tyme shewe hymselfe afrayed at other tymes dissemble to gyue backe and flye Through which sleygth the victory doth chaunce 27 ¶ To knowe whether a cytie is thy frende or no. When the capitayne doth suspect any cytye to be hys frende me counsayle is to desyre and aske some great request which wolde not be graunted but of a frendlye cytye And by thys meane he shal playnly knowe theyre mynde and herte towarde hym And this counsayle shall so turne to hys aduauntage and greate profyte 28 ¶ Of confidence and assured hope in battayle Although the warres be very greate yet must not the capitayne dispayre For the chaunce of battayle is doubtfull and vncertayne whose ende doth not answer to the begynnynge And in that tyme ladye fortune nowe doth shewe her selfe gētle and bonaire now cruell and churlish sometyme fauourynge thys parte efte that parte after her owne pleasure 29 ¶ Of the situacion of the cytie to be searched and knowen by the capitayne hym selfe A capitayne ought to beholde with his owne eyes the situacion of the place before he come with hys hoste to besiege it or make any assault therto For more ease it is to assaulte the cytye on one part then on an other Wherfore a witty capitayne wyll viewe and marke the situacion in euerye parte and thereby knowe whyche parte of the cytye maye moost easelye be besieged 30. ¶ Of lybertie to be kept and encreased of all men A wyse capitayne wyll not chaunge the libertie of townes whych he hath subdued but rather encrease and kepe them saulfe For nothynge there is that soner shall entyse and allure the captyues to loue the and forget theyr olde lorde then to se theyr libertyes and priuyleges vntouched in whych men set all theyr felicitye and for whyche no reasonable man wolde forsake to suffre mooste cruell and fearefull death 31. ¶ Of the doubtfull cōmyng of thyne enemyes When we be in doubt on what partie our enemyes wyll set vpon vs and so we knowe not howe to ordre our armie and sette our arraye best it is to set our araye foursquare For in that sleyght is moost sauftye and syckernesse and so no parte shalbe vndefenced wherby oure enemies shalbe disceyued which thought to haue commen vpon vs on the backe syde By which pollicie eyther our enemies shalbe put to flyght or at the leest thyne armye shalbe saulfe and harmelesse 32. ¶ When the arraye of thyne enemyes is troubled and out of ordre When the arraye of thyne enemyes is broken and they in great feare the capytayne must pursue with hys moost valyaūt warryours before they recouer theyr selues and be delyuered from that feare For yf they take herte agayne harde it shalbe wythout a great nombre and puisaunce of men to vanquysh them 33. ¶ How to make thyne armye stronge and lustye Kepe thyne armye in rough and moūtayne places to make theyr bodyes styffe and strong For pleasaūt places do cause weakenesse wherfore souldyours whether they be springalles or auncient warryours that longe haue sludged in ydlenesse neades must be exercysed in rough places that their bodies may be strong more durable throughe theyr exercyse in suche rough and hyllye places For accordyng to theyr exercyse so shall they be in strength and valyauntnesse And this is the onely meane to make our army strōg and lustye The capitayne may somtyme for theyr exercyse deuyde his souldyours and ordre them in forme and lykenesse of a battayle But he must beware of bloodsheddyng lest some discorde and quarellyng therof do ryse whyche is the destruction of an hole hoste 34. ¶ A policie to be vsed when thy men do forsake the. Yf any company of thy souldyours of any euyll mynde and wycked purpose do forsake the and goo to thyne enemyes in tyme of battayle to the entent that other of thy host be not amased wyth theyr sodeyne departure The capitayne must publysh and noyse that thyng to be done by hys aduyse and counsayle Therby to delyuer hys cōpany out of feare and make them more redye to fyght trustynge the departure of theyr felowes aduysedly to be done 35. ¶ To searche and boulte out the counsayle of thyne enemyes Sende those that be wyttye and ther wyth experte warryours whiche vnder colour that they haue forsaken theyr company maye spye and searche all the doinges endeuours and counsayl of thyne enemyes and the same to recounte to the capitayne whych after that all thynge is delated and discussed wyth the wyttyer sorte of his souldiours wyth hastye and quycke expedition wyll folowe the same 36. ¶ Of them that be besieged They that be besieged and set aboute wyth theyr enemyes that they can not yssue out of the place where they be must shewe some token and agrement y t they haue plentye of vytayles and other thin ges necessary to contynue thassaulte Wherby theyr enemies hauyng no hope to wynne the cytye maye leaue of and retyre homewarde For by this pollicy and sleyght many haue ben disceyued 37. ¶ What is to be done when two hostes do vexe and pursue the. Yf thyne enemye haue two Armyes of men and thou also other two to wyth stande his force my counsayle is to pyke the chefest men that thou hast of the one partie of thyne armye and then wyth al spede to set vpon the one hooste of thyne enemyes before they bothe come ioyne togyther By this pollicye Hasdrubal of Carthage was lost wyth all his hole host yea then Carthage was destroyed for euer And the Romaynes empyre dyd florysh and stande 38. ¶ A crafte and pollicye to take a cytye Yf thou be not able to take the cytie by strength and the siege semeth longe my counsayl is to departe for a tyme stray this waye and that waye somtyme nye and somtyme aloofe And then sodeynly come vppon them For by suche ofte styttyng and remouyng of thyne army thou shalt dismay them and so to take the citie 39. ¶ A place to encrease thyne armye wythout great charges Yf when thou art farre from thy coūtrye thou must set forth mo men my coūsayle is to call togyther all the most worshypfull and rychest citezins there aboute dwellynge and commaunde them bothe well horsed and harnessed to be ready at a certayne daye And when all shalbe assēbled wyll them to prepare them selues readye or elles to appoynt some in theyr stede whych are stronge and lusty Thys pollicie Scipio Africanus vsed when he made most cruell battayle agaynst Carthage 40. ¶ Of an holsome lawe to be made in the citie Establysh and ordeyne lawe in the cytye that the capitayne shalbe beheeded and lose hys polle yf hys armye be ouer comen So eyther shall he wynne the victorye or els valyauntly fyghtynge shall dye deseruyng immortall prayse Also he wyll be more carefull to foresee all thynges then yf no suche lawe hadde bene decreed ne yet wyll he suffre hys armye ydelly to sludge but he wyll kepe them occupyed in daylye exercise
therfore we must applye vs to y e inconstaunt nature of such people alluryng and hailyng them to folowe vs by feastyng and bankettes As the fysshe is takē with the bayte Wherfore a wyse capitayne wyll vse no lesse wysdome to mayntayne the state of hys kyngdome then he dyd in gettynge it By this waye he shall kepe vpryght and establysshe all thynges Otherwyse he shall brynge all to nought and a wyser prince shal possesse and enioye his kyngdome 135 ¶ Of a certayne kynde of defence Charrettes set in the earth before the campe wyth the wheles dygged depe cheyned fast togyther be a great defence And this was chefely vsed among many of the auncient souldyours for theyr spedynesse whych were wonte to cary with them a great nombre of charettes 135 ¶ Of the swetnesse of aduauntage Aduauntage maketh those that be cowardes for the moost party redye to battayle Wherfore a wyse capitayne ought moche to crake of the spoyle and pillage whych wylbe great after y e victorie with such riches that pouertie shal neuer pinch thē after if they bestow thēself valiaūtly in this one battayle and beare them lyke men thys one daye the laste daye of all theyr myserye and labour Wherfore it is the capitaynes dutye with suche lyke orations to comforte and encourage hys men to be forewarde fiercelye to fyght and boldly to stande to it 136. ¶ Of a troublesome and vnrulye multitude A greate multitude of souldyours whyche be barbarous and rude must be caryed to longe warres for feare that some sedition do growe amonge them whyche manye tymes doeth ouerthrowe whole countries Wherfore the capitayn hedely must foresee that all causes of sedicion be taken awaye and plucked vp by the rotes For yf sedition be ones kendled the cytie is lyke to be burned and all the citizins vtterly confounded 137 ¶ Of the dutye of a good capytayne A valyaunte capitayne wyll be ashamed to be sene alyue and all his mē slayn For with what countenaunce dare he be bolde to shewe his face or to prease into the cōpany of valyaunt capitaynes whē he doth suruyue his men being slayne yf the battayle was yll fought who shal be blamed but the capitayne whiche eyther in an vnegal and inconuenient place dyd pytche his fielde or elles with a lytle power rashly gaue battayle agaynst his enemies which were both mo in nombre and more expert in warres whych thing is not to be done but in a great strayte vrgent necessitie 138. ¶ In a newe rendre When any prouince or citye haue newly yelded them selues to the capitayne he shall doo well to pardone all burthens and charges of the cytye as to open prysons for them that be in duraunce and burne bokes of condēnations and brefely no kynde of humanitie ne yet of bountyfulnesse is to be forgotten Wherby the capytaynes gentlenesse and good wyll maye be knowen and appeare 139. ¶ Of the punishment of the capitayne whych forsaketh hys men The capitayne that forsaketh his host and flyeth away is worthye to be beheeded in exāple of al other For more prayse worthye it is to dye in battayle valyauntly fyghtynge wyth greate glorye and renoume then after for his cowardise with shame and reproche to lose hys lyfe 140. ¶ To abstayne from robbyng of temples Commaunde your souldyours that they shunne to spoyle and robbe temples lest God be offended therwyth For great hurte and damage chaunceth to an army by suche vnreuerent spoyle of churches whych for suche mischeuous doinges neuer skaped vnpunysshed neyther in oure dayes ne yet in any tyme out of our mind Therfore commaunde your menne to abstayne from the robbyng of temples For no battayle is so harde to be skaped from as the battayle of God 141. ¶ To pursue thyne enemyes in the chase When thyne enemyes do turne theyr face and stye then pursue and chase them gredelye yf there be no suspition of traynes Do thou not deferre ne yet be slacke lest they recouer them selues and ashamed of theyr cowardlye flyght tourne agayne and cause the to recule recoueryng the battayle whyche nowe before was loste For experyence doeth shewe howe vnprofytable it is not to take tyme whē tyme doth serue 142. ¶ To dissemble retreate and feare Yf the capitayne shall perceyue anye place conuenyente and mete for the discōfiture of hys enemies it shalbe not vnpro fytable to dissemble retreate and feare vntyll he haue trayned and ledde his enemyes thyther And then let hym set vpon them on the foreparte on the backe and on bothe wynges Therfore the mooste parte be brought into suche traynes that tarye in holdes and abyde thassaultes of theyr enemyes and at the last ben enforced for famine to pyght fielde in open chāpyon grounde 143. ¶ what is to be done when great ieopardyes are to be vndertaken When great ieopardies ben at hande which we must by some meane auoyd thē mete it is to chose souldyours whyche ben vnfearfull and couragious to encoūtre wyth theyr enemyes when we muste imbolden wyth rewardes and fayre promysses that gladly they wyll marche forwarde and not to steppe backe for anye ieopardyes Also they are to be admonyshed what prayse and rychesse they shall gette of that vyctorie Besydes that we must earnestly affirme that the only trust and hope of the victorie standeth in them Wherfore they debatyng all these thynges wyth themselues and myndefull of theyr former doinges wyl purpose wyth them selues to atchyue the vyctorye and wynne theyr spurres 144 ¶ To abstayne from treason You capitaynes and souldyours which loke and clymbe for honour and wyl not indamage and impayre youre name beware of treason which is moost cursed hatefull For fyrste you shall haue them whom you do betraye your deedly foes and extreme enemies and they for whom you worke that treason shall feare and suspect you Yea and at the laste hate and abhorre the deed and euer doubtyng lest you practyse suche traytorus wylyes agaynst them which you haue vsed for thē Wherfore yfsuche men wyll rebelle and departe from theyr capitayne lette them yet beware to cōmyt so heynous a fault whych in all ages is moost abhominable for great hatred is gathered of treason whych faulte is abhorred of all men The traytour also is hated boked at with fynges and defamed both alyue and deed Therfore you maye se the frutes of treason 120. ¶ Of the sagenesse and eloquence of the capitayne in his orations The oration of the capitayne setforth and spoken wyth weyghtye sentences apte wordes is moche cōmendable and verye requisyte For weyghtye and fete wordes shal make hym praysed of al men and taken as the very ymage of vertue wysdome Therfore the capitaynes must not in the face of al men folowe theyr merye conceiptes and vnaduysedlye speake but amonge theyr familyers and nyghe frendes Yea and then not wantonly and foolyshlye But theyr wordes oughte to be seasoued wyth sagenesse and grauitie and estemed as the oracles of the goddes 146. ¶ To
them selues to be slayne lyke beastes 75 ¶ To kepe whole and saulfe territories and townes A foreseing capitayne ought yea prouoked to many iniuries to refrayne and not to wast such townes and territories as he purposeth to haue vnder his dominyon and rule For by that meane he shal purchase the fauour of the countreymen and by suche gentlenesse he shall escape the name of crueltie For certes the men of that prouynce wyll thynke that that chiefe capitayne doth fauour them whē he doth forbeare to dispeople and waste theyr townes and fieldes and doeth not appeare to stryue for theyr goodes and rychesse but for the empyre and lordshyppes For no man doeth doubte that realmes be mayntayned and nouryshed by y e only loue and obeysaunce of the subiects and not by any Armes of men or ryche treasures Therfore let the capitayne cōmaund all hys souldiours to vse no fiercenesse in that prouyng whiche entendeth to subdue but to dismisse the noble men and citizins that be taken captyues frely and with great gyftes vsyng all meanes to crepe into theyr fauour 76 ¶ That thyne Armye is to be lodged and kept in the marches of thyne enemyes Kepe thy hoste in the borders or pale of thyne enemyes for any thynge there puruey vytayles for them wyth all dyligence sparynge thy frendes For when thou dost lodge thyne army in theyr coūtryes or nye to theyr campe thou doest breake theyr herte and moch discourage them eftsones auauncyng and encouragyng the stomakes of thy frendes In example wherof Annibal the chiefe capytayne of the Carthaginenses doth teache what profite it is to lodge our host in the campe of our enemyes whych conducted and conueyed hys armye from Hispayne by many ieopersome trauayles into Italye whych wholy almoost he dyd waste by fyre and sworde conquered a great part therof Scipio also knowing y e same pollicie brought forthe hys Armye into Afryke and gat Carthage by rendre and vpgyuynge 77. ¶ What is to be done when in wynter we must fyght Best it is in colde wynter to take mete before we go to fyght For good meate drynke be the nerest remedyes to refresh vs and put awaye colde The proffe of which thing by y e slaughter of the romaynes at the stoude called Trebea is playuly shewed where the romain power was almoost lost and destroyed y e cause wher of was that the capitayne brought forth his souldiours whych were wyllynge to fyght fastyng and vndyned wherby the mooste parte of them clunged for colde was rather by starknesse of meat thā by y e violence of theyr enemies shame Therfore the capitayne must warely foresee y t in wynter tyme he do not issue forth with hys men before they be refreshed w t hote meates and drynkes By thys meane he shall ouergo and subdue hys ennemyes whych by longe fyghtyng shall faut and fall downe for hungre when men refresshed wyth hote meates bene hable to susteyne battayle an whole daye 79 ¶ Of pleasures to be eschued of the capitayne and the hoste The inuincible Armye of Annibal doth planly setforth before our eyes that the pleasures of the bodye be hurtfull to an hooste of men to berefte them of theyr wytte fierse and fell courage which win teryng in Capua lost theyr strengthes For Capua is the mother cytie of wanton pleasures so that Anniball dyd often embrayde his men saying that that host was not hys whych he had before The cause wherof was the pleasure of Capua wherby the lustye myndes of the souldyours were nesshed and made womanlike Therfore the capitaynes ought to be carefull that theyr men be not vanquysshed soner of pleasures then of theyr enemies Whyche thynge were shamefull and reprocheable The cytye called Spartana dyd turne the eyes of theyr cytizins from Asia bycause from thence dydde come all thynges pleasaunt which be the deedlye poyson of the mynde and of the bodye They also did wel knowe and were assured that men soner do fall to wantōnesse from vertue then they do forsake pleasures and embrace vertue 79. ¶ To chose a place to fyght in whē the sunne and the dust maye be noysome to thyne enemyes and in theyr eyes The capitayne ought to chose a place mete and cōmodious to fyght in prouydyng that the sunne may be in the face of his enemyes And yf the place be sandye or drye for the heate of sommer let hym tarye the tyme that the wynde blowe in the face of his enemyes and on his souldyours backes For the coursynge of horses wyll rayse vp a great dust which the wynde wyll carye into the faces of thyne enemyes and blynde theyr eye syght And this was the chefe cause of the Romayne slaughter at y e towne called Cāne 80. ¶ Of tyme not to be lost or vaynely spent Nothyng ought to be more regarded of a pollityk capitayne then tyme which entendeth to enterpryse greate thynges worthye euerlyu yng renoume For sluggeshnesse causeth bothe losse and shame Wherfore he must endeuoure to fynysh all thynges wyth care and spedynesse after the example of Annibal of Carthage whyche by greate rewardes purchased passage into Ytaly y t thesoner he mought finysh hys iourney and ende his voyage The same thyng also was done by the romayne capitayne which embraided and rebuked of his frendes that he boughte his passage derelye made this answere I regarde not my costly iourneye when I haue redemed the tyme mooste dere to them that trauayle and employe theyr wytte about thynges weyghtye and of greate importaunce 81. ¶ Of good and euyl doinges semblable to be rewarded as punyshed Yfthy men do any faulte in thyne Armye be slowe in theyr punyshmentes But bountyfull in gyuynge rewardes yf thou haue knowledge y t they haue done any thing galauntly and well that other maye be prouoked and styrred vp at that example to be redye at hande For valyaunt and lusty warryours be more slow when theyr welldoinges dye wythout rewardes or thankes Therfore let the capitayne auaunce and setforth hymselfe by largesse the onelye vertue laudable to knytte and lyme hys men in sure loue the causer of all good chaunces without whych all other thynges decaye as it ap peareth by the ryche kyng Perses which nygardly gapynge after treasures was berefte by the Romaynes bothe of hys kyngdome and richesse with most shame and sclaundre 82. ¶ What is to be done when thy men be lyght and spedye He that hath a lyght Armye must pursue and wyth spede trace after hys enemyes whych be loden wythe harneys trouble them daye and nyght wyth contynuall assaultes not sufferyng them quy etly to take theyr meate and drynke but brynge them into extreme dispayre The whych thynge was well knowen of Sertorius an expert warryour and wyse capitayne whych dyd so disquyet Pompei wyth hys lyghte harnessed men that he brought hym into vttermoost distruste discomforte Wherfore it is a greate pollicy to haue light harnessed men in thyne Armye For so thou mayeste
discention be styred amonge thy souldyours whyche oftentymes may happen for diuisions rysyng amōg thē my coūsayl is to set all thynges in quyet staye and brynge them agayne to concorde cōstrayne them by othes makynge to forget suche wronges and become good frendes and felowes agayne cōmaundyng also that from thenceforth they do not shewe anye token or remembraunce of that varyaunce in deede ne worde 106. ¶ what tyme townes and cities maye be despoyled and taken That capitayne is worthie to be hyghly praysed of hys owne men and greatly feared of his enemyes that by his wytte and conueyaunce goth about to take and despoyle townes without bloodsheddig of hys armye and endeuoureth by pollicie to conquere countries That capitayn shall euer haue his souldyours redye and at hande to ieoparde on thynges harde daungerous wherfore it becommeth a prouident capitayne to proue and assaye all thynges rather by conueyaunce and pollici then by force of armes For greater victoryes be wonne and gotten by pollicye then strength Therfore by nyght when rayne falleth cytyes and townes are to be taken and despoyled 107 ¶ Howe moche the presence of the graunde capitayne doeth profyte How necessary the presence of y e graūd capitayn is in the battayl al men whose wyttes be not on batfoulyng may clerelye perceyue and se For the souldyours yea and theyr capitaynes aswel for feare of shame as specyallye for the presence of the graunde capitayne wyll bestyrre thēselues moost valyauntly Manye also for trust of rewarde and chefely to purchasse the Emperours fauour attentyuely wyll exploite and furnysh all thynges Oftentymes also the battayle slowlye and cowardly foughten is renued and restored manfully by the presence of the graund capityne whych doeth not leaue anye feate or trayne vnprouyded encouragyng hys men now with me nacies and now with gentle and comfortable wordes By whyche meane the souldyours wyll contende one to passe an other in prowesse so that in the Emperours syght they maye do some thynge notable and prayse worthye Therfore nothynge worthie perpetuall memorie can be done yf the Emperour or graund capitayne be not at hand 108. ¶ Of the multitude of enemyes Yf it chaunce any great prince to be besette on euery parte wyth many enemies so that he is not able to beare theyr force and vyolence myne aduyse is that wyth some he do make a leage of frendshyppe and wyth other he do entreate of peace And so he shall escape and auoyde y e daungerfull destruction of his countrye For when so many go about to get thy kyngdome it is a lyght thyng to put of some of them eyther with great promyses or w t money chefely in this tyme whē mē do not stryue somoche for renoume as they do for ryches and all the world doth gape for golde and syluer 109. ¶ Of enemyes that be humble and treatable Somtyme for a lyght cause greate battayles be begonne amonge men wherfore yf they agaynste whome we make our preparaūce shewe them selues gētle and tractable it were not honeste on the other partye to shewe our selues vnmercyful For what can chaunce more shame full to any man in hys lyfe then to be noted and attached wyth tyrrāny What cā make vs more worthye to be lykened to the wylde beastes and also more doeth hurte the aduauncement of our renoume the encrease of our honour and the wele publike of our realmes then horryble tyrannie Wherfore suche crueltie ought to be eschued no lesse then the wylde beastes 109 ¶ Of daungerfull and peryllous battayles Greuous and daungerfull battayles do chaunce oftentymes amonge men For whych cause a sage capitayne ought to prouyde for all thynges with ernest labours and cheifely that he haue olde and beaten souldyours For they knowynge the vse of battayle doo not feare naked swordes ne yet for strypes no although they take many depe woundes they styfly wyl abyde and stande to all ieopardies for the kepyng of theyr old men Also they being practysed in warly knowledge can discerne what is profytable and what is not euer decreing this with them selues eyther to conquere and ouercome theyr enemyes or els manfullye to dye whyche is the trne token and argument of a noble herte and lustye blood 111 ¶ It is mete for yonge men in theyr youth to practyse martiall feates They whyche wyll become good and experte warriours ought in theyr youth dilygently to applye and folowe y e same For yf a yongeman wonte hym self quyely to bestryde and mount vpon his horse and lykewyse to lyght downe to takevp his horse with the spurres that he maye praunse trauerse and flyng wyth the heles then surelye he shall become a good warryour Let hym also practise to shote in hande gunnes and crossebowes to cast dartes and chargegunnes to cary swerd and tergate and somtyme with his marrowes to raunge lyke a man of armes to resemble a battayle ✚ that when he commeth to mans stature greate experyence shall shyne and appeare in hym To such one all labours whyche be to other men intollerable be lyght easye as to lodge on the earth to suffre famyne and abyde all other mooste sowre and trauaylous paynes Wherfore it is greate profyte to brynge vp youth in suche exercyse to harden them in greater thynges 112 ¶ To encrease the nombre of thyne enemyes by a rumour When a rumoure is sparpled that a myghtye hoste of men commeth agaynst the augment the same rumoure amonge thy souldyours affyrmynge the same to be true by the reporte and acknowledgig of thyne outryders Therby thou mayest be assured with what stomacke and herte they wyll buckle and bende them selues to withstande and receyue such an huge nombre of enemyes yf the nombre were so great in dede When they shal come to fyght and se the shewe to be abated and diminisshed forthwyth they wyll gather theyr hertes with moche more force and vyolence whych before doubtyng of the victorye now as victours wyll boldelye fyght steppynge forwarde wyth cherefull courage to whome nothynge is ieoperdsome agaynste theyr conceipt and opinion of the victorie 113 ¶ To preuent the wylies and traynes of a nobler prince When thou doest feare and not wythout a cause the trappes and deceiptes of some noble man leste that he wyll come vpō the sodaynly and bereft y e of thy kyngdome dispoyle thy cyties and townes and thruste thy lyue It is not the worste in preuentynge hym to waste hys kyngdome spoyle hys cyties and ymagyn his death And so suche traynes which were prouyded for the thou shalte vse to ouerthrowe and disceyue hym and shalt catch hym in the same nettes and snares that were layde and sette for the. For God his lawes the lawe of man and nature suffre well this that a man maye turne that to the vndoinge of other men whyche they layed for hym 114. ¶ Of them that haue longe heere and longe beerdes Men in some countryes vse longe berdes and longe heere whyche in battayle be troublesome
enemies be thereby strengthed and encouraged to fyghte for the hope desyre of that pray For all men be endewed wyth thys of nature that for ryches and vauntage sake they thynke all perylles lyght and easye all labours a playe and sporte Therfore do we leaue our ryches at home least vnwyllynge we gyue mattyer and occasyon to our enemyes to fyght and so of dasterdes make them bolde of cowardes coragyouse 38. ¶ To make the water noysome and vnhealthsome to thyne enemies If we couet to make the water poison full to oure enemyes it shall not be vnprofytable to cast a great quantity of wood broken and brused a sonder in the vpper parte of the streame whereby the water shall be bytter to the tast that neyther mēne horses maye drynke of it 39. ¶ In what place the battayle is to be fought The chyeftayne muste forsee and prouyde that hys men maye haue a water behynde theyr backes to refreshe and water theyr horses and hys ennemies none by whyche meane forsothe he shall carye away the maystry whan hys enemies theyr horses weryed by longe trauayle and fyght can haue no refreshment 40. ¶ To kepe the citie besyeged in faythe and constancie Oftētymes it chaunceth cities to be be syeged and therwyth to suffer greate famyne and honger thonly tamer of men ouer theyr huge paynfull watchynges in the same syege whyche al do cause the cities rather and ryght waye to gyue vp and yelde except the capitayne by his policie wyth fayre woordes and exhortacions do kepe the citizens in sure fayth and cōstancie dissemblynge faynyng manye thynges In example and profe whereof I wyll note some thynges hereafter that capitaynes instructed wyth my lessons maye serche mo wayes to kepe the citie to theyr kynge or prince obeysaūt fayth full Wherfore fyrst the capitayne ought to feyne letters sente from hys lord wher in he is promysed in shorte space to haue more ayde and succoure And yf he shall perceyue them waueryuge and bente to yelde vp he muste go abowte at some tymes to perswade them by orations decked garnyshed w t art and pyked reasōs to plucke them from such a myschyfe promysyng them all libertye Than after let hym also laboure that letters fastened to shaftes maye be cōueyed by nyght to the batelyng of towres in whyche some cityzen is admonyshed by some good frend of hys in the armye of theyr enemies not to yelde and gyue vp the citye For theyr capitayne is disceyptefull and worketh all by couyne and craft whych although his promises be fayre is mynded wyth fiere and swoorde to destroye the whole citie And suche other thynges are to be feyned whyche appere trouthlyke that the countenaunce of the syege maye not be grenous to the citizens 41. ¶ To scape oute of a narrowe place It chaunceth of tentymes thyne army wanderynge in hyllye countryes to entre into some narrowe and strayte place besette couertlye with thyne enemyes Where what to do or whyther to turne thy men doe not well knowe wherfore a skylful capytayne must thus prouyde y t yf he be not of power to dryue hys enemies from thense by strength let hym daye and nyghte seche when they be wythout watch and then sodaynlye and vnloked for rushe vppon them At other tymes let hym fayne despeyre and retrace backe in many skyrmysshes layenge some pyked and actyue warryours in couerte embusshemente 42. ¶ Of bowes Fotemen with bowes whych englysh men vse do greate seruyce in an host For there is no breste plate whyche is able to wythstand and holde owte the stroke of the arrowes suche force and vyolence is in bowes 43. ¶ Of the owtragyouse assault of thyne enemyes Yf thyne enemyes that be horsemen be within a myle and do come towarde the outragiously the reynes of theyr horses beinge let slacke staye there And yf they be fotemen and be within halfe a myle stande styll and gredelye receyue them pantyng for werynesse hertynge thy men boldly to fyght and to gyue manye a sore stroke which thyng maye be done when thyne enemyes be weryed 44. ¶ To foresee the place rounde about where the battayle shall be Beware to gyue battayle except thou haue before diligently viewed by thy self and thyne espyals yf there be any ieoper dye of traynes and gyles lest thou ouerthrowe thy selfe When thyne enemyes at what tyme thou arte moost earnestlye set to fyght shall oppresse the sodaynlye eyther on thy backe or elles on thy syde where thou shalt yelde thy selfe vanquyshed and taken bycause the defaulte can not be escaped ne holpen and al through thyne vnwarenesse 45. ¶ To set vpon thyne enemyes in theyr iourneye Yf we can knowe what waye out enemyes wyll take theyr voyage and iourneye it shall not be vnprofytable spedelye to preuent them and gettynge a place conuenyent to lye in wayte and set vpon them vnwares lokyng for no such thing For then vndoubtedly easye it is to ouermatche and conquere thyne enemyes 46. ¶ What is to be done when our enemyes ouermatche vs in force It chaunceth to haue suche men oure enemyes whose force and strength vneth or not at all we ben able to susteyne wherfore myne aduyse is to entreate the force of our enemyes and beseche ayde succour at theyr handes or to seke for helpe of them that bordre on vs and bene oure neyghbours warnyng them dyuers wayes of the ieopardye that is at hande of theyr lordshyppes and yf the soner they do not aide and releue them they can not but yelde and submyt theyr selues which thyng shalbe also great damage to them For the downefall and burnynge of thys house is the fyrematche of the nexte 47. ¶ what is to be done when we do fyght in straites Yf bothe the hostes mete and ioyne in strayte places and neythet wyll recule one fote but styfly endure the fyght then myne aduyse is the cheftayne takynge a certayne of hys stronge and weyghtye souldyours to assayle hys enemyes commyng on theyr backe or one the one wing although the passage be daūgerous and longe whereby certes he shall attayne a prayseworthye victorie wyth lytle losse or none of his men 48. ¶ Of ouermoche confidence Yf we haue gotten thupper hande of parte of our enemyes it is not good to tō tinue the battayle trustynge in our puissaunce and so hope on a greater victorye lest we put in hasarde what we haue gotten encountrynge with the whole hoste whych were fondely and rashly done 49. ¶ Of the capitaynes cōmaundement that no man take any prisoner Yf we purpose and trauayle to gette a notable conquest of our enemyes the capytayne oughte to commaunde vnder a greate penaltye to hys men that they take no prisoner ne captyue vntyl he shal gyue some token of the same which pollicie is not the worst For the souldyours shall then lose no tyme about captyues but shall wyth al theyr force put to flight beate downe and kylle theyr ennemyes Whyche done hereafter the
enemyes more neglygentlye wyl kepe watche and ward And thy tyme spyed it shalbe lyght to passe by and escape eyther by nyght or els by day owt of that daungerous place But somtyme perforce thou must open a lane and make a waye by harde strokes and manfull fyghtynge 63. ¶ To make an assemble and shewe of horsemen in the face of thyne enemyes ¶ Myne aduise is that the numbre of our souldyours maye appere greate and huge to harneys the lacqueis of our horsmen and apoynte them to stande farre of lyke a garrison of men wyth the poyntes of theyr speres vpryght For so thyne ennemyes wyll iudge a bande of horsemen there to appere whyche shall moche affraye theym that we haue yet so greate a noumbre of souldyers at hande to succour and ayde vs yf nede requyre 64. ¶ To refrayne frō the besiege of suche cities whych haue daylye newe succour Best it is to wythdrawe and leaue of the syege of suche cities whych fetch vnto them maugrye our teth and in spyte of our hertes daylye newe succour For the assaulte through theyr new ayde is hard yea almoste vnpossible when lustye and stronge men occupy the rowmes of them that be woūded and theyr vytayles be so plentye that they fele no lacke nor skarsitye Wherfore we must all wayes fyght wyth fresshe men newe strengthes and plentye of vytayles But yet sodaynly to breke owte and besyege suche cities I do not muche dysalowe 65. ¶ What is moste expedient for the chyfe capitayne to do at the fyrst entrye in to countreyes If we make entries in to any countrey wyth an armye myne aduise is bycause it were paynful harde to lay syege to euery towne and assaulte euery citie to sende sage and honest personages to promisse for a long tyme the release of their rentes and affyrme the same wyth fayth and many othes Yf wyllyngly they wyl yelde and become hys lyeges and trewe subiectes 66. ¶ What is to be done in y e syege of bygge cities In the syege of greate cities takyng a bygge compasse rounde abowte we must wyth all laboure make and intercut not farre of the citte brode and depe trenches defensed wyth turrettes of woodde for feare of sodayne eruption owte of the citye whyche is the cause of many incommodities than brode wayes must be cast that thone parte of the hoste maye haue course and recourse to helpe the other yf nede be 67. ¶ What is to be done whā oure enemyes spyes are taken Yf the spyes of oure enemyes chaunce into our handes myne aduisement is to graunt them lyfe and gyue to them gret summes of money therby to knowe the counsayle of oure enemyes and their purpose and semblable to tell to them what thynges be mooste profytable for vs to knowe For nothynge is more necessary than to knowe the endeuours of our ennemyes whan lytle or nothyng they can hynder what we do pourpose But yf we shal sende theym awaye liberallye rewarded demaundynge nothynge of thaffayres of our enemies it shalbe a great argument of confydence assured boldnes in vs to the great feae of orur enemyes But the capitayne may take counsayle of thinges performe what he shal thinke necessarie 68. ¶ Not to haue one espye alwayes Do we remembre thys that it is not conuenient ne yet necessarye to vse one espye styll For they allured and enuegled with y e hope of great rewardes do bring oure conueyaunces and affayres to the eares of our enemyes and recount to vs suche thynges as be false and nothynge necessarye wyth many false lyes wherefore we muste diligentlye forsee that neyther of the scoute watches the one know the other for feare of crafte and trechery whyche thyng ones knowen to hang thē is nexte remedye 69. ¶ To knowe the feare and cowardise of thyne ennemies Whan the hostes bene at ioynynge yf we perceyue the speres of our ennemyes to mooue and beate to gyther that is a great sygne of theyr waueryng and hollowe hertes And it is good somtyme to know suche tokens of cowardnes 70. Of the duetye of bolde and stoute fellowes It becommeth not those that be balyaunt to feare any ieoperdye or to be broken wyth the doubtefull chaunge of fortune when nothynge is so vnweldable that by manlye prowes and sufferaunce maye not be conquered and vndertroden 71. ¶ To recouer the health of thy souldyers If thyne armye be troubled wyth any dysease y u doest couet to recouer theyre wounte healthe it shall be the best to carye them to open and hyllye places 72. ¶ A policie to disceyue and defraude our enemyes Easy it is to trifle wyth our enemyes and make them beleue that we be vnharneysed yf we couer oure harueys wyth some kynde of rayment vnder whych coloure and gyle they wyll come hedlynge to fyght and wyth fewe rashlye wyl set vppon vs. 73. ¶ To gette the fauour of oure souldyers If the capytayne be dyligente to heale them that be wounded and also cherysshe the sycke folke shortleye he shall wynne the fauoure of hys souldiours so that for the encrease of his renowme they wyll not shrynke to bestowe and spende theyr lyfe 74. ¶ To haue fyere to burne in water It shalbe very profitable ī warres on the sea to haue an artificiall fyer whych wyth water canne not be queanched by whyche policie the nauye of Sarracena was destroyed at Constantinople and the kynge therby payd yerelye a hundred poundes of golde for tribute 75. ¶ What is to be done whan capytaynes do not a gree in one sentence It chaūceth oft times y t mindes of y t capitaynes to be diuerse variable about the besiege of cities where best it is fyrste to begyn and there chefely where the armie is furnyshed wyth lyke power of dyuers capitaynes But what is to be doone in suche a chaunge of myndes shortlye shall you knowe Wryte the names of the cytie and cast them into a potte and the cytye whych shal fyrst by chaunce be taken out set vpon that wholye togyther wyth one force and power whiche aduertysement is not the worste For through suche dyscorde the death of an whole armye maye ryse and come 76. ¶ Of false hode to be reuenged Although other iniuryes maye be suffered and to forget them is a token of a noble mynde yet dissoyaltye by all meanes is to be reuenged and acquyted 77. ¶ A waye to laye siege to cytyes on the see syde When we may arryue and cast anker by the walles of the cytye myne aduyse is to dryue thyne enemyes of the walles is this Fyrst hard fast to bynde the mastes of the shyppes togyther with the gable ropes nye some shore and so to make a brydge that the gunnes maye stande to beate thyne ennemyes from the walles whych ones dryuen away it shall be easy on that syde to sette ladders and scale the walles to the wynnyng of the cytie 78 ¶ Where we haue onely welle water Yf for the greate scarcitie
of water we ben enforced to occupye wel water great hede is it to be taken that suche welles be not poysoned by some crafte to the vtter destruction of theyr whole hoste whyche sone maye chaunce yf we take not moost dyligent care and hede 79. ¶ To chose a place to fyght in When our enemyes doo preuayle in force and nombre of men and we can not auoyd but gyue battayl best it is to chose a narrowe and strayte place lest our enemyes enclose and compasse vs rounde about wherby we shalbe sone vanquyshed and ouercomen 78. ¶ To mocke our enemyes Yf we be dryuen to flyght on the hye see for that we be not able to matche our enemyes and they make sayle after vs verye swyftly and ben euen in our tayle it shalbe good to mocke them thus Fyrste to cause our nauye to stryke sayle and make a bragge as we wolde fyght that done wyll the maryners at a sygne gyuen to hoyse vp the sayles to be readye to flye agayne the whych thynge when thyne enemyes shall perceyue shortly wyll they shyppe theyr ores and take them to theyr harneys couerynge theyr heedes wyth theyr sallettes and brefely prouydyng all thynges whych shall be thought necessary for battayle Thē when we shal se our enemyes harnessed and readye to fyght the sygne gyuen our nauye maye make awaye with all haste and flye And they loden wyth harneys shall not recouer to ouertake vs. 81. ¶ When thyne hoste is in great ieopardye When thyne armie is in great ieoperdie my coūsayl is y t chiefe capitayne yea al y t capitaynes to lyght downe from theyr horses therby to encourage the hertes of their souldiours by their bold aduēture lyke daunger and that more stoutlye and gredely they maye fyght seing theyr capitaynes beinge in lyke peryll and fierselye encountrynge wyth theyr ennemyes and so the souldyours castynge of all hope to flye may cousydre this with them selues eyther to vanquysh theyr enemyes or els to dye with glorye and prayse 82 ¶ what is to be done when thyne enemyes ben at hande When the hostes ben in ioynynge and both partes redye to fyght it is the parte of a pollityke and wyttie capitayne to pmesse greate rewardes vnto hys men yf they beatdowne and subdue his enemies wyth whyche hope they greatly gladdened wyll be more prest to set vpon theyr enemyes and purpose wyth them selfe neuer to gyue ouer ne turne theyr faces vntyll they haue atchyeued the vyctorye whych assured opynyon hath ben y e cause of many victoryes 83. ¶ To prouyde that thyne armye maye haue suffysaunce of vytayle The dutye of a carefull capitayne is to foresee that hys armye haue suffycyent vytayles For yf they be sterued for hūgre vnpossible it is that they shoulde do anye thynge vyliauntly when not onlye men but also horses famysshed doo lose theyr strength and lustynesse whereby they be not able to stryke theyr enemye ne yet to defende theyr selues 85. ¶ To prouoke thyne enemyes to fyght in ioyned battayle Yf thou desyre to ioyne in battayl wyth thyne enemyes and to come to handstrokes eyther for the greate commoditie of thyne armie or for some great nede myne aduyse is to dispeople the countries wast and destroye the fieldes rounde about to cause thyne outryders to raunge harde to the pale of thyne enemyes or vse some other kynde of displeasure wherhy they prouoked rashly wyll gyue battayle and so accordyng to thy desyre thyne enemies shall come forth But yet remembre neuer to ioyne in battayle except thou haue before vsed some pollicie or layed thy traynes to entrappe thyne enemyes or doo preuayle in an excedyng nombre of men and force of souldyours whiche be bothe act yue and puissaunt Then vndoubtedlye wythoute anye sleyghtes in playne fielde saufely thou mayest encountre and ioyne in battayle with them ¶ Thus endeth the boke of James the Erle of Purlilie dedicated to kynge Ferdinandus in the peare of our Lorde M. D. xxvii I Wyll be bolde moost gentle readers to put to this one precept of warre In whiche I wyl somewhat to my poore iudgement shewe the nature of Englysh men that the capitaynes of Englande may knowe and be warned which thynge without my warnyuge they do well followe and kepe although I shal do no great hurt to leaue that in wrytynge whiche they to theyr hygh prayse forsee in theyr warres that Engysh men be not able to continue war neither at home ne yet in forayne royalmes without vytayles Wherfore all capitaynes ought to prouyde that theyr souldyours maye haue meate and drynke ynough to fylle theyr bellye or els they can not so fiersely and gredelye contynue warre as they dyd begynne For Englyshmen of our nature be not content with so lytle meate and scarce foode as other men borne in the hye countryes be For whych cause theyr strength is weakened when that they lacke feedyng accordyng to the saying of Polidore which sayth that none armye neuer so great is able to withstande a garrison of Englyshe men at the fyrst brounte and begyunynge of theyr warres Whych saying maye thus way be true yf they haue not suche plentie of vytayles to suffyce theyr appetyte and hungre as they had at the begynnyng For by hungre theyr force and fiercenesse doeth slake Also all you capitaynes remēbre to prayse set forth w t moost gentle wordes the doynges of youre sould yours and sometyme to rewarde them freelye when wyth prayse they ben encouraged and harted to take in hande any great enterprice and for hope of rychesse at the deuysion of the pyllage and bothe they wyll not feare to ieoparde theyr lyues Wherfore they must be cōmaunded at the wynnynge of all townes and cyties fyrste manlye to fyght and delyuer them selues out of al feare of theyr enemyes and then frelye euery man to get what they canne and gather all prayes to theyr owne vse and profyte Wyth whyche hope they wyll be so encouraged that the power of anye prince is not able to be are theyr force and violence For by nature men of the east countrie be sharpened to fyght and encouraged by hope and aduaūtage FINIS ¶ A table contaynynge the chapiters of the fyrste booke To chose the capitayne Cap. 2. Of sufferaunce in warre ca. 3. Of the stowte and valyaunt mynde of a capytayne 4. Of the assyege and assault of a citie 5. Of a gret army of our enemyes 6. Of the reproche of that capytayne which howeseth hys armye in the sommer tyme. 7. To spye and serch a place to fyght in 8. Of the apparell of the capitayne 9. To knowe the maners and condicions of thyne enemyes before thowe make Battayle 10. Of the Germaynes Frenchmen 11. Of sedition to be appeysed amonges an armye 12. Howe to viewe the armye of thyne ennemyes 13. Of peace to be p̄ferred before batayle 14. Of tempestes and other clamours in an hoste 15. Of the rerewarde 16. Of great cities 17. In campyng thyne armye what is to be