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
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
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
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