people to him, which he may easily
+effect, when he takes upon him their protection: And because men when
+they find good, where they look for evill, are thereby more endered to
+their benefactour, therefore growes the people so pliant in their
+subjection to him, as if by their favours he had attaind his dignity.
+And the Prince is able to gaine them to his side by many wayes, which
+because they vary according to the subject, no certaine rule can be
+given thereupon; wherefore we shall let them passe I will only conclude,
+that it is necessary for a Prince to have the people his friend;
+otherwise in his adversities he hath no helpe. Nabis Prince of the
+Spartans supported the siege of all Greece, and an exceeding victorious
+army of the Romans, and against those defended his native countrey and
+State, and this suffic'd him alone, that as the danger came upon him, he
+secur'd himself of a fewer; whereas if the people had been his enemy,
+this had nothing availd him. And let no man think to overthrow this my
+opinion with that common proverb, that He who relyes upon the people,
+layes his foundation in the dirt; for that is true where a private
+Citizen grounds upon them, making his account that the people shall free
+him, when either his enemyes or the Magistrates oppresse him: In this
+case he should find himself often deceiv'd, as it befell the Gracchyes
+in Rome, and in Florence George Scali: but he being a Prince that
+grounds thereupon, who can command, and is a man of courage, who hath
+his wits about him in his adversityes, and wants not other preparations,
+and holds together the whole multitude animated with his valour and
+orders, shall not prove deceiv'd by them, and shall find he hath layd
+good foundations. These Principalityes are wont to be upon the point of
+falling when they goe about to skip from the civil order to the
+absolute: for these Princes either command of themselves, or by the
+Magistrate; in this last case their State is more weak and dangerous,
+because they stand wholly at the will and pleasure of these Citizens,
+who then are set over the Magistrates, who especially in adverse times
+are able with facility to take their State from them either by rising up
+against them, or by not obeying them; and then the Prince is not at hand
+in those dangers to take the absolute authority upon him: for the
+Citizens and subjects that are accustomed to receive the commands from
+the Magistrates, are not like in those fractions to obey his: and in
+doubtfull times he shall alwayes have greatest penury of whom he may
+trust; for such a Prince cannot ground upon that which he sees in
+peaceable times, when the Citizens have need of the State; for then
+every one runs, and every one promises, and every one will venture his
+life for him, where there is no danger neare; but in times of hazzard,
+when the State hath need of Citizens, there are but few of them then,
+and so much the more is this experience dangerous, in that it can be but
+once made. Therefore a prudent Prince ought to devise a way whereby his
+Citizens alwayes and in any case and quality of time may have need of
+his government, and they shall alwaies after prove faithfull to him.
+
+
+
+
+CHAP. X
+
+In what manner the Forces of all Principalities ought to be measured.
+
+
+It is requisite in examining the quality of those Principalities, to
+have another consideration of them, that is, if a Prince have such
+dominions, that he is able in case of necessity to subsist of himself,
+or else whether he hath alwaies need of another to defend him. And to
+cleer this point the better, I judge them able to stand of themselves,
+who are of power either for their multitudes of men, or quantity of
+money, to bring into the field a compleat armie, and joyn battel with
+whoever comes to assail them: and so I think those alwaies to stand in
+need of others help, who are not able to appear in the field against the
+enemy, but are forc'd to retire within their walls and guard them.
+Touching the first case, we have treated already, and shall adde somwhat
+thereto as occasion shall require. In the second case, we cannot say
+other, save only to encourage such Princes to fortifie and guard their
+own Capital city, and of the countrey about, not to hold much account;
+and whoever shall have well fortified that town, and touching other
+matters of governments shall have behaved himself towards his subjects,
+as hath been formerly said, and hereafter shall be, shall never be
+assaild but with great regard; for men willingly undertake not
+enterprises, where they see difficulty to work them through; nor can
+much facility be there found, where one assails him, who hath his town
+strong and wel guarded, and is not hated of his people. The cities of
+Germany are very free; they have but very little of the countrey about
+them belonging to them; and they obey the Emperor, when they please, and
+they stand not in fear, neither of him nor any other Potentate about
+them: for they are in such a manner fortified, that every one thinks the
+siege of any of them would prove hard and tedious: for all of them have
+ditches, and rampires, and good store of Artillery, and alwaies have
+their publick cellars well provided with meat and drink and firing for a
+yeer: besides this, whereby to feed the common people, and without any
+loss to the publick, they have alwaies in common whereby they are able
+for a year to imploy them in the labor of those trades that are the
+sinews and the life of that city, and of that industry whereby the
+commons ordinarily supported themselves: they hold up also the military
+exercises in repute, and hereupon have they many orders to maintain
+them. A Prince then that is master of a good strong city, and causeth
+not himself to be hated, cannot be assaulted; and in case he were, he
+that should assail him, would be fain to quit him with shame: for the
+affairs of the world are so various, that it is almost impossible that
+an army can lie incampt before a town for the space of a whole yeer: and
+if any should reply, that the people having their possessions abroad, in
+case they should see them a fire, would not have patience, and the
+tedious siege and their love to themselves would make them forget their
+Prince: I answer that a Prince puissant and couragious, will easily
+master those difficulties, now giving his subjects hope, that the
+mischief will not be of durance; sometimes affright them with the
+cruelty of their enemies, and other whiles cunningly securing himself of
+those whom he thinks too forward to run to the enemy. Besides this by
+ordinary reason the enemy should burne and waste their countrey, upon
+his arrival, and at those times while mens minds are yet warme, and
+resolute in their defence: and therefore so much the less ought a Prince
+doubt: for after some few dayes, that their courages grow coole, the
+dammages are all done, and mischiefs received, and there is no help for
+it, and then have they more occasion to cleave faster to their Prince,
+thinking he is now more bound to them, their houses having for his
+defence been fired, and their possessions wasted; and mens nature is as
+well to hold themselves oblig'd for the kindnesses they do, as for those
+they receive; whereupon if all be well weigh'd, a wise Prince shall not
+find much difficulty to keep sure and true to him his Citizens hearts at
+the beginning and latter end of the siege, when he hath no want of
+provision for food and ammunition.
+
+
+
+
+CHAP. XI
+
+Concerning Ecclesiastical Principalities.
+
+
+There remains now only that we treat of the Ecclesiastical
+Principalities, about which all the difficulties are before they are
+gotten: for they are attained to either by vertue, or Fortune; and
+without the one or the other they are held: for they are maintaind by
+orders inveterated in the religion, all which are so powerfull and of
+such nature, that they maintain their Princes in their dominions in what
+manner soever they proceed and live. These only have an Estate and
+defend it not; have subjects and govern them not; and yet their States
+because undefended, are not taken from them; nor their subjects, though
+not govern'd, care not, think not, neither are able to aliene themselves
+from them. These Principalities then are only happy and secure: but they
+being sustained by superior causes, whereunto humane understanding
+reaches not, I will not meddle with them: for being set up and
+maintained by God, it would be the part of a presumptuous and rash man
+to enter into discourse of them. Yet if any man should ask me whence it
+proceeds, that the Church in temporal power hath attaind to such
+greatness, seeing that till the time of Alexander the sixt, the Italian
+Potentates, and not only they who are entituled the potentates, but
+every Baron and Lord though of the meanest condition in regard of the
+temporality, made but small account of it; and now a King of France
+trembles at the power thereof; and it hath been able to drive him out of
+Italy, and ruine the Venetians; and however this be well known, me
+thinks it is not superstitious in some part to recall it to memory.
+Before that Charles King of France past into Italy, this countrey was
+under the rule of the Pope, Venetians, the King of Naples, the Duke of
+Milan, and the Florentines. These Potentates took two things principally
+to their care; the one, that no forreiner should invade Italy; the other
+that no one of them should inlarge their State. They, against whom this
+care was most taken, were the Pope and the Venetians; and to restrain
+the Venetians, there needed the union of all the rest, as it was in the
+defence of Ferrara; and to keep the Pope low, they served themselves of
+the Barons of Rome, who being divided into two factions, the Orsini and
+Colonnesi, there was alwaies occasion of offence between them, who
+standing ready with their armes in hand in the view of the Pope, held
+the Popedome weak and feeble: and however sometimes there arose a
+couragious Pope, as was Sextus; yet either his fortune, or his wisdome
+was not able to free him of these incommodities, and the brevity of
+their lives was the cause thereof; for in ten years, which time, one
+with another, Popes ordinarily liv'd, with much ado could they bring low
+one of the factions. And if, as we may say, one had near put out the
+Colonnesi, there arose another enemy to the Orsini, who made them grow
+again, so that there was never time quite to root them out. This then
+was the cause, why the Popes temporal power was of small esteem in
+Italy; there arose afterwards Pope Alexander the sixt, who of all the
+Popes that ever were, shewed what a Pope was able to do with money and
+forces: and he effected, by means of his instrument, Duke Valentine, and
+by the ocasion of the French mens passage, all those things which I have
+formerly discoursed upon in the Dukes actions: and however his purpose
+was nothing at all to inlarge the Church dominions, but to make the Duke
+great; yet what he did, turnd to the Churches advantage, which after his
+death when the Duke was taken away, was the heir of all his pains.
+Afterwards succeeded Pope Julius, and found the Church great, having all
+Romania, and all the Barons of Rome being quite rooted out, and by
+Alexanders persecutions, all their factions worne down; he found also
+the way open for the heaping up of moneys, never practised before
+Alexanders time; which things Julius not only follow'd, but augmented;
+and thought to make himself master of Bolonia, and extinguish the
+Venetians, and chase the French men out of Italy: and these designes of
+his prov'd all lucky to him, and so much the more to his praise in that
+he did all for the good of the Church, and in no private regard: he kept
+also the factions of the Orsins and Colonnesi, in the same State he
+found them: and though there were among them some head whereby to cause
+an alteration; yet two things have held them quiet; the one the power of
+the Church, which somewhat affrights them; the other because they have
+no Cardinals of their factions, who are the primary causes of all the
+troubles amongst them: nor shall these parties ever be at rest, while
+they have Cardinals; because they nourish the factions both in Rome, and
+abroad; and the Barons then are forced to undertake the defence of them:
+and thus from the Prelates ambitions arise the discords and tumults
+among the Barons. And now hath Pope Leo his Holiness found the Popedome
+exceeding puissant, of whom it is hoped, that if they amplified it by
+armes, he by his goodness, and infinite other vertues, will much more
+advantage and dignifie it.
+
+
+
+
+CHAP. XII
+
+How many sorts of Military discipline there are and touching Mercenary
+soldiers.
+
+
+Having treated particularly of the qualities of those Principalities,
+which in the beginning I propounded to discourse upon, and considered in
+some part the reasons of their well and ill being, and shewd the waies
+whereby many have sought to gain, and hold them, it remains now that I
+speak in general of the offences and defences, that may chance in each
+of the forenamed. We have formerly said that it is necessary for a
+Prince to have good foundations laid; otherwise it must needs be that he
+go to wrack. The Principal foundations that all States have, as well
+new, as old, or mixt, are good laws, and good armes; and because there
+cannot be good laws, where there are not good armes; and where there are
+good armes, there must needs be good laws, I will omit to discourse of
+the laws, and speak of armes. I say then that the armes, wherewithall a
+Prince defends his State, either are his own, or mercenary, or
+auxiliary, or mixt. Those that are mercenary and auxiliar, are
+unprofitable, and dangerous, and if any one holds his State founded upon
+mercenary armes, he shall never be quiet, nor secure, because they are
+never well united, ambitious, and without discipline, treacherous, among
+their friends stour, among their enemies cowardly; they have no fear of
+God, nor keep any faith with men; and so long only defer they the doing
+of mischief, till the enemy comes to assul thee; and in time of peace
+thou art despoyled by them, in war by thy enemies: the reason hereof is,
+because they have no other love, nor other cause to keep them in the
+field, but only a small stipend, which is not of force to make them
+willing to hazard their lives for thee: they are willing indeed to be
+thy soldiers, till thou goest to fight; but then they fly, or run away;
+which thing would cost me but small pains to perswade; for the ruine of
+Italy hath not had any other cause now a dayes, than for that it hath
+these many years rely'd upon mercenary armes; which a good while since
+perhaps may have done some man some service, and among themselves they
+may have been thought valiant: but so soon as any forrein enemy
+appeared, they quickly shewed what they were. Whereupon Charles the King
+of France, without opposition, made himself master of all Italy: and he
+that said, that the causes thereof were our faults, said true; but these
+were not those they beleeved, but what I have told; and because they
+were the Princes faults, they also have suffered the punishment. I will
+fuller shew the infelicity of these armes. The mercenary Captains are
+either very able men, or not: if they be, thou canst not repose any
+trust in them: for they will alwaies aspire unto their own proper
+advancements, either by suppressing of thee that art their Lord, or by
+suppressing of some one else quite out of thy purpose: but if the
+Captain be not valorous, he ordinarily ruines thee: and in case it be
+answered, that whoever shall have his armes in his hands, whether
+mercenary or not, will do so: I would reply, that armes are to be
+imployed either by a Prince, or Common-wealth. The Prince ought to go in
+person, and performe the office of a commander: the Republick is to send
+forth her Citizens: and when she sends forth one that proves not of
+abilities, she ought to change him then; and when he does prove
+valorous, to bridle him so by the laws, that he exceed not his
+commission. And by experience we see, that Princes and Republiques of
+themselves alone, make very great conquests; but that mercenary armes
+never do other than harme; and more hardly falls a Republick armed with
+her own armes under the obedience of one of her own Citizens, than one
+that is armed by forrein armes. Rome and Sparta subsisted many ages
+armed and free. The Swissers are exceedingly well armed, and yet very
+free. Touching mercenary armes that were of old, we have an example of
+the Carthagians, who near upon were oppress'd by their own mercenary
+soldiers, when the first war with the Romans was finished; however the
+Carthagians had their own Citizens for their Captains. Philip of Macedon
+was made by the Thebans after Epaminondas his death, General of their
+Armies; and after the victory, he took from them liberty. The Milaneses
+when Duke Philip was dead, entertaind Francis Sforza into their pay
+against the Venetians, who having vanquisht their enemie at Caravaggio,
+afterwards joyned with them, where by to usurp upon the Milaneses his
+Masters. Sforza his father, being in Joan the Queen of Naples pay, left
+her on a sudden disarmed; whereupon she, to save her Kingdom, was
+constraind to cast her self into the King of Arrragon's bosome. And in
+case the Venetians and the Florentines have formerly augmented their
+State with these kind of armes, and their own Captains, and yet none of
+them have ever made themselves their Princes, but rather defended them:
+I answer, that the Florentines in this case have had fortune much their
+friend: for of valorous Captains, which they might any way fear, some
+have not been victors, some have had opposition, and others have laid
+the aim of their ambitions another way. He who overcame not, was John
+Aouto, of whose faith there could no proof be made, being he vanquisht
+not; but every one will acknowledge, that, had he vanquisht, the
+Florentines were at his discretion. Sforza had alwaies the Bracceschi
+for his adversaries, so that they were as a guard one upon another.
+Francis converted all his ambition against Lombardy. Braccio against the
+Church, and the Kingdome of Naples. But let us come to that which
+followed a while agoe. The Florentines made Paul Vitelli their General,
+a throughly advis'd man, and who from a private fortune had rose to very
+great reputation: had he taken Pisa, no man will deny but that the
+Florentines must have held fast with him; for had he been entertained in
+their enemies pay, they had no remedy; and they themselves holding of
+him, of force were to obey him. The Venetians, if we consider their
+proceedings, we shall see wrought both warily and gloriously, while
+themselves made war, which was before their undertakings by land, where
+the gentlemen with their own Commons in armes behav'd themselves
+bravely: but when they began to fight by land, they lost their valor,
+and follow'd the customes of Italy; and in the beginning of their
+enlargement by land, because they had not much territory, and yet were
+of great reputation, they had not much cause to fear their Captains; but
+as they began to extend their bounds, which was under their Commander
+Carminiola, they had a taste of this error: for perceiving he was
+exceeding valorous, having under his conduct beaten the Duke of Milan;
+and knowing on the other side, how he was cold in the war, they judg'd
+that they could not make any great conquest with him; and because they
+neither would, nor could cashier him, that they might not lose what they
+had gotten, they were forced for their own safeties to put him to death.
+Since they have had for their General Bartholomew of Berganio, Robert of
+St. Severin, the Count of Petilian, and such like: whereby they were to
+fear their losses, as well as to hope for gain: as it fell out
+afterwards at Vayla, where in one day they lost that, which with so much
+pains they had gotten in eight hundred years: for from these kind of
+armes grow slack and slow and weak gains; but sudden and wonderfull
+losses: And because I am now come with these examples into Italy, which
+now these many years, have been governd by mercenary armes, I will
+search deeper into them, to the end that their course and progress being
+better discoverd, they may be the better amended. You have to
+understand, that so soon as in these later times the yoak of the Italian
+Empire began to be shaken off, and the Pope had gotten reputation in the
+temporality, Italy was divided into several States: for many of the
+great cities took armes against their Nobility; who under the Emperors
+protection had held them in oppression; and the Pope favored these,
+whereby he might get himself reputation, in the temporality; of many
+others, their Citizens became Princes, so that hereupon Italy being come
+into the Churches hands as it were, and some few Republicks, those
+Priests and Citizens not accustomed to the use of armes, began to take
+strangers to their pay. The first that gave reputation to these soldiers
+was Alberick of Como in Romania. From his discipline among others
+descended Brachio and Sforza, who in their time were the arbitres of
+Italy; after these followed all others, who even till our dayes have
+commanded the armes of Italy; and the success of their valor hath been,
+that it was overrun by Charles, pillaged by Lewis, forc'd by Ferdinand,
+and disgrac'd by the Swissers. The order which they have held, hath
+been, first whereby to give reputation to their own armes to take away
+the credit of the Infantry. This they did, because they having no State
+of their own, but living upon their industry, their few foot gave them
+no reputation, and many they were not able to maintain; whereupon they
+reduc'd themselves to cavalery, and so with a supportable number they
+were entertained and honored: and matters were brought to such termes,
+that in an army of twenty thousand soldiers you should not find two
+thousand foot. They had moreover us'd all industry to free themselves
+and their soldiers of all pains and fear, in their skirmishes, not
+killing, but taking one another prisoners, and without ransome for their
+freedom; they repaired not all to their tents by night, nor made
+palizado or trench thereabout, nor lay in the field in the summer: and
+all these things were thus contrived and agreed of among them in their
+military orders, whereby (as is said) to avoid pains and dangers,
+insomuch as they have brought Italy into slavery and disgrace.
+
+
+
+
+CHAP. XIII
+
+Of Auxiliary Soldiers, mixt, and native.
+
+
+The Auxiliary forces, being the other kind of unprofitable armes, are,
+when any puissant one is called in, who with his forces comes to assist
+and defend thee; such as in these later times did Pope Julius use, who
+having seen the evil proof of his mercenary soldiers in the enterprize
+of Ferrara, applied himself to the Auxiliaries, and agreed with
+Ferdinand King of Spain, that with his Forces he should aid him. These
+armes may be profitable and advantagious for themselves; but for him
+that calls them in, hurtfull; because in losing, thou art left defeated;
+and conquering, thou becomest their prisoner. And however that of these
+examples the ancient stories are full fraught; yet will I not part from
+this of Pope Julius the second, which is as yet fresh: whose course
+could not have been more inconsiderate, for the desire he had to get
+Ferrara, putting himself wholly into strangers hands: but his good
+fortune caused another cause to arise, that hindred him from receiving
+the fruit of his evil choice; for his Auxiliaries being broken at
+Ravenna, and the Swissers thereupon arriving, who put the Conquerors to
+flight beyond all opinion, even their own and others, he chanced not to
+remain his enemies prisoner, they being put to flight, nor prisoner to
+his Auxiliaries, having vanquished by other forces than theirs. The
+Florentines being wholly disarmed, brought ten thousand French to Pisa
+for to take it: by which course they ran more hazzard, than in any time
+of their troubles. The Emperor of Constantinople, to oppress his
+neighbors, brought into Greece ten thousand Turks, who when the war was
+ended, could not be got out thence, which was the beginning of Greeces
+servitude under the Infidels. He then that will in no case be able to
+overcome, let him serve himself of these armes; for they are much more
+dangerous than the mercenaries; for by those thy ruine is more suddenly
+executed; for they are all united, and all bent to the obedience of
+another. But for the mercenaries to hurt thee, when they have
+vanquished, there is no more need of time, and greater occasion, they
+not being all united in a body, and being found out and paid by thee,
+wherein a third that thou mak'st their head, cannot suddenly gaine so
+great authority, that he can endammage thee. In summe, in the
+mercenaries their sloth and lazinesse to fight is more dangerous: in the
+auxiliaries their valour. Wherefore a wise Prince hath alwayes avoyded
+these kind of armes, and betaken himselfe to his owne, and desired
+rather to loss with his owne, than conquer with anothers, accounting
+that not a true victorie which was gotten with others armes. I will not
+doubt to alleadge Caesar Borgia, and his actions. This Duke entred into
+Romania with auxiliarie armes, bringing with him all French souldiers:
+but afterwards not accounting those armes secure, bent himselfe to
+mercenaries, judging lesse danger to be in those, and tooke in pay the
+Orsini and the Vitelli, which afterwards in the proof of them, finding
+wavering, unfaithful, and dangerous, he extinguishd, and betook himselfe
+to his owne; and it may easily be perceiv'd what difference there is
+between the one and the other of these armes, considering the difference
+that was between the Dukes reputation, when he had the French men alone,
+and when he had the Orsini and Vitelli; but when he remaind with his
+own, and stood of himselfe, we shall find it was much augmented: nor
+ever was it of grate esteeme, but when every one saw, that he wholly
+possessed his owne armes. I thought not to have parted from the Italian
+examples of late memory; but that I must not let passe that of Hiero the
+Siracusan, being one of those I formerly nam'd. This man (as I said
+before) being made general of the Siracusans forces, knew presently that
+mercenary souldiery was nothing for their profit in that they were
+hirelings, as our Italians are; and finding no way either to hold, or
+cashier them made them all bee cut to peeces, and afterwards waged warre
+with his owne men, and none others. I will also call to memory a figure
+of the old Testament serving just to this purpose. When David presented
+himselfe before Saul to goe to fight with Goliah the Philistins
+Champion, Saul to encourage him, clad him with his owne armes, which
+David when he had them upon back, refused, saying, he was not able to
+make any proofe of himself therein, and therefore would goe meet the
+enemy with his own sling and sword. In summe, others armes either fall
+from thy shoulders, or cumber or streighten thee. Charls the seventh,
+Father of Lewis the eleventh, having by his good fortune and valour set
+France at liberty from the English, knew well this necessity of being
+arm'd with his owne armes, and settled in his Kingdome the ordinances of
+men at armes, and infantry. Afterwards King Lewis his sonne abolisht
+those of the infantry, and began to take the Swissers to pay; which
+errour follow'd by the others, is (as now indeed it appeares) the cause
+of that Kingdomes dangers. For having given reputation to the Swissers,
+they have renderd all their own armes contemptible; for this hath wholly
+ruind their foot, and oblig'd their men at armes to forrein armes: for
+being accustomed to serve with the Swissers, they think they are not
+able to overcome without them. From whence it comes that the French are
+not of force against the Swissers, and without them also against others
+they use not to adventure. Therefore are the French armies mixt, part
+mercenaries, and part natives, which armes are farre better than the
+simple mercenaries or simple auxiliaries, and much inferiour to the
+natives; and let the said example suffice for that: for the Kingdome of
+France would have been unconquerable, if Charles his order had been
+augmented and maintaind: but men in their small wisdome begin a thing,
+which then because it hath some favour of good, discovers not the poyson
+that lurkes thereunder, as I before said of the hectick feavers.
+Wherefore that Prince which perceives not mischiefes, but as they grow
+up, is not truely wise; and this is given but to few: and if we consider
+the first ruine of the Romane Empire, we shall find it was from taking
+the Goths first into their pay; for from that beginning the forces of
+the Romane Empire began to grow weak, and all the valour that was taken
+hence was given to them. I conclude then that without having armes of
+their owne, no Principality can be secure, or rather is wholly oblig'd
+to fortune, not having valour to shelter it in adversity. And it was
+alwayes the opinion and saying of wise men, that nothing is so weak and
+unsetled, as is the reputation of power not founded upon ones owne
+proper forces: which are those that are composed of thy subjects, or
+Citizens, or servants; all the rest are mercenary or auxiliary; and the
+manner how to order those well, is easie to find out, if those orders
+above nam'd by me, shall be but run over, and if it shall be but
+consider'd, how Philip Alexander the Great his Father, and in what
+manner many Republicks and Princes have armd and appointed themselves,
+to which appointments I referre my selfe wholly.
+
+
+
+
+CHAP. XIV
+
+What belongs to the Prince touching military Discipline.
+
+
+A prince then ought to have no other ayme, nor other thought, nor take
+any thing else for his proper art, but warr, and the orders and
+discipline thereof: for that is the sole arte which belongs to him that
+commands, and is of so great excellency, that not only those that are
+borne Princes, it maintains so; but many times raises men from a private
+fortune to that dignity. And it is seene by the contrary, that when
+Princes have given themselves more to their delights, than to the
+warres, they have lost their States; and the first cause that makes thee
+lose it, is the neglect of that arte; and the cause that makes thee
+gaine it, is that thou art experienc'd and approvd in that arte. Francis
+Sforza by being a man at armes, of a private man became Duke of Milan;
+and his sons by excusing themselves of the troubles and paines belonging
+to those imployments of Princes, became private men. For among other
+mischiefes thy neglect of armes brings upon thee, it causes thee to be
+contemnd, which is one of those disgraces, from which a Prince ought to
+keepe himselfe, as hereafter shall be sayd: for from one that is disarmd
+to one that is armd there is no proportion; and reason will not, that he
+who is in armes, should willingly yeeld obedience to him that is
+unfurnishd of them, and that he that is disarmd should be in security
+among his armed vassalls; for there being disdaine in the one, and
+suspicion in the other, it is impossible these should ever well
+cooperate. And therefore a Prince who is quite unexperienced in matter
+of warre, besides the other infelicities belonging to him, as is said,
+cannot be had in any esteeme among his souldiers, nor yet trust in them.
+Wherefore he ought never to neglect the practice of the arte of warre,
+and in time of peace should he exercise it more than in the warre; which
+he may be able to doe two wayes; the one practically, and in his labours
+and recreations of his body, the other theoretically. And touching the
+practick part, he ought besides the keeping of his own subjects well
+traind up in the discipline and exercise of armes, give himselfe much to
+the chase, whereby to accustome his body to paines, and partly to
+understand the manner of situations, and to know how the mountaines
+arise, which way the vallyes open themselves, and how the plaines are
+distended flat abroad, and to conceive well the nature of the rivers,
+and marrish ground, and herein to bestow very much care, which knowledge
+is profitable in two kinds: first he learnes thereby to know his own
+countrey, and is the better enabled to understand the defence thereof,
+and afterwards by meanes of this knowledge and experience in these
+situations, easily comprehends any other situation, which a new he hath
+need to view, for the little hillocks, vallies, plaines, rivers, and
+marrish places. For example, they in Tuscany are like unto those of
+other countries: so that from the knowledge of the site of one country,
+it is easie to attain to know that of others. And that Prince that wants
+this skill, failes of the principall part a Commander should be furnisht
+with; for this shows the way how to discover the enemy, to pitch the
+camp, to lead their armies, to order their battells, and also to besiege
+a town at thy best advantage, Philopomenes Prince of the Achayans, among
+other praises Writers give him, they say, that in time of peace, he
+thought not upon any thing so much as the practise of warre; and
+whensoever he was abroad in the field to disport himselfe with his
+friends, would often stand still, and discourse with them, in case the
+enemies were upon the top of that hill, and we here with our army,
+whether of us two should have the advantage, and how might we safely goe
+to find them, keeping still our orders; and if we would retire our
+selves, what course should we take if they retir'd, how should we follow
+them? and thus on the way, propounded them all such accidents could
+befall in any army; would heare their opinions, and tell his owne, and
+confirme it by argument; so that by his continuall thought hereupon,
+when ever he led any army no chance could happen, for which he had not a
+remedy. But touching the exercise of the mind, a Prince ought to read
+Histories, and in them consider the actions of the worthiest men, marke
+how they have behav'd themselves in the warrs, examine the occasions of
+their victories, and their losses; wherby they may be able to avoyd
+these, and obtaine those; and above all, doe as formerly some excellent
+man hath done, who hath taken upon him to imitate, if any one that hath
+gone before him hath left his memory glorious; the course he took, and
+kept alwaies near unto him the remembrances of his actions and worthy
+deeds: as it is said, that Alexander the great imitated Achilles; Caesar
+Alexander, and Scipio Cyrus. And whoever reads the life of Cyrus,
+written by Xenophon, may easily perceive afterwards in Scipio's life how
+much glory his imitation gaind him, and how much Scipio did conforme
+himselfe in his chastity, affability, humanity, and liberality with
+those things, that are written by Xenophon of Cyrus. Such like wayes
+ought a wise Prince to take, nor ever be idle in quiet times, but by his
+paines then, as it were provide himself of store, whereof he may make
+some use in his adversity, the end that when the times change, he may be
+able to resist the stormes of his hard fortune.
+
+
+
+
+CHAP. XV
+
+Of those things, in respect whereof, men, and especially Princes, are
+praised, or dispraised.
+
+
+It now remaines that we consider what the conditions of a Prince ought
+to be, and his termes of government over his subjects, and towards his
+friends. And because I know that many have written hereupon; I doubt,
+lest I venturing also to treat thereof, may be branded with presumption,
+especially seeing I am like enough to deliver an opinion different from
+others. But my intent being to write for the advantage of him that
+understands me, I thought it fitter to follow the effectuall truth of
+the matter, than the imagination thereof; And many Principalities and
+Republiques, have been in imagination, which neither have been seen nor
+knowne to be indeed: for there is such a distance between how men doe
+live, and how men ought to live; that he who leaves that which is done,
+for that which ought to be done, learnes sooner his ruine than his
+preservation; for that man who will professe honesty in all his actions,
+must needs goe to ruine among so many that are dishonest. Whereupon it
+is necessary for a Prince, desiring to preserve himselfe, to be able to
+make use of that honestie, and to lay it aside againe, as need shall
+require. Passing by then things that are only in imagination belonging
+to a Prince, to discourse upon those that are really true; I say that
+all men, whensoever mention is made of them, and especially Princes,
+because they are placed aloft in the view of all, are taken notice of
+for some of these qualities, which procure them either commendations or
+blame: and this is that some one is held liberal, some miserable,
+(miserable I say, nor covetous; for the covetous desire to have, though
+it were by rapine; but a miserable man is he, that too much for bears to
+make use of his owne) some free givers, others extortioners; some
+cruell, others pitious; the one a Leaguebreaker, another faithfull; the
+one effeminate and of small courage, the other fierce and couragious;
+the one courteous, the other proud; the one lascivious, the other
+chaste; the one of faire dealing, the other wily and crafty; the one
+hard, the other easie; the one grave, the other light; the one
+religious, the other incredulous, and such like. I know that every one
+will confesse, it were exceedingly praise worthy for a Prince to be
+adorned with all these above nam'd qualities that are good: but because
+this is not possible, nor doe humane conditions admit such perfection in
+vertues, it is necessary for him to be so discret, that he know how to
+avoid the infamie of those vices which would thrust him out of his
+State; and if it be possible, beware of those also which are not able to
+remove him thence; but where it cannot be, let them passe with lesse
+regard. And yet, let him not stand much upon it, though he incurre the
+infamie of those vices, without which he can very hardly save his State:
+for if all be throughly considerd, some thing we shall find which will
+have the colour and very face of Vertue, and following them, they will
+lead the to thy destruction; whereas some others that shall as much
+seeme vice, if we take the course they lead us, shall discover unto us
+the way to our safety and well-being.
+
+    The second blemish in this our Authours book, I find in his
+    fifteenth Chapter: where he instructs his Prince to use such an
+    ambidexterity as that he may serve himselfe either of vertue, or
+    vice, according to his advantage, which in true pollicy is
+    neither good in attaining the Principality nor in securing it
+    when it is attaind. For Politicks, presuppose Ethiques, which
+    will never allow this rule: as that a man might make this small
+    difference between vertue, and vice, that he may indifferently
+    lay aside, or take up the one or the other, and put it in
+    practise as best conduceth to the end he propounds himselfe. I
+    doubt our Authour would have blamd Davids regard to Saul when 1
+    Sam. 24. in the cave he cut off the lap of Sauls garment, and
+    spared his head; and afterwards in the 26. when he forbad
+    Abishai to strike him as he lay sleeping. Worthy of a Princes
+    consideration is that saying of Abigal to David 1 Sam. 25. 30.
+
+    'It shall come to passe when the Lord shall have done to my Lord
+    according to all that he hath spoken concerning thee, and shall
+    have appointed thee Ruler over Israel, that this shall be no
+    grief to thee, nor offence of heart unto my Lord, that thou hast
+    forborne to shed blood, etc.'
+
+    For surely the conscience of this evill ground whereupon they
+    have either built, or underpropped their tyranny, causes men, as
+    well _metus_ as _spes in longum projicere_, which sets them a
+    work on further mischiefe.
+
+
+
+
+CHAP. XVI
+
+Of Liberality, and Miserablenesse.
+
+
+Beginning then at the first of the above mentioned qualities, I say that
+it would be very well to be accounted liberall: neverthelesse,
+liberality used in such a manner, as to make thee be accounted so,
+wrongs thee: for in case it be used vertuously, and as it ought to be,
+it shall never come to be taken notice of, so as to free thee from the
+infamie of its contrary. And therefore for one to hold the name of
+liberal among men, it were needfull not to omit any sumptuous quality,
+insomuch that a Prince alwayes so dispos'd, shall waste all his
+revenues, and at the end shall be forc'd, if he will still maintaine
+that reputation of liberality, heavily to burthen his subjects, and
+become a great exactour; and put in practise all those things that can
+be done to get mony: Which begins to make him hatefull to his subjects,
+and fall into every ones contempt, growing necessitous: so that having
+with this liberality wrong'd many, and imparted of his bounty but to a
+few; he feels every first mischance, and runs a hazard of every first
+danger: Which he knowing, and desiring to withdraw himself from, incurs
+presently the disgrace of being termed miserable. A Prince therefore not
+being able to use this vertue of liberality, without his own damage, in
+such a sort, that it may be taken notice of, ought, if he be wise, not
+to regard the name of Miserable; for in time he shall alwaies be
+esteemed the more liberal, seeing that by his parsimony his own revenues
+are sufficient for him; as also he can defend himself against whoever
+makes war against him, and can do some exploits without grieving his
+subjects: so that he comes to use his liberality to all those, from whom
+he takes nothing, who are infinite in number; and his miserableness
+towards those to whom he gives nothing, who are but a few. In our dayes
+we have not seen any, but those who have been held miserable, do any
+great matters; but the others all quite ruin'd. Pope Julius the second,
+however he serv'd himself of the name of Liberal, to get the Papacy, yet
+never intended he to continue it, to the end he might be able to make
+war against the King of France: and he made so many wars without
+imposing any extraordinary tax, because his long thrift supplyed his
+large expences. This present King of Spain could never have undertaken,
+nor gone through with so many exploits, had he been accounted liberal.
+Wherefore a Prince ought little to regard (that he may not be driven to
+pillage his subjects, that he may be able to defend himself, that he may
+not fall into poverty and contempt, that he be not forced to become an
+extortioner) though he incurre the name of miserable; for this is one of
+those vices, which does not pluck him from his throne. And if any one
+should say, Caesar by his liberality obtained the Empire, and many others
+(because they both were, and were esteemd liberal) attaind to exceeding
+great dignities. I answer, either thou art already come to be a Prince,
+or thou art in the way to it; in the first case, this liberality is
+hurtful; in the second, it is necessary to be accounted so; and Caesar
+was one of those that aspired to the Principality of Rome. But if after
+he had gotten it, he had survived, and not forborne those expences, he
+would quite have ruined that Empire. And if any one should reply; many
+have been Princes, and with their armies have done great exploits, who
+have been held very liberal. I answer, either the Prince spends of his
+own and his subjects, or that which belongs to others: in the first, he
+ought to be sparing; in the second, he should not omit any part of
+liberality. And that Prince that goes abroad with his army, and feeds
+upon prey, and spoyle, and tributes, and hath the disposing of that
+which belongs to others, necessarily should use this liberality;
+otherwise would his soldiers never follow him; and of that which is
+neither thine, nor thy subjects, thou mayest well be a free giver, as
+were Cyrus, Caesar and Alexander; for the spending of that which is
+anothers, takes not away thy reputation, but rather adds to it, only the
+wasting of that which is thine own hurts thee; nor is there any thing
+consumes itself so much as liberality, which whilest thou usest, thou
+losest the means to make use of it, and becomest poore and abject; or to
+avoid this poverty, an extortioner and hatefull person. And among all
+those things which a Prince ought to beware of is, to be dispised, and
+odious; to one and the other of which, liberality brings thee. Wherefore
+there is more discretion to hold the stile of Miserable, which begets an
+infamy without hatred, than to desire that of Liberal, whereby to
+incurre the necessity of being thought an extortioner, which procures an
+infamy with hatred.
+
+
+
+
+CHAP. XVII
+
+Of Cruelty, and Clemency, and whether it is better to be belov'd, or
+feard.
+
+
+Descending afterwards unto the other fore-alledged qualities, I say,
+that every Prince should desire to be held pitiful, and not cruel.
+Nevertheless ought he beware that he ill uses not this pitty. Caesar
+Borgia was accounted cruel, yet had his cruelty redrest the disorders in
+Romania, setled it in union, and restored it to peace, and fidelity:
+which, if it be well weighed, we shall see was an act of more pitty,
+than that of the people of Florence, who to avoyd the terme of cruelty,
+suffered Pistoya to fall to destruction. Wherefore a Prince ought not to
+regard the infamy of cruelty, for to hold his subjects united and
+faithfull: for by giving a very few proofes of himself the other way, he
+shall be held more pittiful than they, who through their too much pitty,
+suffer disorders to follow, from whence arise murthers and rapines: for
+these are wont to hurt an intire universality, whereas the executions
+practised by a Prince, hurt only some particular. And among all sorts of
+Princes, it is impossible for a new Prince to avoyd the name of cruel,
+because all new States are full of dangers: whereupon Virgil by the
+mouth of Dido excuses the inhumanity of her Kingdom, saying,
+
+  _Res dura et Regni novitas me talia cogunt
+  Moliri et late fines custode tenere._
+
+  My hard plight and new State force me to guard
+  My confines all about with watch and ward.
+
+Nevertheless ought he to be judicious in his giving belief to any thing,
+or moving himself thereat, nor make his people extreamly afraid of him;
+but proceed in a moderate way with wisdome, and humanity, that his too
+much confidence make him not unwary, and his too much distrust
+intolerable; from hence arises a dispute, whether it is better to be
+belov'd or feard: I answer, a man would wish he might be the one and the
+other: but because hardly can they subsist both together, it is much
+safer to be feard, than be loved; being that one of the two must needs
+fail; for touching men, we may say this in general, they are unthankful,
+unconstant, dissemblers, they avoyd dangers, and are covetous of gain;
+and whilest thou doest them good, they are wholly thine; their blood,
+their fortunes, lives and children are at thy service, as is said
+before, when the danger is remote; but when it approaches, they revolt.
+And that Prince who wholly relies upon their words, unfurnished of all
+other preparations, goes to wrack: for the friendships that are gotten
+with rewards, and not by the magnificence and worth of the mind, are
+dearly bought indeed; but they will neither keep long, nor serve well in
+time of need: and men do less regard to offend one that is supported by
+love, than by fear. For love is held by a certainty of obligation, which
+because men are mischievous, is broken upon any occasion of their own
+profit. But fear restrains with a dread of punishment which never
+forsakes a man. Yet ought a Prince cause himself to be belov'd in such a
+manner, that if he gains not love, he may avoid hatred: for it may well
+stand together, that a man may be feard and not hated; which shall never
+fail, if he abstain from his subjects goods, and their wives; and
+whensoever he should be forc'd to proceed against any of their lives, do
+it when it is to be done upon a just cause, and apparent conviction; but
+above all things forbeare to lay his hands on other mens goods; for men
+forget sooner the death of their father, than the loss of their
+patrimony. Moreover the occasions of taking from men their goods, do
+never fail: and alwaies he that begins to live by rapine, finds occasion
+to lay hold upon other mens goods: but against mens lives, they are
+seldome found, and sooner fail. But where a Prince is abroad in the
+field with his army, and hath a multitude of soldiers under his
+government, then is it necessary that he stands not much upon it, though
+he be termed cruel: for unless he be so, he shall never have his
+soldiers live in accord one with another, nor ever well disposed to any
+brave piece of service. Among Hannibals actions of mervail, this is
+reckoned for one, that having a very huge army, gathered out of several
+nations, and all led to serve in a strange countrey, there was never any
+dissention neither amongst themselves, nor against their General, as
+well in their bad fortune as their good. Which could not proceed from
+any thing else than from that barbarous cruelty of his, which together
+with his exceeding many vertues, rendred him to his soldiers both
+venerable and terrible; without which, to that effect his other vertues
+had served him to little purpose: and some writers though not of the
+best advised, on one side admire these his worthy actions, and on the
+otherside, condemn the principal causes thereof. And that it is true,
+that his other vertues would not have suffic'd him, we may consider in
+Scipio, the rarest man not only in the dayes he liv'd, but even in the
+memory of man; from whom his army rebel'd in Spain: which grew only upon
+his too much clemency, which had given way to his soldiers to become
+more licentious, than was well tollerable by military discipline: for
+which he was reprov'd by Fabius Maximus in the Senate, who termed him
+the corrupter of the Roman soldiery. The Locrensians having been
+destroyed by a Lieutenant of Scipio's, were never reveng'd by him, nor
+the insolence of that Lieutenant punisht; all this arising from his
+easie nature: so that one desiring to excuse him in the Senate, said,
+that there were many men knew better how to keep themselves from faults,
+than to correct the faults of other men: which disposition of his in
+time would have wrong'd Scipio's reputation and glory, had he therewith
+continu'd in his commands: but living under the government of the
+Senate, this quality of his that would have disgrac'd him not only was
+conceal'd, but prov'd to the advancement of his glory. I conclude then,
+returning to the purpose of being feard, and belov'd; insomuch as men
+love at their own pleasure, and to serve their own turne, and their fear
+depends upon the Princes pleasure, every wise Prince ought to ground
+upon that which is of himself, and not upon that which is of another:
+only this, he ought to use his best wits to avoid hatred, as was said.
+
+
+
+
+CHAP. XVIII
+
+In what manner Princes ought to keep their words.
+
+
+How commendable in a Prince it is to keep his word, and live with
+integrity, not making use of cunning and subtlety, every one knows well:
+yet we see by experience in these our dayes, that those Princes have
+effected great matters, who have made small reckoning of keeping their
+words, and have known by their craft to turne and wind men about, and in
+the end, have overcome those who have grounded upon the truth. You must
+then know, there are two kinds of combating or fighting; the one by
+right of the laws, the other meerly by force. That first way is proper
+to men, the other is also common to beasts: but because the first many
+times suffices not, there is a necessity to make recourse to the second;
+wherefore it behooves a Prince to know how to make good use of that part
+which belongs to a beast, as well as that which is proper to a man. This
+part hath been covertly shew'd to Princes by ancient writers; who say
+that Achilles and many others of those ancient Princes were intrusted to
+Chiron the Senator, to be brought up under his discipline: the moral of
+this, having for their teacher one that was half a beast and half a man,
+was nothing else, but that it was needful for a Prince to understand how
+to make his advantage of the one and the other nature, because neither
+could subsist without the other. A Prince then being necessitated to
+know how to make use of that part belonging to a beast, ought to serve
+himself of the conditions of the Fox and the Lion; for the Lion cannot
+keep himself from snares, nor the Fox defend himself against the Wolves.
+He had need then be a Fox, that he may beware of the snares, and a Lion
+that he may scare the wolves. Those that stand wholly upon the Lion,
+understand not well themselves. And therefore a wise Prince cannot, nor
+ought not keep his faith given when the observance thereof turnes to
+disadvantage, and the occasions that made him promise, are past. For if
+men were all good, this rule would not be allowable; but being they are
+full of mischief, and would not make it good to thee, neither art thou
+tyed to keep it with them: nor shall a Prince ever want lawfull
+occasions to give colour to this breach. Very many modern examples
+hereof might be alledg'd, wherein might be shewed how many peaces
+concluded, and how many promises made, have been violated and broken by
+the infidelity of Princes; and ordinarily things have best succeeded
+with him that hath been nearest the Fox in condition. But it is
+necessary to understand how to set a good colour upon this disposition,
+and to be able to fain and dissemble throughly; and men are so simple,
+and yeeld so much to the present necessities, that he who hath a mind to
+deceive, shall alwaies find another that will be deceivd. I will not
+conceal any one of the examples that have been of late. Alexander the
+sixth, never did any thing else than deceive men, and never meant
+otherwise, and alwaies found whom to work upon; yet never was there man
+would protest more effectually, nor aver any thing with more solemn
+oaths, and observe them less than he; nevertheless, his cousenages all
+thriv'd well with him; for he knew how to play this part cunningly.
+Therefore is there no necessity for a Prince to be endued with all above
+written qualities, but it behooveth well that he seem to be so; or
+rather I will boldly say this, that having these qualities, and alwaies
+regulating himself by them, they are hurtfull; but seeming to have them,
+they are advantageous; as to seem pittiful, faithful, mild, religious,
+and of integrity, and indeed to be so; provided withall thou beest of
+such a composition, that if need require to use the contrary, thou
+canst, and knowest how to apply thy self thereto. And it suffices to
+conceive this, that a Prince, and especially a new Prince, cannot
+observe all those things, for which men are held good; he being often
+forc'd, for the maintenance of his State, to do contrary to his faith,
+charity, humanity, and religion: and therefore it behooves him to have a
+mind so disposd, as to turne and take the advantage of all winds and
+fortunes; and as formerly I said, not forsake the good, while he can;
+but to know how to make use of the evil upon necessity. A Prince then
+ought to have a special care, that he never let fall any words, but what
+are all season'd with the five above written qualities, and let him seem
+to him that sees and hears him, all pitty, all faith, all integrity, all
+humanity, all religion; nor is there any thing more necessary for him to
+seem to have, than this last quality: for all men in general judge
+thereof, rather by the sight, than by the touch; for every man may come
+to the sight of him, few come to the touch and feeling of him; yvery man
+may come to see what thou seemest, few come to perceive and understand
+what thou art; and those few dare not oppose the opinion of many, who
+have the majesty of State to protect them: And in all mens actions,
+especially those of Princes wherein there is no judgement to appeale
+unto men, forbeare to give their censures, till the events and ends of
+things. Let a Prince therefore take the surest courses he can to
+maintain his life and State: the means shall alwaies be thought
+honorable, and commended by every one; for the vulgar is over-taken with
+the appearance and event of a thing: and for the most part of people,
+they are but the vulgar: the others that are but few, take place where
+the vulgar have no subsisteance. A Prince there is in these dayes, whom
+I shall not do well to name, that preaches nothing else but peace and
+faith; but had he kept the one and the other, several times had they
+taken from him his state and reputation.
+
+    In the sixteenth, seventeenth, and eighteenth Chap, our Author
+    descends to particulars, perswading his Prince in his sixteenth
+    to such a suppleness of disposition, as that upon occasion he
+    can make use either of liberality or miserableness, as need
+    shall require. But that of liberality is to last no longer than
+    while he is in the way to some designe: which if he well weigh,
+    is not really a reward of vertue, how ere it seems; but a bait
+    and lure to bring birds to the net. In the seventeenth Chap, he
+    treats of clemency and cruelty, neither of which are to be
+    exercis'd by him as acts of mercy or justice; but as they may
+    serve to advantage his further purposes. And lest the Prince
+    should incline too much to clemency, our Author allows rather
+    the restraint by fear, than by love. The contrary to which all
+    stories shew us. I will say this only, cruelty may cut of the
+    power of some, but causes the hatred of all, and gives a will to
+    most to take the first occasion offerd for revenge. In the
+    eighteenth Chap, our Author discourses how Princes ought to
+    govern themselves in keeping their promises made: whereof he
+    sayes they ought to make such small reckoning, as that rather
+    they should know by their craft how to turne and wind men about,
+    whereby to take advantage of all winds and fortunes. To this I
+    would oppose that in the fifteenth Psal. v. 5. He that sweareth
+    to his neighbor, and disappointeth him not, though it were to
+    his own hindrance. It was a King that writ it, and me thinks the
+    rule he gave, should well befit both King and Subject: and
+    surely this perswades against all taking of advantages. A man
+    may reduce all the causes of faith-breaking to three heads. One
+    may be, because he that promised, had no intention to keep his
+    word; and this is a wicked and malitious way of dealing. A
+    second may bee, because hee that promisd, repents of his promise
+    made; and that is grounded on unconstancy, and lightness in that
+    he would not be well resolved before he entred into covenant.
+    The third may be, when it so falls out, that it lyes not in his
+    power that made the promise to performe it. In which case a man
+    ought to imitate the good debter, who having not wherewithall to
+    pay, hides not himself, but presents his person to his creditor,
+    willingly suffering imprisonment. The first and second are very
+    vitious and unworthy of a Prince: in the third, men might well
+    be directed by the examples of those two famous Romans, Regulus
+    and Posthumius. I shall close this with the answer of Charles
+    the fifth, when he was pressed to break his word with Luther for
+    his safe return from Wormes; _Fides rerum promissarum etsi toto
+    mundo exulet, tamen apud imperatorem cam consistere oportet_.
+    Though truth be banisht out of the whole world, yet should it
+    alwaies find harbour in an Emperors breast.
+
+[Sidenote: _Gulielmus Xenocarus_ in vit. Car. Quinti.]
+
+
+
+
+CHAP. XIX
+
+That Princes should take a care, not to incurre contempt or hatred.
+
+
+But because among the qualities, whereof formerly mention is made, I
+have spoken of those of most importance, I will treat of the others more
+briefly under these qualityes that a Prince is to beware, as in part is
+above-said, and that he fly those things which cause him to be odious or
+vile: and when ever he shall avoid this, he shall fully have plaid his
+part, and in the other disgraces he shall find no danger at all. There
+is nothing makes him so odious, as I said, as his extortion of his
+subjects goods, and abuse of their women, from which he ought to
+forbear; and so long as he wrongs not his whole people, neither in their
+goods, nor honors, they live content, and he hath only to strive with
+the Ambition of some few: which many waies and easily too, is
+restrain'd. To be held various, light, effeminate, faint-hearted,
+unresolv'd, these make him be contemnd and thought base, which a Prince
+should shun like rocks, and take a care that in all his actions there
+appear magnanimity, courage, gravity, and valor; and that in all the
+private affairs of his subjects, he orders it so, that his word stand
+irrevocable: and maintain himself in such repute, that no man may think
+either to deceive or wind and turn him about: that Prince that gives
+such an opinion of himself, is much esteemed, and against him who is so
+well esteemed, hardly are any conspiracies made by his subjects, or by
+forreiners any invasion, when once notice is taken of his worth, and how
+much he is reverenced by his subjects: For a Prince ought to have two
+fears, the one from within, in regard of his subjects; the other from
+abroad, in regard of his mighty neighbors; from these he defends himself
+by good armes and good friends; and alwayes he shall have good friends,
+if he have good armes; and all things shall alwaies stand sure at home,
+when those abroad are firme, in case some conspiracy have not disturbed
+them; and however the forrein matters stand but ticklishly; yet if he
+have taken such courses at home, and liv'd as we have prescribed, he
+shall never be able (in case he forsake not himself) to resist all
+possibility, force and violence, as I said Nabis the Spartan did: but
+touching his subjects, even when his affairs abroad are setled, it is to
+be fear'd they may conspire privily; from which a Prince sufficiently
+secure himself by shunning to be hated or contemned, and keeping himself
+in his peoples good opinion, which it is necessary for him to compass,
+as formerly we treated at large. And one of the powerfullest remedies a
+Prince can have against conspiracies, is, not to be hated nor dispised
+by the universality; for alwaies he that conspires, beleeves the Princes
+death is acceptable to the subject: but when he thinks it displeases
+them, he hath not the heart to venture on such a matter; for the
+difficulties that are on the conspirators side, are infinite. By
+experience it is plain, that many times plots have been laid, but few of
+them have succeeded luckily; for he that conspires, cannot be alone, nor
+can he take the company of any, but of those, who he beleeves are
+malecontents; and so soon as thou hast discover'd thy self to a
+malecontent, thou givest him means to work his own content: for by
+revealing thy treason, he may well hope for all manner of favour: so
+that seeing his gain certain of one side; and on the other, finding only
+doubt and danger, either he had need be a rare friend, or that he be an
+exceeding obstinate enemy to the Prince, if he keeps his word with thee.
+And to reduce this matter into short termes: I say, there is nothing but
+jealousie, fear, and suspect of punishment on the conspirators part to
+affright him; but on the Princes part, there is the majesty of the
+principality, the laws, the defences of his friends and the State, which
+do so guard him, that to all these things the peoples good wills being
+added, it is unpossible any one should be so head-strong as to conspire;
+for ordinarily where a traytor is to feare before the execution of his
+mischiefe, in this case he is also to feare afterwards, having the
+people for his enemy when the fact is commited, and therefore for this
+cause, not being able to hope for any refuge. Touching this matter, many
+examples might be brought; but I will content my selfe to name one which
+fell out in the memory of our Fathers. Annibal Bentivolii, grand Father
+of this Annibal who now lives, that was Prince in Bolonia, being slaine
+by the Canneschi that conspir'd against him, none of his race being
+left, but this John, who was then in swadling clouts; presently the
+people rose upon this murder, and slew all the Canneschi which proceeded
+from the popular affection, which the family of the Bentivolii held then
+in Bolonia: which was so great, that being there remain'd not any, now
+Anniball was dead, that was able to manage the State; and having notice
+that in Florence there was one borne of the Bentivolii, who till then
+was taken for a Smiths sonne: the citizens of Bolonia went to Florence
+for him, and gave the government of their City to him, which was rul'd
+by him, untill John was of fit yeares to governe. I conclude then, that
+a Prince ought to make small account of treasons, whiles he hath the
+people to friend: but if they be his enemies and hate him, he may well
+feare every thing, and every one. And well ordered States, and discreet
+Princes have taken care withall diligence, not to cause their great men
+to fall into desperation, and to content the people, and so to maintaine
+them: for this is one of the most important businesses belonging to a
+Prince. Among the Kingdomes that are well orderd and governd in our
+dayes, is that of France, and therein are found exceeding many good
+orders, whereupon the Kings liberty and security depends: of which the
+chiefe is the Parliament, and the authority thereof: for he that founded
+that Kingdome, knowing the great mens ambition and insolence; and
+judgeing it necessary there should be a bridle to curbe them; and on the
+other side knowing the hatred of the Commonalty against the great ones,
+grounded upon feare, intending to secure them, would not lay this care
+wholly upon the King, but take this trouble from him, which he might
+have with the great men, in case he favourd the Commonalty; or with the
+Commonalty, in case he favourd the great men; and thereupon set up a
+third judge, which was that, to the end it should keep under the great
+ones, and favour the meaner sort, without any imputation to the King. It
+was not possible to take a better, nor wiser course then this; nor a
+surer way to secure the King, and the Kingdome. From whence we may draw
+another conclusion worthie of note, that Princes ought to cause others
+to take upon them the matters of blame and imputation; and upon
+themselves to take only those of grace and favour. Here againe I
+conclude, that a Prince ought to make good esteeme of his Nobility; but
+not thereby to incur the Commons hatred: It would seeme perhaps to many,
+considering the life and death of many Romane Emperours, that they were
+examples contrary to my opinion, finding that some have liv'd worthily,
+and shewd many rare vertues of the minde, and yet have lost the Empire,
+and been put to death by their owne subjects, conspiring against them.
+Intending then to answer these objections, I shall discourse upon the
+qualities of some Emperours, declaring the occasions of their ruine, not
+disagreeing from that which I have alledgd; and part thereof I will
+bestow on the consideration of these things, which are worthy to be
+noted by him that reads the actions of those times: and it shall suffice
+me to take all those Emperours that succeeded in the Empire from Marcus
+the Philosopher to Maximinus, who were Mercus and Commodus his sonne,
+Pertinax, Julian, Severus, Antonius, Caracalla his sonne, Macrinus,
+Heliogabalus, Alexander, and Maximin. And first it is to be noted, that
+where in the other Principalities, they are to contend only with the
+ambition of the Nobles, and the insolence of the people; the Romane
+Emperours had a third difficulty, having to support the cruelty and
+covetousnesse of the souldiers, which was so hard a thing, that it
+caused the ruine of many, being hard to satisfy the souldiers, and the
+people; for the people love their quiet, and therefore affect modest
+Princes; and the souldiers love a Prince of a warlike courage, that is
+insolent, cruell, and plucking from every one: which things they would
+have them exercise upon the people, whereby they might be able to double
+their stipends, and satisfie their avarice and cruelty: whence it
+proceeds, that those Emperours who either by Nature or by Art, had not
+such a reputation, as therewith they could curbe the one and the other,
+were alwayes ruind: and the most of them, specially those who as new men
+came to the principality, finding the difficulty of those two different
+humours, applyed themselves to content the souldiers, making small
+account of wronging the people, which was a course then necessary; for
+the Princes not being able to escape the hatred of every one, ought
+first endeavour that they incurre not the hatred of any whole
+universality; and when they cannot attaine thereunto, they are to
+provide with all industry, to avoyd the hatred of those universalities
+that are the most mighty. And therefore those Emperors, who because they
+were but newly call'd to the Empire, had need of extraordinary favours,
+more willingly stuck to the soldiers, than to the people; which
+neverthelesse turnd to their advantage, or otherwise, according as that
+Prince knew how to maintaine his repute with them. From these causes
+aforesayd proceeded it, that Marcus Pertinax, and Alexander, though all
+living modestly, being lovers of justice, and enemies of cruelty,
+courteous and bountifull, had all from Marcus on ward, miserable ends;
+Marcus only liv'd and dy'd exceedingly honoured: for he came to the
+Empire by inheritance, and was not to acknowledge it either from the
+soldiers, nor from the people: afterwards being accompanyed with many
+vertues, which made him venerable, he held alwayes whilst he liv'd the
+one and the other order within their limits, and was never either hated,
+or contemnd. But Pertinax was created Emperour against the soldiers
+wills, who being accustomed to live licentiously under Commodus, could
+not endure that honest course that Pertinax sought to reduce them to:
+Whereupon having gotten himself hatred, and to this hatred added
+contempt, in that he was old, was ruind in the very beginning of his
+government. Whence it ought to be observed, that hatred is gaind as well
+by good deeds as bad; and therefore as I formerly said, when a Prince
+would maintaine the State, he is often forced not to be good: for when
+that generality, whether it be the people, or soldiers, or Nobility,
+whereof thou thinkst thou standst in need to maintain thee, is
+corrupted, it behoves thee to follow their humour, and content them, and
+then all good deeds are thy adversaries. But let us come to Alexander
+who was of that goodnesse, that among the prayses given him, had this
+for one, that in fourteen yeers wherein he held the Empire, he never put
+any man to death, but by course of justice; neverthelesse being held
+effeminate, and a man that suffered himselfe to be ruled by his mother,
+and thereupon fallen into contempt, the army conspird against him. Now
+on the contrary discoursing upon the qualities of Commodus, Severus,
+Antonius, Caracalla, and Maximinus, you shall find them exceeding
+cruell, and ravinous, who to satisfie their soldiers, forbeare no kinde
+of injury that could be done upon the people; and all of them, except
+Severus, came to evill ends: for in Severus, there was such
+extraordinary valour, that while he held the soldiers his freinds,
+however the people were much burthend by him, he might alwayes reigne
+happily: for his valour rendred him so admirable in the souldiers and
+peoples sights; that these in a manner stood amazd and astonishd, and
+those others reverencing and honoring him. And because the actions of
+this man were exceeding great, being in a new Prince, I will briefly
+shew how well he knew to act the Foxes and the Lions parts; the
+conditions of which two, I say, as before, are very necessary for a
+Prince to imitate. Severus having had experience of Julian the Emperours
+sloth, perswaded his army (whereof he was commander in Sclavonia) that
+they should doe well to goe to Rome to revenge Pertinax his death, who
+was put to death by the Imperiall guard; and under this pretence, not
+making any shew that he aspird unto the Empire, set his army in march
+directly towards Rome, and was sooner come into Italy, than it was
+knowne he had mov'd from his station. Being ariv'd at Rome, he was by
+the Senate chosen Emperour for feare, and Julian slaine. After this
+beginning, two difficulties yet remaind to Severus, before he could make
+himselfe Lord of the whole State; the one in Asia, where Niger the
+Generall of those armies had gotten the title of Emperour, the other in
+the West with Albinus, who also aspird to the Empire: and because he
+thought there might be some danger to discover himselfe enemy to them
+both, he purposed to set upon Niger, and cozen Albinus, to whom he writ,
+that being elected Emperour by the Senate, he would willingly
+communicate it with him; and thereupon sent him the title of Caesar, and
+by resolution of the Senate, tooke him to him for his Colleague; which
+things were taken by Albinus in true meaning. But afterwards when
+Severus had overcome and slaine Niger, and pacified the affaires and in
+the East, being returned to Rome, he complaind in the Senate of Albinus,
+how little weighing the benefits received from him, he had sought to
+slay him by treason, and therefore was he forc'd to goe punish his
+ingratitude: afterwards he went into France, where he bereft him both of
+his State and life, whoever then shall in particular examine his
+actions, shall finde he was a very cruell Lion, and as crafty a Fox: and
+shall see that he was alwayes feard and reverenc'd by every one, and by
+the armies not hated; and shall nothing marvell that he being a new man,
+was able to hold together such a great Empire: for his extraordinary
+reputation defended him alwayes from that hatred, which the people for
+his extortions might have conceiv'd against him. But Antonius his sonne,
+was also an exceeding brave man, and endued with most excellent
+qualities, which causd him to be admird by the people, and acceptable to
+the souldiers, because he was a warlike man, enduring all kind of
+travell and paines, despising all delicate food, and all kinde of
+effeminacy, which gaind him the love of all the armies: neverthelesse
+his fiercenesse and cruelty were such, and so hideous, having upon many
+particular occasions put to death a great part of the people of Rome,
+and all those of Alexandria, that he grew odious to the world, and began
+to be feard by those also that were neare about him; so that he was
+slaine by a Centurion in the very midst of his army. Where it is to be
+noted, that these kinde of deaths, which follow upon the deliberation of
+a resolv'd and obstinate minde, cannot by a Prince be avoyded: for every
+one that feares not to dye, is able to doe it; but a Prince ought to be
+lesse afraid of it because it very seldome falls out. Only should he
+beware not to doe any extreame injury to any of those of whom he serves
+himself, or that he hath near about him in any imployment of his
+Principality, as Antonius did: who had reproachfully slaine a brother of
+that Centurion; also threatned him every day, and neverthelesse
+entertaind him still as one of the guards of his body, which was a rash
+course taken, and the way to destruction, as befell him. But let us come
+to Commodus for whom it was very easie to hold the Empire, by reason it
+descended upon him by inheritance, being Marcus his sonne, and it had
+been enough for him to follow his fathers footsteps, and then had he
+contented both the people and the soldiers: but being of a cruell and
+savage disposition, whereby to exercise his actions upon the people, he
+gave himselfe to entertaine armies, and those in all licentiousnesse. On
+the other part not maintaining his dignity, but often descending upon
+the stages to combate with fencers, and doing such other like base
+things, little worthy of the Imperiall majesty, he became contemptible
+in the soldiers sight; and being hated of one part, and despisd of the
+other, he was conspird against, and slaine. It remaines now, that we
+declare Maximinus his conditions, who was a very warlike man; and the
+armies loathing Alexanders effeminacy, whereof I spake before, when they
+had slain him, chose this man Emperour, who not long continued so,
+because two things there were that brought him into hatred and contempt;
+the one because he was very base, having kept cattell in Thrace, which
+was well knowne to every one, and made them to scorne him; the other,
+because in the beginning of his Principality having delayd to goe to
+Rome, and enter into possession of the Imperiall throne, he had gaind
+the infamy of being thought exceeding cruell, having by his Prefects in
+Rome, and in every place of the Empire, exercisd many cruelties,
+insomuch that the whole world being provok'd against him to contempt for
+the basenesse of his blood; on the other side upon the hatred conceiv'd
+against him for feare of his crulty; first Affrica, afterwards the
+Senate, with all the people of Rome and all Italy, conspired against
+him, with whom his own army took part; which incamping before Aquileya,
+and finding some difficulty to take the town, being weary of his
+cruelties, and because they saw he had so many enemies, fearing him the
+lesse, slew him. I purpose not to say any thing either of Heliogabalus,
+Macrinus, or Julian, who because they were throughly base, were sudenly
+extinguished: but I will come to the conclusion of this discourse; and I
+say, that the Princes of our times have lesse of this difficulty to
+satisfie the Soldiers extraordinarily in their government; for
+notwithstanding that there be some considerations to be had of them, yet
+presently are those armies dissolved, because none of these Princes do
+use to maintaine any armies together, which are annex'd and inveterated
+with the governments of the provinces, as were the armies of the Romane
+Empire. And therefore if then it was necessary rather to content the
+soldiers than the people, it was because the soldiers were more
+powerfull than the people: now is it more necessary for all Princes,
+(except the Turk and the Souldan) to satisfie their people than their
+soldiers, because the people are more mighty than they; wherein I except
+the Turk, he alwayes maintaining about his person 12000 foot, and 15000
+horse, upon which depends the safety and strength of his Kingdome; and
+it is necessary that laying aside all other regard of his people, he
+maintaine these his friends. The Souldans Kingdome is like hereunto,
+which being wholy in the souldiers power, he must also without respect
+of his people keep them his friends. And you are to consider, that this
+State of the Souldans differs much from all the other Principalities:
+For it is very like the Papacy, which cannot be termd an hereditary
+Principality: nor a new Principality: for the sons of the deceasd Prince
+are not heires and Lords thereof, but he that is chosen receives that
+dignity from those who have the authority in them. And this order being
+of antiquity, cannot be termd a new Principality, because therein are
+none of those difficulties that are in new ones: for though the Prince
+be new, yet are the orders of that state ancient, and ordaind to receive
+him, as if he were their hereditary Prince. But let us returne to our
+matter; whosoever shall consider our discourse before, shall perceive
+that either hatred, or contempt have caus'd the ruine of the afore-named
+Emperors; and shall know also, from it came that part of them proceeding
+one way, and part a contrary; yet in any of them the one had a happy
+success, and the others unhappy: for it was of no availe, but rather
+hurtful for Pertinax and Alexander, because they were new Princes, to
+desire to imitate Marcus, who by inheritance came to the Principality:
+and in like manner it was a wrong to Caracalla, Commodus, and Maximus,
+to imitate Severus, because none of them were endued with so great valor
+as to follow his steps therein. Wherefore a new Prince in his
+Principality cannot well imitate Marcus his actions; nor yet is it
+necessary to follow those of Severus: but he ought make choyce of those
+parts in Severus which are necessary for the founding of a State; and to
+take from Marcus those that are fit and glorious to preserve a State
+which is already established and setled.
+
+
+
+
+CHAP. XX
+
+Whether the Citadels and many other things which Princes often make use
+of, are profitable or dammageable.
+
+
+Some Princes, whereby they might safely keep their State, have disarmed
+their subjects; some others have held the towns under their dominion,
+divided into factions; others have maintain'd enmities against
+themselves; others have appli'd themselves to gain them, where they have
+suspected at their entrance into the government; others have built
+Fortresses; and others again have ruined and demolished them: and
+however that upon all these things, a man cannot well pass a determinate
+sentence, unless one comes to the particulars of these States, where
+some such like determinations were to be taken; yet I shall speak of
+them in so large a manner, as the matter of it self will bear. It was
+never then that a new Prince would disarme his own subjects; but rather
+when he hath found them disarmed, he hath alwaies arm'd them. For being
+belov'd, those armes become thine; those become faithful, which thou
+hadst in suspicion; and those which were faithful, are maintaind so; and
+thy subjects are made thy partisans; and because all thy subjects cannot
+be put in armes, when thou bestowest favors on those thou armest, with
+the others thou canst deal more for thy safety; and that difference of
+proceeding which they know among them, obliges them to thee; those
+others excuse thee, judgeing it necessary that they have deservd more,
+who have undergone more danger, and so have greater obligation: but when
+thou disarmst them, thou beginst to offend them, that thou distrustest
+them, either for cowardise, or small faith; and the one or the other of
+those two opinions provokes their hatred against thee; and because thou
+canst not stand disarmed, thou must then turn thy self to mercenary
+Soldiery, whereof we have formerly spoken what it is, and when it is
+good; it can never be so much as to defend thee from powerful enemies,
+and suspected subjects; therefore as I have said, a new Prince in a new
+Principality hath alwaies ordaind them armes. Of examples to this
+purpose, Histories are full. But when a Prince gains a new State, which
+as a member he adds to his ancient dominions, then it is necessary to
+disarme that State, unless it be those whom thou hast discoverd to have
+assisted thee in the conquest thereof; and these also in time and upon
+occasions, it is necessary to render delicate and effeminate, and so
+order them, that all the arms of thy State be in the hands of thy own
+Soldiers, who live in thy ancient State near unto thee. Our ancestors
+and they that were accounted Sages, were wont to say that it was
+necessary to hold Pistoya in factions, and Pisa with Fortresses; and for
+this cause maintaind some towns subject to them in differences, whereby
+to hold it more easily. This, at what time Italy was ballanc'd in a
+certain manner, might be well done; but mee thinks it cannot now a dayes
+be well given for a precept; for I do not beleeve, that divisions made
+can do any good; rather it must needs be, that when the enemy approaches
+them, Cities divided are presently lost; for alwaies the weaker part
+will cleave to the forrein power, and the other not be able to subsist.
+The Venetians (as I think) mov'd by the aforesaid reasons, maintaind the
+factions of the Guelfes and Gibellins, in their townes; and however they
+never suffered them to spill one anothers blood, yet they nourish'd
+these differences among them, to the end that the citizens imployd in
+these quarrels, should not plot any thing against them: which as it
+proved, never serv'd them to any great purpose: for being defeated at
+Vayla, presently one of those two factions took courage and seizd upon
+their whole State. Therefore such like waies argue the Princes weakness;
+for in a strong principality they never will suffer such divisions; for
+they shew them some kind of profit in time of peace, being they are able
+by means thereof more easily to mannage their subjects: but war comming,
+such like orders discover their fallacy. Without doubt, Princes become
+great, when they overcome the difficulties and oppositions that are made
+against them; and therefore Fortune especially when she hath to make any
+new Prince great, who hath more need to gain reputation than an
+hereditary Prince, causes enemies to rise against him, and him to
+undertake against them: to the end he may have occasion to master them,
+and know that ladder, which his enemies have set him upon, whereby to
+rise yet higher. And therefore many think, that a wise Prince when he
+hath the occasion, ought cunningly to nourish some enmity, that by the
+suppressing thereof, his greatness may grow thereupon. Princes,
+especially those that are new, have found more faith and profit in those
+men, who in the beginning of their State, have been held suspected, than
+in those who at their entrance have been their confidents. Pandulphus
+Petrucci, Prince of Siena, governd his State, more with them that had
+been suspected by him, than with the others. But of this matter we
+cannot speak at large, because it varies according to the subject; I
+will only say this, that those men, who in the beginning of a
+Principality were once enemies, if they be of quality so that to
+maintain themselves they have need of support, the Prince might alwaies
+with the greatest facility gain for his; and they are the rather forced
+to serve him faithfully, insomuch as they know it is more necessary for
+them by their deeds to cancel that sinister opinion, which was once held
+of them; and so the Prince ever draws from these more advantage, than
+from those, who serving him too supinely, neglect his affairs. And seing
+the matter requires it, I will not omit to put a Prince in mind, who
+hath anew made himself master of a State, by means of the inward helps
+he had from thence that he consider well the cause that mov'd them that
+favor'd him to favor him, if it be not a natural affection towards him;
+for if it be only because they were not content with their former
+government, with much pains and difficulties shall he be able to keep
+them long his friends, because it will be impossible for him to content
+them. By these examples then which are drawn out of ancient and modern
+affaires, searching into the cause hereof, we shall find it much more
+easie to gain those men for friends, who formerly were contented with
+the State, and therefore were his enemies: than those, who because they
+were not contented therewith, became his fiends, and favor'd him in
+getting the mastery of it. It hath been the custome of Princes, whereby
+to hold their States more securely, to build Citadels, which might be
+bridles and curbs to those that should purpose any thing against them,
+and so to have a secure retreat from the first violences. I commend this
+course, because it hath been used of old; notwithstanding Nicholas
+Vitelli in our dayes hath been known to demolish two Citadels in the
+town of Castello, the better to keep the State; Guidubaldo Duke of Urbin
+being to return into his State, out of which he was driven by Caesar
+Borgia, raz'd all the Fortresses of that Countrey, and thought he should
+hardlyer lose that State again without them. The Bentivolii returning
+into Bolonia, used the like courses. Citadels then are profitable, or
+not, according to the times; and if they advantage thee in one part,
+they do thee harme in another; and this part may be argued thus. That
+Prince who stands more in fear of his own people than of strangers,
+ought to build Fortresses: but he that is more afraid of strangers than
+of his people, should let them alone. Against the house of Sforza, the
+Castle of Milan, which Francis Sforza built, hath and will make more
+war, than any other disorder in that State: and therefore the best
+Citadel that may be, is not to incurre the peoples hatred; for however
+thou holdest a Fortress, and the people hate thee, thou canst hardly
+scape them; for people, when once they have taken armes, never want the
+help of strangers at their need to take ther parts. In our dayes we
+never saw that they ever profited any Prince, unless it were the
+Countess of Furli, when Count Hieronymo of Furli her husband was slain;
+for by means thereof she escap'd the peoples rage, and attended aid from
+Milan, and so recover'd her State: and then such were the times that the
+stranger could not assist the people: but afterwards they serv'd her to
+little purpose, when Caesar Borgia assaild her, and that the people which
+was her enemy, sided with the stranger. Therefore both then, and at
+first, it would have been more for her safety, not to have been odious
+to the people, than to have held the Fortresses. These things being well
+weigh'd then, I will commend those that shall build up Fortresses, and
+him also that shall not; and I will blame him, howsoever he be, that
+relying upon those, shall make small account of being hated by his
+people.
+
+
+
+
+CHAP. XXI
+
+How a Prince ought to behave himself to gain reputation.
+
+
+There is nothing gains a Prince such repute as great exploits, and rare
+tryals of himself in Heroick actions. We have now in our dayes Ferdinand
+King of Arragon the present King of Spain: he in a manner may be termed
+a new Prince; for from a very weak King, he is now become for fame and
+glory, the first King of Christendome, and if you shall wel consider his
+actions, you shall find them all illustrious, and every one of them
+extraordinary. He in the beginning of his reign assaild Granada, and
+that exploit was the ground of his State. At first he made that war in
+security, and without suspicion he should be any waies hindred, and
+therein held the Barons of Castiglias minds busied, who thinking upon
+that war, never minded any innovation; in this while he gaind credit and
+authority with them, they not being aware of it; was able to maintain
+with the Church and the peoples money all his soldiers, and to lay a
+foundation for his military ordinances with that long war, which
+afterwards gaind him exceeding much honor. Besides this, to the end he
+might be able hereamong to undertake greater matters, serving himself
+alwaies of the colour of religion, he gave himself to a kind of
+religious cruelty, chasing and dispoyling those Jewes out of the
+Kingdome; nor can this example be more admirable and rare: under the
+same cloke he invaded Affrick and went through with his exploit in
+Italy: and last of all hath he assaild France, and so alwaies proceeded
+on forwards contriving of great matters, which alwaies have held his
+subjects minds in peace and admiration, and busied in attending the
+event, what it should be: and these his actions have thus grown, one
+upon another, that they have never given leisure to men so to rest, as
+they might ever plot any thing against them. Moreover it much avails a
+Prince to give extraordinary proofes of himself touching the government
+within, such as those we have heard of Bernard of Milan, whensoever
+occasion is given by any one, that may effectuate some great thing
+either of good or evil, in the civil government; and to find out some
+way either to reward or punish it, whereof in the world much notice may
+be taken. And above all things a Prince ought to endeavor in all his
+actions to spread abroad a fame of his magnificence and worthiness. A
+Prince also is well esteemed, when he is a true friend, or a true enemy;
+when without any regard he discovers himself in favor of one against
+another; which course shall be alwaies more profit, than to stand
+neuter: for if two mighty ones that are thy neighbors, come to fall out,
+or are of such quality, that one of them vanquishing, thou art like to
+be in fear of the vanquisher, or not; in either of these two cases, it
+will ever prove more for thy profit, to discover thy self, and make a
+good war of it: for in the first case, if thou discoverest not thy
+selfe, thou shalt alwaies be a prey to him that overcomes, to the
+contentment and satisfaction of the vanquisht; neither shalt thou have
+reason on thy side, nor any thing else to defend or receive thee. For he
+that overcomes, will not have any suspected friends that give him no
+assistance in his necessity: and he that loses, receives thee not,
+because thou wouldest not with thy armes in hand run the hazzard of his
+fortune. Antiochus passed into Greece, thereunto induc'd by the
+Etolians, to chace the Romans thence: and sent his Ambassadors to the
+Achayans, who were the Romans friends, to perswade them to stand
+neuters; on the other side the Romans moved them to joyne armes with
+theirs: this matter came to be deliberated on in the council of the
+Achayans, where Antiochus his Ambassador encouraged them to stand
+neuters, whereunto the Romans Ambassador answerd; Touching the course,
+that is commended to you, as best and profitablest for your State, to
+wit, not to intermeddle in the war between us, nothing can be more
+against you: because, not taking either part, you shall remain without
+thanks, and without reputation a prey to the conqueror. And it will
+alwaies come to pass that he who is not thy friend, will requite thy
+neutrality; and he that is thy friend, will urge thee to discover thy
+self by taking arms for him: and evil advised Princes; to avoyd the
+present dangers, folow often times that way of neutrality, and most
+commonly go to ruine: but when a Prince discovers himself strongly in
+favor of a party; if he to whom thou cleavest, overcomes; however that
+he be puissant, and thou remainest at his disposing, he is oblig'd to
+thee, and there is a contract of friendship made; and men are never so
+openly dishonest, as with such a notorious example of dishonesty to
+oppress thee. Besides victories are never so prosperous, that the
+conqueror is like neglect all respects, and especially of justice. But
+if he to whom thou stickst, loses, thou art received by him; and, while
+he is able, he aydes thee, and so thou becomest partner of a fortune
+that may arise again; the second case, when they that enter into the
+lists together, are of such quality, that thou needest not fear him that
+vanquisheth, so much the more is it discretion in thee to stick to him;
+for thou goest to ruine one with his assistance, who ought to do the
+best he could to save him, if he were well advised; and he overcomming,
+is left at thy discretion; and it is unpossible but with thy ayd he must
+overcome. And here it is to be noted, that a Prince should be well aware
+never to joyn with any one more powerfull than himself, to offend
+another, unless upon necessity, as formerly is said. For when he
+overcomes, thou art left at his discretion, and Princes ought avoid as
+much as they are able, to stand at anothers discretion. The Venetians
+took part with France against the Duke of Milan, and yet could have
+avoided that partaking, from which proceeded their ruine. But when it
+cannot be avoyded, as it befel the Florentines when the Pope and the
+King of Spain went both with their armies to Lombardy, there the Prince
+ought to side with them for the reasons aforesaid. Nor let any State
+think they are able to make such sure parties, but rather that they are
+all doubtfull; for in the order of things we find it alwaies, that
+whensoever a man seeks to avoid one inconvenient, he incurs another. But
+the principal point of judgement, is in discerning between the qualities
+of inconvenients, and not taking the bad for the good. Moreover a Prince
+ought to shew himself a lover of vertue, and that he honors those that
+excel in every Art. Afterwards ought he encourage his Citizens, whereby
+they may be enabled quickly to exercise their faculties as well in
+merchandise, and husbandry, as in any other kind of traffick, to the end
+that no man forbear to adorne and cultivate his possessions for fear
+that he be despoyled of them; or any other to open the commerce upon the
+danger of heavy impositions: but rather to provide rewards for those
+that shall set these matters afoot, or for any one else that shall any
+way amplifie his City or State. Besides he ought in the fit times of the
+year entertain the people with Feasts and Maskes; and because every City
+is devided into Companies, and arts, and Tribes, he ought to take
+special notice of those bodies, and some times afford them a meeting,
+and give them some proof of his humanity, and magnificence; yet withall
+holding firme the majestie of his State; for this must never fail in any
+case.
+
+
+
+
+CHAP.   XXII
+
+Touching Princes Secretaries.
+
+
+It is no small importance to a Prince, the choyce he makes, of servants
+being ordinarily good or bad, as his wisdome is. And the first
+conjecture one gives of a great man, and of his understanding, is, upon
+the sight of his followers and servants he hath about him, when they
+prove able and faithful, and then may he alwaies be reputed wise because
+he hath known how to discern those that are able, and to keep them true
+to him. But when they are otherwise, there can be no good conjecture
+made of him; for the first error he commits, is in this choyce. There
+was no man that had any knowledge of Antonio of Vanafro, the servant of
+Pandulfus Petrucci Prince of Sicily, who did not esteem Pandulfus for a
+very discreet man, having him for his servant. And because there are
+three kinds of understandings; the one that is advised by it self; the
+other that understands when it is informed by another; the third that
+neither is advised by it self nor by the demonstration of another; the
+first is best, the second is good, and the last quite unprofitable.
+Therefore it was of necessity, that if Pandulfus attaind not the first
+degree, yet he got to the second; for whenever any one hath the
+judgement to discerne between the good and the evil, that he does and
+sayes, however that he hath not his distinction from himself, yet still
+comes he to take notice of the good or evil actions of that servant; and
+those he cherishes, and these he suppresses; insomuch that the servant
+finding no means to deceive his master, keeps himself upright and
+honest. But how a Prince may throughly understand his servant, here is
+the way that never fails. When thou seest the servant study more for his
+own advantage than thine, and that in all his actions, he searches most
+after his own profit; this man thus qualified, shall never prove good
+servant, nor canst thou ever relie upon him: for he that holds the
+Sterne of the State in hand, ought never call home his cares to his own
+particular, but give himself wholly over to his Princes service, nor
+ever put him in minde of any thing not appertaining to him. And on the
+other side the Prince to keep him good to him, ought to take a care for
+his servant, honoring him, enriching, and obliging him to him, giving
+him part both of dignities and offices, to the end that the many honors
+and much wealth bestowed on him, may restrain his desires from other
+honors, and other wealth, and that those many charges cause him to fear
+changes that may fall, knowing he is not able to stand without his
+master. And when both the Princes and the servants are thus disposed,
+they may rely the one upon the other: when otherwise, the end will ever
+prove hurtfull for the one as well as for the other.
+
+
+
+
+CHAP. XXIII
+
+That Flatterers are to be avoyded.
+
+
+I will not omit one principle of great inportance, being an errour from
+which Princes with much difficulty defend themselves, unlesse they be
+very discreet, and make a very good choice; and this is concerning
+flatterers; whereof all writings are full: and that because men please
+themselves so much in their own things, and therein cozen themselves,
+that very hardly can they escape this pestilence; and desiring to escape
+it, there is danger of falling into contempt; for there is no other way
+to be secure from flattery, but to let men know, that they displease
+thee not in telling thee truth: but when every one hath this leave, thou
+losest thy reverence. Therefore ought a wise Prince take a third course,
+making choyce of some understanding men in his State, and give only to
+them a free liberty of speaking to him the truth; and touching those
+things only which he inquires of, and nothing else; but he ought to be
+inquisitive of every thing, and hear their opinions, and then afterwards
+advise himself after his own manner; and in these deliberations, and
+with every one of them so carrie himself, that they all know, that the
+more freely they shall speak, the better they shall be liked of: and
+besides those, not give eare to any one; and thus pursue the thing
+resolved on, and thence continue obstinate in the resolution taken. He
+who does otherwise, either falls upon flatterers, or often changes upon
+the varying of opinions, from whence proceeds it that men conceive but
+slightly of him. To this purpose I will alledge you a moderne example.
+Peter Lucas a servant of Maximilians the present Emperor, speaking of
+his Majesty, said that he never advised with any body, nor never did any
+thing after his own way: which was because he took a contrary course to
+what we have now said: for the Emperor is a close man, who communicates
+his secrets to none, nor takes counsel of any one; but as they come to
+be put in practise, they begin to be discovered and known, and so
+contradicted by those that are near about him; and he as being an easy
+man, is quickly wrought from them. Whence it comes that what he does to
+day, he undoes on the morrow; and that he never understands himself what
+he would, nor what he purposes, and that there is no grounding upon any
+of his resolutions. A Prince therefore ought alwayes to take counsell,
+but at his owne pleasure, and not at other mens; or rather should take
+away any mans courage to advise him of any thing, but what he askes: but
+he ought well to aske at large, and then touching the things inquird of,
+be a patient hearer of the truth; and perceiving that for some respect
+the truth were conceald from him, be displeased thereat. And because
+some men have thought that a Prince that gaines the opinion to bee wise,
+may bee held so, not by his owne naturall indowments, but by the good
+counsells he hath about him; without question they are deceivd; for this
+is a generall rule and never failes, that a Prince who of himselfe is
+not wise, can never be well advised, unlesse he should light upon one
+alone, wholly to direct and govern him, who himself were a very wise
+man. In this case it is possible he may be well governd: but this would
+last but little: for that governor in a short time would deprive him of
+his State; but a Prince not having any parts of nature, being advised of
+more then one, shall never be able to unite these counsels: of himself
+shall he never know how to unite them; and each one of the Counsellers,
+probably will follow that which is most properly his owne; and he shall
+never find the meanes to amend or discerne these things; nor can they
+fall out otherwise, because men alwayes prove mischievous, unlesse upon
+some necessity they be forc'd to become good: we conclude therefore,
+that counsells from whencesoever they proceed, must needs take their
+beginning from the Princes wisdome, and not the wisdome of the Prince
+from good counsells.
+
+    In this Chapter our Authour prescribes some rules how to avoyd
+    flattery, and not to fall into contempt. The extent of these two
+    extreames is so large on both sides, that there is left but a
+    very narrow path for the right temper to walke between them
+    both: and happy were that Prince, who could light on so good a
+    Pilote as to bring him to Port between those rocks and those
+    quicksands. Where Majesty becomes familiar, unlesse endued with
+    a super-eminent vertue, it loses all awfull regards: as the
+    light of the Sunne, because so ordinary, because so common, we
+    should little value, were it not that all Creatures feele
+    themselves quickned by the rayes thereof. On the other side,
+    _Omnis insipiens arrogantia et plausibus capitur_, Every foole
+    is taken with his owne pride and others flatteryes: and this
+    foole keeps company so much with all great wise men, that hardly
+    with a candle and lantern can they be discernd betwixt. The
+    greatest men are more subject to grosse and palpable flatteries;
+    and especially the greatest of men, who are Kings and Princes:
+    for many seek the Rulers favour. _Prov._ 28. 26. For there are
+    divers meanes whereby private men are instructed; Princes have
+    not that good hap: but they whose instruction is of most
+    importance, so soone as they have taken the government upon
+    them, no longer suffer any reproovers: for but few have accesse
+    unto them, and they who familiary converse with them, doe and
+    say all for favour. Isocrat, to Nicocles, All are afraid to give
+    him occasion of displeasure, though by telling him truth. To
+    this purpose therefore sayes one; a Prince excells in learning
+    to ride the great horse, rather than in any other exercise,
+    because his horse being no flatterer, will shew him he makes no
+    difference between him and another man, and unlesse he keepe his
+    seate well, will lay him on the ground. This is plaine dealing.
+    Men are more subtile, more double-hearted, they have a heart and
+    a heart neither is their tongue their hearts true interpreter.
+    Counsell in the heart of man is like deepe waters; but a man of
+    understanding will draw it out. _Prov._ 20. 5. This
+    understanding is most requisite in a Prince, inasmuch as the
+    whole Globe is in his hand, and the inferiour Orbes are swayed
+    by the motion of the highest. And therefore surely it is the
+    honour of a King to search out such a secret: _Prov._ 25. 2. His
+    counsellours are his eyes and eares; as they ought to be dear to
+    him, so they ought to be true to him, and make him the true
+    report of things without disguise. If they prove false eyes, let
+    him pluck them out; he may as they use glasse eyes, take them
+    forth without paine, and see never a whit the worse for it. The
+    wisdome of a Princes Counsellours is a great argument of the
+    Princes wisdome. And being the choyce of them imports the
+    Princes credit and safety, our Authour will make him amends for
+    his other errours by his good advice in his 22 Chap. whether I
+    referre him.
+
+
+
+
+CHAP. XXIV
+
+Wherefore the Princes of Italy have lost their States.
+
+
+When these things above said are well observ'd, they make a new Prince
+seeme as if he had been of old, and presently render him more secure and
+firme in the State, than if he had already grown ancient therein: for a
+new Prince is much more observd in his action, than a Prince by
+inheritance; and when they are known to bee vertuous, men are much more
+gaind and oblig'd to them thereby, than by the antiquity of their blood:
+for men are much more taken by things present, than by things past, and
+when in the present they find good, they content themselves therein, and
+seeke no further; or rather they undertake the defence of him to their
+utmost, when the Prince is not wanting in other matters to himself; and
+so shall he gaine double glory to have given a beginning to a new
+Principality, adornd, and strengthnd it with good lawes, good arms, good
+friends, and good examples; as he shall have double shame, that is born
+a Prince, and by reason of his small discretion hath lost it. And if we
+shall consider those Lords, that in Italy have lost their States in our
+dayes, as the King of Naples, the Duke of Milan, and others; first we
+shall find in them a common defect, touching their armes, for the
+reasons which have been above discoursd at length. Afterwards we shall
+see some of them, that either shall have had the people for their
+enemies; or be it they had the people to friend, could never know how to
+assure themselves of the great ones: for without such defects as these,
+States are not lost, which have so many nerves, that they are able to
+maintaine an army in the feld. Philip of Macedon, not the father of
+Alexander the Great, but he that was vanquished by Titus Quintius, had
+not much State in regard of the greatnesse of the Romanes and of Greece
+that assail'd him; neverthelesse in that he was a warlike man and knew
+how to entertaine the people, and assure himself of the Nobles, for many
+yeares he made the warre good against them: and though at last some town
+perhaps were taken from him, yet the Kingdome remaind in his hands
+still. Wherefore these our Princes who for many yeares had continued in
+their Principalities, for having afterwards lost them, let them not
+blame Fortune, but their own sloth; because they never having thought
+during the time of quiet, that they could suffer a change (which is the
+common fault of men, while faire weather lasts, not to provide for the
+tempest) when afterwards mischiefes came upon them, thought rather upon
+flying from them, than upon their defence, and hop'd that the people,
+weary of the vanquishers insolence, would recall them: which course when
+the others faile, is good: but very ill is it to leave the other
+remedies for that: for a man wou'd never go to fall, beleeving another
+would come to take him up: which may either not come to passe, or if it
+does, it is not for thy security, because that defence of his is vile,
+and depends not upon thee; but those defences only are good, certaine,
+and durable, which depend upon thy owne selfe, and thy owne vertues.
+
+
+
+
+CHAP. XXV
+
+How great power Fortune hath in humane affaires, and what meanes there
+is to resist it.
+
+
+It is not unknown unto me, how that many have held opinion, and still
+hold it, that the affaires of the world are so governd by fortune, and
+by God, that men by their wisdome cannot amend or alter them; or rather
+that there is no remedy for them: and hereupon they would think that it
+were of no availe to take much paines in any thing, but leave all to be
+governd by chance. This opinion hath gain'd the more credit in our
+dayes, by reason of the great alteration of things, which we have of
+late seen, and do every day see, beyond all humane conjecture: upon
+which, I sometimes thinking, am in some parte inclind to their opinion:
+neverthelesse not to extinguish quite our owne free will, I think it may
+be true, that Fortune is the mistrisse of one halfe of our actions; but
+yet that she lets us have rule of the other half, or little lesse. And I
+liken her to a precipitous torrent, which when it rages, over-flows the
+plaines, overthrowes the trees, and buildings, removes the earth from
+one side, and laies it on another, every one flyes before it, every one
+yeelds to the fury thereof, as unable to withstand it; and yet however
+it be thus, when the times are calmer, men are able to make provision
+against these excesses, with banks and fences so, that afterwards when
+it swels again, it shall all passe smoothly along, within its channell,
+or else the violence thereof shall not prove so licentious and hurtfull.
+In like manner befals it us with fortune, which there shewes her power
+where vertue is not ordeind to resist her, and thither turnes she all
+her forces, where she perceives that no provisions nor resistances are
+made to uphold her. And if you shall consider Italy, which is the seat
+of these changes, and that which hath given them their motions, you
+shall see it to be a plaine field, without any trench or bank; which had
+it been fenc'd with convenient vertue as was Germany, Spain or France;
+this inundation would never have causd these great alterations it hath,
+or else would it not have reach'd to us: and this shall suffice to have
+said, touching the opposing of fortune in generall. But restraining my
+selfe more to particulars, I say that to day we see a Prince prosper and
+flourish and to morrow utterly go to ruine; not seeing that he hath
+alterd any condition or quality; which I beleeve arises first from the
+causes which we have long since run over, that is because that Prince
+that relies wholly upon fortune, runnes as her wheele turnes. I beleeve
+also, that he proves the fortunate man, whose manner of proceeding meets
+with the quality of the time; and so likewise he unfortunate from whose
+course of proceeding the times differ: for we see that men, in the
+things that induce them to the end, (which every one propounds to
+himselfe, as glory and riches) proceed therein diversly; some with
+respects, others more bold, and rashly; one with violence, and th'other
+with cunning; the one with patience, th'other with its contrary; and
+every one of severall wayes may attaine thereto; we see also two very
+respective and wary men, the one come to his purpose, and th'other not;
+and in like maner two equally prosper, taking divers course; the one
+being wary the other head-strong; which proceeds from nothing else, but
+from the quality of the times, which agree, or not, with their
+proceedings. From hence arises that which I said, that two working
+diversly, produce the same effect: and two equaly working, the one
+attains his end, the other not. Hereupon depends the alteration of the
+good; for if to one that behaves himself with warinesse and patience,
+times and affaires turne so favourably, that the carriage of his
+businesse prove well, he prospers; but if the times and affaires chance,
+he is ruind, because he changes not his manner of proceeding: nor is
+there any man so wise, that can frame himselfe hereunto; as well because
+he cannot go out of the way, from that whereunto Nature inclines him: as
+also, for that one having alwayes prosperd, walking such a way, cannot
+be perswaded to leave it; and therefore the respective and wary man,
+when it is fit time for him to use violence and force, knows not how to
+put it in practice, whereupon he is ruind: but if he could change his
+disposition with the times and the affaires, he should not change his
+fortune. Pope Julius the second proceeded in all his actions with very
+great violence, and found the times and things so conformable to that
+his manner of proceeding that in all of them he had happy successe.
+Consider the first exploit he did at Bolonia, even while John Bentivolio
+lived: the Venetians were not well contented therewith; the King of
+Spaine likewise with the French, had treated of that enterprise; and
+notwithstanding al this, he stirrd up by his own rage and fiercenesse,
+personally undertook that expedition: which action of his put in
+suspence and stopt Spaine and the Venetians; those for feare, and the
+others for desire to recover the Kingdome of Naples; and on the other
+part drew after him the King of France; for that King seeing him already
+in motion, and desiring to hold him his friend, whereby to humble the
+Venetians, thought he could no way deny him his souldiers, without doing
+him an open injury. Julius then effected that with his violent and heady
+motion, which no other Pope with all humane wisdome could ever have
+done; for if he had expected to part from Rome with his conclusions
+settled, and all his affaires ordered before hand, as any other Pope
+would have done, he had never brought it to passe: For the King of
+France would have devised a thousand excuses, and others would have put
+him in as many feares. I will let passe his other actions, for all of
+them were alike, and all of them prov'd lucky to him; and the brevity of
+his life never sufferd him to feele the contrary: for had he litt upon
+such times afterwards, that it had been necessary for him to proceed
+with respects, there had been his utter ruine; for he would never have
+left those wayes, to which he had been naturally inclind. I conclude
+then, fortune varying, and men continuing still obstinate to their own
+wayes, prove happy, while these accord together: and as they disagree,
+prove unhappy: and I think it true, that it is better to be heady than
+wary; because Fortune is a mistresse; and it is necessary, to keep her
+in obedience to ruffle and force her: and we see, that she suffers her
+self rather to be masterd by those, than by others that proceed coldly.
+And therefore, as a mistresse, shee is a friend to young men, because
+they are lesse respective, more rough, and command her with more
+boldnesse.
+
+    I have considered the 25 Chapter, as representing me a full view
+    of humane policy and cunning: yet me thinks it cannot satisfie a
+    Christian in the causes of the good and bad successe of things.
+    The life of man is like a game at Tables; skill availes much I
+    grant, but that's not all: play thy game well, but that will not
+    winne: the chance thou throwest must accord with thy play.
+    Examine this; play never so surely, play never so probably,
+    unlesse the chance thou castest, lead thee forward to advantage,
+    all hazards are losses, and thy sure play leaves thee in the
+    lurch. The sum of this is set down in Ecclesiastes chap. 9. v.
+    11. The race is not to the swift, nor the battell to the strong:
+    neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of
+    understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and
+    chance hapeneth to them all. Our cunning Author for all his
+    exact rules he delivere in his books, could not fence against
+    the despight of Fortune, as he complaines in his Epistle to this
+    booke. Nor that great example of policy, Duke Valentine, whome
+    our Author commends to Princes for his crafts-master, could so
+    ruffle or force his mistresse Fortune, that he could keep her in
+    obedience. Man can contribute no more to his actions than vertue
+    and wisdome: but the successe depends upon a power above. Surely
+    there is the finger of god; or as Prov. 16. v. 33. 'The lot is
+    cast into the lap, but the whole disposing thereof is of the
+    Lord.' It was not Josephs wisdome made all things thrive under
+    his hand; but because the Lord was with him; and that which he
+    did, the Lord made it to prosper, Gen. 39. Surely this is a
+    blessing proceeding from the divine providence, which beyond
+    humane capacity so cooperateth with the causes, as that their
+    effects prove answerable, and sometimes (that we may know there
+    is something above the ordinary causes) the success returns with
+    such a supereminency of worth, that it far exceeds the vertue of
+    the ordinary causes.
+
+
+
+
+CHAP. XXVI
+
+An Exhortation to free Italy from the Barbarians.
+
+
+Having then weighed all things above discours'd, and devising with my
+self, whether at this present in Italy the time might serve to honor a
+new Prince, and whether there were matter that might minister occasion
+to a wise and valorous Prince, to introduce such a forme, that might do
+honor to him, and good to the whole generality of the people in the
+countrey: me thinks so many things concurre in favor of a new Prince,
+that I know not whether there were ever any time more proper for this
+purpose. And if as I said, it was necessary, desiring to see Moses his
+vertue, that the children of Israel should be inthrald in AEgypt; and to
+have experience of the magnanimity of Cyrus his mind, that the Persians
+should be oppress'd by the Medes; and to set forth the excellency of
+Theseus, that the Athenians should be dispersed; so at this present now
+we are desirous to know the valor of an Italian spirit, it were
+necessary Italy should be reduc'd to the same termes it is now in, and
+were in more slavery than the Hebrews were; more subject than the
+Persians, more scatterd than the Athenians; without head, without order,
+battered, pillaged, rent asunder, overrun, and had undergone all kind of
+destruction. And however even in these later dayes, we have had some
+kind of shew of hope in some one, whereby we might have conjectur'd,
+that he had been ordained for the deliverance hereof, yet it prov'd
+afterwards, that in the very height of all his actions he was curb'd by
+fortune, insomuch that this poore countrey remaining as it were without
+life, attends still for him that shall heal her wounds, give an end to
+all those pillagings and sackings of Lombardy, to those robberies and
+taxations of the Kingdome, and of Tuscany, and heal them of their soars,
+now this long time gangren'd. We see how she makes her prayers to God,
+that he send some one to redeem her from these Barbarous cruelties and
+insolencies. We see her also wholly ready and disposed to follow any
+colours, provided there be any one take them up. Nor do we see at this
+present, that she can look for other, than your Illustrious Family, to
+become Cheiftain of this deliverance, which hath now by its own vertue
+and Fortune been so much exalted, and favored by God and the Church,
+whereof it now holds the Principality: and this shall not be very hard
+for you to do, if you shall call to mind the former actions, and lives
+of those that are above named. And though those men were very rare and
+admirable, yet were they men, and every one of them began upon less
+occasion than this; for neither was their enterprize more just than
+this, nor more easie; nor was God more their friend, than yours. Here is
+very great justice: for that war is just, that is necessary; and those
+armes are religious, when there is no hope left otherwhere, but in them.
+Here is an exceeding good disposition thereto: nor can there be, where
+there is a good disposition, a giant difficulty, provided that use be
+made of those orders, which I propounded for aim and direction to you.
+Besides this, here we see extraordinary things without example effected
+by God; the sea was opened, a cloud guided the way, devotion poured
+forth the waters, and it rain'd down Manna; all these things have
+concurred in your greatness, the rest is left for you to do. God will
+not do every thing himself, that he may not take from us our free will,
+and of that glory that belongs to us. Neither is it a marvel, if any of
+the aforenamed Italians have not been able to compass that, which we may
+hope your illustrious family shall: though in so many revolutions of
+Italy, and so many feats of war, it may seem that the whole military
+vertue therein be quite extinguisht; for this arises from that the
+ancient orders thereof were not good; and there hath since been none
+that hath known how to invent new ones. Nothing can so much honor a man
+rising anew, as new laws and new ordinances devised by him: these things
+when they have a good foundation given them, and contain in them their
+due greatness, gain him reverence and admiration; and in Italy their
+wants not the matter wherein to introduce any forme. Here is great
+vertue in the members, were it not wanting in the heads. Consider in the
+single fights that have been, and duels, how much the Italians have
+excel'd in their strength, activity and address; but when they come to
+armies, they appear not, and all proceeds from the weakness of the
+Chieftaines; for they that understand the managing of these matters, are
+not obeyed; and every one presumes to understand; hitherto there having
+not been any one so highly raised either by fortune or vertue, as that
+others would submit unto him. From hence proceeds it, that in so long
+time, and in so many battels fought for these last past 20 years, when
+there hath been an army wholly Italian, it alwaies hath had evil
+success; whereof the river Tarus first was witness, afterwards
+Alexandria, Capua, Genua, Vayla, Bolonia, Mestri. Your Illustrious
+family then being desirous to tread the footsteps of these Worthyes who
+redeem'd their countreys, must above all things as the very foundation
+of the whole fabrick, be furnished with soldiers of your own natives:
+because you cannot have more faithful, true, nor better soldiers; and
+though every one of them be good, all together they will become better
+when they shall find themselves entertained, commanded, and honored by
+their own Prince. Wherefore it is necessary to provide for those armes,
+whereby to be able with the Italian valor to make a defence against
+forreiners. And however the Swisse infantry and Spanish be accounted
+terrible; yet is there defect in both of them, by which a third order
+might not only oppose them, but may be confident to vanquish them: for
+the Spaniards are not able to indure the Horse, and the Swisse are to
+feare the foot, when they incounter with them, as resolute in the fight
+as they; whereupon it hath been seen, and upon experience shall be
+certain, that the Spaniards are not able to beare up against the French
+Cavalery, and the Swisses have been routed by the Spanish Foot. And
+though touching this last, there hath not been any entire experience
+had, yet was there some proof thereof given in the battel of Ravenna,
+when the Spanish Foot affronted the Dutch battalions, which keep the
+same rank the Swisses do, where the Spaniards with their nimbleness of
+body, and the help of their targets entred in under their Pikes, and
+there stood safe to offend them, the Dutch men having no remedy: and had
+it not been for the Cavalery that rusht in upon them, they had quite
+defeated them. There may then (the defect of the one and other of these
+two infantries being discoverd) another kind of them be anew ordained,
+which may be able to make resistance against the Horse, and not fear the
+Foot, which shall not be a new sort of armes, but change of orders. And
+these are some of those things which ordained a new, gain reputation and
+greatness to a new Prince. Therefore this occasion should not be let
+pass, to the end that Italy after so long a time may see some one
+redeemer of hers appear. Nor can I express with what dearness of
+affection he would be received in all those countreys which have
+suffered by those forrein scums, with what thirst of revenge, with what
+resolution of fidelity, with what piety, with what tears. Would any
+gates be shut again him? Any people deny him obedience? Any envy oppose
+him? Would not every Italian fully consent with him? This government of
+the Barbarians stinks in every ones nostrils. Let your Illustrious
+Family then undertake this worthy exployt with that courage and those
+hopes wherewith such just actions are to be attempted; to the end that
+under your colours, this countrey may be enabled, and under the
+protection of your fortune that saying of Petrarch be verifyed.
+
+  _Virtu contr' al fuore
+  Prendera l'arme, e fia il combatter corto:
+  Che l'antico valore
+  Ne gli Italici cor non e morto._
+
+  Vertue against fury shall advance the fight,
+  And it i' th' combate soon shall put to flight:
+  For th' old Roman valor is not dead,
+  Nor in th' Italians brests extinguished.
+
+FINIS
+
+
+
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author	Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org>	2025-10-15 04:47:29 -0700
committer	Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org>	2025-10-15 04:47:29 -0700
commit	78820a212e31ff4e2efe66d275ee2f8c85f7c7e4 (patch)
tree	3ea9a8c706f7b3e3984645fc6f9179384b70653a