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
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
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
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
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
lyne 8. reade laye for lye Cha. 170. lyne 4. reade demeanour for demeanours Cha. 194. lyne 5. reade wonne for ioyne Cha. 196. lyne 5. rede discouer for to disco Ch. 1003. lyne 14 for coÌ„myng rede coÌ„ning ¶ Fautes escaped in the seconde boke In the. 36. Chapter lyne 5. rede takynge of demeanes for take demeanes Cha. 38. lyne 3. reade woad for wood Cha. 40. the last lyne saue one rede continuaunce for countynaunce Cha. 41. lyne 10. reade serche for seche Cha. 46. lyne 4. reade foes for force Cha. 47. lyne 7. for one rede vpon Cha. 51. lyne 4. rede vnmmanued for vnmaymed In y e title of 58. chap. for relyue rede helpe lyne 3. y e same cha rede weake for wean In the last chapter added of the translatour lyne 17. rede of nature for of our nature lyne 35. botye for both BEfore that thou begyn to make battayle it is nedefull to take aduysement ones and agayne whether the cause and begynnynge of thy warmakynge be honest But yet that is not a suffycient cause to gyue battayle except for thys purpose thou do it to lyue afterwarde peaceable and in quyete not wyllynge to sowe and stere vp battayl after battayle the which thynge is both foolyshe and cruell But yf thyne enemye can satisfy and content the by sorowfulnes or els otherwyse it were wycked cruell and rather beastly than manlye to make battayle agaynste hym eyther for the vayne desyre to beare rule or for the couetousnesse of rychesse And so to destroye hym by the swearde whome gentle wordes wolde haue vanquyshed When I speake of thys sorowfulnesse I meane that which is vnfayned and wythout any doubt or ieopardy that suche wronges vnpunished shulde entise thyne enemye to offre semblable trouble and occations of displeasure For theÌ„ quycly and sharply punyshment is to be done And if thou abyde any hurte through his wrongfulnesse by and by redresse it and the people shall therby well iudge and esteme the. But yf thou be not afrayde that some prince either stronger or egall in power wyll make battayle agaynst the my counsayle is Fyrst to rayse and styre vp warre agaynst hym bycause the greater boldnesse is thought to be in hym that begynneth then in hym whyche defendeth the assaultes of hys enemyes As to leade out thy souldyours fyrst after winter thaÌ„ to set them in aray and so to set vpoÌ„ thyne enemyes is verye profytable By whych meanes thou shalt brynge thyne enemies to quyet and repentaunce and eftsones shalt purchase peace whych thou hast desyred And so thy feare and dread is a iust occation fyrste to gyue battayle and the same to put awaye and ende But one thynge do not forget althoughe thou haue a iust occation to begynne the fray diligently to foresee what shalbe the ende For euery man maye begynne war but to cease and haue an ende standeth in the conquerour his hande Wherfore dyligentlye knowe thyne owne power and therwith the strength of thyne enemies before thou begynne battayle Knowe also thy frendes and learne who be thy foes and howe greate theyr puisaunce is Also attempte and proue theyr trusty men in other thynges leaste when thou arte troubled in thy warres sodeynlye wyth all theyr force and violence they come vpon the and so do vnto the moche hynderaunce And brefelye thynke that all men may be thy frendes and that the same maye be thyne enemyes and what is to be done yf thys or that do chaunce Remembre also all thynges in thy mind whyche may happen in so doubtful battayle and daungerfull warres Moreouer pÌ„pare make ready all thinges necessary for battayle so y t thyne enemies be not priuye to the same before y â— byd battayl For loÌ„g pÌ„parauÌ„ce bryngeth redy victorie so hygh charges and all other thinges necessary ar to be coÌ„sidred For if thou be lyke to haue y e vpperhand then to want money treasure to be w tout instrumeÌ„tes of war to lack ê“uisioÌ„ is y e redy way to purchase shame sclauÌ„der after so hasty vnaduised enterprise Wherfore trulye it foloweth and euen so chaunceth that he whiche rashlye begynneth battayle sone shall repent and after wyth all humblenesse shall desyre peace not without his greate daunger and notable reproche 2 ¶ To chose the capitayne Chose such one to be captane of thyne Armye whyche is borne of a noble and valyaunte stocke and fearyng nothynge more then shame and reproche and is w t oute all euyll doynges For he that shall rule other conuenient it is that he know to master hym selfe For where affection surmounteth reasoÌ„ is vndertroden and gyueth place without which men be meÌ„ apparent and not in dede And therew t comely it is the captayne not to be defamed wyth lecherye and coueytousnesse which be vyces chefelye to be eschued abandoned For these two detestable vyces bryng forth diuers effecteis Lechery forsoth doth shame the good fame of the capitaynes to runne in disdayne of freÌ„de and foe and therwith causeth the whole Armye whiche is moche worse to folowe hys fleshlye vnclennesse throughe whych the whole Armye wyth the capttayne is vnapte to battayle and faynte strengthed And when they doo applye suche wanton pleasures and gyue them to Venus daliauÌ„ce then they forsake the feates of Armes and despyce the manlye wrestlynges of Mars For hys goddas doth destroy the courage of y e minde and wasteth the strength of the bodye brefely where luxurye raygneth no vertue wyll appeare Suche enimitie suche hatefull spyte is betwyxt vertue and vncleane lecherie that no loueday no hope of peace is at any tyme amonge them But that captayne which is couetous causeth hys souldyours whyche bene of them selues bolde and ready agaynst al daungers to gyue backe loth strauÌ„ge to put them in ieopardye or go vpoÌ„ any perylles eyther for the prayse of theyr capitayne whyche is hatefull for hys nygardnesse or els to get the victory when they perceyue theyr labour to be spente in vayne trustyng no rewarde for theyr paynes and daungerfull attemptes But what shall it nede to speake of all when these two vyces be the spryngwel and heed of al myschefe Moreouer chose the suche a capitayne whyche is luckye For some be so vnhappye throughe vnkynde fortune that theyr chaunce is to be vanquysshed althoughe they haue a great nombre of souldyours and power of men Therfore luckynesse is to be wisshed in a good capitayne whiche froÌ„ hys youth hath ben in warfare vnder a good capitayne and praysed for kepynge hys araye alwayes hyghly taken and regarded of the whole Army The which also hath shewed many tokens of wyttynesse and in the feactes of Armes prest and redye to trye mastryes felowlyke in apparell whose affayres haue alwayes bene guyded by reason whyche hath not also assayed any thynges rashly I was purposed to haue wrytten more of thoffyce of a capitayne but at large in the other two bookes I am mynded to wryte therof And in many
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
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
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
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