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diff --git a/15772-8.txt b/15772-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..846b042 --- /dev/null +++ b/15772-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,12816 @@ +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 + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MACHIAVELLI, VOLUME I*** + + +******* This file should be named 15772-8.txt or 15772-8.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/5/7/7/15772 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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