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happen_v if_o the_o roman_a commander_n have_v be_v to_o have_v make_v war_n against_o alexander_n but_o without_o consider_v any_o thing_n which_o may_v make_v against_o his_o opinion_n he_o bend_v all_o his_o reason_n to_o prove_v that_o the_o roman_a force_n will_v have_v prove_v victorious_a if_o they_o have_v chance_v to_o have_v fight_v against_o those_o of_o alexander_n the_o great_a which_o he_o resolve_v for_o as_o great_a a_o certainty_n as_o if_o the_o effect_n have_v ensue_v yet_o many_o argument_n to_o the_o contrary_n may_v be_v take_v out_o of_o divers_a of_o those_o thing_n which_o livy_n relate_v of_o his_o roman_n we_o can_v take_v no_o sure_a way_n to_o know_v what_o will_v have_v be_v the_o success_n of_o thing_n not_o do_v then_o to_o consider_v what_o have_v be_v do_v which_o may_v guide_v we_o by_o conjecture_n to_o penetrate_v into_o what_o may_v have_v happen_v in_o other_o thing_n if_o occasion_n shall_v have_v serve_v let_v we_o then_o cast_v a_o eye_n upon_o what_o alexander_n action_n be_v in_o those_o time_n and_o what_o those_o of_o the_o roman_a commonwealth_n and_o we_o shall_v see_v what_o may_v have_v be_v expect_v from_o the_o worth_n of_o force_n and_o either_o of_o they_o if_o trial_n have_v be_v make_v thereof_o alexander_n erterprise_n be_v sufficient_o famous_a and_o know_v to_o all_o man_n since_o the_o recount_v of_o they_o have_v weary_v so_o many_o writer_n and_o plutarch_n who_o write_v the_o live_v of_o the_o valliant_a and_o most_o magnanimous_a man_n of_o so_o many_o age_n in_o his_o preface_n to_o that_o of_o alexander_n excuse_v himself_o with_o he_o do_v not_o in_o relate_v the_o life_n of_o any_o other_o if_o he_o be_v not_o able_a sufficient_o to_o write_v all_o his_o action_n by_o reason_n of_o their_o number_n and_o worth_n but_o the_o roman_n erterprise_n in_o that_o age_n be_v not_o in_o themselves_o very_o great_a nor_o very_o great_o cry_v up_o by_o other_o though_o those_o which_o they_o afterward_o 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and_o those_o none_o of_o the_o chief_a of_o africa_n whereas_o one_o only_a scipio_n subdue_v carthage_n the_o head_n of_o so_o great_a a_o empire_n and_o bring_v all_o those_o region_n under_o the_o roman_a eagle_n the_o act_n do_v by_o solyman_n be_v somewhat_o great_a than_o these_o but_o not_o to_o be_v compare_v to_o those_o of_o old_a nor_o peradventure_o will_v they_o appear_v to_o be_v very_o famous_a if_o we_o shall_v consider_v his_o power_n and_o the_o long_a time_n that_o he_o live_v emperor_n he_o consume_v much_o time_n and_o many_o man_n in_o hungaria_n make_v many_o expedition_n against_o it_o and_o yet_o get_v but_o one_o part_n thereof_o which_o be_v none_o of_o the_o great_a province_n neither_o he_o win_v the_o island_n of_o rhodes_n but_o what_o glory_n can_v redound_v to_o so_o mighty_a a_o prince_n by_o overcome_v a_o few_o knight_n who_o be_v weak_a of_o themselves_o and_o who_o be_v not_o succour_v by_o other_o and_o yet_o he_o be_v therein_o assist_v more_o by_o fraud_n then_o by_o force_n he_o pass_v with_o his_o army_n into_o persia_n but_o though_o he_o may_v say_v with_o caesar_n venâ—_n vidi_fw-la yet_o can_v he_o not_o add_v vici_fw-la for_o as_o he_o with_o great_a celerity_n over_o run_v a_o great_a part_n of_o the_o persian_a empire_n and_o come_v to_o the_o city_n of_o taâ—ris_n so_o not_o be_v able_a to_o fix_v in_o any_o place_n or_o establish_v any_o conquest_n he_o retreat_v to_o within_o his_o own_o confine_n have_v lest_o the_o great_a part_n and_o the_o best_a of_o his_o man_n in_o the_o enemy_n country_n rout_z and_o defeat_v by_o divers_a accident_n these_o thing_n then_o and_o many_o other_o the_o like_a give_v just_a occasion_n of_o wonder_n and_o incite_v curious_a wit_n to_o search_v out_o the_o true_a cause_n of_o such_o diversity_n of_o success_n among_o which_o nay_o in_o the_o primary_n place_n the_o different_a mean_n of_o warfaring_a in_o those_o time_n and_o in_o these_o may_v come_v into_o consideration_n wherein_o if_o we_o come_v to_o more_o particular_n we_o shall_v meet_v with_o the_o use_n of_o fort_n and_o strong_a hold_n which_o be_v become_v more_o frequent_a in_o these_o our_o age_n than_o they_o be_v in_o former_a time_n the_o art_n of_o building_n be_v doubtless_o in_o great_a perfection_n with_o we_o than_o it_o be_v with_o they_o there_o be_v hardly_o any_o state_n or_o country_n now_o adays_o wherein_o there_o be_v not_o many_o town_n and_o city_n either_o assist_v by_o natural_a situation_n or_o else_o by_o art_n reduce_v to_o much_o safety_n by_o many_o invention_n find_v out_o by_o modern_a professor_n of_o fortification_n so_o as_o almost_o every_o place_n be_v so_o fortify_v as_o it_o be_v able_a to_o hold_v out_o with_o a_o few_o man_n against_o many_o and_o he_o who_o will_v in_o these_o time_n enter_v into_o another_o
as_o soon_o as_o be_v summon_v from_o thence_o upon_o other_o occasion_n it_o behove_v to_o be_v go_v from_o thence_o the_o enemy_n return_v again_o to_o fresh_a and_o secure_a depredation_n which_o will_v likewise_o befall_v any_o region_n which_o be_v not_o defend_v and_o maintain_v by_o fortress_n and_o where_o the_o member_n of_o a_o state_n be_v far_o asunder_o if_o it_o must_v be_v defend_v only_o by_o the_o soldier_n sword_n many_o army_n will_v scarce_o be_v able_a to_o secure_v it_o whereas_o by_o mean_n of_o strong_a hold_n the_o same_o people_n who_o be_v able_a to_o defend_v they_o will_v likewise_o serve_v in_o a_o great_a part_n to_o preserve_v the_o country_n as_o well_o because_o many_o of_o the_o inhabitant_n may_v there_o find_v safe_a refuge_n as_o likewise_o for_o that_o be_v no_o good_a advice_n nor_o usual_o embrace_v by_o good_a commander_n to_o advance_v forward_o and_o to_o leave_v the_o fort_n of_o the_o enemy_n place_v in_o fit_v part_n upon_o the_o frontier_n behind_o they_o the_o state_n be_v preserve_v from_o great_a danger_n as_o on_o the_o contrary_a the_o state_n wherein_o there_o be_v no_o strong_a hold_n though_o it_o be_v provide_v of_o a_o good_a and_o valiant_a militia_n yet_o must_v it_o depend_v upon_o the_o various_a chance_n of_o war_n and_o hazard_n all_o upon_o the_o uncertain_a event_n of_o battle_n and_o if_o any_o thing_n of_o misfortune_n befall_v the_o whole_a country_n be_v leave_v to_o the_o discretion_n of_o the_o enemy_n and_o the_o army_n not_o have_v any_o safe_a place_n whereunto_o to_o retreat_v be_v total_o defeat_v by_o one_o rout_n as_o it_o happen_v in_o the_o last_o age_n in_o the_o sultan_n of_o cairo_n most_o famous_a empire_n which_o sultan_n be_v overcome_v in_o several_a battle_n by_o selimus_n ottoman_n and_o want_v time_n to_o rally_v his_o army_n and_o strong_a hold_v whereunto_o to_o have_v refuge_n do_v in_o a_o short_a time_n lose_v his_o whole_a kingdom_n and_o the_o empire_n of_o the_o mammalucchi_fw-it be_v overthrow_v which_o be_v before_o very_o famous_a for_o military_a discipline_n and_o esteem_v very_o secure_a by_o repose_v its_o safety_n in_o the_o valour_n of_o strong_a and_o able_a man_n to_o this_o may_v be_v add_v that_o strong_a hold_n do_v not_o only_o secure_a state_n from_o these_o utmost_a hazard_n of_o adverse_a fortune_n but_o make_v very_o much_o for_o the_o keep_n it_o away_o and_o oftentime_o they_o reap_v the_o intention_n of_o true_a security_n without_o any_o hazard_n for_o when_o he_o who_o intend_v to_o assault_v a_o state_n shall_v consider_v that_o his_o attempt_n be_v likely_a to_o prove_v tedious_a and_o difficult_a and_o that_o it_o be_v doubtful_a whether_o he_o shall_v be_v therein_o victorious_a or_o on_o he_o do_v not_o so_o easy_o fall_v upon_o the_o business_n but_o when_o the_o war_n be_v once_o begin_v fortress_n do_v assure_o sufficient_o keep_v from_o come_v to_o join_v battle_n for_o the_o assailant_n will_v not_o easy_o hazard_v himself_o upon_o the_o danger_n of_o a_o pitch_a field_n because_o he_o see_v he_o shall_v be_v debar_v the_o chief_a fruit_n of_o victory_n which_o be_v the_o get_n of_o some_o city_n or_o place_n of_o importance_n by_o strong_a hold_n and_o so_o also_o he_o who_o be_v assault_v the_o more_o he_o see_v his_o affair_n in_o a_o good_a posture_n by_o the_o mean_n of_o strong_a hold_n the_o more_o he_o endeavour_v to_o prolong_v the_o time_n to_o the_o end_n that_o he_o may_v defeat_v he_o by_o his_o own_o incommodity_n without_o much_o use_n of_o weapon_n whence_o â—_o be_v that_o in_o these_o time_n wherein_o the_o perfection_n of_o fortify_v be_v much_o increase_v field_n battle_n be_v seldom_o fight_v for_o to_o fight_v make_v not_o for_o the_o advantage_n of_o either_o of_o the_o party_n out_o of_o the_o above_o say_v consideration_n since_o the_o wit_n and_o industry_n of_o the_o commander_n seem_v to_o prevail_v over_o fortification_n and_o do_v in_o a_o great_a part_n take_v that_o uncertainty_n from_o war_n which_o use_v to_o be_v find_v therein_o in_o the_o condition_n of_o the_o present_a affair_n and_o time_n it_o be_v also_o see_v that_o as_o much_o time_n be_v spend_v in_o the_o take_n of_o one_o only_a fort_n as_o in_o former_a age_n and_o when_o another_o manner_n of_o militia_n be_v in_o use_n be_v spend_v in_o take_v in_o whole_a province_n which_o peradventure_o be_v likewise_o the_o cause_n why_o the_o prince_n of_o these_o late_a age_n though_o some_o of_o they_o have_v be_v very_o powerful_a and_o valiant_a have_v not_o make_v any_o great_a progress_n in_o all_o the_o war_n which_o they_o have_v make_v wherefore_o it_o seem_v it_o may_v be_v affirm_v that_o fortification_n be_v a_o very_a noble_a and_o excellent_a art_n because_o it_o help_v to_o compass_v the_o ultimate_a and_o true_a end_n which_o ought_v to_o be_v the_o aim_n of_o war_n in_o a_o well_o regulate_v state_n to_o wit_n peace_n and_o security_n what_o be_v then_o to_o be_v resolve_v upon_o in_o this_o diversity_n of_o allegation_n it_o be_v a_o true_a and_o general_a rule_n that_o all_o thing_n can_v suit_v with_o all_o thing_n nor_o ought_v we_o in_o the_o action_n belong_v to_o civil_a life_n to_o seek_v for_o that_o which_o be_v simple_o and_o of_o itself_o good_a for_o it_o will_v be_v in_o vain_a to_o do_v so_o divers_a thing_n prove_v useful_a to_o divers_a end_n and_o to_o divers_a person_n and_o they_o ought_v to_o be_v accommodate_v to_o the_o condition_n of_o time_n quality_n of_o custom_n and_o to_o other_o particular_a accident_n therefore_o the_o same_o manner_n of_o proceed_v in_o the_o government_n and_o preservation_n of_o their_o state_n become_v not_o several_a prince_n but_o several_a way_n such_o prince_n as_o have_v large_a dominion_n and_o powerful_a force_n may_v secure_o repose_v 〈◊〉_d safety_n in_o their_o militia_n and_o soldiery_n they_o have_v no_o great_a need_n of_o castle_n or_o strong_a hold_n and_o if_o they_o will_v have_v any_o it_o may_v suffice_v they_o to_o have_v they_o place_v upon_o their_o utmost_a confine_n to_o secure_v their_o country_n from_o sudden_a incursion_n and_o for_o the_o opportunity_n and_o security_n of_o such_o garrison_n as_o such_o prince_n use_v to_o keep_v in_o their_o province_n which_o be_v further_a remote_a and_o at_o a_o great_a distance_n from_o their_o imperial_a seat_n as_o the_o roman_a emperor_n do_v in_o former_a time_n and_o as_o the_o ottoman_a lord_n do_v now_o who_o trust_v in_o their_o own_o power_n do_v endeavour_n much_o more_o the_o take_n of_o fort_n which_o do_v appertain_v to_o other_o man_n than_o the_o make_n of_o new_a one_o themselves_o which_o they_o stand_v not_o so_o much_o in_o need_n of_o for_o that_o their_o greatness_n keep_v they_o free_a from_o be_v injure_v by_o other_o but_o lesser_a prince_n ought_v to_o govern_v themselves_o by_o another_o rule_n and_o stand_v more_o in_o need_n of_o strong_a hold_n for_o not_o have_v any_o large_a territory_n nor_o much_o money_n to_o keep_v a_o great_a many_o soldier_n continual_o in_o pay_n what_o they_o can_v do_v by_o force_n or_o reputation_n they_o do_v by_o the_o advantage_n of_o fortification_n for_o they_o keep_v what_o belong_v unto_o they_o so_o well_o guard_v by_o a_o few_o soldier_n as_o sometime_o the_o force_n of_o any_o whatsoever_o powerful_a prince_n be_v not_o able_a to_o pluck_v they_o out_o of_o their_o nest_n nor_o yet_o to_o bereave_v they_o of_o any_o part_n of_o their_o state_n whereof_o we_o have_v have_v many_o example_n in_o these_o late_a time_n and_o among_o the_o rest_n the_o defence_n of_o malta_n be_v very_o remarkable_a which_o be_v assault_v by_o the_o force_n of_o so_o great_a a_o prince_n as_o be_v solyman_n the_o few_o knight_n of_o malta_n be_v so_o able_a to_o defend_v it_o as_o the_o turk_n be_v force_v not_o without_o some_o shame_n and_o much_o to_o their_o prejudice_n to_o quit_v it_o after_o have_v spend_v much_o time_n and_o lose_v many_o man_n before_o that_o fort._n and_o the_o turk_n have_v learn_v by_o the_o experience_n of_o other_o the_o good_a of_o strong_a hold_v be_v now_o to_o have_v a_o better_a esteem_n of_o they_o then_o former_o they_o have_v have_v especial_o in_o place_n further_a off_o from_o the_o seat_n of_o the_o empire_n where_o all_o thing_n necessaie_v can_v be_v provide_v for_o but_o in_o a_o long_a time_n and_o with_o much_o inconveniency_n they_o have_v to_o this_o purpose_n build_v many_o fort_n in_o the_o part_n which_o they_o have_v late_o get_v in_o persia_n and_o have_v therein_o do_v very_o wise_o for_o whereas_o the_o former_a ottoman_a emperor_n reap_v no_o good_a by_o their_o enterprise_n upon_o persia_n but_o as_o soon_o as_o their_o army_n be_v withdraw_v the_o country_n which_o they_o have_v