Of the knowledge and conduct of wars, two books, lately written and set forth, profitable for such as delight in histories, or martyall affairs, and necessary for this present tyme.  
¶ Virtuti pariter cunctis contendite neruis: Ignava (ut scopulos) otia diffugite.  

Seek virtue, noble youth betimes,  
Which breadeth honour true:  
Base idleness, and all her baits,  
Even as a rock eschew.   
¶ In aedibus Richardi Tottelli. seven. die Junii. Anno Domini. 1578.  
¶ Cum privilegio ad imprimendum solum.   

  


Go serve thy country well, my book,  
for that is my desire.  
For these good fruits I only look,  
and crave none other hire.  
The mighty king of hosts, hath sent,  
thee unto Bryttyshe land:  
Good luck to bear, to prospero well,  
the wars they take in hand.  
God hath his bounty showed, let men  
apply their glad good will,  
And serve the Lord, then shall he bless  
this realm to flourish still.  
And english noble ensigns shall,  
in foreign countries far,  
Advanced be, and martyall Brutus,  
shallbe the king of war.  
For Mars now waxing old and lame,  
do the mean for to resign,  
his martyall force to english prince,  
decreed by doom divine.  
The Roman glayve, advanced is,  
Thessalyan Horse, and spear:  
The Macedonyen pike, and parthyen bow, well practiced hear.  
The gracious GOD of might, hath sent  
a Sceptre of renown,  
In sign of Empire great, to be  
annexed to the Crown.  
And father Neptune hath within  
this coast laid up in store,  
His trident Mace, of power to rule  
the Seas for evermore.  
T. P.    

The preface.  
THe Climate, or Region of the firmament, under which every Country is planted & settled, hath great force and influence, for the temperature & complexion of men's bodies, which also worketh sundry effects & motions in the minds & disposityons of them, as for proof: Experience showeth, that the Italian and Frenchman comenlye, is more inclined to be court-like, prompt, and quick of spirit, than the Dutcheman or Fleming, & the Spaniard, the Moor or Libyen, more nimble, more politic, and more subject to choler, envy, and pride them the man of Sweden, or the Muscovyte being more of fleugmatike constitution of body. The greeks also, for this purpose, have been noted of learned men, to be by disposition and motion of nature exquisite searchers of cunning in manuel crafts, & very studious in the liberal Sciences. The Egyptians and jews (by observation of wise men) are found more given to superstitions and idolatry, than other nations: The Scythien, the Turk, and Tartarian addicted to cruelty, and the Persian to delicate life. But to draw nearer unto our scope, and mark, The english man (for whom this travail is taken) living in a fertile country, and under a temperate Climate, and thereby endued with the more excellent disposition of mind and body, being by the great bounty and blessing of God not unfurnished of any virtue, that other people have: So is there principally seen in him, that yet remains of the right stamp or race undegenerate, an honourable desire to the exercise of arms, having by the prick of Magnanimity, a victorious mind, affecting fame, sovereignty, and honour above other nations. But lest I flatter him whom I love, and would to be warned, Two only points of imperfection, though not yet, now, notably exceeding to any great vice, (how? be it some defects) are noted to be in a great part of English men, which may well be reformed. The one is, negligence or security: The other is mutability, and variable changing of mind, principally showed in delectable things, not of the greatest importance, as in dainty fare of sundry delicate meats, divers curious buildings, and most of all in many almost infinite guises, sorts, and fashions of habit, yea and diguysed attire, wherein, oftentimes is planted and bestowed so much care and study, that, there is the less employed on virtuous and needful exercises. Yea sometime, while trifles are regarded, things most commendable & requisite are neglected. I do not condemn them, but commend ornaments, they are to be regarded in a sort, and not to be rejected: but more worthy things to be placed before, and with greatest desire & diligence endeavoured. Wear it not to be pitied, that the great help and benefit of nature given to this nation, in highness of courage, and noble inclination to prowess, should be defaced & obscured, that no light effect, or virtue thereof should appear? yes, but there is an other thing in it, besides the pity of the matter, which is the quality and necessity of this time, wherein we live, which if it be well considered, will sufficiently persuade (where judgement is, though few words be used herein) to stir up the sleapinge minds from slewthe, to abandon trifles, and fall to the commendable practices meet for men, and necessary for the troublesome state of the world. For what is in want or let that the Englisheman, having a strong body, good will enough, and a fertile country, sufficient to supply the provision and maintenance of a mighty army, should not excel other nations in deeds & exployctes of Arms, and extend the victorious forces of this Realm, by renowned conquests far? Surely the defects are, lack of endeavour, & discipline. By these the City of Rome, from extreme poverty (having most bore & slender 
Practise & skill. Dido obtained somuch ground, to build the City upon, as might be compassed with an ox's hide, and that she cut in thongs.  beginnings, their territories being as short, as the content or bounds of the smallest shire within this land) in short time, advanced her Empire over the whole world, By these likewise, the Carthaginoys, whose town, country, & dominion, wear first bounded by the circuit and compassing of an Ox's hide: Soon after, they grew in greatness, to check & encounter the mighty estate of Rome, & once put the same in danger of a mate, by this skill, the country of Macedon being not great, under the conduct of the most puissant Alexander, subdued the mighty Monarchye of the Persians, with a great part of the world beside, and in his mind had the plot and conquest of the whole, yea & of an other world, if it had been to be found, but GOD stayed his victories, (which men could not) by cutting of his life, about thirty years of his age. The mighty and victorious Alexander of England, whose most renowned battle of Agincourte, and sudry triumphant conquests in France, made the whole world to shake, was cut of in like youth, 
Henrye the fifth.  from no less hope, than the other great Alexander, after that he had by most excellent discipline of war, in short time obtained many great victories. By this art and practice, of later time, an other Pyrrhus, Prince of the little Country Epirus in Grecia, resisted the huge and gross powers of the great Turk: By this, the great 
G. Scanderbag. Bajazet.  Tamberlane conquered him, and made him his miserable vassal and captive, in few years, arising from a poor Neteherde, to be Lord over the most mighty Prince in the world. By this excercise partly, though principally by the huge monstrous multitudes of barbarous Scithyens, the Turks in no long time, have subdued so many kings and countries, and extended their Empire so far, into all the three parts of the world, & yet prosecuteth and thrusteth the same further daily. Now it is to be remembered that the knowledge, and practise of the acts and feats of arms, principally and properly are of the profession of noble men, and gentlemen of great revenues. For and by which, they were first ordained and preferred into that place, to be a wall and defence for their country. For the poor man hath not, whereof to live of his own, if he employ time, or expenses herein. And thearefore the other, aught to give example, both by his own industry in such practices, and also maintain the same in the meanor sort. Security and long peace breadeth idleness, which sucketh the valour out of noble minds. A plain proof whereof, & of the hurt that groweth theareby, is 
The art of Nobility.  had by the Romans, which in xxiv. years space, between the first and second wars of Carthage, wear so far grown out of use and good practise of arms, that where as before, they wear every where conquerors. In the second wars, they went, always to wrack, till their sundry great losses drove them unto their old course & Bias again. Thus seeing the causes of these defects in English men discovered, the cure is the more plain & easy, & the rather, if the remedy unto the other impediment be applied, that is want of skill or discipline, which proceeding & growing partly upon the other cause, uz. lack of practice, the rest, is also to be sought for and supplied. For as use & excercise, maketh prompt, ready, & skilful in many things: So by most just & sure argument, the contrary, which is the privation, or lack thereof, worketh, & causeth contrary effects: And yet not always in all things, doth excercise or labour bring knowledge & perfection, but there must be skill with all, which in this matter, is for the more part to be obtained by collection & judgement of the reports, histories, & Chronicles written of wars. For in matters of importance, which have many Cautels, difficulties, & observations: it is necessary that a way be opened, & a light given unto him, which would be a passynger herein, to direct & incline his course unto this knowledge: For otherwise he shall travail & wander in the dark trades, & unknown paths, like a blind man, which goeth he woteth not whither. And prove, to that there be divers grounds, rules, stratagems, & instructions to be set down, printed, & observed in the memory, of good soldiers, as a plot & foundation of their business: The sundry books written of these matters in the latin tongue, & other languages, by great learned & expert men, may be a sufficient argument herein. Besides that, reason will easily discuss, that the knowledge of the ancient orders & government of war, with the sundry sorts & attire of battle, used among sundry nations, their manners & practices, the examples of the antiquity, the experience, policies, prudent counsels, most profitable and pitthye precepts, and admonishments, most excellent experiments, instructions, behaviour & discipline of the greatest chyeftaines, & most renowned conquerors that ever wear, be requisite & needful unto a good Captain: for what is the experience or opinion of one man, to the practice & judgement of a great number of such, as have conquered in all countries, vanquished great armies, overthrown many mighty battles, & honourably passed all dangers of war? whose doings be judicially, & perfectly noted of most learned and wise men, in sundry great volumes & writings, for example & profit of the posterity, which the unlearned can not taste or attain, without some preparative by plain plot drawn, or introduction in apt order made, to lead them into the knowledge thereof. For accomplishing whereof, though, thorough the grossness of my style, lack of experience, and sundry kinds of knowledge, wherewith a writer of so weighty a matter, aught to be furnished, together with my study of brevity herein, & little leisure, which from mine other affairs I had, one time long after an other, to accomplish this same, I shall not sufficiently in all points, content the exquisite judgements which are to deem hereof: Yet for the necessity and scarcity of writing in this matter: (A willing mind, and faithful affection to profit my Country, thrusting me forth to bear a burden to big for my shoulders:) This labour of mine, may be a beginning to encourage sum other, of their greatest experience, to make larger addition, or supply herein. For yet now I find Vegetius one lie, an ancient writer, & Machiavelli of these affairs, well translated into English, which authors being both expert in wars, and also very learned, their industry herein is of so much the more commendation, as those two qualities are rare, and seldom meet together: For such a one as hath knowledge, joined with courage & experience, is a man worth men, & may avail more than a number: Yet for that the said Machiavelli is deamed sum what diffuse in his treatise, his opinions also not altogether agreeing with all men's judgements, nor reaching to many matters meet for the state of our English wars: And Vegetius being a writer, when wars wear used in an other course, than they are now a days: It is therefore wished more to be done in this behalf. And it is marvel to see, how the studies of many men have been addicted in this our time, having store of ripe wits, which can do very well: Yet among so many books, as are written daily, of dreams & fantasies, introductions to pleasure, familiar fruitless talkinges, eloquent, formal orations, little material, of pleasant meetings & fables among women, of Caunterbury, or courser tales, with divers jests, & vain devices: in earnest, there is lest labour laid on that art, whereby, kings rule, & are ruled and conquered, which erecteth, buildeth establisheth, increaseth, beautifieth estates, the end and fruits whereof, is honour most high, even advanced to the skies, flowing wealth, fame never failing or forgotten, victory and dominion with out bounds: The contrary and want whereof, is captivity, Ruin, Dishonour, and desolation. Whearein to persuade by argument that, which every man doth plainly see, it wear waste of words and time. And, to stir any man to the study of this knowledge, Sigh the worthiness thereof allureth and draweth all right English men, (which by the prick and inclination of nature, do with great desire run there unto.) I will thearefore omit to spend further speech herein, and draw unto the matter: wherein to make my course the plainer unto the Reader, I divide this work into two books. whereof the first entreateth of the Captain & Soldiers. And the second of the discipline, observations, & admonitions of war: which two books, also for the better help of memory, I appoint and distribute into certain chapters, branches, or principal points, touching the substance of this matter, as in my table appeareth, beginning with the definition of wars. (first in the porch or entry of this work to be unfolded, before we enter into the particular, & inner parts thereof,) being the matter whereupon this building is founded and framed.  
Vale.   

Errata.  
Pag. leaf. line. Faults. Correction. 1 1 4 For it is a contention. Read, it is defined a contention. 2 2 1 Two for Ten 1 4 30 Herd of for Hard 2 18 24 Nobis for Orbis 1 27 27 Avoid for Annoy 2 42 23 Endureth for includeth.  
FINIS.   

The Table or contents of the chapters contained in the first book.  
1 OF the definition of War, & of an Army. Fol. 1 2 Of the valour of the general Fol. 2 3 Of the virtues, and qualities requisite for the function of the Captain or general. Fol. 3 4 Of magnanimity and prowess in the General. Fol. 4 5 Of justice. Fol. 5 6 Of Prudence. Fol. 8 7 Of the love & good affection of the Captain to his soldiers. Fol. 10 8 Whether it be more expedient to have one General, or many. Fol. 12 9 Of the authority of the General, and what aught to be his chief desire, wished fruits, & end of wars, what person, & of what qualities ought to be deamed the best and most honourable Captain. Fol. 13 10 Of a Soldier & the qualities which he aught to have. Fol. 18 11 Of what constitution of body, trade, and sort of life the meetest soldier is to be chosen, & what exercises and practices are profitable for him to use. Fol. 21 12 Of the sundry sort of weapons used by divers nations in the ancient wars, and which are now most necessary, with sum respects of pressing of soldiers. Fol. 25   

The Table of the second Book.  
Capit. 1. OF the discipline and admonitions of war. Folio. 26 2 To break or disorder the battle of the enemy. Fol. 29 3 Aduertismentes how the Army that is weaker than the enemies, may grow stronger, or save itself. Fol. 32 4 How to conduct an army, & proceed with the same in a foreign Country, and of the necessaries thereunto. Fol. 33 5 Whether it be more profitable to seek for the great Town, or the less, and how best to win the same. Fol. 36 6 How the excellent Captains have encouraged their Soldiers unto battle, and made them hardy and valiant in fight. Fol. 37 7 How to use victory, & what clemency is to be used towards the conquered, & of the hurt that cometh by security. Fol. 40 8 Of the beginning, and just cause of war. Fol. 41 9 Of victories which is the best, & what truce may behonourablye made. Fol. 45 10 Of the use and end of wars, & of preparation therefore, in time of peace. Fol. 47  
FINIS.   

¶ The first book.  

¶ Of the definition of war.  
War generally, is said to be the exercise of arms, against enemies.  
But properly, it is, a Contention between princes or estates, by arms and force of men, under orders and government, to obtain victory.  
Victory consisteth in three points: in Conquering and subduing the dominions, bodies, or goods of the enemies.  
The ends of wars, are twain. 


Immediate, to obtain victory.  
Mediate, to live the better afterwards in peace and honour.     

¶ The division of war.  War is divided into three sorts or kinds. 



In the open field. 


By Incursion or skirmish:  
By battle joined.      
Within wall or trench of place fortified.  
By Navy on the Sea.     
THe skill and knowledge of all which, are very necessary for our nation, but especially of the first & the last. Now for explanation of the definition above, I will go unto the singular parts there of. War is first said to be a contention which is derived of the latin word tendo: it signifieth properly to bend, so that with this particle, Con, it is by the Etymology or Interpretation of the word, a bending of the forces, an inclining of all endeavour, a striving unto some purpose, between what parties? it followeth, between princes or estates, for if it be between subjects without authority of the prince, it is a faction, & if the same be used against the prince, it is a rebellion, a contention against law, duty natural, allegiance, and against the common wealth. By what means and instruments is this strife made and pursued? By arms and force of men, which are to be used for the defence of the Realm, Territories, Laws, bonds, liberties and rights of the same. And this same power of men, which is the pith and matter of the war, is also to receive some form which shapeth things in their perfection: & that therein is guide & government, for without order and conduct, this force is not worthy the name of war: but it is a tumult, rout or assembly of people, prepared not for victory, but running headlong, or rather tumbling headless into Ruin. So that it is to be concluded, that a prince for the ordaining and waging of war, is to prepare and gather together a power of men under orders and governments, which power so appointed, is called an army, the several bands and parts whereof must have sundry guides and Captains: and over the whole body 
The definition of an army.  of the army, there is to be constituted and ordained one general head or governor.   

¶ Of the general.  
WIth the head of this army, we will begin our second chapter, for that the same consisting of a Captain, and soldiers, the captain is the principal part thereof, upon whom the greatest weight, and hope of the wars lieth, not in the force of his person, which is but one singular man, but in his policy and skill, in leading and ordering of his army, in using the advantages, and foreseeing the preiudices of war. As by sundry examples we shall well prove, who hath not read, that Ninus king of the Assiryens, by industry and deeds of arms, 
Ninus.  (wherein he caused his soldiers to be practised) raised thereby & set up the first Monarchy or greatest estate of the world. And again, it is as well known, that the same nation, being effeminate under the dissolute reign of Sardanapalus, for want of discipline and good guide of war, 
Sardanapal.  was subdued by the Medes, whom before they had conquered, and their empire erst honourably advanced, now shamefully lost and taken from them: where they were lords, they become ussalles and captives, by the valour, and good parts of a Captain. Milciades of Athens, having the conduct of twelve thousand men, 
Milciades,  overthrew and vanquished an army of an hundred thousand footmen, and two thousand horsemen, sent by the first Darius, son of Hydaspis, to invade Grecia. And not long after, 
Darius  the greatest army that ever was assembled (by report of histories) lead by Xerxes' king of Persia for the same purpose, that the other of Darius was 
Xerxes.  before into Grecia, amounting nigh to the number of ten hundred thousand men (by the consent of the best writers) was by the politic and valiant Themistocles vanquished, first in a battle on the Sea, & afterwards his captain Mardonius with his whole power conquered in the field the 
Mardonius.  Grecians, them not far exceeding the number of a 100 thousand men. Cimon also about that time a captain of Lacedaemon, by like valour & with a less army, 
Cymon of Lacedaemon.  prevailed against great powers of the Persians' by Sea. And Alcibiades the excellent Captain of Athens being no less overmatched with number 
Alcibiades.  of men and munition or furniture of war, with the scattered forces and repulsed power of 
Mindaerus & Pharnaebazus. Leonidas with 4000 as some writ Celtae. Brenniꝰ & Belinus English men, sons of Donwallo a Saxon King.  the athenans, both by Sea and land overthrew the Persians and Lacaedemoniens, under Mindarus and Pharnabazus their Captains. In the beginning of these wars, the redoubted Leonidas with vj. hundred Lacaedemoniens, slew nigh 20. thousand of the Persians, at their entering into Grecia. Furius Camillus, when the Celtae led by Brennus and belinus, had conquered Italy, and sacked Room, gathering together the dispersed relics and broken bands of the army before conquered, by wonderful hardiness & prowess, suddenly assailing 
Furius. Camillus.  the Celtes in their return homewards, overthrew them, and bereft them of all the spoils & prizes which they had taken before. Martius Coriolanus, the noble Roman, when he had by romans, 
Martius. Coriolanus.  overthrown the Volsciens & conquered of their territories and towns, being afterwards ingratefully banished of his country, and invading the same with a power of Volsciens, being the same people, which late before was vanquished, under an other Captain, now by his conduct, the romans being over run, & the enemies at the walls of their City, they are constrained to crave peace, and to entreat of Martius by all means for their safety. The subtle Hannibal, 
Hannibal,  which had overthrown many Captains and battals of the romans by the knacks and fine fetches of a cunning Captain, yet was he not only matched: but also mated or wearied by Fabius, by 
Fabius.  policy, delaying to join battle till he had much worn and spent the other with travail & want of necessaries for his army (which could not be sup plied at all times from Carthage being so far distant) unto Hannibal, as they might be unto Fabius, at home. But Scipio afterwards, going beyond 
Scipio.  all the cunning of Hannibal, conquered him in his own country. And the Macidoniens, (for further proof of this theme, for the importance & regard of the guide & Captain) under the conduct of Alexander the great, they conquered the greatest part of the world: & the same people not 
Alexander.  long after, under other government, with their King Perseus, and their country, were by Paulus Aemelius a famous Captain of the Romans 
Paulus Emelius. Perseus.  subdued. So to be short (for that this matter is convenient to be touched hereafter) The virtue, wisdom, and diligence of the Captain in taking of some advantages, & his circumspect dealing, causeth great assurance and confidence of the army, and his courage and skill in using & moving of soldiers, maketh of a cowardly people, hardy: and the want of the same maketh the hardy people fearful, and of no force.   

¶ Of the virtues and qualities which a Captain aught to understand to be requisite for that function, and to be endeavoured of him.  
THe government & charge of a General or Captain is great, & therefore he aught to be furnished and endued with great virtues. For an army of soldiers, which are chosen of the lustiest & strongest men of the realm, of what importance & regard it aught to be, it is easily discerned, for it is the strength of the Realm, the wall of the common wealth, the pillar whereupon the estates of all men therein do stand. And therefore among other virtues, these five a good Captain must needs have. That is to say, knowledge, & judgement in martial affairs, Magnanimity or valiant courage, justice, Prudence, & tender affection, diligent care or regard over his soldiers and army. For knowledge: first, that he consider the manner of the war, the qualities of the country, and people, against whom he is to fight, that he may choose, and weapon his soldiers, appoint & order his bands & army accordingly, as for example, in plain & open countries, the more shot & horsemen may avail, especially if there be store of forage with all, and for Incursion the morelight horse, & less carriages be necessary, the reason is plain, for that they are to shifted from place to place, speedily to annoy then emie here and there, whereunto in the plain fields they have scope at will, Captains also have been skilful to train soldiers, to practise them in exercises apt and available for the wars, by excellent & fit means, to plant & grafted in them courage. And further, especial regard must be had of the state & situation of the country, ways, & grounds, for the safe passing conducting and settling of his army or camp, for choosing the field or place for battle, that he lead not his army into any traps, ambushes or straits. Arterentius Varro was deluded & hemmed in by Hamniball at the battle of Cannae in Italy: to the utter overthrow & destruction of the Roman army, & surely, if the general be a man learned, as the 
For this purpose great Alexander carried Homer always in his pocket.  most excellent captains have been, he shall read of like things, the knowledge whereof is most available in the wars, and the experience of the like heard of, and in long time obtained.   

¶ Of Magnanimity and prowess in the general.  
THen must there be linked and joined with knowledge, the second virtue, that is highness & hardiness of courage, to achieve great and honourable things which if it be accompanied and furnished with valour and force of body in a Captain, sometimes by his own prowess to give example to the rest it is far the better. And therefore, it is to be noted that very seldom through out the histories of all times, a man shall read of any great victories or conquests had or made, but the general was a man hardy, & able of his own body for service. I could recount above an hundred of the greatest captains & victors, that have been valiant men of person: & among all, I remember some of the other sort, good guides of war without any great force of body, as King Numa, Aristides, Eumenes, & some women, as Marthesia, Penthesilea, and divers of the Amazons, Semiramis, & Thomiris, two Queens, women of weak bodies, and yet of high & victorious minds, obtained great victories, under their own conduct, being present in the field. Of latter time the cursed Machomet, being nothing valiant of person, by devilish sleights and enchantments, and through the infidelity of others, made sundry great conquests. And the ungracious Pucelle of France, in the time of King Henry the sixth his wars there, by the means of the superstitious minds of the english men prevailed more in divers journeys & attempts against them, than any general or French Captain before could do by force. These be strange and rare examples, but generally to conclude: prowess and force in the person of a Captain is greatly available. For it is 
Heroicum of most high noblesse or valour.  a part of Fortitude, and is called Heroic.   

¶ Of Justice. Cap. v.  
THen followeth the third virtue justice, which is a divine motion or affection of the mind to deal uprightly, and to tender unto every man that which unto him belongeth. It may be called a divine virtue, for that it proceedeth principally of the fear of GOD, who is the head and fountain of all justice, by whom all power is given, to be duly used and administered. And he is the most high and aeternal judge over all. This virtue 

Pius 


in deum.  
in homines.      is one of the branches of piety, by which good and upright men be called godly, or like un to God. The other part or branch of piety, is to serve God religiously, and duly, which because it aught to be a ground work, proper unto every Christian man: therefore have I not noted the same as a peculiar or particular virtue hear: But I say the more Christian the meater Captain, and the better he serveth God: the better he shall his Prince and Country. In this virtue of justice the Captain aught to be very diligent and circumspect to see as well the just rewards of virtue, as the due punishment and correction of tumults, rapine, injuries, disorder and breach of discipline and laws of war, wherein, the quantity and quality with the circumstances of time, person, & place, is to be weighed in judgement by the poise of wisdom, in the balance of endifferency, hanging upon the beam and rule of right, that reformation may grow, and not confusion follow there of: that by example of a few, many may be warned, and yet no such remiss clemency to be used, that negligence of justice should break all good order. But if by fair means or persuasion, the evil might be won or reformed, it is first so to be assayed, and when none other remedy, than rigour roughly to be extended: How be it, often times the greatness of the mischief requireth sudden justice. For in wars, the like time of deliberation & stay in judgement and execution is not given, as in peace, for the general affairs and state of the army, may not be stayed or neglected, for private causes. And therefore the captains doom, order, or sentence, in this case of speedy justice, standeth for law, and is called martial law. This law king 
When martial law is to be used, and how.  Artaxerxes used towards Artabanus, when he had slain his father Xerxes, and his brother Darius, conspiring also to dispatch him, and usurp the Empire: After that he had certain & secret under standing thereof, because that for the great power of him and his sons, it was dangerous to apprehend him, he discloseth the same unto some of his trusty friends, and calling Artabanus out of the army, feigning that he would change his armour with him, when he had put of the same, the King remaining still armed, thrust him through with his sword, and so delivered his estate from danger. King Aswerus likewise, caused Aman & his sons to be suddenly apprehended & executed, because that through their great power, the stay thereof had been dangerous. How be it this kind of justice, is in the greatest extremity. But the martial Law or sentence, would be used and executed under this form and order, that the general calling unto him such of the Captains and principal persons of the Army, as he shall think convenient thereunto, reciting shortly the manner of the offence, the mischief that might grow thereof, the odiousness and villainy of unnatural Treason, and dissension within an army, tending to the overthrown of most valiant & worthy personages, of most honourable attempts, and purposes, the quailing of most great and high endeavours before in that service used, and to the miserable spoil of the whole army, with the decay and dishonour of the country of whence they are: and there with all the proofs being heard, and openly declared, to give judgement according to the nature of the offence, and commit over order, for executing the same. And sometime for the better satisfying of the army (if time permit) it is convenient for the punishment of criminal causes, to refer the hearing thereof to the Captains of every band, and certain of them to speak their minds, for the quality and odiousness of the offence, with some admonishment at the last to the 
Exod. 18. jethro gave counsel unto Moses to make the like distribution and commission of the comen affairs unto other, that being eased of a great part of that burden, he might better attend to the more weighty causes.  rest of the hearers. And sometime, it is policy to commit the same unto twelve or more of the meaner sort, or comen soldiers, as circumstances may require. And if the party accused, and under judgement, be a stranger, it is the better order of justice, that he have part of his trial by some of his own Country, if the matter be plain, that they be not to be suspected of partiality. And the whilst that other have the handling of this matter, the general may the better attend his greater affairs. For the other part of justice, what course is best to be taken in rewarding the valour and well deserving of those, which with great endeavour, labour for same, to the honour and advancement of their Country: herein the good judgement of the Captain, is to be exercised, for well noting, and right regarding the dispositions, endeavours, and doings of each person. For some are given not to make challenge, or claim, of their 
Ambition disturbeth well ordered states.  own proper deeds and virtues, other will make large report and ostentation of that which they do, setting the same artificially forth, to the utter most, and further, sometime clothing themselves with that which they never spun, and thrusting into the glory of other men's deserts. And divers 
Envious and perverse men of disposition.  there are of disposition to extenuate, and seem to make less the virtues of other, whom they cannot match in valour. And therefore sith that honour is the right reward of virtue (as the Philosophers agreed) & that Laudata virtus crescit, and Honos alit arts: commended virtue increaseth, and honour is the nurse of valour, which maketh men to excel in practices, the Captain aught to be wise, to sift & perceive such knacks & cunning colours, from substance, that he be a just distributor of the due salaire, and reward unto the virtuous, without affection or partiality, that they being encouraged, increase, & not discouraged, cease from well doing. Moreover for the manner of rewards, there is consideration to be had of the person, thus, if he be poor, he may be somewhat enriched thereby, if he mean to be a continuer in the service of war, to give him a more high place, & greater charge in the army, to call him unto the more weighty & secret affairs. If he be one that needeth or seeketh not wealth, let him have credit, honour, & authority the more, use all courtesy towards him, finding means to know his delight, wherewith, most to glad or gratify him, as with horse, Armour, some rare jewel, or other acceptable thing, to give him, where ever he go, speech of credit, honourable commendation and report: If he desire to become expert in the knowledge of war: by all courtesy and means to further him thereunto, so that (as near as may be) every man according to his desire and mind be contented. And this due form of justice observed, with the conformity of his other dealings, shallbe unto the Captain, a foundation of most high enterprises. For the general, performing towards the soldiers, all that on his part is to be performed: he may the better expostulate and require in them their endeavours and duityes, which also they will the more willingly do, if they be well paid of their wages, which principally must be provided for, for money is the sinews of war, & the Captain aught not to suspend or delay the pay of the same any time, except for especial occasion. When the general oweth not unto the soldier, but he hath his wages paid, he may frankly command him to any service of the wars. Furthermore this virtue of justice chiefly preserveth the dignity of the Captain, that the soldiers love him, fear him, and reverence him, for this is the hoop and band that bindeth fast together, and strengtheneth all the state and affairs of the war. This justice in the Captain includeth two other virtues: that he be liberal where cause is, and to be temperate and continent of his lust and affections to any other vanity. Temperance is generally defined in this Latin verse, Est virtus placitis abstinuisse bonis: A virtue of refraining or abstinence from alluring evils, whether it be covetousness, ambition, wanton pleasures, or such like. For modesty of Magistrates or Governors, due observation of justice, and just distributing of honours, preserveth states from sedition. This virtue, great Alexander, to his greatest honour, used towards the captive daughters of Darius. And Scipio after the expugnation and winning of new Carthage in Spain, the wife of Luceius (a Prince of that Country) of most rare & excellent beauty being brought unto him, he sent her, and all that she had safe, and untouched, very honourably also accompanied home unto her husband. The fame of whose singular virtue, & knightly part, afterwards procured him great honour of the spaniards, with much help and furtherance in his wars there. The want of which virtue, caused Marcus Antonius to be surprised in the dalliance of Cleopatra, neglecting his wars, and defence, whereby he was overthrown of Augustus Caesar. Holofernes by like vice was curtoled of his head, and the huge host of the Assyrians dispersed. The valour of Samson by like doting was cut of. The Empires and Monarchies of the Assyriens and Persians sunk in delicate pleasures, and in intemperance were lost, & all is the spoil of the hardy, manlike, and martial soldier, which ought, like the noble knight Hippolytus to fly the baits of effeminate wantonness, and sink of intemperance, seeking to reach the Banner of renown in the highest top of virtues tower, following valiant exercises, which maketh the body strong and healthy, and the person honourable: the other hath contrary effects.   

¶ Of Prudence, the fourth virtue in a Captain.  
PRudence, is an excellent virtue (as necessary as any thing for our Captain) which by good advise, & prudent foresight, guideth the present affairs 
wise janus is painted with two faces, one looking towards things past, the other to that which is to come.  in the best course and state, conferring them with things past, and providing for things to come. This Prudence must have deliberate consideration of all circumstances, by judgement to sound and search the depth of that which is doubtful, it is the Rule almost of all his doings, whereby he deviseth, disposeth and ordereth them, as for due consideration of the quality of his soldiers, good array of his Battles, diligent espial of his enemies doings, due estimation of them, for the opportunity, and occasion of taking of any advantage, and for the avoiding of all inconveniences, for the provision of all necessaries for the camp, for using the endeavours of every one, as he is most meet, for the assocyatinge unto his weighty and secret counsels and practices, men of judgement wise, of invention politic, and trust approved. And how to try, and find the trusty: prudence also, by means discerneth. For all thy devices, except they be concealed, and close kept from the enemy, till the time of practice of the same, they be seeldone available, & oftentimes hurtful. And as the good consideration & judgement of a Captain is to be seen in those points before remembered, & aught ever to accompany his doings: So is invention requisite unto him, to devise how to cut of the strength of the enemy, or cirumvent him, for by this, many things have been achieved, which force could not win. What the policy of Cinon and Ulysses at the battle of Troy, and Zopyrus among the babylonians availed, it is notoriously known. This invention, and cunning to entrap the enemy, Hannibal had at will, and oftentimes plagued the romans there with all. but at the last when he had remained divers years in italy, wasting and destroying of the coum trey, & the Romans could by no means drive him forth, Cornelius Scipio found out the way to rid him, giving this prudent advise unto the romans, that they should send an army to invade Africa, and besiege Carthage, which was the head of the enemy's Empire, shewing that the stroke at the head as it is most dangerous: so it is most feared: & as when the heart is afraid, the blood resorteth from other parts, unto the comfort thereof, as the principal storehouse of life: So said Scipio, the Carthaginoys pinched with wars at home, will send for their powers abroad to secure them, & keep safe the home stall. Which happened and fell out accordingly, that Hannibal leaving italy, and returning into Africa to defend his own country, and resist the Roman army led thither by Scipio, was there by him overthrown, Carthage taken, and Africa subdued. So removed he the danger & ruin by excellent invention from Room, and carried the same unto Carthage. was it not a famous policy of Henry the fifth, at the battle of Agincourt, when the power of the French men stood most upon horsemen armed with heavy armour, to 'cause the field to be pitched full of sharp stakes when they should invade his battle? which withdrawing, till they were come upon the stakes, than had he placed his archers in an Island or plot so environed or surrounded, that they might safely shoot at the enemy, and he not come to hurt them, by which train and order, the French host tumbling down in disorder, was overthrown: which invention is the more honourable, for that it is credible to be of the kings own devising. About the time of the taking of Bullen, by king Henry the eight, this practice was used by a noble english Captain, for the winning of a town (which was defended on the weaker part thereof by a marsh, so that ordinance could not be planted to batter the same) he caused pieces of light wood to be secretly made, and cunningly painted like guns, and laying boards upon the marsh, so conveyed over his disguised ordinance, by terror whereof at the first summons hastily made, with great manasse and show of the pretended battery: the town rendered and yielded up unto him. Great Alexander used this cunning to get a fort of wonderful strength, he conveyed a few active men unarmed, up to a rock, not doubted or looked unto of the enemy, for the steepness and difficulty to be climbed, and when they had possessed the top thereof, being nigh the walls, where they might greatly annoy them within the hold, making a great shout, or noise of triumph on a sudden, and advancing their banners as though there had been a great part of the army with them and all sure their own, Alexander also on the other side than fiercely skalinge the walls, the people within, being stricken with great fear, and in a maze, the Castle was easily by him surprised & taken. Thus to conclude of this virtue of Prudence: it is the line of the Captain, to measure his own doings, the touchstone, and the sieve to try & sift the sleights of the enemy, to discern the substance from the shadow, to shun his trap, not to be abused by any painted or coloured craft. And this virtue includeth in it constancy, without which, a man is no man, for as well, without reason, as without judgement or resolution, in time to use the same, after consultation and good advisement had, speadye execution should follow.   

¶ Of the love and diligent regard of the Captain unto his soldiers. Cap. 7.  
THe last part of the furniture, which armeth our Captain complete, is a tender affection & diligent regard unto his soldiers. So that a good mind well and virtuously inclined and disposed, serveth not, without diligence in exercising and giving forth the fruits thereof. And therefore a Captain, besides his provident care and study of the general and public weal, and affairs of his army, aught also to respect the state and necessities of private persons and comen soldiers. And therefore if the governors of Civil estates, have been called fathers, as the Senators of Room had first that name, to remember them of the fatherly affection and care, which they aught to bear towards the people: much more aught the general, over his martial common weal to have a fatherly mind and regard, for the soldier leaveth father, all his friends, and estate of living at home, to follow his captain in foreign country, committing his life and all, to the guide and good fortune of him. And if like desire's, with concord of studies, affections, and continuance of conversation of life, do cause most 
Causes of affection and fryndship.  entire love, and strong band & league of friendship: much more, aught this society of minds, linked and joined in honourable desires and purpose, with the vowed fellowship of bodies in all perils, (yea in life and in death) unite the hearts of the captain and soldiers, in most dear affection and amity, which the captain aught to profess towards his soldiers, & they each towards other, If the soldier be sick or hurt, the Captain must provide Physicians, of Chirurgien for him, if he be troubled in mind, he aught to be his friend to visit him, and comfort him, to further his desires, and endeavours, to encourage him, if he be a worthy soldier, to confer with him some time familiarly of his estate, and to further and devise how to increase and amend the same, as well in the army, as at home. For perchance he hath none other friend to cherish, or to have regard unto him in the army, if he be injuried, he hath not the comen aid, and help of law for his money, as in peace he may. Therefore the Captain must be his stay, & help in all his necessities. And lest it be objected, that if he had Argos eyes, he cannot see the wants of all men, and leisure will not at all times suffer to discharge the parts above required (to prevent the same) I say, he must only extend his diligence, as far as may be herein. Xenophon wrote unto king Cyrus, that a Governor aught to be towards his people kind, as a father toward his children. To note some examples of this virtue, we read that the great king Mithridates used such diligence, and had such regard unto all his comen soldier, that of a great army, he could call every man, privately by his name, and having people of more than xx. several nations, & languages, he would talk unto them all familiarly in their proper Country speech. The great king Cyrus before remembered, which founded the Monarchye of the Persians, used great affability towards his soldiers. The excellent Captain Scipio, is noted, and honoured for this courtesy. Alexander the great, passing some days in the deserts, & barren dry places of Arabia, where as no water was to be found, so that both the army & himself wear pained with great thirst, & almost intolerable, in this need, a comen soldier, had by great travail, gotten one helmet full of water, and brought it unto the king: which when he had received very thankfully, he powered it out upon the ground, showing himself willing to be partaker of the comen want & necessity of his army, whereby the rest seeing the abstinence and noble mind of their Governor, forgot the pinch of their thirst, & prepared themselves to suffer any hardness, and not to be wearied, but constantly to continued, to overcomeall labours & difficulties. The same Alexander no greater in power, then in noble virtue of mind, an other time passing a journey in extreme, & intolerable frost, & sharp weather, with rough & uncomfortable ways, finding a soldier stiff, & almost dead with could of the piercing air, he caused him presently to be carried into his tent, & there being set in his own chair, he saw him tenderly dressed, and cherished, giving unto him of his own clotheses to keep him warm. Caius julius, having Alexander's mind in many things, so did he no less tender and regard his soldiers, when he went to battle, he would say, come fellow soldiers, go we together, and call them sometime good friends. Charles the fifth, being a great Emperor, and of notable skill, and practise in wars, endued also with sundry noble virtues, riding thorough his Camp, to view the state of the same, a comen soldier sick, and wanting necessaries, cried out, and railed upon him bitterly, wishing a vengeance, and the devil on him, for that in his service being fallen into infirmity, & disease, now had he neither knowledge nor help of him: the Emperor mildelye answered, good words my good soldier, and thou shalt not want the help that may be had. Now to conclude: this virtue, not painful to plant in thy manners, and exercise in actions and deeds, yet it bringeth great and happy fruits, for it procureth such love and honour of the Soldier to the Captain, that thereby he possesseth the more safety of person, and quiet of mind, he purchaseth greater fame at home, and abroad, his attempts & affairs proceed the better to effect, for it maketh the endeavour of the Soldier wonderful. Love is the surest armour that a Governor or Captain can put on, and faithfulness is not by fee, nor fear to be crazed or corrupted.   

¶ Whether it be more expedient to have one General, or many. Cap. 8.  
NOw to discuss by the examples of antiquity, & arguments of reason, whether it be convenient to have more than one general, or high Captain of the Army: Belinus and Brennus two Princes, being brothers, were jointly governors over their army, with which they subdued a great part of France, Germayne, and italy. Fabius, and Porsenna, were likewise constituted over the Romainearmie, against the same Belinus and Brennus. Romulus and Remus, by equal authority guiding their army, surprised the City of Alba. King Mithridates, & Tigranes, jointly, lead their powers against the romans. Cassius, & Brutus, were joined generals against Octavius Caesar, and Antonius. Fabius & Minutius, were thought to be well matched together against Hannibal: the one grave, and somewhat slow by his age, the other hot, quick, and lusty, the one excelling in advise and experience, the other better able to stir and endure pains. So that albeit, it hath been more used, to ordain, and depute one only general over an army, yet twain may do very well, as it appeareth by the examples before recited, which may the rather be allowed, for that the one General being sick, hurt, or slain, yet the Army is not destitute of a head, or guide. which sometime is the cause of loss of a battle, the head being stricken and Captain slain, the body of the army standeth in a maze, and is highly discomfited, and oftentimes honourable attempts cease thereby, and go backwards, as Crassus, by Parthian falsehood slain, the relics of his army were shortly destroyed. Antonius, in his great battle on the Sea, against Octavius Augustus, flying, or rather following Cleopatra, his whole army was enforced to yield unto Caesar. Brennus, as justine writeth, being dead of hurts in battle received in Grecia, his purposed conquests in those parts ceased, and his army dispersed: all that they had gotten before, was lost for lack of a good guide. Great Alexander being dead, the glory of Macedon died, their victories proceeded no farther, their armies returned, and turned to dissension and division among themselves: whereby the Empire was rend and scambled, and shortly after taken from them by the romans. So that, where there hath been but one head or guide of the wars, the same being cut of, for the most part the warfare hath ended and expired with all: whereas if there had been two generals ordained, joined in authority, or else successively three or four, one after an other nominated & appointed after the death or loss of the general, to supply the place, and to establish the state of the army, the wars might still proceed, until the purpose & desired fruits thereof be obtained. But more than two generals of one army at once, I can not find by any good precedent allowed. Nicias Alcibiades, & Lamachus, were sent as Generals by the athenans into Sicilia, & achieved little there, & likewise Tideus Adimantus & Menander, against the Lacedaemoniens.   

¶ Of the authority of the general, and what aught to be his chief desire, wished fruits, and end of wars. what person, and of what qualities, aught to be esteemed the best and most honourable Captain. Cap. 9  
THe place and state of a general is high, his credit, his power, and charge great, and therefore his authority from the prince by or under whom he is deputed and ordained, aught to be great. To punish and pardon, to erect, exalt, & pull down, to take order, or truce with the enemy, to receive hostages, remit prisoners, ransoms and tributes, to give laws, liberty, lordship, bands, conditions of captivity to the conquered, to join or break foreign friendship upon urgent cause, and not otherwise, to impart unto the soldiers, frankly of that which is taken and won, to assign victorious ensigns and solempnitye of honour & prowess, to give advancement of degrees and dignities unto the worthy. He may also levy, for the great necessity of the army, upon the princes subjects where he serveth, & borrow or receive aid of the prince's friends, and herein extend his masters credit, and the prince is bound in honour, to ratify, allow, & perform thus far, the dealing of the general, by him deputed and appointed, which is also at all times removable at the pleasure of the prince, at whose commandment the wars cease, end, or otherwise be turned. And the Captain, aught not to make or establish peace without the consent, will, and authority of the prince, nor to tender any town, country, or fort conquered, except for great advantage or extreme necessity. Histories are full of examples, to prove the particulars before recited, to be incident to the function of a general, and therefore in a matter not doubtful, I will city but only the large grant of Gaius Martius, general of an army of the romans: on a time when a battle went very hard with him, having in his army, fifteen hundred hired Soldiers, of whose trust and endeavour he doubted, considering the strayghtes and danger wherein his army stood, he promised unto his said strange retinue, that if they would extend their valour to the winning of the field, to make every man of them a citizen, and free of Room: which in that time was a thing highly regarded of strangers, for the honour, great advantages, and noble franchises thereof, wherewith being encouraged, they spared not to hazard their lives, using such endeavour that the field was won. And not wyth standing that by the ordinances of the city, no man might be made a citizen without the consent of the Senate, yet he alleging before them, that necessity is above law, and that then time served not to seek the laws, but rather required to break them, he obtained the granted freedom unto the soldiers, and honourably his promise was performed. And it is not inconvenient, that the prince should give him credit, power, and authority in smaller matters, unto whose order and wisdom he hath committed an army, which is the strength of the prince's estate. which trust if it can not safely be committed unto one, it were better to join an other in government unto him, then that the place of the general should lack or be lame of power. Now to see what the general aught to desire or seek to gain by the wars, infinite examples of the antiquity do show, especially in the most flourishing estates of Room & Grecia, where virtue & valour were chief fostered, all the most excellent Captains sought and endeavoured by victories to purchase fame unto themselves, honour, and advancement unto their countries, and common wealths which they loved so dearly, and regarded so highly, that their endeavours (used & employed for the benefit of the same) seem to sur mount almost the power of men, and also credit. Glad was he which by dying valiantly, could singularly profit his country. As Brutus the first Consul, Horatius Cocles, the two Decii, Curtius, Atilius Regulus, Scaevola, Lucinius Dentatus, Codrus, Leonidas, and iiij. hundred gentlemen of Lacedaemon with him. And of the spoils & prizes of their conquests, the great captains of Room and Grecia enriched themselves little, but rendered all to the public treasure, & behoof of the comen wealth. So that divers Dictatoures (which was the place of a great Prince, and Governor, over the whole Empire, during the time of the wars) after the same finished, and great kings by them conquered, and lead in triumph with all their treasures, and substance, yet have they returned little the richer (for all that which passed through their hands) to their old state, and mean degree of living, from whence they wear called, not for their Lordship, but for their virtues. And some of them after, living thriftelye of a little, have died possessed of so short substance: that for the just honour of their funerals, due unto parsonages of so great virtues, for want of their own 
Arist. polit. 3. He loseth the name of a good Citizen, which preferreth private profit, before the comen weal.  ability, the comen Treasure hath supplied the charges, and expenses thereunto. And though some esteem fame as a bore reward, without fruits of profit, yet they regarded nothing of riches in comparison of honour. The Romans ordained for honour to victors, & conquerors, triumphs, wherein their General returning in great pomp from the wars, all his Captains & spoils following his Imperial chariot, he was with his Army received of his Country with all joy and honour that might be devised, erecting also for the perpetual fame, and memory of such as had greatly advanced their Country, images set up in open places, with inscriptions: This was the father of his country. This was the champion of Room, & terror of their enemies. And for private, & mean soldiers, which first had boarded a ship of the enemies, entered their camp, or Town, saved a Citizen, slain a Captain of the enemies, gotten an ancient, broken a rank, or achieved any great exploit, they ordained crowns of silver, bracellets, & collars of gold, with such like conisaunces, the worthy wearing whereof, the soldiers esteemed as much, as of great signory. Whereof there is an example, written of a certain young man, in the Army of Scipio, which had done marvelous deeds of Arms in a battle of his, so that he had deserved such a like reward of prowess, as is spoken of before, in lieu whereof, Scipio thinking better to content him, gave him a great substance of gold, exhorting him to continue manlike & valiant: but he, very sad, threw down the money at Scipio his feet, who demanding of him, whether he would rather have the appointed reward, and ensign of manhood, he answered, that therefore he had travailed: preferring worship above riches. The General aught to give great regard both by himself, and by others, which without partiality, may be markers and observers, of such as best deserve in battle. And moreover, the most expert and valiant men should be from one place, unto another, advanced to the highest degrees, and offices in the Army, that the commendation, and reward be duly assigned, according to desert. Also he must observe, and execute the laws, and orders of war, for there is no Art without rules, and in none more necessary rules, then in this: wherein also disorder most of all hurteth, as negligence in the watch, or ward, in espial for discovering the Country, where the Army sojourneth or is to pass, want of furniture, or any provision allowed, or charged unto any man, breach of array, mutine, affray, ryott, failing of duty in any point, or transgressing the Captains commandment, which must stand for a law, and rule unto the Soldiers. These misdemeanours, and offences, the victorious Romans punished streyghtlye, yea sometime though advantage, and benefit grew unto the Army, by exceeding the generals commandment, yet the Captain in this offence, hath not spared his own Son, from sharp justice, and punishment of the law, and ordinance violated. For the due keeping of Laws, and orders, is the stay of all the affairs of War. Also the Captain hath much more need to be wise in judgement, than the civil Magistrate in peace, for that he hath not so many assistants, to aid him in counsel, neither like leisure in deliberation, and advise: Some time having sudden dangerous coming on, to disturb, and interrupt the same. Sudden passions, (say the Philosophers) troubleth, and disordreth the mind, and quiet establisheth the understanding, and ripens counsels. The greek Philosopher Isocrates showeth, that two sorts of men there are to be commended. First he which is of his judgement, able to give good advise, the other that is of wisdom to understand good counsel given by an other, and of inclination to follow the same: diligence and good will supplieth a number of wants. There hath been divers Generals of great virtue in training of their soldiers, being able of their own practice, to instruct them in all feats, and points of a Soldier, as in well using of arms and weapons of wars, both on horseback, and on foot, in choosing and appointing fit, and good furniture for every man, and every purpose to encounter the ordinance and engines of the adversaries, by policy planting, and hardy, and victorious mind in their soldiers. In which Cirus, Romulus, Paulus Aemilius, Scipio, Hannibal, & Caius Caesar, chiefly excelled. How be it that Captain, which is able well to lead, and govern an army trained, ordered, and martialled to his hand is also to be commended, and the better, if he use consideration, and diligence in taking order, that his soldiers may practise the exercises, profitable for the wars. It is to be regarded, that the Captain be generally of good nature & disposition, not subject to malicious anger, cruelty, or envy, that he have his conversation and conference with the most virtuous and best affected sort, to suppress wrongful dealing and riot, the mother of disorder and ruin. The Emperor Charles the fift was commended of great sobriety and diligence in his affairs, and to be very skilful in setting and ordering his battles, for any advantage. The Captain aught to fly the fault of infidelity and untruth, as from a rock. For there is no regard to be had of the man that is not just & honest, and firm of his word, but fycle and variable of promise, which aught always to be performed towards soldiers, friend, & enemy. The breach whereof hath many time's bread great miseries, and brought great wrack: as Laodislaus king of Hungary, upon presumption of dispensation from the Pope, breaking his faith given, and league made with the Turk, fell afterwards into his hands & cruelty. The Carthaginoys, breaking league made with the romans, and afterwards being in parley, and towards a composition or end very necessary & greatly desired of the carthaginians, the romans demanded of them what pledges of their troth they could give, or what new Gods they had now to swear by, & vow the performance of the conditions agreed, seeing they had sworn by all their Gods before, & had deceived in breaking their oath: Hasdruball a famous Captain, one of the company, answered, we swear again by the same Gods, which now both we, & you aught better to regard, for that they have revenged by you sharply our perjury & oath breaking: but the Carthaginoys continued in their falsehood, and eftsoons violated their faith: wherefore the romans determined finally, not to cease, or give over wars against them, till they had utterly overthrown them, subverted and destroyed their City and estate, which their just plague followed. A noble example, for the due regarding of his faith, and oath, showed Regulus before mentioned, a general of the Roman army, taken prisoner by the Carthaginoys, and dismissed upon his oath to return, if he did not entreat and obtain of the Senate of Room, the exchange and delivery of divers great Captains of Carthage, whom before he had taken prisoners, which thing himself dissuaded the romans from, for the beehoufe of the comen wealth in divers weighty respects, and so returned to Carthage unto his determined death. Also the general may do much the better if he be able to be his own secretary, to endicte orderly, and aptly, in his affairs, and to persuade in mutive dissension and case of need, to understand languages, to read with judgement in histories, of the dealings and stratagems of great princes & captains in like affairs, for surely, the greatest captains that ever were, & almost all those chieftains & conquerors of antiquity were well learned. another thing also there is which maketh a captain most honourable, & to be as a father unto his country, that is, after wars ended, if he can frame himself to peace, good government, & to be as profitable unto the civil estate by his industry & policy, as he was by his valour in the wars. So to conclude, though it be hard to find a martial man, so farforth furnished with all civil virtues as before recited: yet is it not like Tully's orator, or Sir Thomas moors common wealth, which represent a shadow, & not a substance, discoursing of matter like a dream to be imagined, & not possible to be followed, or in such perfection as they precisely picture to be accomplished. But examples of such chieftains as I writ of, I have cited some, affirming that he may be a good captain, though he want of those parts before declared some thing, but the more bright & resplendent light of virtues that he giveth forth by his example, the more honourable he is, the more plentiful is the hope of his success, the more prosperously proceed his affairs, the more good he doth to his army, It may well be said, Principis exemplo totus componitur nobis. According to the precedent of the prince, or chieftain, the subject conformeth his fashions, & endeavoureth his deeds.   

¶ Of a soldier, & the qualities which he aught to have. Cap. 10.  
THe Soldier in good course must now follow his captain. And first we are to show the qualities & disposition of mind requisite unto him.  
For all be it, he aught to be affected and inclined unto virtue, no less than the Captain, yet is it in an other sort, for the difference of their places, functions, and doings. For there are divers things, which appertain unto the calling and exercise of a Captain, which beelonge not to a common soldier: as for rule, and government, politic order and judgement in the general affairs, magnificent and bountiful deeds. But the soldier aught in like sort, to be a civil man, to fear God, and live orderly in his degree, as it behoveth the Captain, being in daily 
Deutero. 20.  dangers of death, which are always less feared of him which hath an honest and well prepared mind, void of the horror and burden of lewd and dissolute dealings liing upon his conscience. Such a good soldier was the Centurion, of whom our Lord and Saviour in the viii. of saint Mathaew sayeth, that he found not greater faith in Israel, then in him. And such was the devout Cornelius, spoken of in the tenth of the Acts of the Apostles. And it is seldom or never seen the dissolute person to prove a profitable soldier, as if he be an idle, unruly, blasphemous, or licentious man of living, a riotous dyceplayer or jangler, such be more meet for an Alehouse than an army. Wherefore good sold your, take thy beginning of God, Remember first and chyefelie to discharge thy duty towards him. For without him no travail bringeth forth fruit, no policy, or purpose planted taketh root, or effect. Then oughtest thou next to seek with all diligence, the honour, profit, and saufegard of thy Country, which hath bred thee, and nourished thee. The same thou art bound, most steadfastly in thy mind to hold more dear than thy life: for the preferrment whereof, and for the general good of the army, no danger in reasonable sort is to be refused, no endeavour omitted. For it is better like a man to die, for the behoof of many, then by cowardice to be slain with many. The Soldier also in his degree, aught to favour justice and right, to defend the honest & virtuous from oppression, to be loving & helpful after his power, unto his fellow soldier. Moreover it is requisite that he be hardy, constant, and valiant, to endureth brunts difficulties, and chances of warfare. It beseemeth him to be high minded (I mean not proud, but rather the contrary) to endeavour to climb to the highest top of virtue, and valour. He aught to use exercises of arms, for increase of force, & activity, to be diligent, and perfect in the parts of a soldier, to keep the orders, & laws of war. He must be tractable, and obedient to the commandment of his Captain, and that without styckinge, for he is to hold for assured, that the General, to whom for his skill, and virtues, the Prince, and counsel, hath committed the strength of the estate, is a person sufficient well to guide the same, which will by wisdom, and sound advise, order, & dispose his affairs. It is not commendable in a soldier to be full of tongue, or a busy body, but he should be secret and sober. It is not convenient for him to be nicely accustomed, but to endure hardness of living, in food & travail. Wherefore the martial knights of Room, which brought up their children to serve their country honourably in the wars, they used them not daintily in diet, or curiously in clothing, but caused them diligently to be instructed in virtue, and perfectly practised in manlike martial exercises. Lycurgus expelling all idleness and wantonness, from the well governed estate of Lacedaemon, caused the youth to dine & sup abroad in comen places, with an ordinary fare; hard & short, to cut of excess & rvot, the nurse of sloth, & that they should not sit long at their 
effeminateness is contrary to force & manliness.  meat, but be soon gone to the public exercises, and profitable studies appointed for them. Delicate custom, and licentious living spoiled of all valour, the victorious and most redoubted army of Hannibal, wallowing one winter in the pleintifull pleasures, and fine fashions of the curious Citizens of Capua, where they sojourned, by which the just reproof followed, and was imputed unto their Captain, that he had the skill and way to conquer, but he knew not how to use and prosecute his victories. For if he had pursued the Romans after the great overthrow which he gave them at Cannae, and not run his Army on the rock of ryott, resting out of time, and waxing restive by pleasures in Capua: Room had never risen in signory, or Empire to be the lofty Lady, and Regent of the world, which then being down, when he oppressed not by his slackness, she took breath again, and recovered to his ruin. By ryott and careless rest, in lascivious lazy pleasures, Marcus Antonius the most valiant Captain with his Army was spoiled and vanquished. The great empire of the Affiryens sunk in this vice, under their Prince Sardanapale, and was subdued. Darius' drowned the Persian state in delicate life. italy of later time settled in lose and licentious living, giving over all virtue, and worthy excercises, hath offered occasion, to be so often overcome by the Huns, goths, Sayffers, spaniards, and Frenchmen, and so have fallen, and shall decay as many Nations, as give over themselves to like effeminate beastlike, and flewthfull life. And thearefore those Princes which reign in rest only by fortune, stand upon wheels, roulinge towards ruin: But the state which hath the foundation and defence thereof, upon virtue, is firm, safe, and permanent. Good soldiers should lift up their courages to achieve most high and hard things, treading abject ease, & poorishe pesauntlike idleness under foot, and flying lascivious lewd intemperance as from a Scorpion. They aught to contemn dayntines, as a womanlike, and childish thing, for the glutton's body, or mind, is apt for no good purpose. And yet am I not of his mind, which would have the soldier in warfare, to eat no other bread, or meat, but such as himself baketh, and dresseth, for, time serveth not every man always so to do, and some being more unhandsome in handling of the same, their food should be the less healthsome. And other perchance would be over curious, and employ more time thearein, then in the most weighty affairs. But it is necessary that for a need, every soldier know how of meal, eggs, oatmeal, oil, or 
Moderate diet.  butter, to bake, and make his food. Men have had sustenance for a time only by roots, and that without any hurt of health. He is not worthy to enjoy the bountiful benefits, & plentiful provision, which GOD hath ordained for the welfare of men, that cannot sometime without grudging endure some hardness. For all sorts of men are subject unto necessities, travail, and pain, or else this wear no world wherein we live, but a Heaven, and two heavens a Christian man is not to look for. Moreover it is the duty of a soldier with all affection, to love, and honour his Captain, not to forsake him for any danger, he aught to keep close the secret affairs, that be committed unto him, and for no cause to conceit any thing from him, that may be hurtful unto him, or the estate of the army, but he aught to stretch all his sinews always to profit the same. He must not be overmuch scraping or covetous of spoils, for so divers victorious armies have been spoiled and destroyed, whilst they only respecting their gain, have neglected the enemy, till they have fallen even in his mouth: for sometime, the enemy hath left his camp for a train that the other in spoiling thereof, might be surprised in disorder and easily vanquished, to mock them (with Tantalus his apple, as the Proverb is,) plucking the bone or possessed pray, out of their jaws. Great Alexander when he saw his host laden, surcharged & wearied with rich spoils, & also the more sharply urged of the enemy, for desire thereof: he caused all the surplusage of the carryages & stuff to be burned, first beginning with his own. Be moderate therefore good soldier in thy doings, and print every part of thy duty in prompt memory: for surely, I writ not these words of course, but of troth, with my careful study, searching and faithfully examining the points needful for thy profit, and I trust our most gracious God will give fruits of our labours to his honour, and our countries good service: whose favour and blessing be with all them, which of noble courage, zeal of virtue, and countries love, desire to use arms well.   

¶ Of what constitution of body, trade, and quality of life, the best soldier is to be chosen: and what exercises and practices are needful of him to be used. Cap. 11.  
Now for the choice of our good soldier, for the lykelihode of his strength, courage, and activity, to set down a precise order, for the same by his shoulders, breast, arms, thighs, feet, or composition of any other part of the body: I hold it most vain: seeing that good judgement, by the eye discerneth thereof plainly, and wisdom easily findeth out fit exercises for certain proof and trial hereof, and it is not possible to have a great army of men, so framed in all points, but the courage & mind is as much to be respected as the body. But it is necessary to be considered, of what age, trade, and manner of living, best choice of soldiers may be made. For their age, the lustiest time of youth for strength, and to endure travail, is meetest, as between the years of two and twenty, and towards fifty. How be it, great Alexander had many of his best soldiers, above those years of age. And for their exercise or trade of life, first it is clear, that the stronger, better breathed, and harder man of body by nature or custom, is the more available for wars: and therefore it is to conclude, that men of such occupations, as are accustomed most to labour with the strength of their arms, are to be preferred for this purpose, as smiths, butchers, masons, dyggers in mines, Carpenters, & most principally the husbandman, both for his wonted enduring of hardness in fare, and of all weathers and toil in the field, being also for the more part, of honest inclination, & thrifty, which be good parts in a soldier. And the daintier sort of serving men & riotous fellows, are least profitable herein. But the common speech of fencers, that they be never good soldiers, proceedeth not of judgement. For though there be of them, as of other men, some faint fellows, yet for the more part, that inclination & delight in the use of weapons, showeth some manlike courage, & the practice & skill therein, breadeth hardiness: and albeit there be other sorts of weapons used in wars, yet the exercise of these, causeth nimbleness & activity to handle any other. And therefore if he be not otherwise unruly, or naughtelye given, he that is practised and skilful in using of weapons, is likely to prove a valiant and an excellent soldier. But he that feareth not to receive hurt, except he know how to inflict danger & do harms unto the enemy, is not profitable. And therefore, when there was one commended unto an expert captain (by his many scars of wounds received) that he was a great soldier, & a very man, the captain asked straight, where is the man which hurt him thus: bring him unto me, (quoth he) & I will entertain him presently, for in this case I like the giver, better than the taker. Now are we next, to see, what exercises are most convenient and expedient to be used of soldiers. And generally, such are most available in the service of wars, as 'cause any of these effects: that is to say, to harden the body, to make it nimbler, stronger, or to be well breathed, as for the purpose, wrestling, shooting, darting, leaping, casting of great stones, vaulting, swiming, and to labour in armour, heavier than the comen fort, which is used in service, for custom maketh labour light, as it is proved by the practise of Milo, which beginning to carriea Calf into the field to pasture, every day on his neck, he continued with the same burden, till it was grown a great Ox, adding still increase of goodwill, to supply the daily growing of his burden, not suffering his force to be suddenly so surmounted, that he would at any time shrink or yield, unto the travail & burden of the day before passed: So that custom, seemeth to altar or excel nature, eftsoons. Now the body being made apt and nimble, yet do there two other exercises remain, to be put into the practice of a soldier, for their skill & order in wars. The first is, that he exercise to handle his bow, piece, pike, or other weapon wherewith he shallbe charged, nimbly, & cunningly, that he be able to do his feat therewith, and if he be a horseman, skilfully to use his horse and staff, to be ready to mount or alight nymblye at a beck, for any purpose or advantage to be taken of the enemy. The other practice is, to be perfect in keeping the arrays, ranks, and orders of war, in marching, encamping, & fight, or pursuit of th'enemy, yea, and in reducing, and bringing themselves again into any form of array, if perchance they shallbe broken or disordered by force of the enemy, & that speedily, at the voice of the Captain, or sound of Trumpet, or Drum, (which always stand by him for the same purpose) or by any other noise, or certain sign, which he useth, sometime secretly, and sometime open, to give out understanding of his mind, as to march, or proceed, to retire, to take this way or that. And herein it is to be certainly observed, a thing by all experience always approved, that no force of men, provision, power, industry, or furniture can prevail, without array, and order of battle, against the 
One trained soldier, worth ten untrained.  well appointed, whereof a few, shall easily vanquish a multitude disordered, and confusely clustering together. The soldier thus expert, and by practice thoroughly manned, furnished and made perfect master, and possessor of his Art, shall boldly, and courageously proceed into the field: For few men fear, or shrink to do that, wherein they are skilful, and well practised. Now for the more endeavour, and exercise to be used and had herein, through out this land, it is a thing not after any other to be looked upon, and effectually considered unto reformation, least we doing nothing, think to do much, & being naked under a net, suppose ourselves armed, when we are nothing covered. (For, such is the dullness of some people.) I will recite some Examples of the diligence used by the most excellent estates herein. First in the foundation of the greatest monarchy of the world under Rome, what ordinances, and continual excersyses of war, Romulus established there, it is not doubtful. For the Romans always after using the same orders, which he instituted, and delivered unto their hands, upon the same foundation proceeding in prowess, attained to moste high honour of Arms, and erected their famous Empire. Tullus Hostilius, and Ancus Martius kings there, bestowed great travail and industry, in increasing the said discipline of war. In Lacedaemon a City of Grecia, which by excellent government grew to have dominion over divers Kingdoms, Lycurgus the politic Prince, among his Laws and customs, which he established there, ordained that all spare time should be expended in virtuous exercises, and principally in the noble practises of Arms, to get honour, and soveraynetye of the enemies, clean cutting of unthrifty, wasteful ryott, abandoning delicate niceness, and banyshinge idle, and childish Games, as comen Cardeplaye, Cayles, Coites, Slydebourde, Bowls, and Blowepoynt, which wear thrown out of the comen wealth. From whence also he dyscarded and expelled, janglers, jesters, jugglers, Puppetplayers, pipers, and such like unprofitable persons, in stead of which wear maintained men of valour, frequenting, and exercising activity of wrastelinge, darting, throwing the Bar, the sledge, using the weapons of War, in skirmishes, and like acts to example the practices & exploits of war, as scaling of Forts, skilful riding, running at the ring, marching eftsoons in array of battle 
Vegetius saith, that Gentlemen to whom the profession of arms is proper, as their art aught from their cradle to their grave, to be practised thearein.  etc. And public places wear appointed commodiously for the comen using of the same, and most active men to be teachers herein. The honourable exercises called Olympiad's, celebrated in Grecia, with concourse of people from all parts of the world, to try valour, and win the Vyctours' Crown, this contention in all practices and qualities of virtue and commendation, caused Grecia first above all other nations, to flourish in honour of arms, learning, and other laudable trades, where the right and excellent discipline, and order of War was nourished and maintained with great sovereignty & dominion. The famous spectacle of the exercises of Arms, in Campus Martius, in the latter time of the triumphant estate of Rome was of great industry, & activity, being always noless honourably, then duly on the holidays frequented, and observed of all sorts. And at this day under divers estates in germany, this diligence is used in training of soldiers, & preparation for wars, they divide the inhabiters of every city, or shire, into certain parts, or bands, giving unto them the names of such weapons, as they will choose to be charged with for their furniture, & service in the time of wars, as Archers, Pikemen, demilances & such like, so that there is no able person, exempted out of these orders, either for exercise, or supply, & contribution to the charges of one sort of these weapons, which companies be thus on their holidays, and spare times duly trained and practised. The Turk also, what numbers he causeth from very young years, to be brought up, and skilfully practised unto the feats and service of wars, and what huge garrisons, and armies of Soldiers, he continually maintaineth, it is well known: and with all no Prince, Realm, or estate more free from Rebellion of subjects, and forward in victories 
Plaut. Feliciter is sapit, qui alieno periculo sapit.  than he. So to conclude, God grant, that the examples of others, may stir the slack, and dull sort, well to use Arms before their harms.   

¶ Of the sundric sorts of weapons, used by divers nations in the ancient wars, and which are now most necessary, with some respects of pressing soldiers. Cap. xii.  
THe weapons which the antiquity used in their wars were divers. They had crossbows, slings, darts, and hatchettes, all which the harquebus hath now displaced, being more available for the wars. They used also malles like our poleaxes, glaives, hammers, and battle axes. The romans used most for their footmen, the sword 
Samuel ca 13 The israelites for want of weapons used their mattocks & cowlters.  and target, spears or javelins. The Macedonien weapon, was a long spear called Sarissa, which our partisans and pikes well supply. The Parthiens were all light horsemen, using bows and arrows, by which, in the large plain countries, where they sought to join battle, they achieved many notable conquests. In stead of the Parthyens bow, me thinketh the currier wear of better use for some light horsemen, for that he shooteth more certainly, and striketh more dangerously than the arrow, and when he hath discharged, he may be gone, and remove lightly to charge again, but his horse must be well managed heareunto, as unto all other feats of the war. Moreover in mine opinion, it were an excellent furniture for the pikeman to have a dag, or a case of dags at his girdle, for divers purposes. But it is needful for every soldier in the field to have a good sword and dagger, and for the armed soldier, the same would be but short, with weighty pomells, strong, & narrow pointed. One other thing I would say, and conclude, for the regard of soldiers, when a power is to be levied, and men priest into the wars, if it stand upon no greater necessity, but that such choice may be made, it is to be respected, that men of occupation, husbandmen, and such like, (which after the wars ended, may return to their trades, or else have somewhat of their own to live civilly with all) be first taken. secondly it is to be considered, that men having great charge 
See also Deut. 20. & 24.  of children, or occupying, be the rather spared & exempted from the wars. For judas Machabeus the most redoubted Captain of the host of Israel, dismissed out of his army, such as newly married wives, builded houses, or planted vineardes, whereby their hearts being left at home, they should be the less valiant, and more loath to hazard their lines. Good order must be taken, that the comen wealth be not pestered with idle and unprofitable men, and the same once being purged, if none be after taken into the wars, but such as by their trades or other stay, are like to live conveniently by their own industry or havoyr, except so many as may be maintained by the wars, preferred by pensions, or placed in garrisons afterwards: soldiers shall not be discouraged to see many of that sort, the wars being dissolved, needy, neglected, and fallen into miseries. For surely the soldier, that is a civil man with all, is an especial member of his country, to be regarded more than he which is less able to serve the same, for it is a blessing of God, both for the use, necessary, & of valour, worthy estimation. And therefore principally, the general and Captains aught after the wars ended, to retain their tender affection towards the soldiers, which have served them well, and to endeavour as they may, to prefer them. But generally all good men aught to favour and further honest soldiers, which hath a valiant desire to propulse the enemy, & to purchase honour and safety, unto their native countries.    

The second book.  

¶ Of the discipline and admonitions of war.  
ALL be it, that there can not be rules appointed, or prescribed to direct all the doings & affairs of war, as well for that there is no leisure, upon sudden mischiefs to search out presidents or ponder lessons & rules, as also because of the infinite occasions & chances, that happen beyond expectation. It were therefore an infinite (I may say as Hannibal did by the doting discourse of old Formio) a mad piece of work, to prescribe a particular order 
Formio a philosopher.  for every act to be done in the wars, wherein the Captain must follow the ground and direction of his wisdom and experience: But yet some certain observations there are for him most needful: and presidents of other excellent captains in great difficulties, may be good warnings & lessons in the like, to make a foundation and plot of politic invention, & good judgement, so that the Iron or stuff thereby may be supplied, but the hammer of the captains wisdom, must work and frame the same, unto his several practices and occasions. Now therefore to go into the matter, let us see what advantages, policy, by good experience and sure ground of reason, hath taught us to seek in ioygninge battle, and encounter with the enemy. First, if he come by sea, to arrive & take his landing, Cassibellans' example showeth what is best to do, who understanding of julius Caesar's coming out of France to invade this land of Britain, he forth with gathered his power together, and joining them with the aid of Androgeus king of Kent, they proceeded to the Sea side, where valiantly resisting the arrival of the romans, they were repulsed, and driven back to their ships, well laden with blows. Which declareth that great advantage is had to deal with the enemy, before he have discharged all his power out of the ships, being disordered, and straighted in room, and standing on slippery places, having some impediment of the water, before they can win the firm shore. The like facility is there to withstand the enemy, at the mouth or entering of some streyghtes, or at the passing of high steep hills. Leonidas with 
Leonidas, and the army of Xerxes.  600. Lacedemoniens keeping the top of the hill where the huge host of the Persians were to pass, and enter into Grecia, at the straits of Thermopilae, slew there more than xx. thousand of them. Caesar before recited, being to convey his Army over a river in France, the passage whereof was defended & kept on the other side by Vergintorix, leader of the Frenchmen, he there fore knowing how much the enemy might avoid him, before he could get over, used this policy to beguile them: He caused a portion of his army drawn out of divers bands, to be privily lodged in a wood nigh, and there to frame a little bridge, on the sudden to be cast over the river. them, down goeth he along by the shore, as though he sought passage in some other place. The Frenchmen seeing him remove, bearing the just number of his ensigns, not doubting any double dealing, followeth wayghting upon him along the other side, Caesar, by that the bridge was made, speed lie returning, passed over without let or trouble. The like policy may be well used, me thinketh thus: to espy where some part of the river is shallow or otherwise most conveniently to be passed, & then to carry away the enemy by colour of some attempt in another place, & after to return unto the same by night, or secretly to lodge some sufficient part of the army behind to pass the same, & invade the enemy on a sudden at their back, while the other part of the army proceedeth before, in the view, & gaze of the enemy. For the politic Captain ought nothing less to pretend in show, then that which in purpose he intendeth. For so have famous Cities been surprised on the sudden unprovided, while a counterfeit preparation hath been made by the enemy, & a power lead an other way, sometime against a secret friend, being in appearance an enemy, till they have both, joined to the mischief of a third party, & so is it a practice at the siege of a Town, to bend & incline all force & battery in show to one side of the same, when a secret power is prepared to scale, & surprise it on sun other part, little regarded or defended. Hanno a Captain of Carthage, being straightly besieged within a trench, he enclosed himself most strongly, as it seemed, on that part where he purposed to break forth, which he afterwards setting on fire, escaped through with his army, the enemies giving no watch unto that place. Nabides, at the siege of Lacedaemon, set fire on a part of the Town, where enemies wear entered, & by the trouble thereof, with a fresh assault made of the Townsmen, drove them out again. Hannibal, on a time driven into a straight by Fabius the Roman, so that he was enforced by a great enconuenience to pass a hill, where the army of Fabius lay on the top thereof, he therefore caused links & brands, to be fastened unto the horns of a great number of oxen which wear in the camp, & setting them on fire by night, the cattle were driven with great noise & alarm, up to the enemy's camp, which hearing the terrible noise of the beasts, when they felt the force of the fire, & also being ama said with the sight, as though they stood in doubt to fight with the devil, that made such a whorlye burlie: Hannibal the whilst, quietly conveyed over his army. divers Captains when they have been hardly pursued, or let in like passage by the enemy, they have settled their armies, and begun trenches, as though they would have rested there, or joined battle shortly, with the enemy, which marking & observing the same, hath encamped, & made the like preparation, whilst that the other have used opportunity to pass such rivers, hills, or gain such ground, as they desired. Also the excellent Captains have accustomed, when they understood that the enemy had made strongest the front, or some other singular part of his battle, they have set against the flank, or weakest side thereof. Some other, have suffered themselves to be enclosed by the enemy's army, to the end, that the same being brought out of order, they would break thorough the weakest part thereof, which hath happened to the great hurt of the enemy. Many things there are to be observed, which give great advantage in the ioygninge of battle, as if thou canst train thy enemy into a straight or valley, & thyself to possess the hills, on both sides, as Hannibal caught the Roman army at Cannae. And always it is good policy to have the higher ground of the enemy, and to have the advantage of the wind, and the sun, for the same being in the face of the enemy, thou mayst set forth a part of thine army to invade his battle on the one side, or at the back, that their sight being troubled, they shall not perceive where about thou goest, whereby also if thou have any ambush in any trench, wood, or covert laid, as he shall march, he is more apt to come into the same undiscovered, & then, sudden dangers when they be not known, or perfectly seen, are the more feared. As the experience hereof was had by Epaminondas, a famous Captain of Grecia, which supplied this advantage of the son, another way, he caused his light horsemen, in very dusty ways, to make an attempt upon the enemy, and shortly to withdraw, and gallop back before them, the whilst Epaminondas came about upon them, on the one side, before they could discern the order of his battle, for the dust that was raised, & so easily vanquished them. The like practice may be by a pile of wood, or old hedges in the way of the enemies set on fire, to raise a smoke, for a impediment of their sight, till some enterprise be atchyeved. Where the one part is exceeding strong, by store of horsemen or of shot, it is undoubtedly for the advantage and safety of the other, to keep in rough grounds, or near some banks, hills, or woods, & also to keep their army close that the horse men or shot be very nigh upon them, before they bring forth their battle. So shall not the shot have leisure or level to discharge, likely to hurt, and horses in such grounds disordered, and leaping one upon an others back for lack of room, shall lose their force to take the start upon the enemy. Great policy also it is, if thou canst come with thy army fresh upon the enemy, wearied with much travail, or being in any mutiny among themselves, weakened or discouraged by want of victuals, or any other perplexity or distress by ill tidings out of their country, or some loss else where sustained, before the same be salved or supplied by any later victory, or other good hap fallen unto them, and it hath been used, cunningly to coygne, and cast abroad, imagined rumours of mischiefs towards, to appall and dismay the enemy. Many singular and famous exploits and victories have been had & done, when the enemy hath been surprised on the sudden in disorder, or by night, for want of good espial, when he hath not doubted any danger, and therefore it is good to be circumspect and ready, to stand still upon guard and defence, and little to trust the enemy during the wars. Titus Didius, being weaker than his enemy which was removing to encounter a legion, coming into his aid, to stay that purpose, he published thorough out all his army that he intended the next day to fight the field, and suffered certain prisoners colourably to escape, which freshly could so orthe those news when they returned into their camp, whereby the enemy stayed, and the other safely received the succour sent unto him.   

¶ To break, or disorder the battle of the enemy. Cap. 2.  
OTher policies there are to be remembered, and practised, when a battle is orderly set, to break or trouble the same, and this is one, to give out with great noise during the fight, that the general on the other side, is slain, or that part of his battle during the fight, flieth, or to make some sudden show to be a terror unto them. As Caius Sulpitius, caused a many of Pages under Roman ensigns, with bad cast horses, carts, & trumpery, to make a great muster & show suddenly upon a hill within sight, while he was a fighting with the Frenchmen, which thereby being discomfited, he obtained the victory. But it is of greater effect, if in deed there be a troop closely conveyed, or an ambush laid, on the sudden, to invade the enemies fighting, at their back, which may most conveniently be done, where there be hills or covert nigh. Hannibal in a battle against king Eumenes, threw earthen pots full of snakes and vipers among his enemies, wherewith they were presently frighted and disordered. The Spaniards, against the army of 
Plutarch in vita Hannibalis.  the Carthaginoys led by Amilcar, put in their front, Cartes full of Tow, drawn with Oxen, and ioygninge to fight, they kindled fire in the same, by force whereof, the Oxen thrust forth into the battle of the enemies, and opened it. The 
Carts hooked, Horsemen.  like hath been done with Cartes full of hooks, by great power enforced and driven upon the front of the enemies. For the avoiding whereof Sylla the Roman, planted piles & stakes before his battle, whereby the Cartes were stopped 
Stakes.  and did not hurt. The like danger may be avoided by geeving way unto such engines, through spaces prepared in the front or first ranks, till they may be turned a side, by which practice also, great power and fierce assault of horsemen hath become vain. Now to remedy sudden mischiefs, which may fall, and to stay the army from fearful flight before there be cause: there be two firm and necessary rules constantly to be kept, the one is, that no man for any sudden chance, terror show by any practice or assault of the enemy made by day or by night, take any other way or purpose, but to fight courageously, till there be certain sign given by the general to retire, or otherwise to deal. The other rule is, that the Captain circumvented or deceived by the enemy, seem to 
Tu ne cede malis, sed contra, audentior esto. Virg.  do the same willingly, which he is enforced unto. Tullus Hostilius, in battle seeing how a band of his hired soldiers was turned unto the enemy, whereby his men were much troubled and afraid, he forthwith gave understanding through out the army, that there was nothing done, but by his commandment, and for a good purpose, Scipio going to invade africa, had before made league and friendship with Syphax king of Numidia, which afterward revolting, sent him word that he would be a friend unto the other part, but Scipio concealed this message from his soldiers, and said that he sent unto him to make haste on the journey. Moreover, if part of the army fly, be-before the whole battle be moved and broken, the wise and valiant Captain may by vehement persuasions & means, bring them back, & especially the hardiness & noble courage of the general, may avail herein. As Lucius Silla, in a battle against Mithridates, certain of his legions, or bands being put to flight, he got before them with his sword drawn, crying, if any ask you of your Captains, say, we left him in the field fighting. Philip king of Macedon, understanding that his men feared the Scythians, placed behind his army, certain of his most trusty horsemen, & gave commandment to keep in, and turn upon the enemies, such as should fly, that they might be slain both of them, and of their friends, whereby his soldiers determining rather to die honourably to the benefit of their Country, them with shame, to the hurt thereof they become conquerors. Some Captains to give occasion to the soldiers to use greater endeavour, and to put out their force thoroughly, have thrown an ensign amongst the enemies, and appointed reward to him which could recover it again. And when they enemy lodgeth within streyghtes, trenches, or places environed with hills, means may be found to provoke him to battle, by cutting of, his foragers, and provision of victuals, or to feign that thou removest to some other enterprise, withdrawing till he be dislodged. But Paulus Aemilius in Macedonia to encounter, and deal with the Army of Perses, resting at the foot of the hill Olympus, in a place marvelously by nature environed, & by art fortified, he 
Martius against the Dutchmen, & Flaminius against Philip king of Macedon, conveyed a troop up a hill, to come down upon the enemy at their backs, while they were in fight below.  conveyed his army secretly by night, up the stepe, & unhaunted ways of the hill, not suspected or watched of the enemy, so that he came down the more suddenly upon them, to their greater spoil & loss. Cato Mayor by the very same means, came upon Antiochus, being strongly guarded & defended, in the straights of Thermopylae in Graecia, at which enterprise, the king Antiochus, being greatly hurt with a stone, his army fled. Scipio the excellent Captain, going to subdue afric, procured in so great wars, the aid of K. Masinissa, whom shorthe after his arrival there, he sent to provoke Hanno general on the other side, for the Carthaginois to fight, who seeing the small number with Masinissa led, proceeded against him with all his power on a heap, and the other after a few blows, feigning to fly, brought the enemy forth unto fools bay, upon the host of Scipio, which he had arrayed and set in excellent order of battle, ready to receive the enemy: So was Hanno there slain, and his disordered Army put to flight. Then Scipio purposing the siege of the City Utica, and hearing of the coming of Hasdruball and Syphax, with a mighty power against him, he planted his Army upon an hill, where he might save and defend his navy, and also with some advantage fight with the enemy. And when he had understanding, that the enemies had settled both their camps nigh, and that their tents wear made with wood and bull rushes warm, for the winter time, he sent Masinissa, and C. Laelius, to set fire on them by night, and with all to assail Syphax, which done, the fire also taketh Hasdruballes camp, & the Carthaginoys running forth in heaps unto the broil, they fell all into the Romans hands: So that there wear then slain almost. xl. thousand of them. Thus mighty powers be by policy, smoothly vanquished, and great estates lightly overthrown, & wise men seeing the rock, wheareon other men wrack, are warned and wax ware, taking by their loss, a lesson to guide their own affairs.   

¶ Aduertysementes how the army that is weaker than the enemies, may grow stronger, or save itself. Cap. 3.  
IT is a policy in this case, to draw unto thee, some of the enemies friends or aid, by promise of great things, hope of large dominion, & benefits, to follow, or by practice to sow dissension, or mislike, between them, as when Syphax king of Numidia, had joined league with the romans, to aid them in the wars of afric, the Carthaginois sent Ambassadors unto him, declaring the ambition of the romans, how by little & little, they sought cunningly to subdue all other Princes, & being once entered into afric, that they would not cease, till they had obtained it all, whereof his Country was part: and by other such enducementes, withdrew him from the Romans, with all his power to assist them. The like devise had Hannibal after, to win Antiochus' king of Macedonia, and Prusias king of Bythinia, to the aid of the Carthaginoys. Also it profiteth no less, to give occasion unto the enemy, to distrust, or displace their best friends or Captains. The athenans wear always victors, till they banished their excellent Captain Alcibiades, and shortly after wear subdued by the Lacedaemoniens. And if the romans had not banished Coriolan: The Volsciens before subdued, had not afterwards put Rome in danger of ruin, & utter overthowe. Alcibiades used the like practice to make a jar between Duke Tissaphernes, and his master the king of Persia. Hannibal wasted and spoiled where ever he went in italy, saving only the possessions of Fabius untouched, which he did, to 'cause the romans to hold their best Captain suspected. Some have used to the same end, to make many private conferences with the General of the enemies, sending sundry letters secretly, & sometime presents, working also that some suspicious letter, of an imagined conference or practice between them, may come to the Prince's hands, under whom such General is deputed. By these means, have excellent Captains been displaced, wars stayed, and the weaker part in the mean time hath gathered strength. Other ways there are to detract battle, and to save an army, at need, from the greater power of the enemy, which is to encamp strongly within some trench or like place, or else to be backed with some fen, marish, steep hill, or river, so that the enemy have but one way unto them: and that being the straighter, is the more advantage for the fewer number. Fabius used this way with Hannibal, seeking and endeavouring daily for thavoiding of divers enconueniences, to fight with him: but Fabius encamped always so cunningly, and with such advantages for the field, that the other without great danger could not deal with him. Marius thus encamped at the mouth of the river Rhodanus, the infinite multitude of the Duchemen, durst not invade him, till he brought forth his army into the fields. But two other ways there are, more certain to be safe from the enemy. The one is to purvey thy camp distant at the least a days journey from him, removing always in the open country, that thou be not stayed by hills or rivers etc. to pass unto the sea side, or such place where thou desirest to rest thine army. The other help is, if thou be willing to assay the force of the enemy without any great loss, and to abide him in the field, than it is best for thee to keep thyself near unto some strong town of thine own, or thy friends, where thou mayst withdraw thine army from pursuit of the enemy, if he prove the stronger in battle. So did Eumenes safely retire into the City Nora, from the army of Antigonus. It is good to provide for the worst, as it is common lie said, for the best will save itself.   

¶ How to conduct an army, & proceed with the same in a foreign country, & of the necessaries thereunto. Cap. 4.  
IT is first to be considered, that armed men, victuals, and money, be the accidents inseparable, or rather the substance and strength of wars. There must be provided also for an army, store of Iron, and staff timber, to make weapons of all sorts, with sundry artificers, for divers purposes, powder must be had with plenty, carriages, and cattaill good store to follow the camp, for necessaries, with utensyles and such like. And if an army be led into a foreign country, there must be the greater store of this provision, and forage also to be had, and yet may not the camp be pestered with carriages, for than it can not so lightly remove, as occasions may require. Also when soldiers have much carriage being greatly enriched with spoils, their minds are sometime more upon their baggage, than upon battle. And if they send often of the same into their country, their hearts be also at home. Great Alexander therefore seeing his army one time, so laden with booties and prizes, he burned all the surplusage of the carriages which might encumber them, being of a great substance. But a more politic and profitable way it wear, to provide to have some one strong town or twain, where the wars are, to convey the same into, which shallbe moreover a maker of great benefit & use, daily unto the army, and to the state of the wars divers ways, as for relief of such as be hurt from time to time, also to receive such aid of men, victuals, or other necessaries, as shall be sent from home, to keep the same till it may be safely conveyed into the army, and not surprised of the enemy by the way. Also it is a necessary place, to sojourn in winter time, (for the winter wars be more noisome & tedious then profitable) or to withdraw into, when the army or store of things is spent, or worn with wars there, it is a good resting place till supply be had of their wants. And if the same be near unto the Sea side, and towards home, It is far the more commodious. Now the way to obtain and win such a town or harbour the more easily, is in the beginning to make thine arrival so deign, and in a place unlooked for, that the enemy may be surprised unfurnished. And it is not best to spend much of thy store of men or povysion, in the winning of many Towns at the first. For five battles have been fougheten with loss of fewer men, them some one city is won withal, and therefore, will not the wise Captain so weaken himself, before the great necessity & main force of battle. For it is to be considered withal, that many towns taken, require many garrisons to be assigned, for the defence and keeping of the same, all which dismember an army and put it down, as much as any practice of the enemy against the same may do. For the army is the assurance of wars, without which thou canst little annoy or terrify the enemy, nor yet long maintain or defend thy walled towns from him, for if he possess the country with his men, he shall cut of tillage, and stop all trades unto the towns, by which they only may live and be maintained. And therefore that Prince that possesseth strong towns, and dareth not, or hath not power to keep the field, and defend his country by battle, if he be cunningly dealt with, will undoubtedly prove a peasant. And therefore the knowledge to guide an army into the field, and to order & make battle with skill and advantage, is misteresse of all dominion and victory, for thereunto all wars may be brought in the end. And in passing forth with his army, let the general avoid straits, observe good orders, and choose his ground and ways commodious as he goeth. Now let us see, whether policy counseleth, as soon as thou art entered into the enemy's country, and that he will offer battle to receive the same, and shortly to try the matter? Herein I am not of opinion, that it is generally best to detract battle, except there be some advantage to be taken and used in joining of the same, for so the one may go about the other long enough to little purpose. But other circumstances and accidents are to be considered in this generalty. For commonly it is for the behoof of him, whose Country is invaded, to seek battle for avoiding spoil of the same: But yet it is to be considered, that if the other be like shortly to be wearied, or be near some mischief by mutiny, or for some wants forced to forsake the country, & that it should be dangerous to deal with him for his force, than policy persuadeth to protract battle on that part. And generally the invader, as long as he proceedeth with spoil, to plague the enemy, & to enrich himself, hath not necessity to hasten battle, but may take the time best for his advantage. How be it, occasions may grow on, otherwise, and be urgent unto him to join battle speedily, as by increase of aid coming towards the enemy, or casual impairing of his own present power. Moreover, unto him which hath many hired soldiers, it is more requisite to make haste unto battle, and to end the wars, as well for the great charge of that retinue, as for the daily danger of their unsure service, and doubt of revolting unto the enemy, being money men, by corruption, or for a greater pay, they lightly leave their master in his greatest need. For seldom have there been great conquests made by force of hired men. The Romans, and the Greeks, warred with their own Soldiers against all nations. Great Pompey, with the native people of Italy, overcame Mithridates with his huge Army, of more than twenty Nations. Of later times, the estates of italy have been usurped and overrun, by using the help of hired Soldiers. And the Venetians, (having otherwise most excellent government, and plentiful provision of all things, both for peace & war) but for this cause only, had grown to have great Empire. This Realm of Britain, hath some experience of these hurts, being sometime oppressed by the hired Saxons, under Hengistus. But now to try the trust, and faith of hired Soldiers before their infidelity, or defection may greatly hurt: It is good before thy great need, and day of battle, to send them forth with a few of thine own approved men, to some exploit, supposed to be of great importance, and to plant privily by the way, or to send after them a sufficient number of trusty Soldiers, to do the same feat, if the other should be false, or fail in the same. Also it is policy for the same purpose, to confer with the Captains of them that are suspected of such matters as thou intendest not to do but in show, to see if they will keep the same secret, or give privy advertisement thereof unto the Enemy. The like proof is made by delivering to the leader of them, letters sealed, pretending great weight, and purporting little, to be sent forth to some friend, to see whether the same should be opened or not saufelye conveyed in tyme.   

¶ Whether it be more profitable, to seek the great Town, or the less, and how best to win the same. Cap. 5.  
NOw is it further to be known, for taking of holds within the enemy's dominion, that the larger be rather to be sought for, than the less. And thearefore the City which is of greatest trade to enrich the enemy, or such large town as is so situate, that it may most annoy him, if thou be able to furnish the same with garrisons, is most available for divers causes. Alcibiades, the excellent Captain, entering Sicilia to make wars there, first took the great City Rhegium, & next besieged Catina, not far from Syracuse, the chief City of the Realm. Scipio began his wars in Spain, with the siege of new Carthage, the principal city there both of trade & power: And in like sort invading afric, he forthwith laid siege unto Utica, a famous city, standing on the sea side, where he also harboured and kept his ships, so that he might cut of all aid & succour, both by land & sea from the town. Now for the manner of subduing holds, it is to be agreed, that the best way of winning, is that, which is with most speade, & least loss. And thearefore, if a Town may not be surprised and taken by some train or policy, it is less danger to invade and force the enemy, by famine, then with the sword. How Zopyrus subtly caught the Babiloniens (feigning himself fled from his Prince, for cruelty showed unto him, and being of them under feigned friendship received, betrayed their City,) the manner thereof is declared at large, in the first book. This shift also hath been used, when a Captain had understanding of aid looked for by the besieged, he hath appareled a troop of his own soldiers, under the ensign of those which should come unto them, and so to have taken the Town. Cimon of Athens, besieging a Town, by night set fire on a temple in the suburbs of the same wherefore some of the towns men rashly running out to secure it, the enemy entered in upon them. Also the besieged are more easily induced to yield, by signifying unto them, some great victory lately had against their Prince, or other straits that he is brought into. some have practised to have friends within a town, to persuade them, to issue out upon the enemy, or to do some other act unto their own overthrow. And such persons have given intelligence by letters fastened to arrows, and shoot forth unto the enemies, of the state and dealings within the Town, as of the weakest part thereof or lest defended, of the custom of the watch, when and how they may be deceived, that the enemy may enter upon them unware. The Frenchmen corrupted Tarpeia a maiden, to let them in, by a little postern door into the Capital of Room. But in this case, diligent examination must be made by captains, for double dealing, that they be not abused in their practices, the same being disclosed unto the enemy: which hath sometime suffered part of the adversaries power, to enter within his hold to their destruction, having prepared, suddenly to repulse and shut out the rest. For the taking of a strong town by famine, it is a good way to win some weaker-nighe, & to turn out the inhabitants thereof, that they may be received into the other, & so their victuals, the sooner consumed. Fabius suffered them of a town, whom he would besiege, to sow their fields, to the intent that they should have the less corn in store. Sometime, towns besieged have desired a parley or truce for a time, to the end that the siege not being straightly kept, they might in the mean time receive in, aid of men or victuals. And therefore the siege aught not to be slacked by such pretence, but good watch to be always abroad. For it hath chanced that an army lying at the siege of a town, hath been on the sudden invaded of enemies at the back, & withal they of the town have issued forth upon them, to their overthrow. It must be always holden of the good captain as a principal ground, that he have diligent espial of the enemies doings, & keep his own secret. And therefore he consulteth, and conferreth with many, what is best to be done: but that which he determineth to do, he revealeth to few or none. He must also have regard, that his custom or certain order used in some doings, disclose not any of his purposes un to the enemy, and therefore the same must be often varied and changed. It is good also to encamp in such place as the enemy see not what is done within the camp. For if he perceive that thou receive in, any aid or increase of power, or send forth any troop to any attempt or exploycte, he armeth himself and provideth accordingly. For as sudden dangers be more dreadful: so a man warned before, is said to be armed.   

¶ How the excellent Captains have encouraged their soldiers unto battle, & made them hardy & valiant in fight. Ca 6.  
IT is to be carefully considered of the captain, that his soldiers be not afraid when he goeth to battle, but that they may valiantly desire to encounter the enemy. And therefore such means, as may remove from them doubt or distrust, and put into them courage and hope, are expedient for him to find. As for the purpose, some people do stumble much at signs or tokens which fall before battle, conjecturing there by the determination of God, and evente or success of the battle. wherefore the wise captain will cheerfully expound all such chances for his advantage, as if an ancient happen to fall, upon the captains head, before the battle, he sayeth, the same is a happy sign of the victory falling unto him. For they which have the substance of virtue, are not to be feared by the shadow of conjectures. It is written of Scipio, that at his landing in Affryque, his feet slipped, so that he fell down to the ground, where at, when he saw divers of his army dismayed, he laughed saying, all is our own, I have hear taken possession of the land. Other have used by some feigned dream or old prophecy, to put their soldiers in firm hope & expectation of victory. Marius, when he was to deal with the Dutchmen, an enemy not accustomed unto the romans, being tall big men of person, they were not in clean & quiet conscience with the matter, but somewhat afraid, which Marius perceiving, said, those long bodies show a sure sign, that they be slow, & lazy lowtes, & so stayed the battle some days, why jest that the Romans by custom of often sight, & some skirmishes had with them, were established in stomach, & desired to fight with them. It is written of a captain, when his army was in the field ready to join battle, some of the foremost rank being afraid seeing the brave marching of the enemies, he extended & held his cloak before their faces, saying, now you see nothing to fear, you are safe, by that means reproving them, not to dread before there was cause. Alexander the great, when he was in the field with his plain soldiers in his first wars, many of them being poor fellows, having wooden shyeldes, and old weapons used before in his father Philip his wars, which seeing the huge host of Darius his enemy, with the bravery of the people, their armure and all things glistering, and gorgeous, the noise of a multitude of chariots and horses also being terrible unto them, he said to his men, our enemies are come to make a show or mask, & therefore we must make them dance & run also. See you those golden armours, gay weapons, and goodly gear, it is better to have wooden shyeldes then wooden men to bear them, the spoil of this glorious host will make you rich & gallant fellows, for all that you see is yours, if you play the men, and whatsoever king 
It is written that Hannibal should use the same speech to king Antiochus, leading his gallant army against the romans.  Darius hath beside. Also think you, that this days battle, may give us the dominion & seigniourie over all the world. For who can withstand us, if we conquer the great king Darius, the fame of which victory will most swiftly fly into Graecia, and to the most high honour of your country all Princes & nations shall know the manhood and prowess of the Macaedoniens, and where soever you go, the fame thereof shall follow you. Nowesyth that hither we are come forth to win honour, let not our long travails be frustrate or fruitless, and we to run home deluded, and laden with shame. Our country shall then with disdain behold you, remembering how your ancestors under my father, by force even on their shoulders, lifted up the dominion thereof over divers nations, & yourselves hunted & chased home, shallbe ashamed to see your friends. And thearefore if we be here repulsed, where shall we without reproach be received. So that to rest upon, we have but two ways, where of we must determine to take one: that is either to win the victory, or to die hear with honour. By these persuasions, (where as Darius thought by his great pomp, & train of men to have daunted & dismayed the enemy:) Alexander turned the same to be a great encouragement unto his army. Furthermore, if the soldier be afraid, by store of terrible ordinance, strange engines, or dangerous devices of the enemy, the same must be by like invention, & industry prevented or encountered, as by settling some ambush privily to surprise the same, or by setting on some band of horsemen, to interrupt the planting thereof, or to make some like exploit as noisome unto the enemy, that the battle may come on before the same can take effect to do any great hurt. Thus, must the politic captain make ready, an Oliver for a roulande, to remove all stumbling blocks and impediments, from the good courage of the Soldier, so that without sticking, most valiantly he may march to assail the enemy. julius Caesar excelled other, for training, and making valiant & noble minded soldiers by notable examples, politic instructions, and practices which he used to induce them thereunto, and to advance their courages to attempt and atchyeve most high and honourable things. And with all he showed such courtesy and good affection towards them, that never any man had soldiers of greater endeavour and valour, or more faithful towards their Captain. As it appeared a little before the great and final battle, between him and Pompey, when his army was in such necessity of victuals, that they had no food, but only of milk and roots, as they could mingle the same. Yet made they daily skirmishes with the contrary part, and eftsoons prevailed thearein. another time a ship of Caesar's soldiers, being taken by a governor under Pompey, which promised unto one of them for the good report which he had of his manhood; that he should have pardon, and be received to serve Pompey: he answered that Caesar's Soldiers used to give life and liberty unto other, and not to receive the same of alms, or to cell their Captain for cravenous fear. And so resisting to be apprehended, after that he had slain divers of his enemies, he leapt into a river, and escaped by swimming. The soldiers of Caesar also sustaining so constantly, the great and continual battles in France and Germanye, with terrible travails over mountains, and hard passage of rivers and floods, in the piercing could, and sharp storms of winter, showed their invincible courage, & good will to follow their Captain.   

¶ How to use victory, and what clemency is to be used towards the conquered, and of the hurt which cometh by security. Cap. 7.  
AFter a victory obtained, how to pursue the same, & to deal with the enemy, two things are to be considered, one is, the enemy being subdued, and all settled and confirmed in quiet, that tyranny be not showed, but reasonable laws, orders, and conditions established unto the con quered: The other is, that there be no slackness or negligence used, until the victory be perfect, and accomplished in every part, dangers fled far away, the force of the Enemy broken down and suppressed. For by security, these mischiefs have grown, that after many battles with great honour, and prowess foughten, infinite travails sustained, and sundry Realms subdued, one days careless security and undiscrete disorder, hath subverted all, turning the state of Conquerors into captivity. As the Carthaginoys, having slain the two Scipios in Spain, and with great ruin repulsed and pulled down the Roman power, not regarding those that remained thereof dispersed, they wear by the relycques of the same army (gathered together under Lucius Martius) overthrown. Brennus & Belinus before mentioned, being enriched by the plentiful spoils of Italy, and sack of Rome, as they returned in security and disorder, wear on the sudden invaded by Camillus, with a few of the people before conquered, and the victory being wrested again out of their hands, they wear clean bereft the fruits of their former conquest. The redoubted Cyrus, being the very example of great Alexander's noble courage, when he had by martial prowess obtained the mighty estate of Persia, and subdued divers kingdoms, afterwards invading Scythia, where he had a great victory against that fierce nation, by this policy feigning when he was entered within the Country, that he repented of his attempt, and making a show of hasty flying, left his tents stored with good wines, and delicate cheer, which the barbarous people pursuing after, so plied and typled square, that tomblinge together at night surcharged with wine, and heavy of sleep, Cyrus not far with drawn, came upon them, and slew them every mother's son: After which victory, Thomyris Queen of the land, not discomforted womanlike, (as Cyrus thought, reckoning to rashly with a shrewd hostis) but purposing & preparing a revenge, by like craft to acquit him, & over reach him in his own art, she fled far within the country, feigning fear, but meaning mischief, to train the enemy following in disorder, & roominge at random into streigtes, where she had privily planted ambushes on the hills on every side, which suddenly invading Cyrus and his host, slew them all, so that of two hundred thousand men, there escaped not one, to make report of the battle. Marcus Antonius, after many most famous victories resting in Egypt out of time, regarded not the dangers at Room, which seemed so far of removed from him, but soon they came on him, while he snorted in careless security to his utter overthrow. He that will go dry, must carry a cloak for fear of the cloud, which showeth from a far. I will not waste time, to declare the further mischiefs & destructyons chanced thorough rash and overhasty reckoning of unripe victory, and unsure saufetye. These may suffice to warn him, which may assure himself by good order, in arms and battle to be safe, & of power invincible, that by rashness, for lack of guide and circumspect foresight, he tumble not upon the enemy's sword. After one victory had, forth with the enemy must be orderly pursued, and not suffered by rest to renew his fainting force, but when he staggereth, strike on still till he be down, and his power fast shut up. Then the wars being thoroughly ended, & the captive living under the law, & rule of the conqueror, his honour is much increased by shewing of clemency, & shunning of hateful cruelty. For, that humanity requireth, & this, christianity 
See Deut. 20.  commandeth to do. some have used their conquests over such as have yielded unto their dominion, that saving only the change of their prince or governor, they have suffered no alteration of laws, liberty, estate or degree. The romans used to appoint deputies & governors, with competent garrisons, unto the lands conquered, taxing them with a mean tribute, and taking hostages for the same: so they returned, & left them quiet. The noble courtesy, which great Alexander used towards the captive wife and daughters of Darius, enlarged & spread abroad his honour, to the furtherance of his conquests following. What a preparative was made unto Scipio his good success, what a foundation towards the proceeding of his warlike affairs, by his honourable using of prince Luceius his wife, & liberality used towards masinissa's nephew, the great and continual service of those princes afterwards in his wars, as before is recited, showeth. And whatsoever laws, franchise or grants, the generals of armies have established & made unto the conquered, the princes and estates, under whom they were deputed & ordained, have always ratified & inviolably observed and allowed the same compositions.   

¶ Of the beginning, & just cause of wars. Cap. 8.  
FOr that the just quarrel encourageth, and commonly bringeth prosperous success: it is to be considered, what may be a good ground and cause to use weapons, and begin wars, by the law of nature, justice, and pryncipallie by the law of God: which aught to be the foundation and rule of all our doings, of whom we aught to take all our beginnings, by whom affairs prosperously proceed, and happily end, without whom nothing increaseth or groweth to any good effect. That wars may be justly made, and how divers good men have attempted and used the same, we read in the holy book: Almighty God hath stirred up divers as well Princes, as private men, or comen persons to take arms, and use force against the wicked. The children of Israel under josua, by 
josua.  the commandment & leading of God, conquered the Canaanites, expelled the miscreant and idolatrous nations, and possessed their lands. Saul, & Samson were raised by him, to plague the philistines with battle. The Assyriens, were 
King Saul. Samson.  brought by him into judea, for the captivity of the people, when they ran at riot, and left to serve the true God, which most marvelously had shown his power, and most tenderly his love unto them. judas Machabeus also, and 
judas Mach.  Gedeon, were leaders of the israelites against the enemies of God by his ordinances, by which also, 
Gedeon.  jehu, was moved to make wars for the destruction 
jehu.  of the house of Ahab. And who sent Titus from Rome, to environ Jerusalem, with the most dreadful and fatal siege, the end & ruin where 
Titus' son of th'emperor Vespatien.  of, was foretold by the mouth of the Almighty. But for our purpose, to show how there may be just cause to levy and prosecute wars, & to discern of right herein, we are to search for the root & original thereof. The world, God created & gave unto the sons of men, & this condition, the giver most justly annexed, this he enjoined with all, that no man should covet, that which to an other belongeth, and that to every man belongeth, which he without wrong enjoyeth. For in the beginning, when there was no ancient titles to be made to lands, or lordship: possession caused good right, this is the law of nature and equality, & it is also in the civil law allowed, that those things wherein no man hath property or interest, are his, which first possesseth them, which he may lawfully hold, & therefore aught not by force to be dispossessed of the same. Much less, where possession is planted, and settled upon ancient right, or grounded on other good title. A later law there is, of the most high God generally given, which endureth the justice of the first law, that every man should do so, as he would be done unto. And this is the just measure, the direct rule, & certain bounds between right & wrong, which being considered, we shall know how to use wars, and to direct all our doings well. Now let us run as far as we may, into the course of antiquity, to search the first beginnings and causes of wars, that we may confer them with the events and success thereof, for the better knowledge and judgement herein. We find, that Cain the eldest son of Adam, in the first 
Cain.  time of the world lived so long, that divers lands in the East parts being peopled, he builded a city for fear of his enemies, knowing just cause given by him to be odious unto men, for the unnatural parricy de and murder of his brother. For at that time, jabal the son of Lamech, was grown 
jabal.  mighty, and exercised arms against such as used unjust violence or oppression. Tubalcain was then 
Thubalcain.  the first that wrought on Iron, & forged weapons for that purpose. For as yet, there was no kingdom established, nor country by conquest subdued, the pomp of Princes was not known, men desired not then, sovereignty over estates, but prepared by arms to shield their own, in saufetie, when they had no law to defend them. This beginning of wars was made, in the first age, and no more we read of, till after the flood: when the three sons of Noah, with their manifold issue multiplied, possessed the sundry regions of 
Semin Asia. Cam in afric. japhet in Europe. Thuball.  the world. Sem settled in Asia, Cam came into afric, and japhet inhabited Europe, whose offspring shortly spread abroad into the sudry parts, regions & provinces of the same. Then waxed Thuball the son of japhet, mighty in power, and bore rule above the rest. This man renewed again the use of weapons. Soon after, Nimrod began & advanced 
Nimrod.  the first kingdom over Chaldea, where he built the city Babel, subduing people & countries, by oppression and outrage of wars, under his dominion. And thearefore the same violent Empire, lasted not long, but it shortly sunk, & was drowned in the great estate, which Assur raised in assirya, the land yet now bearing his name. 
Assur.  He built the City Ninive, Rezen, & others, by just conquests, amplifiing his signiory. After him succeeded Ninus, in the time of the patriarch Abraham, which environed Babylon with a strong wall, and much beawtified the City, as the chief seat of his estate. He subdued the Bactriens, and other nations, making unto himself a mighty Monarchye above other Kings, by honourable, & not injurious wars, as it may appear by the continuance of this Empire, which remained among the Assiryens, above 1300. years, until the reign of Sardanapalus, 
Sardanapalus.  whose estate thorough his beastlike lascivious life, was taken from him by Arbactus, a Prince of the Medes. Abraham himself made wars with 
Arbactus. Abraham.  the king of Sodom, and four other Princes, using at that time good order and policy in his battle. And thearefore they that affirm Ninus, Mars, or Hercules, to be the beginners, 
Ninus. Mars. Hercules.  and first users of wars, and order of battle, are not learned in reading, for that there is large proof of those before alleged. And as for Mars, he was the son of Saturn, which was king of Crete, at that time when janus reigned in italy, and that was about the time of Mofes. And Hercules of Thebes, lived after that, in the time of saul king of judea, or a little before by some writers, which was soon after the building of Troy. Mars made war of ambition, and lordly mind to rule: But Hercules, the patron of justice, and champion of noble prowess, thrust himself into all dangers of battle, to redress injuries, repress rapine, & oppression, to root out tyrants, to maintain & defend right, to spread the valyle of prosperous peace, and wished safe security over the world, to show example of most high virtue and valour, punishing robbers, and purging countries of mischievous malefactors, and v le persons. For which his righteous affection, and just mind, as of divine virtue proceeding, he was after his death honoured and holden as a God. Romulus, to erect a famous City, and establish 
Romulus.  an happy estate with excellent laws, orders, and government, called people together, and made wars for the compassing, and increasing thereof. So did the ancient king Belus of Assiria, and Phoroneus in Grecia, subdue 
Belus. Phoroneus.  people to good order and convenient course of life, giving unto them laws for their public benefit and behoof. In like sort janus 
janus. Lycurgus.  before recited, and Lycurgus in Lacedaemon, reduced men from idleness, and lewd lazy life, unto good trades, civility and practise of virtue, for none other cause desiring sovereignty, but for the good state and profit of the people. To this end Minerva, Cecrops, 
Minerva. Cecrops. Cadmus.  & Cadmus used arms in their times before, (seeing men to live in diforder without government, neither comfortably to themselves, nor commodiously one for an other,) they extended their power & dominion over them, to reform them into an happy & civil sort of life. And divers nations have willingly submitted & put themselves under the rule & sceptre of such, as they perceived to be wise, well disposed, & careful of the weal of a multitude, to be a patron, & a refuge, by their wisdom & experience unto them, in their troubles & needs. Thus 
Plato. Magistratus excellens. Pastor populi.  seeing that invasion in some cases is tolerable, yielding sufficient matter, for noble courages to work upon, so that prowess shall never be so shut up, but it may have a commendable course, if there be a regard to the fear of God, for the virtuous direction & good end thereof: the wars for defence must needs more generally be allowed, whensoever wrong is offered, by the enemy of any estate to the loss, vexation, or empayringe of the same, whereby in bodies, goods, minds, possessions, franchises, laws, jurisdictions, credit, honour, or any thing that is of profit or contentation unto them, they be annoyed or hurt: the resisting & encountering where of is just honourable & necessary. The ancient wars of Troy & Thebes, arose upon great wrongs offered, the first of them, in the time that K. David reigned, the other, not long after. The Greeks maintained continual wars, for their liberty, to preserve their public states under elected governors, & especially to avoid subjection to any foreign nation, which they esteemed barbarous and rascal, in respect of themselves. The Scythiens, having no rich or delicate possessions of pleasant or fruitful fields, no substance or store of goods to lose, yet they fought fiercely to defend the tombs of their ancestors (whereof they had their greatest care) from injuries of the enemy, & defacing. And generally, nature hath given to living things, a desire of defence, & resisting of wrongs, wherefore that force is better to be allowed of, than invasion. judas Machabeus said to the Israelites, let us fight for our lives & our laws. And thus to cut of our course in to the antiquity of wars, seeing that it is not my purpose now to write thereof, (yet supposing thus much not to be impertinent unto him, that would be a travailer in the knowledge and affairs of wars) we conclude by plentiful proof out of the store of histories, according to our proposition. That wars justly made, for the more part, grow to good effect, and the violent empire lasteth not long. Battle attempted for pomp, or ambitious desire of dominion, not regarding right or wonge, seldom hath good success: or else the fruits had thereby, soon fade, such victories take no root. But yet it remaineth, to answer one objection, that seemeth to overthrow and quite condemn all our wars, which is, that our Lord jesus hath said, that he which striketh with the sword, shall perish with the same, which is to be understood, either of wrongful striking ', 
Math. 26.  or else between private persons, which have the sword of the prince & defence of the law, to remedy their wrongs. Also, where it is commanded, that he which is stricken on the one ear, should turn the other, toreceave the like, (it is expounded) whereas the example of such singular patience, may greatly avail to make such insolent outrage, the more odious & detestable, & that there is a law to punish the same, otherwise wars, & arms may be used for maintenance & defence of virtue & right, & great good grow thereof. For in the x, of the Acts of the 
Act. Apost. 10.  Apostles we read, that the conversation & order of life of the captain Cornelius, was very well pleasing & acceptable unto God: and in the tenth of saint Mathaew, our saviour saith, I came not to sand 
Mathaew. 10.  peace into the earth, but a sword, which proveth, that the same may be used according to the good pleasure of God, thus if we search his will, we shall find it, and know how to observe & keep it.   

¶ Of victories, which is the best, and what truce may be honourably made. Cap. ix.  
THat victory is most to be preferred, which may be soon compassed, & obtained with lest expense, inconvenience & loss, especially of men: wherein it is to be considered, that the same is made more honourable, & of greater importance & fame, if perjury, cruel murders, infamous treasons, poisoning of victuals, or such odious extremities, be not used therein. Fabius had excellent regard of honour in his conquest, when besieging a city of the Faliscyens, a schoolmaster which had the chiefest men's sons of the town in govenrment & teaching, trained them forth on a time apt for his purpose, & for hope of reward, brought them into the enemy's hands, to the end that thereby their fathers & friends should be fain to tender the town: But Fabius rewarding him, not jump according to his expectation, but duly for his deserts, he caused the boys to scourge their school master well with rods, for betraying the trust of their parents, and so sent them home together singing unto the citizens, which having his noble virtue in high admiration, forthwith rendered unto him the town. David, sought not by murder to wrist the kingdom out of the hands of Saul, but punished him which had laid hands upon his Lord, anointed & elected of God. Caesar procured not Pompey to be slain, but wept when he saw his enemy's head. Alexander pursued Bessus, to revenge the traitorous murder by him committed upon his enemy, king Darius. The romans generally, had regard to conquer by valour & prowess, wherefore they grew most great in Em pire, & were had in honour & awe of all nations: The Carthagynoys contrariwise not caring how, so they had victory, using foul practices, infidelity, and all bad shifts to attain the same, shortly lost all. So that the virtue, and honourable dealing of the general, shall always avail much to the prosperous proceeding of his wars, and more easy accomplishing of victory. He ought to be as a tutor, or rather as a father, tender and careful over the soldiers committed unto his guide, good order & diligent providence. The excellent captains of Room, desired rather to save one citizen in battle, them to destroy many enemies. Cruelty is to be eschewed, except when severity sharply showed may give great example. But where lenity and prudent means may express & work theffect of rigour, even towards enemies, the same is to be used, that they seeing the excellent virtue, wisdom, and order of government in the conqueror, may the rather be alured to commit themselves unto him, when by suffering exchange of a ruler, thestate of their welfare, shall not be overthrown or undone, nor slavery or vile servitude, more odious than death, is not set before them most obstinately & desperately to be encountered. Now touching occasions of truce & intermission of wars, 
Bellum gloriosum, Paci turpi antefevendum.  it is to be considered, that the same be made & done without dishonour, so that the wars thereby be come not fruitless, or the army in worse case than before, as if the enemy crave that for fear, which shall like avail him, and much encourage the other party. But policy willeth not to seek truce or delay, but by constraint of necessity, or for some advantage to be taken, as some aid looked for, or in the meantime to grow into the secrets of the enemy to sift his purposes, by conference had with him, to undermine his doings if he be not very well advised, to search the state of his force & government. And withal the good captain must be vigilant & close in his own affairs. Thus shall not the time be detracted, & the army with great charges maintained without good purpose or profit.   

¶ Of the use, and end of Wars, and of preparation therefore in time of peace. Cap. 10,  
NOw is it to be determined, that the use of wars aught to be applied for the defence of right, to shield from injuries, & to plant & settle a commodious state of life, & this use respecteth & hath regard unto a further effect, to grow thereof: which is the very final end of wars, that after valiant victory or revenge had of the enemy, peace may follow, and be maintained with honour, free from violence & hostile oppression. So that other nations, seeing the discipline, & martial prowess of an estate so well appointed & defended, may fear to offer them injuries, & gladly desire to have league & favour there, when things in this good stay, & safely are confourmed & established, them shall learning, & trades flourish, & crafts men in cunning increase, Golden quiet shall plant good order to foster frugality, & bring forth the fruits of plenty: where by the land well peopled, good government shall spread the happy state of a prosperous comen weal over al. Good exercises shallbe honourably frequented, 
Plato. Optimè tum civitates instituuntur, cum singuli suis operibus incumbunt.  & virtue with all desire & contention endeavoured: in which excellent course of life, we shall find ourselves most happy, & do our Lord God best service, so that our felicity may hereafter endure for ever. One thing more I would say, & so conclude, that is, for the provision of all things neadeful, in time of peace, for the maintenance of wars: for peace is the nurse of store & increase of things, in which time, if by good providence respect be not had, to have ready furniture of armour, weapons, money, munition, men prepared both in minds, & by excercise trained for this service, it will 'cause faint wars: the affairs whereof being premeditate before hand, proceed the better with out sticking or strangeness, as the journey, where the way is plain and well known. The time of wars is troublesome to take counsel in, and more unfit for exactions, but most of all it is unmeet then to take order and to have things to seek, when they should be occupied. Also this preparation & furniture for the wars, would be had of every private man, according to his ability, as well as in comen stores of corporations and companies. And such person as is of wealth, and less able by his person or good counsel for the service and defence of his Country, ought to extend his good will and forwardness the further, for good purveyance to arm and furnish others theareunto. For he, that is so sotted in simplicity, and drowned in baseness of mind, that hoping still upon peace, will never advance his consideration or care, for defence, in time of wars, but employ all his endeavour unto his own private gain or pleasure, and not say out any money for the behoof of the comen state, is like by his policy to save a feather, & loose the bird, while he snatched at a shadow, he loseth the substance. And the example of such gross careless security, is very pernicious unto a common weal, for divers of them, which have the wealth of the Realm being slack & negligent in this point, it is not a few of the other, though they wear never so careful, or well disposed & appointed to serve, that can sustain the brunt of wars, & the poor man can little avail herein, being thorough want of ability, naked both of armour & experience, having no spare time for the excercise of arms, when all his endeavour employed to purvey for his necessary living, can scantly suffice theareunto: but his trust is, that thorough the circumspect providence of them which have whearewithall to do good herein, he shall enjoy his poverty, safe from captivity. So, if the other be unfurnished at the time of need, what doth he, but bring ruin upon himself, and his dear Country. Is it not the wished welfare, and a right happy state, where every man may enjoy his own quietly, under their natural and gracious Prince, most careful and tender over the Country and people, using such laws, as the wise men of the Realm, can best devise and find out to be most profitable for all sorts of men: And an horrible misery more odious than any death, to have our Laws, lives, goods, and what soever is dear unto us, at the list, and under the contempt and rule of the insolent and cruel enemy, to be spoiled by force, pilled by exactyons, and tributes, to live laden with servitude & villainies. If we will have these avoided, then must there be defence 
Plaut. Libertatem nemo bonus, nisi cum anima simul amittit.  prepared for the good & prosperous estate: Else is the same by peace enriched unto spoil, and fatted fit for the tooth of the enemy. For yet never was there great & famous estate, wherein arms and laws, civil government, and martial prowess flourished not together. And now for such as shall serve in the wars, that they might live honestly and civilly after the same ended, whereby they should less fear to put themselves forth in dangers, if there wear in every shire of this realm a house ordained for maimed soldiers, & men worn in the wars, with such provision, that they might be able to live there, & not idlelye as 
A happy comen weal, where good laws and arms, are duly used. justice and chivalry maintained.  lazy lorells have done heretofore under cloak of religion, but orderly & duly to serve God, & at certain feasts & times convenient, to be leaders unto the country men, in the orders & array of war, and teachers to the ignorant in the best use of martial weapons & practices: This I suppose should be well pleasing unto almighty GOD, & also right honourable, & profitable unto the Realm.  
FINIS.   
¶ Tout poiar & lovange a Dieu. Amen.