done 18. To kepe thy frendes 19. Of quycknesse in battayle 20. Of the arraye to be kepte 21. Of a lytle multitude in a cytie 22. Of the hope and trust of sedicion 23. What is to be done in tyme of peace 24. Of fayned rumours 25. Of the offyce of the capitayne 26. To knowe whether a citie is thy frende or no. 27. Of cōfidence assured hope in battayl 28 Of the situation of the citie to be searched and knowen by y e capitayne him selfe 29. Of libertie to be kept and encreased of all men 30. Of the doubtfull commyng of thyne enemyes 31. When the arraye of thyne ennemyes is troubled and out of ordre 32. Howe to make thyne Armye stronge and lustye 33. A pollicie to be vsed when thy men do for sake the. 34. To searche and boult out the counsayl of thyne enemyes 35. Of them that be besyeged 36. What is to be done whan two hostes do vexe and pursue the. 37. A crafte policie to take a cytye 38. A policie to encrease thyne armye wythoute great charges 39. Of an healthsome lawe to be made in the citye 40 Of excesse to ben eschewed 41. Of wantonnes to be cast of in welth 42. To throwe downe villages and castels vndefensed 43. Howe to pourchace frendes and to kepe the same 44. To abydesyege 45 Whan it is mete to fyght by eruption 46. To interclude y e passage of our enemyes by fyer 47. A policie to stoppe the flyeng of our ennemyes 48 Howe syege is to be layed to cities and castels and of them that be besyeged 49. To auoyde and escape traynes 50. Of hostages and pledges rather to be taken than to fyght in open battayle 51. To stoppe an hauen 52. To make hydde and false dyches to betraye thyne enemyes 53. To passe ouer a water wyth an army 54. To knowe whether thyne enemyes ben afrayde 55. To constrayne thyne ennemyes to fyght in open battayle and to come to handy strokes 56. A policie to flye 57. Whan thyne ennemyes snatche vp and destroye the laste warde 58. Of the notable falshod of the barbarouse people 59. When fewe muste make battayle wyth many 60 The offyce of the capitayne 61. To forbere holye thynges 62. Of the capytaynes liberalitye whan the battayle is wonne 63. Of reproche to ben eschewed 64. Of the capitayns offyce in ioynyng of y e battayle 65. Howe to entreate thyne enemyes the victorye obteyned 66. To kepe leage promysse of peace wyth our enemyes 67. Of the capitaynes office in accomplysshynge all thynges 68. Whan thyne enemyes armye prepareth passage ouer any water 69. Whan thy souldyours be astonysshed fearefull 70. Whan scarsitie of vytayles is amonge oure enemies 71. Battayle is not to be begonne but of necessitie and constraynte 72. To refrayne frō battayle before we haue deuised and layde our traynes 73. What is to be done that oure ennemyes maye be perswaded theyr capitayne to be slayne 74. To kepe whole and saufe territories and townes 75. That thyne armye is to be lodged kept in the marches of thyne enemyes 76. What is to be done whan in wynter we muste fyght 77 Of pleasures to ben eschewed of the capitayne and the hoste 78 To chose a place to fyghte in whan the sonne and the duste maye be noysome to thyne ennemyes and in theyr eyes 79 Of tyme not to be looste and vaynely spente 80. ◠Of good and euell doynges semblable to be rewarded as punyshed 81. What is to be done whē thy men be light and spedye 82. That examples do helpe to encowerage souldyours 83. That nothynge be done agaynst the capitayns commaundement 84. To restrayne thy souldiours somtyme 85 It is not tyme to fyght whan thyne enemyes doo despayre and be carelesse of theyr lyfe 86. What is to be done whan we mystruste oure souldyours to ben afrayde of the sowne of gonnes and noyse of them that wayle 87. What is to be done whan thyne ennemyes are moste parte archers 88. What is to be done before the syege of a citye 89. Of rasshenes to ben eschewed of a capitayne 90. A policie to take the fotemen 91. A policie to defeate and disapoynte the gunners that they stande in no steade and vse 92. Of the offyce of the capytayne ī ordryng the affayres of hys armye 93. To refrayne aswell from the empyre as from the treasures after y e victorye 95. To constrayne thy souldyers to fyght 96 To tame fyerce people 97. To dissemble retreate 98. Of exercyse 99. What is to be done whan our ennemyes be conquered 100 Whā fewe must fyght agaynst many 101 Whan thy souldyours must sleape 102. To brynge suspicion of treason emonge thyne enemyes 103. Of outewarde helpe that be suspiciouse warely to be receyued 104. Of discention to be aswaged and appeased 105. What tyme townes and cities may be despoyled and taken 106 Howe muche the presence of the graunde capitayne dothe profyt 107. Of the multitude of enemyes 108. Of our enemyes that be humble and tractable 109. ¶ Of daungerfulle and peryllouse battayle 110. It is mete for young men in theyr youth to practise martial feates 111. To encrease the noumbre of thyne ennemyes by a rumour 112 To preuent the wyles and traynes of a noble prince 113. Of them that haue longe heare and long berdes 114. Before we laye syege to cities good it is to possesse the vplande fyeldes 115. Of men wounded and kylled to be conueyed priuilye out of the way 116. Of the requestes of lowe and humble per sonages to be herde 117 To vse cruelnes in the begynnyng of the warres 118. Howe to kepe thy kyndome by boldenes and couragyousnes 119 Of chastitye in warre 120 Of cauillations to ben experiensed in ieo perdies by capitaynes 121. Of souldyers that do saye euyll by theyr capitayne 122. Wyth what thynges thy souldyours are to be encouraged 223. To pourchace the fauoure of a straunge countrey 124. A capytayne muste be liberall and therewyth praysynge the stoutenes of hys men 125. What is to be doone whan eruption is feared 126. What is to be done of the capitayn whā hys armye is in extreme peryll and dāger 127 Wyth what thynge the mynde of the cō mynaltye is gotten 128. Of the fashion to sende letters 129. Howe to allure thyne enemyes to slyppe awaye and fayle theyr capitaynes 130. Of the badgeys of the souldiours 131. Of kynges and other princes that kepe not theyr faythe 132. Of the vyle condition of the cōmon people 133. Of a certayne kynde of defence 134. Of the swetenes of aduauntage 135. Of a troublesome vnruly multitude 136 Of the dutye of a good capytayne 137. In a newe rendre 138. Of the punysshemente of the capytayne whyche forsaketh hys men 139 To abstayn from robbyng of tēples 140 To pursue thyne enemyes in y e chase 141. To dissemble retreate feare 142. What is to be done whan great ieoperdies ar to ben vndertaken 143. To abstayne from treason 144. Of
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
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
and vnprofytable For they be good stayes to holde a man hard and fast Wherfore it shalbe good to clap them shorte For lytle thynges somtymes do moche hurte And in suche case al thynges whyche be hurtfull to vs and profytable to our faes are to be put awaye and not vsed 115. ¶ Before we laye siege to cytyes good it is to possesse the vplande fieldes It is not best to laye siege to any cyties before that we haue brought the whole demeanes of the cytye into our handes For yf the citizins kepe parte of theyr feldes in theyr possessyon harde it shalbe to get them without the great losse of tyme. When other cyties in that tyme mought haue ben subdued Whych pollicie y e women called Amazones being of a manlye spyrite and bolde stomake dyd put in vre whych wolde neuer assaulte any citie before that the y had taken the vplande villages 116. ¶ Of men wounded and kylled to be conueyed priuily out of the waye Men wounded and kylled do moche bolden thyne enemyes and therwith cast downe the hertes of thyne owne men Wherfore the capitayne must diligentlye prouyde that he conuey away and sente hys flayne men with those that be wounded to some out place aswell vnwares to hys enemyes as also to hys owne host For Philip of Macedon was moch hyndred therby wheÌ„ he left y e slayne men in y e sight of his owne army and ther w t plainly to be viewed of the outryders of y e Romaynes wherby the host conceyued suche a feare when they sawe the wyde dennes and deyntes of the woundes of theyr felowes that they had rather suffre anye distresse thaÌ„ to haue any mo bickerynges wyth the Romaynes In this thynge the kynge was blamed for hys ygnoraunce whyche after he dyd acknowledge The Turkes that beÌ„ in these dayes men most expert in warre know this pollicy which do burne theyr slayne men lest their own men shulde haue any discomforte or their enemyes any courage therof 117 ¶ Of the requestes of lowe and humble peronages to be herd A mercyfull capitayne ought not to dis dayne the prayers and peticions of huÌ„ble personages but gentlye to hearken theyr behestes and desires For what is somoch prayse worthye in a capitayne as lowlynesse and humanitie wherby he shal purchase both the fauour of hys owne men and also of hys enemyes Scipio Africanus warryng in Spayne agaynst the Carthaginenses subdued more by hys vnspekeable huÌ„blenesse then by y e sworde Also the vnprocheable humanitie of Cesar dyd moche more lyfte vp and auaunce hys renoume then all his noble actes dyd make hym wonderfull and merueyled at of all the worlde Embrace therfore and folowe gentlenesse which is the lodge of manhode 118 ¶ To vse cruelnesse in the begynnyng of the warres It is not vnhonest in the begynnyng of thy warres to vse crueltie whyche is the verye cause that cytyes and townes well defenced many tymes be yelded vp whych yf they had not feared suche crueltye wolde haue taryed tryed the doubt full chaunce of warre whereby moche hinderaunce mought haue chaunced and ensued to the capitayne and his Armye This pollicye the wyse Romayne capytayn Metellus vsed agaynst Iugurth in Numidia But why speake I of Metellê° when all wyse capitaynes vsed this pollicye and wyll vse it so longe as they be in deedly warres 119. ¶ How to kepe thy kyngdome by boldnesse and couragyousnesse Brefelye we haue tolde in our boke of the gouernement of an empyre howe kyngdomes ought to be guyded But now I wyll recyte one reason not vnprofytable bycause it happeneth oftentymes kyngdome to be ruled by lineall discent of heyres and bycause yongemen which be tendre of age sometyme doo possesse the royall authoritie and themperiall estate whych for theyr youth sake ben assaulted of theyr neyghbours nygh ioynyng and borderynge on them Therfore my counsayle is at the begynnyng of theyr gouernaunce to shewe them selues sterne and stoute of mynde therby to encourage the hertes of theyr subiectes and put theyr enemyes in feare That thyng was well perceyued of Alexandre of Macedon conquerour of all the worlde which beynge yonge and tendre of age takynge the empyre of Philip kept it agaynst them that rebelled by hys lusty courage braggyng porte and greatnesse of mynde although he was otherwayes enfourmed of hys counsaylours 120. ¶ Of chastitie in warre Chastitie of all wysemen is hyghlye praysed without whych no man is worthye to be called or to haue the name of a capitayne For how can he well guyde other men that is ruled and led by pleasures and lustes which be to man moost enuyfull foes Therfore lette suche capitaynes folowe Alexander the moost dradde kynge of Macedon whych not onlye abstayned from the steshlye pleasure of the beautyfull doughters of the kyng of Persia but also from the syght of them Also Scipio Africanus the luckie Emperour of the Romaynes for his moost passyng chastitie deserued euerlyuing name And also this worde Castra whiche we call an armye hath his signification bycause men there shoulde lyue chaste I wyll not speake of the sclaundre whyche therby capitaynes do gette but do you loke on the profytes Doeth not lecherye make feble and weaken the strength murther the wytte hurte the memorie dasel blynde the syght and perysh the hearyng which all howe necessarye they be in battayle and els where iudge you 121 ¶ Of cauillations to be experiensed in ieopardyes by capitaynes Wyse capitaynes are wonte in great ieopardyes to vse cauillations to delyuer theyr souldyours out of care For in so doinge they appeare lytle to regarde that thynge whyche theyr men chefelye feare Wherfore the souldyours in suche case cast away al feare through the brag and confidence of the capitayne plucke vp theyr herte and courage Anniball of Carthage what tyme he rose in battayle agaynst the Romaynes in Italie vsed cauellations Alexandre of Macedon vsed also suche tryfelynges in the greate battayles with the king of Persia For wheÌ„ his frende asked of him why in so ieoperd some a battayle he went to slepe he gaue hym this answere merely Dost thou not know y t we haue ouercoÌ„meÌ„ our enemies whych saying was blowen throughoute all the host wherby they conceyued sure trust of the victorie 123. ¶ Of souldyours that do saye yll by theyr capitayne It chaunceth oftentymes the souldyours yea those that be valyaunte warryours to speake yll and backbyte theyr capytayne when they be not taken and rewarded as they deserue by their doinges But yet the capitayne must take no dyspleasure therwyth but rather shewe hym selfe liberall and gentle that afterwarde they maye the more wyllynglye followe hym at nede then any other Yea gladly to runne through fyre and water wyth hym yf the cause shall requyre Therfore a forecastynge capytayne wyll not cast of hys stronge souldyours for lyghte causes and tryffelles but rather by all meanes he wolde entertayne and entreate them gentlye 123. ¶ Wyth what thynges thy
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
capytayne maye gyue the sygne of praycatchynge 50. ¶ Not to departe from the place appoynted Peticapitaynes be wonte oftentymes bycause they wolde be iudged valyaunte and skylfull to departe from the place appoynted in hope of some praye and pyllage whyche thyng hath ben the cause of great slaughter in many battayles and the losse of victorie wherfore the peticapi taynes must learne to be obeysaunt to the commaundement of theyr capitaynes not to seme more wytfull then they be 51. ¶ That the tentes be not leafte vndefenced When the capitayne shal displaye and aduaunce his baners to battayl let hym beware that he leaue not his campe vndefenced and vnmaymed lest when he is mooste enforced to fyght his vytayles be despoyled his campe set on fyre as it is lyke to be and after he shall haue no such place so defenced vnto his great damage and hynderaunce 52. ¶ Of thyne enemyes fallyng in varyaunce and stryfe Yf the capitaynes of thyne enemyes do not well agree it is then expedyent before they fall to an onement and concorde intermyttyng no tyme to assaulte them For the maystrye then wyll be lyghtlye wonne when not one of a stubburne stomake wyll consent and agree to thothers aduertysement But had leauer to be subdued of his enemyes then coÌ„quere by the pollicie of hys fooe 53. ¶ Let thy men be redye in harneys thyne enemyes lying at hande Yf the campe of thyne enemyes be pytched nygh vnto the suffre by no meanes not for anye fayre woordes of thyne enemyes nor promysse of truce and alience that thy men ben out of harneys chiefely the best part ne yet y t thy souldours neglect watche and warde For not seldome tymes it chaunceth in leage of peace thy men to be beaten downe slayne and conquered by traynes and wyles whom ê“wesse and manlynesse coulde neuer haue subdued 54. ¶ Of the besiegyng of cyties Let not thyne armye doubt to setvpon cytis warded with all kyndes of defences yf they shall perceyue dastardes and vnscylfull fellowes to kepe the defence For hygh towres stronge double walles can not defende those that be cowardes caytyfes and rude of all warlye knowledge Feare doth stoppe theyr eares and dasyll theyr syght Wherfore without taryauÌ„ce when thou shalt come to suche cytyes set vpon them rounde about thonderyng as heauen with noyse and outeryes whom it shall be easye to vanqnysshe wythoute moche blooudsheddynge But beware thou slacke not and abate thyne assaulte vntyll thou haue wonne the cytie leste theyr courages and force by sufferaunce encrease and so the siege shall be daylye more paynefull and harde 55. ¶ To make brydges wyth ropes Auncient capitaynes were wonte to caryouer theyr armye bycause bootes and queres were scante daungerous wyth ioyned brydges made of wood But bycause stuffe doth somtyme want to make suche brydges and longe it is yer they caÌ„ be done mynd aduyse is to make brydges wyth stronge ropes cast ouer the water knytte fast to pyles and stakes of woodde and in the myddes of the streame vnderset with proppes and beames to make them styffe For the easye passage of thy men And suche ropes the armye maye alwayes carye with them that they be not stopped at any water 56. ¶ To reuenge our enemyes with lyke anoyaunce It chaunceth oft tymes eyther for valyaunt prowesse of our enemyes or y e multitude of them that thy men doo sultayne great losse and dammage whych is to be reuenged moost fiersely with suche an other lyke and not to be forgotten and vn payed For by suche displeasures or vyolence shoulde ben enflamed to vengeauÌ„ce whereby we shall kepe oure dygnytye and purchasse the good opynyon of oure souldyours and also of the communaltie which shalbe a stay to kepe the same faith full and sothfast 57 ¶ How to conueye the battayl from one place to an other Yf it be more daungerous and noyous vnto the to gyue battayle in thys place than in that vse thys remeadye Carye thyne armye vnto the other countryes of thyne ennemyes besyegynge theyr cities burnynge the villages spoylyng and wastynge the fyeldes and so cause them rather to followe the then thou to followe them But for all that do not leaue thyne owne countryes vndefensed desyryng to waste and destroye others 58. ¶ To relyeue the scarcenes of water If cities and townes besyeged haue scarsitye of water thys remeadye is next Fyrste to sende out the base people weâ—n and vnprofitable and then to kyll all the cattell and laye them in salte for theyr sustenaunce that the water whych was so wasted by them may be kepte by whych meane they shal be able to contynue longer assaulte 59. ¶ To recouer cities and. townes loste If we haue loste in sommer tyme oppressed wyth the multitude of enemies deceyued by the defaulte of oure men or vndermyned wyth some trecherye our cities or townes lette vs endeuour to restaure in winter tyme the same cities that the thynges lost by the slowthefulnes of oure souldyours in sommer tyme maye be recouered wyth spedynes and diligeÌ„s in wynter and that we wynne agayne restore the fame of chiualdrye by the agayne gettynge of oure losses For good fortune sometymes doeth ensue by the chaunge of tyme. 60. ¶ What is to be done whan thou art ouermatched Yf thyne enemies gredely pursue the ne yet then thow arte not able to defende and wythstande theyr vyolence best it is to carye thyne armye to some cyties nigh vnto the sea bothe for the plentye and aboundance of vytayle and also to refresh theyr broken strengthe and wangled bodyes and chyefty to furnysshe thy numbre that thou mayste matche thyne ennenyes aswell in noumbre of men as also in valyantnes 91. ¶ To set fyere on thyne ennemies pauylions If thyne enemyes pauilions be rered vp and made of dry stuffe trauayle with all haste to sette them on fyre and cheefe lye the wynde blowyng harde By which policie they shall be despoyled bothe of theyr cattayle and other necessary implementes For the fyer taken w t the wynde sodaynlye wyll ouerburne all the pauilions And than also thowe mayste haue a good tyme to sette vppon them For whaÌ„ they be doubtful what is to be done whether to resiste thy force or to saue theyr ryches whyche they set more by than their lyfe they maye easelye be put to flyghte and be slayne and so then shall atchyue the victory wythout much bloodshedyng 62. ¶ What is to be done when we can not atcheue out of a place wyth our armye ¶ We come somtymes by chaunce w t our armye into suche places where neyther long we can abyde ne yet saufely departe or yet retreate wythout great daunger than what is to be done in such trouble and vttermost discumfyture wyth all spede we muste take counsayle whaÌ„ that one waye of our sauftye dothe remayne that we take truce wyth them for a tyme and Promysse sure couenauntes of peace by wytfull aÌ„bassadours Wherby it shall be sure that thyne
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