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
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
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
ende they may wythstande to them that might comme for to reyse the syege or namely to theym of the castel yf they yssued out ayenst theym And yf it be soo that of all sydes the place may be beseged the bettre it is but yf there be eny hylle or som other thynge that letteth Neuertheles to al the partyes that be playn shal be made trenchez or pallys fro one syege to that other so that they of wythynne may not yssue out wythout daunger And from al sydes he shall ordeyne semblably sewre deffense and good watche atte euery owre And so shal aduyse by what manyere the place is mooste prenable And yf it be to be scaled he shal fyrst late make dowble ladders as many as shall nede and shal make to be had awaye wyth the shot of engyns al that that letteth of the walles and thenne shall the ledders be sette vp that shal be armed at the vpper ende wyth grete hokes of yron that shall a grype the batellementes or fensynge of the walle and the neder ende shal be harnessed wyth sharp hedes of yron whiche shal be sette depe in to the erthe to th ende they be not ouer thrawen doune by theym that deffende the towne And forthwyth of all sydes shal begynne the assawte ¶ And yf vndremynyng semyth hym goode goode wherkmen that can skylle shal be sette to werke for to delue vp the erthe and they shal begynne so ferre that they of wythyn shal not by no waye see the men that bere out the erthe ¶ And so depe shal the myne be made that hit shal passe vndre the dyches whyche shal be vndre shored wyth good tymbre tyl that they comme to the fondementes of the walles or lower And by thys manyere of waye they shalt fynde the meane to entre ynne yf gaynsayde be not doon to hyt ¶ And wyle thys vndremynyng is a doynge the wyse Capytayne ought not to be styl lest they of wythynne fele or vndrestande by they re scowtwatche the sayd vndremyners But shall trouble and vexe them wyth dyuers and contynuall assawtes so that the noyse the doynge and the bruyt shal stop they re heerynge For strokes of crosbowes thykker than flyes Bombardes and gonnes wyth the horryble sowne of they re stones caste ayenst the walle the noyse of the assawters the sownes of Trompettes and the feere that they haue of them that cleme vp the laders shal gyue hem ynouge to do and so they shall not be lytyl occupyed ¶ Item and yf it hap that the said myners may perce the walles wythout they be perceyued they shal soone sette on a fyre al the tymbre and shores that they haue sette vndre the walles whiche shal thenne breke and fall doune al attones and thus shal entre the toune the men of armes And yf thys thynge can not help by cause of the grete strengthe of the place and of the grete garnyson the wyse capytayne that desyred to haue hyt shal seke by another manyere of waye for a remedye therunto ¶ Here begynneth an ordynaunce of leyenge of a syege sheweth that whyche behoueth therto for to sawte a ryght stronge place after the tyme present ¶ Capitulo xx WHat that vegece vpon whos boke of knyghthode we haue founded the most partye of thys present werke hathe spoken in general termes after the manere and vsage of the preu auncyent conquerours past ynough suffysauntly to goode vndrestanders of the thynges of armes Aswell in this that toucheth or may touche fayttes or dedes of bataylle and of that that dependeth therof as of that whyche bylongeth to assaylle Castelles and Townes by see and by lande As it shal be sayd herafter ¶ Neuertheles for to gyue a more partyculer vndrestandynge not to theym that knowe hyt but to theym that in tyme comynge shal mowe rede and here it desyrynge the knowlege therof ¶ Where the scrypture in bokes is a thynge perpetual as to the worlde it semeth me goode to adde in thys oure sayde werke more partyculerly thoo thinges that be goode and propyce to assaylle Cytees Castelles and Townes after the manere and waye of the tyme present for to gyue therof a more Intellygyble exsample And ryght so and semblably that in the thynges sayde and to be sayde we haue holpen vs of the saynges of the boke of vegece and other Auctoures We shal in thys helpe vs of the counseyll of the wyse knyghtes that be expert in the sayde thynges of armes And what that therof a grete lawde shulde apparteyne to theym where as they be wel dygne of honoure and reuerence asswell for thys cause as for other bountez Wysedomes worthynesses of knygthode and noble vertues that ben in theym It pleaseth not to they re humylyte to be aledged nor named Wherfore they that shall rede or here thys fayre ordynaunce that foloweth shal not therfore despyse hyt but shal be content of the same thynkyng the dommage it were that the feblenes of a lytyl paper that Rotyth in a lytell tyme shulde haue brought to nought the mynde and remembraunce of so notable ordynaunce whyche is wel worthy to be enregistred to th ende that it may be socourable namely in thys royalme yf the cas in tyme to come befell Soo shall we suppose thenne a ryght stronge place sette of one parte vpon the see or vpon abygge Ryuere grete stronge and ryght dyffycyle to be taken as suche there be to whyche men wyl laye a syege by grete appareylles how long that it lasteth ¶ And vpon suche appareylles and ordynaunce as longeth therto we shal fyrst speke of the gonnes and engyns That is to wyte two grete engyns and two other mydelbare flyghynge garnysshed and redy of al thynges for to caste ¶ Item foure Coyllardes all newe garnysshed and abled of alle thynges hauyng eche of them two cables thre slyngis for to chaunge whan nede shal be ¶ Item foure grete gonnes that one called Garyte that other rose that other Senecque and that other Maye the fyrst castyng aboute fyue hondre pound weyght The second castynge aboute foure hondre And the other two abeute two hondre or moo ¶ Item another gonne calle Mountfort castyng thre C pound weyght And after the maystres the same is the best of all ¶ Item a brasyn gonne called Artycke castīg hondre pound weyght ¶ Item xx othre small gonnes castynge pillettes of stone It dyuers other small gonnes castyng pyllettes of leed and comon stones of hondre or vj score pound weight Item two other grete bombardes six lesser Item two other grete gonnes eche of hem castyng about iiij C pound weyght and foure small Thre other gonnes wherof one grete and two lesser Item xxv other gonne stones castynge som two som thre and som foure C pound weight and lx other small And they all ought to be stuffed with fete of strong tymber and of al that that longeth therto the whiche forsayd gonnes ben in Some 〈◊〉 xlviij whiche