Chapters ensuynge I wyll note and shewe the maners and cōdycyons of capitaynes 3. ¶ Of sufferaunce in warre Manye thynges are to be suffered in warre which were to be loked on in the pleasaunt tyme of peace For it is not expedient out of hande to reuenge all iniuryes and displeasures But to differ the punyshment to the ende of the battayle dissemblyng suche iniurious dedes left at that tyme we purchase so many our enemyes y t we be not able to beare theyr malyce and force For it is a lyght thyng to styrre vp battayl but to leaue of with glorye and renoume is an harde thyng And lytle sparkes whych nothynge we regarde somtyme kendle a great fyre 4. ¶ Of the stoute and valiaunt mynde of the captayne A prouidēt capitayne and expert in the knowledge of warre wyll neuer rest neyther in hys victorye ne yet subdued but in all states wyll beare hym selfe moost stoutly by whych meanes his enemyes shall dreade hym whether he haue y e vpper hande or vanquished and shal think hym both there and away to worke and imagine theyr discomfiture Whereby it shall chaunce suche a valiaunt captayne eyther to purchase honest couenauntes of peace or elles prayseable victoryes of hys enemyes 5. ¶ Of the siege and assaulte of a cytye All cyties and townes for the mooste parte be more wynable on the one syde then on the other Wherfore cause all y e trompettes to blowe vp on y t side which is better defenced whereby thyne enemyes called vp and feared by the noyse of the trompettes maye runne thyther leauyng the other syde of the citie which is vndefenced and so the assaulte shal be the hygher For vndoubtedly wyth lytle slaughter we may scale and clymbe vpō the walles where fewe be leafte to defende and leest hede is taken Also a lytle nombre is despysed of many shortly ouercomen But thyne enemyes gladly wyll leaue the parte defenced yf that they se the weaker and vndefenced parte to be assaulted Wherfore my counsayle is to take the strongest parte of thyne at mye and assaulte the syde of the cytye defenced and so leest doubted although y e captayne maye vse his owne aduyse according to the situation of the place and nombre of hys enemyes 6. ¶ Of a great army of our enemies When the nombre of thyne enemyes is great then my aduyse is to encrease thyne Armye with maryners and shypmen yf thy Nauye be nere at hande or els shortly to pike some newe bande and garison of men to match thyne enemies both in power nōbre of soldyours For many ben a greate feare to fewe and the multitude of enemies wil dismay a litle armye But when sodeynly they shall se thyne Armye renewed and well furnysshed theyr braggyng courage shall fall and they wyll not matche ne auaunce forwarde wyth suche gladnesse as they wolde haue done yf thy nombre had contynued the same Wherfore an experte capitayne wyll remembre sparyng for no costes sodeynlye and at a tryse to renue hys Armye Wherby he may be eyther egall or exceade hys ennemyes in strength and nombre of souldyours 7 ¶ Of the reproche of the capitayne that houseth his Armye in the somertyme That capytayne is worthye greate blame and sclaundre which lodgeth hys Armye in houses in somer tyme when y e feates of Armes and martiall affayers are chefely to be put in vre And what other thyng is it I sweare by Hercules when your soldyours take vp theyr lodgyng and abyde in wynter tyme then to make them vnmete to battayle and vnsufferable of all labour Therfore let the capitayne diligentlye prouyde that hys Armye do not sloudge in slouthfull ydlenesse but wonte themselues to dayly labour wherby they shal take all the tyme of warfare to be a game and sporte For what is more then custome whych causeth al intollerable and harde paynes to seme lyght easye and gentle 8. ¶ To spye and searche a place to fight in The capitayne before that he ioyne in battayle or fall in handegrypes wyth hys enemyes ought to viewe wyth hys eyes whyche be sure and faythfull iudges the place where the fyght shalbe therby shortly he shall perceyue what is profytable for hym and what no how to set his men in aray and ordre his battayle and how to worke by pollicye and craft whether hys enemyes can worke any wyles or craftye sleyghtes agaynst hym But a wyse captayne wyll remembre that he do not cary hys hooste to the felde before that hys spyes and scoutewatches haue surelye knowen that hys enemyes do not lye in wayte but that all thynges be sure and faulfe 9. ¶ Of the apparell of the capitayne The capitayne ought to be felowlyke in hys garmentes wherby he shall purchase the fauour of the cōmons And declare hys humblenesse auoydynge the name of arrogancie But in his vertues let hym surmount all other For it becōmeth hym that coueyteth to beare rule euen as he is hygher in dignitie and honour so to blemysshe all other wyth hys vertues gentle behauyou Otherwyse he is vnworthy to be called a capitayne whych is more blameworthye then his souldiours and whose doinges be moch worse 10. ¶ To knowe the maner and cōdiciōs of thyne enemies before thou make battayl To fyght hande to hande w t thyne enemies except thou surely know theyr maners before is very daungerfull great damage therby may chaūce to thy army For a captayne experte in the knowlege of warre wyll neuer make battayle before he knowe the maners of hys enemies For howe manye dyuerse countryes there be so many dyuerse sortes of fyghtyng there be And agaynste euerychone dyuersely we must set our arraye and be stowe our strokes And so a prudēt capitayne wyll aduyse and hede wyth hym selfe the harneys horsemen and fotemē of hys enemyes and besyde that wyl rekon wyth hymselfe what is to be done and what thynges ben expedient 11. ¶ Of the Germaynes and Frenchemen When thou hast battayle wyth the Germaynes and Frenchemen prolonge the tyme before thou come to handestrypes For theyr bodyes be nesshe and vnpaynefull by hungre and thyrst moche weakened that for werynesse they can neyther stryke other men ne yet defende themselues And thus whom by strēgth thou canst not ouercome by pollicye and crafte thou shalte subdue And by thys sleygth the soldyours of the East parte shall vanquyshe and destroye the Italious men both strong and better harnessed then they be 12. ¶ Of sedicion to be appeased amonge an Armye When any trouble or sedicion is in thyne Armye the captayne ought wyth gētle and fayre wordes to mitigate and aswage the fierce hertes of the soldiours And when the contention is ones appeated to punysh the authours of that factious sedicion or els to sēde them on some busynesse that the correction of a fewe maye be an example to manye wherby other therby feared wyll not be bolde to styre vp and nourysh suche tumultuous sedicion lest
oftentymes admonyshyng them to remembre theyr coūtrye lawe whyche is eyther to kylle or to be kylled to slee or to be slayne therwyth warnynge them nothynge to be more prayseworthy in a good warryour then manlye fyghtynge and for to obtaynethe victorie fearynge not to dye 41. ¶ Of excesse to be eschued Excesse in apparel meate and drynke doth make feble the vertue of thy mynde and causeth the strength of the bodye to decaye Wherfore wyse men haue purposed to flye mistemperaunce as a pestiterous and deedly disease 42. ¶ Of wantonnesse to be cast of in wealth Let not the capitayne be wanton and proude in good chaunce and luckynesse but rather beware and remēbre that in suche luckynesse men falle to ryot to their great reproche and the vtter damage of y e whole hoste Therfore lette not the capytayne swell and waxe proude in happynesse ne yet yelde and be discouraged in aduersitie but for y e time in both fortunes kepe ane gall vniforme state of mynde 43 ¶ To throwe downe villages and castels vndefenced In countryes be many vyllages and castelles whyche be not defenced at all Wherfore my counsayl is to throwe thē downe and sette them on fyre that thyne enemyes may haue there no vytayles neother thynges necessary to succour them selues and theyr horses Fyrste yf we do leaue them standynge we gyue to our enemyes a greate occation to trouble vs by warre Also it is expedyent to waste all the fodder and corrupte the fountaynes of waters yf there be many so that theyr commynge towarde vs shall be to theyr great charges and anoyaūce to the whole armye For a garison of men can not longe soiourne and tary in one countrye wythoute vytayles and other thynges necessary for theyr lyuyng 44. ¶ How to purchase frendes and to kepe the same Euerye wyttye capitayne ought earnestly to trauayle to labour fyrst to gette frendes and longe to retayne the same For by frendes realmes be mayntayned and preserued and great succour stādeth in them yf they be true Suche vertue force is in frendshyppe which is the only nourysher of mankynde and releue of sorowe Wherfore worse it is for a capytayne to be wythoute frendes then to lacke treasure 45. ¶ To abydesiege All thynges yea be they neuer so greuous are to be suffered in a sore siege before we yelde ourselues to our enemyes For nothyng is so prayse worthy in men as vnfayned fayth the whyche ones being defyled what is in those men prayseable Wherfore honest it is for thē that are besieged to kepe theyr foretresses to the ende and extremitie of theyr lyues neuer to put theyr bodyes to moost harde paynes For fortune manye tymes doeth lyft vp men vnwares Therfore do they abyde in one mynde and fayth that be besieged and gyue theyr bodyes for the saulfetie of theyr lorde For a valyaunte man can do nothyng more worthy euerlastyng renoum then to fynishe hys lyfe by kepyng his fayth and boundē dutye 46 ¶ when it is mete to fyght by eruption It happeneth oftentymes for y e greate assaulte of our enemyes to appoynt our selues sodeynly to burst out In whyche case let euery valyaunt capitayne know y t it is not good to fight by eruptiō but in extreme nede For y t kynde of fyght is to be refused but in great ieopardy at low downefall and when no hope is leaft to defende our tentes or when our souldyours be whole weryed in battayle The same thyng is to be marked in thassault of cytyes 47 ¶ To enterclude the passage of our enemyes by fyre Fyre is a great succour and ayde to an hoste For when our enemyes ben at hād that wythout great daunger we can not leaue the tentes my counsayle is to conueye woodde betwene both the hoostes and to sette it on fyre and then wyth all haste to departe into some other places better defenced For the flame and smoke wyll let the prospecte and foreseinge of our enemyes that they can not sykerlye pursue and folowe vs wherfore before that the fyre be vtterly quenched the capitayne maye haue space to goo farre of wyth hys Armye 48. ¶ A pollicie to stoppe the flying of thyne enemyes When thyne enemyes do faster flye then thou canst well folowe wyth thyne Armye then sende forth thy horsemen to let theyr flyght whych may snatch vp and trouble the laste warde vntyll the fotemen shall approche For then the battayle more sykerly and egallye shall be foughten and tryed on bothe sydes and the victorie more easelye shall be gotten withoute greate losse and slaughter of men 49 ¶ How siege is to be layed to cytyes and castels and of them that be besieged My counsayle is when thou doest be liege any cytye or castell to caste fyrste a trenche then bulworkes and aboue that buylde many turrettes that no man can come out of the cyty ne yet any man may haue free passage into the cytie Other wayes you shall neuer take any citye or castell whych is wel fortifyed For elles they maye cal vnto them outwarde ayde and succour and therwith may certify and admonysh theyr lordes and princes in what estate they be what vytayles be in the cytye and howe longe they maye abyde and contynue thassaulte And yf thyne enemyes obstynatlye do defende the cytye my counsayle is when the cytye is ones taken eyther by sleygth or rendrevp cutte of the handes of them that kepte the citye so toughly that theyr greuous punyshment maye be an example to other not so frowardlye to stande in theyr owne conceyte and contynue theyr assaultes 50. ¶ To auoyde and escape traynes Traynes and wyles maye be eschued aswell by chaungynge of the place as by appoyntynge of capitaynes For in tyme of rest men haue oportunitie to inuente wycked counsayle and the same immedyatly to put in execution 51. ¶ Of hostages and pledges rather to be taken then to fyght in open battayle Better it is and more for thy saulfegarde to take hostages of noble mē and so to haue thyne enemyes to yelde and rendre vp all theyr landes then in cruell fyght to proue the doubtfull chaunce of battayle whych oftentymes is varyable and wauering and causeth them to haue the vpper hande whome ye wolde haue iudged to haue bene subdued And then tyme it is to take hede whē that fortune doeth flatter vs. For she is false and deceytfull Wherfore let vs folowe this cōmune saying Assured peace is worthy to be preferred before doubtfull and hoped victorye 52. ¶ To stoppe our hauen Yf thou wylt stoppe an hauen my cost sayle is to fyll a shyppe full of greate stones and then to drowne the same shyp ouerth warte in the hauen wherby other shyppes can not well arryue at anye strounde ne yet go out of the hauen 53. ¶ To make hydde and false dytches to betray thyne enemyes They that ccueyte to conueye leade theyr enemyes into couerte and hyd dytches my counsayle is to sette a bande of
men nye vnto them in harneys whyche softely and priuily maye conuey them selues into dytches 54. ¶ To passe ouer a water with an Armye Yf thou wylt passe ouer a water that can not be waded my coūsayl is to driue an houge nombre of cattel into the vpper parte of the streame by whyche meane the streame beneth wyl ronne more gently and styll and thyne armye maye haue the more free passage 55. ¶ To knowe yf thyne enemyes be afrayed Yf we perceyue the stomakes of our enemyes to quayle and waxe faynte it is good gredelye to pursue them that we maye eyther put them to flyght or elles vtterly slee thē before they recouer theyr strength It is the offyce of an experte warryour to knowe when hys enemyes ben afrayed But the better to learne the same take this one lesson of me Yf thyne enemyes ofte chaunge and pytche theyr tentes it is a sygne and token of feare Wherfore a wyse capitaynes parte is to assayle them wyth bikerynges and rodes to knowe yf they dissemble or els wolde trayne vs in theyr trappes 56. ¶ To constrayne thyne enemyes to fyght in open battayle and come to hande strypes Yf thou wylte constrayne thyne enemyes to stande in fyght agaynste the although the place be vnegal and inconuenyent my counsayle is to conueye thyne armye to some of theyr cytyes or townes And so either wil they suffre to take their cytye or els they wyl fyght with the and deale strypes 57 ¶ A pollicye to stye Best it is for an host that purposeth to stye to kyndle and buylde many fyres to fasten manye helmettes on stakes in the toppe of theyr tentes And thus thyne enemies being scorned and brought into a double thou mayest conuey thyne armie far of before that it be knowen whether thou be in thy tentes or fledde awaye 58. ¶ When thyne enemyes snatche vp and destroye the last warde When thy men be snatched and discōfyted in the last warde my counsayle is to sette there the strongest men and best warryours Otherwyse thyne army shal haue moche harme throughe the destruction of that warde Also that warde is not able to withstande the force of thyne enemyes except it be somtyme renued w t good warryours And by this meane thy hoste maye frely passe on voyage 59. ¶ Of the notable falsehode of the barbarous people A circumspect capitayne wyll none af fiaunce or trust to the cruel barbarous aliaūtes For many due profes of antiquitye do playnly shewe not without experyence of the same that no fayth ne loyaltie is in them Whych examples I wyll ouerskyppe desyryng to be shorte They be men in shappe but brutall beastes in fearcenesse and crueltye subtyl and craftye desyrous and thyrstyng mans blood in that one thynge passynge all kynde of wylde and sauage beastes Wherfore a wyse capitayne wyll beware of theyr disloyaltie and villanye and wyll thynke him selfe neuer in saulfegarde from their falsehode and engynnes I speake of thē that be not Chrystians 60. ¶ When fewe must make battayle wyth many Best it is for a lytle hoste whych by necessitye must fyght and make battayle w t a stronger Armye to set vpon the chiefe capitayne and wyth all violence to seke meanes to kyll hym whych beinge ones slayne thyne Armye eyther shall atchyue the victorie or els depart w t egall prayse of that bickeryng For the heed being cut of what strength is in the other membres 61. ¶ Thoffyce of the capitayne The capitayne wyllyngly must heare the complayntes of the souldyours and theyr guydes But yfhe be dryuen and enforced therunto let hym shewe hym selfe to take the thynge in hande agaynst hys wyll And by that meanes he shall purchase theyr fauours and be taken as a father rather then a capitayne whome the souldyours wyll haue in great reuerence wythout any feare or dreade 62 ¶ To forbeare holye thynges The capitayne ought to commaunde hys men to refrayne and forbeare from holy thynges vnder a greate penaltye Lest other his affaiers the more vnluckelye for suche thynges do chaunce God be enuyfull to vs aswell as man 63 ¶ Of the capitaynes liberalitie when the battayle is wonne The capitayne ought bountifully and wyth a pleasaunte countenaunce to rewarde hys whole host after that the vyctorye is atchyued That his souldyours by such rewardes enlarged to them may henceforth be more redye and glad to enterprise mooste peryllous daungers For a faythfull armye wyll swallowe vp all parylles before that so lyberall a capytayne shuld haue any shame or reproche Therfore y t capitaynes must in such case shewe them selues large in rewardes w t which not only mē tut gods also be wōderfully reconcyled Also let the capitayrs remembre to setforth the doinges of hys souldiours with hyghest prayse vsynge some oration eftsones gyuing thē immortall thankes for theyr manfull valiauntnesse in that battayl declaring al thinges to be done according to theyr loyall duty and allegeaunce 64 ¶ Of reproche to be eschued A wyse capitayne ought to warne his souldiours to regarde and wey nothyng somoche as theyr good fame For who wolde desyre the fruition of this lyfe but rather miserable death to haue his name stayned w t cowardyse Therfore the capitayne ought to enforme his whole army that they regarde theyr name before al other thinges By this meane he shal haue his cōpany fearig nothig more thā shame very desyrous of prayse and readye in all perylles so that he shall take none enterpryse ne hygh affayre in hande whyche shall not chaunce to hys mynde and wyl 65. ¶ Of the capitaynes offyce in ioynynge of the battayle The dutye and offyce of a good capytayne is to come into the forewarde and fronte of the battayle in the ioynynge of the hostes to succour these companyes y t begynne to stagger and faynte and furnysh them agayne that be discomfyted It is fearefull to hys enemyes to set the capitayne in the foreward at the fyrst ioynyng and to hys owne men an hartyng and boldnesse But let not hym longe tarye there but returne to the other wardes and knowe what thynges they lack and what maye be profytable to them what noysome euer bryngyng fresh and newe men for them that be wounded therwyth strengthenyng the forewarde wyth pyked champyons which be most valyaunte and best practysed in trauayles and feates of warre 66. ¶ How to entreate thyne enemyes the vyctorie obtayned The dutye and offyce of a polityke capitayne is after that the battayle is won and the vyctorie ones atchyued to saue theyr lyues that haue not ben very cruel and ouer stubburne For what can be thought more vngentle yea more like to the cruell and fierce brutall beastes then wythout anye mercye and mekenesse to handle thyne enemyes A capitayne vndoubtedly of suche conditions shall kendle the myndes of all men agaynste hym that they had leauer to suffre all thynges then to be vnder his rule and gouernaūce and proue the chaunce of battayl then to yelde
When the citie begynneth to slacke it must be vanquyshed with the sworde 174. ¶ To set vpon the campe of thyne enemyes not warely kepte Best it is thyne enemyes negligentlye kepynge watche and warde not by daye tyme but by nyght to set vpon and inuade them For then without questiō the fyght shall not be harde when thyne enemyes ouerthrowen and halfe deed with sleape and wyne whyther to go or what to do sodaynlye wakened shall not knowe ne yet shall perceyue the cause of that brute and disturbaunce before they be strycken downe taken and slayne 175 ¶ what is to be done in slowe and slacke siege When thy souldyours cowardly and wyth hollowe hertes nothynge freshlye fyght plucke the standart from the standart bearer and flynge it amonge thyne enemyes then after exhorte and desyre them not to suffre suche a shame and reproche that theyr enemies shal kepe thier standart Then take thou a weapon and commaunde the best warryours to folow the to wynne agayne theyr standarte ma kyng a lane wyth moche violence 176 ¶ Of lytle thynges not to be despysed Nothyng is of so lytle valewe which in warre wyll not do some seruyce Therfore an expert capitayne wyll contempne nothyng although it be lytle worth 177. ¶ Of warre on the see In warre on the see the full wynde is the great parte of the victorie 178 ¶ Of great perylles scaped and auoyded by rashnesse and foolehardynesse It sometome chaunceth thyne armye to be in greate ieopardye and so enclosed and set aboute y t vnpossible it is to scape away Then the capitayne must vse some sodayne and vnaduysed meane that by rashnesse the victorye may be ieoparded whē wittinesse can not helpe whichthing hath luckely chaunced to many capitayns discōfited with vttermost perilles Such force is in rashnesse 179. ¶ Of a certayne kynde of defence When thy campe can not be wel defēded for the open barenesse of y e place mine aduise is to make the fortresses of fardels whyche kynde of defence although it be not good yet it maketh a face and shewe wherby thyne enemyes for a tyme feared wyth the noueltie of the thynge wyll recule and not hastelye marche forewarde 180 ¶ where thyne enemyes preua yle in horsemen Yf thyne enemyes be wel horsed and thou woldest gladlye make a fraye wyth them moued eyther by some profyte or elles constrayned by nede this is my best counsayle that eche of the horsemen haue wyth them swyfte and nymble fote men which quycklye can mount vpon an horse and so lyuerly lyght downe so that whych to other men appeareth harde is to them through custome lyght and but a tryffle This kynde of fyght was begonne at the siege of Capua 181. ¶ To rayse the siege of any cytye Yf thou purpose to rayse and moue the siege from thyne owne cytyes then fierselye laye siege to some cytie of thyne enemye For when they endeuour to succoure and rescue theyr owne cytye they wyl sone departe from thyne And so they then that be not able to kepe ayde theyr owne cytyes by strength do saue them well by siege made to the cytyes of theyr enemyes 182 ¶ Of cyties yeldynge them selues Those cyties whych wyllyngly yelde and gyue vp thēselues vnto vs although we be not able to defende them it is not conuenyent to spoyle and pylle them or to vexe them with any wronges but rather with bountyfulnesse and humanitie to entreate and vse them that althoughe that great gentlenesse shall not moue and tendre theyr stomake yet that deede worthye the memorie of men shall be further knowen By whyche other cyties moued hereafter wyll yelde the soner 183. ¶ How necessarye warly connyng is to souldyours The knowledge of martial feates doth moche imboldē and encourage both souldyours and their capitaynes For suche men do knowe to helpe theyrselues and can take tyme to strycke theyr ennemyes wythoute hurte And except theyr enemyes be skylfull and experte as they be the battayle not ioyned they be assured of the vyctorye in whose bolde hertes strength so moche encreaseth and they styfly stande in fight to obtayne the victorie But this science as it is gotten and assured by exercyse so is it lost by negligence 184 ¶ Great victories ben eschued with fewe and expert souldiours Yf thou endeuoure thy selfe to do famous and valiaunte actes take to the a fewe and those pyked souldyours wel exercised in warre and hardened in laboure with whome thou mayest discomfyte at thy pleasure the vnskylfull multitude of thyne enemyes But yf thou trust to do y e same thyng with an huge garrisō which be rude and hauing no skyll thou shalt be trapped of thy purpose and shamefullye destroyed and therewith taken in thyne owne trayne 185 ¶ Of yonge men to be chosen Yonge men ought to be chosen for soldyours which be tall and stronge whych can suffre hungre thyrste and lye on the grounde whiche also haue a pleasure to handle weapons to fyght takyng it for a sporte and game Suche fellowes lustye and stronge be lyke to become valiaunte and expert warryours whose helpe thou mayest be assured to vse in great ieopardyes and all thynges shal chaunce to thy desyre and mynde Therfore diligent care and wysedome is requyred in chosynge takyng vp souldyours 186. ¶ What men they shoulde be to whome the kepynge of countries and cities is commytted We must warely foresee to what men we cōmyt the kepyng of prouinces and cityes and whome we make our lieufetenauntes and that they be ryche and auncyent cytizins of our owne cytie hauyng chyldren thryfty and disposed to vertues For such men vndoubtedly wold be fayth full and loyall in whome no suspition of treason is to be feared which wolde be reprocheable and shamefull to them and theyr posteritie ne yet any falsehode is to be demed or mistrust in them 187. ¶ Of the maner of fyghtynge Cause thy souldyours to foyne contynually and not lay on downryght which force of fyghtynge is moche dreaded of thyne enemyes cheifelye yf the foynes be cast at the face These woundes ben vncurable and the wounded haue more nede of a preeste then of a surgyon But yf thy men haue bastarde swordes or twohanded swordes vsed in the ast partyes lette them gyue downryght strokes For those swordes be so deedlye that lyghtlye they wyll stryke of the heed cleaue the bodye and dismembre all partes 188. ¶ In what place best it is to lodge thyne armye Campe thy souldyours so nere as thou canst in places where fodder water and fewel is abundaunt that thy souldiours maye haue plentye withoute any stop or entercourse of theyr enemyes Beware al so to pitche thy pauilyons and tentes vnder an hyll lest thyne enemyes vnwares to the take and occupye the hylle to thy greate discomfyture Do thou also forsee that thyne armye be not lodged in places whyche wyth raynes and brookes wyll be shortly ouerflowed or where the bankes maye be cutout to drowne thyne armye or at the
they haue lyke punyshment 13. ¶ Howe to viewe the Armye of thyne enemyes A capitayne whiche wolde viewe the campe of hys enemyes must feyne and desyre peace And vnder that pretence sende some of hys souldyours experte in warres to searche and aduise the campe of hys enemyes the wayes to theyr pauylyons and in what parte euery capitayne doth lodge and howe greate theyr power is Then by nyght he maye sette vpon them and easely gyue a noble vyctorye For it is a lyght thynge to put to flyght and slee men vnwares and halfe deed in wyne and slepe 14 ¶ Of peace to be pÌ„ferred before battayl A wyse captayne wyll not forsake any couenauntes and conditions of peace whych maye turne to hys honoure and profyte although the mastrye be in hys handes Lest fortune which now appeareth gentle and fauourable hereafter shewe her selfe vnkynde and straunge he y t eueÌ„ now reioyseth as victour shortly after vanquished may wayle sorow 15. ¶ Of trompettes and other clamours in an hoste When the hoste of thyne enemyes is nere good it is to coÌ„maunde al the fewellers to buylde theyr fyres the troÌ„pets blowe vp alarum al the host to make an outcrye and brefelye to fyll heauen and earth wyth the noyse and sounde of troÌ„pettes and make all on a rore wherwith thyne enemyes may be afrayed thy freÌ„des gladdened takyng exaÌ„ple of PoÌ„peiê° y t through ignoraunce warned al his soldiours pryuily to go w tout any brute or noyse makyng which thyng was the destruction of all hys hoste 16. ¶ Of the rerewarde Let the capitayne set in the last warde good strong men For yf that parte be kept hole and saulfe y e rest of the Armye may be defended yea oftentymes the victorie by that warde is atcheued gotteÌ„ bycause when other wardes do faynt waxe feble in fyghtynge this fresh desyrous to graple w t their enemies fierselye wyll fyght and as souldiours pyked out of y e whole host wyll renewe y e battayl more gredely then the other before them be like to ouercom their enemies weried w t longe trauayl coÌ„tinuauÌ„ce of fyght 17. ¶ Of great cyties Great ryche and welthy cities caÌ„ not stande long among them selues in peace excepte they haue some outwarde enemyes Wherfore suche cities whyche be enryched wyth greate lordshyppes and haue yerely newe maiestrates do ê“uyde to haue some outwarde enemyes leste in longe reste and ydlenesse they growe to great rychesse and houge possessyons wherof all thynges that bene yll yssue and spryng When Carthage dyd with stande the people of Rome then thempyre dyd florysshe But when that Carthage was onerthrowen Rome wythered and fell to al kynde of noughtye lyuynge Wherfore what profyte is in outwarde feare the thinge doth shewe hymselfe 18. ¶ In campyng thyne Armye what is to be done When the campe is measured the capitayne ought to kepe the stronger parte of hys men in harneys vntyl all the fortresses and fences be finyshed For it happeneth oftentymes when thyne Armye disordrely doeth wandre in measurynge of the campe thaÌ„ to be ouercome of their enemyes and vtterlye destroyed For what greate mastrye is it for an hooste harnessed and prepared to fyght to encountre wyth thy men which ben vnharnessed and bent to the measuryng of the campe and to chase them awaye wyth moost bloodssaughter The which thing euydentlye doeth appeare by the slaughter of the Trentes done by y e Venetians 19. ¶ To kepe thy frendes When the capytayne neadye and poore can not be beneficiall and gyue rewardes to hys frendes yet at the leest let hym take punyshment of theyr aduersaryes wyth whome they bene agreed for that shall be a greate example and paterne that other wyll abyde faythfull and frendly and therwyth wyll gladly wythstande the wronges of hys enemyes 20 ¶ Of quycknesse in battayle Castels and cytyes with fortresses wel defenced ben oftentymes cast downe to y e grounde by spedy quyknesse Wherfore after rype and quycke counsayle takynge it is profytable to vse all spedynesse For what goodnesse doeth ensue of forwardnesse experience doth shewe and men may playnlyse 21. ¶ Of the arraye to be kepte The nerest way to atchyue y e victory is to kepe the souldiours in array wherfore the capitayne must warne his souldiours vnder great penalties not to breake theyr arraye chefely when we make battayle agaynst the east country souldyours Who dylygently kepe theyr arraye not straye out of ordre yf they be guyded by some expert warryour and others that be practysed in such warly feates For such men wyll be no lesse carefull to loke on all thiges then the graunde capitaynes wyll recouer of fresh the battayle agayne bringynge into arraye the whole hoste sparpled and disseuered abrode 22 ¶ Of a lytle multitude in a cytye Where a lytle bande and company of men is in the cytye my counsayle is to coÌ„ passe and inuironÌ„e them about garlandwyse and holde them in fyght both daye and nyght incessauntly besiegyng them that through werynesse they shall be enforced to gyue vp For who is so lustye stronge that long can lyue without quiete and rest yea that is able to stande in fyght Wherfore the capitaynes in the assiege of cyties must aduysedlye searche what company of men be wythin the cytie and whether they ben able to defende the cytye daye and nyght yf he purpose to vanquysh them 23 ¶ Of the hope and trust of sedicion When there is any semblauÌ„ce or hope of any sedicion to be in that cytye whych we purpose to besiege my counsayl is to leaue of and differ thassaulte for a tyme. For in suche sedicion the cytye is lyke to be taken wyth lytle laboure and greate prayse Therfore lette the capitayne be watchfull to foresee euery occation leste by hys vnwarynesse some mischaunce damage do ensue euer obseruynge thys not at any tyme to gyue battayle yf any hope or lykelyhode be that wrathfull sedicion is rysen amonge the cytizins 24 What is to be done in tyme of peace When the warres do surceasse suffre not thy souldiours to dispende theyr lyfe in ydlenesse but occupy them in husbandrye that by the profyte and fructe therof thou mayest both nourysh thyne army wyth wages and vytayles and by suche exercyse to kepe theyr bodyes strong and durable Also it shal not be vnprofytable at suche tyme to ouercome and fence the cytyes with trenches and bulworkes 25. ¶ Of fayned rumours Fayned rumours in tyme of battayle bene both profytable and lykewyse hurtfull For whych cause a capitayne whych forecasteth manye thynges wyll cause false tales and vayne rumours to be spat pled abrode in the stede and place of true tydynges aswell amonge hys enemyes as in hys Armye For experyence doeth teache fayned rumours sometyme to do moche profyte 26. ¶ Of the offyce of the capitayne Let neuer the capitayne commaunde any greater thynge then he hym selfe first wyll take in hande But let hym at thys
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
them selues to suche a cruell monster Wherfore let euery capitayne be geÌ„tle to hys souldyours vsyng all meanes to kepe them bounden to hym partly by praysynge theyr valyaunt deades sometyme rewardyng them lyberally remembryng this where leest ieopardy is there to vse hys power wyth lyke descretion lest he be mocked that in suche a lytle busynesse he doth vse hys mayneforce and puisaunce For that capitayne is iudged rather to be foolysshe then wyse that vseth more fiercenesse then is nedefull Therfore a wyse capitayne wyll considre the tyme and cause and not folowe hys angre the compagnion and marowe of cruelnesse 67 ¶ To kepe leage and promysse of peace with our enemyes Whatsoeuer leage of peace the capytayne shall make with any cytye kyng or prince honest it is that he kepe the same stedfastly and that he do not slyppe from it or shewe hym selfe disloyal for any displeasure done to hym of his enemyes For howe moche is that capitayne worthy to be regarded whose fayth is attaynted and whose falsehode is disdaynfull to euery man wherfore not onely to our frendes but also to our enemies fayth is to be kept and promyses are surely to be perfourmed All wyse capitaynes haue done this Yea Scipio Africanus in the tyme of truce wyth the cytizins of Carthage moued dyuerse wayes and sufferyng many rebukes successed to reuenge his wronges both for the dignitie of the Romayne people and also for hys owne honoure wyllynge to kepe hys faythe of peace otherwyse then the citizins of Carthage men notable for theyr falsehode dyd perfourme towarde hym knowynge traynes and deceiptes to come rather of a seruyle nature then of honest mynde and noble herte 68. ¶ Of the captaynes offyce in accomplyshyng al thynges The offyce of a carefull capitayne is to watche to be spedye to go about al thynges not plucked awaye for anye sleape paynes or other pleasures therwyth redye daye and nyght to seke all occations to noye hys enemyes and to reliefe hys frendes whych must spare for no money to knowe the endeuours of hys enemyes dayly yea yf he can euery houre By faith full spyes shortly he shall knowe that yf he wyll frely rewarde them at the begynnyng and then after lode them wyth greter promysses Thys is the nerest meane to auoyd hynderaunce and discomfiture of our men and the best pollicye to gette the mastrye 66. ¶ When thyne enemyes armye prepareth passage ouer any water Yf thou haue pytched thy tentes nygh to anye ryuers syde and thyne ennemyes wolde haue passage that waye suffre theÌ„ frely to passe by dissemblynge feare and flyght and when parte of theyr armye is passed ouer then set vpon them wyth all thy puisaunce For at suche tymes the victorye is moost easely gotten when thou doest fyght agaynst parte and not wyth the whole Armye But spare not to dyscomfyte them that be passed ouer and also to stoppe and kepe backe those that be on the other syde 70. ¶ When thy souldyours ben astonyshed and fearefull A capitayne that is redye to fyght perceyueth hys Armye fearfull and astonyshed ought to refrayne for that tyme feynyng one cause or other that hys purpose is so shortly chaunged For feare is the readye waye to lose the victorye wheÌ„ on the other part boldnesse and sure trust to ouer throwe all do cause worth ye vyctories Feare also causeth moche staughter of thy men Therfore a wyse capitayn wyll not yssue wyth hys Armye toward hys enemyes for feare of discomfyture when his men be so hertelesse coward-like but wyl forbeare for that tyme vse all meanes to plucke y t feare out of theyr mindes finishing his orations with this conclusion That the vyctorye is in theyr handes yf wythout feare they wyl bolden themselues to matche and encountre wyth theyr enemyes 71. ¶ When scarcetie of vytayles is amonge our enemyes When our enemyes lacke vytayles suffre great scarcitie of all thynges best it is to withdrawe ourselues and vtterly refrayne from battayle that by famyn our enemyes maye sterue And then we shall get a noble victorye without blood sheddyng of our souldyours For an Armye besieged wyll attempt all thynges rather then to be famyshed But a paynefull capitayne in al thynges consydryng the coÌ„moditie of hys hooste in suche case wyll not gyue open battayle neyther for iniuryes of hys enemyes ne yet for the lauash wordes of his owne companye Not consydryng and weyinge before the ende of the matter as it becommeth a wyse man 72 ¶ Battayle is not to be begone but of necessitie and constraynte Battayle is neuer good to be begone but eyther of vrgent necessitie or elles of great oportunitie Although some prynces shortly ben entysed to make battayle when any lyght occation shall serue and yet they be not trauayled in knowledge of warre ne do perceyue the slyppernesse of fortune which for this tyme bryngeth herselfe very fauourable To thinteÌ„t she maye ouerthrowe and cast into myseryr all her adherentes whyich thyng Mariê° the Romayne emperour dyd wel knowe whiche after he had twyse dryuen kynge Bocchus to flight and done moch slaughter vppon his men yet he denyed not to stryke truce wyth hym although manye of hys petycapitaynes earnestlye bralled and grudged agaynst that dede of Mariê° whiche dyd remembre the bryckelnesse of fortune that at her pleasure lifteth vp the oppressed and treadeth vnder y e victours 73. ¶ To refrayne from battayle before that we haue deuysed and layed our traynes A watchfull capitayne wyl beware to make battayl before that he haue layed couertly conueyed his traynes whych be the chefest cause of the victorie wythout whiche for the moost parte Annibal neuer gat any famous victorye For when the Romaynes and the Carthaginenses dyd ioyne togyther in battayle in open playne felde the Romaynes euer preuayled and gat the vpperhande wherfore a wylye capitayne wyll chose a place to in trappe and betraye his enemyes For by suche traynes he shall conquere them easely and otherwayes perchaunce he shal be shamefully discomfited and oppressed 74 ¶ What is to be done that our enemies may be perswaded their capitayne to be slayne When the hostes be ioyned togyther and god Mars guydeth al then vse this pollicye to cast thyne enemyes in feare Sende some souldiour coÌ„myng in theyr language which may sowne and crye w t a loude voyce that they do fyght in vayn for theyr chefe capitayne is slayne Thys must be done in that parte where the capytayne is not For there the souldyours wyll be more lyght of credence and soner in feare Yea and for this cause chefelye that battayle bryngeth this yll with hym that noman is there borne or waxeth to any stature but many be slayne yea the stroÌ„gest and moost delyuer men of all By this meane therfore sone they do beleue the rumour and be put in feare which if it abyde causeth the puisaunce both of the mynde the bodye to fal and faynte And they be ready to retrace offeryng
leest thy catall and other vitayles Prouyde therwyth not to tarye and kepe the hoste there where is al playnes and champion grounde for the daūger of gūnes But to be brieue I can gyue no sure rule where to lodge thyne armye For the place and tyme must chaūge thy purpose in which case the wittynesse of y e capitayn knowledge is moch requyred 189. ¶ How to make stronge the campe with fortresses thyne enemyes assaultynge the. Yf thyne enemyes ben at hande and nedes the cāpe must be fortifyed set abrode a fewe horsemen and a greater garryson of fotemen readye to withstande dryue awaye thyne enemyes vntyll thy fences fortresses be wholy done and then conuey them by lytle and litle into thy campe By whych meane thyne enemyes shal be mocked and thy mē shal afterward more sykerly raunge forth and thyne enemyes whyche euen now reioysed as victours shalbe dryuen awaye with shame 190 ¶ To take our subiectes rather then straungers for souldyours Mete it is rather to rayse and assēble an army of thyne owne mē thā of straūgers whome thou shalt haue faythfull and redye in all peryls which hauyng theyr coūtrye parentes chyldren kynsemen frendes in remembraunce wyl not gyue back ten tymes in the daye to daunger theyr lyues In whiche mynde all kynges princes be excepte the wyse and ryche Venetians that they wolde rather take theyr owne men then outpeople and aliens 191. ¶ What is to be done in thassemble and takyng vp of souldyours When we purpose to make battayle expedyeut it is to foresee and surely know in what places the thyng is to be done For yf we muste trauayle in hyllye and rough places our armye must be garnysshed moche more with fotemen thā horse men And the horsemē also must be lyght harnessed that wyth more ease they maye clymbe vp and lykewise come downe the hylles yf neade be to fyght on fote But yf we must warre in playne and champyon countryes then horsemen be moost necessarye For fotemen wyll stande in lytle steade and vse These thynges be spoken not without some cōsyderation whē in y e assemblie of an armie kynges and princes ben at great charges somyme in vayne 192 ¶ To kepe thyne armye healthfull The health of thyne Armye is mayntayned by exercyse by healthsome countrie and swete ayers but chefelye where is plentye and abundaunce of vytayles For of famyne the plage sometyme doeth come when men for wante and defaulte of vytayles be dryuen to eate vnhealthsome and corrupted meates 193. ¶ what is to be done when waters can not be waded ouer Where the water is so depe that neyther fotemen ne yet horsemen dare venture ouer best it is to turne the water into dyches out of the wont course great streame by whyche meane the water beinge fallen thyne armye maye wade and passe ouer 194 ¶ To chastice and agrieue thyne enemyes hoste It is a good pollicie by hungre rather then by weapon and incurtions to vanquysshe thyne enemyes For nothynge is more profytable ne yet more prayse worthye then by vnbloudye battayle to ioyne the mastrye But take hede lest thyne enemyes thus sterued and tamed with hōger do prouoke them by some dyspleasures to battayle But then lye stylle wyth thyne armye and refrayne from anye assaultes or bykerynges vntyl theyr vitayles be whollye spent 195. ¶ To knowe yf any spyes lurke among thy souldiours Although it be verye hard in a greate armie to knowe the lurkyng spies yet I wylle shewe some wayes not vnprofitable of whych this shalbe one Oftētymes to serche and viewe thy registre if there be any not registred and wrytten it is a great token those to be spyes And also yf any of them that be regestred do carye ty dynges thy endeuours to thother part then nedefulle it is to stoppe and besette wayes passages and woodes by nyght and daye to take and to carye them to the capitayne there to be racked yea and yf any do wander owte of the campe the capitayne not commaundyuge they shal be taken gyltye of petitreason It shall be therefore the offyce of a capitayne dayly to beholde aboute hys armie bothe by hym selfe and other trustye and beleueable souldyers and marke men by theyre face by whych policye he shall knowe the tyme yf any of hys souldyours abode The capitayne also muste commaund al men to take theyre lodgyng by day lyght and to be in theyre tentes and yf any shal be suspect than take and imprison them by torment also constraynyng them to tel theyr intentes cōmandes and charges 196. ¶ To kepe close theyr counsayles Let the capitayne debate and discusse wyth the wytty and experte warryours nowe and agayne what is to be done But what he wyll do let hym disclose to discouer that to fewe depelye wayeng the thynge wyth hym selfe by whych policie he shal neuer attēpte ne enterpryse anye matter voydelye whan hys endeuours and affayres be vnknowen and conceled but by all wayes he shall haue hys owne desyre 197. ¶ The oration of the capytayne to hys hoste whā they be marchīgforthe to fyght The hoste vauncyng towarde battayl the capitayne ought to speake these wordes that wyllynglye he wyll seke hys owne death excepte he brynge with hym the victorie which wordes wonderfully wyll moue and arrayse theyr hertes and chiefely yf they loue and haue hym in any reuerence so that for his wont gentlenes and largesse they wyll put theyr lyues in daūger to gette hym the glory renoume coueytynge theyr death wyth hys death Wherfore lette the capitayne shewe and persuade to hys companye that hys lyfe death and renoume doo stande in theyr manlynesse and handes 198. ¶ To take thyne enemyes by wyles Myne aduyse is to sende forth thyne vnable souldyours sorye felowes most vnprofytable to be as a bayte praye and vntysement to thyne enemyes which prouoked and allured to take them prisoners or elles vtterlye to slee them ryght waye maye be catched and trayned in snares For they then gladsom of the lytle mastry disordrelye wyll as victours folowe the pursute and chase farreof kepynge none arraye By which couyne and trayne manye haue bene deceyued whyche pollicye was not vnknowen of the Easte souldyours whych dyd let loose theyr horses to straye amonge theyr enemyes and they coueytyng to steale the horses were takē and slayne 199. ¶ What is to be done wyth captyues and prisoners It is not good to kylle the captyues and prisoners but to kepe them to tillage and those chefelye that be burlye carterlyke and fytte thereto For what profyte can come of theyr death when yf they be kepte on lyue we maye vse them in husbandrye and of theyr labours get greate encrease and aduauntage Which thyng hath bene done of many kynges and princes And the Turke doeth at this tyme in drugerye and mooste vyle occupations kepe as slaues and bondmen a great nōbre of chrysten men Alas to the reproche and shame of
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
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
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
The preceptes of warre setforth by James the erle of Purlilia and trāslated into englysh by Peter Betham 1544. Though peace be a vertue that vertues do the excell yet mayst thou boldely fyght in a iuste quarell The Epistle To the ryghte honourable syr Thomas Audeleye knyght lorde Audeley of Walden and lorde Chauncelour of Englande Peter Betham wisheth health and cōtinuaunce of honour SOme men peraduēture right honourable lorde wyll thynke me blame worthie bycause I haue presented thys translation to the handes of your lordshyppe rather then to some actyue and valyaūt capitayne whose prowesse is wytnessed by his martiall affayres and bolde enterprises which also is thought in some mens opynyon by dutye to haue the patronage of all those thynges that appertayne to knyghthode and chiualry Euen as Lawe wyghtes and Philosophers which take to theyr selues y e perfect knowledge of thynges are iudged amonge all other men althoughe there be some men whose iudgement is no lesse allowable mooste worthye of whome in maters doubtfull we ought to aske coūsayle and those men ben estemed vnwise whych debate suche causes with other then wyth them syth they haue professed that knowledge Yet to those whych weye thynges by the outewarde face breuely I wyl make this answere Lyke as there be many men whych although they haue not theyr beerdes longe their lockes lyinge on theyr shoulders ne be clothed with the robes of a philosopher yet for theyr hygh knowledge they are not vnworthy that name Euen so there be amonge noble men that be worthye to haue the praysefull name of a capytayne not for theyr brode shoulders out sette brestes and knyghtlye feates But for theyr wysedome conueyaunce and watchefull foreseinge of all suche thynges whych by any meanes maye anoie or ouerwhelme the state of the common wealth For the strength of the bodye is not to be matched wyth wytfulnesse and fyne vnderstandynge And that cytye is not best defenced whyche is inuyronned wyth stronge walles and warded with fortresses of bulworkes trenches and suche other lyke but that whyche wyth wyse counsaylours is proptvp and strengthed Also ryght honourable lorde lyke as Cicero whyche was chosen Consull in the ciuyle and inwarde ruffelyng by the free consente of good men was worthely called the father of theyr countrye defendour of theyr cytye and mayntayner of theyr liberties not for his valyauntnesse in warrely dedes and that he was the graunde capytayne to leade the Romayne power agaynste Catilyne and hys mooste wycked fellowes but that throughe hys endeuoure and carefulle dylygence he saued the cytye of Rome from fyre the virgyns and wyues from rauyshyng and the tēples frō spoyling the Senatours from slaughter and thoughtlesse for hys owne lyfe vanquyshed the cursed conspiracye of Catiline with the whole route of so many brainsyke hopelostes whych were alied vnto hym Thys was not done by hys stoute fyghtynge but by hys dilygente carefulnesse swete orations by whiche he brought to passe all hys attemptates and affayers Euen so ryght honourable lorde you beyng chosen to this hygh offyce whyche by you is setteforth and honested haue bothe in inwarde commotions and outward warres shewed your endeuour to defende this royalme as well from the bloodsheddynge and slaughter of it selfe as from the entryes of forayne enemyes not that you dydde beare harnesse on youre backe lodge in the campe and leade an armye but that by your aduyse and counsayle such thinges haue ben decreed suche enterpryses fynysshed and weyghtye matters concluded that thys royalme hath flourysshed all thynges haue luckely chaunced and oure enemyes on euerye parte subdued This your lordshyppes wysdome vnder oure moost gracyous noble and soueraygne prynce Kynge Henrye the tyght by your swete and pleasaunte orations haue opened and broughte to passe suche thynges amonge other the honourable senatours auncient fathers and worthye counsaylours of this royalme whyche haue auaunced the common profyte enlarged the marches of this lande and brought vnder to thys daye all our enemyes Wherfore the famous and worthye name of a capytayne in suche one as you be rather then in any other is prayseable in whome so many vertues be linked whyche you haue gotten by paynefulnesse paynefulnesse hath purchased you great renoume renoume hath auaunced you to honour honour hath made manye to folowe you whych folowers with most prayse do treade the footesteppes of so auncient and wytfull a capytayne Furthermore yf we cal to remembraūce the Grekes and Troians and searche whych of them deserued greatest prayse in that longe battayle amonge whome the feates of chiualrie were moost vsed we shall sone se that wysdome had euer the hyghest prayse For Vlisses bothe of Homere and other wryters was moche more praysed then eyther was Achilles or Aiax whyche both in strength passed all other For howe many thinges were conueyed by Vlisses wysedome whych the puissaunce of Achilles the strength of Aiax the fersenesse of Diomede could neuer brynge to passe ne ones attouche Who was ambassadoure to Achilles Vlisses Who plucked the Grekes from flyght Vlisses Who caused the death of Rhesus Vlisses Who was the destruction of Troye Vlisses whyche all were doone by wysedome and not by strength of the bodye For strength stryketh wysdome refrayneth strength feareth no perils wisdome stayeth strēgth is rasshe and foolehardye wysedome is bolde and puissaunt whyche alone doth shape and worke all thynges past mans iudgement for which cause in the frame of mans body she is set in the hyest place Wysdome also is lykened to y e goddesse Pallas whyche as well among the wil les of y e goddes as mens doynges doth decise all thynges Thys ladye was of the grekes partye whyche euer was at hande wyth Vlisses in all weyghty and dowbtefulle matters by whose helpe he waded thorough owte all ieoperdyes whych mought haue ben noyouse to the whole armye of the grecians Thys one ladye doth guyde al magistrates as well in tyme of warre as of peace Thys lady in all common weales doeth lyfte vp one to ben as a shynynge starre a pure bright glasse y t in one she maye shewe forth her hye gyftes as appeareth by one Annibal whych by wysdome dydde almoste caste downe the romayne empyre breke theyr force darken the renoume of the noble Senators whych beyng lordes ouer all the worlde in strengthe coulde neuer be matched w t anye forayne prince but wyth thys one Anniball whome wysedome dyd guyde Whyche also dyd welknowe that wysedome woulde mayster strength Nowe ryghte honorable lorde none vpryght reader can blame me that wisdome is so set alofte enhaūced which so moche surmounteth strengthe whan greater renoume is due to the polytike counsaylour then to the stronge man of armes Whyche thynge is daylye seen in our warres in the noble capytayns of thys realme whose straūge sleightes and feates of warre yf any man wyl go abowte to brynge togyther and make a booke therof he shulde playnely shewe that the youthe of Englande doth so florysshe
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
discomfyte thyne ennemyes and they not lyke wyse the. Yf therfore an Armye laden with harneys pursue the thou doest not nede gretly to care that thy men shall be oppressed by them when on the other partye thou mayest nowe and then assaulte and kylle them when they be weryed yet quycklye thou mayest retrace backe and skape It is therfore profytable for the Italyons to fetche manye horses oute of the east partye whych be to them a great helpe to destroye theyr enemyes 83. ¶ That examples do helpe to encourage souldyours Howe moche examples do moue and encourage souldiours Sertorius cōmen of the stocke of Senatours a valiaunt capitayne doth wytnesse which when he was not able to brydle and rule the fierce violēce of the barbarous aliens whome then he dyd leade in battayle after that many of them were slayne of the Romaines and mo wounded endeuourynge to comfort theyr sorowfull and heauye hertes and restore theyr olde strength caused two horses to be brought into the opē fielde of the whole armye of whyche the one was leane and the other was fatte lustye commaundyng also a stronge mā to plucke of the tayle of the leane horse a weake man to plucke of the tayle of the fatte horse But the stronge man went aboute to plucke the whole tayle awaye at one plucke and yt nothinge auayled And the weake man that laboured to plucke awaye heere by heere made all bare to y e stompe Then the army which dyd not knowe what that example dyd meane had the thynge declared to them of theyr capitayne And so by that wyttye example he had them euer after buxome and obedient at his commaundement 84. ¶ That nothyng be done agaynst the capitaynes commaundement In the Armye neyther meate ne drynke ought to be taken without the cōsente of the capitayne But all thynges must be done by his aduertysemente By thys waye theyr busynesse shal more happely come to passe 85. ¶ To refrayne thy souldyours sometyme It is a poynte of wysdome somtyme to holde backe thy souldyours from battayle whyche pollicye is not vnprofytable For afterwarde they wolde be more gladde to fyght and more fiercelye wyll go vpon theyr enemyes 86. ¶ It is not tyme to fight when thyne enemyes do dispayre and be carelesse of theyr lyues When we perceyue our enemyes nothyng to regarde the pleasure of theyr lyues but lyke brute beastes headlynge to come vpon vs. It shalbe profytable somwhat to gyue place to theyr woodnesse Yea although we be able to ouermatche them in nombre and force of men Also yf they were closed and enuyroned on euery syde best it were to open way and make a glade for them For nothing is more folysh and vayne then to fyght with them that wyllyngly wolde dye 87. ¶ What is to be done when we mistrust our souldyours to be afrayed of the sowne of gūnes and noyse of them y t wayle Yf any lykenesse be or mistrust that thy souldyours bene afrayed of the gunshote and otherwyse whereby theyr hertes be lyke to fayle it is a good pollicye to stop their eares with some thing and so with out feare they shall fyght neyther hearyng the wofull waylynges of them that be wounded ne yet the noyse of gunnes Whych pollicye wyl serue at these dayes agaynst the Almaynes that vse a greate nombre of gunnes in theyr armyes 88. ¶ What is to be done when thyne enemyes be moost parte archers When our enemyes be for the mooste part archers then set aganyst them men fenced with tergates whych sort of souldyours be sometyme in the hostes of the East partie And by this pollicie thyne army shalbe out of theyr daunger 89. ¶ What is to be done before the siege of a cytye Before we begynne to lay siege to any cytie my counsayle is fyrst gently to fall into some entreatie with them and therwyth to prouoke and entyse them to rendre vp theyr cytie by large gyftes fayre promysses chiefelye yf that people be naturallye desyrous of ryches For the renoume of that capitayne whych without bloodsneddyng doth atchyue the victorye is vnmatche able besyde that hys men wyth fierce stomakes wyl auenture their lyues for hys sake 09. ¶ Of rashnesse to be eschued of a capitayne It is a thynge vnsittyng to se a capytayne or an armye trauayled in warres to vse any violence or vnaduysed heedynesse Suche a braynsyke and hopeloste capitayne is worthye to be forsaken lest that by hys follye the whole hoste be destroyed of theyr enemyes lyke shepe 91. ¶ A pollicye to take the fotemen Yf thou purpose to brynge forthe the fotemen of thyne enemies then cause thy horsemen to retreate and gyue backe by lytle and lytle dissemblyng feare flyght that therby the fotemen maye be entysed to raunge and runne abrode which kepe them selues in strayte hyllye and roughe couertes where the horsemen can haue no easye entrie to them By which meane the fotemen shall be taken and slayne 92 ¶ A pollicie to diffeate and dispoynt the gunners that they stande in no stede and vse The Frenchemen and Almaynes at these dayes haue in thēyr armies a great nombre of gunners which sore trouble hyndre theyr enemies Wherfore my coū sayle is that armye which hath no suche souldyours to sette vpon them in mooste raynye wether For at those tymes they be vnseruyable and can do no good 93. ¶ Of the offyce of the capitayne in orderyng the affayers of hys armye The graund capitayne ought discrete ly to deuyde and poynt in good ordre the busynesse of his army among his peticapi taynes Wherby he may be dispatched depeched of al other businesse but only to searche the counsayle and attemptates of hys enemyes and therewyth he maye ouerse that enery man attentyuelye perfourme hys worke and taske 94. ¶ To refrayne aswel from the empyre as from the treasures after the victorie Our auncestours noble men of godlye lyuynge thought it ynoughe to ouerthrowe theyr enemyes and only content with the conquest dyd earnestly refrayne from the empyre lest they shoulde be iudged rather to fyght for vayne rychesse which be the very cause of deathfull battayle then for euerlyuyng renoume These were men whose doinges ar worthye to be fresshe and flouryshynge in the memorie of man whose names are worthye to be spred immortall in euery age whose fame shoulde not be shutte vp or hydde in any posteritie These maye be a patent and president to all other and the shynyng ymage of vertue whom al men may beholde and loke for the enforcemēt of theyr prowesse in suche lyke affayers But alas the chrystian princes and kynges of this age be of an other sort and cōdition the whyth thing vnneth I can rehearce without teares whyche ought to cast downe theyr eyes with blushing coūtenaunce when they reade or heare the Ethnike princes so farre to passe them in theyr doinges and in all other kyndes of vertue 95. ¶ To constrayne thy souldyours to fyght When
souldyours ar to be encouraged Marius the happye capitayne of the Romayne people doth shewe hym selfe a paterne and example that souldyours ar to be encouraged by y e doinges of the capitayne and not by vyolence Which Marius dyd swete in all sorte of labours and toke great paynes trauaylyng therby rather then by violence to call vp and quycken the courage of his men For whē they sawe theyr capitayne to take on him such intollerable paynes they were ashamed that they dydde not abyde suche lyke labours yea and moche more vnsufferable Whych doing of Marius was worthye to be praysed For how can a capitayne y t gyueth hym selfe to gluttonye and slepe kendle agd styrre vp the dulnesse of hys men to any bolde enterprise to watching or suche lyke thynges The souldyours wyl also scorne suche a capitayne that rebuketh other men of such faultes as chefelye appeare in hym worthye to be blamed That capitayne therfore that wyll guyde gouerne other men must learne to master his owne affections whych yf he do no doubt there is but that the hole armye with glad mynde wyl folowe his instructions and obeye hys decrees 124. ¶ To purchace the fauour of a straunge countrye The capitayne that weareth the apparell and vseth the maners of the coūtrye where he is wonderfullye shall come in theyr fauour when he shall appeare as a countryeman there borne and of the same people Which policie Alexandre of Macedon vsed after he had subdued the king of Persia and obtayned the empyre For he dyd inure and accustome hym selfe to theyr maners and fashyons And so he by wearynge theyr kynde of rayment and by kepynge theyr vsuall customes dydde bynde as true liege men whom before he had conquered in battayle 125. ¶ A capitayne must be liberal and therwith praysynge the stoutnesse of hys men A capitayne ought to be liberal to hys men accordyng to theyr desertes therwyth to gyue them hye thankes for their famous enterprices And when they setheyr actes well rewarded and taken thā all labours seme to them easy and lyght and that they may please theyr capitayne they wyll not feare to shedde and spende theyr blood Therfore nothynge doth soner purchase the fauour and true hertes of thy souldyours then liberalite thankesgyuyng which two be nouryshers of valyauntnesse For whych purpose a boūtyfull capitayne wyll not spare for anye cost to ioyne the hertes of hys souldiours that thereby he maye haue them readye and forwarde in all ieopardyes 126. ¶ what is to be done when eruption is feared When we be afrayed of eruption eyther of our enemyes or oute of any cytye best it is to cast bulworkes wyth turrettes of wood that our armye maye be defenced and kept in saufetye on euery syde For sodayne outbrastes do moche discom fyte and trouble oure armye when our enemyes vnloked for do sette vpon vs. Suche is the violence of sodayne eruptiō which maketh the downeman to become vyctour and gyueth the victorye to hym that is vnlyke and nye subdued 127. ¶ what is to be done of the capitayne when hys arme is in extreme peryl and daunger A venturous capitayne in thextreme distresse ieopardy of his mē must neglect his owne safetie casting hym selfe in ieopardye and put hys lyfe in hasarde For the souldyours seing the great and daungerous peryll of theyr capitayne wyl be imboldened to pluck vp theyr force afresh contemning theyr priuate lyfe For what comforte can they haue when theyr capitayne is loste and slayne Wherfore they then past hope wyll fyght in hope and destitute of all hope wyll moost desperatlye and lyke hopelostes runne on theyr enemyes whych is sometyme the recouerye of an whole hoste 128 ¶ Wyth what thynge the mynde of the cōmunaltie is gotten The hertes and good wyll of the rude people is chefelye gotten by bankettynge and rewardes wherwyth they be moche pleased iudgyng theyr selues not to be regarded ne yet sethy excepte they be called to deyntye feastes and bankettes For the cōmeners do not seke what is honest but what is profytable and yf no profyte do ensue theyr frendshyp and good wyll decayeth Which thynge was not folowed of Salust that dyd bestowe and employ hys labour rather to wryte the historyes of the Romaynes then to seke and hunt for theyr fauour by feastmakyng and ban kettynge 129. ¶ Of the fashyon to sende letters Letters maye be conueyed to thy frendes in cyties campes or elles where by byndynge them to arrowes 130. ¶ To allure thyne enemyes to slyppe awaye and fayle theyr capitaynes A wytfull capitayne wyll sende some of hys souldyours that be subtyle wyttye to proue and tempt the mynde of his enemies and by al meanes to allure some of the capitaynes or experte warryours to forsake and fayle theyr master in tyme of nede promysyng to them great rewardes makyng large profers and therwith settyngforth and practisyng thaffabilitie and lowlynesse of theyr capitayne cessing not to graunt any demaunde and also to promysse what thyng soeuer shalbe pleasaunt or acceptable to them 131. ¶ Of the badgies of the souldyours All the souldyours ought to be knowē by some badge that the better they maye be discerned from thyne enemyes lest indifferentlye they beate downe and stryke theyr frēdes as foes Whych may chaūce where there is no difference of armature and where thy men can not be distinctlye knowen from theyr enemyes by theyr apparell and cognisaunce 132. ¶ Of kynges and other princes that kepe not theyr feyth Kynges and other princes do somtymes abuse the conditiōs of the lawes of warre and peace to theyr owne commoditie Yea rather to theyr priuate lust and pleasure and haue not theyr eyes vpō iustice which only they ought to haue in reuerence and also worshyppe For what kynge or prince is there now on dayes so iust and vncorrupted whyche wolde not seuen tymes in the day breake the leage of peace whyche ought to be vndefyled surely trustyng therby to occupy and enioye the demaynes of hys enemyes or at the lest the best parte of hys lordshyppes wherfore euer haue thy frendes as well as thy foes suspected chefely when thy kingdom is in stryfe For no man is soner deceyued then he whych hath affyaunce in all men Wherfore that prince which is wyse wyll not commyt hys secretes to an other prince but only for his safegard The priuities in the herte can not be searched Also he wyll not suffre anye other prince to entre into his castelles and holdes whych he hath fenced that they may viewe and marke them 133 ¶ Of the condicion of the common people The conditions of the common people be very hatefull whyche couet alwaye to resorte to them where they trust to haue mooste aduauntage whych do not set by ne regarde any man for his excellent and hygh vertues yf there be no hope of profyte to ryse by hym Whyche thynge is shamefull to be spoken of but chefelye to be done But
refrayne from spoyle and pillage before thyne enemies be wholye subdued Do thou gyue to thyne hooste a generall commaundement that they refrayne from spoyle and robberye vntyll thyne enemyes be cōquered and wholy brought vnder and a greate penaltie must be sette to the contrarye For when thy men fall to spoyle and be gyuen to vaūtage thyne enemyes maye recouer and restore theyr strength and euen now subdued and lost men ryght agayne become vyctours Wherfore so longe as one lyueth and any parte of theyr strength remayneth for bydde thy men to gape after praye leste the myrth of the vyctorie be turned to an heuye and sodayne sorowe 147 ¶ To refrayne from burnyng After that the cities be taken and thyne enemyes vanquyshed and slayne it were vnprofytable to burne and waste all For thou mayest leaue those cyties to be inhabyted and kept of thy frendes and hereafter they wil be a great refuge and succour to the. Althoughe the capitayne consyderyng the tyme and place may folowe the aduertysement and rede of hys frendes 148 ¶ Of ayde and succour to be sent to thy neyghbours abborderynge on the. Yf thy neyghbours be vexed and tourmoyled on euery syde with warres it is conuenyent and honest to sende them ayd y t the sorowful war may rather be bewayled of them then of the. For to quenche y e fyre of thy neyghbours house is the safegarde of thyne owne Therfore mete it is neyghbours to be frēdes when outward warres do noie them lest thy neighbours hurte and damage lyght also vpon the. 149 ¶ what it is to do some valiaunt acte in the syght and face of thyne enemyes To shewe some token of puisauncie and do some valyaunt acte in the eyes of thyne enemies is a great helpe and moch vayleable to the gettyng of the victorye whether it be done by the capitayne or any other souldiours and also the enuy of hym shall enflame prouoke other of thy men to enterprice lyke thynges the courage of thyne enemies therby shalbe shaked and abated And so a fewe valyaunt men oftentymes haue ben the cause of all victories Therfore let the capitaine be sure to haue some man vaileable in feates and strength Whych in siguler stryfe and man to mā is bolde valiaunt and couragious 150. ¶ Of lytle power not to be contemned A wyse capitayne wyll not be carelesse and despyse a lytle armye although it be but weake and a small power whē of a lytle sparke whyche he wolde not thynke a great fyre doeth kendle Wherfore the fyre must be quenched before the flame flasshe out and all be set on fyre And lykewyse we muste quenche and ouercome that litle strength and puisaūce of our enemyes wyth all our endeuoure lest it waxe and growe bygger and then without more ieopardye it can not be w tstande Wherfore it is great follie to neglecte suche thynges and not in tyme to mete wyth lytle powers and vtterlye to discomfyte them 151. ¶ Of slouthfulnesse to be eschued of the capitayne and all other All capitaynes souldyours and other oughte to flye from ydlenesse euen as frō the pestylence yea and rather more For ydlenesse doth destroye the body and the mynde whych is moost hyest of al thynges and drowneth the renoume of men when the pestilence destroyeth onelye the bodye wherfore all capitaynes and souldyours do you cast of that sluggyshnesse both in tyme of peace and warre and stye from it as from a wylde beast when she setteth on you in tyme of prosperitie gyuyng moost deedlye battayle For cytyes whych neuer coulde haue bene ouerthrowen in tyme of warre haue bē destroyed by slougthfulnesse in time of peace which bringeth with her this mischefe that not only fooles but also wyse men be choked vp wyth the stynkyng canells of that vice 152. ¶ To viewe and know the countryes before thou cary thyne Armye thyther A good capitayne wyll be sure diligētly to vewe wyth hys owne eyes the coūtryes rounde aboute before that he carye hys armye thyther and he wyll surelye knowe what waye his men may iourney mooste saufelye and where that his enemyes may lye in wayte for hym or els he for them and what cyties and townes to destroye by the waye it shalbe profytable and expedient for him lest he be deceyued sometyme by espyes sometyme by ignoraunce sometyme trapped in theyr traynes and snares 153 ¶ Of the encrease of thyne empyre The dutye of a soueraygne emperour is in tyme of blysfull peace to augment and fence his empyre with the procurement of newe frendes Asdrebal the wyse kyng of the people of Carthage was not vnknowen of this For after the fyrst battayle that he had in Affrike he enlarged and encreased the power of Carthage when he hooked in those that dyd bordre on hym and purchased theyr fauoure Whych thynge all wyse Emperours before this tyme and in this time also haue done and do 154 ¶ The conditions of the capitayne The capitayne ought to be bolde in aduentures and therewyth wyttye and of moche counsayle For what cōmoditye is it to haue a capitayne bolde and the same foolysh and without counsayle whē they both do ioyne and iumpe so nere togyther And also the one nedeth so the helpe of y e other that for the defaulte of the one no man is worthye to be called a capitayne but a verye loute and a lobre and vnworthye that honourable name whyche also is lyker to haue a master then to be a master 155 ¶ What is to be done in the besiege of cyties It is very profitable in the assiege and beatynge downe of cyties to make thys proclamation amonge the mayne hooste by the commaundement of the graunde capitayne that all the pillage and prayes shalbe due to the souldyours Then they allured and enflamed wyth the swete desyre of vauntage and strengthened with the hope of ryches wyll not be put backe for anye violence thoughe it be neuer so great but they wyl surely take and beate downe the cytie Suche desyre and vnsaciable coueytosnes of vauntage raygneth amonge men 156. ¶ A pollicie to knowe yf thy soldyours be faythfull Yf thy souldyous gently folowe the from place to place it is a greattoken and argumente of theyr faythfulnesse 157. ¶ Of the great and huge couetousnesse of the barbarous people As the fyshes be taken wyth swete baytes so the barbarous aliens be plucked and hailed wyth golde yea moche soner For they esteme golde and syluer moche more then any prayse or renoume so that the Italions haue great hope to ouercome them for theyr gredye desyre of treasure although the commyng of warfare and prayse therof hath euer florished and yet doth amonge the same Italions 158 ¶ How to cary an armye ouer a water thyne enemyes restynge It happeneth oftentymes that algates thou muste carye thyne armye ouer some ryuer where thyne enemies do resist and withstande thy passage in whyche case thou muste gette bootes yf matter and tyme want to make a
Chrysten princes knowing hys armye can not be nourysshed wythout the frutes of the grounde whyche beinge soulde hys souldyours therby haue and receyue theyr wagies knowyng also famyne to be noyouse and worse then a plage to hys hoste whyche desstroyeth cities countreyes and townes 1000. ¶ To fynde swete water and fresshe Abowte the sea bankes fresshe water is founde also in the mydde lande and places farre from the sea wher shrubbes do growe Mete it is the capytayne to haue knowledge of these thynges 1001. ¶ Of nyght battayle If thou fyghte in the nyghte tyme profytable it is to haue the moone on thy backe For soo thyne enemyes shall not well warde ne escape the strokes of thy men For the lyghte and also for the false vmbrage whych the Moone doth shewe fourthe 1002. ¶ Of the dewetye of the capitayne in excersysyng hys souldyours Nedefulle it is for a capytayne to knowe before he come to battayle that bothe hys horsemen and also hys foote men rude in the cunnyng of warre must be daylye exercysed For theyr vnskylfulnesse is the great destructiō of the whole hoste when they knowe not howe for to kepe theyr arraye nae yet what to do but lyke men astonysshed voyde of all warlye knowledge and nowe to learne the feates of warre in whose hand the chyfe parte of the battayle doth stand begynne to staye and proffer theyr backes 1003. ¶ Of the dewtye of the graunde capytaynes in battel Kynges and prynces the counsayle lours of the weale publyke for the tyme dismissed muste calle vnto them actyfe and experte warryoures and vse theyr counsayles in warlye affayres not doynge anye thynge rashlye agaynst theyr aduertisement of whyche thynge Pompeyus maye be an example that for hys knowlege of warre deserued to be called magnus great or noble which whē he warred agaynste Cesar was costrayned by the Senate to chaunge hys pourpose and to vse an other waye then he wyth hym selfe had decreed or elles the commyng of warre requyred wherby it chaūced that he was vanquysshed wyth hys frendes moost shamefullye 1004. ¶ Of the fotemen and sygne of battayle The tentes redde beforetokens of battayle to come and sygnes of the vyctorye wyth the bloodsheddyng of thyne enemyes FINIS libri primi The second boke ¶ The Proheme of the seconde boke vnto the lawes of warre IT nowe remayneth that in fewe wordes we playnelye shewe and opē what lawes the graunde capitaynes and also y e peticapitaynes ought to vse agaynst the defaultes of their souldyours not onelye in tyme of warre but also of peace For without mans iustice and equitie not armyes onelye kyngdomes and lordshyppes but also lytle countryes can not longe contynue and kepe theyr egall estate suche strength and vertue is in iustice and equitie Therefore it shall not be moche vnprofytable here shortly to shewe what I haue founde in the Romayne lawes and also what thinges ben obserued and vsed nowe in these dayes in the punyshment of souldiours whyche maye be taken for a lawe so that there shalbe none in the whole army that can saye the capitayne to haue wronged and iniured hym 2. ¶ Of them that yelde theyr selues to theyr enemyes Yf any yelde theyr selues to thyne enemyes hauynge no iust and vrgent cause the hygher he is in hys degree the sorer let hym be punysshed And for this cause that the other souldyours and theyr capitaynes take none example of hym the chaunce of the battayle not tryed to yeld themselues to theyr enemyes 3. ¶ Of an outstrayer He that leaueth and strayeth from his owne companye muste be punysshed by the purse or els lose hys place or be sende forth abrode lyke a slaue that he maye be an example to other not to straye oute of ordre 4. ¶ Of a spye or outryder A spye whyche wyll be entysed at the request of hys enemyes and so leaue hys capitayne is worthy to be beheeded and that iustlye For the saulfetye and destruction of the whole hoste doeth lye in hym Wherfore hys punyshment muste be the greater 5. ¶ Of ronneawayes and landeleapers They that ronne to theyr enemyes then after returne must be hanged He also that is purposed to flye and in y e meane tyme intertaken is worthye to be beheeded Whiche lawe amonge oure souldyours now on dayes is put in vre but not afore 6. ¶ Of them that lose theyr harneys He that loseth his harneys in battayl or shall alienate them must chaunge hys place but he that stealeth others must be put out of his souldyourshyppe 7. ¶ Of them that do thynges prohybited and kepe not the lawes and decrees proclaymed He that shal do any thyng forbydden of the capitayne and therwyth doeth not kepe hys commaundementes must be be heeded although the thynge be not well done Also yf he steale into the campe by walles or ditches dryuē by no great feare he is worthye the same punyshment 8. ¶ Of them that raysevp sedicion They that styre vp anye sedition are moost worthye to be beheeded but yf the sedicion shal come of some light cōplaynt then put them out of theyr place of souldyourshyppe whych fyrst dyd moue that busynesse 9. ¶ Of a legion reculynge Yf any legion gyue backe let them lose the name of chiualrye for euer 10 ¶ Of banyshed personage Banyshed personnes intromyttynge theyr selues to be taken vp as souldiours must be beheaded for the dignitie of chyualrye 11. ¶ Of hym that is sentforth lyke a slaue He that is sente awaye lyke a drudge for the glorye of chiualry must not be receyued as a souldyour agayne that the renoume of chiualry therby be not impaired 12. ¶ Of them that be iudged to dye They that be iudged to dye for y e sclaūder that runneth on them must not be taken in and receyued 13. Of them that steale y e youth of chiualrie He that shall steale yonge scholers in y e feates of warre in tyme of warre muste be exyled and lose parte of hys goodes in tyme of peace he must be beaten with stanes or kytgels 14. ¶ Of hym that maymeth a yonge souldyour He that maymeth a yonge souldyour of chiualrie is worthye banyshment 15. ¶ Of hym that leaueth hys compagnie An horseman that leaueth hys companye in tyme of warre deserueth heedyng and in tyme of peace to lose his roume 16. ¶ Of them that rebell He that doeth offre violent handes to any of the capitaynes is worthy heeding and that fault is augmented by the state and honour of the capitayne 17. ¶ Of disobedience and sturdynesse Disobedience agaynst the graunde capitayne or peticapitayne is worthy heedynge 18. ¶ Of hym that flyeth He that fyrste tourneth his face in the battayle to the example of other deserueth heedyng For by suche cowardly and holloweherted felowes thyne enemyes be comforted and encouraged and thyne owne men discouraged and afrayed Wherby it happeneth oftentymes thyne armye retreatynge to be dryuen downe slayne wherfore this penaltie is iustlye ordeyned for suche
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
the sagenesse and eloquence of the capitayne in his orations 145. To refrayne from spoyle and pyllage before thine enemies be wholy subdued 146 To refrayne from burnyng 147. Of aide and succoure to be sende to thy neyghbours abbordryng on the. 148. What it is to do some valiaunt act in the syght and face of thyne enemyes 149. Of a lytle power not to be cōtemned 150. Of slouthfulness to be eschued of the capitayne and all other 151. To viewe and knowe the countryes before thou cary thyne armye there 152. Of the encrease of thyne empyre 153 The conditions of the capitayne 154. what is to be done ī y e besiege of cities 155 A pollicye to knowe yf thy souldyours be faythfull 156. Of the great and huge coueytousnesse of the barbarous people 157. Howe to carye an armye ouer a water thyne enemyes resystyng 158. The cōfortable wordes of the capitayne when his souldyours be in despayre 159. Of thy souldiours worshypfully to be buryed 160. Whē y e power of thyne enemyes is moch stronger what is then to be done 161. Of hostages 162. To stint y e wepiges scrikes of womē 163 To hyde and couer the slaughter 164. To pacifye a stronge and valyaunt warryour which is displeased 165. Wages ar not to be eraued when y e treasures be spent and wasted 166. To passe by lytle thinges y t be harde 167. what is to be done of y e chefecapitaīs 168 To kepe the possessyon of the thyng ones gotten 169. Of the nature and condition of the common people 170. Of a muititude of gūners and crossebow shoters 171. what is to be done when the walles be beaten downe 172. what is to be done in y e slackig of cities 173 To set vpon the campe of thyne enemyes not warely kepte 174. what is to be done in slow slak siege 175 Of title thynges not to be despysed 176. Of warre on the see 177. Of great perilles scaped and auoyded by rashnesse and foolehardynesse 178. Of a certayne kynde of defence 179. where thyne enemies p̄uayl ī horsmē 180 To rayse the siege of any cytie 181. Of cyties yeldyng them selues 182 How necessary warly connyng is to souldyours 183. Great victories ben atchieued with fewe and expert souldyours 184. Of yonge men to be chosen 185. what men they shulde be to whome y e kepyng of coūtries cities is cōmytted 186. Of the maner of fyghtynge 187. In what places best it is to lodge thyne armye 188. Howe to make stronge thy campe w t fortresses thyne enemies assaultyng the. 189. To take our subiectes rather then straūgers for souldyours 190. What is to be done in the assemble and takyng of souldyours 191. To kepe thyne armye healthfull 192. what is to be done when waters can not be auoyded 193. To chastice and agrieue thyne enemyes hoste 194. To knowe yf any spyes lurke among thy souldyours 195. To kepe close thy counsayles 196. The oration of the capitayne to his hoste when they be marchyngforth to fight 197 To take thyne enemyes by wiles 198. what is to be done with captyues and prisoners 199. To fynde swete water and fresh 1000. Of nyght battayle 1001. Of the dutye of the capitayne in exercysyng hys souldyours 1002. Of the dutye of the graunde capitaynes in battayle 1003. Of the foretokē and figne of battayl 1004. ¶ The Chapiters of the seconde boke The proeme of the seconde boke vnto the lawes of warre 1. Of them that yelde theyr selues to theyr enemyes 2. Of an outstrayer 3. Of a spye or outryder 4. Of ronneawayes and landleapers 5. Of them that lose theyr harneys 6. Of them that do thynges prohybyted kepe not the lawes and decrees proclaymed 7. Of them that rayse vp sedition 8. Of a legion reculynge 9 Of banysshed personages 10. Of hym that is sendforth lyke a slaue 11. Of them that be iudged to dye 12 Of thē y t steale y e youth of chyualdry 13. Of hym y t maymeth a yong souldyer 14. Of hym that leaueth hys companye 15. Of them that rebell 16. Of disobedience and sturdines 17 Of hym that fleeth 18. Of spyes and scowtewatches 19. Of hym that woundeth hys felowe 20. Of runawayes and traytours 21. In what places the souldiours shall be forbydden to bye vytayles 22. Of them that leaue nyght watche 23. Of them that scape out of prison 24. Of a ronneagate and strydelande 25. Of y e tyme apoynted by y e capitayne 26. Of a disturber of the peace 27. Whē thy souldiers be ī theyr iourney 28. Of them y t skater owt of the cōpany 29. Of a captyne 30. Of them that forsake the capitayne 31. Of gonners on horsebacke 32. Of gonnes called serpentines w t other 33 Of a profitable defence of the campe 34. To gyue thankes and prayse to god after the victorye 35. Whether it be lawful for christen men to make and styrvp battayle 36. They that go on warfare do leaue they◠iewels at home 37. To make the water noysome vnhealthsome to thyne enemyes 38 In what place y e battel is be to fought 39 To kepe the citye besyeged in faythe and constancie 40. To scape oute of a narrow place 41. Of bowes 42. Of y e outragious assaulte of thyne ennemyes 43. To forsee the place rounde abowt where battayle shall be 44 To setvpon thyne enemyes in theyr iourneye 45. What is to be done whan oure enemyes ouermatche vs in force 46. What is to be done whan we do fyghte in straytes 47. Of ouer muche confidence 48. Of the capitaines commaundement that no man take any prysoner 48. Not to depart frō the place apoynted 50 That the tētes be not left vndefensed 51. Of thyne enemyes fallynge in variaunce and stryfe 52 Let thy men be readye in harneys thyne ennemyes lyenge at hande 53. Of the besyege of cytyes 54. To make brydges wyth ropes 55. To reuenge our damages wyth lyke annoyaunce 56. Howe to conuaye the battayle from one place to an other 57 To relyue the scarsenes of water 58. To recouer cities and townes lost 59. What is to be done whan thow art ouer matched 60. To sette fyer on thyne ennemyes pauilyous 61. what is to be done whā we can not scape out of a place wyth our army 62. To make an assemble and shewe of horsmen in the face of thyne enemyes 63. To refrayne from the besyege of such cities whych haue dayly newe succour 64. What is moste expedyent for the chyefe capytayne to do at the fyrst entrye into countryes 65. what is to be done in the syege of bygge cities 66 what is to be done whan oure ennemyes spyes be taken 67. Not to haue one espye alwayes 68. To knowe the feare and cowardyse of thyne ennemyes 69. Of the duty of bolde stowte felows 70 To recouer y e heath of thy souldiours 71. A policie to deceyue and defraude our ennemyes 72 To get the fauour of our souldyours 73. To haue fyer to burne in water 74. what is to be done whan the capytaynes do not agree in one sentence 75 Of falshode to be reuenged 76. A waye to laye syege to cities on the sea syde 77. where we haue onlye well water 78. To chose a place to fyght in 79 To mocke our ennemyes 80. when thyne host is in great ieoperdy 81. what is to be done when thyne enemies be at hande 82. To prouyde that thyne armye may haue suffisaunce of vytayle 83. To prouoke thyne enemyes to fyghte in ioyned battayle 84. Finis ¶ Imprynted at London in the olde Iewery by Edwarde Whytchurche Cum priuilegio ad imprimendū solū ¶ These bookes are to be solde at the weste dore of Pauls by William Telotson ¶ The youth of Englāde doth vse in theyre playīges a warrelike sport and reseble of bat tayl whiche is called England and Scotlās
heauye hertes 19. ¶ Of spyes and scoutwatches Espials whych reuele and open thy secretes to thyne enemyes be ranke hygh traytours Wherfore to haue theyr heed chopped of is theyr mete punyshment Also those whyche dissemble syknesse for anye feare be worthye the same punyshment 20. ¶ Of hym that woundeth hys felowe Choppe of hys heed that woundeth his felowe with a sworde and thrust him out of hys roume that hurleth a stone at hys felowe lest of suche braulynges some sedicion do ryse 21. ¶ Of runneawayes and traytours Cause ronneawayes and traytours to be racked before they suffre heedynge to knowe yf they haue not other felowes priuye and alied to the same conspiracie 22. ¶ In what places thy souldyours shalbe forbydden to bye thy bytayles Forbydde and restrayne thy souldyours to bye theyr vitayles in those places where they kepe warre lest the countrye men be constrayned rather for feare then for a iust price to sel theyr wares and lest that by dayntye fare thy sould yours be flacke in theyr feates of chiualrye 23. ¶ Of them that leaue nyghtwatche Beheede them that leaue the nyghtwatche whiche punyshment is nedefull when not only the capitayne but also the whole armye deepely and soundly sleape in the eyes of the watche and the diligēce of the watche is the foretresse and defēce of thyne armye What thyng therfore is more shamefull and cruell then to betray and slee the whole army slepynge and takyng theyr rest after theyr werye trauayles and busynesse 24. ¶ Of them that scape out of prison He that scapeth oute of pryson is not lykened to ronneawayes For that was done to saue hys lyfe which thyng nature hath graunted to all beastes 25. ¶ Of a ronneagate or strydlande A ronnegate brought agayne by hys father is to be punyshed more gently thā by the heed 26. ¶ Of the tyme appoynted by the capitayne He that doeth not repayre to hys companye by the tyme appoynted without a lawfull excuse is to be taken and accompted a ronnegate 27. ¶ Of a disturber of the peace Punysshe by heedyng that souldyour which bringeth thyne army in an vprore 28. ¶ When thy souldiours be in theyr iourneye Souldiours which be taken vn wares and sodaynly theyr former lyfe wel knowen are worthye pardone 29. ¶ Of them that scatre out of the cōpany They that wandre from theyr company are worthy to be kidgelled or lose their place 30. ¶ Of a captyue Yf any of thy men that is taken prisoner wolde not returne when he mought decken hym for a ronneawaye but yf he returne receyue hym yf it be sure that he was taken agaynst hys wyll and ranne not thyther 31. ¶ Of them that forsake the capytayne He that doth not helpe and defend hys capytayne whan he maye or leaueth hym whan he is enuironed set abowte wyth enemyes is worthye to be hanged on a payre of gallowes 32. ¶ Of gonners on horsebacke It shal not be vnprofitable to acquaynten and wount your horses as the duchmen do to suffer the sytter whyche is a gunner and not to be affrayed therof For no sorte of souldyers is more profytable thā they nor yet doth more myschife and hurte For no man is so well harnaysed that can be saulfe from them such a vyolence is in that warlye instrumente 33. Of gunnes called serpētines wyth other It shall be very profitable to haue many wagons charettes laden with gons For there is none armye so strong whom they wyll not destroye so that horses men far of be slayne wyth them Also the great sounde shal so feare men that their strength and courage shal fal and decay 34. ¶ Of a profitable defence of the campe A greate defeuce for thy campe shalbe to haue manye wagons and carres shod wyth yron and aboue those turrettes of wood fylled wyth serpentines and other kyndes of gonnes whyche is the sureste defence for thy campe 35. ¶ To gyue thankes and prayse to god after the victorye Because we be pourpossed to leaue nothynge in this booke vnto wched whych is to be requyred in warlye knowlege eke in the connynge of chyualdrie Therefore comelye it is the head leader of the armye the victory ones atchyued and gotten humblye to rendre and gyue prayse euerlastynge wyth hys whole hoste to the lyuynge lorde that he of his vnspeke able and omnisufficient mercye in other battayles wolde be mercyful and good vnto them for wythout the helpe succour and strength of the Lorde mans power is vnable and nothyng And yf the lyuing god shalbe wyth vs fyght on our syde what can the swordes of oure ennemyes hurte or harme vs. Therefore the chyefetayne or graunde capytayne no tyme let passe ne no tariaunce made his whole armye wyth a pure sincere and vnfained herte ought to gyue thankes to the Lord offerynge vp wyth a faythefulle mynde wherwyth god is pleased 36. ¶ Whether it be lawful for christen men to make and styr vppe battayle Leaste that some men readynge thys my booke shoulde doubte whether it be lawful for christen men to styrvp battayl whan that man slaughter captiuitye rauyne deflowrynge of maydēs and take demaynes do folowe thereof To plucke thys fansie oute of theyr mynde let them knowe in fewe woordes that warfare is no syn but he that kepeth batayle highly pleaseth the Lorde whyche thynge doth playnlye apere by holy George and Dauid the electe prophete of god and by the battayle turnamēt of Centurio I leue of the testimonies of saynt Gregory other sayntes which do say affirme that god is not displesed w t warre But what shal I saye of the vndowted vnfallible sayenge of Chryste which commaundeth tribute to be payde to Cesar that he may haue to bestowe on hys souldyers and so to kepe the worlde in peace and quyet the whyche peace god the rewarder of all faythefull hath lefte here behynde hym the onlye pawne and pledge of hys mercyfull goodnes Shall we therfore dysproue chrysten warrefare of whyche we haue suche a commoditye The souldyours also ought to be content wyth their wages and not to craue more than their duetye is But that suche menne maye wyth greate prayse and glorye kepe battayle mete it is these qualityes and vertues to appere and shyne in them ¶ Fyrste that he be a temporall man actyue and valiante For the defence of hys contreye and iustyce castynge no peryls expert and cunnynge in warlye feates so ber and temperate in lyuynge prompte to do all thynges reasonable sowthefast and faythfull wyttye mercyfull and of good hope If these thynges shalbe in the capitaynes and rulers what can be blamed in them be they not then acceptable vnto god 37. They that go on warfare do leaue theyr iewels behynde at home When we go forth to battayle good it is to carye nothyuge wyth vs that is of any valewe excepte oure horses and harnays no ne yet to leaue any thynge in the campe and tentes least oure