The Arte of warre, written first in Italiā by Nicholas Machiauell, and set forthe in Englishe by Peter Whitehorne, studient at Graies Inne: with an addiciō of other like Marcialle feates and experimentes, as in a Table in the ende of the Booke maie appere.
Anno. M.D.LX. Menss. 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 vnder God, the supreme Gouernour.
ALthough commonlie euery man, moste worthie and renoumed Soueraine, seketh specially to commend and extolle the thing, where unto he feleth hymself naturally bent and inclined, yet al soche parciallitie and priuate affection laid aside, it is to bee thought (that for the defence, maintenaunce, and aduauncemente of a Kyngdome, or Common weale, or for the good and due obseruacion of peace, and administraciō of Iustice in thesame) no one thinge to be more profitable, necessarie, or more honourable, then the knowledge of seruice 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 sauegarde, 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, gaue occasion to Philip kyng of Macedonia, father to Alexander the Great, to oppresse and to bring theim in seruitude, vnder his subieccion, euen so vndoubtedly, libertie will not be kepte, but men shall be troden vnder foote, and brought to moste horrible miserie and calamitie, if thei giuyng theim selues to pastymes and pleasure, for slake the iuste regarde of their owne defence, and sauegarde of their countrie, whiche in temporall regimente, chiefly consisteth in warlike skilfulnesse. And therefore the aunciente Capitaines [Page] and mightie Conquerours, so longe as thei florished, did deuise with moste greate diligence, all maner of waies, to bryng their men to the perfect knowledge of what so euer thing appertained to the warre: as manifestly appereth by the warlike games, whiche in old time the Princes of Grecia ordained, vpon the mount Olimpus, and also by thorders and exercises, that the aunciente Romaines vsed 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 marueilous victories, as in many credible Histories are mencioned, but also by thesame meanes, their vnarmed and rascalle people that followed their Campes, gotte soche vnderstandyng 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 themselues in good order, for their defence againste the enemie, that would seke to hurte theim, and in soche daungerous times, haue doen their countrie so good seruice, that verie often by their helpe, the aduersaries haue been put to flight, and fieldes moste happely wōne. So that thantiquitie estemed nothing more happie in a common weale, then to haue 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 [...]enefite his countrie: as by the manly actes that Marcus Curcius, Oracius Cocles, and Gaius Mucius did for the sauegarde of Rome, and also by other innumerable like examples, dooeth plainly appeare. But when through long and continuall peace, thei began to bee altogether giuē to pleasure and delicatenesse, little regardyng [Page] 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 ouersight, thei sodainly fell into decaie and vtter ruine. For soche truly is the nature and condicion, bothe of peace and warre, that where in gouernemente, there is not had equalle consideracion of them bothe, the one in fine, doeth woorke and induce, the others obliuion and vtter abholicion. Wherfore, sith the necessitie of the science of warres is so greate, and also the necessarie vse thereof so manifeste, that euen Ladie Peace her self, doeth in maner from thens craue her chief defence and preseruacion, and the worthinesse moreouer, and honour of thesame so greate, that as by profe 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 vniuersall delight of all studious gentlemen, or the common vtilitie 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 gouernemente ouer vs, giuyng plaine testimonie of the wonderfull prudente desire that is in you, to haue your people instructed in this kinde of seruice, as well for the better defence of your highnesse, theim selues, and their countrie, as also to discourage thereby, and to be able to resist the malingnitie of the enemie, who otherwise would seeke peraduenture, to inuade 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 & winnyng of Calibbia, Monesterio and Africa, I had as well for my further instruction in those affaires, as also the better to [Page] acquainte me with the Italian tongue, reduced into Englishe, the booke called The arte of VVarre, of the famous and excellente Nicholas Machiauell, 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 hauyng lately againe, somwhat perused thesame, the whiche in soche continuall broiles and vnquietnesse, 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 louyngly to haue bestowed emongeste theirs: The rather vndoubtedly, that as by priuate readyng of thesame booke, I then felt my self in that knowledge marueilously holpen and increased, so by communicatyng thesame 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 thesame, altogether inuincible: which my translacion moste gracious Soueraine, together with soche other thynges, as by me hath been gathered, and thought good to adde thereunto, I haue presumed to dedicate vnto youre highnes: not onely bicause the whole charge and furniture of warlike counsailes and preparacions, being determined by the arbitremente of Gouernours and Princes, the treatise also of like effecte should in like maner as of right, depende vpon the protection of a moste worthie and noble Patronesse, but also that the discourse it self, and the woorke of a forrein aucthour, vnder the passeport and safeconduite of your highnes moste noble name, might by speciall aucthoritie of the same, winne emōgest your Maiesties subiectes, moche better credite and estimacion. And if mooste mightie [Page] Queen, in this kind of Philosophie (if I maie so terme it) graue and sage counsailes, learned and wittie preceptes, or politike and prudente admonicions, ought not to be accōpted the least and basest iewels of weale publike. Then dare I boldely affirme, that of many straungers, whiche from forrein countries, haue heretofore in this your Maiesties realme arriued, there is none in comparison to bee preferred, before this worthie Florentine and Italian, who hauyng frely without any gaine of exchaunge (as after some acquaintaunce and familiaritie will better appeare) brought with hym moste riche, rare and plentifull Treasure, shall deserue I trust of all good Englishe hartes, most louingly and frendly to be intertained, embraced and cherished. Whose newe Englishe apparell, how so euer 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 braue shewe prepared to the bankette, neuerthelesse my good will I truste, shall of your grace be taken in good parte, hauyng fashioned the phraise of my rude stile, euen accordyng to the purpose of my trauaile, whiche was rather to profite the desirous manne of warre, then to delight the eares of the fine Rethoriciā, 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 vttermoste of his smalle power, in the seruice of your moste gracious maiestie, and of his countrie, will at al tymes, accordyng to his bounden duetie and allegeaunce, promptlie yeld hym self to any labour, trauaile, or daunger, what so euer shal happen. Praiyng in the mean season the almightie GOD, to giue your highnes in longe prosperous raigne, perfect health, desired tranquilitie, and against all your enemies, luckie and ioifull victorie.
The Proheme of Nicholas Machiauell, Citezein and Secretarie of Florence, vpon his booke of the Arte of warre, vnto Laurence Philippe Strozze, one of the nobilitie of Florence.
THere haue Laurence, many h [...]lde, and do holde this opiniō, that there is no maner of thing, whiche lesse agreeth the one with the other, nor y e is so much vnlike, as the ciuil life to the Souldiours. Wher by it is often seen, that if any determin in thexercise of that kinde of seruice to preuaile, that incontinent he doeth not only chaunge in apparel, but also in custome and maner, in voice, and from the facion of all ciuil vse, he doeth alter: For that he thinketh not meete to clothe with ciuell apparell him, who wil be redie, and promt to all kinde of violence, nor the ciuell customes, and vsages maie that man haue, the whiche iudgeth bothe those customes to be effeminate, and those vsages not to be agreable to his profession: Nor it semes not conuenient for him to vse the ciuill 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 foūde more vnited, more confirmable, and that of necessitie ought to loue 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 liue with [...]eare of the Lawe, and of God, should be vaine, if by [Page] 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 couered, should not haue wherewith to defende it from the raine. And if in what so euer other orders of Cities and Kyngdomes, there hath been vsed al diligence for to maintain men faithfull, peaceable, and full of the feare of God, in the seruice of warre, it was doubled: 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 loue 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, whiche euery daie commityng himself to infinite perilles, hath moste neede of his helpe? This necessitie considered wel, bothe of them that gaue the lawes to Empires, & of those that to the exercise of seruice wee apoincted, made that the life of Souldiours, of other menne was praised, and with all studie folowed and imitated. But the orders of seruice of war, beyng altogether corrupted, and a greate waie from the aunciēt maners altered, there hath growen these sinisterous opinions, which maketh men to hate the warlike seruice, and to flie the conuersacion of those that dooe exercise it. Albeit I iudgeing by the same, that I haue seen and redde, that it is not a thyng impossible, to bryng it again to the auncient maners, and to giue it some facion of the vertue passed, I haue determined to the entente not to passe this my idell time, without doyng some thyng, to write that whiche I doe vnderstande, of the arte of warre, to the satisfiyng of those, who are louers of auncient actes. And although it be a hold thing to intreate of the same matter, wherof [Page ij] otherwise I haue made no profession, notwithstanding I beleue it is no errour, to occupie with wordes a degree, the whiche many with greater presumpcion with their deedes haue 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 iudgemēt to giue it that blame, or that praise, as shall seeme vnto you it hath deserued. The whiche I sende vnto you, as well to shewe my selfe gratefull, although my habilitie reche not to the benefites, which I haue receiued 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 haue many peeres, for wisedome fewe, and for liberalitie none.
The first booke of the arte of warre [...] Nicholas Machiauel, citezein and S [...] cretarie of Florence, vnto Lauren [...] Philip Strozze, one of the nobiltie of Florence.
FOrasmuch as I beleue 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 neuer remembred of me without teares, hauyng 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 (sauing his soule) which for his frendes willingly of him should not haue been spent: I knowe not what enterprise should haue made him afraide, where the same should haue ben knowen to haue been for the benefite of his coūtrie. And I doe painly confesse, not to haue mette emongest so many men, as I haue knowen, & practised withal, a man, whose minde was more inflamed then his, vnto great & 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, sauyng that there should be dead a good freende. Yet it resteth not for this, that we, and what so euer other [Page] 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 loue) yet for that he would not consume time in vain, til vnto profounder studies fortune should haue 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 haue ben estemed, if the same for the ende therof, had of him ben exercised. Fortune hauing therfore depriued vs from the vse of so great a frende, me thinketh there can bee founde no other remedie, then as muche as is possible, to seke to enioye 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 thesame, 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 ciuil mennes liues, which grauely of a moste wise mā was disputed. Therfore I saie, that Fabricio Collonna retournyng out of Lombardie, where longe time greatly to his glorie, he had serued in the warres the catholike kyng, he determined, passyng by Florence, [Page iiij] 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, vnto Cosimo it was thought beste to bid him into his orchard, not so muche to vse his liberalitee, as to haue occasion to talke with him at leasure, and of him to vnderstande and to learne diuers thinges, accordyng as of suche a man maie bee hoped for, semyng to haue 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 receiued of Cosimo together, with certain of his trustie frendes, emongest whome wer Zanoby Buoudelmonti, Baptiste Palla, and Luigi Allamanni, all young men loued of him, and of the very same studies moste ardente, whose good qualities, for as muche as euery daie, and at euery houre thei dooe praise them selues, we will omit. Fabritio was then accordyng to the time and place honoured, of all those honours, that thei could possible deuise: But the bankettyng pleasures beyng passed, & the tabel taken vp, and al preparacion of feastinges consumed, the which are sone at an ende in sight of greate men, who to honorable studies haue their mindes set, the daie beyng longe, and the heate muche, Cosimo iudged for to contēt better his desire, that it wer well doen, takyng occasion to auoide the heate, to bring him into the moste secret, and shadowest place of his garden. Where thei beyng come, and caused to sit, some vpon herbes, some in the coldest places, other vpō litle seates which there was ordeined, vnder the shadow of moste high trees, Fabritio praiseth the place, to be delectable, How Seniour Fabricio Collōna and other gentilmen beeing togethet in a garde [...], [...]nt [...] red into talke of matters of warre. 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 haue not peraduenture ben acquainted with some of these sortes of trees: But doe not maruell at it, for as muche as there bee [Page] 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 graūdfather did trauaile in suche kinde of plantyng: Fabritio replied, I thought it should be thesame you saie, and this place, and this studie, made me to remember certaine Princes of the Kyngdome of Naples, whiche of these auncient tillage and shadow doe delight. And staiyng vpon this talke, and somewhat standyng in a studdie, saied moreouer, if I thought I should not offende, I woud tell my opinion, but I beleeue I shall not, commonyng with friendes, & to dispute of thynges, & not to condemne them. How much better thei should haue doen (be it spoken without displeasure to any man) to haue sought to been like y e antiquitie in thinges strōg, 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 y e antiquitie: not those that are false and corrupted: for that when these studies pleased my Romaines, my countrie fell into ruin. Vnto which Cosimo answered. But to auoide the tediousnesse to repeate so many times he saied, & the other answered, there shall be onely noted the names of those that speakes, without rehersing other.
Then Cosimo saied, you haue opened the waie of a reasoning, which I haue 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 vnderstande of your the truth.
And I shall be very well contented to tell you that, whiche I vnderstand of al the same that you shall aske me, the whiche if it shall be true, or no, I wil report me to your iudgemente: 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 [Page v] one to consider many thynges, and to knowe many other, whiche without hauyng been demaunded, he should neuer haue knowen.
I will retourne to thesame, that you said first, that my graundfather and those your Princes, should haue doen more wisely, to haue resembled the antiquitie in hard thinges, then in the delicate, and I will excuse my par [...]e, for that, the other I shall leaue to excuse for you. I doe not beleue that in his tyme was any manne, that so moche detested the liuyng in ease, as he did, and that so moche was a louer 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 vse it, beeyng borne in so corrupte a worlde, where one that would digresse from the common vse, should bee infamed and disdained of euery man: consideryng that if one in the hottest day of Summer being naked, should wallowe hymself vpon the Sande, or in Winter in the moste coldest monethes vpon the snowe, as Diogenes did, he should be taken as a foole. If one (as the Spartans were wonte to doe) should nourishe his childrē in a village, makyng them to slepe in the open aire, to go with hedde and feete naked, to washe them selues in the colde water for to harden them, to be able to abide moche paine, and for to make theim to loue 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 liuyng, [...]e left thau [...] f [...]cions, and thesame, that he could with lest admiracion imitate in the antiquitie, he did.
You haue 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 liuyng, as of other maners more humaine, and whiche haue with [Page] the life now a daies greater conformitie. The whiche I doe not beleue, that it hath been difficulte to bryng to passe vnto one, who is nombred emongest Princes of a citee: for the prouyng whereof, I will neuer seke other, then thexample of the Romaines. Whose liues, if thei wer well considred, and thorders of thesame cō mon weale, there should therin be seen many thinges, not impossible to induce into a cominaltie, so that it had in her any good thing.
What thynges are those, that you would induce like vnto the antiquitie.
To honour, and to reward vertue, not to despise pouertie, to esteme the maners & orders of warfare, to constrain the citezeins to loue one an other, to liue without fectes, to esteme lesse the priuate, thā the publike, and other like thinges, that easily might bee with this time accompanied: the which maners ar not difficult to bring to passe, whē a mā should wel cōsider them, and entre therin by due meanes: for asmoche as in thesame, the truth so moche appereth, that euery cō mō wit, maie easely perceiue it: which thing, who that ordeineth, doth plāt trees, vnder the shadowe wherof, thei abide more happie, and more pleasantly, then vnder these shadowes of this goodly gardeine.
I will not speake any thyng againste thesame that you haue saied, but I will leaue it to bee iudged of these, whom [...]asely can iudge, and I will tourne my communicacion to you, that is an accusar of theim, the whiche in gra [...], 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 iudged excellent, it is not seen, that you haue indeuoured your self, to bryng the same to any soche ende, or any thyng at all resembled therein the auncient maners.
You are happened [Page vj] vpon the poincts, where I loked: for that my talke deserued no other question: nor I desired other: and albeit that I could saue 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 selues, to be ready and apte when occasion serueth, to accomplishe that, which thei haue determined to worke: and for that when the preparaciōs 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 vpō. 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 seruise of warre into his aunciēt orders, if I haue not reduced it, I cānot be of you, nor of other blamed: I beleue this excuse shuld suffise for answere to your accusemēt.
It should suffice, whē I wer certain, that thoccasion wer not come.
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 preparaciōs help not, and why thoccasion cannot come, & how these things at ones, which seme cōtrary endes, is most difficill, & most easie to do.
You cannot do bothe to me, and vnto these other, a thing more thankfull their this. And if to you it shall not be tedious to speake, vnto vs it shal neuer be greuous 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 greued, if some tyme with some question of importaunce, [Page] we interrupte you.
I am moste well contented, that you Cosimo with these other younge men here, doe aske me: for that I beleue, that youthfulnes, wil make you louers of warlike thinges, and more easie to beleue thesame, that of me shalbe saied. These other, by reason of hauyng nowe their hedde white, and for hauyng vpon their backes their bloude congeled, parte of theim are wonte to bee enemies of warre, parte vncorrectable, as those, whom beleue, that tymes, and not the naughtie maners, constraine men to liue thus: so that safely aske you all of me, and without respecte: the whiche I desire, as well, for that it maie be vnto me a little ease, as also for that I shall haue pleasure, not to leaue in your mynde any doubt. I will begin at your woordes, where you saied vnto me, that in the warre, that is my arte, I had not indeuoured to bryng it to any aunciente ende: wherevpon I saie, as this beyng an arte, whereby men of no maner of age can liue honestly, it cannot bee vsed 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 neuer consente to any their Citezeins, or Subiectes, Why a good man ought neuer to vse the exercise of armes, as his art to vse it for any arte, nor neuer any good manne doeth exercise it for his particulare arte: for as moche as good he shall neuer bee iudged, whom maketh an ex [...]ersise thereof, where purposing alwaies to gaine thereby, it is requisite for hym to be rauenyng, deceiptfull, violente, and to haue many qualities, the whiche of necessitie maketh hym not good: nor those menne cannot, whiche vse 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 preuaile in the tyme of warre, that in peace thei maie bee able to kepe them selues: and neither of these two though [...] happeneth in a good mā: for that in mindyng to doe able to finde hymself at all [Page vij] tymes, dooe growe robberies, violence, slaughters, whiche soche souldiours make as well to the frendes, as to the enemies: and in mindyng not to haue peace, there groweth deceiptes, whiche the capitaines vse 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 depriued of their stipendes, and of their licencious liuyng, thei erecte an ansigne of aduentures, and without any pitie thei put to sacke a prouince. Haue 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? Haue you not red, that the Carthagenes souldiours, the first warre beyng ended which thei had with the Romaines, vnder 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 liue 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 vnto him hath been all the other souldiours of Italie, whiche haue vsed warfare, for their particulare arte, and albeeit thei haue not through their malignitie becomen Dukes of Milein, so moche the more thei deserue to bee blamed: for that although thei haue not gotten so moch as he, thei haue all (if their liues wer seen) sought to bring y e like thynges to passe. Sforza father of Fraunces, constrained Quene Ione, to caste her self into the armes of the king of Aragon, hauyng 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 [Page] verie same industrie, sought to possesse the kyngdome of Naples, and if he had not been ouerthrowen and slaine at Aquila, he had brought it to passe. Like disorders growe not of other, then of soche men as hath been, that vse the exercise of warfare, for their proper arte. Haue not you a Prouerbe, whiche fortefieth my re [...]sons, A Prou [...]be of [...]e & pe [...]ce. whiche saieth, that warre maketh Theues, and peace hangeth theim vp? For as moche as those, whiche knowe not how to liue of other exercise, and in the same finding not enie man to sustayne theym, and hauyng not so moche power, to knowe how to reduce theim selues together, to make an open rebellion, they are cōstrayned of necessetie to Robbe in the highe waies, and Iustice is enforced to extinguishe theim.
You haue made me to esteme this arte of warfare almoste as nothyng, and I haue supposed it the moste excellentes, and moste honourablesse that hath been vsed: 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.
I haue 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 vse this exercise for his arte: the other, that a common weale or a kingdome well gouerned, did neuer permitte, that their Subiectes or Citezeins should vse it for an arte. Aboute the firste, I haue 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 same as valiaunt men, not as good, and those whiche liued before them, gotte glorie as valiaunte and good [Page viij] 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 vse it. And so longe as the common weale liued vnspotted, neuer any noble Citezein would presume, by the meane of soche exercise, to auaile thereby in peace, breakyng the lawes, spoilyng the Prouinces, vsurpyng, and plaiyng the Tyraunte in the countrie, and in euery maner preuailyng: nor any of how lowe degree so euer thei were, would goe aboute to violate the Religion, confederatyng theim selues with priuate men, not to feare the Senate, or to followe any tirannicall insolence, for to bee able to liue with the arte of warre in all tymes. But those whiche were Capitaines, contented with triumphe, with desire did tourne to their priuate life, and those whiche were membrrs, would be more willyng to laie awaie their weapons, then to take them, and euery manne tourned to his science, whereby thei gotte their liuyng: Nor there was neuer any, that would hope with praie, and with this arte, to be able to finde theim selues. Of this there maie be made concernyng Citezeins, moste euidente coniecture, by the ensample of Regolo Attillio, who beyng Capitain of the Romaine armies in Affrica, and hauyng as it wee ouercome 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 vsed the warre as his arte, and by meanes thereof, had purposed to haue made it profitable vnto him, hauyng in praie so many Prouinces, he would not haue asked license, to returne to kepe his feldes: for as moche as euery daie he might otherwise, haue gottē moche more, then the value of al those possessions: but bicause these good men, and soche as vse not the warre for their arte, will not take of thesame any thing then labour, perilles, and glorie, when thei [Page] are sufficiently glorious, thei desire to returne home, and to liue of their owne science. Concernyng menne of lowe degree, and common souldiours, to proue that thei kepte the verie fame order, it doeth appeare that euery one willingly absented theim selues from soche exercise, and when thei serued not in the warre, thei would haue desired to serue, and when thei did serue, their would haue desired leaue not to haue serued: whiche is wel knowen through many insamples, and inespecially seeyng how emonge the firste priuileges, whiche the Romaine people gaue to their Citezeins was, that thei should not be constrained against their willes, to serue in the warres. Therefore, Rome so long as it was well gouerned, whiche was vntill 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 seuer [...]ly punished. Then a cites well gouerned, ought to desire, that this studie of warre, be vsed 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 vse it for an arte, as Rome did, and what so euer Citezein, that hath in soche exercise other ende, is not good, & what so euer citee is gouerned otherwise, is not well ordeined.
I remain cōtented enough and satisfied of thesame, whiche hetherto you haue told, and this conclusion pleaseth me verie wel whiche you haue made, and as muche as is loked for touching a cōmon welth, I beleue that it is true, but concerning Kinges, I can not tell nowe, for that I woulde beleue that a Kinge would haue about him, whome particularly should take suche exercise for his arte.
A kingdome well ordred ought moste of all to auoide 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, [Page ix] bicause the kingdomes whiche haue good orders, giue not their absolute Empire vnto their king, sauing in the armies, for as much as in this place only, a quicke deliberation is necessarie, & for this cause a principall power ought to be made. In y e other affaires, he ought not to doe any thing without councell, & those are to be feared, which councell him, leaste he haue some aboute him which in time of peace desireth to haue warre, bicause they are not able without the same to liue, but in this, I wilbe a little more large: neither to seke a kingdome altogether good, but like vnto 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 cōtent to returne home, & to liue of their owne trades, it will follow of necessitie, that he ruinate: for that there is not found more perilous mē, 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 frō 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 haue saide) so long as they were wise and good, would neuer 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 auoide the same 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 mē 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 [Page] 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 Octauian firste, and after Tiberius, minding more there proper power, then the publicke profite, began to vnarme the Romaine people, to be able easely to commaunde them, & to kepe cōtinually those same armies on the frontries of the Empire: and bicause also they iudged those, not sufficient to kepe brideled the people and Romaine Senate, they ordeined an armie called Protoriano, 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 vse the seruice of warre for their arte, streight waie the insolence of theim grewe, that they became fearful vnto the Senate, and hurtefull to the Emperour, whereby ensued suche harme, that manie were slaine thorough there insolensie: for that they gaue, 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 diuers armies, of whiche thinges proceded first the deuision of the Empire, and at laste the ruine of the same. Therefore kinges ought, if thei wil liue safely, to haue there souldiours made of mē, who when it is time to make warre, willingly for his loue 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 liue of other arte then this: and so they ought to desire, peace beyng come, that there Prince doe tourne to gouerne their people, the gentilmen to the tending of there possessions, and the cōmon souldiours to their particular arte, and euerie one of these, to make warre to haue peace, and not to seke to trouble the peace, to haue warre.
Truely this reasonyng of yours, I thinke to bee well considered, [Page x] notwithstanding beyng almost contrarie to that, whiche till nowe I haue 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 selues in time of peace, thorough the studies of warre, as your matches bee, who haue prouision of there princes, and of the cominaltie. I see also, almost al the gentelmen of armes, remaine with their prouision, I see manie souldiours lie in garison of Cities and fortresses, so that my thinkes, that there is place in time of peace, for euerie one.
I doe not beleue that you beleue this, that in time of peace euerie man may haue 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 haue 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, vnto whome are ioyned 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 Iuly, and you haue shewed to euerie man, how muche are to be feared those, who will not learne to exercise any other art, then the warre, and you haue for there insolence, depriued them from your garde, and haue placed therin Swisers, as men borne & brought vp vnder lawes, and chosen of the cominaltie, according to the true election: so that saie no more, that in peace is place for euerie man. Cōcerning 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 [Page] they be men, who make thereof an arte, and of them their should grow euery daie a thousande inconueniencies in the states, where thei should be, if thei were accompanied of sufficient company: but beyng fewe, and not able by them selues to make an armie, they cannot often doe suche greuous hurtes, neuerthelesse they haue done oftētimes: as I haue said of Frances, and of Sforza his father, and of Braccio of Perugia: so that this vse of keping men of armes, I doe not alowe, for it is a corrupte maner, & it may make great inconueniencies.
Woulde you liue without them? or keping them, how would you kepe them?
By waie of ordinaunce, not like to those of the king of Fraūce: for as muche as they be perilous, and insolent like vnto ours, but I would kepe thē like vnto those of the auncient Romaines, whom created their chiualry of their own subiectes, & in peace time, thei sente thē home vnto their houses, to liue of their owne trades, as more largely before this reasoning ende, I shal dispute. So that if now this part of an armie, can liue in such exercise, as wel when it is peace, it groweth of the corrupt order. Cōcerning the prouisions, which are reserued to me, & to other capitaines, I saie vnto you, that this likewise is an order moste corrupted: for as much as a wise cōmon weale, ought not to giue such stipēdes to any, but rather thei ought to vse 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 giue to suche, or giuing 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 watre. And bicause you alledged me, I will make ensample vpon my self, & saie that I neuer vsed the warre as an arte, for as muche as my arte, is to gouerne my subiectes, and to defende them, & to be able to defende them, to loue peace, & to know how to [Page xj] 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 haue to coūcel him in peace. Then a king ought not to desire to haue about him, A kinge that [...]at [...] about him any that are to much souere of wa [...]e, or to much [...]ouere of peace [...] him to e [...]te. any that is not of this cōdicion if he be wise, and prudently minde to gouerne: for that, that if he shal haue about him either to muche louers of peace, or to much louers 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 vnderstand, how difficulte it is to bringe in vre the auncient maners in the presente warres, and what preparations are mete for a wise man to make, and what occasiōs ought to be loked for, to be able to execute it. But by & by, you shall know these things better, if this reasoning make you not werie, conferring what so euer partes of the auncient orders hath ben, to the maners nowe presente.
If we desired at the first to here your reason of these thinges, truly the same whiche hetherto you haue spoken, hath doubled our desire: wherefore we thanke you for y e we haue hard, & the rest, we craue of you to here▪
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 vnderstode, 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 euery enemy in the fielde, & to be able to ouercum an armie. To purpose to doe this, it is cōuenient 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 vnto the enemie, either standing or marching, they maie know how to behaue thēselues valiantly. In this thing consisteth all the industrie of the [Page] 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 neuer bring a warre to honor: for as muche as a fielde that thou winnest, doeth cancell all other thy euill 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 vnto the warre haue giuen rule, will that the menne be chosen out of temperate countries, to the intente they may haue hardines, and prudence, for as muche as the hote countrey, bredes prudente men and not hardy, the colde, hardy, and not prudēte. This rule is good to be geuē, 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 giue a rule, Oute of what Coūtrie is best to chuse Souldiours to make a good electiō. that euery one may vse, it is mete to declare, that euerie common weale, and euery kingdome, ought to choose their souldiours out of their owne countrie, whether it be hote, colde, or temperate: for that it is seene by olde ensamples, how that in euery coūtrie 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 haue of the choise, for choise is as much to saie, as the best of a prouince, & to haue power to chuse those that will not, as well as those that wil serue. Wherfore, you muste take your choise in those places, that are subiecte vnto 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.
Yet there maie bee of those, that will come, taken and lefte, and therefore, thei maie be called chosen.
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 subiectes, and whiche willyngly doe serue, are not of the beste, but rather of the worste of a Prouince, for as moche as if any be sclanderous, idell, vnruly, without Religion, fugetiue from the rule of their fathers, blasphemours, Dise plaiers, in euery condicion euill brought vp, bee those, whiche will serue, whose customes cannot be more contrarie, to a true and good seruise: Albeit, when there bee offered vnto you, so many of soche men, as come to aboue the nomber, that you haue appointed, 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 vp the nomber, whereof you haue 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 serue. Then consider now, what maners of those aunciente armies, maie bee brought into an armie of men, put togethet by like waies.
What waie ought to bee vsed then?
Thesame waie that I saied, to chuse them of their owne subiectes, and with the aucthoritie of the Prince.
In the chosen, shall there bee likewise brought in any auncient facion?
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 thesame tyme Capitaine, beyng a common weale, otherwise it is harde to make any thyng good.
Why?
I will tell you a nane: For [Page] this time I will that this suffise you, that it cannot be wrought well by other waie.
Hauing then to make this choyse of men in their owne countries, whether iudge you that it be better to take them oute of the citie, Whether it be better to take menne oute of townes or out of the countrie to serue. or out of the countrie?
Those that haue written of such matters, doe all agree, that it is best to chuse thē out of the coūtrie, being men accustomed to no ease, nurished in labours, vsed to stonde in the sunne, to flie the shadow, knowing how to occupy the spade, to make a diche, to carrie a burden, & to bee without any deceite, & without malisiousnes. But in this parte my opiniō should be, that beyng two sortes of souldiours, on foote, & on horsebacke, that those on foote, should be chosen out of the countrie, and those on horseback, oute of the Cities.
Of what age would you choose them? Of what age Souldiours ought to bee chosen.
I would take them, when I had to make a newe armie, from xvij. to xl. yeres: when it were made alredy, and I had to restore them, of xvij. alwaies.
I doe not vnderstonde well this distinction.
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 mē, which were most fitte & apte for the warre, so that they were of seruisable 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 xvij. yeres: for as much as the other of more age, be alredy chosen & apoincted.
Then woulde you prepare a power like to those whiche is in our countrie?
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 haue ordred them so.
Then do you praise the keping of order?
Wherefore would you that I should dispraise it?
Bicause many wise menne haue alwaies [Page xiij] blamed it.
You speake against all reason, to saie that a wise man blameth order, he maie bee well thought wise, and be nothyng so.
The naughtie profe, which it hath alwaies, maketh vs to haue soche opinion thereof.
Take hede it be not your fault, and not the kepyng of order, the whiche you shall knowe, before this reasonyng be ended.
You shall doe a thyng moste thankfull, yet I will saie concernyng thesame, that thei accuse it, to the entente you maie the better iustifie it. Thei saie thus, either it is vnprofitable, and we trustyng on the same, shall make vs to lese our state, or it shall be verteous, and by thesame meane, he that gouerneth may easely depriue vs thereof. Thei alledge the Romaines, who by meane of their owne powers, loste their libertie. Thei alledge the Venicians, & the Frenche king, whiche Venicians, bicause thei will not be constrained, to obeie one of their owne Citezeins, vse the power of straungers: and the Frenche kyng hath disarmed his people, to be able more easely to commaūde them, but thei whiche like not the ordinaunces, feare moche more the vnprofitablenesse, that thei suppose maie insue thereby, then any thyng els: the one cause whiche thei allege is, bicause thei are vnexperte: The other, for that thei haue to serue 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 neuer any thyng good.
All these reasons that you haue rehearsed, be of men, whiche knoweth the thyng full little, as I shall plainly declare. And firste, concernyng the vnprofitablenesse, I tell you, that there is no seruice vsed in any countrie more profitable, then the seruice by the Subiectes of thesame, nor thesame seruice cannot bee prepared, but in this maner: and for that this nedeth [Page] 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 experiēce, & to vse constraint: I saie how it is true, that the lacke of experience, causeth lacke of courage, and constrainte, maketh euill contentacion: but courage, and experience thei are made to gette, with the maner of armyng theim, By what meanes souldiours bee made bolde and experte. exercisyng, and orderyng theim, as in proceadyng of this reasonyng, you shall heare. But concernyng constrainte, you ought to vnderstande, 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 thinconueniencies, 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 haue 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 euil cōtentacion, that it make euill effectes. Yet I saie not for all this, that it cannot bee ouercome, for that full many tymes, were ouercome the Romaine armies, and the armie of Aniball was ouercome, so that it is seen, that an armie cannot be ordained so sure, that it cannot be ouerthrowen. Therefore, these your wise men, ought not to measure this vnprofitablenesse, for hauyng loste ones, but to beleue, that like as thei lese, so thei maie winne, and remeadie the occasion of the losse: and whē 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 haue saied, thei ought to prouide, not with blamyng the order, [Page xiiij] but with redressing it, the whiche how it ought to be doen, you shall vnderstande, 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 subiectes, giuen by the disposicion of order and lawe, did neuer 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 .viij. C. Many other citees haue been disarmed, and haue remained free, lesse then .xl. For as moche as citees haue nede of defence, and whē thei haue no defence of their owne, thei hire straungers, and the straunges defence, shall hurte moche souer the cōmon weale, then their owne: bicause thei be moche easier to be corrupted, and a citezein that becō meth mightie, maie moche soner vsurpe, 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 vseth straūgers power, A Citee that vseth the seruise of straungers, feareth at one instaunte the straungers, which it hireth and the citezens of thesame. 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 vseth her own proper power, feareth no man, other then onely her owne Citezein. But for all the reasons that maie bee saied, this shall serue me, that neuer any ordeined any common weale, or Kyngdome, that would not thinke. that thei theim selues, 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 haue made a new Monarchie in the world, whom so moche the more deserue blame, hauyng been armed of their first giuer of lawes: for hauyng no dominion on the lande, thei wer [Page] armed on the sea, where thei made their warre vertuously, and with weapons in their handes, increased their countrie. But when thei were driuen, to make warre on the lande, to defende Vicenza, where thei ought to haue sent one of their citezēs, to haue 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 heauen, and from enlargyng their dominion: and if thei did it, bicause thei beleued, that as thei knewe, how to make warre on the Sea, so thei mistrusted theim selues, 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 vsed to fight with the windes, with the water, and with mē, 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 y e sea. The Romaines 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 ouercame. If thei did it, for that one of their citezeins should not become a tiraunt, it was a feare smally cō sidered: for that besides thesame reasons, whiche to this purpose, a little afore I haue rehearsed, if a Citezein with the powers on the sea, was neuer made a tiraunt in a citee standyng in the sea, so moche the lesse he should haue 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 gouernement, whiche maketh tirannie in a citee, & thei hauyng good gouernement, thei nede not to feare their owne weapons: thei toke therefore an vnwise waie, the whiche hath been occasion, to take from thē moche glorie, and moche felicitie. Concernyng the erroure, [Page xv] 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 iudge this fault, to be in thesame kyngdome, and this negligence onely to make hym weake. But I haue made to greate a digression, and peraduenture am come out of my purpose, albeit, I haue 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 subictes: 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 haue red the orders, whiche those first kynges made in Rome, and inespecially Seruio 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 vs retourne to our choise, I saie againe, that hauyng to renewe an olde order, I would take them of .xvij. hauyng to make a newe armie, I would take them of all ages, betwene .xvij. and xl. to be able to warre straight waie.
Would you make any difference, of what science you would chuse them?
The aucthours, which haue written of the arte of warre, make difference, for that thei will not, that there bee taken Foulers, Fishers, Cookes, baudes, nor none that vse 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 coniecture of the science, Of what science soldiours ought to bee chosen. concernyng the goodnesse of the man, notwithstandyng, in as moche as to be able with more profite to vse theim, I would make difference, and for this cause, the countrie men, which are [Page] vsed to till the grounde, are more profitable then any other. Next to whom be Smithes, Carpentars, Ferrars, Masons, wherof it is profitable to haue enough: for that their occupacions, serue well in many thynges: beyng a thyng verie good to haue a souldiour, of whom maie be had double seruise.
Wherby doe thei knowe those, that be, or are not sufficient to serue.
I will speake of the maner of chusing a new ordinaūce, to make an armie after, for that, parte of this matter, doeth come also to be reasoned of, in the electiō, 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 experiēce, thorough meane of some of his worthy doynges, or by coniecture. The proofe of vertue, cannot be founde in men whiche are chosen of newe, and whiche neuer afore haue 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 coniecture, 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 haue willed, that the souldiour bee greate, emongest whō was Pirrus. Some other haue chosen theim onely, by the lustinesse of the body, as Cesar did: whiche lustinesse of bodie and mynde, is coniectured by the composicion of the members, and of the grace of the countenaunce: and therefore, How to chose a souldiour. these that write saie, that thei would haue the iyes liuely 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 aboue al [Page xvj] other. Regarde ought to bee had aboue 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 beleue 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 beleue it to bee necessarie, to the entente you maie the better vnderstande, the importaunce of this chosen, to tell you the maner, that the Romaine Consuls, in the beginnyng of their rule, obserued in the chosing of their Romain legiōs: 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 coniecture of the newe: and this ought to be noted, that these men be chosen, either to serue incontinently, or to exercise theim incontinently, and after to serue when nede should require. But my intencion is to shew you, how an armie maie be prepared in the coūtrie, where there is no warlike discipline: in which countrie, chosen men cannot be had, to vse thē straight waie, but there, where the custome is to leuie armies, and by meane of the Prince, thei maie then well bee had, as the Romaines obserued, and as is obserued 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 serue in the warlike orders, where the newe mingled together with the olde, make a bodie vnited and good, notwithstanding, that themperours after, beginning the staciones of ordinarie Souldiours, had appoincted ouer 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 [Page] 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 vsed in the fained exercise of warfare, that thei could easely worke in the true: but those Emperours hauyng after put doune these exercises, thei wer constrained to vse the waies, that I haue shewed you. Therefore, comyng to the maner of the chosen Romain, I saie that after the Romain Consulles (to whō 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 thē should haue twoo Legions of Romaine menne, whiche was the strength of their armies, thei created .xxiiij. Tribunes of warre, and thei appoincted sixe for euery Legion, whō 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 euery 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 Legiō, 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 fiueth, the fowerth remained to the seconde: and thus thei varied successiuely, 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 vse straighte [Page xvij] 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, & thei might make this choise by coniecture, 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, sauing by coniecture, whiche is taken by consideryng their ages and their likelinesse.
I beleue all to be true, as moche as of you hath been spokē: but before y t you procede to other reasonyng, I woll aske of you one thing, which you haue made me to remember: saiyng that the chosen, that is to be made where men were not vsed to warre, ought to be made by coniecture: for asmoche as I haue 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 giuen them some rewarde, whereby thei maie bee more contented, and better bee commaunded, whereof I would vnderstande in this parte your opinion, and whether you loue better the greate nomber, then the little, and what waie you would take to chuse theim [...]n the one, and in the other nomber.
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 the [...] propounded. I saie therefore firste, that the lesse nōber where is many people, as is for ensample. Tusca [...]e, maketh not that you haue better, nor that the chosen be more excellent, for that myndyng in chosing the menne, to iudge them by experience, there shall be founde in thesame countrie moste fewe, whom experience [Page] should make prouable, bothe for that fewe hath been in warre, as also for that of those, mooste fewe haue made triall, whereby thei might deserue to bee chosen before the other: so that he whiche ought in like places to chuse, it is mete he leaue a parte the experience, and take thē by coniecture. Then being brought likewise into soche necessitie, I would vnderstande, if there come before me twentie young men of good stature, with what rule I ought to take, or to leaue any: where without doubte, I beleue that euery 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 reserue 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 haue them better, is altogether naught.
Concernyng diseasing lesse the countrie, and men, I saie that the ordinaunce, either euill 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 wi [...] on the holy daies, thei stande idell [...] [...]pplyng houses, thei will go for pleasure to those exercises, for that the handlyng of weapons, as it is a goodly spectacle, so vnto yong men it is pleasaunt. Concernyng to bee able to paie the leaste 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 [Page xviij] it might be thought sufficient, to content them, it shal bee conuenient to giue theim at least, ten thousaunde crounes the moneth: first, this nomber of men are not able to make an armie, this paie is intollerable to a state, and of the other side, it is not sufficiente to kepe men contented, and bounde to be able to serue at al times: so that in doyng this, there shall be spent moche, and a small power kept, whiche shall not be sufficient to defēd thee, or to doe any enterprise of thine. If thou shouldest giue theim more, or shouldest take more, so moche more impossibilitie it should be, for thee to paie theim: if thou shouldest giue them lesse, or should take lesse, so moche the lesse contentacion should be sit thē, or so moche the lesse profite that shal bring thee. Therfore, those that reason of makyng an ordinaunce, and whilest thei tary at home to pa [...]e them, thei reason of a thing either impossible, or vnprofitable, but it is necessarie to paie them, when thei are taken vp to be led to the warre: albe [...], though soche order should somewhat disease those, in time of peace, that are appointted in the same, 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 haue the little nomber, to be able to paie them, or for any of the other causes alledged of you, doeth not vnderstande, for that also it maketh for my opinion, that euery nomber shall deminishe in thy handes, through infinite impedimentes, whiche men haue: so that the little nomber shall tourne to nothing: again hauyng thordinaunce greate, thou maiest at thy pleasure vse fewe of many, besides this, it must serue thee in deede, and in reputacion, and alwaies the great nō ber shall giue thee moste reputacion. More ouer, makyng the ordinaunce to kepe menne exercised, if thou appoincte a fewe nomber of men in many countries, the bandes of men bee so farre a sonder, the one from [Page] the other, that thou canst not without their moste greuous losse, gather them together to exercise them, and without this exercise, the ordinaunce is vnprofitable, as hereafter shall be declared.
It suffiseth vpon this my demaunde, that whiche you haue sai [...]: 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.
This is an other vaine opinion, the cause wherof, I shall tell you▪ soche as are ordeined to serue in the warres, maie cause disorder in twoo maners, either betwene them selues, or against other, whiche thinges moste easely maie be withstode, where the order of it self, should notwithstande it: for that concernyng the discorde emong theimselues, this order taketh it waie, and doeth not n [...]rishe it, for that in ordery [...]s them, you giue them armour and capitaines. If the countrie where you ordein them, bee so [...] for the warre, that there are not armours emong the men of thesame, and that that bee so vnited, that thei haue no heddes, this order maketh theim moche s [...]rser 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 vnarmed, nor thei can neuer alter, if the capitaines, which you giue 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 vnite them: bicause this order g [...] ueth them armours profitable for the w [...]rre, and h [...]ddes, extinguishers of discencion: where their owne armours bee vnprofitable for the warres, and their heddes nourishe us of discorde. For that so sone as any in the same countrie is offended, he resorteth by and by to his capitain to make complaint▪ who for to maintain his reputacion, comforteth hym to reuengement [Page xix] 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 vnion is prepared, and the prouinces vnited and effeminated, gette vtilitie, and maintain vnion: the disunited and discencious, doe agree, and the same their fearsnesse, which is wont disordinately to worke, is tourned into publike vtilitie. To minde to haue them, to doe no hurt against other, How to prouid againste soche inconueniences as souldiours maie [...]use. it ought to bee considered, that thei cannot dooe this, except by meane of the heddes, whiche gouerne them. To will that the heddes make no disorder, it is necessarie to haue care, that thei get not ouer them to much auctoritie. And you must consider that this auctoritie, is gotten either by nature, or by accidente: and as to nature, it behoueth to prouide, 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 euery yere the heddes maie be chaunged from gouernement to gouerment: for as muche as the continuall auctoritie ouer one sorte of menne, breedeth among them so muche vnion, that it maie turne easely to the preiudice of the Prince: whiche permutations howe profitable they be to those who haue vsed theim, and hurtefull to them that haue not obserued theim, it is well knowen by the kingdome of the Assirians, and by the Empire of the Romaines▪ where is seene, that thesame kingdome indured a M. yeres without tumulte, and without any Ciuill warre: whiche proceded not of other, then of the permutations, whiche from place to place euerie yere thesame Capitaines made, vnto whome were apoincted the charge of the Armies. The occasion of ciuill [...]re emong the Romaines. Nor for any other occasion in the Romaine Empire, after the bloud of Cesar was extinguished, there grewe so many ciuill warres, betwene the Capitaines of the hostes, and so many conspiracies of the [Page] forsaied capitaines against the Emperours, but onely for kepyng continually still those capitaines alwayes in one gouernement. And if in some of those firste Emperours, and of those after, whom helde the Empire with reputacion, as Adriane, Marcus, Seuerus, and soche like, there had been so moche foresight, that thei had brought this custome of chaungyng the capitaines in the same Empire, without doubte it should haue made theim more quiete, and more durable: For that the Capitaines should haue had lesse occasion to make tumultes, the Emperours lesse cause to feare, and the senate in the lackes of the successions, should haue had in the election of the Emperour, more aucthoritie, and by consequence should haue 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.
I cannot tell, if with my questionyng, I haue as it were led you out of your order, bicause frō the chusyng of men, we be entred into an other matter, & if I had not been a little before excused, I should thinke to deserue some reprehension.
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 haue 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 horse backe. Of the antiquitie, these were made of the moste richeste, hauyng regard bothe to the yeres, and to the qualitie of the man, The nomber of horsemen, that the Romaines chose for a Legion, and for a Cons [...]lles armie. and thei chose .CCC. for a Legion, so that the Romain horse, in euery Consulles armie, passed not the nomber of .vi.C.
Would you make an ordinaunce of hors, to exercise them at home, and to vse their seruice whē nede requires?
It is most necessary, and it cannot be doen [Page xx] otherwise, mindyng to haue the power, that it be the owne proper, and not to purpose to take of those, whiche make thereof an arte.
How would you chuse them?
I would imitate the Romaines, The choosyng and orderyng of horsemen, that is to bee obserued at this present. I would take of the richest, I would giue them heddes or chieftaines, in thesame maner, as now a daies to other is giuen, and I would arme them and exercise them.
To these should it bee well to giue some prouision?
Ye Marie, but so moche onely as is necessary, to kepe the horse, for as moche as bringyng to thy subiectes expenses, thei might iustly complaine of thee, therefore it should bee necessarie, to paie theim their charges of their horse.
What nomber would you make? and how would you arme them?
You passe into an other matter. I will tell you in conuenient place, whiche shalbe when I haue tolde you, howe foote menne ought to be armed, and how a power of menne is prepared, for a daie of battaile.
The seconde booke of the arte of warre, of Nicholas Machiauell, Citezeine and Secretarie of Florence, vnto Laurence Philip Strozze.
I Beleue that it is necessarie, menne being founde, to arme theim, and mindyng to doe this, I suppose that it is a needefull thyng to examine, what armoure the antiquitie vsed, and of thesame to chose the beste. The Romaines deuided their foote men in heauie and lighte armed: Those that were light armed, thei called by the name of veliti: Vnder this name were vnderstode all those that threwe with Slinges, shotte with Crossebowes, caste Dartes, and thei vsed the moste parte of them for their defence, to weare on their hedde a Murion, How the Romaines armed their souldiers and what weapons thei vsed with a Targaet on their arme: thei fought out of thorders, and farre of from the heauie armed, whiche did weare a hedde pece, that came doune to their shoulders, a Corselet, whiche with the tases came doune to the knees, and thei had the legges and the armes, couered with greaues, and vambraces, with a targaet on the left arme, a yarde and a halfe long, and three quarters of a yarde brode: which had a hoope of Iron vpon it, to bee able to sustaine a blowe, and an other vnder, to the intent, that it being driuē to the yearth, it should not breake: for to offende, thei had girte on their left flancke a swerde, the lēgth of a yarde and a naile, on their right side, a Dagger: thei had a darte in euery one of their hādes, the which thei called Pilo, and in the beginnyng of the fight, thei threwe those at the enemie. This was the orderyng, [Page xxj] and importaunce of tharmoures of the Romaines, by the whiche thei possessed al the worlde. And although some of these auncient writers gaue them, besides the forsaid weapōs, a staffe in their hand like vnto a Partesen, I cānot tel how a heuie staffe, maie of hym that holdeth a Targaet hee occupied: for that to handell it with bothe handes, the Targaet should be an impediment, & to occupy thesame with one hand, ther can be doen no good therwith, by reason of the weightinesse therof: besides this, to faight in y e thrōg, & in thorders with soche long kynde of weapon, it is vnprofitable, except in the first front, where thei haue space inough, to thrust out all the staffe, whiche in thorders within, cannot bee doen, for that the nature of the battaile (as in the order of thesame, I shall tell you) is continually to throng together, which although it be an incōuenience, yet in so doing thei feare lesse, thē to stand wide, where the perill is moste euident, so that all the weapons, which passe in length a yarde and a halfe, in the throng, be vnprofitable: for that, if a manne haue the Partesan, and will occupie it with bothe handes, put case that the Targaet lette hym not, he cannot hurte with the same an enemie, whō is vpon hym, if he take it with one hand, to thintent to occupie also the Targaet, being not able to take it, but in the middest, there remaineth so moche of the staffe behinde, that those whiche are behinde him, shall let him to welde it. And whether it wer true, either that y e Romaines had not this Partasē, or that hauing it, did little good withal, reade all the battailes, in the historie thereof, celebrated of Titus Liuius, and you shall se in thesame, most seldome tymes made mencion of Partasens, but rather alwaies he saieth, that the Dartes beyng throwen, thei laied their handes on their sweardes. Therfore I will leaue this staffe, and obserue, concernyng the Romaines, the swerde for to hurt, and for defence the Targaet, with the other armours aforesaied.
How the Grekes did arme theim selues, and what weapons thei vsed against their enemies.The Grekes did not arme theim selues so heauily, for their defence, as the Romaines did: but for to offend the enemies, thei grounded more on their staues, then on their swerdes, and in especially the Fallangy of Macedonia, whiche vsed staues, that thei called Sarisse, seuen yardes and a halfe longe, with the whiche thei opened the rankes of their enemies, and thei kept thorders in their Fallange. And although some writers saie, that thei had also the Targaet, I cannot tell (by the reasons aforesaied) how the Sarrisse and thei could stande together. Besides this, in the battaile that Paulus Emilius made, with Persa kyng of Macedonia, I doe not remember, that there is made any mencion of Targaettes, but onely of the Sarisse, & of the difficultie that the Romaine armie had, to ouercome theim: so that I coniecture, that a Macedonicall Fallange, was no otherwise, then is now a daies a battaile of Suizzers, the whiche in their pikes haue al their force, and all their power. The Romaines did garnishe (besides the armours) the footmen with feathers: A braue, and a terrible thyng to the enemies. the which thynges makes the sight of an armie to the frendes goodly, to the enemies terrible.
Howe the Romaines armed their horsemen in old tyme.The armour of the horsemen, in thesame first Romaine antiquitie, was a rounde Targaette, and thei had their hedde armed, and the reste vnarmed: Thei had a swearde and a staffe, with an Iron hedde onely before, long and small: whereby it happened, that thei were not able to staie the Targaette, and the staffe in the incountryng broke, and thei through beyng vnarmed, were subiect to hurtes: after, in processe of time, thei armed theim as the footemen, albeit thei vsed the Targaette moche shorter, square, and the staffe more stiffe: and with twoo heddes, to the entent, that breakyng one of the heddes, thei might preuaile with the other. With these armours as well on foote, as on horsebacke, the Romaines conquered all the worlde, and it is to be beleued, by the fruict thereof, whiche is [Page xxij] seen, that thei were the beste appoincted armies, that euer were: and Titus Liuius in his historie, doeth testifie very often, where comming to comparison with the enemies armies, he saieth: But the Romaines, by vertue, by the kinde of their armours, and practise in the seruice of warre, were superiours: and therfore I haue more particularly reasoned, of the armoures of conquerours, then of the cōquered. But now me thinkes good, to reason onely of the maner of armyng mē at this presente. Footemen haue for their defence, The maner of armyng menne now a daies. a breaste plate, and for to offende, a Launce, sixe yardes and thre quarters long, whiche is called a Pike, with a sweard on their side, rather round at the poinct, then sharpe. This is the ordinarie armyng of foote menne now a daies, for that fewe there be, whiche haue their legges armed, and their armes, the hedde none, and those fewe, heare in stede of a Pike, a Halberde, the staffe whereof as you knowe, is twoo yardes and a quarter longe, and it hath the Iron made like an axe. Betwene theim, thei haue Harkebutters, the whiche with the violence of the fire, doe thesame office, which in olde tyme the stingers did, and the Crossebowe [...] ters. This maner of armyng, The inuention of Pikes. was founde out by the Duchemenne, in especially of Suizzers, whom beyng poore, and desirous to liue free, thei were, and be constrained to faighte, with the ambition of the Princes of Almain, who beyng riche, were able to kepe h [...]se, the whiche thesame people could not doe for pouertie. Whereby it grewe, that beyng on foote, mynding to defende theim selues from the enemies, that were on horsebacke, it behoueth theim to seke of the aunciente orders, and to finde weapons, whiche from the furie of horses, should defende theim: This necessitie hath made either to be mainteined, or to be founde of them the aunciente orders, without whiche, as euery prudente man affirmeth, the footemen is altogether vnprofitable. Therefore, thei tooke for their weapon the [Page] Pike, a mooste profitable weapon, not onely to withstande horses, but to ouercome them: and the Duchemenne haue by vertue of these weapons, and of these orders, taken soche boldnesse, that .xv. or .xx. thousand of them, will assault the greatest nomber of horse that maie bee: and of this, there hath been seen experience inough, within this .xxv. yeres. And the insamples of their vertue hath been so mightie, grounded vpon these weapons, and these orders, that sence kyng Charles passed into Italie, euery nacion hath imitated them: so that the Spanishe armies, are become into moste greate reparacion.
Whiche maner of armyng, doe you praise moste, either these Duchmennes, or the auncient Romaines?
Whether the Romaines maner in armyng of men, be better then the armyng of men, that is vsed now a daies.The Romain without doubte, and I will tell you the commoditie, and the discommoditie of the one, and the other. The D [...]che foote men, are able to withstande, and ouercome the horses: thei bee mooste spedie to marche, and to bee set in araie, beyng not laden with armours▪ of the other part, thei be subiect to all blowes, bothe farre of, and [...] hande: bicause thei be vnarmed, thei be vnprofitable vnto the battaile on the lande, and to euery faighte, where is strong resistaunce. But the Romaines withstode, and ouercame the horses, as well as the Duchemen, ther were safe from blowes [...] hande, & farr [...] of, beyng [...]uere [...] with armours: thei w [...] also better able to charge, and better able to sustain charges, hauyng Targaettes: thei might more aptly in the [...]re [...]e might with the swerd, then these with the P [...]e, and though the Duchemen [...] likewise sw [...]des, [...] Targaettes, thei became in soche [...]ase vnprofitable▪ The Romaines might safely assault to [...]nes, hauyng their bodies cleane couered with armour, & beyng better able to coue [...] theim selues with their Targaettes: So that thei had a [...] other inco [...]tie, the [...] waights [...] [Page xxiij] of their armours, and the pain to cary thē: the whiche thinges thei ouercame, 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 haue to vnderstand this, that the footemen maie be constrained, to faight with footemen, and with horse, and alwaies those be vnprofitable, whiche cannot either sustain the horses, or beyng able to sustain them, haue 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 actiuitie (as we haue said) to ouercome the horses, but greate dissauauntage, when thei faighte with menne, ordeined as thei them selues are, and armed as the Romaines were: so that there shall be this aduauntage more of the one, then of thother, that the Romaines could ouercome the men, and the horses, the Duchemen onely the horses.
I would desire, that you would come to some more particulare insample, whereby wee maie better vnderstande.
I saie thus, that you shall finde in many places of our histories, the Romain footemen to haue ouercome innumerable horses, and you shall neuer finde, that thei haue been ouercome of men on foote, for default that thei haue 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 haue 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 haue gone still forwardes, with their conquestes, or that thei should haue taken the straungers maners, and should haue left their owne, and for that it folowed not in the one thing, nor in the other, there groweth that ther maie be easely cōiectured, [Page] 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 soeuer thei haue chaunsed to faight with men on foote prepared, and as obstinate as thei, the whiche is growen of the vaūtage, whiche thesame haue incountred in thenemies armours. An ensample whiche proueth that horsemen with staues, cā not preuaile against footemē with Pikes, & what great aduauntage the armed haue, againste the vnarmed. Philip Vicecounte of Milaine, being assaulted of .xviij. thousande Suizzers, sent against theim the Counte Carminuola, 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 Carminuola as a prudente man, knewe straight waie the puisaunce of the enemies weapons, and how moche against the horses thei preuailed, 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, The victory of Carminuola against the Duchemen. & in thesame maner faightyng with them, he slue theim all, excepte three thousande: the whiche seyng them selues to consume, with out hauyng reamedy, castyng their weapons to the grounde, yelded.
Whereof cometh so moche disauauntage?
I haue a little afore tolde you, but seyng that you haue not vnderstoode it, I will rehearse it againe. The Duchemen (as a little before I saied vnto you) as it were vnarmed, to defende themselues, haue 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 selues, as were the menne of armes of Carminuola, whiche made theim a lighte on foote, thei come with the sweard, and in their orders to find them, and haue no other difficultie, then to come nere to the Suizzers, so that thei maie reche them with the sweard, for that [Page xxiiij] so sone as thei haue gotten vnto thē, thei faight safely: for asmoche as the Duch man, cannot strike thenemie with the Pike, whō is vpon him, for the length of the staffe, wherefore it is conueniente for hym, to put the hande to the sweard, the whiche to hym is vnprofitable, he beyng vnarmed, and hauyng against hym an enemie, that is all armed. Whereby he that considereth the vantage, and the disauantage of the one, and of the other, shall see, how the vnarmed, shall haue no maner of remeady, and the ouercommyng of the firste faight, and to passe the firste poinctes of the Pikes, is not moche difficulte, he that faighteth beyng well armed: The battailes when thei [...]e a faightyng, doe thrōg together. for that the battailes go (as you shall better vnderstande, when I haue 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 ouerthrowen, those that remain on their feete, be so many, that thei suffice to obtaine the victorie. Hereof it grewe, that Carminuola ouercame them, with so greate slaughter of the Suizzers, and with little losse of his.
Consider that those of Carminuola, were men of armes, whom although thei wer on foote, thei were couered 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.
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 couered 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 giue you a little of a late ensample. There wer come out of Cicelie, into the kyngdome of Naples, a power [Page] of Spaniardes, for to go to finde Consaluo, 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 the with the swearde, whereby happened the death, almoste of all theim, and the victorie to the Spaniardes. Euery man knoweth, how many Duchemen were slaine in the battaile of Rauenna, the whiche happened by the verie same occasion: for that the Spanishe souldiours, got them within a swerdes length of the Duche souldiours, & thei had destroied them all, if of the Frenche horsemen, the Duchemen on foote, had not been succored: notwithstandyng, the Spaniardes close together, brought themselues 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 haue fear of menne on foote, the which (as I haue many tymes saied) procedeth of the armours, and of the order.
Tell therefore, how you would arme thē?
How to arme men, and what weapons to appoincte theim, after the Romaine maner, and Duche ta [...]ion.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 haue thre thousande men with Targaettes, after the Romain maner, and two thousande Pikes, and a thousand Harkebutters, after the Duche facion, thei should suffice 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 serue me to make a backe to the Pikes, and to winne the battaile, as I [Page xxv] shall shew you: so that I beleue, that a power thus ordained, should ouercum at this daie, any other power.
This whiche hath been saied, suffiseth cō cernyng footemen, but concernyng horsemen, we desire to vnderstande, whiche you thinke more stronger armed, either owers, or the antiquitie?
I beleue that in these daies, hauing respect to the Saddelles bolstered, and to the stiroppes not vsed of thantiquitie, thei stande more strongly on horsebacke, then in the olde tyme: I thinke also thei arme them more sure: so that at this daie, a bande of men of armes, paisyng very moche, cometh to bee with more difficultie withstoode, then were the horsemen of olde time: notwithstanding for all this, I iudge, that there ought not to be made more accompt of horses, then in old tyme was made, for that (as afore is said) many times in our daies, thei haue with the footemen receiued shame, and shall receiue alwaies, where thei incounter, with a power of footemen armed, and ordered, as aboue hath been declared. The victorie of Lucullo, againste Tigrane kyng of Armenia. Tigrane kyng of Armenia, had againste the armie of the Romaines, whereof was capitain Lucullo, Cl. thousande horsemen, emongeste the whiche, were many armed, like vnto our men of armes, which thei called Catatratti, and of the other part, the Romaines were aboute sixe thousande, with .xxv. thousande footemen: so that Tigrane seyng the armie of the enemies, saied: these bee horses inough for an imbassage: notwithstanding, incounteryng together, he was ouerthrowen: and he that writeth of thesame fight, dispraiseth those Catafratti, declaryng them to bee vnprofitable: for that he saieth, bicause thei had their faces couered, thei hadde moche adoe to see, and to offende the enemie, and thei fallyng, beeyng laden with armour, could not rise vp again, nor welde thē selues in any maner to preuaile. I saie therefore, that those people or kingdomes, whiche shall esteme more the power of horses, then the power [Page] of footemen be alwaies weake, and subiect to all ruine, as by Italie hath been seen in our tyme, the whiche hath been taken, ruinated, and ouer run with straungers, through no other faulte, then for hauyng taken little care, of the seruise on foote, and beeyng brought the souldiours thereof, al on horsebacke. Yet there ought to be had horses, but for seconde, and not for first foundation of an armie: for that to make a discouery, For what purpose horsemen be most requi [...]e. to ouer run, and to destroie the enemies countrie, and to kepe troubled and disquieted, the armie of thesame, and in their armours alwaies, to let them of their victualles, thei are necessarie, and moste profitable: but concerning for the daie of battaile, and for the faight in the fielde, whiche is the importaunce of the warre, and the ende, for whiche the armies are ordeined, thei are more meter to folowe the enemie beeyng discomfited, then to doe any other thing, whiche in the same is to bee doen, and thei bee in comparison, to the footemen, moche inferiour.
There is happened vnto me two doubtes, the one, where I knowe, that the Parthians did not vse in the warre, other the [...] horses, and yet thei deuided the worlde with the Romaines: the other is, that I would that you should shewe, how the horsemen cā be withstoode of footemen, and whereof groweth the strength of these, and the debilitie of those?
Either I haue told you, or I minded to tell you, how that my reasoning of the affaires of warre, ought not to passe the boundes of Europe: when thus it is, I am not bounde vnto you, to make accoumpt of thesame, whiche is vsed in Asia, yet I muste saie vnto you thus, that the warring of the Parthians, was altogether contrary, to thesame of the Romaines: for as moche as the Parthians, warred all on horsebacke, and in the faight, thei proceded confusedly, and scattered, and it was a maner of faight vnstable, and full of vncertaintie. The Romaines were (it maie be saied) [Page xxvj] almoste al on foote, and thei fought close together and sure, and thei ouercame diuersly, the one the other, according to the largenesse, or straightnesse of the situacion: 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, whiche thei had to defende, the which was moste large: for as moche as it hath the sea coaste, distant a thousande miles, the riuers thone frō thother, twoo or three daies iourney, the tounes in like maner and the inhabitauntes fewe: so that a Romaine armie heauie and slowe, by meanes of their armoures, and their orders, could not ouer run it, without their greuous 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 preuaile with their c [...]ualrie onely, bothe to the ruine of the armie of Crassus, and to the perill of thesame, of Marcus Antonius: but I (as I haue told you) doe not intende in this my reasonyng, to speake of the warfare out of Europe, therfore I will stand vpon thesame, whiche in times past, the Romaines ordained, and the Grekes, and as the Duchemen doe now adaies. But let vs se to the other question of yours, where you desire to vnderstande, what order, or what naturall vertue makes, that the footemen ouercome the horsmen. And I saie vnto you first that the horses cannot go, The reasō why footmen are able to ouerc [...] horsemen. as the footmen in euery 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 moue themselues standing stil, or goyng to stand still, without doubt, the horsemen cannot dooe it so redilie as the footement: the horsemen cannot, being of some violēce, disordained, returne in their orders, but with difficultie, although thesame violēce cease, the whiche [Page] the footemen dooe moste easely and quickly. Besides this, it happeneth many tymes, that a hardie manne shall be vpon a vile horse, and a coward vpon a good, whereby it foloweth, that this euill matchyng of stomackes, makes disorder. Nor no man doeth maruell, that a bande of footemenne, susteineth all violence of horses: for that a horse is a beaste, that hath sence, and knoweth the perilies, 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 the [...] 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, inuinsible 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 vpon 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 proue to run a horse against a walle: you shall finde fewe, with what so euer furie he come withall, will strike against it. Cesar hauyng in Fraunce, to faighte with the Suizzers, a lighted, and made euery manne a light on foote, and to auoide from the armes, the horses, as a thyng more meete to [...]le, then to faight. But notwithstandyng these naturall impedimentes, whiche horses haue, thesame Capitaine, How footmen maie saue them selues from horsemen. whiche leadeth the footemen, ought to chuse waies, whiche haue for horse, the moste impedimētes that maie bee, and seldome tymes it happeneth, but [Page xxvij] that a manne maie saue hymself, by the qualitie of the countrie: for that if thou marche on the hilles, y e situacion doeth saue thee from thesame furie, whereof you doubt, y t thei go withall in the plain, fewe plaines be, whiche through the tillage, or by meanes of the woddes, doe not assure thee: for that euery hillocke, euery bācke, although it be but small, taketh awaie thesame heate, and euery 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 euery 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 haue had, to chuse either so rough a place to saue theim selues from horses, where thei should not haue been able, to raūge their orders, or a place where thei should haue nede, to feare more of horses, but ben able to destende their battaile, alwaies thei toke this, and left that: but bicause it is tyme, to passe to the armie, hauing armed these souldiours, accordyng to the aunciente and newe vse, let vs 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 neuer any souldiour good: these exercises ought to be deuided into three partes, the one, The exercise of Souldiours, ought to be deuided into thre partes. 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 thē, 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, & faight with order, and expertly, the Capitaine leseth not his [Page] honoure, although the battaile should haue no good ende. Therfore, all thauncient common weales, prouided these exercises in maner, by custome, & by lawe, that there should not be left behinde any part thereof. Thei exercised then their youth, What exercises the aunciēt common weale [...] vsed to exercise their youth in, & what commoditie insued thereby. for to make thē 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 vnloked for, and at vnwares to pursue them, when thei are discomfaicted: the readinesse, maketh theim apte to auoide a blowe, to leape ouer 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 aboue all, to make the bodie the more apte to take paines, thei vsed 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 auoided a perill, nor a victorie gotten with fame. Concernyng to learne how to handell the weapons, How the antiquitie, learned their yong soldiours, to handell their we [...] pons. thei exercised theim, in this maner: thei would haue the yong menne, to put on armour, whiche should waie twise as moche, as their field armour, and in stede of a swearde, thei gaue them a cudgell leaded, whiche in comparison of a verie swearde in deede, was moste heauie: thei made for euery one of them, a poste to be set vp 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 stur 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 [Page xxviij] he retired backe, an other while he made for [...] warde: and thei had in this exercise, this aduertismēt, to make theim apt to couer theim selues, and to hurte the enemie: and hauyng the counterfaight armours moste heauy, their ordinarie armours semed after vnto thē more lighter. The Romaines, 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 maruaile that these auncient men, should thinke on these small thynges, for that where the incounteryng of men is reasoned of, you shall perceiue, that euery little vauntage, is of greate importaunce: and I remember you thesame, whiche the writers of this declare, rather then I to teache you. What [...] mos [...] [...] in a common weale. The antiquitie estemed nothing more happie, in a cōmon 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 themselues vnto 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 haue learned to dooe. The antiquitie would therefore, that their Citezeins should exercise themselues, in all marcial feates, and thei made them to throwe against thesame poste, dartes moche heuier 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 y e long bowe, to whorle with the sting: Monster Maisters, for thexe [...] cisyng of yong men vnexpecte. and to all these thynges, thei appoincted maisters, in soche maner, that after when thei were chosen for to [Page] go to the warre, thei were now with mynde and disposicion, souldiours. Nor there remained thē to learn other, then to go in the orders, and to maintain them selues in those, either marchyng, or faightyng: The whiche moste easely thei learned, mingeling themselues with those, whiche had long tyme serued, whereby thei kn [...]we how to stande in the orders.
What exercises would you cause theim to make at this present?
The exercises that souldiers ought to make in these daies.A good many of those, whiche haue been declared, as runnyng, and wrestlyng, makyng theim to leape, makyng theim to labour in armours, moche heauier then the ordinarie, making them shoote with Crosse bowes, and longe bowes, wherevnto I would ioyne the harkabus, a newe instrumēt (as you know) verie necessarie, & to these exercises I would vse, al the youth of my state, but with greater industrie, & more sollicitatenesse thesame parte, whiche I should haue alreadie appoincted to serue, and alwaies in the idell daies, The exercise of swimmyng. 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 ouer riuers, hoates be not alwaies readie: so that thy army not knowyng howe to swime, remaineth depriued 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 selues in Campus Martius, then onely, for that hauyng Tiber at hande, Tiber, is a [...]i [...] r cunnyng through Rome the water wherof will neuer corrupte. thei might, beyng weried with the exercise on lande, refreshe theim selues in the water, and partly in swimmyng, to exercise them selues. I would make also, as the antiquitie, those whiche should serue on horsebacke to exercise, the whiche is moste necessarie, for that besides to know how to ride, thei muste knowe how on horsebacke, Thexercise of dautyng, and the commoditie thereof. thei maie preuaile of thē selues. And for this thei had ordeined horses of wood, vpon the which thei practised, to leape vp [Page xxix] armed, and vnarmed, without any helpe, and on euery hande: the whiche made, that atones, and at a b [...]ck of a capitain, the horsmen were on foote, and likewise at a token, thei moūted 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 liue like maners with this order. An order that is taken in certain countries, cōcerning exercises of warre. Thei deuide all their inhabiters into diuers partes: and euery parte thei name of the kinde of those weapons, that thei vse in the warre. And for that thei vse 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, euery order maketh a choise of men, and thei call them the sworen, whom in idell daies, be bounde to exercise themselues in those weapons, wherof thei be named: and euery 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 vs, to take any good waie. Of these exercises there grewe, that the antiquitie had good souldious, 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 subiectes, and for that we are not able to binde thē [Page] to other exercises then thei them selues 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, liue in soche debilitie. But let vs tourne to our order, and folowyng this matter of exercises, I saie, how it suffiseth not to make good armies, for hauyng hardened the men, made them strong, swift, and handsome, where it is nedefull also, What knowlege a Souldiour ought to haue. 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 thē selues, goyng forwardes, bothe faightyng, and marchyng to maintain those: bicause without this knowlege, withal serious diligence obserued, and practised, there was neuer armie good: and without doubt, the fierce and disordered menne, bee moche more weaker, then the fearfull that are ordered, for that thorder driueth awaie frō men feare, the disorder abateth fiercenesse. And to the entente you maie the better perceiue that, whiche here folowyng shalbe declared, you haue to vnderstande, how euery nacion, in the orderyng of their men to the warre, haue made in their hoste, or in their armie, a principall member, the whiche though thei haue varied with the name, thei haue little varied with the nomber of the menne: for that thei all haue made it, betwene sixe and .viij.M. men. This nomber of men was called of the Romaines, a Legion, of Grekes a Fallange, of Frenchemen Caterna: this verie same in our tyme of the Suizzers, whom onely of the aunciēt warfare, kepe some shadowe, is called in their tongue that, whiche in ours signifieth the maine battaile. True it is, that euery one of them, hath after deuided it, accordyng to their purposes. Therefore me thinkes beste, that wee grounde our talke, vpon 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 deuided [Page xxx] their Legion, A Co [...]e [...] hande c [...]m [...]. whiche was made betwene fiue and sixe thousande men, in ten Cohortes, I will that wee deuide our maine battaile, into ten battailes, Of what [...]oe [...] & of what [...]an [...] of armou [...] & weapons, [...] maine batt [...]il [...] ought to bee, and the distributing and appoinctyng of thesame. and that we make it of sixe thousande menne on foote, and we will giue to euery battaile .CCCCl. men, of whiche shall be .CCCC. armed with heauie armour, and .L. with light armour: the heauie 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 the ten battailes therefore, Veliti are lig [...] armed men. comes to haue three thousande Targaet men, a thousande ordinarie Pikes .CCCC. ordinarie Veliti, all whiche make the nomber of fower thousande and fiue hundred men. And we saied, that we would make the maine battaile of sixe thousande: therefore there must be added an other thousande, fiue hundred men, of the whiche I will appoinct a thousande with Pikes, whō I will call extraordinarie Pikes, and fiue hundred light armed, whom I will call extraordinarie Veliti: and thus my menne should come (as a little before I haue saied) to bee made halfe of Targaetes, and halfe of Pikes and other weapons. I would appoincte to euerie battaile, or bande of men, a Conestable, The capitaines that ar appoincted to euery hand of [...]. fower Centurions, and fouretie peticapitaines, and moreouer a hedde to the ordinarie Veliti, with fiue peticapitaines: I would giue to the thousande extraordinarie Pikes, three Conestabelles, ten Centurions, and a hundred peticapitaines: to thextraordinarie Veliti, two Conestabelles, v. Centurions, and .l. peticapitaines: I would then apoinct a generall hed, ouer all the main battaile: I would that euery Conestable should haue an Ansigne, and a Drum. Thus there should be made a maine battaile of ten battailes, of three thousande Targaet men, of a thousande ordinarie Pikes, [Page] of a thousande extraordinarie, of fiue hundred ordinarie Veliti, of fiue hundred extraordinarie, so there should come to bee sixe thousande men, emongeste the whiche there should bee M.D. peticapitaines, & moreouer .xv. Conestables, with .xv. Drummes, and .xv. Ansignes, lv. Centurions, x. heddes of the ordinarie Veliti, and a Capitaine ouer all the maine battaile, with his Ansigne and Drume: and I haue 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 confoū ded: I saie therefore, how that, that king, or that common weale, whiche intendeth to ordeine their subiectes 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 haue ordained them, according to the forsaid distribucion, minding to exercise them in the orders, it should suffice to exercise euery battaile by it self: and although the nomber of the men, of euery one of them: cannot by it self, make the facion of a iuste armie, notwithstandyng, euery man maie learne to dooe thesame, whiche particularly appertaineth vnto hym: Twoo orders obserued in an armie. for that in the armies, twoo orders is obserued, the one, thesame that the men ought to doe in euery 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 obserue the seconde: But without knowyng thesame, thei can neuer come to the knowlege of the seconde. Then (as I haue saied) euery one of these battailes, maie by them selues, learne to kepe the orders of the arai [...]s, in euery qualitie of mouyng, and of place, and after learne to put them selues togethers, to vnderstande the soundes, by meanes wherof in the faight thei are commaunded, to learne to know by that, as the Gallies by the whistell, what ought to [Page xxxj] 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 mouyng maie disorder them, vnderstandyng 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 haue said) beyng brought many together, learne to do that, whiche all the body together, with the other battailes in a iuste armie, is bounde to dooe. And bicause soche vniuersall 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 giue it the faciō 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, How a captain muste inst [...] his souldiours how thei ought to gouerne thē selues in [...] battaile. that thei maie knowe how to marche, & to faight, whē nede should require, shewyng to his souldiours, how thei should gouerne theim selues, 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, & where thei ought to retire: being ouerthrowen, who hath to succeade in their places, to what signes, to what soundes, to what voices, thei ought to obeie, and to practise thē 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 appoincted: For as moche as if I be one of the first faighters, & do knowe, [Page] beyng ouercome, 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 driuen backe, and ouerthrowen, I shall not bee afraied, for that I shall haue presuposed that I maie bee, and I shall haue desire to be thesame, whiche maie giue 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 Iosephus in his historie saieth, that the cōtinuall 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 haue 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 seuerally by themselues, as of all the armie, is made nothing: wherefore the orders beyng necessarie, it is conueniente with double industrie and laboure, to shewe them vnto soche as knoweth thē not, and for to teache it, many excellent capitaines haue trauailed, without any respecte.
My thinkes that this reasoning, hath sumwhat transported you: for asmoche, as hauyng not yet declared the waies, with the whiche the battailes bee exercised, you haue reasoned of the whole armie, and of the daie of battaile.
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 vre: notwithstanding, [Page xxxij] doubt not but that I will tourne to the purpose: as I haue saied, The chi [...]f importance in the exercisyng of bandes of m [...]n the chief importaunce that is in thexercise of the battailes, is to knowe how to kepe well the arraies: and bicause I tolde you that one of these battailes, ought to bee made of fower hundred men heauie armed, I wil staie my self vpon this nomber. Thei ought then to be brought into .lxxx. rankes, and fiue 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 euery manne, whom is practised in seruise of warre, knoweth how this order procedeth, whiche is good for no other, then to vse the souldiours to keepe the raie: but let vs come to putte together one of these battailes, I saie, Three principall facions for thorderyng of menne into battaile [...]a [...]e. that there is giuen them three faciōs principally, the firste, and the moste profitablest is, to make al massiue, & to giue 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, thone is to double the rankes, The maner how to bryng a hande of m [...]n into batta [...]l [...] [...]e [...]e afte [...] [...] square f [...]c [...]. that is, to make the seconde ranke enter into the first, the .iiij. into the third, the sixt into the fift, & so foorth, so that where there was .lxxx. rankes, fiue [...]o 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 towardes the hedde, thei ioine 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 haue [Page] 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 flā kes, 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 iyes iuste, how it ought to bee ordeined. I beleue that you remember of what nomber of menne, of what heddes it is made, and of what armours thei are armed: The better waie for the ordring of a band of men in battaile ra [...]e, after the first facion. then the facion, that this battaile ought to haue, is (as I haue saied) of twentie rankes, twentie men to a ranke, fiue rankes of Pikes in the front, and fiftene rankes of Targaettes on the backe, twoo Centurions standyng 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 fiue rankes of the Pikes, and the fiftene of the Targaettes. Of the Peticapitaines, there shall stande one vpon euery side of the ranckes, so that euery one, maie haue on his side his men, those peticapitaines, whiche shalbe on the left hande, to haue their men on the right hand, those Peticapitaines, whiche shall be on the right hand, to haue 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 conuenient to order them thus. Make the men to be brought into .lxxx. rankes, fiue to a ranke, as a little afore we haue said, leauyng the Veliti either at the hedde, or at the taile, so that thei stande out of this order: and it ought to be [Page xxxiij] ordeined, that euery Cēturion haue behinde his back twentie rankes, and to bee nexte behinde euery Centurion, fiue 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 vnderstande, that the Peticapitaine, whiche hath to leade the Pikes, ought to haue a Pike, and those that leade the Targaettes, ought to haue like weapons. Then the rankes beyng brought into this order, and mindyng in marchyng, to bryng thē 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 euen 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 euen 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 be 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 iuste, as a little afore I haue shewed you. The Veliti muste stande along, by the flankes of thesame, accordyng as is disposed in the [...]r [...] waie, whiche waie is called redoublyng by right [Page] 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 fiue maketh ten, ten twentie, twētie fourtie, so that with redoublyng by right line, you cannot make a hedde of fiftene, nor of fiue and twentie, nor of thirtie, nor of fiue and thirtie, but you must go where thesame nomber will leade you. And yet it happeneth euery daie in particulare affaires, that it is conuenient 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, & with exercise to bee made easie. Therefore I saie vnto you, how it importeth more then any thyng, to haue the souldiours to know how to set themselues 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 expect souldiours, and although thei haue neuer seen enemies in the face, thei maie be called old souldiours, and contrariwise, those whiche cannot keepe these orders, though thei haue 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 haue this battaile full of countersignes, [Page xxxiiij] the other, to keepe alwaies this order, how to exercyse men, & to take soche order, wherby a band of mē that wer by what soeuer chāce disordred maye straighte wai be b [...]ought into order againe. that those same men maie stand alwaies in y e ranke, which thei were firste placed in: as for insample, if one haue 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 obseruyng whereof (as I haue 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 haue plumes of fethers in their heddes differente, and easie to be knowen, and that whiche importeth moste, is to ordaine that the peticapitaines hee knowen. Wherevnto the antiquitie had so moche care, that thei would haue nothing els written in their hedde peces, but the nomber that thei were named by, callyng them firste, seconde, thirde, and fourthe. &c. And yet thei were not cōtented with this, but made euery souldiour to haue written in his Targaet, the nomber of the ranke, and the nomber of the place, in whiche ranke he was appoincted. Then the menne being countersigned thus, and vsed to stande betwene these limites, it is an easie thyng, thei beyng disordered, to fettt 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 [Page] difficultie are forgotten: for that the newe menne, be led of the olde, and with tyme, a Prouince with these exercises, may become throughly practised in the war. It is also necessarie to teache theim, to tourne theim selues 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 euery 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 conuenient, that practise, and discrecion, doe place thē as thei ought to be: but this is small disorder, for that moste easely by themselues, 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 haue greate practise, and greate discrecion: bicause mindyng to tourne, What aduertisement ought to bee vsed in tourning about a whole bande of menne, after soche sorte, as though it were but one bodie. 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 driuen to faight not by hedde, but either by flanck [...], or by backe, so that a battaile muste in a s [...]daine make of flancke, or of backe, hedde: and mindyng that like battailes in soche race, maie haue their Proporcion, as aboue is declared, it is necessarie, that thei haue the Pikes on thesame flancke, that ought to be h [...]dde, and the Pe [...]icapitaines, Centurions, [Page xxxv] and Conestables, to resorte accordyngly to their places. Therefore to mynde to dooe this, How to o [...]er a band o [...] [...]nne after soc [...] [...] that [...] make the [...] [...] against [...] [...] of whiche flanke the [...] [...]st. in plasyng them together, you must ordeine the fowerskore rankes, of fine in a ranke, thus: Set all the Pikes in the first twentie rankes, and place the Peticapitaines thereof, fiue in the first places, and fiue 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 euery Centuriō, would be Peticapitaines, the Conestable with the Ansigne, and with the Drumme, muste stande in the middest of the first Centurie of Targaettes, & the Centurions in the hed of euery Centurie. The bande thus ordained, when you would haue the Pikes to come on the left flancke, you must redouble Centurie by Centurie, on the right flancke: if you would haue them to come on the right flancke, you must redouble theim on the lefte. And so this battaile tourneth with the Pikes vpon 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 euery m [...]n 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 euery man is in his place, excepte the Centurions, and the Centurions straight waie, and without difficultie, place themselues: How a band of men oughte to be order [...], whē in marchyng thei should bee constrained to faight on their backes. But when thei in marchyng, should bee driuen to faight on the backe, it is conuenient 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, euery Centurie hath fiue rankes of Pikes before, to cause that thei maie haue them behind, and in all the other partes to obserue thorder, whiche I declared firste.
You haue 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, serueth to be able to order theim selues in the same: But if it should happen, that these .CCCCL. men, should haue to doe an acte seperate, how would you order them?
He that leadeth them, ought then to iudge, where he will place the Pikes, and there to put them, the whiche doeth not repugne in any part to the order aboue written: for that also, though thesame bee the maner, that is obserued to faighte a fielde, together with thother battailes, notwithstandyng it is a rule, whiche serueth to all those waies, wherein a band of menne should happen to haue 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 neuer vsed, or thei are vsed when a battaile is a lone, and not in companie of other, and to come to the waie of ordering them, with twoo hornes, How a battaile to made with twoo hornes. I saie, that thou oughteste to order the lxxx. rankes, fiue 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 fiue, there must be put in the twentie folowyng, twentie Peticapitaines, all betwene the pikes, and the Targaettes, excepte those whiche beare the Pike, whō maie stand with the Pikes: after these xxv. rākes thus ordered, there is to be placed an other Centurion, and behinde hym fiftene rankes of Targaettes: after these, the Conestable betwene the Drū and the Ansigne, who also must haue after him, other fiftene rankes of Targaettes: after this, the thirde Centurion must be placed, and behinde hym, xxv. rā kes, in euery one of whiche, ought to bee three Targaettes on the lefte flancke, and twoo Pikes on the [Page xxxvj] right, and after the fiue first rankes, there must be .xx. Peticapitaines placed betwene the Pikes, and the Targaettes: after these rankes, the towerth Centurion must folowe. Intendyng 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 moue, with the fiftene rankes of Targaettes, that bee behinde hym, and to tourne on the right hande, and vp by the right flancke of the .xxv. rankes, to go so farre, that he arriue to the .xv. ranke, and there to stande still: after, the Conestable muste moue, with the fiftene rankes of Targaettes, whiche be behinde hym, and tournyng likewise on the right hande, vp by the right flancke of the fiftene rankes, that wer firste moued, muste marche so farre, that he come to their heddes, and there to stand stil: after, the thirde Centurion muste moue with the xxv. rankes, and with the fowerth Centurion, whiche was behinde, and turnyng vp 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 euen with the rankes behinde. And this dooen, the Centurion, whiche was bedde 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, vpō euery side of the frōt, one horn, and euery one, shall haue ten rankes, fiue 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 euery poinct of a horne, a Centurion: There shall bee also behinde, on euery corner, a Centurion: there shalbe twoo rankes [Page] of Pikes, and .xx. Peticapitaines on euery flancke. These twoo hornes, serue to kepe betwene theim the artillerie, when this battaile should haue any with it, and the cariages: The Veliti muste stande along the flankes, T [...]e orderyng [...] battaile [...] a voide sp [...] in the middest [...]. vnder 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 neuer the Artillerie, the whiche is placed either in the front, or a long the flankes. These be the waies, that a battaile maie vse whē it is constrained to passe alone through suspected places: notwithstandyng, the massiue battaile without hornes, and without any soche voide place is better, yet purposyng to assure the disarmed, thesame horned battaile is necessarie. The Suizzers make also many facions of battailes, emong which, thei make one like vnto 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 selues, and my intente is to shew, how many battailes vnited, do faight with thenemie, I wil not labour further in describing thē.
My thinkes I haue verie well comprehended the waie, that ought to be kept to exercise the mē in these battailes: But (if I remember me well) you haue saied, how that besides the tenne battailes, you ioyne to the maine battaile, a thousande extraordinarie Pikes, and fiue hundred extraordinarie Veliti: will you not appoincte these to be exercised.
I would haue theim to bee exercised, and that with moste great diligence: & the Pikes I would exercise, at leaste Ansigne after Ansigne, in the orders of the battailes, as the other: For as moche as these [Page xxxvij] should doe me more seruise, To what purpose the Pikes and Velite extraordinarie must se [...]e. then the ordinarie battailes, in all particulare affaires: as to make guides, to get b [...]ties, 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 m [...]te, 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 selues in these battailes, whereby thei maie knowe how to keepe the raie, to knowe their places, to tourne quickly, when either enemie, or situacion troubleth them: for that, wh [...]n 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 whē a Prince, or a common weale, will take the paine, and will vse 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 giue, and not receiue the lawes of other men: but (as I haue saied) the disorder wherein thei liue, maketh that thei neclecte, and doe not esteme those thynges, and therefore our armies be not good: and yet though there were either hed, or member naturally vertuous, thei cannot shewe it.
What carriages would you, that euery one of these battailes should haue? Neither Centurion nor P [...] ticapitaine, ought not to ride. What carriages the Capitaines ought to haue, and the member of c [...] tages requi [...]e to euery band [...] of m [...]ne.
Firste, I would that neither Centurion, nor Peticapitain, should be suffered to ride: and if the Con [...]stable would nedes ride, I would that he should haue a Mule, and not a horse, I would allowe hym twoo carriages, & one to euery Centurion, and twoo to euery three Peticapitaines, for that so many wee lodge in a lodgyng, as in the place therof we shall tell you: So that euery battaile will come to haue .xxxvi. [Page] carriages, the whiche I would should carrie of necessitie the tentes, the vesselles to seeth meate, axes, barres of Iron, sufficient to make the lodynges, and then if thei can carry any other thyng, thei maie dooe it at their pleasure.
I beleue that the heddes of you, ordeined in euery one of these battailes, be necessarie: albeit, I would doubt, [...] that so many commaunders, should confounde all.
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 gouerne an armie: Without many capitaines, an armie cānot be gouerned. for that a wall, whiche [...]n euery parte encl [...]neth, requireth rather to haue many proppes, and thicke, although not so strong, then fewe, though thei were strong: b [...]cause the vertue of one alone, doeth not remedie the [...]uin [...] a farre of. And therefore in tharmies, and [...]mong euery ten men, it is conuenient that there bee o [...]e, of more [...], 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 H [...]ddes, the Ansignes, and the Drummes, is seen that wee haue 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 haue said) that there [...] differente, betwene euery one of them and their mē, and that thei longe 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 r [...]ies straight and steddie, and it is impossible that th [...] disorder, or disor [...]eryng, dooe not r [...]duc [...] themselues quickly into their places. But we now adaies, doe not vse them to other purpose, then to giue theim more wages, then to other menne, and to cause that thei dooe some particulare feate: The very same [Page xxxviij] happeneth of the Ansigne bearers, for that thei are kept rather to make a faire muster, then for any other warlike vse: but the antiquitie vsed theim for guides, To what purpose Ansignes ought to ser [...]. and to bryng theim selues againe into order: for that euery man, so sone as the Ansigne stoode still, knewe the place, that be kept nere to his Ansigne, whervnto he retourned alwaies: thei knewe also, how that the same mouyng, or standyng, thei should staie, or moue: therfore it is necessarie in an armie, that there be many bodies, and euery bande of menne to haue his Ansigne, and his guide: wherfore hauyng this, it is mete that thei haue stomackes inough, and by consequence life enough. Then the menne ought to marche, accordyng to the Ansigne: and the Ansigne to moue, accordyng to the Drumme, For what purpose Drummes oughte to bee vsed. 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, euen so an armie obeiyng, in mouyng 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 diuers, so diuersly thei named them: the sounde Dorico, The propertie that soūdes of instrumentes haue in men [...] myndes. 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 euery man maie varie, and ordeine after his owne facion, so that with practise, he accustome the eares of his souldiours [Page] to knowe it: But now adaies of this sounde, there is no other fruicte taken for the moste part, then to make a rumour.
I would desire to vnderstande of you, if euer with your self you haue discourced, whereof groweth so moche vilenesse, and so moche disorder, and so moche necligence in these daies of this exercise?
A notable discourse of the aucthour, declaryng whereof groweth so moche vilenes disorder & necligence in these daies, concernyng the exer [...]ses of warre.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, haue had not passe 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, Artasereses, Mithridates: and verie fewe other, that to these maie be compared. In Africk, is named (lettyng stande thesame auncient Egipt) Massinissa, Iugurta, and those Capitaines, whiche of the Carthaginens common weale were nourished, whom also in respecte to those of Europe, are moste fewer bicause in Europe, be excellente men without no [...]ber, 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 mo [...]e vertuous, where hath been moste states, whiche haue fauoured vertue of necessitie, or for other humaine passion. There rose therfore in Asia, fewe excellente menne: bicause thesame Prouince, was all vnder one kyngdome, in the whiche for the greatnesse thereof, thesame standing for the moste parte of tyme well, th [...]re could not grewe men in doynges [Page xxxix] excellent. To Africke there happened the verie same, yet there were nourished more then in Asia, by reason of the Carthaginēs common weale: for that in cōmon weales, there growe more excellent men, then in kingdomes: bicause in common weales for he 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 haue been full of common weales, and of princedomes, the whiche for feare, that the one had of the other, thei wer constrained to kepe liuely the warlike orders, and to honor them, whiche in those moste preuailed: for that in Grece, besides the kyngdome of the Macedonians, there were many common weales, and in euery 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 ouercome, 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 [Page] Empire beyng after increased, and hauyng extingushed 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 extinglished 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 deuided into many partes, this vertue is not renued: The one cause is, The causes why the aunciente orders are neclected. for that it greueth theim moche, to take againe the orders when thei are marde, the other, bicause the maner of liuyng now adaies, hauing respect to the Christian religion, commaundeth not thesame necessitie to menne, to defende themselues, whiche in olde tyme was: for that then, the menne ouercome in warre, either were killed, or remained perpetuall slaues, where thei led their liues moste miserably: The tounes ouercome, either were rased, or the inhabiters thereof driuen 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 driuē to kepe liuely 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 ouercom, 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 haue rebelled, are not destroied, the men wherof, are let alone with their goodes, so that the greateste hurte that is feared, is but a taske: in so moche, that men will not submit them selues [Page xl] to the orders of warre, and to abide alwaies vnder those, to auoide the perilles whereof thei are little afraied: again these Prouinces of Europe, be vnder 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 ouercometh, and the strong states, for the causes aforesaied, feare no soche extreme ruine.
Yet ther hath ben seen many tounes that haue ben sacked within this .xxv. yeres, and lost their dominiōs, whose insample, ought to teache other how to liue, and to take again some of those old orders.
You saie true: but if you note what tounes haue gone to sacke, you shall not finde that thei haue 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, Rauenna, and not Roome: the whiche insamples maketh those that gouerne, 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 selues to the troubles of thexercises of warre, semyng vnto them partly not necessarie, partly, an intrinsicate matter, whiche thei vnderstande not: Those other, whiche bee subiectes to them, whom soche insamples ought to make afraied, haue no power to remedie it: and those Princes, that haue ones loste their estates, are no more able, & those which as yet kepe thē, 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 gouerneth all thynges. And thei will haue it to rule theim, not thei to rule it. And to proue this that I haue discoursed to bee tr [...], consider Almaine, in the whiche, bicause there is many Princedomes, and common weales, there is moche [Page] vertue, and all thesame, whiche in the present seruice of warre is good, dependeth of the insamples of those people: who beyng all gellious of their states, fearing seruitude, the which in other places is not feared, thei all maintaine theim selues Lordes, and honourable: this that I haue saied, shall suffice to shewe the occacions of the presente vtilitie, accordyng to my opiniō: I cannot tell, whether it seeme thesame vnto you, or whether there be growen in you any doubtyng.
None, but rather I vnderstande all verie well: onely I desire tournyng to our principall matter, to vnderstande of you, how you would ordein the horses with these battailes, and how many, and how thei should be gouerned, and how armed.
You thinke perauenture, that I haue left it behinde: whereat doe not maruell, 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 seruice of warre, is lesse corrupted, then thesame of footemen. For that though it be not stronger then the old, yet it maie cōpare with thesame, neuertheles ther hath been spoken a little afore, of the maner of exercisyng them. The armyng of horsemen. And cōcernyng 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, The weapons that light horsmenne should haue. 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 driue 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, The nomber of horsmen requisite for a maine battaile of sixe thousand men. I saie, that hauing taken in hand, to imitate the seruice of warre of the Romaines, I would not ordein more then three hundred horse, profitable for euery maine battaile, of whiche I [Page xlj] would that there were. CL. men of armes, and .CL. light horsmen, and I would giue to euery one of these partes, a hedde, making after emong them fiftene peticapitaines for a bande, giuyng to euery one of them a Trompet, and a standarde: The nomber of carrages that men of armes and light horsmen ought to haue. I would that euery ten menne of armes, should haue fiue carriages, and euery ten light horsemen twoo, the whiche as those of the footemen, should carrie the tentes, the vesselles, and the ares, and the stakes, and the rest of their other harnets. Nor beleue not but that it is disorder, where the menne of armes haue to their seruice fower horse, bicause soche a thyng is a corrupt vse: for that the men of armes in Almaine, are seen to bee with their horse alone, euery twentie of theim, hauyng onely a carte, that carrieth after them their necessary thynges. The Romaine horsemen, were likewise a lone: true it is, that the Triarij lodged nere them, whiche wer bound to minister helpe vnto theim, in the kepyng of their horses: the whiche maie easely be imitated of vs, 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 fight of assault, the whiche should be more to make thē acquainted together, then for any other necessitie. But now of this part, there hath been spoken sufficiently, wherefore let vs 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 of the arte of warre, of Nicholas Machiauell, Citezeine and Secretarie of Florence, vnto Laurence Philip Strozze.
SEing that we chaunge reasonyng, I will that the demaūder be chaunged: bicause I would not be thought presumptuous, the which I haue alwaies blamed ī other: therfore, I resigne the Dictatorship, and giue this aucthoritie to hym that will haue it, of these my other frendes.
We would be moste glad, that you should procede, but seyng that you will not, yet tell at leaste, whiche of vs shall succede in your place.
I will giue this charge to signor 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.
Then it falleth to you Luigi: & as I haue pleasure of soche a successour, so you shal satisfie your self of soche a demaunder: therefore I praie you, let vs tourne to the matter, and let vs lese no more tyme.
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, [Page xlij] you your selues, beeyng able to rede, and to consider these thynges, by meanes of the auncient writers, I will passe ouer many particulars: and I will onely bryng in those thynges, whiche I thinke necessarie to imitate, mindyng at this tyme, to giue to our exercise of warre, some parte of perfection: The whiche shall make, that in one instante, 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, The greateste disorder that is vsed now a daies in pitching of a fielde. that thei make, whiche ordeine an armie to the fielde, is in giuing them onely one fronte, and to binde them to one brunt, and to one fortune: the whiche groweth, of hauyng loste the waie, that the antiquitie vsed to receiue 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 obserued. Therefore, The order how a Romain Legion was appoincted to faight. purposyng to shewe this waie, I saie, how that the Romaines deuided into .iij. partes euery Legion, in Hastati, Prencipi, and Triarij, of which, the Hastati wer placed in the first front, or forward of the armie, with thorders thicke & sure, behinde whō wer the Prencipi, but placed with their orders more thinne: after these, thei set the Triarij, & with so moche thinnes of orders, y t thei might, if nede wer, receiue 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 hed of tharmie, betwene the horses and the other bandes of footemen: therefore these light armed, began the faight, if thei ouercame (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 thē selues emong the vnarmed: after y e departure of whō, [Page] the Hastati incountered with the enemie, the whiche if thei saw themselues to be ouercome, 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 Triarij, and al together on a heape, began againe the faight: and then, if thei were ouercome, 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, & somewhiles thei fought with the enemies horses, an other while, thei rescued the fotmen, according as nede required. This waie of renuyng theim selues three tymes, is almoste impossible to ouercome: for that, fortume muste three tymes forsake thee, and the enemie to haue so moche strengthe, that three tymes he maie ouercome thee. The Grekes, had not in their Falangi, this maner of renuyng them selues, and although in those wer many heddes, and many orders, notwithstandyng, thei made one bodie, The maner that the Grekes vsed in their Falangi, whē thei fought against their enemies. 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 Falāge 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 successiuely, in a sodaine [Page xliij] 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, hauyng 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 cō sumed, then broken, for that the grosse bodie, made it more immouable. The Romaines vsed at the beginnyng the Falangi, & did set in order their Legiōs like vnto them: after, this order pleased them not, and thei deuided the Legions into many bodies, that is, in bā des and companies: Bicause thei iudged (as a little afore I saied) that thesame bodie, should haue neede of many capitaines, and that it should be made of sunderie partes, so that euery one by it self, might be gouerned. The maine battailes of the Suizzers, The order that the Suizzers vse in their main batta [...]les whē thei faight vse 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 haue no waie, that the firste retiryng it self, maie bee receiued of the seconde, but thei vse 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 haue nede of helpe, that then the other maie make forewarde, and succour it: the third main battaile, thei put behind these, but distant from thē, a Harkebus shot: this thei doe, for that the said two main battailes being repulced, this maie make forwarde, and haue space for theim selues, and for the repulced, and thesame that marcheth forward, to auoide the iustling of the one the other: for asmoche as a grosse multitude, cannot bee receiued as a little bodie; and therefore, the little bodies beyng destincts, [Page] whiche were in a Romaine Legion, might be placed in soche wise, that thei might receiue betwene theim, and rescue the one the other. And to proue 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 haue said afore) and this waie of renuyng themselues, could do more, then the massiuenesse of the Falangi. Hauyng therefore, with these insamples to ordaine an armie, I haue thought good, partly to retaine the maner of armyng and the orders of the Grekes Falangi, and partely of the Romain Legions: Howe to appoincte a main battaile with armour & weapons, and to order thesame after the Greke & Romain maner and therfore I haue saied, that I would haue 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 haue deuided the main battaile, into .x. battailes, as the Romaines their Legion into ten Cohortes: I haue ordeined the Veliti, that is the light armed to begin the faight, as the Romaines vsed: and like as the weapons beyng mingled, doe participate of thone and of the other nacion, so the orders also doe participate: I haue ordained, that euery battaile shall haue 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, hauing in the firste fronte, or vawarde, Pikes, as well as the enemie, the whiche shall suffice me to withstande thē, the Targaettes after to ouercome 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, & whē thei come against the footemenne, thei dooe their office well, before the faight throng together, bicause so sone as thei presse together, thei become vnprofitable: wherefore, the [Page xliiij] Suizzers to auoide this inconuenience, put after euery three rankes of Pikes, a ranke of Halberdes, the whiche thei doe to make rome to the Pikes, whiche is not yet so moche as suffiseth. Then putting our pikes afore, and the Targaettes behinde, thei come to with stande the horses, and in the beginnyng of the faight, thei opon the raies, and moleste the footemenne: But when the faight is thruste together, and that thei become vnprofitable, the Targaettes and swerdes succede, whiche maie in euery narowe place be handled.
We loke now with desire to vnderstande, how you would ordein the armie to faight the fielde, with these weapons, and with these ordere.
And I will not now shewe you other, then this: you haue to vnderstande, how that in an ordinarie Romaine armie, whiche thei call a Consull armie, The nomber of men that was in a Consulles armie. there were no more, then twoo Legions of Romaine Citezeins, whiche were sixe hundred horse, and about a leuen thousande footemen: thei had besides as many mo footemen and horsemen, whiche were sente them from their friendes and confiderates, whom thei diuided into twoo partes, & called the one, the right horne and the other the left horne: nor thei neuer permitted, that these aidyng footemen, should passe the nomber of the footemen of their Legions, thei were well contented, that the nomber of those horse, should be more then theirs: with this armie, which was of .xxij. thousande footemen, and about two thousande good horse, a Consull executed all affaires, and went to all enterprises: yet when it was nedefull to set against a greater force, twoo Consulles ioined together with twoo armies. You ought also to note in especially, that in all the three principall actes, whiche an armie doeth, that is, to marche, to incampe, and to faight, Howe the Romainies pl [...] their Legiōs in the fielde. the Romaines vsed to put their Legions in the middeste, for that thei would, that thesame power, wherein thei moste trusted, should be moste vntied, as in the reasonyng [Page] of these three actes, shall be shewed you: those aidyng footemen, through the practise thei had with the Legion Souldious, were as profitable, as thei, bicause thei were instructed, accordyng as the souldiors of the Legions were, and therefore, in like maner in pitching the field, thei pitched. Then, he that knoweth how the Romaines disposed a Legion in their armie, to faight a fielde, knoweth how thei disposed all: therfore, hauyng tolde you, how thei deuided a Legion into three bandes, and how the one bande receiued the other, I haue then told you, how al tharmie in a field, was ordained. Wherfore, I minding to ordain a field like vnto the Romaines, as thei had twoo Legions, I will take .ij. main battailes, & these beyng disposed, the disposicion of all an armie shalbe vnderstode therby: bicause in ioynyng more men, there is no other to be doen, then to ingrosse thorders: I think I nede not to rehearse how many men a main battaile hath, and how it hath tenne battailes, and what heddes bee in a battaile, and what weapons thei haue, and whiche be the ordinarie Pikes and Veliti, and whiche the extraordinarie: for that a little afore I tolde you it destinctly, and I willed you to kepe it in memorie, as a necessarie thing to purpose, to vnderstande all the other orders: How to order an army in the fielde to faight a battaile, accordyng to the mynde of the aucthour. and therefore I will come to the demonstracion of the order, without repeatyng it any more: Me thinkes good, that the ten battailes of one main battaile, be set on the left flancke, and the tenne other, of the other main battaile, on the right: these that are placed on the left flancke, be ordeined in this maner, there is put fiue battaile, the one to the side of the other in the fronte, after soche sorte, that betwene 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 fiue battailes, I would put three other, distante by right line from the firste, thirtie yardes: twoo of the whiche, should come [Page xlv] behinde by right line, to the vttermoste of the fiue, and the other should kepe the space in the middeste, and so these three, shall come to occupie for bredth and lēgth, as moche space, as the fiue doeth. But where the fiue haue betwene the one, and the other, a distaunce of three yardes, these shall haue 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 vttermoste part of the three, so that the space, whiche should remain betwen the one and the other, should be .lxviij. yardes: then al these battailes thus ordered, will take in bredth .Cvi. yardes, and in length .CL. Thextraordinarie Pikes, How the extraordinary pikes bee placed in the set battaile. I would destende a long the flanckes of these battailes, on the left side, distante from them fiftene yardes, makyng .Cxliij. rankes, seuen to a ranke, after soche sorte, that thei maie impale with their length, all the left side 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 vnarmed, 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, The place where thextraordinarie archars and harkabutters, and the men of armes and light [...] horsmen ought to stande when the field is pitched, and goeth to faighte the battaile. I saie how that I would place nere to the extraordinarie pikes, the Veliti extraordinarie, whiche you knowe to be fiue hundred, and I would giue 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 haue a space of a .Cxij. yardes: after these, the light horsemen, to whom I would appoinct as moche ground to stande in, as the menne of armes haue: the [Page] ordinarie veliti, The ordinarie a [...]chars & harkebutters are placed aboute their owne battailes. I would leaue about their owne battailes, who should stand in those spaces, whiche I appoincte betwene thone battaile & thother: whō should be as their ministers, if sometyme I thought not good to place them vnder the extraordinarie Pikes: in dooyng or not doyng whereof, I would proceade, accordyng as should tourne best to my purpose. The place where the generall hedde of a maine battaile muste stande, when thesame power of men is appoincted to faight. 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 fiue, and the extraordinarie Pikes, accordyng as beste should serue my purpose, with thirtie or fourtie chosen men about hym, What menne a general capi [...]ain of a maine [...]attaile oughte to haue aboute 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, & in length as moche as aboue is saied, not accomptyng the space, that thesame parte of the extraordinarie Pikes will take, whiche muste make a defence for the vnarmed, whiche will bee aboute .lxxv. yardes: the other maine battaile, I would dispose on the righte side, after the same maner iuste, as I haue disposed that on the lefte, leauyng betwene the one main battaile, and thother, a space of .xxij. yardes: in the hedde of whiche space, I would set some little carriages of artillerie, The place wher a general capitain of all the armie must stand when the battaile is ready to be fought and what nomber of chosen men oughte to be aboute hym. behynde the whiche, should stande the generall capitaine of all the armie, and should haue about hym with the Trū pet, 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 needs [Page xlvj] should require. The artillerie of the armie, How many canons is requisite for an army and of what [...]se thei ought to bee. suffiseth tenne Cannons, for the winnyng of Tounes, whose shotte should not passe fiftie pounde: the whiche in the fielde, should serue me more for defence of the campe, then for to faight the battaile: The other artillerie, should bee rather of tenne, then of fiftene pounde the shotte: Where the artillerie ought [...] to bee placed, whē tharmy is redie to faight. this I would place afore on the fronte of al the armie, if sometyme the countrie should not stande in soche wise, that I mighte place it by the flancke in a sure place, where it might not of the enemie be in daū ger: this faciō of an armie thus ordred, An armie that wer ordered an aboue is declared, maie in faightyng, vse the Grekes maner, and the Romaine facion. maie in faighting, vse the order of the Falangi, and the order of the Romain Legions: for that in the fronte, be Pikes, all the menne bee set in the rankes, after soche sorte, that incounteryng with the enemie, & withstandyng him, maie after the vse of the Falangi, restore the first rankes, with those behinde: on the other parte, if thei bee charged so sore, that thei be constrained to breake the orders, and to retire themselues, thei maie enter into the voide places of the seconde battailes, whiche thei haue behinde them, and vnite their selues with them, and makyng a newe force, withstand the enemie, and ouercome hym: and when this sufficeth not, thei maie in the verie same maner, retire themselues the second tyme, and the thirde faight: so that in this order, concernyng to faight, there is to renue themselues, bothe accordyng to the Greke maner, and accordyng to the Romaine: concernyng the strength of tharmie, there cannot be ordained a more stronger: for as moche, as the one and the other horne thereof, is excedingly wel replenished, bothe with heddes and weapōs, nor there remaineth weake, other then the parte behinde of the vnarmed, and thesame also, hath the flanckes impaled with the extraordinarie Pikes: nor the enemie cā not of any parte assaulte it, where he shall not finde it well appoincted, and the hinder part cannot be assaulted: Bicause there cannot bee an enemie, that hath so [Page] moche puisaunce, whom equally maie assault thee on euery side: for that he hauyng so greate a power, thou oughtest not then to matche thy self in the fielde with hym: but when he were three tymes more then thou, and as well appoincted as thou, he doeth weaken him self in assaultyng thee in diuers places, one part that thou breakest, will cause all the reste goe to nought: concerning horses, although he chaunce to haue more then thine, thou nedest not to feare: for that the orders of the Pikes, whiche impale thee, defende thee from all violence of them, although thy horses were repulced. The heddes besides this, be disposed in soch place, that thei maie easely commaunde, and obeie: the spaces that bee betwene the one battaile, To what purpose the spaces that be betwen euery bande of men doe serue. and the other, and betwene the one order, and the other, not onely serue to bee able to receiue the one the other, but also to giue place to the messengers, whiche should go and come by order of the capitain. And as I told you first, how the Romaines had for an armie, aboute fower and twentie thousande menne, euen so this ought to bee: and as the other souldiours tooke insample of the Legions, for the maner of faightyng, and the facion of tharmie, so those souldiors, which you should ioyne to our twoo maine battailes, ought to take the forme and order of them: wherof hauyng put you an insample, it is an easie matter to imitate it, for that increasyng, either twoo other maine battailes vnto the armie, or as many other souldiours, as thei bee, there is no other to bee dooen, then to double the orders, and where was put tenne battailes on the lefte parte, to put twentie, either ingrossyng, or distendyng the orders, accordyng as the place, or the enemie should compell thee.
Surely sir I imagine in soche wise of this armie, that me thinkes I now se it, and I burne with a desire to se it incounter, and I would for nothing in the world, that you should become Fabius Maximus [Page xlvij] 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.
Doubt not: The descript [...] on of a battail [...] that is a faightyng. Doe you not heare the artillerie? Ours haue 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 merueilous furie, and greateste crie that maie be, thei assaulte the enemie: whose artillerie hath discharged ones, and hath passed ouer the heddes of our footemen, without doyng thē any hurt, and bicause it cannot shoote the seconde tyme, the Veliti, and our horsemen, haue nowe gotten it, and the enemies for to defende it, are come forewarde, so that neither our ordinaunce, nor thenemies, can any more doe their office. Se with how moche vertue, stengthe 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 haue 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 giue the charge on the aduersarie: See our artillerie, whiche to giue theim place, and to leaue 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 iniurie to the aduersaries: behold how the armies be affronted. Se with how moche valiaūtnesse thei haue withstode the violence of thenemies, & 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 giue the charge on a band of the enemies Harkebutters, whiche would haue hurt our [Page] men by flancke, and how the enemies horse haue 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 cā no more be occupied: so that according to the knowlege learned of vs, our pikes do retire a little & a little betwen the targaettes. Se how in this while a great bande of men of armes of the enemies, haue charged our men of armes on the lefte side, and how ours, accordyng to knowlege, bee retired vnder the extraordinarie Pikes, and with the help of those, giuing again a freshe charge, haue repulced the aduersaries, & 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 hauyng 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 sease welde their sweardes? Behold with how moche furie the enemies moue: bicause beyng armed with the pike, and with the swerd vnprofitable (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. Haue 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 ouercome theim: in this part, I haue no other to saie vnto you, then to resolue if any doubt be growen you.
You haue with so moche furie wonne this fielde, that I so moche meruaile and am so astonied, that I beleue that I am not able to expresse, if any [Page xlivij] doubt remain in my mynde: yet trustyng in your prudence; I will be so bolde to tell thesame that I vnderstande. Tell me firste, why made you not your ordinaunce to shoote more then ones? Questions cō cerning the shotyng of ordinaunce. And why straighte waie you made them to retire into tharmie, nor after made no mension of them? Me thought also, that you leueled the artillerie of the enemie high, & appoincted it after your owne deuise: the whiche might very well bee, yet when it should happen, as I beleue it chaunseth often, that thei strike the rankes, what reamedie haue you? And seyng that I haue begun of the artillerie, I will finishe all this question, to the intente I nede not to reason therof any more. I haue 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 vnprofitable, hauyng respecte to the furie of the artillerie: bicause, this breaketh the orders, and passeth the armours in soche wise, that it semeth vnto them a foolishenesse to make an order, whiche cannot bee kepte, and to take pain to beare a harneis, that cannot defende a man.
This question of yours (bicause it hath many heddes) hath neede of a long aunswere. It is true, An aunswere to the questions that we [...]e demaunded, concernyng the shoting of ordinaunce. that I made not thartillery to shoote more then 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 haue to vnderstande, 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 bankt: 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 awaie to defende thē, to finde some mean, [Page] by the whiche thei maie be least hurte: nor thei cannot finde any other waie, then to preuente it quickly: the waie to preuent 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 the same marche hastely, it goweth out of order: if it go scattered, the enemie shall haue 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 hauyng 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 ordināce to shoote again, to the intente, to giue no tyme to the enemie to shoote: Bicause space could not be giuen 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 haue suffered the enemie to haue shot at al, The best remedie to auoide the hurte that the enemie in the fielde maie doe with his ordinaunce. if I had could: seyng that to mynde that the enemies artillerie be vnprofitable, 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 leaue it behind, so that being possessed of enemies, and of frendes, it cannot shoote. I would beleue, that with out insamples these reasons should suffice you, yet beyng able to shewe olde ensamples, to proue my saiynges true, I will. Ventidio commyng to faight a field with the Parthians, A policie against bowes and dartes. whose strēgth 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 preuent them: and not to giue them space to shoote. Cesar when he was in Fraunce, maketh mencion, [Page xlix] 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 preuente it. An other cause moued me to procede, without shotyng the ordinaunce, whereat peraduenture you will laugh: yet I iudge not that it is to be dispraised. Nothyng causeth greater cō fusion in an armie, thā to hinder mennes sightes. Ther is nothyng that causeth greater confusiō in an armie, then to hinder mennes sightes: whereby many moste puisaunte armies haue been broken, by meanes their sighte hath been letted, either with duste, or with the Sunne: yet there is nothyng, Nothing more blindeth the sight of men in an armie, then the smoke o [...] ordinaunce. 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 beyng blind) to go to finde hym: for this cause, either I would not shote, or (for that this should not be proued, 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. A policie to trouble the enemies sight. And to proue that it is a profitable thyng, to let the sight of the enemie, there maie be brought for insample Epaminondas, whō 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 vp the duste, and to lette their sight, whereby he gotte the victorie. And where it semeth vnto you, that I haue guided the shot of the artillerie, after my owne deuise, The shotte of greate ordinaunce in the fielde, is not moche to bee feared of fotemenne. making it to passe ouer the heddes of my men, I answer you, that most often tymes, and without cōparison, the greate ordinaunce misse the footemen, moche soner then hitte theim: for that the footemen are so lowe, and those so difficult to [Page] shoote, that euery little that thou raisest theim, thei passe ouer the heddes of men: and if thei be leueled neuer so little to lowe, thei strike in the yearth, and the blowe cometh not to theim: also the vneuenesse of the grounde saueth them, for that euery little hillocke, or high place that is, betwene the men and thordinance, letteth the shot therof. Bicause menne of armes stand closer together then light horsmen, thei ought to remaine behinde the armie till the enemies ordinaūce haue doen shootyng. 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 strokē, thei maie, vntill the artillerie haue 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 neuer 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 leaue the waie free for the battaile: I made no more mencion of theim, as of a thyng vnprofitable, the faight beyng begun. You haue also saied, that consideryng the violence of this instrumēt, many iudge the armours, and the auncient orders to be to no purpose, and it semeth by this your talke, that men now a daies, haue 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 neuer sawe any, nor I beleue that there can any be founde: so that I would vnderstande of soche men, for what cause the souldiours on foote in these daies, weare the breastplate, or [Page l] the corselet of steele, and thei on horsebacke go all armed: bicause seyng that thei blame the aunciente armyng of men as vnprofitable, considryng the artillery, thei ought to despise also this? I would vnderstāde moreouer, for what occasion the Suizzers, like vnto the auncient orders, make a battaile close together of sixe, or eight thousande menne, and for what occasion all other haue imitated theim, this order bearyng the verie same perill, concernyng the artillerie, that those other should beare, whiche should imitate the antiquitie. I beleue thei should not knowe what to answere: but if you should aske soche Souldiours, as had some iudgement, 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 wēt close together, like the Suizzers, to be able more easely to ouerthrow the footemen, to be able to withstand better the horse and to giue more difficultie to the enemie to breake thē: so that it is seen, that the souldiours haue to feare many other thynges besides the ordinance: frō 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 the same opinion, that you saie, it behoueth 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 vsed now a daies, that is the pike, and so little a parte of those orders, as are the maine battailes of the Suizzers, dooe vs so moche good, and cause our armies to bee so strong, why ought not we to beleue, that the other armours, and thother orders whiche are lefte, be profitable? Seyng that if we haue [Page] no regard to the artillerie, in puttyng our selues close together, as the Suizzers, what other orders maie make vs more to feare thesame? For as moche as no order can cause vs 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 preuente 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, The artillerie is no let, why the auncient orders of warfar ought not to be vsed in these daies. where I maie quickly preuent it? So that I conclude thus, that the artillerie, according to my opiniō, doeth not let, that the aunciente maners cannot be vsed, and to shewe the auncient vertue: and if I had not talked alreadie with you of this instrument, I would of thesame, declare vnto you more at lēgth: but I will remit my self to that, whiche then I saied.
Wee maie now vnderstande verie well, how moche you haue aboute the artillerie discoursed: and in conclusion, my thinkes you haue shewed, that the preuētyng it quickly, is the greatest remedie, that maie be had for thesame, beyng in the fielde, and hauyng an armie againste you. Vpon 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 preuēted. You haue (if you remēber your self well) in the orderyng of your armie to faight, made distaunces of three yardes, betwene the one battaile & the other, makyng those distaunces fiftene, whiche is from the battailes, to thextraordinarie pikes: if thenemie, shuld order his armie like vnto yours, and should putte the artillerie a good waie within those spaces, I beleue that from thens, it should hurte you with their moste greate safegard: bicause menne can not enter into the [Page lj] force of their enemies to preuent it.
You doubt moste prudently, and I will deuise with my self, either to resolue you the doubte, or shewe you the remedie: I haue tolde you, that continually these battailes, either through goyng, or thorowe faightyng, are mouyng, 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 vp, after soche sort, that the artillerie cannot any more shoote: if you make theim large, to auoide this perill, you incurre into a greater, where you through those distances, not onely giue commoditie to the enemie, to take frō you the artillerie, but to breake you: but you haue to vnderstande, 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 hauyng to go and to shoote, it is necessary, before their shote, that thei tourne, and for to tourne theim, thei will haue so moche space, that fiftie cartes of artillerie, would disorder any armie: therfore, it is mete to kepe thē out of the bādes, where thei may be ouercome in the maner, as a little afore we haue shewed: but admit thei might be kept, and that there might be found a waie betwen bothe, & of soche condicion, that the presyng together, of men should not hinder the artillerie, and were not so open that it should giue waie to the enemie, I saie, that it is remedied moste easely, with makyng distances in thy armie against it, whiche maie giue free passage to the shot of those, & so the violence thereof shall come to be vain, the which maie be doen moste easely: for asmoche, as the enemie mindyng to haue his artillerie stand safe, it behoueth that he put them behinde, in the furthest part of the distances, so y t the shot of the same, be purposyng that thei hurt not his owne men, ought to passe by right line, and by that very same alwaies: [Page] and therefore with giuyng theim place, easely thei maie bee auoided: A generall rule againste soche thynges as cā not bee withstoode. for that this is a generall rule, that to those thynges, whiche cannot be withstoode, there must bee giuen waie, as the antiquitie made to the Eliphantes, and to the carres full of hookes. I beleue, ye, I am more then certaine, that it semeth vnto you, that I haue ordered and wonne a battaile after my own maner: notwithstāding, I answeer vnto you this, when so moche as I haue saied hetherto, should not suffice, that it should be impossible, that an armie thus ordered, and armed, should not ouercome at the first incounter, any other armie that should bee ordained, as their order the armies now adaies, whom most often tymes, make not but one front, hauyng no targaettes, and are in soche wise vnarmed, that thei cannot defende themselues 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, hauyng no waie to receiue the one the other, thei doe it confusedly, and apt to be easly troubled: and although thei giue three names to their armies, and deuide thē into thre companies, vaward, battaile, and rereward, notwithstandyng it serueth 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.
I haue noted also in the faightyng of your fielde, how your horsemen were repulced of the enemies horsemen: for whiche cause thei retired to the extraordinarie Pikes: whereby grewe, that with the aide of theim, thei withstode, and draue the enemies backe? I beleue 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, haue for the hedde fiue rankes of Pikes, and for the flancke seuen, so that I cannot tell how thei maie bee [Page lij] able to withstande them.
Yet I haue told you, how sixe rankes of pikes wer occupied at ones, in the Macedonicall Falangi, albeit you ought to vnderstande, A battaile how [...]e [...]te so [...]uer [...]t bee, cannot [...] occup [...] aboue .v. ra [...]k [...]s of y [...]r [...]s. that a maine battaile of Suizzers, if it were made of a thousande rankes, it cannot occupie more then fower, or at the most fiue: 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 fiue 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 vnprofitable, but thei serue to restore these firste rankes, as we haue declared, and to bee a fortificacion to those .v. Then if fiue of their rankes can withstande the horse, why cannot fiue 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 haue no pikes as the other. And when the rākes of thextraordinarie pikes, which are placed on the flāckes, should seme vnto 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, their maie easely altogether succour the fronte, and the backe of the armie, and minister helpe to the horses, accordyng as nede shall require.
Would you alwaies vse this forme of order, when you would pitche a fielde.
No in no wise: for that you ought to varie [Page] 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 giuen vnto 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 euery science hath his generalitie, vpon the whiche a good part of it is grounded. An aduertismēt concernyng the pitchyng of a fielde. One thing onely I aduise you, that you neuer 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 vnprofitable, and if it incounter any strength, it cannot ouercome.
There is growen in me, vpon this parte a doubte. I haue seen that in the placyng of the battailes, you make the fronte of fiue on a side, the middeste of three, and the last partes of twoo, and I beleue, 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 vpon it, the more that he should entre into thesame, so moche the stronger he should finde it: and the order deuised of you, me thinkes maketh, that the more it is entered into, so moche the weaker it is founde.
If you should remember how to the Triarij, whom were the thirde order of the Romain Legions, there were not assigned more then sixe hundred men, you would doubt lesse, hauyng vnderstode how thei were placed in the laste companie: For that you should see, how I moued of this insample, haue 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 hauyng taken to many, then to fewe: and although this insample [Page liij] should suffice, I will tell you the reason, the which is this. The first fronte of the armie, How the fro [...] of the armie ought to be [...] made. is made perfectly whole and thicke, bicause it must withstande the brūt of the enemies, and it hath not to receiue 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 for thinnesse, or for lacke of sufficiente nomber: but the seconde companie, for as moche as it must first receiue their frendes, to sustain the enemie, How the middell part of the armie ought to be ordered. it is mete that it haue greate spaces, and for this it behoueth, that it be of lesse nomber then the first: for y t if it wer of greater nomber, or equall, it should bee conueniente, either not to leaue the distaunces, the whiche should be disorder, or leauyng theim, to passe the boundes of those afore, the whiche should make the facion of the armie vnperfecte: 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 neuer faight with the seconde order, except the first be ioined with thesame: so that he cometh to finde the middest of the maine battaile more stronger, and not more weaker, hauyng 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: The orderyng of the hinder part of tha [...]y and for that this last part hath to receiue moste men, the spaces therof is requisite to be greatest, and that whiche receiueth them, to be the leste nomber.
It pleaseth me thesame that you haue told: but answere me also this: if the fiue 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 receiued when thei bee eight, or when thei be tenne in the verie same space, [Page] whiche receiued the fiue.
The first thyng that I aunswere is, that it is not the verie same space: For that the fiue haue 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 the 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, whē thei feare in soche wise, that thei seke to saue them selues, not with runnyng awaie, but with defence: So that in this case, thei should come to be destingueshed, and not to be inlarged. The [...]etire of the Pikes, to place the Targaet men. Moreouer, the fiue rankes of the Pikes, that are before, so sone as thei haue begun the faighte, thei ought betwene their battailes to retire, into the taile of the armie, for to giue place to the Targaet men, that thei maie faighte: and thei goyng into the taile of the armie, maie dooe soche seruice as the capitain should iudge, were good to occupie theim aboute, where in the forward, the faight beyng mingled, thei should otherwise bee altogether vnprofitable. And for this the spaces ordained, come to bee for the remnaunte of the menne, wide inough to receiue them: yet when these spaces should not suffice, the flā kes on the sides be men, and not walles, whō giuyng place, and inlargyng thē selues, maie make the space to containe so moche, that it maie bee sufficient to receiue theim.
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 haue [Page liiij] them to stande still, and remain with twoo hornes 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, hauyng no battailes behinde with distaunces that maie receiue them.
If the enemie ouercome theim not, How the pikes that are placed on the flankes of the armie ought to gouerne them selues when the rest of the [...] ui [...]e is driuen to retire. 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 were retired: but if he should also ouercome 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 haue not behinde, any to receiue 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 behoueth to take an other waie, then thesame that I shewed you: for that I told you, that the second rāke, 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 vpon this foughten field by me shewed, might of you bee replied, I saie vnto you again, that I haue ordained you this armie, & shewed this foughten field for two causes, thone, for to declare vnto you how it is ordered, the other to shewe you how it is exercised: thorder, I beleue you vnderstande moste well: and concernyng the exersice, I saie vnto you, Thexercise of the army in generall. 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 euery battaile, to the heddes of the battailes, it appertaineth to keepe theim well in euery order of [Page] the armie, and that thei knowe how to obeie, at the commaundement of the generall capitain: therefore, it is conueniente that thei knowe, how to ioyne the one battaile with thother, that thei maie knowe how to take their place atones: The nomber that is mete to be writtē in the Ansigne of euery band of mē. and for this cause it is mete that thansigne of euery battaile, haue writtē in some euident 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 haue the nomber in their principall 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, The degrees of honours in an armie, whiche soche a mā ought to rise by, as should bee made a generall capitain 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, euen 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 haue not risen vp 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 euery one of them might striue, who should doe beste, for to be promised to be hedde of the seconde battaile. Then euery 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 [Page lv] 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 euery daie, and diuers times in one daie, to set them in order, and to disorder them.
What armes would you that thansignes of all the armie, should haue beside the nomber?
The standarde of the generall Capitaine oughte to haue the armes of the Prince of the armie, The armes that oughte to bee in the standarde, and in the ansignes of an armie. all the other, maie haue 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 vs passe to the other exercise: the which is to make them to moue, The secōd and thirde exercise of an armie. and with a conuenient pace to marche, and to se, that marchyng thei kepe the orders. The third exercise is, that thei learne to handle themselues in thesame maner, whiche thei ought after to handle theimselues 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 frō thens euery one to retourne to his place: and in soche wise to vse theim in this exercise, that to euery manne, all thyng maie be knowen, and familiar: the which with practise, & with familiaritie, is brought to passe moste quickly. The fowerth exercise is, The fowerth exercise of an armie. 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 vnderstande: and bicause the importaunce of this commaū dement, ought to growe of the sounde, I shall tell you what soundes the antiquitie vsed. Of the Lacedemonians, [Page] accordyng as Tucidido affirmeth, The soundes of the instrumentes of musicke, that the antiquitie vsed in their armies in their armies were vsed Flutes: for that thei iudged, that this armonie, was moste mete to make their armie to procede with grauetie, and with furie: the Carthaginēs beyng moued by this verie same reason, in the first assaulte, vsed the violone. Aliatte kyng of the Lidians, vsed in the warre the violone, and the Flutes: but Alexander Magnus, and the Romaines, vsed 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 haue in armyng the armie, taken of the Greke maner, and of the Romaine, so in distributyng 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 vse to sounde theim at feastes. The capitaine then with the Trompet, What is signified by the sounde of 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 moue, and with the varietie or distinccion of soche soundes, to shewe vnto 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 behoueth moche to exercise the armie. Concernyng the horsemen, there would be vsed likewise Trompettes, but of a lesse sounde, and of a diuers 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.
I praie you let it not be greuous vnto you to declare vnto 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 gaue 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 vnderstande not the occasion of this varietie, I would desire that you would declare it vnto me.
The opinion of auncient capitaines, hath been diuers 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, serueth to kepe the order more sure, and to vnderstande better the cō maundementes of the Capitaine: the firste, serueth to incourage more the mindes of men: and for that I beleue, 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: The cries and rumours, wherwith the firste charge is giue vnto the enemies, and the silence that ought to bee vs [...]d [...]fter, when the faight is ones begunne. nor it standeth not with reason, that the Romaines vsed, except at the firste assaulte to make rumour: for that in their histories, is seen many tymes to haue 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 haue varied the orders, the whiche should not haue followed, if the rumoures had been louder then his voyce.
The fowerth booke of the arte of warre, of Nicholas Machiauell, Citezeine and Secretarie of Florence, vnto Laurence Philip Strozze.
SEng that vnder my gouernement, a field hath been wonne so honourably, I suppose that it is good, that I tempt not fortune any more, knowyng how variable, and vnstable she is: and therefore, I desire to giue vp my gouernement, 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 stomack thā I: nor it shall not make hym afraied, to haue to enter into these trauailes, where he maie bee as well ouercome, as able to conquere.
I am readie to do what soeuer shall please you to appoincte me, although that I desire more willingly to heare: for as moche as hetherto, your questions haue satisfied me more, then those should haue pleased me, whiche in harkenyng to your reasonyng, hath chaunced to come into my remembraunce. But sir, I beleue that it is good, that you lese no tyme, and that you haue pacience, if with these our Ceremonies we trouble you.
You doe me rather pleasure, for that this variacion of demaunders, maketh me to knowe the [Page lvij] sundrie wittes, and sunderie appetites of yours: But remaineth there any thyng, whiche seemeth vnto you good, to bee ioyned to the matter, that alreadie hath been reasoned of?
Twoo thinges I desire, before you passe to an other parte: the one is, to haue you to shewe, if in orderyng armies, there needeth to bee vsed any other facion: the other, what respectes a capitaine ought to haue, before he conducte his men to the faight, and in thesame any accidente risyng or growyng, what reamedie maie be had.
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 haue tolde you, how I haue shewed you a facion of an armie, to the intent, that accordyng to thesame, there maie bee giuen all those facions, that the enemie, and the situation requireth: For as moche as in this case, bothe accordyng to the power thereof, and accordyng to the enemie, it proceadeth: but note this, To destende moche the frōte of an armie, is most perillous that there is not a more perillous facion, then to destende moche the front of tharmie, if then thou haue not a most puisant, and moste great hoste: otherwise, thou oughtest to make it rather grosse, and of small largenesse, then of moche largenes & thin: What is beste for a capitaine to dooe, where his power is moche lesse thē thenemies power. for when thou hast fewe mē in cōparison 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 riuers, or by meanes of fennes, after soch sort, that thou canst not bee compassed aboute, or to inclose thy self on the flāckes with diches, as Cesar did in Fraūce. You haue to take in this cace, this generall rule, A general rule. to inlarge your self, or to draw in your self with the frōt, according to your nomber, & thesame of the enemie. For thenemies being of lesse nomber, thou oughtest to seke large places, hauyng in especially thy men well instructed: to [Page] the intent thou maiest, not onely compasse aboute the enemie, but to destende thy orders: for that in plac [...]s rough and difficulte, beyng not able to preuaile of thy orders, thou commeste not to haue any aduauntage, hereby grewe, that the Romaines almoste alwaies, sought the open fieldes, and aduoided the straightes. To the contrarie, as I haue said, thou oughtest to do, if thou hast fewe menne, or ill instructed: for that then thou oughteste to seeke places, either where the little nomber maie be saued, and where the small experiēce dooe not hurte thee: The higher grounde ought to be chosen. Thou oughtest also to chuse the higher grounde, to be able more easely to infest them: notwithstandyng, An aduertismēt not to place an armie wher the enemie maie se what the same doeth. this aduertisment 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, hauyng respecte vnto the artillerie, the higher place shall gette thee disaduauntage: 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 mē. Also, Respectes for the Sonne and Winde. he that prepareth an armie to faight a battaile, ought to haue 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 moreouer, 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 haue 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 haue it all on the backe, to the entente it should haue to passe moche tyme, to come to lye on the fronte. This waie was obserued of Aniball at Canne, and of Mario againg [Page lviij] 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 ouerthrewe the Frēch menne at Cirignuola. And it hath been seen many times, with all one Souldiours, The variyng of ord [...] & p [...]ce maie c [...]us [...] the conque [...]ed to be come vi [...]or [...] variyng onely the order, and the place, that thei haue become of losers victorers: as it happened to the Carthageners, whom hauyng been ouercome of Marcus Regolus diuers tymes, were after by the counsaill of Santippo, a Lacedemonian, victorious: whom made th [...]m to go doune into the plaine, where by vertue of the horses, and of Eliphantes, thei were able to ouercome the Romaines. It semes vnto me, accordyng to the auncient insamples, that almoste all the excellente Capitaines, when thei haue knowen, that the enemie hath made strōg one side of his battaile, thei haue not set against it, the moste strongest parte, but the moste weakest, & thother moste strongest, thei haue set against the most weakest: after in the beginning the faighte, thei haue commaunded to their strongest parte, that onely thei sustaine the enemie, and not to preace vpon hym, and to the weaker, that thei suffer them selues to be ouercome, 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 vnto him to haue the victorie, seldome tymes it happeneth, that thei disorder not theim selues, whereof groweth his sodain losse. Cornelius Scipio beyng in Spain, A policie in the ordering of mē and pitchyng of a fielde. againste Asdruball of Carthage, and vnderstanding 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, [Page] 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, ioyned not together, and thus the strōgest parte of Scipio, came to faight with the weakest of Asdruball, and ouercame hym. The whiche waie was then profitable, but now hauyng respect to the artillerie, it cannot be vsed: bicause thesame space, whiche should remain in the middest, betwene the one armie and the other, should giue tyme to thesame to shoote: The whiche is moste pernicious, as aboue is saied: Therefore it is requisite to laie this waie aside, and to vse, as a little afore we saied, makyng all the armie to incounter, & the weakest parte to giue place. When a capitaine perceiueth, that he hath a greater armie then his enemie, How to compasse about the enemies power mindyng to compasse hym aboute, before he be aware, let hym ordaine his fronte equall, to thesame of his aduersaries, after, so sone as the faight is begun, let hym make the fronte by a little and little to retire, and the flanckes to destende, and alwaies it shall happen, that the enemie shal find hymself, How a capitaine maie faight and bee as it were sure, not to be ouercome. 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, & 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 vsed of Aniball, when fortune began to become his aduersarie, and that he doubted of the valiauntnesse of Marcus Marcello. How to trouble the orders of the enemie. Some to trouble the orders of the enemie, haue 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 [Page lix] buckled together, and that the fronte of either of them were occupied in faightyng, thei haue made theim to issue out by the flanckes of the battaile, and thesame haue troubled and broken. What a capitaine oughte to dooe when he hath not so many horsmen as the enemie. If any perceiue 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 giue waie to the Pikes, and he shall remain alwaies superiour. A greate [...]ide for horsemen Many haue accustomed to vse certain fotemenne lighte armed, to faighte emong horsemen, the whiche hath been to the chiualrie moste greate helpe. Of all those, which haue prepared armies to the field, be moste praised Aniball and Scipio, whē thei fought in Africk: The policies vsed betwene Aniball and Scipio. and for that Aniball had his armie made of Carthaginers, and of straungers of diuers 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 whō he trusted little: the whiche thing he ordained so, for that the straungers hauyng before theim the enemie, and behinde beyng inclosed of his men, could not [...]lie: so that being constrained to faight thei should ouercome, or wearie the Romaines, supposyng after with his freshe and valiaunte men, to be then able easely to ouercome the Romaines, beeyng wearied. Against this order, Scipio set the Astati, the Prencipi, and the Triarij, in the accustomed maner, to bee able to receiue 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 perceiued but rather should seme vnited, he filled them ful of veliti to whom he commaunded, that so sone as the Eliphantes came, thei should auoide, and by the ordinarie spaces, should enter betwene the Legins, and leaue 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.
You haue 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 deuided theim, and made theim to retire in the hornes of the armie, to thintent thei might giue place to the Prencipi, when he would force forwarde: therfore I would you should tell me, what occasion moued hym, not to obserue the accustomed order.
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 Triarij together: So that the distaunces of the Prencipt, beyng occupied of the Triarij, there was no place to bee able to receiue the Astati: and therefore he made the Astati to deuide, and to go in the hornes of the armie, and he drewe thē not betwene the Prencipi. But note, that this waie of openyng the first hande, for to giue place to the seconde, cannot bee vsed, 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 vnder, and repulced, it cannot be doen, but with thy manifest ruine: and therefore it is conuenient to haue behinde, orders that maie receiue thee, but let vs tourne to our reasonyng. Cartes full of hookes made to destroie the enemies. The auncient Asiaticans, emongest other thynges deuised of them to hurt the enemies, vsed carres. The whiche had on the sides certaine hookes, so that not onely thei serued to open with their violence the bandes, but also to kill with the hookes the aduersaries: The remedy that was vsed against Cartes full o [...] hookes. against the violēce of those, in thre maners thei prouided, either thei sustained theim with the thickenesse of the raies, or thei receiued theim betwene the bandes, as the Eliphantes were receiued, 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, draue many stakes into the grounde, behinde [Page lx] his first bandes of men, whereby the cartes beyng stopped, lost their violence. The straunge maner that [...] [...]a vsed in orderyng his army against Archel [...]u [...]. And the newe maner that Silla vsed against hym in orderyng the armie, is to bee noted: for that he put the Veliti, and the horse, behinde, and all the heauie armed afore, leauyng 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 gaue the waie, he got the victorie. How to trouble [...] the faighte the armie of the enemies. To intende to trouble in the faight the enemies armie, it is conueniente 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 vnto theim: after soche sorte, that the enemies begiled of that sight, maie be afraied, & being made afraied, thei maie easely bee ouercome: the whiche waies Minutio Rufo vsed, and Aecilio Glabrione Consults of Rome. A policie of Caius Sulpicius, to make his enemies afraied. Caius Sulpitius also set a greate many of sackes vpon Mules, and other beastes vnprofitable for the warre, but in soche wise ordained, that thei semed men of armes, and he commaunded, that thei should appere vpon a hill, while he were a faightyng with the Frenchemen, whereby grewe his victorie. The verie same did Marius, A policie of Marius againste the Duchmenne. when he foughte against the Duchemen. Then the fained assaultes auailyng moche, whilest the faight continueth, it is cō ueniente, that the very assaultes in deede, dooe helpe moche: inespecially if at vnwares 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 giue thee the victorie. It hath been sometyme [Page] of greate importaunce, A policie of greate importaunce, while a battaile is a faightyng. whilest the faighte continueth, to sowe voices, whiche doe pronounce the capitaine of thenemies to be dedde, or to haue ouercome on the other side of the armie: the whiche many times to them that haue vsed it, hath giuen the victorie. The chiualrie of the enemies maie bee easely troubled, How horsemen maie bee disordered. either with sightes, or with rumours, not vsed: as Creso did, whom put Camelles againste the horses of the aduersaries, and Pirrus sette againste the Romaine horsemen Eliphantes, the sighte of whiche troubled and disordered them. How the turke gaue the Sophie an ouerthrowe. 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 ouercome them: How the Spaniardes ouercame the armie of Amilcare. The Spaniardes to ouercome 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. How to traine the enemie, to his destruccion Thei are wonte (as we haue 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 haue vsed to make diches, and after haue couered them lightly with bowes and yearth, and lefte certain spaces whole, to be able betwene those to retire: after, so sone as the faight hath been begunne, retiryng by those, and the enemie folowing thē, 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 peruert it to good, A policie of Tullo Hostilio and Lucius Silla in dessemblyng of a mischaunce. as Tullo Hostilio did, and Lucius Silla: whō 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 vndestoode, how [Page lxj] 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 hauyng 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 bandes of the enemies, for that he had found them nothyng faithfull. Sertorius sine a man for telling him of the death of one of his capitaines Sertorius faightyng a battaile in Spaine, slue one, whom signified vnto 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 moued to flie, to staie it, and make it to faight. And you haue to make this distinccion: either that it is all moued, and then to be impossible to tourne it, or there is moued a parte thereof, and then there is some remedie. Howe certaine captaines haue staied their mē that hath been running awaie Many Romain capitaines, with making afore those whiche fled, haue caused them to staie, making them ashamed of running awaie, as Lucius Silla did, where alredy parte of his Legions beyng tourned to flight, driuen 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 haue left hym in Boecia, where he faighteth. Attillius constrained his mē that ran awaie to tourne again and to faight. Attillius a consull set againste those that ran awaie, them that ranne not awaie, and made thē to vnderstande, that if thei would not tourne, thei should be slaine of their frendes, and of their enemies. How Philip [...] [...]ing of Macedonia made his men afraied to run awaie. Philip of Macedonia vnderstanding how his men feared the Scithian Souldiours, placed behinde his armie, certaine of his moste trustie horsemen, and gaue commission to theim, that thei should kill whom so euer fledde: wherfore, his men mindyng rather to die faightyng, then fliyng, ouercame. Many Romaines, not so moche to staie a flight, as for to giue occasiō to their men, to make greater force, haue whileste thei haue foughte, taken an Ansigne out of their [Page] owne mennes handes, and throwen it emongeste the enemies, and appoincted rewardes to hym that could get it again. I doe not beleue that it is out of purpose, to ioyne to this reasonyng those thynges, whiche chaūce 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, Victorie ought with all celeritie to bee folowed. 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 neuer rested after the victorie, but folowed the enemie beyng brokē, with greater violence and furie, then when he assalted hym whole: What a capitaine ought to dooe, when he should chaunce to receiue an ouerthrowe. but when a capitaine dooeth leese, he ought to see, i [...]o [...] the losse there maie growe any vtilite vnto hym, inespecially if there remain any residue of tharmie. The commoditie maie growe of the small aduertisment of the enemie, whom moste often times after the victorie, becometh negligēt, and giueth thee occasion to oppresse hym, How Martius ouercame the armie of the Carthaginers. as Marcius a Romaine oppressed the armie of the Carthaginers, whom hauing slain the twoo Scipions, and broken their armie, not estemyng thesame remnaunt of menne, whiche with Marcius remained aliue, were of hym assaulted and ouerthrowen: 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 deuise at least with diligence, that the losse bee lesse hurtfull, to dooe this, it is necessarie for thee to vse meanes, that the enemie maie not easely folowe thee, or to giue him occasion to make delaie: in the first case, some after thei haue been sure to lese, haue takē order with their heddes, that in diuers partes, and by diuers waies thei should fite, hauyng appoincted [Page lxij] wher thei should after assemble together: the which made, that thenemie (fearing to deuide the armie) was faine to let go safe either all, or the greatest part of thē. In the seconde case, many haue cast before the enemie, their dearest thinges, to the entent that he tariyng about the spoile, might giue thē more laisure to flie. A policie of Titus Dimius to hide a losse, whiche he had receiued in a faight. Titus Dimius vsed no small policie to hide the losse, whiche he had receiued in the faight, for asmoche as hauyng fought vntill 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, beleuyng that thei had the disauauntage, ran awaie. I trust I haue 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 vsed to make theim with the fronte, like vnto a wedge, iudgyng to bee able by soche meane, more easely to open the enemies armie. Against this facion, thei haue vsed to make a facion like vnto a paire of sheres, to be able betwene thesame voide place, to receiue that wedge, and to compasse it about, and to faight with it on euery side: A general rule. whereupon I will that you take this generall rule, that the greatest remedie that is vsed againste a deuise of the enemie, is to dooe willingly thesame, whiche he hath deuised that thou shalt dooe perforce: bicause that doyng it willingly, thou doest it with order, and with thy aduauntage, and his disaduaūtage, if thou shouldest doe it beyng inforced, it should be thy vndoyng: For the prouyng whereof, I care not to reherse vnto you, certain thynges alredy tolde. The aduersary maketh the wedge to open thy bandes: if thou gowest with them open, thou disorderest hym, and he disordereth not thee. Aniball. Aniball set the Elephantes in the fronte of his armie, to open with theim the armie of Scipio. Scipio went with it open, Scipio. and it was the [Page] occasion of his victorie, Asdruball. and of the ruine of hym. Asdruball placed his strongest men in the middest of the fronte of his armie, to ouerthrowe Scipios menne: Scipio commaunded, that by them selues thei should retire and he broke theim: So that like deuises 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 haue, before he leade his men to faight: A Capitaine ought not to faight without aduantage, excepte he be constrained. vpon whiche I haue to tell you firste, how a capitaine ought neuer to faight a battaile, except he haue aduauntage, or be constrained. The vantage groweth of the situacion, of the order, of hauyng more, or better menne: the necessitie, groweth when thou seest how that not faightyng, thou muste in any wise lese, as should bee for lackyng of money, and for this, thy armie to bee ready all maner of waies to resolue, 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 disaduauntage: for that it is moche better to attempte fortune, where she maie fauour thee, then not attemptyng, to see thy certaine ruine: and it is as greuous a faulte in this case, in a capitain not to faight, as to haue had occasiō to ouercome, and not to haue either knowen it through ignoraunce, or lefte it through vilenesse. How aduauntage maie bee taken of the enemies. The aduauntages some tymes the enemie giueth thee, and some tymes thy prudence: Many in passyng Riuers haue been broken of their enemie, that hath been aware thereof, whō 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 ouer a riuer. Some tyme thy enemie is founde wearie, for hauyng folowed thee to vndescritely, so that findyng thy self freshe and lustie, thou oughtest not to let passe [Page lxiij] soche an occasion: besides this, if the enemie offer vnto 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 vsed in Spaine: the one against Asdruball, the other against Sertorius. If the enemie be deminished of power, either for hauyng deuided the armie, as the Scipions in Spain, or for some other occasion, thou oughteste to proue chaunce. The greateste parte of prudent capitaines, rather receiue the violēce 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, Furie withstode, cōuerteth into vilenesse. conuerteth 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, haue begun the faight a little before night, to the intent that their men chaunsyng to bee ouercome, might then by the helpe of the darkenesse thereof, saue theim selues. Some hauyng knowen, how the enemies armie beyng taken of certaine supersticion, not to faight in soche a tyme, haue chosen thesame tyme to faighte, and ouercome: The whiche Cesar obserued in Fraunce, againste Ariouistus, and Vespasian in Surrie, againste the Iewes. The greatest and moste importaunte aduertismente, What maner of men a capitaine ought to haue about him continually, to consult withall that a capitaine ought to haue, is to haue 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 [Page] 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 giuen hym, or taken awaie by tyme: for that many tymes, souldiours seyng the warre to be delaied, are greued, and beyng wearie, in the pain and in the tediousnesse therof, The condiciōs of the capitain of the enemies, & of those that are about hym is moste requisite to bee knowen. wil forsake thee. It importeth aboue 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 vpon the aidyng souldiours. A timerous army is not to be conducted to faight. And aboue all thyng thou oughtest to take hede, not to conducte the armie to faight when it feareth, or whē in any wise it mistrusteth of the victorie: for that the greatest signe to lose, is when thei beleue not to be able to winne: How to auoide the faightyng of a fielde. and therfore in this case, thou oughtest to auoide the faightyng of the fielde, either with doyng as Fabius Maximus, whom incampyng in strong places, gaue no courage to Aniball, to goe to finde hym, or whē thou shouldest thinke, that the enemie also in strong places, would come to finde thee, to departe out of the fielde, and to deuide the menne into thy tounes, to thentent that tediousnesse of winnyng them, maie wearie hym.
Cannot the faightyng of the battaile be otherwise auoided, then in deuidyng the armie in sunderie partes, and placyng the men in tounes?
I beleue that ones alreadie, with some of you I haue reasoned, how that he, that is in the field, cannot auoide 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 aduersarie, to be able betymes to auoide him, whē he should go to finde hym. Fabius Maximus. For Fabius Maximus neuer auoided to faight the battaile with Aniball, but he would haue it with his aduauntage: and Aniball [Page lxiiij] did not presume to bee able to ouercome hym, goyng to finde hym in the places where he incamped: where if he had presupposed, to haue been able to haue ouercome, it had been conueniente for Fabius, to haue fought the battails with hym, or to haue auoided.
Philip Kyng of Macedonia, Philip king of Macedonia, ouercome by the Romaines. thesame that was father to Perse, cōmyng to warre with the Romaines, pitched his campe vpon 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. How Cingentorige auoided the faightying of the fielde with Cesar. Cingentorige capitain of the Frenche menne, for that he would not faight the field with Cesar, whom contrarie to his opinion, had passed a riuer, got awaie many miles with his men. The Venecians in our tyme, The ignorance of the Venecians. if thei would not haue come to haue fought with the Frenche kyng, thei ought not to haue taried till the Frenche armie, had passed the Riuer Addus, but to haue gotten from them as Cingentorige, where thei hauyng taried, knewe not how to take in the passyng of the men, the occasion to faight the battaile, nor to auoide it: For that the Frenche men beyng nere vnto them, as the Venecians went out of their Campe, assaulted theim, and discomfited theim: so it is, that the battaile cannot bee auoided, 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, & thou knoweste by the nomber, and by the situacion, or for some other occasion to haue disaduauntage, 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 euill to be trusted, and smally disposed to faight: where it is necessarie in thone case, What is to be doen wher soldiours desire to faight, contrary to their capitaines minde. 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 giue in praie, a [Page] part of thē vnto thenemie, to thintent those that haue, and those that haue not fought, maie beleue thee: & it may very wel be doen with art, thesame which to Fabius Maximus hapned by chūace. 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 deuide the armie: Fabius kept his men in the cāpe, the other fought, and commyng into great perill, had been ouerthrowen, 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. How to incourage souldiers 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 haue intelligence with them, and to haue corrupted part of them, to incampe in place, where thei maie see the enemies, and make some light skirmishe with thē, for that the thyng that is dailie seen, with more facilitie is despised: to shewe theim to bee vnworthie, 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 aboue all thyng to haue this aduertismente, An aduertismēt to make the soldiour most obstinately to faight. mindyng to make the Souldiour obstinate to faight, not to permitte, that thei maie send home any of their substaunce, or to leaue it in any place, till the warre bee ended, that thei maie vnderstande, that although fliyng saue their life, yet it saueth not theim their goodes, the loue whereof, is wonte no lesse then thesame, to make men obstinate in defence.
You haue 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 vnto, or to the heddes thereof?
To perswade, or to diswade a thyng vnto fewe, is verie easie, for that if woordes suffise not, you maie then vse aucthoritie and force: but the difficultie is, to remoue from a multitude an euill opinion, and that whiche is contrary either to the common profite, or to thy opinion, where cannot be vsed but woordes, the whiche is meete that thei be heard of euery man, mindyng to perswade them all. Wherfore, It is requisite for excelle [...] C [...] pitaines to bee good orators. 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, Alexander Magnus vsed ope [...] ly to persw [...]dy his armie. and you shall see how many tymes it was necessarie for hym to perswade, and to speake publikly to his armie: otherwise he should neuer haue 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 vseth not to speake vnto thesame, The effecteousnes of speking for that this speakyng taketh awaie feare, incourageth the mindes, increaseth the obstinatenes to faight, discouereth the deceiptes, promiseth rewardes, sheweth the perilles, and the waie to auoide theim, reprehendeth, praieth, threateneth, filleth full of hope, praise, shame, and doeth all those thynges, by the whiche the humaine passions are extincte, or kendled: wherefore, that prince, or cōmon weale, whiche should appoincte to make a newe power, and cause reputacion to their armie, ought to accustome the Souldiours thereof, Souldiours ought to be accustomed to heare their Capitaine speake. to heare the capitain to speake, and the capitain to know how to speake vnto thē. In kepyng desposed the souldiours in old tyme, to faight for their countrie, the religion auailed moche, How in olde time souldiers were threatened for their faltes and the othes whiche thei gaue them, when thei led theim to warfare: for as moche as in al their faultes, thei threatned them not onely with [Page] those punishementes, whiche might be feared of men, but with those whiche of God might be looked for: Enterprises maie the easeli [...] be brought to passe by meanes of religiō. the whiche thyng mingled with the other Religious maners, made many tymes easie to the auncient capitaines all enterprises, and will doe alwaies, where rel [...] gion shall be feared, Sertorius. and obserued. Sertorius preuailed, by declaryng that he spake with a Stagge, the whiche in Goddes parte, promised hym the victorie. Silla saied, A policie o [...] Silla. he spoke with an Image, whiche he had taken out of the Temple of Apollo. Many haue tolde how God hath appered vnto them in their slepe, whō hath admonished them to faight. In our fathers time, Charles the seuenth kyng of Fraunce, A policie of Charles the seuenth king of Fraūce against the Englishmē in the warre whiche he made againste the Englishemen, saied, he counsailed with a maide, sent frō God, who was called euery where the Damosell of Fraunce, the which was occacion of his victorie. How souldiers maie bee made to esteme little their enemies. There maie be also vsed meanes, that maie make thy men to esteme little the enemie, as Agesilao a Spartaine vsed, whom shewed to his souldious, certain Persians naked, to the intent that seyng their delicate mēbers, thei should not haue cause to feare them. The surest wai to make souldiou [...]s moste obstinat to faight Some haue constrained their mē to faight through necessitie, takyng awaie from them all hope of sauyng theim selues, sauyng in ouercommyng. The whiche is the strongest, and the beste prouision that is made, to purpose to make the souldiour obstinate to faight: By what meanes obstinatenesse to faighte is increased. whiche obstinatenesse is increased by the confidence, and loue 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 loue 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 ouercome, or to dye.
The fiueth Booke of the Arte of warre, of Nicholas Machiauell, Citezeine and Secretarie of Florence, vnto Laurence Philip Strozze.
I Haue shewed you, how an armi, is ordained to faight a fielde with an other armie, which is seen pitched against it, & haue declared vnto you, howe the same is ouercome, and after many circumstaunces, I haue likewise shewed you, what diuers 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 cō tinually feared, that he assaulte thee: this happeneth when an armie marcheth through the enemies countrie, or through suspected places. Firste, How the Romaines marched with their armies. you must vnderstande, 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 chiualrie: this was in effecte the maner, with whiche ordinarily thei marched: and if it happened that the armie were assaulted [Page] in the waie on the fronte, How the Romaines ordered their armie when it happened to be assaulted on the waie 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, hauyng 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 gouerned, I haue thought meete to imitate, sending afore the light horsemen, as exploratours of the Countrie: Then hauyng fower maine battailes, How the main battailes ought to marche. I would make them to marche in araie, and euery 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 vse of all the Campe, I would deuide the publike Carriages into fower partes, and to euery maine battaile, I would appoinct his parte, deuiding also the artillerie into fower partes, and all the vnarmed, so that euery nomber of armed menne, should equally haue their impedimentes. But bicause it happeneth some times, that thei marche through the coū trie, not onely suspected, but so daungerous, that thou fearest euery h [...] wer 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 vnprouided. 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 haue takē for to make an armie of, to this effect. Mindyng [Page lxvij] therefore, The orderyng of an armie after soche sorte, that it maie ma [...]che safelie through the enemies coūtrie and be alwaies in a redines to faight. to marche safely through the enemies Countrie, and to bee able to aunswere hym on euery side, when at vnwares the armie might chaunce to be assaulted, and intendyng therefore, accordyng to the antiquitie, to bryng thesame into a square, I would deuise to make a quadrāt, that the rome therof should be of space on euery 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 fiue 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, euery 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 euery parte fiue, orderyng them after soche sorte, that fower should ioyne to the hedde of the right flanck, and fower to the taile of the lefte flancke, leauing betwene euery one of thē, a distance of thre yardes: one should after ioyne to the hedde of the lefte flancke, & 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, sauing that the one space shall come on the parte behind towardes the right horne, & thother shall come on the parte afore, towardes the lefte horne. The place in the armie [...] the bo [...] [...] [...]ppoincted In the space of the .lviij. 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, [Page] and mindyng to haue the space that ought to be within the armie, to be euery waie .Clix. yardes, it is mete that the fiue 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 conuenient, that the fiue battailes behinde, doe touche with the fronte, the taile of their flanckes, and those afore, with the taile to touche the hedde, after soche sorte, that vpon euery corner of the same armie, there maie remaine a space, to receiue an other battaile: The place in the armie wh [...] thextraordinarie Pikes are appoincted. and for that there bee fower spaces, I would take fower bādes of the extraordinarie Pikes, and in euery corner I would place one, and the twoo Ansignes of the foresaied Pikes, whiche shall remain ouerplus, I would sette in the middest of the rome of this armie, The place in the armie wher the generall capitain must be. 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, th [...]se sides ought to be ordained to faight, whiche are not defended of thother battailes. And therfore it ought to be considered, that the fiue battailes that be in the front, haue 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 fiue battailes whiche are behinde, haue 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 fiue battailes that bee in the right flancke, haue all their sides defended, except the right flancke. The fiue that be on the left flanck, haue 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 thesame flanck, that lieth open: and the Peticapitaines to stand on the hedde, and on the taile, so that nedyng to faight, al the [Page lxviij] 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. Where the artillerie must be placed. The artillerie I would deuide, and one parte I would place without, on the lefte flancke, and the other on the right. The light horsmenne must be sente before to discouer the countrie and the menne of armes to come behind that [...] The light horsemen, I would sende afore to discouer the countrie, Of the menne of armes, I would place part behinde, on the right horne, and parte on the lefte, distante about thirtie yardes from the battailes: and cō cerning horse, you haue to take this for a general rule in euery condicion, where you ordaine an armie, A generall rule concernyng horse. that alwaies thei ought to be put, either behinde, or on the flanckes of thesame: he that putteth them afore, ouer against the armie, it behoueth hym to doe one of these twoo thinges, either that he put them so moche afore, that beyng repulced, thei maie haue so moche space, that maie giue them tyme, to be able to go a side from thy footemen, and not to runne vpon 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 remē braunce, for as moche as many capitaines, whom hauyng taken no hede thereof, haue been ruinated, and by themselues haue been disordered, and broken. Wher the carriages and the vnarmed are placed. The carriages and the vnarmed menne are placed, in the rome that remaineth within the armie, and in soche sorte equally deuided, that thei maie giue the waie easely, to whom so euer 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 euery waie from the vtter side, twoo hundred and eleuen yardes and a halfe of space: and bicause this quadrante is made of twoo main battailes, it is cōuenient to distinguishe, what part thone maine battaile maketh, and what the other: and for that the main battailes are called by the nomber, and euery of theim hath (as you knowe) tenne battailes, [Page] & a generall hed, I would cause that the first main battaile, should set the first .v. battailes therof in the frōt, the other fiue, 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 fiue battailes therof, in the right flanck, and the other fiue 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 moue, and in the marchyng, to obserue 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 prouision, to the tumultuarie assaultes, then to giue sometyme Commission to some horse, or Anfigne of Veliti, that thei set themselues in order: nor it shall neuer 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, haue 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 vnto thee, like vnto 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 tooke small regarde. The waie must be made plaine wher the armie shall marche in order. Mindyng to marche, it is conueniente to haue 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: How many miles a day an armie maie marche in battaile daie, to bee able to incāpe before sunne set an armie in this order maie marche tenne mile the daie, and shall haue tyme inough to incampe, and suppe before Sunne goyng doune, for that ordinarely, an armie maie marche twētie mile: if it happē 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 haue tyme inough, to set thy self in order to faight the field, [Page lxix] 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, The orderyng of the armie, when it is assaulted on the vnwarde. 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 theimselues 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 deuided into .CCCCC. for a parte, and go into their place, betwene the horse and the bornes of tharmy: then in the voide place that thei shal leaue, 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 deuide them selues in the flanckes of the battailes, to the fortificacion of those: and by the open place that thei shal leaue, all the carriages and vnarmed menne must go out, and place themselues on the backe of the battaile. Then the rome in the middeste beyng voided, and euery man gone to his place: the fiue 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, vnto the firste disposicion, whiche of tharmy afore we shewed. And though it come straighter in the fronte, it commeth grosser in the flanckes, whiche giueth it no lesse strength: but bicause the fiue battailes, that be in the taile, haue the Pikes on the hinder parte, for the occasion that before we haue declared, it is necessarie to make theim to come on the parte afore, mindyng to haue theim to make a backe [Page] to the front of tharmie: & therfore it behoueth either to make thē to tourne battaile after battaile, as a whole body, or to make thē quickly to enter betwen thorders of targettes, & conduct them afore, the whiche waie is more spedy, & of lesse disorder, then to make thē to turn al togethe: and so y u oughtest to doe of all those, whiche remain behind in euery condicion of assault, The orderyng of tharmie whē thenemie commes to assaulte it behinde. as I shal shewe you. If it appere that thenemie come on y e part behinde, the first thyng that ought to bee dooen, is to cause that euery man tourne his face, where his backe stode, and straight waie tharmie cometh to haue made of taile, hed, & 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, How the armie is ordered whē it is assaulted of any of the sides. 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 aboue is saied, so that the horsemen, the Veliti, and the artillerie, maie be in places conformable to the hed thereof: onely you haue this difference, that in variyng the hed of those, which are transposed, some haue 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 vnarmed, shall goe out by the open place, auoidyng the rome in the middest, and retiryng themselues 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 moue: 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, [Page lxx] must be vnderstode to be told, hauyng nede to make it of the left flanck: for that the very same order ought to bee obserued. If the enemie should come grose, What is to be b [...]n when the army to assaulted on twoo sides. and in order to assaulte thee on twoo sides, th [...]se 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 deuidyng 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 neuer 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 euery side, he maie assault thee, with as many men, as thou haste almoste in al thy army: and if thou be so vnwise, 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 vnto thee, as vnto the Scipions in Spaine, and to Asdruball in Italie: but if the enemie haue not many more men then thou, and intende for to disorder thee, to assaulte thee on diuers sides, it shal be his foolishnesse, and thy good fortune: for as moche as to doe so, it is conuenient, that he become so thinne in soche wise, that then easely thou maiste ouerthrow 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 fe [...]red, is a necessarie and a profitable thing, to accustome thy souldiours, to put themselues together, and to march with soche order, and in marchyng, to order theimselues to faight, accordyng to the first hedde, and after to retourne in the forme, that thei marched in, then to [Page] make hedde of the taile, after, of the flanckes, from these, to retourne into the first facion: the whiche exercises and vses bee necessarie, mindyng to haue an armie, throughly instructed & 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 commaūde, 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 euer in this time, should vse like disciplin shall euer bee broken. And if this quadrante forme whiche I haue shewed you, is somewhat difficulte, soche difficultnesse is necessarie, takyng it for an exercise: for as moche as knowyng well, how to set theim selues in order, and to maintaine theim selues in the same, thei shall knowe after more easely, how to stand in those, whiche should not haue so moche difficultie.
I beleue 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 [...]ounde: th [...]ther, 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.
Commaundementes of Capitaines being not wel vnderstoode, maie be the destruccion of an armie.Your firste question importeth moche: for that many tymes the commaundementes of Capitaines, beyng not [...]el [...] vnderstoode, or euill interpreted, haue disorder [...] their armie: therfore the voices, with the whiche the commaunde in perilles, ought to bee cleare, Respect that is to be had in cō maundementes made with the founde of the Trompet. and no [...]e. And if thou commaunde with the founde, it is conuenient to make, that bewene the one waie and the other, there be so moche difference, that the one cannot be chaunged for the other: and if thou [Page lxxj] commaundest with the voice, In commaundmentes made with the voice, what respect is to be had. thou oughteste to take heede, that thou flie the general voices, and to vse the particulares, & 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 vsed, but in steede therof to vse, retire you. If you will make theim to tourne, for to chaunge the hedde, either to flanck, or to backe, vse neuer 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. Of P [...]anare. 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 nō ber of vnarmed men, and lesse impedimentes: and I would choose out of euery 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 leaue with those rankes, that should bee nereste them, who should carrie them, and the enemie commyng, thei shall haue no other to doe, then to take thē again, & to retourne into their araie.
Who shall carrie thinstrumentes to make the waie plaine withall?
The Cartes that are appoincted to carrie the like instrumentes.
I doubte whether you should euer brynge these our souldiours, to labour with Shouell or Mattocke, after soche sorte.
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 [Page] that me thinketh, hauyng so moche traiuailed theim, it is tyme to refreshe them, and to comfort them with meate. You haue to vnderstande, that a Prince ought to ordaine his armie, as expedite as is possible, & take from thesame all those thynges, whiche maie cause any trouble or burthen vnto it, and make vnto hym any enterprise difficulte. Emongest those thynges that causeth moste difficultie, is to be constrained to keepe the armie prouided of wine, and baked bread. The antiquitie cared not for Wine, for that lackyng it, thei dranke water, mingeled with a little vinegre, to giue it a taste: For whiche cause, emong the municions of victualles for the hoste, vineger was one, & not wine. Thei baked not the breade in Ouens, as thei vse for Citees, but thei prouided the Meale, and of thesame, euery Souldiour after his owne maner, satisfied hym self, hauyng for condimente Larde and Baken, the whiche made the breade sauerie, that thei made, and maintained theim strong, The victualles that thantiquitie made prouision of, for their armies. so that the prouision 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 hauyng 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 liued of thyngs, whiche easely thei might conuey 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 prouision long, thei remaine often tymes famished, or though thei be prouided, it is dooen with disease, and with moste greate coste: therfore I would reduce my armie to this maner of liuing: and I would not that thei should eate other bread, then that, which [Page lxxij] by themselues thei should bake. Concernyng wine, I would not prohihite the drinkyng thereof, nor yet the commyng of it into the armie, but I would not vse indeuour, nor any labour for to haue it, & in the other prouisions, I would gouerne my self altogether, like vnto 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 auoided of, and how moche commoditie shall bee giuen, to what so euer enterprise is to bee dooen.
We haue ouercome thenemie in the field, marched afterward vpon his countrie, reason would, that spoiles be made, tounes sacked, prisoners taken, therefore I would knowe, how the antiquitie in these thynges, gouerned them selues.
Beholde, I will satisfie you. I beleue you haue considered, for that once alredie with some of you I haue reasoned, howe these present warres, impouerishe as well those lordes that ouercome, as those that leese: for that if the one leese his estate, the other leeseth his money, and his mouables: the whiche in olde time was not, for that the conquerour of the warre, waxed ritche. The occasion [...] why the warres made nowe adaies, doe impouerishe the conquerors as well as the cō quered. This groweth of keepyng no compte in these daies of the spoiles, as in olde tyme thei did, but thei leaue it to the discreacion of the souldiours. This manner maketh twoo moste great disorders: the one, that whiche I haue tolde: the other that the souldiour becometh more couetous to spoyle, and lesse obserueth the orders: and manie times it hath been seen, howe the couetousnesse of the praye, hath made those to leese, whome were victorious. The order that the Romaines toke, cōcerning the spoile and the booties that their souldiours gotte. Therefore the Romaines whiche were princes of armies, prouided to the one and to the other of these inconuenienses, ordainyng that all the spoyle should apertaine to the publicke, and that the publicke after should bestowe it, as shoulde be thought good: and [Page] therfore thei had in tharmie the questours, whō were as we would say, the chamberlaines, to whose charge all the spoyle and booties were committed: whereof the consull was serued to geue 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 vsed 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 euerie man: the which maner thei constituted, to thintente, that the soldiours should attend to ouercome, and not to robbe: and the Romaine Legions ouercame the enemies, and folowed them not, for that thei neuer 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 haue ben his that gotte it, it had not ben possible nor reasonable, to haue kepte the legions steddie, and to withstonde manie perils: hereby grewe therefore, that the common weale inritched, and euery Consul [...] carried with his triumphe into the treasurie, muche treasure, whiche all was of booties and spoiles. An order that the antiquitie tooke, concernyng their soldiours wages. An other thing the antiquetie did vpon good consideration, that of the wages, whiche they gaue to euery souldiour, the thirde parte they woulde shoulde be laied vp nexte to him, whome carried the ansigne of their bande, whiche neuer gaue it them againe, before the warre was ended: this thei did, beyng moued of twoo reasons, the first was to thintente, that the souldiour should thriue by his wages, because the greatest parte of them beyng yonge men, and carelesse, the more thei haue, so muche the more without neede thei spende, the other cause was, for that knowyng, that their mouab [...]lles were nexte to the ansigne, thei should be constrained [Page lxxiij] to haue 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 obserue, purposinge to reduce the exercise of armes vnto the intier perfection therof.
I beleeue 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 auoyde them. Therefore I woulde be glad, that you remembring any, would shew them.
I shall contente you with a good will, beyng inespetially necessarie, intendyng to make of this exercise a perfecte science. Captaines [...]ai incurre the daū ger of ambusshes twoo maner of wayes. The Capitaines ought aboue 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. How to auoide the perill of ambusshes. In the first case, mindyng to avoide suche perill, it is necessarie to sende afore double warde, whome may discouer the countrey, and so muche the more dilligence ought to be vsed, 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. Howe ambusshes haue ben perceiued▪ Manie tymes birdes or muche duste haue discouered the enemie: for that alwayes where the enemie cometh to finde thee, he shall make great duste, whiche shall signifie vnto thee his comyng: so often tymes a Capitaine seyng in the places where he ought to passe, Doues to rise, or other of those birdes that flie in flockes, & 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 vnderstandyng it, hath saued him selfe and hurte his enemie. [Page] Concernyng the seconde case, to be trained in, (which these our men cal to be drawē to the shot) you ought to take heede, not straight way to beleue those thinges, which are nothyng reasonable, y t thei be as they seeme: as shoulde be, if the enemie should set afore thee a praie, thou oughtest to beleeue that in the same is the hooke, and that therin is hid the deceipte. If many enemies be driuen 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, & oughtest neuer to beleeue that the enemie knoweth not how to doe his businesse, Howe the Capitaine of the enemies ought to be esteemed. but rather intendyng that he may begile thee the lesse, & mindyng to stand in lesse peril, the weaker that he is, & the lesse craftier that the enemie is, so muche the more thou oughtest to esteeme him: and thou muste in this case vse 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 thi souldiours hope the more to haue the victorie: the other maketh thee more warie, & lesse apte to be begyled. Where mē be in greatest perill. And thou hast to vnderstand, 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 vse double diligence: The descriptiō of the countrey where an army muste marche, is most requiset for a Capitaine to haue. 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 riuers, the fennes, and all the quallites of them: and to cause this to bee knowen, it is conuenient to haue with him diuersly, & 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 [Page lxxiiij] note: he oughte also to sende afore the horsemen, and with them prudente heddes, not so muche to discouer the enemie, as to viewe the countrey, to se whether it agree with the description, and with the knowledge that they haue of the same. Also the guydes that are sente, ought to be kepte with hope of rewarde, & feare of paine. A most profitable thyng it is for a capitayne to be secrete in al his affaires. And aboue all thynges it ought to be prouided, 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 prouided for, offendlesse. Manie for to auoyde the confusion of marchyng, haue placed vnder the standerde, the carriages, and the vnarmed, and haue 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, An aduertismēt concernyng the marchyng of an armie. aduertismente 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: The marching of an armie ought to be ruled by the stroke of the Drumme. therfore the heddes muste be placed in suche wise, that they may maintaine the pace euen, 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 .iiij. hundred men may marche in order of battaile. The condicion of the enemie ought to be cō sidered. The custome and the qualitie of the enemie ought to be considered, & whether that he wil assaulte thee either in the mornyng, or at none or in the euenynge, & whether he be more puisante w t fotemen or horsemen, & accordyng as y u vnderstandest, to ordeine and to prouide for thy self. But let vs come [Page] to some particular accidente. It hapneth sometime, that thou gettyng from the enemie, because thou iudgest thy selfe inferiour, and therfore mindynge not to faight with him, and he comyng at thy backe, thou ariuest at the banke of a riuer, passyng ouer the which, asketh time, so that the enemie is redie to ouertake thee and to fayght with thee. Some, which chaūsing to bee in suche perill, haue inclosed their armie on the hinder parte with a diche, and fillyng the same full of towe, and firyng it, haue then passed with the armie without beyng able to be letted of the enemie, he beyng by the same fire y t was betwene them held backe.
I am harde of beliefe, that this fyre coulde stay theim, in especially because I remember that I haue harde, Annone of Carthage. howe Annone of Carthage, beyng besieged of enemies, inclosed him selfe on the same parte, w t wodde, which he did set on fire where he purposed to make eruption. Wherfore the enemies beyng not intentiue on the same parte to looke to him, he made his armie to passe ouer the same flame, causing euery man to holde his Target before his face for to defend them from the fire, and smoke.
You saye well: but consider you howe I haue 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 ouer 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 ouer it, he made it not great, for y e otherwise w tout the diche, it shoulde haue letted him. Dooe you not knowe, Nabide a spartayne. 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 draue them oute: but let vs turne to our matter. Quintus Luttatius a Romaine, hauyng at his backe the Cimbri, and commyng [Page lxxv] to a riuer, Quintus Luttatius po [...]c [...] to passe ouer a riuer. to thentente the enemie should giue him time to passe ouer, semed to geue time to them to faight with him: and therfore he fained that he would lodge there, and caused trenches to be made, and certaine pauilions to be erected, and sent certayne horsemen into the countrie for forredge: so that the Cimbrise beleeuyng, that he incamped, they also incamped, and deuided them selues into sundrie partes, to prouide for victuals, wherof Luttatius being aware, passed the riuer they beyng not able to let him. Some for to passe a riuer hauynge no bridge, How to passe a ryuer without a bridge. haue deuided it, and one parte they haue turned behynde their backes, & the other then becomynge shalower, with ease they haue passed it: when the riuers be swift, purposyng to haue 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 y t may succour the men, if any of the riuer in passyng should be ouercome with the water: They passe also riuers, that be verie deepe, with bridges, with botes, & with barrelles: & therfore it is good to haue in a redinesse in an armie wherewith to be able to make all these thynges. It fortuneth sometime that in passyng a riuer, the enemie standynge agaynst thee on the other banke, doeth let thee: to minde to ouercome this difficultie, I know not a better insample to folow, A polecie of Cesar to ha [...] [...] riuer, where his enemie beyng on the other side therof sought to lette hym. then the same of Cesar, whome hauynge his armie on the banke of a riuer in Fraunce, and his passage beynge letted of Vergintorige a Frenche man, the whiche on the other side of the riuer had his men, marched many daies a longe the riuer, and the like did the enemie: wherfore Cesar incamping in a woddie place, apte to hide men, he tooke out of euery legion three cohortes, and made them to tarie in the same place, commaundynge theim that so soone as he was departed, they shoulde caste ouer a bridge, and should fortefie it, and he with his other menne folowed on the waye: wherfore [Page] 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 thynges in order, passed the riuer without difficultee.
Haue ye any rule to know the foordes?
How to know the Foordes of a riuer.Yea, we haue: alwaies the riuer, 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 riuer is moste shallowest. The whiche thyng, bicause it hath been proued many tymes, is moste true.
If it chaunce that the Riuer haue marde the Foorde, so that the horses sincke, what reamedy haue you?
The remedie is to make hardels of roddes whiche must be placed in the bottome of the riuer, & so to passe vpō those: but let vs folowe our reasonyng. If it happē that a capitain be led with his armie, betwen two hilles, & that he haue not but twoo waies to saue hymself, either that before, or that behinde, & those beyng beset of thenemies, he hath for remidie to doe the same, Howe to escape oute of a straight where the same is besette with enemies. which some haue doen heretofore: y t which haue made on their hinder parte a greate trenche, difficult to passe ouer, 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 beleuyng, haue made theim selues stronge, towardes the open parte, and haue forsaken the inclosed, and he then castyng a bridge of woode ouer the Trenche, for soche an effect prepared, bothe on thesame parte, with out any impedimente hath passed, and also deliuered hymself out of the handes of the enemie. Howe Lutius Minutius escaped out of a strayght wherin he was inclosed of his enemies. Lucius Minutus a Consul of Rome, was in Liguria with an [Page lxxvj] 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 euill armed, and vpon little leane horses) towardes the places that were kepte of the enemies, whō at the first sight made the enemies, to order theim selues together, to defende the passage: but after that thei sawe those men ill apoincted, & accordyng to their facion euill horsed, regardyng theim little, enlarged the orders of their warde, wherof so sone as the Numidiās wer a ware, giuyng the spurres to their horses, and runnyng violently vpon theim, passed before thei could prouide any remedy, whom beyng passed, destroied and spoiled the countrie after soche sorte, that thei constrained the enemies, to leaue the passage free to the armie of Lucius. Some capitaine, Howe some Capitaynes haue suffered them selues to be compassed aboute of their enemies. whiche hath perceiued hymself to be assaulted of a greate multitude of enemies, hath drawen together his men, and hath giuen to the enemie commoditie, to compasse hym all about, and then on thesame part, whiche he hath perceiued to be moste weake, hath made force, and by thesame waie, hath caused to make waie, and saued hymself.
Marcus Antonius retiryng before the armie of the Parthians, A polecie of Marcus Antonius. perceiued how the enemies euery daie before Sunne risyng, when he remoued, 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 beleuing, that he would not remoue that daie, retourned to their tentes. Whereby Marcus Antonius might then all the reste of the daie, marche without any disquietnesse. A defence for the s [...]otte of arrowes. This self same mā for to auoide the arrowes of the Parthians, commaū ded his men, that when the Parthians came to wardes them, thei should knele, and that the second ranke of the battailes, should couer with their Targaettes, the heddes of the firste, the thirde, the seconde, the fowerth, [Page] the third, and so successiuely, that all the armie came, to be as it were vnder 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 vnto an armie marchyng: therefore, if you remember not any thyng els, I will passe to an other parte.
The sixthe Booke of the Arte of warre, of Nicholas Machiauell, Citezeine and Secretarie of Florence, vnto Laurence Philip Strozze.
I Beleue 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 haue nowe here vnderstoode of the gentilman) who place the beste souldiours, before and behinde the armie, semyng vnto theim necessarie to haue 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, haue in this middeste intertained it, and as euery one of vs hath takē his part willingly, so I beleue not, that Baptiste wil refuse it.
I haue let my self been gouerned 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, haue vs excused.
You dooe me, as all readie I haue 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 [Page] that you knowe euery 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 haue lodged them, after made theim to marche, and laste of all to faight, and we haue doen the contrary: whereunto necessitie hath brought vs, 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 haue firste shewed, how thei ordered it to faight. But tournyng to our matter, I saie, that minding to haue 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 situaciōs, How the Grekes incamped. nor thei would neuer place theim selues, where had not been either caue, or bancke of a riuer, or multitude of trees, or other naturall fortificacion, that might defende theim: but the Romaines not so moche incāped safe through the situacion, Howe the Romaines incamped. as through arte, nor thei would neuer incampe in place, where thei should not haue been able to haue 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 thē, not thei by the situacion: the which the Grekes could not obserue, for that beyng ruled by the situacion, and variyng the situacion and forme, it was conueniente, that also thei should varie the maner of incampyng, and the facion of their lodgynges. Therefore the Romaines, where the situacion lacked strēgth thei supplied thesame with arte, and with industrie. And for that I in this my declaracion, haue willed to imitate the Romaines, I will not departe frō the maner of their incamping, yet not obseruyng altogether their order, but takyng thesame parte, whiche semeth vnto me, to be mete for this present tyme. I haue told [Page lxxviij] you many tymes, how the Romaines had in their cō sull armies, twoo Legions of Romaine men, whiche were aboute a leuen thousande footemen, and sixe hū dred horsemen, and moreouer thei had an other leuen thousande footemen, sente from their frendes in their aide: nor in their armie thei had neuer 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 obserued 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 haue taken out of the Romaine maners. You knowe, that in stede of twoo Romaine Legions, I haue 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 haue deuided theim: you knowe howe in orderyng tharmie to marche, and to faight, I haue not made mencion of other men, but onely haue 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 iuste armie, made like vnto the Romaines, of twoo maine battailes, and of as many mo 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 vnto me so necessarie. Purposing then, to incāpe a iuste armie, The maner of the incamping of an armie. of .xxiiij. thousande footemen, & of twoo thousande good horsemenne, [Page] beeyng deuided 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 haue euery side distante from it .xxxvij. yardes and a half, of whiche euery one of them should lye, towardes one of the fower regions of heauen, as Easte, Weste, Southe, and Northe: betwene the whiche space, The lodging for the generall capitaine. I would that the capitaines lodgyng should be appoincted. And bicause I beleue that it is wisedō, to deuide the armed from the vnarmed, seyng that so, for the moste parte the Romaines did, I would therefore seperate the menne, that were cumbered with any thing, from the vncombered. I would lodge all, or the greatest parte of the armed, on the side towardes the Easte, and the vnarmed, 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 stistante eche of theim from it a leuen yardes and a quarter: in the ende whereof, I would haue the Easte gate, and the space that is betwene the twoo vttermoste lines, should make a waie, that should go frō the gate, to the capitaines lodging, whiche shall come to be .xxij. yardes and a halfe broad, and .CCCClxxij. yardes and a halfe longe, for the .xxxvij. yardes and a halfe, the lodgyng of the Capitaine will take vp: 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 leaue the Capitaines lodgyng towardes [Page lxxv] theaste, whiche waie shalbe .ix.C.xxxvij. yardes & a halfe long (for the lēgth therof wilbe as moche as the breadth of all the lodgynges) & shall likewise be xxij. yardes & 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, & the other, on the lefte: and therefore passing ouer the space, that the breadth of the crosse waie taketh, I would place xxxij. lodgynges, on the lefte side of the capitain waie, and .xxxij. on the right side, leauyng betwene the .xvi. and the .xvij. lodgyng, a space of .xxij. yardes & a halfe, the whiche should serue for a waie ouerthwart, whiche should runne ouerthwarte, throughout all the lodgynges of the maine battailes, as in the distributyng of them shall bee seen.
Of these twoo orders of lodgynges in the beginnyng of the head, The lodging [...] for the men of armes, & their Capitaine. whiche shall come to ioygne to the crosse waye, I would lodge the Capitaine of the men of armes, in the .xv. lodgynges, which on euerie side foloweth next, their men of armes, where eche main battaile, hauyng a .C.l. men of armes, it will come to ten men of armes for a longyng. The spaces of the Capitaines lodgynges, should be in bredth .xxx. and in length .vij. yardes & a halfe. Note, which is breadth and whiche length in the square campe. And note that when so euer 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 euerie syde should folowe, The lodgings for the lighte horsemen, and their capitain. the whiche should haue their beginnyng on the other side of the ouerthwarte way, and whiche shall haue the very same space, that those of the men of armes had, I woulde lodge the light horsemen: wherof beynge a [Page] hundred and fiftie, it will come to .x. horsemen for a lodgyng, and in the .xvj. that remaineth, I woulde lodge their Capitaine, geuynge him the verie same space, that is geuen 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 geue rule to the lodginges of the footemen, as I shall declare. You haue noted how I haue lodged the .CCC. horsemed of euerie main battaile with their Capitaines, in .xxxij. lodgynges placed on the Captaine waie, hauynge begun from the crosse waie, and how from the .xvi. to the .xvii. there remaineth a space of .xxij. yardes and a halfe, to make awaie ouerthwarte. Mindyng therefore to lodge the xx. battailes, which the twoo ordinarie maine battailes haue, The lodgings for the footemē of twoo ordinary main battailes. I woulde place the lodgyng of euerie twoo battailes, behinde the lodgynges of the horsemen, eeuerie one of whiche, should haue in lēgth .xi. yardes and a quarter, and in bredeth .xxii. yardes and a half, as those of the horsemens, and should bee ioigned on the hinder parte, that thei shoulde touche the one the other. The lodgings for the conestables. And in euery first lodgyng on euerie side which cometh to lie on the crosse waie, I woulde lodge the Counstable of a battaile, whiche should come to stand euen with the lodgyng of the Capitayne of the men of armes, and this lodgyng shall haue onely of space for bredeth .xv. yardes, and for length .vij. yardes and a halfe. In the other .xv. lodgynges, that on euerie side followeth after these, euen vnto the ouerthwarte way, I would lodge on euerie part a battaile of foote men, whiche beyng .iiij. hundred & fiftie, there will come to a lodgyng .xxx. the other .xv. lodgynges, The nomber of footemen appoicted to euery lodging. I woulde place continually on euery side on those of the light horse men, with the verie same spaces, where I woulde lodge on euerie part, an other battaile of fote men, and in the laste lodgyng, I would place on euery parte the Conestable of the battaile, whiche will [Page lxxx] come to ioigne with the same of the Capitaine of the lighte hosemen, 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 haue tolde you) these horse menne shoulde be all profitable, and for this hauynge no seruauntes whiche in kepyng the horses, or in other necessarie thynges might helpe thē, I woulde that these footemen, who lodge behynde the horse, should bee bounde to helpe to prouide, and to keepe theim for their maisters: and for this to bee exempted from the other doynges of the Campe. The whiche maner, was obserued of the Romaines. Then leauyng after these lodgynges on euerie 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 euerie side an other order of .xxxij. double lodgynges, whiche should tourne their hinder partes the one againste the other with the verie same spaces, as those that I haue tolde you of, and deuided after the sixtenth in the verie same maner for to make the ouerthwarte waie, where I would lodge on euery side .iiij. battailes of footemen, with their constables in bothe endes. Then leauyng on euery side an other space of .xxij. 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 euerie side of .xxxij. double lodgynges, with the verie same distance and deuisions, where I would lodge on euerie side, other .iiij. 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 [Page] 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 euerie 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 euerie 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, & 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 .xiij. 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 .D.x. yardes▪ Now there remaineth twoo spaces, whereof one is from the Capitaines lodgynge 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.lxxvj. yardes. Then takyng out of euerie one of these spaces xxxvij. yardes and a halfe, whiche the Capitaynes lodgynge occupieth, and .xxxiiij. yardes euerie waie for a market place, and .xxij. yardes and a halfe for a way that deuides euerie one of the saied spaces in the middest, and .lxxv. yardes, that is lefte on euerie part betweene the lodgynges and the Trenche, there remaineth on euery side a space for lodginges of .CCC. [Page lxxxi] yardes broade, and .lxxv. yardes longe, measurynge the length with the space that the Captaines lodynge taketh vp. Deuidynge then in the middest the saied lengthe, there woulde be made on euery hande of the Capitaine .xl. lodgynges .xxxvij. yardes and a halfe longe, and .xv. broade, whiche will come to be in all lxxx. lodgynges, The lodgynges for the chiefe Capitaines of the maine battayles and for the treasurers, marshals and straū gers. wherin shall be lodged the heddes of the maine battailes, the Treasurers, the Marshalles of the fielde, and all those that shoulde haue office in the armie, leauyng some voide for straungers that shoulde happen to come, and for those that shall serue for good will of the Capitaine. On the parte behinde the Capitaines lodgynge, I would haue a way from Southe to Northe .xxiij. yardes large, and shoulde be called the hed way, whiche shall come to be placed a longe by the .lxxx. lodgynges aforesayd: for that this waie, & 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 hed waie, and from ouer agaynst the captaines lodgyng, I would make an other waie, which shoulde goe from thens to the weste gate, lykewyse broade .xxij. 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 ouer against the capitaines lodgynge, & ioigned to the head way, and I woulde haue 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 euerie order shall haue eight double lodginges, which shall take vp in length .ix. yardes, and in bredeth .xxij yardes and a halfe, so that there shall come to be on euery hande of the market place, xvj. lodgynges that [Page] shall the place the same in the middest which shall be in al xxxij. wherin I woulde lodge those horsemen, Lodginges for the horsemen, of the extraordinarie mayne battailes. 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 y e Capitaines lodgynge, & in especially those, that lie towardes the Trenche. There resteth now to lodge the Pikes, The lodgynges for the extraordinarie Pykes and Veliti. and extraordinari Veliti, that euerie main battaile hath, which you know accordynge to our order, how euerie one hath besides the .x. battailes .M. extraordinarie Pikes, and fiue hundreth Veliti: so that the twoo cheefe maine battailes, haue two thousande extraordinarie Pikes, and a thousande extraordinarie Veliti, and the ayders as many as those, so that yet there remaineth to be lodged .vj.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, leauyng the space of .lxxv. yardes from them to the trenche, I woulde place an order of .v. double lodgynges, whiche in all shoulde take vp .lvj. yardes in lengthe, and .xxx. in bredeth: so that the bredeth deuided, there will come to euerie lodgyng .xi. yardes and a quarter for lengthe, & for bredeth twoo and twentie yardes and a half. And because there shall be .x. lodgynges, I will lodge three hundred men, apoinctyng to euery lodging .xxx. men: leauyng 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 fiue double lodgynges, and againe an other, till there were fiue orders of fiue double lodgynges: which wil come to be fiftie lodgynges placed by right line on the Northe side, euery 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 thesame tracte, whiche were from them to the saied gate, fiue other orders of double lodgynges, [Page lxxxij] 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 .xj. 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 deuided in .x. rewes of fiue 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 euen 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 vnto them moste commodious, on the parte towardes the trenche. The Artillerie, How the Artillerie must be placed in the Campe. 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 vnarmed, Lodgynges for the vnarmed men, and the places that are apoincted for the impedimentes of the campe. and place all the impedimentes of the Campe. And it is to be vnderstoode, that vnder 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 & beeues whiche for victuallyng of the armie, are requiset: and moreouer 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 [Page] saied impedimentes, that is one for the herdemen, the other for artificers and craftes mē, the thirde for publicke carriages of victuals, the fowerth for the municion of armur and weapons. The waies whiche I woulde shoulde be lefte without ocupiyng them, shal be the market waie, the head waye, and more ouer 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 serue for the same purpose that the ouerthwarte way doeth on theast 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 yardes and a halfe broade. And the Artilerie, I woulde place a longe the Trenche of the Campe, rounde aboute the same.
I confesse that I vnderstand not, nor I beleeue that also to saye so, is any shame vnto 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 vsed.
You must note, that I make all the waies, xxij. yardes and a halfe braode, to the intente that thorowe them, maie go a battaile of men in araie, where if you remember wel, I tolde you how euery bande of menne, taketh in breadth betwene .xviij. and .xxij. 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 haue space to retire theim selues with newe trenches, [Page lxxxiij] 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 euery space, of me marked out, bee couered with a pauilion onely, but to be vsed, 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 longinges, 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 giue it the facion, and to distribute it, distinguishyng the waies, deuidyng the lodgynges with Coardes and staues, in soche practised wise, that straight waie, thei maie bee ordained, and deuided: The Campe ought to be all waies of one facion. and to minde that there growe no confusion, it is conueniente to tourne the Campe, alwaies one waie, to the intente that euery manne maie knowe in what waie, in what space he hath to finde his lodgyng: and this ought to be obserued in euery tyme, in euery place, and after soche maner, that it seme a mouyng Citee, the whiche where so euer 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 obserue, 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 [Page] 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 vpon euery corner of the Campe, a halfe circle of groūd, from whens the artillerie might flancke, whom so euer should seke to come ouer the Trenche. In this practise in knowyng how to ordain a campe, the souldiours ought also to be exercised, & to make w t 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.
Before you passe to the watche, I desire that you would declare vnto me, when one would pitche his campe nere the enemie, what waie is vsed: for that I knowe not, how a man maie haue tyme, to be able to ordaine it without perill.
You shall vnderstande this, that no Capitaine will lye nere the enemie, except he, y t is desposed to faight the fielde, when so euer his aduersarie 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, & thother maketh y e lodginges. The Romaines in this case, gaue this order of fortifiyng the Campe, vnto the Triarij: & the Prencipj, & the Astatj, stoode in armes. This thei did, for as moche as the Triarij, beyng the last to faight, might haue time inough, if the enemie came, to leaue the woorke, & to take their weapons, & to get them into their places. Therfore, accordyng vnto 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 Triarij. But let vs tourne to reason of the watche.
[Page lxxxiiij]I thinke I haue not founde, The antiquitie vsed no Scoutes. emongest the antiquitie, that for to warde the campe in the night, thei haue kepte watche without the Trenche, distaunte as thei vse now a daies, whom thei call Scoutes: the whiche I beleue thei did, thinkyng that y e armie might easely bee deceiued, 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 iudged it perillous. And therefore, all the strēgth of the watche, was with in the trenche, whiche thei did withall diligence kepe, and with moste greate order, punished with death, whom so euer obserued not thesame order: the whiche how it was of them ordained, I will tell you no other wise, leaste I should bee tedious vnto you, beyng able by your self to see it, if as yet you haue not seen it: I shall onely briefly tell that, whiche shall make for my purpose. I wold cause to stād ordinately euery night, The watche and warde of the Campe. 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 euery 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 obserue also in the daie, when I should haue the enemie nere.
Concernyng the giuyng of the watche worde, and renuyng thesame euery euening, and to doe the other thynges, whiche in like watches is vsed, bicause thei are thynges well inough knowen, I will speake no further of them: onely I shall remēber one thyng, for that it is of greate importaunce, and whiche causeth great saulfgarde obseruyng it, and not obseruyng it, moche harme: The whiche is, Dilligence ought to be vsed, to knowe who lieth oute of the Campe, and who they be that cometh of newe. that there be obserued greate diligence, to knowe at night, who lodgeth not in the Campe, and who commeth a newe: and this is [Page] an easie thing to see who lodgeth, with thesame order that wee haue appoincted: for as moche as euery lodgyng hauyng 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 Fugetiues, and if there bee more, to vnderstande what thei be, what they make there, & of their other condiciōs. This diligēce maketh that the enemie cannot but with difficultie, practise w t thy capitaines, and haue knowlege of thy counsailes: which thing if of y e Romaines, had not been diligently obserued, Claudius Nero. Claudius Nero could not, hauyng Aniball nere hym, departed from his Campe, whiche he had in Lucania, and to go and to retourne from Marca, without Aniball should haue firste heard thereof some thyng. But it suffiseth not to make these orders good, excepte thei bee caused to bee obserued, with a greate seuertie: for that there is nothyng that would haue more obseruacion, then is requisite in an armie: therefore the lawes for the maintenaunce of thesame, The iustice that ought to be in a campe. ought to be sharpe and harde, and the executour therof moste harde. The fauts that the antiquitie punisshed with [...]eath. The Romaines punished with death him that lacked in the watch, he that forsoke the place that was giuen 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 cō maundemente of the Capitaine, if any had for feare, caste awaie his weapons: and when it happened, that a Cohorte, or a whole Legion, had cōmitted 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 euery man did not feele it, euery man notwithstandyng feared it: and bicause where be greate punishementes, there ought to be also [Page lxxxv] rewardes, mindyng to haue menne at one instant, Where greate punishementes be, there oughte likewise to bee great rewardes to feare and to hope, thei had appoincted rewardes to euery worthie acte: as he that faighting, saued the life of one of his Citezeins, to hym that firste leapte vpon the walle of the enemies Tounc, 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 euery vertuous act, was of the Consulles knowen and rewarded, and openly of euery 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. It was no maruel that the Romaines became mightie Princes. Therefore it was no marueile, though thesame people gotte so moche dominion, hauing so moche obseruacion in punishemente, and rewarde towardes theim, whom either for their well doyng, or for their ill doyng, should deserue either praise or blame: Of whiche thynges it were conuenient, to obserue the greater parte. Nor I thinke not good to kepe secrete, one maner of punishmente of theim obserued, whiche was, that so sone as the offendour, was before the Tribune, or Consulle conuicted, 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, euery man threwe at hym either stones, or dartes, or with other weapons, stroke hym in soche wise, that he went but little waie a liue, and moste fewe escaped, and to those that so escaped, it was not lawfull for thē to retourne home, but with so many incommodities, and soche greate shame and ignomie, that it should haue ben moche better for him to haue died. This maner is seen to be almoste obserued of the Suizzers, who make the condempned to be put to death openly, of thother souldiours, the whiche [Page] is well considered, A meane to punishe and execute Iustice, without raising tumultes. and excellently dooen: for that intendyng, that one be not a defendour of an euill doer, the greateste reamedie that is founde, is to make hym punisher of thesame: bicause otherwise, with other respecte he fauoureth 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 haue one fauored in his faulte of the people, a greate remedie it is, to make that the people, maie haue hym to iudge. For the greater proofe of this, Manlius Capitolinus. thinsample of Manlius Capitolinus might be brought, who being accused of the Scenate, was defended of the people, so longe as thei were not Iudge, but becommyng arbitratours in his cause, thei condempned hym to death. This is then a waie to punishe, without raisyng tumultes, and to make iustise 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 ioined thereunto the aucthoritie of God: Souldiours sworen to kepe the discipline of warre. 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 haue to feare the Lawes, and menne, but God: and thei vsed all diligence, to fill them with Religion.
Did the Romaines permitte, that women might bee in their armies, or that there might be vsed these idell plaies, whiche thei vse now a daies?
Women and idell games, were not suffered by the antiquitie, to bee in their armies.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 euery 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 vnproffitable soulours doe.
I am herein satisfied, but tell me, whē the [Page lxxxvj] armie had to remoue, what order kepte thei?
The chief Trumpet sounded three tymes, Ordre in the remouing the armie by the soundes of a Trumpet. at the firste sound, thei toke vp the Tentes, and made the packes, at the seconde, thei laded the carriage, at the thirde, thei remoued in thesame maner aforsaied, with the impedimentes after euery parte of armed men, placyng the Legions in the middeste: and therefore you ought to cause after thesame sorte, an extraordinarie maine battaile to remoue: 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 conueniente, to haue euery one of them, appointed to a maine battaile, to the entente that the armie remouyng, euery one might knowe his place in marchyng: and thus euery 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.
In pitchyng the Campe, had thei other respectes, then those you haue tolde?
I tell you again, that the Romaines when thei encamped, would be able to kepe the accustomed fashion of their maner, the whiche to obserue, thei had no other respecte: but concernyng for other consideracions, thei had twoo principall, the one, to incampe theim selues in a wholesome place, the other, Respectes to be had for incampyng. to place themselues, where thenemie could not besiege theim, nor take from them the waie to the water, or victualles. Then for to auoide infirmitie, thei did [...]ie from places Fennie, or subiecte to hurtfull windes: whiche thei knewe not so well, by the qualitie of the situaciō, as by the face of the inhabitours▪ for when thei sawe theim euill coloured, or swollen, How to choose a place to incampe. or full of other infeccion, thei would not lodge there concernyng thother [Page] respecte to prouide not to be besieged, it is requisite to consider the nature of the place, where the friendes lye, and where thenemies, and of this to make a coniecture, 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 haue aboute him diuers men, that haue the verie same expertenes. Thei auoide also diseases, How to auoide diseases from the armie. and famishment, with causyng the armie to kepe no misrule, for that to purpose to maintain it in health, it is nedefull to prouide, that the souldiours maie slepe vnder 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 hauyng 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 euery daie, made them to exercise: wherby is seen how muche exercise auaileth: The wonderfull commoditie of exercise. for that in the Cāpe, 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 prouide where thou maieste haue it, and to see that thesame whiche thou haste, bee not loste: and therefore it is requisite, The prouision of victualles that ought alwaies to bee in a readinesse in an armie. that thou haue alwaies in prouision with the armie, sufficiente victuall for a monethe, and then remouyng into some strong place, thou muste take order with thy nexte frendes, that daily thei maie prouide for thee, and aboue al thinges bestowe the victual with diligence, giuyng euery daie to euery manne, a reasonable measure, and obserue [Page lxxxvij] after soche sorte this poincte, that it disorder thee not: bicause all other thyng in the warre, maie with tyme be ouercome, this onely with tyme ouercometh thee: nor there shall neuer any enemie of thyne, who maie ouercome thee with famishemente, that will seeke to ouercome thee with yron. For that though the victory be not so honourable, yet it is more sure and more certaine: Then, thesame armie cannot auoide famishemente, that is not an obseruer of iustice, whiche licenciously consumeth what it liste: bicause the one disorder, maketh that the victualls commeth not vnto you, the other, that soche victuall as commeth, is vnprofitably consumed: therefore thantiquitie ordained, that thei should spende thesame, whiche thei gaue, 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 obserued of the armies nowe adaies, euery manne knoweth, and worthely thei can not bee called menne of good order and sober, as the antiquitie, but lasiuious and drunkardes.
You saied in the beginnyng of orderynge the Campe, that you woulde not stande onely vppon twoo maine battailes, but woulde take fower, for to shewe how a iuste armie incamped: therfore I would you shoulde tell me twoo thynges, the one, when I shoulde haue more or lesse men, howe I ought to incampe them, the other, what numbre of souldiours should suffice you to faight against what so euer enemie that were.
To the first question I answer you, Howe to lodge in the Campe [...] more or lesse menne, then the ordinarie. that if the armie be more or lesse, then fower or sixe thousande souldiours, the orders of lodgynges, may bee taken awaie or ioined, so many as suffiseth: and with this way a man may goe in more, and in lesse, into infinite: Notwithstandynge the Romaines, when thei ioigned together twoo consull armies, thei made twoo campes, and thei tourned the partes of the vnarmed, [Page] thone against thother. Concernyng the second question, I say vnto you, that the Romaines ordinary armie, was about .xxiiij.M. souldiours: but when thei were driuen 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, haue made warre with fewe, fortefiyng themselues thorough order, and thorough arte: the west, and the easte, haue made it with multitude: But the one of these nacions, doeth serue with naturall furie, as doe the men of the west partes, the other through the great obedience whiche those men haue to their kyng. But in Grece, & in Italy, beyng no naturall furie, nor the naturall reuerēce 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 ouercome the furie, The nombre of men that an army ought to be made of, to bee able to faighte with the puisantest enemie that is. and the naturall obstinatenesse of manie. Therefore I saie, that mindyng to imitate the Romaines, & 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 obserued, and the orders learned, and Pirrus vsed to saie, Pirrus. that with .xv. thousande men he woulde assaile the worlde: but let vs pas to an other parte. We haue made this our armie to winne a field and shewed the trauailes, that in the same fight may happē: we haue made it to marche, & declared of what impedimentes in marchyng it may be disturbed: and finally we haue 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 [Page lxxxviij] 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 ouercome them: therfore it is necessarie to come to this demonstracion, & to passe this difficultie with the same glorie, as hither to we haue warred. Howe to cause men to do soche a thing as shold bee profitable for thee, & hurtfull to them selues. Therfore comynge to particular matters, I saie that if it shoulde happen, that thou wouldest haue 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 euerie one beleeue not that it toucheth him: so that succouryng not the one the other, thei may finde them selues al to be oppressed without remedie, or els vnto all to commaunde the same, whiche they ought to dooe in one selfe daie, to the intente that euery mā beleuyng to be alone, to whome the commaundemēt is made, maie thinke to obey and not to remedie it: & so withoute tumulte thy commaundement to be of euerie man executed. If thou shouldest suspecte the fidelitie of anie people, and woulde assure thee, Howe to euercome [...] vnwa [...]es. and ouercome them at vnawares, 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 haue thy minde farre from thinkyng on them: the whiche will make, that thei shall not think on their owne defence, beleeuyng not that thou purposest to hurte them, and thei shal geue thee commoditie, to be able easely to satisfiie thy desire. How to [...] to commoditie the doynges of soche, as vse to aduertise thy enemie of thy proceedynges▪ When thou shouldest perceiue, that there were in thine armie some, that vsed to aduertise thy enemie of thy deuises, thou canst not doe better, myndynge to take cō moditie 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 [Page] to doubte of thynges, that thou doubtest not, & those of whiche thou doubtest, to hide: the which shall make thenemie to take some enterprise in hand, beleuing to know thy deuises, where by easly thou maiest beguile & opresse hym. How to order the campe, that the enemie shal not perceiue whether the same bee demi [...]shed, or increased. 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, & the verye same wardes throughout all the campe, as wer wont to be afore. Lykewise if with thy armie there should ioigne 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 deuises, hath alwaies been moste profitable. A saiyng of Metellus. 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, Marcus Crassus. he would bourne it. Marcus Craussus, vnto one, whome asked him, when the armie shoulde remoue, saied beleeuest thou to be alone not to here the trumpet? How to vnderstand the secretes of thy enemie. If thou shouldest desire to vnderstande the secretes of thy enemie, and to know his orders, some haue vsed to sende embassadours, and with theim in seruauntes aparel, moste expertest men in warre: whom hauynge taken occasion to se the enemies armie, and to consider his strengthe and weakenesse, it hath geuen them oportunitie to ouercome him. Some haue sente into exile one of their familiars, and by meanes of the same, hath knowen the deuises of his aduersarie. Also like secrettes are vnderstoode of the enemies when for this effecte there were taken any prisoners. Marius whiche in the warre that he made with the Cimbrie, A policie of Marius, to vnderstande howe he might truste the Frenchmē. for to know the faieth of those Frenchmen, who then inhabited Lombardie, and were in leage with the Romaine people, sent them letters open, & [Page lxxxix] 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 inuaded, What some Capitaines haue doen whē their countrie haue been inuaded of enemies▪ haue not desired to goe to meete the enemie, but haue 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 selues with booties, and confidence to ouercome, shall sone make the enemies souldiours to wexe afraide, when they supposynge theim selues conquerours, shal vnderstand to become losers: So that to him that hath made this diuersion, manie times it hath proued 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. To make the enemie necligente in his doynges. It hath been often a profitable thyng to a capitaine, that hath been besieged in his lodgynges by the enemie, to moue 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 auaylynge thee of their necligence, thou maiest easely haue occacion to get thee oute of their handes. Silla. By this way Silla deliuered him selfe twise from the enemies: and with this verie same deceipte, Asdruball. Asdruball in Hispayne got oute of the force of Claudious Nero, whome had besieged him. It helpeth also to deliuer a man out of the daūger 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 attentiue to the same faight, may geue commoditie to the reste of thy men to bee able to saue theim selues, or to cause to rise some newe accidente, which for the strayngenesse of the thynge, maie make him to maruell, and for this occasion to [Page] stande doubtefull, The policie of Aniball, where by he escaped out of the danger of Fabius Maximus. and still: as you knowe howe Anniball dyd, who beynge inclosed of Fabius Maximus, tied in the nighte small Bauens 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 muste deuise how to deuide the force of his enemies. A Capitayne oughte amonge all other of his affaires, with al subtiltie to deuise to deuide the force of the enemie, either with makyng him to suspecte his owne menne, in whome he trusteth, or to giue him occasion, that he maye seperate his menne, and therby to be come more weake. How to cause the enemie to haue in suspect his most trusty men. The fyrste way is dooen with keepyng saulfe the thynges of some of those whiche he hath aboute him, as to saue in the warre their menne and their possessions, renderynge theim their children, or other their necessaries withoute raunsome. You know that Anniball hauynge burned all the fieldes aboute Rome, Aniball. he made onely to bee reserued saulfe those of Fabius Maximus. Coriolanus. You know how Coriolanus comyng with an armie to Rome, preserued the possessions of the nobilitie, and those of the comminaltie he bourned, Metellus against Iugurte and sacked. Metellus hauinge an armie againste Iugurte, all the oratours, whiche of Iugurte were sente him, were required of him, that they woulde geue him Iugurte prisoner, and after to the verie same men writyng letters of the verie same matter, wrought in suche wise, that in shorte tyme Iugurte hauyng in suspecte all his counsellours, in diuerse maners put them to death. A practis of the Romayne oratours, to bryng Aniball out of Credit with Antiochus. Anniball beynge fled to Antiochus, the Romaine oratours practised with him so familiarly, that Antiochus beyng in susspecte of him, trusted not anie more after to his counselles. Concernyng to deuide the enemies men, there is no more certainer waie, Howe to cause the enemie to diuide his power. 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 vsed hauynge agaynst his [Page xc] armie the power of the Frenchemen, of the Tuscans, Vmbries and Sannites. Howe Titus Didius staie [...] his enemies that wer going to incounter a legion of men that were commyng in his ayde. Titus Didius hauyng 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 intentente 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 vsed means, that certaine of the prisoners, that he had taken afore, had occas [...]ion 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 serueth not to deuide the force of the enemies, but to augmente a mans owne. Howe some haue caused the enemie to deuide his force. Some haue vsed to deuide the enemies force, by lettyng him to enter into their countrie, and in profe haue let him take manie townes, to the intente that puttynge in the same garrisons, he might thereby deminishe his power, and by this waie hauynge made him weake, haue assaulted and ouercomen him. A policie to winne the enemies countrie before he be aware. Some other mindyng to goe into one prouince, haue made as though they woulde haue inuaded an other, and vsed so much diligence, that sodenly entryng into the same, where it was not doubted that they woulde enter, they haue first wonne it, before the ennemie coulde haue 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: Howe to deforme sedicion and discorde▪ The beste waie is to chastise the headdes of the faultes, but it muste be doen in such wise, that thou maiest first haue [Page] 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 beleeuynge, that it is for any cause to punishe them, they become not contumelius, but geue commoditie to the execution of the punishemente: when thei be present, y u 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, The benefitte that the reputacion of the Capitaine causeth, which is only gotten by vertue. to bryng them to the perill, the feare whereof is wonte alwaies to make them agree. But that, which aboue all other thynge kepeth the armie in vnitee, is the reputacion of the Capitaine, the whiche onely groweth of his vertue: because neither bloud, nor authoritie gaue it euer without vertue. And the chiefe thyng, The chiefe thyng that a capitayne ought to doe. whiche of a Capitain is looked for to be doen, is, to keepe his souldiours punished, and paied: for that when so euer the paie lacketh, it is conueniente that the punisshement lacke: When paie wanteth, punishement is not to be executed. because thou canst not correcte a souldiour, that robbeth, if thou doest not paie him, nor the same mindynge to liue, cannot abstaine from robbynge: but if thou paiest him and punisshest him not, he beecometh in euerie condicion insolente: The inconuenience of not punisshynge. 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, & 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 vp, or in lightynge of his horse fell, it was of y e souldiours interpreted sinisterously: And it ingendred in them so moche feare, that comynge to [Page xcj] faight the fielde, easely they should haue 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, Cesar chaunsynge to [...]all▪ made the same to be supposed to signifi good lucke. in comyng of the sea saied, Africa I haue taken thee. Moreouer manie haue 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, Religion taketh away [...]a [...] tasticall opinions. as also for that our religion taketh away altogether such opinions: al be it when they should chaunse, y e orders of y e antiquitie ought to be imitated. When either famishement, In what cases a C [...]pitaine ought not to faight with his enemie i [...] he may otherwyse choose. or other naturall necessitie, or humaine passion, hath broughte thy enemie to an vtter desperation, and he driuen 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. Fuluius beyng Consul, A policie of Fuluius [...] by he got and and spoyled his enemies Campe▪ 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 Cimbriās, and made them to be assaulted of his horsmen, and the Cimbrians issuyng ou [...]e of their campe for to follow them. Fuluio gotte it, and sacked it. A policie to [...] order the enemie. It hath ben of great vtilitie to a Capitaine, hauyng 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 beleeuynge those to bee menne, whiche are come in their aide, haue also runne to helpe to make them the pray: and for this disorderyng them selues, hathe therby giuen oportunitie to the aduersary to ouercome them. This waie Alexander of Epirus vsed againste the Illirans and Leptenus of Siracusa against the Carthaginers [Page] and bothe to the one and to the other, the deuise came to passe most happely. A policie to ouercome the enemie. Manie haue ouercome the enemie, geuyng him occasion to eate and to drinke oute of measure, fayning to haue feared, and leauing their Campes full of wyne & herdes of cattell, wherof the enemie beyng filled aboue all naturall vse, haue then assaulted him, and with his destruction ouerthrowen him. So Tamirus did against Cirus, and Tiberius Graccus agaynst the Spaniardes. A policie. Some haue poysoned the wine, and other thynges to feede on, for to be able more easely to ouercome 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 auoide 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, haue been slaine or taken. How to beguile the enemie. It helpeth to beguile the enemie sometime to varie a custome of thine, wherevpon he hauing grounded him self, remaineth ruinated: as a Capitaine did once, whome vsinge to cause to be made signes to his men for comynge of the enemies in the night with fire, & in the daie with smoke, commaunded that withoute anie intermission, they shoulde make smoke and fire, and after commynge vpon them the enemie, they should reste, whome beleeuyng to come without beynge seen, perceiuyng no signe to be made of beyng discouered, caused (through goeyng disordered) more easie the victorie to his aduersarie. Howe Mennonus trained his enemies oute of stronge places to bee the better able to ouercom thē Mennonus a Rodian mindynge to drawe from stronge places the enemies armie, sente one vnder colour of a fugitiue, the whiche affirmed, howe his armie was in discorde, and that the greater parte [Page xcij] 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 thynkyng thereby to be able to discomfaighte them, assaultynge theim, were ouerthrowen.
Besides the saied thynges, The enemie ought not to be brought into extreme desperacion. 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 strōg, and would rather take paine to followe theim, when thei fled, then the perill to ouercome them, when thei defended them selues.
Lucullus seyng, How Lucullus constrained certaine [...]ē that [...]all a [...]ie from him to h [...] enemies, to fayght whether they wold or not. 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 beleuing, that Lucullus would begin the faight, went to incounter thesame Macedonians, with soche violence, that thei were constrained to defende themselues: and so thei became against their willes, of fugetiues, 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.
Pompei doubtyng of the Catinensians, A policie wherby Pompey got a towne. praied thē that thei would bee contente, to receiue certaine sicke menne, that he had in his armie, and sendyng vnder the habite of sicke persones, most lustie menne, gotte the toune. Publius Valerius, How Publius Valerius [...]ssured him se [...] o [...] a towne. 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, receiuyng after none in, but those whom he trusted. Alexander Magnus, mindyng to goe into Asia, A policie that Alexāder Magnus vsed to be assured of all Tracia, which Philip kynge of Spaine did practise to be a sured of England when he wente to sainct Quintens. and to assure himself of Thracia, toke with him all the principall [Page] of thesame Prouince, giuyng theim prouision, and he set ouer the common people of Thracia, men of lowe degree: and so he made the Princes contented with paiyng theim, and the people quiete, hauyng no heddes that should disquiete them: But emong all the thynges, Examples for Capitaines to winne the hartes of the people. with the whiche the Capitaines, winne the hartes of the people, be the insamples of chastitie and iustice, 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 hauing 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 iustice, that he made easier the conquest of thesame prouince. I cannot tell what remaineth me, to speake more vpō these accidētes, for that concerning this matter, there is not lefte any parte, that hath not been of vs 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.
Your humanitie is so moche, that it maketh vs to followe our desires, without beyng afraied to be reputed presumptuous, seyng that you liberally offer thesame, whiche we should haue been ashamed, to haue asked you: Therefore, we saie vnto you onely this, that to vs 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 vs a doubte, whether it bee better to continewe the warre, as well in the Winter, as thei vse now adaies, or to make it onely in the Sommer, and to goe home in the Winter, as the antiquitie did.
See, that if the prudence of the demaunder were not, there had remained behinde a speciall part, that deserueth consideracion. I answere you againe, that the antiquitie did all thynges better, and with [Page xciij] more prudence then wee: and if wee in other thynges commit some errour, in the affaires of warre, wee cō mit all errour. There is nothyng more vndescrete, Warre ought not to bee made in Winter. or more perillous to a Capitaine, then to make warre in the Winter, and moche more perill beareth he, that maketh it, then he that abideth it: the reason is this. All the industrie, that is vsed in the discipline of war, is vsed for to bee prepared to faight a fielde with thy enemie, bicause this is the ende, whereunto a Capitaine ought to goe or endeuour hymself: For that the foughten field, giueth thee the warre wonne or loste: then he that knoweth best how to order it, and he that hath his armie beste instructed, hath moste aduauntage in this, and maie beste hope to ouercome. Rought situaciōs, cold a watrie times, are enemies to the order of warre▪ On the other side, there is nothyng more enemie to thorders, then the rough situacions, or the cold & waterie tyme: for that the rough situacions, suffereth thee not to destende thy handes, according to the discipline: the cold and waterie times, suffereth thee not to kepe thy men together, nor thou canste not bryng theim in good order to thenemie: but it is conuenient for thee, to lodge them a sunder of necessitie, and without order, beyng constrained to obeie to Castelles, to Boroughes, and to the Villages, that maie receiue thee, in maner that all thy laboure of thee, vsed to instructe the armie is vain. Nor maruaile you not though now a daies, thei warre in the Winter, bicause the armies beyng with out discipline, knowe not the hurte that it doeth thē, in lodgyng not together, for that it is no grief to thē not to bee able to kepe those orders, & to obserue that discipline, whiche thei haue not: yet thei ought to see how moche harme, the campyng in the Winter hath caused, and to remember, An ouerthrown caused by [...]inter. how the Frenchemen in the yere of our Lorde God, a thousande fiue hundred and three, were broken at Gariliano of the Winter, and not of the Spaniardes: For as moche as I haue saied, he that assaulteth, hath more disaduauntage, [Page] then he that defendeth: bicause the foule wether hurteth hym not a little, beyng in the dominion of others and mindyng to make warre. For that he is constrained, either to stande together with his men, and to sustain the incommoditie of water and cold, or to auoide it, to deuide his power: But he that defendeth, maie chuse the place as he listeth, & tary him with his freshe men: and he in a sodaine maie set his menne in araie, and goe to finde a band of thenemies men, who cānot resist the violence of theim. So the Frenchemen were discomfited, and so thei shall alwaies bee discomfited, whiche will assaulte in the Winter an enemie, who hath in hym prudence. Then he that will that force, that orders, that discipline and vertue, in any condicion auaile hym not, lette him make warre in the fielde in the winter: and bicause that the Romaines would that al these thinges, in which thei bestowed so moch diligence, should auaile them, fledde no otherwise the Winter, then the high Alpes, & difficulte places, and what so euer other thyng should let theim, for beyng able to shewe their art and their vertue. So this suffiseth to your demaunde, wherefore we wil come to intreate of the defending and besiegyng of Tounes, and of their situacions and edificacions.
The seuenth booke of the Arte of warre, of Nicholas Machiauell, Citezeine and Secretarie of Florence, vnto Laurence Philip Strozze.
YOV oughte to knowe, Tounes and Fortresses maie be strong twoo waies. how that tounes and fortresses, maie bee strong either by nature, or by industrie: by nature, those bee strong, whiche bee compassed aboute with riuers, or with Fennes, as Mā tua is and Ferrara, or whiche bee builded vpon a Rocke, or vpon a stepe hille, as Monaco, and Sanleo: For that those that stande vpon hilles, that be not moche difficulet to goe vp, be now a daies, consideryng the artillerie and the Caues, moste weake. The place that now a daies in moste sought to fortifie in. 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, How a Tounwalle ought to bee made. 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 subiecte 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 giue difficultie to the Ladders, if it happen that the enemie, fill thē vp (whiche a great armie maie easely dooe) the wall remaineth taken of thenemie. The walle of [...] toune ought to bee high, and the diche within, and not without. Therefore purposyng to prouide to the one and thother foresaid inconueniēces, I beleue (sauyng alwaies better iudgement) that the walle ought to be [Page] 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 giueth not facilitie to the enemie, The thickenes that a Toune walle ought to bee of, and the distaunces betwene euerie flancker, and of what breadth & deapth the dich ought to bee. to fill vp the diche: Then the walle ought to be high, of that heighth as shall bee though beste, and no lesse thick, then two yardes and a quarter, for to make it more difficult to ruinate. Moreouer it ought to haue the toures placed, with distāces of .Cl. yardes betwen thone & 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 vp of a walle, that muste be raised from the bottome of the diche, and goe so high ouer the toune, that a man maie bee couered behinde thesame, the whiche thing shal make the depth of the diche the greater. In the bottome of the diche, within euery hundred and .l. yardes, there would be a slaughter house, which with the ordinaunce, maie hurte whom so euer should goe doune into thesame: How the ordinaunce is plā ted, for the defēce of a toune. the greate artillerie that defende the citee, are planted behinde the walle, that shutteth the diche, bicause for to defende the vtter 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 conuenient for hym to batter the vtter walle: but it beyng battered, The nature of the batterie. 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 receiueth 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 [...]hee. Onely there is this remedie, to fill the diche: the [Page xcv] 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 concaued, betwene the whiche, by the reasons aforesaied, with difficultie maie be entered, hauyng after to goe vp a breache through a ruin, whiche giueth thee moste greate difficultie, so that I suppose a citee thus builded, to be altogether inuinsible.
When there should bee made besides the diche within, a diche also without, should it not bee stronger?
It should be without doubt, but mindyng to make one diche onely, myne opinion is, that it stā deth better within then without.
Would you, that water should bee in the diches, or would you haue them drie?
The opinion of men herein bee diuers, bicause the diches full of water, saueth thee from mines vnder grounde, the Diches without water, A drie diche [...] moste su [...]es [...]e maketh more difficulte the fillyng of them: but I hauyng considered all, would make them without water, for that thei bee more sure: For diches with water, haue been seen in the Winter to bee frosen, and to make easie the winnyng of a citee, as it happened to Mirandola, when Pope Iulie besieged it: and for to saue me from mines, I would make it so deepe, that he that would digge lower, should finde water.
The Fortresses also, I would builde concernyng the diches and the walles in like maner, to the intent thei should haue the like difficultie to be wonne. An aduertisemente for the buildyng and defending of a Toune o [...] Fortr [...]ss [...]. One thyng I will earnestly aduise 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 giue the firste counsaile [Page] is, that no manne ought to make any thyng, by meane wherof, he maie be driuen without remedie to lese his firste reputacion, the whiche losyng, causeth to be estemed lesse his other doinges, & maketh afraied them, whom haue taken vpon theim his defence, and alwaies it shall chaunce him this, whiche I saie, whē there are made Bulwarkes out of the Toune, that is to bee defended, Small fortresses cannot bee defended. bicause alwaies he shall leese theim, little thinges now a daies, beyng not able to bee defended, when thei be subiect 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. A toune of war or Fortresse, ought not to haue in thē any retiring places 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 haue thereby, maketh that thei leese the vtter 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, Cesar Borgia. sonne to Pope Alexander the .vj. 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 ouer it by a draw bridge: the fortresse was deuided into three partes, and euery parte was deuided 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 Ihon Casale, whiche was appoincted to that Warde, thought not [Page xcvj] good to defende that breache, but abandoned it for to retire hymsef into the other places: so that the Dukes men hauing 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 frō one place to an other. Thei loste then this Fortresse, The causes of the losse of the Fortresse of Furlie, that [...] thought inuincible. whiche was thought inuinsible, through two defaultes, the one for hauyng so many retiryng places, the other, bicause euery 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 coū tesse, whoe had thought to haue abidden an armie, whiche neither the kyng of Naples, nor the Duke of Milaine would haue abidden: and although his inforcementes had no good ende, yet notwithstandyng he gotte that honoure, whiche his valiauntnesse had deserued: The whiche was testified of many Epigrammes, made in those daies in his praise. Therefore, if I should haue to builde a Fortresse, I would make the walles strōg, and the diches in the maner as we haue reasoned, nor I would not make therein other, Howe the houses that are in a toune of [...] or Fortresse ought to be builded. 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 euery manne should vnderstande, 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 deuided in soche wise, that euery parte should be Lorde of the bridges of his side, ordainyng, that thei should fall vpon postes, in the middest of the diche.
You haue saied that littell thynges now a daies can not bee defended, and it seemed vnto me to haue vnderstoode the contrarie, that the lesser [Page] that a thyng wer, the better it might be defended.
You haue not vnderstoode 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 vppon the warde of one wall and of one fortification only, is deceiued: 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 haue space within them to retire, thei are loste straight waie. Therefore it is wisdom to let alone those Bulwarkes without, The fortifiyng of the entrance of a Toune. and to fortifie thenterance of the toune, and to keuer 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 vsed, the which the antiquitie called Cattarratte, the whiche beyng let fall, exclude thenemies, and saue 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.
I haue 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 massiue: I woulde desire to vnderstande whereof groweth this difference, and which be the strongest.
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, [Page xcvij] and in Italy they be all together loste, for if there bee a thyng somwhat stronger then the ordinarie, it groweth of the insample of other countries. You might haue vnderstoode, and these other maye remember, with how muche debilitie before, that kyng Charles of Fraunce in the yere of our saluacion a thousande CCCC. xciiii. had passed into Italy, they made the batelmentes not halfe a yarde thicke, the loopes, and the flankers wer made with a littell openyng without, and muche within, and with many other faultes whiche not to be tedious, I wil let passe: for that easelye from thinne battelmentes the defence is taken a waie, the flankers builded in the same maner, moste easelie are opened: Battelment [...] ought to bee large and thick and the flankers large within. Now of the Frenche men is learned to make the battelment large and thicke, and the flankers to be large on the part within, and to drawe together in the middest of the wall, and then agayne to waxe wider vnto the vttermoste parte without: this maketh that the ordinance hardly can take away the defence. Therfore the French men haue, many other deuices like these, the whiche because they haue not been seen of our men, they haue not been considered. Amonge whiche, is this kinde of perculles made lyke vnto a grate, the whiche is a greate deall better then oures: for that if you haue for defence of a gate a massiue parculles as oures, lettyng it fall, you shut in your men, and you can not through the same hurte the enemie, so that he with axes, and with fyre, maye breake it downe safely: but if it be made lyke a grate, you may it beyng let downe, thorough those holes, & through those open places, defende it with pykes, with crosbowes, and with all other kynde of weapons.
I haue seen in Italy an other vse after the outelandishe facion, and this is, to make the carriage of the artillerie with the spokes of the wheele crooked towardes the Axeltree. I woulde knowe why [Page] they make them so: seemynge vnto me that they bee stronger when they are made straight as th [...]se of our wheeles.
Neuer beleeue that the thynges that differ from the ordinarie waies, be made by chaūce: and if you should beleeue that thei make them so, to shew fayrer, you are deceiued: because where strengthe 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 euen, or leanyng vpon the right, or vpon the lefte syde: when it goeth euen, the wheeles equally susteine the waight, the whiche beyng equally deuided between them, doeth not burden much, but leanyng, it cometh to haue al the paise of the cariage on the backe of that wheele vppon the which it leaneth. If the spokes of the same be straight they wyll soone breake: for that the wheele leanyng, the spokes come also to leane, and not to sustaine the paise by the straightnesse of theim: and so when the carte goeth euen, and when thei are least burdened, they come to bee strongest: when the carte goeth awrie, and that thei come to haue moste paise, they bee weakest. Euen the contrarie hapneth to the crooked spokes of the Frenche cartes, for that when the carte leanyng vpon one side poincteth vpon them, because thei be ordinary croked, thei come then to be straight, and to be abell to sustaine strongly all the paise, wher when the carte goeth euen, and that thei be crooked, thei sustaine it halfe: but let vs tourne to our citie & Fortresse. The Frenchemen vse also for more safegarde of the gates of their townes, & for to be abell in sieges more easely to conuey and sette oute men of them, besides the saied thynges, an other deuise, of whiche I haue not seen yet in Italye anie insample: and this is, where they raise on the oute side from the ende of the draw bridge twoo postes, and vpon either [Page xcviij] of theim thei ioigne a beame, in suche wise that the one halfe of theim comes ouer the bridge, the other halfe withoute: then all the same parte that cometh withoute, they ioigne together with small quarters of woodde, the whiche thei set thicke from one beame to an other like vnto a grate, and on the part within, thei fasten to thende of either of the beames a chaine: then when they will shutte the bridge on the oute syde, they slacke the chaines, and lette downe all the same parte like vnto a grate, the whiche comyng downe, shutteth the bridge, and when they will open it, they draw the chaines, and the same cometh to rise vp, and thei may raise it vp so muche that a man may passe vnder it, and not a horse, and so much that there may passe horse and man, and shutte it againe atonse, for that it falleth and riseth as a windowe of a battelmente. This deuise is more sure then the Parculles, because hardely it maie be of the enemie lette in suche wise, that it fall not downe, fallynge not by a righte line as the parculles, which easely maie be vnderpropped. Therfore thei whiche will make a citie, oughte to cause to be ordeined all the saied thynges: Neither free, diche, wall, tillage, nor anie kynde of edificacion, ought to bee within a mile of a toun [...] of warre. & moreouer aboute the walle, there woulde not bee suffered anie grounde to be tilled, within a myle therof, nor anie wall made, but shoulde be all champaine, wher shoulde be neither diche nor banke, neither tree nor house, whiche might let the sight, and make defence for the enemie that incampeth.
And note, that a towne, Note▪ whiche hathe the diches without, with the banckes higher then the grounde, is moste weake: for as muche as they make defence to the enemie, which assaulteth thee, and letteth him not to hurte thee, because easely they maie be opened, and giue place to his artillerie: but lette vs passe into the towne. I will not lose so muche time in shewyng you how that besides the foresaied thynges, it is requisite to haue prouision of victualles, & wherwith to [Page] faight, for that thei be thynges that euerie man vnderstandeth, and without them, all other prouision is vaine: The prouition that is meete to be made for the defence of a towne. and generally twoo thynges ought to be doen, to prouide, and to take the comoditie from the enemie that he auaile not by the thinges of thy countrie: therfore the strawe, the beastes, y e graine, which thou canst not receiue into house, ought to be destroied. Also he that defēdeth a towne, ought to prouide that nothyng be doen tumultiously and disordinately, and to take suche order, that in all accidentes euerie man maie knowe what he hath to doe.
The order that ought to be taken is thus, that the women, the olde folkes, the children, and the impotente, be made to keepe within doores, that the towne maie be left free, to yonge & lustie men, whom beyng armed, must be destributed for the defēce of the same, appoinctyng parte of them to y e wall, parte to the gates, part to the principal places of the Citie, for to remedie those incōueniences, that might grow within: an other parte muste not be bounde to any place, but be reddie to succour all, neede requiryng: & the thinge beeynge ordeined thus, with difficultie tumulte can growe, whiche maie disorder thee. Also I will that you note this, in the besiegyng & defendynge of a Citie, that nothyng giueth so muche hope to the aduer-to be able to winne a towne, as when he knoweth y t the same, What incorageth the enemie moste that besigeth a town is not accustomed to se the enemie: for that manie times for feare only with out other experience of force, Cities haue been loste: Therefore a man ought, What he that besiegeth and he that defendeth ought to doe. when he assaulteth a like Citie, to make all his ostentacions terribell. On the other parte he that is assaulted, ought to apoincte to the same parte, whiche the enemie faighteth againste, stronge men & such as opinion maketh not afraide, but weapons only: for that if the first proofe tourne vaine, it increaseth boldenesse to the besieged, and then the enemie is constrained to ouercome them within, with [Page xcix] 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 gaue assaultes. As Arrieti, Towets, Musculi, Plutei, Viney, Falci, testudeni, in steede of which thynges be now a daies the ordinance, the whiche serue him that bessegeth, and him that defendeth: and therfore I will speake no forther of theim: But let vs retourne to our reasonyng, and let vs come to particular offences. Aduertisementes for a besieged towne They ought to haue care not to be taken by famine, and not to be ouercome through assaultes: concernyng famin, it hath ben tolde, that it is requiset before the siege come, to be well prouided of vitualles. But when a towne throughe longe sige, lacketh victuals, some times hath ben seen vsed certaine extraordinarie waies to be prouided of their friendes, whome woulde saue them: inespeciall if through the middest of the besieged Citie there runne a riuer, Howe the Romaines vit [...]le [...] Casalino besieged of Aniball. as the Romaines vittelled their castell called Casalino besieged of Anibal, whom being not able by the riuer to sende them other victual then Nuttes, wherof castyng in the same great quantitie, the which carried of the riuer, without beyng abel to be letted, fedde longe time the Casalinians. Some besieged, A policie for the besieged. for to shew vnto y e enemie, that they haue graine more then inough and for to make him to dispaire, that he cannot, by famin ouercome theim, haue caste breade oute of the gates, or geuen a Bullocke graine to eate, and after haue 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 haue vsed sundrie waies to werie the enemie.
Fabius suffered them whome he besieged, A po [...]c [...] [...] [...] ging of [...]. to sowe their fieldes, to the entente that thei should lacke the same corne, whiche they sowed.
[Page]A policie of Dionisius in besiegynge of a towne.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 prouided of their victuales, and then when he had by this mean got frō them their graine, he kepte them straight and famished them.
Howe Alexander wanne Leucadia.Alexander Magnus mindyng to winne Leucadia ouercame all the Castels aboute it, & by that means driuyng into the same citie a great multitude, of their owne countrie men famished them.
The besieged ought to take heed of the first [...].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 euery side: and thei called it, Aggredi v [...]bem 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 ouercome: and yet thoughe it should happen that the enemie were entred into the citie, by ouercomynge the wall, yet the townes men haue some remedie, so thei forsake it not: for as much as manie armies through entring into a toune, haue ben repulced or slaine: The remedie that townes men haue, whē the enemies a [...] entred into the towne. the remedie is, that the townes men doe keepe them selues in highe places, and from the houses, and from the towers to faight with them: the whiche thynge, they that haue entered into the citie, haue deuised to ouercome in twoo manners: How to make the townes mē yeelde. the one with openyng the gates of the citie, and to make the waie for the townes mē, 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.
Besides this, the Citees are easie to bee wonne, if thou come vpon them vnawares: How townes or cities are easelie wonne. whiche is dooen beyng with thy armie farre of, after soche sort, that it be [Page C] not beleued, 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 vnwillingly 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: notwithstandyng, I cannot to this purpose but declare, the insample of Cesar Borgia, called duke Valentine, How duke Valentine got the citie of Vrbine who beyng at Nocera with his menne, vnder colour of goyng to besiege Camerino, tourned towardes the state of Vrbin, and gotte a state in a daie, and without any paine, the whiche an other with moche time and cost, should scante haue gotten. The besieged ought to take heede of the decipt [...]s [...]nd policies of the enemie. It is conueniente 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 beleue alwaies, that it is vnder deceipte, and that he can to their hurte varie it. How Domitio Caluino [...] a towne. Domitio Caluino besiegyng a toune, vsed for a custome to cōpasse aboute euery daie, with a good parte of his menne, the wall of thesame: whereby the Tounes menne, beleuyng that he did it for exercise, slacked the Ward: whereof Domicius beyng aware, assaulted and ouercame them.
Certaine Capitaines vnderstandyng, A policie to get a towne. that there should come aide to the besieged, haue apareled their Souldiours, vnder the Ansigne of those, that should come, and beyng let in, haue gotte the Toune.
Simon of Athens, set fire in a night on a Temple, How Simon of Athens wan a towne. whiche was out of the toune, wherefore, the tounes menne goyng to succour it, lefte the toune in praie to the enemie. Some haue slaine those, A policie to get a towne. whiche from the besieged Castle, haue gone a foragyng, and haue appareled their souldiours, with the apparell of the forragers, whom after haue gotte the toune. The aunciente [Page] Capitaines, haue also vsed diuers waies, to destroie the Garison of the Toune, whiche thei haue sought to take. How Scipio g [...]te ce [...]taine ce [...]elo in Afrike. 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 beleuyng 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 ouercome them.
Howe Pirrus wan the chiefe Citie of Sclauonie.Pirrus makyng warre in Sclauonie, to the chiefe citee of thesame 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. A policie to get a towne. Many haue corrupted the water, and haue tourned the riuers an other waie to take Tounes. How the besieged are made to yelde. Also the besieged, are easely made to yelde them selues, makyng theim afraied, with signifiyng vnto them a victorie gotten, or with new aides, whiche come in their disfauour. The old Capitaines haue sought to gette Tounes by treason, corruptyng some within, but thei haue vsed diuers meanes. Sum haue sente a manne of theirs, Howe to get a towne by treason. whiche vnder the name of a fugetiue, might take aucthoritie and truste with the enemies, who after haue vsed it to their profite. Some by this meanes, haue vnderstode the maner of the watche, and by meanes of thesame knowledge, haue taken the Toune. Some with a Carte, or with Beames vnder some colour, haue letted the gate, that it could not bee shutte, and with this waie, made the entrie easie to the enemie. A policie of An [...]ball for the [...]yng of a Castell. Aniball perswaded one, to giue 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 [Page Cj] tournyng after with the Venison, should put in with hym certaine of his menne, and so killyng the watchmen, should giue hym the gate. How the besieged maie be begiled. 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 whō was Anibal) haue for no other intente, let their Campe to be taken, but to haue occasion to get betwene theim and home, and to take their Toune. Also, How Form [...]on ouercame the Calcidensians▪ thei are beguiled with fainyng to departe from thē, as Formion of Athens did, who hauyng spoiled the countrie of the Calcidensiās, receiued after their ambassadours, fillyng their Cites with faire promises, & hope of safetie, vnder the which as simple menne, thei were a little after of Formione oppressed. The besieged ought to beware of the men, What the besieged muste take heede of. whiche thei haue in suspecte emong them: but some times thei are wont, as well to assure them selues with deserte, as with punishemente. Liberalitie maketh enemies frendes. Marcellus knoweyng how Lucius Bancius a Nolane, was tourned to fauour Aniball, so moche humanitie and liberalitie, he vsed towardes him, that of an enemie, he made him moste frendely. The besieged ought to vse more diligence in the warde, The diligences that the besieged ought to vse in their watche & ward 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 haue been loste, whē thenemie assaulteth it on thesame part, where thei beleue not possible to be assaulted. And this deceipt groweth of twoo causes, either for the place being strong, and to beleue, that it is inuinsible, or through craft beyng vsed of the enemie, in assaltyng theim on one side with fained laroms, and on the other without noise, and with verie assaltes in deede: and therefore the besieged, ought to haue greate aduertisment, and aboue 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 [Page] fiearse Mastiues, and liuely, the whiche by their sente maie descrie the enemie, and with barkyng discouer him: and not Dogges onely, but Ge [...]se haue ben seen to haue saued a citee, as it happened to Roome, when the Frenchemen besieged the Capitoll.
An order of Alcibiades for the [...]ew keping of watch & wardeAlcibiades for to see, whether the warde watched, Athense beeyng besieged of the Spartaines, ordained that when in the night, he should lifte vp a light, all the ward should lift vp likewise, constitutyng punishmente to hym that obserued it not.
Isicrates of Athēs killed a watchman, which slept, saiyng, that he lefte him as he found him. Those that haue been besieged, haue vsed diuers meanes, to sende aduise to their frendes: and mindyng not to send their message by mouth, thei haue writtē 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 diuers. The secrete conueighyng of Letters. Some haue written within the scaberde of a sweard: Other haue put the Letters in an vnbaked lofe, and after haue baked the same, and giuen it for meate to hym that caried theim. Certaine haue hidden thē, in the secreteste place of their bodies: other haue hidden them in the collor of a Dogge, that is familiare with hym, whiche carrieth theim: Some haue written in a letter ordinarie thinges, & after betwene thone line and thother, haue also written with water, that wetyng it or warning it after, the letters should appere. This waie hath been moste politikely obserued 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, haue sente common matters written, accordyng to the common vse and enterlined it, as I haue saied aboue, and the same haue made to be hanged on the gates of the Temples, the whiche by countersignes beyng knowen of those, vnto whome they haue been sente, were taken of and redde: the whiche way [Page Cij] 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 euery manne maie by himself rede and finde: but with more facilitie, the besieged maie bee written vnto, then the besieged to their frēdes without, for that soche letters cannot be sent, but by one, vnder colour of a fugetiue, 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 vnder many colours, goe into the Campe that besiegeth, and from thens takyng conueniente occasion, maie leape into the toune: but lette vs come to speake of the present winnyng of tounes. I saie that if it happen, that thou bee besieged in thy citee, whiche is no [...] 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, T [...] defence against a breach 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 a banke, and the diche more deper: and it is conuenient for thee, to sollicitate this worke in soche wise, that when the walle falleth, the Diche maie be digged at least, fower or fiue yardes in depth: the whiche diche is necessarie, while it is a digging, to shutte it on euery side with a slaughter house: and when the wall is so strong, that it giueth 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 haue the forme, of the diches which we deuised within: but when the walle is weake, and that it giueth thee not tyme, to make like fortificacions, then strengthe and [Page] valiauntnesse muste bee shewed, settyng againste the enemies armed menne, with all thy force. This maner of fortificacion was obserued of the Pisans, whē you besieged theim, and thei might doe it, bicause thei had strong walles, whiche gaue them time, the yearth beyng softe and moste meete to raise vp banckes, and to make fortificacions: where if thei had lacked this commoditie, thei should haue loste the toune. Therefore it shall bee alwaies prudently doen, to prouide afore hand, makyng diches within the citee, & through out all the circuite thereof, as a little before wee deuised: 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, How the antiquitie got tounes by muining vnder grounde. with muinyng vnder ground in twoo maners, eithei thei made a waie vnder 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 ouerthrewe a walle, and made it ruinate: this laste waie is now a daies moste stronge, and maketh, that y e citees placed high, be most weake, bicause thei maie better bee vnder muined: & puttyng after in a Caue of this Gunne pouder, whiche in a momente kindelyng, not onely ruinateth a wall, but it openeth the hilles, and vtterly dissolueth the strength of them.
The reamedie against Caues or vndermuinynges.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 caues: 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 Caues, that the enemie is able to ordain against thee. An other remedie there is, to make a caue againste it, when thou shouldeste bee aware where he muineth, the whiche waie easely hindereth hym, but difficultly [Page Ciij] it is foreseen, beyng besieged of a craftie enemie. He that is besieged, ought aboue al thinges to haue care, What cate the besieged ought to haue. 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 Euenyng betwen daie and night, and aboue al, at meale times: in whiche tyme many tounes haue been wonne, and armies haue been of them within ruinated: therefore it is requisite with diligence on all partes, to stande alwaies garded, and in a good part armed. What maketh a citee or campe difficulte to bee defended. I will not lacke to tell you, how that, whiche maketh a citee or a campe difficult to be defended, is to be driuen 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 conueniente for thee on euery side, to garde euery place, and so be assaulteth thee with all his force, and thou with parte of thine defendest thee. Also, the besieged maie bee ouercome altogether, he without cannot bee, but repulced: wherefore many, whom haue been besieged, either in a Campe, or in a Toune, although thei haue been inferiour of power, haue issued out with their men at a sodaine, and haue ouercome 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 deuide 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 so moche valiantnes, that he vanquisshed & ouercame thē. The constancie also of the besieged, By what [...] thei t [...]t besiege [...]. 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 [Page] made of grasse, commaunded, that it should not bee shewed vnto his armie, least it shoulde make them afraide, Honour got by constancie. 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 euer enuious, and aduerse fortune thei were troubled, they neuer demaūded peace, thei neuer 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 haue 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 haue tolde you of manie thynges, the whiche by your selfe you might haue vnderstoode, and considered, notwithstandyng I haue doen it (as to daie also I haue tolde you) for to be abell to shewe you better by meane therof, the qualitie of this armie, and also for to satisfie th [...]se, if there be anie, whome haue not had the same commoditie to vnderstand them as you. Nor me thinkes that there resteth other to tell you, then certaine generall rules, the whiche you shal haue moste familiar, which be these.
Ge [...]all 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 obserue the deuises of the enemie, and shall take moste payne to exercise his armie, shall iucurre least perilles and maie hope moste of the victorie.
Neuer conductte thy men to faight the field, if first thou hast not confirmed their mindes & knowest them to be without feare, and to be in good order: for thou oughteste neuer to enterprise any dangerous thyng with thy souldiours, but when thou seest, that they hope to ouercome.
[Page Ciiij]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 vntill thou haue executed it.
To know in the warre how to vnderstande 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 serue thee, when thei be faithfull, thei shalbe vnto thee alwaies great gaines: for that the power of thaduersaries are more deminisshed with the losse of them, that runne awaie, then of those that be slaine, although that the name of a fugetiue be to new frendes suspected, to olde odius.
Better it is in pitchyng the fielde, to reserue behynde the first fronte aide inoughe, then to make the fronte bigger to disperse the souldiours.
He is difficultely ouercome, whiche can know his owne power and the same of the enemie.
The valiantenesse of the souldiours auaileth 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 pactise 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 liue vpon, is ouercome without yron.
[Page]He that trusteth more in horsemen then in foetemen, or 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 euerie man to goe to his lodgynge.
Chaunge purpose, when thou perceiuest that the enemie hath forseene it.
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 neuer 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 euer maner that thou ordainest it, make that the firste bande may be receiued of the seconde and of the thirde.
In the faight neuer occupie a battell to any other thyng, then to the same, for whiche thou haste apoincted it, if thou wilt make no disorder.
The sodene accidentes, with difficultie are reamedied: those that are thought vpon, with facilitie.
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 & yron.
The vnarmed riche man, is a bootie to the poore souldiour.
Accustome thy souldiours to dispise delicate liuyng and laciuius aparell.
This is as muche as hapneth me generally to remember you, and I know that there might haue ben saied manie other thynges in all this my reasonynge: [Page Cv] as should be, how 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 haue ioygned herevnto manie other particulars, the whiche I haue not iudged necessarie to shew, as wel for that you your self may se them, as also for y t my intente hath not been to shew iuste how the olde seruis of warre was apoincted, but howe in these daies a seruis of warre might be ordained, whiche should haue more vertue then the same that is vsed. Wherfore I haue not thought good of the auncient thynges to reason other, then that, which I haue iudged to suche introduction necessarie. I know also that I might haue delated more vpon the seruice on horsebacke, and after haue reasoned of the warre on the Sea: for as muche as he that destinguissheth the seruis 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 haue no knowledge therof: but I will let the Genoues, and the Venecians speake therof, whome with like studies haue heretofore doen great thinges.
Also of horses, I wil speake no other, then as afore I haue saied, this parte beynge (as I haue 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.
Onely I counsel him that would ordayne the exercise of armes in his owne coūtrey, Prouisions that maie bee made to fill a Realme full of good horse. & desireth to fill the same with good horses, that he make two prouisions: 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 Calues & 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 [Page] ride on, shoulde be constrained to keepe a horse: and moreouer that no man should weare fine cloathe except he which doeth keepe a horse: this order I vnder stande hath beene deuised of certaine princes in our t [...]e, whome in short space haue 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 haue saied to daie, and to that whiche they vse. Peraduenture also you woulde desire to vnderstand what condicions a Capitaine ought to haue: wherof I shal satisfie you moste breeflie: The knowledge that a capitaine oughte to haue. 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 vs: the which also should not suffise, when he should not knowe howe to deuise of him selfe: for that no man w tout inuencion, was euer excellent in anie science: and if inuencion causeth honour in other thynges, in this about all, it maketh a mā honorable: for euerie inuention is seen, although it were but simple, to be of writers celebrated: as it is seen, where Alexander Magnus is praised, who for to remoue his Campe moste secretely, gaue not warnyng with the Trumpette, but with a hatte vpon a Launce. And was praised also for hauyng 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 hauyng geuen him the victorie, it got him also so muche praise, that all the Images, whiche were erected in his honour, stoode after y e same facion. But because it is tyme to finishe this reasonyng, I wil turne againe to my first purpose. & partly I shall auoide the same reproche, wherin they vse to condempne in this towne, such as knoweth not when to make an ende.
The auctor retorneth to his first purpose & maketh a littell 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 [Page Cvj] of those, which in waightie matters imitated them not, and of the other side, I hauynge not in the affaires of war, wherin I haue takē paine, imitated them, you coulde not perceiue the occasion: whervnto 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 vse it, when occasion permitteth: whether I doe know how to bryng the seruis of warre to the auncient manners or no, I will be iudged by you, whiche haue hearde me vpon this matter longe dispute: wherby you may know, how much time I haue consumed in these studies: and also I beleeue that you maie imagen, how much desire is in me to brynge it to effecte: the whiche whether I haue been able to haue doen, or that euer occasion hath been geuen me, most easely you maie coniecture: yet for to make you more certaine and for my better iustificacion, I will also aledge the occasions: and as much as I haue promised, I will partely performe, to shew you the difficultie and the facelitie, whiche bee at this presente in suche imitacions.
Therfore I saie, A prince may easelie b [...]ynge to inci [...]e perfection the se [...] uis of warre. how that no deede y t is doen now a daies emong men, is more easie to be reduced into y e aunciente maners, then the seruice of Warre: but by them onely that be Princes of so moche state, who can at least gather together of their owne subiectes, xv. or twentie thousande yong menne: otherwise, no thyng is more difficulte, then this, to them whiche haue not soche commoditie: and for that you maie the better vnderstande this parte, you haue to knowe, howe that there bee of twoo condicions, Capitaines to bee praised: The one are those, Two sortes of Capitaines worthie to be [...] praysed. that with an armie ordained through the naturalle discipline thereof, haue dooen greate thynges: as were the greater parte of the Romaine Citezeins, and suche as haue ledde armies, the which haue had no other paine, then to maintaine them good, and to se them guided safely: the other are [Page] they, whiche not onely haue had to ouercome the enemie, but before they come to the same, haue been constrained to make good and well ordered their armie: who without doubte deserue muche more praise, then those haue deserued, which with olde armies, & good, haue 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 driuen 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 hauynge subiectes whome thei might in like exercises instruct: nor it shuld neuer haue ben otherwise possible, y t anie of theim, though they had ben neuer so good & ful of al excellēcie, should haue been able in a straunge countrey, full of men corrupted, not vsed to anie honest obedience, to haue brought to passe anie laudable worke. It suffiseth not then in Italie, to know how to gouerne an army made, but first it is necessarie to know how to make it & after to know how to cōmaūde it: & to do these thin-it is requisit they bee those princes, whome hauyng much dominion, & subiectes inoughe, maie haue commoditie to doe it: of whiche I can not bee, who neuer 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 leaue it to your iudgement.
Albeit when coulde I make one of these souldiours which now a daies practise, to weare more armur thē 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 euery daie manie howers armed, in fained exercises, for to bee able after in the verie thyng in deede to preuaile? When woulde thei abstaine from plaie, from [Page Cvij] laciuiousnesse, from swearynge, from the insolence, whiche euerie daie they committe? when would they be reduced into so muche dissepline, into so much obedience and reuerence, that a tree full of appels in the middest of their Campe, shoulde be founde there and lefte vntouched? As is redde, that in the auncient armies manie times hapned. What thynge maye I promis them, by meane wherof thei may haue me in reuerence to loue, or to feare, when the warre beyng ended, they haue not anie more to doe with me? wher of maie I make them ashamed, whiche be borne and brought vp 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 beleeue that thei will keepe their promise to them, whome euerie hower they dispise? How can they, that dispise God, reuerence men? Then what good fashion shoulde that be, whiche might be impressed in this matter? And if you should aledge vnto me that Suyzzers and Spaniardes bee good souldiours, I woulde confesse vnto 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 ioygne to the perfection of the antiquetie. And how y e Suyzzers be made good of one of their naturall vses caused of that, whiche to daie I tolde you: those other are made good by mean of a necessitie: for that seruyng in a straunge countrie, and seemyng vnto them to be constrained either to die, or to ouercome, thei perceiuynge to haue 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 [Page] man should be meete to teache them, and so much the lesse, he that coulde not speake their language.
But let vs turne to the Italians, who for hauynge not had wise Princes, haue not taken anie good order: and for hauyng not had the same necessitie, whiche the Spaniardes haue hadde, they haue not taken it of theim selues, so that they remaine the shame of the worlde: The Auctor excuseth the people of Italie to the great reproche of their prynces for their ignorāce in the affaires of warre. and the people be not to blame, but onely their princes, who haue ben chastised, and for their ignorance haue ben iustely punisshed, leesinge moste shamefully their states, w tout shewing anie vertuous ensample. And if you will see whether this, that I say be trew: consider how manie warres haue ben in Italie since the departure of kyng Charles to this day, where y e war beyng wonte to make men warlyke & of reputacion, these the greater & fierser that they haue been, so muche the more they haue made the reputacion of the members and of the headdes therof to bee loste. This proueth that it groweth, that the accustomed orders were not nor bee not good, and of the newe orders, there is not anie whiche haue knowen how to take them. Nor neuer beleeue that reputaciō will be gotten, by the Italians weapons, but by the same waie that I haue shewed, & by means of theim, that haue great states in Italie: for that this forme maie be impressed, in simple rude men, of their owne, and not in malicious, ill brought vp, and straungers. Nor there shall neuer bee founde anie good mason, whiche will beleeue to be able to make a faire image of a peece of Marbell ill hewed, but verye well of a rude peece.
A discription of the folishenesse of the I [...]lion princes.Our Italian Princes beleued, 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 faiynges, and in woordes, witte and promptenesse, to knowe how to canuas a fraude, to decke theim selues [Page Cviij] with precious stones and gold, to slepe & to eate with greater glorie then other: To keepe many lasciuious persones aboute them, to gouerne theim selues with their subiectes, couetously and proudely: To rotte in idlenesse, to giue the degrees of the exercise of warre, for good will, to despise if any should haue shewed thē any laudable waie, minding that their wordes should bee aunswers of oracles: nor the sely wretches were not aware, that thei prepared theim selues to bee a praie, to whom so euer should assaulte theim. Hereby grewe then in the thousande fower hundred nintie and fower yere, the greate feares, the sodain flightes, & the marueilous losses: & so three most mightie states which were in Italie, haue been diuers times sacked & destroied. But that which is worse, is where those y t remaine, continue in the verie same erroure, & liue in the verie same disorder, & consider not, that those, who in old time would kepe their states, caused to be dooen these thynges, which of me hath been reasoned, & that their studies wer, to prepare the body to diseases, and the minde not to feare perilles. Cesar and Alexander, were the formoste in but tell. 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 liued and died vertuously. And if in theim, or in parte of theim, there might bee condēpned to muche ambicion to reason of: yet there shall neuer 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 beleued, it should be impossible, that thei should not change their forme of liuing, and their prouinces not to chaunge fortune. And for that you in the beginnyng of this our reasonyng, lamented your ordinaunces, I saie vnto you, that if you had ordained it, as I afore haue reasoned, & it had giuen of it self no good experience, you might [Page] with reason haue been greued therewith: but if it bee not so ordained, and exercised, as I haue saied, it maie be greeued with you, who haue made a counterfaite thereof, The Veneciās and the duke of Ferare began to haue reduced the war [...]re to the Aunciente maners. 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 euer of those, whiche at this daie haue states in Italie, shall enter firste into this waie, shall be firste, before any other, Lorde of this Prouince, and it shall happen to his state, as to the kyngdome of the Macedonians, the which commyng vnder 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 puisāt, that he was able in few yeres to possesse it all, and to leaue soche foundacion to his sonne, that he was able to make hymself, He that despiseth the seruis of warre, despiseth his own welthe. 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 haue made me a knower of this, or it ought to haue giuen me power, to haue been able to haue executed it: For now beyng olde, I cannot hope to haue any occasion, to bee able so to dooe: In consideracion whereof, I haue been liberall with you, who beeyng graue yong menne, maie (when the thynges saied of me shall please you) at due tymes in fauour of your Princes, helpe theim and counsa [...]le them, wherein I would haue you not to bee afraied, or mistrustfull, bicause this Prouince seemes to bee altogether giuen, to raise vp againe the thynges dedde, as is seen by the perfeccion that poesie, paintyng, and writing, is now brought vnto: 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 [Page Cix] state, as suffiseth for a like enterprise, I would not haue doubted, but in moste shorte tyme, to haue shewed to the worlde, how moche the aunciente orders auaile: and without peraduenture, either I would haue increased it with glory, or loste it without shame.
Nicholas Machiauel, citezein and Secretarie of Florence, to the Readers.
TO thentente that such as rede this booke maie without difficultie vnderstande 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 euerie one of them: wherefore it is requiset firste, to declare vnto you, by what poinctes & letters, the footemen, the horsemen, and euerie other particuler membre are set foorthe.
Know therfore that
- . Target men.
- ‘ Pike men.
- [...] a Capitaine of ten men.
- v Veliti ordinarie. which at those mē that shoote with harc [...]uses or bowes.
- r Veliti extraordinari which at those mē that shoote with harc [...]uses or bowes.
- C a Centutrion or captaine of a hundred men. which ar those mē that shoote with harc [...]uses or bowes.
- k Singnifieth a Constable or a captaine of a band of fower hundred and fiftie men.
- H Singnifieth The hed captain of a maine battel.
- G Singnifieth 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, & 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 fiue rankes of Pikes which were the formost of euerie 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. xxxij. fol. xxxv.
In the seconde figure, is shewed how a battaile or bande of men is ordered, whiche in marchyng should be driuen to faight on the flanke: accordyng as in the booke is declared. fol. xxxv.
In the thirde figure, is shewed how a battaile or bande of men, is ordered with two hornes, Fol. xxxv. 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. xxxvj.
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 vnderstandynge thereof, the verie same is plainlier set foorthe in y e figure next vnto it, wherby the other two figures next folowyng maie the easier be vnderstoode: accordynge as in the booke is expressed. Fol. xliiij.
In the fiifte figure, is shewed the forme of a fower square armie: as in the booke is discribed. Fol. lxvij.
In the sixte figure, is shewed howe an Armie is brought from a fowersquare facion, to the ordinarie forme, to faight a fielde: accordyng as afore is declared. Fol. lxix.
In the seuenth figure, is discribed the maner of incamping: according as the same in the booke is declared. Fol. lxxviij.
This is the maner of ordering of CCCC men, into .lxxx. rankes, fiue to a ranke, to bring them into a .iiii square battaile with the Pikes on the front, as after foloweth.
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 & on the backe.
This is the maner of ordering of CCCC men, into .lxxx. rankes, fiue to a ranke, to bring them into a .iiii square battaile wi [...] the Pikes on the side, as after foloweth.
This is the foresaied .lxxx. rankes. of .iiii. C. men brought into a fower square battaile with the Pikes on the side.
These are the nōbers of rankes appoincted to make the horned battaile of, & the square battaile with the voide space in the middest, as a [...]er foloweth.
- Capitaine waie.
- Ouerthwart waie.
- The Market place.
- Market waie.
- The midde waie.
- Prouision of Victualles.
- Prouision of Armour.
- Priuate and publike Artificers.
- A place for cattell.
¶The table of certain principall thinges, contained in this woorke of Machiauel.
- WHy a good mā ought not to exersise warfare as his arte. Fol. vi.
- Deedes of armes ought to be vsed priuatly in time of peace for exersise & in time of warre for necessetie and renoume. Fol. viii.
- The strength of an armie is the footemen. Fol. ix.
- The Romaines renued their Legions and had men in the flower of their age. Fol. ix.
- Whether men of armes ought to be kept. Fol. x.
- What is requisete for the preparyng of an armie. Fol. xi.
- Out of what cōtrie souldiers ought to be chose. Fol. xi. xii.
- Souldiers ought to bee chosen, by thaucthoritie of the Prince, of suche men as be his oune subiectes. Fol. xii.
- 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. Fol. xij
- The weapons or power that is prepared, of the naturall subiectes, of a common weale bringeth profit and not hurte. Fol. xiiii.
- What cause letted the Venetians, that they made not a Monarchi of the worlde. Fol. xiiii.
- How an armie maye bee prepared in the countrie, where were no exersise of warre. Fol. xv.
- The custome that the Romaines vsed, in the chosyng of their souldiours. Fol. xvi.
- The greater number of men is best. Fol. xvii.
- Whether the multitude of armed men ar occation of confusion and of dissorder. Fol. xviii.
- How to prohibite, that the Capitaines make no discension. Fol. xix.
- WHat armour the antiquetie vsed. Fol. xx.
- The occation of the boldenes of the duchemen. Fol. xxij.
- Whiche maner of armyng menne is better either the Duche or Romaine fasion. Fol. xxij.
- Diuerse examples of late dayes. Fol. xxiij.
- An example of Tigran. Fol. xxv.
- Whether the footemen or the horsemen ought to bee estemed moste. Fol. xxv.
- The cause whie the Romaines were ouercome of the parthians. Fol. xxvi.
- What order, or what vertue maketh, that footemen ouercum horsemen. Fol. xxvi.
- Howe the antiquitie exersised their men to learne thē to handle their weapons. Fol. xxvij.
- What the antiquitie estemed moste happie in a common weale Fol. xxviij.
- The maner, of maintainyng the order. Fol. xxix
- What a legion is, of Grekes called a Falange, and of Frenchemen Catterua. Fol. xxix.
- The deuision of a legion, and the diuers names of orders. Fol. xxx.
- The order of batellraye, and the manner of appoincting the battels. Fol. xxxij.
- How to order. CCCC. L. men to doo some seuerall feate. Fol. xxxv.
- The fation of a battaile that the Suisers make like a crosse. Fol. xxxvi.
- What carriages the Capitaines ought to haue, and the number of carriages requisite to euery band of men. Fol. xxxvij.
- Diuerse effectes caused of diuerse soundes. Fol. xxxviij.
- Whereof cometh the vtilitie, and the dissorder of the armies that are now a daies. Fol. xxxviii.
- [Page]The manner of arminge men. Fol. xl.
- The number of carriages that men of armes and lighte horsemen ought to haue. Fol. xli.
- THe greatest dissorder that is vsed now a dayes in the orderinge of an armie. Fol. xlij.
- How the Romaines deuided their armie in Hastati, Principi and Triarij. Fol. xlij.
- The manner that the Romaines vsed to order them selues agayne in the ouerthrow. Fol. xlij.
- The custom of the Greekes. Fol. xlij.
- A maine battaile of Suissers. Fol. xliij.
- How manie legions of Romaine Citesens was in an ordinarie armie. Fol. xliiij.
- The manner how to pitche a fielde to faighte a battaile. Fol. xliiij.
- Of what number of faighting men an armie oughte to be. Fol. xlvi.
- The descriptiō of a battaile that is a faighting. Fol. xlvij.
- An exsample of Ventidio faighting against the Parthians. Fol. xlviij.
- An example of Epaminondas. Fol. xlix.
- How the Artillerie is vnproffitable. Fol. xlix.
- How that a maine battaile of Suissers cannot ocupie more then fower pikes. Fol. lij.
- How the battailes when thei cum to be eight or ten, maye be receyued in the verie same space, that receiued the fyue. Fol. liiij.
- The armes that the Standarde of all tharmie ought to haue. Fol. lv.
- Diuers examples of the antiquetie. Fol. lv.
- [Page]WHether the fronte of the armie ought to bee made large. Fol. lvij.
- To how many thinges respecte ought to be had, in the ordringe of an armie. Fol. lvij.
- An example of Scipio. Fol. lviij.
- In what place a Capitain maie order his armie with sauegarde not to be clene ouerthorwen. Fol. lviij.
- Aniball and Scipio praised for the orderynge of their armies. Fol. lix.
- Cartes vsed of the Asiaticans. Fol. lix.
- Diuerse examples of the antiquitie. Fol. lx.
- The prudence which the Capitaine ought to vse, in the accidence that chaunse in faightinge. Fol. lx.
- What a Capitaine ought to doo, that is the conqueror, or that is conquered. Fol. lxi.
- A Capitaine ought not to faighte the battaile, but with aduauntage, excepte he be constrained. Fol. lxij.
- How to auoide the faightinge of the fielde. Fol. lxiij.
- Aduertismentes that the Capitaine ought to haue. Fol. lxiiij.
- Speakyng to souldiers helpeth muche to make them to be curagious and bolde. Fol. lxiiij.
- Whether all the armie ought to bee spoken vnto, or onely to the heddes therof. Fol. lxv.
- THe manner how to leade an armie gowinge thorough suspected places, or to incounter the enemie. Fol. lxvij.
- An example of Aniball. Fol. lxviij.
- Wether any thing oughte to bee commaunded with the voise or with the trompet. Fol. lxx.
- The occations why the warres made now a dayes, doo impouerish the conquerors as well as the conquered. Fol. lxxij.
- [Page]Credite ought not to be giuen to thinges which stand nothinge with reason. Fol. lxxiij.
- The armie ought not to knowe what the Capitaine purposeth to doo. Fol. lxxiiij,
- Diuerse examples. Fol. lxxv.
- THe manner how to incampe an armie. Fol. lxxviij.
- How brode the spaces and the wayes ought to be within the campe. Fol. lxxxij.
- What waye ought to be vsed when it is requiset to incampe nere the enemie. Fol. lxxxiij.
- How the watche and warde ought to be apoincted in the campe, and what punishmente they ought to haue that doo not their dutie. Fol. lxxxiiij.
- How the Romaines prohibited women to be in their armies and idell games to be vsed. Fol. lxxxv.
- How to incampe accordinge to the nomber of men, and what nomber of menne maie suffise againste, what so euer enemie that wer. Fol. lxxxvij.
- How to doo to be assured, of the fideletie of those that are had in suspition. Fol. lxxxviij.
- What a Capitaine ought to doo beinge beseged of his enemies. Fol. lxxxix.
- Example of Coriliano and others. Fol. lxxxix.
- It is requiset chiefly for a Capitain to kepe his souldiers punished and payed. Fol. xc.
- Of aguries. Fol. xc.
- Moste excellent aduertismentes and pollicies. Fol. xcj.
- The occation of the ouerthrowe of the Frenchmen at Garigliano. Fol. xciij.
- [Page]CIties are strong, either by nature or by industrie. Fol. xciiij.
- The maner of fortificacion. Fol. xciiij.
- Bulwarkes ought not to be made oute of a towne distante from the same. Fol. xcv.
- Example of Genoa. Fol. xcv.
- Of the Countes Catherin. Fol. xcv.
- The fation of percullesies vsed in Almaine. Fol. xcvi.
- Howe the battelmentes of walles were made at the first, and how thei are made now adaies. Fol. xcvij.
- The prouisions that is mete to bee made, for the defence of a towne. Fol. xcviij.
- Diuers pollicies, for the beseginge and defendinge of a toune or fortres. Fol. xcix.
- Secrete conueing of letters. Fol. Cj.
- The defence againste a breache. Fol. cij.
- Generall rules of warre. Fol. ciij.
Certain waies for the orderyng of Souldiers in battelray, & settyng of battailes after diuers fashions, with their maner of marchyng: And also Fygures of certaine new plattes for fortificacion of Townes: And more ouer, howe to make Saltpeter, Gunpoulder, and diuers sortes of Fireworkes or wilde Fyre, with other thynges a pertaining to the warres. Gathered and set foorthe by Peter VVhitehorne.
A PERFECTE RVLE TO BRINGE men into a square battell, of vvhat number so euer they be. Cap. 1.
FOr to make a square Battell of a number of men, or of an Armie, the fowersquare roote or quadrant nū ber of them, must be taken, and so many as y e same roote conteynes, so many ought to be set in araye. As for example in a littel number, for the better vnderstandyng therof: Admit there be a .100. men, the fouresquare roote of a .100. ought to be taken out, which is ten: Then puttyng ten of these men in a ranke, there will be tenne rankes, ten to a ranke. Whiche ten rankes placynge them ordinarely, the one behinde the other, so that al the distances that shalbe between man and man, as well on the sides, as before and behynde be equall, suche .100. men will make a fouersquare battayle, as by the figure here folowyng apereth.
- Head.
- Flanke
- Flanke
But for that, men ordered in battelraye, stande not, nor marche not, as aboue is supposed, I meane in equall distance, for that euerie man (as Vegetius affirmeth) would haue for largenesse three foote, that is from shoulder to shoulder, and for length seuen foote, that is three foote before him, and three foote behinde him, and one foote that his owne person will occupie, for whiche cause the aboue written order, men standynge accordynge to the saied ordinare distance, shall not be a iust fowersquare, but y e length therof shalbe .70. foote, and the bredthe .30. foote, as apereth by the figure folowyng.
- Flanke
- Head
- Flanke
And where some number of men cometh not after suche sorte to bee fowersquare, as .200. the roote wherof is .14. although there bee .4. ouerplus: in this case there ought to be put foureteen in a ranke, and the sayde battayle will come neuerthelesse to be fowersquare: That is, it shalbe of .14. rankes of men .14. to a ranke, and as for those fower men that are ouerplus out of the aray, the Sergante may place either in the tayle therof, or els where seemes him best oute of that order.
Likewyse after this maner, an armie of men howe greate a number so euer it be, may be brought into a [Page 3] fowersquare, as for example, admitte there were an armie of .35000. of these .35000. men, y e fowersquare roote is to be taken out, accordynge to the order that I haue declared before, and the same shalbe founde to be .187. and .31. men remainyng ouerplus, so that placyng .187. men in a ranke, suche an armie will be infacion fowersquare, that is, it will amounte vnto 187. rankes .187. men for a ranke. And as for the .31. odde men, the Capitaine may apoincte where he shal thinke good.
To know how many men may marche in a ranke, and at a sudden to brynge them into a fowersquare battell, so that their Ansigne, may come to be in the middest. Cap. 2.
FOr to doo this thyng with speed, the fowersquare roote of what number of men so euer it be, is straight way to be taken: and if the same roote be so that it may be equally deuided into three, so manie as shall be the thirde parte of that roote, so manie of the sayed men for a ranke ought to marche by the waye. As for example, if the men that are to be conducted, be .81. the roote of those .81. muste be taken, the which is .9. And for as much as the roote of this may equally be deuided into .3. and the thyrde parte therof beyng .3. the saied .81. men must therfore be made to marche in iorneyng three in a ranke, & they shall make in all .27. rankes, as here vnder appereth.
- Tayle
- Head
And when need is that they must be brought into a fowersquare battel, al these .27. rankes would be [Page] deuided into three equall partes, as is declared by ab and cd. So that to euery parte there come to remaine 9. rankes, three men in a ranke, and afterwarde the fyrste parte that is in the Fronte muste be caused to staye, and the other twaine to procede forwarde, the one on the right hande, and the other on the left hand of the fyrste (now standynge still) vntill the head or Fronte of either of the saied twoo partes doe vnite or come to be euen with the head of the firste, and there to stay. As by the figure folowing may be vnderstode.
- Fronte
The whiche three partes thus brought and ordered, shall make a fowersquare battell, as apereth by this fygure folowyng: and to cause that the Ansigne doo fall in the middest of suche a battell, alwaies it ought to be placed in the middest of the fyrst parte, as before apereth in the poyncte. A.
- Head
But to know how to deuide the saied .27. rankes into three equall portions without standyng to tel .9. rankes, consideryng that if it were a greate number of men, it shoulde be a thyng very long so to doo: therfore seyng that to euerie number of men, ther is commonly placed a ranke of Harkabutters or Bowemen in the Forewarde, and an other in the Rerewarde, in this figure aboue written of fower score men and one, there would be .18. Harkabutters: that is .9. in the Forewarde, and .9. in the Rereward: and settyng twoo rankes of Harkabutters in the places where the deuisions are to bee made, as hereafter appereth in figure, vnderstanding the Harkabutters by this letter H.
By those Harkabutters you may alwayes vnderstande where the diuisions are to be made of the saied 27. rankes, and likewise in euery other greater number. And when such a roote cannot bee deuided into three equall partes, of necessitie there must remayne ouer one or twoo. Now let vs firste take for example this, where remayneth ouer one, as it shoulde be if it were a hundred men, the roote wherof is ten, which ten deuided into three, cometh to three times three, & one remainyng ouerplus. Wherfore there muste be made .10. rankes to marche .3. and .3. (that is so many rankes as the number of the roote is of) and other .10 rankes .4. and .4. together, and the last .10. rankes also three and three together: as here folowyng appereth with their .20. Harkabutters or Bowemen, besydes the saied hundred men.
- Fronte
And these three partes when it is needful to bryng them into a fowersquare battell, muste be ordered as aboue is rehearsed, or els causynge the fyrste parte in the Forewarde to staye, and to make the seconde part to procede onward vntill the head or fronte of the seconde part come to be euen with the head of the first, & so the saied seconde part standyng still, to cause also the third part to procede forwarde after the same maner, the which thyng beyng don, such a battell shalbe brought into fashion fowersquare, with their Harkabutters or Bowemen before and behynde: as apereth by this figure.
- Head
- Backe
But when in deuidyng the saied roote there shall happen to remayne .2. ouerplus, as should be when ther were .121. the roote wherof is .11. which .11. partyng into .3. comes to .3. times .3. and two remaynyng ouerplus (as I haue saied) in this case and in other lyke, I woulde make a .11. rankes to marche (that is, as many as the roote conteines) .4. men in a ranke, and an other .11. rankes .3. men together in a ranke, and the other .11. rankes also .4. men to a ranke: As hereafter apereth in figure, with their .22. Harkabutters, besyde the saied .121. men.
The whiche men alwaies, when they woulde be brought into a fowersquare battell, muste be ordered as before is declared.
And this rule may serue likewyse in what littel or great number so euer it be, as well quadrante as not quadrante. As for example only in wordes: put the case that there bee .3969. whereof beynge minded to know how many men in a ranke should be caused to marche togethers by the waye, so that commodiously thei may at a sodden bee brought into a fowersquare battell, there muste be taken the quadrante roote of this number of men (by the same waye that I haue taught) whiche shall be founde to be .63. so that on euerie syde of the square battell shall be .63. rankes of men, and for as much as this roote (which is .63.) may be deuided into .3. equall partes, the thirde parte therof is to be taken (for a generall rule) that is .21. & therfore .21. men in a ranke would be made to march togethers by the way. And alwaies there shall be as manie rankes in al after .21. to a ranke, as are three times so many as the roote is of, which is, three times 63. which comes to .189. so y e .189. rankes of men shall be the number therof after .21. to a ranke. And by the roote that is .63. you may vnderstande that suche deuision is to be made betwene .63. and .63. so that the firste parte shalbe as well .63. as also the seconde and the thirde. In which deuisions the twoo double rankes of Harkabutters are to be placed for the redier knowledge to brynge them into a square battell. But if in deuyding the roote into three, there shoulde remayne .1. ouerplus, as should happen if the presuposed men were .5776. the roote wherof beynge .76. whiche roote deuided into .3. shall come vnto .25. and one to remayne ouerplus. Now I saye, that all the rankes that riseth of these men, shal be not withstandynge three times so many as the roote, that is three times .76. which makes .228. And for as muche as all [Page] these orders of rankes, are deuided [...]uermore into .3. partes (as before hath been declared) .76. rankes to a parte (that is so many as the roote is of) therefore it is to be vnderstande, that the first and the last of these three partes muste be made to marche .25. menne in a ranke, whiche is as muche as is the thirde parte of the roote, and for that there remaineth one ouerplus (as aboue appereth) I say y t the same one must be put alwaies in the seconde part, which is in the middest. I meane causynge those of the saied seconde parte, to march .26. men in a ranke, so y t the fyrst & the last part of the great rewe of rankes, be .25. men in a ranke, & the seconde parte to bee .26. men in a ranke, and the verie same ought to be doen of euery other roote that may be deuided into three, where onely remaineth ouerplus one, but when there remayneth ouerplus .2. it foloweth cleane contrarie: For that the firste and the laste parte, would be of one man more, then the same that the thirde parte of the roote is of. As for example if the saied men were .2809, the roote whereof is .53. which deuided into there, comes to .71. and .2. remainyng ouerplus: therfore of so many men, ther shall be made .159. rankes (that is three times .53.) whiche .159. rankes deuidynge them also into three partes, cometh vnto .53. to a parte, that is the number of the roote. And the firste and thirde part would be of one man more then the thirde parte of the roote, that is, it woulde be of .18. men to a ranke, and the seconde parte, whiche is the parte in the middest, would be the very thyrde parte of the roote: y t is, 17. men to a ranke, so that of all the .159. rankes, as wel the fyrst .53. rankes, as likewise the laste .53. rankes, ought to be of .18. men to a ranke, & the .53. rankes in the middest woulde be onely of .17. men to a ranke. And, wherin partyng the roote into .3. there remaineth ouerplus only one, it goeth cleane contrarie to this. For that the fyrste and the thirde parte of the [Page 6] saied great rew of rankes, wil alwaies be of as many men to a ranke as shalbe the whole third parte of the roote, and the middell parte, which is the second, will be of one man more then the thirde part of the roote. And for as much, as there can neuer remaine ouerplus aboue one or twoo in deuidyng the roote into .3. therfore this foresaied rule shall serue in what number of men so euer it bee, as well Quadrante as not Quadrant, for that lyke as before is saied in numbers not Quadrante, alwaies ther is taken y e roote which goeth nerest to such a number, and therwith to doo accordyngly, as aboue hath ben saied. And as for the residue of the men that cometh to be ouerplus of the Quadrante of such a roote, may be placed some other where as shall be thought moste best. For example if there were .4000. men, whiche number is not Quadrante, yet notwithstandynge of the same number there ought to bee taken oute the neerest roote therof, whiche is .63. so that there shall remayne ouerplus .31. men, whome mindynge in a sudden to brynge into a fowersquare battell, there ought to be put in a ranke .63. men, and such a battell shal come to be fowersquare, as in the beginning hath ben said: and where there remaines ouerplus those .31. men, the Sergiant may place them as he shal thinke good. Likewise myndynge to cause those .4000. men to marche, there ought also to be taken the nerest roote therof, which as aforesaied, is .63. whiche deuidyng into three, comes vnto three times .21. and nothing remaynyng ouerplus. And therfore the saied menne ought to be caused to marche .21. in a ranke, and the sayed ranke to be deuided into three partes .63. to a ranke accordynge to the foresaied rule, in suche sorte that the last parte shall be .64. rankes, and also .10. men more, because of those .31. men that were ouerplus in the beginnyng, the whiche as hath been saied remained out of the aray: And after the same maner, [Page] it is to be doen when the roote of such a number that is not quadrante, doeth not agree with the perfect deuision by three, which is, if there be ouerplus one, to procede as aboue hath been declared, I meane to put a man more in a ranke to the middel parte, and to the other twoo partes, the fyrst, and the thirde, to put only so manie men in a ranke, as the thirde parte of the roote shal conteine, and when there remayneth ouer plus twoo, to procede cleane contrarie: that is, to put a man more in a ranke to the firste, and to the thyrde parte, and to the seconde, to put onely so many men in a ranke, as the thirde parte of the roote shall be of, and those men that are remainynge ouerplus, in takyng out the roote in the beginning, to place them as aboue I haue saied.
How to ordeine a number of men or an armie into a battell, lyke vnto a vvedge, or three square, so that it may be apte to marche vvith the poincte thereof tovvarde the enemies. Cap. 3.
THis fashion of battell, is made after this maner, fyrst placyng one man, and after three, and nexte fiue, and after seuen, and then .9. after a .11. and so to increase alwaies twoo men more, till suche time as there be no more men to place. Albeit there may be suche a number of men, that at the laste they can not, or there shall not be sufficient to make vp the last ranke, whiche hapnynge, those men may be lefte out of the araie to serue where their Captaine shall thynke moste meete, for that the lyke hapneth often times, and in euerie maner of orderyng men, that alwaies there resteth some man out of the aray. And for the better vnderstandyng hereof: admit for example that the menne that is to bee brought into a three [Page 7] square battell be a .100. I say that fyrst one is to be placed, after .3. after .5. after .7. after .9. after .11 and so to procede: addynge alwaies twoo men more in a ranke, vntill they be all placed, as here folowynge apereth in figure. Where the last ranke in this case, shall come to be .19. men, not remainyng any man ouerplus: and this is, for that the number of men, (which is .100.) is a Quadrante number: and like wise in euery other number that is Quadrante, the saied Triangle battell shall be made withoute anie man remainyng ouerplus.
- Head
But if the saied number of men be not a quadrant number alwaies there shal remayne ouerplus so manie men, as the saied number of menne shall be more then y e greate quadrāt number conteined of the same: as for example, if y e presuposed men to make the three square battell were .120. I saye that there shall remaine ouerplus .20. men out of the aray of the three square, that is so many as the .120. excedeth .100. (beyng the greater quadrante number conteined in the same) whiche also shall be .20. but if the saied men were .123. there should remaine ouerplus only twoo men, for as much as the greatest quadrant nū ber [Page] that can be taken of .123. shall be .121. and .123 is more then the saied .121. by the saied twoo, and the very same is to be vnderstand in euery great number.
To make the battell called the Sheeres, vvhiche in olde time they vsed to set against the Triangell. Cap. 4.
THe Sheeres are made with twoo Triangels ioyned togethers for to receiue betwen them the said battell, made like a wedge or Triangell. The example wherof I wil make also w t .100. men, as the Triangell or wedge was made, so that therby may be iudged if there were twoo armies of equal numbers of men, and that the one of them wer pitched lyke a Triangell, and the other lyke a Sheeres, which of them should haue the aduantage. Wherfore myndynge of .100. men to make the battell called the Sheeres, they ought to be deuided into twoo equall partes and of euery one of these partes beynge 50. to make a Triangell accordynge to the maner aboue declared, and to ioygne them together, as here folowynge apereth in figure with their poinctes towardes the enemies: I meane towardes the wedge, to receiue it between them: And it is to be noted how in makyng of these twoo Triangels, there shall remayne ouerplus one man of euery one of them out of the araye, for that the number of .50. is no Quadrant number, and it is more then the Quadrante number conteined of the same (whiche is .49. by a man onely, so that betwene them bothe, there shal remayne ouerplus twoo menne, as here appereth in Fygure.
- Head
- Head
- Head
VVhat auantage it is to order men in a Triangell battell against the enemie that knoweth not how to make the battell called the Sheeres to set against it, inespecially vvhere there is as many men of the one parte as of the other. Cap 5.
WHen the contrarie parte woulde come against a threesquare battell, with a battell that were fowersquare, as nowe a daies is vsed, by all reason it shalbe broken & ouerthrowne. As admit for example that there be .100. in a threesquare battell, and a .100 other men in a fowersquare battell, pitched agaynst the threesquare, as here folowing appereth in figure.
And for that the order of the Triangell in faightyng, is after suche sorte, that all those whiche shoote with any kynde of weapon, as peeces of Ordinance, Harkabuses, Dartes, Bowes, or Crosbowes, ought all to directe their shotte, and to strike onely in the same place, where the poincte of the Triangell seekes to enter, I meane in the poincte A. wherby the men that are in the same place, shall either be slaine or els constrained to geue place to the poincte of the saied Triangell throughe the greate multitude of shotte strikyng in that place. So that the poincte of the saied Triangell enteryng therin, may continually penetrate all the saied araye cleane through. For as much as al the Harkabutters, and Archers which remaine without, muste not cease to shoote in the very same place, and no other where els: whiche thyng doeyng it is impossible but that waie shall be geuen for the saied Triangell to enter in, and once entred, suche an armie is ouerthrowen without anie remedie. For all the force and strengthe of such a Triangell being [Page 9] made in that place onely, it is not possible that men in suche a place may be able to withstād, although there were many more in soche Quadrant aray, then those that be in the saied Triangell, because the place of A cannot be succored of anie of those of the same battell, consideryng that if those which are placed towardes B. or els towardes C. would come to succor the place where the violence and force is made, it must needes be, that thei must disorder them selues: and beynge once disordered, thei run into the very same mischief, after suche sorte, that thei shall remaine altogether broken: & remaynyng in their places, their strength or power, resteth of none effecte: for as much as none of them can be abell to doo any thyng, how valiante soeuer he be. Wherby may be vnderstode of what importance this triangell battell is against the enemie, that knoweth not the medesin or remedie thereof.
To bryng a number of men or an armie, into a battell, vvhiche in olde time vvas called a Savve. Cap. 6.
THis fashion of battell accordyng to the qualitee of the name, ought to bee made as it were with teeth, like vnto a Sawe which thei vse to saw timber with all. And therfore myndynge to brynge a number of men, or an armie into such a fashion, there must be considered twoo thinges, the one, how manie teeth this sawe is to be made of, and whether besides those teeth, there woulde be anie other raies to sustaine such teeth or no. As for example, admit that the men of whom muste be made those onely teeth of this foresaid Sawe, be .100. now these .100. menne ought to be deuided into the number of the teeth that this Sawe shall haue, and of euerie one of those partes, [Page] to fashion a Triangell, by the rule declared in the thirde Chapter: and those Triangels to ioigne close together, accordyng as was done of those twoo that made the Sheeres: As putte ease that of the saied hundred men there woulde be made fower teeth of a Sawe, then the saied .100. men must be deuided in to fower partes, in whiche deuisions it will come to 25. for a part. Now of euery one of these partes, ther ought to be fashioned a Triangell, accordynge to the order geuen in the foresaied thirde Chapiter. And these .4. Triangles to ioigne them straight together, as here folowing appereth in figure: and this is in as muche as in makyng the teeth onely: but if peraduenture there woulde be put an other order behinde the saied fower teeth, it is needefull firste to determine of howe manie men such a raie is to be made, and those to take oute by theim selues, and of the reste to make
the teethe, and behinde the saied teethe to plase those number of men which fyrste were taken oute, and to ordein them so many men in a ranke, as shall be foūd directly in lengthe in all the hinder partes of the teeth that are made, as for example, admit there bee 244. men, and that with a hundred men therof, ther muste he made fower teeth of a Sawe, and the other 144. to be made certaine rankes to sustaine the saied fower teeth: Therfore the hundred menne beeynge brought into fower te [...]th, as aboue is declared, consequently behinde those, there ought to bee placed those .144. men, 36. men to a ranke: for as muche as in all the fower lower partes of the said fower teethe [Page 10] there be .36. men, as in the figure next folowyng appereth. And after this maner and order, if there were a hundred thousande men, thei might be set in a raye, placyng them, as aboue is done with that littell number.
- Fronte.
To fashion a battell of a number of men or an armie lyke vnto tvvo Triangels ioygned together, so that they may be apte to marche vvith a corner therof tovvarde the enemies. Cap. 7.
WIth the rule whereby the single Triangle is made, with the verie same almost this fashion battell is also made: for as much as deuidyng all those men, or that Armie wherewith this fashion battell is to be made into twoo equall partes, and of the one halfe therof to make a Triangell and that doen, vpon the verie last syde of the same, there ought to be placed the other halfe number of men in rākes, which continually goe decresyng by twoo men lesse, I mean cleane contrarie to that was doen at the beginnynge with one, where beginnynge to make the poincte of the Triangell, the rankes were continually increased with twoo men more. But it is to be vnderstand, that if in makyng the firste Triangell, there happen [Page] to remaine ouerplus any men, that are not sufficient to make vp an other ranke, yet the verie same ranke ought to be finisshed vp with some of the other halfe number of men, for that one of these twoo Triangels ioigned together, cometh to be of one ranke more then the other. As for example, admit the men, wherwith this fasshion battell is to bee made, be .320. whiche muste be deuided into twoo equall partes, so that by suche deuision there will be .160. men for a parte, and of the one of these partes, there woulde be made a Triangle, accordyng to the order declared in the thirde Chapiter, which doen, there shalbe founde to remayne ouerplus .16. (by the reason aledged in the saied thirde Chapiter) so that there shall lacke .9. men to finishe the saied laste ranke of the firste Triangell: Therfore the saied ranke must be made vp, with the men of the other halfe, as takyng those .19. men which lackes, so that in the saied first Triangel may be .169. men, and in the other parte only .151. men, wherwith the other Triangel ought to be made vpon the laste ranke of the fyrste, whiche laste ranke shall be of .25. men: wherfore vpon the same, there must be placed an other ranke of two men lesse, that is .23. and vpon the same saied .23. men, to place an other of .21. men, and vpon the .21. men, to place an other of .19. men, and vpon those .19. men, to place an other of .17. men, and so to procede alwaies with twoo men lesse, til such time as it cometh to the ranke of one man onely, as here folowynge appereth in figure: Trew it is, that there shall be founde in the ende, to remaine ouerplus .7. men, the whiche the Sergiant may place where he shall thinke good. And thus with this maner of order, there may be brought into like araye, anie armie how great so euer it be, & they may turne them selues, and in marching, make of the Rerewarde, the Forwarde, and likewyse of what so euer syde thei liste.
- Front
- The ouerplus.
VVhat is best to be doen vvhere the ordinance of the enemies beyng shotte into the Armie hath slayne many men. Cap. 8.
AN armie of men that hapneth to haue certaine rankes therof to be striken downe and kilde with the enemies ordinance, and marchynge after suche sorte, leauyng voyde the places of those menne which are slaine with the Artillerie, or els drawynge them selues close together, to fill such empty places, the one of these waies is very euill, & the other much worse: for as much as leauing those places after such sorte open, inespecially in the Foreward, there is geuen therby great faciletie vnto the enemies to enter into the saied raies, and to ouerthrowe theim: And likewise causing after such misfortune the saied raies to drawe together, to fill the saied places, those raies muste needes altogether be disordered, and shall bee brought almost into cōfusion: for y t it is to be thought that the saied artillerie, doeth not destroie any ranke of men wholy from on ende to an an other in length, but only a parte of some, and a parte of other, & some to remaine vntouched, or vnhurte. In whiche case beyng minded to cause thē to draw together, to fill vp the saied voied places, it must needes folow that the whole ranke do disorder in lengthing those that lacke so that some of the rankes shall remaine with a greater number of rankes of men (in length) in the Rerewarde, then in the Forwarde, wherby if suche a battell woulde marche, of necessitee it will imediatlye runne into confusion, because of those rankes that ar vnperfecte in length. Wherfore that Capitaine, is to be praised, whiche instructeth his menne that in lyke chaunces, they neuer remaine without a compaignion before them, excepte it be in the Fronte, as to aduertise [Page 12] euery one of them, that if it fortune to happen anie of them to lacke y e same man, which was wonte to marche before them, or els mo, that then incontinente, and with seleretie they doo marche forwarde, vntill thei finde an other compaignion in the accustomed distance before them, and where it fortuneth no man to be founde, to aduertise them, how thei should then procede till they come to the head or Fronte and in such place to stande still, or els to march according as the other rankes in the headde or in the Fronte shall doo. And this beynge a generall rule that euery man muste take the measure of his marchyng softely or fast of his compaignions that goeth before him, and not of anie that be of their sides. All those men therefore that shall be founde in the verie same ranke behinde such a man that doeth lacke his compaignion or compaignions before him, shall bee constrained to runne, or go a pase accordyng as that man shall marche, whiche shal bee nexte before him: which thing beyng obserued of euery man in the battell, alwaies the Forwarde or Fronte thereof, shall come therby to be whole and sounde, and those emptie places of the dead to be transformed into the Rerewarde, in whiche places there shall not almost be any perrill. As for example, admitte, that in a battel of 144. men in fashion fowersquare, the enemies hath slayne .12. men, as by the voyde places in the figure folowyng appereth, I say that hauyng aduertised euery man to doo as much as before I haue declared, which is, that euery time that he lacketh his felow (or moe men) that marched before him, he doo straight way make haste, and with all speede possible not to seace goyng forwarde, til he finde an other compaignion [Page] in the accustomed distance that goth before him.
- Fronte
And if it fortune in suche a ranke that in the ende he finde no man, yet he ought to procede so muche till he come to the last ranke in the Fronte, & there to stande styll, or els to marche accordynge to the order of the saied ranke. And lykewyse euery man ought to take heede that in his marchynge faste or softely, he do [...] rule him selfe by his compaignion that goeth before him, & not of any of those that be on his sides: whiche [Page 13] thing being obserued, as in the figured rayes aboue
- Fronte.
written, the same battelles, shall bee transformed in this other maner, like vnto the laste figure, that is, those .12. voide places shalbe transelated into the rerewarde, as plainly maie be seen.
Hovve to change vvith spede an Army, that is, in battell raie fovversquare, into a triangell fation, vvithout dissordering the firste rankes, and vvithout perrill of confusion. Cap. 19.
LIke as the Capitain with sound of the trompete, or with voice shall cause the soldiers to bee aduertised and taughte to knowe how to turne that waie, which is betwene the fronte and the righte side, or the lefte, and likewyse that waye that is betwene the righte, or lefte syde, and the backe, and after that they shall bee well informed therein, euen so I would also haue thē to be well aduertised of thesame, that was declared in the laste chapiter, whiche is to shewe & teache euery man, that alwayes whē he shall be caused to turne towardes any of the forsaide sides, and shall not finde to haue his fellowe in the accustomed distance before him, that then the same mā with all spede doe procede, or marche so farre right forthe, till he finde a companiō before him in the acustomed distāce. Of whiche thinge euerie soudier beinge well informed and instructed, with the twinkling of an iye an Army that is in fasion .iiij. square, maye be transeformed into a triāgle. As for exāple, minding to make the righte corner the poincte of the sayd triāgell, with sownde of Trumpet, or with voice, causing euerie man in the army to tourne them selues with their faces that waye, whiche is betwene the fronte and the righte flancke, and incontinente, so sone as they are turned, euerie mā obseruinge the forsaide order, that is, that all those, whiche shall perceiue not to haue his felowe before him in the accustomed distance, doe procede streight foorthe vntill he haue one, whiche doen the saied fowersquare fation, shal be founde to bee changed into a triangell fation, and the poinct of the same triangell figure, shall come to bee the right corner of the fronte of the firste figure. Whiche thing, is as easie to be doen as is possible: for the triall whereof, let there be for example .25. men standing in fation fower square, as hereafter appereth in figure, and to [Page 13] cause it to be better vnderstand, I haue thought good to make this figure with y e 25. letters of the abc. Now mindyng to chaunge this fower square figure, into a triāgell figure, it is nedeful to cause them all to turne
- Fronte.
with their faces that waie, which is betwen the hed & thesame side, where I haue thought good to make the poinctt of the wedge or triāgle: as for example purposing to make the corner. E. the poinct & hed of the triā gle, I shall cause that euery man doe tourne with his face that waie, betwene the front & the right flancke, towardes the corner. E. whiche thinge doen, the forsaide figure shall cum to stande as here apereth: in whiche figure maye be seen manie men, that hath no felow in the acustome distāce befor him, although thei haue a felowe straighte before him, muche more farther [Page]
- Frnot.
of then the ordinary, whiche is double so muche as the ordinarie, as appereth by. F. who hath righte before him. B. but the distaunce that is betwene the saied. F. and the said. B. is double so muche as the ordinary distaunce, wherfore if. F. shall obcerue the preceptes aboue declared, immediatly so sone as he shall haue turned his face that waie, he should incontinent goe, to come nerer to the said. B. in the accustomed distaunce, which doyng, he shall bring himself betwene A. and. G. Albeit the saied. G. shall not remain in his firste place, but shall go nerer vnto. C. to the accoustomed distaunce, and in the place where. G. was firste L. muste cume. So that. F. shall stande betwene. A. and. L. and likewise if all the other shall procede forwarde, accordyng to the saied order, vntill euery man finde a felowe in the accustomed distaunce before him. H. shall goe nerer vnto. D. and. M. shall followe the saide. H, and. Q. shall followe after the saied. M. euery one of theim, vntill thei come to their accustomed distaunce. [Page 15] And in like maner. I. shall goe nerer vnto. E. and. N. shall folowe. I. and. R. shall folowe. N. and. X. shall folowe the saide. R. euery one of them vntill thei come to their accustomed distaunce. Likewise. O. shall goe nerer to. K. and. S. shall folowe. O. and. Y. shal folowe. S. also to the ordinary distance: and likewise. &. shall also goe nerer to. V. to the accustomed distaunce, whiche thing beyng obserued, suche a fower square battell shall be transformed into a triangle battell, as here folowing appereth in figure, the poinct whereof shall come to bee the corner. E. & with this order a Capitaine maie chaunge an armie, with tournyng of a hande, though it wer of .100000. men from the fasion of a fower square to the fation of threesquare. So that
- Fronte.
the saied men be aduertised and taught, as afore hath been declared, bothe as wel to knowe how thei ought [...] [Page] to turne as to marche. Whiche is of wunderfull importance: for as muche, as at a sudden to reduse an army after this sorte into a triangell fation, it is almoste impossibell that the enemies shalbe abell, or shall knowe howe to make theyr army like the Sheres to [...]et againste it, wherby shall cum great aduauntage as by the .5. chapiter aboue is plainelis proued: for that it semes vnto me that a triangle battel, maie bee allwaye sufficiente able to breake all maner of fowersquare battelles as is vsed now a daies, although it had half so manie moe menne, so longe as those of the triangell battell be wel instructed of the manner of theyr faightinge declared in the 5. chapiter.
Of the perfecte forme or fation of stronge places.
THe forme whiche vnto the circular fatiō doeth moste resemble, of experte and skilful soldiers, is aboue al other with moste reason praised, so that the Curtine or walles thereof, be made straight, & of suche length, that of the bulwarkes they maye be flanked: whiche fation beinge made with manie corners, is verie meete and necessarie if in a sufficient greate place it be erected: for where in small romes the iuste lengthe of the curtyne is shortened, it is conueniente to builde theim with fewe corners, because if otherwyse they should bee shortened with a nomber of corners, the shorter of necessitie the spaces betwene those muste bee, so that besides that the one bulwarke maie hurte the other, thei shalbee moreouer to no purpose, but rather an occation of infinite coste, their curtines neding as is requiset to be defended of platformes and the corners thereof shall come to bee lesse blunte, and muche sharper then they ought to be, by reason of the little distance betwene them & the platformes. Therfore the more that they be made distante from those bulwarkes (the due length of the curtin being kepte) so muche the blunter the corners will cum to be, whiche by them muste be defended, and the more of those corners that there are in the same fasion, so muche the blunter they shall also come to be. So that where the fation of the places that are builte be sufficiente greate to contain all the forsaide particulars, whiche for a sure fortresse is requisett to be made, all thinge commodiously will cum to passe: and the greater that [Page] thei shalbe, the more men thei maie haue to defend thē and more comodious space within, for to retire with great and strong fortification, & the platformes maye be made muche further in, & haue the corners of their bulwarkes blunt, and with a large back, mete for defence, and in an assault, muche surer then the sharpe, bicause the sharpe poincted bulwarke, being battered defendeth thenemie from the platformes, so that vnder thesame, beyng couered, he maie almoste out of daunger, make an assault. Where against a toune or fortresse, that wer built after the fatiō of these plattes folowyng, in what so euer part of soche places, the enemie should approche marchyng towardes theim to incampe, or in battell raie to assalte thē, or with trenches, and artillery to batter them, either high or lowe or by the curtin within, or otherwise, he shall alwaies frō many of those flankers of thesame place, be greatly hurt and repulced, and of the platformes in espetially, more then from any other where, bicause thei be most nere, and stande higher then all the other, and they shall also hurte hym more, when he shall bee somewhat farre of, then nere hand, as maye be seen by the plaine platte that hath the number .1. and in the same that is raised vp, that hath the number .2. The which with twoo other are also here after pictured, to the ende that thereby maye be considered of suche as shall see them, the sundrie good and notable effectes that bee in them, the whiche although it bee not possible so easely with writinge to bee expressed, yet by their helpe thei maie be better vnderstand and comprehended, and moreouer by them shalbe gotten this knowledge, wherby euery man commodiously maie vnderstande, where the enemie gowinge aboute with his power, maye best deuise to assaile them, and how they within maye prouide to defende and withstande the same with their men, taking them from those places [Page 17] where thei maie beste be spared, so that buildyng the fasion of fortresses, in the saied maner, there shall in no place happen any suche incommodities, as in other that are ignorauntly made, after the ordinarie fation with lesse corners, as also by these figures, here folowing is more plainlie declared.
There ought also to be noted, that these and the other plattes, in this treatise set forthe, beyng drawen in a little space, could not bee fasioned with their due proportion: albeit to the ende that the same whiche is reasoned about them, might partlie bee vnderstande, thei are not left out or omitted: for without their help it should haue been impossible for any man, to haue comprehended that, whiche I seke to declare, concernyng fortificacion, although thei were expert souldiours: as by the foresaied plattes of the number of .1. and .2. maie manifestly be seen, how well the courteines of suche a toune, is by the bullwarkes thereof defended, and how the di [...]hes of the platformes, and of bothe of them are flanked and skowred, besides other thinges, whiche by the lines that are drawen be declared, where otherwise it could not bee shewed after suche sorte, as it might bee vnderstonde, and the like hapeneth in the other.
The strongest and perfectes fation of all other for the building of the cortin or vvall of a Tovvne or fortres.
BEfore beeyng shewed concernynge the perfection that for the fation of fortresses is requisette, howe they ought to be buylded with a number of corners proportioned neuerthelesse, with a iuste length of the cortin, and a sufficient distaunce betwene euery bullwarke, so that the more that with like conditions to the circular fasiō it resembleth, so muche the more it becometh perfecte. There now remaineth to be cōsidered, what fation is to be iudged of moste perfectiō, either thesame which without any edification placed in the middeste of the curtin therof, shalbe builded, or that which shall haue either caualiers, or platformes, or what so euer other maner of edification or figure, that for to defende the curtins of y e bulwarkes maye be placed: or whether it be of those fatinos, which vnto this present hath been vsed of other in building, or some newe maner that mighte be deuised. Therefore in this parte leauinge to reason of those, that shal haue caualiers or platformes as also of those bulwarkes that the cortines shall haue, which from the one to the other most straightly withoute other edification placed in the middeste doe shoote, for this time I shall only shewe a new fation, the whiche I iudge to be the moste perfectest, that is possible to be imagened, as maye be seen by the lines that are drawen from the plaine platte of the number of .3. and by the platte that is raised vp of the number [Page 20] of .4. here vnder figured, which resēblyng so nere the circular figure, as the due length of the curtin wil suffer, thei shall haue this diffrēce frō the other which directly ar distended, that the cortin being made back a conueniente distaunce, that spase maie be lefte mete to make frō the one and the other poincte of the same retire, a flanker, as twoo like flankers maie be seen, in the plaine platte of the number of .3. by the letters E. and. F. and in the plat that is raised vp of the number of .4. by the letters. A. and. C. they shall haue comodetie to directe theire ordinaunce to flanke, as wel highe as lowe, like vnto those that ar commonly builte nowe adaies: whereby, not only the same space of the curtin, that is betwene the one and the other of them shalbe perfectly defended, as maye be perceiued by the platte of the nūber of .3. by the line drawē from the letter. E. to the letter. F. but also that whiche lieth betwen them and the bullwarkes, as in the said platte, by the lines that describeth the manner of the shotte the one from the letter. E. to the letter. S. the other from the letter. F. to the letter. R. maye be vnderstande, and likewyse the curte [...]nes of those bulwarkes, as also in the verie same, by the line that is drawne from the letter. F. to the letter. Q. is shewed, with a better maner than in other fation of building that is vsed can be defended, so that all the partes of them shall not only be made to be able to shoote by flanke, but also thereby to shoote by righte line, as in the platte of the number of .4. by the line that passeth from the letter. C. to the letter. D. and from the letter A to the letter. B. maie be perceiued. And wheras they maie be builded with lesse cost then otherwyse, they haue also commoditie to make their gates equally distante the one from the other, from the nexte bulwarkes: where they ar placed moste safelie and commodiouslie with greate strengthe, and those gates be as [Page] well, as all the reste of the wall, and greatlier in that parte, muche surer from the assailing of the enemies, then in what so euer other maner of fation mighte be deuised: for as muche as the platforms, and caualiers bee nothyng so stronge, but more easie to bee ouerthrowen, in respecte to this maner of buildinge, whiche is moste sure from suche daunger, and excedingly wel defended from the force of the enemie: to the whiche, the nerer that the enemie shall aproche, so muche the more he shall of those within be hurte, cōtrarie to that, whiche in the platformes happeneth. Moreouer there maie be certaine slaughter houses builte in the diche, as in the plat of the number of .4. by the letters E.H. is shewed, whiche the enemies with greate difficultie muste firste seke to winne, before thei can come nere the walles. And those being wonne, shall be but small preiudise to the towne or fortresse: wherefore without comparison, this fation is greatlier to bee praised, then the same with platformes, for that the nerer the Walle, the enemie shall come, so moche more from the bulwarkes by flanke, and all moste on the backe, and from other places, both by flanke, and by fronte in one instant, he shalbe hurte and stroken. Where also in suche a kinde of fation with many corners, the greatnesse and rome of the toune within, is somwat deminished, in respect to those that are made with platformes. Therefore I conclude, for the considerations a foresaied, these to bee the moste perfectest fations that any strong fortresse, is possible to bee made.
An example of the quadrant forme to proue that it causeth debilletie and vveaknes. Cap. xxii.
THe tounes and fortresses that are buylded after a fowr cornered fatiō, in what so euer maner they be made, ar subiecte to moste great inconueniēces: for that the sharpe corners of their bulwarkes which of necessity the same fation will cause them to haue, may verie easelie be battered, and vnder the ruyn therof, the assaultes of the enemies defended, as in the platte following of the number of 7. by the bullwarke C. battered of the artillerie D. is seen. Whereby also may be perceiued how the ordinaunce may be planted to make a breache, and to take awaye their flankers after such sorte, that the enemies may safely aproche to enie place, eyther marching in battel ray to incampe, or assaulte, or with pianers to worke, or for enie other purpose, as by the fower flankers of the three bullwarkes. L. E. C. may be vnderstande, the which of the artillerie. H. [...].K.G. not only ar battered, but also two of them that haue the letters. L. C. as is seē, may of the artillerie. K.G. be beatē through their flankers, and the backe of the bullwarke. E. nerest to them, which is on bothe sides of the flākes battered, the which for hauing in suche place lesse thicknes thē enie wher els, and greate heygth, may be the more easelier ruynated, as is to be seen in the sayde bullwarke E. battered with the artillerie F. and H. and also by the breache of the battery, which in the cortin is made of the ordinaunce B. as is seene where the artillerie G. by the cortin doeth beate through the same in the breache of the batterie A. as manifestly apereth: [Page] and moreouer when they within wolde doe eny thing, they shalbe beaten with the artillerie ouer the wall within the cortin N. from the caualier M. withoute, so that no man shalbe able to stande behynd the same to defende. And not only in this sorte, but in sundrie wyse, and in diuerse maners, what so ever towne or fortresse is builded after such fation, may easelie be battered and sune made sautable, wereby withoute forther declaration it is plainlie to be vnderstande, how muche the forsayde plattes of the other fation eccel this.
Of the nature of Saltpeter, and the maner hovve to make and refine it. Cap. xxiii.
SAltpeter is a mixture of manie substaunces, gotten oute with fire and water of drie and durtie grownde, or of that flower, that groweth owte of newe walles, in selars, or of that grownde whiche is fownde loose within toombes, or desolate caues, where raine cannot come in: in the whiche grounde (accordinge to my iudgemente) the same is ingendred of an ayrie moistenes drunke vp, and gotten of the yerthie drynes: whose nature (by the effecte therof) consideringe, I cannot tell how to be resolued, to saye what thinge properly it is. The wel learned and moste wyse Phisitions (besides medisinall experience) by the taste (findinge it salte, and with exceding sottill sharpnes, and consideringe the greate bytinge therof) supose verely that it is of nature hotte and drie: on the other parte, seing it to be a thinge ingendred of ayre, and towched of fyre to fall in a flame, and vapore, and rise with a terrible violēce (as the same cōpounded, is seen by Gunpoulder moste manifestly declared) semeth to be of an ayrie nature, hot and moiste: and againe seinge it with shining and glitteringe whitenes, as a thinge to the nature of water conformable, it semeth that it maye be sayde, that it is of a waterie nature, findinge it heauie: to whiche maye be ioyned the experiēce of the taste, and of the excedinge coldenes that in sumer it cawseth the water to be of, wherin it is put to kepe wine colde, as they vse in Italy, and by the brittelnes therof, it maye be thought to be of the nature of yerthe: and so muche the more, where burning it with as muche brimstone, it will turne into a harde white stone: so that to [Page 22] conclude, it semeth that it hathe the soueraintie & qualitie of euerie elemente. Nowe this of aunciente wryters, was called nitro: and Plinie in his naturall historie in the .xxxi. booke sayeth, that it differeth not muche from salte: whose nature semes also that vnto Phisitions hath not ben hyd: and it is founde in manie places, but the best is fownde in Macedonia: Albeit the late writers, spetially they of our partes, say that Plinie, & y e other wryters beleued that it was minerable: & peraduēture they ar deceyued: for that ther is of the artifitiall, which hathe the very same vertue, & as sum thinke, more strōger of nature: & is foūde for y e very same medicinall effect, better then the naturall. Nowe this (as I haue sayde) is drawen foorthe from the sayde durtie yearthe, so that the yearthie drines by raine hath not ben extincte: but the moste excellenteste of all other, is made of the dunge of beastes, conuerted into yerthe, in stabells or in dunghills, of long time not vsed: and aboue all other, of the same that cumeth of hogges, the moste and best is gotten: what so euer dunge it be of, it is requiset that by continuāce of time it be well resolued into yerthe, and the humiditie therof dried: yea and it is nedefull that the same yerthe be as it wer dustie. To mynde to haue a saye to knowe whether it be good, by the taste of the tong it maie be felte if it be bytinge, and howe muche: and findinge it strong, so that you determin to woorke of it (making a great quantitie) it is necessarie to prouide manie Cauldrons, forneses, barrills or tubbes: and likewyse wood, white lime, and asshes of olde oke: but chieflie muste be prouided a great barne, or other walled howse nere to the water (wherof it is nedefull to haue inoughe, as also of yerthe, both commodious for the place, & likewise euery other thing.) But firste the forneses muste be made for the cawldrons, and they muste be placed theron, as those be [Page] that the diers vse: then ther must be prepared ioystes as longe as the howse, & so brodde, that cōmodiuslie aboue grounde maye stande buttes with their heddes knocked oute, square chestes, barrels or tubbes to the number of .50. or .60. or .100. (accordinge to the caulderns, and the capacetie of the place) and betwene euerie twoo of those vecells, there muste be set a halfe tubbe to receiue the water that shal run oute: or there wolde be placed a channell of wood that maye goe alōge vnder the holes of the veselles that ar set aboue grounde, so that it maye conuey al the water that commeth from them, into a great tubbe or two sufficiente to holde all the water full of substaunce of Saltepeter: and the buttes that haue theire heddes knocked oute, or barrells or tubbes, in the bottom of euerie of them there muste be made a hole on the one syde, with an Awgar, or els three or fower littell holes made with a good bigge perser: and vpon them muste be layd a littel thinne linnen clothe or els the ende of a brome, or sum strawe, to the intente that it maie kepe the yerthe vp and straine the water that shalbe put amongeste the same yerthe whiche is to be wroghte, when it is tasted with the mouthe so that it be certaine, that it cōtaineth Saltepeter. Then there muste be made thereof, in the middest of the howse where it is to be wroughte, a great hill, nexte vnto which muste be made an other halffe so bigge, which must be made with twoo partes of o [...]slaked lime, and three of oke asshes, or other asshes, whiche in taste ar verie stronge & sharpe: and then the one hill muste be well mingled with the other, and with the same composition, the tubbes muste be filled that ar set alofte vpon the ioystes, within a span of the mowthe, or else (minding not to mingel with the yerath the ashes & the lime together) you maye put firste a spane thickenes [Page 25] of yearth in the bottome of the tubbe, and then thre fingers thicknes of the forsayd lyme and asshes: and vpon the same after, an other spanne thicknes of yearthe, and on that likewyse, an other three or fowr fingers thicknes of lime and asshes: and so puttinge one rewe of one thing, and an other of an other, you shall fill all the buttes and tubbes, or other vecells that you haue placed, euen as aboue I haue sayde, within a span of the mouthes of theim: and the reste that is then emptie, which yow lefte, you muste fill with water: the which running throughe all the yerathe, by a littell & a littell, you muste let it droppe in the tubbes that stonde vnder to receyue it, or in the gutter or channell or whear yow liste, so that it be cō veyd into one or into sundrie tubbes, or where you thincke good: and so you muste see wel that you gether all the water that you powred vpon the yearthe, after it is passed throughe the holes of the bottom of the tubbes, in suche wyse, that it bringe with it all the substaunce and vertue of the Saltepeter that was in the sayde yerthe: wherof by puttinge sum of it on your tonge, you maye taste: and findinge it bitinge and very salte, it is a token that it is good & that you haue doen well: if not, power it againe vpon the verie same yerthe, or vpon sum other newe: but finding the firste yerthe full of substaunce as muche as sufficeth, you maye againe power vpon it more water, to wasshe better the remnante of the yearthe: albeit this seconde water woulde be saued in an other vecell, and after this, the yerth maye likewise be wasshed the thirde time, to thintente that all the substaunce therof, maye perfectlie be gotten: but this seconde nor the thirde, ought not to be mingled with the firste, if it happen not to cum of the verie same taste: the whiche I beleue that it wil not: but it must be put by it self, in other vecells, for that it is good to powre vpon the [Page] chaunge of the nexte yearth, and so you maie procede, gathering a good quātitie of suche water, taking hede neuerthelesse, that it be full of the substaunce of Saltpeter: the whiche if it seme vnto you, not of the same perfection, as you would haue it, you maie powre it again vpon the verie same yerth, or vpon other new, till suche time as it satisfie you, and that you knowe, that it be full of the substaunce of Saltpeter. Besides this, there must be made a furnes with one or ij. cauldrōs of brasse walled theron, whiche must be as great as those that the Diers vse, and these cauldrons must then be filled, with the forsaied Saltpeter water: the whiche (as alredie I haue tolde) ought to be as full of substaūce as maie be, so that it haue about the .ij. third partes, and make it faire and softlie to boile so muche till it cum to one thirde part, or there aboutes: and after take it of, and put it to settell in a great vessell, couered, whiche muste bee well bounde aboutel, with hoopes of yron, and sure & close in the ioinyng therof, to the intent it spill not: and thus when the same water is setled and well clarefied, and from the yearthie and grose matter, whiche in it remained, dilligently purged, it must bee taken oute and boyled agayne of newe in thesame cauldron, or in sum other: and for as muche as euery time that it boileth, if it be not taken hede of, it turneth into skum, and somtymes swelleth so muche, that often tymes runnyng ouer it spilleth, and carrieth awaye therewith muche of the good: the whiche mindynge to remeadie, you muste take three partes of Oke asshes, and one of lime, and moreouer, in euerie hundreth pounde waighte of water, there muste be dissolued fower pounde of roche Alum: and when the cawldron boileth, take of the sayde water with a pot, and powre into it ones or twise, and specially when you see the saltpeter water rise in skum, whiche in a little while you shall se it alaie, both clere [Page 26] and faire, and of an azur colour: and it must be boiled so long, till all the thin watrines bee vapored awaie, and the substaūce of the saltpeter thickened: so that it being taken out, and put in chestes or tubbes and coled, maie congele: the whiche is beste doen, when the water is brought to least quantitie, taking it out and puttyng it into a lesse caudron, wherein it will soner congele: the whiche water being tasted, and seen to be brought to suche passe, to be redy to congele, you may take it out, and put it in vecelles of wood, or of yearth that are rough within, with certain stickes of wood, to congele, and so you shall let it coole, and reste .iij. or iiij. daies, so as it maie drop, and be strained through some little hole, in the botom of the vessell: and all the water that is not then cōgeled, you must take out and saue for to seeth again: and the saltpeter that is in any quantitie congeled, you shall finde to be, accordyng to the vertue that was in the water, or in the yerth: but y e clerenes and fairenes therof, will cum of the maister vertue of the water, that is put into it in the boiling, whiche hath strength to purgeit, and make it cum, as it wer refined in the first seething: now this beyng taken from the sides of the vessell, where it cōgeled, and in the water therof washed, you must laie it vpō a tabell to drie throughly: & thesame semyng vnto you to haue nede, or neuerthelesse mindyng to haue it aboue the comō vse, for some purpose, more purefied, & without yerthie grosnes, & altogether without fatnes and saltnes, which for to make excedyng fine pouder, or aqua fortis, is muste requised so to bee: to bee shorte, for what so euer cause it ought to bee refined, I councell you, to doe it after one of these .ij. waies, whiche here folowyng, I shall teache you: The first, whiche I like best, is with water: and the seconde is with fire, with water it is refined in this maner, taking of the forsaid mixture made of lime, asshes, and allome desolued: & [Page] then for euerie harrill of water that you haue put in the cauldron, for to disolue the saltepeter, you muste put into it six potfulls of the forsayde stronge water: and in the same quantetie of water so prepared, put so muche saltepeter as you thinke maye well be disolued: and with boylinge make it to resolue verie well, and seinge it in boylinge to haue caste vp skum, you shall then take it oute of the cauldron, and put it into a tubbe, in the bottom wherof, you muste firste haue put fower fingers thicknes of fine sande cleā washed, and that muste be keuered with a linen clothe: and by a littel hole made in the bottom of the tubbe, you shall suffer it to droppe by littel & littel into sum other vecel set vnder to receiue it: & so this water thus strayned, you muste after put in the verie same or in an other cauldron to boile agayne, & to make the greater parte of the same water, that you put into it seeth awaye: finally make it boile so muche, vntill you see it reddie to thicken, poweringe nowe and than, in makinge it, a littel of the forsayde stronge water, and spetially when it swelleth and casteth vp skum: and this thinge (beinge so handled) you muste take oute of the cawldron, and put it in chestes or other vecells of wood, to congeale: whiche, beinge a greate quantetie, in three or fower dayes, you shall finde all that congealed, which will cōgeall: which, beinge taken oute, you muste order as you vsed afore the other: and the same water that is not congealed, muste be boiled againe: and so you shall doo from time to time as it gathereth together and cōgealeth: and after this sorte you shall make the saltepeter moste white and faire, and muche better then at the firste seathinge.
Also saltepeter is refined in an other manner, whiche is with fire, but in a littel quantetie mynding to doe it well: & although it be a reddie waye, yet fewe vse it: albeit it serueth to get oute the fatnes of saltepeter, [Page 27] for that it sendeth into the bottō very muche yearthenes, not withstonding I like better the forsayde waye in purginge it with water, then this with fier: But to doo this, take a salet, or sum other yron or brasen vecell, and fill it with saltepeter, and keuer it with a keuer of yrō, brasse, or yearth, so that it be made bighe inoughe, mete to bee taken of and put on when yow liste, that the vesell maye be wel keuered: & then it muste be set in the middest of a good fire of coles, and so the saltepeter will melte: whiche is soune perceyued of the experte artifecer: but when you thinke that it is molte, loke vpon it: and if it be not well molten, keuer it again and let it melt well: then it being well molten, take brimstone moste finelie beaten in powlder, and strawe sum theron: and if of it selfe it take not fier, doe you kendel it: and beinge kendeled let it burne till suche time as the brimstome be all consumed, so that nothinge else be burnte, but the vper parte, and certaine grosse vnctiousnes of the saltepeter, the which when it is burned, will leaue the reste faire and cleare: and then it muste bee taken from the fire letting it coole, where in the vessell you shall finde it (when it shalbe coulde) all in one pece white like vnto a pece of marbell: and all the yearthienes therof remaininge in the bottom: whiche shalbe good saltepeter to make powlder withall, but not verie cō mendable to enie other vse: and aboute saltepeter the witte of men haue so muche imagened, that means ar foūde to cause it to growe in the grounde, and in places, that neuer had enie before, by disoluinge saltepeter in water: for with the same water weating the grounde, and lettinge it stande so a certaine space of time, saltepeter wilbe ingēdred, so that the same that was put there, will multeplie wonderfully: and it is a moste certayne thinge, that in makinge saltepeter, the yearthe that hathe ben occupied, heaped vp in a [Page] place that is couered, so that the raine doe not washe it, within the space of fyue or sixe yeres, maye againe be labored, and saltepeter shalbe founde to bee ingendred, and yelde muche more, then it did the firste time: and this that I haue declared in this chapiter, is as muche as I can saie of saltepeter.
The maner hovve to make all sortes of Gunpoulder. Chapiter .xxiiii.
GVnne pouder, is made of three simples onely: that is, salt peter, Brimstone and Coales: and some proporcioneth it after one fashion, and some after an other, and also accordyng to the Gunnes, and purposes, wherewith thei will occupie it. For that one sorte is occupied for greate ordinaunce, and an other sorte for lesse peces: and this is knowen to euery Bombardier: In Harkabuses, and hande gunnes, is not occupied common pouder, but aboute certaine fire woorkes: and therefore to euery of the saied purposes, the ponders is proporcioned accordynglie. For that if Serpentine pouder, should be occupied in hande gunnes, or Harkebuses, it would scant be able to driue their pellettes a quaites caste, frō their mouthes: and if hande gunne pouder should be vsed in peces of ordinaunce, without great discrecion, it would quickly breake or marre theim: and to minde to haue all sorte of pouders good, three thinges is requiset to bee obserued, in makyng thereof. The firste is to see, that the substaunce, wherewith it is made, haue no yearthy grosenes. The seconde, that it be finely beaten: the thirde, that it be very well dried, from all humiditie or moistenesse, and this doen, you shall haue [Page 28] strong and excellent good pouder. And it is to bee vnderstande, that the chief thyng that is in pouder, is Salt peter: for that of it (by thesame that is seen) dependeth all the forse. And therefore prouision is to be made, to haue a good quantitie thereof, and that it be cleane and nete: the whiche by burnyng, maie well be knowen, for that in all sortes of pouder, it is nedefull, that the Saltpeter be good.
Now, for to make common pouder, for great peces of artillerie, there must be takē thre partes, of refined Saltpeter, two of Willowe coales, and one of Brimstone, and grinding euery thing: all must be wel mingled together, & all the moistnesse thereof dried vp, as I haue saied. To make pouder for small peces of artillerie, there muste bee taken fiue partes, of refined Saltpeter, and one and a halfe of Coales, and one of Brimstone, and grindyng it moste finelie, and minglyng it well together, it muste bee corned, and then dried. The maner of cornyng all sortes of pouder, is with a Seeue made, with a thicke skinne of Parchement, full of little rounde holes, into the whiche seue the pouder must bee put, while it is danke, and also a little bowle, that when you sifte, maie rolle vp and doune, vpon the clottes of pouder, to breake theim, that it maie corne, and runne through the holes of the Seeue.
To make Harkebuse and hande Gunne pouder, there must be taken tenne partes of refined Saltpeter, and one of young basell coles of a year olde made clean, and one parte of brimstone, and beatinge all in a mortar or grindinge it excedingly well that it maye be mingled together and so fine as is possible, then it muste be corned and thoroughlie dried. And note that if it be not marvelusly well beatē, it wil neuer be good. But bycause makinge of poulder, whiche ar of thinges that will easelie kindell, cannot be withoute [Page] perril of him that maketh it, excepte it be remedied with weating: therefor it behoueth to take hede that it be not beaten drie, as well to auoide suche perrill, as also for that it wilbe beaten better: for whiche causes it muste be wet with comun water to a certaine degree of moistenes, so that taken vp in ones hande it maye clingh together. Sum moist it with vineger: and sum, for to make it more stronger, with cāphored aqua vitae. When I haue caused gunpoulder to bee made, I haue vsed comun water, and therefore I am able to saye whiche of those thinges is best: and to tell my opinion, I doubte whether vineger or aqua vitae causeth the gunpoulder to be anie better then the cō mon water: for as muche as they vaporinge awaye, as they doe, and as of necessetie they muste, I beleue that littel of their substaunce remaineth. There be sum whiche in makinge cole (besides wellowe) make them of hasell: and sum of vyne stickes: and sum of baie stickes: sum of reedes: sum of kecses: and to bee shorte, all the coles that ar made of softe wood, ar of wood whiche haue muche pith: but it is requiset that they be smalle, yong, and tender, and withoute hardenes of knottes: otherwyse they be not good: Albeyt they be made in diuerse maners: but in makinge of enie greate quantetie of poulder, the ordinarie cole is to be taken: How to make cole wher with gūpoulder is made. and makinge a littell, they vse to take yonge hasell of a year olde, cut in shorte peses, & then puttinge them into a great yerthen potte, or other vecell of yron, or brasse, they shutte it & keuer it close, and lute it or daube it verie wel aboute, so that it cannot breathe: and then they make fire rounde aboute it and vpon it, till suche time as it maye be thoughte that the heate is well entred in through all, & that the wood that is within is very well fired: & without firebrandes, or flame, burned only through suche heate: and then they take the fire from the potte and let it coole, [Page 29] and so they finde the same wood becum cole. I hapning onse to haue nede of coles (to thintente to make sum quicklie, toke as manie drie hasel stickes that had theire ryndes scraped of, as I thought sufficiente to serue my purpose: and breaking them in peses and laiynge them close together on a hepe, I set them on fire and burned them all well, and then sprinckeled water vpon them with a broume, and with the same wet brume quenched the fier: & so scattered abrod the coles heare and there, allwayes sprinckelinge water vpon them till I quenched them: and thus I haue serued my purpose withoute so muche difficultie.
Moreouer it is a verie proffitable thinge, yea and a necessary, that I declare the maner & faciletie of beating it, for to be able safelie to make a greate quantetie therof. In olde time they wer wonte to grinde gū poulder with certayne handemilles, as they vse to grinde corne, but (besides the paine) it is awaye verie perrillus: for that suche a composition grownde together with stones, will catche heate in suche wyse, that it wil sone ingēder fire, inespetialy euery thing being a matter disposed to fire: as also by rubbinge together with violēce a cople of baye stickes, yow shal straighte waye kendell fire. Sum grinde poulder in suche mylles as they vse to grind crabbes or apells to make vargis or cider: and sum hathe it stamped in morters with a water mille or a horsemill, which waye is the beste of all other, and moste sureste and also it is beaten finelier, and with lesse labor and paine. Sum (that hathe not the comodetie of water) make a greate wheele, deuised after suche sorte, that with the cogges therof it maye raise vp many heuy pestells, whiche fallinge, beate in diuers morters of wood made in a beame of oke, of the whiche there be sum haue the bottomes of brasse.
Sum stampe with theire armes, with a great pestel [Page] tied to the ende of a pole with a corde, righte ouer, a morter of wood or brasse, and so they beate the easelier: other some beate it in a stone morter, with the mouthe sumwhat large, with a wooden pestell, with the handel therof made like vnto a hamner or a mall. And these, and other, that maye be made, is as moche as aboute the deuise of beating and making gunpouder is nedefull.
They haue vsed heretofore to waighe euery matter by it selfe, and then they haue gone mingling and beating all together. There haue been after, sum that haue deuised to beate euery thing seuerally by it self, and then mingelld alltogether and made it. But finally the beste and moste readieste waye, is to take a a quantetie of saltepeter, wherewith you will make your poulder, & put it into a cauldron with so muche water (as being set vpon the fire) maye bee thought sufficiente to disolue it: whiche so sone as it is resolued, muste be taken of and set on the grounde in a cold place: and the quantitee of beaten coles that is sufficient, muste be put into it, and so slurringe it aboute, muste be mingled well with the saltepeter desolued: and then taking your brimstone finely beaten in pouder, and with a staffe stirring about the coles and the saltepeter, you muste strawe it finely vpon the same, as well as you can, with continuall sturringe and minglinge them together, whiche composition thus made, you muste then drie sumwhat in the sunne: and then to haue it excellently well made, there nedeth no other to be doen, but to beate it all together, to the intente that it maye incorporate moste finely, whiche doen, you must drie it with moste greate dilligence: and then sift it very wel through a seue, and moisting it again with water or vineger, sturring it sumwhat together in a seue, you maye corne it as alreadie hath ben declared: and then againe for to occupie it aboute [Page 30] your busines you muste drie it well: and so beeyng dried, put it into drie vecells of wood to kepe: and set it in the higheste places of your house, where fewe cometh for diuers respectes: and though it wer for no other, at least to kepe it drie. They that are experte, knowe good poulder in this maner, by the color: for that if it be verie blacke, it is a signe that it is made with verie muche coles: or that it is moiste: and when you rubbe it vpon a pece of paper it will black it more then it ought to doe: and drawing it with your finger, you maie se whether it be finelie beaten or no: for it muste be so muche beaten that nothing, neither of saltepeter nor of Brimstone be diserned in any wise: for with reason they ought not to bee seen: they take also for a triall, three or fower cornes of poulder, and laye theim vpon a white Paper, distaunte three fingers, the one from the other, and fire one of theim: and if the poulder bee good, you shall see theim all to fire at tones: so that there shal be no residence remaining, neither grosenes of Brimstone, nor of saltepeter, nor of any other thing, and the paper not burnte. And if it be not so fownde, thei knowe that it is euell made, or not good, but full of yearthenes of Saltepeter: or that it is moiste, so that it is naughte for shooting of ordinaunce, besides the perrill that it putteth them in. And vndoubtedly naughtie poulder, is a cost halfe caste awaye: and it is a greate faute in him that maketh it, or that causeth it to bee made: for that in time of nede, it is of no effecte, & causeth muche shame to the Gunners, whiche occupie it: and therefore diligence ought to be vsed and, good hede taken that it be made accordyng as I haue taughte. There are many whiche bryng vp lies, saiyng: that they can tell howe to make poulder that shoting it in gunnes shall make no noise, the which is impossible, the fire and the aire violentlie incountering together, where besides that [Page] they ar not able to doe the same they saye, with a pece of ordinaunce, they ar lesse able to doe it with one of those potgunnes of elder that boyes vse to shute paper and slowes in, by the noise of whiche, maye well be perceiued, that all procedeth of breakinge of the ayre. Also there be manie that saye, that they cā make white poulder, that shall not blacke ons handes, by putting in a certaine thing in the stede of coles: sum other, redde, with dried red flowres: and other blewe, with blewe flowers: sum other saye that to make the poulder of more force and strengthe, that it is verie good to put to euery pounde of brimstone an ounce of mercurie, the brimstone being first put in by a littel, & a littel. Morouer there ar sum other that saye, that for to make the like, there ought to be put to euery poūd of saltepeter, a quarter of an ounce of salte armoniac: sum other therebe also, whiche saye that in the stede of coles, it is better to take linen clothe and to burne it to tinder, and therewith to make poulder, whiche is more excellenter then eny other cole that is possible to be vsed, aboute suche a purpose. And allthough that in my iudgemente I haue declared allredy the best receites, that is for the makyng of all sortes of gunpoulder, yet to the intente that it maye bee vnderstonde howe muche mē haue trauailed and imagened to bring the same to all perfection, I haue thought good to show herefollowing diuers moe receiptes bothe good and bad, whiche for the making of poulder hathe ben experiensed of sundrie men.
The first inuention and oldeste maner in making of sarpentine poulder, or poulder for ordinaunce.
- 1 Saltepeter
- i. parte.
- Brimstone
- i. parte.
- Coles
- i. parte.
- 2 Saltepeter
- iij. partes.
- Brimstone
- ij. partes.
- Coles
- ij. partes.
- 3 Saltepeter
- x. partes.
- Brimstone
- iij. partes.
- Coles
- iij. partes.
- 4 Saltepeter
- xij. partes.
- Brimstone
- iij. partes.
- Coles
- ij. partes.
- 5 Saltepeter
- ix. partes.
- Brimstone
- ij. partes.
- Coles
- iij. partes.
- 6 Saltepeter
- iiij. partes.
- Brimstone
- i. parte.
- Coles
- i. parte.
- 7 Saltepeter
- xx. partes.
- Brimstone
- iij. partes.
- Coles
- x. partes.
- 8 Saltepeter
- c. partes.
- Brimstone
- x. partes.
- Coles
- xxxvi. partes.
- 9 Saltepeter
- c. partes.
- Brimstone
- xx. partes.
- Coles
- xxxvij. partes.
- 10 Saltepeter
- ix. partes.
- Brimstone
- iij. partes.
- Coles
- vi. partes.
- 11 Saltepeter
- ij. partes.
- Brimstone
- i. parte.
- Coles
- i. parte.
- 12 Saltepeter
- iij. partes.
- Brimstone
- i. parte.
- Coles of wilowe stickes
- i. parte.
- 13 Saltepeter often refined.
- v. partes.
- Brimstone
- i. parte.
- Coles of ionge hasell stickes.
- i. parte.
- 14 Saltepeter refined
- iij. partes.
- Brimstone
- i. parte.
- Wilow coles.
- ij. partes.
- 15 Saltepeter
- x. partes.
- Brimstone
- ij. partes.
- Wilowe coles.
- iij. partes.
- 16 Saltepeter very often refined
- x. partes.
- Brimstone
- i. parte.
- Coles made of hasell twigges with the barke pilled
- i. parte.
- 17 Saltepeter refined
- xxvij. partes.
- Brimstone
- iij. partes.
- [Page]Coles of hasell hauing their ryndes pilled of
- iiij. par.
- 18 Saltepeter refined
- vij. partes.
- Brimstone
- i. parte.
- Coles of ionge hasell
- i. parte.
- 19 Saltepeter diuers times refined
- viij. partes.
- Brimstone
- i. parte.
- Coles of yong hasell twigghes hauing their ryndes pilled of
- i. parte.
- 20 Saltepeter
- iiij. partes.
- Brimstone
- i. parte.
- Wilow coles
- i. parte.
- 21 Saltepeter
- xx. partes.
- Brimstone
- iiij. partes.
- Wilow coles
- v. partes.
- 22 Saltepeter refined drie
- xlviij. partes.
- Brimstone cetrine
- vij. partes.
- Hasell coles
- viij. partes.
- 23 Saltepeter refined.
- xviij. partes.
- Brimstone
- ij. partes.
- Hasell coles
- iij. partes.
The maner that is vsed of charging and shooting of ordinaunce. Cap. xxv.
FOr as muche as if Gunners shulde chaunce to be slaine or otherwyse lacking, to the intente that euery souldier in time of nede maye knowe how to serue in one of their stedes, I haue thought good and necessarie, to shewe & declare the maner of charching and shooting of peses of ordinaunce. Wherfor it ought to be vnderstode, howe much poulder is occupied atonse in charging of euery peese, whiche moste comonly, is twoo thirde partes, of that whiche the shotte or bullet therof wayeth: as for example if the boolet of a peese of ordinaunce wayghe .xxj. pounde, then there muste be taken .xiiij. pounde of poulder for the iuste charge of the same peese. And then with a longe staffe that hathe at the one ende a bob as bygge as the boolet of the peese, & at the other ende a ladell made for the same purpose that wil take so muche poulder vp at twyse or thrise, as is aforsayd, the peese muste be charged, after this sorte. Take the ladell full of poulder, and thrust it into the Gunne so far as it will goe, and then turne your hande with the ladell that the poulder may fall oute and remaine there behind when you pull out your ladell: whiche doen, you muste with the bob ende therof, thruste the poulder home faire and softely: and so with the ladell taking vp the reste of the poulder you muste doe likewyse, and thruste after at the laste a wispe of hey or of sumthing els, to swepe all the poulder together, and then the bullet whiche muste be of a fitte biggnes for the pese: And also an other wispe to stay the bollet for roling oute: & putting sum poulder in the touchehole & aboute the touchhole, the Gunne is then charged. [Page] Nowe to leuell it, a man muste stande directly behinde it, and with a leuer, turne it this waye, or that waye till suche time as it be brought to lie iuste, as a man will haue it, so that loking straighte from the brieche or hinder parte of the peese as lowe as maye be vpon the vpper parte therof, he may see the mouth of the peese to lie euen with the marke and as it wer to keuer it: whiche doen, if the grounde wheron it standeth, be euen, as it is requiset to be, & that the one whele stonde not higher then the other, gyuing fier to it with a linte stocke which is a matche fastened to the ende of a staffe of a yarde or twoo yardes longe, you shall se the shot to strike the same thing that you shot at, if it be within enie reasonable distaunce. And for more spedie shoting of ordinaūce, the iuste charge in poulder of euery pece maye aforhande be prepared in a reddines, and put in bagges of linnē or in greate papers made for the same purpose, which in a sodain maye be chopte into the mouthe of a pese with the boollet or shotte thereof thruste after, as far as they will gowe, and then thrusting a long wyer into the tooche hole that may perse through the bagge or paper wherin the charge of poulder lyeth within the pece, filling the same toochehoole with corne poulder so sone as it is leueled, it maye incontinente be shotte of: which maner of charging is doē moste quickly and a greate deall soner then enie other waye, and when haste requires, verie nedefull.
Hovv to get oute quicklie the nailes that shulde happen by treason, or othervvyse to be driuen into the toucheholes of ordinaunce. Cap. xxvi.
IF it shoulde fortune at some sodain assault, y e touche holes of the artillerie to be nayled vp, after suche sorte as they cannot be discharged, of shot of, the spediest way to vnnaile thē, is firste to charge againe all suche peses of artillerie, with smaller bullettes thē their ordinarie: and when thei are so charged, to leuel them toward those places where nede requires, euen as they should haue ben, if they had not ben nailed: and then there muste be made a traine of poulder, along the bottom of the canes, from the mouthes to the bollettes of euery pese of ordinaunce: and to the intente not to shoote them in vaine, you may tarrie for occation, and occation seruing to shoote them, you may gyue fier at their mouthes, where besides that they shall doo their ordinary effectes, they shall all in the discharging, be vnayled, blowyng out the same nayles or pinnes of yron, wherewith their tocheholes wer stopped: and so doyng, of suche naling there shall happē no great harme. But if sum of them for being beaten in harder then other, shuld chaunce at the first not to be driuen oute, then the remedy is, to charge thom againe, and to shoote them of, after the saide maner, putting on the toucheholes a littel oile made very hot, heating also firste the place that is nayled, with a burning cole, making moreouer with clay, vpon the pese, a littell cuppe aboute the hole, that may holde the hot oyle that is poured vpon it, after suche [Page] sorte, that through the heate therof, it may soke into the hole with the yron in it, whereby the same yron shal then be made so slippery, that at the nexte discharging of the pese, the fury of the fire moste easely shall blou it oute.
Hovv much the artillerie ought to be estemed of the armies novv adayes, and vvhether the same opinion of them vvhich is had vniuersally, be trevv. Cap. xxvij.
COnsidering how many battailes and dedes of armes, wer made of the Romaines at sundrie times, there is cum vnto me in consideratiō, the vniuersall opinion of many men, which is, that if in those tymes there had ben ordinaūce, the Romaines shuld not haue ben abell to haue cō quered, nor so easely haue won the cuntries, & made the people their tributaries, as they did, nor they shoulde not haue in enie maner made so mightie conquestes. They saye also, that by mean of this instrument of fire, mē cannot vse, nor shew their strenghth and vertue, as they mighte in olde time. And they adde a thirde thing, that they come with more difficulty to faighte a fielde then they cam in those dayes, nor there cannot be kepte in them the orders of those tymes, so that at length the warre shalbe brought to cō siste altogether in artillerie. And mynding to wryte, whether suche opiniō be trew, and how muche the artillerie hathe increased, or demineshed the strenghth of armies, and whether it taketh away, or gyueth occation to good Capitaynes to doo valiantly, I will [Page 33] begin to speake concerning their firste opinion, that the aunchiēt Romaine armies shulde not haue made the conquestes which they did, if the ordinaunce had ben in those dayes. To which answering I say, how that warre is made eyther to defende, or to offende. Where first it is to be examened, to whom these two maner of warres causeth moste proffit, or most hurte. And albeit ther is what to say of either part, notwithstanding I beleue, that withoute cōparison, they doe more harme to him that defendeth, thē to him that inuadeth. The reason is, that he that defēdeth, is either in a toun, or in a cāpe within a trēche. If he be within a toune, this toune is eyther littel, as the moste parte of fortresses ar, or it is greate. In the first case, he that defendeth, is altogether loste: for that the violence of the artillerie is suche, that ther is no wall, how great so euer it be, which in feu dayes it battereth not doū. And if he that is within, haue not space inough to retire, bothe with diches, and with rampiers, he is ouer cum, because he is not abell to withstāde the violence of the enemie, who through the breache of the wall, will after enter: nor in this case, the artillerie which he shulde haue, shall not helpe him: for that this is a generall rule, that where men in a throng, & with violēce may goe, the artillerie cannot withold thē. Therfore in the defence of a toune, the furie of the enemies cannot be withstonde. Though the assaltes the which are not thronged, but scattered, which be called scirmushes be easely withstode. And they which goe with this disorder, and coldenes to a breache of a wall, where artillerie is, doe goe to a manifeste deathe, and againste them the artillerie preuaileth: but those, which assaulte a breache in a throng harde together, so that the one thrusteth forwarde the other if they be not holden oute of dyches, or of rampiers, they enter in euery place, and the artillerie kepeth [Page] them not backe, and though sum be slaine, they cānot be so manie, that they shall let the victorie. This is knowen to be trew, by many expugnatiōs of tounes made in Italie, and in espetiallie in the same of Brescia: for as muche as the same toune being rebelled from the frenchemē, and yet the fortresse being kepte for the King of Fraunce, the Venetians for to withstande the violence, which from the same might cum into the toune, had laid all the strete full of Artillerie, which descended from the fortresse to the Citie, & they planted them on the fronte, and in the flankes, and in euery other fitt place. Of the which Mounsier de Fois made no other coūpte, but with his squadrōs, coming downe on foote passing through the middest of them, got the citie: nor it was not knowen that he receiued by those enie notabel hurte. So that he that defendeth him selfe within a littel toune (as hathe ben sayde) and findeth the wall on the grounde, and hathe not space to retire with rampiers, and with diches, and is constrayned to truste vpon the artillerie, is ouercum straight way. If thou defendest a great toune, & wher thou haste comodity to retire, yet not withstanding withoute comparison, the artillerie is more proffittabell to him which is withoute, then to him that is within. Firste, to mynde to haue a pece of Artillerie hurte those withoute, thou arte constrained to get the vp with it from the plaine grounde of the toune: because standing vpon the plaine grounde, euery littell banke and rampier that the enemie may make, shall cause him to remaine safe, and thou canst not hurte him, so that being driuen to stande alofte on the toppe of the wall, or in what so euer other maner on highe, thou drawest after the twoo difficulties. The firste is, that thou canste not bring vp so greate and mightie peses of artillerie, as he withoute may shoote, being not able in littel spaces to handell great thinges. The [Page 36] other is, that although thou couldest bring thē, thou cāst not make suche strōg & sure defence for to saue the said artillerie frō dismounting, as they without may doe, being on the groūd, & hauing that comoditie and that rome, that they them selues liste. So that it is impossible for him that defendeth a toune, to kepe the artillerie on high places, when they which are without haue great ordinaunce inough. And if they be driuen to come with them on low places, they becum for the moste parte vnprofittable, as hath ben sayde. So that the defence of the citie, is brought to be defended with armes, as in old time they did, and with small artillerie. Of which if there be gotten a littel proffitte (hauing respecte to the same small artillerie) there is gotten so much incomoditie, as counterpeaseth the comoditie of the artillerie: for as muche as hauing respecte to the same, they make the wals of tounes low, and as it wer vnder grounde in diches, so that so sone as they cum to the battaile at hande, eyther because the walles ar battered, or because the dyches ar filled vp, he that is within, hath muche more dissaduātage, then he shoulde haue had in times passe. And therfore (as afore is sayde) those instrumentes helpeth muche more him that besigeth a toune, then he that is besiged. Concerning the thirde thing, to lye in campe within a trenche, to the intēte not to faighte the fielde but at thy cōmoditie, or aduauntage, I say, that in this parte thou hast no more remedy ordinarelie to defende thee from faighting, then they had in olde time. And sumtimes, considering the artillerie, thou haste greater disaduauntage: for that if the enemie meete with thee, and haue a littell aduauntage of the country, as may easely chaunce, and finde him selfe higher thē thou, or that in his coming thou hast not yet made thie bankes or rampiers, and keuered thee well with those, strayghte waye, and before thou haste enie remedie, [Page] he vnlodgeth thee, and thou arte constrained to issue oute of thy fortresse, & come to faighte: the which happened to the Spaniardes in the battaile of Rauēna, who being fortefied betwene the ryuer of Ronco, and a banke, because they lay not so highe as sufficed, and for that the Frenchmen had a littell the aduauntage of the grounde, they wer constrained of the artillerie to issue oute of their fortresse, and cum to faight. But admit that y e place, which thou hast taken with the campe, wer muche higher, then the other againste it (as for the moste parte it ought to be) & that the bankes or rampiers wer good and sure, so that by meanse of the situation, and thy other preparations, the enemy durste not assaulte thee, it shall cum in this case to those maners, which in olde time it cam, when one was with his army in place not possible to be hurte: the which ar to ouerun the countrie, to take, or besege the tounes that ar thy friendes, to stoppe thee thy vitualls, so that thou shalte bee constrayned of sum necessetie to vnlodge, and cum to fayghte the fielde, where the artillerie (as herafter shalbe sayde) doeth not muche hurte. Considering then what kynde of warres the Romaines made, & seing how they made almoste all their warre to inuade other men, and not for to defended them selues, it shalbe seen (when the thinges sayde afore be trew) how they shuld haue had more aduaūtage, and muche souner shuld haue made their conquestes, if ordinaūce had ben in those dayes. Concerning the seconde thing, that men cannot shew their strenght, as they mighte in olde time, because of the artillerie, I saye, that it is trew, that where men scattered doe shewe it, they stonde in more perrill, then in those dayes, when they had to scale a toune, or to make lyke assaltes, where men not thronged together, but seuerally the one frō the other did apeare. It is also trewe that the Capitaines, and heddes of [Page 37] armies, stande more subiecte to the perrill of deathe, thē in those times, because they may be reached with artillerie in all places, nor it helpeth not them to bee in the rerewardes, garded with moste strong men. Notwithstāding it is seen, that the one and the other of these twoo perrills, doo seldom times extraordinarie hurtes, for that the tounes well appoincted and furneshed with munition ar not scaled, nor they gow not with weake assaltes to assalte them: but mynding to winne them, the matter is broughte to a sege, as in old time they did. And in those, which neuerthelesse ar won by assalte, the perrills ar not muche greater then they wer in those dayes: for that also in those times, they which defended a toune, lacked not thinges to throw and shute, the which (though they wer not so furius) they did concerning the killing of men the lyke effecte. Concerning the death of Capitaines and conducters, there hathe ben in .xxiiij. yeres that the warre was of late dayes in Italy, lesse examples, then there was in x. yeres with the antiquetie: for that excepte Count Lodouike of Mirandola, who died at Ferare, when the Venetians, a few yeres agon, assalted the same state, and the Duke of Nemors, which died a Cirignuola, there hathe not hapned of the artillerie enie to be slaine: for as muche as Mounsier de Fois at Rauenna, died of yrō, and not of fier. So that if men shewe not particularly their strenghthes, it groweth not of the artillerie, but of the naughthie orders, and of the weaknes of the armies, the which altogether lacking strenghth, cannot show it in parte. Concerning the thirde thing sayde of them, that men cannot cum to hande strokes, & that the warre shalbe broughte to stande alltogether vpon artillerie, I saye, that this opinion is alltogether false: and so allwayes shalbe taken of those, who according to the aunciente vertue will occupie their armies: for that he that will [Page] make a good armie, it behoueth him with exersises, eyther fained, or trew, to accustome his men to giue the charge on the enemy, and to cum to the swerdes poincte with him, and to the graspine by the bosom: & he ought to groūde him self more vpon the footemen, then vpon the horsemen. And when he shall grounde him selfe vpon the footemen, and vpon the forsayde maners, the artillerie becummeth alltogether vnproffittable. For that with more facelety, the footemen in aproching nere the enemie, may auoyde y e shot of the artillerie, then they wer abell in olde time to auoide the violence of Elifantes, of cartes full of hookes, and of other straunge incoūters, which the Romaine footemen incountered withall, against which, allwayes they founde the remedie, and so muche more easelie they should haue found againste this, the shorter that the time is, in the which y e artillerie maye hurte thee, then the same was, in the which the elifantes & the cartes wer abell to hurte: for as muche as they in the middest of the faighte disordered men, these only before the fayghte doe troble men: the which impedimente the footemen easely auoide, eyther with gowing keuered by the nature of the situation, or with falling doune vpon the grounde, when they shoote: the which also by experience hathe ben seen not to bee nedefull, in espetially to be defended from greate ordinaunce, the which cannot in suche wyse bee leuelled, because yf they gowe highe, they touche thee not, and if they gow lowe, they will not cum nere thee. Then the armies being come to handestrokes, this is more clear, then the lighte, that neyther the greate, nor the littell can after hurte thee: for that if the same, which hathe the artillerie, be before, it becumeth thy prisoner, if it behynde, it hurteth the friende before thee. Againe on the backe it cannot hurte thee after suche sorte, that thou arte not abell to gow to winne it, and [Page 38] it cumeth to followe the sayde effecte. Nor this nede not muche disputation: for that there hathe ben seen the example of the Suizers, who at nauara in the yere of our lorde 1513. withoute artillerie, and withoute horse, wente to incounter the Frenche armie furnesshed with artillerie within their fortresse, and they ouerthrew them withoute hauing enie impedimente thereby: and the reason is (besids the thinges tolde afore) that the artillerie mynding to haue it worke hathe nede to be garded eyther of a wall, or of dyches, or of bankes. And when it lacketh on of these gardes, it is taken, or becumeth vnprofitabell, as it hapneth when it is defended with men, for where they chaūse to be in a battayle, and in the faighte on the lande, they cannot bee occupied by flanke, but in the same maner, that the antiquetie occupied the instrumēts to shoote, which they placed oute of the squadrons, for that they shulde faight oute of the orders, & allwayes when eyther of horsemen, or of other they wer charged vpon, their refuge was behinde the legions: he that otherwyse maketh accompte of them, hathe no skill, & trusteth vpō a thing, which easely may deceyue him. And though the Turke by meanse of artillerie, againste the Sophi & the Soldan, hathe had victory, it hath not happened through other meāse, thē through the feare that the horsemen wer put in by the straūge rumor therof. Therfore to make an ende of this discoorse, I conclude, that the artillerie is proffittable in an armie, when the aunciente vertue is mingled therewith, but withoute the same, against a puisante armie, it is moste vnproffittabell.
Of Muynes and placing of poulder vnder grounde, vvherevvith inuinsible fortresses, by fire maye be ruignated, vvhen ordinaunce cannot bee broughte vnto them. Cap. xxviij.
THe better and greater quantety of poulder whiche is put in a Caue that is made to ouerthrowe a forte or Castell, the greater vndoubtedly shalbe the effecte therof: whiche caue is best to be made a good waye within the ground, and in a harde place, to the intent that when the same is shutte and well walled vp, the fyre be not able easely to haue enie other waye oute, then in ouerthrowing the thinge that is to be ruyned. for as muche as if the ayre, and the fyre in the rume of that inclosed place, maye haue meanse to breathe oute, the forse therof wilbe of no effecte. Also it wold be taken hede of, that the caue be not by no other means marde, so that the fyre maye breake oute: for which cause, it ought to be made, with the beginning therof sumwhat distāte frō the place, that you mynde to ouerthrowe: to the intente that in makinge therof, the men of the same place doo not issue oute to lette you, nor perceiue the certayne place of the hurte, to be able to prouyde for it, and to make countermuynes to let the fyre brethe oute and pas withoute enie effecte, whereby all yowr coste and labor, maye becum vayne. Moreouer they make these muynes, the moste naroweste and moste crookedest that maye be, and in espetially nere the very place that is appoincted to be ouerthrowen, and therefore vnder suche a place there muste be digged a hole that maye bee at [Page 39] leaste three yardes highe or more, and twoo yardes brodde, and that the entrie vnto it be vndergrounde in the maner, as by this presente figure yow maye se described.
THE FOVNDATION OF THE MVINE DISCOVERED
THE PLACE OF GREATEST EFFECTE.
And in this to put barrelles with theire heddes knocked oute full of good stronge poulder, betwene whiche you muste also strawe poulder inough vpon the bordes wheron they stonde, laiynge to it a good great matche made of cotton, boyled in vinegre, brimstone, and saltpeter, which must be well roled in good serpētine poulder wel dried in the sonne: and hauing layde it to the place, you must make a trayne of poulder vpon it, euen to the gowinge oute, so that it maye be keuered therewith: placinge it in pypes of yearthe or tronkes of woode in the place of the entrie therof: and that don, yow muste wall it vp moste strongly, laiynge ouerthwarte great blockes of okes or other woode: so that with those and with the wall, it maye be strong to resiste the furye of the fyre, as muche as is possible: & the entrie in suche maner made vp and fortefied, when you shall thinke it tyme to bringe the [Page] effecte to pas, to destroy the aduersaries, or to make a ruyn, you maye cause the trayne to bee sette on fyre, where yow shall see a maruelus and horrible effecte follow. More about this matter I nede not to declare sauinge that if it shuld chaunce the muyne to be made in a stonie place, where the stones wyll fall doune, that then the beste is to vnderproppe them with pipes of wood filled full of poulder.
The maner hou to make trōbes or trunkes of fyre, as vvell to assaulte as to defende a breache, or gate, and to sette a fyre a tovvne or Campe or enie thinge else. Cap. xixx.
FIrste cause a cane of good woode to be made at the torners as bigge as a mās thighe & the length of an ell, after suche sorte that the hole therof be as wyde that a man maye thruste in his naked arme, & cause that the bottom of the sayd truncke be made in suche wyse with a littell hole, that the staffe of a partesan maye enter into it and so to be made faste therunto, byndinge the sayde trunke with yrō wyre at both endes, & in the middest for more suerty that it breake not, through the fury of the fyre. Thē fill it with this mixture here following. Take serpētin poulder .iiij. pounde, rosen .j. pounde, cāphere hause a pounde, beaten glas .iiij. ounses, and mingell euerie thinge together, then begin to fill and putte in the trumbe a handfull of serpentine poulder vnmixte, nexte a handefull of the forsayde mixture, after a littell poulder, then a stoppell of cotten wet in oile of gineper, and put in vpon the sayde cotten as you haue don at the firste, that is to saye poulder, and then mixture [Page 40] etc. And thus you muste doo till yow haue filled it full, stampinge in the stuffe allwayes lightely, and if for lacke of gineper oile you wette the cotten in aqua vitae, it is very good puttinge after euery quantety of poulder a littel quickesiluer, then when it is full, put in the mouthe sum good poulder, makinge it a singell keuer of parchemente bounde aboute with packthred, and with a littell hole in the middeste of the parchemente, wherin you must put a matche made with gunpoulder, the whiche easely and quickely with your common matche maye kendell the fyre, beinge cum to the face of the enemie: whiche is an excellente thinge for the faighte on the sea, or for to dissorder a a bande of horsemen.
Hovve to make bottells or pottes of fyre vvorke to throvve into shippes or emonge men that are in battaylraye. Cap. xxx.
SVche yearthē bottells or pottes as is cōmonly vsed to kepe vineger or oyle and suche lyke, is beste for this purpos, whiche muste be filled with this cōposition: serpentine poulder ij. partes, rosen one part, pytche one part, beating most fynele, al these thinges together in a morter, then take turpentine, and a littell gineper oyle, or linsede oyle, and mingell them therewith in a caudron vpon the fyre with a a sticke of a yarde long, and fill the bottells haulfe ful of this forsayde receipte, that doon, take serpentine poulder one parte, rosen one parte, brimstone haulfe a parte, pytche haulfe a parte, and of this laste mixtur the bottells or pottes muste be filled vp: then in the mouthes of them ther must be put sum good poulder, to the intente that with the matche it maye quickely kendell the fyre: which bottells or pottes serue well to throwe into a toune or oute of a toune amonge enemies, for that the fyre of them breakinge oute, flyeth all abroade and burneth moste horribly where it lighteth, but good hede must be taken that it be firste well kendeled before it bee throwen, in espetially if it be caste from aboue.
An other composition of fyre vvorke. Cap. xxix.
CAuse as many yerthen bottells or pottes to be made as you liste to haue, whiche muste be as it wer but haulfe baked, then fill them with this mixture followinge, serpentine poulder three partes, saltepeter one parte, turpentine haulfe a parte, pytche haufe a parte, brimstone one parte, baye salte haulfe a part, [Page 34] and when you will throwe them set them on fyre and se that they bee well kendled.
Balles of mettel to throvve amonge men in battelraye or othervvyse, vvhich breakinge shall doo vvonderfull hurte. Cap. xxxii.
TO dissorder and to make the enemies to giue place, there maye also be prouided, certaine hollow balls of mettel as bigge as smalle boules, and a quarter of an ynche thicke, caste in mouldes and made of three partes of brasse and one of tinne: but the brasse ought to bee molte before the tynne be put to it, whiche balles filled half full of fyne coren poulder, and the other halfe ful, of serpentyne poulder, myngled with rosen beaten into poulder, so that for three partes of serpentine poulder there bee one parte of rosen: and then putinge in the mouthes of the holes of them a littel fyne corē poulder to make the rest to fyre the suner, and after beinge fyred and throwen, they will breake and flie into a thowsand peces, and bothe hurte and kyll whome so euer is nere or aboute them. Wherefore they are verie good to throwe ouer the walls into a toune or fortresse, or into a campe, to hurte and to gyue a terror to those that ar within: but these balles after they ar fyred and wel kyndled, and hauing blowen a littell, must be quickle throwen, leaste they hurte suche as wolde hurle them: and therefore the experience of one, ought firste to bee made in a close place, to se how longe it will tarie befor it breake, and the holes that it wil make in diuers places, whereby the other maye the better be knowen how to be vsed.
The maner hovve to prepare pottes and bales of fyrevvorke to throvve vvith hande. Cap. xxxiii.
IN the world there hath ben allwayes men of suche prengnāte wittes, that haue eccelled in sundrie and infinite inuentions, as wel for the sauegarde of humaine bodies as also for the destruction of the like. By whose helpe ther haue ben Capitaines, which imitatinge theire councelles, haue caused their footemen to carie in theire handes, certaine yearthen pottes and balles, filled full of a certaine composition of poulder, or sum vnctius liquor, apte to take fyre quicly: with the whiche incounteringe the enemies in battaile at hande, haue vigorusly whorled those among them, for to proue, whether with suche meanse they mighte bee able not only to dissorder them, but also to make them giue place, and to ouerthrowe them: for as muche as suche fyreworkes will maruelusly hurte the enemies not only with the smoke of them, but also a greate deall and muche more with the horrible & vnquēchable burninge of them, so that thereby suche men haue allwayes had moste happie succes, with moste glorious laude and prayse. These fyreworkes ar made in this wyse: Take as manie yearthen pottes or bottelles as you liste, caused to be made for this purpose, eyther baked or vnbaked whiche maketh no matter, so that the moistenes of the yearthe be dried vp: and these must be filled halfe full of serpentyne poulder, and sumwhat more: and the same poulder must be mingled with pytche and brimstone beaten to poulder to the quātety of the thirde parte therof: [Page 42] then there muste be put vpon it a finger thiknes of hogges grease, to the intente that it maye make the fire to dure the lengher and it beinge in this maner ordered, there must be made a hole into it and a peese of gunpouldred matche put therin, with a littell good poulder, and fyringe it, and holdinge it so longe till it be well kēdled, you shall then throwe it. Also there is made a liquide composition in a cauldron, wherein is put hogges grease, oyle of stones, brimstone, saltpeter twise refined, aqua vite, pytche, turpentyne and sum serpentyne poulder: and the pitche, the brimstone and the saltepeter beinge liquide, puttinge thereto the grease, the turpentyne, the oile, and the poulder ouer the fier, all muste be sturred and mingled together verie well in an yearthen potte, or sum other thinge prepared for the same purpose with a sticke, to the intente that it maye the better incorporate: and thē it muste be keuered about with good poulder, that it maye fier the easelier when you will haue it. And that don, you maye ocupie it when you will, & whorle it either with a slinghe, or with a corde tyed vnto it, or otherwyse with the hande as you shall thinke best: also of this composition their maye bee filled certaine littell purses of linen clothe, whiche being bounde aboute with a corde wilbe fationed lyke a ball: and these maye bee whorled or shot oute of trunkes of fyre, or otherwyse as shall please him that maketh them. Also with this composition maye bee annoynted what so euer a man wolde haue quickely burnte, as Gates of tounes, bridges of wood, cartes, monitions, and suche lyke, for that it is a matter that will sone kendell and set a fyre enie thinge, and also able to mayntayne it: moreouer littell balles therof maye be tyed to the heddes of dartes to throwe amonge the enemies, or where one wolde haue enie thinge fyred.
Hovve to make balles of vvilde fyre, to [...]hoote in ordinaunce or to throvve vvith handes. Cap. xxxiiii.
TAke serpentin poulder fyue partes, saltepeter refined iij. partes, brimstone two partes, Rasapina one parte, Camphere haulfe a part, turpentine haulfe a parte, haulfe a parte of glas grosely beaten, baye salte haulfe a parte haulfe a parte of oyle of stones, & oil of linte sed, as much of the one as of the other, Aqua vite haulf a part, & all these thinges beinge mingled together very well, take thē a pese of canuas as bigge as you will make the balle, and make it lyke vnto a purse, and fill it with the sayde mixture, and then make twoo or thre holes therin with a rounde yron sumwhat bigger then a [Page 36] bodkin, and put in euery hole a littell sticke.
And it is to bee vnderstōde that this forsayde mixture maye bee also made vpon the fyre in a cauldron and the balles that ar made therof muste be rouled in serpentine poulder, and then in the mixture, often tymes keueringe them with toe, well plaistered on, of a good thicknes, then when they shalbe a littell dried, take the sayde stickes oute of the holes, and fill them haulfe full of serpentine poulder, and the other haulfe with coren poulder, and gyuinge fyre to the sayde balles, and throwinge them emonge the enemies, they will doo maruelus and wonderfull hurte. For that the sayde balles will burne within the water, so that fallinge vpon the armur of sowdiers, water cannot quenche them nor eny thinge else, excepte aboundāce of myre or durte. And addinge to the sayde mixture that is vnsod haulf a parte of beaten glas and haulfe a parte of baye salte, you may fill a trumbe therewith after the maner as I haue taughte a littel afore.
To trim Targettes vvith fyrevvorke to assaulte, or to defende a breache. Cap. xxxv.
GEt pypes of bras as manie as you liste, and naile them vpon a target, eyther six .viij. or ten, and fill the sayde pypes full of the forsayde mixture vnsod, and order the pypes after suche sorte that they fyre not alltogether, but one after an other, so that whē one is almost burned oute, the same maye gyue fyre to an other by a littell pype as small as ons finger, that muste gowe from the bottom therof to the mouthe of an other, and so successiuely to all, whiche shall continue a long tyme, but the sayde target must [Page] be keuered with blacke buckeram that the fyreworke be not perceyued and the gyuing of fyre the one to the other.
To make an other kynde of fyrevvorke. Cap. xxxvi.
TAke willowe roles, saltpeter, aqua vite, brimstone, pitche, resapina, Camphere, oile of stones, vernice liquide, turpentine, as muche of y e one as of the other, mingling euery thing together, & then take a littell purse of cannas, and fill it full of serpētine poulder, and keuer the purse all ouer with the forsayde mixture of a good thicknes, & with as muche toe as you shall thinke good, and thē make a hole that maye gowe to the middeste of the halle, whiche muste bee filled full of poulder, so that thereby all the composition therof with a matche maye be set on fyre when you liste.
Hovve to make a mixture in stone that shall kendell fyre vvith vvater or spittell. Cap. xxxvii.
THis stone is very necessary for a Captaine to gyue fyre to his gunners, when through foul wether, all their matches shulde happen to gowe oute, and where they cannot kindell them againe bycause of the raine. Firste take vnslaked lyme one parte, Tutia alessandrina vnprepared one parte, saltpeter very wel refined one parte, quicke brimstone twoo partes, Camphere twoo partes, calamite stone one parte: Al these thinges muste bee well beaten and sifted, and bounde harde together with a pese of newe linen clothe, and put into a copell of year thē cuppes, suche as goldesmithes vse to melte in, the [Page 44] mouthes of whiche muste be ioyned together & faste bounde with yron wyre, and daubed ouer with lutum sapientia, that it breathe not oute, and then dried a littel, till it becum yelowe, that don, put it into a fornes where they burne bricke or yearthen vesells, and let it tarie therin as longe as the bricke or yearthē vesselles be a bakinge, and then takinge it oute, you shall se it made like vnto a brickstone.
To make an other kinde of stone to kendell fyre vvith vvater or spittell. Cap. xxxviii.
TAke Camphere three partes, saltepeter well refined twoo partes, vnflaked lyme twoo partes, brimstone twoo partes, all these thinges (beinge well beaten together, and put into a copell of goldesmithes meltinge cuppes well stopped with lutum sapientia) muste then be baked in a fornes, and when the yearthen vesselles be taken oute, this shall also be made.
Hovve to make lutum sapientia. Cap. xxxix.
TAke of the beste white potters earth that you cā get, for in one place there is better than in an other, that is to saye, of that which can best endure the fyre, as suche as they make pottes of in Padua, and likewise in Germany: for it is of such perfectiō, that the pottes whiche be made of it, and wherin they dresse [Page] their meate, may also serue to found metalles in. Take then of the beste, and specially if it must serue for a thing that hath neede to be longe vppon a great fyre, otherwise, take suche as you can get. There is founde of it, that is of a graye colour, as the common sorte is, and also there is white, that men vse in some place of Vicence, whiche is like loaues of Gispum, or plaister, and is called of the Italians Florette de Chio. We here in Englande vppō the vse thereof, maye geue it what name we will. Potters vse of it in Venise, for to whit the dishes, and other thinges, before they vernish or pollish them. There is also founde of it that is redde, as in Apulia, where there is greate quātety, and that they call Boale, and is the very same that some Apoticaries doo sell for Boale Armenick, and the Venetiās vse of it, for to paint redde the forefrōtes of their houses with lime, bricke, and Vermillion, couering it afterwarde with Oyle of line. This redde earth is the fattest, and the clammiest of all the rest, & therefore it cleaueth soonest by the fire, if it be not tempered with some other substaunce. And because that all the sayed earthes bee to fatte, the one mor than the other, therefore men put to them some leane substaunce. Nowe, if you take of that of ashe colour, which is most commē, and the lest fatty, you may compose & make it in this maner. Take of the sayed earth foure partes, of clothmakers floxe or shearing, one part, ashes that haue serued in a buck, or other, half a part, drie horse donge, or the dong of an Asse, one part. If you will make it parfiter, put to it a fewe stamped brickes, and sparkes of yron: let al these thinges be wel stamped, and sifted, that is to saye: the earth the ashes, the horse donge, the brickes, and the sparkes of yron: than mingle al together, and make it into earth, and make a bedde therof, vpon the whiche you shall caste by little and little, the floxe, as equally as you can. This doē, powre to it water, [Page 45] styrring it well fyrste with a sticke, and than with a pallet broade at the ende. And whā all is well incorporated together as you woulde haue it, laye it vppon some great borde, and beate it wel, and that a good space with some great staffe or other instrument of yron, mingling and stearing it well, for the lenger you beate it, the better it is. By this meane you shall haue a verye good claye for to lute or clay, and ioyne violles, flagons of glasse to still with, and bottells of gourdes for stilling, and other great thinges, as furnesses and suche like. But he that wil make it with mor ease, let him put the earth only, the flox, and the horse dong, with a fewe ashes. Some put no horse donge to it, & some no floxe, according to the purpose that thei make it for. For to stop and close vp the mouthes of skilling glasses, or violles, to thintēt they take no vent on the fyre, the sayd clay wil be very good: neuerthelesse men put to it two partes of quicke lime, & the whites of Egges, & then it will be surer to let nothinge vent out but the glasse it self. Al kind of clay or earth would be kept moist, & redy dressed for him that will occupy it continually, but it must not be kepte to watery, nor yet lefte to drie, for than it woulde serue for nothinge, seinge that after it is once hardened, a mā can not dresse it any more to do any good withal. And whan you put water to it, it is mollified by little and little aboue, and is as it were a sauce, but within remayneth harde, and if you put to much water to it, you marre it vtterlye. Therfore, whan you see that it beginneth to waxe drie, feed it a newe little and little with water, styrring it tyll it be well, and so shall you make it perfecte.
Hovve to make certayn fyrevvorke to tye at the poinctes of pykes or horsemenstaues. Cap. xl.
FOr to assaulte or to defende a breache, and also to worke sum pollecy in the nighte againste the enemies, it is somtymes good to tye at the poinctes of pykes or launces, certaine canes like vnto squibbes made of paper vpon a foorme of wood as long as the breddeth of a sheete of paper, filled full of serpentyne poulder, amongeste the whiche muste be mingled littell peces or crūmes of pitche, of brimston, graines of baye salt, fylinges of yron, and beaten glas, arsinic, cristall beaten to peses, and suche lyke, and after they ar closed vp, and tied faste at one of the endes, this composition muste bee well beaten into them, with ther owne formes or mouldes: vnto euery one of which there must be put a good matche sod in saltepeter & gunpoulder, and then well dried, and fasteninge them to staues, after suche sorte that the ysue of the fyre be turned towardes the aduersaries, when you thinke good, you or sum other maye fyre them: wher you shall then see the fyer blowe oute twoo yardes long, whiche in the night will seme terrible: but in a calme wether, or at leaste when the wynde is in the faces of the enemies they ar best to be vsed. And moreouer for the faighte on the sea, they ar moste excellente.
Hovve to make diuerse compositions of fyrevvorkes. Cap. xli.
EVery thing that will quicklie burne, and that by sum proper vertue is apte to multeplie fyre, and maintaine it, maye be put in fyrie compositions: for that in effecte of suche thinges they are made: of which things ther are sum that are mynerall, as brimstone, and the oyle therof, and saltepeter, and sum other substances, hot, drie, and thin, and sum vnctius, as greace, and all sortes of oyles: sum verie drie, as pytch or wood: & of these there bee sum naturall, and sum artefitiall: But nowe leauinge to seke suche difference of theire compositions, amonge as manie thinges as well olde as newe that I knowe, I haue found only these: oute of which I haue chosen sum of the notablest, spetiallie these, that for to make them, there muste be taken Rosen, Alchitrean, quicke brimstone, tartar, sarcocolla, saltepeter, and oyle of stones, and of euery one sum parte, but doble so much of vnslaked lime: and all muste be compounded with the oyle of egges: and put into a vessell of glas or of yearth that is leaded, and keuered very well: putting it after vnder hot dunge for a moneth: then takinge it from thense and setting it ouer a softe fyre, the vecell beinge well stopped, it muste be melted: whiche don, the lycor therof maye be put into hollow staues, or in yearthen bottelles, or other vecelles made of purpose: vnto euery one of whiche, muste bee put a peese of a gunpouldered matche, in the middest with sum gunpoulder also, to the intent that they maye the easelier fier.
Also there may be made an other sorte of fyreworke after this maner: takinge brimstone, or oile of brimstone [Page] if it may be had, oyle of stones, or of the same stonie oile of iuniper, saltepeter very well refined: and for euery portiō of suche thinges fyue of aspallto: and moreouer goose grease, pure pitch, vernis, poulder of pigeons dunge, and so muche aqua vite, that maye throughly moyst all the forsayde thinges: which then muste be put into a vessell of glasse, and the mowthe therof well stopped with wex, and then put vnder a hot dunghyl xxv. or xxx. dayes: and after to make it the better incorporate, it wolde be set ouer a soft fyer: and that don, this composition maye be put into hollowe staues, or yearthen pottes or lyke vesselles to be throwen with the hande: also there maye be taken a bullet of stone with a ringe fastened therin, whereunto wolde be tied a corde of a yarde longe: and aboute y e same stone putting Toe imbrewed with the forsayd composition, or else peces of lynen clothe all to rayed therewith, whiche fyringe, when it is well kendled, maye then be throwē. Also balles of this composition maye be shotte in peces of ordinaunce, or a stone that hathe a ringe of yron fastened in it, to the which ring maye be tied a pece of a rope steped and sod in the forsayde composition, or else a littell bagge full therof, whiche maye be shotte or throwen as one lyste. Moreouer balles of this, being made with lynen cloth as afore is shewed, may be caste with all sortes of slinges whiche waye one wyll.
Also there is made an other compositiō in this maner, with vernice liquide, oyle of quicke brimstone, & oyle of the yelkes of egges, turpentine oile, iuniper oyle, linsede oyle, and olium saxum or oyle of stones, and haulfe as muche of aqua vite as all the sayde compositions: and also as muche poulder of bayes fynelie beaten as will suffise to thicken all, with as muche more saltpeter: and all these thinges muste be put together in a vessell of glasse, or sum vessell of yearth leaded [Page 47] with a littell mouthe, whiche with wex muste be so stopped that it vente not: and this muste bee kepte after three monethes in hot dung, to putrefie, remouinge it euery moneth fower of fyue tymes, and shaking it together euery tyme: and this matter beinge brought in suche wyse, when you will ocupie it, it is requisit that you anoinct the same thing that you wil vse, or to put therof into that vessell, where you will haue the fyre to worke: for that the same fyre is suche, that putting thereto sum gunpoulder, or a gunpouldred matche, it will strayghte waye kendell: and it is so vnquenchiable, that it burneth till he, or the thing that it lighteth on, bee altogether consumed: & if this composition fyred chaunce to be throwen and lighte vpon armur, it will make it so glowing redde in such sorte, that he that hathe it on his backe, shalbe constrained to put it of, if he will not be burnt to deathe.
Also there is made an other sorte: and it is a moste thin liquor apte to fyer, with the which if in the canicular daies a pese of wood, or other thing apt to burne bee anoincted, the heate of the sun is then able to set it on fyer, and to burne it: and so sone as it is touched with fyer, it kendeleth incontinente, and is vnquenchable: except it be choked vp with sande, or wet with very stale vrin, or moste stronge vineger: also it will burne in the water: y e making, wherof is in this wise: there muste be taken Camphire, oyle of quicke brimstone, oyle of turpentine, oyle of dunge, oyle of iuneper, oyle of stones, oyle of lyntesede, alchitrean, colofonia, moste fynelie beaten, oyle of egges, pytch, goose grease, saltepeter, & as muche aqua vite as all the reste of the composition, and as muche arsinic, tartar, and armoniack salte, as the eyghte parte of alltogether. Whiche thinge muste bee put into a glasse or pot wel stopped, and thē set to putrefie in a hot dūhgill for the space of twoo monethes: & after all the forsayd things [Page] muste bee destilled with a gentle fyre: where within eyghte houres, there will cum of those thinges a most suttill lyquor, into the whiche puttinge then so much oxedunge dried in an ouen and moste fynelie beaten to poulder, as maye make it so thicke as sope or sumwhat thinner: & after mynding to ocupie it, the thing that is to be burnte, muste be annoincted therewith: & this also the Sonne wil set on fyre, and burne what so euer is nere it.
Also there is an other composition of fyre, that anie thinge that is anoincted therewith, will maruelusly burne and fyre with wetinge of rayne, or otherwyse: which to make, there must be taken newe whitelyme made of flinte, calamite made to poulder by fyer, vitrioll grose beaten the two & thirteth parte, saltepeter refined eyghte partes: and as muche camphere as all the forsayde thinges: oile of quicke brimstone: oyle of turpentine, salte armoniacke, by waighte as muche as the vitrioll, and as muche tartar and baye salte: salte of vrin, aqua vite made of strong wyne as muche as all the reste of the composition: the whiche thinges compounded together, muste be put lyke as the other wer, into a greate glasse well stopped that it breathe not oute: and then it must be set in a hot dounghill for twoo or three moneths, remouinge the glasse & chaunginge the dounge at leaste euerie ten dayes, to thintente that the same matter maye ripen well, and bee lyke vnto a liquor all of one thinge: the whiche after ought to be boyled so muche vpon a softe fyer, that all the oylie humidetie, and other moystenes that is in it, maye vapor away, & the rest to becum drie and stony: and when it is drie and stony, breaking the glasse and takinge it oute, it muste be grounde to poulder: the whiche when it is to be ocupied, must be strawed vpō the place that is dressed for the same purpose, so that it being rayned vpon, or enimaner of wayes wet, will kendell and fall on a fyre.
Hovve to make a girdell for Souldiers or Fisshers vvherby they may goe in the vvater and passe ouer a riuer vvithoute eyther bridge or bote. Cap. xlii.
THis Girdel ought to be made accordinge to the fation of the fygure nexte following, and of suche lether that muste be dressed in lyke sorte, as the same is wher with footebals ar made: wherunto a pype must be fastened lyke vnto a baggepype, so that the girdell, when it is girte aboute a Soudier vpon his armur, may be blowen full of wynde: by helpe wherof, he maye then safely passe ouer a riuer, goinge through the same, how depe so euer it bee, where he shall not sinke in the water, forther then from the girdell stede dounewarde: whiche for men of warre, is very commodius and a moste necessary thing.
Hovve to vvryte, and cause the same that is vvritten to bee red a far of vvithoute sendinge enie message. Cap. xliii.
WHen a Capitayn were so be seged of enemies in a toune or fortresse that no mā coulde cum vnto him, or be sente from him with letters, whereby his mynde, or the distresse and incōuenience that he is in, mighte of his frendes be vnderstonde. Yet his mynde beinge written, maye of them notwithstonding in the nighte be red, as farre of as a lighte can then be seen, and by daye, as farre as a burninge glas can caste the sun, or a hat or any other suche lyke marke maye perfectly be decerned, so that the order therin be firste knowen & agreed vpon betwene bothe parties. The maner in doynge it in the nighte, is thus: he that gyueth the aduyse, muste holde his letter in the one hande wherin his mynde is reddie written, and one lighte or .ij. lightes in the other hande, and the other that shulde reede & copy the same, ought to haue paper, and pen and ynke with this a b c, etc. herefollowinge, and vnderstande:
| a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | i | k | l | m | n | o | p | q | r | s | t | v | vv |
| this part of letters with .i. lighte, & this part with two lightes. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
And for the plainer vnderstanding herof, it is to be noted that the first parte of the letters ar shewed with one lighte, and the seconde part beginning at, M, are signified with ij. lightes, and euery letter of the a b c muste be vnderstonde and knowen by the number or often shewinge and hyding of the light or lightes: As for example, if this worde, Man, wer to be written, [Page] bycause M is the first letter stāding in the secōde part, M must be signefied by two lyghtes shewed onse, and then hydden, and stayed so longe as maye be thought that he that doeth copy after the light so seuerally shewed, and the number dilligently marked, maye haue conuenient tyme to wryte M: then one lighte beinge shewed onse, & so hydde and stayd, a must be written: for that a is the firste letrer in the first parte: & agayne twoo lightes being shewed twyse & stayd, n, ought to be written, bycause n is the second letter in the secōd parte: which doen, there shalbe writtē Man. And thus by marking well the number of shewing, hyding and stayng of the lighte or lightes, the letter that thereby is signified, maye moste easely be vnderstōde and perceyued. So that after this sorte, there maye be expressed and written what so euer a man lyste.
To the Reders.
WHen the Britons the aunciente inhabitauntes of this yle (for lacke of skilfull mē of warre of their owne; being afrayde of the Franki, & Burgūdi, which were certaine Barberous nations, who at y e time ouerrā, spoyled, & possessed Fraūce) caused the Germayne people called Angly to come to ayde & defende theim, by whose procurement the Angly vnder Vortiger their King, taking vpon theim the same enterprise, after they had ones defended theim, did then incontinence dryue theim oute of this ylande, remainnig here theim selues to inhabit: & after their name called it Englande: euen as also of later dayes, y e lyke chaūce hapned to the Grekes, by calling in the Turkes to helpe theim againste their enemies. Which examples, with innumerable lyke being well considered, doe moste manifestly shew, how daungerous and pernitius it is for a Prince & his Realme, to be driuē to truste to the seruis of straungers for lacke of sufficiente skilfull men of their owne for their defence. Wherefor sithens my intente in setting fourth this boke of Martiall affaires, hath been onely to the ende to declare my good will, to haue my naturall coūtriemen not to be inferior to any in warlyke knowledge, but rather to excell in the same, whereby withoute ayde or helpe of any forein nation, we may alwayes be most renoumed and famous, I shall beseche all gentill readers, for this my labor doen for their comodeties, to iudge & reporte therof accordingly. And although my doynges herin, be not correspōdente to my desire, nor to the satisfactiō of euery mās mynde (which were impossible) yet my truste is, y e som neuerthelesse by dilligente reding therof, & imitating the example of Lucullus, (who chefelie by studie of lyke bokes, in very shorte space, became one of y e valiantest & worthiest warrior of all the Romaynes,) may if they liste, take comodity and profit, whereby the knowledge in warres, may of suche as neuer haue ben trayned in theim, be the more easely gotten and attayned. For which cause, my indeuour and trauaile taken herein, for to profit this our cōmon weale, deserueth not vtterly to be despysed, seing that the most verteous lyfe, and gouernment of Alexander Seuerus Emperour of Rome, with manie other Princes, and Comō weales, coulde not, being necligent in this kynde of studie and practis therof, saue or defende theim selues, from moste shamefull endes, and miserable deathes: wherin fortune was not to [Page] be blamed, but only their folly and ignoraunce, for hauing neuer thoughte in tyme of tranquillity and pease, that it could chaunge in to aduersitie and trouble: the which is a comon faulte of men, not to make accompre in fayre weather, of the tempest to come.
- A Perfecte rule to bring men into a square battell, of what number so euer they bee. Fol. ij.
- To know how many mē may marche in a ranke, and at a suddein to bryng them into a fowersquare battell, so that their Ansigne, may come to be in the middest. Fol. iij.
- How to ordeine a number of men or an armie into a battell, lyke vnto a wedge, or three square, so that it may be apte to marche with the poincte therof towarde the enemies. Fol. vi.
- To make the battell called the sheeres, which in olde time they vsed to set against the Triangell. Fol. vij.
- What auantage it is to order men in a triangell battell against the enemie, that knoweth not how to make the battell called the Sheeres to set against it, inespecially where there is as many men of the one parte as of the other Fol. viij.
- To bryng a number of men or an armie, into a battell, whiche in olde time was called a Sawe. Fol. ix.
- To fashion a battell of a number of men or an armie lyke vnto twoo Triangels ioygned together, so that they may be apte to marche with a corner ther of towarde the enemies. Fol. x.
- What is best to be doen where the ordinance of the enemies beinge shotte into the Armie hath slayne many men. Fol. xi.
- Howe to chaūge with spede an Army, that is, in battellraye fowersquare, into a triangel fation, without dissordering the firste rankes, and without perrill of confusion. Fol. xiij.
- Of the perfecte forme or fation of strong places. Fol. xvi.
- The strongest and perfectes fation of all other for the building of y e cortin or wal of a toun or fortres. Fol. xviij
- An example of the quadrant forme to proue that it causeth [Page] debilletie and wealines. Fol. xxij.
- Of the nature of Saltpeter, and the maner howe to make and refine it. Fol. xxiij.
- The maner howe to make all sortes of Gunpoulder. Fol. xxvij.
- The maner that is vsed of charging and shooting of ordinaunce. Fol. xxxiij.
- How to get oute quickly the nailes that shuld happen by treason, or otherwyse to be driuen into the toucheholes of ordinaunce. Fol. xxxiiij.
- How much the artillery ought to bee estemed of the armies now adayes, and whether the same opiniō of them which is had vniuersally, be trew. Fol. xxxiiij.
- Of Muynes and placing of poulder vndergrounde, wherewith inuinsible fortresses, by fire maye bee ruignated, when ordinaunce cannot bee broughte vnto them. Fol. xxxviij.
- The maner how to make trombes or trūkes of fyre, as well to assaulte as to defende a breache, or gate, and to sette a fyre a toune or Campe, or enie thing els. Fol. xxxix
- How to make bottells or pottes of fyrworke to throw into shippes, or emonge men that are in battellray. Fol. xl.
- An other composition of fyre worke. Fol. xl.
- Balles of mettel to throwe among men in battelraye or otherwyse, which breaking shall doo wonderful hurte. Fol. xli.
- The maner howe to prepare pottes and balles of fyre worke to throwe with hande. Fol. xli.
- Howe to make balles of wilde fyre, to shoote in ordinaunce or to throwe with handes. Fol. xlij.
- To trim Targettes with fyreworke to assaulte, or to defende a breache. Fol. xliij.
- To make an other kyude of fyreworke. Fol. xliij.
- [Page]Howe to make a mixture in stone that shall kendell fyre with water or spittell. Fol. xliij.
- To make an other kynd of stone, to kendell fyre with water or spittell. Fol. xliiij.
- Howe to make lutum sapientia. Fol. xliiij.
- How to make certayn fireworke, to tye at the poincts of pykes or horsemenstaues. Fol. xlv.
- Howe to make diuerse compositions of fyreworkes.
- Howe to make a girdell for Souldiers or Fisshers wherby they may goe in the water and passe ouer a riuer withoute eyther bridge or bote. Fol. xlviij.
- Howe to write, and cause the same that is written to bee red a far of, withoute sendinge enie message. Fol. xlviij.
¶ Imprinted at London, By Ihon Kingston: for Nicolas Englande.
Anno salutis, M.D.LXII. Mense. Aprilis.