the dawning of the day the myst being somewhat thicke and the Ayer much obscured he made a few of his souldiers to shew themselues to those that kept watch in the Romaines Tents while Fuluius adressed him thetherward with hys Host Hanibal on the otherside inuaded his Campe and so brake out in the back of the Romaines and slew theyr Captaine with viii M. of their valiant men of Armes Alevvred King of Brytaine when the Danes wer entred his Realme of purpose to vnderstand their orders put himselfe in the habit of a Mynstrel by these meanes he came into their Campe wherby he toke occasion to geue them a great ouerthrow When Iphicrates of Athens had knowledge that his enemies dyd eate at one certayne tyme of the daye he commaunded that his men should take theyr repast somwhat more tymely then ranging forth in battayl at the same instant that his enemies should haue falne to their victuals he so delayed them that he neyther would geue them battayle nor yet suffer thē to depart when it drew towardes night hée reculed back againe but yet keping his men still in their Harnise but his enemyes being weried not only with long standing but also with long fasting made hast to refresh them selues and to take their repast Iphicrates agayne brought forth his Army and set vpon his enemyes whom he found all vnredy and out of order It behoueth a Captayne in some causes as much as in him lieth to abstayn from fight that is when eyther famishment or other naturall necessities hath brought the enemy into some vtter desperation which caused the Lacedemonians being certified by their spyes that the Messenians wer set on such a rage as they came to battayle with their wiues and children which caused the Lacedemonians to defer the fight Likewise when Caeser in the ciuil war had inclosed the Host of Affranius and Petriens within a Trench that they were pyned with thirst insomuch that they became desperate destroying all that would withstand them or profered with them to fight which Caeser perceiuing kept in his men supposing it not méete time then to begin But now to shew vppon how manye occasions noble victoryes haue bin attayned it would aske to long discourse considering they be so infinite yet for that many tymes it hath bin found to be of great importaunce during the time of fight to spred certayne rumors affirming the Captayne of the enemies to haue bin slayn or to haue ouercome on the other syde of the Armye or such lyke I will not forget considering it hath bin the cause of many victoryes to such as hath vsed it Iugurth in the battayle agaynst C. Marius by the same policy made the Romaines to recule so did Mironides of Athēs against the Thebians wherby he got the victory When Valerius Leuinus fought against Pirrhus and had kild a rascall Souldier he held vp his Sword all blody and made both the Hostes beléeue that hée had kyld Kyng Pirrhus wherfore his enemyes supposing them selues to bée destitute by the death of their Captayne all abashed with that lye gaue ouer the fight Whē Claudius the Emperour of Rome came to recouer tribute of Gwider King of Britaine who in the stead of tribute gaue vnto hym stronge and forceable battaile Hamo a Romayne Captayne Arming him self in a Britaines Armour by meanes wherof he came wher Gwider the King was and flew him which being perceiued by Aruiragus the Kinges brother tooke on him the Kinges Cognoscaunce and thus being taken for the King continued the fight whereby hée obtayned the victory against the Romaines When a Barbarouse Alien in battayle had broght word to Q. Sextorius that Herculeius was slain he straight slew him with his dagger least he should haue borne those newes any farther discouraged the Army One speciall regard ought to be had amongst Captaines when they be in fight which is not to bring the enemy into any extreame desperacion or so to inclose them that dispair should cause thē to fight which caused Haniball when he had inclosed the Germās at Trasimenus by which cōstraint they fought exceding fercely to opē his Army and to make them away to get out beating them downe as they fled without any losse of his owne men The lyke vsed L. Marcius a Romayne Knyght when hee had inclosed the Carthaginēces and so did Agesilans with the Thebans When Themistocles had vanqished the power of Xerxes he would in no wise agrée that the Bridge shuld be broken ouer the which they shuld returne saying it wer better to driue them out of Europa then to inforce them to fight in despayre Captayns shuld haue regard with what order they folow for he that with his people disparted pursueth his enemyes may hope to geue his enemies the victory as appeareth by Q. Fabius Maximus Consul being sent to succour the Sutrines agaynst the Hetrusciens so ordred the matter that whē the whol power of his enemies set against him then desembling as he feared them and as though he fled got the higher groūd the other folowing him out of order were by him not only vanquished but also bereued of theyr Campe. The lyke respect ought to be vsed by such as should fortune to be Conquerours and not through affiaunce of their victory to leaue them selues disordered least it might happen vnto them as happened to the Percians for whē T. Martius a Romain Knight being gouernour of the residue of the Hoast that remayned after the death of the twoo Scipyons perceiued that the twoo Hoastes of the Percians lay at hand not many miles a sunder he incouraged hys Souldyers to set vpon the Hoast that laye nexte hym at midnight being carelesse and out of order through affyaunce of their victory flewe them leauing not so much as a messenger to beare tidings of the miserable mischaunce and then geuing his Souldiers a litle space to rest them the same night with all spéed preuēting the fame of any thing don inuaded the other Army and thus twice in one night enioyed like chaunce of battaile and euery wher distroying the Percians hée restored Spayne againe to the Romaines And now for the better safetie of the pursued to cause such as folow to slack their pursute Triphon King of Syria vsed this meane to scatter money by the way as hée fled which so hindered Antiochus Horsemen that pursued him that he therby escaped When the Gaulls should fight with Attalus they deliuered all their Gold and Siluer to be kepte of certayne men that might scatter it abrod if it happened them to be put to flight to the intent they might the more easly escape their enemyes being let with the gathering vp of the pray When Q. Sertorius was put to flight of Quintius Metellus Pius he supposed not a thing sure ynough onlye to flée but also warned hys Souldiers to disparte themselues diuers wayes and tould them whither hée wold haue them resort Some
But seme to mend that is amisse in rude and rustick phrase Loe this is al he craues in guerden of his payne Thy frendly fartheraunce report he seeks no other gain THE AVTHOR TO HIS BOOKE WHy shouldest thou make such hast abroad to be a meane wherby to purchace me defame Yet mightest thou still abyde and stay with me and I therby remayne deuoyd of blame But if I once permit thee scope to trudge I know not I what euery man will iudge The booke to the Author VVhat doubtes be these that thus doth dul thy braine or what conceiptes doth yet thy mynd pursue I know no cause thou shouldst me thus restraine but geue me scope to such as list to vow Then they no doubt will thank thee for thy payne as I suppose thou seekest no greater gayne The Author I craue no more in deed but the good will of such as shall thy simple sence behold But this I doubt my rude and slender skil may geue them cause to iudge me ouer bold So I in steed of thanks may purchace blame so vayne a â—oy to set forth in my name The Booke And who so redy euer fault to fynde as witlesse head that least of all doth know For none so bold they say as bayerd blynd nor none more riefe their doultish domes to show VVher wyse men yet will deeme thy doings right what carst thou then for Zoylus cankerd spight The Author Well yet my booke I geue thee this in charge the maners marke of such as thee peruse If thou perceiuest their tonges do run at large in fynding fault the Author to accuse Tell thou them then I ment not to offend what they mislike desire them they wold mend And thus farevvell ⧠A Pleasaunt Dialogue IN Maye when all Creatures commonlye reioyce being prycked foorth by my owne desire to leaue the house and walke the pleasaunt Pastures which was to my great contentacion by reason of the swéete and delectable Verdeur which Tellus Imphes doth yelde in that blessed season thus as Iâ—romed vp and downe I fortuned to find a fayre Meade which was gorgeouslye aryed all in gréeue bedecked with Flowers of diuerse and sundrye collours on the farther sidewherof I might beholde a gallant Groâ—e out of the which there came such Heauenlye Hermony as at the first it caused mée to thinke Orphei againe had béene returned frequenting his accustomed order but as I drewe nearer I knewe it to bée the tunes of sundrye Birdes which as it séemed reioysed them selues in that pleasaunt plot with their swéete and delectable laye Thus as I was come vp vnder the side of the Woodde I found a faire Trée whose spreding bowes shadowed the place where I layd me down of purpose to heare more of those pleasant notes but as Cyllemus mery pipe brought Ergus to a nodding nappe so I think those Hermonical soundes yelded mée the lyke For I was no soner layde but Morpheus immediatly assayled mée with a straunge troublesome dreame for to my thinking I heard the sodaine sound of Trumpettes Droms Phifes musing with my selfe what it might meane I might sée diuerse bands both of Horsemen footemen being armed which in very comely order with auncientes braue displayd came marching toward mée and when they were come to the place where I aboad putting themselues in troupe one by the assent of all the rest vttred these wordes folowing Although of this our sodaine repaire vnto thée thou haddest no intelligence yet som part of the cause wée are assured thou knowest verye well which should make me to bée so much the shorter in that which I haue to say theÌ„ know this we haue by our general assents apointed thée as our trusty friend wylling thée with al speede to prepare thée in maner of a messenger to the mighty court of Mars where in our behalfe thou shalt make presentacion into how many extremities wée the vnfortunate Souldiours of England are euen now lately falne into otherwyse then hath béene séene or heard on and with a contrary alteracioÌ„ of time past so cleane chaunged as there is difference betwéene white and blacke hath not the name of a souldior here before béen had in such reuerence and accounted of such value as they haue béene honoured of euery estate is not the profession of so worthy seruice now becom so odious the name so reprochful as they be disdained and y of each degrée who hath béen heretofore more carefully prouided for more worthily maintaind or more iustly preferred who is now so slenderlye estemed of so lightly accounted of so litle cared for where they haue béen loued they be now despised where before al other they haue béen had in estimatioÌ„ they be now as abiects to al other had in no reputacion but what should I stande to vse longer circumstance To finde a present redresse in these causes we haue as I tolde thée before appointed thée our messenger to make these matters knowne to mighty Mars him self who is our onely refuge our whole hope of comfort and chiefest helpe at néede not doubting but by these meanes to finde such happy redresse as wée shall haue iust cause to extoll our mighty Mars as also to yeld the continuall thankes for thy diligence vsed at our requestes Thus when I had heard the sum of their pretence I aunswered as followeth If I were as sufficient to discharge my selfe of that credite whiche you would committe vnto mée as I fele my selfe wylling and readye to the vttermost of my power to pleasure the simplyest of this noble company as the hope that you haue in mée should not bée frustrate so I shoulde not bée dryuen to séeke excuses as nowe I am forced requesting your pardons herein Fyrst because I knowe there bée many whose experience wyll much better serue to satisfye your requestes than I knowe my owne to bée of and there bée some that I knowe would accuse mée of ignoraunce or presumption if it were knowne that I should attempt in any such matter but in especiallye when I consider my owne insufficiencye it vtterlye discourageth mée But I rather thinke your Message shoulde bée executed by some famous Oratour or some excellent Rethorisian which shoulde not bée vnfurnished with pleasaunt tearmes or such a one as could tell a learned tale as occasion dyd serue and not by such as I knowe my selfe to bée who is able to saye no more than what you haue already taught mée Wherefore I trust you wyl except these as reasonable lawful excuses and not as any surmised shifts whereby to auoyde that seruice whiche I knowe my selfe to bée vnworthy of When I had made this answere after a lytle conference had amongst them selues thy replied in this manner As wée thinke thée sufficient ynough to performe any thing that wée haue yet desired so wée are not come hyther estéeming thée best able of any other to satisfye our request but wée presuming to haue found thée as
wylling to haue vsed thy dilligence at our desires as wée were ready to desire thée gaue vs the more occasion to presse thus much vpon thée and where thou sayest there bée some that woulde accuse thée of ignoraunce or presumption if thou shouldest yelde to our requestes wée assure thée there be as many others that might Iustly accuse thée of folly yf for the reprochfull tauntes of Momishe mates thou shouldest omit any thing that tendeth vppon good or commendable occasion but what nicite hath nowe ouertaken thée that thou wouldest perswade vs to sende some Oratoure or such lyke and that we must nowe vse such eloquence to preferre our causes thou must consider we woulde neither send the to Pallas nor yet to Apollo nor yet to any other captious wight that will haue greater regarde to the termes then he hath to the tale for who is so scrupilouse that will looke for eloquence to come from souldiers or to thinke that they muste paynt out their matters with any curiouse philed phrace vnlesse it be some curiouse philed foole which knoweth not what appertayneth to a souldier but to driue thée oute of these doubtes wée haue framed a supplication to Mars wher in wee haue included the whole sircumstaunce of oure pretence the which in oure behalfes thou shalt present receyuing thy answere without vsing many words thus minding to vse no farther perswatioÌ„s of incouragement if this that we haue sayd be not sufficient we leaue the rest to thy owne discretion Yes surely sayd I it is ynough and youre wordes hath so throughly perswaded me that euen now I remayne at youre pleasures redy prest to aunswere the sum of your pretence as far as my abilitie will any wayes serue me yet crauing the pardons of such as be beter experimented considering it rather procéedeth from a desier to do wel then of any presumtuose minde Then they deliuering me the supplication which they had framed one of them sayde as foloweth Well then we minde no lenger to deteine the but woulde rather wishe the to make as great spéede as conueniently thou mayest we haue no more to saye but we desier the sacred Gods to farther thy pretence and thus till oure next méeting we leaue thée Then putting them selues agayne in order too my farewell certayne voll of shot discharged in hope of my good spéede Thus they marched awaye againe in such gallant sort that who had séen them might well haue déemed though their estimacions were impaired yet their noble and valliant harts was no whitte diminished But sodainly as they were vanished from my syght I began to bethinke mée of my vndertake attempt which when I had well considered I cursed my owne follye that would so rashlye condiscende to take in hande I knewe not what for neyther wyst I where Marses Court shoulde bée neyther knew I by what deuise I might get thyther the remembraunce whereof brought mée almost to a kinde of desperaration how I might prosecute or by what meanes I might performe my promise but when I had called to minde the goodnesse of the Gods who commonly bée assistaunt to all distressed wightes I began somwhat to comfort my selfe in hope likewyse to finde some fauour vsyng this peticion as followeth If the humble supplications of wretched wights may any thing preuayle before you the celestiall Gods vouchsafe most humblye than I beséeche you that my pytyfull plaintes might so moue you to helpe mée in this distresse that through your mighty powers and prouidence deuine I might yet in the ende bring my attempt to some happy effect But as I continued in this contemplacion I might beholde one standing by mée clothed all in white holding in his hande a rodde which séemed all of massye Golde by which signe I dyd knowe it to bée Mercury who in this wyse sayde vnto mée The Gods hath listened to thy prayers and in some part yelded to thy request aryse therefore and with spéede prepare thy selfe to followe mée with that me thought on both my shoulders there were sodainly growne a payre of winges of maruailous bignesse and as I perceiued my guyde softly to soare awaye I assayde with my selfe howe I coulde followe whiche mée thought I could doe euen at pleasure and as well as though I had beene practised in flying many a daye before and after wée had thus flyed a whyle togeather I looked about and I might vnderneath mée beholde Cityes Townes Castelles Wooddes diuerse Hylles and Valleys wherein I tooke great pleasure and delight and muche reioysed with my selfe to sée these newe and vnaquainted thinges but with in shorte space we were so mounted that I had cleane loste the sight of altogether which was belowe and then I might perceiue a merueilouse huge and sumtiouse Castell standing on a plesaunt plotte directly ouer againste vs toward the which my guide began to bend his course and I following hym till we were come in manner to it where vpon a very fayre gréene we stayde oure selues and as I stoode gasing aboute I might perceiue greate rowts of people that ishewed out and in at the gates and almoste on euery parte of this castel they were vsing many exersises some were running at the tilte others at the turny others were pushing with the pike som were throwing of the dartes some were exercising the Caliuer in manner of skirmishe and many were on horsebacke the one hauing the other in chace These sightes made mée greatly to muse but my guide I thinke of purpose to cut mée from my farther imagination sayde Loe here quod he the Court of Mars where thou mayst beholde those blessed wightes who spent theyr passed dayes in defence of theyr Countrey and right onely to attaine prayse and noble fame and not for filthye lucours sake or hope of any Golde gaine Where nowe their iust desertes is quitte with like delight what though their bodies intombed bée in clay thou séest their spirite doe here remaine in euerlasting blisse for here no yeres may make theÌ„ olde no bare-head skul no wrinkled browe may here be found no visage here may ought anoy theÌ„ nor yet Morpheus once assayle them no Borias blastes may hurt them with cold nor the fiery flames of Aetna hyll oppresse them with heate no Cerberus is Porter in this place nor the grieslye grones of Promotheus at no time here are hard they neuer sée the gréedy gripe to tyer on Ticius heart to bée short they neuer féele of any woe but styll continue their daies in most happy and blessed estate euerye one vsing his owne delights euen as it hath pleased the Gods to appoint Why then sayd I thou Godes soÌ„ne sith it hath pleased thée to reueale these matters vnto mée vouchsafe lykewise I beséech thée to satisfye mée in this that I sée vpon the Towers and Turâ—ets which as they bée innumerable so they are beset with an infinite number of Auncients In the which as I do gesse the Armes of diuerse Countreys be displaid
Cromnus he would not only geue him a huge mase of money but also the fayrest Lady that was to be found amongst the Lacedemonians to wife who aunswered that Archidamus was nothing lyke to Hercules for he went about the world to destroy those that were euil but contrary the other those that wer good When Decius Brutus made war into Spayne and had subdued al Lucitania except one Citie called Cinania and demaunding of the citizens what money they wold geue to be at peace who aunswered our Auncitours lefte vs swordes to defend and not money to redéeme from so couetouse a Captayne as thou shewest thy self to bée Many tymes when Captaynes hath ben rigoriously bent yet perceiuing the parties to be wise haue chaunged their fury into linitie which hath redounded to their great commendation as when Cirus hauing taken Cresus commaunding forthwith to be burnt who going to the fyer cried out with a very lamentable voyce saying O Solon Solon King Cirus wondering at these wordes and what they should meane bad one of his seruauntes aske him the cause that with so greate sorow hée cried and named Solon theÌ„ Cresus drawing a great sigh answered in this wise Solon sometime amongst the Athenians was a veri wise man vnto whom I once when he was with me did shew vnto him all my power and treasures which done I asked him whether he thought that euer any aduersitie or misfortune might hap vnto me being fensed with such power and riches against all chauÌ„ces of fortune or force of enemies But to thys aunswered Solon rebuking me for my secure and carelesse mynd and sayd no man in this world O King Cresus is so happy and fortunate in this life that he can be called throughly in euery parte blessed before he dye neither is there any man I aunswer thée be he neuer so mightie but some aduersitie may chauÌ„ce vnto him and ouerthrow him or hée be aware but at that time trusting retchlesly alas vppoÌ„ my happy luck and suckcesse of things despised his words neyther could I feare this so exceding a fal as now I fynde wherefore bicause first I vnderstode the sentence of Solon now before my death I named him and I do wish all men in prosperitie not to be vnmindful of misfortunes and calamities that may chaunce lest they become ouer haughtie of their present felicitie greedy to attempte thinges heddily that by occasion may bée their vtter confusion These thinges when Cirus the King had hard he was not a litle touched with pittie and clemency towardes him and sayd hée would not hereafter shew him self to hard vppon Cresus which was sometime a right mightie King for he remembred that hée him self was also a man and that it might chaunce him to haue neede of other mens ayde and mercy after that he comâ—â—aunded Cresus to be brought vnto him whom he entertained lyke a noble Prince and vsed his aduise and counsaile in all his affaires and procedinges Porus a King being vanquished by Alexander in the field Alexander asked of hym how shal I intreat thée Porus who aunswered Kingly againe Alexander demaunded if he required any thing else altogither qd Porus is comprised in this word Kingly Alexander meruailing both at the wisdom and at the noble stomake of the man enlarged hid dominions ouer that they were before When a certayne Iudian which was noised to bée so cunning an Archer that he could shout thorow a Ryng â–ª and was taken prisoner and brought to Alexander â–ª who willing him to make a proofe of his cunning before him which thing he refused to do the King ther with being very angry commaunded he should be put to death as hée was led away he sayd to such as led him that he had not vsed his feat of showting many dayes and therfore feared least he shuld haue failed when Alexander was informed hereof that be 〈…〉 sed not for spight but rather for fear of disworship wondering at this mans mynd so desirous of glory which rather desired to dye then to haue lost his fame and renown he let him go not with out a great rewarde What tyme Philip Kyng of Macedonia had an Army lying at Cheronia Diogenus comming thyther anon was taken by the Souldyers and brought to the King who angerly cryed out a spye a spye to whom Diogenus forthwyth aunswered in deede Philip I am a spye and am come hither to espye thy madnesse which not being contented with the Realme of Macedonia by the incroching of other mens Realmes puttest thy self in daunger to lose both thine own kingdom and also thy life the King wondering at the mans franke speach and bould language commaunded he should be let go without any hurt to bée vsed toward him Although ther be many other examples which could not bée preiudiciall for Captaines to note to haue in remembrauÌ„ce yet here I let them passe remeÌ„bring thée but with this one example of Fabius Maximus he hauing certayne of his Souldiers taken by Haniball sent to the Senators for money to redéeme them his sute being denyed commaunded his sonne to go straight to Rome to sell all the landes and liuing which he then possest without the City and to bring him money wherwith hee redéemed his Souldiers and brought theÌ„ franke frée to Rome saying he had rather want patrimony in his countrey then loue to his countrey men And now hauing something shewed how a Captayne of him self should be adicted which as L. Paulus sayth should be to be aged and aunsient in maners Now it foloweth how a Captaine ought to trayne and practise his Souldiers and although I know experimented Captains nede no such instructions yet for thée or other that be young Souldiers it can not be hurtfull A Captayn ought first to teach his Souldiers how to kepe the order of aray and to instruct them that they may know how to march to learne them to vnderstand the sounds of Drums and Trompets wherby they are commaunded what they ought to do and bicause it chauÌ„ceth of ordinary that when men be redye to ioyne in fight they come to gither with great shoutes and rumor by reason wherof the coÌ„maundementes of the Captaynes may not many tymes be hard nor vnderstand it is therfore requisit to make them to obey to signes as by casting his armes a broad when he wold haue them to march wider by bringing his armes to gither wheÌ„ he would haue them to march close by holding vp his hand when he would haue them to stand still by turning him selfe towardes them if he would haue them turne and thus to instruct them how the fight is begunne how they should retier and being ouerthrowne who should sucséede in their places and thus to make them practised which more auayleth then strength and multitude as maye appeare by Marius who being at his liberty to chose one of the best Armies hee would eyther that which had bin with Metellus or that which had ben Rutilius
he chose the leaste which was Rutilius Army bicause it was thought to be the better trayned Epaminondas Captayne of the Thebians with 4000. trained men ouercame the Host of the Lacedemonians in which was 24. M. footemen and 16. hundred horsemen 14. M. Greekes which number came to help Cirus against Artaxerxes ouercame in battaile .1 C.M. Barberouse Aliens Therfore I say that Captaynes should vse great diligence in the trayning of their men considering that an Army is not to be chosen for the multitude or bicause in the same be hardy men but bicause they be wel trained and in their orders wel apointed thus hauing practised his men redy for to fight it should be well done then if time or place might serue to bring them to some lighte skirmish with their enemyes for their better encouragement and to make thē know the better what to doo but yet as neare as they may to chose such a place as their smal experience may not be hurtful vnto them But héere omitting to speake of skyrmishes because they be diuersly vsed and vppon sundry occasions procured I will shewe thée now what obseruations were vsed by such as were noble Captaynes before they would attempt to procéede in battayle and by what inuentions they haue escaped when they haue bin daūgerously beset and how by many deuises they haue attayned diuers noble vyctories c. And first to speake of their opinions concerning to ioyne in battayle it was a generall vse amongst such as were the best aproued Souldiers neuer to bring their mē to fight except they had aduantage or else brought to it by constraint The aduantage groweth as wel by the situacion of the place as by order or hauing of more and better men The necessitie groweth whē they shal perceiue by deferring of battaill it must nedes fall out to theyr great discommoditie as when famishment wer redy to assayle thē or when the enemy looketh for some new supply or such lyke in these causes it wer to attempt Fortune wher she may fauour rather then by deferring to sée theyr certayne rewine Vygesius counsayll is neuer to bringe an Army to fight except they hope to haue the victory for what greater signe is there to lose then not to beleue to be able to win wherfore to encourage Souldiers to fight theyr hath ben sundry practises L. Sylla in the wars against Archelaus Mithridates léefetenaunt at Pirea perceiuing his Souldiers had lyttle courage to fight he so weried them with continual labour that they wer glad to desyer to fight that the wars might be finished Cyrus king of Persia mynding to concitate the myndes of his people to wery anger them with payneful labour held thē all one day at worke and vtterly tyred thē in hewing vp a certayne Wood on the morow after he made for them a very plentitious feast demaunding in the feast tyme which day lyked them best and when they all alowed the pastime of the day present and yet quoth he this pleasure must be obtayned by the other dayes payne for except you first ouercome the Medes ye can neuer lyue in fréedome and at pleasure wherby they toke great courage to fyght Q. Fabius who knew very wel the Romaines to be of so lyberall and honest nature that by dispightful and contumelious dealings they would be sone moued vexed and gréeued loking also for no ryght nor equall dealings of the Percians who were his enemies sent vnto Carthage Imbassadours to intreat of peace which was consented vnto vppon certayne condicions which when they wer brought and perceiued to be vnreasonable and full of pryde the Romaines army was strayght styrred and incouraged to fight When Agesilaus had pight his fielde not far from Orchomeno a Citie that was in league with him and perceiued that many of the Army had their treasure chéefe ryches in the Campe he commaunded the Townes men to receue nothing into the Towne belonging to his Army to the entent his Souldiers might fight the more fiercely knowing they should fight both for their liues and goods Fabius Maximus fearing that his Host would not continue the fight manfully by reasō they might quickly fly to their Shippes commaunded they should be set on fire before he would begin the battayle When Agesilaus had taken certayne of the Persians whose aport was very terrible as long as their clothes were on he striped them starke naked shewing their effeminate bodyes to his Souldiers to the ende they might despise them Gelo. the Tyran of Siracuse entring war agaynst the Percians after that he had taken many of them brought forth the weakest and most vncomely persons naked in the sight of all his Army to perswade them that they wer but wretches and men worthie to be despised Some haue constrayned their men to fight through necessitie taking away from them all maner of hope of sauing themselues vnlesse they did ouercome Shame hath sometime constrained Souldiers to fight agayne afresh that haue byn redy to haue geuen ouer As when M. Furius Camillus beholding his Armye to stagger and stande at a stay caught violently the Standerd bearer and drewe him with his handes vpon his enemyes when verye shame made the rest to followe Likewise L. Silla when the Legions reculed gaue place vnto Mithridates Host led by Archelaus with his Sword drawne ranne forth into the foreward and called to his Souldiers and sayde if any man inquyre of you wher you left your Captaine aunswer fighting in Boetia for shame wherof they folowed him But yet the greatest incouragemente that may bée vsed is by perswasion for that effecte of speakyng to hym that hath knowledge to perswade or diswade preuayleth more then any other thyng to kyndel the myndes and humayne passyons of a man it taketh away feare it increaseth obstinatenesse to fight it discouereth deceipts promiseth rewards sheweth the perils the way to auoyd thē it reprehēdeth praieth thretneth it incourageth the myndes and fylleth full eyther of hope or else dispayre as might apere by Epaminondas who being redye to enter battayle with the Lacedemonians to the ende that the strengths of his Souldiers might be holpen with some feruent affection he pronounced in his Exortation that the Lacedemonians had determined if they gat the victory to slay all their men to make theyr wyues and children bonde for euer and to beat downe the Citie of Thebes flat to the ground with which wordes the Thebians were so moued and agreued that at the first brunt they ouercame the Lacedemonians It is lykewise much requisit for Captaynes to know the disposition of the Captayne of the enemies whether he be rash or politike whether he be fearful or hardy whether he be more puisant with footemen or with Horsemen whether he wyll assayle thée in the Euening or in the Morning and so to prouide for themselues When Hanibal dyd perceiue that Fuluius the Romaine Captaine was negligent and that he attempted many thinges vnaduisedly in