theyr discontynuaunce they were by hanybal prynce of auffryke desconfyted in the seconde bataille where as they loste all theyr seignourye tofore canes in puylle whiche was soo horrible that almost alle they of rome were deed And theyr chieuetains taken destroyed also the noble chyualrye in so grete quantite that after the desconfiture hanybal whiche dyde doo serche the felde had thre mues or busshe lis all full of rynges of gold fro theyr fyngres lyke as thistorye saith the whiche he dyde doo bere in to his contre in signe and Ioye of that vyctorye But aftre whenne the said excersice of werre was of the noble auncyents taken vp ayen they alwayes had victorye Therfore concludeth the said auctour to the louing praysing of the contynuall excersyce of armes that more profytable is to a kyng or prynce to see his men vsed wel taught in the said art and fait of armes how fewe or lytyl quaÌ„tite of peple that he hath than to take and reteyne vnder hym grete foison of strange souldeours that he knoweth not nothyng so ferme ne stable saith he ne that more is to be commended than is a contree where foyson of gode men of armes be wel lerned taught in all that longeth to the fayt of werre for nethre gold ne siluer nor precyous stones vaynquysshe nor ouercome not the enemyes nor make not thenhabytans to lyue in peas as doeth may doo the might of worthy chyualrye wel taught And of suche folke ought not to be Iuged aftre the folysshe sentence of the kyng Bynytus of gallya or fraunce whiche aftre he had enuaysshed the romayns with Ciiij soore thousand men armed and sawe hem come ayenst hym with so lytyl a quantyte despysed them and sayd that they were not men ynoughe for to satisfye thappetit of the dogges of his oost But not withstandyng was ther men ynoughe for to dystresse bothe hym and his grete oost as is happed soone after lyke as thystory recounteth And this for to conferme after the sayng of the said Auctour we shall first speke of the doctryne and lore that thauncyent nobles yaue vnto theyr chyldren in tyme of they re youthe And then shal we retourne to the matiere of the said chieftain or chieftains of the chyualrye The said vegece to purpos saith in the first chapytre of his first boke We by noon othre meanes nor manere can perceyue ne see the cyte of rome to haue subdued vnto her the countrees of the worlde but by vse of armes and by techynges of ostes of knyghthode For al ynoughe may be presumed that so small a quantyte of folke as the romains were at the first shuld do lytyl harme to the grete multitude of frenshmeÌ„ The wytte of the grekis as Titus liuius saith dyde resiste ayenst themalyce strength of them of affrique And by this we conclude as it is afore said that bettre is a small quantite of folke vsed and wel taught in fayt of armes by coÌ„tynuel excersice of al that therof may fall in the doubtouse happe of bataill than is a grete mlÌ„tytude of rude folke nought knowing for as he saith â— the manere of connyng to knowe that that in werres bataylles bâ—longeth groweth norissheth gyueth hardynes to fyght as it is so that noon doubteth to do that in whiche he feleth hymself lerned expert taught And al sciences craftes are knowen lerned by contynuaÌ„s of vsage Thus yf it be trouthe saith vegece that this be in small thingis â— bettre it behoueth to kepe the same in thynges that ben right grete O what is it of men vsed made to the werre and that be subtyl in thexcersice of armes with peyne can they be ouercome by noo maner of straunge aduenture that neuer was seen bifore As it appiered that tyme the romayns founde the crafte the manere for to sle the multitude of Elephantê that ben so grete and ferfull bestis wat bothe men and horses of they re syght were affrayed that the cartagiens and they of parthe had brought ayenst theym And the wyse romayns made engyns by the whiche they lanchid cast vnto theim sharp barres of brennyng yron and thus distroyed them And therfore saith thauctour that of al artes or craftê in a lande more to be comended is the arte of fighting in excersice of werre For by that is the fredom of the lande place or contrey surely kept and the dignite of the prouince is ther by encreaced and the auncyent worthy men as it is said soueraynly kept the same first the grekes and they of lacemodone right valyaunt and strong werryours And thenne this arte to lerne vndrestande aboue al other thing were the romains curyous fayne and the fame honour that ensued theym for the same appiereth and is wel knowen ¶ Here deuyseth sheweth the manere that the noble auntient worthy men kept to thyntroduction lernyng of they re childre in the doctrine of faitê of armes ¶ Capio· ixo· The auncient noble men thenne that by haultnes of corage desyred al wayes that thexcersise of armes shuld be contynued to th ende the comyn wele of they re lordshipes and cytees shulde be the bettre amended and deffended made not they re children to be norisshed in the kyngis prynces courtê for to lerne pryde lechery nor to were waÌ„ton clothing But dide so by cause in tyme to come of they re flowryng aage myght serue the prynce and the countrey in that offyce that apparteyneth to noble men had of a custume whan they re children were com to xiiij yere of aage they made hem to be taught in al suche thyng that longueth to knyghthed and in faites of werre And is to wite that there were in certayn places propre sooles where they were induced And taught to were harneys handlyng of staues deffensyng and the fayt the wayes of thesame And therfore wyl vegece say there as he speketh to this purpoos in his fourth chapitre of his first boke that the noble men ought to peyne hem self to drawe they re children in they re first youthe to the loue of fayttes of armes for the yong child is able to conceyne kepe in mynde that that men shewe to hym and naturelly chyldren are glad and wyllyng to tyse hem self to suche thingis as men see that they wrastle lepen playe one with other moeuing they re bodyes So ought theÌ„ne to be shewed vnto them the tournez of swiftnes to caste fyghte with bothe they re armes and the manere how they shall glauÌ„che or with drathe themself from the strokes that in trauers or sydlyng may come to lepen oner trenchis or dyches to lanche or cast sperys dartes and the waye to couere saue hem self with they re sheldes and to doo al other semblable thyngis And vnto them they shewed also how in castyng of sperys or dartes they shuld sett they re
HEre begynneth the table of the rubryshys of the boke of the fayt of armes and of Chyualrye whiche sayd boke is departyd in to foure partyes ¶ The fyrst partye deuyseth the manere that kynges and prynces oughten to holde in the fayttes of theyr werres and bataylles after thordre of bokes dictes and examples of the most preu noble conquerours of the world And how what maner fayttes ought best to be chosen the maners that they ought to kepe and holde in theyr offices of armes ¶ Item the second partye speketh after Frontyn of cawteles subtyltees of armes whiche he calleth stratagemes of thordre manere to fyghte deffende castellis cytees after vegece and other auctours And to make warre gyue bataylle in ryuers and in the See ¶ Item the thyrde parte speketh of the droytes ryghtes of armes after the lawes droyt wreton ¶ Item the iiij partye speketh of the dwytes of armes in the faytes of saufâ—onduytes of tryews of marke after of champ of bataylle that is of fyghtyng within lystes HEre begynneth the Chapytres of the fyrst book ¶ The fyrst chapitre is the prologue in whiche Crystyne excuseth her to haue dar enterpryse to speke of so hye matere as is conteyned in thys sayd book Capitulo prio· ¶ Item how warres and bataylles emprysed by iuste and trewe quarell and ladde by theyr ryght dwit is a thyng of iustyce and suffred of god Capitulo ij ¶ Item how it is not leefful but only to kynges and to souerayn prynces to empryse of theyr singuler auctoryte werres and bataylles Capitulo iij ¶ Item what ben the moeuynges wherof comuneâ—y â—oâ—â—den warres and bataylles Capi o â–ª iiij ¶ Item the consyderacyons regardes that the kyng or souerayn prynce ought to haue in entreprysyng warre And the maners that they ought to holde byfore that they delibere and conclude Capitulo v ¶ Item it is not expedyeÌ„t that the kynge or souerayn prynâ—ce ought to goo in hys propre persone to the bataylle for the perillis of the aduerse fortune Capitulo vj ¶ Item what Conestable ought to be chosen for to be mayâ—stre of the chyualrie of the kyng or souerayn prynce and of the condycyons that he ought to haue Capio· vij ¶ Item some auctours alledge to purpos of thexcercyâ—â— of armes whyche therof haue spoken and the maners whyche the valyaunt conquerours helden Capio· viij ¶ It the maners that thauÌ„cyent knyghtes helden to teche enseigne theyr childreen in the doctryne of armes Cao· ix ¶ Item yet he speketh of thesame and the thynges of armes in whiche he enseygneth techeth the chyldren of the comyn peple Capio· x ¶ Item of the propretees that men of armes ought to haue in whiche they ought to be enformed Capio· xj ¶ Item of the maners that belongen to a good Conestable or captayne to holde in his offyce Capio· xij ¶ Item of the manere that belongeth to a Capytayne to holde in the fayte to lodge his hoost after the bokes of armes Capo· xiij ¶ Item of thesame Capitulo xiiij ¶ Item here deuyseth yf it be nede that the capytayne ought to haue to take hede vpon his hoost Capio· xvo· ¶ Item the manere that the captayne ought to holde in dyslodgyng fro one place to another by the wayes where he ledeth hys hoost Capio· xvj ¶ Item he speketh for to make an hoost to passe ouer flodes and ryuers Capio· xvij ¶ Item deuyseth the maners that behouen to the capytayn of an hoost to holde in the tyme whan he supposeth to haue haftely bataylle Capio· xviijo· ¶ Item the maners that a captayn ought to holde yf it happen that he wyll departe fro the felde wythout tabyde and gyue bataylle Capio· xix ¶ Item it deuyseth how yf the captayne of thoost falleth in to treattye of peas or of trews wyth hys enemyes ought to kepe hym fro the peryllis <_o> Capo· â— xxo· ¶ Item the maners that the captayn of thoost ought to kepe the day that he hopeth to haue the batayll Cxxj ¶ Item deuyseth after vegece the manere to take thauauÌ„tage of the felde Capo· xxij ¶ It deuiseth â–ª in short the manere after the vsage of the time present to arrenge the hoost in the felde for to fight Cxxiij ¶ Item he sayth yet after vegece and thauÌ„cyents thordre for to arrenge bataylles Capio· xxiiij ¶ Item deuyseth after vegece seuen maners of arrengyng an hoost and to fyghte Capio· xxv ¶ Item of the same Capio· xxvj ¶ It the ordre manere that the captayne ought to holde whan gode fortune is for him in the bataill capo· xxvij ¶ Item the ordre manere that the captain ought to helde whan the fortune of the batayll is ayenst hym capo· xxviij ¶ Item a recapitulacyon shortly of some thyngis of the ordres aboue sayd capio· xxix â— Eplicit Here begynneth the book of fayttes of armes of Chyualrye And the first chapytre is the prologue in whÌ„iche xprystyne of pyse excuseth hir self to haue dar enterpryse to speke of so hye matere as is conteyned in this sayd book ¶ Capitulum primum By cause that hardynes is so moche necessarye to entrepryse hye thynges whiche without that shold neuer be enpryses That same is couenable to me at this present werke to put it forth without other thyng Seen the lytylhed of my persone whiche I knowe not digne ne worthy to treate of so hye matere ne durst not only thynke what blame hardynes causeth whan she is folyssh I theÌ„ne nothyng moeued by arrogauÌ„ce in folyssh presuÌ„pcion but admonested of veray affeccion good desyre of noble men in thoffyce of armes am exorted after myne other escriptures passed lyke as he that hath to forn beten doun many stroÌ„ge edyfices is more â—ardy to charge hym self defye or to bete doun a castell or forâ—â—â—esse whan he feleth hym self garnysshed of couenable stuffe therto necessarye Thenne to entrepryse to speke in this preseÌ„t book of the right honorable offyce of armes of Chyualrye as wel in thynges whiche thrto ben conuenyent as in droyces whyche therto be appertenaunt lyke as the lawes dyuerse auctours declaren it to the purpoos I haue asseÌ„bled the maters gadred in dyuerse bokes for to produce myne eÌ„â—encioÌ„ in this present volume But as it apperteyneth this matere to be more executed by fayt of dyligeÌ„ce witte than by subtyltees of wordes polisshed and also considered that they that ben excersyng experte in th arte of chyualrye be not comunely clerkys ne instructe in science of langage I entende not to treate but to the most playn and entendible langage that I shal mowe to that ende that the doctryne gyuen by many auctors whiche by the helpe of god I purpose to declare in this present boke may be to alle men clere entendible And by cause that this is thyng not accustomed
to pourueye to the we le of thoffyce then to the persone For it shold be a thyng moche to be reprened to chese one of hye blood beyng ygnorauÌ„t to sette hym in thoffyce in whiche subtylte wysedom and long vsage hath ofte more grete nede than the quantite of peple or ony other strengthe For Cathon saith that of alle other thynges the faultes may be amended sauf suche that be doon in bataylles of the whyche the payne ensieweth anone the faulte For euyl perisshe they that canne not wel deffende and to fugityues vnneth or with grete payne cometh agayn the herte to fighte Ther fore also with the other forsaid thynges it is necessarie that he be wyse of good naturel witte as he to whome hath be coÌ„mysed the knowelege of many thynges and that is as chyef of Iustyce lieutenaunt of the prynce for to doo right to euerichÌ„ of causes that may happen in caas of armes feattes of cheualrye of alle them that be vnder hym and also of strauÌ„gers whiche ofte happen in dyuerce maners And it is to wete that after the ryght of gentilnes and hye noblesse of courage apperteyneth to a good captayne whiche vseth thexcersyte of armes in alle caases that may to hym happene of all that gentylnes requyreth yf he wyl gete honour that is to wyte that also to his enemyes he be ryghtful verytable in feat in Iugement where it shall falle And with this that he honoure the good the valyauÌ„t in lyke wyse as he wold be of them honoured And this manere helde the valyauÌ„t kyng pirrus of Macedone wherof he gate grete loos whiche by cause he had founde so many valyauÌ„ces in the romayns how wel they were his grete enemyes â—e honoured them right gretely whan an ambassade cam to hym And also theym whom he slewe in bataylle he dyde doo buâ—â—â— theym honorably And of the noblesse of this kyng of his grete frauÌ„chyse it is yet wreton that he had in so grete 〈◊〉 the prysonners whiche he had taken in his bataylâ—es 〈…〉 wold not kepe ne reteyne them as prysoÌ„ners but rendâ—â—d 〈◊〉 deliuerd them all quyte The maners and condicoÌ„ns 〈◊〉 belongen to a good conestable ben these that he be not 〈◊〉 hastyf hoot fell ne angry But amesured and atâ—empoâ—aâ— rightful in iustice benygne in conuersacoÌ„n of hye maynâ—â—â—â— of lytyl wordes Sadde in couÌ„tenauÌ„ce no grete dysâ—ur of truffes verytable in worde and promesse hardy sure 〈◊〉 dyligent not coueytoê° fiers to his enemyes pyetous to them that be vainquissed and to them that be vnder hym he be not lightly angry ne be not moeued for lytyl occasion ne byleue ouer hastely for lityl apprence Ne yeue fayth to wordes whiche haue ne colour of trouthe â— ne that he be not curyous of mygnotes Iolyetes ne of iewellis â— but be he habylled arrayed rychely in harnoys mouÌ„tures contiene hym fiersly Ne be he not slouthful sluggyssh ne slepy ne curyous in metes festes in lyf delycate in serchyng alleway thestate couuyne of his aduersaires be he subtyl pourueyed wyly to deffende hym fro theym wysely to assaille them wel aduysed vpon their espies watches that he knowe to gouuerne his owen peple holde in ordre drede to doo right where he ought to doo it And that he be not ouer curyous to playe in noo games to honoure the good and them that be worthy nyghe to hym wel to rewarde theym that deserue it And that he be large lyberal in caas that it be requysyte that his comyn speche be of armes of fayttes of chyualrye and of the valyauÌ„ces of good men And that he kepe hym wel from avauntyng be he louyng hys prynce trewe to hym fauorable to wedowes to orphans to the poure ne make grete compt of a lityl trespace doon to his persone And smale debate to pardone lightly to hym that repenteth and aboue all other thyng to loue god the chyrche to sustene helpe right Thyse sayd condycoÌ„ns bylongen to a good conestable And by consequent to the marchallis to alle theym of semblable offyces ¶ Here alledge to purpoos of excercyte of armes somÌ„e auctours whiche herof haue spoken the maners whiche helden the valiauÌ„t auÌ„cyens conquerours in armes ¶ Capio· viijo· AFter that we haue deuysed what offycers ought to be chosen or at leste theym that haue condycoÌ„ns next and moste lyke to theym a forsaid whiche shal be coÌ„mysed capytayns conduytours of the chyualrye of the prynce or kynge it bihoueth vs to saye in what werkes thynges theyr excersyte shal extende And by cause that dyuerce auctâ—urs lerne me to speke whiche haue wreton I shal produce in to wytnes theyr sayengis And pryncypally vegece whyche in the tyme of valentyne themperour notably made a propre boke of the dysciplyne arte whiche the right conquerours helden whiche brought to ende by wysedom and vertue of armes thynges whiche now in this present tyme shold sâ—me as Impossible And this thynge wel affermeth by hys worde the sayd kyng pyrrus whan he had assayed proued the valyauÌ„ce of the romayns Of whome a lytyl quaÌ„tyte wythstood ayenst his oost whyche was so grete that they couerde thenne montaynes valeyes TheÌ„ne the said kyng pirrus saide yf I had suche knyghtes I shold conquere alle the world And by this it is to suppose that grete wytte trauayll propre industrye achieuen soo hye empryses as to conquere the worlde lyke as dyde the romayns and other coÌ„querours of whome the maners and ordres that they helden many wyse men registred them the whiche thynges for eâ—ample to be conformed to theym yf they seme good ben for to be herde propyce expedyent For the said vegece saith who that wylle haue peas lete hym lerne to fyghte who loueth victorye owght to knowe the feat of armes the knyght that desireth good aduenture lete hym fyghte by arte or crafte that is to wyte by wysedom and not at all aduenture â— none dare grieue ne angre him the supposeth shal surmouÌ„â—e 〈◊〉 ouercome yf he be assaylled Soo is it by the grete conquestes that the auncyens dyde somme tyme that the peple be not now so valyaunt as they were woned to be And of this whome it is a longe or causeth the fornamed vegece rendrith the reason that sayth â— that the longe peas rendryth the men whiche herto fore by longe and contynuel trauayllis were woned to excersice the feat of armes sette nothyng by that occupacyon But now ben put in delyte reste and to couetyse of money whiche the noble auncyens preysed nothyng but honour of armes ne sette nought ther by And thus is chyualrye sette in neclygence as it were forgoten not raught of And he sayd the romayns in lyke wyse whiche had goten many londes conquerde lefte on a tyme thexcercyte of armes whiche by
fonde as for nede al suche wayes of makyng of brydgis And yf it happed that they passed ouer on the myght by the moue lyght or ellis so secretly that the enemyes can not knowe nothyng therof they must assoone as they be past arme hem self and putte hem self ayen in gode ordynaunce that they be not ouertaken vnbewarre And kepe forth on theyr way with a fayre lytel paas by suche an ordre that yf eny enemyes com vpon hem they may be able and redy to bere more peyne and suffre more perell than they can gyue hem But yf they may eschew hem by mountaynes and leue they re enemyes vndrenethe it is a grete auauntayge and surete for them And yf it be soo that they fynde the wayes narowe by combraunce of busshes and hedges it is bettre as vegece sayth that they cutte hem and open hem a brode wyth they re handys for makyng of the way than that they shuld abyde or suffre grete peryll in the hyghe and brode wayes ¶ Here speketh of the maneres that the chyef captayne of an ost ought to hold kepe whan he thinketh to have shortly a bataylle ¶ Capitulo xviijo· After that whych a boue is sayd must be here spoken of certayn poyntis aduyses and wayes that to a captayne are gode to be kept that tyme he supposeth to receyue soone a bataylle after the boke of armes and other auctours that haue spoken of thys matere And it is to wyte that when men fele they re enemyes commyng wylling to ouer renne the lande they ought not yf they can to suffre hem to entre the countrey but shal go axenst them wyth a grete oost For muche bettre it is to hurt anothris lande than to suffre his owne to be dommaged Whan a captayne theÌ„ne is comÌ„ to that place as he thinketh to haue shortly Anthiocus of Europe that is to wyte by nyght whan they re oostys were traueylled and lacked rested And noo kepe they toke of them self the whyche rommayns beyng but a fewe in quantyte slew more than lx thousand of the forsayd two kyngys men as thistorye recounteth ¶ And vegece sayth that where a bataylle is doon in two or in thre owres after whyche al manere trust and hope is goon from that partye that is ouer come And by cause that the fortune of the vyctorye can not be knowen of afore The wyse captayne ought not to putte nor vaunce forth hym and hys men lyghtly to a bataylle in a plain feld but yf he see that it be to hys grete avauntage And that a day of bataylle sette is to be dradd and redoubted as a thing that is putt in a grete Iâ—opardye Wel it was assayed and prouyd of the rommayns that tyme they had sent they re grete oost in to hyspayne that tourned rebell ayenst hem Where as of the bataylle whych they founde there redy ayenst hem remayned not of hem alle one personne that myght reporte the tydyngys to rome but knew hyt a gode while after by strangers ¶ Therfore ought the Duc to hurte hys ennemyes lytel and ofte by fayre scarmysshes by watches and by busshementys ¶ And by suche waye to mynushe them day by day as muche as he can ¶ Item he saith also that whan it happeth that prisonners be taken duryng the werre in scarmyshyng or otherwyse men ought to entreate and fare so fowll with them that thei be putte therby in despaire of theyr lyffe Yf hyt be so that they that so haue taken hem Awayte after the bataylle by cause that they re ennemyes hauyng noo trust to fynde nother pyte nor mercy in them yf they were vaynquysshed of them shuld deffende them self and fight more corageously for they re lyffe For many a tyme it hath be seen that a lytyl quantyte of men thus desperate of mercy and pytie dyscomfyted and ouer cam a grete and a mughti oost by cause that they wold rather dey fightyng than to fall in the cruell handys of they re ennemyes ¶ And so it is a grete peryll to be fight suche men ¶ For they re streÌ„gthe groweth and doubbeth wyth in hem ¶ Therfore ought the Duc or captayne sayth he to vndrestande and knowe as a rygtewys Iuge doeth the trouthe of a matere or he gyue hys sentence Alswel the strengthe as thaduauntage that hys enemye hath ouer hym and how and wherrof he may hurt hym wherupon he shal take wyse counseyll to wyte what he hath to doo ¶ For by this manere of waye hath of tymes a small quantyte of folke that ledd werre by wyse captaynes ouer come a grete multytude as it is sayd bifore ¶ But yf it happe saith vegece that thyn enemye presse the muche for to gyue hym a day of bataylle and that he hasteth to be fyght the take hede whether it is at hys aduauntage and to thy hurt and dommage but doo nothyng nor medle not but yf thou see thy tyme ¶ Here sheweth the manere of behauyng that a chyef captayne ought to holde yf hyt happe that he wyl departe from the feld witout abydyng or gyuyng of eny bataylle ¶ Capitulo xix BVt we putte a cas that the prynce hap to sende worde to the captayne that he tourne agayn wytout gyuing of eny bataylle nor that he make no more adoo or that the chyef captayne wold take hym self vpon hym for certayn cause to leue the feld it is to consydere to see what manere be sure Thenne shall come out vpon hem they that be in busshementys sette for theym and by grete vertu and streÌ„gthe shal hurte and domage hem ¶ And how so euer it is He that departeth from hys ennemye ought by al manere of wayes to puruey that yf he be chassed and folowed that they that chasseth and pursiewith hym haue som myshap at his retourne ageyn eythre by settiÌ„g of a watche for them or ellys by som other manere ¶ And yf it nedeth them that shal make chasse after the to passe ouer som flode or ryuere leye thy watche so for theym that they that shall passe first may be ouer ronne by thy men and that another partye of thy peple be putte in a busshement at the bac syde of thim enemyes yf thou can for to sawte them that yet awayten for to passe ouer the ryuere And yf thou nede thy self for to passe thrughe woodis or by som narowe wayes see that thou sende a fore som personnes of the oost that be feithfull and true that can reporte vnto the the pathes and whether eny busshement be there layed or not For a lesse shame it were to receyue a dommayge in fightyng openly wyth hys enemye than to haue eny combraunce lettyng by som awaytyng sette wherof men had take noo kepe vnto it thorughe necligence ¶ Here sheweth how the hed captaine of an oost that falleth in a treatee of peas or taketh trewes with his enemyes ought to kepe hymself and his peple from suche peryls as he
be whyle that he lyueth the bettre bothe in honnour and proffyte ¶ Now late vs goo wythout fere and hardyly my dere chyldren frendes and brethern̄ ayenst thees folke commendynge oure self vnto god that he wyl graunte vs the vyctory ouer theym as we all desyre the same ¶ Suche maneres of wordes shal say the hed capytayne vnto his men and that this ought to be doo all the auctoures accorden in one that of thys caas haue spoken and sayen that thees maneres kepte Iulyus Cesar Pompee Scipyon and the other conquerours And wyth thys afferme and holden that the wyse capytayne oughte to be large and not couetouse ¶ For it is to be knowen that the bokes of knyghthode lerne noo couetyse to be had in noo manere of capytayne but onely to see for the pryce and worshyppe that longen to the fayttes of armes And certeynly thys shewed wel the good duc Fabrycyus the whyche for example of hys bountefulnes we soo often Remembre hym in thys boke Whan that the kynge Pyrrus hys enemye that sore muche desyred to drawe hym with hys partye by cause he was soo worthy sent hym a grete quantyte of plate bothe of golde and of syluere For by cause that he vndrestode that he was so poure that he was serued at his owne borde with vessellys of wode and platers made of tree and sent hym worde that to so hyghe a man as he was apparteyned wel ryche seruyce But he reffused them and ansuered that he loned bettre to ete hys mete in treen dysshes wyth worship than in dysshes of gold wyth reproche and shame ¶ Thenne thus it behoueth that the sayd hed capytayne be benygne and gracyouse emonge hys folke For otherwyse he were not worthy to be amytted to that offyce For they say that by the meanes of hys largesse and benygnyte he may the bettre drawe vnto hym the hertes of hys folke to expose and Ieoparde wyth hym bothe body and lyffe than by ony other other thynge ¶ Hys benygnyte ought to gyue hardynes namely to the leste that ben of symple astate that they dare shewe and sygnyfye vnto hym some thynge yf hyt semeth hem good that concerneth the faycte of armes As it may hap somtyme that som of lowe degre may be of good aduys and of good counseyll For why god Imparteth hys gyftes of grace where he wyl ¶ And it is writon that the valyunt conquerours that be past and goon departed largely they re conquestes and proyes to they re men of armes And for them self it suffysed to haue onely the honoure of the bataylles and therfore they dide wyth they re folke what they wolde And that drawynge wordes are good vegece sayth that the good tysynge and the admonestyng of the worthy duc euerraceth in an oost hardynes corage and vertue And therfore in onys face trobleth hys syght full sore And lykewyse doeth the wynde that fylleth them wyth fonde And also the shoot of an arowe borne wyth the help of the wynde a lighteth more sore and bereth a gretter strengthe And also mynussheth and taketh away the force of the shot of the countrary part ¶ And it is here to knowe that by two maneres of wyles ouer cam the Rommayns in bataylle theym of Sycambre that was by enuahysshyng of suche an arte that they re ennemyes had the sonne to fore theym And that other was by soubdayn commynge vpon them so that noo layfer they had to putte hem self in ordynaunce ¶ Here deuiseth shortly the manere after the vse of the time present to renge an ost in a felde for to befyght his enemyes ¶ Capytulo xxiij WHere vegece putteth many maneres of wayes for to renge an oost in bataylle as it shal be sayd herafter the whyche in some maneres may be dyfferentes to the regarde of the ordynaunces of the tyme present The cause perauenture is by cause that the folke comynly in tho dayes faughten more on horsbacke than a fote ¶ And also where noo thynge there nys in the ordres of humayn dedes But that it is by long proces of tyme chaunged and tourned me semyth good to touche shortly somwhat in moost entendyble termes of the comon ordynaunces of the tyme present as ynough it is knowen of them that faytes of armes excersycen ¶ That is to wyte to make hys auauntgarde of a longe trayne of men of armes al clos togyder and renged full smothely that the one passe not that other the best and the moost chosyn in the fyrst fronte and the maresshalles wyth theym by they re baneres and standartes and at the formest sydes are made wynges in whych ben all maneres of shoters renged and in good arraye asswel gonners as balesters and archers ¶ After the fyrst bataylle that men calle the Forwarde commeth the grete bataylle where as all the grete flote and rowte of men of armes is putte al arrenged in a fayre ordre by they re capytaynes that haue among hem they re banneres and sygnes al vp whych are by dyuerse rowes one after a nother full smothly renged and not steppyng out of place For the Connestable doeth a cry to be made that noon vpon peyne of deth shall dysrowme hym self ¶ And som saye that yf eny quantyte of comons be there men oughte to fortyfye wyth suche manere of men the wingys of bothe sydes by fayre rowes wel ordred at the bak syde of the shot the whyche comons shal be taken and com mytted vnto good capytaynes and in lyke wyse they shal be renged byfore the grete bataylle so that yf they wolde flee they myght be kepte in styl by the men of armes that be behynde hem In the myddes of thys grete bataylle is putte the prynce of the oost and the pryncypall bannere borne byfore hym to the whyche is the byholdynge of the bataylle wherfore it is taken to holde hyt vp to one of the best and pryncypall of the sayd oost and a boute hyt ben of the best and mooste approued men of armes aswell for the suretee of the prynce as of thesame ¶ After folowynge thys grete bataylle commeth the thyrde that men calle the ryeregarde the whyche is ordeyned for cōforte And helpe theym that be a fore that semblably are putte in arraye by a fayre ordre And behynde thys bataylle ben fayrely putte the yomen on horsbacke that helpen they re masters yf nede be and holden and maken an obstakell that on the baksyde of the bataylle they be not enuahysshed ¶ Of the whyche thynge yf there be ynoughe of men of armes and that they be in a doubte les that the ennemyes wyl com at that syde thoo that surely wyl fyght and that ben wyse in fayttes of armes maken another bataylle that tourneth the bak towardys the other bataylles a foresayd all redy appareylled for to receyue them that wold comme ¶ And with thees sayd thynges comonly are ordeyned a quantyte of men of armes experte of the crafte and wel mounted
the chasse vpon hys enemye vnwysely he putteth hys enemye in a hope to haue that vyctorye that he hymself had had fyrst Who that appareylleth not the bataylle in an oost he is ouercome without stroke To kepe ordre in a felde as ryght wold gyueth victorye bothe to the stronge and to the feble whan thou knowest that the sydes of thyn enemyes are hydyng hem self a bout thyn ost make thy folke to withdrawe within they re lodgis yf thou hast eny supecyon that thy counseyl be shewed vnto the enemyes chaunge thyne ordynauce Noo counseylles ben so good as they wherof the enemies haue noo knowlage of vnto the time that thei be brought awerke Aduenture gyueth often vyctory more than doeth force Impossyble it is to Iugge to the certeyn the ende of the bataylle of whiche fortune dysposeth â— Al that is contrary to thin entencyon thou ought treatte and shewe amonge many one But thy propos thou ought to say or shewe vnto few folke withdrawe towardys the the hertes of strauÌ„gers by yeftes and by promesses and chastyse thyn owne folke throughe thretnyngys By cause that good capytaynes redoubtyng the fortune of bataylle are bothe to fyght wyth an oost assembled togyder Grete wisedom it is to constrayne hys enemye more by honger than by yron ¶ Here fynyssheth the fyrst partye of thys present boke HEre begynneth the table of the Rubrycys of the seconde partye of thys boke wiche speketh of the cawtelÌ„es or wyles of armes after frontyn that calleth theym Stratagemes And of the ordre and manere of fyghtyng and deffensyng of townes and castelles after vegece and other Auctours And to gyue bataylle aswell vpon ryuers as vpon the see ¶ The fyrst chapytre speketh of Scypyon ¶ Te seconde of maryus and of Certoryus ¶ The thryde of theym of the cyte of Boyaux of Hanibal and of Denys the tyraunt ¶ The fourth speketh of theym of hyspayne of Alyxaundrye of Pyrre of Laptenes of Hanybal and of other ¶ The fyfeth of menoles kynge of the Roodes of Scipyon of Certoryus of hanybal of Acoryolo and of Fuluyus nobylyus ¶ The sixth of Acoryolo duc of dace of Fuluyus nobilius of pamondas duc of thebes of Fabyus maxymus of Scypion Affryckan the seconde and of Certorius ¶ The vij of the Lacedemoneus of Iulyus cesar of Papyrius cursor and of Pompee ¶ The viij of the grete Alyxaundre of Cesar augustus and of Crathes duke of athenes ¶ The ix chapitre conteyneth of Symacus kynge of Macedonye of Fabyus maximus of Denys the tyraunt of Alexaunder and of Yphytrates ¶ The x of Amulcar duk of Cartage of haymo Emperour of Affrycke of Hanybal and of Valeryus ¶ The xj speketh of Cesar of Domycyus of Cyuylius of Scypyon of Gayus ¶ The xij of Hanybal of a kynge of Grece and of another kynge of semblable cas of the romains that had nede of souldyours ¶ The xiij chapytre speketh of the wyle of the romayns of Quintius metellus and of Hanybal ¶ The xiiij bygynneth to speke of the manere of besyegiÌ„g of townes castelles and fyrst how they shuld be edyfyed ¶ The xv deuyseth of the garnysons that belongen to castelles and townes in tyme of werre ¶ The xvj how a forteresse ought to be garnysshed and purueyed of fresshe watre ¶ The xvij how it is nedefull that to the garnison of a fortresse be putte true men within thesame and sheweth hit by ensample ¶ The xviij chapytre speketh of leymg of a syege and of assawtes enformed after vegece ¶ The xix of an ordunaunce in leymg of a siege of that whiche longeth for to sawte a ryght stronge place affter the tyme present ¶ The xx deuyseth what powdres longen to gonnes and other engyns ¶ The xxi speketh of certeyn engyns that be called mauÌ„telles ¶ The xxij of the instrumentys that muste be had for to carye all suche thiÌ„ges as bylongen to the faytes of assawtes ¶ The xxiij of the habyllementys that nede therunto ¶ The xxiiij speketh folowyng of thabyllementys that be nedefull for the shot ¶ The xxv of certeyn other habyllementes ¶ The xxv gonnes and stones ¶ The xxvij of other habyllementys or Instrumentes for to vndremyne ¶ The xxvij of the tymber that ought to be had for to make that whiche foloweth ¶ The xxix of the werkmen labourers that be nedefull for makyng of the forsayd habyllementes ¶ The xxx deuyseth of the vytaylles and habyllementes how they shal be conducted and the passages kepte ¶ The xxxj chapytre speketh of certeyn establyshyngis ¶ The xxxij devyseth the manere to stoppe the port of the enemyes ¶ The xxxiij of suche engyns that ben couenable as vegece saith in fayttes of assawte ¶ The xxxiiij begynneth to speke of sawtyngis of townes and castelles after vegece ¶ The xxxv sheweth the remedyes ayenst the forsayd engyns of assawte ¶ The xxxvj of a remedye ayenst the vndermynyng of a Castel ¶ The xxxvij begynneth to speke of bataylles that be doon vpon the see ¶ And the xxxviij chapytre devyseth of the garnysons thau ben couenable and nedefull for folke that goo to an armee vpon the see ¶ Here foloweth the seconde partye of this preseÌ„t boke whiche speketh first of the cawtelles wyles of armes Wherof the fyrst chapytre speketh of Scipyon IN thys seconde partye that we haue deuysed after vegece pryncypally the manieres that somtyme helde the noble valyaunt conquerours of the worlde in fayttes of armes duryng the tyme of they re grete conquestes by cause that they cowde well helpe hemself with moo than of one manere of werreyng it semeth me good to th ende that oure matyere may be yet more encreased and multyplyed alwayes to the proffyte of theym that pursyewen cheualrye that we adde vnto thys matyere the wayes and the manyeres of the cawtelles subtylitees and wyles that the said auncyent conquerours vttred helde in they re dedys of werre â— whiche subtilites and wylis are called by the auctours that haue therof spoken Stratagemes of armes of the whyche Stratagemes made a boke a valyaunt man that men cleâ—ped Froncyus in whiche boke he deuyseth and sheweth the propre dedes of the forsayd ryght noble and worthy conquerours the whiche to here may be of gode exsample to theym that fynde them self in suche a cas after the dyuersyteâ— of the auentures of armes out of whyche boke we haue exâ—stracted to oure proffyte som tytles Thus theÌ„ne saith fyrst the sayd Auctour Froncyus that the worthy conquerour prynce and hed capytayne of the grete oost of the romayns Scypyon the Affrycan that all hyspayne Affrike â— and Cartayge dyde conquerre by the swerde ones emonge other as he was wyth a grete oost vpon the feldes ayenst the kynge Syphax that semblably was commyng ayenst hym wyth a grete oost of folke dyde sende toward the sayd kinge as by manere of ambaxade one of hys knyghtes named lelius with the whiche he comitted to goo
sawe lepte out of the castel and with his power strengthe ranne wysely vpon hys enemyes whiche he dyscomfyted and slewe the sayd hadrusball What shold I saye more of the stratagemes of Frontyn many full fayre ben conteyned in his boke whiche shald be longe to saye but thus muche shal now suffise except som fayre notables whiche I wil shew that be comprysed in hys boke to this propos ¶ Frontyn in hÌ„is fourth boke saith of Cesare domycius of Emilius of Scipion Affrycan of Gains scipio ¶ Capitulo xjo· CEsar sayde that men ought to vse ayenst hys enemye of the counseyl that the leches gyuen ayenst the syknesse That is to wtte of dyete of honger or euere yron be attempted Item domicyus carbulo said that men ought first to hurte his enemye by al maneres of wylis subtyltees of witte or euere that the body be exposed therto Item the emperoure emulus paulus said that it behoued to a gode capytaine of an oste for to be olde of condycions ¶ Item scipyon affrycan ansuered to one that wited hym that litel he dyde of his handes in a bataylle My moder said he childed me as an emperoure not as a fyghter that was for to saye that almanere a captayne or prynce of an ost ought to suffyse for to sette ordeyne well his folke without to putâ—e hys body in Ieopardy of strokis ¶ Item gayus maximus aunsuered to an Almanye that called hym to fight wyth hym body ayenst body ¶ Yf my liffe were noyouse vnto me I shuld haue fouÌ„de the meanes long synÌ„ for to haue be slayne Item scypion said that men ought not onely to make a waye to hys enemye for to flee but also â—o shewe hit to hym clÌ„erely And me semyth that to the propos of thes thynges may well serue that that the wyse câ—arles the fyfeth kinge of Fraunce sayde whan men said vnto 〈◊〉 that agrete shame it was that with money he recouered his fortresses that somÌ„ of his enemues held and kept from hym wrongfully seeyng that he was of might grete ynoughe for to haue recouered theym by strengthe ¶ It semith me sayd he that that whiche may be bought ought not to be bought with mannys blode ¶ In the boke of valeryus it is said of hanybal of a kiÌ„ge of grece of another in a semblable cas and of the romains that had nede of souldiours ¶ Capitulo xij Ualerius speketh to this propos in hys seuenth boke saith that hanybal of whome it is spoken bifore hated muche the ryght worthy duke Fabius maximus bicause he constrested or gaynstode hym in bataylle bare hym grete hurtes domages And bycause that Hanybal coude not lette nor greue hym with strengthe he thought to help hymself ageynst Fabyus with subtyletees wylys he wasted al the feldes about rome and all the maneres of other prynces there except them that apperteyned to the worthy knyght fabius whiche he spared and mysdide them nought to th ende that he myght doo vndrestand the rommayns by thesame that Fabius had som alyance or treatee with hym wyth this he dide yet more For he secretly wrot certeyn lettres and sent them to rome for to be diretted vnto the said Fabyus whiche lrÌ„es conteyned spake as thoughe emong they had be certeyne conuenant that Fabius shuld commytte trayson ayenst the romayns and dyde ordeyne this thinge so that the Senate of rome had knowlege therof But they that knewe the trouthe of Fabyus and the malyce of Hanybal made no force therof ¶ Item a kynge of Grece was somtyme that had enuye of the romayns and for this cause for noon other occasion he hated theym sore muche and yf they re grete myght and power had not be he wold gladly haue hurted them And so he knewe of noo waye so to doo but by barat symulacyon wherfore he feyned that te loued them well dyuerse lettres he sent hem of humble recomendacyon concernyng the grete tendre loue that he hadd to them And he sent hem worde atte laste that he desyred sore for to see the cyte of rome the noble ordynauÌ„ce that was there whan he was come to rome he was gretly receyued as he that was for a frend reputed taken But the more that he there sawe the felycyte the worship gretter the more encreaced the sorowe the secrete enuye that was hidde wythin his stomake wherof dyde growe suche an effet that he dyde so muche by hys malyce or euere he departed that the barons there he sette to a dyscordaunce and debate so that a grete sedycyon arrose anoone emongys hem ¶ And thus as he thought in hym self he myght not hurte the cyte by noo bettre manere of waye ¶ Item another that in lyke caas hated rome whan he had made stryffe and debate to be thrawen emonge the rommains that had nede of socours and toke strange souldyours for to helpe hem But whan tyme came that the bataylles shulde mete togider for to fyght the sayd souldyours departed out of the oste of the rommayns and went vpon the hangynge of a montayne for to byholde whiche of bothe partyes shulde haue the bettre that they might holde with theym whan they shuld perceyue that one partye to be ouercome But to this dyde purueye full wysely the captayne of the rommayns that sawe hys folke afeâ—de therfore For he went all along euery rowe where they were renged sayeng that suche departyng from hys oost was doon by hys comaundement of to renne vpon the enemyes whan they shulde assemble togider And thus he assured his folke and hadd the vyctorye ¶ Of the cawteles of the rommayns that were beseged in an oste of Quintus metellus kynge of Sezyle and of Hanibal ¶ Capitulo xiijo· AT that tyme whan rome was taken of the Frensshemen and that they had beseged the capitole whiche is a fortresse that can not be taken but yf hit be famysshed wherfore they kept the wayes that noo manere of vytaylles shulde be brought thither and so wolde make them wythin to yelde them self or ellis to dey there for honger But the romayns that somtyme were full subtyl in al dedes of werre for to haue awaye from they re enemyes the hope that they had of the famysshyng of hem they toke of suche fewe vytaylles as they hadd and lefte therof a grete releff about the bones whiche with dyuerse reuersyons small gobettis of brede they myngled with the fylthes and swepynges of the hons and casted altogider out of a wyndowe wherby whan they of gallia sawe this they merueylled gretly wenyng that they had be wel garnysshed of vytaylles wherfore they fell in a treatee of peas Item whan hanybal and hadrusball prynces of Cartage were with a grete oste in ytalye the rommayns sent ayenst them two dukes that ledde grete ostes whiche dukes kept maynteyned them so wisely that the two ostes of the Cartagiens coude
not come togider For yf they had doon soo they shulde by they re grete nombre of folke haue wasted all the contrey but the Romayns dide so muche vpon a nyght that bothe they re owne ostes were assembled togider by fore the day that they shulde giue a bataylle to one of the said ostes of Cartage whiche was soone ouercome and dyscomfyted ¶ Item Quintus metellus beynge in hyspayne with an oste myght not entre by strengthe in to a towne whiche he had beseged And therfore he departed fro the syege and toke hym to purueye hys oste here and there and a long espace of tyme he dyde goo from one place tyl another in so muche that hys owne folke merueylled therof and also hys enemyes dide mocke hym therfore and toke hys doyng but a folye But so muche he went dooyng al wayes thus that atte laste he sawe hys poynte whan that his enemyes were wery and sore peyned with contynuel watche And so he toke theym vmbeware ¶ Item a kynge of Secille was be fought of the Cartagiens but whan he sawe that they had occupyed all hys laÌ„de and that noo Remedye he conde putte therto he departed with as many of hys folke as he myght haue and went in to Affrycke and in lyke wyse there he dide brenne and dystroye the contrey al about And for this cause the Affrycayns of Cartage that so had wasted and occupied his contrey were fayne to make peas with hÌ„ym and to make hym amende and restitucion of the dommages that they had doon to hym Item whan hanyball shold ones haue fought ayenst the romayns at the bataylle of Cannes that sore do mageable was for theym he vsed with thre maneres of cautelle the fyrst was that he toke a place for to fyght where as he shuld haue the sonne the wynde att the backe of hym With this he ordeyned that after the bataille were bygonne one parte of his folke shulde make as they fledde awaye by fore a couert where abusshement was for the nones comytted and sette for to renne vpon the romayns that shuld folowe the chasse after them that so fledde And thirdly he ordeyned that foure men of armes shuld in lyke wyse flee towardes the romayns as they shulde feere the bataylle and shulde yelde them self to them Thys ordynaunce thus brought to effecte and that the bataylle was bygonne the romayns were sore troubled and lette by the sonne and by the duste that toke the syght and also by the sayd busshement that ouer renned them wher many of theym were slayne and thirdly by theyme that had yelde hem self to theym the whiche after the manere that was thenne were dysarmed and putte out behynde the bataylle But they hadd couertly vndre they re lytel doublettes rasers wher wyth all they dyde cutte the synewes of the legges of the Rommayns whyle they faught And thus as Valeryus saith by the malyce of Affricke more than by bataylle was ouercome the strengthe of the romayns ¶ Here begynneth to speke of the manere of be fyghtyng and sawtyng of castelles and townes And fyrst of the manere of byldyng of theym ¶ Capitulo xiiijo· SYn that we haue deuysed after the bokes of armes and of other more new custome the wayes that be good to be kepte in fayttes of batayl that be renged and sette in array We folowyngly shal saye after vegece and as other Auctours techen of the maneres and wayes that be proffytable and good to be kepte aswell in fayttes of befyghtyngis and sawtynges of Cytees townes and castelles as of the deffensynge in lyke wyse of the same And also ensuyng thys matere we shall speke of the bataylles that be made vpon the see or vpon flodes and other fresshe watres ¶ So deuysed and sheweth fyrst the sayd Auctour the manere how for the moost suretee the auncyent dyde bylde they re fortresses so that they were closed rounde a bout wyth stronge walles and wyth dyches And by the forme folowyng he techeth hyt thus sayeng Who that wyl bylde a good and a durable place ought fyrst to take heede to fyue thynges Fyrst he shall see that the place be of a hyghe grounde yf it may be that is to wite vpon som ryght wel sette and in a good contrey But yf the dysposycyon of suche a place as he hath be not syttyng he shall aduyse for to close hys edyffice aboute or atte lest one syde of it with the see or wyth somme ryuere that may bere shyppes ¶ And yf it so happe that the place be so conuenable that the see may entre of bothe partes the ryuere that shal renne thrughe the townes is muche proffytable and of grete socours yf hit can bere shyppes ¶ The seconde that the ayer be there good and holsome and ferre from plashes of watres and of mares grounde The thirde that the contrey be fruytefull and gyuynge abondantly al manere thynges that be nedefull to the lyffe of man The fourth that noo hylle be so nyghe that eny shot can greue hit And the fyfth is that the cytuacyon of the place be free and not in boundage And the same auctour yit sayth that the wise auncyent made not the cyrcuyte of the walles of theire cytee or fortresse all ryght vp euyn wyth a lyue as men doo now For they sayd that the walles so made were more redy and bettre dysposed to receyue the strokes of al manere engyns and to dresse vp ladders therunto and therfore they made hem croked wyse with certein yssues and steppes welle massonned and the stones strongly bounden with lyme and zande and compassed them squarre to th ende that they myght make deffense in many places where as many strong toures and deffensable were thikkly sette al rounde about And wyth thys techeth the said auctour how walles may be doubly fortyfyed ayenst all engyns that is to wite that two walles of strong stuffe muste be made wyth an Interualle or space withyn forthe of tuenty fote brode fro that one walle to that other And the erthe that shal be dygged and taken out for to sette the fondementes whiche oughte to be made as depe in to the erthe dicâ—â—s aboute Shal be hadd bettwyx bothe the forsayd walles tyl that the sayd space of tuenty fote be fylled ther wyth all and shal be trodden and stamped vpon as harde as can be And the walle must be fyrst made vp aboue and soo thykke and so brode that aleyes may be there made wyth holes and splytes that Archers be sette for to shutte and cast there thrughe al manere of gonne stones and al other shotte And a propre place muste be ordeyned and made atte euery face of the walles for to sette gonnes and other engyns for to shute without yf nede be to make deffence And mayntelles and barbakanes of tymbre shal be made fast to the batelmentes of the walles without forth in manere of targettes and pauoyses ayenst the shotte And the auncyent also
within the engyns may smyte grete strokes with this maste ayenst the walles and so shaken that they be all astonyed wyth all whiche engyne gyueth hys strokes euen soo as a raÌ„me doeth whan he reculeth a bak for to hurte whith hys hornes and therfore is thys engyne called a Mouton ¶ Item the fourthe is called vygne of whyche men vse but selden but yf it be to a grete effort It is made of grete tymber and it hath viij fote of brede and xvj of lengthe and is couerd wyth hyrdell is horsdonge to th ende that stones may not hurte hym and enuyromed al aboute wyth hydes rowhÌ„ for the fyre Vndre the same engyne ben the men of armes that percen the walle and vpon powâ—t leveiz that be made faste therto whiche are called flyghyng brygges and may reche vnto the walles they sette and dresse vp they re ladders to dyuers stallages ¶ Item the v engyn is yet of more grete strengthe and lasse in vsage by cause that it byhoueth not but to the sawtes of grete and notables cytees or fortres and stronge places sore desyred where as a syege be kepte by longe leyser Thys engyn is called Towre It is an edyfyce made of grete tymber and of tablementes with many loftes and stallages And therfore saithe vegece that so grete an edyfyce ought to be wel kepte It behoueth hym to be couered that may wyth lamynes of yron lest fyre sholde be caste or sette therin or at the leste wyth hydes rowhÌ„ all fressle To the whiche engynes men gyuen lyght after as they be hyghe or lowe For som be of xxx fote som of L And namely somÌ„ there ben so highe that not onely they surmonten the walles but also the highest towres Thys engyn is sette vpon moeuable wheles that by force of men and of horses are ledde as nyghe the walles as men can And flighynge brygges there be that as they be let doune men may therupon reche ouere the walles And yf it hap that thys Towre may be approched 〈◊〉 the walles ouere harde a thynge it were but that the towne shal be taken soone at an owre For therynne ben grete foyson of men of armes in al the loftes and stallages of whiche they of aboue with gode shode and hande to hande fyghten wyth them that ben vpon the walles and of lyght may ouercome hem They of the lowe loftes or stallages percen the walle And thus is the cytee or fortresse enuaysshed of suche effort that they of withynne wote not what parte to resyste nor deffende so ben they abasshed and lightly taken And it is that whiche vegece mente whan he saith the more partes and by more engyns and more strengthe that thou shall assaylle the fortres all atones the more are abasshed they that make deffence and the sooner they shall yelde hem vp And by cause that for to doo thys serven the ladders and muche proffyten herto and in lyke wise all engyns that can be made for to clyme highe It is nede for to make bettre thys manere of clymers that men know fyrst the heyght of the walles And therfore for to knowe thys vegece techeth it by two wayes and sayth that an arowe shal be thrawen vnto the height of the walle to the whiche arowe shall a long threde be made faste that shal be holde vndrenethe and by this shal mowe be knowen the heyght of the walles ¶ Item that other waye is whan the sonne is so tourned that he casted the shadowe of the walles and of the towres to the grounde thenne men may mesure the space of the walles wyth two staues y pyght atte eyther ende of the shadowe And by thaduyse of a gode wyse consyderer may be estemed what heyght the ladders and other engyns moste haue ¶ Begynneth to speke of deffensynge of castelles and vytaylles ¶ Capytulo xxxvo· IT is certeyn that lyghtly ynoughe myght al manere of a stronge place be ouercome and taken without folke were there that shuld deffende hit and therfore euyn soo as vegece dide putte in his boke for the doctrine techynge of 〈◊〉 the manyere for to assaylle citees townes and semblably for to deffende and kepe hem here he saith that ayâ—nst the engyns aboue named and other dyuerse paryllis wherof myght be vsed in faytte of assawlte yf ther be wytty deffensours that haue in them yâ— vertue of knyhthode marâ—y a remedye may be hadd For there is noo syknes but that som socours is gyuen therunto And in armes is subtylyte mykel more worthe than is strengthe as it happeth ofte namely in takynge of castelles and cytees As it beffelle som tyme of the rommayns that by a subtyl polycye wytte toke the cyte of capsa that longed vnto Tygram the kinge of Armenye that werred theym For as the ambaxatours of the sayd cytee went and came for to treatte of â—eas the rommayns malycyously made on a nyght abusshement of them self within the gardyns that nygh were to the walle and whan the said ambaxatoures trowed to haue entred ayen within the yates of the cyte the rommayns â—epte vpon the brygge so hastly that they toke the yate And so long kepte hyt tyl the oost entred al ynne And thus by crafte and subtyl witte was the cyte taken that was so stronge and so wel garnysshed that by noo sawtynge hyt myght not be taken And moreuere sayth vegece that they that kepe and deffende a place haue more avauntage than they that doo assaylle hyt for dyuers reasons and namely in befyghtyng For that whiche men caste from hyghe be it sperys stones dartes or other shot the more highe that it commeth fro the moche more hyt hurteth To the whiche thynges yf grete vertue and myght be putte therto noo manere of warantyse can not kepe theym that so assaylle yf they be hytte with all but that they shal be beten doune as the thondre felle vpon hem First of all they of within may be socoured by they re lorde yf he be not there hym self that wyth a power of men shal mowe come to reyse the syege and to gyue hem socours or by som other of they re freÌ„des whome they shall ahue sent worde and prayde for helpe socoure as it be fell whan the duke Lentulus hed captayne of the ost romayn went ayenst the kynge Mytrydates that sent worde to his folke that were withyn the cyte of Mycene that so stronge was that the see smote there at the one syde of her was aduironned with double walles that they shulde not abashe hem self for the grete puyssauÌ„ce of the kynge Mytridates that soone socours they shuld haue And a grete thynge it was to the messauÌ„ger for to passe thrughe so many folke goo there but it was by nyght and swymyng where he dide putte two grete boteylles vndre his okselles swymed viij thousand passes in the see and by thys manere of waye he cam and entred in to the
vpon the lande by cause they meue not so muche So ought they to haue amonge hem som small vesselles made at advauntage that may rowe and saylle byfore all other euery where for to aspye and knowe the couuyne of they re enemyes and when they come nyghe to seke them men ought thenne to grete hem ryght well with gode bombardes and stones cast wyth dyuers engyns and with stronge balesters and when the shyppes ben proched tyl eche other the valyaunt men of armes that trusten in they re strengthe putte doune the brygges and passen ouere in to the shyppes of they re aduersaryes and there with goode swerdes axys and daggers they fyght togyder hand to hand And in the grettest vesselles of werre men make som tyme towris and barbacanes to th eÌ„de that like as men do from the hyghe walles they might cast donne dartis and wounde and slee It is a cruell thynge of suche a bataille where as men not onely by armes but also by fyre and by watre doo perysse and hauyng no powere to glanche a syde nor to flee are lyuered oftentymes there all quyke hole to the flode and vnto the fysshes brennyng arowes and dartes ben there thrawen that be lapt in tawe in brimstone in pitche and in oyle ayenst the bordes of the shyppes that be made of drye wode and enoynted wyth pitche whiche lightly be taken with the fyre And thus somme perysshen there by yron some be there brent and the other be constrayned to lepe in to the watre without eny mercy and by thees wayes perysshen dyuersly many one that fight vpon the see ¶ Deuyseth of the garnysons that behouen to men of werre that ben vpon the see ¶ Capytulo xxxix SO ought fyghters vpon the see to be garnysshed of vesselles full of pytche and of rosyn of brymstone of oyle whiche thynges ought to be medled altogider lapt al in tawe thees vesselles kyndled glowyng hoot men oughte to caste in to the shippes gallees of the enemyes to assaille hem strongly forthwith to th ende that they haue noo leiser to quenche the fyre it is to be knowen that there is a manere for to make compose certeyn fyre whiche som folke calle grekys fyre and yt may be so called wel by cause that it was first fouÌ„de by the grekys beyng at the sege byfore troye as som sayen Thys fyre brenneth namely in watre and stones yron and al other thynges hit wasteth Nor hyt can not be quenched but by certeyne myxtyons that men make for this cause Also there be made certeyne poysons so strong so mortall that yf eny yron were touched with the same and after ward shot or thrawen to the body of eny man so that the blode lytyl or grete cam out the wounde shulde be dedely But suche thynges ought not to be doo nor taughte for cause of the evylles that myght folowe For they that soo doo are deffended and accursed It is not gode to wryte them in bokes nor more plamly to recyte them be cause that it is not lycyte to noo crysten man to vse of noo suche inhumanitees that namely ben aienst all right of werre It they that fighte ought always to awayte of al theire powere to dryue and sette theire enemyes a grouÌ„de to kepe them self in the depnes of the see Item to the maste of the shippe ought to be made fast a bygge tree whiche shal be armed with yron of that one part and there sette by suche a crafte that men may haue hym vp doune for to gyue grete strokes with all ayenst the shyppe of the enemyes so may be brused to peces whiche engyn may serue as doeth the mowton a forsaid It they muste haue grete foyson of arowes with brode hedes that shal be shot ayenst the saille tyl that it be so peced so rented that it can not holde wynde noo lenger so shal they not conne goo noo ferthere Item a croked yron mistereth them made after the facion of a zeâ—â—ll wel sharp and trenchaunt with a long hafte wher with all they shal cutte asondre the ropis cordes that seruen to the shyp of the aduersaryes with hokes of yron that they shal caste withinne they shall grype her so shal brynge her and theires togyder so that they shal not mowe escape It it is gode to haue grete quantyte of pottes filled with softe zande whiche after they be ones caste in to the shyp of the enemies they can vnuthe stande vpon they re fete so slydrye it is so falle they thenne in to the watre that be nyghe the borders of the shypp And semblably ben good to be cast therinne pottes full of quyk lyme made in to pouldre whiche at the brekyng of hem shal fylle al theire eyen and theire mouthes so that with peyne they can see afore them It with thys they oughte to be garnyshed of certeyn men that be lerned taughte to swyme and plonge in to the watre and wyth a long breth to kepe them self therynne whyche men shal goo vndre the schip of aduersaryes whiles that the bataylle lasteth and with grete wymellis and awgours shal perce the ship vndreneth in dyuers places so that the watre shall entre on all sydes Item grete foyson of stones and sharp yrons ought to be there lanched aand thrawen and al other thinges wherby they may sooner breke the ship After the forsayd thinges I may now wel vse of vegece hys owne wordes atte the ende of his boke thus saienge I byleue that from hens forth I may wel holde my peas of the dyscyplyne of armes For in thees thinges the custome and vsage fynde often more of the art and of newe thynges than thauÌ„cyent doctryne doeth shewe ¶ Here fynyssheth the seconde partye of thys boke sequently foloweth the thirde partye that speketh of the ryghtes of armes after the lawes THe first chapitre deuyseth by what meane xprystyne added to thys boke that whiche is sayd in the lawe of the fayttes of armes ¶ Item demaundeth Cristyne the maister ansuereth yf the emperoure may of ryght moeue werre aienst the pope c ij ¶ Item whether the pope may moeue werre ayenst the Emperoure Chapitre iij ¶ Item deuyseth of the puyssaunce and auctorite of the hed captayne after the lawe and for what causes the men of armes may renne to the peyne capitall C iiij ¶ Item whether a vassall be holden by ryght of the lawe to serue his lord in werre atte his owne propre expenses C v ¶ Item demaundeth whether the feed men be more holden to helpe the prynce souerayne in hys werre than namely to theire naturell lorde yf a gentyl man holdeth two tenementys of two lordes that make werre that one ayenst that other Whiche of them he ought to helpe ¶ Item whether al manere of souldiours after the ryght of the lawe may goo in all manere of werres deuyseth of the parell
where the man of armes putteth him self whan he goeth to the werre that Iniuste ys and of makynge in the werre other wise than werre requyreth C vij ¶ Item speketh of the popys ryght and the payment of the souldyours wages C viij ¶ Item wether a taptayne of a certeyne nombre of men of armes may transmute them atte hys wylle syn that they be reteyned in wages C ix ¶ It yf a lorde sende a man of armes in garnison to som fortres of his owne without that eny wages be promysed hym that hit happeth hym to be robbed and dyspoylled by the waye to whyche of bothe may he demaunde hys interesses and the recouere of his losse or to the lorde that so sent hym thidre or to hym that so hath robbed hym And yf a man of armes be com to serue a lorde in hys werre wythout couenaunt of wages Whether the lorde be holden forto paye hym or not C x ¶ Item yf a kynge had sent socours to another kynge without he had requyred hym so to doo whether he were holde for to paye them or not C xj ¶ Item yf a kynge hath werre with another kynge is willyng to renne vpon hym with a grete oost Is nowe to wite whether the lordes thrughe whos lordshippes he and his ost must passe may by ryght chalenge the passage how wel y◠so were that noo harme were by hym nor hys doon there that noo vitaille they toke but that they paied wel for C xij ¶ Item and yf a man of armes borowe bothe horse and harneys and leseth hit now is to wite whethre he shulde paye for hit or not C xiij ¶ It yf a man that had be sore wounded of another the whiche after the stroke were fledde awaye and that the other so hurt recouered helthe cam and hurted that other man Whether iustyce shulde punysshe hym therfore C xiiijo· ¶ Item whether cawtelles and subtylytees of werre are Iuste and of reason to be doo C xvo· ¶ Item yf a man of armes whiche is aaged were distressed and robbed by the waye somwhere whether he myght of ryght aske of the lorde that had sent hym forth his losse domages C xvj ¶ It yf a lorde doo sende socours of men of werre to som other lorde without he be so required of hym so to doo whether he to whome they ben thus sent is boūde for to paye them or not C xvij ¶ Item whether it is licyte to men of werre for to take eny vitaylles of the poure or ryche man vpon the lande whan they be wel payed of they re wages C xviij ¶ Item demandeth what men ought to doo with suche dispoylles and proyes that ben goten by waye of werre C xix ¶ Item begynneth to speke of prisoners of werre and aduyseth how a myghty man taken in werre ought to be presented to the prynce and how not C xx ¶ Item whether men ought to doo deye the chief captayne of an oost or som other grete man of armes whiche is taken in the werre or ellis to be delyuered to the prynce C xxj ¶ Item whether it is ryght that men shall take vpon the enemyes grounde the symple labourers and plough men that medle not of the werre C xxij ¶ Item yf a studyaūt englyssheman were fonde atte scoles in parys or ellis another lyke of another nacyon whether he myght be taken and putte to raenson C xxiij ¶ It yf som grete lorde of England or of som other contrey where werre is whiche as madde and out of wit were fledde in to the forest whether men myght after ryght taken him putte him to raēson he so being out of his wit c xxiiij ¶ Item and yf it happed that vpon the froūters be taken som olde man burgeys of london or of som other cytee of england that neuere dyde medle of the werre Whether suche a man ought for to paye raenson or not by ryght of the lawe and semblably of a yonge chylde and also of a blynde man ¶ Item yf it happed so that som ambaxadours cam to wardys the kynge of Fraunce and that they comynge thrughe Bordeewx had hyred there of englyshemen horses or cartes whether suche thynges myght be in Fraunce arrested or not And whether an englysh preeste beyng in in Fraunce myght be putte to raenson or not C xxvj ¶ Item whether a prysoner of werre whiche is al wayes kept clos yf he can goo out brekyng vp hys pryson shall renne in eny deffaulte so to doo C xxvij ¶ Item whether a gentyl man prysoner of werre ought rather to dey than to breke hys othe his promesse c xxviij ¶ Here after begynneth the thirde parte of thys boke whyche speketh of the ryghtys of armes after the lawe wryton ¶ The fyrst chapytre deuyseth by what meane Crystyne added to thys boke that whiche is sayd in the lawe of the fayttes of armes As I dyde awayte for to entre in to the thirde partye of this present boke that my wyt as almost wery of the pesaūt weyght of the labour concernyng the two other partyes precedent as surprysed with slepe lyenge vpon my bed appiered byfore me the semblaūce of a creature hauyng the fourme of a stately man of habyte of chere of maynten lyke to awyse ryght auctorised iuge which said vnto me thus dere loue crystine of whiche in dede or ellis in thoughte the laboure of the excercyse of studienge neuer more doeth ceasse atte the contēplacyon of the grete loue that thou haste to thoo thynges that the lettres can shewe specyally in exhortacyon of all noble werkes and vertuouse condycyons am hyther now come for to be as to thy helpe in the perfourmynge of this present loke of knyghthode of fayttes of armes where as thou by grete dyligence moeued with agood wille doest occupy thy self And therfore confortinge the good desyre that thou haste to gyue a cause vnto all knyghtes and noble men that shal mowe rede or here hit for to employe and more embellysshe hem self to thoos dedes that noblenesse requyreth that is to wite to the sayd excercyse of armes aswell by laboure of the hody as by the ryght that after the lawe wryton behoveth them ¶ It is good that thou take and gadre of the tree of bataylles that is in my gardyn somme fruytes of whiche thou shalt vse So shall vygoure and strengthe the bettre growe wythyn thy self therfore for to make an ende of thy pesaunte werke and for to bylde an edyfyce pertynaūt couenable to the sayenges of vegece of the other auctours of whyche thou hast taken help thou muste cutte yet asonder som of the braūches of this said tree take of the best and vpon the same tymber thou shalt sette foundement of one of thy said edyfyce For the whiche to perfourme I as maister and thy self as dysciple shal be there with the as thy helper Thees thynges herde me semed thenne that
deffended emonge crysten folke by the lawes of god To thys questyon dere loue I ansuere the And thy self hast touched of hyt al ynoughe in the bygynnyng of thys boke that to al Iuste werre may goo euery man that wyl and take wages for to serue to the same for a Iuste werre for to kepe or recouere ryght wherof the ryght wayes therof be not trespassed that is to wyte that spoyllynges nor robberye be not made vpon the countrey where frendes be nor other dyuerse greuaunces and dommages of whyche men of werre comynly vsen wikkedly in whiche dooynge they mysdoo gretly is not vniuste nor deffended by the lawe but it is permytted to be For it is a veray excecusyon of Iustyce that god suffred and consenteth to then de that wronge may be brought ayen to ryght thonghe that god suffreth werres to be made som tyme dyuersly ayenst ryght and reason the whiche is as the scourge of god and punyshyng for the synne of the folke but for to come ayen to the fyrst propos I say to the that euery man that ryghte wisely wil expose him self to werre he ought first to be right enfourmed of the quarelle and knowe whether the chalenge be iuste or not yf thou aske me how he shall mowe knowe the same For of all partyes that folke doo make werre euerychone sayth that the caulÌ„e of hys quarelle is iuste Late hym enquere yf suche werre hath be Iuged fyrst of gode Iurystes or lawers or whether it be for cause of deffense makynge For in cas of deffence al werre is gode that is to wyte to deffende hys countrey yf hyt be assaylled And that herof ought the man of werre to be wel enfourmed or euere he putte hym self therto I wol thou knowe that yf the quarelle be Iniuste he that thus exposeth hym self dampneth his sowle and yf he deyeth in suche astate he goeth in to the waie of perdycyon without grete repentance at the laste but litel force they make therof For ynoughe there be that care not what the quarelle be so that they haue gode wages and that they may robbe ¶ Helas the dolent and sorowfull deth coâ—myng oftymes sodaynly may sende them in to helle anone with one stroke onely ¶ Here speketh of the wages of Souldyours Capio· viii TO th ende that the noble men that thys present boke shall mowe rede or here aswell for the tyme present as that is to come may knowe of whyche thynges the lawe gyueth lycence to be doon in the werre and of whiche not And by cause dere loue that here byfore thou hast remembred me of wages that souldyours ought to haue I shal telle the one partye of that wherynne the man of werre byndeth hym self takyng wages and also in what manere the lorde is holden to paye the sayd wages and in what manere not For suche thynges be conteyned in the lawe Fyrst it is to wite that euery lorde or certeyne towne or comyn lordship that taken folke in to wages is holden to paye them for al the tyme that they be so taken be they putte to werke or not and namely supposed that they were soiournynge dyde nothyng so that the fawte were not in them and that they were alwayes redy for to employe themself yf fawte of payement be there made after the promesse I saye that by ryght and reason they may aske hyt by faire Iustyce Nowe maister sith that in this matere we be entred and that ye say that the lorde is holden to paye the men of werres wages supposed that they were al wayes abyding in one place nought dooynge I wol to thys propos make vnto the som demauÌ„des First I suppose that a capytayne with a companye of folke be reteyned in to the kynges wages by his comauÌ„dement is sent in to Guyenne or somwhere ellis ayenst hys enemies in going thither hit happeth soo that they lodge hem self in a certeyne place where the folke of the towne haue malycyously poysonned bothe the brede and the wyne there wherby som of them dey and the other tarye therâ—e syke by the space that they shulde haue serued wherfore it is not in they re powere to serue the kynge as they had promysed Soo demaunde I of the yf they ought to haue lost the wages of that tyme to this questyon I ansuere that nay without faille seeyng yet that they re maladye is caused of the seruyce For syknesse by the lawe excuseth the man nor for this case he ought not to lÌ„ese ony dystrybucyon syth that the malady is com to hym after his retenne in to wages ¶ Another questyon I wyl make vnto the Yf a souldyoure be reteyned in to wages for a hole yere and that in thys meane tyme he haue a doo in hys house wherfore he cometh to the capytayne and taketh leue of hym for to goo see hys wyffe and hys housholde for the space of a monethe I aske the yf by ryght he ought to haue his wages for the tyme that he is soo absent To the same I ansuere the that the nature of the ryght of armes is suche that so grete a myght hathe the leue and lycence taken of the captayne and it is of so grete a preuilage that syth that the captayne hathe wyth good wylle graunted the sayde leue the sayd man of armes ought to be reputed as for resydent and present For alwayes he is abydynge seruaunte to the lorde syth that he was reteyned for a hole yere But it is wel trouthe that yf he were bounde by dyuysyon of tyme that is to wite that without moo he were reteyned att a certeyne for euery monethe there shulde I speke otherwise Another questyon I make A knyght for a hole yere is taken in to wages for to serue the kynge in hys werres after that he hathe serued one quarter of the yere he wol departe and aske hys wages for the tyme that he hathe serued and the capytayne thenne gaynsaith hyt saynge that for one hole yere he had taken hym and yf he had not be he shulde haue taken another and that whosoeuere performeth not his seruyce he leseth his hyre Wherfore yf cas be that he goo hys waye so he mortyfyeth his hyre To thys I ansuere the that good ryght hathe the captayne For yf the man of armes faylle fyrst of hys promysse It is not reason also that couenauÌ„t of wages be kept vnto hym Yet namely more stronge I telle the that yf by hÌ„ys owne deffawte he had loste hys â—orses or hys harneys and that he myght not recouere noon other wherby he were not able to serue he in thys cas ought to lese all the tyme that he hath serued for seruyce ought not to haue noo hyre tyl that hit be complissled in cas al wayes that noon other couenaunt were made For couenaunt and bargayne made passeth all lawe And by all thus thou maiste see that the euyll thynge that medlÌ„ed is wyth
whether euery lorde may gyue 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ¶ It begynneth to speke of chaÌ„p de bataylle 〈◊〉 it is a ryghtwis thiÌ„ge of ryght that a man shall proue 〈◊〉 body aienst another that thiÌ„ge that is secrete not knowen â— vi◠¶ Item sheweth for what manere of cas ordeyned 〈…〉 imperyall champ de bataylle ¶ Capio· vâ—â—◠¶ Item for what manere of cas lombardys lawe ordeyned champ de bataylle ¶ Capio· ix ¶ Item how champ de bataylle sheweth representeth som what the dede of a questyon pleetable And whether it is ryght that at thentrynge of the felde the champyons gyue they re othes ¶ Capio· x ¶ Item yf it hap that one of the champyons leseth any of his armes while that he fyghteth wether men ought to yelde hem ayen or not And yf the kynge wolde pardonne hym that is vaynquished whether the vyctoryouse may aske hys costes or not And yf there be founde that a man is accused wrongfully what men ought to doo of hym that hath accused that other ¶ Capio· xj ¶ Item asketh yf a man is punyshed of a misdede proued by champ de bataylle whether the iustice may punyshe hym vpon a new therfor and yf one calleth another to a champ whether he that calleth that other may repente him self of his callynge atte his owne wylle ¶ Capio· xij ¶ It deuyseth to whiche thinge a kynge or a prynce ought to see to bifore that he iugeth eny champ de bataille what counseill men ought to giue to them that shal befight eche other ¶ Capio· xiij ¶ It whether batailles may be doon after right vpon a holy day or not whether the lawe holdeth that men may saue hemself in excercyting thoffyce of armes And whether clerkes may or ought after the lawe go to a bataille C xiiij ¶ Item beginneth to speke of the fayte of blasonnyng of armes whether euery man may take of his owne auctoryte suche armes as he wyl ¶ Capio· xv ¶ Item in what manere a gentylman may chalenge another mannys armes and in what manere not C xvj ¶ It of the armes penoncelles and of the colours moste noble that apparteyne to the fayte of blasonnyng C xvij ¶ Here begynneth the foureth and last part of thys boke ¶ In the first chapytre demauÌ„ded Crystyne yf a lorde sendeth a saufconduyt to another his enemye and that the saufconduyt speketh but of sauf comynge whether after right he may arreste hym atte his gooyng hom ageyne Capio· j AT the begynnyng of thys fourth part of thys boke ryght dere master I wil entre in to another dyffereÌ„t purpos of werre dependyng of that whiche is afore said that is to wite in to a manere of assuryng whiche is giuen to them that goo and come from a contrey to anothâ—r that haue werre to eche other whiche assuring men calle lettres of saufconduyt wherof I wil first make vnto the suche a demaunde I putte cas that a baron haue werre with a knyght of the whiche werre the frendes of bothe partyes reyne hem self for to make a goode peas wherfore the saide baron sendeth hys lettres of saufconduyt to the sayde knyght vndre whiche he may com towardis hym sendeth to hâ—m worde with all that he may com surely the knyght trusting vpon the assuryng of the same lettres cometh to the sayd baron but whan they haue spoken bothe togyder and that the knyght wyl departe the baron doeth arreste hym and sayth and proposeth that he is hys prysoner For he saythe ye be atte werre wyth me as euery man knoweth well wherfor I may take you atte myn aduauntage where someuere I can fynde you that other ansuereth that he may not doo soo For the strengthe of his owne saufconduit deffendeth the same the baron saith that this helpeth him not for bicause that the saufconduit speketh onely of the coming thither not of there tournyng ayen wherfore he doo him noo wronge yf he kepe hym Soo demauÌ„de I of the whether the baron hathe a gode cause For it shulde seme ye seeyng that hit suffiseth emonge enemyes to take heede to the tenoure of the lettre vpon that whiche is wryton sith that the knight hathe be so folyshe that he vndrestode not wel that whiche the sayde barons wrytinge conteyned it is not without reason yf he bere a penaunce therfore For it behoueth in fayttes of werre as thy self hast said here byfore to vse of cawteles for to deceyue eche other late kepe him self that may I telle the fayre loue that thou myssest in thy sayeng in this byhalfe For yf it were as thou saist ouer many Inconuenyentes shulde folowe therof and therfore the lawe hathe purueyed therto that deffendeth expressely that noone shall deceyue by wordes of fallace nor cawtelouse For shuldest thou trowe theÌ„ne that a man shulde be herde atte a Iugement for to saye I haue solde to another an hondred pownde worthe of lande and fayre and well I haue delyuered hit vnto his handes wherof he is holden vnto me in suche a som of money that he moste paye me for semblably of other suche thinges of the whiche as wel I telle the shulde not be reputed nor taken in Iugement but for a trifle or a mocke and the man begiler that wolde vse therof shulde be punyshed therfore And therfore to oure propos what that for to take awaye all scrupulenes a man ought neuer to trust in suche lettres without that it be wel expressed of sauff gooyng and sauffe comyng ayen and also of sauf abydyng of al the other circomstances that bylongen therunto how be it that the lawe wol not that the malyce of the frawdylouse deceyuer take soo straytly the symplenes of hym that gooth thus vpon and vndre the termes of gode feythe ¶ Soo ought to be vndrestande the saufconduyt th entent of hym vnto whome it is yeven By the whiche saufconduyt he holdeth hym self sure aswel for to abyde sauf as for to goo retourne ayen sauf otherwise it were noo saufconduit but it shulde be treason that ouer gretly were to be blamed suche is the certeintee therof NotwistaÌ„ding it may be the som in dede without right nor reason haue vsed or wolde gladly vse therof whiche ought to tourne them in to grete vituperye and blame but euery man hathe not the power for to doo al the euyll that he gladly wolde doo ¶ Yf a knyght or som other gentylman had a saufconduit for his persone for ix men with him whether he myght vndre coloure of the same take wyth him in to the countrey of enemyes som grete lorde in stede of one of the ix men Cij Syth that we be entred in matere of saufconduytes an suere me now of another question A knyght of englond hathe a saufconduyt of the kyng of FrauÌ„ce for hym for ix other with him on horsbacke for to câ—mâ—n to Fraunce for som adoo he hathe there it happeth